Alison Lester

Counting comes across as easy and fun in this well-rhymed read with a pony to enjoy.

This is one of several books in the Noni the Pony series...and this is the first of these books I've taken a peek at, but I'll be taking the chance to look at more. Noni the Pony prances through the outdoors, visiting friends and discovering all sorts of things while counting along the way. The illustrations let each scene come across with an enjoyable energy. The various animals, creatures and things show more (everything from ladybugs to spots on other ponies) hit each scene naturally, making the visual 'counting' present without over-emphasizing. The playful side stays front and center, this way.

The text is written in rhyme and flows extremely well without even a smidgen of hesitation or mini-stumble. It's short...only a phrase or so...and makes a nice read-aloud for even impatient listeners. It's a lovely way to get young readers counting and even goes beyond the usual 1-2-3 to demonstrate how vast hundreds, thousands and millions can seem in comparison. show less

I just re-read this fine picture book about a Viennese girl, Nina, who must evacuate Austria with her father & four Lippizaners during WWII. At Nina's behest, they take an abandoned mare who is instrumental to their safe passage. While this story has obvious appeal to the horsey set, its adventure, pathos (yes! In a picture book!) & beautiful mixed-media illustrstions will draw in many readers.
I will definitely use this as a read aloud with the youngers at my school when the olders are show more studying modern Eurasia. show less

Eight-year-old Grace narrates this engaging travelogue introduction to Australia for the picture-book set, chronicling her family's three-month journey around the country, starting out from their home in Binnum (in Victoria, to the west of Melbourne), and traveling westward along the coast. From whale-watching at the Head of Bight and snorkeling at Turquoise Bay, to visiting friends and family in Darwin, Brisbane and Sydney - not to mention making a trip into the interior, to see Alice show more Springs, and the great Uluru rock, known as the "Heart of Australia" - the family slowly make their way around their homeland, while the reader learns a little bit about the diverse regions and activities to be found in this humongous nation!

Engaging, informative, and entertaining, Are We There Yet?: A Journey Around Australia was chosen as one of our August selections, over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where the theme this month is "traveling," and it certainly fits the bill! I liked the way in which Alison Lester managed to communicate so much factual information, about the different climates and ecosystems to be found around Australia, for instance, without ever breaking from her story. The family here are appealing, and the reader gets a definite sense of all their personalities, from height-fearing mom to impatient little brother Billy, who is always asking "Are we there yet?" Recommended to any child who enjoys stories about traveling, and road-trips, and to anyone looking for picture-books about Australia. show less

I just re-read this fine picture book about a Viennese girl, Nina, who must evacuate Austria with her father & four Lippizaners during WWII. At Nina's behest, they take an abandoned mare who is instrumental to their safe passage. While this story has obvious appeal to the horsey set, its adventure, pathos (yes! In a picture book!) & beautiful mixed-media illustrstions will draw in many readers.
I will definitely use this as a read aloud with the youngers at my school when the olders are show more studying modern Eurasia. show less