Picture Books

My week in books

February 10, 2017 by Karen Comer 14 Comments

How many books have you read, skimmed, touched, discussed, borrowed or bought this week? I decided I would tally up mine!

Read

The secret scriptures by Sebastian Barry – this was my bookclub book and and it was my turn to host. Half of our bookclub had read it, half had started it. We all agreed it was a very slow start. It’s a dual narrative with both sections written in first person. Roseanne is a one-hundred-year-old woman who has been a patient at a mental hospital in Ireland for many, many years. Dr Grene is her psychiatrist. I enjoyed Roseanne’s story more because she was the more interesting character with a strong voice. When I read Dr Grene’s sections, I had to remind myself that his story was current – his tone was quite formal for a contemporary voice.
Becoming a writer by Dorothea Brande – this book was published in the 1930s, but is still relevant today, despite the 1930s tone. I reread this book because the writer discusses the two personalities of the author – the rational or conscious side and the dreamy or unconscious part. I’m interested in this at the moment because I’m trying to balance writing a logical outline for my book so I can see where the problems lie, as well as use my subconscious to solve the problems. Wish me luck!
When the teddy bears came by Martin Waddell – this is a gorgeous picture book which is a perfect present for a toddler about to become a big sister or brother. I put all my kids’ much-loved soft toys in the washing machine yesterday – 34 degrees! – and hung them on the line to dry by their ears or tails. They looked both bedraggled and comical, and the lines of teddies and penguins and dogs reminded me of Waddell’s book, with its collection of teddy bears.
The last painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith – I have only started this book but am really enjoying it so far.

Skimmed

Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi – I’m doing a cooking class next weekend with a friend, based on Ottolenghi’s recipes. I didn’t know much about him at all so I borrowed my friend’s cookbooks. We are having caramelised fennel and roasted eggplant with lamb mince for dinner this week – yum!
Information is beautiful by David McCandless – my kind brother gave me this book – I did cook him a decent dinner and agreed to be interviewed for his business! Its pages show different ways to present information, trends and statistics from different types of fish, carbon usage and the connection between facial hair and the number of people one has killed! It’s a visually stunning book – would be an asset to any marketing department. I have only flicked through it but can already see how I’ll use it as a resource for inspiration, marketing and storytelling.

Touched

One by Sarah Crossan – my friend Tess, a remarkable young woman, is going to start a bookclub with some university friends and wanted some recommendations for books on feminism, female empowerment and gender roles. So this section is for Tess, as I went through my bookshelves for options for her. One is a young adult fiction book about conjoined twins – definitely empowering.
The poisonwood bible by Barbara Kingsolver – four sisters who leave the US with their parents to live in the Congo. Different directions, different choices by the sisters in this novel.
All that I am by Anna Funder – set in Germany during the Second World War, this is a fictional account of two female cousins who work against Hitler. Chilling.
Speaking out and The fictional woman by Tara Moss – two non-fiction books by an Australian model, author and activist. Powerful reading.
The wife drought by Annabel Crabbe – this book covers the same old ground about the division of duties at work and home between men and women. A fiery read.
Motherhood and creativity, the divided heart by Rachel Power – a series of interviews with creative women who are also mothers. While the emphasis is on creative careers, many of the stories can also be applied to the business world.

Discussed

The beast’s garden by Kate Forsyth – I lent my copy to one of the lovely baristas at my local cafe because she is an avid reader. She’s just started it, so I’m looking forward to hearing what she thinks of it when she’s read a little bit more.
Zen habits by Leo Babuto – I also lent my copy of this book to another lovely barista at the same cafe because he wanted to stop procrastinating and this book has fabulous tips for creating habits to do the things that you want to do but just can’t. However, he has been procrastinating reading it so we haven’t had any conversations about it yet!

Browsed

Big magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – I love this book, and pulled it out to flip through because I wanted some tips and tricks on how to be more creative. Will probably end up reading this one cover to cover again.
Zakka compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale – Miss 10 and I are on a sewing project roll at the moment – we made lavender sachets in the holidays. I have found a little project in this book we could sew. Now to choose the fabric from my stash – blue flowers or blue butterflies?

Borrowed

Goodbye stranger by Rebecca Stead – my friend Renee suggested I read this as apparently Stead’s style and subject matter is similar to what I’m working on with my book. Just borrowed it yesterday from the library so I’m looking forward to a good middle-grade fiction read.
Anansi boys by Neil Gaiman – because he’s Neil Gaiman and this book happened to be lying by itself on the library shelf. Need I say more?
Fabric pictures by Janet Bolton – love a beautifully photographed craft book and the cover had me at hello!

Bought

Zero! I have a Christmas book voucher which is begging to be spent but I am trying to hold off for a little while longer.

I hope you have had an equally bookish week with fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, children’s fiction – let me know about your week in books, please.

