Review: Joe and the Stars

Joe lives under a wide sky filled with stars. He loves to climb trees and listen to kangaroos, and he loves gazing at the night sky.

Joe loves the stars. But then things change.

Joe and his family move to a city filled with soaring towers and lonely rooms.

He misses his old life and the wide-open spaces. He doesn’t like the new courtyard with one lonely tree. 

And he misses the stars, which he can no longer see when he looks out his window.

Will Joe ever get used to his new world away from the stars with his new house and new friends? Is there a way he can make the stars come back?

Joe and the Stars is a charming picture book about new friendships, imagination and wonder. It’s about pushing through challenges and finding creative ways to create the things you love, even if it’s in ways that are a little different.

It’s about being open to the new, even while you’re holding onto the old, and discovering that change brings good things too.

Author Phil Cummings writes with whimsical, lyrical language. With his words, he paints the landscape and evokes emotions. Then add in Connah Brecon’s stunning illustrations and you have a picture book you want to run your hands over as you read and hug tight when you close the cover at the end.

The colours are deep and vibrant, the characters are funky and detailed, and Brecon’s way with layout and design choices sucks you in and makes you pause as you read so you can explore each page in detail.

There is so much emotion in this picture book, delivered through both story and illustrations. Together they create an immersive experience.

For all kids who have experienced change they may not have been fans of, Joe and the Stars will inspire them to find creative solutions to their problems.

For more books by Phil Cummings, check out Boy, Anzac Biscuits and Ride, Ricardo, Ride!. For more books by Connah Brecon, check out The Book Chook, Allergic Alpaca, Foothand Elbownose.

Title: Joe and the Stars
Author: Phil Cummings
Illustrator: Connah brecon
Publisher: Scholastic, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2021
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781742995045
For ages:  3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Heroes of the Secret Underground

This is a fast-paced time-slip adventure. Louie lives with her brothers, Ted and Bert, in the Majestic hotel run by their elegant, elderly grandparents in Sydney in the year 2000.

Louie meets a ghostly girl, Naomi who guides her to an old rose gold locket, seemingly abandoned on the street. 

It's a beautiful piece, decorated with mysterious symbols, and Louie recognises it as precious, but she is accused of stealing it by the anti-Semitic Mrs Tulip.

The locket draws her and the boys to Budapest, 1944, during winter in World War 2.

The children meet Naomi in person, as well as other people whose stories they know from photographs in their grandparents' collection. 

They also meet their own grandparents as children, living in fear of the Nazis who are consolidating their hold on the hapless Jewish population.

The locket links the two time streams.

The children witness the locket getting snatched from their child-grandmother's neck by a Nazi lieutenant who has taken a fancy to it. Louie decides to risk her life by tracking the locket down and reclaiming this valuable family heirloom. 

Louie, Bert and Teddy, with the help of Naomi, face dangers and become separated in the war-torn city. But they also meet brave people who risk their lives to save those of others.

The children need to dig deep into their resourcefulness and courage in order to right one wrong, and learn about the courage and resourcefulness of those who came before them.

A child of refugees herself, the author Suzanne Gervay, was inspired by family history in wartime Budapest to bring this story to life. A poignant and vibrant story.

Title: Heroes of the Secret Underground
Author: Suzanne Gervay
Publisher: Harper Collins, $16.99
Publication Date: 7th April, 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781460758335
For ages: 9+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: The Flying Angel

Tull Suwannakit is quickly becoming one of Australia’s best illustrators of children’s books. In his latest, The Flying Angel by the talented Vicki Bennett. Stylish illustrations support the emotive text. Detailed and in neutral colours, the artwork is almost photographic in its precision.

With Anzac Day approaching, many beautiful books will be circulating. This is one of them.

Inspired by the life of one courageous nurse, Sister Marie Eileen Craig, this stunning picture book reflects on the role sacrifice, bravery and courage play, and how they are transferred from soldier to nurse and vice-versa. 

Marie's call to nursing was evident when as a child, she practiced on her dolls. She idolised her father who had returned from the Great War. When she grew up, his life in active service was her example.

When another war broke out, Marie, at twenty-five, became part of the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service. The nurses rescuing the wounded at the front line in Papua New Guinea, became known as the Flying Angels.

Told in a first person narrative with Marie’s voice,views of the bombing, aid, comfort and compassion exhibited through war zones and aeroplanes full of wounded by Marie, are delicately and realistically depicted.

The dangers and threats from bombs do not deter Marie from her calling at any stage.

I loved the design of this book. On some pages, the text is the focal point, at times starring against a wisp of background colour. Others have full page images or double spreads as the main attraction which the text accommodates by hugging the bottom of the page. 

Amongst other books by Vicki Bennett are The Little Stowaway and Oliver's First Big Spy Adventure.

Tull Suwannakit is a Fine Arts Graduate from RMIT who uses different techniques in his art work. He teaches children art, creative drawing, picture book illustration and sculpture at his Malvern School of Art.

Title: The Flying Angel
Author: Vicki Bennett
Illustrator: Tull Suwannakit
Publisher: Scholastic, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 2 March 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781743835517
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The True Colour of a Little White Lie

Nelson has a problem that most fourteen-year-old boys would dream about: two attractive girls who don't know each other are interested in him. 

This is a sudden change from his reality as a small-town loser where his crush firmly turned down his advances. 

