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The Book Chook
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What’s a chook? Here in Australia, it’s what lots of us call a hen. It rhymes with book. As a Kindergarten teacher, I was a real mother hen, who loved reading aloud to my chicks. My Book Chook blog shares snippets from the wonderful world and wor
Recent Posts Tagged With 'children's picture book'
Fun with Spot
Do you know the lift-the-flap books about a puppy called Spot, by Eric Hill? My son loved them. Because he looked after his books, we were able to hand them on with all the flaps intact to two little girls we know. The books are simple, with large c...
Book Review, The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas
The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas is a board book. Don't you love the way board books are made so robustly? They're perfect for toddler hands that haven't yet learnt respect for books. But don't dismiss it as "just for toddlers"This charming pi...
Delilah\'s Dream
I don't know author Ian Trevaskis, but I'm sure he used me as a model for the picture book, Delilah's Dream. It's about a "fine young hen who dreams of reaching unimaginable heights. She is full of passion and dedicated to the pursuit of wild adventu...
Book Review, The Jolly Postman or Other People\'s Letters
When I was teaching young primary school kids, I loved introducing picture books to my classes that motivated them to write. One of my favourites was The Jolly Postman, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, (Heinemann, London, 1986).Our copy, gifted to my son ...
Book Review, Isabellas Garden
The Book Chook has a new favourite picture book. Isabella’s Garden has pushed its way into my heart and mind with beautiful, poetic writing, and eye-popping illustrations. Written by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Rebecca Cool, and published by Wal...
Book Review, Martha doesn't say sorry
I love the work of Australian illustrator, Bruce Whatley, but I wasn't familiar with Samantha Berger's writing. After reading Martha doesn't say sorry! I will definitely be on the look-out for this team in the future.Published by Little, Brown and Co...
Book Review, Simpson and his Donkey
When a book is short-listed for the Children’s Book Council of Australia awards, I feel safe making the assumption that it’s special. When it wins its category, I am eager to see if I agree with the judges about its extra-specialness.Simpson and ...
Book Review, Rhino Neil
We all want to fit in, and feel that we belong. Rhino Neil certainly does. The problem is, many of the other zoo inhabitants are daunted by his size."Look out for his tremendous tummy," said the zebra. "One bite and he will swallow us all up!" And sh...
Book Review, Sleepy Pendoodle
In Sleepy Pendoodle, written by Malachy Doyle and illustrated by Julie Vivas (Walker Books 2002), a little girl finds a tiny puppy and cares for him. She is desperate for the pup to open his eyes, and asks her uncle for advice. Her efforts to remembe...
Book Review, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a ballerina. There were no ballet lessons in my life, and I'd been gifted with a roly-poly physique - alas, I was more of a prancing Pudding than a Pavlova. Nevertheless, wearing bubble swimmers and a frilly h...
Book Review, Too Tight Benito
Too Tight, Benito! by Janeen Brian (Little Hare, 2008) is a charming picture book for two to share, cuddled up in a snug place just like its main character wants to be. You see, Benito Bear has a problem - it's nearly time for his winter sleep and h...
Book Review, Owl Babies
I have a favourite picture book to share! Granted, I discover favourite picture books almost weekly, but if you don't know it, please look out for this one. It's Owl Babies, written by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson, and first publishe...
Book Review, Round Fish Square Bowl
Round Fish Square Bowl is a picture book that celebrates individual differences. If you have a child who walks to the beat of a different drum, this could be just the picture book for him.Written by Tom Skinner, and illustrated by Mini Goss, it's a N...
Book Review, Bubble Homes and Fish Farts
I heard of Bubble Homes and Fish Farts during our Literacy Blog Tour, Share a Story - Shape a Future, and immediately wanted to read it. My first glimpse convinced me that kids will love this non-fiction picture book. I guarantee that any book with "...
Book Review, By Jingo an alphabet of animals
By Jingo! an alphabet of animals is an alphabet book, a picture book, and a poetry book - what a happy combination! It's written by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Dee Huxley, and published by ABC books in 2005. I've reviewed several books from this pro...
Review, Pobblebonks
Pobblebonk, pobblebonk, pobblebonk! Isn't that a great word? But what IS a pobblebonk?Short answer: it's a frog.Slightly longer answer: it's a Western Banjo Frog, also known as Lymnodynastes dorsalis, and it's found in the south-western corner of Wes...
Review, How to Heal a Broken Wing
The first page of my new favourite picture book shows enormous city buildings that dwarf scurrying ant-like people. How much smaller and insignificant then is the pigeon that thuds against the glass wall of one building, and falls to the street below...
Book Review: Maybelle, Bunny of the North
Some books don't conform. The ever-changing Rules of Writing dictate that children's books should have a problem or conflict, solved by the protagonist. We're told that publishers frown on anthropomorphism, and rabbits don't wear clothes. ...
Book Review, A Proper Little Lady
This is the light-hearted story of Annabella Jones, who decides to be a proper little lady. She dresses in all her glory, assumes her posh lady voice, and goes for a walk. Alas, despite her precautions, various adventures take their toll on her outfi...
Book Review, Hunwick's Egg
One day, Hunwick the bilby finds an egg. He takes it back to his nest and cares for it. He tells his dreams to it and confides in it, but the egg never replies. Hunwick's neighbours worry about him, but Hunwick has his relationship with the egg all ...
Book Review, I Am Dodo
This is a multi-layered children’s picture book, written and illustrated by Kae Nishimura, and published by Clarion Books, New York, 2005. I grabbed it from the library on a whim, because dodos resonate with me. I’m so glad I did. I Am Dodo is no...
Book Review, Columbia Sneezes
Four facts you may or may not know about The Book Chook: I love great picture books. I love rhyming picture books when they're done very, very well. I love quirky illustrations. I love boy camels called Columbia. And that's why I love Columbia Sn...
Book Review, Baby Bilby, where do you sleep?
When I look back over my reviews to date, I see I haven't posted many classified as non-fiction. That's not because I don't like non-fiction books. It's more because there are thousands of wonderful fiction tales out there, and only so many hours in ...
Book Review, On Our Way to the Beach
Each new picture book I read seems to become my new best friend. On Our Way to the Beach, by Sofie Laguna and Andrew McLean, is my current favourite. It was published by Omnibus (Scholastic) in 2004. There’s a lovely dream-like quality to this s...
Book Review, Night Noises
Quite simply, Mem Fox is very, very good at what she does. What she does is speak to the hearts of children. And those who are children at heart. Fox's Night Noises was delightfully illustrated by Terry Denton and first published by Omnibus in ass...
Book Review, Wombat Divine
This is a great book to read as we approach Christmas. Mem Fox is a writer I greatly admire. Her picture books seem effortless, perfect prose to me, yet I know from her website that they are highly polished and carefully structured. I looked forwa...
Book Review, Brian Banana Duck Sunshine Yellow
Names are incredibly important to humans. Brian Banana Duck Sunshine Yellow certainly lives up to all of his. When he gets lost in the supermarket, Na-na Yellow makes him carry a yellow balloon, and Brian’s greatest adventure begins. Chris McKimmi...
Book Review, The Birdsville Monster
I know Doug Macleod as a writer from his work in Australian television, and from such delights as Sister Madge’s Book of Nuns. I know Craig Smith’s wonderful illustrations from Billy the Punk and I Hate Fridays. So spying a picture book (Puffin, ...
Book Review, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
Some picture books really appeal to kids, the ones who mostly listen to the book being read aloud. Other picture books appeal to parents and grandparents, the ones with the purchasing power. Some picture books do both. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Part...
Book Review, Olivia
Olivia, a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Ian Falconer, was published in 2000 by Simon and Schuster. It’s a complete visual delight. Except for Degas and Pollock paintings at the museum Olivia visits, Falconer’s illustrations...