Christmas shopping – picture books

November 11, 2016 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

Yes, it’s only November but we need to think about buying books for Christmas! I have a series of posts planned for you which I hope will make your Christmas shopping easier. Each Friday for the next four weeks I’ll provide a list of books which I love, and I hope you do, too. You can also look at my posts from last year – book series for kids, stand-alone titles for kids, picture books and Christmas books.

Even if your children, nieces, nephews or grandchildren aren’t strong readers, a book is a beautiful gift – and one that will last beyond the plastic stuff. Besides, they’ll need a break from the water pistols and technology gadgets over six or eight weeks of holidays!

Here’s some of my favourite picture books to put in a Christmas stocking for this year.

I haven’t included the usual favourites for really little ones – Mem Fox, Pamela Allen, Rod Campbell, Julia Donaldson, Martin Waddell – all these writers have beautiful board books for babies and small ones who like to chew on books or rip the pages.

This girl, that girl written and illustrated by Charlotte Lance – gorgeous watercolour illustrations show the difference between ‘this girl’ and ‘that girl’. Here’s a case of less is more when it comes to words – the pictures say everything, sometimes even the opposite of what the words mean. It’s a lovely book about fathers and daughters and their differences. It’s simple and funny enough for four-year-olds but would work wonders in a grade 1 classroom, too.

The paper dolls, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Rebecca Cobb – I dare you to read this and NOT make a chain of paper dolls! This is a sweet story about a girl whose mother helps her make a chain of paper dolls who have all sorts of adventures. This girl grows up into a mother herself and helps her daughter make a set of paper dolls. Perfect for 4-6 year-olds.

The hero of Little Street, illustrated by Gregory Rogers – this is a picture book with no words. The story is told in comic book style but without the speech bubbles. A lovely, funny book about a boy who accidentally seems to get into trouble and accidentally ends up in one of Vemeer’s paintings. It would be a fabulous way to encourage reluctant readers to enjoy books – without technically reading! But of course, the story is told through the illustrations.

A bus called Heaven, written and illustrated by Bob Graham – this story is all about community spirit. It’s a lovely story about a quiet girl who stands up for something she believes in. Bob Graham creates stories which show characters at their best – you would want your kids to be surrounded by these characters.

The fantastic flying books of Mr Morris Lessmore, written by William Joyce, illustrated by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm – this is a really special book – I think I’d like to live in it, especially the library with flying books. It tells the story of Morris Lessmore, who writes his hopes and dreams in a book and loves reading. This book shows books as living things which engage with readers. It’s also a lovely short film – you can watch it here – Miss 10 and I thought it was wonderful.

Tiger can’t sleep, written by S. J. Fore and illustrated by R. W. Alley – this is one of my favourite read-aloud books ever. The little boy in the story wants to go to sleep but he can’t – because there’s a tiger in the closet making all sorts of strange noises. It’s hilarious because the tiger takes the part of a child, and the child in the story reacts like an adult. I have read this to my three kids over and over again, and to many other kids as well because it’s just so funny. I would rescue this book from a fire! Wonderful for 3-7 year-olds.

Cloth lullaby, the woven life of Louise Bourgeois, written by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault – this is a lush, gorgeously written and illustrated book for a discerning reader, 6-9 years. It’s long for a picture book, and it’s a quiet, slow read, so it may not suit all kids. The illustrations are fit to be framed – watercolours in a palette of red, pink, blue and black. The story is based on Louise Bourgeois’ life in Paris, where her mother taught her to mend exquisite tapestries and sew. When she was a student, her mother died and Louise turned to painting and weaving to preserve her memories of her mother. The writing is as beautiful as the illustrations, so it has the feel of a keepsake book to be treasured.

Llama, llama red pyjama, written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney – this is a funny book for kinder kids. Little llama is tucked up in bed but feels lonely without his Mama. His mama says she’ll be in his room soon, but soon takes ‘forever’ for this llama. A funny but truthful bedtime story for little ones.

Alphabeasties and other amazing types, created by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss – this would be a fabulous present for a kid about to start school. It’s an alphabet book. Every page covers a different letter with an animal created with different letter fonts. There are also flaps which are always a winner, plus little tips about how different letters are created. Barely any writing – lots of letters and pictures.

A child of books, written by Oliver Jeffers and illustrated by Sam Winston – just so you know – this book was written for me. I mean, I’ve never met Oliver Jeffers or even connected with him through social media but he wrote this book for me. Truly. Here are the first lines – ‘I am a child of books. I come from a world of stories and upon my imagination I float.’ See, that was written for me! The illustrations are a mix of black pen outlines, photographs of books and lines of text from stories. This is a book which should be in every school’s library.

I hope you find some new reads in this list. I’d be really grateful if you could forward on my blog details through your email to friends and family who may appreciate some book ideas for Christmas. Thank you – happy reading!

