Review: Women Artists A to Z

Today art has no specific guidelines. Looking at the grid paintings by Agnes Martin, to the screen prints, sculptures and linocuts in ink of Elizabeth Catlett, everything expressed in colour and through the mind is considered art.

Leonora Carrington used kitchen supplies mixed with pigment to create what was seen as magnificent art.

In Women Artists A to Z, French-born, Australian artist Mirka Mora heads the alphabetical parade of magnificent women that brought their creative genius to the world. 

Her artistic talent encompasses paintings of coloured visions of nature, animals, cherubs, people, and our external and internal world.

This diverse assembly of women artists from all countries and of all races introduce their varied and unusual talents. They share their use of all kinds of media, techniques, colours, objects and materials to create stories, artwork, styles and methods.

Who would have thought that red dots of all sizes on walls, trees, clothes and body would keep Yayoi Kasuma in the public eye for more than fifty years?

This is a brilliant selection of artistic expression. Children ( and adults) can learn from the different media and be inspired to express their own imagination and creativity in a similar or perhaps, their own individual style.

From blocks of colour, the use of marble and natural recycled materials used artistically, call attention to our environment. Items of pottery, and quilts woven by the quilting circles of African American women are displayed in museums. Frida Kahlo’s bold, thick colourful lines in her self-portraits were drawn to keep alive her heritage.

Whether it is a veiled garment, a floral expression, photography, yarn-based art weavers or imaginative wood carvings, this book will excite and educate.

At the end, there are four pages of author’s notes on the artists, with a miniature image of them to refer to. It includes a question to answer which engages the reader further and which reinforces who they are reading about.

Title: Women Artists A to Z

Author: Melanie LaBarge

Illustrator: Caroline Corrigan

Publisher: Penguin Random House, $24.99

Publication Date: 18 February 2020

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781760896317

For ages: 8+

Type: Educational/Non-fiction Picture Book

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Storytime Online with Story Box Library

Parents, teachers and carers, how are you faring at the moment? Whether you're homeschooling, waiting for schools to go back or just looking for some sensational kidlit online content, KBR could not more highly recommend Story Box Library for brilliant story/book content, as well as literacy and creative resources.

SBL is an educational - and fun! - platform developed for children to improve their literacy and language skills. A subscription-based educational service, it works to engage and excite the next generation about reading and storytelling.

SBL's products are aimed at early readers, and allow students access at home, as well as in the classroom. With simple login details, kids can access hundreds of engaging Australian and New Zealand stories brought to life by passionate storytellers, authors and illustrators. 



All stories are accompanied by at-home activity time and classroom ideas, student task sheets and inspiration for personal inquiry projects. Teachers benefit from time-saving accessibility features to support varied learning needs, options to curate theme-based playlists, and ongoing resources are shared with educators to help communicate clearly in a time of overwhelming information.

Addressing the impact of closed schools, Story Box Library is committed to supporting educators by offering free access for two months and ongoing support for teachers and their student community. 

To access this offer, use the code: SBLFREE2020 or contact: admin@storyboxlibrary.com.au

Alternatively, families and the broader community can access Story Box Library for free via their local library.

Thank you, Story Box Library, for all that you do to uplift and inspire our children (and their weary carers!).

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Review: Bubbay's Desert Adventure

Bubbay lives in the Australian desert with his goats. 

The stars are his friends, and every night he watches the sky and falls asleep with the stars shining above him.

One night, Bubbay wishes upon the brightest star, and the star comes down to greet him. 

It tells Bubbay that if he can find five special things, the star will bring him a surprise.

So, Bubbay sets out to find the five things the star challenges him to find, guided by the spirit of grandma Gubarlee and helped by the animals of the desert. But one of the five things is a shell, and Bubbay lives in the desert. How will he find a shell in the middle of the desert?

Bubbay’s Desert Adventure is a beautiful quest story about love and family. Written by Josie Wowolla Boyle, a Wonghi woman from Western Australia, it’s a story of culture and tradition, being brave and being rewarded for good deeds.

Fern Martins, a Ngarabul woman from New South Wales, brings joy to the pages with her beautiful illustrations. Colour extends to the corners of every page, and intricate details provide so much for readers to explore and find.

Bubbay’s Desert Adventure is a beautiful story of adventure, hope and wonder.

Title: Bubbay's Desert Adventure
Author: Josie Wowolla Boyle
Illustrator: Fern Martins
Publisher: Magabala Books, $17.95 
Publication Date: 1 March 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925936797
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book

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Giveaway: Middle Grade Fiction Super Bumper Prize Pack!

