Announcement: KBR's High Ranking News

Did you know ... as of September 2023 KBR is ranked #2 in the top 25 Best Australian Children's Book Blogs and Websites by Feedspot (second only to the global powerhouse of Kids' Lit, SCBWI. It's a honor we humbly attribute to our dedicated team of reviewers and contributors and of course YOU, the reader. It's a genuine privilege to be able to share our unashamedly ridiculous love of children's books with you all.

Kids' Book Review is a 100% voluntary children’s literature and book review site that supports and features authors, illustrators and publishers Australia-wide and internationally.

Founded by Australian author/illustrator, Tania McCartney in 2009, it is run by a small team of women who have decades of experience in the children's book industry, with roles such as author, publisher, editor, illustrator, bookseller, blogger, book designer, typesetter, speech pathologist, teacher, librarian, children's literature academic, psychologist, early childhood educator, IT techie, digital content creator, magazine editor and columnist, education specialist, mother and book lover.

We cover news, reviews, interviews, articles, guest posts, events, specialist literacy articles and much more, attracting readers from all over the world including teachers, librarians, industry professionals, and of course - parents and kids.

KBR consistently falls into the top 700,000 - 900,000 websites worldwide (Alexa), and has over 600 referring domains, with a PR Quality listed as 'strong'. With over 4 K Instagram followers and a social media presence that earns its place among some of Australia's best Kid Lit sites, KBR frequently ranks #1 in a Google search for 'reviews, books, kids, children's books' and was ranked no. 23 in the Top 100 Review sites worldwide in October 2016. In December 2017, KBR was honoured as the world's #1 kidlit site by Feedspot. We achieve an average of around 80,000 hits per month, with a peak of 249,395 for the month of November, 2017, and we are proud to be one of the most respected literary sites on the web. 

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Review: Letters for Lunch: How to Eat the Alphabet

The award-winning Maree Coote, with her acclaimed brilliance in the use of words and the alphabet, has come up with another stunning publication.

 Using vegetables, fruit, and nutritious food in the guise of letters, she has created work of amazing beauty.

From the exquisite and clever typography to the creative and individual personifying of each letter, the text takes the prize! 

In rhyming verse, Coote serves the letter well.

Letters for Lunch: How to Eat the Alphabet. 

The title is an achievement in itself. 

We go into the end pages. Stunning colour is alluring. 

Compilations of complex images of vegetable-shaped letters, invite eaters to indulge in their beauty, value, and ways of eating them through simple ways to serve.

Each entry/letter has a dream of becoming something special, and a recipe is included for its use that promises maximum benefits.

Imaginative and full of surprise, there is no age group pinned to this superb presentation.

Letter art is a rare and welcome medium and Coote is Queen of this medium.

Readers will admire her work as I do. It makes me laugh, and I’m always in awe of the expansive, lateral ways she approaches her subject.

This book will be a prize winner as it deserves to be. Don’t miss out on the experience that comes with it, as you look-and-find to spell-a -picture!

Title: Letters for Lunch: How to Eat the Alphabet
Author/Illustrator: Maree Coote
Publisher: MelbourneStyle, $29.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780648568476
For ages: 5 – 105
Type: Non Fiction Picture Book

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Review: Too Many Rabbits

Rabbits reproduce quickly, as most adults know. That's the premise of this picture book.

Too Many Rabbits, written by prolific Italian author, Davide Cali and illustrated by Emanuele Benetti, is translated by Angus Yuen-Killick. 

The story begins with a simple request.

Two children want a pet rabbit. When Dad takes them to the pet store, there's a two-for-one special on, and he can't ignore a great deal. 

They leave with two rabbits. You can probably guess what happens next. 

Before long there are lots of little rabbits. The situation escalates dramatically, and soon there are simply too many rabbits!

They cause chaos, eating the furniture, and leaving 'chocolate eggs' everywhere.

Giving away the rabbits seems the best solution, so they are gradually distributed. Kids will be able to count along as they are given away ... one to a juggler, two to the neighbours, three to a musician. And on it goes, all the way up to twenty. At that point, there is not a single rabbit left for the family to keep as a pet.

The illustrations are two-tone. Black and white, with a splash of orange. It's the animals who are coloured, making it easy to spot them. Rabbits become bowling pins and golfers, and even invade the museum. Orange is soon everywhere.

