Dim's Write Stuff

Not all fairy tales are happily ever afters. Or are they? Not all graphic novels commit to a bright and cheery disposition. Or should they? But one thing's for sure - not all giants are Hagrid-esque friendly, so you'd better beware.  Blunderbore by consummate creative duo, Sofie Laguna and Marc McBride , is a superlative example of colouring outside the lines of expectation, ripe for readers of middle grade fiction, lovers of fantasy and graphic novel aficionados. Although to be frank, every single line both sketched and scribed of this work is rendered with pencil sharp precision.  Chapter One, enter the giant; Blunderbore the aforementioned not-so-beguiling baddie in this thriller. He is impressively large, grotesque with a fierce appetite for village livestock and bright shiny things aka gold. All this is painstakingly depicted in the first six or so pages with nary a word spoken. The villages are far too busy running for their lives to explain the direness of their situa...

For those who like their YA reads studded with action and prickling with peril, Into The Storm is your next unputdownable read. Like Hayley Lawrence's first novel, Into The Wild , this tale is unashamedly rugged in nature and refreshingly wild.  Teens Silas and Eve couldn't be more different yet are linked by the same overriding emotions; unfathomable grief and the urge to live by brushing shoulders with death in order to erase past mistakes and shortcomings. Both share an almost obsessive addiction to adrenalin, with a continuous pull towards the wilds of nature, albeit for different reasons. Silas is the son and sole heir to revered mountaineering legend and tycoon, Will Black while Eve is the estranged daughter of an off-the-grid family entrapped in their own cocoon of loss.  Following the tragic death of his father on a far-flung mountainside, Silas spirals into an abyss of despair. Alone, questioning, empty. Miles away, Eve fights her own demons and the smothering pro...

I first encountered the remarkable Bandoola amidst the pages of a non-fiction picture book by William Grill - Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescue.   The recount was as magnificent as the elephant himself. Bandoola by Beverley McWilliams takes my awe and appreciation of this might moment in history to another level.  What makes this work of fiction so enthralling and thoroughly absorbing is its delivery, through the eyes, mind and heart of Bandoola himself. McWilliams uses first person presence that allows middle-grade readers to experience every fear, thought and determination that Bandoola experiences. For those unfamiliar with the tale of this noteworthy Asian elephant, Bandoola was born in 1897 in Burma known now as Myanmar. It was the age of logging and using elephant labour to facilitate a mighty industry deep within the Burmese jungles. In the forties, just before war and unrest interrupt the customary way of life for both elephant and human, Bandoola meets Elephant Bil...

Mouse is perhaps one of the most beguiling pervaders of FOMO you're ever likely to encounter. He resides in a cosy house in a field as big as the entire world within the warmly hued pages of Where The Heart Is   by uber-talented Shirley Marr and Michael Speechley . And fortunately for us, is brave enough to share his tale about friendship and loss and fear of missing out. Each autumn Mouse farewells not just the summer and its lively glow but also those friends he made then: the Monarch butterflies, the swallows, the geese. All depart to mysterious southern climes much like we humans seeking solace from winter's grim countenance. When the last leaves settle and the last wings flutter out of sight, everything is still and empty, like Mouse's heart . He yearns to seek the wild wide blue skies for himself so packs up his things and sets off, after lunch as it were. At first the thrill of something new, heading into the unknown is the adventure he always thought he wanted a...

The need to connect and share, align and alight with others is a human condition hard to ignore. Occasionally, we find ourselves on our own. Not necessarily lonely but in situations where the need to diminish that situation of solitude becomes singular. The Little Girl and the Rain by Milena Lukešová and Jan Kudláček is a picture book that highlights this circumstance of want, need and outcome that ultimately arrives at friendship. One day a little girl with no one to play with goes for a walk. It begins to rain. Rather than hurry back to her indoor isolation, she welcomes the plic plic plic drops. The rain whether in over exuberance or naivete increases, forcing the little girl to run for home. The rain persists and follows her but is kept outside by steadfast doors and closed windows.  The rain prevails increasing in need and desperation to continue the play began with the little girl's encounter. But this pursuit, from one umbrella to another only causes discomfort and an...

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a mum. I had a younger sister, my bestie but to fill the sibling gap (and several years before motherhood would be a reality), I had a backyard of furred, feathered and finned buddies. Much like Little A, (my own moniker for him) our main character in Maura Pierlot and A Yi's latest picture book, Our Family Zoo . This little boy's backyard, and kitchen and bedroom are filled to bursting with animals of every description. There are your run of the mill domestic moggies and doggies, the old chook, plenty of questionable reptiles and amphibians not to mention a host of native pet rescues. It's exactly the kind of animal menagerie I yearned for as a youngster, although I did manage to rack up a loft full of pigeons, quails, budgies, ducks, chooks, mice, dogs, cats, rosellas, a galah named Freddie, and at one point, a ping pong eating giant oscar fish. Little A would have been proud. But where my parents drew the line at an Arabian stallion, Li...

