Short stories for kids

Tuesday, 21 February 2023

Review: Pocket Treasure

Oh, pockets! They are a fabric delight. They are everyday essentials, and I am with our protagonist Allira 100% when she reveals on the first few pages of Pocket Treasure that she only wants to wear a dress with pockets.

Through Allira’s adventures, readers are taken on a delightful journey, collecting this and collecting that.

And pockets aren’t only good for putting things into. They're also great for pulling things out of, and Allira does so, coming to her classmates’ rescue when they need a “something”.

But after helping so much, and giving away all her pocket treasure, Allira runs into trouble when she needs a “something” of her own and there’s nothing left in her beautiful yellow pockets. What will she do?

Pocket Treasure by Wenda Shurety and Juliana Oakley captures the true essence of childhood. It's a celebration of seeing beauty in all the small things around us. Even the discarded things.

It’s also a story about friendship and caring and helping others, which is just so warming. This balance of heart and curious adventure is perfection on paper, offering readers an engaging story that hits all the marks.

Oakley’s illustrations are nothing short of addictive. Allira is such a gentle soul, and Oakley brings her personality to life through funky colours, a gorgeous mop of soft and fuzzy hair, and expressions that speak to your soul.

Gosh I love this child. I want to be her friend, and the combined power of Shurety’s words and Oakley’s illustrations is what triggers this.

For a delightful and friendly adventure that is sure to get kids everywhere starting their own collections of special somethings, I highly recommend Pocket Treasure.

Title: Pocket Treasure
Author: Wenda Shurety
Illustrator: Juliana Oakley
Publisher: Affirm Press, $19.99
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922848574
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Monday, 20 February 2023

Review: My EPIC Dad Takes Us Camping

Dad is an adventurer and wants to go camping. The kids would rather glamping, but instead they get My EPIC Dad Takes Us Camping.

It turns out there are a few problems on the trip. Ants, bees, spiders, leeches, rats, mud crabs ... and a wild boar! Not to forget a snake and a fox.

What Dad hoped for, a pleasant camping trip, turns out to be an unfortunate lesson in what to look out for and what not to do.

Poor Dad probably won't be planning any more expeditions in a hurry, although the kids think it was a major success.

Author and podcaster, Dani Vee's rhyming text shares the story of a nightmare camping trip in a fun way. Kids will be laughing throughout.

Marina Verola's illustrations are lively, bright and entertaining, bringing the family, and all the animals and escapades to life. The endpapers are a fun map with a trail to follow, too.

My EPIC Dad Takes Us Camping is one of a six-part picture book series about a Dad who loves being involved but has some epic adventures and misadventures. Look out for them all!

Title: My EPIC Dad Takes Us Camping
Author: Dani Vee
Illustrator: Marina Verola
Publisher: Larrikin House, $19.99
Publication Date: February 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922503909
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Lesbiana's Guide To Catholic School

Saturday, 18 February 2023

Review: The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea: Bunny Ideas (Book #5) and Otter-ly Ridiculous (Book #6)

Books 5 and 6 in The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea series are out, and owl/bunny duo Ollie and Bea are all about play in these fun instalments.

In Bunny Ideas (Book 5), Bea has a whole line up of games planned for playtime, but she doesn’t exactly love it when she loses… so she keeps changing the rules. Can Bea learn to have fun without winning?

In Otter-ly Ridiculous (Book 6), Bea really wants to play hide-and-seek, but when Ollie and Bea’s friends join in and the game gets super competitive, the friends end up in a giant fight.

Can the crew sort out their quarrels and get back to playing? It’s not so easy when everyone has very strong ideas about the best way to play.

The Ollie and Bea series is a sweet and colourful graphic-novel addition to the junior fiction shelf.

Super easy to follow and easy to read, the books are joyful and entertaining.

Love the animal word play used throughout — words like owl-some, i-deer, unhoppy and toad-ally —and I love that the characters are beyond kid. They act and talk (and misbehave) like kids, making the books super relatable and just lots of fun.

These books are perfect for newly independent readers + juniors who love a bucketload of gorgeous illustrations with their stories.

Title: The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea: Otter-ly Ridiculous and Bunny Ideas

Author/Illustrator: Renee Treml
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $12.99
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761068119 (book 5) 9781761068126 (book 6)
For ages: 4 - 7
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Girl And Fish

This breathtakingly beautiful picture book chronicles the adventures of a mountain girl and a fish. The unlikely pairing is made all the more poignant by Girl’s urgent quest to find the right habitat and environment for Fish to survive and thrive within.

