Review: The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories

To open a book and have your childhood rise up and rush over you like an ocean wave, is a mighty thing to behold. It floods your mind, grabs hold of your heart and trips up your eyes.

You suddenly feel so little again. You even bring the book's pages to your face and smell them - and by golly - they smell just like they did in 1974. It's a beautiful thing.

This was my experience with The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories. The vibrant cover of this hardback book, complete with dust jacket, is as bright and entrancing as a showground tune.

Then there's opening it. Comprising seven stories that were originally published in Redbook magazine in the early 1950s, the book also features original Seuss artwork, though clearly not enough to create individual, stand-alone books of each story.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Vicki Stanton

It’s hard to imagine childhood or children’s books without the wonderfully unique mind of Dr Seuss. And now there is to be a new release, The Bippolo Seed, and all of us who have read and loved Dr Seuss’s books wait to see what new treasure will be revealed.

You would assume that choosing a favourite book would be difficult. For me, it is easy. Whenever Dr Seuss is mentioned I think of The Foot Book. 

This book was the second I bought as a new mother and it will always remind me of that most treasured time of life. Reading The Foot Book with my daughter was hilarious fun. She never tired of listening to, and later on reading with me, the perfect rhyme and predictable text.

Our favourite lines were: his feet, her feet, fuzzy fur feet. Feet had to be the first word she could read independently. Throw in the illustrations which roll across the pages and you have the perfect early childhood book.

If The Foot Book was being critically reviewed there would be discussions on the theme of diversity and the educational component of teaching opposites. Mention would be made of the bountiful white space, the simplicity of text and its reflection in the illustrations. However, above all other considerations the greatness of a book is measured by the emotional response it elicits and for me and my daughter The Foot Book is a bond. And for that I thank the Dr.

Vicki Stanton is a writer and founder of sensational industry newsletter Buzz Words www.buzzwordsmagazine.com.

ebook Review: Dr Seuss Books

Oceanhouse Media have had the most pleasant task of bringing the beloved Dr Seuss into the 21st century with the ebooking of his classic books. Jammed with sound effects and plenty of word repetition and those iconic illustrations, they are must-own ebooks for littlies.

Here are some of their latest conversions, for your utter reading pleasure. Oh, and the kids will enjoy them, too.

 Hop on Pop iTunes $4.49

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Sally Hall

When asked for my favourite Dr Seuss story, many sprang to mind. I could recall phrases and the crazy, cartoon characters with even crazier names despite the years that had passed since I had picked up a Dr Seuss book.

There were so many to choose from. 

My younger brother loved One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish which was read over and over and over again (he loved the counting and grew up to be an accountant). There was The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham or what about the ABC book or Fox in Socks?

But to settle on a favourite?  Well, here it is.

The Sleep Book.

This quirky tale is designed to send children off to sleep with a smile on their faces.

When my sons were smaller we used to read snuggled together on the lounge, but whenever The Sleep Book was selected we’d pack up and camp in someone’s bed (usually accompanied by some giggling) because The Sleep Book demands that it is to be read in bed.

The story begins with a small bug yawning and follows various creatures from all over the land who are sleeping or preparing for bed. The Audio-Telly-O-Tally-O-Count machine keeps track of how many sleepers are asleep until finally everyone is.

It finishes with ‘Good night’, a perfect end to a book that has clearly stood the test of time. I hope that one day my sons will read it to their children, in bed of course!

Sally Hall is the founder of Need to Read This - a site dedicated to all things fabulously bookish.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Susan Stephenson

One of my favourite Dr Seuss books is I Wish That I Had Duck Feet. He wrote it under the name Theo. LeSieg, it was illustrated by B.Tobey, and it was one of the Beginner Books series.

I Wish That I Had Duck Feet has a great message of self-acceptance. We've all wished to be someone else, or to change something about ourselves. But accepting our own weaknesses and strengths is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. The book isn't preachy, but I hope it gets this message across just the same.

