Review: Fox & Bird

We've all seen it happen in the school playground: children testing bonds as they navigate the world of new friendships.

Here, we meet the lonely Fox who is instantly drawn to the beautiful and confident Bird. So desperate for bird's friendship, Fox will do anything Bird asks — jump, run, swim. But nothing seems good enough for Bird.

When Fox can't take anymore, the tables are quickly turned and Bird tries anything to win Fox's affection. It's only when the pair agree to do things together that their friendship can blossom.

This striking and sensitively-told story is a wonderful way to broach topics of kindness, empathy and compromise in young children.

Edwina Wyatt's pared-back prose is poetic and poignant, while Alice Lindstrom's rich and sumptuous collage-style illustrations shine with colour and beauty. Lindstrom's fox and bird (and other animals), all made from layers of painted paper, sing on every page against washes of blues and greens.

Subtle and stunning, this story of new friendship is a modern-day fable that's sure to become a much-loved classic.


Title: Fox & Bird
Author: Edwina Wyaa
Illustrator: Alice Lindstrom
Publisher: Little Hare, $24.99
Publication Date: June 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781760501464
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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12 Curly Questions with author Katherine Battersby

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I was an artistic roller skater for most of my youth. I loved freestyle skating the most, which involves spins and jumps and routines to music. I don’t get to skate very often anymore, but I do get to ice skate on the frozen canal in Ottawa (Canada) where I live now.

2. What is your nickname?
I love nicknames, so I have many. My partner and I are always coming up with new ones for each other (and now for our daughter, too). My current favourites: girl-a-roo, katbat and mumma-bat.
 
3. What is your greatest fear?
Drowning. I grew up in a house on a cliff overlooking the ocean (in Mackay, Qld) and I could always hear the waves rolling in. As a wee thing I was terrified a tidal wave would sweep us off the cliff, and the sound of the ocean entered my sleep and gave me strange nightmares. It’s a fear that I’ve carried with me into adulthood (despite loving to swim and boat!).

4. Describe your writing style.
Sweet, quirky, genuine and full of heart.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Dedicated. Nerdy. Joyful. Considered. Sleepless.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Today I’ll say... Hermione. Who didn’t dream of getting their Hogwarts letter in the mail? There’s still hope, right? Plus she’s a favourite feminist icon from my younger years.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d go to the seventies so I could meet my partner as a boy. I love to imagine what he was like growing up. I think we would have been great friends.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
“Why don’t you read as many books as you used to?” And I would show her the huge reading pile by my bedside. I wish I had more time for reading...

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Absolutely my mum. She taught me about compassion and love and empathy. She was also incredibly creative — she hand-crafted papers, dabbled in watercolours and was a seamstress with a huge collection of fabrics. Considering, as an illustrator, I now use a collage of papers, fabrics and watercolour in my books, she has definitely been the biggest influence on my work.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I started writing in an attempt to process the world, to figure out how I felt and what I was thinking. I was an incredibly sensitive kid so often felt like I had big things bubbling up inside me. I had a lot of trouble expressing myself, so writing was my attempt to do so.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Persnickety. It’s so much fun to say (and is rather fitting for my personality).

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Just one? Really? What kind of fresh torture is this? Maybe The Girl Who Drank the Moon, my favourite book of the last few years. The writing and characterisation is so perfect and the world is so richly layered. I’ve become particularly choosy about my fantasy in the last few years and this book is just perfection – I haven’t come across anything quite like it. I’d happily digest it over many more reads.

Katherine Battersby is the critically acclaimed children’s author and illustrator of nine picture books, including Squish Rabbit, Brave Squish Rabbit and Little Wing, which have been published around the world. Her books have been shortlisted for the Crichton Award and named Notable Books in the Early Childhood category of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. In another life, Katherine worked for many years as a paediatric occupational therapist, specialising as a children’s counsellor, and she has also studied graphic design. She grew up by the beach in North Queensland and currently lives in Canada with her poet husband and their rather ridiculous dog. See www.katherinebattersby.com. Her latest picture book, Squish Rabbit's Pet is reviewed here.

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Review: The Way To Treasure Island

A beautiful story of adventure, humour and love between a father and daughter from Lizzy Stewart, author of the award-winning There’s a Tiger in the Garden.

In The Way to Treasure Island, Matilda and her dad go on an imaginative journey following a map in search of treasure. Their adventure fills with beauty, surprises and discovery; along the way, they don’t always agree and their relationship is tested. Finding the treasure isn’t as easy as they’d imagined, but something spectacular prevails.

Relatable, cheeky and funny, I love how the story explores the father-daughter relationship with a little role reversal from the usual. Dad is messy and easily distracted while Matilda is tidy and focused, this made my 5-year-old and I laugh out loud as I’m sure it will for others.

The illustrations are stunning, featuring lots of greens, contrasting colours and textures in mixed media creating depth and beauty. From a beach to a far-away island, gorgeous plant life and flora convey a happy but calming vibe, setting the scene and working in seamless unity with the text.

