Deborah Frenkel (text) and Ingrid Bartkowiak (illustrator), Naturopolis, Storytorch, September 2022, 32 pp., RRP $26.95 (hbk), ISBN 9780645191530 Naturopolis, Deborah Frenkel’s first picture book, is an introduction for young readers to small flora and fauna which can be found in urban areas. Frenkel has limited her comments to commonplace locations and to everyday species, combining fact and fiction, using lyrical language. She starts looking at the urban landscape with a gravel ant (not a name I am familiar with in Tasmania) and we trace his return to the nest with his piece of food for the colony. On the way…
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Cheryl Kickett-Tucker (author) and Tyrown Waigana (illustrator), Ninni Yabini, Fremantle Press, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), August 2022, ISBN 9781760991210 A mother and father swan love and cherish their baby, Yabini. One day, while the family is hunting for food, a storm washes away their nest. While Maali (father) and Djidar (mother) work together to build a new nest, Yabini wanders off and gets lost. Fortunately, Yabini finds a way to make her way back home and the story ends with a beautiful lullaby. Ninni Yabini explores themes of family, nature and belonging, and has a gentle message about paying…
Rohan Cleave (text) and Julian Teh (illustrator), On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer, CSIRO Publishing, September 2022, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781486314478 These shy little ground birds are found out on the bare saltbush plains or in the grasslands and herb fields of northern Victoria and outback New South Wales, stretching into Queensland. They are endangered. This handsome book from CSIRO Publishing aims to educate early-years’ students about the Plains-wanderer. The full-page, sometimes double-page realistic colour illustrations are a highlight of the book, especially an aerial image of the tiny bird among grass tussocks on an ochre cracked-mud…
Meg McKinlay (text) and Karen Blair (illustrator), Ella and the Useless Day, Walker Books, August 2022, 32 pp, RRP $25.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760653095 Despite talk of climate threats and sustainability, we live in a society that values “stuff”, with many of us working long hours to buy more of it. This could be manageable if we bought what we need while considering the future, but most people buy for here and now, tossing items when they no longer serve a purpose. Ella and the Useless Day tackles this issue obliquely and with great insight, casting an object’s purpose as ultimately…
Frida Nilsson, The Ape Star, Gecko Press, August 2022, 144 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781776574223 Jonna has lived all her nine years at Renfanan orphanage, until one day a gorilla comes to the orphanage and adopts her! Initially Jonna is fearful and unhappy in her new situation however as she gets to know her new adoption mother her feelings change. Their relationship grows and Jonna finds herself embracing Ape’s way of life; selling scrap, eating fried egg sandwiches, reading books, and even learning to drive. So, when a man from the council, wanting to buy Ape’s land and livelihood,…
Oliver Phommavanh, What About Thao?, Penguin Random House, August 2022, 224 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760897161 What about Thao? is the latest novel by best-selling author, Oliver Phommavanh, who has written much loved stories about kids’ experiences of cultural diversity, including Thai-riffic and Con-nerd. This story is about Thao who feels tentative to be moving from the city to a small country town and starting at a new school, especially because he’ll be the only kid of Asian background there. Things get off to a good start with Thao’s family warmly welcomed by their new community. Thao feels well…
Amelia Kahaney, All the Best Liars, Walker Books, September 2022, 336 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), IBSN 9781760656072 All the Best Liars is a gripping psychological thriller about obsession, jealousy, manipulation, and deceit which somehow still manages to be a heartfelt coming-of-age story exploring complicated friendships and first love. Kahaney’s characters are intelligent and interesting. Some are likeable, some relatable and some pure evil. Brie, Rain and Syd were once best friends. Growing up in the same run-down neighbourhood in the Palm Springs area, their families working multiple jobs and living pay check to pay check, the girls understood one another.…
Deborah Abela, The Book of Wondrous Possibilities, Penguin Random House Australia, August 2022, 288 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781761044021 The opening sentences had me hooked – as they’re designed to do. The door of the bookshop burst open, sending the bells above into a frantic jangle. A young girl flew to the counter. Almost immediately a frightening man breaks in looking for her, and Arlo unexpectedly has the presence of mind to protect the girl. Within a few pages we have the brief synopsis of the story: Arlo, living in a run-down bookshop with his uncle Avery; Lisette being…
Karen Foxlee (text) and Freda Chiu (illustrator), The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm (Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters, #1), Allen and Unwin, May 2022, 288 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760526627 Miss Mary-Kate Martin is the daughter of two very accomplished globe-trotting archaeologists. Mary-Kate accompanies her archaeologist mother to the peaceful English countryside where she has been asked to investigate some interesting bones found in an old well; however, upon their arrival, they quickly realise that the tranquil town is anything but… Mary-Kate does not fit the familiar stereotype of an archaeologist though or even a ‘monster hunter’ for that…
Nicole Godwin (text) and Susannah Crispe (illustrator), Swoop, CSIRO Publishing, September 2022, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781486315697 Swoop is a cleverly told picture book story about magpie swooping behaviour from the perspective of a magpie. On page one, the text explains in no uncertain terms (and in capital letters) – Magpie’s purpose is to “KEEP THE EGGS SAFE”. And through the story we see that Magpie swoops persistently and vigilantly at park visitors. The text is in Magpie’s voice, portraying his perceptions of all passers-by as threats and the urgent need to scare them away, despite the images depicting…