Girl is riding her bike in the mountains when Fish literally falls off the back of a truck! Girl quickly realises that Fish needs salt water to survive, but she cannot cry an ocean of tears for her new friend.

What on earth will happen – and will she be able to help Fish?

Questions abound and are answered in turn through the pages of the book, but at its heart this is a story of looking after others. It explores through a stunningly simple and articulate narrative, that what we want to give is not always what someone else needs to receive.

I cannot emphasise enough how special this book is. It’s subtle and clear and beautiful.

The illustrations by author/illustrator Dr Carolina Parada are simply divine. Charming, endearing, soft and strong at the same time, they celebrate difference and uniqueness without even trying. Shapes and layering, texture and line work with a gentle colour palette which is both immersive and evocative.

An open-hearted and compassionate invitation into the challenges of friendship, Girl And Fish embodies what it is to love unconditionally, without ever mentioning those two words.

Truly stunning.

Title: Girl And Fish
Author/Illustrator: Carolina Parada
Publisher: Red Paper Kite, $28.50
Publication Date: February 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780648502678
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book

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Friday, 17 February 2023

Junior Review: We Are Not From Here

Wednesday, 15 February 2023

Review: The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea: Otter-ly Ridiculous (Book #5) and Bunny Ideas (Book #6)

In Otter-ly Ridiculous (Book 6), Bea really wants to play hide-and-seek, but when Ollie and Bea’s friends join in and the game gets super competitive, the friends end up in a giant fight.

Can the crew sort out their quarrels and get back to playing? It’s not so easy when everyone has very strong ideas about the best way to play.

The Ollie and Bea series is a sweet and colourful graphic-novel addition to the junior fiction shelf.

Super easy to follow and easy to read, the books are joyful and entertaining.

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Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Review: Girl And Fish

What on earth will happen – and will she be able to help Fish?

I cannot emphasise enough how special this book is. It’s subtle and clear and beautiful.

An open-hearted and compassionate invitation into the challenges of friendship, Girl And Fish embodies what it is to love unconditionally, without ever mentioning those two words.

Truly stunning.

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Review: The Wanderer

Review: Brain Is (Not) Always Right

Being yourself is an important message for children and adults, and one that features in many books including this fabulous new picture book from bestselling author and illustrator Scott Stuart.
Brain Is (Not) Always Right shares the story of two characters represented by a heart and a brain, and explores how approaching life from emotional and intellectual perspectives may differ, but one is not better than the other.

Heart is creative, loves puppies and fashion, and will jump right aboard when there's a chance to ride a roller coaster. Brain is a super-sensible list maker who doesn't take risks and wants to get things right all of the time.

When Heart wants to learn to play the trumpet and dreams of becoming a famous performer, Brain is not keen. In fact, Brain’s response is an outright no because it may not be perfect and people might laugh.

Heart is devastated.

Brain is always right, so playing the trumpet must not be for Heart. The impact of this on Heart and how Brain ultimately reacts is simple yet so real. We should use both our brain and our heart.

Scott Stuart's illustrations are bright and uncomplicated. Even without the words you can tell what's happening and what the characters are feeling. The change in colour and typeface also help to communicate the story.

Brain Is (Not) Always Right reminds us that we might easily crush someone’s spirit if we’re not careful and keep telling them they’re wrong or not good enough, and that we’re all unique and should be ourselves.

Whatever your approach to life, spontaneous or planned, creative, emotional, planned, perfectionist, risk taker or risk averse or something else, this heartfelt and carefully considered book is for you.

Everyone should read Brain Is (Not) Always Right.

Title: Brain Is (Not) Always Right
Author/Illustrator: Scott Stuart
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $26.99
Publication Date: February 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761204685
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book

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Monday, 13 February 2023

12 Curly Questions with author Louis White

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I had the opportunity to work as a spy in my early twenties but I didn’t want to move to Canberra so I said no.

2. What is your nickname?
I am fortunate to have a pretty original name in Louis (pronounced ‘louie’) so I have only ever been called by my Christian name.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Heights. I don’t know why but I am terrified of heights and it only gets worse as I get older.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Creative, pertinent, witty, educational, informative, entertaining, rhythmic, innovative, concise and adventurous.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Persuasive, descriptive, reflective, personal, inspired.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would be Charlie Bucket in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because I never give up and always believe that something positive can happen at any time to anyone.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I would go back to 1987 when the world was simpler, the music was actually original, people were more carefree, there was no social media and I was only 19 years old studying at university without a care in the world.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Well, you didn’t make it as an Australian Rules footballer but you have succeeded as a mainstream journalist and children’s book author, so at least your second love came to fruition.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
When it comes to children’s books definitely Julia Donaldson. I think her books are so clever across so many different themes. She is really very talented.

