• Home
  • About
    • About Treefall Writing
    • About Melinda Tognini
    • Comments Policy
  • My Books
    • Many Hearts, One Voice
    • Tales From Our Home
    • Other Publications
  • Young Writers: Competitions
  • Work with Me
    • Workshops
    • Mentoring & critiquing
    • Oral history
    • Working in schools
  • Blog
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Family history
    • Young writers
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • About Treefall Writing
    • About Melinda Tognini
    • Comments Policy
  • My Books
    • Many Hearts, One Voice
    • Tales From Our Home
    • Other Publications
  • Young Writers: Competitions
  • Work with Me
    • Workshops
    • Mentoring & critiquing
    • Oral history
    • Working in schools
  • Blog
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Family history
    • Young writers
  • Contact
scroll down for more
Reviews & Recommendations

6 Degrees of Separation: From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to My Father’s Shadow

Melinda Tognini November 2, 2019 6 Comments
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

It’s time once again for the book nerd’s version of Six Degrees of Separation, where Kate from booksaremyfavouriteandbest suggests a starting book, and anyone can join in by linking it to six other titles—even you!

This month, our chains are starting with Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Although I know the story reasonably well, I don’t know if I ever read it all the way through as a child. I was much more familiar with a different Lewis—C.S. Lewis—and the wonderful The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

I recently purchased the Italian version of it, which is translated as Il leone, la strega e l’armadio. Another book I have in Italian is Pandamonia by Western Australian duo, Chris Nixon and Chris Owen.

I discovered the Italian translation in a Florence bookshop when I visited last year, accompanied by a 3D reproduction of the gorgeous rhinoceros from Once Upon a Small Rhinoceros by Meg McKinlay. This has continued to be my favourite picture book since its publication in 2017 (I’m sure I’ve mentioned it several times before!), when I read it to a young student I mentor.

The Small Rhinoceros prior to her Italian adventure.
The Small Rhinoceros exploring the streets of Florence.
The Small Rhinoceros searching out Australian authors in a Florence bookstore.

Another book my student enjoys reading is Fish Jam by Kylie Howarth, who generously donated a class set to 12 Buckets, the organisation where I’m a mentor. Together we are practising reading this aloud, and in the future we may read it to a pre-primary class.

I recently sat next to Kylie at a quiz night, organised by SCBWI West (the Western Australian branch of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). On the other side of me was Jen Banyard, author of Mystery at Riddle Gully, which I’ve just ordered from my local library.

Growing up, I loved a good mystery, and devoured every Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew or Trixie Beldon I could find. The most recent mystery I’ve read, however, is My Father’s Shadow by Jannali Jones. I won’t give too much away as I’m in the middle of a review for Writing WA, but I can tell you that I picked it up one Saturday morning, and spent most of the day on the couch until I finished it late that afternoon.

My chain began with books that took us on journeys into other worlds, then shifted to picture books about animals exploring their worlds,before finishing with page turning mysteries and thrillers.

Over to You

Where will six degree of separation take you?

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
  • Share This:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email
Previous 6 Degrees of Separation: From Three Women to The Protected
Next Oral Histories: Connecting the Past, Present and Future
Melinda Tognini

story-gatherer & mentor

Related Posts
6 Degrees of Separation: From The Book of Form and Emptiness to Jack’s Island August 6, 2022
On My Bedside Table: July 2022 Roundup July 26, 2022
6 Degrees of Separation: From Wintering to Homecoming July 5, 2022

6 Comments

  1. Davida Chazan says:
    November 2, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    See? Everyone does this differently. I really enjoyed your chain! Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      November 3, 2019 at 6:45 am

      Isn’t it great? I love seeing how differently the various chains end up.

      Reply
  2. Lisa of Hopewell says:
    November 2, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    Small Rhino and the Panda book sound wonderful!

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      November 3, 2019 at 6:45 am

      They are!!

      Reply
  3. Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out says:
    November 3, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    I too read every Famous Five, Secret Seven, and Trixie Beldon I could find. The picture books here look delightful, thank you for sharing your chain

    Reply
    1. Melinda Tognini says:
      November 4, 2019 at 5:13 am

      The picture books I’ve mentioned are delightful!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign-Up to my Monthly Newsletter

Sign up here to receive regular writing resources, research tips and creative prompts, as well as reading recommendations and MAD links. 

Privacy

Read my full privacy policy here , but essentially I promise to keep your information confidential and not pass on your details to any 3rd parties. Ever.

Blog Categories

  • Reading
    • Reading recommendations
    • 6 Degrees of Separation
    • Stories that matter
    • My story
    • Five Faves
    • Reading
  • Writing
    • Writing
    • Writing prompts
    • Writing quotes
    • Writing resources
    • Creating space for your story
    • Family History
    • Young Writers

What I’m Reading

goodreads

Australian Society of Authors

asa_logo_col

Interesting Blogs

  • speakupforthose
  • wwwssnaveenravi
  • Stephen McAlpine
  • Reid on Writing
  • My summer as a chaplain
  • Natasha Orme
  • Treefall Writing
  • Gove Peninsula Festival: Nhulunbuy East Arnhem Land
  • Memoir Notes
  • Write Note Reviews
  • isobelblackthorn.com
  • Theresa Kaminski
  • Booklength Project Group
  • Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
  • Mirymom's Blog
  • Latest Comments

    Thanks, Davida! Heading over to check out your chain now (I'm a bit late this month).
    In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Wintering to Homecoming
    Lovely chain here. I don't know any of these books.
    In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Wintering to Homecoming
    I would love to know what you think once you have finished them - I always love seeing your perspective on the books you read x
    In 6 Degrees of Separation: From Sorrow and Bliss to Lost and Found

    Recent Posts

    • 6 Degrees of Separation: From The Book of Form and Emptiness to Jack’s Island
    • On My Bedside Table: July 2022 Roundup
    • Creative Writing Prompts: Photographs
    • 6 Degrees of Separation: From Wintering to Homecoming
    • One-Word Creative Prompts #2
    • 6 Degrees of Separation: From Sorrow and Bliss to Lost and Found

    Follow or Contact Melinda Tognini

    • Facebook
    • Email
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    Melinda Tognini (c) 2018 | Site by ICTECH