Review: Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast

Pearly Woe is a bit of a worrier.

She worries about worse case scenarios. She worries that she isn’t smart enough or strong enough. She worries that she’ll never be accepted into The Adventurologists’ Guild, the secret adventure group her parents are part of.

But when her parents go missing, and she receives a secret message indicating they are in danger, Pearly has no choice but to spring into action, despite how much she is worrying about EVERYTHING.

Along with her best friend Pig, Pearly must outwit some seriously shady characters and solve several mysteries to find her parents.

Luckily, Pearly and Pig have a secret weapon. Pearly is fluent in several languages, including animal languages, so they can speak, plan and plot throughout their adventure.

But sometimes secret weapons can land you in hot water, and when Pearly’s secret is uncovered, she’s pulled further and further away from rescuing her parents and proving she has what it takes to be a true Adventurologist.

It’s quite the adventure for an Adventurologist-in-training!

This is a fantastic novel for junior readers who love adventure, mystery and secret-society-style stories. It’s packed full of twists and turns, and it’s action-packed from start to finish.

The characters are deep and layered, and I love the emotional journey readers get to take with Pearly. She has a lot of self-doubt along the way and sometimes wants to give up (don’t we all!), but she finds the courage within to take another step, even if she doesn’t know where that step will take her.

There’s a lot packed into this novel, including themes of animal welfare and the environment. But at its core, it’s a story about believing in yourself and finding the strength to keep trying when things aren’t going your way.

The first book in a brand-new series by award-winning author Sue Whiting, Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast is a must read for all readers who love going on adventures and solving a mystery.


Title: Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast
Author: Sue Whiting
Illustrator: Rebecca Crane
Publisher: Walker Books, $15.99
Publication Date: March 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760653590
For ages: 7 - 13
Type: Junior Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

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Guest Post: Janeen Brian on A Surprise Cover

Many of you are familiar with the illustrative works of Tracie Grimwood. Her colourful geometric, whimsical character portraits feature in picture books such as, Reena's Rainbow and Bo Loves Books. 

Tracie also illustrated the cover for one of our favourite authors, Janeen Brian ; the Notable Award winning mid-grade novel, Eloise and the Bucket of Stars, (Walker Books Australia) but that came about as a ‘surprise cover.’ 

When Janeen revealed the intriguing backstory of the cover image Tracie used on her latest novel, we were all ears ... and eyes! See for yourself.

"A book cover is a visual teaser. A good cover not only captivates and pulls the would-be-reader in, but also hints as to the tone and storyline without giving away the plot. So it must work hard. And, you’d think that the illustrator would need to know the bones of the story, before attempting the cover, right?

Well, maybe not.

When I first saw the cover of my latest novel with Walker Books Australia, Eloise and the Bucket of Stars, I was excited. It was perfect. It was beautiful. And it both captivated and hinted at what lay in the story. Imagine my surprise when I found out the cover had been created 5 years before it graced my story. So I asked the talented illustrator, Tracie Grimwood, how it came to be. It’s an intriguing story. 

So read on!"

To continue reading this post, please head to CBCA where this 'revelation'  first appeared. 

Excerpt used with author's permission.

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Review: Take A Breath

Bob the bird is still young and can't fly like all the other birds.

It seems like he's reminded at every turn that he's not like the others. 

Frustrated and anxious that he can't keep up with the other birds Bob tries to distract himself.

He also practices flying and tries various tactics to help (catapults, balloons, and a hat with a propeller), but it doesn't help.

He's worried he will never be able to fly and the more he worries, the more difficult it is.

Eventually, Bob blurts out his worries to Crow, who has experienced problems of his own, and has some advice. Crow's explains how mindful breathing can make all the difference.

It takes Bob time to learn how to really breath, but with Crow's help he turns things around and remembers to believe in himself.

Take A Breath is relatable for children and adults, and the illustrations of the bright red little bird by author and illustrator Suejean Rim demonstrate the power of simplicity.

Take A Breath is a sweet story that shows how being aware and patient can help us manage emotions and take steps forward, even when they can seem difficult. A wonderful book for young and old.

Title: Take A Breath
Author/Illustrator: Suejean Rim
Publisher: Allen & Unwin , $ 24.99
Publication Date: May 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761066597
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Giveaway: The Astronaughties: Moon Mayhem

You may be asking yourself how three naughty kids, one pet octopug and their handsome robot minder accidentally got strapped inside a 400 megaton thermonuclear rocket on a one-way collision course to the moon?

It's 101 years in the future and the Moon has been transformed into the ultimate super-cool intergalactic amusement park. The Astronaughties, the children of some of the park’s designers, get a chance to visit the Lunar Park before it officially opens. 

But when they arrive, they discover their parents are missing. Now their mission is to find them, defeat the baddies and free a trapped alien. Hold on tight, this is going to be one wild rocket ride!

For the chance to win a copy of this out-of-this-world middle grade novel courtesy of Walker Books Australia, tell us in 25 words or less where would you go if you could travel to space, and what you would like to find there?

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The response we like best will win a copy of the book. 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 16 May2022.

Competition runs from 5.00 am 7 May 2022 to 5 pm 14 May 2022. 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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Review: It's a Wonderful World

Our world is incredible: inspiring, intricate and filled with wonder.

