Down under picture books for ankle biters!

It being Australia ('Straya!) day last Saturday, I got thinking about picture books that have an Australian theme or even small details relating to Australia and I managed to come up with quite a few off the top of my head! 

I had various Australian Au pairs growing up; Kylie One, Kylie Two and Vanessa (I'm not joking about the Kylie's!) until I was about 12 (I was regularly called an ankle biter and nipper) I also had a some great lodgers for a while, two lovely Australian couples from Melbourne (of which all have children now and are living back in Aus). "G'day" and "no worries" were definitely part of my everyday language as a kid with these guys around!

My mum also spent quite a bit of time in Aus when she was about 25 and she is always saying how much she loved her time there. 

Anyway I thought I'd share this list on here (as I've never written anything but reviews on here so far...) so here goes!

'Possum Magic' written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas

“Once upon a time, but not very long ago, deep in the Australian bush, there lived two possums. Their names were Hush and Grandma Poss. Grandma Poss made bush magic…”

Grandma Poss uses bush magic to do all sorts of things, including making Hush invisible. But one day Hush wants to be visible again and the only way to do this is to find the right food (people food not possum food!) So they tour Australia from Brisbane to Sydney trying different foods to make Hush visible again; including ANZAC biscuits, pavlova and Lamingtons!

A brilliant story with fabulous illustrations - a treasured book in my house. 

'Slow Loris' written and illustrated by Alexis Deacon

OK so Alexis isn't Australian and neither is this book... But I had to include this little illustration from the book! 

'Diary Of A Wombat' written by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Way before Diary Of A Wimpy Kid there was Diary Of A Wombat! Simple illustrations detailing an introduction of what wombats do with their days. Oh, they like digging holes, eating and sleeping (as well as something else but you'll have to read to find out!)

There is also Diary Of A Christmas Wombat and Diary Of A Baby Wombat which are equally fantastic.

'Boomer The Roo' & 'An Emu Called Tangles' written by Josephine Barrymore and illustrated by Leanne Fleming or Lauren Wilhelm

Both of mine are inscribed 'Dear Laura, lots of love always, Kylie one xxxx' and I truly treasure these - the publisher was fitting for me, Little Aussie!

'Here come the Little Aussies running down the track, they're off to visit Tangles in the Great Outback. 

First comes Kip, he's carrying his swag.

Smokey's put his bush hat on and Buttons has her bag.'

Kip's a surfer and a skateboarder by the way, and Boomer is a lifeguard. Awesome characters and of course a moral to each story where Boomer or Tangles save the day and teach the Little Aussies (koalas) a lesson!

'This Is Australia' written and illustrated by Miroslav Sasek

Again not actually Australian but a lovely addition to anyone's library, gorgeously illustrated detailing landmarks, Australian animals and culture. 

Someone told me a few days ago that they never wanted to visit or live in Australia because what little culture they had was boring and uninteresting, I honestly don't think she could have been more wrong and I really hope I'm lucky enough to visit one day (or to live would be my dream!)

Here's a little Roo just because they're so cute! 

Anyway I hope you've enjoyed this post, and please do comment/tweet me letting me know of any other Aussie books you would recommend! Also if you're ever in Melbourne visit The Little Bookroom (@Little_Bookroom), a delightful children's bookshop. 

Extra Reading:

'Edwina The Emu' by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement

'Edward The Emu' by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement

'Greetings From Sandy Beach' by Bob Graham

'Window' by Jeannie Baker

'W Is For Wombat' by Bronwyn Bancroft

'Kangaroo's Can Can Cafe' by Julia Jarman and Lynne Chapman

'Aussie Animals' by Rod Campbell

'The Bungarra Five' by Josephine Barrymore and Lauren Wilhelm

'The Arrival' by Shaun Tan

Slightly unrelated but also pretty much any book published by Walker Books Australia too.