10. What/who made you start writing?
As far as I can remember I always loved reading books. I can remember as a boy spending hours in my bedroom, lying on my bed reading books. I think writing just emanated from that and I found it a great way to express myself as a teenager throughout school.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Facetious. It reflects my personality and it is only one of two English words that have all the vowels in order.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably the Bible because it is so big and has so many stories. You would always find something new.

Louis White is an experienced journalist and corporate writer who has written for major daily newspapers in Australia. Inspired by his daughter Lily and her curiosity and passion for nature, he began writing the Adventures of Lily series with an aim to encourage children to get closer to nature and understand the world around them. His other books include A Christmas Story and an adult fiction book titled One Season. For more information, see www.louiswhite.com.

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Review: Mama's Chickens

Review: Found in Sydney

Head out on a counting adventure in Sydney with Found in Sydney from Joanne O’Callaghan and Kori Song.

Written in rollicking rhyme, every page features a number and a special place in Sydney to explore.

Two baby koalas sleep in a tree.

Kangaroos, emus and giraffes to see.

Three cheeky seagulls are flying around.

Careful your hot chips don’t fall on the ground.

Count the objects and pour over the funky illustrations on each page. If you’re a Sydney local, you’re sure to recognise all the fabulous locations, but there are enough iconic landmarks that non Sydney-siders will also recognise most.

At the back of the book, all of the featured places are listed and included on a map, so you can find out more about them and learn where they are (maybe for a Sydney trip of your own). There’s also some fantastic facts about Sydney in a section called ‘Did you Know?’, helping kids learn more about one of Australia’s most famous cities.

A fun way to learn about the city of Sydney, Found in Sydney is perfect picture book fun.

Title: Found in Sydney
Author: Joanne O’Callaghan
Illustrator: Kori Song
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $24.99
Publication Date: 10 January 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760526245
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Saturday, 11 February 2023

Review: The Secret Wild

Adventure and mystery in the city for a girl who loves the rainforest. That's The Secret Wild.

Fern Featherstone is not a city girl and when she has to move to London, she misses the green outdoors.

Her life changes dramatically, when on the plane to London she discovers a plant that can talk!

She ‘liberates’ it from a botanist who is secretly bringing it into the country. Fern names the plant Special. And so begins a series of unusual events.

On the way from the airport, Fern is driven through the Chelsea Coconut Grove, thought to have been planted by someone dubbed the Guerilla Gardener.

Then there’s Fern’s Uncle Ned who she’s going to be meeting for the first time, and staying with. He’s a rather eccentric writer and doesn’t have a green thumb. Fern isn’t very happy. Her life until now has been so different to what it’s like in London.

Fern meets a boy named Woody, and she discovers there are strange things happening. Plants seem to be taking over the city. Will Fern be able to uncover what is going on? Can she save the city from the mysterious turn of events?

As a novel, this book doesn’t have illustrations. However, the first chapter of each page is decorated with pictures of plants – branches, vines and the like – winding around the edges. As the story progresses, they grow from a tiny plant with a few leaves to multiple large plants covering all the white space. It’s a clever way of creating atmosphere. Added to this is the use of botanical themed names, like Dandelion Road, and Oleander the botanist.

The Secret Wild is full of the environment and fast-paced adventure, with Fern’s experiences brought to life through the imagination of Alex Evelyn, in her debut novel. A fun story for independent readers, or as a shared read-aloud book.

Title: The Secret Wild
Author: Alex Evelyn
Publisher: Walker Books, $19.35
Publication Date: May 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781406399394
For ages: 9 - 11
Type: Junior Fiction

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Friday, 10 February 2023

Review: Dorrie

Have you read Mamie by Tania McCartney? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. It’s a gorgeous retelling of the life of May Gibbs, creator of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

But this isn’t a review about Mamie. This is a review about Dorrie (also by Tania McCartney), an equally stunning retelling of the life of Dorothy Wall, the creator of Blinky Bill.

In Dorrie, a young girl called Dorothy is born. She loves the piano, she loves to sing and she loves to dance. She’s a creative soul, a maker of beautiful things and an adventurer.

