Review: How Machines Work

With an inquisitive young mechanical engineer-in-training in my home, I’m always on the look out for interesting books for children about machines, construction, gears and similar topics. This great book caught my attention immediately.

Not only does How Machines Work promise to ‘explore the science behind simple machines and mechanisms – from levers, gears and pulleys to ratchets, cams and cranks’, it also supplies a collection of moveable parts and instructions for readers to build 12 working models for themselves.

Recipients of our Massive Book Giveaway

KBR's 

MASSIVE BOOK GIVEAWAY!

It was an overwhelming experience receiving nominations for our first ever massive book giveaway. You can imagine how tough it was to single out just two recipients from a stash of superbly deserving entries.

We have, nonetheless, carefully weighed up the entrants, and made our decision.

Our older reader book pack, valued at over $1000, will go to:

Matong Public School in rural New South Wales, nominated by Valerie McKelvie. Valerie says these books will be a priceless addition to the school's students.

Our younger reader book pack, valued at over $1000, will go to:

Marymead, a Canberran, community-based not-for-profit organisation with a 43 year history of supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families, to provide hope and positive change. Nominated by Christine Evans.

Driven to help as many of the nominees as we possibly could, KBR managed to do a few song and dances, and rustled up a second younger reader book pack, also valued at over $1000. This pack goes to:

Children's Book Council of Australia ACT Branch Children's Christmas Book Appeal, whose volunteers collect and disseminate books to needy children through the aid of Family Services, Care and Protection, and women's refuges. Nominated by Jill Howard and Rachael Hind.

We have also awarded a picture book set valued at over $350 to:

Tupou Tertiary Institute in the Kingdom of Tonga, where Helen Laidlaw, an Australian volunteer librarian, works with local children, teaching them English and expanding their literacy skills. Nominated by Helen Laidlaw and Jodie McAlister.

Running this nomination process has been an emotional ride for us at KBR. There are so many amazing people doing phenomenal things for literacy, both in our country and abroad. Thank you to everyone for nominating very worthy recipients for this giveaway and congrats to those who will benefit from the books. 

Thank you, too, to all those who take pride in giving children the best possible start to life - through the magic of books.

If you are interested in learning more about bringing literacy awareness to Australians - both children and adults - head to the National Year of Reading website and learn about all the exciting events and opportunities unfolding around the nation in 2012.

KBR Favourite Book of the Year 2011: The Shortlist

Our annual Favourite Book of the Year is back! This year we are nominating five books, once again, in several categories - and will announce the winners on 1 January 2012.

Enjoy this peek at some of our very favourite books for 2011!

Books for Littlies

Mesmerised

by Katey Love (Books for Newborns)

Guest Post: Author Katherine Pershall

Kids Book Review warmly welcomes Katherine Pershall, author of The Dog Stole My Brain, who released her first book (co written with her mum) when she was only in grade five! This is one dedicated lady and this is one lovely story of how this author found her way into writing kids books. Reading her story made me want to drop what I was doing and write right now. Over to you Katherine!

Review: Shake a Leg

Shake a Leg is about three hungry boys hunting for pizza in far North Queensland, when they come across a pizzeria. What they find is an Italian speaking ‘Murri fella’, and a feast accompanied by stories from the past.

This book cleverly weaves Indigenous culture through the stories told by the Murri fella, which relate to the food served to the boys. Crocodile pizzas and the boy who went hunting in the wrong waterhole and honey milkshakes accompanied by the warning dance about the stinging bee.

Review: Just Right

It's Christmas Eve and the King is out shopping for Christmas gifts when he spies a bolt of beautiful bright red cloth . . . the perfect fabric for a brand new cloak for his princess daughter.

Taking the cloth back to the castle, the King's seamstresses snip and sew up a glorious cloak . . . but what to do with all the left over fabric?

'Just bundle them up and put them outside the back door,' says the King.

Guest Post: Publisher Sophia Whitfield from New Frontier

Next year New Frontier will celebrate its 10th birthday. We started out by publishing across genres, but soon began to concentrate on children’s books. Like Winnie the Pooh, we are big believers in short, easy words!

