12 Curly Questions with author Aleesah Darlison

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’m allergic to bees, but I still think they’re super cute and amazing!

2. What is your nickname?
I’ve had quite a few over the years, some good, some bad. Probably the most enduring (and my favourite) is Sah or Sahzie.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Sharks!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Humorous but deep. Gentle but intentional. Educational yet utterly entertaining.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Dedicated. Persistent. Ambitious. Resilient. Brave.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Winnie the Pooh. He has the best lines!

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
3030 – just to make sure we’re all still here and to see what amazing technological advances we’ve made. It might be a little scary, but also (hopefully) eye-opening.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Start writing properly earlier and realise that writing doesn’t just have to be a hobby. It can be a way of life, it can be a career, and you’ll love it!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Influencer and possibly ‘enabler’ too – my husband. His support and belief in me have always been 100 per cent and completely unwavering. He’s a good person to have by my side. My kids are also 100 per cent behind me. I do so much of what I do for them and so much of my writing comes from them and my experiences with them. I guess having kids has many upsides, though, like writing, it ain’t always easy!

10. What/who made you start writing?
My love of books and a whispering in my mind telling me to write, telling me that I simply must have my name on books. It was like a calling, perhaps.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
That’s an impossible question to answer! Here’s a few, if I can narrow it down – these words have meaning to me and they’re filled with so much emotion and portent, I suppose: home, love, happiness, write, believe, bunnies, serendipity. Sorry, I could keep going but I’d best stop there.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?  
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I can not live without my love! I can not live without my soul! Utterly heartbreaking and probably my favourite book of all time. I’m a tragedy tragic. 

Aleesah Darlison has written over 50 books for children and has won or been shortlisted for numerous awards. Many of Aleesah’s stories feature humour or champion the cause of animals and the environment. 2020 is the Year of the Llama for Aleesah with the release of her hilarious series, League of Llamas. For more information, see www.aleesahdarlison.com.

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Review: Slow Down

Slow Down is a fascinating and educational resource filled with detailed short stories explaining magical transformations from nature.

In our often busy lives it’s easy to overlook the wonders of nature and take our natural environment for granted. From the birds’ morning song to a pearl magically appearing in an oyster, Slow Down helps readers do exactly that with many discoveries along the way. Fifty nature stories focus on showing how; A Duck: Teaches her Ducklings to Swim, A Rainbow Appears, A Snake Sheds its Skin, Dew Collects on a Leaf and more.

Each spread features a different story with text and detailed pictures in a step-by-step layout. I like how the text explains complex processes in a simple and succinct way for young readers to understand.

There is a lot to love about this book but the standout for me is the stunning artwork by Freya Hartas, her illustrations have a delicate, whimsical textbook feel, the colours, use of light and details such as the anatomy of a mosquito are spectacular.

Slow Down would make a great classroom addition or gift, its sturdy cover features beautifully balanced illustration, flowing typography and gold foil and surrounds over 100 high quality pages of fascinating information. An index, further reading list and bibliography are also included.

Other books by Rachel Williams include Illuminature and Atlas of Animal Adventures. Freya Hartas has illustrated many books including The Dragon With A Chocolate Heart and Frankie Frog and the Throaty Croakers.

Title: Slow Down
Author: Rachel Williams
Illustrator: Freya Hartas
Publisher: Magic Cat Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781916180512
For ages: 5 – 8
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Who's Your Real Mum?

Elvi and Nicholas are friends. Nicholas wants to know which of Elvi’s two mums is her real mum. She tries to explain all the wonderful things that she shares with both mums and starts to list them so Nicholas can understand.

Her clues turn out to be unhelpful as they apply to both mums. As the list gets longer, each mum’s qualities and abilities increase. They are on an even par. When Nicholas voices certain frustration at his question not being answered the way he expects, Elvi has an even more embellished reply.

Until Nicholas asks, don’t both your mums do that?

Exactly! is the reply.

