My Folks Grew Up in the '80s

My Folks Grew Up in the '80s by Beck and Robin Feiner (ABC Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780733339417

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Any parent who grew up in the 1980s will open this book with a sense of anticipatory glee. In fact, it feels like parents are the target audience of this book; at the very least, there’s a big wink in their direction. Nevertheless, kids will love the opportunity to share their parents’ stories of growing up in that strange decade.

The prose is written from the point of view of a child whose 30 or 40-something parents have been telling him stories of their childhood, and the tone conveys the narrator’s amusement and incredulity. The book covers topics from fashion and technology to music and slang. There are the typical references from that decade, like shoulder pads and boom boxes, but also some things parents probably haven’t thought about for some time. Anyone remember the TV show Perfect Match?

Splashed with neon colours, the bold, graphic illustrations provide layers detail and context, not just explaining but also enriching the text. Children and parents will have fun exploring the objects scattered across each spread, from hard-copy encyclopedias to floppy discs, slinkies and troll dolls.

A nostalgic walk down memory lane for parents, and an amusing pop cultural history for kids, this book will be a wonderful sharing experience for kids aged 7-plus and their parents. As the book’s final page points out (illustrated by the narrator’s parents executing a certain iconic Dirty Dancing pose in the backyard pool), the kids will finally understand why we’re so weird.

King of the Outback

King of the Outback written by Kristin Weidenbach, illustrated by Timothy Ide (Midnight Sun Publishing)    HB RRP$26.99   ISBN 9781925227246

Reviewed by Stefan Nicholson

King of the Outback is a jewel of an Australian children’s book with many facets to contemplate.  It is also a picture book, a book of Australian history, a biography, obviously a non-fictional work but absolutely a delight to read.

It is the life story of Sir Sidney Kidman who left home at thirteen with five shillings and a one-eyed horse, then ended up owning the largest cattle station in Australia.

It is tempting to imagine how primary school children will approach this book. 

Some will look at the first few pages and then work through the book admiring the stylised pen and ink illustrations of people and animals surrounded by the colours of the bush. The watercolour palette is perfect.

Other children will read the unravelling story on each page and immerse themselves into the story through the corresponding illustration.

The expressions of the people and the brown landscape match the late nineteenth-century Australian country with its harsh dusty ground, the solid civic buildings and the fashionable clothing evident on the streets of the town.

King of the Outback is also an ideal reader for parents and teachers to read to younger children whilst showing them the illustrations – I like looking at some of the people hidden in the crowds!

You can almost hear the sounds emanating from the illustrations, enhanced by the use of an unusual selection of fonts and embellishments – font size, bold, curved, etc.  I think that this arrangement of text is designed to keep the readers’ attention away from staring at the illustrations for too long instead of moving along with the story. 

The text is simple and effective.  It gets the story told interspersed with many interesting facts and events like the impressive rescue of the town’s people from scared, rampaging cattle during Sid’s seventy fifth birthday rodeo. 

This book should make for excellent classroom discussions as this era of Australian history comes to life in thirty two pages. But don’t let any child walk out of the classroom with fifty cents and a ‘see you all later’.

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.

Meet … Ned Kelly

Meet … Ned Kelly by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Matt Adams (Random House Australia)
HB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781742757186
Also available as an ebook
ISBN 9781742757209
Reviewed by Marian McGuinness


I like the idea of “Meet …” as it’s an invitation to get to know, perhaps personally understand, many of the iconic men and women who have shaped Australia.

Meet … Ned Kelly is the first in this picture book series that spans the education and trade markets.

Told in verse, the story comes alive. The reader is involved in the action, just like in the bush ballads of Ned Kelly’s era. The font has a nostalgic look, as if it’s hot off an old-fashioned printing press.

The armour protected Ned’s arms, head and waist.
The bullets bounced off one by one.
Sergeant Steele took a shot at Ned’s legs that were bare.
With a cry, Ned collapsed and was done.

We all know how Ned’s life ended, but we are given a poignant insight into his early life of poverty and fatherlessness and how his mother was gaoled with her young baby. We share the major turning points in Ned’s life both by verse and by following the handy timeline at the back of the book.

