Luna is a wonderful, relatable character.
She is smart, loves books, writing and the diary she is encouraged to keep, helps to centre her when her mind is whirring.
It has been five weeks since Luna’s last entry. So much has happened during that time.
Luna and her Mum have become dog walkers.
Their persistence and lots of advertising found them customers.
Told from Edie’s point of view (but not in the first person), Edie Tells A Lie feels very intimate because the reader is privy to her raw thought processes and dreams.
Like the story itself, the character of Edie is both vulnerable and strong. Ten-year old Edie and her bestie, Bowie, have grown up living next door to each other.
Each
knows the other so well, that even when life throws up challenges their bond
cannot be broken. That’s how it has always been.
Until now.
Because
Bowie has left town. She’s moved far, far away, and is not responding to any of
Edie’s messages. She is obviously having the best time without Edie.
To relay a tale based on true life with the perfect balance of sensitivity and fact without sinking into a mire of sentimentality requires a deft narrative voice and strong will, attributes Singaporean author, Evelyn Sue Wong has in spades.
Reach For the Sky records the story of her father and his big sky dream; to fly.
I am not unfamiliar with notions of ‘dreaming big and flying high’, being well acquainted with a plucky little pigeon (aka Pippa) with similar aspirations. The major difference between Robert Shun Wong and afore mentioned pigeon however is that one has wings and one had to build his own. And build them, he does.
Maybe it’s Pip Harry’s prodigious ability with words. Perhaps it’s Nate and Luna’s blossoming friendship. Perhaps it’s the bittersweet discomfiture of wanting more, missing what was and having to deal with an uncertain tomorrow that makes Drift so appealing.
Nate
is in his mid-teens, an ex-pat child of Singapore, recently rehomed along with
his physically challenged mother in Australia which he finds as alien and isolating
as being on the moon. Luna, his neighbour appears a sensitive and understanding
ally however is nursing her own darkness.
When over 20,000 swarming bees decide Nate’s home is the place to be, he and Luna unite to save them along with local surfy and ace beekeeper, Tyler.
This
is the noteworthy phrase in Peter Carnavas’ latest multi awarded middle grade
novel, Leo and Ralph. It sums up a multitude of wisdoms and ironically my
theory that the more brilliant the writing, the more difficult it is to
articulate an appraisal of it.
Carnavas has created another one of those conundrums for me as this story is suffused with so many fine and memorable moving moments, I hardly know where to begin.
Leo and Ralph possess a little more clarity. They both know exactly how it all
started. With a white balloon, a shift in time and space, a shimmer of imagination
and the realisation of a wish come true.
Ralph’s arrival is less perturbing for Leo than one might imagine for despite his alien appearance and raspy voice, his penchant for play matches Leo’s own.
Which is exactly what you want in a picture book for kids that conveys some pretty big notions.
It begins in a cave, ostensibly the giant’s where he has been hibernating for some time. As he re-emerges into the world, the world reacts with alarm and fear.
The giant heads out, dutifully announcing his return and greeting every one he
encounters as graciously as a giant with an overgrown beard and foreboding
appearance can.
Meet
Jemima, a loveable Labrador with a very important job!
Jemima is a
very good dog who loves all the usual doggy things such as going to the park,
playing games, a good old tummy scratch and of course, dinner.
But she’s
also got a very, very important job to do – being the eyes and ears for her
blind handler, who she loves more than anything in the world.
From busy street crossings to cosy moments at home, Jemima balances her fun-loving nature with the focus and dedication needed to be an extraordinary guide dog.
This novel centres Alfie who believes he has found ‘the one’. Meet Maya, his best friend and girl of his dreams. Alfie and Maya share a long, intimate history together.
They spend both the highs and lows of their life together, their loves and
losses, their pains and gains. They share everything, right? Or that’s what
they both thought until they discover an underlying romance to their
relationship that blurs the line between friends and lovers.
