Ten Bush Babies – Let’s Add

Ten Bush Babies – Let’s Add by Grace Nolan. Illustrated by Nancy Bevington.  2026 Big Sky Publishing. PB Hardback RRP $24.99. ISBN: 9781922896582.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

This book, designed for children aged 0-7 years, is a delight, and the illustrations of the adorable bush babies are both fun and gorgeous. The rhyming repetition goes hand in hand with the animals to count on each page, reinforcing the text. The end of the book contains six Fun Learning Activities pages, where an adult can guide the child in learning numbers and adding up sums for themselves. There are two pages where the child can both count and name all the bush babies themselves. There are two other books available in the series: Book 1, Ten Naughty Numbats, and Book 3, Ten Lively Lorikeets.

From the publisher:

‘Fun and learning go hand in hand in this engaging series. Perfect for children from birth to seven, these books introduce counting, addition and subtraction through playful rhymes and vibrant illustrations. Young readers will discover 30 native Australian animals while developing early numeracy skills in a joyful, interactive way. Each book includes simple reinforcement activities to extend learning and keep the fun going.’

Ten Bush Babies: Let’s Add

Ten Bush Babies: Let’s Add by Grace Nolan, illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781922896582

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

A baby tree frog is joined by a juvenile glider, then a jumping joey and many other young Australian animals. One by one, the group gets bigger and bigger. When there are ten, they line up to run a race. Who wins the cup?

Grace Nolan’s simple storyline shows three- to five-year-olds how to add up the numbers from one to ten – and the pages are so playful that the kids won’t even realise they’re learning. At the end of the book there are a few fun activities to reinforce the knowledge of addition.

Nancy Bevington supports the teaching of the text with an appealing assembly of characters hilariously accompanied by various baby accessories: dummies, rattles, bibs and bottles. Brightly coloured numbers present the sums to littlies who may not be familiar with the figures.

Part of a useful series, Ten Bush Babies: Let’s Add is perfect for Aussie children who have just started preschool or kindergarten. It is a gentle introduction to early mathematics that will get kids excited to discover more.

Ten Naughty Numbats – Let’s Count

Ten Naughty Numbats – Let’s Count written by Grace Nolan Illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing)  ISBN 9781922896575 RRP $24.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

This beautifully written and gloriously illustrated counting picture book is one that every early educator and parent will want to have on their bookshelf.

Any children’s book with a hint of naughtiness or mischief in the title is sure to immediately capture the attention of young readers. This title is particularly clever: not only does it include the word ‘naughty’, it also features alliteration and a playful almost-pun, with ‘numbats’  being so similar to ‘numbers’.

The simple yet rich language continues throughout the book, with further alliteration such as ‘wobbly wombats’ and ‘perky possums’. The text also features smooth, unforced rhyme and a comfortable rhythm, making it perfect for reading aloud.

While appropriately sparse, every word of the text earns its place, and is brought to life by the  lively and engaging illustrations. As readers count from one to ten, they encounter vividly illustrated Australian animals that are swimming, playing, gliding, digging, or dreaming—and they are clearly having a great deal of fun. Full of movement, colour and animation, Bevington has also incorporated fun, quirky details in each spread which add freshness and humour. There are elegantly poised black swans wearing crowns, kookaburras peering through binoculars, kangaroos on pogo sticks, and my favourite, wombats wearing head-torches.

Rather than ending when the counting reaches ten, the book extends the enjoyment with four additional spreads, each featuring the animals engaged in new activities alongside different counting experiences to further reinforce early numeracy skills.

This is the first book in a series which introduces children to numbers and counting, while entertaining them with delightfully illustrated Australian furry friends and playful rhyming narrative. It will especially delight 3-6-year-old audiences who will have so much fun that they won’t realise they are learning.

I Love to Draw

I Love to Draw by Dale Baker (Big Sky Publishing), RRP $24.99 Picture Book ISBN 9-781923-514263

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Do you have a budding young artist in the family? Or a child who loves to scribble? Perhaps even you would like some sneaky drawing tips to impress the kids? 

I Love to Draw combines the concept of a “how to draw …” [fill in the blank] instructional guide with a picture book story. Told in verse, the reader is introduced to the possibilities of what could be created when you tap into your imagination. Young minds are challenged – is that an elephant or an upside-down swan? How has the head of a cow become a seal and then transformed into a penguin? Then it’s time for the reader to pick up their own pencil and grab some paper. Follow along, and with a few simple steps, you’ll be impressed with what you can also create!

This is an enjoyable book for kids ages 4 to 7. Even though the verse's rhythm is inconsistent in places, the concept is strong, and the illustrations carry the book to a successful conclusion. 

Ten Bush Babies Let’s Add

Ten Bush Babies Let’s Add Written by Grace Nolan & Illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP AU$24.99 ISBN 9 781922 896582

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

This is an adorable counting-to-ten book featuring Australian bush babies. As they race to win the cup, young readers can have fun learning to count to ten using rhyme, rhythm and a touch of repetition.

Well-known bush babies are used in the story, and other, less well-known ones are introduced, providing a great opportunity to explore beyond the book for inquisitive minds.

The illustrations are lively, fun, colourful and full of ‘baby’ antics. The pages include numbers and symbols for addition to support the language being used.

There are counting activities at the end that provide an opportunity to reinforce learning, but the story stands on its own in terms of enjoyment.

This book could be described as having at least three layers: it tells a simple story, its illustrations are delightful on their own, and it introduces symbols to demonstrate numbers.

This is book two in a series of three early learner books by the same author and illustrator: Ten Naughty Numbats Let’s Count & Ten Lively Lorikeets Let’s Subtract.

Parrot Palace

Parrot Palace by Susanne Gervay illustrated by Sarah Tabassum with Pooja Mathur (Published by Big Sky Publishing) Middle-grade fiction

Mikey wears a googly-eyed cap.

Lily-Rosa twirls in her ballerina tutu and fire-fighter’s helmet.

Hari with an ‘i’ has the name of a lion.

 

Three inventive, daring kids and their diverse families, live in a three-storey apartment block called Parrot Place. The backgrounds of the kids are Indian, Hungarian-Chinese, and the boys we all know and like. The kids become the best band of friends as they confront their arch-enemy, the neighbour, Mr. Crabtree. In the end, there are surprises, and everything changes.

From the opening pages, our taste buds are tantalized with the honey of jalebi, the warm sweetness of ripe strawberries, apple pie, and samosas. The natural interweaving of cultures and customs; the interplay of the different shapes and styles of family; the fears and delight of a young boy Hari finding acceptance without question. The story is light-hearted and serious at the same time. 

Parrot Palace gets under the skin of discrimination and works out ways to play, relate, and celebrate inclusion.

Who’s the Gang on Our Street?

Who’s the Gang on Our Street? by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781922896803

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

A ‘special gang’ lives on a suburban street in Australia. The members don’t kick balls, bang on instruments or eat birthday cake, but they do play games, ‘rock to the beat’ and nibble on ‘squishy bananas’. Who are they? Friends go in search of the gang and find a colony of sulphur-crested cockatoos.

Susanne Gervay’s snappy narrative non-fiction text swoops through a flock of fabulous facts about cockatoos before young readers realise that they’re learning something. Kids aged seven to twelve will squawk with delight when they solve the mystery of the gang’s identity. At the end of the book, there is information and a quiz for those who want to know more.

The flashy parrots in this picture book call for bright and dynamic illustrations, and Nancy Bevington’s cartoon-like images certainly fit the bill. If littlies look for long enough, they’ll spy the feathered creatures peeking at them from every scene. The diversity among the child characters is also brilliant to behold.

Colourful and creative, Who’s the Gang on Our Street? offers a unique way to discover one of Australia’s most iconic birds. Kids will get a kick out of the cockatoos’ antics, and develop a new appreciation for their local fauna.

Super Sloth: The Shar-Wolf of New York City

Super Sloth: The Shar-Wolf of New York City written by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Cheri Hughes (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781922896537

Reviewed by Sarah Tegerdine

Super Sloth: The Shar-Wolf of New York City is the latest publication from award-winning children’s author Aleesah Darlison. In this, the first episode, we are introduced to Romeo Fortez, a pygmy sloth from a remote tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean, called Escudo. Romeo is no ordinary sloth: his mother sensed it at his birth and again, the evening of his naming ceremony when dazzling mystical forces take place in the skies above.

Even though small in stature, Romeo stands out from all the other sloths on his island. He is speedier, craves exploration and adventure and is way cuter than other sloths. So much so, this cuteness has hypnotic superpowers and Romeo can cause entrancement from casting a simple smile.

His parents fear that Escudo and the island life just isn’t enough for Romeo: he is smarter, faster, and stronger and though he tries to play with the other sloths, he often plays with other animals. One day he over-hears a tourist speak about New York, the city that never sleeps and in that instant he knows destiny is calling.

New York is filled to the brim with humans and animals bustling shoulder to shoulder, pressing in around him and the noise is overwhelming. It pushes him to bound back away from the pavements and forces him to wonder what in the world he was thinking.

But then, Romeo finds himself by the famous Brooklyn Bridge and a gigantic half shark, half wolf creature appears with a girl in its paw, and he snaps into action to save her. Romeo isn’t the only one whose curiosity has been piqued by the beast. Romeo forms new friends and they team up to solve the mystery.

Super Sloth: The Shar-Wolf of New York City, is a super fun, super cute and a super charged junior fiction series for chapter book readers to revel and delight in. It’s a fast paced and highly entertaining read filled with plenty of laughs and gadgets to keep children hooked.

Cheri’s expressive black and white illustrations are the perfect accent to the story that feature throughout, so much so, watch out for Romeo’s hypnotic cute stare on page 9.

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Super Sloth Episode 1: The Shar-Wolf of New York City

Super Sloth Episode 1: The Shar-Wolf of New York City by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Cheri Hughes. (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781922896537

Reviewed by Kerry Gittins

Romeo Alexander Anton Silverio Fortez is a pygmy sloth. But not just any pygmy sloth. The night of his naming ceremony on the tiny island of Escudo where he was born, a fire rainbow erupted across the sky, lightning flashed, there was a shower of shooting stars and the rising moon looked magical.  Everyone knew they had just witnessed something incredible. As he grew, Romeo understood he was different to all the other sloths. He wasn’t slow like them. He was fast. Very fast. And he craved adventure and danger. He also developed hypnotic cuteness powers where all he had to do was look into someone’s eyes and they would forget what they had been doing and why they had been cross. He had become a Super Sloth!

The time came when Romeo knew he had to leave the island. He needed to be somewhere bigger, faster and with lots more happening than Escudo. New York City! It would be a bit scary and dangerous at first, but Romeo was up for it! This would be his destiny.

As soon as he arrived in New York, things began to happen. While he was admiring the famous Brooklyn Bridge, its pylons began to tilt, and the bridge began to sway. Everyone else ran the other way but Romeo ran towards the huge half shark, half wolf terrorising commuters. It held a young girl captive in one its enormous, clawed paws. A cheetah had also run towards the commotion. Together they freed the girl and the creature dived into the river below. Suddenly a pig appeared on a Vespa and yelled ‘Hop on!’ The pig, with the girl and Romeo in tow, sped away, with the Cheetah close behind. They quickly came to a cemetery and when the pig pressed a button on the Vespa, a huge panel of grass opened up beneath them revealing a ramp that led to the most amazing underground hideout.

The adventures of Romeo the Super Sloth, Tulip the Cheetah, Ham the Pig and Beth the young Crime Fighter had begun! Now all they had to do was find out where the mutant creature had come from, who had made it and how to stop them from creating more fearsome monsters. Look out evil Professor Weird Warp, your days are numbered!

This is a rollicking, fast-paced adventure story filled with incredible inventions, dangerous decisions, brave friends, superheroes, and very evil villains! Readers will be captivated from the opening page, with each chapter providing a thrilling ending to keep us wanting to find out more. Cheri Hughes’ superb black and white illustrations provide just the right amount of detail, leaving the reader with plenty of opportunities to use their own imaginations in the story. A highly recommended exciting new novel for ages 8 – 12. 

Teaching themes could include sloths, cheetahs, pigs, lemurs, superheroes, technology, inventions, villains, friendship, character traits, New York City and Brooklyn Bridge.

Super Sloth series

Aleesah Darlison, a celebrated Australian author, has launched an exciting new book series titled 'Super Sloth,' receiving rave reviews from readers of all ages. The series features the lovable pygmy sloth, Romeo Fortez. and takes readers on thrilling adventures filled with friendship, teamwork, and positive values. With its modern and fast-paced storylines, 'Super Sloth' captivates even the most reluctant readers, offering an uplifting and humorous experience.

