Apologies to my readers for my infrequent posts in recent months,
there has been too much competition for my time. This is a catch-up post
in which I will offer quick reviews of 22 picture books that I've been
sent for review. As you would know, picture books can be in varied
genres and have different purposes. I've grouped these into three
groups, books that: a) 'Teach and tell', b) 'Teach and 'tell' about the
human condition, and those that c) 'tell' great stories.
I hope you like the books I have selected.
A. Picture books that Teach & Tell
Books in this first category are factual in nature but use a variety of genres, including many that are narrative in form.
1. '
A is for Australian Animals', by
Frané Lessac
If you haven't come across
Frané Lessac before, you must correct this significant gap in your experience of children's literature. She
is a U.S born author, illustrator and painter who currently lives and
works in Western Australia. She has published over 40 books for children
and won numerous awards for her illustrations. Don't assume that this
is a simple alphabet book. While it adopts this form, this is a book
that will deepen children's knowledge of some of Australia's most
amazing animals. Each letter has one to three unique animals. Each has
multiple illustrations with an introduction to each animal in larger
font and then short paragraphs associated with separate illustrations.
Every page has a depth of information in the varied texts and gorgeous
illustrations that use the rich colours of the Australian landscape.
'The Blue-tongue is a lizard which, if threatened, puffs up its body, opens its mouth wide and sticks out its dark blue tongue'
'The Bilby is a desert-living marsupial with rabbit-like ears'
'Bilbies don't hop like a rabbit or jump like a kangaroo - they gallop like a pony'
A stunning book with carefully crafted text and stunning illustrations with a riot of colour and detail.
2. '
Koala' by Claire Saxby & illustrated by Julie Vivas
When a young male koala outgrows his mother's pouch, it's time to
find a new home for himself — braving perils and adventures along the
way.
In a high tree fork, a gray ball unfurls. Koala seeks
his mother's milk, but for the first time, she won't let him into her
pouch. It's time for Koala to make his own way in the world. Rival
koalas, fierce storms, and frightening snakes force Koala to keep moving
— until he finds a safe place to call his own.
This
is a wonderful book from a great Australian author and a legendary
illustrator. Children can read the story of a young koala growing up in
the world. At the same time, they can learn a lot about this rare
marsupial. A wonderful book for readers (or 'listeners') aged 4-7 years.
3. '
Hooray for Birds!' by Lucy Cousins
Lucy
Cousins should be well known as the creator of 'Maisy' and the same
vibrant colours and amazingly simply images that 'jump' off the page at
you, will be found in this book. But children can also learn about the
birds displayed. The 'peck, peck, peck' of the woodpecker, the long neck
of the swan, 'swooping' starlings, the display of the flycatcher, not
to mention the long legs of the stork and much more. A stunning book for
children aged 1-5 years.
4. '
Crazy About Cats' by Owen Davey
This is part of Owen Davey's bestselling series.
Did you know that the fishing cat has partially webbed paws for catching
fish? Or that pumas can leap over 15 feet into trees? There are roughly
38 species of cats today, each one superbly adapted to their
environment - whether that be in the rainforest or the desert!
I have previously reviewed '
Smart About Sharks'. But your children will enjoy '
Mad About Monkeys'
and many more books by Owen Davey. I love the almost geometric nature
of the images, the beautifully toned colours and the multi-layered
nature of the texts. Stunning work. Wonderful for children aged 4-8
years.
5. '
Ivy and the Raincloud' by Katie Harnett
Everyone loves the warm
sunshine—except the lonely raincloud. No one wants to be his friend! But
one day, he stumbles across a grumpy little florist . . . could she be
looking for a friend too?
In this charming tale, a solitary
raincloud finds a way to make a sad little girl happy again, by using
the very thing that most people dislike about him—rain!
This
wonderfully simple picture book by this outstanding author and
illustrator uses a grumpy girl and a lone cloud to reflect on loneliness
and anger. At one level, it's a simple fun story, and yet at another, it
offers an insight into our moods, despondency and how we can as quickly
leave our moods behind us as we embraced them in the first place.
Katie Harnett
received the Bologna Children’s Book Fair ARS IN FABULA Grant Award in
2015, and her work was selected to be exhibited twice at The
Illustrators Exhibition at the
Bologna Book Fair.