With a gorgeous fabric cover, 40 thick pages of wholesome story and stunning mixed media illustrations, this is a book to be loved, treasured and read time and time again. And of course, like any great treasure story, it may inspire you to make a treasure map and go on your very own adventure!

Title: The Way To Treasure Island
Author/Illustrator: Lizzy Stewart
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781786030245
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: A Cat Called Trim

Trim was a cat born for adventure.  

This sentence sets up the entire story which is about the relationship shared by Matthew Flinders and the cat he saved from drowning when on the HMS Reliance in 1799. 

A powerful friendship was formed that day. Trim became Flinders’ dedicated companion on all his expeditions until he was accused of spying, and imprisoned on Isle de France.There Trim left never to be seen again.

Corinne Fenton has a gift for reproducing real historical events. She uses her animal characters as centrepieces in her stories and builds exciting adventures around them. It’s a clever construction that aids retention of the historical facts. Her use of language is careful and considered with her repetition of sounds lifting and falling in rhythm when read.

 

The story logs Matthew Flinders’ explorations and travels, his challenges and how he overcame them while sharing his life and affection with Trim as they charted the unknown coasts of Australia. The fickle nature of cats shows in Trim as, unable to be cared for in the way he was accustomed, he escapes during Flinders’ imprisonment to find a new home and new adventures.

Craig Smith’s trademark expressions and emotions are once more reflected on the faces of his characters to add authenticity to the life of Trim and his fellow travellers. Stunning detail is found in the illustrations of the ships, on board and in the sea. The migrating birds above the masts, the dark, treacherous seas and stormy skies, all breathe reality into the story.

Smith has included bonus miniature images of the five ships mentioned throughout the story (and a stagecoach). These are positioned at various points on the illustrated pages, like surprises waiting to be discovered. There is a Postscript at the end of the book, along with a gathering of those illustrated miniature ships.

The magnificent cover shows Flinders and Trim leaning on the side of the ship looking out to sea. The back cover depicts the crew and Trim with Flinders, as a boat full of sailors, sails towards the coastline, their ship far back in the background.

Beautiful end pages filled with maps and the same floating ships complete this outstanding publication which is ideal as an introduction to Australian history for early learners.

Title: A Cat Called Trim

Author: Corrine Fenton

Illustrator: Craig Smith

Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $24.99

Publication Date: 1 April 2019

Format: Hardcover

For ages: 5 - 8

Type: Non Fiction Picture Book

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Review: Joy

Living up to its name, Joy is a lovely, lively and rhythmic story of an energetic kitten who loves to play.

The story follows the kitten as it jumps and bounds around the house, chasing its toy and leaving a trail of care-free mess behind. The succinct, rhythmic text flows and intertwines with the illustrations wonderfully, it has such an uplifting feel that I almost found myself singing the words while my children carefully focused on the pages in anticipation.

Joy builds and rolls toward a beautiful message of love between the kitten and its parent, which adults and their children will relate to; and in our case, a second read request which I could not refuse.

The scene is set beautifully with watercolour textures in mixed media illustrations balancing with text, white space and movement. Happy faces on many pages, movement lines which my kids traced their fingers over and a spot varnish cover made it feel cheerful and interactive.

Wonderful to read to a group or more interactively with individuals, Joy is literally a joy to read!

Yasmeen Ismail is an award-winning author, illustrator and animator, some of her other books include Time for Bed, Fred!, Specs for Rex and Christmas for Greta and Gracie. Jenni Desmond is also an award-winning illustrator, she has illustrated many books including The First Slodge, The Blue Whale and Backstage Cat.

Title: Joy
Author: Yasmeen Ismail
Illustrator: Jenni Desmond
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781406385205
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book




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Review: I Went Walking

I Went Walking is a family favourite. In this story a child goes on an adventure walk around the farm yard.

On the walk he spies lots of familiar farm animals. He sees a cat, a horse, a cow and three more animals.

Each animal in the story is also given a colour description, 'I saw a pink pig...'

My son loved the repetition in this story and as a pre-reader he quickly learnt the text's pattern and read the story along with me.

Later, as a beginning reader, he revisited I Went Walking as he found many of the words used in this story were basic sight words taught at school.

Julia Vivas' watercolour illustrations are soft, whimsical and dynamic. When the text asks 'What did you see?' she reveals part of the animal, giving children the opportunity to predict the name and colour of the animal on the next page.

When you go walking what do you see?

Some of my other favourite books illustrated by Julie Vivas include; Puffling, Davey and the Duckling, Let the Celebrations Begin and Koala.

Title: I Went Walking
Author: Sue Machin
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Publisher: Omnibus Books, $14.99
Publication Date: February 2007
Format: Board Book
ISBN: 9781862917064
For ages: 1 – 5
Type: Board Book, Picture Book




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Review: Everyday Resilience

Being a kid is tough. Emotions are heightened and things adults understand are no big deal often feel like the end of the world.

Friendship drama is real and taxing for kids. There are pressures at school, and sometimes at home, and kids are still learning about their strengths and weaknesses (and coming to terms with them).

As a parent, it’s hard to see your kids struggle through hard times. But what can you do?

Well, Michelle Mitchell, award-winning author, speaker and educator, thinks there’s a lot you can do, and she sets it all out in Everyday Resilience. 

This is a brilliant book — a must-read for all parents and carers, no matter how old their kids are. 

The book sets out seven traits of resilience (courage, gratitude, empathy, self-awareness, responsibility, self-care and contribution), explaining what each is and why it is so important for building resilience in kids.

Each chapter includes short, sharp sections of information, real examples of kids who have struggled in each area and the strategies Mitchell recommended to their parents to support them. There are loads of different suggestions for parents to try out — allowing you to choose which ones might work best for your children — and each chapter ends with summary take-home tips.

I loved reading this book. It's insightful and relatable, and Mitchell sets everything out in an easy to read and easy to understand format. 

This book will give you confidence to guide your kids through the storms of their life. It provides the tools you need to help your kids help themselves, giving them strategies they can take into adulthood. It can give you tools for your own life, too. It taught me much about my own levels of resilience, and many ideas within the book I will now apply to my own actions and reactions.

If you have kids, or care for kids, I highly, HIGHLY recommend reading Everyday Resilience. 

Title: Everyday Resilience

Author: Michelle Mitchell

Publisher: Big Sky Publishing, $24.99

Publication Date: 1 May 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781922265029

For ages: Adults

Type: Non-Fiction

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Review: The Tunnels Below

Sometimes I fear all the fantastical worlds that could ever be imagined have already been created in literature — that there’s nothing else, no other secret worlds left to discover between the covers of a book.

And then a novel like The Tunnels Below comes along and I can't get the smile off my face!

The Tunnels Below is a brilliant, fantastical adventure that takes readers into a new and exciting world below their feet — a unique, inventive and intriguing world filled with mystery and whimsy.

Set in London, Cecilia Hudson-Gray is heading out with her family for her twelfth birthday. But when she accidentally boards a train that takes her deep into the tunnels of the subway, she discovers a secret world like no other. 

There is a whole world hidden in the secret tunnels of the underground, filled with magnificent creatures who have no idea that another world exists above their heads.

Cecilia just wants to get home, but since no one in the tunnels below believes there is any other world but theirs, they are convinced she has simply gotten lost and confused and just needs to remember who she is (it sometimes happens to those that wander in the dark tunnels).

Cecilia finds some allies and tries to fit in until she can find a way to get home, but there is unrest in this strange new world, and Cecilia is soon dragged into a brewing revolution. 

Faced with decisions about what is wrong and what is right, Cecilia must decide if she will stand up for the good and battle the bad, even though the tunnels are not her world. Does she have the courage to uncover the truth, to fight for creatures she’s only just met and try to make life better in the tunnels?

This is a brilliant middle fiction novel for fantasy and adventure lovers. Highly addictive and filled with so many twists and turns, it’s thrilling from start to finish. This is a book for every child who has dreamed of finding the tiny door at the bottom of the garden and wished they could open it and walk through.

With relatable as well as fantastical characters and a rich and detailed world to explore, The Tunnels Below is a book I guarantee people will be talking about.

Title: The Tunnels Below

Author: Nadine Wild-Palmer

Publisher: Faber Factory, $16.99

Publication Date: June 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781782692232

For ages: 10+

Type: Middle Fiction

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2x6B1Ck

Review: One Tree

Review: Ronan Boyle And The Bridge Of Riddles

Review: One Careless Night

Award-winning Australian author and illustrator, Christina Booth, has created a powerfully moving book about Australia's last thylacine (once known as Tasmanian tigers).

One Careless Night is a story about a thylacine mother and her pup, and provides readers with insight into how something unique and wonderful can be lost to the world, through careless decisions.

The essence of the story is hope for a different approach in the future. With haunting imagery, it reveals the tragedy of short-sighted thoughtless actions and the potential for a shared future for all living creatures.

These unique creatures became the subject of extermination policies in Australia in the 1800s and early 1900s. Sadly, the last known thylacine died in Hobart Zoo in 1936, after being left out in the cold, one careless night.

This story portrays the last thylacine and her pup, living and surviving in the wild forests of Australia, until a new predator emerges and the trap is laid. Booth's depiction of the mother, alone and captured, brought tears to my eyes as the enormous impact of careless policies becomes definitively apparent. This book belongs in every school as it will spark discussion and engender empathy. The careful discussions of a guiding teacher, parent or other caring adult will help children to negotiate the emotions they may feel reading this powerful story.

Title: One Careless Night
Author/Illustrator: Christina Booth
Publisher: Black Dog Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2019
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781925381856
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book




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Review: DC Ultimate Character Guide and Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia

Think you know your superheroes? Well get ready for the ultimate test.

Dorling Kindersley (DK) has published the DC Ultimate Character Guide and the Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia.

Grab these two books and you'll be well on your way to becoming an expert on superheroes and villains of all kinds.

This isn't just about the big names, like Spiderman, Captain America, Batman and Robin, Superman and Lois Lane. You'll also find less well known characters like Captain Boomerang, Hawkgirl, and Ant-Thony. Not to mention Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred.

