Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760526139.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Dog (2020) is a reissue of a
story published in 2018 in Tales from the inner city, which
explored many vistas of city life and the relationship between the
city and its inhabitants. In this excerpt, Dog, Tan explores
the relationship between humans and dogs, showing the continuous
cycle of life and death, of rebirth and renewal, seen through the
panoply of time and place.
'Every time I see people walking their dogs at my local park, I
never cease to be heartened by the endurance and affection of this
bond, its strangeness, its apparent naturalness' (Tan, included as an
afterword in this book)
He goes on to tell stories of dogs mourning their owners' deaths,
one waiting patiently at a railway station for nine years,
underlining the bond that exists between people and their dogs.
Over millennia, dogs have been brave, loyal, trusted companions, and
Tan shows this in his glorious images produced with thickly applied
oil paint, covering each double page.
In the beginning a person and a dog see each other across the way
and walk together side by side. Tan shows the pair walking across
the yellow sun lit pages, a stunning contrast to the pages which
follow: black, greys and dark blues showing a death, separation and
a decline in the relationship between human and dog. Following,
Tan's half dozen or so pages uncover the progress of history. In
great luminous spreads of colour, Tan reveals a range of historical
eras, fires, ice ages, the advent of agriculture, the industrial
revolution, the rise of the railway and roads, the last unveiling a
look passing between a dog and a woman on the other side of the
road. They come together, appropriately on a zebra crossing, and
walk on as if they have never been apart. In this way the pair seem
destined to walk together for millennia to come, a natural place for
both to be, a stunningly positive note on which to end.
Tan's images are stunning, with hints of Jeffrey Smart adding to
their realistic portrayal of our surrounds. The swathes of colour
across each page recall journeys, roads, destinations, pilgrimages,
bridges, rail lines, as the person hunts, fishes, toils in the
field, fights in a war.
Children will pore over the images, reading the sparse prose for
greater elucidation, developing their understandings of how an
exceptional artist works.
Themes: Understanding, Dogs, History.
Fran Knight
The 130-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Illus. by Terry Denton. Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781760786168.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. The 130-Storey Treehouse by
Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton is another fast-paced
and action-packed read in this on-going Treehouse series.
Young readers have been waiting impatiently for the release of this
new addition. The new levels added provide the friends with so much
more to do. Some of these levels are:
Soap bubble blaster
Non-stop dot level
13-storey igloo
GRABINATOR
Extraterrestrial observation centre
Time-wasting level
Toilet paper factory (very necessary in COVID-19 times)
TFB-treehouse fire brigade
Best bookshop-in-a-treehouse-in-a-tree-in-a-forest-in-a-book in
the whole world
The story begins with Andy annoyed by a pesky fly. He tries
everything to get rid of it. Terry uses his laser eyes to try to
destroy it but sets the treehouse on fire. Jill has enough sense to
call the fire brigade to save the day. The fly is caught in a bug
catcher but the friends realise that they also caught in some sort
of dome and they are abducted by a UFE - unidentified flying
eyeball. They are taken to Planet Eyeballia where they are
surrounded by millions of eyeballs. They are then ordered to take
part in an Intergalactic Death Battle against other abducted aliens.
They hide in the treehouse while the battle rages around them. The
story becomes more complicated as a blob from Blobdromeda stows-away
on the treehouse, becomes an umbrella from the sun; they travel to
another galaxy to save the blobs from a mud-sucking blob toad and
finally the fly returns!
These stories are exhausting for the reader but highly entertaining
and page turning. You just have to find out what happens next. The
143-storey treehouse book is coming soon.
Themes: Humour, Friends, Tree House Living, Fantasy, Creativity,
Intergalactic adventure.
Kathryn Beilby
The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
The Trials of Apollo. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN:
9780141364087.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. In a return to Percy Jackson's world, Apollo
- in his human form as teen, Lester Papadopoulos - must go into the
final battle against the opposition of Nero and his extreme power,
to enable Apollo to return to Mount Olympus. The fight is also
against every awful and mythological enemy that has come under the
power of the last emperor Nero. Meg is at his side and she is trying
to overcome her history as Nero's adopted daughter while being
Lester's 'Master' in the fight. The engagement of oracles,
underground troglodytes and other demi-gods all work together to
assist Lester (Apollo) to finally face the worst of the conflicts,
but there is wounding, fear and the possibility that Apollo may lose
his challenge and be trapped in human form without the opportunity
to return to his godly form . . . and does he even want to give up
his humanity?
In the world of Greek Mythology and the Percy Jackson
series, this is a concluding story in the Trials of Apollo.
