Review: Little Lunch: The School Gate

Guest Post: Louis White on Writing About The Environment For Children

Today we welcome Louis White and his take on why educating our young people on the world in which they live is important.

One of my favourite memories as a child was to sneak off to my bedroom and read a book. This was not an easy task, as I grew up in a big family – one of nine children – and shared a bedroom with two brothers (first two younger brothers and then two older brothers) until I was 17.

I then converted the second lounge room into a bedroom so I could study for my Tertiary Admissions Exam.

I was determined to pass on my love of reading to my daughter. When her mother was pregnant I read books to her most nights. As soon as Lily was born I began reading and by the time Lily was two years, she would want up to a dozen books read to her each night.

But I didn’t want to read any books, I wanted to educate Lily at the same time.

When she turned three, I thought I would expand upon an idea I had before she was born and teach Lily about the environment, ecology and the importance of both for humans.

I had an idea that Lily would meet five of the most important insects needed on the planet and in each book they would explain in a rhyming fashion what they do, how they breed and how they contribute to the survival of humanity.

The Adventures of Lily Series was born and it was harder to write than I initially imagined. Trying to maintain simplicity in style and context, while explaining the workings of an insect, all in rhyming fashion, takes a lot longer than you think.

Yes, the idea might come quickly to you, but ensuring children understand the messaging is not an easy task.

But I was determined to succeed and sought out help from children’s pre-school where I gained valuable feedback from teachers and students alike.

The whole point of the series is to educate, inform and entertain.

I want children to walk away after reading the books asking questions about why we need bees, the roles butterflies play in our world and be inquisitive to the surroundings of nature.

We should always try to pique a child’s curiosity. They want to learn and their brain is a sponge. By challenging them in reading, we will bring out the best in our children and they will have a better understanding of how everything fits together.

By concentrating on insects, it also allows children to be aware of creatures smaller than them. It is very easy in the playground to look up and around, but when children look down, it gives them a sense of perspective and to see an ant crawling along the pavement, instead of thinking ‘that ant might bite me’ they will now understand that the ant, and all its friends, are playing a crucial in the environmental growth of our planet.

Initially, Lily was uncomfortable with the books and kept on saying, ‘Dad, why did you write books about me?’ I explained it was out of love.

When I finally convinced Lily to take the books to school, her attitude changed completely because her friends thought she was ‘famous’. It was hard not to laugh.

The Adventures of Lily Series has expanded to include a book called, Lily and the Dragon to teach children not to judge anyone or anything without getting to know it first and doing some of their own research. It is very easy to be afraid and critical of something we don’t know but dig deeper and you will be surprised.

At the end of the day we all want to be accepted.

Teaching children about the world around them, their role, and the roles of insects, and how everything fits together, is vitally important if we want them to have a bigger and brighter future than us.

Louis White is an experienced journalist and corporate writer who has written for major daily newspapers in Australia. Inspired by his daughter Lily and her curiosity and passion for nature, he began writing the Adventures of Lily series with an aim to encourage children to get closer to nature and understand the world around them. His other books include, A Christmas Story and an adult fiction book titled One Season.

Learn more about this series and Louis White via: www.louiswhite.com
 

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Review: Go Home Cheeky Animals

Review: The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor

Mystery. Ghosts. Time travel. The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor really does have it all.

Sam and Harry move with their parents from the city to a remote, dilapidated manor during the COVID-19 pandemic. The boys explore the labyrinth-like house. They find spooky portraits of long-dead people and secret rooms. 

In the dust-coated library, they discover a book in which a riddle appears and transports them back in time to 1919.

With chapter names like ‘The Horror’, ‘The Manor Attack’ and ‘Disappearing Doors’, Tracey Hawkins has created intrigue. The writing propels readers into each new scene. 

Hawkins has created a realistic brother relationship layered with both camaraderie and power shifts. 

Hawkins has cleverly sparked children’s natural curiosity by using a series of riddles to test the characters and to direct them around the manor. Modern life conflicts with life in the past, creating some funny moments, like the boys finding out what a long drop toilet is. 

