John Williamson’s Christmas in Australia illustrated by Mitch Vane – Book Review

By guest reviewer Liz Bray

Sharing favourite stories, songs and jokes can be a wonderful part of family Christmas traditions. And Christmas stories can also be a great tool in the classroom as kids wind down for the year and prepare for the festive season.

There are now a number of Australian-themed Christmas picture books around, from Mem Fox and Kerry Argent’s gorgeous classic Wombat Divine to the jokier Aussie Night Before Christmas, Santa’s Secret, Santa Koala and many more.

In this book, Mitch Vane has illustrated the lyrics of John Williamson’s very funny song about a family celebrating Christmas and trying to snap the ultimate family photo. Everyone has to be in the photo, but in each stanza someone goes missing…

The text works best if you’re familiar with the song and music. As a straight read-aloud it’s a little bit ‘flat’, but if you have Williamson’s laconic voice and the bouncy, guitar-strumming background music in your mind, it’s a lot of fun. (You can find the song on YouTube here or on Williamson’s website).

The song pays tribute to plenty of Australian Christmas experiences, including Santa arriving in a ute, the Christmas Day family cricket match and associated squabbles, and some wonderful dialogue among the adults (‘yum, yum, pig’s bum’; ‘How ya been, Tangles…I hear young Greg is playing fullback.’). And a couple of clichés (the men being useless while the women organise everything; and rather a lot of beer being drunk).

For me, the best thing about this book is definitely Mitch Vane’s very detailed, humorous illustrations, which tell us so much about each family member. Looking closely as we turn each page, we can see the baby pluck the head from the Christmas fairy and then be safely caught before it goes in its mouth; a teenage cousin transfixed by her phone as chaos descends around her; and naughty Nick filling a water bomb. There are other cheeky, irreverent details including an embarrassed adult returning from the campground amenities with a toilet roll.

Who’ll love this: Irreverent kids of around 6 and up, who’ll enjoy poring over the details in the illustrations.

It’s also a great gift for family overseas – especially if they’ve spent a Christmas in Australia and are familiar with some of our traditions.

As part of a classroom Christmas library, and prompt conversations about what Christmas means in Australia.

Price: $19.99

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

The Last King of Angkor Wat by Graeme Base – Book Review

By guest reviewer Liz Bray

This is a fable in the classic Aesop style.

Four animals sit among the ruins of Angkor Wat, talking about which of them would have made the best King in ancient times. A mysterious stranger sets them a challenge: they must test themselves by racing to a temple on a distant hilltop. Along the way each proves they have real qualities, but also reveals some failings.

While the story is quite simply told, the animals’ journey is genuinely exciting. They travel through intricate, complicated jungle and swamp settings and there is a real sense of challenge and peril, especially when they each encounter a fearsome snake!

It’s all rather satisfying and I can see younger kids being happy to read the story over and over again.

And all kids could spend ages poring over Graeme Base’s incredibly lush illustrations. He gives each of the animals—Tiger, Gibbon, Water Buffalo and Gecko—distinct personalities and body language. His scenes overflow from intricate frames styled as stone friezes of events in an elephant king’s life. There are intriguing, almost-hidden details of foliage and insects—including a ravishing butterfly which appears in each spread, making the journey with the other animals.

Just finding Base’s signature in each piece of art is a wonderful treasure hunt!

I like that the virtues expounded in this story are contemporary yardsticks. They’re the qualities we want to teach kids now: strength, compassion/kindness, resilience, courage and wisdom. I like that the book offers a chance to talk to kids about what these concepts mean, andI can imagine classroom teachers using it as a tool to do that, too. And it’s important that each character has both strengths and weaknesses.

The Angkor Wat setting gives the book an added dimension. Of course, the temples of Angkor are beautiful – and Base has made wonderful use of their stonework in his illustrations. But it’s also quite an iconic place for many Australians and part of ‘our’ neighbourhood. There’s a brief explanation of Angkor Wat’s location and history on the last page of the book.

Who’ll love this: Kids of around 4 to 7 who enjoy sitting down to share a longer story, especially kids with a sense of adventure.

Teachers will love it too and could use it with older kids.

And because it looks luscious with its detailed illustrations, dust-jacketed cover and classic themes, the hardcover would be a great choice for grandparents and others wanting to buy a special gift.

Price: $26.99

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

The Very Hungry Catepillar (cloth book) by Eric Carle - book review

Everyone loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar, right?

There is something about the story and, in particular, the illustrations that just grabs you and draws you in. 

Kids love the repetition of the food and the idea of just eating and eating, grow-ups love the lesson about life evolving and nature, and everyone loves the stunning butterfly picture at the end.

Well now there is a The Very Hungry Caterpillar book for babies and it is divine. Seriously, if you are looking for a gift for a new baby this is it!

The story isn't the same because the book it is just a few pages long, but the cloth version is absolutely true to the feel and emotion of the original. Soft, colourful and incredibly tasteful, this is the most lovely present for the newest little someone in your life.

Plus it comes in a gorgeous gift box with dots. So much love!

Who'll love this: People (especially grandmas) looking for a classy present for a new baby.
Price: $19.99
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia