As many of you know, I was a preschool teacher for 18 years. I read a good number of picture books to a good number of students during that time. Some of those books I could probably still recite, word for word, to this day.Every now and again, depending on my class and their various … Continue reading Scary Books for Preschoolers
The first time I read The Blue Castle, I read it soooooooo fast that I recall very little of the detail. I had just found out about the controversy surrounding this book and my long-time favourite Colleen McCullough book, The Ladies of Missalonghi. Therefore I read The Blue Castle constantly comparing and looking for similarities and differences; … Continue reading The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
I first discovered that Arthur Conan Doyle had written books other than his Sherlock Holmes ones earlier this year when Carol @Journey and Destination reviewed The Tragedy of the Korosko. It's a contemporary (for Conan Doyle) fiction full of high drama and tension with political undertones. Global communities, religious freedom and personal responsibility are debated by … Continue reading The Tragedy of the Korosko | Arthur Conan Doyle
"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
Lesley Gibbes is a Sydney based author who was discovered (according to her website bio) by Jane Covernton from Working Title Press when Covernton picked Scary Night "out of the slush pile in 2012." Gibbes was naturally delighted, and I was thrilled to read it too - we all dream of being discovered in a … Continue reading Scary Night by Lesley Gibbes and Stephen Michael King
Some books naturally appeal to the former preschool teacher in me.Thunderstorm Dancing is one of those books.On the surface Germein presents us with a simple story about overcoming fears, in particular, the fear of summer thunder storms.But thanks to her rhyming, flowing, exuberant language, I can also picture the music and free movement dance lessons … Continue reading Thunderstorm Dancing by Katrina Germein and Judy Watson
Have you read Edward Tulane?Yes? Then how can I possibly review it without spoiling it for someone who hasn't read it?No? Go and read it now. Yes, now! I'll wait for you to come back........ Now aren't you glad I made you go and read it?Like you, I had been meaning to read it for … Continue reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Back to school is a busy time of year in a bookshop.As the teachers are planning their term lessons and families are getting back into school routines, everyone suddenly becomes concerned about whether their children are reading enough.We are inundated with requests for early readers, simple chapter books and 'quality' literature for primary kids. And … Continue reading The Cleo Stories by Libby Gleeson & Freya Blackwood
Granny Grommet has surfed her way into this year's CBCA shortlist for best picture book.We follow Granny and her friends as they don their wetsuits, slip, slop & slap and hit the waves with their surfboards.Meanwhile, Garnny's young granddaughter sits on the beach, scared of the waves and the deep. She tries skim boarding until … Continue reading Granny Grommet and Me by Dianne Wolfer & Karen Blair
Parachute is a celebration of imagination.It is also a gentle story about fears, childhood, growth and change.This is the third time that Parker & Ottley have worked on a picture book together (Tree and No Kind of Superman).I've had a thing for Matt Ottley's illustrations ever since Sailing Home with Colin Thompson (I really must … Continue reading Parachute by Danny Parker and Matt Ottley
Violet Mackerel's Possible Friend is Branford's fifth book is this lovely, lovely series. It is also the second time that Branford has been shortlisted for the CBCA (her first book, Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot received the honour award in 2011).In the Brilliant Plot we meet young Violet and her mum as they are getting ready to go … Continue reading Violet Mackerel’s Possible Friend by Anna Branford
Rosie Revere loves to make things - unusual things - useful things - like a special hat to keep off snakes for her uncle who works in the zoo.Unfortunately, he laughs at Rosie's invention and she takes it to heart and decides never to make anything again for fear of failing.A visit by her great … Continue reading Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Ping was first published in 1933. We had a copy at my preschool which sat on the shelf for years. I had never read it and didn't plan on reading it. It looked old-fashioned, out-of-date and not likely to appeal to a modern audience. I judged a book by it's cover!However, in 1996 I took … Continue reading The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
Sonya Harnett would have to be the darling of the CBCA; there are not many times in recent years when one of her books has not been on the shortlist. 2012 is no exception! This year she has a beautifully designed picture book on offer, Come Down, Cat! The illustrations have been done by Lucia … Continue reading Come Down, Cat! | Sonya Hartnett
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