Personally, I’m enchanted with what happened in the past, and The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor effectively vivifies Australian family life in 1919. The book explores how World War 1 and the Spanish Flu affected families. This makes for very interesting discussion when comparing those events with the COVID-19 pandemic. There are comprehensive Teaching notes that touch on these ideas and many more, and I will definitely be using them in my classroom.

As for my kids’ opinions of the book, my nine-year-old son and ten-year-old daughter loved The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor. My daughter wasn’t drawn to the cover but once she was reading, quickly became engrossed in the story.

The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor is book one in an anticipated three book series. I can’t wait to be transported again. 

Other books by the award-winning author include, ‘Nancy Bentley’, ‘Max Meets a Monster’ and ‘Leaping Lola’.

Title: The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor
Author: Tracey Hawkins
Publisher: Storytorch Press, $16.95
Publication Date: 1 February 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780645191523
For ages: 7+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Chanelle Gosper

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I can whistle using four different techniques – can you?

2. What is your nickname?
Good friends call me Chan, but my very closest people have special names for me that are like passwords between us. I can’t share them! Strangers misread my name as Chantelle so much that I almost accept it as another nickname (almost).

3. What is your greatest fear?
Something terrible happening to someone I love. Also, giant moths like rain moths and gum moths. I know it’s irrational, but I can’t deal with their furry bulk flapping erratically near me!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Evocative arrangements of my mind’s vivid visuals in lyrical lines.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Honest, emotive, independent, inventive, enthusiastic.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
As a kid I loved Monica Dicken’s ‘The Messenger’ series and I think the character Rose from these books would be a great choice. She feels ordinary and clumsy but she’s chosen to stop darkness and evil by travelling through time and experiencing the world through other people’s eyes. She also gets to fly on the back of a magical heroic stallion from hundreds of years in the past. What’s not to love about that?

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
This one is very hard to answer – I love history! In fact, I really wanted to be an archaeologist when I was younger. If I absolutely have to choose, I’d pick the year 48 BCE. I’d love to see Rome right before the fall of the Republic, when Julius Caesar and the Roman army seemed unstoppable, when the crumbled ruins I’ve travelled to were new or yet to be built. I’d love to see what Cleopatra was like as a fearless young woman praised for her intellect and ingenuity, before her image was tarnished by her enemies. I’d love to see how people lived in those times all through Europe, the Mediterranean and Egypt – and I believe the pyramids of Giza still had most of their limestone casing at that time, which would have been a sight to see!

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Did you really write a book? Choice, I always wanted to do that! But what are you doing living in Australia?!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My grandmother, for showing me how beloved stories can be made up on the spot. My dad, for instilling in me a lifelong love of books and reading. My mum, for inspiring me to follow creative passions and move forward with independence. My Year 12 English teacher, for showing me all the layers that can lie beneath the simplest of words. Those discoveries were like finding buried treasure. And every great author I’ve ever read; there’s a little piece of every one of them in my work.

10. What/who made you start writing?
For as long as I can remember, writing has been a tool I use to unravel the jumble of thoughts and feelings inside me, drawing them out one line at a time and then knitting them together in a way that makes sense. As for writing stories, as a child there were whole worlds squeezing out of me that I found much too big to keep in my mind. I had to find a place to contain them, but that I could still get back into any time I wanted! That’s where it began, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Shenanigans, because it’s super fun to say and it also conjures up amusing adventures (or misadventures). I’m always up for those!

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Well, that hurt to imagine! But OK, for this question I’ll go with Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. I’ve already read this one three times and each time I discover new things throughout, not just in the plot but through Mitchell’s incredible use of language. It has six separate stories written in different styles that nest within each other, so you have the fun of reading through what feels like completely different novellas, while looking for the hidden connections that make it one larger, rather mind-blowing epic. It covers as many human experiences as I can imagine, and then some. It shines a light of hope through the dark parts of human nature. And without fail, it always leaves me feeling like I’ve been on a stunning journey that’s left me changed in some way. Can’t imagine ever tiring of that!

Chanelle Gosper is a writer based in South Australia, where she lives with her husband, daughters and a whole lot of story ideas. A lifelong love of learning and adventure has seen her live in three different countries, travel the world and enjoy a colourful career that includes primary school teaching, recruitment, healthcare support and marketing.


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Winner: Emma's Freckles

Our lucky winner is... Kirsty Polujan, NSW

Congratulations!

