It’s weird, it’s crazy, it’s hilarious, and it’s incredibly sad. This rollercoaster of a story begins with a man in a drunken stupor, on a bridge, contemplating jumping off. He screams. Then something non-human screams back. He follows the scream and finds a brilliant white egg, about two feet in size, sitting resplendent in a forest clearing. Isaac takes the Egg home.
Thus begins the strangest story you will ever read. The Egg ‘hatches’ and becomes a friendly but annoying and perplexing creature that Isaac somehow has to learn how to live with amidst the chaos that his life has become. Gradually we learn that Isaac’s wife has died tragically only recently, and he is in the depths of despair having lost the one person that gave his life meaning.
This is one of those stories where you are immersed in the world of the narrator, and while you can’t quite trust what you are reading, you just have to go along for the ride. It is a bit like the unreliable narrator of Adrianne Howell’s Hydra. Isaac is similarly unreliable. We know there are things he is not telling us, and we aren’t sure just what the Egg is all about. Many of the situations are laugh-out-loud funny, they play out like a nonsense movie, but gradually the reader comes to realise that actually Isaac is suffering from overwhelmingly depression and grief. The love story at the heart of the novel is sweetly romantic and also very sad.
In this highly original story Palmer manages to explore issues of death, loss and grief, in a way that often has you laughing or reading with a smile on your face. You just have to read it to the end to find out what happens to Isaac and the egg.
The reinvention of a 50+ year old series seems a grand thing when you consider how much things have changed in that time, and readers who have fond memories of Enid Blyton's original tales should rest easy knowing that the magic and enchantment of the world of the faraway tree has been lovingly pulled into the modern world. It is still fantastical, comforting and thrilling, but it also presents a world where boys and girls are on equal footing and one that will be more palatable for parents and more relatable for young children today. Unlike the rewriting of the series that happened some years ago (that saw things such as names changed to be more politically correct), Jacqueline Wilson has hit refresh on the entire thing, and she's done a charming job. Her distinctive and humorous voice is perfect for this fantasy adventure that also shines a focus on sibling relationships and doesn't shy away from showing children and their full range of emotions and internal conflicts (jealousy, greed, reckless behaviour, etc). Wilson's characterisation is perfection. All the favourite things are still included and described with rich visual detail: Moon Face's slippery dip, the Faraway Tree folk, the magical food and the fantastical lands.
In Wilson's new tale, three new children stumble upon the Faraway Tree and are immediately intrigued by the magical people who live there and the wonderful lands at the top. They visit the Land of Unicorns, the Land of Bouncy Castles and the Land of Dragons, but it is there that trouble waits for Milo, who is far too curious not to take a peek. Can they rescue him before it's too late? Parents who love reading the original series to their children but engage in occasional editing or historical side notes while doing so will rejoice at this new title, as will the children who adore listening to them.
Themes Fantasy, Adventure, Magic.
Nicole Nelson
You can't let an elephant drive a racing car by Patricia Cleveland-Peck and David Tazzyman
Another in this highly infectious series of tales about size and appropriateness of vehicle use will have kids ask to read the book again and again as the preposterous scenarios are revealed. Kids will adore the idea of an elephant driving a racing car and all that it implies: speed, compactness, competition, clothing etc. And to turn up to the start of the race he dreams of winning with parts already falling off the vehicle will cause much mirth. Over the page, an alligator dreams of being a figure skater, and a kangaroo wants to play cricket, an octopus attempts to play ping pong much to the chagrin of her opponent, while a hippo wants to try out the pole vault. Each scene is accompanied by a verse of rhyming lines, telling the readers what is going on and encouraging them to predict the rhyming words, while laughing at the punch lines of each stanza. And the illustrations adroitly capture the moments when the expected and sometimes unexpected happens. The stork cannot keep his feet on the ground in the three legged race, the wombat finds weight lifting does not suit her abilities, the warthog reverts to his natural prowess of digging while playing in the football match and the puma baulks after he climbs the diving tower to plunge into the pool which is a very long way down.
Each double page presents a scene that is quite out of the ordinary, and will make readers think about just what is appropriate for that animal, while pondering on their involvement in a sport. The animals might not win any medals for their efforts, but they have participated in a sport not usually in their orbit. Making an effort, joining in and participating form the background of this highly amusing tale of animals being where they are certainly not expected to be and doing things out of the ordinary.