The DC Ultimate Character Guide is a new edition and is set out in alphabetical order by character (more than 200 of them). There is a short bio and summary for each outlining their vital statistics and powers, plus facts from situations they've encountered. And a picture, of course.

The Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia has the characters grouped by universe (the universes are as presented on the big screen). There are nine of them: Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther and Captain Marvel.

Each character has a data file (their vital statistics equivalent), along with important background and story information. The pictures in this book are all taken from the relevant movies.

With the usual highly visual appeal of DK book design, the DC Ultimate Character Guide and the Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia can be easily read from cover to cover, or browsed on and off at leisure.

They are perfect gifts for young fans of comic books and superhero movies.

Some of the many characters you'll discover in these books include:

• Kid Flash, who is mentored by his hero, The Flash.
• Detective Chimp, a cruelly-treated chimpanzee who escapes the circus and gains his superpowers by drinking from the Fountain of Youth.
• Brainiac 5, who has superintelligence.
• Groot, a sentient plant who can regenerate from injuries.

Title: DC Ultimate Character Guide / Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia
Author: Dorling Kindersley
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley, $24.99
Publication Date: March 2019 / April 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780241361375 / 9780241357538
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior non-fiction




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Review: Holes

12 Curly Questions with author Georgie Donaghey

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 
In my pre-author life, I was a chocolatier and made handmade chocolates under my business, Sinful Indulgence Chocolates. I was one of the pioneers when it came to offering chocolates for corporates and small businesses. I took the company logo and prepared a custom mould to fill with chocolate, where most companies were only printing the logo on the wrapper.

2. What is your nickname? 
I have been called many things. My oldest friend calls me George, which I like as I was named after my Grandfather. But Georgie is what I’m mostly called.

3. What is your greatest fear? 
That I can’t find the answers that I need to help a loved one.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Emotional, rhyming, honest, creative, always changing, fun, makes readers smile.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 
Persistent, researcher, evolving and always thinking.

6. What book character would you be, and why? 
Oh gosh, too hard to choose just one. I like Winnie the Pooh because he is so innocent and goes about life at a leisurely pace, plus he gets to hang out with Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and Eeyore all the time. But as I dabbled in chocolate during my early life, stepping into Willy Wonka’s shoes for a day would be amazing too.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why? 
1977 and hug my grandparents one more time.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now? 
Slow down. Time to put yourself first for a change.

9. Who is your greatest influence? 
Another too-hard question. I think all the people I have had relationships or friendships with over the years have influenced me in some way. I like to think that I have taken a little piece of something from all of them that has helped me in my life’s journey. Whether that be something to strive for or something to be cautious of, every experience counts.

10. What/who made you start writing? 
I can’t remember the actual moment. I wrote a poem when I was eight, which I won a certificate for. It was for a weekend paper, in the kids lift-out section. I didn’t pick it up again until the birth of my first child. He was a non-sleeper and I sat at the foot of his bed writing a murder mystery. By the time he was ready and could understand what I was reading him, my murder manuscript wasn’t a good idea, so I made up stories for him. I’ve been making up stories for children ever since.

11. What is your favourite word and why? 
Children. I have them and love them to bits. I write for them and love it to bits. I get to share stories with them during school visits, which I also love to bits.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
I have so many I love, so I feel it would be a betrayal to choose just one. Instead, I’m going to say my picture book, In the Shadow of an Elephant? Why? Because this book came from several emotional places. Mainly, while dealing with the grief of losing my mother, so there will forever be that one last connection to her. Another is to remind myself of the magic you can create when you work hard and believe in yourself. Plus, who doesn’t love a picture book?

Georgie Donaghey, author of Lulu, Clover’s Big Ideas and In the Shadow of an Elephant, is the founder of Creative Kids Tales. She’s the publisher of The Creative Kids Tales Short Story Collections 1 & 2. Lulu appears on Kinderling Kids Radio and the Virgin and Qantas inflight channels. For more information, see www.georgiedonaghey.com.au.

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2RmIZ3b

Review: What Shape is an Elephant?

A story from the 13th Century Persian poet and spiritual leader Rumi has been given new life in this exquisite picture book from Indian non-profit organisation Katha.

The fable tells of travellers from India who bought an elephant to a fair in the land of Iran. Night had fallen when they reached the fairground so the animal was locked in a shed.

The people of Iran, who had never seen an elephant before, were curious and crept into the dark shed. Unable to see the animal, they used their hands to feel different parts of the elephant, trying to make out the shape in their mind. For some it was smooth and flat, for some it was long and supple, and for others it was thick and sturdy.

This mystical story about a spiritual animal in many different religions seeks to explain why people have differing notions about life. It highlights the need to look beyond what we can touch in the palm of our hand, to see more than what is in front of us.

The poetic and spiritual nature of the story is open for interpretation and a wonderful way to open up discussions of deeper concepts.

The many layers of the story are captured stunningly in the illustrations of Iranian artist Feeroozeh Golmohammadi, who uses black and brown ancient-style backgrounds punctuated with rich, vibrant colours and patterns for the people and elephant.

