When I’m Shining with Peace by Wendy Mason and Lisa Maravelis, illustrated by Kayleen West (Kids Light Up) PB   RRP $12.99   ISBN 780648206514

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Both Australian authors are founders of the Kids Light Up© project, a forum for educational information, which teaches resilience as its foundation. Their picture book series, When I’m Shining with Light, of which this book is a part, emphasises positive values and qualities to help children (aged three plus years) to thrive. Mason is Director of early learning at an independent school in Melbourne and Maravelis is a youth worker and counsellor. Both women are passionate about empowering children to be the best they can be.

When I’m Shining with Peace features an (unnamed) cuddly, clothed girl bear who talks about the role of peace in her life and how it affects her and her relationships with others. The book starts by referring to a ‘PEACE light’ which ‘we all have’, which, when switched on, has positive effects. It’s not stated how to ‘switch on’ the PEACE light but, the story continues, ‘When I’m shining with PEACE/ I’m still and steady.’

The story is related in rhyming text and continues to show readers ways in which inner peace is rewarding, such as having clear thinking, readiness to learn, calm breathing and so on. This allows the small reader to come to an understanding of what peace is. The book also shows the negative: when the ‘PEACE light goes out’, it makes the bear ‘scream and shout’ and want her own way.

One would assume that the child’s carer (parent or teacher, for example) would explain to the child how to create inner peace as sadly the book doesn’t do this.

While the book’s main benefit is in extolling the virtues of having peace so that one can live harmoniously, one of the stanzas is problematic. It reads: ‘When I’m shining with PEACE/ I choose to obey/Whatever you say/ I’ll do right away.’ Who is the ‘you’ to whom this stanza is addressed? One would assume the ‘you’ referred to is a parent, but it could be anyone, including a stranger. Despite this misgiving, one must admire the authors for investing their time and money into a project designed to help youngsters.

The illustrations are clear and attractive with lots of white space allowing focus on the bear character. And, too, the book is typeset in OpenDyslexic font, created to increase readability for readers with dyslexia. The font includes regular, bold, italic and bold italic styles, but it can easily be read by anyone who doesn’t have dyslexia.

There will be 10 books in the series, each of them covering a range of skills, qualities and values important for all children (and adults). The first four books dealing with Joy, Peace, Love and Kindness, were released in March 2018. All books are available through Denis Jones www.dennisjones.com.au  and www.kidslightup.com.au There are teachers notes and parents’ tips and notes available through the kidslightup site.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Shiver Me Timbers! by Oakley Graham, illustrated by Nina Caniac

(Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 978-1925520002

Reviewed by Anita Howard

This is the tale told in a rhyming text of a fearsome pirate crew , including a chorus of ‘rolling waves and the words ‘ho ho ho’ repeated on each double spread. 

In a book for young children who will love to listen to the story told aloud, Captain Black and his pirate crew go looking for treasure in a swashbuckling, sea shanty adventure on the high seas. The story highlights aspects of the life of pirates from obedience to Captain Black, chores, doing a poo overboard, giant octopus and the demise of Captain Black. Details such as these are followed at the end of the book by facts about pirates of the seventeenth and eighteenth century.

The placement of the text is sometimes used to emphasise an action, for example, the words, ‘He likes to use his whip,’ is curved and swirls across the page. The vibrant illustrations are full of movement, with an interesting use of different pictorial formats and emotional communication often shown through the pirates’ body language.

Odd Dog Out

Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph (Harper Collins – GB) HB RRP $16.99        ISBN 9780007594153

Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness

From the opening pages of this delightful, slightly retro style picture book, Biddulph gives his reader an illustrative explosion of colour and pattern, the perfect accompaniment to his rhyming text featuring sausage dogs.

Pages of sausage dogs, all the same, yet one stands out, ‘dancing to a different beat’. This ‘odd dog out’ longs to be like the rest, acknowledges her difference and decides to leave her home in  search of a place where she ‘fits’.

Travelling far and wide, she does discover a place where all the dogs look like herself – all except for one. This dog, though, does not feel odd: she celebrates her difference. ‘Stand tall, be proud,’ she tells ‘odd dog’.

Realising there is nothing wrong with herself after all, ‘odd dog’ travels back home where she is greeted warmly by the other dogs, as they have missed her. Looking closely at the dogs, many more are now behaving a little differently, now able to appreciate their differences, even celebrate them.

Biddulph’s final words, ‘So blaze a trail, be who you are’ will resonate with readers, regardless of age.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read that’s suitable for ages 3 years and up.

I Spy Dad!

I Spy Dad! by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Chantal Stewart.  (New Frontier Publishing) PB RRP: $14.99 ISBN 9781925059649

Reviewed by Rebecca Newman

A little girl spies all kinds of dads playing with their children:

“A rowing dad

a mowing dad

a snip-snap sewing dad.”

None of these dads belongs to our narrator — where could her dad be? She keeps looking and the list of dads grows longer until she spies her own dad at the end of the book.

