Mumma Bear

Mumma Bear by Rory H. Mather, illustrated by Hélène Magisson (Scholastic) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781761521171

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

When a cub loses his mother in a park, he asks the other animals, ‘Have you seen my Mumma Bear?’ She is kind, graceful and protective, and she has the ‘softest fur’. Mumma Bear is the cub’s hero, and he hopes to be as strong as her one day. Eventually, the smell of roses leads the cub to the picnic that his perfect Mumma Bear has prepared.

Rory H. Mather’s simple rhyming couplets gently express the beautiful qualities of Mumma Bear that many human mums also possess. Kids aged four to eight will delight in the sharing and caring relationship between the bears, as well as the inspiring way that Mumma Bear encourages her offspring to be kind, fair and virtuous in their interactions with others.

Hélène Magisson’s bright and dreamy illustrations have a slightly fuzzy quality to them, like a snuggly bear hug. Even when night-time frights infuse the pages with the darkness of indigo, touches of warmth in rich brown leaves and fur offer visual comfort. Littlies will love the characterisation of all the animals, especially the cuddly protagonists.

Although it’s an ideal book to read on Mother’s Day, Mumma Bear is really a celebration of all the magnificent maternal role models in children’s lives. The sweet-as-honey story is sure to leave readers with a glow of gratitude for their ‘Mumma Bear’.

The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants

The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants by Suzanne Houghton (CSIRO Publishing) HB RRP $26.99 ISBN: 9781486319527

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Carnivorous plants are the weird and wonderful species that eat meat to survive. They come in a range of crazy shapes and colours, and they have developed ‘several clever ways to feed’. This might sound ‘gruesome’, but these unique plants need to be protected before they become extinct. All ‘plants have a role to play’ in the ecosystem, and carnivorous plants are no exception.

Suzanne Houghton’s cheery rhyming text introduces nature-loving five- to nine-year-olds to perhaps the world’s most intriguing plant group. Simple explanations help youngsters understand the often-complex processes by which the plants catch their prey, while humorous facts – such as the tropical pitcher plant’s predilection for shrew and bat poo – are sure to elicit a giggle or two. Comprehensive notes about carnivorous plants, plus a useful glossary, at the end of the book are superb for older children who want to know more about the subject.

Suzanne’s large and vibrant illustrations invite readers deep into the riveting realm of carnivorous plants. Kids will almost feel like ants themselves, as their eyes climb sticky stems and slide into slippery pitchers. One of the most striking spreads in the book features red-and-green pygmy sundews that resemble viruses under a microscope. The detail in each image is amazing!

Exploring beyond the common Venus flytrap, The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants opens a whole new botanical sphere for budding biologists. While examining these extraordinary plants, they will discover the importance of biodiversity, symbiosis and conservation to a blooming planet.

The Big Backyard Plan

The Big Backyard Plan by Kirsten Ealand, illustrated by Laura Stitzel (Affirm Press) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781922992444

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

‘Azumi, Theo, Bree and Jack lived side-by-side and back-to-back.’ The four friends love visiting each other, but because there are no gates in the fences dividing their properties, it takes forever to get from one house to another. They decide to convince their parents and carers to remove the fences and make one big backyard for everyone to use. However, the grown-ups elect to replace the rundown palings instead. After the fences have been pulled down, wet weather stops the construction of new ones. All four families eventually enjoy their huge, communal backyard so much that there is no more talk of new fences.

Kirsten Ealand’s bright and buoyant rhyming couplets evocatively describe the wide variety of elements found in Australian backyards, from swimming pools and chicken coops to soft grass for sitting on and hard surfaces that make great skateboard runs. Kids aged three to seven will identify with the enterprising young protagonists who envision a sharing culture that embraces a key environmental idea: ‘owning less stuff helped the Earth’.

Joy emanates from Laura Stitzel’s vibrant illustrations. Small eyes will find plenty of delights in every corner of the detailed, double-page images, while focused vignettes add magic to the moments. Each of the four protagonists (and their family members) has been characterised beautifully to represent a multicultural neighbourhood.

