Andrew McLean Aussie Bites and Aussie Nibbles

It is Christmas and the tradition is to give the garbage men (garbos) a gift such as some beer. The me of the title is Mickey. He agrees to help some older kids collect beer left out for the garbos. Sebby is his duck - the one on the cover. Sebby or Sebastian made so much noise when the kids left their house at 4.30am Mickey thought the only solution was to bring him along. 

The older boys are so greedy and they pinch way more than they can carry and of course there is a disaster and all the bottles are smashed. But Mickey still has some under his shirt. It is impossible to carry beer and a duck so his brother puts Sebby into a nearby garbage bin. Oh no Sebby is picked up by the garbos and he is heading for the tip or perhaps the garbos think he is a gift for their Christmas dinner! And there is another name in the title - Stee - that is Stephanie. She is the one who eventually is able to help Mickey retrieve his precious duck. I wonder if this book (1988) would be published today. It does contain a lot of beer and beer drinking and the dad even drives the kids home after he shares a beer with the guys at the tip. 

Andrew McLean posted a picture of the cover of Sebby, Stee, the Garbos and Me by Jane Godwin - Andrew did the cover and internal illustrations.

Here is what he said in his post:

Sebby,Stee,the Garbos and Me(was) a Puffin Aussie Bites paperback book. Written by Jane Godwin and illustrated by me. Published in 1988. ...  Jane Godwin wrote a wonderful adventure story that begins when Sebby starts quacking loud enough to wake everyone up, Mike can’t just leave him behind so off they set together and that’s when the adventure begins. ...  The cover is one of few that I have done with soft pastels on dark pastel paper. ...  The book sold very well and earned more than some picture books that I might have worked on for months.

Image source Instagram

Here is an interview with Andrew McLean. 

The library I visit each week still has nearly all the Aussie and Nibbles titles. I have talked about these two wonderful series previously. Next year a new series will be published here in Australia called 'Your Kids Next Read' aimed at younger readers. I have every finger and toe crossed that they will be just as fantastic and contain the truly wonderful stories as we previously had in the Aussie Bites and Aussie Nibbles. And of course I am hoping for fantastic illustrations and covers!

I went hunting for more titles from these two series illustrated by Andrew McLean:

Crusher Kevin

Bio from Walker Books: Andrew McLean grew up in the Victorian country town of Bairnsdale. He trained as a painter and teacher, and taught in secondary schools before becoming a lecturer in painting and drawing at Caulfield Institute of Technology. He has been a full-time artist now for more than thirty years. Andrew and his wife Janet have created many picture books together, and Andrew also illustrates books written by other authors. Many of his books have been award winners: he has won the CBCA Book of the Year Award three times.

Here is an image I found with lots of the books from these two series. I am sure you will see some you recognise:

Another set of Aussie Nibbles to nibble

As promised earlier in my blog, I am reading my way through our collection of Aussie Nibbles and I continue to be surprised and excited by so many of these simple titles.

Pop-up Fox has been in my collection for a long time (published in 2004) and I am now puzzled why I did not pick it up much earlier. David does not have many friends and so a party invitation is a very special event. The party has a dress up theme - come as something starting with the same letter as the name of the Birthday boy. This is easy for David as he loves dressing up and he especially enjoys making masks. He decides to go as a fox but on arrival at the party he discovers something terrible. The boy hosting the party is called Phillip and the other children have come dressed as a pirate, pizza and a plane.

How will David survive this situation? Do you know why he went to the party as a fox? Can the author Janeen Brian give us a plausible happy ending – yes she can. Read Pop-up Fox to find out how.

I have always enjoyed the idea of using food colouring. I once had a magazine that featured a pie where the top was decorated like a patchwork quilt using food colouring. I also love those little food colouring bottles from the supermarket. Margo and her sister Sonya need to decide on the colour for the icing on their cake. Their grandmother suggests blue. While she does enjoy the cake their grandmother complains she does not like her grey hair. Can you guess how food colouring, blue icing and hair might make for a hilarious outcome? This book Blue Hair day is made all the more special by the addition of zany illustrations by Leigh Hobbs.

Sonya Hartnett has just won our Children’s Book of the Year award for her novel The midnight Zoo so I was very keen to see what she might do within the constraints of a Nibble. When the youngest children in my school preview our special donate a book display I always tell them to tuck their hands behind their backs. Fingers can sometimes get a little out of control and this is the exact premise of Sadie and Ratz. Sadie and Ratz are in fact the left and right hands of Hannah and try as she might they sometimes lead her into mischief. Hannah has a little baby brother called Baby Boy. “Baby Boy is four years old. Four years is a long time. … everyone says Baby Boy is a good boy. But …”

Baby Boy has found his voice and his power. When something goes wrong he accused Saddie and Ratz. Hannah is fed up but what can she do? Then something really surprising happens to Baby Boy and Baby Boy needs to name is own right and left hands because it seems they are causing their own mayhem. I must again make special mention of the illustrations. Ann James perfectly captures the expressions and emotions of each family member.

