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. 

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: We're Going To The Zoo

Taronga zoo presents books for wild little learners and explorers!

Through the gates there’s a chatter and a squeak! What amazing animals will you meet? 

This lovely board book takes us on an exciting trip to the Taronga zoo, with a family who are all very eager to visit the animals and see the sights.

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: When Santa Got Stuck In A Gum Tree

Well, this book is an absolute delight.

In essence, it’s as the title suggests - the tale of Santa becoming snagged on the branch of a gum tree, while the local natives try (and mostly fail) to help him down. 

Eventually, of course, the day is saved but not before some very funny situations which, let’s just say, include Santa losing his boots and pants.

Told in joyful, masterful rhyme, this book is a gem that begs to be read aloud. Author Jackie Hosking does not shy away from using sometimes long and wonderful-sounding words that make the reading experience a true pleasure.

Review: Party Rhyme

This fold out board-book from the author of Rhyme Cordial and Rhyme Hungry is delightfully surprising and surprisingly funny.

It’s PARTY RHYME!
Put on your PARTY BAT,

enjoy the LIZZIE DRINKS,

but don’t eat too much HAIRY BREAD!

As the name suggests, this book contains delightful jokes and puns, witty rhymes and playful language.

Review: How We Share Cake

This rather gorgeous story from acclaimed author/illustrator Kim Hyo-eun, is told in the voice of a little Korean girl who is one of five children. 

Everything about How We Share Cake feels fresh, shiny and new. It’s a total delight.

Our narrator tells us that ‘we can split anything.’ She then explains how to divide an orange or a pie five ways, and the optimal place to sit at the dinner table… (There’s no contest - one is closer to the delicious egg rolls and another is next to the youngest child, with his sticky little grabbing toddler hands).

Review: Kevin Saves The Show

Kevin the Sheep hosts a song competition.

It’s karaoke – just one-dollar admission!

But who’s the new sheep that the spotlight’s revealed?

And how has such talent been so well concealed?

This rhyming, karaoke-rich riot of a book features our favourite Kevin the sheep, along with many other farm animals. Both Polly the pig in her delightful frock and make-up, and Gary the goat who may just be bringing leg-warmers back into fashion, make special appearances.

Review: Riley’s Failproof Guide To Breaking A School Record

Riley Noodle has been trying to break a school record for seven years. There is only one problem; Riley doesn’t think she’s very good at anything.

This junior fiction book has a little bit of most things and a whole lot of feel-good humour.  

The book opens with Riley Noodle having superglued herself to the school prinicpal’s dog, which sets us up perfectly for the feel of this story. 

Riley is an accident-prone grade sixer who’s flawed and humble, and unaware that she’s really quite funny.

The cast of characters in the story are interesting and diverse – bordering on caricature in moments, but also very human and relatable to readers. 

Review: To Stir With Love

This very special book brings together two much-loved creators, in an offering that is simply stunning.

To Stir With Love pays homage to one grandmother in particular - and to all grandparents (along with special cake recipes!) in general.

Kate Mildenhall is best known for her acclaimed books for adult readers and as a presence in the literary scene, while Jess Racklyeft is a celebrated and awarded illustrator. So, this perhaps unexpected pairing actually feels like a perfect match. A slam dunk, if you will!

‘Grandma’s cake is golden and scrumpti-licious and always big enough for everybody.’

Review: Digger Digs Down

This wonderful book is a riotous cascade of colour, curiosity, chaos and charm.

Reading it reminds me of the excitement and movement of picture books from my childhood (back in the stone ages).

Digger digs down. Digger digs deep, deep into the ground.

Review: Is My Phone Reading My Mind? The Real Facts About Artificial Intelligence

Is My Phone Reading My Mind? actually did seem to read my mind, to answer random questions I had asked inside my head. Spooky!

Indeed, the strength of this wonderfully informative book is that it anticipates the questions about Artificial Intelligence or AI, that may or not be on the tips of our collective tongues.

AI is not a particularly jokesy topic or one that’s easy to navigate. The book does a deep dive into many facets of AI, and importantly, it illustrates why we don’t need to be afraid.

Review: Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

Small children will love this book. Already, I can hear the giggles, hoots and whoops of laughter across our fair land, as each successive character appears making the wrong (and utterly hilarious) sound.

Bicycles say ‘Cock-a-doodle-dooo’

Firefighters shout ‘Ding Dong’before they put out a fire!

And Flowers go ‘Chugga Chugga Choooo Choooo!’

This fabulous, riotous and chaotic book begs to be read aloud and will probably be started again the moment it is finished.

Review: Zoom

Some days, everything goes spectacularly wrong in the worst possible ways. Today is that day for Tom when things inside him break. Outside a storm brews mirroring the intensifying darkness within him.

Closed doors are no match for cookie-wielding mum, however. She enters a room of gloomy light and ominous intentions, sets down Tom’s plate and waits. 

Tom ignores her and afternoon tea in favour of his grandfather’s old SRL camera, the kind with a long lens for zooming in and out.

Review: This Is Not A Sad Book (but it's OK to feel sad)

This is definitely not a sad book. It’s not even an arduous book to read but by golly, it is a book that unashamedly tackles some of the heftiest emotions that a young person, indeed anyone, has to face. 

Grief, loss, depression, anxiety, uncertainty. Big hard-to-deal-with feels that demand big help.

This Is Not A Sad Book is that help. In short, it’s a lighthouse of hope, explanation and tactics to apply when one finds oneself or someone they know, in a dark, scary, perilous place. 

Review: Louder Than Hunger

For many teenage boys, there’s nothing in the world that’s louder than hunger (I’ve seen six-packs of bread rolls be devoured by ravenous teens before we’ve even left the supermarket carpark).

Can Jake silence the voice in his head?

Written in a combination of non-rhyming poetry and prose, this elegant and unique verse-novel is propulsive and compelling.

A dark yet hopeful book, Louder Than Hunger takes us into the inner sanctum of teenage male mental ill-health in a no-holds-barred way. 

With incredible momentum, we witness almost a year of Jake’s life In rehab, and are privy to the unadulterated voice inside his head. It is impossible to ignore.

REVIEW: The Dog Who Danced On The Moon

From a front cover with tactile pops of silver and shininess, to a joyful text that simply begs to be read aloud, The Dog Who Danced On The Moon is just glorious.

There once was a boy called Jeremy Grace

Who had a remarkable interest in space.

He was quiet and shy, very often alone,

Just him and his dog, spending time on their own.

Young Jeremy has big dreams and a dancing dog for a best friend.