Janeen Brian - Book Reviews


	Reviews Some reviews for Janeen's books. I Spy Mum! I Spy Dad! Shirl and the Wollomby Show Machino Supremo! Oddball Silly Galah By Jingo Columbia Sneezes! Too Tight, Benito! Where Does Thursday Go? Elephant Mountain Wishbone The Super Parp-Buster! 'I Spy Mum would make a great companion for Brian's I Spy Dad, which I reviewed here at The Book Chook, and which has been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Award. Both are typical of Brian's rhyming picture books - a strong rhythm, impeccable rhyme, and above all, FUN! Fun to read aloud, fun to share with kids, and fun to discuss and respond to.' The Book Chook *I Spy Dad!* The Book Chook by Susan Stephenson Just to let you know that my review of I Spy Dad is up at The Book Chook. LOVED it! www.thebookchook.blogspot.com Shirl and the Wollomby Show Magpies Vol. 25, Issue No 1. March 2010 Janeen Brian, ill. Kat Chadwick, Omnibus Books, 24pp.978 1 86291 837 5 $13.99 Pb. Review by Liz Derouet Shirl the sheep and her friends are defeated each year at the Wollomby Show by Gertrude the goat who wins all the prizes. From jam making, flower arranging and cake baking, Gertrude is the champion. The sheep, led by Shirl, decide to learn to knit and after a big project have their entry. However, while they are sleeping the young lambs decide to play with their entry. Shirl and her fellow sheep are very inventive though, resourcefully altering their entry with a triumphant result. This brightly illustrated picture book has a flowing, rhyming text that would suit reading aloud to a wide age range. The characters are wonderfully portrayed in aprons and make-up, and the very last illustration includes knitting instructions. A refreshing book that will make a nice addition to any library, and one for rural communities that have agricultural shows. *Machino Supremo!* by Janeen Brian and Mark Carthew illustrated by John Veeken (Celapene Press) PB RRP $12.95 ISBN: 9780980699401 SCIS: 1436471 A book of snappy little poems about the machines that surround us in our daily life, *Machino Supremo!* is the happy collaboration of succinct writing and inspired illustrations. From Jackhammer, to Outback Windmill, Jean Machine and the Pizza Oven, the machines take on a larger that life proportions as the imaginations of writers and illustrator allow us to share in the their world where machines are almost monsters. The book includes a ‘Hidden words puzzle’ which is an extra bonus in an action packed collection of poems sure to appeal to the under eight-year old reader and would-be poets. Reviewed by Anke Seib This book is a supremo collection of poems about machines of all shape, size and purpose, from everyday household appliances like toasters and vacuum cleaners, to lifts, trucks, trains and street sweepers. Recommended for ages seven plus, it includes many forms of poetry and verse. Janeen Brian and Mark Carthew are award wining authors and their understanding of poetry and wordplay shines in this work. John Veeken’s illustrations, right through a child’s eyes, provide quirky and fun interpretations of the words, often adding extra levels of story to poems and many interesting things to look for. The entire layout of the book is excellent—artistically busy, yet still easy to follow. Text that constantly changes in size and shape is dappled over the pages in a lively pattern, matching the rhythm of the verses. Each new piece is a creative work in its own right. The opening of the book also asks readers to find the hidden letter in the illustrations on each page so that they may solve the puzzle at the end of the book - a total hook for every reader. The work is excellent as a classroom resource but will also prove to be one of those books that children will read over and over and over. My favourite verse is about the droning drain machine, which describes the workings of a plumber’s electric eel with skilfully fanciful language. Likewise, the accompanying comical but educational illustrations, complete with tree roots damaging the pipe, remind us there’s a whole world below that we forget about—until a pipe is blocked! *Machino Supremo!* is the perfect size for every child’s Christmas stocking and likely to be one of their favourite gifts if you have the foresight to get it in time. I’d also recommend that libraries grab multiple copies for their shelves, because I think they’ll be needed. *Oddball* www.aussiereviews.com www.thebookchook.blogspot.com SNIPPET: from thebookchook ‘Sol's voice is so authentic, it's as if he's perched on the kitchen table relating his tale between eager bites of Vegemite sandwich. Janeen Brian definitely understands boys - she puts the reader right inside Sol's bushy head, so we feel what he feels, and see the world through his eyes. We're impelled to race to the next page to find out what happens.’ Silly Galah www.thebookchook.blogspot.com Watch a real silly galah on this site on YouTube. SNIPPET: from thebookchook ‘Brian's poetry is such fun! Pitched at child level, it focuses on an important feature about each animal, while inviting the reader to enjoy a laugh, and celebrate this writer's obvious love of language. . . .but I believe Brian's talent that impresses me most is her ability to get inside kids' heads and give them material that makes them grin, giggle, and want more.’ *By Jingo* www.aussiereviews.com SNIPPET: from thebookchook. ‘Freedictionary.com tells us "by jingo" is used to express emphasis or surprise. This is a great title choice for a book that reveals a new delight on each page. Kids will love these short rhymes that celebrate the sheer joy of language: Hh hippopotamus What a lotta hippo-pot-a- musses in the pool, happy hippo-pottering in water to keep cool. *Columbia Sneezes!* www.aussiereviews.com http://thebookchook.blogspot.com SNIPPET: from thebookchook. ‘Four facts you may or may not know about The Book Chook: I love great picture books. I love rhyming picture books when they're done very, very well. I love quirky illustrations. I love boy camels called Columbia. And that's why I love Columbia Sneezes, by Janeen Brian and Gabe Cunnett' SNIPPET: from aussiereviews ‘This is a wonderful rhyming picture book, with a humorous plot and rhythmical text which is especially fun when read aloud. Adults and children alike will love the silliness of both the problem and the solution, and the repeated refrain of ‘atishoo’ will encourage youngsters to join in. The illustrations are also humorous, with the sandy desert colours splashed with highlights in blues, purples and greens. Loads of fun.’ *Too Tight, Benito!* www.thebookchook.blogspot.com SNIPPET: thebookchook. ‘I have great admiration for this prolific Australian author. She has an obvious delight in language, which she shares with her young readers. In Too Tight, Benito! I love the repetition of "snappity twigs and damp leaves, sky-high trees and swaying shadows." which somehow gets across the very essence of forest, and is so satisfying rhythmically.’ *Where does Thursday go?* www.thebookchook.blogspot.com SNIPPET: thebookchook. ‘This delightful story has so much kid appeal. Children will love the sounds in the landscape like the "oogle gurgle" of the river; wondering what Thursday looks like; following Humbug and Splodge on their quest; and joining in with the refrain: "'Is that you, Thursday,' called Splodge. But there was no reply." Sandy has commented 25 February 2009,9:02:47 AM I love this book and so did my son when he was young enough for me to read it to him. It's one of my favourite covers too. I often wonder about picture book ideas and where they come from and I can just imagine a child asking 'Where do Thursdays go?' It's one of those questions that make a lot of sense until we think about them with adult perspective. This book does a great job of answering the question - through adult and child eyes. As my kids grow out of their books, I pass them on. Not this one. I couldn't part with it. Elephant Mountain www.thebookchook.blogspot.com SNIPPET. Thebookchook. ‘I believe Janeen Brian has trodd en the fine line between an informational text and an exciting, fast-paced story, to perfection. She has included a few Thai words, but made sure the reader can work them out with contextual clues. She's chosen issues for her main character that every child can relate to - love for a pet animal, desire to prove oneself worthy, and annoyance with a friend's competitiveness. Kids who like stories with all the drama of real life will enjoy Elephant Mountain, I'm sure.’ *Wishbone* www.aussiereviews.com www.thebookchook.blogspot.com SNIPPET. Are you a Reader? (Note the capital R for Really - truly - reader - who - loves - books.) Do you recognize this feeling? You finish a book, close the covers, sigh, and stare into space. Probably your face wears a slightly goofy smile. You've grinned, you've worried, you've laughed, and you've forgotten your current reality while your eyes have been fixed to the pages of the book you now plan to read again immediately. ... The Super parp-buster! www.aussiereviews.com SNIPPET: ‘The Super Parp-Buster! is a fun rhyming title which can be enjoyed as just a whimsical story, but also holds a message about pollution and about exploring ways of reducing its damaging impact. With a style reminiscent of Dr Seuss, author Janeen Brian uses plenty of creative, quirky words, which young listeners will love and which adult readers will find fun to read. The illustrations by Greg Holfeld also reminiscent of the Seuss books, are full of comic detail.’