AI is Approaching Your Toddler

This beautiful book from real humans for illustration only!

Mother Jones: “AI Is Coming for Your Toddler’s Bedtime Story – Artificial intelligence poses an increasingly real threat to children’s literature — and children’s learning” warns Lily Meyer.

As a long-time reader of Paula Bardell-Hedley’s prodigiously interesting blog, Winding Up the Week, I came across this snippet (29/11/2025) https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/11/ai-childrens-books/ and Mother Jones certainly sinks the boot into publishing houses. I let fly with the following embellished comments recorded below:

I said “That’s appalling” because Mother Jones said: “AI Is Coming for Your Toddler’s Bedtime Story.” Having read, written and attended courses on writing and illustrating picture books and stories for young children I can voucher for the fact that they come from the heart. Children’s books are not written quickly, or rubber-stamped, and many are written by a teacher or parent who has hands on experience. You cannot dumb-down a child’s story nor can it be over-embellished.

If you have read “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by superb British author Charlie Mackesy you should also consider the consequences to children’s artists and illustrators.

Some things in life are too precious, too personal for publishers to tamper with, and I truly hope a computer generated AI will never comprehend the nuance of a child’s reading enjoyment. Better still stay away from young readers.

We need Self Before AI for our future of adaptability and mental stability. The old saying “If you don’t use it you lose it” is needed by a world of people staring too much at their screens. Read with a child, turn the human created/real pages, explain what you both see, let the child colour in some pages, nod off to sleep with the book. Make a picture book a family friend with wrinkled pages and maybe a food stain because it’s all part of the warmth of a human learning experience.

I know from personal and practical contact that children’s books are written by authors with kind hearts, then read by a trusted mature human to enhance a trusting young human’s reading journey through life.
No AI need apply.

💗 © Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

Publishing House Seeks Volunteer Reader

Volunteer proof-reader vacancy

Do you have a sharp eye for detail and a love of great stories? Hawkeye Publishing is looking for a volunteer proof-reader to join their team.

You would be helping the Hawkeye Publishing team put the final polish on their newest books, proof-reading manuscripts that have already been line edited and typeset, across a wide range of genres. Typically Hawkeye need one manuscript proof-read every 1-2 months.

Perks of the job: Here’s what they say…

A. Receive a complimentary copy of any book you proof and fall in love with — their gift to you to add to your collection.

B. Invited to the occasional training session and social event, connecting with director Carolyn Martinez and the Hawkeye team.

C. Professional references from a trade publisher.

An eye for detail makes
all the difference!

To be considered: Please send Hawkeye an email with your details:

Your CV and cover letter, with evidence of your proof-reading ability and experience.
With an eye for detail, this is an opportunity to help bring quality Australian stories into the world.
Be part of a friendly, passionate publishing team.
For Hawkeye Publishing I proof-read and reviewed author Jack Roney’s superlative ‘The Ghost Train and The Scarlet Moon’ (see below) such an exciting and inventive adventure story.
Jack also writes adult thrillers.
Have a look at Hawkeye’s book box gift packs: https://hawkeyebooks.com.au/collections/gifts
From gripping thrillers to heartwarming romances and thought provoking non-fiction, Hawkeye Publishing has a lot to offer readers.
You could be the first to read!

💗 © Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

‘The Ghost Train and The Scarlet Moon’ Review

World Explorers or Destroyers of Ancient Cultures?

No disrespect to the descendants of these guys but they really did not know what they were messing with when they traversed vast lands, sailed the seven seas and crossed seemingly endless oceans, heading towards different lands and entirely different civilizations to anything they knew or expected to find. In so doing they named everything they saw with their own names without a thought for the culture, religion, tribal or family practices nor a sustainable way of living that preceded their arrival, possibly for thousands of years. The plan seemed to be “bemuse, plunder, kill if necessary and get plenty of provisions to get back home for much kudos and acclaim.” They certainly received acclaim and got their names in the history books.

Captain James Cook has, for a long long time, got his name plastered everywhere in Australia but surely it is time to look at new explorers, new pioneers in the area of 21st century preservation. Save what we have, not bulldoze it and pour more concrete. Keep big chunks of the natural land, places for native animals to remain safe, eco-friendly homes and lots of safe walking paths to minimize vehicle traffic. One of my pet dislikes is huge off-road vehicles and the advertisements where they race a 4-wheel-drive through creeks, over sand dunes and across rugged bushland without a care in the world for flora or fauna habitat. Off-road destruction by any type of wheel or tyre causes land erosion and damage is far greater than walking.

