Review: Peculiar Parents

Did you know some kangaroo mothers adopt orphaned joeys? Or that a baby humpback whale weighs as much as a large car when it’s born? Find these morsels and more in Peculiar Parents written by Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder and illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak.

Using playful text, detailed research and little-known facts, distinguished children’s author Owen Reeder brings animals’ lives to life. Topics such as choosing a mate, home selection and building, family life and parental habits are explored.

Review: Mega! Australia’s Megafauna

Did you know that evidence suggests that Australia’s First Nations people lived alongside megafauna for thousands of years? Doesn’t that just blow your mind? This and other facts are explored in Mega! Australia’s Megafauna, created by Laura Holloway and Liz Duthie.

Holloway’s playful writing style creates vivid, memorable facts about the mega animals that existed in Australia between 2.5 million and 11,700 years ago. Think massive echidnas, platypuses and kangaroos. My current favourite animal is Australia’s longest snake ever, the Bluff Downs Giant Python which was 10m long.

Review: This Bird: Noticing Our Urban Birds

‘Oooooo … doo-doo-doo-whipp!’

‘Pew pew.’

That's the call of an eastern whipbird, one of the many wonderful birds I hear living in the Blue Mountains in NSW. 

Also full of vibrant native birds is a new book called, This Bird: Noticing Our Urban Birds, created to help identify and celebrate birds in our backyards, local parks and streets. 

This Bird is written and illustrated by Astred Hicks in collaboration with Dr Holly Parsons, an ecologist and community educator. The book is a stunning way to connect with nature and be in the present moment.

Review: The Night Librarian

The Night Librarian by Christoper Lincoln is one of the first graphic novels I’ve read. My own children and my class ADORE graphic novels. As for me, I’ve been reading my much-loved traditional novels and picture books. 

Enter The Night Librarian: a middle-grade adventure fantasy graphic novel. Firstly my 11-year-old son devoured the book, the cover and plot piquing his interest. Then it was my turn.

The Night Librarian follows twins, Page and Turner, who are on a mission to recover their father’s rare book which was stolen when they were trying to determine its value. 

Review: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Extinct Animals

Yes, yes, yes!  Award-winning author/illustrator Sami Bayly has created another superb book. 

It is the next book in her Illustrated Encyclopaedia series: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals. 

Some of Bayly’s other books include: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dangerous Animals and How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures. 

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals is a beautifully produced book with debossed (indented) lettering on the cover, cloth quarter binding and in-built satin ribbon bookmark, all features that help to make it both durable and a book worthy of gifting. In addition, the cover and internal design as well as typesetting is by award-winning book designer, Astred Hicks.

Upon opening The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals, I scan the contents page which features a silhouette of each animal in the book and note a few entries for megafauna. I don’t know about you, but any book with megafauna draws me in straight away. Of course, I’m referring to animals such as the giant marsupial diprotodon, which was related to wombats and koalas. Did you know that the diprotodon is the largest marsupial to have ever walked the Earth and became extinct about 25,000 years ago? Amazingly, these animals lived at the same time as the First Nations people in Australia for more than 20,000 years. Hang on there’s also a giant monotreme! Hackett’s giant echidna was about 1 metre long and weighed around 30 kg (about the weight of a ten-year-old child). Mind-blowing!

For each animal in the book, there is a double page spread and information under the subheadings: Description, Extinction Status, Location/Habitat, Diet and Fun Facts as well as illustrations. These illustrations are exquisitely good. Each animal is depicted in watercolour with precision and detail. One of my favourites is the Kangaroo Island assassin spider with its pelican-looking head. Bayly has created rich patterning on the spider’s abdomen and its long, spear-like legs are stunning.

There are not only extinct species in this volume but also near-extinct species, reminding us of human’s impact on other animals. The Kangaroo Island assassin spider is critically endangered so hopefully the curiosity and joy generated by this book helps encourage readers to make good choices regarding the beautiful wildlife that we have around us.

In terms of use in the classroom, on top of inspiring animal lovers, this book provides a great opportunity to model headings, subheadings and tier 2 and 3 vocabulary. There are also teachers’ notes with other ideas. Thank you Sami Bayly for another beautiful book filled with wonderment. My eleven-year-old son adores his collection of your work.

