Review: The Healthy Skin Kitchen

An increasing number of children suffer severely every year from Eczema and other skin conditions, without relief in sight. Australian nutritionist, Karen Fischer with her award-winning book The Eczema Diet, helped countless adults and children end their agony of itching and scratching.

Sufferers of acne, allergies, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and many other skin complaints are able to find relief based on continued study of nutrition and nutritional biochemistry, documented in her new book, The Healthy Skin Kitchen.

With its chemical free recipes, it offers change from within with explanations on the how and where that change occurs, and creams and lotions that fight skin issues.

Testimonials from people who have recovered, and specifically, whose children have recovered after a regimen of therapy, are witness to the results of Fischer’s treatments.

The author of six health books, Fischer has dedicated her life to skin wellness, as both she and her daughter have travelled the Eczema road.

In this latest book, (which may be her last) she presents a new way of eating that repairs, firms and tones the skin through recipes that are customizable, and includes instructions on how to adapt them for food intolerance. Symbols and their meanings accompany each recipe.

All recipes are dairy-free and many gluten free, for those who need or choose to be.

The book is presented in four parts: The Healthy Skin Kitchen, Skin Care; Signs, Symptoms and Solutions, which include a comprehensive list of skin disorders with specific treatments, and Menus and Recipes. Mouth-watering desserts like Pink Pear Sorbet and Banana Beet Nice Cream will set taste-buds tingling.

The importance of fasting and how to do so properly is touched upon. Lots of nutritional information, special notes in boxes, and how to maintain skin wellness are detailed.

The journey through this beautifully presented book with gorgeous photographs, will educate and inform readers in depth, on how to keep their skin in optimum condition through natural food and supplements.

It also offers as a background narrative, Karen’s progress through an inspiring and productive life that stemmed from uncontrollable skin issues, and ended in a successful company, Skin Friend, and a writing career.

Royalties from this book will go to Save the Children, to support and feed children in Indigenous and disadvantaged communities.

Helpful Resources can be found at the end, followed by an interesting Gratitude page, generous Endnotes on each chapter for more research on specific skin issues, and a recipe index.

Title: The Healthy Skin Kitchen
Author: Karen Fischer
Publisher: Exisle, $ 37.99
Publication Date: 3 March 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925820652
For ages: All
Type: Cookbook

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Guest Post: Allison Paterson on The Process of Researching and Creating

Review: My Spaghetti ABC

Do you love spaghetti? 

I mean, who doesn’t? 

Our protagonist in My Spaghetti ABC sure does, and she’s ready to sing from the rooftops about it.

A funny, charming rhyming romp through dinner, My Spaghetti ABC is a fun and funny exploration of all the things spaghetti can be.

Some funny shapes I love to make; a butterfly or wriggly snake. A giggly face with wiggly feet, all spread out on Daddy’s seat.

Author/illustrator Deborah Niland’s flawless rhyme rolls off the tongue and pulls you right into the story. Kids will love the humour and the inspiration to get creative with food. And I swear, parents, you won’t mind because this story makes you feel like a kid again, and it will make you want to play with spaghetti too.

With a lovely fold out climax at the end, the book has big impact. And, again, the rhyme is spot on, so you’ll just feel… happy… as you read.

Niland’s illustrations are just as fun as her text. Bright colours and funky characters feature throughout. And there are special details to explore and cheeky character expressions to delight in.

I love picture books about big issues, and I love picture books that challenge your mind , but I also love picture books that are just fun and funny and filled with the simple joys of being a kid. My Spaghetti ABC is this book.

Sure to be requested for repeat reads, I highly recommend adding some cheer to bedtime reading with My Spaghetti ABC by Deborah Niland.

Title: My Spaghetti ABC
Author/Illustrator: Deborah Niland 
Publisher: Puffin, $24.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2021
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781760897253
For ages: 3 - 6 
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Future Girl

Future Girl is a work of art from beginning to end. The exquisite cover makes promises and sees them through in an imaginative and riveting read.

Asphixia, a writer, Deaf artist, Public Speaker and one of the #Own Voices, weaves a wonderful story with scintillating prose and gorgeous decorative art on every page. She beckons readers into the intimate life of a Deaf person and allows them a view of their challenges as they navigate their way through communication in a speaking world.

This is not a sad story! And not a biography. It’s an astonishingly well-written novel, told through art journal entries by the character, Piper McBride. Set in some future time, food is now recon, with medication added to destroy life threatening diseases.

Piper’s mother Irene is a leading scientist for Organicore, a company of meal designers that supply packaged food specially created to suit each person’s body weight and medical conditions.

Trees have been cut down for fuel. Petrol has reached exorbitant prices. Gas and electricity are extremely expensive. Water restrictions have been implemented due to the drought. A picture of despair is portrayed.

Irene loses her job, as competition is fierce for the improvement of new food and, companies’ profits come first. Piper and Irene begin to experience a lack unknown to them before.

Piper discovers that there are people who are practicing sustainability in secret and when hunger is at its peak, she sets out to discover how this is managed to copy it herself. Hope is born. Love is found.

This is a novel about love and renewal; of persistence and self-belief, rebirth of the land, sustainability, and of looking past all the hoopla. Multi-layered, it draws attention to many feasible and thought-provoking suppositions. Visible is the familiar brain-washing that influences people into believing that they must use things that are not necessarily in their best interests and are circulated to accommodate big businesses.

