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You Can’t Pat a Fish

Mar29
You Can't Pat a Fish

You Can’t Pat a Fish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Can’t Pat a Fish

Ruth Paul

Walker Books, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A25.99

9781760656973

“I asked for a pet, but what did I get?”

The little girl’s parents have agreed to let her have a pet, but when it comes to all the choices in the pet shop, they decide that a fish in a bowl is the best choice.  Clearly the little girl is disappointed because while you can play with a puppy, cuddle a cat, snuggle a rabbit and pat a pet rat, no matter how much you wish, you can’t pat a fish.

There are so many things you can do with any of the other creatures that she could have had, but instead she has a boring fish, Until…

This is a charming rhyming story for young readers that will resonate with any of them who have wished for a pet and all the reasons why.  But while it is also a cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for, it’s also a reminder of looking for the silver linings and being optimistic, because suddenly the little girl sees the positives of having a fish and where her imagination takes her.  

Little ones will enjoy sharing their own stories about their pets, perhaps do some early graphing activities and enjoy the rhyme and rhythm as it carries the story along,  Definitely one to share with the preschool group I read to weekly. 

Skippy Blackfeet

Mar14
Skippy Blackfeet

Skippy Blackfeet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skippy Blackfeet

Rebecca Fraser

Jennifer Horn

Wombat Books, 2025

121pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781761111662

Woken by the loud rumble of his empty tummy, the little black cat cowers down in the agapanthus bush in the cemetery, knowing he needs to find something to eat but afraid of the noise and busyness of the world beyond the cemetery walls.  But as his peace is disturbed by a little girl clearly upset and crying because she is lost, he overcomes his trepidation and reaches out to comfort her – changing his life, and hers, forever. 

This collection of three short stories tells young readers of how May and Skippy Blackfeet become each other’s support network as they face life together, first convincing May’s dad that Skippy Blackfeet should stay and then coping with the fierce neighbourhood dog whose barking sends May into meltdown,  birthday party bungles, tumultuous trips to town, fireworks and thunderstorms and other everyday occurrences that are daunting and overwhelming. 

For newly independent readers, particularly those who love cats, this is a charming story of how a pet can change a life, and help even the most timid or shy have the courage to take on the world

A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet

Nov22
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet

A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet

Ali Rutstein

Tommy Doyle

Albert Street, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781761180903

Every family should have a pet.
A faithful friend to welcome into your hearts and home.
This guide is a MUST HAVE to help you decide which pet is the perfect fit for your family.

There comes a time, in many families, when the focal point of conversation turns to choosing a pet, and there are as many different opinions as there are family members. So this would appear to be the perfect handbook to help the decision-making.  Or is it?

While puppies, kittens, guinea pigs, budgies and rabbits are generally considered, they each have their shortcomings and these are pointed out in both the text and the hilarious illustrations which are such an integral part of this story.  No.  It makes much more sense to go with something a little more exotic like a tiger that is always up for “a rambunctious game of hide-and-seek” or a jelly fish whose “tickly tentacles will have you in stitches” or maybe a polar bear called Frank.  Or does it?

As Christmas comes around, many little ones will be asking for a pet, so this is a timely release to help make an informed choice.  Or will it?

Kelpie Chaos

Sep1
Kelpie Chaos

Kelpie Chaos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kelpie Chaos

Deb Fitzpatrick

Fremantle Press, 2024

112pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

 9781760993856

When Eli’s friend Max’s parents’ friend’s uncle’s second cousin – or something – find themselves with too many animals after one of their kelpies had pups, Eli’s family decide to adopt one of them to save it being sent to the pound.

 But they soon learn that there is much more to raising a puppy than relying on the book about dog psychology that Dad gets, as Zoom rounds up lawnmowers and guinea pigs, barks at strangers and constantly adds to his sock collection.  However, for all his mischief, when Zoom goes missing on a family bushwalk, the family sets out on a frantic search. With each passing moment, anxiety mounts, but they refuse to give up hope. As night falls, their strength is tested, both physically and emotionally. Will they be able to find Zoom? What mischief could a dog get up to in the bush?

