Tell Tails: An Anthology for Animals

Tell Tails: An Anthology for Animals by Nettie Lodge. PB 2022 Green Olive Press. RRP: $24.95. ISBN 978-0-6451048-3-7

Reviewed by Debra Williams

This non-fiction picture book spotlights 26 animals from around the world: the rare, the endangered, the quirky and the lesser-known species, from the Aardvark to the Zebra, and from Africa, South & South-East Africa, Australia, Central and South America, Europe. S.E. Asia, China, and Antarctica.

Written in verse and beautifully illustrated with original watercolours by Sydney artist and author Nettie Lodge, it is both educational and entertaining. It also highlights the need to respect, preserve and care for our environment and the creatures who share the planet with us. There are certainly some amazing animals that perhaps many people haven’t heard of.

This picture book would be suitable for older PB readers aged 7+ years. The books are available for purchase through www.green olive press.com, and selected bookstores. Green Olive Press is an independent book publisher based in Brighton, Victoria.

The Little Green Frog

The Little Green Frog by Jack Beaumont, illustrated by Harry Beaumont (Green Olive Press) HB RRP $24.95 ISBN: 9780648531692

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

‘On Monday, the little green frog jumped onto a lily pad.’ Over the next six days, the frog made his way across the pond, one lily pad at a time, until he ‘aimed for the bank, his seventh jump’. However, he ended up in the water. Rather than giving up, the frog swam back to the beginning, shook himself off and started again. ‘He knew he would make it one day.’

Surprisingly, this extraordinarily simple yet inspiring book was written by eight-year-old Jack Beaumont and illustrated by his six-year-old brother, Harry. At first glance, the story seems to be a straightforward counting tale, as the frog jumps onto a new lily pad each day. But the intriguing twist comes when the frog falls into the water – his choice to start the leaping sequence again rather than just climb out of the pond reveals the importance of resilience and resoluteness.

Harry Beaumont’s brightly coloured collages combine charming hand-painted elements, clever cut-outs from marbled paper, and carefully placed letterpress stamps to support the storyline, which is aimed at kids aged three to six. The naivety of his illustration style is appealing to young eyes, as the gentle spreads are uncluttered and uncomplicated.

New readers will enjoy springing through the story with the little green frog and will cheer when he gives his goal another go. In the process, they will discover the unique power of perseverance in the face of failure.