Possum Games

Possum Games by Michelle Worthington, illustrated by Sandra Temple (Wombat Books)

HB RRP $19.99

ISBN 978-1-925139-13-6

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

Late at night on a rusty tin roof, just near an old mango tree, the possums compete in games of skill.  Riley has always wanted to join in, but he is not a fast runner, a high jumper or a strong thrower.  Until one particular noisy Possum Games night, Riley discovers he has some amazing skills after all.

Possum Games is a lovely book about finding your talents and a gaining sense of self.  It is told from the perspective of Riley who just cannot keep up or compete with his other possum friends.  He is slow and clumsy and often left out by the other possums.  It’s only when the humans start throwing green mangoes at the noisy group of possums that Riley learns that he can do something well; he can dodge.  Not only is he good at it, he’s better than anyone else!

This book demonstrates a situation that most children (and adults) can relate to: feeling inferior to those around you.  Despite his best efforts, Riley just isn’t as good as his friends.  It lowers his self-esteem and causes him to remove himself from the games being played.  When, by chance, he discovers he does have a talent, he not only finds the respect and admiration of the other possums but, more importantly, of himself.

Sandra Temple’s illustrations are fun and lively.  The possums have lots of personality and present as a great blend of cartoon and realism.  With possums throwing, jumping and skidding down rooves, there’s plenty of action from page to page.

Michelle Worthington was born in Brisbane and currently works and lives in the Redlands.  Winner of the 1988 Little Swaggie Award and other Australian poetry competitions, she has been published in numbers local and international poetry anthologies.  She has written several books for children including The Pink Pirate, Each The Same and Yellow Dress Day.  She can be found online at http://www.michelleworthington.com/. 

Sandra Temple has been a professional artist, illustrator and author for more than thirty years.  The winner of many prestigious awards, she has paintings in private, corporate and government collections nationally and internationally.  She can be found online at http://www.sandratemple.com/.

Marlo Can Fly

Marlo Can Fly by Robert Vescio, illustrated by Sandra Temple (Wombat Books)

HB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-1-921632-41-9

Reviewed by Jacque Duffy

On first impressions this book invites you to pick it up and have a read. I was not disappointed when I did. It is not only beautifully illustrated but beautifully written. It is the story of Marlo a young magpie that doesn’t want to fly. Instead she tries to copy the movements of various animals with humorous results.

The author Robert Vescio has managed to tell a story of this young magpie’s fear of failure, and the overcoming of this fear in a way that is not at all didactic and one children will enjoy.

Sandra Temple, the illustrator, is an award-winning artist with a love of conservation. Her illustrations are beautiful; they are soft but show the strength of the Australian bush and animals with the use of clean and crisp coloured pencils. This softness adds to the sensitivity of Marlo not wanting to fly and discovering it is something she can and should do.

 

With all of these positive elements rolled into one hard cover, this story shared by parent and child will make this book a favourite.

  

Jacque Duffy is the author and illustrator of the series ‘That’s not a …” learn to read books used in all Queensland State Primary Schools and one local history coffee table book.

www.jacquesartandbooks.com

The Bedtime Band

The Bedtime Band by Michelle Worthington, illustrated by Sandra Temple (Wombat Books)

HB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-1-921633-57-7

Reviewed by Jacque Duffy

This book is suitable for pre-school aged children learning to read. The rhyme and rhythm of the words with the repetition of sounds will make ‘sounding out’ easier and enjoyable.  First impression of this book was that it would be perfect for bedtime reading too as is suggested in the title.

Michelle Worthington has captured night noises that most children in suburbia as well as the country should recognize from their own backyards. The other night time animal noises that they may not recognize will add (without frightening) to the excitement and adventure that will surely invade their dreams after this story.

The book is beautifully printed and bound; the hardcover opens fully assisting in reading to children while showing and discussing the illustrations. Sandra Temple the illustrator is an award winning artist with a love of conservation, this love of conservation shows through in her illustrations of the animals.  The layout of the book is easy to follow and Temple’s illustrations are beautiful with her coloured pencil over soft back ground colour. Although the colours in the illustrations are true to the strong Australian colours they remain soft and calming helping to make The Bedtime Band a marvelous book for peaceful bedtime reading.

  

Reading this book together before lights out will be an enjoyable experience for the parent and the child.

  

Jacque Duffy is the author and illustrator of the series ‘That’s not a …” learn to read books used in all Queensland State Primary Schools and one local history coffee table book.

www.jacquesartandbooks.com

Jade and El-Sea

Jade and El-Sea by J. W. Dickinson, illustrated by Sandra Temple (Wombat Books)

PB RRP $18.95

ISBN 978-1-921633-24-9

Reviewed by Jacque Duffy

The screamer on the back cover of this book had me reaching for it straight away; “When evil stalks the world, even dragons have to take sides”.

