Review: The Complete Guide to a Dog's Best Friend by Felicity Gardner

Author:  Felicity Gardner

Illustrator: David West

Publisher/Source: Hachette Australia

Release date: 24/012/2015

Paperback $14.99

Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what your dog is really thinking? Read this book to find out!

An older, wiser dog offers hilarious advice to puppies about how to be a pet, including quickly grabbing any snacks left laying around before your owner changes their mind, helping out by 'sorting' the rubbish and always leading the way on walks.

All dog-lovers will laugh with recognition at this very funny story from a talented husband-and-wife duo.

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

The Complete Guide to a Dog's Best Friend by Felicity Gardner is a wonderfully illustrated and humorous story about how to choose your new best friend - your pet dog.

My daughter was able to read this book easily and with understanding, with large text and some wonderful humour, it was written from the point of view of an older, wiser dog, you get a glimpse into what they're thinking which the kids found to be quite funny, we could relate to their antics.

The Complete Guide to a Dog's Best Friend is a delightful, easy read that I highly recommend, especially for dog lovers. The pictures by David West are detailed and vibrant.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for the opportunity to read and review The Complete Guide to a Dog's Best Friend.

Biographical Notes 

Felicity Gardner is an illustrator from South West Sydney who studied illustration and design at the Design Centre, Enmore. Her work has featured in various magazines, advertisements and exhibitions and she is the illustrator of WHERE'S MY POTTY, SNOWY AND SNUFFLES, MY GRUMPY DAY and THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A DOG'S BEST FRIEND. As well as illustrating THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A DOG'S BEST FRIEND, she also co-authored the story with her husband David West. They based the story around their own dog, Banjo, who is the bossiest member of their family.

David West is a primary school teacher from South West Sydney. THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A DOG'S BEST FRIEND is the first children's book that he has co-authored with his wife Felicity Gardner, but this is not his first book. With the help of his students, he has created multiple other books that have been self published and distributed around the playground.

• Other details
  
  
• ISBN: 9780734415424
• Publication date: 24 Feb 2015
• Page count: 24

Review: My Hiroshima by Junko Morimoto

My Hiroshima

Author: Junko Morimoto

Publisher: Hachette Children’s Books

Age group: 8+

Pages: 32 pages

Release date: 23^rd December 2014

Amazon

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

On 6 August, 1945, 13-year-old Junko Morimoto's life changed forever. That was the day that an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the Japanese city where she lived.First published in Australia, widely praised, and subsequently translated into fourteen languages, the picture book MY HIROSHIMA is Junko's powerful and deeply moving story of a period in history that should never be forgotten.

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

My Hiroshima was certainly a surprise, it was probably a little too graphically detailed for my children but the overall heart-breaking message and the way it is explained from a child’s perspective was done extremely well.

Despite the graphic nature of some of the images, it was a realistic portrayal at what happened in Hiroshima during this war torn time. It was educational and the kids had many questions about it all. The narrator starts off by explaining her happy childhood in Hiroshima which abruptly halted on August 6, 1945 when an atomic bomb was dropped; the images show the extent of the destruction and the heartbreak of loss during the aftermath. The images and details are extremely poignant and powerful.

Overall, this book was very well written and detailed the tragedy in a way that was easy for a child to comprehend. A suggestion to parents would be to read this book yourself to see whether or not it would be suitable for your child, there are images that can be quite upsetting.

Thank you to Hachette Children’s Books for the opportunity to read and review My Hiroshima.

About the author: Junko Morimoto was born in Hiroshima and came to live in Australia in 1982. She has written and illustrated many best-selling picture books including MY HIROSHIMA, THE INCH BOY, KOJURO AND THE BEAR (Winner CBC Best Picture Book 1987), The Two Bullies (Winner CBC Best Picture Book 1998) and RUN DAMON, RUN! (with Anne Ingram).

Review: You are (Not) Small by Anna Kang

You are (Not) Small

Author: Anna Kang

Illustrated by Christopher Weyant

Publisher: Hachette Children’s Books

Age group: Pre-school to Year 1.

Pages: 32

Release date: November 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surprise guests show up, settling it once and for all!

The simple text of Anna Kang and bold illustrations of New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant tell an original and very funny story about size it all depends on who's standing next to you.

Review: 3 out of 5 stars

You are (Not) Small is about two different creatures who can’t agree on who is small and who is big, it’s a lot of back and forth to work it out until a third party comes along with a diversion.

The text is simplistic and easy to read and the wonderful illustrations by Christopher Weyant are vibrant and bold; my children are too old for this book but they still enjoyed hearing me read it aloud with expression which they too got involved in as well, but I did have a small gripe with the simplicity and lack of a plot but otherwise it was humorous and fun.

Thank you to Hachette Children’s Books for the opportunity to read You are (Not) Small by Anna Kang.

 

About the author: Anna was born in the Bronx and grew up on Long Island where she spent much of her free time reading TV Guide, Teen Beat magazine, Archie comics, and going to the movies at the local multiplex. After graduating with honors from Tufts University with a degree in International Relations and Asian Studies, she went on to work as a Research Associate at the Council on Foreign Relations, a foreign policy think tank in Manhattan. Despite the allure of the world of international policy, Anna went back to her first love of film and television. She moved to Los Angeles and received her M.F.A in Film/Video Production from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. While at USC, Anna won a scholarship for Excellence in Screenwriting and directed a short documentary as her thesis film, "not black or white," an irreverent look at media stereotypes of Asian woman. Anna participated in the Sundance Institute's prestigious Screenwriters Lab with her first feature script, The Lost Tribe of Long Island, and was also selected to participate in Film Independent's Screenwriters and Directors Labs. Besides writing and reading, Anna loves a hearty meal, a belly laugh, and a solid nap. Anna lives in New Jersey with her husband, New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant, and their two daughters.

Review: Wombat Went A' Surfing by Lachlan Creagh

Author: Lachlan Creagh

Publisher: Hachette Children’s Books Australia

Amazon – TBD

Release date: 1^st September 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

It’s summertime and Wombat and his friends have gone to the beach for a holiday. Croc’s water-wise cousin, Salty, is teaching surfing to everyone – Emu, Koala, Goanna and Croc – and each of them is a natural. But Wombat is shy and too scared to try, even though he can see how much fun his friends are having. It’s the ocean and the crashing waves – they’re so big and he’s so small. Can Wombat’s friends help him overcome his fears and help him to get his feet wet?

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

Wombat Went A’ Surfing is the fifth book in the Wombat series from Brisbane-based author and illustrator Lachlan Creagh and I have to say little miss seven adored this book as did I with it's fabulous Aussie feel.

The quality is beautiful, the illustrations wonderfully detailed and the story of Wombat and his friends and their trip to the beach delightful.

Miss seven was very curious about why a crocodile would be nice and friendly to a koala so the message of kindness and friendship as well as facing fears was one we certainly enjoyed.

The text was easy to read and was written in rhyme, always a favourite of ours. We highly recommend Wombat Went A’ Surfing to all young readers, it’s a wonderful Australian read.

Thank you to Hachette Children’s Books Australia for the opportunity to read and review this title. 

 

About the author: Lachlan Creagh is a versatile and talented illustrator, concept designer and animator. He has illustrated books in the Little Mates series (Scholastic) and the Robert Irwin, Dinosaur Hunter series (Random House). His picture books include Wombat Went A' Walking, Wombat Went A' Racing, Wombat's Birthday Surprise, Wombat Jumped Over the Moon and Dinosaur Rocks. For more visit www.wombatwentawalking.com.au and www.lach-land.com