Video: Grandmothers: Essays by 21st-Century Grandmothers

So many children's books feature the unique relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren. Now we have Grandmothers: Essays by 21st-Century Grandmothers, a book for young adult and adult readers celebrating the relationship between grandmothers and their grandchildren. We're delighted that KBR's own Anastasia Gonis is one of the contributors, along with notable Australians including Alison Lester, Maggie Beer, Romona Koval, Jane Caro, and others.



Title: Grandmothers: Essays by 21st-Century Grandmothers
Author: Helen Elliott (editor)
Publisher: Text Publishing, $34.99
Publication Date: March 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922268600
For ages: 16+
Type: Non-fiction




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Guest Post: Nicole Rodwell gives us 10 Must-Read Books for Strong, Empowered Girls

Despite the fact it’s 2020, gender stereotypes and biases still pervade our children books.

You may have noticed these biases yourself, or maybe not. I know I have.

There have been numerous analyses of gender stereotypes in children’s books in recent years, with some startling findings:

• Out of the top 100 Australian picture books published in 2017, it was more common for a book to have no lead character than a female lead character.
• On TIME’s list of 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time, only 53 books contained female characters who spoke.
• In a study of 200 picture books, not a single father was shown kissing or feeding a baby.
• According to another study, only 19.5 per cent of female characters in children’s media are shown working.

When my daughter was born almost four years ago, I started searching for picture books to read to her. As a proud feminist, I naturally wanted to find the books that would empower her to think big and provide her with strong female role models.

I wanted to fill our shelves with stories that would inspire her to go after her dreams, to show her that yes, girls can do and be anything they want.

But what I discovered was shocking.

Book after book was mostly the same - a lead male character doing something adventurous and exciting. The female character, if there was one at all, was likely in the background, passive, or exhibiting stereotypical shyness.

Trips to my library became somewhat depressing unless I was prepared to painstakingly sort through shelf upon shelf of picture books in order to find one that wouldn’t make my daughter believe that girls were destined to live their lives in the background.

And those nostalgic books I loved growing up in the 1980s were just as bad - books like Edwina the Emu and Each Peach Pear Plum which have now been relegated to storage boxes, because I want my daughter growing up believing she can be more than a princess, a mother or a cleaner.

Despite feeling like the world was going backwards, I decided to take matters into my own hands and began actively seeking out empowering books. Surprisingly, I found a whole other dimension of authors who had discovered what I had, and thankfully, decided to do something about it.

I began making lists of the best books, researching authors, and I even began writing children’s stories of my own to try and restore some balance to the volume of books moulding our kids’ views of the world.

I started posting about my findings on social media, and have connected with parents and caregivers also keen to find appropriate, empowering material for their daughters and students.

I now have a growing list of books that empower girls, ranging from those suitable to read out loud to a newborn, to young adult fiction.

Here are some of my favourites from that list:

1. Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison
Ages 0 - 3 - The board book adaptation of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.

2. Molly Rogers, Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke + Kasia Matyjaszek 
Ages 2 - 7 - A gang of dastardly pirates meet their match when they kidnap a small, feisty girl named Molly.

3. Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez + Felicita Sala Ages 4 - 8 - Back in the days of long skirts and afternoon teas, young Joan Procter entertained the most unusual party guests: slithery and scaly ones.

4. So She Did: The Story Of May Wirth by Simi Genziuk + Renee Treml 
Ages 4 - 8 - At a time when girls weren't encouraged to be bold and daring, Australian circus rider May Wirth lived by her own rules.

5. Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls 2 by Francesca Cavallo + Elena Favilli
Ages 5+ - 100 new bedtime stories, each inspired by the life and adventures of extraordinary women from Nefertiti to Beyoncé.

6. The Extraordinary Life of Anne Frank by Kate Scott + Anke Rega 
Ages 8+ - Anne's incredible story comes to life in this beautiful book, with timelines, facts and quotes.

7. The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell Ages 8-12 - A mother and daughter story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love, and fighting back.

8. A Galaxy of Her Own: Amazing Stories of Women in Space by Libby Jackson
Ages 8+ - From small steps to giant leaps, this book tells the stories of inspirational women who have been fundamental to the story of humans in space.

9. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 
Ages 14+ - Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised, and her posh high school in the suburbs.

10. I Am Change by Suzy Zail
Ages 14+ - The tragic but empowering story of how a young girl finds her voice and the strength to fight for change.

