Danny Go's Volcano Adventure

Danny Go's Volcano Adventure by Danny Go, illustrated by Aleksander Zolotic (Penguin Books 2026) HB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9780241836606

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

Danny Go's Volcano Adventure — inspired by Danny Go's 'Floor is Lava' YouTube video — is an action-packed, fun (and lava-filled) adventure story for young kids. 

Open the cover to a haze of purple-ish blue.

Turn the page, and a hazard tape says CAUTION: THIS BOOK IS LAVA

Turn again, and the end papers are oozing molten orange-red globs.

The scene is set, and you're ready to meet Danny Go — he's waiting to invite you on a mission.

There are magical ice gems inside the volcano, and Danny needs your help retrieving them. Once you accept (and you will), it's all go go go!

First, you're climbing up the volcano's side. But which path do you choose? Which rocks are the safest to climb?

Next, you're in a boat, steering through a river of lava.

Row row row ... ANOTHER ROCK!  STEER TO THE RIGHT! That was close!

Page after page, there are obstacles to overcome, problems to solve, and decisions to make — all accompanied by an ever-present sense of urgency and a need for speed!

Soon, you arrive at an island where you see a smattering of ice gems and discover a big treasure chest with a bear-head-shaped lock. But just as you conquer the challenge of unlocking it and begin gathering all the ice gems, your most gruelling challenge of all shows up — a volcanic slug monster — and it's not going to give up easily! After a combination of tricky manoeuvres, some really quick thinking — and a bit of good luck — you vanquish the beast and escape the treacherous volcano with the ice gems intact.

Mission accomplished.

Kids will love partaking in this 48-page, hands-on, interactive adventure story, where they have to trace, tap, and tilt their way through the perilous volcano.

Aleksander Zolotic's illustrations are colourful, exciting and grand scale. The heated tones of the fiery lava — and the dusky purples and earthy tones of the clouds and rocks- create an almost engulfing quality, placing you right inside the volcano. While the cool teal-y-blue tones of Danny's attire and his boat, and the icy-blue glints coming off the ice gems, stand out in striking contrast. Every illustration on every page-turn feels immersive, allowing young (and even not-so-young) readers to easily imagine themselves from an inside-all-the-action perspective.

Fast-paced and brimming with the best kind of mayhem, Danny Go's Volcano Adventure is a must-have for all adventure-seeking kids who love exploring, imagining and of course, who love Danny Go.

Suitable for kids aged 3+.

The First Easter

The First Easter, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft (Penguin Random House Australia 2026) HB RRP $ 24.99 ISBN 9781761352430

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

We have Easter egg hunts and

make special food and get together with family and friends.

But do you know why?

The First Easter tells the story of how Easter began. It is simply told, with pared-back text, making it easy for children to learn about and appreciate why we celebrate Easter.

It tells how Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, bringing messages of peace, and how some people didn't like what he was saying and wanted to hurt him ...

When they came for Jesus, his friends wanted to protect him, but they were too scared ... and Jesus died

We call this day Good Friday, but why is it good if something so terrible happened?

Here, the story steers its young audience away from anything darkly descriptive or grim (as illustrated by a simple wooden cross) and instead focuses on hope and a happy ending.

Jess Racklyeft's endearing and delightfully detailed illustrations are perfectly suited to a young audience. She has selected a gorgeous colour palette — warm tones that almost look sun-faded, reminiscent of a time long ago, and fresh spring tones — representing new life after the depths of winter.

Today, perhaps most typically, we celebrate Easter by sharing a meal together with the people we love. We eat hot cross buns and have Easter egg hunts. The illustrations of the outdoor table setting exemplify this beautifully — first seen with everyone arriving, then again with everyone seated. A table surrounded by the happy faces of friends and family — where there's even a chair for the cat!

(The children with bunny ears sharing baskets of Easter eggs are adorable.)

