The Forbidden Trail: Pine Valley Ponies

The Forbidden Trail: Pine Valley Ponies by Kate Welshman, Illustrated by Heath McKenzie (Scholastic Press)

PB RRP $9.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-430-2

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Maddy is super excited. Today is the day she gets to start riding lessons at Pine Valley Ranch on her pony Snowy. But she is also a little nervous. Is she really good enough to be in the intermediate class? Will she ever be as good a rider as her mother was? And what is down the shortcut trail which makes it the Forbidden Trail.

This is the first book in a new series. From its eye-catching foil cover, to the charming and fun illustrations, to the story line loaded with horse riding fun, danger, bravery and rescue, the appeal for young girls who loves horses and all that world entails, is endless.

Maddy is a likeable heroine, as is her new friend Iris. I like that Maddy is following Mum’s footsteps but in her own independent way. The involvement of parents is realistic and there is a good amount of information about horses and their care without feeling that it’s being ‘dumped’ into the story line.

There is the clichéd mean rich girl, and sometimes it feels as though the story is following a formula – albeit one which engages and entertains children and there is a good balance between breezy fun and more serious moments. 

Heath McKenzies’ illustrations are my favourite part of this book. He captures people and animals in a wonderfully light-hearted warm way but also portrays a feeling and personality which adds so much to the story.

Short chapters, illustrations, easy reading text, a great map of the area around Pine Valley Ranch, and profiles of the ponies and horses, make this a sweet beginner-reader chapter book for horse-mad girls.

Together Always

Together Always by Edwina Wyatt, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo (Little Hare Books)

HB RRP $24.95

ISBN 9781742979632

Reviewed by J Wishart

This gentle picture book written by Edwina Wyatt, and illustrated by Lucia Masciullo, tells the story of Pig and Goat who live together in an orchard. The two animals enjoy long, lazy days in each other’s company. They provide each other with support, and vow that they’ll stay together always. The day eventually comes, however, when Goat feels the need to leave and the two animals have to face the prospect of living apart.

Using simple but lively illustrations with soothing, muted colours, Masciullo evokes a stylised natural world, moving the reader from day to night and through fields and woodlands with the characters. Pig and Goat are shown happily together, then in their respective environments. It is there that they learn to cope on their own – tapping into skills each taught the other, as well as their fond memories for comfort.

The hardcover book is attractively designed with a mix of double-spread and vignette images, and colour-washed endpapers. With its simple language and a reassuring repetition throughout, Together Always would make a pleasant bedtime story for younger children. Although it touches on more challenging ideas of individuality and diversity in needs and interests, it is thoroughly infused with the comforting notion that wherever they are, good friends can always be together in each other’s thoughts. 

The Blackthorn Key

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands (Puffin) PB RRP$16.99 ISBN 9780141360645

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This novel will be most enjoyed by the teenager who enjoys the challenge of solving codes and reading a convoluted plot with a host of characters. Set in London in 1665 during the reign of King Charles II, it covers a mystery that involves murders and numerous searches by an apprentice apothecary Christopher Rowe and his close friend Tom Bailey. 

Set over the months of May and June which stretches from Ascension Day to Spring’s End, the fast-paced story starts with the release of Christopher from an orphanage into his master apothecary’s care. Master Benedict Blackthorn is different from most masters insofar as he does not beat his apprentice but teaches him patiently and carefully how to mix potions, minerals and leaves to heal or for other reasons such as to melt iron and create keys.

However, Blackthorn, like ten other master apothecaries, is murdered. Then his workplace and home is ransacked with Christopher becoming homeless and learning that a man named Nathaniel Stubb and his apprentice Wic plan to torture him to learn a secret. Christopher has no idea what this secret is but his former master has gifted him a silver puzzle box and a set of clues in his ledger. 

With Tom’s help and that of his sisters and a pet pigeon, Christopher attempts to find what it is that his master had treasured and why so many other masters have been assassinated to protect this treasure.

