Review: The Naming Of Tishkin Silk

There are stories that unsuspectingly weave themselves into the very fabric of your being. The Naming Of Tishkin Silk is one of these rare treasures. A story to be read and re-read. It is for this reason that I have been hesitant to offer my thoughts.

What if I fail to tell you how very special this book is? How beautifully Glenda Millard has created a whole world. A world that not only includes the story of the main character but gives you a sense of every other character in the story with such clarity you feel as if you have known them your whole life?

Winner: Patrick Ness

Here is our lucky winner.

Donna Johnson SA

Congratulations! You have won an awesome 10th Anniversary pack of the Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness plus an exclusive anniversary tee-shirt, design chosen by Patrick Ness.

We're all a little bit envious here at KBR.

Thank you to ALL who entered.

Patrick Ness will be appearing at Sydney Writers Festival’s All Day YA Day on May 5 and in Melbourne at The Wheeler Centre In-conversation with Jesse Andrews on May 7.

 

Look What I'm Reading! Sue Whiting

Sue Whiting is an Australian author and editor. She has written numerous books in a variety of genres: fiction and nonfiction, picture books through to YA. Her latest book is Missing, a contemporary mystery for readers 10+, and her next book is Beware the Deep, Dark Forest, a picture book illustrated by Annie White, which is due for release in October.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?
I have just finished reading The Secrets We Share by Nova Weetman.

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?
This is the sequel to The Secrets We Keep and continues the story of twelve-year-old Clem who is now trying to navigate that awkward and confusing time of starting high school and working out where one fits. This is made doubly difficult when Clem’s mother returns home after many months away from the family while recovering from her mental illness.

Review: Small Spaces

Sarah Epstein has created a brilliant and unforgettable mystery/psychological thriller. Its superbly designed storyline and characters will have readers glued to their seats, turning pages until the last word.

Years ago, six year old Mallory Fisher went missing from the carnival for seven days and returned physically and mentally scarred, never to speak again. She was taken instead of Tash by the shadow that Tash named Sparrow. 

No one believed what she told them she saw. Regardless of years of therapy, the permanence of panic attacks, and the disbelief of the people she trusted - especially her parents, Tash lives with the trauma of her memories.

Review: ABC Mindful Me

Christiane Engle has previously created the beautiful board book ABC Yoga, now we can share her new book ABC Mindful Me. This concept book will help toddlers learn their alphabet while being introduced to mindfulness, through rhyme and brightly coloured illustrations.

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is a practice of paying attention to the present moment. Mindfulness helps calms the mind and the body allowing the person to be aware of their body, emotions and environment.

Review: A Wrinkle in Time

I’m sure most of you know by now that the classic book, A Wrinkle in Time, has been made into a movie, which is currently gracing our screens.

This new movie edition of the book features a movie inspired cover, an introduction by the director of the movie, Ava DuVernay, and a fascinating Afterward by Charlotte Jones Voiklis, the granddaughter of Madeliene L’Engle.

However, this review is about the book. The one that has been loved by generations of children since its publication in 1962. The book that was a trailblazer in science fiction and that tackled the big questions of science and spirituality in a way no one had dared do before.

Review: Red House, Blue House, Green House, Tree House!

This is a must have picture book.

Entertaining, engaging and fun, kids will delight in the rollicking rhyme, funky illustrations and interactive elements the story delivers on every page.

There are colours to guess, things to count, questions to answer, objects to compare and…

A teeny tiny mouse hiding on every page! 

He’s the star of the book, and the kids will wage war with each other to get to be the one to point him out.

Review: Message in a Sock

Kaye Baillie and Narelda Joy create a heartfelt story about wartime, absent parents, wanting to do something to help and finding connection.

Narelda's clever use use of textiles from the time immerses us in the early 1900s. I can almost feel the bunny's felt jacket, the tiny ridges in mother and daughter's tweed coats.

Pieces of cloth twisted in the sleeping girl's hair opened up a world of questions about life at the time, too.

Over this background of authentic imagery, Kaye opens our hearts to feel a little girl's longing.

12 Curly Questions with author Anita Selzer

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 

As a child, I didn’t read much regretfully, but have tried to make up for it as an adult.

2. What is your nickname? 

Ani is my nickname that my family call me.

