The Bad Tooth Fairy

The Bad Tooth Fairy by Kathy Creamer (Little Pink Dog Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9780645418460

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Hally Toe-Siss loves the fairy dust made from kids’ teeth because he can use it to cast lots of silly spells. But when he realises that he has run out of fairy dust before he’s had the chance to perform a party spell for the Fairy Queen’s birthday, he doesn’t know what to do. Eventually, he decides to find a wobbly tooth and pull it out – but the child accidentally swallows it. Then he steals a grandma’s dentures and turns them into a toothy throne for the Queen. He’s rewarded with a large supply of fairy dust, which he uses to make a new set of teeth for the grandma.

Kathy Creamer turns the traditional notion of the nice tooth fairy completely upside down with her impish protagonist, and kids aged five to nine will laugh at every mischievous thing he does. Clever character names – Hally Toe-Siss, Ginger Vitus, Pearly White, Denton – add an extra-entertaining layer to the toothsome tale, and readers will cheer when Hally Toe-Siss brushes aside his naughtiness to show his sweet nature at the end.

Kathy’s vibrant illustrations are brimming with delicious details, from the Queen’s molar crown to the pot of gold filled with coins from around the world. Youngsters will pore over the delightfully diverse faces of the fairies as they fly off to visit their children, and giggle at the jellybeans jumping all over the page. Perhaps the most memorable image is the one from inside Denton’s mouth – the scale and perspective are jaw-dropping!

Rather than dully drilling home the virtue of cleaning your choppers, The Bad Tooth Fairy nibbles on the ideas of adaptability and recompense in a light and lively way. This unexpected but fun focus will put a smile on readers’ dials.

Gustav Glows with Gold

Gustav Glows with Gold (Little Pink Dogs) Kathy Creamer & Patricia Ward PB RRP $24.99 9780645418477

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Kathy Creamer is a widely published award-winning children’s picture book writer and illustrator. Her work has been published by Oxford University Press, Reed International, and many other publishing houses.

Patricia Ward is an illustrator who loves exploring colour and playing with positive and negative spaces. Her work is vibrant and whimsical and has an underlying sense of a narrative.

Gustav Glows with Gold is a creative non-fiction picture book about Gustav Klimt, a famous Austrian artist, who adored using glittering gold leaf to enhance the colours, patterns, and form of his artwork. Inspired by the beauty of Byzantine art and by his father’s intricate work as a goldsmith, Gustav decided to use gold leaf in his paintings.

Kathy Creamer’s opening sentence transcends time and takes a young reader back to Vienna and into the magical studio of Gustav. Her words evoke emotion and imagery and place with alliteration, carefully chosen verbs, and lyrical language. Gleaming and twinkling, tiny flecks of golden fire floated through the air in Gustav Klimt’s art studio in Vienna. Just as Gustav’s focus was on gold, so is Creamer’s. Her words capture the essence of the artist but also his enraptured focus on the colour gold. The elusive gold leaf specks make the whole book feel magical as every spread takes a young reader into a Gustav’s special world of artistic wonder.

Just as Gustav’s works glowed with gold, so too did, Gustav and his studio. His beard, hair, face, hands and painter’s smock would shimmer with wisps of golden yellow flame. There is a simplicity and yet a beauty in the words Creamer uses. I love the spread where Creamer describes the different golds. Gold. Glittering gold. Yellow Gold, Rose gold. Warm gold. Burnished gold. Textured gold. The heart of Gustav shines with Kathy Creamer’s words. He hardly dared breathe in case a puff of air gave the golden wisp flight, and it would float away like an elusive butterfly.

Patricia Ward’s illustrative style shines out from the stunning golden front cover which immediately draws attention. The exquisite detail to Gustav, his cats and his use of gold leaf beams out for all to see. The first endpaper captures the flight and magic of the goldleaf and the last endpaper features Gustav’s studio and golden art. The standout feature of Ward’s illustrations is the careful attention paid to detail. The visual narrative adds layers and meaning to the story. Gustav’s cats were treasured and feature as additional silent characters.

The gold leaf dances everywhere. Without words mentioning the artworks, the visuals do the talking showing what they looked like and how some were created. The sunlight streaming in the studio and the whimsical quality of the illustrations really makes this book feel magical. Gustav is depicted as kind and quite shy and his face speaks volumes to a reader. The touches of arrays of paintbrushes and shelving really bring Gustav’s world to life.