Eventually her adventures take her to Australia, and there she continues to create and create until one day… she starts to write about and draw a koala named Blinky Bill.

Filled with imagination, inspiration and whimsy, Dorrie is a delightful tale full of magic. There’s something warming in these pages. Something special that connects you to a true story, but also takes you away on a fantastical journey, with a koala who loves drawing and dancing and wears cool yellow sunglasses. I also love that Dorrie stays a girl throughout the book, even though that doesn’t add up to the real-life timeline. It makes the book super relatable for kids, engaging them from start to finish.

At the back of the book there is a page devoted to the facts, so readers can find out more about Dorothy Wall and the things that happened in her life. It wasn’t an easy life, and Dorothy experienced many ups and downs. McCartney goes through all this in a truthful, but kid-friendly way, so readers can learn about this great creator and her accomplishments.

I feel like a broken record when it comes to McCartney’s illustrations, but they are once again superb. Stunning colours, so perfectly chosen to create the setting, literally hundreds of tiny details to pour over, and deep emotions injected into every expression.

I have so many favourite pages, but I particularly like the ones where Dorrie is creating, because this is where those intricate details really shine — books and paper and pens and pencils and drawings and scissors and pins and thread and paints and more. You can literally spend hours discovering hidden treasures on these pages. The time it would have taken to create them... they are a true gift.

I really love this kind of non-fiction/fiction/retelling story. It’s such a spectacular way to learn about a real-life someone who did amazing real-life things in a fun, engaging and feels-like-a-hug way.

Tania McCartney and Dorothy Wall have a lot in common. They are both HUGELY talented Australian author/illustrator/creators. Celebrate them both buy picking up a copy of the stunning Dorrie.

Title: Dorrie
Author/Illustrator: Tania McCartney
Publisher: HarperCollins, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781460760109
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Thursday, 9 February 2023

Review: Hope is the Thing

Hope -- anticipation and waiting and wanting -- is a concept that may or may not be somewhat difficult for a child to explain.

In their picture book Hope is the Thing, a note from Johanna Bell and Erica Wagner explains that in the book they aim to '[speak] to the many ways hope presents in the world'.

Inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem Hope is the Thing With Feathers, Johanna and Erica use their main character, a creative young girl, and many kinds of birds to help 'create an imagined world filled with art and hope'.

The freedom and activity of birds offers a feeling of hope and exhilaration which the text of Hope is the Thing captures and celebrates beautifully. There are kookaburras singing, emus running, and pelicans patrolling. Mischievous cockatoos and the hungry ibis make themselves known. The birds featured offer insight into the wonderful birdlife we can experience.

The pictures in Hope is the Thing are created using mixed media collages which give wonderful texture, depth and movement, and the backgrounds are painted on paper. A note from illustrator Erica Wagner at the back of the book gives a bit more detail about the illustrations.

All the pictures are fantastic, however I particularly love the final two pictures, where the girl has dressed up as a bird, and a flock of birds is flying from her hand and out a window. Then you see the girl herself joining them as she flies on the back of a large bird.

A child’s innocence and the freedom of birds combine to create an uplifting story in Hope is the Thing.

Title: Hope is the Thing
Author: Johanna Bell
Illustrator: Erica Wagner
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $24.99
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761180026
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture book

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Meet The Illustrator: Georgia Stylou

Name: Georgia Stylou

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Digital free hand painting, semi-realist, whimsical, warm and innocent.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My Mac is my best friend, regular pencils are always on my desk as well as my digital ones, candles and a bottle of fresh water. A cup of coffee is also a must!

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
My pen tablet, for sure! Ever since I discovered the digital way I can’t go back! I used to be a traditional painter so pencils, brushes and colours are always somewhere around just in case!

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Roger Olmos, Sonja Wimmer and Rebecca Dautremer.

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

I’d say the present artistic period! I think that we are living in the most 'pluralistic' period of all time, there are all kind of artistic styles and so many talented artists around the world!

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I have asked this same question myself many times before but, honestly, I don’t know exactly the answer! I draw and paint ever since I remember myself so I guess whatever inspired me in the first place to become an illustrator must be something I had experienced in my very early childhood life! I guess the fact that I was always a big fan of picture books and cartoons was a plus!

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
This is the workspace where I have been creating for the last 10 years. It is pretty minimalistic and clean because that is how I like to work: just my pen tablet, my Mac, some candles and a cup of coffee. However, right now it is emptier than usual because we are about to move in a new apartment and most of my stuff are in boxes!

