Family: All that You Dream it to Be

Family: All that You Dream it to Be by Byll and Beth Stephen, illustrated by Simone Howe (ABC Books) HB RRP $19.99

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace

The co-authors of this picture book are sisters who are the writers behind the ABC TV musical sensations Teeny Tiny Stevies. This book is a reimaging of their much-loved song, 'Family' ('Love is Los'). The concept of family is shown in words and illustrations as being highly flexible, from families where both parents are same-sexed, where there is a single mother (or father), where there are same-sex parents, and so on. There are also families of colour with the front cover of the book, for instance, showing white, black, brown, and Asian family members.

Each double-page highlights a family: for example, on page one at 29 Adelong there’s a girl and her mum on bikes who ride the neighbourhood chatting to house-dwellers on the way. There are numerous houses featured, such as at 118 Karingal Street where a mum and a dad ‘and three kids under three. Once a year their half-sister flies out, from Mexico on her school holidays.’ The final page ends with a mixed-colour family -- and pet dog -- at the dinner table (one member of which is in a wheelchair), with accompanying text that reads, ‘You just love who you love, and you build a great team, because family’s all that you dream it to be.’

The sentences are written to be read aloud, with the use of full and half-rhyming lines that make for a strong rhythm. The illustrations are clear and colourful and ideal for poring over.

This book would be ideal for an adult – such as a teacher – to discuss with readers aged 5 years and up what makes a family. And what families do for entertainment and fun.

Boss of Your Own Body

Boss of Your Own Body by Byll and Beth Stephen, illustrated by Simon Howe (ABC Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9780733341724

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

There are many things that young children cannot control: their siblings, their dinner menu, their bedtime … the list goes on. But they ‘ARE the boss of one thing’, and that’s their own body. They can make their ‘feet run fast’, give their ‘uncle a kiss’ and high-five a friend. It doesn’t mean that kids can ignore their parents or refuse to see the doctor – but it does mean that they can decide what their body does at any point in time.

Performing as the award-winning children’s music group the Teeny Tiny Stevies, Byll and Beth Stephen know how to communicate with kids at their level. In this debut picture book, they utilise rhyme and repetition to reinforce the important message that each person is responsible for their own body, and they must let other people ‘be themselves’. Simple language and familiar situations ensure that kids aged three and over will be drawn to the book again and again.

Simon Howe’s charming illustrations exude pure joy thanks to the wealth of rich colours and smiling faces. Reflecting an inclusive attitude, his characters encompass littlies and older kids, different skin, and hair colours, as well as a child with a disability – so every reader will find a figure to which they can relate.

An empowering story for all children, Boss of Your Own Body gently guides youngsters towards the ideas of self-determination and respect for others. It melds truth and humour to make learning fun.

The Odds: Run, Odds, Run

The Odds: Run, Odds, Run by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN: 9780733340642

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

In this sequel to the bestselling graphic novel The Odds, Kip is in real trouble. The ten strange characters that escaped from her imagination have drawn the attention of the Woman in the Suit, and now Kip, her dad and the Odds are on the run. Can Kip keep the Odds together, when she is falling apart? And why does the Woman in the Suit think that Kip is ‘the one with the power’?

Matt Stanton’s quirky take on dealing with anxiety and accepting every part of ourselves – no matter how odd – will appeal to all kids aged seven and older who feel as though they don’t fit in. Each entertaining episode in the book balances humour with heart, and the brevity of the text is a godsend for those youngsters who dislike wading through wads of words.

Matt’s black-and-white illustrations feature clean lines and engaging characterisations. Their simplicity ensures that the visual story is easy to follow for small eyes. Despite the prevalence of enclosed comic-strip cells, there is plenty of movement on the pages to drive the story forward in an exciting way.

Fans of the Funny Kid series and other Matt Stanton books will adore The Odds: Run, Odds, Run. It’s an imaginative journey along a path of self-discovery that encourages each young reader to celebrate every facet of their unique personality.

