Book Review of My Band

Can you guess which instrument I'm going to play? 

Can it be a guitar? 

Can it be a saxophone?

My Band is an interactive picture book written by Elizabeth Lea, illustrated by Chantal Stewart and published by The National Library of Australia. By using clues to guess which instrument is under the flap, children will discover how the instrument is played and whether it belongs to the woodwind, the brass, the percussion or the string family.

Featuring lively and appealing illustrations, My Band portrays the joys of playing a musical instrument and through eight craft activities at the end of the book, encourages children to make their own instruments to play in their own band. 

Suitable for children 0-7 years, My Band is the perfect addition to a child's library as it offers endless reading experiences for children with parents, caregivers, teachers or alone, and develops an early interest in the world of music and instruments. 

These Are My Feet/These are My Hands

These Are My Hands/These Are My Feet  is the latest publication from The National Library of Australia released March 2012. It was written and illustrated by one of Australia's best known cartoonists, visual artists and writers, Judy Horacek.

This (back to back) book perfectly targets children 3+ years with its playful rhyme that'll have readers wriggling their fingers and tapping their toes along. Whether splashing in the bathtub, lacing up shoes, colouring in, getting ready for bed, cuddling teddy, or dancing and running with friends, These are My Hands / These are My Feet  is ideal to help children learn about the world around them.

Featuring cute and boldly coloured illustrations (that Horacek is well known for) and a delightful read aloud quality, this gorgeous book will make a fabulous addition to your child's library. You may recognise Horacek's colourful and fun illustrations from her first children's book, Where is the Green Sheep?, created in collaboration with Mem Fox. It received the 2005 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year.

Book Review Our Nest is Best!

It's always so exciting to receive a parcel in the post, so when I received my first ever board book for review, I was thrilled! The first thing that struck me was the stunning cover. Many of the board books that I read to my children when they were younger, did not look like this.

Our Nest is Best! written by Penny Olsen with Penny O'Hara, was published by The National Library of Australia in February 2012.

Rocky and Rudy Robin, plan to build their own special nest. Before picking up there first piece of straw, they check out their friends' nests to see what nest is best.

Their first stop is at the Magpies nest.

'This nest is nice and large,' said Rocky. 'Strong, too.'
'Looks like a big pile of sticks to me,' whispered Ruby.
'Come on, let's keep going.'

They soon discover that the nests of owls, wrens, swallows and some other friends just don't seem to suit.

The author, Penny Olsen has written several bird books for grown-ups, including The National Library's Glimpses of Paradise and Brush with Birds. 

Our Nest is Best! is a delightful new board book; rich in vocabulary, rich in detail and highly suitable for the 0+ market.

Illustrations are from The National Library of Australia collection.