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Uno's Garden

October 2, 2012, 1:25 am
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AUTHOR: Graeme Base
ARTIST: Graeme Base
STORY: Uno is the first man to move into the forest. Other people follow Uno and move into the forest, and as the people and buildings increase, the plants and animals decrease. This theme of conservation is joined with counting the animals and plants in the book including the frinklepod, moopaloop, lumpybum, and 1 snortelpig which is hidden on every page.
Though the animals disappear, they make a comeback by book's end except for the Snortlepig which looks like part dog, part pig and part armadillo. The tally of animals on the top of each page, invite readers to participate in a seek-and-find game.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Rich, colourful pages of fascinating fantasy people, animals, plants and buildings create a magical world on every page.
SNIPPET:
The fishermen's children played games amongst the trees.
They counted seven Playful Puddlebuts, plus one Snortlepig.
A little village grew.
RECOMMENDED: for 4 and 5 year olds and older.
AWARDS:
  • 2008 Young Australian Best Book Award  - Picture Book Category - Winner
  • 2007 Green Earth Book Award, USA - Winner
  • 2007 Speech Pathology Australia - Lower Primary Category - Winner
  • 2007 Wilderness Society Environment Award - Picture Book Category - Winner

    • BOOK PUBLISHER: Penguin Group (Australia)

    EXTENSION:
    Activities for school age children
    Maths activity for school age children

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    The Family Hour in Australia by Tai Snaith

    November 6, 2012, 4:01 pm
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    AUTHOR: Tai Snaith
    ARTIST: Tai Snaith 
    STORY:  Numbats, Kangaroos, Echidnas, Black Swans, Frill-necked lizards, Sugar gliders and Hairy-nosed wombats are just a few of the 15 native Australian animal families featured, as they go about their daily lives.
    ILLUSTRATIONS: 
    Colourful and quirky drawings of animorphised animals in family groups shopping for vegemite in the supermarket and watching out door movies on a picnic rug. The illustrations are fun and imaginative and the information is factual. 
    SNIPPET: 
    " Feeling hungry, the platypus family goes swimming to search for snacks. Did you know they swim with their eyes closed?"
    RECOMMENDED: for 2 year olds and older.
    AWARDS:The Family Hour introduces young children to 15 fascinating Australian animals and their families. It presents unique facts about each animal in a  way.
    BOOK PUBLISHER: Thames and Hudson

    EXTENSION IDEAS: So many great Australian animal templates:
    Echidna mask
    Frill neck lizard mask
    Kangaroo mask
    Koala mask
    Platypus mask
    Possum Mask
    Tasmanian Devil Mask
    Tree Frog mask
    Wombat mask
    Australian animal masks to purchase
    Sugar Glider Kite
    Owl Kite
    Many Australian animals - black and white drawings for craft, counting... Click on the animal you are interested in and it will open from the list
    Australian Mammals - black and white illustrations

    CONGRATULATIONSTai Snaith on your first book. We love it.
    The Family Hour in Australia

    You can purchase The Family Hour in Australia at Fishpond.au
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    I Love My Grandpa

    January 16, 2013, 3:04 pm
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    book cover
    AUTHOR: Anna Walker
    ARTIST: Anna Walker
    STORY: Part of the I Love Ollie series with the lovable, stripey zebra. Grandpa and Ollie have fun in the garden, digging and planting seeds and other activities and having dinner together. Grandpa loves to listen, and Ollie loves to talk. 
    ILLUSTRATIONS: Anna was first a freelance illustrator before she began to write and illustrate her own books in pen, pencil, collage and watercolour.
    RECOMMENDED:  for 2 to 5 year olds
    EXTRAS: There is also a softy Ollie and an I Love Ollie Activity Book
    BOOK PUBLISHER: Scholastic
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    For the love of Vincent

    February 22, 2013, 2:00 pm
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    AUTHOR: Brenda V. Northeast
    For the love of Vincent is "my first children's picture book, is on bringing the joy of art appreciation to children and the young at heart."ARTIST: Brenda V. Northeast
    STORY: Enchanting story of a small yellow Ted named Vincent van Bear who was born to paint. His journey takes him to Arles, the Yellow House, the countryside all echoing the life of Vincent van Gogh the famous artist.
    ILLUSTRATIONS: There is a beautiful painting on every page which strongly echos Vincent van Gogh's work but have the teddy in them.