Stewart’s artwork is a great match for the rollicking rhythm and rhyming text. Lively illustrations show families from a variety of cultural backgrounds having fun together.

This is a new paperback edition of a picture book favourite, and the companion to I Spy Mum! by the same creative partnership. Perfect for three to six year olds and a joy to read aloud.

What Noise Comes From a Giraffe?

 What Noise Comes From a Giraffe? by Craig MacLean (Angus & Robertson, an imprint of Harper Collins) HB RRP $19.99                 ISBN 9781460752234

Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness

Ever wondered what noise a giraffe makes? Craig MacLean makes his author/illustrator debut with this new picture book.

While books relating animal noises have certainly been around for years, MacLean gives this a new twist by focussing on an animal I’m sure we have rarely heard make a noise.

His simple rhyming text and bold, colourful illustrations will see younger children making the familiar noises but also thinking about the giraffe – and no doubt offering suggestions.

The answer at the end of the book fits and will see children making their own giraffe noises. MacLean often pondered the question himself and his young daughter came up with the answer.

Well suited to pre-schoolers, I still am wondering what other noises does a giraffe make – this might also lead onto some further investigation about giraffes with young children.

Perfect to read aloud – particularly with the larger, clear text .

Together…

Together… by Emma Dodd (Nosy Crow 2016) HB RRP $15.99
ISBN: 9780857635792

Reviewed by Jade Harmer

Together… is a small, beautifully designed padded picture book, perfect for little hands. Emma Dodd partners simple, rhyming text with touching images of a sea otter mother and baby in their ocean home in a story that explores the special relationship between mother and child.

We meet the otters at the end of the day – a special, dreamy, joyful, perfect day – as they reflect on all of the things they did together such as watching the sun rise or the clouds float across the sky.

Dodd’s stylised sea otter illustrations couldn’t be any more endearing. They radiate warmth and love against the silvery green blue ocean and the star-filled night sky.

Together… reminds us to treasure the moments shared with a child and speaks to the simplicity of just being together without the distractions that everyday life can bring.

This is a perfect choice as a bedtime book to share with young children, or a thoughtful gift for a new mum.

Anzac Ted

Anzac Ted written and illustrated by Belinda Landsberry (EK Books)
HB RRP $19.99
ISBN 978-1-921966-56-9
Reviewed by Peta Biggin

Anzac Ted may look scary but if only everyone looked a little deeper they would see an unsung hero.  He is a teddy bear that went to war with the Anzacs and through courage, loyalty and love helped bring our soldiers home. 

Anzac Ted is a poignant and touching book.  Written in rhyme, it is the story of a child’s teddy bear that has clearly seen the worst of times.  Dirty and torn, Anzac Ted frightens other children and is seemingly only loved by his owner.  But Ted’s story is a heroic one – taken to the First World War as a mascot and surviving to come home.  It was his wartime experiences that left him scarred and damaged.

 

Visually striking, the book starts and ends with large, colourful illustrations with a transition to sepia colouring during the telling of Anzac Ted’s experiences in the war.  Interestingly, these illustrations were based, with permission, on real-life shots taken by war photographer, Ernest Brooks and the portrait of the Unknown Soldier.

I found it a little sad as despite all that Anzac Ted endured, his heroism is widely unacknowledged by the children around him.  An important message, I think, for us to remember and be thankful for the sacrifice of our past and present soldiers. 
Overall, Anzac Ted is a beautiful and important book; especially as we commemorate the 100^th anniversary of World War 1 and in particular the Gallipoli campaign.  While clearly a children’s story, this is a book that is suitable for all ages; with the effect dependant on the reader’s understanding of and connection to wartime of any era.

Belinda Landsberry is a children’s author and illustrator.  She has trained as a primary school teacher, graphic designer, copywriter/art director and nurse.  She lives on the North Shore (Sydney) with her family and four kids.  Anzac Ted is her first picture book.  She can be found online at: http://belindalandsberry.com/

Count My Christmas Kisses

Count My Christmas Kisses by Ruthie May, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie (ABC Books)
HB RRP $19.99
ISBN 9780733332203

Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness

 
The sequel to ‘Count My Kisses, Little One’ is the holiday themed ‘Count My Christmas Kisses’ which features snowflake decorated hearts to find and count on each double spread.

The story progresses from number one, where an unadorned tree is central on the page (unfortunately in the page fold) to number nine, where the tree is fully decorated. The ten kisses close the story as the children are tucked up in bed.

Written in rhyme, this gentle book is softly illustrated in pastel shades and could certainly be shared with babies and young children alike, even though it is obviously written for a northern hemisphere audience. For Australian children, explaining mistletoe and snow at Christmas will provide an opportunity for discussion as we follow the children through pre Christmas preparations.

The book has also been selected by The Little Big Book Club (http://www.thelittlebigbookclub.com.au/) to be promoted across libraries and early childhood centres.