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like 'What about lunch?'" A.A. Milne

Many of the simplest picture books are also the most powerful picture books.

This year we continued with our picture book list. Our three latest titles include Mr Darcy, Nancy Bentley and Lily’s Wish. 

Mr Darcy started out as the pet duck of a dear friend and developed into the story written by Alex Field and illustrated by Peter Carnavas.

The story of Nancy Bentley first came to the attention of New Frontier three years ago on a family tour of the Australian War Memorial.

The children on the tour were entranced by Nancy’s story. Tracey Hawkins has brought it to life with her moving words, coupled with Jacqui Grantford’s magical illustrations.

Lily’s Wish, our first Christmas title, is written by Barbara Pyett and illustrated by Serena Geddes. It is a special book as for Barbara it is her first. One of the privileges we have at New Frontier is fostering new Australian talent.

Our list has now grown to 150 titles. We publish Australian authors and illustrators and sell rights to our books consistently overseas. We have also extended our list to Junior Fiction with a number of new series being developed. The fourth book in the Totally Twins series will be released next year and we recently celebrated the launch of the Totally Twins website – www.totallytwins.com.au.

Many authors submitted material for our new Little Rockets series, which will be launched with much fanfare next year. Four titles will be released along with a dedicated website. Our designer has done a fabulous job creating a new design for this series, which is for 6-8 year olds. Today, you can take a sneak peek at the cover. There will be coloured illustrations throughout these books.

We are so excited about this new series and hope it encourages independent readers to pick up a book and begin their reading journey.

We continue to be passionate about our Aussie Heroes series, which informs primary school readers about Australians who have made a contribution to society. The first two books are Dame Nellie Melba and Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop.

The next book in the series, Professor Fred Hollows, will be released early next year. An Aussie Heroes series website is also being developed with educational material for teacher librarians to use within schools.

It is an exciting time at New Frontier as we develop new series and continue our successful picture book list. In the next couple of weeks our updated website will be launched with better accessibility and extensive support material for educators.

We love what we do and are committed to continuing to foster Australian talent. Most of all we hope our books inspire, uplift and educate children. That is what we set out to do.

KBR loves hearing from publishers about the passion and drive behind books. Learn more about the hard work behind the scenes at New Frontier by visiting their website.

Event: Amazing Grace Reading

Review: Amazing Grace - An Adventure at Sea

Praised as Australia’s Grace Darling, teenager Grace Bussell was an ordinary girl who became a hero when she helped to rescue passengers and crew of the steamship Georgette, which ran aground near Margaret River in Western Australia in 1876.

Amazing Grace: An Adventure at Sea combines a gripping story with historical facts, images and information from the time of the disastrous journey of the Georgette in late 1876. The story creates a fascinating image of Australian pioneering life and the hardships of sea travel in the late 1800’s.

Guest Post: Creative Kids Tales

KBR warmly welcomes Georgie Donaghey, who is poised to launch a new children's literature initiative - Creative Kids Tales. Here she tells us about her inspiration behind this brand new platform for emerging authors, illustrators and kids.

I am an emerging writer – nothing on the shop bookshelf yet but my shelf at home is filled with crumpled manuscripts and bulging notepads. Characters that are waiting to jump from my shelves and into your families’ hearts.

Review: The 10 Best Games in the World

Who doesn't love a good game, and in this modern world of high-tech-haze - a book like this couldn't be more stimulating, nor more fun.

A book that's totally geared for kids of all ages, The 10 Best Games in the World has been translated from Spanish and features some of the coolest game ideas ever - mainly because they're probably something you've never heard of before.

I love learning something I didn't know! and of course - so do kids.

Review: BIG Kids Magazine

BIG: Bravery Imagination Generosity. Such is the underlying message of the newly released BIG Kids Magazine, a publication that provides "an immersive, interactive and imaginative arts experience for children of all ages".

