The Green Child

 The Green Child  by Hollie Hughes, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup (Post Wave Children’s Books)

ISBN 978-1-83627-057-7 RRP $24.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

The Green Child (part human, part plant) has spent the Autumn and Winter sleeping in the forest. She awakens as Spring arrives. It soon becomes Summer, but this is no ordinary summer. It’s hotter, drier, and browner than any other. So, the Green Child whispers a message to one small child, asking for help to save the planet. The message is spread one whisper at a time until “EVERY human knows … that the world must slow and cool”.

This story is clearly written to raise awareness in young readers about global warming and its effects on the natural environment. It also has a message of hope and belief that when everyone pulls together, change is possible. Having a childlike character initiate this change gives young children a sense of agency in how they can positively impact the world, despite their age.

The book is beautifully and simply illustrated, with a changing colour palette that reflects the narrative's seasonal shifts, making it engaging and attractive. The story is written in rhyming verse, which fosters children’s literacy development and makes it lovely to read aloud. It will appeal to parents and educators who care about the impact of climate change and want to inspire children to help protect the natural environment. It is suitable for children aged around 4-7 years.

Frog’s Tale

Frog’s Tale by Susea Spray, illustrated by Patricia F. Braga (Spray Publications) ISBN 978-1-7642083-0-7  RRP $19.60 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

“A frog on a log in a bog in the fog.”

This whimsical story follows a frog flipped off a log by a clog, a hog, and a dog, all while a girl rides a dragon. The story begins simply with a two-word sentence: “The fog.” It is told in a cumulative style, with a series of other objects and animals landing on a log with the frog, eventually toppling off into the bog.

The author, Susea Spray, purposely tells the story using simple rhyming words, repeated in short sentences. The sentences lengthen as the tension increases, and the story ends with the same sentence that it started with, giving it both a symmetry and a poetic feel. Along with the rhyme and assonance, the text is rich with onomatopoeic words such as “Squeeeeal!” “Thwunnnk” and “Splat”, scattered throughout the illustrations.

With very few words, much of the narrative is told through the beautiful, clever watercolour illustrations, which become clearer as the fog lifts, then more obscure as it descends again. The illustrations are full of action, which will engage young readers and hold their attention as they figure out what is happening on each spread.

Frog’s Tale would be a fun read-aloud book, perfect for developing early literacy skills in toddlers and preschoolers.

Auslan Alphabet

Auslan Alphabet  by Emma Memma (Puffin Books) ISBN 9781761355615  RRP $19.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Emma Memma will be well known to young children and their parents, carers and educators as a former member of the very popular children’s band The Wiggles. Emma Memma has collaborated with a team of Auslan teachers, Deaf and hard-of-hearing professionals and artists to create this bright and engaging book of the Australian Auslan alphabet.

 Each double-page spread features a large photo of Emma on one side and her friend Elvin Melvin on the other, demonstrating each letter of the alphabet in order from A to Z using hand signing. In the top corner of each page, the letter is written in both capital and lowercase and is accompanied by a diagram of the hand sign for the featured letter.

What makes the book so attractive and engaging is both the bright, colourful outfits Emma and Elvin wear and the softer-coloured backgrounds surrounding them. The photographs are clear and large, and the layout is simple and clean, making it very visually appealing. Readers can clearly see the finger positions, making them easy to copy.

The last spread of the book features Auslan hand signs for some common words such as ‘please’, ‘thank-you’ and ‘hello’. The last page also includes a QR code that can be scanned to view YouTube clips of Emma and Elvin reading and signing a range of other storybooks.

This book will appeal to children aged around 3 – 5 years. It is a perfect educational tool for teaching the Auslan Alphabet, as well as themes of diversity and inclusivity.

Find Me: In the Forest

Find Me: In the Forest by Jess McGeachin (Lothian Books)  ISBN 978-0-7344-2384-9  RRP $29.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

“This is the forest, the green blanket that wraps around our planet.”

In this beautiful non-fiction picture book, author and illustrator Jess McGeachin leads us through the six different forests of the world, where we meet the many and varied plants, animals and insects that inhabit them. Through both words and illustrations, we have close-up encounters with several of these interesting creatures and learn about their vital roles in the forest ecosystem.

