Jasmin McGaughey (text) and Jade Goodwin (illustrator), Sports Carnival! (Little Ash #7), HarperCollins Publishers, October 2023, 64 pp., RRP $9.99 (pbk) ISBN 9781460764633
Jasmin McGaughey (text) and Jade Goodwin (illustrator), Puppy Playtime! (Little Ash #8), HarperCollins Publishers, October 2023, 64 pp., RRP: $9.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781460764640
It is hardly surprising that the sales of the series of Little Ash books presented by Australian tennis superstar Ash Barty now exceeds 100,000 copies. These early readers focus on junior primary school-aged children and the everyday events in their lives—school, sport, family, and friendships.
Author Jasmin McGaughey, a Torres Strait Islander / African American writer and editor, has always embraced storytelling. She is proud of her role in the Ash Barty’s Little Ash Series which promotes sound principles and positive relationships. The interaction and communication between the characters, both friends and family, presents excellent personal development modelling—supporting each other, being honest, trying new things, having consideration for others and being respectful. Cleverly, McGaughey has managed to retain subtlety in the delivery of these messages creating a ‘feel-good’ outcome in every story.
Artist Jade Goodwin is known for her brightly coloured artwork for younger audiences which she renders in both digital and traditional mediums. Recently, Goodwin has been experimenting with the use of lettering to convey visual messages depicting her connection to Gamilaraay heritage. In the Ash Barty’s Little Ash Series. Goodwin uses tonal drawings to bring the characters to life—joy, surprise, disappointment, and trouble—and the open positivity in the faces of Ash, her family and school friends is endearing.
These two new titles in the Ash Barty’s Little Ash Series – Little Ash #7 Sports Carnival! and Little Ash #8 Puppy Playtime! are most enjoyable reads. The balance between text and illustration is well considered. The uncluttered presentation with its clear visual clues assists early readers to unlock the text as they embark on their journey into the joy of reading. These terrific paperback books are equally suitable for reading out loud to younger children and are guaranteed to engage readers and listeners alike.
Reviewed by Jennifer Mors
