abc books – Page 4 – Aussie Reviews

'Sun' and 'Star' by Natalie Jane Prior

This is where the sun shines…

This is what the star sees…

Sun and Star are two small format hardbacks from ABC Books. Sun shows the sun rising and some of the baby animals it shines on. The sun shines on seals, birds, bees and more. Each baby animal is entreated to ‘Rise and shine!’ and to welcome in the morning in their own special way. Last of all, the sun shines into a house on drowsy children. They jump into bed with Mum and Dad and together welcome the day. Sun is a welcome to the morning, and Star is saying goodnight. First, it sees a sailor’s cat and bids it goodnight. Sheep, a glow-worm, a dog and a teddy are all watched by the star as they settle to sleep. Each is gentled to close their eyes for the night. Then it is baby’s turn. ‘Hush, little baby. Close your eyes. Goodnight.’

Sun and Star are simply beautiful. The gentle rhythms of Natalie Jane Prior’s words float along on gentle watercolours through a range of landscapes. The same sun, the same star, look down on town and country, winter and summer, mountain and ocean. Sun shines on rocky ocean and wakes seal pups, shines in a forest and wakes the songbirds. A variety of environments are presented with the animals that live there. Each is greeted with a reminder-rhyme to do their bit in waking up the day. Star journeys through similar, but not the same landscapes to turn down the glow and calm the dog. Both use gentle rhythm and repetition. Recommended for late lie-in-bed mornings, and early peaceful nights.

Sun & Star Natalie Jane Prior Ill Anna Pignataro
ABC Books 2008
ISBN: Sun: 9780733322433
Star: 9780733322440

The Smallest Turtle, by Lynley Dodd

He blinked at the brightness
and inside his head he heard strange words,
‘To the sea, to the sea.’

The smallest turtle is the last one to hatch from his egg and, when he does, all of his brothers and sisters are gone. Emerging from the sand, the turtle follows the call of the sea as he struggles to overcome the weather, the landscape and predators to make it to the sea.

The Smallest Turtle is a new edition of author/illustrator Lynley Dodd’s earlier works. Although it is not written in the rhyme which Dodd is so well known for, her prose has a lyrical quality, with the use of the refrain ‘To the sea, to the sea’ adding to the poetic feel. The illustrations feature the green and sandy yellows of the seashore, and give the turtle endearing facial expressions, chiefly through a pair of adorable eyes in largely real life styled body.

This is a beautiful picture book story which would have classroom relevance.

The Smallest Turtle, by Lynley Dodd
This edition, ABC Books, 2008

The Fairies Song and Dance Book

We welcome you to Fairyland
Come and join along
With our special fairy friends
And have some fairy fun.

Full of sparkles and fairy characters, The Fairies Song and Dance Book is a an offering sure to impress girls aged between 3 and 7, particularly those who are familiar with the ABC Television series The Fairies

The book comes with a CD recording of fourteen fairy songs, with the lyrics featuring in the book alongside photographic images from the television show. Young fans can learn the words to the songs featured in the series, and those not yet familiar with the television show will find this an enticement to watch.

Lots of fairy fun.

The Fairies Song and Dance Book
ABC Books, 2008

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

The Surfing Scientist #2, by Ruben Meerman

Flashy new toys are great, but there’s nothing quite like making your own. Adults get the same satisfaction from do-it-yourself home improvement projects. In this book, you’ll learn how to make forty cool gizmos and gadgets that spin, whirl, fly glide, float, sink, fizz, jump and pop. All you need is a little know-how, a bit of patience and some basic household materials.

In his first book, surfing scientist, Ruben Meerman, showed readers how to make 40 ‘cool science tricks’. Now he’s back with a new title, demonstrating 40 science gizmos and gadgets, all of which can easily be made at home. This time there are beans to set jumping, codes to break, lamps to fill with lava and plenty more. Construction of each gizmo is guided by written instructions and photos. But wait…there’s more. Each gizmo is a demonstration of science in action. Alongside the instructions is an explanation of the science behind it, and/or extra facts. There is information about how the science is employed in nature or by man, as well as about the scientists behind the discoveries.

Ruben Meerman is a surfer with a physics degree. The Surfing Scientist #2, like The Surfing Scientist #1 sets out to prove that science is exciting and accessible. Each gizmo can be used for play, and for many younger readers, that’s probably enough. But for those more curious, there’s the opportunity to learn more about science in a hands-on way. Names of the science and of scientists are included, providing teasers for the reader who wants to learn more. The style is informal, conversational. The gizmos are mostly easy to construct from materials found in most houses. There’s an introduction and contents page at the front. At the back there are patterns, a list of gizmo equipment and a list of famous inventions. Recommended for primary-aged readers, though younger readers may require supervision with some of the gizmo construction.

