Are We There Yet? 20th Anniversary Edition

This 2005 CBCA Picture Book of the year, encapsulates all that we love about Alison Lester’s stratospheric journey as a children’s book creator. 

It was pure delight to unwrap this brand new, sparkling, coppery-golden foiled 20th anniversary version of the book for review. Told through the voice of eight-year-old Grace, this new incarnation of the book has not aged a jot.

Lester is a national treasure and it is easy to see why. Two decades on, this book is still delightfully fresh, funny and relevant. Timeless family dynamics and developmental stages are chaotically and tenderly rendered in both words and pictures.

Review: Mr McGee And His Hat

Why, hello! Mr McGee is back—you know, the moustachioed fellow in a bowler hat.

Pamela Allen brings us Mr McGee and his Hat, another simple, yet engaging story with imagination and humour at its core. Her rhythmic and rhyming text, helps Mr McGee adventure across the page, for example, Up in the air, Mr McGee flew, his hat and his cat and his bed went too.

Mr McGee is portrayed in clear, simple shapes and bold colours. Allen’s distinctive use of white space offsets her detailed pen and watercolour art. She expertly depicts Mr McGee’s expressions and body language, highlighting the funny situations he finds himself in. All these characteristics assist young ones to comprehend the story.

Bookish Places: Story Bank

The Kids' Book Review Bookish Places posts are a chance to celebrate museums, galleries and other places with a connection to children's literature and reading. The posts are compiled by KBR's Consultant Librarian, Sarah Steed, our intrepid traveller and hunter-gatherer of amazing places! 

Did you know that PL Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, was born in Queensland?

The Story Bank building, at one time the Australian Joint Stock Bank, is today a heritage-listed, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious museum about stories and storytelling. Its emphasis is on the life of Maryborough’s famous resident, PL Travers and her popular character. 

The Story Bank (Image credit: Visit Fraser Coast)

Review: A Twisted Tale Anthology

The Twisted Tales were first recommended to me by one of my ChocLit (book club) readers a couple of years ago. 

She suggested we get them for the library, and that was an exceptional success. They were very literally never on the shelves and in high demand in our reserves.

At the time, I admit, I was a little baffled. I mean to say, fairytales? For secondary kids? Now that I’ve had the delight of delving into this anthology, I can totally see the appeal.

This is the first anthology based on the successful series and is a collection of short stories written from a ‘What if...’ angle.

Using Disney fan-favourite movies as their foundation, writers (of other stand-alone Twisted Tales) have brought together some highly entertaining hypotheticals.

Announcement: KBR Christmas Book Inspired Joy

Over the years KBR, along with our many publishing friends, conduct some truly wonderful Giveaways. At times, the bookish prizes and gift packs make us drool with envy. Whilst we can't enter ourselves, we can 'pretend' so this year's Very Merry KBR Christmas Question assumes a Christmas competition flavour, a bit like plum pudding but even more satisfying! Here's what we asked the team and their very merry answers. Enjoy! And have yourselves a wondrous and wonderful Festive Season.

Tell us in 25 words or less about your favourite Christmas book and how it adds joy to your Christmas traditions.

Tania McCartney (KBR Founder): The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, paper-engineered by Robert Sabuda. We love a pop-up book in our house; it’s so magical and impressive – I mean, how does Robert do that?? We’ve had this book forever and we also have a pop-up card set based on the book that I often pin to the wall in the shape of a tree. It’s a delight to walk past and pop a card open. Moore’s poem is timeless, and no matter how many times I read it, I’m enchanted. Have a magical Christmas, and thank you for making KBR so special – it wouldn’t be the same without our readers! (Tania clearly broke the 25 words limit but as it's Christmas, I'll allow it. Ed.)

Dimity Powell (Managing Editor): PS:Who Stole Santa’s Mail? by Dimity Powell! Self-indulgent and cheeky but chock full of cheer, magic and sizzling Aussie summer Christmas vibes, condensing my most treasured Christmas feels into a jolly perennial fave!

Shaye Wardrop (Senior Editor): Ayla’s Christmas Wish by Pamela Jones and Lucia Masciullo. New favourite = Ayla’s Christmas Wish. Love how it explores fun Australian traditions that make a summer Christmas in the heat so unique. 

Sue Warren: Above all the other 'favourites' is The Worst Kids in the World by Barbara Robinson - I've been sharing it with classes for 30 years,  never fails to make us all teary. (Her second entry, was  Jolly Christmas Postman, because the kids love 'letter books')

Ayla Wardrop (junior reviewer): The Christmas Pig by J K Rowling. I love the Christmas Pig because it’s an adventure and pigs are the cutest. Like in the book, we make our own Christmas decorations, too!

Elizabeth Vercoe: The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore is seared into my head, heart and vocal chords. It is excitement, joy, anticipation, fabulousness and cheer, all rolled into one.  