At least Captain James Cook and his fellow explorers, those navigators and discoverers of ancient civilisations and “new” worlds, got to see pristine environments of great wonder and people with different lifestyles. Such a shame that they were not open and broad-minded enough to work out a peaceful and harmonious meeting of minds instead of injury and death. Or not use the exploration funds on getting a good reputation back home and impressing the Royals by plundering and carting valuable goods back with them. In the case of those land explorers who came after Captain James Cook, mainly to grab as much acreage as they could, it would appear that they did not have a masterplan but brooked no argument or discussion from the original Indigenous first nations people.

So I say, much in all as I loved History in school, what I now know is a load of PR rubbish any 21st century spin-doctor would be proud to write. Explorers were first-line invaders like the lone black ant which gets into my kitchen, exploring the benchtops. Tough, inquisitive and not too afraid of me, it is no doubt the strongest and bravest in the hive to seek out a new food source. I cannot kill it, I put it outside in the hope it will explore further afield. I know in due course it will return with reinforcements.

Famous and incredibly brave explorers pictured top to bottom: Vasco da Gama, James Cook, Abel Tasman, Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Marco Polo.

Further information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Discovery

💗 Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

Save the World’s Oldest Children’s Bookshop

https://www.littlebookroom.com.au/

The Little Bookroom is at a turning point. You can help to give it a new home, a new chapter, and a future that honours its extraordinary past.

Melbourne’s beloved The Little Bookroom was founded by Albert Ullin OAM in 1960. The Little Bookroom was Australia’s very first bookstore dedicated solely to children’s literature.

Over time, it has become something even rarer — a living legacy to the power of books, imagination, and community. In fact, it is now the oldest children’s bookshop in the world!

For more than six decades, it has been a haven for readers young and old, a meeting place for authors and illustrators, and a cultural treasure for Australia, and the global children’s book community.

Michael Earp writes – “I’ve dedicated my life to children’s and young adult literature. I was The Little Bookroom manager from 2018–2022, and in 2021 I was awarded the Bookseller of the Year by Book People (the Australian Booksellers Association). I believe this beautiful bookshop deserves to celebrate its 65th birthday — and many more to come.”

Quote
This children’s bookstore has weathered many moves
and challenges over the years.
Most recently, the pandemic and personal circumstances.
The incredible Lambert family
who cared for The Little Bookroom for 17 years
made the decision to step away.
—Michael Earp—

You can step in, says Michael! The doors at St Georges Road have closed but this doesn’t have to be the end.

To make a bright book future happen, you and GoFundMe can help:
Link https://gofund.me/98a13b4f
Info: https://www.theurbanlist.com/melbourne/directory/little-bookroom-degraves

Secure a new home for The Little Bookroom (location to be announced soon!)
Fit out the new space with shelving, technology, and event essentials.
Ensure accessibility so all families and readers feel welcome.
Reopen with strong, diverse book stock from day one.
Host the storytimes, launches, book clubs, and school services that make The Little Bookroom a vital part of the community.

Share in the joy of knowing you’ve helped save a piece of children’s literary history! I can see children sitting reading, totally absorbed in their books.

Michael Earp continues: “As a non-binary writer and bookseller living in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia, with over 23 years experience in bookselling and publishing as a Children’s Book specialist. I’ve worked with publishers like Walker Books and Affirm Press, and bookstores including Kinokuniya, Borders, The Younger Sun, and (of course) The Little Bookroom.“

Also, Michael hold a Masters in Children’s Literature and a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education, and is currently Chair of the Board for Q-Lit, Victoria’s Queer Literature Festival. Also the editor and contributor to Everything Under the Moon: Fairy tales in a queerer light; Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories; and Avast! Pirate Stories by Transgender Authors, co-edited by Alison Evans.

Michael passionately believes in creating spaces where every child can see themselves in the stories they read, and adds “I’m not asking for help with ongoing costs. I’m asking for a launchpad — a chance to give The Little Bookroom the future it deserves.”

If every person who has fond memories of the St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North bookstore, who believes in the importance of children’s literature or who wants to see this cultural landmark continue — if every one of you gives even a little — it can live on!

