Every now and then, a book is published that is just a gorgeous, warm and beautifully written story - one that you would give to your children or grandchildren. Evie and Rhino, by Neridah McMullan first published in 2022, is one of those books.
Combining history with an imaginative story, McMullan weaves a story around the real-life shipwreck of the steamship SS Bancoora at Breamlea in SW Victoria in 1891. The ship was headed for Melbourne from Calcutta carrying tea, rice, tapioca, jute, sugar and exotic animals bound for Melbourne Zoo. It was wrecked on treacherous reefs during a storm as it rounded Cape Otway. Living in a crumbling once well-loved grand old home near the beach where the ship founded lives ten-year-old Evie and her grandfather. Both are bereft - grieving - and the desolation of their house is symbolic of the inner grief of the two occupants. Roaming on the dunes after a mighty storm, Evie comes upon a rhinoceros that has been washed ashore from the wreck of the SS Bancoora.
And so begins an absolute love story. Evie, so awash with grief at the death of her parents, is mute. Rhino has been wrenched from his natural home and is equally bereft. These two beings - the blonde headed child and the armor plated rhino with the softest, kindest heart recognize each other’s souls. This story is imbued with love. The rambling old house is filled with warm domestic interchanges and the aroma of cook's apple pie (recipe included). The characters are all well developed and very likeable. The stables and outlying farm buildings are populated by friendly cows, hens and dogs - all of them friends of Rhino and of Evie. The surrounding countryside is natural SW Victorian land where Evie and Rhino are free to roam.
There is the question of locking exotic animals up in zoos. There is the impending threat of Rhino being taken away by the Royal Zoological Society who are on their way to collect him and there is the power of friendship that can perhaps restore everything to rights. Written in present tense by an omniscient author, there is a sense of immediacy for the reader. The rawness of emotion, the dialogue and the action are fresh and immediate.The illustrations by Astred Hicks are scattered throughout the book and complement the gentle nature of the story with equally gentle sketches of comforting objects: shells, a bucket of fresh milk, fresh eggs, a pile of books, a hen, a mixing bowl and spoon and of course Evie and Rhino.
McMullin has previously written Drover and Fabish - The horse that braved a bushfire - the latter being shortlisted for CBCA Book of the Year in 2017. It would not be at all surprising if Evie and Rhino is seen on future nomination lists.
The Big Book of Exhibits is a fascinating look at 50 exhibitions and collections of unusual and wondrous objects from around the world. From well-known collections including Madame Tussaud’s (France), Terracotta Soldiers (China), Peace Memorial (Hiroshima, Japan) to Toilet Museums in India and South Korea and an Underwear Museum in Belgium, this colourfully illustrated hardback book will have something to interest everyone.
The book begins with a contents page listing ‘some of the world’s great curiosity cabinets’ followed by an introduction. A wide variety of interesting topics are covered throughout this book including art, technology, medicine, science, history and culture. Each page has a title in colour with two or more paragraphs giving information about the place or exhibition being discussed with an interesting highlight and colourful images surrounding it.
For those of us who live in Australia did you know that in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef is an underwater sculpture, the Coral Greenhouse? It is an underwater building filled with reef gardens growing coral and is overseen by statues of children. On a more sobering note, the British Museum has the Gweagal Shield believed to be one of the few relics left from the earliest First Nation peoples’ contact with European colonists. Also, in Australia is the National Arboretum in Canberra which features the largest collection of the critically endangered Wollemi Pine, a tree which dates back to the time of dinosaurs.
This fabulous book is packed full of information which is easily accessible for middle grade readers and older. A highly recommended addition to a school or public library.
Themes Collections, Museums, Exhibits.
Kathryn Beilby
Swifty: The super-fast parrot by Stephanie Owen Reeder. Illus. by Astrid Hicks
Critically endangered Swift parrots, of which there may be only 750 left in the wild, are the focus of this striking new factual fiction release written by Stephanie Owen Reeder. Told in a simple, yet informative story, the reader is drawn to the fledgling named Swifty as they follow her journey from birth to maturity.
Born during spring and summer in the hollow of an ancient Tasmanian blue gum tree, Swifty begins her life alone with her mum after the other two hatchlings have been taken by an introduced predator, the sugar glider. Swifty grows and prepares to follow the blossom trail on the migration from Tasmania to mainland Australia. The journey is over 250 kilometres non-stop over the Bass Strait. This migration is dangerous for the swift parrots as they may encounter high winds that can blow them off course as well as when arriving on land in danger from predators including domestic cats, feral animals and other more aggressive birds.
