Review: Bunnies on the Bus

Bunnies on the bus! Bunnies on the bus! No wonder there’s a fuss about the bunnies on the bus!

A laugh-out-loud race through town, Bunnies on the Bus is a fabulous rhyming picture book about a bus full of bouncing bunnies. 

The speeding, swerving, bus stop ignoring bus creates havoc across town. Baby bunnies wail, bunnies scamper down the bus aisle, a bunny climbs on the roof! And I love it all!

This is a fun and silly story that’s sure to engage the kids and have them laughing. With lots of repeatable text, it’s a book that pulls kids into the storytelling and gets them involved.

Bright and detailed illustrations add to the fun, and I love the secret visual storyline that’s threaded through the story. Page one reveals two sneaky racoons are on the loose and the police are tracking them down. Every page continues this visual story, and it joins up with the bunnies’ story at the end.

It’s so much fun to follow the illustrations as you turn the page and read about the bunnies. And there are other Easter eggs to find, too. The illustrations are packed with so much, this is definitely a picture book to read slowly, reading the text and then exploring the pictures in detail. So much fun!

If you’re looking for a fun and entertaining picture book that gets kids involved in the storytelling, check out Bunnies on the Bus.

Title: Bunnies on the Bus

Author: Philip Ardagh

Illustrator: Ben Mantle

Publisher: Walker, $16.99

Publication Date: 1 March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781406394016

For ages: 3 - 6

Type: Picture Book

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Review: Swallow's Dance

Wendy Orr is famous for her novels Nim's Island and Rescue on Nim's Island, in which Nim is alone in the middle of the ocean.

Swallow's Dance is no less dramatic. Set in the Bronze Age near Santorini at the time of the great volcano eruption, Leira's world turns inside out as her entire village is decimated.

How do you hold onto hope when everything you know is crumbling to dust around you? How can you leave for the unknown when your heart wants to cling to all you hold dear?

Liera's journey is fraught with terrible possibilities.

We first meet Leira as she prepares to start her initiation as a priestess. Not only do we experience a recreation of long forgotten initiation rituals, we realise Leira is no ordinary girl.

Only the elite take such privileged roles in this society. This means her family are wealthy, her life is easy.

But when the earth quakes and dark clouds choke the sky, Leira must learn to survive without the comforts of her old home. Instead of relying on the servants who once catered for her every need, she must work out how to care for others.

Wendy Orr not only brings a strange forgotten land to dramatic life in Swallow's Dance, the language she uses to weave this world is hypnotic. There's a different rhythm to these words, unlike many modern stories. The beat draws you in.

Knowing entire civilisations were wiped out during this time adds to the urgency of Leira's story. There is no guarantee she will survive.

It's why I had to keep turning the pages.

Title: Swallow's Dance
Author: Wendy Orr
Publisher: Allen & Unwin , $16.99
Publication Date: 29 June 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760297879
For ages: 9 years +
Type: Middle Grade Historical Fiction

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Review: Nelson 1: Pumpkins and Aliens

Nelson 1: Pumpkins and Aliens is the first book in a hilarious new junior fiction series by Australian DJ, food writer and founder of a youth music charity, Andrew Levins.

The premise begins simply enough; Nelson hates vegetables, despite the fact that everyone else in his family absolutely loves eating them, his dad loves cooking them and his grandparents love growing them! Even Nelson's best friend, Olive, loves vegetables, leading to a long-standing lunch-swapping ritual.

The story initially follows Nelson's frantic attempts to avoid vegetables, but the action ramps up dramatically when Nelson invents a story about a teacher-eating race of purple, slimy aliens, and, shockingly it turns out to be true!

Suddenly, Nelson is at the centre of a battle to save his teacher, his school and himself, and it seems that Grandma's vegetables may have something mysterious about them, when Nelson develops superpowers after eating them.

Levins' style of writing is fast-paced and tends to humorous over-exaggeration, which resulted in a joyous ride. Illustrator, Katie Kear, uses splashes of pumpkin-hued orange within black and white sketches to highlight the significance of this vegetable and to bring Nelson, Olive and the aliens to life.

This series will be a winner for children who love an elaborate action adventure, especially if they aren't too keen on their vegetables.

Title: Nelson 1: Pumpkins and Aliens
Author: Andrew Levins
Illustrator: Katie Kear
Publisher: Puffin, $12.99
Publication Date: 31 March 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760893347
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction




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Review: Peppa's Australian Underwater Adventure

There is great excitement at school. Peppa Pig has won a marine biology trip to Australia for her prize-winning picture of a fish she has imagined. Miss Rabbit explains what marine biology means. 

The prize includes her family. They will be staying with Mrs Kangaroo, who intends to give them lessons on how to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef.

The family head off to shops to purchase all the things they will need. 

Mr Fox cleverly suggests things they hadn’t thought of. The aeroplane is due to leave early next morning, so they pack and go to bed.