Thanks to Nelson's parents scoring a job running a ski lodge every weekend over the winter, Nelson's second life in a mountain resort where nobody knows him gives him the opportunity to reinvent himself.

This is a sharp contrast to his lonely life during weekdays at school. Nelson's best friend has recently moved away and the bullies consider him a soft target. 

On the mountain, he is free to ski all day and mingle with guests in the evenings.

 Two families regularly stay at the lodge. As it happens, each visit alternate weekends, and each has an attractive daughter about Nelson's age. 

Nelson doesn't set out to have a relationship with either girl. 

In fact, he's surprised that either of them seem interested in him.

 

Why should he put a stop to that and choose one girl? It's not as if he's doing any harm, and besides - the girls won't ever meet.

But the most insidious lies are the lies we tell ourselves. Nelson avoids any responsibility for his actions and decisions, but he can't escape the eventual consequences.

Overall, this is a sweet-level love-triangle romance told from the point of view of the boy. Bergomser makes Nelson a sympathetic character, without shirking the issue that even nice people make poor decisions. 

And if they happen to be adolescents, the quality of these decisions plummets even further!

Title: The True Colour of a Little White Lie
Author: Gabriel Bergmoser
Publisher: Harper Collins, $19.99
Publication Date: 7 April 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781460759097
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Meet The Illustrator: Ramona Davey

Name: Ramona Davey

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Quite eclectic. Bright, bold, dark, decorative, cute, simple. Hopefully fun.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
IPad pro and pen, sketchbooks, thousands of pens and pencils.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Digital – because I love the undo button.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Each month it changes but right now it is Chris Haughton, Christian Robinson and Jane Massey.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
The Neolithic, so I can see if the art was representing stories of the time or it was just teenagers spreading graffiti all over their neighbourhood. 

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

Teaching primary students visual art made me realise that I was their role model and it was imperative that I shared my artwork with them including mistakes and artistic accomplishments. Reading picture books with an arty theme inspired me to have a go at illustrating picture books for myself.

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 like to stand at the high desk when I draw in the day but I often draw at night while in bed as that is when my brain wakes up.

 What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
The finished product as the agony of what to draw, how to draw it and in what style is over.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Start today, not tomorrow.

Ramona is an experienced Visual Arts primary teacher. She also writes and illustrates for children.

For more information, please visit Ramona's website or follow her on instagram 

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Review: Walking Your Human

Can you guess what your dog is thinking?

If you're a dog owner or simply a dog lover, you will love this book and recognise the situations shared.

Walking Your Human is a dog's eye view of the relationship between dogs and their owners.

If read alone, without seeing the pictures, the text by Liz Ledden is a collection of rather innocent observations.

Dogs love walking, so their humans must love walking, too. 

It's important to drink, so why wouldn't you want to stop for some water?

And if there's a chance of a free snack, you'd best grab it quickly.

Add illustrations by Gabriella Petruso and the story takes on a whole new meaning.

The dogs in Walking Your Human disturb their owners when they are relaxing, and drag them all over the place, including after small, wild creatures, and into the middle of a pond.

It's the expressions on the faces of the humans, and the seemingly innocent, joyful attitude of the dogs, that makes this so fun.

Some of the owners are content walking with their dogs. However, the dogs have some interesting thoughts on their clothing, and the need for protecting owners from birds and romantic liaisons.

Dogs of many kinds, big and small, are featured (see if you can spot the Jack Russell, Daschund, Spaniel, Greyhound and others).

Settle down and enjoy this entertaining and uplifting story with the human and dog members of your family. Reading Walking Your Human is sure to make you laugh, and re-think your experience of canines.

Teachers' notes are available to download from the publisher's website.

Title: Walking Your Human
Author: Liz Ledden
Illustrator: Gabriella Petruso
Publisher: Larrikin House, $ 24.99
Publication Date: February 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780648894513
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Liz Ledden on Walking Your Human

We are beyond excited to invite picture book author, Liz Ledden to a special Q & A today to get behind the scenes of her latest publication, Walking Your Human released in February. After discovering more about that incredible connection many of us develop with our canine chums, pop back this afternoon for Sarah's review of this hilarious hound-inspired tail, er tale!Can you tell us about your new picture book, Walking Your Human?
Walking Your Human is essentially a dogs’ own guide to all the best things to do on a walk. The dogs in the story are sure they have humans all figured out, from how to tell if they want to be taken out in the first place, to the best places to cool down, take in amazing views and even score some snacks. It features super fun illustrations by Gabriella Petruso that add a whole lot of extra humour to the text (and some added insight into these pooches delusional thought processes!).

What is it about the human/dog relationship that’s so special?
Dogs have so much personality, and they definitely have emotions! I think in this way they’re a lot like humans, so we have a special bond. Dogs are loyal and like companionship, they’re always by your side, and have a lot of love to give. I think this might be why we put up with any faults – dogs are pretty forgiveable!

What do you think kids will enjoy about your story?
I think they’ll enjoy the comical dogs and human characters in the story (which is all thanks to the illustrations!) plus the nonsensical, contradictory nature of the dogs’ instructions. The way the canine narrator sounds so sure of themselves about what humans like to do on walks (and how dogs should behave) would be funny to savvy kids. And the way it’s a pretty accurate portrayal of the dog/human relationship has that appeal of – oh, my dog does that!