Darlison's books go beyond mere entertainment; they transport readers to different worlds, where they can develop an affection for the characters and witness the power of collaboration in saving others. When asked about her inspiration for the series, Darlison shared, "I love sloths and superheroes, just like many young readers. I wanted to create a series that is fun, action-packed, and brimming with adventure. My goal was to craft an engaging read that allows kids to escape from reality and enter an exciting and intriguing world where animals and humans can accomplish amazing things together."

Darlison's boundless imagination and fascination with various animals continuously fuel her storytelling. "Coming up with ideas for stories is easy for me. I have a vivid imagination, and I find inspiration in so many animals. Extensive research enhances my creativity, generating even more ideas and potential plotlines. The challenge lies in focusing on one story or idea at a time and following it through to completion," she explained.

Aleesah Darlison proudly calls Buderim on the Sunshine Coast her home, and her contributions to children's literature represent the exceptional talent that thrives in the area.

Ruby’s Rescue

Ruby’s Rescue by Elizabeth Mary Cummings & Chen Hughes (Big Sky Publishing) Softcover, Picture Book RRP $14.99 9781922896285

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

A bushfire startled Ruby’s horse Rusty, causing her to fall. Ruby ended up in hospital where she found her toes got cold from being stuck in a cast. Once home she wanted to help with the bushfire clean-up, but it wasn’t easy rolling in her wheelchair. When Ruby rescues a possum with burnt paws, she gets the idea to make ‘paw socks.’ As Ruby’s idea grows, the whole town becomes involved.  

Elizabeth Mary Cummings is a Sydney based author and award-winning poet. Her stories always start by exploring the world from a child’s perspective. She loves nature and is passionate about the environment.

Ruby’s Rescue is told through Ruby’s eyes. Ruby thinks about her environment and wants to do something to help animals hurt by the bushfire. The story tension quietly builds with Ruby’s frustration and awareness about the impact of the bushfire. Her desire to help animals hurt by the fire leads Ruby to come up with her own solution. ‘Dad, you KNOW what I mean! I want to help animals!’

This heart-warming story is very well written, and the simple sentences ensure that the story flows well. Ruby sees what Rusty sees. A little furry ball of possum! Ruby is a character who inspires others to believe they can do things and that they too can make a difference. Cleverly, the story is a blueprint for how it can be achieved. I love that the backmatter in this book lists steps to protect your home from a bushfire. It is a thoughtful and helpful touch. ‘We can make special gloves for the animals with sore paws.’

Cheri Hughes is an illustrator who brings characters to life with plenty of emotion and playfulness. She adores bright bold colours that create striking illustrations that are eye-catching. The vivid orange front cover is sure to attract attention. Ruby’s wild orange hair is just like bush fire colours. The rural setting is natural and warm and showcases regional Australia.  By having the community involved in Ruby’s rescue plan, it allows Hughes to stretch her creative wings and create a diverse mix of people. The illustrations support the words beautifully by showing everyone working together.  I love how Hughes brings Ruby’s character traits into the illustrations, particularly in the spread with Ruby’s thought process about how to make the mittens and what to call them. It shows children how to think about things.

Ruby’s Rescue Mission is an empowering picture book for children aged 3-8 years. The story appeals across many levels. Children learn that their ideas are important and that they can make change in their own worlds. With the themes of bushfires, animal rehabilitation and community, this book will appeal to libraries and schools as well as to families.

Stacey Casey (Book 1): The House That Time Remembers

Stacey Casey (Book 1): The House That Time Remembers by Michael C. Madden, illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781922615886

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Stacey Casey lives in the small town of Marksville with her dad, who works as an inventor in the basement of their house. She refers to him as a genius even though most of his crazy inventions don’t work. However, one day in 2022, one of his inventions works…. he has created a time machine! His invention takes them, and their current house (including its modern conveniences), back to 1964. Instead of going to school that day, Stacey, and her best friend Oliver go into town to explore what Marksville was like 58 years earlier. They are told explicitly not to touch anything and to try to remain unnoticed, but that’s easier said than done!

Stacey Casey: The House That Time Remembers is the first book in the Stacey Casey Series of fun middle grade novels, written in the first person by 12-year-old Stacey. Monochrome illustrations that complement the text are scattered throughout the pages. The fictional story includes a myriad of intriguing facts and notable events that occurred in 1964.

The next book in the series, Stacey Casey and the Cheeky Outlaw (Book 2), follows Stacey and Oliver when they travel 100 million years back in time for another adventure… this time back to a land when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Toodle The Cavoodle Whoops-a-diddle

Toodle The Cavoodle Whoops-a-diddle by Richard Tulloch & Heidi Cooper-Smith (Big Sky Publishing) PB HB RRP $24.99 9781922896018 

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Richard Tulloch is one of Australia’s great story tellers, and popular writer of children’s books, plays and television for young audiences. He is an actor and director. His television credits include Playschool and 150 episodes of Bananas in Pyjamas. He lives in Sydney and spends part of each year in his hometown of Amsterdam.

Toodle the Cavoodle is based upon an original character and concept created and developed by Maree Kirkland-Morris and Lyndi Adler. www.toodlethecavoodle.com Toodle is now a character in a picture book series.

Toodle lives in Lillipilly Lane where everybody knows and loves him. Helping people is what he loves to do but when things go wrong Toodle skedaddles away with his tail between his legs and becomes trapped. Will everybody have the street party without him, or will he be found?

Once again, Tulloch has written a clever rhyming story about Toodle, full of rich language that reads aloud superbly. ‘Whoops-a-diddle, Toodle!’ Instead of giving humans names Tulloch uses onomatopoeia which also shows how Toodle views humans. The clippy-cloppy lady had made cupcakes for a picnic. And a delightful repeat refrain has been built into the story. And Toodle skedaddled with his tail between his legs.

Alliteration is another technique that brings this story to life. And Toodle skedaddled with his tail between his legs and a little whimpering whine. Tulloch brings our senses into play and uses strong verbs at just the right moments. The smelly sneakers grandpa put his paint pot on the path. The heart moments are when it seems nobody wants Toodle’s help so he creeps away. Once found, Toodle is back to being a happy dog who forgets about everything that’s happened. Toodle raced around happily, jumping, and thumping and bumping and stumbling and fumbling and bumbling.

Cooper-Smith is a talented illustrator who is the second part of this picture book series team. Her signature watercolour and digital creations make Tulloch’s words sing. Toodle and his personality are brought to life vibrantly and true to character. She has kept Toodle consistent throughout the series and he is easily recognisable.

Another thing that Cooper-Smith does brilliantly is create the other characters and setting from a dog’s perspective. This means Toodle is often looking up at humans and the things around seem big to quite a small dog. A little bird accompanies Toodle on his shenanigans and this adds character and charm to the book. The dog behaviour is realistic, and varied perspectives create story backdrops and scenes. The colour palette is bright and realistic and matches the Australian suburban setting well.

Toodle the Cavoodle Sniffle Snuffle is a part of a picture book series for children 3-8 years that brings together the wonderfulness of dogs, friendship, and community. This book and others in the series are a delicious read aloud for young children which not only makes the book fun but are a great tool for a young child’s language development. This book appeals to children, parents, teachers, and librarians.

Toodle The Cavoodle Sniffle Snuffle

Toodle The Cavoodle Sniffle Snuffle by Richard Tulloch & Heidi Cooper-Smith (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 HB RRP $24.99 9781922765567

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Richard Tulloch is one of Australia’s great story tellers, and popular writer of children’s books, plays and television for young audiences. He is an actor and director, and his television credits include Playschool and 150 episodes of Bananas in Pyjamas. He lives in Sydney and spends part of each year in his hometown of Amsterdam.

Toodle the Cavoodle is based upon an original character and concept created and developed by Maree Kirkland-Morris and Lyndi Adler. www.toodlethecavoodle.com

Toodle lives in Lillipilly Lane where he loves sniffing stinky smells, sweaty smells, and good to eat smells. Sometimes, a little girl with sparkly sandals joins him and they go on all sorts of imaginary adventures. Everything changes the day a grandpa, and a grandma decide that the lane needs cleaning up. Toodle no longer feels wanted and doesn’t understand all this cleaning up.  What will he do now that everything’s changed?

Tulloch is a master of character creation, Toodle is endearing, totally lovable, and stays true to being a sniffy dog that loves to explore. The reader instantly knows that Toodle is a dog that wants to sniff all different sorts of smells. The opening sentence delightfully introduces Toodle and where he lives. Toodle the Cavoodle lived in Lillipilly Lane. Everybody knew him. Everybody loved him. The charming language includes lots of onomatopoeia and rhyme. Swish-swish-scritchy-scaratch!’ Tulloch creates such a warm and inviting story that a reader feels as though they are inside Toodle’s world. I could feel myself sitting in the old car with Toodle and the little girl.

