Review: Archie & Reddie: I really Dig Pizza! (book #1) and We Will Find Your Hat! (book #2)

Archie and Reddie, two adorable and energetic fox friends, have arrived! 

And they seriously make a splash! The Archie and Reddie is a VERY cool series for junior readers. 

I fell in love with it as soon as I opened the first book.

They are short, sweet, funny and entertaining and they’re delivered in comic book style, so the story is mostly dialogue and the brilliant illustrations COVER each and every page.

In I really Dig Pizza!, Archie finds a pizza and buries it so no one can find it. But Reddie is a super sleuth and when he discovers a mysterious pile of dirt, he recruits Archie to help solve the mystery.

In We Will Find Your Hat!, it’s Hat Day and Archie and Reddie are going to a hat party. But Archie can’t find his most favourite hat. The white and fluffy one! Reddie comes to the rescue and is there to help Archie find it, but it isn’t as easy as they both first thought.

I simply adore these books. The immediacy of the dialogue, and fun and simple stories, the funky illustrations all come together to deliver something unique, outrageously fun and perfect for junior readers. 

The text is large and there’s not a lot of it, so these books are perfect for readers just starting out. But they’re so much fun, everyone is going to want to read them (and they should).

Candy James has created some really cool characters in Archie and Reddie, and they really do come alive through these stories. On the back of each book, they even talk to each other about the story inside — its quirky brilliance.

And just a side note on Candy James. This author/illustrator creator is actually two people. Husband and wife duo, Candy (who draws) and James (who writes), come together as Candy James. It’s all explained at the back of each book, along with background info on Archie and Reddie and where the inspiration for these two cool characters came from.

These books, this series, is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Highly recommended if you like fun, funny, funky junior reads.

Title: Archie & Reddie: I really Dig Pizza! (book #1) and We Will Find Your Hat! (book #2)
Author/Illustrator: Candy James
Publisher: HarperCollins, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 December 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781460760802 (I Really Dig Pizza!) / 9781460760819 (We Will Find Your Hat!)
For ages: 6 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Song Bird Drought Rescue

Rosie (aka Song Bird) is back in her fifth adventure to help save the planet and thwart her evil enemies.
In Drought Rescue, Rosie and her friends, Amy and Ben, are heading to Aunt Matty’s property in the Australian outback to see if they can help Rosie’s aunt deal with the dreadful impacts of severe drought.

But it soon becomes apparent that things aren’t normal in the outback, and Song Bird’s nemesis Destructo may be behind the bad things happening to the land.

But just when Rosie and friends begin to piece things together, Aunt Matty goes missing. Can Rosie and her friends save Aunt Matty, stop Destructo and heal the land?

The Song Bird series is a great junior fiction read for kids who love to make a difference. It encourages kids to stand strong and fight for the things they believe in.

Rosie is a great protagonist — bold and confident. And she has some seriously cool superpowers that kids will adore. Ben and Amy are also the perfect sidekicks, each with their own special skills that support Rosie/Song Bird, proving that super heroes are only as powerful as the support systems that surround them.

There’s lots of cool facts weaved throughout the book too, and the glossary of terms at the beginning of the book helps to set up the information well. Lots to learn and lots to look up after you finish the book.

This story has it all: action, adventure, mystery and even dinosaurs!!!! A real treat for junior adventurers who want to help heal and protect our planet.

Title: Song Bird Drought Rescue
Author: Karen Tyrrell
Publisher: Digital Future Press, $16.95
Publication Date: 29 May 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780648161769
For ages: 7 - 13
Type: Junior Fiction

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Guest Post: Phillip Gwynne on Exploring Justice through The Break

Review: Go To Sleep, Jessie!

Review: Grace and the Christmas Angel

Grace and the Christmas Angel is a special festive story.

It's about Grace who has a mum and a dad, and a little brother named Nicholas. And it's about a Christmas angel who has a special task on Christmas Eve.

Grace is especially excited about performing in the Nativity play at school. She has a starring role.

She's also nervous about performing. What if she forgets her words?

Excitement and nervousness are to be expected on such a big occasion, especially when you add anticipation for Christmas.

The only problem is that Grace's dad is the captain of a fishing boat, and he's not home yet.

What if he doesn't make it in time to see Grace in her play, and singing a solo at the end? What if he doesn't make it home for Christmas?

When things don't turn out as Grace hoped they would, she lays in bed trying to sleep but unable to when there's a big storm and she's worried about her dad. Someone is listening though.

The Christmas angel hears Grace and finds her dad. The result is a surprise for Grace and her mum and brother on Christmas morning. 

The story is the first in a series by mother and son team, Lucinda Riley (who is the author of bestselling novels for adults) and Harry Whittaker. Lucinda planned the stories, and Harry wrote them. Sadly Lucinda died earlier this year. 

Illustrations are by Jane Ray who has illustrated dozens of children's books. They are beautifully hand-painted -- colourful and detailed -- and have a traditional feeling which fits well with the hopeful Christmas theme.

Reading Grace and the Christmas Angel will help get you in the Christmas spirit, and it would make a lovely gift for family and friends.

Title: Grace and the Christmas Angel
Author: Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker
Illustrator: Jane Ray
Publisher: Macmillian Children's Books , $ 26.99
Publication Date: October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781529049800
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Supernatural Survival Guide

If you’re anything like me, knowing everything you can about the looming alien invasion, the rise of the kraken, and how to avoid ghostly things that hide in haunted houses is very, very important.

And luckily for me (and you) there’s a book that is here to help. The Supernatural Survival Guide will tell you everything you need to know about EVERYTHING supernatural. Everything to be wary of and how to deal with it if it comes knocking on your door (or creeping round your yard!).

