Children's Books for Beginner Readers
Molly's Memory Jar
Norma Spaulding (author)
Jacqui Grantford (illustrator)
New Frontier Publishing, Australia: 2010
ISBN: 9781921042355
Genres: picture book, realistic fiction
Issues: grief, loss
When Molly's best friend dies, her father suggests she makes a 'memory jar' for Lucy. Each time Molly thinks of something she wants to remember about Lucy, she puts a coloured glass ball in the memory jar. As Molly finds more memories to celebrate, her jar – and her life – begins to recapture the colour and warmth it had when Lucy was alive.
Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble
Tracey Corderoy (author)
Joe Berger (illustrator)
Nosy Crow, Australia: October 2011
ISBN: 9780857630278
Genres: fantasy, humour, picture book
Issues: differences, family, stereotypes
'My Granny's kind of different... She wears such funny hats. She's got a huge menagerie of cats and frogs and bats! She takes them to the cinema. They take her to the zoo...'
Nancy Bentley: the first Australian female sailor
Tracey Hawkins (author)
Jacqui Grantford (illustrator)
New Frontier Press, Australia: 2011 ISBN: 9781921042768
Genres: biography, factual, history, non-fiction
Issues: community
Nancy and her family live in Port Arthur. It is 1920 and a large naval vessel is docked in the harbour near their cottage. When Nancy is bitten by a poisonous snake, she needs immediate attention and the ship's doctor is closer than the nearest town.
Herbert the Brave Sea Dog
Robyn Belton (author/illustrator)
Walker Books: Australian release March 2010
ISBN: 9781921529306
Genres: animals, biography, picture book
Issues: loyalty
Tim's border terrier, Herbert, sets off on a sea journey with Tim's father. They go through the Marlborough Sound in New Zealand, a dangerous stretch of water surrounded by large rocks. Wild weather sets in and Herbert falls overboard.
Sounds Spooky
Christopher Cheng (author)
Sarah Davis (illustrator)
Random House, Australia: September 2011
ISBN: 9781864718799
Genre: ghost story, picture book
In an old, rickety house, the night is filled with spooky noises – creaking, rustling, thumping, clattering... What is making such a ghastly, ghostly racket? I'm not scared... are you?
Bravo!
Philip Waechter (illustrator)
Mimi Port (author)
Sally-Ann Spencer (translator)
Gecko Press, NZ: June 2011
ISBN: 9781877467721
Genres: picture book
Issues: abuse, boundaries, independence
Helena likes most things about her life: 'Helena was talented, her little brother was patient and her mother was encouraging. Only one thing spoiled it. Helena's father couldn't speak normally. Everything he said came out in a roar.'
The Highway Rat
Julia Donaldson (author)
Axel Scheffler (illustrator)
Scholastic, UK: Australian release November 2011
ISBN: 9781407124377
Genres: adventure, picture book
Issues: greed
'The Highway Rat was a baddie. / The Highway Rat was a beast. / He took what he wanted and ate what he took. / His life was one long feast.' The Highway Rat has no scruples when it comes to pilfering food. He even steals milk from a cat, a leaf from some ants and hay from his own horse. It is not until he encounters a tasty-looking duck that the Highway Rat meets his match.
Ruby
Colin Thompson (author/illustrator)
Random House, Australia: 1994, April 2011
ISBN: 9781742750897
Genres: picture book
'In the roots of a tree at the edge of a field lived a family of small contented people.' When a beautiful ruby red 1934 Austin motor car appears in their field, complete with a picnic that has enough food to feed the family for a year, the adventure begins.
The Naughty Corner
Colin Thompson (author/illustrator)
Lothian Children's Books, Australia: July 2011
ISBN: 9780733619915
Genres: picture book, satire
Issues: choices, risk taking
Most of us have times in our lives when we are sent to the Naughty Corner, whether we deserve it or not. It's supposed to give us time to think about our behaviour and consider our choices. So... what kind of person do you become if you're never sent to the Naughty Corner?
King Hugo's Huge Ego
Chris Van Dusen (author/illustrator)
Candlewick Press, USA: Australian release July 2011
ISBN: 9780763650049
Genres: humour, picture book
Issues: arrogance, humility
'Long ago when people spoke with words like 'thou' and 'thee', there lived a king named Hugo who was only three foot three.' King Hugo may be vertically challenged but he doesn't have a problem with self-esteem. In fact he's boastful, self-aggrandising, arrogant, and self-absorbed. Every Friday morning he gives a speech: 'a lengthy talk he liked to call the Speech of Adoration. For hours, the poor villagers endured the boring buzz of how mighty and magnificent King Hugo thought he was.'
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