Ten Wonderful New Picture Pooks to Enjoy with Children Aged 2-7 years

1. 'Seree's Story' by Irma Gold & Wayne Harris

 

Seree loves nothing more than eating sweet, mushy bananas, rolling in squelchy mud and playing with her family in the jungle.

But one day, she is captured and put to work in a circus. All she wants is to find her mother, and freedom.

This is a very special picture book. The tale of a young elephant taken by poachers torn away from her mother and the extended family. Destined for a circus as a perfomer on the other side of the world. 

The poignant story is enriched by the incredible illustrations of Wayne Harris. Children will love the story and be challenged by its environmental message. 

The book also had information after the story about the endangered elephants of the world. Suitable as a read-aloud for infants classes and a book that children aged 5-7 will enjoy reading.

2. 'The Echidna Near My Place', by Sue Whiting & illustrated by Cate James

This is the latest addition to the Nature Storybooks series from walker Books. It tells the story of a child and its Nanna, and as with other books in the series it includes factual information on each double page spread as well as the continuing fictional story of a child and her Nanna who both love animals.

As a young child and their Nana go for walks together, they follow a short-beaked echidna keenly observing and discussing what its life might be life. Learn with them about what Echidnas eat, where they live, and how they protect themselves.

Cate James' illustrations are delightful. When you see this little echidna curled up in a defensive position, you feel like you want to gently touch the page to see if its quills might just spike you.

A lovely book which will teach and engage children in this delightful story as well as the magical images.

3. 'Freddy the Not-Teddy' by Kristen Schroeder & illustrated by Jean Tapper

This is such a lovely and heart warming story about a little boy called Jonah and his favourite stuffed toy called Freddy. He's a little unusual. Just what is Freddy?

A funky duck, a peculiar platypus, a punk rock penguin? When Jonah’s teacher announces that they’re going to have a Teddy Bears’ Picnic, it seems that if Jonah wants to take Freddy, Freddy will have to go in disguise!

But it's not easy to make a toy that looks much like a duck to look like a teddy for the school Teddy Bears' picnic.

Children will love finding out just what happens when Jonah stands up for himself and for his beloved Freddy the 'not-teddy'. Children (and adults) will by Kristen Schroeder that is delightfully illustrated by Jean Tapper.  I just love it!

4. 'Get Ready, Mama!' Sharon Giltrow & illustrated by Arielle Li

This is a funny book that children aged 3-6 will love having read to them. Every parent will also love sharing this story in which the parent and the child seem to swap roles; or do they?!

Children will love the irony of a tale where the child has to get Mum ready to go to school. Will Mum ever get out of bed, get her clothes on, make it to the table, go to the bathroom and race for the car? Or, might she even sneak back into bed!!

Kylie Howarth's delightful text is complemented perfectly with Arielle Li's gorgeous illustrations to create a wonderful book that will be a favourite with many children.

5. 'Bush Magic' by Kylie Howarth

This is a delightful story that any grandparent would love to read to their grandchildren. It speaks of that special relationship between a child and a grandparent; when time is spent extravagantly, and love underpins every activity with their grandchild. With endless patience and a sense of fun, Jarrah spends a whole day with her Granpa. I know this joy well!

Jarrah and her Grandpa love spending time together exploring the bush around their home. But one miserable Sunday it’s too rainy to venture outside, so instead Jarrah and Grandpa float away on a dreamlike quest where they meet magical creatures, save their stranded bush friends from a flood and have their most exciting adventure together yet.

This is a book that many grandparents and parents will enjoy sharing with their children.

6. 'Tasmanian Devil' by Claire Saxby & illustrated by Max Hamilton

Seeing the name Claire Saxby on any book will get me to pick it up and open it quickly. This new book is another in the 'Nature Storybook' series from Walker Books. As usual, Claire Walker's text is special as she introduces 'two little imps'. These feisty Tasmanian Devils might look cute, but they will wrestle, shriek and growl at each other. And they are scavengers feeding mostly on dead animals. Cute they might be, but don't get too close!

I love Max Hamilton's illustrations. While they might look cute asleep in their burrow, I can almost hear them growling and shrieking. Don't get too close!

Having the background facts and details at the back of each of the books in this series will also satisfy the curious reader who wants to know more about these special animals.

7. 'Old Fellow' by Christopher Cheng & illustrated by Liz Anelli

 This is such a beautiful book. Liz Anelli's wonderfully detailed and true to life drawings are just gorgeous. The 'Old Fellow' looks exactly like and old fellow should, and shows much of the central character's personality. As he does his early morning stretch, and takes the dog for a walk, there is much to see.

Liz Anelli's illustrations are also stunning. Her line and water colour images are just so true to life and rich in real-life situations. So too is the portrayal of the two key characters; an old man and his dog as they do their daily walk and come across other people who cross their paths each day. A wonderful book.

8. 'Jack's Jumper' by Sara Acton

Sara Acton is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. "She lives on the Central Coast of NSW with one husband, two children, a mischievous dog and a cat called Poppy, who’s definitely in charge."

I've previously reviewed her book 'Dinosaur Day Out' and this latest book is equally as engaging delightfully illustrated.

This lovely story centres around Jack's jumper that was once his big brother Paul's jumper.

"Paul and Jack used to do everything together. But now he's always busy doing something else... somewhere else."

The lovely text is so well supported by the 'softness' of Sara Acton's water colour illustrations. This is wonderful story about a little boy who misses his big brother, and who's relationship with him changes as they grow older; but their bond remains. 

This book will warm the hearts of readers aged 4-7 years.

9. 'Jigsaw' by Bob Graham

Bob Graham is one of Australia's finest author/illustrators. His many books have been delighting children (and teachers) for more decades than it is polite to mention. I've been a big fan for a long time.

This book is not due to release until early July. But get a copy as soon as you can, because I'm sure they will sell quickly!

Serendipity and positive thinking come into play as a family searches for a missing puzzle piece in Bob Graham’s enchanting story with a sweet surprise ending.

A puzzle arrives in the mail from an unknown source. “Oh, let’s do it!” say Kitty and Katy and Mum when a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle mysteriously arrives in the post. “I have time on my hands,” agrees Dad. Starting in winter with the edges, by autumn they’re almost done, only to discover that one piece is missing. 

As a puzzle lover who has lost not just one but up to three pieces of a single puzzle, I know the agony of getting to the end and not being able to complete it!! I also know the joy that occurs when after many days scouring for each piece, the last one is found hiding. Enjoy!

As in all of Bob Graham’s work, the beauty here is in the details, with visual perspectives that offer a bird’s-eye view or even take us underfoot, wordless sequences letting us in on a secret. Is it sheer luck – or perhaps the power of hope – that creates an ending to the story?

10. 'My Dad Thinks he's a Pirate' by Katrina Germain & illustrated by Tom Jellet

What a delightfully engaging title for a children's book. The title alone made me want to read it. What child wouldn't want their Dad to think he was a pirate?!

This 'special Dad' is full of 'Dad jokes' and surprises. With all of his "hearties" in tow, they head off on many adventures. With the constant repeated refrain "My Dad thinks he's a pirate" we know that these kids don't buy this Dad's belief in his persona.

Katrina Germein's text is wonderful as usual, and Tom Jellett's illustrations are again excellent and fun. This is a funny story that children aged 3-6 will find hilarious. If your children loved it, you will also enjoy some of their earlier books, including 'My Dad Loves to Toot', 'My Dad Thinks he's Funny' and 'My Dad Still Thinks he's Funny' (& a few other titles as well)!

'Discovering' Literature

I first wrote about ‘discovering’ literature in a book published in the 1990s called ‘Pathways to Literacy’. In it I explained it took me until I was 8 years old before I read my first book. This was in spite of the fact that I’d been able to read since about 4-5 years of age! The first book I truly 'read' was Jules Verne's ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’. I had read school readers and some school magazine stories, a lot of comics and a couple of editions of Boys Own Annual. But I had never read a novel of my choice. At school, I’d only ever read for functional purposes.

 

But that changed when I was given Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea at my Father’s Miners’ Trade Union Christmas party. It was this book that taught me things about reading I'd never known before.  As I wrote in ‘Pathways to Literacy’:

 

“I lived through this book" (to use Louise Rosenblatt's well known phrase). I could almost smell the leather in Captain Nemo's Cabin. I felt the panic of the sailors on the wooden hulled ships at the terrifying sight of a glowing 'eyed' monster hurtling towards them in the darkness. I also felt deep compassion for the people inside doomed to death.”

 

There was a sense of excitement and commitment to the text evoked by this story. This had not been generated by my school readers. The formal reading in my first 2-3 years at school had a range of banal plots, impoverished language and weak characterization. The stories were written to teach me, rather than being provided to engage, enrich and transform me through the power of story.

 

I believe that ‘first’ book changed me as a reader, turning me from a passive consumer of text into an active meaning maker. In response to the book I was 'creating' text in partnership with the author!  I was to read the book many times and eventually others as well.

 

 

Years later, as a young teacher I was to observe many children who like me as a young child, never read books except to complete a school task. I helped to run a community literacy centre for a number of years where parents would bring their children to me for help with reading. I discovered something interesting. Virtually all the children who had reading problems, behaved as if they were reading textbooks.

 

Like me as a child, “… they were mere consumers of other people's texts, not creators of meaning in the fullest sense of the word. The attention of the readers was often focused on the surface features of the words in the text, and not necessarily the construction of meaning.”

 

As teachers, our definition of what literature is, also has an effect on the way we value and use literature in classrooms.  For example, some teachers see it is as a vehicle for sustaining our cultural heritage.  For those who see literature in this way, it is the means for ensuring that all students have access to an assumed central and essential cultural knowledge, based on an exclusive cannon of special literature.  Other teachers see literature as the provider of significant experiences which are seen as central to the social fabric of family life.

 

While one cannot deny that literature also fulfills these functions, each misses the point that literature is a living tapestry of yesterday, today and tomorrow. It sustains, enriches and sometimes rebukes the cultural practices of our day.

 

Literature's potential

 

There are many who are locked within their narrow and limited conceptualizations of what literacy and literature are, and hence they fail to identify all that they can offer.  Literature is not just about story, it is about life, and one's world. In my book, I suggested that literature can fulfill many complex functions.  It can act as:

 

• a mirror to enable readers to reflect on life problems and circumstances;

• a source of knowledge;

• a source of ideological challenge;

• a lens to peer into the past, and the future;

• a vehicle to other places;

• a means to reflect on inner struggles;

• an introduction to the realities of life and death; and

• a vehicle for raising and discussing social issues. (‘Pathways to Literacy’ T.H. Cairney)

 

Most books offer the potential to address many of these functions at once.  For example, Charlotte's Web (E.B.White) simultaneously offers new knowledge about spiders and the animal world, addresses the complex issue of dying, and deals with many elements of the human condition, including love and companionship.

In short, literature offers "endless possibilities" for readers to explore their world and learn from it, to enter "other worlds" and to engage in meaning making (Cairney, 1990). 

Children's Literature that Invites & Encourages Resilience - 6 Great Picture Books to Share

As I write this post in my home city of Sydney, we are locked down yet again due to our latest outbreak of Covid-19. Children are doing school at home disconnected from friends and their extended families. The world seems so different to them, and many wonder when things will return to normal. At such worrying times children's literature is a key resource to help them reflect and cope with life. Books can help children to see how courage and resilience give us strength to cope with many things. We talk much about resilience, but for children it is often hard for them to articulate why they feel sad, let alone know what they can do about it. Story is a wonderful way to shine a light on hidden fears, frustrations and deferred hopes. Bringing these to the surface can enable support to be given. Here are just six of the many books for children that address the broad theme of resilience.

1. 'Sad the Dog' by Sandy Fussell (Author), Tull Suwannakit (Illustrator)

This is the story of a clever little dog whose owners didn't even give him a name. Although they feed him and wash him, they don’t appreciate his many gifts, like his love of singing (“stop that yapping!”). When the people move, they simply leave him behind. He christens himself "Sad" and is heartbroken. But one day, a new family with a young boy arrives at Sad’s house in a big truck. Over time, it becomes clear that the boy is just the right person to make his life complete.

 

In its own way, this simple story offers an insight into how with support we can become stronger and more resilient even when our world is turned upside down.  

When his family leaves, Sad is heartbroken. But a new family with a young boy arrives at Sad’s house in a big truck, and it becomes clear that the boy is just the right person to make his life complete. Sandy Fussell's engaging story and Tull Suwannakit's illustrations combine to make this book memorable.

2. 'A Boy His Bear and a Bully' by Katie Flannigan & illustrated by P.J. Reece

For some kids, school is a place full of friends and fun. For others, though, it is a lonely place where bullies pick on them and it feels impossible to be brave. In this story we meet Scott, Buttons and Duncan, otherwise known as A Boy, His Bear and a Bully. All the ingredients needed for a special story.

 

The main character Scott, in his insecurity, takes Buttons to school every day to help him feel brave. But in spite of this Duncan the bully is still mean to him. He calls him "Scott no friends" tears up his painting, calls him names and steals his play lunch. But when Buttons goes missing he is devastated. Where does he look now to find his courage? But with inner strength, he surprises himself. On dress-up day he wears his dinosaur suit and somehow finds his 'brave' and no-one is more surprised than Duncan the bully.

 

Bullying is very real for many children which they often endure alone. But this sensitive book will allow parents and teachers to shine a light on challenges of this type. Scott's bravery inspires others to dig deep to find their inner strength.

 

Katie Flannigan is a full-time children's author. She worked once in the health industry as an Occupational Therapist. She was awarded a Maurice Saxby Mentorship award in 2016. Katie lives in Melbourne with her husband, three children and many dogs.

 

PJ Reece is an Australian illustrator. His delightful pen/pencil and wash illustrations help to bring this lovely story to life.

3. 'The Most Magnificent Thing' by Ashley Spires

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has written and illustrated a delightful book about a girl and her dog, that is her best friend. It's a story about a little girl with grand ideas. She decides one day that she wants to make something that is truly magnificent!

 

In her mind, she can see just what this grand thing will be like, so she sets off to make it with the help of her dog. While she can make lots of things, the "magnificent thing" she wants to make proves to be a challenge. While she can see it in her mind, it proves much harder to create it. Instead of it being "Easy-peasy" as she thought, it's hard, and her many attempts don't live up to the plans in her mind.

 

Eventually, the girl gets "really, really mad". She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But her dog is having none of this and convinces her to take him for a walk. When they come back she suddenly decides that she should try again, and not give up.

 

She decides that she will “make” her magnificent thing. She sets out to do so and "tinkers and hammers", measures, smooths, wrenches, fiddles, twists, tweaks and fastens. And while it never quite lives up to the image she had in her mind of the magnificent thing, she does complete her project and gains great satisfaction from the creation.   

 

This wonderful book is helpful not just for allowing teachers and parents to discuss with their children what it means to persevere, but also to reflect on what it means to demonstrate resilience. It will help teachers and parents to open up many discussions about the human need to set personal goals and challenges. In doing this, it will help to be prepare them for challenges, and to know how to work through them with other people. It is suitable for children ages 5-8 years.

 4. 'Little Frida' by Anthony Browne

This isn't a new book, but Anthony Browne's book about the life of Frida Kahlo was a worthy winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He is a former Children's Laureate and twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal. It is a story that will inspire young readers when faced with difficulties and challenges in life. The life of Freda Kahlo demonstrated that with resilience, hope and determination we can get through many difficult things.

Freda Kahlo was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico in 1907. Her father Wilhelm (also called Guillermo), was a German photographer who had immigrated to Mexico where he met and married her mother Matilde.

 

Around the age of six, Kahlo contracted polio, which caused her to be bedridden for nine months. While she recovered from the illness, she limped when she walked because the disease had damaged her right leg and foot. But her father encouraged her to play soccer, go swimming, and even wrestle. This was highly unusual for a girl in the early 20th Century, but he saw it as a road to recovery. 

 

There have been many books written about this famous artist but Anthony Browne has created a special picture book, that will bring the remarkable story of Frida Kahlo to a new generation and inspire them to consider what resilience can look like even when life throws up big challenges.

 

As well, the book explores the themes of belonging and hope. The story of Frida's lonely life, and how she discovered the power of her own imagination to open up new worlds of possibility, is inspirational. It is a wonderful book for 5-8 year olds. It also has a brief biography of Frida Kahlo at the back that parents and teachers will want to share after they've read Browne's story.

5. 'Dandelion' by Galvin Scott Davis and illustrated by Anthony Ishinjerro (Random House Australia and digital media company Protein)

Galvin Scott Davis and illustrated by Anthony Ishinjerro (Random House Australia and digital media company Protein)

This a wonderful picture book that focuses on the theme of bullying. Galvin Scott Davis explains its genesis:

The story for Dandelion came about when my son experienced bullying at school. As a parent, you are supposed to have all the answers, right? But as we all know, that is not necessarily the case. What to do? I needed to put myself in my son's shoes, draw on my own past experiences and offer him a solution to help him feel comfortable at school again.

This is an exciting project, starting out first as a concept by a Dad whose son was bullied which was then funded by people who like him wanted to say something about bullying to encourage those experiencing it. First there was the idea, then an app before finally a hard-covered book. The illustrations and animation are beautiful. In both formats the unusual sepia tone illustrations of Anthony Ishinjerro capture the reader/viewer and the white, block-letter text stands out from the black pages to support text in the form of rhyming couplets.

Whatever form you experience it, (app or book) it is a story that will encourage parents, teachers and children to talk about bullying and look at whether some problems can be solved with a little imagination and resilience.

6. 'Sunday Chutney' by Aaron Blabey

It's also exciting to see Aaron Blabey back again. This remarkable new talent is shortlisted for the second year in a row. His first book 'Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley' won the Picture Book of the Year award in 2008. You can read more about Blabey in my Author Focus on him (here).

The new girl at school has a glamourous life. What more could she want? Sunday Chutney is not your ordinary every-day girl. Sunday has lived everywhere and been everywhere. The only problem is this means she is always the new girl at school and she never really has a place to call come. But Sunday doesn't mind, not really. After all, she doesn't care what people think, she loves her own company, she has heaps of imaginary friends, so many important interests that keep her very busy . . . and traveling is so glamorous. What more could Sunday Chutney want?

The trouble is that Sunday Chutney always feels different. And as the one who is always the "new kid" that has its challenges. But somehow, in spite of the challenges, she doesn't seem to care. Why? She has learnt to enjoy her own company. And the secret is her excellent imagination, many interests. While there are lots of things she doesn't like - her lazy eye, creamed corn, sand in her swimmers, the first lunchtime at each school, bullies and grumps - she likes lots of things too. Like her own company, her own imagination, crumpets, marine biology, worthy causes and her optometrist. It seems that while she wished she moved less, Sunday Chutney has worked out that while lonely at times, she isn't much she would prefer, except perhaps, keeping the same home.

Ideas for 'Doing' School at Home During the Covid-19 Virus

Around the world there are many families trying to manage life at home during the Covid-19 Pandemic. While every family's situation and each nation is dealing with this problem in different ways, all families face similar challenges. As a trained teacher, author of varied learning activities for parents,  and devoted father and grandfather I've tested these ideas and many more. But due to the Corona Virus many parents across the world have found themselves acting as teachers at home. This is a nightmare for some, but it can be rewarding and even fun!

Many are asking:

• How can I as a parent, who isn't a trained teacher, make this work?
• What if my child gets through all of the school work in a couple of hours?
• How can I make some of the work fun and engaging?
• How do I juggle my paid work if I'm working at home as a parent at the same time?

In this post, I want to lay out some basic principles for teaching your children at home (I'll come back to some of the above questions later) and offer some practical ideas. In future posts, I will outline further practical ideas to make home learning not only effective but exciting and fun, even if you aren't a trained teacher. The ideas have all been tested by me and my wife who was also a teacher with children aged 5-12 years. Some of them will work for older children too, or if you have a wide age range in your family, one of the older children might become the 'teacher' for one or two of the activities. But first some DO's and some implied DON'Ts.