I was sent to the magazine website by a friend when it first launched on September 30th this year. The concept of the magazine grabbed me immediately:

“BIG Kids Magazine is a contemporary arts publication for children. Driven by discovery, experimentation and response, we invite children to participate in topical conversations about art and the world. With a senior editor who is eight years old, BIG challenges hierarchies of who is listening and who is speaking to amplify small voices in BIG ways.”

Review: Thai-Riffic!

Albert (Lengy) Lengviriyakul is like lots of other kids starting high school. He’s worried about making friends, hopes no-one comes up with a horrible nickname for him and finds his family a little bit embarrassing.

High school doesn’t turn out to be as difficult as Lengy expected. His teacher is quirky and fun, he makes a new friend, Rajiv, who thinks Lengy’s family is great and everyone seems to love Lengy’s parents and their Thai restaurant, Thai-riffic! Everyone but Lengy, who wishes he could have pizza for dinner and a surname that other people could pronounce.

Review: Pop-Up London

Gloriously-talented Jennie Maizels must have had some seriously good fun creating this stunning pop-up book for children of all ages. I defy any adult not to dive headlong into the River Thames and splash about in the uniquely historical and visually stunning splendour that is London. That is, if you can rend it from the hands of your children.

Review: The Scar

If you’re after an opening line that shoves a manlike fist straight through your ribcage and grabs your heart in a vice-like grip, then The Scar is it.

Mum died this morning.

These words … are they too big to fit inside the pages of a children’s picture book? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Perhaps it’s not until you’re an adult, with a lifetime of pain and loss behind you, that the true weight of such a line holds such impact.

KBR Recommends: Picture Books, November 2011

New picture books are flooding in, just in time for the festive season - some from established talent, some from lesser known, but all well worth perusing and adding to your groaning PB collection.

Ten Blue Wrens by Elizabeth Honey (Allen & Unwin, $24.99, ages 2 - 6)

A playful counting book that celebrates the special things we know and love about Australia. Start with 'one little nipper', then count the pies, potaroos and blue wrens ... all the way up to 'twelve kelpie legs'.

Iconic Australian images (thankfully beyond the koala and the kangaroo) are a joy to flick through, as are the stunning illustrations, created from hand-cut stencils. Even the endpapers are a visual delight.

The Carousel by Ursula Dubosarsky (Penguin, $24.95, ages 5 - 10)

One winter's day my dad and I
Went down to see the carousel.
We stood and watched as round and round
The little horses rose and fell.

So begins the magical journey of a small girl and a wooden horse. A journey of music and mirrors, of green hills and sunlit skies, of wishes and freedom. From this much-loved author and brilliant new illustrator comes a  glowing, timeless picture book that celebrates the enduring wonder of the carousel.

Enormouse by Rebecca Gerlings (Hardie Grant Egmont, $16.95)

Long, long ago there lived a kitten. He was tiny. But he had BIG ideas ... When the kitten drops into a caravan filled with circus squirrels, they do their very best to build him into their act. But the kitten can't quite get the hang of it.

However, his big ideas soon become ENORMOUSE, and the kitten - with help from a few mice - conjures up an amazing spectacle that will wow audiences around the world. A beautifully-illustrated anduplifting tale about the teeny, tiny things the BIG things are made of - perfect for young readers everywhere.

Lives of the Great Spiritual Leaders by Henry Whitbread (Thames & Hudson, $25.95, 8+)

From Moses and Buddha to Mother Teresa and the current Dalai Lama, this book takes children on an extraordinary tour across the world and across the ages, looking through the eyes of thinkers, philosophers, spiritual adventurers and courageous leaders, from ancient Egypt to the contemporary West.

A visual feast and a treasury of ideas about history, religion and culture for young and curious minds everywhere. It's also important.

How Do You Feel? by Anthony Browne (Penguin, $27.95, ages 1 - 5)

How do you feel? Sometimes you feel happy, sometimes sad. Sometimes you even feel surprised.

Supreme artist and Children's Laureate Anthony Browne brings all his understanding and skill to bear in this exploration of emotion for very young children. This book will reassure and help them understand how they feel, using simple words and pictures.