Gustav Glows with Gold is a creative non-fiction picture book that is a wonderful read for children 4-8 years.  Those children interested in art and biographies will really enjoy this book. The topic is universal and ageless so the book is timeless and adds to its appeal.

Inside Story: The Wonderful World of Writing, Illustrating and Publishing Children’s Books

Inside Story: The Wonderful World of Writing, Illustrating and Publishing Children’s Books compiled by Sophie Masson, Kathy Creamer, Beattie Alvarez, and Peter Creamer, edited by Jen Scanlan and Sharnee Rawson (United Publishers of Armidale) PB RRP $29.99 ISBN9780648815457

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Here is an invaluable resource and reference book for aspiring writers, illustrators, editors and designers or anyone interested in Australian children’s books. It is the first publication by the newly formed UPA, a collaboration between two independent publishing houses: Christmas Press and Little Pink Dogs, in association with the New England Writers’ Centre. And what a comprehensive and beautifully designed and presented book it is! Designed by Rae Ainsworth, the book covers all aspects of writing, illustrating, and publishing children’s books. It includes a section on what happens in the publishing process, how to pitch to publishers, alternative publishing models, useful organisations, and resources.

On each page there are coloured photographs and graphics, break-out boxes, and information (and advice) from a wide range of industry workers. Colourful double-page spreads introduce each topic, and there are also numerous lists of children’s books under headings such as picture books, illustrated storybooks, fiction anthologies, graphic novels, and more. Any inspiring author would benefit from the advice and tips offered by authors, agents, editors, publishers, and illustrators such as Stephen Axelson, Pippa Masson, Ian Irvine, Jenny Blackford, and dozens more.

There is, as one would suspect, a clear bias towards books published by Christmas Press and Little Pink Dogs, but other publishers shine in the book, too. It’s gratifying to see that the compilers have included poetry collections and anthologies, with advice from editors and compilers. Ursula Dubosarsky, Richard Tulloch and Duncan Ball share information and tips for writing plays, with Ball sharing his discoveries as former editor of The School Magazine.

In the tail end of this very engaging book is a list of useful organisations and resources for everyone, including editors, designers, and publishers. Numerous publishers have granted permission to use images from their titles, and there is a page of acknowledgements to the many people who have contributed material (and crowdfunding income). Interestingly, there’s a double page spread at the end of the book with photographs and biographies of the compilers, editors, and book designers.

There are many hours of interesting reading in this comprehensive book. Highly recommended!

Mr Ming and the Mooncake Dragon

 

Mr Ming and the Mooncake Dragon by Kathy Creamer, illustrated by Amy Calautti (Little Pink Dog Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780648652878    

Reviewed by Wendy Haynes

This picture book for children aged 4 to 10 explores the story of a shopkeeper Mr. Ming who has a tiny shop on the outskirts of Singapore and sells just about anything you could possibly need. But once a year and when the mooncake festival arrives, he sells mooncakes. These aren’t any old mooncakes; they are the most scrumptious mooncakes. Mr. Ming has a secret recipe for them. But his biggest secret of all is his magical dragon. 

There is a good versus evil story: when Madam Money Bags learns about Mr. Ming’s scrumptious mooncakes, she determined to steal the secret recipe for her own shop in the city. But she is in for a surprise when she seeks into the kitchen of Mr. Ming’s shop, and she ends up in the most unexcepted place.

The text is longer than the traditional picture book of 500 words and best to be read aloud to younger children. This story would also suit older children who enjoy graphic novels. The illustrations are quirky and fun bringing the characters alive with a palate of vibrant colours.

 

 

The Big Old Rambutan Tree

The Big Old Rambutan Tree by Kathy Creamer (Little Pink Dog Books)

Hardback, RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780648256373

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The colour palette of this gorgeous picture book with endearing characters gives such warmth and delight to the friendship between a gentle orangutan, Ginger and Stripes, a helpless tiger cub. Kathy has created illustrations that show the delicate play of friendship between Ginger and Stripes. The endpapers feature the big old Rambutan tree, a meeting place of love where a friendship began and continued. The life and movement in the rainforest is shown with detail and a sense of fun.

