Camp Canberra by Krys Saclier and Cathy Wilcox

The students of Mount Mayhem Primary are on their school trip to Canberra.
Their teacher, Ms Sparks says they will visit places of National Significance and learn about Australian History and Government.
Who knew Canberra could be so interesting!

Camp Canberra by Krys Saclier and Cathy Wilcox

Being a Canberran, I’ve never done the “school trip to Canberra” so many Australians seem to do, but I sure do know my hometown well enough to appreciate this book!

Filled with information and questions, this story about a school trip to the capital city would be a good one to buy before a student goes on their trip—or to give them after they come back. It’d also a great addition to a school library.

With artwork using photographs of the real places with the students and teachers illustrated over them, it’s educational while also featuring fictional characters on their own adventures.

There are little details about each place mentioned (e.g. certain things to experience or look for at each attraction), so children will feel connected to the story—and have things to anticipate on their visit.

There’s so much in Canberra to see and do, and this book makes a good summary of some of the major things—even if it features so many attractions it would make for an exhausting excursion!

(The only thing I don’t like is the last sentence of the blurb that buys into mean stereotypes about our beautiful capital city. Canberra has more to see and do than anywhere!)

Recently Read

Recently Read: two books in the Ella and Olivia world of junior reader stories:

Ballet Backflip (Ella Diaries #2) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Ella dreams of dancing, but she also wants to be taken seriously. She’s in Year 5 after all! When her dreams of being the lead in the ballet recital are dashed, she starts to wonder if it might be fun to try something new.

But when MEAN QUEEN PEACH takes up gymnastics and executes an AMAZING backflip in the playground, the school is taken over by the new craze. Will Ella backflip on her love of ballet? Can she bear to go along with Peach and her traitorous BFF Zoe?

Leap beside Ella as her secret thoughts uncover the truth about friendship and trying new things.

Best Friends Stories (Ella and Olivia #1) by Yvette Poshoglian and Danielle McDonald

Meet Ella and Olivia. Big Sister. Little Sister. Best Friends. Follow Ella and Olivia in six all-new stories as they get ready for a big talent show, have a very messy pet party, learn to ice-skate and lots more! The best adventures are the ones you have with your best friends.

Bin Chicken Flies Again by Kate and Jol Temple and Ronojoy Ghosh

Where’s all the garbage and delightful bin juice? This trash can is empty I feel like a goose! That dirty truck is stealing my food! It’s simply not on. How terribly rude! Ibis has a grand plan to take back her trash! But look out she’s got some very hungry competition…

Bin Chicken Flies Again by Kate and Jol Temple and Ronojoy Ghosh

Another instalment in the rhyming picture book series about the poor Australian ibis (the bird everyone loves to hate), this was a silly, uplifting read.

I liked the artwork from as soon as I opened the cover. It’s kind of sparse, but it also has little details (the facial expressions, the silly legs—one with a tag on it, the mouse using chopsticks) that make each page entertaining. Apart from anything else, the ibis is such a funny-looking bird that it just lends itself to humour!

And I enjoyed the fact Ibis wears an empty can on her head as a hat throughout the book!

The rhyme worked well for me most of the time. Nothing too clunky, though the sentences were quite long. It had a very musical style to it—especially good because it’s a book about though the book is all about eating out of rubbish bins!

Ballet Class (Meet Ella #5) by Rebecca McRitchie and Danielle McDonald

Ella wants to be a ballerina! But she is a bit worried about her first ballet class. What if she does something wrong? What if everyone sees?

Ballet Class (Meet Ella #5) by Rebecca McRitchie and Danielle McDonald

The former ballet dancer in me loved this one. I remember my first ballet class very well because I went with a friend who spent the entire time scared and crying! She didn’t last long, but I went all the way…

Something I appreciate about these books is that they can be unashamedly girly at the same time as being progressive. There’s no need for a “not like other girls” mentality. Ella can love ballet and sparkles as well as other things.

I enjoyed the illustrations in this one, especially the way Ella was drawn when she was nervous. It was really easy to relate to.

I loved the free dancing part at the end. It was always my favourite thing when I was younger. I also loved the funny ways different children chose to dance.

One little nit-pick: male dancers aren’t called “ballerinas”. I do understand that this is as early reader, and so the language can’t get too complicated, but that’s a particular mistake so many outside the ballet world make, so I always notice! (And you never stretch before warming up! That’s dangerous!)

However, children will be able to relate to this book. It would make a great present for a child just starting dance.

A Cat Called Trim by Corinne Fenton and Craig Smith

Trim was a cat born for adventure …

This is the true story of a courageous, mischievous and fearless cat called Trim, who sailed with Matthew Flinders on his voyages to map the coastline of Australia and beyond.

A Cat Called Trim by Corinne Fenton and Craig Smith

One of the best things about historical picture books is the way authors dig up fascinating, personal parts of history that help humanise an era. It’s the sort of thing rarely done quite the same way in adult fiction, and the stories are as interesting for adults as for children.

A Cat Called Trim is one such book, and I really enjoyed reading this true story. And it was extra special because of my love of cats.

I loved the introductory illustration of Trim as kitten, brave and screaming at the sailors! In fact, I loved all the “action” illustrations of Trim. When he’s scared, wet, soaked, stuck in the ocean, emerging from the ocean…

Having rescued a few kittens and cats of my own over the years, I thought the way Trim was portrayed was perfect.

The tight focus on the cat’s journey through a real piece of the past makes for a great way to introduce younger readers to a broader area of history. Start small and work your way out as this real cat experiences the world the way the people on the ship did.

The storytelling and illustrations work well together.

Too Many Pears! by Jackie French and Bruce Whately

Pamela is a cow with a problem. She loves eating pears and won’t stop at anything to sniff them out and eat them up. What will stop Pamela? Too Many Pears is a lot of fun and a great book to read aloud and share.

Too Many Pears! by Jackie French and Bruce Whately

A simple story accompanied by some funny illustrations with quirky little details.

Much of the book is about seeing all the ways Pamela finds to eat more pears. They become progressively sillier as the book goes on, which will get a laugh out of kids.

I enjoyed the characters’ eyes through the images. They gave away a lot in a book with very sparse text. Other favourite illustration details were the unimpressed wombat, and the “light bulb” moment where the bulb is actually a pear.

You know there’s going to be a twist at the end—and it was a good one.

Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf (The Real and Chicken Little) by Sam Wedelich

I am SO not scared. Chicken Little is NOT afraid of anything, not even a wolf. No matter how big or bad he is. In fact, she’s never even seen a wolf. So when a real wolf shows up and ruffles her feathers, what’s a fretful fowl to do: Join the frenzied flock and fly the coop? Or find out if this newcomer is as bad as his reputation?

Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf (The Real and Chicken Little) by Sam Wedelich

This was a fun follow-up to the first book. They’re twists on famous classic stories, complete with a clever main character and a cast of DRAMATIC chickens.

The second book is a little less dramatic and a bit sweeter than the original one—the Big Bad Wolf isn’t who he initially seems. He’s just trying to “live his best life”!

Chicken Little is a smart bird. In an era where fake news and conspiracy theories are such a big deal, it’s great to have a main character who stops and thinks before she acts.

I loved the twist at the end. It was sweet.

Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale by Sam Wedelich

Who are you calling little?

Chicken Little is NOT afraid of anything. Well, okay, maybe a mysterious BONK to the head can produce panic. But only momentarily. It’s not as though she meant to send the barnyard into a tailspin, thinking that the sky was falling. How ridiculous! But can she calm her feathered friends with facts and reason?

Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale by Sam Wedelich

This is a great twist on the original tale that will have children and adults alike entertained with the sheer drama of it.

Chicken Little is the sensible one here. When she suspects the sky is falling, instead of panicking she “does her own research”. It’s the other chickens who fly into a panic. (I loved when they wouldn’t go into the coop because they’re free range chickens).

There’s just so much DRAMA!

In an era where conspiracy theories abound and fact-checking is a thing, this is a timely take on a classic story.

Created by an author/illustrator, the illustrations match the fairly sparse text perfectly. Fun.

Dolphin Dreaming (Ella Diaries #24) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Warning: You are about to read my utterly biggest secrets. Can I trust you? OK then. I’m Ella, and this is my diary. Ella dreams that one day she could see a dolphin in the wild. And when she and Zoe meet Mila, Ella’s dream might come true! But their holiday at misty point isn’t all ice-creams and boogieboarding. Ella and Zoe make a terrible discovery!

Dolphin Dreaming (Ella Diaries #24) by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Summer holidays, the beach, fancy ice creams, dolphins—this instalment in the Ella Diaries series has a lot going for it. There’s a lot about the story that will have heaps of girl appeal—and there’s nothing wrong with being unashamedly into “girl things” like fancy ice creams and dolphins!

Ella and her friends are just like regular kids, which is why these “diaries” work so well.

However, Ella’s over-the-top cutesy language in her diary entries seems to be increasing as the series goes on (“mainerous ambitions”, “nodded nodderously”, “importerent”, “funnerous fun”). As I always say, I remember being silly like that at the same age, but it is becoming a bit much to read on every page!

I found the illustrations in this one particularly entertaining—kids will love them. You can have fun right alongside Ella and her friends. In fact, these were my favourite illustrations of any of the various Ella and Olivia books so far. They were the real highlight of this one.

I just know how many girls will love these. Good thing there are a gazillion of them, because I know kids won’t want to stop at one!

Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, Giada Francia and Francesca Rossi.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair! That’s what the witch says whenever she wants to climb up to the tower where she’s imprisoned the beautiful girl. But one day, someone else climbs up-and changes Rapunzel’s life forever.

Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, Giada Francia and Francesca Rossi.

I’ve read several other fairy tale retellings in this series, and have always appreciated them for their detailed storytelling that doesn’t stray too far from the originals—while also adding something more.

Rapunzel has plenty of angst to go with the fairy tale romance, which is a bonus for me. I liked the backstory in this version.

The artwork unites all the books in the series—all the fairy tale princesses look similar, with their different hair colours being about the only difference. I preferred the style in this one to The Little Mermaid, which was the last in the series I read. Sometimes there’s something a bit dopey about the characters’ faces that doesn’t work for me, but I didn’t have the same issues here.

Not a bad version (though I’m seeing younger people, who think Disney invented the story, pretty surprised by it!).