Review: Timefire

This is a thrilling mystery; a fantastic read with twists filled with adventure and time travel. 

It is based on historical events surrounding the most destructive bushfires our land has experienced. 

It is 2033, Gilbert is branded a firebug. Life is unbearable as everyone shuns him. 

It is thirteen years since the country’s worst fires, for which Gil’s mother was accused of starting. His dad refuses to talk to him about his mother.

But why does Gil always know when there is going to be a fire? His premonitions come on via a pain from a burn mark on his shoulder.

To get Gil away from the constant harassment and accusations from peers and townspeople, his dad decides to send him to boarding school, far away.

Just before Gil is to leave, he meets Vargo, a mysterious man that has been shadowing him. He demands Gil accompany him.

Who is Vargo? What is he keeping from Gil?

The fires have already started.

Reluctant Gil is taken to the mouth of a fire where a tunnel appears. teleported to a place 200 kilometres away, it is 1983 and the fires of Ash Wednesday are burning.

This begins his search for truth and reason, for his mother, and the answer to questions about his family line, their Fire Seeking skills, and more.

Why has Gil been chosen to time travel to the major bushfires in Victoria: to 1939 and the Black Friday fires, the ferocious fires in Victoria of February 1851, the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, the worst in Australia’s history, and the Currowan bushfires in 2019.

 Each visit reveals more information on his family history. What is his real role in all this tragedy? How can he make the choices expected of him, and will they answer his questions?

Title: Timefire
Author: Nean McKenzie
Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing, $17.99
Publication Date: 1 July 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922858030
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: The Art of Making Friends

How do you make a friend? 

That's the question addressed in The Art of Making Friends.

It's a sweet and appealing book, the kind that should attract the attention of young girls in particular.

Friends can come in all shapes and sizes, and can be found in all kinds of places. 

The Art of Making Friends is full of friends created by a child's imagination. Friends crafted from cardboard and socks. Painted friends, snow friends, and plant friends.  

But no matter how much you try, friends are not truly imagined. They can't be conjured as if by magic. Real friendship is something that grows and takes effort.

Mary Anastasiou's rhyming text is full of relatable situations, both real and imaginary, and the words encourage expanding vocabularies. Sam Loman's illustrations are a lovely, whimsical expression of a child's world.

Friendship is something young children sometimes have difficulty navigating. Putting a copy of The Art of Making Friends in the hands of your children will be a good reminder, and prompt for discussion, about the value of friendship and what it takes to make friendship strong.

Title: The Art of Making Friends
Author: Mary Anastasiou
Illustrator: Sam Loman
Publisher: Five Mile, $ 24.99
Publication Date: June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922857903
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Anna McGregor

Name: Anna McGregor 

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Stripped back, vibrant and textural.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My to-do list and pomello timer to keep me focussed and a large corkboard filled with bits of inspiration.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I’m primarily digital and love my iPad Pro and the Procreate app. However, recently I bought an airbrush and I’m loving it. I like to misuse it with the nozzle protector on, so it spatters and then I scan it and layer it into my digital composition.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Carson Ellis, Felicita Sala and Jon Klassen

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I love mid-century art and design, but given the opportunity I would choose to visit 10 years into the future to see where we’re heading with AI.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

Becoming a mum and rediscovering picture 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.
Unfortunately not; our whole house is currently packed up in boxes, as we’re about to move house. I’m very excited to have a new studio space to make my own. Instead, I can share a window display I recently installed at The Little Bookroom in Fitzroy North.

 What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
The moment in the beginning when I realise I have something that could be a story and I see the path forward.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
If publishers aren't calling you with a project, be proactive and create a book yourself. If writing eludes you, try a simple concept book, there is so much you can do with numbers, alphabets, animals, shapes, weather etc. Bring an original visual narrative to it. All my opportunities have come from being proactive in creating my own stories. Even the ones that will never see the light of day have led to opportunities.

Anna McGregor is a creator of modern, quirky, innovative stories with humour and heart.
Having begun her career as a graphic designer, Anna is now emerging as an award-winning Author/Illustrator. Her titles include Colouroos, Anemone is Not the Enemy, A Pair of Pears and an Orange and her newest title, Who’s Afraid of the Light?

Anna’s driving purpose is to delight and entertain children through timeless storytelling. She explores evergreen issues through a child’s lens and allows them to gently interpret the stories in their own way.
Anna has a deep curiosity about all things and finds her ideas by turning the mundane on its head, merging ideas or exploring wordplay — but always with a story that connects to the human experience.

Anna lives in Naarm / Melbourne, Australia, with her Husband and Son.



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

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Review: Mizuto and the Wind

This story is inspired by the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011 which took over 18,000 lives. 

Poignant and uplifting, it shines a light on the amazing tale of the wind phone of Otsuchi, and its role  in providing comfort to the distraught and grieving families of those missing.

Mizuto is a young boy who loves spending time with his father. On this day, as always, he farewells him as he leaves for work. Then everything alters.

