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Reviews

Cover-Laugh again, Kinta!
• "Laugh again, Kinta!" is a charming children's picture book, written and illustrated by Heather Joy Leane. The simple story follows a lost and bewildered Kinta, a young kookaburra, after his forest home is ravaged by fire. Kinta is saved by wildlife carers, and finally relocated to the wild. How he regains his sense of self, and settles to a bright future makes a heartwarming story. The pictures are a perfect fit for the words. On the final page is information about kookaburras.
http://readandreviewed.blogspot.com/
Sally Odgers – 6/1/08 
Writer, Sally Odgers, has had over 112 titles published. These include family stories, humour, historical novels, theatre stories, verse, children‘s picture books, non fiction, romance, adult horror, fantasy and science fiction. She also runs a manuscript assessment service if you are looking for one. I found her very helpful!

• Thank you SO much for sending me a copy of your gorgeous book. It is beautiful. Kinta has such a perky smile - and such a cute coy grin on the dragonfly page.  I love him. It all looks very professional - worth all your hard work - congratulations! I will treasure my copy.
Dianne Wolfer - 12/1/08
Dianne Wolfer is author of 14 books for children & teenagers, including YA novels Choices, Dolphin Song and her latest books Lighthouse Girl, Lighthorse Boy and Granny Grommet and Me. Dianne is also the former State Regional Advisor for the WA chapter of  The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

• Heather Joy Leane enlightened many of us by explaining that kookaburras are not native to WA. Laugh again, Kinta is about home, happiness and a sense of self and should intrigue readers with its game board style timeline and often hidden dragonfly companion on every page.
Jan Nicholls - 6/3/08
Former Childrens Book Council of Australia (CBCA) President, reviewing A Night With Our Stars, annual evening showcasing WA writers and illustrators held at Westbooks, Victoria Park, 6/3/08 in the April 08 issue of CBCA WA Branch Newsletter.



Feedback

• I gave [Katie] a copy of Kinta to take with her [to Karratha], as she is teaching pre-primary. "Oh also I thought you would like to know I have a little girl at school called Kinta, and on Monday I took the book you gave me into school to read especially for her to hear and it made her day, she just thought it was so wonderful that a character in a book had the same name as her, she was so pleased that at home time she went running out the door and told her nana all about it!" Obviously Kinta is a big hit there. 
Jan Conway – 15/2/08

• Wow what a surprise to receive your book out of the “blue”. It is lovely – beautifully done. The kookaburras ate the many snakes on a property I lived and I felt they were my protectors. Whenever I come to the property I live on now – “Kookaburra Dreaming” – they would laugh. They have guided me when I have been lost and warned me when I could have had an accident. I am truly blessed by them and their joy and laughter. We would love to meet you anytime you are in the area and would love for you to stay.
Shahara [Croke], Rainbow Lodge B&B, Beechworth, Victoria

• "Dear Heather, Nice to meet you. I am the art teacher at Shirley's school. Shirley gave me your story book as a Christmas gift for me. It was a very beautiful one. I love the painting written the letters -HOME- by the dead leaves. And Kinta wrapped in the big hands is very nice picture too. I strongly feel the rich nature of Australia from the other pictures. Thank you for writing a really nice story. My English isn't enough to convey the impression from your book, but I wanted to tell you that my heart was warmed by your book. I wish you success in the future. Best regards."
Y. Fukuta, Tottori, Japan

• Hi Heather,
My colleague, Kobayashi, sent me this message this afternoon:
"My two daughters just got influenza, so I have to take care of them tomorrow and I will be definitely asked to read Kinta all day long!" (Kobayashi’s daughters are 2 & 4 and Shirley tells me they have fallen in love with Kinta. Their Dad has to read it to them multiple times! – April 2013)
Shirley Leane, Japan