Pippa and the Troublesome Twins

Pippa and the Troublesome Twins by Dimity Powell & Andrew Plant (Ford Street Publishing) PB HB RRP $26.95 9781922696298

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Dimity Powell is an award-winning children’s author who writes and reviews books exclusively for children. This is her second book about Pippa, the adventure seeking pigeon.

Pippa loves her new twin brothers, Pepi and Penn but their constant cries and need for attention is more than she can bare. She longs to fly away from her babysitting duties and seek adventure. How can she be a big sister and still have fun?

Dimity Powell has created a child-relatable story that is not only well told but filled with delightful language. Pippa loved her treetop home with its swaying branches and dancing leaves. The page turns ensure the reader wants to know what’s next and the story is well paced. Pippa is a well-formed character, and her voice is distinct.  Powell allows her carefully chosen words to show character and add flavours to the text. They looked like chunky little sacks of wheat, but all they did was squeak and eat! Her experience as a writer really shows with a tight word count and a story arc that builds, leads the reader and surprises. The simplicity of the story shows how well-crafted it is as a picture book. Strong verbs are paired with onomatopoeia and dialogue that’s used in all the right places.

Andrew Plant is an experienced illustrator with more than a hundred books under his belt. He is the second part of this successful picture book team. His use of vibrant colour is eye catching and joyful. The bright green cover with Pippa centre and her twin brothers squawking behind lets the reader instantly know what this book is about. He has cleverly crafted movement and personality to the three birds. Their faces, particularly their eyes visually speak to the reader with much emotion. My favourite double page spread is when Pippa is babysitting the twins. There are only eleven words used and this has allowed Plant’s illustrations to show how pesky and annoying the twins are. Plant uses a mix of single-and double-page spreads and changes perspectives by zooming in and out from their tree. The scary page with a close-up of the prowler’s face expertly showcases a pivotal moment in the story.

Pippa and the Troublesome Twins is a picture book for children 3-8 years that showcases being true to yourself, being adventurous, and family. The book sings as a read-aloud and is appealing to children. It relates to a small child’s world and reflects what happens in families when new siblings arrive. I love that the role of becoming a big sister is showcased. This is a book that will appeal to children, parents, and schools.  Teacher notes accompany this lovely book.

This is My Dad

This is My Dad by Dimity Powell, illustrated by Nicky Johnston (EK Books) PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781922539076

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace

Sub-titled ‘The perfect dad isn’t always a father,’ This is My Dad is a picture book inspired by teacher-librarians who noticed the lack of stories reflecting children who have never known a ‘father figure’. The story explores this family dynamic experienced by millions of children, in a positive and creative way. It tells the story of Leo, whose normal love of show and tell turns to dread when he is asked to talk about his father, who he has never known. ‘How can I celebrate someone I’ve never met?’ he worries.

He imagines his father a world-renowned surgeon, a first class-hydrochute, or even just a frisbee-throwing dad. He asks his next-door neighbour to come to show and tell, but he says he’s too old. His solution – to take along his mother for show and tell – is ingenious and proves that families come in many shapes and sizes. 

The illustrations are soft and cartoon-like and add to the book’s overall feel.

This book would suit children aged 6 years and older.

At the End of Holyrood Lane

At the End of Holyrood Lane by Dimity Powell and Nicky Johnston (EK Books) PB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781925335767

Reviewed by Anne Helen Donnelly

Flick is like any other little child. She likes dancing with butterflies, tumbling through leaves and basking in the sunshine. But, she never knows when it will storm at her house. These storms smother the sunshine and ransack the fun. And when these storms are very loud, they make her ears hurt and her head throb. They make her feel smaller than she really is.

So, Flick has learnt to hide away from the storms. She has found really great places to hide and she can hide for a long time. But one day a monstrous storm strikes. It is darker and louder than ever before. She tries to ignore it, but it leaves her sodden and shaken and brings her to finally act. She seeks help. And it works. The storm leaves and the sun comes out, and it never storms again.

This is a sensitive book with a message of hope, bringing to the fore a child’s perspective of domestic violence and how it makes the child feel. This book should strike a chord with any child who has experienced any domestic violence and will afford a glimpse of such a situation of anyone who hasn’t. The uplifting ending will give hope to readers that help is at hand and send the message that regardless of how young you are, you can change things.

At the End of Holyrood Lane is a children’s picture book for children ages 6 and up. It is beautifully illustrated with gentle pictures that convey the varied emotions of this story. It has been endorsed by organisations including Act for Kids, Paradise Kids and Think Equal.

