10 Reasons to Visit Story Time: Australian Children's Literature Exhibition - with Dr Belle Alderman AM

Design adapted from: Koala Shape Book, (Sydney: John Sands Ltd., 1931) nla.cat-vn4272738

KBR warmly welcomes Dr Belle Alderman AM, Director of the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature with this guest post on the incredibly wonderful upcoming children's literature exhibition at the National Library of Australia. Here are 10 reasons why you simply cannot miss this stunning, extensive (free!) exhibition. For more on the exhibition and how to plan your visit, see here.

The National Library of Australia and the National Centre for Australia Inc have collaborated to bring you Story Time: Australian Children’s Literature at the National Library from 22 August 2019 - 9 February 2020. Here is your unique opportunity to enjoy almost 200 years of stories for children and the young at heart. Story Time: Australian Children’s Literature  offers many associated programs for adults all described on the National Library of Australia and the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature Inc websites. 

1.What are two very rare items?
A Mother’s Offering to Her Children published in 1841, featuring a child’s name neatly handwritten and coloured in opposite the title page, also coloured in!

The 1915 preliminary artwork by May Gibbs for her first Australian-published children’s book, Gumnut Babies : Words and Pictures (1916).

May Gibbs, Study for Lovers of Music for Gum-Blossom Babies, 1915, National Centre for
Australian Children’s Literature, © The Northcott Society and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance

2. What book has sold over five million copies after being rejected by nine publishers as Hush the Invisible Mouse?
That’s Possum Magic, of course! See the manuscript including Mem Fox’s famous post-it note.

3. Are there special attractions for children?
Yes! There are text panels at child-height that encourage children to think about the artworks. A ‘Playtime’ room features a spectacular wall of some 20 individual artworks from favourite books. These are there to inspire children to write and illustrate their own books.

Children are encouraged to lift the black curtains protecting Ida Rentoul Outhwaite’s delicate and spectacular watercolours. Story Box Library films of several stories in the exhibition are available for viewing and listening. 

4. Are there examples of the creative process?
Several! Bob Graham’s Silver Buttons (2013) and Max (2000) feature original artworks plus his amazing dummies detailing his thinking process. Alison Lester’s highly detailed and fascinating planning for Sophie Scott Goes South (2012) also feature, along with a fascinating dialogue between Jackie French and Nina Rycroft, plus a tiny laparello for Dinosaurs Love Cheese (2013).

Bob Graham, Artwork for Max, c.2000, National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature,
reproduced by permission of Walker Books Australia Pty Ltd

 
5. How do artists get their jacket covers just right? 
Have a look at Graeme Base’s final and draft jacket cover for The Eleventh Hour (1988), which shows his highly detailed pencil sketches and intricate positioning of animals.

6. What is a highlight of works by Australia’s First Nations people? 
Several works are presented, along with an entire wall devoted to Dick Goobalathaldin Roughsey’s The Rainbow Serpent (1979), which is simply unforgettable. 

7. What early work has never been out of print, is widely translated, televised by the BBC and the ABC, offered as an audio recording, appeared as a stage musical and made into a movie? 
This is Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner (1894), here presented with a portion of her manuscript and her comments on why she wrote this favourite classic.

8. Favourites! What’s on show by Shaun Tan and Jeannie Baker? 
Shaun has loaned several artworks from his personal collection, including detailed doodles, pencil drawings and various studies for both The Arrival (2010) and The Lost Thing (2000). Jeannie’s relief collages for The Hidden Forest (2000) offer mesmerising detail.

9. Who is Australia’s first merchandised author and what’s on show? 
That would be May Gibbs. A large showcase features handmade miniature calendars with May Gibbs’s Gumnuts, Forget-me-nots and A Bush Greeting to You; The Gumnut Game; Gumnut Babies 750 Piece Puzzle; a booklet of sticker fun; a Peek-a-Book Sweater; Gumnut Baby Badge; Gumnut Babies Fabric by the fabric designer Peter Stripes; a Gumnut Babies plate and a collection of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie toys.

10. Which authors’ manuscripts will be on exhibit? 
Here are just a few! Nan Chauncy, Jackie French, Morris Gleitzman, Elyne Mitchell, Joan Phipson, Emily Rodda, Ivan Southall, Nadia Wheatley and Patricia Wrightson. And check out whose typewriter is on exhibit!

A Memento of Story Time

The experience of Story Time is not over when viewers leave the exhibition or another exhibition takes its place. There is a ‘companion’ book, Story Time Stars: Favourite Characters from Australian Picture Books (2019), written by Stephanie Owen Reeder, which is the perfect companion when visiting and later reminiscing favourites featured in the exhibition.  

Story Time Stars spans 100 years and captures 60 favourite and memorable Australian children’s book characters appearing between 1918 and 2018. Each character has its own double page spread, a typical illustration from the book, story précis, its first appearance as a book, on stage or on screen, awards won and other points of interest. Story Time Stars is a welcome memento for family sharing of favourites.

Story Time Stars is out 1 September. You can learn more about the book, and pre-order, right here.




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2HfJisV

Review: Cryptosight

Book List: Superheroes Picture Books

Superpowers may be obvious, or hidden to all but those who really need them. Superheroes come in many forms and eveyone has their own special talents.

