Review: Slam Your Poetry: Write A Revolution

Poetry is raw and comes from a place of emotions and, in turn, speaks directly to the readers’ emotions. Slam poetry ramps this up a notch. It’s about not just reading, but performing poetry in front of an audience...of actual people. Without props, music or costumes. Slam poets are much braver than I could ever be.

Miles Merrill, the founder of the Australian Poetry Slam, and Narcisa Nozica, a Secondary teacher, describe it as a terrifying ride, of the poet making themselves vulnerable, but they also provide the tools for the poet to develop the confidence to pull it off and win the audience over by forging a connection with them. All in two minutes.

The authors have run slam poetry classes to school children and adults for years, and have distilled their knowledge into a comprehensive guide. 

The process is simplistic but detailed. Merrill and Nozica expertly guide the readers every step of the way: composing, revising, rehearsing and...(gulp) performing. And (while they’re at it), how to run their own slam poetry event.

Full of examples of slam poetry, the book is easy to read and suggests how anybody can find ideas to write about. I loved the hint about finding ugliness and turning it into something beautiful. 

The poets featured in the book varied between the well known and the unknown. Many of the poems scattered throughout the text were written by kids who have been taught and mentored by the authors, and they tell stories of their struggles, their marginalised backgrounds, of their pain and longings, of isolation and rejection - but also of hope, laughter, acceptance and love.

Ultimately, poetry speaks to the human condition and provides a voice to those who have none.

Title: Slam Your Poetry: Write a Revolution
Author: Miles Merrill and Narcisa Nozica
Publisher: New South Books, $27.99
Publication Date: February 1, 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978142236094
For ages: 12+
Type: Young Adult Non Fiction

 

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Giveaway: The Mummy Smugglers and The Promise Horse MG Fiction!

More marvellous middle grade fiction to keep your heart melting and thumping, although perhaps not at the same time! Thanks to the gorgeous people of Walker Books, we have two new middle grade titles to giveaway this month: The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin' Castle by Pamela Rushby and The Promise Horse by Jackie Merchant

The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin' Castle and The Pony Question both deal with forms of the past and history, whether that be personal, or on a grander scale.

For the chance to win both of these new Australian Middle Grade books, in 25 words or less let us know your favourite historical fact!

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The response we like best will win a copy of each of these fabulous new releases. Competition is open to anyone, worldwide, so long as they have an Australian postal address for delivery of the books. Please note, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Entries without a name and street address will be ineligible. Winners will be announced right here on our website on 20 July 2020.

Competition runs from 5.00 pm 11 July 2020 to 5 pm 18 July 2020. Adults can enter for those aged 17 and under. This is a game of skill, not chance. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

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Book List: Gifts for Newborns

When a new baby is born, what better gift to give than a book or two? Books make wonderful keepsakes and will be loved and read for many years. The KBR team has pooled their resources and compiled this list of favourite books to give at special times like this. Some are classics that have stood the test of time, while others are newer and will soon create their own memories. We hope you enjoy them and make this a 'go to' list whenever you want to find something particular to give.

1 2 3 of Australian Animals by Bronwyn Bancroft, Hardie Grant Egmont, $14.99, 9781760501860.

Boo! by Margaret Wild and Andrew Joyner, Penguin, $19.99, 9780670078073.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carl, Picture Puffin, $16.99, 9780141379500.

Classic Nursery Rhymes by Chris Riddell and Dorothy M Wheeler, Bloomsbury, $29.99, 9781472932389.

The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall, Harper Collins, $14.99, 9780732284350. (Read our review)

The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs, Harper Collins, $49.99, 9781460756218. 

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, Harper Collins, $17.99, 9780064430173. (Read our review)

Guess How Much I Love You? by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, Walker Books, $16.99, 9781406300406. (Read our review of the pop-up edition)

Hello Little Babies by Alison Lester, ABC Books, $14.99, 9780733339882.

Hug by Jez Alborough, Walker Books, $16.99, 9780744582734.

Kissed by the Moon by Alison Lester, Penguin, $19.99, 9780670076758. (Read our review)

Mummy, Carry Me Please! by Jane Cabrera, Holiday House Inc, $32.99, 9780823444748.

