Boobela, Worm and the potion power by Joe Friedman
Illus. by Sam
Childs. Orion Children's Books, 2008. ISBN 978184255 5415
(Age 7+) This large sized paperback, full of colour and energetic
illustrations, tells the tale of Boobela, a child giant, adrift from
her parents, and her friend Worm, who sits on her shoulders and offers
advice. There are four stories in this volume, the third in the series,
aimed at linking reading between picture books and novels.
The first story, The argument, sees a rift between Boobela and
Worm, as
she struts off down the street without her friend on her shoulder. She
needs to explain to the other children she meets that she and Worm have
had a fight, and she realises how silly she has been. When
tragedy occurs and Boobela needs help, Worm appears and all is right.
The four stories are easy to read, have large print and tell a small
intimate story in the lives of the two protagonists.
While a battle rages about putting a recommended age on
every book published, it is fascinating to see how this will affect
book publishing. This book has a recommended
age of 4+ on its publicity sheet. But it is far more than a picture
book, and more involved. This book has 108 pages with
about 100 words on each page, which in my way of thinking makes it a
book aimed at 7+.
Fran Knight
Ironbark by Barry Jonsberg
Allen and Unwin, 2008. ISBN 9781741149555
(Age 14+) Imagine what would happen when a 16 year old boy, suffering
from a major problem, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, goes to live
with his grandfather in remote Tasmania? After he has been taken to
court for violence in a shopping centre the unnamed protagonist is sent
away by his wealthy father, who has paid extravagantly to have his
son's violence judged as an illness and not hooliganism. He records how
he feels and what happens in his journal.
Jonsberg brings alive the character of the boy, with his foul language,
his bouts of dangerous anger, and his extreme views of his
grandfather's shack and its lack of modern amenities. His relationship
with his girlfriend, his ability to cook and his growing self-awareness
are revealed through his writing. The reader also gains a thought
provoking glimpse of the grandfather, who gradually reveals a sense of
humour and understanding of his grandson's extreme anger. The local
policeman, Richie, is loved by the locals for his wood chopping
prowess, but he threatens and bullies the boy who has to report to him.
An explosion is just waiting to happen!
The author uses humour to effectively depict the generation gap and
there is plenty of action, especially the motorbike riding and illicit
car driving that the boy indulges in. There are some puzzling touches
of what may be the supernatural with a strange text message telling the
boy how to find his way home from the mountain when he is lost and
unexplained incidents at the end of the novel, which left me
puzzled. However the ending is positive and boys will love the action
and humour.
Pat Pledger
The pencil by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman
Walker Books, 2008. ISBN 9781406309621
(Age 4+) Recommended. A highly imaginative picture book, this is the
story of a solitary pencil that decides to do something about its
loneliness. First it draws a picture of a boy, who wants a dog, so it
draws that and then a cat to complete the picture. After a madcap race
through the town they all want something to eat, so the little pencil
must find a way to colour their food. It draws a paintbrush and
together they have a wonderful time creating a whole world. However
some of the people aren't too happy about how they look, so the pencil
creates an eraser, which plays havoc on the drawings. What solution can
the clever little pencil come up with?
The pencil is a quirky tale of adventure with a touch of danger and
lots of funny incidents to keep the reader happy. The delightful
illustrations move from black and white to gorgeous colour and provide
humourous little touches that are a delight to find.
This would be a good book to read aloud and to encourage listeners to
use their imagination. The reader must turn a page before the
resolution of each dilemma that the pencil is faced with, so they have
time to decide what could happen next and to come up with solutions of
their own. They would also have fun drawing and making up their own
names for all the characters the pencil creates.
Pat Pledger
I'm still awake, still! by Elizabeth Honey and Sue Johnson
Allen and
Unwin, 2008. ISBN 9781741753219
(Age 2-6) Highly recommended. An enchanting bedtime story complete with
a CD with lovely songs to accompany the text, this is a must for
preschoolers or Kindergarten children. Fiddy is a little boy who can't
get to sleep, even though his mother sings him a wonderful song,
'Goodnight my little darling, goodnight my little one'. Then Parlo
tells him to dream up something wondrous and sing about it in his head.