This delicate and beautifully presented story carries the theme of love; the emotion that children understand best. The collaboration between two debut creators, Bernadette Green and Anna Zobel, has proven a successful one.

Zobel’s illustrations project happiness and contentment; curiosity and friendship. Her arrangement of images is creative and eye-catching.

The doors are thrown open. Detailed scenes of daily activity are realistic and allow the reader to see a bigger picture by entering Elvi’s family’s life. Common objects are scattered everywhere for kids to discover. The images of the exaggerated descriptions that Elvi gives to Nicholas are brilliant.  Colour choice is perfect. I loved the use of blue for these instances.

Illustrations are made using Copic marker and layered digitally.

Title: Who’s Your Real Mum?

Author: Bernadette Green

Illustrator: Anna Zobel

Publisher: Scribble Publishing, $24.99

Publication Date: 31 March 2020

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781925849493

For ages: 5+

Type: Picture book

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Review: Over The Rooftops, Under The Moon

This sparse book captures the emptiness or loneliness we all may feel at some point -  far away on the inside and far away on the outside, even when with others.

JonArno Lawson's narrative tells a story of seeking and growing, and how things inevitably change. It shows how colour can come into your world, sometimes when you least expect it, and how we can survive life's storms that toss us about, and reach a place where we feel stronger again, within and without.

Illustrations by Nahid Kazemi, portray a stark white bird, who feels alone, even when with others who look similar. The bird begins to question and wonder, about everything, and takes flight through lands untravelled. On the journey, the bird's wings gain colours, and the emptiness eases. Then something changes again, snow falls, tempests toss and the bird feels lost again. Yet, through it all, the bird keeps seeking and changing and finally finds its answers.

Title: Over The Rooftops, Under The Moon
Author: JonArno Lawson
Illustrator: Nahid Kazemi
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, $27.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781592702626
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother

Ruby is a hare (not a rabbit) and she lives with her grandmother, Babushka Galina Galushka.

There's lots to love about Ruby and Grandmother, and they will touch the hearts of everyone who has ever had a special relationship with a grandparent.  

Ruby loves Grandmother, who is incredibly unique. She rather takes after her, and likes to be individual in her fashion style.

She also loves Grandmother's stories, and the fact she doesn't treat Ruby like a child.

In Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother we get to read all about Ruby's special relationship with Grandmother.

Grandmother helps Ruby learn the meaning of new words, and teaches her how to make pasta. We discover that Grandmother loves to read and is part of a book club. She loves listening to music, and exploring nature, too.

Life with Grandmother is filled with afternoon tea, fairy hunting, and swimming. It's wonderful, just like Grandmother.

The Ruby Red Shoes world created by Kate Knapp has a kind of magical, olde worlde feel to it.

Like other books in the series, Ruby Red Shoes:My Wonderful Grandmother is a perfect gift, and a beautiful story for sharing with children.

Read our reviews of: Ruby Red Shoes, Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London, and Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris.

Title: Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother
Author/Illustrator: Kate Knapp
Publisher: Harper Collins, $19.99
Publication Date: March 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781460758885
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture book

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Review: Find Your Voice

If you know any budding authors, you’re going to want to check out Find Your Voice. 

Angie Thomas, bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up, has written an awesome book for young writers.

In Find Your Voice, you’ll be guided through the steps and stages of writing a novel, from finding an idea, developing characters and plot, completing your first draft and what steps you need to take to polish it.

There are craft tips on dialogue, writing scenes, subplots and more. And there are exercises throughout the book to get young writers thinking and practicing as they work their way through. 

There’s also space to write, so you can do it all in the book as you read it.

The design of the book is funky and delicious. Generously scattered throughout are supporting and inspiring quotes to keep you motivated and on track. They are large and colourful and fill full pages.

This is a brilliant how-to book for all young writers. Thomas keeps it real and relatable, and she talks a lot about her personal process in writing her novels, so if you’re a fan of her books, you’ll also love hearing behind-the-scenes secrets.

