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Review: Bandoola: An Elephant's Story

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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...
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Review: Possum Skin Cloak

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A person's identity, their story may begin before the day they are born. From that day though, their living, growing narrative takes shape and form, evolving into a tapestry of ancestorial significance. For many First Nations peoples, that tapestry is a possum skin cloak. Possum Skin Cloak describes not just a precious article of clothing, it's a picture book that stitches together the delicate weaves of belonging, family and cultural identity. Penned by Aunty Faye Muir and Sue Lawson , Possum Skin Cloak , begins at birth with the wrapping of a newborn in the warmth of possum skin. It's a practical way to keep baby dry and warm and safe but also close to their mother's heart. As the child grows, so too does their story, their connection to Country and their understanding of their place within it all.  The handcrafted cloak is cobbled together with additions and subtractions, imbued with language, sacred stories and places . Understanding. The appreciation of one's...
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Guest Post: Yashika Mody on FUNcles

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  As a semi-frequent visitor to Singapore and unashamed appreciator of her creatives and the kids' content they produce there, it fills me with immense pleasure to introduce, Yashika Mody as she invites us to learn more about the genesis of her latest picture book realease, FUNcles . So, sit back, grab a cup of kopi (or your favourite caffeniated beverage) and enjoy! "Hi, Uncle!"   "Thank you, Aunty!" "One kopi (local Singaporean coffee), Uncle!" For those of us living in Singapore, these are phrases that you’ll hear on almost every corner, street, and neighbourhood. You'd be hard-pressed to find a child or adult refer to community elders by their formal names; instead, we use terms of respect and endearment like 'Uncle' and 'Aunty' here. It's one of Singapore's most memorable cultural traditions, but you can find beautiful parallels all around the world—from the Philippines to Latin America, and even in Hawai'i! Th...
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Review: FUNcles

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Culture can be as ingrained and omnipresent as sunshine for kids. Their interpretation of the world around them is of course influenced by those in their world; their immediate family, peers and community. It becomes the norm, unquestioned and hard to relinquish. As a 'third-culture kid' growing up in Singapore, Yashika Mody is well qualified to commentate on the unique qualities of socially accepted cultural norms having experienced them all her life; like the use of the words Aunty and Uncle within Singaporean communities. FUNcles is a picture book penned by Mody and illustrated by Adriena Fong that highlights one small lad's confusion after he adopts this terminology for everyone he knows. The results are both heartwarming and hilarious. Told in comforting first person, we first meet this boy in his classroom where he is assigned a worksheet to complete about his family (tree). He immediately proclaims that he has a gazillion uncles . Undeterred by the self-perceived ...
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Review: Joey Gets His Wings

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From the vast red centre of Australia to the war-torn terrain of central Europe, Joey is one of those characters who inadvertently sees more of the world than anyone ever anticipated. And he's not even real. Well, he is to Art. But how exactly does this intrepid little kangaroo traverse so many miles much less survive them? Joey Gets His Wings by Catherine Bauer and Jennifer Horn shines a beguiling light on this incredible tale based on real-life events. Sweet Joey, the childhood toy of Art begins his tale in Australia's outback under a blue umbrella of sky, just as any young kangaroo might. Together with Art he weathers the melancholy rhythm of country life and shares Art's dream-filled nights of flying off to explore the world.  When Art is old enough, he joins the Australian Flying Corps and is sent off to the Great War with little else but fierce determination. Fortunately, little Joey with his address-embroidered red scarf and jolly smiling face, accompanies him....
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Review: There's A Chicken In The House

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It's no secret, I love chickens. Good old chooks, suppliers of revered cackleberries. So, when There's A Chicken In The House blew in like a hen through an open door, I was secretly joyed beyond words. That this is a long-awaited reteaming of picture book greats, Sonya Hartnett and Lucia Masciullo also gave me much to crow about.  It's a simple enough tale about an errant chook who interprets a windblown open door as her personal invitation to see how the other side live. The young mistress of the house is a ball of consternation, attempting to warn those in charge of animal behaviour and then trying in vain to remove said chook according to orders. Alas, the plucky pullet assumes an air of sky-high indifference and continues her inspection through the house until she ends up in the big-sister's-bedroom. Having already disgraced herself in the bathroom because ' There's no limit to how bad a chicken can be, ' according to Dad, our protagonist is terrified...
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Review: My Tiny Universe

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There's a lot swirling around in the universe, depending on which one you're orbiting through. For a diminutive soul like Leif, the cosmos can assume overwhelming proportions which despite his heroic Viking namesake, aren't always easy to overcome by yourself. My Tiny Universe by Maryam Master , is a close up exposé of a universal problem; the art of being big when you feel so stupendously small. It takes us a while to realise the full extent of Leif's physical health limitations because he is the kind of kid to deflect concern and pity with intellect and absurdly rationalised thought. This is relayed through his impressive vocabulary and method of delivery which unfortunately also excludes him from more mainstream schoolyard conversation and interactions. Readers have scant time to dwell on this however because as Leif introduces himself, we immediately glean a potentially new and different side of his personality. One with arsonist qualities. One who is no longer th...
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