When a new girl moves into the big house across the road, the strong friendship between Milo and Jay fractures. Milo calls to see Jay only to find he is with the new girl, Suzi. He hears them laughing together. When he goes to the playground they are there together playing. Sometime he hears them laughing in the big old garden around her house. He becomes jealous of the new friendship and resents being left out. He is envious that she has a new friendship with Jay.
A green-eyed monster turns up and gives him negative thoughts. These thoughts are irrepressible and take over his life. He spies on his friends, walks away when they appear and feels terrible.
But one day Suzi tells him that Jay is unhappy and asks him why he does not join them. He realises that the green-eyed monster has taken over his life and he works to suppress it. The more he works at repressing the jealousy monster the smaller it becomes. And finally the three are friends with Milo acknowledging his poor behaviour.
Another in the fine series, Big Bright Feelings, Percival taps into the feelings of younger readers, exposing their fears and concerns with a deft hand. His stories get to the nitty gritty of the problem, and supported with wonderfully apt illustrations, offer solutions which are simple, straightforward, and achievable.
His books offer a template for discussion and debate within the classroom or home. Others in the series are listed inside the back cover and include several which touch on mental health.
With a gripping opening sentence, ‘When they made the bargain, they knew they risked death,' readers know that they will be in for another exciting ride with Robb’s latest Eve Dallas thriller. This time she explores the sinister underground of child sex trafficking. Mina Cabot and Dorian Gregg are two teenagers who have been abducted and kept imprisoned in the Pleasure Academy, where they have been trained for a life of exploitation. Together they plan to escape but terribly their plan fails and Eve Dallas is called to the scene of the murder of Mina Cabot. Mina had disappeared on the way home from school and as Eve investigates it becomes apparent that she is just one of many children who have gone missing under strange circumstances.
As always, the well written narrative flows along smoothly, keeping the reader’s attention. The theme of child sex trafficking is disturbing and brings some of Eve’s nightmare memories back, but she is determined to uncover who is organising the trafficking and find where the children are being kept. Other familiar members of the Task Force are featured, with Delia Peabody and Roarke playing important roles, and they follow a trail of blood giving them some clues to what is happening.
This is a compelling read and fans of the series will not be disappointed. Robb always manages to find a new theme to highlight in each of her books and child trafficking makes for a sometimes dark and difficult background for this police procedural. The unexpected twist at the end is memorable as well.
The very best doughnut by Randa Abdel-Fattah and Amani Haydar
Pan Macmillan, 2022. ISBN: 9781760988906. (Age:5+) Recommended.
In The very best doughnut we have an early chapter book which is a very warm, engaging and easy read for emergent readers. Published in 2022 by Pan Macmillan Australia, it is typeset in Basic Commercial by Billy Blue Creative (a design studio) in Sydney. The creativity of the varying fonts and page designs create interest for the new reader and the double spaced lines aid reading success. Illustrated by Amani Haydar with simple, buoyant illustrations with some on double page spreads, the young reader is well supported with both easy text and supporting visuals.
The very best doughnut is part of a new series edited by Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah which celebrates Australia's multicultural society. The very best doughnut features Adam, a Muslim child, who has difficulties refusing the challenge of a doughnut with pink icing during the fasting period of Ramadan. This book, with the ironic juxtaposition of an American doughnut with Ramadan as its central dilemma will be a delight for Muslim children as they will see themselves in the story. It will also be a useful book for children who are unfamiliar with Ramadan. Reading books like this demystifies cultural difference. Abdel-Fattah is a prominent Palestinian Egyptian Muslim author and human rights activist. Many teachers and librarians would be familiar with Does my head look big in this? (2005)- one of her best known books aimed at Middle Years/ Young Adult readership.
Other books available in this series are Maku by Meyne Wyatt (Australian First Nations) and When granny came to stay by Alice Pung (China).
Teachers need to be aware of this series of empowering books for emergent readers which are conceptualised so that more children can see themselves reflected in text. Recommended for school libraries.
Themes Ramadan, Multi-cultural classroom life.