I love that her personality really shines through in this book. She is honest and conversational, and makes the whole reading experience feel like she is right there with you, cheering you on and providing advice over your shoulder.

If you know a kid who is keen to write, this is the book for them. It tells them everything they need to know, but in a simple and easy to understand way, with clear guidance provided all the way through.

Highly recommended.

Title: Find Your Voice

Author: Angie Thomas

Publisher: Harper Collins, $19.99

Publication Date: 1 March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780062983930

For ages: 12+

Type: Non-Fiction

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Review: Scribbly Gum Secrets

What is a Scribbly Gum? How do the scribbles get there? This stylishly illustrated picture book in rhyme surprised me with the answer.

Four kids are sprawled on the floor watching television. They want to stay that way. But it’s family time and mum has chosen a bush walk. Hats are on. Backpack is packed. 

Alas, feet are dragging! They set out after Mum who strides ahead.

Charlie wants to know who has drawn on the trees. They’ll be in big trouble if Mummy sees that! He gets no answer.

Max encounters a trail of itchy grubs on a fallen stump that leave a gooey trail. Max asks about the art work on the trunks again. Silence reigns.

Flying Foxes hang upside down after working through the night spreading seeds.

As the group treks on, the children discover Nature’s gifts. White myrtle flowers, a Birdwing, a bush stone curlew and endless other things in the undergrowth. But Charlie still wants an answer. Will he get one?

This is a delightful adventure that stimulates awareness about the beauty to be found in Australia’s natural surroundings. It encourages children to explore the outdoors and become environmentally friendly while learning about the role and contribution of each living thing in the world around them.

Award-winning writer Dannika Patterson teaches sustainability and awareness of the environment to young children. This is her second collaboration with author-illustrator Megan Forward. The highly successful Jacaranda Magic was Patterson’s debut picture book. She has two graphic novels due for release this year.

Megan Forward is also the author of A Patch from Scratch, illustrator of All I Want for Christmas is Rain, by Cori Brooke and Emily Green’s Garden by Penny Harrison.

Title: Scribbly Gum Secrets

Author: Dannika Patterson

Illustrator: Megan Forward

Publisher: FORD ST, $16.95

Publication Date: April 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781925804485

For ages: 6+

Type: Picture Book

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Review: Scruffle-Nut

Olivia is ageing. Memories are all that she has to live with. Withdrawn and alone, her mind returns her to her childhood when she was cared for by Nanny Clementine. Her visits to the park are her fondest recollections.

The movement of the seesaw, the motion of the swing, riding on the carousel, these memories come and go. It is her walks in the park that are her constant companions. There she met the squirrel she named Scruffle-Nut.

There she returned time and time again to see him.

Shy of the world and hiding behind a trunk, her damaged animal friend hides to avoid the Bully-Bunch. His tail is a stump, evidence of his worst experiences.

It is like when the young Olivia sets out with Nanny and encounters the three girls from her class. I look the other way and hold Nanny’s hand a little tighter.

This one time, Olivia cannot find her little squirrel, only the others. When she does, she drops him some crumbs which are quickly picked up by the Bully-Bunch who chase Scruffle-Nut away.  One more contact is all the young Olivia gets. It stays with her forever.

This poignant and deeply emotive story is about ageing, bullying, and which memories stay with us throughout our lifetime, and why.

Being a great admirer of Corinne Fenton’s work, I always pay close attention to her choice of words. She is exceptionally perceptive; an observer. Her brevity and nuances contribute to the expansion of her theme. In Scruffle-Nut, each sentence is an emotion.  The sadness of Olivia’s life is juxtaposed with Scruffle-Nut’s to show how identical their lives and emotions are. This is why they are drawn to one another.

Huge credit is given to Owen Swan for his stunning, delicate and immersive interpretation of Fenton’s text and theme. This includes the exceptional covers.