Alfie’s
desperate search for love finds him falling for Gwen, one of the close members
in their friendship circle and becomes confused when she doesn’t share the same
feelings for him. It turns out Gwen was hiding a bigger secret of her own…
There’s Mr
Delagatti who collects seeds, Annika who plays the violin, and even Esmerelda
the chicken, who likes worms for breakfast!
But then, things change for Rosie.
A large company with noisy, powerful machines takes over the precious little garden and builds a towering skyscraper in its place. Where will the friends go?
In Too
Many Dogs, Maura Finn and Lucinda Gifford have created a naughty - but
nicely naughty - classic.
The clever,
endearing rhyme with marvellously funny illustrations come together as a
perfect match to create this wonderful and hilarious story.
Little Percy is used to being Top Dog in a household full of cats.
This accessible,
thoughtful rumination on the nature of life’s biggest mystery explores both life
and death.
Long or
short, every life on earth comes to an end some day.
But what
happens when we die?
The last
few years have seen a number of picture books that broach the subject of death,
grief and loss in various ways. Gone adds to this list with its
wonderful, clear message and bold illustration style.
It is told through the narrative voice of Nabila.
Beautifully portrayed in Bates’ minimalistic and perfect prose, it opens with a bold scene that informs the reader of their family situation.
The father has died, and mother cannot speak English as it was forbidden by her husband.
At twenty-seven years old, she appears a lot older.
Due to her lack of language, she has been unable to assimilate into a new life, leaving her with only her children to translate when necessary, and to lean on for help.
‘He can hum
like a cricket and tell you all about Tasmanian devils.’
Our curious
narrator Alexander is working very hard to NOT have a daytime sleep, and
nocturnal animals are his go-to rationale (what is mummy actually
talking about?, I’m not a nocturnal animal who needs to sleep in the daytime!).
And so
begins a cheerful and mischievous adventure.
What do we
do when things get in a tangle?
Do we tussle and struggle? Or do we try something different?
We all have
a little bit of Tilly inside us - an adventurer who is happy, headstrong and
independent.
We all need
to push our own boundaries now and then, for interest’s sake if nothing else.
And we’ve all experienced being in a tangle, a tight spot or a pickle, because
we wouldn’t be human if we hadn’t.
She was in year one during Covid times, which was difficult because doing things like holding hands (which was the only thing that made her feel safe) was discouraged. Despite this, teachers were putting themselves at risk to care for our kids, and in Evie’s case, they took her by her little hand anyway.
Family’s
here when you need them most.
Just picking
up this book with its shiny title and soothing green cover containing people under
a blossom-smattered tree, feels delightful. Couple that with the fun and love
of a bestselling author/illustrator duo of creators - and there is magic in the
air.
This glorious ode to families in all their various forms is definitely told with the warmth of ‘hot buttered toast.’
Step into a
world of micro-tales that pack a mighty punch of humour!
Italian
creative Siliva Borando has made a brilliantly funny book of strange animal
pairings that provide some hilarious and unexpected moments.
Deceptively
simple, with lush colour and strong line work, the book’s endearing characters
and unconventional ideas made me laugh out loud.
Spots and strips, fur and spikes! Big and small, short and tall. Every animal is different at the zoo.
Another in the series of Taronga board books for small hands and big hearts, this joy-filled romp through a variety of animals offers both delight and surprise to the reader.
Through the gates there’s a chatter and a squeak! What amazing animals will you meet?
This lovely
board book takes us on an exciting trip to the Taronga zoo, with a family who
are all very eager to visit the animals and see the sights.
This is a
story about how I came with a MASSIVELY brainy plan to CELAN up all the
disgusting pollution on the beach to help save the whole WORLD!!!!!!
(And also
save my own school holidays)
(Which is
not so important as saving the world, I know)
(But I
thought I’d mention it anyway)
(In case
you guys are interested)
This book
from beloved duo Danny Katz and Mitch Vane (think ‘Little Lunch!’) bears
all their hallmark signatures – chaotic, messy words and word-play, with wacky illustrations
that make you laugh out loud and spit drink out your nose.