He makes up a song about his rainbow pyjamas, but this doesn't work.
Neither does his 'Goodnight Gumboots' song or the advice from the
possum, other Australian animals and a bear. Finally Nonno points out
the planets and Fiddy drifts away into sleep.
As well as being a wonderful bedtime story, with lustrous watercolour
illustrations, the accompanying CD is an excellent addition to the
book. Elizabeth Honey reads the story and the beautiful songs, each
memorable and lyrical, will be great to use with the text. Having the
words for the songs on the endpapers of the book is very handy.
Listening to the story and songs will be a delight for children and the
book will have multiple uses for a library or classroom. It could be
used in music classes and children could also explore animal homes and
sleep patterns as well as using their imagination. Teachers'
notes are
also available.
Pat Pledger
Dreaming again ed. by Jack Dann
Harper Voyager, 2008. ISBN
978073228625 5
This collection of 35 new short stories celebrates Australian fantasy
and science fiction authors. There are some wonderful authors to read:
Garth Nix, Sara Douglas, Isobelle Carmody and Terry Dowling, to name a
few. Not every story will be interesting to all readers because this
collection touches on all aspects of the genre, but there are stories
to satisfy every reader of the genre.
I particularly enjoy those tales that are set in the present day
reality but with a twist. Many of those in this edition seem to involve
the undead. I appreciated the afterword from the authors who were able
to give an insight into their stories' origins and evolution.
Kim Westwood's Nightship gives a view of a possible future, one
that I
can relate to because it isn't a high tech future, but a future
returning to a more violent and almost feudal past, with an
environmental twist. Terry Dowling's Fooly has an interesting
twist as a ghost story, while Angela Slatter's The Jacaranda Wife
is a
story that combines Aboriginal myth with the surreal. It mirrors the
ambitions of humanity for beauty, perfection and greed and shows the
impossibility of ever succeeding in gaining it.
The constant past by Sean McMillan is one of those unsettling
tales of
a misplaced person who is seeking to right a perceived wrong of the
past. Kim Wilkins has given the Hansel and Gretel story a tweak, but
has kept the essentials the same - selfishness, poverty and
inhumanity. Sara Douglass' The way to the exit, ropes you in
and is
able to use the development of the Underground in London as the basis
for her fantasy. What a great way to use information that is there and
give it a twist. I really enjoyed this one.
Others that caught my attention were Simon Brown's The Empire,
Jenny
Blackford's Troll's night out (an unexpected gem) as was Smoking,
waiting for the dawn by Jason Nahrung (a very Aussie zombie story)
Jason Fischer's Undead camels ate their flesh could be read in
conjunction with Jason's because of its Australian flavour and
wonderful sense of humour. The lost property room by Trudi
Canavan is a
classic of its type, a wonderfully ordinary story that takes you in an
unexpected direction. Paradise Designed by Janeen Webb was a
glorious
reconstruction of the biblical Adam and Eve story and a lovely satire
on Intelligent Design.
I've only skimmed the surface of this treasury of incredible fantasy,
but I've been very satisfied with the wonderful variety and quality of
writing. What a treat.
Mark Knight
Lu-Lu's wish by Matt Zurbo and Ben De Quadros-Wander
Lothian. 2008.
ISBN 978-0-7344-1017-7
(Age 5-8) Poor Lu-Lu! She is surrounded by people who can do special
things. She desperately wants 'to be able to make something' and when
she finds a rock in the creek she decides that it will be her wishing
rock. But it doesn't matter how hard she wishes she can't paint like
Tahli, perform like the circus kids or play the saxophone. But there is
one special thing that she can do.
This is a lovely, warm story that focuses on the intense desire that
Lu-Lu has to be special at something. Children will identify with the
feeling, but will be able to see quite clearly that Lu-Lu is wishing
for things that can only be achieved by having unique talents and
spending hours practising. However her wishing stone gives her
something amazing.
The vivid illustrations from Ben De Quadros-Wander are very appealing.
Lu-Lu is a wide-eyed little girl who tugs at your heart strings and the
other characters in the story are brought alive, each with their own
unique characteristics. The interesting detail in the drawings is sure
to intrigue the curious reader. Reading aloud Lu-Lu's Wish
would
provide lots of opportunity for class discussion of what makes each
person special.
Pat Pledger
Blue Skies & Gunfire by K. M. Peyton
Josie is just about to go off to Art College when war breaks out. Her family decides to send her to stay with family in the country to keep her safe during the Blitz. This means leaving her whole life, including her boyfriend, behind, and going to live with her aunt, uncle and cousin who she barely knows. Josie finds that away from home, she has more freedom! She finds work in a pub, makes new friends and paints in her spare time. She meets Jumbo, one of the brothers from the 'Big House' where her cousin Maureen cleans, whilst painting by the lake, and begin to go out together. Jumbo lost a leg in the war but is determined that he will recover, learn to walk again, and return to the Air Force to fight. When his older brother Chris is sent to the air force base nearby, Josie falls in love with him instead. The brothers compete for her affection, with the victor disappearing suddenly, presumed dead. This is a wonderful book, which gives the reader an insight into the complexity and brutality of war. The behaviour and attitude of the young pilots is extraordinarily matter of fact, with them living each day as it comes, never knowing if they will be around for the next. A wonderful, thought provoking book, with an unexpected 'twist' at the end. Nikki Heath
Bloodline by Katy Moran
Walker Books, 2008. ISBN 9781406309386
(Age 11+) Recommended. It is a time of great peril in Dark Age Britain,
as the Wolf Clan's king has died and the Mercians are striving to take
as much land as they can. When Essa is abandoned by his father, Cai the
bard, at a Wolf Clan settlement, he is alone and desolate. He grows up
in the marsh village between the two warring kingdoms, learning to use
his sword, the Silver Serpent, and coming to terms with his ability to
see through the eyes of his goshawk and influence animals. Cai has
always believed in being 'bound to no man' but Essa finds himself in
the middle of the conflict, with a desperate part to play.
Beautifully detailed and abounding with action, Bloodline is an
engrossing historical story. Essa is a spirited boy and his journey
across Britain, meeting different tribes and kings is fascinating and
at time heart wrenching. The reader warms to his strong and thoughtful
character. His boyish anger at his father and his deep resentment about
being left behind without even a final farewell, his love for Lark, the
tomboy, and his rivalry with the village boys, make him come alive.
Other characters are equally well developed. Hild, the village
headwoman, is capable and strong, and Wulf the Mercian prince is a
match for Essa as they flee Ad Gefrin.
A subtle fantasy strand of communication with animals runs through
Bloodline but is not intrusive and gives an added dimension to the
story as it seems to fit so well into a time when Britain is moving
from pagan ways to Christianity.
This a finely wrought tale with well paced action and an engrossing
hero. It will appeal to lovers of adventure and historical novels.
Pat Pledger
The wish pony by Catherine Bateson
Woolshed Press, 2008 ISBN 978
74166324 2
(Ages 10-13) When the older neighbour comes in to look after Ruby when
her mother has to go to hospital, Ruby is defensive and put out. Things
have not gone well. Her best friend, Sarah, has abandoned her for the
new girl in the class, Mum is always ill with her pregnancy, Dad is
wrapped up with his wife and Ruby feels left out. Magda from across the
road smells and asks strange questions, but soon the two become firm
friends, Ruby finding in Magda the friendship which has deserted her at
school.
Magda gives Ruby her wish pony, and the little figurine takes on a life
of its own on Ruby's dressing table, where it hears Ruby crying and
hears her wishes. Gradually Ruby's life turns around, her baby brother
is born, somewhat premature, her parents begin to listen to her, she
takes on more responsibility, and she makes new friends. All simple,
but each in itself is a huge stepping stone for Ruby as she works out
what is important in her life. And as she develops, so the importance
of Magda declines.