I like the way it encourages thinking skills too by showing kids both sides of the story. The hero imagines wonderful features for himself, like duck feet, and a whale spout. But he realises the disadvantages of those features too. B. Tobey's illustrations are clear, colourful and perfectly capture each moment portrayed in the story.

I Wish That I Had Duck Feet has strong rhyme and rhythm. These are so important for beginning readers when done well. Kids learn books like this off by heart, and that's a really important step on the journey to being an independent reader.

I love books that encourage dreaming and imagination. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet centres around its young hero's daydreams of himself with added advantages. I believe it's important to encourage our kids to dream, and great children's literature does just that. Whether it's looking at clouds and imagining animals, or dreaming up a new way to do something, thinking creatively is a vital skill.

As a teacher, I value this book's potential for follow up activities. Kids love to imagine what amazing improvements they might make to themselves, and I've seen such creative artwork and writing when using I Wish That I Had Duck Feet as a prompt. If you don't know the story, you can hear it being read aloud on YouTube before you race to your library or local book store to grab a copy. I hope you and your kids enjoy it as much as I do.

Teacher and literary specialist Susan Stephenson, aka The Book Chook, writes about children's books and literacy with much affection. Check out more here www.thebookchook.com.

ebook Review: The Lorax

One of my very very favourite books in the world is The Lorax by Dr Seuss, so I was delighted to come across this ebook app offering an interactive way to read this time-honoured tale.

The Lorax features the original pages of the book with soft music and sound effects like whistling wind creaking and cawing birds; the books' entrancingly moody pages are perfectly complemented in this way.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Dallas Clayton

I get asked a lot about my favorite kids' books. It's hard sometimes because if there was a top 10, I'm sure I could put Dr Seuss in all 10 spots. He slays so hard. Seriously, some of his work just destroys. There's really no way around it.

I mean, it's hard to argue that there is a more perfect book than How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It says everything you could ever want to say about consumerism, about the transcendent power of love, about why holidays exist, about the power of the collective voice - and it says it all in less than 70 pages, with words that rhyme.

Kids love it, parents love it. It's a real piece of magic. And on top of it all, it was made in 1957, a good four decades before Christmas even became the type of camping-in-line-in-front-of-Best-Buy spectacular that would so easily lead one to write such a book.

What a powerhouse! What a beast!

See more about the astonishing Dallas and his books at dallasclayton.com.

Review: Green Eggs and Ham

I would have to say, without a shadow of a doubt, that this book was one of my very favourites as a kid. I must have driven my mother nuts with repeat reading requests because I remember it was read often, and my - this book has a tongue-twisting and lengthy text.

No matter. Like all Dr Seuss books, the rhyming rhythm is actually a pleasure to read - and I, too, read this book ad nauseum to my children, and can virtually recite it by heart.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Sally Rippin

I think my favourite Dr Suess book would have to be Would You Rather Be A Bullfrog?

My sisters and I would spend hours deliberating over pertinent questions such as “Would you rather be a bloogle bird and fly around and sing? Or would you rather be a bumblebee and fly around and sting?”

I loved the way these questions got wackier and wackier and of course have always been a fan of his fabulous lilting rhymes, use of second person and gorgeously kooky illustrations.

My sons now love these books too. Dr Suess NEVER goes out of fashion!

For more on Sally and her wonderful books, see sallyrippin.com.

Review: Gerald McBoing Boing

This beautiful book, perhaps one of the slightly lesser known Dr Seuss books, is actually based on a cartoon from the early 1950s – a cartoon commissioned by animation studio United Productions of America. The movie went on to develop a huge following in the States, even winning an Academy Award in 1951.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Rebecca Newman

My favourite Dr Seuss book is If I Ran the Circus. The first time I read it, I was about 9. We borrowed it from our local library and I loved Morris McGurk's imagination. I was a kid who liked to think up Grand Plans (especially Grand Plans for Getting Rich), and Morris McGurk was a Grand Planner, too. He imagined turning a vacant lot filled with rubbish (including abandoned cars) into a huge circus - The Circus McGurkus.

