Home in the Rain

Home in the Rain by Bob Graham (Walker Books) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9781406368239

Reviewed by Ashling Kwok

Home in the Rain is the beautiful, heartwarming story of Francie and her mum who are driving home from Grandma’s in the pouring rain. The rain is so heavy and the journey so long that the car windows fog up. Francie wets her finger and writes the words ‘Mum’, ‘Dad’ and ‘Francie’ on the windows, leaving the back window free for the name of her soon-to-be sister.

Still far from home, Francie and Mum stop for a picnic. While they enjoy Grandma’s plum jam sandwiches, Francie starts to wonder what her new baby sister’s name will be. Could it be Alice, or Emma, or maybe even Zoe? Mum assures Francie that somewhere out there is a name that will fit the baby perfectly.

When Francie and Mum finish their picnic, they set off on the rest of their journey, eventually reaching their destination. By the time they get home, the name of Francis’s new sister has been scribbled across the back window.
Home in the Rain is another magnificent book from multi-award winning author-illustrator Bob Graham, who has a knack for producing high quality stories that touch the heart and warm the soul. The text is delightful and the illustrations are so endearing they bring the story to life.

Home in the Rain is perfect for children aged 3+ years and families expecting a baby. It is a lovely story about how the simple things in life can create the most memorable moments. It will captivate the hearts of young and old and become a firm family favourite.

How the Sun Got to Coco’s House

How the Sun Got to Coco’s House by Bob Graham Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 24.95

ISBN 9781406359008

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Soft understated watercolours with dark outlines create the visual scenes while the simple prose tells a story of nature and the Sun’s travels. It creeps up over snow-filled hills before it touches water and a fisherman’s hat which flies off with the wind.

The golden ball steams through the water over a whale, and sets off across bushland to cast shadows upon snow and footsteps. High in the sky it meets birds and a plane and shines through portholes. It crosses cities and waits outside windows to enter. It rises high over countrysides to awaken animals and birds, and catches travellers in their tracks, follows villagers, boats and eagles.

The Sun shines over high-rise buildings, meets the dark and makes it dawn, and then explodes into Coco’s window. It shares itself with Coco’s mum and dad still in bed, and accompanies them all to breakfast. 

When the Sun and the children have time on their hands, then, that is the best part of the day.

Always stunning and utterly thought-provoking, Bob Graham’s work is like the Sun on a cold day; welcome and refreshing, necessary and irreplaceable. Strong themes of freedom, the value of the Universe and its protection, are the motivators of this exceptional creation.

Amnesty International endorses Bob Graham’s book. ‘It reminds us that the world belongs to all of us and we have the right to enjoy life, freedom and safety.’

Aristotle

Aristotle by Dick King-Smith, illustrated by Bob Graham (Walker Books)

PB RRP $11.95

ISBN 9781406354362

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Aristotle is a witch’s cat, born with nine lives that slowly decrease because of his mischievous nature and inability to follow advice; a natural thing for the young. It is when he has been through a few near misses that he comes to understand danger.

Aristotle symbolises the very young and their thirst to discover the world. Curious and questioning, fearless and adventurous, they set out to explore the world beyond their safe patch, unable to understand the concept of danger.

This is a wonderful chapter book for junior readers that can be used as a point of discussion between teacher and student, parent and child. There is so much in this little book to talk about.

The priceless illustrations in black and white by Bob Graham, add to the strong sense of innocence and reality that the story portrays.

Tales from the Waterhole

Tales from the Waterhole by Bob Graham (Candlewick)
PB RRP $11.95
ISBN 9780763668761
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Tales from the Waterhole comes from fantastic Candlewick Sparks series for those just beginning to read. There are 27 books in the series written and illustrated by popular authors, using loved and known characters.

This four chapter book offers short stories with Morris and his animal friends that live around the waterhole of the African savannah.

Bob Graham’s easily identifiable watercolours bring to life the animals’ antics, their fun-loving characters, and the theme of friendship within a perfect blend of illustration and simple prose.

