Review: Bush Magic

Bush Magic is the story of a rainy day turned into a joyous creative adventure starring Jarrah and her grandpa.

When their weekly bush adventure appears to be a dismal washout, Grandpa and Jarrah craft their way into an imaginative journey instead. Sailing away in a huge leaf, they encounter giant jellyfish and discover stranded bush animals. What else will they find? Will they be able to help the animals? An enjoyable expedition prevails.

I adore the transition from life to imagination, and the characters' positive attitudes which lead into and through the adventure. A warming message about imagination and making the most of any situation shines through. 

The Illustrations are gorgeous with a mix of textures and colours that perfectly depict a joyful Australian bush environment. Pops of colour, emotion and dialect like ‘ziggety-zoo kangaroo’ kept my kids and I wanting more.

Bush Magic is perfect for groups or one-on-one reading, and would be a great inspiration to craft and other learning activities. 

Kylie Howarth is an award-winning author-illustrator based in Western Australia, some of her other books include Chip and the Fish-Kid series which begins with Fish Kid And The Ninja Lizard.

Title: Bush Magic
Author/Illustrator: Kylie Howarth
Publisher: Walker Books, $25.99
Publication Date: 3 May 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760650827
For ages: 4 – 8
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Kora Kerplunk’s Travelling Tongue

Kora Kerplunk is a wild child who loves being dirty and loves to play rough. But what she loves more than anything else is licking yucky stuff!!!!

Boogers and blackboards, windows and dirt,

Grey gum on the ground, and stains on her shirt.

But one day, sick of the disgusting things Kora licks, her tongue runs away, leaving Kora a farewell note. 

Kora tries to get her tongue to come back, but it’s having too much fun, travelling the world and tasting all the foodie delights. What will Kora do?

This is a fun and smile-triggering picture book for kids who love a little silliness with their picture books. It’s whacky and delightfully quirky, delivered in fun rhyme to drive the rhythm of the humour. I loved the places Kora’s tongue travels and the foods it tastes along the way. And kids will love this too, because it opens a door to talk about different cuisines from around the world and all our favourite yummy things to eat.

With funky and colourful illustrations to match the funky story, the book really does scream fun! Kora’s emotional journey is clear on her face as she experiences both the loss of her tongue and its return, and there’s a nice subtle message there about thinking of others and compromise, but it isn’t didactic in any way.

For a silly, funny, quirky read that will get your tastebuds tingling, check out Kora Kerplunk’s Travelling Tongue.

Title: Kora Kerplunk's Travelling Tongue
Author: Emily S. Smith
Illustrator: Peter Olczyk
Publisher: Larrikin House, $24.99
Publication Date: February 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922503206
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Books

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12 Curly Questions with author Rory H Mather

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I had my first birthday in Tonga because I spent large chunks of my childhood living and travelling on sailboats my Dad had built. Wait, is that two things?

2. What is your nickname?
My friends call me Rory the Great. Haha, jokes. I don’t really have a nickname, but when I was a rifleman in the Army Reserves it was Hammer, which is a shortened form of my surname and very ironic because I’m very mild mannered.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Geez, that’s a bit deep. I’ve been scared of lots of things such as the dark, whales (they are very big and I lived on a boat) and when I was 10 I was scared of growing a prominent Adam's apple. These days my biggest fear is probably not pushing myself to be the best I can be and regretting it later in life. Deep right?! Also words with two Rs in them… I have a lisp.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Funny, sporadic, quick, good, bad, rhyming, slow, silly, random, fun.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Fun, funny, quirky, quick, adventurous.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would definitely be a bear. Everyone loves them and hopefully there would be some honey in my book… honey is delicious.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Now you’re speaking my language. I have a history degree so this is something I often think about. To be honest, there are so many cool things in the past that I would love to see that I can’t narrow it down to a year… so instead I’m going to choose the year 2222 because I’m curious to see what the future holds and those 2s make it an interesting year already.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
I think 10-year-old me would ask whether I still love the movie Gladiator (it came out when I was 10). The answer is yes, it is still awesome.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My parents and my wife. They have all had some pretty rough things thrown their way throughout life, but they have always kept going. From a writing perspective though I’d say Aaron Blabey because I started writing in 2015, which was the year after Pig the Pug came out and when he had loads of other picture books coming out. They were some of the first picture books I’d read since childhood and they were my exactly my sense of humour.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I’ve always written in some capacity – I was the king of roses are red poems for my Mum back in the day – but it was simply the art form of picture books themselves that turned me into an actual writer. In 2015 I got a job delivering kidlit programs in a public library – so I was reading loads of picture books – and I just fell in love with the format.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Synonym, because it sounds like cinnamon which I love. And also because I find synonyms useful when writing stories. It isn’t a great word for my lisp though.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oh wow, I don’t think I’d like that at all. It’d have to be a really big book so that by the time I got to the end I’d forgotten the beginning. Or maybe a book of short stories so that there are lots of different things to read. When I was a kid, I had a Reader's Digest history book called When, Where, Why and How It Happened. I read that a lot so I am going go with that.

Rory Mather is the author of six absolutely hilarious picture books, and he has a heap more on the way. He is often seen staring into space or smirking because he has thought of something funny. He lives in Toowoomba with his wife, two dogs and soon his greatest creation yet… a baby. For more details, see www.roryhmather.com

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Winner: Astronaughties

Our lucky winner is...

