Chickenpox

Chickenpox by Remy Lai (Allen & Unwin) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781761068621

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Abby is tired of being the responsible big sister to four annoying siblings, especially when she’s not even allowed to wear make-up or go to the movie rental store by herself. So, when they all come down with chickenpox and have to quarantine at home for two weeks, Abby feels like she’s been locked in a zoo filled with wild animals. On top of this, friendship issues, boy problems and her mother’s constant disapproval are making her cranky – or is that just puberty kicking in? Eventually, Abby realises that it’s possible to be a sensible sister, a dependable daughter and a true friend through caring, compassion and communication.

Although eight- to twelve-year-olds are unlikely to have experienced the curse of chickenpox (thanks to the development of a vaccine), they will still enjoy Remy Lai’s humorous graphic novel from start to finish. Short chunks of text and brief speech bubbles will encourage hesitant readers, and interesting information about the stages of chickenpox will ensure that children understand what the protagonist is going through. The focus on the ups and downs of sibling relationships is a highlight of the story and will certainly appeal to anyone who butts heads with a brother or sister from time to time.

Remy’s full-colour cartoon panels are eye-catching, and there are plenty of dramatic starbursts, interesting patterns and changes in perspective to make each page dynamic and exciting. Feelings are conveyed well through the choice of hues (for example, red for anger, blue for sadness); this helps young readers to comprehend the complexities of the emotional journey in the story.

Heart-warming and hilarious, Chickenpox scratches the surface of family pandemonium to find the love, light and laughter within. Along the way, kids will discover that kindness is contagious.

The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die

The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die: A Graphic Memoir by Peter Lantos, illustrated by Stebleva Victoria (Scholastic)

Peter, a five-year-old boy, embarks on an extraordinary journey through war-torn Europe, travelling with his parents from a small Hungarian town to Austria and then to Germany. Along the way, unforgettable images of adventure flash one after another: sleeping in a tent and then under the night sky, discovering a disused brick factory, catching butterflies in the meadows, before Peter realises that the adventure is a nightmare, as he watches bombs fall from the blue sky outside Vienna and starts lessons with his mother in Bergen-Belsen. Drawn against a background of terror, starvation, and his father's and grandmother's deaths, this is a story of survival, of love between mother and son, and of enduring hope in the face of unspeakable hardship.

Taking the Long Way Home

Taking the Long Way Home by Jake Hope (Scallywag Press), RRP $29.99 Picture Book ISBN 9-781915-252845

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Taking the Long Way Home is a picture book about a little girl, Zarah, who doesn’t like walking. Even when her daddy takes shortcuts, she still feels that the walk home from school is far too long. Then, one day, when her Uncle Jerome comes to pick her and her brother up from school, Zarah isn’t happy because Uncle Jerome is taking the long way home on purpose. 

Zarah groans and complains, but Uncle Jerome encourages them to use their five senses to imagine the exotic creatures they could encounter along the way. From pterodactyls to yetis to vampire bats, by the time they reach home, Zarah has had such a terrific adventure that she actually enjoyed the walk. 

The action, expressions and surprises portrayed in the illustrations by Brian Fitzgerald bring the sensory experiences of the walk to life and carry the book. Throughout, the language switches between third person and first person, making the reading a tad confusing. The story itself is rather predictable and best suited to 3 to 5-year-olds. 

Hatch

Hatch by Heidi Cooper Smith. CSIRO Publishing 2025. Hardcover Non-Fiction Picture Book, 32 pp, RRP $26.99. ISBN 9781486318278.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

What kind of animals lay eggs? Where do they lay them, and how do they look after them?

This book introduces young readers to some of Australia’s egg-laying mammals and monotremes. It takes the reader on a journey inland, to the treetops high above, then back down to the underground and a waterhole, finishing back at the sea once more. It includes reptiles, birds, and insects, along with their habitats.

Hatch (from the illustrator of the Amanda Commander chapter book series) has beautiful illustrations containing plenty of detail for kids to explore. It includes animals found in the Australian bush and sometimes city backyards to encourage children to observe them and their behaviour for themselves.

With a glossary in the back, it is aimed at a reading level of ages 5-9.

