SYMONS, Mitchell (text) Nigel Baines (illus.) Why Spacemen Can’t Burp Random House, 2014 209pp $14.99 pbk ISBN 9781849415514 SCIS 1648096 Many of the favourite quirky questions of the under 10’s are answered in simple terms with a dash of humour and cartoon illustrations. Why do washing machines have windows?, Why do bruises change colour? and the title indicate the level of inquiry in this book from the U.K. Another question might be do these books have relevance in the days of Google? reviewed by Chris Dayman
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WARWICK, Valerie (text) Kate Jones et al (illus.) The Anthology of Performance Poetry Playtime Productions, 2013 107pp $59.95 pbk ISBN 9780987527417 It has long been understood by literacy specialists and teachers that exposure to poetry at an early age helps with a child’s phonemic awareness and their ability to hear and segment sounds. Elements of poetry such as rhythm repetition also provide a model for reading fluency. For older students, poetry can be used to introduce figurative language in which more complex ideas can be expressed in few words. In her latest anthology, Valerie Warwick has brought together a collection…
SHERLOCK, Dr Deberea & Aisling Mulvihill (text) Marc Lynch (illus.) Stay in Line ISBN 9780992311803; Mind on the Job ISBN 9780992311810; Pick Your Moment ISBN 9780992311827; Name of the Game ISBN 9780992311834; Seeing Red ISBN 9780992311841; Fear Factor ISBN 9780992311858 M.A.S.T.E.R. Institute Pub (The Ant Patrol), 2013 unpaged $24.95 ea $149.95 set ISBN 9780992311865 This is a package of six large-format paperback books designed to assist with children’s social and emotional development. Each of the books can stand alone but they have been designed for sequential…
PAJALIC, Amra & Divaroren Demet (eds) Coming of Age: Growing up Muslim in Australia Allen & Unwin, 2014 189pp $18.99 pbk ISBN 9781743312926 SCIS 1641868 In this collection of essays, the editors have gathered together twelve stories from Australian Muslims, each one quite different from the last. Each author discusses their own relationship with their religion, their childhood, their family, and growing up in Australia. Some authors are well known, such as footballer Hazem El Masri, others are not. But each has a unique and compelling story to tell. All of the stories mention the friction of being caught between…
KENDELL, Sandra Welcome Little Scrubfowl Windy Hollow, 2013 unpaged $25.95 ISBN 9781922081261 SCIS 1626342 This attractively sequenced story of the little scrub fowl of Northern Australia engages immediately with cover, endpapers, vibrant illustrations location map and a story told using a variety of font sizes, making it a classic information book for younger readers. Two pages of additional facts at the end of the book round out a satisfying read. Beautiful illustrations make this a book to recommend. Chris Dayman
HOTHAM STREET LADIES A Book for Kids! National Gallery of Victoria, 2013 87pp $14.95 ISBN 9780724103799 SCIS 1649733 Cassandra Chilton, Molly O’Shaughnessy, Sarah Parkes, Caroline Price, and Lyndal Walker are the Hotham Street Ladies. They challenge themselves to make cakes that do not look like cakes, and have had a ‘distasteful’ entry banned from the Royal Melbourne Show. They have contributed their photographs, and works of art to this record of the inventive ways handcrafts, decorating cakes and street art can be combined creatively for ages five and up. It is a gorgeous A4 sized publication with purple fly leaves…
HEIN, Jo (text) Victoria Collings (illus.) My Asian Art ISBN 9781741740943; My Australian Art ISBN 9781741740936; My World Art ISBN 9781741740950 Art Gallery of NSW, 2014 unpaged $22.95 Gone are the days of stuffy art galleries and museums with unfriendly wall text or dusty uninspiring exhibits. We now know there is a whole psychology behind visitor experience and behavior. For these institutions to exist in a meaningful context in the 21st century they must appeal to their public in a different way from the past. Public art galleries and museums are now mindful of providing this meaningful experience for all…
FRICKE, John The Wonderful World of OZ Rowman & Littlefield (Down East Books), 2013 68pp A$32.69 £18.95 ISBN 9781608932573 An expanded, revised and redesigned edition of a 1999 publication this is a nostalgic walk through 100 years of Fred Baum’s The Wizard of Oz made famous by the 1939 film of the same name featuring Judy Garland. This current text, however, covers in wonderful detail the many productions in its many forms of the original book. Each chapter tells a different story about Oz in its various incarnations as it travels through many countries and many editions, is featured as…
First it was Mem Fox and now local author Phil Cummings is helping Prince William and Kate instill a love of reading in Prince George with his popular children’s books, Boom Bah! and Night Watch. The books which are beautifully illustrated with lots of action, fun, playful language and infectious rhythm were presented to the royal couple to commemorate their visit to the Playford Library in Elizabeth on Wednesday 23 April. The writer of more than 60 books and Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador said while it was important to start reading to a child from birth, the Prince at nearly ten months old was at an age when…
FRENCH, Jackie (text) Sue deGennaro (illus.) The Hairy-Nosed Wombats Find a New Home A&R, 2014 unpaged $24.99 ISBN 9780732295486 SCIS 1658259 Released just in time for Hairy-Nosed Wombat Day on May 11 here is a tale about the endangered, almost extinct, wombats finding a new home. These furry creatures have been painted in water colours and dressed by using collage featuring bits of paper collected by the illustrator. The book starts off by questioning what would happen if the habitat of these animals was lost or destroyed and then asks through pictures and words where would they find a…