I bought a thing into the house the other day. It was big and blue. In Australia, we call it an esky. Here in England it’s known as a coolbox. The big blue thing was just about the right size for two toddlers. So in they got. It was a boat. It was a train.…
Jumping off the diving board for the first time is a HUGE deal. And scary. And a little bit exciting. And takes bundles of courage. This is just what Jabari plans to do today, at the pool with Dad and little sister in tow. Jabari has finished all his swimming lessons, passed his test. He’s…
Kiki and Bobo’s Sunny Day, is an adorable lift-the-flaps story by the award-winning author, illustrator and animator, Yasmeen Ismail. In this seemingly simple trip to the seaside, Kiki can hardly wait to swim in the sea. Poor Bobo, however, looks about as excited as a teacher on the last day of the summer holidays… When…
I’ve got a big head. I don’t mean that I’m full of my own self-importance. Rather, that my head is physically quite large. I know this because… 1) I can’t wear hats. As my Aussie Mum would put it… all hats on me look like “a pimple on a pumpkin”. 2) When I was a…
Trees, from Lemniscates is a beautifully rendered picture book combining soft lyrical prose with captivating illustrations. The opening four pages show the reader how trees change during the four seasons. Then Trees delves a little deeper, encouraging curiosity in the important things that trees do. … how they adapt to their surroundings, use their roots…
Staycations seem sensible. You artfully dodge the perils of flying with a 3 and 1 year old (see my review for Mr Postmouse Goes on Holiday), but then have to work extra hard at being on holiday. You are, after all, still on home turf. We pitched up at a cabin in the woods and…
Sun is the latest picture book from Sam Usher, beautifully complimenting Rain and Snow from the same series. What can you do on the hottest day of the year? A day that is, “hotter than broccoli soup, hotter than the Atacama Desert,” Grandad always has the answer, and Grandad always adores an adventure – so…
The Nut Stayed Shut, from Mike Henson, is a fabulously funny story about determination, great onomatopoeia… and those really annoying nuts that simply WON’T open. Frustrating? Oh yes! But doubly frustrating for Rodney, because ‘of all the nut crackers in the world, Rodney is the best.’ There’s one little nut that eludes his talents. No…
Ivy and the Lonely Raincloud is a thoughtful, intriguing picture book from Katie Harnett. Ever had one of those days? Nothing goes right, and you are in one full on, grumpy, stinky mood. It happens to the best of us. Maybe we just need the right person to come along, at the right time… A…
The Night Box from Louise Greig and Ashling Lindsay is a wonderfully poetic picture book, it’s pure joy to read it. “Day is yawning. Quiet settles in the the trees. The birds fold their wings, the singing stops.” The opening lines set the calm, yet joyous tone of the narrative. It was really no surprise…
In Australia we’ve got a phrase for everything. And if you’re not an Aussie, it’s a fair bet you won’t have a clue what we’re on about. For instance, if we want to wish someone bad luck, we might say… “I hope your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down”. I’m not making…
For the first time ever in the history of both the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, winners from the United States have triumphed in both categories announced today, Monday 19th June, at a ceremony at RIBA in London. CILIP Carnegie Medal Award Winner Ruta Sepetys wins the CILIP Carnegie Medal for the first…
If you’re lucky, your Dad, like mine, is a bit of a hero. Now, that’s not to say he’s perfect. Dad doesn’t always get stuff right. Like the time he washed the underside of the boat and unwitting wound up with a barnacle in his ear. First we knew of the barnacle was Mum complaining…
The Dressing-up Dad from Maudie Smith and Paul Howard. As a little one you adore your parents. Absolutely adore them. Then that time emerges when their quirks become a little less adorable, a little more embarrassing… until you feel the need to hide them away. Safely. As a parent I’ve accepted, even relished this role,…
When I think back to my childhood, it’s like a slowmo rerun of the ‘Wonder Years’; barefoot brats pedalling through suburbia, spokey dokes clacking and Joe Cocker wailing in the background. Fast-forward a couple of years and I’m leafing through a Judy Blume while Roxette’s ‘Dressed for Success’ reverberates from my boombox. Then… High school.…
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Ooh, this sounds fantastic!
Great review, thanks for posting the pictures. Really makes a difference with picture book reviews. Will order for the store…
I often hope to find interviews with Margaret Wild who fascinates me and whose work I adore. Thoroughly enjoyed this…