The Hoppameleon (PB)

AUTHOR: Paul Geraghty
PUBLISHED: 2013, c2001

PLOT:
When the world is still quite young, there was a sleepy, slurpy swamp. And in it swam a very odd-looking creature. As he makes his way in the world, this very odd-looking creature, with a long sticky tongue, who can hunt like a chameleon and swim like a turtle, isn't quite sure who or what he is. Nor is anyone else. But he does know that he wants to find a friend who is just like himself.
REVIEW:
A story of self-perception, similarities and differences, and belonging.

TEACHERS: It would lend itself to a creative writing activity where children make up a name for another animal by comparing it and taking names from other animals as in the story.

AGE: 3-6
RATING: 4 stars

Dragon Loves Penguin (PB)

AUTHOR: Debi Bilori
PUBLISHED: 2013

PLOT:
It's bedtime in the land of ice and snow. "Night, night," says Bib's mummy. "Sleep tight," says Bib's daddy. But Bib has a better plan. "Please," says Bib, "can I have a story? The one about dragons." And so begins the heartwarming tale of a dragon in need of an egg and an abandoned egg in need of a mummy. It seems like the perfect fit, but what happens when that egg hatches and the little baby doesn't look like all the other dragons (in fact, he looks remarkably like a penguin)? Of course, his mummy loves him no matter what. But the other babies aren't so sure. Little do they know that being different can be good and soon their little feathered friend is saving the day.

REVIEW:
A twist on The Ugly Duckling, kids will love the secret (that the story of the dragon is true) being revealed at the end.

AGE: 3-6
RATING: 4 stars

Can't Sleep Without Sheep (PB)

AUTHOR: Susanna Leonard Hill ; ILLUSTRATOR: Mike Wohnoutka
PUBLISHED: 2011, c2010

PLOT:
Whenever Ava can't sleep, she counts sheep jumping over a fence. But Ava takes so long to fall asleep, it's the sheep who are growing tired and finally they quit! When the sheep promise to find a replacement that Ava can count on, chaos ensues as chickens, cows, pigs, hippos and more try their hand at jumping over Ava's fence. Finding the perfect replacement for sheep might not be so easy after all.

REVIEW:
With adorable pictures, this is a very cute bedtime story (although the concept of counting sheep to get to sleep may need to be explained, since the concept is something that is passed on - it's not innate knowledge).

AGE: 3-6
RATING: 4 stars

Cloth from the Clouds (PB)

AUTHOR: Michael Catchpool ; ILLUSTRATOR: Alison Jay
PUBLISHED: 2012

PLOT:
The boy who spins cloth from the clouds is wise. He spins only enough cloth for a warm winter scarf, not one stitch more. But a greedy King sees the marvellous cloth and demands that the boy spin cloaks and gowns galore. Soon there are fewer clouds in the sky and finally the rain stops. Will it be possible to undo the damage?

REVIEW:
The story aims to promote a sense of care and respect for the natural environment and illustrates the impact humans can have through greed and thoughtless selfishness.

AGE: 3-7
RATING: 4 stars

Doodleday (PB)

AUTHOR: Ross Collins
PUBLISHED: 2012, c2011

PLOT:
Mum has just one thing to tell Harvey on Doodleday - no drawing allowed! But before Dudley can ask why you don't draw on Doodleday, she's out the door. Surely one little fly won't hurt? Not until Harvey's fly comes to life and starts to wreck the kitchen, that is! What can Harvey draw that will catch it? Will anything, or anyone, be capable of stopping Harvey's rampaging doodles?

REVIEW:
The thought of line drawings coming to life and causing chaos is just a lot of fun.

AGE: 3-7
RATING: 4 stars

The Santa Trap (PB)

AUTHOR: Jonathan Emmett ; ILLUSTRATOR: Poly Bernatene
PUBLISHED: 2010, c2009

PLOT:
Bradley Bartleby is bad, and the older he got, the badder he became. He's greedy and naughty and selfish and spoilt -- and Santa Claus knows it. But when beastly Bradley empties his Christmas stocking to find nothing but a pair of socks, he does quite the baddest thing he has EVER tried to do. He builds a trap -- a SANTA TRAP! With guillotines, dynamite and a tiger or two, Santa doesn't stand a chance. Will Santa be forgiving?

REVIEW:
Most children love it when the bad kid gets what's coming to him in stories. The simple karma of a child who gets trapped in his own trap is a winner, not to mention the story is told beautifully, with illustrations to match.
AGE: 4-8
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

Fussy Freya (PB)

AUTHOR: Katherine Quarmby ; ILLUSTRATOR: Piet Gobler
PUBLISHED: 2012, c2008

PLOT:
Freya has an appetite as fine as can be until one day she declares, "Your dhal and rice are just not nice." She spurns baked beans, sausages, and soon she's very thin indeed. Mum, in despair, phones Grandma Clare. "We'll sort her," says Grandma, "the fussy little beast." So off Freya goes for a fabulous feast and a lesson she will never forget.

