Tuesday, 8 August 2023

12 Curly Questions with author Kristin Darell

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I knocked out my front tooth when I was working as a ski instructor in Canada. I wonder if anyone can work out which one?

2. What is your nickname?
It depends on who you ask. To my parents, I’m Bunny, my old journalism friends called me KD, but most people just call me Kris.

3. What is your greatest fear?
When I was a kid, I was scared of the dark. To be honest, I still don’t like the dark, or sleeping with my wardrobe open. However, now I’m a parent I’d have to say my greatest fear is something terrible happening to my husband or kids.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Fun, moving, fast-paced, imaginative, courageous, thought-provoking, empathetic, warm.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Heartfelt, emotional, determined, courageous (most of the time), grateful (to be writing stories).

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Jo March from Little Women. Because she’s flawed but courageous and she loves writing!

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d like to go 500 years in the future, to see if we’re finally all travelling through the stars.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
“Don’t be such a coward, don’t doubt yourself. You can do what you love. Go on… dare you!”

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My dad. He taught me that change is okay, that I should follow my dreams and that just like Peter Pan, I don’t have to grow up. Perfect advice for a children’s writer!

10. What/who made you start writing?
When I was in Grade 3 at school, I wrote a poem that made my teacher laugh. It was about a silly little sailing ship and that moment made me realise that words could impact people. I know lots of authors say it, but I have always loved writing. When I left school, I didn’t think creative writing could be a ‘job’, so I went into journalism – which obviously is writing, just a different kind! I feel honoured that I was able to share true stories for more than 20 years. Now, I am also grateful to be sharing stories from my imagination. It’s a pretty awesome life!

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Serendipity… because it means an ‘unplanned, fortunate discovery’ and who doesn’t like the sound of that!

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
by CS Lewis, because I would be very happy to spend lots of time in Narnia, going on adventures and learning to be kind and brave. 

Kristin Darell has been a passionate storyteller since she was a child. Whether it was making up adventures with her twin sister, or writing about the world around her, she was rarely found without a pen and paper in hand. As an adult, she made this passion her life. She worked as a broadcast news and sports journalist for major Australian news organisations for more than 20 years. After the birth of her two children, Kristin re-focussed her attention on writing for children. As an author, she has contributed to children’s writing anthologies and has published her first junior fiction series. Kristin is a strong advocate for children’s literature, working as the Program Manager for the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation. She lives on Sydney’s northern beaches with her husband, two children, two dogs, pet snake and three-legged pygmy bearded dragon. For more information, see https://ift.tt/DVaw8qh.



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Monday, 7 August 2023

Review: Super Sloth Episode 1: The Shar-Wolf of New York City

Humans and animals living side by side, solving mysteries and fighting crime.

Romeo Fortez is a very special pygmy sloth. He’s not like any sloth you’ve ever met. He’s super speedy and super strong. 

Born on a tiny island in the Atlantic ocean, Romeo does his best to fit in with the other sloths in his community. But Romeo itches for more. He’s smart and curious and island life just isn’t enough.

So…. Romeo heads to New York. The city that never sleeps. The city where anything can happen. Including… a giant shark wolf wreaking havoc through the streets.

Romeo teams up with an unlikely group of crime fighting friends, including Beth, Ham and Tulip. Together, they start investigating the very suspicious Weird-Warp Industries and tracking the giant shark wolf. 

They’ve got a hideout full of high-tech gadgets, fast cars, wit and grit. This rag-tag team of superheroes are the city’s only hope. Can they figure out what the shark wolf (or shar-wolf) wants and save the day?

Super fun and action-packed, Super Sloth Episode 1: the Shar-Wolf of New York City is an explosive start to a brand-new junior fiction series by Aleesah Darlison. It’s fast-paced, has gadgets galore and will surprise you with twists you won’t see coming. It’s also an easy read for new-to-chapter-book kids. Big text, short chapters and a fast-flowing plot that’s addictive and engaging.

