The Cheeky Toddler Alphabet

The Cheeky Toddler Alphabet by Davina Bell and Jennifer Falkner (Hachette) HB PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780734422101

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Davina Bell is an award-winning and bestselling author. What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say was the winner of the ABIA Children's Picture Book of the Year Award 2023 and a CBCA Notable Picture Book of the Year 2023.

Jennifer Falkner is a critically acclaimed illustrator.

The Cheeky Toddler Alphabet is an A-to-Z celebration of the chaos and tenderness of the toddler years – the ones that bring the most incredible joys and frustrations. The times as a parent you wouldn’t trade for anything, or would you?

Bell is skilful and masterful with her use of words and how she layers meaning. She knows how to pull on heart strings and capture the magic of the everyday. You may think this is just another alphabet book but don’t be deceived. The story weaving with each letter makes reading this book fun for both child and parent. It really does have dual appeal. It feels like you are chatting with your toddler as you read along. A is for aeroplane, all-gone and ant. And the apple you bit and then dropped in a plant. B is for bubbles and bee-buzz in blossoms. For bruises and bottles and bare bathtime bottoms. The choice of words and writing techniques used like wonderful alliteration make this book sing as a read aloud. Bell is always highly original and inventive when she writes, and she captures hearts so well.

Falkner’s lush illustrations bring out the imaginary world of a child so delightfully. The characters of mother and child are touching and show a love bond that is much more powerful than words. She has captured the joy, innocence and learning of toddler years with such heart and detail. Everything is new for a toddler and those moments are captured in a way that show both the joys and frustrations. The illustrations are like a song with the words and pattern of the alphabet being a framework for a regular rhythm of both loud and soft visual storytelling. She uses full pages, double spreads and vignettes to great effect.

The Cheeky Toddler Alphabet is a tender, playful read for children aged three years and up.

This book is sure to appeal to parents, toddlers, preschoolers and early-childhood teachers. It is structured in a way to not only be fun but also educational.

Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet

Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet by Ashleigh Barton and Peter Cheong (Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN: 9780734422903

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

We’ve all met someone who knows everything about their passion topic – maybe that person is even you! But, you may not have met a child quite like Freddie Spector, Fact Collector.

Freddie loves facts; he loves collecting them, he loves leaving them on sticky notes all around his house, and he loves sharing his knowledge with everyone around him. Not everyone is as enthusiastic about Freddie’s facts as he is – except Mr Lahoud who runs the newsagency and keeps Freddie supplied with sticky notepads – but nobody really seems to mind too much.

When Freddie finds out that his school, Becker Heights, is going to be treated to a virtual visit with Astronaut Lilly Jun from the International Space Station, he naturally becomes obsessed by everything space-related. His fact-finding ramps up a notch when Freddie becomes one of only five students chosen to ask Astronaut Lilly a question.

Then, the unbelievable happens.

Hearing a huge bang from his neighbours’ house, Freddie investigates and discovers a huge hole in their backyard. If that isn’t weird enough, strange things start happening in the following days and Freddie, along with his sister Henrietta, are convinced it can only be one thing – and I’m sure you can guess what that might be – and they secretly, and a little nervously, set about finding out as much as they can.

Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet is action-packed and space-fact-filled right from the first page. Author Ashleigh Barton has really captured the thirst for knowledge and the powerful imagination of children, and has crafted relatable and likeable characters – from Freddie and his sister, through to Aunty Lou and Mr Lahoud. Peter Cheong’s simple but expressive illustrations complete the story.

If I was still teaching, I would have loved to use Space Cadet to introduce and supplement a unit of work in the Earth Sciences. Space is a subject that fascinates a wide audience of children (and adults) and Ashleigh Barton has approached the topic in a fun way that is suitable both for space novices and the more ‘informed’ reader. With its imaginative appeal and upbeat pace, the story will also engage readers who may not otherwise be interested in the subject matter.