This is a friendship with great risk for Ginger who wears her heart on her sleeve. Against the advice of the other Orangutans, Ginger teaches Stripes all she knows about the world so that he can learn to survive in the rainforest. When Stripes instinct for hunting appears and an appetite for fresh meat needs fulfilling the two friends must part company. Yet, once a deep friendship bond has been formed it remains forever and although time passes, they never forget about each other. When human development and the need for land creates a fire in the rainforest, Stripes returns the favour to Ginger as he leaps and saves her from the flames. And once again their treasured friendship returns.

This is a picture book for the 3-8-year age group that brings awareness and understanding to the plight of Orangutans and the threatened Sumatran rainforest with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to Orangutan Outreach. This book that also fits the school curriculum.

The Big Old Rambutan Tree

The Big Old Rambutan Tree by Kathy Creamer (Little Pink Dog Books) PB RRP ISBN 9780648256373

Reviewed by Claire Stuckey

Ginger is a hungry orangutan savoring the perfume of the first rambutan fruit of the season. The big old rambutan tree provides a feast for the congress. Ginger discovers and adopts a lost tiger cub, but the others are wary of this natural enemy. She continues to care for the cub, but Stripes soon hungers for more than fruit. Ginger sadly sends him on his way. Years later a fire threatens the orangutan’s environment. Escaping to the big old Rambutan Tree, Ginger falls but is rescued by an enormous tiger as animals across the rainforest search for shelter. Life returns slowly to the rainforest 

environment after monsoon rains, including the fruit on the big old rambutan tree.

This is also kindness story; a retelling of how good deeds are often repaid. Ginger is the ideal role model, compassionate yet pragmatic. Colourful illustrations bring action and emotion to the animal characters; these will certainly engage children. Set in Sumatra, it provides readers with a simple tale of the importance of a food source to a threatened species. Ginger is the ideal role model, compassionate yet pragmatic.

Introducing the concept of fire and environmental damage to a pristine environment in what appears to be a simple story is clever and important for the planet’s future. An information page or glossary on the rainforest animals featured -- such as the Sun bears, birds and other species -- might have been a useful addition. The proceeds of book sales go to Orangutan Outreach to support conservation.  

This title would be a great classroom resource. Recommended for ages 4 > 7 years.

Fox and Chook Creative Activity Pack

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of something I've been working on as an author for the last couple of weeks with my friend, the fabulous illustrator Kathy Creamer:  the Fox and Chook Creative Activity Pack for kids, families, schools  and libraries. Lots of writing, discussion, discovery and art activities in the one fabulous pack, presented as a full colour PDF and free to download and use, till September 30. 

We are delighted that the pack also includes an activity centred around images from the amazing collections of our wonderful local art gallery, NERAM-New England Regional Art Museum.

 You can read more about it at this post on my blog, where you can access the pack as a downloadable PDF, and also at a permanent page at my presentation site, Sophie Masson Presents, where you will find both the full pack and a separate PDF containing the colouring-in pages by Kathy for ease of print-out.

 The pack was a lot of fun to create, as well as a lot of work :-) We hope that everyone enjoys it!

Best wishes to everyone, stay safe and well,

Sophie Masson

Helping the Orangutan Outreach

As you will have seen on Facebook and the Little Pink Dog Books website, Kathy Creamer has written a new picture book (The Big Old Rambutan Tree) and the entire profits will be donated to support the conservation work of Orangutan Outreach based in the USA.

This is Kathy’s third book aimed at conserving orangutans and follows previous books entitled My Cousin, Ah Meng (Singapore, 1998) and The Old Man of The Forest (UK, 2002). Both these books raised considerable funds in their host country for orangutan conservation.

As with the earlier books, Kathy has donated all her time and the funds raised via the following crowd funding initiative (below) will support the printing of the book. Link to the Indigogo Crowd Funding Site: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-big-old-rambutan-tree-conserving-orangutans/x/17241973#/

With such a global campaign, it is important to be able to bring such a project to the attention of the maximum number of people.

You are therefore asked if you could support the project by sharing the link on our LPDB Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LittlePinkDogBooks with as much of your network as you are comfortable to do so.

Princess Hayley’s Comet

Princess Hayley’s Comet by Rebecca Fung; illustrations by Kathy Creamer.

(Christmas Press) RRP $13.99  ISBN 978 0994 528 070

Reviewed by Julie Thorndyke

Debut author Rebecca Fung has taken a fun idea, punning on the name of the famous Halley’s comet, and produced an enjoyable and original story for young readers.

