Last month when I was telling you about my new book Girl Underground and about some of the adventures I've been having on the publicity trail, I forgot to mention one very important thing.

Teachers' notes.

Now if you're not a teacher, please don't stop reading. The Girl Underground teacher's notes aren't just for teachers. They're for everyone who wants to find out a bit more about the ideas and themes in the book. Readers, for example, and booksellers and librarians and my accountant and cane toads who want to see what I'm writing about these days and perhaps even the Minister for Immigration.

The notes were prepared by Judith Ridge, a very fine educator and children's book expert, and I think she's done a great job. They're on the Puffin Books website. Take a peek.

Someone else who's done a great job is Mary-Anne Fahey, who reads Girl Underground on the Bolinda Audio version. Every word of the book is on the CDs, and all delivered with Mary-Anne's superb ability to pronounce words exactly right and with lots of feeling. If you think I'm exaggerating and sucking up to her just because she's a family member, have a listen for yourself. Girl Underground Chapter One and Mary-Anne's reading of it are waiting for you here on the site.

I'm off to Norfolk Island for the Writers Festival. I'm looking forward to it, even though when I agreed to go I was looking at a photo of Lord Howe Island. Never mind, I'm sure Norfolk's just as nice.

Until next time, oo-roo and happy reading (and listening),

11 July 2004