picture books – Page 3 – Aussie Reviews

Little Red Ute Books, by Mitch Lewis & Nahum Ziersch

Little Red Ute and the Dump Trucks
Little Red Ute is keen and enthusiastic to put in a full day’s work, but he keeps getting in the way of the big dump trucks. He realises they can carry much more than he can. But when the foreman is called out to an accident on the highway, Little Red Ute knows he needs to stay out of the way. But it’s not long before Little Red Ute discovers a way that he too can help.

Little Red Ute Visits the Farm
The Foreman has sent all the carpenters home when there’s a call from Farmer White. His cow shed needs some repairs. Little Red Ute and Wheelbarrow are not needed once they’ve helped deliver all the materials for the shed repairs. So Farmer White takes them on a tour of the farm. They delight in ‘meeting’ other farm machines like the tractor and the harvester. But then they learn that the Foreman is in trouble and needs their help. They rush back in the nick of time and save him. Illustrations are bright, colourful and very engaging.

Little Red Ute and the Dump Trucks and Little Red Ute Visits the Farm are exciting adventures for young children who like cars and trucks and all things motorised. In the tradition of Thomas the Tank Engine and others, Little Red Ute can talk. He’s very keen to work but sometimes is told he’s too small or not needed. By the end of both stories he’s shown that despite his size, he can be very useful. These short and active stories will encourage particularly boys to play act their own Little Red Ute adventures. I can just see the kindergarten corner now! Recommended for preschool aged children, particularly boys.

Little Red Ute and the Dump Trucks, Mitch Lewis & Nahum Ziersch
Omnibus Books 2010
ISBN: 978162918771

Little Red Ute Visits the Farm, Mitch Lewis & Nahum Ziersch
Omnibus Books 2010
ISBN: 9781862918528

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

The Legend of the Golden Snail, by Graeme Base

Sailing ship, rise and shine,
Hoist your ails and trim them fine,
Taste once more the salty brine,
For with this spell I make you mine!

Wilbur loves to hear the tale of the legendary Golden Snail. Captured by a Grand Enchanter and banished to the ends of the earth, the snail now languishes on a distant shore. Wilbur is determined to find the snail, and sets off on a perilous journey. Along the way, Wilbur feels compelled to help others in need, and when he finally finds the snail he realises that the snail is not quite what he expected.

The Legend of the Golden Snail is the newest offering from favourite picture book creator Graeme Base, whose ability to match quirky but endearing stories with brilliantly complex illustrations has earned him legions of fans young and old. This new book will not disappoint with illustrations which seem almost 3 dimensional, featuring giant creatures, colourful skies and fantastical sea scapes.

A wonderful gift and a true collector’s item, this is also simply a book which kids will love.

The Legend of the Golden Snail, by Graeme Base
Penguin, 2010
ISBN 9780670073498

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

Molly's Memory Jar, by Norma Spaulding & Jacqui Grantford

Daddy had an idea: ‘Molly, let’s make a memory jar for Lucy.’
Molly had never heard of a memory jar, but she liked the idea of making something for Lucy.

When her beloved golden retriever dog, Lucy, dies, Molly is deeply sad. But her wise, loving father, helps her to remember the happy times with Lucy as a way of coping with her grief. He suggests a memory jar, a jar which Molly fills with coloured glass balls, each representing a precious memory. Now, when she feels sad, she can use the balls to remember the good times.

This is a lovely gentle story, with the feeling of hope and healing the text creates echoes by the gradual infusion of colour into the illustrations which begin in black and white and gradually have more and more colours so that at the end they are in full colour.

Perfect both for a child who might be grieving, and as an introduction to the concept of death and grief, as well as just a lovely story of hope.

Molly’s Memory Jar, by Norma Spaulding & Jacqui Grantford
New Frontier, 2010
ISBN 9781921042355

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

The Tomorrow Book, by Jackie French & Sue Degennaro

That’s REAL LIFE, your royal highness,’ said the butler kindly.
‘Well…’ said the little prince. “I think real life could be improved.’

The little prince loves reading the books in the palace library, but somehow the real world never seems as good as he imagines. So, when his parents leave him in charge, he and his friends start to change the world using the ideas from the books in the palace library. Together, they believe, the world can be perfect –

The Tomorrow Book is a wonderful tale of one child’s quest to make the world a better place by reducing pollution, recycling and using solar power. The use of a fairy tale structure is cute, giving a gentle message about the difference that could be made to our world by action towards positive transformation. Printed on paper from sustainable plantations, and with the art using recycled materials for collage, this is a gorgeous book with an important message.

The Tomorrow Book, by Jackie French and Sue Degennaro
Angus & Robertson, 2010
ISBN 9780732289393

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

Noah's Garden, by Mo Johnson & Annabelle Josse

Anything is possible in Noah’s garden.

In Noah’s garden he can fly an aeroplane, fight with pirates, bathe with tigers and ride crazy camels. But there’s one thing he can’t do in his garden, and that is the thing he wants to do most – play with his baby sister Jessica. Noah and his family are living in The Children’s Hospital because his new sister Jessica was born with a serious medical condition. Surrounded by loving adults and fired by his fertile imagination, Noah spends his days playing in the hospital’s garden, and hoping that one day Jess will be able to join him.

