Review: Rainbow Street by R.W.R. McDonald

Rainbow Street is not only a visual delight of colour and chaos, it's an invitation to share in a community that is colourful, diverse and welcoming.

 Illustrated by Kelly Canby

Publisher: Larrikin House

Publication date: 26th August 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$24.99 (Hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Books on Tour

Join all the residents of Rainbow Street as they gather for a street party to celebrate Granny’s 90th birthday.
Granny is the lifeblood of Rainbow Street. She’s no frail old lady and I love that Granny is full of life and full of adventure, and a little bit of mischief. No rocking chair and knitting needles for this granny.

Granny's young granddaughter introduces everyone on Rainbow Street as she sets their place at the table. As she introduces the neighbours she shares information on different cultural traditions, holidays and food. She also introduces her own large rainbow family.

Rainbow Street is a joyous celebration of community and family, overflowing with love and connectedness.

Kelly Canby’s watercolour illustrations are splashed across the page in a riot of colour and play.

This multi-cultural and multi-generational story is a delight to read as it celebrates the joy of belonging and having fun together as a close-knit community.

Rainbow Street shares different family makeups and different cultural foods, traditions and holidays all in one diverse community.

Rainbow Street is an excellent resource to open conversations about different cultural celebrations and food and different family dynamics. It builds understanding of what makes a family.

My rating 5 /5 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

Recommended age: 3 - 8 years

#rainbowstreet #rwrmcdonald #childrenspicturebook #larrikinhouse #blogtour #kidsbookswelove #booksontour

Review: You're Too Little by Katie Stewart

 

Pygmy Possum wants to climb to the top of the tree to taste the sweet blossoms. But along the way she is told again and again that it is very high and she’s too little.

Written and illustrated by Katie Stewart

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 1st August 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 40

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Pygmy Possum comes across different animals on her quest to reach the blossoms. Each animal has its own unique talent; Gecko has feet that stick and Weebill has wings to fly.

This delightful children’s picture book teaches children that everyone has their own unique talents and through perseverance and courage Pygmy Possum learns that she has special talents too. Like big eyes to see in the dark, strong paws and a special tail. She may be small but she is also determined.

After a rousing pep talk from Brushtail Possum, Pygmy Possum is ready to give it a try.

Will she make it or will she fall?

Children will love to barrack for little Possum and complete the catch cry at the end of the page. "You're too little, you might fall." and Pygmy Possum's mantra "I have what it takes."

You're Too Little is beautifully illustrated in deep blues, greens and browns. Katie Stewart has captured the true essence of the bush and the animals that live there.

Whilst I do enjoy rhyming verse in children's books it's nice to come across a book that simply reads like a story with a repeated catch-cry which enables the children to become involved in the story.

You’re Too Little is an adorable story about believing in yourself and having the courage and determination to reach your goals.

My rating 5 / 5 🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼
Recommended for ages 2+ years

#youretoolittle #childrenspicturebook #australianauthor #kidsbooksoncourage #kidsbookswelove #australianwildlife #ausbookbloggers #fremantlepress

Review: Clutterbugs by Maura Pierlot

Clutterbugs by Maura Pierlot is a story many parents, with messy children's bedrooms, will relate to.

 

 illustrated by Maya Bora

 

Publisher: Big Ideas Press

Publication date: 1st April 2025

Genre: Children's Picture book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU $27.99 (hardcover) AU$16.99 (soft cover)

Source: Courtesy of the author 

 

Steff's room is messy, but she doesn't mind. That is until she can't find the present she bought for her friend's birthday.

 

 

 

In come the tiny clutterbugs to help Steff organise her room and sort through what to keep and what can go.

I liked that the clutterbugs used the tried-and-true method of three boxes labelled; keep, toss and recycle. When Steff still can't find the toy rocket she bought she uses some recycling materials to make a homemade rocket for her friend. Steff's homemade rocket was Jay's favourite gift.

 

Clutterbugs is a valuable tool to open discussions on deciding what things to keep and what to give away to charities so other children can use outgrown toys and clothes. A fun and engaging way to work together with your child to sort their treasures and talk about repurposing and recycling. 

 

Delightfully illustrated in great detail that invites the audience to look longer and spy all the everyday and fun items in Steph's room. Maya Bora's big double page illustrations wrap around the verse and pop from the page.

 

The couplet rhyming verse flows well making Clutterbugs an easy and engaging read-aloud experience. The well placed pauses add an extra dramatic effect.

 

Children of all ages will connect with Steff and her new little decluttering friends. 

Some pages have a toy rocket hidden amongst the clutter. Can you find it?

 

My rating 5 / 5 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 

Recommended age: 4 - 10 years

 

#clutterbugs #maurapierlot #childrenspicturebook #bookreview #kidsbookreviews 

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Charlotte & Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage by Teresa Argenbright

Charlotte & Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage is the second book in the Charlotte & Penelope series by Teresa Argenbright.

 

 illustrated by Dan McGeehan

 

Publisher: Brown Books Kids

Publication date: 8th April 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of Smith Publicity Services

 

Charlotte and Penelope wake up with sniffles and sneezes and are stuck at home. Their menagerie of friends decide to put on a show to cheer them up.

 

This is a whimsical and fun story told in rhyming couplets that invites the reader to spend a jazz-filled afternoon with a marvelous group of talented animal friends as they put on a musical show to cheer the girls up.

 

Charlotte and Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage is a charming story with vibrant and amusing illustrations, by Dan McGeehan, that encourages imagination as the animals sing, dance and play different musical instruments.

 

This delightful book opens up conversations about the different animals featured, the different musical instruments played and the role of the conductor. Further talk on what other animals could join the band and the instruments they could play would expand on the educational value of the story.

 

My only small complaint with this book was, as a read aloud story the cadence of the verse felt slightly off to me.

 

My rating 4 / 5 🥁🥁🥁🥁

recommended age: 4 - 8 years 

 

#charlotteandpenelopeandtheneighborhoodstage #teresaargenbright #childrenspicturebook #introductiontomusic  

Mailbox Monday - 1st September 2025

 MAILBOX MONDAY

 On Mondays I will be posting the new books I received for review, won and purchased over the previous week/month.

 

Below are books I received and purchased during August. 

 

 

 Received for review:

 

The Finch Who Last Her Wing

by Annie Kwan

Publisher: Self Published

About the book:

 

Have you ever lost something precious?

 

This story is about a finch who went on an adventure to find her lost wing.

 

Do you think she will find it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awash by Marg Gibbs

Publisher: Self Published

About the book:

 

Can a young girl really make a difference?

With the help of her friend, a family and a bucket, she can.

And there is always the possibility of finding treasure along the way. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mega Rich Guinea Pigs by Kate & Jol Temple

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

About the book:

 

The world's richest man, Magnus McAloon, has tragically died in a rocket experiment gone wrong.

The sole heirs to his estate are his four beloved pet guinea Hot Head, Lunk, G-Chip and Big Pig (who is actually a capybara, but don't tell him that).

Not everyone is happy – especially the members of the McAloon family, who are determined to get back the fortune that they feel belongs to them, and not the newly mega rich guinea pigs. 

 

My purchase:

 

 Silverborn (special edition) by Jessica Townsend

Publisher: Lothian Children's books

 

About the book:

 

Nevermoor #4

In the magical city of Nevermoor, long-buried secrets are coming to light, and Morrigan Crow’s life is about to turn upside down.

When Morrigan is invited into Nevermoor’s wealthy Silver District, she discovers a world of extravagance and a family mystery she’s eager to unravel. She could never imagine where it will lead: a white wedding, a golden dragon and a red pool of blood.

Embroiled in suspicion and danger, Morrigan leaps head first into a murder investigation, while also grappling with her ever-growing Wundersmith powers. And although her friends are there to help, she fears that could change if they learn she’s keeping a terrible secret of her own.

As shadowy forces awaken in Nevermoor, can Morrigan find a killer and solve the mystery in her own past … before the clock strikes midnight? 

#thefinchwholostherwing  #awash #megarichguineapigs #silverborn #newbooks #bookmail #newrelease #childrensbooks #picturebooks #middlegradebooks #australianauthor 

Book Review: Exploring Español by Sonia Daptardar

Exploring Español is a gorgeous first reader book that teaches your child some Spanish words. 

 

Sonia Daptardar has written a simple, yet fun educational book that can be expanded on, adding more words with each new addition making it a wonderful resource for parents and schools.

 

 Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 12th March 2025

Series: The Language Adventures #1 

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 25

RRP: AU$12.24 (softcover @AmazonAU)

Source: eCopy courtesy of the author

 

Soham is having trouble learning his Spanish words when a talking parrot lands on his window. The parrot, Pablo, says he will help Soham learn Spanish words.

They go on a magical adventure and along the way Soham learns Spanish for flowers, white rabbit, blue butterfly, horse, fishes and stone.

 

 

This lively and fun picture book is both educational and engaging. Vibrant pictures pair with simple three line text, with the object in the picture shown in both English and Spanish.

 

 

Pablo and Soham then play a guessing game with each word. This reinforces the words through a fun game.

 

When Soham goes home he practices his new words and hopes he will see Pablo again.

 

I love that this is a series with the opportunity to have new words added with each edition. I can see Pablo and Soham going on many more adventures.

 

Exploring Espanol is perfect as an early reader for ages 4 years onward and would be excellent as a read-to-me from the age of 12 months. As we know babies can learn and absorb new things from a very young age and this little series would be perfect to learn both English and Spanish words in a fun way.

 

The Language Adventures series is aimed at making learning a new language fun and engaging for young minds.

Bright visuals expand on the text as children put pictures to words.

 

My rating 4 / 5 🦜🦜🦜🦜

Publisher recommended age 3 - 9 years 

My recommended age 1+ years (the younger they start the more they learn) 

 

 

 

Book Review: Vesper Jones and Marshmallow by Karen Hendriks

 Meet Vesper Jones and Marshmallow - dream controllers.

 

illustrated by Francesca Corso

 

Publisher: Starfish Bay Children's Books 

Publication date: 5th August 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 40

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Books on Tour PR

 

Vesper Jones has been having bad dreams so, along with her side-kick Marshmallow, she devises a plan and comes up with a device called a dream controller - like a remote control for dreams.

 

 When the scary things come, all Vesper has to do is click her controller and change her dreams to friendly things. It takes her a little while to get the scary things under control but through courage and tenacity Vesper's dreams are now filled with unicorns and twinkling lights.

 

 Vesper Jones and Marshmallow is a quirky and fun story that gives children the resources to find the power to take control of scary dreams. This fun and dynamic storybook will help children overcome bedtime anxieties by using their imagination to generate positive outcomes.

 

Francesca Corso's coloured-pencil style illustrations are whimsical and filled with colourful energy to deliver a visual masterpiece that moves from dark snapping fiends to swirls, sparkles and happiness.

 

Vesper's friend Marshmallow can be imagined as a real cat or a favourite soft toy who is always nearby to give comfort and support.

 

Vesper Jones and Marshmallow will help children turn bedtime uneasiness into pleasurable, fun moments for a peaceful night's sleep. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 🛏🛏🛏🛏🛏 

Recommended age 4+ years 

#vesperjonesandmarshmallow #bedtimeanxiety #booksontour #blogtour #picturebook

 

 

Other books by Karen Hendriks I have reviewed: 

 https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2020/09/book-review-feathers-by-karen-hendriks.html