Perfect for independent readers aged 7–10 years and beyond, Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet will also make a fun read-aloud that can be enjoyed by parents and their younger children, or teachers with their class, and spark many discussions and new fact-finding missions.

 

Lose You to Find Me

Lose You to Find Me by Erik J. Brown (Hachette), RRP $19.99 PB ISBN 978-1-444-97002-9

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

In this YA novel, 17-year-old Tommy is passionate about baking and wants to make that his profession. He’s been working as a waiter in an old people’s home, Sunset Estates, to get the experience he needs to be considered for one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the US. He has one shot to be accepted into that school and pins all his hopes on it: it’s the school his deceased father attended before having to drop out to spend the rest of his life working in the family business.

Openly gay to his friends (but not yet to his Mum), Tommy’s life is busy with school, work, attending parties with his close circle of friends who also work at Sunset Estates, hanging out with his super-intelligent best friend Eva, and having the occasional drunken hook-up with an ace from the hockey team, Brad, who hasn’t come out as gay yet.

When his childhood crush, Gabe De La Hoya – the first boy who unconsciously helped Tommy to realise he was gay as an 11-year-old – walks into Sunset Estate as a new trainee waiter and back into Tommy’s world, Tommy’s heart flips and he does everything he can to become more than just friends with gorgeous Gabe. But Gabe is in another relationship; one that Tommy has a bad feeling about. Tommy oscillates between moping and trying new schemes to get Gabe’s attention, such as enlisting Gabe’s help to create an impressive video of him baking to support his culinary school application. But even that is not to be.

In the first half, this coming-of-age story is a little slow and predictable with teenage crush antics. However, the second half surprises, shocks and has the reader rooting for Tommy as the characters are developed and sub-plots are revealed and woven together. It’s hard to not shed a tear at Tommy’s mum’s response to his coming out to her. And true to the book’s title, Tommy eventually realises that his life has other equally fulfilling and wonderful options other than what he spent so long believing to be his only path. The life realisations of the other main supporting characters are equally satisfying to read about and the conclusion leaves the reader happy. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read, appropriate for readers aged 15 years and over.

How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures

How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures by Sami Bayly (Hachette) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780734421364

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Award-winning author and illustrator Sami Bayly loves exploring interesting and extraordinary creatures, those that don’t usually get a lot of attention. This time, Sami goes on an underwater journey to discover a myriad of unusual deep-sea dwellers.

The audience follows Sami, in her yellow diving suit, on a deep dive through each of the five different ocean zones as she discovers a myriad of weird and wonderful sea creatures. As Sami and the deep-sea creatures converse (depicted in speech bubbles), readers learn about the important features of each of these incredible sea creatures, and how they have evolved. Sami meets a giant oarfish, a tripod spiderfish, and a hadal snailfish among many others. The final double-page spread includes a host of fascinating facts about 10 more surprising deep-sea creatures.

How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures combines a gentle narrative with fun facts, making it both informative and entertaining for a young audience. This picture book is highly recommended and is sure to delight any inquisitive primary school student

The Wonderful Scared Book

Can you tell readers about your new picture book?                                                                 The Scared book is a quirky interactive picture book. The book itself is scared of monsters. It asks readers to help it by blowing away the butterflies that are tickling its insides and flicking the monsters away etc. It will be released on the 29 August!

Why did you choose Hachette as your publisher?  I’m embarrassed to say that it was purely circumstantial! I had recently come up with the idea and written the manuscript when I found myself at Hachette for an open day that was organized by the Emerging Writers Festival, in October 2015. The children’s publisher (Lothian is the children’s imprint), Suzanne O’Sullivan was one of the presenters, and over bubblies at the end of the day I plucked up the courage to ask her if I could pitch a book idea. She graciously accepted. My pitch was very simple and she loved the idea, gave me a card and told me to email it to her. I did, and within a week she had gotten back to me with “Such a terrific concept! I really enjoyed it. Are you open to revising the text a bit, to strengthen it further? It was all a bit surreal! You can read more about this experience on my blog here http://www.debratidball.com/blog/a-new-book-on-the-way And the publisher here: https://www.hachette.com.au/kids

How long did it take from submission of your manuscript to receipt of advance copies? 

