Review: The Short Giraffe

The Short Giraffe has the special ‘it’ factor that makes picture books so magical, with gorgeous illustrations and joyful, spot-on storyline.

The giraffes are a comical lot, all big smiles, in a variety of pastel hues, complete with polka dots.

They want to take a photo. The problem is that the shortest giraffe who ever lived, is not tall enough to be seen in a photo with the other giraffes.

Review: Where Are You, Banana?

Where Are You, Banana? is a perfect portrait of the world through the eyes of a young character, Roddy.

A dog named Banana is Roddy’s constant companion. They keep each other company when Mum is busy with the twins, when it rains and in bed at night.

Banana is prone to separation anxiety, so howls when left alone. The neighbour, Mr Bray, shouts about all the noise, and Roddy finds him intimidating throughout the book.

Review: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

Mo Willems, Goldilocks and dinosaurs. Woohoo! what a combination.

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you the story. According to my quick internet search, The Story of the Three Bears was first written down in the early 1800s.

So, what would the legendary Mo Willems do with the famous Goldilocks?

Mo Willems has delivered the quirkiest Three Bears plot yet. It’s not porridge, it’s chocolate pudding. Goldilocks doesn’t sit on any of the three chairs, because they’re all too tall. The bears dinosaurs aren’t really going for a walk. They’re hiding in the forest, waiting to see who will enter their tempting house. Oh, and one of the dinosaurs is just visiting from Norway.

Review: Oops!

What seems like a harmless game of fetch, becomes a cascade of catastrophes in this adorable book about a dog on a funtastic bender.

There is a good reason the book is called ‘Oops.’ It could equally have been called ‘O-oh’ or ‘Oh dear’. Or ‘Oh my goodness, what a crazy disaster!' The cascade of events starts out quite believable then gets more and more ridiculous, culminating in a curiously absurd scene.

Review: Children's Creative Play

Keep it simple is the main message in this book. This is a well-written, easy read that aims to encourage creativity in children.

The main body of the book is divided into short chapters covering each developmental stage from babies to age seven. Each chapter concludes with a summary table and a list of suitable toys for the developmental stage under discussion.

Other chapters cover children who are reluctant to play, doll history and creative play.

Review: You're a Bad Man, Mr Gum (Mr Gum #1)

The first book in the Mr Gum series is hilarious. Side-splitting, gut-busting, laugh-a-minute funny. I don’t think I read more than three sentences at a time, without a silly chuckle.

Of course the character Mr Gum is completely awful and already picking his nose and eating it by the second page. His favourite TV show is Bag of Sticks, which is a show about a Bag of Sticks.

Mr Gum is not the only interesting character in this tale. All the characters in the book are odd with their silly names and their silly ways of speaking. Wait till you meet Peter the girl, Martin Launderette, who ran the Launderette and Billy William, who speaks ‘funty’.

Review: Tyrannosaurus in the Veggie Patch (Saurus Street #1)

Tyrannosaurus in the Veggie Patch is like 'Back to the Future' for the dinosaur loving set.

Jack finds a Tyrannosaurus in the Veggie Patch. He isn’t surprised, because he wished for one when he saw a shooting star.

The arrival of the dinosaur is immediately a problem as dinosaurs are very big, and they eat a lot. So Jack, his best friend Toby and dog Charlie go about the business of hiding the dinosaur.

Their action-packed romp leads them to an abandoned house and the T-Rex and the dog become quite good friends.

Review: That Boy, Jack

As I read this book, I really worried for That Boy, Jack. I was so concerned about what would happen to him, I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

This evocative book is the reason we read. To be entertained, to be worried, to be affected.

The story transports us to 1874, where we get to experience life in a mining town through the eyes of a normal boy. Just before his twelfth birthday, it is decided that Jack will work in the mines, like his father. The mines are terrifying and Jack is scared of going underground.

Review: My Monster Bubble Writer Book

My Monster Bubble Writer Book has these words inside the front cover: This book is all about monsters, bubble writing and drawing - three of the best things in the world.

