Days of warmth by Greg Dreise

With a story that celebrates what happens on each day of the week, younger readers will enjoy reading along with the reader, predicting the words that might be used, and looking closely at the illustrations to see what they can find.

A colour filled board book just the right size to fit into little hands, the book will have immediate appeal to those newly exposed to reading.

They will be reminded of the days of the week as each animal has something unusual happening on the day. Goanna wakes on Monday feeling cold and is warmed by his Dad. On Thursday Little Quoll is feeling angry, but Sister is there to help him feel calm. Each day is linked to an emotional state of the younger animal. Each time a member of the family has a response which makes him feel better.

The book nods to members of the family and their closeness and ability to be there for the younger child. It recognises the importance of the family and its members to the feeling of well-being of the young. But apart from some wonderfully warm feelings, Dreise introduces a number of Australian animals which may not have appeared in many Australian picture books. He presents a goanna, a sugar glider, a turtle, a quoll, a frilled lizard, a butterfly and a fruit bat, each drawn using memorable Aboriginal motifs.

Award winning Gregg Dreise, a member of the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi people of south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales, produces lovely warm books, filled with luminous illustrations that draw the eye. His Silly birds (2014) is a wonderfully funny tale and will always remain one of my favourites. And there are many more.

For more information about Gregg and his week, see the fabulous website which again is very different, telling readers what Gregg loves.

Themes: Aboriginal story, Australian animals, Family, Relationships, Feelings.

Fran Knight