Short answer: just under two years. Long answer:  it has been a bit convoluted. The book I initially submitted to Suzanne in October 2015 is not quite the one that it is now! I kept running into Suzanne at various events at the beginning of 2016 and she kept updating me on the progress of my book through the system of approvals – acquisition meetings etc. Just as Hachette was about to make me an offer, I threw a spanner in the works by telling Suzanne at the CBCA conference in May that I had another manuscript in a similar vein, and would she like to see it. She did. I sent it. She felt it was ‘More commercial’ than its cousin so we would publish this new one, and so the process started again (albeit relatively truncated)!

Which editor did you work with at Hachette?                                                   I worked with Suzanne O’Sullivan who is insightful and immensely respectful with making suggestions. As the book is an unusual concept, there was the initial refining of the idea to make it work. I love that Suzanne took her time to mull over ideas in the beginning phase although at times the wait felt interminable! As the deadlines got closer, so too did the email responses, and Suzanne was always ready to hear from me and address any issues.

As the book was sent off to the printers, Hachette called a meeting with the team and both myself and the illustrator. It was a delight to hear the enthusiasm of the publishing house about the book and meet the wonderful illustrator. It was a pleasure to work with the team at Hachette.

Who is the book’s illustrator?                   

Kim Siew is an illustrator and mural artist who works under the name of Akisiew (a-kiss-u). She has a gorgeous website and Etsy shop: http://akisiew.com. This is her second book and first trade published book. She brought an edgy freshness and added another layer of quirk and heart to my already quirky manuscript – I love her concept for the illustrations. Pure brilliance!

Have you written other books for children?                                                    When I see Grandma was published by Wombat Books in 2014. It is on the Premier’s Reading challenge and was shortlisted for the Speech Pathologist Book of the Year.  I also have several other manuscripts that do the rounds of slush piles around the country!

Do you belong to a writing group? And/or a mentor?                                       I started attending a writers group less than two years ago at the NSW Writer’s Centre. I don’t know what I’d do without them now! The help give me courage and inspire me in many ways, including to attend events like the one that led to my book deal!

Di Bates has been an encouraging mentor – over the past year or so I have been her facebook admin in return for manuscript assessments! What a generous deal on her part!

What are you working on at the moment? Do you only write picture book texts?                                                                                                                  I am busy organizing launch things for Scared – blogs etc as well as sending off other picture book manuscripts – keeping an eye on the various publishers as they open or close their books!

I also love flash fiction and have a poem/flash fiction accepted by the School Magazine, which I’m excited about. And I have a few longer stories that Di Bates has helped me with, sitting in my bottom drawer! I also have an early reader idea that has been haunting me for a number of years –when promo for Scared is out of the way,I think I’ll get back to that.

What else do you do in the children’s book world?                                           I am a committee member of my local CBCA sub branch; I blog for Just Write for Kids (the first Friday of each month I feature an author whose career is taking off); I am a Creative Kids Tales member and a member of the Greenleaf Talent team and do school visits where I have been delighted to the response as I’ve ‘road tested’ The Scared Book.

No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole

No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole by Peter Gouldthorpe (Lothian/Hachette)
PB RRP $17.99
ISBN 9780734412799
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

No Return first emerged as a hard back picture book in 2011. Now Lothian have published it as a paperback, however there is no separate map which accompanied the hard back version. My review of the original publication was posted on Buzz Words Books on 15th November 2011.

Tasmanian-located Peter Gouldthorpe is a CBCA award winning author/illustrator and his talented artwork is showcased in this recounting of the race to the South Pole by Robert Falcon Scott.