6. '
Amazing Australians in their Flying Machines' by Prue & Kerry Mason and illustrated by Tom Jellett
Imagine what it was like to travel to far-off places before there were
aeroplanes. For early 20th-century Australian, it could take days,
weeks, or months just to get where they were going. 'Amazing Australians
in Their Flying Machines' tells the stories of ten brave Australians,
including the youngest licensed woman pilot Nancy Bird, who took to the
skies and changed the face of aviation forever.
This
is a brilliant book. It is a wonderful chronicle of exploration in
flight. It begins with the life story of Dr William Bland, who in 1814
arrived as a convict and by the 1850s was drawing designs for amazing
flying machines. And of course, Kingsford Smith, Nancy Bird and many
others are featured as are the machines and adventures along the way.
It is beautifully designed and illustrated by Tom Jellett. A great book
for children aged 5-8 years.
7. '
Triangle' by Mac Barnett & illustrated by Jon Klassen
Meet
Triangle. He is going to play a sneaky trick on his friend, Square. Or
so Triangle thinks. . . . With this first tale in a new trilogy,
partners in crime Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen will have readers
wondering just who they can trust in a richly imagined world of shapes.
Visually stunning and full of wry humor, here is a perfectly paced treat
that could come only from the minds of two of today's most irreverent —
and talented — picture book creators.
Multi-award-winning,
New York Times best-selling
duo Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen work again on this hilarious story in
image and just a 'few' words. Some sneaky shapes try to outwit one
another. I just love their work. Geometry has never been so
entertaining!!
8. '
How Does My Home Work?' by Chris Butterworth & illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti
In
this book, almost every question a child aged 3-8 could ask has been
answered in words and illustrations. With delightful 'retro images'
(circa 1950) the most fundamental of science, technology and engineering
questions are asked.
How
does flipping a switch on the wall make the lights come on? Where does
the clean water that flows out of the faucet come from? What is used to
keep a home warm? Travel beyond the walls and under the floors of a
house to find out more about the electricity, water, and natural gas
that make your home work — and find out how you can do your part to save
energy and preserve these resources.
This beautiful book will delight children aged 4-8 years.
9. '
Rock Pool Secrets' by Narelle Oliver
At first glance there’s nothing much to see. But the rock pools are full
of secrets. Nestling between rocks ... Hiding in the seaweed ... What
creatures will you find? Discover their secrets in this flap book.
Features beautiful linocut artwork by award-winning author/illustrator
Narelle Oliver. Includes big, easy-to-use flaps and a glossary of rock
pool creatures.
I've been a fan of Narelle Oliver's
work for some time, and this book doesn't disappoint. Stunningly
illustrated images of the wonders of rock pools, with an innovative book
design that allows fold out pages to allow children to scan the
detailed images while reading the well-written text that draws readers
into an examination of the images. Great book for children aged 3-8
years.
B. Books that 'Tell' stories about the human condition
In this category, the stories all illuminate some aspect of the deeper
human condition, including dementia, problems with reading, and anxiety.
10. '
Grandma Forgets' by Paul Russel & illustrated by Nicky Johnson
When your grandmother can't remember your name, it should be sad, but
maybe it is just an opportunity to tell her more often how much you love
her. Grandma Forgets is the heart-warming story of a family
bound by love as they cope with their grandma's dementia. Over the
years, the little girl has built up a treasure trove of memories of time
spent with Grandma: sausages for Sunday lunch, driving in her sky-blue
car to the beach, climbing her apple trees while she baked a delicious
apple pie, and her comforting hugs during wild storms. But now, Grandma
can't remember those memories.
This is a wonderfully
warm and engaging story that deals with the depth of love within
families and how a shared history of memories and relationship can help
families to deal with the challenges of Dementia. This is a topic
overlooked by children's literature but memory loss will be a part of
the lives of many children and grandchildren as they grow up, and also
when they grow old themselves. Well suited as a read aloud for children
aged 5-8 years.
11. '
Madelaine Finn and Library Dog' by Lisa Papp
I
wrote a post about as Pets as Therapy for struggling readers some time
ago, and this wonderful book picks up on this wonderful idea in this
delightful book.
Madeline Finn doesn't like to read. But she covets a gold star from
her teacher, but she knows that these are for good readers. How can she ever earn one?