This is not an easy book to follow as there are many twists and turns and many mysteries that require knowledge of Latin and of the Bible (which Christopher has), and an ability to follow the cracking of the a set of complex codes. Nevertheless, the plot unfolds with writing that is clear and interesting, and plenty of tension along the way as it seems Christopher is meant to be the next murder victim unless he can escape numerous close calls. 

Something Wonderful

Something Wonderful by Raewyn Caisley and Karen Blair HB RRP $24.99 (Viking) ISBN 9780670078455

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

At the front of this picture book for young readers, author Raewyn Caisley writes about Sam, a creative thinker, on whom she has based this book. She says, ‘(Sam) grew up in a small country town in Western Australia. He works at a famous university in Europe, where he is trying to figure out what is in-between the smallest things.’ The book is ‘dedicated to Sam, and to all creative thinkers.’

In Something Wonderful we meet young Sam leaping a log in the country, followed by his kelpie. The boy is attuned to and observant of his environment. He pulls things apart and then puts them back again, forgetting sometimes to attend to his chores. This annoys his dad, but Mum sees what their son is doing is important. On a day that it rains, Sam checks out the shed where ‘his mind lit up with possibilities.’ Using tools and other equipment he finds, the enterprising child creates something useful, ‘something wonderful.’

The illustrator must have really enjoyed the challenge of Caisley’s text, coming up with the ultimate invention, the ‘something wonderful’ that Sam creates in the farm shed. Her illustrations show an attentive lad working with tubes, tyres, drains, wheels and a host of other bits and pieces, which, when put together, results in a machine which is ultimately used with egg-laying hens. Blair’s ultimate full-page watercolour shows Sam creating another invention on a large sheet of paper.

This simple story is very appealing with a pared-back text that rewards reading aloud. The full-page illustrations perfectly capture the Australian country landscape.

Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas

Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press)

HB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-578-1

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Brian is an unusual piranha. He enjoys eating fruit and vegetables. And even though the rest of the piranhas think he’s crazy, Brian is determined to get his friends to try them.

I love everything this author produces and this light-hearted picture book is no exception. Here, Blabey’s sense of humour is perfectly pitched to grab the attention of all, from toddlers through to early primary aged children.

‘Or would you rather a bowl of peas?’

‘Stop it Brian. We eat knees.’

The muddy green piranhas are wonderfully drawn, with expressive eyes and mouth. The brightly coloured fruit and vegetables contrast with skin toned feet, knees and other body parts of unwary swimmers as Brian tries to tempt the other piranhas with his fruit platter.

The simplicity of the story-line and text reads well with a catchy rhythm and great rhyme, perfect for reading aloud. The repetitive element which runs through the story will appeal to young children, while older readers will be happy to read this book as many times as they are asked. The ending will have all readers, young and old, giggling each time.

Please don’t overlook the end-papers which give definitions - Blabley’s anyway- of both piranhas and bananas.

I’m sure every preschooler will be able to guess which body part Brian’s friends all like best!

Kerenza: A New Australian

Kerenza: A New Australian by R. Hawke (Omnibus Books for Scholastic Australia)

PB RRP $15.99

ISBN 978-1-74299-060-6

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

It’s 1911. Karenza and her family have left their village in Cornwall to begin a new life in Australia. Unhappy with this change, Karenza finds the new country and life in the Mallee strange and frightening. But she is determined to be brave for her Da and Mam’s sake so along with her two younger siblings, she helps the family to carve a farm out of the endless bush and flies, and along the way, makes many new friends.

A New Australian is a wonderful series telling stories of young immigrants, from a child’s perspective. Soaked in early Australian history, these are tales of fitting in, acceptance, hardship, building new lives and friendships. But above all, they are really engaging stories with strong characters and voices.

Karenza is a gutsy girl who is prepared to work hard. She is independent and thinks for herself, but is also a family girl, pining for her older sister who stayed behind in Cornwall with her fiancée. She is loyal to her friends and will stand up for what is right.

Young teenage readers will relate to her, empathise with her troubles, share her horror at the snakes in the drop dunny, and become drawn into the life of Karenza and her family.

This series also complements studies on Australian history for early high school students.