As we wander from tropical rainforests to cloud forests and boreal forests, we look up at giant redwoods, look down upon winding rivers and through the tangles of twisted roots in a forest understory. All our senses are awakened with descriptions of bird calls, the smell of fire, the buzz of insects and the howl of wolves. Every page is filled with gorgeous, soft, water-coloured illustrations that evoke the mood and season of each setting. Right in the middle of the book is a beautiful fold-out page depicting a deciduous forest’s transition from the cold greys of winter to the soft yellows of autumn, the pretty blues and pinks of spring, and the bright greens of summer.

Short paragraphs of text are spread across each visually enticing page, making it both an easy and comfortable read for independent children. However, beginner readers and non-readers will gain just as much enjoyment and learning from this book because of the detailed, realistic and hugely attractive illustrations.

It is a book that I am sure children will want to come back to again and again. It would be enjoyed by younger children aged from around 3 years for the beautiful illustrations of animals, as well as by older children who have a thirst for information about the natural world.

This book is one of a series of books that McGeachin has created about nature. His other title includes Find Me: On the Coast, Lost, Deep, and High.

Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans

Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans by Zoe Gaetjens (Penguin) PB RRP $19.99 (PB) ISBN 978 1 76135 801 2

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Cleo Markson is in her final year of high school and trying to navigate the uncertainties and insecurities that often accompany this stage of life, especially when doing something new. Having a plan helps, and thanks to her sister Emmy, Cleo has several plans, including one for her final school year. Step 5 in this plan is “find your friends. Your real ones”.

Attending a four-week art school program during the holidays is a courageous move for  Cleo. Although she is anxious and insecure at first, she is determined to stretch herself and sit with her discomfort, even if it means having to look at and draw live nude models.  Making friends with self-assured Remi and outgoing and gregarious Lachlan really helps Cleo to feel more comfortable and at ease with herself and with being around others. And then there is Mattias – quiet, attractive, and somewhat aloof.  Cleo is instantly both attracted to him and unsettled by the effect he has on her, and she isn’t sure how to read him let alone how to talk to him.

This novel is much more than a teenage first-love story. We discover that each of the characters is grappling with some tension in their lives. We see Cleo work through issues around grief and anxiety and emerge more confident and assured. The novel also subtly touches on pertinent teenage concerns such as body positivity, consent and bullying.

It is a comfortable and fairly light read with nothing too heavy or disturbing for teenage readers, but there is certainly enough to keep them interested. The setting and context feel familiar, and the characters are well-formed and very relatable. It would be suitable for teens aged 14-years and older, who are looking for a traditional, contemporary romance story.

The Mystery of Colour: and how to solve it

The Mystery of Colour: and how to solve it by David Cole, illustrated by Margaux Samson-Abadie (Thames & Hudson)  ISBN 978-1-760-76542-2   RRP $34.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

This bright, enticing, hardcover non-fiction book by David Cole invites children to become colour detectives – to find out how the coloured paints and materials we use today are made, and how they were first discovered.

The book is divided into chapters, beginning with a chapter about ochre - the first colour used in artworks from as long as 250 000 years ago. This is followed by chapters on each of the six different colours. For each colour, Cole provides information on how it was discovered, its historical origins and uses, and interesting anecdotes about its significance. He then ends each chapter by discussing the ways colour is used in art, referencing the work of well-known artists from around the globe, such as Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Katsushika Hokusai and Claude Monet.

Every page of this A4-sized book is colourfully coloured in the colour corresponding to the one being described in the written text. Information is spread out over the page in short paragraphs or text boxes, making it an easy and inviting read for children.

There is a particularly Australian flavour to the book with references and examples of Australian Aboriginal rock art, current works by indigenous Australian artist Timothy Cook, as well as other famous Australian artists such as Ken Done, Margaret Olley and Grace Cossington Smith.

At the end of the book, there is a glossary and step-by-step guides to help children make their own paints and paint binders. It will appeal to children’s natural curiosity about how the world works, giving them real answers and many interesting facts to think about. It is suitable for children aged 7-11 years.

