Dinosaur Dads

Dinosaur Dads by Lesley Gibbes & Marjorie Crosby-Fairall is a Scholastic Press Book from Scholastic Australia, released on 1 August 2021

The dinosaur kids whinge and grumble until,

An earth-shaking STOMP echoes over the hill.

Get ready, get set for daddies galore.

Here they come! Here they come! Here they come…

ROAR!

A rollicking, rhyming, romping, stomping dinosaur adventure for Father’s Day 2021

Craft Activity

https://www.crosby-fairall.com/activities

Author Lesley Gibbes

www.lesleygibbes.com

https://www.thechildrensbookshopspeakersagency.com.au

Illustrator Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

https://www.crosby-fairall.com

 

 

 

Dinosaur Dads

Dinosaur Dads by Lesley Gibbes, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (Scholastic Australia) HB RRP $17.99 ISBN 9781760663506

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Kids love dinosaurs and they are sure to love this action-packed picture book which starts with kid dinosaurs being bored. However, that doesn’t last long because, while mums and grandmas are out hunting, their dads appear, with ‘an earth-shaking stomp’ ready for some fun. The three kids squeal and laugh as they pursue their dads in ‘the biggest ever dinosaur race.’ Over fallen logs, past volcanoes and through forest fogs the racers continue to the dinosaur swamp where they all get very muddy, especially when they have a giant mud fight. Then it’s off to a stream where ‘the water is tingly and tickly and swirly, it’s splishy and splashy and gushy and whirly.’ When the hijinks are finished, and the dads fall asleep, the kids are once again bored. But that’s when their mums return from hunting, and more fun and adventure beckons.

This is a text which is just made for reading aloud for it is full of rhythm and rhyme and lots of action verbs which are shown in bold typeface. The illustrations are right on target -- full of fun, bright colour, and lots of movement. On the fly pages are bright coloured dinosaur pawprints, big ones for the adults, small ones for the children. One can see this book being read repeatedly. It’s highly recommended for readers aged 4+ years.

Say Cheese!

Say Cheese! by Frances Watts, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (Scholastic Australia)

RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781760664046

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The author playfully builds the antics of cheeky animals at school photos with the use of questioning by Maxwell Mouse the photographer. This gives the illustrations lots of scope with the answers. School photos – student and family portraits and then a picture of the whole class with all the shenanigans ensure the reader is entertained. The dialogue between the photographer and animals works harmoniously. A big strength of this book is the interplay between the words and illustrations. Marjorie has lots of freedom to ham up Maxwell Mouse’s frustration with some students who just won’t stay still.

Many illustrations use sky blue and cheese yellow with double spreads full of playful characters and movement. The animal characters sing with personality that fill each page. The repeated refrain ‘Say Cheese!’ gives the reader the opportunity to join in with the story. This book can be enjoyed by children aged three to eight years. I can also see many teachers using this book around the annual school photo. Also, at home a child could easily do school photos of their toys as a fun response to this story.

The Boy in the big Blue Glasses

The Boy in the big Blue Glasses by Susanne Gervay and illustrated Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (EK Books. Exile Publishing) $24.95 ISBN 9781925335996

Reviewed by Claire Stuckey

Like many children Sam does not want glasses: they make his ears hurt. But with the loving support of his extended family he becomes a handsome superhero. He just wants to be Sam. Will anyone recognise him? His friend George knows him, but he believes his glasses have changed him. Sam now finds lots of ways to hide his new glasses, but those pesky adults keep finding them.  Sam feels he has lost his identity.

On the day George is off school, Sam struggles casting off his blue glasses as everyone becomes silly animal shapes. Mimicking and laughing at the images in front of him Sam starts the whole class laughing and they have fun together. Sam has returned. When George returns to school, the class all join in their imaginary games, Sam is satisfied and happy that they all know him once more.

With so many children needing visual aids, this book explores not only the feelings of children but how others respond. It relays both a positive message but shares the fears that a young child might experience including reacting to change. Susanne Gervay has captured this sensitive topic in a wonderful accessible story. 

The illustrations by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall carefully depict Sam's emotional journey. A great book to start discussion on change, difference as well as glasses. This title would be suitable for older preschoolers to early primary (ages 4 to 8 years).

The Feelix Library and Braille House are transcribing the book into Braille which denotes the value to this special picture book.

