Simpson and his Donkey

This is a beautiful book ... worthy of its own entry.

Simpson and his Donkey (Walker Books)

The true heroic story of Simpson and his Donkey and their rescue of over 300 men during the battle at Gallipolli in the war to end all wars is a story that every Australian child should know.

This wonderful picture book lovingly recreates the horror of war as well as the magnitude of what Simpson and his donkey's undertook rescuing the wounded soldiers. The simply crafted story tells the tale while the illustrations need to be closely examined for all the detail that the illustrator has provided.

Added to the beautiful telling is the little known story of how unknowingly Simpson rescued his childhood friend!

Simpson's story is a tale of courage and mateship.
This is Australian history!

Play School Board Books

The Play School team have created two new beautiful board books - just perfect for children who are starting to explore the wonder of books and language. Both of these sturdy books feature the wonderful Play School characters children easily recognise.

Play School Come and Play
Words (ABC Books)
Numbers (ABC Books)

Words like house, clock, chair, fish, bird and teddy bear are all discovered in WORDS. Each page contains a familiar word or words, a well known verse or rhymne featuring that word and a piecture of the wonderful play school characters or creations. There's not only a bear in there .....

NUMBERS begins with the familiar rhyme One, two, three, four, five! Once I caught a fish alive ... and then begins the play with numbers! Each double page has the number, the word for the number, a picture and verse.

Great books for little hands!

Beautiful Picture Books

There are some really delightful picture books starting this year. Here are the ones that have just arrived that I really enjoyed.

Clinton Gregory's Secret Bruce Whatley (Scholastic)
Clinton Gregory has seven secrets - a secret for each night of the week. and with each night comes a new friend and they all gather togehter on Sunday to do nothing much at all ... or do they. where DO these friends come from? This is another wonderful book full of Bruce's humorous illustrations with simple exciting text. Kids will love the fun!

Columbia Sneezes Janeen Brian and Gabe Cunnett (Omnibus/Scholastic)
Columbia is a camel and so thoroughly enjoys the desert life. The only problem is that the desert breezes carry sand and that causes Columbia to sneeze. How does Columbia solve the problem - well after coming to the aid of a weary traveller a solution is soon found. The story in verse is accompanied by amusing pictures making this a great readaloud book.


I love to Dance and I Love to Sing Anna Walker (Scholastic)
These are beuatiful little books with simple langauge and illustrations about Ollie a zebra and his friend Fred, a dog. They are just right for little hands to hold. They explore the fun and excitement and joy of being young and singing or dancing ... sometimes in some unusual places!


Paraphernalia's Present Diana Lawrenson and Dee Huxley (ABC Books)
This is a lovely book about a special fiendship between Dottie and her friend Paraphernalia - a chook! Dottie is a very friendly person often saying 'hello' to those she meets without many 'hellos' in return. Thankfully there was always Paraphernalia so when Dottie has an accident Paraphernalia surprises her with a most eggcellent gift ... and lots of hellos are the result! A toughing friendship story.


Puffling Margaret Wild and julie Vivas (Omnibus/Scholastic)
These two great picture book creators are together again wonderfully telling the story of a young puffin as he learns to find his way in the big exciting world, from his hatching through until the time when he is strong enough and tall enough and brave enough to leave the burrow alone. A beautiful book about beginning independence.


These are wonderful books so go and grab them and share the joy of reading!

Recent Reads & Some for Teens

Welcome to 2008 ... The Christmas holidays are well and truly over but one of the many grand things I was able to do on my escape to my aunt's was to read a bunch of books from last year, while ducks and geese and all sorts of fowl were calling in the background! And just a few mossies too!!! So here are a few of the titles that I read and enjoyed (a few more will come later).


Letters to a Princess Libby Hathorn (ABC Books)
Diana is an average girl. Her mother is dead and she lives with her stepfather and his bullying son. Friends betray her, her self image is poor, she is angry, she stuggles with life and often feels alone so she begins writing to her idol Princess Diana. This book looks at eating disorders, family relationships, and has a wonderful teenage voice. Libby writes wonderful books. This is another.



The Secret Army: Operation Loki Sophie Masson & Anthony Davis (ABC Books)
For teenagers, especially boys, who love the grahic novel format this is one to devour. Filled with adventures and mystery and amazing mind forces it is the story of three teenagers (and they have psychic powers) who find themselves on a remote island. And it is not by chance they are there.
This is a great boys own adventure book in graphic novel format.


Wishing For Trouble Kate Rorsyth & Mitch Vane (Pan Macmillan)
Ben and Tim wished they were knights in a real castle ... and, along with cousins, they soon were. Suddenly they were seen as witches and devils and fighting for their lives battling knights and helping a countess under seige from a dastardly neighbour.
This chapter book for primary school readers is thoroughly enjoyable and part of Kate's Ben and Tim's Magical misadventures series.

Laugh Even Louder Camp Quality (Scholastic)
Want a joke book that is really funny? Here is one that supports kids with cancer! Filled with original - and not so original jokes - from celebrities and not so well known people this book will have you giggling all the way. So ... have a chuckle, spilt your sides, laugh your head off ...

Here are two examples:
An atom walks into a bar and says "I've lost an electron."
The barman says "are you sure?"
The atom replies "I'm positive!"
Adam Spencer - radio announcer.

