Arabella and the Magic Pencil

Arabella and the Magic Pencil by Stephanie Ward, illustrated by Shaney Hyde (EK Books) RRP HB $24.99 ISBN 9781925820010

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Arabella is a young cherished royal and an only child. Each year she is granted a wish for anything her heart desires and instant happiness ensues. One thing she does not wish for is a baby brother… but she gets one! It doesn’t take long before her brother, Avery, consistently ruins her usually happy and calm days.

For her next wish, Arabella requests a magic pencil that can make anything she draws come to life. With the pencil, she creates a myriad of imaginative and extraordinary things that make her life even more grand; singing flowers, a flying bicycle and a fuzzy rainbow-striped hippo. Her creativity doesn’t stop there: Arabella draws the most amazing garden tea party one could imagine. Everything is wonderful until… Avery ruins it. Arabella can draw whatever she wants with her magic pencil, but she can also erase anything she wants. Avery is soon gone, but it doesn’t bring the desired outcome for Arabella.  

Arabella and the Magic Pencil is an enjoyable picture book that allows young children to enter a fantasy world where anything is possible. The single and double-page spreads feature pencil and watercolour illustrations that add to the text and bring to life Arabella’s marvellous creations. The text often makes use of alliteration to add fun descriptive detail. The story includes themes of creativity, imagination, family changes and sibling rivalry. It is suited to children aged 4+. 

Squares & Other Shapes

Squares & Other Shapes with Josef Albers (Phaidon) HB RRP $14.95 

ISBN 9780714872551

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

Focused on Albers’ modern series Homage to the Square, the second book in the First Concepts with Fine Artists series, Squares & Other Shapes, introduces young readers to shapes. From wobbly rectangles to sunny side up squares and bouncing circles, the most basic shapes are highlighted within Albers’ modern masterpieces.

Seeing various types of shapes in different formats creates a unique learning opportunity for the youngest readers. Squares sit within squares, circles come in many colours and sizes and triangles are oblong as well as flattened to reinforce the concepts of shapes. In addition, the back page with facts about Josef Albers life allows adults to expand on the lesson with information about the artist and his art.

These early concept board books are the first two in the First Concepts with Fine Artists series from Phaidon featuring famous artists and their art. It’s fantastic to see beautiful artwork re-imagined in a context suitable for the youngest eyes and in a way that helps them take their first steps into the art world. The next title in the series entitled Birds & Other Animals with Pablo Picasso will be published in Spring 2017.

Blue and Other Colours

Blue and Other Colours with Henri Matisse (Phaidon) HB RRP $14.95 

ISBN 9780714871325

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

Matisse’s bold use of colours has inspired many artists. In Blue and Other Colours, his collages are brilliantly paired with playful, read-aloud text that draws the child’s attention to specific colours. With a back page full of interesting facts about Matisse’s art and life, parents and carers can expand upon the simple colour lesson introducing children to the artist and his art.

Through simple statements matched with Henri Matisse’s famous art, young readers are introduced to the world of colours. One piece of artwork per page and simple statement such as ‘Ooh, blue and green!’ puts the focus firmly on the colours within the images. Matisse’s abstract cut-outs and range of vibrant colour palette, learning the world of colours just became even more engaging.

Hug This Book!

Hug This Book! by Barney Saltzberg, illustrated by Fred Benaglia

(Phaidon) HB RRP $24.95 ISBN 9780714872841

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

In this delightful picture book, children are invited to imagine all the things you could do with their very favourite book. From reading it upside down to giving it a hug or sharing it with friends, young readers involve their book in an array of situations. There’s almost nothing you can’t do with a book and nowhere a book can’t go!

Sometimes silly, other times thoughtful, the story is both humorous and sincere as it explores the love of a book. With easy-to-read rhymes and appealing retro illustrations, Hug This Book! is a story to read over and over again.

Saltzberg creates a heartfelt ode to books with his clever, whimsical rhymes. While Benaglia’s illustrations are bold and colourful putting the book and its readers at centre stage.

Engaging, simple and satisfying, this charming book will appeal to book-lovers of every age.

Phaidon also provides a wonderful activity pack for early learners aged 3 – 5: http://www.phaidon.com/resource/hugthisbookpack-uk2.pdf.

Undercover: One of These Things is Almost Like the Others

Undercover: One of These Things is Almost Like the Others by Bastien Contraire,

(Phaidon) HB RRP $29.95 ISBN 9780714872506

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

Undercover is a wordless picture book that presents a series of similar illustrations on each two-page spread including one that doesn’t quite belong. Fun abounds as the search for the odd one out can sometimes be a both a challenge and a bit ironic – a plane among bugs, a sole egg in the midst of a dozen birds, a horse on a page of vehicles measured in horse-power.

Created by graphic designer Bastien Contraire, Undercover is a visually stunning, large format, hardcover book with green and pink duotone colours and graphic stencil artwork. This style creates a deceivingly consistent look among the various items creating a puzzling game of hide-and-seek. Children and adults alike are sure to find favourites among the clever collections of images inspiring conversations about various items.