It's a story that promotes reflection, inclusion, imagination and spiritual awareness.


Title: What Shape is an Elephant?
Author: Rumi
Illustrator: Feeroozeh Golmohammadi
Publisher: Katha , $19.99
Publication Date: 2005
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9788189020484
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Coat

Picture Book of the Year, 2013, The Coat with Ron Brooks’ exquisite illustrations from cover to cover including the end pages, is a divine experience. The text is as magical as is the coat that the story is about.

The coat is filled with straw and stands in a paddock. It is tight with anger and feels it’s wasted simply being the resting place of straw and various small creatures.

  

What a waste of me! it bemoans its fate. 

The wind fills his arms as a man passes and imagines it’s waving at him. He comes closer. Noticing that it is an expensive looking coat with a lot of wear left in it, he empties the straw and although it seems to be too large for his frame, he believes with time he can grow into it.

Each it becomes we. Both are no longer alone. They set out for the town, not knowing where they were headed. The coat fills with wind again and it carries them along over bridges and through tunnels to the town. The coat speaks through the man.

He ends up in a restaurant that is expecting him, and eats food which he has never heard of before. A transformation of great proportions takes place as opportunity after opportunity is offered and accepted. It’s as if life had been waiting for him, and there was no road visible before the coat, that would lead him to what he was supposed to become. 

The man is recognized as having talent inside him, talent that others saw but which was invisible to the disappointed and purposeless man.  The coat, which now fitted him perfectly, had shown him how valued he could be; what his purpose was.

This story has many interpretations, depending on who is reading it. I see it like this. Sometimes the things people want seem beyond their grasp, or they feel that the shoes offered are too big to fit into. Perception is everything. One should always strive for high ideals because each person is more than they know. It takes opportunity, the right time and the right place or person, to help you see what you are really capable of.

Title: The Coat

Author: Julie Hunt

Illustrator: Ron Brooks

Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $24.99

Publication Date: May 2012

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781741146059

For ages: 5+

Type: Picture Book

 



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Review: Natural Born Loser

Raymond aka RayBee feels like a permanent loser. No one wants to be on his soccer team – even in the five-minute game before school. And he goes to Barryjong Primary, which has such a bad reputation, the principals don't stick around.

Until Mr Humble arrives. He says he wants to turn the school around but he needs a team to help him.

When Mr Humble calls for grade six students to try out as prefects, Raymond follows his best friend Zain into tryouts and ends up surprising himself.

RayBee can't believe it when Mr Humble says he was the only one who spoke about how he felt. So begins Raymond's Odyssey  from self-proclaimed loser to heartfelt leader.

While some parts of Natural Born Loser are snort-out-loud funny, I held back a tear more than once as the level 100 Bullymon and his gang work to destroy every event RayBee and his team organise.

Can RayBee and his fellow prefects learn to work together? Can they achieve their impossible fundraising target so one classroom gets air-conditioning? Will Raymond realise he is not the loser he thinks he is?

I loved Natural Born Loser for so many reasons, but I think the biggest one was that everything felt so real. Natural Born Loser wasn't just a story about a boy trying to work out where he fitted in the world. It was a story about real people and dilemmas that happen in my life and situations that don't have easy answers.

Title: Natural Born Loser
Author: Oliver Phommavahn
Publisher: Puffin Books, $ 16.99
Publication Date: 30 July 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143505730
For ages: 8 +
Type: Middle Grade Fiction



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Look What I'm Reading! Kirsty Murray Children's Author

Kirsty Murray is a multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books for children and young adults.

Her works include eleven novels as well as non-fiction, junior fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction and picture books. She loves books, libraries, bookshops, readers, writers, and stories of every shape, size and manifestation.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?

I’ve just finished reading Carole Wilkinson’s Inheritance. I try and read a couple of children’s novels each week. Inheritance is definitely one of the most outstanding novels I’ve read this year. 

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?

Veronica Mitchell Gervase, or ‘Nic’, as her family call her, has been sent to live with her grandfather in a rambling and dilapidated, 30-room bluestone mansion in the Western Districts of Victoria. Left on her own for long tracts of time, Nic discovers that her family hides dark secrets and learns that the women of her family have an ancient gift – the ability to slip through time.

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?

I loved it. It was an absolute page-turner as well as being rich in detail about Western Victoria and the indigenous history of the region. 

What made you choose this title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator, or the subject/genre?

It had been on my radar for a while because I think the subject matter – the frontier wars between European settlers and Indigenous people – is incredibly important. I also think Carole Wilkinson is a fabulous author of children’s books so I was interested to see how she’d handle such complicated material. I was astonished that Inheritance wasn’t chosen as a CBCA notable this year so was curious to see why it wasn’t listed. After reading it, I’m even more bewildered as to why it was overlooked. Not only is it a ripping read, but it’s also an extremely important work of fiction about Australia.

What other titles are on your bedside table /To Read Pile?

I just finished reading Carrie Tiffany’s very dark and elegant novel Exploded View which is definitely an adult read. I’m halfway through Thea Astley’s A Descant for Gossips – an Australian classic – and I’m looking forward to diving into Jacyln Moriarty’s The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone and Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina’s Catching Teller Crow.