You have won a signed copy of the newly released, Emma's Freckles by our very own former KBR reviewer, Sarah Wallace. 

Thank you to ALL who entered.

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Review: The Wolves of Greycoat Hall: Boris in Switzerland

Boris in Switzerland, the second book in the Wolves of Greycoat Hall series, is full of imagination, humour, action, and clever language and visual elements. 

Boris is a wolf who lives with his mum, Leonora and dad, Randall in Greycoat Hall. There's also his horse, Vlad.

Boris is looking forward to seeing his friends, who have been away for the holidays, but is disappointed, and a little bit nervous, when he discovers he will have to live in Switzerland for a term.

Boris' great aunt has injured herself and needs help for a while, so Leonora and Randall will be looking after her while Boris attends a swanky boarding school called the Institute of International Excellence.

On the journey to Switzerland, Boris starts reading The Art of the Wolf, a book his dad is writing about a wolf artist. Though he doesn't know it yet, this will provide valuable information in solving a mystery that will soon start to unfold.

Boris juggles being himself, a linguistically talented wolf (he can speak English, French, Prussian and Morovian), with learning new subjects like heli-boarding (seriously) and digital media (wolf paws are not great with keyboards), and making new friends.

He also notices strange things happening. Eventually, and with help from his new friends, Boris (and readers) will uncover what's going on. 

As the mystery and its resolution unfold, readers also learn a bit about Morovian wolf culture. Did you know they like knitting and ghost stories? And they make cheese, but most are terrible bakers? These and other facts are shared in extracts from 'A Guide to Morovia' which are sprinkled throughout the book.

There are a generous number of illustrations included by author and illustrator Lucinda Gifford which help make this a fantastic book for newly independent readers, or for reading aloud to younger children. Adults will enjoy Boris in Switzerland as much as kids. Top marks!

Title: The Wolves of Greycoat Hall: Boris in Switzerland
Author/Illustrator: Lucinda Gifford
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $16.99
Publication Date: February 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760655327
For ages: 6--9 year olds
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Satin

Satin is one of those powerful, impactful, magical picture books that demands a re-read as soon as you reach the end. It calls you to go back and dive deeper into the story — to try to understand all its secrets.

It’s one of those stories I believe readers can find their own truth in — pull out meanings and ideas that others won’t necessarily find.

And the magic associated with this sends tingles down my spine.

Satin is the name of the main character in this whimsical tale. 

Every morning early when no-one is about, Satin slips out of the forest and walks along the silent sleepy sunrise streets, looking for blue…

Satin collects blue things, slipping them into his pockets and retreating to the safety of the forest. He's shy and keeps to himself, but when he hears a voice talking about blue, and he realises someone is in need, he takes the best blue thing he has and gives it away. 

Soon blue things connect Satin to the world in ways he didn't expect. He finds a purpose for all his blue things and it changes him forever. 

Award-winning author Sophie Masson delivers something truly special in this book. For me, this story is about loneliness, sadness, connection and hope (in that order). It’s about sacrifice and building bridges and reaching out even when you don't understand why someone is feeling how they feel. 

It’s about magic in the forest and the what ifs and what could bes.

For you, it might be about something completely different. That's the beauty of it. There might be something between the covers you see that I don’t. A spine-tingling thought indeed.

The illustrations by acclaimed artist Lorena Carrington are as special as the text. Mixed media in deep shades of blue and purple create a mystical feel. Shadows and darkness create mystery and beg readers to explore the details in hopes of finding treasure on the pages. Just stunning! 

For a very special picture book read, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Satin.

Title: Satin
Author: Sophie Masson 
Illustrator: Lorena Carrington
Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing, $29.99
Publication Date: March 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922858016
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Books

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Review: Little Lunch: The Monkey Bars

Meet The Illustrator: Dalia Awad

Name: Dalia Awad

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
It’s colourful, whimsical, funny and I like to draw emotional illustrations.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My Wacom Cintiq is essential at my home studio, and my iPad for mobility as it gives me the ability to work anywhere.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
If you asked me this question 4 years ago I would have said it was gouache and watercolour because they have been my favourite mediums for years but now I prefer to draw digitally-free hand using Wacom tablet and my favourite program is clip studio paint.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
There are many great artists I admire their work but for children’s book illustrators I can choose Richard Scarry, Dan Santat and Benji Davies.

