15 Australian books to read before you're two

November 9, 2015, 9:58 pm

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These books are in no particular order and represent some, but not all, of the books I read to babies and one year old children. I read them because the young children seem to love them and I also enjoy reading them. Then again I am such a strong believer that reading to young children can cure all the ills of the world that I think that even reading a newspaper to babies is worthwhile... that is if you can't access these wonderful stories...

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox seems to be universally loved for it's sense of humour and images and repetition of the title question.

Australian toddlers dancing, laughing and doing all the things that toddlers do best. It's a great book for talking about the things your toddler likes to do. And there's a mirror in the back for playing peek-a-boo.

I Went Walking by Sue Williams and Julie Vivas
I went walking. What did you see? I saw a black cat Looking at me. So begins this adventure about meeting many animals. Illustrator Julie Vivas's whimsical paintings lend a touch of humour to Sue William's simple and educational story. Children will enjoy identifying the animals and colours, and reciting the rhythmical text over and over.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury

The Two-Hearted Numbat by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina

 

When I Was a Babyby Deborah Niland. When I was a baby I snuggled in my blanket. Now I am a big boy.  I have a new baby sister... I gave her my blanket.

Nana's Colours by Pamela Allen

Baby Ways by Nola Allen and Margaret Robson Kett has beautiful photos of Aussie babies and their favourite things.  The words can be said or sung to the tune of Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush, making it a perfect book for sharing at home or in the classroom. And there is a mirror in the back of the board books for playing peek-a-boo.

 Baby Bedtime by Mem Fox and Emma Quay a soothing bedtime story about elephants.

Hello Baby! by Mem Fox beautifully displays an animal a page and is about the connection between parent and child.

Yellow is my favourite colour by Judy Horacek simply celebrates the colour yellow.

Itsy-Bitsy Babiesby Margaret Wild.
All the itsy bitsy babies are warm and snug.
All the itsy bitsy babies want to hug, hug, hug!
All the itsy bitsy babies are full of bliss.
All the itsy bitsy babies want to kiss, kiss, kiss!

Goodnight Me by Andrew Daddo & Emma Quay. A gentle night time story about a baby orangutan sending his body off to sleep with soft pictures and a lilting rhythm.

My dad by Jeanette Rowe.

 

Noni the Ponyby Alison Lester
A board book edition of this rhyming pony story for young children about Noni the nicest pony any little child could ever hope to meet.

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What C.S. Lewis said about children's books

February 20, 2016, 1:20 pm

≫ Next: BANJO and RUBY RED

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“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”   ~    C.S. Lewis

I am a lover of all books including map books, ancient religious texts and training manuals but most of all I do love children's books - the ones I read growing up such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill and the ones I read and review now. This quote from Clive Staples Lewis explains a little why I love these books:

According to Tolkien the appeal of the fairy story lies in the fact that man there most fully exercises his function as a “subcreator”; not, as they love to say now, making a “comment upon life” but making, so far as possible, a subordinate world of his own. Since, in Tolkien’s view, this is one of man’s proper functions, delight naturally arises whenever it is successfully performed. For Jung, fairy tale liberates Archetypes which dwell in the collective unconscious, and when we read a good fairy tale we are obeying the old precept “Know thyself.”

So by going into these created worlds I am learning about myself... Interesting. The imaginative power of fantasy creations reflect the human condition and simultaneously satisfy a deep primal need.

These quotes are from On Three Ways Of Writing For Children by C. S Lewis a talk given in 1952 at the Library Association and later published in his book Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories

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This article is shared at Booknificient Thursdays

BANJO and RUBY RED

February 28, 2016, 2:25 pm

≫ Next: Patterns of Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft

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AUTHOR: Libby Gleeson
ARTIST: Freya Blackwood

STORY: The story is told by a child on an Australian farm about Old Banjo the "best chook dog" they've ever had - a classic, black and white, Aussie working dog . One of Banjo's daily jobs is the chook roundup but the head-strong chook Ruby Red does not like to comply.  In this flat sparse landscape all the action is around the chook shed. Then one day something happens to change all that. Banjo cannot find Ruby Red and after an extensive search he finds what appears to be a lifeless chook and we wonder will Ruby Red survive?

After one reading of the book you come to love the dedicated, determined, curious, intelligent and loyal Banjo as well as the freedom loving chicken.

