Our School Fete, by Louise Pfanner

It’s only three weeks until our school fete. Everyone is busy.
My class is organising the Haunted House. We’re going to have ghosts and spiders and a giant sticky web.

Our School Fete is a lovely new picture book about all the fun and chaos of preparing for a big school fete. Told through the eyes of ten-year old Charley, the book highlights the excitement of the school children as they prepare for the big event.

All the essential parts of a fete are there – cake stalls, crafts, dress-ups, rides and entertainment – but more importantly, the community and family spirit which is really the integral part of a succesful fete. Charley doesn’t mention the importance of the fete as a fundraising event and that is a highlight of the book – it is all about the fun and community spirit of the big day and of the weeks leading up to it.

Kim Gamble’s illustrations, using watercolours, coloured pencils and pastels, capture all the chaos and fun of the fete, with loads of detail for kids to discover.

Our School Fete would be great for the classroom, especially at a school planning a similar event. The end papers are also a lovely learning tool, depicting a map of the fete.

Our School Fete, by Louise Pfanner and Kim Gamble
ABC Books, 2004

Bird, by Annette Lodge

I once met a bird, who stared out to sea
As strange and as still as a bird could be.
I sat down beside him and asked him why.
Shortly he answered, “Because I can’t fly.”

Bird, it turns out, is afraid of the sky and afraid that his strange shape will render him unable to fly. The boy who meets him realises he can’t criticise Bird because he too has been afraid to change and to try new challenges.

It is a fish who eventually helps the pair, enticing them both in to the water. Caught up in the joy of their swim, both bird and boy realise that they can take risks and be happy.

Bird is an invigourating tale, told in whimsical rhyme and perfectly complemented by the watercolour illustrations. The pages are filled with vibrant purples, greens and oranges and with delightfully odd fish, birds and other creatures.

While the story may be aimed at older readers, children of all ages will be fascinated by the illustrations, which eclipse the story. The message of the story is, however, an important one and this would be well-suited to middle and even upper primary classrooms.

Lovely.

Bird, by Annette Lodge
ABC Books, 2004

The Other Ark, by Lynley Dodd

Enough!’ thundered Noah. He bolted the door.
‘This Ark is JAM PACKED!’ he said, but…there were more.
He studied the view of the animal queue and called to a friend of his, Sam Jam Balu.
‘Sam,’ he said kindly, ‘you’ve nothing to do and I really need help with this two-by-two zoo. My problems are solved if you’re quick off the mark – you can take all the rest in my second-best Ark.’

When there is no more room in the ark, Noah calls on his friend Sam to take the rest on another ark. While Noah sails off with his regular animals, Sam begins to load his ark with the animals too exotic to join Noah. And exotic is almost too moderate a word – there are camels with candy-stripes and four humps, mad kangaroosters, flying flapdoodles and blunderbuss dragons.

Sam works hard to accomodate this motley assortment on the second ark but, in the end, takes so long, that the ark is firmly stuck because the floods have already receded.

The Other Ark is a colourful rhyming tale which will appeal to young fans of the talented Lynley Dodd. Although the story is not perhaps as well-constructed as Dodd’s other works – especially the lovable Hairy Maclary titles – the illustrations and simply ridiculous nature of the various beasts being loaded onto the ark ensure that it will be a hit with littlies.

A fun fantasy.

The Other Ark, by Lynley Dodd
ABC Books, 2004

101 Great Solar System Facts & Trivia, by Simon Torok & Paul Holper

Is there life elsewhere in the solar system?
How do you remember the order of the planets?
Why is Mars red?
Where do comets come from?

All these questions and many more are answered in this intriguing title from science writers Simon Torok and Paul Holper. Readers journey through the book from the Sun, to Mercury and all the way to Pluto, with sections exploring the Moon, comets, asteroids and more.

There is a chapter devoted to each planet explaining the origin of its name, its size and composition, its discovery and observation. Humorous cartoons and serious facts pepper the text, all presented in down to earth language and with an Australian focus, which will engage young readers.

The authors both work for the CSIRO. Simon Torok has previously edited Helix magazine and Paul Holper has a an education qualification to go along with his science degrees, making both well qualified to write on science topics for kids. Previous titles include 101 Great Australian Adventures and the Amazing Science series.