The Fix-it Man

The Fix-it Man written by Dimity Powell, illustrated by Nicky Johnston (EK Books) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-925335-34-7

Reviewed by Elizabeth Vercoe

Grief, love and loss are a natural part of life and The Fix-it Man broaches them all. In the hands of Dimity Powell and Nicky Johnston, the treatment of this often challenging subject is accessible, masterful and most importantly of all, age-appropriate.

A young girl believes her dad to be the king of fixing things. After the death of her mother, both the child and her father discover that broken hearts are not as easily repaired as damaged toys or cracked teapots.

The media release calls this, ‘A hopeful story of life, loss and love,’ and it is definitely that. It is also a celebration of what children do so well – living in the moment. It is important to note that this is a book for everyone, not just those who are moving through the challenges of grief and loss. It’s divine.

What is not spoken out loud through the text is delicately conveyed through detailed pen and wash illustrations. Together the text and images work in tandem to create a colourful, uplifting and profoundly affecting narrative. I particularly love the snippets of rhyme which provide an unexpected change of pace at significant moments.

The ability of this work to travel into sadness and move through to the other side with joy is remarkable. Every element of this picture book has been explored deeply, to create a work of strength and hope.

The story, with its subtle directives for dealing with grief and loss in young children, cuts to the heart of what it means to live and to love. Reading this book actually warmed my heart.This is a simply beautiful picture book for 4-8 year olds.

Substantial teachers’ notes from the author are also available.

Blog Tour: Dimity Powell and PS: Who Stole Santa's Mail?

We're on the home stretch to Christmas and today Buzz Words hosts someone who knows more than most about Santa. Dimity Powell's new book is PS: Who Stole Santa's Mail? (Morris Publishing Australia). There's also my review at the end of our chat with Dimity and a chance to win a copy of her book.

Q. Hi Dimity, Thanks for dropping by. Other than writing, what else do you love? 

A. Food; cooking it, eating it and growing it. Oh and the feeling of the breeze on my cheeks when I’m reaching along on a sail boat. I suppose the real answer should be my family but for some reason ‘ice cream’ keeps popping up in my mind. I really, really love ice cream. But I can’t eat ice cream and write and sail at the same time.

Q. What were you in a past life (if anything) before you became a writer?

A. Waitress, Activities Supervisor, Chef de Brigade, Stewardess aboard a super yacht, Charter Liaison Officer, Director of Marketing. That’s in this life. Not sure about a past, past life … but I wouldn’t have minded being a pelican.

Q. Describe your perfect day. 

A. Any of my days would be perfect if I could get a perfect night’s sleep!

A day filled with kind words, kind smiles, kind encounters, kind outcomes and kind weather would be ideal. A large bowl of ice cream would end it perfectly, of course.

Q. What five words best sum you up?

A. Tenacious, weird, organized, talented, diligent. (Not all these are self-attributed)

*****

PS: Who Stole Santa's Mail? by Dimity Powell, illustrations by Scott Anastasi (Morris Publishing Australia)
PB RRP $15.99
ISBN 9780985914714 
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

There's no time of the year more exciting for kids than Christmas. But when best friends Tobii and Sam go to post a letter to Santa they discover that the post boxes are going missing. No one pays them any attention. Matters go from bad to worse when Sam's little sister Maddie is kidnapped and the boys have to really save the day. With a bully brother, an evil elf, a stolen sister and more, this certainly will be a Christmas to remember.

Dimity Powell has written a highly original, fast-paced action adventure for younger readers with twists and turns around every corner. Readers will love how it is the kids who solve the mystery, rescue Maddie and save Christmas. But will they get what they want for Christmas?

WIN! In conjunction with this blog tour, you can go in the draw to win one of three copies of the book PS: Who Stole Santa’s Mail?. Send the answer to this question: 'What do you think Santa wants for Christmas?' to submissions@morrispublishingaustralia.com In the subject line put, PS: WSSM entry. The competition will close at midnight on November 30th  2012.

All entries will be assigned a number, and that number will be put in a draw. The winners will be notified by email. The book can be purchased at your local bookshop. If it is not in stock, please ask them to order it for you. A signed copy can also be purchased from http://morrispublishingaustralia.com

For the next stop on Dimity's blog tour tour visit From Hook to Book on 8 October. For the previous stop see Alison Reynolds. Check out all of Dimity's blog tour stops.