There’s info on aliens and UFOs, beastly creatures, ghosts and spooky stuff, and everything else weird (like supernatural powers and strange disappearances). A weird-o-meter helps guide you through the strangeness, and there are just so many facts and so much information crammed into the pages.

Each section analyses the information included to try to conclude if the phenomenon is fact or fiction, solved or unexplained. But at the end of the day, you get to assess the facts and decide what you think about the strange occurrences.

The detail in this book is really brilliant. Author George Ivanoff has collected a huge variety of close encounters, sightings and evidence, and presents it all in easy-to-understand story snippets. There are loads of fact boxes and lots of images and photographs to work through, so you really are getting everything you need to make an informed decision about the supernatural (hint: it’s all REAL!!!!!!).

With a beautiful hard cover with a lovely fabric feel, this is a book that you will treasure, hide under your pillow and refer to continuously. If you’re a fan of the supernatural (or you know one), this is the perfect book. And with Christmas just around the corner, it would make a perfect gift for everyone who knows how important it is to have a survival plan for the supernatural (hint: it should be everyone!!!!!!).

Title: The Supernatural Survival Guide
Author: George Ivanoff
Publisher: Puffin, $24.99
Publication Date: 28 September 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761043635
For ages: 6+
Type: Non-Fiction, Junior Non-Fiction

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Review: Search and Find: Magical Creatures and Animal Kingdom

Perfect for Christmas, birthdays, travel or just because your little ones love a good search and find, Laura Blythman’s Animal Kingdom and Magical Creatures search and find books are simply delightful.

A peek at the covers let’s you know the kind of stunning illustrations you’ll get to explore inside, and they really are truly stunning + vibrant + funky + adorable.

Laura Blythman is one of Australia’s most iconic contemporary artists, using a wonderful mix of watercolour, collage and technicolour in these gorgeous and interactive books.

But turn each page and not only do you get stunning illustrations and lists of things to find within it, but also a page of funky poems to accompany what’s in the pictures.

In Animal Kingdom explore bees and butterflies, crocs and lizards, dogs and cats and so much more. In Magical Creatures explore unicorns, monsters, mermaids and dragons + genies and trolls and more!

The layout of these books is really kid friendly, making them accessible for even the youngest of readers. 

When it comes to the finding, there’s an image of the things you need to find alongside the description so it’s super easy for kids to use.

The poems, too, are easy reading so many junior readers will be able to read these books independently.

At the back of each book, you’ll find the answers to each puzzle, so you’ll be able to test how good your searching skills are, and I love how some pages are harder than others (but you never know which) to add challenge to your search and find adventures.

If you know special little people who love to search for things, they are going to adore these books.

Title: Search and Find: Magical Creatures and Animal Kingdom
Author/Illustrator: Laura Blythman
Publisher: Five Mile, $19.99
Publication Date: 27 October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922514530 (Magical Creatures) 9781922514523 (Animal Kingdom)
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book, Activity Book

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Winner: An Aussie Christmas Gum Tree

Our lucky winner is...

Jody Smith, NSW

Congratulations!

You have won a copy of Jackie Hosking's and Nathaniel Eckstrom's, An Aussie Christmas Gum Tree. 

Thank you to ALL who entered. This was particularly difficult to judge as we simply adored EVERYONE'S favourite yuletide traditions. May you enjoy all them this Christmas. Have a fabulous festive season!

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Review: I Wish I Had a Wookie and Other Poems For Our Galaxy

Star Wars fans young and old will love this poetry anthology.

I Wish I Had a Wookie and Other Poems For Our Galaxy is filled with clever, funny poems celebrating Star Wars.

There are poems about characters and events, and poems about being a Star Wars fan.

The title poem, I Wish I Had a Wookie, is relatable and captures a child's wish for a furry friend who can help keep nightmares away.

My Room's the Millennium Falcon is about a child who is sent to their room and spends their time imagining they are in Han Solo's Millennium Falcon, playing holochess with Chewbacca, and flying with speed through the night.

Lovers of Star Wars memorabilia will appreciate Dad's Luke Skywalker Figurine, which describes the moment when a young child opens a pristine collectable figurine to play with. The dad's reaction is noteworthy. Similarly, in Trash Compactor which is only four lines, you get a vivid picture of an adult horrified at their child's recreation of a particular scene from episode four, complete with real rubbish.

There are almost 80 poems in total, some of which are super short (just a few lines), and others longer (a couple of pages). They cover the full range of Star Wars movies from episode one to episode six.

The anthology is appealingly illustrated by Tim Bugden, with pictures in a friendly cartoon style which children will appreciate.

Author Ian Doescher has also written William Shakespeare's Star Wars, and other books. With this anthology he brings his interest in words and Star Wars to a new audience.

A great gift for children, or adults, I Wish I Had a Wookie and Other Poems For Our Galaxy combines the otherworldly Star Wars with everyday life on earth.

Title: I Wish I Had a Wookie and Other Poems for Our Galaxy
Author: Ian Doescher
Illustrator: Tim Bugden
Publisher: Quirk Books, $ 34.99
Publication Date: November 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781594749629
For ages: 8+
Type: Poetry

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Review: Weird School

Is your school weird? Do you have a weird teacher? Is your playground strange?

I guarantee nothing at your school could possibly be weirder than Wally Park Primary, the weirdest school in Australia.

From alien students to uniform providing trees, the meanest principal in the world to kids who can change into animals, Wally Park is like no other school EVER!