Funny Kid: Prank Ninjas

Funny Kid: Prank Ninjas by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) ISBN 978 0 7333 4062 8 RRP $14.99 

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

The latest of Matt Stanton’s Funny Kid series, Prank Ninjas is again about Max Walbut, his duck, and his friends in the town of Redhill. This time the focus is on pranking – specifically ninja pranking – which gets going right from the first page. Max fools all his friends in a cinema, which leads to taking sides. This leads to getting into trouble, then payback, which gets them into more trouble. They get caught by the Mayor Lopez who announces a dreaded Kid-Free Zone for the town. When they discover they’re not the only ones doing the pranking, the kids unite and plan one last elaborate prank to find the culprit.  

 

With Matt Stanton’s distinctive cartoon illustrations, the story goes at a cracking pace with lots of humour (including quite a bit of toilet humour). Max and his friends Hugo, Pip, Tyson, and Max’s frenemy Abby are on school holidays. After the prank in the cinema, Max’s friends retaliate, and they start a pranking war in Redhill Bargain Busters. Max enlists the help of Hugo (who has an annoying habit of reading all the time) to try to get hold of Abby’s journal. For some reason, Max suspects Abby is in love with him, and he reasons that if everyone else finds this out, she will be humiliated.

However, things go wrong when they run up against a cling film maze at the library and some swapped over toilet signs, that neither group is responsible for. By order of the mayor, all kids in Redhill must stay home unless accompanied by an adult. And it’s all Max and his friends’ fault. Or is it? Blamed for something they didn’t do, the kids all team up to discover the ninja behind the pranking and to finally make them pay.

Included at the end of the book, is the first chapter of another of the author’s books – The Odds. This is the tenth book in the Funny Kid series, suitable for children aged 8+ years.

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Martina Heiduczek (ABC Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9780733341465

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Ten-year-old Sasha sits up in a German hospital bed, looking at things he has stolen. He knows that each item has a special meaning, but he can’t remember what it is. When Doctor Orlova brings him a bouquet, the ‘blue, blue cornflowers’ trigger the first of many memories for Sasha. He begins to tell his story to a rapt audience of staff and patients. As each swiped item slips into place like a puzzle piece, Sasha relives his escape from German soldiers in Russia, his adoption by a company of Red Army soldiers, his anointment as the Angel of Stalingrad, and a Berlin bomb that shatters his chance at happiness. Or does it?

Katrina Nannestad paints with poignancy, each textual stroke adding a new layer of intensity and intrigue. Powerful imagery entices the senses and weaves a three-dimensional world where the stark line between good and bad, love and hate, right and wrong, soon becomes blurred. Katrina’s use of present tense immerses middle-grade readers in a flood of emotion and action, propelling them page-by-page to the bittersweet conclusion.

Martina Heiduczek’s atmospheric black-and-white illustrations are the perfect way to set the scene for each of Sasha’s story sessions. But even before the book is opened, the boy’s eyes peer earnestly from Martina’s glorious cover image, compelling youngsters to join him on a memorable journey. The warmth of the sun’s rays and the colourful blooms in his hand reassure readers that the protagonist finds joy among the ruins of his life.

Played out against the brutal backdrop of World War II, Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief is a heart-rending tale of loss, survival, resilience, and love. Battered by the waves of fate, Sasha refuses to go under – his determination and devotion eventually deliver him to the shores of hope.

What Do You Do To Celebrate?

What Do You Do To Celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton, illustrated by Martina Heiduczek (HarperCollins/ABC Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9780733341595

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

All over the world, kids and their families celebrate the Christmas and New Year season in many different ways. ‘Yonatan strolls in the snow to see Old City windows glow’, while ‘On St Basil’s Day, George will wake, ready to bake the New Year’s cake’. There are dances and dragons, fireworks and feasts, lanterns and lights. Although they may seem unrelated, these traditional festivities share one important element – they mark the end of one year and the start of another with unbridled happiness and hope.

Following on from the success of What Do You Call Your Grandpa?, Ashleigh Barton turns her attention to the ways we observe the holidays. Using the comforting pattern of rhyming couplets, she takes readers aged four and older on a journey from decorated department-store windows in Sydney to the Junkanoo parade in the Bahamas and the Lunar New Year in China. The evocative text is explained in more detail at the end of the book, offering a helpful dose of history and context.

