When I’m shining with KINDNESS

When I’m shining with KINDNESS by Wendy Mason & Lisa Maravelis, illustrated by Kayleen West (Kids Light Up) PB RRP $12.99

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

When I’m shining with KINDNESS is a picture book aimed at kindergarten-aged children. The book is based on the premise that we all ‘shine’ when we display kindness and are treated with kindness. Given that this concept is a metaphorical one, the book helps young children understand the idea by using cute bear characters that have a large star on their chest. The stars shine when the bears display appropriate behaviours and they become dull and misshaped when the bears are treated poorly. The story highlights examples of kindness and introduces the phrase: ‘Stop, look, think, speak!’ as a reminder for young children to behave positively towards others.

When I’m shining with KINDNESS is written in verse and is beautifully illustrated using soft colours. It is typeset in Open Dyslexic font aimed at making ‘reading this series even more enjoyable for children and adults with dyslexia.’ 

The book is a part of a series for young children that gently introduces a range of values. This series includes 10 books: Kindness, Joy, Love, Peace (all available now) as well as Patience, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Goodness, Self-Control and Light (launching at a later date). To purchase this book and others in the series visit your local bookstore or kidslightup.com.au. This website also includes teaching notes and handy parent tips. 

Engibear’s Bridge

Engibear’s Bridge by Andrew King, illustrated by Benjamin Johnston (Little Steps Publishing)

PB RRP $24.95
ISBN: 9781925117059
Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Brilliant, superb, ingenious… I am in danger of using up all my superlatives describing this book.

Ok, maybe I’m biased because of my background in mathematics. And maybe I was so startled by a story that departs from the usual themes and goes so far off the ‘beaten track’, it seemed like a refreshing and revitalising novelty. But I stand by my superlatives. A picture book that presents the basic principles of civil engineering in rhyming couplets, more than reasonable rhythm and detailed diagrammatic spreads is an exceptional achievement.

Yep, this is the book for all budding bridge-builders. It’s longer than the minimalist offerings so common today—and that makes it perfect in my view. As far as bedtime stories go, it’s an eminently satisfying Goldilocks length. Not too long, not too short—just right. It’s made for bonding and talking and discovering. And I can see it appealing hugely to dads and granddads as story-tellers, though it would be just as good in a school context.

A foot-bridge is needed in Munnagong. When Engibear present several designs to the school children, they choose an arch—because it looks like a dinosaur’s skeleton. Month by month, the bridge grows with the help of Engilina, the city’s Chief Engineer, as well as Bearbot and an occasional penguin. The detailed pictures will mean hours of absorbing fascination for the right kind of child.

Unusual and so very different from the usual picture book offered for children, this is an invigorating change. Lovingly detailed illustrations by Benjamin Johnston enhance the text. I spent ages on the ‘Construction Team Page’ which, I suspect, is meant more for adults than kids. I just loved the motto of the penguins.

Happy Birthday, Hugless Douglas

Happy Birthday, Hugless Douglas by David Melling (Hodder/Hachette)
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN: 9781444913262
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

David Melling's adorable illustrations of Hugless Douglas never fail to appeal. In this fifth story about the brown bear, Douglas finds his birthday party is not all he hoped. His two small and very presumptuous cousins, Felix and Mash, set about ripping it apart, literally. They take over, opening his presents and commencing to play with them, including the biggest - a doctor's trolley. But at last Douglas takes a stand. He is determined to enjoy his birthday. He grabs his new pogo stick and begins to bounce. But after a few bounces the pogo stick breaks, sending him tumbling and hurting his leg.

There are plenty of bandages and instruments to fix him up and his friends swing into action. His two naughty cousins are much kinder and very soon Douglas and his friends are enjoying themselves, eating and playing doctors. Douglas soon announces it is his best birthday party ever.

David Melling has produced lively, colourful double page spreads of the party scenarios and Douglas's cute and varied animal friends. They are full of fun and humour and toddlers will have a great deal to absorb and giggle about.

The text, in large, often highlighted fonts, supports the illustrations and there is only one double page spread where I think the text about Felix and Mash playing with the trolley is misplaced. I loved the zany cake-and-balloon sandwiches floating above the guests, and the concept of everyone playing doctors and covering each other in bandages as a party game is an original touch. Happy Birthday, Hugless Douglas is well worth adding to the collection of picture books about this endearing bear.

Bernie and Flora

Bernie and Flora written and illustrated by Annemie Berebrouckx, translated by Laura Watkinson (Book Island)
PB RRP NZ$19.99 AU$15.99
ISBN 9780987669612
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Bernie Loves Flora is a picture book that will fill your heart with joy. The story of Bernie the bear, Flora the duck and a flower garden is one of sharing and the 'warm glow, deep inside' received from true love and friendship.

Flora and Bernie are best friends and Flora loves nothing more than helping Bernie in his flower garden. So when she arrives one morning to discover his flowers have vanished, and no sign of Bernie, she rushes off to find who has done this dreadful thing. She questions Bernie's friends but to no avail.

With the warm glow inside Flora now gone, she returns to her own home to find Bernie inside, surrounded by masses of flowers from his garden. He declares his love and asks Flora to live with him and 'the two of us together can make a garden full of beautiful flowers'. It is an offer Flora gladly accepts.

The text throughout is beautiful. Lovers of gardens will identify with 'he breathes in the scent of the flowers and feels the joys of spring tickling inside his tummy' and Belgian Annemie Berebrouckx's gorgeous illustrations truly represent this with flowers spilling across the pages. The manner in which Ms Berebrouckx captures the the emotions of Bernie, and particularly Flora as she experiences feelings of joy, outrage, surprise and contentment, is superb. The illustrations are highlighted by plenty of white space so, despite their colour and intensity, they are not overwhelming to younger readers.

Bernie and Flora has been translated into English from the original Dutch and is one of the three inaugural releases of newly established independent New Zealand publisher, Book Island, which focuses on translations of outstanding children's books. (Read my review of another top Book Island release, Sammy and the Skyscraper Sandwich.) 

Bernie and Flora is the first book in a series and comes with a colouring-in page. An additional nice touch is the inclusion of meanings of the names Bernie and Flora as well as the meanings of particular flowers. I highly recommend Bernie and Flora as a gentle and heart-warming story.

Winnie - The – Pooh Favourite Stories

Winnie - The – Pooh Favourite Stories by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard (Egmont)

HC RRP $9.99

ISBN 9780603562099

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Favourite Stories is a collection of eight delightful, frequently read stories from Winnie-the-Pooh’s life.  In each we visit a scene where every day is an opportunity for adventure and exploration. The endearing characters and their antics always bring laughter and thought into the life of the reader.  At the end there is a collection of all Pooh’s poems – nonsensical or otherwise - used in the book.

In A House is Built on Pooh Corner, Piglet and Pooh find a pile of wood in the forest and decide to build a house for Eeyore to shelter him through the chilly winter months, not realising that the pile of wood is his house, which brings hilarious outcomes from good intentions.

 Tigger Comes to the Forest, sees the bouncy one’s arrival at the forest.  He meets all the other characters and goes on a voyage of discovery to ascertain which foods he likes and dislikes with a lot of adventures in between.

 Pooh Invents a New Game shows Pooh on the banks of a river, throwing pine cones into the water and choosing which one the tide will bring first towards him. He sees something decidedly like Eeyore floating with his legs in the air. It’s a challenge to get him out of the river but more so, to understand how he got there in the first place.

Tiger is Unbounced brings focus on the stripy one for his constant bouncing is creating problems. The friends have decided on a way to humble the springy one and unbounce him. But their plan backfires in a strange and entertaining way.

These are only a brief overview of a few of the entertaining stories. It is the lessons learned that make them so endearing to young and older readers. The characters are always optimistic. They are able to solve most problems either alone or together, and their lack of education and general  knowledge doesn’t seem to hinder them at all through their problem-solving. They have a strong sense of loyalty towards one another and although they continue to get into difficult situations, they see each experience as an adventure and an opportunity for fun. Each friend has a close relationship to the natural world and they spend as much time as possible outdoors enjoying all kinds of weather.

The book is illustrated in the original coloured illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard with the jacket an identical copy of the book cover, both of which are a soft lime green. This is a compact and well-priced hardcover that will be treasured by any owner.   

The Very Itchy Bear

The Very Itchy Bear by Nick Bland (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $15.99
ISBN 978-1-74169-651-6
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/

The Very Itchy Bear is a simply told story of friendship and how we shouldn’t let first impressions cloud our judgement about someone else or their intentions. Bear is minding his own business, sitting on a log reading a book, when Flea arrives and says ‘Hello!’ However, Flea does this by ‘biting high and biting low’.

Understandably, Bear itches like crazy. He jumps about and rolls around, ending up in the sea. Eventually, Bear dislodges Flea but finds that now he is alone, he is frightened. More than this, he becomes concerned for the welfare of Flea and rescues him from a hungry bird. The book ends with the two safely back on dry land and Bear reading to Flea.

The text is rhyming and somewhat reminded me of the classic Dr Seuss’ stories with very simple short sentences which tell the tale succinctly and with humour. The illustrations are bold and colourful, perfectly portraying Bear’s personality. The reader feels Bear’s surprise at being bitten, sympathises with his itchiness and then Bland skilfully switches from the humour to Bear’s uncertainty as the two float out to sea. The final illustration of the two friends reading together as the sunsets is a powerful and satisfying conclusion.

This book is perfect to encourage young children to discuss friendship and how we may misconstrue people’s actions towards us just as Bear misconstrued Flea’s bite as an attack rather than the greeting that was intended. The Very Itchy Bear encourages us to evaluate our relationships. Bear’s feeling of loneliness outweighed his annoyance at Flea, and Flea recognised that Bear does not like being bitten. The two come to work out their differences and their friendship develops.

I highly recommend The Very Itchy Bear and it is exceptional value at $15.99 for a hardback copy.