The Callers

The Callers by Kiah Thomas (HarperCollins) PB RRP $15.99 ISBN 9781460762141

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

In the land of Elipsom, ‘Callers’ have the unique ability to summon objects out of thin air. Those that possess the rare skill are required to join Council, the ruling body of Elipsom, to serve the community. Quin comes from a long line of Callers and feels ashamed not to have inherited this gift to carry on his family legacy. It isn’t until Quin discovers the existence of Evantra, a continent that is being destroyed by Elipsom’s Callers, that he realises that he and countless others have long been deceived. Exposure to the horrible truth means that Quin must now make the difficult choice to support his family or stand up for what he believes is right.

The Callers is an imaginative middle-grade fantasy adventure that includes themes of sustainability, consumerism, deception, and greed. This engaging novel would appeal to readers aged 8 years and older who enjoy thought-provoking narratives about social and environmental issues.

Foot Hand Elbow Nose

Foot Hand Elbow Nose by Kiah Thomas, Connah Brecon (Little Hare Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9781760602027

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Here is an hilarious picture book for young children that is quirky, imaginative, and brightly illustrated. Foot Hand Elbow Nose looks at a foot who has had enough of being a foot and demands to be swapped as a hand. Max feels sad and agrees. Then other body parts want to swap too. Max becomes exhausted from all the changes and finally shouts ‘enough!’ It really is best to be yourself. This is an engaging story for young children that really does make you laugh.  

The illustrations not only support the text but play on the fun of the body part swaps with speech bubbles and hilarious characters brought to life in cartoon like scenes. The purple cover captures the eye and the use of sky blue in varying degrees on each page adds to the story. The illustrations add funny extra layers of meaning to the story.

Foot Hand Elbow Nose is a lively, eccentric picture book that captures the imagination.