Nick’s Fabulous Footy Cards

Nick’s Fabulous Footy Cards by Greg Fish, illustrated by Jason Trevenen (Hip and Shoulder Books) PB RRP $9.99 ISBN 9780992533502

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This chapter book has a number of ingredients which should have strong appeal, especially for boys aged 6 to 9 years: it’s a thin book (66 pages), it’s generously illustrated and it features AFL and miniature people. As well as this, the story is fast-paced and filled with characters that children can readily relate to.

Young Nick is ‘as fast as a cheetah, only without the spots.’ He’s a whiz at football, but playing against the Angry Ants he breaks his ankle. While recuperating, he engages with one of his favourite hobbies: collecting footy cards, especially those of his favourite team, the Hammers. However, when he’s mended and returns to the game, he finds that he’s not as speedy as he was before his accident. 

Given a special set of cards, Nick is astounded when he awakens during the night to find the players in the set on his bed, preparing for a match. The incredulous boy is told by captain, Joel ‘Scotty’ Scott, that he’s the real player but in a miniature body. The goal of this mini-Hammers’ team is to help Nick regain his confidence, lost as a result of his injury.

After a real-life match during which Nick plays well, the mini-team returns with more coaching tips. This is a clever manoeuvre by author Fish as any young AFL player reading this book would certainly be helped by the sound advice that's offered. There are a number of matches Nick’s involved with and each time he’s coached by his new friends.

This incident-packed book shows not only Nick’s improvement, but it finishes with the adult Nick, a family man, who it seems has made a footy career. 

Well written and edited with plenty of cartoon black and white illustrations, this book is sure to be a hit, especially with children who are challenged learners or reluctant readers. Highly recommended.

For copies, go to http://www.nicksfabulousfootycards.com

Oliver's Grumbles

Oliver's Grumbles by Yvonne Mes, illustrated by Giuseppe Poli  (Dragon Tales Publishing) HB RRP $22.95 HB ISBN 978-0-9944280-0-4

Reviewed by Kaye Baillie

Oliver is a boy who smiles and laughs at lots of things like a silly song or a passing train, but then there are times when things make him growl and grizzle and grumble. In 'Oliver’s grumbles', when Oliver gets the grumbles, he really gets them. His grumbles become so real that these pesky little creatures come to life. When the grumbles steal his favourite red snuggle blanket, Oliver ‘pops’ and decides he’s going to deal with the grumbles once and for all, but in a very nice way. 

In this picture book for younger readers, the author makes clever use of alliteration which enhances her playful action filled text as we ride the storm of Oliver’s bad day to his calming solution.

Children will be drawn to Giuseppe Poli’s attractive cover showing Oliver and his mischievous grumbles. The title font and cross-out word are also kid-friendly and clues us in to how the grumbles are taking over. The illustrations throughout are attractive and colourful and the grumbles have the right mix of being naughty but irresistible. The colour variations to the text work well to highlight mood and action.

This is a wonderful book to read and read again, especially at bedtime.

Buzz Words magazine

Did you know that as well as this daily children's book review blog, Buzz Words has a twice monthly  magazine for those in the Australian children's book industry?

Buzz Words online magazine is full of up-to-the-minute news, opportunities, markets (Australian and overseas), competitions, interviews, book reviews, publisher profiles, industry people profiles, courses, conferences and much more for those in the children’s book industry. It’s a fabulous way of promoting your latest book or book launch, too. 

If you want to be informed and helped, you can’t afford not to pay $48 for 24 issues p.a. For a obligation-free copy, contact the editor, Dianne (Di) Bates dibates@outlook.com

Awesome Animals: Dogs - Fun Facts and Amazing Stories

Awesome Animals: Dogs - Fun Facts and Amazing Stories by Dianne Bates, illustrated by Sophie Scahill (Big Sky Publishing)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781925275384

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Although aimed at the 8-12 year age groups, this delightful, well-researched book on dogs throughout history will entertain, inform and amaze adult readers, pet lovers, and trivia buffs as well with its astonishing and unusual stories and facts.

