Rhyme Time

The World That We Want is an awe-inspiring offering, with a message about caring for the environment which is neither preachy nor watered down. Instead it combines a simple, but catchy text with some of the most beautiful illustrations to grace a picture book.

The text is a repetitive rhyme, in the style of The House That Jack Built. The first page, showing birds flying against a deep blue sky, tells us: This is the air, that circles the world that we want. The next spread moves to the rainforest, with a cassowary, frogs, snakes, butterflies, trees and more, and the text: This is the forest that filters the air that circles the world that we want. From here, text and illustrations move from forest to the river, beach, water and more, with young listeners quickly picking up on the repetition and joining in.

Each double page spread features detailed images of the animals and plant life of the particular environment. The final spread folds out into a four page spread and shows all of the different environments, moving from air and forest through to ocean and reinforces the message that all the different environments are connected to make one world.

The illustrative technique is unusual for a picture book - each illustration has been hand-painted on silk - but the print quality is superb, with vibrant colours and life-like definition throughout. The addition of a four page guide, providing the name of each animal pictured and giving further information, adds an extra educational benefit.

This picture book is simply breathtakingly beautiful, and sure to delight children and adults alike.

The World That We Want, by Kim Michelle Toft
UQP, 2005

This review was first published at Aussiereviews.com.

Tom, Tom the piper's son,
Stole a pig and away he run.
Tom got caught, the pig got away,
And Tom went sailing to Botany Bay.

There is no doubt that kids enjoy hearing silly poetry - the sillier, the better. And Father Koala's Nursery Rhymes is full of silliness.

Australian versions of popular nursery rhymes fill the pages, with Three Fat Chooks (instead of Three Blind Mice), Here We Go 'Round the Banksia Bush, Swaggie Put the Billy On and many more. The comic illustrations of Glen Singleton complement the humour of the rhymes and, in many instances, outshine it.

This is not great literature, but is something children will enjoy.

Father Koala's Nursery Rhymes, by Kel Richards, illustrated by Glen Singleton
Scholastic, first published 1992, this edition 2005

This review first appeared at www.aussiereviews.com.

Want to get your children or preschool students up and marching to the beat? Rhyme and Song Singalong will help you to do just that. This fun book and CD set, from Matthew Perry and Jane Curry Publishing, provides an excellent introduction to music for babies, toddlers and kids up to age five.
The book offers mainly familiar rhymes and songs, including favourites like Old MacDonald, Twinkle, Twinkle, Hickory Dickory Dock and more. For parents and teachers, each song is supported by a page of activity suggestions. From simple ideas such as rocking a baby in time to the beat, to suggestions for introducing concepts such as ostinato to older children, these pages are a valuable addition which make the set different from other nursery rhyme collections.

The accompanying CD is suitable for playing by itself as well as with the book. Each song is performed in an echo-response format with loads of repetition, encouraging children to participate and learn.

Activites in this set facilitate early music skill development, enhancing listening skills and laying a foundation for future music skills. The use of familiar rhymes, repetition and movement will also help develop early literacy, communication and motor skills. Importantly, the book and CD are also great fun.

Childhood music educator Matthew Perry has worked in schools for 20 years, teaching music to all ages. He has also written musicals and music education resources and worked as a composer, conductor and pianist.

A valuable resource for school and home.

Rhyme and song Singalong, with Matthew Perry
Jane Curry Publishing, 2003

This review first appeared at www.aussiereviews.com