The term umbrella can mean many things. Ostensibly, protection, shelter, inclusion, unification. All admirable qualities, ones that entice a visit within. Trouble is, not all umbrellas are of equal size. Not all possess the capacity to encompass those that perhaps are in greatest need of them. And yet, as is oft the shared human condition, we all at some point crave to fit under that mantel of shared connection – to fit in. And those that appreciate this inherent desire better than any other are children. This is the core of Niki Foreman and Binny Talib’s stunning new creation; an exploration of a young person’s observation of their social standing, their subsequent efforts to change it and their eventual realisation of self. Characterised by a non-gender specific child, the realities of not quite fitting under the umbrella is apparent from the get go. Our main character has but their robust raincoat and desire to join those comfortably already under the umbrella, noticeably withou...

By now, most of us have heard of the Easter Bilby. A cute long-eared, pointy-snouted, nocturnal marsupial native to Australia’s arid lands aka the Australian Easter Bunny. But when a trio of young desert dwelling birds encounter their very first bilby, they are in need of a bit of convincing that this critter is not in fact EB Og. And who better to persuade them than Bilby himself. In lilting rhyming verse, Bilby escorts his curious companions through an intriguing list of his best qualities. What makes this adventure so alluring however, is the choice of descriptive wordplay Janeen Brian employs to do so. Bilby’s eyes become his peepers , two tall pink straight-ups are his ears and his scratcher-scritchers …? Well, you be the judge. Clues are secreted in follow-up verse as Bilby explains what each of these features help him do, eat, and shelter from. The results are both delightfully informative and hilariously goofy. I will never be able to look at my dogs’ wagging tails again ...

Well, hello there! They say sabbaticals are the just the ticket for restoring one's sense of direction and refreshing one's perspectives, even unintentional ones. Avid followers, yes I'm talking to all three of you(!), may recall I made a soft promise a couple of years ago to level up with my posting. Who knew an intergalatic time warping conspiracy would reduce those 730 days into mere seconds!   During that crazy time shift, I didn't mean to neglect my ad nauseam sharing here. That part of my mo has not altered. I've just shifted my oversharing to other platforms, more easily updated on the run, accessible to a wider audience, more 2026 and less 2009 where I still feel at home!  Life has an endlessly fascinating and perplexing way of unfurling or rather unravelling at times. Best to let yourself tuck and roll with it I've come to appreciate. So here's a wee update and reaffirmation: Life stuff: still here! My life is probs no more extraordinary than yours....

If you’ve got a truck, car, vehicle mad toddler in the house, find yourself a copy of these two brilliant picture books, stat. I love the sheer vibrancy and verve of Wheels and Tractors – two separate standalone titles that fulfill every wheeling, tractor obsession you could want. Wheels is my personal favourite but the other titles by these best-selling creators in the Roadworks series are equally compelling. Two kids are witness to a never-ending parade of wheels. Rumbly, grumbly wheels, yucky mucky wheels, tiny shiny wheels . We are told wheels go fast and wheels go slow , but the trick is guessing exactly which vehicle belongs to each spread of wonderful wheely verse. And wonderful it is. Perfect rhythmic, onomatopoeic descriptions draw youngsters in and set them up for the fun reveals. Visual clues provided by Lovelock’s energetic pigmented inked illustrations further enhances this excellent guess-what-it-is experience. Tractor is equally attractive in sound and visual a...

Oliver Jeffers' exciting and thought-provoking picture book stories orbiting around the Boy, have a new out-of-this-world addition, Where To Hide A Star . Among the boy’s many loves is his predilection for playing hide and seek with his two besties, penguin and the star. Neither of them is much good at counting or hiding imaginatively but that hardly matters when the real gain behind the game is spending time with your friends. Until one day, through an unplanned misadventure, the boy loses track of the star. Try as he might, he genuinely is unable to find the star so decides to call in the big guns, aka the Martian, who unquestionably knows more about stars than him. Thanks to a neat bit of Martian tech and a good deal of happenstance, they trek star’s whereabouts all the way to the North Pole, where it turns out, it is very much not lost. Star had found a new friend; a girl who has always dreamed of having a star as a playmate. An inevitable Mexican standoff ensues. How do...

We're doubling down on reptilians today, both of which continue to create rapturous wonder in young hearts and minds. Dinosaur In My Pocket by Ashleigh Barton & Blithe Fielden In a clever incongruous coincidence, James loves two things beyond all else: dinosaurs and miniatures. His collection of both is vast and impressive but lacking a Triceratops. So, when on his school excursion to the museum the perfect Triceratops is spotted, James is besotted. Except, he can’t afford it. After a little light-fingered acquisitioning, the wee dinosaur is escorted back to school in James’ pocket, then home then into his bedroom. Only, dino is not so wee after all. With each passing moment, the dinosaur grows as does James’ shame and guilt. The beautiful thing about this tale is how the crime is uncovered simply because it can no longer be concealed or confined. Lies, guilt, misdemeanours; all have a way of amplifying if left unchecked. When James’ parents discover his dinosaur, they d...

A is for aeroplane, all-gone and ant And the apple you bit and then dropped in a plant B is for bubbles and bee-buzz in blossoms For bruises and bottles and bare bathtime bottoms Toddler days are gone all too quickly, although as noted in S is for ...  sometimes-it-feels-like-this-day-goes-forever  ... the reality of tearing through toddlerhood is often testing beyond measure - for both parties at times! This picture book is a beautiful reminder of what was past, for some of us and what is present for many still in the first few rounds of parenting.  Spectacularly illustrated with warmth, whimsy and wit, this beautifully curated and crafted collection of ABCs is a standout when it comes to alphabet books. Keen observation entwined with first hand experience add to the heart melting authenticity of the lilting narrative. There is an eye and earful of wonderfulness, cheek and delight on every single page.  Rhyme is never forced and often accommodated across back to ba...

If you follow Sam Mac on his socials, you'd understand his motivation for wanting to express the poignant joys of parenthood. Her name is Margot. This picture book chronicles the birth of his daughter in a holistic inclusive way, featuring a number of parenting combinations, their bubs and their babies' milestones. It begins with a statement: time is a treasure .  So true. Precious, unrepeatable firsts are scattered throughout which may seem pedestrian to the non-parent but resonates with the same incredulous quality a child experiences when witnessing, mastering or performing a new life wonder for the very first time. It's pure magic. Human firsts are never so abundant than in the first year of life as revealed in each page turn. Baby's firsts are beautifully showcased with gently hued illustrations surrounded by plenty of white space that allows eyes and hearts to fully focus on each milestone baby makes. Honestly, it has a Baby Book kind of vibe; it's for baby, s...

This book needs more than five stars. It is a universe of stars, magnificent and absolute. For me, it possesses all the qualities outstanding narrative works possess rendering them utterly impossible to articulate just how magnificent they are. See what I mean. Hopeless.How does one describe a thing that fills them, tears them, speaks to them so intimately, so personally, so honestly? Therein lies the true beauty and unfathomable skill Dalton has: he sees things. He notices us. He gets it all and then, quite astoundingly, has the ability to write to YOU the individual with undiluted clarity and unashamed compulsion. Dalton's novels feel as though they are tailored specifically for the individual, every single one of us. His characters slam feet first, boots and all, against your emotional armour with such force, it makes you gasp. This is not a bad thing. It's a magnificent and absolute and real sensation. So, yes, I loved Lola. Everything. The anguish. The agony. The sorrow. T...

Look, it's true, I’m more of a dog person than someone with a fetish for felines, but Itty Bitty Kitty is so utterly adorbs and cute (although whatever you do, DON'T call her that), how could one not want to cuddle her up. Itty Bitty Kitty features in all three tales that appear in each of the four five books (latest in the series out November 2024!) in this junior fiction series. She is teeny tiny. Winsome and mischievous. But don’t let her size fool you. With her tigress attitude and feline smarts, Kitty is the penultimate adventurer, even if those adventures extend no further than her home with her Humans. Told in endearing first person cat-speak, each instalment is sweet and manageable for young newly independent and emerging readers. Engagingly illustrated chapters provide plenty of visual stimulation. Text is punctuated with bolded words that break up the text and signify significance. Typography aside, Kitty’s tales are full of playful fun and cheeky abandon, perf...

Today's delightful double-whammy comes loaded with well-meaning flavour, colour and fun. These two picture book gems would make great Easter basket additions but are standalone, any time reads, as well.  Hatch and Match  I'm normally wary of seek and find books that use rhyme as a vehicle for treasure hunting, but this inadvertent Easter-suitable title is pure delight. Bunnies are quickly dispensed with as we focus on a tree chockas with chooks, that's chickens to the uninitiated. And what colourful chooks they are, each sporting a unique colour scheme and pattern.  Our sleeping hens are awakened by the dutiful rooster and immediately set out to locate their eggs. Where could they be? Well it's simple if you follow the match and hatch pattern prompts! Spry lyrical narrative and pages and pages filled with eye-popping rainbow colours transforms the reading experience into the best egg hunt, ever ! All tied together with a satisfying reflection on differences and sames. A...

The meaning of life. The beginning of time. Existential significance for human kind. Pretty hefty topics for pre-schoolers and those over 14 years of age. And yet, here are an eclectic collection of picture books that I feel do these notions proud. Funny, informative and touching; the scope is broad as are the concepts but their combined purpose further serves to broaden our children’s minds in the aspects of time and space and humanity. Enjoy! Ada And The Galaxies by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv and Susanna Chapman Ada loves the night sky and not just for its twinkling stars. Yet living in the city can make it difficult to appreciate distant galaxies of stars, let alone see them! So, when Ada spends time with her grandparents at their seaside home, new universes of nature, meteorology and space become accessible in the most spectacular way. Visually arresting and factually fascinating. A gem in the night sky. Walker Books Australia (Mit Kids Press imprint), September 2021 ISB...