Wendy Jeffrey
The secrets of the Stormforest by L.D. Lapinski
The Strangeworld Travel Agency. Orion, 2022. ISBN: 9781510105966. (Age:9+)
The Secrets of the stormforest is the final book in The Strangeworlds travel agency series by UK writer L.D. Lapinski. The central character Flick learns to control and channel her magic as she and Jonathon and friends battle to understand their role as part of the Strangeworlds Society and thereby save the multiverses as they are all threatened with collapse. Secrets are uncovered and many dangers are faced in a cinematic struggle against evil magic. Portals to other worlds open and close, schisms appear and the inbetween world becomes a reality. Problems have to be solved through a mixture of teamwork, attention to clues and making choices that are terrifying.
In the magical vein of stories about portals to other worlds, reminiscent of Blyton's The magic faraway tree but for older children, our heroes struggle to gain entry to visit and survive in other worlds, all of which challenge the team. Questions of identity and of origins and futures make this a coming of age book.
Characters from previous worlds visited in previous books in the series unite to overcome an overarching threat to all of the worlds. This third book completes the series and incorporates adventures and references from the first two books. Of the series, the second book The edge of the oceanmay be the preferred recommendation. The Strangeworlds travel agency series is done.
Themes Fantasy, Multiverses.
Wendy Jeffrey
How to be Prime Minister and survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald
University of Queensland Press, 2022. ISBN: 9780702265587. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald is an amusing and entertaining novel. Enjoy the rollercoaster ride with fifth-grader, Piper and her sister, Lottie as they manoeuvre through life in the spotlight.
Piper is an average grade five student who loved her old school, her old home and her simple life. That was before her Dad’s ‘heroic act’ changed everything! Who would have thought rescuing two kids AND a labradoodle from a shark, while on your boogie board, would lead to becoming Prime Minister of Australia!
Now Piper finds herself in a life that causes her even greater anxieties. Kirribilli House and Oceanview College, with security and cameras following her everywhere, is not the life she enjoys. And to make matters worse, her mum is away, and she has woken to find her Dad is leaving unexpectedly for a ‘conference’ to who knows where.
When she discovers his phone has been left behind, she must deal with the dramas of overbearing politicians and support staff who want to speak to her Dad immediately. What is she to do? Desperate to save her Dad’s already flailing reputation, Piper’s love and loyalty sees her making some rash decisions to cover up his disappearance. Can she, along with Lottie, ingeniously trick the world into believing her Dad is simply at home sick or will everything come untangled and her father be exposed?
Carla Fitzgerald has created a highly engaging, inspiring and thought-provoking novel. This story will appeal to many readers who enjoy humour, fun and a little bit of politics. With an underlying thread throughout the novel of loyalty, resilience, strength and persistence, this story has something for everyone to reflect on. With a resounding message of 'If not me, then who?', audiences will feel motivated to face their own fears and give everything a go. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Resilience, Politics, Family, Friendship, Problem solving, Creativity.
This deceptively simple looking hardback book is a gem, a treasure of personal stories by Wiradjuri elders, recalling experiences of the past, and passing on pieces of wisdom, the joy of family love and simple pleasures. They also bring into perspective the lived history of poverty, loss, marginalisation, and racism, growing up as an Indigenous person in the 1950s and 60s. However the stories remain a testament to the resilience and spirit of the writers. They are ‘deadly’.
Another excellent short story collection edited by Anita Heiss from Magabala Press.
Denis Knight (science fiction and fantasy author and computer programmer) and Cristy Burne (children's author and science communicator) have done it again. Wednesday Weeks and the dungeon of fire is the third Wednesday Weeks book and these stories, rather than running out of steam (as sometimes happens with series) seem to be getting, if it were even possible, better and better.
The stories are told with the immediacy of the first person; the narrator being Wednesday Weeks. The interaction between the characters is delightful. The wit is snap-crackle sharp; the characters' relationships are skilfully drawn. Who would think that readers could relate to a talking skull called Bruce but he's a wise-cracking old thing whose survival we care about as much as Wednesday, Alfie and Grandpa. Our four heroes save the nine realms from the evil Gorgomoth's Third Age of Never-Ending Darkness and bring their regular, normal Science teacher, Mrs Glock, the year sixes and the school inspector Rixon from the Board of Education through world's of heart stopping adventure and danger safely back to class. They travel through realms of unfriendly cats, live volcanoes and more trying to beat Gorgomoth the goblin king to the long lost Stone of Power.
