Discover the new kids books our booksellers are excited about this month!
Picture Books
Tiwi in Paris
Glen Farmer Illortaminni
I spoke English, they spoke French, nobody spoke Tiwi.
In this brilliant picture book, Glen Farmer Illortaminni tells the story of accompanying his uncle, artist Timothy Cook, to Paris as an interpreter. They arrived in Paris from the Tiwi Islands, and following a dinner of frogs’ legs and spaghetti, Glen found himself wide awake at nighttime and ducked out for a walk. Unable to speak French, and without a hotel key or phone, he became lost and spent days treading around Paris doing his best to stay warm and safe and to find his way back. He takes the Metro, returns to the airport, visits a big market and a hospital, and sleeps in a church, before finally making his way to the Australian embassy.
Although it must have been a very scary and stressful few days, Farmer Illortaminni tells his story in a calm, matter-of-fact tone and shares wonderful details about the people and places he encountered, and of his home, Milikapiti, which is 13,710 kilometres away from Paris’s famous landmarks. An artist and printmaker, his illustrations feature colour washes that contrast beautifully with black ink and strong lines. On some pages the people are very small – tiny stick figures in a big city. Other pages showing time spent in company have a much closer perspective; kind strangers have character and smiles. Tiwi in Paris is a remarkable story, and an utterly unique experience of Paris. For anyone aged 3+.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
The Frog’s First Song
Jazz Money, illustrated by Jason Phu
The Frog’s First Song is a delightful new children’s book written by Jazz Money and illustrated by Jason Phu. Deep in a dark cavern, one frog decides they are sick of being alone, so they croak a song into the world. The other frogs are overjoyed to hear this music, realising they are also not alone, and they happily join in. The frogs dance their way to the outside world, sing a duet with the moon, and create their own community under the stars.
Jason Phu’s illustrations absolutely burst with character, capturing the joy of friendship and shared songs, while Jazz Money’s words flow with a simple, undeniable beauty. I was blown away! The Frog’s First Song is sure to delight and comfort kids, while tugging on parents’ heartstrings and rousing warm memories of youthful enthusiasm. This book is a beam of moonlight and a warm hug all in one! For ages 3+.
Reviewed by Harvey Weir.
Middle Grade
The Silken Thread
Gabrielle Wang
Stitching together 1930s Carlton with Chongming Island in China, Gabrielle Wang weaves a lushly realised tale about Moonie and Little Dipper, who both strive to live up to their own expectations, half a world apart. These two resilient kids both face the seemingly insurmountable challenges of loss, communication, financial uncertainty and discrimination. But with a little bit of magic, as well as a lot of friendship, hard work and creativity, they learn how to tap into their own strengths, and also that much more challenging lesson: accepting help from others.
This magical tale weaves a vivid picture of Depression-era Australia and China through the eyes of two protagonists whose tenacity and friendship are the beating heart of the story. Charmingly illustrated by the author herself, this book will whet your appetite for more – lucky then that this is one of many by the 2022–2023 Australian Children’s Laureate! For ages 9+.
Reviewed by Tamuz Ellazam.
Candle Island
Lauren Wolk
In a place like Candle Island – cold, quiet and full of potential – there’s a mystery around every corner. Alongside lost cats and orphaned birds, secret rooms and suspicious fires, perhaps the biggest mystery of all comes in the form of a 12-year-old girl called Lucretia. Lucretia and her mum – the famously reclusive painter Eliza Sanderson – have moved to Candle Island for a fresh start, but on an island clearly divided between year-round locals and summer holidaymakers, fitting in might be harder than they expected. Thankfully, Lucretia is up to the task, finding her place on the island whether that means befriending the reserved Bastian and his prickly cousin Murdock, standing up to the rude and thoughtless summer kids, or embracing her own creative powers.
Candle Island is a delightfully cosy read that perfectly captures the excitement and strangeness of moving somewhere new, with great characters, compelling mysteries and a fantastic message about self-confidence and empathy. For ages 10+.
Reviewed by Joe Murray.
Nonfiction
Weaving Country
Aunty Kim Wandin & Chris Joy, illustrated by Ashleigh Pugh
How wonderful to have a new First Nations picture book that uses local Wurrundjeri language integrated into the text! This is the story of a Gugung (grandmother) showing her grandchild how to gather and dry Djirra (reed) to weave into a beautiful Binak (basket). As they go about the process of making the Binak, at least one Boroin (blue fairy wren) appears on each spread. Two Boroin have made their nest in the reeds and will go on to hatch and teach their fledglings throughout the narrative.
With simple repetition of language and a glossary, it’s easy for readers to pick up simple Wurrundjeri language. Written by Wurrundjeri Elder Aunty Kim Wandin, in collaboration with Chris Joy, with stunning illustrations by Ashleigh Pugh, a descendant of Whadjuk Ballardong, this is both a beautiful picture book and an important resource to educate young and old on Wurrundjeri culture and language. It’s perfect for ages 4+.
Reviewed by Angela Crocombe.
Graphic Narrative
Into the Bewilderness
Gus Gordon
I’m a huge fan of Gus Gordon’s storytelling, so I was absolutely thrilled to discover this middle grade graphic novel that delves into his perennial themes – friendship, adventure, and existential musings. Luis (a bear) and Pablo (a mole) are the classic odd couple, living together in bickering companionship in the woods, but Luis longs for more – theatre, adventure, excitement! When two tickets arrive in the mail to go to the Big City for a theatre production of The Weary Mermaid, this is Luis’s big chance to explore. But who will he take with him (certainly not Pablo!) and will the Big City live up to his expectations?
This is a delightful and wacky graphic novel that will have adventurous spirits of all ages smiling as they follow this charming pair. The book doesn’t talk down to readers, containing impressive vocabulary and concepts that work on a number of levels. It’s a gorgeous little hardback and an absolute joy for ages 9+.
Reviewed by Angela Crocombe.
Kids Classic of the Month
The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery
Graeme Base
From the author of classic children’s books such as Animalia, Uno’s Garden and The Waterhole, this picture book, first published in 1988, is one of the greatest illustrated mysteries any child could ever hope for.
There is a birthday party, and a birthday feast is prepared, and games are played, and presents are gifted, and then – the feast has vanished before any of the guests have had a single bite! Who ate it? And when? And how could they eat so much, so quickly?
Despite appearances, this is not a picture book for the very young, but rather an intriguing whodunnit, and one the reader will need to comb their way through again and again. Every inch of every page could hold a clue, every picture reveals another layer. And just when you think you’ve discovered every possible secret, trust me, you’re not even close! For ages 5+.
Reviewed by Kate McIntosh.
