Oliver and George

Oliver and George written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas (New Frontier Publishing)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9781925059083

Reviewed By Rose Davies

The two main characters of this very simply illustrated book are extremely cute. There is young Oliver, who always manages to be wearing at least one roller skate as well as fancy dress, and there’s the gorgeous chubby, rather intellectual looking George, a huge teddy bear. George has a small ‘pince nez’ on his nose and always seems to be reading!

Oliver wants attention. He wants to play, but George is too engrossed in his reading. Whatever ways George chooses to try and distract George does not work. Oliver throws a paper plane at George, he pushes him and breaks the stool George is sitting on, but George reads on, totally absorbed in his book. Oliver even tips porridge on George.  That does not even work for Oliver to distract George and he does not even get mad.

Oliver tries a new tactic. Oliver pulls George’s ears, he tickles George’s nose with a feather, still nothing happens, so he snatches George’s book from him and scoots off.

Suddenly he is hit on the head with a paper plane, and then there is an almighty ROAR from George. Oliver apologises for making George mad. Suddenly the tide turns.  Now George is ready to play but the book Oliver snatched away seems extremely interesting to Oliver now. “Shall we play now?” asks George. “Okay”, “In a minute” replies Oliver, as he walks away with his nose in a book.

This is a cheerful storyline with an unexpected ending. Not only is the story a good read, perhaps subtly it also shows early readers and pre-readers that books can be really exciting and interesting.

Writing now for over six years Peter Carnavas is an established author/ illustrator, with his first book Jessica’s Box shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award and with this book he won the Speech Pathology Book of the Year in 2008. Peter also received the Notable book award by the CBCA and was shortlisted for the Crichton Award.  When Peter is not writing he is teaching, reading books with his daughters, drawing and trying to play the mandolin.

Rose Davies is an established non-fiction author of environment and nature books for adults. She also writes freelance for several publications, runs a consultancy business focussed on community nature and environment education. She has been writing reviews for a variety of publications for over 25 years. 

The Bush Book Club

The Bush Book Club by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Ben Wood (Omnibus Books)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74299-014-9

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

All the animals in the bush love to read. They read in different places and about different things, but they all have reading in common. All, that is, except Bilby. He hates to read. He cannot sit still long enough and so Bilby is the only animal not in the Bush Book Club.

This is a wonderfully worded story. The rhythm of each page and the overall structure is satisfying to read aloud. For instance, the stories Crocodile reads make him cry. 'He sniffled and snuffled, sobbed and sighed.'

The illustrations which are bright, lively and humorous, do more than just accompany the text, they enhance the story. While the Bush Book Club meets Bilby plays on his own. 'He did a headstand. He did a handstand. A somersault. And two cartwheels.' All of these actions are accompanied by a single picture of his action. Then, on the facing page, 'He sighed. Now what?' Bilby looks small standing in front of the closed book club door, empty landscape surrounding him. His loneliness is instantly recognisable.

This effective text and illustration combination is used beautifully to illustrate the beginning of Bilby’s also interest in a book; with the pictorial focus shifting from the movement of his body to the pictures in his head.

I have a child who would rather wriggle and jiggle, twiddle and fiddle, flip and flop than sit still and read a book. But I know that if she can sit still long enough, with the right book, her imagination will be caught and she will be lost in the world between the pages. This is exactly what Bilby discovers and it is wonderful that he makes the journey all by himself. In a big, squishy, yellow and white spotted, comfy reading chair.

This is a story which will be loved by preschool children and their parents. It captures the joy of reading and shows why Margaret Wild is such a popular Australian author. 

i Love You Book

i Love You Book by Libby Hathorn, illustrated by Heath McKenzie (IP KIdz)

HB RRP $26.00

ISBN 9781921479892

Reviewed by Margaret Warner

This tribute to ‘the book’ was inspired by Libby Hathorn’s visit to Papua New Guinea where she visited a high school in Gorokan several years ago. Several of the students’ parents were learning to read and performed a ‘book drama’ for the assembly, called I Love You Book about the joys of reading.

The picture book i Love You Book celebrates every aspect of the absolute joy of ‘the book’: the look, the smell, the sound, the feel, the emotions, and the delights that capture the imagination on every page. Heath McKenzie’s vibrant illustrations take the reader into an array of imaginative scenes that will remind readers of every memorable book they have ever read.

This delightful book will deliver something special for readers and writers of all ages.