My Superhero by Chris Owen and illustrated by Moira Court, Freemantle Press, $16.99, 9781925161212.

Super Duck by Jez Alborough, Harper Collins, $14.99, 9780007273270.

The Three Little Superpigs by Clare Evans, Fourth Wall Publishing, $16.99, 9781910851241.

Just Jack by Jane Tanner, Penguin Books, $14.99, 9780143504924.

A Really Super Hero by Charlotte Lance, Allen & Unwin, $19.99, 9781743313022.

Super Rabbit by Stephanie Blake, Gecko Press, $16.99, 9781877579578.

Super Rawr! by Todd H Doodler, Scholastic, $14.99, 9780545799690.

Pom Pom is Super by Sophy Henn, Penguin Books, $16.99, 9780141365039.

The Wolf Who Wanted to Be a Superhero by Orianne Lallemand and illustrated by Eleonore Thuillier, Auzou Eveil, $18.99, 9782733843239.

Ninja Bunny by Jennifer Gray Olson, Random House, $29.99, 9780385754934.

Zippo the Super Hippo by Kes Gray and illustrated by Nikki Dyson, Pan Macmillan, $14.99, 9781447279914.

My Sister is a Superhero by Damon Young and illustrated by Peter Carnavas, University of Queensland Press, $24.95, 9780702253928.

Superbuns! by Diane Kredensor, Aladdin Paperbacks, $26.99, 9781481490689.

Max by Bob Graham, Walker Books, $16.99, 9780744598278.

Elmer and Super El by David McKee, Andersen Press, $19.99, 9781849394574.

Grug the Superhero by Ted Prior, imon & Schuster, $5.99, 9781925030501.



from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2YZk3Gm

Review: Little Mouse's Holiday

Giveaway: Noodle Bear

Noodle Bear, the new picture book by Mark Gravas, is a hilarious story about a bear who becomes obsessed with noodles, and ultimately is a tale of friendship and discovering what’s truly important in life, on a journey to noodle-filled fame, and then back home again.

Noodle Bear is crazy about noodles. His best friend, Fox, brings him other delicious treats when he's a no-show at her party but he's so noodle obsessed that doesn't he notice them. And when he's run out of noodles, his only thought is to go to the big city and become a contestant on the TV game show, "Noodle Knockout". Of course, he becomes a surprise star with more noodles than he can eat. But no amount of noodles and fame can fill the empty space where home and friends should be.

Thanks to the delicious people at Walker Books Australia, we have three copies of this brilliant book to give away!

To enter, simply tell us in 25 words or less if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The three responses we like best will each win a copy of the book. Competition is open to anyone, worldwide, so long as they have an Australian postal address for delivery of the books. Please note, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Entries without a name and street address will be ineligible. Winners will be announced right here on our website on Monday 26 August 2019.

Competition runs from 5 pm 17 August 2019 to 5 pm 24 August 2019. Adults can enter for those aged 17 and under. This is a game of skill, not chance. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2TFN3Nu

Review: Just Breathe

Review: Argh! There's a skeleton inside you!

Argh! There's a skeleton inside you! explores the story of Quog (an arm-less blob) and Oort (a gas cloud). These two aliens are attempting to get to a birthday party - if only they could get out of their spaceship! They decide what they really need is a hand, but neither of them have one.

So begins a hilarious narrative about their attempts to grow a hand, with a whole lot of non-fiction information thrown in.

This book, by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost, who also brought us the hilarious Do Not Lick This Book (It's full of germs), is fast-paced, funny and factual - and this makes for a perfect combination!

The illustrations are bright and colourful, with an animated, cartoon-like style. This book does not look at all like a traditional non-fiction book and yet manages to explain about the bones, muscles and nerves in our hands. As the alien characters come to grip with this knowledge, so too will young readers.

The final section on How to Grow Hands contains more detailed explanation of the anatomical components of the hand and arm, subtly introducing readers to more detailed terminology and concepts. It is fiction and non-fiction combined in the best possible way.

Title: Argh! There's a skeleton inside you!
Authors: Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost
Illustrator: Julian Frost
Publisher: A & U Children's, $19.99
Publication Date: 5 August 2019
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781760631635
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2MldWFj

Review: Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth

Things aren’t going great for 11-year-old Vincent.

He lives in a smelly town (quite literally — it stinks like cat food), his parents are consumed and distracted by his misunderstood baby brother Thom, and his grandfather recently passed away.

But, sometimes, sad things are the start of something amazing. 

When Vincent finds out his grandfather has left him his shoe-shining kit, Vincent heads straight to the train station to set up shop in the hope of earning enough for a delicious snack. 

What he gets instead is a job proposal — an opportunity to work at the mysterious and wondrous Grandest Hotel on Earth, which happens to be located up, up, up in the mountains, just outside of town.

Florence Wainwright-Cunningham the third (currently in charge of the hotel because her parents are away on business) is looking for a shoe-shiner to work at the hotel. When she meets Vincent at the train station, it appears to be fate.

And so begins Vincent’s adventure at The Grandest Hotel on Earth. And when I say grandest I really do mean grandest. 

