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"I like writing books about the extraordinary in ordinary
daily life. I like to see the world through fresh eyes, as children
do. I like the energy of children and their sense of humour: that
is also something I put in my writing.
I write for all sorts of different children’s markets, in many genres. Recently I have written biography, historical fiction, humorous science fiction, and gardening books." |
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Taking Off What will Alana do? She wants to fly planes and see the world but her eyesight isn't the best, and is getting worse. Into the small coastal community in which she lives come two newcomers, Tommy, a strange guy who becomes obsessed with birds and their ability to fly, and Alana, a refugee whose main challenge is learning English. Alana's uncle, a pilot, arrives to fly her to her annual eye appointment at the nearest hospital. Alana, her father, and her uncle take off on a journey that will leave all of them changed for ever. Janice's powerful and moving new novel, full of interesting characters, and information about flying and birds, builds to a dramatic climax. Available from ... |
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Thor’s Tale 2007 winner of the Junior Fiction category of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults!! Ernest Shackleton, one of the great Antarctic explorers in the early years of the 20th Century, set out on his expedition from a whaling station on the island of South Georgia. When, 18 months later, he returned to South Georgia without his ship, and with only two companions, the first people he saw were two whalers’ boys. In Shackleton’s words, from his account of the journey, South ... 'Down we hurried, and when quite close to the station, we met two small boys, ten or twelve years old. I asked them where the manager’s house was and they did not answer. They gave us one more informing look and then they ran from us as fast as their legs would carry them.' Thor’s Tale is my account of the lives of those two boys, and of the effect Thor’s meeting with the explorers had on him. "The writing is simple but poetic, whether describing ugliness or beauty. It’s writing that can at times lift the reader on an imaginative flight as it describes how the dreams of youth can transcend a harsh environment." New Zealand Post Book Award judges Available from ... |
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Chute Thru Some time in the future, Arlo is sitting on the end of the huge raft he lives on when an astronaut's re-entry module splashes into the sea beside him. The astronaut asks Arlo to hide him until he’s built up his muscle tone again and can face the world as the pin-up boy he once was. Arlo becomes the astronaut’s personal trainer, hoping that the astronaut will reward him by taking him to astronaut headquarters and a life of fame and fortune. It doesn’t work out quite as Arlo had planned ... Available from ... |
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Soldier in the Yellow Socks Shortlisted for the Non Fiction category of the New Zealand Post Book Awards 2007 An illustrated, fast-paced biography, most suitable for Years 6 – 10. In 1939 when the Second World War began, Charles Upham was a high country farmer in Canterbury. By the time the war was over he was one of the most famous soldiers in the world. He had won the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for bravery in the British and Commonwealth armies — twice. Upham led his men in Greece, Crete and in North Africa, where he was finally captured by the Germans and sent to Colditz Castle. The story of Charles Upham’s war is an amazing tale of courage and determination and shows how one man who keeps calm even when he is in deadly danger can make an extraordinary difference. Available from ... |
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Growing Things to Eat Find out how to grow tomatoes, carrots and strawberries. Learn how to grow a pumpkin with your name on it. Find out how you can make a living tepee and discover how to grow a cucumber inside a bottle. See how you can even grow food without a garden. Learn about different types of fruit, vegetables and herbs, how to plant them and look after them. Find out who’s getting ready to raid your garden. The book includes jokes, games, puzzles and experiments. Available from ... |
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Gardening For Kids This book tells you all you need to know about growing plants from seeds. Find out what tools you need, how to make seeds grow into fruit, flowers and vegetables. Learn about watering, weeding and feeding your baby plants. Discover who your garden friends are, and who’s waiting to munch up your seedlings. There are also jokes, puzzles, & experiments. Available from ... |
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Crossroads Winner of the Aim Children’s Book Awards Book of the Year 1996, this novel for teenagers features Ellie, William and a Falcon car. Ellie knows a lot about cars and she knows she’s fallen for William but he’s a mystery to her. Ellie tries to find out what it is that he’s constantly speeding away from, and why he won’t talk about it. Available from ... |
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Hope’s Rainbow Hope’s family have recently moved to the city. She has no friends, has to look after her little brother, worries about her older brother, and her mum just sits in front of the TV. Hope decides a birthday party is just what her mother needs. With the help of a cook book and lots of determination, she begins to turn their lives around. Available from ... |
