Thursday, 6 May 2021
Wednesday, 5 May 2021
Review: The Rock from the Sky
The Rock from the Sky is more than just a picture book. It’s a picture book extravaganza!
Really five books in one, The Rock from the Sky centres around our hat-wearing turtle friend.
His world is forever changed, and each story is a continuation of life with the rock that fell from the sky.
His stubbornness gets in the way in every story with hilarious and serendipitous impact. So on one hand you’re rooting for Turtle to change so that he stops missing out on things, but on the other hand you are cheering on his decisions because they tend to help him avoid catastrophe.
Written in Klassen’s dialogue-only style, with loads of laugh-out-loud raw humour, this is a hilarious read that is beyond fun to explore. It’s silly, funny, honest and real. A book that reflects on life from both a kid and adult perspective.
Klassen’s illustrations are, as always, stunning, with earthy colours and eyes full of expression. When it comes to faces in this book (and many other Klassen books), Klassen really only details the eyes. To be able to pack in the emotion he does into black and white dots is something truly magical.
If you’re a fan of Klassen’s work, you really need to add this one to your collection. And if you have never heard of his story telling genius before, The Rock from The Sky will have you hooked.
If you’re looking for silly, funny and fun in a picture book, this one is for you.
And for more Jon Klassen masterpieces, make sure you check out This is Not My Hat, We Found a Hat and I Want my Hat Back.
Title: The Rock from the Sky
Author/Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Publisher: Walker Books, $27.99
Publication Date: 21 April 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781406395570
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book
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Review: Night Ride into Danger
Jackie French takes us on a journey through Australia’s infamous, yet exciting early history of 1874, that reveals how legends were made. The era is displayed through a rich and beautifully designed tapestry, woven from the stories the characters tell and share.It’s a time when people disguise their identities for hidden reasons which are revealed like slow moving sand in an hour glass.
The Cobb and Co stage is preparing for the Braidwood to Goulburn night run with the mail. Young Jem Donavan rides on top with his father, as he has learnt the craft of handling five horses. He looks forward to taking control so his father can rest.
They pass the time telling and listening to stories to keep each other awake.
No one is prepared for the mystery that envelops each of the six travellers. Nor for the occurrences that take place along the familiar yet frequently changing roads.
A baby is born by the side of a bush track. Father and son are forced at gunpoint to obey a bushranger who is travelling incognito. Secrets are revealed about who each person on the stage really is and why they are so eager to reach their destinations.
When Jem’s dad is badly injured, Jem must take his place. Everyone rallies together to help and support Jem, whose life and future are measured by his ability to bring the coach in and on time.
Flooded roads, birds in flight, flocks of Emus, of course a wombat, and a dead horse, become part of the string of obstacles that Jem must overcome.
Can he make it through the night, with a coach and four to reach the train that must be caught?
French is a master storyteller. Through her characters’ actions and dialogue, the resilience and courage of men and women of those early years is illuminated.
Another fabulous read!
Title: Night Ride into Danger
Author: Jackie French
Publisher: Harper Collins, $ 16.99
Publication Date: 5 May 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781460758939
For ages: 10+
Type: Historical Fiction
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Tuesday, 4 May 2021
12 Curly Questions with author Michelle Macwhirter
As well as being a writer, I am also an actor! I was cast in the Australian tour of the play Mother and Son this year, but it was postponed because of Covid before I really got to tell anyone!
2. What is your nickname?
Shelley, Shell, Muuuuum!
3. What is your greatest fear?
That I will dream up a fantastic story... and forget it! Since my best ideas come to me when I’m driving or in the shower, this is entirely possible.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I write fun and magical stories to ignite imaginations.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Imaginative, inspired, passionate, resilient and addicted-to-coffee.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Fancy Nancy, because I do love frills and sparkles.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
The future! Let’s say the year 2345. Because I am super curious to know what happens.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
‘I can’t believe you have your own 10-year-old. Would I like her?' (And the answer is yes, you would play for hours together in your own fantasy worlds and she would understand you like no one else.)
9. Who is your greatest influence?
I’m a huge fan of the filmmaker, James Cameron. He writes and produces incredible films and has forged a creative path that is truly his own. I love that he can take something from his imagination all the way through to a finished production. I’d say his films have been a huge influence on me, as well as his tenacity to succeed in a challenging industry.
10. What/who made you start writing?
I’m a night owl but I had an early bedtime as a kid. To while away the wakeful hours I would make up stories in my head. As I got older, the impulse to tell a story never really left me. Anything would spark an idea... the ocean would have an undiscovered creature lurking beneath, a noise in the sky would be a plane arriving from the future. There’s something in me that wants to tell stories. It doesn’t care about commitments and rejections and failed projects. It’s like a hunger (and I get really cranky when I don’t write!)
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Day spa. Wait, that’s two words. I’m going to say ‘breathe’ because I can’t read or say the word without taking a deep breath. And then I always feel good.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would choose the biggest anthology of ancient mythology I could find. I love ancient myths of all cultures. I have one book with Norse, Persian and Greek mythology in it, called The Encyclopedia of Mythology by Arthur Coterill, but I’m sure I could find a bigger one. Is that a challenge?
Michelle Macwhirter is a children’s author, actor and lover of all things shiny. Her book There is No Magic in This Book (Walker Books) was released November 2020. When she’s not making stuff up for page, stage or screen, she’s driving her two daughters to dancing or walking the dog, Coco. For more information, see www.michellemacwhirter.com
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Monday, 3 May 2021
Review: Introducing D'Lila LaRue
Three stories in one, Introducing D’Lila LaRue takes readers to the theatre, to painting classes and into a gardening competition.
