The Picture Book Corner | Lost in a Good Book

Lovebird Lou by Tammi Sauer

18 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, four stars, picture book, stephanie laberis, tammi sauer

Published: 1 March 2022
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Illustrator: Stephanie Laberis
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

A sweet, love-infused celebration of individuality and acceptance!

Lovebird Lou adores life with his family and friends on the island they call home. But when he travels to the other side of the island and sees the amazing abilities on display by different birds, Lou feels unfulfilled with the laidback lovebird lifestyle. With his adoring parents cheering him on, Lou decides to spread his wings and see what else he can accomplish. This sweet, funny story celebrates individuality, self-discovery, and the joy of community.

Another picture book I picked up for the cover and it 100% delivers internally as well. This is a wonderful book. It is funny, cute, and the illustrations are half the fun. I liked how Lou isn’t unhappy with being a lovebird, but he still wants to be more interesting and these new birds he hasn’t seen before are what he wants to become.

I loved how unequivocally supportive Lou’s parents are. He wants to be a flamingo, they are right behind him, he wants to be a pelican, they tell him he’s an amazing pelican. There are brilliant lines as Lou admits defeat in his quest to be a [different] bird, “Being a bird is for the birds” he admits and becomes a rock. This was the highlight of this book for me. There is nothing more adorable than a flock of supportive lovebirds helping this little bird start his journey to be a rock. There is nothing more fantastic than the greatest image ever of a bird sitting in a field with a sign beside him that reads #1 Rock. Laberis has added so much to this story with the illustrations and as much as I love Sauer’s story, the illustrations are divine.

You can purchase Lovebird Lou via the following

QBD | Blackwell’s

Dymocks | Wordery | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Wombat, the Reluctant Hero by Christian Trimmer

04 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, christian trimmer, picture book, rachel gyan, three stars

Published: 21st March 2023
Publisher: Macmillan
Illustrator: Rachel Gyan
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars

Wombat liked her things just so. Everything had its place, and nothing was out of order.

She couldn’t say the same about her neighbours. But that was their business, and Wombat didn’t concern herself with others’ business.

When a very hot, dry summer causes dangerous fires in their neighbourhood, a group of animals are desperate to find water and shelter. It will take the quiet heroism of a neighbour to provide resources and a cosy, cool, and safe burrow—a reluctant wombat who demonstrates the inspiring power of community.

According to the author note this story is based on true events witnessed during the 2019/20 bushfires also known as Black Summer. As someone who lived through that time it was a real reminder of how bleak and dangerous that time was, and how no one really had a chance to process it before we were then thrown into a world wide pandemic. Reading this book made me a bit emotional towards to end, mainly because I am known to be a sucker for sweet stories, but also because I was reminded of my own experiences during that time which foolishly wasn’t something I thought would happen.

I was perplexed by wombat’s grumpy face on the cover, but having finished the book I am putting that look down to her determination. It isn’t that she is grumpy, she is tired sure, but she is determined. And that is the face of a determined wombat. There is no malice like I thought there’d be – no wombat getting tired of helping all the time and dismissing her neighbours, she stays helpful even though it’s hard work, and when they really need her she is once again ready to help no questions asked.

Gyan does do a great job on the illustrations. The animals are lifelike but personified, and wombat looks adorable in her clothes and pottering around her little house. The images of the bush and the animals are gorgeous – natural while still having some picture book-eque behaviour. The colours are stunning and I love the natural look, even within wombat’s burrow which looks very Hundred Acre Wood in terms of homeliness.

It was a surprising read, and one that unexpectedly brought back some bad memories from those fires that summer. But as weird as it was that it’s not written by an Australian, I’m glad an American author was touched by our plight to write this book and give the animal’s story a voice – even if it is fictionalised. Having said that, I would have liked some more Australianness to the story, even the token stereotypical stuff would have sufficed. Having Wombat drink a flavoured seltzer? Which is not a common drink here, one I didn’t even think we had till I checked, and one I’ve only ever heard about from Americans. I dunno, it felt off that so much effort was made to tell our story and there was so much of another culture through it. Even a fictionalised gumnut tea would have been better.

You can purchase Wombat, the Reluctant Hero via the following

Blackwell’s | Dymocks | Wordery | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

How to Be a Giraffe by Thea Baker

21 Mar 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, picture book, thea baker, three stars

Published: 7th September 2021
Publisher: Little Genius Books
Illustrator: Thea Baker
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars

Joffrey might have horns, a tail and a long neck, but his stripy fur is causing quite the stir. Everyone knows that giraffes have spots! But if Joffrey isn’t a giraffe, what could he be?

First things first, I’m ashamed to say it took me a while to realise what the problem with the giraffe on the cover was until the story pointed it out, it didn’t click that giraffe don’t have brown stripes but honestly it’s a cute look.

Basic giraffe anatomy aside, this is a fun book. Joffrey is born different and while he isn’t exactly cast out from his herd, he is made to feel weird and Not Like The Rest enough that he chooses to leave. Clearly Joffrey doesn’t have a Mrs Jumbo in his life that defends their kid the second their born from the rest of the mean herd.

The story follows Joffrey as he tries to find who he is, if he isn’t a giraffe then what could he possibly be? I love his attempts at being different animals – from bees, to crocodiles, to elephants. All of them not the right fit.

The narrative rhyme is simple and flows well as you read either aloud or to yourself. The illustrations and the text work well together as readers build anticipation with page turns and fun expressions.