The First Easter is a gentle story which has been lifted to a light, positive place with clean, uncomplicated wording and appealing illustrations — making it suitable for all children and their families regardless of their beliefs. Even families where religion has little to no influence on their daily lives will resonate with the story's essence. Because no matter how we celebrate Easter, which foods we eat, or which traditions we follow, Easter reminds us all that beyond its religious and historical origins, it carries a universal message — that there is always love, new life and hope, even in the most difficult times.

Suitable for children aged around 3-7 years.

 

Make Them Say Poo

Make Them Say Poo by Stephen, illustrated by Rudi de Wet (Affirm Press 2026) HB RRP $ 22.99 IBSN 9781923293724

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes.

Dear trusting adult,

You can safely read this very nice book aloud to your child.

There are absolutely no rude words on any page. I promise.*

Your Worthy Wordsmith, Stephen.

*Note to kids:

Any POOr adult who reads this aloud will definitely say POO. I promise.

Your Grand POObah, Stephen.

Two thoughts occurred to me upon reading the blurb for this book - how clever and hilarious it was, and how can a book make me say POO?  Well, be prepared, folks!

The main purpose of this picture book is to empower and entertain young children. 

Kids will love the 'secret' joke hidden in this text - and will absolutely love hearing you - their parents, teachers, older siblings, grandparents - being tricked into saying the word POO! 

Stephen's cheekily playful rhyming text rolls effortlessly along - all sweetly, brightly and innocent-like.  Then, after the (unintentional) utterance of the word - POO - the text has the 'flustered' reader hurriedly apologising for their blunder. 

Oh, pardon me! MY MISTAKE!

I think my tongue unscrewed.

I feel that just by reading this,

I've said a word that's rude.

Meanwhile - between big laughs - kids will be waiting with bated breath for the next (inevitable) POO word to leap out and get you! And it's all completely civil - Stephen keeps his promise - there's not a single rude word to be found.

Rudi de Wet's illustrations work deliciously with Stephen's mischievous text and play so appealingly into the mind of a child: the simple, clean lines of all the cut graphic shapes, the just-right, non-primary colours, the movement and energy, and the fanciful fun - all speak visually together in a language so wondrously connected to childhood. 

Every element on every page is proportionately pleasing - and perfectly placed.  I love the iconic rubber duck in the bath scene, and the lighthouse with the boat on a stormy sea. I also love all the tiny details the illustrations contain  - like the animated little faces on almost everything - including clouds, flowers, and toilet rolls. And his hand-drawn typography is second to none - check out the embossed POO word on the cover!

Make Them Say Poo is not just another gross-out, toilet-humour type book. With its clever wordplay and cheeky twists, kids won't even realise that they're practising early literacy skills. And they'll have no idea that the repetition, rhyme, and sound-based humour they're enjoying is upping their phonemic awareness and decoding skills - making it ideal for early readers and language learners.

This is laugh-out-loud learning at its best!

Perfect for story-time sessions at home, for bedtime, and for classroom read-alouds, this 'naughty' but utterly clever book guarantees on-repeat readings, and giggles galore for kids and their brave adult readers!   

(After reading this to an adult friend of mine and mentioning that it's a book intended mostly for preschoolers, he said, 'Why stop there?')

Suitable for children aged 2-7 years (and older if the word poo still makes you laugh!)

My Super Uncle

My Super Uncle by Dannica Patterson, illustrated by Seantelle Walsh (Ford Street 2026) HB RRP $27.95 IBSN 9781922696540

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

My friends all love my uncle

when he jokes and fools around.

To me, he's super special

'cause he never lets me down.

I don't need X-ray vision

to see the way he cares.

I don't need super senses

to know he'll be right there.

My Super Uncle reads like a sweet little love song - narrated in the first person by a young girl - dedicated to her 'superhero' uncle. Dannica Patterson's warm, playful text is written in rhyming couplets with a metre that flows across the pages like the rhythmic accompaniment to that song. It tells the story of a child's love for her uncle - her mentor, her guide, and her all-around best buddy. 