Too Many Rabbits is packed with plenty to keep readers busy with animal antics, counting, and more. The visual humour is great, with one of my favourites being the costumed rabbit at the top of a Christmas tree.

Too Many Rabbits is a ready reminder that one plus one can sometimes lead to much more than two. Be prepared for laughter, and perhaps a few curly questions.

Title: Too Many Rabbits
Author: Davide Cali
Illustrator: Emanuele Benetti
Publisher: Red Comet Press, $ 27.99
Publication Date: August 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781636550541
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Junior Review: Ghost Book

Ghosts, magic and mystery come to life in this graphic novel by Remy Lai.

July is an odd girl, and she isn’t really noticed by the kids at her school (and sometimes her dad, too). But there’s something special about July. She can see ghosts!

One day, July meets two ghosts called William and Floof. William tries to convince July he’s not really dead, so they go to the library and search for information about him on the computer. 

They discover that when William was a boy his heart stopped for three minutes, and now he’s in a coma. This is why he has a string connecting his ghost body to his real body in Red Hill Hospital.

They figure out there is a way to bring William back, but they’ll have to travel to the Underworld and steal the life register from the King of the Underworld’s servants, Oxhead and Horseface. It won’t be easy — someone’s chasing them, and July’s Dad is keeping secrets. These secrets matter, and once July and William find out the truth, it will change everything forever.

July is a kind and smart girl. She’s adventurous and takes risks, and I really like that about her. William has a big heart and looks out for July, but he’s scared of hungry ghosts who like to eat other ghosts (I would be, too). Floof is an adorable flying blob who sticks by William through the story. Floof also has a secret, and it will warm your heart when you find out what it is.

Ghost Book is a graphic novel, so it’s filled with illustrations. I love the emotions on the characters faces. They made me feel what the characters are feeling. I also liked how there’s lots of different types of ghosts.

This book is filled with magic, possessing and problems. I think it was great, and kids who like ghosts, mysterious stories and little cute flying things will love it.

Title: Ghost Book
Author/Illustrator: Remy Lai
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761065477
For ages: 8 -12
Type: Junior Fiction, Graphic Novel

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Review: Your Head's Not the Place to Store Problems

Today is R U OK? Day. 

In a world where worry and anxiety seem to be increasingly prevalent amongst people of all ages, it's important to know how to discuss them.

Your Head's Not the Place to Store Problems is a timely reminder for children and adults, whether it's something they struggle with themselves, or they know someone who does.

Busy and overwhelmed brains. Big thoughts. Problems that keep turning over and over in your mind. Not enough space to think. 

These are things everyone deals with at some time in their life, and some people deal with more than they should have too. They can make you feel "full up and crowdy and [your] mood swings from sunny to suddenly cloudy".

Finding someone to speak to and share your worries with is important, to help focus on positive thoughts rather than fears. That's one of the key messages of Your Head's Not the Place to Store Problems. 

Stephen Michael King's gorgeous whimsical illustrations, featuring dogs and dragons, are spot on in the way they bring Josh Pyke's words to life in a way that makes sense, yet is not confronting.

Josh Pyke and Stephen Michael King have created an accessible story about a serious subject. Share Your Head's Not the Place to Store Problems with someone today and start a conversation about whether they, and you, are ok.

Title: Your Head's Not the Place to Store Problems
Author: Josh Pyke
Illustrator: Stephen Michael King
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $ 26.99
Publication Date: September 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761293023
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Who Lives Here

Dan invites his classmate to his house around the corner but doesn’t tell him which house is his. 

The boy, the narrator, sets out the next day at the allocated time, to try and discover where Dan lives.

A stunning folded page extends to show the whole street with its row of houses.

There is confusion. 

Each house is entirely different; one boat-shaped, another with a horse tied out front. Which one could be Dan’s?

 He looks at the first house?

 This had cooking aromas floating from it. The boy peeps in through the window (where there is a flap to lift) and sees why.

In the garden with the horse, there is a stained-glass window with its flap to lift, and another surprise to discover. But no sign of Dan.

This continues down the street, with flaps to lift and discoveries to be made. Until...

What will the boy find when he finally gets to Dan’s house?

That’s the best surprise of all!

Julia Donaldson has created another original and entertaining read in rhyming verse and regular rhythm for reading aloud. It has the element of surprise that children love as they lift the flaps or try to guess what could be hiding there.

