8 minute read
Christmas ‘Must Reads’
‘Must Reads’Christmas
BY JESSICA ANSCOMBE
Give the gift of food and travel, wonder and magic and love and adventure. Here, a list of recent releases to inspire and entertain.
Fiction Non-Fiction Children’s Books
Set in Paris in 1939 and the present–day French Riviera this moving novel, by Natasha Lester, will be perfect for historical–fiction lovers. The Riviera House $32.99, Hachette Australia, www.hachette.com.au
Peter “The Plum” Lum is an ex–NRL player who’s given doctor’s orders to change his lifestyle, and fast. Plum, by actor, director and writer Brendan Cowell, is a powerful story exploring modern masculinity. $32.99, HarperCollins, www.harpercollins.com.au
For the thrill seekers! I Shot the Devil, by Ruth McIver, is a suspense–filled story of murder and home truths. $32.99, Hachette Australia, www.hachette.com.au
In Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr shares the narratives of characters from three timelines, Constantinople in 1453, Idaho in 2020 and an unknown date in the future, all linked by an ancient text, to weave a story of human connection. $32.99, HarperCollins, www.harpercollins.com.au
Once Burnt Twice Shy, by Karly Lane, is a rural drama, with a nod to the Rural Fire Service. Samantha is house sitting on her parents’ farm when bushfires break out. The novel is about rebuilding, second chances, discovering old flames and the meaning of home. $29.99, Allen & Unwin, www.allenandunwin.com For the festive season and beyond, Matt Preston’s World of Flavour is filled with favourites with a twist and includes the history behind the dishes for interesting stories to entertain guests. $39.99, Penguin Random House, www.penguin.com.au
Our lives are signposted by major events. In Twelve Summers, actor and writer Adam Zwar recalls his most memorable moments, woven into the backdrop of Australia’s unforgettable cricket matches. $32.99, Hachette Australia, www.hachette.com.au Celebrate with everyone’s favourite heelers and read along with all the poolside action in Bluey: Christmas Swim $16.99, Penguin Random House, www.penguin.com.au
Marcie is having a tough Christmas until she’s given a magic wishing stone. With the help of a black cat named George, she sees that perhaps dreams really can come true. Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat $19.99, Penguin Random House, www.penguin.com.au
Astronomy enthusiasts will love learning about stars and planets in our galaxy and beyond…in The Universe, by Andrew Cohen, with a foreword by Professor Brian Cox. $39.99, HarperCollins, www.harpercollins.com.au
She’s been part of our media landscape for years, now read Lisa Wilkinson’s autobiography It Wasn’t Meant to be Like This, and discover what life has been like behind the camera for one of Australia’s most well–known personalities. $45, HarperCollins, www.harpercollins.com.au A gentle and inspiring story, The Curiosities, by Zana Fraillon, demonstrates diversity and the comfort and acceptance that we are not all the same. $26.99, Hachette Australia, www.hachette.com.au
A story of growing up on a farm with horses and animals, surrounded by beautiful bush. The Road to Goonong, by David Cox. $15.99, Allen & Unwin, www.allenandunwin.com
Know someone starting a veggie patch? In Homegrown, River Cottage host Paul West shares the tips they’ll need for planting, growing and maintaining their kitchen garden all year round. $44.99, Pan Macmillan Australia, www.panmacmillan.com.au In The Toys’ Christmas, favourite toys journey to see Santa to tell him what their human besties would like to find under the tree. $24.99, Allen & Unwin, www.allenandunwin.com
Jessica Anscombe is a librarian and writer living on the Central Coast. She has a passion for literature and writes fiction and non–fiction. Jessica was the winner of the Wyong Writers’ 2021 Short Story Competition and her winning story is to be published in an upcoming anthology. She has also been longlisted for the Furious Fiction prize and you can read her short stories here www.jessicaanscombe.com/category/fiction/ short–stories/ and follow her on instagram at www.instagram. com/jessicaanscombe/
ParadiseTHE BEACH EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
for little ones
The Beach Early Learning Centres promote the value of childhood at a time when children are curious, capable learners and co–constructors in their life journey. Curiosity in young children is essential because it helps them understand the world around them and supports their learning.
