My Heart

My Heart by Katrina McKelvey (EK Books) is a picture book which began life as a letter the author, Katrina, wrote to her daughter when she started kindergarten. Delightful and relatable, it depicts the many ways a mother’s heart can experience love and emotion while her baby journeys through the milestones of growing up. The story uses repetition and subtle variation to reflect the activity and reactions of the mother's heart, and how they change with each mother‐child interaction.

The narrative moves through the early years until the child goes off on their first independent activity, a deeply moving moment for all mothers. Beautifully detailed illustrations depict the connection between mother and child, reminding readers that a mother's heart will always be with her children, no matter where they go.

Mila & Ivy

Mila & Ivy by Katrina McKelvey, illustrated by Jasmine Berry (Wombat Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781761110801

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Mila and her little sister Ivy love playing with boxes and making elaborate cardboard creations. They make a great team until Ivy starts ripping the boxes into tiny pieces, insisting that she’s helping. Ivy says that she has a great idea, but Mila is too mad to listen, and storms off to work on her own. However, when Mila’s project doesn’t turn out as she’d hoped she seeks help from Ivy, and they finally make good use of the cardboard confetti.

Mila and Ivy is a picture book that comprises themes such as design, engineering, problem-solving, resilience and teamwork. The illustrations complement the text beautifully and include a bonus an ‘eye spy’ element with the family pets. The endpapers, full of sketches and construction ideas, suit the narrative perfectly. Mila & Ivy is suitable for an audience 4 years and older and is sure to inspire young minds to start designing and engineering cardboard creations of their own.

Mila and Ivy

 Mila and Ivy is a new picture book by Katrina McKelvey, illustrated by WA illustrator Janine Berry and published by Wombat Books. It will be released in March 2022.

Mila is a cardboard design engineer. She often works with her sister Ivy. 

However, things change when Ivy destroys their project, making cardboard confetti instead. Mila is devastated and continues to engineer alone.

But something is missing. Maybe Ivy has something that could help.

How can the sisters rebuild their relationship and engineer their next creation?

Chasing Rainbows

Chasing Rainbows written by Katrina McKelvey and illustrated by Cheri Hughes (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 978 1 922265708

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Katrina McKelvey captures that sense of childhood wonder with touches of magic, mystery, and mayhem in this charming picture book. Sam and Ruby are told stories by Dad about the special rainbow magic he views from his helicopter. Sam and Ruby want to find it too. In the backyard, playing and exploring, rainbows magically appear but where is the rainbow magic? I won’t share the ending but it ties in beautifully with the beginning of the book.

 

This is a picture book that ticks boxes. It has a captivating title to draw a reader in. The natural dialogue moves the story along smoothly as the children explore and play. There are touches of onomatopoeia and questioning to make a reader wonder too. We see children going into the backyard to play with a hose and to make their own discoveries.

 

Cheri Hughes has used a vivid colour palette that has an eighties vibe. She has captured the emotions of Sam and Ruby beautifully in their faces and body movements. She uses perspectives to showcase the vastness of the sky and the backyard as a wondrous place to play. Her imaginative play with rainbows and unicorns and a dog in the spreads adds extra layers of meaning and delight.

 

Chasing Rainbows is a picture book that’s perfect for 3-8 years. This book fits well into the STEM school curriculum. It is a book which will encourage children to explore, play and believe in magic.

Isla’s Family Tree

Isla’s Family Tree by Katrina McKelvey, illustrated by Prue Pittock (EK Books) RRP HB $24.99 ISBN 9781925820379

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Isla’s Family Tree is a heart-warming tale about a little girl coming to terms with her growing family. Isla is not happy about the thought of a baby brother or sister. She believes that her family of three is already full and is convinced that there is no room for the sibling that is about to join them. Heavily pregnant mum explains that families keep growing and changing and helps Isla to visualise this by making a family tree with her.

The tree starts with Grandma and Grandad represented by the trunk. They continue on, making branches for her cousins’ families while discussing the diversity within them (one family includes an adopted child and the other with a same-sex couple). Finally, they discuss their own family and mum drops a surprise for Isla. While mum is in hospital Isla has some thinking time of her own and comes up with a plan to keep themselves as a family of three.

