Peppa Pig is back again, this time going on an exciting trip to the moon. There is a show at the Museum that is all about the moon and the family goes to see it. Mr Rabbit shows them around and they blast off when they are all seated in the rocket. Even though Daddy Pig makes some Daddy jokes about the Moon being made of cheese, Mr Rabbit corrects him telling everyone that it is made of rocks and that the tour is a serious one. The children hear about gravity, space vehicles and what it would be like to jump on the Moon. Young children listening to the story will have fun learning about the Moon and space as well.
The illustrations are very familiar with the Pig family featured in their backyard, and then in space suits. All the pages are brightly coloured, with interesting details for children to look for, and the black sky against the grey of the moon is very effective.
Fans of Peppa Pig will have fun with A trip to the Moon, enjoying blasting off and defying gravity.
Themes Moon.
Pat Pledger
Peppa's Australian ocean colouring book by Peppa Pig
Penguin, 2022. ISBN: 9780241552421. (Age:2+)
Peppa's family is visiting the Kangaroo family in Australia and learn much about the Australian ocean. What fun for Peppa Pig and Kylie Kangaroo! They have many adventures as they visit the beach and the Great Barrier Reef, learn how to scuba dive, and watch Daddy Pig windsurf. They have a barbeque on the beach and learn all about sea creatures.
Fans of Peppa Pig will love this colouring in book, which has 64 pages for them to colour. Each page has a separate adventure or event to incite the curiousity of young children. All the figures and creatures are outlined in thick black lines that make it easy for young hands to colour in.
This would be a very useful book to keep a toddler happy and busy while they learn hand-eye coordination.
In another delightful picture book, Helen Milroy, Palyku writer and illustrator (Backyard beasties, The emu who ran through the sky), tells the story of Owl and Little Star. One night Owl, who loves to look at the stars at dusk, waits for his favourite star to appear. Where could she be?
What makes this book outstanding is the quality of the rich and detailed illustrations. Strong colours portray Owl and the night sky, all reflecting the familiar dots, lines, and patterns from this talented artist. My little grandson loved the pictures of Owl, sitting in his tree and trying to find his friend the little Star and was happy to listen again and again while examining the pictures.
The narrative flows along easily for a lovely read aloud for young children, while older children will enjoy trying to read it for themselves. My son, always interested in Astronomy, loved the story of Star appearing each evening in the sky and the way the Sun and Moon collaborated to bring Owl and Star back to earth on moonbeams.
In her dedication Helen says Owl and Star is 'a picture book for all stargazers – young and old and she says her message is, if you do care for the universe then the universe will care for you'. Owl and Star is a book that families will want to cherish and is a must for libraries and classrooms. Teacher's notes are available.
A wonderful book about the passing of time during one twenty four hour day will have younger readers searching out hidden things on each page as well as learning about what happens in any twenty four hour period and the things which go along with the changing of the hour. Interestingly it also shows how devoted we are to the clock, how it regulates out lives as seven means getting up, eight means going to work or school, twelve means lunchtime and so on. Children will recognise just what the time is at each strike of the hour through the day, and have that time reinforced with the image of what happens. This is shown through the image of a house on each page with a clock on its top.
Within the house are a baker, a clockmaker, a family, a grandmother, a butcher and an artist, all with varying things to do at certain times of the day. It is just wonderful peering into others’ lives to see what time means for them.
For younger readers the sight of things happening as each hour goes by will intrigue and delight as they compare it with their own routines. And more importantly learn about time: how many hours in a day, what a clock face tells us, how life revolves around time, and what happens as each hour ticks away. They will have a great deal of fun learning about time from this offering with its humorous look at the various occupants of the house and seeking out the hidden objects. I loved looking a the progression of each room in the house, noting its changes over the twenty four hours, and I especially loved the night time scene when everyone is asleep, except for some animals and then the baker getting ready for his day.
And curiously a plane is in the sky (I live in Adelaide where there is a 6 o’clock curfew!).
Bright, engaging illustrations cover each page and children will eagerly seek out the differences from one page to the next in the same room in the house.
Chihiro's detailed, paper cut artwork instantly engages readers. With their attention focusing on the hour and what happens at that time of the day, the reader learns about the significance of that hour of each day, learning to tell the time along the way. Berbay’s mantra, ‘Clever books for curious kids’ shines out in this unique picture book.
Themes Time, Clock, Humour, Paper cut-out, Passage of time.
What a wonderful surprise this beautifully presented cookbook with a difference is. The main ingredient is mud!
From the gorgeous endpapers featuring a splattering of mud and other natural materials, to each recipe presented across a double page spread, the young reader who enjoys time outdoors playing in nature will find so much to engage their attention. Recipes such as the Un-lickable lasagne, Squelchy sushi, Muddychino, Murky mudshake and Wild waffles, are presented in a familiar procedure format with details of what ingredients are needed, as well as numbered instructions set out clearly with handy photographs to guide the budding young chef.
In the beginning of The muddy chef is an introduction to the delight of playing with mud, how to set up a mud kitchen, a safety guide, ingredients that could be used, plus equipment and utensils. There are so many opportunities presented in this book to create enticing non-edible delights with mud and other natural ingredients. A perfect gift for the child who loves being outdoors creating with nature and a great resource for homes, early learning centres and schools.
Every now and then, a book is published that is just a gorgeous, warm and beautifully written story - one that you would give to your children or grandchildren. Evie and Rhino, by Neridah McMullan first published in 2022, is one of those books.
Combining history with an imaginative story, McMullan weaves a story around the real-life shipwreck of the steamship SS Bancoora at Breamlea in SW Victoria in 1891. The ship was headed for Melbourne from Calcutta carrying tea, rice, tapioca, jute, sugar and exotic animals bound for Melbourne Zoo. It was wrecked on treacherous reefs during a storm as it rounded Cape Otway. Living in a crumbling once well-loved grand old home near the beach where the ship founded lives ten-year-old Evie and her grandfather. Both are bereft - grieving - and the desolation of their house is symbolic of the inner grief of the two occupants. Roaming on the dunes after a mighty storm, Evie comes upon a rhinoceros that has been washed ashore from the wreck of the SS Bancoora.
And so begins an absolute love story. Evie, so awash with grief at the death of her parents, is mute. Rhino has been wrenched from his natural home and is equally bereft. These two beings - the blonde headed child and the armor plated rhino with the softest, kindest heart recognize each other’s souls. This story is imbued with love. The rambling old house is filled with warm domestic interchanges and the aroma of cook's apple pie (recipe included). The characters are all well developed and very likeable. The stables and outlying farm buildings are populated by friendly cows, hens and dogs - all of them friends of Rhino and of Evie. The surrounding countryside is natural SW Victorian land where Evie and Rhino are free to roam.
There is the question of locking exotic animals up in zoos. There is the impending threat of Rhino being taken away by the Royal Zoological Society who are on their way to collect him and there is the power of friendship that can perhaps restore everything to rights. Written in present tense by an omniscient author, there is a sense of immediacy for the reader. The rawness of emotion, the dialogue and the action are fresh and immediate.The illustrations by Astred Hicks are scattered throughout the book and complement the gentle nature of the story with equally gentle sketches of comforting objects: shells, a bucket of fresh milk, fresh eggs, a pile of books, a hen, a mixing bowl and spoon and of course Evie and Rhino.
McMullin has previously written Drover and Fabish - The horse that braved a bushfire - the latter being shortlisted for CBCA Book of the Year in 2017. It would not be at all surprising if Evie and Rhino is seen on future nomination lists.
The Big Book of Exhibits is a fascinating look at 50 exhibitions and collections of unusual and wondrous objects from around the world. From well-known collections including Madame Tussaud’s (France), Terracotta Soldiers (China), Peace Memorial (Hiroshima, Japan) to Toilet Museums in India and South Korea and an Underwear Museum in Belgium, this colourfully illustrated hardback book will have something to interest everyone.
The book begins with a contents page listing ‘some of the world’s great curiosity cabinets’ followed by an introduction. A wide variety of interesting topics are covered throughout this book including art, technology, medicine, science, history and culture. Each page has a title in colour with two or more paragraphs giving information about the place or exhibition being discussed with an interesting highlight and colourful images surrounding it.
For those of us who live in Australia did you know that in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef is an underwater sculpture, the Coral Greenhouse? It is an underwater building filled with reef gardens growing coral and is overseen by statues of children. On a more sobering note, the British Museum has the Gweagal Shield believed to be one of the few relics left from the earliest First Nation peoples’ contact with European colonists. Also, in Australia is the National Arboretum in Canberra which features the largest collection of the critically endangered Wollemi Pine, a tree which dates back to the time of dinosaurs.
This fabulous book is packed full of information which is easily accessible for middle grade readers and older. A highly recommended addition to a school or public library.
Themes Collections, Museums, Exhibits.
Kathryn Beilby
Swifty: The super-fast parrot by Stephanie Owen Reeder. Illus. by Astrid Hicks
Critically endangered Swift parrots, of which there may be only 750 left in the wild, are the focus of this striking new factual fiction release written by Stephanie Owen Reeder. Told in a simple, yet informative story, the reader is drawn to the fledgling named Swifty as they follow her journey from birth to maturity.