Whether they're playing dress-up, hide-and-seek, or sports. Or at the beach or family gatherings, reading bedtime stories or dancing together, she knows that he will always be there to guide and support her, and keep her safe, and that he will never let her down. 

This picture book showcases the importance of role models and chosen family in a child's life - these super people are like sunshine and water to growing children. The benefits of receiving such care and devotion will flourish within them for life and be passed down to the next generation ... 

CBCA-shortlisted illustrator and Noongar artist, Seantelle Patterson's vibrant, energetic illustrations bring to life the pure joyfulness of the text. Delightful details add layers of social, emotional and cultural meaning for children to explore and decode. And the references to her culture, delicately woven into some of her illustrations, lend her work an aura of transience and wonder. 

I love the non-primary colours she has used - and how the figures are defined against washy tones and dreamy backgrounds with edges that often just fade into nothingness ... 

Alongside its ephemeral quality, her style has a strong sense of realism that allows the reader to feel the connection between the girl and her uncle. She has captured their body language and facial expressions so believably that at times the emotionality is almost palpable. Like when the young girl gazes adoringly into the smiling face of her uncle as he sings to her and plays his guitar ... 

Then there's the illustration of the family photo album, which I admit made me look twice - because I wondered for a second - are some of these actual photos?  I love the baby footprints image - and the endpapers with those child-drawn family figures and house are adorable.

My Super Uncle presents a feel-good story that will appeal to children and families of all kinds. It celebrates undiluted love, family bonds and everyday heroes. 

Books like this are important for fostering empathy, acceptance and respect, for gaining a wider, more inclusive vision of what a family 'should' look like - and for ensuring that all family structures get represented in literature - so that all children get to see their own family reflected in the pages of storybooks. 

At its heart, the message is - whatever the configuration - every family unit is as valid and vital as any other. We are all a bit different, but mostly we are very much the same. Love is love. We love who we love.

And love transcends differences. 

Highly recommended and suitable for children aged around 4-9 years.

The Tinysaurs

The Tinysaurs by Sally Odgers, illustrated by Adele K Thomas (Scholastic 2026) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781761528576

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

The Tinysaurs are the smallest dinosaurs in the land: living in tunnels, 

foraging for food and hiding out of the way of big stomping feet and swooshing tails. 

Until one day, they discover a hidden entrance to ... the enchanted forest!

From the creators of the best-selling Pearl the Magical Unicorn comes The Tinysaurs, a fantasy adventure for young children ready to graduate from picture books and to immerse themselves in longer texts.

The tinysaurs live in a dark cave because, being so small, they are in constant danger of being accidentally trodden or sat on by the huge dinosaurs. So, early each morning - before the big dinosaurs wake up - the tinysaurs go out along the tunnel with their baskets, to gather their favourite foods.

But on this particular day, they find that the door to the outside has been blocked by a big pile of rocks. They call upon Professaur, the inventor, for help. She reports that it's a cave-in - caused by a landslide - and could take a long time to clear. The tinysaurs are worried they won't be able to get outside to find food. So a plan is made. Professaur will make a rock-moving invention (the Rock-o-Matic), and the others will go back through the tunnels in hopes of finding a new entrance to the outside world.

They search for days - and after going round in circles, arriving at dead ends - and having the glow-worms in their lanterns inconveniently go on strike ...

'We've worked enough,' the glow-worms snapped ... Floomph! The glow-worms put out their lights.

 ... ‎they miraculously stumble upon another door to the outside and find the Enchanted Valley.

It's wonderful,' Ponysaur said again. 'Outside has never been as beautiful as this.'

Sally Odgers's narrative sparkles with imaginative cleverness. I love her idea of having the glow-worms go on strike - adding another level of difficulty to the moment - and another layer of comical cuteness to the story. Kids are bound to fall in love with the four main characters - Ponysaur, Spinysaur, Cheekysaur and Handysaur. (And although a lesser character, I must mention Jigsaur here because this name made me smile.)

They are a good-natured, friendly bunch, and even though there is one who loves causing mischief and playing tricks - a could-be nuisance at times (Cheekysaur) - they just roll with his antics, as they each do for one another, respectfully and in complete acceptance. Such a lovely group dynamic for children to witness and absorb as they read.

The Tinysaurs front cover is as enticing as a sweet-shop window! Its bright, cheerful colours, shiny, raised letters and mini dinosaurs give it instant appeal and will have kids reaching out to grab it. Equally, as they turn the pages, kids will appreciate the large-sized font, the rainbow-highlighted words sprinkled throughout the text, and all the 'resting places'  that Adele K Thomas's adorable illustrations provide.

I have a particular fondness for illustrations depicting the dark - and love the double-page spread where the tinysaurs are in the cave (the glow-worms are on strike), and you just see the whites of their eyes and their silhouettes - such a lovely contrast to all the other more vibrant illustrations. I also love how each new chapter is prefaced by a single-coloured page covered in tinysaur footprints.

Featuring an easy-to-follow story, clear, well-paced text, and an abundance of cute and colourful illustrations - The Tinysaurs delivers all the page-turning elements needed for a newly independent readership; lovable characters, challenges to be faced and overcome, gentle humour, moments of magic and mystery ... and ... an invisible cat! 

Recommended for readers around 5-8 years.

 

How to Have the Best School Year Ever

How to Have the Best School Year Ever by Jess Sanders, illustrated by Andrea Onishi (Affirm Press 2025) HB RRP $ 22.99 ISBN 9781923135949

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes.

School is where you learn, grow, and make friends,

and when you are doing all three, school can feel like the best place to be!

But when learning is tough and friendships are complicated,

school can feel like the last place you want to be.

That's when you need this book!

From the award-winning creator of the 'Life Lessons for Little Ones Series' - Jess Sanders - comes a guide for children who may be having issues or experiencing difficulties around going to school. Written in an easy, straightforward manner, with a warm, supportive voice, this book speaks directly to the reader. It gently encourages children to set goals and offers clear, simple tips for reaching them - whether they're having friendship problems, having trouble trying something new, or experiencing difficulties in managing school subjects.

The aim of How to Have the Best Year Ever is to help kids ease up on themselves, alleviate their fears, concerns and worries, and reduce negative thoughts and feelings. How to Have the Best School Year Ever. They will learn that many other children feel the same way, which will help de-isolate them and normalise their feelings. Most importantly, they will learn to embrace difficult days, be kind to themselves, choose positive self-talk and celebrate effort.

This book will also make an excellent reference point for parents who may struggle to find the right words to share with their kids and to help them resolve these issues.

Some of the (many) stand-out points for me are: 

That it acknowledges and celebrates individuality and diversity - both textually and visually. 

That it speaks to children about being their own inner best friend.

And it says: 'Being brave doesn't mean being fearless - being brave means feeling scared or worried and doing the thing anyway!' 

Andrea Onishi's joyful, child-friendly illustrations bring to vivid life all the positive, supportive and encouraging elements of the text. There is ease and optimism, and a heart-warming abundance of inclusivity, camaraderie, and support among the children, splashed across the pages. 

The overall message is that small gestures of care and kindness can quickly restore harmony and happiness. This truly reflects the resilient nature of young children. 

Reading this book may not give your child the best school year ever, but it will certainly go a long way in helping your child have a better year than he or she might have had. (And as a bonus, receive a little confidence boost along the way.) 

Kind and reassuring, How to Have the Best School Year Ever says to kids - you are not alone, it is reasonable and normal to feel the way you're feeling, here are some simple, useful tools you can use to help yourself move through those tough days - and you can revisit this book any time you need.

Recommended for ages 4-8 years.

Mum's Busy Work

Mum's Busy Work by Jacinda Adern, illustrated by Ruby Jones (Penguin Books 2025) HB RRP $24:99  ISBN 9781776957415

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

Today I got out of bed and asked Mum what day it was.

