Latest Review 
Dec 16 2019
Roly Poly by Mem Fox
Illus. by Jane Dyer. Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781760896348.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Polar bears, Sibling rivalry,
Families. Learning to get along with a new member of the family,
especially one who wants what you have, can be a painful transition
for some, and Mem Fox brings this issue to life with her delightful
character Roly Poly, imaginatively sculpted by Jane Dyer and
photographed by Jeanne Birdsall.
Roly Poly is used to having his own space. His bed is his bed and
his alone, the fish he catches are his fish and his alone, his
walrus tooth that he plays with is his and his alone. Repetition
entwines the listeners into the story, and they will say the words
out loud, waiting for the verbal clues to show them the way. The
beautifully timed lines create an image of a bear not used to
sharing his life so when a baby brother appears in his bed one day,
he is indignant. He pretends not to hear when his parents tell him
about Monty, and he storms off when this brother tries to play with
him. But Monty follows him, and when the ice flow begins to crack,
Roly Poly pretends not to hear the cries for help, and turns his
back once again.
The images created by Dyer are magical: pulled wool results in a
fluffy felt like appearance, giving the impression of the polar
bears' fur, and the addition of little things like the bedroom
furniture and the scarves add reality to each scene.
It is amazing how lifelike the expressions on the bears' faces
become as the story unfolds, making it clear to all readers that
this book is not just about bears.
Readers will love listening to the story read aloud, anticipating
the repeated words, repeating some of the lines as it is read.
Equally reading it for themselves will be a treat, searching each
page for details, marvelling at how lifelike the bears are,
recalling for themselves times when they have been less than
sympathetic with their siblings.
As a read aloud, a discussion starter about siblings and their
disagreements, or just a good read about two brothers, this latest
offering by Australia's most loved author, Mem Fox, will never be
left long on the shelf in any library. You may need several copies.
Fran Knight
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Dec 16 2019
The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan
Egmont, 2019. ISBN: 9781405293679.
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Imaginary lands,
Adventure, Magical Creatures, Good vs Evil, Twins. Rose and Arthur
are twins who have spent holiday time with their grandad. As young
children they played in Grandad's attic and created a... more
Dec 16 2019
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Del Ray, 2019. ISBN: Del Ray, 2019. ISBN: 9781529100594. 404 pg., paperback.
No one speaks of the Grace Year. Little is known about what goes on
during it, but every girl in the county knows one thing is certain.
It will change them, if they survive it that is. The Grace Year
by... more
Dec 16 2019
The perfect puppy by Alyce Hall
Illus. by Katrina Fisher. Little Steps, 2019. ISBN: 9781925839173.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Dogs, Puppies, Family, difference.
Logan is one of a large litter and as people come along to select a
pup to take home, he is rejected because he has one floppy ear. He
tries very hard to... more
Dec 16 2019
Whose nose do you suppose? by Richard Turner
Illus. by Margaret Tolland. Starfish Bay Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781760360627.
(Age: 3+) Themes: Noses, Animals, Comparison, Verse. In easy to read
verse stanzas the question is asked of the reader about the nose
seen on the facing page. When the child has made some... more
Dec 16 2019
Rainbow Magic: Camilla the Christmas Present Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Orchard Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781408352465. 155pp., pbk.
Best friends Kirsty and Rachel are very excited to give each other
their Christmas presents! But when Jack Frost steals Camilla the
Christmas Present Fairy's magical objects, the magic of giving is in
danger. Can the girls help get... more
Dec 13 2019
Some places more than others by Renee Watson
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781526613684.
(Ages 8-12). Highly recommended. Themes: Family relationships,
Fathers, Daughters, African American people, New York city. New York
city can be a wonderful, busy place and for Amara it's the only
place she wants to be for her... more
Dec 13 2019
Yinti Desert Cowboy by Pat Lowe and Jimmy Pike
Magabala Books, 2019 (c2000). ISBN: 9781925936933.
Recommended. Themes: Aboriginal life; Station life and work. The
Yinti stories follow young Aboriginal lad, Yinti, as he grows, lives
and works in North West Australia. In the third book in the series,
Yinti has begun work as a... more
Dec 13 2019
Emily Brown and Father Christmas by Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton
Hodder Children's, 2019. ISBN: 9781444942002. 32pp., pbk.
It's Christmas Eve and Emily Brown and Stanley have hung up their
Christmas stockings and are snuggled up in bed reading when they
hear "Ho Ho Help" coming from outside their window. It is Father
Christmas and despite having the... more
Dec 13 2019
Oscar the Hungry Unicorn eats Christmas by Lou Carter
Illus. by Nikki Dyson. Orchard, 2019. ISBN: 9781408355824. 32pp.,
pbk.
Oscar the unicorn is always hungry and on Christmas Eve he is eating
his way through the palace Christmas preparations. The stockings,
the tree the presents . . . But the trouble really starts when he
eats the... more
Dec 12 2019
The corner of my eye by Colin Thompson
Walker Books, Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9781925381931. hbk., picture
book.
