Danny Go's Volcano Adventure

Danny Go's Volcano Adventure by Danny Go, illustrated by Aleksander Zolotic (Penguin Books 2026) HB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9780241836606

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

Danny Go's Volcano Adventure — inspired by Danny Go's 'Floor is Lava' YouTube video — is an action-packed, fun (and lava-filled) adventure story for young kids. 

Open the cover to a haze of purple-ish blue.

Turn the page, and a hazard tape says CAUTION: THIS BOOK IS LAVA

Turn again, and the end papers are oozing molten orange-red globs.

The scene is set, and you're ready to meet Danny Go — he's waiting to invite you on a mission.

There are magical ice gems inside the volcano, and Danny needs your help retrieving them. Once you accept (and you will), it's all go go go!

First, you're climbing up the volcano's side. But which path do you choose? Which rocks are the safest to climb?

Next, you're in a boat, steering through a river of lava.

Row row row ... ANOTHER ROCK!  STEER TO THE RIGHT! That was close!

Page after page, there are obstacles to overcome, problems to solve, and decisions to make — all accompanied by an ever-present sense of urgency and a need for speed!

Soon, you arrive at an island where you see a smattering of ice gems and discover a big treasure chest with a bear-head-shaped lock. But just as you conquer the challenge of unlocking it and begin gathering all the ice gems, your most gruelling challenge of all shows up — a volcanic slug monster — and it's not going to give up easily! After a combination of tricky manoeuvres, some really quick thinking — and a bit of good luck — you vanquish the beast and escape the treacherous volcano with the ice gems intact.

Mission accomplished.

Kids will love partaking in this 48-page, hands-on, interactive adventure story, where they have to trace, tap, and tilt their way through the perilous volcano.

Aleksander Zolotic's illustrations are colourful, exciting and grand scale. The heated tones of the fiery lava — and the dusky purples and earthy tones of the clouds and rocks- create an almost engulfing quality, placing you right inside the volcano. While the cool teal-y-blue tones of Danny's attire and his boat, and the icy-blue glints coming off the ice gems, stand out in striking contrast. Every illustration on every page-turn feels immersive, allowing young (and even not-so-young) readers to easily imagine themselves from an inside-all-the-action perspective.

Fast-paced and brimming with the best kind of mayhem, Danny Go's Volcano Adventure is a must-have for all adventure-seeking kids who love exploring, imagining and of course, who love Danny Go.

Suitable for kids aged 3+.

Spot the Dot

Spot the Dot by  Kris Herbert (EK Books) PB RRP $27.99 ISBN 9781921966675

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

 Spot the Dot is a little dot trying to find his place in the world. He’s forgotten where he came from, so Spot goes on a journey of self-discovery. The story explores the themes of belonging, self-worth, identity and imagination.

Kris Herbert is an award-winning science journalist, storyteller, and children's book author. She lives and works in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Kris has spent over 20 years working across various print media formats and disciplines. She has a strong passion for New Zealand's unique flora and fauna.

Kris Herbert has created a 36-page interactive style book with hidden dots for a child reader to find within the text and images. The story has a sense of fun and discovery as the reader actively seeks where Spot the dot comes from. Spot tries many roles and eventually discovers that there are many places that he fits.

The rhythmic words work beautifully with the illustrations as they play together. The reader is called to action to help discover where Spot could come from. At times, questioning is used to move the story along and encourage the reader to think. The world-building of Spot is believable and simplistic. The final words of the sentences rhyme, making the reading very rhythmic. The problem is easy to recognise. A dot from what? Poor Spot forgot. There is letter identification and seeking; at times, the text changes the word size and font. The featured objects are varied and provide interest and amusement. I do think that the book could have been a little shorter, but it is a unique and engaging read.

The graphic style illustrations really do make this book unique. They are visually strong, with clean lines and shapes and a bold minimalist style. The images catch the eye and attract the reader's attention. Simple geometric shapes like circles, rings, and everyday shapes are used, which a young reader knows, and this also makes it easy to absorb information. A strength of this book is the interplay of the text and images. They really are woven together.

Spot the Dot is written for children ages 4-8 and appeals with its read-aloud ability and wonderful book design. Parents and teachers will find it an easy go to book that can be revisited often. Once a child understands how the book works, they will enjoy finding the dots and showing what they know. This book uniquely celebrates individuality and fun. 

 

Elizion Restoration

Elizion Restoration (book 4) by Elizabeth Klein (self-published) HB RRP (eBook on Amazon for just $3.99)

Can father and son halt an ancient evil spreading through the city under the cover of darkness? 

When Zarin embarks on a solo mission to find his Father Valaher, he is captured by Sky City Edifice and enslaved by a giant warrior. He finds solace with fellow captive Hana, who helps him survive the rigours of a slave’s life. But he soon realises something ancient and powerful holds the city captive to its malevolent will. A mysterious order of priests known as the Serpent Cult controls the people with superstition and fear. 