Monster Day at Work by Sarah Dyer (Frances Lincoln Children's Books, $16.95, ages 3 - 7)

Little monster spends a day at work with his father. First he has to dress and choose which tie to wear. Then he must travel with Dad and all the other commuters. At work he eats the biscuits at the meeting, colours the graphs his father makes on the computer, goes to the canteen for lunch and even stops off for a drink on the way home. Monster thinks his father has it easy at work.

Sarah Dyer's highly entertaining portrayal of a child's-eye view of the adult world of work is full of wit and charm and will be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson, Scholastic UK, $24.99, ages 5 - 8)

Life is not safe for the other animals, as the villainous Highway Rat gallops along the highway, stealing their food. Clover from a rabbit; nuts from a squirrel - he even steals his own horse's hay.

Then he finally meets his comeuppance, in the form of a cunning duck...

Featuring lustrous, iconic illustrations by Axel Scheffler, this is a story about karma - rhyming-woodland-animal style.

Poo Bum by Stephanie Blake, Gecko Press, $16.99, ages 3 - 8)

This adorable little rabbit is loved by his family, even though whenever they ask him a question, he answers most rudely.  In the morning his mother would say, "Time to get up, my little rabbit!" He'd reply: "Poo bum!"  At lunchtime his father would say, "Eat your spinach, my little rabbit!" He'd reply: "Poo bum!"  One day, he meets a hungry wolf. Will the little rabbit learn his lesson once and for all?  Bright, adorable illustrations and a kooky edge, you can bet your bottom dollar young kids will love echoing the rabbit's words. Be warned.

Slightly Invisible by Lauren Child, Orchard Books, $16.99, ages 4 - 8)

Charlie and friend Marv are in search of strange and tricky creatures. And they would like to search without Lola bothering and interrupting.  Luckily, Lola knows exactly how to catch strange and tricky creatures and enlists a little bit of help from her invisible friend, Soren Lorensen, and, of course, one or three drops of pink milk.  Lauren child's beautiful images and ability to immerse her literary voice so deeply into childhood is as inspiring as ever. A must for collectors.

Pink by Janet A Holmes (Little Hare, $24.95, ages 2 - 6)

Lily loves all things pink - her boots, her bicycle, the food she eats - but she has no one to share them with.  She begs an assortment of animals to play with her, but none of them is quite right. The snail is too slow, the chicken is too silly and the goat eats her clothes.  Then along comes a perfect friend...who is perfectly pink, too!  Gorgeous illustrations will delight children.

Review: Wonder Struck

Ben is half deaf. His mother has died and he feels all alone, even though he is living at his aunt’s house. One stormy night, he sneaks out . . . and eighty three steps away is his house. The one he and his mother shared before the funeral.

There he finds a book called Wonder Struck with red ink inside the front cover. It reads for Danny, Love M. Ben also finds a book mark with a phone number on it and he wonders if it might be a link to his long lost dad, who he never knew.

Guest Post: Publishing a Book at 10 Years of Age

KBR warmly welcomes our very first 10-year-old guest poster - writing under the pen name Skye Lotus. Skye tells us about her passion for writing, and publishing her very first book . . . with the help of her dad.

Hello, reader!

I’m Skye Lotus and I’m a ten-year-old writer. I write fantasy stories, but I’ve only published one so far.

I write stories in all of my spare time, and I like to draw, which helps me organise my covers!

I LOOOOOOVE to write because it makes my emotions flow. It helps me daydream and wish for things (that can’t come true!). I always let my mind wander at night and I prefer reading at night to watching Masterchef and other shows.

Review: The Big Book of Words and Pictures

Part of my book reviewing strategy is that I rarely read the blurb, back cover or press release for a book. At least, not until I’ve read the book. Like the spoilage of movie trailers, I want my experience to be pure – unfettered by the subjective opinion of naturally zealous publicists, keen to influence my experience of said book.

So, I love it when I do finish reading a book, then check the back cover and see that its description is exactly what I experienced. No hype. Just real.

Review: When You Reach Me

If you return five minutes before you leave, you would see yourself arrive, right?

I’m confused.

