The train at the end of my street by Tom Jellett

I still find it quite exciting catching a train (whether to sit upstairs? Or downstairs?) and hopefully some of that excitement is conveyed in the drawings. ... 

(I usually sit upstairs). Tom Jellett

I once had a train at the end of my street so the title of this book really grabbed my attention. I now live in a part of Sydney where there are no trains. Commuters and families have to travel by bus to the CBD to then catch a train. I actually do this every week on my way to a volunteer job. I really enjoy the train part of my journey. It would be fantastic to share this book with your own child before or after a train outing especially if this is not a part of their daily life. The trains in this book are clearly in Sydney but this book will translate easily to other train networks. You might even have a chat about graffiti and also all the supportive inclusions around train stations for people with a visual impairment. 

This new Australian picture book is a joyous celebration of family life and trains. Mum and dad and their two children live near a station. Mum catches the train to work and on weekends the family catch the train or an outing. Our narrator explains all about the different trains, how to buy tickets, and how to stand safely on the platform but this is not a lesson it's just a recount of their happy time together. Most of the story takes place over one day and this is beautifully shown in the front end paper (morning) and back end paper (same scene in the evening).

I am certain this book will be a 2026 CBCA Early Childhood notable. Tom Jellett creates so much movement and (implied) noise on each page. This book is an essential purchase for every preschool and also perfect to add to your school library.  I especially love the double spread scene of the busy station where we see all sorts of people on the move heading to and from their trains in groups or pairs or alone with bags and suitcases, backpacks and strollers. Read more about Tom Jellett here. (Hot stuff by Margaret Clark is one of my all-time favourite read aloud books). 

It’s a simple book that feels very familiar and explores all things train from the perspective of a child who can hear trains from their home. From meeting Mum as she disembarks after work to buying a ticket, checking the platform clock and bringing snacks for a long journey, this book has it all covered! There are many different types of trains and stations, and all are lovingly illustrated with Sydney-based author and illustrator Tom Jellett’s trademark warmth. Jellett has created a delightful celebration of transportation and a perfect book to share with train fan. Readings

Image source: Good Reading Magazine

Dirt by Sea

Hike by Pete Oswald

 

Like the woods, this book is an immersive experience 

that invites repeated visits. Kirkus Star review

It’s a book to read slowly — and read repeatedly. 

Seven Impossible things Before Breakfast

Let's go on a hike.  We've been on a hike before so we know what we need to pack - binoculars; camera; snacks; drinks; rope; hard hats; and walking sticks. BUT why are we hiking?

• To see beautiful places
• To marvel at scenery
• For exercise
• To spend time with each other (father and child)
• To enjoy the great outdoors
• For an adventure

All of these are legitimate reasons but in Hike this pair, father and child, have an extra purpose. If you take a look at the quilt cover on the child's bed you get a small hint. It is covered in a forest of trees. In his bedroom the child has been reading a book - How to Plant a Tree. Do make sure you look at the very last page to see how tree planting has become a family tradition.

Hike is not quite a "silent"  or wordless book although it does appear on most book lists under this heading. 

Here are some of the words used in this book:  miaow; zip; click (coat fastening); munch; knock knock knock (woodpecker); click (camera); cheers; purr.

Plus there are books, labels, posters, signs and words in books such as Black Bear; milk; family album; How to plant a tree; Climbs; Bugs; Expore; Wild; Adventure; Vincent shoes; Anderson Fizz; and Will sports.

I am listing all of these to show that in the context of the IBBY Silent book collection this book probably would not be selected because the intention of this project is:

a collection of silent books (wordless picture books) that could be understood and enjoyed by children regardless of language.

Here is part of a report by IBBY New Zealand who hosted the silent book exhibition in 2020

One thing we noticed as we engaged with the books and spent time with them and visitors to the exhibition, was that not having words allowed us to slow down and spend time noticing details in the illustrations. We also learned how much language is generated when collaborating to make a story from the pictures; quite an irony for a supposedly ‘silent’ picture book. From our experiences we now understand even more clearly how powerful these books will be for generating stories and language from children and adults arriving in Lampedusa with multiple languages.

Even though Hike might not be selected by IBBY it is a truly splendid wordless book to share and re-read many times.  Here is an interview with Pete Oswald where he talks about wordless books and his ideas for Hike. So I tried to make the child more gender neutral. Since this is a wordless book I didn’t have to say ‘he’ or ’she.’ I felt like this idea could work. So the child has cropped hair, a green backpack and wears a pink beanie with knee high socks.

Here is a video of the whole book.

Here are some other books illustrated by Pete Oswald:

Pete Oswald mentioned the illustrator Miroslav Sašek (1916-1980) as someone he admires:

Finally you might like to watch this video made with a gentle sound track and a very personal story commentary.

The Night Walk by Marie Dorléans Translated by Polly Lawson

It is the middle of the night. Mum wakes up the two children. There is no grumbling. The family set off in the into the darkness. They can hear the crickets and smell the honeysuckle. The big hotel is still awake and the last house in the village "was almost asleep. It had one eye open."

The small group of four keeping walking out of the village and up the path through the forest. At the lake they see a wondrous sight of the full moon reflected in the water but this is not their final destination. Mum suggests they lie down on the grass to see the "vast, glittering sky." After a short rest the family continue their climb up the hillside over rocks guided only by torch light. 

"We got there just in time. We watched for a moment. And then ..."

Where were they going?  Why did they walk through the night? What did they see?

This beautiful and evocative book movingly recalls family trips and the excitement of unknown adventure, while celebrating the awe-inspiring power of the natural world. Floris Books

Never hurried, this eloquent story is a beautifully measured tale not unlike one giant inhale (the journey) followed by a long, happy exhale (the closing spreads). Pick up a copy and make a night of it. Julie Danielson for BookPage

The Night Walk (French title Nous Avons Rendez-vous) was awarded the Prix Landerneau, in the best children's picture book category.  Marie Dorléans is the author of The Epic Race.

Ella and the Ocean by Lian Tanner illustrated by Jonathan Bentley

Ella lived in the red-dirt country where the earth was as dry as old bones 

and it hadn't rained for years and years and years and years.

One night Ella dreamt of the ocean.

Dad have you ever seen the ocean? Mum have you ever seen the ocean? Ben have you ever seen the ocean? Gran have you ever seen the ocean? Does it crack open? Does it get tangled? Can you catch and tame it?

"I've dreamt about the ocean twice,' said Ella. 

'Now I want to see it."

Dad, Mum and Ben don't see the point of bothering but Gran knows dreams are important. The family make the long journey by car and plane over our wide Australian landscape. When they arrive at the ocean they see it is big, it is blue and it is beautiful. Everyone dives into the cool water for a delicious swim.

"and all their broken dreams were washed away."

The family then make the long journey back to their farm.  Everything is still in drought. The land is red and dry, the animals will still need hand feeding but the family look at their familiar environment with fresh eyes. They see the colours of the hills, they look up at the enormous sky and they hear the song of the birds. They have HOPE.

At its heart this is a book about pessimism and optimism. About the way we view the world. It shows how a small experience, like seeing the ocean for the first time, lead to an important change which helps everyone move forward.

When you pick up this book begin by comparing the end papers. They are the perfect way to introduce this book - orange, dry, dusty at the beginning and blue, green, watery at the end. I am going to predict this book will be included in the 2020 CBCA Notable titles (usually about 20 books) but I also hope it makes the short list of six in the Early Childhood picture book category.

Take a look here to see more picture books illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.

Image source: Booktopia

Ella and the Ocean is a powerful picture book about the harsh reality of farming in the Australian outback yet it is also a quiet reminder of the importance of hope, following your dreams and the importance of a supportive network of people. Educate Empower

When the family see the ocean for the first time it reminded me of the wonderful Margaret Mahy book The Man whose Mother was a Pirate. Take a look at my review where you can read some beautiful words about this experience. It would be good to compare these with the words used by Lian Tanner in Ella and the Ocean.

The Rattlebang Picnic by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Steven Kellogg

This book should be a Tuesday Treasure but I am going to talk about it today as I plan to use this book with a group of grade two children next week and this will be a good way to refresh my knowledge of this text.

First off this is Margaret Mahy so you can expect some terrific words. In the Rattlebang Picnic we have the family McTavish their car which is an old rattlebang. Here are some of the delicious words and phrases:

"We can go on picnics, and I will make pancakes and pizzas for us to eat."

"A plume of pure white cloud floated around the top of the mountain."

"the pizza was quite unyielding."

"the car gave a sickening lurch"

"the ten McTavishes could hear the sinister hiss of the red-hot lava ... "

It is a good day for a picnic. Granny McTavish bakes a huge pizza for the seven children and three adults but she bakes it at a low temperature for a long time and so all they can do is hack out a small section in the middle.  It is impossible to eat. They have to make do with cupcakes and apples. The picnic spot is at the top of Mount Fog and everyone enjoys a dip in the hot springs and then they settle down for an after-lunch nap. As they are dozing the mountain starts to jiggle and rumble. The volcano is about to erupt. Everyone jumps back into the car and they head off down the rocky "winding road - bumping and banging and backfiring - while the red-hot lava burbled furiously after them."

Look at this lava by Steven Kellogg - and this is a huge format book so the illustration has even more impact!

Disaster strikes - a wheel falls of the car and plummets off the cliff. What can they do? Of course they have Granny's pizza. The final page is sure to give you a smile. Sadly this book is out of print but if you have a copy in your library or personal collection hold onto it. There is a copy of the paperback edition for sale at AUS$277.

Here are some of the wonderful illustrations by Steven Kellogg.

It's time for the Sydney Royal Easter show - read a book!

Image source: https://mudgeehaycompany.com.au/easter-show/

I adore going to the Sydney Royal Easter show. I like to see the farm animals, the dog judging and of course the wood chop!  Visiting the library of my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything I spied three terrific books about visiting a country or city agricultural show.  In Sydney we have The Royal Easter Show, in Brisbane they have the Ekka and Melbourne also have a Royal Show. Many small rural communities also have terrific events to showcase rural life and produce and these are often even better than the huge city events.

Here are three picture books to share with your family or class:

Look in your school library for other terrific books by Nan Hunt such as Whistle up the Chimney and A Rabbit named Harris (I hope to talk about this one here soon if I can find a copy somewhere).

Gwyn Perkins book A Walk in the Bush won the CBCA Picture book of the Year award in 2018.

Take a look at this review for all the story details. You could pair this book with another title by Penny Matthews and Andrew McLean - A Year on our Farm.

Two little beginning chapter books you might find in a library on this topic are Boris on Show by Andrew Joyner and Showtime by Wendy Harmer.