This is a charming junior fiction story collection, perfect for new readers. The stories are fun and compact, and kids will adore sweet and independent D’Lila. She’s the kid you want to be. She says the things you want to say and she does the things you want to do.
Sprinkled with divine black and white illustrations from A.Yi, the book is a great one for newly independent readers. Large text and short chapters also help.
If you’re looking for a great, fun read for your junior reader, and your reader likes sweet stories about girls taking charge, this one is for you.
Title: Introducing D'Lila LaRue
Author: Nette Hilton
Illustrator: A.Yi
Publisher: Walker Books, $13,99
Publication Date: 3 March 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760654610
For ages: 6 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction
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Winner: The Rock From The Sky
Our lucky winner is...Veronica Joy, NSW
Congratulations!
You have won a copy of the stimulating new picture book, The Rock From The Sky, by the esteemed, Jon Klassen.
Enjoy!
Thank you to ALL who entered.
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Sunday, 2 May 2021
Review: Move That Mountain
Move That Mountain is a reminder that no problem is too big to overcome, and no creature too small to overcome it.
Puffins and a whale are the feature characters in this story, and they are super cute.
The poor whale has become beached, stuck out of the water, and unable to return to its home in the the depths of the ocean.
There's no one around to help. Except for a colony of puffins (yes, the collective noun for puffins is a colony or a circus, or sometimes a burrow, gathering or improbability!).
The puffins try hard to move the whale, but it just won't budge. Its far too big for the tiny puffins, as
big as a mountain!
It's only when they really work together that the puffins and whale will see success.
Start from the front of Move That Mountain and when you reach the back you will need to read from there back to the beginning again, to experience the full story and see how it is possible to move mountains.
Move That Mountain is a sweet story with cute illustrations, that reminds us that problems are not insurmountable, and that it's easier if we help each other. Bound to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Title: Move That Mountain
Author: Kate and Jol Temple
Illustrator: Terri Rose Baynton
Publisher: Scholastic, $ 24.99
Publication Date: April 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760974275
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book
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Saturday, 1 May 2021
Review: There's Only One Grandma Like You
There’s Only One Grandma Like You is a celebration of all the grandmas. It’s an exploration of all the things that make grandmas special and all the different ways kids might connect with theirs.
Strolls on winding pathways, stories wrapped in your shawl.
Treats snuck in my pockets, a boost in basketball.
Written in glorious rhyme, author/illustrator Jess Racklyeft delivers a loving story that rolls off the tongue and delights through rhythm and beat. It’s a delightful picture book to read and so much fun to explore.
Grandmas are represented by the animal kingdom in this special book, and Racklyeft uses a wide variety of animals to depict all the ways grandmas are amazing. To me this is a beautiful metaphor to celebrate diversity, and also the uniqueness of each grandma-child relationship — all different, but all connected by a love that cannot be broken.
There’s only One Grandma Like You is a beautiful story to share with grandmas everywhere.
And if you’d like to celebrate more family members, make sure you check out There’s Only One Mum like You and There’s Only One Friend Like You, also by Jess Racklyeft.
Title: There's Only One Grandma Like You
Author/Illustrator: Jess Racklyeft
Publisher: Affirm, $19.99
Publication Date: 30 March 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922400680
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book
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Friday, 30 April 2021
Review: The Katha Chest
Each visit to Nanu’s house is a voyage of discovery for Asiya. The thing that thrills her the most is The Katha Chest. It is filled to the brim with quilts made from layers of worn saris. These have been collected over the years by her Grandmother.
When the family is gathered together, the quilts are taken out of the chest to be indicators for the stories that are shared. Priceless history is passed down by word of mouth like heirlooms handed to new generations, to preserve and pass on.
That time is supremely special. It is the opportunity for the aunts to tell stories of their past, their personal lives and experiences, customs and traditions.
These stories are all woven into the quilts, absorbed by the fabric that has heard the tales so many times. The swirling colours and patterns are held together with golden threads, conserving the history of their family line.
Bora Khala’s medals from the war are represented by the circles on the fabrics. They help recall how he left his wife alone with his children, to return after too many years.
Stunning wordless double spreads, depict the lives of Asiya’s family in framed illustrations of stunning colour, encompassing all that has gone on before and all that will continue to be.
The Katha Chest superbly addresses the Bangladeshi culture, but simultaneously speaks for all multicultural traditions that every migrant carries inside them, and the importance of preserving all the beautiful and meaningful customs that have been proudly handed down for years.
Truly an outstanding publication, this exceptional picture book will be of interest to every child regardless of their background.
Title: The Katha Chest
Author: Radhiah Chowdhury
Illustrator: Lavanya Naidu
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 30 March 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760524326
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book
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Thursday, 29 April 2021
Wednesday, 28 April 2021
Review: Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Many people (particularly children) want to be heroes with superpowers. They see themselves in capes and tights fighting for what they believe, and to bring about change. In truth, a hero is anyone who wants to live in a better world and decides to do something about it.
It’s because a superpower is the special gift that each one of us has hiding inside. We just have to discover what that is and put it to use.
Countless people have found their purpose in life through books. They have been inspired by something they’ve read that triggers a dormant dream of their own.
She read Swallows and Amazons and dreamed of owning her own boat. She saved and saved, and later sailed alone around the world.
