February 19, 2019
For the love of reading aloud!
I was a teacher for a long time before I became a full-time author. During those years I’ve seen the complete spectrum when it comes to reading. From children who’ll walk into things because they won’t put their book down to kids who feel ambivalent until they find just the right book to kids who downright hate reading. For some children, it is all about finding the right book – the one whose characters speak to them and they can’t wait to find out what happens next, for others, the mechanics of reading can be such a struggle and we all know if something is hard and we’re not enjoying it then sometimes we just don’t want to do it. Helping children learn to read is giving them a superpower. Reading changes children’s lives and it’s so important to persist.
I think a big part of helping kids want to read is reading aloud to them. We all know that it’s beneficial to read to young children – they hear the language and the rhythm and the rhyme and often mimic the words and actions. Small children are like language sponges – soaking it all in. But please don’t stop sharing stories just because your child can read for themselves. As an educator, I implore teachers to read aloud to their classes. That sounds like a no brainer – of course teachers read to their classes but can I tell you, I’ve seen and heard some things lately that made me weep. Putting a PDF of a book on a screen and telling the class to read it collectively is not fun for anyone – not for the kid who reads the page in a split second nor the kid who gets halfway through before the page turns. What is fun, is the teacher reading in character with all the funny voices and expressions. And if teachers aren’t confident reading aloud, then there are gazillions of audio books to share (though I still think there is nothing more relatable as the teacher reading). I fell in love with stories hearing my teachers read them aloud to us. As a teacher it was my favourite thing to do – and I still love it to this day. I write my books ‘out loud’ so that I know they’ll work as read alouds. So – kids – make sure that your teachers (and parents) read to you – and teachers and parents, I really do believe there is nothing more joyous than a shared story.
Madeleine
Dear Jacqueline,
I completely agree with you, it is so much more entertaining and engaging to listen to the teacher reading aloud, as well as all of the funny voices. I think back to the days in primary school when the teacher did read aloud, and it makes me sad how they don’t do it in my High school. It’s like they think that since we are a bit older we should read it ourselves off the board, which is fine, but just so boring. And although I can read it quick enough, I always am disappointed that the teacher doesn’t ask other students if they have finished yet. Anyway, sorry for rambling the book cover looks great! I’m looking forward to seeing the new Alice – Miranda cover too!
Thankyou for taking the time to read this,
Madeleine
Zoe
Agreed, Madeline
Excuse me for asking, but when are you coming to New Zealand?
Jacqueline Harvey
I’m here in NZ right now – living in my new house in Queenstown but not touring for the moment. I’m doing lots of writing and hope to get some time on the slopes too.
Lu
Hi! I love you books!
Lu
And also I`m really into your Alice-Miranda books but my friend is in love with Clementine Rose!!
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Lu,
Thank you for your kind words, I am thrilled to hear that you enjoy reading Alice-Miranda 🙂
Happy reading,
Jacqueline
Evelyn
Hi Jaqcueline
I am so excited I can’t believe you will be in Tasmania. And on the week of my birthday. I am looking forward to the arrival of the new Kensy and Max book and I recently finished the AM series. Not really into to Clementine Rose but my sister likes it.
Tayra
Hi Jacqueline, I was just on booktopia and saw that they have Alice Miranda Keeps The Beat, I was just wondering if this is the name of book 18?
Hannah-Rose
Hi Jaqueline,
My mum says that too, and it totally makes sense.
I love the new cover for the new Kensy and Max I can’t wait to read it. I love that it is set in Australia, I think it will make me more involved in the story. I can’t find latest Alice Miranda books in the library and it annoys me.
Can you maybe come to Ipswich/Brisbane some time? I know there are probably lots of places you would want to visit.
Thank you for writing these books,
Hannah-Rose
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Hannah-Rose,
I am very excited to be coming to Ipswich for the Story Arts Festival later in the year. Hopefully I will get to see you. Did you manage to read the latest Kensy and Max book yet? I’d love to know what you think.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Angela Nguyen
Hi Jacqueline,
I just found out that you were working on a new Alice Miranda book. I can’t wait to read and I just know it’ll be just as good as all the other books you’ve written. I wish you luck in writing the book! Also I have a copy of Kensy and Max Undercover however I haven’t had the chance to read it. I really love the way how you wrote the chapter titles in the different codes.
-Angela-
Bailey And Amelia
Yeah, it is really cool how it is different every time!!
Jacqueline should definitely continue that!!
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks girls – and we are doing exactly that 🙂
Anna
I have a question: In Alice-Miranda in Scotland, it mentions A-M, Millie and Sloane moving up into Year Seven, indicating that time has passed, yet Jacinta is still attending Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. Did she repeat Year Seven? Or did Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale expand again to include year 8?
Jacqueline Harvey
Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale goes all the way to leaving now (Year 12).