 
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I’d like to go back to the early 18th century when the Rococo painting originated, I always get mesmerized by the beauty of rococo art it’s so colourful and dynamic.

    
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I can’t remember who inspired my to be an illustrator but I do remember that it was my dream since I was a little kid, I used to draw characters from the children’s books I was reading and I found myself doing the same after I grew up. However I can’t deny that animation movies have a great impact on me and they give me huge motivation for drawing.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I set up my studio to be simple and cosy and it gives a feel of warmth, it’s comfortable place to work in. And I made it accessible for my cats to get in, they are good companions in long lonely workdays.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

Every single part has it’s own magic, I like the whole process of making art from gathering references to adding the final touches.

 
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Be consistent and make art every single day even if it will be only rough sketches, don’t sell yourself short and don’t underestimate your ability of success.

 

Dalia is a children’s book illustrator from Egypt, she is a self-taught artist who believes that the learning process never ends. She has a degree in a media and communication but her passion for art led her to seek a career in illustration.

When she is not working she goes for hiking, swimming or just playing with her cats.

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

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Guest Post: Sarah Wallace on Writing Emma's Freckles

12 Curly Questions with author Barbie Robinson

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I hate walking into a room full of people.

2. What is your nickname?
I’m just always called Barbie or Barb (or Mum or Grandma).

3. What is your greatest fear?
I have bundles of them but probably loss of loved ones is the greatest.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Accessible but with a deep respect for rich English vocabulary.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Persistent, meticulous, bibliophilic, prolific, reflective.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Gosh that’s hard but probably Phryne Fisher because of her courage, sense of fun and her wardrobe.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
1920-something. I’ve always liked periods of transition and change; revolution in social thought. I also like the frocks and hats.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Has all that tree climbing paid off? Do you still like dolls?

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My parents and my husband.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I grew up in a reading household and both my brother and I wrote as a matter of course from a very young age. Separately and together, we created and wrote stories and drew pictures in exercise books. It was something to do with an English childhood and then being migrants, I suspect, and then moving around quite a lot as children.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Who can have a favourite word when English is such a beautiful and complex language? When I was an Indonesian teacher, I loved the word cenderawasih because of its lilting sound. It means Bird of Paradise.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Delia Falconer – The Service of Clouds. Exquisite. But please don’t make me choose just one.

Barbie Robinson is co-Principal of arts media not-for-profit website, podcast platform and internet radio station Living Arts Canberra. She is a Canberra-based arts journalist, arts advocate, photographer and designer. She is the author of eight books and contributor/designer to a group publication entitled between the lines. For more information, see www.livingartscanberra.com.au.

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Review: It's Time All Possums Went To Bed

Giveaway: Emma's Freckles

Review: Little Lunch: The Bubblers

Guest Post: Reading Can Be Fun!

Review: Emma's Freckles

Emma's Freckles shares a Gaelic myth I'd never heard of.

When we hear mythology stories, or talk of them, the ones mentioned most often are Greek and Roman. So it was great to read this book, a tale that weaves the modern world with mythology to create a rather ethereal story.

Emma’s grandma tells her about the land of her ancestors. Of its beauty and mist-filled nights. And of the stars and their importance. Although hidden by the mist, they’re not forgotten because the people of the land wear a reminder of the stars in the freckles on their faces.

Emma is excited by the idea her own freckles are also part of a starry constellation.

There's a definite magical quality to Emma's Freckles, which is Sarah Wallace’s first picture book,and is illustrated by Lesley McGee.  

The illuminated night sky is just right with its colours and sparkling stars, and the lush green landscapes are vibrant with flora and fauna, and a crystal-like blue ocean. It’sa story that can speak to readers young and old with a message about being yourself. It also helps keeps a Gaelic myth alive and might act as a prompt for discussing stars with children, learning more about them and how they are used.

Emma’s Freckles is adelightful debut.

Download a colouring sheet, find-a-word and starry mask from the publisher's website.

For your chance to be one of the first to read this delightful new release, enter our free Giveaway comp this Saturday!

