Review: Sounds Spooky

Whilst reading through this extraordinary new book, I found myself asking lots of questions (of no one in particular):

Paintings? Computer-generated art? Models? A blend? What the?

Already completely enamoured with the superlative talents of multi-tasking artist Sarah Davis, I was simply quite boggled as to how this picture book was put together.

It wasn't until the end of the book that all was revealed (I love it when books reveal the artist's medium!) 0 and quite astonishingly, Davis has not only created models of each of the book's characters, she even created an entire haunted house from cardboard and plaster.

Review: The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon

This limerick-style rhyming picture book by the talented Blabey is unique as it is beautiful. Graced with exquisite, evocative images created with acrylic paint, pencil and pen on watercolour paper, the story follows the tale of the ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon – a dour and sour presence haunting the village of Twee (seven miles from the sea).

Review: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

After an excellent breakfast, Horace the Pig and his wide Glenda the Duck open a formal letter from Dr A. Hunter F.R.S.W., inviting them to a gourmet weekend at Eatem Hall.

Excited, the couple pack and head off, but on the way to Eatem Hall, Glenda becomes unnerved. She doesn't like the strange noises in the forest surround the Hall - but Horace thinks she's a silly old bird ... it was just his tummy rumbling!

ebook Review: What Was I Scared Of?

Whilst walking through the woods one dark and spooky night, our little Seussy friend insists he's not afraid of anything. Never has been. Until he sees something rather curious. A pair of pale green pants. In the woods. With no one in them!!

Of course, our friend insists he isn't scared. What could those pants be for? Why are they standing there in the night? Alone? And then - they jump! and the little critter's heart finally begins to thump!

Of course, our 'unfrightened' friend runs away - and a week later - he sees the pants again - only this time riding a bike! The next night, whilst fishing on the Roover River - what should he see that makes him shiver? The pants, again, this time rowing  a boat!

Review: Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble

My granny is a little bit different to other grannies. She wears a funny hat. She has a menagerie of interesting pets - like bats, frogs and cats. She cooks icky soup (no fish fingers allowed at her house!) and drives a skinny car with no windows or doors, and a bushy thatch of straw on the end.

She can even make things disappear.

Why can't my granny be normal? Why can't she knit? Wear typical clothing? Travel by bus? Find a normal pet (pink bunnies are good)?

WIN! Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble

If your granny was a little bit, well, different from other grannies, would you want to change her? 

In this rhyming text, a little girl whose granny is (whisper it) a witch, gets fed up with dealing with the problems she creates, so she tries to reform her.

But a reformed granny is bored and boring. Maybe it's more fun to cook up a big pot of gloop with granny's witchy friends, after all.

A picture book about loving people just the way they are.

Thanks to the lovely people at Allen & Unwin, we have THREE copies of this gorgeous book, valued at $24.99, to give away.

Just tell us, in 5 words, what your granny is really like.

Type 'Hubble Bubble comp' in the subject line and email your answer to taniaATkids-bookreviewDOTcom. The most creative answers, as judged by KBR, will win. Be sure to include your full name and address - entries without will be ineligible.

Competition opens 5am Monday 31 October 2011 and runs until Sunday 6 November 2011, 9pm AEST and the comp is open to Australian residents over the age of 18 (mum and dad can enter on behalf of kids). The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Enter now for your chance to win!

See our review of this book right there.

Review: The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones

This book is awesome because I’ve read all the books and secrets and it is great. I love the great words they put in the book.

I have got all the books but what I probably like is book one because not only does the cover looks cool, I understand the book.

It’s about that Amy and Dan going to Grace's library and then…. I am not going to tell you what happens! At the end they went on a hunt to find some bones but what there was there was a ……….. TRAP!!!!

Event: The 3rd Annual Sutherland Shire Writers' Festival

The 3rd Annual Sutherland Shire Writers' Festival

Sunday 13 November 2011

Gymea Community Centre

39 Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea 

www.shirewritersfestival.weebly.com

Are you a writer? Or an avid reader?

Would you like to learn more about the craft of writing from some of Australia's most talented authors and editors? Registrations for the 3rd Annual Sutherland Shire Writers' Festival are now open.

There will be author talks, workshops, book sales and signings by Olympian/author Lisa Forrest, award-winning author Ursula Dubosarsky and comedian/author Oliver Phommavanh.

Award-winning local author/illustrator Emma Quay will also be launching her newest picture book, Nudie Rudie.

