'Once Upon a Slime' by Andy Griffiths
The phrase 'Once Upon a Slime' conjures up all kinds images. For those who are partial to all things gross the title is yet another clever marketing tool in the package that is Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.
In this latest addition from the dynamic duo Andy returns to his teaching roots and educates those who want an insight into his writing technique.
Once Upon a Slime is packed with a plethora of writing activities, there are 45 in total. Andy describes different scenarios such as; explosions, do's and don'ts, crazy machines and inventions and map-making. The list goes on and on. Best of all Andy provides the tools and encouragement for the reader to step into his shoes.
Each exercise is made easy with clever references to chapters and/or books from Andy's award winning library. Even his rhyming books do not escape his scrutiny.
The reader is taken step by step through each exercise. If one option seems a little difficult Andy offer us another way round, in the end achieving the same result but leaving the reader in charge of his or her own choices.
The award winning Terry Denton also imparts his wisdom offering plenty of drawing exercises throughout the book to give an all-round Griffiths/Denton lesson in 'Writing for children 101'.
This is a book where we are clearly reminded that writing is fun! Let's face it when you are in the thick of a story a light at the end of the tunnel can seem like an eternity away.
It doesn't matter whether you are writing for children or you are a child writer. This is the book to get the creative juices flowing and whip your imagination into a frenzy.
I particularly enjoyed the 'Random idea generator' near the end of the book; it’s a great starting point.
It doesn't matter whether you read the book from front to back or mix it up in between. Each chapter is unique in its teachings and can be used when creating certain scenes within your work.
With that said, Andy would be very disappointed if you didn’t read his full list of credits at the end.
The only next best thing from this book would be sitting with Andy himself. Enjoy!
CKT Book Reviewer
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'If a website can be described as 'homely' or 'a friendly place for emerging writers to visit' then that's how I would describe Creative Kids Tales. It's probably the only Australian website for children's writers that I visit regularly and actually feel part of. When I need motivation, interesting writers to read about, or just a peek at my own 'baby steps' towards being a published writer, I visit the Creative Kids Tales family.' A big thank you to Georgie and Rod for a great website. - 
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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"Whether just starting out or with many books under your belt, Creative Kids Tales is the perfect place to go for all things writerly. Sharing the inner world is a wonderful thing for solitary writers, and it's all there on Georgie's website.
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What a terrific, enthusiastic, informative and creative resource - of value and interest to so many people.
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'CKT is informative, relevant, recent and fun! It’s an exceptional resource for anyone involved in children’s literature.'
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'Creative Kids Tales provides such a valuable service. Writing can be a lonely business at times, and seeking publication can be daunting. So it is especially wonderful for writers to be able to access such a comprehensive site where information, experiences and the ups and downs of writing for kids can be shared.' Well done, Georgie! - 
'Having been a publisher and an author and now proprietor of Pinerolo, the Children’s Book Cottage, I am passionate about promoting children’s books. Creative Kids Tales is such a welcome part of this network and I salute them for their support and their inspiration to so many. On their seventh birthday I wish them many, many happy returns.'
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'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. - www.enterprisingwords.com.au
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'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.' - 
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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.
'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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