Quirky picture books about mums

April 29, 2016 by Karen Comer 1 Comment

Nearly Mother’s Day, and there are a few whispered conversations at our place. The kids have given me quite a few books for Mother’s Day over the years – some adult novels and some picture books about mums. I’m not a fan of the sweetly sentimental picture books but I do love the quirky ones. Here’s a list of five of my favourites:

My Mum has x-ray vision, written by Angela McAllister and illustrated by Alex T. Smith. This book begins with: Milo’s Mum was like all the other mums. She had ordinary hair, ordinary clothes and a nice smile. Milo’s Mum was just like all the other mums … except she could see through things. Milo was pretty sure she had x-ray vision.

Except Milo works out that she doesn’t have x-ray vision, even though the pictures tell a different story. The illustrations are fun and comical, especially the two double page spreads which you need to turn around to see properly.

Funny book for kinder kids. My kids still quote from this book, especially when I remind them about the no-devices-in-bedrooms rule. ‘But how did you know, Mum?’ they say, as they pull out the device from under their t-shirt. ‘X-ray vision!’

No room for a mouse, written by Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Christopher’s Mum is extraordinarily busy, with a to-do list that grows every day. When Christopher invites an array of people to live in his house, his mother doesn’t even notice. But when Christopher and his pet mouse go missing, his Mum notices then and adjusts her to-do list.

Interesting book for 3-6 year-olds. Gorgeous, watercolour illustrations.

Kiss the cow, written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Mama May had so many children she couldn’t count them all. But every day, Mama May manages to milk the cow twice a day to give milk and cheese to her many children. It is Annalisa, her most stubborn and curious child, that causes the problem in this book. The story is about Annalisa and Luella, the cow, but I like Mama May’s constant presence and firm questioning.

Fabulous book for 3-6 year-olds. A funny ‘ugh’ moment.

Time for bed, Isobel, written by David Bedford, illustrated by Leonie Worthington. The panda mother in this story deserves a medal for her patience! “I don’t want to go to bed,” said Isobel. “I want to be with you.” Forget that this is a kids’ story – if you have ever spent three hours putting a toddler to bed, this book is for you!

Perfect for toddlers who don’t want to go to bed.

My Mum, written and illustrated by Anthony Browne. This is a classic and has been around for over ten years now. There is also a corresponding Dad book. The story is told from the child’s perspective, about his mum who can sing like an angel, and roar like a lion. She’s really, really nice, my mum. It’s full of contradictions – She’s as soft as a kitten, and as tough as a rhino. The illustrations show the same floral material from Mum’s dressing gown on every page.

All babies should be given this as soon as possible, and all mums should read this frequently! Wonderful first Mother’s Day present.

So, if you’re a mum, what sort of mum are you? Do you have eyes in the back of your head or are you as tough as a rhino? Do you feed your children milk and cheese? Are you as patient as Isobel’s mum, or as busy as Christopher’s mum? Think I can identify with all these storybook mothers!

One minute’s silence – book review

April 22, 2016 by Karen Comer 2 Comments

Very happy to have a long weekend for ANZAC day – half the sport commitments and an extra day with my family – love it! Mr 6 has been talking about ANZAC day – the war, the fighting, the dying, the remembering. I read him One minute’s silence, written by David Metzenthen and illustrated by Michael Camilleri. (Miss 9 and Mr 12 read it, too – one of those books that grows with the reader each year. The illustrations are contemporary and sophisticated, the language is emotive so appropriate for a wide range of kids.)

This one is particularly moving because:

every sentence begins with something like – In one minute’s silence you can imagine …
the use of evocative Australian images – wild colonial boys … a dairy farmer’s dawn … blokes from the big smoke … bare-knuckled bushmen
the Turkish viewpoint – the strangers wading through the shallows, intent on streaming into the homeland of the Turkish people … what the Turkish fighters felt when they knew they could hold the high ground
the crosshatch illustrations – black and white, maybe a touch of sepia
how the illustrations tell a story on top of the words – the book begins with a picture of some older kids in a classroom setting. The same kids are present in every illustrations, part of the war action – they mirror the horror and shock that we, as readers, feel.
the inclusion of the truce day, where the Australians and the Turkish met without weapons, sharing cigarettes and shovels as they buried their dead in the cool Turkish earth
the simple, yet evocative language – In one minute’s silence, you can imagine the great crop of crosses the Anzacs left behind … and the promises given to never forget the boys who would not wake to the hushed footsteps or the whispered farewells.

Lest we forget.

Beth, the story of a child convict – book review

April 15, 2016 by Karen Comer 5 Comments

Don’t you love a coincidence? Miss 9 discovered that her class would be studying Australian convict history on the same day that my lovely Mum and I went to a book launch for Mark Wilson’s latest picture book, Beth, the story of a child convict.

It’s based on the true story of Elizabeth Hayward, a child convict who was convicted for stealing a dress and a bonnet, and sentenced to transportation on board the ship, Lady Penrhyn.

This is the story of Beth and Molly, the small daughter of a convict who died during the voyage. Once they reach Australia, Beth and Molly work as servants for the ship’s surgeon. He keeps a diary, and there are a few extracts in the picture book, which provide extra historical details.