Full page illustrations with several extended fold-out pages, give the images that extra advantage. Beautiful and detailed by illustrator Rebecca Cobb, they present the perfect translation of the theme - the promise of fun, and the warmth and friendship blossoming between two children.

Title: Who lives Here
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Rebecca Cobb
Publisher: Macmillan, $ 26.99
Publication Date: 26 July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781509893966
For ages: 3+
Type: Activity Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Simon O'Carrigan

Name: Simon O'Carrigan

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Energetic and versatile – but always partly a study of light!

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My plants! No, first and foremost my favourite headphones. It doesn’t matter whether I’m working digitally, with watercolour, with ink, or anything else — I can’t work without music.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
For artwork, watercolour or ink – it’s a tight contest. Either way, pigment floating in water that evaporates! (Even though a lot of my published work is digital). For publishing, I love to work on my iPad so I can make quick changes. (The ‘MaxPack’ brushes by Max Ulichney are amazing for anyone looking for good watercolour brushes.)

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Bill Watterson, Ella Okstad, and Sydney Smith.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Tomorrow! Because either I can keep working on something that is going well; or I can try again if it wasn’t working today!

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I’ve always loved art, drawing, and painting. I also have always loved reading and writing stories, so I like to use my artwork in a narrative format one way or another.

 
While I like to make artwork for exhibitions so people can own an original artwork by me, I also like to make my art accessible to people with less money, through art prints and published books and things like that. When I was young, I spent so much time in my local library looking at all the art books, magazines and comics. I still spend a lot of time in my local library! I feel that illustration is a very accessible artform, and that means a lot to me.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I have a studio in a shared building full of about thirty artists, in Melbourne’s inner north. It’s my home away from home and I spend a lot of time here! A lot of my creative working time is not drawing, but thinking, so it’s important my space is comfortable for sitting and napping and feeling relaxed. I have a working table, a reading table, and a nice green rug to nap on if my mind needs a break.

My studio has a big north facing window, which helps me feel like I’m not stuck inside (I find it very hard to stay at my desk on sunny days when I could be running through parklands, kayaking on the river, or swimming at the pool!). It helps me to keep lots of plants in my studio which is very grounding, because sometimes being a freelancer and submitting artwork to clients can be very anxiety inducing!

One of my favourite things about my studio is my pinboards covered in swatches of watercolour, these are scraps from testing colour mixes as I work. It makes me happy to have this much colour floating behind my screen! I also like to collect all of my pencil shavings and have jars and jars of them stacked up! It reminds me that good work comes out of just making lots of work, and then choosing the good bits.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

I love scratching out early roughs with pencil, black ink, or on the iPad. I can spend weeks trying to “get to know” a character for a book and when they finally “click” and feel like a real person to me it is very exciting.

On the other hand, I love mixing colours on my enamel watercolour palette, and watching them run together and transform. I am fascinated by making a colour warmer, cooler, more or less saturated, until it is just right.

 
But honestly the best bit about it about my work is getting to listen to music all day! I listen to music about eight hours a day and I am always finding new music to inspire me.

 
When I am starting a project, and thinking deeply, I listen to my local community classical radio station, 3MBS. Once I know where the project is going and need the energy to make the work, then I switch over to my favourite music — noisy punk music from the 70s and 80s! There are some great radio shows on PBS FM that I stream while working.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Be nice to yourself and don’t spend too much trying to find a style! It’s really easy to be overwhelmed by all the great work you see others do. It’s also easy to think you need to have “one style” and try to force it. But your style will slowly and organically evolve the more work you do. So it’s best not to be too precious, let yourself make mistakes, know that each project will be better than your last and just keeping to try and make it fun for yourself. Once you have work you are very proud of, it will be much less intimidating to show it to potential clients.

Simon loves being an illustrator because it allows him to learn about, engage with, and reflect on the world around him. He works with ink, watercolour, and sometimes Photoshop. His illustrations are sketchy and loose – just like real life.

For more information, please visit Simon's website or follow him on instagram.

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10 Quirky Questions with author Lana Spasevski

1. What's your hidden talent?
I’ve recently started making bread, short-crust pastry, pasta and anything that has a dough that needs to be made from scratch. After working in food marketing for over a decade and now on a kids’ book series all about food, I’ve been inspired to take more risks in the kitchen and upskill!

