Grace’s Mystery Seed

Grace’s Mystery Seed by Juliet Sampson and Karen Erasmus (Ford Street)

ISBN 9781925804218 PB RRP $16.95 PB $24.95 HB

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Grace’s Mystery Seed is a gentle tale about a girl called Grace and her elderly neighbour Mrs Marino. It does contain a mystery, and this keeps the reader turning the pages to discover what happens. Beautiful water colour and ink illustrations, by Karen Erasmus, fill every page with gardens and plants. This is a story about patience, and the value of waiting for something worthwhile to happen.  

 Grace is a little girl who is curious about gardens and Mrs Marino has the best one in the street. When Grace asks what kind of seed the parrot is eating, Mrs Marino helps Grace to plant it. Then they wait for it to come up. While the rest of Grace’s class have theories about what it could be, all Grace and her best friend Leo can do is wait. And no one is disappointed – the seed is an impressive sunflower, with plenty of seeds for all.

The inter-generational relationship between Grace and Mrs Marino is a highlight of this story. So are the illustrations, which have so much to look at. In many there are a cat walking along a fence and a dog on the other side. There are also chickens and parrots to spot. Karen Erasmus has illustrated several picture books including most recently The Flying Optometrist and Eva’s Imagination.

Previously published as an adult romance writer, this is Juliet Sampson’s first children's picture book. Grace's Mystery Seed is suitable for lower primary school students. It provides its readers with information about the natural world in the form of an engaging and enjoyable story.  

Making Up

Making Up by Jan Ormerod, illustrated by Freya Blackwood (Little Hare Books) HB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781760128999

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

Making Up is a short board book consisting of a tale extracted from Ormerod and Blackwood’s picture book Maudie & Bear.

Feisty Maudie takes offence when Bear laughs at her dancing. Bear explains he is laughing with her rather than at her; however, Maudie is quite a strong-willed little character and doesn’t accept this. Bear is gentle yet persistent in attempting to coax Maudie out of her bedroom and make amends, until he finally comes up with an idea to bring them back together.

The contrast between petulant Maudie and patient Bear captures the irrational moments of the toddler and preschool years. It also suggests the endless love of a parent or carer, even in the face of difficult behaviour. Maudie is a flawed and very real character, who reflects the emotional highs and lows experienced by the two to five year old set, the book’s target market. Blackwood’s gentle illustrations capture the moods evoked in the story beautifully.

Other books in the series include The Bike Ride, with further titles to come in 2017.

Wow! The Wonders of our World

Wow! The Wonders of our World by Joy Noble and Fiona Johnston, illustrated by Lucy Buxton (Elbon Books)

PB RRP $19.95

ISBN 9780994385307

Reviewed by Ashling Kwok

Wow! The Wonders of our World is a fabulous book full of interesting information that will appeal to young readers and anyone who enjoys learning about how things work.

This lovely book is jam-packed with fascinating facts that will promote curiosity, stimulate thinking and encourage children to ask more questions. Children will learn how certain things work, how they are created and their purpose in this world.

As you flick through the book, you will be amazed at the range and diversity of topics covered including the Brain, Language, Speed, Transport, and Space and Time, to name a few.

The cover of the book is bright and bold, and will entice readers to pick it up. The text is easy to read and the language reader friendly. The colourful illustrations are imaginative and creative, and bring the pages to life. They make this book a pleasure to read.

This is an engaging book that has the potential to expand young minds as they struggle to understand how the world evolved and how they can survive in our ever changing environment.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about the world we live in and to anyone looking to inspire young children to pick up a book. Once they start reading it, they will find it impossible to put it down.