(Age: 7-12). Highly Recommended. Themes: Family, Grandparents,
Vision, Memory loss. Colin Thompson has taken us on many journeys
through his books but this one I feel is the ultimate book that
tries to explain what... more
Dec 12 2019
The Dinky Donkey by Craig Smith
Illus. by Katz Crowley. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781775436065.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Donkeys, Verse, Sing-along, Read
aloud, Humour, Family. Wonky Donkey's offspring is a little girl.
And from there the lines on each double page have a 'hee haw' in its
middle, adding a new line... more
Dec 12 2019
Paddy T. and the time-travelling trampoline by Adam France
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760523763.
(Age: Year 3 +) Recommended. Paddy T. and the time-travelling
trampoline is a romp of a book. It is in fact a collection of
short stories about the mad-cap adventures of twelve year old Paddy
T. as told in first person through his eyes.... more
Dec 12 2019
Celeste the giraffe loves to laugh by Celeste Barber
Illus. by Matt Cosgrove, Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781760669171.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Animals, Giraffes, Humour. Celeste
the giraffe just loves to laugh and her winning smile and laughing
face helps others to laugh too. But she has misgivings that others
do much cooler things... more
Dec 11 2019
Yinti, Desert Dog by Pat Lowe and Jimmy Pike
Yinti: book 2. Magabala Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925936902.
Highly recommended. Written mostly from the perspective of the dingo
companion of young boy Yinti and his family, this is a collection of
anecdotes and accounts of family life in a traditional Aboriginal
community in desert... more
Dec 11 2019
The Princess Rules by Philippa Gregory
Illus. by Chris Chatterton. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN:
9780008339791. 256p.
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Three stories by award winning author
Philippa Gregory will be grabbed by readers who enjoy having their
fairy tales turned upside down. Those who love adventure and humour
too, will... more
Dec 11 2019
Total quack up again! ed. Sally Rippin and Adrian Beck
Illus. by Jules Faber. Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781760893583.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Short stories; Humorous stories.
This is a collection of funny stories that kids will enjoy. Filled
with lame jokes, duck jokes, dad-dogs and fart stories and quirky
and odd situations, there... more
Dec 11 2019
Rescue by David Long
Illus. by Kerry Hyndman. Faber and Faber, 2019. ISBN: 9780571346325.
hbk. 192p.
(Age: 9+) A book for fans of heroic deeds, Rescue will fascinate
readers who enjoy reading about the bravery of real people.
Subtitled Daring missions from on, under and above the earth,
there are 28... more
Dec 11 2019
Twelve days of kindness by Cori Brooke and Fiona Burrows
New Frontier, 2019. ISBN: 9781925594751. 32pp., hbk.
Nabila is the new girl in school and like many new kids, she's
finding it hard to fit in with the established crew, particularly
when she looks different to them and eats her strange lunches alone.
But Holly comes to her rescue as... more
Dec 11 2019
Sarah's two Nativities by Janine M. Fraser and Helene Magisson
Black Dog Books , 2019. ISBN: 9781925381795. hbk., 32pp.
This is the story of Sarah, daughter of Sadek and Anna,
granddaughter of Ali and Azar, and granddaughter of Maria and Paul.
In Sarah's house the Bible and the Koran sit side by side on the
shelf, each full of stories which... more
Dec 10 2019
Harry Potter and the goblet of fire by J.K. Rowling
Illus. by Jim Kay. Harry Potter, book 4. Bloomsbury, 2019.
ISBN: 9781408845677. hbk.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Readers will need no introduction to
the wonderful books by J.K. Rowling and fans and collectors will
certainly want to keep this fabulous illustrated version of... more
Dec 10 2019
Yinti: Desert child by Pat Lowe and Jimmy Pike
Magabala Books, 2019 (c1992). ISBN: 9781925768831.
Highly recommended. Themes: Aboriginal Australians, Indigenous life,
Family. In a series of short anecdotal recounts, we follow the early
life of the desert child, Yinti, and his family as they love, thrive
and explore community life.... more
Dec 10 2019
Girl Geeks: Perfect holidays by Alex Miles
Girl Geeks book 3. Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143795070.
(Age: 9+) Girl Geeks: Perfect holidays is part of the Girl
Geeks series which has been . . . "developed in partnership
with Girl Geek Academy -
an Australian-based... more
Dec 10 2019
The big blue hullabaloo by Andrea Smith
Illus. by Aleksandra Szmidt. Little Steps Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839432. hbk.
(Age : 3-6) Annie is a very cute little koala who lives at the
zoo. She loves to race high through the tree tops and balance
butterflies on the tip of her nose. Then one day she feels blue and
Keeper... more
Dec 10 2019
Polly Profiterole's little town: Good enough to eat by Maggie May Gordon
Illus. by Margarita Levina. little Steps Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839227.
(Age: 6-8) Imagine a whole town made up of cakes and biscuits.