Sarah Steed (Senior Library Consultant): JRR Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas was a gift from my mum which I like to browse to help get in the festive spirit.

Leigh van der Veen: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Transporting me to Christmas in Victorian London, A Christmas Carol, helps to remind me of the true meaning of the festive season. 

Penny Harrison (12 Curlie Questions Editor): Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, has always been a favourite festive classic of mine. This year, I’m planning to share it with my daughter.

 

 

On the 11th day of Christmas: The Pied Piper

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping…and The Pied Piper, adapted and illustrated by Ayesha L Rubio. 

Hamelin is overrun by rats, and the town’s cats can’t keep the numbers down.

Then, one day, a stranger with a magical flute arrives. The stranger offers to provide a solution to the rat plague, and the mayor agrees.

But promises made in desperation can easily be broken. Will Hamelin survive the wrath of the stranger and his flute?

Read our review.

Title: The Pied Piper
Author/Illustrator: Ayesha L Rubio
Publisher: The Five Mile Press, $19.95
Publication Date: September 2016
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760400477
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

Review: One Little Duck

'...One little duck went out one day, over the hills and far away 

Mother Duck said ‘Moo Moo Moo Moo,’ and Cow said ‘Wait! Now I’m coming too.’...' 

Oh, my heart! This utterly compelling rewrite of the beloved classic Five Little Ducks is an absolute delight.  

The pairing of award-winning author Katrina Germein’s delicious and cheeky verbal surprises, alongside multi award-winning illustrator Danny Snell’s gorgeous and captivating images, make this a book that totally rewards revisiting. Over and over and over again! 

Review: Little Lunch: The Bubblers

The Little Lunch books are a wickedly sparkling series for children (and their adults) to fall into with hilarity and glee. Cleverly chaotic words and messy, inky images with line-drawings all intermingle in the most perfect, unexpected and disgusting ways.

At Little Lunch we ate a BAD birthday pavlova, Atticus lost his glasses and we had a Disgusting Joke Competition beside the bubblers.

There’s an art to writing and illustrating like it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. Danny Katz and Mitch Vane are super impressive on this front! These books are so instantly engaging and compelling that you don’t even think about what went into creating them. Except when you do.

Mrs Gonsha has made a birthday cake for twins Max and Elsa. It’s a pavlova. 

Review: Enid Blyton: The Biography

As a child, I was a great fan of The Famous Five, and read just about any Enid Blyton books I could get my hands on. As an adult, I’ve not re-read them, probably because I’m pretty sure the experience would be disappointing. However, having been such a reader of them in the past, I was keen to read Enid Blyton: The Biography.

Authorised by one of Enid Blyton’s daughters, it’s written by Barbara Stoney. First written in the 1970s, less than a decade after Blyton's 1968 death, an updated edition was released in 2006. Stoney spent a huge amount of time researching the author, and had unprecedented access to letters and diaries, as well as interviewing people who knew or met Enid personally or professionally.

Bookish Places: Paddington Bear at Paddington Station

Statue of Paddington Bear, Paddington Station, London (Photo: Sarah Steed)

The Kids' Book Review Bookish Places posts are a chance to celebrate museums, galleries and other places with a connection to children's literature and reading. The posts are compiled by KBR's Consultant Librarian, Sarah Steed, our intrepid traveller and hunter-gatherer of amazing places!

Paddington Bear is the much loved star of the children's books written by Michael Bond, which were first published in 1958. In the story A Bear Called Paddington, he is given his name by the Brown family who met him on the platform at Paddington Station soon after his arrival from deepest, darkest Peru.

London's Paddington Station celebrates its famous namesake with a bronze statue of Paddington Bear on Platform 1, where he has a fine view of the trains. The statue was designed by British sculptor, Marcus Cornish, based on the original Paddington illustrations by Peggy Fortnum.

And best of all, you don't need a ticket if you just want to visit the Paddington statue.

Thunderstorm Dancing

Books with spark come around again and it’s Thunderstorm Dancing’s turn to return with a ‘crackling zap! sizzling snap!’ 

First published in 2015, this notable book in the 2016 CBCA Book of the Year awards, Early Childhood, has now been released in paperback.

Perhaps you remember Tania McCartney’s original review of the hardcover version?

Review: Moonlight: Celebrating Forty Years

Another timeless and wordless picture book that, along with companion book Sunshine, top and tail-ends the day for a little girl and her family. 

This fortieth anniversary edition has a heartfelt foreword by illustrator Margaret Wild and like its partner is also a classic, beautiful book.

It’s evening, and the reader sees a little girl who is eating dinner with her parents before getting ready for bed. Opening onto a bright and cheerful dinner table, the follow-up activities of dish-washing and bath-time are colourful and fresh, yet contain the sense of taking us into a gentler, more quiet realm.

Review: Sunshine: Celebrating Forty Years

A timeless and wordless picture book that nonetheless says so much as it sparkles with delight and surprise. Very appropriate for today. 

This fortieth anniversary edition, with the most beautiful forward by illustrator Freya Blackwood, is a classic in every sense of that word.

It’s morning, and the reader travels with a little girl who wakes up as the sunlight streams in through her window. She reads her book for a while before clambering out of bed to wake her sleepy-head parents.

Review: Shakespeare for Everyone

Who was William Shakespeare and why is he famous? Shakespeare for Everyone takes us on a journey through history, to learn about the man considered the world's greatest and most influential playwright.

Beginning with an introduction to Shakespeare and his life and times, it goes on to introduce theatre in the late 1500s and early 1600s, including physical and historical information about The Globe and Burbage's Theatre which were popular at that time.

Readers will learn about Shakespeare the actor, because it is believed that he may have performed as well as written plays. The book explains how actors lived and worked, that they were known as 'players' and had to work hard to memorise their lines in a short amount of time as well as to sing and dance.

Shakespeare for Everyone summarises Shakespeare's achievements. He wrote both plays (at least 38) and poems (almost 160), and they cover multiple genres, including histories, comedies, tragedies, and romances. But just what places each of these plays in those genres? What are the common features of such plays?

Video: Axel Scheffler: The Evolution of Gruffalo

The Gruffalo has become a modern day classic picture book, much loved by children around the world. Julia Donaldson created the text, but how did the the Gruffalo become more than words? 

Axel Scheffler has illustrated over 100 books, and amongst them are The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child. In this video, Axel explains how the Gruffalo took shape and evolved from a rather scary-looking creature into the gentle giant we know today.

Title: The Gruffalo
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, $ 14.99
Publication Date: 2016
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781509804757
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

Attention Harry Potter Fans - Miles Of Magic Photo Competition

We get more than a little excited here at KBR when the offer of free books is on the table so imagine our heart rates when we learned of this awesome opportunity to upgrade your book collection both at home and at school.

Our great friends at Bloomsbury Publishing Australia are delighted to launch the MILES OF MAGIC photo competition, which gives Australian and New Zealand Harry Potter fans the chance to win $1000 worth of books for their home library, PLUS another $1000 worth of books for their local school’s library.

To enter, fans are invited to take a photo of a Harry Potter book in a favourite location in Australia or New Zealand. And in max 100 words explain what the Harry Potter books, and what the photo location, means to them. 

Review: Five On a Treasure Island / Five Go Adventuring Again

If you're of a certain age, and perhaps even if you're not, then you're probably familiar with The Famous Five.

Written by the prolific Enid Blyton, the first book in the The Famous Five series was originally published in 1942 and followed by twenty more.

Released this month for the first time in English, are graphic novel editions of the first two stories in the series. They were first published in France where another four stories have also been released.

They are somewhat abridged in their retelling, created by the father and son team of Natael and Beja, to bring the stories of the adventuresome group of children to a new lot of readers.

Review: Oh, The Places You'll Go!

'Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to great places!

You’re off and away!’

With these words and a little yellow person scribbled onto the first page as only Dr Seuss can, this absolute cracker of a book begins.

In classic Dr Seuss rhyme, Oh, The Places You'll Go! gathers us up, boldly sweeping us into a journey that feels incredibly significant and optimistic. We are invited to step up, work hard and put everything we have into living our best life – even though we are bound to fail at times. It would be tempting to call this a self-help book, but it’s not. It’s more versatile than that.  

Guest Post: Monsters R Us: Adapting Gothic Classics For Children

Allison Hill, the editor of two new board books in Starry Forest's, Baby’s Classics series, explores the process behind adapting textually-rich gothic classics like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula into board books. 

In this post, she highlights examples of how she and Greg Paprocki (illustrator of the popular BabyLit alphabet series, including B is for Boo, and our Baby’s Classics series) collaborated to incorporate nods to the original works in his illustrations, from dramatic gothic landscape imagery to deeply-engrossing symbolism.

Review: Ginger Meggs

Iconic Australian literary character Ginger Meggs is celebrating his 100^th birthday and you are invited back into his larrikin world with the release of four new adventures.

Created by Jimmy Bancks in 1921, his great great nephew, Tristan Bancks picks up where he left off. These stories are illustrated by the current cartoonist of the Ginger Meggs comic strip, Jason Chatfield. 

Originally syndicated in over 100 daily newspapers in Australia and the world. Ginger Meggs is one of the oldest running comic strips in the world.

These four new rambunctious adventures showcase Ginger Meggs and his friends as fun-loving larrikins who always find themselves in trouble one way or another.

One of the stories, Dead Man’s Hill finds Ginger and his best mate Benny debating over claims made by snooty sneak Eddie Coogan. Eddie reckons he rode all the way down Dead Man’s Hill in his billycart with no problems. So up for a challenge the two friends build their own death-defying cart and attempt the hill.