Although it would best be read after the preceding four episodes of
the trials, it is not impossible to read without prior knowledge.
Fortunately, there is a glossary to explain all the mythology
terminology and creatures. Rick Riordan has been able to introduce
young readers to ancient mythology through his exciting quest and
battle scenarios and they love the 'fantasy' elements and the
adrenaline-charged action. With Haiku to foreshadow each chapter and
fast-paced writing, there are no dull moments. Needing some maturity
to deal with the aggressive combat within the myths of ancient
worlds, this is best suited to readers aged 11+. But they will love
the action! Themes: Mythology; Action/Adventure.
Carolyn Hull
The illustrated encyclopaedia of dangerous animals by Sami Bayly
Lothian Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780734420015.
(Age: 8+). Highly recommended. The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of
Dangerous Animals is a stunning new companion to The
Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals written and
illustrated by Sami Bayly. Dangerous animals provide a fascination
for both adults and children everywhere. The author has presented
more than sixty of what may be the most deadly and dangerous animals
from places all over the world in a beautifully illustrated and easy
to read non-fiction book. The Contents pages show a miniature image
of the animal with its name underneath. Each animal is presented on
a double page spread with information on one half and an
illustration with amazing detail on the other. The scientific name
of the animal is given plus a pronunciation guide. From the headings
of description, danger factor, conservation status, diet,
location/habitat and fun facts the reader will learn more about the
dangerous animal under discussion and how it has adapted to life
today. There are some Australian surprises in the book - the magpie
features as it can attack humans in breeding season, the Red
Kangaroo is known for its boxing technique against both humans and
other kangaroos and the Bulldog Ant exhibits aggressive behaviour
and its venom can paralyse smaller creatures. Other more unique
animals included are the Alligator Snapping Turtle, Geography Cone
Snail, Human Botfly, Kissing Bug, and the Oriental Rat Flea.
This book would be a welcome addition to any library and a perfect
resource for student research when teachers introducing or
revisiting the information report genre.
There are detailed teacher resources available.
Themes: Dangerous Animals.
Kathryn Beilby
Pierre's not there by Ursula Dubosarsky
Illus. by Christopher Nielsen. Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN:
9781760525934.
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. Going with her mother to clean an
empty house, Lara sees a boy watching from the attic window. And
going upstairs takes her into the most magical of adventures, as she
becomes part of his puppet show, in an attempt to find his
grandmother home. The unusual boy, Pierre, dressed like a
puppet himself escaped after seeing his family eaten by wolves, and
must find his grandmother but he has no idea where she lives. Pierre
has an antique puppet theatre in the attic. Wanting to help Lara is
transformed into a dog, another of the puppets, and Pierre
uses his puppets to tell the story of his parents being eaten. He
initially thinks Lara is a wolf, and is very wary of her, and as the
story progresses, Lara wavers between thinking of herself as a wolf
or a dog or even a girl. Along their strange journey they meet an
old horse who joins them as does a princess who takes them back to
her castle to wake her father. Each of the events on their journey
has vague links to fairytales and will initiate recognition and
laughter as the story is moulded.
Told in a play format with stage directions, acts and speech
attributed to one or the other of the players, this story is
wonderfully engrossing, and serves as a model for children to create
their own plays or read this novel as a play script.
Australian Children's Laureate, Dubosarsky, is an inspired writer of
fanciful stories many of which are awarded at annual competitions in
Australia and overseas. Nielsen is a Sydney based illustrator who
has added another layer of interest and fun with his drawings of
Pierre and Lara searching for his grandmother via the puppet
theatre. Teacher's
notes are available.
Themes: Humour, Family, Fairy tales, Puppets, Theatre.
Fran Knight
The Missing Prince by John Flanagan
Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger, bk. 4. Random House
Australia, 2020. 295pp. ISBN: 9781760890452.
(Ages 10+) Highly recommended. In The Missing Prince John
Flanagan has written another very satisfying and thrilling adventure
which ends on a knife edge. This is the fourth in The Royal
Ranger series in which Rangers, Will and Maddie, are sent on a
recovery mission by King Duncan of Araluen. The two have to travel
into the Gallic kingdom and find King Philippe's son Giles, who is
being held against his will by power hungry Baron Lassigny in
Chateau des Falaises. Rangers are trained to have superior skills
and 'use their brains first to avoid fighting' and these two are no
exception. Will is the older mentor and teenage Maddie is second in
line to the Araluen throne. They disguise themselves as father and
daughter entertainers. Will is a jongleur, or minstrel, and Maddie
becomes deft at knife throwing and juggling. On their journey they
successfully keep their real identity secret and humorously thwart
ham-fisted attempts to follow them and rob them by a bunch of
thieves called the Black Vultures. Things turn very serious and
nail-biting once they arrive at the Baron's Chateau and come under
his scrutiny. Maddie must do the tricky work of locating Giles in
the Chateau and then they must try and rescue him.
