You’ll Always Be My Baby

You’ll Always Be My Baby by Jessica Urlichs, illustrated by Jedda Robaard (Penguin Random House) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781761355714

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

When a mother holds her newborn, she makes a promise: ‘You’ll always be my baby’. As the little one grows and becomes more independent, the parent–child bond strengthens through love and devotion. The bond never breaks, even when the child becomes an adult and the mother is ‘grey and old’.

Jessica Urlichs’ much-loved poem transforms beautifully into a tender and thoughtful picture book, reminding readers of any age that families are built on a foundation of affection, support and constancy, especially on ‘those harder days’. The importance of belonging shines like a beacon, drawing all into the harbour of familial happiness.

The muted colours in Jedda Robaard’s sweet illustrations wonderfully complement the gentle nature of the text. There are lovely visual links between the characters –including arms outstretched towards toddling steps, dandelion-clasping hands and lamp-lit eyelines – ensuring that relationships remain robust from page to page.

An ideal gift to celebrate the arrival of a new baby, or an emotional book for a parent to share with their youngster, You’ll Always Be My Baby will pluck the heartstrings every time it’s read. This is a book to turn to at bedtime, or when a crisis calls for a cuddle and a few calming words.

Hide and Seek Beautiful

Hide and Seek Beautiful by Nicki Esler Gill. Illustrated by Jedda Robaard. Scholastic Australia 2024. Hardcover PB. RRP $19.99. ISBN 9781761297335

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Annie and Boo are almost inseparable. Best friends since they were babies. Almost inseparable, until the day Boo and her family move away.

Together they share everything they consider beautiful: tummy tickles, dance parties, biscuit tin raids, climbing trees, and just being together, which Annie considers to be the best beautiful of all. But with Boo gone, suddenly beautiful seems to have vanished, too.

Staring at the grey sky, Annie wonders if she will ever find beautiful again. But the sky changes colour, and Annie begins to find new kinds of beautiful in everyday things that she has never noticed before. When Boo returns to visit, Annie shares the precious moments of beautiful she has discovered with her lifetime friend.

This gentle story, with the themes of friendship and finding what is lovely in the everyday rhythm of life, is suitable for young readers aged 5-8 years.  Scholastic has teaching notes available at: https://resource.scholastic.com.au/ResourceFiles/100133440_121577.pdf.

The Littlest Penguin and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade

The Littlest Penguin and the Phillip Island Parade, The Penguin Foundation and Jedda Robaard (Penguin Random House Australia) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781761341830

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Penguin Foundation raises funds to protect Phillip Island’s native wildlife and enhance the natural environment through research, conservation, and education programs.  Jedda Robaard is an Australian author, illustrator, and designer, based in Southern Tasmania. Her sweet and whimsical style is recognised internationally.

This charming story follows the journey of the littlest penguin of Phillip Island from her early days as a hatchling to finally getting courage to go out to sea for food and adventure. As she grows, the reader learns all about real-life penguins and when she returns to Phillip Island it’s hoped she’ll have a chick of her own.  

What I love about this book is the direct and simple text that speaks to a reader’s heart. Each new step the Littlest Penguin experiences, the reader does, too. The facts make the read not only a story but educational, too. Your white belly will look just like the water’s surface. And if there’s a sharp-eyed, hungry seabird looking down from the sky, the water will look grey and dark to them, just like your blue-grey feathers. The voice of the mum talking to the little penguin is warm and the love of her dad as he fusses around her is beautiful. The dialogue is perfect for the intended audience and relatable. ’You’ve grown so much already,’ her mum told her. ‘Soon you’ll be big and strong and ready to explore the ocean for yourself. You won’t be the littlest penguin for long.’

Although the book shares facts, the vocabulary used is easy to read and understand. ‘Huke! Huke! Scruffy called out to her. Although Little Penguins usually go to sea by themselves the introduction of friends Scruffy, Cheeky, and Big Chick makes their adventures enthralling. This factional story has tension and excitement and takes the reader on a truly wonderful penguin journey.

Jedda Robbard’s blue cover reminds me of blue-grey penguin feathers and the sea, a perfect choice for this book. The white title draws the eye and the little hatchling penguin, and a parent is adorable. The penguin footprints show the book is about a journey. The endpapers with the little penguin in different positions with speech bubbles is a great introduction to the character. The beginning of each chapter has an illustration and then on just about every page are beautiful watercolour images that add to the text and give visual information. Occasionally there are double page spreads of illustrations that really draw the reader’s eye and bring the story to life.

The Littlest Penguin and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade is a wondrous book for readers 6 years and older that brings real-life penguin facts and story together. This timeless book is sure to appeal as a gift for those wanting to share or learn about the Little Penguins. This stunning, hard cover book is a collaboration between Jedda Robaard, Penguin Random House and The Penguin Foundation on Phillip Island National Parks. The back of the book features a non-fiction section that adds to its appeal.

