little hare – Page 4 – Aussie Reviews

Who's Laughing? by David Bedford

Hippo is trying to sleep but every time he tries, someone starts laughing. On each opening, Hippo asks ‘Who’s laughing?’ On the opposing page an animal laughs their special laugh, while partially hiding behind down-opening flaps. There are clues on each page as to who’s causing the laughter. Bright colour jungle images lead Hippo high and low in search of answers. Hippo’s friend, a little blue bird, accompanies him on his search. Eventually Hippo and the little blue bird fall prey to the laugh-maker too. The story ends with everyone laughing together.

This is the paperback version of Who’s Laughing? with the original released in 2006. The bright yellow cover and image of Hippo laughing is sure to attract the youngest of children. The blue bird is here too on the front cover and gives the reader an extra something to follow through the pages. The format is mid-sized and the paper sturdy, perfect for little hands to flip and flip their way through. Recommended for 2-4 year olds.

Who’s Laughing? by David Bedford ill Leonie Worthington
Little Hare paperback 2007
ISBN: 9781921272110

This book is available online at Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

An Australian 1, 2, 3 of Animals, by Bronwyn Bancroft

Companion to An Australian a b c of Animals, this hardback counting book introduces numbers and animals to new readers. The early numbers fit on a single page, but rather than decrease the size of the animals, from ‘4’ to the final ‘15’ each subsequent number has been given a double page spread. Each number has its own page colour, setting off the distinctive illustrations. An action eg ‘Seven turtles plodding’ introduces the behaviour of each counted animal.

An Australian 1, 2, 3 of Animals is a simply beautiful book. From the platypus on the cover (and first page) to the 15 bull ants on the final opening, the animals are lovingly drawn and the colours are rich and luscious. The animals invite close inspection, offering similarities and differences in their rendering. Sharp-eyed readers may even find some pairs. Bronwyn Bancroft says her work is not traditional, but its Aboriginal history is immediately recognisable. The animals are sometimes stylised but lose none of their uniqueness. Highly recommended for 2-6 year olds and beyond.

An Australian 1, 2, 3 of Animals, by Bronwyn Bancroft
Little Hare 2007
9781921049828

Treading the Boards, by Celeste Walters

Mum is overjoyed. ‘My boy is treading the boards,’ she gushes, and throws her arms around me. She could simply have said, ‘He’s in a play.’ But you don’t know my mum.
Then she immediately rings Dad. ‘Thomas is strutting the stage,’ she announces. ‘He takes after us…What? No, not your family. My family. The artistic side.’
I have to listen to all this.

When it is announced that class 8B will be putting on a play, no one is less impressed than Tom. The only good thing is that he manages not to get a speaking part. Until his best friend unexpectedly leaves the country. Suddenly, Tom has a part to play – and a line to learn. A line which, if spoken incorrectly, could prove to embarrassing.

Still, it’s not all bad. The teacher, Mr Bloomer, has arranged for the lovely Miss Effington-Smythe to come along to rehearsals and offer some advice. She is beautiful – and Tom wants desperately to be noticed by her. Then Tom sees his father with another beautiful young woman, and his troubles really start. How can he get his dad to see the error of his ways?

Treading the Boards is a humorous novel for upper primary aged readers, with lots of silliness and some twists and turns, with some gentle exploration of issues including family break ups and first crushes . Mostly, though, it’s just a good fun read, likely to appeal to both boy and girl readers.

Treading the boards, by Celeste Walters
Little Hare, 2007

HOP, Little Hare, by Margaret Wild & Peter Shaw

Little Hare is the sweetest little hare ever. He loves his Grandpa and they go everywhere together. Little Hare hasn’t learnt to hop yet – so he goes bump, bump, bump on his bottom – and Grandpa has a lot of aches and pains in his joints, so he goes hibble-hobble, hibble-hobble. Little Hare’s parents try to teach him to hop, but Grandpa tells them he’ll hop when he’s good and ready. It isn’t until Little Hare sees a sheep about to eat the one bush that can help cure Grandpa’s aches and pains, that he takes an almighty hop to save it. Soon Grandpa can go hibble-hobble-HOP and Little Hare can hop can hop along beside him. But sometimes, just for fun, he still likes to go bump, bump, bump.

HOP, Little Hare is a gorgeous new picture book from Margaret Wild, arguably Australia’s finest picture book author. The delightful watercolour illustrations by Peter Shaw are a perfect complement to the gentle humour and warm fuzzy feelings of the text.

A delight for adult readers and young listeners to share over and over.

First released in hardcover, this book has now been released in paperback.

HOP, Little Hare, by Margaret Wild & Peter Shaw
This Edition Little Hare, 2007

Why Do I Have to Eat Off the Floor? by Chris Hornsey

Why can’t I drive the car?
Why can’t I dig in the garden?
Why can’t I sleep in your bed?

The questions posed in this quirky offering may sound like those every parent hears from their youngsters, but the twist is that they are actually a dog’s questions to its young owner. Murphy is a little dog with some big ambitions – digging with a back hoe, riding on an elephant, swinging a hula hoop – which are illustrated on the left hand page of each spread. The right hand page presents a more accurate picture of what is happening – when Murphy imagines himself excavating with a back hoe, he is really digging a hole in the flower bed, for example.