For as Mizuto’s father takes the seaside route to work, the wind changes. The sea surges. Waves crash to the shore. Huge walls of water sweep everything and everyone away.

From one moment to the next, what was, isn’t anymore.

Louisa Gioffre-Suzuki's stunning watercolour illustrations are powerful and portray their own story. Her immersive translation enhances the mood and emotions of the characters, the power of the sea, and force of the tsunami. They leave a significant impression on the reader while complementing Kaye Baillie’s emotive, and carefully selected words.

The boy refuses to believe that his father won’t return. Overwhelmed by grief, his mother shuts herself away from him.

Mizuto sees his father in everything. Light has left his life.

This sadness is captured in a back view of his image in black, walking alone, away from his friends.

He overhears someone speak of Kaze no Denwa. Where is it and how is this unconnected phone connected to the wind?

Despite his mother’s disbelief, the boy sets out full of hope, to find this wind booth where people can send messages to those that are missing.

The following pages are filled with brightly coloured images, reflecting hope as it comes alive in the boy; the hope that his father will receive his messages of love. 

Stunning covers speak volumes. End pages use leaves floating on the wind to represent words being carried to those missing. Simple, perfect images.

Title: Mizuto and the Wind
Author: Kaye Baillie
Illustrator: Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki
Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing, $29.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922858023
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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12 Curly Questions with author Chemutai Glasheen

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
From the time I was about 10 years old, I would pick up a newspaper and go straight to the notices page. I loved reading the obituaries of strangers. I look back and wonder if it was to confirm that the ones I loved were not in them. I was always fascinated by how someone’s life could be summarised in a few words. Maybe that is where my love for short stories began.

2. What is your nickname?
Tatai. My youngest sister couldn’t say Chemutai and so she would say Tatai. It has stuck with my family.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Being cold and having no control over it.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I invite you to approach new worlds and extend compassion.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Engaging, colourful, creative, attentive, honest.

6. What book character would you be, and why?.
Just for a day, I would want to be the Ugly Duckling in the fairytale. I would want a chance to say to myself I am not a duck and it is okay. I am enough as I am.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I would go to 2123. I would want to know if the prejudices of today would still exist 100 years from now. What stories would young people be reading then?

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
So you wrote a book and still can’t ride a bike!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My mother. She opened the worlds to me by surrounding me with books. She raised 10 amazing children who continue to be my rock today. She is full of compassion and it is what I want to do in my stories – expand compassion,

10. What/who made you start writing?
It began with my love for reading. My Grade 5 teacher introduced me to Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and I could never have enough of them. I was fascinated by the strange world and strange food. I guess that is when I began to want to recreate something that was familiar to me and my world. It was only after I wrote my first ‘real’ short story as part of an assignment at university that I began to believe I could become an author.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Enough. It is a word that gives me permission. If I don’t like something, I get to say enough and walk away. The best part of that word is when I say I am enough. As I am, I am enough. I have enough. It is permission to be happy.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Bible as it is a library in itself. It was written at a very different time but has ongoing relevance to me. It inspires me as a writer to want to reimagine the stories for today and for my context. 

Chemutai Glasheen lives in Western Australia. She is a teacher and a sessional academic at Curtin University. She writes fiction for young people and her work is influenced by her interest and experience in human rights and education. She has written a collection of short stories which are set in east Africa. Her work has been published in ACE: Arresting Contemporary stories by Emerging Writers and in the Museum of Freedom and Tolerance website. She holds a PhD in creative writing from Curtin University.

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Review: The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Perez

In Australia we talk about the Tooth Fairy, and there are certain traditions about what happens when a child loses their 'baby' teeth. Do you know how the traditions began?

In Spain such traditions have deep roots (no pun intended). They have the Tooth Mouse, also known as Ratoncito Perez.

Once upon a time, when a child lost a tooth, they threw it backwards -- originally onto the roof, then into the fireplace -- and sang a little rhyme calling for the Tooth Mouse to collect it.

With the advent of ubiquitous electricity the fireplace was no longer an option. What happened then is explained in The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Perez. 

Tooth Mouse Perez is one of the descendants of the original tooth mice. He becomes part of newer tooth traditions, with children leaving their teeth under their pillow, and awaiting a 'gift' of money in exchange. One way Tooth Mouse Perez put the teeth to good use was as jewellery!

Tooth Mouse Perez is the just one incarnation of the tooth tradition, and when one of his descendants travelled outside his home country, he encountered the Italian Tooth Ant. And what do you get when you cross a mouse and an ant (because that's what happens when they fall in love)? A mouse with ant wings. And a mouse with ant wings can be mistaken for a fairy. A tooth fairy.

This story, originally told in Spanish by philologist and folklore specialist Ana Cristina Herreros, and illustrated by Violeta Lopiz, has been translated by Sara Lissa Paulson. It takes a traditional tale, and demonstrates how things evolve over time.

History, traditions, and an ever-changing world are part of the thought-provoking story that is The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Perez. Imbued with the magical and mythical atmosphere of folk history, it will capture the imagination of children and adults alike, and make them wonder, 'what if'?

