Flower Power: Ella and Olivia

Flower Power: Ella and Olivia by Yvette Poshoglian, illustrated by Danielle McDonald (Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $7.99
ISBN 978-1-74362-053-3
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Ella and Olivia are sisters. Ella is seven and Olivia is five. In Flower Power Ella has decided she would like to start a garden at home just like the one they have at school. She is happy for Olivia to help, but Ella wants to be in charge. Mum and Dad help the girls build and prepare the garden bed, then leave the panting to them. The only problem is Ella wants to grow just herbs and vegetables while Olivia wants flowers as well. Is Ella being too bossy? Can they find a compromise?

This is a great story about a family working together. Even baby Max is involved, mostly making mud pies but creating this garden is a family effort. There are discussions about making the garden bed, staking tomatoes, seedlings, different herbs and other gardening issues.

Ella and Olivia have a realistic sibling relationship which many young girls will relate too and the way the family interacts is also grounded and positive. This title explores cooperation, bossiness and responsibility.

The sweet illustrations add to the story, showing the family working together as well as the growing frustrations of Ella. Every page is decorated making the book appealing to young readers.

Ella and Olivia is a lovely series for young girls, five plus, who are starting to read.

Sisters

Sisters by Amy Laizans,  illustrated by Sophie Scahill (Little Steps Publishing)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN – 9781921928895

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

The simple message brought to young readers in this book is that, although they have some differences, people are very much the same at the core. The first half of the story, told in first person, introduces readers to the narrator’s best friend Jane and shows their friendship and shared love of playing chasings outside, blowing and popping bubbles, reading, baking and doing craft.

Once the relationship has been established for readers we see the happiness disturbed, when … ”a schoolmate asked Jane if she speaks English”. Jane’s response, ”Of course I do! I was born here like you.” The issue then becomes greater as Jane then introduces the schoolmate to the narrator saying, “This is my best mate and my sister.’” Sadly Jane’s words see the schoolmate tell her this is not possible, because they have different skin colour.

Fortunately the narrator comforts Jane, telling her they are sisters at heart. As readers ponder this, the story winds up to reveal something previously unknown; that it is, in fact, Jane who was born in this country and speaks only English but the narrator speaks two languages and moved here from overseas. To round things off, the final line reinforces the story’s sentiment by repeating the refrain, “We will always be sisters in our hearts.”

Scahill’s hand-drawn digital compositions lend a sense of simplicity that matches the text while bringing emotion to the reader as they see the two friends sharing a beautiful bond, becoming unsettled by the inconsiderate intrusion of another, and then reaffirming their closeness as they turn their back on such a misguided view. The work will certainly suit its target audience of 5-8 year olds.

Share

Share by Anthea Simmons and Georgie Birkett (Random House)

HB RRP $12.95

ISBN 978-1-7427-5099-6

Reviewed by Oliver Phommavanh

Share is a bright and bubbly picture book for infants. It stars a big sister and her baby brother going through a day of playing. Whatever the big sister wants to touch, the baby brother wants to have as well. Mummy wants her to share, which she does, but baby brother has a different way of using her things. So the sister changes tack and applies Mummy’s sharing mantra to get back at both baby brother and Mummy. But she learns that sharing certain things with her baby brother can be a good thing.

There are delightful pencil-sketched illustrations by Birkett and the friendly font means kids will be reading this over and over again. It’s also a neat way to discuss sharing among siblings. Share is a charming picture book that kids will want to share around. It’s recommended for ages 4 and up.

   

Shrieking Violet

Shrieking Violet written and illustrated by Emma Quay (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $26.99

ISBN 9781741695687

Recommended for 3+ years.

Reviewed by Dawn Meredith.

I love, love, love this book! Emma is a keen observer of children, capturing beautifully the dysfunctional relationship between two sisters -the naughty, pesky, attention-seeking younger toddler, Violet and her elder, tolerant sister who remains unnamed, (despite insisting the book is actually about her) and who just wants to share something with the reader. The immediacy and intimacy of the telling is striking. Quay’s use of language, in first person, keeps us with the elder sister (I wish we knew her name! Argh!) as she describes a typical day at home with Mum. Violet is shown in various poses, notably flinging herself on the floor when she isn’t the centre of attention. “Oh, and that’s Violet,” explains Big Sister.

The tension builds nicely until even Violet’s tolerant sister blows up, shouting, “VIOLET ALWAYS RUINS EVERYTHING!” At this point we begin to feel something of Violet’s frustration at being little, non-verbal and incapable of everything her elder sister can do. Of course Quay gently lets us down again as Violet wordlessly extends a gift to her sister – a bunch of tissues she has collected after strewing them all over the floor. Poor Violet! Then Big Sister comes up with an idea for Violet to play a tree, which she does brilliantly.

I love Quay’s use of colour and the patterned backgrounds, in complimentary purples and soft yellows, do not detract from the action. There is plenty of movement through the pages as we follow along, waiting to see what mischief Violet will get up to next. My favourite would have to be the painting scene, where Big Sister has made a cat out of a paper bag and Violet has made an impression of her bottom, in violet paint, on a sheet of paper on the floor.

I can see this book becoming a favourite of children and bringing a smile to the faces of their parents.

Dawn Meredith writes from the Blue Mountains and is a recipient of a May Gibbs Fellowship for 2010. You can see photos from her recent writing workshops for kids:  www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com