My First Animalia by Graeme Base, Penguin, $19.99, 9780670077489. (Read our review)

My Sunbeam Baby by Emma Quay, ABC Books, $24.99, 9780733333552. (Read our review)

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr Seuss, Harper Collins, $9.99, 9780008385156. (Read our review)

On the Day You Were Born by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks, Allen & Unwin, $14.99, 9781760633004. (Read our review)

Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas, Harcourt Brace & Co, $15.99, 9780152632243. (Read our review)

Rudie Nudie by Emma Quay, ABC Books, $14.99, 780733331732.

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown, Harper Collins, $17.50, 9780064430180. (Read our review)

Smile Cry by Tania McCartney and Jess Racklyeft, Exisle Publishing, $14.99, 9781925335378. (Read our review) 

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury, Penguin, 24.99, 9780670072392. (Read our review)

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Harper Collins, $19.95, 9780060256654.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, Penguin Random House $12.99, 9780723247708. (Read our review)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Penguin Random House, $16,99, 9780140569322. (Read our review)

The Very Noisy Baby by Alison Lester, Affirm Press, $19.99, 9781925475616. (Read our review)

Welcome: A Mo Willems Guide for New Arrivals by Mo Willems, Walker Books, $24.99, 9781406383584.

Where is the Green Sheep? By Mem Fox and Judy Horacek, Penguin, $19.99, 9780670041497. (Read our review)

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Junior Review: Wonderscape

Arthur has always had a simple, ‘normal’ life. He would go to school; enjoy his science lessons and he’d love to spend time with his father. That was until he and his friends Ren and Cecily discovered a portal to the future.

There had been exploding gnomes outside the house the same morning and Arthur, Cecily and Ren all went in to investigate. Before they knew it, they were transported into the extraordinary game Wonderscape.

This was not just any ordinary game. This was a game where the player was transported into a real dimension. There was a catch though.

Arthur had always lived in the 20th century, but they had now been transported to the 25th century into a live video game populated by characters from throughout history.

And if they stayed in this Wonderscape game for more then three days, they were condemned to turn into snot. To find their way home they had to find the missing Milo, the creator of Wonderscape, and his time key. On the way this small trio met many allies and friends which they will forever treasure.

I loved this book because it gives me a sense of what the 25th century could be like. And I love Jennifer Bell’s writing style. It is both simple and complex at the same time. The way she set out the plot line was perfect moving from excitement to hopelessness to relief. I love this author.

One thing I didn’t like about this book though was the action seemed to start a little too soon, so I didn’t get to properly meet or understand the characters until around halfway through the book.Title: Wonderscape
Author: Jennifer Bell
Illustrator: Paddy Donnelly
Publisher: Walker Books, $14.99
Publication Date: 4 June, 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781406391725
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Puffin Little Cook: Snacks

Get your kids in the kitchen with Puffin Little Cook: Snacks.

This is a brilliant little book filled with fun and easy recipes the kids can try. And with breakfast snacks, lunch snacks, dinner snacks and sweet snacks, there’s something for everyone.

The recipes really are simple ones: Anzac biscuits, dippy eggs, vegetable pikelets and more. 

There are also recipes that require no actual cooking (like energy balls), so kids really can make them from start to finish.

There are kid friendly tips and tricks at the beginning of the book, kitchen tools, kitchen rules and a food pyramid. I love this. It creates the whole cooking experience and educates kids about the kitchen.

Unlike other recipe books for kids, this one doesn’t just have recipes for foods kids will like. The recipes chosen are easy and simple (Each of the recipes has very few ingredients and not many steps), so kids really can give them a go and enjoy the cooking experience (not just watch from the side). When the oven or other hot things are needed, the book will let you know, so kids and parents can judge who needs to do that part.

There are no photo images of the finished meals in this book, but they’re not really needed. There are, however, fun and funky illustrations of the food you’ll be preparing and lots of bright orange on every page. It’s loads of fun.

As a very first cookbook, Little Puffin Cook: Snacks ticks all the boxes. It will teach the kids a range of great recipes and is sure to inspire a love of cooking for many.

Title: Little Puffin Cook: Snacks

Publisher: Puffin, $12.99 

Publication Date: 2 July 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760897000

For ages: 5+

Type: Non-Fiction

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Meet The Illustrator: Rebecca Crane

Name: Rebecca Crane

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
A mass of characters with interesting personalities.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Lots! My desk space is always a bit chaotic, which is how I like it. Sticky notes are particularly essential – I have them everywhere, with tiny sketches and ideas hastily scribbled and stuck somewhere. Antique prints and photos, small ceramics, stacks of books, bottles with plants and flowers…I like to be surrounded by things I love and find inspiring.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I’m actually a big fan of plain old graphite pencil on paper. I work in coffee shops a lot, so I tend to take a sketchbook and pencil with me wherever I go. I find sketching very relaxing and can spend hours doodling ideas. 

