The Welcome Cookies

The Welcome Cookies by Kaye Baillie (EK Books), RRP $24.99 Picture Book ISBN 9-781922-539502

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Mabel loves Fridays because that’s the day that she goes with her mother to the Sugar Plum Cafe. She loves the cakes and contributing drawings to the smarty-arty wall. Most of all, she loves Mrs Plum’s smile. 

To Mabel’s dismay, when she returns from holidays the Sugar Plum Cafe has closed down and she’s not enthusiastic to visit the cafe that replaces it. All the things she used to love are gone, including Mrs Plum. But when the new owner invites her to help him decorate the cafe to make it more welcoming, can it become her special place again?

The eagle-eyed reader will spot a clue in the charming illustrations by Kirrili Lonergan showing us that what Mabel treasured the most about her former visits to the Sugar Plum Cafe hasn’t been lost. This is a sweet (pardon the pun) story for 4 to 8-year-olds to remind us that changes happen in life and there can be positives in the new. 

There Was a Young Zombie Who Swallowed a Worm

Kaye Baillie's picture book There Was a Young Zombie Who Swallowed a Worm, a funny, cumulative rhyming story children will adore with illustrations by Diane Ewen, has been published by Macmillan Children's Books UK. Copies are available to purchase online here

The Great Big Softie

 

Boo Loves Books

Congratulations to Kaye Baillie whose picture book Boo Loves Books has won the 3–5-year-old category in the Australian Speech Pathology book awards. Here is the link to the list.https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/whats_on/Book_of_the_Year/SPAweb/What_s_On/Book_of_the_Year/Book_of_the_Year.aspx?hkey=6d7d21b1-0cd6-4b86-91e3-11884f031a02

The Friendly Games

 

Congratulations to children’s author, Kaye Baillie whose picture book The Friendly Games illustrated by Fiona Burrows and published by MidnightSun Publishing, has been shortlisted in the NSW Premier's History Awards in the 'Young People's History Prize' category.

Kaye's New Books

THE FRIENDLY GAMES

Author: Kaye Baillie

Illustrator: Fiona Burrows

Publisher: MidnightSun

Release Date: 1 June 2020

John Ian Wing couldn't be more excited about the upcoming Melbourne Olympic Games. It's 1956 and from his parents' Bourke Street restaurant, John swells with pride watching the hive of activity as the city prepares to welcome its guests. But when world tensions threaten to overshadow the good nature of the Games, John knows he must do something to remind everyone of the meaning of friendship and peace. Based on a true story, The Friendly Games is a fascinating tale of one boy's role in one of Australia's most significant sporting events.
Published by MidnightSun Publishing, Australia

BOO LOVES BOOKS

Author: Kaye Baillie

Illustrator: Tracie Grimwood

Publisher: New Frontier Publishing

Release Date: 1 May 2020 Australia/UK/New Zealand

US Release Date: 1 October 2020

Some dogs are shy and anxious and so are some children. Can Boo and Phoebe turn their fears into a positive experience? A charming story of friendship between a shy little girl and a huge, gentle rescue dog.

Achievement

Kaye Baillie and Narelda Joy’s (ill) picture book, Message in a Sock (MidnightSun 2018) has been shortlisted in the NSW Premier’s History Awards in the ‘Young People’s History Prize ($15,000) section.

Buzz Words Achievement

At the recent SCBWI conference in Sydney, children’s author Kaye Baillie was approached with an offer of representation from Essie White, Literary Agent of Storm Literary in the US. Kaye is delighted to say it’s official and she has accepted that offer.

Good luck Kaye!

Message in a Sock

Message in a Sock by Kaye Baillee, illustrated by Narelda Joy (MidnightSun Publishing) HB RRP $27.99 ISBN 9781925227383

Reviewed by Brook Tayla

This very touching and true war story is special. It doesn’t just depict a time in history -- it transports you right there. Unlike most war stories, this story focuses on the women left at home during WW1 and homes in on one aspect of how they supported their men – the soldiers.

Author Kaye Baillie tells the story of a little girl placing messages into the toes of socks that her mother has knitted during a war appeal to assist Australian soldiers serving in France. She includes other features in her story, including a poetic ‘Knitter’s Song’ that encapsulates the whole premise of this tale and the words of the original letter that sparked this book into being. Her story is underpinned by excellent historical research that makes this tale even more touching.

