Meet The Illustrator: Iryna Medushevska

Name: Iryna Medushevska 

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less:

My drawings are everyday objects and people that are being transformed into creative art objects.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
There are my library that is mostly vintage books in different languages with amazing illustrations and my iPad.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
It’s hard to say, as I’m always mixing them together, let’s say gouache with ink and soft pastels pencils.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

The first artist is Egon Schiele, number two is Vassili Sourikov and illustrator Ronald Searle.

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I would like to visit an Art and Crafts movement (1860-1920) to learn how to borrow and mix elements from Medieval and Romantic periods.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

It was one of my friends, who is a great photographer and then became a successful and popular illustrator, while I stuck in oil painting and copying old masters.

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

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

I’m enjoying the very beginning where the magic of a new story starts to appear.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Never stop learning.

Born in 1979 Iryna Medushevska was encouraged since her early childhood to take her talents seriously. During her school years she attended music and art schools. However, the success of her early art endeavours did not deter her from studying medicine, and she graduated as a general practitioner from Vinnica Medical University in Ukraine.
She moved to Dubai in 2005 to work as a doctor, but fate turned her life towards art. The principal themes in Iryna’s work is time, love and harmony. She can easily transform everyday objects into creative art objects by using oil, soft pastels, gouache and water colors. She has shown her work at group exhibitions in Egypt, UAE and Greece, and attended charity exhibitions for COVID-19 victims in Cairo in 2020.

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

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Review: Tumble Glass

When Rowan and her sister Ash find a mysterious ring in their house, they tumble back in time to a party where their teenage mum is hanging with friends. 

It’s completely out-of-this world, completely unbelievable, but before long Rowan wakes in her own time and the adventure is done.

Except… Ash didn’t travel back with her, and Rowan suspects the ring (which she has on her finger) is the source of the time-travel power. Ash is stuck in the past, and Rowan has no idea how to get her back.

So starts an adventure Rowan feels very unprepared for. She must work with her kooky neighbour Verity (who reveals some very interesting facts about Rowan’s house and how to time-travel safely) and reach back in time again and again to collect the things she needs to save her sister. 

Along the way she'll face some hard truths about herself and her family, uncover secrets and learn about he dangers of jumping to conclusions (and through to time).

Tumble Glass is a fantastic middle grade read for fans of contemporary/fantasy mix stories. It’s a wild adventure from start to finish, but it’s also a deep and heartfelt story about being brave and facing hard truths (even when you may not be ready for them).

Kate Constable’s way with words is beautiful and addictive. Her characters are complicated and interesting — people with flaws and quite a few secrets, which all come out by the end. Time travel is always challenging to write, but Constable does it with talent and flair, in a fresh and engaging way that pulls historical Australian events and facts into the mix. 

If you love a contemporary middle-grade with a fantastical twist, this one is most definitely for you.

Title: Tumble Glass
Author: Kate Constable
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $17.99
Publication Date: 31 January 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760526962
For ages: 9 - 13
Type: Middle Grade

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Review: Whingeville

Whinge. Complain. Bellyache. Grumble. That pretty much sums up Will’s attitude. Until one night a hot air balloon takes him away to Whingeville and the Whingeville citizens make Will their king.

Award-winning author Coral Vass has written an entertaining story with a strong message about the importance of perspective. Vass has expertly employed rhythm and rhyme. 

When I’m reading Whingeville to my two-year-old and five-year-old, the words roll off the tongue, adding to the dreamlike quality of the story. 

The plot is familiar and the funny complaints, we’ve all heard from kids, will keep parents amused: ‘This fish is too fishy. These chips are too old.’

Bold and surreal, Aleksandra Szmidt’s illustrations add richness to the story. Szmidt creates dreamy landscapes and curious, quirky characters. The landscapes suggest a beautiful, magical place to live but this is lost on the curious and quirky residents. The story ends on a snuggled-up-tight, single-page spread. This together with the rhythmic prose, make it a great bedtime story.

Whingeville reminds me of the plot of Where the Wild Things Are which I am currently studying with my Year 1/2 class. I will be able to use Whingeville as a comparison text.

A top read! No bellyaching here.

Title: Whingeville
Author: Coral Vass
Illustrator: Aleksandra Szmidt
Publisher: Larrikin House, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 October 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922503961
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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12 Curly Questions with author Fiona Lloyd

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I was the biggest Dr Who nerd as a child. I knew everything there was to know, I had the annuals, the merchandise... Most kids had a pop-up cubby house. I had a pop-up TARDIS. I got to meet Patrick Troughton once on a film set my mum worked on. I still have a small wooden TARDIS in my garden.

