KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Peta

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My 15 month-old daughter has a very short attention span when it comes to story time. Being a bookish person, I’m looking forward to the day she sits still and listens to me reading to her, rather than trying to stick her hand down the cushions of the couch, or trotting off to press the buttons on the telly! While story time in our house is a little chaotic at this stage of her development, it gives me hope that I often find her sitting on the floor, turning the pages of a book and running her little finger over the illustrations.

Whether you have a little tot, like me, or older kids, there is something for everyone in this month’s new book picks. Read on!

Looking to connect with some tried and true a favourites? Check out the KidStyleFile Reader’s Choice Top 40 Children’s Books.

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Jojo Goes to Playgroup by Christina Miesen, $14.99 $13.39 at Fishpond Books

Great for toddlers and preschoolers, this is a bright and cheerful board book about Jojo the giraffe’s first day at playgroup. At first, Jojo is reluctant to attend, but he soon enjoys meeting the other little animals, who all have different personalities and favourite hobbies. Lara the mouse is loud and likes playing drums, and Louis the rabbit likes to play doctors. Jojo dresses up as a pirate and drives a toy car, and sits down to eat a snack with his new friends. Of course, by the time Mama collects Jojo from playgroup, he doesn’t want to leave.

This lovely read is ideal for children about to go to playgroup or daycare for the first time, and conveys the message that even if you are scared of something, it might just be fun – so why not smile and give it a go!

Two Peas In A Pod by Chris McKimmie, $29.99 $26.99 at Fishpond Books

This book is a gorgeous exploration of friendship and how a child’s imagination can run wonderfully wild, especially when in the company of a friend. Two Peas In A Pod tells of the bond between Violet and Marvin (who Violet calls ‘Marvellous’). They are close as can be: Marvin thinks they go together like fish and chips, hops and skips, the oo in moo, and pie and sauce, amongst other things. Even Violet’s dog Wolf and Marvin’s chook T Rex are best friends (Marvin tells us “the T in T Rex is for Tiffany”). When they are together, the world is a magical place – they imagine that Violet has an octopus and jumping castle in her yard, and while Violet sees cottonwool castles and marshmallow kingdoms in the sky, Marvin sees cauliflowers. Life is splendid, until Violet moves away and Marvin must learn to cope with his loneliness. Then one day his Mum takes him to visit Violet. The images he and Violet see in the clouds have changed, but their friendship remains strong, despite the distance between them.

You’ll smile at the quirky, sweet illustrations from Australian writer and artist Chris McKimmie, which are created using acrylic on medium density fibreboard, ink, watercolour paints, pastels, string and pencil. This book celebrates individuality and the vivid daydreams and flights of fancy of a child’s mind, and is peppered with humorous references that will amuse adult readers.

Mum and Me, written and illustrated by Annie White, $16.99 $14.97 at Fishpond Books

OK, I may have missed the Mother’s Day boat, but surely we mamas should be celebrated all year round?! This book is a gorgeous look at all the fun, exciting and special moments in the day of a mother and child. Told in rhyming verse, it’s a sweet reminder of all the things we do with and for our kids, including the more ordinary acts (making Vegemite on toast) as well as the memorable ones, like wishing upon a star. It’s rhyming text is great for reading aloud, and will help secure the attention of little ones.

Annie White has illustrating children’s books down to a fine art – she has worked on over fifty of them! If you are looking for a heartwarming and gentle read, you’ll love Mum and Me.

Blue Chameleon, written and illustrated by Emily Gravett, $26.99 $24.97 at Fishpond Books

Emily Gravett is something of a legend in the world of children’s books, having won a host of awards for her work, including the highly prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 2005 and 2008. In her new book, a lonely blue chameleon wants to make a friend. To do this, he turns himself into all manner of things to fit in and be liked – including a yellow banana, a brown boot and a stripey red sock. But no amount of changing himself seems to help him find a buddy – not until he meets a fellow chameleon who likes him for who he truly is! Older readers will appreciate the subtle missive that being yourself is the best way to make friends, and younger children will learn about colours, shapes and common objects.

The illustrations in this book are truly stunning, and what’s clever about Blue Chameleon is how few words Emily needs to tell this tale. I’m a new fan of Emily Gravett – get your hands on a copy of this book and I’m confident you will be, too!

All the titles featured above are available at Fishpond Online Bookstore – www.fishpond.com.au – who charge $5.99 flat rate postage Australia-wide, with orders $50+ shipped free.

