Hello from Nowhere by Raewyn Caisley and Karen Blair - book review

It is incredible that a picture book can give you such a sense of the isolation, stunning beauty and mateship of the Australian outback, but that is exactly what Hello from Nowhere does.

It starts with the lines; "Eve thought that living in the middle of nowhere was better than living anywhere else in the whole world." and by the end of the book I was convinced that she might just be right!

In fact Eve lives at a truck stop called Nowhere with a population of 5, somewhere on one of the great empty stretches of road in the middle of Australia.

Eve is never bored - she plays with animals, chats to tourists, runs and feels the magic of the outback. The only thing Eve feels like she is missing is her Grandma who thinks that Nowhere is "the back of beyond".

When Eve finally persuades Grandma to come and visit she gets to show her just how wonderful Nowhere is.

I really liked this book - it feels like a tribute to the Australian outback and the people who live there. The pictures are stunning and the story is told so simply but has such a wealth of feeling, you can really tell how much Raewyn Caisley and Karen Blair love Australia.

This is a great book for learning about kids who live different lives from ours, for remembering that kids can make their own fun, and for appreciating the beauty of Australia.

Who'll love this: Its a great present for children who overseas and for grandparents to give their grandchildren, plus its just a wonderful story with lots to talk about.
Cost: $24.99hc
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 

I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Gus Gordon - book review

Nadine is a cow with character and she's isn't afraid of ANYTHING... at least that's what she tells her friends.

But when her friends challenge her to go in to the woods Nadine has to discover whether she really is brave, or if she was just pretending.

Nadine is hilarious and this is a funny, clever story about the lies and exaggerations we tell each other.

It is truly perfect for kids who are at that 'of course I can read by myself, but only in my head' exaggerating stage. Its also a nice way of gently talking about being scared and telling fibs.

I really loved the rhyming text - it definitely added to the hilarity although it was occasionally hard to read out loud because the rhythm of the text changes from page to page, which can catch you out on the first few read throughs.

Gus Gordon's pictures are an incredible mixture of drawing, painting and collage, that is so full of life and perfectly portrays Nadine's cheeky character!

Overall this book is just good fun and can be neatly summed up by the double page spread of Nadine and her friends, up a tree in the woods, and yelling at the top of her lungs... "I am cow, hear me moo!".

Who'll love this: 3 and 4 year olds will enjoy it the most but older kids will giggle too!
Price: $24.99
Publisher: Penguin Australia

Max by Marc Martin - book review

I really wasn't drawn to Max (could be because I have a bit of a bird phobia...) but my kids loved it from the moment they set eyes on it. 

I'm not sure if it was the uncluttered cover, the bright colour or the idea of a story about something as familiar as a seagull but there was no way I was going to escape reading it to them and I'm so glad I did!

Max is a wonderful story about things that are familiar and every day but have so much meaning, and we have read it over and over again and found something new in the words or the pictures every time.

Max is a seagull and he is friends with the local fish and chip shop owner (good idea for a seagull, right?) until one day a large mall comes and the fish shop has to close.

Max misses his friend but will he be able to find him again? 

The story is quiet, heartfelt and lovely and the pictures are incredible, kind of old fashion collage in style but so much better than that sounds! There is a double page spread in the middle of the book that looks down on Max flying high above the beach which caused my 5 year old son to exclaim out loud when he saw it.

It's got great themes about development and change, friendship and loyalty. But mostly it is just a simple, moving story that easily meets the test of repeated readings.

Honestly, this one is a winner.

Who'll love this: Boys and girls aged 3 to 6 

Cost: $24.99

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

  

To Get to Me by Eleanor Kerr, illustrated by Judith Rossell - book review

To Get to Me comes from a very, very simple idea but it is so cleverly executed that the end result is brilliant.

Everyone who has friends or family who travel or live overseas knows how hard it can be to explain to small children about the world, all the people and places in it, and the different ways of travelling around it. Well, it isn't hard any more!

From buses to camels, from a ferry to a chairlift, To Get to Me is a story about getting from one side of the world to the other, and all the things you would see along the way. It is very simple, with bright and engaging pictures that young kids will love.

This is the kind of book that, when you read it, makes you go "Oh, that's such an obvious idea, I could have thought of that' but the more you read it the cleverer the idea and execution become, and anyway you didn't think of it... Eleanor Kerr did!

Who'll love it: 2 year olds, and preschoolers who have family overseas.
Cost: $19.95 ((hc)
Publisher: Random House Australia

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 
 

AFL range - book review

I am not at all that in to AFL. In fact, I'm so not in to it that when I started getting books from Penguin's new AFL series I had to ask my husband; "Is AFL the one with short sleeves...?"

Apparently it's the one with no sleeves!

But, if I was in to AFL (or had a child who was), I would love this new series...