2. What is your nickname?
Fi. One friend calls me Feef, and I was Fizz for a while at high school. My family call me Fien, which came about as the result of a game I played with my brother. You have to say your name as fast as you can over and over until it meshes together. My maiden name is Miller, so I got Fien Meh. 

3. What is your greatest fear?
Dying in a plane crash. This isn’t great when you live on the other side of the world to your family!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Versatile, literary, rhythmic, hopeful, evocative, character driven, poignant, filmic, slow!

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Focused, thoughtful, detailed, experimental, curious. 

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Alice. I’d love to go to Wonderland and have tea with the Mad Hatter. 

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
This is too hard. I’m torn between going for a good old knees-up round the piano in East End London during the blitz, or Myanmar (Burma) in the 1930s so I could see how my granny’s family lived. I grew up in Newcastle-on-Tyne, not far from Wallsend, so maybe I’d pop back to AD122, to see Hadrian’s Wall being built.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
I knew you could write. What took so long?

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Anyone who has published a book; it takes a lot of courage and commitment to pursue this career. When I doubt myself, I look at my bookshelf and think if they can do it, you can do it. Also, my granny. She was such a quiet person and a real lady. When I look at her photograph (which sits next to me when I watch TV) it reminds me to slow down and try to be gentle, walking through the world. I’m a busy type of person so I rarely achieve it. 

10. What/who made you start writing?
I don’t remember; it’s just something I’ve always done. I used to copy sections of books we’d borrowed from the library in a notebook so that I could keep them. I wrote (and illustrated badly!) my first book when I was 11. It was called Christmas in Wintery Wood. I still have it; the cover is wrapped in Christmas paper with rabbits on it.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Panacalty. It’s a recipe originating from North East England; like a potato bake with onions, corned beef and bacon. It was popular in World War II and throughout mining communities, like where my dad’s side of the family were. It uses basic ingredients and leftovers. Dad cooks it for us when he comes to visit. I tried making it here but the corned beef is different so it’s not quite the same. 

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Still Life by Sarah Winman. It combines all the things that I find delightful or fascinating; art, life in World War II, London, Italy... You can’t beat a Shakespeare-quoting parrot and other such wonderfully rich characters. Maybe this is where my time-travel idea to go back to the Blitz comes from!

Fiona was born in the beautiful North East of England near picturesque countryside, windswept beaches and the vibrant cultural city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She dreamed of writing in a cosy country cottage and of life as a theatre actress but, as it often does, life got in the way. Working and travelling instead, Fiona floated in the Dead Sea, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, gave guided tours in Holland and fell in love with all things Greek during her two years in Athens and Skiathos. Her most special travel experience was in Myanmar where she visited the place where her Granny was born.
Amongst her myriad of interesting jobs, Fiona worked as a television colourist on Home & Away, This is Greece and Secrets of Britain’s Great Cathedrals. She has works in several anthologies for children, is a role model for Books in Homes, coach with the Harding Miller Education Foundation, and Schools Program Coordinator for the Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Fiona loves storytelling in all forms, especially theatre, television and books. Now settled near Sydney with her husband and three children, she mostly travels in her head to marvellous, magical places. Being Jimmy Baxter is her debut middle-grade novel. For more information, see www.fionalloyd.com.au

 

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Review: Cloudspotting

Review: The Bowerbird - The Small Bird With The Large Heart

Guest Junior Review: Portrait Drawing for Kids: A Step-By-Step Guide to Drawing Faces

Review: Harriet Hound

The Hound family are animal friendly. So is the huge house they live in built by Harriet’s grandparents as a place to welcome homeless dogs that are treated like guests until they are rehomed.

This passion was ignited after Harriet’s grandparents rescued a mother dog and her pups. So, the house was named Hound Rescue. And that’s exactly what the Hound family practices. 

Harriet is observant, full of activity, and good with numbers. She has a routine and her swimming that keeps her energy under control. She wears noise-cancelling earphones and carries her pug-head stress ball everywhere. At her special school, excursions and outdoor activities are a priority.

The magic starts for Harriet on the day of her eighth birthday with a dusty box beside her bed and a note from Grandma. 

It informs Harriet that by following the instructions from the tiny book enclosed, she will become a superhero, just like her.

Harriet gives it a go. Instantly, she is equipped with magical pyjamas covered in pictures of the dogs in the Rescue, a special mantra to repeat, which, while touching the image of the dog most suited to the current situation, calls it to her and both become invisible superheroes, able to solve mysteries and right wrongs. 

The three stories - Vanishing Vegetables, Sudden Storm, and Carnival Catastrophe, all have several chapters in which each subject is expanded, educating children on fresh food gardening, healthy eating, the weather - its hazards and benefits, and the creative, colourful, and imaginative things of which people are capable.