What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and skates

What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and skates Illustrated by Myke Mollard (Woodslane Press)  , ISBN 9781923350151  , RRP $24.99 (Hardcover)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Have you ever heard of a guitarfish or a greeneye spurdog? Did you know that goblin sharks have electroreceptors that help them to detect the heartbeats of their prey? Or that whale sharks swallow around 38 000 litres of seawater each day?

There are oceans of intriguing things to learn about the cartilaginous fish inhabiting the waters around us, and these are just a few of the amazing facts in What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and Skates by children’s illustrator, author educator and designer Myke Mollard.

This superbly illustrated book will fill young readers with awe and amazement as they discover astonishing details about the feeding habits, physical characteristics and quirky behaviours of these incredible creatures. It also delivers a message about the protection and conservation of the natural world - “Let’s listen to what nature is telling us.”

The layout of the book is inviting and easy to read. It is divided into three sections – sharks, rays and skates – and contains the definitions and differences for each species.  Each spread is filled with diagrams, maps, headings and subheadings as well as short paragraphs and snippets of texts scattered across the pages. The glossy hardcover and high-quality paper make it both visually appealing and durable for young readers to flip through.

What’s That? Australian sharks, rays and Skates is one of a series of non-fiction books about Australian animals published by Woodslane Press featuring illustrations by Myke Mollard. Other titles in this series include books about Australian reptiles, birds, insects, frogs, spiders and whales. ‘

Perfect for curious children aged from 6-12 years, this book will also appeal to classroom teachers looking for a great resource for developing children’s knowledge and understanding of the natural world.

 

 

Ten Naughty Numbats – Let’s Count

Ten Naughty Numbats – Let’s Count written by Grace Nolan Illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing)  ISBN 9781922896575 RRP $24.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

This beautifully written and gloriously illustrated counting picture book is one that every early educator and parent will want to have on their bookshelf.

Any children’s book with a hint of naughtiness or mischief in the title is sure to immediately capture the attention of young readers. This title is particularly clever: not only does it include the word ‘naughty’, it also features alliteration and a playful almost-pun, with ‘numbats’  being so similar to ‘numbers’.

The simple yet rich language continues throughout the book, with further alliteration such as ‘wobbly wombats’ and ‘perky possums’. The text also features smooth, unforced rhyme and a comfortable rhythm, making it perfect for reading aloud.

While appropriately sparse, every word of the text earns its place, and is brought to life by the  lively and engaging illustrations. As readers count from one to ten, they encounter vividly illustrated Australian animals that are swimming, playing, gliding, digging, or dreaming—and they are clearly having a great deal of fun. Full of movement, colour and animation, Bevington has also incorporated fun, quirky details in each spread which add freshness and humour. There are elegantly poised black swans wearing crowns, kookaburras peering through binoculars, kangaroos on pogo sticks, and my favourite, wombats wearing head-torches.

Rather than ending when the counting reaches ten, the book extends the enjoyment with four additional spreads, each featuring the animals engaged in new activities alongside different counting experiences to further reinforce early numeracy skills.

This is the first book in a series which introduces children to numbers and counting, while entertaining them with delightfully illustrated Australian furry friends and playful rhyming narrative. It will especially delight 3-6-year-old audiences who will have so much fun that they won’t realise they are learning.

Liam the Chid and the Kangaroo Warriors

Liam the Chid and the Kangaroo Warriors by Meredith Downes (Bugalugs Books) ISBN  978-1-7637733-0-1 RRP $18.99 (PB) Middle Grade Fiction

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Liam the echidna is teased and bullied by almost every creature in Boggy Creek. His ‘crime’ is that he is different from others. He also has a strong thirst for adventure and is constantly challenging himself which, unfortunately, often lands him trouble.

Liam doesn’t let the opinions of others intimidate him; instead, he stands up for himself - even against the Gang of nasty goannas – and decides he will fight back. This decision leads Liam on an epic adventure to Roo Plains, where he hopes to learn the art of combat and become a warrior. Things don’t go the way Liam had planned, however, along the way he forms strong friendships and learns a lot about himself and about what it takes to be a warrior.