It’s a complex system that runs on autopilot, always moving and changing and healing. Our animals, plants and weather all have important roles and live by ever-changing cycles that support our planet and give us all life. It’s one big team, working together.

We humans haven’t always been (and still aren’t always) good team players when it comes to caring for our world.

But we can be.

We can do better, and reading this book will help kids, families, classrooms (and adults) to understand how the world works and what we can do to protect it.

It’s a comprehensive and detailed journey, covering everything from where we are in the universe to nature’s daily miracles. There are 32 chapters, which go through all the different kinds of plant life that support our world (plants, grasses, fungi, soil etc.), everything you need to know about life cycles (pollination, migration, evolution and extinction etc.) and a giant selection of our worlds fascinating creatures, divided by habitat (think rainforests, mountains, wetlands).

There is just so much information in this book!

The layout is awesomely engaging and spot on for kids, which makes this a book they will WANT to pick up. Large text, breakout boxes, and info delivered in short sections means kids can read bite-sized pieces of text, one at a time. And loads of colour, photographs and illustrations on every single page means there is always something to look at while you read, helping to cement concepts.

Non-fiction books delivered with such strong and well-planned layouts are perfect for kids (and adults, too, I might add!). With so much information to absorb, it really helps to be able to take it slow and read small sections at a time.

But this isn’t just a book of facts, either. It includes myth-busting information throughout (which I love), and tips and tricks to better support the environment, which makes it a very actionable book, instead of just providing information.

Back of the book favourites include a glossary and an index to help you find your way, but my kids and I loved opening the book at random and reading a page or two. The set up and layout of the book allows for this type of exploratory reading, and I think it works really well to engage kids and make this a book audiences will dip into time and time again.

Title: It's a Wonderful World
Author: Jess French
Illustrator: Aleesha Nandhra
Publisher: DK, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 March 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780241533543
For ages: 6+
Type: Non-Fiction

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Review: Poo, Spew And Other Gross Things Animas Do!

This book takes a deep dive into the world of not just poo, but also spew, snot and all the other gross things animals do to survive and thrive. Did you know that there are literally dozens of names for poo? That dogs snack on it and frogs live inside huge mounds of it? That some creatures sleep inside their own snot bubbles? That honey isn’t quite vomit even though it comes out of bee’s mouths? Or that sometimes, the silky white sand at the beach which you spread your towel out upon is actually the poo of the parrot fish?

Well, now you do. You’re welcome.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You might even throw up!

Do not, repeat not, read this book at mealtimes or if you’re even just a little peckish. You have been warned.

But seriously, this book is a very engaging and rather witty master class in poo. From being a poo detective, to the general world of poo including who-what-when-where-how and why, to meeting poo scientists and experts from all walks of life, this text covers all manner of content that is indeed gross, stinky and very, very interesting.

The book looks quite beautiful for something so disgusting. It’s very well credentialed and is laid out perfectly – almost magazine style – in bite-sized chunks with plenty of colour and a welcome variety of information. Interesting photographs and delightful artworks accompany the terrifying text to heighten the interest and embellish some of the more descriptive passages. Pun intended.

A valuable and very funny resource book complete with a Grossary of terms, it will definitely be a hit wherever it appears on a bookshelf. And don’t forget to test your poo IQ with the Most Disgusting Quiz online at CSIRO’s website.

Title: Poo, Spew And Other Gross Things Animals Do!
Author: Nic Gill, Romane Cristescu
Illustrator: Rachel Tribout
Publisher: CSIRO $29.99
Publication Date: April 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781486314867
For ages: 8 - 12
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Cover Reveal: Milly and The Mulberry Tree

We are tickled mulberry-pink and purple to be the first to reveal this beautiful new picture book cover!

Congratulations to the creative duo of CBCA short-listed, Vikki Conley and prolific illustrator, Deb Hudson 

Milly and The Mulberry Tree, published by @EKbooksforkids is a delightful story about the magic of both home and other worlds. Full of vibrant, whimsical illustrations of silk-moths, caterpillars and spooky-mulberry stained dress ups, it explores our ties with nature and places in a way that will resonate with young readers.

Inspired by the 100-year-old mulberry tree that grows in the author's own childhood garden, this is a book full of heart and joy that will be a delight for educators and families to share, particularly for those with nostalgic memories of mulberry trees!

Available now for pre-order online through EK Books.

Due for release in June 2022

Discover more about Vikki with her 12 Curlies author interview or visit her website or Instagram. Connect with Deb via Instagram.

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Review: Spotlight Please, It's Stevie Louise

Stevie Louise is back in the second instalment in the Stevie Louise series. And this time her theatre troupe, Lunchbox Productions, is in danger.

Lunchbox Productions is the most fun the kids on Brooke Street have ever had, and they want to perform together forever. But costumes and sets cost money, and without some funding, there isn’t going to be anymore amazing plays from Lunchbox.

Until…. Stevie and her friends hear about a talent show happening at the local shopping centre. And first prize is one thousand dollars. 

With that kind of funding, they could continue performing for years!