Let’s write the next chapter together.
Donate. Share. Spread the word. https://gofund.me/98a13b4f

All donations will be received by Michael Earp and used to cover costs involved with the moving and set up of The Little Bookroom in a new location so that the shop has the best chance of a long future.
I have donated. The more raised by this GoFundMe the more it will reduce the amount of money needed to borrow. Therefore, the new shop can open on a solid foundation and focus on thriving into a wonderful reading future.

Books Rule! 📚💗 Edited by Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

*So Many Books!* Artwork illustrator Tomislav Tomic https://tomislavtomic.com/

Note: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.
Link: https://gofund.me/98a13b4f

My Flash of Bright Light

A cold and frosty morning Brisbane Australia © image Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

My flash of bright light came from –

‘Stairway to Heaven’
Song by Led Zeppelin (1971)
Songwriters: Robert Plant and James Patrick (Jimmy) Page

A superlative song about desire, greed, power and corruption under the guise of a woman climbing the stairway to her idea of heaven.

When I first heard this song I doubt the words meant much to me but now years later I realise that the lyrics offer a way to reverse your decision when things begin to crumble.

Quote ‘Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, There’s still time to change the road you’re on…’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stairway_to_Heaven

For me today the words in this song mean not only slow down but look very hard at what is ahead. Perhaps the newest brain disease marketed under the moniker of AI, and what is happening with the aggressive war campaigns being fought overseas right now. A few years ago I would not have written a blog post like this but as I mature and pay closer attention to our environment, our safety and the repetition of evil manifesting itself yet again, possibly eyeing a global scale, I think ‘Look to the past’. Do I really want a repeat of what happened in the 20th century? Of course not.

Millions and millions of innocent people lost their lives in two wars. In the second one J. Robert Oppenheimer only lost his security clearance. Who is accountable today? Who is sitting in a laboratory or war-room right now refining the best way to destroy an entire country?

Does the victor really win? What they need to consider is that humankind is strong-willed but even the most powerful frontrunners can walk away. Surely the guys in control, those in both armed and war-torn countries, can see that for all concerned fighting to the death is absolutely pointless.

💗 © Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

Holmes and Watson Live Auditions 2025

Attributed to Joseph Mallord William Turner (English 1775-1851)

Great excitement is being generated by the forthcoming stage production from Centenary Theatre Group featuring the famous crime duo Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.
Script by Jeffrey Hatcher.
Directed by Gary Kliger.
Audition time: 10am Saturday 23^rd August 2025
Place: Cnr Queenscroft and Halsbury Streets, Chelmer, Brisbane, Queensland Australia.

SYNOPSIS QUOTE:
The world is shocked! The famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his nemesis Moriarty are dead, locked in combat, both falling into the treacherous Reichenbach Falls. Holmes is dead — but is he? Dr Evan’s who runs an asylum on an island, a desolate location, has in his care three men who each claim to be the real Sherlock Holmes. Who can work out which of them is the real Holmes? Who else but Dr Watson. Surely Holmes’ best friend and confidant?

AND: That’s just the start! This is a twisty, teasing romp, designed to baffle and entertain in equal measure.
Come and be part of the theatre fun!

CAST REQUIRED:
Dr Evans – age open though probably best 30s to 50s.
Dr Watson – age open though same range suggested as for Evans.
Orderly at the asylum – age range the same.
Matron/The woman doubling up role – age open dazzle us.
Holmes 1 tall, thin, sharp featured classic Holmes.
Holmes 2 same as H1 but with long hair, moustache and beard.
Holmes 3 same as H1 but shaved head, pale face, glazed look.
The Inspector’s age is open and may double with a Holmes depending upon timing and costuming.
The Client wears a mask/doubles with Moriarty.
Moriarty age open seen in flashbacks.

STAGE NOTE:
There is fight scene choreography needed so anyone with stage combat skills come and make yourself known!
This is an escapade of the most exhilarating kind, perfect as the CTG end of year production.
They cannot wait to have you be a part of it!
So don’t forget Chelmer auditions 10am Saturday 23rd August 2025.

CONTACT:
The Director Gary Kliger on 0417 012 418
Or Julie Collins (Stage Manager) directorjules27@gmail.com
Twitter, Facebook, Website https://centenarytheatre.com.au/
Information CTG enquiry@centenarytheatre.com.au

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Holmes & Watson audition details received from Centenary Theatre Group Inc, Queenscroft and Halsbury Streets, Chelmer, QLD 4068 Australia.
Sign up to get their opening night news direct.
https://centenarytheatre.com.au/faqs/

I will certainly book tickets when the box office opens.
💗 Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

Commissariat, Prison, Asylum? © image Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2022

A Word for New Life

Our current era has been around for 60 million years and gradually comprised every species including mammals currently living on earth today – regardless of their circumstances or how much they sleep.

