Dandelions

Dandelions by Katrina McKelvey, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan (EK Books)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-921966-82-8

Reviewed by Elizabeth Vercoe

 A young girl is sad because in the process of mowing the lawn, her father has cut her beloved dandelions: I was waiting for those dandelion flowers to turn into puff balls so I could blow them away.

The girl resolves to wait as long as it takes for more dandelions to grow, settling in for the long haul with toys and books comfortably piled around her. But it seems that Dad has other plans when he leads her away from the hungry mower blades…

With their secret ‘stash’, Father and daughter then spend a glorious few moments together blowing dandelion seeds (who doesn’t remember this satisfying pastime?) and watching as they dance through simple but exquisite picture-scapes. 

Dandelions is a beautiful picture book that will delight both small people and the bigger ones who read aloud to them. With an enchanting sense of hope and magic, this story celebrates the father daughter bond with whimsy and a soft, translucent watercolour palette. The end-papers are breathtaking.

This is an uplifting story that takes us into the wondrous essence of Mother Nature, on the breath of hundreds of fluffy floating seeds.  

Sad, the Dog

Sad, the Dog by Sandy Fussell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 24.95

ISBN 9781921529641

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Sandy Fussell, author of the outstanding Samurai Kids series, has created her first children’s picture book. And what a debut! She makes an impression with strong messages, fantastic characters and moving themes.

Perception is everything for Sad the dog. How he perceives himself and his actions is in total contrast to how his owners, the Cripps, perceive things. ‘Hey, you!’ and ‘Dog!’ is what they call him. Unwanted and unnamed, he passes his days in an emotionless environment. His presence is barely tolerated. He is reprimanded continuously for simply doing dog things. Though he is fed and kept clean, he isn’t loved. He calls himself Sad.

One day Mr and Mrs Cripps simply pack up everything and drive away, leaving Sad alone and distraught at the house.

The arrival of a new family the following day makes Sad afraid, even when the young boy Jack, smiles at him. That night Jack introduces himself to the dog, and lays a path of dog biscuits that lead to a comfy bed. Next day the boy is still kind. Sad can tell by his tickling hand behind his ear. Jack plays with him. They dig in the yard and sail in boxes on dry land. And when Sad barks, no one reprimands him. Sad hears Jack name him Lucky, and knows his days of sadness are over.

Addressing themes of loneliness, friendship and love, this brilliant debut picture book gives the promise of new beginnings, both in the character’s and the writer’s life. Thai illustrator Tull Suwannakit’s second book with an Australian publisher is sure to set his career on fire, due to this exceptional translation of Fussell’s text.

Muted shades of brown, green and ochre, dominate the watercolour illustrations. The full page artwork enhances the emotional expressions on the character’s faces. The harshness of Sad’s keepers is perfectly portrayed in strong, sharp lines of their facial expressions and body language. The boy’s adoration for the dog he sees as a gift that came with the house and a new life is depicted in every scene. Simply perfect!

Fearless with Dad

Fearless with Dad by Cori Brooke, illustrated by Giuseppe Poli (New Frontier Publishing)

HC RRP $24.99

ISBN 9781925059403

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

This inspiring story of a relationship between father and son gives flight to the imagination. The boy believes that with his dad he can be and do anything. He can build sandcastles and be a pirate. He can build bridges, fly like an eagle, travel to the moon, and build a racing car. With his dad everything is possible. He is fearless and his possibilities are limitless.

This excellent book shows how children can be empowered by adults to become what they want to be. It’s about self-esteem and confidence, and that is mainly generated by the people they love the most in life. It’s about being loved and supported no matter how silly things seem. Life is there to be tasted.

I loved this book in its entirety because of the positive messages it contains. Their morphing depends on the reader’s interpretation of the underlying themes discovered in the text.

The illustrations in watercolour and black pencil are genuinely endearing while very casual, as are the characters. The book is full of joy, with a magical connection existing between the boy and his dad.

There is a visible assurance about what can be done or accomplished throughout the story. The confidence of the child is a tangible thing.

This book for the 3-6 age groups (but also for adults) has so much potential for use as a teaching tool. It should be found in schools, libraries, and homes, for although it is a boy and his dad, the message is clear. All we need is encouragement and someone to believe that we can, so we can also believe it ourselves.

Good Enough for a Sheep Station

Good Enough for a Sheep Station by David Cox (Allen & Unwin)

PB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9781743319031

Reviewed by Yvonne Mes

David Cox spent five years as a jackeroo on outback sheep and cattle stations before he became an author and illustrator.

Set in 1940s, the story follows a young boy’s upbringing on a Queensland sheep station. It shows its outback characters and understated humour as told in various anecdotes. The story is full of quirky details from how the boy completes his schoolwork via correspondence to learning stockman’s skills from his dad and learning to drive a truck from a young age.

This picture book documents a way of life that may be unrecognizable to many modern children raised in the city, but the story goes deeper than that; it tells of loss and handing down tradition but also, as David Cox writes in the foreword, it is a story about many kinds of love.

Cox’s fluid watercolour and ink illustrations create a colourful bush world. Dogs run in and out of the pictures as they would in real paddocks and the horses outnumber the sheep. The longer word count makes it a picture book for primary school aged children.

Yvonne Mes is a children's writer and illustrator. Her fpicture book, Meet Sidney Nolan (Random House) and Oliver’s Grumbles (Dragon Tales Publishing) are scheduled for release in October 2015. www.yvonnemes.com

My Family: Going Camping

My Family: Going Camping by Robyn Osborne, illustrated by Colin Stevens (Big Sky Publishing)

PB RRP $15.25

ISBN 9781922132550

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The back cover blurb of this picture book for children six to eight years describes a family’s adventures while camping as an ‘entertaining romp.’ However, for most of the large family there is no entertainment and certainly no romping. It’s Mum who is most enthusiastic as well as the book’s unnamed narrator. As with most families, there are compromises so with a bit of bribery, Mum manages to persuade Dad and her three other children to join in.

Disaster occurs when Dad and the kids forget their essentials. More disasters happen with camping equipment but Mum jollies everyone along. However, soon  insects cause problems so of course there aren’t many happy campers. As they are all packing up tents and airbeds, etc. something happens which makes the adventure all worthwhile.

This is a simple story with watercolour illustrations which will especially appeal to children whose families take camping holidays.