Children’s book review – reader recommendations

Another month has gone by, along with a few more trips to the library. This month, I tracked down some of the titles that readers have recommended since I started writing reviews.

Here are our thoughts!

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Ruby Red Shoes / Kate Knapp

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In November last year, I wrote about our family’s all-time favourite books, and Claire Hewitt recommended Ruby Red Shoes. I’ve been meaning to get my hands on it ever since, and finally tracked it down at a bookstore in the city.

Ruby is an aware hare, who lives with her grandmother in a prettily painted caravan. She loves her garden, and enjoys teaching her chickens French.

The book isn’t a story as much as it is a snapshot of Ruby’s life, and Ashleigh loves it. It’s longer than most of the titles in our illustrated book collection, and contains bigger words and more detailed descriptions. Ashleigh has been asking about what the words mean, and it’s been fun to watch these new words peppering her constant chattering lately.

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Are We There Yet? / Alison Lester

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Also in November last year, Ally from everyday miracles mentioned that she couldn’t make a favourites list without a book from Alison Lester. And, having now read Are We There Yet? (among others), I see what she means.

Are We There Yet? is told from the perspective of Grace, the youngest child of a family travelling around Australia. Leaving from south-west Victoria, they drive across the Nullarbor, then move clockwise around the country (with a detour to the centre of the clock face to visit Uluru).

The book is beautifully written and illustrated, and I’ve already given copies to some friends with children: one who is moving overseas; another who is from overseas and moving here; and another who is currently planning a similar trip around Australia. We’ve borrowed it from the library at least five times – it’s time I bit the bullet and simply bought the book for our family too!

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Wombat Stew / Marcia K. Vaughan and Pamela Lofts

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Bec at Mumma Tells recommended Wombat Stew in March. She didn’t need to – it’s already a firm favourite here. But it goes to show that she has fantastic taste!

This story has everything you need – a ‘clever’ villain, a group trying to outwit him and save the victim, a familiar refrain, and a happy ending. Not to mention more Australiana than you can poke a gumnut at.

Winner winner, wombat dinner.

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The Day Louis Got Eaten / John Fardell

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Last month, Emily from Have a Laugh on Me mentioned a funny book called The Day Louis Got Eaten.

Spoiler alert: a boy called Louis is eaten during the telling of this book. Another spoiler alert: he is fine, and remains in one piece. All is okay in the end. But if you’re against child-eating in books, you might want to avoid this one.

But I’m not. This book is GOLD. It’s so easy to read, and it gets more and more outlandish as you continue on. You could talk with your child about the events of the book for an hour, and there are plenty of extras in the illustrations to keep you talking for even longer.

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Thanks to those of you who have made suggestions!

What books have you read with your children lately?
This post is the tenth in a series of children’s book review posts. Check out the others here:

Children’s book review (May)
Children’s book review (April)
Children’s book review (March)
Children’s book review (February)
Children’s book review (January)
Children’s book review (December)
Children’s book review – family favourites (November)
Children’s book review (October)
Once upon a book review (September)