Full of illustrations, primarily colour though some in black and white, Harry Potter : A Magical Year covers every day of the year in the Wizarding World with a different quote - relating to special events, birthdays, seasonal aspects or whatever suits the date. Those who have read the series numerous times may learn something new, all while enjoying the illustrations of Jim Kay (illustrator of the illustrated Harry Potter books).
Presented in a fabulously coloured, hardcover edition, A Magical Year is perfect for Harry Potter fans. Divided into 'chapters', namely the months of the year, each new chapter has a dedicated quote to highlight the time of year or a particular season. As this is a book filled with quotes from the entire Harry Potter series, readers may find themselves confused occasionally, however context for the quotes is not required to enjoy reading this book. It is advisable that all 7 Harry Potter books have been read though, to avoid spoilers. Readers will quickly fly through the book as they will be spurred on to know what other quotes have been included, as well as to see the fabulous illustrations. The majority of the illustrations have previously been published in the illustrated editions of the Harry Potter series, however there are a few new inclusions, as well as sketches.
Themes Fantasy, Harry Potter, Wizarding World, Magic, Significant Dates in the Harry Potter series.
Melanie Pages
The daring reef rescue by Rebecca Timmis
MerTales : Book 2. Albert Street Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781760526566. (Age:6+) Highly recommended.
The Daring Reef Rescue is the second book in the enjoyable MerTales series written and illustrated by Rebecca Timmis. The four diverse mer-friends: Pearl, Sandy, Coral and Shell have very different personalities and always look out for each other. They have all recently discovered that they have amazing new magical powers after a meteorite zooms into the ocean and in this story they will use these unique powers to help save their reef habitat from an unexpected visitor. Disappointingly for timid Shell, her magic power takes longer to present itself but when it does it is incredible.
The primary focus of this new story is the Fancy-Fins Dress up Party. Younger readers will love the preparation of masks for the event at Mer-school and the costumes they all wear. During the party, the friends have an adventure with a large, turquoise sea turtle that has lost its way. They combine their magical powers to solve the problem and create a club for themselves called FINS - Fish In Need Society - where they will use their powers to help all sea creatures.
For those emerging readers progressing to short novels this is a perfect fit. The appealing monochrome illustrations with the addition of blue tones and the use of highlighted mermaid and descriptive words is both clever and entertaining for the reader. At the end of the book the author has thoughtfully added some fun Fin Facts about aspects of the ocean and its creatures. A very engaging series with book three, The Great Treasure Hunt, coming soon.
Vivid writing takes the reader along with the team droving a mob of cattle from Western Australia to Queensland in the 1950’s. The boss, Drover, leads the mob while the rest of the team keeps the cattle in check - all watching out for Shifty, a skittish animal destined to spook the herd. The first pages tell readers of the life of the drovers, riding along with the herd, making sure the cattle stay away from thorny trees, the cook and his team sent on ahead to make camp, relaxing by the campfire after a long day’s ride, listening for anything which may cause the herd to move unexpectedly.
And one night it does.
Drover wakes hearing the mob on the move, and the team rides furiously along with them, trying to turn Shifty before he takes the mob into the woodland from where they will be impossible to retrieve. But all is well, Drover and Midnight manage to turn Shifty, and once turned the mob moves in on itself, eventually slowing down. A disaster is averted.
They move on the following day making sure the mob is well watered before the next part of the journey, the team catching up on information from the bulletins left on the watertanks by other drovers. At the next town, they are cheered by the populace, welcoming them after their six month stint across the north of Australia. They are all looking forward to a hot bath and a soft bed, none more so than their boss, Drover.
The oil illustrations are masterful, drawing the eye in to the drama and detail of the Australian landscape, the look of the mob, the team astride their horses. Each page reveals something new to admire and take in - the scope of the mob, giving an impression of thousands of animals straggling away as far as the eye can see, the stunted desert trees, the night skies, the welcoming tiny country town, and the magnificent images of the mob racing across the pages, spooked by a bandicoot, running unleashed. The looks in their eyes will resonate with the reader long after the last page is turned, wondering what it must have been like to be out in the desert for half the year, only a few in your team, responsible for thousands of animals.
This is a wonderful look at a time in the not too distant past, when cattle were not trucked, but herded across country, an almost unimaginable lifestyle recreated before our eyes.