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Too many to list. However, Egon Schiele deserves an honourable mention because of his exceptional line work.

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

Art nouveau. Many of my favourite artists are from this period, and I’ve always been drawn to artworks depicting the bohemian lifestyles of the late 1800s. 

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I don’t think there was a particular thing or event that inspired it. I haven’t put a pencil down in 25+ years so it just kind of happened, really. I do think a childhood of reading adventure stories and beautiful children’s books from my grandma’s bookshop might have had something to do with it though. 

 
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
Right now I’m in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales. My current desk has a lot of bottles with pheasant feathers, driftwood, and small odds and ends I’ve found on walks. I travel whenever I’m able so sometimes I live out of a suitcase for fairly long stretches. This particular space is only temporary, but it’s been a nice space to work in. 

 
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
Oh, easily the developing ideas stage. I love it. There’s nothing better than thinking about new stories and designing characters, compositions and colour scripts. In fact, I’d probably be very happy doing that for the rest of my life if I wasn’t also keen on seeing a finished book on the shelf from time to time!

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrators?
Perseverance is key! Being resilient and talking to people in the industry are both incredibly helpful as it makes you realise that everybody goes through ups and downs and disheartening and exhilarating times as an illustrator. Freelance life can be tough but rewarding.

Rebecca is an illustrator and designer from Scotland. Growing up in Australia, Rebecca has a deep appreciation for beaches, farmers markets and good coffee, and enjoys her job of writing and creating children’s books and visual development for animation.

For more information please follow Rebecca on instagram.

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Review: Rabbit's Hop

Look What I'm Reading: Yvonne Mes

Yvonne Mes is a children’s author and illustrator, book reviewer, Write Links coordinator and early childhood educator. 

She buys more books than she can read, comes up with more ideas than she can get on the page and has more children than she can manage (3 boys). 

But she does try very hard, and best of all, she is NEVER bored.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?

The Tale of Despereaux, The Graphic Novel. This graphic novel is based on the motion picture screenplay, which in turn was based on the book by Kate DiCamillo, which was then adapted and illustrated by Matt Smith and David Tilton. It was published in 2008 by Candlewick Press.

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

A brave mouse, who follows a knight’s code of honour, battles rats, cats and darkness to bring the light AND soup back to the city of Dor.

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?

My youngest child and I have enjoyed this story together. His teacher read his class The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and he has been talking about it for weeks! 

I remembered I had this book on my ‘to read’ pile, so it was our bedtime reading for a few days.

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

Kate DiCamillo’s novel, The Tale of Despereaux, has been on my wish list for a long time. I have read many of her other titles and enjoyed most of them, so when I found this book in a second-hand shop, I snapped it up! I will still get to the novel!

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

The Love that I Have by James Moloney, YA, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, MG, Owning It, A Creatives Guide to Copyright, Contracts and The Law by Sharon Givoni, NF for adults

My bed rests on a frame that is set up as a bookshelf and surrounds the entire bed. This is where I keep my ‘to read’ pile, though I also have a nightstand which houses even more books. There is a mix of books from nonfiction for adults and children, graphic novels, YA novels and junior fiction. Most are children’s books.

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

These are all books that I have bought either at independent local bookshops or at second-hand stores.

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

I love picture books; there is so much to discover in a good picture book. It is amazing how much goodness can be packed in a book with just a few words and illustrations.

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

I mostly read print books. I l enjoy the feel of the pages and the weight of the book in my hands.  I will read the occasional book on my Ipad if I need a book quickly, and sometimes I listen to books when I am driving.

www.yvonnemes.com

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12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Kate Knapp

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 
On a personal level, I feel a strong connection with the spiritual and mystical. I find it fascinating. I believe that our loved ones walk with us and there are messages in nature if you look.

2. What is your nickname? 
I have quite a few nicknames. Some of my favourites are Tink, Katinka, Katie and Popsy.

3. What is your greatest fear? 
Losing my loved ones. The older I get the more I realise that every moment of this life is a gift. This quote from Sir Francis Bacon sums it up: 'We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake…'

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words. 
I write like I paint – descriptive, colourful, meaningful, emotive, comforting, transportive, nostalgic, traditional, evocative and thoughtful.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 
Loving, enchanting, expressive, humorous, imaginative.