I loved this beautifully designed  book and read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down.

Title: Future Girl
Author/Illustrator: Asphixia
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 1 October 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760294373
For ages: 13 – 16
Type: Young Adult Novel

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Meet The Illustrator: Cathrin Peterslund

Name: Cathrin Peterslund

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Poetic, detailed, and atmospheric.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
I need relatively quiet and peaceful surroundings, and I always have a set of headphones so I can listen to music. At my workspace you will usually find paper, pencil, fine liners, light table, and my computer and Ipad. And last but not least, a big mug of coffee.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
My work-method varies, depending on what type of project I’m working on. I just finished a project that was 100% digital, and I really enjoy testing new tools and becoming better at drawing with my Ipad. But the combination of analogue drawing and digital colouring is super interesting and fun to me. So at the moment fine-liners and Procreate are my favourite media!

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Edward Gorey, Tove Jansson, and Eyvind Earle

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I would love to see how the surrealists were working, and how their idea-processes looked like. The year before I went to study, I got obsessed with Salvador Dali because I had visited an exhibition with a ton of his drawings and sketches, and I remember thinking that I could draw crazy things too, if I wanted. It was really fun, and something I will never forget. I have since then explored other surrealists, and been really inspired by art of Leonora Carrington - it would be so interesting to see how she worked.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I actually don’t remember. Drawing was just always the thing I enjoyed doing the most, and I remember that I as a kid wanted to become some sort of an artist, but I didn’t know what kind. I didn’t know that illustration was a thing you could actually have as a job before many years later, but when I found out, I knew that I wanted to go for that. Also, I am lucky to have a family who always backed me up in my wish to become an artist, so in that way it was easy for me to go in that direction.

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

This picture of my desk was taken in December. My workspace is in a shared studio in in the centre of Copenhagen. We are 8 people sharing it but it’s rare that everyone is there at the same time, and especially during these Corona days. The studio is in a basement so as you can see on the picture it gets quite dark down there at winter, but I love it. I think it’s super cozy to have few people around me when I work. But at the moment I mostly work from home because of the Corona-situation.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
The moment when I get settled on an idea, and I start moving further with it into the more detailed part. I find it really exciting when I can see the final image is starting to take form.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Allow yourself to take breaks. Something I have experienced is that it can be hard to relax when you constantly want to improve. You will grow your whole life so you don’t have to do everything at once.

Cathrin is an illustrator living and working in Copenhagen, Denmark. She studied comics and illustration at the Animation Workshop where from she has a BA in Graphic Storytelling.

She loves to draw detailed and epic universes, most often inspired by the nature where she enjoys spending her time. Luckily Cathrin lives right next to a huge lake where she likes to run and walk while listening to audiobooks. Cathrin is represented by the Bright Agency

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

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Guest Review: 5 Brilliant Picture Books to Teach Children About Grief, Happiness and Love by Laura Reid

Review: My Bird, Bertie

Riding in the car with my bird Bertie, riding in the car, just Bertie and me.

Bear loves driving in the car with Bertie, chums on the road, happy together in the car. What Bear doesn’t like is Gertie getting in the car… and Tilly…and Jack.

Soon the car is waaayyyyy too full (and it’s definitely not a relaxing car ride anymore).

When a bus arrives, Bear spies a solution to his problem, but it’s not the solution you might think.

My Bird, Bertie is a fun, funny and charming picture book about boundary pushing and stretching ourselves in uncomfortable situations.

Author Amelia McInerney, writes in a brilliant rap-style rhythm which will have you reading the story with beat in seconds. The words roll off your tongue, and your readers will adore it (this is now my five-year-old’s favourite book!).

I adore the subtlety in this picture book. The upbeat rhythm draws you into the story of a fun car ride with lots of friends. But when you watch Bear’s face, you start to notice that he’s not as excited as everyone else.

Bear obviously likes his space, and his boundaries are being pushed beyond his comfortable limits. Keep an eye on Bertie, too. Bear’s best friend obviously knows him well and can see he is struggling.

This is a book to explore, reflecting on and asking questions about the illustrations as you go. The messages are masterfully camouflaged, and I feel there are more hidden messages I am yet to see, waiting to reveal themselves on repeat reads. A book that continues to give!

And, of course, I can’t mention the illustrations without going into the details. Shane McG’s illustrations truly are joy in paper form. The colours pop, the details are to die for, and I just couldn’t imagine a better illustration style for this book.

I love the funky, rounded-style world McGowan has created, with chunky vehicles and characters with oversized heads. The illustrations and text hold hands tightly throughout this book, creating perfect unity and a deep story to explore.

Sure to be a picture book classic, My Bird, Bertie is a must-have for homes and classrooms. It’s a perfect read aloud, great for groups and perfect for one-on-one reading with your kidlets to go deep into the hidden story layers.

And once you’ve devoured Bertie, make sure you check out McInerney’s other stellar picture books, like The Book Chook + more of McG's fab books, like The Thing that Goes Ping. 

Title: My Bird, Bertie

Author: Amelia McInerney

Illustrator: Shane McG

Publisher: Scholastic, $17.99

Publication Date: 1 February 2021

Format: Hardback

ISBN: 9781743835111

For ages: 3 - 6

Type: Picture Book

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12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Jess McGeachin

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’m actually quite a nervous flyer, which is ironic given my debut book was called Fly. My protagonist Lucy is much braver than I am!