The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses by

The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (EK Books) RRP HB $24.99
ISBN 9781925335996

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Young Sam makes it very clear from the outset that he does not want glasses. In Sammy’s world, superheroes and imaginative play reign supreme, and he enjoys the status quo. He is quite happy to stand out in ways he can control (he wears a superhero outfit everywhere he goes) but he is not yet prepared for being ‘different’ beyond his control. This is the point where the adults in his life would presumably help him navigate his way. Unfortunately for Sam, everyone overcompensates adding to his sadness and frustration.

When Sam’s family first see him in his big blue glasses, they all act surprised and pretend not to recognise him. Then they shower him with complements about how handsome he is. Sammy states that he doesn’t want to look handsome, or different, he just wants to be Sam!

Problems also arise when Sam goes to school. His teacher claims not to know who he is either. She then invites Sam to stand in front of the class for everyone to try and notice what’s different about him. Sammy is not impressed.

While the family and teacher’s comments are made with fun and jest, Sammy’s young mind doesn’t see the humour, and it only makes him uncomfortable and confused. He doesn’t like the attention and is adamant that he is not different… ‘No one sees who I am anymore.’

Sadly, these encounters result in Sam not wanting to go to school anymore and his deliberately trying to lose his glasses. When his best friend is absent from school one day Sam doesn’t have anyone to play with or anyone to stick up for him when classmates call him names. At first, he tries to hide away and sulk but soon remembers that’s not what superheroes do. So, with some courage and a ‘if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em’ approach, Sam soon makes his classmates laugh and, in the process, makes some new friends and is seen for who he is.

The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses is a picture book suitable for children aged 4-8 years. The illustrations are beautiful throughout and perfectly capture Sam’s experiences and emotions. This book would be a great addition to the primary classroom to initiate discussion about diversity, acceptance and uniqueness. There are plenty of lessons to be learnt for children and adults alike!

Brothers from a Different Mother

Brothers from a Different Mother by Phillip Gwynne, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (Viking) HB RRP $19.99
ISBN 9780670078486

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

It’s not often there is a tapir in a children’s story so it’s a refreshing change to see one on the cover of this picture book, knowing it’s sure to be a main character!

Every day two animals see each other playing down at the waterhole - Tapir, from the jungle, and Pig, from the village. Both animals look very similar and, at first, they are curious as to whether they are in fact the same. When eventually they notice some differences, they decide that they are ‘Brothers from a Different Mother’ and develop a special bond.

This new friendship sees Tapir and Pig happily playing together every day until their fathers get involved and forbid the friendship due to their prejudices. The separation naturally causes sadness for Tapir and Pig, who are both their parents only offspring. Both miss their new ‘brother’. Will Tapir and Pig find a way to be together again or will others’ misconceptions force them apart forever?

The life-like illustrations are presented in a combination of single page images, double page spreads and vignettes. The text is very repetitive with both animals having the same thoughts, the same conversations and the same experiences, however the repetitiveness also highlights just how similar both characters are...perhaps even Brothers from a Different Mother!

This picture book is suitable for children aged 5-8. This story can be a great addition to the primary classroom and form a great conversation starter about friendship, similarities, differences and prejudices.

The Croc and the Platypus

The Croc and the Platypus by Jackie Hosking, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 24.95

ISBN 9781922077608

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Jackie Hosking’s first picture book is simply brilliant! I can just see this book walking off the shelves in bookshops, tourist areas and in the luggage of overseas travellers. It’s perfect promotional material. Imaginative and clever rhyming verse with rhythm identical to The Owl and the Pussycat poem, The Croc and the Platypus is a salute to the Australian Outback. 

Croc and Platypus set out on a daring adventure across the Nullarbor Plain in a rusty old Holden ute. With hubcaps ringing and didgeridoo blowing across shearer’s tracks, they come to a shearing shed. The shearers are almost frightened out of their wits by the appearance of the two mates. But the ‘bloke with the sheep’ agrees to sell them a fleece ‘nice and cheap.’

In view of the ‘great ochre pebble in the shape of a hill’, they cook dinner over a camp fire followed by lamingtons for dessert. They set up a tent – a stick with the fleece thrown over, and under the light of the Southern Cross, ‘danced beside Uluru.’

With fabulous full-page illustrations throughout, and Aussie language followed by a glossary for those unaccustomed to our expressions, this book will be snatched up by children for the stunning illustrations, and by parents who love a good old Aussie yarn and a laugh, just like in the good old days.