Review: Sound Series Complete Series

Former primary school teacher Barbara Murray, author of the new series of four books, Sound Stories, has just won two awards at the 2019 Educational Publishing Awards Australia (EPAA).

Her incredible Sound Waves Foundation, co-authored with Terry Watson, won the Best Primary Teaching Resource and Outstanding Primary Resource. Their Sound Waves online version was also a winner in 2017.

The Australian National Curriculum recommends that all primary schools incorporate phonemic awareness and synthetic phonics in their literacy programs. Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the sounds of a language.

Synthetic phonics involves segmenting spoken words into individual sounds. These are skills that prepare and equip children from kindergarten to Grade 2 – 3, with essential language tools for future learning.

The superb Sound Stories is made up of 43 stories to introduce the 43 sounds. The Bolton Boys’ Balloon Adventure and other Stories is Part 1.

It introduces 12 stories with 12 consonants out of the 24 Focus Sounds (i.e. b as in balloon). Book 2, Robbie Robot to the Rescue and other Stories, introduces Part 2 of the consonants, with another 12 stories and their equivalent Focus Sounds.

The two following titles, Anna Ant’s Antics and other Stories, and Bertie Bird and the Earthworm and other Stories, Part 1 and 2, introduce 10 and 9 consecutive vowel sounds.

10-point guidelines to all the stories enable educators and students to get the most from each sample story. There is rhyming and repetition, assonance, alliteration, a lot of clever word play, and imaginative story lines.

All with identical layouts and design, these books are in essence, children’s picture books with fantastic stories made up of language specifics. Stories full of adventure and challenge are built from a wide range of themes. Native birds, animals, toys and insects are the personified main characters more frequently than human characters.

Children will delight in analysing the stunning, detailed full-page illustrations by the gifted Sarah Hardy. Analysis is a crucial part of the process used to engage children’s imagination, therefore is something teachers and educators – including home-schoolers, will encourage.

The interpretation and discussion of what they see: the emotions of the characters, descriptions of the settings and surroundings, establishing who/what the characters are – children, animals or toys - and the backstory they imagine before and after the happenings on the page, are all deconstructed.

The books can be bought separately for $24.99 from bookstores and at http://www.barbaramurray-author.com.au/ with a generous discount offered to schools and libraries.

Title: Sound Stories Complete Series

Author: Barbara Murray

Illustrator: Sarah Hardy

Publisher: Little Steps Publishing, $24.99 each

Publication Date: August 2019

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 9781925545074, 9781925545685, 9781925545975, 9780980723700

For ages: 5+

Type: Non Fiction, Education/Literacy

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Review: The Australia Survival Guide

Beware! Australia is trying to kill you and this book might just save your life! It is filled with useful facts and survival tips covering Australia’s freaky land and sea creatures, wild weather and surprisingly useful bush tucker and medicine.

Being forced to travel around Australia with his parents, our 13 year old narrator is sure he’s going to end up dead, because everyone knows that Australia is DANGEROUS. This country is crazy!

Well, if we’re going to meet snakes, spiders, sharks and crocodiles, we’d better start learning about them. Are you ready to travel across land, into water and through the environment to discover the deadliest and weirdest dangers lurking across Australia?

Starting with snakes, we profile the top ten deadliest snakes and learn all the important facts (including the effects of their venom). We cover first aid, how to avoid being bitten, and also some fun facts including information on how to care for snakes as pets!

We make our way through spiders, a range of deadly insects, and move on to the cute but deadly. Who would have though we also need to watch out for the cute platypus or the cuddly wombat? As we move into the sea, we learn about shark attacks and are enlightened about the deadliest crocodiles, octopuses and jellyfish.

Australia has some extreme environments and you should understand the dangers lurking in the desert, the outback, and even in seemingly everyday plants that are actually poisonous! Watch out for threats of bushfire, earthquake and cyclone. But if you end up isolated as a result of any of these natural disasters, at least you’ll know the most amazing bush tucker foods and medicine to see you through.

This book is a great insight into the dangers lurking in Australian backyards but also a reminder about all that is weird and wonderful about our land. It’s a great book for both locals and tourists as it shows us how to be aware yet safe, and acknowledge the wonderous creatures lurking in our midst.

Celebrate all that is Australia with its quirky flora, fauna and environment in this fun yet educational book perfect for primary schoolers.

Check out our Guest Post with George Ivanoff on Surviving in Australia!


Title: The Australia Survival Guide
Author: George Ivanoff
Publisher: Puffin Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 October 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9780143796572
For ages: 9+
Type: Non-Fiction




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Review: Lemur Dreamer

Lemur Dreamer is a story of a sleepwalking lemur and true friendship, set in the apartments of 32 Pebbly Lane.

Louis the lemur has an unfortunate habit of leaving his home and making snuffly snoring sounds as he sleepwalks around the other apartments at night. Over time, his habit becomes more serious and soon Louis is walking out of the apartment block, straight into danger. Lucky for Louis, his friends find a way to keep him safe, but they can’t keep it up forever.

After a look at Louis’ adventurous dreams and his friends crafty problem solving, a cute and entertaining ending prevails.

The illustrations are gorgeous, with loose lines, bright night colours, a feeling of movement and watercolour textures which set the fun dreamy night scenes.

