Max’s Divorce Earthquake

Max’s Divorce Earthquake by Rachel Brace, illustrated by Angela Perrini (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $14.95 ISBN 9781925839142

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

When Max’s parents tell him they are divorcing, an earthquake shakes his world. He experiences a series of shocks as he moves through his daily life and the changes in his family take hold. Together with his parents, he works through his reactions and feelings until he achieves a new sense of stability.

The text clearly steps through the sorts of feelings children may experience when their parents are divorcing, and how it may affect their behaviour. It scripts conversations between parents and children in responding to those emotions and provides a useful guide for working through various situations. In addition to the earthquake of the title, a range of metaphors is used in both text and illustrations. While this may usually create a risk of diluting clarity and impact, in this case it may be useful to ensure that all children will find a way of thinking about divorce that they can relate to their own experience.

This is not a subtle book and it addresses head-on the emotions a child might expect to feel. It is not driven by plot and is clearly intended as an educational resource for parents as much as children. While a valuable tool, children are unlikely to feel fully invested in his character and story, although they will identify with it. 

This book will be an asset to divorcing parents of children aged 3 to 8 years. It would also be of value to parents of children who have friends experiencing divorce in their family. Other families who are not experiencing or close to divorce may wish to use caution, particularly with children prone to worry. 

Brave Adventures, Little Girl

Brave Adventures, Little Girl by Iresha Herath, illustrated by Oscar Fa (Little Steps Publishing) HB RRP $24.95 ISBN: 9780648267485

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Four-year-old Anika doesn’t feel brave when she tries new things. ‘I always feel funny in my tummy,’ she tells her grandfather, Seeya. With a gentle smile, Seeya reveals that whenever he did something for the first time – from swimming quickly to escape from a big water lizard, to moving all the way to the other side of the world to go to university – he often had a funny feeling in his tummy. But he did those things anyway, and ended up having many amazing experiences. With Seeya’s help, Anika begins to look forward to her next adventure – hopping at the Kinder Olympics for the first time.

Inspired by her Sri Lankan family, Iresha Herath has written a sweet and sensitive book for children aged three to eight years about overcoming fear and having the bravery to face new situations. Although Seeya speaks about places and events beyond Anika’s sphere of knowledge, Iresha has cleverly used humour and wonder to draw Anika – and the child reader – into the stories. Just like Anika, readers will derive comfort and courage from Seeya’s willingness to acknowledge the anxiety he has felt during his life.

French artist Oscar Fa adds a whimsical layer to the words with his bright and bewitching illustrations. Even though the characters are rendered with simplicity, they exude a charming warmth that will appeal to young eyes. A wonderful example of this is the choice to dress both Anika and Seeya in crimson, visually linking the characters and strengthening their heartwarming bond.

Brave Adventures, Little Girl is a fabulous book to read with youngsters who are worried about navigating an ever-expanding world of unfamiliar experiences. They’ll soon discover that everybody gets butterflies at one time or another, and that trying new things despite the funny feeling in your tummy ‘makes you very brave indeed’.

Little Spiral

Little Spiral by Pat Simmons, illustrated by Patrick Shirvington (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95 ISBN 9780648267324

Reviewed by Brook Tayla

Little Spiral is a beautiful poetic journey that explores the life cycle of a snail.

The whole book has an air of mystery and intrigue.  Right from the first page you wonder which little pearl coloured circle could be the actual snail forming on the forest floor.

And then the journey begins that leads us through growth, life and a new generation – a circular narrative.

The text is written simply but meaningfully with words that evoke re-reading and pondering. The ink/watercolour illustrations are a perfect visual match and give depth of meaning to the story.  The edge-to-edge pictures pull readers right into the forest scenario, so that you feel you are actually there and feel an empathy with the snail, ‘Little Spiral’ – what a clever, delightful name!

This is a picture book that will be enjoyed by all ages and returned to often, not only to ponder life but also to check back in with this now familiar and cute little snail.

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.

Who is Fitzy Fox?

Who is Fitzy Fox? by Amelia Trompf, illustrated by Jennifer Bruce (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95 HB RRP $24.95

ISBN: 9781925117813 (PB)  ISBN: 9781925117929 (HB)

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Fitzy Fox lives in Melbourne. Down on Brunswick Street, Pete the café owner, asks, ‘Hey Foxy, how about a veggie burger?’

At Lygon Street’s gelataria, Arabella asks, ‘How about a little Limone today, Foxy?’

