Maple the Brave

Chloe Jasmine Harris
Walker Books

From a debut author / illustrator (clever people they are) comes this delightful tale of conquering fears and is a wonderful fit for those fearful young.

Maple lives in a small home deep in the forest - no one knows how she got there or where she came from. Maple is also scared of almost everything and as a result has never left the safely of her tree house. But when the rain began to slow and the fruit began to wither Maple knew that she had to venture further than her treehouse - into the dangerous world that waited below.

The illustrations are appropriately soft for the gentle text and will be enjoyed by both readers and listeners alike.

Fashionista

Maxine Beneba Clarke
Hachette

Written and illustrated by the award-wining author of The Patchwork Bike, this new title is for the creative person in all of us.
It' about pyjama days, tracky-dak days, dress-up days, and dress-down days; wearing lipstick or denims knee-high brown boots, leggings or pants, patterns or stripes, clothes that are hand-me-down or those that are brand new; where one day you might be scruffy but the next you could be the smartest dresser in town.
No matter what you wear, nor how you wear it, it's about self-expression and YOU are a FASHIONISTA.

With the text structured in simple statements and art created using collage and watercolours, this is a book for anyone who wants to embrace their individuality and their independence. and would be a delightful model for creating a FASHIONISTA self-portrait.

One Careless Night

Christina Booth
BlackDog Books

This is just wonderful. Hauntingly beautiful and evocative.

It is the story of the LAST thylacine, an apex predator that survived in the darkened Tasmanian bushes until a "Reward for Destruction of Native Tigers" was placed on their heads. This last Thylacine died in captivity one freezing night at Hobart Zoo when a keeper left the animal out of her shelter. But this Thylacine should not have been the last.

Captured from the wild where they hunted for food, a mother Thylacine and her pup are locked away in a forest of concrete and steel, waiting daily for food delivery, until the mother and then later the pup - the last known of its kind - die. That date was 7th September, 1936 - which is now the date of the National Threatened Species day.

The government notice included at the end of the books is telling and along with Christina's stunning but draining digital illustrations and rippling text, this book will force readers of all ages to consider our native wildlife and how they can easily become but a memory. And they may also ask why.

the Jacket

Sue-Ellen Pashley & Thea Baker
Black Dog Books

Here is the loving story of a treasured item - a jacket, that is
soft like a dandelion fluff
warm like the afternoon sun
comforting like a hug
and that has four dazzling buttons.

Like any treasured piece of clothing this jacket is worn everywhere but eventually this treasured jacket no longer fits the wearer. So it is passed to the next in line ... and is treasured once more. But eventually this too becomes too small for the wearer. Slightly worn, but still loved, this treasured time gets a new lease of life thanks to some very clever measuring and cutting and sewing.

The collage and paint creations used in this book creates a pleasing 'feel' to this is a warm loving story about life and treasures and change, about holding on, and letting go. Great for family sharing.

Young Dark Emu - a truer history

Bruce Pascoe
Magabala Books

I love this book .....
It is the long waited and much needed children's version of Bruce Pascoe's award winning and hugely popular title Dark Emu.

The beautifully presented book includes many extracts from original nineteenth century colonial diaries - many of which show that prior to colonisation the Aboriginal people had been working together actors the country to farm and care for the land. As Bruce says in his introduction "... I give examples of firsthand accounts, including diaries and illustrations, from early settlers and explorers. These eyewitness accounts showing how Aboriginal people lived at the time of colonisation provides a view that does not fit with the traditional idea of the Aboriginal nomadic hunter-gatherer.  Readers will see Australia as it was before colonisation. It will inspire investigation into the land, the animals and plants, and how the Aboriginal people were intertwined with the land. just a few snippets from the book:

• Just as most Australian towns have cemeteries and sacred places today, so did Aboriginal villages.
• European settlers saw fire as a threat. Aboriginal people viewed it differently.
• Indigenous plants... do not require any more water than the climate supplies, no more fertiliser and no pesticides. 

With bibliography, picture credits and thorough index, this is a wonderful book to use for discussion - especially in this moment of constitutional reflection and inclusion.

and see this clip of Bruce talking about Young Dark Emu.