We are delighted by Harriet’s Fact Sheets; a series of dog images accompanied by a list of each breed’s characteristics.  For those considering owning a rescue dog, Harriet’s Guide to Rescuing a Dog is invaluable. Do your research first!

What I loved most about Harriet Hound is how Kate Foster brings autism right to the reader. She builds pictures with words that show Harriet’s habits and how the child conducts her life by adhering to familiar rituals, all presented in a light-hearted way. 

Readers will love Harriet and I think we may not have heard the last of her extraordinary character. 

Sophie Beer’s lively illustrations add to the joy the book is encased in.

Lucky SE QLDers have the opportunity to join Kate and Sophie this Saturday, 6 May at the Where The Wild Things Are bookshop in Brisbane's West End for a special reading to mark the launch of Harriet Hound. Bookings can be made, online.

Title: Harriet Hound
Author: Kate Foster
Illustrator: Sophie Beer
Publisher: Walker Books, $15.99
Publication Date: 3 May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760654702
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: A Case with a Bang

A Case with a Bang is part of the Detective Gordon series of books (number five), able to be read as a stand-alone story.

A simple, gentle, slightly quirky mystery novel for younger readers, it features two animal friends who are both detectives. 

Detective Gordon is a toad, and an older and more experienced police officer. He's also retired, currently spending time reading books about trolls. Detective Buffy is a mouse. Both of them love cake.

Detective Buffy is trying to uncover who has been making the noise that's keeping Badger awake. Ironically, Badger is hard of hearing and takes some convincing when Buffy arrives to investigate.

Meanwhile, Detective Gordon is meeting with Helmer, an enthusiastic young squirrel who is interested in being a police officer.

Badger's rubbish bin has marks all over the lid, a crow passes on message that could be a clue, and there are mysterious break-ins. Mice, rabbits, otters, hedgehogs, owls, moles and others  -- and trolls who like baking -- make an appearance. Can Detective Buffy figure out what's going on? Will Helmer and Detective Gordon be able to help?

A Case with a Bang is written by Ulf Nilsson, acclaimed award-winning Swedish author of more than 100 books for children. The Detective Gordon novels have been translated from Swedish to English with pictures by Dutch illustrator Gitte Spee, who depicts the cast of characters as appealingly cute, colourful creatures.

A Case with a Bang's short chapters are great for emerging readers. Detectives Buffy and Gordon end the story by recording three important pieces of information, wisdom learned from the case, which is also excellent advice for readers.

Title: A Case with a Bang
Author: Ulf Nilsson
Illustrator: Gitte Spee
Publisher: Gecko Press, $17.99
Publication Date: March 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781776574889
For ages: 6-8 years
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Wildlife Compendium of the World

Get ready kids! You’re about to go on a wild adventure across the globe, with Wildlife Compendium of the World by award-winning author/illustrator Tania McCartney.

Filled to the brim with glorious words and illustrations dedicated to creatures that roam our world, this is a brilliant non-fiction book to engage and inspire.

Did you know there are 1.5 million ants for every human on Earth? Did you know 

Flamingos only eat with their heads upside down? Did you know the kiwi is the only bird with nostrils at the end of its beak?

The book is broken up by continents first and then habitats within each continent (mountains, coastlines, deserts). And each continent section starts with a beautiful, illustrated map and description of the land you’ll be exploring. There’s also a mini contents of all the animals you’ll encounter (in case you’re on the search for one in particular).

For each animal, you’ll find information about their type, diet, size, weight and conservation status (how endangered they are). Plus a great description of the animal and the things that make them unique.

I adore how these animal descriptions start with humour or some kind of ‘wow’ fact — like monarch butterflies love a breakfast of toxic milkweed and scarab beetles eat poop for a living. It makes the book so engaging for kids!

There’s also heaps of little extras, like group names and baby names. Did you know a group of bears is called a sloth? Or a baby worm is called a wormlet? 

Each animal also gets an award. The polar bear receives the largest land carnivore award, and the dugong gets the most mermaid-like award. Love, love, love!

But this isn’t just a book about animals, their features, and their habitats. I love the other details McCartney includes — things not often found in animal books for kids.

There’s discussion of binomial names (scientific names for classification purposes), taxonomic rank (ways to organise and group together animals) and all the different conservation statuses. Some of this stuff I have never heard of before, and I love how McCartney breaks it all down so it’s easy to understand.

At the back of the book there’s also pages dedicated to endangered animals and animal rights, including information about how we can help. There is just so much to explore!