     

    SNIPPET: "Vincent would head back towards Arles.
    The sunset was often spectacular.
    Colours seemed to dance through the leaves like flames flicering in a fire.
    Vincent was able to capture the beauty of such skies in his paintings"
    RECOMMENDED: for 3 year olds and older
    PURCHASE: It currently seems difficult to purhase this book and we have only found it available on Lulu

    Even as adults we love to read this book again and again, as we adore the the simple story and beautiful paintings that remind us of a great artist. Have you read it?

     
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    Keep an eye out for Jeremy: coming in July

    April 10, 2013, 10:18 pm
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    Wonderful Aussies Chris Faille and Danny Snell have a new book coming out soon.

     
    Can you see who Jeremy is?
     
    When tiny Jeremy falls out of his nest and is brought home by the family cat, he is only a few days old. Luckily, Jeremy is a fighter. As the weeks go by he grows stronger and stronger, until the time comes to say goodbye. PUBLISHER: Working Title Press

    My thoughts: Looks like a good one and can't wait to read it.  I love Danny Snell's illustrations - have look at Bilby Moon and his website.


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    ten tiny things by Meg McKinlay

    June 7, 2013, 3:11 pm
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    AUTHOR: Meg McKinlay who grew up in Bendigo, Victoria.
     
    ARTIST: Kyle Hughes-Odgers is a painter, street artist and installation artist

    STORY: This story is about slowing down, taking your time, and really seeing things. Tessa and Zachary have a machine that carries them from here to there and back again in cool calm comfort. It was smooth and swift and splendiferous. One day their machine breaks down and the children venture into the world beyond its metal walls – a place of secret somethings and hidden happenings. Getting from here to there may never be the same … And every day they looked for ten tiny things

    ILLUSTRATIONS: This is the first story that Kyle Hughes-Odgers has illustrated and it was inspiration to get this unique Australian artist to transfer from massive murals to the book format. His illustrations have a quirky folk lore feel.

    SNIPPET:
    It was a red thing. It was a sparkly thing.
    It was a tiny, tiny thing
    This is the snippet you will see on most reviews of this book, 'cause we don't want to give it all away - we want you to read this amazing tale.

    RECOMMENDED: for 4 year olds and older

    AWARDS:
    Won the 2013 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the Australia/New Zealand region.
    Shortlisted for the 2013 Environment Award for Children's Literature.

    PUBLISHER: Fremantle Press
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    Isabella's Bed by Alison Lester

    July 22, 2013, 3:24 pm
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    AUTHOR: Alison Lester
    ARTIST: Alison Lester
    STORY: Isabella's Bed is a magical adventure story relating to family and love.
    When Anna and Luis stay at their Grandmother's house they love to look through the souvenirs in a large sandalwood chest in the attic.
    We go with them on a journey in Isabella's Bed where they learn about their grandmother's early life, the mysteries in the attic bedroom and the symbols on the bed. Both fantasy and reality intertwine as the children find themselves travelling in a bed to the foreign and far away land of their grandmother's love - South America. There is a sad song that the grandmother sings that is explained through the children's journey
    ILLUSTRATIONS: The intricate details of Lester's artwork add mystery and visual depth to the story. I love how each turning displays both a large colourful drawing and a small drawing and that the music and lyrics of Isabella's song are included as an illustration.
    SNIPPET:
    "We were swept along a wild and crooked river,
    skimming past the lips of whirlpools.
     
    In the overhanging branches slithered a snake
    shimmering like the silver snake
    on Isabella's bed."
     
    RECOMMENDED: for 4 year olds and older.
    AWARDS: Shortlisted book, Multi-Cultural Awards, 1992.
    PUBLISHER: Hachette Children’s Books.

    OTHER REVIEWS:
    "The delicately colored, pen-and-ink drawings are perfect illustrations of dreamy illusion. An enchanting fantasy." - Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Texas in School Library Journal.
    "In fetching dreamscapes rendered in impressionistic brush strokes and intricate detailing, the children discover how each of the bed's ornaments fits into the past." Publisher's Weekly.

