Review: Australian Baby Animals

Bestselling author/illustrator of A is for Australia, Frané Lessac gives us a delightful and informative new book, Australian Baby Animals.

The board book, is sturdy and ready for the drool covered fingers of our littlest readers, who will be able explore and discover a fabulous range of Australia's furry, scaly and feathery baby animals.

Lessac has taken a unique approach at introducing these animals by grouping them using their baby names; joeys, hatchlings, fry, chicks, puggles, pups and platypups.

Review: I Am Love: A Book of Compassion

I Am Love is a heartwarming book that celebrates love.

Yoga and mindfulness teacher, Susan Verde, shares affirmations that will inspire readers to talk, connect, act and open their heart.

These wise words, combined with Peter H Reynolds soft and delightful illustrations, will help assist children in discovering how love can conquer hurt, anger, sadness and fear. Through love we are able to express compassion, comfort and gratitude.

Review: The Littlest Things give the Loveliest Hugs

One of the things that I love best about Christmas, are the hugs you get.

It is the hug you get, that is oh so sweet and giving. It is the hug you get, that is all warm and snugly. These hugs can be, squishy-squashy yet soft, wrapping itself around your heart. A hug can be better than any present under the Christmas tree.

The Littlest Things give the Loveliest Hugs is that kind of story. It melts that special organ inside your chest and it makes you feel joyful. It is a story that needs your little hugger, snuggled onto you lap so you can share a most charming moment in time together.

Review: Hooray for Horrible Harriet

Children's literature gives us characters that we fall in love with, for me one of them is Leigh Hobb's, Mr Chicken. 

There are four books in the Mr Chicken series; Mr Chicken Goes to Paris (2009), Mr Chicken Lands on London (2014), Mr Chicken Ariva a Roma (2016) and earlier this year Mr Chicken All Over Australia (2019). But when did we first meet Mr Chicken?

In the story Horrible Harriet, we first catch a glimpse of a Miss Chicken, aka Horrible Harriet. Miss C tried to scare the new boy Athol Egghead, but he thought she was charming.  Unfortunately, by the end of this book Athol has to leave and Harriet is once again alone, with no friends.

Review: Wombat Stew

Wow! A 35th Anniversary Edition of Wombat Stew. Childhood memories come flooding back, laughter, delight and my sibling's  favourite cookbook, Wombat Stew Cookbook, which is sadly not currently in print.

Wombat Stew is one of Australia's favourite picture books from the 1980s. It mirrors a typical fairytale story, with the villain and the victim introduced in the first sentence, setting the tale's scene.

'One day, on the banks of a billabong, a very clever dingo caught a wombat... '

Now, in my opinion, he must be a very clever dingo indeed to capture a wombat because they are very strong and fast animals.

Review: One Blue Shoe

Jane Godwin author of Birthday Baby, Starting School, and What Do You Wish For? has created a new world of numbers and counting in, One Blue Shoe.

One blue shoe is missing, can you find it by the end of the story?

Godwin introduces the numbers 1 to 10 using rhyme. She skilfully encourages readers to count the bright whimsical objects, illustrated by Jane Reiseger, reinforcing the concept of number.

Older children will enjoy testing their counting skills, as they play with the concepts of addition  and subtraction that can be found within this book.

Review: Jane Foster's Pets

Jane Foster's Pets is a easy-to-read book that introduces babies and toddlers to pets.

Inside the covers your children will discover familiar pets like a black and white dog, a ginger cat with yellow patches, a gold fish and birds.

This book also introduces less common and exotic pets–reptiles, rodents and a few farm animals.

The retro style illustrations within this book are reminiscent of books from the 1950s and 1960s or Dick Bruna's Miffy.

Review: How to Grow a Friend

How to Grow a Friend uses growing a plant to help explain to littlies what it takes to make friends and over time how to look after their friendship.

Using this metaphor the story can be shared at multiple levels, depending on your children's ages.

Sara Gillingham's bright, charming, stylised illustrations bring the story to life.

The insightful images show pre-readers, actions they can take to grow a friendship and a seed.

Review: One of a Kind

One of a Kind by Chris Gorman is a striking book that grabs your attention from the other books on the shelf.

Firstly, you will notice that the illustrations are black and white and that the text is set on a background of fluorescent pink and yellow torn paper.

The second striking thing about the book, is the theme. How is the young boy, featured on the cover of the book, one of a kind?

Review: Koala Lou

Koala Lou explores the themes of love, change, determination, disappointment and understanding.

As a baby, Koala Lou's  mother told her  many times a day, how much she loved her, saying 'Koala Lou, I Do love you!'

As her family grew larger, Koala Lou's Mum became very busy and no longer told her that she was loved.

