Hello Twigs, Time to Paint

Hello Twigs, Time to Paint by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (Hardie Grant) Paperback, Junior Fiction, Graphic Novel RRP $9.99 9781761212017 

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood have created a captivating new funny series for kids. Hello Twigs, is a graphic novel series for young readers. Each book is 48 pages with full-colour illustrations and simple text that can be read aloud. The stories follow a group of twigs and one stump as they explore creativity, nature, emotions, and friendship. Heart and humour are at the core of every book. The world is big when you’re a twig!

Hello Twigs, Time to Paint is about Noodle, a twig who loves to paint. The only problem is she doesn’t have any blue paint. Can blue paint be found in nature?

In this book, bestselling author Andrew Mc Donald shares Noodle’s passion for creating art and what it feels like. ‘Art is how we say our feelings,’ says Stump. ‘Look - I just drew GREAT SADNESS’. Everyone is keen to help Noodle find the right art stuff so that she can paint.

The humour creates such great laugh out loud moments.  Noodle takes off her hat. And looks at it closely. No, Noodle! WE don’t use others to make paint. Without blue paint Noodle is unable to create. Mc Donald cleverly brings in the sky which is an obvious kid choice for blue. But how is it possible to capture the sky’s blue?

Red, who is awesome at surprises, has an idea. Noodle leaps high with shock. But not high enough to reach the sky. The words share the action with Wood’s illustrations and make the reader actively think throughout the story. Noodle points out her idea. She’s going to need help from all the twigs. Ten seconds later… They are all in position. Each word counts, propels the story and captures the reader.

Ben Wood’s colourful illustrations bring such joy to the words. A blue beetle is Noodle’s artist hat and when everyone is looking for something blue the beetle sits hoping not to be seen. But the reader knows and waits and wonders what’s going to happen. The play of launching Red high is not only fun but science visually shown in a playful way. What goes up must come down too and Wood hams up those moments with genius simplicity. His illustrations look deceptively easy and that is their appeal. I love that a child can easily copy his style and draw the characters themselves. The use of perspective plays to the emotion and the drama as the images zoom in and out.

Hello Twigs, How Are You Feeling? is an early reader for children six years and older. It’s part of a new graphic novel series created by an award-winning team. This book is a joyous read aloud and is such a fun interactive read. I love that each book in the series can be a stand-alone read but also forms part of a series. These books are appealing and perfect for those children embarking on independent reading. They will be popular additions to any home or school or library shelf.

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling?

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling? by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (Hardie Grant) Paperback, Junior Fiction, Graphic Novel RRP $9.99 9781761211997

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood have created a captivating new funny series for kids. Hello Twigs is a graphic novel series for young readers. Each book is 48 pages with full-colour illustrations and simple text that can be read aloud. The stories follow a group of twigs and one stump as they explore creativity, nature, emotions, and friendship. Heart and humour are at the core of every book. The world is big when you’re a twig!

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling? sees the Twigs and Stump expressing and showing their different feelings with each other. Stump is sad because he still wants to be a part of the big tree. He tries to find ways to be with the big tree which is his happy place. He discovers that with his friend’s new and happy experiences can be found. Who doesn’t want to experience a twig hug?

Mc Donald is the author of the bestselling Real Pigeons junior fiction series. He gives much insight into feelings by using sentences that speak directly to the heart. He shows that voicing feelings is empowering, and that your friends can help you. Oh, dear, Stump. That doesn’t sound good. ‘What feeling?’ asks Red. The language used is simple and impactful. But Stump sighs. ‘I feel NOT GOOD!’ He plods off. The verb choices and questioning help take the reader right into the heart of the story. His characters’ use of questioning shows young readers questions they too can use. I think because the characters are brave readers can be inspired to be brave, too. I love, love the message that it’s okay to cry. Stump cries, but that’s OK. It’s good to let your feelings out. 

Wood’s bright, expressive illustrations create such emotion and story strength. He is the other half of this award-winning best-selling team. We read that Stump cries but when Wood shows how Stump cries and how distraught he becomes, the message is so much more powerful. Wood’s images masterfully show the extent of the characters feelings. I love the visuals of Stump and the Twigs rolling together down an epic hill. It is pure joy.