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
Definitely one of the last parts: the colouring! It is then when all the images look alive and I can have a clearer view of what the final creative product will look like.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

My advice would be to constantly learning and developing your techniques and just go after your dream.

Georgia Stylou works as an illustrator for children's books around the world.She has a degree in Graphic Design but she soon realized that what she really wanted to do was creating images for children´s stories. Books with her work have been published in Greece and abroad. She lives in Greece with her husband and their two children, who serve as inspiration for creating beautiful scenes and images.

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

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Wednesday, 8 February 2023

Review: Brain Is (Not) Always Right

Heart is devastated.

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Tuesday, 7 February 2023

12 Curly Questions with author Karen Comer

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I can’t swallow tablets whole – I have to cut them up first! I envy people who can swallow a
tablet without a gulp of water!

2. What is your nickname?
Kaz – occasionally.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Being on a reality TV show – cameras, lots of people, competitiveness, lack of authenticity – no thanks!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Contemporary verse novels – sparse, lyrical, full of heart and symbolism.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Persistent, creative, determined, disciplined, daydreamy.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would like to be another member of the Silk family from Glenda Millard’s wonderful series
The Kingdom of Silk – they are such a warm and creative family.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
It would be fascinating to go to Paris in 1789 at the beginning of the French Revolution – and
observe from a safe distance!

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Thank you for not giving up on our writing dreams.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Every book I’ve read – as in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, Ulysses, ‘I am a part of all that I
have met’.

10. What/who made you start writing?
A deep-seated need to express myself.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Possibilities – anything can happen! This word is full of magic and hope!

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A book of fairytales – all those different characters, representing the different aspects of
ourselves.

Karen Comer is a freelance editor and presents writing workshops to children and adults. Earlier in her career, she worked in educational publishing and was the editor for children's
art magazine BIG. She lives in Melbourne. Grace Notes is her debut novel. For more information, see www.karencomer.com.au.

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Monday, 6 February 2023

Winner: Fabulous February Picture Book Prize Pack!

Our lucky winner is...

Kath York, VIC

Congratulations!

You have won a collection of five fabulous picture books from Walker Books including:

Thank you to ALL who entered.

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Guest Post: KBR's Nia Shetty on New Year, New You: The Power Of Reflections

Thursday, 2 February 2023

Review: Suffragette: The Battle for Equality

First things first, I want to apologise that I haven't uploaded a review of David Roberts' Suffragette much earlier than this. It's a travesty. Much like the travesty women around the world have traversed to secure the basic right to vote.

And no one tells the suffragette tale like Roberts; he has produced a book that spans not only the gamut of reading age, but a tome that will utterly delight anyone with a love of history, drama and an appreciation of beautiful art [read: most especially children].

Suffragette is one of my best-loved books in the past 5 years, including adult books. It is written with compassion, clarity and goosebumpelling verve that puts us firmly in the seat of those women who fought, lost, gained and even died to change history.

Beautifully crafted and laid out, this large format book is a chronological journey sliced into double-page spreads that highlight some of the key moments in the UK's suffragette movement.

Stars of the show include the world-renowned Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as Millicent Fawcett, Emily Wilding Davison, and militant activist and wheelchair user Rosa May Billinghurst. I mean, these are some astonishingly brave and feisty women who suffered repeat incarcerations, physical violence and oppression, and partook in debilitating hunger strikes with unbearable forced feedings by prison staff.

Sections in the book cover such insights as the loss of the right to vote in 1832 (thanks to the Great People's Reform Act), introductions to several suffragists and their supporters, the various groups, federations and unions that were formed, sustained civil disobedience and protests, arson, hunger strikes, firebombs - I mean, this is phenomenal rebel territory that will both stun and hearten young readers.

Although the stories are often dire (because, well, things were dire), the latter stories become more hopeful and encouraging. I haven't found anything in this book that would distress children, but if you feel inclined, look through the content beforehand.

Frankly, this is the kind of history children need to hear, to develop compassion, humanity and a true understanding of human rights. Alas, to this day, not all of the world's women can vote, and in some countries that do have the legal right to vote, harassment, coercion and even violence prevents them from safely doing so.

A special mention to the illustrations featured throughout the book. Riddled with action, emotion, detail, depth, quirky character and the superb colour palette Roberts is known for, they are sheer delight, and form a stunning visual backdrop to a timeless, important history.

Suffragette is a keeper of a book, and is a vital historical recount for both schools and home.