 

There are Teacher Notes aligned to the Australian Curriculum available to download from the CSIRO Publishing website: publish.csiro.au/book/8159#forteachers.

Skippy Blackfeet

Skippy Blackfeet by Rebecca Fraser (Wombat Books), RRP $19.99 Junior Fiction ISBN 9-781761-111662

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Skippy Blackfeet is a delightful junior fiction novel about a starving, stray cat who is adopted by 8-year-old May. My daughter pounced on this book as soon as she saw the front cover and devoured it in two days - a record for her. So naturally, that got me wondering why she loved it so much. 

Told from Skippy’s point of view, Skippy is living in a quiet cemetery, beneath a pleasant agapanthus bush. There he’s safe from the noise and chaos outside the fence, but he is so hungry that he can’t remember the last time he ate. When he hears May crying because she’s lost, he comforts her and the two are instantly attracted to each other. When May’s mother finds her, May begs to bring Skippy home with them and her mother acquiesces. Skippy’s subsequent experiences living with May and her parents transform him from being alone and scared of the world to feeling loved, safe and important as he realises that he helps May as much as she helps him. 

The book consists of three stories, each with short and easy-to-read chapters. The illustrations by Jennifer Horn are cute and whimsical. Rebecca Fraser’s portrayal of Skippy Blackfeet’s thoughts and feelings at each new encounter captures how I’d imagine my own cats view the world and makes the perfect reading material for 6 to 9-year-old girls who love pets – especially cats! When my daughter was telling me how she was worried about what was going to happen to Skippy during one of his experiences, I knew this book was a winner for its intended audience. 

Koala Koala

Koala Koala by John Williamson, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley (PenguinRandom House) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN9781761344244

Based on the popular family song by an iconic Australian entertainer, this picture book celebrates our beloved but endangered koala. It is also a call by Williamson to protect eucalyptus trees, which koalas rely on for food, water, and shelter. The singer/songwriter says, ‘We need to keep their homes safe from bushfires, cars and motorbikes, dogs, and land clearing for new houses, roads and farming. We can all contribute by planting more eucalyptus trees wherever possible in areas where koalas reside, and by joining the effort to protect the remaining unique forests.

Williamson’s text in the book follows these sentiments. For example, on a beautifully illustrated double page, there is a picture on the left-hand side of a koala perched up a roadside sign, looking at four children who are planting trees. The text reads, ‘We’ve gotta learn how to help you survive. I’ll grow a gum tree today.’ Another page reads, ‘Put a water bowl on the ground’, with a picture of a koala drinking from the bowl.

The last few pages read, ‘Koalas, you used to be everywhere; what a wonderful place it could be…A walk in the bush could be heaven. Please bring back the forest for me.’

This book is the latest instalment in the bestselling series of picture books inspired by Williamson’s songs.

Ariana Treasure: The Secret Ingredient

Ariana Treasure: The Missing Book by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, illustrated by Karen Erasmus (Wombat Books) PB RRP $10.99 ISBN 9781761111808

Ariana Treasure: The Secret Ingredient by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, illustrated by Karen Erasmus (Wombat Books) PB RRP $10.99
ISBN 9781761111822

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Ariana Treasure is a new six-book junior fiction series written for newly independent readers. Ariana Treasure is a young girl who helps at her family’s thrift shop called The Treasure Chest. The heartwarming stories set around this thrift shop radiate a great sense of community and kindness while offering a sustainability message that highlights the reuse of pre-loved items.

In book one, The Missing Book, Ariana meets a new family that has just moved to her town. Additionally, Ariana is left saddened when her most prized possession, a precious book that once belonged to her beloved grandpa, goes missing.

In book two, The Secret Ingredient, Ariana’s friends enter a food truck competition and go to The Treasure Chest thrift shop in search of inspiration for a special dish that could help them win.

The Ariana Treasure stories are highly recommended for an audience aged 5 years and older. The books would appeal to young readers who are beginning their chapter book journey as they include a large font size, short chapters, plenty of white space, and monochrome pictures throughout.

The remaining books in the Ariana Treasure series include: The Lucky Shoes, The Lost Frog, The Perfect Day, and The Fundraiser.