Latest Review 
Dec 10 2018
Santa's high-tech Christmas by Mike Dumbleton
Ill. by Angela Perrini. New Frontier Publishing, 2018. ISBN
9781925594270
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Santa Claus,
Technology, Verse, Humour. When Santa goes high-tech this year, he
of course, being an older gentleman, has problems with the new
equipment. While delivering the presents from his sleigh, the screen
on his iPad goes blank, so he doesn't know what present to give to
whom. He is distraught, after all, he has spent the whole year
preparing for this night, touching up the marks on his red car, and
making sure he is up to the minute with his high-tech gear. His list
on his iPad keeps him informed about who to give a present to, and
he even uses a rocket-pack to deliver the gifts after parking his
car in places where car parks are in short supply. But in rocketing
up to the next child, he drops his device, causing him to sigh most
loudly, waking a young girl in the building. She is able to restore
his device to its normal function, and sends him off to complete his
work on Christmas Eve, telling him to contact her if he needs help.
Which he does with a funny twist in the tale.
Readers will laugh out loud at the situation Santa finds himself in,
recognising the frustration that comes with technology when it
doesn't do what it is expected to do. Mike Dumbleton's sense of
humour shines through, giving the readers a technically adept Santa,
using devices with ease, until a small problem occurs. Readers will
love Santa's attempts at bringing his work up to date, and think of
other ways he could use technology to improve his lot.
Perrini's delightful illustrations reflect her Italian heritage with
Christmas in the northern hemisphere: snow covered fields and roofs,
a heavy doona on the bed and wood fires in the houses, all
delighting Australian audiences used to the heat and sun of December
in the southern hemisphere.
A wonderful read aloud, the rhyming text lends itself to repetition
and learning sections to read with the adult reader, while
predicting the rhyming word at the end of each line. A whole heap of
good fun is to be had at this time of the year, with a beautifully
presented book such as this offering a very funny tweak on the usual
fare.
Fran Knight
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Dec 10 2018
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
Pan Macmillan, 2018. ISBN 9781760559922
(Age: Adolescent - Adult) Recommended. With a story that is based on
the deep and abiding love of a family, this book plunges us deeply
into the world of the Carey family in a Melbourne suburb near one of
the great horse racing tracks. The five... more
Dec 10 2018
Neverland by Margot McGovern
Penguin Random House Australia, 2018. ISBN 9780143787846
(Age: Young Adult 15+) Recommended. Kit Learmonth arrives at The
Residence, a boarding school for damaged teens. She is too sick for
regular school but not sick enough to be institutionalised. Her
psychiatrist uncle Doc and Dr Ward... more
Dec 10 2018
The Aussie ABC Christmas by Nancy Bevington
New Frontier Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781925594256
(Age: 4+) Themes: Christmas, ABC, Alphabet book, Humour, Australia.
Replicating what many teachers ask their classes to do at Christmas,
this ABC book offers a few different words to align with the
alphabet. Many letters are combined with... more
Dec 10 2018
Giraffe problems by Jory John
Ill. by Lane Smith. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406383164
(Age: 5-8) Themes: Differences, Individual Characteristics. The book
begins with Edward the giraffe telling us his problem: 'I feel bad
about my neck. I do. I can't help it. It's too long. Too bendy . . .
Too . . . necky.' He... more
Dec 07 2018
Visual guide to grammar and punctuation by DK Publishing
Australian edition. DK, 2018. ISBN 9780143794998
(Age 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Grammar. Punctuation. How
exciting to find an excellent book showing commonly used grammar and
punctuation in a way that is easy to understand both for children
and for adults who may be uncertain about... more
Dec 07 2018
Foundational fictions in South Australian history edited by Carolyn Collins and Paul Sendziuk
Wakefield Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743056066
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Recommended. Foundational
fictions investigates the myths that South Australians hold
dear about their state. Is it really true that South Australia was a
more enlightened settlement free of the 'convict... more
Dec 07 2018
The Bad Guys: Episode 8: Superbad by Aaron Blabey
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781760279509
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour. Adventure.
Superheroes. The Bad Guys return with superpowers that will delight
their fans as they chuckle their way through another hilarious
adventure. Yes, the Bad Guys have acquired super powers but... more
Dec 07 2018
Circus hearts series by Ellie Marney
Bearded Lady Press, 2018.
All the Little Bones. ISBN 9780648088530
All fall downISBN 9780648088554
All Aces. ISBN 9780648088578
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Themes: Circus. Romance. Ellie Marney has
written another exciting set of books that will appeal to... more
Dec 07 2018
Hotdog: Camping time by Anh Do
Ill. by Dan McGuiness. Hotdog! : Book 5. Scholastic, 2018.
ISBN 9781742993768
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Themes: Humour. Camping. Animals. Fans will
be hooting with laughter as Hotdog, Lizzie and Kev return in their
fifth adventure, this time on a camping trip. On a trip to... more
Dec 06 2018
The fragments by Toni Jordan
Text, 2018. ISBN 9781925773132
(Age: Adolescent - Adult) Highly recommended. This is a most
interesting book, captivatingly told by two narrators and set in
different eras and indeed in different countries. The link is drawn
by the narrative of the life and work of a famous American... more
Dec 06 2018
We are all equal by P Crumble and Jonathan Bentley
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742999838
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Equality. Animals. Difference. LGBT.