The Grandest Hotel on Earth is the Hogwarts of hotels. It has every experience you can imagine (and so many more). It cares for every amazing animal you’ve ever heard of (and many you haven’t). It serves up triple servings of the most delicious foods, and somehow the hotel staff seem to know just what the guests need for their holidays (and also what they need to help improve their lives). 

Vincent thinks he’s hit the jackpot, and his job at the hotel is the best thing that’s ever happened to him. But there are secrets at The Grandest Hotel on Earth, and when Vincent discovers one, he must risk everything he’s built (a fabulous shoe-shining career and the best of friendships) to save the hotel (and maybe his own family) from tragedy.

Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth is an epic and addictive adventure for junior readers. This is a book-world to fall into headfirst, dream about when you aren’t reading and fantasise about long after you’ve come to the end of the story.

Lisa Nicol has created something magical — truly, truly magical — and this is obvious from the very first page where Nicol and her mysterious co-author introduce the central characters in the preface. 

A unique start to a novel? Absolutely. But there is nothing ordinary about The Grandest Hotel on Earth, so a standard novel format would just not be fitting for a story written about it! 

Nicol and her co-author’s special style of writing gives this book that extra special pizazz. They appear at various points throughout the story, highlighting important facts and providing secret details, but in no way is this ever disruptive (a very hard thing to achieve, indeed!).

In fact, when you read this book, you feel like you’ve been let in on a very special secret — like you’re part of special club. And when you get to the end and discover the mysterious co-author’s identity, you’ll understand why this book, and The Grandest Hotel on Earth, is so very exceptional.

This is a book that is destined to become a treasured favourite in so many homes. I highly recommend it for fans of the fantastical, magical and magnificent, and I predict lots of people are going to be talking about it (so you don't want to miss out!).

Title: Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth

Author: Lisa Nicol

Publisher: Penguin, $16.99

Publication Date: 2 July 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760890681

For ages: 9 -12

Type: Middle Fiction

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/31QOYBJ

Review: Max's Dinosaur Feet

Max’s dinosaur feet can stomp and smash, but it’s what they do to show love for his baby sister that makes them; and him so delightful.

A beautifully written story about Max’s mission not to wake his little sister Molly; even in his big green dinosaur feet. With a clever idea from his mum, Max may have the perfect solution, but will it work with all the disturbances from the rest of his family? Will little Molly continue to sleep peacefully?

I loved the calm and mindful vibe of this story and Max’s focused thoughts for his baby sister Molly who is sound asleep in her cot. Max’s actions deliver a lovely message and example about sibling love and considering others. The text flows beautifully and leads the reader to interact with fun expressive sounds like Stomp!, Flip! and Thwack!

A harmonious colour palette and beautifully soft watercolour illustrations by Penelope Pratley work in unity with the text. I love that this is a dinosaur book which is not all about loud roars and sharp teeth, it’s perfect for bedtime or reading aloud in a group.

Max’s Dinosaur Feet is the debut picture book for author Lana Spasevski, it’s left me eagerly awaiting her future work. Illustrator Penelope Pratley is an ex-reviewer for Kids Book Review, The Art Garden, released in 2018, was her debut picture book.

Title: Max's Dinosaur Feet
Author: Lana Spasevski
Illustrator: Penelope Pratley
Publisher: New Frontier, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781912076376
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/33JokMO

Review: A Year in the Wild

If you're looking for a book with serious wow factor, you have to check out this treasure from UK artist Helen Ahpornsiri.

Helen takes us through each season, introducing us to the cycle of nature. We meet the animals and plants that follow the pattern of the seasons, from the butterflies and blossoms of spring, to the winter berries and birds of winter.

This is a distinctly European book, where we meet the red fox and the deer, along with the meadows and woodlands, but it is still bound to ignite the imaginations of children everywhere.

The main reason, of course, is that every illustration in the book is made entirely from pressed plants. Every dot, every curve is either a seed, a petal, a frond or stem. The result is exquisite.

Helen is renowned for her nature artworks, made from plants that are grown or foraged responsibly and then pressed using traditional techniques. There are no paints or dyes in any of her pieces. This process is sure to mesmerise children and encourage them to look beyond the surface of things.

Helen's beautiful and delicate explanations of each season in the wild, with just a touch of whimsy, are also accessible and delightful for young children.

This is one you'll find them poring over for hours. And don't forget to look out for her latest book, Beneath the Waves.

Title: A Year in the Wild
Author/Illustrator: Helen Ahpornsiri
Publisher: Big Picture Press, $26.99
Publication Date: March 2018
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781783707966
For ages: 4+
Type: Non-fiction Picture Book

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2YNU0By

Review: Lunch At 10 Pomegranate Street

A delicious collection of recipes, beautifully illustrated and collated in a way which honours ingredients, sharing and love of food.

In the different apartments at 10 Pomegranate Street, 15 dishes are in the making. From Mister Ping’s Little Trees to Matilda’s Strawberry Crumble, each recipe shows a little of the heart, soul and culture of the occupants. Each page spread features a new recipe; illustrated ingredients and a succinct cooking method.