Swift parrots fly at almost 80 kilometres per hour making them one of the fastest parrots in the world. However, as Swifty quickly learns, glass doors and windows can be highly dangerous! Fortunately, Swifty is rescued, rehabilitated, and released into the wild to continue on her journey.
In the final pages, there are facts about the swift parrot, how they can be helped, and a glossary explaining the words in bold used throughout the text. Swifty is another wonderful book that provides younger readers with the opportunity to learn about one of Australia’s critically endangered birds through an engaging story. The stunning endpapers and glossy illustrations by Astrid Hicks perfectly complement the text and offer the reader so much to explore on each page.
Themes Swift Parrots, Migrations, Animal Conservation, Australian Birdlife, Survival, Critically Endangered Species.
Kathryn Beilby
Two puggles by Michelle Guzel and Andrew Plant
Ford Street Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922696168. (Age:4+) Recommended.
Two Puggles is an appealing picture book about two baby platypuses raised together but who look totally different from each other. One baby has spikes and is named Spike and the other one who has a duckbill is called Ducky. They grow up together doing everything the same but very differently. Spike bobs along on the top of the water whereas Ducky dives deeply into the river. Spike does not like yabbies, but Ducky loves them. Spike is much happier slurping up ants.
One day Spike meets Edna the echidna but is confused and thinks Edna is a platypus just like him. Eventually the confusion is solved, and Spike is lucky to now have two mothers and two sisters.
This is a gentle read about family and accepting differences. The beautiful illustrations will appeal to young children and their adults.
Themes Family, Australian Animals, Echidna, Platypus, Differences.
Forestfall is the second novel in Lyndall Clipstone’s World at the Lake’s Edge duology. The story once again revolves around Leta and Rowan and the forces that both draw them together and force them apart. At the end Clipstone’s first book, Lakesedge, Leta has sacrificed herself to the Lord Under, a mysterious being who lives in a realm of mist and darkness, to save both Rowan and her beloved brother, Arien. She is now living uneasily alongside the Lord Under while those she left behind try to come to terms with her disappearance. That is until, one night, Leta and Rowan discover that they still have a connection to each other that spans worlds. Leta is determined to find a way home and Rowan will stop at nothing to get her back.
Clipstone is a former librarian turned author from the Barossa Ranges in South Australia. Forestfall is her second novel and her confidence as a writer is growing. The novel provides a satisfactory ending, with plenty of mystery, conflict and romance experienced along the way. Like it’s predecessor, Forestfall does at times take gothic tropes and angsty teenage romance to an extreme. However, this is a haunting story set in an evocative world, and will no doubt satisfy readers.
Sunny is a young girl who loves constructing jigsaws. She loves the way the pieces connect together, but she feels that jigsaws are the only things that help her to be happy. Her wise Grandmother though, suggests to Sunny that there are other things that will bring her happiness. She gives Sunny an enormous jigsaw to complete but disappointingly one piece is missing. Sunny is determined to track down the missing piece and goes from house to house searching for it. Along the way, Sunny discovers some new friends and realises in the end that it is not just jigsaws that bring happiness.
This beautiful story with bold and engaging illustrations will delight both children and adults. A perfect read for those struggling and feeling low, and one to be shared time and time again.
Ford Street Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922696137. (Age:5-9) Recommended.
Rockpooling with Pup is a wonderful introduction to rock pools and their hidden treasures for young children. Mia and Pup are on an adventurous exploration to find the blue rings belonging to the blue-ringed octopus who seems to be missing her rings. Along the journey, Mia and Pup encounter a crab, sea stars, sea urchins, kelp, anemones, snails, chitons and finally a hermit crab that reminds them that the tide is rising. When they get back to the blue-ringed octopus they find her rings have returned. Perhaps those rings were there all along!
Each full-page photograph is visually appealing and the simple informative text easily accessible for young readers. At the end of the book is further information about the sea creatures observed in the rock pools. On the final page is brief information about climate change threatening life in rock pools as well a plea to not touch and how to take action to protect the pools.
