“Think Shaun the Sheep meets Roald Dahl.”

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I think this beautiful review from Chris Saliba of North Melbourne Books is my favourite to date! Thank you Chris!

Two pigs masquerade as dogs, with hilarious results.

Pongo and Stink are two pigs living in the barn at Farmer Nic’s. Life is pretty good, despite the occasional midnight visit from a menacing fox. But Pongo aspires to more. When she sees Farmer Nic’s dog Rollo living it up at the farmhouse, enjoying affectionate pats and scones with jam and cream, she starts to get ideas. She suggests to her good friend Stink that they dress up as dogs. Stink is cautious, and he takes some persuading, but soon enough they find themselves at Mr Waleed’s costume shop, being fitted out. All goes to plan. Farmer Nic is fooled by the costumes and the pigs enjoy all the delights that the farmhouse has to offer. Until that is they are asked to perform real dog tasks, like rounding up sheep.

Lisa Nicol’s piggy adventure is a zany romp full of delightful improbabilities, where costume sellers speak pig and a farmer doesn’t recognise his own animals wearing fluffy zip up suits. But the story has such a wonderful energy that the reader is happily taken along for the ride. Think Shaun the Sheep meets Roald Dahl. With delightful illustrations by Karen Blair. Warmly recommended!

Ages 6-10.

The Adventures of Pongo and Stink, by Lisa Nicol. Published by Penguin. $19.99
Review by Chris Saliba

 

 

Megan Daley says lovely stuff about ‘The Adventures of Pongo and Stink’

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Beyond the Point of Space…

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Alexander, your thank you is better than any other thank you! Just finished 5 weeks of writer’s residencies at Blackett & Braddock Public Schools. Their imaginations were rocket-fuelled and it is always a privilege to ride with them for a while “beyond the point of space”. Thanks again Westwords for the opportunity to let our minds collide. It was genuinely thrilling. p.s Lauren your pickle panda – a panda who lives in a pickle jar – was genius!

“…a philosophical-poetic fairy tale about family and friendship…” 

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A lovely German review by Catherine Mahrenholtz about Vincent! Apologies for the dodgy google translation…..

“This novel is often reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s children’s books in its whimsical nature, but Lisa Nicol treats her characters in a much more warm-hearted way – everyone wants to book a short break at “The Grand” immediately. “Vincent and the Greatest Hotel in the World” is a philosophical-poetic fairy tale about family and friendship for children aged 10 and over.”

https://www.ndr.de/kultur/buch/Vincent-und-das-grossartigste-Hotel-der-Welt-ein-poetisches-Maerchen,vincentunddashotel100.html

 

 

Reviews- The What on Earth Institute of Wonder

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I could not love this book any more! @lisanicolauthor has once again blown our minds with a story so fabulously bonkers and so beautifully written that I had to just lie in a dark room for a good while and appreciate what I had just read….. definitely in the running for one of my favourite books of the year!

Rachel Robson, Children’s literacy specialist, Gleebooks, 31 August 2021

…a superbly crafted blend of wonder, action and remarkable characters.

Joy Lawn, Magpie Magazine, May 2022

What a beautiful story Lisa Nicol has written for us to enjoy. It is heart-warming and so full of love, but also loss. By the time you finish The What on Earth Institute of Wonder, you may just want to go out and save the world single-handedly…. This is definitely a book you will want to read more than once.

 Sue Mauger, Glamadelaide, September 24, 2021

The What on Earth Institute of Wonder is indeed itself wonderful, a finely honed, multi-faceted little gem…

Kevin Steinberger, Magpie Magazine, Nov 21

From the moment I began to read this middle grade, speculative fiction novel, I knew it was a goodie…. It will make readers smile, yearn, feel sad and most of all wonder ….. A quirky, heartfelt, unique story of friendship, family and conviction that is sure to be eaten up by kids aged 9-13.

Renee Mihulka, CBCA’s Reading time, Nov 21

This is a hilarious, magical, quirky and just-a-little-bit serious tale about friends, family and the wonders of nature.

Kid’s Reading Guide 2021 -22, Handpicked and reviewed by Australia’s leading booksellers

Charming and surprising and mysterious and whacky. It hooked me from the beginning….One of those books you just put down and sigh with satisfaction.

Pamela Ueckerman, Middlegrade Mavens Podcast, Episode 98

…her writing wraps around me like a warm doona and I slip immediately back into my childhood. …I have to say, Lisa Nicol does not get nearly as many song dedications and street parades as she deserves.

Nat Amoore, Author and Critic, One More Page Podcast, Episode 62

This is a delightful story with elements of fantasy, environmental activism, family dilemmas and friendship all woven together with whimsy to create a charming story for young readers. … uplifting and warm, and quirkily appealing with a touch of the impossible.

 Carolyn Hull, Readplus Oct 28, 2021

With adventure, family life, humour and drama a-plenty, I heartily recommend this for your readers from around Year 4 upwards.

Kid’s Book Review, 21 October 2021

Lisa Nicol’s whimsical way with words is becoming the stuff of legend. Her narratives are an intoxicating mix of wonderment, cheek and incredible heart; a strange combination but one that makes her middle grade novels fulfilling and memorable. The What on Earth Institute of Wonder perpetuates this premise while managing to incorporate an African forest elephant and a New Zealand Kakapo into the same sentence, never mind the same Kombi van!

 Dimity Powell, Dim’s Write Stuff

 

 

Meet Bartholomew Stagger

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The What On Earth Institute of Wonder comes out 31 August. I’m excited and nervous all at once…..

Illustration by Cathrin Peterslund. Design by Atticus Mordue

 

The What on Earth Institute of Wonder

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One elephant, one kakapo, one unlicensed teenage driver, one boy waiting for the world to end and a twelve-year-old girl with a very special gift.

Sal has always had an affinity with animals – especially the lost kind. But when two rare and endangered creatures appear out of nowhere, life takes a detour into strange and uncharted territory.

Join Sal, Bartholomew and Roy on a mind-boggling expedition into the secrets of the Animal Kingdom with only an invisible map of the human heart to guide them. (Unless, of course, you count the talking parrot.) What on Earth could possibly go wrong…?

Ah….I’ll let you in on a secret. A lot!

I’m so excited and nervous that The What on Earth Institute of Wonder is coming out on the 31st of August.  If you adore animals and don’t mind a laugh, I reckon you’re going to love it. Well I hope you are. And there’s plenty of that in there too. Hope.

Stay tuned over the coming months for some sneak peaks and stories behind the story…

 

 

Book Week

That suit! That smile! NEVER seen a grander Vincent than Lachie! And a Florence too with her emerald green musical shoes and a baby elephant by her side.

Brilliant costumes Sophie and Lachie. You take my breath away!

(There’s a rumour you have ideas for new rooms. Can’t wait to hear them!) Thank you SO much for letting me share.