Hope that helps explain things.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Bailey And Amelia
Hi Jacqueline!!!
Firstly we just want to say that we absolutely love your books and that you are such an awesome writer!!!
Anyway, we have some questions for you about your newest books!
Ok so with the Kensy and Max Undercover we were just wondering if their new friends go along with them to Sydney, Australia?!?!?
Also, we love the sound of Alice-Miranda Keeps The Beat especially that Lucas has a secret……….. But we were wondering in one of your comments you said that Jacinta’s father is back! Is there any kind of connection between Ambrosia and Jacinta’s father?!?!?!
Last but not least we were wondering if all the stories will intertwine with each other because that would be sooo awesome!! We really want that to happen especially between AM and Kensy and Max!!!
Thanks
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Bailey and Amelia,
You are excellent detectives and you might be right about Jacinta’s father being back on the scene. Have you read Undercover yet? The kids make a great new friend and he’s going to pop up another time too. AM and K&M live in different worlds but I think Max might like reading the Alice-Miranda books :).
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Anna
Personally I think Sep and Millie is a cute couple. I don’t know if that’s just me, but I can see that happening. Also I think that it would be cool if they could have a Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale-Fayle disco or dance (maybe with a theme) :
I have some questions:
. What’s the age gap between Sep and Sloane, cos I know that Sep is around the same age as Lucas who is around the same age as Jacinta who is a bit older than Sloane, so what’s sort of the age gap between the Sykes children?
. Did Winchesterfield-Downfordvale extend to include Year 8 or did Jacinta repeat Year Seven, because when Millie, A-M, and Sloane move up to Year Seven, Jacinta is still there
.Will there be a book set at Christmas?
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Anna,
I like the idea of Sep and Millie too – watch this space! I also adore the idea of a dance between the schools – that could happen sometime in the future. Sep and Sloane are really close in age – like only about a year apart. WD now goes all the way to leaving age so the girls can stay all through high school (because of what Mildred Jelly did at Sainsbury Palace school and Miss Grimm decided to extend WD to Year 12).
Not sure about a book at Christmas but it’s a lovely idea.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Anna
I love your books! I think my favourite Alice-Miranda book is either:
-Alice-Miranda in Japan
-Alice-Miranda in the Alps
My favourite character is Jacinta, but I’m definitely more similar to Sloane. I love Lucinta, and I enjoy how Millie is slowly warming to the idea of romance. Basically character development is my favourite part of these books
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks Anna. I love writing the stories too. I’m so glad that you enjoy reading them.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Sandramaria
Hello Ms. Harvey,
I was wondering if you could help me with some tips on writing a book. I love your Alice-Miranda and Clementine-Rose series to bits! Although I haven’t tried the Kensy and Max ones, my friends say that their awesome. You see, we are given a project at school called the ‘Personal Best Project. I excel in English and decided I wanted to write a book. I’ve started, but now I’m losing ideas and losing interest in my own book. I also want to try and get this book published into a proper one even though I’m only a teenager. SO I was wondering if you could help me with this.
With thanks,
Sandramaria
(please don’t stop writing the Alice-Miranda series! They’re too good!
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Sandramaria,
That’s great you enjoy writing. There are some tips on my website under the Teachers section Writing Tips. Hopefully that will help. Once you have a look at that let me know if there is anything else I can help with.
All the best with your story. Most of all have fun!
Jacqueline x
Sandramaria
Thank you so much Ms.Harvey
Sandramaria
Hello Ms. Harvey,
The following is just an extract from my book. Can you please tell me whether you like it or not?
I stared into the haunted woods where I once emerged from. The trees each swaying in the whistling wind opening up a pathway, inviting those who dared to a gruesome death. A light shone at the end. Too bright for my eyes, the pureness at the end of the woods was too much for me to bear. I turned away. I made up my mind once and there was no turning back. I shall never return to that life. My life now is fine the way it is, full of pleasure. The castle gates that surrounded me were dotted with the graves of those who trespassed into my grounds, those who had the courage to come against me. The day that I came to be, I knew that I was the one. The one who shall be great, the one who shall destroy, and the one who shall have power. Be it good, be it bad, I am the ruler of all. The walls of the castle that I built, all those many years ago, when I first found my power, covered with moss, trapping the souls of those who once breathed life, those who did not obey me, those who came against me. The sound of their screams put a smile on my face, for however much they tried they cannot be free. Those who do not fear me shall not live, for I am the Mistress of Evil- Melania…
Aroush Usman
Hi
That is very good and I want to read all of it.
Jacqueline Harvey
Wow! She’s not someone to be messed with that’s for sure. You need to think about where you’re going to take the story next – what’s the outline and do you have an idea of how it’s going to end? I always have a plan so that I have something to work towards. You’ve conjured some strong images Sandramaria. Keep going!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
PS It was lovely to meet you recently!
