Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson (text) and Leanne Mulgo Watson (illustrator), Sharing, Magabala Books, November 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781925768749 Sharing opens with the beautiful line. When we share, there is plenty for all. The text and illustrations are very simple yet evocative, revealing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture and traditions. It inspires everyone to care for each other and Country. Sharing is the third book in the award-winning Our Place series. Written by Boonwurrung Elder, Aunty Fay Muir and acclaimed author Sue Lawson, it is beautifully illustrated by award-winning Darug creator, Leanne Mulgo Watson.…
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Nadia L. King, Can the Real JR Stand Up, Please, Dixi Books, July 2021, 160 pp., RRP $29.50 (pbk), ISBN 9781913680176 I have a confession to make. I judged this book by its cover, and honestly started reading not expecting much from it. Then I packed it away while I was getting ready for a move, and forgot all about it until now. And, of course the lesson here is that you should never judge a book by its cover. Jake is 17 years old, and his father treats his wife and Jake like his punching bags. Both Jake and…
J.K. Rowling (text) and Jim Field (illustrator), The Christmas Pig, Hachette, October 2021, 320 pp., RRP $39.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781444964912 Rowling’s latest fantasy is the story of Jack, and a replacement toy pig named Christmas Pig who set out on an unexpected voyage to the land of lost things, searching for Jack’s beloved DP (Duh Pig). Step-sister Holly, who couldn’t understand all the fuss over a dirty mangled stuffed toy pig, threw DP out the car window in a moment of jealousy and Jack is heartbroken. Holly later understands her cruel gesture and replaces him with a new toy though…
Jo Gliddon-Baker (text) and Aleksandra Szmidt (illustrator), Get Out of My Tent, Larrikin House, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), November 2021, ISBN 9781922503411 Archie is a child who enjoys his alone time and doesn’t get bored. He lives in a bustling city and longs for nature, so it’s no surprise that he loves camping, and in particular, the little red tent that’s all his own. Archie loved camping,he loved the fresh air,the sounds in the night,the wind in his hair. But when his extended family each find an excuse to squish in with him, he has to think of a…
Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman, Roxy, Walker Books, November 2021, 400 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781406392128 A horrifying perspective on the crisis referred to as the opioid epidemic by the New York Times bestselling father and son team, Neal Schusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. Quite honestly, I struggled to get a handle on this story at first, and then suddenly it all began to make sense. Once the penny dropped, I found this book to be a beautifully moving, timely, relevant and incredibly compelling story reaching into the dark and often fatal world of substance abuse. And readers if you…
Jimmy Barnes (text) and Matt Shanks (illustrator), Rosie the Rhinoceros, HarperCollins Publishers, September 2021, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781460758854 Jimmy Barnes and Matt Shanks introduce us to the joyful, gracious, and confident character of Rosie who reminds us of the power of a positive perspective and enduring self-belief. Rosie, ‘the rhinoceros’ is absolutely happy, as she awakens to a new day, she excitedly greets her animal friends with a passionate appreciation for the world around her; did you see that glorious sunrise?, isn’t it a stupendous day?, isn’t this morning exquisite? The only thing she doesn’t quite understand…
Alison Lester, Noni the Pony Counts to a Million, Allen & Unwin, September 2021, 24 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760524395 Noni the Pony Counts to a Million is the newest addition to Alison Lester’s beloved Noni the Pony series. The magic thing about the Noni books is that it isn’t necessary to have previously read other books in the series. Noni the Pony Counts to a Million is itself a wonderful standalone! The story follows Noni, a sweet and friendly pony with a taste for adventure. She journeys from the beach to the farm, meeting old and new friends…
Jacinta Froud (text) and Gabriella Petruso (illustrations), Jingle Belly, Larrikin House, November 2021, 32pp., RRP $19.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781922503503 Like many dogs, lovable Eddie is always getting up to mischief! Escaping from the backyard and chasing balls for fun.Purebred Corgi motto… ‘Consider that job done! Eddie’s naughtiest habit is chewing whatever he can get a hold of – shoes, washing, toys and one Christmas Eve, the jingly angel from the top of the tree. Eddie races off with jingles in his belly, causing more trouble and picking up decorations as he goes. Eventually, Eddie’s family get the angel back –…
Graeme Base, The Curse of the Vampire Robot, HarperCollins Publishers, September 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781460754696 Combining spooky with geeky we get Graeme Base’s kooky, The Curse of the Vampire Robot. Set in a futuristic world in the Scottish Highlands, where tech devices are the characters, one of the town’s robots is struck down by the battery draining Voltoid the vampire. An unlikely hero emerges in Gertie Gif, a cleaning droid who volunteers to set out on a quest to ‘deal with’ Voltoid. Base’s signature detailed illustrations grace the pages, with the distinguishing feature being they are…
Megan Jacobson (text) and Beck Feiner (illustrator), Big Love, Walker Books Australia, October 2021, 32 pp., RRP 425.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760652890 This picture book moves from a large house – It’s very big! – to the town, a city, the world, the solar system to the universe. None of them, though very big, is not as big as my love for you. This book provides a wonderful statement about parental love, ensuring each child realises how much s/he is loved by the parent. The child and parent relationships show diversity so the book will appeal to a wide range of…