Review: Betsy & Bon - Three Sweet Stories

Here's a little book that will absolutely delight younger readers (and very likely, older ones as well) because it is as sweet as the title suggests. It is delightfully pretty with the cutest of cute characters and the problems faced by these little critters are certainly very real but also solved - one way or another - without any traumatic complications.

Betsy & Bon are, very obviously, little bees who in their first story build themselves a very cosy and quite spacious hive. They make it from cardboard boxes and other found items which in itself is an excellent example of upcycling - and one I foresee will be replicated in many EC centres, classrooms and libraries once this hits the shelvTheir hive is not very 'busy' though - so they try to find some other bees to come share it but instead find a whole bunch of their friends, all other little critters such as Frogly (frog), Harrington Mouse (mouse), Penny Spots (ladybug), Butter Benjamin (butterfly) and Spencer Snail - all of whom get a little miffed because their offer to come live in the lovely hive is firmly

Review: The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner

12 year old Zoey suffers severe anxiety, brought on by the sudden death of her father, and has a fear of many things including germs, accidents and falling ill. As a result Zoey is homeschooled and limits her travel beyond her home to very few places.

Zoey has been supported by her mum, best friend Lena and next door book shop owner Jada, who have shown understanding and patience when the fear bubbles up inside her.

Zoey and her dad shared a passion for a fantasy series called Magic of Ever After by the author Raven M Wells. Together they would read the books and her father would often say ‘Everything’s going to be okay. Find the magic Zo’.

Review: Heartless

As an avid fan of Marissa Meyer's books, I am shocked it has taken me so long to get around to reading this novel - but I am so glad I finally did! The novel acts as a prequel to Alice in Wonderland, and tells the story of the infamous Queen of Hearts before she became the ruthless ruler we know her as. 

The story follows Catherine Pinkerton, a young woman who dreams of becoming a baker and opening her own bakery in Wonderland. However, as the daughter of a Marquess, she is expected to marry well and become the wife of a wealthy man. 

At a royal ball, she captures the attention of the King of Hearts, who wants Catherine to be his bride. However, despite her parents' expectations, Catherine falls in love with Jest, the mysterious and charming court Joker. 

As Catherine is torn between her own dreams and the expectations placed upon her, a series of tragic events begin to unfold, ultimately changing her life forever and revealing how the kind-hearted Catherine becomes the cold and heartless Queen of Hearts.

Review: Running in Circles - Shivaun Plozza

It’s quite amazing, even after fourteen years of doing this reviewing thing, I am still surprised when there are batches of books all with very similar themes for similar ages. It’s like some pervasive mist in the air inspired so many authors to independently come up with very like storylines.

And I often repeat Tolkien’s theory from the Cauldron of Story (On Fairy Tales) and realise each writer will come up with their own flavours of common tropes. But it still takes me by surprise when close similarities are repeated, until the next trend comes along. This is another of this year's middle grade novels where an absent parent (either death or just absence) is a pivotal plot point.

I really enjoyed this take because it reflects a common enough situation – abandonment by a parent – but with a twist, because it’s not the father who has abrogated responsibility for family but the mother. That may sound sexist and it’s not meant to be. It’s just that we often get narratives where a father is absent and a mum is left to cope with raising children and making a living etc – and not as often the reverse.

Review: CockadoodleMOO

The star of his own show, Rocky has one line to get right. He breathes in and out, welcomes the audience, starts with a joke and when the big moment arrives…

This book is for all kids who love a bit of silliness. Everyone knows the line that must be said and kids will be calling it out at every opportunity. It’s a quick read but one that will make kids laugh out loud, especially when they get to yell out POO!

Review: The Nardi Puzzle

Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, meet Sebastian Walker and Elisabetta Nardi – your modern-day counterparts in the exceptionally clever gaming adventure-mystery that is The Nardi Puzzle.

Twelve-year-old Sebastian is hooked on the Nardi Corp games, which he plays with his younger brother as an escape from the realities of his life. 

He’s pretty good at them too, although not good enough – he would have thought – to be one of twelve children selected from around the world to attend the exclusive launch party for the newest Nardi game.

Sunday Shelfie - The Thing About Dads

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Deborah Frenkel and Daniel Gray-Barnett. This week we are celebrating Deb and Dan’s delightful picture book The Thing About Dads.

One thing about dad-ing: there’s all kinds of ways . . . Some dads are born and some dads are made.

From the bestselling author Deborah Frenkel and award-winning illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett comes a heartfelt celebration of fatherhood.

A joyful ode to dads’ special knack for turning ordinary days into awesome ones.

Written by Deborah Frenkel 

Illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett 

Published by Thames & Hudson Australia

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Review: Kev and Trev - Snot Cool Snow Stories!

We’ve been to the ocean and the jungle with them, and now we’re off in Book Three - Snot Cool Snow Stories, on another madcap adventure with Kev and Trev and their support crew, to the mountains in search of interesting animals called pugons. 