6. What book character would you be, and why? 
As a child it would have been the Boy in The Borrowers books, by Mary Norton, who befriends Arrietty Clock, one of the borrowers. It was my dream as a child to have small people living under the floor and to make them miniature furniture and food. I used to imagine the little things they could borrow for their hidden home.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why? 
The idea of travelling through time scares me. It is a privilege to be a female at this time in history. We have great freedom and opportunity. I would stay in the present.

8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now? 
Regardless of years, our inner child remains the same. The true essence of you will never change. You will always believe in mystical and magical things. Nature will make more sense to you than anything else you’ll find in life. Your family will be your greatest friends. But never forget that you are your best friend.

9. Who is your greatest influence? 
My parents – they are very interesting, loving and wise.

10. What/who made you start writing? 
I had a story to tell and it took shape in a small white hare called Ruby Red Shoes. Writing was a way for me to communicate the story about Ruby’s world and her message to the world.

11. What is your favourite word and why? 
Enchanted.  I first loved this word from the title of a much-loved Enid Blyton book, The Enchanted Wood. The definition of enchanted is to be placed under a spell, bewitched, filled with delight and/or charmed, which is exactly how being in nature makes me feel. I have recently moved to a cottage in a wood just like the book. I am fully enchanted by my natural surrounds. It is magic.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
The Valley of Horses by Jean M Auel, which is the second book in the Earth’s Children series about life in Paleolithic Europe. The heroine is Ayla, a character I love and admire. The series of six books follow Ayla’s life from childhood, when as an orphan she was adopted by the ‘Clan’ or Neanderthals, through her journeys, finding her people and her gifts as a medicine woman. 

Illustrator and artist Kate Knapp is a graduate of the Queensland College of Art. Her design studio, Twigseeds, produces cards, prints, stationery and books. Kate's first book, Ruby Red Shoes, was shortlisted for the 2013 Children's Book Council of Australia Crichton Award for Children's Book Illustration. Her second book, Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris, was shortlisted for the 2014 Australian Book Industry Award for Book of the Year for Younger Children and for the 2014 Inaugural Readings Children's Book Prize. Kate's third book is Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London. Kate is also the creator of a series of early learning books. Titles include Learn with Ruby Red Shoes: Alphabet Book, Learn with Ruby Red Shoes: Counting Book, The World of Ruby Red Shoes: A Book About Ruby's Day and The World of Ruby Red Shoes: A Book About Ruby's Feelings. Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother is her latest book. For more information, see rubyredshoes.com.au.

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Review: How to Make a Pet Monster: Hodgepodge

Artie is eleven, a science freak and the narrator of this story. He believes only in what he can prove. Especially not in monsters and ghosts!

This belief changes dramatically when the family moves into a new and spooky house. 

Even spookier is his stepsister Willow and his unconventional stepfather, for whom Artie has trouble finding a name with which to address him.

Escaping to the attic for some thinking time away from wild Willow’s attempt to learn guitar, Artie finds a book of spells on how to fetch a monster.

Willow follows him to see what he’s up to. She needs some excitement and challenge from everything boring. She finds it in the spell book.

There’s no stopping Willow when her mind is set, regardless of Archie’s panicked protests. But he is drawn into it all against his will. Although they don’t have the correct ingredients or utensils, Willow improvises.

The result is the appearance of a farting, cuddly and cute miniature monster who loves eating socks amongst other strange habits. They name him Hodgepodge due to what went into the mixture to create him.

Combined conspiracy is needed to hide a farting, sock-eating monster.  The antics they get into with their now pet, are endless and hilarious. Hodgepodge brings the two closer and creates distraction from the difficulties they are experiencing adjusting to their new lives.

New worries to address are added to their problems. The rich Wesley Crankshaw collects unusual creatures for his Rare Animal Sanctuary. This is seen by the children as the ideal re-homing for Hodgepodge. But what exactly is the sanctuary?

Chaos follows when the children try to get their pet back. They end up embroiled in something more complicated than even a scientific mind could have foreseen.

Hodgepodge is the first in an entertaining, unbelievably funny series, full of action and adventure with brilliant illustrations by Dustin Spence to complement the text. It is for kids that love the ridiculous, and reluctant readers.