What will be of all these delicious dishes? A wholesome feast and a message of community, culture and food prevails.

This fabulous book has already made its way from my kids' rooms for bedtime reading to the kitchen for cooking and back again a few times. Peanut Butter Cookies and Green Rice are favourites of ours and I can’t wait to try some of the other enticing recipes such as Coconut Dahl, Mini-Quiches and Baba Ganoush.

Beautifully illustrated details create a world of wonder behind each of the recipes and apartment occupants; like Mister Ping’s kitchen, authentically decorated with lantern light shades and a maneki-neko (Japanese Lucky Cat).

I loved talking about each recipe, its ingredients and quantities in a factual and educational way with my 5-year-old as we read it together. We’ve since researched ingredients, alternatives and had great conversations about the food and characters.

With stunning watercolour and coloured pencil artwork, and a beautifully textured cover, Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street is perfect for both displaying and practical use. It will be used, loved and grow with my family for years to come, as it would for anyone who loves food and cooking.

Felicita Sala is an award-winning illustrator with many published books including I Don't Draw, I Color! and My Father is a Polar Bear.

Title: Lunch At 10 Pomegranate Street
Author/Illustrator: Felicita Sala
Publisher: Scribe Publications, $27.99
Publication Date: 6 August 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925849059
For ages: 3+
Type: Cookbook




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2MZLZTa

Junior Review: Mister Cassowary

12 Curly Questions with author Jannali Jones

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’ve always wanted to play the violin. I hope to learn one day.

2. What is your nickname?
Nali (pronounced like ‘gnarly, dude’).

3. What is your greatest fear?
Tsunamis!!!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
It takes you by the hand and doesn’t let go. (That’s how one of my writing teachers described it anyway!)

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Persistent, cathartic, analytical and dialogue-driven

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Daine Sarrasri from Tamora Pierce’s Immortals series because she can speak to animals (who wouldn’t want to be able to do that?) and she has a love interest who manages to be both cool and hot at the same time.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I think it would be awesome to check out Medieval Europe. I’ve always been interested in that culture – the food, dress, the way they lived, their music. Being able to visit a year in that period seems like fun.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Why are you writing contemporary realism when you could be writing science-fiction?

9. Who is your greatest influence? 
In my personal life, my late grandfather, Ken Brunton. He was blind (following an accident at a young age) but that didn’t stop him from becoming a respected history teacher at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide, raising four children and being one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. In my creative life, Jane Jensen (aka Eli Easton). As a female creative kicking goals with Gabriel Knight in the early 90s, she was (and still is) such an inspiration to me. I still love reading her books today.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I started writing at such a young age that I don’t remember exactly but RL Stine, Ken Catran and John Marsden were certainly early influences. Reading exciting books is what made me want to write my own.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Deciduous. For me it immediately evokes images of beautiful orange and yellow trees in autumn.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Is it cheating if I say a notebook? So I can just write in it? There are actually a few books I can think of that would fit this category, but today I’ll go with Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn because I’ve read it about five times and will probably read it again.

Jannali Jones is an Aboriginal Australian writer of the Gunai nation. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Technology, Sydney. Jannali was the winner of the 2015 Black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship and was shortlisted for the 2019 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing. For more information, see www.jannalijones.weebly.com.

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2YEQJEK

Announcing: Unsolicited Review Submissions Month

At KBR, we realise how tough it can be—in a flooded kids’ book market—to get noticed. We are a small team, there are only a set amount of days in the year, and we are already chronically flooded with review copies from major and independent publishers.

However, to give emerging creators and self-publishers a chance, we will be opening our review policy for ONE MONTH—to accept unsolicited review submissions from new, self-published or very small publishers.

If you fall into this category and would like to have your book considered for review on the #1 kids’ book review site on the web, please read the following guidelines carefully. Email the following to dimity.

A short EMAIL introducing yourself, with a link to your website or other online presence. Please only provide ONE main link. There is no need to give background on you or your books, or any explanations.

A single attachment—one PRESS RELEASE (either PDF of Word doc—no other format accepted) for your book. If you are unfamiliar with press releases, you can google their format and content, but for our purposes, they should include the following:

• A book cover image
• Up to two internal pages/spreads
• A short book synopsis
• Book title
• Book genre
• Publisher
• Publication date
• ISBN
• Retail price (in your country’s currency)
• A short creator biography
• Contact details

Ensure your attachment is no larger than 2MB. Zipped files cannot be accepted.

Please don’t send any other attachments or links to anything else, nor provide any extra, unrequested information.

All of the above must be contained in one single Word document or PDF, as an email attachment, not embedded in the body of the email. Remember, guidelines are an important part of this industry, and should be followed to the letter. Submissions that do not follow these guidelines cannot be considered.

What happens after submission?

If we are interested in your book, your press release will be emailed to the entire KBR review team. If someone on the team wishes to view the book, they will contact you directly for a review copy, and will provide their postal address. All reviewers currently reside in Australia.

Please note that we cannot accept anything but fully finished, published books. Galleys, proofs, mock-ups or electronic book versions are not eligible.

While over 99% of our requested books go to review, we reserve the right not to review any book, even those requested.

We regret we cannot acknowledge receipt of books and we cannot return books. 

We cannot advise if and when reviews will be posted. Reviews can take a week or three months or more to appear on the site. Do keep an eye on the site, and there is a search bar on KBR that allows you to search for titles.

Important

As we are expecting a large volume of submissions, we are unable to respond to emails. There will be no acknowledgment of receipt, and no follow-up. If you do not hear from us by the end of the first week of THE MONTH AFTER, you can assume your submission has not been successful this time. We regret we cannot respond to follow-up emails.

Unsolicited review submissions will be accepted from 5.00 pm Monday 12 August 2019 to Monday 9 September 2019. Please note that this is Sydney Australia time (GMT +10). Emails dated past 11.59pm on 9 September 2019 (Sydney time), no matter where you live in the world, cannot be accepted.

We are looking forward to seeing your submissions!

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2MVXhYr

Review: A Girl's Guide to Kicking Goals

Review: The New Kid: Very Popular Me

Review: Possum Magic

Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas was first published in 1983 and became an instant Australian favourite.

Many generations have shared this magical story, celebrating  the love of Grandma Poss and her baby Hush. It has been gifted to children all over the world due to the inclusion of Australia's unique animals, Australian cities and food.

Grandma Poss could weave the most amazing magic that made Hush INVISIBLE. As Hush couldn't be seen, she was safe from snakes and she could slide down kangaroo's back.

One day Hush decided that she wanted to be visible again but Grandma Poss could not find the magic spell in any of her books.

'It's something to do with food!' 

And this is the most memorable and magical part of the book, on a bicycle Grandma Poss and Hush set off visiting seven of Australia's capital cities. At each city they ate Australian food* including; Minties, pumpkin scones, Vegemite sandwiches, pavlova and lamingtons.

Fox is a weaver of magical words that lilt in the air as you read them, they have splashes of rhyme where appropriate and a beautiful rhythm that reaches into the soul.

Vivas' watercolour illustrations are soft and dreamy. She makes the Australian animals adorable with many of them seeming cuddly.

I do hope that if you have never read Possum Magic before, that you get a copy to find out which foods make Hush visible again. If you read Possum Magic a long time ago, maybe it is time to share it with a new generation of children.

Both creators have published an extensive number of children's books since Possum Magic and these stories will also delight your senses. Two of my favourite Mem Fox stories are Where Is the Green Sheep? and Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. My two favourite Julie Vivas stories are I Went Walking and Puffling.

*Food Notes: Not all of the foods mentioned originate specifically from Australia but they are often associated with traditional Anglo-Celtic Australian cuisine. Some of the food origins are shared with New Zealand. I acknowledge that according to the Oxford English Dictionary (2010), the pavlova originated in New Zealand around 1937 about seven years before Australia's first pavlova recipe was recorded.

Title: Possum Magic
Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Publisher: Omnibus Books, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781742763460
For ages: 3 – 7
Type: Picture Book




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2ZMO5t8

Review: Up To Something

Review: Letters to Leonardo: The Truth Changes Everything

Guest Post: Peter Millett on The Invincibles: Down Under's New Superhero Team!

Meet The Illustrator: Macarena Smartt

Name: Macarena Smartt

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less:

Whimsical, emotive and quirky. Capturing moments and ‘painting emotions’.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Music, natural light and being surrounded by nature.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
My favourite medium is watercolour with pen and ink.
They’re quick drying and that makes for an expressive and spontaneous painting. There’s no time to overthink each brushstroke, and with ink, each line matters as there is no reverse gear. Watercolours have a romantic and charming aura. Inherently able to capture the essence of a watery lake or the innocence of a child’s face.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

May Gibbs, Beatrix Potter, Asako Eguchi.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?

The beginning of the 20th century. Illustrators such as Beatrix Potter and May Gibbs were able to earn a living from illustrating. With the expansion of printing processes, children’s books and magazines became more affordable and widespread. Illustrators were becoming recognized as contributors to a vast array of disciplines. Botanical, medical, cartoons for newspapers, as well as children’s books to name a few. An exciting time to be an illustrator.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator? 

When I was about eight years old, I won a drawing competition. The prize was a ‘family’sized block of chocolate. I was so surprised at winning, that when it was announced, the kids around me urged me to go to the front of the hall and claim my prize. I couldn’t really believe that I had won. It dawned on me that if I could get paid in chocolate for drawing, then this was the career for me!

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it. 

My studio is purpose built with windows almost all the way around for natural light. It’s at the bottom of my garden overlooking my veggie patch. I have two studio dogs that sleep on an antique sofa and keep me company. It’s surrounded by large trees, and I can hear and see birds, possums, bees and other wildlife.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

When an idea first pops into my head and/or when brainstorming with a client. The evolution of an idea is exciting as the image(s) emerge in my mind's eye.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

You are unique and the more you draw, the more your own personal style will emerge. Create every day, enjoy what you are doing. Each time you draw you are infusing the drawing with your own magic pixie dust, and that’s what will set it apart from the rest. Have a social media presence, show the world what you’ve got.

Macarena draws inspiration from the many places she has visited and lived, including London, Houston and Sydney. Expressing herself in classical form in a variety of ways, from large impressionistic landscapes to fun whimsical drawings. Having had several solo exhibitions, her artwork is held in private collections around the world.