Title: Scruffle-Nut

Author: Corinne Fenton

Illustrator: Owen Swan

Publisher: New Frontier, $24.99

Publication Date: October 2019

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781925594768

For ages: 4 - 8

Type: Australian Picture Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Amanda Francey

Name: Amanda Francey

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

In the moment, soft, heartwarming, humorous, relatable.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?

Apart from the obvious – pencils, paper, paints and drawing devices etc – a cup of warm tea and something chocolatey to munch on.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

I struggle to limit myself to the one medium as I prefer to work with mixed media. However, I love to play with watercolour. It’s unpredictable and full of surprises. No matter how digital my illustrations become, there’s usually an element of watercolour included to give my work an organic feel.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Ann James, Nancy Carpenter, Julia Denos. I could go on to list about 50 more.

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

It’s funny, I was recently thinking about this, while flicking through the latest edition of Womankind magazine. As I read the article on Spanish painter, Maruja Mallo, I imagined how awesome it would be to step into her shoes for a week during the early 1920s. During this period, Mallo studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando alongside her kindred spirit, Salvador Dalí. I’ve always been interested in the Surrealism Era, especially Salvador Dalí’s work. I’m curious about what he would have been like as fellow art student. And spending a week inside Mallo’s wild and quirky mind would be an adventure in itself.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

My father was my first inspiration, George A Smith. He wrote and illustrated comicstrips for Australian newspapers in the 70s. I grew up watching my dad drawing comics, designing detailed illustrative logos, painting large signage and cutting intricate silkscreen stencils by hand. I’ve written a blog post sharing my dad’s comics.

Also, I was never without drawing materials, especially once my mother expanded the craft shop to include a full range of art mediums, papers and canvases.

Another motivation, was winning a special award for best story during Book Week of 1986, when I was in primary school. I kept the award as a reminder of the day my school librarian took me on an excursion. It was the experience of meeting authors and illustrators that really inspired me to want to become a children’s book illustrator.

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

Until recently, I was using the family dining table to do most of my drawing and painting, which wasn’t ideal. Not long after our old dining table was moved into the lounge, I realised this would make a perfect art space. It’s a huge art table, looking out over the deck and the forest. I quickly moved in with all of my art materials.

So basically my creative space spreads out over three areas, a traditional art space, a digital art space – and since having an iPad – a mobile art space. The deck lounge is a great place to draw. I can listen to the birds and discuss the shocking state of world politics with my dog, which doesn’t concern her nearly as much as what the future holds for the remaining half of that biscuit in my hand.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

Developing the characters during the storyboarding and rough stages. Sketching facial and body expressions of characters interacting with each other or the events happening on the page is by far the most creative part of the visual storytelling process. That first splash of colour gives me a bit of a buzz too, however the hours spent drawing final outlines and colouring can become quite mundane. I try to keep this part of the process interesting by experimenting with different textures, patterns, mediums and techniques.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

Observe life around you. Experiment with different mediums and techniques. Practise, practise, practise.

Amanda Francey grew up on the leafy edges of Brisbane, Queensland.
As the daughter of a comic strip artist and art supply retailer, Amanda’s early storytelling and picture book making antics were greatly encouraged and supported. 

Amanda went on to study at Queensland College of Art and worked for many years in graphic design and art direction before returning to her childhood dream of illustrating children’s books. 

Amanda’s first picture book, Jonathan!, written by Peter Carnavas, was shortlisted Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award (3 to 5 years) 2014. Her most recent picture books, Take Ted Instead, written by Cassandra Webb, and That Christmas Feeling, written by Lili Wilkinson, were listed Children’s Book Council of Australia, Notable Book (Early Childhood) 2017 and 2018 respectively.


For more information please visit Amanda's website or follow her on instagram. You can also find her blog here .

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Look What I'm Reading! Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson is an award-winning author/illustrator who grew up with a passion for comics, drumming and singing. He also has a passion for Australian history and the environment, exploring these themes through his picture books. 

Mark has won many CBCA, Whitley and Wilderness Society Awards, including the 2011 Dromkeen Medal for Services to Children’s Literature. 