When the city is overrun by dragons, Zarin uncovers a dark secret that could unravel the Serpent Cult’s seat of power forever. Armed with a magic sword gifted by the mysterious Silver Stag, he heads off to kill the largest dragon of all. But will it be enough to loosen the claws of ancient evil that has Edifice in its death grip?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY28TS9P 

The First Easter

The First Easter, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft (Penguin Random House Australia 2026) HB RRP $ 24.99 ISBN 9781761352430

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

We have Easter egg hunts and

make special food and get together with family and friends.

But do you know why?

The First Easter tells the story of how Easter began. It is simply told, with pared-back text, making it easy for children to learn about and appreciate why we celebrate Easter.

It tells how Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, bringing messages of peace, and how some people didn't like what he was saying and wanted to hurt him ...

When they came for Jesus, his friends wanted to protect him, but they were too scared ... and Jesus died

We call this day Good Friday, but why is it good if something so terrible happened?

Here, the story steers its young audience away from anything darkly descriptive or grim (as illustrated by a simple wooden cross) and instead focuses on hope and a happy ending.

Jess Racklyeft's endearing and delightfully detailed illustrations are perfectly suited to a young audience. She has selected a gorgeous colour palette — warm tones that almost look sun-faded, reminiscent of a time long ago, and fresh spring tones — representing new life after the depths of winter.

Today, perhaps most typically, we celebrate Easter by sharing a meal together with the people we love. We eat hot cross buns and have Easter egg hunts. The illustrations of the outdoor table setting exemplify this beautifully — first seen with everyone arriving, then again with everyone seated. A table surrounded by the happy faces of friends and family — where there's even a chair for the cat!

(The children with bunny ears sharing baskets of Easter eggs are adorable.)

The First Easter is a gentle story which has been lifted to a light, positive place with clean, uncomplicated wording and appealing illustrations — making it suitable for all children and their families regardless of their beliefs. Even families where religion has little to no influence on their daily lives will resonate with the story's essence. Because no matter how we celebrate Easter, which foods we eat, or which traditions we follow, Easter reminds us all that beyond its religious and historical origins, it carries a universal message — that there is always love, new life and hope, even in the most difficult times.

Suitable for children aged around 3-7 years.

 

Bella Grows a Bicycle

Bella Grows a Bicycle by Lellie Lopter, illustrated by Chiara Franceschetti (Five Mile Press) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781923457720

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

In this warm and imaginative picture book, Bella Grows a Bicycle introduces young readers to early financial literacy concepts in a lively and fun way. Bella asks her father for a bicycle, but it’s too expensive. Instead, Dad plants a small ‘bicycle’ seed, saying, when it results in a radish, that he says is a ‘swap-berry.’

The story shows Bella’s resilience, perseverance and resourcefulness as the young entrepreneur swaps belongings and upgrades with each swap. She swaps the radish for a lemon, then swaps lemonade for a T-shirt, then makes a tote bag from the T-shirt… and so on.  Eventually, she swaps a scooter for a bicycle, which she and her dad clean and oil. The twist at the end of the tale is that Bella must now work out how to acquire a ‘helmet seed.’

In Bella Grows a Bicycle, Lellie Lopter explores the themes of creativity, sustainability and problem-solving. She demonstrates that versatility and hope, combined with proactivity and faith, can result in a desired outcome. It shows, too, that one can recognise potential in used and old items. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. 

In her dedication, the author writes, ‘For the dreamers who say, “I want”; and the doers who make it happen.’ This wonderful book shows precisely that

Chiara Franceschetti’s bright, lively illustrations add an extra layer of delight to the story.

With its positive themes and practical lessons, this book is a valuable addition to personal, school, library, and home collections.

Bella Grows a Bicycle

 

Paru

Paru by Wendy Lawrence (Wild Publishing), RRP $25.00 Picture Book ISBN 9-780646-723846

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Paru is a delightfully illustrated narrative non-fiction book that tells the story of a baby elephant, much loved by her mother and aunt, who tumbles into a deep pit and cannot escape. Her mother and aunt trumpet for help and do their best to reach her, but after two days, they must abandon their baby to avoid losing their herd. The pit had been dug by local tribesmen in the heart of dense Keralan jungle in southern India with the intention of snaring a wild boar or deer for food. Wanting to help the baby elephant, the tribesmen walk to a nearby coffee estate to seek help from the family running the estate.

From the first turn of the cover, Paru's endpapers hint at a personal experience with this story. The family running the coffee estate is actually the author’s family, and the author, Wendy Lawrence, is the little blond girl in the photos riding the baby elephant, Paru, after they successfully freed her and restored her health.

The language and settings in this book transport the reader to a very non-mainstream life experienced in 1951 on a rural Indian coffee estate, where elephants played a working role, much like horses or bulls may be used on a farm today, and where a little girl’s best friend and guest of honour at tea parties was not a dog or a cat but a baby elephant. Wendy’s narrative captures the reader’s heart, and with her parting words, she left my heart much like Paru’s in the end: broken, but a happy sort of broken, marvelling at the impact this family must have had on Paru and at the impact Paru had on them. This story will resonate with any family that has pets, and with the life lesson that, at times, tough decisions must be made regarding our four-legged companions. The final fact-filled pages will pique the interest of young readers eager to learn more about Indian elephants and their conservation. I recommend this book for readers aged 5-8, and it’s available to purchase through Wendy’s self-publishing website.