What is this Cenozoic Era? A time when Earth’s flora and fauna evolved into those of the present day.

The Cenozoic ‘New Life’ era can also be named ‘Age of Mammals’. Interestingly we humans often don’t care very well for other humans or our animal mammals do we?

My theory: This could be why past civilisations and animal species died out and are still disappearing.

Killing does not make for success in the future.

My slogan: Be kind to a mammal today!

💟 © images Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

Hazel outside her treehouse with some of her adorable Aussie mammalian friends. https://www.walkerbooks.com.au/book/9781760657260/

Private Posts and Ekphrastic Writing

Every so often I do a bit of housekeeping on my blog and tidy up the way I have misused a word or left a word out or rearranged a word or… well, you get the idea, it was a cold day and I had nothing better to do. Anyhow, I found this interesting bit of info in my stats folder:

All Posts (626)
Published (617)
Drafts (2)
Private (7)

What’s that discrepancy after ‘All Posts’ and ‘Published’?
I thought I had published all my blog posts!
However, there is a nine-post limbo.

Drafts (2) is understandable, but Private (7)!
I don’t even remember them or what they could possibly contain. Am I bold enough to check? Do I really want to know? Should I just delete them and forget about it?

Ironically I did a blog post about Richard Flanagan’s book ‘Question 7‘ https://thoughtsbecomewords.com/2025/05/10/do-you-know-this-author/

Well, seeing as I am one of life’s hoarders, I am just going to ignore those mysteriously private posts and let them languish there for all eternity. Well, until I get too curious. Maybe I can use one of them next week…

Meanwhile, here is a not-so-private observation about my session at MoB (Museum of Brisbane) Ekphrastic Art Writing session at City Hall. I arrived late due to a public rally, hundreds of protesters calling for justice over the death of Aboriginal man Kuminjayi White while in custody. Fair enough. I slid open the door at MoB and joined a small group of people with pen and paper. Before undertaking the art of Ekphrasis we had visual prompts and some brief writing exercises before heading out into the beguiling gallery to find beautiful treasures old and new to write about in a lucid fashion, arty or otherwise.

Museum of Brisbane is a social history museum and art gallery in Brisbane, Queensland.
Located on Level 3, City Hall, MoB brings our city’s vibrant art, culture and history to life through exhibitions, events, workshops, tours, and MoB Kids activities.
https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/

Perversely, I detoured the beautiful/historic artworks, paintings and ceramics to admire the hand-printed posters for local music gigs in Brisbane in the 1970s. Destined for shop windows, brick walls and lamp posts, these raw, colourful and imaginative posters were only glanced at or pulled down, but now are surviving icons of a once vibrant and thriving local music scene. The posters fill a wall in the Museum but my eyes were lured by the Medicine Cabinet of brown, dusty bottles, peeling labels and gruesome details of the contents. Here is what I wrote in a quick attempt to understand a different side to Ekphrastic writing:

‘The Medicine Cabinet’
Pills, potions, powders and poisons. Frowning at me from the past, the names on the small yet ominous corked brown glass bottles and rusty tins with their peeling, discoloured paper labels were enough to make me shudder. Poulticine, good for pneumonia, pleurisy, tonsillitis, abscess, etc, with side effects. ‘Stomach Powder’, ‘Opium’, Bill Beans Laxatives, Alkia, Saltrates, all aimed at curing sufferers ills and chills. Surely Nitrate of Amyl Capsules would do more harm than good? Then there’s the ominous thin brown-ribbed bottle labelled ‘Thyroid/Ovarian’ treatment. I hope patients recovered regardless of the treatment but more often than not the old saying was invoked ‘Kill or cure’ with fingers crossed. There is perhaps beauty in knowing that modern medicines are more likely to save lives.

Wishing you a healthy life and insightful Ekphrasis!

Ekphrastic writing or poetry is a vivid description of a scene or work of art using active narration and reflection. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland © image Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2021

A Day For Mothers

How time flies, my first blog post was 2017 and ideas for blogging still somersault around in my head. On this calm Sunday in May 2025 it is Mother’s Day in Australia.