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
The White Witch from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is such a fascinating villain. I love wintertime and who wouldn’t want to have access to a magical potion that creates enchanting foods like hot chocolate and Turkish delights. Except I would use this magical potion for good causes like creating bottomless pits of writing snacks.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
I’d invite the masters of middle-grade fiction that have inspired generations of kids through the years – Lucy Maud Montgomery, Katherine Paterson and Nova Weetman. I’d also invite my two middle-grade reading children who are budding authors themselves and are in the process of writing their own first novels. We would laugh, listen and learn from one another over a scrumptious four-course meal (with a double serve of dessert of course!)

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak – perfect for escaping and finding moments of calm to squeeze in more uninterrupted writing time.

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Daydream, plot, plan, speed-type, and REPEAT!

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Inspiring, authentic, heartfelt, engaging and inventive.

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
My favourite writing space has plenty of natural light streaming in, my cosy lap cat to help me edit, lots of research papers and reference books scattered everywhere, a gigantic mug of coffee and a pen and paper to scribble down any random thoughts worth keeping.

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!)
The closest book on my desk at the moment is my sparkly advance copy of A Slice of Sadie, the fourth book in the Sadie Series. The second word in the first sentence of page 22 is they. My line is inspired by a wonderful bunch of book-loving children that I met today at an author visit: They spent the afternoon pawing through the mountain of new library books. The books had sparked a connection and a furious debate on the agenda of the next book club meeting.

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
I’d ask Jane Austen: ‘If you were alive in today’s world, what would you write about?’

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
I would never be able to go a day without reading a book so in that regard I would give up writing to be forever surrounded by the power of other people’s words and perspectives.

Lana LOVES writing kids’ books just as much as Sadie LOVES sprinkles! Her writing is endlessly inspired by her young daughters who she lovingly calls her little book butterflies. Lana spends many hours treasure hunting in bookshops and attempting messy home bakes. She hopes to inspire a love of storytelling through her books and sensationally sweet characters. The latest book in the Sadie series is A Slice of Sadie, out now with Affirm Press. For more information, see www.lanaswrites.com.

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Review: An A to Z of Dreaming Differently

Absolutely brilliant, this alphabet of inspiring words and messages pulses with positive energy. Uplifting and engaging, it reinforces how wonderful it is to be yourself.

Its outstanding design and layout, and Lucia Masciullo’s insightful illustrations, complement Tracy Dembo’s excellent text, which weaves itself over the page in capitals and lower case, to portray in a bright and carefree manner, what each letter represents.  

The covers feel like cloth. Smooth to the touch, they entice a look inside.

This is a reading experience which can be a revelation for children who see themselves as separate from others; different.

But different is unique.

An A to Z of Dreaming Differently will appeal to picture book readers of all ages. It speaks of kindness, optimism, and the advantage of exchanging negative feelings for positive ones, or accepting that at times, negative ones will come and go. 

It encourages children to dream and think big; to be full of hope. Ask questions, and be happy with who they are.

I loved this book, filled with joyful words of a future with dreams that generate confidence.

It is ideal for initiating conversations between teachers and students, and parents and children, about why looking at things differently, is a good thing.

Title: An A to Z of Dreaming Differently
Author: Tracy Denbo
Illustrator: Lucia Masciullo
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 8 August 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780143778905
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Junior Review: The World's Worst Monsters

Vampires all the way through to the loch ness monster.

The World’s Worst Monsters has ten mini stories about mythical creatures — like the abominable snowman and werewolves.

If you’re into flying and mysteries, you’ll like the story about the vampire. 

Amber is a bright and positive girl who really wants a sibling. But when she gets a baby brother (little Alucard) she starts to notice strange things about him, like the fangs growing from his mouth.

If you’re into fishy monsters and evil grannies, you’ll like the story about the creature from the black pond. 

Sally has wicked grannies who always do horrid things to her, like make her pick their noses for them. At night, Sally likes to wander into her garden to look at the black pond. Until one night, a webbed hand reaches out and Sally meets an unexpected friend.

If you like stories about ghosts, gorgons, evil teddy bears, an abominable snowman that’s super nice and a friendly zombie, there’s something in this book for you.

I loved how these stories were weird and unique. They were not what I expected, and I learnt about new monsters I had never heard of. The stories were funny and easy to read, and I liked the fact there were ten different stories in the one book. I also liked the evil characters and the ways the good guys saved the day.

There are lots of illustrations in this book. They are life-like, cute and really detailed. Bright colours and cool characters.

Kids who like monsters and magic will like this book. I’m excited for book two, and I loved the way David Walliams told me that it’s coming. But you’ll have to read the book to find out.

Title: The World's Worst Monsters
Author: David Walliams
Illustrator: Adam Stower
Publisher: HarperCollins, $24.99
Publication Date: 26 July 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780008581633
For ages: 7 - 11
Type: Junior Fiction

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Guest Post: Alyssa Ainsworth on Why Theme Is So Important In Children's Books

When I first started writing, I knew I wanted my first book to be a fairytale, but wanted a theme that reached beyond the pages of the book. 

What I find so vital about the theme of my first published book, Tea Time With Tolly, was that the parents do not shy away from allowing her (Olivia) to have such an open mind and a vast imagination. When she goes to bed that night, she dreams of the people who could show up at her door, but her dream has some restrictions on who might show up.

In Olivia’s mind, she keeps the guests relatively realistic, as most children would. She thinks maybe it is her parents, or that the knights of the kingdom are going to join her, and lastly, she dreams that her friends from other kingdoms arrive to join her. 

Although her suggestions are realistic, her father goes above and beyond to nurture her imagination and grant her wishes of wanting real company.

The overarching theme is to show the significance of nurturing your children’s imagination and letting them explore the world with a vast and open mind. This is an amazing way to allow children to grow and explore their own life, and I hope my book will encourage parents to let their children have a never-ending imagination, and an open door to exploration of the world through their own unique eyes. 

I know that because my parents allowed me to explore the world with an open mind and vast imagination is the reason, I am able to write a book with such an important theme. A few of my readers reached out not realizing that they could enjoy this book with both their daughters and sons due to the guest who shows up, and it is so important to try not to put limits on what stories your child reads because that too can leave them with less of an open mind toward certain books. Even though the book is recommended for ages three to eight, it is never too early to start reading for your children. Following Princess Olivia’s unexpected guest she spends the night dreaming of her next big tea party adventure, and who might join her next time.

Growing up, I found myself to be very open-minded and creative. I never loved the idea of getting older and having to do adult responsibilities and jobs. I craved the imaginative and open atmosphere of theater camps, art classes, reading, writing stories, and anything that allowed me to use my own ideas and creativity in life. That’s why after I graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology, I originally went into education and child care. Working summer camps, I was able to be the big kid running games, activities, and crafts that made my kids use their imagination, it was an amazing time.I like to consider myself someone who can hold onto their inner child, and use it to my advantage, and that gave me the idea to write a children’s book. I wanted to write this story about a princess because I love going to Renaissance fairs, and love playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Using my hobbies and things I enjoy now, as an adult, made it even easier to write a children’s book with such an important theme. This shows that memories made in your childhood still have an importance in your adult life and influence your choices. Writing this book allows me to let parents have these memories with their children that they can hold onto forever, just like I did with my family growing up. I hope that my inner child, my vast imagination, and my open-minded book bring joy into you and your children’s lives, and help you teach your children about the importance of their own imagination. I cannot wait to continue writing children’s books, a journey of never-ending fairy tales, that provide important themes as well as a sense of child-like imagination and wonder.

Alyssa Ainsworth is a first time children’s book author from just outside of Washington D.C.. With her Bachelor’s in Psychology, Alyssa plans to pursue writing using her unique skill set to create books that will help children grow emotionally, mentally and socially.

Find her on Instagram @ThePaper.Hive  

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Review: Honey and the Valley of Horses

Sickness has enveloped the world. To find a safe place, Honey’s family escapes the city in their converted ice-cream van, with enough supplies to last them for some time. 

It is Honey’s fourth birthday. Her brother Rumi is still a baby.

They drive into a rainforest which seems the perfect place to camp. As they fear there is no entrance visible, one is opened by a herd of enchanted horses. 

A bridge magically appears, which they cross into a secret valley, which then closes behind them.

In this valley of horses, the family begins a new, self-sufficient life. 

They learn to forage for food, fish, live day by day in nature, and make do by repurposing everything that is at hand to use as clothing and tools. Lessons and daily chores fill the children's days.

They believe that there is no one left alive outside the valley. Their phones have no reception, and they know nothing of what is happening in the world beyond the valley.

Two of the horses which Honey names Lightning and Moongold, become the family’s protectors and the children’s best friends.

When Papa becomes seriously ill, Honey sets out on Moongold to try to find anyone out there to help.

It is exactly seven years to the day and Honey’s eleventh birthday.

Will she find an opening to the outside world in time to save her father? More importantly, will the valley let them go, or will they remain trapped in this magical place forever?

This is a great adventure story filled with magical mystery.  A delightful read which centres on personal growth, family unity, strength, courage and hope.

Wendy Orr’s words paint pictures that are easily imagined, and that add richness and scope to the background stories.

Title: Honey and the Valley of Horses
Author: Wendy Orr
Publisher:Allen & Unwin, $ 17.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761068492
For ages: 9 – 13
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: Mini and Milo: The Big Flappy Ears

Mini and Milo are back in Mini and Milo: The Big Flappy Ears.

Mini has big ears, just as you'd expect an elephant to have. The trouble is, the size of her ears doesn't mean they're better for listening.

Mini hears what she wants to hear. 

A request to clean her room becomes play time. And Mini gets so excited about an excursion to the museum, she starts daydreaming instead of listening to the teacher's instructions.

Missing the excursion is a prompt for Mini to make a change. She must improve her listening skills.

Perhaps Milo the rabbit can help? Milo is excellent at listening.

Mini learns the importance of being a good listener, and develops a strategy to remind herself how to listen well. It works magnificently, at least most of the time.

The Mini and Milo universe is populated by animals who live just like human children do, going to school, playing games, and so on. They're cute characters and extremely relatable situations. The illustrations by Natashia Curtin are active, with lots of colour and movement, just like life with young children.

Written by Venita Dimos, who is a lawyer, mediator, coach and mum, Mini and Milo: The Big Flappy Ears is the second book in the Mini and Milo series, bringing to life the reality of children's development and learning about social skills (read our review of book 1, Mini and Milo: The Teeny-Tiny Voice). It's a great concept with plenty of scope for more books.

The Mini and Milo series is a must-have for home and school libraries, and I highly recommend The Big Flappy Ears.

Title: Mini and Milo: The Big Flappy Ears
Author: Venita Dimos
Illustrator: Natashia Curtin
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $25.99
Publication Date: September 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760656164
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Junior Review: Wylah the Koorie Warrior: Custodians (book #2)

Wylah is a strong and kind girl, but she’s been through a lot. Her grandmother passed away and her family got kidnapped. 

In book 1, Wylah had to reunite the five guardians of the tribes so she could become the Koori Warrior. 

But her tribe and her family are still missing, captured by evil dragons.

In book 2, Wylah and her crew (her cousins Po and Merri, Merri’s new friend Jayden and the guardians) must travel through the most dangerous place — the Valley of Spirits — to get to the gold mines.

They’re hoping to trade gold for their people, but things don’t go to plan. Drop bears attack, a giant emu tries to trample them, and angry Yowies like to make trouble.

Add to that, not everyone is telling the truth about who they are. Wylah’s crew is betrayed, and they end up captured and in great danger. Can Wylah learn who to trust and get her tribe back from the dragons?

I love that this series is based on First Nations history and culture. I feel like I’m learning lots as I read it. I love the glossary at the end of the book that helps you learn the Peek Whurrong language. It has meanings of the words and how to say them.

The illustrations are great. Very life-like. They are black and white and there are lots of them throughout the book.

Journey with Wylah and learn her story.

Title: Wylah the Koorie Warrior: Custodians
Author: Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard
Illustrator: Richard Pritchard
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $15.99
Publication Date: 30 May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761180040
For ages: 8 - 14
Type: Junior Fiction Middle Grade

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Winner: Roobee Roo Board Book Prize Pack!

Our lucky winner is ...

Lily Polujan, NSW 

Congratulations!

You have won all four books in the adorable Roobee Roo series including: Roobee Roo: That's Me, Roobee Roo: Sunny Day Treat,s Roobee Roo: Fun in the Sun, Roobee Roo: Under the Stars. 

Thank you to ALL who entered.

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Review: The Map of William

It is Western Australia, 1909.

William is one of six children. At fifteen, he is indentured to a well-known architect. 

The placement is months away and it comes as a surprise when his father, a prominent surveyor examining land and mapping water sources, announces that William will accompany him on his next expedition.

This expedition will become a rite of passage for the inexperienced boy, who for months will be amongst older men, riding through the roughest country fraught with threats and dangers.

William doesn’t know what to expect, but is excited by the prospect. 

