Andy Jones (text), Jules Faber (illus.), The Awesome Book of Rap, Rhyme and Putrid Poetry, ABC Books/HarperCollins Australia, 1 Dec 2016, 272pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780733335662 There is nothing pretentious about this book of poetry. Rhythm, rhyme and bad manners . . . it is sure to be a hit. Nursery rhyme raps, limericks and a Shakespeare rap feature among poems like The Toilet Trilogy and The Ugliest Baby in the World. A helpful section of how to create a rap is included. Poetic terms are defined in a “Poo-etry Toolbox”. As well as humorous short poems, there are three…
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Joshua Seigal (text), Chris Piascik (illus.), I Don’t Like Poetry, Bloomsbury/Allen & Unwin, Nov 2016, 88pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781472930033 This is an accessible paperback with a fun approach to beginning with poetry. Fifty short poems by Seigal offer examples to spark children’s own writing. Word play, humour and themes around everyday objects offer lots for young readers to connect with. With titles such as A Zombie Poem, Dracula’s Love Letter and Edible Bedroom, these poems are light-hearted, and don’t take themselves too seriously. Yet underlying the fun is the poet’s expert craftsmanship, employing rhythm, rhyme and a range of…
Edwina Shaw, In the Dark of Night (Breakouts), Ransom Publishing, 10 May 2016, 64pp., $20.99 (pbk), ISBN 978178591137864 With a suitably eerie cover, this thin paperback reader aimed at 12+ readers is accessible, intriguing, and promises dark and dangerous acts. The narrative sets off at a good pace and carries the reader along with well-spaced paragraphs, relatable characters and a fairly straightforward scenario. A séance in a cemetery, a ghost with a mission and a touch of parental discord are handled competently by the author in the first chapters. About half-way, I felt a change of mood, and from then…
Josette Hennessy (text), Lara Sim (illus.), Everything but the Kitchen Sink, Little Steps Publishing, Dec 2016, 32pp., $16.95 (pbk), ISBN 9781925545036 Squirt thinks his dad is a bit of a character; a lovable one who has lots of strange sayings and unusual names for everyday things. Squirt’s dad calls all his friends Mate and says that Squirt is a Little Ripper when he does something special. Squirt’s dad is a fun-loving character who enjoys spending time with his son in rural Australia. In Everything but the Kitchen Sink, Hennessy has endeavoured to provide some insight into the quirkiness of…
Andy Riley, King Flashypants and the Creature from Crong, Hodder Children’s Books, 9 Feb 2017, 225pp., $15.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781444929607 Edwin Flashypants is a young king who hates vegetables and loves his trusty companions – Minister Jill, Edwin’s guardian in so many ways – Megan the Jester, Edwin’s best friend and ally in her equal dislike of all vegetables – and Colin, a very loyal if not undersized horse. King Edwin reigns over his kingdom with bravery and kindness. Edwinland is a place of friendship and joy so, when fear comes to Village with news of pending danger from a…
Elizabeth Eulberg (Text), Matt Robertson (illus.),The Great Shelby Holmes Girl Detective, Bloomsbury Publishing, Feb 2017, 272 pp., $24.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781408871478 Shelby Holmes is an unusual child, to say the least. She is a loner and certainly an unconventional nine-year-old. But Shelby possesses a unique talent – an impeccable ability to solve crimes for which she has gained quite a reputation around her New York neighbourhood. John Watson is a bit older than Shelby. He wants to be a writer and has just moved into the same apartment building with his mum, and without his dad. It’s a very different life…
Damon Young (text), Peter Carnavas (illus.), My Brother is a Beast, University of Queensland Press, 27 Feb 2017, 32pp., $24.95 (hbk), ISBN: 9780702259579 Ever wondered what it’s like to have a brother? Well this book by Damon Young is sure to provide you with some insight. My Brother is a Beast makes clever use of rhyme in order to create a catchy rhythm flowing from one page to the next. The repetitive characters also deliver continuity throughout the book, generating an overall persona of each brother as the book continues. I particularly like the yoga brother and his foxy friend.…
Mike Lucas (text), Jennifer Harrison (illus.), Olivia’s Voice, Midnight Sun Publishing, March 2017, 32 pp., $26.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781925227192 This story by Mike Lucas takes us on a journey through Olivia’s eyes; a journey of curiosity, friendship and feeling. Being deaf, Olivia navigates her experiences and relationships through sight and touch – which is a gentle reminder to us to be grateful of the world in which we live and to experience it using all of our senses….take notice of that sunrise, feel the fresh clean linen when climbing into bed, or smell the cake baking in the oven. Lucas’…
Karen Young (text), Norville Dovidonyte (illus.), Hey Warrior, Little Steps Books, Dec 2016, 32 pp., $24.95 (hbk), ISBN: 9781925545081 “Anxiety explained, kids empowered.” Hey Warrior – what a perfect title for a book about anxiety. Upon reading this title I was excited to open the book and be absorbed by its pages. The text is factual and truthful; providing children with a sense of knowledge and power in understanding and taking charge of their own mental health and wellbeing. Author Karen Young is the founder of www.heysigmund.com, an amazing website dedicated to normalising psychology and ‘the art of being human’.…
Ursula Dubosarsky’s latest novel The Blue Cat is set in World War II Sydney. It captures the fear and danger of the time authentically, but as well, it creates and maintains an air of mystery and intrigue. Here are some thoughts from the author about its origins and meaning. The Cat is Blue I only know The cat is blue He sits alone His needs are few I wrote the poem that appears at the beginning of The Blue Cat during a long flight home to Sydney from the Berlin International Literature Festival. The cabin was dark. Everyone was…