Miss Rabbit has decided to make her own way there. No one knows how she plans to travel. Hot-air balloon, helicopter, then boat, help her arrive at the same time in Australia as Peppa and her family. Kylie Kangaroo is there to meet them.

Children accompany the popular Peppa Pig, George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig through a wonderful adventure on the Great Barrier Reef. As the family set out in a boat to learn about the stunning marine life that includes turtles, blue starfish, pink sea anemones and whale, so will young readers.  Many will be introduced to scuba diving for the first time. As in every Peppa Pig book or television show, there is always something to learn and share; so many things to discover.

Brilliant colour illustrations fill every double spread. They become a screen image that plays on the page. Emotive expressions, bold lines and joyful atmosphere are perfect and familiar settings.

There is a surprise discovery included in the story and a friendly whale that leads Peppa to it.

I love Peppa Pig books! They are always entertaining and educational and a delight to read and examine, regardless of age.

Title: Peppa’s Australian Underwater Adventure
Author/Illustrator: Created by Neville Astley & Mark Baker
Publisher: Penguin, $14.99
Publication Date: October 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241405024
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book





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Meet The Illustrator: Samantha Fry

Name: Samantha (Fry) Campbell

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

Refined, gentle, flowing, moody, delicate, muted, painterly, textured

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
I need sound in the background, because silence makes me feel lonely. Either music or a
sitcom show (usually Friends). Tea or coffee is a must, and loose-fitting clothes. To start
working, I need paper, a sharp 2B pencil and sharpener, along with the medium that I will be
using, usually its watercolour or acrylic. My studio has lots of posters and paintings on the
walls, and cute little ornaments/ figurines to help with inspiration.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?

Caran D'Ache Luminance coloured pencils are AMAZING, definitely one of my favourite
mediums. I have always loved working with acrylic and oil paint too, but I found that the oil
paint fumes were too intense and the clean-up was messy because I don’t use turps. So
lately I’ve really enjoyed working with Procreate on the ipad because it gives you that
realistic painting effect without the fumes/ clean-up, love it!

Name three artists whose work inspires you.

Simon Howe, Kayla Harren, Emma Chadwick – their work is stunning! All three artists create
illustrations that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

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

Naïve art period, because I love that style! Henri Rousseau’s work especially. I also love the
skewed perspectives and uneven shapes in that period. I love the bold colours too!

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

I pretty much started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil, but I remember that my mum
used to draw beautiful horses in pastel and I felt so captivated by them, and Dad used to
draw little farm scenes with picket fences and trees, so I think that must have made me want
to pursue art all my life. Mum and Dad always made sure I had art supplies so I always had
the opportunity to grow in my hobby throughout my childhood and teenage years. I just kept
drawing because I loved it, until one day I got the opportunity through Magabala Books to
illustrate Alfred’s War by Rachel Bin Salleh, which was my debut book. I am still so grateful
to this day to have been given the opportunity.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most
often? Talk us through it.
I have a creative space at home (my studio). I mainly use an illustrator board on a desk to
work on, surrounded by lots of coloured pencils, paint brushes, paints, basically everything I
need so I don’t have to get up and search for it, because once I’m up, I lose focus and get
distracted easily.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
Final art, I love the stage when I get to do the highlights!

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Be true to your own illustrations, only you will be able to do what you can do. Diversity in
illustration is beautiful and I believe that our work should reflect part of who we are because
that makes our work unique. Instagram is a great place to follow all sorts of different
illustrators for inspiration when you feel like you’ve hit a wall.

Samantha (Fry) Campbell lives in Darwin. She is descended from the Dagoman people from
Katherine and grew up on remote areas in the NT. She completed a Diploma in Graphic
Design and worked as a freelance Graphic Designer for four years before focusing on her
Illustration career.

For more information please visit Samantha's website

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Guest Post: Rosanne Tolin on Writing and Paddington Bear

Review: Our Bush Capital

Our Bush Capital is written by Samantha Tidy and illustrated by Juliette Dudley.

It's a celebration of Australia's capital city. A place that many people call home.

Our Bush Capital shares the experiences of a young girl and the places she loves in Canberra, the things she loves to see and do.

Locals will recognise many of the sights.

Visitors will discover, through the pages of the book, a little of what it is that makes Canberra so great.

From the native birds and snow-capped Brindabella ranges, to enjoying a ride on the carousel, or on bikes in one of the nature-filled landscapes.

See if young readers can spot the residents of the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. Can they name the Royal Australian Mint where our official currency is made, or the Australian War Memorial?

Canberra is more than places. It's also experiences, like the diversity of the National Multicultural Festival, the bright colours of Floriade, and the chilly dawn associated with hot air balloons.

The story is expressively told in the first person, from the young girl's perspective. The illustrations are simple in style and mostly autumnal in colour, which is fitting for a city that looks amazing with its trees full of colourful leaves during that season.