Even after multiple reads, there is always something interesting to discover in this 64-page book. In addition to being entertaining, its contemporary appearance makes Undercover a coffee table worthy children’s book.

Toto’s Apple

Toto’s Apple by Mathieu Lavoie, (Phaidon) HB RRP $24.95 ISBN 9780714872513

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

Meet Toto. He’s a worm. A very determined worm. He wants an apple, but it’s high up in a tree. That won’t stop Toto. He will do anything to get it. Through creative plans and his penchant for art, Toto tries a variety of ideas to get the apple. When Didi shows up and picks the apple, is Toto’s hard work all for nothing? The surprising ending shows that perseverance pays off even if it’s not in a way we expect.

Toto’s Apple tells a unique story aimed at 2 – 5 year-olds. With bold, hand-painted illustrations and sparse text, young readers follow tenacious Toto cheering for him and each of his clever plans. Although commendable, each ends in disappointment, but Toto keeps trying teaching children the importance of commitment and never giving up.  

Author-illustrator Mathieu Lavoie has created a charming, unconventional picture book with an endearing character that is sure to resonate with toddlers. His talent shines as Toto’s emotions are apparent in the slightest changes to eye shape or the direction of Toto’s gaze. So much is communicated in the tiniest details that children can easily recognize. This is a fun, sometimes shocking, sometimes humourous book that is a pleasure to read over and over again.

Cook in a Book: Pancakes! An Interactive Recipe Book

Cook in a Book: Pancakes! An Interactive Recipe Book by Lotta Nieminen, (Phaidon) HB RRP $19.95 ISBN 9780714872827

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

In bold, colourful spreads, Pancakes! takes young readers through the process of making the beloved breakfast food. Simple step-by-step directions of an actual pancake recipe instruct children to pour, measure and stir while the ingenious paper engineering allows little cooks to partake in the (mess-less) process. Children ‘pour’ the flour into the bowl by pulling on a tab and turn a wheel to stir the multi-coloured ingredients into a solid-colour batter. A clever round disc can be removed and ‘flipped’ into the pan to finish cooking, then ‘served’ on a plate.

This interactive board book is gorgeous as well as fun. The vivid colour palette and sparse text is visually appealing. Plus, the chance to see the pages change through direct interaction is incredibly enticing to young children aged 2 – 4. In just sixteen pages, children get the chance to actively participate in making the recipe. In addition, a variety of kitchen tools are used in the recipe subtly teaching children about basic cooking skills. 

Created by renowned illustrator, graphic artist and art director, Lotta Nieminen, Pancakes! is the first interactive recipe book and the first in the Cook in a Book series. If the rest are as compelling and attractive as Pancakes! this will be an awesome series to collect for budding chefs or children of foodies. Highly recommended.

Busy Izzy and Friends

Busy Izzy and friends by Roxanne Kiely, illustrated by Jeesoo Kim (Busy Ink Publishing) PB RRP $14.99   ISBN: 9780646941042 

Busy Izzy and Newly Truly by Roxanne Kiely, illustrated by Jeesoo Kim (Busy Ink Publishing) PB RRP $14.99   ISBN: 9780994551009

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

The first two books in the Busy Izzy picture book series introduce readers to the modern world of Green Grass Grove, a "happy and healthy place" with a diverse cast of characters. 

In Busy Izzy and Friends, we meet cheerful Busy Izzy who owns the Nix & Nax store. When her friends come to visit, she offers them healthy snacks and gives them jobs around the shop. When things go wrong, Busy Izzy always knows just what to do and is never too busy to help a friend in need. 

Busy Izzy and Newly Truly introduces readers to Izzy's new puppy who had been neglected by its previous owners. Busy Izzy adopts her spunky new pet from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The story explains how Newly Truly was rescued and cared for by this caring organisation. With a wealth of back matter including notes about how to read a puppy's signals and loads of healthy recipes, this book is packed with information about taking care of pets. 

The Busy Izzy series offers young readers the opportunity to jump into a kid-centric situations (like bike riding, kite flying and caring for a new puppy) while being taught lessons about kindness, safety and health. Often, these messages are overt: 'Safety first, helmets on' or 'We must wear hats and sunscreen'. This approach supports the storyline around Busy Izzy always knowing what to do and sharing that information with her friends. There is also a strong theme of nutrition through the foods and snacks in the story offered as recipes in the back pages of the book. Plus, there are fun sing-along songs -- My 26 BFFs and Busy Izzy Says, to name just two -- both written out and recorded on an accompanying CD that reminds children of all they've learned. 

The bold illustrations show wonderful facial expressions that bring out the concern in Worried Warren and Bossy Bobby's commanding ways. The bright, rainbow colour palette and attention to even the smallest details in the storyline make the illustrations a perfect match for the words.

Australian author, Rozanne Kiely has created a fun series of simple stories that readily appeal to young children. Endorsed by the World Literacy Foundation, the Busy Izzy series goes beyond storytelling to include songs, recipes and games to supplement the lessons and themes in the books.