Review: Where The Magic Happens

I’m no stranger to the ordeal of brain tumours and while the trauma of diagnosis and treatment is beyond taxing for those related to brain cancer sufferers, it can be positively paralysing for those dealing with it firsthand, especially if you are just four years old.

This joint project by children’s author, Coral Vass, illustrator, Nicky Johnston, nurse and director of Hand in Hand Fighting Brain Cancer Foundation, Amanda Christensen and Charity Founding Director, Carolyn Oldano, is in my humble opinion a beacon of golden shining light. As a relatable, touching children’s picture book, Where The Magic Happens is oozing with warmth and tender moments. As a resource for those children, parents, siblings, teachers and friends who have been impacted by brain cancer in some way, it is exemplary.

Guest Post: Story Box Library Reflects on NAIDOC Week Theme: Voice. Treaty. Truth.

Jackie Small, Education Consultant at StoryBox Library, reflects on last week's NAIDOC theme; Voice. Treaty. Truth. 

One year since launching our Indigenous Story Time series, NAIDOC Week 2019 and its theme of Voice. Treaty. Truth provided an opportunity for us to reflect on the aims of the series and the quality and relevance of the resources we are providing educators and families.

Review: Maya and Cat

From the moment I opened the cover and saw an array of gorgeous cats staring at me on the end papers, I knew I would like this book.

When Maya sees a cat out in the rain, on a roof, as wet as a seal, as grey as a puddle, she decides to rescue it. Maya attempts to entice Cat down from the roof, out of the rain, with a feather boa, a shoe lace and even a can of sardines.

Cat eventually comes down and Maya attempts to help Cat find his home.

Review: My Grandfather’s War

It’s often difficult to produce a book based on war, let alone write a children’s book centring on the Vietnamese War. And yet, award-winning duo, Glyn Harper and Jenny Cooper have done this beautifully, sensitively and gently in My Grandfather’s War.

Released to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Khe Sanh, My Grandfather’s War is a story of a very special bond between a girl and her grandfather. It touches on the negative attitudes towards those who went to war, the realities of returning from war, and the pain and price of war, including living long term, day to day with PTSD.

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.

Giveaway: Owl Babies 25th Anniversary Edition

Thanks to our good friends at Walker Books Australia and to Celebrate Book Week, we have five beautiful 25th Anniversary copies of Owl Babies to giveaway. This bestselling modern classic by Patrick Benson and Martin Waddell has been quoted as 'the perfect picture book'.

To win your copy, simply tell us in 25 words or less what you love most about your Mum.

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity@gmail. The response we like the best will win one of five copies. 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 28 August 2017.

Competition runs from 9pm Monday 20 August to 9pm Sunday 27 August 2017. 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.

For our heartwarming review of this edition of Owl Babies, by Coral Vass visit, here.

 

Review: Owl Babies

First published in 1995, Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson’s gorgeous tale of three baby owls has become a classic. A quarter of a century on, and over four and a half million copies later, Owl Babies 25th anniversary edition continues to engage young readers around the world.

Review: Koala

This month, Koala climbs his way onto the bookshelves across the country, with the release of a stunning new publication by award-winning non-fiction picture book specialist, Claire Saxby, and one of Australia’s premier illustrators Julie Vivas.

It’s time for little Koala to find his own way, now he is growing older. He must leave his mother and the home he has known.

Lonely Planet Kids: Amelia’s Maze Adventure; Marco’s Maze Mission

 In an age saturated with screens as the leading form of amusement for children, parents are always looking for new ways to help stimulate and entertain their kids. The world’s leading travel guide publisher, Lonely Planet, now offers something screen-free for young ones; two a-maze-ing globetrotting adventures , Amelia’s Maze Adventure and Marco’s Maze Mission.

Guaranteed hours of fun and learning, Lonely Planet Kids: Amelia’s Maze Adventure and Lonely Planet Kids: Marco’s Maze Mission have hit the ground running, making the world accessible to children, at the same time teaching and entertaining kids in a fresh and exciting way.
The good old fashioned maze has never looked so good.

Review: Nanna’s Button Tin

My own mother, an avid sewer, had an old button tin. As a child I adored sorting through this tin, looking at all the different buttons that had been collected over the years. And so I instantly connected with this book; from its title and gorgeous cover, to the simple text married with its stunning illustrations.

Nanna’s Button Tin is a delightful story about a little girl and her nanna who enjoy sorting through the button tin in order to find a very special button; a replacement eye for teddy.

Review: The Anzac Tree

Once in a while something special comes along; a unique treasure. The Anzac Tree is just that.

Filled with layers of history, timelines and individual family stories, The Anzac Tree is a reflection on Australia's war history.

Inspired by real people and events, The Anzac Tree tells the story of generations spanning over a century, through one family who sent their loved ones to war and those who remained behind to wait in hope of their return.

Before brothers Percy and Roy went to the First World War, they each planted a tree. Roy's tree grew strong while Percy's tree didn't survive. Roy returned from war but Percy didn't. As years pass by, the next generation gathers around Roy's tree to remember and reflect on the wars that were and how these continue to affect them.

Review: Say Yes A Story of Friendship, Fairness and a Vote for Hope

Say Yes is a perfect mix of story and history; educating and pulling at the heart strings simultaneously.

Set against the landmark 1967 Australian Referendum, Say Yes is a story about two young girls- best friends- who did everything together. But as they grew older, the girls realised they weren’t allowed to do the same things or go to the same places because they looked different.

Mandy had to go to a different school. Mandy was not allowed to swim in the public pool. Mandy couldn’t sit in the cinemas with her friend.