 

The story flows easily and smoothly and the dialogue sings in just the right places. ‘Where are we going today, Toodle?’ asked the sparkly sandals girl, ‘How about the beach?’ Without spoiling what happens when Toodle gets into a spot of bother, the reader instantly knows that this cliff hanger part of the story puts Toodle in great danger. It is a perfect page-turner and climax.

 

Illustrator Heidi Cooper-Smith is a talented author and illustrator. Her signature watercolour and digital creations make her work instantly recognisable. She beautifully captures the appearance of Toodle and his personality. The reader knows he’s a Cavoodle and that he’s curious and sniffy. His big eyes, bouncy ways and pure cuteness make him an instant hit.

 

On the cover we see a large image of Toodle’s face as he munches a sandwich find while eyeing a ladybird on his nose. The choice of a white background makes Toodle the focus of the cover. The endpapers show Toodle’s personality and sniffy world with lots of small images.

 

Once inside the book, the illustrations, as much as the words, take us on a journey with Toodle. The perspective zooms in and out to give the reader lots of story layers about Toodle. The addition of a green tree frog watching Toodle brings in another fun character to seek out. Toodle’s expression as he barks at the ride-on mower is perfect.

 

The blue page shows a sad and worried Toodle curled up on the seat of an old car. Cooper-Smith has also cleverly included a spread with Toodle looking down from a very high point so that everything below looks much smaller. What I love the most about her illustrations is that Toodle is captured perfectly on every page.

 

Toodle the Cavoodle Sniffle Snuffle is a part of a picture book series for children 3-8 years that celebrates dogs and friendship. It’s an awesome book to read aloud to children and will appeal to children, parents, teachers, and librarians.

Toodle the Cavoodle: Sniffle, Snuffle

Toodle the Cavoodle: Sniffle, Snuffle written by Richard Tulloch and illustrated by Heidi Cooper-Smith (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781922 765772

Toodle the Cavoodle is the new children’s book series from a seriously impressive line-up of Australian talent. Toodle already has his own hit song penned by songwriter to The Wiggles, an Ambassadorship no less, and an animated series in the works.

Toodle the Cavoodle tumbles and bumbles his way through the lively Lillipilly Lane community. The bouncy, boisterous puppy knows his neighbours best from his dog’s-eye view – the grubby gumboots grandma, the smelly sneakers grandpa, the girl with sparkly sandals, and other friends. But since he shares the emotions and understanding of a young child, Toodle’s whoops-a-diddle, let-me-help, getting-underfoot antics often lead to hilarious mini-dramas, before he succeeds in bringing both old and young people together. In the end, everybody loves Toodle! 

In Book one, Sniffle Snuffle, Toodle the Cavoodle loves finding smells in the scritchy, scratchy grass. But the grandparents of Lillipilly Lane love cleaning up and finding fresh uses for junk. They’re about to turn Toodle’s favourite sniffling snuffling patch into a neat and tidy park! Oh no! What will Toodle do?

Toodle’s adventure sees him discover that he is loved no matter what — from Richard Tulloch one of Australia’s best-known storytellers.

Petbarn Foundation will donate $1 for every Toodle the Cavoodle book sold to Story Dogs assisting in the cost of training and placement of more dogs and handlers in more Australian schools.

Visit Toodle at his website for all the information on Story Dogs, Toodle events and giveaways!
Wiggle and jiggle to Toodle the Cavoodle theme song written by John Fields!

How to Be a Wonder Hunter

How to Be a Wonder Hunter, written and illustrated by Josh Langley (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781922 765406

Sub-titled Find the extraordinary in the ordinary, this book asks children to unlock mysteries, discover new worlds and go on incredible adventures. A wonder-full book, it shows children that everybody, irrespective of size, colour, or ability, already has everything they need to discover amazing and awesome things all around them. It starts with the words, ‘Life doesn’t have to just be about schoolwork, watching TV, and picking up dog poo,’ and then proceeds to tell the reader that life can be cooler if he or she becomes a wonder hunter. The wonder hunter of the book becomes an octopus, a hatted mosquito, and a variety of other animals.

It invites readers to use their senses, imagination, curious mind, and dreams to explore the world. It says, ‘When you start to notice what’s around you… it’s like finding treasure!’ It continues to invite the reader to ‘try watching a ladybird through a magnifying glass,’ watching ants to see where they’re going, and to really explore their senses.

