The Boy Who Lost his Bellybutton by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross

Published in 1999 The Boy Who Lost His Bellybutton, by Jeanne Willis, is a humorous look at a young lad who wakes up one morning to find that his bellybutton has mysteriously gone missing. He sets about asking a menagerie of animals in the nearby jungle to see if they know anything about it. Illustrator, Tony Ross, entertains us with  his necky giraffe, his Colgate-white grinning gorilla, he lazy lion, his charcoal elephant, warty warthog, agile tango dancing zebra and muddy hippo.  Last of all we meet with the cunning, fluff obsessed crocodile...for a swampish finish. This will surely be a winner with my little grandson Archie. I can't wait to read it to him.

Jack the Giantkiller by Tony Ross

A violent book about killing giants which some parents might very well turn their backs on. Highly acclaimed writer, Tony Ross, renown for his comic updating of traditional tales, really hits the mark with this one. The main character, Jack, will appeal to the rebellious instincts in young readers, as he sets about systematically killing off all the feared giants of the region. He begins with the capture of Cormoran goading him into his killing pit with insults before mercifully clubbing him to death with a well-aimed single blow. Little does Cormoran's brother, Blunderbore, know that he is next on Jack's quite extensive execution list. His abominable neighbour (who just so happens to be with him) becomes collateral damage. It's then onwards to deal with the two-headed giant, Elvarach, the Thunderdell, and then suddenly dragons and a magician enter the story... and much to his delight, a princess. This is the true stuff of fairy tales, all but with a modern twist; twist of the sword that is! I know many young children who will just love this picture book by Ross, printed just so it happens on acid free paper, ensuring it will be around for a bit.

Carrot Tops and Cottontails by Jan Mark & Tony Ross

Being quite a sophisticated picture book, I think this picture book would really be apreciated by an upper primary student for its descriptive language, its use of rhythm, illiteration, and its at times off-beat humour. The carrots are brazen and vain and are indignant that the rabbits never pay them the attention and the respect they think they deserve. So they set about on a campaign to harass the rabbits to arouse their attention at the very least, but they get far more than they bargain for. This is a very clever and witty fable which explains why vegetables never speak and why no carrot is ever safe from rabbits. Ross' illustrations are exceptional and the sassiness of the carrots and the outrage of the rabbits are beautifully captured. I am still yet to find his famous I Don't Give a Damn About this Dumb Toilet..