Fortunately,
Madeline Finn meets Bonnie, a library dog. Reading out loud to Bonnie
isn't so bad; when Madeline Finn gets stuck, Bonnie doesn't mind. As it
turns out, it's fun to read when you're not afraid of making mistakes.
Bonnie teaches Madeline Finn that it's okay to go slow. And to keep
trying.
This is a beautifully illustrated book with a simple
but compelling text. Lisa Papp has written an inspiring book for every
struggling reader who ever wanted that gold star but couldn't see how to
earn it. Perfect book for children aged 4-7 years. Also, a great read
aloud.
12. '
Niko Draws a Feeling' by Bob Raczka & illustrated by Simone Shin
This
book almost made me cry. It is the sweetest tale written with such
sensitivity. It is without a doubt one of the stand out picture books of
the year for me. Niko constantly draws his world in 'scribbles' and
colour, shapes and lines. Bright coloured crayons are his tool of
choice, and his work is constant. As he sees things that inspire him, he
draws: a mother bird in her nest, the 'ring-a-ling' of an ice cream
truck, ideas that 'flit through the open window like a butterfly' ...
But to most his drawing seems to be scribble, until but one day things
change.
No-one seems to understand him or his
drawings. He tapes many of them to his walls. One day, as he looks in
the mirror he draws another one of himself, and tapes it on the back of
his door where no-one can see it. But one day, a girl called Iris moves
in next door, and she sees his pad and crayons. She asks him do you
draw? When he says yes, she says "Can I see them?" Niko says "You might
not like them." "But I might" Iris answers. He shows her and she
stumbles across his drawing behind the door. "Wow" she says, " ... you
must have been sad when you made this picture." And "Suddenly, Niko felt
a window opening in his brain."
This is a beautiful
and powerful story about loneliness, isolation, and our need for love
and understanding, as well as the place that drawing can play in self-expression. This is a wonderful book from author Bob Raczka, who has
written many books on art and poetry. The illustrator Simone Shin has
been drawing like Niko since she was a small child. A great read aloud
book for children aged 3-7.
C. Books that 'Tell' Stories
This category includes books that primarily set out to present engaging narratives for young readers.
13. '
His Royal Tinyness: A Terrible True Story' by Sally Lloyd-Jones & illustrated by David Roberts
Once upon a time there was a happy family: A mum, a dad, a gerbil, and
the most beautifulest, cleverest, ever so kindest Princess Marianna.
Until one horrible no good day when a new ruler was born...
This
wonderful writer and illustrator team has created a special fairy tale
about a little girl with a new baby brother.
There are many books that give traditional story lines a twist for
effect. So many, that it's hard to make one stand out. This delightful
tale, is so outrageously over the top in its caricature of the bratty
baby prince who pushes his princess sister Marianna into the background,
that it makes its own special contribution to the many fractured
fairytales. The clever writing, magical illustrations and clever use of
absurd words like 'beautifulest', 'ever-so-kindest', 'His Royal
Clean-and-sparklyness', and 'His One-and-Only-Spoiltness' make this one
stand out. It does help that we have a New York Times best-selling
author and Kate Greenaway shortlisted illustrator.
This is a 'must-have' in any library and perfect for readers aged 4-8 years.
14. '
I Want to Be in a Scary Story' by Sean Taylor & illustrated by Jean Jullien
Monster
may think he wants to be in a scary story, but then again . . . A
hilarious return by the team that brought us Hoot Owl, Master of
Disguise.
Jean Jullien's bright and
dramatic cartoon-like illustrations are ideal for a 'scary' story for
young readers. A scary little monster starts his day by declaring that
he wants to be in a story! But what sort? And where will it be set?
Perhaps in a dark and scary forest. But is this story just a little too
scary for our brave central character? Is this what he had in mind?
Perhaps HE should be doing the scaring?!
A delightful and funny story by a great team. Great readalong book for 4-6 year olds.
15. '
On the Night of the Shooting Star' by Amy Hest & illustrated by Jenni Desmond
For solitary neighbors Bunny and Dog, reticence overcomes curiosity —
until something extraordinary happens to nudge them into friendship.
Bunny
and Dog are the most delightful central characters, Jeni Desmonds
illustrations give them unmistakable personalities that make them so
easy to love. While Amy Hest's text is lyrical and warm, that gives
depth to each character and the flowering of a relationship before our
eyes.