As a young boy we learn how Ned saved a drowning child. He is presented with a sash for his bravery. Another poignant moment is the revelation that under his suit of armour, in the shoot out at Glenrowan, Ned is wearing the same sash from childhood provoking discussion on how deeply we are affected as children, along with the need to know that we have worth.

Matt Adams’ illustrations are evocative of Sidney Nolan’s famous Ned Kelly series, with hints of other landscape painters of the era, like Arthur Streeton and Russell Drysdale. Sometimes, it’s like I’m standing in an art gallery. Young readers will connect to the pathos and humour within the illustrations as they engage with Australian history. The cover is startling as you face Ned close up. He is kitted in his ironclad helmet and armour, although I would love to have seen a peek of the green sash that he was wearing underneath.

Award-winning author Janeen Brian has captured the essence of our most legendary bushranger and award-winning illustrator Matt Adams has brought him to life with colour and texture. An excellent read for 8+.

RSPCA Bumper Book of Pets and other Animals

RSPCA Bumper Book of Pets and other Animals (Random House Australia)
PB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781742757117
Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

The thought of a Bumper Book of anything brings expectations of a cornucopia of fascinating information bound with trivia, jokes, activities, checklists and heart-tugging photos. This is exactly what you find in the RSPCA Bumper Book of Pets and other Animals.

This is the book to read if you are considering owning a pet. Being fully endorsed by the RSPCA this Bumper Book perfectly balances the fun side of pet ownership with the responsibilities. There’s even a checklist to see if you are mature enough to own a pet as well as other criteria such as the pet-friendliness of your home.

With its colourful layout, reader-friendly pages and bright breakout boxes of tips and trivia, this book urges you to sit and read about all creatures, scaly, slimy, furry and feathery.

As well as a substantial section on PETS, there are sections on FARMYARD ANIMALS and WILDLIFE.

The largest section is about dogs, and as with most other sections, there’s information about: diet, health, lifespan, exercise, grooming, personality, training, breeds and lots of tips.

There are fascinating facets sprinkled throughout. You find out that guinea pigs can’t make their own Vitamin C. They need to eat oranges, lemons and kiwi fruit, that’s after they eat their yummiest meals of brussels sprouts, broccoli and bok choy!

If you’re contemplating becoming a horse owner, learn what they mean when they neigh, nicker and snort. And if a pet rat is more your thing, learn how to make them an adventure playground in their cage, as rats love to explore.

Are you a bit of a bird fan? This book will help you find the right breed to suit your family. Canaries live for about 7 years whereas cockatoos live for about 80!

Do snakes, turtles or frogs take your fancy? How about an axolotl or a ferret?

For those who live on or visit farms, there are lots of interesting insights into sheep, goats and poultry. Did you know that cows have best friends within their herds? And then there’s the wildlife section with many more intriguing gems of information.

The RSPCA Bumper Book of Pets and other Animals is not just about reading. There are quizzes, word jumbles and jokes and a glossary for the tricky words like amphibian and terrarium.

Why are fish so smart? They live in schools! And if you’re old enough to read, this book is purr-fect for you.

Rocket into Space

Rocket into Space by Ragbir Bhathal and Johanna Davids (National Library of Australia Publishing)
HB RRP 19.95
ISBN 9780642277510
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Pre-school children and early readers can set out on a wonderful space adventure with Maddy and Jack in another superlative book from the NLA (National Library of Australia).  In this pull-the-flap and fold out interactive book, children discover the amazing world of space and the solar system while Maddy and Jack travel across the pages in their red rocket.

The information is relayed through brief, clear facts that accompany the pictures. Bold colours, large fonts and outstanding images grace every page. The reinforced pages cater to easy handling by young hands.

There is so much to see. The journey begins with the Sun, its distance from Earth in kilometres, its diameter, and the average surface temperature. The last is included with every planet picture. There are eight stops after that – one for each planet with significant facts hidden under flaps and pull outs. Three more references cover Asteroids, Comets and The Milky Way.

Children can undertake the projects that are at the end. One entails making a crater. There is a list of what you will need and instructions on how to do it. The second shows how the Sun shines on the Earth to create night and day. There is Name a Comet or an E.T.