This fun adventure story for 8-12-year-olds has a distinctive Australian flavour. Downes’ love of Australian landscapes and animals is evident in both the setting and the characters she has created. Her well-described cast of characters includes ‘gossiping lorikeets’, a gang of gangster goannas, Unu an unwise owl, an adorable turtle called Flip and a mob of muscley Red Kangaroos. Readers will immediately empathise with the protagonist, Liam the echidna, and will cheer for him all the way along his hazardous quest.

This is the first book in an intended series. It comes with freely downloadable Teachers’ Notes, with links to the curriculum in English, Science and HASS, making it a great classroom resource. It will strongly appeal to young readers who have a love of animals and who enjoy stories that take them on a rollicking adventure.

The AR in Sydney Harbour

The AR in Sydney Harbour by Judith Barker (Woodslane Press) ISBN  9781923350045 RRP $19.99 (PB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Award winning author Judith Barker and illustrator Janie Frith take readers on an exciting adventure exploring the stunning sites of the city of Sydney in this vibrant and richly illustrated children’s book.

We travel to iconic landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, and view Cockatoo Island and the Prime Minister’s residence at Kirribilli. We stroll through the beautiful botanic gardens; visit animals at Taronga Zoo; sail on a ferry from Barangaroo to ride roller coasters at Luna Park; and watch whales passing while eating fish and chips at Watson’s Bay.

It's not only the sites of Sydney that young readers will discover in this book. Barker has also cleverly imbedded a lesson in phonics, which is an essential skill for both reading (or decoding) unfamiliar words and for spelling. In a close reading, children will discover the many ways that letters can combine to make the sound ‘ar’ in different words (I counted six in this text). To highlight the examples of ‘ar’ sounds in the story, the letter combinations are typed in a different colour from the rest of the text, making them easily identifiable.

The story is written in rhyming couplets and is sprinkled with alliteration and assonance, which amplifies the richness of the reading experience for children. With its potential links to the Australian Curriculum in English and Humanities and Social Sciences, this book may be read for enjoyment as well as for learning.  It will find its place in primary school classrooms and libraries as a wonderful teaching resource, and in home bookshelves as an engaging and delightful non-fiction read, especially for newly independent readers aged from around 7-10 years.

It’s Trick or Treat Time

It’s Trick or Treat Time by Sara Biviano (Five Mile Press) ISBN 9781923359819  RRP $14.99 (BB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Halloween is coming up, and the best part of Halloween is going trick or treating. That means selecting a costume to wear for the occasion, which is exactly what the little girl in this story is doing. She investigates her costume box and finds that she has so many choices. It’s hard to decide whether to be a spooky ghost, a wicked witch or a big, orange pumpkin. What will her final choice be?

This charming, seasonal, simply written story is full of fun and anticipation. The brief narrative is brought to life bold and vibrant illustrations which will delight young readers.  The story would be a great stimulus for oral language development by prompting discussions about making choices, dressing up and best friends. Add in some art and craft activities and it provides a rich educational experience for young children.

This bright and colourful board book is suitable for toddlers and young readers, aged 0-4 years.

Like Comment Subscribe?

Like Comment Subscribe? by Author Kat Ost (Rhiza Edge) ISBN 978-1-76111-257-7  RRP $14.99 (PB) Middle Grade Fiction

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Becca is a 15-year-old influencer with well over 1 000 000 followers. Her Aunt Jane, who is also her manager, is pushing Becca to pump up her account by doing collaborations. But Becca doesn’t want to pump up her account; she actually wants to close it down. What she really wants is to follow her passion for writing poetry, but how can she tell her Aunt Jane and her Mum the truth when they are so invested in her social media profile?

This middle grade fiction is one of the new Rhiza-Shorts which are novellas aimed specifically at teenage readers who are seeking something shorter in length, easy to read, with high-interest, relatable topics. Whilst the language and structure are simple and straightforward, and the word count is low (I was able to read the entire book in only a couple of hours) in no way does it feel condescending for teenage readers. In fact, quite the opposite . This story taps into themes of identity, friendship, and being seen and heard as your authentic self which are pertinent topics for this age group. It also incorporates social issues that affect teens in their daily lives, such as the pressure and impact of social media, as well as their relationships with their parents.

