Tag Archives: Andrew Plant

Nov10

Two Puggles – Michelle Guzel and Andrew Plant

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Ford St

October 2022

ISBN 9781922696168

RRP $16.95

Over the years there have been numerous books about adoption or foster families which, of course, are terrific for both children to whom that applies as well as those who can gain an understanding of the differences in families.

This is a really adorable ‘switched at birth’ story that will have children both fascinated and giggling as the two puggles make quite a surprising discovery.

When they were first hatched Ducky and Spiky looked incredibly alike, and as they got a little bit older and a little more fuzzy they continued to be very similar. But when Ducky got longer and her bill got flatter, and Spiky’s snout got longer and he got…well, spiky – it becomes quite obvious that they are not very alike at all. Regardless, the family goes about it’s daily activities although Spiky is not very good at all with diving and swimming, but is truly excellent at digging. When Spiky meets a new friend who looks exactly Ducky and comments on the pair of them being echidnas, Spiky is baffled. He is not an echidna, he’s a platypus and his new friend is not an echidna either, she is a platypus too. Except ….her mum really IS an echidna. How can this be?

It’s not until Spiky cleverly and bravely protects his new friends from a dangerous feral cat and the two monotreme families all meet each other, that the surprising facts are revealed. As always Andrew’s illustrations are completely sympatico with the text and just a delight to look at.

This is pure good fun but also has such a lovely message about acceptance and unconditional love, which also sends a strong warning about feral cats and the environment.

Highly recommended for little readers from around Prep upwards. I’m looking forward to sharing this one soon.

Oct1

Good Night, Ivy Bright – Ben Long/Andrew Plant

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Ford St Publishing

April 2021

RRP: $16.99

ISBN: 9781925804720

Click to access Good-Night-Ivy-Bright-Teachers-Notes.pdf

This is a glorious book with both a joyful rollicking rhyming text from author, Ben Long, and (as always) sublime illustrations from Andrew Plant. On the surface it is a splendid introduction to both colours and colour mixing but it goes much deeper than that. To be honest, I can’t say it better than Ben himself:

What I didn’t realise while I was writing this story was the importance of the moose.
Everyone needs a moose. We all have times when we’re challenged – when we are tired,
troubled, or in tears. And it’s at those times when we need someone to sit down next to us
and be there for us, just like the moose in this story. For some people, the moose might be
their mum. For others it might be their dad, sister, brother, friend, or all of the above.
Similarly, sometimes we need to be the moose for someone else. It’s a good reminder to ask
for help when you need it, and to offer help when it’s needed.

Just imagine using this with your class and investigating all the artistic possibilities but at the same time inviting discussion around when we might need a ‘moose’ in our lives. It would take very little encouragement to generate the most valuable of conversations and giving small humans the reassurances they need, as well as putting into their minds the possibility that they might, in turn, be someone’s ‘moose’.

I just love this and can easily envisage it in either your library session or a classroom setting – especially since there are brilliant teaching notes provided!

Highly recommended for little readers from around five years upwards.

Feb28

Float or Sink? – Kylie Covark. Illustrated by Andrew Plant

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Ford St Publishing

February 2021

ISBN: 9781925804621 [paperback]

RRP: $16.95

This rhyming story is as cute as the bugs who star in it! When a stick falls into the creek the reader is invited to guess whether it will float or sink and when first a ladybird lands on it, followed by an assortment of other tiny critters (all of them with very grand titles), the guessing game continues.

As we have come to expect from Andrew Plant, the illustrations are bold and beautiful and Covark’s simple but rhythmic text begs for chorus reading as each bug lands precariously on the stick as it bobs along the water. But what will happen when a greedy duck sees the curious company? Children will love the predictions and their enthusiasm will easily lead into some science around floating and sinking – time for some fun experiments! It could also segue into an exciting game of Pooh Sticks – if you happen to have a handy creek and bridge!

I love this for its simple but catchy text and the overall design which is so much fun but also for the fact that it has such real application into some valuable learning experiences.