Little Bird's Day

It's been a while between posts but here we resume.

And I am thrilled to reboot this blog that showcases some of the delightful books that come across our front portal with this new title from the wonderful Australian Indigenous press Magabala Books. 


Little Bird's Day

Sally Morgan and Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr 

Magabala Books

Some weeks ago, when I was sent this title I mentioned to the Magabala crew that this is the best book that they have created - it is one already one of my favourites from the past few years.

The story is deceptively simple - the universal story of a day in the life of Little Bird as she goes about her daily activities, starting with 'time to sing the world alive', before circling with the wind and travelling with the clouds, and being washed in the rain, before journeying with Dusk to roost. 

The art is really stunning using simple colours from a limited palette; so beautifully crafted and proportioned (endpapers and the textured cover grabbed straight away; very different to what we have seen before. The narrative within the artwork is worthy of its own close examination. The illustrator Johnny Warrkatja Malibarr is the inaugural winner of Magabala' Book's  Kestin Indigenous Illustrator Award. 

I know my wife absolutely loves this title too and has said that it is perfect for Year of Indigenous Languages … and has already promoted it through the librarian listserve that she runs, and another where she is a contributor too. 

Picture Book Treats

These are beatuiful words and must be seen.

Unforgotten Tohby Riddle (Allen&Unwin)
This is a lusciously created book told in three parts with minimal words and exquisitely created pictures telling the story of the impossible birds of the big sky. Nobody knows where they come from but they come to earth to watch over, to warm and to mend. But their work is hard and one falls to the ground unable to resume flight and seems as though it will be imprisoned here. Six human and non-human inhabitants rescue the now frozen statue and they in turn watch over, warm and mend the fallen impossible bird. Now healed it resumes flight.
As well as the creator’s exquisite characters the artwork contains archival photographic images as well as those from slides taken by the author’s father.
As Shaun Tan states 'Reading this book is like being quietly ushered into another dimension by winged strangers, a place beyond the tread of normal earth-bound language. Ephemeral as a feather, timeless as a rock, and as true as both, Unforgotten is a magical experience.'
This beautiful moving book Unforgotten in unforgettable.
See the book trailer:

Recipe for Perfect Planet Pie Kim Michelle Toft (silkimbooks)
This environmentally themed book has lavish illustrations which the illustrator first created on silk. The main text on each double page has the 13 short steps required to create the recipe that is the Perfect Planet Pie. Each double page spread also contains a panel of Helpful hints, facts and information about the environment on that page and the conservation methods required like keeping beaches free from litter.
The book concludes with a list of features of the environment eg: flowers, crabs and snow, pollution and greenhouse gasses, and also a list of actions that humans can take to conserve Planet Earth.
A beautiful visual work.

Today We Have No Plans Jane Godwin & Anna Walker (Viking)
This loving tale tells the story of a family’s busy week and their one unplanned weekend day.
The first six days are planned and well structured. There is a lot of rushing around and frenetic family activities that include, playing school sport on Friday, playing in the orchestra on Thursdays, and the after school swimming class on Tuesdays. But on Sunday it is family time and the clocks seem to slow their hands. Sunday is unplanned and quieter. The family might forget the time and do things like wear pjs all day, imagine, play, investigate, sleep in, and daydream.
The text for the first six days, Monday to Saturday, is written in two stanzas; a five line couplet and then two lines of rhyming verse while Sunday is less structured and rhyming. The unique ink, pencil and collage illustrations of the illustrator show the business of the days until Sunday arrives and is revealed with generous space and freedom.
Today We Have No Plans with padded cover is a beautiful celebration of families and precious family time.

Picture Book Delights

These picture book are absolute delights.

Bush Bash Sally Morgan & Ambelin Kwaymullina (Little Hare)
One dashing dingo is off and looking very excited and along the way many of the Australian bush animals ask “where is he going?” Dingo won’t say but he does invite the nosy numbats, the flying frogs, the burrowing bilbies and the rest of the menagerie to follow him to his final destination. Here the animals discover that dingo has come, with the other animals in tow, to celebrate emu’s birthday. .
This is a lusciously beautiful counting book with bold colours that simply jump off the page. The text is clear and simple with appropriate alliteration, like slithering sea snake, and waddling wombats and the colours entrancing in this wonderful Australian animal counting book.
As well as the featured native animal on each double page spread there is also an animal that does not belong in the Australian bush and an aboriginal object all there for the reader to discovery. Look for the dingo prints too. Hints for finding these are on the final page. Just lovely!