The author of this superb production Dr Ragbir Bhathal is an award-winning author and astrophysicist. His latest books are Australian Backyard Astronomy and Aboriginal Astronomy. This book has been created in collaboration with his wife, Johanna Davids. It has been published by NLA Publishing ‘as a contribution to the 2012 National Year of Reading’.

Astronomy is an area well represented in the NLA by their outstanding and ‘diverse collections of beautifully illustrated charts, posters, maps, drawings and photographs of celestial objects that go back to the seventeenth century’. The images in this book and more can be seen online at the National Library of Australia’s website.  

Professor Fred Hollows

 Professor Fred Hollows (Aussie Heroes) by Hazel Edwards, illustrated by Pat Reynolds (New Frontier Publishing)

PB RRP $14.95

ISBN 9781921042751

Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Fred Hollows is a worthy addition to New Frontier Publishing's excellent Aussie Heroes series. This series brings to children those Australians who have excelled in their field and made a difference not only to Australia but to the world.

This is exactly what Hollows did. Born in New Zealand, he qualified as an ophthalmologist before moving to Australia and embarking on visits to remote and Indigenous communities. This work expanded world-wide. Through his efforts, Fred Hollows gave sight to more than a million of the poorest people around the world and his legacy continues today. 

Throughout this book, Edwards details the inspiration behind Hollows' work and how he came to put his dream to restore sight, and therefore personal independence, to the world's poor into action. She does this in an easy-to-read manner and the layout of the book with its large text and colour illustrations throughout would entice young readers.

The book also includes an easy reference Fred Hollows Time Line and a list of his posthumous honours and awards. My hope is that the lives of people such as Fred Hollows will encourage children to dream big and achieve big. 

You Can Draw Anything

You Can Draw Anything by Kim Gamble (Allen & Unwin)

PB RRP $9.99

ISBN 978-1-74237-798-8

Reviewed by Thalia Kalkipsakis

  

Created by Kim Gamble, the much loved illustrator of the Tashi series, this appealing paperback reprint is both entertaining and highly informative.

Designed to teach young artists how to draw, the instructions are given in light-hearted, simple language, but it is also possible to learn the techniques simply by following the step-by-step visuals. My nine-year-old daughter opened the book, followed the illustrated instructions showing how to draw a lion, and then declared: ‘That’s the best drawing I’ve ever done!’

Any budding artist who takes the time to read Gambles instructions will not be disappointed. He clearly and deftly demonstrates the shapes that make up all objects around us, how to draw by following a grid, faces and expressions, perspective, shading and much more. He is encouraging, warm and full of useful tips; ‘Practise expressions in front of the mirror – look for the little lines that change, especially around the eyes.’

Despite the apparent ease with which he draws, the humour and character in each image makes it clear that we are in the hands of a true talent. Designed for children from eight to twelve, the dedication for this book reads: ‘For Mum, who kept me supplied with pencils and paper.’ Any parent of a budding artist would most likely already be following the lead of Kim Gamble’s mum, but they would do even better to add this book to the supplies.

  

Thalia’s latest book is called Head Spinners: six stories to twist your brain (www.thaliakalkipsakis.com). 

Amazing Grace: An Adventure at Sea

Amazing Grace: An Adventure at Sea by Stephanie Owen Reader (National Library of Australia)
HB RRP $29.95
ISBN 9780642277435
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

This book is absolutely outstanding from the story created around the factual evidence to the presentation and production quality.

In December 1876, sixteen-year-old Grace Bussell (and others) risked their own lives to save passengers and crew from the shipwrecked Georgette. A fictionalised account of the rescue is interspersed with paintings, newspaper clippings, photographs, eyewitness accounts and other historical documents from the National Library of Australia's own collection. A true sense of pioneer life at the time is built up.

The author is a master storyteller, able to draw the reader into the thoughts of feelings of passengers, crew and rescuers. Grace is shown as a capable and affable, but not extraordinary country girl, who nonetheless does not hesitate when action is needed. Other rescuers such as the Aboriginal stockman Sam Isaacs, and James and William Dempster are given due credit for their bravery.

A list of characters, glossary, short chapters and plentiful illustrations and further information ensures that the story can be followed by competent younger readers as well as being enjoyed and appreciated by older readers and even adults.

I highly recommend Amazing Grace and it should find a place on all bookshelves.