A Very Play School Christmas

A Very Play School Christmas by Jan Stradling, illustrated by Jedda Robaard (HarperCollins) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9780733342363

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Jemima’s friends have come to visit her for Christmas. She has a surprise for them – she has hidden treats all around the caravan park. Big Ted, Little Ted, Kiya, Humpty and Joey have a great time finding all of the treats, including crackers and paper chains. One of the treats is a sparkly sack for a Christmas Lucky Dip – they each put a handmade present in the sack, and then they pick one out of the sack to keep. It’s ‘the best Christmas ever!’

Kids aged three to six will adore this story featuring their favourite Play School characters. Jan Stradling keeps the text simple and straightforward, allowing the wonders of an Australian Christmas to wash over the pages. Important themes of sharing, recycling and anti-consumerism are explored with subtlety, ensuring that the joy of Christmas remains unadulterated.

Jedda Robaard has brought the Play School pals to life with an appealing spectrum of colours. Jemima’s red dress reflects the hue of the fluffy eucalyptus flowers while Big Ted’s fur glows gold like the star on the Christmas tree. Littlies will love to spy all the Aussie mates in the illustrations, from the peeking possum to the cackling kookaburras.

A perfect gift for Christmas, this book is sure to be read again and again over the holiday season. It will spark cheerful conversations about festivities, foods and all the other fabulous things that make Christmas so special.

I’m Ready for the New Baby and I’m Ready for Easter

I’m Ready for the New Baby and I’m Ready for Easter illustrated by Jedda Robaard (Puffin) HB RRP $12.99 each ISBN: 9781760891626 (New Baby) and 9781760891596 (Easter)

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

The I’m Ready series neatly fills the gap between basic concept books and narrative picture books. Aimed at three- to four-year-olds, each twelve-page board book gently introduces a milestone or event that is commonly encountered by young children, such as the arrival of a sibling or the preparations for Easter.

Written in the first person, the text invites the listening child into the moment and touches on worries that they may be having (‘Am I ready to be a big sister?’). Through positive actions, the young protagonist of each book discovers the joy within each situation (‘We read stories together and talk to the bump.’). By the end, they (and the child listener) are reassured that new experiences are exciting, and that they can cope with changes (‘I guess I am ready to be a big sister after all!’).

Australian illustrator Jedda Robaard has taken inspiration from the flora and fauna around her to produce her whimsical and endearing images. Slightly muted colours appeal to small eyes, while the curves used to create the animal characters ensure that they exude comfort and kindness.

A gorgeous new series, the I’m Ready books will take pride of place on pre-schoolers’ bookshelves. When life becomes a little overwhelming, kids will eagerly return to these books for solace and support.

Play School: the Useful Book

Play School: the Useful Book illustrated by Jedda Robaard (ABC Books, imprint of Harper Collins) HB RRP$19.99

ISBN 9780733334016

Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness

Celebrate the 50^th anniversary of this iconic Australian television program with this new edition. Play School has been an essential part of the lives of Australian children and the Useful Book chronicles some of the most favourite songs, recipes, craft, ideas and games. With a nod to our multicultural communities, the book also contains a variety of greetings and counting in other languages.

Slightly retro in its treatment of washed out sepia like colours this book is bound to be a hit, not only with parents and grandparents, but pre-schools. It encourages active participation of the child through play – which recent research proves is beneficial to children throughout their school lives.

A perfect companion to the television program, yet it stands alone as a book to be enjoyed for another 50 years. It’s the perfect gift for new parents.

Rabbit's Year

Rabbit's Year by Melissa Keil, illustrated by Jedda Robaard (black dog books)
HB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978-1-74203-175-0
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Rabbit's Year is an absolutely gorgeous picture book that young children are bound to delight in. The story is simple and written with restraint. Nothing is overplayed in either the text or the illustrations.

Rabbit knows he would be a great friend. He is generous and kind and 'usually happy'. Rabbit is also shy and lonely and consoles himself by playing music. One day, when Rabbit loses himself in his tune, its strength reaches out to the other characters of the Chinese zodiac (who all play music together) and one-by-one they join him.

The first double-spread pulls at the heart strings. In the top left hand corner there are three words: Rabbit was sad. On the opposite page in the bottom right hand corner is the saddest rabbit you will ever see. White space is used to great effectiveness focusing the reader's eye on the absolute core of the story. The illustrations are gentle and comforting and Robaard is skilled in portraying the personality and emotions of each character.

Rabbit's Year has been released to coincide with Chinese New Year and the characteristics of each of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac is expanded upon in a reference at the end of the story. This book would be a charming gift for any young 'rabbit' and one which highlights friendship and self-worth.