The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen is an unusual book to categorise. It is non-fiction, a real-life story, told as if through Poppy's voice by the author Jess Black. Black is an established Australian author. Her books including the Mr Walker, Peppercreek Ponies and Little Paws series are well known to children everywhere. In The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen, Walker becomes the voice of the Australian regular-footed professional skateboarder Poppy Starr Olsen. Poppy's voice is captured so authentically that one is sure that Poppy is sitting right next to her and that Black has spent a lot of time with Poppy's family. Poppy has collaborated with Walker by illustrating the book all the way through with her cute little drawings.
From the get-go, the reader is given a first hand invitation into the heart of the Olsen family. The story unfolds through Poppy's voice. We begin as the family cliff jump into the ocean somewhere along the coast near Bondi where they live. The whole family is into adventure and action. Competition is in their veins - everything is a competition. They never sit still. They are an active together family. The family live near the Bondi skate park. Poppy loves skating but it's overwhelmingly a boy's sport. Poppy skates because she loves it. She works constantly to improve her skills. The edgy narrative is full of lists, advice and explanations as Poppy tells us about her life with accompanying illustrations.
Quickly we arrive at the crux of the story. After achieving entrance for girls in the boys only skateboarding competition as a result of a letter of petition, Poppy is faced with the imminent threatened council closure of the skateboard park because of apparent disreputable people and activities associated with skateboard parks. Poppy is a natural activist and so she gears up with the determination that she brings to everything.
Not only is Poppy a skateboarder; she is also an artist. At a young age she began to sell her paintings at the Bondi market so she could fund her skateboarding world. She is an absolute self starter of a character. A civics and citizenship project at school is just the thing for a girl like Poppy to get her teeth into as she becomes an active and contributing citizen at an early age.
It is quite a rare opportunity for children to read a book by and about a real life role model Australian Olympiad - a girl not much older than them. Her high octane, completely fair approach to life, her concerns and her battles may be inspiring for young people. Her gutsiness, determination and resilience are a marvel.
Poppy featured in the documentary Tall Poppy, currently screening on ABC iview, has done a TedX talk and has been interviewed for many television shows. She is mentored by Layne Beachley and sponsored by Vans and Visa.
Primary to Middle Years readers will find The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen an interesting, engaging and inspiring read.
Themes Skateboarding, Activism, Family life, Resilience, Art.
This second book by Tobias Madden has similar gay romance themes to his highly praised first novel Anything but fine but instead of the ballet world, Noah Mitchell is thrust into the world of musical theatre in Ballarat, in an endeavour to get to know his secret gaming partner MagePants69. Noah, aka RcticFOx, only knows his fellow combatant online, but a subtle slip gives him the clue that maybe MagePants69 is performing in the same musical that his mother, Rose, is starring in. Noah, going against all his normal inclinations, decides to join the theatre too, in order to secretly find out more about the person he has become so enamoured of online. Reading those first few chapters, every reader knows that something is going to go terribly wrong. How can he be sure that MagePants69 is Eli, and how will it all pan out?
Although issues of catfishing and online ensnarement are duly raised, these are not the central focus of Madden’s novel. It is more about the deception that Noah becomes involved in, and the betrayal of trust that Eli experiences. There are also issues of school-time bullying, friendship betrayal and loss, and difficult parent-child relationships. But this is ultimately a rom-com, and it is the relationships within the theatre group, the budding friendships, and the slowly developing romance that Noah gradually finds, that are at the heart of the novel.
While there are some shared issues with the more confronting The brink by Holden Sheppard, Madden’s novel has more in common with more gentle love stories such as Golden boys by Phil Stamper, Here’s to us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, and Date me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye . Take a bow, Noah Mitchell is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging romantic comedy of errors that deals with real issues of youthful self doubt and tentative attraction, in a way that every young reader can relate to.
Themes LGBQTI+, Romance, Deception, Trust, Self confidence, Video games.
Helen Eddy
How we came to be: Surprising sea creatures by Sami Bayley
Join author/illustrator Sami Bayly on a fantastic diving journey deep down into the ocean and be introduced to some of the amazing creatures that reside in each zone. This cleverly presented and strikingly illustrated book begins with a personal welcome from Sami who shares her love of unusual animals and an explanation of evolution.