But there are few problems. Firstly, the competition is fierce. Like seriously fierce. There are twerking grannies, singing goats and the most amazing dance group Stevie has ever seen. Secondly, they haven’t won the competition yet, so they don’t have any money for amazing costumes and sets. And lastly, Alex — superstar actor extraordinaire — has glued a unicorn horn to his forehead, and if he steps one toe out of line, his dad is going to ground him FOREVER!

Stevie and her friends are up against a mountain of opposition, but somehow they need to work as a team, rehearse their performance and win the talent quest. Can they do it?

This is a seriously fun junior fiction series for fans of fast-paced, funny reads. The humour and silliness is jam-packed into this book, making it a joyful (and addictive) read from start to finish.

The whole gang is hilarious, but Stevie an Alex in particular are larger than life characters with a lot to share and a lot to say. I love their independent thinking and courage to step up when its needed. And I love their ability to always be themselves. 

I just adore them (and the whole Lunchbox Productions Crew)!

Author Tanya Hennessy delivers a real winner with this series. These are books kids will really relate to, filled with characters they will want to befriend/be. With big text (with loads of emotion infused into the text layout) and funky pictures by Leigh Hedstrom peppered throughout, it’s an easy and engaging read for kids.

I do recommend grabbing a copy of book one in the series (Drumroll Please, It’s Stevie Louise), because it is that kind of series that builds with each book. But this is just a great excuse to buy more books!

Fun, funny and fast paced, Spotlight Please, It’s Stevie Louise is a junior fiction winner!

Title: Spotlight Please, It’s Stevie Louise
Author: Tanya Hennessy
Illustrator: Leigh Hedstrom
Publisher: Albert Street Books, $14.99
Publication Date: May 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760526429
For ages: 7 - 11 
Type: Junior Fiction

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10 Quirky Questions with author Jacqueline Harvey

1. What's your hidden talent?
I play the piano (reasonably well – though not often in public), I can mimic just about any accent and I love to play golf.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Dash Chalmers from Kensy and Max. He is pure evil but also a bit of an enigma.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Enid Blyton, Beverly Cleary, Roald Dahl, Harper Lee and Colin Thiele (I have questions for all of them).

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
The RUOK 5.0 from the Kensy and Max series – a high-tech portable diagnostic medical scanner which can be used to identify almost any health issue on the spot.

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Thoughtful, creative, dedicated, organised and speedy.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Entertaining, creative, heartfelt, well researched and fun.

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
Keyboard, mouse and two screens (I’m considering that a package deal), Roald Dahl pencil case with requisite pens and pencils, notebooks, books, hand cream.

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!)
Was that you I saw Ronald, climbing out of Mrs Best’s kitchen window last night?
The book I used was Alice-Miranda in Egypt (#20 in the series)

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
To Enid Blyton: ‘What compelled you to write over 700 books?’

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Neither, but if I was made to choose it would be never read another book. It would force me to use my imagination and come up with books I’d want to read!

Jacqueline Harvey worked in schools for many years but has had a passion for storytelling since she was a child. She is the author of the popular Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose and Kensy and Max series, which have sold over one million copies in Australia alone. She is currently working on a new series, Willa and Woof, which will be released in July 2022. That Cat is the 49th book and the second picture book she’s written. For more information, see www.jacquelineharvey.com.au. You can also read more about Jacqueline and our reviews of just some of her books here.

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Winner: The Ghost Locker

Our lucky winner is...

Angie Johnson, QLD

Congratulations!

You have won a copy of this supernatural middle grade fiction, The Ghost Locker by Allison Rushby.

Thank you to ALL who entered. Again, we had a veritable treasure chest of excellent entries!

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Review: The Great Southern Reef

Have you heard of the Great Southern Reef? It stretches from the north of New South Wales to Western Australia and is home to sea creatures and more than 400 different types of seaweed.

The Great Southern Reef is also a picture book showcasing some of the plants and animals that live in the Reef. 

It's a story about Professor Seaweed and her two young friends, Frankie and Sam. They enjoy beach combing and the day after a storm they go on a walk to explore what has washed up on the beach.

On their walk, Frankie and Sam find some of the different animals and plants that make their home in the ocean.

Professor Seaweed tells the children about what they find, and explains the importance of their discoveries. Amongst the beachcombing treasures are cuttlefish and a turbo snail shell. In a rockpool there's a sea anenome, and further along the beach is lots of sea lettuce, kelp, and a seaweed called Neptune's Necklace.

The children also unfortunately find the beach strewn with rubbish. However they help clean it up, and in the process show their understanding of water pollution and the need to avoid it.

Professor Seaweed also tells Frankie and Sam about the Great Southern Reef and some of the interesting uses for seaweed. 

Frankie, Sam and Professor Seaweed's story is a great way to put the spotlight on a important part of our environment, and to make us aware of Australian marine life.

The Great Southern Reef is sure to inspire a beach combing walk, and encourage children to learn more about what they find next time they visit the beach.

Download Teachers' Notes from the publisher's website for curriculum linked information and activities.

Title: The Great Southern Reef
Author: Paul Venzo and Prue Francis
Illustrator: Cate James
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, $ 24.99
Publication Date: May 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781486315314
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Meet The Family

Junior Review: The Greatest Thing

Review: Youngbloods

Youngbloods is the fourth and final book in the Imposters series by Scott Westerfeld, and you should read the other books before this one. 

It brings readers full circle, linking with the Uglies series even more closely than before, through the return of Tally Youngblood.