    Isabella's Bed is available to purchase online
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    Tanglewood by Margaret Wild

    April 7, 2014, 11:02 pm
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    Tanglewood


    AUTHOR: Margaret Wild
    ARTIST: Vivienne Goodman

    STORY: On first impression this book may be about a tree, then a book about nature and a lonely tree but really it is a book about friendship and family. An unexpected friendship between a tree and a seagull develops slowly allowing us to experience, along with the tree, the changing seasons and a longing for an end to loneliness. There are many messages in this book - patience, loneliness, anticipation, heartache, family and friendship all expressed so that a child of 4 could feel them.

    ILLUSTRATIONS: The detailed, naturalistic artwork in blues, greys, taupes and browns, depict storms, rainbows, seashells, seals and the seasons as well as the roots, trunk, branches and seeds of the tree.

    SNIPPET:
    'I have waited a long time,' said Tanglewood. 'Will you stay? Will you rest in my shade, will you nest in my branches, will you talk to me?
    'I will stay for a day and a night,' said Seagull. 'Then I must go find my family.'

    RECOMMENDED: for 4 year olds and up.

    AWARDS: Shortlisted for the 2013 Children's Book Council of Australia awards.

    PUBLISHER: Omnibus Books.

    ACTIVITIES THAT RELATE TO THE STORY:
    This book is wonderful for all things science and nature and also for emotions.

    1. TREES:
    • Talk about trees including the root system, the importance of trees.
    • Sit under a tree and re-read the book.
    • Grow a plant from a seed so that you can see the roots growing.
    • Go on a nature walk and look at different trees and birds.
    • Identify trees (here is a site that helps)
    • Collect seed pods.
    • Create leaf trees.
    2. ANIMALS:
    • Talk about different animals, specifically dolphins, seagulls and seals. Where do they live and what do they eat?
    • Make a bird mobile.
    3. BIRD'S NESTS: Learn about birds nests.
    4. SEASONS: Talk about seasons.
    5. WEATHER: Talk about weather including rainbows, storms. lightning and clouds.
    6. OCEANS:
    • Talk about the ocean.
    • Use a map of Australia to explain we are an island surrounded by oceans
    7. BIODIVERSITY:
    8. FAMILY:
    • Talk about who is in their family, include pets;
    • Discuss different family groups in the book - dolphins, seagulls and seals.
    9. FEELINGS: Talk about feelings - sad, lonely and happy.

     
      
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    The Boy on the Page

    May 27, 2014, 11:21 pm
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    The Boy on the Page by Peter Carnavas

    AUTHOR: Peter Carnavas
    ARTIST: Peter Carnavas

    STORY: This is a joyful, whimsical and comforting tale about the wonder that is life. A young boy lands on the page and we follow his boyhood and then his adulthood as it develops and he discovers what is important for him - the meaning of his life and the reason for his very existence.  It answers the big question of why are we here.
    At first the boy is an observer, but gradually he begins to participate and creates an authentic, vibrant, interesting and caring world. If you are a believer, like me, that it's never too early to introduce existential contemplation to children then this is the book for you.
    
    The Boy on the Page by Peter Carnavas
    Thanks Celeste for photograph of the first page of The Boy on the Page
    ILLUSTRATIONS: The connection between a new life and the blank page is explored in this book. When the boy first arrives on the page there is nothing there but the boy and as his life develops the pages begin to fill with plants, buildings, people, animals and experiences.
    At the beginning we see an uncoloured character falling onto the page and then being water-coloured to life in a sequence. There is no on else around. Very soon the pages are teeming with beautifully drawn companions and his busy existence.

    SNIPPETS:
    We find out how this boy's life unfolds -
    "He climbed a mountain.
    He saw the whole world in somebody's eyes."
    We see his questions and his struggle to find his place -
    "But every now and then, as the moon rolled through the deep, blue sky, he still wondered why he had landed on the page."

    RECOMMENDED: for 3 year olds and older.

    PUBLISHER: New Frontier Publishing

    TEACHER'S NOTES: For Primary School PDF

    IN THE VIDEO Peter Carnavas explains how he came to create the boy and sings the boys delicate song with the help of family and beautiful music. The children do a delightful felt activity with the books characters that would be a great extension idea.