‘Quand Le Loup A Faim’ (When the Wolf Is Hungry) written by Christine Naumann-Villemin and illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo

I came across this book in Bergerac, South West France whilst on holiday with my family this summer. We were wandering through the old town and there, tucked in behind the vegetable market was an amazing bookshop with one of the most exciting children’s sections I have ever come across.  There was an entire section devoted to wolves! My family took a rather long coffee break and returned for me two hours later, when I was still reluctant to leave! I left with an armful of books, including this marvellous tale.

Sadly, my French is little more than basic but that didn’t deter from my enjoyment of this book even before I turned to Google translate for assistance. And then when I did, the tale became more hilarious still not only through having the words brought to life but then in turn, through the delightful inaccuracies in translation!

   

Edmond Bigtarin is a very hungry wolf and is really quite partial to rabbit, one that is grain fed and has fine hair. Edmond cycles off to the city from his lonely cabin in the woods in search of said rabbit, knife in hand.  On reaching the city he comes across a rather tall building.  He glances through the names on the bells at the door and comes to an abrupt halt at the nameplate for 'Max Omatose, Rabbit, 5^th Floor'. Edmond is happy! He presses the button on the elevator with the tip of his knife and adjusts his bow tie, “as a greedy wolf should not be any less elegant” (according to Google!)

Numerous animals including a turkey, a cow, a bear and a polecat appear on the scene in his elevator journey and interrupt Edmond’s efforts to reach the rabbit’s apartment. They all enquire as to whether he is the new neighbour? Edmond, not wanting to reveal the true purpose of his quest, confirms that indeed he is. The enchanting final page depicts Edmond's change of heart (he becomes a vegetarian!) after realising through his experiences en route to rabbit, that friends are infinitely more important than a tasty rabbit supper. He relocates to the city and becomes the President of the Good Neighbours Association.

Di Giacomo’s illustrations are sketchy yet detailed - the wolf with his sinister grin as he heaves the chainsaw into the elevator (having lost his knife at one point), the sincere bear who then asks to borrow the chainsaw to cut the hedge on the roof in preparation for a party there that night and of course, the amiable rabbit who welcomes the wolf with open arms to join their celebrations.

I love the imagery of a dapper, bow tie wearing wolf wandering around an apartment block with a chainsaw in hand, the naivety of the other animals and the fabulous ending. This is an utterly brilliant twist on the many traditional folktales starring wolves. This book is nothing short of irresistible and will appeal to children and adults alike (meat eaters and vegetarians!)

Recommended age 3 and a half plus

Published by Kaleidoscope in hardback and is €13.20

'Vegetable Glue' written by Susan Chandler and illustrated by Elena Odriozola

'When my right arm fell off, I knew what to do. I stuck it back on, with vegetable glue.' 

This has been one of my favourite board books to recommend for a while now. When I start to explain that it's about a girl who's body parts fall off one by one, I get mixed reactions to say the least! Some people are horrified and I go on to show them something slightly more 'appropriate' for a small child but others absolutely love it (I'm one of those people!)

I actually first came across the book whilst I was looking after a little lad one evening and he picked this as his bedtime story. I'd seen it before but never actually read it so we settled down and started to read... A little shocked at first as it wasn't what I was expecting but ended up loving it! The boy's reaction was the best - he genuinely couldn't stop laughing, endless giggles and chuckles from the then two and a half year old. 

Obviously many fantastic children's books have caused reaction before but with this one in particular it has now happened to every child I have read this book to (of course this could be my incredible talent as a storyteller, but somehow I think it's more likely to be the story...) It's got a great moral too; if you don't eat your vegetables, you can't make vegetable glue which stops your body parts falling off of you!

Spanish Odriozola's illustrations accompany the story perfectly with her muted colours and gorgeous patterns (such as the girl's dress - pictured left)

Recommended age 1 and a half+

Published by Meadowside Children's Books as a board book and is £3.99

'Charley's First Night' written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Whichever books she illustrates, I somehow cannot dislike a one by Helen Oxenbury. Take 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen, 'Farmer Duck' by Martin Waddell and 'Ten Little Fingers And Ten Little Toes' by Mem Fox for example - luckily the talented authors' ensured every book she's illustrated I've loved even more because of their stories!