Our Bush Capital was brought to life through a crowdfunding campaign, and is deserving of a wide audience.

The aim of the creators was 'to inspire some discussion in Canberra, about how good it is to live here .... to self-reflect positively and share with one another their joy for this place.'

Our Bush Capital succeeds in doing just that.

A fantastic book for home libraries, wherever you live.

Title: Our Bush Capital
Author: Samantha Tidy
Illustrator: Juliette Dudley
Publisher: Storytorch Press, $ 24.95
Publication Date: February 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9780646802763
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture book




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Review: Red Day

Charlie has three occupants of despair in her life. One is her father who left when she was a baby, never to be heard of again. 

The second is her brother Eli, who died eight years ago and his room remains the same since then. 

The third is the absence of her much-loved Nana Ruth who Charlie’s mother doesn’t allow her to see anymore.

Mum refuses to discuss any of the whys. They’re a family of secrets with a shroud over the most important issues.

A good imagination and synaesthesia is a dangerous combination for Charlie.Her brain works differently. She sees people and numbers in colours and shapes. Her emotions become physical pains. Images of past happenings pass in her mind.

When Mum arranges for an overseas student to stay with them for ten days, Charlie is resentful. This means she must look after Kenichi from Japan; Kenichi with his organised life and beautiful manners. That’s the last thing she wants.

But Kenichi is what Charlie needs. A tour of the town of Cowra and the Prisoner of War museum brings the two children together when they begin exploring the past.

Kenichi’s ancestors’ historical ties with Cowra and the POW camp flutter into the story like feathers in the wind. They reveal that he too, has unresolved family issues.

The mystery of Himura Shin and the photograph at the museum begins to unravel as Charlie and Kenichi start researching further to find answers. Can Charlie’s pains and images help connect the dots?

Written using as backdrop the Cowra Prisoner of War breakout, this book is a precious gift after Sandy Fussell’s long absence from writing. Her prose is mystical and magical. It reads as if she’s lived the life she is writing about. An intimacy that comes with knowledge shines through.

This is a novel with mysterious compartments. It’s built on sharp turns of phrase that deliver crisp and direct prose. Fussell’s writing is like music playing. Highly recommended, this brilliant novel has all the elements needed for a top read.

Title: Red Day

Author: Sandy Fussell

Publisher: Walker Books, $17.99

Publication Date: March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760631886

For ages: 9+

Type: Teenage Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Michelle Aung Thin

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
That I can write backwards – ie right to left. That’s how I thought left-handed people like me were SUPPOSED to do it!

2. What is your nickname?
Mimi.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I am quite scared of things that slither.

3. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
 take my time. Writing is about rewriting. I also think about writing as a bit like making music – all about rhythm.

4. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 
Imaginative. Deep. Funny (sometimes). Honest. Pacey.

5. What book character would you be, and why? 
I’d be Snufkin in the Moomin books. So enigmatic and cool.

6. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I would like to see what life was like before TV. I grew up with it.

7. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now? 
You’re not as tall as I expected you to be.

8. Who is your greatest influence? 
 My son, Julian.

9. What/who made you start writing?
I loved poems when I was a kid and used to read them in bed when I was sick. My teacher read one of the poems I wrote aloud. That was in grade 5 and that was when I knew that it was not only possible to be a writer but that I already was one!

10. What is your favourite word and why? 
I love the word cleave because it means to stick together and slice apart.

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

Michelle Aung Thin was born in Burma, now Myanmar, in the year of the military coup and left with her parents when she was an infant. She grew up in Canada, worked as an advertising copywriter in London and now calls Australia home. Her first book, The Monsoon Bride, is set in colonial Rangoon. She is finalising a book about the cosmopolitan history of the city, which she researched in the Luce Collection at the National Library of Australia. She likes travel and the outdoors and Melbourne coffee. Michelle currently teaches at RMIT University. Her latest book, Hasina: Through My Eyes – a gripping story of one child’s experience of the refugee crisis in Myanmar – was published in September 2019. For more information, see www.michelleaungthin.com.

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Review: The Runaways

Grandpa is living with his memories if what he is doing can be called living. He is shut away in a hospital with pins holding his leg together. He hates the food and swears at the nurses. His son doesn’t understand him and his attitude. So he stays away and finds solace in silence.

Gottfried Junior loves him deeply and visits him often. They talk about everything together. He longs to bring him home to live, but Father refuses.

Grandpa has an enlarged heart, the result of his grief at the loss of his wife and home on the island.

There are things he wants to see one more time, but he is far away from his house on the hill.

Gottfried and Grandpa cook up a scheme to run away together for the weekend so the old man can tie up the few dangling strings from his past.
With the help of the kind and loving Adam from the bread shop, they plan their getaway.