When skateboarder Arisa Trew said that all she wanted after winning her gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was a pet duck, perhaps her choice was a wise one, and her parents should be grateful her wish wasn’t a puppy like Zoom.  Told by Eli, this is a story that many who have introduced a puppy into the family will relate to as well as warning those who are thinking of it,  While all of the family are committed to having Zoom, some of his behaviours prove challenging, but it is not till his adventures in the bush that the family understand what is driving the behaviour and consider that perhaps the city environment isn’t the best for a farm dog with its natural instincts and need to work. Perhaps the “naughty” behaviour isn’t so naughty after all. 

With its LOL moments as well as its not-so, this is a delightful story for young readers, especially fans of Muster Dogs,  that explores what owning a puppy means, that it is not all cuddles and puddles, and that with the rewards come the responsibilities.  And just as it takes a village to raise a child, so it takes a family to raise a dog. 

Boss Cat

Jun23
Boss Cat

Boss Cat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boss Cat

Sarah Speedie

Tom Jellett

HarperCollins, 2024

28pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

 9781460764046

Napping on the sofa, one sunny afternoon,

I was very rudely woken by a slobbering buffoon.

‘Say hello,’ my humans said, ‘to our newest family member.’

I think I must have fainted then. I really can’t remember.

When a new puppy is introduced to the home of the cat who has had centre stage all its life, Cat is not amused.  And even less so when Puppy got all the attention and seemed to get away with anything, including disturbing Cat incessantly.  It was time to teach this interloper who is the Boss.

Written in rhyme with the perfect illustrations by Tom Jellett, this hilarious tale encapsulates all that cat-owners know about their pets, all those memes showing arrogance and disdain that pepper social media, the bad manners of Grumpy Cat, the humour of Garfield, and even a touch of T. S. Eliot’s  Macavity!  Even those who are not “cat-people” will relate to its true-to-life portrayal of both cat and dog, and the ending will ensure much laughter as well as the opportunity for discussions about what Cat might do next.  Can there be a truce so harmony and equilibrium is restored and if so, how?  And what does Cat and Puppy’s relationship tell us about our own?

LOL funny, so relatable and just ideal for raising spirits by sharing on a gloomy day.  

May I Hug You?

May23
May I Hug You?

May I Hug You?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May I Hug You?

Oleta Blunt

Katherine Appleby

Little Steps, 2024

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.95

9781922678119

Isla is very excited because she has a new puppy and she rushes forward to greet him.  But this is a new situation for Basil and he is feeling very unsure so he heads back into his carry cage where she can’t reach him.  Isla is disappointed, not understanding why Basil seems scared of her, but her mother explains that he is feeling unsure because he doesn’t know her yet and Isla needs to take things quietly and build trust and friendship step-by-step.

This is a message-story for all young readers anticipating the arrival of a new pet – sometimes their excitement and enthusiasm can be overwhelming, particularly to something as small as a puppy or a kitten, and they need to take a step back and consider how the pet might construe their innocent actions as threatening.  But it could also be a lesson to the adult sharing it with them as together they think about consent. Is it okay for an adult to assume that it is okay to hug or kiss or even just touch kids they have just met?  Does being a relative afford them certain rights? Exploring the young person’s response through the lens of Basil offers opportunities to talk about relationship-building at arm’s length – and we can all learn a lesson about starting on their level from the Obama approach.

All Australian schools are now required to teach age-appropriate consent education from the first year of compulsory schooling to Year 10 and in 2022, a new Australian Curriculum was released with updated content and guidance for teaching about consent (ACARA 2022).  While each state has developed its own support materials, their resource suggestions seem to lack links to appropriate fiction so this story dovetails in nicely with teaching our youngest children about respectful relationships, especially those involving an “imbalance of power” because there are few times as little ones where they hold the upper hand.

A story with greater potential than just about a girl and her new pet.  

 

 

Where Is the Cat?

Apr8
Where Is the Cat?

Where Is the Cat?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Is the Cat?

Eva Eland

Andersen Press, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A25.99

9781839131837

Whenever Suzy visits Auntie, all she wants to do is play with the cat.  But Cat is nowhere to be found, or is he?  No matter where Suzy looks, she can’t find Cat, but is she looking hard enough?

This is a joyous story for very young readers who will enjoy spotting Cat even though Suzy can’t.  They will love joining in to point him out, much like the audience in a pantomime, as well as learning and understanding prepositions like “behind”, “under” and so forth. There is also the opportunity to talk about how the cat, used to a quiet, good life, might feel when confronted by the boisterous, effervescent Suzy.

