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Not-So-Little Red Riding Hood – Michael Rosen. Illustrated by David Melling.
Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Honestly, when have you ever read anything less than wonderful by Michael Rosen? Exactly! This is a really fun update on the traditional fairy tale, that will sit beautifully with a unit of work on fractured fairytales or innovations on traditional stories, as well as being just plain fun to…
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Wombats are Pretty Weird: a [not so] serious guide – Abi Cushman
Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Here in the land of Down Under, we are pretty relaxed about wombats. They are, for many of us, the most loveable buffoons of the marsupial clan. They have been immortalised in literally dozens of picture books, including, so notably, Jackie French’s wombat series, ensuring that our kiddos are pretty…
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Ancestory: [the mystery and majesty of ancient cave art] – Hannah Salyer
Harper Collins Australia October 2023 The publisher describes this as a ‘winning combo of art and science’ and really, I can’t say better myself. To be honest, though of course I’m well aware that many other countries have examples of fine prehistoric cave art, I had always been more or less only interested in our…
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Picture Book Month bonus #2: Millie Mak the Maker [Millie Mak 1] – Alice Pung. Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng.
Harper Collins Australia August 2023 As I have said before, one positive to come out of Covid was a renewed focus on renew/repair/recycle initiatives and slow living. Millie Mak may be only 9 years old but she’s a very good example of this. I am so on board with Millie and her Scottish grandma checking…
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Gigantic- Rob Biddulph
Harper Collins Australia This is just an absolute cracker whichever you turn it – both the splendid rhyming text (perfectly cadenced) and the stunning illustrations combine to make it a sure-fire winner. And, definitely, a stand-out to kick off a little series of ‘sea’ themed picture book reviews. Loads of your Smalls will be very…
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Silver Linings – Katrina Nannestad
Harper Collins Australia I cannot begin to tell you how impatiently I have waited to post this review. When I was invited to write teaching notes for a new Katrina Nannestad book, I was absolutely thrilled. Then, when I read the manuscript for this beautiful, funny, poignant, life-affirming narrative, I realised how easy it would…
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Extreme Planet #: Deep Inside the Earth – Emily Bone. Illustrated by Rodrigo Cordeiro
Journey to the Earth’s Core, with flaps Harper Collins Australia September 2023 We are all familiar with the high quality of Usborne’s books, particularly the informational titles and this one will have enormous appeal to your Smalls who are budding geologists. It is a sturdy, large-sized board book so will withstand much handling, particularly as…
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The Magician’s Nephew – C. S. Lewis
Harper Collins Australia September 2023 ISBN: 9780007323135 RRP: $17.99 I was 11 years old when I read my first Narnia book, and it was this one, which had been a Sunday School prize (still have it!). Needless to say, I was, like so many other children over the past 70 years, absolutely entranced by the…
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In My Garden – Kate Mayes. Tamsin Ainslie
….a children’s picture book about belonging Harper Collins Australia August 2023 It was easy to fall in love with this beautiful book when I only had the galley proofs to look at. Now that I see it in its final form, I find it even more enchanting. It really is a work of art, which…
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Happy Father’s Day
I’ve been saving a few especially for today, so this is our nod to dads – those no longer with us, those who are great male models for our kiddos, and those who are doing double duty of both parents. What My Daddy Loves – Raissa Figueroa Harper Collins Australia August 2023 Dads, like everybody…
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