The question and answer format presents Murphy’s questions, which are asked with a beseeching look, rather than dialogue, coupled with patient (though frustrated) answers of the young owner.

The silliness of this book will appeal to preschoolers and the familiarity of the multitude of ‘whys’ will appeal to parents. The simple illustrations, watercolour with ink outlines, are an excellent complement.

First released in hardcover, the book has now been rereleased in paperback format.

Why Do I Have To Eat Off the Floor? by Chris Hornsey and Gwyn Perkins
This edition Little Hare, 2006

The Way I Love You, by David Bedford and Ann James

I love…
the way you always care,
the way you’re always there…
That’s the way I love you.

This is a picture book which parents, grandparents and other gift-givers will buy for its beauty. From an adorable cover, with a simple cream background and heartwarming illustration of a girl hugging her dog, right through to the back cover, with a view of the same pair from behind, with the girl’s arm around the dog and their heads leaning conspiratorially towards each other, all about this book is adorable.

The text is simple – with the first person child sharing the ways that she loves her dog, and the illustrations showing the simple joy the pair share in being together. Of course, the book is much more than a tale of a girl and a dog – the words remind us of the many ways of sharing love, in simple, every day moments.

Adult readers will be touched by this message and be reminded to cherish each small moment with their young loved ones, while children will love the simple rhythm of the story and the delightful illustrations of Ann James.

The Way I Love You will make a lovely going to sleep book and won’t suffer from being read over and over. It would also be an ideal gift for a newborn, to be treasured by both parent and child.

Initially published in hard cover format, The Way I Love You has now been released in a box set including small a format book and a cute cattle dog push.

Delightful

The Way I Love You, by David Bedford and Ann James
Little Hare, This edition 2007

You can buy this book online from Fishpond

Who's Laughing? by David Bedford and Leonie Worthington

Hippo is trying to sleep but someone’s laughing is keeping him awake. This lift the flap book takes hippo (and young readers) through the jungle, as he finds who is laughing on each double page spread. The Heee-hawww! Heee-hawww! comes from donkey, while rrrah-ha-ha-ha! is lion and ubble! ubble! ubble!is turtle’s laugh. Hippo is pretty unimpressed, but kids will love the novelty of the different laughs and seeing who they belong to. They’ll also love the final spread where the laughter is coming from hippo himself and the cause of all the laughter is revealed – monkey is tickling everyone with a bright pink feather. Kids will have fun going back and finding monkey and his feather in the earlier pages.

Who’s Laughing is a bright offering with plenty of colour and lots of laughs for an early childhood audience. The flaps are fold-down style, part of the sheet of each right hand page, so are sturdy and likely to withstand repeat ridings and handling by small readers.

Suitable for ages 2 to 5.

Who’s Laughing? by David Bedford and Leonie Worthington
Little Hare, 2006

A Ridiculous Story, by Rolf Heimann

“You’re telling me that a hippopotamus crossed Main Street and exploded, scattering monkeys everywhere… This is the most ridiculous story I have ever heard!”

What should you do if your inflatable Taiwanese hippopotamus won’t move? Why, fill it with monkeys of course! What do you do if your uncle sells you as a parrot to a group of bloodthirsty pirates? What do you do when you can’t invent a better mousetrap? And when is a witch not a witch? This book answers those and more questions.

This is a fun and exciting collection of stories from one of Australia’s best authors. These stories are funny and also suitable for kids of all ages. Kids will love reading this fantastic collection full of droll humour and dry wit.

Another great collection from a fantastic author.

A Ridiculous Story, by Rolf Heimann
Little Hare, 2006

Take 2, by Philip Blythe

The detective-thriller movie, Quest for the Golden Ibis, has just finished filming. For every scene, the director has filmed two different versions, each from a different angle. But there are a number of errors in every take, because a saboteur has been trying to ruin the film…

This is a puzzle or spot-the difference book with a special difference. Instead of presenting two identical pictures and asking youngsters to search for changes, Take 2 presents two shots of each scene, taken from different angles. The differences then are in details – clothing, props, the set and so on.

Readers are asked to act as an Assistant Editor and search for the differences between each pair of takes, then choose which shot will actually work in the final film. They are also asked to act as detective and figure out the identity of the saboteur.

As well as being a mind-bending and fun puzzle book, Take 2 also serves as a good introduction to film making and film language. Children are introduced to words such as cast, take, director and scene, as well as concepts such as continuity.

Suitable for primary school aged children.

Take 2, by Philip Blythe
Little Hare, 2006

Peril Space Tours, by Richard Morden

My name is Captain Peril. When touring with us you’ll encounter many strange and possible dangerous puzzles.

Peril Space Tours offers a tour around the galaxy and is chock-a-block with unusual creatures on even more unusual planets. There are ‘flappadons’, ‘null masters’ and ‘wuffers’ for readers to meet as they complete mazes, number, pattern and visual puzzles. Not even the crew are safe as the space tour flips from planet to planet.

Space travel should be this much fun! Humour and maths blend in outrageous colours across the universe we have never known. Puzzle books have ceased to just be a collection of activities and have become a genre of their own. Another high quality puzzle book from Little Hare Books, Peril Space Tours is certain to find new space fans. Fun for early-mid primary readers.

Peril Space Tours by Richard Morden
Little Hare Books 2006
ISBN: 9781921049545

This book is available online at Fishpond.