You’ve read the books (seventeen times), seen the movies (eighteen). Soon you can step inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. (Surely your folks will buy you a measly old plane ticket to Florida in order for you to fully indulge your love of literature… and stuff.)

The website humbly claims that ‘this completely immersive world will transcend generations and bring the wonder and magic of the amazingly detailed Harry Potter books and movies to life.’

You can take a virtual tour of HarryLand on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjnmhivaItU

I’m not even that much of a HogwartsHead and I want to go. (I think all school librarians should arrange an excursion as a matter of urgency.)

Tristan.

www.tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com

 www.guysread.com has just been revamped and it’s got heaps of cool boys’ book stuff. You can get tips on knockout reads, rate your fave books and link to other fun sites like the dude who gets paid to make cool stuff out of Lego.

Great Book Suggestions: www.guysread.com/books

Authors You Might Want to Check Out: www.guysread.com/books/authors

The Guys Read Top 20: www.guysread.com/books/ratings

Stats and Facts on Boys and Reading: www.guysread.com/about

Hope you like it.

Tristan

www.tristanbancks.com

It’s 44 days till John Flanagan’s ninth Ranger’s Apprentice book hits stores in Australia and, to celebrate, Random House have re-jacketed the series and are giving the first book away! If you sign up for the Ranger’s Apprentice newsletter you score yourself an ebook version of Ranger’s Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan

It’s over at www.rangersapprentice.com.au

See you soon.

Tristan

www.tristanbancks.com

Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to draw? Or maybe you can and you want some tips on what to do with your talent? Come and spend a few minutes inside the mind of picture guy (and writer) Gus Gordon, illustrator of The Undys series and the new picture book, Wendy.

What is the best thing about being an illustrator?

The parties and the waterskiing for sure! Other than that it would probably be the daily challenges of trying to control a wobbly line.

Have you ever drawn your way out of a life-or-death situation?

Oh yes, many times! The most terrifying of these type of situations is when your paper is wet and you keep poking your pencil through (pirate situation) or when your hands are handcuffed behind your back (kidnapped by guerrillas situation.) It always amazes me how fast you can draw when there is a shiny sword near your throat. Other than that, no.

Do you and Michael Wagner speak much when you’re working on the Undys books together?

Yes. Luckily he is a nice guy so we have long chats … It often helps to speak to the author. You can get some good insight into the stories (or back stories) of your characters – things that you may help you with the illustrations. Especially when you’re designing the characters. His characters are strong and very visual so that makes it much easier.

Do you have any advice for others who would like to spend their lives getting paid to draw funny pictures? 

Yes. Don’t do it! You will eventually lose your mind. Having said that, this is not such a bad thing for a creative person. Persistence is the key. Stick to your guns, your style will find a home in the end.

What are some of your fave illustrated books?

The Undys (of course) by Michael Wagner.

Aussie Bites (Penguin) are generally always good.

Anything by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake.

‘Basically you’ll find yourself in the middle of a battle. There’ll be bullets firing, arrows flying, men fighting to the death, and anything from cannons and spears to battle axes and bombs…’

Napoleon Smythe is at the library when he receives a note that lures him into an extraordinary adventure. In the bowels of the building the librarian (actually an undercover special agent) is overseeing Operation Battle Book and Napoleon is her latest recruit. His assignment? To collect DNA from Sir Francis Drake in the Battle of Cadiz, Spain, 1587.

Battle Boy is not a never-seen-before scenario. There have been lots of kid spies in wildly implausible situations, but it is so jammed full of spectacular gadgets, historical characters, battle scenes and fun illustrations that, if you’re a primary school boy, you’ll eat it up and reach for the next in the series.

Battle Boy is the new Zac Power. It’s a training ground for future Anthony Horowitz and Matt Reilly readers. And it gives librarians a serious rock ‘n’ roll edge.

I’ll be hunting down an interview with author Charlie Carter for this blog in coming weeks and I’ll be looking to give away copies of the first two books, so check in soon.

Tristan.

www.tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com