SQUIGGLES AND SQUINTER

He graduated Bachelor of Science in mathematics and physics, the Diploma in Education, from the University of Sydney, 1953-1957, and was a company quartermaster sergeant in the Sydney University Regiment. He was ordained priest in 1964 and has specialized in family catechetics. He earned membership in the Australian College of Education (M.A.C.E.) with his A Programme for Apostles of Christ in High School published in 1971.

The first editions of his Catholic Family Catechism appeared in 1981. Other published work includes later editions of the catechism, newsletters on catechetics, the prayer book Heart Speaks to Heart, and the Bush Boys children's adventure series.

This book was written for Julian Vieira following a car accident on New Years Day 2008 and his subsequent  three weeks recovery period in the Westmead Children's Hospital, Sydney . Fr Tierney would write a chapter each day which was faxed through to Julian's ward in the hospital and read to him before bedtime.

This book is Connor Court's first venture into fiction, and represents the first time a mainstream publisher has produced one of the author's books, whether religious or fiction — all his others have been published "in-house" by the Cardinal Newman Faith Resources Inc.

The Story features the adventures of the twins Squiggles and Squinter who, live on a family farm in Victoria. Their nearest neighbours are newly arrived, desperate for help, yet hours away by foot, or by horse.

Set in 1875, there are no cars, mobiles, nothing electric, but lots to eat, fun in the creek, chopping down trees with father, mother's school on the kitchen table, and board games by candlelight. In addition to the heroic twins, the new boy from the city, Fred makes an interesting extra for the story. The bushrangers Nifty Ned and Nasty Nat are fairly much stereotypical, but that is allowable in such children's fiction.

Squiggles and Squinter and the Bushrangers
Fro James Tierney
Connor Court Publishing
Illustrated by Ian James
100pp, $19.95

The characters in this book are courageous, helpful and catholic! When the twins' friend Freddy's father broke his leg, their non-believing friends offered to take the boys to an Anglican Sunday service but the boys politely refused. This shows strength of character in the boys. Indeed, this character building book would help catholic children improve and strengthen their own faith.

A character-building book where exemplary characters are practicing catholic boys and girls, who are unafraid to live their catholic devotions amidst their protestant friends.

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Revised 14 May 2009