Can you tell us about choosing to write from a different point of view?
We already have a bit of insight into the way humans think, whereas getting inside a pet’s head is a bit more unique and lends itself better to humour! If we heard from a human about walking their dog, it would be a little mundane or even a bit negative (I can’t believe we had to stop 68 times!). The dog’s point of view is sassy and overly cocky in that they totally think they know it all, which makes for a funnier reading experience. There’s a kind of optimism there that makes their behaviour so forgivable too. By doing things like dragging their human into the pond to cool down, they think they’re actually helping them out.

Besides all the crazy fun of walking (and its perils) are there are any other themes in the book?
Beyond the surface layer of dog shenanigans, there is an undercurrent of the mutual love affair dogs and their humans have. There’s a lot of putting up with each other’s habits and compromise, and even a few tender moments, like a bit of a ‘pause’ spread where the human and dog stop to appreciate a few finds in nature, amidst the chaos. I think the final spread with the dalmatian and human sharing a bed also highlights the love between dogs and humans, even if they can drive each other crazy at times. It reflects the parent/child dynamic too, as the dogs could just as easily be rambunctious toddlers or pre-schoolers.

Can you give us any insight into the illustrations? Like, are any of the dogs based on real canine companions?
There are a few real-life dogs dotted throughout! Gabriella Petruso has done a brilliant job of depicting a whole canine crew of different sizes and temperaments. Observant young readers might discover that some look a lot like their owners. Or is it the other way around?! I love that the humans and dogs’ lives are so entwined despite their wildly different ways of seeing the world. One of the spreads features a cocker spaniel and owner reflecting one of the illustrator’s close friends Shaun and his dog. The bearded collie on page 10 is the illustrator’s childhood dog Jasper, which is another nice touch. Then there’s also a scene with an older lady and a corgi (and a pigeon scenario that’s one of my favourites) - you can probably guess which famous corgi owner she had in mind! And Gabriella herself is the mum with the baby sling. I just love this, especially as she had a newborn baby while illustrating our book – no mean feat!

Does your own dog get up to similar shenanigans while walking you?
She does indeed. My little dog Frankie (a silky terrier crossed with who knows what – she looks a bit like a baby dingo) definitely walks me, not vice versa. She kind of decides which of our local parks we walk to and of course, has to stop at every opportunity. As you can imagine, this inspired a lot of the scenarios in the story! My dog has a wonderful habit of kicking dirt all over me, and weirdly does it a lot at the local street library. I think it’s some kind of protest that I’ve initiated the stop, this time!

Walking Your Human is written by Liz Ledden, illustrated by Gabriella Petruso and published by Larrikin House.

To find out more about Liz, visit: www.lizledden.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/liz_ledden

Twitter: www.twitter.com/liz_ledden

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LizLeddenAuthor

Podcast: www.onemorepagepodcast.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Review: The Werewolves Who Weren't

1. What's your hidden talent?
I used to be a masterful nautical navigator, maneuvering sailboats up and down the rivers of the English Channel and once across the Atlantic and through the BVIs. Exacting, thrilling, challenging stuff but that was long ago. Now I find it hard just navigating my way through interviews like these. I can’t believe we give these questions to authors; they are so hard!

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Severus Snape from Harry Potter; he’s portrayed as a villain when really he’s the penultimate guardian angel, victim of unrequited love, master of subterfuge and pretty good at mixing potions. I love a good conflicted, slightly sinister underdog.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Yann Martel, Amor Towles, W Bruce Cameron, Garth Stein. I think this combo would stimulate a lot of intelligent, emotive and dog-orientated conversation, which might be interesting (especially as Laura is dead) and divert attention from any incidental culinary cockups. What does one cook for a ghost anyway?

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Hermione Granger's time turner necklace. I find myself wanting a device like this nearly every second of the day so I could be in two places at once and never miss out on events! This supposedly ages the user though and there’s enough of that happening to me as it is so perhaps Willy Wonker’s Chocolate Factory is a better option! Can you imagine? I’d settle for a working wand though. Nothing fancy just your average model would do nicely, you know, for illuminating dark places when my mobile battery is flat.

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Spasmodic, heartfelt, unfettered, organic, imprecise

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
I’d love to actually just be remembered although if there was a speech or something involved, I’d be happy to hear these adjectives: generous, committed, zealous, genuine, gracious.

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
Books! Stuffies; toy characters like Pippa and Uni from my books plus a zoo-full of others. A window with a view; my current writing space is a windowless nook, cosy but hot and cold by degrees and far from nature. A mug of sweet milky coffee to stymie the urge to eat (chocolate) constantly. Picture book posters on the wall. A framed illustration of Stillwater from Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth inspires and protects my soul.

8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
‘They’re’ swimming upside down in a soup of wild hopes and missed opportunities. Bubbles hated her new tank and everyone in it, especially now she was blind.

Taken from Penguin Bloom the young readers’ film adaptation.

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
If you could re-live your childhood, would you and why or why not? Which I think would lead to some pretty revealing discussions about what they loved or hated most about it and what they might change. At least I hope it would! It’s the type of question I want to ask everyone including myself but I’d love to natter about this with Bob Graham.

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Never write another story. Although I think that would be difficult to suppress and tales might eventually subvert diary entries and shopping lists. But to never ever read another book? Inconceivable. Reading is without question my favourite thing to do, almost better than breathing. Period. 