I am a mother and thoughts of my own dear mother and that of my aunts and women I know flash through my mind. I recall their varied roles in my life, and women who shape the lives of others in millions of families and societies around the world. It is possible to write about the wealth, poverty, injustices and generally low standing of women in most countries including Australia, but what is their true status? What is their role in the history of the universe?

In my opinion, one of the most powerful roles for women, in the world as we know it, is the eternal internal creation. While not ignoring the biodiversity of Mother Nature, without human females, women who give birth, there would be no world. There would be no evolution, there would be nothing ahead. Of course men play a role but generally stand back when events are underway.

Perhaps this creates jealousy? Why bigoted, misogynistic, cruel, political, rule-making men of our current world order put women and mothers at risk by keeping them out of sight, in second place, give them menial tasks, overlook females for promotion, make derogatory comments, portray them on television, in movies and books as the trivial second character, the support, the one answering phones, at home doing the laundry, tidying up or cooking dinner. You can add more diverse roles to the list but usually not a complete reversal although caring sharing life partners do exist.

In 1971 a childless Germaine Greer is quoted as saying:
“Bringing up children is not a real occupation,
because children come up just the same, brought up or not.”
A rather shallow look at the future, I think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer

With or without conception, the women of Mother Earth are versatile people. Today there are strong female roles and powerful women in all walks of life who do rise above. When they do, it’s a novelty in the press, on social media, and invariably a TV chat show host asks “How do you cope with a family and work?” A man’s world not an equal world yet.

Today I shout out Thanks Mum, Happy Mothers Day because without mothers there would be no living breathing humans in the world today. Including you and me.

💓 Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025

NOTE: My opinion piece acknowledges birth mothers, first mothers, adoption, surrogacy, LGBTQIA, IVF, child reunification. Parenting is precious. 🌼

AI Found My Blog!

‘Searching’ Image © Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2022

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I personally dislike AI on the grounds that it does not enhance knowledge, it takes away incentive to pursue and learn. Anyway, I was scanning my stats and noticed that twice I have been viewed and possibly, hopefully, ‘recommended’ by Artificial Intelligence as a source for two readers. Okay, that’s kind of flattering but what post of mine was viewed/recommended? Who was the reader? Will this offer any benefit to me?

Importantly, have I been acknowledged as the original source?

I guess once I put my work out there, it stands to reason it will be seen and read and maybe used, but we bloggers always acknowledge our source or include a website link especially to anything we re-post.

Artificial Intelligence (like most of the internet) has been launched on the world wide web without workable social, legal, ethical or cultural boundaries. Humankind may melt down into one homogenous mass. Perfect conditions for a maniacal dictator.

Lots of questions need to be answered, especially since an AI ‘borrower’ cannot be traced. At least not by me, so I may never know the source or where my material ends up. How can I truly know where my blog posts end up anyway? Certainly readers can cut and paste anything they like but they are genuine readers. I think a faceless nameless Artificial Intelligence is invasive until proven otherwise.

Ask a human novelist about AI rip-offs and AI non-existent royalties.
Meta allegedly used pirated books to train AI.
Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, George R.R. Martin and others have filed a class-action suit, still unresolved, alleging OpenAI Inc copied their works without permission or payment.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/20/authors-lawsuit-openai-george-rr-martin-john-grisham

Of course many people will benefit. There are quite a lot of AI sites out there, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc, the first being Perplexity AI. Also Character.ai is a neutral (as if!) language model chatbot service. Another human job lost? Of course, there are strong opinions on all of this and numerous disagreements for various reasons.

We humans like shortcuts more than memory retention. Ask anyone studying. Internet users can take a detour but often it can misdirect or misinform, as in the case of a person who used ChatGPT for a literary book club review and gave a dry, soulless analysis of the story. In my opinion, do your own homework.

I like to personally do my own web surfing and pick up interesting and genuinely human stuff along the way – alternatively I read words on real paper. Under my mythical (as in not real) Creepy or Could-be section, I imagine one future day an AI bot will activate a microchip implant in a school student’s brain which will find web logs (blogs) or text books and release classic volumes straight into their grey matter.

Unlike young generations before them who opened a real book and discovered the works of Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens, J.K. Rowling, John Marsden, Jackie French and Maurice Sendak, they will probably use an inside-head reading app. I certainly hope not but who knows!