I love the way Lemur Dreamer explores sleepwalking, it would make a great introduction to or prompt for discussions about sleeping, sleepwalking and dreaming. I also enjoyed the caring and dedicated friendship of the animals at 32 Pebbly Lane to Louis.

Title: Lemur Dreamer
Author/Illustrator: Courtney Dicmas
Publisher: Templar Publishing, $20.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781783700837
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Paperback



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Review: The Last Word

More than a year ago, I reviewed The List by Patricia Forde. There was no talk of a sequel, but I noted my hope that something would come.

And it has.

After what happened in Ark, Letta is in hiding with the rebel group, the Creators (or the Desecrators, as the leaders of Ark like to call them). 

She’s trying to bring language back by teaching the children of Ark in secret, but the new regime in Ark appears to be worse than the last one.

Letta wants peace. She wants normality. Letta trusts people. She sees the good in everyone.

These should be assets, but in a world on the brink of chaos, when babies are being taken in the night and your neighbours could be your enemies, it isn’t.

When Letta’s desire to trust sees the Creators taken captive, it triggers a domino effect. Fighting, war and death follow and Letta wants nothing to do with it. All she wants to do is run away and find her parents. She doesn’t want to fight. She doesn’t want to be the wordsmith.

But sometimes the fight follows you wherever you go, and Letta learns that sometimes the right thing to do is also the hardest.

The Last Word is a captivating middle fiction read for lovers of dystopian tales. It’s set in a future world where climate change has left only pockets of surviving humans, and in one of these pockets — the town of Ark — the leaders believe it is language that led to the destruction of the world, and they’ll do anything to prevent it from happening again. Even destroying language altogether.

The List and The Last Word delve into what language is, what it means for society and also it’s power — power to do both good and bad. The books explore concepts like freedom of speech, good verses evil and sacrifice for the greater good.

The Last Word is one of those books that challenges your concept of self. It will make you think about what you would do if freedoms were being stolen. Would you, could you, rise up and speak up for what you believe in? Could you do it if you knew it would place your life at risk?

A poignant and relevant tale for our time, The Last Word is the conclusion I’ve been waiting for. 

Title: The Last Word

Author: Patricia Forde

Publisher: Affirm Press, $16.99

Publication Date: 27 August 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781925870664

For ages: 11+

Type: Middle Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Jenny Blackford

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I grew up wanting to learn as many ancient languages as I could. I was a boilermaker’s daughter, so this was not merely weird, but difficult. I managed to study Latin through state high school, but I couldn’t start Greek until University. Sanskrit was amazing.

2. What is your nickname?
My parents often called me Jenny-Penny or Pennifer. My husband often calls me Jennybee. Lots of people call me Jen. But are any of these a real nickname? Not really. Sorry!

3. What is your greatest fear?
Inanimate objects coming to life, like the plastic Autons in vintage Doctor Who. Or the walls closing in. Or, most relevant to my new book, The Girl in the Mirror, seeing a strange face (not my own strange face) in the mirror. I worry a lot about real-world horrors, but is that fear?

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Wry. Witty, I like to think. Often a touch poetic. That’s 10!

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Quirky, kind, funny, surprisingly surprising.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Mary Poppins. She knows everything and everyone. She is comfortable under the sea or in the sky, and can talk authoritatively to birds, animals and babies. She was around during Noah’s Flood, and can stick gold stars from gingerbread onto the night sky. But she has no interest in becoming ruler of England, the Earth or the Universe. She just goes about making life better for one family, and some of their friends and associates (notably including Willoughby the dog). And she is always perfectly satisfied with her appearance and her handiwork.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
If I could arrive with perfect Mycenaean Greek, the right clothes, plenty of money and a good cover story, I’d go to Sparta for the day Helen met the Trojan prince Paris, or Knossos the day Ariadne met the Athenian hero Theseus.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
First, how did you get so old? Then, stay brave.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
JRR Tolkien. I found The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings so immersive and compelling.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I wrote as far back as I can remember, and I always wanted to be a published author. The question is more: What stopped me writing for so long? And the answer is, I had to work for a living!

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Aquamarine. Turquoise. Lapis lazuli. Smaragdine. All the green-blue jewel words.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?  
The Lord of the Rings. It contains whole worlds, and endless ages, and wonderful small-scale domestic life.

Jenny Blackford writes stories and poems for people of all ages, often with a tinge of magic. She is delighted that Eagle Books, an imprint of Christmas Press, is publishing her fantasy adventure novel, The Girl in the Mirror, in October 2019. For more information, see www.jennyblackford.com.

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Review: Mr Walker Gets the Inside Scoop

Guest Post: George Ivanoff on Surviving in Australia!

Review: People & Places: a children's encyclopedia

This engaging reference book for children, filled with vibrant photography and fascinating information, begins with a quote - 'there are many, many different groups of people in the world, so many, in fact, that they could not possibly all fit into one book. People & Places: a children's encyclopedia gives an initial understanding of the enormous diversity of cultures in the world today and celebrates the common bonds that link us all together.' This quote perfectly captures the ongoing importance and relevance of a book such as this.

By learning about people with experiences that may differ from ours, we increase our knowledge, understanding and acceptance of others, whilst reducing fear or judgements based on ignorance or misconceptions.

Each section briefly discusses people from all the continents and geographical regions of the world. Sections address various aspects of human lives, such as food, education, habitat, religion, language and health, as well as traditions, modern living and family life.