Title: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Extinct Animals
Author/Illustrator: Sami Bayly
Publisher: Lothian Children's Books, $32.99
Publication Date: 25 September 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780734421395
For ages: 7+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

Review: Plantabulous! More A to Z of Australian Plants

‘I wonder what that plant is called?’ Ever heard yourself or your kids saying this? Me too! I often find myself walking through the bush curious about the name of plants. 

Plantabulous! More A to Z of Australian Plants not only helps me identify plants with indigenous, common and genus names but also captivates with its vivid illustrations and inspiring information. 

Plantabolous! details 26 native plants and follows up from, Plantastic! A to Z of Australian Plants. It also includes a glossary and a map with a list of plant ecoregions. 

A botanist with a passion for Australian native plants, Catherine Clowes has created a thoughtful book which exudes her enthusiasm. For each letter of the alphabet, a plant is listed with striking illustrations, an activity and facts. For example, did you know that the native palm called burrawang, is a plant from before the dinosaurs! 

Review: L.O.L. G.O.A.T Laughs Out Loud

Get ready for an adventure filled with laughter! L.O.L G.O.A.T. Laughs Out Loud is the sequel to G.O.A.T. by the award winning authors, Kate and Jol Temple, creators of Bin Chicken and Bush Turkey.

The book tells the story of Goat who likes to LOL and Duck who tries to get Goat to laugh out loud by making LOLs. Duck tries ‘Lizards On Logs’ and ‘Lobsters Overheating Lasagnas’ but Goat is not impressed.

Review: Mr McGee And His Hat

Why, hello! Mr McGee is back—you know, the moustachioed fellow in a bowler hat.

Pamela Allen brings us Mr McGee and his Hat, another simple, yet engaging story with imagination and humour at its core. Her rhythmic and rhyming text, helps Mr McGee adventure across the page, for example, Up in the air, Mr McGee flew, his hat and his cat and his bed went too.

Mr McGee is portrayed in clear, simple shapes and bold colours. Allen’s distinctive use of white space offsets her detailed pen and watercolour art. She expertly depicts Mr McGee’s expressions and body language, highlighting the funny situations he finds himself in. All these characteristics assist young ones to comprehend the story.

Review: Nothing Ever Happens

Enter the watery world of orange fish and greeny-yellow fish. There’s a rock, a shell, seaweed and a starfish. Nothing ever happens here. The coloured fish buddies wish something AMAZING would happen … but they should be careful what they wish for!

Nothing Ever Happens is another wonderful book by Heidi McKinnon. She is the talented creator of books such as, I Just Ate My Friend, It’s a Long Way to the Shop, Baz & Benz and Floof.

Review: Count The Stars

From two award-winning creatives comes the story, Count the Stars, an inspiring picture book that shows readers how the world around us is filled with the wonderment of mathematics. 

Through its captivating narrative and stunning illustrations, the book tells the story of Maddie, a curious, maths-loving girl, who leans into her passion and yearns to find a friend to share her worldview with.

Raewyn Caisley’s writing reflects her warmth and insight, allowing her love of mathematics to shine through. 

Review: Captain Thunderbolt’s Recital

I find bushrangers captivating and Captain Thunderbolt is no different. 

Known as the ‘gentleman bushranger’, it is believed that Captain Thunderbolt never shot anyone. In Captain Thunderbolt’s Recital, Jane Jolly has captured a more playful side of Australian bushranging history. 

Review: The Concrete Garden

Multi-awarding winning author/illustrator Bob Graham has released another soul-stirring picture book: The Concrete Garden. His teetering piles of published books include, April Underhill, Toothfairy, Home in the Rain, The Posey Ring and Ellie’s Dragon. 

This time it’s a gentle post-pandemic story set in an urban apartment block, at the end of COVID lockdown. Adults wear masks and children spill out from the apartment ‘like sweets from a box.’ Amanda brings the chalks and the desire to draw something. The narrative evolves as the concrete artwork grows.

Using carefully chosen words, the narrative offers layers of meaning. For instance, my three-year-old was captivated by the unfolding chalk drawing. Whereas my five-year-old felt the emotions of the story more keenly. Graham has expertly blended the themes of community spirit, optimism, and the power of creativity.