Sue Whiting, editor at Walker Books Australia and Ali Lavau, freelance editor for many of Australia's biggest publishers, will be providing 30-minute Publishing Consultations and we will also be having a 'Pitch Your Manuscript' Session which will be open to all attendees. The panel will give professional feedback and a $100 prize will be awarded to the best pitch.

It's sure to be a fun and informative day! For more information, visit the website for more.

Oliver Phommavanh

Frances Watts

Sue Whiting

Lisa Forrest

Ursula Dubosarsky

Review: Surface Tension

“The Day I was born, they drowned my town.”

Cassie, from New Lower Grange is born the day her old town is covered in 15,000 swimming pools' worth of water.

As the city's Centenary comes near and the lake levels drop, Cassie and Liam go swimming in the forbidden part of the lake, piecing together the mystery of the ‘Atlantis’ city.

Why is Liam’s father petrified of the colour red? Why did Cassie's old home that she never lived in get flushed away?

Cassie slowly uncovers these secrets hidden from the least suspicious person of all.

This mysterious book will make you think twice and want to read on.

- this review by Ella, 11

Title: Surface Tension
Author: Meg McKinlay
Publisher: Walker Books, $15.95 RRP
Publication Date: March 2011
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781921720284
For ages: 8+
Type: Novel

Guest Post: Story Ideas with Hazel Edwards

KBR is delighted to welcome friend and talented author Hazel Edwards with this insightful post on where she gets her story ideas ...

I conducted a casual poll of authors I know. Yes, I agree it’s not totally balanced and statistically valid, but there were more than a dozen, late at night, at a literary festival, and …they all agreed.

‘Where do you get your ideas? ‘ is the question most asked of any writer. Won by a kilometre from ‘Will you put me in a book?’ or ‘Do you pinch ideas from TV?’. But an author who has more than one publication finds it genuinely difficult to answer, even when readers think they are being polite in asking.

A Massive Book Giveaway

We at KBR are lucky lucky people. We get to see literally dozens and dozens of books per month for review - and it's a joy to immerse ourselves in such literary wonder, from picture books to young adult fiction. Because we amass so many brand new, beautiful books, we eventually end up with a very tall mountain of fabulous stories - and no one to read them.

Books need to be read.

Do you have children who need books to read?

We have two sets of brand new, beautiful, current books to give away but it's very important to us that these books go to children who really need them. We are therefore calling for NOMINATIONS. Do you know of a school, childcare centre or child-focused organisation in the Canberra region that could use these books?

We are giving away two lots of books:

• children aged 0 - 8 (including baby books)
• children aged 9+ (and including young adult fiction)

The lots feature a variety of amazing, current, brand new books, including full chapter book series - and each set is valued at over $1000. The sets cannot be split or picked over - they come as is, and are of the highest-quality, from both major and indie publishers. Each set will go to a different recipient.

Because these books are majorly heavy, this giveaway is only open to those in the immediate Canberra area (within a 50km radius of its borders). We are happy to open it to those outside the Canberra, but the recipient will need to organise collection of the books within one week's notice, no exception.

How to Nominate  

Please write up your nomination - using no more than 500 words, telling us why your nominee deserves these books, and which book set they would benefit from - younger or older children.

Yes, you can self-nominate. Yes, you can ask your friends and colleagues to nominate you, as well. Multiple nominations (not from the same person) are warmly accepted.

The nomination must include the full name, address and contact details of the school, centre or organisation you are nominating. It must also include the full name, address and contact details of the nominating person. Please also advise if you are willing to have your name revealed to the winning nominees.

Remember, the nominee should ideally be located within the Canberra region. If they are over 50km outside the ACT border, you will need to ensure the books can be collected either by the recipient or someone else locally, within one week's notice.

Send your nomination to taniaATkids-bookreviewDOTcom.

Nominations are NOW OPEN and close 5pm 30 November. The recipients will be notified by email on 30 November, and announced on the KBR website on 1 December 2011. Recipients will be published on the website, unless recipients specify otherwise.

The nominations will be judged by the KBR team, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Let's get these amazing books to someone who needs them. Nominate now!

Review: Knuffle Bunny Free - An Unexpected Diversion

I first fell in love with Knuffle Bunny back in 2005, when book one - A Cautionary Tale - stole my heart (and that of my kids).

The story of young Trixie and her prone-to-be-lost toy rabbit certainly rang bells with parents everywhere... and in fact, I can still remember the terror, as a young tot myself, when my beloved pink teddy bear was lost forever - thrown one too many times from a retro 60s pram whilst out shopping with Mum.