And then we have the illustrations. Glorious, stunning, accurate but also fun and funky. How McCartney achieves all this, I have no idea. But she does! Make sure to check out the beautiful animal star constellations on the end papers, too. And I dare you to resist running your hands across the fabric-feel cover with gorgeous shiny embellishments.

This is a book for ALL the spaces: homes, classrooms, libraries. It’s a stunning compilation of wildlife from across the globe, designed specifically for kids. It will spark curiosity and encourage a love of both animals and learning.

Title: Wildlife Compendium of the World
Author/Illustrator: Tania McCartney
Publisher: Hardie Grant, $32.99
Publication Date: 3 May 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781741177473
For ages: 5+
Type: Non-Fiction, Junior Non-Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Andrea Rowe

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I am some kind of weird magnet for Australian wildlife. I have been chased by a marauding emu, tracked down by a disgruntled wombat, found a frog in my sleeping bag, had a wallaby ransack my campsite and a kookaburra eat my lunch. If you are after a close encounter with nature, stick close to me!

2. What is your nickname?
Some friends call me the Social Secretary as I love organising us all!

3. What is your greatest fear?
Drifting alone across the world in a hot-air balloon without any instructions on how to land!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Nostalgic, lyrical, immersive, questioning and descriptive stories of everyday life.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Curious, thoughtful, focused, persistent, cheeky.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
That’s the hardest question ever! I’d be a little bit of Pippi Longstocking because she’s fabulously fierce; a fragment of Anne Shirley of Green Gables because her imaginings and confidence brings adventures; a teensy bit Piglet because he’s very wise; and, the rest, Dr Seuss’s Lorax because he speaks for the trees.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Back to 1979, with a bit of money in my pocket to purchase the most excellent Mattel Sunrunner roller skates that I coveted!

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Why didn’t you buy those roller skates?

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Authors like Colin Thiele, Ruth Park and Mavis Thorpe Clark, Judy Blume, Nadia Wheatley, Margaret Wild and Tim Winton. Also, my high school English teacher Mr Dunlevy – he commanded only the best in sentence structure!

10. What/who made you start writing?
In kindergarten, a brand new blue crayon cast a magic spell over me to spend my life writing and writing. Also, my parents who were avid readers and ensured that libraries and bookstores were part of my life from a young age and encouraged me to enter writing competitions.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Thank you. Gratitude and recognising how someone has helped you, or made a difference, is such a powerful word.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
OK, this is officially the hardest question ever! Enid’s Blyton’s The Folks of Faraway Tree because you might go easy on me and allow me the whole Faraway Tree Series. It never gets old reading about small houses in the clouds in tall trees, the grumpy Pixie and Dame Washalot.

Andrea Rowe is an award-winning author. Her children’s book Jetty Jumping won 2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood. Sunday Skating and In the Rockpools are out in 2023 (Hardie Grant.) Mornington Peninsula based Andrea is the winner of several short story literary awards, and a professional copywriter. For more information, see https://andrearowe.com.au/

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Winner: Grandma's Guide To Happiness

Our lucky winner is ...Liz Dorrington, NSW

Congratulations!

You have won a copy of the heartwarming book of grandmotherly philosophy, Grandma's Guide To Happiness by award winning duo, Andrew Daddo and Stephen Michael King.

Thank you to ALL who entered.

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Review: Billy And The Giant Adventure

Autumn struggles with reading. The words won’t stay still on the page. 

When she begs her dad Billy to tell her and twin Jesse a bedtime story, a tremendous adventure unfolds as time is peeled back.

Billy, the main character of the verbal story, also has difficulty with words and learning. He  loves tools and gadgets, fixing and repurposing anything from the shed. 

With his strong group of friends – Anna, Andy, and Jimmy, they have explored the whole area where they live except Waterfall Woods. Reluctant to test the stories about strange happenings, everyone has kept away.

For Billy, it is now a challenge. Anna discovers a secret way over the huge flint wall that keeps them out. Her incredible climbing skills are put to good use and over they go. 

They discover another world where The Rhythm, the harmony that governs life in the woods, is different to nature they have experienced. They come across Basil, a  magical Sprite, who befriends the children after they save the Sprites from an enemy attack. 

This opens a world of discovery filled with continual adventures that leads the group to solve the mystery of who is polluting the water and disrupting the harmony of the woods.

This is a fast-paced read; inspiring, full of imagination and activity.  There is a bully, a secret map, evidence of giants, magical creatures, and unpredictable outcomes.

Fully illustrated chapters are filled with clever happenings and language that children love to read. The story is filled with environmental awareness, healthy eating habits with recipes included at the end, thought-provoking phrases, and acts of kindness.

I loved reading this book as its structure incorporates so many valuable examples for children, without being didactic. The leading characters are resourceful and compassionate, each owning a special gift. 