Beth and Molly dig a vegetable garden, but the vegetables don’t grow and there is not enough food.

When Molly becomes sick from dysentery, Beth carries her to the hospital but there is no help for Molly.

Mark based the journal entries from Mr Brady on the journals from the Lady Penrhyn naval officer surgeon, William Bradley. He showed us examples of William Bradley’s handwriting, which he imitated for the journal extracts. Mark claimed that handwriting hadn’t changed much in over two hundred years!

Mark showed us his research boards, and we saw examples of his illustrations as works in progress. Mark used acrylic paint and pencils for the illustrations.

This book is a perfect trifecta – interesting story, incredible illustrations and information for Australian history projects!

Fairytales – part 1

March 4, 2016 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

Mr 6 is looking at fairytales in his class – the traditional type as well as riffs on the original version. We have quite the collection of fairytale type picture books so I thought I’d do a few posts on this topic, as the stories are so funny and wonderful. I think the main reason we enjoy these stories is because the original story and characters are so familiar to us and yet the novelty of the twist keeps us curious.

I was watching Mr 6 as I read him Lauren Child’s Beware of storybook wolves the other night. He was absolutely worried about the wolves but at the same time, he knew – he just knew – that the little boy protagonist would win through because in his world of books, good always triumphs over evil. It was fascinating to see this equal fear and confidence on his face, as he sat up in bed, listening to the story. (And there is nothing as sweet as a little boy in striped pyjamas in bed listening to a story – says his biased mother!)

The following picture books are suitable for three to seven year-olds, and focus on the bears from Goldilocks and the three bears. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of the original story! And these stories offer a great example to older children of how you can take a familiar tale and add your own take on it.

Goldilocks and just the one bear – written and illustrated by Leigh Hodgkinson – Kids (probably kinder kids) will love this story because it is the reverse of the original story. How funny to have the little bear wander into a grown-up Goldilocks’ house and try three breakfast versions, three chairs and then three beds! The language is conversational – perfect for reading aloud – ‘A little sit-down somewhere would definitely see him tickety-boo.’

No bears – written by Meg McKinlay and illustrated by Leila Rudge – I would buy anything Meg McKinlay has written – picture book, children’s novel or young adult novel. This book – although a seemingly simple picture book – has lots of layers, so it’s worthy of rereading and rereading. And it’s a great example of text and illustrations working in tandem. Ruby tells the story of a book about a princess but there are no bears – except the illustrations show a lovely picture book within the pages of the actual book – with a bear on the outside of the illustrated book. (Book within a book – love it!) The climax of the story shows a fairy godmother saving the princess from an evil monster ‘because everyone knew she was the one who had saved the princess with her fantastical magic powers’. But can you guess who really saved the princess? Yes, it was a bear – and this is never mentioned in the text, only in the illustrations. This book is a fabulous resource for showing kids how to read a book by the pictures. And of course, small kids will think they are very clever to work out the story themselves without help from the words.

The brave little hedgehog – written and illustrated by Paul and Emma Rogers – this book does focus on the little hedgehog but it does mention the three bears so it ties into this post! This book is more for older six or seven year-old readers because it plays on the concept of the indefinite article (a/an) and the definite article (the). Not that I would buy a book to teach a grammatical concept or that I have discussed this with Mr 6 – it’s just a fun way to think about everyday words such as ‘a’ and ‘the’. The brave little hedgehog wants to be in a story and sets out on an adventure. He meets a whole host of fairytale characters – a witch, a princess, a gingerbread man etc. Except he is not ‘a’ gingerbread man but ‘the’ gingerbread man! The little hedgehog meets the three bears who tell him, ‘Of course, we can’t all be great heroes, so famous that everyone stares, and hedgehogs aren’t even that cuddly, but then … nothing’s as cuddly as bears.’ The little hedgehog has to think fast when he meets not ‘a’ big bad wolf but ‘the’ big bad wolf. Luckily, he remembers his mother’s advice and lives to tell his own story.

I am watching the tv series Once at the moment, based on an adult version of fairytale characters who have been cursed by ‘the’ wicked queen and sent to a land without magic where they have forgotten they are fairytale characters. I haven’t met Goldilocks or the three bears yet but I am enjoying the dark twists and the layered, complex characters where no-one is completely good or evil.

And that’s what makes these fairytale characters so relatable for little ones – nothing is black and white. Ruby in No bears completely misses the fact that a bear saved her princess and the bear in Goldilocks and just the one bear comments on how he ‘would never dream of doing anything like’ falling asleep in someone else’s bed. The main characters have skewered perceptions, and we the readers know this, but yet love them anyway.

Do you have a favourite fairytale book or movie, or a twisted tale? I am intrigued by the complexity of Rumplestiltskin, and I’ve written a contemporary short story based on it. I’m also thinking a bit about Snow White, and making notes for a twisted short story from the point of view of Snow White’s mother.

