Illus. by Heath McKenzie. Puffin, ISBN: 9781760896300. 276pp.
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Nit Boy claims to be two
books in one but it's just two different heads of hair. The
narrative of both books oscillates between the forest of Lewis' hair
and the universe surrounding the hapless Lewis, who is something of
a freak to his fellow humans. Unlike Bancks' usual antiheroes, Ned
has a short life to solve his identity crisis. In Part 1, Lift
Off, Ned grapples with his identity as opposed to Lewis' human
confidence that he is fine just the way he is, with his Dad's long
hair complete with pets. The father-son relationship concerns both
Lewis and Ned in their journeys of self-discovery. Lewis wants to be
like his Dad who is absent a lot of the time and Ned wants to be
nothing like his dad, who uses Ned to fulfil his own ambitions. Ms
Herrick emits shades of Miss Trunchbowl, blaming Lewis for the
headlice outbreak and making him miserable - but it's all Keith's
fault, for forcing Ned to marry and have babies who can jump, yes
jump - like fleas.
In part 2, cathartic secrets are brought to light as Ned leaves
Lewis to live amongst the fleas on Dad's dog. Huck and his chocolate
Labrador Boston, have returned from their field work - an absence
that divides his family. Lewis struggles with veganism in the same
way that Ned can't stand the taste of human blood. Pages cannot help
being turned following their concurrent search for answers.
This is often a descriptively gross book of life-cycle diagrams and
pop quizzes about fleas and head-lice, but amusingly the big picture
issues abound - the environment, eating meat, morality, family,
education and genetics. Illustrated by Heath McKenzie, these
fantastic adventures are founded firmly in facts - an engaging
discourse about change and epigenetics through which mankind is
evolving. The frivolous subject matter, belies a layered line-up of
characters worthy of fan or book club debate. Themes: School,
Humour.
Deborah Robins
Who am I? by Philip Bunting
Scholastic Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781743835043.
(Age: 5-10) Highly recommended. Philip Bunting likes to tackle some
of the big questions in life (How did I get here?) and this is no
exception. Who Am I? doesn't just look at human existence
from a physical point of view, instead explaining to children all
the things that contribute to building identity. The illustrations
are done in Bunting's signature style: simple but eye-catching and
highly effective. The book is structured using a series of questions
(Am I my name?, where I'm from?, my stuff?, my gender?, the colour
of my skin?, my muscles?, my bones?, my guts and stuff? my senses?,
my thoughts?, my feelings?), that are then explored, with the
message that most of these are important makings of our body but
don't really make us who we are. 'Your true self is so much greater
than any of these bits and pieces . . . Pootling around, somewhere
behind your eyes, is the thing that makes you, you. Your truest self
. . . this is the part of you that sees what you see, wonders what
you wonder, and feels what you feel'.
There is an overarching and quite explicit message here that we are
not our outer body and that all humans around the planet are deeply
connected. We are all from the same place, made of the same stuff
and sharing the same feelings. Philip Bunting has the most exquisite
way of putting huge ideas into simple words. The Bill Hicks quote
that he has included in the back of the book is "We are all one
consciousness experiencing itself subjectively". In Who Am I?
Bunting has masterfully explored this deeply philosophical idea in a
way that makes it accessible to the youngest of readers. Themes:
Identity, Philosophy.
Nicole Nelson
Greek Myths by Jean Menzies
Illus. by Katie Ponder. Dorling Kindersley, 2020. ISBN:
9780241397459. 160pp.
(Ages: 8 - 12) Recommended. Greek Myths is a beautifully
presented, simply written, thorough compendium. Although it is
non-fiction, with an index, it helps to begin reading it from the
beginning. In this way you understand how Gaia created the world and
then subsequent Olympian Gods and Goddesses such as Zeus, Hera,
Hades and Poseidon came to be. This section is followed by nine
myths of Gods and Humans such as the myth of Pandora's Jar. Nine
well known tales of heroes such as Jason and the Argonauts follow.