The Surfing Scientist #2, Ruben Meerman
ABC Books 2008
ISBN: 9780733323836

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

The Letterbook 1 – Amy's Secret, by Ellie Royce

Hey, Ames!
Haven’t really caught up with you since the holidays u r looking a bit down.
I was wondering if you wanna start a letterbook with me?
While I was on hols in Tassie, my cousin Hannah showed me this book. It was just a school exercise book okay, but it was all decorated and glittered up. Inside, she and her friend Olivia had taken turns writing letters to each other, but not just letters – there were photos, stuff cut out from magazines, tickets from movies they saw together, even choccie wrappers!

Hey, Jess, sounds like fun. Thanx
Got a book?
love Ames

Hey, Ames, r u okay? What’s up? I’ve got a book at home. I’ll give it 2 u tomorrow k? I still can’t believe we’re finally in HIGH SCHOOL!!!! Too bad we’ve only got this one class together, but I’ll give it to you at break or at lunch.
love Jess

Jess and Amy were friends at primary school. Not best friends, but friends. Now they’ve started Year Seven and are only in one class together. Jess wants to start a letterbook. The rules are simple really. Write whatever you want, about anything you want. What’s written in the letterbook is secret and can’t be shared with anyone else without permission. Even if that secret is huge. Jess and Amy forge a deep friendship as they adjust to the differences of being in secondary school and the changing nature of their individual lives.

Amy’s Secret visits two 13 year old girls as they enter secondary school. It uses the letterbook format, where the girls write in the book alternately, sharing their lives. The letterbook can be decorated and can include all sorts of things like tickets and decorations and notes written elsewhere and stuck in. Jess and Amy have quite different families and many of the early entries reflect this. Mostly the entries are conversational and include mannerisms of the age group and of the individual girls. Other entries report the action like a screenplay. The fonts are different for each girl, and the doodles and stickers reflect the mood of the entries. Thirteen year old girls are often seen as silly and shallow. Amy’s Secret is a realistic story and shows that beneath the surface, some girls are dealing with almost unimaginable challenges. Recommended for upper primary-early secondary age readers.

The Letterbook 1: Amy’s Secret, Ellie Royce
ABC Books 2008
ISBN: 9870733322020

Whose eggs? by Jeannette Rowe

Whose eggs can you see?
Whose eggs can they be?

Continuing on from previous successful Whose titles, Whose Eggs is a delightful lift the flap book. Children are encouraged to flip the flaps to discover who belongs to the different eggs depicted on each spread. As well as chickens and birds, there are eggs for lizards, frogs, a platypus and dinosaurs. The final surprise is eggs which belong to a child – brightly coloured Easter eggs.

The flip the flap format, bright colours, simple illustrations and predictable text make this a winner for the prereader.

Whose eggs? by Jeannette Rowe
ABC Books, 2008

Perry Angel's Suitcase, by Glenda Millard

Griffin came into the Silk family after the Rainbow Girls¬¬ – Scarlet, Indigo, Violet, Amber and Saffron – and before Tishkin. And then came Layla who was not born a Silk, but was sent to comfort them after Tishkin went away.
Perry Angel came last of all. He arrived on the ten-thirty express with a small and shabby suitcase embossed with five golden letters. It had taken him almost seven years to find the Kingdom of Silk..

When Layla hears that Perry Angel is coming to live with the Silks, she is at first excited, but then apprehensive at what the presence of a new member of the family will mean for her. She loves her visits to the Silk family – but what if there is no room for her any more? And what if Griffin doesn’t have time for her any more once Perry comes?

Griffin, too, has concerns. Why is Perry here and how can Griffin help Perry to smile? But Perry is the most scared of all. What if this big, boisterous family make him put down his suitcase? And what if they discover the truth about him? But worst of all, what if they send him back?

Perry Angel’s Suitcase is a breathtakingly beautiful tale for children, and for everyone who has ever been a child. Perry is a foster child who has never known a real family, and the Silk family is a loving family whose members have had hard times of their own. Layla, Griffin’s friend, is also an important part of this family, giving as much as she gets from her involvement with them. As a whole, the cast of this book is adorable, and the reader will be drawn in to Perry’s story from the first page.

This is a simply beautiful story.

Perry Angel’s Suitcase, by Glenda Millard
ABC Books, 2008

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

Fat Pat, by Kilmeny Niland

Fat Pat was a very sweet dog.
Everybody loved him.

Everybody loved Pat. And everybody who loved him fed him and pampered him. Pat is an overfed, under-exercised, adored pet with a weight problem. So when the vet prescribes a weight-loss program, Pat is convinced that the family have ceased loving him. He runs away. Life on the run is full of danger and deprivation, until Pat is caught and taken to the Lost Dog’s Home. Reunited with his family, Pat discovers that his family still love him. His perspective on life has been subtly altered by his time away from home. Life will be different now, but better.

