picture book – Aussie Reviews

A New Friend for Marmalade, by Alison Reynolds & Heath McKenzie

Toby, the boy from across the road, joined in.
Ella shrugged and Maddy sighed…
Marmalade peeped out in surprise.

Ella, Maddy and Marmalade the cat love to play together, but when the boy from across the room tries to join in, he gets in the way. He knocks down cubbies and smashes sandcastles. He even pats Marmalade the wrong way. Ella and Maddy are not impressed, but Marmalade enjoys the tummy rubs. Then, when Toby’s attempts to help with a new sand castle scare Marmalade up a tree, it is Toby who has the solution.

A New Friend for Marmalade is a picture book story about friendship and acceptance. A companion book to A Year With Marmalade, it is just as beautiful as the first, and can either stand alone or be read as a sequel. The message of acceptance is gentle, and the whimsy of the resolution will appeal.

This is an exquisite picture book.

A New Friend for Marmalade

A New Friend for Marmalade, by Alison Reynolds & Heath McKenzie
Five Mile Press, 2014
ISBN9781743466599

You can see an interview with Alison here.

Lily's Wish, by Barbara Pyett & Serena Geddes

Lily is writing her Christmas list, and it’s quite short. All she wants is to be able to fly. Santa responds, but with no promise that he can fulfil her wish. Lily explains a little more and Santa promises to do what he can. So begins a memorable Christmas. Illustrations are in pencil and watercolour, alive with the spirit of the season.

Christmas can be a fraught time with all media screaming Buy! Buy! Buy! and families trying to balance budgets and joy of the festive season. Lily’s wish reminds readers that not all wishes are about objects, and that in this wide world there are other important wishes. Lily’s Wish offers magic and wonder mixed with an exhilaratingly wild ride through the sky. Recommended for pre-school and beyond.

Lily’s Wish, Barbara Pyett & Serena Geddes
New Frontier Publishing 2011
ISBN: 9781921042829

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

This book is available in good bookstores or online from Fishpond.

Parrot Carrot, by Jol & Kate Temple

Parrot Carrot is not the only unlikely creature the reader will encounter in Parrot Carrot. Animals and more with similar-sounding names combine to create new ‘creatures’. There’s a cork that looks like a hawk, a goose that looks like a moose, and many more.

There is little that’s serious here, even the characters seem aware of the absurdity of their new forms. Illustrations are almost naïve in style, with few colours on each opening, mostly in pastels. Covers and end papers are soft blue with bright orange and yellow titles.

One third introduction to rhyme, one third parlour game, and one third nonsense, Parrot Carrot will tickle the funny bone and stimulate the imagination. Combine any two rhyming words to make a new animal. A fun game to play with toddlers, Parrot Carrot could also easily be used in the classroom to extend vocabulary, combine literacy and art activities and generate some new creatures . There is also an App for the iPhone, taking the book into the e-realm. Recommended for reading with young children, or for playing with any age.

Parrot Carrot, Jol & Kate Temple and Jon Foye Allen & Unwin 2011
ISBN: 9781742376868

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

This book is available in good bookstores or online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

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

Nancy Bentley, by Tracey Hawkins

Nancy Bentley lives with her family at Port Arthur in Tasmania. When she is bitten by a snake, things are looking grim. There is no doctor nearby and no time to get her to one further away. Her father rows her out to a naval ship anchored just off-shore. The captain takes Nancy aboard but now he has his own dilemma – females are not allowed aboard ship. His solution is to admit Nancy as a sailor, making her the first Australian female sailor and saving her life. Jacqui Grantford’s illustrations are retro in style and fit the story perfectly. Endpapers are collaged extracts of actual historical documents.

Australians take many things for granted, one of them being access to medical services (in most parts of the country). But in times gone by, it was not always so. Today there are treatments for most snake bites too, but again, they are much more recent developments. Living in Australia has always required Australians to be resourceful and innovative, and in this case a father does what he needs to save his child . The Captain also responds in a human rather than an officious way, and finds a solution that obeys ‘the rules’ while saving a child’s life. The notion of a young girl sailor is novel and fascinating and it’s a great way to engage young readers with history. It shows that history is about real people living real lives, not just facts and figures that sit heavily on a page. Recommended for primary readers.

Nancy Bentley, Tracey Hawkins and Jacqui Grantford
New Frontier Publishing 2011
ISBN: 9781921042768

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

My Country, by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan

My Country is, as the title suggests, a wonderful celebration of country. The young narrator sings, dances, splashes and dreams in her country before declaring, on the final page, “I love my country”. The simple yet beautifully crafted text, written by Ezekiel Kwaymullina, is brought to life visually by illustrations by his mother, Sally Morgan. The protagonist smiles her way through her country…

In my country I play with the Morning Star
sing the earth’s song
fly with the red desert dust…

The simple yet beautifully crafted text, written by Ezekiel Kwaymullina, is brought to life visually by illustrations by his mother, Sally Morgan. The protagonist smiles her way through her country, and her smile is returned by all around her – the animals, the sun, moon and stars, even the rocks, the sand and the wind.