'Monday,' she said.

I asked if that was a day care day.

She said yes. I stomped my feet. 

Mum's Busy Work has been written by the former Prime Minister of Aotearoa NZ and is based on the words and lessons taught to her by her daughter during the time she was in office.

Told from her daughter’s point of view, this picture book story shares a special insight (though snippets of conversation and peeps of activity) into what day-to-day life may have looked and felt like for a young girl having her mother’s time and attention divided between being Mum and doing her important work as Prime Minister.

This book is also a story about a mum juggling her professional role with her mothering role. Over the duration of a week, we see how Mum - who is working long hours (she leaves early for work - and gets home late) always takes time out with her daughter. No matter how demanding her day may have been - or how tired she might be feeling - there is always time for loving her child.

The story begins on a Monday, with Mum leaving for work: the daughter doesn't want to go to day-care, and Mum confides that she doesn't always want to go to work either. 

On Tuesday, the daughter hears Mum trying to sneak off early to work but her clippy-cloppy shoes give her away. (I love the recurring motif of the clippy-cloppy shoes - which adds this engaging element for children and so endearingly ties the story together.)

And on Wednesday, when Mum asks her daughter if she knows what she does for a job, her daughter answers 'Eat chocolate!' (Due to the chocolate she always finds hidden in her Mum's office desk.)

We learn that the daughter loves to paint and wants to be an artist when she grows up. That Dad is in charge of the washing, And that weekends are for spending as much family-together-time as possible.

The book ends as Monday rolls around again. I absolutely love how after the daughter stomps her feet, Mum stomps her feet too. Then they stomp together until it becomes this big circle of stomping dancing laughing fun. They forget about work and day-care. They forget about everything - other than being in the moment together. 

Ruby Jones has illustrated this text by keeping things easy on the eye with clean minimal backgrounds - coloured in soothing tones of (mostly) pink, blue, yellow, lilac and green. In so doing, she has allowed the facial expressions and body language of the parents and child to shine forward - highlighting the undeniable emotional bonds between them.

This is a family that knows how to work together and do what needs to be done whilst prioritising what matters most. And this is a bright little girl who knows exactly how much she is loved and who learns that no matter how important Mum's work might be, that being mum to her is the most important job of all.

May every child know that no matter what, 

they are our life's greatest work. — Jacinda Ardern. 

Mum's Busy Work is a heartwarming story about the relationship between a working mum and her daughter. It showcases the importance of having together-time with our children. In busy worlds for busy working mums, it's sometimes about grabbing moments. Getting lost in them. Letting go of everything else. And no matter how small those moments - filling them to the brim. Because sharing little acts of love, care and kindness refuels and sustains the hearts of us all. 

Suitable for age 3-7 years

Suitable for age 3-7 years

Look See Find Me

Look See Find Me by Sandra Severgnini (CSIRO Publishing 2025) HB RRP $26.99 ISBN 9781486319886

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes.

Take a journey into the world of animal camouflage and discover what may be right under your nose!                                      Discover frogs that look like leaves, spiders disguised as flowers, crabs concealed as sponges and seahorses hidden in coral.

There is something so irresistible about a search and find challenge that - no matter your age - draws you in and commands your participation. 

Look See Find Me demonstrates this brilliantly. You simply open the cover of this book and start searching. No questions asked.

Sandra Severgnini has done an excellent job in seamlessly blending the creatures into every environment - giving them that perfect degree of difficulty for readers of this age group to locate. (Whilst at times making them almost completely indetectable and as a consequence - utterly bamboozling!) 

I found myself challenged on a certain page or two trying to find the creatures hidden in (and disguised by) their surroundings. So, I was most grateful for the three pages worth of Meet the Camouflaged Creatures included at the back of the book - offering up images of the elusive creatures I'd been searching for - along with a paragraph of interesting facts and information on each of them.

Also - at the rear of the book - is an interesting read - More About Camouflage - and a Glossary.