Amy Hest is a fine example of a writer that works well with different illustrators; I grew up with the 'Baby Duck' stories, illustrated by Jill Barton, which are delightful. And of course the inspiring 'When Jessie Came Across The Sea', illustrated by P.J. Lynch. Her stories just have such charm.

Charley's First Night is certainly no exception. A sweet, sweet story about a young boy named Henry Korn with a gorgeous new puppy (I know they're all cute but this one is especially scrumptious!) whom he's named Charley Korn. 

When Henry is told he must walk Charley every day and feed Charley every day, he can't wait! But when he hears that Charley has to sleep in the kitchen every night, Henry can't stop wondering about Charley downstairs all alone! While Henry is in bed, Charley starts crying and Henry rushes downstairs to comfort him. I don't think I need to tell you where Charley ends up sleeping on his first night...

I'm not a huge dog lover (two cats!) but this heart-warming story portrays the unbreakable bond between a boy and his dog.

Recommended age 3+

Published by Walker Books in hardback and is £11.99

'The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket' written by John Boyne and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

My first ever John Boyne novel and I absolutely loved it! The scene is set with the ever so 'normal' Brocket family with their normal life in their normal house with their two normal children; until Barnaby is born... 

Barnaby Brocket floats, and his parent's can't stand that he's not 'normal', having been told 'he'll grow out of it' they install mattresses on the ceilings to prevent him banging his head for the moment and try to keep him in the house at all times - with the exception of a peg to the washing line for some Vitamin D in the sun every now and again.

His parents soon grow tired of him, after eight years, sending him to the most horrid school and making him wear a sandbag weighed down rucksack, they do something terrible. One day Barnaby's mother Eleanor takes him and Captain W E Johns (the dog) for a walk to Mrs Macquarie's Chair and with her scissors she cuts Barnaby's rucksack, as the sand spills out Barnaby soon floats upwards, shouting for his mother's help as she stands there and watches. 

He bumps into a hot air balloon (thank goodness!) and is rescued buy two women on their way back to Brazil to their coffee farm. Soon afterwards Barnaby is on his way back to Sydney but falls asleep on his train and misses the stop for the airport! 

I won't tell you any more than I already have but Barnaby has some great adventures including parachuting (or trying to) and meeting some different and fantastic people along the way. This is clearly a story about how being different is most definitely not a bad thing, which I think is one of the most important thing's a child can learn as early on as possible.

A brilliant read. Oliver Jeffer's illustrations are superb, they compliment the story perfectly.

Recommended age 8+

Published 2nd August (tomorrow!) by Doubleday Children's in hardback and is £10.99

'Out Of Shadows' written by Jason Wallace

Now I really don't read a huge amount of young adult fiction but I thought I'd have a go at this one... Happy I did? Most definitely, hats off to you Jason Wallace - it's brilliant. 

Zimbabwe: 1980's. Written in the first person, set in the early years of the Mugabe government,  a young lad moves to southern Africa with his family and is forced to go to a boarding school that already gives him the shivers. Sharing a dorm with two dozen other boys, all white except one, is daunting for Robert Jacklin, but nothing compares to what he later has to face. Will he choose the right group of friends? One, boisterous and bullies - the other kind but bullied. 

As the story unfolds you realise the huge impact one's decisions can have on other people's lives, it really does come down to life or death in this thrice award winning novel from Jason Wallace. Endearing characters like Weekend, the telephone operator with whom Jacklin speaks to very often - desperately trying to get hold of his parents, really make the book more about life as a Zimbabwean at the time.

A brave debut novel, tackling issues many young adults are almost clueless about (including myself), beautifully written with vivid character portrayals and beautiful landscape descriptions that remind me of my time spent in East Africa when I was the protagonists age.

Recommended age 14+

Published by Andersen Press in paperback and is £6.99

'The King Of Capri' written by Jeanette Winterson and illustrated by Jane Ray

I have to admit that when I first saw Jane Ray's illustrations I wasn't sold, for some reason characters faces didn't quite warm to me. However after reading The King Of Capri I completely understand why people love her. 