What happened after the two fish got married?
They had jelly babies.
Melissa Doyle - Sunrise Host.

Laugh even louder - great medicine for kid with cancer.
http://www.campquality.org.au/
www.campquality.org.au/help/fundraising.cfm?section=joke-a-thon

More Christmas Gift Ideas

And these are just wonderful picture books that also need to be added to yesterday's list. Again these are some of my favourites that crossed my desk.

The Peasant Prince Li Cunxin & Anne Spudvilas (Viking)
This is a glorious visual celebration of Li's life story - Mao's Last Dancer - the story of a boy from a poor village in China who followed his dreams to become the principal dancer for the Australian ballet. This illustrations are created in an authentic Chinese brush-painting style and perfectly crafted for this story.
... A story of courage, determination, dreams, and remembering beginnings.


I Do It Andrew Daddo & Jonathan Bentley (ABC Books)
Every parent, uncle, aunt or grandparent knows that there is a time when a very young child's determination to be independant emerges and nothing, absolutely nothing will stand in their way. This picture book captures that moment when every young child says "I do it!" and they usually do.


Enjoy ... and have a wonderful book-filled Christmas time!

Christmas Gift Ideas

Need some last minute Christmas ideas? Well maybe some of these books will help.
These are some of my favourites that crossed my desk ... some recent and some from earlier in the year.

Hello God Moya Simons & Lisa Coutts (Harper Collins)
A beautiful book about a girl and her conversations with God. Questions are posed, discussions (although one sided) are entered into, and importnat issues like birth and death and God are covered. When Kate's new friend Stephanie falls ill some very deep conversations occur.


The Pixie O'Harris Fairy Book (PanMacmillan)
This gift book - a classic treasury of Pixie O'Harris' most popular stories and poems is perfect for any special occassion. It has eight colour plates and black and white illstrations. Many adults grew up with the stories and illustrations crafted by Pixie o'Harris and a new generation of aussies can do so once again.


That's Why I Wrote This Song Susanne Gervay (Harper Collins)
This is a brillinatly crafted gritty Young Adult book, especially for girls and especially for those who love music. It comes with a website link to free downloads of two songs with lyrics written by Susanne's daughter Tory. It is the story of four teenage girls and their sometimes uneasy family lives. The girls are united by one cause - their passion for music.


Really Really Pearlie Wendy Harmer Mike Zarb & Gypsy Taylor (Random House)
This is a hardback compilation of three earlier Pearlie titles. Great for younger readers who want a book with colour and easy reading text. Includes Pearlie and the Christmas Angel surely making this one to stick under the tree!

Cedar, Seals and Whaling Ships John Nicholson (Allen&Unwin)
For readers who love non-fiction this book about Australia's early white settlers is one they can devour. it describes those early days and the first attempts to make Australia a trading nation ... using the cedar and seal resources. Great information about whaling and the trading practises, the town and the industries, and the people involved in the trade.


Hope that your Santa stockings are filled with lots of wonderful Aussie Christmas books.

Fiction and not so Fictional Fiction

Fiction mostly and great reads - perfect for upcoming holidays, for competent readers and those early readers wanting solid chapter books.

What Bumosaur is that? Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, (Macmillan)
Here it is ... just what every Bumosaur fan has been waiting for -- the colour hardcover edition that is THE guide to prehistoric bumosaur life. With scientific names (appropriately in italics), stink ratings, and full colour illustrations, this is the essential reference for every bumosaur fan. Now you will know Why the Tyrannosore-arse Rex was so angry? Bumosaur fans will be cheering for this book!


The Frank Frankie, the newspaper that helps people, Ingrid Jonach & Cheryl Orsisi (Macmillan)
Imagine being in the last days of year four of school, although it is your fifth school year and you are planning and getting ready for the long holiday break with your best-friend-forever. Imagine that your boring teacher sets a school project about what you want to be when you grow up that must be handed in on the first day back at school next year. Imagine too that your best friend is going away to the beach without you. That's what happens when Anne Googanstein becomes a journalist and produces The Frank Frankie - with some spying and rescuing along the way!

Roland Wright, Future Knight Tony Davis & Gregory Rogers (Random House)
Here begins the adventures of Roland Wright, Future Knight, the second son of the village blacksmith who makes the best suits of amour in the land. Unfortunately for Roland being second son of a lowly blacksmith means his plans to become a knight seem almost impossible - until messanger arrives, a challenge is issued and Roland's knightly adventures begin - with his pet mouse nudge. A great read. Boys will love it. A 'chapter' book for competent early readers.

Dog Show Detective Penny Love (Lothian)
Here's a dog show mystery that has to be solved.When an aunt injures her ankle Tiff's holiday plans of scary rides and show bags are destroyed. Soon she is attending a dog show and parading her aunt's spoilt dog Muffin. She soon discovers that someones is sabotaging the winning dog entries - dog hair spray is replaced with spray paint and Muffin is dognapped! A fun read - especially for dog lovers!

Prime Suspect, The Floods #5, Colin Thompson (Random House)
This is the fifth title in the Floods series, the irreverant and humourous Addams familyish books where the monsters (well sort of) are the good guys!
This time the Flood children have been framed for murder. Now they have to stay hidden from the law and their evil enemy until, with a little bit of their own forensic and investigative work, they can prove their innocence. A bit of a ghoulish and freaky read ... lotsafun!