Illus. by Grace Chen. Little Steps Publishing, 2020.
ISBN: 9781925839678. Forever fairies is a delightful and magical tale of twins
Luke and Leandra who live with their grandparents. They love to
explore the garden, studying the natural environment and share an
interest in the world of fairies.
To their surprise when exploring in the garden, they discover a baby
fairy with curled wings among the leafy branches. They make the
decision to secretly care for her and try to reunite her with her
family. Magical things began to happen as the twins learn just what
the fairy needs to survive. Along the way the twins also find clues
to the mysterious disappearance of their grandfather. Has he been
caught up in the fairy magic?
Filled with fairy wisdom and lore, the author has created a fun
magical story, focusing on the twins caring relationship with Little
Fairy. The colourful illustrations add a sense of whimsy to this
charming book.
Rhyllis Bignell
Ghost wall by Sarah Moss
Granta, 2019. ISBN: 9781783784462.
(Age: Adult-Senior Secondary) Recommended. A slender volume of 149
pages, Ghost wall kept me rivetted to the page, breathless
as I followed the story of Silvie, a young girl who has joined an
anthropology course, re-enacting life in early Britain. The group
comprising of Silvie, her obsessive father and meek mother, a
professor and three students, build a primitive camp and hunt and
forage for food in the surrounding forests. Silvie's father is
obsessed with the life in the Iron Age and is drawn to stories of
sacrifices found in the bog.
The first chapter detailing the sacrifice of a young girl is
gripping as Moss details the rituals that are carried out. In sparse
but vivid language, the author shows the reader the terror of the
girl as she is prepared for sacrifice. The next chapters are told in
the wry and intelligent words of Silvie, as she watches the students
who have backgrounds and aspirations far from hers. She is
particularly drawn to Molly, an independent and caring girl, who
shows her a different way of life to the one that her father has
dictated. As the days progress, it is evident that Silvie's father
is abusive and violent and this culminates in a scene where his lack
of care is horrific.
Packed into this book are themes of nationalism and harking back to
what is perceived as better times, reminiscent of Brexit. As well,
the horror of domestic violence and its victims and the power of
feminism is finely drawn.
Readers who have been haunted by the story 'Singing my sister down'
in Singing
my sister down and other storiesby Margo
Lanaganwill be just as gripped by this memorable story.
Pat Pledger
When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780734420428.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Author illustrator, Beneba Clarke uses
her considerable talents and background to increase student
understanding and awareness of the phrase they will have heard a lot
lately. 'Black Lives Matter' is a mantra repeated on every news
platform, making it one of the phrases that has defined the last
decade. Used after the shooting death of black teen, Trayvon Martin
in February 2012, people could not help but be caught up in the
world wide response to the acquittal of his killer, penning the
phrase to make people aware that black lives were being thrown
away. Adults reading this picture book will be only too aware
of the background to the phrase, and will be able to support younger
children as they learn what the phrase means and how it came to be
used.
Beneba Clarke shows a supportive family, being strong and positive
with their offspring, making sure that 'Black Lives Matter' is a
phrase with meaning. A pregnant woman gives way to a young couple
and their baby, and as each page is turned, the child grows to
maturity, the verse on each page telling us how their lives matter.
As part of the family's daily life we see police lined up against a
peaceful demonstration, the police outline of a body on the road,
people crying, running figures escaping police brutality. Each image
recalls incidents where the authorities have scorned those whose
lives they have sworn to protect, while in the background we can see
images of the posters carried in the demonstrations.
The stunning illustrations with bold black outlines on textured
paper, the images filled with pastel, bring a dark and foreboding
quality to the pages, as the words point out the adversities
suffered by black people. But the family endures, reminding their
offspring that 'Black Lives Matter', offering hope for a future
where Black Lives do indeed Matter, impelling us all to be part of
that future.
Themes: Racism, Police brutality, Unlawful death, Black
Lives Matter, Demonstrations.
