nicki greenberg – Aussie Reviews

My Dog Dash by Nicki Greenberg

My dog Dash wasn’t very well-behaved at puppy school.

I think the teacher could have been a bit more patient with him.

My dog Dash wasn’t very well-behaved at puppy school.

I think the teacher could have been a bit more patient with him.

Dash’s story is told by a young girl who loves him. Dash attends puppy school, but although he does many of the same things as other puppies, the teacher is unimpressed. He’s great at ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ but is still working on other tasks. Walking Dash is slow because he’s interested in everything he sees. But he is her pet, and she loves him, despite what others might see as his failures or peccadillos. Illustrations are full page and provide plenty of humour.

Dash is an unusual dog, but there are plenty of those in the world. This young girl is caring and responsible with her pet, despite the reactions of others. ‘My Dog Dash’ is hilarious and will be fun to share with one reader or many. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

My Dog Dash, Nicki Greenberg Allen & Unwin 2016 ISBN: 9781760110673

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Teddy Took the Train, by Nicki Greenberg

Dot loves Teddy, and Teddy loves Dot.
So when Teddy goes missing, she misses him a lot…

When Mum and Dot go on an outing, Dot brings teddy along for the ride. But, in the rush to get off the train, Dot loses Teddy. The kindly stationmaster assures her that the train didn’t take teddy – rather Teddy took the train, and has gone for a big adventure. Although she isn’t sure, Dot gets involved in imagining Teddy’s adventures. Finally, at bedtime, Teddy comes home, delivered by the stationmaster.

Teddy Took the Train is a delightful picture book about imagination, adventures and courage. The rhyming text is fun to read and the illustrations, using a range of media including collage, ink and acrylic are warm and both sensitive and gently humorous. The depiction of Mum in a wheelchair is a wonderful touch, with the disability not forming a part of the written narrative, and thus part of the family’s life rather than the central issue of the book.

A gorgeous offering.

Teddy Took the Train, by Nicki Greenberg
Allen & Unwin, 2015
ISBN Teddy Took the Train

Available from good bookstores and online.

Bom! Went the Bear, by Nicki Greenberg

Bear loves to play his big bass drum. He marches along happy to be making music – and noise. Other animals soon join in, loving the music

BOM! went the bear on the big bass drum
Ting-ting-a-ting-ting-a Strum strum strum.
Giraffes hit the high notes, turtles sing low
Clarinet quick-quick, saxophone slow.

Bear loves to play his big bass drum. He marches along happy to be making music – and noise. Other animals soon join in, loving the music. But Bear isn’t so sure that there are room for all these other animal musicians in his band, especially when they start telling him to look out!

BOM! Went the Bear is a wonderful celebration of music, and noise, and silliness, with the pages full of bright, humorous animals singing and dancing and having fun. The text is perfect for reading aloud and simple enough for youngsters to join in. With repeated readings they will quickly learn the whole story. Illustrations are bright mixed media,with collage touches , particularly for the instruments, adding an element for children to explore, and even replicate with their own art and craft projects.

BOM! Went the Bear is perfect for the very young and for the early childhood classroom.

BOM! Went the Bear, by Nicki Greenberg
Allen & Unwin, 2011
ISBN 9781742376714

This book can be purchased in good bookstores, or online through Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Monkey Red Monkey Blue, by Nicki Greenberg

Monkey Blue and Monkey Red
just don’t feel like going to bed…
Let’s have a midnight feast instead!

The house is quiet and everyone is asleep except for Monkey Blue, Monkey Red and their friend Chameleon, who is quick to suggest a midnight feast. Soon the monkeys are feasting pm popcorn, spaghetti, hot dogs, fruit and more – but Chameleon is a little too enthusiastic and soon crash splash splatter splotter there is a big foody mess everywhere.

Monkey Red Monkey Blue is a rhythmic, rhythmic celebration of food and of mess which will delight youngsters and the adults who read it aloud to them. The images, combining illustrations with photographs of real food in a digital collage, are full of detailed chaos, which are a real feast for the eye.

Lots of fun.

Monkey Red Monkey Blue, by Nicki Greenberg
Allen & Unwin, 2010
ISBN 9781742374437

This book can be purchased in good bookstores, or online from Fishpond.