Title: The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Perez
Author: Ana Cristina Herreros
Illustrator: Violeta Lopiz
Publisher: Enchanted Lion, $29.99
Publication Date: August 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781592703593
For ages: 7+
Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Jared Styan on the True Story behind The Boy Who Ran Up A Volcano

In 2022, I published my first children's picture book, The Boy Who Ran Up A Volcano, which takes young readers on an exhilarating adventure while imparting valuable life lessons about bravery, travel and the joy of exploring the unknown. There is, however, a unique twist to my children’s book … it’s a true story!

In 2019, I embarked on a gigantic mission to conquer the towering volcano called El Misti in Southern Peru. I had been on a few adventures such as running up Australia’s highest mountain, trekking in the Himalayas and hiking through the jungles of Bolivia, but this was challenge unlike any other. 

To complete the challenge of running up El Misti, a 5800-metre volcano, I knew that training was key. At the time, I had no idea this adventure would become the foundation for my children’s book. 

Scaling the heights of El Misti required not only physical fitness but also mental fortitude. My training regime included summiting other mountains in the Andes region, preparing myself for the altitude and intense conditions ahead. I also ran about 100km per week, often wearing a heavy backpack to build up my muscles and physical endurance. 

On the day of the run, I was incredibly nervous but I knew I had done everything I could to prepare myself. The run ended up taking over 13 hours, but I managed to get to the summit and back safely. There were a few moments (which I go through in my picture book) where I didn’t think I'd be able to make it, but I picked myself up and continued one step at a time. It was an experience unlike any adventure I’ve embarked upon, and a memory that will stay with me for a lifetime.

During this time, to truly immerse myself in the rich culture and beauty of Peru, I spent two years living in the country as an English language teacher. I embraced the local lifestyle, explored the enchanting landscapes, and studied the Spanish language. These experiences developed a deep appreciation for Peru's unique heritage, which I wove into the fabric of my book. 

The Boy Who Ran Up A Volcano is not just a tale of physical endurance and conquering mountains. It is a story that teaches young readers about being brave and embracing new experiences. I believe my own journey serves as a powerful example of stepping out of one's comfort zone, embarking on thrilling adventures that broaden horizons and create lasting memories. 

I wanted my book to capture the imagination of children and inspire them to push their limits, face challenges head-on and discover the joy of exploration. The protagonist's journey up the volcano becomes a metaphor for life's obstacles, encouraging young readers to confront their fears and discover the resilience within themselves.

The Boy Who Ran Up A Volcano also offers a glimpse into the wonders of Peru and its rich culture, scenic landscapes and natural beauty. Through my tale, I hope young readers will be encouraged to seize every opportunity, conquer their fears, and create their own remarkable stories. 

Jared is an avid endurance runner, traveller, writer and fundraising professional for NGOs. His work can be found on his website and Instagram.

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Review: Parcel for Koala

Guess who’s getting a parcel next? It’s Koala!

Our cranky bird postman is back, and this time he’s riding a kangaroo into the outback to our friend Koala.

Koala is feeling super sleepy but is finding it hard to get to sleep. What has Turtle sent in the post, and can it help solve Koala’s sleep problem?

Everyone’s keen to have a guess. A hammock? A harp? A set of earmuffs? What could it possibly be? You won’t guess it, but you’ll love the unexpected surprise!

The Parcel For series is a fabulous set of picture books for young ones. They provide a great guessing game to keep kids on their toes and get them engaged in storytelling. As you turn the pages, they can join in on the guessing fun. It’s a great group read-aloud. It’s fun and silly and joyful.

And once you experience the surprise of finding out what Koala’s parcel is, you can enjoy the journey of discovering what’s in Penguin's parcel and what’s in Gorilla’s parcel, too.

Title: A Parcel for Koala
Author/Illustrator: Shelley Knoll-Miller
Publisher: Puffin, $14.99
Publication Date: 18 July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761046636
For ages:  2 - 5
Type: Picture Books

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Review: The Lucky Shack

There are times when words are hard to find, that do justice to flawless picture books. This is one of those times.

The narrative voice here belongs to the shack. It recounts the lives of the people who have loved and cared for it since its beginnings.

The structure is set close to the sea, with stunning shades of green meadows as a backdrop. Shimmering variegated blues indicate the changing phases of the water beyond and below.

The wild days of winter which darken the view are just as welcome.

Built by a now ageing fisherman, his weekly visits have maintained the building in excellent condition throughout his lifetime.

The daily routines of both lives – the fisherman’s and the shack’s, inspire reflection and gratitude for the life they’ve lived and shared.

But seasons come and go for all things. Equally so, for the shack. There are no more boots on the floors. Age and all that comes with it sets in.

Then young life arrives to turn the handle of the door. With love and patience, the fisherwoman breathes restoration and new beginnings into the shack. The old becomes new again.

Once again, it has something to look forward to.