With the strong colours and dynamic lines in her illustrations, Martina Heiduczek adds a cheerful and compelling layer to the book. Pyrotechnics whiz across the pages, while processions explode with painted faces and vivid costumes. Children remain at the forefront of each image, ensuring a solid connection between the young reader and the various protagonists.

 

Playful and visually appealing, What Do You Do To Celebrate? is sure to be read not only at Christmas but also right through the year. It revels in the universality of joy and love, and rejoices in humanity’s mutual enthusiasm for fun, food and frivolity.

The Story of Us

The Story of Us by Michael Wagner & Beck Feiner (ABC Books) PB HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 978 0 733339936

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Each of us belong to our own unique family that has its very own treasured family members with stories. If family members are not asked to share their stories, they are often lost as time goes by. The Story of Us encourages children to ask a relative a specially chosen question from the book. Then the children are invited to listen to the story and write a quick summary of it in this gorgeous book. I love that the children decide who to ask what question. The book, when completed, becomes a lovely biography that helps give a child a stronger sense of place in the world.

 

The Story of Us shows that each of us are a part of something big and important - our family. Michael Wagner starts this book with a short summary of what a family is and then encourages children to fill in their family tree. Some families are small, but all families are full of love…and stories. He lets children know that it is okay to include people who are not related to you, but who you would consider to be part of your family.

 

There are 24 questions to be investigated and children become the biography creators. The end of the book allows for family photos. The book then serves as a precious reminder as it already is but it will become even more important as children grow older. I like how it is the children who decide who in their family to ask which question. It is not an overnight project -- it will take time and patience. A younger child might need help recording but I think the book is linked to memory more when a child completes it. The questions inside are quite broad so they give scope for individual answers. My favourite place in the world is…. or One of the best books I’ve ever read – or movies I’ve ever seen – is…

 

Beck Feiner has illustrated this 64-page book with bright and bold colours that pop. The blue dotted endpapers give the book a fun yet official sort of appeal. The title page mirrors the bold red cover with lettering sprinkled with people and pets. Feiner has captured the reader with her statement, You Are About to Make History! Much like any documentary would start.  The illustrations for each question complement and bring in diversity and fun. The illustrations radiate with much happiness and love.

 

The Story of Us is a picture book for children aged 3 years and up. This is a book that is an heirloom in the making. It would make a wonderful gift to any child to learn about their place inside their family. Stories tie us together and once recorded they can always be shared and revisited anytime. When we feel we belong in the world we are so much stronger and confident.

The Bark Book

The Bark Book by Victoria MacKinlay, illustrated by Beth Harvey (ABC Books) ISBN 978 0 733 34 1397 RRP $19.99 HB

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

The Bark Book is about dogs and getting outside with them, where everything is so much more fun. The story is told using rhyme, opposites, and homonyms in minimal, well-chosen words – only seventy-seven of them. Illustrations full of action, depict an enthusiastic dog on his adventures, going on a walk with its owner. For preschool children, this picture book should be popular with anyone who has a dog (or more!) in their family.  

The main play on words is the use of the word ‘bark’ with its two meanings. The dog communicates its feelings and wants through different kinds of barks. Then, when outside for a walk, there are lots of trees with their own varieties of bark. There’s also use of homophones with ‘rough bark’ and ‘ruff bark’. There are opposites: ‘Thin bark, Thick bark, Perfect stick bark.’ In the end, it’s all about enjoying the English language and having fun with words.

The increased number of families with a dog during Covid-19 are well-catered for with this story. And the message about getting outside and playing is a good one for kids who have been stuck at home in lockdowns. The main character (the dog) is very likeable and full of life. Kids might be very excited to know the illustrator Beth Harvey also works as an Animation Director on the hit show Bluey.

Author of Ribbit Rabbit Robot, Victoria MacKinlay was also a winner of the 2020 State Library of NSW Emerging Children’s Author Award. Her latest book The Bark Book is recommended for ages three and upwards.

What Do You Call Your Grandma?

What Do You Call Your Grandma? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek (ABC Books) ISBN 978 0 7333 4084 0 RRP $17.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

A celebration of grandmothers around the world, What Do You Call Your Grandma takes the reader into different families and tells a story about each one. With rhyming text and big, colourful illustrations, the book travels from Italy to India, Uganda to Lebanon, and Greece to Vietnam, to name a few. Each grandma is unique (as is every grandmother), not just in the name she is given, but in the activities she does with her grandchildren. This is a story that takes the love the reader feels for their own grandma and relates it to every other child in the world, making it seem a smaller and more understanding place.

Hobbies of the grandmas in the book include cooking, knitting, watching soccer, singing, and telling stories. There’s a grandma who will play on a see saw and another who is quite glamorous. Also mentioned is a grandma who lives far away and doesn’t see her grandchild very often but writes letters to keep in touch. All these small, non-stereotypical stories add up to create pictures of generations of families being together in their own ways.

Martina Heiduczek’s illustrations contain lots of interesting details as the story travels from a forest in New Zealand to a kitchen in China and the outback in northern Australia to a snow-covered village in Iceland. A glossary page at the back explains the grandma names used and what part of the world they are usually from.

What Do You Call Your Grandma? follows author Ashleigh Barton’s debut book What Do You Call Your Grandpa? which came out in August 2020 and was recently announced on the notable list for the CBCA awards. Although for children from four years of age, I’m sure this story will also be enjoyed by a lot of grandparents. 

Can You Do This?

Can You Do This? by Michael Wagner, illustrated by Heath McKenzie (ABC Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9780733335723

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Sibling rivalry is the name of the game in this simple, repetitive picture book for readers aged 4+ years. It starts with a cartoonish character (a mouse, perhaps) who says, ‘My big brother can do anything.’ Big brother replies, ‘That’s true.’ From then on, the younger brother challenges his older brother in a variety of movements (cartwheeling on the lounge, showing-off on a bike, springing off a diving board, and so forth) while big brother claims he can also do this.

The illustrations show both brothers on each page with broad backgrounds of vivid colour. In one page (blue background), a huge, elegant, yellow sandcastle being built by the younger brother with the older brother saying he can make a castle ‘with both paws tied behind my back.’ This is followed by a double-page spread with six orange and red shapes filled with the brothers in Tai Kwando uniforms.

The exploits by the younger brother become more and more complex (there’s even aerial flying), with the youngster saying, ‘Maybe one day I’ll be as good as my big brother.’ There is, however, a twist on the final double page spread.

This is an action-packed book likely to be enjoyed by a competitive sibling.

We Are Wolves

We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad (ABC Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 978073334088

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Towards the end of World War II, the German towns of East Prussia are swamped with Russian soldiers. The Wolf family – eleven-year-old Liesl, seven-year-old Otto and toddler Mia, along with their mother and grandparents – flee from their village, hoping to reach the safety of Lithuania. As they cross a frozen lagoon, Russian shells rain down on them. In the ensuing chaos, Liesl, Otto and Mia run for their lives and soon find themselves alone in a forest. Will they ever see Mama, Opa or Oma again?

Aimed at readers aged ten and older, We Are Wolves is a moving homage to the real-life Wolfskinder – wolf children – who were left to fend for themselves after the war because their parents had been killed or were missing. Katrina Nannestad takes the reader on a compelling emotional journey that parallels the powerful physical odyssey endured by the Wolf children, as they search for food and shelter, love and hope.

Although the story is based on historical events, Katrina’s use of present tense gives the story an immediacy that draws the reader right into the action. The nature of good versus evil is an overarching theme, as Liesl discovers that not all Russians are bad and that sometimes honourable people need to do dishonourable things – become ‘a burglar, a thief, a vandal, and a liar’ – in order to survive.

The book is divided into parts, with each opener beautifully illustrated in black and white by Martina Heiduczek. Softened by the textured casing and the choice of muted tones, Martina’s cover image is a touching reminder to young readers that even in the midst of despair, care and connection are possible.