Celebrating the power of community and eco-friendly choices, The Big Backyard Plan encourages youngsters to be proactive whenever they see something that can be improved for the benefit of all. They soon discover that fun and friendships flourish when barriers are flattened.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox by Remy Lai (Allen & Unwin) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781761068621

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Abby is tired of being the responsible big sister to four annoying siblings, especially when she’s not even allowed to wear make-up or go to the movie rental store by herself. So, when they all come down with chickenpox and have to quarantine at home for two weeks, Abby feels like she’s been locked in a zoo filled with wild animals. On top of this, friendship issues, boy problems and her mother’s constant disapproval are making her cranky – or is that just puberty kicking in? Eventually, Abby realises that it’s possible to be a sensible sister, a dependable daughter and a true friend through caring, compassion and communication.

Although eight- to twelve-year-olds are unlikely to have experienced the curse of chickenpox (thanks to the development of a vaccine), they will still enjoy Remy Lai’s humorous graphic novel from start to finish. Short chunks of text and brief speech bubbles will encourage hesitant readers, and interesting information about the stages of chickenpox will ensure that children understand what the protagonist is going through. The focus on the ups and downs of sibling relationships is a highlight of the story and will certainly appeal to anyone who butts heads with a brother or sister from time to time.

Remy’s full-colour cartoon panels are eye-catching, and there are plenty of dramatic starbursts, interesting patterns and changes in perspective to make each page dynamic and exciting. Feelings are conveyed well through the choice of hues (for example, red for anger, blue for sadness); this helps young readers to comprehend the complexities of the emotional journey in the story.

Heart-warming and hilarious, Chickenpox scratches the surface of family pandemonium to find the love, light and laughter within. Along the way, kids will discover that kindness is contagious.

The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die

The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die: A Graphic Memoir by Peter Lantos, illustrated by Stebleva Victoria (Scholastic)

Peter, a five-year-old boy, embarks on an extraordinary journey through war-torn Europe, travelling with his parents from a small Hungarian town to Austria and then to Germany. Along the way, unforgettable images of adventure flash one after another: sleeping in a tent and then under the night sky, discovering a disused brick factory, catching butterflies in the meadows, before Peter realises that the adventure is a nightmare, as he watches bombs fall from the blue sky outside Vienna and starts lessons with his mother in Bergen-Belsen. Drawn against a background of terror, starvation, and his father's and grandmother's deaths, this is a story of survival, of love between mother and son, and of enduring hope in the face of unspeakable hardship.

Taking the Long Way Home

Taking the Long Way Home by Jake Hope (Scallywag Press), RRP $29.99 Picture Book ISBN 9-781915-252845

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Taking the Long Way Home is a picture book about a little girl, Zarah, who doesn’t like walking. Even when her daddy takes shortcuts, she still feels that the walk home from school is far too long. Then, one day, when her Uncle Jerome comes to pick her and her brother up from school, Zarah isn’t happy because Uncle Jerome is taking the long way home on purpose. 

Zarah groans and complains, but Uncle Jerome encourages them to use their five senses to imagine the exotic creatures they could encounter along the way. From pterodactyls to yetis to vampire bats, by the time they reach home, Zarah has had such a terrific adventure that she actually enjoyed the walk. 

The action, expressions and surprises portrayed in the illustrations by Brian Fitzgerald bring the sensory experiences of the walk to life and carry the book. Throughout, the language switches between third person and first person, making the reading a tad confusing. The story itself is rather predictable and best suited to 3 to 5-year-olds. 

Hatch

Hatch by Heidi Cooper Smith. CSIRO Publishing 2025. Hardcover Non-Fiction Picture Book, 32 pp, RRP $26.99. ISBN 9781486318278.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

What kind of animals lay eggs? Where do they lay them, and how do they look after them?

This book introduces young readers to some of Australia’s egg-laying mammals and monotremes. It takes the reader on a journey inland, to the treetops high above, then back down to the underground and a waterhole, finishing back at the sea once more. It includes reptiles, birds, and insects, along with their habitats.

Hatch (from the illustrator of the Amanda Commander chapter book series) has beautiful illustrations containing plenty of detail for kids to explore. It includes animals found in the Australian bush and sometimes city backyards to encourage children to observe them and their behaviour for themselves.

With a glossary in the back, it is aimed at a reading level of ages 5-9.

 

There are Teacher Notes aligned to the Australian Curriculum available to download from the CSIRO Publishing website: publish.csiro.au/book/8159#forteachers.