Princess Hayley’s Comet is a slim little book with an engaging cover and the promise of an active storyline. The cover illustration by Kathy Creamer is attractive in bold primary colours and the dynamic swirling path of the golden comet looks appropriately regal. The expressions on the faces of the king and the princess give a hint of the plot.

The first page plunges straight in to the crux of the story: “Dearest Hayley,” asked the King. “What would you like for your birthday?”

A princess with everything she could ever wish for, the soon-to-be-ten-year-old Princess Hayley asks for a comet.

Although set in a traditional, generic fairy-tale castle, this story does introduce elements of science fiction as the narrative unfolds. Some basic information about real comets is embedded at the beginning of the story. The princess obtains information about comets from her book Simple Astronomy. She wonders about the personality of a comet:

“Hayley was sure the comet was independent, exciting and adventurous, and the more she felt that, the more she adored it.”

The comet symbolises Princess Hayley’s own personality, and her desire for adventure and exploration.

The idea of capturing and riding a comet (without being burned to ashes) is unrealistic. However, Fung manages to pull this absurd situation off, the reader suspending disbelief and going along with the story. Afterall, the fairy-tale genre does not set up an expectation of realism.

In eleven chapters liberally sprinkled with black and white drawings, the book is accessible, dynamic and inviting to primary school children, and offers both visual and textual surprises on each page. The size of the book is appropriate for child hands and the text is well-spaced and not at all daunting.

Princesses are standard fare in children’s literature. How does Hayley compare with the stereotype? She has a benevolent father, the king, ready to grant her every wish. (The Queen is not mentioned.) Princess Hayley has a collection of exotic birthday presents including polar bears, golden treehouses and diamond tiaras. She has servants to assist her in everyday life at the palace. But unlike many princesses, she isn’t isolated or lonely.

With two “equal best” friends, Ned and Cara, Princess Hayley is a well socialised and resourceful character. When the King’s Advisors say that a birthday comet is impossible, she actively devises strategies to catch her own comet.

Kathy Creamer’s illustrations reveal a princess who wears plaits with her crown, and boots with her regal robes, that are a sensible calf-length for active movement.

If there is a moral to this enjoyable tale, it is that girls are capable, interested in science and don’t need the help of male authority figures to achieve their goals.

A great addition to every little princess’s book collection.

Bigger than yesterday, smaller than tomorrow

Bigger than yesterday, smaller than tomorrow by Robert Vescio, illustrated by Kathy Creamer (Little Pink Dog Books) PB RRP: $24.95 ISBN: 9780994626950

Reviewed by Anne Helen Donnelly

It is the summer holidays and Hannah and Dad, and their dog Hugo, are going camping for the first time. This is an exciting adventure now that Hannah is getting older. Now that Hannah is bigger there are lots more things she could do; like protecting Hugo, helping Dad pitch the tent and climbing a tall tree.

As night approaches, Hannah doesn’t feel so big, though, and misses her Mum. Luckily, Dad is prepared with hot chocolate, bedtime books and everything that Hannah likes. But what really puts her at ease is her Mum’s scarf, wrapped snuggly around her neck, that feels just like a hug from Mum.

This is a story about a child who is discovering her independence, without straying too far from home and the security she is used to. Beautiful fun illustrations and simply told. This book will appeal to younger children ages 4 – 8 years.

The Lighthouse at Pelican Rock

The Lighthouse at Pelican Rock by Stephen Hart and illustrations by Kathy Creamer (Eagle Books) PB RRP $17.99 ISBN 978-0-994528056

Reviewed by Stacey Gladman

The Lighthouse at Pelican Rock, geared towards young readers aged nine to 12, is a memorable story about a young girl - Megan Evans - who faces a health crisis and almost dies.

Megan is sent to live in a tiny coastal village called Pelican Rock with her aunt Rachel in a bid to recover after her near-death experience. On the long train ride, she encounters a man - Rhys - who not only grew up in Pelican Rock, but knows her aunt.

Upon arriving Megan learns a little about the history of Pelican Rock and becomes enthralled with the island’s pelican inhabitants and the mythical stories surrounding their place at Pelican Rock.

A day trip to visit the ruins of the old lighthouse leads Megan to wanting to discover more about its history and that's where the magic of this book really come into its own. It's not long before Megan finds out just how magical the pelicans are, and Megan finds herself back in time, or is it just a dream?

