Book Review: Chickenpox by Remy Lai

Set in the 1990's Chickenpox is a fabulously funny graphic novel narrated by the eldest of five siblings, twelve-year-old Abby Lai. 

Abby tries to get away from her siblings any chance she gets. She'd rather spend time with her friends far away from her annoying brothers and sisters. But when they all come down with chickenpox Abby is trapped inside, for two whole weeks.

 

I found Chickenpox to be outrageously funny. You don't need to have had chickenpox to imagine what it would be like trapped inside with your younger siblings.

Plenty of hijinks and antics abound as Abby not only tries to entertain her siblings but also has to navigate friendships by phone whilst always wondering what is going on at school in her absence.  

Luckily we now have a vaccine available for chickenpox so readers of Remy Lai's novel may not know the constant itch and isolation but I am sure their parents can remember and have some stories to tell.  

Reading Chickenpox took me back to when my five children had the virus and we were stuck at home for 5 weeks as they seemed to get it one after the other. There was much hijinks and mayhem back then too.

 

Content: I would just like to highlight this sentence from the book, if buying for younger readers.

"When I was little and still believed in Santa and unicorns" 

You should always believe in Santa and unicorns! 🎅🦄

 

My rating 5 / 5  🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th February 2025

Genre: Graphic Novel / Middle Grade

Pages: 240

RRP: AU$19.99 (paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: To Stir With Love by Kate Mildenhall

To Stir With Love is an ode to grandmothers and grandchildren everywhere and the bond that comes with the simple act of cooking together. 

 

 illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 2nd October 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Narrated through the eyes of a young girl as she tells the reader what she does on Mondays when she visits her grandmother. We learn all about Grandma's scrumpti-licious cake and how the recipe has been handed down from grandmothers to granddaughters through the generations. 

 

Follow our little narrator and her grandma as they go through the recipe for Grandma's special, scrumptious cake, as her small hands and Grandma's old, sure hands work together, side by side. 

 

To Stir With Love is a truly heart-warming story about the special connection between a grandmother and her grandchild and how baking together is a lovely bonding experience that will be remembered for the rest of a child's life.

 

To Stir With Love is filled with Jess Racklyeft's endearing water-colour washes in beautiful pinks, greens and yellows.

 

It took a second reading for me to notice the pictures hanging on Grandma's walls are actual real photos. A delightful and touching addition to the story! 

There is a recipe for Grandma's everything cake at the end of the book. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

Recommended age: 4 - 8 years.