Damian Callinan delivers giggles galore in this brilliant junior fiction book, which is actually a collection of short stories. Each one about Wally Park Primary, and all linked so by the end you feel like you've read one connected story.

You’ll go on a totally extreme and bizarre walkathon, discover a very special tree on school grounds, help your favourite teacher compete in the Olympics and outsmart the principal as he tries to thwart you at every turn.

Adele K. Thomas’s funky illustrations bring a brilliant spice to the book. On the very first page you'll meet and greet all the key players at Wally Park (to get a visual before you start to learn about these colourful characters), and then sprinkles of illustrations appear through the chapters from there.

Weird School is a wild and extremely fun ride. It’s a great book for classrooms, as each story can be read independently and would be gobbled up at story time with a group of kids. It would also be a great read if you’re not the biggest fan of longer novels, because you can read the stories out of order or take big breaks in between readings.

For kids aged 8 – 13 who love laughs and a half mixed with a big bowl of quirky, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Weird School.

Title: Weird School
Author: Damian Callinan
Illustrator: Adele K. Thomas
Publisher: Puffin, $14.99
Publication Date: 3 August 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760893446
For ages: 8 - 13
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: The School for Talking Pets

I’ve always wished for a talking pet, a pet that could be a true best friend. Have you?

If you have, The School for Talking Pets is the book you’ve been waiting for.

In The School for Talking Pets, Rusty Mulligan has a pet blue-tongue lizard called Bongo. His adventure begins when a talking cat appears on television and introduces Miss Alice Einstein (Albert Einstein’s great granddaughter!) and her new and exclusive school that teaches pets how to talk.

Five kids from across the world get the opportunity to spend one week at the prestigious school with their pets, and Rusty is one of the fortunate ones to be chosen.

But while Alice guarantees she can teach any pet to talk, Bongo is a special kind of lizard, and Rusty fears Bongo just isn’t the kind of pet who can speak. There are also some very shifty characters hanging around the school, and while Rusty is keen to teach Bongo to talk, he also wants to find out who the mysterious strangers are.

Can Rusty and Bongo find out who’s sneaking around the school? Will Bongo ever learn to talk?

The School for Talking Pets is a fun adventure filled with mystery, action and loads of fantastical. This is a book that goes deep into the detail, deep into the world. As Rusty goes on his adventure, we get to attend classes, meet new people and learn heaps about the ins and outs of the school.

I love this kind of story. It’s Harry Potter-like in its ability to immerse the reader in the story world and leave you craving to be a part of it for real. The details are lavish and they make you feel like you’re in the classroom alongside all the characters.

Peppered throughout the book are stunning sprinkles of black and white illustrations by Beth Harvey. Super fun and a lovely addition to this great book.

If you love junior fiction filled with adventure, rich characters and cool quirks, you’ll love The School for Talking Pets by Kelli Anne Hawkins.

Title: The School for Talking Pets
Author: Kelli Anne Hawkins
Illustrator: Beth Harvey
Publisher: HarperCollins, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 September 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781460759202
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Meet The Illustrator: Darren Pryce

Name: Darren Pryce

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Not realistic, not cartoony, but a variant of all in-between.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Pencil, paper, computer and a leafy outlook (ideally without Myna birds).

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Watercolor. It has a fresh immediacy I like and is unforgiving in a good way.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Of kids book Illustrators I like Chris Van Allsburg, commercial illustrators I like Jeff Fisher, painters I like Francis Bacon. 

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Paris at the end of the 19th century. Modernism was still young and there was so much potential and passion in the air.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

Drawing was second nature to me as a child. I was often asked by my teachers to draw for the class on the blackboard. Becoming an illustrator felt like a preordained career path. My mother would paint the windows at Christmas time, I was enchanted by that…so maybe it was my genes that led me to it.

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

This is the painting part of the studio where most of my thinking is done and the larger pieces are made. The ones you see are repurposed 19th century paintings that I’ve been exploring lately in my fine art practice. Light streams in from a long window looking out onto a river and mountains. I have a drop sheet on the floor but the paint always seems to make it to the floor.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I like the idea generation stage mostly, coming up with fresh ways of representing the ordinary and everyday. I also enjoy creating mood with lighting. Drawing, I find a little taxing at times.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

While studying one of my lecturers told us that 99% of us won’t make a living out of illustration but if 100% of us continued with what we loved then all of us would live a happy life. For the most part this I feel this is still true, but these days I would have a plan B - maybe learn some code and digital marketing.

Darren is an accomplished illustrator, artist and co-founder of publisher, Wise As Stories. Darren cut his creative teeth at Cato Purnell and David Lancashire Design. He has won major local and international illustration awards and has worked across major brands including CBA, ASX, Myer, Time Magazine and LA Times.

For more information, please visit Darren's website or follow him on instagram.



· 

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Review: Ocean Warriors: The Rise Of Robo-Shark

10 Quirky Questions with author Kellie Byrnes

1. What's your hidden talent?
Hmmm. I don’t know that I have one. Perhaps, though, from all the reading and freelance writing I’ve done, I know a little bit about a lot of subjects. I surprise myself with the trivia questions I can answer sometimes!

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
This may seem like an odd answer, but I’d have to say Mr and Mrs Twit from one of my favourite childhood books, Roald Dahl’s The Twits. They’re interesting characters, in that they’re the protagonists of the story but also sooo horrible and the villains to each other. That’s an unusual combination!

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Ooh, how to choose?! So many people came to mind, but for a fun mix I’d invite Deborah Harkness, Mac Barnett, Neil Gaiman, Richard Branson, and Roald Dahl. If I was allowed some extra numbers (I realise how male-heavy my list is) I’d love to add Kate DiCamillo, Jane Austen and Agatha Christie.