This series is produced in a new edition which is smaller than the normal sized picture book, and will fit neatly on any child’s book case.

A Bus Called Heaven

A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham (Walker Books)
PB RRP $16.95
ISBN 9781406343717
Reviews by Anastasia Gonis

A Bus Called Heaven is a superbly detailed book with strong messages on the importance of unity and community. Its story will move readers of all ages, as will the intricate illustrations in watercolour and pen that speak volumes.

An abandoned bus with the name Heaven taped to it above the front windows mysteriously appears in Stella’s street. Stella claims it for her neighbourhood and a transformation of incredible proportions begins. The word ours initiates friendships, togetherness, ideas and community spirit within the till now isolated people that lived close to, and beyond, Stella’s house.

The bus is pushed into Stella’s house but still protrudes onto the pavement. The word ‘regulations’ is scoffed at by Stella, for she has created her own regulations. With the contribution of the entire neighbourhood, the bus is turned into a leisure area. Even the graffiti gang switch style to decorate the bus with impressive artwork instead of defacing it.

The word ‘regulations’ reappears, this time in the form of a threat when the bus is towed to the Boneyard. Will Stella’s challenge to the Boneyard Boss win the neighbourhood back their bus?

New life and new beginnings are portrayed by the chicks that are discovered in a nest beneath the bonnet of Heaven.

‘This book is endorsed by Amnesty International UK as contributing to a better understanding of Human Rights and the values that underpin them’.

My Dog, My Cat, My Mum and Me

My Dog, My Cat, My Mum and Me by Nigel Gray, illustrated by Bob Graham (Walker Books)
PB RRP $ 14.95
ISBN 9781921529511
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

New life is always a great joy. Nigel Gray’s absolutely gorgeous book about birth, both animal and human, will bring great joy to readers and listeners. Simple in its approach, yet carrying a strong message, it serves to teach and entertain with the use of rhyme, repetition of main words, and numbers up to three. It also informs children about the changes in the body which herald new life.

The dog ‘was fat when she went in, but she came out thin’.  The girl takes a look. There are two puppies under the door flap of the cupboard. The cat was fat when she went in the box, ‘but she came out thin’. Three kittens are lying in a heap under the cardboard flap lid. Then mum ‘got fatter and fatter. This time I knew what was the matter’. What happened next?

Bob Graham’s illustrations are outstanding as always. The characters and all the pictures are outlined in thick black strokes which are also repeated in the text. Vibrant colours fill the pages, and the expressions on the faces of the animals and people say more than any written word could.

This is such a happy book. Its yellow cover is the perfect choice for the background colour. The front shows Mum with her swollen tummy with the girl, who is pushing a pram in which the fat dog and the fat cat stand upright. The animals appear to be smiling for some secret reason. (That’s obviously before they go into their private places behind the flaps.) The back cover has a framed picture of all the new arrivals; animal and human, with the dog licking the girl’s face.

You’ll smile when see the covers and laugh from sheer pleasure while enjoying the book. This simple and perfect book with its simple and perfect message is suitable for all ages.

A Bus Called Heaven

A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham (Walker Books)
HB RRP $27.95
ISBN9781406334197
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Bob Graham is a genius. His books sing to the soul and A Bus Called Heaven is no exception with both the text and illustrations combining to tell an inspiring and uplifting story.

An abandoned bus unites a community that had previously co-existed but not interacted. Young and old, people of all colours and denominations, join together to make the bus the central meeting point of the community. Even the local gang is encouraged to join in and rather than scrawling graffiti across the bus turn it into a work of art. Importantly, part of the settling in of the bus into the community involves the natural world: weeds, snails and birds nesting in the engine.

For me, Bob Graham's books are how the world should be. Importantly, he shows it is how the world could be if only we banded together as one. In A Bus Called Heaven it is Stella 'the colour of moonlight' who helped people believe that heaven was theirs and is something to not give up on easily.

A Bus Called Heaven is endorsed by Amnesty international UK. It is easy to see why.