We understand there is no set list of things to teach young children. Living is learning and children learn through living. All young children have their own abilities and interests. We celebrate growth not perfection at the Beach Early Learning Centres.
When we encourage children to be curious they become more observant and think about things and try to figure them out.
We see it as absolutely vital in fostering curiosity and encouraging enquiring minds so that children will ask questions and extend their learning. We believe in making everyday routines into extraordinary rituals. You will see this at our centres when we’re chopping fruit on a cutting board, setting a table or picking flowers for the vase – all of these are core to caring and learning.
We know that early childhood is a unique stage of life so we are committed to being every child’s champion and enable this by providing a safe, fun and friendly environment where children can foster and maintain friendships with each other and educators. Throughout the day educators are there as the secure base for all children. They advocate for the children and provide a safe haven that protects, comforts and acknowledges their feelings.
At the Beach Early Learning Centres we honour every relationship. Every interaction we build with children and families influence every single aspect of our centres, from our rostering, right down to what we display and document in our learning spaces.
To us, the relationships we have with our children and families are an important part of our culture and are embedded across our centres, which is why we are able to base every decision we make on how they will affect children.
At the Beach Early Learning Centres we believe that Early childhood is a time for children to discover who they are and how they fit into the world. Essential to this, is the freedom to explore, to be a child and to be protected. In our centres you will see Educators providing a safe, secure and child interest driven environment. Educators joining in, watching and encouraging play throughout the day. The early years in a child’s life are instrumental so we aim to provide children with opportunities to thrive and wholly participate in learning through guidance, relationships and resources, maximising every child’s potential. These are visible at our centres through an inclusive and respectful framework and open learning environments that promote social and emotional learning – specifically building self awareness, cooperation, caring and empathy. You will find our educators and children engaging in the local community to build a sense of belonging and expand their life experiences.
Our Directors Sarah, Emma, Rebecca, Ashleigh and Bec lead the team of Educators to ensure caring, sensitive, available and responsive educators enabling children to develop secure relationships. They help children learn what healthy, connected relationships look like and how to create such relationships later in life. Supporting each child’s individual learning and development is central to the way in which individual needs, interests and strengths are considered as well as the strong level of cultural diversity in the centre.
For more information, visit www.thebeachearlylearningcentre.com.au
Are you tired of thinking about what to have to dinner?
Are you sick of having to make everything and clean up afterwards? Well, your magic fairies have arrived! Megan and Marty Bowden from Activate Foods at Erina create healthy and delicious family sized meals to take the edge off your dinner time frustrations.
With a young family themselves, Megan and Marty understand the pressure parents are under everyday trying to juggle work, kids, after school activities and keeping the house in order. (Where do these super parents find the time??) There’s nothing worse than piling through the door at 5.30pm and not knowing what everyone is going to have dinner let alone what you’ve got in the house to cook.
This was the problem Activate Foods was born to solve! You can have a healthy and delicious meal ready and waiting for you or the whole family that takes next to no time to prepare. Imagine popping a family sized lasagne in the oven before you leave for sport practice and having the smell of melting cheese welcome you back in the door (yum!. Dinner is on the table 10 minutes later and it only took you 1 minute of work!
The local team has a rotating menu of meals and you can choose between fresh single serve meals to keep in the fridge for the week (perfect for lunch on–the–go) or frozen options to have ready and waiting when you get caught out unprepared. And good news for those with dietary requirements, they cater for gluten free, low carb, dairy free and have plant based meals too.
They’re not like a regular meal company you may have tried before, they make just about everything from scratch in their Erina kitchen and retail store. They’re completely local and the difference is their meals taste home made – they taste like real food because they’re made with fresh ingredients. There are no pre made sauces full of salt, sugar and additives, just house made spice mixes, curry pastes and broths. The team keep all the goodness in your meals for you to enjoy.
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Check out the menu to find out what you could be eating next week at www.activatefoods.com.au or pop in to their Erina store 7 days a week at 222 The Entrance Rd.