The Annual Dromkeen Literature Festival will feature the opening of Author-in-Residence
Mark Wilson’s new exhibition of recent picture book art. This will include Eureka! A Story of the Goldfields, A New Prayer for the Animals and All of Us.  

Please Note: this has been postponed for a later date to be announced.

Which children’s book are you currently reading? 

Brotherband series, Book 1: The Outcasts, by John Flanagan.

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

It’s a coming-of-age story set in a mythical time and place, similar to the great Viking stories. Hal Mikkelson, though small in stature, uses strength and inventiveness to become leader of his Brotherband. 

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?

Love the whole Brotherband series – reading them all again!

      

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

The subject/genre, but also the author. Brilliant writer! I picked up the first book in the previous series by J.F. called The Ranger’s Apprentice and now have read them all.

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

Cry of the Curlew by Peter Watt and Bernard Cornwall’s Sharp’s Battle. 

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

Personal Choice – both are Historical fiction, which I love reading.

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

I have loved History and Historical fiction since I was in Primary School. Can’t get enough of either!

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

ONLY real books! I love the feel and look of real books. They are like a trusted travelling companion. EBooks etc. don’t appeal to me at all. Good for many others – just not me.

www.marklwilson.com.au

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Review: Old Enough to Save the Planet

Old Enough to Save the Planet is empowering and educational with inspiring, real-life examples of climate change actions by children around the world.

This beautifully presented book features 12 examples of children making a difference to the future of our world with their smart, resourceful actions. A few impressive examples include Felix in Germany; a changemaker for global reforestation, Amy and Ella in the UK who are aiming to abolish single-use plastic, and Nikita in the Ukraine who is turning school food waste into compost for his city.

Each spread focuses on a different climate-change action and begins with a confident, empowering statement, such as ‘I’m big enough to save our trees’, ‘I know enough to save bees’ and ‘We’re smart enough to stop buying single-use plastic’.

I love how a positive, contagious voice and succinct writing style is combined with beautifully detailed illustrations. Each spread tells its own story, bursts of inspiration and shows children that they too can make a difference; even at a young age.

The final spread lists easy to action ideas for saving the planet, ways to make your voice heard and a Further Reading list of website links which could lead on to more discussion or research. Old Enough to Save the Planet is a current and forward thinking, it would be a great classroom resource.

Title: Old Enough to Save the Planet
Author: Loll Kirby
Illustrator: Adelina Lirius
Publisher: Magic Cat Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781916180529
For ages: 4 – 7
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Earth Heroes

‘We can’t save the world by playing by the rules… the rules have to be changed.’

Greta Thunberg said that, and she’s right.

Earth Heroes is a brilliant collection of non-fiction stories about people who have been brave and changed the rules to save the world just a little bit more. 

Sir David Attenborough is included and so is Stella McCartney and Greta Thunberg, but, mostly, you won’t recognise the names of the people included in this book. 

That’s because they are people like you and me. 

They are people who wanted to make a difference or saw an opportunity to make a difference and seized it. 

Like Isabel Soares from Portugal who started a business selling the ugly fruit and vegetables that normally would end up in landfill. Like Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinkski from Australia, who invented the Sea Bin to help remove rubbish from the oceans. 

I love that the stories are not written as a collection of facts but more as stories about these amazing people as they discovered or implemented their ideas to help the world in some small (or big) way.

Author, Lily Dyu ends the book with a conclusion chapter titled You too can change the world. She notes there are so many more activists that could have been included — even more people in the world who are making a difference and healing the world. Dyu reminds readers that individual actions really do make a difference, and she encourages readers to go out and enjoy the power and beauty of nature and our planet earth.

Earth Heroes is a timely and engaging non-fiction book for kids. The stories are easy to read, but they are powerful and interesting. This is a book you pick up and say ‘I’ll just read one more chapter,’ and then before you know it, you’ve read five because you want to learn about another amazing person in this world.

