Casa~Mia

Casa~Mia by Josie Montano and Kristen Willis (IP Kidz) HB RRP $23.63 ISBN: 9781923435001

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

The bond between grandparent and grandchild can be nothing short of special.

When Carlo realises that his Nonno’s eyes have lost their twinkle because he’s desperately homesick, the little boy sets out to bring his grandfather’s casa mia to him.  

But what is Nonno’s casa mia? What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like?

So begins Carlo’s journey into his Nonno’s past and all the little things that make up his casa mia, from clothes to food and even his old piano accordion.

Author Josie Montano’s sparing narrative couples beautifully with Kirsten Willis’ delightfully warm illustrations. Children will enjoy exploring the pages, identifying all of Nonno’s prized possessions and discussing what they are, why they might be so special and how they can be used to create a feeling of ‘home’.

Reading Casa~Mia reminded me of my grandparents and the stories they told. about memories held in their belongings – whether a cherished bracelet, an old weather-beaten hat or fading photos. I would hope that this heartwarming story might evoke the same emotions in others as they read and remind them how important a sense of home and belonging is.

This picture book is perfect for children aged 4 – 7, but also for older children (and adults) as a reminder to cherish our older generation and value our origins.

Run Away With Me

Run Away With Me written (and illustrated) by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press) HB RRP $34.99 ISBN: 9781339035529

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Where do I start with this book?

Run Away With Me is young adult fiction but it was Brian Selznick’s black and white illustrations that hooked me first. Pages and pages of them – featuring the architecture and scenes of Rome – before I even got to the written narrative. Illustrations that told a story before the story began.

Sixteen-year-old Danny is spending his summer in Rome. He’s been there before. In fact, he’s been in so many places that he hardly knows where ‘home’ is, such is the life of a child whose mother is a book conservator who must move to where the work is around the world.

This summer is different though – full of magic and mystery … and love.

Danny is a little lost. Never anywhere long enough to make firm friends, he tends to wander the streets to kill time while his mother works. But then he meets Angelo, a boy full of secrets and intrigue. They spend every day together as Angelo introduces Danny to Rome’s hidden history, and they develop a special bond.

This is queer fiction for young adults at its absolute best. It’s both gentle and slow, and tense and exciting. Like a picture book, the illustrations tell half the story, and you can be excused for losing yourself in them for hours on end.

While the central theme of Run Away with Me won’t be for everyone, it does offer a sensitive window into another world for some of us, while for others it offers a mirror, allowing them to see themselves in a beautifully rendered story.

There are other elements too – the detail about Rome’s history and culture, and a step inside the world of book conservation.

I absolutely loved this book for its unique approach and beautiful multi-modal storytelling. A must-read for this age group and beyond.

The Tinysaurs

The Tinysaurs by Sally Odgers, illustrated by Adele K Thomas (Scholastic 2026) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781761528576

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

The Tinysaurs are the smallest dinosaurs in the land: living in tunnels, 

foraging for food and hiding out of the way of big stomping feet and swooshing tails. 

Until one day, they discover a hidden entrance to ... the enchanted forest!

From the creators of the best-selling Pearl the Magical Unicorn comes The Tinysaurs, a fantasy adventure for young children ready to graduate from picture books and to immerse themselves in longer texts.

The tinysaurs live in a dark cave because, being so small, they are in constant danger of being accidentally trodden or sat on by the huge dinosaurs. So, early each morning - before the big dinosaurs wake up - the tinysaurs go out along the tunnel with their baskets, to gather their favourite foods.

But on this particular day, they find that the door to the outside has been blocked by a big pile of rocks. They call upon Professaur, the inventor, for help. She reports that it's a cave-in - caused by a landslide - and could take a long time to clear. The tinysaurs are worried they won't be able to get outside to find food. So a plan is made. Professaur will make a rock-moving invention (the Rock-o-Matic), and the others will go back through the tunnels in hopes of finding a new entrance to the outside world.

They search for days - and after going round in circles, arriving at dead ends - and having the glow-worms in their lanterns inconveniently go on strike ...