2. What is your nickname?
Instead of shortening my name most people make it longer! I’m just a ‘Jess’ but I get Jesse a lot.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Right now it’s the impact humans are having on the planet. I’m always optimistic about nature’s ability to adapt but we’ve got a lot of work to do in a very short time.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I like finding hidden worlds just outside our own.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Playful, passionate, lyrical, character-driven, curious.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I’m a big fan of Paddington — duffle coats and marmalade sound like a pretty good life to me.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’ve been drawing a lot of dinosaurs lately and it would be really handy to have a living reference, so somewhere in the Jurassic period.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
I think my 10-year old self would be pretty chuffed that I make a living drawing pictures. He’d also be happy to know that I still dabble in the occasional Lego set.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My family and especially my mum. She’s a scientific illustrator and has always encouraged me to draw and find inspiration in the natural world.

10. What/who made you start writing?
Drawing has always come more naturally to me than writing, but lately I’ve realised the skills are not that different. Writing is a lot like drawing except instead of shapes and lines you’re using words.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
I quite like the word ‘coffee’.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’m going to cheat and say my sketchbook, because I can keep adding to it.

Jess is an author/illustrator based in Melbourne. Constantly inspired by the natural world, Jess draws quite literally from a day-job at the Melbourne Museum. His debut picture book, Fly, was published by Puffin in 2019 and was shortlisted for the CBCA and Queensland Literary Awards. For more information, see www.drawthemoon.com.

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Review: The Lost Library

Oliver finds a lost book with a message to the finder to return it to the Lost Library. But where can that be? Finding someone to tell him is difficult. But his friend Rosie knows. She has all the answers.

Together they go to the librarian. But as the book slot is right in front of Oliver, he drops the book in the slot.

Immediately, something magical happens!

The floor opens, the book slides down into an unknown place followed by Oliver and Rosie. Endless shelves of books surround them. Oliver is scared. Rosie is thrilled. A world full of books!

What more can they ask for? 

They have found the Lost Library.

Now we are the ones lost Oliver moans.

It seems their surroundings can convert to whatever is in the book they choose. Boats take them for a sail; one on Storms has them rowing for their lives. Another teaches them how to exit the storm and sail safely to shore.

Oliver and Rosie continue their journey into books that have all the knowledge and answers they want. But they need to find their way out.

This imaginative and thought-provoking book celebrates books and reading and the influence they can have on children.

Books are companions and distraction for the lonely and bored. They sweep them away to unknown places and worlds. They are friends, teachers, travelling companions, and partners on adventures. They take children to the Moon and show them the stars. Books reveal to children through their stories, that they can do and become anything they want if they try. They inspire creativity.

I loved The Lost Library with its  endless possibilities that can be found and lived through reading. Beautifully expressed through the illustrations and soft wondrous colours by the author, Jess McGeachin.

Title: The Lost Library
Author/Illustrator: Jess McGeachin
Publisher: Penguin, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 1 September 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760892715
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Winner: Fish Kid Prize Pack

Our lucky winner is...

Eva Perrie, WA

Congratulations! 

You have won the awesome Fish Kid Prize Pack by Kylie Howarth including: Turtle Torpedo, Mega Manta Ray and Lizard Ninja.

Enjoy!

Thank you to ALL who entered. It was super hard to pick just one winner from all the outstanding suggestions, from marlins to lampreys, spinner dolphins to sea dragons - we loved them all! 


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Review: The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour

Do you know where polar bears can be found?

They usually live in the Arctic, a place that's super cold and full of ice.

However, The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour has a different story to tell.

It's the story of Hannah, who lives in Sydney, and one day sees something completely unexpected. A polar bear floating on a small iceberg in the middle of the harbour.

Sydney Harbour is definitely not somewhere you would expect to see a polar bear, but Hannah takes it in her stride.

She asks the polar bear questions and gives him a name. The polar bear, now named Rodney, follows her home.

Hannah tries to make Rodney more comfortable in the hot Sydney weather, learns about polar bears, and soon realises that they don't belong in the city. 

What's just as strange is that Hannah seems to be the only person who notices Rodney. That's until Hannah and Rodney work out how to draw attention to Rodney and his plight and help him return home.

The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour raises the issue of climate change in a way that cannot be missed. It encourages everyone to take notice and do whatever they can to help. 

Inspired by young climate change protestors and children who feel strongly about the issue, Beck Feiner and  Robin Feiner have created a story that has many layers and an important message.  Each reader may see and hear something different, all of which will prompt discussion and encourage action.

Read The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour yourself and think about what you will do to help prevent climate change, then do it.

A teaching guide is available to download from the publisher's website.

Title: The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour
Author/Illustrator: Beck Feiner and Robin Feiner
Publisher: ABC Books, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780733339400
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Fish Kid and the Turtle Torpedo

Despite a lingering apprehension for things of a sharkish nature, I still find the underwater marine world a place of mystic and magic and that's exactly what young readers can expect to find in Kylie Howarth's fintastic Fish Kid adventure series.

The third book in this high octane action series is The Turtle Torpedo. Bodhi aka Fish Kid to his parents and closest chum, Emely, are on a small island in the Maldives. 

