Marita Bullock and Joan-Maree Hargreaves (text) and Liz Rowlands (illustrator), The Big Book of Festivals, Hachette Australia, 64 pp., RRP $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780734419972 The Big Book of Festivals is a gorgeous picture book that introduces readers to the diverse festivals around the world – whether they are about throwing tomatoes, Halloween, Whirling Dervishes, or festivals that are more religious like Eid Ul-Fitr, Easter and Diwali. These festivals, celebrations and holy holidays originate in diverse places, from Greece to Japan, and Turkey to Queensland. There are also a few pages towards the end devoted to seasonal festivals like Nowruz, Iran’s…
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Cassandra Clare, Chain of Iron (The Last Hours, #2), Walker Books, 592 pp., RRP $27.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781529500776 Cassandra Clare has become very well known due to her prolific, detailed and engaging series of books involving Shadowhunters (part angels, part humans) who work tirelessly to keep our world free of demons. There isn’t just one series, there are about six, and keen fans are able to recite many facts about the Herondales, the Cairstairs, and the adventures that teens throughout the ages have had, and the connections between them all. It’s kind of exhausting trying to keep up. Having read…
Claire Zorn, When We Are Invisible, University of Queensland Press, March 2021, 320 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780702263132 When We Are Invisible is the sequel to Zorn’s award-winning novel The Sky So Heavy. The book tells of Lucy, Fin and Max’s continuing efforts to survive in a post-nuclear landscape. Set in New South Wales, Australia the group finally find their way to the encampment described by Lucy and Fin’s teacher, Mr Effrez. But is it the place of sanctuary and safety they have been longing for? I haven’t read The Sky So Heavy and was pleased to discover that…
Melina Marchetta (text) and Deb Hudson (illustrator), What Zola Did on Thursday, Penguin Australia, February 2021, 96 pp., RRP $12.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760895181 The ever-charming Zola is back! This time she is learning a new instrument, the trombone. Zola lives in Boomerang Street with her mum and Nonna Rosa and likes all her neighbours, apart from grumpy Mr Walton, who does not like Zola’s trombone playing at all! When Zola’s teacher announces a performance for the local fete, she decides to form a band with her friends, but they need somewhere to rehearse and they really need a bandmaster to…
Lana Spasevski (text) and Nicky Johnston (illustrator), Upside Down Friday, EK Books, April 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781925820850 Hugo the monkey does not like Fridays. Fridays are upside-down and everything is different. Lunchtime is morning teatime, morning teatime is lunchtime, and there is no fruit break. There is just no making sense of Friday, that is, until Hugo meets Maddison the giraffe. Will Hugo learn to love Fridays with Maddie’s help? Lana Spasevski brings us an engaging read for preschoolers and kindergartners. The animal kingdom is a tried and tested world of connection that resonates strongly with young children, and Lana uses it effectively…
Eryl Nash (text) and Ana Albero (illustrator), Life Savers: Spend a day with 12 Real-Life Emergency Service Heroes, Walker Books Australia, 32 pp., RRP $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781913520168 The COVID-19 pandemic has shone media attention on frontline workers the world over, who use their skills and dedication to help those in need. This common-sense non-fiction picture book recognises twelve such people from an imaginative selection of health/emergency professions. We meet Koen, the Netherlands Lifeguard, Gabrialla, the Italian Aid Worker and Ahsan, a Surgeon from Pakistan to name a few. These are real people, with photo acknowledgements at the back and the book carries a practical…
Jane Smith (text) and Pat Kan (illustrator), Superstar! (Carly Mills, Pioneer Girl, #3), Big Sky Publishing, February 2021, 140 pp., RRP $12.50 (pbk), ISBN 9781922387646 Carly Mills Pioneer Girl Superstar is the third in the five-book series by Jane Smith that brings to life the courage and contribution of some of our most famous pioneering women; and they are an inspiring group – Caroline Chisolm, Dr Lillian Cooper, Dame Nellie Melba, Florence Nightingale and Amelia Earhart. In book 3 Superstar, Carly is in Melbourne getting ready to perform in a concert with her school choir. Just as everyone is taking…
Nathan Luff (text) and Chris Kennett (illustrator), The Nerd Herd (Nerd Herd #1), Scholastic, February 2021, 144 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760971069 The Nerd Herd is the first book in a new illustrated bridging novel series about farmyard cartoon characters. From the outset, the book feels like a romp of fun and silliness, as characters with amusing names are introduced – there are the friends Baarnabus (a lamb, who prefers to be called Barny), Shaama Llama Ding Dong and Billy the Kid (an angora goat) who are bullied by Ringo, (the farm dog), Plus-sized Puss (the farm cat), Kevin…
Ben Brooks (text) and Nigel Baines (illustrator), Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Hachette Australia, March 2021, 160 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781526362896 This title by the author of Dare to Be Different books, challenges the traditional thinking behind the word ‘hero’. Some of the biggest changes in the world have happened though small acts of kindness, or creative processes that have impacted many lives positively. The book explores topics ranging from making the world a safer place to small and bigger acts of charity. Each chapter presents the story of a real life ‘hero’ who has taken action through their own passion and desire to change something for the better. There is veteran Captain Tom Moore who walked around his…
Radhiah Chowdhury (text) and Lavanya Naidu (illustrator), The Katha Chest, Allen & Unwin, March 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760524326 The author and illustrator, drawing on their Indian and Bangladeshi heritage, have created this colourful account of Asiya’s visits to her Nanu’s house. Nanu has a big trunk stuffed with quilts she made for loved ones and as Asiya snuggles down into them she remembers stories told to her by her family. The stories are sad and happy, covering times when they faced danger but also when they were celebrating. The two women have shown the beauty of the quilts and the warmth of a loving…