Nibble a Nibble

I started these holidays with a dip into four terrific little Aussie Nibbles. As promised earlier I am continuing to read my way through this series. These four were all a treat to read but I especially enjoyed Sami’s Genies.

Sami comes from a poor family and like our old friend Jack of Jack and the beanstalk Sami is sent to the market to sell something, in this case eggs, to raise some money. On the way he meets a man who has a box filled with lamps. Sami swaps the eggs for the four lamps and when he gets home he begins to polish them.

As you would expect the lamps contain genies who grant wishes but these wishes are most surprising and Sami now has a pile of camel dung, a pair of false teeth, a floor rug and a baby hippopotamus. The real power of this story comes as we discover the ingenious way Sami makes use of each of these ‘treasures’ and how he and the genii are able to restore the family fortunes, assist Sami’s grandfather Ali and allow Sami himself to follow his dream of learning to read and attending school.

Katherine England has succeeded in writing an engrossing and funny junior chapter book and this is one title I will certainly recommend to my youngest students.

In Blast Off we meet Adam who wants to be an astronaut. He puts together a terrific outfit using his brother’s old parka, bike helmet and snorkel and heads off with his family to visit his aunt. While playing with his cousins he throws an empty drink bottle into the neighbor’s yard. The cousins retreat in horror but Adam bravely heads through the fence. He discovers the neighbor has a space ship in his shed and Adam is invited to go for a test flight. The real identity of the neighbor, the fun of the ‘journey’ and the twist at the end all make for a very satisfying read. Margaret Clark really knows her audience. In space Adam needs to eat so Marvin supplies special space shuttle food in a tube like toothpaste so it won’t float away. Then there is the problem of going to the toilet. “You want to go the the toilet? Proper astronauts just do it! …. Like a baby. You did wear the proper padded pants didn’t you?”
Books fall open and we fall in. I have always loved this little expression and it is the perfect way to describe The Girl who fell into a book by Julia Lawrinson. Annie loves to read although the power of a great book to transport and delight you seems to be missing from her parents experience and I found this very sad. Luckily Annie does not give up her passion and despite their pleading, Annie continues to read book after book. One day a little fairy, a boy fairy appears on her shoulder. He needs Annie to help him get rid of a wild cat that has been terrorizing all the fairies.

The illustrations in this one are just perfect by Anne Spudvilias. This is one of the things I really like about Aussie Nibbles, the publishers employ some of our most talented Australian illustrators such as Craig Smith, Stephen Michael King, Tom Jellett, Ann James and Mitch Vane.

Speaking of illustrations they are magical in The Magic Violin. Jimbo is learning to play the violin but all he can make are excruciating sounds that drive everyone, including the violin itself, crazy. The violin takes matters into its own hands and produces beautiful music. Jimbo becomes famous and rich but Jimbo feels there is something important missing in his life.

If you are looking for a satisfying read at a simple level you will not be disappointed by these four gems.

For dog lovers Aussie Nibbles

Two new Aussie Nibbles are about dogs. In Where’s Sunday we meet Sunday and his family. Sal is responsible for Sunday but as they return from a day at the beach her little brother Toby needs to throw up on the side of the road after drinking a very large blue milkshake with sprinkles on top.

Everyone climbs back into the car and Sal becomes absorbed in the book she is reading what no one realises Sunday has been left behind. This then becomes the longest night of Sal’s life as she frets for her dog. Luckily Sunday as a collar and tag with his name and phone number and so you can be sure there is a happy reunion on the horizon.

Crusher Kevin is an even better story for dog lovers. Charlie is getting a new house. Each day he walks past the construction site. When valuable materials are delivered the foreman puts a fence around the yard and installs Crusher as a guard dog. Charlie has a dream that when he moves into his new house he will get a puppy of his very own. Crusher does not match this image at all. “He liked dogs, but not this one. A dog like that could rip your arms off.” In fact Charlie is so scared of Crusher he won't go near him then one day Crusher climbs under the fence and Charlie and his mum find him down the road. This is the beginning of a change in their relationship.

Names can reveal your true character. Charlie calls this dog Crusher but his real name is Kevin and as Charlie learns Kevin was rescued from the pound and he sees Kevin wagging his tail and suffering in a rain storm Charlie gradually comes to love this large back dog. This is an Aussie Nibble with a lot of heart. The ending is very special. If you are a dog lover look out for these two easy stories with their terrific dog characters.

Jerry by Ursula Dubosarsky

It is wonderful to have junior novels that can tell a good story and also have some emotional depth and this is certainly true for Jerry by Ursula Dubosarsky.
Jerry is an old horse. He is loved by all the neighborhood children. His final paddock is in an urban environment and each day children and adults visit Jerry and give him carrots and other treats but perhaps no one loves Jerry as much as Martha.

Ursula Dubosarsky has based Jerry on a real horse that was living near a Sydney Primary School and I think this real life incident is what gives this book its strength and honesty. Jerry is old and neglected and no longer interested in being patted but we are not left to ponder this for long. Martha’s love of Jerry and her magical dreams for him to fly make a perfect balance as Jerry’s life inevitably comes to an end.

I must make special mention of the illustrations by Patricia Mullins. She explains on the last page how as a child she drew lots and lots of horses and you can certainly see her skill in every illustration. The picture on page 39 where we can only see the eye of Jerry is just beautiful. It is clear why one of my most treasured picture books by Patricia Mullins One Horse waiting for me is all about horses. Look for this in our school library and you will see the illustrations are amazing tissue paper collage. I have now realised I read Sea Breeze Hotel to a class just this week and Ice Flowers is a special favourite of mine both also illustrated by Patricia Mullins.

Jerry is certainly one to add to my list of excellent Aussie Nibbles. One more thing I need to say. I did not read horse books as a child. I am a dog person so I really want to say Jerry is a book for everyone not just the horse lovers.

Joe’s Boat by Raewyn Caisley illustrated by Anne Spidvilas

If you love boats and fishing and have ever enjoyed a special afternoon with your dad then this is the book for you. Great Uncle Alan has died but he has left behind a wonderful yellow boat in his shed. At first Joe’s dad is too busy to go fishing but early one morning Alan’s old friend Bob arrives. He won’t take no for answer and so three generations set out on an early dawn fishing expedition which ends in a delicious beach feast of freshly smoked fish.

Simple phrases make this sensitive and joyous story a real pleasure to read. “The boat pulled and tugged, hungry for the sea as Dad steered it down the ramp.” After the day Joe sits on the beach looking at the boat. “He loved it more than any game or toy anyone had ever bought him.”

Here is another Aussie Nibble which will be enjoyed by our youngest students.

A home for gnomes by Margaret Clark illustrated by Gus Gordon

Margaret Clark is a master story teller and there can be no better evidence than her writing within the constraints of a little Aussie Nibble. Even with only 64 pages and a very small word limit Margaret Clark is able to write an enchanting story for our youngest readers.

Five gnomes live a secret life with Miss Mackie, helping in her garden and providing companionship for this isolated elderly lady. In her turn Miss Mackie teaches the gnomes how to read by reading them Fairy Tales and she makes all their clothes and shoes.

One day Miss Mackie leaves and while the gnomes valiantly try to keep things going it is obvious Miss Mackie is not going to return. This is especially clear when the bulldozers arrive one day and start to demolish their beloved garden. It is time for action. The gnomes pack their treasured possessions – the book of Fairy Tales for Quince and for Lilly all seven pairs of undies, one for each day of the week, that Miss Mackie has made for her.

First stop is the supermarket called Mother Hubbard’s cupboard. Alas Miss Mackie is not to be found among all the intriguing groceries. After crossing the road (a feat in itself) they see the Royal Hospital for Women but since Miss Mackie is not a Royal Queen or a Princess they continue on their journey. Next stop The Sleeping Beauty Rest Home. Here they find their beloved Miss Mackie and a wonderful new home.

I am reading all of our Aussie Nibbles over the next few weeks. This new title is a winner.

The Deep End by Ursula Dubosarsky

Learning to swim is an important skill for all children and as with most activities for children, swimming lessons are now very structured. Becky has been to these lessons for a long time and she has moved from tadpoles to frogs and today she will become a platypus! Moving up to the platypus group means venturing up to the deep end of the pool. “She looked down to the end of the big pool, and read the words, painted in black on the wall : DEEP END. It was so far away! And the water was so dark and waving. Who knew what was lurking down there?”
Becky does not know it yet but help is at hand. Her swimsuit has a picture of a girl riding a seahorse printed on it. Becky also has a very lively imagination and these two things combine to help her cope with her first lesson in the deep end.

This book is from the Aussie Nibbles series. My favourite Nibbles are Poor Fish, My amazing Poo plant, First Friend, The Princess who hated it, Winning the world cup and Topsy and Turvy. We have over 60 Nibble titles in our school library.

The Deep End is short listed for the CBCA Early Childhood Book of the Year Awards. I am not sure that it will be a winner but I do think the youngest children will enjoy this simple little story and they are certain to relate to Abby and her swimming lesson terrors. It will also be interesting to compare this with other books in this category which are Picture Books.