The beautifully simple illustrations, created in single and double page spreads, make use of a limited colour palette of pink, red, orange and black which contrast nicely with the vast white background. I’m also a big fan of endpapers and these orange ones don’t disappoint.

Isla’s Family Tree is ultimately a story of love, acceptance and belonging and is suitable for children aged 5+ years.

Isla’s Family Tree

Isla’s Family Tree by Katrina McKelvey, Prue Pittock (EK Books)

RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781925820379

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

McKelvey has written a book that sensitively explores family, belonging and change with such heart and warmth. This story links family trees to the addition of new babies entering a family and where they belong within a family.

Isla created family trees for her family and her Aunt’s families on her Mum’s side to learn about where she belongs in her own family and her new baby brothers. This helped her see that just as trees grow and change, so do families. Isla at first thought that the new babies could each go into her aunt’s families as her own family tree was full. But once her brothers arrived, Isla knew that they really did belong in her own family. She then made room for her brothers to fit on the family tree that she had made. Isla saw that change happens in all families.

I particularly like the dialogue which allows the story to speak simply and clearly to a child. Katrina’s use of questioning allows the child protagonist to think and discover for herself not only her place within her family but her new baby brothers, too. This is supported beautifully with thought bubbles. Isla draws upon her own memories and feelings during the story. I can see this book being a springboard for children drawing or making their own family trees.  

I love the simplicity of the illustrations and the clever use of white space as the background for each spread. The use of simple line work and patterns allows the visual story to add multiple layers of meaning to the text. The family trees show how they are all linked. This visually speaks volumes to a child. The limited colour palette allows the characters and their activities to shine without cluttering the story.

This is a story that will be enjoyed by children 3-8 years from all sorts of diverse families. It will be well received by families and schools. It is a good fit within the school curriculum and will be a great resource for teachers, too.by Katrina McKelvey, Prue Pittock (EK Books)

RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781925820379

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

McKelvey has written a book that sensitively explores family, belonging and change with such heart and warmth. This story links family trees to the addition of new babies entering a family and where they belong within a family.

Isla created family trees for her family and her Aunt’s families on her Mum’s side to learn about where she belongs in her own family and her new baby brothers. This helped her see that just as trees grow and change, so do families. Isla at first thought that the new babies could each go into her aunt’s families as her own family tree was full. But once her brothers arrived, Isla knew that they really did belong in her own family. She then made room for her brothers to fit on the family tree that she had made. Isla saw that change happens in all families.

I particularly like the dialogue which allows the story to speak simply and clearly to a child. Katrina’s use of questioning allows the child protagonist to think and discover for herself not only her place within her family but her new baby brothers, too. This is supported beautifully with thought bubbles. Isla draws upon her own memories and feelings during the story. I can see this book being a springboard for children drawing or making their own family trees.  

I love the simplicity of the illustrations and the clever use of white space as the background for each spread. The use of simple line work and patterns allows the visual story to add multiple layers of meaning to the text. The family trees show how they are all linked. This visually speaks volumes to a child. The limited colour palette allows the characters and their activities to shine without cluttering the story.

This is a story that will be enjoyed by children 3-8 years from all sorts of diverse families. It will be well received by families and schools. It is a good fit within the school curriculum and will be a great resource for teachers, too.

Up to Something

Up to Something by Katrina McKelvey and Kirrili Lonergan EK Books, 2019. ISBN:  9781925335705 Hardback 32 pp RRP: 24.99

Reviewed by Julie Thorndyke

Up to Something is a picture book exploring the dynamics of the relationship between father and son. How often have we observed parents who want to “take over” the building or making process that their children have initiated? Parents who complete school projects for their children? Adults who perform all the interesting tasks leaving children in the role of bored and disengaged observers? This book tackles the issue.

There is to be a billy cart race. Billy wants to enter: thus, Dad and Billy need to build a cart. Billy is excited to work with Dad in the shed, but his excitement drains away as he is relegated to be “tool finder”, “tool passer” and “special helper”. He accepts the role of “assistant” but find out to his disappointment that this means sweeping up the wood shavings.