Flanagan writes for young people but never talks down to his
audience. Hence this book can even be enjoyed by adults who want an
adventure set in imaginary medieval-like times. He uses interesting
descriptions and we learn about castles, weaponry and fighting
tactics. Flanagan conjures up very likeable characters. Maddie is a
welcome brave and determined female character who can't sing for
peanuts. Will is a little more complex with a simmering dislike of
bullies and arrogance that he only just keeps under control. Some of
their foe suffer quite brutal wounds but they all deserve it! It is
possible to read this book without having read the three prior to
it, however they are definitely worth reading to see the growth of
Maddie in her role as Royal Ranger. The Missing Prince
continues in volume 5.
Jo Marshall
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780063056718.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. The first chapter opens with
Enchanted slowly regaining consciousness in the chaos of a
blood-splattered room, Korey hanging face-down across a bed, and
police pounding outside the door. Then we are stepped back to the
events that led to this day. Enchanted Jones is a 17 year old, in
her last year of school, a champion of the swimming team, but her
real interest is singing and she is determined to overcome her
parents' reservations and win an auditioning competition.
A chance meeting sees Korey Fields walk into her life. He is 28
years old, famous, a singing idol, and he is interested in her and
her songs. It is a gradual process, text messages, snatched moments,
he is genuinely impressed by her voice, cares for her and wants to
help her succeed. It is easy to be drawn to him, but before she can
really work out how it happened Enchanted finds herself trapped by a
violent manipulator.
Jackson's description of the gradual process of grooming by Korey is
very realistic. He is charming, he shares her taste in songs, and he
reveals episodes from his own path into the music industry as a 14
year old, so that Enchanted sees his vulnerable side. But with time
she discovers there is also a 'Mr Hyde' side to him that is angry,
cruel and violent. And she has become so isolated from the people
that care about her that there is no way of escape from him.
The book comes with a content warning about mentions of sexual
abuse, rape, assault, child abuse, kidnapping and addiction to
opioids. But the scenes are not graphic, the focus is more on the
gradual sense of degradation, fear and powerlessness that trap
Enchanted, and provide insight into the situation of many victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault.
The story is fast-paced, with short chapters that carry the reader
along, and there is a twist in the narrative that adds another
element of mystery, keeping readers guessing. Readers of gritty
books like On
the come up by Angie Thomas will also enjoy this book
about an aspiring young black singer who finds herself alone facing
a situation that is beyond anything she could have predicted.
Themes: Entrapment, Sexual abuse, Violence.
Helen Eddy
The fire wombat by Jackie French
Illus. by Danny Snell. Angus & Robertson, 2020. ISBN:
9781460759332.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Based on sightings of animals taking
shelter in wombat burrows during the recent bush fires, Jackie
French has written a book displaying imagination, courage and
companionship. Snell's wonderful digital illustrations warn readers
of the impending fire as they open the book. A page shows a small
scene with smoke in the distance, over the page the smoke is more
prominent and when the story opens it is obvious a bushfire is
looming as the wombat pokes her head out fo her burrow, sensing
fire. French's seemingly simple rhyming lines urge the reader
to stop and reread each line, taking all the substance from the
words, predicting their own words to finish each phrase.
As the fire takes hold, birds fly away, goannas and echidnas bury
themselves under the earth, but for some there is no place to hide.
So they follow the wombat into her burrow and shelter until the fire
passes.
Emerging from her burrow the animals are met by a scene of utter
devastation. Their paws burn, there is no food or water, and their
usual shelter is gone. But noise overhead sees a helicopter dropping
food and water, and the animals are saved from hunger and thirst.
Many volunteers, aware of the plight of the animals affected by the
bushfire, brought in food, particularly carrots to keep the animals
alive, and in the following days, birds returned, mice carried
seeds, new shoots appeared and finally rain fell.
Wombat walked but not alone, the last lines of French's poem, a
tribute to all the volunteers who helped with the aftermath of the
fires, keeping animals alive in their time of great need, ensuring
the bush comes alive once again.
This wonderful tale will lift the spirits of those children who have
read and seen so much of the fire's devastation, seeing something
positive come from something so overwhelmingly fearful. French's
words give hope, she is able to distil a positive note to end on,
one that all children will take to heart as they read of the
wombat and the part she played in saving some of her compatriots. Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Fire, Wombats, Fire safety,
Volunteers.