Severgnini’ s background in botanical drawing and her passion for environmental and nature subjects is evidenced throughout this gorgeous book. 

Each double-page illustration - sometimes dense and lush, sometimes minimal and airy - reveals a completely different scene - within which are concealed a range of (up to three) skillfully-camouflaged creatures - and lists the common and Latin names of the creatures you are looking for.

Among the moss and leaves we rest.                                                                                                                                                It's where we camouflage the best.

These stunning illustrations are accompanied by rhyming couplets - which read like the kind of clues you'd expect to find in a treasure hunt - adding to the fun of it all.

Kids will absolutely enjoy pouring over the colourful glossy pages of this picture book - with eyes and fingers darting from spot to spot in their search for the hidden creatures - and I can imagine siblings and friends having 'see-who-can-find-it-first' contests - like I would have done as a kid.

My personal favourite page (in a book where all pages could be favourites), was the delicately illustrated Orchid with the cleverly hidden Orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus). And I enjoyed seeing the end papers - with their rows of magnifiers at one end, then seeing them again -but this time with images of creatures behind them - at the other. 

The act of looking for and finding hidden objects (or in this case - creatures) concealed in highly detailed, larger images, is vital for children growing up with apps on screens. 

Having their eyes and minds engaged in a hold-in-your-hands book whilst problem-solving - away from the bombardment of flashy animations, rewards and constant notifications - is a wonderful means for strengthening observational skills. It is also important for increasing levels of focus, confidence, patience and memory. Essential ingredients for developing minds living in a world that's always 'on.'

Look See Find Me is an engaging, educational and fun activity-book - perfect for both home and classroom settings - and an excellent resource book for school projects and biological sciences.

Recommended for ages 5-9 years.

Teacher notes - aligned to the Australian Curriculum - are free to download from the CSIRO Publishing website: publish.csiro.au/book/8211/#forteachers

 

 

When the Mountain Wakes

When the Mountain Wakes by Matt Shanks (Affirm Press 20225) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN: 9781923419056

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

Somewhere, towards the beginning of time, a mountain rose from the ocean and came to rest above the clouds.

Life sang a lullaby, and the mountain slept for many millions of years.

Until one day, when the world became too silent for sleep ...

Elegance and majesty run through every page of this outstanding and heartfelt picture book - created by internationally published and critically acclaimed author/illustrator - Matt Shanks. 

An impossibly sweet-faced mountain is sleeping blissfully through aeons of time whilst life sings its lullaby. Over several wordless page turns, the passing of time is depicted through a series of tiny, framed illustrations. 

Each image features the mountain, whilst around and on top of it you see the ever-shifting evolutional events and changes taking place (both natural and man-made). From cavemen to dinosaurs - through to the arrival of industry and technology. 

Uncomfortable in the quiet, the mountain grew restless and lonely.

Over more wordless page turns, the mountain extracts itself from the earth and stands, shaking off sleep and rubble and goes searching for a song. 

After a thousand years of searching, the mountain became tired.

It decided to return to the place from where it came. 

But on its way back ... 

something stopped the mountain. It was beautiful. 

The mountain lowers itself with a face full of yearning and gazes intently at a tiny pop of periwinkle-blue - a single flower - bursting out from the parched desolate earth. Concerned for its safety, the mountain gently removes the flowering plant from the earth and places it tenderly into a crevice on its shoulder - protecting it from the harsh, wind-torn terrain as they travel together. The flower becomes a symbol of great hope - and a promise - for the lullaby's return. Encouraged, the mountain keeps moving forwards ... until finally returning to the place from where it first awoke ... 

In a symphony of words and pictures, this 64-page picture book presents like a graphic novel - with the sublime aesthetic of Studio Ghibli. The restrained palette, the tiny details, the intricate textures, where even the bleakest most desolate of environments - a land without life - is illustratively beautiful in colours of sand, stone, camel and beige.