Lili Wilkinson is an award-winning writer. Author of picture books, That Christmas Feeling and Clancy the Quokka. Her many Young adult titles include The Boundless Sublime and After the Lights Go Out. Her latest novel, The Erasure Initiative, is due to be released in August 2020. Book 2: Flummox is coming soon.

Title: How to Make a Pet Monster: #1 Hodgepodge

Author Lili Wilkinson

Illustrator: Dustin Spence

Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 14.99

Publication Date: 2 July 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760877385

For ages: 8+

Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Boo Loves Books

Boo Loves Books is a heartwarming story of a special connection formed through reading between a girl and a dog named Big Boo.

Phoebe is the only one in her class who doesn’t enjoy reading, she worries about getting the letters, sounds and words wrong so much that her tummy does flips. When her class goes on an excursion to the animal shelter, Phoebe meets a gentle but nervous dog named Big Boo and with the support of her teacher she reads him a book.

It turns out Phoebe and Big Boo have their similar concerns in common and that they are able to help each other. Boo’s fears are eased by Phoebe’s voice and Phoebe’s fears are eased by this knowledge and her focus on helping Big Boo. Following on from this new bond, a delightful ending prevails.

I adore Tracie Grimwood’s soft, traditional illustrations, they suit the loveable characters and work in unity with the text to create a positive, supportive environment and vibe.

Boo Loves Books is a captivating story which shows some of the positive effects of reading. It would be helpful to children who are learning or nervous about reading while also suiting groups and inspiring classroom discussions.

Kaye Baillie is an Australian author, some of her other books include Message in a Sock and Archie Appleby. Traicie Grimwood is a Melbourne based artist and illustrator of many books, including Reena’s Rainbow and The Game of the Goose.

Title: Boo Loves Books
Author: Kaye Baillie
Illustrator: Tracie Grimwood
Publisher: New Frontier, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 May 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922326027
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Super Side Kicks: Ocean's Revenge

Junior Review: The Verindon Alliance

The Vendel and Verindal races have been at war for centuries, attacking each other and conspiring against each other.

Vashta is the youngest of the Vendel princesses and hates to get trampled on by her older siblings. She is the most skillful fighter of her family and loves the anticipation of battle.

Brandonin is the prince of Verindal and his sister Larinda is the princess. Brandonin wants peace with both the races and will do anything to have his way.

But when the Vendel royal family is visited by the Verindal heir, Brandonin, they discover that a new alien species, the Arctals, is attacking both their races.

Vashta and Brandonin must unite their races before both the Vendel and Verindal become extinct. 

But after the tragic death of the Chief Prince of Vendel, Vashta’s eldest sister Mestitha is crowned Chief Princess. 

The first thing Mestitha does as Queen is declare war against the Verindal. She is convinced the Verindal are responsible for the alien attacks.

After her proposition she discards Vashta and orders her to house arrest. Vashta has no choice but to return to Verindal secretly and live with Brandonin. Soon forbidden love between the Princess and Prince is brewing and together they are forced to attempt to wipe out the species, one way or another, even if it cost them their lives.

How are they going to defeat a bug-like species that are invincible? Will they need to develop more tech to stop these beasts? One way or another they will stay united against the Arctals and Mestitha, vanquishing both from their power.

I loved this book because It showed that not all princesses are weak and need saving by a prince. And it shows that it does not matter how young you are, you are able to make a difference. I usually do not like love stories, but the way this one was worded made me love this book even more. It gave me a feeling that these were real people within the pages even though they live on another planet.

I also loved how the plan was smoothly formulated in the story’s plot line and how Lynne Stringer described all the characters. Her writing style is suited to more advanced readers and it gives it a strong vibe. I recommend this book to ages ten and up because there are some deaths and violent sequences.

Title: The Verindon Alliance
Author: Lynn Stringer
Illustrator: Carmen Dougherty
Publisher: Rhiza Edge, $19.99 
Publication Date: May 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925563993
For ages: 10+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: My Place (For Younger Readers)

An abridged version of the 1987 classic, My Place for younger readers is a book that has lost no power in the 33 years since it was first published.

This book should be read by everyone. It should be read and discussed. It should spark anger and tears and hope and belief. 

That’s what powerful books do. And this book has mountains of power.

My Place is the autobiography of Sally Morgan — author, illustrator, creative genius. You might recognise her name. She’s created so many beautiful books you may have read to your kids (Dreamers, Girls Can Fly and so many more).