Cheri Hughes’ funky black and white illustrations feature throughout. Expressive and detailed, they are perfectly paired with this superhero story.

And something extra special… this story shines a subtle light on genetics and science. It could just be me who's fascinated and obsessed with genetic manipulation and gene-splicing technology, but I really think this is something kids are going to be intrigued by. Without overshadowing the story, a little spotlight hovers above the subject matter, sparking ideas and questions for curious minds keen to know more. Love it!

Junior readers who love action and mystery are going to cheer for this one.

Title: Super Sloth Episode 1: The Shar-Wolf of New York City
Author: Aleesah Darlison
Illustrator: Cheri Hughes
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing, $14.99
Publication Date: 10 April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922896537
For ages: 7 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction




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Saturday, 5 August 2023

Giveaway: Trilby Moffat Double Book Prize


This is the story of how one ordinary girl finds herself on a deliciously fast-paced adventure, fleeing to an island where time doesn't exist, cats are particularly rude and cake is always on the menu. Here she will take on the most treacherous job of all time. Well . . . outside of time, to be precise.

THIS IS THE DANGEROUS BUSINESS OF BEING TRILBY MOFFAT

And thanks to the good folk at Hachette Australia, we are giving away this thrilling new title by Kate Temple along with the second book in a series, The Perilous Promotion of Trilby Moffat, a girl who was accidentally promoted to the most important job that ever existed. The job of Time Keeper.


In Trilby's first adventure, characters spontaneously develop expertise in ancient historical skills. In 25 words or less, share which time period you would most like a new skill from, and why?

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The response we like the best will win a copy of both of these books prize. Competition is open to anyone, worldwide, so long as they have an Australian postal address for delivery of the books. Please note, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Entries without a name and street address will be ineligible. Winners will be announced right here on our website on 14 August 2023.

Competition runs from 5.00 am 5 August 2023 to 5 pm 12 August 2023. Adults can enter for those aged 17 and under. This is a game of skill, not chance. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.





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Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Review: Eat My Dust!

Eat My Dust! is the fabulous true story of Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell, two Australian women who made history. Almost 100 years ago these friends set a land speed record.

In 1928, it wasn't the done thing for women to drive a car, but Jean and Kathleen weren't going to let something like that stand in their way. They were well prepared and determined, despite the naysayers. 

Setting out from Fremantle, they drove to Adelaide then Melbourne and finally Sydney, all without road maps. It was between Fremantle and Adelaide they broke the record set a few months earlier.

Travelling in their Lancia Lambda, and accompanied by their dog Barney, Jean and Kathleen drove almost constantly through the vast, dusty outback. They stopped for fuel, but took turns sleeping in the back so they weren't delayed.

At night they had just the stars and car headlamps to light their way. When tyres needed repairing, they did it themselves. And when they were behind schedule, they took a short cut, and ended up surprising the officials waiting to record their time of arrival in Adelaide.

Jean and Kathleen smashed the land speed record by five hours. They also 'created some of Australia's earliest outback road maps for the Shell Company'. And in 1932 they participated in Europe's Monte Carlo Rally. 

Neridah McMullin and Lucia Masciullo have re-created Jean and Kathleen's life in a wonderfully atmospheric way, giving us a window to a small part of it. 

Jean and Kathleen were pioneers who broke records and stereotypes. Their achievements particularly resonated with me as a reminder of my great-great-aunt who was a motorcycle courier and also rode in rallies in the 1930s.

This is a story of perseverance and resilience, and an important yet relatively unknown part of Australian history. Read Eat My Dust! with your kids, it's a story that deserves to be celebrated. 

Title: Eat My Dust!
Author: Neridah McMullin
Illustrator: Lucia Masciullo
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $26.99
Publication Date: August 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760654191
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book



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Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Reading Pictures, Drawing Words: A Database of Picture Books for Older Readers

The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature (NCACL) has launched a new database that will bring substantial opportunity for indulgence by older readers of picture books. The contribution of extensive knowledge from a vast range of children’s literature experts are the foundations and building blocks in the development of this database.

