Gripping historic tale of endurance
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Messy-o-saurus By Rachel Weston, illustrated by Scott Tulloch, Weston Books, $22 .. .. .. .. .. ..
Who messed up the artwork? Must be Messyo-saurus. Who left biscuit crumbs on the couch? That was the Gobblebox Monster. And the mess in big sister's room? The Smellybelly Monsters. Whatever the mess, there's another monster to have done it. Lovely, lively illustrations and rhymes make this a great bedtime story or young kids who might just be the messy-o-saurus in their home.
My Dad Thinks He’s Super Funny By Katrina Germein, illustrated by Tom Jellett, Walker Books, $18.99 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Just what dad wants – a book to read to kids full of dad jokes. And I mean full! Every page another cringe. Examples, “Mum asks Dad to put out the bins. Dad just laughs. ‘Are they on fire'? Mum asks Dad to please fix dinner. Dad laughs again, ‘Is it broken'?” This is one big eye roll from start to finish, with lively colourful illustrations, but dad will love it.
My Dad Thinks He’s a Pirate By Katrina Germein, illustrated by Tom Jellett, Walker Books, $27.99 (hard cover) .. ..
And another book of dad jokes, this time pirate themed.
“See this earring. It cost one buccaneer.” Sigh, but again dad will love it. Not so sure about the kids . . . but they'll enjoy the illustrations and probably the groans from everyone around them. — Ann Kilduff he sequel to Through the Lonesome Dark is historical fiction at its most compelling from awardwinning New Zealand author Paddy Richardson.
By the Green of the Spring is the gripping story of lives changed forever by war, the hurts suffered, the losses borne, and the secrets kept, yet it is also the story of the capacity of the human spirit to endure, to hope and to love.
Richardson tells about her latest novel:
is the muchanticipated sequel to Through the Lonesome Dark. Can you tell us a little about your new historical novel?
By the Green of the Spring follows the lives of Otto Bader, Pansy Williams and Clem Bright, characters I initially introduced in the prequel, Through the Lonesome Dark. As children of Blackball miners, they are close friends until the eruption of WWI changes their lives forever. After I finished that first novel, I tried to write something new and different but these characters were still very much with me. Besides that, readers said they wanted to know what happened next — in fact, I wanted to know what happened next! This novel focuses on Otto who is torn from his home and family and Pansy, the love of his life, and incarcerated on Somes Island with other civilians of German descent and moves between Otto's experiences of the harshness and brutality endured by innocent men on Somes Island and Lena's , their daughter, as Clem, the man she believes is her father, returns from war. As a child, Lena observes Pansy her mother and the Bright family as they attempt to heal past hurts and make new lives. It's a story of injustice and brutality but also a love story and a story of hope and redemption.
Do readers have to read the first book to enjoy your new book?
The book does stand alone in itself since it focuses on Otto's experiences on Somes Island and on Lena's as she grows up. I see the novels more as companion books than prequel and sequel, since either could be read first.