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Hermione’s time-turner in Harry Potter or teleportation devices as featured in many different stories.

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Stop-start explorations into curiosity.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
I’m dreaming, here, but I’d love to be a writer remembered as curious, innovative, respected, prolific, and bestselling!

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
My office is filled to bursting with books and papers, so it’s always cluttered with 'stuff'. However, as for specific objects, in any work space of mine you’ll always find a laptop, paper, pens/pencils, kitchen timer, and a paperweight a long-term friend gave me years ago.

8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
The word is ‘warning’, taken from Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. “Warning: may cause sleeplessness and heart palpitations, so please read with caution.”

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask? Only one?! That’s tough. I’d ask JK Rowling, “How did you come up with all the layered, complex characters in Harry Potter, and keep all their stories straight across the series?”

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
I don’t think I could cope in this world without other people’s amazing stories, so I’d choose never writing another story over never being allowed to read another book.

 

 

 

 

Kellie Byrnes is a children’s author and full-time freelance writer based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia who loves to travel for author talks and workshops and other events. Kellie’s first picture book, Cloud Conductor, released through Wombat Books in May 2018, and her second, Evie is all Ears, was published in October 2020 by Little Pink Dog Books. One Remarkable Reef, published by the State Library of Queensland, came out in November 2020. In May 2021, Yes! No. picture book was released by Little Pink Dog Books, followed soon after by This is NOT a Book! in June 2021, published by EK Books. Kellie also has another picture book on the way in November 2021, titled How Do We Love?: The Five Ways We Show We Care. It will be published by Macmillan US. Plus, Kellie has a junior fiction novel contracted. For more information, see www.kelliebyrnes.com.

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Review: Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Review: The World Awaits

The World Awaits is a brand new picture book from Tomas Roberts, the creator of the 2020 hit, The Great Realisation. And just like that book, The World Awaits has an important message. 

Described as a 'manifesto for our time', it's about the contribution we all make to the world, and how little things can make a difference. 

It's about being positive, and looking for the good. And about how getting out of bed might be difficult, but it's important to approach the day positively.

Tomas' sense of rhyme is spot on, and his grasp of important themes is, too.

Just how do you explain potential to a child? How do you convince them that it doesn't matter how small or insignificant you feel, it's always worth trying?

Tomas takes concepts which could be difficult to explain and communicates in a way that makes sense to a broad range of readers, from young children to adults. In this story, he does it by creating a conversation between and adult and child that enables children's questions to be clearly answered.

The examples used in The World Awaits are simple, yet highly relevant for us all. From smiling or making your bed, to calling a relative, or planting a tree.

Japanese artist, Nomoco is the illustrator, just as she was for the previous book, and brings a special and unique perspective. Their simplicity complements the story and it's message.

You can watch the official video performance of The World Awaits here, but please get the book as well as watching the video. It's one of those we can all enjoy and benefit from reading regularly.

Title: The World Awaits
Author: Tomas Roberts
Illustrator: Nomoco
Publisher: Harper Collins, $ 24.99
Publication Date: October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:9780008502058
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Giveaway: An Aussie Christmas Gum Tree

Review: Rosie-May Blue: Mayhem at the Pet Show

Ten year old Rosie-May and her family have moved to a farm. She owns Carrie, a Welsh Mountain pony that she loves more than anything.

Making new friends is hard for Rosie-May as she is small for her age. It is when Carrie breaks through the fence and enters their neighbour’s property, that Rosie-May meets Ellie, who returns Carrie.

Ellie’s pony is the same breed as Carrie. The two girls hit it off immediately and they will be in the same class when school begins in a few days.

Things do not go as smoothly as Rosie-May hoped. The popular Vivian with her group of followers, is rude and unkind. First she ridicules Rosie-May for her height, then for the fact that she lives on a farm, naming her Country Pumpkin to match Ellie’s derogatory Country Bumpkin. Both girls ignore her taunts.

After helping Ellie and her dad round up some cattle, Rosie-May leads the horses to a trough nearby. She is confronted by an angry Ellie who reprimands her for allowing the horses to drink there. Rosie-May cannot understand her reaction.

It is later as she is brushing down Carrie in the stable that she hears a voice. No one is around. Yet, again someone is talking to Rosie-May. It is Carrie.

When she discovers that Ellie’s horse can also talk, her friend discloses how it was her Gran who first discovered the magic of the water trough. With a mutual promise to keep their secret, they prepare for the judging at the forthcoming pet show.

But someone has opened the gate. The school ground is full of cattle. Sounds and shouting come from all directions. Chaos reigns. The girls swing into action and muster the cows out of the grounds.

It is not over. A trapped kitten in a tight space needs a small person to get it out. Will Rosie-May’s petite build save the day? What about the horses? They are covered in dust and have no chance to take a prize in their condition.

More titles will follow as these characters and their adventures evolve. Lots of strings are left hanging to work with. Ideal for younger readers and lovers of horse stories.

Title: Rosie-May Blue: Mayhem at the Pet Show
Author: P. E. Woods
Illustrator: Pene Chadwick
Publisher: Little Steps, $14.99
Publication Date: 1 October 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780648267430
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction Younger

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Review: Fire Truck Santa

Fire Truck Santa is dedicated with love and thanks to volunteers around Australia. It is written and illustrated to accent and acknowledge, the kindness, generosity and invaluable help of people everywhere in times of need, especially fire fighters in their untiring role of saviours during bush-fires.