To fans of the series, it's no shock to discover that Bodhi's ability to swim faster than a torpedoing tuna and dive deeper than a whale shark is now second nature but for newcomers, this super power means Bodhi is able to zip around coral islands and commune with sea creatures to his heart's content.

When he and Emely rescue a small ailing turtle, things intensify. They take the turtle to a nearby rehabilitation station. 

Here the best friends learn about various species of sea turtles and are invited to help care for them. They are horrified to discover how human indifference contributes to the destruction of turtle habitats, endangering their survival and necessitating tricky rescues.

Bodhi is determined to do everything he can during his stay on the island to make his little rescued turtle's life better which includes daily swims together to get him re-accustomed to surviving in the open ocean again. Only one thing is hindering his enjoyment as a wildlife rescuer and that's his decaying friendship with Emely.

Emely is the only kid who knows about Bodhi's secret fish powers but she has a secret of her own and refuses to share it with Bodhi fueling friction and frustration between them. Bodhi's parents are much too busy researching marine biology and recording photographs to help leaving Fish Kid to fathom what is going on with Emely by himself.

Things go from bad to worse when one of the rescued turtles' lives is in jeopardy. Will Fish Kid find her in time without giving away his super powers? Will his super sea skills be enough to save the day? 

Fish Kid and the Turtle Torpedo is a gripping read on its own but to truly immerse yourself into the exciting world of Fish Kid, I recommend experiencing all three books in the series. And with an ocean-full of other fascinating finned creatures to explore, I hope this is not the last we see of Fish Kid. 

Infused with fun facts about the marine creatures featured in the narrative and enhanced with Howarth's detailed black and white illustrations, this series is not only furiously fun, it is refreshingly original and informative too.

Update your oceanic knowledge with Fish Kid's thrilling first book, The Ninja Lizard, and the second instalment, Fish Kid and the Mega Manta Ray. If that's not enough, there are still a few more hours left to enter our fantastic Fish Kid Prize Pack giveaway. 

Title: Fish Kid and the Turtle Torpedo
Author/Illustrator: Kylie Howarth
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $11.99
Publication Date: 3 March 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760654009
For ages: 7 - 10
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Dog

Another challenge to translate the magnificence of Shaun Tan’s book Dog. Throughout history and perhaps beyond, the deep and lasting friendship between Man and dogs has been documented for its authentic and unchanging relationship.

Books have been written about the loyalty and faith of dogs. This is what Tan succeeds in transferring to the page.

His illustrations display the natural longing to be together and share love and loyalty, that exists between human and animal. 

Only death parts them, but even then one seems to wait for the other.

In the first dark images, unshaped beginnings have no light. The waiting, then the tentative movements toward one another are reflected in the text. The coming together with trust causes a change in both man and beast.

They have become friends. This demands vivid colour and light, signs of a leaping heart filled with joy as loneliness and fear are dispelled. Togetherness is celebrated.

Other dogs and other people in other places and circumstances wait for one another. Colours of fires, dry land, parched by drought, snow filled and lush green pastures. A soldier returning or not, from a bombing site. A dog always waiting for a reunion on the river bank.

The fact is evident that life has changed so drastically. People may have lost their direction and focus. But amidst it all, the thing that remains, is the love and loyalty shared between a dog and a human. This will never change.

This divine picture book is ideal for older readers and adults.

Title: Dog
Author/Illustrator: Shaun Tan
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: 3 November 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760526139
For ages: 10+
Type: Picture book

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Look What I'm Reading! Nova Weetman

I write books for middle grade readers, aged between 8-14. My most recent book Sick Bay came out in 2019, and I have two new middle grade novels coming out this year: The Edge of Thirteen (March 1), and Elsewhere Girls (May) which I co-wrote with author Emily Gale.

 I live in Melbourne with my two children, and when I’m not writing I’m op-shopping, reading or cooking. 

Before writing books, I worked in television.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?
I’ve just finished reading Tiger Daughter by Melbourne author, Rebecca Lim.

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?
An Own Voices novel about growing up Asian in Australia, Tiger Daughter is the story of Wen Zhou who is determined to live her own life and not the one her parents have chosen for her. The only child of Chinese immigrants, Wen has to draw on all her strength and determination to forge her own path.

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?
I love this book.

What made you choose this title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator, or the subject/genre?
The author is a friend and I read a draft of Tiger Daughter when Rebecca was first writing it. I couldn’t wait to reread the published novel to see what had changed. I love Rebecca Lim’s writing and diversity of storytelling. Well known for her YA books, Tiger Daughter is middle grade and a brilliant force of fierce storytelling.

What other titles are on your bedside table /To Read Pile?
My to read pile is all over the place. I have adult non-fiction that I’m dipping in and out of, and adult novels that I want to read. I also have a pile of children’s books that I’m working my way through. On that list is: Hilary McKay’s Saffy’s Angel (for the middle grade book club I’m in), The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough, Future Girl by Asphyxia and Kate Constable’s, The January Stars.

How did you come by these titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?
It’s a bit of a mix. I buy books all the time, particularly by Australian authors. I also go to the library a couple of times a month. And sometimes my daughter brings home ARC copies from her job in a local book shop and I read those too.

Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?
I have a soft spot for contemporary, real world stories, but I also do enjoy fantasy. Most of the adult titles I read are contemporary stories, and I think it’s because I use books to work out what is going on in my life and contemporary stories can really help with that.

Do you read from printed books or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.
Always printed. I hate reading on screens! I love holding books and reading them in bed. I’m also embarrassed to admit that I dog ear pages and I like going back and finding the points in a book where I paused for the night. Having printed books mean that our house is full of piles of books and I love that. It also means that the three of us in the house will read each other’s books, and I don’t think that would happen so much if we were reading eBooks.

Website – www.novaweetman.com.au



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10 Quirky Questions with author Allison Tait

1. What's your hidden talent?
I have a nose for trouble. Just ask my boys. I can scent that they’re up to no good even before they’ve finished planning their misdeeds.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Miss Trunchbull from Matilda. So big, so mean, so (apparently) impossible to defeat when you’re just a kid.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Enid Blyton (see question 9), Douglas Adams, JRR Tolkien, Judy Blume, Lynley Dodd.

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Happily Ever After.

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Unplanned, exciting, curious, disciplined, dedicated.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Exciting, surprising, entertaining, compelling, clever.

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
A pile of books, a bottle of water, at least three pens, my podcast headset (I always write at my desk) and handcream that I never remember to use.

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!)
“Look, I know you wanted things to be different, but they’re not – and now we have to deal with the zombies or else.”
Book: Derek Dool Supercool: Going Viral by Adrian Beck (Illustrated by Scott Edgar)

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
I would ask Enid Blyton (at my literary dinner party) why Anne never insisted the other members of the Famous Five make their own sandwiches.

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'? 
What a horror scenario! It depends on the day. Today, while I’m knee-deep in a very tricky scene for my new book, I’d probably give up writing. But the thing with writing is that if you keep going, you eventually get through the tricky bits and you fall in love with it all over again. So tomorrow my answer might be ENTIRELY different. 

Allison Tait (AL Tait) is the internationally published bestselling author of middle-grade adventure series The Mapmaker Chronicles and the Ateban Cipher. Her new novel, The Fire Star (A Maven & Reeve Mystery), was published on 1 September, 2020. Find out more at allisontait.com.

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Review: Shine

In my lightning, you’re the light.

In my brightly, you’re the bright.

Oh boy, don’t we love our families! Kids jumping on our beds too early in the morning, wrestles with dad on the carpet, building cubbies and bath time bubbles. 

Shine is an exploration of all these moments. The ones we love IN the moment, PLUS the ones we love in hindsight because they made our kids so happy (like letting the kids style your hair).

In my sparkle, you’re the spark

The glow in moon glow after dark.

Written in flawless rhyme (you’re a rhyme genius, Danny Parker!), with some hauntingly beautiful lines, the story explores all the ways our special people are our ones and only. 

What I love about this book is that it doesn’t actually tell you who the special ones are. Is it kids referring to their parents, or parents referring to their kids? I think it’s both, and that is such a beautiful thing to have in book form, making this a gorgeous story to read together.

Ruth de Vos’s illustrations add so much to this stunning picture book. Each spread dives deep into a family moment with loads of colour and glorious details. I think all readers (big and small) will find themselves somewhere between the pages, and you’ll have a ball devouring the pictures and falling into the details of home. 

I am most definitely the mum drinking a cup of tea with a book in hand and a giant pile of laundry behind me!

If you’re looking for a picture book stunner to share with your little ones, or a loving gift for a newborn or child in your life, I highly recommend Shine. It will warm your heart and is sure to become a family favourite.

For more picture books by Danny Parker, make sure to check out Road Trip and Molly and Mae. Find out more about Ruth de Vos here and check out Barefoot Bea for more of her beautiful illustrations. 

Title: Shine
Author: Danny Parker
Illustrator: Ruth de Vos
Publisher: Fremantle Press, $24.99  
Publication Date: March 2021
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781760990213
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Edge of Thirteen

Nova Weetman’s powerful portrayal of the awkwardness of early youth and the changes it brings, demands attention be given to the anxiety and angst experienced by teenagers trying to fit in. She employs an intimate, immersive approach, which succeeds in placing the reader in the characters’ space.

Clem is on the cusp of teenage life. Who she was no longer applies as it’s the teen in her age that dictates change. Santa is no longer a presence at her Christmas celebrations, and her chest is determined to stay underdeveloped compared to her two best friends’ Bridge and Ellie. This is a critical concern for Clem. They stand straight, while she remains hunched over.

During the school holiday period, her friends have undergone a metamorphosis. An interest in boys has awoken in them the priority to look and behave differently.

Their conversations have taken on new content. They are no longer a threesome. The space separating them grows wider each day as they move in opposite directions.

Starting Year 8 is nerve racking. It means that an updated mobile phone and an Instagram account are essential. Clem is limited by her parents’ rules enforced for her safety. She doesn’t want to change but simultaneously wants to be like everyone else. 

With Bridge and Ellie distracted with the opposite gender, Clem is befriended by the quirky and unconventional Jacqs. With her coloured hair and double ear piercings, she is distanced from her classmates. Clem finds her interesting and with hidden depth. Clem is also drawn to Tom, whom she finds friendly and easy to talk to. But he hides a secret which will later throw her off balance even further.