This is followed by an introduction to each of the five ocean zones: Sunlight, Twilight, Midnight, the Abyss and finally the Trenches. The reader is then able to join Sami, easily identifiable by her yellow diving suit, as she swims through each zone offering information and humorous conversation. In the twilight zone she accidentally steps on a spotted deepsea flounder who chats to Sami giving details about itself. As well as conversation bubbles there are brightly coloured circles giving varied and interesting facts. For example, ‘a creature that doesn’t have to swim to catch its food is the vampire squid, as it feeds on marine snow-microscopic dead organism that drift down from above.’ In the final pages are more surprising sea creatures including the Blobfish, Cockatoo Squid, Wolf Eel and the Faceless Fish.
This fabulous book has a place in all libraries and would also be a wonderful gift for children of all ages. Teacher's resources are available.
Hachette, 2022. ISBN: 9781409179313. (Age:Adult) Recommended for adult readers and Romance lovers.
The Robicheaux family grew up in an Irish boutique-style hotel, with love flowing and a plethora of interesting experiences, until their charismatic father, Stu, brought it toppling down with his drinking and gambling. His marriage to steadfast Meg also crumbled, and their connection to the iconic Sorrento Hotel also failed to last. As adults, the four daughters, Indy, twins, Eden and Savannah, and Rory (and their partners) now face an astounding piece of news as they are told that their parents are considering remarriage and that the wedding might take place at the decaying Sorrento Hotel, a victim of neglect since the family inhabited it and ran it as a business. Indy is now a loving and caring midwife, Eden an aspiring politician, Savannah runs her own beauty and perfumes business and Rory is an aspiring author, but they are all somewhat surprised at their parents’ change of heart toward one another, and their planning for reconciliation. As the planning for the wedding progresses, we are witness to some secrets from the past, but also some cracks in the lives of the rather amazing and beautiful women who once called the Sorrento Hotel, ‘Home’.
This is a romantic tale, and yet it shows that there are problems hidden beneath the surface. With a slow and varied reveal we discover that the beautiful facades also hide human flaws, problems, histories – everything from abortions, addiction, to spousal emotional abuse, struggles for a lesbian sister, affairs and varied responses to children in families. Although the family members love each other, they also have the capacity to wound each other. Although the Irish setting does not overtly influence the story, I can imagine the Irish lilt as the story unfolds. This is definitely a book for the lover of syrupy romance stories, but the addition of the abuse plot line and other difficulties adds a pathos and drama that removes the cloying sweetness from the story. This still would be a ‘holiday book’ for those that like the romance genre, and even though the characters do not always have it ‘easy’, they are beautiful and sometimes too sweet or unbelievably forgiving.
This is a new story heralding the return of a popular series from the late 1980's and early 1990's recounting the adventures of the world's worst private detective, Tim Diamond (28), and his much more intelligent younger brother, Nick Diamond (14). Because of their popularity they have been re-issued over the years, each time gaining a new generation of fans, often moving on to read Horowitz's more mature novels such as the Alex Rider series.
In this episode, Tim and Nick haven't had a case for three months and are down to their last cornflake so when a glamorous woman comes into their office offering them a pile of cash to find her missing father, they think Christmas has come. Before they know it, they are caught up in a case involving bike-riding hitmen, super-hackers and a sinister far right organisation, the White Crusaders. The Diamond Brothers are in trouble over their heads.
Even though it has a teenage protagonist and international criminals, it is written for the 7-9 age group, lightened with humour, puns. pop culture references and absurd situations characterised by titles that are spoofs of popular movies. Something to entice young males to keep reading and perhaps lead them on to other works by the same author.
Themes Detectives, Missing persons, Gangs.
Barbara Braxton
The Grimrose girls by Laura Pohl
Fire Reads, 2022. ISBN: 9781728228877. (Age:14+)
Boarding school-based Sapphic fantasy murder mystery… seems like a lot of genres to fit into one book and a tall ask for an author to pull it off, but Pohl does this, rewriting a selection of fairy-tales with a magical twist, for her third novel. This gives us a story of four friends in their final year of school at an exclusive Swiss boarding school/castle, who, in searching for the truth behind their friend’s apparent suicide, uncover a book of curses that has been predicting the gruesome death of students for years.
Each of the girls is modelled, loosely, on a fairy-tale character from the original Grimm brothers’ tales. The chapters alternate between the different points of view of main characters Ella, Yuki, Rory and Nani, giving a layered description of events as they try to stop the killer before they become the next victims.
