Monday 7 November 2016

Mandy Foot Children's Book Reviews & A Giveaway!!


Mandy Foot is a South Australian illustrator, whose works include The Wheels On The Bus, Shut The Duck Up, and a range of books featuring Captain Kangaroo (we have a couple of these ones and my daughters love them!!)

I was delighted to recently receive two of Mandy's books to review.


Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is written by Jane Taylor, and illustrated by Mandy. It was released earlier this year.
The story features an adorable baby pygmy possum travelling through the night in the Australian outback.



The illustrations are wonderful; featured animals include an echidna, wombat, and a dingo. Each character is brought to life on every page. 

Told in rhyming verse, this  would make for an enchanting bedtime story to read with your little one. 





The Bush Santa is Mandy's latest release, and it centres around a very sweet koala Santa making trips all around Australia to deliver gifts in time for Christmas.




I love that this story teaches children about Australian animals and places whilst engaging them in a story of Christmas festivities. Some of the places that the koala Santa visits include Tasmania, Cairns, and Byron Bay. 




I spent time explaining to my youngest daughter where these places are located in Australia, as she had only heard of some of the places. It was a great opportunity to discuss this with her whilst I had her attention.
Once again, the illustrations captivate an audience of both young and old, with their bright hues and impressive attention to detail. 
This book would be perfect as a stocking-stuffer this Christmas!
And the best part of all is that you can win your very own hardback copy of The Bush Santa!!

To enter: 

You MUST be a follower of my blog (either by liking my Facebook page/twitter/Instagram, or following via email or bloglovin' - I don't mind which one you opt for but you must do at least one please), and

Answer in the comments section below:

What is your favourite Australian animal, and why?



**Get creative, and please include your email with your answer so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner!**



Terms & Conditions:
1. This giveaway is open to residents of Australia only.
2. Giveaway closes on 17th November, 6 pm; winner/s will be contacted via email within 48 hours. Failure to receive a response from the winner/s will mean the prize is forfeited and a new winner/s  will be chosen.
3. Winner will be selected on a basis of skill, not chance - the most creative and/or interesting answer deemed by the judge/s wins
4. The prize is not redeemable for cash.
5. In  The Good Books blog will not be responsible for items that go missing through Australia Post postal services.
6. This promotion is not associated or endorsed by Facebook.
7. Those who 'unlike' or 'unfollow' after the giveaway ends will be disqualified from entering future giveaways.


Disclosure: I was given 2 books from Mandy Foot's range to review, with an extra copy offered as a giveaway. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.











25 comments:

  1. My favourite is the echidna because the waddle walk and cute chubby body is cute to me. Joanne__69@hotmail.com

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  2. I am fascinated by kangaroos - their speed, their friendliness to humans, their ability to fight and protect their young, the amazing and tender way they carry their joeys, their big, warm eyes - I could go on and on! :) langfield.kym.l@gmail.com

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  3. Oh I am such a 'sucker' for Kids' Books and this one for Australian Christmases is A for Awesome. No longer having our grandkids to care for, I would have 'no use' for this book....but....my daughter is a teacher-librarian in a K-6 school in Sydney and I know that the many little ones at her school (from a range of different backgrounds) would LOVE it...and learn more about Australia at the same time! Denyse
    PS Thanks so much for linking up and displaying my badge on your site!

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  4. We love Koalas!! Living in the country for lots of years we see them often.
    My 3yr old loves that they sit so high in the trees and are able to see for miles while munching on the gum leaves.
    We have Twinkle, twinkle little star and it's my sons favourite book for me to read to him and he loooooves the pics... would be awesome to add to the collection.
    I would put it in his night before Xmas box ��
    mooza_28@hotmail.com ������

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  5. We love the Koala!! Living near the countryside we see them often. My 3rd old loves that they sit so high in the trees where they can see for miles while munching on gum leaves.
    We have Twinkle, Twinkle little star and it's my sons favourite book that he picks for me to read at night to him. He loves the pics!!!
    Would be good to add to the collection:) i would add it to his night before Christmas box 😍 mooza_28@hotmail.com
    Thanks for the chance 🐨🐨🐨

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  6. My favourite Australian animal is the Kangaroo because my family and I often see them hopping down our street and the kids adore our local 'pets' :)

    sam.allenstephens@gmail.com

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  7. Our favourite Australian animal is the platypus because of his unusual appearance as well as its ability to lay eggs. Although they are really hard to see in the wild.....they are the first animal we head for at the zoo.

    odgersl@bigpond.com

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  8. My favourite Australian animal is the wombat! I love they way they walk and they are so cute and cuddly looking.

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  9. My favourite Australian animal is the wombat!! They are so cute and cudylooking and I love their walk. Also my nickname when I was s child was wombat. Loved wombats ever since.

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  10. I have loved Koalas for as long as I can remember. So placid and serene sitting atop their gum trees, eating their gum leaves...ahhh the quiet life 😊

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  11. I'm going to say the blobfish, I feel for him.

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  12. My favourite Australian animal is a wombat,
    Yep, fancy that!
    Adorable in every way,
    I'd love to cuddle one some day.
    sshaw2404@yahoo.com.au

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  13. Sugar Gliders! They're very cute, and the way they glide through the air is amazing to see!
    lozza125@hotmail.com

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  14. Platypus is a Monotreme
    They are exciting and live in a stream
    nesting in the river bed
    swimming and using their duck bill to be fed
    laying eggs and feeding their young
    Australia this creature is the unsung
    Cute clever all in one
    This is my favourite under the Aussie sun

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  15. Bilbies - so cute and I love that they're so unusual. Such a shame they are endangered. aurora_skye@hotmail.com

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  16. Koala so soft & cuddly dont forget cute & i love that they can sleep inn a tree & not fall out

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  17. Has to be the koala: they epitomise Australia and for sentimental reasons, my Mum had a photo of her holding one on the fridge at home in the UK, sadly she passed after I'd emigrated to Australia. Knowing how much she loved the photo the day after we lost her I visited the lovely Lone Pine Koala sanctuary and "adopted" a koala in her name. As an animal lover I know she's have been happy with that.

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  18. Love Kangaroos I get around 50 each evening in our paddock love watching their antics and all the baby joeys each year

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  19. The gorgeous little bilby, so little and cute. I love their big ears.

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  20. I love the Kangaroo, he's so different form any other animal, he bounces around all day, eating grass and mating!

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  21. I may be biased, as I'm Tasmanian, but I just love the Tassie Devil. They're tiny, but a big part of history and nature, and we need to keep them around for a lot longer to come
    Sarah.ellwood@yahoo.com.au

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  22. Kangaroo...love the way they lay around relaxing - looking just like a laid back aussie scratching their bits!!! But best of all is the pouch the females carrying their joey in - baby wearing experts! monzajm@yahoo.com.au

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  23. The Quokka, funny name, gorgeous animal, uniquely Australian, and is always smiling. They're a rare gem that we need to treasure!

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  24. We LOVE a funny lizard,
    He sunbakes on our porch,
    By day we see him snoozing,
    At night we spot him with our torch
    He hibernates in Winter,
    In Summer he comes back out,
    Of course we named him Larry,
    We love to see him around and about!

    Larry is a perk that came with our new house 3 years ago, we love that he comes back to our porch every Summer
    eliseellabban@hotmail.com

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I read and appreciate every comment; thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!