Embracing the idea of 'get'm young' the series includes everything from AFL - My First Numbers Book (one stripey sock, two rugby boots, three whistles etc), to AFL - Game Day (a touch and feel book about going to a match) and then moves on to the AFL Sticker and Activity Book, Mascot Manor Colouring In Book and Doodlepedia (full of doodling fun and footy facts).

The finishes are classy and the books have obviously been created by someone who knows and loves AFL. So, although they aren't my idea of a good time, if you are in to AFL you are going to seriously love these books.

Who'll love them: Current and future AFL fans.
Cost: Range from $4.99 to $14.99
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Max & George by Cori Brooke and Sue deGennaro – book review

This book is beautiful – both to look at and its story.

It is sweet and tender and perfect for anyone who feels little anxious.

Max has a best friend George. George lives in windows, car windows, shop windows, the windows of Max’s house, anywhere there is a window.

George wears the same clothes as Max.

When Max feels happy so does George.

When Max feels anxious so does George.

Luckily they are VERY good at cheering each other up.

When Max starts school he is very worried but luckily George is in the school windows too. But what will happen when Max makes a friend?

The pictures of Max and George are perfect for Cori Brooke's story – you can see how much they love each other. 

They give a real sense of Max’s anxiety and you can see how reassuring he find’s George’s presence in every window.

Beautifully illustrated, this is a lovely story about friendship, being brave and growing up.

Who’ll love this: It will especially appeal to 3-5 years olds who get anxious, but everyone will love it.

Cost: $24.99

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Pip and Posy: The Little Puddle by Axel Scheffler – book review

Nosy Crow, the publisher of Pip and Posy, have done a brilliant thing. When you buy any of their picture books you can use a smart phone to scan the QR code in the front cover for a free audio reading of the book.

Remember those audio books we all had as kids - ‘when you hear this sound *ding ding ding* turn the page’ - well Nosy Crow have turned all their picture books in to one of them and it is free when you buy the book. Genius!

Pip and Posy is a new series written and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the illustrator of The Gruffalo.

They are very simple stories for very young children. They have lovely bright pictures and they are about every day things.

In The Little PuddlePip goes to play at his friend Posy’s house, he is having such a good time that he forgets to go to the toilet and has an accident.

In The Super ScooterPosy snatches Pips scooter so she can ride it but then has a nasty crash because she has never ridden a scooter before.

These books aren’t complicated or tricky but I really like them because they are about events that happen to all kids.

I also love the audio book thing – brilliant idea.

Who’ll love this: Children aged 1 ½ to 4.

Cost: $12.99 (plus a free audio version to download... bargain!)

Publisher: Nosy Crow, distributed by Allen and Unwin

The Treasure Box by Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood – book review

This is a book about a boy and his family who are refugees of an unspecified war. Their whole life has been destroyed except for one book. A book that tells the story of their people and is their most treasured posession.

*****

Margaret Wild is an amazing picture book author because she has a way of telling a story that is very quiet and understated but profoundly moving.

I found myself thinking about this book so often after I finished it, but there are only a couple of sentences on each page. So much of the story is there but unspoken.

My favourite thing about this book are the stunning illustrations by Freya Blackwood. They are collages that use water colour paintings and text torn from books. They are incredibly beautiful, sad and hopeful all at once.

I also love the way Margaret Wild never specifies which war Peter and his family are fleeing, or who ‘our people’ are. It is the story of all displaced people in the world, of the importance of books and their role in preserving knowledge and she doesn’t let anything detract from that. 

In an age where so many things are digital this book seems very timely. It's hard to imagine anyone leaving their suitcase behind in order to save their kindle!

This book  is so poignant – sad but full of hope. It truly brought tears to my eyes.

Who’ll love this: Grown-ups, teachers, lovers of books, people who have been separated from their home, and kids aged about 5 to 8.

Cost: $24.99

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Open Very Carefully by Nicola O'Byrne, words by Nick Bromley - book review

This book is a sure fire way to create craziness before bed!

It starts off as the Hans Christian Andersen story of the Ugly Duckling.

But then the ugly duckling realises that a crocodile has snuck in to the book!

Chaos ensues as the crocodile tries to eat all the letters (he especially loves the Os and the Ss).

The duckling asks the reader to rock the book to put the crocodile to sleep. While he's sleeping the duck gets a crayon and draws a tutu on him.

That persuades the crocodile to find another book to live in but how can he get out of this one?

Getting the reader to shake the book doesn't work so the crocodile decides to eat a hole in the back cover (obviously).

This book is so clever and definitely designed to be read out loud.

I particularly love the way it directly addresses the kids reading it, and how it plays with the words and structure of books.

The amazing thing about Nosy Crow books is the unbelievably high production values - the paper is always lovely and thick, and any embellishments (such as a hole in the back cover so a crocodile can escape) are incredibly well done.

Who'll love this: Kids, particularly boys, age 3-5 who are looking for more than just a story.
Cost: $22.99
Publisher: Nosy Crow, distributed by Allen and Unwin.