The illustrator has done a magnificent job in translating the excellent text. Both,  immersive and intimate, this most beautiful rendering of the cycle of life, brought tears to my eyes.

Title: The Lucky Shack
Author: Apsara Baldovino
Illustrator: Jennifer Falkner
Publisher:Harper Collins, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 5July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922033154
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Jawsome: Jawsome 1

Jawsome is a new series, written and illustrated by RJ Timmis, about a bunch of shark kids who are just regular sharks by day, and a famous rock band by night.

In Jawsome 1 you'll get two cool stories in the one book: Stage Bite and Finvestigated.

There are sharks and adventure, word play and music. 

The starring character in Jawsome, and the band's lead guitarist, is Finley the reef shark whose alter ego is Felix Frenzy. 

Finley's friends and bandmates are a tiger shark (Hunter), pointer shark aka great white (Gnash), and a lemon shark (Gilleon).

When lead singer, Ann Chovi leaves the band in the lurch, it looks like Finley will be called on to take her spot. The only problem is that he gets stage fright. Perhaps auditions for a new singer will find someone to help?

That's the driver for Stage Bite, the first story in the book.

The second story, Finvestigated, sees the band being investigated by a wannabe journalist. Squidley Whistleblower is a new kid at school, and out to discover just who it is that makes up Jawsome and expose them. The band is desperate to remain anonymous and divert attention to someone or something else, and keep performing. Will they be successful?

These are not scary sharks. They're actually funny, and rather cute. The shark and ocean-themed word play in Jawsome will make you laugh or groan, or perhaps both. Think 'Shellvis Presley', 'seaspicious', 'prawndemonium' and 'crabtastrophe'. Look out for little visual jokes, too.

Jawsome is highly illustrated in a cartoon style, with pictures on each page. Its format and content make it a book with great appeal for newly independent, or reluctant readers. Enjoying the stories is also complemented by the shark trivia integrated into them.

Kids (and their parents) looking for something new to read will love Jawsome.

Title: Jawsome 1
Author/Illustrator: RJ Timmis
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $15.99
Publication Date: August 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761068591
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures

A friendship finding adventure on a fierce and fantastic island of mysteries. All in graphic novel form.

Ember has been searching for someone to be close to his entire life, but when you’re a teeny-tiny human creature living in a giant world, making friends isn’t easy.

His luck changes when a giant sea turtle takes him to a mysterious island, where a school of misfits are discovering themselves and their abilities. But while he tries hard to fit in and make friends, Ember finds it difficult to be accepted by the ragtag group of strange and magical beings in his class.

In search of his truth, his identify and connection, Ember takes risks. 

He goes to the places his teacher says he shouldn't go. He speaks with creatures that everyone seems to fear. Ember has a giant heart, but can his heart endure his struggles so he can find what he’s looking for.

Author/illustrator Jason Pamment has built a complex and wondrous world in this stunning graphic novel. With lovely thick and glossy paper, saturated in colourful illustrations and magical dialogue, you’ll be truly immersed in this story. It will speak to you in lots of different ways.

Pamment’s style is a beautiful combination of funky, cute and quirky. The story is 95% dialogue, but Ember’s letters and journal entries pop up from time to time, inviting audiences deep into his thoughts and dreams. It’s a beautiful way to bring a closeness between Ember and audiences. This is balanced, however, by many panels of only illustrations. They are beautiful quiet moments where you get to explore the story without words.

This is a big book, but it’s an easy read. It’s perfect for young adventurers who lean more towards graphics than words, but it’s also a glorious new way to explore story for those who love a novel.

Title: Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures
Author/Illustrator: Jason Pamment
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: 27 June 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761067488
For ages: 7 - 13
Type: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade Fiction, Junior Fiction

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Review: How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures

Beneath the foam bubbles of the sea is a wobbly glass world, largely unknown to us. In fact, it’s thought that we know more about Mars than our own deep-dark oceans. And so, for those curious to know more, come and explore How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures.

This is the first book in a new picture book series about unusual animal evolution stories. Sami Bayly dives down with readers, exploring the ocean’s five different zones, including the Sunlight Zone, Twilight Zone, Midnight Zone, the Abyss and the Trenches. Her yellow and black scuba suit is a constant throughout the book as she discovers unusual sea creatures. 

Each sea creature’s story unfolds through dialogue with Bayly and is set out in speech bubbles. In addition, interesting facts are provided in round fact boxes. This layout breaks up the information into approachable chunks. 

At the end of the book, a double-page spread provides pops of information about more surprising animals which would be perfect for further research at home and in the classroom. Find more teachers’ resources here.

Primarily though, the true magic in this book exists in Bayly’s incredible artwork; her reverence for the creatures shining through her carefully crafted illustrations. Bayly, a natural history illustrator, uses her skill to shine light on these unusual sea creatures. She uses watercolour and some digital elements added in photoshop to help create a deep-sea feeling. I love the way Bayly has captured the decreasing light of the ocean’s different zones in her beautiful watercolour backgrounds which amplify the watery seascape.