My Dad's the Coolest Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley (Scholastic)
It’s alwasy the right time to mention a book especially about wonderful dads and this is one of those delightful books. It has simple well spaced text and large single page illustrations of beautiful animals.
This is a joyful celebration about cool dads and their offspring … and all the cool things that they do together, whether it be teaching to dig, playing hide-and-seek, climbing together, feathery tickles, dancing or simply having fun, dads are cool! And the dad animals demonstrating this coolness are beautifully illustrated with delightful animals with perfect facial expressions.
This book is the companion book to My Mum's the Best.
Hooray for wonderful dads.

Alex and the Watermelon Boat Chris McKimmie (Allen&Unwin)
For slightly older readers, this book, inspired by the 2011 Brisbane floods, is the story of Alex who is told not to go outside because the river had burst its banks, the dam was overflowing and the water was rising. But rabbit, his most valuable stuffed toy, had hopped out the window so Alex too heads out the window, climbs aboard his watermelon boat and sets sail in search of rabbit. He floats through the town noticing the dramatic changes that have occurred including the cat stuck on the roof, the rooftop BBQ, the man in the boat filled with supplies, the floating pots and pans and amusing incidents like the shark causing a trafiic jam. Soon Alex is lost until he hears something familiar – a car radio that leads him to rabbit and their eventual escape, via a winding ladder, back home. The story nicely concludes with the return to normality and the planting of a tree.
This is another amazingly and intriguingly crafted picture book in McKimmie style with many font styles and with art a mix that varies from collage, child-like pencil line drawings, to splotches and patches of colour throughout and with beautiful endpapers. This book will be investigated many times with each revealing something new.

Beautiful Picture Books

These are deflightful picture books with simple text and gorgeous illustrations. .

The Magnificent Tree Nicholas Bland & Stephen Michael King (Scholastic)

A gorgeous title simply told and wonderfully illustrated about a girl, Bonny and her Pop, their loving relationship and the simplicity and complexity of the ideas of the young and the not-so-young.
Both Pop and the Bonny are creative and full of ideas. Bonny’s are simple clever and properly made. Pop’s are big brave and brilliant with bits sticking out. Together they make a wonderful team and have idea for just about everything. And when they decide that they need a tree to attract the birds they both set about creating a tree and when spring arrives Bonny, Pop and the birds are in for a big surprise when the trees are revealed.

The Terrible Suitcase Emma Allen & Freya Blackwood (Omnibus)
This is a delightful tale about first days of school, going-to-school presents, suitcases and the beauty of a child’s imagination.
A young girl receives a terrible suitcase as her going to school present, not the backpack with silver rockets she wanted that her friend Howard then received. The girl was M.A.D. and mad became grumpy because you should be happy on the first day of school. So on that first day she tells all her friends, who have backpacks, that he suitcase had a secret compartment holding space dust. And that is where the imagination really takes off for soon the terrible suitcase assist the space travelling crew to fly home and holds spacefood sticks, and becomes a toolkit for a rocket, a computer.

In the Lion James Foley (Walker Books)
This tale is funny, with humorous illustrations that the young reader will be searching many times. Lots of giggles are in store.
A young boy called Richard is visiting the zoo with his family and at the lion’s den he watches the dentist brush the lion’s teeth but then the dentist disappears. And when the hairdresser comes to comb the lion’s mane the same fate awaits her too. Soon, watched by the growing throng of zoo visitors, more and more staff attending the lion disappear until it is the nearby animals who soon disappear. Eventually it is up to Richard to save the day armed with a giant toothbrush.