Title: Emma's Freckles
Author: Sarah Wallacce
Illustrator: Lesley McGee
Publisher: Little Pink Dog Books, $24.99
Publication Date: March 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780648964162
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Snow Laundry

Review: Tales From The Bush Mob: The Cockatoo Wars

This brilliant, humorous story, the fourth in the Tales of the Bush Mob series, opens onto another daring adventure with a group of birds and their animal friends who live in Outback Australia. 

White Boss Cocky and Black Boss Cocky have been at odds with one another for a very long time. Their clans continue to fight about who is responsible for the protection of the ancient forests. There is no end in sight to the raucous they continue to cause.

A monumental fight occurs that causes two baby cockies to fall out of their nests. 

Due to the lack of feathers on the baby birds, their mothers are unable to tell them apart. They decide to move to the edge of the forest and raise them together as brothers. 

It is Eagle who warns the mothers of a fast-approaching fire. The animals must be warned to move to safety, as no firebreak exists. The Boss Cockies have neglected their responsibilities.

Too busy fighting to listen, it is the Bush Mob that set out to save the animals. The mothers, and brothers who are now grown, lead the clans. All assemble at the Billabong. 

Can their ingenious plan to save the ancient forest be successful? Will the cockatoo clans end the feud to work together and become leaders again?

It will take more than common sense and courage to let go of their useless fighting. Will the birds and animals survive a raging fire and a sky full of ash and embers? 

This wonderful tale carries metaphors on the importance of handing down stories and traditions. It addresses the responsibility all people carry to respect, protect and honour the land we live on.

Beautiful illustrations adorn each page. Children can learn about all our native animals, birds and creatures that live in the forest through the stunning images Helen Milroy has created, and how survival depends on them working together and respecting the role in nature that each one has to play.

Title: Tales From The Bush Mob: The Cockatoo Wars

Author/Illustrator: Helen Milroy
Publisher: Magabala Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922613554
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: My Marvellous Mum

Jonathan Bentley has a wonderful catalogue of more than fifty books for children, and My Marvellous Mum is another fabulous addition.

My Marvellous Mum sets out to list all the ways Mum is special, and it does so alphabetically, working through the letters of the adjective in the book's title: marvellous. 

Animal characters depict mother and child pairs in various situations.

Mum can be adventurous, like the zebras on swings flying high. She shares and teaches values like the pandas. And she can laugh like the crocodiles, and smooth out muddles like the koalas.

Each of the illustrations has a different set of animals, right up to the end when all of them appear together in a crowd, holding aloft the letters that spell out the word marvelous. 

Jonathan Bentley's illustrations are always appealing, and My Marvellous Mum is no different. The animals are colourful, cartoon-ish and friendly. They're a clear visual focus as you read, and bring a light and loving feeling to the parent and child relationship, along with touches of humour.

A beautiful, and marvellous, book for sharing and for gifting.

Title: My Marvellous Mum
Author/Illustrator: Jonathan Bentley
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $18.99
Publication Date: March 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761203237
For ages: 3 - 5
Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Marc Fink on The Value of Interactive Fiction

‘Tell me a story about me and Poe Poe going for a walk and seeing a trash truck and then a wolf gets eaten by a shark!’

Every night, I get requests like this (future blog post coming about the value of oral story-telling), and I always hesitate ... my mind panicking as I try to think of any possible way to tie all of these elements together. 

‘Oooooooonce upon a time, Mikayla, Poe Poe, and Daddy went for a walk. It was a beautiful day ...’ I begin slowly, but even as I tell the story, I am trying to plan ahead to make it as fun as possible. And at some point, I will say, 'Do you run into the water to escape the wolf, or do you try to climb a tree...?' 

And then ... I wait. And I see my children thinking about what would be the best choice. Sometimes, Mikayla gives an uncertain laugh and says, ‘I don’t know what is best. You choose.’ And I’ll say, ‘Okay. We run into the water and get eaten by a shark! The end. Time to sleep.’

‘Noooo! I can pick.’ And for the rest of the story, she’ll make the choices because she doesn’t want a quick ending. We can also go back to previous choices (if we remember them) and explore other possibilities.   

And this is what our family (and my students) love about interactive fiction - it requires active listening and active reading from the participants as opposed to just passively listening/reading. It forces them to think critically about what’s happening in the story, what the goal is, and what the character in the story is experiencing at that moment.  