There is so much to love and admire in When the Mountain Wakes - and with every page-turn, with every read, you find another layer to immerse deeper into.

I love the mountain as a character - there is something so instantly endearing about it that draws you in. Could be the juxtaposition between its large, boulder-like figure and its gentle child-like demeanour. As reader I empathised with its plight, I adored seeing the miniscule flower resting on its massive shoulder and admired the unquestioning dedication and time given in its search for life's lullaby. (Taking the metaphor - to move mountains - to a whole new level!)

I also love how the mountain became uncomfortable and woke due to the quiet. You could argue that the the arrival of man with all his machinery and technology would be the thing that woke the mountain - that it would be uncomfortable in all the noise - not the quiet.  

But no. This is about the mountains connection to earth's life force having been broken. The lullaby had ceased because nature - the environment - was in trouble. So how could the mountain sleep when that vital hum of life (more powerful than any man-made noise could ever be), was suddenly gone? It's the equivalent of a baby sleeping in its mother’s arms - where the surrounding noise doesn't wake it - but the sudden loss of its mother’s arms does.

When you live in tune with nature - you feel it. And miss it dreadfully in its absence.

When the Mountain Wakes is a sweeping tale about hope and healing. It is a testament to the resilience of nature. But it also serves as a warning. For things to change and be restored - hope must be actioned. 

Even the smallest actions can make a difference and have a lasting impact, contributing not only to the ongoing health and harmony of the planet (beyond our own lifetimes) but to our own intrinsic connection to it - to nature - and to the continuum of life's lullaby.

I think this quote neatly sums it up ... and I think Matt Shanks would agree ...

'May we be people who plant seeds, 

that grow trees,

in whose shade we may never sit under.' 

This ambitious and profound picture book with its stunning illustrations and economic text, delivers not just a story, but an important and timely message which children (of all ages) will appreciate and enjoy.

It is a 'forever' book.

Highly recommended for readers aged 5 - 99 years.

 

George & Lenny Are Always Together

George & Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee (Scallywag Press 2025) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN 9781836300311

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

George and Lenny are always together. And it's terrific. They are never alone. 

So, what happens when one of them decides it's time to try some alone time? 

Is there a way for them to be alone together?

I knew I was in for a treat the moment I saw the cover for George and Lenny Are Always Together - and I was not disappointed. These two characters are instantly endearing and once you open this book you cannot resist - you are on the journey to the end with them.

Best friends George, a big, soft, childlike bear - and Lenny - a questioning, analytical, little Rabbit, are having fun in a playground together. As they swing, Lenny asks George - I wonder what it feels like to be alone. 

To which George responds - Lonely I bet. And sad!

At first, George doesn't take Lenny's question too seriously and dismisses the idea, but Lenny seems determined to pursue it. And the more Lenny pursues it, the more resistant George becomes. To the point where Lenny says - Well George, I am going to find out. I am going to find a quiet place and be alone. To which George then replies - That's a crazy idea! I'd better come with you.  (I love George's innocent understanding of the concept of 'being alone' and how for him it's like 'alone' is just another place in which he and Lenny can be together.)

When Lenny finds his perfect alone spot, a little treehouse - with an entrance conveniently big enough for him to get inside - he embraces his newfound solitude with relish. I can draw! I can build! I can blow bubbles! Play music! Kick a ball! Read a book! I can even just sit and think. But then he thinks about George, and he seems suddenly unsure about being alone. He misses George and goes looking for him. The ending is a pure delight. 

The juxtaposition between these two characters is part of what makes this picture book so irresistible. Dialogue driven with minimal text and perfect illustrations, this story is so simple, so clever and so utterly beguiling.

The illustrations - each element boldly outlined in black ink - and in a gorgeous colour palette made up of opposites - cool and warm - work hand in hand with the text. The images of the brown bear against an ice-blue monkey bar and the grey rabbit against a tangerine-coloured swing are striking and the impact of them are amped up further still because of the specific tones used.  