Tally is the most famous rebel in the world, and Frey is now one of her crew, the Youngbloods.

After the events of the previous book, Mirror’s Edge, the relationship between twins Frey and Rafia is fractured, perhaps forever. 

Rafia is leader of the city of Shreve, having taken her twin's name to rule. Frey, once her sister’s body double and bodyguard, is a rebel Special, superhuman and living in the wild.

Can Frey come to terms with herself, her family, and her past? What could her future hold when she seems on the brink of disaster and death in a world filled with revolution?

Youngbloods is a gritty and complex story. Prominent amongst its themes is what is real and what is not, what is truth and what is misinformation, and how to tell the difference.

With every chapter and plot twist in Youngbloods, you'll question what you thought you knew. And you'll see parallels with real life, and the potential for what could happen if elements of today's world were taken to extremes.

Be prepared for a wild ride when you read Youngbloods.

Read reviews of other books in the series: Imposters, Shatter City, and Mirror’s Edge.

Title: Youngbloods
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 26.99
Publication Date: March 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760528270
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Meet The Illustrator: Eilidh Muldoon

Name: Eilidh Muldoon

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Detailed; intricate; fun; decorative; a mixture of hand-drawn, digital and printmaking

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
I have a few essentials. I would be lost without my Rotring Rapidograph fineliners for detailed hand-drawn bits (0.25 nib is my favourite); Blackwing Pearl pencils for looser line drawings; my Wacom tablet for the digital bits. And I love a Moleskin sketchbook!

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
It’s hard to choose, as you can probably guess from the length of my previous answer. If you had asked me years ago, I would have said the fineliner pens, but now I try to loosen things up and make messier marks. I’ll go for Aquarelle pencils, because you can create lovely sketchy lines with them, but also by adding water and using a brush you can achieve more painterly results. Oh, and I love to use rubber stamps! I love the combination of printed marks alongside hand-drawn lines.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

I find inspiration from artists working in lots of different creative fields, but most of my favourite artists are best known as picture book illustrators. I have always loved the work of mid-century author-illustrator duo Alice and Martin Provensen. Of a similar era, Mary Blair’s concept art and paintings for some of the early animated Disney movies are wonderful. I like the way all of these artists create colourful, imaginary worlds that invite you in. I’m counting the first two artists as one, so if I’m allowed one more then I will go for Eric Carle. His work encourages me to put down my pens, move away from drawing fine lines, and to have fun using bolder shapes and experiment with composition.

  
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I studied Art History for my undergraduate degree, and I must admit it was once we got to 20th century art that I became really excited about my studies! I was fascinated with the freedom and experimentation of Dadaism and Surrealism. It must have been incredibly exciting to be an artist at that time. I think I’ll go for early 20th century, because I could experience the playfulness of early Surrealism, with its exploration of dreamlike landscapes, as well as seeing how Constructivist artists were starting to experiment with geometrical shapes, bold typography, white space. As an added bonus I would catch the tail end of ‘The Golden Age of Illustration’ and be around while Arthur Rackham and Beatrix Potter were still at work!

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
When I was growing up, we would visit one of my mum’s close friends, Debi Gliori, who also happens to be an extremely talented artist and illustrator. I am a huge fan of her books to this day. I think I must have been about 8 years old when I first saw her working away in her garden studio, drawing and writing stories. I thought it seemed like the best job in the world. It also helped that I was lucky enough to have an incredibly supportive mum, who encouraged me to pursue a career in the creative industries.

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 yet have that dream garden-studio, but I feel like my current work-space is pretty close to that. I live in a small village, and from the back of my house I can see the sea, and a lot of trees. I have a desk by the window, so I get lots of natural light and have a lovely view (but I have set up my desk so that I face away from the window, otherwise I would stare outside all day and never get anything done). I have a big desk space, for making lots of messy marks. I scan everything in and play around with finishing it up digitally, using my Mac and Wacom tablet. There are a lot of books and other inspirational ephemera around the room – the collection is growing… and most importantly a space for my dog to curl up (or flap about) at my feet.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

The sketchbook stage, where I get to develop my ideas. Before the pressure of creating a ‘final thing’ and after the pressure of not quite knowing where to start. I find the first marks on paper to be quite nerve-wracking, so I start by making initial notes, sketches and doing the first bits of research. Then I feel like I get into the swing of things.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Look to the things that interest you for inspiration, not the things you think are ‘on trend’. Be a leader, not a follower. And keep drawing! Even if you think a drawing is rubbish, finish it and use it to work out what went wrong. The next drawing will be better as a result.

Eilidh lives in a wee village by the sea, not too far from Edinburgh. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2013 with her MFA in Illustration. She now teaches part time at the college and work freelance from her wee home studio.


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

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Review: Ming And Flo Fight For The Future

Review: Cat's First Baby

Cat is agile. Cat is proud. Cat is independent and clever and delicate.

What cat is not is ready for the family to expand.

It starts with a ‘hello’, and the new bundle is small, so who cares. 

But the bundle grows, and moves, and makes noise. And… it doesn’t seem to be another cat.

Cat checks it out. From many angles. It doesn’t look like a cat, it doesn’t have a tail like a cat, but there are some similarities. Somethings they both enjoy doing (like napping!).