Miranda has been best friends with Sal since she was a kid. They do everything together. They walk home together, they even went to day care together.

When Sal gets punched by the new kid, he starts to ignore Miranda, leaving her to walk home alone by the garage boys and the laughing man who sleeps under a mailbox.

Review: Side by Side, Shoulder to Shoulder

Young Tom is off with Grandpa to watch his favourite team at footy training. As they walk through the gates of Victoria Park, his grandfather removes his black and white Collingwood scarf from and curls it around Tom’s neck.

“Like your father and my father before me,” he says, “You have been born a Collingwood supporter.”

And so begins this story of loyalty, working together . . . and an unabashed addiction to one of the world’s most passionately supported ball games - AFL.

Review: Parrot Carrot

It's so lovely to find a book for the very young that ticks all the boxes ... gorgeous to look at, clever, charming, funny, educational. Of interest to adults, too (but call me selfish).

I'm big on books of great design, and Parrot Carrot has it in spades ... and mooses and gooses and snakes and rakes.

A rhyming picture book - with perfect rhythm - hurrah! - of the simplest form, we meet a series of objects that combine to create something new - something funny.

Book News

The latest in Charlie Carter’s successful Battle Boy series is out 1 December, just in time for the Christmas stocking. The Battle Boy books are aimed at reluctant readers, and feature low text with sophisticated wordage that will appeal to older boys struggling to read. Brilliant graphics and vibrant storylines are highly appealing.

11-year-old Napoleon Augustus Smythe (or Battle Boy 005), travels the world through the ages, seeking DNA from some of the world’s most famous generals and commanders. Equipped with all manner of high-tech aid, Napoleon’s adventures are a feat in historical education and high-action fun.

Battle Boy: Underwater War is set in the second world war, smack bang in the middle of the battle in the Atlantic between the German U-boats and the allied ships. This is the fifteenth book in the Battle Boy series and is published by Pan Macmillan, $9.99 RRP.

Mr Chicken Goes to Paris – a CBCA book nominee from 2010, has arrived in paperback. This hilarious story of a rather cumbersome yellow chook, is a delightful tour of an iconic city at its best.

When Mr Chicken meets up with his Parisian friend Yvette, he takes in the city sights with gusto – and most especially the scrumptious food.

This book is published by Allen & Unwin, $15.99 RRP.

Review: Where's Asterix?

I still remember poring over iconic Asterix books in my early twenties, and going mad in supermarkets in Paris over these hardcover books, for just a few francs, in their native tongue. My French may not be what it used to be, but I still treasure these books.

After a recent spate of "Where's Such-and-Such?" books, including Michael Jackson and Osama Bin Laden, I must admit, Where's Asterix? was the first to pull at my heart strings.

Review: Mr Darcy

Mr Darcy is a reserved and gentle duck, living quietly in the beautiful Pemberley Park. Despite his wonderful home, he feels lonely but he is too shy to accept the invitation from Lizzy and her sisters to attend Sunday afternoon tea.

Sound familiar? The author, Alex Field, adores Jane Austen and created her character of Mr Darcy to reflect Austen’s original from Pride and Prejudice – a little shy and a proper English gentleman. Bingley, Caroline, Maria, Lizzy and Lizzy's four sisters fill out the Austen-inspired character list.

Review: A Bus Called Heaven

There's just something about this book. In fact, there's a lot of things about it. So many, it's kind of hard to know where to start.

Yes, there's a bus. And a little girl called Stella who falls in love with the bus. It's a dilapidated bus, with junk and trails of both  careworn and neglect. And when Stella insists on taking it home, the entire neighbourhood pitches in, to push the old clunker to the little girl's front yard ...where it sits with its front tyres creeping out onto the pavement.

"There are sure to be regulations," warns Stella's mum, but nobody cares. Instead, they totally revamp the bus - and everyone from all around comes to play, to laugh, to read, to fall in love ... and show old movies. Even some snails and nesting birds move in.

ebook Review: DK My First Word Play App

I love this app! Oh DK, you've done it yet again in this fabulous fun, gorgeously-styled app for wee ones. Phonics has never been so much fun. With classic white backgrounds and a stylish collection of beautifully-photographed cut-outs, this is one uber cool playstation for kids.