'We've worked enough,' the glow-worms snapped ... Floomph! The glow-worms put out their lights.

 ... ‎they miraculously stumble upon another door to the outside and find the Enchanted Valley.

It's wonderful,' Ponysaur said again. 'Outside has never been as beautiful as this.'

Sally Odgers's narrative sparkles with imaginative cleverness. I love her idea of having the glow-worms go on strike - adding another level of difficulty to the moment - and another layer of comical cuteness to the story. Kids are bound to fall in love with the four main characters - Ponysaur, Spinysaur, Cheekysaur and Handysaur. (And although a lesser character, I must mention Jigsaur here because this name made me smile.)

They are a good-natured, friendly bunch, and even though there is one who loves causing mischief and playing tricks - a could-be nuisance at times (Cheekysaur) - they just roll with his antics, as they each do for one another, respectfully and in complete acceptance. Such a lovely group dynamic for children to witness and absorb as they read.

The Tinysaurs front cover is as enticing as a sweet-shop window! Its bright, cheerful colours, shiny, raised letters and mini dinosaurs give it instant appeal and will have kids reaching out to grab it. Equally, as they turn the pages, kids will appreciate the large-sized font, the rainbow-highlighted words sprinkled throughout the text, and all the 'resting places'  that Adele K Thomas's adorable illustrations provide.

I have a particular fondness for illustrations depicting the dark - and love the double-page spread where the tinysaurs are in the cave (the glow-worms are on strike), and you just see the whites of their eyes and their silhouettes - such a lovely contrast to all the other more vibrant illustrations. I also love how each new chapter is prefaced by a single-coloured page covered in tinysaur footprints.

Featuring an easy-to-follow story, clear, well-paced text, and an abundance of cute and colourful illustrations - The Tinysaurs delivers all the page-turning elements needed for a newly independent readership; lovable characters, challenges to be faced and overcome, gentle humour, moments of magic and mystery ... and ... an invisible cat! 

Recommended for readers around 5-8 years.

 

What’s Your Dream?

What’s Your Dream? by Simon Squibb (Puffin Books) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9780241798140

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is a workbook where young readers are challenged to ‘Discover your potential. Unlock you confidence’ and is written by the number one Sunday Times bestselling author. In this book, Squibb starts by posing the question, ‘What is your dream?’ If the reader has or doesn’t have a dream, the book asks them to write things in the book like what they look like, things they like to do, eat or read. It continues in a step-by-step fashion, giving reasons, for example, the reason why one ought to have a dream (‘it encourages us to take action – thinking about what we can do in our lives and how we can help other people.’)

Interspersed between the break-out sections, Squibb writes of other young people who have had dreams and how their dreams do things like focus on goals ‘that means we know exactly what we want to achieve’ and ‘gives us purpose – a powerful reason for pursuing our dream that keeps us on track to achieve it.’ It is clever how each section builds on the section before and after it.

Kids, aged 8 to 11 years are encouraged to write their answers into the book and to keep on reading. Chapter headings include ‘I’m Ready! How Do I get Started?’ ‘I’ve Started, Now What?’ and ‘I’m Stuck! What should I do?’ right through to ‘I’m Doing it. Am I there yet?’ and ‘I’ve finished! What did I learn?’

The book – printed on poor quality paper – finishes with Chapter 9, ‘The Dream Diary.’ In this section, the child reader is encouraged to open the book every six months and to note down how they’re getting on with their dream. This is followed by double page spreads in which the reader is invited to write down ‘one thing I’ve done,’ ‘One thing I’ve learned,’ ‘One thing I want to do next,’ and ‘One goal I’m setting myself.’

This is a useful, interactive and well-presented and well-designed book. Recommended. 

What’s Next, Spot?

