The children’s TV series Lochie Leonard last night won Most Outstanding Children’s Program at the TV Week Logie Awards. This gorgeous series based on the award winning Tim Winton books for intermediate readers is a more than deserving winner, with perfect casting, wonderful scripting and stunning Western Australian scenery. This was the best Australian children’s series that I have seen in years and I instantly fell in love with it. The charm like Winton’s books is that it is natural and funny, sometimes a little sad, I did have a little cry in one episode, and always exquisitely Australian without being cliched. The books and the TV series are perfect for boys from about 10 years and up, especially reluctant readers but girls will love Lochie also.

Lochie is a surf mad 12 year old who moves to a new town with his father, ‘Sarge’, the town cop, mum who is beautifully understanding but fighting depression, little brother Phillip who is older than his years and is still wetting the bed and baby sister ‘Blob’ who likes to eat lino.

Season 1 is available on DVD.

Today I have bought myself a copy of Breath, Winton’s newest adult novel the first in seven years. I can’t wait to go on holidays next week, find a nice sunny spot and devour Breath. It also has one on the most gorgeous jackets on a novel I have seen, it makes me want to jump in.