Not only will the content and storyline appeal to teens, but the format is also designed to hook even the most reluctant readers. The print is not dense, the chapters are short, and each chapter begins with a header updating Becca’s status about her posts, her all-important follower numbers, and her mood, which is a great way to catch readers’ attention and draw them into the chapter.

Like Comment Subscribe is likely to appeal more to teenage girls than to boys as the protagonist, Becca is a girl, and there are actually no male characters in the story at all. Rhiza markets this book as having a reading age of 10+ years with an ‘interest age’ of 13+ years. I see this story having a strong appeal for the target audience of those wanting something shorter to read and for reluctant readers. I commend Rhiza’s foresight in seeing and filling this gap in the market for interesting, engaging and relevant shorter stories for teens.

Dragon Forged - Sword of the Champion

Dragon Forged - Sword of the Champion by Eric Lide (Union Square Kids, US) ISBN 9781454947752   RRP $24.99 (PB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Renowned cartoonist Eric Lide, known for his webcomics Station Square and Ozzie the Vampire and more recently for illustrating covers for Sonic the Hedgehog, has created a bright and colourful graphic novel that will strongly appeal to readers who also love fantasy, manga and playing adventure video games.

The story takes us on a quest with the protagonist Orin, a reincarnated and reluctant hero, who must find the Champion Sword to defeat the Fiendlord. The adventure is hilarious and is brilliantly portrayed through a series of visual gags that will keep readers laughing to the end.

Lide’s clever and creative switch-up of classic fantasy adventure characters, for example the middle-aged villain who is having a midlife crisis, adds to the humour while also giving the story a fresh and original flavour. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging throughout, with enough variation in layout and text density on each page to keep even the most reluctant readers interested.

Dragon Forged - Sword of the Champion is aimed at 8-12-year-olds

Crumbs

Crumbs by Phil Cummings and Shane Devries (Scholastic Australia) ISBN 9781761721168   RRP $16.99 (PB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

One cold, wintry day, Ella sits at a table waiting for her father to buy her lunch. She sees a one-legged bird begging for crumbs. People shoo it away. Then Ella sees a man “with his life in a bag on his back” asking people for help. People turn their backs on him, and although he has nothing but crumbs, the man shares them with the bird. His kindness to the bird is repaid when Ella’s dad invites him to share lunch with them.

Crumbs is a gently told story with powerful messages. On one level it is about kindness and sharing. On a deeper level it explores homelessness and social justice. It provokes thoughts about what makes people behave differently towards others. Why did Ella’s dad choose to help the man in need while others ignored or shunned him?

The parallels that Cummings draws between the bird looking for crumbs and the man asking for help is a clever use of allegory. It opens the door for adults to make the connections for children and to have conversations about the themes in the story.

The illustrations, by Shane Devries, are both as subtle and as powerful as the text. I could see and feel the coldness at the beginning of the story, and the warmth emanating at the end. Every character is illustrated in a way that fully reveals their attitudes and feelings.

This book is primarily aimed at 4–8-year-olds, however, I see it as a rich text that makes available opportunities for more in-depth, guided analysis with older children. It certainly deserves its place on the Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Books list. It is a book that will touch readers of all ages.

Sid and the Very Hard to Find Squid

Sid and the Very Hard to Find Squid by James O'Hanlon (CSIRO Publishing)  ISBN   9781486319664 RRP $26.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

What is longer than a great white shark, as heavy as a horse, has eyes as big as basketballs but has never been seen alive? It’s the rare and elusive Colossal Squid, and Sid is setting out on a quest to be the first person to spot one.

Sid loves animals of all kinds. He has a list of the ones that are really hard to find, and on the top of his list is the world’s largest invertebrate. Sid knows that to find the Colossal Squid he will need to take a deep dive into the ocean. On his adventure, Sid sees many amazing sea creatures, and he learns that quests are not only about searching for something, but also about the wonderful discoveries that you make along the way.

