February 04, 2015

A BEE IN BEN'S BONNET :: a relatable introduction to idioms

February 04, 2015/ Kim Fulcher

Age guide: 4 to 12
Our oldest boy, who is now an English teacher, had a thing for idioms. He was 15 by the time this book was published but still got a laugh out of it.

The bee in Ben’s bonnet is that he wants his large family to celebrate his birthday but they are all too involved with life to talk to him.

Each family member has something going on that is described in a well known idiom, for example, ‘Godfather Maurice was burying the hatchet’. The very funny illustrations flesh out the story

January 30, 2015

A Nice Walk In The Jungle: vindication for every child who has been ignored!

January 30, 2015/ Kim Fulcher

Age guide: 2 to 8 years & grown-up
With the friendliest looking boa constrictor ever greedily gobbling children on a nature walk with their teacher (it’s pink and green instead of the usual yellow and green or brown) – this is a joyful and funny book. It’s especially funny if you could possibly be one of the people the book is inscribed to: ‘all absent-minded parents and enthusiastic teachers’.

Which I imagine covers most adults at one time or another.

This is the story of a school nature walk gone horribly wrong, then most satisfyingly redeemed.

January 29, 2015

The Terrible Wild Grey Hairy Thing: an amusing warning about being too easily alarmed

January 29, 2015/ Kim Fulcher

ages 2 to 8 years
This is a rollicking book—so much fun to read and so much fun to look at. The story is an adapted Danish folktale and the fabulous illustrations reflect that. It’s the story of Goodie, a plump and obviously happy woman, who is making sausages to store up for her family—she makes hundreds of them and has to hang them from every nook and cranny. Inevitably, funny happens!

January 23, 2015

My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever NEVER Fall Out : a funny look at change and perspectve

January 23, 2015/ Kim Fulcher

Age guide: 2 to 6
Clearly another Charlie and Lola book! This is one based on text from the TV program - and although purists would draw the line at those books actually written initially by Lauren Child, this is still a fun book - fun to read, fun to look at and laugh about.

Lola decides that loosing a tooth is not so bad if the tooth fairy will bring you cash that you can exchange for a farm animal. It's typical Charlie and Lola faire - cute and charming - a sweet glance into the life of a funny little girl. It's a lovely book for children who are just a little older than Lola to read - if you have already lost your first tooth you can look back on those ever so slightly anxious days and giggle about Lola's reaction - knowing that all will be well.

December 19, 2014

The Empty Stocking: naughty and nice definitely can go together!

December 19, 2014/ Kim Fulcher

Sam and Charlie are twins; one is 'naughty' and the other is 'nice'. Which is cause for some considerable consternation in the family. It turns out to be a problem for Santa too!

ages 2 to 12 years - a really fun book for Christmas!

December 01, 2014

a happy, celebratory book, quintessentially Australian

December 01, 2014/ Kim Fulcher

great for all ages, baby to grown-up (it's a singalong)
I grew up singing the song that provides the words for this book—if you’re Australian you probably did too. My cousin Lauren would sit in a rocking chair on the verandah of her home on a cattle property in Central Queensland and look out over the paddock singing it. She was 3 at the time

November 14, 2014

The Trouble With Dogs!: winning Dad over!

November 14, 2014/ Kim Fulcher

Age guide: baby to young child
Dad reckons the trouble with dogs is that they take over your life. But really Dad is just as much in love with Rosie and Dave as the rest of the family.

Rosie and Dave were brought home from the animal shelter in Let's Get a Pup (also by Bob Graham). Since then Rosie has cemented her place on the couch but Dave just keeps getting wilder.

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