Fran Knight
Terry Denton's Really Truly Amazing Guide to Everything by Terry Denton
Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9781760898922. 260pp.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. This non-fiction book is a delightful
treasure trove of scientific facts and the truth about how the world
works. Ranging from the beginning of the universe through to
explanations of evolution, human anatomy, the animal and plant
world, physics, time, inventions and even Einstein's Theory of
Relativity. The book is well organised into 8 chapters, (bar the
last one) and each is broken down into subheadings with manageable
bite-sized pieces of information. Yet it also connects the
information throughout the book. Some of the information is really
funny and silly and acts to keep the reader amused and on their
toes, such as the checklist of human body parts and the Fact Box
that says, "The average human body contains enough bones to make an
entire skeleton." Or the pages on the domestication of animals and
how horses were a useful form of transportation for humans, but owls
and bees weren't, are complemented with laugh out loud cartoons.
Terry Denton has drawn many really helpful diagrams to support the
facts. There are also oodles of humorous cartoons, involving horse
and bird, monkeys and giant spiders. Denton likes to make himself
and his characters the butt of many jokes. This all serves to
lighten the tone and make this nicely sized, hardbound book all the
more appealing. The choice of font, illustrations and page design
also help make the information easy to read. It is the sort of book
that can be read from end to end but also dipped into or revisited
to get the facts straight. Explanations of scientific principles and
systems are useful no matter what your age. Denton's Guide is an
important antidote to ignorance and does an important thing by
explaining the fundamentals of science in a thorough but
entertaining way.
Jo Marshall
I'm ready for my birthday by Jedda Robaard
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760895969.
(Ages: 2-4) Recommended. This is one of the latest in a beautiful
series of board books illustrated by Australian artist Jedda
Robaard. Featuring cute Australian animals the I'm Ready
series talks children through exciting milestones and events
(previous publications include I'm
Ready for Easter and I'm
Ready for the New Baby). These are fantastic
toddler books that bridge the gap between first concept books and
longer narrative books. They also look and feel distinctly
Australian and their relevance to the lives of the target audience
make them engaging and meaningful. They are perfect for reading to
young children in the lead up to specific events but will also be
enjoyed year round as they cover subjects that young children just
love! I'm Ready for my Birthday follows a little penguin preparing
for its third birthday. Told in first person we hear the excitement
of the penguin ('I can't wait!') as well as other emotions ('I feel
lucky', 'I feel a bit shy with everyone looking at me', 'I wonder
what's going to happen'). All the parts of a birthday at this age
are simply covered: birthday parties, decorations, party food (fairy
bread), social conventions (friends and family saying happy birthday
and thanking guests for birthday presents), birthday cakes, singing
happy birthday and blowing out candles. This is a great primer for
children who might be a bit anxious or unsure about what birthday
parties entail (both their own and attending others) and for
reinforcing positive social interactions. It also helps children
find the language they need to talk about their own feelings.
Themes: Birthdays, Board book.
Nicole Nelson
Crow eaters by Ben Stubbs
NewSouth Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781742236315.
(Ages: secondary/adult) Moving to a house in the Adelaide Hills, Ben
Stubbs is intrigued to find shards of old bricks while digging in
his backyard leading him to think about things under foot, the
things others have left behind, and he decides to see South
Australia, his adopted home, from a different perspective.
You don't need to travel far to find a story, and with this in mind
he sets off, wanting to talk and listen, and he comes across a range
of stories about people as diverse as Chinese miners coming in via
Robe to walk to Victoria, Aboriginal elders across the state, Afghan
cameleers brought in with their animals to open the outback, grey
nomads caravanning in convoys, searching for the 'real Australia',
cave divers in the south east - each group reflecting a different
way of life in South Australia, dismissed by outsiders as simply a
place of festivals and beaches.
Fourteen chapters are filled with his adventures as he drives to
Marree and Mount Gambier, Coober Pedy, Wilpena Pound, Ceduna,
Port Lincoln, Parachilna and Robe, and many in between, talking to
strangers, gathering information, interviewing locals - experiencing
things others do not see as they drive by. I found the references to
the grey nomad convoys fascinating: it is amazing how so many people
searching for something they think is out there, sell up and buy a
rig, travelling around the backroads of this country (200,000
according to Stubbs). At Marree, the home of many of the Afghan
cameleers who came to South Australia in the mid nineteenth century,
Stubbs attends the camel cup, hoping to hear more of this early
migrant group acknowledged by the organisers. He learns far more
sitting around a camp fire with the descendants of these people,
making an annual pilgrimage to the place their predecessors called
home.