Definitely a winner, Billy and the Giant Adventure begins a series by the famous chef, Jamie Oliver. It has taken him four years to realise a long-held dream. He has drawn on his own life and experience with dyslexia, focusing on how much can be achieved when you find something you love to do.

Title: Billy And The Giant Adventure
Author: Jamie Oliver
Illustrator: Monica Armino
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $14.99
Publication Date: 18 April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241637807
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

 

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Review: City Of Light

Review: Billy And The Giant Adventure

Autumn struggles with reading. The words won’t stay still on the page. 

When she begs her dad Billy to tell her and twin Jesse a bedtime story, a tremendous adventure unfolds as time is peeled back.

Billy, the main character of the verbal story, also has difficulty with words and learning. He  loves tools and gadgets, fixing and repurposing anything from the shed. 

With his strong group of friends – Anna, Andy, and Jimmy, they have explored the whole area where they live except Waterfall Woods. Reluctant to test the stories about strange happenings, everyone has kept away.

For Billy, it is now a challenge. Anna discovers a secret way over the huge flint wall that keeps them out. Her incredible climbing skills are put to good use and over they go. 

They discover another world where The Rhythm, the harmony that governs life in the woods, is different to nature they have experienced. They come across Basil, a  magical Sprite, who befriends the children after they save the Sprites from an enemy attack. 

This opens a world of discovery filled with continual adventures that leads the group to solve the mystery of who is polluting the water and disrupting the harmony of the woods.

This is a fast-paced read; inspiring, full of imagination and activity.  There is a bully, a secret map, evidence of giants, magical creatures, and unpredictable outcomes.

Fully illustrated chapters are filled with clever happenings and language that children love to read. The story is filled with environmental awareness, healthy eating habits with recipes included at the end, thought-provoking phrases, and acts of kindness.

I loved reading this book as its structure incorporates so many valuable examples for children, without being didactic. The leading characters are resourceful and compassionate, each owning a special gift. 

Definitely a winner, Billy and the Giant Adventure begins a series by the famous chef, Jamie Oliver. It has taken him four years to realise a long-held dream. He has drawn on his own life and experience with dyslexia, focusing on how much can be achieved when you find something you love to do.

Title: Billy And The Giant Adventure
Author: Jamie Oliver
Illustrator: Monica Armino
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $14.99
Publication Date: 18 April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241637807
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

 

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Review: Agents of S.U.I.T.

Cilantro the chameleon is a brand new agent of S.U.I.T., the Special Undercover Investigations Team. 

Being a chameleon, Cilantro has camouflage skills that help her in her job as an agent -- and sometimes scare people with her apparent invisibility. 

Unfortunately Cilantro's invisibility doesn't work when she wears her V.E.S.T. (Very Exiting Spy Technology). 

One day Cilantro goes from catching cat burglars (and dog burglars) to a special undercover mission -- one where she's not actually sure what she's meant to be investigating. 

There are sheep, aliens, secret tunnels, night vision goggles, mysterious happenings, and lots more.

Agents of S.U.I.T. is the first in a new series from John Patrick Green, creator of the bestselling InvestiGators graphic novels. The S.U.I.T. series is created with comic and cartoon writers/illustrators Christopher Hastings and Pat Lewis. It's a spin off from InvestiGators, with alligators Mango and Brash appearing in cameos.

There's a lot of playing on words and other use of language which will help teach kids in a humourous way. For example, the difference between words like duct and duck, and what it means to be 'out in the field'. Extensive use of acronyms might raise questions for newer readers, but with definitions included they will quickly learn how they are made and used. One of my favourite examples from the book is: Sentient Computerised And Robotically Engineered Crow Repeller On Watch, or S.C.A.R.E.C.R.O.W. for short.

At the end of the book, there's also a step-by-step guide of how to draw Cilantro. Perhaps readers who do that will even try creating their own story in a graphic novel style.

Agents of S.U.I.T. is a full colour graphic novel highly recommended for any young readers who enjoy adventure and humour.

Title: Agents of S.U.I.T.
Author:  John Patrick Green and Christopher Hastings
Illustrator: Pat Lewis
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, $14.99
Publication Date: March 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781035015467
For ages: 7+
Type: Graphic Novel

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Giveaway: Grandma's Guide To Happiness

Meet The Illustrator: Bindy James

Name: Bindy James

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Cheerful yet tender, lots of texture and pattern.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Definitely my Ipad with Procreate. My desktop computer and diary. I also have my watercolours, brushes, paper and colour pencils too.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I work digitally for the most part but I’m attracted to watercolour/gouache brushes and techniques. I also like to add details with colour pencils and textured paper.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Bernice Myers, Art Seiden and Alison Lester

 
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I would like to visit the mid-century period of children’s book illustration. Having a background in graphic design, I’m drawn to the bold silhouettes and colour contrast. I also like the repetitive textures used at the time as a necessity.