For those who may not be familiar with the genre, interactive fiction, also known as ‘choose your own adventure’ stories, allows the reader to make decisions that shape the outcome of the story. My students were immediately hooked the first time I introduced them to the app, Story Eggs, and I couldn't help but notice the level of engagement and excitement they had while reading. They were actively thinking about the story and making choices, rather than simply passively receiving the information. 

These experiences got me thinking about the potential benefits of interactive fiction for children, and I was not disappointed to find a wealth of research to support my observations.

First and foremost, interactive fiction has been shown to improve reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. In a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, researchers found that children who read interactive fiction scored higher on measures of reading comprehension and critical thinking than those who read traditional texts. The authors of the study suggest that the interactive nature of the stories encouraged children to think more actively and critically about the text. 

Which is the best choice? It depends on what you had just read on the previous 3-4 pages. 

Interactive fiction can also be a valuable tool for helping children develop their creativity and imagination. In an article for EdTech Magazine, educator and author Andrew Miller argues that interactive fiction encourages children to think beyond the boundaries of the story and create their own unique paths.By allowing children to make decisions and shape the story, interactive fiction encourages them to use their imagination and think outside the box. 

Another benefit of interactive fiction is that it can be a great way to get reluctant readers interested in reading. As children are able to make decisions that affect the outcome of the story, they become more invested in the plot and characters, which can make reading more enjoyable for them. In a study published in the Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange, researchers found that students who read interactive fiction were more likely to report that they enjoyed reading and were more motivated to read than students who read traditional texts.

Two paths...two choices...But only one is actually a ‘safe’ choice. 

Interactive fiction can also be a great way to encourage children to read more. The ability to make choices and shape the story can make reading feel more like a game, which can be a powerful motivator for children. In an article for EdTech Magazine, educator and author Andrew Miller notes that interactive fiction can be used to motivate children to read more, as they can see the direct results of their choices. 

Finally, interactive fiction can be a valuable tool for promoting diversity and inclusivity. Interactive fiction allows children to see themselves and their experiences represented in the stories they read, which can be especially important for children from underrepresented groups. In an article for EdSurge, educator and author Antero Garcia notes that interactive fiction allows for representation and agency in a way that traditional texts do not. By allowing children to make decisions and shape the story, interactive fiction can help promote a sense of belonging and empowerment.

In conclusion, interactive fiction is a valuable tool for parents looking to promote reading and critical thinking skills, creativity and imagination, and diversity and inclusivity in their children. As a parent, I can attest to the level of engagement and excitement it can inspire in even the most reluctant of readers. So next time you're looking for a way to get your child excited about reading, consider picking up an interactive fiction book, or trying an app filled with interactive stories, and watch as they dive into a world of endless possibilities. 

Marc Finks is a third-grade teacher, father of three very young children, and now single-handedly running a publishing company, Constellation Publishing, so he could develop and publish Story Eggs, an illustrated storybook app where children decide how the story progresses. He has a Master’s Degree in Education, with an emphasis on Literacy, which now influences almost every aspect of his life.

Marc’s first published novel, Boys for Sale, is a realistic fictional account of the human trafficking of children. Since then, he has moved on to lighter fare, including a fantasy novel for teens, before settling on his favorite type of storytelling - interactive stories for kids. Story Eggs will hopefully introduce readers to a new kind of reading, one where the reader is actively engaged in the story, as opposed to passively having it be told to them.

Discover more about the App, Story Eggs, at Marc's website, and all of the stories that have been included upon its initial release.

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Review: Mama's Chickens

Meet The Illustrator: Yulia Gorkina

Name: Yulia Gorkina (aka Yulken)

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
I think of it as naive, joyful, bright, and a bit messy.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
I’d say mobility is pretty important for me (being a mom of two boys, I sometimes have to work in a cafe while waiting for them from their hobbies). I worked hard to move more to digital tools. So If we talk about tools, it would be my iPad. And if I think about other items, it would be my books. And a cup of coffee :)

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I couldn’t choose just one! As for my commercial work, I use my iPad with Adobe Fresco almost always, and for my personal work (that’s in sketchbooks most of the time))), I have my gouache, colored pencils, and neocolor II wax pastels.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
It’s so difficult to choose! Let’s say Fiep Westendorp, Mary Blair and Tove Jansson.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I think about beginning of XX century in Europe with it’s Art-Nouveau movement! This period looks so prominent to me, I feel like there were big dreams and hopes and people didn’t know yet how much sorrow and dark days there will be in XX century. And in Art-Nouveau (especially in the architecture) I feel like everything is possible! All the shapes are so elegant and feel so warm.