This is a well-presented encyclopedia, with a mix of textual and visual elements, covering a broad range of information.

Title: People & Places: a children's encyclopedia
Publisher: DK, $39.99
Publication Date: 6 August 2019
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780241364420
For ages: 8 - 12
Type: Nonfiction




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Review: Trouble in the Surf

When you think of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, you probably think of planes and his record-breaking flights.

Did you know that an incident when he was just a child could have ended his life and changed that piece of Australian history?

This is the story of that incident which took place when Charlie was just a nine year old boy.

Trouble in the Surf is atmospheric, and you'll feel transported back to the early 20th century. This is history that doesn't read as dry or factual. It's accessible and adventurous.

Charlie and his cousin, Rupert travel by tram for a day at Bondi Beach. In their oh so fashionable for the time swimming costumes, they spend their time larking about and imagining their future. Charlie reveals he wants to fly like the seagulls.

Unfortunately the cousins find themselves drifting and unable to return to safety. The illustrations give a real sense of the boys' fear and the feeling of being caught, showing both above and below water.

The story's perspective switches back and forth a little, as the difficulty is noticed on the beach and responded to. People on shore are quick to jump into action.

It's not a spoiler to say the boys are saved, although it's not just a quick rescue story, and there could have been quite a different outcome.

Trouble in the Surf shares Australian history and culture in an enjoyable way. There's the boy who would become famous, the iconic Bondi Beach, and the lifesavers and inate water safety message that is a beneficial reminder for everyone.

The book includes several pages of information about swimming safely, a short glossary, and references for further reading. There's also information about what happened to Charlie later in life, and about Surf Lifesaving Australia.

It may suprise you to learn that the official lifesaving club at Bondi was started just weeks after young Charlie and Rupert were rescued.  

Trouble in the Surf is an excellent tribute to the important work of life savers, insight into a little piece of our history, and an all around great story for families.

Title: Trouble in the Surf
Author: Stephanie Owen Reeder
Illustrator: Briony Stewart
Publisher: National Library of Australia, $24.99
Publication Date: October 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780642279460
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture book




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Review: It Sounded Better In My Head

Review: Scaredy Cat

Scaredy Cat is a entertaining, read aloud, rhyming story, about a little girl and her four-legged friend.

Scaredy Cat is afraid of all manner of things; bees, sneezes, noises, toys, boys and much much more. Luckily he's got an owner that is brave and unafraid of pirates and crooks. She absolutely adores him.

Heather Gallagher's rhyme captivates readers to want to know more about Scaredy Cat. It is a fast paced hunt around the garden, out the gate and to the beach, 'Have you seen my Sacredy Cat?'

Anil Tortop has cleverly hidden Scaredy Cat amongst the bustle of activity. Look carefully for his tail, paws or eyes that can be seen poking out of gumboots and from under sunhats.

When I read the book for a second and third time, I flipped back and forth to the first double page spread, which is both a prediction of the upcoming adventure and a map of the story's setting.

Scaredy Cat is the kind of delightful story children will love to listen to and read, over and over again, with the most brilliant surprise waiting for you at the end of the book. Parents, you will enjoy reading this masterfully written story as it flows easily off the tongue when read aloud.

Scaredy Cat has been so well received that it is now available as a paperback book for $14.99, ISBN: 9781925594669

If you would like to learn more about Heather Gallagher see her answers to KBR's 12 Curly Questions.

Loving Anil Tortop's illustrations like I do, then read her newest story Leaping Lola by Tracey Hawkins or a few of her other stories; Bat vs Poss by Alexa Moses,  The Leaky Story by Devon Sillett and The Great Zoo Hullabaloo by Mark Carthew.

Title: Scaredy Cat
Author: Heather Gallagher
Illustrator: Anil Tortop
Publisher: New Frontier, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 May 2018
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781925594171
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book




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Review: The Demon World

When I finished reading The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green, I was sure it was only book one in what had to be an epic new series. I am thrilled I was right!

Green is back with The Demon World, and it kicks off right where she left things.

War has come and each of the five protagonists are battling to escape the army that pursues them across the Northern Plateau. 

It isn’t exactly a wise choice — the Northern Plateau is a harsh environment, bitter cold, and it’s where the demons dwell — but they have little choice if they want to live.

United in their wish to escape death, Catherine, Ambrose, Edyon, March and Tash join forces to flee together, along with the guards of Catherine’s betrothed who have sworn to protect her. 

But as their enemies close in, and the group is forced into the tunnels of the demon world, fate pulls them apart and they must all follow their own path to their own version of freedom.

Torn between her wish to serve her new country and be with the man she loves, Catherine must find courage to stand up in a male dominated world and fight for what she wants. But does she want Ambrose, or does she want the prince she was meant to marry before war broke out.

Still trying to get to the family he didn’t know he had, Edyon is growing as a man with March by his side. But Edyon still doesn’t know the secrets March hides, and when the truth comes out, he may not yet be strong enough to face it.

Grieving the death of her closest ally, Tash's world is in chaos… until she meets someone who challenges everything she thought she knew about the demon world and the demon smoke she used to steal.

Like book one, book two rotates point-of-view characters throughout the chapters. And once again, this is in no way jarring or confusing. Each character’s story is connected to the others, so as you read one character’s story you are always learning about another. 

You see the truth the characters can’t see. You can connect the dots they can’t.

