Book Review: Being Zelda by Russell Irving

 Being Zelda

by

Russell Irving

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 24th April 2023

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 42

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: Being Zelda

Russell Irving has written and illustrated a fascinating story about the Mantis shrimp. They can pack a mighty punch and accelerate faster than a bullet.

 

Shrimps, like humans, have different personalities and motivations.

Zelda is outgoing she wants to know what is beyond her burrow. She is curious about the bluefin tuna and the humpback whales. George is an introvert, preferring to stay in his burrow. He helps Zelda to explore the ocean in a safe way.

 

Irving's art is subtle and calming he uses the colours of the ocean floor and the swirling pastels of the coral spawn in his water-wash illustrations.

 

Being Zelda was an enjoyable story about a little adventurous shrimp however I don't think the children understood the concept of the different personalities. I think this needs to be spelt out clearly in the text. 

Being Zelda is a calming nature book that is enjoyable simply for its illustrations of the ocean floor and ocean life.

4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Russell Irving is a contented introvert who enjoys small gatherings, inner reflection and quiet time in nature. He has spent most of his professional life living and working as an environmental manager and educator across regional and remote parts of Australia, including many years working with the Aboriginal Ranger groups and in Indigenous Protected Areas.

These experiences have taught him the calming and healing benefits of spending quiet time in nature, learning to watch, listen and learn.

Book Review: A Very Dinosaur Birthday by Adam Wallace

 A Very Dinosaur Birthday

by

Adam Wallace

illustrated by Christopher Nielsen

 

Publisher: Harper Collins

Imprint: Thomas Nelson

Publication date: 20th June 2023

 5th July 2023 AUS

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 40

RRP: $12.99US $24.99AUD

Source: Courtesy of Smith Publicity 

 

Review: A Very Dinosaur Birthday

A Very Dinosaur Birthday is a funny, brightly illustrated rhyming story that will have kids laughing and eager to see what will happen next.

 

I'm not a big fan of 'fart' books but I know they are hugely popular with children and a vast array of titles can be found in any bookstore.

Jay loves dinosaurs but when I asked him if he wanted to listen to a new book he said no. So I decided to start reading it aloud. As soon as I read the first sentence - "Dinosaurs are big and strong, they're clumsy and they're farty." His ears pricked up. Then came the stinky, broken covered in mold presents and he was sold.

The book elicited lots of laughs and he was eager to hear it again. 

 

Jay understands the concept of fiction and that the dinosaurs, however well intentioned, can't do things that humans do.
The dinosaurs create much havoc doing conventional party games at a little boy's birthday party which causes him to be sad. But the dinosaurs save the day by engaging the children in lots of fun games you can only play with dinosaurs.

The cadence of the rhymes took me a few read throughs before the story flowed smoothly.

This is a fun book for any little dinosaur enthusiast. It opens with a double spread of dinosaur illustrations with names and also includes ideas for invitations, decorations, snacks and activities for your own dinosaur themed party.

 

Recommended age: 4+ years

 

Rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

About the author

 

Adam Wallace is a New York Times bestselling author, who has also had one of his books be a question on Jeopardy, and has also had one of his books read at the White House! Adam enjoys writing more than anything, but he likes drawing too, and doesn't mind long walks on the beach at sunset. Adam's previous books include How to Catch a Leprechaun and How to Catch an Elf (both New York Times bestsellers), How to Catch the Easter Bunny (read at the 2017 White House Easter Egg Roll), The Vanilla Slice Kid and SPARK.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Sink or Swim - Wolf Girl 9 by Anh Do

 Sink or Swim - Wolf Girl 9

by

Anh Do

illustrated by Lachlan Creagh 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication day: 4th July 2023

Genre: Illustrated Middle Grade

Pages: 256

RRP: 15.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Sink or Swim

In Sink or Swim the reader is immediately plunged into the drama as Wolf Girl and her canine friends are being chased by the Hornets.

They escape in a small boat and soon come across a village being destroyed by a landslide. Here Wolf Girl meets Jarrod, a local athlete, and he convinces her to compete in the Championship Games where the winner receives one wish. This is where Wolf Girl is presented with a moral dilemma with who she should free with her wish. Although this dilemma isn't played out in this book.

With simple writing and full page illustrations throughout this isn't a challenging read. The pace starts out fast but slows towards the end of the novel. This is a series that needs to be read from the start as there is no backstory. The baddies are evil and Wolf Girl's doggie friends are fearless and dedicated. I loved the banter between the dogs it added some fun humour to the story. 