Along the way many obstacles are ingeniously overcome. It is the lessons learnt in school Science/STEM lessons that are applied to saving their lives from hair raising, terrifying situations. At the end of the book are some pages of activities related to the solutions that our heroes had to come up with to save themselves. Concepts of magnetism, energy transformation and gravity and balance and solving of logic puzzles and hidden messages that the children have learnt at school combined with a few magic spells (which Wednesday is controlling a little better) are employed to rescue all from dire danger.
Dialogue between the characters is on pitch, hilarious, informal and smart as a whip. The book could be opened at any page and read to the delight of the year 5, 6 or 7 age group in particular. It's clever, energetic, sassy and very well written. Not only is it about magic and adventure, it is also about true friendship.
Wednesday Weeks and the dungeon of fire is a funny, beautiful book, part of a funny, clever series.
Walker Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781760654788. (Age:16+) Recommended (with some reservations).
Melita has Indonesian heritage and scholarship-worthy Indonesian language skills, so the school trip to Indonesia is high on her ‘Must do’ list. However, her past behaviour during Year 9 at another school still hangs over her and is a secret blight on her new school experience. Unfortunately, her recently ‘controlled’ impulsivity falls apart when she defends a fellow student from a bully’s actions and attending the school trip is at risk because of it. Attending counselling is essential, but a risky choice made in the unattended office gives her access to a diary written entirely in Indonesian, that opens up a world of uncertainty and a mystery that is waiting to be solved. While on the excursion she is able to piece together clues, and she also meets another Melbourne teenager, Michael, who helps her translate and seek answers to the mysterious diary’s sad tale written by Indonesian girl, Devi. But impulsivity again has Melita on the second strike of a ‘three- strikes and you’re out’ punishment. The return to Melbourne does not stop her from pursuing answers, and hiding her search for justice for the mysterious Devi. Unfortunately, Melita and Michael’s search leads them to a deeply disturbing place and their desire to rescue Devi puts their own security at risk. Can they go to the police or will Melita’s own past get in the way? Has she taken too many risks in the pursuit of justice for the vulnerable Devi? Can good come from poor decisions?
This is an intriguing tale, crossing cultures and language and also revealing the awfulness of sex trafficking – not an easy topic for teen fiction. There are also choices made by Melita (and perhaps also Michael) that demonstrate a teen tendency to push boundaries rather than consider consequences. However, they also pursue justice for a vulnerable person that they only know because of a stolen diary. The story of Devi is revealed through the translation of her diary entries. Melita and Michael’s pursuit of truth is only possible because her parents’ priorities (even though they are also social justice focused) have caused them to be distracted from their daughter, a school staff member has also made an unwise choice, and Melita is prepared to ‘fly close to the flame’. The confronting nature of sex-slavery is not described in much detail, but even the veiled references are still awful. There are moments of simple romance developing between Michael and Melita that serve as a contrast to the awful abuse that is hidden in suburban streets.
Themes Mystery, Sex trafficking, Slavery, Indonesia, School life, Choices, Bullying, Romance.
Carolyn Hull
The merciless ones by Namina Forna
Usborne, 2022. ISBN: 9781474959582. (Age:16+)
Namina Forna is back with the second instalment of the African-inspired Deathless trilogy, The Merciless Ones. When we left Deka at the end of The Gilded Ones, she had just discovered that she was the long-awaited daughter of the goddesses that once benevolently ruled the nation of Otera. She is immortal and gifted with the potential to free womankind from an oppressive and patriarchal society. In The Merciless Ones we meet Deka again six months later. She and her warrior friends are exiled from the capital of Hemaira, locked in a protracted conflict with the powerful male priesthood, the Jatu, which controls the land and seeks to subjugate all women. As Deka learns more about the forces and powers in play, she realises that it may not be as easy as expected to defeat her enemies, even with the power of the goddesses on her side. Something is very wrong in Otera and Deka may be the only one with the abilities to stop it.