I’m happy to say there are now so many authors out there empowering girls with their stories, and these books are just a few of many. If you’d like to discover more, head on over to my website for a list of the top 50 books for bold, courageous girls.

Nicole Rodwell is a writer and creator who is passionate about empowering kids through storytelling. She’s created three colouring and activity books, including the bestselling I’m A Girl! which is designed to inspire girls aged 5 - 11 through self-reflection and creativity. Nicole is now working on a number of picture book manuscripts, and regularly blogs all things kid-empowerment on her site NicoleRodwell.com. 

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Review: A Home for Luna

Little Luna gets washed ashore on an island. She remembers her safe home from long ago, but she knows it is far from where she is.

Strange animals live on the island. They are different from Luna and she doesn’t know how to act around them.

But, slowly, the creatures make contact with Luna. They show her kindness. They teach her things, and Luna teaches them, too. They connect.

Has Luna finally found a home — a new place to belong?

A Home for Luna is a beautiful picture book about friendship, family and finding your place in the world. But beneath the story of a cat washed ashore on an island of penguins, tendrils of truth connect this story to that of refugees seeking shelter and what it must feel like to try and start a new life in a new country when you feel so different from the people who live there.

Throughout the story there are beautiful moments of hope and fun as Luna learns how to live on the island with her new friends. She finds ways to help them as they help her, and as their friendship grows, Luna and the penguins form a strong bond, protecting each other and caring for one another.

Debut author Stef Gemmill has created something really special here. It’s such a beautiful story, filled with love and hope. It shows kids that our differences only keep us apart if we let them, and new and unexpected friendships can be formed if we open our minds to possibilities and our hearts to all people — no matter where they come from.

Mel Armstrong’s illustrations, too, are just divine. They are funky and inviting, with an earthy and soothing colour palate.

A story to pull on heartstrings and spread a message of hope, A Home for Luna is a stunning addition to schools, homes and libraries everywhere.

Title: A Home for Luna

Author: Stef Gemmill

Illustrator: Mel Armstrong

Publisher: New Frontier, $24.99 

Publication Date: 1 August 2019

Format: Hard Cover

ISBN: 9781925594843

For ages: 3 - 6

Type: Picture Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Cindy Van Schendel

Name:
Cindy van Schendel

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less. 

Quirky, whimsical, textured and character driven.

What items are an essential part of your creative space? 

Paper and pencils to sketch out characters and ideas. Painted paper to use for cut-outs, scissors and glue. My watercolours, charcoal pencils, Indian ink, oil pastels and of course my computer with Photoshop on it.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

I think I love oil pastels most, in combination with (coloured) pencils.

Name three artists whose work inspires you. 

Max Velthuijs: I love his work because of the strong characters he creates. They speak to my heart!
Fiep Westerdorp: Because of her use of form and colour, and I love her humour.
Laura Carlin: Her loose style and dreamy work inspires me to use my art supplies differently. 

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

I would love to visit expressionism. I love the bold use of colour, the energy and the vitality of the art from that period. 

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

It was the little voice inside of me. ☺

I studied dance and worked a long time as a performer, teacher and choreographer. One day I started to write stories for children, but I missed the pictures.
In 2012 I illustrated one of my own stories, from scratch. I had no experience with drawing and painting at all, but I wanted to give it a try.

My illustrated story didn’t become a book, but after that I illustrated three stories for a friend, and got some illustration work as well. My life was very busy. I felt a lack of tools in my tool box, and I also didn’t know how to start a serious career as an illustrator. It was holding me back.

It took until the end of 2018 for me to have a serious talk with myself, and decided to give me and my illustration work all it needed. And that’s where I’m now. I’m following a lot of courses, I participate in communities for illustrators, show my work online, and work on my portfolio to show at for example the Bologna’s Children’s Book Fair in 2020. 

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

I live in an old, big schoolhouse with lots of space. As the winters in Norway can be very cold, I move my working space to our living room during the cold months.

As my working corner is quite small at the moment, I have to organise my stuff. At the end of the day, I put everything away except for my pencils and sketchbook. I always have children’s picture books on my desk. Right now they are mostly books illustrated by Laura Carlin.

One desk is for drawing and painting. One is for working at my computer, and on the third one I put drawings, paper cuts, textures, etc. while I’m working.

I live in the mountains and in the wintertime the days are short. I love it to spend a lot of time in my working space then, when the fire is burning in the wood stove. This winter I hope to realise a new working space in one of the classrooms and work towards an exposition in our schoolhouse!

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

When the characters start to live and get their personalities. Then I feel the ‘click’ and the illustration becomes a little story. 

 
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Practice a lot, connect with other illustrators, take good care of yourself, get inspired, produce a lot of work, follow courses, get to know the market, show your work. Be you and be proud of yourself, even when you have to work yourself through difficulties. Set small goals and work at them step by step.

Cindy grew up in a in the south of the Netherlands, studied dance, worked as a performer, teacher and choreographer and immigrated to Norway in 2007.
Today she is an illustrator who loves to create little stories that speak to the heart.

For more information please visit Cindy's website or follow her on instagram.

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Review: The Golden Cage

Flemish artist, Carll Cneut’s exquisite and luxurious artwork is nothing less than spectacular. It’s to this I draw the reader’s attention first. This is one of the most visually outstanding books that I have had the pleasure to review.

It tells the story of Valentina, an over-indulged, unhappy, dissatisfied nine year old daughter of an emperor, who seeks the talking bird of her dream to fill her empty golden cage.

Her existing collection of exotic birds from around the world has come at an extraordinary price.

Whichever servant fails to bring the bird she commands they find, has their lives ended in the most traumatic way. Known as the Blood Princess, her selfishness becomes her downfall.

A young person arrives, claiming to have the answer to her longing. He extracts an unalterable promise from her. There is no other ending for Valentina than the one that awaits her.

The Golden Cage, or The True Story of the Blood Princess, is a European fairytale written by Italian author Anna Castagnoli. It was first published in Dutch in 2014, it was translated into English by Laura Watkinson.

Presented in an oversized publication to accommodate the fantastic and elaborate bird images, this book is definitely a collector’s dream.

Dark and mesmerising for a children’s book, I recommend parent discretion regardless of it being a fairytale. Due to the content of the story, I have adjusted the age group for an older audience.

Title: The Golden Cage

Author: Anna Castagnoli

Illustrator: Carll Cneut

Publisher: Book Island, $39.99

Publication Date: October 2019

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781911496144

For ages: 8+

Type: Picture Book/Fairytale

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Review: Fish Kid and the Mega Manta Ray

Bodhi has a secret — he has secret fish powers that allow him to breathe under water and zoom thorough the water like a fish. He’s a fish kid!

Following on from Fish Kid and the Ninja Lizard, Bodhi and his best friend Emely are holidaying with Bodhi’s grandfather by the sea at Ningaloo. Bodhi’s gran disappeared at sea a year ago, and Bodhi’s grandfather has been by himself ever since. Bodhi and Emely are going to keep him company for a while.

Swimming, snorkelling and beach exploring are on the agenda everyday. But when a flock of manta rays take a special interest in Bodhi and Emily, and Bodhi’s grandfather gives them an ancient relic that belonged to Bodhi’s gran, questions are raised and mysteries are uncovered.

What exactly happened to Bodhi’s gran? And why does Bodhi have a special bond with the manta rays? The Fish Kid series is a brilliant adventure tale for junior readers. It’s fun and fast paced, with loads of suspense and mystery.

Peppered throughout the book are fact pages about the sea creatures featured in the story, making this a great book for kids who love animals. You can learn about whales, manta rays, dugongs and more.

Easy to read and heaps of fun, Fish Kid and the Mega Manta Ray is recommended for junior readers who love adventure, super powers and the sea.

For more great reads by Kylie Howarth, check out Chip and Fish Jam.

Title: Fish Kid and the Mega Manta Ray

Author/Illustrator: Kylie Howarth

Publisher: Walker Books, $16.99

Publication Date: 1 March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760651138

For ages: 7 - 10

Type: Junior Fiction

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Junior Review: New Kid

Review: Deep Water

Sarah Epstein's first YA novel, Small Spaces exploded onto our bookshelves in 2018 with such impact, I for one was caught in the story for days after the last page.

Her second novel (and really there should be no comparison), Deep Water rocked my pillars a little less emphatically , however still carry the crystalline Epstein hallmarks of high tension and riveting character play. It's not easy to maintain a cohesive and believable set of individually strong characters within a mystery setting yet Epstein does so without missing a single beat.

Six childhood friends in a small backwater country town in NSW struggle to maintain the bonds that united them as youngsters. As each matures, they battle with the reality of altered feelings, identity and future expectations.

Emotionally charged, Mason Weaver is desperate to escape the stranglehold of his decaying mother. Frustration and cruel circumstance fuel his anger although he suspects his uncontrollable outbursts and alcohol crutches are legacies of his genetics. His younger half-brother, Henry is just as bruised by their toxic domestic situation and pleas with Mason to remain for his sake.

Chloe Baxter, now living with her mum in Sydney returns to Shallow Reservoir for the Easter holidays, three months after the disappearance of Henry Weaver. It's an event that rocked the township and created an ache in Chloe that refuses to fade. The soft spot she harboured for Henry transforms into an ardent desire to find him or at least find out exactly why he might have run away that fateful night.

Chloe enlists the help of her closest mates to drive her detective suspicions and findings forever closer to the truth. Quiet, considered and conflict-adverse, Tom; sunshine bright and forever bubbly, Sabeen; ruggedly reclusive crush, Raf; they balance Chloe's commanding, right-here, right-now ways whilst providing a possible line up of suspects. If indeed there are any at all.

Rage and yearnings, unrequited feelings and remorse all tangle into a nervous knot of teenage agitation which although slow to ignite, soon flame into a gripping firestorm equal to the terrible tempest that ripped through the town the night of Henry's disappearance. The storm being a symbolic catalyst of beginnings and endings, a metaphor for the turmoil each of the Chloe's friends are experiencing as they navigate their way to adulthood.

Alternating points of view rarely unnerve me and I found Epstein's use of them interesting. One would think Chloe's first person narration would generate a deeper sense of empathy for her yet for me, it was with Mason whom I felt a real affinity for despite his story being told in the more distancing third person. Perhaps this intentional out spacing inadvertently emphasized the futility of his situation creating a kind of rebel-with-a-cause mantle that attracted rather than repelled. At least it did for this reader, not so for Chloe who is convinced the secrets Mason keeps are the key to Henry's whereabouts. The use of here and now time frames to describe each person's version of the events accentuates tension and ramps up the pace in the most addictive way.

Sinister insinuations simmer just below the surface of this beguiling mystery which had me furiously enthralled by the end, and as desperate as the Shallow Reservoir teens to find the answer to the question: Where is Henry Weaver?

The guts and grit of some of the adult themes (sexuality, domestic violence, identity, missing persons and criminality) makes Deep Water well suited to upper teens although mature readers from the age of 14 should enjoy the diverse edgy reality of this tale just as much.

Title: Deep Water
Author: Sarah Epstein
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $19.99 
Publication Date: April 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760877286
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Aleesah Darlison

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’m allergic to bees, but I still think they’re super cute and amazing!

2. What is your nickname?
I’ve had quite a few over the years, some good, some bad. Probably the most enduring (and my favourite) is Sah or Sahzie.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Sharks!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Humorous but deep. Gentle but intentional. Educational yet utterly entertaining.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Dedicated. Persistent. Ambitious. Resilient. Brave.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Winnie the Pooh. He has the best lines!

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
3030 – just to make sure we’re all still here and to see what amazing technological advances we’ve made. It might be a little scary, but also (hopefully) eye-opening.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Start writing properly earlier and realise that writing doesn’t just have to be a hobby. It can be a way of life, it can be a career, and you’ll love it!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Influencer and possibly ‘enabler’ too – my husband. His support and belief in me have always been 100 per cent and completely unwavering. He’s a good person to have by my side. My kids are also 100 per cent behind me. I do so much of what I do for them and so much of my writing comes from them and my experiences with them. I guess having kids has many upsides, though, like writing, it ain’t always easy!

10. What/who made you start writing?
My love of books and a whispering in my mind telling me to write, telling me that I simply must have my name on books. It was like a calling, perhaps.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
That’s an impossible question to answer! Here’s a few, if I can narrow it down – these words have meaning to me and they’re filled with so much emotion and portent, I suppose: home, love, happiness, write, believe, bunnies, serendipity. Sorry, I could keep going but I’d best stop there.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?  
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I can not live without my love! I can not live without my soul! Utterly heartbreaking and probably my favourite book of all time. I’m a tragedy tragic. 

Aleesah Darlison has written over 50 books for children and has won or been shortlisted for numerous awards. Many of Aleesah’s stories feature humour or champion the cause of animals and the environment. 2020 is the Year of the Llama for Aleesah with the release of her hilarious series, League of Llamas. For more information, see www.aleesahdarlison.com.

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Review: Slow Down

Slow Down is a fascinating and educational resource filled with detailed short stories explaining magical transformations from nature.

In our often busy lives it’s easy to overlook the wonders of nature and take our natural environment for granted. From the birds’ morning song to a pearl magically appearing in an oyster, Slow Down helps readers do exactly that with many discoveries along the way. Fifty nature stories focus on showing how; A Duck: Teaches her Ducklings to Swim, A Rainbow Appears, A Snake Sheds its Skin, Dew Collects on a Leaf and more.

Each spread features a different story with text and detailed pictures in a step-by-step layout. I like how the text explains complex processes in a simple and succinct way for young readers to understand.

There is a lot to love about this book but the standout for me is the stunning artwork by Freya Hartas, her illustrations have a delicate, whimsical textbook feel, the colours, use of light and details such as the anatomy of a mosquito are spectacular.

Slow Down would make a great classroom addition or gift, its sturdy cover features beautifully balanced illustration, flowing typography and gold foil and surrounds over 100 high quality pages of fascinating information. An index, further reading list and bibliography are also included.

Other books by Rachel Williams include Illuminature and Atlas of Animal Adventures. Freya Hartas has illustrated many books including The Dragon With A Chocolate Heart and Frankie Frog and the Throaty Croakers.

Title: Slow Down
Author: Rachel Williams
Illustrator: Freya Hartas
Publisher: Magic Cat Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781916180512
For ages: 5 – 8
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Who's Your Real Mum?

Elvi and Nicholas are friends. Nicholas wants to know which of Elvi’s two mums is her real mum. She tries to explain all the wonderful things that she shares with both mums and starts to list them so Nicholas can understand.

Her clues turn out to be unhelpful as they apply to both mums. As the list gets longer, each mum’s qualities and abilities increase. They are on an even par. When Nicholas voices certain frustration at his question not being answered the way he expects, Elvi has an even more embellished reply.

Until Nicholas asks, don’t both your mums do that?

Exactly! is the reply.

This delicate and beautifully presented story carries the theme of love; the emotion that children understand best. The collaboration between two debut creators, Bernadette Green and Anna Zobel, has proven a successful one.

Zobel’s illustrations project happiness and contentment; curiosity and friendship. Her arrangement of images is creative and eye-catching.

The doors are thrown open. Detailed scenes of daily activity are realistic and allow the reader to see a bigger picture by entering Elvi’s family’s life. Common objects are scattered everywhere for kids to discover. The images of the exaggerated descriptions that Elvi gives to Nicholas are brilliant.  Colour choice is perfect. I loved the use of blue for these instances.

Illustrations are made using Copic marker and layered digitally.

Title: Who’s Your Real Mum?

Author: Bernadette Green

Illustrator: Anna Zobel

Publisher: Scribble Publishing, $24.99

Publication Date: 31 March 2020

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781925849493

For ages: 5+

Type: Picture book

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Review: Over The Rooftops, Under The Moon

This sparse book captures the emptiness or loneliness we all may feel at some point -  far away on the inside and far away on the outside, even when with others.

JonArno Lawson's narrative tells a story of seeking and growing, and how things inevitably change. It shows how colour can come into your world, sometimes when you least expect it, and how we can survive life's storms that toss us about, and reach a place where we feel stronger again, within and without.

Illustrations by Nahid Kazemi, portray a stark white bird, who feels alone, even when with others who look similar. The bird begins to question and wonder, about everything, and takes flight through lands untravelled. On the journey, the bird's wings gain colours, and the emptiness eases. Then something changes again, snow falls, tempests toss and the bird feels lost again. Yet, through it all, the bird keeps seeking and changing and finally finds its answers.

Title: Over The Rooftops, Under The Moon
Author: JonArno Lawson
Illustrator: Nahid Kazemi
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, $27.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781592702626
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother

Ruby is a hare (not a rabbit) and she lives with her grandmother, Babushka Galina Galushka.

There's lots to love about Ruby and Grandmother, and they will touch the hearts of everyone who has ever had a special relationship with a grandparent.  

Ruby loves Grandmother, who is incredibly unique. She rather takes after her, and likes to be individual in her fashion style.

She also loves Grandmother's stories, and the fact she doesn't treat Ruby like a child.

In Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother we get to read all about Ruby's special relationship with Grandmother.

Grandmother helps Ruby learn the meaning of new words, and teaches her how to make pasta. We discover that Grandmother loves to read and is part of a book club. She loves listening to music, and exploring nature, too.

Life with Grandmother is filled with afternoon tea, fairy hunting, and swimming. It's wonderful, just like Grandmother.

The Ruby Red Shoes world created by Kate Knapp has a kind of magical, olde worlde feel to it.

Like other books in the series, Ruby Red Shoes:My Wonderful Grandmother is a perfect gift, and a beautiful story for sharing with children.

Read our reviews of: Ruby Red Shoes, Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London, and Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris.

Title: Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother
Author/Illustrator: Kate Knapp
Publisher: Harper Collins, $19.99
Publication Date: March 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781460758885
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture book

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Review: Find Your Voice

If you know any budding authors, you’re going to want to check out Find Your Voice. 

Angie Thomas, bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up, has written an awesome book for young writers.

In Find Your Voice, you’ll be guided through the steps and stages of writing a novel, from finding an idea, developing characters and plot, completing your first draft and what steps you need to take to polish it.

There are craft tips on dialogue, writing scenes, subplots and more. And there are exercises throughout the book to get young writers thinking and practicing as they work their way through. 

There’s also space to write, so you can do it all in the book as you read it.

The design of the book is funky and delicious. Generously scattered throughout are supporting and inspiring quotes to keep you motivated and on track. They are large and colourful and fill full pages.

This is a brilliant how-to book for all young writers. Thomas keeps it real and relatable, and she talks a lot about her personal process in writing her novels, so if you’re a fan of her books, you’ll also love hearing behind-the-scenes secrets.

I love that her personality really shines through in this book. She is honest and conversational, and makes the whole reading experience feel like she is right there with you, cheering you on and providing advice over your shoulder.

If you know a kid who is keen to write, this is the book for them. It tells them everything they need to know, but in a simple and easy to understand way, with clear guidance provided all the way through.

Highly recommended.

Title: Find Your Voice

Author: Angie Thomas

Publisher: Harper Collins, $19.99

Publication Date: 1 March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780062983930

For ages: 12+

Type: Non-Fiction

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Review: Scribbly Gum Secrets

What is a Scribbly Gum? How do the scribbles get there? This stylishly illustrated picture book in rhyme surprised me with the answer.

Four kids are sprawled on the floor watching television. They want to stay that way. But it’s family time and mum has chosen a bush walk. Hats are on. Backpack is packed. 

Alas, feet are dragging! They set out after Mum who strides ahead.

Charlie wants to know who has drawn on the trees. They’ll be in big trouble if Mummy sees that! He gets no answer.

Max encounters a trail of itchy grubs on a fallen stump that leave a gooey trail. Max asks about the art work on the trunks again. Silence reigns.

Flying Foxes hang upside down after working through the night spreading seeds.

As the group treks on, the children discover Nature’s gifts. White myrtle flowers, a Birdwing, a bush stone curlew and endless other things in the undergrowth. But Charlie still wants an answer. Will he get one?

This is a delightful adventure that stimulates awareness about the beauty to be found in Australia’s natural surroundings. It encourages children to explore the outdoors and become environmentally friendly while learning about the role and contribution of each living thing in the world around them.

Award-winning writer Dannika Patterson teaches sustainability and awareness of the environment to young children. This is her second collaboration with author-illustrator Megan Forward. The highly successful Jacaranda Magic was Patterson’s debut picture book. She has two graphic novels due for release this year.

Megan Forward is also the author of A Patch from Scratch, illustrator of All I Want for Christmas is Rain, by Cori Brooke and Emily Green’s Garden by Penny Harrison.

Title: Scribbly Gum Secrets

Author: Dannika Patterson

Illustrator: Megan Forward

Publisher: FORD ST, $16.95

Publication Date: April 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781925804485

For ages: 6+

Type: Picture Book

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Review: Scruffle-Nut

Olivia is ageing. Memories are all that she has to live with. Withdrawn and alone, her mind returns her to her childhood when she was cared for by Nanny Clementine. Her visits to the park are her fondest recollections.

The movement of the seesaw, the motion of the swing, riding on the carousel, these memories come and go. It is her walks in the park that are her constant companions. There she met the squirrel she named Scruffle-Nut.

There she returned time and time again to see him.

Shy of the world and hiding behind a trunk, her damaged animal friend hides to avoid the Bully-Bunch. His tail is a stump, evidence of his worst experiences.

It is like when the young Olivia sets out with Nanny and encounters the three girls from her class. I look the other way and hold Nanny’s hand a little tighter.

This one time, Olivia cannot find her little squirrel, only the others. When she does, she drops him some crumbs which are quickly picked up by the Bully-Bunch who chase Scruffle-Nut away.  One more contact is all the young Olivia gets. It stays with her forever.