Aroush Usman
Hello Ms. Harvey
I love your books, they are amazing and I have read Kenny and Max(Disappearing Act)and all of Alice Miranda except one
I love your books and how you write then you are a very inspiring person and I will hope to read more of your books.
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks Aroush – It makes me very happy to know that you enjoy the stories. I hope you get to read more of them too.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Fatima
Hi Jacqueline
I love your books especially the Alice Miranda series I was wondering if there is going to be book 19 and book 20 or maybe even more books after that?
Please reply
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks Fatima – yes book 19 and 20 are on their way next year and the year after and who knows there might still be more after that.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Olivia
Hi Mrs Harvey,
I love all the Kensy and Max books the are my favourite series I want them to all come out at the same time so I can just read them. You are really creative and inspiring.
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks Olivia – I am busy working on Kensy and Max: Freefall right now!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Bookworm
My dad won’t let me buy any books but I really want to read clementine rose and the best news yet. Is there any websites you can get it as a free ebook? I’ve also read all the alice miranda books. I love your books Jaqueline Harvey.
Jacqueline Harvey
That’s a shame you can’t buy any books – you can always visit your local library and borrow some 🙂
Happy reading,
Jacqueline
Freya
Dear Jaqueline Harvey,
I love your books they are always full of action it has everything a good book should have.
Are you ever going to come to Melbourne, Victoria?
Freya
Dear Jacqueline Harvey,
you are one of my favourite authors along with Holly Webb and Tui. T Sutherland your stories are very inspiring I love all your books especially clementine rose and Alice Miranda I really want to read clementine rose and the best news yet and clementine rose and the special promise but I am not allowed to buy any books do you know any websites where I can get access to any free eBooks of clementine rose and the best news yet? Me and my friend we have started a book its about dragons but sometimes we get stuck on ideas I just wanted to know where do you get your ideas come from. We have done 5 chapters and we hope to get it published one day by the way in the opening it tells you about the war between the snow wings ( a type of ice dragon) and dessert wings ( a type of sand dragons from a dessert wing called Amber’s point of view if you have any tips I would be happy to hear them. here is the starting:
Five years ago
Blood splattered across the sandy ground below and Amber fought with her heart. Amber was never the one to fight but now she had no choice; she felt dizzy as she remembered that she left her only young child behind. If i die there will be no-one to care for her she thought sadly.. Then a Snow Wing plummeted from the sky glaring directly at the Queen with his pale eyes with his claws outstretched and snapped the Queen’s neck blood poured out leaving a pool of inky red blood. “Nooooooooo!” Princess Dawn gave a blood-curdling scream and flew over to the majestic queen, kicking up a cloud of dust., but it was too late the Queen lay lifeless on the bloody sand. Amber leaped forward and tried to catch the Snow Wing but he was too fast he turned and swept away his pale blue under scales shone in the heat of the desert. He gave her an icy smile and flew away back up to a dragon with the same smooth but blood splattered scales. She had an evil grin and dark eyes. “No you will regret that!” Amber hissed as she pounced on the Snowing she wasn’t fast enough, she felt blood dripping from her underbelly as the snowing pinned her down she howled with pain but that was all she felt before the Snowing ended her justly life.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Freya,
Thanks for your message. I’m glad that you’re enjoying my books. Rather than try to get the Clemmie books from those dreadful dodgy websites (that are usually just phishing sites designed to create problems for you) it is much better if you can’t afford to buy the books to borrow them from a library. Those ‘free’ sites actually steal our work and mean that we don’t get paid. You might not be aware of how little authors do get paid from their books – we generally receive 10% of the recommended retail price which means that if a book sells for $15.00 we get $1.50 but often it is much less than that. As you can imagine we need to sell a lot of books to make a living. Those sites are actually illegal and our publishers spend a lot of time trying to have them taken down.
Good work starting your book. It sounds like you might enjoy some books written by one of my friends AL Tait. She writes fantasy and has a beautiful new book coming at the end of August. Your start is exciting – it’s a good idea to check for repetition of words and ideas and make sure that every sentence propels the story forward. All the best with it.
Jacqueline
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Freya,
Thank you for your kind words
Not during the current circumstances, I am limiting my touring at the moment 🙂
Happy reading,
Jacqueline
Stacey Elliott
Hi Jacqueline,
My 6 year old daughter and I love listening to you reading the Alice Miranda series and recently finished Book 5, Alice Miranda in New York. Do you have plans to record the audio for more of the series?
Thank you,
Stacey and Ivy
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Stacey,
I’m hoping to but I’m just not sure when 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Linsday
I really loved your books and I can’t wait until
kensy and max: full speed comes out
Linsday
Jacqueline Harvey
Linsday,
It is literally going to the printer today!
Can’t wait for you to read it. It’s the most action packed yet.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline