Welcome to Children's Corner book reviews from 4MBS Classic Radio FM in Brisbane. Here you will find short annotations of the children's books reviewed by Kerry Neary in Children's Corner on 4MBS, together with the details you need to find them at your favourite bookstore. Any prices shown are the publisher's Australian recommended price and may vary depending on where you shop. You are welcome to use these reviews for newsletters and the like with appropriate acknowledgement.

Aug 22, 2014

Anna Harwell Celenza with various illustrators and orchestras




... and now for something completely different

Happy birthday, Royal baby!

Martha Mumford, illustrated by Ada Grey
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781408854822          RRP: $15 (pbk)

You may remember a book about one year ago on the impending arrival of a right royal baby. The same team now has a book to celebrate his right royal first birthday, with the same respectful dose of British satire as the original. It’s all-
star royal smashing fun but one thing surprised me: George is already shown as a right royal toddler. Considering at least three months lead into this book, how did they know about that? No doubt another royal leak from the palace! If you have the original, you must have this companion.

Aug 7, 2014

Books reviewed 17.07.14




Children relate to stories about their play, for real or in fantasy; very often they can recognise themselves or their imagination in the story.
Come on, let’s play

[In-house author/s?], illustrated by Cheryl Orsini
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734415516           RRP: $24.99

This catalogues a day in the life of a family. It’s a day off, no school, no work, and bouncing quatrains relate the events of the day, each across a two-page opening: sleep-in games; after-breakfast play outside; family games later inside; quiet reading time before bed. The illustrations are simply drawn in a catchy cartooned style with lively colours and playful line in this ideal book for the playroom collection, for showing that a day in can be just as much fun as a day out.
Too hot for spots

Mini Goss
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781743435410           RRP: $19.99

Barry and Stella first appeared in Too cold for a tutu (2012). Here they are pretending to be Doctors, alternately taking care of each others’ pretend ills - Barry has the weasles while Stella has chicken pops. The charming twist is that Barry and Stella are hand-knitted soft toys, so you can view their stories as children setting up their toys for a game; or the toys actually representing children playing. This book, with its unique illustration, joyful colours and authentic text sparkles like the original and still feels as fresh as a new idea. Highly recommended for the under 5s.
Snail and Turtle are friends

Stephen Michael King
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781743620236           RRP: $24.99

Snail and Turtle could well be nick-names for two children but they are indeed two small creatures doing people-like things. They like doing things together and given their common habit of not rushing into things, this comes easily. They also like doing different things but being good friends they are comfortable with this. The text is absolutely minimal while more detailed illustrations take the story further; these are wonder-filled, in all their colour, detail and humour.