Books for starting school and kinder

January 26, 2016 by Karen Comer 10 Comments

So, I’ve had a great break from the usual rhythm of life, and we’ve moved house. Our ‘real’ house is now a shell of its former self – and I mean that literally! The back has been demolished and there are holes in walls where new doorways will fit. I’ll tell you more about that in a later post. I’ve had sporadic internet access for two weeks so I’ve had a longer blogging break than I expected. But now I’m set up at my new desk – a lovely long desk that spans the length of our dining room with more storage than I’ve had before. So it’s time to start blogging again, and what better way to start than to discuss books about starting school?

We have a small collection of picture books about starting school, and I have read them to each of my three kids during the January holidays before they started their first day at school. I think it’s quite comforting to know (as an adult or kid) that there are other people going through similar experiences to you, regardless of whether those people are real or characters in a book. Below is a list of a few picture books where the main theme is starting school. I’ve also included a picture book about starting kinder and a couple of chapter books where the protagonist is starting a new school for older readers.

Tom and Small, written and illustrated by Clara Vulliamy – a lovely picture book about a boy called Tom who is starting his first day at school. He confesses all his worries to his soft toy mouse, Small. He doesn’t sleep very well that night and falls into a dream where he becomes as small as Small, and they have many adventures, including flying a toy plane to Tom’s school, where he tells Small, ‘”I can see my peg with my name on it, all ready for me … and where I’ll sit, and a special place for all my things.”‘ Tom manages beautifully at school the next day, and sees a tiny sign that perhaps his adventures with Small were more than a dream. The illustrations are sweet and I love the combination of real life fears mixed in with magic and adventure.

Starting school, written by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Anna Walker – Jane and Anna are a talented author/illustrator combination and have collaborated on quite a few books together. This gorgeously illustrated picture book tells the story of five children starting school, with different headings for each page like ‘getting to know people’, ‘in the playground’ and ‘snack time’. Like any wonderful picture book, the illustrations and text work in tandem, and it’s hard to describe one without the other. I love the picture of Sunita writing on a blackboard in front of her soft toys – ‘”Is everybody listening?” Sunita asks.’ I can imagine this book appealing to all kids starting school – Mr 6 pulled it off the pile on my desk to read it again – ‘even though I don’t need it ‘cos I’m in grade one now!’ The five characters have the universal fears and hopes of all kids, but are different enough in their personalities to be interesting.

Splat the cat, written and illustrated by Rob Scotton – Splat is a larger than life character and fills the page both visually and with his personality. He is starting cat school and doesn’t want to get out of bed. ‘If I hide from the day, maybe it’ll go away, he thought. It didn’t.’ Put your hands up if you can identify with Splat now – yes, we have all wanted to hide from the day! Splat comes up with one excuse after the other, but his mum drags him to school, along with his pet mouse, Seymour. Splat’s teacher teaches all the cats in her class that cats chase mice – a big problem when the class discovers Seymour. Luckily, Splat and Seymour save the day, and Splat doesn’t need any excuses to avoid school the next day. A funny, funny book with memorable illustrations and a great character.

Just Jack, written and illustrated by Jane Tanner – this one is about a boy starting kinder. To alleviate his fears, Jack dresses up in his superhero costume. It makes him feel fearless, and he has a great first day at kinder, coming home covered in water and sand. Mum wants to wash his superhero costume – Jack refuses. Jack eats birthday cake, makes mud pies and paints over the next few days at kinder in his superhero costume and refuses to let mum wash it, despite all the mess. Eventually mum wins the battle and Jack has to go to kinder as ‘just Jack’ with no superhero costume. He realises that he can still have fun at kinder as ‘just Jack’. I think this story is for every parent who has eventually washed a food or dirt covered dress-up costume after a battle to put it in the washing machine!

Truly Tan, written by Jen Storer, illustrated by Clare Robertson – this chapter book is for 7-10 year-olds. Tan has moved house with her family and faces life at a new school in the country. Her new teacher is called Miss Dragone, her first show and share with a cat skeleton did not go down well and she was kept in at recess for sticking out her tongue at a boy. Tan ‘stares out the window. The sun is shining and the sky is blue and I wonder what they are doing back at my old school. I bet they’re not doing long division. Or stupid carnivores. Or being kept in at recess. Oh, yes, it was a nice old school, my old school …’

The naming of Tishkin Silk, written by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Caroline Magerl – this is the first book in one of my favourite series. This chapter book for 7-10 year-olds is not all about a new school but because the main character, Griffin, faces a hard time at his new school, it is worth mentioning here. Griffin is a boy with long hair, his clothes aren’t right and he’s been homeschooled by his Mama, who is now in hospital. I love how Griffin remains absolutely himself, despite the taunts from the class bully.