It isn’t lemon gelato or vegetarian burgers befuddling Fitzy; it’s the nickname ‘Foxy’. See, Fitzy always thought he was a dog.

At the State Library, he examines pictures of foxes but they don’t clear up the matter of his identity. Foxes look both like and unlike him. So he decides to go to London to see the Queen. His Lonesome Globe guidebook says the Royal Family likes fox hunting. So, surely, they could tell what he is.

A kindly Guard at the palace sends him off to Hyde Park and the swans there send him to Notting Hill where he finally meets a natty fox. But no luck in the identity stakes. The fox is unsure: Fitzy’s odd look and bark might simply indicate he’s an Australian fox, not an English one.

Fitzy returns to Melbourne where answers have awaited him all along.

This is a book of great charm that straddles the chasm between old-fashioned ‘Paddington Bear’ style journeying and modern concerns about identity. The illustrations, while smooth and contemporary, still have that gentle ‘woodland’ feel to them. This is for 3–6 year olds and fox terrier lovers.

The Small Five

The Small Five by Ralph Johnstone, illustrated by Harriet Stanes (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $14.95  ISBN: 9781925117509

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

The ‘Big Five’ of Africa are renowned and celebrated the world over—lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant. But the ‘Small Five’? The ones who share names with their famous five counterparts and can fit in the palm of your hand? Nope. The ant lion, leopard tortoise, buffalo weaver, rhinoceros beetle and elephant shrew are as unknown as their namesakes are well-known.

This fun story is about a contest between the ‘Small Five’ and the ‘Big Five’. The ‘Small Five’ are fed up with all the attention given to the ‘Big Five’ and challenge them to tests of skill, will and wits.

Doc Croc is the ref and the games are on!

Kids aged 3–6 (and probably well beyond) will love this book with its lively illustrations—it’s the Davids vs Goliaths of the African savannah. The background inspiration is no better expressed than in the words of the author: ‘The little guys always get a raw deal. After all, they’re just as robust and wily—in fact, some of them, like the leopard tortoise and the rhinoceros beetle, are even tougher than the Big Five!’

Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go towards supporting children at the Kenya Children’s Home.

Echidnas Can’t Cuddle

Echidnas Can’t Cuddle by Nieta Manser, illustrated by Lauren Merrick (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95  ISBN: 9781925117769

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

A whimsical mix of watercolour and paper cut-outs enhances this rhyming book for 3–6 year olds.

Erik wants a cuddle. His dad says it’s something echidnas soon learn to do without. Erik sees koalas snuggling and rosellas with their wings around each other and he’s ready to curl up and cry.

Running away doesn’t solve his problem: soon he’s pursued by snakes, bees and birds of prey. But——wait! They’re deterred by his spikes. Yay!

And on his safe return, Erik discovers even better news—echidnas might not be able to express their affection through cuddles but there’s nothing to stop them kissing.

This is an all-round charmer of a book.

Muesli on my Brother’s Head

Muesli on my Brother’s Head by Harriet Cuming, illustrated by Kathryn Green (Little Steps Publishing) HB RRP $24.95

ISBN 9781925117829

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

In this picture book told in rhyming verse, a masked and caped boy about ten is involved in a series of escapades where mess is involved. There’s ‘mashed sweet potato on the bed’ and ‘honey in my granny’s shoe.’ The boy is responsible for putting ‘Daddy’s ipad up a tree’ and ‘Mummy’s keys in her tea.’ In any household the boy would be a plain nuisance – even messing with Aunty Lou Lou’s pants and covering Uncle Joey’s red canoe with ‘some icky glue,’ but despite admitting to ‘being bad’, the boy is not punished. After promising to obey, he's allowed ‘to stay’ but in the final picture, accidentally spills a tray of cream.

It’s not clear what the point of the overall story is, as except for the accident, all other misdemeanors are wilful. Why would a child be so nasty to his family? And especially why would he not pay for the consequences of his actions? 

The illustrations, in watercolour, are child-like and not particularly appealing. The book is suitable for readers aged 5 to 7 years.

This is the second self-published book by the Australian author of Where Do Teachers Go at Night?

Cody the Pony

Cody the Pony by Michelle Path, illustrated by Naya Ivashchuk (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117745

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

The tender softness of watercolour illustration combined with the super-big eyes reminiscent of manga comics brings a unique style to this gentle story of learning to ride a special horse.