As a grown-up, I still love all the wonderful-sounding made-up words (the hallmark of a Seuss title) and most of all I love Sneelock, who owns a small store just outside the yard where Morris plans to put his circus.

Sneelock makes me laugh because Morris starts out imagining him helping out 'doing small odds and ends' but he gets carried away and by the end Sneelock features in almost every section of the Circus McGurkus performing crazier and crazier stunts. And through every amazing feat, Sneelock remains deadpan (and continues to smoke his pipe ... something that would no doubt be a sticking problem for illustrations in new children's books today!).

As a 9 year old, I identified with Morris McGurk who looked at a run-down yard and imagined fabulous possibilities. I think it's remembering that feeling of possibility that makes If I Ran the Circus my favourite Dr Seuss. (Plus, I just like saying The Circus McGurkus.)

Rebecca Newman is the editor of sensational literary magazine for kids - Alphabet Soup. Make sure you catch her wonderful posts on Soup Blog, too.

Review: Oh, The Places You'll Go!

I introduced my daughter to the world of Dr. Seuss at the age of two. Some of his books were too old for her (and still are, at her current ripe old age of three), but some captured her imagination. Two in particular: Green Eggs and Ham and Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

The latter surprised me – she preferred it over The Cat in the Hat, which is much more fun and adventurous, and she’d ask for it repeatedly, listening intently to each and every word.

And here’s what I love about that: this is a book about reality. It’s uplifting, certainly, but it also tells it like it is.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Dee White

My all time favourite Dr Seuss book is definitely The Lorax. Who could not love someone who lives in a Lerkin at "The far end of town where the grickle-grass grows"?

To be honest, I've been looking for grickle-grass ever since, but no luck so far. I'd also love to meet the Brown Bar-Ba-Loots in their "Bar-Ba-Loot suits".

The Lorax was ahead of his time in realising the importance of conservation. He spoke "for the trees" and he worried about their destruction and about how the environment was being polluted by industrialisation, but nobody would listen until it was almost too late.

The Lorax is so symbolic of what is going on in our world today.

I loved the way this book uses humour and colour to get across a serious message without being didactic. But most of all, I loved the wise and caring Lorax.

Learn more about the amazing Dee - author and mentor for all budding scribes - at deescribewriting.wordpress.com.

Review: My Many Colored Days

This is my favourite children's book. It’s one of those books that, as an adult, you will never tire of reading as the beautifully written story has a message we all need to be reminded of from time to time. I first heard it at my local library during story time and fell in love with it instantly.

You would never guess this book was written by Dr. Seuss as it lacks the typical Seuss style. The characteristic cartoon-like drawings are replaced by fairly abstract rich paintings. In accordance with Seuss’s wish, the book, published after his death in 1996, was illustrated by the great colour artists Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. In addition, the whimsical rhymes and made-up words we all know and love Seuss for, are replaced by simple elegant couplets.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: David Mackintosh

Oh, The Places You’ll Go has fascinated me since I read it as a child. I was attracted by the coloured tints in the illustrations first, and above all else.

This seemed to be a real fantasy world, an abstract world of foreign colours. It just looked strange to me, maybe because many other picture books I liked were traditionally painted in watercolour, perhaps realistically. You could kind of see how they were done.

The mechanical perfection of Geisel’s spreads belied the looseness of the drawing, and looking at a copy now, one can see how energetically he gets the drawing onto the page. I love the imaginative landscapes and creatures, they’re weird, but what gets me is that they are believable, almost tangible.

The big themes of the book are expanded by the scale of the child as he embarks on his adventure, and it’s this simple technique that is so successful. The little boy, alone on the white page, not even any colour in it.

The story itself is at once reassuring, then inspirational… then suddenly the tone is cautionary, reminding us to be wary, that we won’t get things our way all of the time. Then we’re saved by an uplifting wave of fantasy, back on track. And the momentum is never lost, just nicely controlled as we follow the story along, as if Geisel is pressing his foot on and off the gas pedal. I like this contrast, never letting you get ahead of yourself, but exciting you about what lies ahead.