REVIEW:
The cover sums it up nicely: "For children who like their food familiar and their rhymes revolting." This story about fussy eating is sure to get a laugh.

AGE: 3-7
RATING: 4 stars

The Bear and the Wildcat (PB)

AUTHOR: Kazumi Yumoto ; ILLUSTRATOR: Komako Sakai
PUBLISHED: 2011, c2008

PLOT:
"One morning Bear was crying. His best friend, a little bird, was dead." Bear keeps little bird in a box, but no one understands until one day he meets an empathetic wild cat.

REVIEW:
A touching picture book about loneliness, grief and loss, ending with a positive new beginning. It shows a way through paralysing grief and simultaneously tells the story of friendship and acceptance. Originally published in Japanese, the uncommon illustration technique (mostly black pencil) give the impression it is very old.

AGE: 6-10
RATING: 4 stars

Owl Babies (PB)

AUTHOR: Martin Waddell ; ILLUSTRATOR: Patrick Benson
PUBLISHED: 2007

PLOT:
Three baby owls, Sarah, Percy and Bill, wake up one night in their hole in a tree to find that their mother has gone. So they sit on a branch and wait and think (all owls think a lot). "I think she's gone hunting," said Sarah. "To get us our food!" said Percy. "I want my mummy!" said Bill. Darkness gathers and the owls grow anxious, wondering when their mother will return. But, at last, she does and they bounce up and down with joy, welcoming her home.

REVIEW:
One of the very cutest feel-good picture books, it's standard-issue in all pre-schools.

AGE: 2-4
RATING: 4 stars

Once Upon A Time (PB)

AUTHOR: Nick Sharratt
PUBLISHED: 2011

PLOT/REVIEW:
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. She lived on top of a hill in a ..." Where she lives and what she finds is up to the reader. Using the 36 removable and interchangeable parts depicting the nouns to finish the sentences, children can make up their own simple story.

AGE: 3-5
RATING: 3 stars (2 of those stars are for the interchangeable pieces that create a mad-lib type story)

Rules of Summer (PB)

AUTHOR: Shaun Tan
PUBLISHED: 2013

PLOT/REVIEW:
A deceptively simple story about two boys, one older and one younger, and the kind of rules that might govern any relationship between close friends or siblings. Rules that are often so strange or arbitrary, they seem impossible to understand from the outside.
Yet through each exquisite illustration of this nearly wordless narrative, we can understand the story of friendship that is so familiar - something friendship is easy, and sometimes it is hard. As you venture deep into the story, the images and the story line become darker, more mysterious and unsettling, but it draws together at the end to affirm the bond of deep friendship.

AGE: 6-10
RATING: 4 stars

Have You Seen Who's Just Moved In Next Door? (PB)

AUTHOR: Colin McNaughton
PUBLISHED: 2013, c1991

PLOT:
Meet the neighbours - Mister Thing and the Dumpty's (he's in bed; he cracked his head). There's a school for birds and a wig shop for pigs, King Kong lives at number 50, the churchyard is full of ghosts and ghoulies, and there's a houseful of pirates at number 94. But you'll never believe who's just moved in next door to us! The answer lies behind a gate-fold page, but can you guess before you get to the end?
REVIEW:
A fairly typical aliens-are-normal/humans-are-strange stories that kids love. The pictures are detailed, and would be a great "find the answer" book for a guided reading activity (i.e. create a list of questions that children need to use the book to answer: Who lives on the left of King Kong? Who lives at number 12? How many birds are in the school? etc). AGE: 4-8
RATING: 4 stars

Ten Tiny Things (PB)

AUTHOR: Meg McKinlay ; ILLUSTRATOR: Kyle Hughes-Odgers
PUBLISHED: 2012

PLOT:
Tessa and Zachary have a machine that is swift and splendiferous. Every day it carries them from here to there and back again in cool calm comfort. But one morning, the machine breaks down. To their horror, Tessa and Zachary are forced to walk to school. Along the way, they find things that are smooth and blue, shiny and red - ten tiny things. The next day their machine is fixed, but they chose to walk - it is an excellent walk, simple and splendiferous.

REVIEW:
The description of a car without saying it's a car (swift and splediferous machine) is a nice touch. It adds that extra little layer of fantasy without losing touch with reality. It makes the children appear to live in an alien land, while children still know exactly what they are talking about. The focus on observation skills and looking at things with new eyes is dealt with in a very cute way and would be the perfect segue to a nature walk.

AGE: 4-8
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

The Octopuppy (PB)

AUTHOR: Martin McKenna
PUBLISHED: 2013

PLOT:

Edgar always wanted a dog, but instead he got Jarvis the octopus. Still, he's determined to train Jarvis just like a dog. Sit. Stay. Play dead. What could go wrong? Jarvis is very smart. Maybe too smart. He makes Edgar crazy! But Jarvis feel rejected and leaves. It is then that Edgar realises how special his Octopuppy really is.

REVIEW:
A gorgeous story sure to be a hit. The themes of friendship and unusual pets are universally liked by children.