As Clem slowly shifts from child to teenager, and after Tom’s secret is revealed, she withdraws into herself, with only Jacqs for company.

Jacqs in the meantime, confides that she envies Clem’s warm relationship with her parents and the way they interact with one another, sharing outings and continuing habits started in childhood.

Can Jacqs words and encouraging friendship remove the shadows that obstruct Clem’s emotional growth? Can Clem replace her poor self-image with acceptance and patience, and repair her relationship with her dearest friends?

Title: The Edge of Thirteen
Author: Nova Weetman
Publisher: UQP, $ 16.99
Publication Date:2 March 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 97807022631251
For ages: 11+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Guest Post: Michelle Worthington on Sensory Aspects For Children with ASD

Review: Stories on My Street

Stories on My Street is a collection of four stories from renowned British author and illustrator, Shirley Hughes, one of my favourite children's book creators.

The stories, which were first published individually between 1989 and 1991, are about young friends who live on Trotter Street.

The scenarios are familiar and the characters appealing and true to life.

New Wheels for Carlos is about the young boy who wants a new bike. Everyone else seems to have one, and his bike is simply too small to go fast and keep up with the others.

The Big Concrete Lorry features the Patterson family who have three kids and house that seems a bit small for them all. To improve matters, they decide to build an extension, and soon everyone is lending a hand.

In Angel Mae and the New Baby, Christmas time brings excitement for Mae and her family. There's not just the nativity play to look forward to, but also a new sibling expected.

The Snow Lady is also set around Christmas, with Sam and her friends enjoying surprise snow and learning important lessons about her relationship with the old lady next door.

The stories, originally published as picture books, are now in a paperback format perfect for first readers. Shirley Hughes' joyful illustrations are included in black and white.

Stories on My Street is the kind of book you will want to add to your home library and to enjoy with family.

Title: Stories on My Street
Author/Illustrator: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Walker Books, $ 14.99
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781406390339
For ages: 5+
Type: Junior Fiction Younger

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Review: From Stella Street to Amsterdam and Everything that Happened

Built with carefully chosen images, exquisite prose and humour, this delight-to-read book, celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Elizabeth Honey’s first novel, 45 and 47 Stella Street and Everything that Happened.

New adventures await Henni as she prepares to accompany her ageing neighbour Willa back home to Amsterdam, for a family wedding.

Willa hasn’t been there since she left as a young woman and it seems she’s not ready yet to share any family information with the patient but curious Henni during the first leg of their flight.

Amidst air pockets, turbulence and an experience that they will never forget, the two companions reach Dubai. It is on the flight to Schiphol, that Willa’s mind wanders back to the war years and her childhood. This remembering is a miracle, as she has been forgetting things for ages. Henni is thrilled as all the stories Willa tells are fodder for her writer’s journal.

 It is a city of bikes and canals. They arrive to introductions and people’s names Henni can’t retain. At Willa’s sister Hyacint’s house, Henni is allocated the attic which brings unexpected challenges.

The return isn’t a comfortable one for either Henni or Willa. There are undercurrents of unrest in this family filled with secrets and mysteries, many kept hidden a lifetime. Resentment and tension build between Willa and her sister as they stir their memory pots and digging deep, can’t find any comfort in what the ladle brings up.

As Henni learns about this magical city and discovers it on a bike, she is lucky to visit places and meet people that fill in some of the blanks that Willa refuses to talk about temporarily.

From the map of the area imprinted in her brain, Willa shows Henni her Amsterdam. Historical information is inserted into Willa’s personal narrative as pages of buried life are exposed. This is what Henni has been waiting for. This is the place Willa has waited to be, so that her life could be viewed through the correct focus.

Henni recognises the depth of her friendship and closeness to Willa. She understands that in every family unrest exists, but love is always there in the background. This does not prepare her for the unexpected.

Title: From Stella Street to Amsterdam  and Everything that Happened
Author/Illustrator: Elizabeth Honey
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 September 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781865084541
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Junior Fiction

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Giveaway: Fish Kid Prize Pack by Kylie Howarth

Review: The Quicksand Pony (Fifteenth Anniversary Edition)

Biddy has grown up with stories about people who survived rough conditions in the bush.

After all, she was named after one woman who had done so a hundred years ago, the only survivor of a shipwreck.

So when Biddy's parents finally decide she's big enough to come on a cattle drive with them, she's delighted! 

And fiercely determined to show them she's as tough as the lady she's named after.

The adventure begins!

Some items mysteriously vanish from their campsite - but they are the only people for miles in the remote bushland, so it couldn't have been a thief. 

Biddy and her pony Bella do their very best to help round up the cattle and help in the camp, despite being cold and tired.

But Biddy makes mistakes. Such as getting her pony stuck in the quicksand on the beach.

The situation quickly becomes Biddy's worse nightmare. With the tide rapidly coming in, Biddy has no choice but to leave Bella stuck, where she will probably drown.

Devastated, Biddy can only hope that Bella will free herself and make her way back to their farm. And when she fails to show, Biddy takes matters into her own hands.

But what happens next is nothing that Biddy or her family could have predicted.

This is a story of bravery and the resourcefulness that children discover in themselves have when faced with the harshest circumstances. It's also a story of a girl taking responsibility when the biggest heartbreak of her life is due to her mistake.

 

Beautifully written, this book lyrically portrays the harsh beauty of the Australian bushland. A treat! 