With every page turn, you find George and Lenny playing on various items of playground equipment - the backgrounds are completely blank with no horizons (apart from when you see Lenny in the treehouse), and are of a single colour (moving from ivory, to caramel to charcoal - perhaps suggesting the deepening light during the span of a day).

I love that the playground has no actual setting - it's a universal playground that readers can imagine to be anywhere in the world. 

Despite the overall minimalistic nature of this book, it is not at all stark. Or void of feeling and emotion. Quite the opposite. The expressions on George and Lenny's faces, and in their body language - so eloquently captured - so vibrantly alive - say it all. The joyful, the cheeky, the happy, the sad, the huffy - and that poignant goodbye.

 

I found myself smiling a lot reading this. Smiles of appreciation and admiration. Smiles for the sweetness, and the adorableness of it all. Smiles for the way that it feels so relatable and smiles for the pure smartness of the story. 

 

George & Lenny Are Always Together highlights the importance of together time and alone time. Of finding and maintaining that delicate and necessary balance between the two. It's that sweet spot in relationships - of having (and allowing) just enough me-time in a place that's not too far away. 

 

Sweetly absurd and delightfully silly - this picture book has been skilfully crafted into a  richly satisfying - full of heart - story that will appeal to all ages. (3 – 99 years).

Highly recommended.

The Puppy Parade (Ella and Olivia's Puppy Club #1)

The Puppy Parade (Ella and Olivia's Puppy Club #1) by Yvette Poshoglian, illustrated by Danielle McDonald (Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd 2025) PB RRP $9 ISBN 9781761642333

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

Meet Bob the puppy, and his humans, Ella and Olivia!

Bob is competing in the Grand Puppy Parade! 

But so are all the other puppies in the neighbourhood!

Can Bob learn his new tricks on time?

Will he and Ella be on TV?

Or will the competition be PAWsitively tough?

For those who are already familiar with (and fans of) the Ella and Olivia books, The Puppy Parade (first book in the new Ella and Olivia Puppy Club series), will be a most welcome addition. And adding cute, adorable puppies to the mix will make it super appealing to an even broader readership and generate some new fans as well. 

Yvette Poshoglian has written another engaging, easy to understand and age-appropriate story, making it ideal for children who are breaking away from picture book length texts. The book is short; only 64 pages long, broken up into small chapters, with large-print text and plenty of illustrations.

Danielle McDonald's charming cartoon-style illustrations bring the story (and its loveable characters) to life -- and having the pictures so closely matched with the text will help developing and newly independent readers confirm the story they are reading and encourage them forward. 

The Puppy Parade celebrates the loving relationship between a puppy - Bob - and his human - Ella.

The story is told from Bob's perspective - Bob is a sweet-natured Golden Retriever puppy who adores Ella and follows her wherever she goes (except to school). First, he introduces you to his world - his human family, his home-life and his puppy friends. Then you find out firsthand (first paw), what he thinks, how he feels and what he sees as he and his puppy friends prepare for the parade. 

The descriptions of Bob's behaviour and mannerisms -- relative to how he's feeling -- are spot on and will perhaps help kids recognise and understand a dog's body language. (Like how the wag of Bob's tail slows when he feels unsure about something. Or when he's nervous, how his tail points down.)

There will be prizes given for the best costumes and skills and the winners will get to star on a TV show called Celebrity Pups! So, Ella wants to find Bob's special skill -- she tries to teach Bob some new tricks, but he prefers his old ones.  

Soon Ella realises that the thing he does best is being her shadow. 

You will love the two Miniature Dachshunds called Bangers and Mash who arrive at the Puppy Parade dressed in hotdog costumes!

Familiar and relatable to young children, with its themes around love, friendship, support and trust, The Puppy Parade is a delightfully warm and gentle read with oodles of schnoodles and a cheerful ending.

This book is perfect for all those puppy-loving kids out there -- and a must-read for those who are developing their confidence in reading longer texts. Suitable for ages 5 to 7 years.