scholastic australia – Page 4

The Aussie Night Before Christmas Board Game Book

’twas the night before Christmas
there wasn’t a sound.
Not a possum was stirring;
no-one was around.

Following on from the success of The Aussie Night Before Christmas hardcover, board book, pop up and activity book, this popular story has been rereleased as a board game book, containing both the story and 10 games for children to play.

The story is an Aussie version of Clement Moore’s poem The Night Before Christmas, complete with kangaroos, utes and thongs. At the back of the book there are boards for six different board games, and punch out cards for four card games, as well as tokens and instructions for all ten games.

An Aussie Night Before Christmas Board Game Book is a wonderful Christmas offering for young Aussies, or for sending overseas as an Aussie flavoured Christmas gift.

Lots of fun.

An Aussie Night Before Christmas Board Game Book, by Yvonne Morrison and Kilmeny Niland
Scholastic Australia, 2009

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

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, by Kevin Whitlark

On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me…
A fat cat in a fur tree.

It’s Christmastime and all the dogs are busy getting up to all kinds of mischief. Each day brings a new batch of doggy fun – two chewed up slippers, three French poodles, four pointers pointing and more. Using the repetitive pattern of well known song The Twelve days of Christmas, the book encourages kids to join in, whilst also providing lots of silliness both in the words and the doggy illustrations

On each spread the new set of dogs or mischief is illustrated around the text on the left side, whilst on the right the dogs from the previous spreads cavort over, under and around the Christmas tree. There are dogs of different sizes, shapes and colour, doing doggy things such as catching Frisbees or fetching balls, as well as more unlikely, humorous things such as playing cards, fencing or playing instruments.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is a lively offering which will appeal to children from toddlers and through primary school.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, by Kevin Whitlark
Scholastic Australia, 2009

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

My Aussie Mum, by Yvonne Morrison

From the snapshots of Aussie Mums in the endpapers, My Aussie Mumis a celebration of mothers in general, and Aussie Mums in particular. This Aussie Mum loves to be a part of everything. She plays sports, supports whales, battles peak hour traffic, does the washing and makes lunches, loves lollies and can pick a fake sickie from ten paces. The illustrations from Nicola Bright are bright and colourful and full of family humour. There is plenty of white space to keep the focus on Mum and her antics. This Aussie Mum is perfect in her imperfection and is well-loved by her children.

My Aussie Mum is full of Aussie vernacular like ‘My Aussie Mum’s a ripper, yep, she’s as tough as nails’. This is not a stuffy Mum at all. She’s down to earth and fallible, but always passionate. She has three children and each of them celebrate and endure her various enthusiasms. The illustrations are somewhat at odds with the text, adding humour to the simple affirmations. Young readers will soon pick the gap between the words and text and are sure to provide examples of their own. The second-last opening shows a wide range of Aussie Mums, different ages, sizes and cultures. All are smiling, all look loved. Easy to imagine this being a Mother’s Day favourite. Recommended for 4-6 year olds.

My Aussie Mum, Yvonne Morrison, ill Nicola Bright
Scholastic Australia 2009
ISBN: 9781741692297

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

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

The Very Cranky Bear, by Nick Bland

In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a cold and rainy day
four little friends found a perfect place to play…
None of them had noticed that someone else was there.
Sleeping in that cave was a very cranky BEAR!

When Moose, Lion, Zebra and Sheep take refuge from the rain in a nice warm cave, they don’t expect to meet a cranky bear. Soon, they are out in the rain again, and must try to find a way to placate Bear if they are to get back inside the cave. Lion, Zebra and Moose all think Bear will be happier if he looks more like them, but Sheep, who is very plain, is not so sure. And it is Sheep who, eventually, finds a solution to Bear’s crankiness and a warm place for the four friends to shelter.

The Very Cranky Bear is a funny picture book with rhyming text and humorous illustrations. Author/illustrator Bland manages to blend dark and light so that the fearsome bear and his dark cave are lightened by both bright touches and cute facial expressions. The Bear, whilst described as cranky, manages to look, at times, just like a grumpy toddler. The rhyming text flows from page to page with a lively rhythm and plenty of clues for youngsters to guess at rhyming words.

Lots of fun, The Very Cranky Bear is a great read-aloud offering.

The Very Cranky Bear, by Nick Bland
Scholastic Australia, 2008

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

501 Great Aussie Jokes

Q. What do you call a platypus trapped under a rock?
A. A flatypus.

Q. What’s green, sticky and smells like eucalyptus?
A. Koala spew.

This is the third joke book produced by Scholastic Australia in recent years to support Camp Quality. Following on from the success of Laugh Out Loud! and Laugh Even Louder, 501 Great Aussie Jokes is full of jokes which will have primary school aged readers laughing out loud. I tried some out on my almost fifteen year old son and even he managed a wry grin (he’s not easily impressed).