Title: Suffragette: The Battle for Equality
Author/Illustrator: David Roberts
Publisher: Two Hoots, $44.95
Publication Date: 31 May 2018
Format: Hardcover, large format
ISBN: 9781509839674
For ages: 8+
Type: Picture Book, Non-Fiction

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Review: Pollination: How does my garden grow?

Told as a conversation between a young child and their grandparents, Pollination: How Does My Garden Grow? is an accessible explanation of the concept of pollination.

It begins with the child watching and learning how bees gather pollen and distribute it as they move from flower to flower, and that bees will also eat pollen. Other animals are also discussed and include butterflies, bats and possums.

The action takes place in the grandparents' garden. The child and adults observe what's happening. They eat lunch and talk about what they've seen and how colours and smells help attract some of the animals to pollinate, and some plants don't need animals at all because the wind helps to do that job.

Pollination helps highlight the importance of this process for the life of plants and the survival of animals. Without pollination there are many foods we wouldn't have access to, and items like cotton wouldn't be available for making clothes.

Wonderful, slightly retro-style colourful illustrations depict all these activities, so readers can feel a part of the experience.

Pollination: How Does My Garden Grow? is an important part of nature's life cycle. Christopher Cheng and Danny Snell have done a great job of creating a narrative nonfiction picture book packed full of details that will help children (and adults) understand something that happens around us all the time, but which we might not really see or take much notice of.

A great book for learning about the environment, sustainability, garden and animal life. Something that everyone can benefit from.

Teachers' notes are available to download from the publisher's website.

Title: Pollination: How does my garden grow?
Author: Chris Cheng
Illustrator: Danny Snell
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, $24.99
Publication Date: February 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781486313235
For ages: 5 - 9
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Tuesday, 31 January 2023

Review: This is Love

Love can be picked and put in a jar.

Love can be made or sung to a star.

Love is a coat that’s keeping you warm.

Love keeps you dry and safe in the storm.

Love is so many things, and Zanni Louise and Sasha Haddad explore all of them in this heart-filled picture book.

With delicious rhyme on every page, readers will explore what love means in lots of different ways. It’s a simple story that sinks deep. It’s a joyful warming reading experience to share with your little ones.

I adore Haddad’s illustrations in this book. the funky colours are soft and inviting. Smooth lines and stunning detail make every page turn a joy. You’ll want to take your time with this one – really explore each page and the translation from words to pictures. There is so much to see and so many characters in each scene to connect with.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, This is Love is a perfect book to gift to your loved ones. It will bring smiles to faces and is sure to earn you a giant hug every time you read it.

Title: This is Love
Author: Zanni Louise
Illustrator: Sasha Haddad
Publisher: Affirm Press, $19.99
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922848567
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Lorikeet Tree

I grew up reading Paul Jennings and watching addictive episodes of Round the Twist. Jennings is Australian kid lit royalty and many 80s and 90s kids will be familiar with his work.

But The Lorikeet Tree is new. The Lorikeet Tree is different. It’s a sideways step from the quirky Jennings stories you might remember, but it’s no less stunning or addictive.

A true gift to the middle grade genre, this is a story about family, hardship and heart. It doesn’t stray away from truth or hard issues, but Jennings approaches the subject matter sensitively as well as honestly. His talent is immense, and I see this book featuring in many Australian classrooms (as it should).

So let me tell you about it…

In The Lorikeet Tree, Emily and her twin brother Alex receive some devastating news. Their father has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Thus begins the hardest year of their lives, as they try their best to look after their father, look after the rural forest property they live on and stop fighting with each other. Emily isn’t the same as her brother. She loves him, but they are wildly different people, so none of this is easy. She must find the courage to do the right thing, to look out for her brother — even when his behaviour sometimes challenges her morals.

This is a beautiful story told in a very unique way. I want to tell you its secrets, but I won’t, because discovering them is part of this literary journey and I don’t want to spoil it for you. But I will say this isn’t a typical start to end book. It won’t be exactly what you expect.

With rich characters who reveal ALL their flaws, it’s the kind of book kids will read and remember forever. Through Emily’s internal struggles, you're forced to look inside yourself and consider so many different topics. It asks readers to think about family struggles, having to be an adult when you’re still a kid, environmental issues and right verses wrong.

Big stuff, and yet the way Jennings delivers this book… it’s like he’s holding your hand through it all.

This will be a more challenging read than some on the middle grade shelf, but it shouldn’t be missed. I am forever changed after reading it, and you will be too.

And isn’t that what we hope for when we open a book?