This book has double value for young readers. It is both a beautifully illustrated picture book with the narrative told in rhyme, as well as a book full of interesting facts about a rare species of squid and about deep-sea exploration. It has been cleverly constructed to ensure that the information does not impose on or disrupt the narrative. The story of Sid’s quest will undoubtedly arouse readers’ curiosity about the Colossal Squid and other deep-sea creatures. So, when they finish reading the story, they can turn the page to read more detailed facts about this fascinating creature and its habitat. There is also a glossary of technical, scientific words used in the book.

Suitable for readers aged 5-9 years, this would be a fantastic resource for classrooms and school libraries. Educators will be pleased to know that teachers’ notes for this book can be found on the CSIRO website.

Forbidden Journal of Rufus Rumble #2

Forbidden Journal of Rufus Rumble #2 by Nick Long (Affirm Press) Junior Fiction ISBN13: 9781922863959  RRP $17.99

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Get ready for an hilarious space (mis)adventure with a zany cast of characters.

In this second book of the Rufus Rumble Junior Fiction series, 11-year-old Rufus and the “worst space crew ever” have landed on the very inhospitable planet of Noffle, where there are no waffles. What could be worse than no waffles? Well, a lot actually.

Desperately trying to repair their rocket before the Big Pumpkin Festival so they won’t be locked up by the Noffles, Rufus and the crew face a barrage of challenges, chaos and craziness. They fight off an angry dragon with mud balls flung by a pineapple picker; climb a mountain made of teeth that threatens to swallow them; and are repeatedly spat on by an “attack-alpaca”. The tension ramps up as their deadline approaches, but for Rufus the stakes are even higher – he needs to find his missing mother, whom he now believes may have been kidnapped by the Throwbacker Government.

 As soon as readers lay eyes on this book they will be drawn in by the striking gold lettering on the cover, the irresistible title, the friendly hand-written graffiti-style font and the comic, cartoon-like drawings scattered throughout the text. They will want to begin reading at once, and when they do, they will be hooked.

The playful and creative language, whacky but relatable characters and page-turning plot make this an ideal book for young readers who love action, adventure and craziness. I see this mashup of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Kinney) and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Dent) especially appealing to children aged around 7 – 9 years who are transitioning from graphic novels to more prose dense texts. This book ends on a cliffhanger, leaving fans desperate for the next instalment.  Let’s hope they won’t have to wait too long.

Wind Atlas

Wind Atlas written by Sarah Zambello and illustrated by Susy Zanella (Thames & Hudson) ISBN 9781760764517 RRP $34.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

This beautifully crafted book does much more than answer all the questions you may have about the wind: what causes it, where it comes from, how it’s measured, the role of air pressure and temperature, the differences between sea breezes and land breezes and between tornadoes and cyclones. While it does all of this, Zambello has also cleverly woven poetry, history and literary references throughout the book, giving it the warmth and appeal of a narrative rather than an information-only text. The beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations coloured in soft, earthy tones which appear on every page add to the effect, making it as visually appealing as a picture book.

The quote from P.L. Travis’s Mary Poppins on the inside cover sets the reader up for what is to follow. Along with delivering interesting information, Zambello intersperses this with snippets of how wind has featured in classic art and literature, for example in Greek myths, the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson, novels (Wuthering Heights), children’s stories (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), David Wurtzel’s art installation, and the movie Twister. She has also included brief biographies of pioneers in the field of meteorology such as Francis Beaufort and Ted Fujita.

Another thing that makes this book engaging is Zambello’s inclusion of accounts of real events from all around the world, including Cyclone Tracy which struck Darwin in 1974, and the Mistral - a wind that impacts the Rhone Valley in France.

The reading age for this book would be a proficient nine-year-old, however, the content makes it equally relevant for much older children, up to around thirteen years. While it is not didactic in tone, it would be an excellent classroom resource for students investigating the weather, in particular facts about wind. I see it as having double value - as an interesting scientific text, as well as an enjoyable and rich reading experience.

Yanga Mother

Yanga Mother by Cheryl Leavy and Christopher Bassi (University of Queensland Press)  ISBN 978 0 7022 6831 1  RRP $25.00 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

As soon as you lay eyes on this gorgeous picture book you cannot help but be drawn in by artist Christopher Bassi’s beautiful and captivating illustrations. You will want to both linger on the cover and inside cover pages to admire the artwork, while at the same time feel the urge to turn the page and begin reading.

