Fiona McDonald, Sophie Masson, and Beattie Alvarez (text), Lisa Stewart, Beattie Alvarez and David Allan (illus). Three Dragons for Christmas, Christmas Press, 6 Nov 2015, 32pp., $21.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9780992283896 This handsome production, with its green-scaled end-papers and gold lettering on the cover, contains three stories featuring dragons. Dragon Market, by Fiona McDonald has a fairy-tale plot where toy-makers Griselda and her daughter Aurelia do a good deed for someone in need and are rewarded with a magical gift which changes their fortune. The author has used a variety of illustrative media and styles to enhance her story. The Christmas Dragon by…
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Aaron Blabey, I Need A Hug, Scholastic Australia, 1 Dec 2015, 24pp., $16.99 (hbk) ISBN: 9781743629093 Aaron Blabey has created yet another engaging if rather prickly character in this story of a little hedgehog who just wants a friendly cuddle. Effectively and simply told through a few rhyming sentences with a repetitive refrain, Blabey’s illustrations capture the emotions of his adorable little heroine as she meets a variety of rudely dismissive animals, until she encounters a most unlikely creature who is eager to make friends. With its brightly coloured pages and artfully simple text promoting the importance of friendship and affection, no…
Adam Wallace and Jack Wodhams (text), Tom Gittus (illus.), The Vanilla Slice Kid, Ford Street, 1 Oct 2015, 165pp., $14.95 (pbk), ISBN: 9871925272024 Twelve year old Archie is born with the amazing superpower of producing and shooting cupcakes from his hands, but his horrible, uncaring and greedy parents keep him at home to take advantage of his talents for their on-line cupcake business. Eventually, however, the ‘real’ world intrudes as Archie is briefly sent off to school, before being willingly drawn into a seemingly beneficial scheme to use his powers for good. While Archie does befriend a couple of other kids…
David Hartley and Scott Prince (text), David Hartley (illus.), The Search (Deadly D & Justice Jones #3), Magabala, Oct 2015, 192pp., $12.95 (pbk), ISBN: 9781925360011 As the third instalment of the Deadly D and Justice Jones series, The Search follows the lead of the previous books in style, format and storyline. Despite efforts to release himself, Deadly D is still cursed and continues to transform from normal school kid to hard-hitting Brisbane Bronco’s rugby league star when provoked. This time, however, the BIGTOP (Biological Investigation Group to Organise Prototypes) are after his DNA and will stop at nothing to acquire it,…
Abbas Kazerooni, The Boy with Two Lives, Allen & Unwin, Sept 2015, 256pp., $15.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781743314838 Wow! On so many levels – just wow! Rarely does a book render me speechless but this second book from Iranian refugee Abbas Kazerooni has managed exactly that. Tears, anger, frustration, relief, horror, pride, delight and disgust – emotions described within, but also felt by the reader on experiencing this beautifully written story of hardship, struggle and determination. The Boy With Two Lives is a memoir, and reflects Abbas’ life in England from ages ten through thirteen. This is the time in which his…
Lisa Kerr, Sorry (Cheeky Monkey Manners), Five Mile Press, Jan 2016, unpaged, $9.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781760069773 Lisa Kerr, Excuse Me (Cheeky Monkey Manners), Five Mile Press, Jan 2016, unpaged, $9.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781760069780 In previous Cheeky Monkey books by Lisa Kerr, the jungle animals have been on adventures. This new series explores manners. In Sorry, Georgina Giraffe is having a birthday party and Cheeky Monkey causes havoc with his bad manners. Mr Owl points out Cheeky Monkey’s rudeness and amends are made. In Excuse Me Mr Owl, and then the jungle friends, take turns to remind Cheeky Monkey to excuse himself…
Tony Wilson (text) Lucia Masciullo (illus.) Emo the Emu Scholastic Australia, 1 Nov 2015, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781742834382 Told in rhyming verse, this is the story of a grumpy emu who is moody, mopey and sad. He complains about everything to all his family until one day he meets Katie kangaroo. She takes him around Australia showing him the major attractions “Let’s travel the country by foot, car and bike, Until you admit there’s something you like”. The travel theme is reinforced by the design of the end papers and the illustrations are quirky with added background details to…
Emily Rodda, Two Moons (Star of Deltora #2), Scholastic Australia, 1 Nov 2015, 176pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781742990637 Having not read Book One in this series was not an issue as the background is cleverly woven throughout the story. Britta is competing against Jewel, Sky and Vashti to win the Trader Rosalyn Apprenticeship. They have a trading quest to fulfil by sailing to three islands aboard the Star of Deltora. There is intrigue, mistrust and anxiety as each main character tries to outwit the others. There are surprise twists in the plot and supernatural forces at work that other people…
Patrick Loughlin, State Showdown & World Domination (Glenn Maxwell #3&4), Random House, 2 Nov 2015, 384pp., $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780857988881 The large print and simple language heralds this as a book for the reluctant readers among those sporty boys, particularly if they are mad on cricket. Glenn Maxwell has given his name and his tips for a better game to two stories. In the first story he helps the fictional Will to overcome his fear of his own inability when he plays for his State, and in the second Will is playing in the Youth World Cup, and again Maxwell steps in…
Margrete Lamond (text), Ritva Voutila (illus.) The Nutcracker, Little Hare Books/Hardie Grant, Nov 2015, 32pp., $24.95 (hbk) ISBN: 9781742977782 This retelling of Hoffman’s classic Christmas tale of the friendship between a girl and a nutcracker who magically becomes a boy, is beautifully and evocatively written and sumptuously illustrated. In the traditional style, it has a page of writing alongside a full page illustration, each of which is a work of art. Voutila’s illustrations ooze opulence in heritage colour tones and period dress and furnishings. The richness, depth and detail are eye-catching, as are the grotesque and creepy elements – all perfect…