With the trust of a loving father and his mother’s words repeating in his mind, he sets out on a journey filled with life experiences and challenges,

undertaken with the measure of his conscience. He will return enriched and transformed by the friendship, sense of justice, kindness, and camaraderie of his companions.

I loved this well-crafted novel, rich in Australian history, that juxtaposes William’s life with the mapping of the country in which the characters travel. Full of warmth, it also exposes the savage cruelty white men perpetrated against the natives, on whom a bounty was set, dead or alive.

Beautifully presented, the superb innuendo that replaces a hundred words and flavours every page, is accompanied by a delicious flow of turn-of-the-century language. Words lost have been found again, and images of how people thought and acted come across clearly.

Characters with morals and those without, cross swords while an enjoyable underlying  humour exists throughout the narrative - even in the most sensitive situations.

I adored the quotes repeated in William’s mind of his mother’s words that guide him through difficult decisions. 

The lives of the people on this journey are a collection of stories; entertaining, funny, sad, and heartbreaking.

An outstanding book that will give great pleasure to every reader. This superb novel is inspired by the author’s life.

Title: The Map of William
Author: Michael Thomas
Publisher: Fremantle Press, $32.99
Publication Date: 30 May 2023
Format Paperback
ISBN: 9781780992187
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult

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Review: Phonobet

When we speak, how often do we pay attention to the parts of our body being activated to form words? 

You may well ask, what is she talking about?

You will be surprised!

After reading this novel book, you will never take speech for granted again.

 Phonobet describes the sounds that letters make alone, and together with others. 

Full of beautiful noise that children will have fun experimenting with, added to the stunning design, colour and characters that entertain on the page while children learn, I know of no other book like this.

 

 It explains in a simple way, the complexities of the English language. 

The different sections such as fricative: a type of consonant made by the friction of breath in a narrow opening, affricative consonants, (explained in detail), and vowels, come with analogies that kids can associate with.

At the end of the book, in the section Exploring Your Voice, eye-opening information will leave old and young, with the urge to try every sound with focus on which areas of your face and body, produce the delightful sounds of speech.

There are activities for children to try with word sounds – voiceless and voiced, and a Treasure Hunt to find sounds.

I can’t write highly enough about this incredible book. All I can add, is, look inside the exceptional covers, and you won’t leave without it.

Great fun. Lots of learning. Too good for words!

Title: Phonobet
Author: Kathy Weeden
Illustrator: Kim Drane
Publisher: NLA, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922507471
For ages: 4+
Type: Junior Non Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Tracey Dembo

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I once accidentally wandered onto the set of a Mexican soap opera.

2. What is your nickname?
Trace and Tray.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Having to answer these sorts of questions on the spot. It’s truly terrifying!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Trying to paint a fresh picture from my chaotic imagination.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Quirky, tenacious, inventive, feisty, mischievous.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would love to be Pippi Longstocking — because she is super strong, goes on wild adventures and gets to spend the day hanging out with her pet monkey and horse.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I would love to go back in time to meet Frida Kahlo. She was a creative genius.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
I’m so happy you found your imagination again. Hey, you wanna go play Nintendo?

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My kids. They remind me how best to look at the world.

10. What/who made you start writing?
My love of books is what got me started as a kid. But it was reading to my own kids that reignited that spark as an adult.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Kismet. It is an old Yiddish word that essentially means ‘fate’ or ‘meant to be’. It makes the universe feel orderly.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What!!! Only one book??? Well then it would have to be something rich, delicious and moreish, like a piece of chocolate mud cake. Maybe something by Margaret Atwood or Neil Gaiman. Or perhaps an anthology of fairy stories or folk tales from around the world. 

Tracey Dembo is a children’s author who is passionate about encouraging big questions, daring dreams and wild imaginations. She believes in the power of good stories, well-timed jokes and freshly baked cakes. Tracey lives in sunny Perth – on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar – where there are many excellent beaches. When she is not writing or sitting on a beach (or writing while sitting on a beach) she likes to spend time with her family and friends. Tracey loves that her official job as an author involves inventing lots of mischief and nonsense. In her other life as a lawyer and a community-based director, she does not do that. Ever. For more information, see www.traceydembo.com.

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Junior Guest Post: Nia Shetty's Summer Reading List Recommendations!

Gifted words smith and KBR junior reviewer, Nia Shetty, gives us her top picks for sensational 'summer' reading. You don't have to be in the Northern Hemisphere to enjoy these gritty, provocative and classic YA reads though. Check them out for yourself.