Joanne Liu read a story about Doctors Without Borders which inspired her to reach for high ideals and found medicine her life’s calling.
Ordinary people have done extraordinary things that others would class as heroic, but that they would see as having pushed through barriers of doubt, to become what they truly are.
Dreams change as a person grows. In childhood and youth, the dream may have been something totally different which changed with time. To recognise your real dream, you must find the things that interest and excite you.
Make a list. Find the skill that is the difference that makes you an asset to the world.
Helping others gives equal satisfaction to the one helping as to the one being helped. Look for those who can be helped by something that you are capable of offering.
Choi Doe was a martial arts student travelling in Singapore, when he came across an elderly lady on a bus with no shoes. He took off his sandals and put them on her feet. This random act of kindness is the response of a superhero.
Who does that sort of thing, you may ask? Many people live by a code of kindness.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes: 10 Things We Can Learn from Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, shows how you can reach your true potential by finding what you are good at and using it. Dare to imagine! Dream big! Ask yourself, what if?
Ben Brooks is the author of Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different which was the winner of the Children’s Book of the Year at the National Book Awards, and many other titles. His books inspire and encourage children to find their hidden skills and put them to use to realize their dreams, and make the world a better place through change.
Title: Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Author: Ben Brooks
Illustrator: Nigel Baines
Publisher: Hachette, $ 19.99
Publication Date: 30 March 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781526362896
For ages: 10+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction
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Tuesday, 27 April 2021
10 Quirky Questions with author/illustrator Graeme Base
Filling in question and answer form s wihtout llojjinf at the keyboarf,
2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Gollum from The Lord of the Rings - he is so fabulously conflicted.
3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Oh, definitely dead. I find the alive ones tend to eat more, leaving less for me. And does it have to be five?
4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
The Time Machine, so that I could go back and look at the keyboard while I wrote the answer to Question One.
5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Passion, perspiration, persistence, perseverance, patience, pizza. Sorry, that was six.
6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
All of the above but with pictures instead of pizza.
7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
A cup of coffee, my computer, another cup of coffee, three baby hedgehogs. a cheque for a million dollars.
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!)
Boost your chances of literary fame and fortune by taking note of the answer to Question Seven. (New Scientist Magazine, 5 Sept 2020) I need to add here that the baby hedgehogs are the most crucial bit. I cannot explain why. The cheque comes a close second.
9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
Dear Mr Tolkein, what did you think of the ending of the last film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy where they totally ignored the Scouring of the Shire bit and did an overly protracted and awkwardly soppy departure scene at the Grey Havens instead?
10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Never write another story. You can make books without words you know. Just ask Shaun Tan.
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Monday, 26 April 2021
Review: A Chronicle of History and Hope: Holocaust
Hugh Dolan is the author of the graphic novels, Reg Saunders: An Indigenous War Hero, and Gallipoli: The Landing. These books won the Educational Publishing Award in 2014 and 2015. His latest is A Chronicle of History and Hope: Holocaust.
On an outing to David’s Bakery, Thomas and his family discover that David, the owner, was a child at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. Thomas, currently doing that subject at school, asks and listens to learn about that tragic time in human history. Through David’s powerful narrative, a visual history of Germany’s role in WW2 comes alive.
Attacks on the Jewish people begin after Hitler is made Chancellor of Germany.
Things worsen after the German Parliament burns down. A sequence of destruction and deaths follow the forced closing down of Jewish businesses in Germany.
Laws are enforced forbidding Jews to attend schools and Universities. Classed as foreign, Jazz music is also banned.
Non-German books are removed from libraries, and Jews are stripped of their citizenship under the Reich citizenship law. The weak and handicapped have no place in the New Order and are put to death. These are just the beginnings.
The horrendous Kritstallnacht sees Jewish homes burnt down.
Many Jews decide to migrate to Australia and America. Other don’t get their visa on time and become part of the river of humanity that moves by trains to Concentration Camps then onto Death Camps.
This historical and beautifully illustrated graphic book opens shutters, windows and doors to the internal working of Hitler’s master plan. It allows children to visually and textually experience how horrifying and futile war is, with death the only conqueror.
With the use of maps, documents and the strong narrative voice of David, we learn not only about death and war, but more so, about courage, survival, resilience and a legacy of love and hope.
Title: A Chronicle of History and Hope: Holocaust
Author: Hugh Dolan
Illustrator: Adrian Barbu
Publisher: Scholastic, $ 19.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781742996202
For ages: 9+
Type: Graphic Novel
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Sunday, 25 April 2021
Review: The Gentle Genius of Trees
Trees are versatile and offer humans many things, including food, shade, and wood for building, heating, and even making books.
They are also essential in helping provide the air we breathe, so we should learn about them and how to take care of them.
Through The Gentle Genius of Trees, Philip Bunting explains all about photosynthesis, and how a tree grows.
The importance of sunlight and air and large root systems are explained using simple scientific concepts, and fun facts.
Did you know that trees are social and love to be connected and communicate with each other? Their roots help them do that by sending signals.
The growth and ageing of trees is explored to show how they develop to be a long-living and hardy part of our landscape.
As you read The Gentle Genius of Trees, look for the different ways Philip Bunting adds personality and quirky elements, like speech bubbles featuring the thoughts of the trees.
A valuable piece of science communication, The Gentle Genius of Trees would make an excellent classroom tool, as well as being well suited to a home library.