Title: The Lorikeet Tree
Author: Paul Jennings
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761180095
For ages: 11 - 14
Type: Middle Grade

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Sunday, 29 January 2023

Review: Wishes Come in Threes

Phyll is dealing with a lot. Her mother has been sad for a while and she’s not getting better. They’ve moved to the seaside, away from everyone and everything Phyll knows.

And to top it all off, Phyll accidently makes a terrible enemy at the summer camp her dad is making her go to.

But when Phyll meets old Mr Djinn at the retirement home, things start to change. Mr Djinn insists he is a genie, and while he says his magic has faded, strange things start to happen to Phyll.

It can’t possibly be true. Phyll knows genies don’t really exist. But sometimes she thinks, just maybe, the things she wishes for are starting to come true.

Wishes Come in Threes by Andy Jones is a fantastic junior fiction/middle grade book for kids. Filled with mystery and intrigue, it will make you question the existence of magic and all things fantastical. And with a dog thief thrown into the mix, there is no shortage of action and adventure.

Phyll is a brilliant character, dealing with a lot (as many kids are). She is relatable and interesting — someone who can be afraid and brave at the same time, which is something I know many of us feel. It’s hard when you have to deal with family troubles, friendship troubles and just life troubles in general. Sometimes we feel strong and stand up for the things we believe in, but other times it becomes too hard and we just need to sit back for a while. This is Phyll, too, and we get to cheer her from this side of the page as she works through what’s happening in her world.

Wishes Come in Threes is a splendid mix of contemporary and fantasy. It hits both genres masterfully, providing kids with a special adventure that is both real and not (or is it?).

Title: Wishes Come in Threes
Author: Andy Jones
Publisher: Walker Books, $14.99
Publication Date: 22 November 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781529500882
For ages: 9 - 11
Type: Junior Fiction

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Saturday, 28 January 2023

Giveaway: Fabulous February Picture Book Prize Pack!

Thursday, 26 January 2023

Meet The Illustrator: Sina Sin

Name: Sina Sin

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Colourful, vibrant and comic

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My iPad! and some dessert 😊

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I love to draw digitally because it flows well and it’s easy to make quick changes.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
There are so many! Tom Froese (@mrtomfroese) hugely inspired me. I also found drawing inspiration from Charley Clement (@charlyclements) and Ilya Kuvshinov (@kuvshinov_ilya).

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I would choose Art nouveau because it is similar as what I want to draw. There are women and decorative curves derived from flower patterns.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I was lost what to do after studying graphic design and I realised that I love drawing. I found Tom Froese’s classes on Skillshare and his work inspired me and made me want to become an illustrator. I joined an online class that helped me discover my illustration style (Make Art That Sells) and I found my passion in creating illustrations for children’s books.

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 mostly work on my desk at home and sometimes on sofa (wherever comfy 😊). So, this is a picture of my desk, a large table and computer which I listen to some music.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
My favourite part is when I give the illustration texture and details. The illustration becomes alive after those processes.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Just keep drawing! Sometimes you feel you are lost but when you keep drawing what you love, you will find your drawing style and direction.

Sina is a graphic designer and illustrator. Her focus is creating narrative illustrations through digital tools. She hopes to provide a connection with people that gives them love and comfort.

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

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Tuesday, 24 January 2023

Review: Darwin's Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular

How much do you know about the wonder of earthworms? Once you've read Darwin's Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular you’ll know plenty.

Written by Polly Owen and illustrated by Gwen Millward, this is a fantastic example of a STEM book for young readers, and how to present factual information in an unusual way. It’s the kind of book that helps readers to engage with the subject matter and remember it.

Until I read Darwin's Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular I didn't know that Charles Darwin had such an interest in earthworms, let alone that he considered them superheroes. And I was surprised to learn that when the book he wrote about the wonders of worms actually outsold what is arguably his most famous book, The Origin of the Species. This was even though Darwin was originally dismissed and laughed at for his curiosity about worms, a subject he spent at least 40 years exploring.

You'll discover that Darwin discovered worms don't have teeth or ears, and their 'tummies are strong and made from pure muscle'. After long observation, he found the worms were a clue to the health of plants and their poo helped plants to grow. He called these creatures 'nature's plough' and worked hard to showcase their importance based on their pooing abilities.

Darwin's Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular offers lots of worm facts, trivia, and humour. It's told in a narrative style and explains things like what worms like to eat and what they don’t like. The quirky, colourful illustrations include use of speech bubbles to highlight the perspectives of both Charles Darwin and the worms.