This book with is simple, coloured illustrations is one of a series of books by Langley which ask children to find good when things seem bad, telling them it’s okay to feel the way you do, and to be wildly kind (finding the magical power inside).

The Bushranger’s Daughter

The Bushranger’s Daughter written by Michelle Worthington (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781922 765420

This is an adventurous, fast moving middle grade historical fiction about survival, second chances and searching for your place in the world. 

As a young girl growing up in an unforgiving land, Connie learns that sometimes good people need to do bad things to survive. When her pioneering family travels to outback Queensland to try and rebuild their lives, as their only surviving daughter, Connie struggles to fit into society’s expectations of her. 

The challenges keep mounting as the unforgiving climate threatens their happiness.  Devastating drought is followed by a flood that wipes out their entire flock. And then Connie uncovers the real reason behind why her father had to leave Scotland.

 When her father's past finally catches up with him, can Connie find the courage to find her own path forward and rewrite the future for her family?

A chapter book, this is aimed at readers aged 10+ years.

Stacey Casey: The House that Time Remembers

Stacey Casey: The House that Time Remembers by Michael C. Madden, illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781922 615886

Stacey Casey is a fun and adventurous middle grade series that will take kids on a wild ride into the past. On their journey, readers will discover surprising and sometimes hidden and fascinating historical facts about the 1960s. Stacey and her friend Oliver travel back in time where they encounter villains, heroes, tantalising mysteries, and intriguing adventures that will keep kids guessing. The Stacey Casey series is a wonderful combination of time travel, friendship, courage, science, history, and mystery all wrapped up in one

Stacey Casey’s father is a terrible inventor. But now, despite years of failed inventions, he has created a functioning time machine. Well…kind of! Instead of sending him back in time, he turns their entire house into a time machine, transporting everyone and everything in it. Stacey and her friend Oliver find themselves in 1965 faced with a series of extraordinary events. They find a bizarre artifact and encounter strange man who seems to know Stacey … but why is he chasing them? Who set the school on fire? And what’s with all the famous people they keep meeting? Can the friends solve the string of unanswered questions and find their way home?

This chapter book for readers aged 8+ years, has numerous black, white, and grey illustrations.                                      

There is another Stacey Casey title: Stacey Casey and the Cheeky Outlaw by the same author and illustrator.

The Bushranger’s Daughter

The Bushranger’s Daughter by Michelle Worthington (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781922765420

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace

This is an adventurous middle grade historical fiction with themes of survival, second chances, and searching for your place in the world.

When her pioneering family travels to outback Queensland to try and rebuild their lives, as their only surviving daughter, Connie struggles to fit into society’s expectations. The challenges keep mounting as the unforgiving climate threatens their happiness. Devastating drought is followed by a flood that wipes out their entire flock. And then Connie uncovers the real reason why her father was forced to leave Scotland. When his past finally catches up with him, Connie needs to find the courage to forge her own path forward.

This is a novel for readers aged 10+ years.

Flight of the Kite: A Story about Persistence

Flight of the Kite: A Story about Persistence by Penny Harris and Winnie Zhou (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9781922265814

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This illustrated book is part of an award-winning eight book series, Live and Grow, about two animals, Pinney, a hippopotamus, and Ginnie, a giraffe. All the animals in the series are illustrated and described in the first double page spread: they are Miranda Panda, Dodo Komodo, Lulu Kangaroo, Kevin, Kelly and Kylie Koalas, and Tao Tiger. On a windy day, these animal friends help Pinney and Ginnie make kites. Everyone makes a different kind of kite from a boat kite with three sails to a panda kite and more. In a great hurry, Pinney rushes out to fly his, but it quickly falls apart.

Friend Tao Tiger wisely suggests that Pinney take his time, be patient and steady and then he’ll be ready. More problems ensue for Pinney. Meanwhile all the other animals are flying their kites. Poor Pinney, back to the drawing board. Flying his kite, this time he tangles it with the other kites. Eventually, after more re-making, he succeeds in flying it.

This is a picture book about persistence and overcoming anxiety. It is written by an international award-winning animator and author and comes with a full animated video. Illustrations are full of action, in pale colours with use made of speech balloons.

The book is based on learning outcomes from Government Frameworks aligning with Social and Emotional Learning and is designed to stimulate lively discussion and deep thinking about social and emotional themes.