While it’s a familiar theme, nevertheless these sorts of stories are always enjoyable for our younger readers who like the feelings they have as they engage with the print and pictures, all helping them to enjoy the power of story believe that they can be readers themselves.

Little Ash (series)

Oct30
Little Ash (series)

Little Ash (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Ash (series)

Sports Carnival

9781460764633

Puppy Playtime

9781460764640

Ash Barty

Jasmine McCaughey

Jade Goodwin

HarperCollins, 2023

64pp., pbk., RRP $A9.99

Hot on the heels of the successful launch of the junior version of her autobiography comes the latest two in this series for young, newly independent readers.  

As with the others, they feature themes that are likely to be familiar to the audience – getting a puppy, and having to put the greater good before your own desires – and encouraging the reader to consider what they would do in a similar circumstance. Part of learning to win is learning to lose, and it is refreshing to have plots where the main character, who in real life we all seem to expect to win all the time, actually faces difficulties and defeat and has to handle that.  It is also refreshing to read stories where, even for champions, success doesn’t come easily – there is a lot of trial and error and practice that has to be endured, and not just with sport.  So many children who find something like learning to read comes easy naturally expect things like maths or music will also require little effort and when faced with a challenge either turn away or label themselves as “no good at that”.    

As sports stars come and go, much in the same way as new waves of young readers discover they can read by themselves, series like this also come and go and are very popular and useful at their time.  Students discover that those they admire most face similar dilemmas and choices as they do, making them more real and, at the same time, showing them that they do have power to determine things for themselves. And with their subject matter and format carefully designed for those emerging readers, regardless of the celebrity on the masthead, they also show them that they can read independently, that reading is something they can master and enjoy and that it will open a whole variety of new worlds and pathways.  So this is another important addition to your Stepping Stone collection with application and attraction beyond just those who like tennis. 

Smarty Pup 3: To the Rescue

Oct11
Smarty Pup 3: To the Rescue

Smarty Pup 3: To the Rescue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smarty Pup 3: To the Rescue

Anh Do

Anton Emdin

A&U Children’s, 2023

160pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781761068959

After Lily lost her mum, life was a little ordinary and sad,  but things changed when her Dad decided they could be a family of three again by getting a dog – something both Lily and her mum had wanted for ages.  At the animal shelter, Lily chose JJ, who was kind of clumsy, but something about his smiley face made her really happy inside. They changed even more when Lily discovered  that JJ could talk and is actually super smart. He can speak a number of languages, and knows the answers to maths and geography questions.

Now the family is healing and is back again in a third adventure with this extraordinary dog who has just declared that he want to be a firedog, following a visit to Lily’s school by Chief Firefighter Do and his son Weirdo. But, like many little ones fascinated by the noise and speed and sirens of fire engines, and the wonder of where they are off to, when fire threatens to burn down a local building, Lily and JJ realise there’s more to firefighting than just driving a big red truck. Will JJ and his latest invention save the day?

Sadly, for too many of our children the sights and sounds of the fire trucks have already been heard this summer as bushfire season shows its hand early, so this is a timely release to focus their thoughts on being prepared and knowing what to do if they are in danger, because unlike JJ, they probably won’t have a mini-copter at the ready. 

With its intriguing hologram covers, this is a series for young independent readers whose older siblings are reading Anh Do’s other series and they want some of the fun, too.  

George and Tao

Sep11
George and Tao

George and Tao

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George and Tao

Claude K. Dubois

Gecko Press, 2023

48pp., hbk., RRP $A22.99

9781776575251

When George the puppy is introduced to Tao the kitten, The two of them “look at each other and wag their tails,”  and it is not long before they are best friends. playing and together all day long. But when George chases him up the curtain in the living room, and Tao falls, George is bereft. While the kitten is scooped up and taken to the vet, George has no idea where his friend is.  He searches in all the usual spots but Tao is nowhere, and so he sits at the door and waits and waits, and waits…

This is a tiny book just made for little hands and being shared with a little one, that focuses on friendship and fun and what happens when things get out of hand -as they often do when little ones play together.  The text is simple, but the watercolour artwork carries so much making George’s loss when Tai disappears, palpable.  

Exquisite.