I would only get to see the book at the school library, and would make a beeline for its stripy cover. I probably only read it three or four times, but that was enough for it to stay with me and when I grew up I went out and bought my own copy.

David Mackintosh writes and illustrates fabulous children's books. Check out his amazing website here - www.davidmackintosh.co.uk.

ebook Review: Dr Seuss's ABC

I can still, to this day, recite from Dr Seuss's ABC. Mine was in the hardback paper version and three decades after reading the book myself, I was suddenly buying it for my own kids in board book form.

And now - here it is - the ebook form of this amazing children's classic.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Jackie French

My favourite Dr Seuss book? It would have to be The Lorax.

'I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues, So I'm telling you sirs at the top of my lungs....'

His words express far more than any explanation from me. They will echo for generations.  

Learn more about the wonderful Jackie and her boggling range of books at www.jackiefrench.com.au.

Review: The Cat in the Hat

What better way to start our Dr Seuss special than with arguably the most beloved Seuss classic of all time? Enjoy this look back at the Cat.

The ubiquitous Dr Seuss books probably don’t need reviewing – we’ve all read them and we’ve all read them to our children, and we all love them to bits, but of course, Kids Book Review would not be complete without paying homage to one of the world's favourite author for children.

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Hazel Edwards

Food and children’s books go together, especially at book launches or book week. It’s been said that ‘food is the sex of children’s books’. But food can also introduce a taste of a book.

Green Eggs and Ham is the Dr Seuss title I remember because of the green coloured eggs on the plate at the literary lunch. Each child had been asked to bring a plate of food to share which linked with the title of their favourite book.

One child had been a bit heavy-handed with the green food dye but I accepted a ‘taste’ because this boy didn’t read often. The rhythm and rhyme of Green Eggs and Ham had ‘got’ him into fun reading aloud, so he shared his book with me.

I have great respect for the writing of Dr Seuss. To use simple words, and a memorable rhythm in a deceptively simple structure and with humour is the goal of most children’s writers.

After writing The Cat in the Hat in 1955 using only 223 words, Dr Seuss bet his publisher that he could write a book using only 50 words. He did, in 1960 with the publication of Green Eggs and Ham. These are the 50 words used in the book:

a am and anywhere are be boat box car could dark do eat eggs fox goat good green ham here house I if in let like may me mouse not on or rain Sam say see so thank that the them there they train tree try will with would you

But the words don’t work without the imagination of Dr Seuss in structuring them. That is the vital ingredient.

Authors enjoy a challenge. So do librarians. One imaginative librarian challenged their students to write a story using only the titles of as many of their favourite author’s books as possible but extra ‘and’ or ‘but’ or linking words were permitted. Then they brought plates of food to share, based on the titles on those books, or their favourite to read aloud.

Although I’m known for my cake-eating hippo (and lots of roof cakes) and Mum on Wheels with a ‘Mum’ deodorant between two wagon wheels chocolate biscuits, Green Eggs and Ham gets my vote.

Learn more about the food Hazel covers in her wonderful books at www.hazeledwards.com.

Dr Seuss Bibliography

One of the world's most beloved author/illustrators, Theodor Geisel - or Dr Seuss - pumped out a formidable collection of stunning books, still standing proudly on the shelves of children all over the world.

Here is the full alphabetic collection, for your perusing pleasure - and we hope you adore this week-long Seuss special as much as we have loved putting it together.

And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937

Bartholomew and the Oobleck, 1949

The Butter Battle Book, 1984

The Cat in the Hat, 1957

The Cat in the Hat Beginner Book Dictionary in French, 1965

The Cat in the Hat Beginner Book Dictionary in Spanish, 1966

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back!, 1958

The Cat in the Hat Dictionary, 1964

My Fave Dr Seuss Book: Ursula Dubosarsky

When I turned eight, I was presented by a guest at my birthday party with a copy of Dr Seuss' wonderful adventure in idealism and reality - I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew - and it has been in my mind (and enriched my life!) ever since. 