Feeling sad, Koala Lou began to wonder how she could be noticed and get her Mum to say she loved her. Maybe if she won the Bush Olympics?

Review: Is It Halloween Yet?

Pumpkins turned into jack-o'-lanterns. Bats, ghosts, pointed hats and black cats.

Spooky themed food and candy.
Costumes of ghosts, mummies, witches and bats.

Is it Halloween Yet? by Susannah Chambers and Tamsin Ainslie is a story about a little girl, Emily, and her excitement for the arrival of Halloween.

Review: Fly

Lucy's imagination sparked her passion to fix things. She often assisted her father when he needed help because it was just the two of them living on the farm.

One day Lucy discovered a common sparrow with a broken wing. Lucy combined her compassion, imagination and determination to aid Flap to fly again.

With her chalk Lucy thought, drew and planned the perfect solution. Once she had collected all her materials she spent a whole weekend and a few afternoons, hammering, nailing, sawing and sewing until her creation was completed.

Review: Scaredy Cat

Scaredy Cat is a entertaining, read aloud, rhyming story, about a little girl and her four-legged friend.

Scaredy Cat is afraid of all manner of things; bees, sneezes, noises, toys, boys and much much more. Luckily he's got an owner that is brave and unafraid of pirates and crooks. She absolutely adores him.

Heather Gallagher's rhyme captivates readers to want to know more about Scaredy Cat. It is a fast paced hunt around the garden, out the gate and to the beach, 'Have you seen my Scaredy Cat?'

Review: If You Meet an Elephant

For aeons it has been believed that elephants are scared of mice. Spring boarding from this premise, debut picture book author, Debbie Smith has written a rhyming story about an unlikely friendship between elephants and mice.

If You Meet an Elephant  'It may help you to know of some traits they might show...'. Space is given for readers to contemplate why a mouse may need to be careful around elephants that wheeze, shower and dance.

While elephants can be '...quirky and different...' they can be helpful, kind and fun.

Review: Hayden's Bedtime

Hayden's Bedtime, will become a new favourite for children who delay going to bed, fearing things that hide in the dark. Come play Hadyen and Dad's bedtime game.

The clock says eight and Hadyen and Dad begin their bedtime ritual, '...off to bed before it's too late...for what tomorrow brings.' Dad lists all the things that they might do tomorrow; playtime, cooking and swinging.

Hayden begins to prolong getting into bed. He fears what might be lurking in his bedroom once the light is turned off.

Review: Winnie-the-Pooh and the day of Important Letters

Novelty books that contain envelope flaps with letters inside them, are as exciting as receiving a letter in your own mail box.

Inside Winnie-the-Pooh and the day of Important Letters you will discover six letters, a map and a special event hat. It is a tale of mystery and intrigue. Who has sent these letters to our friends, from the Hundred Acre Wood, and why?

Review: Row, Row, Row Your Boat

When I think of the rhyme Row, Row, Row Your Boat I remember a toddler balanced on my lap, while moving their hands in a rowing motion as we sang. I remember signing it as a round, at school or on a bus.

But what would an Australiana version sound and look like? Wonder no more, as Matt Shanks has illustrated a delightful Australian version of Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

In this version we meet a boy in a small row boat, who collects a group of Australian animals as he gently rows down the stream.

Review: Trees

'Trees are marvellous beings.'

Come and discover the life of trees and their role in nature.

Appreciate their beauty in all the seasons. See deciduous trees bare of foliage in winter and their fruit bearing branches in summer.

Discover how trees communicate with one another.

Reflect on where trees grow.

Contemplate a tree's function in the environment, 'Trees clean the air we breathe.'

Review: Possum Magic

Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas was first published in 1983 and became an instant Australian favourite.

Many generations have shared this magical story, celebrating  the love of Grandma Poss and her baby Hush. It has been gifted to children all over the world due to the inclusion of Australia's unique animals, Australian cities and food.

Grandma Poss could weave the most amazing magic that made Hush INVISIBLE. As Hush couldn't be seen, she was safe from snakes and she could slide down kangaroo's back.

Review: One Runaway Rabbit

Curiosity, adventure, danger, suspense, ingenuity and love are all present in One Runaway Rabbit.

Pet rabbit owners, lovers of cuteness and adventure will adore this book. David Metzenthen and Mairead Murphy have captured a rabbit's inquisitive nature, along with their extreme fluffy sweetness.

Lulu the rabbit spots a mouse and follows it into the bushes. Under the dark canopy she discovers a hole in the fence, which is too tempting of an adventure to ignore.

Lulu follows the mouse into the neighbourhood and begins to explore. However, all is not well as red fox is out prowling for his dinner.