Review: The Five Rules Of Friendship

Sometimes, the ‘simple’ things shine the brightest of all.

With its warm, friendly voice alongside bold and colourful illustrations, this picture book is deceptively simple, very practical and completely engaging.

From the creator of ‘Life Lessons For Little Ones,’ ‘The Five Rules Of Friendship’ is exactly that: five practical, useful and solid ideas around how to be a friend, and how to treat a friend.

In clear and chatty language with no hint of judgement, the book reminds us that friendship can be awesome when it’s good, and downright tricky when it’s not-so-good.

Review: Bluey's Big World

Do you feel like you can’t keep up with Bluey’s life, likes and habits?

This book will help those, young and older, who have lost track of anything Bluey.

The most important characters come first, that is Bluey and sister Bingo.

What is Mum’s name? Dad’s name? Who are Bluey and Bingo’s friends? 

In Bluey's Big World, you can refresh your memory.

The house plan starts at the front door with an intimate look available of the surroundings and contents of each room.

Mum and Dad’s room is revealed.

12 Curly Questions with author Jess Galatola

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

Not many people know that when I was 13, I volunteered to work for free in a bookshop, in the hopes of earning an ongoing position. After cleaning every shelf in that shop (which took a full day), I scored my first casual job at QBD The Bookshop. I later found out that cleaning every shelf in one go was a dreaded once-a-year occurrence. I didn’t care. I was happy to be surrounded by books and use my staff

discount to start collecting picture books, YA novels and art and history resources that I felt I would use one day when I become a teacher (which I did, eight years later). Those formative years in the workforce continued to foster and fund my love of reading!

Review: Wild Australia

Our Marine and National Parks are protected areas. Before we set out on our journey of discovery, there are things to do and know. 

The lists of vital preparations to be made before setting out to journey though Wild Australia should be adhered to.

These necessities create an immediate awareness of the environment and our role in its protection, from the first page where it sits in the company of a numbered map of Australia. 

Look out for wildlife is a main one.

Review: 31 And A Half Things To Know As You Grow

This delightful book by two award-winning creators in author Meg McKinlay and illustrator Nicky Johnston, will make a beautiful gift for new babies and young readers alike.

A gorgeous, sometimes whimsical offering that provides the seeds of good advice and encourages small people to stand in their power, it shares ideas and thoughts on useful and fun stuff to know as you’re growing up!

12 Curly Questions with author Amy Freund

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

Ooh, this is a hard one as I’m such an over-sharer, but when I’m feeling under the weather or just need a pick-me-up, I watch cheesy 80s action movies; the more unbelievable the better. Anyone ever seen Under Siege? Absolute classic.

2. What is your nickname?
My family nickname is Amybob and my uni friends call me Amypants, both named after my idol, Spongebob Squarepants.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I am TERRIFIED of huntsmans: they are just too big and hairy! I used to live in Eltham, and every hot day at least two huntsmans would be hanging out in my bedroom; so much so that I nicknamed them ‘Fred and George’, like the Weasley twins. I still get a bit on edge every time it’s a hot day that Fred or George will come and visit my new home.

Review: Tiny Tradies Aussie Word Book

The preschool characters in Tiny Tradies Aussie Word Book are at it again and ready to go.  Learning to use Aussie slang, they increase their language skills and impress their play mates.

The Tiny Tradies always start the day with breakfast. A detailed view of an accepted measure of chaos is provided. 

The Aussie slang necessary in the kitchen area is a light-hearted banter passed between bites of toast, spoonfulls of fruit loops, and odd bits shared with the dog – known as a dog’s breakfast.

Review: Off To The Nursery: A Celebration Of Gardening, Plants And Seasons

This super-duper-hardcover picture book (perfect for surviving the gardens it will undoubtedly end up being read in!) is a feast for the senses.

It’s got two curved edges and a brightly coloured cover which includes a little bit of neon orange, along with a very enticing array of plants in a basket.

Spring is here and it’s time to plant the garden.

Review: Too Many Acorns

What an absolutely beautiful story this is - about loss, resilience, connection and growth.

Patrick doesn’t know why he collects acorns, he just knows that he feels better when he feels their hard, smooth roundness in his hand. 

The fact that acorns suggest new growth, in that they are a very small nut with the potential to grow into a very large tree, is quietly central to the story. 

Luckily for Patrick and this story, he lives in a town with a lot of oak trees. 

Review: Molly and Maple

'...Losing her sight wasn't the worst thing for Nettie... [it] was that people started to think differently about her. Some people even seemed to think less of her...'

This powerful opening to Molly and Maple sets the tone for the challenges faced by anyone with a disability - and that's (astonishingly) over 21 per cent of Australians.

