The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books

The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books by Lara Cain Gray, illustrated by Timothy Ide and Lorena Carrington (Midnight Sun) HB RRP $34.99 ISBN  9781922858504

A picture book is a book with pictures, but it’s so much more than that. This is an A-to-Z guide to help explain what a picture book is. For example, in the book A is for Animals, B is for Baddies, C is for Covers and so on. There are headings such as P for Parents, W for White Space, R for Repetition.

It seems all aspects of a picture book are covered in this comprehensive, well-written book which would be a godsend to anyone struggling to write (or illustrate) a picture book. It also helps you level up your picture book reading experiences, empowering yourself and the young readers in your world to dive deeper into what makes a great picture book great.

It’s a stunning guide with a double-page spread – that includes an illustration – for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a book to be treasured and is highly recommended.

The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books was developed as part of a Creative Time Residential Fellowship provided by the May Gibb’s Literature Trust.

Pidge’s Poppies

Pidge’s Poppies by Jan Andrews & Timothy Ide (Ford Street Publishing) PB HB RRP $27.95 9781922696380

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Jan Andrews is former Chair of Australian Poetry, the national body for that art form. She is deeply interested in language, history, and children’s development.

Timothy Ide is an Adelaide based illustrator. His published works include Medieval Monsters and other Creatures, Born to Fly and The Lanternist.

This story is based on a true story about a pair of pigeons at the Australian War Memorial. It remembers the vital role pigeons played in both world wars.  Andrews has crafted a delightful story about Pidge and Henry who are best friends. The title Pidge’s Poppies uses alliteration, and including the word poppies is clever because poppies are a symbol for those who never returned from war. The words are efficient and poignant at the same time.

Andrews encourages the reader to think deeply about the role pigeons played in both world wars. Do they only remember people, or other animals too? Her words allow the illustrations to speak, and the story building is well done. The setting -- at the Australian War Memorial -- is central to the story. History is expertly woven into the text, and I like how the years are stated to define the different world wars. Then she remembered stories about her even-more-times great-grandfather who had gone to the First World War in 1914. The story is strengthened by the facts that are included. Pigeons can always find their way home. I love how Andrews simply and clearly explains things to the reader yet still moves the story along. I can remember the pigeons at the Australian War Memorial being in the news: Jan Andrews has crafted a heart-warming well researched story.

Ide’s illustrations show a deep understanding of the text. The multi-layered illustrations create the visual story with much skill. The illustrations really shine a light on the story. The pigeons are lifelike in appearance and movement. The colours used vary according to the time frames. I love the sepia effect when the story travels through the world wars. The vivid red of the poppies sing and pop on the spreads they appear. Visually many poppies together show the sad loss of life without one word needed. I love too how the many poppies are the pigeons’ nest as they welcome new babies.

My favourite illustration is the page that dramatically shows many pigeon feathers flying in the air with splashes of red to symbolise the bombs and flying bullets for loss of life. It dramatically shows the impact of war without it being too much to a child reader. The front cover is striking, Pidge is front and centre with a poppy in her beak and the going down of sun is powerful.  This story reminds us of all of the vital role pigeons played in both world wars and their sacrifice. The endpapers have a lovely pale sky blue with many pigeons in flight.

Pidges’s Poppies is a picture book that’s a perfect choice for schools to use on Anzac or for Remembrance Day. The history captured is important and the War Memorial is beautifully represented along with the war history.  It is suitable for 4 - 8 years and it will appeal to children, parents, teachers, and librarians. This book is a good fit with the Australian school curriculum and shows some important history of our wonderful nation.

King of the Outback

King of the Outback written by Kristin Weidenbach, illustrated by Timothy Ide (Midnight Sun Publishing)    HB RRP$26.99   ISBN 9781925227246

Reviewed by Stefan Nicholson

King of the Outback is a jewel of an Australian children’s book with many facets to contemplate.  It is also a picture book, a book of Australian history, a biography, obviously a non-fictional work but absolutely a delight to read.

It is the life story of Sir Sidney Kidman who left home at thirteen with five shillings and a one-eyed horse, then ended up owning the largest cattle station in Australia.

It is tempting to imagine how primary school children will approach this book. 

Some will look at the first few pages and then work through the book admiring the stylised pen and ink illustrations of people and animals surrounded by the colours of the bush. The watercolour palette is perfect.

Other children will read the unravelling story on each page and immerse themselves into the story through the corresponding illustration.

The expressions of the people and the brown landscape match the late nineteenth-century Australian country with its harsh dusty ground, the solid civic buildings and the fashionable clothing evident on the streets of the town.

King of the Outback is also an ideal reader for parents and teachers to read to younger children whilst showing them the illustrations – I like looking at some of the people hidden in the crowds!

You can almost hear the sounds emanating from the illustrations, enhanced by the use of an unusual selection of fonts and embellishments – font size, bold, curved, etc.  I think that this arrangement of text is designed to keep the readers’ attention away from staring at the illustrations for too long instead of moving along with the story. 

The text is simple and effective.  It gets the story told interspersed with many interesting facts and events like the impressive rescue of the town’s people from scared, rampaging cattle during Sid’s seventy fifth birthday rodeo. 

This book should make for excellent classroom discussions as this era of Australian history comes to life in thirty two pages. But don’t let any child walk out of the classroom with fifty cents and a ‘see you all later’.