Lieutenant Scott heads The National Antarctic Expedition in 1901, sailing from London in the Discovery. He hopes to fulfil his dream of being first to reach the South Pole. A secondary purpose is to gain scientific knowledge of plant life, the climate and the geology of this frozen land.

Among Scott's party are Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson and 19 huskies. The men trek to within 850 kilometres of the South Pole, but are forced back by terrible deprivation and the loss of all the dogs. Nevertheless, they remain there for two years before arriving back in England in 1904 with their data of new scientific discoveries. Scott is hailed as a national hero and promoted to Captain.

Interest revives in the South Pole after Robert Peary conquers the North Pole in 1909 and Shackleton’s own expedition to Antarctica comes close to reaching the Pole. Scott, spurred on by this news, forms a second expedition funded by himself. On June 1, 1910, the Terra Nova sets sail for Australia. While docked in Melbourne, to Scott’s dismay, a telegram arrives to say Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, was challenging him in the race to the Pole.

Once in Antarctic waters, it takes a month for the ship to navigate through the pack ice. The Terra Nova anchors off what is now called Cape Evans, and the preparations for the race to the South Pole begin in earnest. Within two weeks, a hut is built to house the men in the bitter Antarctic winter ahead.

Scott sends out two exploration parties. One returns with the news that Amundsen's ship has anchored in the Bay of Whales. Scott works out that the Norwegian will be 97ks closer to the Pole than his own party. Wondering whether his rival will reach the Pole first must have lain heavily on his mind through the long winter months.

The many experiences of the twenty-five men who remain behind after the ship returns to New Zealand are recorded in both text and brushwork. Peter Gouldthorpe's detailed and powerful illustrations magnify the horrendous conditions and challenges Scott's exploration party face. -44°C temperatures without modern thermal clothing would have been daunting enough, but along with the blizzards, the men suffer fatigue, hunger, frostbite, painful snow blindness, and loss of companions and horses (whose meat provided valuable food). The picture book's title is well chosen and the reader is in no doubt of the outcome.

No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole pays homage to Captain Scott and his team. Their courage, determination and sacrifice is an inspiration and has reserved them a well-deserved place in history. A map is printed on the last page of the book showing the adventurers' routes. There is also a time line which is an excellent tool for an instant overview of the race to the South Pole.

NO RETURN Captain Scott’s Race to the Pole

 Captain Scott's Race to the Pole (No Return) by Peter Gouldthorpe (Lothian/Hachette)
HB RRP $28.99
ISBN 978 0 73441 220 1
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Peter Gouldthorpe is a CBCA award winning author/illustrator and his talented artwork is showcased in this recounting of the race to the South Pole by Robert Falcon Scott.

Lieutenant Scott heads The National Antarctic Expedition in 1901, sailing from London in the Discovery, specially built for hazardous ice conditions. Apart from gaining scientific knowledge of plant life and unearthing geological secrets, Scott hopes to fulfil his dream of being first to reach the South Pole.

Among Scott's party are Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson and 19 huskies. The men trek to within 850 kilometers of the South Pole, but are forced back by terrible deprivation and the loss of all the dogs. Nevertheless, they remain there for two years before arriving back in England in 1904 with their data of new discoveries. Scott is hailed as a national hero and promoted to captain.

Interest revives in the South Pole after Robert Peary conquers the North Pole in 1909 and Shackleton’s own expedition to Antarctica comes close to reaching the Pole. Scott, spurred on by this news, forms a second expedition funded by himself. On June 1, 1910, the Terra Nova sets sail for Australia. To Scott’s dismay, a telegram arrives while docked in Melbourne to say Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer was challenging him in the race to the Pole.

Once in Antarctic waters, it takes a month for the ship to navigate through the pack ice. The Terra Nova anchors off what is now called Cape Evans, and the preparations for the race to the South Pole begin in earnest. Within two weeks, a hut is built to house the men in the bitter Antarctic winter ahead.