However, the book’s primary value is that it’s a book to teach horse-mad girls about the protocols around horses. It’s definitely not the sort of book where the impression is given that you buy a horse one day and leap on its back the next. Although patience is not mentioned in the text, it’s implicit in the process highlighted in the story.

The tack needed is described and illustrated. The taking of the horse to a trainer shows how Cody slowly learns to obey different commands, to tolerate someone on his back, then get into the arena and accept his owner—Mimi.

Cody the pony, Mimi his rider, and Anna the trainer, all feature in this book that seems to be aimed at 3 to 6 year-old girls. The age group is a little lower than I would have expected but it would certainly help to temper the passion of any little girl wanting a horse NOW.

Brave

Brave by Lynn Jenkins, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117844

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Vibrant red and white loops of colour straddle the pages of this bright, cheerful book which encourages children to use their imagination to find their BRAVE. Loppy and Curly are two zany characters with a dilemma: Loppy is scared just thinking about going to school while Curly has his work cut out for him getting Loppy to put on his BRAVE suit and face his fears.

The principles in this book are aimed at helping parents who have anxious children, especially those in the 3–6 year old category. Going to bed in the dark, weathering a storm, speaking in class, making new friends, fronting up at school… all these can be nerve-wracking events for children. Loppy and Curly are here to show how to find the BRAVE hidden inside.

An A–Z of Creatures

An A–Z of Creatures written and illustrated by Karen Allen (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117738

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

I’m not sure it was intentional but there are three pages in this book about animals that it’s possible for the reader to colour in: the legendary unicorn and the X-ray of a triceratops and the gorgeous dragonfly.

This is a vibrantly hued and intricately patterned alphabet book of a wide range of creatures—some extinct, some common to the Australian bush, some found far away and some lost in the mists of legend. 

Although the book advises it’s for a target age group of 3–6 years old, I have no doubt that older children and adults will enjoy this vivid and informative bestiary.

The Cassowary’s Gift

The Cassowary’s Gift by Pam Skadins, illustrated by Kathryn Lovejoy (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117578

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

After another — yes, another! — sign appears in the rainforest about protecting the cassowary, the birds and animals all wonder why it’s so special. The pitta, the quoll, the wallaby, the brush-turkey, the scrubfowl want answers and they aren’t backward in pursuing them. Just why is the cassowary such  a V.I.B.? (Very important bird.)

Although the cassowary is notoriously reclusive, they decide they’re going to keep after it until they’ve got it to give up its secret.

Now, there are some 3–6 year olds who are going to love the answer. It’s poo! The cassowary’s scat fertilises the forest and keeps the cycle of life going. The music is given for the cassowary’s song as he describes his ‘gift’ to the world.

I’m a big fan of poster-edge style art so I really loved the finely executed illustrations.

Charlie’s Adventures in Hawaii

Charlie’s Adventures in Hawaii by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, illustrated by Sophie Norsa (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $24.95

ISBN: 9781925117721

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

There’s just one thing wrong with this picture book. There wasn’t another in the series to go out and buy as soon as I got to the end. Seriously, I was bowled over by the heart-warming charm of this touching story and its lively illustrations—which include a map in a pocket on the inside back cover. Being ‘wowed’ by a travel adventure is not something I expected to happen when I first dipped inside its covers. Maybe it was the word game that was the drawcard. I’m always a sucker for a story that involves wordplay and this one involves a bit of detective work as well!

There’s an aspect of a treasure hunt to the story. As Charlie goes to different parts of the island, he’s taught about significant Hawaiian words. Words like ‘unity’, ‘humility’, ‘kindness’. Once put together, their first letters spell out ‘Aloha’ and his adventure becomes one of learning what makes up the Aloha spirit.

Although the target audience is suggested to be 3–6 years, I suspect the concepts might be better directed to an age group just a tad older, maybe 4–7 years.

The Enigma Diaries: Forgotten Future

The Enigma Diaries: Forgotten Future by Lynda A Calder, illustrated by Johanna Lum (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $19.95

ISBN: 9781925117660

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

About halfway through this book, I realised it was a sequel: Hidden History is the first in this series. Any time travel book is a complex endeavour when the characters are moving back and forward between particular zones, but the storyline became even more difficult to follow with the introduction of characters who have a backstory in the previous book that wasn’t thoroughly spelled out. 