Billy is disheartened, but he is a boy with initiative. He actively works through his frustration. He begins building his own project from found materials. It speaks volumes that the self-absorbed father doesn’t even notice his son’s work until the “reveal”.

Throughout the book, the expressive figure of the dog enhances the story. Softly drawn and painted in subtle tones, the dog is a lovely addition to the illustrations. Elements of collage reinforce the idea of using found materials in the creative process. The illustrations reward close observation, revealing details which support the narrative. A sharper use of outline on the watercolour pictures could have lifted the clarity of the visual elements.

Children learn through engaged activity. We learn by doing. The message of this book is as much to parents as it is to children. As a shared story-time book, it will prompt adults and children to work together enjoyably and may allow children to feel empowered in creative projects.

No Baths Week

No Baths Week by Katrina McKelvey, illustrated by Cheri Hughes (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN: 9781925675429

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Can Ben and Bandit avoid having a bath for a whole week? Ben thinks so. Each time his mum tells him it’s time for a bath, Ben comes up with a crazy new way to get clean. He and Bandit sprint through a super-cold sprinkler, wade in a water feature and get primped by Pawla’s Pooch Pampering. But what happens when Ben runs out of ideas?

Katrina McKelvey’s story is overflowing with messy mischief. Children aged three to seven years will identify with mud pie-making, sandpit-shovelling Ben and adore his partner in grime, Bandit. Beyond the frothy fun of the story, Katrina dives deep into the themes of friendship and creativity with a unique blend of heart and humour.

Cheri Hughes’ dynamic illustrations dazzle readers with their magic and movement. Bright colours splash across the spreads, adding a layer of visual energy to the lively text, while onomatopoeic words pop from the pages like shiny soap bubbles.

This is an ideal book for children who fuss at bath time, as Ben’s increasingly silly suggestions will make them laugh. When Ben and Bandit eventually give in and take the plunge, the sheer joy on their faces reveals to reluctant bathers just how wonderful a warm bath can be.

No Baths Week

No Baths Week by Katrina McKelvey, illustrated by Cheri Hughes (Big Sky Publishing) RRP PB $14.99 HB $24.99
ISBN 9781925675429 (PB) 9781925675436 (HB)

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Ben and his shaggy dog Bandit love to spend time together painting, exploring, baking, digging and having a ball. What they don’t like doing is taking baths! So, young Ben comes up with the idea of ‘No Baths Week’ and does everything he can to avoid taking a bath. Unfortunately for Ben, his mum doesn’t share his enthusiasm, but at least she has a sense of humour.

Each day Ben and Bandit enjoy some messy fun together and each day his mum suggests they take a bath. Ben always insists it’s ‘No Baths Week’ and finds alternative ways to get themselves clean, without taking a bath. He comes up with an assortment of ideas, although he soon regrets each of his choices. Ben and Bandit manage to avoid a bath each day from Monday to Saturday, but can they make it through the entire week without taking a bath?

No Baths Week is a fun and playful picture story book aimed at kindergarten aged children. The action filled illustrations are bright and colourful and the use of onomatopoeia throughout makes it a fun read-a-loud.

Dandelions

Dandelions by Katrina McKelvey, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan (EK Books)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-921966-82-8

Reviewed by Elizabeth Vercoe

 A young girl is sad because in the process of mowing the lawn, her father has cut her beloved dandelions: I was waiting for those dandelion flowers to turn into puff balls so I could blow them away.

The girl resolves to wait as long as it takes for more dandelions to grow, settling in for the long haul with toys and books comfortably piled around her. But it seems that Dad has other plans when he leads her away from the hungry mower blades…

With their secret ‘stash’, Father and daughter then spend a glorious few moments together blowing dandelion seeds (who doesn’t remember this satisfying pastime?) and watching as they dance through simple but exquisite picture-scapes. 

Dandelions is a beautiful picture book that will delight both small people and the bigger ones who read aloud to them. With an enchanting sense of hope and magic, this story celebrates the father daughter bond with whimsy and a soft, translucent watercolour palette. The end-papers are breathtaking.

This is an uplifting story that takes us into the wondrous essence of Mother Nature, on the breath of hundreds of fluffy floating seeds.