Under the 20 chapter headings, gems of tales emerge about moving and impressive feats of courage, loyalty, love and miraculous acts from dogs of all kinds and with varying needs. Stories recorded are of famous dogs such as Laika, Greyfriar’s Bobby, Old Shep, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, and Old Yeller. Other stories about heroic dogs of war will impress, as will those on dedicated working dogs. And the list goes on.

There are dog jokes, and doggy verse; amazing but true stories and facts about dogs. I found this excellent compilation educational and highly entertaining. It produced many laughs and readers will be eager to share it with others.

The outstanding photographs featured throughout the book are of the dogs from the Best Friends Rescue in Brisbane on the Gold Coast and surrounding areas of Queensland. It sent me straight to the site to learn more about these animals that are looking for a ‘forever’ home and love. The book draws attention to all the knowledge that is essential when choosing a dog for a pet, for owning any pet is a lifelong commitment and must be seen absolutely as that. It also brings to light the amount of dogs sadly put to sleep each year.

Awesome Animals: Dogs, is one of three books under the Awesome Animals banner. There are Cats and Horses also. Look out for them for these books are truly worthwhile. They come Highly Recommended.

Not Just a Piece of cake: Being an Author

 Not Just a Piece of cake: Being an Author by Hazel Edwards (Brolga Publishing) PB RRP $19.99

ISBN 9781922 175809

Reviewed by Susanne Gervay

The hippopotamus may be eating cake, but you’ll have a feast reading Hazel Edwards’ memoir on ‘Being An Author.’  From country girl who read before she went to school courtesy of her very Baptist grandma who also terrified young Hazel with bloodthirsty missionary serials to fifty-five year old Hazel the Antarctic explorer stranded in ice on the supply ship ‘Polar Bird’, this Memoir is strangely addictive.

Hazel Edwards was born a story teller. An only child, she grew up in rural Victoria where her parents ran the seven-day-a-week general store. Life became difficult when her father fell ill and they had to keep moving, finding themselves in new general stores and towns. Hazel went to four secondary high schools alone and when her parents could not afford for her to continue at school, she started work at the State Bank. Hazel opposed the bank policy which only sponsored the study fees of male employees because ‘Females will just get married.’ She left the State Bank to study primary school teaching.  

However, Hazel knew she was a writer and refused to follow the conventions for girls and ‘marry the farmer … and (do) teaching or nursing.’ She did eventually marry and have two wonderful children who became part of her writing life as she juggled family with her profession. She was a primary school teacher for a while. Her love of teaching found a permanent place in her career through  teaching writing students, mentoring her women writers (the Hazelnuts) and acting as a mentor to many authors.

For this inveterate explorer, endlessly inquisitive, deeply interested in people, life was not just a piece of cake. ‘Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.’ It is also the willingness to go into brave new areas. Who could imagine that the endearing imaginative picture book There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake conceived in 1978 inspired by her children, would become an international best seller?

This memoir reveals Hazel to be a trail-blazer going into areas ‘where angels fear to tread’. Her F2M young adult novel with Ryan Kennedy who underwent gender change from female to male is a leading book in this new wave of young adult literature. Her adult books include Difficult Personalities in collaboration with psychologist Helen McGrath that gives insights into psychopathic behaviours; Non-Boring Family History which continues to be a staple guide in writing family histories; Cycling Solo; Ireland to Istanbul in collaboration with Hazel’s son Trevelyan who actually rode from Ireland to Istanbul.  

Hazel’s current project, an illustrated children’s book Hijabi Girl written in collaboration with librarian Ozge, gives Islamic children a place to be acknowledged.

This memoir is also an author's life on the road. She’s ‘been everywhere, man (or more appropriately woman)’ from a Nepali Montessori School in Kathmandu reading hippo; Nanjing School for the Blind; the mining settlement of Mt Newman in the heart of the East Pilbara. There have been times of exhaustion and exhilaration adventuring on the road as an author speaking at schools, literary festivals, libraries and community events for all ages.  Everything that can goes wrong did go wrong from Hippo the huge stuffed hippopotamus splitting at the seams; to losing her voice; to a helicopter crash in the Antarctic. But then everything that can go right did go right from a standing ovation at St Kilda Film Festival premiere of the Pocket Bonfire film version of Hazel’s Hippo eating that cake; being in Paris and seeing Hippo displayed in the Australian Bookshop; to Alice the Country Women’s Association ‘best cook’ making Hazel 24 profiteroles in Condobolin in exchange for writing ideas.