Cat’s First Baby is a glorious exploration of life with a new baby. Delivered in scrumptious (and hardy) board book form, this is the perfect book for new baby bundles (and their parents!). It’s joyful and truth-laden simplicity delivers a million smiles as you read.

Author/illustrator Natalie Nelson has captured the true essence of a cat on these pages. I love the way cat moves slow and steady at first, then tests the waters, then starts to embrace the change. Nelson notes she watched a lot of you-tube videos about cats and kids and interviewed loads of cat owners to build the best story ever. And she has.

Nelson’s illustrations are equally as glorious as her words. Colour extends to every corner of the page, with Cat (in blue) shining bright as you move through the story. The details are in the expressions, and nelson’s ability to inject so much emotion into every sideways look and glance is just magic.

This is a brilliant board book. Joyful, funny and engaging for the whole family. And if cats are not your thing, Nelson’s first book, Dog’s First Baby, is also a hoot!

But, really, who doesn’t love cats?

Title: Cat’s First Baby
Author/Illustrator: Natalie Nelson
Publisher: Quirk Books, $14.99
Publication Date: 1 March 2022
Format: Board Book
ISBN: 9781683692935
For ages: 2 - 5 
Type: Picture Book, Board Book

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10 Quirky Questions with author Wenda Shurety

1. What's your hidden talent?
I’m not sure if I’d classify this as a talent, but I’m not bad at helping rescue dogs. I’ve rescued several over the years and feel there’s nothing more rewarding than giving a dog with a sad past a happy home, then winning them over.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
My favourite villain is the multifaceted Marisa Coulter from the His Dark Materials trilogy. I love the many dimensions of her character. She came across as charming and persuasive, but underneath she was incredibly cruel and evil. However, she had a soft spot for her daughter and ends up saving her life.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Richard Powers, JK Rowling, Liane Moriarty, Jane Austen, Philip Pullman

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
The subtle knife, from the His Dark Materials trilogy. How cool would it be to cut open portals into alternate universes?

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Organic, random, emotional, recollected, researched.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Understanding, original, quirky, emotional, thoughtful.

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
Computer, cup of tea, Nellie the pug, Nemo the dachshund and Nutmeg the manx cat.

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 Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Strong.
Strong smells emanated from under the desk where a dachshund lay curled up asleep.

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
Julia Donaldson (picture book author): How do you come up with ideas that both entertain and evoke such a range of emotions in so few words?

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Definitely ‘never write another story’ as I love reading!

Wenda Shurety, or Wobbly Wenda, is a children's author, scientist and archer. She grew up in England, worked in New York and now lives in Australia. Wenda’s books are inspired by her love of being a mum, and the hope that has helped her through her struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. For more information, see www.wendashurety.com.




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Review: Wild Australian Life

Wild Australian Life is a fabulous educational resource with an abundance of detail about creatures, their habitats and the signs of them in our environment.

The book has over 60 pages of fascinating facts, and curious discoveries found in Australia. Each spread explores a different topic, including Magnificent Mammals, Skulls & Skeletons, Feathers, Radical Reptiles, Metamorphosis, Pond Life and many more. It also includes an introduction, clear contents page, classification chart of living things, and a detailed index.

One of my favourite topics covered is Mysterious Monotremes which focuses on the fascinating details of Australia’s unique echidna and platypus; the mammals who lay eggs! 

I adore the designer illustrations featuring bold shapes, intricate textures and muted colours. I’m also particularly impressed with the easy to navigate layout of information.

This book would suit animal lovers and those who love to learn, and it would be perfect as a classroom resource or personal gift. It’s also beautifully presented, looks modern and has an earthy bronze metallic text finish that will stand out on a shelf.

Leonard Cronin is an expert and leader in natural history, some of his previous books include the Cronin’s Key Guide series of field guides, The Australian Climate Change Book and A Journey Through Ancient Kingdoms and Natural Wonders. Chris Nixon is an illustrator and designer, he has illustrated over 10 books for children, including Lights Out, Leonard and Pandamonia.

Title: Wild Australian Life
Author: Leonard Cronin
Illustrator: Chris Nixon
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $29.99
Publication Date: 12 April 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760637224
For ages: 6 – 12
Type: Picture Book

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Winners: How To Spell Catastrophe

Our lucky winners are...

Lou Eveston, VIC

Liz Dorrington, WA

Joseph Spognolo, NSW

Congratulations!

You have each won a copy of Fiona Wood's latest middle grade fiction, How To Spell Catastrophe.

Thank you to ALL who entered. Some entries made us laugh, others mist up. Life can be such a glorious catastrophe! 

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Review: Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective

Penelope is the world’s best finder-outer and has a huge imagination. 

This intrepid girl detective has solved several mysteries, ably aided by her sidekick dog, Carlos. She even found her dad's chocolate, and some missing homework.

In Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective, Penelope is hunting for Sidney the smelly sock snake who has disappeared. 

Sidney is special to Penelope. He was in bed with her earlier in the day, then had breakfast with her, so where could he be? 

Penelope has spotted some clues and follows them determinedly, starting with a muddy footprint.

Could Sidney be in the garden or the tree house? What about on the moon? 

