An Amazing Cooking Class: Book 1

By Janice Gunstone

In this first book of a series, country boys Billy and Lionel meet an elf, Alfred. They are invited to his village hidden in the local bushland. This starts a series of adventures and even joining a cooking class with Chef Lou Mae. As they get to meet more of the community they realise there is another world down here. Madam Erle causes all sorts of problems and Billy saves the town from a horrible flood. It is a wild ride for the boys.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Feb 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9781528971294

Janice Gunstone

Janice Gunstone has been a primary school teacher, then she moved to lecturing in literature and child development at Swinburne University. She has written many books for young children and told lots of stories to groups of children. She has spent time teaching teachers in China and also worked with aboriginal teachers, supporting them to get qualifications. She is interested in better ways of learning and has completed a Masters in Innovation in Education to increase her knowledge in early literacy and stories.

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About the Author

Janice has been a Primary School teacher, then she moved to lecturing in literature and child development at Swinburne University. She has written many books for young children and told lots of stories to groups of children. She has spent time teaching teachers in China and also worked with Aboriginal teachers supporting them to get qualifications. She is interested in better ways of learning and has completed a Masters in Innovation in Education to increase her knowledge in early literacy and stories.

Copyright Information ©

Janice Gunstone 2023

The right of Janice Gunstone to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528942799 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528971294 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

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Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

1. Friday Afternoon

The afternoon sun was low in the sky as Billy pushed through the hole in the back fence, he looked across to the neighbour’s back fence for signs of his friend, Lionel. The air was already beginning to get chilly when Lionel wandered out and came over.

Hi, what a ripper of a day! This might be a wasted trip, I hope we meet Alfred as he promised, Billy commented to Lionel.

After school, Billy had rushed inside, Hi, Mum. Lionel and I are going to play in the bush, he remarked to his mother.

He changed his school clothes, grabbed some afternoon tea, smiled at his mother and rushed outside. He came out into the paddock behind his house, Lionel joined him and they walked quietly along the well-worn track that led to the forest, only a few minutes walk away.

We need to meet him down by the pond, Billy stated.

I am sure I saw some pages in an old book at the back of the shed that commented on wee people, Billy said reminiscing about an old journal he had seen some time ago as he rummaged about in one of the old sheds at the back of their house.

Did you look for it? asked Lionel.

I have not had any time to go searching, replied Billy.

They were aware of the pesky flies that were trying to get near the moisture around their eyes. Once they were away from the houses and yard, Billy pulled his hat down as they walked along the hard earth between the long, dry grass. As they came to the bushes near the edge of the forest, a rabbit scurried back into its hole to hide. The gentle breeze moved the leaves in the trees and the white clouds floated overhead.

The track led to the forest and past the big gum trees. One tree seemed spooky even in daylight because of its knarled, strange shape, with white coloured bark on its huge trunk. Lots of lower bushes helped make the area denser coupled with all the large trees, spreading their wide canopy of leaves far into the sky. As they walked further into this bush, the ground sloped downwards, with the path following the contour of the land. This was their favourite area.

I always love coming here, said Lionel, it is so calm and yet busy when you look at the birds, insects and little animals that live here.

Ferns began to appear in the bush. The air became slightly cooler in the gully, then they began to hear the faint sound of the creek gurgling over a stony bed.

Come this way, stated Billy.

Billy took a turn off the path following a side-track as they went deeper into the darker fern-laden valley. The large tree ferns were now all around them, like umbrellas over their heads.

We have to get down to where the pond is, Billy commented to Lionel who nodded in response.

They moved purposefully in and around the huge tree trunks until they came to a sunny patch where the creek broadened out creating a small pond within the ferns with a rocky lining that could be seen in some shallow places. The water sparkled in the sunlight and some of the ferns lapped at the edge. Sometimes, if they were lucky and very quiet, they would see a platypus playing in the water. Billy always thought what a funny creature the platypus was with its duck bill and webbed feet.

Lionel saw it and whispered, There is a platypus, such a funny animal.

They were always shy, it would disappear into its burrow when it became aware you were there, watching it swim in the pool.

Billy spied the large rock that formed a natural seat, which he and Lionel liked to sit on and watch the water gush along through this pool an endless flow of water from the spring higher up in the hills. Let’s sit here, then we can see those rocks and if anyone comes out the entrance.

As they sat for a while, the sun went under a cloud as the atmosphere in this tranquil space change from a sunny oasis to a darker, cooler spot with the constant sound of the water filling the pool. Then the water headed off again over the rocks, into a creek to make its way into the downstream river and finally to the sea.

Billy watched in a certain spot, near some