Poetry Songs Online

Volcano Boy (verse novel) The Story Behind the Story

When Alexander is put in the care of his humourless minister uncle, he is taken to Rabaul in Papua New Guinea to live. Unable to grieve for his sister and mother, on the eve of the eruption of a volcano, Alexander can think of nothing but destruction. But Alice, through her love for him, sets out to save him. Written in verse form as a diary, we enter into Alexander's life and see how Papua New Guinea, its people and the threatening landscape of volcanic Rabaul, slowly change him.
Publisher - Lothian, 2002

Grandma's Shoes (libretto)

Based on the picture storybook of the same name, the young child Rosa takes a fabulous journey in magical shoes seeking her beloved grandmother. In the forest she meets the wise Waterfall Man but then the terrifying Monkey King who attempts to keep the shoes. In the starry skies she meets the quarrelsome Three Little Stars and the Wonder Star. Through the eye of the lake still pursued by the Monkey King she finally meets her grandmother. She realizes she must go back but now Rosa knows where her grandmother is, she can hardly wait to tell her stories to her little sister. Composer Grahame Koehne set the words to music.
Publisher - Penguin Books, 1994; republished Hodder Headline, 2000

Heard Singing

A book of verse divided into two sections, Heard Singing is a limited edition of 500 copies printed by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry, India, on Andhara Deluxe Maplitho in a natural shade. Endpapers and covers are of handmade paper and binding is Hablik cloth. Maroubra Cycle tells of a 1950s childhood with poems like Stories Grandmothers Tell and Behind Hydrangea, while Life Cycle gives insight into motherhood, from the birth of a baby Firstborn and Heard Singing until the day the child leaves home, Son Leaving Home.
Publisher - Out of India Press, 1998

Talks With My Skateboard

This is a collection of my poems for young people under headings such as Out and About, School, At Home, Mostly Cats and Nature. The lively cartoons of Matt Mawson really add to the look of the collection. I've written these poems about things that interest or have touched me in some way–the ordinary (The Teacher Took My Tennis Ball) and the extraordinary (Amy Sleeps at My House)–hoping to inspire young writers to try writing their own poems.
Publisher -ABC, 1994

Songs for My Skateboard

Composer Stephen Lalor has chosen ten poems from my poetry collection, Talks with My Skateboard, to set to music. These lively songs have been made into a booklet by NSW Department of School Education and have been performed at many concerts.

Weirdstop (online) Preview it

This is a place where you can jump right off into stories of an unusual kind. They are both weird and wonderful. That's not all you can do at Weirdstop! There are really cool games attached to each story which increase in difficulty as you go. If you get through to the end of the story and then try Thinksmart, you can win a Weirdstop certificate. There's a section for teachers and parents as well.
Publisher - Hathorn Enterprises Pty Ltd, 2003

The Wishing Cupboard (online) View it

This online story is begun with the opening of a gorgeous Vietnamese cupboard with its tantalizing drawers and doors. Tan's grandmother shows him the cupboard and explains that in each drawer is an object and a wish. Each object takes the user to a Vietnamese folktale but then back to young Tan. He is longing for his Mum to come back with his cousin from Vietnam but is distracted by the delights of the wishing cupboard. The last space is empty and his grandmother tells him to make a wish. In fact he makes more than one wish. The user must play a game to find out whether Tan's wishes come true.
Publisher - Hathorn Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1997

Poetry Parade (online) View it

Users are invited to join the Poetry Parade and read some online poems which are accompanied by animation and sound effects to make them really buzzy. They can click over the Poetry Parade to find some famous lines from famous poets of old, and they are also encouraged to write their own poems.
Publisher - Hathorn Enterprises Pty Ltd, 1997

Magical Ride

When Jess refuese go home to dinner after a friend's birthday party, big brother Luke tries to encourage him with several fun ideas for 'riding' home. From a giraffe ride to a panther race, from a flying cup to a sliding banana skin,no promises of fun make Jess actually budge. Then Luke takes matter into his own hands. Gary Fleming's fabulous illustrations make the rides come alive.
Publisher - Hodder Headline, 1999

Sky Sash So Blue

Blue sash, oh blue sash, My sky blue, my true sash…Susannah's sash is hers to wear at her sister Sissy's wedding. It's a little piece of hope as the family stitch together the rags they find to make Sissy's dress. But the Missus remembers the scraps and wants them back. Nothing can stop Susannah's enjoyment of the wedding even though her sister and new husband must walk to freedom leaving her behind. Extraordinary fabric collages by American painter Benny Andrews pay tribute to the strength of family.
Publisher - Simon and Schuster US;
Hodder Headline, Australia.