This is a wonderful reminder of the connection between Indigenous Australians and their land, and as such is an outstanding offering for Aboriginal children and their families, but it is a book for all children and all Australians about the wonders of nature and the importance of connecting with country.

The author and illustrator are from the Palyku people in Western Australia’s Pilbara. Sally Morgan is renowned both for her artwork and for her books, including her autobiography My Place.

My Country, by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan
Fremantle Press, 2011
ISBN 9781921696916

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

That's Not a Daffodil, by Elizabeth Honey

When Tom’s neighbour. Mr Yilmaz, gives him a funny looking bulb in a brown paper bag, Tom isn’t convinced that it could really be a daffodil. But with Mr Yilmaz’s guidance, and lots of patience, Tom watches the bulb become first a green beak, then green fingers, then a rocket-bud and, at last, a golden daffodil. That’s Not a Daffodil! is a playful tale of nature in action…

‘What is it?’ asked Tom.
‘It’s a daffodil,’ said Mr Yilmaz.
‘That’s not a daffodil,’ said Tom. ‘That’s an onion.’
‘Well, let’s plant it and see,’ said Mr Yilmaz.

That’s Not a Daffodil! is a playful tale of nature in action, with a gorgeous focus on intergenerational friendship. Apart from a bird, a dog and one scene involving Mr Yilmaz’s grandchildren coming to play, Tom and the old man are the only characters in the book, giving their special friendship a lovely focus.

Illustrated with creator Elizabeth Honey’s usual deft simplicity, this is a warm, heart-filled offering.

That’s Not a Daffodil!, by Elizabeth Honey
Allen & Unwin, 2011
ISBN 978174237248

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

Christmas Wombat, by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley

It’s Christmas Eve. Mothball the wombat has no idea what Christmas is, or why there are strange, annoying dangly things hanging on the tree but she does know the smell of carrots, her favourite food. When she finds strange creatures are eating her carrots, she fights a battle of wills. Soon, though, her quest for carrots and a comfortable place to sleep sees her taking an unexpected sleigh ride around the world…

Strange creatures are eating my carrots!

Christmas Wombat is a wonderfully quirky Christmas picture book starring Mothball, the wombat who first starred in Diary of a Wombat. Text is funny and simple, from Mothball’s point of view and readers left to make their connections about what is happening. The reindeer (the aforementioned strange creatures) are delightful, but of course Mothball is the star of this book – and readers will love her.

A perfect Christmas gift for readers young and old.

Christmas Wombat, by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
Angus & Robertson, 2011
ISBN 9780732291716

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

Santa's Aussie Mix-Up, by Colin Buchanan & Simon Swingler

Santa is in desperate need of help to get the Christmas presents delivered on time. All the Aussie animals want to help, but in the end Santa chooses Kangaroo and Emu. Thus begins the biggest Christmas mix-up ever, with the wrong presents delivered far and wide. Santa’s Aussie Mix-up is a humorous song and picture book which youngsters will love…

‘Australians all I need your help,’ said Santa Claus one day,
‘to get my Christmas stocking stuffing done by Christmas day!
I need an Aussie animal, but who can pass the test?’
‘Pick me! Pick me!’ the creatures cried. ‘Pick me ‘cos I’m the best!’

Santa’s Aussie Mix-up is a humorous song and picture book which youngsters will love. Sung to the tune of ‘Advance Australia Fair’, the song features all the silliness which we’ve come to expect from singer/songwriter Colin Buchanan and, of course, the book includes a CD recording of the song. Illustrations, by Simon Swingler are digitally produced and full of life and colour.

Perfect as a Christmas gift and for classroom use.

Santa’s Aussie Mix-up, by Colin Buchanan and Simon Swingler
Scholastic Australia, 2011
ISBN 9781742830070

Available from good bookstores or online from Fishpond.

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

Since 1944 children around the world have sung – and lisped – this classic Christmas song. This Christmas it has been brought to life in picture book format illustrated by Katz Cowley. The protagonist is a delightfully cheeky monkey called Danny who is, of course, missing his front teeth and is pictured envying those who DO have their front teeth, as well as imagining ways he can get some for himself…

All I want for Christmas
is my two front teeth,
My two front teeth,
See my two front teeth.

The book is accompanied by a CD with performer Craig Smith (of Wonky Donkey fame) singing the song, as well as a second song “Toothless” and a Monkey version of the title song – that is, the tune is ‘sung’ with monkey noises, which adults may find slightly grating, but kids will love.

An excellent Christmas gift.

All I Want for Christmas, by Don Gardner, illustrated by Katz Cowley
Scholastic Australia, 2011
ISBN 9781741697841

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