I hope that these books are useful for you if you have a little one starting school or kinder. I’m always happy to lend out our books to local readers – let me know if you’d like to borrow a book. And I hope that you had a lovely summer holiday break and found time to read some wonderful books. I’m looking forward to writing blog posts about the books I’m reading, the books my kids are reading, my writing and editing projects, and the odd post here and there about life in general. I did a little bit of blog planning over the holidays and have mapped out some ideas. If there are any bookish topics you’d like me to cover – craft, parenting, cookbooks, helping kids to read or write, writing for yourself – please let me know in the comments. Thank you for following my blog!

Books for kids about Christmas

December 18, 2015 by Karen Comer 12 Comments

Miss 9 and Mr 6 think Christmas books are the best. They only come out for a month each year, so there is a sense of both remembering and rediscovering them, another year older. Here’s a list of ten of our favourite Christmas books.

The fourth king, the story of the other wise man, written and illustrated by Ted Sieger – the other king, King Mazzel, lives in a tiny kingdom with only his camel, Chamberlain, to keep him company. He has been watching the stars for a sign, so he would know when the King of Kings was born. Finally, he sees the star, and leaves to meet up with the other kings so he can travel to Bethlehem with them. Except that along the way, there are many people and children who need his help. King Mazzel is deeply disappointed that he did not meet the baby King. However, he hears a voice speaking, ‘”King Mazzel, you have not come too late! You were always with me. When I was lost, you showed me the way. When I was thirsty, you gave me water. When I was captive, you freed me. When I was in danger, you saved me. You were always there when I needed you, and I will be with you for ever.'” This is a lovely picture book for 4-8 year-old kids, with two fun foldout pages in the middle of the story.

Little dog and the Christmas wish, written by Corinne Fenton, illustrated by Robin Cowcher – if you live in Melbourne, you probably know that this book is the theme for the Myer windows this year. Only Miss 9 has seen the Myer windows but we will take the kids in before Christmas because it is such a lovely tradition. This story is simple and sweet, about a lost dog looking for his Jonathan in the rain. The illustrations showcase Melbourne’s city streets – you’ll recognise lots of landmarks. A great read for kids aged 2-6.

Wombat Divine, written by Mem Fox, illustrated by Kerry Argent – one of my favourites, which I have read to my kids since they were two. Wombat is that childlike character, who desperately wants to be part of the nativity play. But he is just wrong for all the various parts. ‘”Cheer up, Wombat! Don’t lose heart. Why not try for a different part?”‘ But there are no parts left. Luckily, one of the other animals remembers they still need someone for the role of baby Jesus. This is a gorgeous picture book for 2-6 year-olds, reminding them never to give up, and that there is room for everyone.

The Polar Express, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg – the video for this book is almost mandatory watching during December for our family. The video may be a little scary for some children but the book doesn’t have any scary scenes. The story centres around a little boy who believes in Santa and goes on a magical train ride to the North Pole. He is chosen by Santa to choose the first Christmas gift – ‘I knew that I could have any gift I could imagine. But the one thing I wanted most for Christmas was not inside Santa’s giant bag. What I wanted more than anything was one silver bell from Santa’s sleigh.’ Beautifully illustrated picture book for 2-6 year-olds.

Applesauce and the Christmas miracle, written by Glenda Millard and illustrated by Stephen Michael King – one of my favourite author/illustrator combinations. This is a modern, Australian take on the traditional Christmas story, seen through Applesauce the pig’s perspective. Love the language – ‘night fell as dark as burnt toast … her heart felt as small as a gumnut … dry creek-beds, burnt bushland and fenceless paddocks … that orange summer evening, tiger-striped with blackened trees’. Applesauce does not feel very Christmasy as she is still mourning her home which was burnt in a bushfire. She is feeling sad that her owners, Joe and Marigold, will not receive any gifts. But as a wise owl reminds her, ‘Christmas comes from the heart’. Lovely and relevant picture book for all Australian kids, aged 2-6.

Mary’s little donkey and the escape to Egypt, written by Gunhild Sehlin – this is a children’s novel for older kids, maybe 8-12 years. It begins with a lazy but proud donkey, who makes friends with Mary. The story is the traditional Christmas story, about Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. It continues with their escape to Egypt, lest King Herod find them and kill their baby boy. It is a beautiful story of faith in God, faith in their donkey and faith that they will be looked after and their simple needs met. Kids will like the animal influences. ‘For three nights, the boy played with the animals in the desert. He had the same fun each time, and more and more animals came along. On the last night the lions took him to a little oasis miles away, where little monkeys picked tasty fruit for him. In the morning no one in camp believed his story, but when he brought out a bunch of dates they were all amazed. The head driver said: “We used to be amazed that Mary’s little donkey could see angels, but this child is even more amazing. Is he an angel that has come down from earth? Who else could be as safe among the wild beasts as he is on his mother’s knee?”‘

The night before Christmas, written by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Eric Puybaret, performed by Peter, Paul and Mary – the traditional poem, with gorgeous, gorgeous illustrations. There’s a CD, with Mary from Peter, Paul and Mary, reciting the poem. Wonderful, timeless classic! Perfect for kids aged 2-6 – and probably older as well.