Title: The Quicksand Pony
Author: Alison Lester
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $15.99  
Publication Date: January 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781742378008
For ages: 8-12
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Look What I'm Reading!: Lize Meddings

Hiya! I’m Lize Meddings. I’m an illustrator and Comic Artist, and I’ve just finished my first ever graphic novel about a Sad Ghost! I created The Sad Ghost Club project in 2015 and since then I’ve been making comics and products based on that same Sad Ghost.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?
I recently started re-reading one of my absolute favourites, The Hobbit. I’ve also had the pleasure of reading Be Your Own Man and I stormed through Lemony Snicket’s, The Bad Beginning a few weeks ago. I will definitely be trying to re-read the entire series!

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?
Hmm, it’s about a hobbit named Bilbo, who has an adventure thrust upon him much to his dismay, he goes along with it and meets Dwarfs, Trolls, Elves and more. He’s dragged on this journey to reclaim the Dwarfs’ lost kingdom. 

Be Your Own Man is a wonderfully illustrated book about encouraging young boys to broaden their ideas about what it means to be a boy! It aims to support them to feel free and proud to be who they truly are. It’s a wonderful book.

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?
I really, really, love this book. I’ve read The Hobbit multiple times as a child and an adult, and it always holds up. Be Your Own Man is a really enjoyable book, especially the illustrations! The artwork created such a beautiful world. As soon as you open the book it’s like being transported to a calm and serene world full of possibility!

What made you choose this title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator, or the subject/genre?
I’ve always been a fan of the fantasy genre. When I was younger, my Dad actually recommended it. It was probably when The Lord of The Rings film came out!

I was gifted Be Your Own Man by my friend Robbie Cathro who actually illustrated the whole thing! It was lovely seeing his hard work in printed form.

What other titles are on your bedside table /To Read Pile?
I’m very excited to get stuck into 2001 A Space Odyssey! Oh, and all 12 other books in Lemony Snicket’s, Series of Unfortunate Events, quite the undertaking!

How did you come by these titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?
Most of my to-read list are recommendations from friends. It’s lovely knowing what books your friends have a soft spot for, and then getting to read them. I love reading books my friends have been involved in, so if they lend me copies, I read them as fast as I physically can to absorb all their hard work!

Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?
I would say Sci-Fi, closely followed by Fantasy. I prefer sci-fi because reading how authors interpreted the future is really interesting to me! I love books from the 70s and seeing what they thought our Today would look like.

Do you read from printed books or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.
I tend to just read printed books, mostly because they’re lent to me. Or I find them at charity shops. It’s nice having a physical collection to get through, although it can be a little daunting, hah!

You can find The Sad Ghost Club here - thesadghostclub.com








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Review: Over The Moon

Meet The Illustrator: Max Hamilton

Name: Max Hamilton

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

Watercolour filled with warmth, kindness and a touch of quirkiness.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My watercolour paints, quality paint brushes, pencils, lots of paper for scribbling ideas onto and desk space to spread out.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I really love painting with watercolour and I also love drawing and collage.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
I had to choose more as three was way too hard! I hope that’s OK.

Fine Artists who’s work inspires me are Paul Maher, Neridah Stockley, Michaye Boulter and Susie Dureau (all of which are contemporary Australian Artists). Children’s book illustrators who’s work inspires me are Marianne Dubuc, Julie Morstad, Alison Lester, Anna Walker, and Sophie Blackall to name a few.

  
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I don’t have an artistic period I would like to visit but I would love to transport back to 1930’s Sydney and peep over the shoulder of Lloyd Rees capturing the city shorelines in his beautiful pencil sketches. His sketches of “Balls Head” and “The Giant Fig Tree” are some of my all time favourite pieces of Australian Art.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
Ok, this answer may be a bit long winded but lots of factors come in to play...
I have loved drawing since I was very little and wanted to be a children’s book illustrator from about the age of 5. In Infants and Primary school my teachers would often give me the task of designing and illustrating the covers of class story collections which really gave me the taste of being published from a young age!

 
Mum painted lots when I was a child and fostered my love of art buying me quality art supplies whenever she could. Dad is a keen sketcher and book lover too. When I was little Dad read to me most nights, putting on voices of my favourite characters, such as Frances from “Bread and Jam for Frances”. This special time spent together is where my love of children’s books really began. I was also fortunate to have an amazing art teacher at high school, from years 9-12, who really encouraged and pushed me (Thanks Mrs J!). I then went on to study fine art at Uni (COFA) but left mid degree to study Graphic Design and Illustration, learning the art of illustration from the wonderful teacher, Wayne Harris. After finishing studying I got side tracked from my main goal of book illustration with full time graphic design and textile design jobs, travelling OS and family life so it took me a bit longer to get here than I had initially planned.

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

My studio is in a room in my home overlooking the back garden. I had two desks, one for computer work and one for drawing and painting, until my husband was forced to work from home during COVID and stole my painting desk! Now one end of my desk is for computer work and the other set up for my painted illustration work with paints and pencils at hand. I like to have lots of art and children’s books and little objects around me for inspiration. The final photo is a colour test painting for my current book project with Walker Books - a nature storybook about Tasmanian Devils, written by the amazing Claire Saxby.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

For my own characters and stories my favourite part is creating their world and imagining all the little quirks that make these character unique (even if these details don’t end up in the final illustrations). For illustrating other peoples texts my favourite part is when I am in the thick of painting up the final book illustrations. I tend to get lost in this world and feel a little bereft when I finish the last illustration of each book and have to say goodbye to the characters I have spent months with. I've recently finished illustrating a book written by Kaye Baillie and it was such a joyous story to illustrate - “When the Waterhole Dries Up”.