How did you come by these titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?

All are personal choices. Some bought and some are borrowed. I do occasionally get sent books but my appetite for books is voracious so I am constantly buying new books or borrowing from my local library. It’s a serious vice. 

Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?

No. I love trying everything, no matter who the intended audience or what the subject matter. I think horror is the only genre I avoid these days but if it comes highly recommended, I’ll take a deep breath and dive into the pages.

Do you read from printed books or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.

I prefer the printed book. I like the physical experience of reading a physical book, turning the pages and holding it in my hands. I spend a lot of my day on the computer writing so when it comes to reading, I don’t want to stare at another screen. I also find my eye moves differently on the page to the screen and that my comprehension is better when reading a printed book. I do read on a mix of devices when travelling and I don’t mind reading newspapers and journals online but for long form, the printed page is always my preference.

Find out more about Kirsty at kirstymurray.com.

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2IjcEYi

Review: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Monsters Under the Bed

If you (or someone you know) is a little wary of monsters lurking beneath the bed, you need to get your hands on a copy of the Ultimate Survival Guide to Monsters Under the Bed.

Have you ever really given much thought to monster problems?

Completed any testing? Come up with any theories? 

Well lucky for you, now you don’t have to, because Goodnight Labs has done all the hard work for you. 

Goodnight Labs take monster problems very, very seriously, and they’ve come up with guaranteed steps to solve all your monster-under-the-bed problems.

There is a lot I really didn’t know about under-the-bed-monsters. For instance, did you know a clean room will keep them away? There’s simply nowhere for them to hide! They also don’t like minty fresh breath or crowds (hooray for soft toy sleepovers!). They’re afraid of hissing snake sounds, and some are even more scared of you than you are of them. 

This truly is the ultimate survival guide to under-the-bed monsters! With step-by-step instructions, hilarious jokes, a monster-keeper-away bonus and a handy poster (it’s the dust cover is disguise), you’ll be safe from monsters under the bed forever.

Debut author Mitch Frost brings comedy to a topic that sometimes makes knees knock in this fantastic and funny picture book. Packed with real strategies to extinguish night time fears, it’s a book that helps while it entertains. 

Daron Parton’s illustrations are funky and bold. Brilliantly bright colours fill every page and his monster creations are just divine. I want to collect toy versions of them all!

For a fun and entertaining lesson on how to deal with monsters, make sure you check out The Ultimate Survival Guide to Monsters Under the Bed.

Title: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Monsters Under the Bed

Author: Mitch Frost

Illustrator: Daron Parton

Publisher: Affirm Press, $19.99

Publication Date: 28 May 2019

Format: Hard Cover with Dust Jacket (and poster)

ISBN: 9781925712933
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2RhRE6Y

Review: Make and Play: Space

Make and Play: Space is a fabulously fun and intergalactic activity book, perfect for keeping young space fans happy for hours.

This novelty board book focuses on following instructions and interactive learning with activities including Press-out play pieces, Make a fruit rocket, Sing a space song, Make alien models and more. The main feature is the press-out play pieces intended for making a space scene; some of them slide together to stand, others have a hole to hang with string. After playing with them, my five-year-old and I turned our pieces into a mobile for her bedroom which is still providing fun and prompting space related discussions weeks later.

The bright, bold colours and design, thick cover with foil printed elements and spiral binding give this book a high quality feel. The illustrations are undeniably cute, with adorable, big eyed aliens and cute space puppies it makes space look like a fun place to be and sets the scene for imaginative craft and play.

Make and Play: Space would make an excellent gift, it encourages learning, creativity and interactive play and could be enjoyed by individuals or small groups.

Joey Chou is the creator of a long list of books in the Make and Play series including Make and Play: Easter.

Title: Make and Play: Space
Author/Illustrator: Joey Chou
Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd , $14.99
Publication Date: 3 June 2019
Format: Board Book
ISBN:  9781788004435
For ages: 1+
Type: Activity Book




from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2wQjJsX

Review: Kisses in Your Heart

A beautiful tale about love and family, Kisses in your Heart will warm your insides and have kids feelings all kinds of special as you read it to them.

The story explores a parent's love and how kisses carry the magic of comfort. No matter where you go, a kiss from a loved one stays with you. 

Mum, she gently makes a start, placing kisses on my heart.

This is a beautiful and gentle story about love. It shows children that loved ones are never gone, even when they are not right by your side. 

I love how the story has so much meaning in so few words. Depending on the reader and their circumstances and life experiences, it provides a message of support for so many different situations: kids afraid of the dark, kids nervous about going to school or kids who have lost a loved one. 

The message is the same. Your loved ones never leave you. Their kisses — their love — stay with you wherever you go. 

I close my eyes, and always know, these kisses follow where I go.

With gorgeous illustrations in beautiful soft colours and flowing rhyming text, this picture book is a giant hug. A beautiful story and lovely reminder to kids that they are always loved. 