My family owns a rich bounty of Bayly’s books, including The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature. How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures is a real family favourite, especially with my nine-year-old and five-year-old who delight in the facts. My three-year-old pores over the illustrations but the information in the book is a bit beyond him. My family’s current favourite animal is the prickly footballfish which has a fishing rod-like light on its head. And did you know that there is a venus flytrap sea anemone that can release glowing slime from its mouth?

By sharing these incredible sea creatures’ stories, How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures reminds us about finding beauty in the unusual, and promotes our interconnectedness. With plastic pollution littering our oceans, this is most salient. After all, it is difficult to protect what we don’t know.

Title: How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures
Author/Illustrator: Sami Bayly
Publisher: Lothian, $28.00
Publication Date: 28 September 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780734421364
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Announcement: New Junior Reviewer - Meet Ayla!

Our reviewing team are passionate about sharing some of the best stories for children and teens with anyone who'll listen. 

It's one thing reviewing kids' books. It's another creating stimulating, entertaining and enthralling content for kids but it's something altogether special when kids share their true thoughts and feelings about a story with other kids. 

Which is why we are over-the-moon excited about the latest member to join our elite KBR team. Give it up for the delightful, book mad, soon-to-be-published-author, Ayla Wardrop everyone!

Ayla loves reading and writing, particularly stories with mythical creatures and cute characters. Picture books, junior fiction, middle grade and graphic novels — Ayla loves them all. She’s also a keen illustrator and takes pens everywhere to fit in five more minutes of drawing whenever she can. Poetry is on the list of things Ayla loves, and her poem Doggies Like will be published in the upcoming anthology Hot Diggety Dog: Tails from the Bark Side.  And if you think Ayla looks a little like one of our other revered reviewers, you'd be right! Welcome Ayla! We can't wait to read more about you ...

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

My favourite bands are Gorillaz and Hilltop Hoods.

2. What is your nickname?
Sometimes my friends call me Ay.

 
3. What is your greatest fear?
The dark.

 
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Magical adventures that take readers away on a long journey.

 
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Funny, risky, adventurous, silly, friendly.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Rosie from Beware the Deep Dark Forest by Sue Whiting. Rosie is brave, daring and cares so much about her dog Tinky. I love her.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I actually wouldn’t travel anywhere. I like to live in the now. Also, I don’t want to muck up time.

 
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
I’m ten so I’ll tell myself right now 'hi!'.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My parents.

10. What/who made you start writing?
Reading lots of books inspired me to start my own writing journey.

 

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Family, because I love my family.

 
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’m not sure, but it would definitely be an anthology because then I’d get to read more stories in one!

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Winner: Trilby Moffat Double Book Prize

Our lucky winner is ...

Marissa Saxty, QLD

Congratulations!

You have won a copy of The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat and The Perilous Promotion of Trilby Moffat by Kate Temple.

Thank you to ALL who entered. The periods of history ranged from ancient Roman times to the Middle Ages to the 1800s. We feel like we've been on our own perilous adventure! 

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Review: Hello Twigs

From the creators of Real Pigeons, come new entertaining and delightful characters. Hello Twigs introduces Red, Noodle, Stump and Ziggy.

Three twigs and a stump. The characters are best friends, funny and playful, full of wild ideas, and always looking out for each other. 

The four books in this graphic series for early readers are released all together. They come in different colours and each book carries its own theme.

In Surprise, red is the colour of the book. Red, the twig, thinks he is the best because of his colour. 

He decides to play a game of surprise and sets about jumping out at his friends at every turn. 

He sees it as fun.

But that’s not what the others think.

How will the twigs teach Red to give more welcomed surprises instead of scary ones?

Time to Paint is blue. Noodle is an artistic twig. He sees art as an expression of one’s feelings. But first, preparations must be made. Everyone is excited as they search for coloured things in nature that can be used as paint. A large leaf is Noodle’s drawing board.

As there are no rules to art, there are no limits to the imagination!

But the colour blue, the most important, is missing from the palette. Can they reach the sky to take a piece of its colour? Impossible! Can Ziggy solve this dilemma?

Let’s Find Treasure is yellow. Twigs view the world in a unique way as they are part of nature. Twiggy sets out on a treasure hunt. But what does that mean? The other twigs and Stump decide to join in.

Each defines treasure differently. Things found in the natural world can be seen as treasures. Can the friends meet somewhere in the middle?  Then, another issue arises. Ziggy is scared of heights. How can Ziggy overcome his fear?

How are You Feeling? is green. Stump is feeling great sadness. He wants to be part of a tree again. He misses the feel of the breeze against him. He tries all the ways he can imagine, to make himself part of a tree again, without success. The twigs find a way to help their friend lose his sadness and find joy once more.

These colourful books will awaken children to the beauty of nature, its usefulness and glory. They are encouraged through the twig’s examples, to be creative, innovative, work as a team, and accept each other’s differences.