They arrive at Grandpa’s house with great difficulty. But it is clear that Grandpa is there to farewell; to let go of his life. He also has memories to collect to stamp in his mind and questions to which, perhaps, there are no answers. There are longings that he had no time to fulfil before he was injured and forced to leave his island. Then there are the few treasures that he wants to take back with him.

Ulf Stark has captured the young boy’s and the old man’s thoughts and voice, transferring them to the page in simple honest words. The strong bond between the old and the young is deeply moving. The lack of compassion from Gottfried’s father for Grandpa is heart-wrenching. The sadness of old age and the decrepitude that accompanies it is subtly and authentically portrayed.

The roughness and beauty of Kitty Crowther’s illustrations match and complement this character-driven story. They sit along-side Grandpa’s irritable attitude and emphasise his frustration and inabilities. Beautifully delivered, this is a story of love and its legacy.

The book comes with a striking cover showing the two main characters, reinforced by a fold-under flap.

Title: The Runaways

Author: Ulf Stark

Illustrator: Kitty Crowther

Publisher: Gecko Press, $17.99

Publication Date: April 2019

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781776572342

For ages: 6 – 11

Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: Lola Dutch I Love You So Much

Lola Dutch I Love You So Much is a delightful story about friendship and showing your love to others, it’s the newest book in the delectable Lola Dutch series.

With a storyline inspired by Gary Chapman's theory of the five love languages, Lola shows her love for each of her friends in different ways. She makes a gift for Gator, sets up a special space for Crane and takes Pig on a fun experience. With so much love it’s good to know that Lola’s friends do something fabulously fun in return; you must read the book to find out what!

I like how the story somewhat mimics how children often role play, at first I thought Lola was overly giving and unrealistic but her actions quickly grew on me along with the fact that she just really loves her friends. The message about love languages and using the right one for each person in your life is a good take home for readers; adults included.

I adore the beautiful use of watercolour and mix of textures in Sarah Jane Wright’s illustrations, her characters are sweet and endearing and her use of colour is fresh and whimsical. It’s a nice bonus that the dust jacket turns into a gorgeous garden party scene with cut out puppets and a note card to keep children busy and interested.

Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright are a husband and wife team, Lola Dutch I Love You So Much is the third book in their Lola Dutch series; following on from Lola Dutch and Lola Dutch When I Grow Up.

Title: Lola Dutch I Love You So Much
Author: Kenneth Wright
Illustrator: Sarah Jane Wright
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $24.99
Publication Date: 4 February 2020
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781547601172
For ages: 3 – 8
Type: Picture Book




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Giveaway: Australian Animals by Frané Lessac

Review: Brother Moon

A young boy sits by the fire with his Great-Grandpa Liman.

Great-Grandpa Liman wants to tell him about his brother.

‘Who is your brother?’ the little boy asks. 

My brother is wise and never grows old. 

As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, my brother stops by. 

He knows that I am wary of the darkness.

On each turn of the page, Great-Grandpa Liman continues his story about how his brother guides him through the night.

My brother can be big and bold. Even when he is half there, he is my brother and he is always with me.

As Great-Grandpa Liman tells his story, we see glimpses of his life: hunting for tucker in the cool night, rowing through the mangrove forest, avoiding snakes in his shack. It reveals a relationship with the earth and planets — a connection with nature.

This is a quiet but powerful book that leaves an imprint on your heart and soul. It's about family, tradition, nature and the stories that make us who we are.

It's also beautifully engaging for young audiences. As you read through the book, children can ponder who Great-Grandpa Limen's brother is along with the little boy. There are clues along the way and opportunity to guess at the end. It’s such a beautiful story, and it will spark so many conversations about the moon, our earth, nature and culture.

The illustrations — like the text — can’t not affect you. The pages are filled with deep night-hue blues and purples. Shadowy blacks contrast against the bright white of the moon. It’s magical. Samantha Fry, of the Dagiman people of the Katherine region in the Northern Territory, is a great talent. These are illustrations you will want to put on your wall.

At the back of the book, you’ll learn about the real Great-Grandpa Liman, a respected Wadjigany man and a leader amongst his people. Author Maree McCarthy Yoelu, a Wadjigany woman from the western Wagait region in the Northern Territory, is Liman’s granddaughter, and she writes to keep his stories and the Batjatmalh language alive.

This is Maree McCarthy Yoelu’s first book, and I’m already eagerly awaiting her second.

For another beautifully illustrated book by Samantha Fry, make sure you check out Alfred’s War.

Title: Brother Moon
Author: Maree McCarthy Yoelu
Illustrator: Samantha Fry
Publisher: Magabala Books, $24.99
Publication Date: March 2020
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781925936827
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: League of Llamas: The Golden Llama (Book #1) and Llama Impossible (Book #2)

What animal would make the coolest, most daring, most amazing secret agent? A llama of course! What other animal could it be?

Agent Phillipe Llamar has style — secret agent style! Along with his partner, Llyod Llamanator, Phillipe is a secret agent for the secret organisation League of Llamas (or LOL for short).

