Book Review: Who Lives Here? by Julia Donaldson

 Who Lives Here?

by

Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books 

Publication date: 25th July 2023

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 24

RRP: $26.99AU (Hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

Review Who Lives Here?

A little boy is excited when he is invited to a friend's house to play. However he doesn't know which house on South Street is Dan's.

The story invites the reader to look at each house and guess who might live there then lift the flap to see if you are right. A cook, a knight, a ghost, which house is Dan's?

We love everything Julia Donaldson here at Little Squirrel's Bookshelf! Her rhyming prose slide off the tongue and the children were eager to see who lived in each house.

This story is all about fun and when the boy finds Dan's house they have a great playdate playing with Dan's toys.

Rebecca Cobb's double paged illustrations are full of detail; a visual delight and wonderful prompts that enhance the prose.

Who Lives Here? with its hands-on lift the flap pages is sure to delight any child.

My rating 5 / 5 🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠

About the author

Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand.

About the illustrator

Rebecca Cobb has created a number of well-received picture books, including the heart-breakingly beautiful Missing Mummy and the critically acclaimed Aunt Amelia. She has also collaborated with some of the best-known names in children's publishing. Rebecca lives in Falmouth with her husband and young daughters.

 

Book Review: Pink Santa by Tanya Hennesssy

 Pink Santa

by

Tanya Hennessy

Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Imprint: Albert Street Books

Publication date: 29th August 2023

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 30

RRP: $19.99AU (Hardback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Dot's review of Pink Santa

This book really did "sleigh". The book was absolutely amazing!!

 

My favourite part was when the boy looked out the window and saw Pink Santa and said, "Santa you SLAYYYYYYY" and honestly I would do the same if I saw any coloured Santa, even Santa himself. 

My fav characters were the little boy who called out to Santa and the burly old elf who said, "for the first time in ages I'm feeling myself. I'm loving this vibe."

This is definitely a 5 star book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from Dot aged 9

My thoughts

Pink Santa is a delightful rhyming story about embracing change, overcoming mishaps and turning mistakes into a positive.
 

It's the night before Christmas and Santa is ready to go but first he needs to wash his suit. Rudolph throws it in the washing machine and it comes out PINK! Rudolph doesn't know what to do, Santa's red suit is iconic. Then Santa declares this year Christmas will be pink.
 

We loved the cute elves with their cheeky suggestions for Santa. There are lots of fun visuals and changes to spot, as Christmas turns from the iconic red & green to PINK.
 

Brightly coloured double page illustrated spreads catch the eye and there are lots of things happening in the background to keep little ones engaged.
 

Sometimes the best things come from a simple mistake and just maybe a new tradition will be born.
 

My rating 5 / 5 🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅

About the author

Tanya Hennessy -comedian, radio announcer and social media sensation. Originally from Newcastle, Tanya started in radio in 2012. Since then she has become an international social media sensation; written her first book, bestseller Am I Doing This Right?; become an ambassador for Priceline Pharmacy; sold out 27 venues for her first comedy show Low Expectations; and appeared on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2017.

About the illustrator

Ben Whitehouse is a character designer and children's book illustrator born and raised in Birmingham UK. At the moment, he lives in Germany with his wonderful partner, Yvonne and their son, Timmy and their border collie, Sparrow.

Book Review: Lego City Building Site

 Lego City Building Site

 

A Push, Pull and Slide Book

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 10th August 2021

Genre: Children's Educational

Pages: 8

RRP: $9.99AU

Format: Boardbook

Source: Own purchase 

Our review of Lego City Building Site

 

Everybody get to work - let's knock down that wall.

 

Join the construction crew as they demolish the old building, clear the rubble and start on a new buiding.

 

What can it be? 

 

Work the cement mixer, clear the rubble and lift the heavy doors.

 

Turn the page to reveal what the workers are building!

 

Lego City Building Site is another hands on book for toddlers, rich in imaginative play and themes of working together. We loved matching the Lego pieces and making our own building site.

 

⬇️⬆️➡️⬅️ With tabs to push, pull and slide on every page it’s a fun way to enhance motor skills, develop hand-eye coordination and grow the imagination.  

 

Made in hardy board format with thick pages and tabs that won't easily be torn or ripped out ensuring hours and hours of play.

The Lego City is a fabulous collection of books and we are eager  to collect the whole series.

 

Recommended age - 18months to 5 years

Our rating 5 / 5 👷👷👷👷👷

 

 

Book Review: Make Tracks - Cars by Johnny Dyrander

 Make Tracks: Cars

by

Johnny Dyrander

 

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Publication date: 2nd August 2022

Series: Make Tracks #4 

Pages: 10

RRP: $19.99

Format read: Boardbook 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

My review of Make Tracks: Cars

Jay loves this fun board book that helps build hand eye coordination

This sturdy board book features five different styles of cars and each car has their own track and tiny car counter that you can manoeuvre around the track. Stop at the crossings, drive around the winding road, race around the track, drive a four wheel drive around the muddy lake and catch a taxi into the airport.

Each car has a large glossy picture with all their features labeled. 

 

This will be a much loved book by any little car enthusiast. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Recommended age: 2+ 

About the author

Johnny Dyrander is an illustrator based in Stockholm, Sweden. He was born and raised above the Arctic circle in northern Sweden and grew up surrounded by reindeer and northern light. He moved to Stockholm in his early twenties and began studying at various art schools. He's been working as an illustrator since he finished his studies at the University College of Arts, Crafts & Design in Stockholm.

When he's not spending time in his office illustrating, Johnny likes to travel, spend time with his family or drive down to his house in southern Sweden, pick up a hammer and saw and pretend to be a carpenter. He builds things in wood with quite mixed results.

 

 

Book Review: Dinosaur Bash & Dinosaur Chew by Peter Curtis

 Dinosaur Bash!

The Ankylosaurus

by

Peter Curtis

Dinosaur Chew!

The Iguanodon

by

Peter Curtis

 

 

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

 

Publication date: 9th August 2022

 

Genre: Children's

 

Pages: 22

 

RRP: $14.99AUD

 

Format read: Board book

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review

 

Dinosaur Bash and Dinosaur Chew are part of a collection of board books inspired by the classic picture book, Dinosaur Roar.

 

Each book features one dinosaur highlighting their unique features and personality.

 

Dinosaur Bash's large club on his tail, armoured plates and short legs made it hard for him to play with his friends as they were all scared of getting injured. Dinosaur Roar explains to him that his tail is special and rare but he needs to take care when playing.

Dinosaur Chew just wants to eat grass and laze in the sun all day. While watching his friends he was learning new ways of doing things and after a busy day all he wanted to do was laze in the sun.

Other dinosaurs in the series pop in and out of each story, sometimes helping and sometimes causing havoc.

This would have to be on of Jay's favourite series and his eagle eye spotted a new dinosaur and now he is eager for Dinosaur Thud's story.

I like how each dinosaur has a name that relates to their personality. They are like a little community. Jay can name them all and points them out as they appear in each other’s books.

We have always been big fans of Dinosaur Roar and Ten Terrible Dinosaurs and this new collection adds to the delight by naming the dinosaurs and giving them personalities.

The front of each book has the correct pronunciation of the dinosaurs scientific name. Which is very helpful as some are quite a mouthful. The rear of the book points out specific features of that dinosaur.

With bright illustrations and rhyming text these board books are sure to appeal to little dinosaur enthusiasts and their parents.

 

Our rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 

 

Book Review: Lego City Safari Rescue

 Lego City Safari Rescue

 

A Push, Pull and Slide Book

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Publication date: 12th July 2022

 

Pages: 10

 

RRP: $9.99 AUD

 

Format read: Boardbook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

My thoughts

 

Come on a rescue safari!

 

The park rangers need YOU.

 

🦁We were excited to receive the latest book in the push, pull and sliding fun of Lego City board books.

🐒Climb aboard the safari jeep and feed the swinging monkeys.
🐘Watch the elephants at their waterhole and check on the lion cubs 🦁

⬇️⬆️➡️⬅️ With tabs to push, pull and slide on every page it’s a fun way to enhance motor skills, develop hand-eye coordination and grow the imagination.

Name the animals, count the animals and talk about different safari animals, endangered species and protecting our wildlife.

The Lego City Safari Rescue is another playful board book, brimming with imaginative play, that we are happy to add to our shelf. 

 

 

 

 

 

We are big Lego and Duplo fans and this book will be cherished for years to come.

Recommended age 18months - 5 years

My rating 5 / 5 🦁🐘🐒🦒🐍 

 

 

Book Review: Dinosaur Honk & Dinosaur Squeak by Peter Curtis & Jeanne Willis

 Dinosaur Honk!

The Parasaurolophus

by

Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis

Dinosaur Squeak

The Compsognathus

by

Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

 

Publication date: 22nd February 2022

 

Genre: Children's

 

Pages: 22

 

RRP: $14.99AUD

 

Format read: Board book

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review

 

 Dinosaur Honk and Dinosaur Squeak are part of a collection of board books inspired by the classic picture book, Dinosaur Roar.

Each book features one dinosaur highlighting their unique features and personality.

Dinosaur Honk’s honk annoys all the other dinosaurs. She’s too loud and causes chaos wherever she goes. Until one day she discovers that her honk might just come in handy.

Dinosaur Squeak is so tiny none of the other dinosaurs notice her or even hear her when she speaks! Though her best friend, dinosaur Roar, is always looking out for her, Squeak is determined to prove that she can survive all on her own.

Other dinosaurs in the series pop in and out of each story, sometimes helping and sometimes causing havoc.

Jay loves these books and we have read them over and over. When the next two in the series arrived he let out a squeal of delight. We have since purchased a couple more in the series and have our eye on the next ones we want to buy. Yes, WE! I enjoy these stories too. So much fun!

I like how each dinosaur has a name that relates to their personality. They are like a little community. Jay can name them all and points them out as they appear in each other’s books.

We have always been big fans of Dinosaur Roar and Ten Terrible Dinosaurs and this new collection adds to the delight by naming the dinosaurs and giving them personalities.

The front of each book has the correct pronunciation of the dinosaurs scientific name. Which is very helpful as some are quite a mouthful. The rear of the book points out specific features of that dinosaur.

With bright illustrations and rhyming text these board books are sure to appeal to little dinosaur enthusiasts and their parents.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Book Review: Lego City Police Patrol

Lego City Police Patrol

 

A Push, Pull and Slide Book 

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books

 

Publication date: 10th May 2022

 

Pages: 10

 

RRP: $9.99AUD

 

Format read: Boardbook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

My review

The alert has gone out! the city bank has been robbed and Lego City Police Patrol 🚔🚓 are in pursuit. 

This is a fun board book with just enough text to keep a toddler interested. It’s all about the imaginative and creative play. Pull a tab to bring out the police car, push a tab to reveal the police helicopter and find where the robbers are hiding. Tabs to push, pull or slide on each scene. 

 

The intricate Lego scenes held Jay’s attention and he enjoyed making up his own story as he pushed and pulled the tabs. A fun book that he keeps coming back to, time and time again.
A great way to enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and imaginative play.
A book that will be cherished by any young Lego or Duplo fan.
Suitable for ages 18months - 5 years.