Review: A Swirl Of Sadie

With her blue-chalked hair, light-up sneakers and a twirling skirt, please welcome back seven-year-old baker, Sadie Le, in her latest adventure, A Swirl of Sadie. 

Including three stories in one book, A Swirl of Sadie follows Sadie, a determined yet kind character, who shows her love for friends, family and community through baking. 

In this latest book, Sadie creates a treat for her school movie night, puppy treats for a puppy play date and desserts for a family celebration. 

Review: How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures

Beneath the foam bubbles of the sea is a wobbly glass world, largely unknown to us. In fact, it’s thought that we know more about Mars than our own deep-dark oceans. And so, for those curious to know more, come and explore How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures.

This is the first book in a new picture book series about unusual animal evolution stories. Sami Bayly dives down with readers, exploring the ocean’s five different zones, including the Sunlight Zone, Twilight Zone, Midnight Zone, the Abyss and the Trenches. Her yellow and black scuba suit is a constant throughout the book as she discovers unusual sea creatures. 

Review: luwa tara luwa waypa

Down the vast eons of time, comes the story luwa tara luwa waypa, about the transformation of a boy to a man and the search for courage and inner strength. 

The book’s title roughly means 'Three kangaroos, three Tasmanian Aboriginal men’. 

Dave mangenner Gough, a proud trawlwoolway man, shares his family’s connection with tara (male forrester kangaroo), linking readers to ancient Tasmanian culture. 

Review: Whingeville

Whinge. Complain. Bellyache. Grumble. That pretty much sums up Will’s attitude. Until one night a hot air balloon takes him away to Whingeville and the Whingeville citizens make Will their king.

Award-winning author Coral Vass has written an entertaining story with a strong message about the importance of perspective. Vass has expertly employed rhythm and rhyme. 

When I’m reading Whingeville to my two-year-old and five-year-old, the words roll off the tongue, adding to the dreamlike quality of the story.

Review: The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor

Mystery. Ghosts. Time travel. The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor really does have it all.

Sam and Harry move with their parents from the city to a remote, dilapidated manor during the COVID-19 pandemic. The boys explore the labyrinth-like house. They find spooky portraits of long-dead people and secret rooms. 

In the dust-coated library, they discover a book in which a riddle appears and transports them back in time to 1919.

With chapter names like ‘The Horror’, ‘The Manor Attack’ and ‘Disappearing Doors’, Tracey Hawkins has created intrigue. The writing propels readers into each new scene. 

Hawkins has created a realistic brother relationship layered with both camaraderie and power shifts. 

Review: Phyllis & Grace

Stories can enter our thoughts and feelings in order to help us make sense of life and Phyllis & Grace is such a story. 

Grace is Phyllis' young next door neighbour. She is easygoing, thoughtful, and likes horses. Phyllis is kind, cheeky and likes horses, too. And although Phyllis doesn’t always remember Grace, she likes Grace. Phyllis also has Alzheimers. 

Nigel Gray has written a tender, empathetic story, steeped in humanity. Told through conversations between Phyllis and Grace, Gray lets the friendship between the pair unfurl naturally. 

Thunderstorm Dancing

Books with spark come around again and it’s Thunderstorm Dancing’s turn to return with a ‘crackling zap! sizzling snap!’ 

First published in 2015, this notable book in the 2016 CBCA Book of the Year awards, Early Childhood, has now been released in paperback.

Perhaps you remember Tania McCartney’s original review of the hardcover version?

Review: Tomorrow Is A Brand-New Day

Having a bad day? Feeling blue? Made a mistake? Well, may I introduce you to, Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day, the follow up to All the Ways to be Smart by the super-talented, author-illustrator duo, Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys. 

Read it, immerse yourself in the illustrations and I think you’ll feel better.

Also from this stellar creative pair are the books, The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade and Under the Love Umbrella.

Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day gives a snapshot into the lows and highs that two friends face over a couple of days, from ripping pages in a book caused by pangs of jealousy, to finding ways to say sorry like picking some flowers. It’s what happens afterwards that matters.