It is heart-warming to read the fan mail Hazel receives from children and adults. Writing is more than a book. It is a full life that includes working with Auslan, Australian Sign Language and Braille, being a National Reading Ambassador and supporting literacy in a myriad of ways.

Hazel also translates her experiences into practical writing advice. How to embellish and retell stories, maintaining integrity in what you write, writer’s block, developing characters, getting ideas, how to develop them and a host of invaluable insights into the writing process.

Not just a piece of cake: Being An Author is a delightful insight into the life of a much-loved author. It inspires those who wish to begin the author’s journey and those on the journey. It’s also a book with a special quirkiness that once you have finished reading it, you want to drop in again and again. Highly recommended.

Susanne Gervay is a reviewer and children’s author www.sgervay.com

Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters

Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters written by Ailsa Wild, illustrated by Ben Wood (Hardie Grant Egmont)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 9781760126759

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

Squishy Taylor is a brand new junior fiction series starring a feisty, curious, brave 11 year old. Squishy (real name, Sita) has a blended family and mixed racial heritage. As Squishy says, ‘this is what normal looks like now’. She lives with her dad, step-mum, baby half-sister, and her twin ‘bonus sisters’ Vee and Jessie. She keeps in touch with her mum, who’s working for the UN in Geneva, via Skype, and likes to do ‘ninja flips’ off the triple bunk bed she shares with the twins. This is no stereotypical, saccharine sweet protagonist.

In Squishy Taylor and the bonus sisters, Squishy comes across a boy hiding in her underground car park, who is on the run after supposedly stealing a tram. Squishy relishes the challenge of sneaking out of home to deliver him food, and bonds with Vee and Jessie in the process when she lets them into her secret. Interactions with neighbourly nemesis Mr Hinkenbushel ensue as the story unravels, and the reader learns more about Squishy’s sometimes complex relationships with her different family members along the way.

Sassy, headstrong and not without faults, Squishy is a refreshing character with a strong voice. Her ups and downs with her step-sisters mimic real-life sibling dramas, and she definitely makes mistakes.

The first in the Squishy Taylor series is a fast-paced, fun option for mid-primary school aged readers. Further titles A Question of Trust, The Vase that Wasn’t and The Mess Makers are due out in quick succession in the first half of 2016 – definitely a series to watch!

Cinnamon Stevens Crime Buster

Cinnamon Stevens Crime Buster by Pauline Hosking (Lilly Pilly Publishing)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-099439826-0

Reviewed by Kel Butler

Cinnamon Stevens wants nothing more in life than to be a crime buster, a super sleuth, the world’s greatest detective. Just like her dad…and her brother. So when classmate, Becki, disappears without a trace from school camp one night, Cinnamon sees it as her big chance to crack the case. Recruiting the help of friends Meera and Cossie, the girl brigade embark on a hapless adventure of twists and turns, chasing down criminals and steering themselves straight into the heart of danger. Will this team of amateur sleuths find Becki and save the day? Or has Cinnamon bitten off more danger than she can handle?

Cinnamon Stevens Crime Buster is a fun whodunit chapter book, for the 10 plus age group, with a definite skew towards girls. Written in a diarized format, complete with footnotes and diagrams, this book is Cinnamon’s own account of the case of the missing Becki.

Cinnamon is an interesting character, caught between a strong sense of purpose, a desperate need to prove herself and the insecurities teenage girls struggle with the world over. Before she can unravel the case and prove her detective skills, Cinnamon needs to face her own fears, overcome her anxieties and learn to trust herself. This is as much an everyday story of friendship, family and acceptance, as it is a kidnapping mystery.

