Alexa Dretzke
Alexa Dretzke is a children’s & YA book specialist at Readings Hawthorn
Review — 22 Jul 2014
One Minute’s Silence by David Metzenthen & Michael Camilleri
The clever juxtaposition of placing contemporary young adults in a depiction of Australian troops landing at Gallipoli makes this moving book even more powerful. Sitting through a minute’s silence on…
Review — 24 Jun 2014
Goodnight Songs by Margaret Wise Brown
Margaret Wise Brown was the author of one of the most famous picture books, Goodnight Moon. Shewas prolific and had many books published, however, the poems (except three) in…
Review — 24 Sep 2015
West of the Moon by Margi Preus
Left in the care of their avaricious aunt and uncle while their father settles in America and prepares to send for her and her younger sister, Astri is sold to…
Review — 27 May 2014
Imagine a City by Elise Hurst
Elise Hurst’s masterful use of pen and ink has created an atmospheric world where mysterious happenings occur while an adult and two children take a trip to town. As they…
Review — 27 May 2014
Jim’s Lion by Russell Hoban & Alexis Decon
There are some books where, though you understand the central idea, there are aspects that are only tenuously interpreted and require re-readings. Intriguingly, these are precisely the books that stay…
Review — 12 May 2014
The Three Bears (Sort of) by Yvonne Morrison & Donovan Bixley
A cheeky child questioning the validity of the story of The Three Bears makes for a fun read. When the adult in The Three Bears (Sort Of) tries to read…
Review — 12 May 2014
The ABC of Fabulous Princesses by Willy Puchner
The story is not really the point to this book; rather, it is about the deliciousness of words and the magical illustrations. Each of the curious, birdlike princesses, from Anna…
Review — 12 May 2014
Toy Stories by Gabriele Galimberti
Everybody has a favourite toy; some of us still have them. As adults, they are a link to our childhood, imbued with the emotion and nostalgia of the past. Photographer…
Review — 22 Apr 2014
Here in the Garden by Briony Stewart
As a young boy tends to his garden through the seasons he reminisces about the wonderful times he shared with his rabbit. Briony Stewart evokes a benevolent and simple world…
Review — 22 Apr 2014
The Duck and the Darklings by Glenda Millard & Stephen Michael King
Glenda Millard’s stories have a poetic sensibility and show a tender, sincere respect for people and animals alike.
In a dark, troubled place, Peterboy wants to bring light and good…