 What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Paint and draw as often as you can, don’t spend too much time looking or worrying about what other people are doing, just tap into what you love and what you loved when you were little. Also remember to look out the window or go for a walk!

 
Max Hamilton is an award-winning illustrator, graphic designer and most enthusiastically a maker of children’s books. She enjoys noticing the little details in things and loves to get lost in the world of illustration and stories.

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

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Review: The Magpie Society: One for Sorrow

The Magpie Society – One for Sorrow, is written in two narrative voices, two first person point of views by the authors. Audrey by Amy McCulloch and Ivy by Zoe Slugg.

Lola died on the night of the end-of-term party. Following the rules dictated by the school, the students of Illumen Hall all had their phones switched off.

It is in this prestigious boarding school that the American Audrey enrols. She is as far away from secrets that plagued her from her former school, and that’s what she wants. Her roommate, the rich and privileged Ivy, has plans for this year. Outstanding is what she aims for and another person around her is not conducive to her planned outcome.

Things start off a bit rocky between them, as Lola and Ivy were very close. 

But the girls become closer as Lola’s death infects the entire school, especially when a blog is set up by an anonymous person stating that they knew who killed Lola, and someone else will be next. Amy sets out to uncover who the murderer is and becomes embroiled in the search for something bigger that she can handle. She tries to discover the meaning of the tattoo of a magpie spread across Lola’s back. In what way could this be tied to the murder?

This sends the entire school into a feverish spin. Is the murderer amongst them? If so, who could it be? And who will be next? What secrets does this elite school hide in their history? Who manipulates the happenings and why? Too many questions to be answered. How long will the Magpie Rhyme continue and to what end?

Full of mystery and suspense, this is a continuous, one sit read. Keep a look out for the second book in the series, The Magpie Society: Two for Joy.

Title: The Magpie Society: One for Sorrow
Author: Zoe Sugg & Amy McCulloch  
Publisher: Penguin, $ 24.99
Publication: Date: 29 October 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241402481
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Announcement: CBCA Notables List 2021

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) kicked off its quest for Book of the Year yesterday by announcing the Notables List and we couldn't be more proud seeing one of  our very own KBR regular contributors, Penny Harrison's Bronte: Me and My Boots listed among them. 

Equally thrilling to see Tania McCartney's and Stephanie Owen-Reeder's Australia's Wild Weird Wonderful Weather there, too. Bravo girls and good luck! Hearty congratulations to all this year's Notables. A fine selection indeed.

CBCA National Chair Wendy Rapee said it was a year when we needed stories more than ever, and our storytellers came through with a record-breaking number of tales offering touchstones of comfort and stepping stones to guide young Australians through tumultuous times.

“Our creators and publishers also had a difficult year, and I’m thrilled the CBCA Book of the Year received 526 entries – once again breaking records and demonstrating the continuing strength of the Australian children’s book industry,” Ms Rapee said.

“In keeping with the CBCA Book Week theme for 2021, ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds’, our 95 Notable books offer beautiful and challenging representations of Australia’s people, landscapes and histories. They feature contemporary and ancient themes told in many different voices, including the voices of our Indigenous peoples.

“This year’s entries show a real depth of understanding about young Australians and the way they think. As well as food and talking animals, which will always be at the heart of younger children’s books, the Notables celebrate ways of exploring new realities – the after-effects of the bushfires, homelessness and non-traditional families, for example.”

Ms Rapee had special advice for parents and teachers of young adults.

“If you’d like to know what concerns, or provokes passion, within your high school child or student, then we encourage you to share a book from the Older Reader category with them. They are the perfect vehicle to start a conversation, share insights, and ultimately, reach an understanding of the challenges, fears and joys of our young minds. Pick one for your book club and you will be rewarded with a rich reading experience.”

Mother and daughter authors Pamela and Allison Rushby have separate titles in this year’s Younger Readers Notables List, joining a standout group of dedicated and experienced writers in the category including former CBCA Book of the Year winners Kate Constable, Bren MacDibble and Sally Murphy.

Also on the 2021 Notables List are former CBCA Book of the Year Award winners Bronwyn Bancroft, Freya Blackwood, Jackie French, Bob Graham, Libby Hathorn, Dub Leffler, Alison Lester, Garth Nix, Jaclyn Moriarty, and Margaret Wild. Debut novelists include Anna Whateley and Julianne Negri.

Many of this year’s Early Childhood books departed from the fantastical settings of previous years and are positioned in the real world. This year, a particular strength has been bold and quirky designs and illustrations that invite young readers to reach out and touch the pages. Written to be read aloud and performed, these books encourage the growth of visual literacy in the very young while giving adult readers a lot of joy.

The CBCA is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians.

Regarded as Australia’s most prestigious children’s literature award, the CBCA Book of the Year was established in 1946 and is now presented in six categories: Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Book, Eve Pownall Award and CBCA Award for New Illustrator.

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