Swings + Roundabouts Winter 2021

THE ROCK FROM THE SKY By Jon Klassen Walker Books; RRP: $29.99 Hardback The Rock from the Sky is written in five vignettes, with the first part – The Rock setting the scene…. Turtle really likes standing in his favourite spot. He likes it so much that he asks his friend Armadillo to come over and stand in it, too. But now that Armadillo is standing in that spot, he has a bad feeling about it… This book over the four vignettes covers a lot of concepts, and being that most are abstract ideas and implicit within the text that is mainly dialogue, this book is best for children 4+. Features include, as time travel, aliens, imagination, friendship, jealousy, stubbornness, death, listening to your intuition and the lucky and unlucky accidents that happen along the way. The Rock from the Sky is written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, the author/ illustrator, Caldecott Medal-winning creator of the Hat trilogy. This Is Not My Hat is the only book to ever win both the Kate Greenaway and Caldecott Medal. Although I mentioned the book is sectioned into five vignettes, there isn’t a lot of text, letting the simple and somewhat quirky but exquisite illustrations do a lot of the work – particularly the character’s eyes! This book with its slight darkness and abstract concepts will be loved by many (including adults) and not understood by some, similar to the best works of art. Plus I kind of enjoy how grumpy the characters can be with one another – just like most of us really! WILD ABOUT MUMS By Philip Bunting Hardie Grant; RRP: $22.99 Hardback Wild About Mums portrays facts about the animal kingdom and in particular the role of motherhood between mothers and their young. The bright colourful and rather cute illustrations are vivid, and catch the eye alongside the various facts. Overall there is a lot of text, but no more than any other non-fiction picture book, but with the layout the illustrations are the main foci. The information is factual but the author has also used coloquial and relatable language, such as referencing to a well- known nursery rhyme when describing wolf spiders: This hairy mama carries her eggs around in a silky sack until they hatch. Once the incy wincy spiders are born they all hitch a ride on their mum’s bristly back until they’re ready to make their own way in the world. With its humour and descriptive texts alongside the bright and fun illustrations this book will be enjoyed by many, as it’s a great book to dip into or for those that are fascinated by facts not too arduous to read every page. For children 3+. UPSIDE-DOWN FRIDAY By Lana Spasevski Illustrated by Nick Johnston EK Books; RRP: $24.99 Hardback Upside-Down Friday tells the story of Hugo who doesn’t enjoy Fridays, as the day is the wrong way round, with lunchtime at morning tea time, morning tea time at lunch time, and no fruit break, as Friday was sports day. Hugo tried hard to remember his mother’s words as he walked to school. But his stomach flipped with frenzied flutters. His heart thumped like claps of thunder. His head dropped as he waved goodbye. As Hugo worries, he meets a new friend, Maddie the giraffe who offers friendship and understanding, which supports Hugo in feeling braver. This book leans to the themes of making new friendships, resilience, anxiety, courage and emotional wellbeing and overall accepting change. The characters are likeable with Hugo’s emotions being relatable to young listeners alongside the illustrations which together will support children’s understanding and language in sharing and understanding their emotions and some strategies in coping with change. For children 4+. June 2021 { 39 }