Room for a little one, written by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft – this is a beautiful pairing of author and illustrator with lovely language and dreamy pictures. It’s the story of animals seeking shelter in a stable on the night Jesus is born. ‘”Come inside,” Kind Ox said. “There’s always room for a little one here.”‘ The book’s theme has become family vocabulary for us – whenever we are squashed together on a couch or around a table, we manage to squash up some more for another kid to fit, saying ‘There’s always room for a little one!’ Problem is, soon I will be the little one in our family – I am predicting I will be the shortest in our family within five years! Lovely picture book for 2-6 year-olds.

Slinky Malinki’s Christmas crackers, written and illustrated by Lynley Dodd – if your children are fans of Hairy McClary, they will enjoy this picture book where Slinki Malinki gets into all sorts of trouble around the Christmas tree – ‘Glimmering, shimmering, brilliantly bright, the tree was a truly MAGNIFICENT sight. But …’ Lynley Dodd uses language and rhythm in such a way that it extends kids’ vocabulary by introducing sophisticated words in wonderful word patterns. A funny book for 2-6 year-olds.

Father and Son, written by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Fabian Negrin – this book holds such a beautiful concept. It is a picture book but it is ageless, and I imagine many young kids won’t understand it. Definitely one to read together and discuss. The story is Joseph’s reflection on how best to be a father to Jesus. Here’s an example of Joseph’s thinking – ‘What stories can I tell him? He wrote the whole history of the world.’ Or ‘what games shall we play, boy, you and I? I mean, how can you rough-and-tumble with someone who pinned the ocean in place with a single, tack-headed moon?’ Even though this is a Christmas book, it would make a lovely gift for a new dad.

I hope you and your kids are enjoying some Christmas stories at this time. Which Christmas book is your favourite?

Buying picture books for Christmas

December 15, 2015 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

Here’s a list of a dozen fabulous picture books. I’ve chosen them for different reasons – humour, language, meditation etc. All books are suitable for 2-6 year-olds, and I’ve specified below if there’s a different age group.

Rhyme and wit – The highway rat written by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. While I almost became tired of Julia’s books because I read them so often to my kids and the rhythm started to sound the same, this is my favourite one. It’s based on an old poem, ‘The highway man’ by Alfred Noyes. Compare the poem to the picture book. Poem – ‘The highway man came riding, riding, riding, The highway man came riding, up to the old inn door’. Picture book – ‘For I am the Rat of the Highway, The Highway – the Highway – Yes I am the Rat of the Highway, and whatever I want I take’. It’s worth reading the poem to kids to compare to the picture book. The poem is a little gory and a little sad so while I’ve just suggested you read the poem to your kids, you may have to be selective about which verses to read, depending on the age of your kids! The duck makes for a wonderfully witty hero.

Humour – Pete the sheep written by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley. My three kids thought this book was hilarious. Sheep, haircuts, dogs, shearers. Pete is a sheep dog – except he is a sheep – which makes him a sheep-sheep. ‘”Baa” said Pete politely, which in sheep talk means, “Hello, delighted to meet you. Madam, please step this way.”‘ A funny ending with no words but a humorous picture.

Beauty – Blueberry girl written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Charles Vess. Every baby girl should have this one read to her. It is a prayer for an unborn daughter. The sincerity and love behind these words are so beautiful. This is what I wish for Miss 9 – ‘words can be worrisome, people complex, motives and manners unclear, grant her the wisdom to choose her path right, free from unkindness and fear’. It would be just as suitable for a year 12 graduation present as it would be for a baby girl. It may not be your child’s favourite book because of the adult concept but the language is beautiful so it is lovely for kids of all ages to have those words floating through their heads.

Rhyme and perseverance – Monsieur Albert rides to glory written by Peter Smith, illustrated by Bob Graham. I love reading this book aloud, probably because I can practise my French! There are many French words in here so if you are a French aficionado, this one is for you. And if you have forgotten all your high school French, it’s a rhyming book so you can easily work out the pronunciation based on the rhyme! ‘”You’re mad, Monsieur Albert, you haven’t a chance!” cried a gendarme (that’s just a policeman in France). ‘”Bonne chance!” shouts a fisherman down by the Seine. “Good luck, Monsieur Albert! (They all know his name.)’ This is a tortoise and hare type of story, where Monsieur Albert (don’t pronounce the t on the end of his name – Alber!) gradually overcomes the obstacles in his bike race.

Meditation – Big sky mind written by Whitney Stewart, illustrated by Sally Rippin. This is a non-fiction book which guides kids through short meditation practices. More for 4-8 year-olds. Wonderful for kids who are a little anxious but equally wonderfully for all kids. It’s valuable to have these meditation practices in place before there is a scary first sleepover or a speech presentation. It speaks directly to the reader, the child, and has lots of practical tips. ‘This is your special place, and nobody can disturb you here. Before you leave, you find a present. It’s a gift from your inner wisdom. It will always be here, in your special place, waiting for you to return.’