Lovely Picture Books

Picture books for giggling and for sharing

The Very Hungry Bear Nick Bland (Scholastic)
First he was cranky. Then he was itchy. Now he is back in the latest installment and this time he is hungry, very hungry! Yes - the very cranky bear is back.
Bear is very hungry and grumpy. Since the break of day he had been unable to catch any fish but suddenly something huge had been hooked - a polar bear with an armful of fish. Polar Bear’s iceberg is shrinking and he is willing to give away his whole catch if the cranky (now hungry) bear will find him somewhere to stay. So Bear with an armful of fish, and Polar Bear with a block of ice set out to find a new home, with a visit to a few friends along the way.
This is another rollicking bear tale told in well constructed rhyming verse with delightful bear images. Bear is a wonderful loveable character that every child will want to know.

Fearless in Love Colin Thompson and Sarah Davis (HarperCollins)
First there was Fearless now Fearless returns and he is in love!
When Fearless goes to live with his new family he remembers his mother's special words “Life is much better if you love everyone”.
All around his new family there was love. There were people to love and there were things to love. Unfortunately the love from Fearless could be just a little destructive … and maybe covered in puppy drool too! Of course the new family was not too thrilled with all the Fearless love, they even locked Fearless outside in the rain. Fearless soon decides that not everything has to be loved - and then he discovers Primrose!
Lovely tale an beautiful illustrations once again. Bulldogs have never looked so cute!

Two Mates Melanie & Maggie Prewett (Magabala Books)
Two young boys, growing up in Broome (Western Australia) have a very special bond. They do just about everything together including hunting in the bush, visiting food stalls at the markets, searching for Hermit Crabs, swimming and going to school. They are mates, but it is not until the final page of the text that the specialness of their bond is revealed.
This true story is delightfully told and should be read as far and wide as possible.

A Bear and a Tree Stephen Michael King (Penguin)
This is a another beautiful title wonderfully crafted in text and illustrations. It is a book about caring and sharing and friendship between the most improbable companions is just gorgeous.
Bear is getting ready for his winter sleep collecting leaves and discovers Ren crying because her favourite tree has lost its leaves. She knows that it is time for Bear’s big sleep but together the two spend one more day - their first winter’s day - together. Ren asks Bear questions abut the snow and winter and the two are soon making patterns in the snow. They jump and bounce and share the day and then play with the night time stars before the next day rolls around. They share one more activity together and Bear leaves Ren with a special gift.

Wonderful books to share!

A number of absolutely gorgeous picture book titles have arrived on my desk. These are ones you will want to look for!

The Queen with the Wobbly Bottom Phillip Gwynne & Bruce Whatley (Little Hare)
This is way too funny and will have readers full of giggles with both the text and with the illustrations and of course the title will provide many giggles alone! A great tale about being too concerned about looking perfect!
A queen is loved by all her subjects but she is concerned that her wobbly bottom will stop her subjects loving her and she is concerned that the people make fun of her. She tries a number of ways of remedying the situation including a beautician’s wobbly bottom cream, an inventor’s dewobbiliser, and a fitness instructors exercise programme. Even a poet creates poems but alas nothing works and all the creators are thrown in palace dungeon. The poet though, continues to write a nightly poem for the queen and a solution is discovered.
As with other titles illustrated by Bruce Whatley close inspection of the pictures will provide many visual jokes as well.

What's the Matter, Aunty May? Peter Friend & Andrew Joyner (Little Hare)
A very proper looking young boy (shorts and jumper, black shoes white socks, bow ties and parted hair) visits his Aunty May and helps clean up her house. He sweeps, cleans, dusts, fixes sinks and does the washing up, the vacuuming and all other manner of helpful things around the house. The problem is that his helpfulness results in little catastrophes -- an antique vase being broken, pipes bursting and flooding rooms, red ink being spilt and a whole lot more. Of course the boy is rather proud of all his helpfulness. He recognises the catastrophes but they are just small mishaps along the way.
This title has lovely rhyming verse. The illustrations are terrific and require close examination - especially as the depth of the chaos increases. Lots of humour throughout these pages.

It's a Miroocool Christine Harris & Ann James (Little Hare)
We were introduced to Audrey in the wonderful Audrey of the Outback series that is just perfect for younger readers. Here she appears in a picture book which is a great introduction for future readers of the Audrey series.
Audrey has just lost her tooth and is very hopeful that the tooth fairy will visit her. But because she lives on an outback property she wants to make sure so she places a few helpful hints to lead the tooth fairy to her bedroom, a map on her cubby, an arrow from rocks, a trail of breadcrumbs, a bowl of water and just to make sure a drawing of the tooth on her back door. But will these clues survive the night?
This is a lovely story with simple precise text and the illustrations as well are wonderful showing the outback (the end papers are amazing), and young Audrey, perfectly. I loved the male tooth fairy!

