Review: A Farm by the Sea

Would you rather live on a farm or by the sea? 

In A Farm by the Sea, Jillian Packer uses simple lyrical text and exquisite illustrations to reveal life on a farm and by the sea.

The story is narrated by the youngest member of the family, and we experience life through her daily rhythms. 

The day begins with the farm chores and saying ‘Good Morning’ to all the animals. 

Review: My Super Uncle

A striking cover and dazzling end papers promote the joy that fills this gorgeous picture book that speaks of love in its many forms.

Imaginative rhyming text accompanies vibrant colour illustrations which spill over every page, always focusing on the two characters - the girl and her super interesting uncle, with backgrounds of family scenes and the natural world.

Book Lists: Top 5 YA Dystopian Fiction

Many teenagers gravitate toward dystopian fiction because it helps them unpack real-life issues through the safety of an imagined world. Here are my Top 5 YA dystopian fiction novels:

Review: Start with a Teapot: An Unexpected Guide to the Art of Drawing

Start with a Teapot: An Unexpected Guide to the Art of Drawing by Enric Lax is just that, unexpected.

Presented in a lovely hardcover format, Start with a Teapot is an instructional guide with a difference. 

It encourages artists young and old to take one object and turn it into something quite different.

The first example starts with a teapot and shows how it can become an elephant. 

It’s as simple (!) as adding eyes and tusks, and that’s the head. Then add a body, legs and tail.

This is a building blocks method, using different shapes. 

Sunday Shelfie - My Love is Bigger Than the Sky

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome the wonderful Anna Pignataro. This week we are celebrating her beautiful new picture book My Love is Bigger Than the Sky.

In the brambly forest Oli asked, ‘Mummy, how much do you love me?’ ‘More than the whole world and everything in it,’ said Mummy.

From best-selling author and illustrator, Anna Pignataro, comes a tender-hearted story about infinite love.

Written and illustrated by Anna Pignataro
Published by Scholastic Australia 

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NEW TEAM MEMBER: Louise Brooks

KBR welcomes new team member, Louise Brooks! What better way to get to know Louise than with our infamous 12 Curly Questions.

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I attended 6 schools - one ‘suggested’ I leave (through no fault of my own).

2. What is your nickname?
Flo - given to me by my brother.

Review: The Girl and the Ghost #3: Grand Opening

The Girl In the Ghost: Grand Opening is the delightful third book in the Girl in the Ghost series by Jacqueline Harvey. The story follows Josephine (Jet) as her family prepares for the long-awaited opening of their chateau-turned-hotel in France. However, the grand opening soon takes an unexpected turn. A series of mysterious events threaten to derail the grand opening, leading Jet to suspect that these incidents are not simple accidents, but acts of deliberate sabotage.

Before everything is turned to chaos, Jet must figure out who is behind the sabotage - all the while navigating her budding romance with Gabriel and protecting her precious locket (also home to her ghost companion Louis). As tensions rise, Jet begins to fear that her old enemy, Anastasia, may be behind it all.

With the help of her ghostly best friend Louis and her furry companions Daisy and Tiger, she must solve the mystery before the everything falls apart. 

Review: Hagtale: A Macbeth Origin Story

Macbeth would come pretty close to being my favourite of the Bard’s works certainly its very creepiness is totally beguiling. And, of course, it is arguably one of the best-known, right up there with Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet. It also has those associated superstitions e.g. not uttering its name backstage. But this takes the whole deliciously eerie and supernatural vibe to an entirely new level.

It is seriously compelling reading. A small feral child raised by wolves is ‘rescued’ by a trio of witches, who raise her as a human – a species that is very foreign to both child and hags. Their combined knowledge and skills provide Wulva with what she will need to fulfil their own ends. They plan a future role that remains completely unknown to the girl until the realisation comes too late.

Review: The Dream Keeper

This masterful, dreamy and tender book is both penned and illustrated by celebrated creator, Anna Walker.

What if there lives a Dream Keeper…
… and when you’re scared of shadows,
the Dream Keeper sees.

A small child who’s afraid of the dark. A darling turtle with a teeny-weeny lantern on a wooden stick, rowing a boat, carrying a jar full of light-dreams…

After the sublime endpapers, two single pages filled with intricate detail of each life – the child’s and the Dream Keeper’s - make up the first double spread.

Review: Blue: Dragon of the Sea

Aleesah Darlison has a deft hand when writing books about wildlife and, as she is herself passionate about critters of all kinds, shapes and sizes, that comes as no surprise.

Little Blue is a nudibranch and if you’ve never heard of them, seen them or even read about them before, why not check them out because this book is bound to spark much interest with your little people. After all, you will want to be the font of all knowledge for them when they start wanting to know more! 

These super-colourful shell-less sea slugs are often referred to as ‘sparkly sea cupcakes’ which is a pretty cute description and with over 3000 varieties with an emphasis on varieties - such a range of colours, shapes and features, it’s pretty appropriate.

Review : Come Home, Bigibila

Bigibila, the echidna, entered the world when Gawarrgay, the Dark Emu, was high in the sky. Surrounded by love, smells and sounds, she instantly knew this was her Country and this was her Place.

Bigibila grew into an inquisitive little animal and one day decided she would like to explore more of her Country. 

But such an adventure brings dangers she did not predict and suddenly finding her way home is not easy at all.

Review: How To Be A Fantastic Sensational Good Enough Kid

Cheerful, warm, vibrant, satisfying to hold and chock full of brilliant information for celebrating uniqueness (or for when you don’t feel quite enough), this book is a game-changer. A life raft. A first aid kit. I could go on, but I won’t.

With a team of earnest, hilarious little animals representing the various parts of your brain, and a friendly narrator taking you by the hand from the get-go, how could it be anything but magic!

Whether you’re feeling average, isolated, scared, unable to make a friend – or perhaps you’re aware that you’re winning at everything when others are not! – this book contains strategies and ideas for all the variables that life throws up.

Sunday Shelfie - Time to Go to the Park

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome the wonderful Emma Bowd and Leila Rudge. This week we are celebrating their delightful new picture book Time to Go to the Park.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, breakfast is done.
Time to go out. Let’s have some fun!

And what could be more fun than a day at the park? Playing with friends, exploring the outdoors and having adventures. Created by the award-winning duo, Emma Bowd and Leila Rudge, this is a book that’s sure to inspire many happy trips to the park.

A fun, feel-good book for preschoolers that captures the everyday joys of childhood and family life.

Written by Emma Bowd

Illustrated by Leila Rudge

Published by HarperCollins Australia 

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Meet the Illustrator: Triandhika Anjani

Name, title, location: Triandhika Anjani, illustrator, Canberra

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Nostalgic, whimsical, full of contrast.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
The good old sketchbook, pencil and eraser. Oh, plus some drawing pens. And then there's my trusted iPad, with all my usual drawing apps installed. Last but not least, my laptop to finish everything off.

Review: Don’t Forget

Simple, joyful and celebrating all the best things in life, Don’t Forget’s interplay between words and pictures will have readers big and small poring over detail and rejoicing in what they find. A wholesome, delightful work, it is soft yet strong, earnest yet funny, and altogether delightful.

This board book version of the original picture book is like both a warm hug and a long, joy-filled haiku. With pockets of rhyme and bundles of magnificence in both words and illustrations, this divine board book is a must-have.

12 Curly Questions with children's author Renae Hayward

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I love musical theatre! My favourite musical is Matilda – I’ve seen it three times.

2. What is your nickname?
Naiz or Nae. My niece and nephews call me Aunty Nae.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Sharks and crocodiles – eep!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I love writing in rhyme and using humour and fun.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Persistent, dedicated, patient (sort of).