Title: Kissed in Your Heart

Author: Sonia Bestulic

Illustrator: Nancy Bevington

Publisher: Big Sky Publishing, $14.99

Publication Date: 10 June 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781925675924

For ages: 3 - 6

Type: Picture Book

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2Ie41OK

Review: Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage

Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage is a gorgeous graphic novel about naturalist Charles Darwin's five-year voyage across the world.

An adventure grounded in history.

From 1831-1836, Darwin travelled the world on the HMS Beagle, his enthusiasum and experiences enabling his research and recording of discoveries and his early scientific theories.

Darwin's story is told with each of the five legs of his journey acting like chapters.

His trip begins with sailing from England to Cape Verdi and Brazil; then Argentina, Uruguay and Patagonia; Tierra Del Fuego and Chile; to the Galapagos Islands and the Pacific; ending in Oceania and South Africa, before heading home to England.

The voyage is bookended with scenes from his later life, and at the conclusion of the story, there is also a summary of some key facts from Darwin's life, explorations and research.

Created by the award-winning partnership of Fabien Grolleau and Jeremie Royer, Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage is an excellent introduction to exploration, scientific theory and history. It should prompt questions and curiosity, and perhaps further research.

Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage is a somewhat romanticised account of Darwin's experiences, meaning it is not competely accurate, however it definitely captures a sense of adventure and exploration, the ups and downs, challenges and opporrtunities, in a time of great change and advancement.

A great book for anyone who enjoys reading about history or science, or for use in classrooms, as an alternative to the more traditional text books.

Title: Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage
Author: Fabien Grolleau
Illustrator: Jeremie Royer
Publisher: Walker Books, $32.99
Publication Date: May 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781910620502
For ages: 13+
Type: Graphic novel




from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2XMYZOG

Review: Young Dark Emu: A Truer History

Meet The Illustrator : Ruth De Vos

Name: Ruth de Vos

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Colourful, layered and slightly quirky

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Good light, a cup of coffee, plenty of paper and room to spread it all out.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
It doesn’t get much better than pencil on paper, but when I’m not illustrating on paper I LOVE to make ‘illustrations’ with fabric and stitch. I do this by stitching together lots of little pieces of fabric, and incorporating some dyeing and screen-printing.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Shirley Hughes, Freya Blackwood and Leon Pericles.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?

As far as illustration goes, we live in a pretty amazing period right now, with the new possibilities that digital drawing opens up. Looking back, though, I am intrigued by life and work of the illustrators that worked before photography to capture and record scientific specimens. I’m sure life was difficult, but I would love to be a fly on the wall to observe how they worked.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I spent many happy hours writing and illustrating books as a child, but only seriously revisited illustrating after many years of drawing for my textile artworks. In my textile art I love to capture children discovering and enjoying this wonderful world, which has led to a regular practice of drawing children and the spaces they inhabit.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I have a large upstairs studio that overlooks our living and dining room. I’m a stay-at-home Mum to six children, and need to be able to monitor family life from my studio. It is also large enough to accommodate the children’s activities, if they want to be nearby. That’s where all the messy stuff happens (printing, cutting out fabric, sewing, planning). In addition, I have a beautiful vintage mess hall table in our lounge, which serves as my drawing table. I love having a space so close to the centre of the home, for drawing every day. The light is beautiful there, as are the views across the valley. I especially love to sit here and draw in the evenings right after dinner, while my husband is reading bedtime stories to the children. On my drawing table there is a set of metal drawers (to keep the mess out of sight) a beautiful wooden box containing pens, pencils and brushes, and a couple of extra pots with all my colour pencils. My sketchbook sits open on the table at all times, enticing me to come and draw.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I love making my characters move and do whatever they need to do to tell the story. Often this means getting my kids to pose so that I can capture a bunch of reference photos!

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Keep a sketchbook and draw in it everyday. There is no substitute for showing up whether or not you feel like it, or for a regular creative habit.

Ruth de Vos’ illustration work has grown out of a career as a internationally recognised textile artist. Ruth combines traditional (pencil, gouache, collage, screen printing) and digital techniques to create fun scenes and worlds. As a mother of six young children, she is an avid and discerning consumer of children’s literature, and she also has a ready source of drawing inspiration right in her home. 

Please visit Ruth's website for more information or follow her on instagram .

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2IbtQij

Review: Science You Can Eat

Have you ever wondered why onions bring tears to our eyes? Or why popcorn actually pops? How about the mysteries of the world's smelliest fruit or how to make edible slime? Well, wonder no more. In this exciting and informative new book, Science You Can Eat, you will find all these answers and more!

Author, Stefan Gates, is a well known television presenter in the UK who has written many books and presented many programs on science and food. In his clear and humorous style, readers can learn fun facts and try some of the experiments at home to prove or disprove their scientific hypotheses.

Sections on unusual foods, cooking without heat and exploding foods are particularly unique. The design, photography and illustrations ensure this book is constantly engaging, with appeal to children mostly aged 8-12, but also to anyone who loves science and food, tow of the best things in the world.


Title: Science You Can Eat
Author: Stefan Gates
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Limited, $24.99
Publication Date: 4 June 2019
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780241301838
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior non-fiction




from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2IBEsGe

Review: Paint with Magic

Explore the joys of painting and creating in this charming, rhyming picture book from Sandi Wootan and Pat Kan.