Dimity’s latest picture book, Oswald Messweather (March 2021) addresses the debilitating condition of OCD. Mess and disorder upset Oswald. Even the complexity of his own name is enough to set Oswald’s legs jiggling and his palms itching with anxiety. To combat his unease, Oswald obsessively counts his crayons. It is a compulsion he finds comforting but also extremely exhausting. Oswald’s story is about recognising the small things, letting go and forging forward.

For those lucky enough to live in SE QLD or are visiting over Easter, Dimity will be launching Oswald Messweather at The Mad Hatter’s Bookshop, Saturday 10 April 2021 at 10.30 am. Book online to join in the fun.

Dimity Powell loves filling every spare moment with words. She’s the Managing Editor for Kids' Book Review and writes and reviews exclusively for children with over 30 published stories, including Oswald Messweather (2021), Pippa (2019), the SCBWI Crystal Kite 2019 Award winner, At The End of Holyrood Lane (2018) and the critically acclaimed, The Fix-It Man (2017). She is also a Books in Homes Role Model, an accredited Write Like an Author facilitator and an online and in-school presenter for G.A.T.E.WAYS Education. Dimity lives on the Gold Coast where dreams sparkle and superheroes surf. Discover more at www.dimitypowell.com.

 

 

 

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Review: Kid Reporter: The Secret to Breaking News

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a reporter? Are you interested in finding the hot scoop and sharing the news with your friends or school?

If you’ve ever thought about starting a magazine, newspaper, podcast or radio station, Kid Reporter: The Secret to Breaking News is the book that’s going to help you get it done.

Everything you need to know to be a kid reporter is in this book. Seriously, everything! It’s filled to the brim with advice, examples, exercises and the know-how to become an awesome reporter.

Learn about what a reporter does, how to go out on assignment, how to be a detective and sleuth for the truth, and how to publish your stories.

You’re provided with all the information you will need, from what tools and equipment to take with you, to what questions you should  ask when you’re interviewing someone.

Splashed throughout the book are exercises to help you practice, and also real-life examples of kids and classrooms that have become reporters and started their own newspapers or magazines.

There’s even brilliant sections in the book on fake news and how to spot it, the ethics of journalism and the difference between perspective and opinion.

Authors Saffron Howden and Dhana Quinn are both mums and journalists, so they not only know their stuff when it comes to reporting, but they also know how to speak ‘kid’. They have brilliantly translated complex stuff into easy-to-understand content for kids, that is both fun and interesting to read.

If you know a kid who is interested in writing, journalism or reporting, or you’re a classroom looking for a cool project, you really need to check out this book. It’s a fantastic read and really, truly, absolutely gives you everything you need to be the best kid reporter there ever was.

Title: Kid Reporter: The Secret to Breaking News
Author: Saffron Howden and Dhana Quinn
Publisher: NewSouth Publishing, $27.99
Publication Date: February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781742237145
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Review: Untwisted: The Story of My Life

If you thought you learnt all about Paul Jennings, children’s book writer, through his children’s writing, you will be surprised by the truthful insight into who he really is, with his extraordinary and revealing autobiography, Untwisted: The Story of My Life.

This book will stay with me forever. It is the epitome of resilience, renewal, reinvention and strength of character.

Jennings unashamedly speaks of his life, respecting certain people by not mentioning their names, but being faithful to the episodes his life contains that brought him to who he now is; the situations, personal and professional, he fought hard to overcome or correct.

It is an inspiring book. His struggle with personal relationships and depression, is authentically approached.

His honesty concerning things he actively addressed to change gives hope to hopeless situations. In reading this book, empathy and understanding for each human struggle surfaces.

Everyone has a story to tell. A beautiful and or ugly story of their life’s journey that is unique. It is always special, regardless who the person is, famous, infamous, or an ordinary person that carved an extraordinary life for themselves. And the others that didn’t but lived as best they could with what they had. This message lies between the lines.

This review does not reveal even a small part of the life of Paul Jennings contained in his book – the role of son, father, husband, teacher, writer. This is because the reviewer wishes each reader to experience the glows of beauty appearing throughout the memoir; its writing, the person who wrote it and the way the story is presented. Perhaps, it too, will stay with each reader, for their own special reason.

Title: Untwisted: The Story of My Life
Author: Paul Jennings
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $34.99
Publication Date: 29 September 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760525828
For ages: 15 – 99
Type: Memoir

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Review: The Odds

Review: The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain

The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain is all about possibilities and hope for the future. 

That's what Katherine Rundell wanted to focus on right now, when the world is in upheaval.

Rundell is a bestselling author (Rooftoppers and others), and she contacted her writing and illustrating colleagues and invited them to participate in this compilation.

More than 100 people have contributed, and the book amounts to almost 400 pages of uplifting short stories, poems and illustrations. 

One of my favourites is The One-Hundred-Year-Old Gardener who plants strawberry seedlings, looking forward to turning them into jam by her next birthday.

There's also Lockdown Cat Haircut, where a young child amuses herself with the neighbour's cat, and The Hope-o-potamus, who learns that although the journey may be tough, you should keep going because persistance can pay off.

Most of the written pieces are less than 500 words in length, and some even shorter, so you can read one or more in a short space of time.