101 Great Solar System Facts and Trivia would make a great addition to the classroom or school library, but is just as suitable for private reading.

101 Great Solar System Facts and Trivia, by Simon Torok & Paul Holper
ABC Books, 2004

The Adventures of Pete Paddock-Basher, by John Heffernan

Pete was a paddock-basher…A paddock-basher is an old vehicle that’s used on a farm to smash and crash about the place. It can be a utility or a small truck, or just a car, which is what Pete was. But whatever it is, it’s always old and worn out, which is also what Pete was.

Pete the Paddock-Basher is worried that he might live out his days on the farm and never go into town again. So when two nice men decide to ‘borrow’ him, he is excited. Little does he know just how big his adventures will be!

The two ‘nice’ men are bank robbers trying to escape the police and, rather than taking Pete to town, they drive along many country roads before dumping him at the beach. After being bogged in the sand, Pete is taken away to a scrap yard where he is destined to be crushed – until he is rescued by another nice man, Mr Morgan, who lovingly restores him to his former glory. But Pete’s adventures are still far from over. There is another meeting with the robbers, a race, a brush with the demolition derby and even an encounter with aliens. In the meantime, Pete has decided that a quiet life on a farm wouldn’t be so bad after all.

The Adventures of Pete Paddock-Basher is a delightful collection of six stories which kids aged 8 to 12 will love. Three have been previously published in an earlier edition of the book, first released by Margaret Hamilton Books in 1999. This expanded collection extends Pete’s adventures and will still leave readers looking forward to the possibility of more tales.

Heffernan uses humour and action to draw readers in to the adventures of this car and his human friends – Mr Morgan and young Nick, a boy who lives nearby and joins Pete on some of his escapades.

Great fun!

The Adventures of Pete Paddock-Basher, by John Heffernan
ABC Books, 2004

My Dad and My Grandad, by Jeannette Rowe

My dad…lets me dance on his feet.
My grandad…rides with me on his old scooter.

There is a range of dads and grandads in these two books as well as a range of children – but the important focus of both books is that of the child sharing time with one of the men in his/her life.

Each double page spread shows the child on the left hand page and the thing s/he does with his grandad or dad on the right hand page, partially concealed by a large flap. Some of the things shared are everday – My dad…helps me brush my teeth – while others are more adventurous (like riding on Grandad’s scooter).

It is lovely to see books which celebrate grandads and dads, and especially pleasing to see grandad reading stories to one of the children. The books might even encourage dads or grandads who don’t share books with their kids to do so – an important but sometimes missed part of early literacy.

Both books are alive with the colour always present in Rowe’s books. Lovely.

My Dad and My Grandad, by Jeannette Rowe
ABC Books, 2004

Farmer Fred's Cow, by Margaret Wild

Four old animals live on Farmer Fred’s farm – Pig, Horse, Donkey and Cow. None of the animals is very productive, but Farmer Brown, who is no longer very productive himself, doesn’t mind. None of the five friends has seen much of life beyond the farm and, as they near the end of their lives, they wonder what life might be like further away. Cow’s friends tell her that when she dies she will go everywhere, see everything.

Then, on the night Cow dies, a strange thing happens. As the remaining animals settle down for the night, they hear a strange noise and see Cow, in the sky, flying. She has come back to show them the beautiful new life she now has. The animals wake Farmer Fred and together they watch Cow.

Afterwards, Farmer Fred is never quite sure if he really saw Cow, or if it was a dream. But every now and then he feels a tickle on his back where wings might sprout and, with the remaining animals, quietly looks forward to what is to come.

Farmer Fred’s Cow is a beautiful, evocative picture book, which looks at the themes of life and death in a gentle, even fun way. The book is more than tasteful – it is enjoyable, despite subject matter which in other stories could be gloomy. Wild, a master of the picture book form, has produced a story which touches the heart.

The illustrations of David Waller, in acrylic and pencil, are a perfect complement to the tale. O\Particularly beautiful are the scenes of Cow and other ghostly animals, flying in the night-time sky with angel-like wings, before a huge full moon.