  
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I can’t think of any big ‘aha!’ moment… Growing up I didn’t have illustration as an option and studied IT. But drawing was always in my life. I’d say Walt Disney was a big inspiration as I remember copying illustrations from a medical encyclopedia with Disney characters and feeling absolutely happy. And after moving to another country I’ve been studying new language and looking around me more and I’ve discovered that picture books are so fascinating and I really wanted to make them.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
We are going through a huge renovation in our house - the roof should be changed and there will come big windows and a lot of light. So one day my studio will be there. But right now I’m settled in the livingroom-to-be (as there’s also renovation going on)) where I have a little table and a bookcase. So it’s pretty messy and temporary right now. But I sit just in front of the window. And there’re so many birds visiting our little bird-feeder and they are so funny to watch! Woodpecker and nuthatch, robins and little tits. I’ll miss them when I’ll move upstairs!

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
The beginning of the process, research, gathering information, sketching and the part closer to the end when the biggest part of uncertainty is left behind and you can see that it’s not that bad after all!

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
I’d say show up to your practice everyday even for as little as 15 minutes and create before you consume.

 
Yulia is a colour addict, passionate sketchbook dabbler, picture book nerd, bike fan, and camping enthusiast. In 2009, she moved to Belgium following the smell of chocolate and waffles. There she discovered the world of children's illustrations and never looked back. In her little studio, she creates playful and bright illustrations inspired by her two boys, nature, travel, friends, and dreams of a world where people smile more and feel loved.


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

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Review: Mini & Milo: The Teeny-Tiny Voice

The Teeny-Tiny Voice is the first in a brilliant new series for children about emotional and social intelligence. It features Mini, an elephant, and Milo, who is a rabbit.  

Mini has a voice in her head, a teeny-tiny voice that encourages her to do some things and not do others. 

Sometimes Mini responds and makes a mess, or won't eat her vegetables, or simply gets distracted. 

Other times, Mini gets upset because the voice tells her she's not good enough at something, or that nobody likes her.

The teeny-tiny voice is Mini's subconscious mind.

Eventually Mini is determined to overcome the negative and naughty parts of the voice, and tells it to be quiet. The voice doesn't go away, but Mini tries strategies to control it and finds something that works.

Author Venita Dimos brings her expertise as a lawyer, mediator and coach to the series, with a realistic, fun and funny story that embeds life skills we can all benefit from.

The characters are highly appealing, and illustrator Natashia Curtin's depiction of Mini, Milo and their antics is spot on. I especially liked the way Mini's voice was shown as a smaller, kind of invisible version of Mini herself, just a line drawing, while the real Mini and Milo and other elements of the story were in full colour.

I loved The Teeny-Tiny Voice, and look forward to reading more of Mini and Milo.

Title: Mini & Milo: The Teeny-Tiny Voice
Author: Venita Dimos
Illustrator: Natashia Curtin
Publisher: Walker Books, $25.99
Publication Date: 8 March 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760656157
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Phoenix and Ralph

'...First, the fires came rampaging up the valley, taking everything in their path.

Those of us who were here that summer got ready to run...'

And there is the opening to this harrowing yet hopeful picture book.

Goosebumps? I thought so. Prepare for more.

Canberran icon, Barbie Robinson, is an arts journalist, writer, book designer, photographer and arts advocate, whose support for locals and the wider community is legendary. In her new book, Phoenix and Ralph, she utilises her every artistic skill to bring us a fiery tale based on true life events.

The first spark is lit with the fires of January 2003, raging up the mountain towards Barbie's home, taking everything in its path. Then a last-minute wind change - and darkness. Silence. Despair.