There are also gorgeous stand-alone illustrations like one of children chalk drawing, and some featuring famous quotes, such as Martin Luther King Junior's 'Only in the darkness can you see the stars'. And there's one from Emily Gravett called New Classmates, which is a picture of a child in pyjamas teaching maths to a pet dog, cat, rabbit, and fish.

The creative pieces are presented in categories with titles like The Stars, Things That Grow, Kindnesses, Playtime, and Do It Yourself. 

You may recognise many of the creators, or at least you might know their books. People like Axel Scheffler (who illustrated The Gruffalo), Anthony Horowitz (creator of the Alex Rider series), and Lauren Child (the Charlie and Lola books).

The Book of Hopes is a great book to dip in and out of. Keep it nearby and pick it up when you need a boost, or simply want to smile. It's highly recommended.

The UK's National Literacy Trust has a host of downloadable resources to support The Book of Hopes, including curriculum resources, and wellbeing and literacy resources.

Title: The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain
Author: Edited by Katherine Rundell
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $ 24.99
Publication Date: January 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781526629883
For ages: 8+
Type: Anthology

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Giveaway: Paws by Kate Foster

Review: Mo and Crow

Mo is a loner. The huge wall he has built to keep others out is testimony to his preference for privacy and his chosen way of life.

Strange sounds are heard from behind the wall. Mo ignores them. In fact, he is irritated by the invasion on his silence. The persistent tapping removes a stone and reveals a beak. The stone is replaced, but again it is pushed out to reveal Crow.

Full of anger, Mo tries in every way he can to get rid of this invader. Slowly the hole gets bigger. He throws a stone in his last attempt. Crow won’t be moved. 

Crow sits and watches as Mo sits and watches him. Then Crow isn’t there. But the rock pile grows as Mo, determined to rebuild, mixes the cement.

But there is space, and light, and hills and things that weren’t there before. But now, no Crow.

This is an emotive reflection on solitude, the human need for company, and acceptance. Also, the breaking down of walls erected in any form that separate us, and the value these bring to life.

Beautifully translated by multi-award winning illustrator Jonathan Bentley, in bold colours and lines. The book carries messages of diversity and inclusion; differences and similarities.

The multi-talented Jo Kasch has a history of creating children’s entertainment. An award-winning television writer, her debut as a writer in Mo and Crow reflects the things she believes in.

Title: Mo and Crow
Author: Jo Kasch
Illustrator: Jonathan Bentley
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 2 March 2021
Format: Hardcover 
ISBN: 9781760631758
For ages: 5 – 8
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Anemone is Not the Enemy

Clever and quirky, this is a picture book to delight and inform children of all ages. 

From the witty play on words in the title and the fluorescent-pink endpapers, to the minimal text and quirky sub-plot of a crab looking for a shell to call home, Anna McGregor is proving herself a picture-book creator to watch.

Anemone lives a lonely existence in his little rockpool. He's desperate to make a friend and whenever the tide comes in, he's hopeful it will bring a special buddy. But each time anyone tries to get close to him in the rockpool, he stings them.

This is a simple but fascinating look at life inside a rockpool. Through Anemone's story, we learn some of the different species that live in a rockpool, those that visit when the tide comes in and the beautiful symbiotic relationship between certain species that allows them to work together to survive. A fact page at the back describes the symbiosis that helps Anemone finally find his special friend, along with the hermit crab's search for a discarded sea-snail shell for protection.

What's truly impressive is that the story is set entirely in the little rockpool and yet Mcgregor maintains interest through her vibrant digital illustrations, which capture the expressions of the sea creatures with such humour and detail.

Shortlisted for the 2021 CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year, this is an unusual and dazzling celebration of the natural world.

Title: Anemone is Not the Enemy
Author/Illustrator: Anna McGregor
Publisher: Scribble, $24.99
Publication Date:
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781922310118
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Martine Murray on Trusting Your Creative Self: Writing The Wanting Monster

Review: The Incredible Story of Sparky the Wonder Puppy

The Incredible True Story of Sparky the Wonder Puppy is one of the many tales of survival from the latest bushfires in Australia. 

Sparky’s story is full of love, hope and community. It is difficult to explain to children why fires occur. Presented within the context of a real story, this complex disaster can be understood better.

It is Christmas time. Presents beneath the tree wait to greet children all over the world. For Logan and Summer, the nest beneath the tree hides a puppy, whom they name Sparky for his exuberant nature.

He immediately is part of the family. He chews shoes, chases rabbits, and digs holes everywhere.

It is soon after Christmas that the sky turns dark. Smoke and flames fill the air close to the town where the children and their family live. They are forced to leave their home and everything they own behind, to seek shelter in a safe place. Sparky, frightened by what is happening around him, runs off.

Unable to follow to find him, the family set out. Firefighters do their best to save what homes they can.

The townspeople rally together to help each other, offering food and clothes to those who lost their homes. And to Logan and Summer.

Although brokenhearted at losing their house, belongings, and their beloved Sparky, the family and all the others that survived, are grateful to be alive.

What happened to Sparky? Did he survive? If so, where did he go during the fires that raged around the country? Was he ever found?

This simply-told story, hopes to initiate conversation between adults and children around the traumatic events that occur during bushfires.

The Australian Geographic is a not-for-profit organization that sponsors scientific and conservation projects, adventures and expeditions. Funds from the sales of this book will go to these areas.