3. What is your greatest fear? 

I fear readers will not see the layers of my writing and discern the many themes underlying I Am Sasha, published by Penguin, 2018.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words. 

It is economical, simple in narrative, primarily written from the heart.

Winners: Mother's Day Picture Books

Here are our lucky winners.

Congratulations to:

Denise Wardrop WA
Louise Brooks QLD
Joseph Spagnolo NSW
Bronwyn Saunders ACT

You have each won a gorgeous picture book prize pack including, Grandma Precious, Hide and Seek With Mum, Oh So Many Kisses, Can I Cuddle the Moon? and Supermum.

Thank you to ALL who entered. We wish you and your mothers a divine Mother's Day filled with many warm wordy moments.

Review: Teen Reads Around The World - Part 2

Happy World Book Day! In Part Two of our Teen Reads Around the World showcase...

Here's a snapshot of current and classic best sellers from Germany, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, China, Japan, the UK and the Philippines.

It's wonderful to research YA fiction around the world and identify trends, mass appeal and cultural influences.

Featured in today's post is a variety of smart YA, life-affirming stories, contemporary realism, as well as a touch of horror and teen thrillers. Great to know what's happening around the globe.

Giveaway: Chaos Walking Trilogy 10th Anniversary Series

To celebrate Patrick Ness' visit to Australia next month, and the tenth anniversary of the Chaos Walking Triology, the good people of Walker Books Australia are offering a set of anniversary editions of the series plus an anniversary T-Shirt, design chosen by Patrick Ness. All you have to do is tell us, in 25 words, what you love about Patrick Ness.

Review: Found in Melbourne

Found in Melbourne is not only a counting book and a pictorial guidebook of the city, Melbourne, it is a story about friendship.

Counting wise, children will enjoy being able to count; trams, koalas, magpies, clocks and butterflies. They will also learn about Melbourne, named the most liveable city in the world in 2017, for the seventh year in a row.

Guidebook wise, the story highlight's landmarks and attractions of Melbourne and some of the tourist locations surrounding Victoria's capital city; Phillip Island, Dandelion Ranges and The Great Ocean Road.

Review: Wild

From Emily Hughes, the creator of The Little Gardener, comes another thoroughly enchanting and stupendously beautiful title.

The production quality of this title is just incredible. I have come to adore finding new titles published by Flying Eye Books, who have a knack for pairing unique stylised artwork with high quality papers and in this case a delicious cloth binding. The end papers alone left me swooning and I'll admit that I'd love to hang most every page of these illustrations up on my walls at home for endless hours of perusal.

Junior Review: Ghosts

In the book Ghosts, Catrina has just moved to a new town called Bahia de la Luna in California because her little sister, Maya, has breathing problems and the doctor said that the wind could help with that. 

One gloomy day they set out to explore the town and meet this crazy boy called Carlos. He tells them that there are ghosts in the area and that, if you give a bit of yourself, then you might be able to talk to them. He totally creeps Catrina out, but Maya just wants to go and find them.

This story really inspired me that you don’t have to see something to believe its real. The book really moved me, and I thought that it was one of the best books I’ve ever read! I would recommend Ghosts to girls aged 8 – 12.

Title: Ghosts

Author: Raina Telgemeier                         

Publisher: Scholastic US

Publication Date: 13 September 2015, $12.59

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 0545540623

For Ages: 8 - 12

Type: Graphic Novel

Review: Digger

A toy kangaroo, two little girls and an Australian soldier bring to life the heroic battle for Villers-Bretonneux, on the Western Front, in this heart-wrenching picture book.

When her big brother, James, goes to war, Annie stitches the name Digger to her toy kangaroo and gives it to James as a parting gift.

Digger and James travel across the sea to the trenches of the Western Front, in the infamous World War I battle of Villers-Bretonneux. Digger provides comfort for James, even accompanying him into battle.

Review: Alfred's War

Just like so many other young Australian men, Alfred enlists to serve in World War I for adventure and travel.

A young indigenous man, with no citizenship rights in his own country, Alfred finds comradeship and equality in the army.

He returns to Australia injured and finds a country still unable to embrace civil rights, or even honour his sacrifice.