Eloise Liddel, VIC

Congratulations! We loved your spacey interpretation of our question!

You have won a copy of this out of this world middle grade fiction, Astronaughties by Andrew Cranna.

Thank you to ALL who entered.

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Review: Flooded

Flooded is a special debut book that is the result of author and illustrator Mariajo Ilustrajo's Masters in Children's Book Illustration, and her winning the World Illustration Award in 2020.

It's the story of an ordinary city and its citizens who are depicted as animals.

The animals go about their lives, not noticing that something is happening. All except one who realises that the city is a little bit wet.

The many other animals don't take any notice of just one animal. They carry on as normal. 

The only sign they show of knowing something is going on, is a bit of gossip. Perhaps it being damp is the result of someone who left the tap on? Or maybe it's because of politicians?

Whatever the reason, the animals are surprised at some of the changes, but not enough to do anything about them. That's until, as the water continues to rise and flood the city, more of the animals realise something needs to be done. 

The water has become a much bigger problem, but is it too late to do something? And what should they do? Could they have worked together and found a solution earlier, before it became such a big problem?

Flooded is a reminder to address problems sooner rather than later. It has a clear environmental message, but themes of not procrastinating or ignoring issues, and working together, can apply to many other situations as well.

Modern, yet retro, and beautifully illustrated in black and white with swathes of blue. Flooded is about a timely and important subject, and highly recommended.

Title: Flooded
Author/Illustrator: Mariajo Ilustrajo
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's, $ 24.99
Publication Date: May 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780711276765
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Dancing with Dragons

Have you ever wandered through the trees and heard something strange? It’s probably just a rabbit or a bird, right? Maybe the wind?

But what if it wasn’t. What if it was dragons?

Well, this is exactly what happens to Rose!

While playing in the woods, she stumbles across two fearsome dragons with black eyes and terrible talons. But… 

It turns out these dragons aren’t scary. They just need to Rose to judge their dancing competition.

So the dancing begins…

First was the dragon with horns of bright red,
flaring his nostrils and bopping his head.

Grooving and shaking and tapping his toes,
then spinning around on the tip of his nose.

They are both very good. How could Rose possibly choose which is best? But then one more contender comes into the mix and changes everything.

Dancing with Dragons is a super joyful rhyming picture book for kids who love a splash of fantasy with their stories. I am OBSESSED with dragons, so this one really speaks to me, and I love how the story encourages movement and dance.

Delivered in funky rhyme, by author Amy Dunjey, the story flows from the tongue to the tips of your toes. Paired with stunning illustrations from Jesus Lopez, each turn of the page is colourful, bright and engaging. There are some gorgeous colours in this book, from golden pink morning hues to the purple-green forest palate and bright red dragon scales. It’s just really, really beautiful.

If you love a fun rhyming tales and you love dragons, you’re really going to love Dancing with Dragons by Amy Dunjey and Jesus Lopez.

Title: Dancing with Dragons
Author: Amy Dunjey
Illustrator: Jesus Lopez
Publisher: Larrikin House, $19.99
Publication Date: February 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922503299
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Voyage Of Whale And Calf

Meet The Illustrator: Tori-Jay Mordey

Name: Tori-Jay Mordey

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
People, connection, movement, emotions, and bursting with colour.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Music is the most important part for me, it's what helps me to visualise what I want to draw in my head, to keep the creative juices flowing while also keeping me awake and motivated while working.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I love acrylic painting, but I also love drawing digitally. I always try to balance it out by working on digital illustrations for clients while also putting time aside to do acrylic painting for fun.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
James Jean, Shaun Tan, and most comic book artists

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Probably Postmodernism, just because it was such a wild change for how we produced and looked at art, I would have loved to attend an art exhibition back then.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
For the majority of my childhood I really struggled with reading, so a lot of the books I'd borrow from the library were all picture books, I couldn't read the book but I could follow the story through the illustrations, and ever since then I've always wanted to become an illustrator.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
This is a photo of me in my studio in Brisbane, I work right in the city not far from the Botanical Gardens, I share this studio space with street artists, fine art artists, and other creatives, every wall of our studio is painted with vibrant murals. I started painting the walls of my studio space but haven't quite finished it yet. Behind me you'll also see some of my acrylic paintings, some finished, some not. This studio is like a second home to me, it's my favourite place to come to create.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
The sketching and the finalised line art.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Don't be afraid to meet people from your creative community, get out there and attend social art events, get to know other creatives, put yourself out there, the more like-minded people you surround yourself with, the more you'll learn and grow from them. The people and friends I have met within the creative arts industry have helped shape me into the artist/illustrator that I am today, they inspire me every single day.

Tori-Jay Mordey is an Indigenous Australian illustrator whose work traverses multiple mediums, such as digital illustration, drawing, painting, printmaking, film and murals. Her Torres Strait Islander and English heritage is often reflected in her contemporary Indigenous art practice— producing work based around her family and siblings as a way of understanding herself, her appearance and racial identity. She is based in Brisbane, Australia.

For more information, please visit Tori-Jay's website or follow her on instagram.

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Guest Post: Jacinta Farragher - Jacinta's Joy!

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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