 

Extensively illustrated throughout with half and full page black and white sketches which add an extra element of comprehension to the story.

Sink or Swim ends on a cliff hanger that will have readers eager for more.

 

Rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Anh Do is one of Australia's best-loved storytellers. His series, including Wolf Girl, Skydragon and WeirDo, are adored by millions of kids around the country.

Book Review: Mommy, Mommy, Where is the Moon? by Serene Chia

 Mommy, Mommy, Where is the Moon?

by

Serene Chia

illustrated by Sinem Kilic Rabito

 

Publisher: Self published

Publication date: 3rd June 2022

Genre: Picture Book

Pages: 32

Source: courtesy of the author

Review: Mommy, Mommy, Where is the Moon?

The story opens with a full moon outside Kaitlyn's window and she wants to know what it is. Her mother tells her it's the moon. Every night Kaitlyn looks out of her window to find the moon. Sometimes it's hiding behind clouds or peaking between buildings. Sometimes you can't see it at all, but it's still there. 

This is a delightful picture book that follows Kaitlyn and her mum as they observe the changing face of the moon. She also learns about the first moon landing which instills a dream to one day fly to the moon herself. The nightly activity of looking for the moon gives mother and child precious time together.

The explanation of the new moon was a little confusing but with some added information Dot soon understood the concept. We have made our own moon phase sheet and are enjoying filling it out every few nights.

We loved all the details in the illustrations; the beautiful starry nights, the toys on the floor, the little octopus plushy, Kaitlyn running outside with only one shoe on. These are the small things that make up a beautiful, engaging picture book.

Mommy, Mommy, Where is the Moon? is an endearing illustrated book that is both fun and educational.

Instill a love and wonder for the moon in your child with Mommy, Mommy, Where is the Moon?

 

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Serene Chia began writing as a way to always hold the memories of spending time with her daughter close. Together they spent countless nights under the stars scanning the skies in what would be the inspiration for Mommy, Mommy, Where is the Moon?

Now a mother of two, Serene spends her free time savoring the perfect cup of coffee while planning family adventures guaranteed to live on long after they end.

You can purchase her books at serenechia.com

 

About the illustrator

 

Sinem Kilic Rabito is from a small town close to Varese in Italy. She has always been an illustrator at heart. From a young age, Sinem was always surrounded by crayons and doodling her own stories. Creating colourful and cute illustrations is her specialty. Her artwork is strongly inspired by nature.

visit her at sinemsimm.com

Book Review: The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Ghoul in the School by Marcus Rashford

 The Breakfast Club Adventures

THE GHOUL IN THE SCHOOL

by

Marcus Rashford with Alex Falase-Koye

illustrated by Marta Kissi

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 26th April 2023

Genre: Middle Grade / Illustrated

Pages: 280

RRP: $16.99AU (paperback) 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

Review: The Ghoul in the School

Book two in The Breakfast Club Adventures is every bit as suspenseful as book one. The Breakfast Club Investigators (BCI) are back in this exciting mystery The Ghoul in the School.

 

The BCI haven't been doing so well in solving mysteries lately and Marcus is concerned the club will close and he will lose his friends. When Gbenga, the captain of the school's basketball team, asks for their help Marcus thinks this mystery will get them back on their feet. The school's basketball team has been losing all their games. They think they are cursed and a ghoul is haunting the courts.

This is a great story about friendship, working together and not being afraid to ask for help when needed. It has themes of learning from your mistakes and trying again. I love that Marcus and his friends all have different personalities and each brings a different skill to the club. The club is a mix of boys and girls and they all work together to solve the mystery, there is no defined leader and everyone's opinion is listened to.

The Ghoul in the School is a fun story, easy to read and filled with page turning suspense.

I love that Marcus includes a welcome note to his readers in the front of each book.

 

"I hope that through this book you can broaden your horizons, you can dream bigger, you can champion and celebrate the differences in one another, and realize that difference isn't a negative, it's a strength.' - MR

Recommended age: 8 - 11 years

My rating 5 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the authors

 

Marcus Rashford MBE is Manchester United's iconic number 10 and an England International Footballer. in October 2020, he was appointed MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Marcus has committed himself to combating child poverty in the UK.

 

Alex Falase-Koya is a London native. He was a winner of Spread the Word's 2019 London Writers Awards for YA/children's. he now lives in Walthamstow with his girlfriend and two cats.