We Are Wolves offers a rich literary forest of light and shade, protection and peril, which will keep young readers turning the pages. Dark matters are well balanced with merry moments, and the uplifting ending leaves room for happiness to bloom in the hearts of readers and characters alike.

Rudie Nudie Christmas

Rudie Nudie Christmas by Emma Quay (ABC Books) ISBN 9780733338342 RRP $ 24.99

Reviewed by Claire Stuckey

Our rudie nudie children are back in this fun-filled Christmas picture book story. The children blow bubbles before they throw off their towels and cavort through the house sharing many Christmas traditions, singing carols, and looking at the presents under the tree. Like all children they enjoy preparing the house for Christmas day then wait for Santa. Finally, ready for bed, the children fall asleep ready for the big day.

Told in rhyme, this is an engaging family story to share the joy of anticipation of young children with preschoolers. The end papers are lovely: Emma Quay’s pastel palette is complimented by red and green Christmas colour highlights. Another delightful preschool picture book from this wonderful Australian author illustrator.

The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour

The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour by Beck & Robin Feiner (ABC Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780733339400

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

No one seemed to notice The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour except a little girl named Hannah. She knew something wasn’t right. ‘Sydney is Down Under, and polar bears are from, well, Up Over.’ Everyone in Sydney seemed too busy to care, invested in only themselves. The narrative follows this unlikely duo and the quest to return the polar bear home.

The bold illustrations are gorgeous and depict plenty of Sydney’s iconic landmarks. The prelude and epilogue to the story are captured visually in the delightful endpapers, tracking the polar bear’s journey.

The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour is an engaging picture book highly recommended for children aged 5+ years. Its themes include empathy, compassion, empowerment, persistence and speaking up for those without a voice. Importantly, the Polar Bear can be viewed as a metaphor for climate change, and the story highlighting the myriad of people ignoring it. This narrative provides a subtle lesson to stand up for what is right, not what is easy. Everyone is able to make a difference, no matter how old you are.

If you enjoyed this book you may also like If I Was Prime Minister, created by the same talented husband and wife team.

Pea and Nut: Go for Gold!

Pea and Nut: Go for Gold! by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) HB RRP $17.99 ISBN: 9780733340680

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Pea the panda and Nut the flamingo are mates, the type of mates who just have to see who is faster, stronger, better - and don’t mind playing dirty to figure it out. When Nut wants a swimming race, it doesn’t take much to convince Pea to take him on. What follows is a hectic contest of one-upmanship and good-natured foul play in rhyming verse.

Matt Stanton is an established and popular children’s author, and this second book in the Pea and Nut series is an accomplished offering in the modern Australian picture book genre. Pea and Nut are characters capable of fitting snugly alongside the Cranky Bear, Pig the Pug and Macca the Alpaca - to the point where we may start to wonder whether the field is becoming overly cluttered. The text is jokey, rough-and-tumble, dialogue-rich and entertaining. Younger readers may need some help to fill in the meaning which is left in the gaps between the rhyming lines.

In this strange year, it is unfortunate that this book has missed out on the Olympic tie-in momentum that it was undoubtedly intended to capitalise on. At the same time, the bold, colourful illustrations and wonderfully expressive characters are uplifting and a great asset for parents and teachers trying their best to keep a sense of fun and play in kids’ lives. It is appealing to think that ideas around sportsmanship, friendly competition and respectful play can be explored in a context where those concepts have more meaning and symbolism than ever before.

This is a prime candidate for read-aloud fun and games, character voices and facial expressions - a wonderful opportunity for laughter and connection. Children aged 3 to 7 years will get a kick out of this book - as will a lot of their adult companions.

Danny Best Watch This

Danny Best Watch This by Jen Storer illustrated by Mitch Vane (ABC Books) PB

ISBN 978-0-7333-3336-1 RRP $17.99

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Number four in the Danny Best series is Watch This, a book which promises a musical bum, rampaging dinosaurs and freaked-out ninjas in outer space. Packed full of Mitch Vane’s entertaining illustrations, the book also includes quotes and quizzes to break up the four stories. Every turn of the page provides something different to read or look at and there’s definitely no danger of the reader becoming bored!

Following on from the first three Danny Best books: Full On, Never Wrong and Me First, Watch This introduces the first story Master Builder, with pictures of the cast and a ‘secret’ code. The story of Danny and his friend Fabrizio includes unique descriptions of milkshake flavours and building of cubby houses and faking of fossils, just to name a few things. The second story Secret Ninja Spaceman is about a sleep over and a whole lot of imagination. The third story Bum-Free Four includes a story within a story about the promised musical bum. And the fourth story Sumo Wrestling Legend involves strapping pillows to the body. There are so many funny and weird things to mention that I’ve just picked out a few.

This book will appeal to primary school readers − boys and girls. It has humour, imagination and lots to go back and notice on the second or third time through. Danny is a likeable character and his friends add to all the fun. Illustrations and text go so well together, it is hard to imagine it wasn’t all done by one person. And my favourite section I have to mention was right at the end: Five Reasons Why Dinosaurs Became Extinct (By Professor D Best), with number 5 being ‘They moved to Adelaide’! I’m sure readers of the first four books will also welcome the next new addition to the Danny Best world, The Face on All the Billboards.

Duck, Apple, Egg

Duck, Apple, Egg by Glenda Millard, Martina Heiduczek (ABC Books) HB RRP 9780733340185

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Here is a new picture book for the very young from multi-award-winning author Glenda Millard who is known for her Tiskin Silk book series beautifully illustrated here by Martina Heiduczek who also illustrated the covers of the Silk books.

Duck, Apple, Egg has a minimum, poetic text which begins “Duck on the green, sun in the sky, egg in the nest,’ and moves on to the next page to ‘apple on the tree, and me.’

Basically, the book is a simple story about the joys of playing in a garden with a small child dressed in red and blue who observes (and embraces) nature about him. Thus, you see the child hugging the duck, finding a nest, eating an apple, splashing with duck in a pond, and, in the final illustration, eating an apple pie and laying with the duck.

The words ‘duck’, egg’ and ‘apple’ are repeated throughout the book so they could be easily memorised by a small child being read the story by a parent or teacher.

The illustrations are lush with lots of grass and wonderful fly pages in pale blue featuring duck, eggs, apples and flowers.

My Folks Grew Up in the '80s

My Folks Grew Up in the '80s by Beck and Robin Feiner (ABC Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780733339417

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Any parent who grew up in the 1980s will open this book with a sense of anticipatory glee. In fact, it feels like parents are the target audience of this book; at the very least, there’s a big wink in their direction. Nevertheless, kids will love the opportunity to share their parents’ stories of growing up in that strange decade.

The prose is written from the point of view of a child whose 30 or 40-something parents have been telling him stories of their childhood, and the tone conveys the narrator’s amusement and incredulity. The book covers topics from fashion and technology to music and slang. There are the typical references from that decade, like shoulder pads and boom boxes, but also some things parents probably haven’t thought about for some time. Anyone remember the TV show Perfect Match?

Splashed with neon colours, the bold, graphic illustrations provide layers detail and context, not just explaining but also enriching the text. Children and parents will have fun exploring the objects scattered across each spread, from hard-copy encyclopedias to floppy discs, slinkies and troll dolls.

A nostalgic walk down memory lane for parents, and an amusing pop cultural history for kids, this book will be a wonderful sharing experience for kids aged 7-plus and their parents. As the book’s final page points out (illustrated by the narrator’s parents executing a certain iconic Dirty Dancing pose in the backyard pool), the kids will finally understand why we’re so weird.

Goodnight, Little Tough Guy

Goodnight, Little Tough Guy  written by Michael Wagner, illustrated by Tom Jellett. (ABC Books, 2019). HB 32 pp RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9780733339356

Reviewed by Julie Anne Thorndyke

This unique bedtime picture book has a lively, fun text by Michael Wagner, making extensive use of alliteration without being twee. All the tired little tough guys are finished saving the world and ready for sleep. Has a spell been cast over the entire hero kingdom, just as in the time-honoured tale of  Sleeping Beauty? (I wish! say parents everywhere.)