The Demon World, like The Smoke Thieves before it, is riveting and addictive. Green has created an epic fantasy world filled with stunning landscapes, politics, war and demons. It raises questions about sexism, discrimination and genocide and provides oh-so-much content for a juicy conversation about ethics and morality.

The back of the book says this is a series for fans of Games of Thrones, and I 100% agree with this statement. If you like epic hero journeys, if you like detailed fantasy worlds to fall into, you will love The Demon World and you will love this series.

Title: The Demon World

Author: Sally Green

Publisher: Penguin, $17.99

Publication Date: 6 August 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9780141375410

For ages: 13+

Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Guest Post: Julia Lawrinson on Questions of Morality

Review: Who Stole my Sausage Roll?

Who Stole My Sausage Roll? is a fun, retro inspired mystery story of a missing sausage roll and the quest to find it.

Written in rhyme, the narrator tells of their encounters that day, beginning with feeling hungry and buying the last sausage roll in the shop, a moment later things take a turn for the worse and their sausage roll has vanished! Will they ever find it? A series of backtracking and conversations with people nearby leads to a satisfying ending with a message more wholesome than a hot sausage roll.

I adore the collaged artwork; the consistent colours, patterns and vintage style details of outfits and scenes are wonderfully 70s, just like a retro orange kitchen. It features perfectly imperfect bubble writing on the cover and some pages and gave me flashbacks of a time in my youth when bubble writing was all the rage.

This self-published story by Kathy Langlade is fun and unique, the sausage roll topic had my whole family tuned in and the stylised art lead to a discussion about fashion and style in different eras. I look forward to any future work by Kathy.

Title: Who Stole My Sausage Roll?
Author/Illustrator: Kathy Langlade
Publisher: Bubblegum Days, $15.00
Publication Date: 1 December 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780646597560
For ages: 5 – 10
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Hello Lighthouse

Winners: Ollie and Augustus

And our three lucky winners are...

Damian Corkhill, NSW

Mel Sajeva, VIC

Kirsty Polujan, NSW

Congratulations!

You have each won a copy of the heartwarming, Ollie and Augustus.

We hope you enjoy this prize.

Thank you to ALL who entered. We loved hearing about what you get up to with your beloved pets!




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12 Curly Questions

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.  

My canvas paintings are signed Bood. So people may not know that they have my artwork hanging on their wall.

2. What is your nickname?  

Bood.

3. What is your greatest fear?  

Not being motivated to try my hardest.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.

Tenacious Exciting Necessary Wise Objective Rich Deadly Substantial. (There you go, look back and you will see that I described my style within 10 words.)

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.  

Oh come on – look above – I already did it in eight!

6. What book character would you be, and why?  

Tiddalik – one of the only characters I read about at school that came from my Kamilaroi Country.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?  

1788 – I would empathise with Captain Arthur Phillip to lead with greater empathy for a very wise culture that could teach people about respect for the land and one another. Then we would still be living with ‘true’ Common Wealth.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?  

Enough with trying to fart through the didgeridoo in your live shows!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My mother, Lyla Knox. Her passion for treating one another with kindness is a wonderful gift. She has never focused on all of the things she has missed out on throughout her life – only on the wonderful opportunities that lay ahead.

10. What/who made you start writing?  

My mum. She has steered her family to now have seven sons and daughters, five daughters-in-law and five of her grandchildren who all work in education – to fill classrooms with laughter and wisdom.

11. What is your favourite word and why?  

Vivacious – I used it throughout school to pad my writing with greater vocabulary. It also reminds me of the colours of my country and our traditional art. But, best of all, it describes the laughter amongst my beautiful family.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?  

A ‘Magic Book’ that could change its story every time you were ready to be filled with more exciting stories encapsulating the never ending wonders of a multitude of authors imaginations.  

Gregg Dreise is a gifted artist, storyteller and musician, and he features the didgeridoo and guitar in his performances at schools, libraries and festivals. He is a descendant of the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi people of south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales. He is the author and illustrator of many books, including Cunning Crow, Silly Birds, Kookoo Kookaburra, Mad Magpie and My Culture and Me. All of these stories are about teaching morals. They address self-image, friendship, kindness, bullying and indigenous culture. Gregg also has a children’s music CD titled Sing. Dance. Walk Together. He is very proud to be an ambassador of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, a charity that brings books, laughter, confidence and fun to remote communities around Australia. Gregg is proud to work with Magabala Books; Panguin Random House; Pearson Publishing; ABC Books; Harper Collins; and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. For more information, see www.magabala.com.

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Review: Amundsen's Way: The Race To The South Pole

Review: The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! is another hilarious Mo Willems classic, that will strike a chord with any child who has ever felt nervous about starting something new, particularly school.

With characteristically enthusiastic shenanigans, the feisty Pigeon rails against the unfairness of having to go to school. Readers who have come to know and love the Pigeon through some of Willems' many other books, including Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, Don't Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late! and The Pigeon Needs A Bath!, will not be disappointed.

Willems' stylised illustrations, show a remarkable range of emotions, when Pigeon storms about yelling, 'Why...? and 'What if...?', until it becomes clear that Pigeon is in fact quite nervous about starting school. Fortunately for the Pigeon, school may not be quite as scary as it seems!

Title: The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
Author/Illustrator: Mo Willems
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781406389012
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book




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Review: If You Meet an Elephant

Review: Sophia and the Corner Park Clubhouse

Can you remain BFFs for life?