In this gorgeous book told in rhythmic rhyming verse, the Australian tradition of Santa arriving in a fire truck is being upheld!

The reindeers are resting up for the Christmas Eve run.

 

Santa uses his alternate mode of transport for the delivery of presents, for it is tradition for the versatile red fire truck to go through the country towns delivering presents for kids.

The children wait for Santa’s red fire truck. It can be identified from a distance by its noise and smell. Worn and battered, it manages to just make it to every stop. 

With splutters and coughs, it is given a truck-saving boost of petrol or some sort of patch-up for leaks or loose parts by the waiting children.   And for Santa, a cookie for luck. Then it's on its way again.

At the school there is no discrimination. Presents get passed around to everyone, happy or silly, bashful or wild. Even the animals get a little something to chew on.

When Santa’s truck breaks down completely and simply can’t be restored no matter how much attention it gets, how will he get about now, as every town needs a truck, especially in summer.

Terrific illustrations by Nathaniel Eckstrom sit lightly on the page allowing the bold text to take priority with its messages of love and hope and generous community spirit. The end pages show a panoramic view of the isolated Australian countryside. Vibrant back and front covers depict the old and new.

I loved it! Don’t miss this one!

Title: Fire Truck Santa
Author: Nic McPickle
Illustrator: Nathaniel Eckstrom
Publisher: Allen&Unwin , $ 17.99
Publication Date: 14 September 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760526894
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Monsters R Us: Adapting Gothic Classics For Children

Announcement: New KBR Team Member: Meet Elizabeth Vercoe!

Elizabeth Vercoe's evocative artwork and previous reviews have enthralled and entertained a wide audience for many years. Witty, articulate and achingly talented, Elizabeth lives life as she loves it: moment by precious moment. 

But can you guess whom she'd love to take to dinner? Read on to find out more about our newest contributor. And keep an eye out for Elizabeth's first review, coming soon.

It's with unbridled joy that we welcome yet another wonderful member to our KBR team. Great to have you aboard, Elizabeth!

 

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I have two double-jointed little toes - not on the same foot though. Also a metal rod in my back, which along with my fibula and part of my hip, holds me upright.

2. What is your nickname?
Bella. Beth. Lizzy-girl. Libs. Lergigirdle. Dizzo. Brick (from my grown-up kids - Enid Blyton has a lot to answer for with those storybook mothers who are stoic and provide lashings of ginger beer and chocolate cake). And Betty (my partner thought it hilARious to set up my email ID as Betty, so now in most group messages people wonder who I am. Eye-roll emoji to the max).

3. What is your greatest fear?
As a young adult it was a fear of death, but I’ve ‘worn that t-shirt’ so I’m over it. Nowadays it’s being outed as an imposter – anywhere, at any time.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Engaging and thoughtfully hopeful, with a little bit of uplift.

 

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Open, curious, disciplined, happy, fun.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
George from the Famous Five. Because I’ve always worn pants – even to my year 12 formal – and I like hugging big dogs. Also, I find it kind of impressive that she was so outwardly non-binary long before the 2021 Bachelorette caught on.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Oh my gosh this is an impossible question. Only one choice? Of course I’d love to travel 50 years into the future and meet my three amazing children. But then, I also want to go back to BC (is that a legitimate time descriptor?) and grab Jesus Christ to bring him home for dinner. Actually that’s a lie – I’d take him to Trippy Taco and see whether he gets hot sauce in his beard. Mostly though, I want to know what his laugh is like. Is it measured, or does it fill up his whole face and crinkle his eyes?

8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Who even ARE you?

9. Who is your greatest influence?
There are so many. I guess it’s people who’ve been encouraging and kind because I was excruciatingly shy as a kid. My mother was and remains a wholehearted champion for artistic expression. Phillip Adams answered the letter I wrote him on Raggedy Anne stationery when I was nine. Michael Leunig complimented a tiny series of landscape watercolour paintings when I was 49. So, small acts of generosity and kindness constantly influence my work.

10. What/who made you start writing?
Mrs Booth read my story out to the whole of grade 2/3/4 when I was in grade 2. She said that she liked my opening line: ‘It all started when Jack saw the windmill on the hill.’

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Antidisestablishmentarianism. Because at 28 letters it’s said to be the longest word in the English language. And I can spell it.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
‘Oh, the places you’ll go’ by Dr Seuss. I can’t count the number of copies that I’ve gifted to friends and family of all ages, who are heading into the unknown. ‘You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.’


Liz’s creative works are a celebration of life. As author and visual artist, she derives great joy from getting stuff out of her head and onto a blank canvas. Liz has a Masters of Creative Writing and worked as a researcher with Unimelb for the past eight years, interviewing vulnerable cohorts including children. Author of book chapters and academic articles, ‘Mac the Dog Man’ is Liz’s leap into the world of picture books. YA works include ‘Keep Your Hair on!’ and ‘The Grief Book, Strategies for Young People.’

www.elizabethvercoe.com.au

 

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Winner: Big Love

Review: Christmas Always Comes

What makes a 'proper' Christmas? 

Joey, Ellie and their parents are travelling, droving, trying to find water and grass for their cattle in the midst of a drought.

Ellie's more worldly understanding of the situation is balanced by Joey's innocent belief there will be Christmas with all the trimmings. A trees with decorations, presents, and pudding.

Christmas always comes, but how will Santa know where to find them? Joey hangs up their socks for presents anyway.

When they awake on Christmas morning, there are no presents waiting.

A chance meeting between the children and a grumpy old man reminds the man that Christmas is about giving. As the man talks with Joey and Ellie, he realises he can make their Christmas Day special by sharing what he has. 