The aim of PBOR (Picture Books for Older Readers) is to reach a broad audience. It will benefit and encourage reluctant readers, those with visual rather than textual comprehension, those who prefer image analysis and varied literature style, or those who simply enjoy the beauty of picture books.

Along with design and layout, the above elements play a huge part in understanding and analysing the visual narrative of picture books. Able to address more sensitive topics appropriate to older readers, PBOR embraces non-traditional plot structure, welcoming the challenge and options of literary devices aimed at these age groups.

Not only for children, this database opens up new areas of exploration for people who adore picture books of all kinds, who read them to find the sometimes-hidden or disguised meanings in both image and text, or a combination of the two.

PBOR is easy to navigate, with its drop-down choices and search function. There is also a Guide to using the PBOR database, with free on-line resources available. On exploration, I found it easy to navigate through the subject headings, annotations and curriculum links that line up from grade 5 through to secondary school (Australian Curriculum Version 9).

PBOR is still in its early stages, so content will expand as books are added. Nevertheless, the database promises to prove a useful tool for reading and learning about picture books in schools.

The PBOR database can be accessed at https://www.ncacl.org.au/pbor-database. For further information email ncacl@canberra.edu.au




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Monday, 31 July 2023

Review: Peppa's Magical Adventures Bumper Colouring Book

Peppa’s Magical Adventures Bumper Colouring Book invites young readers into Peppa’s world, alongside all the familiar faces that contribute to the joy that emanates from this much- loved character.

Children are entertained and educated as they count, discover, search and find, while creating their own colourful interpretation of the images they see, based on and around Peppa’s life experiences.

Mermaids and their underwater world, unicorns, dragons, treasure hunts, holidays, camping, favourite places, and most certainly, friends and family members, fill the pages with fun and activity.

There are lots of fairies and all the excitement and magic that comes with them.

There is more than a glimpse into special overseas holidays to Japan and Paris, and readers easily sense Peppa’s delight at travelling to new places and sharing in the diverse traditions of other cultures.

Every page is filled with all the laughter and liveliness that comes with Peppa due to her zest for living. Be assured that whatever Peppa is doing, children will make her adventures their own.   

Title: Peppa's Magical Adventures Bumper Colouring Book
Author/Illustrator: Peppa Pig
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $5.99
Publication Date: 13 June 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241634080 
For ages: 2+
Type: Activity Book




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Friday, 28 July 2023

Review: Peter Rabbit - Bedtime Bunny Hunt

Based on the books by Beatrice Potter, this stunning lift-the-flap book is pure delight.

Peter Rabbit loves the outdoors and being surrounded by nature and his family.  It is a glorious day, so the young ones decide to bring their toys out into the sunshine.

They play hide and seek. There are so many secret places to hide. Peter Rabbit knows them all. Under bushes, behind trees and in all the nooks and hollows that nature provides.

Too soon mother is calling them in to prepare for bedtime. She reminds the little ones to pick up their toys.

Mopsy, Flopsy and Cotton-tail return their toys to their usual places. But what about Peter Rabbit’s bunny?

A search begins. Everyone takes part.

Where can that bunny be?

Mother suggests that sometimes, when something is misplaced, it is best to do and think of something else. So, they have their bath, then enjoy some warm milk and cake.

Now, will all this help Peter Rabbit to find his bunny?

Little ones will have lots of fun lifting the flaps to see if bunny can be found. This is a most pleasurable interaction as it can be repeated over and over, with each repetition feeling like the first.

Stunning images fill each page as they go through the house, looking in cupboards, under pots, behind things. They check even in the most unusual places. Peter Rabbit must find his friend before he goes to bed!

Title: Bedtime Bunny Hunt
Author/Illustrator: Beatrix Potter
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $ 16.99
Publication Date: 11 July 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241613108
For ages: 2+
Type: Activity Book




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Thursday, 27 July 2023

Review: Mr Impoppable

Silliness and joy come together in this fun picture book about a balloon who makes chocolate (I swear it will all makes sense!).