The illustrations are sweet, the designs are simple and the colours are gorgeous in full and partial pages. The creative geometric designs used in the background design as well as some of the other animals is clever and add great texture to the page. I also loved the small details like a spotted zebra which goes to show that others might not match their community either but it doesn’t need to mean anything.

I like that when Joffrey goes home, the other giraffe realise they were wrong. His leaving made them understand they’d made a mistake which is a great apology to show. Joffrey didn’t have to be the one to be proud of who he is without the community knowing they’d been wrong as well. There’s no point being proud of who you are while everyone else thinks you’re weird and shouldn’t be there. That’s not fair to Joffrey and he’d be better off staying away.

It is a good message wrapped around a cute and humorous story and one I think a lot of people could learn from.

You can purchase How to be a Giraffe via the following

QBD | Blackwell’s

Wordery | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Whose Poo? by Daisy Bird

07 Mar 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, daisy bird, marianna coppo, picture book

Published: 07 Apr 2022
Publisher: Andersen Press
Illustrator: Marianna Coppo
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars

One day, Daddy Rat announces to his baby rats that he’ll be taking them to the zoo . . . but only if they’re good, which means no talking about poo! And yet, before the family can even leave the house, the two rascally siblings can’t help but wonder . . . what sort of poo would an astronaut do? Shiny, silver, space-age poo! Rocket-powered, weightless poo, and it spins round and round like a planet does, too!

Anyone who knows me knows I am an avid hater of picture books that fall into the lazy trap of farts, poop, and other bodily functions. I know the kids love them, but aside from being stupid, it’s also something celebrities easily get to publish and it feels like a storytelling cop out.

ANYWAY.

I know there can be good poop books, like the delightful The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business where our protagonist tries to find who pooped on his head. You wouldn’t think it adorable, but it is.

This is another one that balances a fine line. It is quite fun, our parent mouse is obviously sick of the kids always mentioning poo, and on their outing they have strict instructions to refrain from mentioning it.

I liked the work around the kids had, and I liked that their discussion of poo end up being fun imaginings of what it looks like from various people and animals they pass. I liked that tattooed people have tattooed poo, that balloon animal makers have balloon animal poo. I also liked the fun illustrations that match the poo to their shape.

In an easy to understand way, all the animals have the same kind of poo. This isn’t the place to learn about the different poos from butterflies and bats to snakes and people.

The story is told with a great rhyme. It’s a fun story that really plays into the taboo of poo and the sneaky ways the kids want to discuss it. The story isn’t all about jokes about poo. As the story goes on they discover what happens to the poo in the zoo and how it is used for growing plants and trees. It debunks the myth for the kids that’s there is anything special about poo, it’s the same for everyone, with a little bit of humour without taking it too far on the grotesque side.

Honestly, I can’t even believe I have typed and discussed poo so much in one review let alone at all, but here we are. Sometimes needs must.

If you’re like me and are sick and tired of the poo books, this one may be an ok compromise when the kids really want to laugh at the grubby side of things.

You can purchase Whose Poo? via the following

QBD | Blackwell’s

Dymocks | Wordery | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Jacob’s School Play: Starring She, He, and They by Sarah and Ian Hoffman

21 Feb 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, LGBTQIA, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, chris case, four stars, ian hoffman, lgbt, LGBTQIA, picture book, sarah hoffman

Published: 1 January 2021
Publisher: Albert Whitman Company
Illustrator: Chris Case
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

This new book is a clever way to introduce young readers to non-binary and gender-fluid people. As Ms. Reeves’ class produces a play about a farm, the entire class comes to understand about being true to who you are, as classmate Ari expresses their identity as they, which prompts Jacob to look more deeply about what it means to be who he is, and how others identify. Explaining the use of pronouns of one’s own choosing to kids, while all along reinforcing that an individual is much more layered and unique then how others may see him, her or them, is a developmentally important milestone to help foster respect of one’s self and one’s peers.

I love the Jacob books and I am always keen to see what each one will deliver. With a class full of kids there are a lot of different stories to tell and whether it’s about an individual or a family dynamic the stories are always wonderfully done.

I liked the loose metaphor of the play and Ari’s role in it and how organically these conversations come up about pronouns. These are primary school kids so of course there can be real discussions and still be in a simple term they can understand. Ms Reeves is always a great teacher and helps her class understand one another better.

The explanations and exploration of different pronouns is woven through the prep of the play, the plot remaining largely on organising everything and everyone with Ari’s pronouns not being a major focus. This works well because it isn’t a big deal, and it normalises that these conversations might pop up, but while you may need to learn a few new things, there is still a play to prepare for.

Case’s illustrations are once again delightful. Seeing the kids in their costumes and classroom scenes brings their environment to life and it’s easy to see these conversations playing out in real life. There’s nothing comical or fanciful about it, the down to earth nature of it and the focus on the storytelling really comes through, even in the pictures.

The curiosity of the kids is handled tactfully, and even Jacob, who was the star of the first gender non-conforming book, has to learn about other identities. Technically most of the book is about the play, we even get to go through the life cycle of crops growing at the end and the roles everyone plays more than they discuss Ari and their pronouns. It takes the focus off this being only about Ari and it instead gives a fun story about costumes and storytelling while also having a simple lesson about who people are and how everyone is their own unique person.

You can purchase Jacob’s School Play via the following

Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust