Hello to You, Moon

Hello to You, Moon written by Sally Morgan, illustrated by Sonny & Biddy (Little Hare Books) HB RRP $24.99  ISBN 9781760125462

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

A poetic, rhythmical counting book (but so much more), Morgan’s Hello to You, Moon examines the various creatures which swing, prowl, leap and scurry under the light of the moon.

Each creature featured salutes the moon in their own way, from hooting owls to roaring lions. Each spread progresses from one to ten with an accompanying animal family, as the moon journeys from twilight through midnight to the brightening sky of the following day.

This would make a brilliant bedtime story for babies through to pre-schoolers, with much to engage, including rhyme, action and animal noises. Sonny and Biddy’s graphic illustrations with an overarching purple palette are the perfect, vibrant accompaniment to the text.

The Whole Caboodle

The Whole Caboodle by Lisa Shanahan, illustrated by Leila Rudge (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-932-1

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The Whole Caboodle is a delightfully refreshing and surprising counting book. Using lyrical language with a rhythm which rolls exquisitely off the tongue this is a book begging to be read aloud over and over again.

 ‘Seven racey-chasey Giant Schnoodles?

 Eight snuggly-juggly Bassetoodles?’

There are dogs to be found on every page. Children will love listening to the silly words which fit these dogs beautifully and have fun spotting dogs in unlikely places. The simple concept of a dog walk has been transformed into so much more in such a wonderfully clever way, through both text and illustrations.

Each colourful page hides the dogs described. But not in a busy bustling way, or in a ‘search the page carefully’ way. Rather in obvious and fitting way – dog shaped clouds, or dogs instead of horses on a merry-go-round (the racey-chasey ones).

These illustrations are soft and playful with the happiness and love of dogs shining through, right to the very last (wordless) page. A stumbly-jumbly one.

This picture book is fabulous for pre-school readers, especially lovers of dogs and bubbly language.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Alison Jay (Koala Books)

HB RRP $19.99

ISBN 978-1-74276-114-5

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The Twelve Days of Christmas is a classic Christmas carol which most people know well. On each of the twelve days of Christmas, a man buys a gift for his true love, each one getting bigger and more extravagant.

The counting and the repetition within the lyrics make it perfect for a picture book but the absolute delight (and cleverness) of The Twelve Days of Christmas is the illustrations. There is so much to marvel over on so many different levels.

At first glance they are old-fashioned paintings; beautiful, glowing scenes, cracked with age. But the closer you look, the more you see. From the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations in the town to the quieter, but still active, country life, there is so much going on around the man and woman as they walk through the story.

Every page provides a clue to what the next gift will be – on the page before ‘six geese a-laying’ two geese float on the river as the couple cross a bridge. Hidden away on every page is Father Christmas, and he is not always easy to spot!

Also hidden away on most pages are little humorous scenes – such as a policeman chasing a turkey down the street – and links back to precious gifts. And I’m sure much more that I have missed. These are illustrations which can be studied for great lengths of time.

So many themes of Christmas are included; families, carolling, gifts, and parties. 

This is an engrossing book for quiet contemplation as well as for reading to young ones during the December preparations.

Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild

Counting Lions: Portraits from the Wild by Katie Cotton, drawings by Stephen Walton (Walker Books)

HC RRP $27.95

ISBN 9781847807212

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

With a moving Foreword by actress and staunch wildlife crusader Virginia McKenna, this magnificent counting book goes from one to ten. The operative word here is numbers, and that word demands attention be given to the declining numbers of animal species around the world. Whether it’s for trophy hunting, souvenirs of their animal parts, or their capture for pet shop trade (and the list goes on), an increasing number of wild animals and birds are being killed each year for financial gain. Man fails to see their importance in ‘the creation and protection of the natural world.’

The stunning black and white drawings speak volumes. The orange text informs and educates.

The expression on the lion’s face will cause an emotional shift in the reader. Mother and child gorillas ‘breathe the same breath’ and the two now together, will soon become singular entities. The three giraffes are such peaceful animals. With their head in the clouds they can see forever as they traverse the grasslands.

Four tigers: a mother and her cubs. She will sacrifice everything to protect them. But can she protect them from hunters and poachers? Five elephants wander together on an endless journey towards food and water.  Six Ethiopian wolves stay within their boundaries, safe but not. Seven penguins make a family of parents and children in the frozen Antarctic environment. Eight turtles, who know the water better than anyone, return to the place of their birth to lay their eggs in the sand.

Nine macaws discuss their day, ready to spread their wings if necessary. Ten zebras drink at a waterhole. Their eyes and ears ever alert for the dangers that lurk just beyond their sight and hearing.

The end of the book has miniature pictures of each animal accompanied by their protection status and approximately ten lines of information about their family groups, size, and other statistics on them.

These magnificent drawings are not for children alone to adore. This book is for coffee tables; to generate thought-provoking discussion about these and other endangered animals, and to bring about changes in human thought about who and what we really are.

Puppy Playtime 1,2,3

Puppy Playtime 1,2,3 by Celeste Walters and Adele Jaunn (Little Hare Books)

ISBN 978-1-742977-16-4

PB RRP $14.95 

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

On the surface, this picture book by author Celeste Walters and illustrator Adele Jaunn simply rhymes its way up to ten and back, accompanied by cute illustrations of puppies playing. However, that isn't all there is, not by a long way. There's also an element of mystery, education about different dog breeds and a huge variety of verbs. Then (although this reader wasn't observant enough to notice it on the first read through) there's also a 'spot the bone' activity. This is a book with a lot of things to keep young children busy!

Billy the Bitzer has hidden his bone and is worried the other puppies are going to find it. First one puppy comes racing and chasing, then two romping and stomping, up to ten, when Billy the Bitzer is feeling unhappy and snappy. No wonder. So he decides to get rid of the puppies, one by one. First he starts grunting and growling, then hooting and howling, until there's one little puppy, sneaking and peeking … who finds the bone. And it's been in view the whole time.

The different breeds of puppy are depicted beautifully by Adele Jaunn, who also illustrated Baby Bilby's Question by Sally Morgan. A poodle, a collie, a samoyed, a great dane and others. All have joyful, inquisitive expressions on their furry faces. Each page is covered with happy little dogs, always on the move, as puppies are. In fact the illustrations convey movement extremely well and this is a real strength of the book.

Celeste Walters has written several books for young adults and children, including A Certain Music. Puppy Playtime 1,2,3 uses repetition with skill and clever rhyming. Lots of fun for adults and kids to enjoy together, this is a book can that can be re-read, with something different to notice each time.