A little over two years ago, I shared our family's favourite books. The top twelve. The shining lights in our library. The list hasn't changed much since then. It's just grown. We'd now have to add The Worst Princess, The Magic Faraway Tree ...
Click, Clack, Moo and more: A Barnyard Collection – Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin (book review)
When my (now five-year-old) daughter was still a bub, I had a vivid dream. It was about a group of cows that were owned by Peter Combe, and they went on strike until their demands for juicy, juicy green grass were met. I shared this incredible dream ...
Too Busy Sleeping – Zanni Louise and Anna Pignataro (book review)
I have been a bloggy fan of Zanni Louise's for a very long time. I met her late last year, and it was wonderful to chat words, blogs and children in the Queensland sun. I was delighted when she sent me an advance copy of her debut children's book, ...
Bears in the Night – Stan and Jan Berenstain (book review)
Who loves the Berenstain Bears? Who sees a pic of them and is instantly transported back to childhood? Who couldn't wait to have kids just for the excuse to revisit them? Is your hand in the air? Mine is. And one day, I'm sure my son will ...
Juicy Juicy Green Grass – Peter Combe and Danielle McDonald (book and CD review)
Three weeks ago, I (re-)introduced you to Don Spencer and his songs about Australian animals. I thought I'd continue down the much-loved Australian children's entertainer path. This week, I'm reviewing another book my daughter received for her ...
Don’t Call Me a Koala Bear – Don Spencer and Michelle Pike (book and CD review)
My not-so-little girl recently turned five, and received lots of music and lots of books for her birthday. Today, I'm reviewing something that is both. --- Don't Call Me a Koala Bear (& Other Aussie Songs) / Don Spencer and Michelle ...
Sugarlump and the Unicorn – Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks (book review)
Sugarlump and the Unicorn / Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks (Macmillan Children's Books, 2013) I asked my daughter to choose a book to review this week, and she went straight for this one. I should have known. A rocking horse! A unicorn! ...
Goodnight, Mice! – Frances Watts and Judy Watson (book review)
Goodnight, Mice! / Frances Watts and Judy Watson (ABC Books, 2013) This book and I didn't get off to the best start. On the very first page, two rhyming paragraphs have different lengths and rhythms, and it threw me. When I read a rhyming ...
I Got This Hat – Jol and Kate Temple and Jon Foye (book review)
After last fortnight's trip down memory lane, I'm back into my new goody bag of books. We had a spending spree at Australia Post recently, where the value of the book packs was just too good to walk past. Here's a new (to us) book that we've ...
Prue Theroux: the cool librarian – Gillian Rubinstein and David Mackintosh (book review)
I'm going back in time this week. I have a few new books to review, but my daughter has spent the week insisting I read an old favourite each night. Meet Prue Theroux, the school librarian. The cool librarian. --- Prue Theroux: the cool ...