As a child, I read it over and over and over again, learning it off by heart, and all through my life I've found myself quoting it, particulaly certain lines that make me smile: 

The Perilous Poozer of Pomplemousse Pass

He waved me a wave that was gentle and kind

I practically almost had given up hope 

When someone up high shouted, "Here, catch the rope!" 

Everything I loved about it as a child continues to charm - the inventive perfect cleverness of the rhyme, the surreal zany landscape, the hapless hero and his encounters with one dodgy deluded character after another, and the way the moral messages are repeatedly undermined, so you can never really come to any conclusion about what has transpired.

What a prodigous and fascinating gift he had - all hail, and all gratitude to Dr Seuss!

Learn more about renowned author Ursula and her incredible work at www.ursuladubosarsky.com.

KBR Recommends: Picture Books, September 2011

More gorgeousness is flooding the shelves in the lead-up to Christmas. Enjoy this peek at some fabulous new books you'll want to stock up on for Santa's stocking.

Bugs in the Garden by Beatrice Alemagna
(Phaidon, $14.95)

The next in Alemagna's adorable series of books, Bugs in the Garden showcases some pretty serious felting artwork, in the form of some sweet little bugs who live in a blanket on an old bed at the bottom of the garden. Each of the bug books hosts a moralistic tale on friendship, togetherness, accepting differences and other kid-friendly topics - and the message of Bugs in the Garden's message centres on the fact that you'll never make new friends if you don't try. Warm, sweet and visually satisfying.

Review: The Fearsome Beastie

In a world seemingly gone topsy-turvy with political correctness, I want to applaud this book. I want to stand up on top of my chair and high five this book. The author lists Roald Dahl as one of his influences with his humourous but sometimes dark work, and I can see that influence dancing across these pages. Love it!

Review: Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie: Colours and 123

What better excuse to revamp the truly precious illustrations of one of Australia’s most beloved author/illustrators – May Gibbs. 

These beautiful new board books for toddlers make gorgeous use of the illustrations from Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie – the adorable gumnut babies that made Gibbs so famous.

Review: Kids in the Garden

This gorgeous, multipurpose book ticks all the boxes for me, as a reviewer, an author, an editor and a mum. Oh - and also as a lover of good book design.

Incorporating gardening, craft and cooking, author and gardening über talent, Mary Moody, has compiled a luscious tome, along with the talents of the team behind ACP Books/AWW, that will delight both kids and adults.

Review: An A to Z of Twords

Regular readers of KBR know we have a real passion for ‘different’. For books that sit way outside the square – in concept, in look, in tone, in creativity, in cleverness. Whilst the market is saturated with brilliant books that tick many of these boxes, it’s often rare to find a book that ticks them all.

Review: Not-For-Parents Travel Books

When I first heard about this new book series from Lonely Planet, my heart thundered in my chest with literary anticipation, least of all because I’m a travel-lover but most of all because I am high on the belief that children and travel are a mighty fine blend.

Fast forward two or three months and I now have this exciting new series in hand. Has it lived up to my expectations? Well, yes and no.

Review: Banana Skin Chaos

Oh, this book is lovely. The illustrations are to be completely devoured, they are so utterly charming and très European in their style and humour. And the chaos – of course, there has to be chaos! Banana skin chaos. And what fun that slippery chaos can be.

Interview: Author Anna Branford

KBR warmly welcomes author Anna Branford with this fabulous interview on her writing processes and her adorable junior fiction character Violet Mackerel.


What inspired you to write for children?
An easy answer is that I know lots of incredibly interesting children who give me all kinds of inspiring ideas.

Another easy answer is that I loved reading as a child and wanted very much to contribute something back to the field of children’s literature.

But the most truthful answer is that the kinds of ideas I most like thinking and writing about (small things, for example) seem to fit best within the genre of children’s books.

Interview: Passing It On with Jackie Hosking

KBR is thrilled to welcome Jackie Hosking - writer and publisher of industry newsletter Pass It On - with this insightful interview on all the fabulous, literary things she does.