Cinnamon Steven’s Crime Buster is Pauline Hosking’s first book but certainly not her first piece of writing for this age group. Pauline has a long history of writing plays for children, teens and adults and as I type this review she is writing Cinnamon’s next big adventure…

Awesome Animals: Cats – Fun Facts and Amazing Stories

Awesome Animals: Cats – Fun Facts and Amazing Stories

Awesome Animals: Cats – Fun Facts and Amazing Stories by Dianne Bates, illustrated by Sophie Scahill (Big Sky Publishing)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781925275407

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Identical in format to the companion book on Dogs, Awesome Animals: Cats is another journey through entertaining, at times unbelievable, always interesting information on our feline friends.

It opens with a history on cats beginning in ancient times and the important role they played in worship. Cat fossils over fifteen million years old have been found. There have been cats in art dating back 7,000 years. From Ancient Egypt to travel on the Mayflower and onward, cats in history prepares the reader for the wondrous trail of facts – humorous and incredible – that this collection for the 8-12 year old is compiled.

The recorded cat adventures will prove that truth is stranger than fiction with feline exploits, statistics, stories of survival, heroism and bravery, and bizarre stories of tyrannical cats. We learn about cats as Gatekeepers, Ambassadors, heirs to fortunes, and spoilt and over-indulged moggies. There are Award winners, actors, pets of famous people such as Popes, Presidents, Prime Ministers, writers and other prominent people. Look for the stories about toilet trained cats, and the first Cat Café that opened in Sydney in 2015.

Jokes, poems, trivia and rhymes add humour and create laughter. The gorgeous photos that appear throughout the book are of residents of the Little Legs Cat Rescue, Queensland.

As with the Dogs edition, this book emphasises the importance of responsible cat ownership and care, and stresses the need for research before choosing a pet as it is to last for the lifetime of the animal, therefore must be taken seriously and entered into with commitment for that lifetime. Useful links and information on Pet Shelters are also listed.

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party  by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 17.99

ISBN 9780763665111

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Princess Magnolia has an alter ego that surfaces when she gets into the broom closet and slides down the chute as the Princess in Black! Even her trusty steed has a secret life. His metamorphosis takes place in the hollow of a tree that leads to a secret passage. He enters as Frimplepants and exits as Blacky.

Magnolia is anticipating the perfect Princess party. She’s put a lot of work into creating the perfect day. As she waits for the guests to arrive, her glitter-stone ring warns her of a monster attack.

The twelve invited Princesses are on their way to her party. In fact, they are at the gates. With her magic sceptre she fights the goat-eating monsters, and quickly jumps on Blacky and flies back to the party.

But each time they start to open the presents, Magnolia’s ring goes off, and off she goes giving some excuse for her sudden departure.

Will the smart and observant Princess Sneezewort catch her out? With all her monster battles raging, will her perfect Princess party have a happy ending?

Pink and frothy, funny and entertaining, these girlie thirteen chapters are ideal for 6+ readers. It can be read all at once, or picked up and put down. The illustrations are gorgeous and so is the bewitching Princess Magnolia. It is beautifully presented with a jacket cover and ideal for a special gift.

Awesome Animals: Cats – Fun Facts and Amazing Stories

Awesome Animals: Cats – Fun Facts and Amazing Stories by Dianne Bates, illustrated by Sophie Scahill (Big Sky Publishing)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781925275407

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Identical in format to the companion book on Dogs, Awesome Animals: Cats is another journey through entertaining, at times unbelievable, always interesting information on our feline friends.

It opens with a history on cats beginning in ancient times and the important role they played in worship. Cat fossils over fifteen million years old have been found. There have been cats in art dating back 7,000 years. From Ancient Egypt to travel on the Mayflower and onward, cats in history prepares the reader for the wondrous trail of facts – humorous and incredible – that this collection for the 8-12 year old is compiled.

