sarah davis – Aussie Reviews

Violet Mackerel's Formal Occasion, by Anna Branford & Sarah Davis

“This is the best small thing we’ve ever found,” says Rose.
“By far,” agrees Violet.

When Violet Mackerel and her friend Rose find a beautiful locket buried in the dirt at the park, they are very excited, although they worry whether someone is missing the locket. Then, when Mum loses a basket of precious knitted toys on the train, they realise just how sad and worried somebody can be when they lose something. They hatch a plan to give Mum a lovely surprise – a formal occasion. In the meantime, Violet tries to cheer Mum up by writing stories about what might have happened to the missing toys.

The eighth in Violet Mackerel’s ongoing adventures, Violet Mackerel’s Formal Occasion is also a beautiful stand alone story. Violet is a likeable main character, who is caring, resourceful and funny, a combination sure to appeal to young readers. The gentleness of the series means they are just as perfect for sharing as they are for individual reading, and the soft, grey-scale illustrations are a beautiful complement.

With acts of kindness, friendship, and cupcakes, and in a delightful hardcover format, Violet Mackerel’s Formal Occasion is delightful.

Violet Mackerel’s Formal Occasion, by Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis
Walker Books, 2015
ISBN 9781925081091

Available from good bookstores and online.

Toucan Can by Juliette MacIver ill Sarah Davis

Toucan can do lots of things!

Toucan dances!

Toucan sings!

Toucan bangs a frying pan!

Can YOU do what Toucan can?

Toucan can do lots of things!

Toucan dances!

Toucan sings!

Toucan bangs a frying pan!

Can YOU do what Toucan can?

Toucan can do lots of things and you the reader is invited to do what Toucan can. Then, Toucan is invited to do what you can, and he can do most, though not all you can. The energy accelerates as other characters join the fun. Some can do most things, and others introduce new things that both Toucan and you can try. The party gets wilder and wilder, more energetic and colourful as the pages turn. The final page brings the focus back to the reader. Toucan is supported in early spreads by bright and colourful finch-like birds. Later spreads include an ever-extending cast of animals and birds, in keeping with the building rhythms of the text. Animal colours burst beyond the confines of their outlines.

Juliette MacIver is channelling her inner Seuss in this fantastical story about Toucan and friends! The rhythms are so strong that even if dancing wasn’t mentioned it would be challenging to complete it and remain still. There are lots of repeated sounds, some almost tongue-twisters to engage young listeners. ‘Toucan Can’ is sure to set feet tapping, full as it is with fun and colour. Young readers will be able to identify a wide range of animals from all around the world. A picture book ideal for pre- and early- schoolers.

Toucan Can, Juliette MacIver ill Sarah Davis Gecko Press 2013 ISBN: 9781877467547

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Violet Mackerel’s Personal Space by Anna Branford ill Sarah Davis

Violet Mackerel is on a summer holiday at the beach with her sister, Nicola, her brother, Dylan, her mum and her mum’s boyfriend, Vincent. It is nearly the end of the holiday and Violet is wishing it was still the beginning.

At the beach house where they are staying there are bunk beds. Violet has been sleeping on the bottom bunk. She has tucked a sheet under the mattress of the top bunk and dangled it down, so it is a small personal space of her own.

Violet has had a lovely time with her family at the beach, but now it’s time to go home. As she packs up she discovers a left-behind shell, and develops a new theory. This one is about leaving something of yourself behind when you leave. But thoughts of leaving little things behind are forgotten when Mum and Vincent make an announcement. It’s a double-barrelled announcement, and although Violet is happy about the first part, the moving-house second part is going to take some time to get used to. Violet thinks things through at her own pace as the world around her begins to swirl with change.

Violet Mackerel’s Personal Space is a new instalment in a series about Violet. As with previous offerings, it’s a beautiful hardcover book, with Sarah Davis’s gentle illustrations. Each opening includes black & white illustrations designed to intersperse the text and give the reader the opportunity to pause. Endpapers feature shells set in th same orange as the spine. Young Violet is surrounded by a supportive family, but she is determined to work her own way through things. In this case, it’s the notion of personal space and that it’s a different notion for everyone. ‘Violet Mackerel’s Personal Space’ uses Violet’s perspective to examine the responses of all the family members to the changes they are encountering. Delightful. Recommended for mid-primary readers.

Violet Mackerel’s Personal Spaceby Anna Branford ill Sarah Davis
Walker Books 2012
ISBN: 9781921529207

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

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

Violet Mackerel's Remarkable Recovery, by Anna Branford

“I’ll give you some lozenges for now, to help with the prickles,” says Doctor Singh, ‘but I think it would be a good idea to have your tonsils taken out.”
Violet, however, does not think this is a good idea. She generally prefers not to have things taken out.

Violet Mackerel has a very sore throat – again – and so the Doctor has decided it’s time for a tonsillectomy. At first Violet is not impressed, but then she starts to wonder if the tonsillectomy will leave her with a better singing voice. She wants to have a really remarkable recovery.

In the waiting room at the hospital Violet meets a lovely old lady called Iris who is also going to have an operation. She promises to see Iris again after the operation but, back at home, she has no idea how to find Iris. It will take something pretty remarkable for Violet to find Iris again.

Violet Mackerel’s Remarkable Recovery is the second book featuring the delightful Violet Mackerel and her family and friends. Violet is an endearing character who reaches out to people around her with her unique blend of friendship, courage and humour as she faces life head on. The story is brought to life through the gorgeous black and white illustrative work of Sarah Davis, and, produced in hardcover, is an absolute treasure that any little girl will love.

Violet Mackerel’s Remarkable Recovery, by Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis
Walker Books, 2011
ISBN 9781921529184

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

Marmaduke Duck and the Marmalade Jam, by Juliette MacIver & Sarah Davis

Down in the woods, not far from the sea,
Marmaduke Duck found a grapefruit tree.
“What luck!” cried the duck.
“How lucky I am!
I’ll take some and make some
marmalade jam.”

When Marmaduke Duck makes marmalade, everyone wants some – and chaos ensues. Everyone comes to the river to see what is happening – a cat, a rat, a ram named Sam, a lamb named Pam, even Farmer Palmer’s llama – all hoping for a taste of the marmalade.

With silly text, smooth flowing rhythm and lively rhymes, youngsters will love the sheer silliness of the story, which is teamed with bright illustrations. Using gouache and pencils, the facial features of the various animals are especially endearing.

Laugh out loud funny, this will make for wonderful reading sessions and will withstand repeated readings.

Loads of farmy fun.

Marmaduke Duck and the Marmalade Jam, by Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis
Scholastic, 2011
ISBN 9781869439286

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

Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot, by Anna Branford

If what you want is something really, really important, and if the importance has been proven by your own personal theory, then ordinary plans are no good.
What you need is a plot. A brilliant plot.

When Violet Mackerel sees a blue china bird at the Saturday markets she realises that owning it is a very important idea, not just a silly wish. But the bird costs ten dollars and Violet doesn’t have ten dollars. What she needs, if the bird is to be hers, is a plot – a brilliant plot.

Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot is a delightful chapter book offering which will be loved by little girls and by adult readers too. And what’s not to love? The hardcover format featuring a cheeky violet and pink spotty background, endpapers dancing with pigeons and buttons, and black and white illustrations on every spread combine with the heartwarming story of how Violet plots and plans her way to achieving her own goals – and helping others with theirs at the same time.

The first in a series, Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot is, as its title suggests, brilliant.

Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot, by Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis
Walker Books, 2010
ISBN 97819215291

Fearless, by Colin Thompson & Sarah Davis

When the Claybourne-Willments…got Fearless as a little puppy
it seemed a good name for him.
Except Fearless wasn’t.

Fearless is a bulldog with a problem. He might look fearsome to people who don’t know him, but in reality he is scared of everything. He has a big, loving heart, and is a quivering mess whenever anything frightening happens.

But one night Fearless meets a burglar, trying to steal his mum’s handbag. And Fearless manages to live up to his name – even if it is by accident.

Fearless is a gorgeous, whimsically funny book about names, about love and about courage. The text is delightful and the illustrations, by Chrichton Award winning illustrator Sarah Davis, are absolutely gorgeous. Fearless’ facial expressions are especially endearing, and kids will laugh out loud at his antics.

Suitable for children aged 4 to 8, and likely to withstand repeated readings.

Fearless, by Colin Thompson & Sarah Davis
ABC Books, 2009

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