Bog Frog Hop Kyle Mewburn & Rebecca Cool (Little Hare)
I love picture books that have a delightful time playing with words and that have whimsical and playful illustrations … this is one of them! Children are going to love chanting the words again and again.
In a soggy bog, with a mossy log there are ten slippery polliwogs plopping in the soggy bog….
And then there were nine and eight and ….
Yes this is a counting book filled with lots of rhyming and alliteration fun. There are grimpy-grumpy frogs, a scriffy-scruffy dog that becomes a splashy-splashy dog, flippy-floppy frogs, with plip plops, and flip flops, and splish splosh and plish plosh the repetitive fun goes on and on. The boldly coloured illustrations are really wonderful and will also enable lots of inquisition.

These are all perfect for sharing with young children and there will be many requests for them to be read again and again.

Glorious Picture Books

After a little hiatus it is back to it with some of the lovely books that have come across my desk.

King Jack and the Dragon Helen Oxenbury & Peter Bently (Puffin)
How do toddlers construct a castle?
How do they fight dragons and ogres and beasts?
What happens when giants come and take two of the fighters home?
What happens to King Jack?
Will he be able to stay all night in his castle – alone, like a brave knight would?
This is a beautiful picture told in rhyming verse with lovely soft illustrations that makes this magical, make-believe adventure perfect for little boys and brave children everywhere!

Nana's Colours Pamela Allen (Viking)
Children are bringing presents to Nana for her birthday and each flowery present is a colour.
Pamela Allen creates some of the most luscious picture books for the very young and this continues that long tradition. This book is perfect for toddlers investigating colours with each new colour (in word and colour) introduced on individual black and white spreads. The paper is strong and the book is solid and suitable for small hands. And the characters – Nana and children are delighful.

Prudence Wants a Pet Cathleen Daly & Stephen Michael King (Scholastic)
Prudence desperately wants a pet. But when her parents refuse, she finds a pet of her own. First a branch that tripped dad over so he had to break it into bits. Then a twig that gets lost in a washing machine and then an old shoe … but Prudence soon got tired of walking the shoe. –and it doesn’t lick or jump into her lap either. Prudence attempts at getting a pet continue until eventually on her birthday she gets a big pink birthday present – the perfect pet!

For All Creatures Glenda Millard & Rebecca Cool (Walker Books)
This is the second creation from the team who also created Isabella’s Garden.
It is a celebration of life in all its many and varied forms. For the winged and the walking, the singing and the silent, the insects, the camels, the elephants, the frogs … for all creatures great and the small - we are thankful.
Bold colours with delightful rhyming text.

The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon Aaron Blabey (Penguin)
For the village of Twee, seven miles from the sea. Life was not very good. In fact they were cursed because all over the tow and any hour the ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon could appear – and she had a very, very unpleasant appearance that scared everyone in the town. That was until young Herbert kettle decided that they should ask the ghost why it was in there town. This doesn’t quite go as Herbert planned but friendships are made and the town is saved.

A Bus Called Heaven Bob Graham (Walker Books)
Another master of the picture books is Bob Graham and this one I just adored.
When a broken, old bus appears one morning, in a neighbourhood it really creates a kerfuffle causing traffic to slow and people to stop and talk and very soon it is transported to a house where it gets a community transformation and becomes a focus piece for the whole neighbourhood. But it doesn’t last and when the tow truck arrives to removes the obstruction the whole neighbourhood sets off in pursuit. Will it get scrapped or returned – its all up to a game of table soccer!
Beautiful text and illustrations.


These are just beautiful picture books - enjoy sharing them.

Picture Books for many ages

Thoroughly lovely picture books ....

Look, A Book! Libby Gleeson & Freya Blackwood (Little Hare)
This is beautiful. a wonderful exploration of the imagination and all it can offer.
In a run down area, two children discover a book, much like the book itself, lying face-down on the ground. They take it to the top of a shed and start reading the book - and imagining ... they shelter from the rain and escape the flooding in a teacup, they can sail the skies with the aid of a used plastic soft drink bottle, and their surrounding landscape is constructed from recycled cans and bottle and cartons. And as the story tells, this book can be read again and again enabling imagination.
With beautifully creative and evocative illsutrations you never know where a book might take you!

Captain Congo and the Klondike Gold Ruth Starke & Greg Holfeld

(Working Title) A gorilla and a penguin ... who would have imagined them as an adventurous duo but they are wonderfully exciting as they team up in the Captain Congo books. In their third adventure Captain Congo and Pup are sent on a mission by The Agency, to the Klondike, the Yukon, the Great North west to investigate strange happenings in a gold camp. There are ghosts and monsters, including Sasquatch, skeletons in mines, and film crews making movies. Then when an attempt is made on Pup's life the mystery deepens.
This is a fantastic book for readers who like adventure and love reading in graphic novel format. The illustrations are perfect for this adventure.
Also discover Captain Congo and teh Maharaja's Monkey.

The Little Refugee, the Inspiring True Story of Australia's Happiest Refugee Anh Suzanne Do & Bruce Whatley (Allen&Unwin)
This is the children's version in picture book format of Anh Do's award winning memoir The Happiest Refugee and it is a delight.
It is the story of how and why he and his family fled Vietnam in an old fishing boat they had bought, it stank of fish, of their brush with storms and pirates, how his family established a business and lived in their beautiful new country instilling in the children that you just always have hope and Ahn Do's early school days as friendships develop and he becomes class captain.
An inspirational story with bruce Whatley;'s throughtful and delightful illustrations.

Another Picture Book feast!

Glorous picture books ready to be snaffled by yougner readers.

Bilby Secrets Edel Wignell & Mark Jackson (Walker Books)
Part of Walker's Nature Storybook series, these wonderful books are all true. they are non-fiction presented in picture book format. There are 'facts' written into the narrative as well as specifically included within the book. The books contain an index and are wonderful for any child with an inquisitive naturalist mind.
Bilby Secrets is a narrative non-fiction picture book following the life of the bilby, an Australian marsupial. It tells of a young bilby's birth, habitat, behaviour and diet and how he learns the secrets of his desert home.
Beautiful accurate illustrations accompany the well structured text.

The Jewel Fish of Karnak Graeme Base (Viking)
A picture books from Graeme Base has not just exquisite illustrations and wonderful text, it often has a puzzle or riddle that must be solved to gather even more information and The Jewel Fish of Karnak is another of these treasures.
This tale set in ancient Egypt follows two scruffy thieves, Jackal and Ibis, who, have been assigned the task of returning the golden Jewel fish by the Cat Pharaoh to receive his pardon. They are also instructed not to steal anything else ... which they find very hard to resist.
Entwined with a puzzle that is resolved online, this is a lusciously illustrated book and comes complete with hieroglyphics and sparkling jewels. And don’t miss the work on the inside of the book’s dust jacket.
See more and hear Graeme at the youtube clip.

The Bicycle Colin Thompson and others (ABC Books)
As the title suggests this book is all about bicycles. But this book is different to the usual picture book about a bicycle.
For a start all royalties from the sale of THE BICYCLE will go to Save the Children, an organisation that works to improve the quality of children’s lives around the world.
Then it has illustrations from some of the world's leading illustrations including Quentin Blake, Shaun Tan, Tony Ross, Sarah Davis and Freya Blackwood - all with a picture of a bicycle within and snippets of text and quotes about the importance of bicycles.
This is a beautiful picutre book exploring how bicycles fit into our lives in all different situations. It is a celebration of how much one bike can help - and change lives.

Come Down, Cat! Sonya Hartnett & Lucia Masciullo (Viking)
This is a lovely tale of friendship and bravery between a boy and his pet cat with delightful illustrations that beg for more investigation.
When Nicholas' cat decides to spend the night on the roof, even after he climbs a not too safe ladder to attempt a rescue, Nicholas has a restless and anxious night of attempted slumber. Then when it rains Nicholas hears the desperate calls and ventures outside to rescue his loved cat.

