Happy Easter!
KBR celebrates this Easter with a look back at some of the picture books we've enjoyed over the years - some relating directly to Easter or with the theme of eggs, spring and new life.
Some may be new to you, some quite old. If these titles are no longer on the shelf, consider giving them a second life by scouring second-hand stores or resale sites online.
Click on each cover for its review, and also check out this Easter Books post from 2014 and KBR Recommends: Vintage Easter Books from 2011, which is utterly fabulous.
No matter how you celebrate this time of year, we wish you a peaceful and uplifting time with family and friends - and maybe even a hint of chocolate.
The scene for Bush Turkey Easter Hunt it set with a reminder that bush turkeys like to create big, messy nests.
It’s while Bush Turkey is making a nest that he discovers a gold egg. This must be something special because it’s gold and shiny.
As he explores further afield Bush Turkey finds more and more eggs, in a range of colours, but all shiny.
Unfortunately, the humans are not happy with Bush Turkey scratching around. Not only is he causing a mess, he’s unaware that he’s wrecking the Easter egg hunt.
Is Boxing Day too early?
Banjo the Hot Cross Bun certainly arrives in store on Boxing Day, and it causes something of a stir.
Even Banjo is outraged. He feels it’s way too early to be on sale. Hot cross buns are for Easter!
Banjo throws a tantrum and causes chaos in the bakery.
Through the fruit and vegetables, chocolates and lollies, Banjo is intent on making a mess.
A
beautiful book for every family who celebrates the Easter holiday.
The First Easter, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft, is indeed a beautiful and accessible narrative, depicting the events and special symbols of Easter in a child-centric and compassionate way.
What an absolute pleasure it is to be able to review this
wonderful, and very important, new book with its roots in Wiradjuri Country and
its language.
Author, Belinda Bridge, has a strong matrilineal connection
to Wiradjuri land and has long been passionate about preserving the language
and culture of her mob. She is well qualified to be sharing knowledge as she
holds a post-grad in Wiradjuri Language, Heritage and Culture, along with her
degree in Creative Writing and Professional Writing, and her TAFE teaching of
Wiradjuri Language.
This new book can provide entry level language for students
new to learning Wiradjuri across the year levels, and even adults. The six
cycles of Wiradjuri Country are determined by the moon and the calendar months
paired to each in this book are indicative only. These cycles can be changeable
when impacted by weather events.
The animals most active during these cycles are named and
illustrated but this may also change due to those fluctuations of the cycles.
For example:
dinawan = emu
galing-galing bu niganaga bu ganhang-girri = wet and hot and
becoming warm [December & January)
yili gariwang-girri = dry becoming cool [April & May].
Your jarjums will find it fascinating but all children,
whether on Wiradjuri lands or not, will also be intrigued. And what an
opportunity to explore the weather and wildlife of the Country on which your
kiddos live and learn. My middle daughter, Aunty Kim at her school on Country
(Lithgow PS), is passionate about teaching her students their language and
culture, and even though she has learned so much over the past six years she's
been living and working there, this will be still be of great value to her.
For those who are focused on a future of walking together,
and who are developing their own First Nations collections mindfully, this is
an extremely valuable resource.
The design is really engaging as well - with striking
illustrations from Peta-Joy Williams and a sense of connection and flow
throughout the book which, after all, is exactly what the learning is about -
from ancestors to the present to the future, from year to year, cycle to cyle.
It's a fabulous book conceived and executed with skill by
two Wiradjuri creators, making this even more significant, particularly for
those little fellas who are growing up in their own Wiradjuri culture.
An outstanding 5 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘rating
for this one.
A Year Around the Sun is the perfect birthday book which journeys through the four seasons and exhibits the joys to be experienced in each one.
The illustrations by Alice Lindstrom are a blaze of glory!
Every single page has top to bottom flamboyant illustrations focusing on animated faces - even the dog’s.
These notes are left for siblings Molly and Sam by their mother throughout the house, and are included within their daily activities, to surprise and remind them of their Zen teachings.
They help turn a light on inside of us, to find peace in our hearts.
The emergence of green leaves from its thin branches proclaims the resilience of nature.
The orchard was filled with Little Peach trees; saplings that bent in the wind.
On the crest was Peach King; an image of authority, standing strong against the wind, watching over the tender young ones. As guardian, he was sensitive to the change of weather, the sky that darkened, any looming shadow of threat.
Maisie is learning how to swim safely. With her Dad by her side she practices jumping waves and knowing when it's better to dive under them.
When Maisie hesitates to dive under a bigger wave, she discovers the strength of the water as it tumbles her about and dumps her. Maisie's fortunate that Dad's there to pull her to safety.
A pair of Australian boots personified, tell the story of their life, encompassing the life of the person wearing the boots.
The boots sat waiting for someone to choose them from amongst the mix of clothing in the store window.
They were ready when the man and the boy came in and paid their money.
When the man put them on, the boots and the man became one.
A coming-of-age novel, it is filled with adventure, personal growth, courage, survival, strength, and renewal.
Set in paleolithic times of spears and newly discovered fire, it is the age of Beast.
Irian and his father are left to keep vigil at the mouth of the cave where all their clan have taken refuge. They fall asleep, and the fire burns out. The carnage left by the attack by the beast in the darkness, is unspeakable.
Irian’s family is lost. He is spared due to his squirreling into a space between two rocks. When he awakes from the shock, he has lost the ability to speak.
Following, is another introduction - to the people
and animals that appear in the story, so the characters are easily recognised.
Stephen Michael King’s Homegrown, Book 2 in the Blueberry Farm series, is typical of his immersive approach to his subject and themes.
Henna, Ziggs and Moe, enjoy the company of all their animal friends on Blueberry Farm.
Delicate illustrations decorate each page as the story weaves its way through the year.
Although set in Australia and referencing our First Nations peoples’ care for Country, the implications are global and reflect our maltreatment of precious forests.
Tree abuse and destruction threaten not just the survival of the creatures that call the tree ecosystems their homes, but by association, our very existence.
The Aboriginals knew this and
still practise their ancient lore via Songlines to ensure their mutual
survival. It is this sacred tree knowledge that indigenous writer, filmmaker and musician
Victor Steffensen endeavours to relay in The Trees.
Tell us in 25 words or less about your favourite Christmas book and how it adds joy to your Christmas traditions.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three French hens…and Trouble in the Hen House, written by Susan O’Meara and illustrated by Yvonne Mes.
There was trouble in the hen house, and let me tell you why...
When Ellie May, Audrey and Daisy can no longer stand the hot summer days that are cooking their eggs before they're even laid, Farmer John has to come up with an inventive solution...
A fun rhyming story about farm
life in the Australian summer and some very determined chickens.
Title: Trouble In The Hen House
Author: Susan O'Meara
Illustrator: Yvonne Mes
Publisher: Yellow Brick Books, $19.95
Publication Date: October 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978648492597
For ages: 3 - 7
Type: Picture Books