Please visit Macarena's instagram to see more of her beautiful art.

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2YNtwj3

Review: Wilam — A Birrarung Story

The Yarra River, or Birrarung, holds a special place in many Australian hearts and we're pretty sure this book will too.

Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Joy Murphy and illustrator Lisa Kennedy, a Trawlwoolway descendant, collaborated on the cherished and highly lauded picture book Welcome to Country. Here they join forces with author and Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly.

The result is Wilam, which means 'home' in the Indigenous Woiwurrung language. Wilam takes us on a journey along the banks of the Birrarung, from the river's source in the mountains, all the way to the sea. It introduces us to the diverse wildlife that call the river home, and often live alongside people as the river winds through the suburbs and city of Melbourne.

This is a book to treasure, from the stunning cover that emanates the fresh river air and teeming flora and fauna, to the glossary of Woiwurrung words, which have been integrated into the English text.

The language is poetic and beautiful, while each double-page spread is a breathtaking work of art as Lisa Kennedy's rich and vibrant strokes breathe the life and colour of the river onto the pages.

Wilam will hopefully find a home in every classroom and family as a wonderful celebration that weaves together floral and fauna with people, water and land, and past and present.

Title: Wilam — A Birrarung Story
Authors: Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly
Illustrator: Lisa Kennedy
Publisher: Black Dog Books, $24.00
Publication Date: April 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781925381764
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2YMqpUh

Review: The Missing of Clairdelune (The Mirror Visitor: Book 2)

The Missing of Clairdelune is the second book in The Mirror Visitor Quartet, an award-winning fantasy series written by French author, Christelle Dabos, and translated by Hildegarde Serle.

In the first book, A Winter's Promise, we met Ophelia, a young naive woman from the Ark of Anima, with two abilities: to travel through mirrors and to read an object, more specifically the momentary thoughts of people who had held the object.

When Ophelia finds herself far from home, betrothed to a distant man named Thorn, who seems only to want her reader's ability in order to please his ancestral family Spirit, Farouk, Ophelia seems destined to a life of misery.

Yet behind Ophelia's clumsy, childlike appearance lies a determined, compassionate, clever and strong woman.

As Ophelia is drawn deeper into the political machinations of her new home, on the Ark known as Pole, she realises that illusions are ubiquitous, Thorn may not be the cold and calculating man he appears to be, and she must find a way to not only survive, but to thrive, in her new home.

When Ophelia is assigned the role of vice story-teller, by Farouk himself, her safety seems assured, yet Ophelia soon discovers she has never been in greater peril. As the date of her impending marriage to Thorn looms, Ophelia receives threatening letters and loses her ability to travel through mirrors. Ophelia realises she has begun to lose sight of the truth within herself. As Ophelia faces these truths she learns just what it will take to survive.

This book delves into the mystery of why the Arks, fragments of a previously whole planet, underwent The Rupture. Whilst this is still unresolved at the end of Book 2, Ophelia, Thorn and Farouk seem to be coming closer to understanding this. The complex relationship between Ophelia and Thorn is further developed and we come to know and understand the motivations of these key characters.

This is a tightly woven tale with strong world-building, complex characters, deadly political intrigue and a fantasy world I would love to visit. Book 2 has left me eagerly anticipating Book 3!

Title: The Missing of Clairdelune (The Mirror Visitor: Book 2)
Author: Christelle Dabos (translated by Hildegarde Serle)
Publisher: Text Publishing, $22.99
Publication Date: 21 May 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925773668
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult Fiction




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/33f6p05

Review: In The Shadow of An Elephant

12 Curly Questions with author Vikki Conley

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
Once I was a swing dance teacher and a gymnast. The Charleston, backflips and somersaults were my daily thing.

2. What is your nickname?
Those that know me too well call me Vixen. The boys at school used to call me Lucky Legs (because I was lucky they didn’t snap off – I was a skinny thing) and Vikki Dickie Boys Clothes (apparently my pink and blue surf track-suit was only for boys). 

3. What is your greatest fear?
Of not being good enough. Of losing my joy. But both of these factors drive my work ethic, and my life’s purpose to ever improve and to be happy. I also fear baking. Cupcakes! Ahhh. My inner creative seems incapable of sticking to a recipe.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Gentle, evocative, lyrical, quirky and joyful. A celebration of wonder.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Collaborative, imaginative, prolific, diverse, brave.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Silky from Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree series. Because she has wings and gets to live in a tree! She was also my first memory of utter wonder.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Oh, I love this question! The 1920s for sure. I’d get to do the Charleston all the time, and dance wildly in those amazing shimmering beaded dresses, and wear a feather in my hair like in The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Never stop dreaming. Oh, and sometimes it is important to follow the recipe.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
The voice in my head. It never stops.

10. What/who made you start writing?
My father. He inspired my sister and me to write poetry and stories about our adventures. Often, we’d venture to islands in Dad’s old wooden boat. On the way back into port, it was our job to write the adventures in The Ship’s Log Book. My obsession with words started at a young age. In primary school, I wrote and illustrated handmade books. When reading, I’d write down (in a special notebook) any words (and their definition) that I didn’t know. I still have all of these books.