Their Christmas might not be quite what they expected, but it is still Christmas and it's special.

Christmas Always Comes is a heartwarming new picture book from award-winning collaborators, Jackie French and Bruce Whatley.

It's not about a northern hemisphere Christmas full of snow, nor is it packed with glittery wrapped presents. Set in the country during the Depression, this is an Australian story through and through. Complete with the muted colours of the dry land, and the heat of summer. It's a story that serves as a reminder there are people who struggle to make ends meet, and that Christmas is about more than material things. 

Grab a copy of Christmas Always Comes and read it with your family this Christmas.

Title: Christmas Always Comes
Author: Jackie French
Illustrator: Bruce Whatley
Publisher: Harper Collins, $ 24.99
Publication Date: October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781460757895
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Book of Curious Birds

Strange birds with stranger names appear in the Book of Curious Birds.

Another gloriously illustrated book by Tasmanian artist and writer Jennifer Cossins, delivers close-up views of beautiful and unique birds with a summary of their life patterns.

Twenty-eight entries, each one accompanied by a full page image, come with vital information, specifically on their location, lifespan, height and conservation status. They can be flightless, carnivorous, endangered and totally family oriented.

Through the narrative, we discover singular habits of these unusual birds: the sounds used to communicate, how fast they can run, how high they jump, and mating rituals you will be astonished to read about.

Which species are monogamous, others polygynous (have more than one mate)? How many of the male partners incubate the eggs? Why do certain species gather in leks?

The Southern Cassowary leads the colourful parade. Flightless and the largest of the three species, it is the most dangerous bird alive. This is due to its middle, dagger-like claw. A kick can kill you.

Females are larger than males. Only coming together to breed, the female abandons the eggs for the male to incubate. He cares for the chicks till they are ten months old.

The Hooded Pitohui is the most toxic bird of all. The toxicity comes from food they eat. In this case the Choresine beetle.

Tufted Puffins return to their birthplace every year to breed.

The Greater sage-grouse is named after the sagebrush leaves they feed on.

Shaped like a crescent, the Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise, only recently was identified.

The tiny Tufted Coquette of the Amazon is brightly coloured and feeds mostly on nectar.

Whether it is about the North-Island Brown Kiwi, the Greater Prairie Chicken, the Rhinoceros Hornbill with its unique-shaped casque made of keratin that mates for life, you will find plenty in this book that is weird, to impress and surprise.

Each page is a revelation. Don’t forget to check the Glossary for definitions of unknown words.

Title: Book of Curious Birds
Author/Illustrator: Jennifer Cossins
Publisher: Hachette, $ 26.99
Publication Date: 27 October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780734420473
For ages:10+
Type: Junior Non Fiction

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Review: Ginger Meggs

Meet The Illustrator: Beck Feiner

Name: Beck Feiner

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

Graphic, colourful and bold that focus on harmony and diversity.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My Wacom Tablet, a strong coffee, a crime podcasts in the background and my Whippet at my feet biting my toes.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Before I became a full-time illustrator, I worked as a graphic designer, so drawing vector graphics and working with typography on my computer has always been my favourite medium.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
I love strong female artists like Bridget Really and Hilma Af Klint. Their innovative way of working and brave expression that was way ahead of their time continues to inspire me o be brave with my own work.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I would have loved to have been around for the birth of Pop Art during the mid- to late-1950s. I love how artists used images of popular (as opposed to elitist) culture in art, and played with these banal and kitschy elements through the use of irony.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

From as early as I can remember I was drawing. I remember that I used to draw on the walls and family photo albums until I was banned and made to only draw on the underside of the dining room table. I also read from a young age and the illustrations by Quentin Blake for the Roald Dahl books gave me the first thought that I could possibly do something like this when I grew up.

 
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
We converted our attic into a studio space for me to work in. We live in a terrace in Redfern (an inner city Sydney suburb) so I have wonderful views of my city from where I work which always inspires me. The ceiling is curved though, and I can never quite remember to duck, resulting in quite a few eggs on my head.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I love the moment I get an idea, which is often far away from my desk. I have to rush home and madly sketch it then draw it on to the computer. I love the craft part too but I always like my illustration to have meaning and that moment of conception always gives me thrills.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Keep practising. It sounds so boring but I think Malcolm Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours to be good at something. It doesn’t have to be that exact number but its about putting in the hours. First of all you get to generate work and keep your portfolio growing, even if it’s not for commercial use and second of all it gets you into a great routine.
It’s often hard to come up with ideas but if you force yourself just to put the hours in, without too much pressure it can often turn into a wonderful skill that will only naturally get better with time.

 
Beck Feiner is an illustrator, designer and author living in Redfern, Sydney. Her illustrations, stories and 'memes' shine a spotlight on social issues and tap into a the mood of the time and promote harmony and diversity. Beck's creative style has evolved from her years working as a graphic designer and art director in the advertising industry in Sydney and overseas. 

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

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Announcement: Farewell Anastasia!

Guest Post: Brooke Hill on You Two, You Two

Review: What Happened to You?

In What Happened to You? Joe just wants to play pirates.

It's his favourite game, full of sharks and crocodiles. And just like some pirates, Joe's only got one leg.

Joe would love to have other children join him to play. However, children can be incredibly curious, and curiosity isn't always subtle.

Other kids always ask Joe what happened to him, why he only has one leg, and Joe hates being asked about it. 

He doesn't like the intrusive or silly questions people ask either.

Legs don't fall off, or get stolen, or hidden. And having one leg has nothing to do with lions!

