September Reviews

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The Wobbly Bike by Darren McCallum

Reviewed by Eli L. CPS

The Wobbly Bike is a funny, heartwarming picture book about a little girl’s journey to ride a wobbly bike, set in a Aussie community.
Written by Darren McCallum, it tells the story of a young girl trying to master riding her Grandfather’s wobbly bike. The book highlights perseverance as it tells the story of a girl who tries very hard to eventually learn to ride a bike. The Wobbly Bike shows a young girl who is dedicated to ride her grandfather’s wobbly bike so she can play with her friends.
This book made me reflect on how tricky a wobbly bike can be to control, and how dedicated and set on how you need to be to actually control a wobbly bike. Also, The Wobbly Bike has made me realise that even though you might feel like you can’t do something or feel like giving up, it's about how we can learn to not give up when you have these difficult moments.
In the text when the girl is learning to ride her grandfather’s wobbly bike, she realises its not the bike, it's the way she thought she could ride it without any practice. When she does practice over time, those wobbles don't really show, but they do sometimes come back.
I would recommend this book to people who give up easily and feel like they cant do it again because this book shows you can always try again.
The Wobbly Bike explores the themes of riding a bike with backward handlebars and experiences a catastrophic chain of events.
​After finishing the Wobbly Bike, I felt inspired to make a story about a young boy who is with his parents in a shopping mall but gets lost and feels like he should give up, but in just the nick of time his parents find him.

Spiro by Anna McGregor

Reviewed by Hayden T. CPS

Spiro is an amazingly funny picture book about a hungry spider set in an Australian backyard. Spiro was written by Anna McGregor . It tells the story of a hungry little spider who hunts for food while he has to go through challenges while a bird is trying to eat Spiro.
A little girl named Lucy rides her bike while Spiro's web gets destroyed by Lucy's bike. The book highlights obstacles as it tells the story of a little spider hunting for food with his webs.
While they are attached to a bike, cat, apple, lawn mower, bird's nest, dog toy, Spiro tries and tries and tries but keeps failing. But he never gave up and in the end all the bugs got attracted to the light at night and got his food at the end.
Reading Spiro made me realise how adventures and how many challenges Spiro had to go through to get some yummy food to eat for dinner.
The book Spiro made me feel happy because he never gives up even though he keeps failing. He always gets up and tries again and again.
The illustrations of Spiro are really beautiful and nice because of the font and the colours. Also because of the water colour pictures, and because Anna McGregor put so much work into it and it looks great.
Spiro is an engaging story that explores a pink spider trying to hunt for dinner in the daytime but can’t because no bugs come out in the middle of the day, so he has to wait for night time when the bugs come out.
I would recommend spiro to anyone who wants to know about never giving up and getting up and trying again and again.

Reviewed by Noah K. CPS

Spiro is a funny but repetitive picture book about a starving spider who can't eat, set in an Australian backyard. Written by Anna McGregor it tells the story of him trying to catch flying insects in a web but something happens so his web breaks and the insect flies away every time.
The book highlights the challenges he goes through for food as it tells the story of being hungry and determined for a fly or moth or even a stink bug. The plot of spiro centers around him not being able to get his prey.
I found Spiro to be a funny story.
One aspect of Spiro that resonated with me was how he doesn't give up. This made me feel sorry for the busy little spider. I didn't like how he couldn't eat and I like that he can eat at the end. It made me feel impressed and sort of annoyed from him not being able to eat. Building his web multiple times a day is quite impressive to see.
I love how the story was made and would not change a thing.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes spiders or perseverance.
After finishing spiro, I feel inspired to learn more about spiders.

Reviewed by Gabe L-S. CPS

Spiro is a humorous, colourful picture book about a spider named Spiro set in an Australian backyard. Written by Anna Mc Gregor, it tells the story of Spiro trying to get his dinner while facing challenges like his web breaking repetitively.
It shows the difficulty to be a spider like continuously getting your web broken and getting food. The web broke because he kept connecting his web to things that often move or get moved. He tries to catch a fly, a stink bug, and a moth. 
The book highlights perseverance because Spiro has to rebuild his web. At the end he turns on a light and all the bugs come over then fly into his web. One aspect of Spiro is not giving up and I feel like that's something everyone should learn.
The thing I liked most about this book is the illustrations, like the web was shiny and reflective, not just white.
I would recommend this book to people who are about 5-6 yrs old because it is repetitive.
​Spiro is a funny book about perseverance and interesting pictures for younger readers. It's a really good book.

The 52-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths

Reviewed by Logan C. BPS

The 52-Storey Treehouse is an adventure story.
Terry and Andy are trying to find Mr. Big Nose. Mr. Big Nose wrote a book about vegetables and made the vegetables cranky, so they put Mr. Big Nose in the dungeon.
That’s when Terry and Andy started to find Mr. Big Nose. On the way they found a caterpillar that ate 4 steam rollers and saved Mr. Big Nose.
My favourite part is when the caterpillar ate the steam rollers because it was funny.
I would recommend this book for year 2 and up because it is an easy read that is funny and cool.
​I rate this book 10/10 because it is creative and I have been enjoying reading the Treehouse series.

We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold

Reviewed by Sierra C. CPS

We Live in a Bus is an imaginative, fictionalised picture book about a family going around the country in a mini bus, set in Australia.
Written by Dave Petzold, it tells the story of a family living in an old rusty mini bus travelling all around Australia. The book highlights a family's adventure, as it tells the story of some family travelling a vast landscape of the Australian Country.
We Live in a Bus tells the story of a family, including Suzy, Mum, and Dad going all around Australia in a bus named Gracie Joy Rufus Bean. It shows them how they travel around places such as, they all go camping in the bush, go swimming in the pool, and they enjoy their time at the farm making adventurous memories while using teamwork.
They're a family that loves travelling around Australia visiting the country, during a hot summers day. The story shows how they travel around Australia as a family in just a small bus.
As they learn that traveling around all the time helps them work more as a team. They use teamwork by Mum rolling up the awnings, Dad making dinner, and Suzy testing the horn at the front of the bus.
Reading We Live in a Bus made me realise the importance of teamwork because it is very important.
I felt deep connection to their family's travelling experience.
I recommend it to everyone.

Reviewed by Sienna M. CPS

We live in a bus is an entertaining and adventurous picture book set all around the modern times of Australia. Written and illustrated by Dave Petzold, it tells the story of a small family who enjoy traveling around the amazing country of Australia.
This adventurous story highlights the peaks of nonstop traveling around the wondrous country of Australia. We Live in a Bus is about a family of 4 who live in a bus converted into a motorhome, called Gracie Joy Rufus Bean, and they travel everywhere and do not truly live at one location. Because they travel all around Australia they visit amazing places like national parks, the one and only Uluru, beaches and rivers. They also get to meet lots and lots of people, they meet them at caravan parks, beaches and all the places in between. Because they travel so much they face so many problems and have to persevere like when they get a flat tire.
The story highlights the emotional life of living in a confined space.
I found We Live in a Bus to be an interesting book showing the life and struggle of being a family living in a bus.
Dave Petzold's illustrations and style of story telling really made me feel like I was truly in the story.
The way the family happily moves around the county is extraordinary as they are happy all the time. They visit so many amazing Australian landmarks. I really enjoyed reading it because it relates to my life and my family wanting to live in a bus.
I would recommend this book for younger kids who enjoy a family sort of tale. I would recommend We Live in a Bus to anyone who likes good old Aussie based stories.

Reviewed by Eden R. CPS

We Live in a Bus is an interesting and creative picture book about a bus set in Australia. Written by Dave Petzold tells the story of a boy and his family living in a white mini bus travelling around Australia.
The book highlights the family working together as it tells the story of the family travelling around the Australia. The story shows the adventures of the family as they go around Australia.
The family went to a river and they went to a farm.
I enjoyed this book it was funny and interesting.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes books about adventure.