Review: Claude in the City

This is the kind of book I so wish was around when I was a little girl. Everything from the Hilary Knight-style colours to the fantastically charming Euro-style illustrations, superlative characters and funny-dog-bone tickling text, the Claude series is a special one indeed.

In Claude in the City, we meet an adorable puppy, of Francophilian persuasion, complete with red beret, who lives with Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes, so called because their shoes are shiny.

Review: The Unicorn Riders Series

Finally, there is a well-written and compelling quest fantasy series for younger girls, packed with adventure, mystery and magic.

The Unicorn Riders are four very different girls, each with their own strengths and quirky foibles. Like real girls, they don’t always get along but when it comes to looking after the people of Avamay, they band together with the stirring call, ‘We ride as one!’

Review: Moomin and the Winter Snow

Sometimes friends go away. Sometimes permanently. Sometimes for a short time - but no matter the length of time, little ones find it hard to be patient - and the waiting can simply go on forever.

Sure, they will miss their friend - but will they miss them, too? And how will they know they are being missed?

Blog Tour: Fun Facts About Unicorns with Aleesah Darlison

KBR is delighted to welcome Aleesah Darlison on her with this wonderful guest post on the mysteries of unicorns. Aleesah is on tour with her gorgeous new series - Unicorn Riders - a fun and feisty action-adventure series for girls aged seven and over. Make sure you check out the rest of her 'We Ride as One!' tour at the end of this post, and look out for our series review this Wednesday!

Fun Facts About Unicorns

Fact 1:
Unicorns are one-horned mythical creatures said to resemble a white horse with a long, spiralled, horn projecting from its forehead.

WIN! Unicorn Riders Book Pack

Unicorn Riders is a new action-adventure series based on four strong-willed young girls empowered to protect the kingdom of Avamay, with help from their magical unicorn friends. Full of action-packed missions, dangerous dilemmas and an underlying quest to ultimately find their own inner strength, Unicorn Riders speaks to a generation of young girls who are smart, savvy and after more than just a simple chapter story.

Written by Aleesah Darlison and illustrated by Jill Brailsford, Unicorn Riders is an action/fantasy/adventure series for girls aged 8+. It celebrates friendship and teamwork with strong character appeal.

Thanks to Walker Books, we have TWO sets of the four books, valued at A$45 each, to give away!

Just tell us, in 25 words or less, what you would call your unicorn, and why.

Type 'Unicorn Riders' into the subject line and email your answer to susanATkids-bookreviewDOTcom. The most creative answers, as judged by KBR, will win. Be sure to include your full name and address - entries without will be ineligible.

Competition opens 5am Monday 24 October 2011 and runs until Sunday 30 October 2011, 9pm AEST and the comp is open to Australian and New Zealand residents over the age of 18 (mum and dad can enter on behalf of kids). The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Don't miss our review of Unicorn Riders this Wednesday! and be sure to check out Aleesah Darlison's blog tour visit to KBR - right here.

Enter now for your chance to win!

Review: The Django

Have you met a Django? Jean did and it caused him all sorts of strife. For the Django was full of mischief, a troublesome NOBODY that only Jean could see.

Jean is a strong-willed lad who stoically withstands the cheeky pranks of the Django until one day when his patience is stretched too far. In anger, he lets the Django know that he does not want him in his life.

Guest Review: The Mystery of Nida Valley

KBR welcomes author Michael Gerard Bauer with this guest review on a book that travels deeply into a mysterious past.

I first read The Mystery of Nida Valley as a manuscript and then again recently in its final form. It is truly a story that has everything. In it, we find time travel, dinosaurs, mythical creatures, Megafauna from Australia’s past, magic, ghosts, good guys and villains, all wrapped up in a fast-paced action-adventure story with a dash of romance to boot!

Review: The Undys Series

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Phil and Josh Undy for Kids' Book Capers - and what a joy it was to meet such a crazypants, refreshing, down-to-earth pair. This is indeed a father/son team you'd love to run into and spend a spontaneous afternoon cavorting with - so totally is this pair invested in the spirit of life and fun.

Having lost his mum to cancer when he was just four, young Josh Undy could not have lucked out more with his dedicated dad Phil, who promised that when she was gone, he would be the best mum a dad can be.

News: National Year of Reading shortlists announced

Kids Book Review is very excited to be partnering with the National Year of Reading in 2012.