In the case of Annette (Nettie) Holden, a former journalist, government and business public affairs officer, the loss of her sight was devastating and challenging. But it was also a chance for her to transform her new life into something truly inspiring. 

The story of Molly and Maple celebrates Nettie's journey - from using an international white cane to two beloved guide dogs that walk beside her, literally and figuratively, as canine guardian angels.

Review: Mr Santa

Mr Santa, want to hear me play?

Do the reindeer talk?

And can I ride your sleigh?

Even before you open the cover, this book makes you love it just a little bit.

It has raised lettering, slightly glittering stars, a crescent moon and a cloud upon which sits Santa (with the kindest, warmest face you’ll ever see). 

Review: Clementine's Christmas

Clementine is excited by all the activity in the house.

It is Christmas Eve. The family is gathered to share the joy and love that unites them. 

Preparations are ready for the morning, except for the one thing that remains for Granny to finish. 

But she can’t find her wool.

Clementine and her family search for the missing purple skein of wool. 

They look high and low, beneath the coloured paper chains that hang from pictures, and around the tree. At last! Success! 

Review: Over or Under?

Over or Under? by Pip Harry and Hilary Jean Tapper is a distinctly Australian story, from the landscape to the scenarios.

Maisie is learning how to swim safely. With her Dad by her side she practices jumping waves and knowing when it's better to dive under them. 

When Maisie hesitates to dive under a bigger wave, she discovers the strength of the water as it tumbles her about and dumps her. Maisie's fortunate that Dad's there to pull her to safety.

Review: Our World Full of Wonder

There is a Place…. That’s how each stunning entry is introduced as we set out on our journey to explore the wonders of our world.

All this beauty has been made accessible to children through the brilliance of Jess Racklyeft’s illustrations.

Jevita Nilsen’s alliteration intensifies the poetic prose and draws attention to the referred images of the twelve locations addressed.

As readers tour our wonderful world, each There is a Place… takes your breath away. 

It begins with aurora borealis.

Review: The Welcome Cookies

This warm hug of a book made me want to scoop up armfuls of welcome cookies, throw them into the blue sky and have them rain down on me with abandon.

It’s one of those very special stories where every page-turn is a cornucopia of discovery, filled with things to make your mouth water – and your tummy rumble.

Mabel loves visiting the Sugar Plum Café, and specifically she loves visiting Miss Plum because of her radiant smile (among other things, of course. She is a café owner after all!). 

Review: When Santa Got Stuck In A Gum Tree

Well, this book is an absolute delight.

In essence, it’s as the title suggests - the tale of Santa becoming snagged on the branch of a gum tree, while the local natives try (and mostly fail) to help him down. 

Eventually, of course, the day is saved but not before some very funny situations which, let’s just say, include Santa losing his boots and pants.

Told in joyful, masterful rhyme, this book is a gem that begs to be read aloud. Author Jackie Hosking does not shy away from using sometimes long and wonderful-sounding words that make the reading experience a true pleasure.

10 Quirky Questions with author Margaret Wild

1. What's your hidden talent?

I would like to say levitation or time-travelling, but, alas, I’ll have to settle for an endless capacity for playing Scrabble.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?

Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair by William Thackeray. She is clever, resourceful, selfish, 
remorseless, resilient and fascinating. I reread Vanity Fair every five years or so just for the pleasure of encountering Becky and her shenanigans yet again.

Review: Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Sleigh

From Mo Willems’ best-selling Don’t Let The Pigeon… series, comes this cracker.

Father Christmas has to step away from his sleigh for a short while, and before he goes, he asks the reader to make sure that nobody steals it. Especially not the pigeon.

And, well, if you want to see a pigeon having a tantrum mid-strut, then look no further. This is the book for you.

Mo Willems’ much beloved pigeon series has delivered again, with ho ho hos and surprises aplenty.

Junior Review: Pine Marten Cuties

Pine Marten Cuties introduces young readers to the life of a pine marten. 

The book uses simple, rhyming lines to explain the pine marten's behavior, its forest home, and what it eats. The text is direct and easy to follow. 

Each page focuses on a different aspect of the animal’s life, making it a useful educational tool.

The pine marten is the only character and is portrayed as active and curious. The writing emphasizes its agility, strength, and love for trees. 

Review: Fabulous Frogs

This fabulous book of eighteen Australian Fabulous Frogs, begins with the glamorous end pages depicting each frog covered, with their name in numerical order for easy identification.

Rhyming prose creates a light music-like atmosphere when read.

Stunning images of these lovable creatures and their habitats, fill the pages.

Descriptions of their lifestyles in general, the poisonous ones are pointed out along with ones that burrow in the ground to keep cool and those which camouflage helps to hide and protect from danger.