The isolated castle and spooky surrounding forest set the fantasy scene well with secret passages, hundreds of staircases and cavernous library. The girls and their class-mates embrace a wide range of diversity of disability, race and sexuality, and Pohl cleverly reveals these aspects throughout the book as we get to know the characters better and observe their reactions and interactions. Mental health issues are also raised, friendships are tested and behaviours are questioned as the girls break through self-doubt and others’ expectations, helping each other to become stronger, more resilient and better friends.
A fun element was piecing together the mystery of who the girls’ fairy-tale characters were, but to thoroughly engage with the book, readers would need to understand how fantasy ‘works’, or at least be willing to completely suspend disbelief.
The book itself contains a content warning of suicide mention, depiction of anxiety and OCD, parental physical/emotional abuse, parental death and light gore.
The sequel The Wicked Remain is due in November 2022, and as a result, many of the plot threads are left unresolved, which would be annoying for those readers not invested enough in the characters to want to add it to their reading list.
Themes Friendship, LGBTQI+, Fantasy, Fairy-tales.
Margaret Crohn
Little Ash Tennis Rush! by Ash Barty and Jasmin McGaughey. Illus. by Jade Goodwin
There would be few in Australia who do not recognise the name Ash Barty, who have not admired her grace, sportsmanship and honesty, and who were not disappointed when she retired from professional tennis without defending her 2021 Wimbledon title.
She has become the role model for so many of our younger readers and so this new series about school, sport, friendship and family will be welcomed. While not necessarily autobiographical, it shows Ash to be just like other kids, reinforcing the idea that even ordinary people can become extraordinary, and dreaming with eyes open is something that everyone can do.
Written and formatted to support the newly independent reader, each story addresses a common issue that kids face from having to choose between things they love to putting others before that love. With four stories out now to whet the appetite, and two more to come in November the series will be a perfect addition to your Stepping Stone collection bridging the gap between formal reading instruction materials and the world of independent reading.
Themes Tennis.
Barbara Braxton
The great hamster getaway by Lou Carter. Illus. by Magda Brol
Raffleton Grey is bored with his lot. The mindless running around his wheel no longer holds interest for him, his cage is dark and gloomy, the wood shavings stick between his toes. He is not happy.
He coordinates an escape, climbing out of the window using an ingenious selection of tricks to get him from one place to another, and then freedom. In falling the last few feet he lands on something soft and furry and finds himself in the company of another hamster searching for the same thing as he. This escapee is Puckerford Brown. The two make their way to the fair, something Raffleton has seen from his cage. He wants to feel the pebbles beneath his toes, and splash in the sea, eat crumbs left by the holidaymakers and snooze at the beach.
But in escaping his humdrum life in a cage he finds out there is more to being free than meets the eye, especially when the sun goes down.
At first the two hamsters are deliriously happy, riding all the rides at the fair, eating their fill of leftovers, going to the sea and being well, free.
But as the sun sets and shadows lengthen, eyes peer out through the gloom, watching them. There are cats and foxes and rats, all intent on a hamster dinner. They run all night to escape the predators, and in the morning decide to find a safe haven Raffleton knows just such a place and it is nearby, so they set off. Using a range of acrobatic tricks with rope and balloons they manage to climb into Raffleton’s cage where they make themselves at home once again, but this time with company, they have each found a friend. And are both much happier with their lot.
This is a lovely story of friendship, of being together, of company. The gloom and despondency felt by Raffleton was all down to loneliness and could only be alleviated by finding a friend Younger readers will see the connections immediately, knowing how they feel when with a friend and conversely what it is like to be by oneself. Astute teachers and parents will be able to direct the discussion to positive images of friendship, what doing things with someone else feels like, how another person complements your day. And of course the whole of this funny tale is given in wonderful rhyming verse, encouraging readers to predict the rhyming word, and read it out for themselves. A stupendous read-aloud, the book lends itself to being shared by a range of children who will be able to see layers of ideas as they too might grapple with the thought of freedom.
The wonderful illustrations by Polish born Magda Brol, enable readers to easily identify the ingredients of the story. The hamsters are winning, with their smooth hair and whiskers, all getting scruffier as the story unfolds. The fair background invites the reader to look more closely at all the things an English fair involves, while the images of the night’s activities will send shudders down the backs of the readers as they call out to save the hamsters from their possible fate. And be warned, I can imagine requests at the pet shop and beleaguered parents once children have seen them in this very funny story.
Themes Friendship, Fair, Beach, Company, Loneliness, Hamsters, Humour.