This absorbing chapter is followed by one that strikes fear into the
hearts of any beach goer: sharks. The story of Rodney Fox is
outlined then Stubbs ventures out to meet a great white in the seas
off Port Lincoln. A chapter I read very quickly, although sharks
reappear when he interviews a scallop diver, Paul, with a hairy
story to relate. (And as if to further unnerve beach goers, a 5.3m
shark was tagged and measured off Port Lincoln last weekend, 12 Dec
2020)
Many of the stories will intrigue those who underestimate South
Australia. The stories he relates, the people he meets and travels
with give a broader view of this state than other books reveal. We
may have heard about icons like John Flynn, Rodney Fox, Reg Spriggs
for example, but it is the conversations with people Stubbs meets
along the way that are irresistible.
Theme: South Australia, Travel, Exploration, Afghan cameleers,
Coober Pedy, Sharks.
Fran Knight
The Ickabog by J.K Rowling
Hachette Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781510202252.
Highly recommended. The Ickabog is a special book. Without a
doubt, the master storyteller knows just how to captivate young (and
not so young) readers. This book was instantly well received by
classes in our school library. They enjoyed the wonderful word play,
the evocative imagery, the description and of course the plot.
Rowling has fun with nomenclature, for example: Daisie Dovetail,
Bert Beamish, Lord Goodfellow and Lord Spittleworth. The Ickabog is set in the wonderful land of Cornucopia which is full
of bounty and happiness. However, from the start, there is just a
hint that something bad is pending. The King is not very smart, his
advisers are worrying and to the north lie the Marshlands and the
Ickabog . . .
It is refreshing to find a rollicking, good, old fashioned fairy
tale adventure amongst our current diet of children's books which
often deal with difficult topics. However, this story is not all
lightness and froth. It does become dark, in the manner of olden day
fairy tales. The golden kingdom of Cornucopia is almost destroyed by
an evil regime that begins with sycophantic flattery and proceeds to
a level where lies, pretensions, cover-ups, spies, informers, nasty,
chilly, horrible things happen. The weak king struggles between
vanity, cowardice and honesty. Somehow Rowling manages to know when
to stop the nastiness, just in time, just enough to be scarily,
horribly suspenseful. She strikes a fine balance and that is a
supreme art. The young heroes and the good people show fortitude
against all odds and the Ickabog turns out to be a delight.
The reader recognizes the comforts of a well-known formula - a
serialised bed time story. There are 64 short chapters and there are
echoes of well-known fairy tales including The Emperor's New
Clothes, Beauty and the Beast and Snow White.
Full colour illustrations from 34 winners of the Ickabog
Illustration Competition from the UK, Australia, Ireland, India and
New Zealand add something very special to this book. For young
readers to see the work of children their own age interpreting text
through art and then having it published in a book written by
J.K.Rowling is inspiring.
Wendy Jeffrey
Snow ghost by Tony Mitton
Illus. by Diana Mayo. Bloomsbury, 2020.ISBN: 9781408876633.
(Ages: 4-8) Wintery, ethereal illustrations accompany this magical
tale of hope and belonging. An enticing front cover filled with
sparkling snow is followed by equally enthralling illustrations
throughout. A dull colour palate is offset with pops of bright
colour and the crispy white of the snowy landscape. The endpapers
are also stunning and the delight on the children's faces is
palpable.
The story is rhythmic and tells a dreamy story of a snow ghost
'searching for somewhere to settle - but where?' Strong visual
imagery gives the reader a real sense of the darkness and loneliness
of the winter landscape ('dense, tangled wood', 'where the chilly
winds blow and endlessly murmur'). Snow Ghost drifts over town and
wood, searching for a place that will be welcoming until she finally
finds a small country farm. 'Could this be the place to find safety
and calm?' A boy and girl wearing bright clothes are playing and
laughing outside in the snow and Snow Ghost knows that this is the
'place she at last could call home'.
This is a gentle story perfect for bedtime sharing. It is worth
noting that this is a follow up to Tony Mitton's previous
publication Snow
Bear (illustrated by Alison Brown), following an almost
identical formula and themes. Themes: Belonging, Rhyming story.