Language – On the night you were born written and illustrated by Nancy Tillman. I bought this book for Mr 6 when he turned one. Perfect baby present, too. Read the first page aloud now – ‘On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, ‘”Life will never be the same.” Because there had never been anyone like you …ever in the world.’ Gorgeous illustrations. Mr 6 still likes me to read it to him because it makes him feel special.

Problem-solving and humour – Too many elephants in this house written by Ursula Dubosarsky. Mr 6 loves elephants and he loves this story. A little boy has so many elephants that his mum is annoyed because they are taking up too much room. But he loves them because ‘the elephant in the living room helped him build towers with his blocks. The elephant in the kitchen was good at making toast. He could play hide and seek with the elephant in the hallway. The elephant in the bathroom always reminded him to brush his teeth.’ Rather than getting rid of the elephants, the little boy thinks of an ingenious solution. Fun illustrations.

Creativity – Milli, Jack and the dancing cat written and illustrated by Stephen Michael King. He is one of my favourite picture book author/illustrators and this is my favourite book of his. It oozes creativity and at the centre of the story is a girl who is creative but is forced to fit in with everyone else – ‘So, instead of doing what she loved most, Milli spent her days making brown shoes, black shoes and plain, ordinary work boots. Night after night Milli dreamed she was brave enough to show everyone what she could really do. But day after day was the same as before.’ That is, until Jack and his magic cat roll into town. Love how even in a picture book, creativity and courage are connected.

Problem-solving and humour – The duck in the gun written by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Robyn Belton. This is a more complex situation so may be suitable for 4-7 year olds. The General and his men want to aim their gun at the town but there’s a problem. There’s a duck in the gun. The General speaks to the Prime Minister of the town. The PM says,'”You’ll have to put the war off for three weeks. By that time, the duck will have hatched her eggs, and you will have your gun back.”‘ This is the type of strategic thinking that goes on in this book. It’s very clever and the ending has a nice twist.

Fun and interaction – Press here written and illustrated by Herve Tullet. Perfect for babies because it is so simple with bright illustrations and perfect for 2-5 year olds because it requires interaction. Like this – ‘Perfect. Try shaking the book …just a little bit. Not bad. But maybe a little bit harder.’ It’s impossible to do justice to this book without seeing the pictures. A great book for kids who aren’t attracted to books.

Illustration and beauty – The flying orchestra written and illustrated by Clare McFadden. There are some stories where the words and pictures are melded so beautifully together because the author and illustrator are one and the same person. This is one of them. This book has gorgeous, floaty illustrations and the story is lovely. A flying orchestra who plays when someone is learning to ride a bike? Yes, please! It begins like this – ‘Some days are so windy that even the angels lose their balance from the top of City Hall. It’s always a day like this when the Flying Orchestra blows into town.’

Fun and humour – The wonky donkey written by Craig Smith, illustrated by Katz Cowley. Ours came with a CD, which is worth hunting down. Ridiculous, hilarious story, which requires kids to memorise the lines if they want to join in. Try it for yourself – ‘I was walking down the road and I saw a donkey. Hee haw! He only had three legs, one eye, he liked to listen to country music, he was quite tall and slim, he smelt really, really bad … and that morning he’d got up early and hadn’t had any coffee. He was a cranky, stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey.’ Warning – your kids may love it so much that you may listen to the CD constantly and therefore in time, you will not love it so much!

I hope this list helps with your Christmas shopping. If you find it useful, perhaps you might consider subscribing to my blog or passing the link on to friends. Thanks so much for your support and all your feedback!

Sad, the dog – a video book review

November 27, 2015 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

The Little Bookroom in Carlton is one of those wonderful places that I could stay in all day. It’s cosy and inviting, and filled with children’s books. In the last school holidays, I took Mr 6 there for a story and drawing session with Tull Suwannakit. Tull is the illustrator of Sad, the Dog, written by Sandy Fussell.

Tull read us Sad’s story, and then taught us all – kids and adults – how to draw dogs. So much fun! Some of my dogs looked a little wonky but Mr 6 was very proud of his efforts.

Sad the dog is the story of a neglected dog, who eventually is given a new name because – you guessed it – he is not so sad at the end of the book.

I can’t imagine a small kid who wouldn’t like this story – a gorgeous dog, a lovely and satisfying story, beautiful watercolour illustrations.

Some students from RMIT filmed a short video about Tull. Thank you to Binny Park from RMIT for allowing me to share it. For those of you who know our family, you can find a tiny glimpse of Mr 6 and me in the film. Tull’s words about art offering the ‘freedom to express, to explore’ resonated strongly with me.

You can read a fabulous interview with Sandy Fussell on Nicole Melanson’s blog, Word Mothers.