This morning I picked up a copy of the latest Aussiekids (a really handy publication for parents, by the way.  And it’s FREE!).  To my delight there was an article about exposing  your child to books from an early age.  I’ve always been a huge advocate of this, not only as a Mum but a teacher!  The key is picking the right book so your child will sit still long enough to enjoy it with you.

Babies love anything bright and tactile.  The fewer the words on each page, the better!  But now for my favourite part – picking books to facilitate early word learning.  Too my delight, the list of ‘what to look for’ included books with RHYME and REPETITION.  Yay!!  This allows children to tune in and join in.  I mean, which child doesn’t energetically chime in with

Run, run, as fast as you can.  You can’t catch me I’m the gingerbread man!

or

I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down.

To hear more about how to write good rhyme and repetition, come on over to The Word Writers Fair Brisbane on the 11th-13th November where I’ll be holding a workshop on this topic.

See you there.

x Renee

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I get to travel all around Australia to speak to young people and there’s one thing I notice when sharing about my life!  Our faces are different.  Our stories are the same.

Just a few weeks ago, I was sharing part of my story with a group of girls.  Afterward there was a line up of several girls who wanted to share their story with me.  I guess it’s a bit like the ‘Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants’.  Except our sisterhood comes from travelling a very different road.  The road of our parents’ divorce.  And even though each of our stories vary in some way, I can see in their eyes the look of ‘I know you understand’.  And that’s why they want to share their story too.  For though we are of different ages, suburbs, races and even beliefs, we are sisters.  For while we have not shared exactly the same story, we have shared the experience of living at two addresses and having two Christmases.  We know the gut wrenching stab of rejection by a parent and the difficulty of playing mediator between two adults while we are still a child.

We are not looking for someone who has all the answers.  Just someone who understands.  That why I’ll keep on sharing my story to everyone I can, for as long as I can.  And I hope you will do the same. We can never have too many sisters!

x Renee

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Finally, it’s here!  The official cover of my first ever picture book Imagine We Were. And I couldn’t be happier.  The mummy and little one are especially endearing but the reason I really love it is those clouds!  Who hasn’t stared up at the sky and made the clouds into all sorts of imaginative creations!  We’ve all done it on a long car trip with our siblings, staring out of the plane window or with our child in our arms.  And now the cover is done, the journey has only just begun……now for the rest!

Click here for a sneak peak of Imagine We Were.

x Renee

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Can you believe it’s Easter already?!!  My youngest boy has just completed his very first term of Prep.  He’s taken to it like a duck to water.  And in the study department, I received my certificate to say I’ve finally completed my degree in writing!  So it’s celebrations all round in our household!

My picture book is tracking well.  A story board is being worked on by the lovely Claire as we speak.  I’ll post some pics soon  to tempt your tastebuds.  Meanwhile I’ve been working on a set of board books to help very young children sift through the whole divorce thing.  We’ll see where that leads.  But since it’s holidays, I shall put my pen down and encourage you to do the same (whatever your ‘pen’ might be).  Enjoy the beautiful people God has put around you and be blessed this Easter season.

x x Renee

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Enhance Cover Autumn Issue

Welcome to my new website!!  If you’re here from seeing the article in the ENHANCE magazine, a special welcome to you!!  You can see a snapshot of the article  in magazine articles.

A quick intro from me, I’m author of Broken Wing Butterfly, a self help book for teenage girls from broken homes.  This has taken me on an amazing journey from being the finalist for an award to a television interview!  You can check out all the details by wandering around my website.

Plus, there’s a load more in the pipeline, including my very first picture book for children being published early 2012 by Wombat Books!!  So stop by often and I’ll keep you updated.

x Renee

p.s you can email me, mail@reneebennett.com.au

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