Information at the end of the books will impel people to reread the book, taking perhaps more note of the illustrations, and lead them to ask more questions, and do further research. A handy glossary finishes the book which has stunning endpapers to set the scene. Classroom ideas are available.
Themes Edna Jessup, Droving, Drovers, Outback.
Fran Knight
Grandude's green submarine by Paul McCartney. Illus. by Kathryn Durst
Following on from his first book Hey Grandude! Paul McCartney presents another magical adventure involving his Chillers (grandchildren). They are cooling down in Grandude’s Invention shed and see a picture of their adventurous grandmother (Nandude). Grandude suggests they use his favourite invention, the green submarine, to go in search of Nandude. The journey begins with the submarine skimming through the clouds to find their friend Ravi in a small Indian village, who may have clues as to Nandude’s location. A monsoon makes it necessary to escape with the submarine down a river and into the depths of the ocean, following the tune of Nandude’s favourite song to find her. Drama ensues when a giant octopus sends them into darkness until Nandude saves the day in her underwater sailing ship entrancing the octopus with her music and taking them home for tea. Although the book flows well there could have been some tighter editing to convey the story with less text but the illustrations do a marvelous job of supporting and enriching the story.
Some links to Beatles music are a little more evident in this book – a submarine, an octopus deep in the ocean, a friend in India; but children will just enjoy the rich visual feast in the gorgeous colourful illustrations in this book. The story could spark an interesting discussion about what children call their grandparents as a few children who read it commented that there were too many “dudes” – maybe Nandude could have been Nangal!
A child’s own story is so very important that this newly released book will provide them with a treasured keepsake. The Story of Us written by Michael Wagner is a brightly presented book which can be adapted for all kinds of family situations. It is not just for nuclear families but for all circumstances which children today may find themselves living in. The introduction to the book explains that the reader is about to make their own history and goes on to explain what history is about. There are many open-ended statements for all the family to share thoughts and the author has cleverly offered the reader prompts such as:
·One of the best days of my life was when...
·One of the most amazing things I ever saw was…
·Someone I really admire is…
·The best - or worst – meal I’ve ever eaten was…
The large double page spread for each statement contains one lined page and one colourful page of lively illustrations to give idea triggers. This is a book which will work best if shared with family members both young and old. It provides everyone with the opportunity to be a part of their own family history. A thoughtful birthday or Christmas gift.
This magical book is about a boy (Jack) who is tricked into becoming a monster hunter. He has always wanted an adventure, and he has now been thrown into the deep end. To look at Jack you wouldn’t think he could make it as a monster hunter, what with being short, skinny and a kid who wears glasses and clumsy. He has believed in monsters all his life because his mum used to tell him stories about all the monsters that she encountered around the world.
With his father missing and his house destroyed, and an ogre lying dead in his yard, Jack doesn’t think he has anything to lose, or a choice – he was tricked after all! He finds himself heading off to Cornwall with Stoop, a 200-year-old monster hunter, where more ogres are causing chaos.
All he is equipped with is his catapult, and a magical book called Monster Hunting for Beginners, and Stoop of course. This is his chance to prove that he can do anything. But he wonders about this along the way. The problem gets bigger by the minute. He meets another monster hunter, Nancy, and together they face the adventures. The thought of finding his dad helps. He learns many things about ogres and monsters along the way, not always very pleasant! Jack always dreamed of seeing a dragon, but not believing it when he does.
Jack, Nancy and Stoop meet the ogre king, who has been woken up from his snooze of more than one hundred years’, and not very happy about it either! And the other ogres learn a few lessons themselves!
Does Jack find what he is looking for? Well, you will have to read the book for yourself! A great book I found hard to put down.
Themes Magic, Adventure.
Natalie Fisher
Bailey Finch takes a stand by Ingrid Laguna
Text Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9781922330994. (Age:8-12) Highly recommended.
Bailey Finch is living an unrestricted life in the year after her mother’s death, her father so stricken with grief that he can barely get off the couch to wonder where she is or what she is doing. She roams around the local creek with her dog Sheba, her best friend in the world. Her mother, an avid birdwatcher, loved the nature that surrounds their house and Bailey recalls the wonderful way she taught Bailey to love it too.