Scott sends out two exploration parties. One returns with the news that Amundsen's ship has anchored in the Bay of Whales. Scott works out that the Norwegian will be 97 kilometers closer to the Pole than his own party. Wondering whether his rival will reach the Pole first must have lain heavily on his mind through the long winter months.

The many experiences of the twenty-five men who remain behind after the ship returns to New Zealand are recorded in both text and brushwork. Peter Gouldthorpe's detailed and powerful illustrations magnify the horrendous conditions and challenges Scott's exploration party face. -44°C temperatures without modern thermal clothing would have been daunting enough, but along with the blizzards, the men suffer fatigue, hunger, frostbite, painful snow blindness, and loss of companions and horses (whose meat provided valuable food). The picture book's title is well chosen.

Captain Scott's Race to the Pole (No Return) pays homage to Captain Scott and his team. Their courage, determination and sacrifice is an inspiration and has reserved them a well-deserved place in history. A poster showing maps and a time line is included with the book and is an excellent tool for an instant overview of the race to the South Pole.

Come Fly With Captain Kangaroo

Come Fly With Captain Kangaroo by Mandy Foot (Lothian/Hachette)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9780734411945

Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

The title of this colourful in-house picture book is an immediate indication of being the ideal choice for parents anxious to prepare a child for his/her first flying experience. For once a book can be judged by its cover!

Australian fauna are the airport staff and crew, and the bouncy rhyming text guides children through every step of catching a plane for a flight within Australia, from the moment of arrival at the airport to the flight itself. The text includes great action words such as loading up, bumpy, the click-clack of seat belts, the thump! thump! of the wheels when landing. Mandy Foot’s brilliant illustrations are imaginative and zany, and the only small flaw was that the animals were not shown to be wearing seat belts. I liked the inside cover illustrations of luggage of various sizes and shapes.

Come Fly With Captain Kangaroo is a fun read as well as being practical and educational. Not only will it be enjoyed before or during a flight but afterwards it is sure to prompt a child’s recollection of their own experience of air travel which, hopefully, was just as pleasurable.

Wombat Went A’Walking

Wombat Went A’Walking illustrated by Lachlan Creagh (Lothian/Hachette) 

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9780734412645

Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Wombat Went A’Walking is an in-house picture book which can be read or sung to the tune of “Frog Went A’Courting”. The lyric and musical score is printed on the back page. Wombat is invited by Turtle to dance with him to a party in the bush, and on the way they invite other Australian animals and birds to join them.

I like the way the simple storyline demonstrates the benefits of inclusivity – that by joining in, everyone can have lots of fun. Toddlers will enjoy identifying the bush creatures, depicted in a lively and amusing way by this Brisbane freelance illustrator/animator. The bright double spreads boost the effect of dancing and movement and undoubtedly enhances the reading experience. Swirls of text include coloured action-words to further emphasise the dancing concept.

Wombat Went A’Walking is a great souvenir idea for tourists as well as a delightful book for pre-schoolers.

Uncommon Criminals

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter (Lothian/Hachette)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978 7344 1193 8

Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

For readers hooked by Heist Society the second book, involving Katarina Bishop and her crew, will not disappoint.

Kat is determined to shake off the “thief” image of her family background although she does not hesitate when it comes to returning stolen art or jewellery to its rightful owners. But a heist involving the Cleopatra Emerald is another matter, one her Uncle Eddie has forbidden. When an elderly woman, Constance Miller and her grandson Marshall ask Kat and Hale, her close, fabulously rich teenage friend, to do this very thing, Kat is in a quandary.

A decision is made to do the heist after Kat and Hale are told that they have been recommended by Romani Visily, a sacred name used only by the best thieves for the most worthy causes. Also, Kat’s confidence levels are high, having just returned to New York from a successful solo mission to Moscow.

