Sue Whiting (text) and Cate James (illustrator), The Echidna Near My Place, Walker Books, March 2022, 32 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760652401 A young child and her Nana live near a paddock. On their walk they spot an echidna who decides to pay them a visit. What unfolds is an unexpected adventure for all. Sue Whiting introduces us to the world of the ‘spiny anteater’ in a heart-warming story between a child and her grandmother. Exploring themes such as family, shared experiences, nature, science and Australian animals in their habitat, this is a story combining fact and fiction. Through the…
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T.C Shelley, The Boy Who Hatched Monsters, Bloomsbury, March 2022, 320 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781526600790 In the magical conclusion to The Monster Who Wasn’t trilogy, Sam and his miscellaneous pack undertake the ultimate adventure to save the whole of human and monster kind. Sam’s journey takes off right where it was left in The Werewolves Who Weren’t. He and the gargoyles are now responsible for a cheeky monster hatchling, Nugget, who lives in his sock drawer. If their hands aren’t already full enough, when banshee Maggie discovers Sam’s egg-hatching abilities, she does everything she can to manipulate…
Sarah L. Thomson (text) and Charles Santoso (illustrator), Wombat Underground, Hachette, January 2022, 32 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780316707060 Inspired by online stories of wombats welcoming other animals into their burrows to take shelter from fire during the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires, Sarah L. Thomson takes readers on the journey from the wombat’s perspective. Readers are introduced to the Australian landscape and other native animals which are warmly captured in Charles Santoso’s illustrations that include many layers and viewpoints. The story and pictures create a sense of calm as wombat digs a burrow and wallaby, skink and echidna explore their…
Amy Dunjey (text) and Jesus Lopez (illustrator), Dancing with Dragons, Larrikin House, February 2022, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922503299 Rose is a young girl who loves to explore, especially the forest where she discovers flowers and trees, and rabbits and bees. But on this day, Rose is suddenly confronted by two giant dragons, fiery and fearsome. She is frozen with fright. But it seems not all dragons are intent on eating humans; these dragons are pleased to meet Rose for an entirely different reason. They need someone to judge who is the best dancer between them. Rose…
Susea Spray (text) and Lesley Cybulka (illustrator), A Big Blue Boat, Spray Publications, March 2022, 40 pp., RRP $17.33 (pbk), ISBN 9780645224009 A boat. A big BLUE boat. A big BLUE boat with billowing SAILS… A Big Blue Boat is a cumulative story about an ocean adventure. (A cumulative story builds upon itself by repeating the previous text and adding new information, such as There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly and The House that Jack Built.) With a brave young girl at the helm, the big blue boat sails on the rollicking, frolicking sea. With fun language,…
Rebecca Patterson, Four Bad Unicorns, Walker Books Australia, May 2022, 32 pp., RRP $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781839131035 About 7 or 8 years ago an absolute tsunami of unicorn-related merchandise flooded the market, and it has stuck around. You can now buy unicorn-flavoured clothing, stationery, homewares, artwork, and toys. The other day I even found myself buying “unicorn-flavouring” from the baking section in the supermarket. The book industry has ridden this wave (because that is what the market demands) with varying degrees of success. Four Bad Unicorns is another unicorn-themed picture book that is vying for attention and a slice of the…
Lynette Noni, The Blood Traitor (Prison Healer, #3), Penguin Random House, May 2022, 464 pp., RPP $24.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760897543 (Note: This review contains spoilers from books 1 & 2) Love. She needs to focus on love. The Blood Traitor picks up where The Gilded Cage left off. We find our heroine, Kiva Corentine, back in the prison, Zalindov. She discovers an unexpected ally in the ex-quarrier, Cresta, who helps her through her withdrawal from addiction to angeldust. It seems like the end of the road for Kiva and Cresta as they are sent down to work in the tunnels,…
Jess McGeachin, Kind, Allen & Unwin, May 2022, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781761066047 Kind by Jess McGeachin was written during the first Melbourne COVID lockdown, a time of fear and uncertainty when people were longing to be outside and to be able to see more of the world than just their backyard. The book is a gentle call to be kind to the earth and kind to yourself. This delightful picture book showcases McGeachin’s distinctive illustrative style. The hardcover edition of this book has a textured cover with glossy elements contributing to the visual feast. Each double-page spread…
Maryam Master, No Words, Pan Macmillan Australia, July 2022, 224 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760983529 Words have power. Hero Jean Rodriguez is navigating the treacherous waters of her first year of high school. Her home is a loving one, where her dad has his UP days and his DOWN days. There’s no fuss made about his condition: just acceptance and love. Hero and her best friend Jaz, who is fearless and outspoken, befriend a new boy at school, Aria, who is a mystery. He has kind eyes. And a sometimes-mischievous smile. But no words. None. It’s literally like someone pointed…
Fleur Ferris, Seven Days, Penguin Random House, May 2022, 240 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781761043352 Seven days to solve a century old crime. Seven days to unearth the treasure. Seven days to survive… The countdown is on. The book blurb promises fast-paced action and this book delivers. Seven Days is aimed at older readers, particularly boys, with each chapter structured like a clock counting done to the cliff-hanger ending. City kid Ben is dumped on his country cousin Josh’s doorstep by his corporate wheeler dealer Dad. As his dad leaves, Ben flicks his stopwatch on to count down the…