Mr Impoppable owns a chocolate store, where he makes amazing and unusual chocolates (like flying chocolate birds). 

He also happens to be a balloon. An un-poppable balloon. An un-poppable balloon who every kid in town just loves.

Except for one boy.
 
Gerald does not like chocolate or Mr Impoppable or balloons. But the one thing he does like... is popping balloons.

So when Gerald meets Mr Impoppable, he’s determined to pop him. 

He tries everything. Sharp things, pointy things, spiky things, everything!!! And Mr Impoppable supports Gerald for every attempt (even though they fail one after another). He just that kind of guy (or balloon!). 

Two unlikely friends, brought together in the most unusual way. The only questions is... will Gerald succeed in popping Mr Impoppable?

Expect the unexpected in this fab new picture book. From the start, you’ll be delightfully thrilled and surprised, and those surprises keep on coming.

The characterisation Trent Jamieson pours into the pages is something super special. Mr Impoppable is so cool and kind. His heart is as big as his giant balloon head. Gerald is also a very cool and interesting kid. He’s relatable, and when you scratch his hard exterior, you find soft, jiggly jelly.

Brent Wilson’s funky cartoon style brings it all to life. Witty, charming and fun. Bright colours and loads of details to explore. 

If you love a laugh, if you love an expected read, Mr Impoppable is a great pick.

Title: Mr Impoppable
Author: Trent Jamieson
Illustrator: Brent Wilson
Publisher: Larrikin House, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922804440
For ages: 3 - 8 
Type: Picture Book




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Meet The illustrator: Carolina Parada

Name: Carolina Parada

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less. 
Characterized by a whimsical tone and warm colours

What items are an essential part of your creative space? 
I have a lot of books around me. I always have a sketchbook, Polychromos, and my iPad. Music is always there too.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
My favourite medium is watercolours. Unfortunately I don’t get to use them as much as I would like to. Most of my illustrations are digital.

Name three artists whose work inspires you. 
My favourite artist is the surrealist painter Remedios Varo, I also find Magritte and Chagall very inspiring.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Surrealism, because it explores the irrational, the nonsense, the subconscious. It is the depiction of dreams and nightmares. It is freedom for imagination.


 
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I have been drawing my whole life with more or less intensity and for different reasons. In terms of my career, a critical point was to start sharing my illustrations on social media. I realized that I had an audience that was interested in my ideas and stories. Although I would still draw and write for myself, having people interested in my art has been really encouraging.




Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
The attached photo shows my desk and my main tools: an iPad and an apple pencil. I usually watch something or listen to music or podcasts while drawing, so I have my computer right there. I waited for the perfect moment to take this photo. I was watching a movie from Studio Ghibli (Pom Poko) and was finishing an illustration to celebrate the birthday of someone special. I don’t have much natural light in my apartment (it’s Paris), but in Spring and Summer every day at 20h and for around five minutes, a ray of sun hits my window and I get the rainbow you can see on the wall.


 
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
Making drafts, when ideas are born.


 
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Draw every single day and don’t stop exploring (new materials, techniques, styles).


 


Born in a city perched in the mountains of Colombia, living in beautiful Paris, Carolina has a PhD in biology and combines her scientific activities with her career in writing and illustration. Her inspiration for both science and art comes from the beauty of nature.


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








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Wednesday, 26 July 2023

Review: Dragons Love Tacos

Do you love dragons? Yes? Well, then you'll know that they love tacos. But not spicy and hot tacos. They hate hot and spicy tacos. Dragons also love parties.

This is central to Dragons Love Tacos, the story of a boy who wants a friendly relationship with dragons and plans a party.

When hosting a party for dragons how do you decide what kind of tacos need to be on the menu? 

Dragons love tacos of all sizes, so big and little tacos are good. But their contents are another matter.

