Fancy Pants

Fancy Pants by Kelly Hibbert and Amanda Graham (Raising Literacy Australia Inc) PB   ISBN 9780994385352

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

A picture book for children aged 2 to 6 years, this is a debut book written by a primary school teacher and an illustrator who has produced over 100 books and has been short-listed for the CBCA Book of the Year awards. It is one of a number of books produced by The Big Little Book Club which distributes free books to parents to improve children’s literacy.

In rhyming text, this story tells of dingo who ‘wore his coat with pride/while dancing with delight’ in the northern desert sands. When the Outback Dance is held near Bunyip’s Bluff, Dingo bemoans the fact that he has no pants to wear like the other ‘animals in fancy pants’. These animals -- emu, wombat, kangaroo et al –offer to sew pants for dingo when none will fit him. Finally he is beautifully outfitted in multi-coloured attire with fringe, baubles, and a decorate belt. Finally, dressed appropriately the dingo frolics with ‘his pants so fancy’ under the Southern Cross with a multitude of animals.

This is a simple story, nothing deep and meaningful with bright, cheerful illustrations that is sure to amuse children aged 12 months to three years.

Where’s Jessie?

Where’s Jessie? by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Anne Spudvilas (NLA Publishing)
HC RRP 24.99
ISBN 9780642278753

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Bertie the bear is Jessie’s beloved toy and best friend. With no room to carry him in the cart that they are travelling, he is strapped into a box to be taken by the cameleers across the desert to their outback home. 

They cross the red, wind-whipped deserts. A cameleer decides to show Bertie the scenery but doesn’t notice when he drops him. 

Bertie longs for Jessie as lonely and still for days in the red earth, he listens to the movement of living things all around him. Wild dogs sniff and nudge him. Bats circle above. Scuttling lizards, echidnas and mice investigate him as snakes slither and slide over him.  

Heavy rains flood the plain. The water surges and sweeps Bertie along with it. He is caught and lifted high in an eagle’s claws then dropped again onto the red dirt.

Gentle dark hands lift him; hands that carry him to outstretched arms, and to a voice that speaks his name.

This moving adventure of friendship, loss and recovery, is brilliantly translated by talented illustrator Anne Spudvilas. At the end of the story, Janeen Brian shares the origins of Bertie’s story inspired by a real life event. 

The defining finishing touch comes once again from the archives of the NLA. It showcases original photos of the cameleers and camel trains of the Australian Outback of the early 1900s. The information on these cameleers emphasises the significant role they played in outback life. Winding up another fantastic production are the illustrations listed in miniature form accompanied by their details.