The Fishmonger and the Pastry Chef

The Fishmonger and the Pastry Chef by Sophie Masson and Cheryl Orsini (Little Hare) RRP: $24.99 ISBN 9781761211225

Reviewed by Rebecca Fung

This is a charming little matchmaking tale nestled inside the comforts of friendship, glorious memories and delicious food! This sumptuous picture book, dripping with sweet pink that reminds me of cake icing and macarons, starts with Lucas who introduces us to a seaside town in France where his two favourite people live. His Aunt Violette, a pastry chef, and the fishmonger, Cyprien.

Lucas loves Violette, and he's always happy to see Cyprien. There's a glow to the relationship between the young and old here. But the real stars of the book are the different kinds of French food. Both Masson and Orsini and pour their passion onto the page and Lucas is the embodiment of that.

Readers will look at the pastry shop with the "berets Basques with chocolate tops, tartes aux fraises, glossy with strawberries, and gateaux Russe, resplendent with hazelnut meringue and coffee cream" and lick their lips then turn the page and be bombarded with a buffet of "crusty bread and salty ham, wheels of cheese and spears of asparagus, and bright red peppers, tomatoes and cherries ... silvery shoals of fish, spiky squads of lobsters ..."

Masson doesn't hold back and doesn't simplify her food list. Some children may find certain foodie terms a little challenging, but it's a great chance for them to expand their vocabulary and immerse themselves in French foodie culture. The pictures explain those details are irresistible. Orsini has captured the joy of abundant food - she says that one of her favourite things to draw is charcuterie. This is evident here.

This book is reminiscent of Paul Gallico's Flowers for Mrs Harris where a woman with childish charm plays matchmaker against a French setting. Except instead of using French fashion as the backdrop, here it's French food. Like Gallico's book, this has a gentle charm to it that will leave a smile on your face as Violette and Cyprien discover happiness, and Lucas discovers the joy of bringing happiness to others.

The story is simple and predictable, but that works for a children's picture book. Celebrating this selfless joy is what makes this book so magical, as well as being immersed in the food culture of France.

Daisy Runs Wild

Caz Godwin’s latest book for children is Daisy Runs Wild, illustrated by Ashley King (Little Hare, an imprint of Hardie Grant Egmont).

Daisy is a koala who likes to sleep and eat gum leaves. But one morning she runs wild, causing havoc and hilarity at the park. Why is Daisy acting so strangely? Get set for a wild, action-packed adventure with Daisy and her friend Jasper. 

Daisy Runs Wild is the second 'Daisy' picture book, after the success of Lazy Daisy which was released in 2019. 

Caz is a Melbourne-based, award-winning author who writes picture books, short stories, poetry and junior fiction. Her work has been published internationally and illustrated by Gus Gordon and Kerry Millard (Australia), Ashley King (United Kingdom), Low Joo Hong (Singapore) and others. Caz heads the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Victoria and is on the Young Australian Best Book Awards (YABBA) council. 

Ponk!  By Edwina Wyatt, illus by Christopher Nielsen, (Little Hare) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781760129774

Reviewed by Mike Shuttleworth

Ponk is a little bird who lives at the top of a very tall tree. From on high, Ponk can see The Hill and the strange beasts dancing and swaying way over there. But Ponk’s problem is not distance—it’s height. Ponk! is a strong, simple story about overcoming adversity, laced with gentle humour, for audiences aged three to six. Ponk lives, metaphorically speaking, out on a limb.

Dwelling alone at the very top of the tree is risky for a little bird who can’t yet fly, and Ponk routinely topples and tumbles through the branches below. Those birds living beneath are not so impressed, and don’t mind mocking the plucky Ponk. They don’t see why Ponk keeps climbing up high—until curiosity gets the better of them. The story’s little drama is nicely rounded with a dash of comedy.

Illustrator Christopher Nielsen’s digitally designed retro palette revels in dynamic contrasts, energising the text and letting the story fly. Nielsen’s old-school colour mix (think early Little Golden Books) is right at home with Edwina Wyatt’s reassuring tale. Wyatt makes good use of sound, rhythm and comic timing to engage young eyes and ears. Ponk! is a satisfying picture book about persistence, doing things your way, and not always following the flock.

Mike Shuttleworth is a children’s bookseller at Readings Hawthorn