Review: Izzy Gizmo

I just love when an impulse selection from the library turns out to be so beautifully and cleverly written, amazingly illustrated and fantastic in quality of production that I feel I must add a copy to my personal library. Izzy Gizmo is one of these happy occurrences.

Isabelle (Izzy) is a little girl who is never without her tool kit. She loves mending objects or tweaking gadgets to improve them, and she also invents some of her own fabulous creations.

But the problem you see is that sometimes Izzy's inventions do not seem to go quite according to plan. When disaster strikes Izzy gets cranky, she gets frustrated, she gets mad. And then she gives up.

Despite reassurance and some gentle encouraging advice from her Grandpa that 'sometimes you need to try again and again if you want to succeed', Izzy finds that she's too upset to do so.

Meet the Illustrator: Jutta Berend

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Colourful and vibrant images capturing life to touch the heart.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
A huge mug of black tea, snuggly warm socks most of the year and an audiobook playing. Silence is also good.

Review: Lonely Planet Kids: Sticker World Museum, Zoo and Theme Park

Lonely Planet have released a great new sticker and activity book series to engage kids in fun and educational journeys about a range of key topics.

Kids use their imaginations and the enclosed stickers to complete activities such as dot to dots, drawing, colouring in, and other challenges without even realising the wealth of information they are taking in as they complete the activities.

In Sticker World Museum, kids start by naming their museum then work their way through drawing cave paintings, completing dinosaur skeletons and colouring the headdresses of ancient pharaohs. They use the stickers enclosed to label extinct animals, create a mosaic on an ancient urn and design some dazzling jewellery.

Review: The Children Who Loved Books

Angus and Lucy don’t have many things.

They don’t have a TV. They don’t have a car. They don’t even have a house.

But they do have books. Lots and lots and lots of books.

Angus and Lucy love their books and all the things they can do with them… until the day their parents decide there are too many books and they all have to go. 

But could life possibly be better without books?

12 Curly Questions with author Dianne Wolfer

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

After leaving college I lived in a remote part of western Nepal for almost a year, tutoring children. Home was a mud-brick room on someone’s roof next to a field. No electricity or running water and I hiked for an hour up a mountain to teach some of my students. There was time and space for creativity. It’s where I began shaping ideas into stories and my first publication was an article called 'Eating out in Kathmandu', in Let’s Travel magazine. One dish was buffalo moussaka.

Giveaway: Mother's Day Picture Books

Celebrate the unique joy of motherhood with these sweet titles inspired by amazing mothers.

Thanks to the good people at Scholastic Australia, we have five gorgeous picture book prize packs to give away each including, Grandma Precious, Hide and Seek With Mum, Oh, So Many Kisses, Can I Cuddle the Moon? and Supermum. 

All you have to do is tell us, in 25 words or less, what makes mother's day special for you.

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The first five responses we like the best will win a prize pack in time for Mother's Day. Competition is open to anyone, worldwide, so long as they have an Australian postal address for delivery of the book. Please note, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Entries without a name and street address will be ineligible. Winners will be announced right here on our website on Monday 23 April 2018.

Competition runs from 5pm Monday 16 April to 9pm Sunday 22 April 2018. Adults can enter for those aged 17 and under. This is a game of skill, not chance. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Review: The Colours of History

Where would we be without colour? It's what often makes something appealing. That's especially so with picture books where the colours, or lack of them, can be crucial to the telling of the story.

The Colours of History: How Colours Shaped the World, offers an unusual perspective, exploring how colour has been used through history and in relation to culture.

I loved this book which is divided into sections by colour: yellows, reds, purples, greens, and blues.

Each section begins with a summary of how colour is represented or expressed (blue as calm, lucky etc).

There's also a panel of selected colour shades, then facts, anecdotes, and illustrations that place them in historical context.

Review: Count the Monkeys

A joyous and extremely unique interactive picture book from the incredible Mac Barnett, author of Triangle, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, and Leo: A Ghost Story amongst many, many brilliant others.

From the title page onwards, Barnett addresses the readers and entices us to participate in the story through a series of different requests and instructions, all the while encouraging us to move through the book and find the Monkeys that we are attempting to count.

Review: Where's Bear?