Born during spring and summer in the hollow of an ancient Tasmanian blue gum tree, Swifty begins her life alone with her mum after the other two hatchlings have been taken by an introduced predator, the sugar glider. Swifty grows and prepares to follow the blossom trail on the migration from Tasmania to mainland Australia. The journey is over 250 kilometres non-stop over the Bass Strait. This migration is dangerous for the swift parrots as they may encounter high winds that can blow them off course as well as when arriving on land in danger from predators including domestic cats, feral animals and other more aggressive birds.
Swift parrots fly at almost 80 kilometres per hour making them one of the fastest parrots in the world. However, as Swifty quickly learns, glass doors and windows can be highly dangerous! Fortunately, Swifty is rescued, rehabilitated, and released into the wild to continue on her journey.
In the final pages, there are facts about the swift parrot, how they can be helped, and a glossary explaining the words in bold used throughout the text. Swifty is another wonderful book that provides younger readers with the opportunity to learn about one of Australia’s critically endangered birds through an engaging story. The stunning endpapers and glossy illustrations by Astrid Hicks perfectly complement the text and offer the reader so much to explore on each page.
Themes Swift Parrots, Migrations, Animal Conservation, Australian Birdlife, Survival, Critically Endangered Species.
Kathryn Beilby
Two puggles by Michelle Guzel and Andrew Plant
Ford Street Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922696168. (Age:4+) Recommended.
Two Puggles is an appealing picture book about two baby platypuses raised together but who look totally different from each other. One baby has spikes and is named Spike and the other one who has a duckbill is called Ducky. They grow up together doing everything the same but very differently. Spike bobs along on the top of the water whereas Ducky dives deeply into the river. Spike does not like yabbies, but Ducky loves them. Spike is much happier slurping up ants.
One day Spike meets Edna the echidna but is confused and thinks Edna is a platypus just like him. Eventually the confusion is solved, and Spike is lucky to now have two mothers and two sisters.
This is a gentle read about family and accepting differences. The beautiful illustrations will appeal to young children and their adults.
Themes Family, Australian Animals, Echidna, Platypus, Differences.
Forestfall is the second novel in Lyndall Clipstone’s World at the Lake’s Edge duology. The story once again revolves around Leta and Rowan and the forces that both draw them together and force them apart. At the end Clipstone’s first book, Lakesedge, Leta has sacrificed herself to the Lord Under, a mysterious being who lives in a realm of mist and darkness, to save both Rowan and her beloved brother, Arien. She is now living uneasily alongside the Lord Under while those she left behind try to come to terms with her disappearance. That is until, one night, Leta and Rowan discover that they still have a connection to each other that spans worlds. Leta is determined to find a way home and Rowan will stop at nothing to get her back.
Clipstone is a former librarian turned author from the Barossa Ranges in South Australia. Forestfall is her second novel and her confidence as a writer is growing. The novel provides a satisfactory ending, with plenty of mystery, conflict and romance experienced along the way. Like it’s predecessor, Forestfall does at times take gothic tropes and angsty teenage romance to an extreme. However, this is a haunting story set in an evocative world, and will no doubt satisfy readers.
Sunny is a young girl who loves constructing jigsaws. She loves the way the pieces connect together, but she feels that jigsaws are the only things that help her to be happy. Her wise Grandmother though, suggests to Sunny that there are other things that will bring her happiness. She gives Sunny an enormous jigsaw to complete but disappointingly one piece is missing. Sunny is determined to track down the missing piece and goes from house to house searching for it. Along the way, Sunny discovers some new friends and realises in the end that it is not just jigsaws that bring happiness.
This beautiful story with bold and engaging illustrations will delight both children and adults. A perfect read for those struggling and feeling low, and one to be shared time and time again.
Ford Street Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922696137. (Age:5-9) Recommended.
Rockpooling with Pup is a wonderful introduction to rock pools and their hidden treasures for young children. Mia and Pup are on an adventurous exploration to find the blue rings belonging to the blue-ringed octopus who seems to be missing her rings. Along the journey, Mia and Pup encounter a crab, sea stars, sea urchins, kelp, anemones, snails, chitons and finally a hermit crab that reminds them that the tide is rising. When they get back to the blue-ringed octopus they find her rings have returned. Perhaps those rings were there all along!
Each full-page photograph is visually appealing and the simple informative text easily accessible for young readers. At the end of the book is further information about the sea creatures observed in the rock pools. On the final page is brief information about climate change threatening life in rock pools as well a plea to not touch and how to take action to protect the pools.
The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen is an unusual book to categorise. It is non-fiction, a real-life story, told as if through Poppy's voice by the author Jess Black. Black is an established Australian author. Her books including the Mr Walker, Peppercreek Ponies and Little Paws series are well known to children everywhere. In The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen, Walker becomes the voice of the Australian regular-footed professional skateboarder Poppy Starr Olsen. Poppy's voice is captured so authentically that one is sure that Poppy is sitting right next to her and that Black has spent a lot of time with Poppy's family. Poppy has collaborated with Walker by illustrating the book all the way through with her cute little drawings.
From the get-go, the reader is given a first hand invitation into the heart of the Olsen family. The story unfolds through Poppy's voice. We begin as the family cliff jump into the ocean somewhere along the coast near Bondi where they live. The whole family is into adventure and action. Competition is in their veins - everything is a competition. They never sit still. They are an active together family. The family live near the Bondi skate park. Poppy loves skating but it's overwhelmingly a boy's sport. Poppy skates because she loves it. She works constantly to improve her skills. The edgy narrative is full of lists, advice and explanations as Poppy tells us about her life with accompanying illustrations.
Quickly we arrive at the crux of the story. After achieving entrance for girls in the boys only skateboarding competition as a result of a letter of petition, Poppy is faced with the imminent threatened council closure of the skateboard park because of apparent disreputable people and activities associated with skateboard parks. Poppy is a natural activist and so she gears up with the determination that she brings to everything.
Not only is Poppy a skateboarder; she is also an artist. At a young age she began to sell her paintings at the Bondi market so she could fund her skateboarding world. She is an absolute self starter of a character. A civics and citizenship project at school is just the thing for a girl like Poppy to get her teeth into as she becomes an active and contributing citizen at an early age.
It is quite a rare opportunity for children to read a book by and about a real life role model Australian Olympiad - a girl not much older than them. Her high octane, completely fair approach to life, her concerns and her battles may be inspiring for young people. Her gutsiness, determination and resilience are a marvel.
Poppy featured in the documentary Tall Poppy, currently screening on ABC iview, has done a TedX talk and has been interviewed for many television shows. She is mentored by Layne Beachley and sponsored by Vans and Visa.
Primary to Middle Years readers will find The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen an interesting, engaging and inspiring read.
Themes Skateboarding, Activism, Family life, Resilience, Art.
This second book by Tobias Madden has similar gay romance themes to his highly praised first novel Anything but fine but instead of the ballet world, Noah Mitchell is thrust into the world of musical theatre in Ballarat, in an endeavour to get to know his secret gaming partner MagePants69. Noah, aka RcticFOx, only knows his fellow combatant online, but a subtle slip gives him the clue that maybe MagePants69 is performing in the same musical that his mother, Rose, is starring in. Noah, going against all his normal inclinations, decides to join the theatre too, in order to secretly find out more about the person he has become so enamoured of online. Reading those first few chapters, every reader knows that something is going to go terribly wrong. How can he be sure that MagePants69 is Eli, and how will it all pan out?
Although issues of catfishing and online ensnarement are duly raised, these are not the central focus of Madden’s novel. It is more about the deception that Noah becomes involved in, and the betrayal of trust that Eli experiences. There are also issues of school-time bullying, friendship betrayal and loss, and difficult parent-child relationships. But this is ultimately a rom-com, and it is the relationships within the theatre group, the budding friendships, and the slowly developing romance that Noah gradually finds, that are at the heart of the novel.
While there are some shared issues with the more confronting The brink by Holden Sheppard, Madden’s novel has more in common with more gentle love stories such as Golden boys by Phil Stamper, Here’s to us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, and Date me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye . Take a bow, Noah Mitchell is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging romantic comedy of errors that deals with real issues of youthful self doubt and tentative attraction, in a way that every young reader can relate to.
Themes LGBQTI+, Romance, Deception, Trust, Self confidence, Video games.
Helen Eddy
How we came to be: Surprising sea creatures by Sami Bayley
Join author/illustrator Sami Bayly on a fantastic diving journey deep down into the ocean and be introduced to some of the amazing creatures that reside in each zone. This cleverly presented and strikingly illustrated book begins with a personal welcome from Sami who shares her love of unusual animals and an explanation of evolution.
This is followed by an introduction to each of the five ocean zones: Sunlight, Twilight, Midnight, the Abyss and finally the Trenches. The reader is then able to join Sami, easily identifiable by her yellow diving suit, as she swims through each zone offering information and humorous conversation. In the twilight zone she accidentally steps on a spotted deepsea flounder who chats to Sami giving details about itself. As well as conversation bubbles there are brightly coloured circles giving varied and interesting facts. For example, ‘a creature that doesn’t have to swim to catch its food is the vampire squid, as it feeds on marine snow-microscopic dead organism that drift down from above.’ In the final pages are more surprising sea creatures including the Blobfish, Cockatoo Squid, Wolf Eel and the Faceless Fish.
This fabulous book has a place in all libraries and would also be a wonderful gift for children of all ages. Teacher's resources are available.