A bright yellow hardback cover with a roly-poly puppy on the front with watermelon slice endpapers – who could resist a view of the world from the perspective of this main character? Pat is very happy with his life, but it’s not good for him. The vet’s visit brings about a big change to Pat’s life and since food has been the symbol of love for him, he thinks he is no longer loved. As he roams the streets after his escape he experiences fear as well as hunger. His return home reinforces the love he thought he’d lost. ‘Fat Pat’ is a large square format picture book full of bright images, mostly set on white backgrounds. A bright red table at the vets signals a warning that things are about to change. Small vignettes take the reader through the first week of changes and are wordless except for the labelling of the days. The scene of Pat’s leaving is bleak and echoes his tears. His safe return home is simply illustrated with an image of his loving family. This provides a contrast to the opening pages where the focus is on what the family provides. A charming book for young children, with a subtle message for all dog owners.

Fat Pat, written & illustrated Kilmeny Niland
ABC Books 2008
ISBN: 9780733322396

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

Extraordinary Ernie & Marvellous Maud, by Frances Watts

Ernie Eggers was late for school. And it was all the fault of The Daring Dynamo. Ernie was a big fan of The Daring Dynamo, who was everything a superhero should be – and everything that Ernie wasn’t. The Dynamo was daring, obviously. And dashing. He was brave and strong. He never tripped over his own feet. He was never tongue-tied. His ears didn’t stick out. And, Ernie guessed, The Daring Dynamo was probably punctual.

Ernie’s favourite television program was about a superhero, but he never dreamed he’d have a chance to become one himself. So when the local branch of the Superheroes Society advertises a competition with a prize of a side-kick, Ernie decides this could be his big chance. His interview at (Baxter Branch) Superheroes Headquarters doesn’t go well, but in the absence of other entrants, Ernie wins the prize – a superhero sidekick call Maud. Maud is a sheep. Ernie is underwhelmed, but Maud soon convinces Ernie that there’s more to her than a woolly coat and four legs.

Extraordinary Ernie & Marvellous Maud is the first in a new series from ABC Books. So there’s some scene setting to do and some introductions to make. Ernie is transformed from an ordinary, average-scholar, often-late, non-sporty boy into Extraordinary Ernie, who with the help of the unlikely Maud is learning what it takes to be a superhero. The remaining members of the local branch of the Superheroes Society seem to have lost their oomph. There are hints that Ernie and Maud may just shake them out of the rut they seem to be in. Ernie is an appealing character and Maud an engaging sidekick. Both have strengths and weaknesses which seem to bring out the best in each other. There is clear indication here too of the value of believing in yourself. Extraordinary Ernie & Marvellous Maud is also very funny, full of absurdity and nonsense. Judy Watson’s illustrations appear in most openings, breaking up the text for younger readers. There is plenty to entertain proficient readers. Highly recommended for early middle-primary readers and beyond.

Extraordinary Ernie and Marvellous Maud, by Frances Watts ill Judy Watson
ABC Books
ISBN: 9780733321924

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

Diary of a Wildlife Photographer, by Jan Latta

Jan Latta is a wildlife photographer and this is her diary, complete with photos. Jan had planned to do a photo essay on another wildlife photographer, but her initial trip to Africa ignited a passion for capturing wildlife images herself. Her diary spans 12 years and although most of it is in Africa, there are also entries from India and China. Each new chapter page features a border, a country and date stamp similar to a postmasters stamp. Photos fill each opening and the text explores the circumstances in which each photo was taken. There are photos too of the landscape occupied by these remarkable animals and photos of some of the people Jan worked with in gathering the images. Despite challenges with permits, wars, weather and more, Jan has gathered a book-full of wonderful wildlife images.

Many people have been fortunate enough to see wonderful pictures of some of the world’s most amazing animals. These images appear in books, on the internet, on television and in the cinema. Seldom is the opportunity given to discover what’s involved in capturing these images. Diary of a Wildlife Photographer does this. The reader learns of the danger, exhilaration, permits, disappointments, strange nightly noises and insect bites that are part of the search for the best images. There are notes about the behaviour and habitat of some of the animals, but there is no intent to produce a non-fiction textbook. This diary, with its wonderful collection of experiences as well as photos offers the reader an up-close-and-personal look at the world of wildlife photography as well as the world of the wildlife. Recommended for mid- to upper-primary readers, although younger readers will enjoy the images and older readers may enjoy reading the diary entries to see if they have what it takes to be a successful wildlife photographer.

Diary of a Wildlife Photographer, by Jan Latta
ABC Books 2008
ISBN:9780733320408