Everyone Wants an Octopus Book Review
Written by @liz_ledden ๐ Illustrated by @makotokoji ๐ฆ Pubilished by @hardiegrantkids
Another gorgeous picture book that Iโve been meaning to post about for months! If you havenโt got your hands on a copy yet โ let me tell you why you should ๐ค
Inky ๐ canโt find a single book with a character who looks like him, yet there are loads of books about Inkyโs best friend, Quack ๐ฆTogether they decide to do something about this โ because everyone deserves to see themselves in books ๐
Everyone Wants an Octopus Book is a fun, bright, engaging picture book for children 3+ that handles this important theme in a clever, inviting and super accessible way โperfectly pitched for young children.
I love the cute characters, gorgeous lolly coloured palette and octopus facts peppered throughout, as well as the creatorsโ note at the end which delves a little deeper into the why of this book.
Diverse, inclusive books are important for all kids โ to be mirrors so they can see themselves in the stories they read, and windows so they can learn about and understand people who are different to them. And hopefully learn along the way that we are all more alike than we are different ๐
๐ Bravo for this book โ a perfect, gentle conversation starter about diversity and inclusion for preschool plus ๐ฆ
Book Review - Our Home
๐ Iโve bought so many gorgeous picture books lately - this whole year in fact - and Iโve been meaning to review them and share them and waah! Iโve never got to it!
So Iโm starting today, because we are away camping in the van ๐ and holidays create space in my head to do such lovely things ๐ค
OUR HOME @catherinemeatheringham and @mhdesignillustration and @windyhollow
I always loved these kind of concept books when I was a kid. Imagining if I lived there or which one I would choose. I found it fun, inviting and peaceful in ways I didnโt understand and this book has all those feels ๐ค
So come along and see all these different Australian homes ๐ from a rugged coast to an outback station ๐ to a high-rise apartment ๐๏ธ.
The simple text leaves room for us to hear their sounds ๐๏ธ and the luminous illustrations help us imagine the different lives they might hold ๐๏ธ so we can all celebrate the sense of belonging a little house can bring ๐
Book Review - Recent MG Books I loved
๐ Latest Middle Grade (MG) reads I loved
What Snail Knows @kat.apel @mandyfootillustrator @uqpbooks
Tender heartwarming early MG verse novel ๐
Get Your Act Together, Doris Kozlowski @jodabrowski @affirmpress
Laugh out loud relatable MG about friends, family and embracing who you are โค๏ธ
The Star Whale @nicolakidsbooks @p.horacek_ @walkerbooksaus
Gorgeous poetry collection celebrating nature by two masters ๐
Tweet @morris_gleitzman @penguinkidsaustralia
Funny, wacky and emotional magical realism about looking after the planet and the power of love ๐
Book Review - Nova's Missing Masterpiece
๐ ๐ฅณNovaโs Missing Masterpiece is the fab new collaboration between the CBCA award winning author & illustrator duo @brookegrahamauthor @robin_tatlow.lord @ekbooksforkids
SEL focused like #theworrymonster but instead of ๐ for anxiety this one is โฅ๏ธ for anger!
๐ผ Nova has made a magnificent masterpiece to give her Dad as a ๐ฅณ๐โ but now she canโt find it. And itโs nearly time for his party!
๐ข This assured text allows the young reader to feel in safe hands, even as the vibrant, expressive illustrations draw us right into Novaโs emotional rollercoaster of increasing frustration, anger and panic ๐ ๐ก๐คฏ as she looks everywhere for her missing masterpiece that is nowhere to be found
๐พ Luckily Nova has her faithful staffy, Harley by her side throughout. Not just a source of the comfort and support all pets give us, Harley also provides a model of calm. By watching him, Nova learns effective strategies to self-regulate and help smooth out her bumpy emotional ride
Novaโs Missing Masterpiece will be a great resource for parents and teachers & to help young readers learn to manage big emotions like anger & problem solving under pressure.
Book Review - Ladybirds Do Not Go to Daycare
๐๐ LADYBIRDS DO NOT GO TO DAYCARE by @alirutstein and @ninanill is a joyful, reassuring picturebook perfect for every child off to daycare, preschool or kindy for the first time โ especially helpful for any child who feels a little anxious or hesitant about it all ๐๐ฑ ๐
This is just the sweetest book! Iโm lucky to have Ali in my critique and writersโ group @writelinks and her voice is distinct โ sweet, gentle & authentic with a dash of quirky humour โ which is obvious from the very first page. Iโm pretty sure the mum in this book is actually Ali ๐ And Niลaโs illustrations are so adorable and capture Raviโs cute little personality and his apprehension, as well as his mumโs love, in equal measure ๐
Maybe best of all, if you turn to the last page of the book you will see Ravi drawing ladybirds with three of his new day care friends, and (I hope this isnโt a secret ๐) each of these little friends will soon have their own companion titles to make the most adorable back to school book set ever ๐๐๐๐
I was so happy to attend the launch last December ๐ I made a special ๐ badge for the occasion. It is no surprise that the launch was the sweetest โ not just because Ali baked the most delicious launch cupcakes Iโve ever had ๐ง or because @quickbrownfoxbookshop is just the sweetest and most supportive childrenโs bookshop ๐ or because @sandhya_librarybagbooks was the perfect emcee ๐ค or because @zewlanmoor is my fave wingwoman ๐ฏโโ๏ธ but mostly because Ali and Niลa are just the sweetest peeps ๐and they got to do their launch together ๐๐๏ธ Congratulations Ali, Niลa, @brightlightpublishing @hardiegrantkids โ I predict this book is going to be on very high rotation at my libraries ๐คธ๐ฟโโ๏ธ๐คธ๐ฝโโ๏ธ๐คธ๐ฟโโ๏ธ