November Book of the Month
Hazel's Treehouse
by Zanie Louise
with illustrations by Judy Watson
Australian author Zanni Louise has collaborated with illustrator Judy Watson and the result is the most heartwarming and gentle kids book full of laughter, friendship and connection. Hazel’s Treehouse is a collection of 10 stories that follow the adventures of five best friends– Hazel; a nine year old girl, Odette; an energetic pademelon, Walter; a grumbling but kind hearted wombat, the delightful Honey Possum named Tiny and my personal favorite, Poky; an echidna who changes color based on Hazel’s mood. The friends experience challenges – being afraid of the dark, being stuck in their treehouse for a week in the rain, starting school – but it is through their support of each other that they overcome these fears and are able to embrace change together, as a team. If I was Poky, I would be the color of the dusty pink sky of King Street while reading this book, which is a very warm and content color for an echidna! Hazel’s Treehouse is so delightful and touching, it is a perfect read for kiddos 6+ and it quickly found a place in our hearts at Better Read than Dead. - Vevie
COME MEET CREATORS
BARBIE ROBINSON AND SARA PHEMISTERBORA
ALONG WITH NETTIE AND MAPLE
Our Books of the Year
We have had such an amazing array of incerdible books this year that we thought we'd share with you what some of the team fell in love with this year.
The Garden Witch is doing her best. She grows vegetables and takes them to the market, but nobody wants them. She’s incredibly lonely, and makes do with three evil rats for company that boss her around and bully her. However, one day her vegetables take a little bit of a turn and all of a sudden- she has a sentient turnip named Mickey as her best friend. Will he help her take revenge on the rats? A bit Quentin Blake in illustrations and A LOT Tim Burton in content, this is a morbidly funny and dark picture books, The Garden Witch is perfect for read aloud (but maybe for those that are a liiiitttttle bit older) and the perfect mix of silly and feel-good, with a little bit of an edge. - Lexie
Told in the third person, this is the tender story of a fourth-grader and her loving family. Ferris got her name from the place where she was born, at the base of the Ferris Wheel. She has a sister who wants to be an outlaw, a grandmother who is failing in health and who sees a ghost in their home, a close friend who plays the same tune over and over again, parents who are amazing and unusual and a teacher who constantly weeps! What more do you want in a story? Well, there is the uncle who has left his wife and is now living in the basement and wants to paint the history of the world. DiCamillo is a superb writer and this is her comfort zone. The denouement of this family story set at the end of the 20th century in small town America is full of love and kindness. You will laugh and cry your way through and wish it would go on longer! - Kate
A lovely story about how kindness can create kindness. Mr Impoppable keeps on showing kindness to Gerald even though Gerald is trying to pop him. At the end Gerald has learned that friendship is worth preserving, not popping.
- Tula
Pearl and her Bunch is a delightful picture book that sweetly tackles the big questions of family, belonging, and identity—all through the eyes of a little grape who isn’t quite what she seems. When Pearl discovers she’s not a grape like the rest of her bunch, she sets off on a heartwarming adventure around the house, meeting fruits of all shapes and sizes. Each encounter offers a tender lesson in acceptance and inclusivity, reminding readers that families come in all forms. With charming illustrations and a clever storyline, this book is a refreshing take on the beauty of diversity and the journey of self-discovery. Fabulous picture book for young people learning to embrace who they are and the unique connections that make a family whole. - Karren
