About the Heckle books
These books started some years ago as a bedtime story to my young step-granddaughter. The invention of the Heckle family was supposed to put her to sleep; that didn’t work.…
THE STORY
Wayne Smith was born in Newcastle, Australia and educated at Birrong Boys High School. Later he received a Bachelor of Science degree and Diploma of Education from the University of Sydney.
Wayne’s art is a series of abstract water colour paintings with a focus on balance, shape and colour. It features a contrast of curves and straight edges with shapes that evolve from his imagination. The series theme celebrates organic and biological subject matter, with intellectual space allowing for individual interpretation.
Life got in the way after high school, but after 40 years he found the time to pick up a brush. He always had a creative mind but the business of family and daily living swamped most things. Painting, like his writing, was something once started could not be turned off! After left brain activities most of his life it was now time to let the right side off the chain.
Books
The Heckle Family: Book 1
You should meet this very weird family.
They look strange, eat strange food, and because they live in isolation, they behave in strange ways.
The mother, father and son want to learn about the World they know little about.
They have adventures and experiences that teach them about our World.
Each book is full of humour that can be appreciated by kids, teens and adults.
The Heckles are a loving, close family and show positive ethical behaviours, as well as strange ones!
Themes of bravery, education, good versus bad, kindness, helpfulness, problem solving, happiness and overcoming adversity, are common.
Family members are quirky, silly, loving, and smart at times.
Your imagination will be triggered as you read.
The books are interactive with illustrations ready to be coloured-in.
There is a blank page at the end of each story for you to create your own picture from your imagination.
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The Heckle Family Goes to the Beach: Book 2
The Heckle family were not sure about their first adventure to the outside World. They were indecisive.
Their unexpected lost visitor, Erasmus, had described many things to them that they did not know existed.
The “beach” was something they had never heard of or seen. Although they were indecisive they were also very inquisitive.
They could not imagine white sand, or blue water as far as the eye could see. Their mind raced!
They decided they were going to go to the beach!
The journey from the jungle to the beach was well planned but challenging. They were intrigued with what they saw and experienced.
The Heckles have amazing and humerous encounters with marine animals, frolic in the ocean and discover what high tide means.
The Heckles become unlikely heroes and work beautifully as a team.
The Heckles are out and about!
Enjoy the interactive part of the Heckles book by colouring the illustrations.
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The Heckle Family Have Christmas Lunch: Book 3
Only the Heckle family could turn a traditional Christmas lunch into chaos! It was an unforgettable mess.
Their relatives were stranger than Hortimoose, Freckle and Heckle. They made the Heckles look and behave in an almost normal way.
Some of the guests communicated in ridiculous ways. Some moved about in ridiculous ways. Some had personal hygiene issues, or were chronically negative about everything!
A massive lunchtime misunderstanding begins with a playful use of green peas. What happens after that is one for the history books!
The joy of present giving is full of smiles, even though some of the gifts are predictable considering the weirdness of everything else.
Be interactive and colour the illustrations.
Draw and colour your own Heckle picture at the end of the book.
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Reviews
”My daughters, 15 years and 13 years, read all the “Heckles” books. They generally are not great readers of anything, but they found the “Heckle” family fascinating. They liked their weirdness and found them to be funny. The best part was the food fight at the Christmas lunch, they said. I think they will want the next book which appears to be about pizza.
Kate
”I gave my 11 year old book 1 to look at. She said it was interesting and said she will check out the blue “beach” book...I just have to get her away from her phone!
Sarah
”I was a primary school teacher for many years and have read “The Heckle Family”. It really engages the reader, and most importantly would engage the imagination of young students. The colouring section that makes the book interactive is a good idea, and creating your own picture at the end of the book is fun.
Inarah
”Wayne Smith is an all round gifted person. Ethically he is strong and his desire to pass on good social values is evident in his excellent children’s books. These humble books about a hilarious but loving family of eccentrics makes you laugh out loud. The writing flows easily off the tongue and children love to hear the stories read out loud. The illustrations are imaginative and possibly could encourage children to take up their pencils and colour in. Wayne’s own art is very rich in imagination and flows naturally from his brush. Because he has been both scientific artistic he brings a lifetime of valuable experience to his work. His love of marine creatures comes through in the subject matter. As a teacher, artist and friend I recommend his work to others because it is so genuine and comes from a good place.
Pamela Griffith, OAM FRSN BArtEdpamelagriffith.com