Narelda Joy’s collage illustrations perfectly compliment not only the story but the era of war. The colours and materials used have very vintage muted tones in hues of brown, green and blue. Another interesting aspect is that all the people in this story, including the child protagonist, Tammy, are always looking down, but the soldier looks you straight in the eye – a very open for interpretation move on the part of the illustrator.

This beautiful book and its unusual perspective will be treasured for not only it’s uniqueness but also for it’s truthful historical interpretation.
I feel very special to have known about this book for quite a long time. Kaye Baillee told me about it on the first day I met her, and I have been anticipating it’s release since 2016! Congratulations Kaye – it was worth the wait!

There is a very special Book Launch happening for ‘Message in a Sock’ for those who would like to attend on Anzac Day, 25^th April, 2pm – 3pm at The National Wool Museum, 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong, Victoria. Here are the details: MidnightSun Publishing together with author Kaye Baillie and illustrator Narelda Joy are proud to launch their picture book, MESSAGE IN A SOCK at the National Wool Museum with FREE ENTRY to the Museum all day.

Join Sue Lawson, writing teacher and young adult author of books including FREEDOM RIDE and PROTEST IN AUSTRALIA as she discusses MESSAGE IN A SOCK with Kaye Baillie and Narelda Joy. Listen to a reading from the book then handle replica World War 1 socks knitted by a talented Red Cross volunteer. Enjoy a hot drink and Anzac biscuit then view the Museum’s sock knitting machines and the collection displaying the full story of wool.  National Wool Museum volunteers will demonstrate ‘casting on’ and signed copies of MESSAGE IN A SOCK will be available for purchase.

Brook Tayla writes a picture book review blog at telltalestome@wordpress.com and would love you to drop by, read some reviews, leave a comment and subscribe.  Brook also offers editing services for beginning and emerging writers.

Archie Appleby: The Terrible Case of the Creeps

Archie Appleby: The Terrible Case of the Creeps by Kaye Baillie, illustrated by Krista Brennan (Wombat Books) PB  RRP $10.99 ISBN 9781925563016

Reviewed by Pauline Hosking

This slim chapter book tells what happens when Archie has to spend two days with his scary Aunt Ruth.  He’s a boy with a vivid imagination who likes making up stories. She’s a keen gardener who knows a lot about poisons and weird plants. Her husband, Uncle Jock, seems to have disappeared.  

Late at night Aunt Ruth takes food down to something in her deep, dark basement. Archie is convinced she is keeping Uncle Jock down there a prisoner and bravely decides to rescue him. After two failed attempts he manages to discover what is really in the basement. Not his uncle --  who arrives fit and well from a fishing trip -- but a monstrous plant, a Venus Flytrap Gigantus. (Shades here of The Little Shop of Horrors, although this plant isn’t a man-eater.)

Luckily everything ends well. Archie and Aunt Ruth are reconciled and he goes home considering the possibility of another visit.

The carefully chosen language, clear print and short sentences make it an easy read. Newly independent readers will enjoy the building sense of suspense and the humorous way Archie misinterprets events.  The book would also be good to read aloud.

Krista Brennan has contributed a number of delicate line-drawings. There is a mismatch, though, between the pictures of Archie smiling mischievously as he enters the basement, and the descriptions in the text of what he felt: ‘his heart pounded,’ and ‘he shuddered at the thought of going to the basement in the dark.’  

Oliver's Grumbles

Oliver's Grumbles by Yvonne Mes, illustrated by Giuseppe Poli  (Dragon Tales Publishing) HB RRP $22.95 HB ISBN 978-0-9944280-0-4

Reviewed by Kaye Baillie

Oliver is a boy who smiles and laughs at lots of things like a silly song or a passing train, but then there are times when things make him growl and grizzle and grumble. In 'Oliver’s grumbles', when Oliver gets the grumbles, he really gets them. His grumbles become so real that these pesky little creatures come to life. When the grumbles steal his favourite red snuggle blanket, Oliver ‘pops’ and decides he’s going to deal with the grumbles once and for all, but in a very nice way. 

In this picture book for younger readers, the author makes clever use of alliteration which enhances her playful action filled text as we ride the storm of Oliver’s bad day to his calming solution.

Children will be drawn to Giuseppe Poli’s attractive cover showing Oliver and his mischievous grumbles. The title font and cross-out word are also kid-friendly and clues us in to how the grumbles are taking over. The illustrations throughout are attractive and colourful and the grumbles have the right mix of being naughty but irresistible. The colour variations to the text work well to highlight mood and action.

This is a wonderful book to read and read again, especially at bedtime.