It is clear from the start that this story is told equally through the illustrations and the text. This in no way diminishes the power and importance of the text, which is sparse and simple (less that forty words in total) yet poetic and strongly evocative. Leavy has been meticulous in her word selection, ensuring that each precious word and phrase chosen earns its keep in conveying the message and tone of the story.

Yanga Mother is essentially a story about the unbreakable and enduring bond shared between mother and child, represented in this book by a dhugandu (grey kangaroo) and her joey. Told in Kooma language, which is written first then followed by the English translation, the story reinforces the message for children that their mother is always there for them ‘Everywhere Everywhen’.

However, reading it with a knowledge of the historical events of colonisation and the stolen generation in this country gives the work a deeper significance, and opens an opportunity for further discussion about this for older children. Indeed, Leavy directly addresses older readers at the end of the book, revealing to them the story of her own grandmother who was stolen from her family as a child.

Leavy also shares some her language with readers by including a glossary of Kooma words and their English translations.

I see this picture book as being suitable for a wide range of readers aged from three years and upwards, both as a wonderful story to read or listen to as well as a valuable resource for further discussion and education about the culture and history our First Nations people.

My Friend May

My Friend May by Julie Flett ISBN 978-1-77840-171-8   RRP $29.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Margeaux and her cat May have grown up together and have forged a special friendship. When May doesn’t come home one day, Margeaux searches everywhere for her, but sadly she is unable to find her. Margeaux misses May and worries about what might have happened to her. She is also going to miss Nitôsis (her aunty) because Nitôsis is moving to the city. That night while thinking about May, Margeaux helps her aunty to pack. What Margeaux and her aunty don’t know is that May has been accidentally packed into one of Nitôsis‘s moving boxes. What a lovely surprise for both Margeaux and her aunty when they discover her!

Gently told, and touching on themes of separation and loss, this is a tender story which will keep young readers engaged all the way to its surprising and happy conclusion. Also engaging are the beautiful illustrations, adding warmth and fun to the narrative, and bringing the characters to life. Especially evocative are the joyful scenes of Margeaux and May playing together, and Margeaux holding May in her arms.

Julie Flett is a multi-award winning Cree-Métis author, artist and illustrator and it’s easy to see why. Her unique voice is evident from the first sentence, as she directly addresses the reader:

‘I’d like to tell you a rather true story about a big black cat who started out gray.’

At the end of the narrative, Flett addresses the reader again inviting them to share their own stories about cats they have known. She also includes a letter to the reader about her inspiration for this book, followed by a glossary of Cree words and a pronunciation guide.

This book could be accessed by a range of readers on different levels, for example as a simple story about a lost pet, or the deeper themes of friendship and loss. Given that the word count is higher than most picture books on the market, I would recommend it for children aged  4- 7 years. Ideal for prompting conversations and storytelling, I see this book as being a fantastic teaching resource in lower primary classrooms.

My Cousin, My World

My Cousin, My World by Sharara Attai and Michelle Pereira (Allen & Unwin)  ISBN 9781761180972 RRP $25.00 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

In this bright and joyful picture book we meet a young girl who introduces us to her many, many cousins and her wider family circle.

They are our first friends,                                                                                                                                                                our best friends,                                                                                                                                                                               our forever friends

We discover that her cousins come from near and far; that some eat sushi, while others eat kibbeh and knafeh. One cousin speaks German and another can understand Samoan. Special events are celebrated with large gatherings of not only cousins but also aunties, uncles and grandparents. We get snapshots of her forming childhood memories - going camping, playing games, at birthday parties – which she will no doubt look back on with her cousins when they are older.

The illustrations convey lots of movement and activity, adding to the lively, joyful tone of the story. Depicting many of the characters and events mentioned in the text, they add meaning and enrich the narrative and bring it to life.

Told in simple yet poetic language, in a voice oozing with warmth, young readers will feel the love, joy and security of being part of an extended family as this story is read to them.

Suitable for children aged 3 – 7 years.