Reviewed by Lydia E. CPS 

We Live In A Bus is an entertaining, adventures picture book about an Aussie family set all around Australia in a motorhome called Gracy Joy Rufous Bean.
Written by Dave Petzold, this tale tells the story of a young modern family embracing the experience of living in a bus, and moving around Australia. The book highlights the joy and happiness of living in a bus, as it tells the story of a family who enjoy travel and adventure.
The story We Live in a Bus, follows the journey of a young, modern family on a holiday in a converted bus. In the story the family visit lots of fun places such as national parks, gorgeous waterholes, and numerous caravan parks, meeting others just like them.
Dave Petzolds’ writing style left a lasting impression on me because it made me remember the good times I have had living in a bus and travelling all around Australia. I really liked the idea of living in a bus. It made me feel warm inside, watching a family enjoying a trip all around Australia. I enjoyed all the amazing places they visited.
In my opinion, the family could have visited a beach, but other than that, the book was great. We Live in a Bus successfully captures the happiest moments of the trip.
After finishing We Live in a Bus, I feel inspired to go on a trip myself.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys travel, adventure and beautiful scenery.

Free Diving by Lorrae Coffin

Reviewed by Sierra C. CPS

Free Diving is an eye-catching illustrated book set in the Pacific Ocean during the 18th century.
In Free Diving, a young Aboriginal man waves goodbye to his homeland and family, while left on their land, hoping he will return in one piece. Written by Lorrae Coffin and illustrated by Bronwyn Houston, it tells a story of an Aboriginal man who set free to go diving with no protective gear.
The text focuses on an Aboriginal man waving goodbye to his family, and it was interesting because he never reached his family again.
The story shows the idea of freedom, and the dangers of free diving. Everyone has to trust each other, there are risky challenges. Every man did this without gear protection as they only had one choice. Despite these dangers with such harsh conditions, every man knew they had no choice but to dive down in that ocean and look for pearls that had very little oxygen.
Free Diving is a fantastic book. I feel inspired to learn more about the pearling industry and the consequences about free diving.
I would recommend Free Diving to anyone that is interested in reading the story, because it explains about what happens during the pearling industry.
I rate itr 10/10.
I hope that anyone who enjoys the story understands what Free Diving really is.

Reviewed by Sienna M. CPS

Free diving is an outstanding story set in the late 1800s in Western Australia, during the peak of the pearling industry.
Written by Lorrae Coffin and illustrated by Bronwyn Houston, it tells the story of a young Aboriginal man who has to leave his family and is forced to perform the dangerous job of freediving to earn his keep.
Free Diving is historically educational in the format of a picture book and gives not only older people a thorough education, but also younger kids a minor knowledge of the pearling industry, and the dangers of freediving with its detailed illustrations.
In Free Diving, a young Aboriginal man leaves his family, homeland and all that he knows to work in the pearling industry, with the emotional thoughts that he may never see any of it again.
The story shows the dangers of freediving and the trust the divers must have in each other, for them to feel safe diving into the wild ocean for pearls. Though they are closely watched, every dive that the men do always has the risk of getting the deathly illness called The Bends.
Although the story is a little dark, it shows how horrendously brave the men were.
I found Free Diving to be an emotional story as it highlights the dangers of freediving. The young man leaves his family not knowing the dangers and after only a couple of dives ends up with a terrible episode of the bends. The illustrations by Bronwyn Houston in watercolour are wonderfully eye-catching as they support and bring the story to life.
The lyrical story telling passes a historical message about the dangers of freediving and the horror the divers faced. This book made me feel terrible for the divers seeing what they saw.
I recommend this book to people looking for a short and informative text about freediving and the pearling industry. 
Reading Free Diving gave me a better understanding of the pearling industry from the divers point of view.
I highly recommend this book for ages 3+ who are looking for a simple way to learn about the past.
​I rate it an 8/10.