The boy experiments with various food combinations. Tomatoes, lettuce and cheese are all good. But salsa, and hot sauce, is not. The thing is that spicy food sets a dragon smoking and snorting. And that can lead to sparks and fire. All of that can be a dangerous combination.

When spicy salsa tacos are accidentally served at the dragon taco party, sparks are going to fly. And that means trouble.

Dragons Love Tacos is colourful and quirky. You'll love it whether or not you love dragons or tacos yourself.

You can learn more about Dragons Love Tacos, by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri, on the official website for the book.

Title: Dragons Love Tacos
Author: Adam Rubin
Illustrator: Daniel Salmieri
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $ 19.99
Publication Date: July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760262174
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book



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Tuesday, 25 July 2023

Review: Sam Francisco and the Cat Disco

Midnight struck, the whole town slept.
Out of the window, something crept,
covered in glitter from head to toe,
singing softly, ‘me-ow me-oh.’.


Sam Francisco is off to the disco with his kitty-cat dance pals.

There’s bright lights and loud beats and everyone is stomping their feet as they show of their dance styles while Sam spins a tune. 

But Buzzkill Bill is out to ruin everything and shut this party down. He sends the dogs, he calls pest control, he calls all the emergency services! But nothing can stop Sam Francisco. Or can it?

This picture book is the cat’s meow! Fun and silly, good rhymes and good times. It’s uber entertaining and will inspire kids everywhere to get on the dance floor.

Vivid and colourful, the illustrations pop as much as the dancing. Gorgeous nighttime hues fill the background, and the best little details fill the pages to the edges. Glow sticks, platform shoes, banana pyjamas and more. Each page brings new delights to discover.

If you love a rhyming tale infused with fun, Sam Francisco and the Cat Disco is the cat you need to meet and the party you must attend.

Title: Sam Francisco and the Cat Disco
Author: Sarah Tagholm
Illustrator: Binny Talab
Publisher: Affirm Press, $19.99
Publication Date: 30 May 2023
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781922930330
For ages: 3 - 6 
Type: Picture Book




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10 Quirky Questions with author Lana Spasevski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


 



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Monday, 24 July 2023

Review: Yellow Butterfly - A Story from Ukraine

Wordless but powerful, this extraordinary response to the war in Ukraine will tear at the heartstrings.

Wordless picture books are open to interpretation by the reader. They activate imagination and create discussion.

It opens on darkness. The dark rain of destruction falls, filling the surrounding world. Insurmountable barricades appear; barbed wire fences are erected. A child stands staring through the spikes. A shadow of that same child becomes any child; alone and defenceless.

The child sees the barbed wire reforming, becoming a giant spider trying to devour her. She runs but there is no escape.

Filled with fear, she enters a tunnel.

 All her eyes can see is the giant spider. She trips on a stone, and tumbles forward.

She is afraid to open her eyes. When she does, a bright yellow butterfly appears surrounded by blinding light in the centre of a barbed wire circle.

The child follows the yellow butterfly along the wire fencing. Its flightpath creates large images of her shape. It leads her past huge black posts and flies into the light.

She passes a man standing still as a scarecrow. Birds rest on his outstretched arms. He has an outline of a yellow butterfly on his chest. Now two butterflies accompany the child on her journey.

Bombs fall around her but the butterflies increase. They fill a bomb hole. She passes a playground and remembers how children played there and butterflies fill the air around them. Her shadow keeps moving and butterflies increase in volume.

Now ruins are surrounded in butterflies. Their brilliance is magnificent against the charred remains. She longs for carefree times when cats climbed trees and trees still stood tall.

She is filled with rage at war which destroys all things. She wants to push away the bombs that destroy with the help of the butterflies that represent hope and renewal.

The darkness is now filled with a waterfall of illuminated yellow butterflies. They surround her; follow her and lead the way out of the darkness.  

What she finds is a world of colour and brilliance. She runs from the piles of bombed cars to a place of thousands of yellow butterflies against blue sky.

