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Deckledum

by Julie Young

24 pages; Saddle stitched; Illustrated; catalogue #03-1920; ISBN 1-4120-1543-X; US$13.50, C$15.00, EUR11.00, £7.50

Two Human children are taken to a Magical Underground City with a Mayor with no name, to allow him to find himself once more!

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about the book      about the author      excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book Dawn and Brads get a surprise of their lives one day as they play in their backgarden. A small man, who is no bigger than a duck, appears in front of them. The man is quite excitable and asks the two if they would come with him to help him find his name. After being told that their Father would not even know that they had been anywhere, the children find themselves in another world. They have many exciting adventures and puzzles to work out along their way. Some of which are a little scary. Most of them are fun and colourful. It all appears to be a dream. A Witch, called Darsag Mitch, was to blame for the small man losing his name. She had put a spell on him so that unless two human children were willing to help find his name, he would never know it again. This is a story of friendship, courage and two young children having the time of their lives! Now you too can put yourself in their shoes! Deckledum was written up in the paper! A MEAN old witch, two curious children and a strange little man without a name are just some of the characters Julie Young felt compelled to write about 15 years ago. Now Julie, of Cloverdale, is celebrating the release of her debut book, Deckledum, and she hopes children will fall in love with the story she has worked so hard to bring to life. Deckledum is a story of courage, friendship and adventure as two children help an odd little man search for his name. A cheeky witch curse the man, saying unless he found two children willing to help him find his name, he would never know it again. The book has been a labour of love for Julie (45), who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1989, a year after she wrote the first draft. Unable to have children herself, Julie said she drew inspiration for the book, which she wrote in four hours, from some special children in her life. Of her diagnosis, she "handled it okay, considering I have always been a really independent person. "Now I'm in a wheelchair most of the time and I can't drive, so my outlets are writing on my computer, painting and woodburning," she said. Last year, Julie rediscovered the book and transformed it into its current form, now available through Canadian firm Trafford Publishing. The book is available for purchase at www.trafford.com

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About the Author Julie lives in Australia with her husband Jim and dog Jigsaw. She has always yearned to write a book for children as she loved reading books as a child. Having Multiple Sclerosis, her only outlet is the computer, painting, wood burning and now writing books. "I hope to put some fun and fantasy into a child's life in this increasingly worrying world," Julie says.

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Excerpts

DECKLEDUM

This is the story of two little children who lived with their Daddy. There was Dawn who was 7 and Bradley who was 5. They were a mischievous pair - always getting in their Daddy's hair!!

One day, Dawn and Brads were playing in the garden when all of a sudden - ping! - out of the ground jumped a little old man. He was no bigger than a duck. Dawn and Brads squealed with fright, but the little old man stared hard at them and soon, they were laughing and giggling all over the place. (Bradley had this really weird laugh).

After they had settled down, they stood and watched the little old man as he made a chair out of a piece of old wood lying on the ground.

Dawn said 'What's your name?'

'My name is unimportant at the moment', he said.

'What's your name?' Bradley asked.

'If you wish to know my name, you will have to come with me to find it' the little old man replied.

"Where to?" they chorused together.

The little old man pointed to the ground. Dawn and Bradley looked at each other and they started to laugh and giggle again.

OFF TO DECKLEDUM

'It won't take long -
Let's sing a song'
joked the little old man.

'Take my hand and then we'll land quite safely on our feet - Be quick and sure and blink once more -
We mustn't miss a beat!'

'Together now,
We take a bow
and blow each other's ears.
Take my hand and close your eyes,
or you may end up in tears'.
Before they knew it, they were safely on their feet in a different world. No one would have known it existed. There were little people running all over the place - just like a busy city.

'Wow' said Bradley.

'Is this real?' asked Dawn.

'Yes, it's real' the little old man laughed. 'But come, we only have a short time to find my name'.

'How come you don't know your own name little old man?' Bradley quizzed.

FURTHER INTO THE COUNTRY

They wondered on for ages, not seeing a thing - but Bradley and Dawn were fascinated by the sky changing colours mostly from orange and yellow, to purple. And the ground was changing from orange and red, to tiny pebbles that were purple, blue and yellow. Some time later they stopped dead in their tracks. There was a strange noise coming from somewhere and it was getting louder and louder. Then Dawn saw it -

'It looks like a Giant Ant' she cried.

The little old man waved his hands in the air, chanted some words and ended up with a bow and arrow in his arms.

'Haven't had a good chance like this for ages' he shouted with excitement!

'Will it hurt us?' Bradley asked.

'No' said the little old man, 'but it's fair game!'

'Hold it!' Dawn cried 'What was the rhyme about game? - If you want to know your name, I suggest you try my game!'

'Yes - perhaps he has my name?'

The little old man raced over to the ant.

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Catalogue Information

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