Nicole Nelson
Heaven sent by S. J. Morgan
Midnight Sun Publishing, 2018. ISBN: 9781925227451.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Evie has scoliosis a condition that twists
her spine and in her mind that is all that people see, especially as
she is encased in a brace for most of every day. Her friend Paige
helps her through the teen dilemmas at school, but Paige cannot help
Evie's family repair itself. Her Dad left for a younger woman many
years ago and they have lost contact with him, and her Mum has
settled for second-best with a younger guy who seems to be more
'parasite' than provider for Evie and her Mum. When a car drives
into her rental house leaving a gaping hole in her bedroom wall, the
driver, Gabe, enters her life and then seems to become more saviour
than destroyer. His unusual on and off entrances into her life make
him seem other-worldly and Evie's life seems to improve as Gabe
tries to make a difference. While this is happening, Paige seems to
be going from good friend to unpredictable and unreliable companion.
Were it not for Gabe and then the entrance of Paige's friend, the
blonde, good-looking Year 12 student Isak, Evie's life would seem
to be falling apart or twisting further out of control. But is Gabe
really Evie's supporter or is something more happening? Will all the
bad things that beset her life keep twisting out of control or can
something brace her life and family and protect them from crashing
out of control?
With many calamities in the year that Evie turns 16, this is both a
coming-of-age drama and a family saga, that collides with a mental
health crisis. There are hints of the angelic along with the
complications of some unsavoury behaviour and some naive responses
to quite complex circumstances, all woven into a story that teenage
girls will enjoy. The romance aspect is perhaps a little
too-good-to-be-true but will appeal to this demographic. With a
setting that is loosely in Adelaide, a South Australian reader will
connect with familiar locales. Although there were aspects of the
story that seemed trite, there was also action and drama and family
relationship tensions and warmth. Themes: Family, Difference,
Disability, Mental illness, Acceptance, Coming of age, Romance,
Friendship.
Recommended for Teenage audience 15+.
Carolyn Hull
The lonely pony by Barbara Sloan
Little Steps Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781925839494.
(Age: 8+) Barbara Sloan's wealth of knowledge and experience with
horses underpins her story of Scout the lonely pony. Small in
stature, he does not measure up to his parents who are show horses.
Scout becomes a companion horse to the Amberfield Park visiting
horses. When Lena's decision to return to horse-riding after an
accident leads her to the stables where Scout lives both pony and
girl find healing. They need a friend and as they train together and
experience challenges and fun outings, their bond grows.
The author's understanding guides the reader through the steps of
learning how to ride, the skills developed, the time and patience
needed. The lonely pony is a story of courage, determination, facing
fears and learning to build confidence. There are realistic
expectations and some difficult times. Overall, this book is written
for the reader who is passionate about ponies and horses, their
care, riding skills and dressage.
Rhyllis Bignell
Beyond belief by Dee White
Heroes of the Holocaust. Scholastic, 2020. ISBN:
9781760662516.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Dee White's Beyond Belief is
a transformative story based on real events in World War II Paris.
Her detailed research, sensitivity and willingness to open the
readers' eyes to how Parisienne Muslims rescued Jewish children
during the Nazi Occupation is amazing.
Eleven-year-old Ruben is left by his Jewish parents at the Grand
Mosque. They need to look for his older sister and her husband. He
is told of a special saviour 'The Fox' who will come and take him to
safety. The young boy is at odds with the Muslim practices, he has
to learn how to pray, what to say and where to hide. The mosque
residents risk their own lives to save the Jewish children. Ruben
becomes Abdul quickly learning the different ways of life in this
Muslim haven. When the mosque is targeted by the Nazis he is forced
to flee with his friend Hana and her little brother Momo.
Richly evocative, capturing the sights, sounds, the desperate times,
Beyond Belief is very fast paced, providing insight into the
lives of their protectors and the Jewish children. The Heroes of
the Holocaust series shows courageous acts and brings insight
into the this time in history.
Rhyllis Bignell
A girl made of air by Nydia Hetherington
Quercus, 2020. ISBN: 9781529408881. 376pp.
(Age: 16+) The phenomenon of the circus has mesmerised authors and
readers alike.
With a chequered history, but always an intriguing one, the lives of
circus people have made great subjects for storytelling - Angela
Carter's Nights at the Circus, Erin Morgenstern's The
Night Circus, Sara Gruen's Water
for Elephants, Roald Dahl's Matilda,
to name a few. This debut novel by Nydia Hetherington brings the
circus to life with all its magic, passion, and dangers. The
nameless narrator, thrown into the circus spotlight, soon becomes a
great tight-rope walker; in the course of her story, she reveals the
glory days and the heartaches of the circus life, weaving folklore
and fantasy as the reader follows her path to celebrity. Woven
through her tale is the search for a lost child - 'I should really
be writing about the child, about how I lost her and why I must find
her, even after all these years. It's why I am writing all this
down.'
