Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth

Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth by Anna Fienberg (Allen & Unwin) PB RRP $17.99 ISBN 9781760296988

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Frances has recently moved from the city to an outer suburb with her mum and dad, two years after a family tragedy. Her dad is currently overseas on business, she is starting at a new school, and she is trying to train a new puppy (named Picasso) that she is not even sure she wants. Her anxiety and sadness are ever-present and the only thing that keeps her mind calm and focused is to draw portraits of bacteria in her sketchbook.

At school, Frances meets a quiet and reserved boy named Kit, another new student. They make a connection over their mutual love of art and start spending time together. Kit introduces Frances to the beauty in nature and Frances becomes intrigued by him and his artistic talent. They both reveal enough of themselves for a friendship to develop, but a silence hovers over them. Neither one is willing to reveal their emotional pain and the sadness that hides within.

Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth is a beautifully written middle-grade novel, told in the first person by 13-year-old Frances. Its themes include friendship, families, grief, nature, and the visual arts. It is recommended for readers aged 10 years and older.

The Complete Adventures of Figaro and Rumba

The Complete Adventures of Figaro and Rumba written by Anna Fienberg and illustrated by Stephen Michael King (Allen and Unwin)

PB RRP $16.99   ISBN 9781760292997

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

The highly imaginative tales of Figaro and Rumba are written by Anna Fienberg, author of the Tashi books, and accompanied with full colour pictures by the talented Stephen Michael King. Both books in the series have been published together for the first time in a colourful, eye-catching paperback.

Figaro (an excitable, adventure-seeking dog) and Rumba (a sensible, musical cat) have been the best of friends since they met in Cuba. The first story, Figaro and Rumba and the Crocodile Café, is driven by the characters’ desire to get on ‘the Very Fast Train’. They seem destined to keep missing it though, with one zany adventure after another. The story is fast-paced, enticing readers to keep turning the pages to find out whether Figaro and Rumba ever do get on the train. Eventually, they meet a sly, Cuban crocodile who gains Rumba’s trust. It’s a good thing Figaro’s instincts are on high alert though, because something just doesn’t seem right.

The second story, Figaro and Rumba and the Cool Cats, is far more musical in nature. (You might find yourself tapping along to an imaginary Cuban beat!) Rumba seems quite at home singing with the Cool Cats, but Figaro is bored. The cats just want to sing all day and he can’t join in because their leader, Marta, does not like his singing. Plus, he’s feeling disturbed about that grey monster he keeps seeing. When he meets another like-minded adventurer, Dora, they sneakily take Marta’s car and go exploring. Their adventure doesn’t go smoothly though and, in trying to fix things, Figaro winds up meeting the ‘monster’, joining forces with Rumba again, and discovering a musical talent he never knew he had.

These entertaining stories about friendship are great for 5–8 year-olds. The chapters are short, with lots of dialogue. Much humour is provided in Figaro and Rumba’s banter, along with their dog and cat-like differences. King’s comical illustrations are naturally complementary, appearing on almost every single page. Fienberg’s writing is superb. The Cuban accents are perfectly portrayed, and there are some great alliterative lines like: ‘Isn’t he a rascal, a ruffian, a rogue and a reptile?’ The ending is terrific, both closing the stories and alluding to further adventures.