Review: Reach For The Sky

Stories that quietly set your soul soaring are not always abundant. 

To relay a tale based on true life with the perfect balance of sensitivity and fact without sinking into a mire of sentimentality requires a deft narrative voice and strong will, attributes Singaporean author, Evelyn Sue Wong has in spades.

Reach For the Sky records the story of her father and his big sky dream; to fly. 

I am not unfamiliar with notions of ‘dreaming big and flying high’, being well acquainted with a plucky little pigeon (aka Pippa) with similar aspirations. The major difference between Robert Shun Wong and afore mentioned pigeon however is that one has wings and one had to build his own. And build them, he does.

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: Grandmas In Grand Cars

Here we have another joyous offering from Walker, in Grandmas In Grand Cars.

Full of fun, fancy, mischief and a surprise or two, this book celebrating Grandmothers and their four-wheeled companions is sure to elicit many smiles.

Celebrating all that is wonderful in the Grandmother/grandchild relationship (and some things that will make your hair curl!), this picture book is a true delight.

A loose rhythm and an easy-going, predictable style mean that there is a great sense of anticipation that builds for the reader. 

Review: Elephant Island

Arnold loves the sea, as his ancient ancestors reportedly did. He spends much of his time seafaring, viewing the sea as his friend. 

Until one day, his friend grows wild and unfriendly and Arnold’s boat is sunk.

Thanks to providence and an inbuilt snorkel, Arnold encounters a tiny island on which he takes refuge, all alone in the wide, wide sea. 

From his tiny island, he launches an SOS attempt. And waits, content to explore his island until help arrives. Miraculously, it does in the shape a small ship, a mouseboat. Salvation!

This book is actually beyond audacious. 

It holds BIG ideas and is radical, liberating, scary, mind-bogglingly empowering and also funny. It’s very, very funny.

Author/illustrator Mushin is an industrial designer, artist and inventor who collaborates with scientists and engineers to solve perplexing problems that no-one else seems to know what to do about.

Review: Eat My Dust!

Eat My Dust! is the fabulous true story of Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell, two Australian women who made history. Almost 100 years ago these friends set a land speed record.

In 1928, it wasn't the done thing for women to drive a car, but Jean and Kathleen weren't going to let something like that stand in their way. They were well prepared and determined, despite the naysayers. 

Setting out from Fremantle, they drove to Adelaide then Melbourne and finally Sydney, all without road maps. It was between Fremantle and Adelaide they broke the record set a few months earlier.

Review: City Of Light

City Of Light is an absolute delight. A wonderful non-fiction picture book, it is based on the true story of John Glenn who was the first American astronaut to orbit the earth. 

1962 was a time of encyclopaedias, pipe smoking and families either chatting over the back fence or gathered around a small colour tv in the lounge room – a world away from today’s instant access to news and current events.

This story takes us back in time to the world of 1962, through two small children with a big dream: they want astronaut John Glenn to see them, as he flies over their Perth home at night! Will their torches be bright enough for the job? Mum and Dad don’t think so.

Book List: Motorcycles

Rev your engine - here is a fast and furious book list for the little motorcycle and adventure lovers in your life. Compiled by our consultant librarian, Sarah Steed, it includes picture books, junior fiction and middle grade books.

Grandma Z by Daniel Gray-Barnett, Scribble, $24.99, 9781925322156

Motomice by Paul Owen Lewis, Beyond Words, $ vintage, 9781582706603

How To Build A Motorcycle: A Racing Adventure of Mechanics, Teamwork and Friendship by Martin Sodomka, Saskia Lacey, Walter Foster Jr, $19.95, 9781633220577

Guest Post: Maria Monte on Remembering Our Childhood Bikes on World Bicycle Day

Today is World Bicycle Day. Yes, it's a thing! And if you love(d) your bike the way I loved mine (Treated it like a pony, Ed.) then this will make you want to climb back onto the saddle and whizz down the street. 

Picture book author, Maria Monte feels the same way. Read how her childhood love and school assignments merged into something magical.

Watching children roleplay is remarkable: their active imaginations can bring anything to 'life'. They make the otherwise inanimate – a teddy bear, doll or toy – move and talk, imbuing each with personality and motivations. Through this type of play, children create lovely stories and form strong bonds with their beloved possessions. 

Guest Post: Q & A with Anne and Louise Jordan - Sunny The Sideloader

Who would have thought that a picture book about garbage collection could be so bright and winsome but that's exactly what mother-daughter author-illustrator team: Anne and Louise Jordan have created. Discover more in this revealing Q & A with them.

Why write a book about garbage and recycling trucks?

