Month: January 2014

Clementine’s Walk by Annie White

Clementine was very bored,

with nothing left to do.

Then looking up she saw her lead,

and that gave her a clue.

Clementine was very bored,

with nothing left to do.

Then looking up she saw her lead,

and that gave her a clue.

Clementine has a loving family but when she wants a walk, she discovers that no one is willing or able to come with her. More than that, they don’t really seem too interested in her asking the question. Clementine encounters Mum, Dad, Nana and more but they all have reasons to stay just where they are. Clementine gives up. Gradually the family finish what they’ve been doing and begin to look for Clementine but she seems to have vanished. Illustrations are pencil and watercolours in soft shades set in white space. The text is gently rhyming. Front endpapers reflect the interests of all Clementine’s family and the end endpapers suggest the route the walkers finally take.

‘Clementine’s Walk’ will resonate with many dog-owning families. Dogs just want to be part of the family and although they might not have speech, they have ways of communicating. Hardcover, set in soft orange/apricot with white titles, Clementine is immediately introduced as playful and enthusiastic. She appears friendly and approachable. ‘Clementine’s Walk’ would be a good introduction for children not quite sure about the exuberance of dogs. Current dog-owners will recognise their own dog’s antics in Clementine’s. ‘Clementine’s Walk’ is a good starting place for generating discussions about the joys and responsibilities of pet ownership.  In addition, it may well stimulate writing activities about individual dog stories. Recommended for preschool and early-schoolers.

 



Clementine’s Walk, Annie White New Frontier Publishing 2013 ISBN: 9781921928475

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

 

Bush Holiday by Leonie Norrington ill Brenton E McKenna

Tillithia loves living in Palmerston Heights. She loves her school. She loves hanging out with Lily, her next door neighbour. But most of all she loves the school holidays.

Sometimes she goes with her mum and Lily to a market for breakfast, or they ride their bikes to the park. This morning Tillithia has a plan.

Tillithia loves living in Palmerston Heights. She loves her school. She loves hanging out with Lily, her next door neighbour. But most of all she loves the school holidays.

Sometimes she goes with her mum and Lily to a market for breakfast, or they ride their bikes to the park. This morning Tillithia has a plan.

Tillithia might have plans for this holiday day, but so does Mum. And Mum’s plan is not the same as Tillithia’s. Tillithia and Mum are off to Goose Camp with Auntie Doreen. Mum knows Auntie Doreen will help Tillithia to learn Aboriginal ways. Tillithia just remembers their last trip, when she got wet and dirty and ate mussels that tasted like snot. She’d much rather stay in town. But that’s not going to happen. Tillithia begins by sulking but is gradually won over by curiosity and the good humour of Mum and Auntie. Eventually, Mum’s teasing stops when Tillithia helps Auntie gather food for the old ladies. Now it is Tillithia’s turn to tease. Bush Holiday has coloured illustrations throughout and uses several text types to highlight different words.

The ‘Mates’ series from Omnibus has many titles. Each is full of humour and tells a tale that is particularly Australian. In Bush Holiday the reader travels to Northern Territory and is taken on a road trip holiday. It is a story of family, and learning and sharing. Tillithia experiences a different sort of education in the holidays, where knowledge of and respect for the land are taught in an active way. Bush Holiday gently reminds the reader that life is full of learning and that there are many teachers. The joyfulness of Mum and Auntie as they travel and teach their reluctant student is delightful and should resonate with readers young and not-so. And when Tallitha reflects on her unexpected bush holiday, it is the connection with the land and her greater family that she remembers most fondly. Recommended for newly confident readers.

 

Bush Holiday, Leonie Norrington ill Brenton E McKenna Omnibus Books 2013 ISBN:9781742990019

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Matilda Saves Santa Claus by Alex Field ill Sophie Norsa

Matilda Mouse lived deep in the forest.

She poured the last of her milk into a thimble and left her only mince pie out for Santa.

She hung up her stocking and looked around her threadbare house.

More than anything, she wanted a Christmas tree.

Matilda Mouse lived deep in the forest.

She poured the last of her milk into a thimble and left her only mince pie out for Santa.

She hung up her stocking and looked around her threadbare house.

More than anything, she wanted a Christmas tree.

Matilda Mouse is poor but she prepares her last food for Santa, who will be visiting soon. She goes into the cold winter forest to find herself a tree. Narrowly avoiding being eaten by an owl, she happens across Rudolph. He tells her that Santa and his sleigh are caught in vines. Matilda abandons her search for a Christmas tree and secretly helps Santa. She’s too tired to do anything afterwards except crawl into bed. At dawn on Christmas day, she wakes to a very big surprise. Illustrations are soft and loose and combine traditional Christmas colours with soft mauves and blues reflecting the winter world.

Virtue, so the saying goes, is its own reward, but that’s not a message that’s very easy to convey. Matilda Saves Santa Claus introduces this notion as poor but hardworking Matilda seeks out a Christmas tree even if there will be nothing to put under it. She without hesitation abandons her quest to help Santa. It’s unstated, but she is clearly acting to facilitate Christmas deliveries to all homes, not just her own. She doesn’t look for reward, indeed she hides from Santa, but in the morning she is rewarded handsomely. Recommended for preschool and early-schoolers.

 

Matilda Saves Santa Clauss, Alex Field ill Sophie Norsa 2013 ISBN: 9781921928604

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com