A special book that readers will enjoy as a class
read aloud, or at bedtime when curled up for the night under the covers,
just like Bunny and Dog each night. Perfect for readers aged 3-7 years.
16. '
Once Upon a Small Rhinoceros' by Meg McKinlay & illustrated by Leila Rudge
“Don’t
you wish,” said the small rhinoceros, “that you could see the world?”
And so begins this delightful picture book by award-winning creators Meg
McKinlay and Leila Rudge.
Once, there was a small rhinoceros who wanted to see the big
world. So, she built a boat. And sailed away ...
And
so, begins a delightful tale of a young rhinoceros who isn't simply
content to wallow in the mud. This small rhino dreams of what lies
beyond, and one day she decides to build a boat and sail away. This is a
book for young dreamers, who aren't content simply to stay close to the
ordinary and the normal. This is a story for young adventurers just
like this small rhinoceros.
A wonderful picture book from the sensational Australian award-winning picture that gave us '
No Bears'.
17. '
Leaf' by Sandra Dieckmann
When a polar bear arrives unexpectedly in the woods, the animals fear
and avoid him, suspecting him to be dangerous - and his habit of
collecting leaves only adds to their distrust. Then one day, they watch
as he attempts to fly over the water with wings made of colorful
leaves...just trying to go home.
Maybe he needs some help?
Sandra
Dieckmann's illustrations are masterful. Every plate is a delight to
gaze upon and ponder the detail and magic in each one. The angular and
geometric forms and rich colours will have children pawing over these
illustrations. The animals almost jump from the pages. Her text has that
great economy of language that marks great children's books:
"Crow
saw it first. The strange white creature, carried upon the dark waves
toward the shore. It was unlike anything the animals of the wild wood
had seen before. It made its home in the old, overgrown cave on the
hill.
No one had lived there for as long as they could remember, and no one dared approach now."
Wonderful!
Every library should have this book. Ideal as a shared book for young
readers (4-7 years), or as individual reading for 6-8 year olds.
18. '
BaabWaa & Wooliam' by David Elliott & illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Baabwaa is a sheep
who loves to knit. Wooliam is a sheep who loves to read. It sounds a bit
boring, but they like it. Then, quite unexpectedly, a third sheep shows
up. A funny-looking sheep who wears a tattered wool coat and has long,
dreadfully decaying teeth. Wooliam, being well-read, recognizes their
new acquaintance: the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing! The wolf is so flattered
to discover his literary reputation precedes him that he stops trying
to eat Baabwaa and Wooliam. And a discovery by the sheep turns the
encounter into an unexpected friendship.
This is a
very funny book that young readers will find entertaining. Melissa
Sweet's slightly caricatured illustrations in line and watercolour, will
captivate young readers. Each image will draw readers in, and will make
it hard to turn each page, until they have pondered every detail. With
strong themes that focus on friendship and even dental hygiene for
Baabwaa the sneaky fox, this book will be a great shared book experience
for children aged 4-7, or for personal reading for 6-8 year olds.
19. '
The Secret of Black Rock' by Joe Todd-Stanton
Erin loves to lie on the
jetty, looking for the weirdest fish in the sea—the weirder, the better!
And she knows the best ones must be further out, where her mum won't
let her go . . .
Out there in the deepest sea lies the Black Rock:
a huge, dark and spiky mass that is said to destroy any boats that come
near it! Can Erin uncover the truth behind this mysterious legend?
This
is a wonderful mystery tale for young readers, with simple and
economical text and rich full colour watercolour plates that have a
slight retro feel. The illustrations are very special offering echoes of
some picture books from the 1940s and 1950s like '
The Little Island'
by Golden MacDonald & illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (Caldecott
Award winner in 1946). And the text has mystery and a just ending that
is heart-warming. A delightful book for readers aged 5-8 years.
20. '
Finn and Puss' by Robert Vescio & illustrated by Melissa Mackie
Finn, a young boy, is lonely. Puss, a cat, is lost. Then Finn and Puss
meet. Suddenly Finn isn’t lonely anymore, and Puss seems quite happy to
be with Finn, too.
This wonderful story has just 76 words, soft
watercolour images, and a simplicity that leaves a lot of space for the
imaginations of young readers as it explores hope, loneliness, honesty,
friendship and how to make right choices.
A beautiful
book that would make a great shared book for 5-6 year old class groups
or wonderful shared reading for children aged 3-7 years.