That's what young readers will find in this unique story of Polly
Profiterole who is fed up with her town. She is the only person who
has a shop... more
Dec 09 2019
Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780751571936.
(Age: Older adolescents - Adult) Highly recommended. A dark mass on
her brain - this is what the MRI showed, following the examination
of little Chika by a neurologist, and there was no one in Haiti who
could help her. Brought to America by author... more
Dec 09 2019
Bluey series by Bluey
Penguin, 2019.
Bluey : Fruit Bat. ISBN: 9781760894047.
Bluey : time to play. ISBN: 9781760894030.
(Age: Preschool - 5) Highly recommended. If you have a pre-schooler
in your house then you would have probably heard of Bluey (or had to
do the dance), you may have... more
Dec 09 2019
Kensy and Max: Out of sight by Jacqueline Harvey
Kensy and Max series. Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN:
9780143791928.
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Adventures, Mystery, Spies,
Friendship, Problem Solving, Spy School for children, Missing
persons, France, Travel. Jacqueline Harvey's fourth book in the Kensy
and... more
Dec 09 2019
Kensy and Max: Spy Journal by Jacqueline Harvey
Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780143796978.
(Age: 9-12) Themes: Spies, Journal writing The Kensy and Max Spy
Journal is a hardcover book where readers can learn the craft
of being a secret agent and keep their own notes on all manner of
mysteries in their lives. The journal... more
Dec 09 2019
Madame Badobedah by Sophie Dahl
Illus. by Lauren O'Hara. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406384406.
hbk.
(Ages 6-8). Recommended. Themes: Hotels, Girls, Villains,
Friendship, Trust. Madame Badobedah is a rather enchanting
story told by Mabel who lives in a bed and breakfast called "The
Mermaid Hotel". The hotel,... more
Dec 09 2019
Hey Grandude! by Paul McCartney
Illus. by Kathryn Durst. Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN:
9780241375655. hbk.
(Ages 4-8) Themes: Grandparents, Imagination, Magic, Adventure. This
book tells a charming story of four children who, while visiting
their Grandad (or Grandude), brighten their drizzly, cold day by
going on... more
Dec 02 2019
The Christmasaurus and the winter witch (You're on the naughty list) by Tom Fletcher
Illus. by Shane Devries. Penguin Random House Australia, 2019. ISBN:
9780241338537.
(Ages 8-12). Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Dinosaurs,
Children with Physical disabilities, Magic. William (who is in a
wheelchair), his dad, his new girlfriend Pamela and her daughter
Brenda are... more
Dec 02 2019
I'm ready for Christmas illus. by Jedda Robaard
Puffin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760891619. board book, 14pp. (Age: 0-4) Recommended. What a lovely Australian Christmas! Little Wombat is buzzing with excitement as the family gets ready for their favourite day of the year. Lights are shining on all the houses, street trees are decorated and...
moreNov 22 2019
Dear Santa, Love Floss by Natalie Italiano
Illus. by Annabel Cuttler. Little Steps Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839555. pbk.
This is a heartwarming Christmas story, the story of a small
reindeer who has a big dream of flying with Santa's reindeers to
help pull the sleigh. When she finally gets her chance she
starts to... more
Nov 19 2019
The twelve days of Christmas with Roald Dahl: Festive things to make and do by Lauren Holowaty
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241428122.
(Age: 7+). Themes: Art, Craft, Recipes, Humour, Jokes, Games.
On the First day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . .
One Matilda in the Library
Two Smelly Twits
Three Naughty Muggle-Wumps
Four Repulsant... more
Nov 13 2019
The crayons' Christmas by Drew Daywalt
Illus. by Oliver Jeffers. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008180362.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Themes: Crayons, Christmas, Humour,
Pop up. This beautifully presented book, with flaps, letters,
envelopes, lift ups and pop outs will intrigue and delight younger
readers along with the... more
Nov 13 2019
The lonely Christmas tree by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408892923.
Recommended. The lonely Christmas tree is a small picture
book, based loosely upon the classic Christmas poem 'Twas the
night before Christmas. This book also follows a poetic rhyme,
which allows the reader to fall into a nice rhythm... more
Nov 13 2019
We're going on an elf chase by Martha Mumford
Illus. by Laura Hughes. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781526606303.
Recommended. We're going on an elf chase is a cute little
board book that encompasses a 'life the flap' on most pages.
It is the perfect size to read on the couch/bed with your little
ones but also great to pop... more
Nov 13 2019
The first Christmas illus. by Jess Racklyeft
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143796909.
The First Christmas is a beautifully illustrated book, that
tells a children's version of the story of the Nativity.
The story is told in a simple way that will allow children of many
ages to understand and engage with the text. It provided... more
Nov 13 2019
Peppa's Christmas jumper day
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241371589.
Most parents of young children know the phenomenon that is Peppa
Pig, and probably can't help but sing the tune when it comes on the
TV! On top of the show, kids also have the ability to read about
Peppa and her friends!
This story is called... more