The author brings her acting and theatre experiences to her writing
- she established her own theatre company in Paris - and this
successfully engages the reader in a world now lost and largely
forgotten. The writing is fresh; I enjoyed its novel approach the
subject.
Julie Wells
I'm ready for swimming by Jedda Robaard
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760895976.
(Ages: 2-4) Recommended This is one of the latest in a beautiful
series of board books illustrated by Australian artist Jedda
Robaard. Featuring cute Australian animals the I'm Ready
series talks children through exciting milestones and events
(previous publications include I'm
Ready for Easter and I'm
Ready for the New Baby). These are fantastic toddler
books that bridge the gap between first concept books and longer
narrative books. They also look and feel distinctly Australian and
their relevance to the lives of the target audience make them
engaging and meaningful.They are perfect for reading to young
children in the lead up to specific events but will also be enjoyed
year round as they cover subjects that young children just love! I'm Ready for Swimming follows a little possum preparing for
its first solo swimming lesson. Told in first person we hear the
varying emotions of the possum ('I'm excited and nervous at the same
time', 'I feel proud') and about how fears are allayed (goggles
stopping water going in eyes, mum and dad sitting and watching,
being lifted into the pool by the teacher). The story shows a
gentle, patient teacher who listens to the child's voice and
anxieties and helps children to know what they can say if the are
feeling anxious ('The other kids blow bubbles underwater but I'm not
ready yet'). At the end is a recap that reinforces achievements that
can feel monumental for a small child: 'I got into the pool by
myself. I swam by myself. I went underwater by myself.'
A perfect introduction to first swimming lessons for little ones or
for those graduating from swimming with parents to independent
lessons. Themes: Swimming lessons, Board book.
Nicole Nelson
More than mere words: Essays on language and linguistics in honour of Peter Sutton edited by Paul Monaghan and Michael Walsh
Wakefield Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781743057551. 298pp.
Ethnographer and contrarian: Biographical and anthropological essays
in honour of Peter Sutton edited by Julie D Finlayson and Frances
Morphy
Wakefield Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781743057568. 282pp.
(Age: 18+) Wakefield Press, an independent publishing company,
established in 1979 and based in Adelaide, continues to produce
quality Australian fiction and non-fiction titles. Peter Sutton,
born in 1946, is an Australian social anthropologist and linguist,
who, for almost 50 years, contributed to the understanding of
Aboriginal languages, art, culture and society. More Than Mere
Words and Ethnographer and Contrarian collect essays
from various academics exploring these subjects further, or linking
their investigations and observations specifically to Peter's work.
Included throughout both books are figures, maps and tables. The
lists of contributors show the extraordinary influence that Peter
Sutton has had on the anthropological Australian landscape. Detailed
lists of references follow each essay and the index in both texts
will prove invaluable for the general interest browser and the
in-depth readership. Both works are academic in nature but would be
worthwhile additions to the shelves of school libraries to assist
teachers and students in the study of Aboriginal Australia.
Julie Wells
Ready, Aim, Fart by Adam Wallace & James Hart
Fartboy book 2. Scholastic 2020. ISBN: 9781743832622.
(Age: 7-9) Fartboy Martin returns in his second funny adventure,
fighting the evil villain Madame Wax who is terrorising Sparkletown
with her own ear wax sculptures. Filled with fart jokes, loads of
silliness, an accidental hero and a long-lost grandma, this
continues the tidiest boy in town's tale. Martin Kennedy is held in
high regard; he is so neat and tidy that he's never even farted. Of
course, that all changes when an unfortunate incident occurs.
When the Baked Bean Factory explodes, unleashing an epic fart gas
Martin's life changes dramatically. His parents disappear and he
ends up living with grandma, who is an excellent fart teacher. When
a gross villain, Madam Wax comes to Sparkletown to frighten
everyone, it falls on Martin to save the day.
With an abundance of gross body humour, plenty of vomit and a large
amount of disgusting earwax sculptures this book is just right for
the developing reader ready for a chapter book with fun cartoon
illustrations. Themes: Humour, Flatulence, Superheroes.
Rhyllis Bignell
