Let's Paint! by Gabriel Alborozo - book review

"Are you keen to paint pictures but afraid of making mistakes?"

Let's Paint! is a very sweet book that aims to help kids explore and embrace their creativity, however messy and imperfect.

It is ideal for kids, particularly boys, who don't do much craft because it pushes the idea that ANY idea is a good one and that in the end your painting might not be perfect but it doesn't matter because the important thing is to just have fun and give it your best.

Alborozo is a very gifted artist and you can really feel how passionate his is about helping kids use art to express themselves (he also worked in the props department on the Star Wars and Matrix movies).

This would be a fun book for a preschool or day care centre - it would be a great activity to read and discuss the book together and then send the kids off to create a painting (or two) of their own.

Who'll love it: kids aged 3-5.

Cost: $22.99

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

  

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybird by Mem Fox, illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist- book review

I love Mem Fox, I really, really do.

I love her books, her passion for children and reading, and the fact that she agonised for years about the placement of a comma in Possum Magic. So, I was reasonably excited to get her latest book, Yoo-Hoo, Ladybird.

As it turns out, the thing that I ended up liking best about the book wasn't that it was by Mem Fox, it was that someone had finally created and clever and age appropriate 'finding' book for very young readers.

My kids love 'finding' books.

You know the ones where they sit on your lap and together you scour the pages looking for the illusive little bus/doll/Wally or whatever. In that moment of togetherness, concentration and then triumph, parenthood is like what I pictured it would be before I had children. Bliss!

The illustrations in Yoo-Hoo, Ladybird are bright, colourful and clear, plus they are full of things that are familiar to young children. There isn't too much text (so you don't get distracted from finding the ladybird) but what there is rhymes, has lots of lovely repetition and engages little minds from the very first phrase; "Ladybird loves to hide."

The level of difficulty is perfect for small children, say 2-year-olds, to start looking with Mummy or Daddy helping and then progress to finding the ladybird by themselves. Its also really nice that the answer is revealed in such an encouraging way on the next page so you can find it next time.

To be honest, I didn't think that you could do a good finding book for such young children but here it is and it is awesome!

Who'll love this: 2 and 3 year olds
Cost: $19.99
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia



  

Seadog by Claire Saxbuy, illustrated by Tom Jellett - book review

Seadog is a lovely story about a crazy, joyous mutt who loves the beach.

The illustrations are scratchy but so full of life, colour and exuberance that you will find yourself smiling as you look at them.

If you children love the beach, they'll really enjoy watching Seadog jump in the waves and chase the seagulls - it really makes you realise that what dogs want to do at the beach and what kids want to do at the beach are really very similar.

I also really love the way the narrator (presumably Seadog's young owner) accepts all the things that Seadog isn't and relishes what his dog is!

The rhyming text has lots of repetition and it is definitely the kind of book that kids will love and want to be read over and over again until they can recite the story with you.

Who'll love it: Kids aged about 3 to 5, perhaps slightly more boys than girls.
Cost: $19.95
Publisher: Random House Australia

Bertie by Pamela Allen - book review

Not many Australian parents will get through the early years of reading to their kids without coming across at least one book by the incredible Pamela Allen. In fact, it seems that most of us can recite large chunks of our children's favourite Pamela Allen book with no trouble at all!

In Bertie, Pamela reintroduces Bertie, the little boy from Bertie and the Bear. If you read the book from one end Bertie is happy (and so is everyone else) but if you start from the other end Bertie is sad (and so is everyone else).

It's a great way to introduce a young child to feelings and emotions, and perhaps you can decide together whether you are feeling happy or sad, and read the appropriate part of the book.

As always Pamela Allen's artwork is incredible - clean and clear but absolutely full of life.

The repetitive text will really appeal to young children (and get stuck in their parent's heads!) and I'm sure that if you start at the 'sad' end by the time you are finished reading you'll be happy again.

Who'll love it: All two and three year olds
Cost: $19.99 (hardcover)
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia