Michelle Wothington (text), Cecilia Johansson (illus.), Pugs Don’t Wear Pyjamas, New Frontier Publishing, 1 March 2018, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781925594034 This is a delightful story about a lovable pug called Ellie who can do anything young Tom can do. She makes friends much more easily than Tom, not surprisingly for a dog who does wear pyjamas, rides a skateboard, climbs trees – and wants to own a pet guinea pig. Tom is not happy about this, but when Ellie goes missing, he can’t wait to have her back. The real joy of this book is the superb illustrations that perfectly…
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Laura Stitzel, Mr Mo Starts to Grow, Lothian Children’s Books/Hachette Australia, 27 Feb 2018, 32pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780734417725 Jane’s constant companion is Mr Mo, an imaginary creature of indeterminate species, perhaps most resembling a friendly dragon despite his spiked tail, horns and claws. When he grows larger and larger he hides away so as not to frighten Jane. All ends happily when he reappears to seek comfort during a thunderstorm. Laura Stitzel is an experienced animator and illustrator as is evident from the appealing drawings that reflect the changing emotions of Jane and Mr Mo. The drawings vary in size…
Matt Porter, Stephanie Chiocci and the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Chase (Footy Stars #1), Ford Street, Feb 2018, 76pp., $12.95 (pbk), ISBN 9781925272888 This first book in the new Footy Stars series has debuted just as women’s football is really taking off with the rise of the AFLW. In partnership with Collingwood’s captain, Stephanie Chiocci, author Matt Porter has written a funny and engaging tale about Steph skiving off to compete in a cheese chase. Chiocci writes a forward, answers a Q and A about her career at the end of the book and includes tips on taking screamers and ‘spoiling from…
Patricia Forde, The List, Affirm Press, 30 Jan 2018, 352pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781925584738 Letta is the Wordsmith’s apprentice in the city of Ark where John Noa rules. Ark is tightly managed, with strict rules guiding its residents. Food is cooked in the Central Kitchen and doled out carefully, as is the water. People have work roles and a language to suit. The Wordsmith supplies the List Words that people can speak, and only certain people can speak the words assigned to their specialist tasks. Every citizen is limited to 500 words, except when the Benjamin the Wordsmith and Letta speak together in the…
Sharon Yaxley, Dunstan and Theodore Set Sail (Dunstan and Theodore #3), Forty South Publishing, Oct 2017, 28pp., $16.95 (pbk), ISBN: 978 0648106388 Dunstan and Theodore Set Sail is the third book in this series which follows Dunstan the golden teddy bear and Theodore the border collie pup as they explore Tasmania. This title’s adventures take them on a sailing trip in Bass Strait, from Low Head to Flinders Island, where they explore the small islands and wildlife on the journey. The story is told in rhyme, with the repetitive refrain “With the wind in their sails and the sun on their back, Dunstan…
Aleesah Darlison (text), Australian Children (illus.), Yay! It’s Library Day, Wombat Books, 1 Feb 2018, 32pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781925563238 Yay! It’s a children’s book about the joy of libraries. Aleesah Darlison’s fun rhyming poem follows a brother and sister’s day at the library. They spend the WHOLE day there and, what’s more, they do it every week with their dad. What lucky children! The poem is essentially a loving dedication to the diversity of books and stories to be found in a library. Whatever you’re into – fun, adventure, romance, discovery and more – reading a book can take you…
Philip Bunting, Sandcastle, Allen & Unwin, March 2018, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781760295387 From the moment you pick up this book by author/illustrator Philip Bunting, the feel of its textured cover and embossed text let you know you’re in for a treat. On one level, Sandcastle is a very simple story about Rae and Grandad building a sandcastle at the beach. Together, they build a very impressive structure. However, when the tide comes in the sandcastle is washed away. Rae is naturally disappointed, but Grandpa’s wise guidance leads Rae to a couple of important life lessons. By independently building a new…
Claire Saxby (text), Tannya Harricks (illus.), Dingo (Nature Storybooks), Walker Books Australia, 1 April 2018, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781925381283 What a wonderful new addition to Walker Books’ award-winning Nature Storybooks series! Dingo’s faultless text, stunning illustrations and clever design all play their part to create a beautiful narrative non-fiction nature book that may well become a classic. Consistent with other books in the series, author Claire Saxby’s text features two layers. The first is a lyrical narrative about a mother dingo’s hunt to support her five nine-week-old pups. The second presents facts in an expository writing style, about the life…
Michael Morpurgo (text), Michael Foreman (illus.), Lucky Button, Walker Books Australia, 1 Feb 2018, 176pp., $19.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781406371680 Lucky Button, by master storyteller Michael Morphugo, introduces us to young Jonah, who spends his nights caring for his ailing mother and his days attending an English high school. Jonah is lonely and sad and the obstacles to his happiness seem unsurmountable. He finds solace in music and when he is cast as Piggy in a musical version of Lord of the Flies, he embraces the role. However, the kids playing bullies in the musical are also bullies in real life, and things…
Elizabeth Eulberg (text), Matt Robertson (illus.), The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match (Shelby Holmes #2), Bloomsbury Australia, 1 Feb 2018, 256pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781408871492 This second instalment in the Shelby Holmes series by bestselling author Elizabeth Eulberg is a fun middle grade read with lots of heart and a feminist twist. The story tracks the adventures of case-solving sleuth Shelby Holmes and her sidekick John Watson. At the New York School of Arts, nine-year old Shelby is so eccentric and rude that she is shunned by the other students. Shelby, like her namesake, has a complete disregard for the pleasantries…