Today’s post written by Peta

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I’m always full of admiration when an author donates royalties to a good cause. Except for a lucky few, it’s almost impossible to eke out a living as an author in Australia, which is why I’m leading this month’s book review post with Noah’s Garden. The author deserves a big hand for her generosity! All the titles below are available at Fishpond Bookstore, who charge $5.99 flat rate postage Australia-wide, with orders $50+ shipped free.

Looking to connect with some tried and true a favourites? Check out the KidStyleFile Reader’s Choice Top 40 Children’s Books.

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Noah’s Garden by Mo Johnson, illustrated by Annabelle Josse

$27.99 $26.42 at Fishpond Books

Noah’s Garden is a delightful picture book based on a true story. In December 2005, Jessica Titmus was born at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital with a life-threatening heart condition.  Thankfully, after a seven-month stay in the Hospital, Jessica won her fight to survive.  During this period, her family demonstrated such resilience and love that they inspired family friend Mo Johnson to write this book.

Noah’s Garden is the fictionalised story of how Jessica’s brother, Noah, coped with his baby sister’s illness by retreating daily into the Hospital gardens to play. He forgets his fears for Jessica by creating an imaginary world in the garden, in which he bathes with tigers, fights with pirates and dances with penguins. But Noah asks frequently for Jessica, longing for her to join him in the garden. (His parents bring his sister to him on the final page).

Stunning illustrations and a heartfelt and optimistic story make this a beautiful reading choice – AND all royalties earned by Mo Johnson for the sale of the Aussie edition of this book will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne! There’s much to love about Noah’s Garden.

Free to a Good Home by Colin Thompson

$14.99 at Fishpond Books

This book is hands down my favourite from the titles reviewed this month. I’m a bit of a sucker for books that can be understood on two levels. I love nuances that sail over the heads of young ‘uns, but cause adults to secretly smile or feel moved in some way.

Colin Thompson, who has had more than 50 books published, does this brilliantly. Free To A Good Home is his latest work. It’s about the Smith family, who are a little different from most families. They’re no good at cooking, housework or homework, and with Mr Smith’s penchant for collecting strange things incase they come in handy one day, their home is a jumble.

The children, Peter and Sally, add to the confusion by bringing home an old lady they find at the mall. The old lady has never been a grandmother, and the children have never had grandparents, so the arrangement suits everyone – except Mrs Smith, who worries about the ethics of bringing home an old lady as if she were a stray cat. But her concerns magically dissolve in a lavender oil bath as “Granny” gets the kids ready for school. The Smiths, and Granny, have never been happier!

This book is most definitely offbeat, and if you are looking for a more conventional bedtime story, best you look elsewhere! With impressively detailed computer-generated illustrations, Colin Thompson brings us a book that is very funny, with the missive that it’s juuust fine to be a little bit wacky if you’re surrounded by people you love! I laughed as I read its closing line – “See, you can choose your relatives” and saw the slogan on young Peter’s shirt: “Children of Hippies Support Group.”

Zoobots by Bruce Whatley and Ben Smith Whatley

$24.99 at Fishpond Books

Perfect for preschoolers and children just having started school is Zoobots, a quirky offering from this father-and-son team.

Zebo and her friends Hyde and TC live in Junk Jungle, a scrappy place (rather like a tip) filled with discarded things.  Zebo likes her friends a lot, but she longs for another friend, one a little smaller in size than Hyde, and a little bigger than TC. So she sets out to craft herself a new mate from the odds and ends in Junk Jungle.

This book celebrates the joy of having good friends, and making new ones, and tells us that one person’s trash is another’s treasure! With its computer animation-style illustrations, Zoobots is refreshingly different. It, too, has little gems within its pages for the adults to savour, such as when Zebo says the new friend they’re building “might be a she” and so “we’ll need to add a brain”!

A Giraffe in the Bath by Mem Fox & Olivia Rawson, illustrated by Kerry Argent

$24.99 $23.97 at Fishpond Books

How coincidental! As I sit writing my reviews with the TV on in the background, who should come on The Circle to plug this book but the legendary Mem Fox! This lady needs no introduction: she’s the author of a zillion wonderful picture books, including Possum Magic.

Well, I now know (thanks to the telly) that Mem considers it incredibly difficult to write a children’s picture book. Sure, there are far fewer words than in an adult book, but that means they must be chosen with great care, and attention paid to their rhythm and rhyme – it’s a true art! (She certainly nipped in the bud the common assumption that writing a kid’s book is child’s play!)

A Giraffe in the Bath is another example of Mem magic. A giraffe in the bath – now does that make you laugh? Or a sheep in the shower? Or a frog in the flour? Kids will love the rhyming text as they laugh at animals in silly scenarios. And who better to illustrate this book than Kerry Argent, one of Australia’s best loved kids’ book illustrators, who launched her own career with the Australian classic One Woolly Wombat.

There’s a Goat in My Coat by Rosemary Milne, illustrated by Andrew McLean

$24.99 $23.97 at Fishpond Books

Even if you’ve never heard of Rosemary Milne, there’s no doubt her best known work is familiar to you and your children: she wrote the Playschool theme, There’s a Bear in There!

There’s a Goat in my Coat is full of playful, simple poems that are fabulous for developing children’s language. Catchy rhymes, lively subject matter and lots of repetition will have children soaking up the words like little sponges!

Rosemary says she uses “rhymes and rhythms that will delight them, like ice-cream, making children want to taste the words again and again.” My 14-month-old has a very short attention span when I read to her, but this one had her quite transfixed.

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Songs For Stories event – Supporting indigenous literacy

Just a little note for those in Sydney: if you, like me, believe it’s important for everyone in this fine country of ours to have the chance to learn to read and write, please consider buying a ticket and heading along to Songs For Stories on Saturday 15 May at 7.30pm at the Sydney Town Hall.

Josh Pyke is heading an exciting line-up of musicians, including Katie Noonan and The Captains. Hosted by Julie McCrossin, this concert is a celebration of words and music to raise urgently needed funds for The Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP), which supplies books and literacy resources to remote indigenous communities.

Tickets are $65 ($55 concession) and are available at  www.sydneytheatre.org.au or by calling (02) 9250 1988. For further information on the ILP, visit www.indigenousliteracyproject.org.au

Today’s post written by Peta

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I took to skipping down nostalgia lane this month when a favourite childhood book turned up in the letterbox. It gave me a warm fuzzy glow – I felt like I was five again! So along with some other great new release kids’ books, I’ll share an old fave with you in the hope it sparks memories for you, too!

Looking to connect with some tried and true a favourites? Check out the KidStyleFile Reader’s Choice Top 40 Children’s Books.

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There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake (30^th Anniversary Edition) by Hazel Edwards, illustrations by Deborah Niland, $24.99 $23.97

Well … anything? Does it trigger sweet recollections of story time at the local library, or the teacher reading to you after lunch? Even if it’s not a book you recall, you should be pleased Penguin Books has breathed new life into this title with a 30^th anniversary edition.

The cake-eating hippo hero of this tale lives on the roof of a young girl’s house. The roof is leaking, and she knows why – There’s a hippopotamus on our roof eating cake. The imaginary (of course!) hippo shares lots of experiences with our protagonist that are new or slightly daunting for her. When she cuts her knee and has stitches put in, the hippo confides that he too has a sore knee. The hippo indulges in many hobbies that are off limits for our girl, like staying up late to watch television. And he doesn’t get cross with her when she’s in trouble! It’s good to have a friend like our sweet-tooth hippo who reassures you when things are scary, and who knows how to have fun.

Melbourne author Hazel Edwards has written a whole wildly successful series centred around the hippo’s antics, with topics including starting school, having a new baby in the family, getting sunburnt and just out this month, having a birthday party. Both you and your kids will love retreating into the enchanting fantasy world of the world’s most famous hippo and his little offsider.

ALSO OUT THIS MONTH: Hooray! There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Having a Birthday Party by Hazel Edwards, illustrations by Deborah Niland, $24.99 $23.95

Whose Eyes? by Jeanette Rowe, $12.99

The author’s website claims the books in the Whose? Series are suitable for babies and toddlers. However, it took my one-year-old ripping a few pages of Whose Eyes? for me to conclude that  board books are still a better option for those fond of tearing and chewing! But if your child has passed this stage, Whose Eyes? will delight readers aged 1 to 5.

Little ones will see an animal’s eyes on each page, then flip the flaps throughout the book to see who is hiding underneath – possums, crabs, owls and snails are just some of the featured creatures. Australian author and illustrator Jeannette Rowe is one lucky (and hard-working!) duck – once a teacher and curriculum writer, her new career began when she illustrated Paul Jennings’ first picture book in 1991. But four years later when her daughter was born, Jeanette’s drawings became less complex and more suited to her baby.  Jeanette’s Whose and Yo Yo series’ were born (as well as numerous others) and she has now sold well over a million books in fourteen countries and nine languages.

Dog Day by Sarah Hayes, illustrated by Hannah Broadway, $14.99

One of the many traits I find so adorable in kids is their keen sense of the ridiculous. Pretend to eat their foot and they think it’s the most hilarious thing in the world! This book embraces the ridiculous and improbable, taking it to new heights, and having a lot of fun along the way.

Dog Day tells of Ben and Ellie’s day at school with their new teacher. But wait – their teacher is a dog named Riff! When Riff wags his tail, the whole class wag their bottoms. When Riff takes a nap, so do the class. And on in this fashion the day progresses, until Mrs Pink the principal enters the classroom. Uh oh – she looks cross. But even SHE can’t resist Riff’s doggy charms!

Welsh author Sarah Hayes’ latest work is guaranteed to bring about big belly laughs as your littlies sniff and dig and wriggle like Riff. The simple, gleeful illustrations by Hannah Broadway (the author’s daughter-in-law) in Dog Day set off the high energy prose perfectly.

Look See, Look at Me! by Leonie Norrington, illustrated by Dee Huxley, $24.99 $23.97

This book is a gorgeous celebration of a child’s life in an outback Aboriginal town. Our main character is an active and boisterous three-year-old boy who proudly shows off all the different things he can do: Look see, look at me! I’m so much bigger now I’m three. He can run, jump, swing, hop, wiggle, cuddle … and so on. It’s a beautiful portrayal of family life and growing up in an indigenous community. What I really noticed was that the endearing protagonist amuses himself without toys, instead enjoying and interacting with his environment and his loving family. (In the final pages of the book, he climbs way too high up a tree, alarming his worried relatives on the ground).

Author Leonie Norrington was born in Darwin. The third of nine children, she grew up at Barunga Aboriginal community, south of Katherine. She and illustrator Dee Huxley visited three northern communities, Wugularr, Barunga and Manyalalluk, to workshop words and the stunning drawings for this book.  The authenticity of Look, See shines through. Your children will love its rhyming text and the infectious exuberance of its hero.

Fishpond Bookstore charges $ 5.99 flat rate postage Australia-wide. Orders $50+ are shipped free.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Fishpond Books – www.fishpond.com.au – Australiasia’s largest online bookseller,  is currently offering selected children’s classic fiction on sale at bargain prices even lower than their already extra low everyday prices, with free postage Australia-wide for orders over $49.

I’ve included just a few of the goodies on offer at super prices below. Use the menu options to browse to the Children’s Fiction section for more.

If you’d like some ideas on  top children’s reads, then go no further than the KidStyleFile Reader’s Choice 2009: Top 40 Children’s Books.

Prices are correct at time of publishing, and may be subject to change.

a. The Lorax By Dr. Seuss, (hardback) $34.99 less 36% = $22.32
b. Harold and the Purple Crayon By Crockett Johnson, (hardback) $35.99  less 33% = $23.97
c. The Little Prince By Antoine De Saint-Exupery, (paperback) $14.99 less 47% = $7.99
d. Frederick ByLeo Lionni (hardback), $35.99 less 33% = $23.95
e. Harry the Dirty Dog By Gene Zion, Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham (paperback) $19.99 less 25% = $14.99
f. Corduroy Board Book and Bear ByDon Freeman, $33.99 less 32% = $22.97
g. Goodnight Moon: Board Book and BunnyBy Margaret Wise Brown, $33.99 less % = $22.97
h. Angus and the Ducks By Marjorie Flack, (paperback) $19.99 less 25% = $14.95

Fishpond Books charge $5 flat-rate postage for orders under $49, and post free for orders over $50, Australia-wide.

Today’s post written by Peta

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Hi everyone! I’m Peta, KidStyleFile’s new resident book reviewer. I have a long history with books, and I’m so pleased to be able to acquaint with you some of the best new releases each month with you. Look out for me on the last Thursday of each month. Enjoy!

Looking to connect with some tried and true afavourites? Check out the KidStyleFile Reader’s Choice Top 40 Children’s Books.

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10 Little Hermit Crabs by Lee Fox, illustrated by Shane McG, $19.99 at Fishpond Books

Here’s a book that will bring a beaming smile to faces of all ages, but will really hit the spot with kids aged six and under. This is a bright, colorful and Joyous rhyming tale written by Victorian author Lee Fox. I really loved the bold and slightly off-beat illustrations by Shane McG, which really set this book apart from the picture book pack. The story begins with the very endearing Hermit crabs, who gradually disappear as they face the challenges and the allures of the seaside.

10 Little Hermit Crabs is bound to inspire excitement and interaction amongst your little ones at story time – it’s a fantastic choice if you’re looking for something to read to younger children aloud, who will delight in helping you count the number of Hermit crabs on each page. The author’s background is just as rich and vivid and the book: prior to becoming a writer, Lee was a production assistant for a commercial radio station, a Mormon, and cook in a childcare center and the store manager on a remote Aboriginal community. Not to mention that five (count ‘em!) children call her Mum! The happy ending to this one had me grinning from ear to ear, and no doubt your family will love it too.

How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham – $ 15.99 at Fishpond Books

‘How To Heal A Broken Wing’ is the latest literary offering from Sydney born author and illustrator Bob Graham, arguably Australia’s finest creator of children’s picture books. A touching and heartfelt book about the importance of looking out for other beings, the story centres around a young boy called Will, who is the only person in the bustling city to see a bird collide with a building and tumble from the sky.

The fact that Will is drawn in the book vibrant in colour, while the hoards of city dwelling workers are painted in muted tones of brown and gray speaks volumes. Will has a strong life force and love of living creatures, while the adults in the city are too caught up with their own concerns and the routine of their daily lives to notice the bird’s predicament.

Will takes the bird (your everyday, garden variety pigeon) home, and with the help of his parents, nurses it back to health. It takes considerable time, patience, kindness and care for the bird’s broken wing to heal, and this is beautifully portrayed in a series of illustrations. We witness Will lining a box for the bird with newspaper, gently cradling it in his hands, crossing each day off the calendar and finally, returning to the city to release it back into the world. This book has only a small amount of text, allowing Bob Graham’s distinctive illustrations that do the talking, and letting the reader draw their own conclusions.

‘How To Heal A Broken Wing’, was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards for Children’s Literature in 2010, and it’s not hard to see why. Kids from the age of three to seven years of age will enjoy this book of tenderness and hope, but older readers and adults will appreciate even more the important messages and wonderful light effect to be found in its pages. (If you were big and soft, you could even get a little tear over this one!)

Ginger McFlea Will Not Clean Her Teeth by Lee Fox, illustrated by Mitch Vane – $16.95 $15.25 at Booktopia

This is another giggle-inducing book from the aforementioned Lee Fox. You may have already heard of Ginger’s brother, Jasper, of Jasper McFlea Will Not Eat His Tea fame, and now it’s time to meet his twin sister in this fun rhyming tale, with its reminder that dental hygiene really does pay off!

No matter how much her poor mother begs, or how cavernous her cavities become, Ginger McFlea will just not brush her teeth, offering every lame excuse under the sun. (She gives her toothbrush to her pet turtle, Keith, and says to her mum,” It got pinched by a thief!”). But a visit to the dentist changes Ginger’s dental hygiene habits for good, when she is horrified when the dentist phones the tooth fairy, who confirms that she only builds fairy houses out of teeth of pure white.

If you have a child in the house who is a reluctant tooth brusher, this is one book you must own! ‘Ginger McFlea Will Not Clean Her Teeth’ is a light hearted and funny read that will win a devoted following.

Fishpond Bookstore charges $ 5.99 flat rate postage Australia-wide. Orders $50+ are shipped free. Booktopia charges a flat rate of $6.50 flat rate postage for all orders Australia-wide.

Today’s post written by Leah

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Besides my kids, one of my greatest pleasures in life is travelling. I’m hoping to blend the two as my little ones grow, and in the meantime get my children inspired with some quality travel stories.

As a child, my own mother introduced me to a wonderful series of books by Czech author and illustrator Miroslav Sasek that she had saved from her own childhood collection. This Prague born writer published his very first Picture book This is Paris way back in 1958.

The richness of the illustrations magically transports the reader – you feel yourself visiting the museums, parks, buildings and sites famous to each city. Just reading through This is Rome takes me back to my honeymoon as I explored its streets with my husband.

With gorgeous illustrations and a wealth of information about some of the world’s most fascinating cities, each book is a must have not only for the jet set, but those who are interested in broadening their world knowledge as they read about the wonderful cities and countries that make up our world.

Sasek’s ‘This is‘ series has recently been reissued with around 18 in the collection, including  This is…. Paris, London, Australia, New York, Rome, Venice, The Way to the Moon, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Edinburgh, San Francisco, Texas, Israel and Britain. They retail for $34.99 each in hardcover with around 60+ pages per book.

You can currently purchase the collection from the Fishpond Online Bookstore who every title cheap as cheaps – between 7%-43% off! Visit Fishpond, and do a search for ‘Miroslav Sasek’ to pull up all the titles.

Fishpond Bookstore charges $5.99 flat rate postage Australia-wide. Orders over $50.00 are shipped free.