Donald Doing’s House of Verbs

Donald Doing’s House of Verbs written by Marianna Shek, illustrated by Cody McGrath and Anna Pan (Rock On Kitty)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 9780994266613

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

This rollicking story introduces the eccentric looking Donald Doing, lover of verbs and owner of a shop filled with solutions for people seeking action. As each customer enters the shop and presents their problem to Donald, he gives them a box. When opened, each box unleashes a new action and leaves the recipient catapulting or spiralling out the door with a new lease on life.

Donald Doing usually has the right solution, but when Nora Noisler arrives declaring she needs a new voice, she is much harder to please. It’s not until the two of them join forces and ponder her problem that a solution presents itself. However, the reader is left a little hanging wondering where Nora Noisler got to, as the focus returns to Donald and how the solution benefits him.

The illustrations are a non-stop riot of colour and activity. Particularly fun is the spread where Donald ‘climbed up a ladder and slid down a snake’, referencing the beloved board game. The bonus of activities at the end offers a combination of illustration instruction and encouragement for readers to think of their own verbs in relation to some of Donald’s mysterious boxes.

The narrative is quite busy at times, but this is a fun story and serves a wonderful purpose of introducing young readers to verbs, and how they can enhance a story.

I Don't Like Koala

I Don't Like Koala by Sean Ferrell, Illustrated by Charles Santoso (Scholastic Australia)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74276-149-7

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Adam has a problem. He does not like Koala. But no-one will listen to him so Adam has to solve this problem all by himself. How can he get rid of Koala?

''Adam puts Koala away.

Away is a lot of different places.'

I Don’t like Koala addresses a universal childhood problem - an unwanted gift, the stuffed toy that will not stop staring. It is the language of the text, the illustrations and the subtle humour which transforms this seemingly straight forward tale into a highly entertaining and fun story.

The illustrations are fabulous. They are soft and matte which keeps the tone light. Even the dark is blues and purples rather than black. Koala is not made to look menacing. He has the same expression all the way through the story. It is Adam's face which reveals the terribleness of Koala. And Adam is a very expressive boy, his face tells the story.

This story is fun to read with an unexpected twist at the end to make every parent smile.

Otis Dooda Strange but True

Otis Dooda Strange but True by Ellen Potter, illustrated by David Heatley (Omnibus Books for Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978-1-74299-020-0
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Otis Dooda and his family are moving from a dinky little town called Hog’s Head to an apartment on the 35^th floor in New York City. Otis is excited about the move, unlike his older brother Gunther, but things don’t start so well... The first morning Otis is cursed by the potted plant in the lobby.

Not too worried about the curse, Otis goes about exploring his new domain and meeting the neighbours including Boris, Cat and Perry with his farting pony - although he insists it is just a large dog as keeping ponies in the apartment building is not allowed.

But it turns out his new friends are worried about the curse, all curses uttered by Potted Plant Guy come true and they don’t have much time. It is almost the full moon. Unless Otis wants all his bones broken they must find a way to break the curse. Unfortunately, every attempt Otis and his new friends make just seems to make the situation worse. It looks like the Dooda family’s first week in Tidwell Towers is going to be memorable.

Otis Dooda Strange but True is a fun story. Otis is immensely likeable and Tidwell Towers is full of wacky and wonderful characters. It is really easy to get caught up in their adventures, which are funny, quite ridiculous, but not too far-fetched. It leaves you with a ‘that could happen’ feeling.

Enticing chapter headings such as How I know that my Brother is a Doofus, Poodles of Mass Destruction and Why I Slept in a Box make the book hard to put down and the funny illustrations on every page enrich the story. Large clear type and short chapters make it perfect for primary aged children.

Hopefully there is a sequel planned. Readers will be eager for more adventures with Otis and his friends.