What exactly is PIO?

PIO or PASS IT ON is an online, weekly, networking e-zine for anyone with an interest in the children’s writing/illustrating industry.

When and why did you conceive PIO?

PIO evolved after Di Bates asked me to take over her voluntary newsletter CAINON back in 2004. The concept was her idea but after 20 weeks she was unable to continue and asked for someone to step in. 

Being a new writer and desperate to gain as much knowledge as possible, I put my hand up. I compiled and published the newsletter on a voluntary basis for 12 months when a subscriber suggested that I should charge a small subscription fee for my time. The fee is still small (each issue costs less than 80 cents).

Review: Teach Your Buffalo to Play Drums

What would you do if your buffalo spent much of the day clanging pots and pans in the kitchen? You’d realise he needs you to teach him how to play the drums, of course!

This may seem an odd thing to do, but come on – didn’t people think you were odd when you first brought that baby buffalo home?

Review: CookieBot! A Harry and Horsie Adventure

Before I say anything at all please just take a moment to look at this cover. Go on. I will wait.

Isn't it brilliant?

Stunning 1950s style illustration that automatically invites you into this stunning world. It somehow shows its innocence on its sleeve in a way that is completely charming and aw-worthy.

Sigh. I am in love.

Guest Post: Fast-Tracked Junior Fiction with Simon Haynes

KBR warmly welcomes author Simon Haynes with this wonderful post on his incredible Hal Junior writing journey. We hope it inspires you!

There's an old saying that everyone has at least one book in them. Over the past few years I've sweated out four of the things, and after writing over a million words and polishing endless drafts I began to run out of steam. I truly believed I'd sucked the well dry.

There I was, working away on book five in my teen/adult Hal Spacejock series, when inspiration hit like a bolt of lightning. Unfortunately it wasn't inspiration for the book I was writing at the time. No, this was a whole new series. A junior series. Hal Junior!

Now I have two teenage daughters, and it's a long time since I was ten years old. What made me think I could hit the right note with a junior novel? I'll tell you ... my amazing childhood, and all the school and library visits I've done over the years.

Review: What Friends Do Best

From the author of Dinosaurs after Dark, What Friends do Best has beautiful illustrations full of amazing little details. It will have children looking at this even before it is read to them. 

At first the story seems to be about a cat called Winston. Building is what he does best. He has built a motorbike and a boat for his friends, Alice and Ralph. Now he is going to do something BIG. 

Review: A Song for Lorkie

The work of internationally acclaimed artist Dean Bowen is beautifully represented in this tale about Lorkie the roof bird.

Lorkie is a roofbird. He is one of seven roofbirds who make home in the Valley of Roofs – a place of togetherness, safety and song. His best friend is Brian – they’ve been friends since they were eggs – and Brian has a gorgeous little silent sister called Sweetheart.

Review: Babbit

Meet Babbit. He lives with Big One and Little One. Little One is supposed to look after Babbit but she doesn’t really do a great job. Take today – when Babbit is snatched, in broad daylight, from a picnic by Witchy One.

That’s right. Stolen! Along with Snappy One, Growly One and Snorty one, who are always playing tricks. Meanies!

Review: Henry in Love

Henry in Love tells a story of a school day in the life of Henry. Henry is a quiet little cat who enjoys having fun and playing with his friends. Henry also has a little crush on a fellow student an adorable bunny named Chloe.

McCarty tells a story of young innocent love in short understated sentences and with delicate 'quiet' drawings which utilise a lot of white space and focus on the characters with minimal details.

Author Interview - Dave Hackett

KBR is squealing with glee to have the lovely Dave Hackett visit with this wonderful interview, which delicately picks the creative brain of this super Aussie talent. Enjoy!

Which comes first, the writing or the pics? 
The writing. The pics then help to flesh out the characters and let me know a little more about them. You can tell how a character will respond in any situation once you know that character really well, so drawing them helps lots with that.