When Sophia, Maisie, Bell and Lola finally get the chance to catch up in their first high school break, picking up where they left off isn't as easy as they expected.

When the mayor announces he's going to bulldoze the local Corner Park Clubhouse, the girls have a mutual urgent focus, but saving the community's historical centre seems an impossible task.

This first book in the series, told from Sophia's point of view implies something terrible happened in the girls' final year at primary school. No one seems able to speak about it but the shadow of it looms over them all.

Place names like Handkerchief Park and Sunnystream High might make you think you've landed in a sugar-coated teenage Utopia, but it's worth reading beyond to find  each girl's personal challenges and unravel the mystery of a pain so deep it's hard to talk about.


Sophie fights to bring her friends together so they can preserve the good memories Corner Park Clubhouse holds for them but so much has changed.

Realistic tensions within and between family, friends and neighbours, and a simmering political addenda could tear the entire community apart.

Have you read any of the133 titles in The Babysitters Club, which were a raging success in the 1980s? Maybe you've watched the Gilmore Girls, a popular onscreen series that debuted in 2000 and continued for several seasons? Sophia and the Corner Park Clubhouse by Davina Bell is written in homage to these.

Title: Sophia and the Corner Park Clubhouse
Author: Davina Bell
Publisher: Hardy Grant Egmont, $
Publication Date: 1 May 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760503970
For ages: 8 +
Type: Middle Grade Fiction




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Review: Rusty

Rusty is a story written to explore concepts related to out of home care and associated trauma.

Chrissy McYoung, whose time working in community services and seeing the experiences of children in foster care, led her to create Rusty, is both author and illustrator.

Rusty tackles a difficult subject, and it comes with many complexities.

Rusty feels different. He doesn't want to be shuffled from one home to another. He wants to be understood, he just wants to be like everyone else.

Then one day he meets Rose, who isn't like anyone else he's known. As they come to know each other better, Rusty and Rose discover they have some things in common. It doesn't stop Rusty from feeling angry and sad, but he learns to trust and respect Rose, who wants to be there for him.

Using a dog as the central character allows the situations explored to be a little bit removed from real life. There are many issues raised in Rusty, including: being separated from your family and managing the emotions that creates; having multiple and varied carers, and needing to move regularly; rules that seem to change with every new carer; being unable to focus at school; and feeling trapped and alone.

Chrissy McYoung's illustrations are vibrant and full of interesting features. I particularly liked seeing little touches like 'Dogopoly'.

At the back of the book there is a lot of extra information to support adults using it as a tool for discussion. It includes: a short background to Rusty's story; a fantastic double-page spread image of a dog's head with simple scientific explanations of the brain and how behaviour is affected by trauma; and insight into the impact on children who experience out of home care.

Rusty is an excellent opportunity to raise a subject that explores what tens of thousands of children in Australia experience every day. For those who have never come into contact with this, it's a chance to learn more, and for those who have, it's a chance to discuss those experiences.

Title: Rusty
Author/Illustrator: Chrissy McYoung  
Publisher: Hairy Phish Productions, $29
Publication Date: March 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978151843345
For ages:  5+
Type: Picture book




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Guest Post: Sarah Rasmussen on Five Reasons Why Reading to Children is Super Important

We all know that reading to children is important and that we should do it. But do you ever wonder why it’s so important? Other than the fact that it will improve literacy?

See below to see some reasons and get motivated to start reading!

1. Reading teaches empathy in children.
One of the most important skills that young children need to develop is understanding empathy – it is vital to growth and emotional intelligence. Your child will learn empathy as they read about characters and how they deal with different situations that they might not see in everyday life. I know I have learnt plenty of important life lessons from literature and by falling in love with characters.

Such as Harry Potter. Ahem.

Empathy developed from reading is discussed in an interesting article from 2015 posted in The Guardian, which stated that 'the power of stories helps children handle their own and other people’s feeling.' It’s pretty insightful and highlights how important reading is in establishing empathy in children, as well as looking at how this is backed up by neuroscience. And that’s some legit stuff right there.

Sarah Rasmussen - 'every child can be a book lover'

2. It can help build relationships between yourself and other siblings
When reading, you are often in close contact with your child and get to laugh and learn together. And generally speaking, children enjoy being read to by parents and older siblings. This will encourage and strengthen relationships all around!

Even a recent study in 2019 published in The Journal of Developmental & Behavioural Paediatrics showed that reading with toddlers enhanced children behaviour and reduced harsh parenting. You can read more about the study in this article here.

3. Reading will reduce the amount of time they spend in front of a screen
We all know screen time is a thing that should be limited, although it’s pretty hard in this day and age where screens are everywhere.

We all have days where we have had enough and need to sit back, drink our coffee and say ‘Here *insert child’s name*, have my phone and shut your pie-hole‘, before going and banging our heads against a door.

But ultimately, we know screen time should be limited, and the more time you spend reading to your child means less time in front of screens. That is proven in this 2017 study, which showed that ‘television consumption was significantly lower for children who were read to daily as compared to those who were read to occasionally’.

4. It can grow children’s confidence in literacy and school
This one is pretty obvious, but alas, it must be said. Kids who are more confident readers will be able to go through school feeling pretty confident too. And not having to worry about school will allow them to concentrate on other kid stuff like making friends and playtime.

There is a great initiative at Victorian libraries at the moment called the 1,000 books before school challenge. It encourages parents to try and read to their child 1,000 books (re-reading counts too!) before they begin school and it will set them up with a great foundation for learning. It seems like a huge number, but when broken down, it is not so bad. A book before bedtime every night should do the trick.

You can register for the 1,000 books before school challenge at your local library. The one you should be going to all the time after reading my post Eight Reasons YOU Should Visit Your Local Library.

5. Reading will encourage creativity
Learning and building creativity is a huge part of childhood – stories and picture books are one way to do this. A wide range of stories will encourage your kids imagination and keep them dreaming.

In fact, reading picture books to young children has even been proven to drastically improve drawing skills in a recent study published in the Journal of Empirical Studies of the Art. Pretty amazing stuff, hey!

So with all that, you don't really have any excuses to not be reading to your little ones. Get on it!

Sarah Rasmussen i a passionate reader and writer of children’s fiction. She lives in a small country town in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia – with her partner Chris, little boy Sonny and pug Sebastian. She's passionate about all things children’s fiction and believes that every child can be a book lover. Follow her informative blog at Ragamuffin Books.

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Meet The illustrator: Devon Holzwarth

Name: Devon Holzwarth

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Playful, dreamy, nostalgic, hopeful…I like to tune into the mood of the work and accentuate
that feeling with colour and texture.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My old drafting table my dad refurbished and gifted me, stacked with supplies. It’s a cosy
slightly cramped spot under an eave wall that is always too full but it’s my favourite spot.

Next to my work table is a long table with my computer, scanner, printer, iPad etc. as well as drawers and shelves of supplies and resources.

It’s a lovely spot for watching the crows and magpies that hang out on the roof nearby. Another essential in my studio is my ever growing collection of children’s books - including lots of vintage favourites from my childhood (and my parents’ childhoods!).

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I’m drawn to pastels for their softness and saturation and almost always include them in my
process. I also work in gouache and watercolour, and colour pencil is a staple. However, I
adore experimenting and love bits of collage, or working on large canvas with acrylic, or
creating 3d worlds.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Oh, just three?! There are so many…in the children’s book genre my favourites are Roger
Duvoisin, Adrienne Adams, Gyo Fujikawa, and I have to include Beatrice Alemagna. 

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
There’s so much to love from the mid-century era: Ray Eames - pairing playfulness and
practicality. Also mid-century and into the 1960’s - Mary Blair and the early Disney animators
with exquisite colour, shape and movement. And from the 1940’s and onward, Feodor
Rojankovsky, who illustrated several Little Golden Books, which still inspire so much today.
Time periods that come after years of war or repression are often full of hopeful, fresh ideas
and I find those times very exciting and appealing. 

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I’ve been drawing and making things my entire life. My dad is a highly creative person
(painter, sculptor, maker of many things) and our family has a long history of artists in
different fields. I went to Rhode Island School of Design to study and settled on Textile
Design, though looking back I probably should have gone into illustration! You can only know
so much about yourself sometimes, though, and textile design gave me focus on colour and
texture. I discovered illustration later on, only after my kids were born and we had moved to
Germany. I couldn’t do the same work as I had been doing and thus discovered how much I
loved to create stories and characters. I took classes with an online platform called Make Art
that Sells and their children’s book illustration course brought something out of me I didn’t
realise was there. There was no turning back afterwards! I submitted a dummy book to an
art director I admired and through a bit of a process it turned into my first author/illustrated
book publishing next spring with Alison Green 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.
In my studio I’ve created different areas and try to keep things separated (otherwise it’s a
crazy mess and I can’t work if it’s too disordered). I’ve got my main area where I’m
continually editing what can live there (currently it’s supplies for the book and cover projects
I’m working on), my table with electronic stuff and random bits of things I need to get to, a
cosy area for visitors (usually my dog, Phylo, and sometimes a kid or two), a desk my
husband says is his but is stocked with supplies and is always set up for drawing so the kids
can jump in when they like. And I have a cute little table under the other window that I had
imagined for writing but has mostly been for kids drawing also. I find I write mostly in my
head when out for walks and then transfer it to my computer or a notebook when I get home.
Sitting still at a desk is one of the most ineffective places for me, and I imagine for a lot of
people! I feel super grateful for my space…it’s full of creative energy, light and materials. It
often feels like a really good friend. 

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

Probably the first bit - getting something down on the paper. There’s so much possibility at

this stage and my mind is whirling with ideas. After that it’s probably when a character
comes together and they feel perfectly alive. Like they’ve always been there and you’ve just
been finally introduced. 

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

The process of growing and getting to know yourself in your work takes time so keep at it
consistently and be kind to your efforts (and remember that it’s always changing). Try new
things, join groups and challenges, and spend time with other illustrators.


Devon Holzwarth grew up in Panama with the jungle as her garden and parrots and iguanas
as pets. Her work is strongly inspired by childhood memories and her collection of vintage
children's books. She currently lives in Aachen with her husband, kids, and beloved old
hound dog. She’s the Author/Illustrator of 'Found You' with Alison Green Books, publishing
spring 2020, and 'Sophie's Stories' also with Alison Green Books, publishing 2021.
Please vist Devon's website for more information or follow her on instagram.

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Review: Wilder Girls

Review: Ollie & Augustus

Starting school can be a nerve-racking experience for most. But what if you're also worried about your best friend and how they'll cope without you?

Gabriel Evans has created a delightful picture book for pet lovers with the perfect blend of sweetness and humour.

Ollie is only small — like a pickling jar or a shoebox — but he is sure his large dog, Augustus, will be lonely without him when he goes to school. After all, they do almost everything together, from painting and people watching to digging and stick collecting.

So Ollie sets out to find a companion for Augustus, another dog with similar interests. It turns out, however, that Augustus is quite unique in his hobbies and finds no interest in the other dogs, with their sniffing and licking and shedding.

The reassuring ending reveals Augustus is just fine without Ollie and spends his day keeping busy, happy in the knowledge that his best friend will be back.

Gabriel's loose-line drawings are deceptively simple, exuding warmth and character on every page. Ollie's small size and big determination will be reassuring for younger readers, while the endearing Augustus offers comic relief with his sheer size, facial expressions and resolute affection.

The sepia palette, especially in the endpapers, captures the strength of the friendship and the memories they've created, but is punctuated with occasional pops of colour in pencil and watercolour for a playful touch.

Gabriel's accomplished balance between words and pictures highlights the true magic that can be created in a picture book. Highly recommended.

Title: Ollie & Augustus
Author/Illustrator: Gabriel Evans
Publisher: Walker Books, $26.99
Publication Date: September 2019
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781760650711
For ages: 2+
Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Gareth Ward: Question Time

12 Curly Questions with author Jesse Blackadder

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 
In a past life I was a cicada. I lived underground for seven years. It was extremely boring. As a result, I am up for any adventure in this lifetime.

2. What is your nickname? 
Doctor Dolittle.

3. What is your greatest fear? 
Spiders. Sharks. Man-eating spider-sharks. The other person getting more popcorn than me when sharing a bucket at the movies.
 
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words. 
Serious. Funny. Heartfelt. The type of stories that make you cry a little bit at the end, but they’re happy tears.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 
Today get words on page.

6. What book character would you be, and why? 
I would be George from The Famous Five. She was the one who drove the whole adventure. Plus she had Timmy the dog, and lashings of ginger beer.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why? 
2300, to see if we’ve solved climate change, and what worked.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now? 
I know you think you’re going to be a vet, but you’re in for a surprise. You’re going to be a writer instead.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Jack London, Mary O’Hara, James Herriot – great authors who wrote about animals and humans.

10. What/who made you start writing? 
I fell in love with a boy band member when I was 11 and wrote a story about my best friends and I meeting the band. When my friends kept asking what happened next, I continued… it was such fun.

11. What is your favourite word and why? 
Phantasmagorical. Because I have never managed to use it in a book. It means having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
What kind of question is this? What kind of hell exists where you can only read one book for the rest of your life? It would have to be a book called something like ‘The Neverending Story’, or ‘Harry Potter and the magic book that adds another chapter when you reach the end’.

Jesse Blackadder was a horse-mad city kid who wanted to be a vet and grew up to become an author instead. Jesse has written award-winning novels for adults and children, including the story of the last dog in Antarctica, and a wild brumby that became an endurance racehorse. For more information, see www.jesseblackadder.com.

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Review: How To Make Friends With The Dark

Review: The Girl Who Thought In Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

This is the story of a girl who was told she was different, whose parents were told to send her away, who was teased simply for being who she was. This is also the story of that same girl who became a champion for animals, a giant of science, and an inspiration to people all over the world, particularly for anyone who has ever been told they don't quite fit in.

The Girl Who Thought In Pictures is a brief biography of Mary Temple Grandin (known as Temple), written by Julia Finley Mosca, who spent many hours talking with Dr. Grandin.

The illustrations, by Daniel Rieley are insightful, reflecting the way in which the young Temple described her thinking - in pictures. Dr. Grandin also contributed personal photos which complement the illustrations and remind readers that Dr. Grandin is a real person.

As a child, Temple displayed behaviours and characteristics that differed from other children. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, in 1947, at first these were incorrectly attributed to brain damage, but later recognised as part of autism. Whilst Temple's characteristics led to some difficulties, such as delayed speech, sensory challenges and struggles with managing her frustrations, they also led to a unique way of viewing the world.

When Temple went to live with relatives on a farm, after a difficult time at school in the city, she began to realise that she could see solutions in ways that others could not. And so began a love affair with science, inventions and discoveries. Since then, this quiet girl, has gone on to become an inventor, a respected Animal Scientist, a Professor (earning a Bachelor degree in Psychology, and a Master's and PhD in Animal Science),  and a world-wide public speaker!

The narrative is told in rhyme, covering key moments in Dr. Grandin's life, and younger children may appreciate the simple rhyming text. For older children, and anyone who seeks to understand more about this interesting person's life, there are additional sections at the back, including a letter from Dr. Grandin, Fun Facts, a timeline with significant dates, and more detailed biographical information.

This book is one of a series of books published by The Innovation Press, featuring amazing scientists.

Title: The Girl Who Thought In Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin
Author: Julia Finley Mosca
Illustrator: Daniel Rieley
Publisher: The Innovation Press, $17.99
Publication Date: 5 March 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781943147618
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture book




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Giveaway: Ollie and Augustus

Ollie was small – like a pickling jar or a shoe box. Augustus was big – like a fridge or a table. They did most things together, including cycling, painting, dressing up, digging (Ollie's favourite thing) and stick collecting (Augustus's favourite thing).