When you are little your first best friend is often your teddy bear. Sarah Elliott Smyth and illustrator Nicky Johnston have beautifully captured this special relationship between Sophie and Bear in their story Where's Bear?

Just as Bear dives off the castle wall of boxes, to save Sophie from a slobbering doglike dragon, their imaginative play is interrupted by dinner time.

When Sophie returns to the lounge room, Bear is missing. She searches the whole house but he is no where to be found.

Review: Dad By My Side

In an online world that often seems chock full of impenetrable ignorance, fear and cruelty, it is the viral posts like this that I live for, that restore my calm and fortify my heart for the next onslaught of articles, images and stories that I can hardly bare to take in.

Soosh is an illustrator who has created a gentle, honest and purely loving commentary on the relationship between a father and his little daughter. With grace and warm humour, each image captures the daily acts of love, sacrifice, joy and togetherness that parent and child share, and they are truly each a work of art to behold.

Review: Who's the Biggest?

Another fabulous book from Delphine Chedru, Who’s the Biggest? is all about size and learning the concept of what’s the bigger ‘something’ in relation to something else.

Like Chedru’s other recent picture book, How Many Kisses?, Who’s the Biggest? delivers an interactive learning experience for kids, filled with quirky and overflowing with fun.

At the beginning of Who’s the Biggest?, Chedru explains how to read the book. On every page you need to ask the characters, ‘who’s the biggest?’ and then read out the text to discover the answer.

Look What I'm Reading! Dimity Powell

Dimity Powell is author of over twenty books, with her latest release, the highly successful picture book, The Fix-It Man. She is leader extraordinaire, and Managing Editor at Kids Book Review. Dimity’s tireless devotion to children’s books comes through in her candid replies and trademark humour.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?
Figgy Takes the City by Tamsin Janu

Review: Teen Reads Around the World - Part 1

With World Book Day approaching (23 April) there's no better time to have a glimpse at popular Young Adult fiction around the world.

Featured are classic, current and hugely popular novels in Italy, Spain, France, USA, Canada, Ireland and South Africa. 

From contemporary to thrillers to dystopian, featuring smart and feisty heroines, African folklore, disenfranchised youth and irresistible protagonists, teen fiction readers around the world love these titles.

Stories about friendship, hope, political unrest, love and connections all feature. Teen fiction authors have also risen to the challenge to address local and international issues. Teen fiction at its best.

Guest Post: Q & A with Sarah Epstein

Following the recent release of her sensational new book, Small Spaces and a revealing 12 Curly Questions session with us, the author who desires to be Mo Willems' Pigeon character, Sarah Epstein, is back answering all the questions Small Spaces poses.

Australian author Sarah Epstein has written an impressive page-turner in her debut novel about 17-year-old Tash, who witnessed her imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. Nine years later, Tash is trying to leave her troubled past behind. When disturbing memories resurface and Tash starts to see Sparrow again, she starts to question everything. Is Sparrow real or is Tash more dangerous to others than she thinks?

Review: Can I Tell You a Secret?

Can I Tell You a Secret? is, as the cover says, a 'tale about being brave and sharing your worries'.

The main character is a young frog named Monty. He's been keeping a big secret.

The secret is that he doesn't like going in the water. He's scared to try and not swimming is a big deal for a frog!

Monty hasn't told any of his family his secret. Instead, he shares it with the reader, speaking directly to them.

As the story progresses, Monty has a conversation with the reader, and ultimately tells his parents his worries. They are not as suprised as he thought they would be.

Review: Around the World in 50 Ways

Here’s a new fun way for kids to learn about different cities around the world. It’s a kids’ travel book with a twist – YOU choose where to go by deciding how to travel.

In each destination you can choose to travel by plane, train, tuk tuk, bike, or something completely different! It’s like a choose your own adventure travel fact book!

We start in London, learn a few facts about this wonderful city, visit the Tower of London, then it’s time to choose… Should I take the train, the coach or the boat? Pick the right route to make it all the way around the world, or watch out, you could end up at a dead end.

Review: The Bear in Our Backyard

In this heartwarming sequel to The Lion in our Living Room, Tilly and her younger brother Tom head outside to wait for the bear in their backyard to finish napping and come out to play.

Our big brown bear was sleepy. 

We love our bear the best.

