these long-loved things

these long-loved things by Josh Pyke and Ronojoy Ghosh (Scholastic Australia) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781761293849

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Author Josh Pyke’s dedication in the front of these long-loved things should have warned me: ‘For my mother, Catherine, and for anyone who has experienced the living loss of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.’ But no, I was a third of the way into this beautifully written and illustrated book when I realised that Josh Pyke was talking to me – about my grandfather.

Well, not really, but that’s what it felt like.

The beast that is Alzheimer’s is hard enough to face as an adult, let alone a child. ‘Why doesn’t Pop/Nanna know who I am anymore?’ is one of the most impossible questions to answer, but with these long-loved things I feel it may be a little easier.

Josh Pyke’s narrative follows a child, coming to the realisation that they are now the memory-keepers, and it is their job to remind their grandparent about the songs they once sang, the stories they told and who those people are in the photographs you’re looking at.

Ronojoy Ghosh’s bold and simple illustrations perfectly capture those precious moments, the shared joys and the recaptured memories. Together with Pyke’s words, the book is like a comforting hug – a reassurance that everything is going to be okay, that we are all loved and that memories are there forever.

Targeted at children aged between three and seven years of age, these long-loved things is the perfect shared read between a parent and a child, or even a teacher to their class – particularly if the class is involved in visits to aged-care facilities (which is the most glorious thing and should happen more often).

I wish I’d had this book when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s; it would have helped my children, and it would have helped me in more ways than I can explain. For me, the line I will take, and hold is this:

Once a memory is made, it remains. Even when it is forgotten.

Thank you, Josh Pyke, Ronojoy Ghosh and Scholastic Australia for bringing this book out into the world. Highly recommended for everyone, no matter your age, because this disease hits all of us in some way, at some time.

Your Head’s Not the Place to Store Problems

Your Head’s Not the Place to Store Problems by Josh Pyke (Scholastic), RRP $26.99 Picture Book ISBN 9-781761-293023

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Your Head’s Not the Place to Store Problems handles a serious and important topic in a language and format that is appropriate for helping our little humans work through what can sometimes be big worries. The beautifully flowing rhyme by Josh Pyke is perfectly complimented and brought to life with zany pictures by Stephen Michael King to produce an end product that would make Dr Seuss proud.

 

The story is about “a friend with a normal-sized brain that at times seems too small for the thoughts it contains.” Travelling through the pages we can see that a dog and a dragon, who are clearly mates, have too many things in their heads. The things they’re trying to carry are falling out, they’re weighing them down and making them drown. When the advice comes to set those things free, we see the things floating away and the dog and dragon become instantly lighter and more joyous. Even though the problems are still visible in the air and don’t simply disappear, “they’ll become things to learn from, not simply to fear.”

 

My son and daughter both gave this book a big thumbs up. The images of getting your worries out into the air by speaking to them has made an impression, so I give it a big thumbs up as well.

Chatterpuss

Chatterpuss by Josh Pyke, illustrated by Daron Parton (Scholastic Australia) HB RRP $17.99 ISBN: 9781760976491

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

‘Chatterpuss will talk all day, with nothing much of note to say.’ Poor Glenn puts up with her feline friend ruining their games of hide and seek, their birdwatching expeditions and their trips to the library, all because Chatterpuss is constantly talking. One day Glenn has had enough and tells Chatterpuss to ‘hush!’, so the cat leaves her alone. But before Glenn can enjoy the silence, a bully called Graham starts mocking her for having no friends. Chatterpuss comes to the rescue, gabbing at Graham from everywhere until he is completely dizzy and defeated.

 

An award-winning singer–songwriter, Josh Pyke ensures that his quirky rhyming story has a musical quality when read aloud. Kids aged three and older will love the juxtaposition of the two very different friends, and how they manage to find common ground. They will also adore the hilarious stream of consciousness that emanates from Chatterpuss as she explores the world around her with great wonder. 

Daron Parton’s brightly coloured illustrations will attract youngsters and keep them glued to the spreads. His dynamic, googly-eyed characterisation of Chatterpuss adds a whimsical layer to the story, and contrasts beautifully with the quietude of Glenn’s brown roundness.

Sure to elicit plenty of giggles from littlies as they turn the pages, Chatterpuss is a fun tale about the nature of true friendship. It offers a gentle nod to the understanding, compromise and acceptance required to maintain any close relationship.

A Banana is a Banana

A Banana is a Banana by Justine Clarke and Josh Pyke, illustrated by Heath McKenzie (Puffin) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN9781 7608916664

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

More and more publishers are commissioning media personalities and household names to write books for young readers. Justine Clarke is an ABCKids personality and singer who has collaborated with singer and songwriter Pyke to write this picture book for children aged seven and up.

The text is simple and relies on wordplay. It starts: ‘If an eggplant really grew eggs, chickens would be out of a job’ (with an odd and inaccurate picture of an eggplant that looks like a bulbous tree). And, the text proceeds: ‘If a butterfly was really made of butter, its wings would melt in the sun.’ The rest of the text follows along these lines and concludes that a banana is a banana (‘that’s what it’s called, I don’t know why.’) 

The illustrations are by Heath McKenzie who specialises in stylised digital illustrations (aiming to make them look as non-digital as possible). He’s managed to do this here, using cartoon-style, active characters against brightly colour backgrounds.

Overall the text and illustrations are amusing and will probably tickle the funny bones of children who have vivid imaginations.

Lights Out Leonard

Lights Out Leonard by Josh Pyke, illustrated by Chris Nixon (Puffin Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 978 0123793489

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Here is yet another picture book about a child who doesn’t want to go to bed, this time with the lights out. Leonard doesn’t mind the dark, but he’s afraid that monsters are there when the lights are out. Of course, his tired parents try all kinds of methods of getting him to bed with the lights out, but nothing succeeds until they find a clever trick.

This is a simple story with vivid descriptions by Leonard of the monsters he fears (such as ‘five-nosed, seven-tailed, eleven-handed, scaly-waily monsters’). Befitting the subject matter, the illustrations are all encased in dark blues with black spaces. The illustrator makes clever use of patterns with interesting shapes and spaces that perfectly capture the mood of the book.

Children with night fears will find this story helpful – and perhaps their parents will, too.