KBR has a new look!

Kids' Book Review has been loooooong overdue for an upgrade, and it's been tough to carve out the time to create something of late. I'm working on a series of bears right now, so I simply added another five to my cache... et voila - here are your new KBR hosts. A bevy of bears. (And yes, I know the koala isn't technically a bear, but he's OUR bear, so there.)

Do stop by and check it out, and maybe read up on some sensational kids' books at the same time.

www.kids-bookreview.com

Picture Book Faves: Carnaval Animal and Cherche et Trouve

One of the delights of travel is the ability to explore, first hand, the rare delights of other places. And for me - no delight could bring more joy that picture books.

Alas, picture books are heavy! especially en masse, and so, on a recent trip with my family to Europe, I had to seriously limit myself with the PB acquisitions (many of which I plan to share with you right here in Tania's Picks).

In Paris, we visited one of my favourite stores - FNAC - and entered a floor of children's book heaven. There were not only local French finds, but loads of foreign titles (translated into French). Such a delight to see Freya Blackwood and Oliver Jeffers books, in particular.

So that my kids could enjoy some foreign language books, I snaffled some picture books with minimal text. I have a thing for long-format books (I know librarians hate them in terms of shelving ability!) - and I'll share two of them with you now.

The first is a pop-up picture book by Iris de Vericourt, entitled Carnaval Animal. The internal pages are split into three sections (head, body, tail) and feature a fox (renard), monkey (signe), rooster (coq), lobster (écrevisse), bear (ours) and cameleon (caméléon).

Not only are the paper pop-ups truly divine, they can, of course, be mixed up into all manner of brilliant animal creations. A bear head, lobster body and rooster tail, anyone? Just try to keep little hands away from this one.

(Carnaval Animal, Hélium, ISBN: 9782358510615)

The second book is entitled Cherche et Trouve sur les 5 continents (Seek and Find  the five continents) by Thierry Laval. Another long-format book, this fabulous creation has Richard Scarry written all over it.

Beginning with Amérique du Nord (North America), we open to a double page spread of delightful, labelled, characters and scenes. Both these pages then open out to a full four-page spread and eye-boggling scene, combining all items from the previous page and much, much more.

And here is a peek at Australia . . .

(Cherche et Trouve sur les 5 continents, Seuil, ISBN: 9782021028935)

If you can't find these titles on Australian online stores or have them ordered in by your local bookstore (always a preference), you can find them on the Book Depository.

see more Tania's Picks on Kids' Book Review

Creating a Welcome Children's Book and Art Sale

Over at Kids' Book Review, we are doing something really special. We are hosting, in conjunction with children’s author Anna Branford, a very special initiative – Creating a Welcome – in support of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), a community organisation working directly with asylum seekers to provide basic necessities such as food, housing, healthcare and legal assistance.

For the month of April, you'll have the chance to snaffle some very special items from some generous, talented Aussie children's book people! with 100% of funds going to the ASRC. There are signed books, limited edition prints and original artworks, school visits, manuscripts assessments and more--all from some of our finest children's book creators. And guess what--postage is included with purchase!

The sale began 1 April and already almost half of the items have been snapped up. So, get in quick--once an item is gone, it's gone! See the sale right here!

An Aussie Year Virtual Tour - Day 1: Colouring Competition on Kids' Book Review

Tina and I are delighted to be embarking a virtual tour of the blogosphere with our An Aussie Year celebrations. From 21 October to 21 November, you can follow along and enjoy a series of very special posts on some very special sites, with reviews, interviews, sneak peeks, some spectacular giveaways and much more!

Today we are visiting Kids' Book Review with a super special colouring-in competition. You could win a fabulous An Aussie Year prize pack or a copy of the book. Check it out right here! And click the poster below for the full tour schedule ...

click poster for the full tour schedule

#aussieyeartour

Kids' Book Review's Facebook Photo Challenge for The Reading Hour

Love to read? Love to snap photos?

From Saturday 17 to Saturday 24 August, Kids' Book Review invites you to post your reading-to-kids photos* on our facebook page.

Every day, we will choose our favourite photo for inclusion on our website.

On the evening of 24 August, after The Reading Hour, we will announce three winners, who will each win a four-book pack from Random House!

The three winners will be:

• our favourite overall photo
• our most creative photo
• the person who posts the most photos over the week

And each winner will score a four-book pack valued at $57.80.

• Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco
• Lulu Bell and the Moon Dragon
• Colour for Curlews
• Bear Grylls: Mission Survival: Tracks of the Tiger

*Competition is open to Australian residents only and entrants must have full ownership of every photo posted. Photos will be moderated.

The Reading Hour

5 pm - 6 pm

Saturday 24 August 2013

KBR is proud to be a partner of The Reading Hour, an initiative that hopes to encourage parents and carers to share a book with a child for 10 minutes a day, an hour a week. It's not always possible for parents to share a book at bedtime with their children, but if you can manage 10 minutes most nights, your child will have the best chance of becoming a good reader, with all the social and educational benefits that brings.