A masterpiece.

Farmer Fred’s Cow, by Margaret Wild and David Waller
ABC Books, 2004

The Enormous Book of Hot Jokes for Kool Kids, by Andy Jones

Q. What’s better than a good joke?
A. Hundreds of good jokes.

The Enormous Book of Hot Jokes for Kool Kids is jam packed with hundreds of jokes for kids. Contributed by kids from all over Australia and compiled by Andy Jones, there are jokes on every subject imaginable.

On offer are knock knocks, Doctor Doctor jokes, chicken (and other beasts) crossing the road jokes, animal jokes, computer jokes, school jokes – in fact jokes on a vast array of topics. These are complemented with the comic illustrations of Mike Spoor and Stephen Axelsen.

Created from a compilation of five earlier Hot Jokes books by Andy Jones, this volume is sure to be well received by 8 to 12 year old readers.

The Enormous Book of Hot Jokes for Kool Kids, by Andy Jones
ABC Books, 2004

A Taste

Q Why did Polly put the kettle on?
A Because she didn’t have anything else to wear.

Q What’s a pig’s favourite sport?
A Hamball


Mrs Wiggins Wartymelons, by Glenda Millard

Life in Korweinguboora (readers will have fun geting their tongues around this) is fairly predictable. So when Ralphie the goat suggests that Mrs WIggins grow watermelons instead of potatoes, Mrs Wiggins knows just what folk will say: We can’t grow wartymelons in Korwinguboora. But Ralphie convinces Mrs Wiggins to give it a try, despite what the locals say.

Growing watermelons in Korweinguboora isn’t easy – the nights are too cold for watermelons. But Mrs Wiggins proves that, with a little determination and ingenuity, anything is possible.

Mrs Wiggins Wartymelons is a beautifully presented, funny picture book, by outstanding author Glenda Millard. The quirky tale is well complemented by the illustrations of Stephen Axelsen, which are a combination of rustic and whimsy.

Glenda Millard is the author of The Naming of Tishkin Silk, a children’s novel, which is short listed for this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia book of the year awards. Mrs Wiggins Wartymelons is very different, but shows the same outstanding storytelling ability.

Excellent.

Mrs Wiggins’ Wartymelons, by Glenda Millard and Stephen Axelsen
ABC Books, 2004

YoYo Go Maze & YoYo Go Spy, by Jeanette Rowe

Reviewed by Magdalena Ball

YoYo is a popular Maisy-Mouse styled dog who has become almost as famous as Maisy herself. He has been designed specifically to appeal to the very young, with simple naïve drawings, very bright colours, and simple, easy to follow adventures involving his animal friends, his little toy horse, and his family. The two new YoYo books are full of interactive fun and problem solving which will keep youngsters amused for long periods. YoYo Go Maze has seven different mazes, each with a different theme. There is a park, a pirate scene, fishing, an animal’s underground world, a farm, a jungle, and a zoo. In each two page scene, children have to find their way through the simple maze to an end path, but along the way they also have to find a variety of different animals or objects. Even the youngest children (from age one or so) can find the items along the way and older children (to age five or so) can follow the maze and build their knowledge of the things in the scene and their confidence.

In YoYo Go Spy, there are also seven scenes, one where YoYo is flying to the moon, a pirate captain looking for Treasure Island, a knight, at the circus, diving on the reef, in the jungle, and by the pond. The scenes are wonderfully detailed, and there are specific items to look for and find. It’s a kind of very simplified Where’s Wally for the youngest members of your family. Children will love these books, and for younger siblings of children who already enjoy mazes, this is a chance for them to join in. The scenes are fairly true in terms of the animals they contain, and so children can really learn about the different habitats and the types of creatures and items they contain. If they are already familiar with YoYo, they will enjoy pointing out his hidden friends and family, who also join in the make-believe. There’s plenty of fun for children, and lots of opportunity for adult interaction.

YoYo Go Maze ISBN 0733313361
YoYo Go Spy ISBN 073331337X
By Jeannette Rowe
ABC Books, Softcover, AU$9.95, 2004, 16pages each

This review first appeared at PreschoolEntertainment. It is reprinted here with permission.