Penelope won’t stop until she uncovers what has happened to Sidney. Just when all seems lost, she finds that her mum might be able to help her solve the mystery. 

The text and pictures in Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective really celebrate the power of imagination. The story is humourous and the bright and busy illustrations make Penelope jump off the page as you follow her search for Sidney. The unique illustration style, featuring neon pink throughout, has a quite retro feel and really bring Penelope's lively personality to life.

Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective is a fabulously fun and quirky story for kids, which will encourage them to actively use their imaginations and explore the world around them.

Title: Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective
Author: Pamela Butchart
Illustrator: Christine Roussey
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $ 14.99
Publication Date: 29 March 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781408856956
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Giveaway: The Ghost Locket

Review: The Smart Cookie

Review: The Shadow Arts

Review: The Boy with Flowers in his Hair

This book drew me from the moment I saw the cover. 

I mean, look at it!

Look at those fabulous flowers.

I was immediately keen to find out if this boy’s flowers were a metaphor or if he had flowers threaded through his hair. 

Either would have been delightful, but the reality is so much sweeter because the boy referred to in the title has actual flowers for hair.

The main character in this gorgeous tale is actually not the boy from the cover, but another boy called David. David is friends with the boy with flowers in his hair, and they are the BEST of friends.

They do everything together. Jump in puddles. Sing songs. Even run away from hungry bees searching for delicious nectar.

But one day, the boy with flowers in his hair comes to school sad. And quiet. All his petals have fallen off, and all he has left is sticks and twigs. The kids at school avoid the boy, afraid of getting scratched.

Except for David. David stays close by the boy, and then he has a brilliant idea to help him get his flowers back…

The Boy with Flowers in his Hair is a gorgeous picture book to add to your collection. I just adore the injection of fantasy into the real world. It’s fresh and engaging, and it’s used to great effect to share a hidden but powerful message: embrace what makes you unique.

With stunning illustrations to help guide the story, this book just win, win, wins. Jarvis’ style is bright and bold, yet soft at the same time. I adore the different textures used to create layering and interest. It’s just divine.

There are some picture books you read and just say ‘yes’.

This is one of them.

Title: The Boy with Flowers in his Hair
Author/Illustrator: Jarvis
Publisher: Walker Books, $27.99
Publication Date: 2 March 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781406392517
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Books

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Review: Whisper on the Wind

Oh, how I adore a word building picture book. I don’t see them too often, but I love them. And I loved this one so very, very much. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me explain…

I’m sure there’s a technical term for it, but the easiest way to describe what I’m talking about is to say this picture book uses repetition of sentences from the pages before to build the story in layers. So we start with the wind…

This is the wind that carries the whisper from Ren’s dream.

And then it builds….

These are the waves that dance in the breeze that carries the whisper from Ren’s dream.

And it flows from there. It’s magical, lyrical and addictive, pulling audiences into its song and whisking you away to storyland.

Ren’s whisper has quite the adventure in this stunning book. It glows in moonbeams, plays with fish, dances with dolphins and makes it all the way to a very important boat — which has a very important sailor onboard. The sailor finds the whisper, understands it and knows exactly where she needs to go.

This gorgeous story from award winning author Claire Saxby enters your heart and head and will not leave. It’s a story that is simple and yet so awesomely layered in meaning.

Add in the stunning illustrations by Jess Racklyeft, and I just don’t know how you can walk past this book. Gorgeous blues and aquas swim on the pages. Bright white sea spray sprinkles the edges. The pictures are soft and moody, and each is worthy of their own frame. Simply perfection.

But beyond the magic and whimsy, and the gorgeous use of language, and the amazing illustrations that I want to gobble up, is fun and engagement. Kids will ADORE this story because it provides such a fabulous way to interact with text. With repeated lines and building momentum, they will love exploring this book.

Highly, highly, highly recommended, Whisper on the Wind is destined to appear on multiple lists of great Australian picture books.

Title: Whisper on the Wind
Author: Claire Saxby
Illustrator: Jess Racklyeft
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $24.99
Publication Date: March 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760526887
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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12 Curly Questions with author and psychologist Rachel Tomlinson

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I used to make and sell polymer clay earrings online, and I was contacted out of the blue to have a pair of my pineapple earrings featured in a Jetstar inflight magazine. I love creating in all mediums, and cannot sit still, so always find myself writing or crafting something.

2. What is your nickname?
Nothing exciting here, just a shortened Rach. I wish I had a cool nickname and some kind of great backstory as to how the name came about. I'm open to suggestions though.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Birds. Full blown ornithophobia. It has reduced a lot since having my daughter as I don’t want to pass my fears along, but it can be absolutely debilitating at times. Birds seem to sense my fear and I have many amusing stories about birds coming out of their way to menace me (amusing to others, not necessarily me). My long-suffering husband has had to guide me through many a public place with my hands over my eyes so we could pass a gang of pigeons (gang isn’t the official term for a grouping of pigeons, but I want to impress on you just how threatening and flappy these pigeons were).

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Accessible, therapeutic, sensitive, supportive. I hold space for my readers.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Inclusive, creative, reflective, open, inquisitive.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
No hesitation…Matilda. I re-read that book so many times. Luckily my family were nothing like the Wormwoods, but I loved the concept of a young girl feeling powerful and being in charge of her narrative. I would also secretly love to have a superpower: I could float my phone in from the other room so I don’t have to get off the couch. It’s the dream!