Reviewed by Noah K. CPS

Free Diving is an interesting and emotional book set during the 19th century. Written by Lorrae Coffin and illustrated by Bronwyn Housten, it tells the story of free diving by Aboriginal people.
The book is so emotional that it is almost unlikeable due to the way the main character is treated.
In Free Diving, a young Aboriginal man boards a ship far from his family with others, risking his life searching for pearls. The story highlights the dangers and risks of the water, or possibly death if they are not careful. Overall, the book is an emotional story that explains the danger they went through. Free diving is an engaging story that explores the dangers of the ocean. Free Diving successfully captures the excitement and challenges of dangerous diving for pearls. Free Diving explores the themes of pearl diving.
After finishing Free Diving, I feel inspired to learn more about the ocean.
​I would recommend Free Diving to anyone who loves pearls, danger, adventure, sea, or sad sort of stories.
I rate it 9.5/10.

Reviewed by Hayden T. CPS

Free diving is a lyrical picture book set in 19th century, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Written by Lorrae Coffin, it tells the story of an Aboriginal man leaving his family and homeland to free dive for pearls. The book is very sad but is also very eye-catching because it has a song that goes with it. The book has beautiful illustrations. The story is enjoyable because it is told through music.
In Free Diving, a young Aboriginal man leaves his home and homeland family behind to work as a free diver in the perilous pearling industry. The story shows the terrifying risks as he dives into the ocean, including the threat of getting the bends, being attacked by sharks, and braving violent weather conditions. Despite these dangers, the diver is not alone as a Malay and a Japanese man watch his side, as he free dives into the ocean with no protective gear to wear.
Free Diving is an engaging story that explores the dangers deep down in the ocean.
The text focuses on the dangers of Free diving because they risked getting The Bends, or running out of oxygen and dying.
After finishing Free Diving, I felt inspired to learn more about the pearling industry and how dangerous free diving is.
​I recommend this book to someone who wants to learn about Free Diving, anyone who wants to learn and its history over many years.

Reviewed by Eden R. CPS

Free Diving is an emotional and lyrical picture book set in the 19th century. Written by Laurel Coffin and illustrated by Bronwyn Huston, it tells the story of an Aboriginal man that has to go out on a lugger and dive for pearls.
The book has amazing illustrations and tells a story that is sad and dangerous. 
In Free Diving a young Aboriginal man leaves his family to work in the pearling industry with other men. The story shows the danger and risks of free diving, and the courage of the men. The book really shows the terrifying risk as he dives into the ocean including the threat of getting the bends or being killed by dangers of sea life.
Overall, this story shows the dangers and the risk of free diving, but also shows the beauty of the ocean.
I think Free Diving is an amazing book with amazing illustrations and amazing story telling. 
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the pearling industry. 

Reviewed by Lydia E. CPS

Free Diving is an emotional and heart-touching picture book set during the 19th century out at sea. Written by Lorrae Coffin, and illustrated by Bronwyn Husten, it tells a story of a young Aboriginal man who leaves his family, unwillingly, to search for the hidden treasure - pearls. In doing so, he risks suffering from the bends, being attacked by a shark, and even death.
The book is an excellent story because it not only has amazing pictures and lyrical story telling, but because it is very informative and it really highlights the dangers of freediving.   
Although the captain is unkind to him and forces him to keep diving despite his illness, the bends, he finds comfort in the other in the other crew.
Through the lyrical storytelling, the book really highlights the fact that the divers didn’t have any protective gear and they had to trust the people at the other end of the rope, as their life completely depends on them. Overall, the book shows the perils of freediving, and demonstrates the courage required to complete the task of diving down to the bottom of the ocean and searching for pearls.
I feel that Free Diving is an informative book that highlights the mental and physical challenges of freediving, through lyrical story telling and amazing imagery.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of pearl diving, and anyone who loves art, as this book simply has magnificent paintings
 All in all, I think this was an excellent book.
Reviewed by Eli L. CPS