Together, Phillipe and Lloyd investigate crimes, thwart evil enemies and try to stay out of trouble, because, well, Phillipe has a bad habit of forgetting things/staring at his beautiful fringe and Lloyd is easily distracted by food (he’s a very hungry llama!). 

But when General Bottomburp — a dastardly and very smelly badger — steals the Golden Llama, Phillipe and Lloyd will have to get their act together to catch the evil badger and his crew.

League of Llamas: The Golden Llama is book one in a brilliant new junior fiction series by Aleesah Darlison. It’s packed with jokes, a healthy dose of grossness, mystery, intrigue and adventure.

In book two in the series, League of Llamas: Llama Impossible, a thief is on the prowl in New Llama City. Luckily LOL secret agents Phillipe and Lloyd are on the case, and it seems obvious to them that General Bottomburp is up to his old tricks again. 

But is he? Or are Phillipe and Lloyd ignoring clues that are right in front of them?

These books are fantastic for junior readers. They are funny and engaging, and they’re easy to read, with large text and black and white illustrations peppered throughout.

I adore the characters in this series. They are funny, unique and flawed. Phillipe is not a perfect secret agent, but he never gives up. When he realises he is wrong, he’s happy to admit it, and he really doesn’t take himself too seriously.

I also love the hidden jokes for parents. As this is a book for the younger end of junior fiction, chances are there will be some parents reading these books to kids or helping them as they learn to read independently. Lloyd’s last name is a clue to the kind of hilariousness you can expect, and trust me, the funnies just keep coming!

If you’re looking for a fun and funny chapter book to share with your kids, or for them to try on their own, definitely check out this cool new series. With more books on the way (Undercover Llamas and Rogue Llama), this is a series for kids to sink their teeth into.

And for more brilliant books by Aleesah Darlison, make sure you check out the Little Witch series, the Unicorn Riders series and picture book The Dream Bird.

Title: League of Llamas: The Golden Llama (Book #1) and Llama Impossible (Book #2)

Author: Aleesah Darlison

Illustrator: Simon Greiner

Publisher: Penguin Random House, $9.99

Publication Date: 3 March 2020

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 9781760894160 / 9781760894184

For ages: 7 - 10

Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Better Than Sliced Bread

Award-winning author Clancy Tucker is never one to shy away from controversial or confronting social issues. Nowhere in his work is it as obvious as in his sequel to Kick-Ass Tyler - Better Than Sliced Bread. 

It is Sam’s voice that becomes the conduit for Tucker’s humanitarian beliefs and which produces the exceptional dialogue that drives the story. 

When we first met Sam, she was prickly, rough and hard to get close to, carrying a burden of grief from the loss of her beloved dad.

In Better than Sliced Bread, we meet a new Sam. Almost seventeen, she is mature, focused, a leader, and a doer, whose goal is to study law.

Earning a black belt in karate, and elected as School Captain, she is determined to be a role model to all the strugglers in her school, and the person who makes things happen.

She is also a powerhouse of inspiration and motivation for people that believed had no place in the Australian landscape and others that had no self esteem. Her character encourages young people regardless of gender, to aspire to greater things fearlessly, with initiative, confidence and self esteem.

But life will test her strength and courage when she is attacked by a competitor in the Seaspray Surf Challenge. Then she is diagnosed with a brain tumour. It will take all her positive power and belief to see her through difficult challenges. She does not battle the complex treatments alone, for her support group is made up of family, Somali refugees, a disabled champion swimmer, and a ward full of children suffering cancer who she has befriended. And then there is Mick, the farmer she meets that changes her life.

Tucker has covered a lot of ground in this book. There is an intricate weaving of stories and situations that combine the many interests that Sam’s character has decided she can do something about.

Countless themes enter and exit this inspiring novel. There is the issue of kindness and community spirit that is a main vein.  Tucker addresses the drought and its needs, equality for the disabled, youth suicide, refugees, cultural diversity, climate change, Indigenous rights, detention centres, homelessness, children living in poverty and so much more.  How did Tucker fit all this into one novel? He has an authenticity that is reflected in his writing. He weaves one story through another, until all of them are linked in a chain of excellent writing of passionate views.

Title: Better Than Sliced Bread
Author: Clancy Tucker
Publisher: Morris Publishing, $45.00
Publication Date: October 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780994601032
For ages: 12+
Type: Young Adult Fiction




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Review: Bumblebunnies Book 4: The Balloon

Review: Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation

Review: Madame Badobedah

Review: Girls Can Fly

Girls can fly. Yes they can. And this stunning little book will help them to see exactly how high they can soar.

Each turn of the page has an inspiring quote in large print on the left and uplifting advice on the right. 

My favourite?

It’s okay to make mistakes.
Nobody is perfect.
It’s okay to fail at something.
That’s how you grow.