Title: Hello Twigs:Surprise!, Time to Paint, Let's Find Treasure, How are you Feeling?
Author: Andrew McDonald
Illustrator: Ben Wood
Publisher: Hardie Grant, $9.99
Publication Date: 2 August 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761211980, 9781761212017, 9781761212000, 97816121997
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Graphic Novel

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Review: I am Lupe

Lupe’s skin and hair are different to that of her classmates. They ask her why. 

She can’t answer their curious questions. She wants to fit in, make friends, but finds it difficult, so she turns to her mother for answers.

In response to her What am I, Lupe’s mum points out all the wonderful characteristics that are hers. 

As the list grows, Lupe realises that being who she is, is a great gift, something to be proud of because there is only one like her in the whole world.

The uniqueness of being one of a kind is hard for children to recognise. 

They need the nuts and bolts explained clearly to them.

That is what Lupe’s mother does. 

This is a delightful celebration of difference.

Messages of diversity, acceptance and knowing your good points, all essential to the identity each person claims, come through with simplicity and warmth.

Beautiful full-page images appear on a double spread with one side accommodating the text. The illustrations are in vibrant colours reflecting the children’s emotions. Even without the words, it is easy to identify what the characters are thinking and saying.

This book offers a superb opportunity to open discussion between adults and children, teachers and students, on difference and diversity, as that is the pride of this wonderful country.  

Title: I am Lupe
Author: Sela Ahosivi-Atiola
Illustrator: Yani Agustina
Publisher: Lothian, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 26 July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780734422538
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: One Little Duck

'...One little duck went out one day, over the hills and far away 

Mother Duck said ‘Moo Moo Moo Moo,’ and Cow said ‘Wait! Now I’m coming too.’...' 

Oh, my heart! This utterly compelling rewrite of the beloved classic Five Little Ducks is an absolute delight.  

The pairing of award-winning author Katrina Germein’s delicious and cheeky verbal surprises, alongside multi award-winning illustrator Danny Snell’s gorgeous and captivating images, make this a book that totally rewards revisiting. Over and over and over again! 

It seems that Mother Duck has forgotten how to quack… and so she unwittingly invites the entire farmyard in for tea, one entertaining beast at a time. The playful twists of rhythm and rhyme, along with classic farmyard calls, will have children whooping, mooing and hooting with glee.  

And then, there are the illustrations that both surprise and delight. Snell’s farm animals are full of character and joy, eliciting a new response in the reader each evening as they sit down for tea. Visual hints in each double-paged illustration spread will have children totally immersed in the storyline, and guessing who the next visitor might be.   

A romp of a picture book that is bound to become a firm favourite in every early childhood collection. Highly recommended.

Title: One Little Duck
Author: Katrina Germein
Illustrator: Danny Snell
Publisher: HarperCollins, $22.99
Publication Date: 5 July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781460761649
For ages: 0+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The 39 Clues - Book 1: The Maze of Bones

The Maze of Bones is the first installment in a thrilling graphic novel adaption of The 39 Clues series by Rick Riordan, which was published in late 2008. Filled with fast-paced action and mystery, it promises to draw the reader into an adventure like no other.

When Grace Cahill, grandmother and guardian of Amy and Dan dies, the shocking news that she has changed her Will at the last moment, becomes a magnet that draws together the countless branches of a lineage that boasts many famous and powerful people, including Benjamin Franklin.

A seismic shift occurs in the sibling’s lives. They no longer have a home or protector, but are now at the mercy of greedy, privileged relatives that will stop at nothing to get their hands on more money.

 

Grace has left a challenge so great it will rock everyone’s world.

One clue, the first of many, will be given only to those who forfeit their share – a million dollars - and take the challenge, which the siblings do.

Left to their own resources, Amy, a bookworm, uses her accumulated wide range of knowledge from all she has read. Deciphering Grace’s conundrum is a challenge she takes to heart. Dan is full of surprises and solutions which surface when needed.

With their lives constantly in danger, not knowing who they can trust, the two, together with their au pair Nellie, and cat Saladin, follow clues to Philadelphia, on a journey that will change their lives.

Brilliant in every way, this series covers many themes. It is filled with excitement, mystery, suspense, and full-on action. These elements are accentuated by the exceptional, expression-filled artwork by Ethan Young.

I loved it! So will anyone that sets out on this series of adventures, created by a collaboration of authors, with outstanding characters, many of whom you will love to hate. Never a dull moment here!

Title: The 39 Clues - Book 1: The Maze of Bones
Author: Rick Riordan
Illustrator: Ethan Young
Publisher: Scholastic, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781336803365
For ages: 8 – 12
Type: Graphic Novel

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Review: Bush Turkey

What do you know about bush turkeys, also known as scrub turkeys or Australian brush turkeys?

You'll learn lots about them in a funny way from Bush Turkey, written by Kate and Jol Temple, and illustrated by Rhonojoy Ghosh.

In this rhyming story a bush turkey runs out of the bush and into the suburbs. There Bush Turkey encounters builders working on a new house.

