Ginger Green Play Date Queen: The Only Friend

Ginger Green Play Date Queen: The Only Friend written by Kim Kane, illustrated by John Davis (Hardie Grant Egmont) PB RRP $9.99 ISBN 9781760127855

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

Ginger Green Play Date Queen is a fabulous new chapter book series starring a cute little fox. In each book, Ginger has a play date with a different friend, overcoming inevitable challenges and conflict along the way.

In The Only Friend, Ginger Green invites her friend Maya over to play. Problems arise when Ginger’s big sister Violet takes a liking to Maya and wants to play too. When the jealousy escalates and Ginger storms off, all seems lost – until Ginger comes up with an idea so everyone is included.

The story explores jealousy, anger, problem-solving and appreciating different types of families. While Ginger is sometimes annoyed by her bossy big sister and her little sister Penny (who, adorably, insists on being ‘nude’), Maya points out that as an only child, she doesn’t have instant playmates like Ginger does. Ultimately, the books celebrate compromise and friendship.

Super short and with only three chapters, the Ginger Green Play Date Queen series offers a wonderful introduction to the world of chapter books for newly independent readers, with lots of repetition throughout. That the illustrations depict the characters as little foxes (which isn’t mentioned in the text) adds a charming point of difference.

When the Lyrebird Calls

When the Lyrebird Calls by Kim Kane (Allen and Unwin)
PB RRP $16.99ISBN 9781741758528 

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

 While cleaning out an old cupboard at her grandmother’s house, Madeleine discovers a secret compartment with some antique items. Her grandmother, Mum Crum, suggests she take them to the local museum (Lyrebird Muse), an old mansion that once belonged to the wealthy and powerful Williamson family.
 Mum Crum explains how lyrebirds mimic sounds and teach their offspring to replicate them, thereby making these precious birds ‘keepers of our history’. Little does Madeleine know that when she hears a lyrebird’s call at the museum, that very afternoon, she’ll be transported back in time to the year 1900 (around six months before Federation). Until she can figure out how to get home, Madeleine needs to somehow unassumingly fit into a world where women are powerless and unable to vote, where Aboriginal people are mistreated and racism is rampant and where children are ignored or viewed as unimportant.
 The story is mostly set in country Victoria, with a few scenes around Melbourne and its inner suburbs. Women’s suffrage is a key historical theme in the book and so most characters are, aptly, female. There are the four Williamson girls (Bea, Gert, Charlie and Imogen), their mother (Bella), Elfriede (their mother’s cousin), Nanny, Aunt Hen and Anna. Through Madeleine’s eyes we get a fascinating understanding of feminism in 1900. Most of the women conform to their expected role, but some prefer to challenge it.
 Fans of Playing Beatie Bow will enjoy this historical time travel story, targeted to readers aged between 10–13 years. Madeleine’s story is a little different to that of Abigail Kirk in that she does not undertake a major personal journey of self. Instead, despite the challenges of acting ladylike, hiding her sporting skills and having to manage a dreaded corset, Madeleine’s steadfast character remains a comforting modern-day contrast to the girls of 1900. This allows the author to highlight the significance of this important historical era.
 Kim Kane, award-winning author of Pip: The Story of Olive, has delivered another great story with writing that is fluid and easy to read. The characters are strong and likeable and there’s even an unpredictable plot twist. It’s a novel that can be enjoyed and read over and over again!

Esther’s Rainbow

Esther’s Rainbow written by Kim Kane and illustrated by Sara Acton (Allen and Unwin)
PB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978-1-74331-370-1
Reviewed by Ann Harth (www.annharth.com )

Esther’s Rainbow starts and ends with a rainbow and colours fill every page. Esther spies a rainbow while eating lunch on Sunday. It’s soft, warm and smells like honey.

On Monday Esther looks for her rainbow but instead, sees all things violet, like Daddy’s shirt and Granny’s chocolate creams. On Tuesday she sees indigo in a forgotten feather and the midnight sky but Esther still can’t find her rainbow. The days of the week go by and Esther sees a different colour each day. When she wakes on a Monday to a soft, sweet rain shower, her rainbow returns.

Kim Kane and Sara Acton have introduced colours and the days of the week within the page turning quality of their book, but the unique imagery and memorable language are what attracted me. Children will be able to relate to the violet in hard, shiny nail polish, the blue in the echo of a swimming pool and yellow on baby’s I-like-butter chin. The words flow beautifully and the simple but effective illustrations allow you to fall in love with Esther immediately.

Esther’s Rainbow is suitable for children aged 3-6 but children younger and older will enjoy it as well. It recreates a familiar but colourful week in the life of a child but enhances it with a unique touch. Most children will identify with Esther’s experiences.

Kim Kane was born in London but now resides with her family in Melbourne. 2011 was a big year for her as two of her picture books, Family Forest and Vegetable Ark were recognised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Family Forest was shortlisted for the CBCA award and Vegetable Ark was a CBCA notable book in two separate categories. But those aren’t her only awards. Her first book, Pip: the Story of Olive, received the Barbara Ramsden Award in 2008.

Sara Acton was also born in England and lived in New Zealand before moving to Australia. She now lives near the ocean in New South Wales. She is an award winner in her own right and her work in Esther’s Rainbow illustrates the reason for this. Her book, Ben and Duck, was the winner of the CBCA Crichton Award for new illustrators.

Ann Harth is a published children's author and writing tutor at Australian College of Journalism. She loves to read and is committed to creating children's literature that inspires, entertains and triggers a tiny twist in the mind. Her latest middle-grade novel, The Art of Magic, will be released in 2012.