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Hatch

Apr6
Hatch

Hatch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hatch

Heidi Cooper Smith

CSIRO Publishing, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781486318278

Thirty years ago I introduced my Year 1 class to a new book that was causing a lot of buzz.  It was called Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones, and, not only do I still have my copy of it but I remember the fun and amazement we had as we discovered that chickens weren’t the only ones that laid eggs.   While those little ones knew that ducks and geese and other birds laid eggs, they were surprised that so many other creatures do too.

And I’m willing to bet that this generation of little ones will be just as astonished as they share this beautiful new book that introduces a collection of Australian creatures who also lay eggs, whether they live in the bush like the echidna and the cicada, on the beach like the turtle and the crocodile, or even in the water itself like the crab and the platypus.  Through beautiful, detailed illustrations that make you want to touch, and accessible text that is expanded with more information in the latter pages, double page spreads open up a wondrous world of life beginning, in, on and under the landscape.  Eagle eyes will also spot other egg-laying animals or their eggs hidden in the pictures and the endpapers, and these, too, are exposed in those final pages.

One of the activities we did way back then was to have a display board that was continually being added to as students discovered more and more egg-laying creatures but instead of just labelling them, they wrote clues that enabled their friends to discover the layer. The delight when the mystery was solved!!!!   One of my favourites was this that I found washed up on the beach during my scuba diving days…

While it is not featured in Hatch, it is not uncommon to find them washed up on the beaches of NSW looking and feeling like a piece of washed up seaweed.  Do you know?

We know children are fascinated to discover the hidden wonders of their world and this is yet another brilliant publication from CSIRO that unveils it for them.  Perhaps you will make the sort of career-highlight memories as I did in that class of so long ago.

No internet back then but perhaps you could start with this heart-warming clip from the miracles of Cyclone Alfred…. perhaps even investigate how the sex of those turtles (and crocodiles and alligators) is determined by the temperature of the sand they are laid in and thus, the impact of climate change on both the species and the food chain.  As usual, another on-the-surface-simple  publication that has the potential to span K-12!!! 

 

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Apr4
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Jacinta Liu

Freda Chiu

Lothian, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780734421791

I have two grandmothers.
One with brown eyes, and one with blue eyes.
One makes dumplings, and one bakes bread.
They are my grandmothers.
One lives in the East, and one lives in the West.

So many of our students could have written those lines as a reflection of their family structure as “mixed marriages” are just a normal part of today’s society, and so this is one that is going to resonate with so many.  At its heart is the strong message that despite differences in their heritage and history that has made them them, grandmothers come together and give the very best of who they are as they love, accept,  teach, protect, and guide and their grandchildren so they can grow up to be the best they can be. While each may have different belief systems  – one was blessed under the protection of the Chinese dragon, full of dignity and strength. One was kissed by the light of the Cancer moon, filled with grace and style – or different food prep preferences and techniques or perhaps a different language the best of who they are is melded within the child so they too can say I am from the East and the West.

Written by a Chinese-Australian and inspired by her own family history, its authenticity  is apparent and will inspire young readers, whether they have a dual heritage or not, to consider the traits they share and the things they like, eat and do that have been directly passed on to them by their grandparents. It is the perfect accompaniment to Joanna Ho’s Eyes the Kiss in the Corners and Eyes that Speak to the Stars   and others that celebrate intergenerational relationships.

While these sorts of books tend to get a particular focus during Harmony Day celebrations, they have year-round appeal to any child who picks them up and sees themselves and their circumstances portrayed in a book for all to see.  As adults, we should never underestimate the validation and reassurance of who they are that that offers. 

The O in the Snow (series)

Apr2
The O in Snow series

The O in Snow series

The O in Snow series

The O in Snow

9781925868609

The AU in Dinosaur

9781922800381

The I in Island

9781922800077

The NG in Ningaloo

9781922800787

The A in Rainforest

9781925868821

The OO in Uluru

9781925868180

The EE in the Deep Blue Sea

9781925868401

The English alphabet has just 26 letters, yet there are 44 phonemes (perceptually distinct units of sound) that make up the words we speak, making the teaching of reading and writing with a primary emphasis on phonics or “sounding it out” tricky at best.  Many will be familiar with “ghoti” which is “fish” spelt from the sounds of ‘enough’, ‘women’ and ‘nation’ and T. S. Watt’s  poem which begins

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, lough and through?
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?  

is a common visitor to Facebook feeds, while The Chaos written in 1922 by Gerard Nolst Trenité has over 800 irregularities in both spelling and pronunciation.  

So how can we help our young readers make sense of this language that is constantly changing and evolving as words are added, fall out of use or have their meanings changed entirely?

In this series of seven books (to date) young readers are introduced to the various spellings of a particular sound by taking them on a journey through a particular Australian landscape.  For example, The O in Snow is inspired by The Man from Snowy River and celebrates the creatures of the High Country and the drovers that once mustered horses and cattle on the high plains, while The AU in Dinosaur follows the journey of several young Australians on a time travel ride back to see real dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.. 

In each book, the particular sound is highlighted in all its guises each time it appears, and Janie Frith’s stunning illustrations bring the whole to life so that even if the emphasis is not on the phonic awareness, the reader is still introduced to the Australian landscape and its inhabitants, and the teaching notes which accompany some of them offer ideas for exploring the many layers of each.  For example,  The O in Snow covers the relationship to the original poem as well as the Indigenous language and heritage of the Alpine High Country; the annual journey of the bogong moth; the Snowy-Hydro Scheme (and its current extension); renewable energy; the natural inhabitants of both the Monaro and the high country; the threats they face and the controversial current treatment of the brumbies; as well as developing vocabulary, listening to the original poem and the movie’s musical score (add in the Wallis and Matilda version)  and a variety of creative arts, giving it a broader audience than those coming to grips with the peculiarities of the language.

But, if that is your main focus, then challenge students to build their own version of The Chaos by seeing how many of the 800 irregularities they can find.  Here’s a kickstart…

 

Our Strange Lingo
When the English tongue we speak.
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it’s true
We say sew but likewise few?
And the maker of the verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard
Cord is different from word.
Cow is cow but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose, dose, and lose
And think of goose and yet with choose
Think of comb, tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll or home and some.
Since pay is rhymed with say
Why not paid with said I pray?
Think of blood, food and good.
Mould is not pronounced like could.
Wherefore done, but gone and lone –
Is there any reason known?
To sum up all, it seems to me
Sound and letters don’t agree

(Author in doubt)

Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

Mar30
Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

Michelle Robinson

Nikki Dyson

Walker Books, 2025

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781406384918

Down on the farm, it’s time to sleep. So Sam the sheepdog who is really tired himself,  rounds up the sheep…  But they don’t want to go to sleep. and even though he tells them to count each other because everyone knows that counting sheep will send you straight to sleep, but the problem continues because the sheep can’t count!  And the horses, cows, pigs  and chickens don’t want to settle down either.  Sam is getting exasperated! What is keeping them awake?

With its bright, bold and expressive illustrations our youngest readers will have fun identifying the familiar farm animals, counting them, imitating the sounds they make and trying to work out what is keeping them awake.  They will also LOL at the ending!  Then , to finish off, there is a challenge to find and count the animals – they will delight in finding seven mice!

Just a joyful story that will resonate with any child who has been on a farm or wants to visit one.

 

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. 

We Live in a Bus

Mar26
We Live in a Bus

We Live in a Bus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Live in a Bus

Dave Petzold

Thames & Hudson, 2024

32pp. hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781760764647

Imagine getting up in the morning and doing whatever you like, going wherever the road takes you unimpeded by having to go to school or work.  Sounds like a dream for the future after your working life is over and you have retired – and, indeed, for thousands of grey nomads, it is living the dream.

But what if you’re a child and it is your reality?  Because that’s the life of the family in this CBCA 2025  Shortlist nominee for Picture Book of the Year.  Every day there is somewhere new to go and something new to do or see as they travel around in  Gracie Joy Rufus Bean, a bus especially converted to be a mobile home, with her door that goes tic-shhh! and Blob, the bus spider who lives over the top bunk.  There are new people to meet and stories to share, adventures to have and camping under the stars wherever you pull up puts you in tune with nature.  

Creator Dave Petzold talks about the inspiration and process or creating the book on his website, stemming from his own family road trip, and with its straightforward, onomatopoeic text and distinctive illustrations (which he describes in this interview as “a smudgy jumble of collaged shapes and lines”),  it encourages the reader to appreciate the journey as much as the destination- wherever that may be.  Taking time out to play on a musical fence, listen to the sound of the budgies as they take off when the buss rolls through, learning the stories of Country, and feeling the cool of the clear water of the unspoiled waterhole. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

This has the potential to spark lots of discussion about the pros and cons of such a lifestyle, encouraging young readers to look closely at their own and identify what is precious to them, as well as considering those new things they could explore if they were not tied to timetables, screens, and after-school activities. Are there ways they could have the best of both worlds?    Are there places they want to visit and maps to make?  Are there dreams to build and make come true?

Petzold himself was CBCA Shortlisted for the New Illustrator award in 2021 for his first book, Seven Seas of Fleas  – two nominations from two works makes him one to look for in the future. 

 

Hugs Still Feel the Same

Mar24
Hugs Still Feel the Same

Hugs Still Feel the Same

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hugs Still Feel the Same

Kiralee Strong

Jenni Barrand

EK Books, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A27.99

9781922539960 

Even though once again the rain is lashing the window, the clouds hide the morning sun and paint the outside grey, things will be okay because morning hugs are still the same. And as the day progresses, the little girl is still calm and optimistic because everyone’s hugs feel the same.  Even when her life is turned upside down, even the hugs of strangers are reassuring because a hug can get us through so many tough times.

This story starts like the beginning of any wet day – there might be a bit of regret as plans have to be changed, but a hug from a loved one will soothe that away.  But as the rain continues and the refrain is repeated, you know there is something brewing – what has gone wrong?  Whose hug is going to be missing? 

Sadly, this is a story that is going to resonate with many of its readers, particularly children, and particularly those in coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales right now, and while its message is a positive one of resilience, the kindness and care of strangers and the power of a hug, it could be a trigger because the climax is the family having to evacuate their home as floodwaters rise, and are rescued by the SES and taken to a community shelter as they watch their home float away.  (I’m disclosing  the end because it could also be a trigger for the adult sharing it.)

Inspired by the author’s real-life experience of the severe flooding that engulfed the Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia in 2022 and being a volunteer for the recovery efforts, it was important to look for the beauty amongst the devastation and regardless of what was going on around, the comfort that a hug from a loved one was palpable.  It’s just sad that it’s publication comes at this time, so soon after the events on the Gold Coast and Brisbane and the current events in Townsville, but then, perhaps fortuitous because it could be a timely reminder that hugs are still the same. They still offer a consoling message  of a shared experience and emotion.

But even for those who haven’t been through the trauma of such scary weather events, there is still a strong message for anyone who has gone through similar profound tragedy – that reaching out and physical connection between loved ones and even strangers gives so much comfort and empathy and works so well when words won’t. While teachers’ notes help explore the book more deeply, to me it’s essence is in its reassurance of family resilience, of community connection and that, no matter whether you’re giving or getting them, hugs still feel the same.  

 

Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

Mar21
Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

Angela Toniolo

Shannon Melville

Wombat Books, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A27.99

9781761111938

It’s World War Two and Darwin has been bombed.  Families have built trenches for air raid shelters and the tension is high.  Mavis wants to help the war effort, but what can a ten-year-old girl do? She has her answer when a soldier comes to her school looking for volunteers to be plane spotters.

And so, along with her older sister Doreen. as members of the Volunteer Air Observers Corps,  every Saturday they climb the stairs of the town clock tower armed with binoculars and pictures of enemy bombers to record the times they are spotted and the direction they are flying. On one Saturday, when Mavis is working by herself she spots one of the planes in her pictures… Does she have what it takes to save the town?

Based on real people and true events, this is a story that not only exposes a little-known piece of Australia’s civil defence, but introduces today’s readers to the lives of children in the past, those who are perhaps their own relatives – as Doreen and Mavis are for the author.  Imagine living with the fear of being bombed every day – although sensitive teachers will need to be aware of any triggers this may pose for those who have escaped just that, while at the same time helping children have a better understanding of what some of their classmates might have lived through..  However, rather than dwelling on that fear, this is more a story of how a community came together at a time of need – as it so often does- and determination, resilience, and the power of little acts, even those done by children,  can make such a difference.  The illustrations capture this moment in time perfectly, offering the modern reader a glimpse of what their life might have been like had they been born into that era when there were no phones and screens to entertain.  What did the children do?

With ANZAC Day on the horizon, this is an opportunity to explore a little-known part of Australia’s wartime history that will span all age groups. 

The Kids Who Rescued Easter

Mar19
The Kids Who Rescued Easter

The Kids Who Rescued Easter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kids Who Rescued Easter

Jackie Hosking

Nathaniel Eckstrom

Walker Books, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781760657390

There were whispers in the garden for the word had got around that Easter Bunny’s eggs had rolled away.

He was on his way to hide them, when he dropped them on the ground and now he has no eggs for Easter Day…

But all the tried and trusty neighbours from the houses near and far had gathered in the garden , keen to find the eggs and help Easter Bunny.  All the children had bikes, skateboards, trikes and there was even a little redhead on his homemade scooter and were keen to join the search, although there was doubt whether the scooter would make it until Nancy vouched for its durability. So off up the hills they went in search of the eggs – but were they really doing Easter Bunny a favour?

This delightful story from she who gave us When Santa Got Stuck in a Gum Tree, should come with a WARNING  sticker, because if you are familiar with A. B. Paterson’s The Man from Snowy River and, in particular the version by Wallis and Matilda then you are going to have an earworm for the rest of the day.  This is a clever take on this iconic poem, both in theme and rhythm providing a uniquely Australian tale about this time of the year that every child will love to hear, regardless of their age.

Superb. Definitely one for your personal collection to share and share and share.

(And just in case you haven’t discovered Wallis and Matilda’s musical renditions of Paterson’s poems because you’re not old enough, here’s my Easter gift to you…)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t)

Mar18
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn't)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t)

Briony Stewart

Lothian, 2024

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

9780734421883 

Every single minute, of every single day, a child somewhere loses a baby tooth. And, if you counted every child in the world then that means they are losing 200 teeth a minute. Multiply that by the number of minutes in an hour, hours in a day and you can work out how many teeth that are lost every day!

But what happens to all those teeth?

Little ones will tell you that they are collected by the Tooth Fairy, as real to them as Father Christmas and the Easter Bunny. But as they get a little older, kids get curious and start to ask questions like  “How do they know you have lost a tooth? What do they do with the teeth? What happens if I swallow it before they get here?” and a whole range of others that only a child could think of and which a grownup might need help answering.

So, here, in this straight-forward, Q & A book are not only the answers but a golden opportunity for the child to learn that sometimes parents don’t have all the answers but together they can find out by looking in a book.  Even the trickiest questions such as why do some kids get more money than others is addressed in a way that they will understand yet doesn’t put the parent on the spot or make anyone feel awkward.  A mother herself, Briony Stewart has used her imagination to create a magical world where tooth fairies need and use the teeth, even the damaged ones, in their daily life that will win over the most cynical child.  She provides plausible explanations that address all the traditions and myths of the fairy’s visit, while adding more information that continues the magic and mystery for a little longer.

This thoroughly deserves to be nominated as a 2025 CBCA Notable Book of the Year for Early Childhood – it has great potential to teach more than just about the Tooth Fairy, including dental hygiene, and maybe stray into the world of The Mightiest Bite.