Do you remember your very drawing you did? 
I drew a guy walking past a park bench with a girl sitting on it. The perspective was all wack-a-doodly, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Did you draw a lot of funny cartoons at school and did you get in trouble from the teacher?
Yes, and yes. I struck a deal with my year 7 maths teacher where I could draw a pic on every page of my book once my work was finished. I got to be quite pacy at maths...

Review: UFO

The thing that consistently surprises me about Dave Hackett's books is how much I, as an.. ahem... 'older' woman, so thoroughly enjoy them.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy the first book in the UFO series, but enjoy it, I did - and I'd read the next two in the UFO series, if only I could pry them from my kids' hands.

In the spirit of those gosh-awful road trips we've all experienced as a child - Unavoidable Family Outing couldn't more accurately and hilariously hit the mark when it comes to a cast of perfect road-trip characters.

10 Fun Facts - Dave Hackett

1. I used to work as a TV extra, and had gigs on Home and Away, E-Street (remember that?), Australia's Most Wanted and Police Rescue.

2. I was a 14 night game show champion in the late 90's on Burgo's Catch Phrase (yes, I won the car!). Also won stuff on Wheel-of-Fortune, too!

3. I was dux of my primary school (well, boy dux. We had a boy and a girl. If we only had one, it wouldn't have been me. i.e... I came second).

4. I used to work in a bank, and can safely say that it's the dullest job I've ever had (inlcuding when I was a door-to-door saucepan salesman).

5. I was made an 'Honorary Brady for life' by the real Greg Brady, at Rooty Hill RSL. Seriously.

6. I've travelled to every continent on the planet (except for Asia, Europe, Africa, Antarctica and South America).

7. My Dad was a ballroom dancing champion back in the 1700s (actually the mid-60s).

8. I know lots of famous people (I don't really, but people automatically think you're interesting if you hang out with famous types!).

9. I don't do dairy - cows of the world are safe around me (except I'll still eat the odd one - just won't drink their milk or eat their cheese).

10. Hmm.. last one. OK.. um.. I don't like coriander. How's that? I'll eat anything else, but coriander just freaks me out. I am, however, trying to teach myself to like it, as I'm already 'the difficult one' when we eat somewhere - I don't want people to have to dig out the coriander and the dairy from my meals.. too much hard work.

Review: Fab Face Freak-Out / No-Rules Cartooning

Dave Hackett is one of a kind. Not only does he write well and draw well, he also photographs well. Very nice. And it’s so wonderful to see such all-round talent spilling from the pages and into the hands of our young lads (and hopefully, chicks).

Cartoon Dave Gallery

So love it when an author is also a talented illustrator. Dave Hackett manages to do both with exceeding aplomb, and here we celebrate some of his images that make his books so very special. Enjoy!

From Norman Enormous...

Review: Norman Enormous

I had heard about Norman Enormous before. Someone told me they loved it. The person was someone I didn’t know that well, so I couldn’t have possibly made a calculated assessment on whether or not the book was actually good.

So, I read Norman Enormous and I was skeptically reading along and lo, each and every line I fell more and more in like.

Review: Unstoppable Brainspin

Yet another addition to the highly-saturated market of whacky, madcap, icky books, this new series by Dave Hackett manages to grasp hold of the edges of the schlock pile and haul itself high to stand proudly on a mound of mutant slugs with razor-sharp teeth (sticky-taped to the back of an angry rhinoceros which has been sticky-taped to a fifteen-metre-high monster truck. Natch.)

Yes, this book, like many on the market, is riotously silly, kooky and oftentimes gross, but it is also funny, clever, and, like, totally OUT THERE.

Bibliography - Dave Hackett

Today we are delighted to feature uber talented author/illustrator and all-round fun guy Dave Hackett, with our very last Behind the Books feature. Dave has a fabulous line-up of hilarious and fun books, from junior fiction to picture books and activity books. Enjoy this peruse at his work... and stay tuned for two days of Hacketty fun!


Sumo Granny Smackdown
(Puffin, 2011)