It’s a really inspiring book. It raises big issues and confronts the hard realities of climate change and human impacts on the environment, but it also shows us there is hope. We can fix things, and there are people out there grabbing opportunities and driving ideas that can lead to healing our world.

The book is text heavy, so it’s one for confident readers to tackle independently, but each story is short (around eight pages), and the language is simple and uncomplicated, making this a great book for adults to read to younger kids who can’t read it themselves.

Learn about twenty amazing earth heroes doing their part to help our planet, and I guarantee it will inspire you to join their ranks and make a difference in your own way — big or small.

Title: Earth Heroes
Author: Lily Dyu
Illustrator: Jackie Lay
Publisher: Nosy Crow, $19.99
Publication Date: 3 October 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781788008525
For ages: 9+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Review: Emergency Rescue Angel

Things are hard for Mitch at the moment (not that he would admit it). He’s still trying to figure out what ‘normal’ is after his father drowned and his best friend moved away. He doesn’t care about school anymore, and sometimes he finds it hard to face the day.

Enter Max. She’s interesting and mysterious. She’s different from anyone Mitch has ever met. And for some strange reason, she always seems to be around — at school, after school, on weekends. She’s even haunting Mitch's dreams.

Things are weird, and Max keeps tricking Mitch into doing better, trying harder and participating in life, which he has actively been trying to avoid.

And then one night, Mitch sees Max fly into the sky and everything changes.

See, Max is an angel — an emergency rescue angel. She's here to help Mitch re-find his place in the world, and she won’t leave until her job is done.

Emergency Rescue Angel is a brilliant and addictive middle grade read. It’s one of those wonderful novels that balances fantasy and reality to perfection — the kind of story kids love because it takes them to another world whilst also being authentic, relatable and based in the real world.

Mitch is every kid who has experienced a friend moving away. He is every kid who has lost a loved one. He is every kid who has struggled to find himself and his place in the world. Kids will read this book and see themselves in Mitch, even if they have never experienced exactly what Mitch is going through.

Max represents hope. She is the light that reminds us it’s all going to be okay. She is our inner strength. We may not be rescue angels, but we all have the ability to rescue friends, family and even ourselves, and I love that reading this book reminds readers of this.

For kids who love a contemporary tale with a fantasy twist, I highly recommend Emergency Rescue Angel.

And for more great reads by Cate Whittle, make sure you check out Wyrd and the Trouble series for junior readers.

Title: Emergency Rescue Angel

Author: Cate Whittle

Publisher: Scholastic, $16.99

Publication Date: 1 February 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760669263

For ages: 13 - 15

Type: Middle Fiction

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Review: Bluey: Easter Fun and Bob Bilby

Bluey: Easter Fun is a craft book full Easter activities which include an Easter basket to cut-out and assemble for your Easter eggs. It opens with an invitation to colour Bluey in.  

How to Use the Book gives instructions on all the fun activities there are to do, make and include others in.

There is a holiday craft kit list with all the essential tools, beginning with an adult to help. 

An Easter Treasure Hunt is involved. A page of brilliant ideas to make and take part in, masks to cut out and glue together, eggs to colour, a maze to find the missing Chattermax and eggy friends’ faces to fill in, is only the half of it!

There’s a join the dots Bingo, a cupcake recipe, decorations to cut out and make your Easter hat original, and jokes from Bandit. Funny hand faces, two camping activities that include the characters and to encourage inventiveness, create-your -own Bluey scene. 

For outdoors, there’s how to put together an Easter garden with a hanging basket included.

It closes with a game of hide and seek. The eggs are hidden and they must be found. Where can they be hiding?

Filled with hours of activity and creativity, this book is chock-a-block of fun and occupation. It feeds the imagination and takes kids away from their screens.

  

In Bluey: Bob Bilby, Bob introduces himself and confesses, like most bilbies, he doesn’t talk much. But he’s a good narrator!

Bob is going home from school with Bingo Heeler for the weekend. He has already cultivated a friendship with Bluey, so looks forward to new experiences. 