Fran Knight
Rain before rainbows by Smriti Halls
Illus. by David Litchfield. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406382358.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Rain Before Rainbows is
a very poignant and thoughtful story of the journey a young girl and
fox take while filled with worries and sadness. They have
difficulties to overcome and do so through their own courage and
resilience. Along the way they find companions to support and guide
them as they journey to reach a happier and more hopeful place.
The visually stunning and colourful illustrations support the simple
yet meaningful rhyming text, i.e. "Thunder will rumble, and
lightning will flash. The wind will start blowing and tall waves
will crash." The reader is drawn into exploring each illustration
with great delight and awe.
This is a story to be shared and discussed with younger readers as
the message and meaning may not be necessarily obvious at first
glance. It is a story that will fill both adults and children with
hope that things can get better. Teacher's
notes are available.
Themes: Worries, Journey, Courage, Friends, Hope.
Kathryn Beilby
It's ok to cry by Molly Potter
Illus. by Sarah Jennings. Featherstone: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.
ISBN: 9781472942425.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. It's ok to cry is a refreshing
read covering many scenarios with children and their feelings. The
book begins with a thoughtful introduction for the reader explaining
that it is ok to cry and that everyone needs to express how they are
feeling. The contents page covers a myriad of feelings and
situations that enables a quick search on a particular area of
interest or need. There is a particular focus on boys and emotions
before delving into more general areas for both genders. Topics
under discussion include positive and negative feelings, feelings
that take over, feelings that can make you cry, feelings that
involve other people, uncomfortable feelings as well as many others.
Each double page spread has colourful illustrations with an easy to
follow text. There is a 'It's good to know' box at the end of each
double page to sum up the feelings and situations discussed. Towards
the end of the book is a page full of children and their feelings
which allows the reader the opportunity to offer ideas as to why
they are feeling a particular way. There are notes for parents and
carers about helping boys to become emotionally intelligent and
ideas for strategies to help children to deal with uncomfortable
feelings.
This book is an important read for parents to share with their
children or a teacher to share with their class. It is also a
perfect book for an independent reader to browse through on their
own. Themes: Feelings, Well being, Children, Emotional intelligence,
Boys and feelings.
Kathryn Beilby
Timmy the ticked off pony: Bite me by Magda Szubanski
Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781743832172.
Recommended. This is the second book in the series by this funny and
well loved Australian star and follows Timmy
the ticked off pony and the poo of excitement.
In this edition Timmy is trying to rebuild his reputation after the
awful events of the first book 'The poo of excitement', and finding
out how powerful friendship can be.
I thought that this book was a really good follow-on from the first,
however Magda has successfully written this book as a standalone and
readers will be able to use her recaps as a good foundation for
knowing what has already happened.
As with the first book, I love the illustrations and think they are
extremely funny and engaging for the reader. I love the topics
covered in this book - friendship, embarrassment, emotion and of
course poo!
I gave this book to my 10 year old son and this is his review:
"I thought this book was very funny, just like the first one. Timmy
is pony who becomes the most hated in the world, so he needs to try
and change that and get people to like him.
I don't have a favourite part, as I think all of the story was
funny. This book is easy to read and would be really good for
younger kids who have just learnt to read longer books. I did really
like the pictures, and think the illustrator did the best job. Timmy
is hilarious and I think his character is cool. Most kids 6-9 years
old would think this book is funny and like to read it. Older kids
like me could read it to their younger sisters or brothers. 4 out of
5 stars!"
Lauren Fountain
Perfect tunes by Emily Gould
Scribner, 2020. ISBN: 9781471175053.
(Age: Adult) This is an intriguing story of a talented woman who has
grown up with music at the heart of her early life. Laura has always
loved music and in her adolescent years she wrote a 'perfect' song.
This impacted on her life choices, defining her 'self' and her
career. As she matured, however, she gradually became unsure of
herself and felt that she had been changed by particular events in
her life, particularly in her experience of motherhood.
Later in life, living in New York, Laura meets her old friend and,
in considering how much her friend has changed, wonders how much she
herself is also very different to her younger self, and obliquely,
how much her old self is still yearning for the excitement of her
youth. As a mother she is more wary of situations where she may be
tempted to return to her youthful ways. When she is walking through
the museum one day, she wonders if 'the music in her head has gone
silent'. Yet she dreams of whether she might still be considered as
the hot entertainer of her youth, as she is younger than most of the
other mothers whose lives she shares.