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling? is an early reader for kids six years and older. Friendship is important to this age group and this story celebrates friendship. The text reads aloud super well and it is engaging from start to finish which makes this series perfect to read alone or to share. Parents and teachers will love these books as much as the children.

Hello Twigs: Surprise

Hello Twigs: Surprise by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (Hardie Grant) Paperback, Junior Fiction, Graphic Novel RRP $9.99 9781761211980

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood have created a captivating new funny series for kids. Hello Twigs: Surprise  is a graphic novel series for young readers. Each book is 48 pages with full-colour illustrations and simple text that can be read aloud. The stories follow a group of twigs and one stump as they explore creativity, nature, emotions, and friendship. Heart and humour are at the core of every book they’ve co-created. The world is big when you’re a twig!

Hello Twigs: Surprise focuses upon Red, a very wild twig who loves surprising his friends. They don’t appreciate his unexpected surprises because they’re busy setting up a snail zoo. Can Red understand that sometimes it’s best to plan surprises to create the most impact?

Mc Donald is the author of the bestselling Real Pigeons junior fiction series. He charms and surprises young readers with his impactful and insightful short sentences. They pack a lot of punch easily and succinctly while allowing the illustrations to shine. All twigs are wild. But some twigs are REALLY wild. The opening sentences immediately entice engagement and a page turn. The dialogue sings as it speaks directly to the child reader. ‘I’ll try giving Stump a surprise,’ he says. ‘He likes a good laugh!’

It makes you wonder what Red is going to do next. The heart-centered and funny characters are well developed, distinct and unique even though they’re twigs. Red loves surprising the others but also wants to make their world more fun. ‘I will give them better SURPRISES!’ says Red. ‘Then they will jump and laugh and be less serious. Red’s character growth from the beginning to the end is satisfying and makes total sense to a child reader.

Wood’s bright and happy illustrations give such personality and strength to the characters. He is the other half of this award-winning best-selling team. A child reader will feel that the twigs are just like real people. The eyes and facial expressions are captivating. Wood’s cleverly created character movement and play splashes out boldly from every page showing his depth and experience as an illustrator. Red believably jumps, sneaks, flings, and shocks. The other twigs respond with surprise and annoyance in a perfectly created world that is totally believable. I can even picture a child talking to their very own imaginary twig friend.

Hello Twigs: Surprise is a true early reader for kids six and older who want to laugh along with characters that go through things that real kids do. The key to early reading is the want to read and this book creates just that. This book and the others in the series are sure to appeal to not only kids but parents and teachers too. 

Meet the Flying Doctors

Meet the Flying Doctors by George Ivanoff illustrated by Ben Wood (Penguin Random House Australia) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9780143780687

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

For children who might not know, the Royal Flying Doctor provides emergency and primary health care across Australia. This landscape picture book for readers aged 7 to 10 years tells the story of how the life-saving service was created to become an Australian icon. It begins with the man on the $20 bank note – Reverend John Flynn whose story, starting in 1911 is told from the point of view of a young boy whose life he saved.

A stockman fell from his horse while mustering cattle in the Kimberly region of Western Australia: badly injured, he endured a 12 hour trip to Halls Creek where the postmaster knew some first aid. A telegraph to Perth for medical assistance resulted in the postman being told to perform an operation – his only equipment being a razor and a penknife. The operation was not a success, so a doctor took a thirteen day trip to Halls Creek: by then the stockman was dead. Reading this newspaper story, Flynn contacted a World War 1 pilot; between them they worked out how to use planes to reach the outback to help injured and sick patients.

The AMS – or Australian Inland Mission Aerial Medical Services – which was subsequently formed, used a single-engine biplane leased from QANTAS, to run 50 flights and treat 255 patients in its first year. Because of the lack of a radio, flights needed to be made in daylight hours. Happily, over the years new technology helped outback people contact the service. The aerial service was so successful it expanded to other states in 1934, and of course its name was changed.

