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:

A Life Song by Jane Godwin illustrated by Anna Walker

This book is a gentle ode to growing up and to the emotional roller coaster of life. There are lines in this book that made me gasp. There are joyful moments and deeply sad life experiences all told so gently.

Here are some text examples:

"You get taller still, reach out with your song,

Sing it to your brother, he might hum along

At the end of each year, your grandparents as

What did you eat? You're growing so fast."

"Days pass by, your song moves on

Someone gets sick, might even be gone

You notice the clouds, you look up at the sky

This may be the first time you see grown-ups cry

And your song adds a chorus and verse."

Walker’s vivid, watercolour-style illustrations are poignant and impactful alongside Godwin’s compelling prose. Together, this duo prompts excitement for the adventure of life ahead for young readers. ... this is a story for everyone; all kinds of readers will relish in the metaphorical meaning of song. This belongs on every kid’s bookshelf.  Better Reading

See inside this book here. And take a look at this terrific review from The Bottom Shelf. 

Jane Godwin and Anna Walker have collaborated on so many wonderful books. They are a perfect partnership.

A word of caution - you will need to practice reading A Life Song aloud before you share it with a group of children. Each rhyming verse ends with a single line which you need to read slowly allowing yourself to pause before the page turn. I wonder if someone will put the words of this book to music. I'm also keen (and this is unusual for me) to see how The Storybox Library present this book. 

This book could be a gift to celebrate the arrival of a new baby or perhaps as a graduation gift. 

I am certain this book will feature in the 2024 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) awards.

Here are some companion books:

Don't Forget

Now we're Together

Dreams for our Daughters

When you're older

A Feather on a Wing

The Best Hiding Place by Jane Godwin illustrated by Sylvia Morris

 

Hide and seek is a game that all children (dare I say even around the world) love to play. One of my favourite books to read to the youngest children in my school library for over 20 years was this one about little Moonbear playing hide and seek with his friend the moon.

One night Moonbear decides to play hide-and-seek with the moon. When it’s Moonbear’s turn to hide, the moon finds him every time. But when the moon ducks behind a cloud and doesn’t come out, Moonbear gets worried. Is the moon lost forever?

In this new Australian picture book - The Best Hiding Place - a group of children - perhaps they are cousins - are playing hide and seek inside their Grandparent's house. It seems as though they have played this many times before and so all the kids have found terrific hiding places except for the littlest child - he always climbs into the washing basket. 

The cover of this book is SO perfect showing all the rooms where the children hide during their game. I have special memories of other books from my childhood that showed houses in cross section like this. I love exploring all the little domestic details.  AND notice this is game to play inside AND this is a game that does not involve devices! All of that is a lovely, perhaps unintentional message. 

Sylvia Morris has met some interesting challenges here in a creative and effective way – showing multiple points of the action on one page; giving readers an insight into a domestic environment – probably one that children will recognise; and allowing us to “hear” the boy inside the cupboard. As readers we watch his emotions change from confidence (he won't be found) to doubt and even terror (perhaps he will never be found). 

The scene where we see the boy hiding in the darkness inside the musty cupboard adds a perfect amount of tension and feelings of claustrophobia, especially with the addition of the slightly scary, and possibly smelly, old teddy bear. Readers will feel every long minute or perhaps hour that the little boy waits to be found. One of the best illustrations in this book is the close-up image of the boy’s face with just a slither of light coming from the slightly open door. 

The final illustration is perfect – show don’t tell – no need for the words to say anything, little Sam is heading back into his favourite hiding place and this is exactly what a child his age would do! The addition of the bead necklace invites readers to re-visit the illustrations to work out where this trinket came from. The colour palette has a slightly retro feel which is very appealing. 

The title page, which has all the children and their names, works really well – notice how Archie standing slightly away from his siblings or cousins. 

Jane Godwin says: This story was partly inspired by re-reading Winnicott’s iconic book Playing and Reality, and thinking about the traditional, well-loved game of hide-and-seek, and realising that although it appears simple, it is actually rich with meaning. No wonder it has endured for centuries and throughout the world! Hide-and-seek reflects a child’s personal development. It’s a game that deals with both sides of our selves - the private, ‘hidden’ self, and the communal, public self. We love to hide, but being found, being discovered for who you are, is also a great joy. Hide-and-seek is a game of aloneness and togetherness, and the power and intensity of both.

Sylvia Morris is an illustrator for our NSW School Magazine. This is her first picture book and it was a New Illustrator short listed title. (I was one of the judges for the CBCA 2021-23).

Here are the judge's comments (which might repeat some of my words because I contributed to this):

The colour palette in The Best Hiding Place creates a lovely retro and nostalgic quality. Each and every image allows the reader to peek inside different parts of the house, often showing multiple points of action on one page. Archie’s claustrophobia in his hiding spot is conveyed effectively to create a sustained moment of tension that readers will identify with. Distinct characters and relationships are shown, and some humorous details invite readers to re-visit and examine earlier illustrations. The illustrations perfectly capture those mixed feelings of playing hide and seek as a child, which will appeal to readers of all ages.

Jane Godwin is the author of picture books, junior novels, middle grade and young adult novels.

Don't forget

Ivanhoe Swift left home at Six

Go Go and the Silver Shoes

What do you wish for?

Don't Forget by Jane Godwin illustrated by Anna Walker

"Don't forget that life is long, you're not alone, 

that you are strong and don't forget that you belong."

Let's begin with the cover - the smiling faces of the children are very inviting as is the fact that they have been adventurous enough to climb a tree. One child is showing her friend a tiny caterpillar perhaps they are remembering the famous book by Eric Carle. It is a sunny autumn day and if you stretch out the cover the illustration spread right across from front to back. 

Some questions from the cover:

• Who are these children?
• What do they need to remember?
• Will we meet these children in the story?
• Do you think this book will have a message? Can you guess the author's intention from the title?

Now open the book and pause over the end papers. I like the subtle change between the front and back endpapers with the addition of the kite which has travelled on from the happy community event seen on the previous pages. 

Turn the page again and you will see a small child about to pick a dandelion flower while her dog runs on happily ahead. On the final page you will see the little girl has picked the dandelion and she is blowing the seeds onto the wind. 

The book begins with some practical advice - "Don't forget to make your bed and wear socks that fit your feet." Over the following pages the advice becomes more general and more philosophical - "Don't forget to try new things, to smell the flowers, watch the ocean and listen to the music of the trees."

The repeated motif of ‘Don’t forget’ works so well in this philosophical tale and I like the way the advice moves from practical (clean your teeth) to more abstract/mindful suggestions. 

This book would be a beautiful gift for a new baby but it is also a book you could share with older children as a way to discuss book design, placement of illustrations, pace, page turns and the way Anna Walker interprets the text by Jane Godwin of extending her words in surprising ways. Anna and Jane have made eight books together. 

This book is a worthy addition to the already bulging shelves of mindfulness books that have been appearing recently. The second last page of this book is such a joyful celebration of community and brings together all the gentle advice shared through each page as we see the children we met earlier smiling, playing, sharing, lending a hand and trying new things.  There are some very tender moments in the illustrations which beautifully extend the text well beyond the word such as ‘don’t forget to smile’ where we see the little girl helping her friend with his broken model. The variety of children Anna has included also seem very natural. It is good to notice the way scenes move from inside to outside.

Anna Walker creates love, life and community on the pages through her illustrations. She brings a whole neighbourhood alive and gives each character hopes and dreams and history. The story of their lives plays out on the pages as the kids and their families navigate their worlds, connect and share, and remember not to forget the things that matter. Kids' Book Review

Don't Forget is a CBCA Picture Book of the Year Notable title for 2022.

Take a look at my post about window books which I created as a response to our Covid lock downs. Companion books to read alongside Don't Forget:

Silence

The Quiet Book

A Song full of Sky

Extraordinary

A New Green Day

Happy

Sing me the Summer by Jane Godwin illustrated by Alison Lester

"Sing me the summer

The sparkling sea

Our buckets and spades on the sand.

Shells by the rock pools

where tiny fish swim

and a crab scuttles over my hand."

Affirm Press have a wonderful video on their web site where Alison Lester shows in great detail the process she used to illustrate this book. It is especially interesting to see Jane Godwin's original text typed over a couple of pages. On this page Jane talks about her text and collaboration with Alison.

When you explore this book with a group of young children be sure to grab all the copies you can find of other books by Alison Lester. In Sing me the Summer you are sure to spy Noni the Pony; Bigsy; and the night time sky from Kissed by the Moon. I'm also sure many of the children have appeared in the series that began with Clive eats Alligators and also the little family in Are we there Yet? I found a Pinterest filled with images from Alison's work.

If you have a music teacher in your school it would be fabulous to set the words of this rhyming story to music. You could easily develop this story into a vibrant class item for a school assembly or other event.

Stories with repeated refrains work so well with preschool children and, whether you are reading to a group or just one little friend, everyone is sure to anticipate the words as you turn the page:

Here is the day ...  and here is the night.

This book would make a beautiful gift for a child living overseas. You will find  references to Australia such as wattle; paddock; gum trees; and roos. I am pleased to see there is no snow on the winter scenes while we do have a little snow in Australia the majority of the population do not see snow during the winter.

A huge amount of work has gone into the book design of Sing me the Summer. The end papers are covered with colourful leaves and show a subtle difference between night and day. The cover has embossed lettering. I love the way it feels. And the landscape format allows Alison to stretch her bright and lively illustrations right across two pages giving a full view of the beach; a outdoor birthday party; sunset on bonfire night; and camping out under the stars on a warm summer night.

If you have ever wanted to own a glorious illustration by Alison Lester take a look at the Melbourne based company Books Illustrated. 

Ivanhoe Swift left home at Six by Jane Godwin illustrated by A. Yi

Go well as you travel my little love,

over the world as you roam ...

If you are weary and tire of your journey then 

let the sea bring you home

let the sea bring you home

Ivanhoe dreams of adventure. He has heard songs about the wide world. He takes his map, hat, pencil, kite, a sandwich and the songs he has heard and off he goes. Along the way he meets Maisie Jane. They enjoy playing together and flying his kite then Ivanhoe continues on his way. Sadly not everyone he meets is quite as friendly as Maisie Jane.

Finally he reaches the sea:

"One evening he reached the sea. It shimmered and shone and went right to the edge of forever. Ivanhoe sang a song of wonder, and the sea joined in. Shhh shhh the waves whispered to him."

With a group of older students it would be good to compare this description with the words used by Margaret Mahy in her book The Man whose mother was a Pirate.

“The little man could only stare. He hadn’t dreamed of the BIGNESS of the sea. He hadn’t dreamed of the blueness of it. He hadn’t thought it would roll like kettledrums, and swish itself on to the beach. He opened his mouth and the drift and the dream of it, the weave and the wave of it, the fume and foam of it never left him again. At his feet the sea stroked the sand with soft little paws. Farther out, the great, graceful breakers moved like kings into court, trailing the peacock-patterned sea behind them.”

Towards the end of Ivanhoe's journey disaster strikes when his kite is lost. Ivanhoe remembers the words of the song his mother sang to him and he is able to find is way home.  His mum and dad are so pleased to see him and Maisie Jane is there too with his kite!

Ivanhoe Swift left home at Six is another book which I like from the CBCA 2020 Early Childhood Notables list.  I like the way this story is a gentle exploration of the power of curiosity. This six year old does not need to really travel very far from his mum and dad to see the world. How wonderful that they wisely allow him the freedom leave home (briefly) and in this way they encourage his curiosity. Once Ivanhoe has experienced a little independence he then feels safe to come back to the comfort of home. Perhaps you could compare Ivanhoe with the famous character Max from Where the Wild things are.

Jane Godwin says:

The main message (or area of exploration) of the story for me is the (often life-long) push and pull of independence/freedom/self-determination vs dependence/belonging/potential subjugation of self in the face of family.  I see this tension in toddlers and young children and in adolescents - and in adults, too!

A.Yi has two books on the CBCA list this year - the other is My Friend Fred by Frances Watts. Jane Godwin has three CBCA notable titles - how wonderful.  She has a book in the Picture book of the Year category - Tilly illustrated by Anna Walker - and also a title in Younger Readers - As Happy as Here.

Go Go and the Silver Shoes by Jane Godwin illustrated by Anna Walker

When you have new clothes it is fun to wear them straight away and to wear them everywhere. Go Go has to put up with hand-me-down clothes but she is allowed to have new shoes. She goes shopping with her mum and sees the perfect pair of silver sneakers. "Mum bought them a bit big, so they would last longer."

Go Go wears the shoes everywhere including on an adventure to the creek with her brothers. Astute readers will have already guessed there will be a disaster. One shoe is lost. Go Go says she doesn't care and she continues to wear her one silver shoe on her left foot and a different shoe on her right foot. She bravely copes with the teasing of her classmates. Then a new girl arrives in her class. Ellie is fascinated by Go Go's silver shoe. After school the pair head over to Ellie's house and, well as you have guessed the pair of shoes are back together but what will happen now?

Here are a set of excellent teaching notes. Reading these I discovered Jane Godwin was inspired to write this book because

• she saw a lone shoe abandoned near a creek
• she heard the name Go Go (short for Marigold) and loved it
• she is interest in the idea of fate

There are so many great Picture books for your youngest students. written about shoes. My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has an excellent collection on her blog. Make sure you include some fairy tales too.

Go Go and the Silver shoes is a 2019 CBCA Notable book (Picture book of Year). With an older class I would pair Go Go and the Silver shoes with Four feet Two Sandals and Those Shoes. There are some other text ideas here.

Looking for ideas connected with this book I discovered this wonderful site for shoe fans - The Virtual Shoe Museum. You can select material, type, colour, designer and more and see a huge array of wild shoes. Go Go and the Silver Shoes could be an inspiration for an art activity designing and decorating shoes.

From its sparkly cover to its stunning endpages, this is a unique story that had me enthralled to the end. Barbara Braxton The Bottom Shelf

What do you wish for by Jane Godwin illustrated by Anna Walker

WISH

I wish I could write this heading in gold just as it appears on the cover and title page of 

What do you wish for?

Here are a few wishes (from the end papers see below):

I wish we could have pink lemonade

I wish I could drive a bus

I wish I would get taller

I wish my teddy would talk to me

I wish I was able to fly

I wish I had sparkly shoes

I wish stories could come true

The children in this special Christmas book have some magical rituals.

"Every year there was a Christmas party in the park at the end of the street.  Ruby and her friends put on a show, with songs and costumes and real curtains.  But first, each of them wrote a Christmas wish to hang on the tree."

Everyone writes their wishes for the tree except for Ruby.  Her wish seems too big to fit on a little piece of paper. Ruby thinks about all the things that make Christmas special.  My favourite is when she mentions the smell of baking.  This is a strong memory for me, especially of mince pies and special Christmas biscuits with silver decorations.  We do discover Ruby's wish but you need to read this book because it really is too big to explain here.

This is a truly Australian Christmas book - we see the family enjoying an ocean swim on Christmas day and lunch outside in the sunshine.

I am really looking forward to sharing this magical book with our youngest students over the next few weeks as we lead up to Christmas.  You can see a few of my other seasonal favourites below all of which can be found in this blog and a review of Peggy which was also illustrated by the talented Anna Walker.