Essentially a rags to riches book but set among the most beautiful pages... After a fierce storm one night, the greedy king wakes up to discover that all his belongings have blown over to the bay of Naples, his beautiful silk clothes and valuable treasures.

Over in Naples the town is in chaos, the storm has uprooted everyone's belongings and everything has landed within other people's gardens! A lonely, humble washerwoman and her Italian speaking cat, Wash, have woken up to find countless expensive and useful items in their garden and become very prosperous indeed, of course kindly sharing their new found wealth. 

Some time later, the penniless king visits Naples and bumps into the washerwoman wearing his silk pyjamas! They soon become great companions and share their fortune, the king realising that wealth isn't everything. It just goes to show you should never just flick through a book and judge it by it's illustrations, Ray has managed to perfectly capture Winterson's story and add to the delight of this classic tale. 

Recommended age 4+

Published by Bloomsbury in paperback and is £4.99

Images from the Illustration Cupboard website - www.illustrationcupboard.com

'Slow Loris' written and illustrated by Alexis Deacon

Slow Loris is a slow loris.  All the other animals in the zoo think Slow Loris is boring because he is

                                                                                                         very

                                                                                                                 very

                                                                                                                         slow.

                                                                                                           All the visitors to the zoo think Slow Loris is boring because he is

                                                                                    very

                                                                                                 very                                    

                                                                                                                                                                             slow.

But Loris has a secret...

One night the other animals at zoo lea rn Loris' secret and discover he isn't quite as boring as they thought.This is one of my all-time favourite pictures books!  A short, simple story paired with wonderful illustrations make this book perfect for picture book lovers of all ages.

Recommended age 3+

Published by Red Fox in paperback and is £5.99

Reviewed by Emma Borg

'Iggy Peck, Architect' written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts

One of my favourite picture books ever! A brilliant combination of David Roberts' detailed illustrations and Andrea Beaty's rhyming sentences.

Iggy Peck has been building with whatever materials he can get his hands on, whether that be nappies, pencils or apples and peaches. His parents love their son's talent, but when he starts school his teacher, Miss Lila Greer, isn't happy with Iggy's interest in architecture. You see, Miss Greer has had a fear of heights since the age of six where she spent a rather long while stuck in a lift with circus performers at the top of a very high building.

But what happens when on a school trip, Iggy's class incurs a disaster and Miss Greer passes out?! Can Iggy and his talent help save the day with some shoestrings and a a couple of fruit roll-ups?

A few of my friends are studying architecture at university and I have bought several of them copies for their birthday's and they have been very well received!

Recommended age 3 and a half +

Published by Harry N. Abrams in paperback and is £7.95

'Journey To The River Sea' written by Eva Ibbotson

Eva Ibbotson has written over twenty books, but this is by far my favourite. I rarely read a book more than once, maybe twice if it's extra special, but this I have now read five or six times. Each time I revisit the book I discover a new meaning to something I hadn't really noticed before. 

Maia is living in a British orphanage when she is told she has relatives living in the Amazonian jungle in Brazil. Hearing she has an uncle, aunt and twin cousins - Gwendolyn and Beatrice, hugely excites Maia. 

She is given a new governess, Miss Minton, who accompanies her on the long journey to her new home where she meets her family and soon realises they are not quite was she was expecting. The twins certainly have key similarities to the ugly sisters in Cinderella! None of the girls are allowed outside, certainly not to explore and only eat tinned food sent over from England!

Maia then meets Finn. His mother, who was part of an Indian tribe called the Xanti, died shortly after giving birth to Finn. His father died more recently and left a huge fortune for Finn back in England, but he'd much rather stay in Brazil. How will Finn and Maia get around the two men that are trying to bring him back to England? A brilliant novel and, in my eyes a modern classic. 

Recommended age 9+

Published by Macmillan in paperback and is £6.99