Picture Books

Celebrating the Ordinary

November 2006, no. 286

Picture Books

Celebrating the Ordinary

November 2006, no. 286

The latest batch of Australian picture books contains many good, solid stories, competently told – but definitely nothing out of the ordinary. However, picture books do not necessarily have to deal with new subjects, use complex illustrative techniques or contain gimmicks to be something special. Some of the best picture books are those which simply celebrate the ordinary.

Some of the latest releases exploit the cult of celebrity. Mr Froggy Went a-Courtin’ (Brolly Books, $19.95 hb, 13 pp, 1877035718) has James Reyne’s name on the front cover, but this attribution is for his rendition of the text’s traditional song on the accompanying CD. Wendy Straw’s rollicking illustrations carry the song along, but, with its old-fashioned concepts and American references, the story itself is a strange choice.

Stephanie Owen Reeder

By this contributor

Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder is a Canberra-based author, illustrator, editor and award-winning reviewer who has been reviewing children’s books for nearly thirty years. She has also worked as a secondary school teacher, a librarian, a university lecturer and a Hansard editor at Federal Parliament. Stephanie co-edited The Inside Story: Creating Children’s Books (1987) and was the editor of the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s journal Reading Time. Her historical novel Lost! A True Tale from the Bush (2009) was shortlisted in the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Awards in 2010, while Amazing Grace: An Adventure at Sea (2011) won the New South Wales Premier’s History Award in 2012. Her picture book I’ve Got a Feeling! (2010) was an International Board on Books for Young People Outstanding Book in 2011. Her latest book for children is Dance Like a Pirate (2013).