As well as Flynn, the book also pays tribute to women nurses who worked with the service – Marie Osborn, and Myra Blanch. These days the Royal Doctor Flying Service has a fleet of 66 planes, operating from 23 bases across Australia. All of this information is told throughout the book, and there is a detailed double-page spread at the back of the book with a timeline about the service up until and including 2014 when the RFDS remarkably assisted more than 290,000 people through emergency visits.

Watercolour illustrations with cartoon-style characters and pictures of biplanes, a map of Australia, from-the-air landscapes and more complement the text. This is yet another Random House ‘Meet the…’ book which includes stories about famous Australians such as Weary Dunlop, Mary MacKillop, Nellie Melba and others.

Squishy Taylor in Zero Gravity

Squishy Taylor in Zero Gravity written by Ailsa Wild, illustrated by Ben Wood (Hardie Grant Egmont) PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 9781760127725

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

The fifth Squishy Taylor book opens with Squishy playing space-stations with her half-sisters Jessie and Vee (whom she refers to as her ‘Bonus Sisters’ throughout the series). This sets the scene for the book’s space-themed antics. While peering through their telescope to view a meteor shower, the girls notice something else intriguing. Someone resembling an astronaut is on a nearby rooftop, with what looks to be a rocket with visible sparks flying out.

The plot centres on Squishy’s determination to get to the bottom of the mystery, even if it means doing the wrong thing. Squishy, along with Jessie and Vee, hatch plans to sneak into the apartment building and make their way to the rooftop, deceiving their parents in the process and lying to the pyjama-clad man they find once they reach their destination.

Throughout, Squishy’s relationship with her stepmother Alice deteriorates. Squishy’s feelings towards Alice appear more hostile than in the previous Squishy Taylor books I’ve read (books one and four), and she yearns for her Geneva-dwelling birth mother for comfort more than ever.

The story’s conclusion sees a physically painful consequence for Squishy, yet her stepmother Alice’s reaction to the mayhem is inexplicably calm. While the Squishy Taylor books cleverly infuse action, mystery, fun and a touch of daredevil with real-life family issues, it felt as though this ending was a little too ‘nice’, considering Alice’s earlier impatience with Squishy. Regardless, the book’s page-turning hooks will keep young readers engaged, eager to discover who or what the strange astronaut and rocket may be.

Squishy Taylor and the Mess-Makers

Squishy Taylor and the Mess-Makers written by Ailsa Wild, illustrated by Ben Wood (Hardie Grant Egmont)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 9781760126780

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

Squishy Taylor is back, in the fourth instalment of this fun, new junior fiction series aimed at 6 to 9 year olds. The story begins with Squishy revealing her admiration for rock climbing, You Tube sensation Carmeline Clancy. Excitement brews when Carmeline comes to town to film a movie, featuring all-important stunts, and Squishy is determined to meet her.

When Squishy and her step-sisters (a.k.a. her ‘bonus sisters’) encounter a cute, stray dog, learn of Carmeline’s supposed hotel room trashing antics, and have a run-in with their idol’s evil looking nanny, intrigue is well and truly built. Squishy’s instincts tell her Carmeline is not the disrespectful brat the adults around her (and the news) are insisting, and she’s compelled to prove her innocence. Squishy is inspired by her mum’s own world-saving antics in her UN job in Geneva.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed story accentuated by Ben Wood’s expressive illustrations. Readers will delight in Squishy’s fearless attitude, non-stop ninja moves and propensity for giving funny names to those she encounters (like Boring Lady and the Fancy Men). Once again, Squishy exhibits all the emotional ups and downs of a typical 11 year old, with huge doses of bravery and loyalty. She defies rules and follows her heart, fighting for those she believes in, whether it’s a movie star or a dog on the street.

Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters

Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters written by Ailsa Wild, illustrated by Ben Wood (Hardie Grant Egmont)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 9781760126759

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

Squishy Taylor is a brand new junior fiction series starring a feisty, curious, brave 11 year old. Squishy (real name, Sita) has a blended family and mixed racial heritage. As Squishy says, ‘this is what normal looks like now’. She lives with her dad, step-mum, baby half-sister, and her twin ‘bonus sisters’ Vee and Jessie. She keeps in touch with her mum, who’s working for the UN in Geneva, via Skype, and likes to do ‘ninja flips’ off the triple bunk bed she shares with the twins. This is no stereotypical, saccharine sweet protagonist.