When a child finds a box with the label ‘Paint with Magic’ on it, they discover the power to bring their paintings to life on the page.

But when the characters created by the young protagonist aren’t satisfied with the picture and demand corrections, scenery and more and more friends to play with, something must be done.

This is a fun and joyful story about creativity and imagination. With delightful and colourful illustrations, each page is eye-catching and fun to explore. The characters are big, bold and bright, and I love that kids can use the book as an easy reference to create their own illustrations.

The simple rhyming text flows beautifully throughout the story, and with heaps of suspenseful page turns, it’s also great to read to a crowd.

I love books that spark creativity in kids, and this is definitely one of them. I can see kids running off to create their own magical paintings immediately after hearing this story and playing pretend with their own magic paintbrushes.

For kids who love to create, and for those who maybe just need a little inspiration, Paint with Magic is a magical picture book and a whole lot of fun.

Title: Paint with Magic

Author: Sandi Wootan

Illustrator: Pat Kan

Publisher: Big Sky Publishing, $14.99

Publication Date: 1 June 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781922265098

For ages: 3 - 6

Type: Picture Book

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2XDYsOV

Review: Mummy Cuddle

Review: The Boy Who Hit Play

An interesting and impressive style of prose sweeps us into the life of twelve year old Elvis Crampton Lucas; soundsmith and YouTuber. 

When Elvis was a baby, he was left at the zoo under a newspaper and picked up and placed in a Stetson by George Lucas (not the famous one) who raised him as his son.

On his twelfth birthday, Elvis’ wishes he knew why he was abandoned. George, with Lloyd, their best friend, decide to make Elvis’ wish come true. Lloyd provides the money from an unusual source and with the Aftenposten, the newspaper found with Elvis, and hearts full of hope and optimism, they set off for Norway. 

Their search for the answer to Elvis’ question, found at the end of the greatest adventure of their never-travelled lives, will change them forever.

Along with mysterious occurrences, loss of passports, and being chased by unknown men in strange places, many dilemmas confront the group. It’s Elvis’ sharp mind that solves riddles and opens the way to a succession of clues in the chain that stretches across the world.

The three characters are unique. They are bound together by unconditional love and acceptance. Seekers of happiness, they all own spontaneity, impulse and fearlessness. These traits will be needed to link the mysterious events, revelations, and countless obstacles they will encounter before they reach their final destination and the answer to Elvis’ why.

 

This is a complex and multi-layered story filled with brilliance. The journey undertaken by Elvis, George and Lloyd is one of excitement, anticipation and repetitive acts of love. Each character is changed by the journey to truth that they have undertaken together. Although it is about growth and change, lies and truth, it also reveals how some people live with a person all their lives and never really know them.

Themes of identity, family ties, truth and hidden secrets hum with tension through this outstanding piece of work forcing the pages to turn.  It is Chloe Daykin’s second novel.

Title: The Boy Who Hit Play

Author: Chloe Daykin

Publisher, Allen & Unwin, $14.99

Publication Date: August 2018

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780571326785

For ages: 12+

Type: Middle Grade Fiction

 



from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2WHhffX

12 Curly Questions with author Astrid Scholte

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
My hair was used as a model for a digital double in the King Kong ride at Universal Studios.

2. What is your nickname?
Asti or Astro.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I saw Jaws at my neighbour’s house when I was only three years old and I’ve been terrified of the ocean and sharks ever since!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Twisty, a little dark and a whole lot of fun.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Imaginative. Unexpected. Pacy. Emotive. Captivating.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I’d like to be a side character in the Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo. That way, I won’t be in danger, but I get to live in such an intriguing fantasy world.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
July 17th, 1955 to attend the grand opening of Disneyland. Disneyland is my favourite place in the world, and I’d love to see what it was like when it first opened and, of course, meet Walt Disney.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
All the hard work, dreaming and patience paid off. Time to celebrate!

9. Who is your greatest influence? 
Walt Disney. I’ve loved Disney animated films since I was a kid. The whimsy and wonder has not only impacted my writing but who I am today. Watching the Disney princess movies over the years inspired me to write my own kind of royalty in Four Dead Queens.

10. What/who made you start writing?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve written stories, writing my first 'novel' at age five. The desire to be published only increased as I got older. Reading Twilight in 2006 inspired me to try my hand at YA, although it took another 10 years to sign with an agent.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Ephemeral. Not only do I like the sound of the word, but I think it’s important to cherish each moment before it passes.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That’s a tricky question! Could I be cheeky and say my notebook? That way, I could write all kinds of stories in it, and not have to read the same thing over and over.

Raised on a diet of Spielberg, Lucas and Disney, Astrid Scholte knew she wanted to be surrounded by all things fantastical from a young age. She’s spent 10 years working in film, animation and television as an artist and manager. Four Dead Queens (Allen & Unwin) is her debut novel. For more information, see www.astridscholte.com.

from Kids' Book Review http://bit.ly/2R4FNsV