To build friendship, Bob shares his book of photos of his other friends; their interests and favourite likes. There’s Jasper and Aussie football, with Mrs Terrier in Scotland, and Bob wearing his yellow karate belt while with Maxie.

They play games and take more photos with Bingo’s tablet. It has games and cartoons that they get stuck into. A visit to the shops has the three friends watching large screens. Even Mum watches hockey and Bob thinks he’d like to try hockey.

Bingo’s Mum puts the photos she has been taking in Bob’s book.  But most of them are just of Bob watching cartoons. Bingo is unhappy. But Bluey has a good idea.

Mum puts away the tablets and gets out the bikes. This is more like it! Bluey clicks away as Bingo and Bob do exciting stuff! There’s the playground; the slide, the springed horse, roundabout and fireworks. Photos of memorable times for Bob Bilby to keep and share with his friends at Kindy are collected.

Who will take Bob home next?

Our lovable characters are role models for children. They restore the exciting world of activity, surprise and joy by getting them away from their tablets. Bluey and Bingo show that friendships are not created in front of a screen but in sharing happy times and fun together outdoors. Gorgeous images, full of happiness and laughter, friendship and togetherness, fill the pages and are accompanied by strong messages.

Title:Bluey: Easter Fun and Bluey: Bob Bilby

Author: Based on the ABC Kids TV Show

Publisher: Penguin Random House, $9.99, $14.99

Publication Date: March 3, 2020

Format:Paperback and Board Book

ISBN: 9781760896898 (Easter Fun), 9781760896638 (Bob Bilby)

For ages: 3+

Type: Craft Book and Board Book

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Review: The Republic of Birds

Olga's life turns upside down when her father is exiled to the furthest reaches of human-governed lands, but it's not as bad as it seems. For Olga.

While her sister dances as if she floats on the air, and her mother is the ultimate actress, nothing Olga does is special.

Being stranded in the Imperial Centre for Aviation with nothing but mushrooms to eat has its benefits. Especially when the furthest reaches of the land are visible from its observation deck.

Olga, whose only passion is maps, itches to touch the precious ones in her new home. They chart every slope and valley of the outer lands, except the Unmappable Blank. But when Olga succumbs to temptation, her world unravels because magic has been banished for decades.

Olga knows she cannot reveal her unusual ability to anyone or she will be sent to Bleak Steppe, never to return.


But being so close to the Republic of Birds with a father who is desperate to redeem himself leads to dangerous complications.

Olga has no choice but to learn who she really is in order to unleash every ounce of skill she has to save her sister.

With themes like loyalty,  jealousy and overwhelming protective instincts threaded throughout, The Republic of Birds is not only an ode to the complexities of sisterly love but also a rip-roaring magical fantasy adventure.

A perfect escape in these strange times of self isolation.

Title: The Republic of Birds
Author: Jessica Miller
Publisher: Text Publishing, $16.99
Publication Date: 3 March 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922268044
For ages: 8 years +
Type: Middle Grade Fantasy



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Review: The Big History Timeline Wallbook

Jump from time period to time period with The Big History Timeline Wallbook.

This is a special book which comes in two parts.

Part one is a pull-out timeline and it's incredibly detailed. It's also two metres long when fully extended.

Starting with the 'big bang', it moves onto dinosaurs and the stone age, then through ancient history and the middle ages, to more modern times.

The years can be tracked along the bottom of the timeline, while hundreds of events from various civilisations can be followed across the full length and breadth of the 12 pull-out pages, with tiny pictures and labels.

A magnifier is provided in a special pocket on the inside cover, and is useful for exploring what's depicted.

Part two, 'The Wallbook Chronicle', is written in the style of a newspaper and tells the stories of some of the world's big events from throughout time.

The stories include the discovery of the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, the invention of steam engines called 'puffing devils' in Cornwall, and the 1969 moon landing.

In keeping with the newspaper format, the Chronicle includes letters to the editor, and advertisements. There's also a quiz to test your knowledge of history.