Title: The Gentle Genius of Trees
Author/Illustrator: Philip Bunting
Publisher: Scholastic, $ 19.99
Publication Date: April 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760975173
For ages: 4+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction
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Saturday, 24 April 2021
Friday, 23 April 2021
Review: Weirdo
The animals think you’re weird and you try desperately to fit in, but when an unfortunate accident blows you out the window and into Emily Brookstein’s house, you learn a little something about being a weirdo — something that makes you think it isn’t all that bad.
Weirdo is a funny, affirming, warm story about embracing your differences and not letting bullies make you feel like you need to follow the crowd to fit in. It’s about self-discovery and identity, wrapped in a fun and quirky story that is deeply layered in the most glorious details.
The characters in this book are so wonderful. In very few pages their personalities shine and histories are revealed. Words and stunning illustrations combine to create a community in an apartment block that seems like it truly is just down the street and you could go and meet these people.
Our little protagonist is a true hero, and I love how relatable her journey is, first trying to fit in before realising she should be herself. It’s authentic and raw. We’ve all done it, and we’ll all do it no matter how many times we’re told not to bend to peer pressure. It’s a journey everyone must take for themselves — a journey every child must take.
Writing duo Zadie Smith and Nick laird have created an immersive story with Weirdo. It’s a book you’ll keep coming back to for its quirky language, rich characters, layered story world and beautiful message.
Magenta Fox is an illustrator talent to be reckoned with. Rich earthy colours fill the pages, and there are so many gorgeous picture layouts that zoom in from interesting angles or scatter images across stunning vignettes. Fox’s illustrations are filled with amazing details that bring the rich backgrounds of the characters to life. Weirdo is her first picture book, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
I adore this book. It’s different. It’s quirky. It’s warm and inviting. It’s a book I find myself reaching for again and again because I want to get to know the characters more and live within their world for a while.
For a special story about embracing your inner weirdo, I highly recommend Weirdo.
Title: Weirdo
Author: Zadie Smith and Nick Laird
Illustrator: Magenta Fox
Publisher: Puffin, $27.99
Publication Date: 13 April 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780241449608
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book
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Review: The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S
Twelve year old Aidan and his brother Liam are very close. They have slept in the same room all their lives.
Then Aidan suddenly goes missing for six days. The town searches everywhere. Vigils are held. The family are questioned repeatedly by police. Has he simply run away?
Just as suddenly, he returns. Aidan tells the truth about his disappearance but the story is too incredulous to accept. Liam wants to believe his brother and is torn between what is said to have happened and what in his mind, is plausible. Their parents certainly can’t accept the truth, and Aidan wishes he had told lies.
Their close knit family structure fractures. The parents war with each other and themselves. We watch as the relationship between the boys shifts and his school friends play tug-of-war with what they create from what they hear.
This is a brilliant and well-constructed mystery full of questions about truth and fabrication. Is it acceptable to lie when the truth is more destructive?
Will Liam accept Aidan’s story? If so, at what cost?
The Disappearance of Aidan S is heart-pounding, and breathtaking in its imaginative approach. There’s no way you will put this down even for a toilet break. (Perhaps take it with you as I did).
Fast-paced, forceful and intriguing, you read the truth but find it hard to believe.
Title: The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S
Author: David Levithan
Publisher: Text Publishing, $ 16.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922330918
For ages: 9+
Type: Junior Fiction
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Thursday, 22 April 2021
Meet The Illustrator: George Sweetland
Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Whimsical, humorous, loving, fantastical, textural, silly, and imaginative.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My sketchbook, a few handy pencils, Mac desktop, and my trusty iPad Pro round out my essential art tools. I mostly work with digital art and rely predominantly on using Procreate with the occasional splash of Adobe Illustrator.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I utilize digital art software, mostly using Procreate to create my artwork. Procreate has honestly brought me to a new level in creating illustrations and I am producing pieces I never thought I could do until I used this program.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
There are so many incredibly talented artists out there from my childhood to the present. It makes it so difficult to choose. However, if I had to select three current artists/illustrators, they would probably be Emma Yarlett, Nicola Slater, and Benjamin Mantle. But there are so many other artists out there that inspire me everyday.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I have thought about this before and honestly, my answer is the present. We’re living in an artistic period when such an astonishing amount of artists are producing unique and wonderful artwork that range from digital to more traditional pieces. This is a time where I feel the artwork and picture books being illustrated are beginning to highlight more diverse artists from all backgrounds and ethnicities. Books are starting to be more culturally relevant. I am constantly picking up picture books from artists who are bringing their own voices and styles front and centre. Artists such as Courtney Dee, April Harrison, Dapo Adeola, Alea Marley, Lenny Wen, and Dzung Ho.
Being an only child and keeping myself busy growing up, played a role in my love of art. Times when I was entertaining myself, I would either being playing with action figures or picking up a crayon or colour pencil. I genuinely enjoyed drawing my own made up characters and even writing stories and creating my own picture books. There was a sense of accomplishment and personal fulfilment. I always had the dream to do it professionally.
Teaching elementary school students from preschool to third grade for over 14 years has also had a significant impact on me becoming an author/illustrator. I’ve always enjoyed performing read alouds with my students. I love to be animated and make different voices to help bring to life the characters authors and artists create. After experiencing this first hand, and maintaining my love for creating art over the years, I told myself one day I wanted to make that same impact. I want to help foster that love for reading through my own picture books.