Even though the 97 karat Cleopatra Emerald is known to be cursed, Kat is more concerned that her relatives gathered in Paraguay (or Uraguay – she is never quite sure) will find out their intentions. Gabrielle, her beautiful cousin is in town and the three teenagers set out to formulate a plan to somehow grab the emerald from its present owner, auctioneer Oliver Kelly. The Kelly Corporation is bringing the gem to New York.

The Cleopatra Emerald is the most heavily guarded gem in the world and all attempts in the past to capture it, including the ones by Kat’s uncles, failed. But with clever planning and a visit to reclusive Uncle Charlie in Austria for a replica emerald, the heist is carried out and the genuine emerald returned to Constance Miller. And then Constance Miller appears in a TV documentary and Kat knows she has been conned – brilliantly conned. The real Constance Miller in the documentary is not the elderly woman Kat met. When Kat next sees that woman she is once again on TV calling herself Margaret Brooks and claiming to have discovered the Antony Emerald, the other half of the Cleopatra. She announces the gem will be auctioned.

Devastated by her mistake, Kat is equally determined to redeem herself by besting Maggie Brooks, undoubtedly a superb thief, maybe the most accomplished in the world.

Ally Carter’s highly sophisticated storyline and enigmatic writing skills are a delight to the reader. The problems presented to the heist crew seem insurmountable, but each teenager has vital talents to contribute. Kat, Hale and Gabrielle are joined by Simon, a computer genius, twins Hamish and Angus Bagshaw, Nick whose mother, Amelia is with Interpol, and Marcus, Hale’s chauffeur, to foil Maggie and secure justice for the real Constance Miller.

Against a lavish background involving Hale’s private jet and yacht, the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Palace, Kat Bishop, with the backup of the heist crew, uses all her thief skills and experience to bring this mission to a stunning end. I can highly recommend Uncommon Criminals.

Monster High

Monster High by Lisi Harrison (Atom/Little, Brown/Hachette)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-90741-063-5

Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Monster High is the first in a humorous, clever series written by New York Times best selling author, Lisi Harrison. The author has teamed with the brand giant, Mattel, who will release Monster High merchandise in April 2011 to coincide with the next instalment.

The story revolves around two teenagers, Frankie Stein, whose grandmother was the Bride of Frankenstein, and Melody Carver. Frankie is the creation of her scientific parents, monsters Victor and Viveka, complete with green skin, batteries, bolts and seams. In a matter of days, Victor will fill her brain to the point where she will act and think as a fifteen-year old girl.

Melody Carver is moving with her family to Salem, Oregon, where she will attend Merston High. Melody’s looks have been enhanced by her plastic surgeon father, primarily to change her very large nose and reduce breathing problems as she suffers from asthma. It was asthma which had stolen her one amazing attribute – the voice of an angel.  Her hopes that the operation will enable her to sing again do not eventuate, but she has a new and very pretty face, and has lost weight. She hates how everyone treats her differently now that she is attractive, and downplays her looks in every way.  

About to attend high school after being schooled at home, Frankie is also determined to be accepted as she is, green skin and all. Her parents warn her she will have to cover her skin with thick makeup (Fierce and Flawless) as they do, to be accepted into normal society, otherwise she will freak out the normies and there would be dire consequences for all monsters or RADS – Regular Attribute Dodgers.  After a disastrous tryout at another school, Frankie quickly discovers her parents are right.

Merston High is where the normies and RADS connect – especially at the Monster Dance. The normies are determined to show they are not afraid of the rumour that monsters are abroad. Once again, Frankie and her RAD friends attempt to bridge the gap between the two groups. It is a spectacular failure. Furthermore, Frankie and Melody find themselves competing for the affections of Jackson, a RAD with Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde personas. Nevertheless, they are equally determined to fight on in the battle for love and universal acceptance.

Lisi Harrison’s fresh twist on romance, teenage angst and the challenge of fitting in has produced a highly entertaining and imaginative, if freaky, read.  It has the hallmark of success.