With important messages about believing in yourself, loving yourself and how to deal with self-doubt, anger and sadness, Girls Can Fly is a must-have for all girls. 

And honestly, it’s not just for kids. It has messages all women should read — and read on a regular basis.

That’s one of the things I love most about this book. It’s something to read again and again to remind yourself that you can accomplish your dreams and the bad times are never forever.

To support this, the book is a lovely hand-held size so you can keep it in your bag or by your bed and pick it up whenever you are feeling down or looking for inspiration.

It’s a book I definitely plan to keep on hand to read repeatedly to my young daughters. When they’ve had a bad day or I want them to feel inspired and empowered, it’s a book I will reach for to give them a boost.

I also love that the book includes a section at the back about the Kimberly and Pilbara Girls programs. Participants of these programs gave feedback on the book and award-winning author/artist mother-daughter team Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina included their contributions in the final product. It means the advice is tried and tested. The messages are what girls want and need to hear. 

Young girls often experience self-doubt and confidence issues, but within the covers of this book, readers will find reassurance, support and a whole lot of love. With bright, vibrant colours on every page, it’s also a book that warms you inside. Honestly, it’s like literary medicine for the soul!

Thank you Sally and Ambelin. This is a book that needed to be in the world, and I am so happy I’ve found it. 

If you know a young girl, this is a MUST-BUY for them. 

Title: Girls Can Fly

Authors: Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina

Publisher: Magabala Books, $16.99

Publication Date: March 2019

Format: Hard Cover

ISBN: 9781925936759

For ages: 5+

Type: Non-Fiction, Junior Non-Fiction

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Review: The Lost Moustache

One day, Frankie finds a moustache.

She doesn’t know who it belongs to, so she begins an investigation to discover its owner.

But everyone she asks says it isn’t theirs. 

It doesn’t belong to the pirate, the queen or the chef. It doesn’t belong to the lion, the dancer or the cat.

What will Frankie do? Will she ever find the owner of the lost moustache?

This is a delightful picture book about curiosity, imagination and the joys of dressing up. With beautiful alliteration and rhyming elements throughout, it’s wonderfully engaging.

As you turn the pages, the story invites you to wonder if the moustache could belong to the characters, creating a reading experience that gets the audience involved in the story. This would be a great book for reading out loud to a group or classrooms of kids.

I also love the mystery throughout the story. The owner of the moustache is indeed found at the end of the book, but the reveal is not what you think, and it may take a keen eye from the audience to solve the mystery.

The illustrations, too, are stunning. Caterina Metti’s style is so funky, with deep colours and quirky details. It’s a visual delight!

This is a picture book for the kids who love a mystery and love to play pretend. It will no doubt inspire some dressing up and playing investigators with friends.

The back of the book also includes some black and white illustrations from the story — I can only assume for kids to colour. Sorry Vikki and Caterina if that wasn’t the intension, but my kids delighted in a special opportunity to be part of the story and colour in a page! I found this addition such a beautiful surprise and very engaging for kids.

For more picture books by Vikki Conley, check out Little Puggle's Song. And for more beautiful illustrations by Caterina Metti, make sure you check out Snoozette.

Title: The Lost Moustache

Author: Vikki Conley

Illustrator: Caterina Metti

Publisher: Red Paper Kite, $26.99

Publication Date: March 2020

Format: Hard Cover

ISBN: 978 0 648 674207

For ages: 3- 6 

Type: Picture Book

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10 Quirky Questions with author Katrina Lehman

1. What's your hidden talent? 
I can read in a car for hours and not get car sick. I can eat anchovies straight from the jar (is that a talent?). I am a mean bodysurfer. I can still recite my Year 12 boarding-house roll call from A-Z. I was W (Webb).

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why? 
I love the bear in Jon Klassen’s I want my Hat Back. He’s not really a villain, but he does eat the rabbit. And the rabbit probably deserved it. It’s so simple and I love that there’s no soft ending, no soft slap on the wrist for stealing. This is the real life: You do something bad, you might get eaten. I’m also up to #4 of Aaron Blabey’s The Bad Guys and killing myself with laughter; all those references to Mission Impossible and Ocean’s Eleven (that only I get). The villains are so hopeless and yet by some incredible luck they always come out on top; and when the snake eats the chickens instead of saving them... LOL. I used to edit Aaron Blabey’s early picture books and this step across to junior-fiction graphic novel was pure genius.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead) 
Patrick Ness, Tara June Winch, David Almond, Tara Westover, Sarah Winman

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real? 
My sister Sif or Skellig or Matilda’s ability to move things with her mind. Of course, they may be real…

5. What are five words that describe your writing process? 
Lightning strike inspiration. Mad scribbling.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer? 
Imaginative, lyrical, inspirational, evocative, vibrant

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there? 
Coffee/wine (depending on time of day), laptop, pen, window seat, lots of people and overheard stories…

8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!) 
Her Body and Other Parts, by Carmen Maria Machado: ‘To the edge of the forest and back, that's all she allowed herself this time.’