Ollie and Augustus is a  funny, heartwarming picture book story about little Ollie's determination to make sure his great big dog, Augustus is okay when he's at school.

Thanks to the wonderful people at Walker Books Australia, we have not one but three copies of this beautiful book by Western Australian author illustrator, Gabriel Evans to give away!

To enter, in 25 words or less simply tell us,  what is your favourite thing to do with your pet.

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The three responses we like best will each win a copy of the book. Competition is open to anyone, worldwide, so long as they have an Australian postal address for delivery of the books. Please note, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Entries without a name and street address will be ineligible. Winners will be announced right here on our website on 1 October 2019.

Competition runs from 5 am 22 September 2019 to 5 pm 29 September 2019. 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.

Don't forget to visit again this Wednesday for Penny's review of Ollie and Augustus.

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Winners: Harold's New Friends R Aliens!

And our three lucky winners are...

Mel Sajeva, VIC

Joseph Spagnolo, NSW

Kirsty Polujan, NSW 

Congratulations!

You have each won a copy of the exciting, Harold's New Friends R Aliens!

We hope you enjoy this prize.

Thank you to ALL who entered.

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Review: Hayden's Bedtime

Review: Boo!

Fabulous, fun and interactive, Boo! By Margaret Wild and Andrew Joyner is a delightful rhyming book about characters who say boo! 

Everyone in this book says Boo! six different babies, the monkey, the piggy and more, but it’s the clever order and context which creates a fun flowing story. From realistic moments to more and more imaginative circumstances, it takes readers on a fabulous uplifting adventure.


The bright, bold, high contrast illustrations are filled with movement and work in unity with the text. A giant tiger reading a book in a bus and wombat with and umbrella jumping in the rain were just two of the fabulous images which instantly made me smile.

Boo! Is exciting to read out loud, it flows wonderfully and feels like the story jumps out of the pages with enthusiasm, encouraging play and imagination. The thick pages with rounded corners are perfect for toddlers and babies.

Margaret Wild has written over 50 children’s books including The Feather and The Sloth who Came to Stay. Andrew Joyner is an author illustrator of many books including The Pink Hat and Borris.

Title: Boo!
Author: Margret Wild
Illustrator: Andrew Joyner
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia, $19.99
Publication Date: 3 September 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780670078073
For ages: 0 – 5
Type: Picture Book




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Review: Survival for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Camping and Outdoor Skills

Ever wondered how to navigate using the sun and moon?

How about how to build a shelter using only what you can find in a forest?

Do you know how to safely build a fire? 

Would you like to know more about exploring and camping?

Look no further than Survival for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Camping and Outdoor Skills.

This book has information about everything: navigation, camp craft, first aid and so much more.

Each page is jam packed with colourful illustrations, spreading to every corner of every page which makes this book perfect for young explorers. Each page is engaging and interesting, and there are visual step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow for all ages.

The information is bite-sized, making it easy to read, and it’s written in simple and easy to understand language. The illustrations are fun, funky and very engaging, and there is an easy to follow contents, index and glossary.

With chapters on preparing for your adventure, undertaking your adventure and dealing with all sorts of emergencies you might encounter, it covers everything you need to know. 

If you know kids who love the outdoors, love camping and hiking and/or adventuring, this is the perfect book for them.

Title: Survival for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Camping and Outdoor Skills

Publisher: DK, $29.99

Publication Date: 17 September 2019

Format: Soft Cover

ISBN: 9780143796954

For ages: 6+

Type: Non-Fiction, Junior Non-Fiction

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Review: The Land of Roar

The imaginary worlds of our childhood seem so vivid at the time, but all too quickly fade to a distant memory. Arthur and Rose are now so grown up that they are about to start high school. The times of playing imaginary games with dragons and mermaids are gone.

Rose is obsessed with her phone and trying to impress the cool neighbour, Mazen, who is already 13. She has no need for silly childhood games. But Arthur is lonely. He misses the fun he used to have playing with Rose every summer at Grandad’s house.

When Arthur finds an old hand drawn map in the attic and Grandad mysteriously disappears, memories begin surface. What if those games they used to play, weren’t just games?

Rose isn’t interested in remembering. Of course the old black rocking horse was never a real Moonlight Stallion. And the Z-bed was not a secret entrance to the land of Roar, it was just an old fold up bed that Arthur probably weed in. They were just silly childish games. But Arthur is sure there's more to their childhood games than either of them can remember. How will he convince Rose that Grandad is in danger?

And so begins the adventure to the Land of Roar, a magical land of the imagination. A ninja wizard, a mermaid, dragons and an evil scarecrow/crow named Crowky. On their adventure, Arthur and Rose will not only have to rescue Grandad, but also remember how to work together and tap into their memories and imaginations if they are going to succeed.

This is a great middle grade fantasy adventure that is fun and easy to read. The black and white illustrations interspersed throughout will appeal to kids who might otherwise shy away from a longer adventure story. It’s very topical for those upper primary kids caught between their childhood world and the desperate desire to grow up. A reminder that it's OK to have fun and surrender to your imagination.


Title: The Land of Roar
Author: Jenny McLachlan
Illustrator: Ben Mantle
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 September 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781405293679
For ages: 8 - 12
Type: Middle Grade




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