A stunning story about loss, growing up and friendship, The wish
pony
had me on the verge of tears, wishing along with the figurine, that
Ruby would find her feet in her muddled world. All of the children in
the story are subject to change, change in their circumstances, change
in their school friends, change in their homes, and each has to cope
with those changes, and luckily for some, Magda is there to help them
along.
Bateson's writing is always impeccable, finding the right series of
words to describe what is happening and the characters' feelings. In
this book, she gives a voice to children whose lives are not going
along smoothly, and helps them see that things will right
themselves.
Fran Knight
Stravaganza: City of secrets by Mary Hoffman
Bloomsbury 2008.
(Age 14+) Recommended. What would 17 year old Matt do with a book
voucher for his
birthday, especially when he is dyslexic and books are the last things
that he is interested in? He persuades an antique dealer to swap the
voucher for an old book and discovers that it is a magical talisman
which transports him back in time to Padvia, in 16th century Talia, a
country very like Italy. To his amazement he finds that he is a
'Stravagante', someone who can travel between time and worlds with the
help of his talisman book. He has an important task to fulfil with
Luciano and Arianna and other member of the Stravaganzi.
This is a rivetting adventure full of intrigue, fabulous characters and
treachery from the di Chimici. In Matt's new world he gains self
confidence as he finds that reading is not a problem and he even works
a printing press, making forbidden books. The story goes back and forth
from the modern world to Padvia and each strand is equally rivetting.
In the modern world Matt has to come to grips with his relationship
with his girlfriend Ayesha, which is threatened by his poor self
esteem, while managing a normal life of going to school, learning to
drive a car and being a family member.
I had not read the previous three books in the Stravaganza sequence,
City of masks, City of stars, and City of flowers
and certainly this
book would have been the richer for knowing more about the characters.
However I found that I couldn't put it down and that Mary Hoffman had
sufficient background information about the different people and events
for the plot to flow along in an exciting way.
Pat Pledger
Gang-o-kids by Hazel Edwards
Omotivo, Victoria, 2008. ISBN 978064648847 9
Ages: 7-10 A new book published by Omotivo, the Orienteering Services
of Australia, this contains stories by Hazel Edwards published two
decades ago, about kids in an orienteering club.
The Bunyip Orienteering Club meets most weekends going on bush walks,
bush runs and mystery hikes to practice and refine their skills. The
group consists of Jamie, Tina, Emma, Mario and Kate and each story
favours one or other of the group.
Hazel Edward's polished writing brings out the differences in these
disparate kids in a few sentences and their personalities are further
developed through the stories. This book contains four stories telling
of their adventures while orienteering. The first story, Cunning
Running has Mario having to solve a mystery to join the group. As Tina
and Emma are twins, the group devises a mystery where the girls trade
places to put off Mario. As with the other three stories, this one
promotes good skills when orienteering, and displays the sorts of
skills used in this sport.
Aimed at middle primary kids, the book is a good introduction to the
sport, and with four short stories will find a place in classrooms.
Fran Knight
The night we made the flag : A Eureka story by Carole Wilkinson
Black Dog Books, ISBN 2008978 174203007 4
(Age: 9-13) Carole Wilkinson uses the information about the Eureka flag
to tell the story of its making. Three women spend the night before the
Eureka Stockade, December 3, 1854, to sew a flag that the men would
raise high above their hastily built fortification on Bakery Hill.
Wilkinson's story takes elements of many stories passed down through
generations about who made the flag and put these together with what is
known about the flag to make a satisfying tale of the secretive nature
of the task. The telling takes the reader into the tent where the women
work all night, fetching supplies from other women, using donated
materials and finally using a daughter's precious petticoat for the
stars. Carefully, Wilkinson builds up the watchfulness shown by the
women, their caution at their task, their ever present concern that
they will be discovered.
More information about the making of the flag is given at the back of
the picture book, and information can be gleaned from http://www.balgal.com/ (the website
for the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery where students can view the flag).