There are contributions from famous Australians including Kerri-Ann Kennerly, Steve Jacobs and Adam Cox, as well as cute and humorous black and white illustrations by Louis Shea.

With a cover price of $9.99 and royalties going to Camp Quality, this is a worthwhile purchase.

501 Great Aussie Jokes
Scholastic Australia, 2008

Rowan of Rin – The Journey, by Emily Rodda

Since 1996 Australian children have followed the fantasy adventures of Rowan of Rin by one of Australia’s favourite children’s authors, Emily Rodda. Rowan is an unlikely hero who emerges, through the five books which make up the series, as a brave and strong leader. With his friends he experiences thrilling adventures and, along the way, comes to have faith in his own abilities.

Now, Scholastic has released the five books which make up this wonderful series as a single hard cover offering at the reasonable price of $29.95. For collectors and lovers of fantasy this is a real treat.

Individual Reviews of the Five Rowan stories can be found here on the Aussiereviews site:

Rowan of Rin (1993)
Rowan and the Travellers (1994)
Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal (1996)
Rowan and the Zebak (1999)
Rowan of the Bukshah (2003)

Rowan of Rin: the Journey, by Emily Rodda
An Omnibus Book from Scholastic Australia, 2004

Feels Real Series

Board books are popular with parents and youngsters alike. Their sturdy format, bright presentation and simple language make them perfect both for sharing sessions and individual exploration.

Scholastic Australia’s newest board book offering has an added dimension – tactile panels in each page.

There are four titles in the series, Cuddly Puppies, Furry Kittens, On the Farm and Little Ponies. Each includes five double page spreads with beautiful animal photography, one or two simple sentences and an invitation to touch the tactile insertion in one of the pictures. Children are invited to touch the furry mane of the pony, stroke the silky fur of the sheepdog, feel the kitten’s rough tongue and more. This provides an interactive element to the book which will keep youngsters turning pages and coming back to the books again and again.

Priced at just $7.95 (rrp) each, these little books are delightful.

Feels Real: Cuddly Puppies, Furry Kittens, Little Ponies and On the Farm
Scholastic Australia, 2004

123 – A First Board Book from Scholastic Australia

One of four titles in Scholastic’s First Board Book series, 123 is, as the title suggests, a first counting book. With bright photo illustrations and clear labels, the book presents the numbers 1 through 10, as well as 20, 50 and 100.

Each number is illustrated by objects which youngsters will know – 1 teddy bear, 2 socks, 3 trucks and so on. Kids will especially love the 50 bright buttons and 100 lollies (yum!).

There are also four double page spreads encouraging counting and discussion, with children being asked to count various objects.

The board book format provides a sturdy learning tool perfect for viewing and interaction for chidlren from birth through to preschool age.

123: A First Board Book, from Scholastic Australia, 2004

ABC – A First Board Book, from Scholastic Australia

Parents like ABC books (also called alphabet books) for obvious reasons. It’s nice to think your young one is being educated at the same time he is being entertained. Youngsters like ABC books too – because they are full of bright pictures of things they know. They are able to point at, name and discuss these items, making reading an interactive experience. For older readers there is the thrill of being able to ‘read’ the book themselves by pointing at the pictures and saying the words.

ABC: A First Board Book is a sound example of the alphabet book format. Each letter has a page (or double page spread) of its own, with the letter clearly printed in the corner and several photgraph illustrations of objects beginning with the letter. Each picture is acompanied by its name.

The board book format is ideal for toddlers, with its small size and chunky pages making the book sturdy. The book is also full of bright colours, making it visually appealing.

Good value, at just $5.95 (rrp).

ABC: A First Board Book, from Scholastic Australia, 2004

Trucks- A First Board Book, from Scholastic Australia

Littlies love things that move – and the bigger the better. This new board book is full of big machines, making it a definite winner with toddlers.

From trucks of all sizes, to emergency vehicles, tractors and loaders, every big road machine possible is included. Each double page spread has a theme, with pictures of the relevant machine-type individually labelled. The farm page, for example, includes a harvester, tractor, loader and animal transporter.

Perfect as a first book for a baby, with its sturdy format and bright photo-illustrations, older toddlers will enjoy the novelty of being able to ‘read’ by pointing at the pictures and saying the names of the different vehicles. There are also four spreads at the end of the book providing learning opportunities, including counting to five and relative size (small, medium and large).

With a small price tag (just $5.95), this one won’t break the budget.

Trucks: A First Board Book, from Scholastic Australia, 2004