The Class by Erich Segal - Follow the lives of 5 Harvard students from different backgrounds as they navigate personal struggles, relationships, and the challenges of life after college in the 1960s. Recommended for ages 16 and above.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - Explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and social inequality with Ponyboy and the greasers as they navigate their way through 1960s Oklahoma which will do anything to make them feel like outsiders. Recommended for ages 14 and above.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - Through the lens of Junior, a Native American teenager, he navigates identity, poverty, and cultural expectations while attending an all-white school. Recommended for ages 14 and above.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo - Experience the power of poetry in this novel-in-verse that tells the story of Xiomara, a Dominican-American teenager who discovers her voice while challenging societal expectations and family dynamics. Recommended for ages 14 and above.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - Join Santiago on a transformative journey across the desert as he discovers the true meaning of life, destiny, and the pursuit of one's dreams. Recommended for ages 14 and above.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - After witnessing the shooting of her unarmed friend by a police officer, Starr Carter stands up for what’s right and uses the power of voice to fight for justice. Recommended for ages 14 and above.

Holes by Louis Sachar - After being falsely accused of theft, Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, where he is forced to dig holes as punishment. He learns the importance of friendship and how his family misfortune affects him to his day. Recommended for ages 12 and above.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - A gripping dystopian tale where Katniss Everdeen is chosen to fight against other teenagers for survival in a televised competition. A tale of rebellion, love, poverty, and war. Recommended for ages 12 and above.

Vivacious KBR junior reviewer, avid reader and reviewer, Nia Shetty , is also an adept columnist and lead copy magazine editor! Find her work and reviews @niaspage2page on Instagram.

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Review: Timefire

This is a thrilling mystery; a fantastic read with twists filled with adventure and time travel. 

It is based on historical events surrounding the most destructive bushfires our land has experienced. 

It is 2033, Gilbert is branded a firebug. Life is unbearable as everyone shuns him. 

It is thirteen years since the country’s worst fires, for which Gil’s mother was accused of starting. His dad refuses to talk to him about his mother.

But why does Gil always know when there is going to be a fire? His premonitions come on via a pain from a burn mark on his shoulder.

To get Gil away from the constant harassment and accusations from peers and townspeople, his dad decides to send him to boarding school, far away.

Just before Gil is to leave, he meets Vargo, a mysterious man that has been shadowing him. He demands Gil accompany him.

Who is Vargo? What is he keeping from Gil?

The fires have already started.

Reluctant Gil is taken to the mouth of a fire where a tunnel appears. teleported to a place 200 kilometres away, it is 1983 and the fires of Ash Wednesday are burning.

This begins his search for truth and reason, for his mother, and the answer to questions about his family line, their Fire Seeking skills, and more.

Why has Gil been chosen to time travel to the major bushfires in Victoria: to 1939 and the Black Friday fires, the ferocious fires in Victoria of February 1851, the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, the worst in Australia’s history, and the Currowan bushfires in 2019.

 Each visit reveals more information on his family history. What is his real role in all this tragedy? How can he make the choices expected of him, and will they answer his questions?

Title: Timefire
Author: Nean McKenzie
Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing, $17.99
Publication Date: 1 July 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922858030
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: The Art of Making Friends

How do you make a friend? 

That's the question addressed in The Art of Making Friends.

It's a sweet and appealing book, the kind that should attract the attention of young girls in particular.

Friends can come in all shapes and sizes, and can be found in all kinds of places. 

The Art of Making Friends is full of friends created by a child's imagination. Friends crafted from cardboard and socks. Painted friends, snow friends, and plant friends.  

But no matter how much you try, friends are not truly imagined. They can't be conjured as if by magic. Real friendship is something that grows and takes effort.

Mary Anastasiou's rhyming text is full of relatable situations, both real and imaginary, and the words encourage expanding vocabularies. Sam Loman's illustrations are a lovely, whimsical expression of a child's world.

Friendship is something young children sometimes have difficulty navigating. Putting a copy of The Art of Making Friends in the hands of your children will be a good reminder, and prompt for discussion, about the value of friendship and what it takes to make friendship strong.

Title: The Art of Making Friends
Author: Mary Anastasiou
Illustrator: Sam Loman
Publisher: Five Mile, $ 24.99
Publication Date: June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922857903
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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