Before their official kick off on the 14th of February 2012, they are extending an invitation for everyone to vote for the book that they think should represent their state or territory. The winners of each state and territory will represent the national recommended reading list for 2012.

They are hoping to create a collection of books which, read together, describe the Australian experience. Celebrating the difference of living in the city or in a remote community all across Australia.

You can have a part in helping decide the eight books that will be the National Year of Reading 2012 collection. Pretty cool huh?

The list of eight winning titles will be announced at the launch of the campaign on 14 February, 2012, at the National Library of Australia in Canberra.

The state and territory shortlists, chosen by independent panels of readers, have been announced, see below, or go to www.love2read.org.au.

Voting commences 1 November 2011, online at www.abc.net.au/yearofreading and in participating libraries and book shops. The closing date is 6 January 2012.


Shortlist for the ACT
· John Clanchy, Vincenzo’s Garden, University of Queensland Press
· Alan Gould, The Lake Woman, Australian Scholarly Publishing
· Marion Halligan, The Fog Garden, Allen & Unwin
· Jack Heath, The Hit List, Pan Macmillan Australia
· Dorothy Johnston, The White Tower, Wakefield Press
· Kel Robertson, Smoke and Mirrors, Pan Macmillan Australia

Shortlist for New South Wales
· Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen & Unwin
· Kate Grenville, Lilian’s Story, Allen & Unwin
· Ian Hoskins, Sydney Harbour: A History, New South Publishing
· John Hughes, The Idea of Home, Giramondo
· Ruth Park, The Harp in the South, Penguin
· Chris Womersley, Bereft, Scribe

Shortlist for the Northern Territory
· Ros Moriarty, Listening to Country, 2010, Allen & Unwin
· Daena Murray (editor), The Sound of the Sky, 2006, CDU Press
· Judy Nunn, Territory, 2003, Random House
· Alan Powell, Far Country: A Short History of the Northern Territory, 2009, CDU CDU Press
· Alan Powell, Shadow's Edge: Australia's Northern War (Revised Edition), 2007, CDU CDU Press
· Nicholas Rothwell, The Red Highway, 2009, Black Ink

Shortlist for Queensland
· Chloe Hooper, The Tall Man, 2008, Penguin
· Andrew McGahan, The White Earth, 2005, Allen & Unwin
· Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, 2002, Allen & Unwin
· Estelle Pinney, House on the Hill, Penguin
· Ian Townsend, Affection, 2005, Harper Collins
· Matthew Condon, Brisbane, 2010, New South Publishing

Shortlist for South Australia
· Max Fatchen, River Kings, Wakefield Press
· Kerryn Goldsworthy, Adelaide, 2011, New South Publishing
· Peter Goldsworthy, Three Dog Night, 2003, Penguin
· Scott Monk, The Never Boys, 2011, Random House
· Stephen Orr, Time’s Long Ruin, Wakefield Press
· Alastair Sarre, Prohibited Zone, Wakefield Press

Shortlist for Tasmania
· Richard Flanagan, Wanting, 2008, Random House
· Anna Krien, Into the Woods: The Battle for Tasmania’s Forests, 2010, Black Ink
· Julia Leigh, The Hunter, 1999, Penguin
· Kathyrn Lomer, What now Tilda B?, University of Queensland Press
· Peter Timms, In Search of Hobart, 2009, New South Publishing
· Rohan Wilson, The Roving Party, 2011, Allen & Unwin

Shortlist for Victoria
· Robyn Annear, Bearbrass, 2005, Black Ink
· Brendan Gullifer, Sold, Sleepers
· Barry Heard, Well Done Those Men, 2005, Scribe
· Alice Pung, Unpolished Gem, 2006, Black Ink
· Jeff & Jill Sparrow, Radical Melbourne, Vulgar Press
· Maya Ward, The Comfort of Water, Transit Lounge

Shortlist for Western Australia
· Elizabeth Jolley, The Newspaper of Claremont Street, Fremantle Press
· Sally Morgan, My Place, Fremantle Press
· Howard Pederson & Banjo Woorunmurra, Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance, Magabala Books
· Kim Scott, True Country, Fremantle Press
· Craig Silvey, Jasper Jones, 2009, Allen & Unwin
· Tim Winton, Cloudstreet, 1991, Penguin

For more information, visit the website www.love2read.org.au.

Review: I Want My Hat Back

Have you ever stolen something from someone? Shafted them out of something? Removed their possession to make it your own?

