A House for Donfinkle
Age 3+
Picture Books
Can Donfinkle Vonkrinkle build his dream house?
Up high in the grasslands where Wooble Beasts roam, Donfinkle Vonkrinkle is building his home. When up pop four creatures to babble and squawk, a troublesome taunt full of bothersome talk …
Creators
Choechoe Brereton loves writing. She also loves rainy days, hot chocolate, whales, friendly monsters and magical shops. She doesn’t know where she would be if she couldn’t imagine. A House For Donfinkle is her first book.
Wayne Harris is an award-winning illustrator and designer. He won the APA Best Designed Picture Book of the Year Award for A Bit of Company by Margaret Wild and for Gordon’s Got a Snookie by Lisa Shanahan. He was short-listed in the 1995 NSW Premier’s Award for writing Judy and the Volcano, the same year Going Home was named an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book. He works as a designer for Walker Books Australia and also teaches design and illustration. He has most recently illustrated Edge of the World, written by Ian Trevaskis, published by Walker Books.
Reviews
Grand Designs for the younger set … [A House For Donfinkle’s] rollicking verse is reminiscent of Hairy Maclary and is in the tradition of the best nonsense books. Wayne Harris has used digital illustrations, but there is nothing harsh in them: a soft, friendly feel extends even to the knitted-looking striped trees.
Junior Books+Publishing
It’s Dr Seuss meets the Muppets with Brereton’s rollicking rhyme and fanciful characters teamed with Harris’ quirky, soft, pastel illustrations in A House for Donfinkle.
goodreads
A House for Donfinkle is a delightful rhyming picture book by début author Choechoe Brereton. The text has a simple message about self-belief, told in a joyful, whimsical way. The rhyming text scans beautifully, making it perfect for reading aloud and for multiple rereadings. The digital illustrations, by seasoned illustrator Wayne Harris are filled with whimsical detail and rendered in a pastel palette which serves as a wonderful complement to the gentle message of the text.Lovely.
Aussie Reviews
The imaginary creatures will tickle the humour of young readers
4MBS Book Reviews
A House for Donfinkle is as utterly delightful
Blogspot
Lyrical rhyming text, reminiscent of Dr Seuss, brings the quirky characters to life, especially the industrious Donfinkle.
Bookrapt
This is a gentle and humorous way to teach children to have ‘the courage of one’s convictions’.
Books + Publishing
Fantastic nonsense words and a great sense of both rhyme and rhythm, combined with Wayne Harris’ brightly coloured, magical illustrations, make this a fun read aloud picture book to share with children of 3 and up.
Books In Print
The underlying theme of self-confidence is achieved with beautiful illustrations that capture the antics of the monsters as well as Donfinkle’s own journey towards finding his unique way… The rhythm and rhyme was expertly natural, but still exciting.
Creative Kids Tales
This is a charming book that illustrates the principle that sometimes a person has to trust their own instinct and not listen to others too much… This book is a thoroughly enjoyable bit of fun that has at its heart a message children and adults may need to hear.
Dale Harcombe
Children will love reading the entertaining rhymes and listening to the bold onomatopoeia.
Holidays With Kids
The rhyming text liberally scattered with Goobles, Moobles, Bloobles and Floobles makes this a fabulous book to read aloud, while the quirky images by award-winning illustrator Wayne Harris are the perfect match to first-time author Choechoe Brereton’s text.
Kids Book Review
The language and rhyme is wonderful, twisting the tongue and delighting the ears.
Literacy, Families and Learning
It is a large book, ideal for allowing you and your child to pour over the pages
NZ Book Lovers
A lovely tale of friendship, of doing what you want to do, using the offers from friends without allowing them to take over… A wholly satisfying read.
Read Plus
Every page is filled with incredible detail which kids will love poring over.
The Mummy Project
