Picture book review: Ready. Set. Discover Logan

Ready. Set. Discover Logan, Karen Tyrrell (author), Aaron Pocock (illus.), Digital Future Press, 2018

Synopsis: Yana arrives in the City of Logan with her family, feeling alone. She’s not sure what children can do in Logan Yana meets Bunji, an Aboriginal boy at the Logan City library. Bunji shows Yana the best places for kids to explore and play.

Ready. Set. Discover Logan is a unique concept combining the excitement of a children’s story, with an informative tour guide of the Southeast Queensland city of Logan, south of Brisbane.

The book, sponsored by the Logan City Council, follows the journey of Yana and Bunji as they enjoy the broad range of activities and experiences the city has to offer.

Author Karen Tyrrell covers a diverse range of themes within the story, including environment, friendship, technology, innovation, diversity, resilience and health.

Tyrrell is successful in covering some of the most interesting things to do within the city, while also making people of different cultures and nationalities feel welcome within the area.

She’s also very cleverly turned, what is essentially a travel guide of Logan City, into an interesting and fun story of friendship and togetherness.

The illustrations are earthy and colourful and wonderfully reflect the themes within the story.

A lovely and clever book!

Review by Nicole Madigan.