AGE: 3-7
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

My First Animalia (PB)

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Graeme Base
PUBLISHED: 2013

REVIEW:
Animalia was a hit from the time it was published in 1986. It's on the "must read" list for children's books around the world. My First Animalia is an alphabet book which takes an image of the pages in the original, and lists the nouns which you may find. Thick pages that fold-out are perfect for young children.

AGE: 2-4
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog (PB)

AUTHOR: Time Beiser ; ILLUSTRATOR: Rachel Berman
PUBLISHED: 2011, c2008

PLOT:
Frog Bradley McGogg, finding his pantry bare, decides to ask his animal friends for something to eat and learns that animals eat different things.

REVIEW:
A cute little story about individual differences.

AGE: 3-6
RATING: 4 stars

The Snorgh and the Sailor (PB)

AUTHOR: Will Buckingham (U.K.) ; ILLUSTRATOR: Thomas Docherty
PUBLISHED: 2012

PLOT:
Snorghs don't have visitors. Snorghs don't share soup. And they really don't like adventures. But when a bedraggled sailor arrives, telling exciting stories of exotic lands, the Snorgh finds himself going on an adventure afterall.

REVIEW:
A witty story about an unlikely friendship, a surprising journey, and the discovery that we can all do amazing things if we dare to. Overall, a very cute and enjoyable story.

AGE: 3-7
RATING: 4 stars

Tales From Outer Suburbia (short stories) (YA Fic)

AUTHOR: Shaun Tan (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2013

Fifteen illustrated short stories set in the Australian suburbs. Stories include: The water buffalo -- Eric -- Broken toys -- Distant rain -- Undertow -- Grandpa's story -- No other country -- Stick figures -- The nameless holiday -- The amnesia machine -- Alert but not alarmed -- Wake -- Make your own pet -- Our expedition -- Night of the turtle rescue

PLOT (Eric): Eric is a foreign exchange student (the pictures make him seem alien-esque) comes to stay. Some of his behaviour seems very strange, but Mum just says "Maybe it's a cultural thing." But they're not really sure if he's happy or not. It's only when he mysteriously leaves that they find his thank-you gift.

REVIEW: Quite a charming collection of short stories, some humorous, some haunting and thought-provoking.

AGE: middle primary school to junior highschool.
GENRE: various
REVIEW: 5 stars

Friendly Day (PB)

AUTHOR: Mij Kelly ; ILLUSTRATOR: Charles Fuge
PUBLISHED: 2013

PLOT:
A clever mouse tells a cat who has just caught him, that it's Friendly Day today - "a day for sharing, a day for caring, when everyone is nice, when Frog reads Snail a fairy tale and cats do not eat mice". So Cat goes to tell Dog, who tells Bear. But bear tells them that there is no such thing. Then Cat and Dog hatch a plan to make Friendly Day a reality.

REVIEW:
A cute little story about friendship and happiness.

AGE: 2-6
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

The Dark (PB)

AUTHOR: Lemony Snicket ; ILLUSTRATOR: Jon Klassen
PUBLISHED: 2013

PLOT:

Laslo was afraid of the dark. The dark lived in the same house as Laszlo. Sometimes the dark hid in a closer or behind a curtain, but mostly it was in the basement. This is the story of Laszlo how he came to live with the dark without being bothered by it.
REVIEW:
A book for any child who is afraid of the dark. This story inspires courage, bravery, and facing your fears, and teaches that some things aren't as scary once you get to know them.

AGE: 5/6-10
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

Badger's Parting Gifts (PB)

AUTHOR: Susan Varley
PUBLISHED: Originally 1984, reprint 2013

PLOT:
Badger is so old that he knows he will soon die. He tries to prepare his friends for this event, but he does die, they are still grief stricken. Gradually they come to terms with their grief by remembering all the practical things Badger taught them, and so Badger lives on in his friends' memories of him. 
REVIEW:
A lovely little story to help children understand death and grief. As with all books of this nature, some children will find the topic confronting or confusing, and you should read the book yourself before reading it to the very young or very sensitive.

AGE: 5+ (depends on child)
RATING: 4 1/2 stars

Just a Dog (Fic)

AUTHOR: Michael Gerard Bauer (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2010

PLOT:
An ultimately sad little book about a dog and his family as told through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy. It is a collection of stories about the dog's antics, and how a dog can truly be a member of the family.

REVIEW:
It made me laugh, and brought a tear to my eye, and reminded me of the dogs I've had in my life.

One criticism I have is the grammar and the over-misuse of the word "but" instead of "though" at the end of sentences ("It was good but."; "I didn't mind but.") Yes, it is supposed to be how the boy is talking, but it actually gets distracting and quite annoying. I'll go through my copy and edit it properly before I give it or read it to a child.
I wouldn't give the book to children under 10, or to sensitive children, as there are some themes (financial and marital problems, fighting, suggestions of infidelity, animals being scared and eventually dying) that will be confusing and/or confronting to some children.

AGE: Ages 10/11-15 (take maturity into account when suggesting this book)
GENRE: Realistic fiction
RATING: 4 1/2 stars