See KBR's exclusive interview with The Reading Hour ambassador, Andy Griffiths! And if you're an instagram aficionado, check out KBR Founder Tania McCartney's IG photo challenge, which will run during The Reading Hour proper.

Happy reading and happy snapping!

Proudly supported by Random House Australia

new look Kids' Book Review

I'm SO excited to recently launch a new-look Kids' Book Review, thanks to the stylings of dear friend and illustrator/designer Tina Snerling of Tiny Concept. I absolutely love the childlike whimsy of this new design; how I wish I could do this kind of thing!

Check our KBR's new look right here.

I've also been really busy prepping our very first newsletter, packed with exclusive bookish content including publisher insiders. You can sign up here.

My new team and I are also working on a new initiative - The KBR Literary Hub - which will feature online courses, workshops, mentoring, short story opportunities, and more. This will be developed over the coming nonths. Keep an eye on its development here.

Happy reading!

Tania's Picks on Kids' Book Review

Very soon on Kids' Book Review, I'm going to be starting a series of posts on some sensational picture book finds. I'm really excited about this because picture books are a deep passion and great love. I'm starting with two books I found at FNAC in Paris - and here I give you a sneak peek at the books' inside pages.

Make sure you check KBR in the coming weeks and months for many more amazing book finds!

tickle the imagination home sweet home issue!

Hurrah! Issue 5 of Tickle the Imagination magazine is out! and editor Tanya Collier has designed the most scrumptious edition, packed with heartwarming homey treasures, to make your toes curl in their woolly socks.

It's once again LOVE! and I'm honoured to contribute with my home-is-where-the-heart-is Kids Book Review picks for kids.

I was also really fortunate to have both handmade living (2010 release and on special for a short time only) and my new book Beijing Tai Tai feature in the mag . . .

God bless you, Tanya - another brilliant, droolfest of a mag, packed with wonderful reading and glorious image. Check it out now!

tickle the imagination christmas issue is here!

Stunning online mag Tickle the Imagination has launched its second issue - a handmade christmas - and I've once again contributed some book reviews, tied in with Kids Book Review. This is one truly stunning mag. It's just a joy to see someone make something truly beautiful (and of the highest quality) of the handmade genre. Editor Tanya Collier is class all the way.

Look out for the next issue, coming out 1 December - featuring my article on school holiday fun.

So lovely to see some familiar faces contributing to Tickle the Imagination, including some lovely designers from handmade living!

tickle the imagination has launched!

HUGE congrats to the simply amazing Tanya Collier  on the launch of her stunning new online mag - Tickle the Imagination. This is one truly gorgeous publication, featuring quality content, beautiful images and inspirational ideas.

Tanya not only featured excerpts from handmade living., she also interviewed me, and I wrote my first reviews for her  children's book section, in tandem with Kids Book Review.

new look Kids Book Review

Introducing a GORGEOUS new look over at KBR! Thanks to the formidable talent of Brisbane-based designer and illustrator, Tina Snerling of Tiny Concept, we have the most stunning look ever. We hope you love it as much as we do. Check it out!

Tina has had a long and fabulous career in design, from childrenswear to children's toys and books. She is the illustrator/designer for lifestyle book Handmade Living and is currently working with KBR's own Tania McCartney on a stunning children's book. We will be posting about the process of creating this book right here on KBR and we hope to have the final book to show you next year!

new member for Kids Book Review

I'm really proud of my affiliate site - Kids Book Review. The site has grown exponentially in the past two years, and we have worked incredibly hard to make it a site filled with literary wonderment.

We're so happy with how the site is going, we've recently invited the gorgeous Kelly Morton to be a permanent member of our team. Kelly is a total book addict, too, and best of all - she works full time in publishing.

Along with our regular contributors, she is such a glorious asset to KBR and we can't wait to watch her influence

Read more about Kelly and her new role right here.

 

book hyperventilation

Just to prove to you how ridiculously and shameless obsessed I am with books - with BEAUTIFUL books - here is a peek at a stash I was sent by one of my new favourite publishers - Thames Hudson.

O. M. G.

sydney writers' centre best australian blogs award 2011

I'm just so proud that Kids Book Review has received this wonderful nod from the Sydney Writers' Centre - we are a Best Australian Blogs Nominee, and we're also up for the People's Choice Awards!

My KBR partner Megan Blandford and I have worked incredibly hard to produce and maintain Kids Book Review. What began as a simple book-loving blog has become one of the most respected (and visited) children's literature review sites on the web - and the site continunes to go from strength to strength.

Totally voluntary, KBR features hundreds of reviews, interviews (with some of the world's best literary talent), articles, guest posts, information, events and educational resources relating to children's books. We are also a proud supporter of several initiatives including the Indigenous Literacy Project and the National Year of Reading 2012.

Please send us your People's Choice Award vote! We would be absolutely thrilled to achieve this wonderful recognition, in support of the children's literature scene.

Yours bookishly,

Tania and Megan