Title: The Incredible Story of Sparky the Wonder Puppy
Author: Craig Sheather
Illustrator: Eloise Short
Publisher: Australian Geographic, $ 19.95
Publication Date: 1 February 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922388100
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Bears Don't Wear Shoes

Junior Review: Black Brother, Black Brother

Winners: The Treehouse Joke Book 2

Our lucky winners are...

Julie Paine, NSW

Joseph Spagnolo, NSW

Congratulations! 

You have each won a copy of the side-splitting new joke book in the Treehouse series, The Treehouse Joke Book 2, by Australia's most popular author illustrator team, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. 

Enjoy!

Thank you to ALL who entered. You certainly gave us reason to chuckle.

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Review: Bindi

Bindi is a verse novel told through the eleven-year old voice of the book’s namesake.

Presented in three parts – Seedlings, Cinders and Sprouts, with titled poems, it speaks of Land, bushfires that rage through the country, many caused by the lack of traditional back burning to limit undergrowth, renewal, family life, community, teachings of Elders, and caring for Country and each other.

It is written with the inclusion of Gundungurra words, of which there is a list of interpretations at the end of the book. To a great degree autobiographical, Kirli Saunders uses Bindi’s voice to describe many daily habits, her surrounding area, the animals that share it, dreams for the future, hockey, her animals and family.

Each of Bindi's siblings comes with their own gift; a calling. They have a place in life and honour the responsibility this carries. For the three children, every day is a new adventure. The beauty of this is revealed through the verse.

Like Bindi’s descriptions on what inspires her painting, each poem is a sweep of the brush. Moving, visual and expansive in a minimal way, the stunning prose allows readers to be observers of the joyous and heartbreaking scenes she experiences.

Winner of the 2019 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards, and the Daisy Utemorrah Award, Kirli was also named the 2020 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year. The Incredible Freedom Machines and Kindred are her previous publications.

Dub Leffler‘s breathtaking illustrations have brought him great success. The author of two children’s books, he is currently illustrating his 25th title.

Presented in a beautifully designed gift book, with a stunning cover, this interesting verse novel is a must for your book collection.

Title: Bindi
Author: Kirli Saunders
Illustrator: Dub Leffler
Publisher: Magabala Books, $16.99
Publication Date: 11 November 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925936667
For ages: 10+
Type: Verse Novel

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Review: Here Be Dragons

Here Be Dragons is about knights, horses, and dragons. 

Or is it? Are dragons real?

Only one knight believes that dragons exist, and he is out to prove it, and perhaps he'll find some treasure while he's at it.

The trouble is, he doesn't seem to have much experience. This knight has a map, and it says where to find dragons.

So it should be easy, right? Well, maybe, if he can spot the clues. 

To find dragons, you need to be looking closely all around you.

As the knight travels through the woods and snow and fields in search of his quarry, look carefully and you may see a dragon before he does. 

Paddy Donnelly has embedded a camouflaged dragon in his illustrations. Can you spy the tail, spikes, and nostril as you read along? Oh, and is that a cave, or something else altogether? The characters are full of expression and a sense of silliness that will entertain.

Susannah Lloyd's story is full of humour and the language is ye olde style in keeping with the period. It's also not just about the stereotype. This story has a damsel in distress who turns the tables and shows that girls can be strong and clever and win the day as well.

Verily, Here Be Dragons is a story awaiting young knights and maidens who are looking for adventure and laughs. Huzzah!

Title: Here Be Dragons
Author: Susannah Lloyd
Illustrator: Paddy Donnelly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's, $ 12.99
Publication Date: February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780711256613
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Waking Romeo

Waking Romeo is like nothing you have read before. It spans genres, adding twist upon twist you’ll never see coming. It spans time, as characters travel back to the past and forward to the future. 

It’s a book that takes hold from page one and doesn’t let go, compelling you to spend late nights reading one more chapter, for which you will only be delighted and never annoyed.

If you love dystopian, science fiction, and/or time travel YA, this one is completely, utterly, 100% for you.

Set in the future when time travel is possible, a small community has decided not to jump ahead like the rest of humanity and are trying to survive in an abandoned and decaying world.

Juliet, or Jules, is part of this community. She’s an average teen. She hangs with friends, goes to parties and has fallen deeply in love with the boy from across the street. 

But that is all before the night that everything goes wrong. 

We step onto the stage of this story almost two years after everything falls apart for Jules — after the night she almost dies and her boyfriend Romeo ends up in a coma.

Names sound familiar? Of course they do! This is the story of Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague. It is the story you remember, but it’s also not. It will put everything you know about the Shakespeare classic into question and make you fall in love with it all over again, but with a unique twist that, to me, makes a lot more sense than the original.

But this is only half the story. At the very edge of time, rescued from the past and living with a small group of time travelers, is Ellis. Following the instructions of his rescuer, Ellis and his friends are trying to save the world. But when a mission forces Ellis to cross paths with Jules, and things don’t go exactly to plan, Ellis and Jules are forced to travel through time to try and fix things. And if they fail... well they better not fail.

Waking Romeo could not be more original. It’s thought provoking, spine tingling and more and more addictive with every chapter. Filled with complex and interesting characters who face the end of the world in different and complex ways, it explores the good and bad in humanity and the things we do when facing the darkest of moments.

I love that there is no sugar coating in this story. There is bravery, but it comes at a cost and is always earnt. There is jealousy, secret keeping, shame, guilt and bottled-up anger alongside love, passion, friendship and humour. This soup of emotions makes this book real and raw. It's a true reflection of the world and human behaviour weaved through an unpredictable story that leaves you deeply satisfied and craving more.  

Kathryn Barker’s ability to immerse readers into a layered, and time-bending, world is awe-inspiring. Romeo and Juliet isn’t the only classic novel to have importance in this story, and to weave these elements in and not only make it logical, but also make it seem this book imparts a hidden truth about them, is magical. And a challenge I am sure.

Waking Romeo is a seed that plants itself inside your mind and grows steadily as you read. It never leaves, even when you’ve finished the book. And it will remain there inside you, making you think and question and remember for months to come.

If you’re searching for a powerful YA read with strong characters and an enthralling plot, I highly recommend Waking Romeo. And if you’re a dystopian, science fiction and/or time travel fan, you simply have to read it. You’ll regret it if you don’t.

Title: Waking Romeo
Author: Kathryn Barker
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: March 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760297152
For ages: 12+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Review: 100 Things To Know About Saving the Planet

Look What I'm Reading! Lorraine Marwood

Lorraine Marwood is best known for her children’s verse novels and poetry. Her latest verse novel Footprints on the Moon (UQP) was published in February. Leave Taking (UQP, 2018) was a CBCA shortlist finalist and a joint winner of the NSW Patricia Wrightson Award.

 Lorraine writes in regional Victoria and her first love is poetry, history, fantasy, inspirational historical romance, and all things children’s literature. 

She has a passion for motivating children and adults into writing, especially through poetry using simple, enjoyable techniques she has devised herself.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?
Bindi by Kirli Saunders.

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?
I can really only go by the blurb at the back of the book as I’ve only just begun, but I love what I’m reading.

 Bindi explores climate, bush fires and healing, but I’m loving the book for the choice of words, atmosphere and line setting that Kirli uses. 

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?
I love savouring the way Kirli has cut away unnecessary words to provide readers with the joy of poetic writing as well as a narrative that provides us with setting, character information and the moving of plot.

What made you choose this title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator, or the subject/genre?
A well-read friend said to me, ‘you will love this book, you must read it.’ I love friends sharing the information about their must-read titles. And of course because the book is written in verse novel style, it’s my kind of read.

What other titles are on your bedside table /To Read Pile?
Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus by Steven Herrick, Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier,  Catch a Falling Star by Meg McKinlay,  A Curse so Dark, Brigid Kemmerer,  The Secrets of Magnolia Moon by Edwina Wyatt, Firefly July: a year of very short poems selected by Paul B. Janecko, A Jane Austen Devotional compiled and written by Steffany Woolsey, Deed of Murder by Cora Harrison, Girl of the Southern Sea, by Michelle Kadarusman, Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul

How did you come by these titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?  Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus by Steven Herrick, I bought a copy as I enjoy Steven’s work and it’s in my genre of writing. Bindi through a friend knowing that I’d love this book- a verse novel. Raven Flight because I’m a great fan of young adult fantasy and read the first book in this series. A Jane Austen Devotional because I love Jane Austen’s work and delving into sections and looking at faith and issues seemed like a winner. Firefly, because I want to read poetry and see what other poets write (a library borrowed title)

For A Curse so Dark and Lonely I read a recommendation on a blog I follow and I’m not disappointed so far. Magnolia Moon, a friend loaned me her copy. Deed of Murder I’ve been hooked on Cora’s 16th century mystery series for a while, I obtained second hand copy as her books are hard to find.

Girl of the Southern Sea was a request from my publisher and because this book has the same release date as my Footprints on the Moon. Writing Picture Books a new edition and a long wait for it to arrive - I passionately want a published picture book!

Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?
Children’s literature - fantasy, verse novel, historical fiction. Sorry not an exclusive favourite genre at all - I read vicariously children’s literature titles but also love a murder mystery - mainly historical - inspirational historical novels, poetry…

Do you read from printed books or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.
I mainly read printed books - so convenient and tactile. I borrow e-books or buy them and have a stack lined up on my kindle but prefer tactile books, I suppose It just doesn’t seem the same, to place a bookmark in, to turn a page, to keep them visibly on a bookshelf under subject matter, to stroll through a second-hand book shop or op shop and chance upon an author you’ve been looking for quite a while.

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Guest Post: Brian Falkner on Writing Camps for Kids

Review: Rajah Street

Junya lives on Rajah Street with his mum and dad and little-bit-older brother. He loves his family and he loves eating eggs, but his most favourite thing ever is Wednesdays.

Because garbage trucks come on Wednesdays.

The only problem is… Junya doesn’t exactly know what day it is, nor how to tell when it’s Wednesday (other than the garbage trucks!). 

Junya is a smart boy, though. He’s observant and curious and determined to figure things out.

With a patient mum answering all his curious questions, Junya watches Rajah Street out his window and waits.

Rajah Street is a charming step inside a child’s world. It explores curiosity, imagination and the simple joy of just being. Kids will love this book. They’ll get it more than adults do and be enthralled by Junya’s view of the world.

Author/illustrator Myo Yim teams her story with stunning mixed media illustrations. Funky, colourful and filled with intricacies, each page is a delight to explore as the real world and the world Junya sees mix together to create a beautiful collage of fact and imagination. 