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 work area consists of a desk with my computer and my iPad Pro, along with a library of picture books that inspire me to do my best work everyday. This workspace is located in my basement. This is a place for me to work and create. You’ll find stacks of picture books that I read and admire. One of these days I’ll get a proper bookcase.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
Every part of the process of creating illustrations is vital. However, for me personally, its most enjoyable when I’m in the thick of it. The storyboard has been approved and I’m now working on final draft illustrations and the story is coming to life with colours and textures. It’s an amazing feeling to watch as you breathe life into the pictures and witness first hand a story truly come together.
The biggest advice I can give other artists out there is to really believe in your potential and always be willing to improve; but also have the openness to listen to advice from other artists who have experience in this world of picture books and publishing. There is always room to grow and evolve and you want to remain faithful to who you are, but sometimes advice and constructive criticism have a helpful role in your journey.
With that, you also want to block out negative reviews or criticisms. I never let that deter me from reaching my goals and I still don’t to this day. If you work hard every day and push yourself to become better, I really truly believe that you can accomplish your dreams. I always think of a quote from the famous actor Denzel Washington, who said “if you hang around the barbershop long enough….. sooner or later you're gonna get a haircut."
George Sweetland is an author and digital artist. He has currently illustrated six books ranging from stories about dragons, to playing in the mud, to dogs acting like cats. He lives with his wife, two sons, and a fluffy golden doodle in Connecticut, USA.
For more information, please visit George's website or follow his instagram
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Wednesday, 21 April 2021
Review: Hello, Baby!
We’ll count your fingers and your toes
And marvel at your button nose.
We’ll sing and read and talk to you
And make you smile at peekaboo!
Written in flawless rhyme, the rhythm and flow of this picture book is just delightful. It’s soothing and soft, and a wonderful bedtime read for littlies to celebrate those beautiful first days, months and years of baby life.
With gorgeous pastels and cute baby animals throughout, it’s also a joy to explore. Unwin’s story and Robaard’s illustrations perfectly entwine to deliver a picture book that I predict will quickly become a favourite.
With a special place at the start to write your name and baby’s name, it’s the perfect gift for brand new bundles of joy. But I love that it’s also a book that will continue to give as they grow. When baby is a little older, they will have so much fun learning and pointing to the wide variety of animals featured. Unwin has also weaved in brilliant repetition so kids can join in with the storytelling. It’s truly a treat.
At the back of the book there is also a place to stick in baby’s first photo, so the book can become a keepsake for children to hold onto over the years.
I really love this book. I’m sure every parent knows new babies bring challenges and frustrations, and there are bad days as well as good. But Hello, Baby! is here to remind us that every second of baby chaos is worth it — that there really is nothing as magical as new life and the joy and wonder it brings to our world.
For more amazing picture books by Shelly Unwin, make sure you check out There's a Baddie Running Through This Book and Blast Off!. And for more stunning illustrations from Jedda Robaard, you simply must take a look at I'm Ready for Christmas and I'm Ready for Preschool.
Title: Hello, Baby!
Author: Shelly Unwin
Illustrator: Jedda Robaard
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: March 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760876074
For ages: 0 - 5
Type: Picture Book
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Review: Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery
Uncle Evert is in jail for killing Gabriel Winterborne’s family and trying to take over his fortune. The five children, Colin, Sadie, Tim, Violet and April, living in the Mansion with Gabriel as their guardian, discover Gabriel is also the Sentinel, a vigilante that protects the city with skill, swords and knives.
Isabella, head of the Winterborne Foundation, can’t be found. This is not the only disturbing mystery. Who is the fake vigilante dressed in identical clothing to Gabriel, that breaks into the Mansion looking for something or someone? The scariest part is the level of destruction they leave behind.
Someone from Child Protective Services arrives with accusation that Gabriel is an unsuitable guardian, especially with Isabella’s absence. She is determined to remove the children from the Mansion.
But these extraordinary children haven’t been chosen at random to become part of the Winterborne family. They are intelligent, sharp, courageous and proactive. Can they solve the surge of mysteries that envelope them?
Through chases and near misses, explosions and escapes, April and the other children search for Gabriel. Their home and safety depend on their finding him soon, as their absolute belief is he would never willingly abandon them. April believes he is either dead or seriously wounded.
Who is the strange woman that shows up after ten years claiming to be April’s mother? Then there is Reggie Dupree who claims to be her father!
No one is who they claim to be. What other secrets lay hidden in and beneath the Winterborne Mansion? No one is to be trusted, for Gabriel’s billions are a magnet for every con artist.
What connection, if any, does April have to the Winterbornes? Does the key worn for years around her neck hold the answer? What about the woman who claims to be her mother? What role does she play amidst all the mystery and mayhem?
Title: Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hachette, $ 14.99
Publication Date: 23 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780734419187
For ages: 10+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
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Tuesday, 20 April 2021
10 Quirky Questions with author/illustrator Anna Walker
Zoning out. Some may say I am not responding! But I like to see it as concentrating on thoughts.
2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Count Olaf in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. Count Olaf is so sneaky! There is something about him that reminds me of pantomimes as a child when you feel like calling out, ‘look out behind you'!
I am bending the rules, and inviting characters rather than authors. The five would be: the Grasshopper from James and the Giant Peach, Mrs Tiggy Winkle, the Velveteen Rabbit, the gentle Dragon from a book I read as a child that lived in a cave and enjoyed apple buns and Mole from Wind in the Willows. They are all quiet but so interesting and delightful. I would love to hear their thoughts!
4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
The Necklace of Raindrops — in the story written by Joan Aiken
5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Watching, thinking, gathering, daydreaming, sewing, exploring.