The Merciless Ones is a typical middle book of a trilogy. It is a solid read without being particularly outstanding. Deka’s story continues in a generally logical manner, although some concepts and character alterations have been inserted into the plot in a rather heavy-handed and at times dissonant manner. Nevertheless, The Merciless Ones functions as a good connection between the first book and the events still to come in the conclusion of the series.
It must be mentioned that Forna is realistic in her portrayals of the abuse and trauma suffered by women living in patriarchal societies. Readers should be aware and keep this in mind when determining whether to read this book.
Extinct: Hainan Gibbon by Ben Garrod. Illus. by Gabriel Ugueto
Head of Zeus, 2022. ISBN: 9781838935474. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
Extinct Hainan Gibbon is the final book in the Extinction series written by TV scientist Ben Garrod. For those who are unfamiliar with the Hainan Gibbon, it is one of the rarest mammals on Earth, one of our closest relatives and is one of the most endangered species with less than 35 remaining in the wild. The habitat for these gibbons is the island of Hainan, which is off the southern coast of China.
The book begins with a detailed introduction surrounded by plenty of white space to make it accessible for younger readers. This is followed by a chapter on ‘What is extinction?’, information from an expert, the first one being Professor Richard Pancost commenting on climate change. A comprehensive chapter on the causes of extinction is next, followed by another Ask the Expert, Professor Gillian Forrester, who answers the question, Is nature good?
Information on the Hainan Gibbon is broken up into the sections labelled: discovery, anatomy, classification, ecology and environment, and behaviour. Expert, Dr Carolyn Thompson shares information on her life as a primatologist who now works with the Hainan Gibbon. Throughout the book the wonderful illustrations by palaeoartist, Gabriel Ugueto, complement the text perfectly and the endpapers and double page spread illustrations are simple stunning.
The strong message in this book that is delivered time and time again, is that humans are responsible for the damage to the environment and have the power to turn things around but must act quickly.
From the first page we know that the worst thing possible has happened - Paragon City’s superhero has died! What will happen now and what will 12-year-old Sonny Nelson do now that his personal hero, Doctor Extraordinary, is no longer able to sweep in and rescue the city from everything evil? Fortunately, Sonny becomes the only one who can see the ghostly apparition of the heroic Doctor when he reappears. The dilemma of being the only one in communication with a ghost is that everyone thinks you are mad! The story is a laugh every moment, and when robotic pandas are released in a dastardly plan to create chaos, Sonny must release his own inner hero (with ghostly Doctor Extraordinary’s help) to rescue the city.
This is a light-hearted romp with some very quirky features. Frequently the authors break into the narrative with amusing asides and this will appeal to young readers. The ‘dead’ Doctor and his arch nemesis Captain Chaos are eccentric and Sonny is the slightly shy and friendless boy whose besotted behaviour towards the heroic Doctor is also left-of-field. Children will enjoy this comic adventure with twists and turns … and pandas. It is just entertaining without being overly challenging, but it also contains the occasional commentary on the adults in the story that kids will appreciate. Recommended for lovers of comedic stories, aged 9+.
Spot appears in a new adventure as he and his dad work on the farm. Each double page has a new chore for Spot to help around the farm. Each shows what the chore is and what Spot must do to be useful and each page has a push and pull insert which adds movement and interest for younger readers.
‘A push and pull adventure’, full of humour will be eagerly sought after by younger readers. The first double age shows Dad collecting eggs from the henhouse while Spot feeds the chickens and hens. The pull out slide shows the grain being thrown from the bucket for the animals to eat. Over the page, lucky Dad is cleaning out the pigsty while Spot collects apples for the animals. The slide shows the piglets eating the apples. Over the page Dad is using the tractor to move the hay bales, with Spot is nowhere to be seen. Eventually Dad finds Spot in the stable with the horses, feeding them apples.
A warm hearted look at the work needed to be done on a farm, this sturdy board book shows a great many details about the work, the animals, clothing and landscape of a farm. Some will be familiar while others will be new to many children, so introducing them to something outside their experience.
Younger readers will love pointing out the animals and what Spot is doing, while helping to pull out the tab which slides across the page.
