Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Kathy Clutterbuck!
Teachers of art and children with dyslexia, illustrator and author duo, Alice Blue and Kathy Clutterbuck have formed to create their charming AliKat Rhyme Time resource that empowers readers of the rhymes to express themselves creatively through images and words. The modern-day rhymes have today’s children in mind, effectively supporting the development of language, vocabulary and visual art. With the endless benefits of reading and learning rhyme, combined with the stunning illustrative pieces throughout, AliKat Rhyme Time is both highly engaging and an invaluable pedagogical tool for early childhood readers and speakers.
Thank you and congratulations on this beautiful book, Kathy and Alice! 🙂
About the Author
Kathy Clutterbuck is a Brisbane based teacher currently specialising in children with dyslexia. She has had an eclectic career encompassing classroom teaching, adult education and tutoring second language students throughout Asia.
Raised by an editor (father) albeit slightly irreverent, and well-read mother, Kathy was exposed by both to rhyme as a small child.
Kathy’s love of rhyme coupled with her teaching career and some additional humour have formed the perfect inspiration for AliKat Rhyme Time.
About the Illustrator
Alice Blue is a Brisbane Bayside artist and mother of two, she has always been fascinated by the natural world and loves making everyday subjects come to life with artistic flair and a well-defined palette. Working as an Art Teacher in Early Childhood, Alice has developed an appreciation for the way young people respond to art.
Alice’s style can be best described as an energetic fusion of joy and colour.
Please find more information about Kathy Clutterbuck and Alice Blue at their AliKat Rhyme Time website: AliKat Rhyme Time and on Instagram.
AliKat Rhyme Time is available for purchase via the stores listed at AliKat Rhyme Time.
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
Author: Kathy Clutterbuck. Illustrator: Alice Blue. This book is self-published.
WHAT is it about? What is your favourite part of this book?
Our favourite parts of this book, AliKat Rhyme Time are: The “today” themes of the rhymes and the generic, colourful illustrations in support of the current Science of Reading approach without providing prompts or clues to the words. (Most nursery rhymes still being taught in pre-schools, schools and homes date back to the 18th century and contain outdated content. Humpty Dumpty was written in 1797.)
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
We began writing AliKat while teaching together in 2019, after continuously searching for relevant material.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
Inspiration came from a lack of modern resources available for early learners on everyday topics like magpies!
WHY is this book meaningful to you? Why would its message resonate with readers?
AliKat is deeply meaningful to us in that it supports crucial literacy development, rhymes are strong predictors of reading competence, particularly for children with learning difficulties. The rhymes in AliKat are short and easily comprehended as opposed to a whole book written in rhyme.
HOW do you feel about the illustrations / cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
We LOVE the cover design! It is a portmanteau of our names Alice & Kathy. AliKat, and the black cat has become our icon. The use of bright colours is eye-catching and generic in style.
OTHER information or experiences you’d like to share?
When reading a rhyme to a child, allow them to choose their favourite page. Read the rhyme through first, on the second and consecutive times leave out words for them to fill. Ask what sounds they can hear that are the same. Older children can explore the different spellings. Clap the beats and discuss the topic.
AliKat Rhyme Time has been included into the Queensland Dept of Education, Early Childhood division curriculum after a Principal Program Officer discovered AliKat in a local bookshop.
That’s wonderful news! Thanks so much for sharing your brilliant story with us, Kathy! 🙂
#thequicksixinterview #alikatrhymetime #rhymesforchildren #dyslexia #picturebooks #justkidslit