Our games are so much better after bear has had a rest.

Part of a special game between child and parent, the bear is, of course, not really a bear. 

This time it’s Mum who's playing pretend, and she knows all the best games to play.

Review: The Pink Hat

The pink hat became a vibrant symbol of women's rights in January 2017 when about five million people around the world participated in the Women's March.

A year later, Andrew Joyner celebrates that day with subtlety and joy in this stunning picture book.

Understated and clever, this story is not necessarily about the march. Rather, it is a gentle reflection of some of the obstacles faced by women, along with the global shift that saw people from all walks of life unite in solidarity.

12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Fu Wenzheng

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

My childhood was spent in the countryside, which influenced me a great deal. Chinese countryside retains many traditional elements of life and culture, in which a kind of silent beauty has always influenced me. As an adult I find myself sentimentally attached to the traditional Chinese elements and this, I hope, is evident in the Chinese aesthetic style of my picture books.

Review: Ice Wolves

Orphaned since infancy because of the war between the Ice Wolves and Scorch Dragons, twins Anders and Rayna relied on no one but each other.

But when the two line up to touch the staff of Hadda in order to avoid arrest for pick-pocketing, the worst imaginable thing happens.

Anders takes the form of an Ice Wolf when he touches the Staff of Hadda, and Rayna, that of a Scorch Dragon.

It shouldn't be possible.

It makes Anders wonder if he and Rayna are even related, but she is his life. Anders has to escape the city to save his sister, but to do so he must enter places he would never previously have dared set foot.

Review: The Feather

Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood have created an  evocative and spell-binding story with their new book, The Feather.

Hard working children, Maria and Nico's washing day is interrupted by a huge feather falling from the sky into their yard. Upon inspection it reminds Maria of the mystical stories from long ago, when the sky used to be blue. Both children instantly recognise the importance of this discovery.

The children want to keep the feather safe, but Maria knows that it doesn't belong, locked away, inside a building. They decided to take it to the village. As Maris and Nico carry the feather into the village their hearts are filled with lightness, joy and hope.

April YA new releases

April brings us many much-anticipated YA new releases with several from Australian authors. From fantasy to romance, thrillers to sequels, a novel-in-verse and queer YA rom-coms, it's all there. Enjoy!

Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein, $19.99, Walker Books, 9781921977381, #LoveOzYA

Review: Giant Pumpkin Suite

This brilliant piece of work focuses on the individuality of twins, the strong bond between them, a big young girl with dreams that fit her size, a giant pumpkin that keeps her from her goals, and all that happens in between. It’s also about literature, numbers and music, and the effect they can have on people’s lives

Thomas and Rose are twelve and a half years old. But no one remembers that they are twins as they are opposites in appearance and character. Sickness at an early age has kept Thomas from growing. His literacy is at a low level and he is grades behind Rose.

Review: The Secrets We Share

We met Clem Timmins in The Secrets We Keep, when her house burnt down and her mum went away. Now in the sequel, we find her living with her dad in a tiny flat until the rebuilding of their house is complete.

Mum has been away a long time. Clem secretly blames her for the loss of their life and  entire belongings, for she had left a candle burning which caused the fire. Clem tells her friend Ellie that mum is dead. The shadow of this lie will create chaos for Clem's conscience.

Due to start High School, Clem's life is filled with change and new beginnings. Upstairs, Maggie's nephew Matt has come to stay indefinitely for some unknown reason. Total opposites, the two find mutual ground and a friendship forms.

Review: Eat your Greens, Reds, Yellows and Purples

Looking for a cookbook designed for young kids?

You need to check out Eat your Greens, Reds, Yellows and Purples.

Categorised by food colours, this book is filled with easy, kid-friendly recipes. They are recipes the kids can cook themselves (with some supervision), which create food the kids will want to eat.

Like green smoothies, very berry plum pie, fruity raisin granola and sunshine rice. 

There are foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, and the serving sizes are generous, so the kids can cook a meal for the whole family.

Review: Smart Baby Cookbook

As parents and carers, we are always looking for ideas and recipes on how to prepare nutritious and healthy foods for our little ones.  In this welcomed new publication, Lauren Cheney has all that you’ve been searching for sewn up.

