Rich and Rare, an Anthology Edited by Paul Collins
Published by Ford Street Publishing
Rich and Rare is a collection of short stories, poetry and artwork by an impressive group of children’s authors, including award winners Libby Hathorn and Gary Crew, and new Australian Children’s Laureate, Leigh Hobbs.
Grouped into genres such as horror, humour, romance, ghost and poetry, over forty otherwise unrelated offerings are given a cohesion by Editor Paul Collins, and a warm introduction by Sophie Masson.
It must be said that not all contributions in this anthology carry the same appeal and unfortunately it is often times the most engaging stories that finish just as they start to really kick in. By the same token though, the purpose of a good short story is to leave you wanting more, and in the majority of cases, this is what Rich and Rare delivers.
With enough diversity to cater to a broad range of tastes, Ford St’s collection of seasoned authors dish up some real gems for the discerning young adult reader.
The ‘Contemporary’ section opens strongly with the story of a possessed violin that brings its former owner Luisa back to life, followed by a thought-provoking analysis of the modern day culture of materialism in Thingless. Reaching a peak in the nail biting Trapped, the anthology changes pace with consecutive genres of adventure, crime, fantasy and science fiction. Standouts include the haunting story of a teenager’s disappearance in I Can’t Sleep, the culturally-rich Lion Heart, the morality tale of The Two-Faced Boy and the striking illustrated fantasy The Black Sorrows.
Overall though, the stories that resonate most are the ones that represent their genres the most faithfully. From the touching teenage romance Sugar is Sweet to The Ghost in the Stereoscope’s tale of a vengeful spirit, to the brilliant humour of Masters of Chefery, a thinly-veiled parody of a television show we all know and ‘love’.
As the reader, I found the experience most enjoyable when I could identify an author’s work to the particular genre to which it has been matched. All of the works in this anthology could justifiably be called rare but this was when it was at its most rich.
A who’s who of Australian children’s authors, poets and illustrators, Rich and Rare offers originality at every turn and some truly memorable offerings of short prose.
CKT Book Reviewer
Author/Illustrator: Various
Title: Rich and Rare
Publisher: Ford Street Publishing
ISBN: 9781925272116
Published: October 2015
Age: 9+
'The long-distance marathon of writing, illustrating and publishing usually begins along a very foggy road, in the dark, shoeless. But wait! What's that light on the horizon? A glowing little cafe, full of a bunch other runners plotting out mud-maps on napkins and exchanging anecdotes, warning about ditches and praising short-cuts. Stop for a while, have a cup of tea, maybe even a shoe-fitting, then get yourself back on the road for the long slog to sunrise.' - 
'Congratulations to Georgie Donaghey for her hard work and enthusiasm in setting up a site that has been sorely needed to promote current Australian children's writing. Not just for the established, but for up and coming, Creative Kids Tales showcases talent and provides information essential for anyone in the industry.' - 
'Georgie Donaghey’s Creative Kids Tales is deservedly going gangbusters! What a wonderful forum and multi-storeyed resource for shiny new authors, legends of the industry and every writer in between!'
'Creative Kids Tales is a unique and valuable online resource for new and established authors. The site provides a wealth of information and insight into the children's writing world.' 'Thanks for all your support, Georgie, and keep up the good work.' - 
'Creative Kids Tales is ambitious, specific and professional - the Top Tips section alone is a must-read for every aspiring children's writer.' - 
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'Creative Kids Tales is a great forum for people who spend most of their working time alone. It is interesting and inspiring to see and hear what other authors and illustrators have to say.' - 
What a terrific, enthusiastic, informative and creative resource - of value and interest to so many people.
'Creative Kids Tales has inspired, encouraged and supported not only the published, but also us hopefuls still learning the ways of the publishing world. Thanks for providing not only an amazing site to scroll and learn through, but also providing friendship and a real sense of chasing our dreams.' - 
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Writing can be a lonely profession. By necessity, you need to work alone much of the time. But it is wonderful to have a website which eases that by connecting creators with each other and with a wealth of information and resources.
'The thing I like about the Creative Kids Tales website is that the authors come across as real people who face the same problems that beginning writers do and that there’s plenty of practical advice.' - 
'Creative Kids Tales is a treasure trove of resources and insights, compiled with dedication and enthusiasm. A wonderful resource for anyone who is interested in picture books and children's literature.' - 
"What a wonderful website and wealth of resources. I wish I’d discovered it sooner - but I can still enjoy it now, and have added it to my list of resources for new writers."
'This site is such a wonderful resource for writers and illustrators at every stage of the journey. I've learned more about some of my favourite people in children's literature here, but also had the joy of discovering whole new worlds of talent.' - 
'Creative Kids Tales is a lovely online meeting space brimming with support and ideas for writers.'
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'Buckets of thanks to Georgie for creating Creative Kids Tales. There’s a wealth of wonderful information and resources for everyone interested in creating books for kids – and a warm sense of community.'
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'Thanks for having me on Creative Kids Tales. It's a great resource for emerging writers and illustrators and I hope it will have a long future.'
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'I wish Creative Kids Tales had been around when I was first starting out! What a brilliant way to connect with other authors and find out about the lovely world of kids books.' 'Go Georgie! I think you're amazing.' - 
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'Creative Kids Tales is a fantastic resource for aspiring writers that showcases emerging and published authors and illustrators and provides links to publishers' websites, helpful hints and competitions.'
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'What a great asset you are to the children's book industry, Georgie.
'What a wonderful website Creative Kids Tales is, supporting and helping Australian authors in their quest through the dark thorny forest of the publishing world. Georgie should be congratulated for all her hard work and fearless leadership!' - 
'Wow! Creative Kids Tales is a fantastic resource for writers, no matter what stage of their writing journey they are at. Congratulations, Georgie, on your attractive, easy-to-navigate website, your generosity to your fellow writers and your constantly evolving ideas. Thanks on behalf of all of us.' - 
'I stumbled on to Creative Kids Tales by accident. I thought it was kid's tails. I'd been doing some research about goats and how their tails were actually a fifth leg, a very long time ago. Or did I just dream that? In any case, I was bitterly disappointed at first to find not tails, but tales. However, while I was at the site I had a wander around, and soon discovered that it was even better than a goat's site - no kidding! This is a brilliant haven for writers, new and not so new; a place to showcase their work and to learn from others.' Well done, Georgie. You've done a fantastic job. - 
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'If there's anything emerging authors struggle with (beyond the dreaded writer's block), it's receiving recognition or even acknowledgment of their work – battling for a slice of that incredibly elusive publishing pie. Georgie Donaghey has created a priceless promotional and networking station that allows new authors to not only share their work, but gain the courage and nous to take their work to a whole new level. Creative Kids Tales is a valuable addition to Australia's burgeoning children's book market.' - 
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'Emerging from one's chrysalis of anonymity into the prodigious world of creative children's writing and publishing is a daunting prospect. Georgie Donaghey's Creative Kids Tales is a superlative source of inspiration and information for the bourgeoning writer and illustrator. She has created an invaluable platform from which writers, both developing and established, can view, promote and share each other's work, and most importantly aspirations. A fun, friendly, and informative forum that everyone in the kids' lit industry can benefit from.' Keep it up Georgie! - 
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Creative Kids Tales offers a brilliant platform for established and emerging creators to keep in touch and learn from each other. That is a great thing for this most isolated of all professions (apart from On-site Antarctic Penguin Imitators). - 
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