This is John W. Dickinson’s first young adult novel and is the story of El-Sea, a young penguin princess and her quest to save the world. The story begins when Jade, the ‘Guardian of the Mountain of Fire’ saves El-Sea’s life. She was dying at the entrance to his hidden fortress and needed his help to find the ‘Sacred Masters of the Deep’. Ancient text from the Hall of Knowledge in Jade’s cave fortress foretells of this quest although it is understood to be a myth until things happen to Jade and El-Sea to make them believe otherwise. A rough friendship blossoms as together they face dangers both man made and of El-Sea’s natural predators.

El-Sea is not an easy character to like and I had hoped as each stage of their quest progressed she would become more likeable. Sadly she did not. Jade however is an amiable and clever dragon and after being locked in his cave for two hundred and three years prior to El-Sea’s visit is more than happy to finally have a friend how ever difficult she may be. I must admit to finding it a little odd that El-Sea found the dragon attractive rather than seeing him as a friend and partner in battle.

The book is a chapter book, with each new chapter written in close personal third person told by either El-Sea or Jade. About a third of the way through the book another character La Roc is introduced and he has his own chapters. Occasionally I found I was re-reading several pages as I thought I had missed something. On one occasion El-Sea was trapped and facing certain death at the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next she was safe with no mention of how she escaped. However the story moved on at a reasonable pace and I soon forgot questions had not been answered. It is a loosely environmental story with reference to hunters (man). Perhaps it is an animals understanding of global warming and whale hunting.

I believe it would be a good book to read in upper primary classrooms. It would create interesting discussions on the environment and on behaviour. The story has all the elements of a great story, intrigue, adventure, action, environmental issues and a touch of romance; it had me turning the pages all the way to the end.

Jacque Duffy is the author and illustrator of the series ‘That’s not a …” learn to read books used in all Queensland State Primary Schools and one local history coffee table book.

www.jacquesartandbooks.com

Terry – Adventures of a Terek Sandpiper

Terry – Adventures of a Terek Sandpiper by Anne Hamilton, illustrated by Sandra Temple (Wombat Books)

HB RRP $21.95

ISBN 978-1-921633-30-0

Reviewed by Jacque Duffy

This book is suitable for independent readers and will encourage young minds to ask more questions regarding their environment and the migration of animals. The vast subject of the migration of Terek Sandpipers from Siberia in the Arctic Circle to the Australian beaches is tackled within a sensitive story.

Terry is a new hatchling; we meet him not long after his birth. He is counting his toes, 1, 2, 3, and asking how many sleeps. He has to wait till he is three weeks old before embarking on this epic journey with his father, sister and other late hatchlings.  We learn the number three is important in the life of a Terek Sandpiper. Together they fly half way around the world facing harsh conditions, and although not necessarily in the story, life and death situations are suggested giving the journey you travel with Terry a sense of urgency.

Sandra Temple the illustrator is an award winning artist with a love of conservation. Her illustrations are beautiful; they are kept soft with the use of an airbrush, coloured pencils and subtle colours. This softness adds to the sensitivity of a potentially traumatic journey the reader embarks upon with Terry.

An information page about the Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereous) is in the back of the book along with a glossary of words used in the story, and as a bonus there are downloadable maps available to show the path of these birds.

This book is not just for children but could also be a lovely gift for a bird lover.

Jacque Duffy is the author and illustrator of the series ‘That’s not a …” learn to read books used in all Queensland State Primary Schools and one local history coffee table book. www.jacquesartandbooks.com

Puggle's Problem

Puggle's Problem by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Sandra Temple (Wombat Books)
HB RRP $17.95
ISBN 978 1 921633 07 2
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/

Poor Pipp. He is a plump and healthy baby echidna-a puggle-but he 'was the only puggle in the whole bush whose spines hadn't come in yet'. Tired of waiting, Pipp heads off to ask his bush friends for advice but to no avail. Finally, he heads back home and the comfort of Mum who assures him that his spines will come in the end but 'in the meantime, you're so much easier to hug!'

Puggle's Problem is the first release from Sydney children's author Aleesah Darlison and young children will delight in this reassuring tale. The book works on many levels. Puggle's Problem gently shows children that we all develop at different rates and while we may be skilled at some tasks there will always be somethings outside of our control. Sometimes all we can do is be patient and wait for changes and in the meantime we we will be accepted and valued for who we are now. Darlison uses the strategy of Pipp asking his friends Grunt the koala, Mumble the wombat, Bounder the kangaroo and Merry the kookaburra to show that we do not need to be like everyone else and what works for one does not necessarily work for another. We are all individuals.

Pipp's venture into the bush provides the perfect vehicle for accomplished wildlife artist Sandra Temple's illustrations. My favourite was of Pipp chewing on gum leaves on the advice of Grunt. Plenty of white space ensures that the focus of the illustrations is on the characters. Endpapers featuring ants add to the quality feel of this book.

Puggle's Problem is the perfect book to be shared by parent and child snuggled up together.