See more of Freya's illustrations on her blog

ILLUSTRATIONS: Freya Blackwood's style of obvious outlines is perfect for this story showing movement in the animals and the rundown condition of the property with it's outdoor sheds, barn and toilet. There is lots of action to captivate young readers with chickens squawking and flying and the dog running, jumping and barking and then the sad dog, portraying so much emotion with the flat seemingly lifeless chicken. The illustrations perfectly capture the endearing personalities of the boisterous Banjo and the defiant Ruby Red through mixed media of oil paints, charcoal and laser printing on watercolour paper. The colours are the greens and browns of the Australian landscape.


WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: It is a story of quiet perseverance, and of love and connection between strange bedfellows where the natural enemies of dog and bird become friends.
The book perfectly captures part of the Australian spirit by taking you into the world of an Australian farm through the telling of an unusual tale in a matter of fact way.
The two main characters show us something about Australians: Banjo's nature is a bit of a larrikin who is hard working and shows mateship, and determination in hard times. He is a mixture of the legendary male archetypes of the Aussie Bushman, the Digger, the Bronze Lifesaver!
Ruby Red's nature displays the Australian love of freedom and not wanting to be told what to do. We want to do our own thing in our own way.

SNIPPET:

Bark. Bark. Bark
Squark. Squark. Squark.

Chooks fly into their yard, peck at
the ground and settle on their roosts.

Except Ruby Red.

RECOMMENDED: for 4 year olds and older

AWARDS: The Children's Book Council of Australia Honour Book 2014

PUBLISHER: Little Hare Books

EXTENSIONS: See more of Libby Gleeson's illustrations of Banjo and RUBY RED 
Banjo and Ruby Red Scholastic Teacher's Notes
PETAA Teacher's Notes:  Australian Curriculum: English Foundation, Year 1.
Banjo & Ruby Red Teacher Notes - Lamont Books

PURCHASE:

From Amazon

This review is shared at:
Booknificient Thursdays

Patterns of Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft

March 14, 2016, 10:15 pm

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Cover of Patterns of Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft

AUTHOR: Bronwyn Bancroft

ARTIST: Bronwyn Bancroft

STORY: This vibrant picture book is about the diverse and beautiful landscapes that make up Australia and the way Bronwyn Bancroft sees them: patterns of the Bush, patterns of the Night, the Desert, the River, the Wetlands and more.

ILLUSTRATIONS: the illustrations are strongly influenced, as always with Bronwyn Bancroft, by the artwork style of our Aboriginal ancestors.

SNIPPET:

Animals disappear in the bush, becoming part of their surroundings. Maybe you can see an echidna, a frill-necked lizard, a rock wallaby, a magpie, a sugar glider, a red goshawk, a wedge-tailed eagle, a blue-tongued lizard, a blue wren and skinks.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: The bright and beautiful illustrations can be enjoyed for what they are or explored even further, with the text, to add a further depth to each page. Traditional Aboriginal art has two layers the same as this book - the outer story and also the sacred story which is often hidden and only seen by people from the particular clan. Bronwyn Bancroft uses this idea to add layers to what initially appear as colourful patterns on each page. On further inspection other Australian animals and creatures can be found.

RECOMMENDED: 4 for year olds and older


PUBLISHER: Little Hare 2006

EXTENSIONS:
English for the Australian Curriculum Year 1 unit
Explore some Aboriginal Art

PURCHASE:
Patterns of Australia in Hardcover or Paperback from Amazon

The Readings Children’s Book Prize shortlist

March 17, 2016, 1:34 am

≫ Next: Quote of the week about literacy by Mem Fox

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The Readings Children’s Book Prize 2016 Shortlist has been announced!

 The shortlist is:

• The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey 
• Samurai vs Ninja: The Battle for the Golden Egg by Nick Falk and Tony Flowers 
• Run, Pip, Run by J.C. Jones 
• 88 Lime Street by Denise Kirby 
• The Cat with the Coloured Tail by Gillian Mears and Dinalie Dabarera 
• Mister Cassowary by Samantha Wheeler 

The winner of The Readings Children’s Book Prize will be announced in June 2016.

You can read individual comments for each shortlisted book at Readings.

The Readings Children’s Book Prize was established in 2014 to recognize and celebrate books that families love reading together. The Prize aims to raise the profile of Australian authors. 

Have you read any of these 2016 shortlisted books because we would love to read your comments here.

Quote of the week about literacy by Mem Fox

May 1, 2016, 6:15 pm

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“The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, a book, and the person reading. It isn’t achieved by the book alone, nor by the child alone, nor by the adult who’s reading aloud—it’s the relationship winding between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony.” Mem Fox 

fromReading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever 

Read my reviews of some of Mem Fox's fabulous books:

• Wombat DIVINE 
• Where The Giant Sleeps
• Hello Baby! 
• Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes 
• WHERE is the GREEN SHEEP?
• Shoes from Grandpa