New phrases such as ‘protective and preventative nutrition’, ‘optimal nutritional balance’, and the words SMART foods are used, although some may have never come across them, and what the word SMART stands for. You’ll discover why a Mediterranean diet is always promoted and which foods can ‘optimise immunity and brain development’.

This book supplies advice and suggestions under eight headings, on what to cook, how to cook, store, freeze and reheat each recipe, the length of time it can be stored, and which containers are best to use for storage and freezing.  Utensils that aid food preparation are suggested with the safest plates, spoons and cups to use for your child and why. Listed to make shopping easier, are items for your freezer, fridge and pantry. Directions on how to cook by steaming, boiling, blending and reheating are also included. Each recipe has information keys on cooking, preparation time and if suitable for freezing.

Review: 100 Scientists Who Made History

I don’t think it’s possible to overstate how science has shaped our knowledge of the world. From the early philosophical thinkers who used their observations to question and test ideas, through to modern biologists who discovered ways to measure pollution and climate change.

This fantastic new book from DK profiles 100 scientists from a variety of countries and backgrounds who have contributed to our understanding of today's world. This book encourages kids to explore the diverse ways science has challenged thinking, made discoveries and ultimately changed the world.

Review: Meerkat Choir

My five-year-old daughter thinks this book is an absolute hoot! Each time we read it, we have to read it again straight away. And, the beauty of it is, I am more than happy to. It's so much fun to read out loud.

The meerkat choir is about to begin its first rehearsal. The conductor starts the countdown — And a ONE - and a TWO - and a THREE — but each time they try to begin, they're interrupted by a different animal.

Meet the Illustrator: Liane Tancock

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Whimsical, humorous, inky, colourful and playful.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Bottles of ink, plenty of dip pen nibs (often lots of the same nib if it's a particular favourite), my Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils, a nice cup of tea, and an audio book playing in the background.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Most definitely ink and watercolour.  I love the strength and flexible line you can get with a dip pen.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Beatrix Potter - I find her illustrations so touching. E. H. Shepard for his expressive, loose handling.  And Chris Riddell for his sheer grace of line.

Announcement: The IBBY Australia Encouragement Award Winner: Will Kostakis

The IBBY Australia Encouragement Award (The Ena Noël Award) for a young emerging writer or illustrator has been announced. And the winner is...

Will Kostakis for The Sidekicks published by Penguin Random House. Read our exciting review of The Sidekicks by Connie, here.

Meet the Sidekicks: a swimmer, a rebel and a nerd. Through the different relationship each shared with Isaac, they become more than these public personae. Each young man deals with grief and the situation that forces them together to deal with Isaac's untimely and suspect demise.

Review: Where is Little Fish?

Lucy Cousins's Little Fish, who was first featured in the 2006 book Hooray for Fish, returns in two new board books, Where is Little Fish? and Count with Little Fish.

Little Fish will delight readers with his new fishy adventures in the deep blue ocean.

In the story Where is Little Fish? babies and toddlers will enjoy lifting the durable flaps to see where Little Fish is hidden. At the end of the story there is a lovely aw moment, when  Little Fish is found with who he loves the most.

Review: The Knight Who Said 'No!'

Young Ned is the perfect knight. He always does what he’s told, he’s always helpful and he always says ‘yes’.

But one morning Ned does not want to do what he’s told, he does not want to be helpful and he starts saying… ‘no'.

Ned is in a bad mood, and nothing seems able to change it. He says ‘no’ to everyone and everything, and no one is exempt from his moodiness. 

Not even the dragon that’s been terrorising the village!

But what will happen when Ned says ‘no’ to a dragon? 

Review: See Hear

See Hear is the incredibly clever and innovative sequel to the award-winning picture book Smile Cry.

Created by the dynamic duo, Tania McCartney and Jess Racklyeft, See Hear is yet another success when it comes to picture books and these two creators know how to do it well. With a flip-the-book format, children are encouraged to stop, to take notice and explore their surroundings, by identifying what they can see and hear around them.

With the same adorable characters, Racklyeft’s illustrations are simply divine. The colour palette of pastels is stunning; from Piglet looking through his large binoculars, to Cat peacefully enjoying music through her headphones. Children are bound to delight in each and every illustration.