I'm a dirty dinosaur

I'm a dirty dinosaur
By Janeen Brian and Ann James

Penguin, 2013

I liked this book. Fun. Whimsical. With a touch of adventure. Any young boy will like it.

It's about a dinosaur who loves to be dirty, mucky, grimy and the like. He starts by having a dirty snout, and, as you may guess, he gets dirtier and filthier from there.
Each part that gets dirty then has a little verb filled refrain to go with it.
Such is the lyrical nature of this book.

The down side: I know that the dinosaur is meant to be painted with dirt. But it simply looks like poo to me. That someone had illustrated the pictures and then wiped the contents of a dirty nappy on them. In this regard I really struggle reading the book.... or even touching it for that matter.

However, it is a book worth a read. And let me tell you, it's a good laugh that boys ages 2 to 100 will giggle whilst reading.

Ben and the Icky-Ooky-Sticky-Smick

Ben and the Icky-Ooky-Sticky-Smick

By Sally Sutton Illustrated by Gary Venn

Walker Books, 2013

Ben likes bugs. He likes all kinds of bug, but his favourite one is his pet bug, Icky-Ooky-Sticky-Smick, with whom he happily shares his popcorn. Ben’s family aren’t really fans of Ben’s bug. They think it’s ugly, weird and disgusting. But, oh no! Guess what? Ben’s favourite bug goes missing. Mum gets a shock when she finds one; his sister screams when one flies across the room; his dad spies a bug in the shed. It isn’t until Grandpa comes to visit that Ben has an idea on how to find his special bug. Will Icky-Ooky-Sticky-Smick come back? And how will they know it is Ben’s Icky-Ooky-Sticky-Smick?

 

I thought this was a great book. Full of fun and the frivolity of made up words to engage the imagination. The illustrations were delightful. And this book was a perfectly blended mix of language and illustrations.

Somebody’s House

Somebody’s House

By Katrina Germein, Illustrated by Anthea Stead

Walker Books March 2013

At the bottom of the town lies a long looping street.

I wonder who lives here. Who will we meet?

This whimsical rhyming story picture book is all about exploring the neighbourhood, and specifically the street at the end of town. Using the outer exterior of each house, the girl imagines what happens inside each place and who might live there. It has a sweet ending which will warm everyone’s heart who reads it. With brightly coloured illustrations created with mixed media including acrylic paint, oil pastels and sgraffito (which is produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface).

Recommended for ages 3 – 5 years old

That's Mine

That's Mine
by Michel Van Zeveren
Gecko Press 2013

What fun! If you're looking for a short book to read with children ages 18 months to 3 years old, then this is one to read. Full of humour and a great sense of fun that every child (and adult) will enjoy the narrative arc, figuring out who's egg it actually is.

About the author: Michel Van Zeveren was born in Belgium in 1970. He studied animation before discovering the joy of children's book illustration. He lives in Brussels, Belgium with his wife and daughter.

Tom and Tilly by Jedda Robaard

Tom and Tilly
by Jedda Robaard
Black Dog Books


This very simple text-light and illustration-easy book is a delight to read. Tom and Tilly is about the undertaking of Tom, the boy protagonist, and his teddy bear, Tilly, embarking on sailing the seas of their bath time adventure. With a lovely light feel, this is a beautifully constructed book, which any young child will love to read over and over and over again.

The musicality in it's simply melody storyline is one many writers should take note of, for the enhancement of own writing styles. In fact, I think it is written so well, it leaves the reader or child consumer wanting more: more story, more adventures, more fun in the bath. This is the signature of a good book which has hit the mark!

An Australian author, Robaard, has used watercolour paints, pencil and recycled materials to create the superb illustrations for this book (as she does for many of her other books). I love the understated way she creates the scenes and the use of simple shadowing to create movement, as well as, stasis.

It's the kind of book that makes you feel happy in your tummy, and puts a smile on you face, from the sheer pleasure of reading a happy childhood adventure. I think I'll be buying this book for my friends babies this year. 

Troggle the Troll

Troggle the Troll

By Nick Falk and Tony Lowe, Random House

Under a bridge in a hole in the ground lived a troll. A small troll. Called Troggle.

Troggle is an unlikely hero, being a troll and all that! He is a good troll, who is obedient to his parents, as he eats up all the dinner his dad provides - PEOPLE! His mum and dad and little brother seem to like eating people. 

They eat the same thing every night: Who wants to eat people every night? Troggle wants variety. He desperately wants to eat vegetables.

Think this is a tale that all parents want to tell their kids to get them to eat vegies? Think again.

With it’s twists and turns, everyone in the family will love this story, which is superbly partnered with fun and bright illustrations.

The Lost Tail

The Lost Tail

By Patricia Bernard, Illustrations by Tricia Oktober

This beautifully illustrated book, uses simple but powerful pictures to blend perfectly with the written tale all about a young boy called Nura. Awoken one morning by Alfred, Nura is slow in getting moving ready for  their five day journey to Goroka.  

The dance troupe are lining up to carry the snake to the dance festival.:Alfred, the tallest is at the head, and little Nura us the smallest, so is carrying the tale. As they are travelling Naru recalls his mother’s words about the trip and all he will encounter on his journey. 

Is he scared? Should he be? What kind of people will he meet on his journey? And what will happen when he sleeps a little too long?

Wonderful book with great in roads to studying  colourful cultural activity in a celebration of Papua New Guinea’s diverse tribal rituals, talents, music and dances.