Fran Knight
Captain Congo and the Crocodile King by Ruth Starke and Greg Holfeld
Working Title Press, 2008. ISBN 97818762889 4 Hb.
(Age 9-15) A graphic novel for all ages, Captain Congo is written in
the style of many comics that I read as a child, full of adventure set
in a tropical land, with awesome recognizable heroes and just as
recognizable deliciously bad baddies. Visual jokes abound.
From the moment Captain Congo and his side kick, Pug, step on board the
ship, Juba Queen, destined for Addis Ababa in Abyssinia, the readers
are in for a treat. An anthropologist searching for the treasure of the
Queen of Sheba has gone missing and his retrieval is in the hands of
Captain Congo and Pug. From scorpions hidden in their bunks on board
ship, to their dinner being poisoned, to the crocodile which harries
them, the whole book is full of fun and adventure.
When Captain Congo and Pug find Professor Perky, he is about to be
thrown into the river to appease the crocodiles which are taking away
villagers. Captain Congo saves the day and as the villagers believe it
is Perky who has saved them from the crocodiles, he is made a king. It
is now up to Captain Congo to find the treasure.
A great read for middle primary to lower secondary, this graphic novel
is sure to please, and like all good books, will have kids wanting more.
Fran Knight
Lightning Strikes Series
Walker Books, 2008.
(2 titles: The Meteorite kid and Egghead)
(Age 9-12) Two more stories in this series aimed at lower reading
ability kids in upper primary and early secondary school will be
instant hits. The first, Egghead by Clare Scott, tells of Paddy
and his
friend Jackal. As part of their schoolwork, their teacher, Mr Farnham
gives each of them an egg to look after for a week, during which they
must make observations for their experiment. The boys are not
impressed. They were expecting a much bolder experiment, something
loud, fizzy or smelly.
The second, The Meteorite Kid by Carol
Faulkner has a girl catching a ball at a baseball final, but what she
ends up with in her hands is totally unexpected. Both stories are
grounded in reality, will have wide appeal through their humour, and
are short with minimum description and lots of dialogue and action.
Just the thing for kids looking for a thin book.
Fran Knight
The highest tide by Jim Lynch
(Ages 13+) When Miles finds a giant squid on the coast near where he lives in Puget Sound, Washington State, he is on one of his night time wanders in his kayak, alone with the sea and its creatures that he loves, away from the strife at home. When a few nights later he finds a ragfish, things move to overwhelm him. His close friend, Professor Kramer recognizes the finds as amazing, but the newspapers dub Miles almost a freak in their hunt for a front page newsbyte.
His friend and neighbour, Florence, lives alone and drawing towards the end of her life, is most concerned about going to a nursing home as she predicts what will happen in the bay. His school friend, Phelps is the same age but obsessed with sex, and on their walks out on the flats, talks non stop to Miles about his fantasies. But Miles is constrained by his love for Angie, his former babysitter, and next door neighbour, and he cannot help but feel protective towards her as she makes poor decisions about her life.
All of the characters and events swarm towards the defining tide, the highest tide for fifty years in the sound, which brings out journalists, scientists, cult members and those wanting a miracle, all wading together in the water, as Florence dies, Miles' mother promises to return, and the community takes stock of the water and its life in front of them. Miles' summer is a defining one, he grows up, sees his friends and family with clear eyes and through his love of the work of Rachel Carson, sees his place in the scheme of things, 'for all at last return to the sea ... the beginning and the end'.
This is a book which is rarely found in adolescent literature. Through the story of Miles, the reader is given an immense amount of detail about the life, condition and future of the sea, through the happenings at Puget Sound. Without being overwhelmed with information we are initiated into the wonders of the bay, given scientific data, see for ourselves where the bay and so the world is heading. The overlay of Rachel Carson's work gives the novel a sub text that is hard to ignore, and all the while we are part of a young boy's early adolescence, with its insecurities and longings, and need for family.
I loved this book, and was amazed to read that it is Jim Lynch's first novel. The story will appeal to reflective readers in early to middle secondary school, particularly those absorbed by environmental issues, and that should be everyone. Fran Knight