  
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I have always been a creative type however I also have an interest in the environment, science and nature. When school finished I did a degree in environmental science before deciding to re-train as a graphic designer. By the end of my study I had realised that Illustration is the most exciting thing for me!

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I have a little creative space at home that I share with my husband. My desk has big drawers packed with all types of textured paper and traditional paintings. I have my ipad/computer, sketchbook and my pin board of inspiration/experiments. I often have little things from nature around to draw like gum nuts, feathers and leaves.

 
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
I like when the composition sketch comes together. Then I feel excited about the process going forward. I also like it when I’m adding in pattern details with pencil.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
I would say don't be afraid to play around with lots of styles and different techniques. When you discover something you enjoy doing, take note and create lots of work that showcases it. Be prepared to stop and follow the next thing you enjoy!

 

Bindy is an illustrator based in Brisbane, Australia. After initially completing a degree in environmental science, she trained as a graphic designer and then moved into illustration. She is constantly fascinated by our natural world and interested in how children relate to and learn from their natural environment.

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

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Review: Indigo In The Storm

Review: Pasta!

12 Curly Questions with author Andrew Daddo

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’ll tell you two things. I skip almost every day and I think I like sandworming more than fishing. You catch the sandworms to catch the fish… what a shame you can’t eat the sand worms.

2. What is your nickname?
My family and very close friends call me Anoo. Others call me Daddster. Trendy young people (20s or so) just call me Daddo.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I’m too scared to tell.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Hopefully quirky and entertaining – diverse, personal and a bit brave.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Personable. Real. Emotional. Fun. Relatable.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Of my books? Atticus Van Tasticus. I feel we have a lot in common already – like leaping into situations without really knowing what to do, and muddling through. I love that about Atticus – and somehow, he seems to get away with just about everything, for a result, even a bad result, is still a step in a new direction.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
1978. Just to see if it was as much fun being an 11 year old as I thought it was. I look back and remember jumping bikes and growing frogs in little dams and fishing, playing make-believe and loving fish-and-chips more than just about anything. There were no video games and we got our first colour TV and everything felt like an adventure and most of the fun was outside. I loved it. It feels like it might have been better making up games, but is that what it was really like? Was it really that good?

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Make sure the bolts on your front wheel are tight before doing a jump. It’s good advice, and you can make it work for anything… it’s about being prepared to try and avert disaster, because believe me, jumping your bike off a ramp over a ditch and watching your front wheel fall off is no fun – or maybe fun for your mates watching.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
No one influence, but lots. My parents for their creativity. My first publisher for his insight and help. My kids for their zest for life and of course my wife for her ongoing support.

10. What/who made you start writing?
It’s a combination of my wife and my first publisher. I used to write Jac letters when she was my girlfriend. I lived overseas, she was in Melbourne and I missed her terribly, so when I did fun things I’d write her letters. This is the olden days, before email. And I’d write in accents, like being a Russian ski instructor or an American fisherman or whatever. She was the one who told me I should write.
When I met Mark Macleod, my first publisher, he said he’d be interested in seeing my writing, and was crucial in helping me write for stage-three kids. From there, I could write up or down, both of which I love.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Serendipity. First, it’s lyrical and musical and sounds fancy. And also because it’s about the same idea cropping up at the same time in another place.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Impossible to answer correctly! I think Cloudstreet by Tim Winton.

Andrew's managed to have a crack at just about every aspect of the entertainment industry, probably more out of necessity than by design. He's appeared on TV – some good, some great and some entirely forgettable; presented radio programs and podcasts; appeared on stage; and, a long, long time ago, even made a few movies. Maybe best of all, Andrew's an accomplished author. For more information, see www.andrewdaddo.com.

 

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Review: Agents of S.U.I.T.

Cilantro the chameleon is a brand new agent of S.U.I.T., the Special Undercover Investigations Team. 

Being a chameleon, Cilantro has camouflage skills that help her in her job as an agent -- and sometimes scare people with her apparent invisibility. 

Unfortunately Cilantro's invisibility doesn't work when she wears her V.E.S.T. (Very Exiting Spy Technology). 

One day Cilantro goes from catching cat burglars (and dog burglars) to a special undercover mission -- one where she's not actually sure what she's meant to be investigating. 

There are sheep, aliens, secret tunnels, night vision goggles, mysterious happenings, and lots more.

Agents of S.U.I.T. is the first in a new series from John Patrick Green, creator of the bestselling InvestiGators graphic novels. The S.U.I.T. series is created with comic and cartoon writers/illustrators Christopher Hastings and Pat Lewis. It's a spin off from InvestiGators, with alligators Mango and Brash appearing in cameos.

There's a lot of playing on words and other use of language which will help teach kids in a humourous way. For example, the difference between words like duct and duck, and what it means to be 'out in the field'. Extensive use of acronyms might raise questions for newer readers, but with definitions included they will quickly learn how they are made and used. One of my favourite examples from the book is: Sentient Computerised And Robotically Engineered Crow Repeller On Watch, or S.C.A.R.E.C.R.O.W. for short.

At the end of the book, there's also a step-by-step guide of how to draw Cilantro. Perhaps readers who do that will even try creating their own story in a graphic novel style.

Agents of S.U.I.T. is a full colour graphic novel highly recommended for any young readers who enjoy adventure and humour.

Title: Agents of S.U.I.T.
Author:  John Patrick Green and Christopher Hastings
Illustrator: Pat Lewis
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, $14.99
Publication Date: March 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781035015467
For ages: 7+
Type: Graphic Novel

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Giveaway: Grandma's Guide To Happiness

Review: When I'm Big

Review: Life In A Hollow

Review: Smarty Pup: JJ and the Giant Panther

Smarty Pup: JJ and the Giant Panther is book two in the bestselling Anh Do's Smarty Pup series illustrated by Anton Emdin.

Like book one (Friends Fur-ever), this book is in fully colour. It's brightness is not just visual, it's a vibrant story as well.

JJ is a genius pup. He's good at just about everything. Plus he's got super hearing, super smell, and is super fast. 

This time around JJ and his special friend Lily are heading off camping and will be learning about bravery. Or at least they will be once Lily and and the other students convince the teacher that JJ deserves to be part of the school trip -- he's one of the class after all, never mind that he's a dog rather than a human.

Although excited about camping, Lily's also a bit nervous. She and dad talk about different kinds of bravery.

At Camp Pinecone Lily and her friends take part in activities like abseiling and rafting, and compete for a bravery award.

Amidst all the fun, JJ sees what he believes is a mysterious giant panther. Now the smallest meow, or rustling sounds from a bush, set JJ to running away. Is it really a panther? Can JJ overcome his fears and be brave? It turns out JJ isn't the only one who is scared. And as for the panther, there's a surprise in store.

Smarty Pup: JJ and the Giant Panther has a fun plot, jokes, and bright and action-packed illustrations. Kids will love the story, and also the page of stickers that are included inside the back cover.

Grab a copy of Smarty Pup: JJ and the Giant Panther for your newly independent readers to enjoy, and look out for future books in the series, too.

Title: Smarty Pup: JJ and the Giant Panther
Author: Anh Do
Illustrator: Anton Emdin
Publisher: Allen & Unwin , $ 15.99
Publication Date: April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761068720
For ages: 6 - 10
Type: Junior Fiction

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Bookish Places: Harry Potter Studio Tour

The Great Hall in Hogwarts Castle, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

The Kids' Book Review Bookish Places posts are a chance to celebrate museums, galleries and other places with a connection to children's literature and reading. The posts are compiled by KBR's Consultant Librarian, Sarah Steed, our intrepid traveller and hunter-gatherer of amazing places! 

If you've read the Harry Potter books, and watched the Harry Potter movies, then you're bound to enjoy the Harry Potter Studio Tour. 

'The Studio Tour offers visitors a unique experience to explore two soundstages and a backlot filled with original sets, animatronic creatures and breathtaking special effects. Along the way, you’ll enjoy interactive activities such as the opportunity to ‘fly’ a broomstick like a member of the cast and there’s also the chance to purchase a frothy cup of Butterbeer!'

We're delighted to present a photographic exploration of the studio tour, thanks to KBR's Managing Editor, Dimity Powell who has been lucky enough to experience the studio tour in person. This is just a sneak peek of what's on offer.

The Harry Potter stories began with Harry living with his Aunt, Uncle and cousin, and on the tour you can visit the Dursley's home on Privet Drive, and see Harry's cupboard under the stairs.

The Dursley's house, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Harry's cupboard under the stairs, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

 

Letters for Harry, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

After he discovered he was a wizard and that he was to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry is taken to Diagon Alley and Gringott's Bank to collect everything he needs, before getting aboard the Hogwarts Express. You can visit them, too!

Diagon Alley, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Gringott's Bank, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

The Hogwarts Express, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

 

 

Aboard the Hogwarts Express, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

There's so much to see, from movie sets dressed for specific scenes, to the costumes and wigs of some of your favourite characters.

Aunt Marge balloons inside the Dursley's house, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

The Griffyndor common room, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Character costumes, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Wigs and facial hair for your favourite characters, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Hogwarts classroom, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

 And not to forget Dumbledore's office, some magical creatures, and Hagrid's hut. And plenty more!

The Pensieve, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Fawkes the phoenix, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Mandrakes, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

Inside Hagrid's Hut, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

There are detailed scale models and and life-size props.

A scale model of Hogwarts, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

The Knight Bus, Harry Potter Studio Tour, England (Photo: Dimity Powell)

If you're interested in taking the tour in person you'll need to travel to England. The Harry Potter Studio Tour is part of the purpose built Warner Brothers Studio Leavesden, and to get to Leavesden you can take a train from central London, then a 15-minute bus ride. Tickets for your studio tour should be booked in advance and it's best to allow three to four hours to complete the tour. For up-to-date information about visiting, make sure you check out the official official Harry Potter Studio Tour website.

Click to read reviews and other Harry Potter-related posts on Kids' Book Review.

Interested in taking a Bookish Places trip around the world with Sarah? Enjoy this sensational map, also created by Sarah, and check out our other Bookish Places posts here.

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12 Curly Questions with author Vikki Marmaras

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
When I was younger, I was in a BBC TV drama, called Harpur and Iles. If you Google my maiden name (Vikki Meakin), you’ll see I have an IMDb profile.

2. What is your nickname?
At school, a few friends used to call me Borris Bean. Luckily that didn’t stick and now I’m Vik, Vix, or sometimes, Vikster.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I’m terrified of going to jail. Not that there’s a reason I might, I should add. I just know I would not do well in that environment!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Stories about everything and nothing, written to make you smile.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Passionate, imaginative, playful, warm, hopeful.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Paddington. We’re both polite, can both give ‘hard-stares’ and both love sandwiches (although I’ll have cheese instead of marmalade). He’s also had some wonderful adventures and surrounds himself with people he loves.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d go back to 1970 for the first Glastonbury festival. Tickets only cost £1 and you got free camping and milk included. I’d love to write a picture book about a music festival one day.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
“Oh wow – you wrote a book! Very cool. Now let’s go watch Neighbours.”

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Anyone who pushes themselves out of their comfort zone to achieve something a little less ordinary. In life that’s most of my friends. In children’s literature I love Davina Bell, Vikki Conley, Zanni Louise, Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing but I only took it seriously when my first son was born. I wanted to give him something that would last forever, so I wrote him a story. It sparked something inside me, and I have been writing ever since.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Cwtch. It means ‘cuddle’ in Welsh and makes me feel warm and safe.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is such a hard question, but I think it would be the final Harry Potter book – The Deathly Hallows. I’ve read all the books a couple of times, but there are still a few parts of the story that confuse me. This way I could figure it all out once and for all. Plus, it’s got more than 600 pages so would last me a while.

Vikki Marmaras is a children’s author, whose stories are largely inspired by life with her two young boys. Characters she has created include a hiccup, a bookworm and an over-enthusiastic dog. Poppy, The Queen and The Seat is Vikki’s debut picture book. For more information visit www.vikkimarmaras.com

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Review: Bluey: How To Draw

Bluey fans and young and old will be thrilled with this new book.

Bluey: How To Draw offers 48 pages full of Bluey and her friends. 

Best of all, it guides readers through how to draw them all.

Simple step-by-step instructions are given with a written instruction and accompanying line drawing depicting it. 

Follow the instructions in order and in just nine steps you'll have your own version of a Bluey character.

Eah double-page spread has a coloured border and features a different character. The first is Bluey, of course, then Bingo, Dad Bandit, and Mum Chilli. There's also Socks, Snickers, Muffin, The Terriers, Coco, and others. 23 characters in all!

The ninth step for each drawing is to colour in, and the characters make comments like 'Pomeranians are a small but hardy breed' (that's Pom Pom).

It's a little surprising just how quickly and easily you can create a recognisable Bluey and her family and friends. The guidance is basic enough for young children to read and follow, or to look at the pictures, listen to an adult, and action each step.

Bluey: How To Draw will bring out the artist in everyone. It's a perfect gift for children who love being creative, or who simply love Bluey.

If you can't wait to get your copy of the book, while you're waiting you can download a step-by-step guide of how to draw Bluey from the official Bluey website. It will whet your appetite for the book and the many more characters you can draw.

Title: Bluey: How To Draw
Author/Illustrator: Bluey
Publisher: Puffin, $9.99
Publication Date: April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761340987
For ages: 6+
Type: Activity Book

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Review: Rock Star Detectives: Murder At The Movies