Why are worms amazing? Get down and dirty with them in Darwin's Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular and you'll understand.

Title: Darwin's Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular
Author: Polly Owen
Illustrator: Gwen Millard
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions, $24.99
Publication Date: 24 January 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780711275959
For ages: 5+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Monday, 23 January 2023

Review: Charley Harper's Animal Kingdom

Charley Harper is a mid-century artist who long ago captured my heart. His work is beyond iconic, exquisite and way ahead of its time, with graphic design-style illustrations that are both pure simplicity and intricate detail. Using elements like line and pattern to bring richness to shapes filled with predominantly flat colour, Harper's illustrations are both modern and retro, stylised and classic.

There is simply no one like him (though many have been inspired, including yours truly). I'm so enamoured, I have most of his books, and Animal Kingdom is without doubt one of my faves.

This particular creation was worked on by noted designer Todd Oldham, and is a true homage to Harper's life and legacy, beginning with a six-year-old Oldham utterly mesmerised by one of Harper's early books, The Golden Book of Biology. In 2002, Oldham visited Harper in his Cincinnati studio and was blown away by his astonishing body of work, mainly serigraphs (screen printing) with bold, luminous colour and eye-catching contrast.

A warm relationship of like-minded design lovers quickly developed.

Oldham was so impressed with Harper's work, he felt compelled to compile a monograph to celebrate the artist's life, and spent five years working with Harper on Charley Harper, An Illustrated Life which was published in 2007. This was followed by Animal Kingdom in 2015.

This tome is a true smorgasbord of Harper's faunal studies. A whopping 288 pages are punched with a range of stunning artworks, with a foreword by Oldham sprinkled through the fore pages, discussing the artist's history and processes.

Spreads are superbly designed, using plenty of white space and artful placement of images according to their content. The layout rests the eye and provides perfect pause before the next page-turn and subsequent visual surprise - each one is like that first spoonful of the most decadent ice cream sundae.

Although this is considered an 'adult' book, the content would enchant children of all ages, even babies, who would be agog at the masterful shapes, colours and contrast. The bulk of the book is text-free, and imagery is ripe for not only self-story creation, but for honing a true appreciation of form, layout and design. I can imagine even the smallest children finding familiar animals presented in a way that will stretch and delight little minds.

I adore this book - it's one of my great treasures. The imagery will never date and I'll never tire of seeing Harper's astonishing creativity come to life.

When it came to constructing his imagery, Harper said:

'When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don’t see feathers, fur, scapulars or tail coverts—none of that. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behaviour and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures. I regard the picture as an ecosystem in which all the elements are interrelated, interdependent, perfectly balanced, without trimming or unutilized parts; and herein lies the lure of painting: In a world of chaos, the picture is one small rectangle in which the artist can create an ordered universe.'

Oh to have the mind and talent of Charley Harper.

A note that this edition seems to be out of print, though you may find it second-hand. Another option is to order directly from the artist's website and have it shipped from the States (worth it!).

Learn more about Harper on the dedicated website.

Title: Charley Harper's Animal Kingdom
Author/Illustrator:
Publisher: Ammo Books, US$99
Publication Date: 1 September 2015
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781623260699
For ages: 0+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Hey, Diddle, Diddle

You might know the traditional Hey, Diddle, Diddle nursery rhyme, but you won't know this version.

This is a new picture book from Matt Shanks. It starts off the way you'd expect, then it veers off into new territory.

In Matt Shanks' version of Hey, Diddle, Diddle there are a bunch of Australian animals starring in a talent show, showing off their various tricks.

'Hey, diddle daddle,
The platypi paddle,
the roo leaped past the wombat...'

That's just one example of the animals and what they get up to. There are also bilbies, emus, goannas and wallabies, to name just a few. These animals are talented in many ways. They leap, flip and clap, howl, twirl and sing, and a lot more.

Matt Shanks' cartoon-style creatures are appealing as always, and dressed specially for the talent show (bow ties, hats, and jewellery are out in full force). The animals and the antics they get up to are depicted with humour and some underlying visual jokes (if you can recognise them).

Hey, Diddle, Diddle is a happy book that will get kids smiling, just like the animals that feature in it. Reading it is an enjoyable activity to share and to explore some of Australia's unique animals.

Title: Hey, Diddle, Diddle
Illustrator: Matt Shanks
Publisher: Scholastic, $18.99
Publication Date: 1 January 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781743836392
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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