The Smallest Bilby

and the Easter Tale

by Nette Hilton, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Working Title Press. Australian, Picture, Children. Hard Cover RRP $24.95

Reading The Smallest Bilby and the Easter Tale reminded me of the magical Christmas stories I read as a young child. Only this time it was about Easter.

Billy and his little band of bilbies are on their way to deliver Easter Eggs to all the wildlife in their habitats. They must be silent, quick, not get caught; and hide the eggs where the animals will find them. Then an accident happens and one of the bilbies is stuck. What will they do? How will they get all the eggs delivered before Easter morning?

A wonderful tale which brings a bit of Australian tradition to a world-wide holiday. Bruce Whatley’s beautiful and colourful illustrations are so cute, I just want to reach out and cuddle one of the bilby’s.

Just in time for Easter – here is a book that should be read on the night before Easter…

The Reading Stack reviewed Nette Hilton's Pyro Watson and the Hidden Treasure in February 2010 and Bruce Whatley's Zoobots and Martha Doesn't Share in June and October 2010 respectively.

http://www.nettehilton.com.au/

Martha Doesn’t Share!

by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Hachette Children’s books. Australian, Picture Book. Paperback, rrp $16.99


Martha’s favourite new word is … MINE!

Every adult knows about that word. Every child knows about THAT word. And Martha knows it very well. Too well in fact. Her baby brother, mother and father all leave Martha to play with her toys, after all, they are hers.

But Martha learns a very important lesson.

Martha decides to play a game.

But it’s hard to ping

when you don’t have someone to pong.

A wonderful book for children to learn about sharing in a very subtle way and Whatley’s illustrations of Martha and her very defiant face meld perfectly with Berger’s story. I can almost see Martha’s expressions change from page to page – twitching as she soon realises her error.

The Reading Stack reviewed Bruce Whatley’s Zoobots in June 2010.

http://www.samanthaberger.com/

Zoobots

by Bruce Whatley

Harper Collins. Australian, Picture. Hardcover rrp $24.99

The first thing readers of any age will notice about Zoobots is the images. Big, bold and beautiful. These lifelike piles of junk look like they could easily clatter and roll off the page. The full page action scenes have a distinct animation feel. Movement is only one small imaginative step away.

But there is much more to Zoobots than the rich visuals. It is a story of friendship and acceptance. Zebo already has two best friends – big Hyde and little TC. But she feels the need for one more, a middle-sized friend. “You can never have too many best friends” she tells the others.

Despite their efforts, Hyde, Zebo and TC cannot make a new friend from the bits and pieces lying around Junk Jungle. But ultimately new friends are not built, they are found ready-made. When Ruby appears, she is just right.

Award winning illustrator Bruce Whatley and his son have collaborated to produce a real winner – where storytelling and pictures combine with humour and affection.