Joe gets so fed up with questions from the other kids, he just gets on with playing pirates. 

Soon enough, the kids are focused on playing pirates and fighting the sharks and crocodiles, too. And later, after spending time with Joe, they come to realise that asking Joe about his missing leg isn't necessary, and Joe is just like them anyway.

James Catchpole has used his own lived experience to create a wonderful story that about visible disability. It encourages us to see people first, not disability. At the back of the book James has a message for adults with advice about responding to children if they want to know about people living with a disability, and educating them generally about it.

James wanted to write this story about Joe to provide reassurance and empowerment, and to raise and encourage awareness and understanding. What Happened to You? is certainly a book that will be helpful in doing that for all children, and adults. 

Read what James Catchpole has to say about 'Why it's important to talk to kids about disability'.

Title: What Happened to You? 
Author: James Catchpole
Illustrator: Karen George
Publisher: Faber , $ 24.99
Publication Date: May 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780571358304
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Giveaway: Big Love

Review: The 143-Storey Treehouse

To celebrate ten years of the Treehouse series, a special colour edition of The 13-Storey Treehouse is being released simultaneously with this, the 11th  title.

 What is new? You may well ask!

The 143-Storey Treehouse has 13 new storeys after being extended yet again! A magnifying glass will be useful to see and identify the wondrous detailed and intricate additions hidden everywhere.

A word-o-matic that knows every word in the whole world has been added. It also spits out incomprehensible words which cause queries and confusion. 

A too-hard basket, a baked-bean geyser and an Olde Worlde Historical Village as well. 

Wait! There’s more!

Joined on is a recycling depot where everything imaginable is repurposed to alleviate waste.A wrecking ball and an astonishing camping ground are also added. The complaining room for adults and children, will be the highlight of the book. It generates much needed laughter at a time when laughs are hard to come by.

Speech balloons full of humour not air, and the usual banter between Andy and Terry, keep the pages turning.

Lots of outings go awry as usual, with all the clever justifications and blame of why they do.

How will they clean up the word spill caused by Terry’s sneaky high score letters attempting to make questionable words during their scrabble game?

The list goes on and everything that happens has an extension to it, just like the building.

When Andy and Terry decide to take a camping holiday at their new camping ground, they are accompanied then followed everywhere, by a photographer and journalist who document everything. To that, add the countless people that join them along the way.

Jill turns up on a hobyah hunt which should make a good news scoop. But hunts and fearsome visits to dark houses present other challenges. Can they come up with the right blast to make the front page of the magazine? Why not?

Adventures and misadventures keep occurring. Crazy fun and lots of unbelievable happenings fill the pages, so keep the magnifying glass close, as you may miss something! 

Title: The 143-Storey Treehouse
Author: Andy Griffiths
Illustrator: Terry Denton
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, $ 14.99
Publication Date: 19 October 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760786236
For ages: 6–10
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Searching For Cicadas

It's nearly time for those underground minibeasts to tunnel their way to the surface: cicadas! 

Last year, in 2020, we had a glut of cicadas here in the Blue Mountains. We found countless shells. We spotted many species. We heard the deafening buzz of cicada songs.

In Searching for Cicadas, a child and his grandfather camp out in order to go cicada-watching. At dusk, they see a cicada nymph wriggle from a small split in its shell and emerge as an adult cicada. Pure magic. The pair spy Green Grocers, Yellow Mondays and even Floury Bakers. What fun names! But will they spot a Black Prince, which are ‘as rare as hen’s teeth,’ according to Grandpa?

This delightful story sits side-by-side next to some top-notch cicada facts. Like, did you know that with the exception of Antarctica, cicadas live on every single continent? There’s also information about life cycle, behaviour and species. The facts are presented in a different font to the narrative, allowing readers to read the story first and come back and read the cicada information later. 

Lesley Gibbes has written a gentle story that illuminates the bond between a grandchild and grandfather. It’s good for the soul stuff. Their connection holds the whole story together. Cleverly, the child could be either a boy or girl so both genders can relate closely to the story. The author uses descriptive language, such as ‘buzz and whizz’, and imagery to make the story vivid. The rhythmic prose helps to unlock the magic of the factual information. It’s clear that there’s been a lot of research in the making of this book.

Judy Watson has elevated the picture book with her atmospheric illustrations. I adore them. In each spread, she has used a wonderful range of media such as, watercolour, ink, pencil and conté, as well as, techniques such as monoprinting, sketching and painting. Each element was carefully studied before it was interpreted in a scratchy style. The visually interesting, layered look was then created in Photoshop. Multiple perspectives were used throughout the story, drawing readers into each scene. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into each spread. The end papers portray the mysterious world of the bush floor. Take a moment to spot details in the leaf litter.

Searching for Cicadas is part of a non-fiction picture book series called Nature Storybooks by Walker Books Australia. Other books in the series include, Kookaburra by Claire Saxby and Tannya Harricks and Koala by Claire Saxby and Julie Vivas.

In 2020, Searching for Cicadas was shortlisted for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award for Information Books and won a Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitley Award for Best Children's Story. Teachers and parents there are some fantastic resources for the book here: https://lesleygibbes.com/book-week-2020 

Searching for Cicadas will suit curious minds of all ages and nature lovers. Gibbes and Watson have spotlighted the magic of cicadas, leaving me in awe. Just remember, don’t keep them as pets. Enjoy learning how they live this one wild and precious life. 

Title: Searching For Cicadas
Author: Lesley Gibbes 

Illustrator: Judy Watson
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $26.99
Publication Date: 22 July 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922244420
For ages: 5+

Type: Non-Fiction Picture Book

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Review: The Best Cat, the Est Cat

The Best Cat the Est Cat is more than just a story, it’s a fabulous guided tour of the State Library of NSW hosted by a magical mystical cat! 

