Baboon In a Balloon

Baboon In a Balloon by Patrick Guest. Illustrated by Katie Abey. Scholastic Australia 2024. Hardcover PB. ISBN 9781761204975 RRP $18.99

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Poor old Baboon! His day is off to a wonderfully adventurous start in his hot-air balloon. However, when things begin to go wrong, he finds himself in all sorts of places and situations, but not the way he planned! Up on the moon, shot out of a cannon, or driving a car: where will he end up?  He is assisted by The Badger of Boo and The Yeti of Yay, who either cheer him on or express upset when things go awry. There’s a good ending, but where is his hat?

This is a fun rhyming story for young children, colourfully illustrated throughout. The illustrations are a little odd at times with Baboon’s colourful bottom sitting on the top of his right thigh, next to his tail, but in others it is in the correct place. Suitable for children 3+ years of age.

Baboon In a Balloon

Baboon In a Balloon by Patrick Guest, illustrated by Katie Abey. Scholastic Australia 2024. Hardcover PB. ISBN 9781761204975 RRP $18.99

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Poor old Baboon! His day is off to a wonderfully adventurous start in his hot-air balloon. However, when things begin to go wrong, he finds himself in all sorts of places and situations, but not the way he planned! Up on the moon, shot out of a cannon, or driving a car: where will he end up?  He is assisted by The Badger of Boo and The Yeti of Yay, who either cheer him on or express upset when things go awry. There’s a good ending, but where is his hat?

This is a fun rhyming story for young children, colourfully illustrated throughout. The illustrations are a little odd at times with Baboon’s colourful bottom sitting on the top of his right thigh, next to his tail, but in others it is in the correct place. Suitable for children 3+ years of age.

The Ricker Racker Club

The Ricker Racker Club by Patrick Guest and Nathaniel Eckstrom (Little Hare Books) HB RRP $ ISBN 9781760122928

Reviewed by J Wishart

This enjoyable picture book tells the story of brothers, Max and Ollie, and their secret club. The club’s rules allow girls under certain restrictions, and decree members must do ‘something incredibly brave or kind at least once a week.’ Thus each week, the boys busily do their ‘daring things’, while Poppy, the sole female member, takes care of the ‘kind things’ like sharing her ice-cream and cleaning the boys’  rooms for them.

Using acrylic, pencil and digital media, Eckstrom has captured the energy of play, but also evokes the exaggerated viewpoint of the child. The text adds to this with place names that tell how the boys see the world, such as the ‘tunnel of doom’ and ‘banana-peel bridge.’ Along with the scary ‘wolf’ that lives in the neighbour’s backyard, there are plenty of challenges to test their bravery.

The story is well-paced and ideal for reading aloud, and has plenty of visual cues for early readers to follow. The cover image is eye-catching, depicting the children on a night-time quest with the ‘wolf’ watching from a distance; while the illustrated text features places and activities that children will recognise and easily relate to.

The narrative follows a familiar fairy-tale format, with a repetition and escalation of events that ultimately leads to a shift of power. When it happens, the change is welcome and carries a positive message about equality and judging others. 

The story of The Ricker Racker Club encourages the reader to think differently about what kind of behaviour truly takes the most strength of character; while also being fun and visually engaging.

That’s what wings are for

That’s what wings are for by Patrick Guest, illustrated by Daniella Germain (Little Hare Books/Hardie Grant Egmont)

HB RRP $24.95

ISBN 9781742978291

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

That’s what wings are for is the tale of Bluey the dragon, notably different to other dragons with his weak wings, wheezy breath and blue skin. Shunned by the other dragons for not being ‘dragony’ enough (read: strong, fire-breathing and able to fly), Bluey retreats to a tree where he dreams of flying.

Bluey does like to hug, however this is frowned upon and his wings are promptly tied up. Upon hearing of another type of dragon who also doesn’t fly, the bearded dragon, Bluey sets off on a long journey to find him. It takes some supportive words from the bearded dragon and an encounter with an appreciative little boy to help Bluey understand his purpose.

The narrative has a fable-like quality, with its journey element and powerful messages. Quite lengthy for a picture book, the story may not suit the attention spans of young children, however those aged around 5 to 7 will likely find much to hold their interests. Bluey’s determination, resilience and ultimate self-discovery will have readers cheering for him. That’s what wings are for is an uplifting story, with soft watercolour imagery that’s both detailed and delightful.

The book’s creators have dedicated the story to children living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a condition that, like in Bluey’s instance, results in muscle weakness. The book is dedicated to the inner strengths of DMD sufferers and their multitude of other talents.