Until I read that introduction, I had never considered that bubble writing could be a phenomenon loved the world over. We spent hours perfecting it when I was at school, and since encountering this activity book, I realise my school friends and I were not alone.

Review: Somebody's House

What a colourful book!

Author Katrina Germein has teamed with Anthea Stead for the illustrator's debut picture book, and the result is gorgeous. Stead has created modern rainbow-coloured pictures, full of texture and superb detail.

There is an old orange house, a big yellow house, a shady green house - children will learn their colours in no time. Learning a concept such as colour is a wonderful consequence of sharing an early childhood book.

Review: Baddies vs. Goodies (Super Baddies #1)

This series is a perfect introduction to comic books. It's  chockers with interesting characters who do all the things 5 to 9-year-old boys find awesome, and the bold colours, action and exciting illustrations are bound to hook early readers.

Super Baddies go to Baddie Primary, and Goodies go to Goodie Primary. We’re cheering for the Baddies. They say things like ‘Thank Badness’ and ‘Bad One.’

Goodies like vegetables and keeping sand out of their undies. They hate chocolate and mess, want more homework and more baths.

Review: Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs: Smugglers Bay

Captain Flinn is a five-year-old school boy who leads a group to rescue their friend from the evil Pirate Dinosaurs. Why? Because Pirate Dinosaurs love sausages made from children, of course.

Smugglers Bay is chock-a-block full of action and energy. There is a chase on train tracks, a battle, tomato sauce and an explosion. The illustration of the incredible sausage machine is sure to spark the imagination.

Review: Ruffy and Me

Get ready for a whirlwind adventure around the world.

The main character and his dog Ruffy sit in a tidy room, with toys and travel souvenirs packed neatly on shelves. ‘We were bored at home, Ruffy and me. What if we went travelling? Imagine what we’d see.’

The main character (who could be a boy or girl), spins a world globe and we are taken on a rollicking adventure. The language creates a wonderful rhythm. ‘We zoomed across Australia, Ruffy and me, and look, there were kangaroos - one, two, three!’

Review: Baby Bird's Blankie

This beautiful story is all about love.

Baby Bird drops his blanket over and over again. He calls out to each of his family members to help him, and even when Baby drops the blanket for the umpteenth time and a frightening crow tries to steal it, the family still rush to the rescue.

Baby Bird's Blankie contains calming rhythmic language interspersed with exciting sound effects. The gentle rhythm makes young children want to copy the reader.

Review: The Treasure Box

Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood are masters of their craft, so holding this book in hand is like holding a treasure.

The Treasure Box is set in a nameless war with a nameless enemy, but the story is universal. Families leave their homes, take whatever treasures they can, and seek refuge.

'For weeks they trudged through mud and rain.' The language is gorgeous, and the poignant illustrations paint a grey world.

Review: Just Jack

Young Jack just loves wearing his super hero costume to kinder but wash day looms. Mud pies, paint and water play make things worse.

When Mum wants to wash this super hero's ensemble, Jack jumps up and down and ‘nearly makes the ground rumble.' Eventually, our lovely hero gives up the costume but things hit rock bottom when by the very next day, the costume is still wet.

Review: Jasper McFlea will not Eat his Tea

Many books have been written about children and their distaste for certain foods, but this book excels at telling the story with plenty of humour. Young readers can’t help but giggle when Jasper claims a banana will just make him toot, and they’ll love the absurdity of hiding an apple in a swimsuit.

Where other books might simply preach, this book presents the problem with a great deal of truth and consequence. It will inspire change. It is true, inappetent children do eat something, and in Jasper’s case, it's pasta.

Review: Little Boat

It's amazing how a story with so few words can convey such an important message. Little Boat shows us that being small doesn’t need to hold you back. Not at all.

We are introduced to Little Boat in a vast ocean, but the brave boat is not bothered. He takes control of all situations: he charts his own course and deals with dangers such as sea monsters, terrible storms and treacherous rocks.