We both love trucks, and garbage and recycling trucks are especially cool. It never gets old watching trucks pick up bins with their grabbers and empty them into their hoppers. Plus, kids love garbage trucks and there aren’t too many books about them out there.

Review: Tractor

How much do you know about tractoring? Do you have a little one obsessed with everything farming? 

Then this is the book for them! Sally Sutton is a master of informative easy to read books and her latest book Tractor is no exception.

This book is all about farming and every page takes us through different things a tractor can do.

It’s a great page-turner for kids with the question and answer page set up so little ones will find the answer as to what tractor tool makes what sound. 

Review: Fire Truck Santa

Fire Truck Santa is dedicated with love and thanks to volunteers around Australia. It is written and illustrated to accent and acknowledge, the kindness, generosity and invaluable help of people everywhere in times of need, especially fire fighters in their untiring role of saviours during bush-fires.

In this gorgeous book told in rhythmic rhyming verse, the Australian tradition of Santa arriving in a fire truck is being upheld!

The reindeers are resting up for the Christmas Eve run.

Junior Review: Mortal Engines

In the dangerous future, moving traction cities travel throughout the world, feasting on each other for survival. 

After London catches a small town, Salthook Tom meets a mysterious assassin, Hester Shaw. They must work together to discover the deadly truth about London’s Mayor Magnus Crome and his historian pet, Thaddeus Valentine.

They must trek across the sodden earth, ride together as prisoners in a small town, ride in an airship and survive multiple fatal situations. 

Tom tries to find hope that not all of London is evil, but all hope is lost once he discovers that Magnus has engineered the deadly MEDUSA, an extremely cruel machine that will help London to survive for hundreds of years by destroying other towns, leaving no survivors.

Review: Let's Go!: On a Digger

Lots of kids love diggers! They are fascinated by their size, ability, and that their movement is close to robotic.

In the brilliant Let’s Go! series of board books for toddlers, the latest one is On a Digger. With vivid colours and rhyming verse, little ones learn the names of each part of this huge piece of machinery and how the parts function.  

Operated by a girl driver, the giant yellow digger scoops up mud. She sits in a high seat that allows her a clear and safe view of everything around her.

Review: Four on the Run

This delightful reflection of desperate times needing desperate measures, features three cars and a motorcycle, with an objective to save someone they love from disaster.

The four wheeled friends have lived in Mrs Brown’s shed on the farm since she’d saved them from the scrap yard years ago.

 

On one particular night, Maxie, round and bouncy and faded green, Lady, graceful and long, Flash, ninja black with two wheels, and Fergie, grey and slow and wise, hear Mrs Brown talking to herself. 

She is in financial trouble and plans to sell them the next day.

Review: How Airports Work Activity Book; Trains

How Airports Work offers a wonderous world of discovery and interaction. For kids interested in planes and travel, and with over 200 stickers to find places for amongst the images, it is a learning experience with hours of involvement.

Extremely novel and absorbing, this educational publication is by James Gulliver Hancock, who has developed a whole series of different sized books about transport for various ages.

Review: The Little Engine That Could 90th Anniversary

With an enthusiastic and warm introduction, singer Dolly Parton recalls how this story, told to her by her mother, influenced, encouraged and gave her strength and hope.  She chose it for her gifting program in her home town.

Still inspiring generations, it is a powerful influencer. I think I can, I think I can, is still used as a mantra by many adults when life challenges appear too great to overcome.

Review: Two Dogs On A Trike

Children and parents will love practising their counting skills with this beautifully illustrated book.

All it takes is one open gate and a curious poodle who embarks on a crazy and hilarious adventure.

Travelling across the city and the countryside, using a variety of transport the adventure begins. Along the way the poodle meets new friends and invites them to come along and join in the fun. 

Together they ride trikes, scooters, hot air balloons and even a spaceship.

Video Review: Two Bicycles in Beijing

Join Yvonne as she reviews the picture book Two Bicycles in Beijing and learn more about this sweet story of friendships old and new, lost and found set in the beautiful city of Beijing.



Title: Two Bicycles in Beijing
Author: Teresa Robeson
Illustrator: Junyi Wu
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co
Publication Date: 1 April 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780807507644
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book

Review: The Big World of Fun Facts

Do you know what the longest word in the English language is? It will take more than a minute to write. I couldn’t even say it!

If you like facts, figures and trivia, and are curious about anything and everything, you’ll love The Big World of Fun Facts.  

Lonely Planet excels in informational books for kids and adults that love to learn stuff! 

This is another opportunity to discover unknown things about the world around us.