11. What is your favourite word and why? 
 Squeal! Because I love onomatopoeia and this one screams out-of-control exuberance, fun and joy. It makes me smile every time.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Just one? Impossible! But one that jumps to mind is All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. This book completely captivated me on so many levels – of love, struggle and vulnerability of two young people.

Vikki has worked as a professional communicator for 20 years, across three continents. In search of extraordinary stories, she has climbed inside Icelandic glaciers, entered war-torn countries and interviewed African dignitaries in a paddock full of eeyoring donkeys! In her spare time, Vikki does cartwheels with her two children and searches for platypus in the rivers near her home in Eltham, Victoria. For more information, see www.vikkiconley.com.

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/33hZvHF

Review: Allergic Alpaca

Allergic Alpaca is a fun and unique story about an alpaca with an apple allergy and her chaotic journey through the alphabet.

Alpaca is allergic to apples which is terrible since they live together at the start of the alphabet, she never complains, just avoids the apples until a crazy incident causes them to collide. Beginning with spots and sneezing, chaos erupts, and an avalanche sends poor Alpaca to the other end of the of the alphabet.

When Alpaca considers moving away from A and the apples for good, her friends step in, a funny ending prevails along with a lovely message about sharing your problems with friends.

The illustrations are filled with expression and movement; they work in unity with the text and build Alpaca’s humble and lively character, the adorable endpapers feature characters from the alphabet and give readers a little extra information to leave them thinking and imagining.

I loved the unique concept of the alphabet being a physical place and the unexpected plot which reminded me of stories that my kids and I make up on the go with unrelated bounds and leaps, only in this one, it all comes together beautifully.

While the story is fast paced, it offers plenty of space and opportunity to discuss allergies and the alphabet and could lead on to related activities. This fabulous book is a debut for author Kiah Thomas. Connah Brecon has illustrated many books including Wolfie: An Unlikely Hero and The Book Chook.

Title: Allergic Alpaca
Author: Kiah Thomas
Illustrator: Connah Brecon
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760503437
For ages: 3 - 99
Type: Picture Book




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2yD725o

Review: The Same But Different Too

The Same But Different Too is a wonderful book that celebrates what we have in common and what can make us different.

It features a cast of colourful, mostly animal characters: warthog, zebra, elephant, tiger, and many others.

Right at the beginning, though, it starts with a young girl and a dog, and a boy and a cat. They set the scene with their similar, but not quite the same, clothing and features.

Then we're off into the story proper, which visually tells us about everyday activities (eating breakfast, playing outdoors, going to the dentist, etc).

Repetition (especially of the words 'You are too') and rhyming sentences are used throughout the text. Opposites (hot and cold, quiet and loud) and comparisons (both sleepy, listening, hungry) are used to highlight the ways the characters are the same but different too.

They like to eat the same things for breakfast, but differ in how they drink. Only elephants drink through their trunks! Everyone gets wet when it rains. Some of us find certain tasks easier than others, and we each look different in different ways. A crocodile certainly has more teeth than a human!

The writing of Karl Newson and illustration by Kate Hindley are well matched in The Same But Different Too. Kate's depiction of the characters who are never named, or even really described in Karl's relatively sparse text, bring a level of humour and understanding that is crucial. 

Reading The Same But Different Too is also a fun experience. There is lots to look at, and the scenarios depicted incorporate plenty of cute and humourous elements.

One for the whole family to enjoy.

Title: The Same But Different Too
Author: Karl Newson
Illustrator: Kate Hindley
Publisher: Nosy Crow, $ 24.99
Publication Date: July 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781788003995
For ages:  3+
Type: Picture book




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2YGBEBQ

Review: One Runaway Rabbit

Review: Once

This is a book about the stories that shape you, that grow with you, that are part of you. It is about the stories that you carry in your heart and the stories that bind families together.

In this deeply personal picture book, Kate Forsyth shares the experiences that have shaped her own family. From emigrating to Australia, to living through war and civil rights movements, this book also gives us a history of Australia and what has shaped us as a nation.

Kate shares with us the stories of her family. A great-great-grandmother, who grew up in the shadow of a cursed castle, travelled across seas with a head filled with stories, to a life in a new land. And a great-grandmother, who searched for gold and grew a family, still surrounded by stories.

And then there was a grandmother who lived in dark times and a mother who stood up for her rights and forged her place in the world. And finally a child who grew up in a fast-paced world, filled with stories passed down and carried on.

This is a beautiful book that speaks to the heart of storytelling. It is about how the stories of our family shape who we are and how we see the world. It reminds us all to never forget where we come from and to carry and treasure our personal stories through our life’s journey.

Krista Brennan’s realistic and moving illustrations carry us through history, showing us the relationships and experiences that forge our own stories and futures. The vibrant illustrations have a whimsical feel that connect us with Kate’s ancestors and rather than feeling their burdens, we rejoice in their stories and their contributions to our lives. The little moments, such as a child on a grandmother’s knee or a young woman staring out at the sea, bring us close to the characters so we can feel the power of the stories of their lives.