I really enjoyed the story, it evokes feelings as a reader as you learn more about Megan's home life and her yearning to find a place where she truly feels at home.

The scene that is set throughout the book feels historical and really lends itself well to the storyline. The writing is clean and easy to follow and keeps you guessing about what magic is happening on the little seaside town of Pelican Rock.

The images by Kathy Creamer help add to the storyline and give you a feel for Megan and what is being told.

See Monkey Review

See Monkey by Sophie Masson, Illustrated by Kathy Creamer (Little Pink Dogs) PB RRP: $24.95 ISBN: 9780994626981

Review by Anne Helen Donnelly

Toddler and Monkey are awake and immediately the fun begins. First Monkey jumps, then he dives but can’t stop in time. Monkey likes to go outside and hop, all over the flowers. Then he plays ball and dances, and more mischief ensues. Monkey’s quiet time results in a creative and colourful mess for Mum to clean up, but his energy is limitless! Monkey then sits, then reads. After bath time Monkey swings before bedtime.

What a day! Follow Toddler and his favourite toy through their busy day and all the fun adventures and mischief they get up to. Parents with toddlers will relate to some of these amusing situations of these energetic adventures and after-fun clean-ups.

See Monkey is a children’s picture book for children of ages 3 – 7 years. The themes are universal, and it is a good read for families with babies and young children. The lively and colourful illustrations will capture the minds of a young audience.

A Pocketful of Rhymes

A Pocketful of Rhymes by Max Fatchen illustrated by Kathy Creamer (Second Look) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9780994528018

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

What a wonderful idea it was of Australian publisher Christmas Press to introduce a second imprint to re-introduce children’s books which were popular in their day and/or which have gone on to become classics. Hence this collection of poems, his 13^th book, written by Max Fatchen, first published in 1989 by Omnibus, is now given new life with an introduction by award-winning author/poet Janeen Brian, and illustrations by Kathy Creamer.

Fatchen (1920 – 2012), a children’s writer and journalist who published more than 20 books over his career, including poetry collections, was much-loved and granted numerous awards including the Centenary of Federation Medal. His poems were widely anthologised in Australia and overseas. In her foreword, Brian says her late friend ‘has a poet’s second sight, which helps us to look at life, and particularly nature, with fresh eyes.’ Reading these poems which have quirky – and often humorous – ways of looking at situations, one has to agree with Brian that they ‘bounce with joy and fun and questionings’ and are ‘a testimony to the man himself.’

‘Sing a song of poetry/A pocketful of rhymes’ are the first lines that lead into this easy-to-read and delightful collection of poems, each one of which offer ‘a slice of verse!’ Many of the poems, though not all of them, use rhymes, but all have rhythms that engage one so that the lines often cause one to recite them aloud. Topics are child-centric from ‘Welcome Aboard’ (‘A truckload of  cattle?/Why no, the school bus!), to ‘Camp Crazy’ (two words on each line), to ‘Say Cheese’ (where a group of children are being photographed – and of course, ‘you…you little wretch…/YOU MOVED!)

Raised in Adelaide Plains of South Australia, Fatchen often writes about animals and country with poems such as ‘Late Gossip’ (‘Small, lively birds with feathered zest/…chatter in a final flight…), “Magpie Mayday’ (‘With terrifying swooping/Aerobatic magpies come,/Swiftly looping-the-loop’ and ‘Does this Sound Fishy?, about a gigantic cod caught on the Murrumbidgee. There are also lots of short, pithy and witty poems in this collection about aliens landing in a school yard, a boy with dirty fingers, a girl playing her school recorder and sports day. And much more.

Printed on good quality (will never go brown) white paper, the pages are frequently illustrated by Creamer with engaging black and white line and wash pictures that are sure to appeal to young readers. There’s an illustration, for instance, of a droning teacher, a Frankenstein-like brother in bed and the back view of a naked girl (accompanying the poem ‘Just Look at your Clothes!)

Here’s the last stanza of this poem:

          ‘Do stop all the flurry

          A silly old worry.

Our clothes we will always get torn in.

          So let’s all go nude

          And be terribly rude,

Just wearing the skin we were born in.’

Thank you Second Look for reminding oldies what a wonderful writer Max Fatchen was, and for introducing a new generation of readers to his work. This book is highly recommended for children aged 7 to 10 years; in fact, it’s ideal for anyone who loves polished and entertaining verse.