Kerry Brown (text), Isabel Knowles and Benjamin Portas (illustrations), Lest We Forget, ABC Books, 1 March 2015, $24.99 (hbk), 32pp., ISBN 9780733332333 Lest we Forget by author Kerry Brown stands out as one of the best picture books in this category. I love the clever way two very talented new illustrators, Isobel Knowles and Benjamin Portas have worked together to produce the art work. Lest we Forget is a conversation between a young boy and his grandfather sharing ‘days you want to remember and those you want to forget.’ Knowles paints the colourful fresh memories of the young boy- e.g. first day…
Author: Admin
Sean Avery, Harold and Grace, Fremantle Press, 2105 $24.99 (hbk), 32pp., ISBN 9781925162295 Harold and Grace is a story about a very special and unusual friendship between Harold, a courageous kind little purple tadpole and Grace, a small shy green caterpillar. The combination of Avery’s sensitive prose and fun cartoon-like sketches serves to evoke compassion in the reader. I believe kids will connect strongly with these little characters and want to protect them. Harold and Grace will spark discussion on friendship, bullying, wetland ecosystems and the idea of metamorphosis as Harold miraculously turns into a ‘fantastic frog’ and Grace becomes…
Phil Cummings (text), Shane Devries (illus.), Ride, Ricardo, Ride!, Omnibus/Scholastic, 1 March 2015, $24.99 (hbk), 32pp., ISBN 9781742990736 Ride Ricardo Ride! is a delightful new picture book showcasing a combination of Cumming’s eloquent prose and Devries’s emotive illustrations. The idea for the story was originally sparked by a true event that occurred in a village somewhere in Europe during World War II. Ricardo is a care-free young boy who loves to ride his bike through their village. He enjoys being urged on by his father cheering- ‘Ride, Ricardo, Ride! But the mood changes when ‘shadows’ invade their village. It is Devries’s clever…
Kristy Murray, Payal Dhar, Anita Roy (editors), Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean, Allen & Unwin, January 2015, $16.99 (pbk), 240pp., ISBN 9781743319789 This collection of short stories and graphic artwork came out of a collaboration between Australian and Indian writers and artists seeking to explore issues of gender, culture and connection (between men and women, the past and the present, and the environment and future populations). The editors urged their contributors to ‘be bold’ and certainly, this is an interesting and innovative collection of speculative fiction. The graphic collaborations stood out for me as the most interesting pieces, many…
Peter Carnavas (text), Kat Chadwick (illustrations), What’s In My Lunchbox?, New Frontier, 1 February 2015, $24.99 (hbk), 32pp., ISBN 9781925059038 This is a beautifully light-hearted picture book centred on a young boy’s week; opening his lunchbox to find all manner of wild things. The narrative builds in tension by repeating ‘Today in my lunchbox I happened to find…’ and then escalating the contents from an unwanted apple all the way to a huge dinosaur leaping out to frighten the unsuspecting narrator. Carnavas manages to inject wry humour, suspense and ultimately resignation (given the protagonist settles for the apple after all)…
J.R. Poulter (text), Muza Ulasowski (illustrations), The Sea Cat Dreams, Tate Publishing, 11 February 2014, $19.99(pbk), 34pp., ISBN 9781625639127 The Sea Cat Dreams was written as a resource for children and adults to assist in their positive accommodation to challenging life changes. It embraces topics including adapting to moving house, treasuring fond memories, dealing with loss, and seeking and sharing support with loved ones. Written in simple poetic prose, the story tells of a cat transitioning from home to home; first loved by a family on a farm, then accidentally taken aboard a ship via a sailor’s bag, and finally relocated…
Amnesty International UK Section (authors, illustrators as named), Dreams of Freedom: in words and pictures, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 15 March 2015, $27.95 (hbk), 48pp., ISBN 9781847804532 Amnesty International have released the powerful and enlightening book, Dreams of Freedom, as a follow up to bestseller We Are All Born Free. It truly is “a feast of visual stories” (Michael Morpurgo, author and former Children’s Laureate); its stunning imagery and uplifting messages aimed to inspire young people to fight for freedom and equality. Dreams of Freedom introduces readers to a variety of freedoms, some including Freedom to be yourself, Freedom of expression,…
Alexis Deacon (text), Viviane Schwarz (illustrations), I Am Henry Finch, Walker Books, 1 January 2015, $24.95 (hbk), 40pp., ISBN 9781406357134 Who is Henry Finch? He is the epitome of greatness. If you ever want to read a book about being successful, confident and influential, then I Am Henry Finch is the one. The finches spend their lives on repeat; everyday making a racket bidding each other good morning, afternoon, evening and good night, until the Beast comes and threatens their safety. But one night Henry wakes up to discover that he has a thought. The power of his mind allows…
Darcy-Lee Tindale, Thumb Pickles and Other Cautionary Preserves, JoJo Publishing/Classic Author and Publishing Services Pty Ltd, December 2014, $16.99(pbk), 155pp., ISBN: 9780987609618 Did your grandmother ever warn you that if you screwed up your face and the wind changed you might stay that way? If so you may wish then to hear of what happens to Signor Stupido when he pulls rude faces about his wife’s delicious cooking. In this collection of four cautionary tales, Darcy-Lee Tindale reworks old fables with a new twist. But before you look in the mirror to see if your face has changed you may…
Jesse Blackadder, Dexter: the courageous koala, ABC Books, 15 December 2014, $14.99, 208pp., ISBN: 9780733331787 This is a fantastic book for animal lovers. Written from two points of view, Ashley a 12-year-old girl and Dexter the rescued koala, it chronicles their parallel journeys through disappoint, hurt, loss and joy. Ashley is sent to stay with her aunt for the school holidays. When floods damage the local koala habitat Ashley and her aunt rescue Dexter and his mother. Floodwaters block the road to the vet preventing access to the medical care the mother koala needs, so Ashley must rely on her own…