This poignant and deeply emotive story is about ageing, bullying, and which memories stay with us throughout our lifetime, and why.

Being a great admirer of Corinne Fenton’s work, I always pay close attention to her choice of words. She is exceptionally perceptive; an observer. Her brevity and nuances contribute to the expansion of her theme. In Scruffle-Nut, each sentence is an emotion.  The sadness of Olivia’s life is juxtaposed with Scruffle-Nut’s to show how identical their lives and emotions are. This is why they are drawn to one another.

Huge credit is given to Owen Swan for his stunning, delicate and immersive interpretation of Fenton’s text and theme. This includes the exceptional covers.

Title: Scruffle-Nut

Author: Corinne Fenton

Illustrator: Owen Swan

Publisher: New Frontier, $24.99

Publication Date: October 2019

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781925594768

For ages: 4 - 8

Type: Australian Picture Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Amanda Francey

Name: Amanda Francey

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

In the moment, soft, heartwarming, humorous, relatable.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?

Apart from the obvious – pencils, paper, paints and drawing devices etc – a cup of warm tea and something chocolatey to munch on.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

I struggle to limit myself to the one medium as I prefer to work with mixed media. However, I love to play with watercolour. It’s unpredictable and full of surprises. No matter how digital my illustrations become, there’s usually an element of watercolour included to give my work an organic feel.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Ann James, Nancy Carpenter, Julia Denos. I could go on to list about 50 more.

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

It’s funny, I was recently thinking about this, while flicking through the latest edition of Womankind magazine. As I read the article on Spanish painter, Maruja Mallo, I imagined how awesome it would be to step into her shoes for a week during the early 1920s. During this period, Mallo studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando alongside her kindred spirit, Salvador Dalí. I’ve always been interested in the Surrealism Era, especially Salvador Dalí’s work. I’m curious about what he would have been like as fellow art student. And spending a week inside Mallo’s wild and quirky mind would be an adventure in itself.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

My father was my first inspiration, George A Smith. He wrote and illustrated comicstrips for Australian newspapers in the 70s. I grew up watching my dad drawing comics, designing detailed illustrative logos, painting large signage and cutting intricate silkscreen stencils by hand. I’ve written a blog post sharing my dad’s comics.

Also, I was never without drawing materials, especially once my mother expanded the craft shop to include a full range of art mediums, papers and canvases.

Another motivation, was winning a special award for best story during Book Week of 1986, when I was in primary school. I kept the award as a reminder of the day my school librarian took me on an excursion. It was the experience of meeting authors and illustrators that really inspired me to want to become a children’s book illustrator.

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

Until recently, I was using the family dining table to do most of my drawing and painting, which wasn’t ideal. Not long after our old dining table was moved into the lounge, I realised this would make a perfect art space. It’s a huge art table, looking out over the deck and the forest. I quickly moved in with all of my art materials.

So basically my creative space spreads out over three areas, a traditional art space, a digital art space – and since having an iPad – a mobile art space. The deck lounge is a great place to draw. I can listen to the birds and discuss the shocking state of world politics with my dog, which doesn’t concern her nearly as much as what the future holds for the remaining half of that biscuit in my hand.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

Developing the characters during the storyboarding and rough stages. Sketching facial and body expressions of characters interacting with each other or the events happening on the page is by far the most creative part of the visual storytelling process. That first splash of colour gives me a bit of a buzz too, however the hours spent drawing final outlines and colouring can become quite mundane. I try to keep this part of the process interesting by experimenting with different textures, patterns, mediums and techniques.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Observe life around you. Experiment with different mediums and techniques. Practise, practise, practise.

Amanda Francey grew up on the leafy edges of Brisbane, Queensland.
As the daughter of a comic strip artist and art supply retailer, Amanda’s early storytelling and picture book making antics were greatly encouraged and supported. 

Amanda went on to study at Queensland College of Art and worked for many years in graphic design and art direction before returning to her childhood dream of illustrating children’s books. 

Amanda’s first picture book, Jonathan!, written by Peter Carnavas, was shortlisted Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award (3 to 5 years) 2014. Her most recent picture books, Take Ted Instead, written by Cassandra Webb, and That Christmas Feeling, written by Lili Wilkinson, were listed Children’s Book Council of Australia, Notable Book (Early Childhood) 2017 and 2018 respectively.


For more information please visit Amanda's website or follow her on instagram. You can also find her blog here .

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