I have come to love this gorgeous little series of early readers.Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London is full of love and kindness and tenderness.Quiet humour also infuses the story which keeps it from being sickly sweet. Instead we have a book that delights and charms and thrills the hearts of all its readers - young … Continue reading Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London by Kate Knapp
To my mind, Aaron Blabey can do no wrong!His series of early readers featuring four of literature's bad guys trying to make good is consistently funny, smart and unexpected.In Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back, we find our four +1 bad guys coming face-to-face with the baddest, most evil of all creatures - Dr Rupert Marmalade, … Continue reading The Bad Guys Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back by Aaron Blabey
Mrs Dog by Janeen Brian and illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall touched me to my childhood bones.Growing up in rural NSW meant that the story featured in Mrs Dog was not unknown to me. So many of my friends who lived on farms had a story about a dog and a lamb not unlike Freeman's one.Mrs … Continue reading Mrs Dog by Janeen Brian
Miss Moon is one of those delightful picture books for children, that's really for the grown-ups (and dogs) in their life!Full of simple truisms and etiquette advice designed to remind us of what really matters. Each double page spread elegantly highlights such gems as -Always give the warmest of welcomes.A tidy space is a welcoming … Continue reading Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess by Janet Hill
There aren't many Alison Lester books that don't eventually charm me.In the case of My Dog Bigsy I was in love from the front cover!Such a joyful, happy pup bounding across the page. Bigsy looks ready for cuddles and snuggles and tummy rubs.My Dog Bigsy has been shortlisted for this years CBCA Early Childhood book … Continue reading My Dog Bigsy by Alison Lester
I read Fugitive Pieces around about the time it won the Orange Prize for Fiction (which is now the Women's Prize).I fell in love with Anne Michaels ability to weave magic with her words. I remember being completely under her spell for the entire story. I felt bereft when it finished.When I recently spotted that … Continue reading The Adventures of Miss Petitfour by Anne Michaels
"Go be a hero"What a great line.Sadly for The Bad Guys (Mr Wolf, Snake, Piranha and Shark) their idea to show the world that they are, in fact, good guys hasn't quite gone to plan. News reports of their first event have completely misrepresented what actually happened.They decide they need to do something more dramatic … Continue reading The Bad Guys Episode 2 Mission Unpluckable by Aaron Blabey
Seagulls can be quite annoying at the beach, especially if you have some hot chips or a bag of prawns with you. But they are such an iconic part of our beach-side experience it's hard to not to feel some affection for them.I also grew up watching the cricket. Some days it was more entertaining … Continue reading Seagull by Danny Snell
The one and only adult novel by Gillian Mears that I tried to read many, many years ago was The Grass Sisters.I simply couldn't get into.Maybe it was the wrong book at the wrong time, maybe I was too young to appreciate it properly (although 28 isn't that young!)Whatever the reason, I haven't picked up … Continue reading The Cat with the Coloured Tail by Gillian Mears
I love picture books...a hangover from my preschool teaching days I guess.When I read picture books I tend to wear two hats - my preschool teacher's hat (will a rowdy group of preschoolers like this book? What are its educational possibilities?) and my book lovers hat (do I love this book?)In recent years I have … Continue reading Sad, the Dog by Sandy Fussell & Tull Suwannakit
Do you have a reluctant reader in your house?Then I may have found the perfect book for you to tempt them with.Aaron Blabey has ventured away from picture book territory into early reader land with The Bad Guys: Episode One.In an attempt to convince us all that the Big Bad Wolf is simply misunderstood, Blabey … Continue reading The Bad Guys Episode One by Aaron Blabey
Ahhhhh Aaron - I do love your quirky sense of humour and your wicked way with rhymes.Thelma the Unicorn is the age old tale of the search for fame and fortune.Thelma the pony finds life in the paddock rather dull and boring, she wishes that she was special...she wishes that she could be a unicorn!When … Continue reading Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey
In the past I have admired Blabey's quirky, poignant stories about friendship. But in the last year, he has published a run of quirky, funny morality tales that have have delighted younger readers whilst shocking the slightly older ones!Pig the Pug is not a very nice dog.He refuses to share his pile of toys with … Continue reading Pig the Pug and Pig the Fibber by Aaron Blabey
I know. I know.Another WW1 picture book.But I'm a sucker for historical fiction in any guise and I will always get emotional with animal stories.Digger was no different.A tale of a young lad and his puppy growing up on a farm in Victoria. The young lad gets caught up in the excitement of war and … Continue reading Digger The Dog Who Went To War by Mark Wilson
I love picture books with a sense of fun and silliness.They made great read alouds when I was a preschool teacher. Whoops! is one of those books.Fun rhyming & onomatopoeia make for lots of interactive, noisy moments as three animal friends keep getting the wrong sound after a witches spell.The repetitive element gives great "oh … Continue reading Whoops! by Suzi Moore & Russell Ayto
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