                             “The firefighters are fitting in forty fabulous winks.”

 “Cowboys and cowgirls are completely cactus.”

 These fun statements using wordplay, puns and lavish language sounds are sustained throughout the book. In a sense, the story is one extended “dad joke”. Bathing, cleaning their teeth, falling asleep over their food, our little tough guys

(and gals) are seen doing all the normal bedtime routines young children perform daily. Many of the characters have already shut their eyes, and the others are yawning.

The matt-finish of Tom Jellett’s engaging artwork—line drawings with flat colours, muted midnight-blue backgrounds, teal, black, yellow-orange areas and fluro accents—resemble early TV cartoons. The end papers are reminiscent of vintage 1950s wallpaper from a boy’s bedroom.  The square, sturdy hardback binding will withstand repeated use by your own little superhero.

This book has a masculine feel, full of trucks, rockets, planes, cricket bats,   tools and footballs, and as such seems to target boys— but there are also many suggestions in the text and illustrations that make the book gender neutral. Parents will appreciate the “falling asleep” scenarios depicted in the pictures. Although “heroes” are referenced visually there is no direct reference to the standard copyrighted superhero characters of popular culture, and the costumes worn by the children are generic. This will increase the longevity of the book.

A fun read-aloud story for little boys (and superhero wonder women) from the creators of Why I Love Footy.

The Selwood Boys - Battle Royale

The Selwood Boys - Battle Royale by Tony Wilson (ABC Books) HB  RRP $14.99   ISBN 978-0-733335-45-7

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

In this recent book in the series, Tony Wilson introduces AFL Royalty, the Selwood Boys and shares stories about the four future AFL stars growing up in the Selwood house.  There's madness, mayhem and sibling rough and tumble everyday - and lots of footy, of course! 

Meet the Selwood boys: there are the twins, Troy and Adam, strong and sporty and full of energy, then Joel, who is talented and itching to be a fair dinkum footy player, and finally little Scott, who just does his best to keep up and not be left behind. Joel dearly wants to be off the sidelines, and on the footy field to play with his big brothers. But Mum and Dad are making Joel wait, so he has to make do with being the boundary umpire for his brothers.

It'll be a battle royale that's bound to involve the whole family! The book targets ages 7 to12 years.  Battle Royale is a fantastic tale for all young readers, especially boys aged seven and up with a love for AFL footy. 

The book not only covers the code, but the themes of family, sportsmanship, friendship and bullying.  Battle Royal is perfect for teachers who are looking for a fun book to cover bullying.   This is the first book in a series of four so I can also recommend Book 2 - The Miracle Goal, with books 3 and 4 coming out very soon.

The Miracle Goal

The Miracle Goal by Tony Wilson (ABC Books) HB RRP $14.99   ISBN 978-0-733335-46-4

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Miracle Goal is one of those books written from the heart.  It is based on the antics of the real life footy mad Selwood Boys, which makes it not only easy to read, but genuine and warm.  If you are an AFL fan and love footy, this is the book for you.  The book targets the 7 years plus age group and would also suit classroom teachers due to its broad range of topics so skillfully  covered.

Tony Wilson is a well-loved Australian author who inspires children to read and love books.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book to ignite a love of reading in a child and who needs to find a book that suits a child’s interests.  Boys in particular will gravitate to this story, but girls will also soak it up.

The Miracle Goal is part of a series of books based upon the Selwood boys’ childhood growing up in Bendigo, Victoria and is based upon the funny things that happened to the boys.  The topics covered include footy, family, sibling rivalry, competitveness, pranks, school, friendship, fairness, twins and having a disability, so you get a lot of bang in one story.  There is madness, mayhem, mischief and mateship.

The sign of a good writer is the ease in which you can read and enjoy the story and this book does that.  The first few chapters introduce each boy and their individuality and little quirks.  Then the scene is set around footy and school by portraying all the characters to paint a vivid picture. I won’t give too much away as I think you need to read the book.

For some light hearted fun with learning along the way give ‘The Miracle Goal’ a whirl and remember to be the best that you can be.