6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Thoughtful... Being an illustrator I think in pictures, so I would like to be remembered by Peggy, Mr Huff, a child finding joy, a duck and a smudgy frog in the rain.
7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
A jumping spider, a tiny seal made of wood, a lamp, the cat and my visual diary.
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 End of The World is Bigger than Love by Davina Bell. On a quiet night I listen to the sky.
9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
I have many questions for the poet Emily Dickinson. I recently wondered what experience inspired her to write:
“I stepped from plank to plank
So slow and cautiously;
The stars about my head I felt,
About my feet the sea
I knew not but the next
Would be my final inch —
This gave that precarious gait
Some call experience.”
10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Ah, that is a TOUGH question. At this stage, I would rather be able to keep creating stories if I had to choose!
Anna Walker writes and illustrates children's books and is based in Melbourne. Crafted with pencil, ink and collage, Anna's illustrations are inspired by the everyday details of life and the amusing antics of her menagerie. Anna's picture book, Mr Huff, which she wrote and illustrated, won the 2016 CBCA Book of the Year for Early Childhood and was shortlisted in the 2016 Prime Minister's Literary Awards. Together with Jane Godwin, Anna has also created many beautiful picture books, most recently Go Go and the Silver Shoes. Anna's most recent picture books as author/illustrator are the highly acclaimed Florette, the delightful Lottie and Walter and the tender and touching Hello Jimmy! For more information, see www.annawalker.com.au.
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Monday, 19 April 2021
Review: Don't Forget
Don’t forget to make your bed, and wear socks that fit your feet.
Don’t forget to brush your teeth, and don’t forget your homework!
There is so much swirling and whirling in our heads of every minute of every day, it’s easy to forget the real things we should be careful not to forget.
Don’t forget to wonder, to be brave, to share.
Don’t forget to imagine, and to feel the touch of each season.
Don’t Forget by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker is a beautiful peek inside kid life. It’s a reminder of the emphasis we place on everyday things — sometimes too much emphasis — which results in us forgetting the stuff that really does matter.
Connection, friendship, hope. Running, laughing, playing. It’s important we all remember (kids and adults alike) the things that have true meaning, the things that spark joy.
Jane Godwin’s words penetrate deep. She has chosen the best examples, the best reminders, the most wonderful stories of family, friendship and love. Every turn of the page is one more stunning reminder we are part of something larger than ourselves and the whole world is waiting as long as we don’t forget.
But the stunning words are only one half of the story. Anna Walker creates love, life and community on the pages. She brings a whole neighbourhood alive and gives each character hopes and dreams and history. The story of their lives plays out on the pages as the kids and their families navigate their worlds, connect and share, and remember not to forget the things that matter.
This book means so much to the world right now. In a challenging time, when it’s easy to forget we are part of a bigger whole, a larger community, we need books like this. We need to be reminded that magic still exists, and love can be found in the people around us.
This is the book that does it.
For more stunning picture books by the Godwin/Walker super duo, check out Go Go and the Silver Shoes. And for a behind the scenes look at the creation of Don’t Forget, make sure you check out this video.
Title: Don't Forget
Author: Jane Godwin
Illustrator: Anna Walker
Publisher: Puffin, $19.99
Publication Date: 30 March 2021
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781761040955
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book
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Review: The Golden Tower
Sophie believes she is not brave, and has few skills compared to the shining light that is her brother Archie. Nanna believes she is artistic, curious and imaginative. While staying with Nanna in England, they trek through some Roman ruins of a villa overlooking the river. Sophie learns about its history and the magical place where the ley lines cross to become a gateway to another world.
Sophie returns alone the next day hoping to find something valuable. All she finds is a ginger cat. Rain forces the girl and cat to shelter in the cleft of a rock, into which the cat disappears.
Following it, Sophie finds herself in Tuscia, an ancient, magical fairytale city of flying golden horses, centaurs and mazzamurelli. Four children appear; two sisters – Bia and Isabella, and their cousins, Leo and Nicco.
When Sophie saves Bia from a wild boar, she is taken by the children to their castle where they live with Nonna.
No sooner has Sophie settled in, that Ginevre, the stepmother the four children have never met, arrives to take them back to their father and the Palazzo de Fiori. Nonna insists that Sophie accompany the children, for she believes that Sophie’s purpose for arriving in Tuscia is to keep the girls safe. But from whom?
Sophie accompanies the children on their journey, along with Baccio the Talking ginger cat who has reappeared, and Lupo, Bia’s dog.
The timid and fearsome Sophie enters a world of challenges, secrets, magic and revelations. She is tested many times, but perseveres, wrestling with countless decisions she must make. Slowly, she uncovers the true identity of Ginevre, and the reason for her lust for power and misuse of magic.
But can she find the opening in the rock that will return her to Nanna or will she remain in Tuscia forever with her new friends?
Fast-paced, with glorious descriptions, exciting adventures through a time slip, and new friendships, The Golden Tower creates a powerful reading experience while proving to children they are more than they know, and capable of achieving great things.
Title: The Golden Tower
Author: Belinda Murrell
Publisher: Penguin, $ 16.99
Publication Date: 2 March 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 97817608970093
For ages: 8+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
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Sunday, 18 April 2021
Review: North & South: A Tale of Two Hemispheres
The seasons, be they wet or dry, or spring, summer, autumn or winter, differ in their timing and extremes, from the tip of the southern hemisphere to far reaches of the northern hemisphere, and everywhere in between.
Animals make the most of this, and often have special characteristics that help them survive and thrive in different weather.
Our wildlife are dependent on the environment, and climate change puts many of them at risk.
In North & South: A Tale of Two Hemispheres, author and illustrator, Sandra Morris takes us on a trip around the world, starting in January and ending in December.
It's a calendar of a special kind.As you move through the months, you'll uncover animals with talents such as camouflage (the Scottish Ptarmigan) and hibernation (Hazel Dormouse), animals who migrate (Monarch butterflies), and animals who mate during specific seasons (Caribou). Parenting, food, and more are also covered.
Each month is given a double page spread, with one of the pages featuring the northern hemisphere and the other the southern hemisphere. The conservation status and location of the animals is depicted using a labelled map. And there are beautiful large illustrations of each animal, along with explanatory text describing life cycles, lifestyles, and how they adapt to their environments.
North & South is supported by an excellent glossary, index, key references for further information, and tips on how you can help wildlife and the climate.
Lovely end papers feature a world map labelled with icons of the featured animals and their homes.
Both younger and older readers can travel and explore the world with North & South, a beautifully designed and illustrated book, showcasing the importance of wildlife and how the environment is critical to them.
Title: North & South
Author/Illustrator: Sandra Morris
Publisher: Walker Books , $ 27.99
Publication Date: February 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925381801
For ages: 7+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction
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Saturday, 17 April 2021
Friday, 16 April 2021
Review: A Brief History of Underpants
Have you ever wondered when and from where our wonderful undies originated? If so, and even if you haven’t, you will have the best laugh ever reading this book!
A Brief History of Underpants is an hilarious, historical journey around the world, on the how and what underpants were made of, who wore them first, and the stories of their origins and re-formation.
This seems to be a subject that interests many people as there are thirteen titles on the subject listed at the back of this book.
The entertainment begins on the cover where a rotating wheel changes the view of the undies worn by the character. Four chapters, Crusty Old Buns, Underpants Around the World, Cheeky Inventions, and Tushes Today, complete the contents.
This initial play on words carries through the entire book. It is filled with clever word use designed to make you laugh out loud, as you learn about the modest word that wasn’t uttered, until later when language caught up with progress.
Natural materials were used to make the first lower covering. This knowledge is uncovered in the same way as for fossils.
What did people wear in the freezing temperatures 20,000 years BCE to keep their lower regions warm? Animal skins of course! But which kind, and how were they worn?
Different countries wore their own type of covering. Each had a different name for undies. The ancient Egyptians wore loincloths, and many extra pairs were packed with one pharaoh to go with him to the afterlife. How did they dye them red? Why did King Tut wear silk ones? (These deep and meaningful facts come with each entry).
Sumo wrestlers – rikishi, competed in unwashed mawashi. Don’t try to imagine how long the cloth was! As an added surprise, instructions on how to wear one are included further on.
Mongol soldiers wore woven silk under their armour. Knights wore padded underpants. Why?
To discover what damsels in distress, and people in Medieval Europe, the Aztecs, North America, Australia and other countries used, surprise yourself with this historical and wonderfully funny but true information, on the evolution of man and their underpants! It will be borrowed, bought as presents, suggested for reading, and enjoyed by all ages.
Fabulous illustrations accompany the text to add to the hilarity already presented in words.
Title: A Brief History of Underpants
Author: Christine Van Zandt
Illustrator: Harry Briggs
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $14.99
Publication Date: 13 April 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978060370605
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction
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Thursday, 15 April 2021
Review: The Treehouse Joke Book 2
How do you talk about a joke book except to say it’s full of fun and entertainment? A chapter book that it is composed of a series of questions, answers, and humorous anecdotes so clever and imaginative, that simply considering how words can be used to create laughter, inspires awe.Having collaborated on more than 33 best sellers, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton fit together in perfect harmony. In this second book of jokes, they delve into deep thinking, (results can be scary) doctors, ghosts, waiters, birthdays and pirates, amongst the inexhaustible amount of material they have produced and packed into one volume.
Q. Did you hear about the person who fell into an upholstery machine?
A. It’s OK. They’re fully recovered. (I took a break here to contain my laughter!)
Pages filled with red writing and illustrations initiate uncontrollable amounts of belly laughs. Frequent longer tales, like short, short stories, are built on skilled and perfected humour stretched out to extract maximum laughs.
The Treehouse Joke Book 2 is filled with content that will be shared in the schoolroom, schoolyard, backyard, bedroom, at the kitchen table, and anywhere else where more than one gather together.
Q. Did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut?
A. They just needed a little space. This one is presented in one of the many fabulous double spreads, with the usual, unusual and intricate illustrations that get their own laughs independent of the text.
I loved this collection, although I am far from being a child. The book lifted my spirits, fixed my face in a smile and kept me laughing and amazed, at how imaginative these two impressive creators continue to be.
This book is for your own pleasure or to give to someone of any age. But don’t pass up the opportunity of obtaining the endless spontaneous happiness and joy found within the covers.
Title: The Treehouse Joke Book 2
Author: Andy Griffiths
Illustrator: Terry Denton
Publisher: Macmillan, $ 14.99
Publication Date: 30 March 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760980511
For ages: 7+
Type: Junior Fiction
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Junior Review: The Companion
In the story, Margot has survived the unspeakable, the rest of her family has died in a car crash and she’s the only survivor.
After the terrible accident, Margot is placed in a group home. She thinks it’s great that she’s left the group home to go live with the Suttons, a rich family who live in the countryside.
