Jackie French (text) and Danny Snell (illustrator), The Fire Wombat, HarperCollins Children’s Books, October 2020, 24 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781460759332 The Bush Fires of 2020 are an event that will long remain in Australians’ consciousness, and the consequences of that disaster are something that we will have to work through for years to come. One of the most important and devastating consequences has been the effect on our wildlife and our natural environment. The Fire Wombat reminds us of that, of the animals that survived and perished in those fires. With words by Jackie French and illustrations by…
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Sophie Gonzales, Perfect on Paper, Hachette Australia, March 2021, 288 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781444959277 Every student in the school knew about locker 89. All you had to do was slip in an envelope with a letter and money, and you would be sent an email in return with some (usually) foolproof relationship advice. Only two people in the world knew who was behind the infamous advice-giving locker. At least, there were, until the Australian new kid Alexander Brougham caught Darcy Phillips red-handed. Even Brooke, Darcy’s best friend (and secret crush) didn’t know she was behind the locker, and…
Jacqueline Harvey, Take Down (Kensy and Max, #7), Penguin Australia, March 2021, 384 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760898533 When Kensy and Max’s Granny Cordelia becomes critically ill, there is more to worry about than her recovery. The situation then becomes sinister when it is discovered that Granny has been poisoned. As the head of Pharos – an intelligence organisation working on top secret missions – Granny has many enemies who would be pleased to see her out of the way. This distressing situation takes over everything the twins, Kensy and Max can think about – which is troublesome as…
Hilary Robinson (text) and Mandy Stanley (illustrator), Ten Little Yoga Frogs, New Frontier Publishing, February 2021, 32 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781922326126 Ten little yoga frogs is a progressive rhyme, with the familiar refrain “…..and then there were [number]”, as one extra frog is added with each verse, until there are ten frogs. Although this format isn’t original – I’ve seen several other similar counting books – it works well for interactive readings, by engaging pre-schoolers in predicting rhyming words and counting objects. What the text lacks in originality, it makes up for in its images of vibrantly…
Deborah Abela (text) and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (illustrator), Bear in Space, Walker Books, August 2020, 32 pp., RRP $25.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760651510 The idea for this book began when author, Deborah Abela, saw a sketch by illustrator, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall: a floating bear in a space helmet. Deborah badly wanted to write the story of this bear, and so a collaboration began. The resulting book is very pleasing indeed. Bear is a child who is very happy reading, writing, and imagining. Poked fun at, or ignored by his companions, he relishes quiet time and develops a rich internal world, imagining himself on…
Anna McGregor, Anemone is not the Enemy, Scribble Books, November 2020, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922310118 This fun and funny picture book tells the story of Anemone who lives in a rock pool and desperately wants a friend. Their efforts to make friends are derailed by the fact that they sting everyone they meet. The digitally produced illustrations add so much to this title, from the eye catching neon pink used for the title, endpapers, and titular character to the simple yet sweetly drawn and coloured sea horse, starfish, and sea cucumber. Anemone is not the Enemy also…
Kay Kerr, Please Don’t Hug Me, Text Publishing, 28 April 2020, 288 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 97819222680 This CBCA Notable book for older readers 2021 is a coming-of-age story about Erin; a 17-year-old with autism who is navigating the ups and downs of Year 12. She’s not entirely comfortable with her friend group or her boyfriend. She’s lost her part-time job, failed her driving test, and goes over her mental cringe list of socially awkward moments each night before sleep. And she is really missing her absent brother. Through letters to her older brother, Rudy, readers 14+ gain an…
Jackie Hosking (text) and Lesley Vamos (illustrator), An Amazing Australian Road Trip, Walker Books, January 2021, 40 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760650766 Starting in Melbourne, the family pile into their car, on a quest to go west, to find a scenic spot to have a picnic and wish aunty a happy 60th birthday. They discover many amazing sites (and sights) as they travel around Australia, eventually arriving home for their long-awaited celebration. This colourful narrative nonfiction book is a feast of interesting titbits about the most culturally significant places in our nation. The story is told in verse, with…
Garth Nix, The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, Allen & Unwin, September 2020, 384 pp., RRP $24.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760631246 In a slightly alternate London in 1983, art student Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father, a man she’s never known. Before she can question her first suspect, he’s turned to dust by the mysterious Merlin St Jacques, a young left-handed bookseller on a quest to find the Old World entity who killed his mother. When Susan joins forces with Merlin, she is quickly drawn into the secret business of magical booksellers tasked with policing the legendary Old World wherever it…
Sally Murphy (text) and Sarah Davis (illustrator), Worse Things, Walker Books, May 2020, 208 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760651657 The simplicity of a verse novel can be deceptive. What appears to be a few easy-to-read lines on a page, is a very careful blend of the exact word, emotion, and moment. It can also be a wonderful way for readers to experience the complexity and depth of character of a novel, without full pages of text, which can be intimidating for the more reluctant reader. Sally Murphy is a natural at the verse novel, with her writing both spare…