Nick White, Kat The Legend of Gnawbonia, Bonobo Books, 2017, 158 pp., (hbk), ISBN 9780473403249 Kat The Legend of Gnawbonia is the story of a rather sad and neglected cat who lives with her cruel brothers. Kat dreams of escape and when the opportunity finally arises, she takes off on an adventure of a lifetime with her trusty rat-friend, Pea. But all does not go well for the travellers as they venture right into the hands of some ruthless pirates. Nick White is an artist – foremost – and the illustrations in this book are spectacular. The detail and the penmanship are…
Author: Admin
Julia Donaldson (text) and Sharon King-Chai (illustrator), Animalphabet, Pan Macmillan, October 18 2018, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781509801633 This A-Z animal book with-a-difference is heavy on design elements to entice curious eyes and fingers. From the moment you feast your eyes on the cover’s glossy silver section and peek-through panels, you know this is not just a book for story time. Lift-the-flaps and cut-away sections on the thick paper pages will also keep kids entertained in their own time. A short question on each page challenges children on their general knowledge about animals: Who is faster than a caterpillar?…
Dave Hughes & Holly Ife (text), and Philip Bunting (illustrator), Excuse Me, Santa, Scholastic Australia, October 2018, 32 pp., RRP $17.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781742997896 In this sequel to the 2017 bestseller Excuse Me! Comedian Dave Hughes and Holly Ife have again teamed up with illustrator Philip Bunting to deliver a story that’s fun, festive and just a little bit naughty. It features Martha May reprising her role as the oh-so-polite lamb with marvellous manners. When Martha May investigates a noise on Christmas Eve, she stumbles across the jolly man himself. Santa has been so busy delivering presents that he is quite…
Guinness World Records 2019: Wild Things, Guinness World Records Ltd., October 2018, 216 pp., RRP $22.99 (pbk) ISBN 9781912286485 This almanac contains a wealth of facts for confident readers about record breakers of the animal world. There are chapters on the oddest, biggest and smallest, and cutest animals. There are also facts galore on dangerous animals, creepy crawlies, zoo animals, conservation initiatives and even dinosaurs. A vast range of animal groups are featured,including all the vertebrate groups, bugs, spiders and worms. A very interesting bonus is the special Q&A pages with various wildlife professionals, such as Jane Goodall, Sir David Attenborough,…
YA Fantasy author Rachel Nightingale shares her advice on how to get your book into print… Stepping Stones to Publication My first novel, Harlequin’s Riddle, was published in June 2017. Columbine’s Tale, the second book in the series, was released in September 2018. It’s amazing to see my books out in the world, being read and loved by people all around the globe. It’s been a long journey to get to this point and there have been times when my dream of being a published author has been as distant as the moon. But with every disappointment and every achievement…
Alistair Chisholm (text) Jez Tuya (Illus.), The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears, Walker Books Australia, 1 Sept 2018, 40 pp., $24.99, (hbk), ISBN 9781406365139 What could be better than a story within a story? Jamie, the protagonist, is ready to be tucked into bed. His dad is ready to read him his choice of story, but Jamie decides to have “a made-up one.” The title says it all – this bedtime fairytale is told especially for Jamie by his dad and in his desire to please, is an eclectic mixture of many of the themes…
Sara Acton, Dinosaur Day Out, Walker Books Australia, 1 Sept 2018, 40pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760650049 Dinosaur Day Out follows the exploits of Sally and Max as they go to visit the Dinosaur exhibition int he museum with their dad. To their dismay it is closed and the children are distraught. Their dad buys a book about dinosaurs and takes them to the huge gardens in the city where he tells them interesting facts about the prehistoric creatures. As they explore the pathways and climb the trees, their day out becomes a fun-filled, exciting encounter where they interact with imaginary…
High Five to the Boys: a celebration of ace Australian men, Random House Australia, 30 July 2018, 212pp., $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780143791782 Having worked with teenage boys for many years, I know that if you ask them to name some famous Australian men they can usually name only Ned Kelly and a few sportsmen. It is a joy to find a book that celebrates “Ace Australian Men” from the past and present, old and young, who have made constructive contributions to our world and who are worthy of admiration. From Weary Dunlop to Anh Do, politicians to poets, this a…
Sherryl Jordan, The Anger of Angels, Walker Books Australia, 1 Sept 2018, 324pp., $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760650605 Giovanna is the daughter of Ennio, the jester at the court of Duke Ubertini of Valenzio. Ennio performs a play entitled “The Anger of Angels” that mocks Ubertini’s rival, the tyrannical Prince Savernola of Goretti. In reprisal, Savernola launches attacks on Ubertini’s lands. Giovanna attempts to stop the violence and save lives by taking the only copy of the play to Savernola, but she becomes his prisoner. It is only the arrival of her friend Raffaele that saves her as they must pit…
Penny Matthews, Finch, Walker Books Australia, 1 August 2018, 239pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760650759 Audrey’s father loses his job and the family moves to the country for a change of lifestyle and a new start. She is confronted with all the problems a child faces in a new location – no friends, a new school, unfamiliar landscape and, in Audrey’s case, a bitterness and unresolved tension between her parents. Against this background she meets a boy named Finch and his dog, Snowy, living in a cave by the creek that runs through their property. In secret meetings with Finch they…