There has never been a better time to be a booklover — with attractions and apps that bring books to life.

Children’s books are magical and can make a lasting impression well beyond childhood — these destinations can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
And you never know, a book-based adventure may tempt even the most reluctant readers to pick up a book!

From the classics to modern-day, and even a journey through a magical fairytale forest, prepare to go beyond the book.

10. Ginger Factory Gruffalo Trail. Queensland, Australia

Download the app, then follow the trail through the rainforest. Along the trail, you will find…

I’ve always had an expiry date hanging over my head. Statistically, children born with Cystic Fibrosis in the early 70s had an average life expectancy of seven. When I was diagnosed around 18 months, my prognosis was a little better than average. My mother was told there was a 50% chance I would live to see my thirteenth birthday.

Dying young was my fate. So, I always imagined that I would regret the many mistakes I’d made when I was dying. That I’d sit and wonder, what if?

I was thirty-eight when fate finally caught up with my merry dance…

My first wedding came with all the bells and whistles — well, the bells and whistles we could afford.

We were young, lacking a well-paid income, and with a three-month-old baby. But, working on our budget, with help from our parents, we squeezed in my dress, the bridesmaid dresses, rented tuxedos, and flowers.

We adhered to traditions. My first husband had a buck’s night, we slept at separate locations before the big event, and I dressed according to the rhyme:

Something old, something new.
Something borrowed, something blue.

I walked across a bridge in the park and got married in…

Unofficial Bits and Pieces

Quick Quirky Facts (also known as the good stuff!)
I don’t have a dominant hand, nor am I ambidextrous. Instead, I have what is called “mixed hand.” I am naturally left-handed but was forced in primary school to use my right hand. I use my right hand for handwriting and other fine motor skills, but I can do all other tasks equally well with both hands. I don’t have a backhand for tennis or squash, but switch the racket between hands.

I like my music unusual, in makeup with a side dash of Al. Which is code for Cyndi Lauper…

CURIOSITY

This article was published in ‘Curiosity,’ where Introspection, Exposition writers share the subjects and questions they’re intrigued by and obsess over.

You’re probably snickering as you read this. Laughter? Surely nothing terrible can happen when you laugh? And an epidemic — that sounds a little extreme.

Laughter and its contagious nature is a universal experience. We’ve all experienced the silliness of laughing because someone else has the giggles. No matter how cross you are, the sight of someone else in a fit of giggles will eventually turn your frown into a smile. You can’t help it.

Usually, shared laughter is…

It’s human nature to avoid talking about death or dying, but they are essential conversations. Inevitably we will need to make arrangements for our own funeral or that of a loved one.

The impact on a loved one immediately after death is a breeding ground for hasty decisions. Therefore, it is more logical to have tough conversations before they are needed and when emotions are stable.

Of the current options, burial and cremation are the most popular; donating your body to science is gaining momentum and some like the notion of a Viking burial at sea. …

CURIOSITY

The phrase “The dingo’s got my baby” morphed into the “The dingo ate my baby,” and it rocketed around the world.

The second inquest’s announcement into the death of Azaria Chamberlain occurred as I was starting Year Five. At school, Azaria Chamberlain was a taboo subject. We were supposed to leave the discussion to the adults. Yet for the entire year, as the countdown to the trial approached, we whispered in the playground.

Even in the schoolyard, we held polarised opinions. Many children seemed to be influenced by what their parents said.

Dingos don’t eat babies was a popular saying.

…

Monkey’s Love

Monkey was nearly born into my hands; her mum, Scruffy, was a rescue dog with huge trust issues. Repeatedly I had been warned that she would go away to birth her pups. Instead, Scruffy jumped into bed with me, nudging me with her nose until I woke.

My eyes opened in time to see the first pup born. I held the first pup in my lap as the second puppy was born. Scruffy ripped open the birthing sack and nudged this second puppy towards me.

Scruffy’s second-born was a strange-looking pup, no doubt due to her heritage, her…