Bush Turkey is inspired by what he sees. He can build a bigger and better nest than ever before.

With his imagination running wild, Bush Turkey dreams of a mansion with a deck and pool. He'll need some new tools, and materials for construction. Perhaps he can 'borrow' them from the building site?

When Mollie the collie spies Bush Turkey making off with items from the building site, she's after him in a flash and chaos ensues. 

Will Bush Turkey's nest be a lovely home for his new chicks, or will it be a disaster? You'll have to read the book to find out. Look for the toad that appears throughout as well.

If you loved Bin Chicken and Winner Winner Bin Chicken Dinner, then you'll love Bush Turkey, too.

Bush Turkey is a crazy wild goose chase (or perhaps that should be bush turkey chase), and a great story to read aloud one-on-one or in a group.

Title: Bush Turkey
Author: Kate and Jol Temple
Illustrator: Ronojoy Ghosh
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $18.99
Publication Date: July 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761124655
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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12 Curly Questions with author Kristin Darell

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I knocked out my front tooth when I was working as a ski instructor in Canada. I wonder if anyone can work out which one?

2. What is your nickname?
It depends on who you ask. To my parents, I’m Bunny, my old journalism friends called me KD, but most people just call me Kris.

3. What is your greatest fear?
When I was a kid, I was scared of the dark. To be honest, I still don’t like the dark, or sleeping with my wardrobe open. However, now I’m a parent I’d have to say my greatest fear is something terrible happening to my husband or kids.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Fun, moving, fast-paced, imaginative, courageous, thought-provoking, empathetic, warm.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Heartfelt, emotional, determined, courageous (most of the time), grateful (to be writing stories).

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Jo March from Little Women. Because she’s flawed but courageous and she loves writing!

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d like to go 500 years in the future, to see if we’re finally all travelling through the stars.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
“Don’t be such a coward, don’t doubt yourself. You can do what you love. Go on… dare you!”

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My dad. He taught me that change is okay, that I should follow my dreams and that just like Peter Pan, I don’t have to grow up. Perfect advice for a children’s writer!

10. What/who made you start writing?
When I was in Grade 3 at school, I wrote a poem that made my teacher laugh. It was about a silly little sailing ship and that moment made me realise that words could impact people. I know lots of authors say it, but I have always loved writing. When I left school, I didn’t think creative writing could be a ‘job’, so I went into journalism – which obviously is writing, just a different kind! I feel honoured that I was able to share true stories for more than 20 years. Now, I am also grateful to be sharing stories from my imagination. It’s a pretty awesome life!

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Serendipity… because it means an ‘unplanned, fortunate discovery’ and who doesn’t like the sound of that!

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis, because I would be very happy to spend lots of time in Narnia, going on adventures and learning to be kind and brave. 

Kristin Darell has been a passionate storyteller since she was a child. Whether it was making up adventures with her twin sister, or writing about the world around her, she was rarely found without a pen and paper in hand. As an adult, she made this passion her life. She worked as a broadcast news and sports journalist for major Australian news organisations for more than 20 years. After the birth of her two children, Kristin re-focussed her attention on writing for children. As an author, she has contributed to children’s writing anthologies and has published her first junior fiction series. Kristin is a strong advocate for children’s literature, working as the Program Manager for the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation. She lives on Sydney’s northern beaches with her husband, two children, two dogs, pet snake and three-legged pygmy bearded dragon. For more information, see https://ift.tt/DVaw8qh.

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Review: Super Sloth Episode 1: The Shar-Wolf of New York City

Humans and animals living side by side, solving mysteries and fighting crime.

Romeo Fortez is a very special pygmy sloth. He’s not like any sloth you’ve ever met. He’s super speedy and super strong. 

Born on a tiny island in the Atlantic ocean, Romeo does his best to fit in with the other sloths in his community. But Romeo itches for more. He’s smart and curious and island life just isn’t enough.

So…. Romeo heads to New York. The city that never sleeps. The city where anything can happen. Including… a giant shark wolf wreaking havoc through the streets.

Romeo teams up with an unlikely group of crime fighting friends, including Beth, Ham and Tulip. Together, they start investigating the very suspicious Weird-Warp Industries and tracking the giant shark wolf. 

They’ve got a hideout full of high-tech gadgets, fast cars, wit and grit. This rag-tag team of superheroes are the city’s only hope. Can they figure out what the shark wolf (or shar-wolf) wants and save the day?

Super fun and action-packed, Super Sloth Episode 1: the Shar-Wolf of New York City is an explosive start to a brand-new junior fiction series by Aleesah Darlison. It’s fast-paced, has gadgets galore and will surprise you with twists you won’t see coming. It’s also an easy read for new-to-chapter-book kids. Big text, short chapters and a fast-flowing plot that’s addictive and engaging.

Cheri Hughes’ funky black and white illustrations feature throughout. Expressive and detailed, they are perfectly paired with this superhero story.