Once There Was a Boy Dub Leffler (Magabala Books)
This is a longer picture book, delightfully written and lovingly illustrated and showing the vastness of the landscape with exquisite double page spreads.
A young boy lives successfully and alone on an island until a young girl appears. As she enters his life things change and when she uncovers the boy's secret box under his bed, which she has been instructed not to, she is surprised and breaks the contents of the box, his broken heart. But the girl has a solution, which they both share.
A beautiful loving story of friendship and temptation and as the author states "... show(ing) kids that boys have feelings too (just like girls) ...."

The Carousel Ursula Dubosarsky & Walter Di Qual (Viking)

One winter's day my dad and I
Went down to see the carousel.
We stood and watched as round and round
The little horses rose and fell.

... begins the tale of a little girl experiencing for the first time the magic of a carousel with wooden horses, flashing lights, organ music, mirrors and the magical adventures (and sorrows) that are told by the carousel horses. Beautiful illustrations are covering every page. Girls who love horses will imagine too!


These are books to be deeoured and treasured.

Picture Book Delights

That's Not a Daffodil! Elizabeth Honey (Allen&Unwin)
Young Tom's next door neighbour, Mr Yilmaz, gives him a daffodil bulb but to Tom it looks more like an onion so his neighbour suggests that they plant the bulb and Tom starts to watch the pot, and watch and watch and watch but nothing seems to be happening. Eventually a green beak starts to appear and the plant continues to grow. Of course every time Tom and Mr. Yilmaz look at the yet-to-completely-grow daffodil Tom imagines something different.
A lovely story and beautiful illustrations with themes of change, imagination, grwoth, friendship.

Nog and the Land of Noses Bruce Whatley (Scholastic)
This is the story of the noses from the land of Nog. Here every nose was different and every nose did something special. There were running noses, blocked noses, picked noses and lots of other noses that did strange things. but Nog's nose just sat there. he tried all sorts of ways to make his nose special to no avail. but one day when he sneezed his nose began to get itch and suddenly he found a use for his special nose!
Illustrations created by Bruce Whatley are just wonderful and this one, along with his own story, continues that tradition. A humorous tale about patience, differences, and discovery

The Last Viking Norman Jorgensen & James Foley (Fremantle Press)
Young Josh is very brave. He's not afraid of anyone or anything – mostly, but when he has to stay at Nan and Pop's house Josh is a little nervous, especially because Pop tells some hair-raising but exciting stories about Vikings. Pop gives Josh a present - a book about Vikings Josh decides to become a Viking even dressing like one with Pop's help. All this excites the Gods who are watching way up in the sky and when Josh encounters a little bit of local trouble its quite amazing who comes to the rescue.
A delightful story of bravery, imagination, resilience and growing up, with terrific illustrations. Also contains a puzzle to solve.

Enjoy these new titles.

Fun, Fun Picture Books

Here is a picture book feast full of giggles and fun.

No Bears Meg McKinlay & Leila Rudge (Walker Books)
This is a lovely Once upon a time, Happily ever after, The End type of story with fairies and princesses and castles and funny things and exciting things and maybe even giants and lots and lots more but as Ruby, who is in charge of this book, writing the story and illustrating the pictures will tell you, there are absolutely NO BEARS in this book, not even one. But there are heaps of characters that will be recognised. And just who is saving the characters in Ruby's story?
A delightful picture book that is your not quite so traditional fairy tale.

Good Morning Mr Pancakes Chris McKimmie (Allen&Unwin)
This book is a real family affair with McKimmie family members contributing the title, some of the phrases and even the end papers as well as providing the inspiration for the story - a holiday on Moreton Island.
It's holiday time for Bee. But before she embarks on her week away she must take care of all her animals. She has to paint the toenails of her chooks so that they don't get mixed up with her uncle's chooks, and she has to pack her cat's things because he is going to the cat house (and not on the holidays). then when Bee does make it to the island it is a wonderful time, talking to dolphins and crabs, watching spiders and swimming in the ocean.
Full of imagination and adventure this is a wonderful celebration of childhood.