Margot soon learns that they have a job for her in the secluded country estate.
They want her to be a companion to their daughter Agatha, who recently lost her ability to speak and needs help doing everyday tasks.
She starts to have suspicions about family members and starts exploring the house. This sends Margot on a whirl winding path of scary secrets about the Sutton family.
Author Katie Alender has made The Companionthe most chilling book I’ve ever read and builds it up with a lot of suspense. The novel has so many twists and turns, with nightmares and a sprinkle of romance. The Companion is an addictive YA mystery novel that will be glued to your hand.Title: The Companion
Author: Katie Alender
Publisher: Putnam , $36.10
Publication Date: November 25, 2020
Format: Hardcover with jacket
ISBN: 9780399545917
For ages: 12 -17
Type: Young Adult Fiction
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Wednesday, 14 April 2021
Review: The Perfectly Proper Grand Pet Parade
Lavender Gray is entering her miniature pup in the Grand Pet Parade at school. Everyone is taking part longing to be the winner of the Best Pet cup.
But while the children are lining up to show off their pets, mischief is brewing between Harry and Hugh. What are they planning? What secret plan is making them convulse with laughter.
Fabulous images of half legs, shoes, and feet running tell their own story as rats are unleashed!
Sounds fill the air: screech, yowl, flap and squawk, bark. Animals take off in a frenzy. What an opportunity! Chaos reigns!
The teacher, tangled in turmoil, with a frog on her head, calls for help.
Lavender’s whistle comes to the rescue. It rallies her friends to race and to chase.
With order restored, hens and birds caught, and pets under control, the Parade begins.
But where are Harry and Hugh? Why are the two mischievous boys having their own celebrations?
This picture book is a delight to read, and better to be read aloud with its wonderful alliteration and sound. It is funny and entertaining, with a surprise ending.
The illustrations are a celebration of fun-loving childhood with its expressive emotions, reflected both children and pets. A wonderful collaboration between author and illustrator. I loved it!
Title: The Perfectly Proper Grand Pet Parade
Author: Coral Vass
Illustrator: Karen Sagovac
Publisher: Larrikin House, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 1 March 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780648894551
For ages: 3 – 9
Type: Picture Book
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Tuesday, 13 April 2021
Review: Ultimate Predator
Mammals, sea mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and minibeasts — there are deadly hunters lurking amongst all of them. Some more dangerous than others.
So, which is the most dangerous? Which is the ultimate predator?
Ultimate Predator pits the most lethal Australian animals against each other in the ultimate showdown of animal strength and cunning.
There are six tournament rounds where mammals verse mammals and minibeasts verse minibeasts. A predator champion is chosen in each round, and then comes the final round, where the champions compete for the title of “Ultimate Predator”.
Along the way, you’ll learn about each of the contenders, including their size, prey, attack style and killer tools. Like did you know a perentie can run up to 40 km/hr for long distances? Or did you know the Tasmanian Devil has the most powerful bite relative to body size of any living mammalian carnivore?
This is a brilliant read for curious kids who love beasts with teeth and claws. With easy-to-read information, bite-sized facts and stunning photography throughout, it’s super kid-friendly and a book kids can read and explore themselves (and then impress their friends with cool predator facts).
Perfect for classrooms and kids who love to learn about animals, Ultimate Predator is a fantastic non-fiction read.
Title: Ultimate Predator
Publisher: Australian Geographic, $19.95
Publication Date: 1 April 2021
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781922388117
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction
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12 Curly Questions with author Katrina Nannestad
As a kid, I didn’t like reading books. I preferred comics because they were funny and full of action. All the books I was offered were dull and serious, and not nearly as exciting as the wild and naughty things that happened every single day in my own back yard.
2. What is your nickname?
My friends call me Kate. My sons call me Wahm – said like ‘Muuuum’ but with a ‘w’ at the start and a long, whining sound in the middle.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Getting stuck on a sheer rockface, hundreds of meters above the ground. I have nightmares about it.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Adventure, history and humour wrapped in warm, wonderful words. (Maybe that’s only nine words, but I’m a writer not a mathematician!)
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Happy, daydreamy, thoughtful, motivated, disciplined.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Nanny Piggins, because she lives her life with such purpose and joy. She’s creative, energetic, adventurous and assertive. She’s a wonderful role model for girls, women, childcare workers and pigs.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
1796. I’d like to sit beside Jane Austen as she wrote her first draft of Pride and Prejudice. I’d like to see how she worked. Did she plan? Did she daydream? Did she write the same sentence 20 times until she got it just right? Did she stop for lots of cups of tea?
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Huh! I thought you were going to be a vet.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My husband and my sons. They’re all smart and funny and really good at playing with words. They’ve sparked many great story ideas.
10. What/who made you start writing?
A fascination with stories. I love the way a good story becomes real. We disappear into the imaginary world and live alongside the characters, or even become one of the characters. I longed to create some of that story magic myself.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Flabbergasted. It’s old fashioned so not overused, and the sound of it is a great match for the meaning. You cannot say, ‘I’m flabbergasted!’ without truly sounding flabbergasted.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pride and Prejudice. It’s beautifully written, funny and full of fabulous characters. And it has a happy ending. I love a happy ending.
Katrina Nannestad is an award-winning Australian author. Her books include The Girl Who Brought Mischief, The Girl, the Dog and the Writer series, the Olive of Groves series, the Red Dirt Diaries series and the Lottie Perkins series, and most recently, We Are Wolves. Visit her at www.katrinanannestad.com.
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