    This post is Linked up at Kids Book a Week
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    You and Me: Our Place

    August 28, 2014, 4:22 am
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    You and Me: Our Place by Leonie Norrington

    AUTHOR: Leonie Norrington
    ARTIST: Dee Huxley

    STORY: You and Me: Our place is about how old and new exist side by side in Australian indigenous culture - the blending of the contemporary and the traditional and it is about family and diversity. The book beautifully shows a part of aboriginal life today and how the old fellas feel as well as the young ones.
    It is about two young boys, with their Uncle Tobias, fishing and collecting food at the river and mangroves and their extended family living at the edge of Darwin on the outskirts of the city. We have a glimpse into their everyday life. The story ends with the boys playing happily on a beach crowded with people from all walks of life.

    BOOK LOVE: I love it because it depicts a clear picture, to young readers, about how part of the aboriginal culture and Australian culture is now, not in the past.

    ILLUSTRATIONS: Vibrant and organic, fluid shapes drawn in pastel and pencil on coloured paper by Dee Huxley. She captures the characters and the essence of the landscape brilliantly.
    In the image below you can see the water alive with creatures including dolphins, sting rays, lobsters and jellyfish.
    You and Me: Our Place by Leonie Norrington

    SNIPPET:                      Old Isaac sings Slim Dusty on a three
    -stringed guitar.

    Auntie Ruby pulls a hospital towel
    around her because her dress is torn.


    RECOMMENDED: for 4 year olds an older

    AWARDS: Short-listed for Children's Book Council Award

    PUBLISHER: Working Title Press
    EXTENSIONS:
    Teacher's Notes:Primary School: Indigenous[DOC] TEACHER NOTES - Working Title Press 
    Bush tucker for 5 + includes edible plants, nuts, tubers, fruits, seafood and game.
    Bush tucker slides of children eating bush tucker.

    Aboriginal Art activities for kids.

    Talk about family and extended family.
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    Books for children about Australia

    October 20, 2014, 9:50 pm
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    Books are a great way to learn about other cultures and countries. You can travel the world through books and here are some great books which explain a little about our Aussie way of life to young children through pictures and words.

    Are We There Yet?: A Journey Around Australiaby Alison Lester. This book describes a family trip around Australia. Through this story of a family holiday children are introduced to a variety of things to see in Australia. Recommended for 3 to 8 year olds. Read my review. 

    Why I Love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft shows a variety of Australian scenes: from the plains to the reef and rainforests to the rooftops of suburban homes.  Each page beautiful design is accompanied by a simple caption such as 'Boab tree families, bountiful in shape, standing on the plains'. "It is a superb and unique showcase of reverence for landscape—from the coast and the outback to the cities and plains, from dramatic gorges to rugged alpine peaks, and from barren deserts to lush rainforests, Australia is undoubtedly a place of unrivalled beauty that is captured perfectly in Bancroft's book."AMAZONSuitable for children from 3 to 12 years of age.

    Possum and Wattle My Big Book of Australian Words by Bronwyn Bancroft is an alphabet book about Australia for the very young. It has a mixture of Indigenous and Anglo words such as blossoms, boomerangs and cockatoos, mud crabs and magpies. The book has over 100 beautiful indigenous illustrations – beautifully dotted snakelike river, the moon and the mountain and the Milky Way, and many more. Highly recommended for ages 2 to 7.

    My Farm by Alison Lester describes growing up on an Aussie farm. It is one year of the author's childhood living on an Australian farm overlooking the sea.  It begins and ends near Christmas time in the Australian summer which may be interesting for children from the northern hemisphere.
    In the book we learn about the family of 5 children fighting bushfires; rounding up runaway cows, picking field mushrooms, swinging on the Hills Hoist. We are introduced Aussie farm expressions such as chooks, drovers, mobs, jinker and bush run. See more and purchase book at Amazon.

    Tom the Outback Mailman by Kristin Weidenbach and Timothy Ide, Winner of the CBCA 2013 Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. This book tells the story of Tom’s journey up the Birdsville track and the characters he meets along the way. Suitable for children 5 to 9 years of age. Find out more at the author's website. 

    YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN Books about Australian Animals.
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    Some of our favourite marsupials

    November 23, 2014, 2:24 pm
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    books about marsupials
    Marsupials are mammals living mainly in Australia. The babies of marsupials are born small and undeveloped and they often live in the mother's pouch for a long while after birth to protect them from the outside world. All baby marsupials are called joeys. 

    Well-known marsupials include Blinky Biil, Koala Lou, Wombat Divine and The Two-Hearted Numbat...
    Seriously, in the non picture book world, marsupials are kangaroos, wallabies, the koala, possums, opossums, wombats, Tasmanian devil, numbat, bandicoots, bettongs, the bilby, quolls, and the quokka. 

    "The blind, furless, miniature newborn, the size of a jelly bean, crawls across its mother's fur to make its way into the pouch, where it latches onto a teat for food. It will not re-emerge for several months, during which time it develops fully. After this period, the joey begins to spend increasing lengths of time out of the pouch, feeding and learning survival skills. However, it returns to the pouch to sleep, and if danger threatens, it will seek refuge in its mother's pouch for safety.
    Joeys stay in the pouch for up to a year in some species, or until the next joey is born. A marsupial joey is unable to regulate its own body temperature and relies upon an external heat source. Until the joey is well-furred and old enough to leave the pouch, a pouch temperature of 30–32 °C (86–90 °F) must be constantly maintained." WIKIPEDIA
    Here are links to more information about OUR favourite marsupials:

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    the lost girl by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Leanne Tobin

    February 14, 2015, 7:26 pm
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    the lost girl book review
    Cover of the lost girl
    AUTHOR: Ambelin Kwaymullina
    ARTIST: Leanne Tobin
    STORY:  The girl had lost her way. She had wandered away from the Mothers, the Aunties and the Grandmothers, from the Fathers and the Uncles and the Grandfathers. Who will show her the way home?
    A touching story of how Mother Nature helps look after a lost girl and guides her home to her family.

    
    the lost girl
    Illustration from the lost girl.
    ILLUSTRATIONS: Leanne Tobin depicts the strong colours of the Australian outback in her acrylic paintings which illustrate this story. The oranges, greens, blues and ochres fill the pages which show lizards, possums birds, insects and flowers and the lost girl and her extended family in the larger landscape of the bush and the desert.

    SNIPPET: 
    "The girl wandered alone.
    She grew thirsty,
    so she stopped by
    a waterhole to drink.

    And then hungry,
    so she picked some
    bush food."

    RECOMMENDED: 5 for year olds and older

    BOOK LOVE: I love how this book has both the themes of family and nature which are so close to indigenous Australians. The story is simple and easy for primary school aged children (5 to 12) to grasp and has a happy ending. The pictures are a delight as on every page there is recognizable native Australian flora such as Sturt's Desert Pea, and fauna such as a kookaburra and a crow.

    PUBLISHER: WALKER BOOKS AUST. July, 2014

    EXTENSION:  

    The Lost Girl classroom ideas from Walker Books PDF 

    Bush tucker for 5 + includes edible plants, nuts, tubers, fruits, seafood and game.
     
    Bush tucker slides of children eating bush tucker.
     
    Aboriginal Art activities for kids.
     
    Talk about family and extended family.

    Talk about indigenous cultures connection to the land.

    PURCHASE: the lost girl from Fishpond Australia

    The Lost Girl
    THIS POST IS LINKED UP AT:
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    I Went Walking

    February 22, 2015, 11:05 pm
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    I Went Walking by Sue Williams and Julie Vivas


    AUTHOR: Sue Williams

    ARTIST: Julie Vivas

    STORY: A child goes on an adventure and meets many animals. This is a lovely and educational story teaching about animals and colours. The child sees a black cat, then a brown horse, then a red cow, a brown horse, a green duck, a pink pig and a yellow dog until there is a parade of animals following along.

    I Went Walking by Sue Williams

    ILLUSTRATIONS: Large and simple watercolour paintings by Julie Vivas that show the child's love of animals.

    SNIPPET:  I went walking. What did you see? I saw a black cat Looking at me.