The opening is explosive, intriguing and a tiny bit confusing. Time parallelism is occurring even before it’s made clear it is. No doubt this would have been obvious to a reader of Hidden History but I didn’t quite pick it up immediately.  The Nephilim appear at Stonehenge during the summer solstice, ready to subjugate humanity, perhaps even obliterate them with their god-like powers. News reporters are waiting, alerted by the World Wide Web that this gathering on Salisbury Plain will be like no other. 

By the time James bows to the Nephilim, fifteen-year-old Cassandra Reid knows it is already too late to save the world from the unfolding disaster. Chronos has sent a time device two hundred years into the future, readying the planet for the return of the greater Nephilim brood.

Cassandra accidently winds up in the future herself when she goes to the beach with her friend Peony. There she has to escape the Nephilim, but also to get back to the past. Her time-twisting adventures as she meets up with old friends, new allies—and encounters herself in disguise—take her through to the far future and back into the past.

Although the cover suggests a New Adult audience, this book is more suited to avid Middle Grade readers and the lower end of the YA spectrum. 

Who’s got a Normal Family?

Who’s got a Normal Family? by Belinda Nowell, illustrated by Miša Alexander (Little Steps Publishing)

HB RRP $24.95

ISBN: 9781925117752

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Alex had exciting news to tell at school. His baby sister arrived last night. She’s a foster kid, just like him. Everyone claps, except for Jimmy Martin. Jimmy doesn’t like anyone to be happy. ‘You don’t have a normal family!’ he yelled.

Well, that made Alex so sad. Even his mum’s hugs didn’t cheer him. But Mum made a good suggestion -- to search through his class photo album to find someone ‘normal’.

One by one, Alex realises there’s no one at school who has a normal family. Perhaps Jimmy Martin comes closest, but his dad’s left home — so does he count? Suddenly, Alex realises why Jimmy doesn’t want anyone to be happy; it’s because he’s not happy himself.

Thus next day, he shares two secrets with Jimmy: (1) where the best lizards live and (2) what his mum said about ‘normal’ families.

This is a perfect book for anyone to share with a child who has worries about their family structure. It’s delightfully illustrated. Although the publisher recommends 3-6 years as the target audience; I felt it was slightly older, perhaps the 4-7 years old bracket.

A Show for Bonnie

A Show for Bonnie by Helen Bock, illustrated by Lexie Watt (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $14.95ISBN: 9781925117622

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton 

A tender, gentle air pervades this story of moving on from sadness and loss.

Bonnie’s pups had left the farm and she was grieving for them. Sammy came up with a plan—and, with a bark, gathered all the different animals to perform tricks and songs, routines and moves. The pig, pony, geese, cow and even the squeaking barnyard mouse all get in on the act. Sam’s kindness and the animals’ friendship brings delight back into Bonnie’s life. 

The muted colours of the delicate illustrations perfectly complement the text in this picture book for pre-schoolers.

My Nanna Nelly Will Tour the Illawarra Tomorra

My Nanna Nelly Will Tour the Illawarra Tomorra by Sean Williams, illustrated by Karen Mounsey-Smith (Little Steps Publishing)
PB RRP $16.95ISBN: 9781925117547 

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton 

The opening page was so impressive with its rhythm and rhyme I was sure I was in for a treat with this very different ‘tour guide’ of the region south of Sydney.

 ‘We’ll play mahjong by a billabong in Gerringong,’ promised a feast of sound and visual treats.

 Well, subsequent pages aren’t quite up there with the consistent, rhythmic flow but the rhyme is still top notch. Imagine a suitable rhyme for ‘Isabel Boulton’s Chair’, Kiama Blow Hole and Bellambi Reef. It’s all there!
 

Although this book is targeted at 3–6 year olds, I imagine older children might enjoy it too. The specific mention of places-to-go and things-to-do in the Illawarra region clearly sets the book apart regionally, perhaps making it difficult to market elsewhere. 

This is a book to share and enjoy with children touring the Illawarra. The illustrations are joyous and exuberant. The last page has eight photographs; I would really have liked to have seen a map as well.

