peter carnavas – Page 2 – Aussie Reviews

Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck by Alex Field ill Peter Carnavas

‘Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck’ is a follow-up title to Field and Carnavas’s Mr Darcy. The setting is the same, with Darcy, Lizzy and the other characters portrayed as animals. Darcy’s reticence and clumsiness again features. This time it’s dancing that has Mr Darcy feeling out of sorts. He’s not convinced he likes to dance, and declines when asked by Lizzy to join their dance. But is it dislike of dance or insecurity about his abilities? It seems it could be the latter. But this time, he immediately starts to do something about it. Fortunately his friends are happy to help, which helps speed up the process somewhat. So when he again encounters the dancing Lizzy he can accept her invitation.

Mr Darcy set out for his morning walk.

The sun was shining and the daffodils were beginning to flower. Spring was in the air. ‘Oh dear,’ he thought, ‘it’s dancing season again.’

Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck is a follow-up title to Field and Carnavas’s Mr Darcy. The setting is the same, with Darcy, Lizzy and the other characters portrayed as animals. Darcy’s reticence and clumsiness again features. This time it’s dancing that has Mr Darcy feeling out of sorts. He’s not convinced he likes to dance, and declines when asked by Lizzy to join their dance. But is it dislike of dance or insecurity about his abilities? It seems it could be the latter. But this time, he immediately starts to do something about it. Fortunately his friends are happy to help, which helps speed up the process somewhat. So when he again encounters the dancing Lizzy he can accept her invitation.

Darcy might be the strong silent type, but fortunately he’s also now willing to accept help. He’s clearly keen on Lizzy and doesn’t want to embarrass himself in her presence. Like ‘Mr Darcy’, Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck references Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, but loosely. Knowledge of the names of the characters is not required to access this story. Peter Carnavas’s soft watercolours compliment the gentle text. A tender tale of romance for the very young. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck, Alex Field ill Peter Carnavas
New Frontier Publishing 2013
ISBN: 9781921928178

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores and online.

The Children Who Loved Books by Peter Carnavas

Angus and Lucy didn’t have very much …

Angus and Lucy didn’t have very much …

Angus and Lucy didn’t have very much, but it doesn’t seem to bother them, or their parents, all that much. Then one day the books, which were the one thing they had lots of, overwhelmed them and their home. So they had to go. When they were gone however, they took with them something more than just the pages.

The Children Who Loved Books is a new title from writer/illustrator Peter Carnavas and continues his trademark exploration of family and childhood. Here we see the family enjoying books and being together, being happy despite a dearth of material possessions. There is a suggestion that books help us to communicate, as well as to entertain and teach us. The text is very spare and his characters seldom speak but they manage to communicate clearly with the reader. Illustrations are watercolour set in lots of white space. There is plenty here for a teacher to use in the classroom, whether it’s about storytelling in picture form, the important things in life, or the experience of family. Recommended for lower primary readers.

The Children Who Loved Books, Peter Carnavas
2012 New Frontier Publishing
ISBN: 9781921928161

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Mr Darcy, by Alex Field and Peter Carnavas

Mr Darcy, as most readers will know, was one of the main characters in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The story has been popular for many, many years appearing on television and in film. It has even been treated to a zombie makeover in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. And here is a picture book version of the story, with Darcy as a duck. He is a pleasant enough character, but distant and a bit proud. He ignores an invitation to tea from Lizzy, because living as she does in a quite small park, she is unlikely to provide much company. Why then does he keep tripping and falling and crashing when she is near? He is polite but quite contained. But something changes his mind. Illustrations are Peter Carnavas’ trademark pencil-outlined gentle watercolours set in lots of white space.

Mr Darcy might seem an odd subject for a picture book, but it is really a story about learning not to judge by appearances. Lizzy’s manners initially fail to break through Darcy’s reserve, but she persists rather than giving up. Darcy’s friends Bingley and Caroline step in when Darcy’s insistence that he’s fine threatens to cause him harm, but only after Lizzy has come up with a plan. Lizzy is resolute but not pushy and Darcy eventually has to overcome his prejudices. This is a sweet picture book, that will also introduce new readers to a classic story. Recommended for pre-school and early school-age children.

Mr Darcy, Alex Field & Peter Carnavas
New Frontier Publishing 2011
ISBN: 978921042836

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

The Great Expedition, by Peter Carnavas

It was the morning of the great expedition. Robert gazed at the country before him.
He met with his senior officer
Final instructions were given.
The parcel was handed over.