Free Diving is a lyrical, musical text set in the pearl harbour in Western Australia. Written by Lorrae Coffin, it tells the story about the pearling industry, and a young Aboriginal man leaving his family.
The book doesn't really reflect on the history of the pearl harbour, and doesn't really connect with the reader but it does show the concept of freedom.
In Free Diving, a young, brave Aboriginal man leaves his home, family and land to free dive and work in the pearling industry. He has to learn to master the arts of freediving and going down to depths of 25 to 45 metres deep, not having any protective gear and going to those dangerous and risky depths for pearls. He has to trust these random people but the reason he has to is because they have his life in their hands.
Overall this all highlights how dangerous freediving can be and how it was like in the pearling industry.
Free Diving is a dramatic and fear-inducing book that describes how dangerous freediving can be.
The text focuses on how hard it is to leave your land and work in dangerous conditions and possibly die during the process.
I would recommend Free Diving to anyone who is eager to learn about the past horrors of the pearling industry.

Reviewed by Gabe L-S. CPS

In Free Diving, a young Aboriginal man leaves his homeland and family behind to join the perilous pearling industry.
The story shows the terrifying risks like getting the bends, getting attacked by sharks, and the bravery that they must have had. At the time they weren’t wearing heaps of gear and stuff that we have now. All the people had to get along no matter what because they were basically stranded on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and if someone gets sick they're all on a boat together so they're all going to get sick.
​Free diving explores the themes of an emotional picture book with interesting water colours. 

What do you Call your Grandma? by Ashleigh Barton 

Reviewed by Jeedara W-D. YPCC

This book is about what different kids call their Grandmas.
Some call them Mee-Maw, some Bibi, Nai Nai, and Makhulu.
A lot of kids have different ways of showing ways they love their Grandmas, even if they live across the world or country.
I would give this book to 6- to 7-year-olds.
I would rate this a 6/10.

Koala's Eat Gum Leaves by Laura and Philip Bunting

Reviewed by Faith M. YPCC

Every koala eats gum leaves, right? But not this one.
He gets sick of them and decides he wants to eat something else, like ice cream.
He then ate some ice-cream but then he changes his mind again.
To find out the rest you have to read it!
I recommend this book to ages 2 years and up.
I rate this book 9/10 because it’s a bit short.

The Year Shakespeare Ruined my Life by Dani Jansen

Reviewed by Harmony B. YPCC

In this book she loves the trophy stand because she wanted to win a trophy for herself. She mentioned a scholarship winner, Ava Matheson. She thought she could be a winner too.
I love this book because she has a dream to win an award.
I recommend it to 10+.
​I rate it 10/10. 

The Girls who Changed the World #1: Ming and Flo fight for the Future by Jackie French

Reviewed by Tabby H. BPS

This book is about a girl called Ming. In no time, she blinked, and all of a sudden, she started to panic. She wasn’t in her class room anymore. She was in the ocean, her legs struggling, she couldn’t move because she never learned to swim. Her body was frozen because of how cold it was. It felt like she was in an icy freezer,
Then she heard yelling…a person! She started to have hope. She started doggy paddling as fast as she could. The yelling got louder “HELP!” “OVER HERE SOMEONE IS DROWNING!” She started to lose hope, sinking slower and slower by the minute she was drowning.
My favorite part about the book is how detailed it is and when Ming gets saved from drowning by really kind people.
I recommend this book for grade 3 and up because it has some pretty hard words and is a little sad.
​I rate this book 10/10 because I’ve been reading the series and how detailed these books are is amazing!

Return to Factopia! by Kate Hale

Reviewed by Mitch C. BPS

The book's focus is on lots of different facts about cool and amazing things. There are lots of facts that you will have never heard before. If you read this book, you will learn a lot of new facts about animals.
My favourite fact was when I read about the sun’s surface is hot enough to melt a diamond and that a horse can’t throw up.
I would recommend this book to people over the age of 7 and up because some of the words are a bit challenging.
I rate it 10/10.
​I loved the book as it is a really good book everyone should read it to learn something new.

Kookoo Kookaburra by Gregg Dreise

Reviewed by Zanda F. and Paige L. MRPS

Kookoo Kookaburra is a Dreamtime story the Kookoo kookaburra. And he, KooKoo, could turn a funny moment into a good laugh story.
Kookoo started to realise that his peers were moving away from him, since he would laugh against him rather with them. Kookoo realised that his own behaviour was making the other animals upset. What was Kookoo going to do to save his reputation?!
The pictures displayed the themes of the Indigenous people of Australia and their colours. Gregg Dreise, an Indigenous author, wants this dream time story to live on to the next generation.
Most likely, either classes would read this book, but the age of the book would most likely be an 8-11 age group. It wouldn’t be very fun to read a book if you couldn’t understand the names. Boredom would get the best of you.
We would rate this book a 8/10 because the pictures were very understandable, but the names were very unpronounceable. If it was read to us by someone who was Indigenous, it would make a lot more sense. 

Pig the Star by Aaron Blabey

Reviewed by Ivy F. MRPS

This was delightful! I don’t usually read Pig the Pug books because I focus on novels and my type of themes, although I did enjoy the pictures as they looked absolutely HILARIOUS with Pig's costumes!!
Will Pig end up being in the spotlight or get taken off? Read to find out.
I chose this book because I dressed up as Pig it was fun and exciting!
I would honestly recommend this to younger ages to improve higher vocabulary and curiosity, as well as Imagination.
This book, at least for me, is a 6/10. Not the best but also not that bad! It let me into my imagination and explore the wonders of fiction and one of my childhood books!

Dragons vs Wolves #1: Fallen Star by Glenn Dakin

Reviewed by Annabelle P. MRPS

This was a story that took me in right from the beginning. The story was about an outstanding wolf named Rana who wanted to become a storyteller but got made fun of for wanting to be one. One night a “shooting star” fell from the sky and Rana went to go see it with the older story teller. That did not go so well. Rana got picked by the “shooting star” to heal it. Then after Rana had healed it showed Rana magic. That changed her life forever.
I thought this was an unputdownable story and it was also marvelous. The author’s message was no matter your size you or what you look like you can be anything you want to be.
This would have to be my favourite book that I’ve read all this year.
I would recommend this book to 8+ because I know they would 100% love it and it would be an outstanding book for that age group. Some scenes might make kid kids under eight feel scared.
I rate this book a 10/10 because there’s nothing I want to change about it and it was just marvelous to read. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Mad Magpie by Gregg Dreise

Reviewed by Braxton K. MRPS

The book was about an angry magpie named Guluu who would swoop down and peck other animals.
He used to be teased by the butcher birds and Guluu believed if he was angry and mean then the butcher birds would leave him alone.
I liked the book because it had superb illustrations and it really taught me about the story.
I recommend the book for people in age 6 or over. 
I would rate the book a 9.5/10 because it taught everyone a lesson of always do what is right.

Reviewed by Evelynn M. MRPS

This book was about an angry magpie called Gullu. Gullu would swoop down on the other animals and peck them. He did this because he was teased by a group of butcher birds.
Gullu believed that if he was mean to the other animals, the butcher birds would leave him alone.
When the elders told him that being mean wouldn’t help and to ignore them, he listened. The next time the butcher birds made fun of him, he tried to ignore them but they still made fun of him. He told the elders that it didn’t work.
The next day, when he was getting some worms to eat, the butcher birds started making fun of him and stealing his worms. This time, when he ignored them, he also flew away from them.
He soon learned to ignore them and eventually, they stopped making fun of him and Gullu stopped swooping everyone.
I liked this book because it teaches little kids that if someone is making fun of you and you ignore them, eventually they will understand that there words can’t hurt you and they will stop. It also teaches them that you cannot take your anger out by hurting others.
I would recommend this book to kids of any age, especially the ones in primary school, who are interested in Aboriginal stories and need to know how to stop bullies.
I would rate this book a 5/10 because I think the story line was good for little kids, and it has a lot of Aboriginal patterns, but I prefer longer books. 

French Bulldogs by Robin Kootz

Reviewed by Will J. DPS

French Bulldogs are the smallest bulldog ever and they have no tail.
I recommend you read the book, because of the beautiful colours and pictures. 
I rate the book a 10/10 because I have a cute fluffy French Bulldog at home. 

Golden Retrievers by Mari Schuh

Reviewed by Will J. DPS

Golden Retrievers can help blind people walk by walking the way they say. When the owner says to the dog "you can go play", they go play.
I definitely recommend you read the book because it is enjoyable. 
I rate the book a 10 out of 10 because they are my favourite dog and my favourite colour, which is gold 

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott

Reviewed by River A. MRPS

This boy stutters. This great book is about a boy who struggles to speak because he stutters.
At first he sits at the back of the class and wishes he won’t get called up, because he’s worried people will make fun of him and talk behind his back. At the end he learns differences are what make us special!
I liked that at the end he started talking and wishing he will get called up. I didn’t like when the pictures were blurred. I liked when the dad showed love to his son.
I would recommend the book for Years 5/6 students because the little kids won’t get the book.
​I rate this a 9.5/10!

Reviewed by James B. MRPS

This beautiful, heart-warming picture book by Jordan Scott, with phenomenal illustrations by Sydney Smith, is about a young boy who has speech difficulties. Jordan Scott wrote this book from personal experiences with stuttering and bad speech days. The artwork by Sydney Smith really captures how the boy feels and how he sees the world.
The book focuses on one “bad speech day” at school, where the boy can’t speak at all. It’s really sad because he has some brilliant ideas, but his words and thoughts just twist, turn, and churn all around in his mouth. On this day, the boy is picked on by other kids.
He loves when his dad picks him up from school because his dad is understanding, caring, and makes him feel safe. Today, after school, his dad decides to take him to a completely new place, a river. The boy notices that he is quite like the river: twisting, turning, splashing. That’s what all the words do in his mouth. He thinks, “I talk like a river.” He finds that this river is his happy place, where he feels calm, free, and comfortable.
I really enjoyed this book for the deep feelings it carries throughout, like hope, frustration and happiness. The boy finds these feelings through the struggles of speaking and the comfort he finds at the river with his dad. Without the illustrations, it simply wouldn’t make sense.
Although the book can feel busy, crazy, and blurry, it makes sense in a perfect way that helps you understand how the boy might feel.
I recommend this book to absolutely anyone who is willing to put five minutes into changing the way they think about others. The storyline and message are too strong and important not to read. I believe many kids with this disability will feel very connected and important after reading it.
The book is a picture storybook and has 2–4 sentences on each page, but every sentence is heartfelt and gives you a strong sense of the boy and his life.
I rate it 10/10. It's my absolute favourite picture storybook I’ve read this year.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. It really helped me understand how everyone is different and to respect people for who they truly are.

We are Australians by Duncun Smith

Reviewed by Jack P. and Abbey P. MRPS

We are Australians is a book about what it means to be an Australian citizen.
This book has amazing Indigenous illustrations popping out of the pages. It is about how Indigenous people have rights and responsibilities.
We liked the illustrations and the important message in the book, but we didn’t love how the story was told. We had a lack of interest and it was satisfactory.
We think without the illustrations, this book would be regrettable.
We thought this book just ticked the box and that we would probably not read this book again.
We rate it a 4/10 and think that if we had an Aboriginal person explain it better to us, that it would make heaps more sense, but until then we recommend it to Aboriginal children.

Finn Jones was Here by Simon James Green

Reviewed by Ryan A. DPS

Eric's best friend Finn Jones was the biggest prankster. He always annoyed Eric and did crazy stuff to Eric. Now Finn is not here anymore it says, or is he...
This book is interesting and mysterious, but also random
This book is good for ages 6-13.
I rate this book 6/10.