Once a creepy crocodile

Peter Taylor, illustrated by Nina Rycroft
Five Mile Press
ISBN: 9781743467282           RRP: $16.95

A crocodile creeps towards a riverbank where a young brolga is playing with some bush animal friends. Crocodile invites her for afternoon tea. Oh, the irony! Along slithers a spotty snake to distract Brolga – and I really can’t tell you more because that would truly spoil the story. Based on Waltzing Matilda, I think it is very clever to disguise such a well-known meter with an almost unrelated storyline like this. The robustly drawn cartoon style illustrations gleefully bounce along with the playfulness of this tale. For those of us who are not of fine voice, there is a CD included to help. A great gift idea for everyone to enjoy!

Books reviewed 6.11.14

Grandparents Day is celebrated around the world. In Australia it is on the last Sunday of October, which was 26 October – I didn’t know that. Then, we only started in 2011. There’s no need for a special Grandparents day in children’s literature; they have always been celebrated for the special role they play in children’s lives.

How to babysit a Grandma

Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish
Hodder Children’s Books [Hachette]
ISBN: 9780385753845            RRP: $14.99 (pbk)

A companion book to How to babysit a Grandad, here children learn how to take care of grandmothers on babysitting visits – to her house. Greet Grandma warmly, perhaps with a little surprise; keep Grandma busy, with a visit to the park and dressing up and other essential activities. When getting ready for bed, turn the pages of the bedtime book s-l-o-w-l-y so that Grandma has time to read the pictures. Choose the best sleeping place like the warm, cosy big bed – in Grandma’s room. Next day, when it’s time to go, give her a big cuddling hug; that way she will want you to babysit her again! Comical illustrations in sun-shining colours accent the delightful irony of this book for young and old alike.

What happens next?

Tull Suwannakit
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781922077561           RRP: $27.95

Little Ellie is on her way shopping with her Granny and asks for a story to fill in the time. Granny invents a Grandma Bear and a Baby Bear – who just happen to be out shopping. As Granny’s story grows Ellie (and the reader) can see what Granny can’t – bears following, doing just what they are. Then Ellie and Granny play a game of hide-and-seek and a world of imagination comes tumbling in, wonderland-like. Gentle illustrations with a delicate line create a quietly secretive mood, which could be startled at any moment in this charming book for readers under 5.

Lucas and Jack

Ellie Royce, illustrated by Andrew McLean
Working Title Press
ISBN: 9781921504662           RRP: $24.99

Lucas comes to the nursing home with his mother to visit his Great Grandpop, bringing a soccer ball to play. Jack, another resident, quickly assesses the situation when he says: Not much to do in there with all the oldies, I suppose. Gently, Jack reminisces about his younger years; and then those of other residents who had achieved surprising things. Lucas begins to realize that ageing is not just about getting old; there are memories to be shared that connect a family. This is quite an extraordinary book, well-realised and thoughtful. The writing is spare but the sentences are evocative, suggesting more than the words say. Brilliantly, the illustrations seize on these suggestions and give them shape to fire Lucas’s growing awareness that life was not always old for these people.