After Sheba swallows some glass and is seriously injured internally, Bailey starts to notice how polluted the creek really is and begins to clean it up. Just as the job starts to seem overwhelming, she meets Israel, a shy boy who is passionate about the environment and begins to help her. She learns a great deal from Israel about the creatures that live in the creek and how important it is to minimise the pollution in the water. They hatch a plan to organize a Clean Up day with the local community. Underlying all this activity is the tension surrounding the fact that Sheba may not recover from her injury and the frustration Bailey feels with her father's ongoing grief and depression.
This novel incorporates the important topics of grief, environmental activism, pets, and friendship so beautifully in a novel that is both gentle and hard to put down. It would make a great class novel for middle primary grades. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Dogs, Water pollution, Activism, Friendship, Grief.
Gabrielle Anderson
Rosie the rhinoceros by Jimmy Barnes. Illus. by Matt Shanks
A heart-warming story, readers will fall in love with Rosie the rhinoceros and the book is sure to become a family favourite. Rosie is a little rhinoceros who is convinced that she is a unicorn. She is energetic and never wants to sleep in and when she looks at her reflection in the water all she sees is a unicorn. She is such a positive little creature. She asks Mr Giraffe if he had seen the glorious sunrise; tells Mrs Lion that is a stupendous day and Mrs Elephant that it is an exquisite morning. When all the animals she meets tell her that she is a little rhinoceros, she does not believe them – because she has a pretty horn, dainty hooves and is sleek and makes friends easily. She then decides to get Mrs Elephant to gather all the animals together so that she can tell them that she is a unicorn. And because Rosie brings rainbows wherever she goes, the animals agree.
The story was inspired by rock star Jimmy Barnes’ granddaughter Rosie, who when playing with her Aunty and sister, refused to be Rosie the rhinoceros and insisted, very loudly, on being Rosie the unicorn. Really well written and flowing beautifully, the reader will fall in love with the happiness that Rosie brings and certainly will want to return to the book again and again. Its positivity makes it a must for the family and school library.
Matt Shanks’ illustrations are lovely and bring Rosie’s personality to life. I love the way he shows Rosie’s shadow as a unicorn and there are lots of little details, like a snake that looks like a rock and a little bird that follows Rosie, which will be fun for children to find. The clear black text with some words emphasised in colour and size also make it a book that emerging readers will enjoy. Teacher’s notes and activities can be found on the illustrator’s website.
Rosie the rhinoceros is a keeper for me, and a delightful and heart-warming story for everyone, encouraging all to be positive and caring.
Serious Bruce and silly-billy Bill are two geese with very different characteristics. A few minutes spent looking at the end papers before the book is read will encourage readers to pick out the differences between the pair. And set the tone of the book about to be read and enjoyed. And there is lots to enjoy.
The rhyming text asks the readers to predict the rhyming word, calling out what they think the word may be, involving themselves in the words of the story. They will learn lots of words about animals, singular and plural, and laugh at the idiosyncracies of the English language, where more than one goose is geese, where-as more than one mouse is not meese, but mice. Our language is full of contradictions and they will cause readers to be involved and alert to the differences.
We follow the antics of the pair of geese as they tell the readers what the plural term is for a variety of animals. But when they reach a fox, this animal turns around to look at the geese as his next meal. Flustered, the geese call on all their friends to help mollify the fox, and it is then the readers will learn the word for a group of geese.
The digitally created illustrations are luminous in their effect, the many hues exciting the imagination. And the funny characters on each page will cause gales of laughter as the readers recognise each animal and see what they re doing.
Themes Animals, Plurals, Words, Humour.
Fran Knight
What do you do to celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek
All over the world families and communities come together to celebrate the beginning and end of a year. What Do You Do to Celebrate? is a brightly presented picture book which showcases these celebrations from all over the world. Some of the events celebrated will be immediately familiar to the reader while others may not be easily recognisable. Fortunately at the end of the book the author has provided a very helpful explanation of each of the thirteen events, the country where they take place and some additional and informative facts. For example, Yonatan walks through Jerusalem’s Old City to see menorahs lit up in celebration of Hannukah, a Jewish Festival. Tala goes to the Giant Lantern Festival in the Filipino city of San Fernando. Thabo is part of a minstrel troupe who prepare all year to dance in the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Parade. In Australia, Mae visits Sydney to see the Christmas decorations and displays.
