Review: Tiny Dancer

In the notes that accompany this book, author Patrick Guest mentions the ‘undying love only a mother can give,’ and I strongly, humbly beg to differ.

For it is this father’s undying love that has borne magic, mystery and wonder in abundance with the birth of picture book, Tiny Dancer.

‘Tiny Dancer is about making each moment count and living life to the full.’

A tortoise may live for over one hundred years. An olive tree, up to five thousand. But a mayfly lives for just one day.

Review: Edie Tells A Lie

Edie Tells A Lie is a tender, compelling story about family, friendship, loneliness, starting over, and the layered consequences of making a mistake.

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.

Review: Wombat Dreaming

What a gorgeous book this is. As well as a purring rhythmic narrative from master crafter Caz Goodwin, the illustrations from emerging artist Zoe Bennett are to die for. 

Well, maybe we don’t need to be that dramatic but you know what I mean.

Lil desperately wanted

to join in the class.

But each time she tried,

She’d land PLONK on the grass.

Review: My Name Is Jemima - A Tale Of A Guide Dog Superstar

There is so much to love about this delightful book featuring a guide dog and her person – written by Jemima the guide-dog’s real-life handler!

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. 

Junior Review: Loverboy

The compelling young adult novel Loverboy by esteemed author Ben Tomlinson captures the essence of teenage years, transporting the reader into the life (or should I say love life) of Alfie.

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…

Review: Once Upon An A To Z

Three friends in a large library with a ladder (OMG, A LIBRARY LADDER!) and a shiny magic book on the top shelf, bring Once Upon An A To Z to life in the most delightful of ways.

Abracadabra! Alakazoo!
Bubbily, bobbily, boffity, boo!

Clutch your cauldrons and crystal balls,

Dance with dragons down the halls… 

Review: Rosie's Garden

Rosie’s favourite thing in the world to do, is to dig. She finds all manner of mysteries deep in the ground, and forges new friendships when she’s in the community garden, next door to her little stoop and green front door.

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? 

Review: Mavis The Little Plane Spotter

This picture book is an absolute gem. Opening it is like stepping into a gorgeous moment of history. 

I was instantly entranced by the end-papers with their hand-drawn memorabilia, the silhouettes of friendly and enemy planes and many other interesting tid bits.

Then, I turned the page and was gobsmacked to learn that both author Angela Toniolo and illustrator Shannon Melvillle, are the direct descendants of women who performed as enemy plane spotters during the second world war. 

I got goosebumps on my goosebumps, and the story hadn’t even begun!

Review: Gone

Gone’s deceptively simple and achingly beautiful book cover is wrapped around a heartwarming, important offering to the world of picture books.

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.

Review: I Am Not An Owl

A wonderful collaboration between Rhonda Ooi and Mel Corrigan, this delightful book contains layers of narrative and information depicted through both words and illustrations.

‘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.

Review: Starlight

Solli Raphael burst into the spotlight in 2017 when at 12 he became the youngest winner of the Australian Poetry Slam.

Now a young adult, Solli's latest book, Starlight is the third in a series of connected books. The previous ones being Limelight and Spotlight. 

Starlight is in two parts. The first explores identity. 

National and personal identity, racial and cultural identity, identity and public image versus private image and representation.

Examples are shared, from popular culture (musicians, influencers, etc) and fictional worlds (like superheroes), as a way into thinking about how our identity might alter with boundaries or crossover in different contexts. 

How are our physical identity and intellectual identity connected? Do we have one identity or many? How do history and historical events influence identity?

Review: We Saw What You Started

Creating an instant sense of place. Inviting an immediate connection with someone you’ve never met before. Enticing your nerves to tingle with curiosity. 

These are the elements of the holy trinity that a great story begins with and, I’m delighted to say, qualities Carla Salmon has nailed in her debut YA novel, We Saw What You Started.

Nightmares don’t need passports … lines like this set up a delicious air of intrigue and uncomfortable concern. What is it exactly that US teen, Otto is fleeing from? How does it influence his assimilation into his new Aussie coastal home in Red Sands and how will his past implicate his future?

Salmon deftly sows seeds of secrecy, while plunging the reader headfirst into a dire and dangerous situation; an unchecked bushfire. Now, any Aussie worth their salt knows this is not the sort of calamity to mess around with and yet as we dive deeper into this story, the threat of fire occurs, again and again.

Review: This Is Family

Family’s warm, like hot buttered toast.

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.’ 

Review: Hairbrain Saves The Ocean

If you’ve ever lived with an inventor you’ll know that they can talk themselves (and you) into anything. That’s what Hairbrain does - talks himself into being the inventor that saves the ocean, singlehandedly (apart from when he enlists the unwavering help of his very patient and rather ingenious little sister, Zammy).

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.

Review: Grandmas In Grand Cars

Here we have another joyous offering from Walker, in Grandmas In Grand Cars.

Full of fun, fancy, mischief and a surprise or two, this book celebrating Grandmothers and their four-wheeled companions is sure to elicit many smiles.

Celebrating all that is wonderful in the Grandmother/grandchild relationship (and some things that will make your hair curl!), this picture book is a true delight.

A loose rhythm and an easy-going, predictable style mean that there is a great sense of anticipation that builds for the reader. 

Review: Neville's Great Escape

This story begins when Neville the penguin is eaten by a rather large whale. 

But if you think this is the also the end of the story, think again. Because brave, daring Neville actually goes on to do all sorts of clever things inside the whale, and as the title of the book suggests, he will also quite possibly escape!

An hilarious, absurd and laugh-out-loud picture book from beloved creater Sean E Avery (Frank’s Red Hat among others), this work will have people of all sizes and shapes giggling with glee.

Review: Grandmother From The East Grandmother From the West

This book, with its mouthful of a title, is a pure delight to savour. The simplicity of this new picture book by Jacinta Liu and Freda Chui enhances a powerful underlying message which offers enlightenment and assurance in equal measures.

Grandmother from the East Grandmother from the West is the kind of picture book I wish I had access to when I was a kid, daughter of mixed cultures and parents, growing up in an Australia that didn’t quite feel like my true home but was more home than where either of my grandmothers came from.

Review: You Can't Pat A Fish

Almost every child in the history of the world has wished for a pet at some point. 

And those whose wish has included a visit to the pet shop, will undoubtedly have wanted theirs to be the cutest, cuddliest critter that they’ve ever slapped eyes on.

And so … what actually happens when the pet you get, is a fish?

If it’s wet, it isn’t a pet!

You can play with a puppy and snuggle a bunny,

but as much as you wish, you can’t pat a fish.

Review: Jo And The No

Holy moly, hot patooties and my giddy aunt. This book is a unique and magnificent offering in the kaleidoscope of children’s picture books. I’ve seen nothing quite like it on the market.

The cover alone, with a large clump of black (in the form of Jo’s furry, feathered head) amidst a rainbow of colour and texture, is enough to cause a double take. A tad risky for a children’s picture book - yet so perfect.

When Jo first saw the No, Jo didn’t know what it was.

‘Shoo, No!’ said Jo.

The No didn’t go.

Review: My Language Rights – A Child’s Right To Their Language

This is one of a number of recent, important non-fiction picture books to make a splash. 

My Language Rights offers young children information that they can use in daily life, and that may not be accessible to them by other means. 

Drawing on the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights from PEN International, the book empowers children and their families to use and protect all languages - be they big or small, strange or familiar, easy or difficult!