Guess What? (Mem Fox & Vivienne Goodman, Scholastic, $24.99 hb, ISBN 9781862916432, January 2008) ****

This book was originally published in 1988. Since then, not only has Mem Fox become an Australian icon, but this has become a classic Australian picture book. While the market seems flooded with mediocre new picture books, it is commendable that some wonderful books are being republished for a whole new generation to enjoy. The illustrations in the original were a visual delight and a marvel of detail and they’ve been reworked for this new edition (I’ll leave it to astute readers to guess how!). The text is a deceptively simple series of questions about a crazy lady called Daisy O’Grady, encouraging readers to guess who she is. On that
level it’s fun and the obvious clues will delight young readers, especially those who love being a little bit scared. But it is the illustrations that lift this book to levels that will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers. They provide so many clues to the character and her lifestyle and there’s something new to see in every reading. And guess what? On the last page there’s a list of things to find in the pictures that sends readers right back to the beginning and will challenge even older readers.

Margaret Hamilton is a former children’s publisher. She now provides freelance publishing services and reviews

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2007, Thorpe-Bowker