Each celebration is presented on a double page spread with simple rhyming text to engage the reader and complemented by detailed and appealing illustrations. A very worthwhile resource for teachers in the Early Years when talking about the topic of celebrations.
Just in time for Halloween, or any time for fans of horror, comes this book of fourteen highly scary tales that will grip any reader – not to be read alone in the dark! With short stories from highly respected Australian authors from diverse backgrounds, there is sure to be something to appeal to everyone.
Books of short stories are great for people who are having difficulty settling into the often very long modern YA offerings, and there are some outstanding stories here. One that I will never forget is Stop Revive Survive by Sarah Epstein. If you ever see a mobile home parked in a rest area on your travels, I guarantee that you will not stop there for a break after reading this gritty, gory tale. Vikki Wakefield in her Heart-shaped stone, explores bullying and revenge, “when Arlo trades part of herself in exchange for belonging and vengeance”. Seek and destroy by Jared Thomas looks at the cover-up of the discovery of the remains of Aboriginal people on a mining site and the way the spirits come after the offenders – a frightening read indeed. Angel eyes by Alison Evans is about werewolves and angels, not to mention The EYES, eyes that appear on the bodies of the young adults who turn into wolves and hunt in the night. Do I see it all now? by Michelle O’Connell is an unforgettable graphic story about ‘growing up being neurodivergent and undiagnosed,” while Best years of your life by Felix Wilkins brings out the horror of adolescence. Other stories look at lockdown: The Party by Wai Chim and the graphic story It’s quiet now by Emma Preston, where the monsters come out. And Poppy Nwosu’s theme of grief has an uplifting conclusion in Nature Boy.
This is a collection that is a worthy addition to any library and the stories would also be great to read aloud in class and camps. Readers who like horror might like to continue with Small spaces and Deep water by Sarah Epstein and Highway bodies by Alison Evans, as well as The woods are always watching by Stephanie Perkins.
Themes Horror.
Pat Pledger
The accidental penguin hotel by Andrew Kelly. Illus. by Dean A. Jones
The story of the new penguin colony at St Kilda in Port Phillip Bay is endearing as Kelly outlines the life of the little penguins, so well known for their habitat on Phillip Island off the coast of Melbourne. Visitors flock to see the penguin parade on the island, and now some 1400 have colonised the new breakwater inside the bay. In this richly illustrated book, the text rings with charm and warmth as Kelly postulates on how the penguins made the leap from their colony south of Port Phillip Bay to St Kilda.
He personalises the story, showing the penguins hunting in the bay, filling their bellies with fish before returning to their burrows to feed their partners and their chicks. The older pairs have built their own burrows in the safest spots on the island and the younger males have nowhere to build a burrow attractive enough to find a mate. But a breakwater has been built at St Kilda, the huge rocks revealing lots of crevices, eventually filling with sand and small grasses. Just the spot for a new burrow. One makes the leap, staying at the breakwater, setting up a new burrow to attract a mate, after the others return to their island home.
The illustrations for this magical story are outstanding, revealing the penguins swimming beneath the waves, staying clear of the surfers above, fishing and nestling in their burrows. The image chosen for the front cover make it a book that must be picked up and read. Each picture tells a story about the environment in which these little animals live, their habits and the way they survive. And despite all the intrusion we have made on their lives, they have adapted a man made shelter as their home. The last double page spread of the two penguins against the background of the Melbourne night skyline of buildings will impel readers to think about the impact we have had on our native animals. Turning the page reveals an outline of the penguin’s year, along with several paragraphs giving more information about the little penguins near Melbourne. Kids will be thrilled.
I Lost My Granny in the Supermarket, written by Jo Simmons is a story that will keep you entertained until the very last page. This novel will appeal to readers who love humour and wild adventurous fun. Simmons creates a vivid text that enables the reader to easily visualise and sense every minute of crazy fun-filled drama and antics.
