Maz Evans (text) and Chris Jevons (illustrator), The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife, Hachette, May 2021, 224 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781444957679 Scarlett Fife has Big Feelings about a lot of things in her life, like not getting to take Mr Nibbles the classroom hamster home, or William U who always gets everything his way because his mum is the classroom assistant, or her mum always being stressedy and forgetting important things like playdates and school excursions. And when Scarlett Fife gets Big Feelings, she gets a fizzy feeling and everything builds up and up until things around her…
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Alison McLennan (text) and Melissa Johns (illustrator), Growing Pains, EK Books, June 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781925820522 Growing pains is a sensitive, thoughtful picture book story about Finn who projects his worries and concerns onto a newly planted tree in the backyard. He imagines that the tree gets cold or hungry or lonely and he sets about caring for it. In the end, it’s Finn’s association with the tree that helps him overcome his fear of the dark. The story gives rise to interesting themes to discuss with children – care for plants, gardens and animals and…
Alison Hart, A Class Full of Lizards (The Grade Six Survival Guide, #2), Allen & Unwin, March 2021, 208pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760877378 Jesse is back, in A Class Full of Lizards the highly amusing sequel to School Rules are Optional by Alison Hart. This time Jesse must endure a family health kick that is so bad he turns to early morning cross country just to get a decent feed, a best friend who seems to be drifting away and a persistent prep who befriends a lizard. And that’s not including keeping on the right side of Mrs Leeman and making it to…
Ella Khalifa (text) and Marina Martinez (illustrator), A to Zee of Italy, Mavenhill, 28 pp., RRP $25.00 (hbk), ISBN 9781940387123 The author was just eleven when she wrote this small book, but she wrote it with a big heart. She was living in Italy and wanted to celebrate that country’s beauty and its gifts to the world. So, from Espresso and vino to Ferrari and zabaione, from gelato and amore to Jacuzzi, from Nutella to spaghetti and to letters not used in Italy, we learn a little of Italy’s words for pleasant things. Martinez’s colourful illustrations add to the book’s…
Josh Lawson (text) and Sofya Karmazina (illustrator), The Internot, Omnibus Books, June 2021, 32 pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781743835067 Oscar-nominated screenwriter and actor Josh Lawson’s second picture book, The Internot, explores the growing preoccupation with screens of all sizes from PC’s to tablets and mobile phones – a reality of our digital times. Lizzie is obsessed. She loves her gadgets, big and small. Morning, noon and night she consumes online content until the Wi-Fi drops out… With the help of a new friend and curious cat, Lizzie discovers a world wider and more exciting than she could have ever imagined. The Internot holds a…
Rosie Jones (text) and Natalie Smillie (illustrator), The Amazing Edie Eckhart, Hachette Australia, August 2021, 272 pp., RRP $15.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781444958348 The amazing Edie Eckhart is the story of a typical 11-year-old, except for one thing – she has cerebral palsy. It is written by British comedian, Rosie Jones, who, like her character, has cerebral palsy too. Edie’s story is told through diary entries about her mishaps, hopes, disappointments, frustrations, the ups and downs of friendships and everyday events – all in a humorous, playful, and cheerful tone. This gives the reader insight into her optimistic disposition and courageous…
M.G. Leonard, Twitch, Walker Books, June 2021, 304 pp., RRP $18.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781406389371 Twitch is a story about birding, friendship, and adventure. M. G. Leonard has yet again sowed the seeds for another captivating read. Twitch plans on spending his entire summer break bird watching, but with a convict on the loose, he might have to reconsider his plans. I absolutely adore this novel. It’s a light read, but Leonard has warmed my heart. She leaves an important reminder for all readers, “everything living deserves respect.” Through humour and the lens of Twitch’s binoculars, Leonard has written a candid…
Alice Oseman, Heartstopper Volume Four, Hachette, May 2021, 320 pp., RRP $22.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781444952797 Heartstopper is a series of graphic novels about the burgeoning romance between Charlie and Nick. Each book covers a different aspect of their developing relationship as well as other issues that they must confront. While the first book dealt with Charlie’s bullying and his and Nick’s attraction, the second focused on Nick confronting his same-sex attraction and his subsequent ‘coming out’ (to some people). In the third, Nick and Charlie holiday in Paris (school summer trip) and find themselves a lovely, supportive queer group of…
Kate and Jol Temple (text) and Ronojoy Ghosh (illustrator), Winner Winner Bin Chicken Dinner, Scholastic Australia, May 2021, 24 pp., RRP $17.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760978754 This is a sequel to the authors’ Bin Chicken. In this picture book Bin Chicken is a hungry Ibis, but from the beach to the schoolyard no other bird will let her feed on what is offered. Bin Chicken sees lots of food eventually, and when she invites birds who have previously refused her by guarding what they see as theirs, she is able to eat beside them. With wit and colour, the Temples and…
Phillip Gwynne (text) and Penelope Pratley (illustrator), The Worried Elephant, Scholastic Australia, May 2021, 24 pp., RRP $15.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760974909 Elephant loves to draw, to bake and to play basketball with his friends, but then he starts hearing bad news on the radio, on the television and from his friends. It makes him very worried. Teacher notices Elephant’s distress and along with his friends they share how they deal with their own worries. A timely and appropriate book in a world where children are increasingly exposed to media and thus to big worrying issues. Phillip Gwynne’s simple story is…