Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters: Squishy Taylor Book One (Ailsa Wild, illus by Ben Wood, Hardie Grant Egmont)

The first book in this new series by Ailsa Wood throws you straight into the action, when Squishy (real name Sita) discovers a boy hiding out in the carpark of her building. Squishy is an ordinary city kid from a normal Aussie family. Her parents from different cultural backgrounds have been divorced for ages and she’s living with her dad, his current partner, two older stepsisters and a new baby. Dad suggests she think of them as a bonus family, but Squishy finds them utterly annoying. Set in a contemporary urban apartment block, with a very modern family (Mum’s in Geneva working for the UN; Dad’s a house-husband), this is a story that doesn’t dwell on difference but focuses on kids’ common interests. Squishy’s character feels real—a bit naughty, a bit cheeky, but with a good heart—and kids will relate to her. The writing is in the present tense, which makes it dynamic, and the text never lags. The art by Ben Wood perfectly complements the action. With a reading level similar to ‘Billie B Mysteries’ or ‘EJ12’, this is a great series for kids aged six to nine, mainly girls but also boys, and particularly those with unconventional families. The seven-year-old in my household loved that Squishy lived in an apartment just like her, and can’t wait to read more stories about her—just like me. Hurray for Squishy Taylor!

Angela Crocombe is the children’s buyer at Readings Carlton

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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