#1 Do establish some basic rules - these must be complied with if your children hope to do some of the other things that they might enjoy more than school work (e.g. computer games, TV, online activities, social media, outdoor games and exercise if still possible and allowed in your country). You need some basic rules for your children and you need to stick to them (stick them up on the wall). And as the 'teacher' one of the most important rules for you is to be consistent in applying the rules.

#2 Do complete the work that your children's teachers are setting - but don't assume that it has to be done first (especially if it's all hard and demanding). Some private schools will have sent your child home with very prescriptive guidelines for what is to be done and when. This might require online activities, class participation using varied platforms for online, prescribed content, media, group work and so on. But, you do have some freedom even in such prescription. If there's a meltdown, all school prescriptions might be set aside for an hour or two. This is about emotional 'survival', for you and your children.

#3 Do program in physical activities outside (weather permitting). There are many things that can be done with varied age groups. Board games (I've written about this on my blog), online games, sport, watching special programs via available content streams like Netflix, Disney, STAN etc.

#4 If you are able, DO establish a place within your home or apartment where school activities take place. Rather than private spaces in bedrooms I'd recommend 'public' places like the dining room, or a family room (if you are lucky enough to have such a place). In this space, you might have a shared computer (if you aren't able to have more than one device), a tablet (or two perhaps), hopefully internet access etc. When they enter this space for the activities of school, it is school! Insist on this.

# 5 Do provide time for marking work (if that is the task of the parent not teachers) and give good feedback and praise. Much of this will take place as you supervise, but do read written work and give some feedback to your children. Try to be constructive, not just critical. And do find something to commend.

# 6 Do be consistent! Discipline for the teacher always breaks down when they are inconsistent towards children in the class (or group at home). This will happen even faster for the parent if you let one child away with bad behaviour or attitude, but not the others.

# 7 Do build into the day planned 'Tension Breakers'. 'Tension breakers' (i.e. things to stop chaos when the wheels are falling off the family, or a child is having a meltdown!) are used when everyone seems to have had enough. Try to use activities that involve all children and hopefully at least one parent in the activities. Here are some examples:

a) Sure Fire Mimes - You can make up your own but make sure that they are suitable for varied ages. For example:

* You are trying to teach someone to knit
* You are a cat washing yourself
* You are a pirate being forced to walk the plank
* You are a tightrope walker at a circus
* You are a famous pianist walking onto the stage
* You are paddling a kayak when you lose your only paddle
* You are making a snowman
* You are decorating a birthday cake

b) Rearranging clothes - One child leaves the room and makes a minor alteration to his or her clothing (must be visible). They might leave a button undone, loosen a belt, undo, slightly rearrange their clothes or hair, and so on.

c) Five minute fillers - there are lots of options here. They are challenges of one kind or another. Try to make them such that children of varied ages can do well at most of them.

• Making paper snakes

Give each child a small piece of identical paper (perhaps 10cm x 5cm, but the photo is using a Post-it note) and ask each child to see how they can tear the paper into a single 'snake' by working along the paper from out edge to the middle. The longest unbroken 'snake' wins.

• Never ending story

As the 'teacher' you start a simple story that the children add to (maximum of 6 words), until you run out of inspiration. At first be generous if some find it hard to stick to 6 words. For example:

Oscar went for a ride...
He ran into ...
Who could have guessed that ...?
How would he possibly ...?
Fortunately, ....
But ...
How could he ever ...?
I guess that he ...

• Who's that talking behind my back?

One child stands about 4 metres away from everyone and once they are blindfolded and looking away someone chosen by the parent is asked to whisper 'very' softly just two words. The blindfolded person has to guess who it was.

• Ventriloquists

Give each child a turn to repeat a 3-5 word sentence without moving their lips. The group votes to decide who was best at it (the parent has 2 votes!). For example, "my front tooth is aching".

You can trot out tension breakers like the above when everyone seems to be getting tired, or as a reward after a more demanding task.

In my next few posts I will share some other ideas that might help to make learning at home more interesting. These will include:

• Helpful educational apps to use on tablets or phones
• Outdoor activities that can work
• Books that are great for reading aloud
• Poems for sharing
• Art activities that are easy and fun
• Cooking lessons
• Fun activities outside