The recorded cat adventures will prove that truth is stranger than fiction with feline exploits, statistics, stories of survival, heroism and bravery, and bizarre stories of tyrannical cats. We learn about cats as Gatekeepers, Ambassadors, heirs to fortunes, and spoilt and over-indulged moggies. There are Award winners, actors, pets of famous people such as Popes, Presidents, Prime Ministers, writers and other prominent people. Look for the stories about toilet trained cats, and the first Cat Café that opened in Sydney in 2015.

Jokes, poems, trivia and rhymes add humour and create laughter. The gorgeous photos that appear throughout the book are of residents of the Little Legs Cat Rescue, Queensland.

As with the Dogs edition, this book emphasises the importance of responsible cat ownership and care, and stresses the need for research before choosing a pet as it is to last for the lifetime of the animal, therefore must be taken seriously and entered into with commitment for that lifetime. Useful links and information on Pet Shelters are also listed.

Awesome Animals: Dogs - Fun Facts and Amazing Stories

Awesome Animals: Dogs - Fun Facts and Amazing Stories by Dianne Bates, illustrated by Sophie Scahill (Big Sky Publishing)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781925275384

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Although aimed at the 8-12 year age groups, this delightful, well-researched book on dogs throughout history will entertain, inform and amaze adult readers, pet lovers, and trivia buffs as well with its astonishing and unusual stories and facts.

Under the 20 chapter headings, gems of tales emerge about moving and impressive feats of courage, loyalty, love and miraculous acts from dogs of all kinds and with varying needs. Stories recorded are of famous dogs such as Laika, Greyfriar’s Bobby, Old Shep, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, and Old Yeller. Other stories about heroic dogs of war will impress, as will those on dedicated working dogs. And the list goes on.

There are dog jokes, and doggy verse; amazing but true stories and facts about dogs. I found this excellent compilation educational and highly entertaining. It produced many laughs and readers will be eager to share it with others.

The outstanding photographs featured throughout the book are of the dogs from the Best Friends Rescue in Brisbane on the Gold Coast and surrounding areas of Queensland. It sent me straight to the site to learn more about these animals that are looking for a ‘forever’ home and love. The book draws attention to all the knowledge that is essential when choosing a dog for a pet, for owning any pet is a lifelong commitment and must be seen absolutely as that. It also brings to light the amount of dogs sadly put to sleep each year.

Awesome Animals: Dogs, is one of three books under the Awesome Animals banner. There are Cats and Horses also. Look out for them for these books are truly worthwhile. They come Highly Recommended.

Where’s Jessie?

Where’s Jessie? by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Anne Spudvilas (NLA Publishing)
HC RRP 24.99
ISBN 9780642278753

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Bertie the bear is Jessie’s beloved toy and best friend. With no room to carry him in the cart that they are travelling, he is strapped into a box to be taken by the cameleers across the desert to their outback home. 

They cross the red, wind-whipped deserts. A cameleer decides to show Bertie the scenery but doesn’t notice when he drops him. 

Bertie longs for Jessie as lonely and still for days in the red earth, he listens to the movement of living things all around him. Wild dogs sniff and nudge him. Bats circle above. Scuttling lizards, echidnas and mice investigate him as snakes slither and slide over him.  

Heavy rains flood the plain. The water surges and sweeps Bertie along with it. He is caught and lifted high in an eagle’s claws then dropped again onto the red dirt.

Gentle dark hands lift him; hands that carry him to outstretched arms, and to a voice that speaks his name.

This moving adventure of friendship, loss and recovery, is brilliantly translated by talented illustrator Anne Spudvilas. At the end of the story, Janeen Brian shares the origins of Bertie’s story inspired by a real life event. 

The defining finishing touch comes once again from the archives of the NLA. It showcases original photos of the cameleers and camel trains of the Australian Outback of the early 1900s. The information on these cameleers emphasises the significant role they played in outback life. Winding up another fantastic production are the illustrations listed in miniature form accompanied by their details.