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
Where does your inspiration come from? Patrick Ness.

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
Never write another story. It’s lovely to create my own world but there are limits to my imagination. To never again walk in someone else’s shoes and feel what they feel is unimaginable!

Katrina lives in Melbourne with her three children, a gardener/baker/handyman husband, and a blue tongue lizard. She is lucky enough to spend all day crafting words as a writer and as an editor, helping authors unleash their inner magic. For more information, see www.scribblekidsbooks.com.

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Review: Extraordinary

A heartwarming exploration of the beauty around us, from natural environments to the simplest of human actions including looking, listening and spending time with loved ones.

Sometimes what seems ordinary is actually more; Extraordinary! takes readers on a journey delving deep into what we may sometimes take for granted and even further into our own imaginations.

Floating through days, nights and seasons the story questions and conveys feelings from common life scenarios; reading in a cosy living room on a rainy day, spotting a shooting star, toasting marshmallows, harvesting homegrown food, dancing in the snow and more.

Flowing, rhyming text, refreshing illustrations and typography which glides like a soft breeze combine to set the scene wondrously. I love how Extraordinary! sparked memories and took me to times and places in my life. It was a joy to share it with my children, in each scenario we discussed memories and possibilities of similar moments and events.

Katie Wilson’s illustrations with watercolour textures and a handcrafted feel are a perfect fit for Penny Harrison’s gentle enchanting words. I adore the cover art with speckles of spot varnish glimmering amongst the leaves in a scene showing a child and a dog walking in the forest.

Penny Harrison is a KBR contributor and the author of other fabulous books including Emily Green’s Garden, Bronte: Me and My Boots and The Art Garden. Katie Wilson is a New Zealand based illustrator, who has illustrated other books including Jane Austen (Little People, Big Dreams).

Title:  Extraordinary
Author: Penny Harrison
Illustrator: Katie Wilson
Publisher: New Frontier, $24.99
Publication Date: 28 February 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9781925594911
For ages: 3 – 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Wind in the Wall

What if you had one wish? What if you had to make a split second decision? What would you wish for?

The Wind in the Wall is a fairytale-like story set in England, more than two hundred years ago.

It's a story that is dark and mysterious, and might just leave you with a bit of a shiver.

At its beginning, a rich Duke's whims demand that his gardener grow pineapples so he can show off.

'Tis unfortunate that England's climate is not particularly suitable for growing such plants, and the gardener has no experience in doing so.

The gardener does his best, researching and experimenting.

However, when what he produces is not of the expected quality, he is cast aside to mind the flower garden, in favour of an apparent specialist, Mr Amicus.

Mr Amicus is both stranger and strange. His behaviour raises the gardener's suspicions. And the gardener's actions in uncovering one of the stranger's secrets, raise Mr Amicus' ire.

The result is a confrontation, and a choice that will have devastating ramifications.

The Wind in the Wall is a picture book written by award-winning author, Sally Gardner for older readers, with a plot and themes suited to teenagers.

The narrator, the gardener, is never named, and this along with the story's historical and fantasy elements, add to the mystery.

Like the text, the illustrations by Rovina Cai are dark and mysterious. Faces are mostly hidden, or turned away, and there are flowing lines and textures which all help create an atmosphere of secrets.

The Wind in the Wall is an unusual book that will leave you wondering 'what if'?

Title: The Wind in the Wall
Author: Sally Gardner
Illustrator: Rovina Cai
Publisher: Hot Key Books, $ 29.99
Publication Date: November 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781471404986
For ages: 15+
Type: Picture book for older readers




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Review: A Year Of Nature Poems

A Year of Nature Poems is a stunning gift book that draws on the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere. The glorious decorative illustrations begin on the covers where images of nature abound. 

Each month is allocated a double spread with a poem that signifies and salutes the season it reflects. A factual paragraph describes the main subject within the month.

January remembers a legend about flocks of warring starlings in Ireland during the 1600s. Black images of the birds in flight play against an orange sky as the sun sinks behind the hills.

February has environmental elements and refers to the declining amphibians due to Man’s progressive construction.

March is an ode to the 12 types of daffodil. Their names and description fill a single page while the opposite side shows a full page image of daffodils amongst a forest of trees. Butterflies and a rabbit share the joyous yellow blooms.

April is the undecided month. Rain and strong winds are caused by unnatural climate change and erratic weather patterns. On the contrary, May sings her song to the incredible Mayfly and her evolutionary pattern of life.

June heralds the Summer Solstice when the sun is at its highest, while July brings an onslaught of jelly fish to the beach.

August is fruit season while September reminds us of red poisonous toadstools, fairytales and goblins.

October embraces autumn, abscission, log fires and dormancy while chestnuts and empty spiky cases cover the ground beneath and around.

