BORNHOLDT, Jenny (text) Sarah Wilkins (illus.) A Book is a Book Gecko Press/Whitieia Pub, 2013 unpaged NZ$24.99 ISBN 9781877579929 This small format picture book is a quirky pastiche of proverbial sayings about what a book is and possibly is not. The acknowledgment page suggests that many insights were suggested by children but the author, an established poet, no doubt gives them a fresh perspective as well as other insights. The illustrations are thought-provoking; often taking the words into a different space. For example, how would you illustrate the insight ‘Books can be true and not true and sometimes they can…
Author: Admin
LIBERMAN, Cassy (text), Lucy Desbordes (illus.) Fighting for Freedom: Nancy Wake. Brolly Books, 2013. unpaged $29.95 ISBN 9 780987 389558 Australia can boast of many heroic women throughout its history right to the present day. One such woman our nation can be proud of is Nancy Wake, distinguished for her work among the French Resistance fighters in World War II. Her valued work supporting the Maquis in the most dangerous circumstances earned her many honours and tributes from around the world, but it was almost at the end of her long life, having left Australia to live in London, before she…
MITCHELL, Laine (text) Louis Shea (illus.) We’re Going on an Egg Hunt (+CD by Jay Laga’aia) Scholastic, 2014 unpaged $19.99 ISBN 9781743620410 SCIS 1653068 In a timely manner, this Easter based text provides a reworking of the traditional tale, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. It uses five young animal friends, who set off in search of any egg they can find. Their adventure takes them along an obstacle trail until they ultimately find, ‘A warren. A bunny–shaped warren.’ ….with its rather large inhabitant. The bright and lively art work is often humorous and flows across the full double page…
STAVROU, Lyndall (text) Jann Forge (illus.) Ninu Easter Bilby Self Pub, 2014 24pp $15.00 pbk ISBN 9780980796940 This is a delightful children’s book about Ninu, a Bilby who wants to be an Easter Bilby. It is set in the northern parts of Australia and features the animals and landscapes of that region. The story follows Ninu amongst the grasslands trying to find advice about how to become an Easter Bilby. The Thorny Devil, Bush Turkey, Goanna and Cockatoo all offer their advice but none of it helps. Finally the Aunties give Ninu the best direction to take. Featuring distinctive language…
BELL, Krista (text) Belinda Elliott (illus.) Jack’s Bugle Windy Hollow, 2014 unpaged $25.95 ISBN 9781922081292 SCIS 1652236 A moving story of the 1914-1918 war and especially the landing at Gallipoli by Australian troops. Central to events is the friendship forged between Aidan Jackson, known as Jack, and Spencer Harrington, Harry. Despite Jack being a farm boy and Harry a city bloke, they became best friends throughout early training, shipping out and desert training in sandy Egypt. And everywhere Jack went, so did his precious bugle, playing both on and off the field but kept safely by his side until Gallipoli…
WALLIAMS, David (text) Tony Ross (illus.) Demon Dentist HarperCollins, 2013 434pp $19.99 pbk ISBN 9780007453573 SCIS 1629996 This deliciously wicked book is written by UK comic David Walliams. David and the illustrator have created a book reminiscent of the collaboration between Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake. If you don’t like reading about the gross and disgusting then this book is not for you. Alfie is a young boy who spends his time after school looking after his Dad who is wheelchair bound. When reminder notices come from his dentist, Alfie hides them so his father isn’t reminded that Alfie is…
PATERSON, Banjo (text) Oslo Davis (illus.) Banjo Paterson Treasury Random House, 2013 152pp $19.95 pbk ISBN 9780857980069 SCIS 1633365 Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson was born in Narrambla, NSW in 1864. He worked as a lawyer, war correspondent and editor whilst writing poems and news articles to become one of Australia’s best known early poets. In 1939 Banjo was made a commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to poetry, writing such well known poems as Clancy of the Overflow, The Man from Snowy River, A Bush Christening and Waltzing Matilda to name a few. Paterson wrote of pioneering…
PARDOE, Mark The Andy Flegg Survival Guide Puffin, 2013 233pp $16.99 pbk ISBN 9780143306771 SCIS 1618228 Eleven year old Andy is a reluctant writer, even though he’s not sure what that means. Anyway, his mother has asked him to keep a journal where he has to write at least a paragraph a day (she’s checking) or he won’t get the Xbox he wants for his birthday. Andy is a slow starter but gradually his entries improve, keeping an imaginary alien up to date with his life. It becomes easier to write about the catastrophes that are cascading around him. First,…
KRISHNASWAMI, Uma Book Uncle and Me Scholastic, 2013 100pp $12.99 pbk ISBN 9781742836720 SCIS 1624758 It is worth noting that this book was first published by Scholastic Books India 2012. Its ethnic origins make it highly suitable for use in multi-racial schools and for class/school discussion everywhere about matters of cultural significance, at the same time pointing up universal social problems and ways of solving them. The text is freely illustrated in humorous black and white sketches that embellish the text and add a quirky flavour to the text, but no illustrator is named. The book is dedicated significantly ‘to…
CARTER, Rachel Ethan’s Voice Scholastic, 2013 199pp $15.99 pbk ISBN 9781407135502 SCIS 1619873 Ethan hasn’t spoken for 4 years, but he can’t remember why he stopped talking. He lives on a quiet stretch of river on a canal boat with his Dad and Mum. Home-schooled and shy of other children, Ethan is at first nervous when lively Polly and her mother tie up their canal boat nearby. Polly is a cheerful and engaging little girl, and soon Ethan finds himself wanting to share his favourite secret places along the river with her. Re-visiting old haunts, Ethan begins to remember disturbing…