You have? Well, you do know about Karma, right? That all-pervading law of the universe that dictates a backlash to the power of 10 (and sometimes more)?

Bear has lost his hat. Well, he hasn't lost it. Someone has nicked it. And as lovely, lumbering bear wanders around asking all manner of woodland creatures if they've seen his hat, he gives every critter the benefit of the doubt ... even those wearing items on their noggins that curiously look like hats.

Review: The Jewel Fish of Karnack

Jackal and Ibis are petty thieves who steal a trinket from the marketplace of Asyut in Ancient Egypt. Caught red-handed, they are taken to the Cat Pharaoh who promises them pardon if they travel to Karnak in search of the Jewel Fish once stolen from the Pharaoh by the Crocodile Prince.

Keen to escape punishment, the two head off for Karnak and quite quickly find the Jewel Fish amongst the considerable treasure of the Crocodile Prince.

Dee White's Writing Classes for Kids blasts off!

Author, literacy advocate, blogger, reviewer, editor, presenter (yes, she's that prolific!) and all round lovely gal - Dee White - has been working very hard on a brand new initiative that is sure to blow the socks off anyone who loves to write. Teachers, librarians, parents and kids will adore Writing Classes for Kids (& Adults), Dee's brand new website.

Blasting off today, the site provides free and low-cost classes, lesson plans and writing activities for children - that will also appeal to adults looking to hone their writing skills or challenge themselves with new perspectives on writing.

Di will also be updating the site with posts on writing and getting published, free writing tips, visits from published authors, and will even be offering manuscript assessments.

Check out this glorious site now - it's sure to become a valuable resource for the writer in all of us.

Review: 10 Bush Babies

Five Little Ducks is a warm favourite of young children – an interactive song that sends many an adult winging back to childhood, counting through the little ducklings who wander out one day, and fail to come back ... until Mother Duck heads out to gather her babies home.

In 10 Bush Babies, ten adorable little bush babies also go out one day – into the sun to jump and play. Teacher Mrs Roo rings her schoolhouse bell – ring-a-ding-ding! but only nine bush babies run in (baby wombat would rather go home for a wee nap in his burrow).

News: Astrid Lindgren Nominees

KBR is thrilled to hear that Jackie French, Hazel Edwards and Morris Gleitzman have been shortlisted for The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (the world’s richest prize for children’s and young adult literature)!

SO well deserved and best of luck to all three of these super-talented Aussies.

You can read more here.

Welcome Susan Whelan - a New Partner for KBR!

We are just ecstatic to announce the arrival of a new partner at KBR - the very talented and vastly book-experienced Susan Whelan of Reading Upside Down.

I have been a longtime friend of the lovely Susan. She is a dedicated writer, blogger, editor and reviewer with a serious penchant for stylish wordage. Never happier than when she's spending time with her family or burying her nose in a book... Susan holds the perfect qualifications for a KBR partner.

A wife and mother to three, Susan is passionate about encouraging children to explore and enjoy reading and literature. She is currently World Literature Feature Writer for Suite 101, and you simply must check out her successful literary site - Reading Upside Down.

Please join Kelly and I in welcoming Susan to the KBR fold - we know you will fall in love with her glorious contributions to our growing site.

Tania
KBR Founder

KBR Recommends… Our Top Pick Activity Books

Activity books are not like they used to be. Sure, we all love classic fun and games but the new breed of activity books sit firmly outside the square – and in a class of their own. Here are our top picks for the some of best activity books on the market right now.

Doodle Cook by Hervé Tullet (Phaidon, $16.95 RRP)

This extraordinary book from über talent Tullet, ticks all the boxes when it comes to fabulous fun and supersonic artistic style. Renowned for his strikingly artistic, unique books, Tullet’s latest offering is just like reading pages made from candy. Even the contents pages are delectable in this line-up of scrumptious.

Doodle Cook invites kids to create their own culinary delights – from the tip of their paintbrush or crayon. With consummate culinary gusto, Tullet invites kids to add squiggly coloured lines to a pasta-strewn plate, create quick circle salad, whip up zig zag soup, decorate a ruby sugar cookie, and more.

Review: Fluff and Billy

Fluff and Billy do everything together. They run, they slide, they splash, they scream. If one does one thing, the other does it, too. Like fuzzy little twins, it’s all for one and one for all.

But when Fluff rolls up a snowball and Billy rolls one, too – then hoiks it at Fluff, all in the name of fun – things go wrong, and these darling little penguins do something else together ... they refuse to speak each other (until a penguiny tear rolls down a sweet little penguiny face, that is).