Timmy Failure 4: Sanitised For Your Protection

Timmy Failure 4: Sanitised For Your Protection by Stephan Pastis (Walker Books)

HC RRP $17.95

ISBN 9781406363494

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Book 4 is full of the usual verbal cleverness and chaos as Timmy joins his mother on a road trip to Chicago. They are helping Doorman Dave, mother’s boyfriend move, and as always, life is full of unpredictability. Timmy is faced with another crime to solve and everyone is a suspect to the over-confident detective. Additional stress is placed on him when his former partner the bear starts acting up, causing problems, and spending money that Timmy doesn’t have.

By some twisted force of nature, he encounters Molly Moskins who in Timmy’s eyes is a notorious criminal and nothing will change that view. After all she does confess twice. She even consents to a lie detector test. But is this proof enough to close the YIP YAP case? Things are turned on their head again when Corrina Corrina ends up in Chicago as well. Timmy is thrown off course by news his mother finds hard to tell him.

This award winning creator has once again surpassed all expectation with his extraordinary use of language. At times traumatic to the senses, but always hysterically funny in its oddity, this highly imaginative and entertaining book will keep kids 8 years and older laughing out loud.

First Person Shooter

First Person Shooter by Cameron Raynes (MidnightSun Publishing) PB RRP $24.99, also available as an ebook   ISBN 978 1925227079                         

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is MidnightSun Publishing’s first foray into cross-over fiction, described by Books+Publishing as ‘a slice of Australian Gothic’, with comparisons made to the works of Craig Silvey, Tim Winton and John Marsden, all of which must be encouraging for first time novelist Raynes.

First Person Shooter is told in first person by an interesting and likeable teenager, Jayden, who stutters, an affliction which causes him much embarrassment, to speak infrequently, and to become a keen listener and observer. Jayden lives with his dad and his aged dog, Charlie; he’s addicted to Xbox games, is a hard worker on his family orchard, and has a part-time job in a butcher’s. His best friend is the fatherless Shannon, whose mum Madeleine is in prison as a result of murdering her former partner, Terry.

This is a novel that strongly features a wide range of men from the feral and criminal to the average bloke. There is nothing pretentious or eccentric about the book’s characters as one often sees in current YA novels. Through Jayden’s intelligent eyes, Raynes writes about real characters one comes across in day-to-day life – characters you feel you might know, and some of them intimately. They are all strongly realised, even minor characters, like Jayden’s neighbour Nigel, an ex-bikie and Vietnam vet who is dying of liver failure, Roger the butcher with a lewd and suggestive mouth, Uncle Craig, a former soldier in Afghanistan and Dad’s brother. And then there’s Shannon, whose smile Jayden describes as ‘like a little bomb of goodness (that) has gone off inside her and everything about her glows.’

Told in sections, each representing a day of the week, and then six months later, the book concerns itself with maleness, soldiering, guns, butchering, bullying, assaults and more that imbues the story with a strong sense of testosterone-filled action. Caught with ammunition at school, Jayden is suspended. What follows is Madeleine’s released from prison and, at the same time, a local drug war. There is much suspense as the reader wonders if Madeleine’s sociopathic stepson will seek revenge for his father’s death.

This is an event-filled book which deals with many themes: death, family disintegration, friendship and loyalty, all happening in a small country town which is vividly realised. And, too, there are many memorable images created, for instance, a scene that perfectly captures the sheer terror Jayden experiences when he is asked to read in class (‘what I was going to say slouches off and dies somewhere inside me’) and ‘old memories, rubbed smooth by holding them too long in my head.’

Cameron Raynes and his publisher ought to feel pleased with this novel. It has a unique and compelling voice, one which isn’t often explored in YA literature. No doubt it will be short-listed for, or win awards.

Buzz Words

Did you know that as well as this daily children's book review blog, Buzz Words has a twice monthly  magazine for those in the Australian children's book industry?

Buzz Words online magazine is full of up-to-the-minute news, opportunities, markets (Australian and overseas), competitions, interviews, book reviews, publisher profiles, industry people profiles, courses, conferences and much more for those in the children’s book industry. It’s a fabulous way of promoting your latest book or book launch, too. 

If you want to be informed and helped, you can’t afford not to pay $48 for 24 issues p.a. For a obligation-free copy, contact the editor, Dianne (Di) Bates dibates@outlook.com