A group of explorers are charged with a mission to deliver a parcel. They set out with all the supplies necessary for their journey. But the expedition is beset by challenges and not all the group will reach their destination, achieve their goal. Loosely based on the expedition of Burke and Wills, this group of intrepid explorers embark on their journey with sincere intent. But some obstacles are harder than others to overcome, and one by one, they fall. Only at journey’s end, can their trek be reviewed in its entirety and its success measured. The story is accompanied by Peter Carnavas’ trademark simple lines and delicate watercolours surrounded by plenty of white space and simple font. And watch out for pesky flies!

The Great Expedition is a gentle exploration of child’s play. Carnavas has clearly spent time watching small children and their side-by-side play as well as their on-again-off-again cooperative play. Here is an urban expedition that is as fraught with danger (in a small children way) as can be. First there is a plan, then an introduction of all the characters and their roles in the expedition. For children who are interested, there is the opportunity to introduce the story of other explorers and the challenges they faced. The illustrations contain a number of stories, that will encourage rereading. Will Henry, the biologist, manage the wildlife? Will Ivy, the botanist, find new and undiscovered plants? But perhaps the most important of all, how will they work together to reach their objective? Recommended for pre-school and junior-primary children.

The Great Expedition, Peter Carnavas
New Frontier Publishing 2011
ISBN: 9781921042812

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

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

The Important Things, by Peter Carnavas

Christopher’s mother had to do everything,
for his father had faded from their lives.

With his father gone, Christopher’s mother tries hard to fill the gaps. But when she decides it is time to give away the things which belonged to his father, Christopher finds it hard to remember. Together, mother and son find ways to remember.

The Important Things is a beautiful picture book tale of loss and of celebrating the important things of life. With the father’s absence left unexplained, it is a book which could be used to explore the theme of death, but also family break up or simply ways of remembering people who are important to us for a variety of reasons.

From author/illustrator Peter Carnavas, The Important Things is delightful.

The Important Things, by Peter Carnavas
New Frontier, 2010
ISBN 9781921042287

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

Last Tree in the City, by Peter Carnavas

Edward lives in a dull colourless city, of ‘concrete and cars’. But Edward has a secret place he and his little duck can visit to forget about the city. It’s a magic place for him and he visits every day. Then one day the tree is gone. Now there is nothing to relieve the dullness of the city landscape, nothing to bring colour to his world. Despite his distress, Edward sets out on his bike. He finds a little bit of tree and a way to keep it always with him. In doing so, he finds a way to share his special world with the rest of the city. Illustrations are watercolour and ink. Front endpapers show a drink cup and straw. In the end endpapers, the straw is sprouting its own little plant.

Edward is a solitary child and Last Tree in the City gives no indication of his family situation. But many children spend time in their own wake-dream worlds, regardless of their family. Edward is initially devastated by the loss of his safe place, his tree. But in resolute fashion, he sets out anyway, destination unplanned. His discovery of some remnant of his tree brings him hope and he ponders where he should plant it. In the end, he plants it in his bike, so the tree will always be with him. He ventures afield with his tree, and discovers a whole world within the city where people are doing the same thing. Have they all rescued bits from his tree? Or are they all nurturing their own little havens? And can they share it with each other? Plenty of room for discussion. Recommended for young primary readers.

Last Tree in the City, Peter Carnavas
New Frontier 2010
ISBN: 9781921042218

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com
This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Sarah's Heavy Heart, by Peter Carnavas

Sarah knew the heavy heart would always be hers to carry.
She wished it wasn’t so heavy.

Sarah has a heavy heart, so heavy that doing everyday things like sleeping or going to school is really difficult. But one day she meets a boy whose heart is too light, and Sarah comes up with a solution that will help both of them live better lives.

Sarah’s Heavy Heart is a touching tale of friendship and love, told with minimal text and whimsical illustrations. Sarah’s heart dwarfs her in every illustration, but by the end of the story moving it has become easier thanks to her teamwork with her new friend. His light heart, which floats like a balloon, is likewise helped by being tethered to Sarah’s heavy one. the message, though, is not purely whimsical – text and illustration together give a simple yet important message about the magic of friendship.

Gorgeous.

Sarah’s Heavy Heart, by Peter Carnavas
New Frontier, 2009

This book can be purchased from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.