    RECOMMENDED: For babies to 6 year olds

    WHY I LOVE IT: Young children really engage with this book and enjoy identifying the animals and colours, and making animal noises and reciting the rhythmical text.  The book's layout creates a visual guessing game by only showing part of each animal at first. I also like how the child could be either a boy or a girl.

    EXTENSION:
    Take your children on a walk outdoors and see what they see during their walk.
    Animal cards for sequencing, memory games, cutting and colouring.
    Create a felt board of the animals.
    Free printables PDF for older children - reading and writing activities.

    PURCHASE: from Amazon

    LINKED UP AT:
    Read With Me #8
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    Our Island by the children of Gununa

    February 25, 2015, 9:26 pm
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    Our Island book review

    AUTHORS: The children of Gununa on the Mornington Island in collaboration with Alison Lester and Elizabeth Honey.

    ARTISTS: The children of Gununa.*

    STORY:  This book celebrates Mornington Island using the words and pictures of the children who live in this unique environment. It is based around the poem of one of the children, named Jasmine Jingles. 

    Gununa is the largest town, on the island, with a population of around 1200.  Mornington Island is the largest of the Wellesley islands, a group of 23 islands in the gulf of Carpentaria, part of the Gulf Country region in the Australian state of Queensland.  The island is fringed by mangrove forests and contains 10 pristine estuaries. It is the traditional country of the Lardil, Kaiadilt and Gangalidda peoples who have successfully managed the land and sea resources for millions of years. Art, song and dance are all part of the islands cultural identity.


    Our Island book review
    ILLUSTRATIONS: The children illustrated the book with crayon resist and food dye creations which depict the landscape and animals of the island beautifully. Ghost crabs, fruit bats, pelicans, sharks, turtles and dugongs are just some of the animals captured in the art work. Also they beautifully and simply show the land with it's low scrub, ti-trees and swamp flats, the windswept beaches lined with sea-oak trees, and the rocky cliffs.




    Our Island book review

    SNIPPET: 
    At midday when the sun beats down, wallabies lie in the shade.
    Brolgas bow and sway on the shimmering salt pans.

    RECOMMENDED: for 4 year old children and older.

    WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK: It is a soft and gentle celebration of nature and a unique and remote part of Australia that children relate to because of the beautiful drawings and words created by young children.

    PUBLISHER: Penguin 2014

    See how the book was created in this video told by Alson Lester and Elizabeth Honey.


    EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:
    Learn to do crayon resist art
    Discuss the unique animals of Australia
    Discuss animals that live in the sea
    Learn about the Morning Glory - a rare and extraordinary cloud formation mentioned in the book.
    Learn more about the artists of Mornington Island

    PURCHASE: ON FISHPOND
    All royalties from Our Island and one dollar from the sale of each copy will be donated to  Mornington Island State School to fund art projects in the community.

    * The children who contributed to the book include: Roy Amini, Lydia Claxton-Amini, Carmelita Binjari, Brett Evans, Lenford Gabori, Letisha Gabori, Luckeisha Gabori, Saiyuri Govender, Serena Govender, Kenneth Jacob, Jasmine Jingles, Elijah Joe, Kathleen Juhel, Daniel Kohler, Jaylo Linden, Reed Linden, Saige Reid, Graham Roughsey, Cheraine Sewter, Miranda Thomas, Miguel Thompson, Sheyenne Thompson, Tianna Thompson, Landon Wall and Amber Wilson.

    Linked up at Book Nook #5 
    Read With Me #12
    Booknificent Thursday # 87
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    Oh My! Said the Fly: guest post

    March 10, 2015, 3:38 pm
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    book reviews of picture books

    AUTHOR: Toula Papadam

    ILLUSTRATOR: Merran O’Neill

    STORY: The story is about a busy bee who just wants to get on with his work, collecting nectar from flowers. However, he is constantly bothered by predators. Luckily, the fly and various others try to help the bee by warning when there is danger about. The blurb reads as follows:

                                  Oh my! Why is the fly so anxious?

              This very smart fly, together with various other creatures,

             try to warn the bee every time there is a predator nearby.