Diversity. Using a range of animals to shout out about difference
and being the same, this richly illustrated little book will evoke
interest and discussion amongst its readers.... more
Dec 06 2018
Butt out! by Heath Mckenzie
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742997902
(Age: 4+) Themes: Bottoms. Animals. Conventions. All the well
dressed animals are taken aback when the baboon decides to go
pantless. The giraffe pushing a market trolley in her natty green
frock, grasps her front paws in anguish when she spies him,... more
Dec 06 2018
The bee book Charlotte Milner
DK, 2018. ISBN 9780241305188
Recommended. Bees have been an essential and integral part of life on the planet
for over 100 million years - even pre-dating the dinosaurs - and
about 20 000 different species can be found all around the world.
While some bees are large, others small, some... more
Dec 05 2018
Rainbow bear by Stephen Michael King
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742997698
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Themes: Bears, Fathers, Children,
Families, Humour. A wonderfully funny and engaging book about
families and the way they interact will appeal to readers as they
watch the antics of the children playing with their father.... more
Dec 05 2018
Guinness World Records: Wild Things ed. by Craig Glenday
Guinness World Records, 2018. ISBN 9781912286485
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Subjects: Animals, Records, Zoology, Mammals,
Reptiles, Insects. Wild Things is jam-packed with an array
of amazing animal facts, records, achievements, oddities and
dangerous creatures. Split into 9 chapters,... more
Dec 05 2018
Of blood and bone by Nora Roberts
Chronicles of The One book 2. Piatkus, 2018. ISBN
9780349414980
(Age: Adult - 16+) Dystopian fiction. Pandemics. Coming of age.
Roberts continues with her compulsive series, writing as always in a
very readable style with great characters. The first book... more
Dec 04 2018
Mince spies by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Sophie Corrigan. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408893463
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Competition. When
all the Christmas goodies: gingerbread men, Christmas sticks,
puddings, yule logs and so on, fall to the floor in the supermarket,
something must be done. The... more
Dec 04 2018
The angel's mark by S. W. Perry
Atlantic Books, 2018. ISBN 9781786494955
(Age: senior secondary to adult) Crime, Elizabethan England,
Medicine, Superstition, Childbirth, Women, London. Steeped in the
life and times of the later years of Elizabethan England, this story
of the investigation into bodies found with an... more
Dec 04 2018
Pens and bayonets : letters from the front by soldiers of Yorke Peninsula, South Australia during the Great War by Don Longo
Wakefield Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743056103
(Age: 16+) Recommended for history enthusiasts and students. If I
had to sum up this great book in one word, it would be 'poignant'.
Soldiers who grew up on farms and in towns on the Yorke Peninsula
(and those who moved there for work)... more
Dec 04 2018
Burpzilla by Tim Miller and Matt Stanton
ABC Books, 2018. ISBN 9780733339028
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Burps, Monsters, Humour, Verse. After There's
a monster under my bed who farts (2012) and Dinosaur dump
(2015), amongst many others by the team of Stanton and Miller, comes
a new tale about burps. Each of... more
Dec 04 2018
Disney ideas book by Elizabeth Dowsett
DK, 2018. ISBN 9780241314210
Whether it's 101 Dalmatians, Coco, The Little
Mermaid, Mickey Mouse or Tangled, every child
has a favourite Disney movie, and in this super-sized activity book
there are projects to accompany more than 50 of... more
Dec 03 2018
What the woods keep by Katya De Becerra
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760637309
(Age: 13+) Recommended. What the woods keep is a scary
fiction novel, which focuses on Hayden. She moved to New York after
her mum's puzzling and peculiar death in the woods but her Mother
left clues behind and no one knows what the woods... more
Dec 03 2018
Kill Shot: A Wyatt Thriller by Garry Disher
Text Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781925773224
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended. Themes: Crime,
thriller, Australian story. This is my first Wyatt thriller - but it
will not be my last. I will be going back to read the others in the
series. although I had no trouble reading this as... more
Dec 03 2018
Harry Potter - Creatures: A Paper Scene Book by Warner Bros
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2018. ISBN 9781526605849
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Art. Fans of the Harry
Potter world will be thrilled with this very handsome volume
featuring the fantasy world and dark creatures of the Black Lake,
the Forbidden Forest and the dragons of the... more
Dec 03 2018
Lemonade Jones by Davina Bell and Karen Blair
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781925266733
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Themes: School, Animals, Family. Containing
two short stories, The first day back and The zoo that
comes to you, this volume will appeal to younger readers who
have moved from picture books to reading... more
Dec 03 2018
The Princess in black and the science fair scare by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Ill. by LeUyen Pham. Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9780763688271
(Age: 5-8.) Recommended. Who says feminists can't be princesses or
wear pink? In this fantasy, Princess Magnolia and her multicultural
sorority of Princesses, have entered the science fair. All of the
impressive science... more
Dec 03 2018
LEGO Super Heroes Visual Dictionary by Elizabeth Dowsett and Arie Kaplan
DK, 2018. ISBN 9780241320037
Since 2006 when it first released its Batman-themed sets, LEGO, a
contraction of leg godt which means 'play well' in Danish, have
offered fans construction sets related to the popular superheroes so
they can learn to read and follow instructions and develop... more
Nov 30 2018
Whitebeard by M. C. D. Etheridge
Flash Knight, 2018. ISBN 9780648359005
(Age: 8-10) Themes: Pirates, Christmas, Fantasy. Whitebeard
is a fantastical mix of pirates, derring-do acts, fights on the High
Seas and has a motley cast of characters with Captain Whitebeard at
the helm. This madcap adventure is... more
Nov 29 2018
A miniature Christmas ed. by Beattie Alvarez
Christmas Press, 2018. ISBN 9780648194514
Recommended. A miniature Christmas is an anthology of stories all
written by both emerging and established Australian story tellers,
based on the theme of 'miniature'. There are 12 wonderful stories
that feature characters such as elves,... more
Nov 28 2018
Hopping around the Christmas tree by Johnny Marks
Book and CD. Ill. by Benjamin Johnston. Performed by Colin Buchanan.