The yearning to recreate herself and to enjoy the excitement of the
musical world is in contrast to her role as a loving mother. This
narrative positions us to consider whether we are the same person we
were in our youth, or if growing old has changed us totally. We are
left to ponder whether the challenge to pursue her old talents, that
may take her back to the excitement of her previous life, would be
satisfying, or whether motherhood will remain as her role and thus
define her life, but confine her talents.
With its explicit sexual description and references, and its adult
themes, this novel would be appropriate for adolescent and adult
readers.
Elizabeth Bondar
The joy in you by Cat Deeley
Illus. Rosie Butcher. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN:
9780593181416.
(Age: 4-7) This book is written for younger children and is based
around the important concept of being you, and finding your joy. The
main characters are a cute and cuddly koala parent and child, along
with a gaggle of their animal friends.
It is written in a conversation style, as the two koalas snuggle in
a tree. The parent koala is encouraging their young child to know
that they can do anything and follow their dreams with whatever activity
or task they choose.
We follow through the pages where their animal friends dance, sing,
paint, learn and use their imagination. They are also encouraged to
feel ALL their emotions, and that doing this is a perfectly
wonderful thing to do.
I really enjoyed reading this book to my 6 year old and used it as a
segue to a discussion about the things she loves to do, and how
those things make her feel. We named the animals and the
emotions.
This book could be used in a class situation during protective
behaviours lessons (feelings), or as a lead in to a
conversation/lesson about doing your best and following your
passions.
The illustrations are bright and inject life into the story. They
were quite engaging for my daughter, who is definitely an animal
lover!
This book would be a good inclusion for any library/teacher
reference section.
Lauren Fountain
Shattered by Travis Winks
Big Sky Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922265883.
(Age: Adult) Shattered - no other word could better describe it. It
is the true story of a family shattered by three events that all
happened within the space of three months: the attempted suicide of
a brother, the arrest and imprisonment of a sister, and the shooting
of a father. The prologue gives us the dates and key events. Winks
then goes on to tell us how his life and his relationship with his
new partner Amanda spiralled into a nightmare where just one
horrific thing happened after another, beginning with his brother
Trent on life support following a suicidal drug overdose. Then his
sister Amy cracks after enduring years of domestic violence and goes
on the rampage, to be arrested and charged. And his father, the rock
of the family, in despair, sets out into the paddock with a gun.
Fortunately for Travis, his partner Amanda stands by him through it
all. With her support Travis finds the strength to step up to care
for his splintering family.
The writing is raw and full of emotion. Readers will find themselves
gripped by the story, and unable to set it down. It is hard to
imagine a more horrific sequence of events. But in sharing his story
Winks shines a light on issues of depression, domestic violence, and
mental breakdown, and the failure of our society to provide the care
and support that is needed. Unfortunately these issues are of
ongoing concern.
Themes: Mental health, Depression, Suicide, Domestic violence,
Nervous breakdown.
Helen Eddy
Santa Jaws by Mark Sperring
Illus. by Sophie Corrigan. Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781408897812.
(Age: 2+) Highly recommended. Shelly the shark is all set to make
this Christmas a very festive one. She turns her cave into a Santa
grotto and invites the little fishes to come in, but they are very
wary and swim away. However, Sid the squid is very excited as he has
not met Santa before: . . . today's my LUCKY, LUCKY day. Golly, whizz and gee! For guess WHO's meeting Santa Claus? Yes, me! Yes, me! Yes, me!
When he swims in finds that it is Shelly the shark in her diving
Santa suit. Can he trust her?
This is a hilarious read aloud, from the creators of Mince
Spies. The cadence of the rhythm and rhyming words make
a rollicking read and young children will love to sing out the 'Yes,
me!' And 'I am!' refrains along with Sid. The person reading it
aloud can also make the story lots of fun by coming up with voices
to suit the two main characters, who each have their own
characteristics. Readers will identify with Sid and his desire to
meet Santa, while relating to Shelly who has no friends and is not
trusted by anyone. She is a misunderstood creature, and it was
lovely to see Sid working with her to bring joy to all the sea
creatures.
Illustrations are cute with lots of fishy details to examine and
giggle over. Sid the squid with his long pink tentacles and big
black eyes is a hoot. The double page spread where he realises that
there was not a real Santa in the cave is hilarious, showing
Shelly's gleaming white teeth and little Sid's tentacles bunched
together. Newly independent readers will love to give this one a go
as well with the illustrations complementing the narrative.
A fabulous fun Christmas book, it is perfect as a bedtime story as
well and has become a firm favourite with my little grandson.
Pat Pledger
