Book Review: The Gruffalo's Child (20th Anniversary Edition) by Julia Donaldson

Celebrate 20 years of The Gruffalo's Child with this special anniversary edition of the story, featuring bonus extra material. 

I feel like it was only last year that the 15th Anniversary Edition was released. And here we are, another five years on and The Gruffalo's Child is still being loved by children across the globe.

 

illustrated by Axel Scheffler 

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books

Publication date: 8th October 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 36

RRP: AU$14.99 (softcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Children have always enjoyed tales of dark, scary creatures and the Gruffalo’s child is no exception. The Gruffalo tells his daughter she should never go out in the deep dark woods or the Big Bad Mouse will be after her.

The Gruffalo’s child decides to find this Big Bad Mouse. She isn’t scared. The story follows her through the snow swept woods as she comes across different animals; a snake, an owl, and follows tracks to see who they lead to. Will she find the Big Bad Mouse?

 

Scheffler’s illustrations give the Gruffalo’s child a human-like dimension as she carries her favourite toy, a doll made of sticks.

 

This special 20th Anniversary Edition, featuring a shiny foil cover, has an afterword from Julia explaining her thoughts on the setting and plot of the book and also a note from Axel describing his process of drawing the Gruffalo's Child and how he came by the final result.

 

There is also a page showing how you can make party headbands for Gruffalo's child, fox, snake and mouse.

 

The Gruffalo's Child song with notes, lyrics and a QR code to hear the song. Very handy if you're like me and can't hold a tune.

 

 

 

With this 20th Anniversary Edition you can be assured The Gruffalo's Child will delight yet another generation of children.

 

My rating 5 / 5 🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

Recommended age: 3+ years 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Postman's My Mate by Kelly Louise Jarris

 The Postman's My Mate is a fun and heart-warming story of a young boy, living on a farm in country Australia, who looks forward to the postman's visit just a few times a year.

 

 Illustrated by Natalie Herington

 

Publisher: KLJ Books

Publication date: 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$29.95 (hardcover) 

Source: Won

This gorgeous picture book oozes country charm, from the dry red earth and rustic farmhouse to young Charlie with his Akubra hat and animal friends.

One day the postman drops a large box at Charlie's gate but Charlie is hesitant to open it as he and the postman love to play jokes on each other. Last year Charlie left a box for the postman and when he opened it out popped a clown!
 

Charlie and friends, emu and magpie, take a while to ponder what could be in the box. When Charlie finally opens it all there is inside is a note that reads; "Imagine the things this could be if you tried."

Charlie pulls out his craft box and lets his imagination run wild; a boat, a rocket, the possibilities are endless.
 

The Postman's My Mate is a wonderous story about recycling and the joys of using your imagination.

We love empty boxes, big and small, there are so many things you can make with them; boats, cars, trains, puppet shows, dolls wardrobe, dolls house, castles. I've even made a bookcase out of empty boxes!

Natalie Herington's illustrations are the best! Filled with heart and humour. She has brought to life Charlie's friends, the emu and the magpie. They are simply adorable. Kids will love them.

The Postman's My Mate is not only a story about the wonders of using your imagination it is also a fabulous introduction to young children of how other children live in remote areas.

 

My rating 5 / 5 📬📬📬📬📬 

Recommended age: 3 -10 years

The book can be purchased from the author:

https://kljbooks.com/product/the-postmans-my-mate-hardcover/

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Djinang Bonar - Seeing Seasons by Ebony Froome

Djinang Bonar - Seeing Seasons

by

Ebony Froome

illustrated by Leanne Zilm

 

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 1st August 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Djinang Bonar - Seeing Seasons

Discover the six seasons of the Noongar calendar in English and Noongar with emerging First Nations talent Ebony Froome and Leanne Zilm.

 

This beautiful dual language picture book is a gentle reminder to be aware of the environment and look around you to see the changing seasons, and how wildlife and nature herald in each change.

 

Djinang Bonar takes the reader through each season exploring the indicators that announce each change.

Djinang Bonar is a gentle book that teaches children about nature and that the changing of seasons can be seen in everything around them.

 

The exquisite, full colour, double page illustrations inspired by the natural environment of Western Australia are like beautiful paintings and are sure to capture every child's imagination.

Djinang Bonar is the perfect addition to any school library or classroom.

 

My rating 5 / 5 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

Recommended age: 3 - 6 years

 

Teaching notes and activities can be found at Fremantle Press.

 https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/djinang-bonar-seeing-seasons/

 

 

Book Review: Two Can Be Trouble by Penny Macoun

Two Can Be Trouble

by

Penny Macoun

 illustrated by  Paul Nash

Publisher: Macoun Publications

Publication date: 6th August 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 36 (softcover)

Source: Courtesy of the author via  Books on Tour PR

 

Review: Two Can Be Trouble

Two Can Be Trouble is a fun little story that I'm sure would play out in many backyards across the country. 

 

Jordan is playing in the sandpit and decides to add water so he can make sandcastles. He gets water everywhere but now both Jordan and his older brother Toby can make sandcastles and they build them all over the back yard. 

They then decide to help mum by getting the washing off the line. The wind blows the washing everywhere and the clothes get sandy and wet.

Toby thinks it's unfair that they both get into trouble as it was all Jordan's idea. He gets angry but soon the boys are the best of friends again.

Two Can Be Trouble shows how even the best of intentions can sometimes turn into disaster and that even though they sometimes get upset with each other the brother's love each other and have lots of fun together.

The only problem I had with the book was it was hard to tell the boys ages from the illustrations. I am assuming they would be about 3 and 7 years old but the illustration style made them look older.

My rating 3 / 5 👦👦👦

Recommended age: 4+ years

 

 

Book Review: Quokka Finds a Friend by Katie Stewart

 Quokka Finds a Friend

by

Katie Stewart

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 1st August 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Quokka Finds a Friend

How can you not fall in love with Quokkas, with their lovely round tummies and cute smiley faces!

 

When Quokka meets Seal he thinks he's sad because he isn't smiling (Quokka loves to smile).

He tries his hardest to be Seal's friend and make him smile. He tries lots of funny faces but still no smiles. Copying the humans, Quokka pretends to take a selfie with Seal (this always makes the humans smile) then Quokka falls in the water.

 

Seal says he will teach Quokka to swim but when Quokka says he really doesn't want to swim Seal replies that he really doesn't want to smile.

They soon find something they both love doing; watching the sunset together.

 

Quokka Finds a Friend is  the sweetest story about friendship and that friends don't need to like everything the same. Differences don't mean you can't be friends, you just need to find some common ground.

 

Highly detailed,  colourful illustrations pair with minimal text to make this read-aloud story book warm and inviting. Could Quokka get any  more adorable!!

Quokka and Seal's personalities pop from the page through Katie Stewart's adorable illustrations.

 

Beside its wonderful moral about friendship the story can be read for sheer cute appeal.

 

Quokka Finds a Friend is perfect for parents, carers, grandparents and educators to read aloud with children, and use it as a tool to discuss the concept of understanding other people's emotions.

 

My rating 5 / 5 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 

Recommended age: 3 - 6 years (older kids will love this too)

 

 

Book Review: Jack's Best Day Ever by Gabrielle Bassett

 Jack's Best Day Ever

by

Gabrielle Bassett

illustrated by Annabelle Hale

Publisher: Woodslane Press

Publication date: 1st May 2023

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardback)

Source: Own copy

 

Review: Jack's Best Day Ever

I bought this book thinking it would resonate with Jay as he is neurodiverse and also has a boy in his class who uses a wheelchair.

 

He loved the story, as his class had also visited the zoo, he enjoyed talking about all the animals he saw, just like Jack. He wasn't so keen on the part about trying new foods, as Jack very bravely tries the apple, carrot and strawberries that the animals are having for lunch.

 

Jack's Best Day Ever is narrated by his best friend, a young girl in a wheelchair . She champions Jack at every turn, stating how clever he is; like a walking encyclopedia. She understands and accepts his quirks and talks about the things he likes and dislikes. They simply enjoy being together!

 

Jack's Best Day Ever is a heartfelt story of friendship, acceptance and trying new things. A perfect fit for primary school aged children. It would be a valuable asset in the classroom to open up discussions on neurodiversity and cultivate understanding and acceptance of different ways of being.

 

The vibrant, fun and expressive illustrations by Annabelle Hale add to the overall appeal of this delightful picture book. 

My rating 5 / 5 👦👦👦👦👦

Recommended age: 6 - 10 years

 

Book Review: Ethel the Penguin by Ursula Dubosarsky

 Ethel the Penguin

by

Ursula Dubosarsky

illustrated by Christopher Nielsen

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 1st October 2024 

Genre: Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$19.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

Review: Ethel the Penguin

We've been loving books about penguins lately and Ethel the Penguin is another 'must read' that we've added to our shelf.

Ethel is that wild friend everyone needs! She is not afraid to make a fuss and have some fun. The teacher makes her sit by herself in class because she's full to the brim with mischief.

When she climbs to the top of the Ferris wheel and scares her poor parents, she really is sorry ...... for a little while. 

Ethel the Penguin is such a fun story! Ethel gave us all a bit of a giggle as she misbehaves in class causing a ruckus and jumps from the Ferris wheel forgetting penguins can't fly. She is totally impulsive and very much wild.

Ursula Dubosarsky uses anthropomorphism but I love that she didn't make Ethel totally human. Rather than living in a house she lives with her parents in an igloo. 

Christoper Nielsen's full page illustrated spreads are bright and colourful and the rhyming prose flow effortlessly making Ethel the Penguin an energetic and delightful read.

I can see this being one of our favourites for a long time to come.

 

We can hardly wait to see what Ethel will do next!

My rating 5 / 5 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

Recommended age: 3 - 6 years