Harry is an easy going eleven-year-old boy who loves animals and dressing up in costumes. He desperately wants to own a puppy, but since his little indiscretions with past animals, his mum has made him have to earn his way to getting a puppy with ‘puppy points’. He can receive these by doing chores and clearly showing he is responsible. So, when extra puppy point come up for grabs, Harry is very keen to try to get them. All he needs to do is look after his Granny and take her to a few appointments before heading to a special awards night function. That surely can’t be too hard! Unfortunately, his Granny isn’t your average slow, quiet and easy-going old lady. Mini (Harry’s Granny) is full of adventure and outrageous fun, and she has little desire to attend the awards night. Harry sets off on what he believes will be an easy 50 puppy points day, but within minutes he realises that this day is not going to go at planned. Will Harry be able to get his Granny safely to the awards night and collect his 50 puppy points or will Mini create more havoc and mayhem than anyone could ever imagine? Whatever the outcome, Harry is in for a day that he will never forget!
Jo Simmons has written many entertaining novels, and this one won’t disappoint. Combined with great illustrations by Nathan Reed, this book will engage readers with its witty humour and terrific clear imagery. I lost my Granny in the Supermarket would also make a great read aloud for a class to enjoy. This book is a definite winner with twists, turns and tales!
Themes Relationships, Problem solving, Rights and Responsibilities.
Michelle O'Connell
Night lights by Inda Ahmad Zahri & Lesley McGee
Little Pink Dog Books, 2021. ISBN: 9780648652847.
A bright enticing cover invites the reader into the world of fireflies in a traditional Malaysian village. Here the grandfather lights the lamp and takes his grandchildren on a journey around the garden where the fireflies light their world, hoping to attract a mate.
With bright, vivacious illustrations, readers’ eyes will be drawn across each page to take in the breathtaking detail, the lights attracting the exclamations of delight.
The value of family is unmistakable as the grandparents care for the group of children, encouraging their daytime play in the forests watching monkeys and playing, but at night when the shadows fall, they sit on the verandah listening to grandfather's stories of when he was a policeman. He scares them a little with his stories, but sometimes he takes them on a night walk where they see the fireflies, until Grandmother comes out with a lamp calling them to bed. And they fall asleep, contented.
A charming tale of life in Malaysia includes the many words for the granpdparents, nods to their food and its preparation, hints of a child’s life far from the city.
I love the images of light represented: city lights with a mobile phone shown, to those in the country where the house relies on a spluttering generator which causes the house lights to flicker and eventually stop. Then Grandfather brings out the oil lamps by which light they travel into the garden, there to spy the fireflies, the older ones with white light, while the younger ones colours. And beneath it all is the warmth of fmaily, the grandparents caring for their five grandchildren, allowing them freedom to play in the forests, but calling them in at night.
Little Pink Dog Books is a newish publishing venture from Armidale (NSW) and began in 2016 to encourage new and emerging authors. See more about them here.
Themes Malaysia, Grandparents, Shadows, Light, Fireflies.
Fran Knight
Goldilocks: Wanted dead or alive by Chris Colfer
Hachette, 2021. ISBN: 9781510202504. (Age:7+)
Goldilocks in this graphic novel is a tough, outlaw living in the western part of the fairy tale world, the Dwarf Forests, where criminals and outcasts can live freely. The reader learns this in a page of dense text with a simple map at the start of the book. This is followed by ‘Prologue - The Brothers Charming” with a convoluted discussion between the 3 brothers about fulfilling their father’s ambition to rule all the kingdoms of their world by driving out the people of the Dwarf Forests and claiming the territory. They trick their wives into giving them the power to invade the territory. Chapter 1 finds four well-armed men hunting the legendary Goldilocks in the Dwarf Forests, they are defeated easily by Goldilocks and her horse with lots of violent action and supernatural power. Chapter 4, distinguished by a black background, takes us back twelve years to Goldilocks’ back story which involves porridge and bears, betrayal and finding help where she least expects it. Back to the present day, Goldilocks is asked to help save the Dwarf Forests and she, with a rag tag band of outcasts including wolves, witches and other fairy tale characters set out to defeat the armies of the Charming brothers. The story is fast paced and a quick read which will be popular with readers already familiar with The Land of Stories series by this author but the characters here seemed one dimensional. The queens appear weak and easily influenced and their change of heart at the end was unconvincing. Their images, and that of others, owe a lot to Disney animations and the limited range of expressions on faces and mostly fixed point of view failed to add much to the story. A more exciting graphic reimagining of a classic story in a similar style would be Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson.