Noah’s Garden is a touching tale about the power of the imagination, and the courage of a family living through a trying experience. Based on author Mo Johnson’s observations of friends in the same situation, and brought to life through the beautiful watercolour paintings of debut illustrator Annabelle Josse, this is an inspirational picture book offering.

Johnson is donating all of her royalties for this book to the Royal Chidlren’s Hospital Foundation.

Noah’s Garden, by Mo Johnson and Annabelle Josse
Walker Books, 2010
ISBN 9781921150159

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

Can I Cuddle the Moon, by Kerry Brown & Lisa Stewart

Can I cuddle the moon in the sky?
Give it a go, but I think it’s too high.

Little Owl is looking for someone or something to cuddle – could he cuddle the moon? A star? A butterfly? With each suggestions his mother answers gently, until Little Owl surmises that perhaps the answer is under his nose. In gentle rhyming text and with adorably soft illustrations, this is a perfect cuddle-time book.

Young readers will adore the mixed media illustrations, with intricate and intriguing use of collage bringing to life potentially fearful images of things such as snakes and crocodiles in a way which renders them gorgeous and adults will love the tender feel of both text and illustration, which make it wonderful to read aloud.

Divine.

Can I Cuddle the Moon?, by Kerry Brown and Lisa Stewart
Scholastic, 2010

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

The Great Bear, by Libby Gleeson & Armin Greder

Once there was a bear.
A circus bear.
A dancing circus bear.

The seemingly simple text and progression of this classic picture book belie the many layers of meaning presented both in the story and the wonderful illustrations. Telling the tale of a mistreated dancing bear who spends her day in a cage and her nights performing for a crowd who may clap and cheer but also throw stones and poke her, before she seizes an opportunity to break free and reach for the stars, this is also a story about humanity and the importance of individual freedom.

From the award winning pairing of author Libby Gleeson and illustrator Armin Greder, this book was first released in 1999, and was shortlisted for the Children’s book of the Year Awards in 2000, and winner of the Bologna Ragazzi Award in the same year. It has now been given a new life being rereleased with back of book biographies and comment by both creators, as part of the Walker Classics series.

Perfect for classroom study, this is also a gem for individual reading – and reflection.

The Great Bear, by Libby Gleeson and Armin Greder
This edition Walker Books, 2010
9781921529696

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

Old MacDonald Had a Farm, by Mandy Foot

ld MacDonald had a farm…E-I-E-I-O!

This well known children’s song is brought to life with a fresh perspective, illustrated by Mandy Foot. Foot’s comic, colourful acrylics bring the animals and the farmer himself to life in pages filled with joy. As well as some traditional favourite farm animals including sheep, pigs and cows, there are some good Australian favourites including a kangaroo, cheeky emus and kookaburras giving the book a real Aussie feel.

This is an excellent offering for teaching children the song, making it useful in primary music classrooms, but will also be loved by kids who already know the song. Mandy Foot is a self-proclaimed animal nut, and this shows in her lively animal characters. Great stuff!

Old MacDonald Had a Farm, illustrated by Mandy Foot
Hachette, 2010
ISBN 9780734411396

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

The Twelve Cats of Christmas, by Kevin Whitlark

On the first day of Christmas
my true cat sent to me…
a fat mouse in a fur tree.

While there have been lots of different takes on the traditional Partridge in a Pear tree Christmas song, never before has there been a version quite so riddled with cats. The fat mouse in the first spread is followed by two tomcats twisting, three fluffy Persians, four floating kitties and more, with each spread becoming progressively more crowded with cats of all shapes, sizes and colours.

This is fun, funky offering which kids and cat-lovers will adore. Youngsters will enjoy joining in with singing the text and also studying the detail in the illustrations, with each cat unique and each spread featuring the new editions on the left side with the text and the right side showing the cumulative cat tally surrounding he Christmas tree.

Purrfect fun.

The Twelve Cats of Christmas, by Kevin Whitlark
Scholastic Australia, 2010
ISBN 9781741696240

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

Snug as Hug, by Marcia Vaughan & Pamela Lofts

Joey is sleeping curled up in Mum’s pouch.
Koala is resting on a limb like a couch.
Turtle is dreaming far out in the sea.
Cockatoo is yawning high up in a tree.

This wonderfully Australian offering is a delightful bedtime book which will appeal to parents and children alike. Snug as a Hug is a rhyming offering which visits the Animals of the bush as they settle down for the night before focussing in on the child also settling down for the night, with the parent-reader’s reassurance that they’ll be close by all night.

The illustrations, in the soft tones of the night time bush show the animals settling down, with the final spread showing soft toy versions of the animals on the child’s bed.

Perfect for children from birth to preschool, this is sure to be a favourite bed time offering.

Snug as a Hug, by Marcia Vaughan & Pamela Lofts
Scholastic, 2010

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