And something extra special… this story shines a subtle light on genetics and science. It could just be me who's fascinated and obsessed with genetic manipulation and gene-splicing technology, but I really think this is something kids are going to be intrigued by. Without overshadowing the story, a little spotlight hovers above the subject matter, sparking ideas and questions for curious minds keen to know more. Love it!

Junior readers who love action and mystery are going to cheer for this one.

Title: Super Sloth Episode 1: The Shar-Wolf of New York City
Author: Aleesah Darlison
Illustrator: Cheri Hughes
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing, $14.99
Publication Date: 10 April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922896537
For ages: 7 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction

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Giveaway: Trilby Moffat Double Book Prize

This is the story of how one ordinary girl finds herself on a deliciously fast-paced adventure, fleeing to an island where time doesn't exist, cats are particularly rude and cake is always on the menu. Here she will take on the most treacherous job of all time. Well . . . outside of time, to be precise.

THIS IS THE DANGEROUS BUSINESS OF BEING TRILBY MOFFAT. 

And thanks to the good folk at Hachette Australia, we are giving away this thrilling new title by Kate Temple along with the second book in a series, The Perilous Promotion of Trilby Moffat, a girl who was accidentally promoted to the most important job that ever existed. The job of Time Keeper.

In Trilby's first adventure, characters spontaneously develop expertise in ancient historical skills. In 25 words or less, share which time period you would most like a new skill from, and why?

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The response we like the best will win a copy of both of these books prize. Competition is open to anyone, worldwide, so long as they have an Australian postal address for delivery of the books. Please note, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Entries without a name and street address will be ineligible. Winners will be announced right here on our website on 14 August 2023.

Competition runs from 5.00 am 5 August 2023 to 5 pm 12 August 2023. Adults can enter for those aged 17 and under. This is a game of skill, not chance. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

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Review: Eat My Dust!

Eat My Dust! is the fabulous true story of Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell, two Australian women who made history. Almost 100 years ago these friends set a land speed record.

In 1928, it wasn't the done thing for women to drive a car, but Jean and Kathleen weren't going to let something like that stand in their way. They were well prepared and determined, despite the naysayers. 

Setting out from Fremantle, they drove to Adelaide then Melbourne and finally Sydney, all without road maps. It was between Fremantle and Adelaide they broke the record set a few months earlier.

Travelling in their Lancia Lambda, and accompanied by their dog Barney, Jean and Kathleen drove almost constantly through the vast, dusty outback. They stopped for fuel, but took turns sleeping in the back so they weren't delayed.

At night they had just the stars and car headlamps to light their way. When tyres needed repairing, they did it themselves. And when they were behind schedule, they took a short cut, and ended up surprising the officials waiting to record their time of arrival in Adelaide.

Jean and Kathleen smashed the land speed record by five hours. They also 'created some of Australia's earliest outback road maps for the Shell Company'. And in 1932 they participated in Europe's Monte Carlo Rally. 

Neridah McMullin and Lucia Masciullo have re-created Jean and Kathleen's life in a wonderfully atmospheric way, giving us a window to a small part of it. 

Jean and Kathleen were pioneers who broke records and stereotypes. Their achievements particularly resonated with me as a reminder of my great-great-aunt who was a motorcycle courier and also rode in rallies in the 1930s.

This is a story of perseverance and resilience, and an important yet relatively unknown part of Australian history. Read Eat My Dust! with your kids, it's a story that deserves to be celebrated. 

Title: Eat My Dust!
Author: Neridah McMullin
Illustrator: Lucia Masciullo
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $26.99
Publication Date: August 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760654191
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Reading Pictures, Drawing Words: A Database of Picture Books for Older Readers

The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature (NCACL) has launched a new database that will bring substantial opportunity for indulgence by older readers of picture books. The contribution of extensive knowledge from a vast range of children’s literature experts are the foundations and building blocks in the development of this database.

The aim of PBOR (Picture Books for Older Readers) is to reach a broad audience. It will benefit and encourage reluctant readers, those with visual rather than textual comprehension, those who prefer image analysis and varied literature style, or those who simply enjoy the beauty of picture books.

Along with design and layout, the above elements play a huge part in understanding and analysing the visual narrative of picture books. Able to address more sensitive topics appropriate to older readers, PBOR embraces non-traditional plot structure, welcoming the challenge and options of literary devices aimed at these age groups.

Not only for children, this database opens up new areas of exploration for people who adore picture books of all kinds, who read them to find the sometimes-hidden or disguised meanings in both image and text, or a combination of the two.

PBOR is easy to navigate, with its drop-down choices and search function. There is also a Guide to using the PBOR database, with free on-line resources available. On exploration, I found it easy to navigate through the subject headings, annotations and curriculum links that line up from grade 5 through to secondary school (Australian Curriculum Version 9).

PBOR is still in its early stages, so content will expand as books are added. Nevertheless, the database promises to prove a useful tool for reading and learning about picture books in schools.

The PBOR database can be accessed at https://www.ncacl.org.au/pbor-database. For further information email ncacl@canberra.edu.au

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