Oh! If Only by Michael Foreman

This is a brilliant book that teachers could use for writing inspiration. Sadly it is out of print but it might be in your school or local library. 

If only I hadn't met that dog ...

If only he didn't have that ball ...

If only he didn't want to play ...

And so begins a remarkably funny chain of events as one young boy and a dog unwittingly unleash the greatest havoc imaginable.

This story feels like a version of the butterfly effect. I would pair it with these:

And ...

Would you Rather ...

Foreman's minimal text sometimes tumbles and dances across the page, and his watercolor-and-pastel illustrations capture both motion and dumbstruck faces hilariously. Kirkus

With enchanting twists and turns, you will enjoy watching events unfold as the boy and his new found dog go on a romp around London causing mayhem along the way. The Book Bag

Azaria: A true history by Maree Coote

Publisher blurb Walker Books Australia: 

A beautifully illustrated non-fiction picture book that sensitively explores the collision of wilderness and civilisation, explains a famous miscarriage of justice, and examines the role of the media in history-telling, in an appropriate manner for children. A modern day fairy tale, cautionary and unforgettable. Essential reading for students of history and the law, young and old.  When a tiny baby is stolen by a dingo, nobody will believe the truth. Prejudice, ignorance and gossip grip the nation, and the tragedy is transformed into a quest for the truth. Are you sure you know what happened? Azaria is a cautionary tale about justice, the media, wilderness, and the perils of mob thinking. Azaria forms an excellent cross-curricular resource, ideal for class discussion and activity. 

Azaria was short listed this year for our Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. A couple of weeks ago Ann James, from Books Illustrated, suggested the 2022-23 CBCA judges read an interview the Maree Coote reported in Magpies Magazine, Volume 36, No. 2, May 2021. Here are some quotes from the interview:

"The book is about innocence, ignorance and injustice."

"This is very much a story about Place, and so the rock is absolutely at the heart of things. I wanted to insert layers of meaning into the imagery, to impart that other worldly feeling one gets in that desert, that something more is going on here than meets the eye."

"My drawing style is best described as having a collage-like feel ... rough-hewn shapes overlaid on each other."

If you need to understand more about this story take a look at this report from BTN. Here is an article about Azaria written for Books Illustrated. In this video Maree reads her book and shares her motivation for writing this important story. Here is a set of very extensive teachers notes with references suited to use in High School classes. You can see other books by Maree Coote here.

Image Source: Books Illustrated

This picture book is the epitome of a top-quality informational resource with superb illustrations.  It should be essential reading for students of history and law, both young and old. StoryLinks

The large digital illustrations are fantastic at capturing the mood and the place and they support and add to the text so well. From the fabulous colours of the red desert and Uluru, the night time pictures of people looking for Azaria while the sand is covered in dingo footprints and the sad eyes of Lindy. ReadPlus

Her illustrations shimmer with the beauty of the desert; the rich colours of the natural world juxtaposed with the sombre darkness of society and supposition. Kids' Book Review

Wolfie's Secret by Nicola Senior

Wolfie was no ordinary wolf.

He was a wolf with a secret.

He was a wolf who loved baking!

Wolfie knows he has to keep his baking a secret. He is supposed to be growly, tough, mean and of course to enjoy eating grandmas. He just cannot do this. It is not in his nature. One day, as he closes the curtains and gets on with his delicious baking the smells waft outside. Three brothers have plans to build a house next door. You might recognise these guys - it is in fact our old friends the three little pigs. They know all about wolves and so they worry that this spot is not a safe place for their new home. Those smells, though, are so tempting. The trio tip toe up to the window and look inside. What they see is so shocking. A wolf in a pinny! A wolf making a chocolate cake!

This is a scandal. The three pigs make a plan to expose this impostor. They stalk him day and night taking photographs and making notes - gathering proof. Once they have everything they need they send it off to the local newspaper. On Saturday morning Wolfie sees the disastrous headline in the newspaper - WOLF IN CAKE BAKING SCANDAL.

Wolfie is devastated. He climbs into bed and retreats from the world. Then the most unexpected thing happens. Letters start to arrive. Readers of the newspaper love his recipes and are keen for more.The newspaper editor offers Wolfie a job. What about those pigs next door? I am happy to say they make peace with their new friend by gifting him a super cake mixer.

There is a recipe in this book for scones and if you look closely you will spy other delicious baked treats such as battenberg cake, and a Victoria Sponge.  Here is the book trailer. There are four activity pages on the publisher web site - Allen and Unwin.

Wolfie's kitchen is wonderful. This is a story to share with a young child followed by the sharing of some delicious home made cake.

This is a debut book from Nicola Senior. I do hope she has plans for more delicious treats like this.

The exquisite illustrations throughout expertly portray Wolfie’s emotions, from his love of baking, the expressions on his face as he concentrates and his horror and disappointment at being found out. Child Care and Education Expo

I would follow this book with The Fairytale News by Colin and Jackie Hawkins.