Trouble for Toby

Trouble for Toby by Janet Reid, illustrated by Amanda Francy (Wombat Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN: 9781925563351

Reviewed by Anne Helen Donnelly

Toby wants a pet more than anything. He isn’t fussy, almost anything will do, a dog, a rat or a hermit crab. His parent’s response to his request is always the same, “We’ll think about it. But only if you’re good at school.” And this is where Toby’s problem lies.

Toby finds it difficult to stay out of trouble. First, he leaves his friend Sam buried in the sandpit, then he knocks two girls off the playground equipment, there is the unfortunate accident at the flying fox and then the inquisitive spider at the tranquillity garden. It seems, no matter how hard Toby tries to stay out of trouble he ends up right in the centre of it, until one day, when his quick thinking and swift action saves Jenna from a snake bite.

Toby’s bravery is acknowledged and rewarded but best of all, his parents let him get a pet and he decides to choose a snake.

Trouble for Toby is a junior fiction chapter book for children of ages 6+ years. It is aimed at Australian audiences with Aussie references, and the story flows well from chapter to chapter. It is set primarily in the school and school yard with funny and entertaining adventures that children will be able to relate to and enjoy.

The Midnight Possum

The Midnight Possum by Sally Morgan, Illustrated by Jess Racklyett (Omnibus Books) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74299-104-7

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Possum always begins his adventures at midnight. He loves to travel through the trees and grasses to get to the flowering gum where he can eat its flowers for dinner. On this night, however, before he can begin to nibble, he hears a cry for help. Can Midnight Possum help rescue Mother Possum’s baby? What further adventures await him now?

The Midnight Possum is a lovely picture book about bravery and helping others. The story is told simply, through both text and illustration, with a sense of movement and adventure created by active words as well as font and page layouts.

The blues and purple of the Australian bush at night fill the pages and highlight the different colours inside the house when possum performs his daring rescue. The effect of the acrylic painting and digital collages gives the story a soft atmosphere and adds a textured element.  

Sally Morgan is an Australian Aboriginal author, dramatist and artist who is widely known and published. She brings Australian animals, landscapes and Aboriginal culture and myths to life in many of her children’s and picture books. 

Brave

Brave by Lynn Jenkins, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan (Little Steps Publishing) PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117844

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Vibrant red and white loops of colour straddle the pages of this bright, cheerful book which encourages children to use their imagination to find their BRAVE. Loppy and Curly are two zany characters with a dilemma: Loppy is scared just thinking about going to school while Curly has his work cut out for him getting Loppy to put on his BRAVE suit and face his fears.

The principles in this book are aimed at helping parents who have anxious children, especially those in the 3–6 year old category. Going to bed in the dark, weathering a storm, speaking in class, making new friends, fronting up at school… all these can be nerve-wracking events for children. Loppy and Curly are here to show how to find the BRAVE hidden inside.

The Ricker Racker Club

The Ricker Racker Club by Patrick Guest and Nathaniel Eckstrom (Little Hare Books) HB RRP $ ISBN 9781760122928

Reviewed by J Wishart

This enjoyable picture book tells the story of brothers, Max and Ollie, and their secret club. The club’s rules allow girls under certain restrictions, and decree members must do ‘something incredibly brave or kind at least once a week.’ Thus each week, the boys busily do their ‘daring things’, while Poppy, the sole female member, takes care of the ‘kind things’ like sharing her ice-cream and cleaning the boys’  rooms for them.

Using acrylic, pencil and digital media, Eckstrom has captured the energy of play, but also evokes the exaggerated viewpoint of the child. The text adds to this with place names that tell how the boys see the world, such as the ‘tunnel of doom’ and ‘banana-peel bridge.’ Along with the scary ‘wolf’ that lives in the neighbour’s backyard, there are plenty of challenges to test their bravery.

The story is well-paced and ideal for reading aloud, and has plenty of visual cues for early readers to follow. The cover image is eye-catching, depicting the children on a night-time quest with the ‘wolf’ watching from a distance; while the illustrated text features places and activities that children will recognise and easily relate to.

The narrative follows a familiar fairy-tale format, with a repetition and escalation of events that ultimately leads to a shift of power. When it happens, the change is welcome and carries a positive message about equality and judging others. 

The story of The Ricker Racker Club encourages the reader to think differently about what kind of behaviour truly takes the most strength of character; while also being fun and visually engaging.