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I'm going to be boring (maybe I’ll reframe and say philosophical) and say that I wouldn’t time travel given the chance. I am right here, right now, and all the things in history (wider community and my own) have led me to this moment.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Stop hoping and wishing… you are not getting any taller than this! Author headshots can be deceptive, so you can't tell, but I am 5 foot 0 inches. It’s also hard making friends when you are 10 and have the vocabulary of an 18th century noblewoman and your head is constantly stuck in a book. I would also tell her that she will find her people, the ones who truly get her.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Oh tricky, can I cheat and say more than one? I’d have to say my mum and my husband. My mum is probably the reason I became a psychologist. She worked in similar fields and so I think I was drawn to wanting to work with and help people. She is incredibly generous of spirit, so accepting and non-judgmental. It taught me how to hold space for people, to allow them to just 'be', which is the cornerstone for how I create space as a psychologist for my clients. And my husband because when I said I wanted to write and try to put my stories out there he never doubted me. He is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. I cannot believe my luck in finding him out of the millions of people out there in the world. Having two people like this in my life who believe in me gives me the courage to put myself out there and give things a go!

10. What/who made you start writing?
I have always written. I used to get bits of scrap paper and staple them together and make my own books. But I really started to explore writing professionally when I worked in play therapy. My clients could never truly see themselves in existing literature and they often felt so alone, like no one else in the world felt the way they did, or experienced things they did. So I started creating short stories that took the challenges my clients faced, and their strengths, and wrote them tailored stories of coping and hope to take home after our sessions had wrapped up. I had a number of people asking if I had ever thought about publishing therapeutic texts so other children could see themselves in stories too… and now here we are!

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Oh dear, I’m going to cheat again and choose a whole series of words! I like onomatopoeia - words that sound like their meaning: hiss, crisp, honk, bang, buzz… the list goes on. It just adds a bit of playfulness to conversation or text (when I'm writing) and I think it makes for a more enjoyable story that can be read aloud for children. The reader can really get into the story and I find it more engaging for the person listening. I write picture books, so I always think about what it's like for that poor parent reading the same story for the 47th time that week and I think adding in a bit of verbal gymnastics can keep the same story interesting.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Rachel’s Holiday, by Marian Keyes. Not because I'm egocentric and share the name with the titular character, but because I love her writing so much. I could (and I have) re-read her stories over and over again. And I love Rachel’s Holiday because it deals with mental health (I'm drawn to these stories because I'm a psychologist and this is something that interests me). It's humorous yet raw, it's painful, it's human. I find something new every time I read it.

Rachel Tomlinson is an author and registered psychologist who has worked with adults, families and children in a variety of settings. She has presented at national conferences on mental health topics including trauma and play therapy. She writes about topics such as parenting, child development and relationships. For more information, see www.towardwellbeing.com.

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Review: The Love That Grew

Let me tell you of a power that can never be tamed,

of how I promise to love you all the same.

Something so special you must never forget,

no matter how big our family may get….

The Love That Grew, written by Sarah Ayoub, is a beautiful message from mother to children about the love she has for her family as it grows. It’s got all the feels, including those that warm your heart and those that make you giggle.

Sweeter than a slice of chocolate cake,

Stretchier than a lolly snake.

With stunning illustrations from Mimi Purnell, the pictures send you on a journey with the family of four as mum explains just how big her love for them is. In beautiful peachy hues, the illustrations are perfectly matched to the rhyming text — gentle and yet funky at the same time.

This is a different kind of rhyming picture book, and I really loved that about it. You won’t find strict metre in the story, but rather clear and consistent end rhymes throughout, that work to guide the flow as you read.

Even though my brain tried to force me to find the set rhythm at first, I quickly found exquisite joy in reading each sentence uniquely, savouring the words and enjoying the linking rhymes as I moved through the story. It’s different to many other rhyming picture books, but it works beautifully, and this type of construction seems MADE for reading aloud.

The Love That Grew is a joyful story perfect for sharing (and snuggling!).

Title: The Love That Grew
Author: Sarah Ayoub
Illustrator: Mimi Purnell
Publisher: HarperCollins, $19.99
Publication Date: 16 March 2022
Format: Hard Cover 
ISBN: 9781460761113
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Please Write Soon

Please Write Soon is inspired by acclaimed author Michael Rosen’s family history. Sharing personal memories and experiences like these is something he’s done before in The Missing, which is also about the experience of World War Two, and that of Jewish people. 

In Please Write Soon, Londoner Solly tells his teacher and classmates about his Polish cousin Bernie. He shares the letters he and Bernie wrote to each other over the course of more than six years, including during the war. This epistolary approach provides a window into the minds of both boys. 

Solly tells Bernie about playing marbles, and being evacuated to a farm in the country. There he learns to milk a cow and ride a horse, and collects fresh eggs. He also watches badgers in the woods at night time and finds them clever creatures whose tunnels are like the shelters humans have been building for protection.

Bernie tells Solly about cutting trees in a work camp in Russia, and about becoming a soldier. Bernie fights in Persia and Italy and there are many times when Solly is worried about him because he doesn’t hear from him for a long time. 