Almost seventy per cent of the ACT's bushland was damaged in these fires and 470 buildings (including Mount Stromlo Observatory) were all but destroyed. As the fire licked at Canberra's outer suburbs, in just four hours nearly 500 people were injured and four lives were lost.

During the months of recovery, magpies begin to frequent Barbie's garden, angling for food. One plucky bird was dubbed Phoenix, the bird who rose from the ashes. The surrounding land followed suit and also grew, phoenix-like, budding green poking from blanketed ash. 

Forests recovered. People moved on. But they never forgot.

Enter The Black Summer of 2019/2020. Like a film and its shocking plot twist, the fires returned. I, myself, know. They were at one time close to my suburban home. Canberra was essentially surrounded. We were trapped. 

As Robinson writes, 'the losses were too great to count.' and 'People spoke of birds falling from the sky.'

Then - La Niña came. She's stayed for an unprecedented three years straight now, almost an apology for the terror of those fires.

And that's when magpies returned to Barbie's garden. History repeating, a bold little bird (dubbed Ralph) moves in to the street. He makes Barbie and her husband happy. There's hope he will bring his babies to meet them next spring when the shoots once again rise from the blackened soil

This beautiful book is a tribute to courage, community and the overwhelming power of nature and its ability to rise from adversity. Its themes are confronting yet with a light touch that suits children of all ages, perhaps from age 5 and up, depending on the child's sensitivity.

I love how the voice of Phoenix and Ralph is like that of a diary entry, as though we are sipping tea with a dear friend, listening to stories of heartache and hope. The result is warm and calm yet scarred and powerful.

Illustrations by Ian Robertson, a landscape artist who also witnessed both fires. His painterly, evocative illustrations capture the fear, desperation and tragedy of fire, as well as the quiet, the hope, the community. His use of incandescent orange and charred black peppered with clean white pages, poignant silent ruins - and the gentle warble of magpies - is a perfect nest for Barbie's lyrical text. 

Then there's that exquisite cover. It's little wonder this book goosebumped me page after page.

At the back of the book, notes about magpies, epicormic growth, the legend of the phoenix and more information on the 2003 bushfires.

Heartache and hope. It's a powerful combination.

Title: Phoenix and Ralph
Author: Barbie Robinson
Illustrator: Ian Robertson
Publisher: Writing with Light, $24.99
Publication Date: January 2023
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780648179948
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Duckling Runs Away

When Duckling gets mad at her mama, she decides to run away. 

She passes all her farmyard friends, who all invite her to play. But Duckling is on a mission and won’t be distracted. 

She’s running away forever and ever, and nothing will change her mind.

Until… 

...it gets darker and darker… and she kind of can’t remember why she was running away in the first place.

Duckling Runs Away is an adorable story from two of Australia’s greats — Margaret Wild and Vivienne To. It’s a charming story, with loads of repetition, so kids will really get into the flow of the words as they are read aloud.

There’s gentle humour in this one, too. As confident Mama Duck waves Duckling farewell, parents will give a little chuckle. And as determined duckling turns down every offer to play, kids will giggle at her stubborn expressions — her mask of defiance. But watch her expressions as the pages turn, because they do start to change. As the day continues and the sun falls in the sky, Duckling’s expressions become a mirror for her emotions.

As always, To’s illustrations are gorgeous. Soft, textured and fun, they never fail to delight. From bright and light at the beginning of the day, through a reddish sunset and into the darker shades of purple and blue, the use of colours to convey time and mood and emotion is stunning.

And beneath the delightful words and gorgeous illustrations, there are also some really cool message threads that come through — for kids and for adults.

For kids, there is a whole bunch of relatability. I, mean, sometimes, adults just don’t understand — can’t understand — space is needed to clear thoughts and calm down. But on the flip side, those crazy adults who care and love and watch out for little ones will always be there. The love is strong no matter the distance, and warm wings will always be waiting when little ones return.

The book spoke to me, too, as a parent. It reminded me of the space and independence our little ones sometimes need to forge their own identities and navigate the world. But it also reminded me not to dwell. That love is like an invisible string that connects us always.

A joyful, entertaining and gorgeous read.


Title: Duckling Runs Away
Author: Margaret Wild
Illustrator: Vivienne To
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $24.99
Publication Date: 28 February 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761065804
For ages: 3- 6
Type: Picture Book

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