What’s Next, Spot? By Eric Hill (Puffin Books) HB ISBN 9780241738597

This board book provides ‘Lift-the-flap choices for little learners’, and would suit children aged 3 to 6 years. It starts with Spot deciding what to choose for breakfast. Each of his four choices are cereal, toast, pancakes and bread. Under each word (and illustration) is a picture of Spot eating that food. For example, if he chooses toast, there’s a picture of him eating toast with the words, ‘Thanks for the tasty toast.’

Now it’s time for him to leave home for nursery, he must decide what clothes to put on first. Will it be his hat, books, coat, or scarf? The next page shows Spot with his friends crocodile, tiger, hippopotamus, rabbit and monkey at nursery and has him deciding what activity to do first – paint, draw, build with blocks or play outside.

The rest of the book follows a similar pattern with Spot deciding on which costume to wear, and which book to read.

This is a bright, colourful book with simple illustrations. It is sure to be a hit with young readers.

Bluey Mum School

Bluey Mum School (No writer or illustrator mentioned) HB RRP ISBN9781761357176

This is an odd story wherein Bluey plays Mum School with balloons as her children. Their names include Lightning Bolt, Windgust and Dronigan. Mum holds a clipboard and gives scores for various acts performed by Bluey and her brother Bingo. For instance, ‘Zero Points for putting a cushion on Greenie’s head,’ and ‘Two points for telling off Windgust for called Greenie a cushion head.’ It’s not clear why points are being scored.

Eventually all the kids (ie balloons) are put in the pool (a bathtub), except for Greenie who Bluey has fallen in love with.

This was my first Bluey experience, and I must admit I was confused all the way through the book. I’m convinced that children aged 3 to 5 years for whom it’s assumed this board book is marketed will not understand it either.

Tiny

Tiny by Laura Stitzel (Walker Books) PB RRP $25.99 ISBN 9781760658571

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Laura Stitzel is an author, illustrator and animator from Melbourne. She has illustrated books for Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Hinkler Books and Affirm Press. She is the author/illustrator of two picture books - Mr Mo Starts to Grow (Hachette) and Moonlight Mums (Penguin). 

Laura created the background art and character animation for programs such as the Emmy Award winning Peg + Cat, Disney’s Space Chickens in Space, Warner Bros’ Ginger Snaps and the world’s longest running children’s series, Arthur. Who doesn’t love Arthur?

Tiny tells the story of a little girl who is very small in a big world. She dreams of being big but instead, she repeatedly shrinks, until she eventually becomes the size of a dot. Magically, she discovers that viewing things from such a tiny perspective is wondrous and enchanting. Being small is a superpower.

Laura Stitzel’s words tap into what it’s like to be a child in this big world. She writes from a childlike perspective. The opening page’s wording is concise and powerful. I’m Tiny. I’m really small. The world is so big. The people are tall.  The problem is introduced immediately. Wherever I go, at home or in town, nobody sees me. They never look down. This is how a small child can feel in this big, busy world.

This story connects well to child feelings. It is emotive and most children dream to be bigger.  The story voice is direct, and the page turns work well. Instead of Tiny getting bigger she gets smaller, I love this. It is unexpected and reminds me of the movie Honey I Shrunk the Kids. The child is called to imagine and wonder and see the world through extra tiny eyes. The verbs delight and questioning is used throughout the narrative. What if I shrank even smaller again? The narrative has childlike thoughts, and Stitzel combines words in sentences beautifully. I’d land in a tickle and sail away, bouncing around in the splashes and spray. The word patterning and word play is creative. The ending pulls on heart strings. Aw.

Stitzel’s illustrations are joyful, detailed, and whimsical — the kind that make little hearts sing. They have a delightful energy as they playfully dance creatively across every page. The use of perspective is wondrous and lets a reader feel small and see magical tiny things and be immersed in this story world.  The dream like quality makes this book feel timeless and beautiful. The colour palate is soft yet bright like pink and green.

Tiny is a picture book that has appeal to children aged 4-6 years old. It delights and lets small children know they can see things that big people miss. You see, small things are rarely seen when you are big, and this is what this story brilliantly showcases. It’s magical being a child and seeing the world through small eyes. Why would you want to be bigger?