Highly recommended for little readers from Prep upwards.

Apr16

Jump – Andrew Plant

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Jump HB Cov PRINT.indd

Ford St Publishing

March 2020

ISBN: 9781925804461

RRP: $16.99

Andrew’s books are always such a joy and this one is no exception. For everyone who has felt as though they didn’t ‘quite fit’ in with everyone else here is the entree to embracing that difference.

Stumpy is not like the other Quigs. While they  are all adept at jumping, Stumpy just can’t manage it – no matter how hard he tries. He is particularly afraid of the wide open spaces. Naturally his peers take great delight in pointing out his perceived shortcomings and continually mock him for those.

But Stumpy’s determination to succeed is his saving because his attempts to jump lead him to a marvellous discovery about himself. Having raised a child who is ‘different’ and my own personal joy and pride in her struggle to capitalise on her strengths whilst overcoming her difficulties, this book resonates with me largely. And for many of us in a teaching situation we will have children like these in our care who are likewise – and this provides them with a validation that their individual differences are more than just okay – they are to be embraced.

If you have little readers with the usual differences in abilities this is a perfect book to share and from which many rich and valuable discussions will evolve. Both text and illustrations are superb – as one has come to expect from this talented creator.

Highly recommended for readers from around Prep upwards.

You will find the teaching notes particularly useful.

 

Click to access Jump-Teachers-Notes.pdf

Jan13

Tulip and Brutus – Liz Ledden/Andrew Plant

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Tulip-and-Brutus-Cov-LR

Ford St Publishing

October 2019

9781925804348

$14.99

This is such a perfect book for going back to school time as small children find themselves in a classroom full of disparate personalities and temperaments – many of them for the first time.

Tulip and her ladybird friends live in the flowers and play in the sunshine sipping honeydew while Brutus and the stinkbug gang hang out in the undergrowth and muddy patches.  There is never any combined play with these two bug groups.

But when a storm hits and completely disrupts their patch of garden it’s a case for all mini-beasts on deck when a danger flies overhead. Suddenly it seems that teamwork and cooperation are a much better option for all concerned.

So it is with those little ones who are just navigating new situations and relationships and what better way to demonstrate the value of working together and building friendships than with the power of a delightful picture book?

Ledden has created a simple but effective text and as usual Andrew Plant’s illustrations are stunning and joyous.

Highly recommended for little ones from around 3 year upwards.

Sep17

Spark – Adam Wallace/Andrew Plant

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sparkcover

Ford St Publishing

ISBN: 9781925272406 (HC)
9781925272413 (PB)
Publication date: October 2016 (HC)
March 2017 (PB)

Price: AUD $24.95
“Adam Wallace was 11 years old when the Ash Wednesday bushfires threatened his home.

Forced to leave with his grandmother, no car and a budgie in a cage, it was only a wind change that saved Adam’s home.

The memory still burns bright, even though Adam now lives in a bushfire-free area.”

 

With bushfire season approaching this publication could not be timelier. Of course we have seen a number of excellent titles, particularly picture books, over the years but this truly is exceptional. This is the first vivid and gripping account of a wildfire told from the PoV of the fire itself. This in itself makes the reader stop and reflect, particularly with the frontispiece of the smouldering cigarette butt.

There is no doubt that our Australian bushfires are frightening and so often cause such mass destruction and loss of life that we can tend to cast blame on the fire itself. But as we know more often than not the blame lies elsewhere. Most anger-making of all is those despicable persons who deliberately light them.

With this new slant, young readers can come to an understanding that it is not the fire’s ‘fault’. Starting as a spark, fuelled by an ever-demanding wind, the flames are just as much helpless as those who have had their homes and livelihoods destroyed or faced the fear and danger in quelling such blazes.

Adam’s text moves from whimsical to urgent and as always Andrew Plant’s illustrations are stunning. What a superb combination!

In my opinion, this is a ‘must have’ for your collection and should be on your read aloud list for Term 4 as we gird our metaphorical loins for another Australian summer.

Highly recommended for readers from Prep upwards.