The Big History Timeline Wallbook is part of the What On Earth Timeline series. Other titles in the series focus on sports, nature, science, Shakespeare, and British history.

History buffs will be in their element with The Big History Timeline Wallbook.

Title: The Big History Timeline Wallbook
Author: Christopher Lloyd
Illustrator: Andy Forshaw
Publisher: Walker Books, $26.99
Publication Date: February 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780993284786
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior non-fiction




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Review: The Mummy Animal Book

For those interested in words, and especially those with children who have an enquiring mind and a thirst for knowledge, any book by Tasmanian author and artist Jennifer Cossins is ideal. She increases her collection of valuable publications with a title that introduces the noun name of the mother animal and that of the baby.

The Mummy Animal Book is composed of fourteen double spreads of mother and baby animals. It is presented in a compact size which will comfortably fit into any child’s hands and book bag.

A mummy swan is called a pen. A baby swan is called a signet. Each definition is followed by an interesting fact about the specific bird or animal. If a cygnet gets tired of swimming, its mum will carry it around on its back.

The layout and design are attractive. Coloured text signifies important words. The page opposite the text depicts the mother and baby animal. The use of striking colour in the images draws attention to the intimate and protective mother/child relationship. Each entry is simple and effective.

Some of Cossins’ other titles include 101 Collective Nouns, The Ultimate Animal Counting Book, The Flamboyance of Flamingos, The Daddy Animal Book andA – Z of Endangered Animals.

Title: The Mummy Animal Book

Author/Illustrator: Jennifer Cossins

Publisher: Hachette, $9.99

Publication Date: February 2020

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9780734419897

For ages: 5+

Type: Non Fiction

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Giveaway: Crack Up!

Review: Mum's Elephant

I love a powerful picture book, and I love a quiet picture book. But I really love a quiet and powerful picture book, and Mum’s Elephant is a brilliant example.

This is a book that isn’t easy to forget, even though the story is simple and it’s not trying to convey a big message. 

It's about family, memories, the small things in life and the things that make us who we are.

Mum's Elephant follows a girl and the things she remembers about her childhood.

The girl remembers her siblings playing, the damper her mother would make and her mother’s one treasured item: an elephant.

The girl remembers a lot about the elephant — how her mother held it tight, how it brought joy to gatherings of friends and how she and her siblings got in trouble if they didn’t handle it with care.

The elephant is not what you might think, and you won’t find out what it is until the end, which makes this a delightful story for kids, who are sure to enjoy guessing what the elephant is throughout the story.

But what I reflect on after reading this story is that is doesn’t really matter what the elephant is. This story is about the things we hold dear and how the relationships we have with these things shape who we are and who our families are. 

When I think about it, my own mother had an ‘elephant’. It isn’t the same elephant as the one in this story, but it is an object that I associate with my mother and my family — something that has now become a part of me and a memory that can never be forgotten. 

Mum's Elephant is also a story about the bush — about culture, diversity and history. But these things aren’t obvious story threads. They are delicate tendrils woven through the book, there to pull out and discuss with readers when you and they are ready. 

Debut author Maureen Jipyiliya Nampijinpa O’Keffe has created something truly magical. This is a story that makes you feel. It makes you remember, and that is a very powerful thing. Christina Booth’s illustrations, too, add to the magic — the red dirt, the smoke from a campfire, the shadows from the trees that play over blankets as Mum lies in the shade. Stunning details that bring the story to life.

The back of the book says this is a story of a very special elephant, but I think it’s more than that. For me, this is the story of a very special memory and the power that our past and our memories have on shaping who we are. 

 I highly recommend that you find yourself a copy and experience the magic for yourself.

For more books beautifully illustrated (and some written) by Christina Booth, check out One Careless Night, Are These Hen's Eggs? and The Gum Family Finds Home.

Title: Mum's Elephant
Author: Maureen Jipyiliya Nampijinpa O’Keffe
Illustrator: Christina Booth
Publisher: Magabala Books, $17.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925936728
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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