This book is her story, her life from childhood into adulthood and the discovery she made as a child that she and her family were Aboriginal.

The book follows Sally as she tries to find out more about her people and the difficulty she experiences in getting her family to talk about the past. It will open your eyes to Australia’s history and the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is confronting and it is heartbreaking, but it is important that everyone understands our country’s past.

Again, everyone needs to read this book.

Sally is a determined woman, and she wants to know everything she can, so she travels to her grandmother’s birthplace to learn more about her people. As she learns more, and shares more with the rest of her family, her grandmother Daisy, great uncle Arthur and mother Gladys all agree to share parts of their own stories with Sally.

These stories are peppered throughout the book in Daisy, Arthur and Gladys’ own words — stories about their childhood, lives and the experiences that defined them.

Confronting, heartbreaking.

Again, everyone needs to read this book.

When you reach the end, you'll feel like you've been given a precious gift. From Sally Morgan and from Daisy and from Arthur and from Gladys. These amazing people give every reader a piece of themselves in this novel, so that we may understand a little bit more about our country's past and the treatment of First Nations people.

I cannot express the power of these gifts enough. I really can’t. They are gifts that will never leave you. They most certainly will never leave me. Sally writes with truth and emotion. The story invites you to be part of Sally’s family and experience her triumphs and challenges with her. It is raw and emotional.

The book has been reshaped for younger readers, so it is very accessible for middle grade and YA readers. But there is tough subject matter between the covers, and the content will likely lead to questions, so parents, carers and teachers may need to support younger readers by providing a safe place to discuss the book.

Honestly, read this book. When your children are ready, encourage them to read this book. If you have a classroom, study this book. There are teachers notes available on the Fremantle Press website to help you guide discussion, but I honestly think if you just read the novel with your kids and let them ask questions, everyone involved will get so much out of the experience.

Read this book. It will be hard, and it will be confronting. But it will change you forever. For the better.

Title: My Place (For Younger Readers)

Author: Sally Morgan

Publisher: Fremantle Press, $17.99 

Publication Date: 1 March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781925816761

For ages: 12+

Type: Non-Fiction, Junior Non-Fiction

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Review: Winterborne Home: for Vengeance and Valour

Thrilling, on the edge of your seat reading, Winterborne Home - For Vengeance and Valouris a gripping mystery with more twists and turns than a labyrinth.

April is observant, smart, fearless and resilient. She has been in twelve foster homes in ten years. This has taught her a great deal about survival.

She was left at a fire station, with a note saying this is my baby April. Keep her safe. I will be back soon. She continues to believe that her mother will return for her. The only clue to her past is a key she has worn around her neck since she was three.

Isabella Nelson heads a charity for the very wealthy Winterbornes whose past is tied to tragic circumstances. Isabella picks up April from hospital after she survives a museum fire she didn’t mean to start.

From another foster home, she collects seven year old Violet who rarely speaks, and thirteen year old Tim, Violet’s protector.

She offers these children a new, happier life at Winterborne Home where Colin and Sadie already live, and where many secrets are kept locked behind doors and in underground corridors.

Evert Winterborne is ready to claim ownership of Winterborne. Ten years have passed since the heir, Gabriel Winterborne disappeared and twenty years since Gabriel’s parents and siblings died in a boat explosion.

April is determined to find the lock that waits for her key with the Winterborne crest carved into it. During her search for this partnering, while deep in the bowels of the mansion, she discovers Gabriel and his hiding place.

Why is he hiding when a fortune and a life of luxury awaits him? What role does Isabelle Nelson play in all of this? Why does Evert live in a mini mansion by the sea instead of his family’s home?

This well-crafted, fast-paced novel demands a one-sitting read. Ally Carter has created an unstoppable heroine that blazes through the book accompanied by a fantastic supporting cast of characters. Action-filled pages keep the reader glued to their seat until the end. I loved it and can’t wait for the next instalment.

Title: Winterborne Home: For Vengeance and Valour

Author:Ally Carter

Publisher: Hachette, $14.99

Publication Date: March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780734419163

For ages: 10+

Type: Middle Grade fiction

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Review: Finding Francois

Alice lives with her gran. She likes to write lists and draw pictures and cook with her grandmother.

But sometimes she wishes she had a friend her age. So Alice writes a message, puts it in a shiny green bottle and throws it in the ocean.

Across the seas, on the shores of a lighthouse, François finds the bottle. He reads Alice’s message and so begins a friendship across the water.

But when Alice’s gran passes away, things change. Time passes and there are no more messages in a bottle. 

But after a while, Alice confides in Miss Clement (who’s taking care of her) about her pen pal across the oceans. They hatch a plan to visit François in real life.

I love the whimsy of this story. It matters little that it seems an impossibility that a message in a bottle would ever travel continuously between two friends. In fact, the impossibility of it adds to the magic of the story.

Finding François is a loving and heartfelt picture book about so many things. It’s about friendship and magic and family and grief and imagination and love and the power of words.

How Gus Gordon wraps up so much meaning and emotion in 32 pages, I do not know, but he does. His stories are often little worlds of their own, complete with a suite of characters and history you can feel in the text and see in the illustrations.

And, of course, like all Gus Gordon books, the illustrations are simply divine. Gordon is known for using mixed media in his picture books, adding snippets of photos, textures and a whole range of other images. They are fun to spot and a key part of the Gus Gordon experience.

I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Finding François. It is truly a delight. And if you like it (which you will), why not check out some of Gordon's other brilliant picture books. The Last Peach, Somewhere Else and Herman and Rosie come to mind.

Thank you Gus! Another brilliant picture book read filled with whimsy and love.

Title: Finding François
Author/Illustrator: Gus Gordon
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $24.99
Publication Date: 2 July 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780143794141
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Jools Bentley

Name: Jools Bentley 

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Characterful and humorous.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Pencils, both coloured and graphite.
Gouache paints.
A variety of brushes.
Plenty of paper.
A Wafer daylight lightbox.
iMac for photoshop.
Wacom tablet.
Epson A3 Scanner.
Epson A3 Printer.
iPad for Procreate and Pages.
A kettle, mug, good coffee, and a cafetière.
Oh, and my phone to listen to podcasts.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Probably my Caran D’Ache pencils as the colours are so beautiful. And my Holbein Acryla Gouache paints: they’re unique because they are not reactivated by water in the same way as acrylics, but still have the lovely matte finish of gouache. 

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Tomi Ungerer: His work is brilliantly funny and clever, and as soon as I look at his drawings I feel the sudden itch to draw! My particular favourites of his books, are Crictor and Emile. The way in which he manages to create so much character with his simple use of line, is completely awe inspiring.

Tove Jansson: I was so lucky that I managed to catch the Tove Jansson exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, twice. But nothing could have prepared me for the wondrousness of her beautiful gouache paintings. I got completely lost in her art, and the magical worlds she created. It was also great to learn about the other aspects of her vast creative output, I shall never forget it!

Quentin Blake: If ever I feel that my drawing is getting tight or over worked, then I forcibly make myself open a Quentin Blake book and marvel at his loose and expressive line. In just a few deft strokes of a pen or brush, he manages to capture the exact right movement or expression. My favourite of his books is Cockatoo, which never fails to make me snort-laugh all the way through! 

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I would like to be able to go back in time, and be one of the first people to visit Peggy Guggenheim’s Exhibition by 31 Women at her Art of This Century gallery in 1942. This was one of the first ever exhibitions to showcase exclusively women artists, such as Frida Kahlo and Meret Oppenheim. And even though this was still a time when female artists were not being taken seriously, I think this exhibition must have been thrilling. 

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator? 

As a child I was always obsessively drawing, and I loved entering art competitions. I went on to study for a BA in Fine Art, but it wasn’t until I had my own children and read picture books to them, that I realised illustration was something that I wanted to do. I became fascinated by the interplay between word and image in picture books and the unique challenges presented by a 32 page format. I love writing stories as much as I love drawing, so in discovering new picture books for my kids, I inadvertently found a new direction in my own creativity.

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 don’t have a studio, so I mostly work on my kitchen table. My kids are at uni, so I have the luxury of not having to clear up at the end of each day! I work on a tilted drawing board for posture reasons, and I like everything to be neatly organised and easily accessible. I love looking at pictures of beautiful and messy artist’s studios, but working like that would drive me insane! I like to have all of my pencils and paints in colour order so that my mind can stay clear, and I like mellow jazz or a good podcast playing in the background. Heaven.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I love the early stage of picture book creation, which for me is usually letting my mind go blank and sketching new characters. I then look at them all staring back at me from the page and see which ones ‘speak’ to me. From there, I see if any of theses characters may have a story to tell, and if they do, I will go on to draw more potential scenarios. That’s definitely the part I get most excited about. 

