Rock Pool Secrets

Rock Pool Secrets by Narelle Oliver (Walker Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781922179357

Reviewed by Ashling Kwok

Lift the flaps and discover the amazing hidden treasures hiding in the rock pools. At first glance there is nothing much to see but rock pools are full of secrets that only the most observant eyes will uncover.

These gorgeous creatures can hide away in crevices and seaweed, and often go unnoticed camouflaged against the rocks. Take a peak under the flaps and see how many marvels of the sea you can find. 

Readers will be introduced to a selection of creatures which live in rock pools. Get acquainted with the colourful crabs, tiny shrimp, sea slugs, goby fish and turban snails showcased in this lovely book.

Rock Pool Secrets features beautiful linocut artwork by award-winning author/illustrator Narelle Oliver. The colour palette is bright and will appeal to young readers while the big, easy-to-use flaps will ensure that even the youngest of readers will be able to get involved.

Play peak-a-boo with the sea creatures or have fun counting the number of creatures you can find on each page. This book offers hours of endless fun for parents and children to share.

The text is clear and simple to read, making it suitable for children aged 4 years and over. There is also a glossary with information about the different creatures found in rock pools which makes this book a wonderful educational resource for both school and home use.

Rock Pool Secrets is an engaging and entertaining book and is highly recommended.

Don’t Let a Spoonbill in the Kitchen

Don’t Let a Spoonbill in the Kitchen by Narelle Oliver (Omnibus Books)
HB RRP $26.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-931-0
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Don’t Let a Spoonbill in the Kitchen is a gorgeous, cheeky and very fun picture book. It is a book about Australian waterbirds and is perfect for all lovers of rhyming verse, funny stories and birds.

The text and illustrations work well together – first setting up each bird in their natural habitat with a smooth easy rhyme – then placing the bird in our human environment and imagining what a mess they’d make of it.

There is a steady rhythm to this story. First a verse about the bird and its habits, then a verse suggesting similarities to our actions with an added caution:

I’ll give a simple warning that

You’d better not ignore...

Then the page turn and the imagined results of such an unwise action - ‘Don’t let a Spoonbill in the kitchen’. I’m sure this will produce many giggles and children will join in to chant this conclusion line.

Oliver’s illustrations are a mix of linocut, cut paper and photographs. The birds in their natural setting are linocuts, beautiful and natural, and then the addition of the collage elements effectively enhances the total silliness of the idea of letting spoonbills into the kitchen, or pelicans into the airport!

I’ll add my ‘simple warning’ - don’t let this fun and beautifully illustrated book pass you by.