In Squishy Taylor and the bonus sisters, Squishy comes across a boy hiding in her underground car park, who is on the run after supposedly stealing a tram. Squishy relishes the challenge of sneaking out of home to deliver him food, and bonds with Vee and Jessie in the process when she lets them into her secret. Interactions with neighbourly nemesis Mr Hinkenbushel ensue as the story unravels, and the reader learns more about Squishy’s sometimes complex relationships with her different family members along the way.

Sassy, headstrong and not without faults, Squishy is a refreshing character with a strong voice. Her ups and downs with her step-sisters mimic real-life sibling dramas, and she definitely makes mistakes.

The first in the Squishy Taylor series is a fast-paced, fun option for mid-primary school aged readers. Further titles A Question of Trust, The Vase that Wasn’t and The Mess Makers are due out in quick succession in the first half of 2016 – definitely a series to watch!

Underneath a Cow

Underneath a Cow by Carol Ann Martin, illustrated by Ben Wood (Omnibus Books)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74299-088-0

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The animals on the farm are out and about far from their homes when a storm approaches. As big fat raindrops begin to fall, Lally the rabbit is the first to be invited by Madge the cow to shelter underneath her broad body. There is plenty of room at first, but as extra animals join, it gets more and more squishy. Will visitors keep arriving, or will the rain stop before it gets too crowded? And is Spike the hedgehog one animal too many?

Underneath a Cow is a delight to read. The names are wonderful and the banter between the animals is gorgeous. When mother hen’s chicks get excited they bounce about like crazy little dodgem cars. This annoys the dog.

‘Madam!’ Robinson snapped. ‘Do something about your children, please!’

‘They’re only playing,’ said Cackalina. ‘Don’t you ever play?’

‘Not in somebody’s ear. No,’ Robinson replied.

There is a lovely rhythm to the story, with an animal added to the crowd under the cow each page until the storm hits it heights. Here, the calm and brave Madge encourages them all to sing, to keep their fear away.

The personalities in the story are enhanced by the fabulous illustrations, the unflappable cow, the fearful rabbit and the silly chicks – including one little black one who looks like he’d be a handful. Inside the cover – both front and back – is an aerial picture of the farm showing what they were all doing before, and then after, the storm.

This is a really enjoyable and engaging picture book. Both the words and pictures are highly entertaining and it is a story which could be read many times over with pleasure.

The Bush Book Club

The Bush Book Club by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Ben Wood (Omnibus Books)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74299-014-9

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

All the animals in the bush love to read. They read in different places and about different things, but they all have reading in common. All, that is, except Bilby. He hates to read. He cannot sit still long enough and so Bilby is the only animal not in the Bush Book Club.

This is a wonderfully worded story. The rhythm of each page and the overall structure is satisfying to read aloud. For instance, the stories Crocodile reads make him cry. 'He sniffled and snuffled, sobbed and sighed.'

The illustrations which are bright, lively and humorous, do more than just accompany the text, they enhance the story. While the Bush Book Club meets Bilby plays on his own. 'He did a headstand. He did a handstand. A somersault. And two cartwheels.' All of these actions are accompanied by a single picture of his action. Then, on the facing page, 'He sighed. Now what?' Bilby looks small standing in front of the closed book club door, empty landscape surrounding him. His loneliness is instantly recognisable.

This effective text and illustration combination is used beautifully to illustrate the beginning of Bilby’s also interest in a book; with the pictorial focus shifting from the movement of his body to the pictures in his head.

I have a child who would rather wriggle and jiggle, twiddle and fiddle, flip and flop than sit still and read a book. But I know that if she can sit still long enough, with the right book, her imagination will be caught and she will be lost in the world between the pages. This is exactly what Bilby discovers and it is wonderful that he makes the journey all by himself. In a big, squishy, yellow and white spotted, comfy reading chair.

This is a story which will be loved by preschool children and their parents. It captures the joy of reading and shows why Margaret Wild is such a popular Australian author. 

Redcap’s Christmas

Redcap’s Christmas by Susan Cason, illustrated by Ben Wood (Omnibus Books)
HB RRP $15.99
ISBN 978-1-74299-021-7
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Redcap is a lively elf who has always dreamed of working in Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. The only trouble is that in the hectic week before Christmas they are not hiring. How will Redcap convince Hiram to let him in to become part of Santa’s work force? And once there, how will he stay out of trouble long enough to meet Santa, Redcap’s greatest wish. Will his new friend Jellybean be any help to him at all?

Redcap’s Christmas is a bright, bubbly and happily adventurous Christmas story. Each of the seven chapters is a short story of its own as Redcap tries to complete tasks he thinks will please Hiram and Firem, Santa’s closest helpers.There is a wonderfully old-fashioned feel to this book which occurs in part from the story-telling style and in part from the layout. A nice sized hardcover book, each chapter is preceded by a full colour illustration previewing something up-coming in the chapter. Then Wood’s soft pencil sketches continue to be sprinkled throughout.

This is an attractive book full of elves, goblins, trolls, and the wily North Wind, all fabulously named (including Cranberry the reindeer keeper and Quagmire, one of the trolls), along with plenty of Christmas magic. In the front there is a full colour map of the area surrounding Santa’s workshop in the North Pole where all of Redcap’s and Jellybeans adventures take place.

Redcap’s Christmas is gentle enough to be read to six year-olds and the offbeat, quirky humour means older children will enjoy it too in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Review: Larrikin Lane

Mates: Larrikin Lane by Kate Darling, illustrated by Ben Wood (Omnibus Books)
PB RRP $11.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-989-1
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Can you keep a sheep, a goat and plenty of chooks in a suburban back yard? Arkie and her family think so but their neighbour Mr Meyer does not agree, even though it was a farm long before houses were built on the surrounding grazing land. He wants the council to come and do something about the problem. But young Arkie comes up with a plan which may save their animals.

From the title of the book and its fabulous front cover I knew this was going to be a fun read. Larrikin Lane is entertaining with a realistic, engrossing storyline. Delilah the crazy-eyed goat and Lola the sheep – ‘every family needs a black sheep’ Dad says – are great characters. The family, too, are well drawn.

The writing is great and feels very fresh. The old man next door ‘combs his last few hairs across and sticks them down flat on his cranky old head’. Children will love these sorts of descriptions. The font changes occasionally to wobbly, bold, italic, big or small to help emphasise the story. The illustrations also embody this fresh feel, the fun of the story and the rounded characters. They are full colour, amusing and there is much to be seen within them. The borders are great too and it took a few reads before I noticed the gradual change in them from beginning to end.

Larrikin Lane feels very Australian without any of the clichéd elements that can often accompany Aussie stories. It is ultimately about making friends and finding new ways around a problem. This is a great addition to Scholastics’ Mates books and, with five fun-filled chapters, it will have newly independent readers gaining confidence in their reading and searching out more from this fantastic series.

The Wattle Tree

 
The Wattle Tree by John Bell, illustrated by Ben Wood (Lothian/Hachette)

HB RRP $28.99

ISBN: 97807334412911

Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

The Wattle Tree is a charming first picture book by Bell about the grieving process. Molly's grandmother has passed away and she and her mother miss her very much. Molly's mother can't bear to talk about her and so Molly has to find a way of coping.

Molly discovers the old straw hat which Grandma wore still holds her special scent, so Molly wears it and goes out into the garden which Grandma often watered. She continues down to the creek and the wattle tree there reminds her of Grandma and the sprigged dress she often wore. Molly begins to feel happy and sits for ages with her feet dangling in the creek thinking about Grandma.

She hugs her secret to herself for a long time, watching the wattle tree turn from green to golden, and keeping her Grandma's memory alive. But one day she catches her mum crying in the kitchen missing Grandma, and Molly feels it is time to share her secret.

The illustrations of Ben Wood capture perfectly the sensitivity of the story, all soft watercolour washes and fine outlines. The gold of the wattle tree is replicated on the inside covers and despite the topic, the story is uplifting and happy. It would make a wonderful gift for young children missing a departed grandparent.