Review: The Recorded Poems of Och Aye the G'nu

It’s a joy when a new and unique book comes across my desk, and The Recorded Poems of Och Aye the G’nu was just that; a delight to read and listen to.

With a bonus CD, The Recorded Poems of Och Aye the G’nu is a collection of rhythmically rhyming, zany and entertaining short stories written by Jimmy Barnes and collaborated with bestselling children’s group - The Wiggles.

Review: Historium Activity Book

Welcome to the Museum.

Find your way through the Aztec maze, decorate an Egyptian mummy or even create your own ancient Greek vase design.

Historium Activity Book is jam-packed with colouring, puzzles and much more, offering a wonderful array of activities to challenge young readers to discover something new and use their imagination to draw, decorate and design.

Review: Cheeky Monkey Manners Series - Listening / Taking Turns

Whether it be remembering to say please and I’m sorry, or learning to listen and take turns, the Cheeky Monkey Manners Series provides a wonderfully helpful and fun platform to teach young children manners.

In Lisa Kerr’s newest board books, Listening and Taking Turns, Cheeky Monkey is up to mischief again. He doesn’t mean to be cheeky, but he just can’t help himself.

In Taking Turns, Cheeky Monkey is most excited to have his friends over to play.

He loves showing off his new bubble blowing toy, his new skipping rope and even his favourite set of blocks but Cheeky Monkey needs to learn how to take turns, before all his friends leave. Luckily Mama suggests a great way to encourage Cheeky Monkey to share.

In Listening, Mama asks Cheeky Monkey to go to the shops to buy her some items but Cheeky Monkey hasn’t listened carefully and so he learns a lesson the hard way.

Young children will fall in love with Cheeky Monkey as they explore these new books about manners. Both the text and illustrations are fun and playful. A valuable addition to any household with young children, the Cheeky Monkey Manners Series is a great way of teaching and discussing the importance of learning manners.

Other titles in the series include Please, Excuse Me, Thank You and Sorry.

Title: Cheeky Monkey Manners series - Listening / Taking Turns
Author/Illustrator: Lisa Kerr
Publisher: The Five Mile Press, $9.95 (each)
Publication Date: 1 May 2016
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781760402679 / 9781760402662
For ages: 1+
Type: Board Book

Review: Christmas at Home

Following the success of dynamic duo, Claire Saxby and Janine Dawson’s Christmas books (Christmas at Grandad's Farm and Christmas at Grandma's Beach House), comes their latest creation - Christmas At Home.

Written to the tune of “O Christmas Tree”, this fun, rollicking rhyming Christmas book is bound to get you in the festive mood.

Beautiful to look at and touch, with cleverly embossed Christmas related items on the front cover, every page is jam packed with Dawson’s distinctive (almost Anime style) illustrations with an Aussie twist.

Review: Alby and the Cat All Holed Up

Alby is no ordinary dog. Alby and the Cat All Holed Up, is the third book in a series written by Leanne Davidson. Alby, the hero of the story, is companion and guide dog to Jim.

When Alby, Jim and Jim’s wife, Ellen, visit the local school to share their experience about what it’s like to be blind and have a guide dog, Alby suddenly recognises a boy who had previously terrorised and antagonised him.

Alby can’t relax and he can’t stop thinking about the boy.

Cat advises Alby to take revenge, however Davidson’s clever storyline forces Alby to confront the boy. In an unexpected turn, Alby has the upper hand and an important decision to make. Should he help the boy or punish him?

Review: Colour with Chipmunk and Count with Panda

One of the things I love about lift-the-flap books, is the more flaps to lift, the more enjoyable the read.

These two gorgeous lift-the-flap books by Katie Saunders will help littlies explore the concept of colours and counting, with countless flaps to lift on every page, offering an array of interactivity and opportunity to explore and learn.

Event: The Environment Award for Children's Literature 2016

A wonderful afternoon was spent, at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival, on the 40th Anniversary of the Wilderness Society, celebrating the Environment Award for Children’s Literature 2016.

Combining both the love of children’s literature and the love of nature, The Wilderness Society's annual Environment Award for Children’s Literature (EACL) promotes books that help grow kids' love for nature.

The award recognises some of the highest quality children's books in the country, and the shortlist is frequently used as a guide for parents and teachers wanting to foster a love of wild places and wildlife in young Australians, and to encourage a sense of responsibility for our natural world.

Last year’s winner and one of this year’s judges, Wendy Orr, gave an inspirational address. Being Father’s Day, Wendy recalled her own father constantly picking up rubbish wherever he went. Not only were her parents good role models in encouraging due respect and protection of the environment, but Wendy went on to say they also instilled in her a love for nature and the environment, which has been a powerful force in her writing.

Wendy said the “judging was hard, but the reading was an absolute delight”, as this year’s shortlisted books “inspire us to find out more about nature, cause us to act and to love it with honest respect.”

And the winners of this year’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature are….drum roll please…..

Non-fiction

Atmospheric by Carole Wilkinson

Picture Fiction

Seagull by Danny Snell

Once I Heard a Little Wombat by Renee Treml

Fiction

The River and the Book by Alison Croggon

Review: Counting on You

Simply gorgeous to look at and read, Counting On You is another stunning publication by the Melbourne-based dynamic duo, Corinne Fenton and Robin Cowcher,released just in time for Father’s Day.

The perfect partner to You Have My Heart, Counting On You is also based on Parrot’s classification of the six emotions; joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and love.

This small simple book with its padded cover is padded with delight.

While the previous publication is centred on ayoung girl and her bright red balloon, Counting On You delivers the same engagement with a young boy and his blue kite floating through each page just like the ever-changing tide of human emotion.