Both Solly and Bernie share stories about events around them that happened in real life, including a tragic accident that killed many people at Bethnel Green underground station, and Wojtek the bear who lived with Polish soldiers. 

Using the letters between Solly and Bernie gradually builds the story to a climax. What happened to Bernie and his family? Did he survive the war? You will need to read the story to find out.

Michael Rosen is superb at creating stories that draw you in and make you care about the characters. Reading Solly and Bernie’s story helps readers understand something of the impact of war and and its personal costs. 

Readers of Please Write Soon should make sure they also read the Afterword. It explains the stories behind some of Please Write Soon, and uses it to explore the concept of remembrance and memorials. Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, it also draws parallels between remembrance of those who served in wartime, and remembrance of those who serve in health services under difficult circumstances. 

Please Write Soon is highly recommended. It doesn’t take long to read, but has a lot to say and has a big impact.

Title: Please Write Soon
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Publisher: Scholastic UK, $ 16.99
Publication Date: March 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780702315572
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Arabella's Alphabet Adventure

Giveaway: Fiona Wood's How To Spell Catastrophe

Review: Rainbow the Koala and Star the Elephant

Award-winning author-illustrator Remy Lai brings her writing and illustrating superpowers to a brand-new graphic novel series.

Kick-starting with Rainbow the Koala and Star the Elephant, these fabulous books for junior readers are infused with adventure, heart and loads of information.

In Rainbow the Koala, it’s time for little koala Rainbow to leave her Mum and live independently. 

Mum has taught her much, but there are still challenges along the way. And when a terrifying bushfire sweeps through the land, Rainbow must be bold and brave and use everything her mum has taught her to survive.

Inspired by true stories that came from the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires, Rainbow’s story is one of both sadness and hope as she faces an uncontrollable and unpredictable force.

Star the elephant is as big a hero as Rainbow. When food shortages force Star and her aunt and mother to leave their homeland, they must travel the land and swim the ocean to find food. But the threat of humans is very real, and when Star’s mother and aunt are caught, she fears she may never find a place to call home again.

Star the Elephant is also inspired by real events. This time it's the incredible story of three bull elephants from Malaysia who swam to Singapore in search of food in 1990.

Lai infuses truth with fiction in this great series, and she does it in the best way for kids to enjoy, understand, and learn. The stories are fiction, with wonderful characters and loads of action, but at the back of each book, Lai provides the background for the stories, along with a variety of facts about the featured animals to help kids learn more.

Lai’s illustrations are so suburb. Funky and colourful, full of emotion and packed with details. They are a delight to explore, and I think will really help kids who love a visual to guide their reading experience.

Star and Rainbow are such superb little heroes, and the good news… these are only the first two books in the series. There’s still more to come!

Title: Rainbow the Koala and Star the Elephant
Author/Illustrator: Remy Lai
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $14.99
Publication Date: 14 April 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761065453/9781760526849
For ages: 6 - 9
Type: Graphic Novel

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Meet The Illustrator: Kate Isobel Scott

Name: Kate Isobel Scott 

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Friendly, a little naive, innocent, entertaining, colourful and cheerful

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
A good window to look out of. Some headphones lots of paper and sharp pencils. Plasticine a Wacom and a computer.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Simple pencil and paper, I also really enjoyed working with plasticine. 
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Liz Roland, Myung Ae Lee and Babette Cole

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I think I would like to visit the modernism sculpture movement. I wold have really liked to hung out with Babara Hepworth.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I love stories however I am dyslexic, especially as a kid I wold find reading impossible. I have always relayed heavily on the pictures. So illustration has always been part of everything I do.

   
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I have recently moved countries, I use to live in Den Haag in The Netherlands where I had a beautiful big studio in an old school building, it was a real haven. Currently I am based in my front room of my house in Fitzroy Melbourne, although a little bit smaller it has a great window for people watching.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

I like the brainstorming at the beginning of a project. I also really enjoy being in the thick of it when you are so absorbed in what you are doing you forget there is a world out there.

 What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
KEEP GOING don’t give up. Its a hard slog to get recognised but the only way someone will notice you is if you keep making work!

Kate Isobel Scott (b. 1988) grew up in a small town in Australia. Once she finished school
Kate moved to England to study Illustration at Falmouth University in Cornwall. In 2011 Kate
graduated with a BA Honours degree in illustration and moved to London.

After a few years of working in London in set design and art department, Kate relocated to
The Hague in The Netherlands. Here she focused on her career as an animation director
and illustrator. Working for clients such as New York Times, Adobe, Libresse, Greenpeace,
Off-White and Gymshark.

Kate has developed her own visual language within the stop motion animation industry,
using plasticine as a main medium often combined with painted elements. Kate’s hand-
made plasticine style is heavily inspired by the nostalgia of 80s/90s children’s television. Her
colourful, friendly and sometimes wonky characters celebrate the essence of hand made
craft. Besides animation Kate works on children’s picture books and has been exploring
painting and illustration. Her work has been shown in several exhibitions in Europe.

Recently Kate has returned to her roots and moved to Melbourne, Australia where she
continues to work on both her self initiated and commissioned animation work.

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

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Review: Bad Bunny

Guest Post: Leslie Gang on Changing the Story - Hindi's Libraries