             The bee needs to look for nectar in the flowering bushes.
                              But there is danger lurking everywhere.
                                          What will the bee do?
              Find out in this charming and beautifully illustrated story
                              set in the Australian countryside.
    ILLUSTRATIONS: The book is fully illustrated by Merran O’Neill.The artist used brightly coloured inks to create the visually exciting artwork which depict scenes from the Australian bush.
    SNIPPET:
    One sunny day, a busy bee was searching for nectar in a flower patch.
               He didn’t notice a big lizard sneak up behind him.
               “ Oh my!” said the fly.
               “ Go now!” said the cow.
               “Be quick!” said the chick.
               “Why me?”  said the bee.
               “ I don’t know,” said the crow.
               “ I know why,” said the fly, “because you’re good to eat!”
    RECOMMENDED AGE: This book was written for 3 to 5 year olds. The elements of rhyme and repetition featured in the text make this picture book a delight for very young readers.
    PUBLISHER: ToJo Books.This book was fully produced and printed in Sydney, Australia.
    PURCHASE: This picture book can be purchased by contacting the author by email at toulapapadam@hotmail.com  or on facebook.  Also available on Ebay.
    GUEST POST:
    By the author

    Toula Papadam. Thank you Toula for sharing your first published book with us.
    Linked up at Read With Me and Book Nook
    andBooknificent Thursday #89
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    Cows Say Moo by Graeme Base

    March 23, 2015, 8:10 pm
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    Review of Cows Say Moo by Graeme Base

    AUTHOR: Graeme Base
    ARTIST: Graeme Base

    STORY: Cows Say Moo is about some animals and the sounds they make including mice, sheep and tigers, to name a few of the seven animals. It is by bestselling author of Animalia and Uno's Garden Graeme Base and is part of a series of four titles for the very young, about animals called Little Bug Books.
    The words of this picture book, Cows Say Moo, are simple and after a few readings there is a little bug hidden very well on each page to be discovered. It is great fun, even for older children and adults, to try and discover where the colour changing bug is hidden.


    ILLUSTRATIONS: Each page starts with a realistic image of the animals and this is then folded out to reveal an enlarged scene with more of the same animals in their natural environment.  The pictures are beautiful and detailed but nowhere near as complex as Base’s usual elaborate illustrations as the book is really aimed at interesting toddlers in reading and books.

    SNIPPET:
    Cats say...   Meow.
    Ducks say...   Quack.

    RECOMMENDED: For babies to 4 for year olds

    WHY I LOVE THE BOOK: It teaches early love of interacting with books as children really want to engage with the book and fold out the pages all by themselves. It's subject matter is perfect for young children who always seem to love animals.  The early learning concepts are perfect for under 2's - the simple 3 words on each page where children very quickly start to anticipate the sound, then read along with and then recite.
    The illustrations of Graeme Base really make this book come alive.

    PUBLISHER: Penguin (Viking) 2014

    EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:
    For older readers discuss where each animal lives e.g jungle, farm, field, or barn.
    Any simple animal activities such as collage.
    Talk about other animals and the noises that they make.
    Sing animal songs such as I went to visit a Zoo one day.

    PURCHASE:


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    Competition to win 3 Australian picture books

    April 5, 2015, 5:21 pm
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    This is the first ever giveaway draw at Australian Picture Books and we hope you can join in. I have 3 picture books written by Australian authors to giveaway - one of them is reviewed here.

    I wanted to make it simple to enter so:
    All you have to do is go to our facebook page and "like" us and write a comment on one of the posts there. Any post will do.
    Thank you for joining in and good luck.

    TERMS & CONDITIONS
    The prize will be mailed within Australia only.
    The random draw will be on Monday April 13th, 2015.
    The winner will be messaged on facebook first and then announced on facebook.
    The winner will be given 48 hours to respond.
    I will mail the 3 books to the winner at no cost to them.

    Don't worry if you are not on facebook as we will be having other competitions soon and they will also be open world wide.
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    Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards since 2003

    April 26, 2015, 10:41 pm
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    Here you will find a list of books recommended by Speech Pathology Australia. They are considered the best Australian children's books for language and literacy development.

    Each award is based on the book’s appeal to children, interactive quality and ability to assist speech pathologists and parents in communication and literacy development.
    These books are recommended for the development of oral language and speech and/or sound awareness.