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
I think my number one piece of advice is to take yourself seriously as an artist. It took me many years to learn this lesson. As we know, it takes a huge amount of practice and dedication to develop the skills required to be an illustrator, so never play that down. I really don’t like it when I read illustrators saying they ‘doodle for a living’. I think this makes it sound easy, and it isn’t. Sometimes when we draw, it can look as though we’re doing it with ease, but it has often taken an incalculable amount of hours to acquire that skill! And don’t undervalue your work, either. Creatives are far too often asked to work cheaply, or for nothing, with the incentive that it will raise their profile or be great for the portfolio. But every time you do that, you make the issue worse. Solidarity my friends! 

I am an illustrator and author of children’s books. I’m from London, but currently live in Bristol, UK, with my husband and French Bulldog, Pixie. I have a BA in Fine Art, and an MA in Children’s Book Illustration, which I gained at The Cambridge School of Art. Whilst studying, I won First Prize in The Macmillan Prize for Children’s Book Illustration. My debut picture book The HippoPandaMouse is published by Macmillan Children’s Books and I am currently working on book two.

For more information please follow Jools on her instagram.

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Review: Her Perilous Mansion

Are you looking for an adventure? Are you ready to step over the threshold into a brand new world? A brand new mystery?

You are? Great!

Her Perilous Mansion is waiting for you.

A middle grade read filled with intrigue and adventure, this novel will suck you in and keep you guessing until the end.

Don’t dismiss any clue. Don’t ignore any secret message. Because they all mean something in this book, and it all leads to an epic conclusion you won’t expect.

Almanac is an orphan. He’s been an orphan his whole life. So when he’s given the opportunity to be apprentice second footman at a manor, he jumps at the chance.

Etta is looking for something new. The youngest of twelve daughters, she’s sick of being overlooked. So when she’s given the chance to be handmaid at a manor, she heads out the door without even a word to her family.

Almanac and Etta are both looking for a new life. They’re prepared to work hard and give everything they’ve got, but what they’re not prepared for is chaos, mystery, questions that cannot be answered and no one around to answer them even if they could be.

This is a gripping story filled with clues to follow and problems to solve. It grabs you from chapter one and it doesn’t let you go.

Her Perilous Mansion sits in the middle grade category, recommended for kids aged around 8 to 12. But honestly, if you love mystery, I recommend picking up this book and diving in. It is gripping, exciting, thrilling and mysterious, and Sean Williams is a master of words, so you know it’s written to perfection.

I loved every second of reading this book, and I know you and your middle grade readers are going to love it too.

Title: Her Perilous Mansion

Author: Sean Williams

Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $16.99 

Publication Date: April 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760877361

For ages: 8 - 12

Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: Scribble Witch #1: Notes in Class

This is a fun-filled fantasy; an imaginative and magical illustrated chapter book. It’s the first in a series whose text and quirky illustrations promise to keep even reluctant readers turning pages.

Molly Mills is nine years old. She likes doodling and pencil toppers. (Lots of images are involved). Her best friend is Chloe who wants to go to Mars. They have been BFs since kindergarten.

Chloe is leaving. She’s moving to a school closer to home. This shocking news destabilises Molly far more than being unable to spell the word treasure has.

She is given an old dictionary by her teacher Mr Stilton (whom Molly believes lacks affinity with children) to find the word, but if you can’t spell it how can you find it?

The dictionary falls to the floor and out pokes a note with a witch doodle on it. Distracted by her thoughts, Molly cuts out the witch doodle and puts it in her pen pot.

The dialogue between Notes the tiny scribble witch and Molly, begins with a paper plane hitting Molly’s head. Notes climbs out of the pen pot and wants to be Molly’s new best friend. Molly likes the idea, especially after Notes helps her with her school work. But her existence must stay a secret. Note writing bounces back and forth as the two lay foundations for a new friendship.

Is it possible for a scribbly doodle to materialise? Can Notes fill the space that Chloe is vacating? Perhaps she could she be instrumental in convincing Chloe to stay?

Notes the witch will prove smarter than Molly imagined when she comes up with an alternate and ingenious solution to Molly’s sadness.

Title: Scribble Witch #1: Notes in Class

Author/Illustrator: Inky Willis

Publisher: Hachette, $14.99

Publication Date: March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781444951653

For ages: 7 - 9

Type: Fantasy

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