Upon opening the app, kids can first click on WORDS. Inside they are given several choices for play.

Matching Pairs features a line up of dots with an object and word behind. Kids must find the matching pair. Super cute audio to... er - match.

Review: Can’t Sleep Without Sheep

Ava has a busy mind and is having trouble falling asleep. So what’s the best thing a person can do to nod off? Count sheep of course!

The only problem is Ava is taking so long to fall asleep, the sheep become tired and decide to quit.

Thankfully they promise Ava they will find her a replacement. Chickens, cows, pigs and hippos arrive to help Ava but none can quite manage the art of jumping over a fence as wonderfully as sheep do.

Interview: Author/Ilustrator Dub Leffler

KBR is delighted to present this interview with multi-talented artist and children's book author Dub Leffler, whose debut picture book Once There Was a Boy, is a favourite here at KBR. 

Who are you?
My name is Dub Leffler.

What do you do?
I'm an illustrator and children's book author.

Tell us a little bit about you. I believe you are one of 13 children?
I grew up in a great little town called Quirindi. I don't have any kids yet and now I live in the quiet suburb of Croydon Park in Sydney. It is true that I am one of 13 children, but sadly, I did not get to meet them all and now there are only 5 of us.

Guest Post: picture books for a better world with Nils von Heijne

KBR warmly welcomes uTales founder and literacy advocate Nils von Heijne on why he created this fabulous new ebook initiative to get kids reading, to give authors and illustrators a better deal, and to support children who need it most. Sounds like a literary trifecta to us.

I founded uTales.com for a simple reason; to do something good. When we started to look at how picture books could be developed to become better and more modern, our first thought was only to make them digital. We did not then see how we could actually use picture books to also make the world a little better. But as we started to look at traditional publishing, we kept finding things we wanted to improve.

Review: Sometimes

Nothing is certain.

Life fluctuates. Sometimes we’re happy. Sometimes we’re sad. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Sometimes we feel brave or scared or kind or mean. 

But no matter how we are – how we’re feeling, how we behave… there are people in our lives who will love us, no matter what.

Guest Post: Self-Publishing on a Budget with Kristyn Levis

KBR welcomes the lovely Kristyn Levis, aka MummyK, with this enlightening post on making your writing dream a reality.

I’m a journalist by profession. Not a children’s book author. It never even occurred to me to write a children’s book. Then I had a daughter and suddenly, I couldn’t get rid of the thought of writing a book.

The reason why I wrote my book was not for publication but to preserve a family story Mama used to tell us as kids. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up so books were a scarcity. I remember a torn and tattered copy of Alice in Wonderland and that’s about it.

Review: Dragon Keeper

Outstanding author, Carole Wilkinson has captured every detail in her three amazing books, Dragon Keeper, The Garden of The Purple Dragon and Dragon Moon.

A slave girl is sold as a child to master Han, the keeper of one of the emperor's palaces. She then escapes and journeys to the so called ‘ocean’ with two true friends, and finds who she truly is.

She meets a few friends and enemies along the way and becomes the target of some of the most famous and powerful people is China.

Review: Grumpy Little King

It’s just so wonderful to open a book and have your toes curl with delight. So wonderful to feel an entire catalogue of retro childhood picture books come rushing back as you flick through each page - an idyllic balance of visuals, text and plot that leave you as breathless as the impressionable child you once were.

Such is the perfection of Grumpy Little King.

Michel Streich has created a timeless classic that straddles both the past and the future in this truly delightful book. Following the travails of a king with serious small-man-syndrome, this story covers war with humour and a featherlike touch that nonetheless manages to pack a powerful moralistic punch.

Remembrance Day on KBR

It's Remembrance Day and we at KBR, and as dawn breaks over Australia, we take pause to honour the men and women who have fallen in war, to keep our country free.

Please enjoy these book reviews that take the horrors of war and attempt to pinpoint moments of hope.

Lest We Forget.