The butterfly leads her past barbed wire fencing, where black skies have turned blue, and the air is filled with yellow hope. The colours of the Ukraine flag. She comes alone but realises she is joined by others in the light, with their faces turned toward the future.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to The Universal Reading Foundation who send children’s books to Ukraine.

Title: Yellow Butterfly: A Story from Ukraine
Author/Illustrator: Oleksandr Shatokhin
Publisher: Red Comet Press, $32.99
Publication Date: 1 Jan 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 97813636550640
For ages: 5+
Type: Wordless Picture Book




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Friday, 21 July 2023

Review: Australia - Country of Colour

This book is divine! Surprises come with every page and Jess Racklyeft's artwork as always, is stunning. 

With text full of information, including history on the entries, design puts the decoration on the cake.

In her latest offering, Australia is the centrepiece.  Seven areas of this beautiful country are showcased and allocated a colour from her palette. They are also identified by their Indigenous clan names.  

Beginning with Uluru (the lands of the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people, Anangu land) and the colour red - referring to the earth, Jess shows us how to see colours in nature and appreciate what we are looking at.

 Colour, connected to the Australian landscape, has been a subject for poets and writers forever. Dorothea Mackellar’s My Country opens with the rich language found in Readers that took many through primary school.

Vibrant varying shades and how you can feel them, form a specific wonderland of colour in nature: earth, sky mountains, grassland, wildflowers, animals, and insects.

Purnululu National Park - brown and orange, Mount Kosciuszko - yellow, Tara Bulga National Park - green, Great Barrier Reef – blue, Bruny Island – violet and purple, Kati Thanda Lake Eyre – black, white, and grey.

All these places are accompanied by illustrations and blurbs on the animals etc. that belong to them. Entries are labelled with their Latin as well as their common name.

Colour in relation to nature and art is identified here with a personal warmth emanating from the text.

Impressive detail and research have gone into this stunning and valuable publication. From cover to cover, Australia: Country of Colour is a must have resource for older children. Not to be missed.

Title: Australia: Country of Colour
Author/Illustrator: Jess Racklyeft
Publisher: Affirm Press, $ 29.99
Publication Date: 27 June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922863881
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction




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Review: Stillwater and Koo Save the World

Stillwater the panda is the star of Zen Shorts (a Caldecott Honor Book) and other picture books by Jon J. Muth, as well as a self-titled animated series for children.

In Stillwater and Koo Save the World, we observe Koo and Stillwater. They're family (Stillwater is Koo's uncle) and take care of each other.

When Stillwater asks Koo what he'd like to do for the day, Koo has a big idea -- to fix everything that's wrong with the world. It's such a big idea that he isn't sure where to start.

Stillwater has his own ideas about how to help Koo with his mission. Sometimes a big idea needs to start with something smaller.

In this instance, Stillwater suggests Koo start by tidying his room. Koo recognises that tidying up generates a good feeling because everything is less messy. After tidying, Koo, helped by Stillwater, moves onto other smaller actions. Like feeding Jasper the cat, and baking for their neighbours.

Later, while on a bike ride in the countryside, Koo explains his worry for the world and its fragile state. An encounter with a family of ducks is a reminder of how we can help each other. And as Stillwater reminds Koo, each small act of kindness is a contribution to saving the world, one step at a time.

This is a picture book packed with gorgeous watercolour illustrations. The lines and pastel colours, combined with generous use of white space, create a gentle, calming effect, and the pandas will appeal to readers of all ages. Those who understand haiku, may also notice that Koo's speech patterns reflect this Japanese style of poetry.

A heartwarming book, Stillwater and Koo Save the World is a clear and simple demonstration of how we can all make a difference, beginning with the small yet powerful action of being kind.

Title: Stillwater and Koo Save the World
Author/Illustrator: Jon J. Muth
Publisher: Scholastic, $ 26.99
Publication Date: June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781338812312
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book



from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/pEoB6kw