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781743811429
(Ages: 3-6) Recommended. Themes: Christmas. Colin Buchanan, former
Play School presenter, brings great energy to this very catchy
Christmas sing-along. The classic song, Rockin'... more
Nov 28 2018
Dear Santa by Elise Hartley
Ill. by Shannon Horsfall. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742993683
(Ages: 5-8) Themes: Christmas, Letter Writing, Humorous Stories.
This is a collection of mostly unrelated letters from different
animals to Santa. There is a letter from a moose asking if he could
take the place of a reindeer... more
Nov 28 2018
Excuse me, Santa! by Dave Hughes and Holly Ife
Ill. by Philip Bunting. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742997896
(Ages: 4-7)Themes: Christmas, Humourous Stories, Manners. This is a
follow up to last year's Excuse Me! and it is basically the
same story except this time it is Santa with gas instead of Martha
May. It is Christmas Eve... more
Nov 14 2018
Ho! Ho! Ho! There's a hippopotamus on our roof eating Christmas cake by Hazel Edwards
Ill. by Deborah Niland. Penguin Random House, 2018. ISBN
9780143790679
(Age: 3-6) Recommended Themes: Christmas. There are quite a few
Hippopotamus books in this series now and this latest one follows
the same signature style that has made the books so popular over
many years. Short... more
Nov 14 2018
We're going on an elf chase by Martha Mumford
Ill. by Laura Hughes. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408872413
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Christmas, Elves, Hunt, Lift the flap
book, Verse. Fingers will just love lifting the flaps in this book
as the reader is asked to work with the bunnies on their wintry
quest to find the elves. Four... more
Nov 14 2018
Santa Claus vs the Easter Bunny by Fred Blunt
Ill. by David Cornish. Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760634698
(Age: 5-10) Humorous Stories. 'Santa Claus and Easter Bunny live
next door to each other. Santa was a jolly fellow. Bunny was not.'
Bunny's bad attitude to life is because he has to make the
chocolate, turn it into eggs,... more
Nov 14 2018
Santa Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Bruce book 4. Disney-Hyperion, 2018. ISBN 9781484782903(Age: 7+) Recommended for its humour. Themes: Christmas, Santa Claus, Humour. Santa Bruce is the fourth in a series about Bruce, a very grumpy bear, who is often the victim of mistaken identity, in this case Santa Claus....
moreNov 02 2018
Noni the pony rescues a joey by Alison Lester
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760293123
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Themes: Horses, Australian animals,
Environment, Habitat. Noni the pony rescues a joey will
captivate its audience, already thrilled at the first book about Noni
the pony (2010) and Noni the pony... more
Nov 01 2018
Doctor Who: Twelve angels weeping: Twelve stories of the villains from Doctor Who by Dave Rudden
Ill. by Alexis Snell. BBC Children's Books, 2018. ISBN
9781405938273
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Science fiction. Doctor Who. Time
travel. Monsters. Aliens. Robots. Villains. Life on other planets.
Twelve short stories featuring the villains from the Doctor Who
series will enthral... more
Oct 26 2018
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, retold by Tony Mitton
Ill. by Mike Redman. Orchard Books, 2018. ISBN 9781408351673
Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas; Charles Dickens; Generosity;
Poetry; Rhyme. This is wonderful poetic rendering of the classic
story from Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Mitton has
told this story of... more
Oct 12 2018
The Christmas tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson
Ill. by Eleanor Taylor. Frederick Warne, 2018. ISBN
9780241352885
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Christmas, Poultry. Emma Thompson,
the renowned actress, has written another tale about Peter Rabbit in
this board book, beautifully illustrated by Eleanor Taylor. Peter is
very excited... more