Spider Iggy

Spider Iggy written by Aleesah Darlison and illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder (Wombat Books)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-925139-33-4

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

No one ever seems to notice Spider Iggy.  He tries to be noticed and make friends but with no success.  All the while, he dreams of a place filled with colour and light and spiders like him.  Determined to leave his old life behind, he sets off on an adventure to find a place where he fits in.  To find a place he can call home.

Spider Iggy is the latest picture book by award-winning Australian author Aleesah Darlison.  It is a lovely book that encompasses themes of acceptance, belonging and bravery. 

We meet Spider Iggy as he attempts to engage with and befriend those around him.  Despite all his best efforts he is routinely shunned which makes him unhappy - a situation that many young children can relate to.  It is this that drives him to find a place where he belongs; friends that accept him; to follow his dreams.

It’s this message that I particularly love: Spider Iggy remains true to himself and goes in search of where he belongs, rather than change himself in order to be accepted.  It is not an easy journey as he faces many dangers as well as people and creatures that reject him on sight.  He does not give up, and listens as the wind whispers, ‘Be brave’.  This is a great message for young children as they learn how to be a part of the world around them: be who you are, be brave.

Spider Iggy is brought to life by the artwork of Sarah Jane Hinder.  Each full-page illustration is bold and playful.  There is an upbeat quality that lends itself well to the positive message of the story.

Aleesah Darlison is an award-winning author who has published over twenty picture books and novels for children of all ages.  Her stories cover such themes as courage, anti-bullying, friendship and self-belief.  When she isn’t writing she’s looking after her four children or taking her dog, Floyd, for long walks on the beach.  She can be found online at: http://www.aleesahdarlison.com/

Daredevil Duck

Daredevil Duck written and illustrated by Charlie Adler (NewSouth Books)

HB RRP $21.99

ISBN 978-0-76245-456-3

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

Meet Daredevil Duck.  He is the bravest duck in the world.  Well, at least he wants to be.  In truth he is afraid of everything so all he can do is dream of being brave while the other ducks make fun of him.  Until one day he needs to actually be brave and to his and everyone’s surprise he is.  From then on his life becomes very different because now, deep down, he knows he is Daredevil Duck.

Daredevil Duck is the first picture book authored by English illustrator Charlie Alder.  It is a story about facing and overcoming your fears and would be most suitable for pre-school or early school-aged children.

Apart from being a sweet and fun story that deals with an important life-lesson, this is visually a very enjoyable book.  Charlie Adler’s illustrations are colourful and lively and children will love seeing how Daredevil Duck discovers his true mettle.  There is also an interactive element with the inclusion of lift-the-flap, fold-out and uneven pages at various points throughout the book.  It would make a great read-aloud book but the interesting presentation will also encourage young readers to flip through the pages on their own.

Charlie Alder is an English illustrator and coffee lover.  Her books include Toot! and Express Yourself.  Daredevil Duck is her first author/illustrated picture book.  She lives in Devon, England with her husband and young son who is the inspiration for her book.  She can be found online at http://charliealder.com/.

For Valour: Australia’s Victoria Cross Heroes

Our Stories - For Valour: Australia’s Victoria Cross Heroes by Nicholas Brasch (Walker Books)
PB RRP $ 17.95
ISBN 9781742032313
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

The Victoria Cross (VC)was first introduced by Queen Victoria in 1856 (thus its name) to honour British soldiers for their acts of heroism in the Crimean War. The medal is created out of bronze taken from the Russian canons captured by the British in that war.

In this book from the Our Stories series, Australia's 99 recipients of the Victoria Cross are represented. Twenty-six of these were awarded posthumously. The entries begin from the Boer War addressing why it was fought and how Australians took part in it, with a biography on the first Australian to receive the VC during the Boer War, Neville Howse. We learn the origins of the VC, and get a comprehensive breakdown of why and how World War One started in a clear, easy-to-follow setting.

Sixty-four Australians received the VC in World War One, the first being Albert Jacka. There is reference to Leonard Keysor, a bomb thrower at Lone Pine during the Gallipoli campaign, Hugo Throssell, the only recipient from the Lighthorse Regiment, who was the husband of author, Katherine Susanna Prichard, and Reginald Inwood, who was stoned by the people of Broken Hill who were opposed to the war as he departed, then was heralded a hero by the same people on his return. The pictures are made up of posters and photos of the VC recipients from archives.

Amazing stories of short but significant lives continue into the North Russia Campaign, then to World War Two, onto the Vietnam War, and ending in the War in Afghanistan. It showcases a few of the lives that were ‘firsts’ through photos, accompanied by a brief biography and the situation which led to the VC award. At the end, there is a list of the VC recipients for each campaign, a Glossary and an Index.