Guest Post: Science Fiction - Hal Spacejock Style

KBR warmly welcomes guest reviewer Steve Dunchouk, with his musings on Simon Haynes' Hal Spacejock series.
 
I have been a reader of Science Fiction for many years and over time, due to work and family commitments, the habit of reading was slowly fading.

In 2007, I fell foul of the dreaded Heart Attack. As anyone who has had a hospital stay would know, you go through all sorts of phases but the one you look for is that good/positive phase ... anything to get you out of the dulldrums, doom, gloom all is lost, post traumatic stress.

There are many ways of doing this and my way was to try and keep positive. I was looking for that elusive ‘good read’ that I had had many years ago when I lived in the outback of Western Australia and reading books was the staple diet of both myself and my wife (until the kids came along), when canned tv shows were boring or the power failed, for whatever reason.

KBR Recommends: Picture Books, October 2011

In the lead-up to Christmas, now is the time to set your sights on a Santa’s stocking of bookish goodness. Here are our picks for some gorgeous picture books for everyone - from toddlers to picture-book-obsessed adults.

Busy Day by Sally Grindley (Bloomsbury, $14.99, Sept 2011, ages 2 - 4)

A group of friends is heading off on the bus to have a day together at the seaside.  On the way, they encounter lots of vehicles and other animals all busily going about their day.   Perfect for little ones, the book features bright illustrations and plenty of things to identify as the story travels along.

Guest Post: Author Betty Johnson

Kids Book Review is excited to have Betty Johnson talk to us about how her new book, 'Mrs Echidna's Dilema' - a gorgeous multimedia creation. Betty shares her love of animals, textile crafts and education with us. Grab a cuppa and enjoy!

‘Mum, can you make me some finger puppets, please?’ Not an unusual request for my daughter, who at that time was working in the early childhood sector. Over the years, I had made many resources for her – puppets and cloth books; multicultural dress-up clothes; fabric wall hangings for matching, sorting, comparing and classifying activities. This was just one more resource in a bulging cupboard of ideas.

Review: Crow Country

Sadie Hazzard is new to the town of Boort, forced there by her single mother, Ellie. At first Boort appears to be the typical sleepy, quiet country town, but there is a deep dark secret that the town holds connected with the earlier locals of the township, heroes from the First World War.

Within initial investigation of her new hometown, Sadie stumbles across a sacred place, associated with the custodians of the land, and Waa the Crow.

Review: From Little Things Big Things Grow

Having just spent several months researching poignant moments in Australian history, it was a joy to read a far more detailed account of an immensely important time in native Australian history.

From Little Things Big Things Grow tells the tale of the Gurindji people who rose up against lousy working conditions and wages and made a land rights claim that set in motion an 8-year 'wait' for land rights.

Events: The Children's Bookshop, Sydney

Here's your chance to meet some pretty serious literary celebrity at The Children’s Bookshop in Beecroft.

Meet author John Flanagan who will be talking about his new book (and new series!) Brotherband Chronicles: The Outcast.

When? Saturday 8 October
10.30am-11.30am
Morning Tea provided!

All are invited to meet children’s author and singer Craig Smith who will be singing from the new picturebook All I Want for Christmas (and he will be singing The Wonky Donkey).

When?
Friday 28 October
9.45-10.15am

All are invited to meet children’s author Jackie French who will be sharing her new picture book Christmas Wombat.

When?
Friday 18 November
9.45-10.15am
RSVP Essential
tel: 9481 8811 or staff@thechildrensbookshop.com.au

 

Review: Guess How Much I Love You Pop Up Book

Too adorable for eyes, the pop-up version of Sam McBratney's worldwide bestseller Guess How Much I Love You is just as charming as the best-selling original, with the added delight of pop-ups - and who doesn't love a pop-up?

This timeless book tells the story of a game Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare play as they try to express their love for each other. But as each tries to outdo the other, they discover that love is not an easy thing to measure!

Review: The Perfect Present

I quite simply adore Fiona Roberston’s work. She’s one of these author/illustrators I wish I could ‘be’. Her books are an eternal delight and so I was ecstatic to open her latest offering – The Perfect Present.

Little Henry is eagerly awaiting his birthday – and is guessing, alphabetically, what his gift from Spot might be. Spot, his pet duck, is keeping mum. He’s hoping his fishing rod – an item Henry has swooned over for quite a while now – will be the perfect present.