The Little Dinosaur by Catriona Hoy illustrated by Andrew Plant

Millions of years ago, in a time before Australia existed, there was a land called Gondwana. It was very cold there, even in summer. In winter it was dark all day and all night.

Millions of years ago, in a time before Australia existed, there was a land called Gondwana. It was very cold there, even in summer. In winter it was dark all day and all night.

The Little Dinosaur begins many millions of years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the land we now call Australia. The reader is introduced to a specific dinosaur, now known as a Leoellynasaura amicagraphica, who lived – and died – so long ago. Skip forward to now, when a bone, buried for so long, is discovered by a palaeontologist. Slowly, carefully she works with the rock that holds the bone. Working with a team of experts, the palaeontologist recreates this little dinosaur, so she can be introduced to the world. The cover shows the little dinosaur sitting atop a rock, queen of her world. End papers spill with information about prehistoric Australia and about dinosaurs. Illustrations are a mix of full colour spreads and vignettes, in warm and cool colours that evoke the seasons. They are full of prehistoric details, down to the particular species of Thylacine portrayed.

The Little Dinosaur is firstly a picture book for sharing with dinosaur-lovers. The author is a senior science teacher and the illustrator well-known for his depictions of dinosaurs. Together they provide a reading experience that combines the imagined world of an individual and factual information about the environment in which she and others lived. It links the living dinosaur and her world with today and the way we learn about the past. It also introduces those who work to understand more about these fascinating animals. For the classroom, The Little Dinosaur provides the basis for introducing many science concepts to young students. Gondwana with its very different climate, landscape and animals. Food chains, palaeontology, and much more. There are multiple links to curriculum. Recommended for lower- to mid-primary readers and dinosaur fans of any age.

The Little Dinosaur

The Little Dinosaur, Catriona Hoy ill Andrew Plant
Working Title Press 2012
ISBN: 9781921504396

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Captain Congo and the Klondike Gold, by Ruth Starke ill Greg Holfield

Captain Congo and his loyal offsider, Pug are back! This time, they’re off to the remote reaches of the Canadian Klondike gold fields, to sort out what’s scaring the miners away. But first they have to get there.

Captain Congo and his loyal offsider, Pug are back! This time, they’re off to the remote reaches of the Canadian Klondike gold fields, to sort out what’s scaring the miners away. But first they have to get there. It’s wilder than the wild west and the locals are very suspicious of strangers. They’re also quite superstitious. There’re rumours about monsters and ghosts. There is danger and adventure for the duo as the landscape and treachery challenge their progress. But never fear, when Captain Congo and Pug are near, the goodies will win the day! (even if poor old Pug, in the best tradition of offsiders, is tossed, pummelled, terrified and trussed before the day is won). Endpapers show a map of the location of their adventures.

 
Captain Congo and the Klondike Gold is a third outing for Ruth Starke and Greg Holfield in this graphic novel series. The main characters are animals: Captain Congo a large (lowland?) gorilla, and Pug a small penguin. They move freely and unremarked in each adventure, a lovely relationship that has Captain Congo uttering Sherlock Holmes-like observations, and Pug always playing catch-up. The adventures are wonderfully wild and liberally sprinkled with humour. This series will attract a similar readership to Asterix and Tin Tin, and will be retained in the bookshelves long after other books have been outgrown. Reluctant readers will love the graphic novel format. Recommended for upper-primary, early-secondary and reluctant readers. And ahem grown-up fans of the graphic novel format.

Captain Congo and the Klondike Gold

Captain Congo and the Klondike Gold, Ruth Starke & Greg Holfield
Working Title Press 2011
ISBN: 9781921504273

 

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.

Warambi, by Aleesah Darlison & Andrew Plant

Fiction meets non-fiction in ‘Warambi’ and the reader follows the journey of a tiny bat from birth to maturity. Young readers will empathise with the plight of the little bat and learn about a lesser-known, and infrequently seen Australian native animal.

Deep in a forest, hidden in a warm, dark cave, a tiny bat was born.

Warambi, tiny bent-wing bat, is born into a colony of bats and spends her early days there, safe and protected. Her mother and others help her learn the skills she will need to survive. But when their colony is threatened, panic and confusion lead to Warambi losing track of her mother, of everyone. Her place of shelter is warm and dry, but there are dangers everywhere for the young bat. But she at least is lucky. She finds her way back to the wild, and the chance of establishing a new family. Illustrations are realistic and painterly and evoke the darkness and danger of the night

Fiction meets non-fiction in ‘Warambi’ and the reader follows the journey of a tiny bat from birth to maturity. Young readers will empathise with the plight of the little bat and learn about a lesser-known, and infrequently seen Australian native animal. The text is gentle without glossing over the dangers of survival, and Andrew Plant’s illustrations are deliciously detailed from the tiny ears to the gossamer-thin wings of the little bent-wing bat. Story-lovers will enjoy the story and the hopeful outcome, and little naturalists will also enjoy the facts that decorate the endpapers. Recommended for early primary readers.
Warambi
Warambi, Aleesah Darlison Andrew Plant
Working Title Press 2011
ISBN: 9781921504280

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

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

The Paw Collection, by Natalie Jane Prior

During the day Leonie was a schoolgirl.
At night she was a cat-burglar. While the world was asleep, she put on her cat costume and prowled the alleyways by moonlight.
Nothing was safe when Leonie was about.

Leonie is the world’s cheekiest (and possibly also youngest) cat-burglar. Modelling herself on Robin Hood, she steals from the rich and gives to the poor. She leaves opals in Saint Vinnies bins and writes out cheques for charitable foundations. Along the way she foils the plans of plenty of real crooks.

The Paw Collection brings together three previously published stories about the Paw, in a new chapter book format, with new illustrations by the talented Terry Denton. The humour and outlandish plots, coupled with Denton’s trademark silly illustrations make the book sure to appeal to readers aged six to ten.

What fun!

The Paw Collection, by Natalie Jane Prior, illustrated by Terry Denton
Working Title Press, 2007

Piglet and Mama, by Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King

One morning in the farmyard, Piglet lost her mama.
“Oinkkkkkk!” cried Piglet.

When Piglet loses her mama, the other animals want to help. Duck offers to give her a cuddle, Donkey offers to play chasey and Cat suggests they snooze in the sun. But Piglet wants her mama and won’t be consoled until she finds her. When she does, she will do all those things with Mama.

Piglet and Mama is a delightful story for preschool children about the bond between mother and baby. The images of an increasingly despondent Piglet searching for her Mama culminate in a bleak – but not too dark for young readers – moment, when Piglet covers her eyes and gives one last oinkkkkk, a sound which is echoed by Mama’s response as the pair are reunited and proceed to joyfully do all the things the other farmyard mothers have suggested – a gentle cuddle, a a delighted game of chasey and so on, before settling down for a content snooze in the sun.

Stephen Michael Kings gorgeous illustrations – watercolours outlined in black ink – are gentle yet joyful, with the golden glow of Piglet and Mama’s cuddle especially endearing.

Charming.

Piglet and Mama, by Margaret Wild and Stephen Michael King
Working Title Press, 2004, reprinted 2005