    The winners of the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards are:

    Birth to 3 years (the Let’s Read category): I'm a Dirty Dinosaur by Janeen Brian and Ann James - 2014 winner

    Three to 5 years: A Swim in the Sea by Sue Whiting and Meredith Thomas - 2014 winner

    Young children 2 - 5 years: 
    • Seadog Claire Saxby Illustrated by Tom Jellett - 2013 winner
    • Come Down, Catby Sonya Hartnett - 2012 winner
    • Can we lick the spoon now? by Carol Goess - 2011 winner
    • Our Daft Dog Danny by Pamela Allen - 2010 winner
    • The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarksy - 2009 winner
    • Is Your Grandmother a Goanna? by Pamela Allen - 2008 winner
    • Clancy the Courageous Cow by Lachie Hume - 2007 winner
    • Annies Chair by Deborah Niland - 2006 winner
    • Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox - 2005 winner
    Lower primary:
    • The Little Refugee by Anh & Suzanne Do, illustrated by Bruce Whatley - 2012 winner
    • Hairy Nose Itchy Butt by Elizabeth Frankel - 2011 winner
    • Isabella's Garden by Glenda Millard and Rebecca Cool - 2010 winner
    • The Gobling Tree by Mark Carthew - 2009 winner
    • Going Bush by Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle - 2008 winner
    • Uno's Garden by Graeme Base - 2007 winner
    • The Postman's Dog by Lisa Shanahan - 2006 winner
    • Jungle Drums by Graeme Base - 2005 winner
    Indigenous children:
    • The Snake and the Boyby Azmen Sebastian - 2012 winner
    • Our World: Bardi Jaawi Life at Ardiyooloon by One Arm Point Remote Community School - 2011 winner
    Best Language Development Book:
    • Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat by Stephen Michael King - winner 2004
    • A Bee in Ben's Bonnet by Ferg McKinnon and Kim Gamble - winner 2003
    Best Speech and/or Sound Awareness Book:
    • Do-wrong Ron by Steven Herrick - winner 2004
    • Muddled-Up Farm by Mike Dumbleton - winner 2003
    Judging criteria PDF

    Linked up at Read With Me #17 and Book Nook #8
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    Hasel and Rose by Caroline Magerl

    August 7, 2015, 9:38 pm
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    Review of Hasel and Rose by Caroline Magerl
    The cover of Hasel and Rose.
    AUTHOR: Caroline Magerl
    ARTIST: Caroline Magerl
    STORY: This book explores the feelings of belonging and yearning and loss and hope.  Hasel and Rose is a story about optimism and hope and finding friendship. Author and illustrator Caroline Magerl has captured these feelings beautifully and uniquely in her very first book.
    Really the book tells two stories. The text describes Rose’s story of a new home, her family, her longing for the ‘wish thing’, her family's help and how she eventually makes a new friend. The other story is about how Hasel gets to Rose, which is shown only in a series of illustrations spread throughout the book.

    
    Hasel and Rose by Caroline Magerl
    Rose, with her family in her new home, looking out the window.
         ILLUSTRATIONS: The scratchy pen and ink lines and the subtle tones of the watercolour wash add to the unusual quality and tone of the book.

    SNIPPET:
    But when Rose was alone behind the door
    of her room, she looked out at things small
    and far away and she wished...
    but the wish thing did not come.

    RECOMMENDED: for 5 year olds and older

    WHY I LIKE THE BOOK: The story leaves a lot of room for imaginative understanding.  This is achieved through Caroline Magerl’s delicate touch and what she has left out of the story. Many things are not explained in depth so when Rose has a wish that wish is not specified and when Hasel arrives we don't find out much about her except that
    "inside her was a red glass heart
    for finding things small and far away..."
    The book allows room for connecting with our own feelings. This is also achieved by the wish and other things not being articulated in the book but are instead expressed through illustration. The separate journey of Hasel across the water has no words of explanation so we can only imagine where Hasel has come from and how she got into her box and who is missing her now.
    The story does not underestimate children’s emotional intelligence, instead it actually helps them use their own abilities to understand difficult feelings like being new, and feeling like you don't fit in and wanting something and achieving it.

    PUBLISHER: Penguin Viking Australia July 2014

    EXTENSION: Teacher's Notes for grade 2 (PDF)

    Find out more about Caroline Magerl at her own website.

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