We discover pugons are very shy, cute, small animals that are supposedly living up high on the snowy mountaintop and are a cross between a dragon and a pug. With only a very old book as a reference guide and a deadline from their ‘puglisher’, Kev and Trev are eager to find a way to make the pugons their characters for their next book. 

As well as finding the pugons, their ultimate goal has not changed - one day they will be mega rich from writing stories based on their adventures and will finally be able to afford a new houseboat. Will they be third time lucky? Or will it be Mission Impossible!

Review: The Giant Mystery: How to Grow Magic #1

This new series for your those independent readers will surely be a big hit with it’s combination of magic, humour, friendship, and school – with a difference! Enchantment Street is full of shops and businesses with all manner of magical merchandise and services.

Whether you need treats for your pet dragon or want riding lessons with your unicorn, there will be a place to go in Enchantment Street. And Enchantment Street Primary is certainly the school of magical delights. With human pupils as well as merkids this school has water slipways and ponds alongside desks and chairs and playgrounds.

And  let’s just say that the lessons taught are very different to our own curriculum. Sarah’s favourite lessons are those with Mr Pottifer, of Pottifer’s Parlour of Plants, a very engaging Venus flytrap who teaches Magical Gardening.

Review: My Tokyo Summer

Based on a real-life friendship, this graphic novel memoir for young adults takes us back to the 1990s to Abby in New York who loves zines and punk music, and to Yuuko in Tokyo who is into American films and making art.

They form a connection when Yuuko visits New York and happens to buy a handmade comic made by Abby and decides to get in touch. Their international friendship builds through letters until they meet in person when Abby comes to Tokyo for a university summer art program. 

Solidifying their firm friendship, Abby and Yuuko decide to join forces and collaborate on a comic together to show at an upcoming convention.

Review: Claris and the Secret Ballet

What a delight it is to revisit Paris with Claris on her latest adventure: Claris and the Secret Ballet.  Megan Hess once again delivers a beautifully illustrated story filled with fashion, friendship and a little bit of Parisian magic.                                                                                                                      The story follows Claris who discovers a secret ballet studio and meets a rat who is an aspiring ballerina. Unfortunately, the rat is having some difficulties dancing and keeps falling to the floor!                                                                                                            Claris goes out of her way to help by making her new ballet shoes to help her twirl, and when that doesn’t work, she designs her a beautiful, light tutu to help her jump high in the sky. But that doesn’t work either! Claris realised that all the rat needed was someone to believe in her. Claris’ friendship and support helps the dancer’s ballet dreams come true. 

Review: Really Rubie - A Diary

Rubie is all set to go on her very first summer camp with best friend Riley. 

They have plans. 

They’re excited. 

Then disaster strikes! Riley calls Rubie at the very last minute to tell her she can’t go to camp after all.

Now, Rubie has to face camp – where she knows nobody and doesn’t like the sound of any of the activities (except art) – alone.

This would be a nightmare for most children (and adults). 

How on earth will Rubie fit in, make friends and actually enjoy her summer holidays now that Riley won’t be there?

Review: A bigger Book

Most people would know Hannah Sommerville from her beautiful illustration work,  A Bigger Book however marks Hannah’s first solo outing as both author and illustrator and what a great topic she has chosen to debut with.

Drawing from her own childhood experiences, A Bigger Book tells the story of Cora. Like most children Cora loves books. She loves holding them and smelling them. She loves visiting the bookshop, and library day is her favourite day of the week. But when it comes time for Cora to read out loud in class things begin to change.

Review: Our Flowers

Author and illustrator Bronwyn Bancroft has amassed a stunning collection of over fifty books since first being published in 1992 (as illustrator of The Fat and Juicy Place, authored by Diana Kidd).

Many words have been used to describe Bancroft’s illustrations – bold, vibrant, bright, eye-catching – but for me, the appeal of her style is the way they jump off the page, grab hold of you and make you keep looking.

Sunday Shelfie - The Picture-Perfect Present

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Bethany Loveridge and Amie Sabadin. This week we are celebrating Bethany and Amie’s delightful picture book The Picture-Perfect Present.

Can Meg come up with the perfect present for Dad before time runs out?

With one day to find a special gift for her dad, Meg thinks of ideas by drawing Dad’s favourite things. Would he like a fully automatic coffee machine, an indoor ice-skating rink, or a pet hippo? By the end of the day, Meg is out of time, and out of ideas. What will she do?

The Picture-Perfect Present is a book for creative children who love drawing, using their imagination, and their dads

Written by Bethany Loveridge
Illustrated by Amie Sabadin
Published by Wombat Books

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Review: The Mystery of Colour and How to Solve it.

As a children’s book creator there is nothing more frustrating than coming up with a brilliant idea only to find that someone has beaten you to it. However when it comes to The Mystery of Colour and How we Solved it, I must tip my hat. 

This fantastic collaboration between author David Coles and illustrator Margaux Samson-Abadie is better than anything I could have imagined. In fact when they say, ‘write the book you wish existed’, this is it, and I didn’t have to go through all of the hard work to make it.