November sees the leafless trees enter a type of hibernation. December pushes it away to accommodate the snow that forces the recollection of memories past, as the white covering brings home the fragility of life.

Title: A Year of Nature Poems
Author: Joseph Coelho
Illustrator: Kelly Louise Judd
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $22.99
Publication Date: January 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781786035820
For ages: 8+
Type: Poetry/Picture Book




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Review: Willy Wonka's Everlasting Book of Fun

Willy Wonka's Everlasting Book of Fun is an activity book chock full of entertainment. Enough to do something different every day of the year.

It features one of Roald Dahl's most famous characters, Willy Wonka, and the five children who visited his chocolate factory.

Try your hand at cooking. Recipes include cabbage soup (a warm and hearty staple for Charlie Bucket's family), strawberry-flavoured, chocolate-coated fudge (not one of Mrs Gloop's favourites), and butterscotch (loved by the Oompa Loompas).

Show off your artistic skills by dreaming up and drawing a fabulous new chocolate bar, or your fantasy chocolate factory.

Learn how to draw your own optical illusion, or make a moving Oompa Loompa bookmark.

There's word play, too.

Willy Wonka's sweet-themed riddles and wisecracks will get you chuckling (Why did the chocolate factory close down? It had a meltdown), and you can challenge yourself to think of many different words to describe delicious chocolate.

Quiz questions will test the knowledge of avid Willy Wonka fans. There are also mazes, find-a-words, games, magic tricks, and lots more.

Even if you haven't encountered Roald Dahl and his fabulous stories before, Willy Wonka's Everlasting Book of Fun is bound to please and keep everyone amused.

Title: Willy Wonka's Everlasting Book of Fun
Author: Roald Dahl
Publisher: Puffin, $14.99
Publication Date: February 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241428139
For ages: 7+
Type: Activity book




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The Institute of Fantastical Inventions

Review: Judy Moody Super Book Whiz

Review: Raymund and the Fear Monster

Raymund is afraid of many things. He could fall climbing trees, drown swimming in the river, and get hurt playing soccer. 

But most of all he fears nightfall. That’s when the monster prowls their village.

It thrives on fear and has gained gigantic proportions, satisfying its hunger from the children’s reaction to his presence.

Small in stature, and made fun of by the village children, Raymund is answered with laughter when he asks to join them to face the monster. He believes he has the courage needed.

Raymund is determined to overcome the fear he feels. He has worked out a way. Can he succeed in staring the monster down?

Powerful portrayal of fear is presented in both text and illustrations. Higginson’s prose is direct and positive. Ester De Boer, using fine liner pens and watercolour pencils, has employed intricate detail to portray the passion and confidence the monster has in controlling the children through fear. Images of the children at play, and close-ups of Raymund, add poignancy to the scenes and double spreads.

The artwork displaying the trees in the forest is exceptionally beautiful. The spreading roots in the ground and the splayed out branches above, juxtapose the children’s fear magnified, with the monster’s insatiable appetite.

Title: Raymund and the Fear Monster
Author: Megan Higginson
Illustrator: Ester De Boer
Publisher: Blue Brumby Books, $20.00
Publication Date: October 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 97805483381
For ages: 5 - 8
Type: Picture Book




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Meet The Illustrator: Tanja Stephani

Name:

Tanja Stephani

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Cheerful, humorous, a little cheeky, warm, with lot of soul, touching.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My pin board, my sofa, my books and my double bass.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Yes I feel very at home with my coloured pencils from all kind of producers.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Paula Monderson, Bansky, Picasso.


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

The Picasso time, everything was fresh, new and unusual and the way was open to create crazy stuff. Nowadays nearly everything is done and it is hard to create something new. 

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

My books and my LPs with children stories such as Peter and the Wolf  inspired me, I also wanted to create small worlds. I loved the  Tatjana Hauptmann's work.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
My work space is an old stable outside my house, I can easily go outside to work and smell the fresh air. I really love my studio, we also play music here, drink coffee together, it is a meeting point for my friends and family.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

When the raws are done, than the nice process starts for me, it is cosy to sit over my work with nice podcasts, and colouring the world I created.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Be yourself, be kind to yourself, practice your skills and believe in your dream, but it has really to be what you want to do with your heart and soul. It is sometimes a lonely world as an illustrator.

Tanja is an  illustrator, artist, and a folk music double bass player. She lives and works in an old farmhouse together with her family, dogs and a fabulous grandmother, on a mountain in Switzerland. After art school, she trained as a graphic designer. Computers were less prevalent in the early eighties and  that is how students learned to do everything by hand which is very helpful in case of an internet crash....When Tanja is not working on her illustrations, you can find her in her huge garden, in the forest, on the ground playing with her dogs or sitting together with family and friends, and on stage with her lovely bluegrass folk band.

Please visit Tanja's website for more information or follow Tanja on instagram and pinterest .

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