Francois the Fearless Circus Peg

Francois the Fearless Circus Peg written and illustrated by Carrie Webster (Little Steps Publishing)                       HB RRP $24.95 ISBN: 9781925117714 PB RRP $14.95 ISBN: 9781925117691 

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton Francois is a peg (of the very old-fashioned, wooden, household washing type) and a performer in a travelling circus. On Monday he does a cannonball act. On Tuesday it’s a tightrope act. On Wednesday, it’s flips from an elephant’s trunk. On, day by day through the week, Francois has a regular routine of death-defying stunts. Francois the Fearless has a secret: actually he’s not so fearless!
 With mainly red, white and blue illustrations throughout, in mysterious dark grungy shades, there’s perhaps a tribute to Francois’ cultural background lurking around. This is a rhyming story about fear, courage and friendship for 3-6 year olds. An excellent addition to the fun text is the activities and teacher’s lesson plan at www.francoisthefearless.com

Flossie the Fairy

Flossie the Fairy by Nancy Watson, illustrated by Natasha Farrar (Little Steps Publishing)

PB RRP $14.95

ISBN: 9781925117684

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Delicate pastel illustrations enhance a subtle story of death and new beginnings.

Flossie is a tiny, invisible fairy who delights in the contents of an elderly lady’s rose-red handbag. There are mirrors and make-up to use for dress-ups; pockets to live in without drawing suspicion. Flossie is entranced by the music Mistress plays on her electric organ each day.

But one day, the music stops. The light, airy atmosphere of the house falls into grey gloom. Strangers come to tidy up the house, throw out things, remove the furniture. They toss the rose-red handbag out in a box of unwanted items for the council truck to pick up on its garbage run.

Flossie leaves the rose-red handbag behind when a little girl comes by and takes a birdcage from the discard pile. Darting into the birdcage, Flossie comes to a new house where she is welcomed by a whole troupe of toys.

This story for 3-6 year olds presents a story of a difficult life transition without either cloying sentimentality or raw facts.

The Mysteries of Corkuparipple Creek

The Mysteries of Corkuparipple Creek by Susan Pease, illustrated by Olivia Pease (Little Steps Publishing)

HB RRP $29.95

ISBN: 9781925117592

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

This lavishly produced hardcover volume with gold-embossed cloth spine and ribbon page marker is a uniquely different offering in children’s books.

 

With sly overtones of Alice-in-Wonderland — is the first story in the book all a dream? — it mixes a significant environmental message with oodles of toilet and bum humour! It’s also got echoes of Narnia in that a great deal of time spent in one place is next-to-nothing back home.

 

There’s a dream-like wackiness to the characters — the Slurp-it-Downs and the Gulp-a-Waters are particularly memorable for their incessant throwing of insults and devotion to the art of the unsubtle putdown. These are races of strange critters who live on the banks of Corkuparipple Creek in the Aussie bush and who, in the best fairytale tradition, are only visible to selected folk.

 

Ten-year-old Jo encounters them one day while brainstorming a subject for an essay exam. One of the first things she sees is the Slurp-it-Downs and Gulp-a-Waters making snot glue — which later turns out to have healing, restorative properties (a chapter not to be read on a queasy stomach, to be sure!)

 

The book is divided into two separate but interconnected stories — Corkuparipple Creek and Worlds Apart. The second tale is largely set in Scotland and involves dark elves, time travel and (spoiler alert!) a bunyip who saves the day. It’s only in the second tale that it becomes likely the first story, which ended on the possibility that Jo’s initial adventures were all a dream, did really occur. There are some anachronisms in the book such as the use of ‘miles’, instead of ‘kilometres’.

 

Kids who love lots of references to things coming out of different body orifices will probably enjoy this huge volume with its full-colour illustrations throughout and its bright centrespread.

Buy Me a Monkey

Buy Me a Monkey by Cherelle Flemming, illustrated by Graeme Compton (Little Steps Publishing)

HB RRP $14.95

ISBN: 9781925117554

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Ellie Eckles is determined to have a monkey for her sixth birthday! She’s asked her mum a hundred times but the answer is always ‘no’. Ellie won’t give up—she’s devised a scheme with the help of an internet company specialising in free pet monkeys!

In preparation for the monkey’s arrival, she’s saved her lunch bananas and hidden them in a secret place. (Maybe the map to their location wasn’t a good idea but, as it turns out, the monkey wasn’t a real hot one either.)

Millie the monkey arrives in the post. Ellie manages to keep her a secret from Mum and relishes the thought of all the fun they’ll have together. But Ellie has to leave Millie alone while she’s at school. She returns to chaos and destruction. You guessed it—Millie has not been toilet-trained or house-trained…

The moral of this lively story about a cheeky monkey and a cheekier girl: don’t pester your mum for a chimp. There might just be good reasons to choose another pet.

The book is a brightly illustrated soft cover for pre-schoolers and early readers.