Author: Admin

Nicola Davies (text),  Petr Horáček (illus.), A First Book of Animals, Walker Books Australia,  1 Oct 2016,  108pp.,  $29.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781406359633 This handsome picture book for children looks at the animal world through a creative lens. Using poetry, paint, print and collage, Davis and Horáček explore themes such as ‘big and small,’ ‘colours and shapes,’ ‘animal homes,’ ‘animal babies’ and ‘animals in action.’ With a background in zoology, Davis’ obvious joy for her subject matter is expressed through her poetry, and the interesting little facts about the animals she presents. Horáček’s mixed medium images are equally poetic in their…

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Nikalas Catlow (text and illus.), David Sinden (illus.), The Arty Book, Bloomsbury/Allen & Unwin,  Sept 2016, 160pp., $16.99 (pbk),   ISBN: 9781408870662 ‘Arty,’ the muse, guide and generally fun character at the centre of this art activity book for younger and older children will inspire, amuse and provide hours of fun on rainy or sunny days. Using the character of ‘Arty’ as the starting point for each art project, children are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild, decorating, colouring in, splashing paint around, creating collages and performing their arty creations through the use of all their senses.  This clever,…

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Chrissie Krebs, There’s Something Weird in Santa’s Beard, Random House, 31 Oct 2016, 32pp., $19.99 (hbk) ISBN 9780143780861  This is a cheeky rhyming tale about what happens when Santa overindulges on sweet treats on Christmas Eve. It opens with the man in red looking a little sugar-crazed as he samples Mrs Claus’ cream-filled, icing-topped cakes. He heads out to deliver presents, snacking at every stop on biscuits, mince pies and soft drink, all the while dropping crumbs in his beard and staining the front of his red suit.  After stumbling home looking rather grotty, Santa falls asleep without a bath…

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Ernest Theodor Armadeus Hoffmann (text), Robert Ingpen (illus.),  The Nutcracker,  Walker Books Australia, Oct 2016, 144pp., $39.99 (hbk) ISBN 9781922244550 This year marks 200 years since the classic children’s Christmas story The Nutcracker was first published, so if you haven’t read it with your children yet, now is the perfect time. This edition is beautiful, with gold-foil details on the spine and the dust jacket and the shape of an old-style wooden toy soldier impressed onto the front cover. There’s illustrated endpapers and, best of all, the book is jam-packed with pictures by renowned Australian illustrator Robert Ingpen. I’m a…

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Michael Morpurgo (text), Briony May Smith (illus.),  The Giant’s Necklace,  Walker Books, Oct 2016, 80pp., $19.99 (hbk) ISBN 9781406357127 SPOILER ALERT: I’m going to tell you how it ends because I think you need a heads up before reading this to younger readers. But do keep reading – it’s a lovely book. My twins have just turned eight and, aside from the occasional classic, most of the books they read are either picture books or novels with pink covers. To be fair, they are a bit more diverse than that, but you get the idea. So I must admit I…

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Anouska Jones (text),  Gwynneth Jones (illus.), Patch and Ruby, EK Books/Exisle Publishing,  1 Oct 2016, 32pp.,  $19.95 (hbk),  ISBN: 9781925335224 Patch and Ruby is a sweet story about a lonely pony who finds a soul mate with the assistance of a small child. Pitched at kinder kids or early primary, the gentle humour in the illustrations – mice drinking cups of tea, chooks gossiping and lady bugs arguing – is appealing. There are bound to be a few chuckles when kids see Patch’s owner Sam drawing on his bottom! Children will be able to identify with Sam and perhaps feel…

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Peadar O’Guilin, The Call, David Fickling Books, 1 Sept 2016,  334pp.,  $19.99 (pbk),  ISBN: 9781910989203 In The Call, the author places Ireland literally in a fog that has isolated it from the rest of the world ever since the fairy people – the Sidhe – rose up against their cruel banishment to the Grey Land long ago. Now, having reduced Ireland to a state with few defences, the Sidhe attack those in the prime of their youth via the call – a kind of kidnapping that lasts only minutes from the perspective of those left to wait for the disappeared to return,…

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Garth Nix, Goldenhand (Old Kingdom #5),  Allen & Unwin,  Oct 2016,  400pp.,  $24.99 (pbk),  ISBN: 9781741758634  Goldenhand is the fifth instalment in the Old Kingdom series. It works well as a stand- alone novel, although, if you have read any of the others in the series, Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, and Clariel, it does improve your enjoyment in that several familiar characters appear. This novel continues the story of Lirael and Nicholas Sayre, presumably started in Lirael, which I haven’t read. Lirael is now the Abhorsen in waiting, appointed to succeed Sabriel. The Abhorsen is a strong necromancer and mage, the enemy…

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Michael McMahon,  Melbourne Word by Word, Little Hare/Hardie Grant Egmont,  1Sept 2016,  64pp.,  $29.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781760126674 Idiosyncratic, quirky and retro are the first words that come to mind as I explore the sights, sounds and atmosphere of Melbourne in this beautifully produced picture book. Michael McMahon’s ‘retro style’ graphic images matched with an eclectic mix of words act as mind maps for exploring the city in an interesting, adventurous way. With an adult at hand the young reader can find himself in discussion about summer in Melbourne or doing some bric-a-brac shopping, smiling at the entrance of Luna Park and…

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Tania Lacy (text),  Danielle McDonald (illus.)  Tracy Lacy is Completely Coo-Coo Bananas!!!,  Scholastic Australia,   1 Sept 2016, 288pp.,  $14.99 (pbk),  ISBN:  9781760156251 This quirky graphic novel is a thoroughly enjoyable, laugh out loud comedic interpretation of pre-pubescent struggles with identity. Or as Tracey Lacey would say, this is the bestest book ever! Tracey Lacey is a twelve-year-old girl who has experienced enough ‘socially catastrophic catastrophes’ in her seven years of primary school to award her a terrible score on the HA-YA (How Awesome You Are) scale. But all is not lost! High School is looming and it offers a…

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