On one page you'll see a crocodile sauntering down the street. On another, a giant blue cat hides behind a tree. The stunning thick and blue-tinted end pages are also a delight to explore, extending beyond Junya's street into the bigger world around him.

Join Junya and his family on Rajah Street and explore a world of possibilities.

Title: Rajah Street
Author/Illustrator: Myo Yim
Publisher: Walker Books, $25.99
Publication Date: 3 March 2021
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781760651480
For ages:  3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Myo Yim

Name: Myo Yim

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Nostalgic, pithy, metaphoric, poetic, warm and soft

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Enough time to focus on to work, my kids boosting me into the other magic world, sweets.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Clean and good erasers, graphites, pencils, and cotton fabrics.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Sydney Smith, Beatrice Alemagna, Christopher Corr

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I love current this period blended with neo arts and retro arts at the same time.
I think we are lucky to live this generation.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

Proudly to say it is my spouse. My husband Sem is a good teacher and a great whimsical artist. He taught me how to love myself and the arts.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most

often? Talk us through it.

Like any mum workers (not everyone maybe), I started at the kitchen table. As my kids grew bigger, my work grew too. I took the small study room as my studio and put two desks on the side but only one chair. One side is for digital works, and the other side is for analogue drawings. Most of the time I spend  leaning against the drawing table then turn around to finish the work at the computer. Very practical.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

I enjoy every moment of the process. However, if you want me to pick only one, it is definitely the moment of pencil touching the new papers. All my senses are awakened and focusing on the pencil line.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Never stop practicing. I still believe what Luc Besson says ‘Creativity is a muscle, you have to train it every day’ (Yes, I was one of those cine kids.)

Myo Yim is a Korean children’s book illustrator/writer based in Australia. She loves to make anything with hands like bear hats, sewing, baking and more. Listening to your inner voice is her main subject since recently.

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

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Review: The Valley of Lost Secrets

The Valley of Lost Secrets is a marvellous debut novel by Lesley Parr set in late 1939. 

English children are travelling out of London to the safety of the countryside, to be billeted with families for the duration of the war.

Jimmy and his little brother Ronnie are amongst a group from the same school that end up in Wales. They are taken in by a childless couple, Gwen Thomas and her collier husband, Alun. Jimmy’s best friend Duff and his sister are both taken in by the Vicar, and Florence, a girl Jimmy thought no one would want because of her dirt and smell, is chosen by the shopkeeper, who has a son of her own.

Ronnie easily adapts to his new environment in the valley. But Jimmy is unresponsive.

 

Resentful at having to leave his Nan and Dad and all that’s familiar, he just can’t or won’t fit in. He distances himself from the friendliness the other children have formed with his brother.

There is active spite in the village against the Thomases, and Jimmy can’t discover why.

While Jimmy is wandering and feeling sorry for himself, he finds a human skull in the hollow of a tree. Who put it there? Who does it belong to? Questions fill his head. He wants to share his find with Duff, but something between them has broken, as Duff has joined the bully gang whose leader is Jack, the Vicar’s son.

Gossip flows when the collection money from St Michael’s goes missing. Evacuees are blamed. It worsens when the Red Cross tin also disappears.

Duff is not the only one changed by the evacuation. Florence is now clean and confident. She has been taken into a family and shown love and interest, something unavailable in a home filled with poverty and too many siblings. Jimmy finds this new Florence intelligent and he warms to her after shamefully insulting her.

He finds he can trust Florence, so he shares the skull secret with her and Ronnie. They agree to try and find information on how to identify the skull and how long it has been there. Could it have been a murder?

The bullies kidnap and beat Ronnie in order to find out what Jimmy is hiding. Secrets hidden for years in the Thomas family are shared. A string of events take place and links to a chain are joined.

This is a well-constructed mystery, with a most enjoyable and interesting storyline that contains lots of diverting paths that join up beautifully.

Title: The Valley of Lost Secrets
Author: Lesley Parr
Illustrator: David Dean
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $ 14.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781526620521
For ages: 10+
Type: Historical Fiction

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Guest Post: Tristan Bancks on Online Writing Courses For Kids

Review: What do you Call Your Grandma?

This is a beautiful, richly illustrated book that celebrates the unique relationship between children and their grandmothers in all its diverse glory.

Grandmothers of all colours, shapes and sizes are portrayed in this book.

From Nonnas to Jajas, Ba Nois to Bibis, thirteen diverse and distinct ethnicities, are illustrated in vibrant and joyful colour.

Barton and Heiduczek go beyond the stereotypical knitting and pie-baking lady, by also portraying children and their grandmas undertaking a wide variety of adventures together: hiking, singing, cheering at the soccer on tv, sharing their wisdom and stories as well as zipping around in a sports car.

Ok, there's some knitting and cooking happening, too. But it looks pretty cool in this book!

However, the most poignant is the child and grandmother who are separated by distance and rely on letters to have a relationship.

All grandmas and kids have the common thread of revelling in each others' company, with no parent to be seen!

Overall, this book celebrates the joy of childhood when it is shared with a beloved and special lady - grandma.

Title: What do you Call Your Grandma?
Author: Ashleigh Barton
Illustrator: Martina Heiduczek
Publisher: Harper Collns, $19.99
Publication Date: 17March 2021
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780733340840
For ages: 2+
Type: Picture Book

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