Step inside the grand doors, embrace a little magic then explore the rooms, a gallery and take a lift deep underground. You’ll learn that not only books live at this library, but also history, knowledge, secrets, even ghosts in the walls. Discover old and obscure objects like the smallest book and the biggest map! The bravest, the boldest, the best and many more ‘ests’, the Best Cat shares them all! 

So who is this mystical cat? His name is Trim, he’s a statue who sits outside and comes to life, the first cat in Australia they say and it’s all explained, I encourage you to read the book to find out more!

Glorious rollicking rhyme and mixed media illustrations work in unity to create an engaging publication filled with motion, history and curiosity. I adore the way map and script text is pasted into the illustrations, it’s like the finishing touches on a wholesome journey.

This book is a wonderful story and educational resource which would strengthen a visit to the State Library of NSW but equally works on its own. A list of over 30 items to seek and find features at the back of the book for extended fun and learning.  

Libby Hathorn is an Australian award-winning author who has written over 80 books. Rosie Handley is an experienced designer, The Best Cat, the Est Cat is her debut title.

Title: The Best Cat, the Est Cat 
Author: Libby Hathorn
Illustrator: Rosie Handley
Publisher: State Library of New South Wales, $24.95 
Publication Date: 1 September 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781925831191
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Cookie

Cookie is a tender exploration of the relationship between a young girl and her pet dog, presented in a unique synthesis of emotion by both writer and illustrator.

It addresses childhood depression in a poignant manner, incorporating the important role pets play in alleviating loneliness and in consoling sufferers of mental health.

Told through the voice of Cookie, the dog, the child is simply, Girl. Her younger brother is referred to by his bothersome childish expressions.

At times he is Stopit, or Shoosh. He calls Girl You’re- not-the -boss-of-me. These gems draw the reader to the reality of their situation, and the common exchange between siblings.

Another wonderful device used by illustrator Susannah Crispe to express emotions, is the absence of the mouth on Girl when she is unhappy. This also occurs on Mama’s face when Girl is sad.

It’s the sharing that takes place between animal and human that adds joy and hope and shapes  both lives. They frequently cuddle, find nice smells to sniff at, and spend most of their time together outside in nature. Except when Girl is sad. Then, Cookie makes sure Girl knows he understands by licking away her sadness.

I loved this beautifully designed and written book. It is an excellent example of a writer finding their unique voice which is an asset, especially to writers beginning their journey.

Written by Isabelle, a farmer, when she was eighteen years old, Cookie was inspired by Saffy, Isabelle’s real-life companion. Saffy can be followed on Instagram at Saffy_thepuppy.

Title: Cookie
Author: Isabelle Duff
Illustrator: Susannah Crispe
Publisher: EK Books, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 29 October 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925820959
For ages: 4 – 8
Type: Picture Book

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Announcement: New KBR Team Member - Meet Sarah Rasmussen!

The changing of the guard (at KBR) is an occasion of regret on one hand and reason to rejoice on another. 

While we never enjoy farewelling a favourite team member, we heartily welcome those with as much passion as us to share their love of children's literature with all and sundry. Which is why, with barely contained mirth, we welcome our newest recruit, Sarah Rasmussen into our KBR family.

You may be familiar with Sarah and her fetching Ragamuffin Books Blog. But do you know her favourite word? Well now's your chance to find out and discover more. Welcome to the team, Sarah!

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I used to be allergic to chocolate as a child, but through hard work and sheer dedication, I’ve managed to build up immunity to it as an adult.

2. What is your nickname?
I don’t have a specific nickname, but some people call me Sare, or Rasmuffin. My partner calls me Snook and my dad calls me Munchkin.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Heights! Particularly steps with the gaps between each step where you can see below you.

Also, I’m not fond of the sound the bathtub makes when the water goes down the drain.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Large amounts of procrastination with small bouts of word vomit.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Honest, hard-working, shy, methodical, playful.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
It’s not a book character, but I always wanted to be Lisa Simpson when I was a kid. She is smart, funny and never has to worry about wardrobe changes. Or Hermione Granger, for similar reasons.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Some year in ancient Greece, just to have a look around. I would listen to the old philosophers and see what people were really like back then.

8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Keep at it.

Also, I hope these bracers and the head-gear are worth the nice straight teeth you have in the future. I’m sorry I keep losing the plate, so your bottom row might still be a little jazzy.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Oh this is a tough one! Perhaps Marcus Zusak. Or Alison Lester, and Cath Crowley and Robin Hobb, or a million other authors whose books I’ve read and fallen in love with.

10. What/who made you start writing?
All the stories I read as a child. The magic of looking at little lines and curves on a page, and being transported somewhere else.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Petrichor. It’s the name of the smell of rain just before it starts raining after a dry patch. I read it in a book recently and it’s stuck with me. It also shows how many words there are for things you never think about.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would like to say the Harry Potter series, so I could get the most of it, but I think that would kind of cheating, as they are separate books. I have a very thick book with the works of John Steinbeck, who is one of my favourite classic authors, so that would do nicely.


Sarah Rasmussen is a passionate reader and writer of children's fiction. She lives in a small country town in South Gippsland, Victoria – with her partner and toddler. She has recently finished studying her MA in writing with a focus on children/YA literature and regularly reviews books at her blog Ragamuffin Books.

Visit her website to learn more. And keep an eye out for Sarah's first review very very soon!

 

 

 

 

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