The Swap

The Swap written by Jan Ormerod, illustrated by Andrew Joyner (Little Hare Books) HB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781760128760

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

Winner of the CBCA Book of the Year in the Early Childhood category (2014), The Swap has been released in board book format.

Little Caroline Crocodile is jealous of her baby brother and the attention he receives. The more Mama Crocodile gushes over him, the more jealous Caroline becomes. The illustrations build on the text, with Andrew Joyner’s depictions of Caroline cleverly conveying her emotions. When Mama Crocodile heads into the Hat Shop to swap a hat that’s not quite right, Caroline gets an idea. She takes her brother to the Baby Shop, and attempts to swap him for some other animal babies. However, their cute features belie an array of difficult traits, leading Caroline to take another look at her baby brother.

The Swap examines sibling jealousy in a really fun way, with highly engaging characters, and a big dose of humour and mayhem as Caroline interacts with all the potential replacements for her brother. A heart-warming, satisfying conclusion rounds the story off perfectly.

The Swap would make a wonderful gift for a toddler or pre-schooler grappling with the arrival of a sibling. This new format’s sturdy, square-shaped pages are perfect for little hands, allowing the longevity this timeless tale deserves.

Lola’s Toy Box: The Patchwork Picnic

Lola’s Toy Box: The Patchwork Picnic by Danny Parker, illustrated by Guy Shields (Hardie Grant Egmont)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 9781760124366

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

The Patchwork Picnic is the first junior fiction title in the Lola’s Toy Box series, by the author of picture books Tree and Parachute, Danny Parker. The chapters are interspersed with charming illustrations by Guy Shields, who recently worked on the redesign of literary magazine Kill Your Darlings.

When Lola’s mum is clearing out the family’s junk-crammed garden shed, Lola and her brother Nick are asked if they would like to keep any of the unwanted objects. Nick ‘pushed past her’ and immediately began to make his demands known, setting the scene for a realistically turbulent sibling relationship.

Lola sees magic in the jumble of old furniture in the shed’s shadows, and sets her sights on a large wooden box. In order to escape domineering Nick, Lola and her toy Buddy hop inside it. They emerge out of the box to find themselves on a hillside where Buddy begins to talk, and a magical journey in a kingdom of toys begins.

When Lola learns of the battle between the Plastic Prince and the Great High Bear in a place called Nevercalm, readers may recognise parallels with Lola’s own struggles with Nick. Lola draws on an inner-strength to challenge a threatening bear, and agrees to partake in a button test to prove to the toys she is trustworthy. Her adventure demonstrates her problem-solving skills, something readers may take heart from and be inspired to apply in their own lives.

Themes of resilience, courage, loyalty and kindness emerge in this magical tale that deals with issues many children may relate to. Lola is a strong female character who shows it is possible to be kind and stand up for yourself at the same time. And with a magic toy box now in her possession, there are more adventures in store for Lola and Buddy – in fact, three more titles in the series are already available.

My Dinosaur is More Awesome

My Dinosaur is More Awesome written and illustrated by Simon Coster (NewSouth Books)

HB RRP $21.99

ISBN 978-1-63220-416-5

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

When Joel and Olivia sit down to dinner, with two of their favourite dinosaurs, Olivia can’t help but point out that her dinosaur is better.  After all, her dinosaur can play the trumpet while riding a bike and its house is in the shape of a rabbit.  It can make jam and even eats electric eels.  But, Joel’s dinosaur can swim like a shark and has teeth that glow in the dark.  It can jump and slide on its knees, has x-ray vision and isn’t afraid of bees.  It’s hard to say which one is the best.  Things get trickier when another dinosaur joins them at the dinner table – one that once ate a volcano and wears slippers the colour of rainbows.  How can Joel and Olivia’s dinosaurs compete with that?

My Dinosaur is More Awesome is the first book from English artist Simon Coster.  This is an enjoyable and fun book about the competitive nature of siblings Joel and Olivia; each one building up the magnificence of their dinosaur.  When things reach unbelievable heights, Mum steps in and not only settles the argument but trumps them both with the awesomeness of her own dinosaur.

The story is told in rhyme and is easy to read, making it a great read-aloud book for pre-schoolers or very early primary children.  The one upmanship that occurs between the two children is silly, imaginative and will really appeal to the target readers (and also ring true to those parents who have witnessed similar ‘stoushes’ between their own children).  The illustrations, mostly on white backgrounds, are bold and colourful.  They have a cartoon-like quality to them and really showcase all the fanciful activities for the dinosaurs are claimed to get up to.

 

Simon Coster is a mostly self-taught artist who loves to experiment with different style and genres.  Although he paints mainly for recreation, he has been exhibited and sold.  My Dinosaur is More Awesome is his first children’s book and was chosen as a main selection for July 2015 by the Children’s Book of the Month Club. He lives in Lincolnshire UK with his wife and children.

Go Ella, Go!

Go Ella, Go! by Bettina Strong, illustrated by Jason Pulhamus
PB RRP $14.95
ISBN 978-0-9871624-6-5
Reviewed by Cindy Shames

This picture book would suit 3 – 5 year olds. This is a simple story with a comical story line for any child that has an older sibling.

The text is simple and easy to read. This book will keep young readers guessing as the main character, Ella, tries to win over her brother’s trust to allow her to join in and play with them. The ending has a comical twist, as it leaves the main character with another challenge, but one you feel she will meet.

The illustrations are in a cartoon style with a lively color palate that fills the entire page. A fun book to be read by young readers.

Bettina Strong has also written Hello Hugs.