This gorgeous book reminds us all of our own family experiences. How they have shaped us and our families, and contributed to our collective stories. This is a story of few words but a multitude of emotions. It makes us consider our past, present and future, and how our small family moments contribute to the collective narrative of our generation. It is a reminder that each of our personal journeys are part of us all.


Title: Once
Author: Kate Forsyth
Illustrator: Krista Brennan
Publisher: Wombat Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781925563566
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2GHUG0A

Review: Cook's Cook

Review: The Naughtiest Pixie in Disguise

Jenifry Star is shorter than her cat. The pixie closest to her age is one hundred years old.

Her grandmother and seven great aunts insist pixies never mix with humans, and that humans are dangerous.

But what does a lonely young pixie do when she finds small humans who play with her? And that there are loads more of them at a place called school?

Despite knowing there's a pixie hunter who has pickled pixies in his basement, Jenifry can't resist the idea of having  friends her age.

So begins the biggest adventure of Jenifry Star's life.


The Naughtiest Pixie is the first of an action-packed news series for younger readers by Ailsa Wild, champion of fun-loving, curious, strong young females.

Title: The Naughtiest Pixie
Author: Ailsa Wild
Illustrator: Saoirse Lou
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, $12.99
Publication Date: 1 July 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760502713
For ages: 6 +
Type: Junior Fiction




from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/316w6hm

Review: Born to Fly

Born to Fly is the story of a courageous young boy who dared to dream to fly.

Harry Butler was born in 1889. He was a farm boy with his head in the clouds. He tried to be what his family wanted him to be, but he couldn’t stop dreaming of the sky and the machines that could navigate them.

He studied hard, and he achieved his dream, flying for the Royal Flying Corps. But...


Harry wanted to bring the delights of flight to Australia. When he returned from the war, he decided to fly home to his farm. 

Word spread of his journey, and people gathered to watch and welcome Harry Butler home. He became a famous and familiar Australian icon, delivering mail by air and introducing many Australians to their first flight experience. 

This is a magnificent non-fiction picture book filled with action, adventure and the real-life story of an Australian hero. But it isn’t just a story laid out in facts. The story is beautiful, lyrical — filled with whimsy and spark. 

The distant murmur of an engine rippled across the paddock. A speck of red appeared through wisps of cloud.

This is writing that pulls at heart-strings and souls. It’s so lovely to read, especially out loud and to a crowd, going slowly and savouring the beautiful language.

And with a message to kids that anything is possible, no matter your starting point, it’s an important story for kids to hear. 

Teamed with stunning illustrations by Timothy Ide, the book is a visual delight. Detailed and engaging, the book calls for slow exploration so the details can be savoured and appreciated. 

The back of the book includes a detailed timeline of Harry’s life and there are photos and a detailed author’s note to accompany it, so kids can find out more and additional google searches can be guided — so brilliant for curious kids or classrooms studying the book.

I loved reading this book, and I think it will do exactly what author Beverley McWilliams says of Harry Butler in her Author’s Note:

…anything is possible if you believe in yourself and follow your dreams.

Title: Born to Fly
Author: Beverley McWilliams
Illustrator: Timothy Ide
Publisher: Midnight Sun, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781925227567
For ages: 3-8
Type: Picture Book, Junior Non-Fiction

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2MyldkI

Review: Barben's Magic Quest

Australians Kate and her brothers Mike and Aaron, are holidaying with their parents and two cousins Sarah and Jacob in Ireland. 

It is the first leg of an around the world trip. Aaron is a forest ranger in Australia, and is using the trip to discover and learn about the trees in the ancient forests of each place they visit.

Katie and her cousin Sarah, go back to an elevated area where they had been the previous day, to view a canopy of trees. Katie believes she saw what appeared to be a fairy. And it was. 

The girls meet Elly. She sprinkles fairy dust over them and they gain magic powers.

These magic powers set them on an adventure of a lifetime. They move into the world of magic, treemen, elves, leprechauns, witches, warlocks and trolls.

Meanwhile, the boys are being followed by a men with questionable intentions. Addition powers are needed to be able to protect them from harm as there are threats everywhere, it seems. There is a warring of good and evil when traitors in their midst pit their magic against the children’s.

Barben, the Keeper of the forests, offers the children powerful protection in the form of an amulet and a golden orb, to carry his special magic to his helpers in the countries they are travelling through. They agree to join the fight against the enemies of the ancient forests and help stop the desecration that is well under way.

Their greatest enemy is Erwin the Great, Keeper of fields and moors. Erwin sees his areas as threatened, for people have returned to planting trees and creating forests. What will become of his lands? Both Keepers are fighting to save what they believe in.

This is an adventure story with an environment theme sprinkled with magic, and with enough twists, turns and tension to hold the reader’s interest throughout the book. It is open-ended which allows more challenges, more magic and the opportunity to build up its characters, especially Aaron, in the next book.

Title: Barben’s Magic Quest

Author: Elaine Ouston

Publisher: Morris Publishing, $19.95

Publication Date: October 2018

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780648164784

For ages: 9+

Type: Middle Grade Fiction 

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2YgZhBJ

Review: Zoe's Rescue Zoo: The Messy Meerkat