 

About the Illustrator

 

Marta Kissi studied BA Illustration & Animation at Kingston University and MA Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art. her favourite part of being an illustrator is bringing stories to life by designing charming characters and the wonderful worlds they live in. She shares a studio with her husband James.

Book Review: Friendly Bee and friends by Sean E Avery

 Friendly Bee and Friends

by

Sean E Avery

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Publication date: 5th April 2023

Genre: Graphic Novel 

Pages: 160

RRP: $15.99AU (Paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Dot's review of Friendly Bee and Friends

This story is about a bee and wasp and how they became friends. My favourite character was the bee because he was so funny.

I would recommend my friends to read this book because it is about friendship and being kind to everyone even if they are boring or not pretty. I liked that Friendly Bee never gave up on trying to be friends with Angry Wasp.

My favourite parts of the story were when the slightly peckish caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly and when the enormous hairy spider gave Bee and Wasp a new hairdo.
The fact pages on bees, wasps, caterpillars and spiders were interesting. The ending was a big surprise and I liked that Bee’s and Wasp’s problem was solved and everyone became friends.   

 

Dot's rating 5 / 5   🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

My thoughts

Angry Wasp doesn’t want to be friends with Friendly Bee but Bee will not give up, he wants to be friends with everyone. Wasp is trying his best to ignore him but when he sees Bee in a sticky and dangerous situation he can’t turn away. 

 

Angry Wasp is starting to think that Friendly Bee is really quite annoying when he finds himself in a very sticky and dangerous situation of his own and he only has Bee to save him.

 

Friendly Bee is a humorous and cheeky graphic novel starring the funny, hyperactive and overly dramatic friendly Bee and the dour and unfriendly Angry Wasp.

 

A laugh-out-loud story of friendship with fun facts on caterpillars, spiders, bees and wasps.

 

Recommended age 5+

 

 

About the author

 

Sean E Avery is a teacher, writer-illustrator, sculptor and designer born in South Africa; living in Perth, Western Australia. Locally, he’s best known as the writer-illustrator of best-selling children’s picture book, All Monkeys Love Bananas, published by Fremantle Press. His last picture book, Happy as a Hog Out of Mud, won the 2022 WAYRBA Picture Book of the Year Award and his latest book, Frank’s Red Hat, is shortlisted for the 2023 Indie Book of the Year Award and already a hit with kids in Australia, Korea, France and Denmark. Internationally, he’s best known as a sculptor who uses CDs and DVDs to create breathtaking works of art that reside in galleries and private collections all around the world. He is curious, enthusiastic and ready to work hard for the things he believes in.

Book Review: Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise

 Queenie in Seven Moves

by

Zanni Louise

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication date: 1st February 2023

Genre: Middle Grade (8 -12) 

Pages: 240

RRP: $16.99AU (paperback) 

Source: Own purchase

 

My review of Queenie in Seven Moves

 Queenie in Seven Moves is a delightful story about 12 year-old Queenie and her mum's search for a new home.

Queenie loves her home but when the house is sold her and her mum are forced to move. Relying on the kindness of friends Queenie and Clare, over the course of the summer school break, move seven times. With each move Queenie learns a little more about herself. Her belief in herself slowly grows as she makes new friends, takes new challenges, and takes the time to renew an old friendship.

Queenie in Seven Moves is such a gorgeous story and twelve-year-old Queenie is a treat with her moods and possessiveness of her mother. It's all so relatable!

It was lovely to follow Queenie's journey as she gains the confidence to step outside her comfort zone and be her best self.

Queenie learns that change won't kill you, it makes you stronger.

Queenie in Seven Moves is a delightful story about growing up, moving forward and realising your dreams.

Content: When Queenie checks her Christmas stocking she states that the contents are from her mother. As this book is targeted to ages 8+, parents will need to decide what they think their child will read into that.

* I have just checked publisher's website this book is recommended for ages 10 - 13 years

My rating 4.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

Zanni Louise has published several picture books with award-winning illustrators, including Archie and the Bear and Errol! She has a 6-book series called Tiggy and the Magic Paintbrush.

Zanni tours the country, inspiring kids and adults to write their own stories. She travels with the Byron Writers Festival StoryBoard bus, and teaches Writing Picture Books with Australian Writers Centre. Zanni also mentors individuals to achieve their writing dreams.