Bobo, My Superdog Michael Salmon (Ford St)
It is terrific seeing a new book from Michal Salmon and this one is another of his funny creations.
Bobo is a dog and he is a very spoiled Shichon (Shih Tzu/Bichon Frise cross). he has failed Miss Tiggy's Puppy Obedience School down at the local park, he gets washed in Mr Rex's pampered Pooch mobile dog wash, he eats with the family, sits and watches TV, and likes playing ball or chewing his favourite squeaking toy. He even has a fancy doghouse with lots of comfy cushions. But he is also Super-Bo, a dog with super powers, a one dog, crime fighting, lost girl finding, damsel saving, alien bandit defeating, pirate fighting super hero dog. He wears a mask so that he won't be recognised and an old striped beach towel as a cape. And no one knows, except of course the young boy telling the story.
A fun superhero tale that's just a little different.

The Aunties Three Nicholas Bland (Scholastic)
The three aunties that are arriving at the house to look after the children are not the nice loveable friendly aunties that would be hoped for. These are rather severs and very proper, withered and pompous aunties. When these aunties arrive the children can't smile, or giggle or sniffle or sneeze. They have to dress perfectly, a dress for the girls and a tie for the boy, the aunties will want biscuits and tea and of course there must be a thank you and please.
But chaos develops even though the children are on their best behaviour and try their very best to do as requested as things don’t quite go to plan and the aunties are forced to leave.
Told in rhyming verse with glorious illustrations, this is a book to be read again and again, which will make children giggle again and again.

Have fun sharing these.

Picture Books

If you need some great new Aussie picture books then you can't go past these. They are terrific.

My Mum Is the Best Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley (Scholastic)
I missed this for Mother's Day but mum's deserve celebration every day - as do dad's - and this book is just a lovely celebration of all things mum!
From the kisses and hugs, feeding, transporting to school, and all the other things they do, like singing and playing games and just generally taking care. Of course the mum's in the terrific illustrations are well chosen mum's from the animal kingdom like fish, seals, bears elephants and gorgeous bats who snuggle heir babies to bed each night and each mum is demonstrating a different wonderful activity that mum's do. There is generous space surrounding the text and the illustrations.
A delightful book to share with the very young.
Hooray for mum's everywhere.

Song of the Dove Errol Broome & Sonia Kretschmar (walker Books)
How terrific to find a picture book with some lovely period illustrations that touches on the world of opera.
Vincenzo Bellini (best known opera is probably Norma - at least for me) wrote the music for beautifully flowing operas. Bellini gives music lessons in Naples (before writing is first opera) and one of his students is the beautiful Maddelena. They fall in love. When her parents forbid them to marry they vow that nothing will tear them apart - even when he is called to Milan to continue composing operas.

Alpha Monsters Chris Kennett (Scholastic)
This is a delightful take on the alphabet book with monsters being the alphabet stars. Told in rhyming verse it is the story of a boy and his teddy who go out in the rain and get caught in a thunder storm and land in another world. They land no an island of alphabetical monsters and one of those monsters has lost his teddy. together Freddy and the monster set off to find the monster’s lost teddy. The rhyming text and bright, cartoon style illustrations make this book fun and entertaining.

Button Boy Rebecca Young & Sue DeGennaro (Scholastic)
People collect the most amazing things and Banjo loves collecting the buttons that the folks in his neighbourhood seem to be continually loosing. Even day he would come home with a new button and every day Grandma Woolly would sew the button onto his favourite jumper (that was her idea). Of course having lost the buttons all the neighbourhood knows where to find them and they are soon meeting Banjo for their buttons.
A lovely tale with simple illustrations about lost and found things and of course friendships.

Waiting for Later Tina Matthews (Walker Books)
A delightful story about being told to wait for later that will ring true for nearly every child.
When Nancy asks all her relatives to spend time with her doing different activities, that include rocking backwards and forwards, being tickled, being told a story, they all tell Nancy to wait for later. So Nancy climbs a tree to wait for later. In that tree Nancy find that all the things that she wants to do with her relatives, the tree can do too.
And when later arrives, it’s her family who wonder where Nancy’s got to.
Lovely woodcut and stencil images accompany the text. Great for young readers.

Enjoy sharing these lovely titles.