There's much treachery, trickery and violence amongst the Gods and
you realize the extent to which we refer to these characters and
tales in everyday life, e.g. The Trojan War, Icarus and Midas.
Throughout these sections are single fact pages devoted to each of
the main Gods and Goddesses. This helps the reader consolidate who
is who. A reference section has further useful pages explaining how
we know about this Ancient History, more information about mythical
creatures and monsters and how the Greek names were used to name
planets, animals and plants. There is a particularly useful
pronunciation guide as well.
Katie Ponder's many digitally created illustrations are well suited
to the myths. The whole design of the book, with quality buff paper
in a large hard covered volume, is very appealing. This book will be
useful in schools where Ancient History is part of the Australian
Curriculum in the middle years. It will also be of interest to young
readers who love books like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson
series. There have been many anthologies of Greek Myths over the
years but I think the design, large font and easy to read style will
help connect these myths with today's audience.
Jo Marshall
Oi puppies! by Kes Gray and Jim Field
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781444937367.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Another in the wildly funny series of
books, Oi
frog, Oi
cat, Oi
dog and Oi
duck-billed platypus, comes another which follows the
same storyline, thus instantly gathering together its enormous
retinue of fans, eager to participate, predict and laugh out loud.
The front cover alerts the reader to the stunned dog; eyes wide and
staring, urging the reader to offer help as it is overwhelmed by
seven puppies all in different stages of excitement. Both Cat and
Frog try to help Dog, offering advice while ordering the puppies to
sit. But of course, none do. Each of the puppies is named and each
name reflects a trait shown by the puppy, giving the illustrator
wonderful comic license to show them in all their glory. The puppies
jump and crawl, climb, use the cat's whiskers as a swing, tug the
Frog's shorts, the exasperated looks on the animals' faces adding to
the fun of the story.
At his wit's end, Frog calls the Oi Animals Seating Supply Company,
and the next few pages shows each of the puppies aligned to a
rhyming seat. So Buster gets a duster, Jock a sock and Tiddles a
fiddle. Each page shows an animal and its name with a rhyming word,
all augmented with wonderful funny illustrations, sure to evoke
laughter from the reader. They will love predicting the rhyming
word, making suggestions of their own, and laugh out loud at the
twist that comes at the end of the tale.
And the very last page hints at number six in the series coming
along soon.
Themes: Puppies, Dogs, Humour, Verse, Pets.
Fran Knight
Tashi series by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg
Illus. by Kim Gamble. Allen & Unwin, 2020. Tashi: The book of magical mysteries. ISBN: 9781760525200. Tashi: The book of giant adventures. ISBN: 9781760525163
(Age: 7-9) Highly recommended. Allen & Unwin have republished
many of the Tashi stories written between 1995 and 2009 in
four volumes, richly illustrated by Gamble. Initially selling over a
million copies worldwide, Tashi is now a TV series and there
have been many other books featuring this wonderful character.
Republished in volumes of eight stories compiled under titles such
as The book of giant adventures and The book of magical
mysteries, younger readers will have the thrill of reading
about Tashi for the first time, while older readers will pick up a
volume to be reacquainted with an old friend.
Each of these two volumes contain a clutch of stories, all about
thirty pages long accompanied by Gamble's readily recognised
illustrations of the tall hatted hero. Each is followed by its
companion story.
In The book of magical mysteries, for example is a story
called Tashi and the ghosts, when Jack as usual is telling his
parents a tale about Tashi eating ghosts. They settle in for a story
in the front room, as Jack retells Tashi's experience with a ghostly
invasion that had the whole village wondering how to get rid of
them. This story of working with his uncle and his telescope is
followed by an expose of Tashi's bravery in The mountain of
white tigers.
Each of the stories tells an adventure and also gives a precept for
life: being kind, being careful of strangers, helping others, being
kind to your friends and so on.
In The book of giant adventures is the first Tashi
story simply called Tashi, first published in 1995. Reading it
recalled my initial fascination for this little person and the
effect of friendship on Jack. He introduces his new friend to his
parents at tea, telling them about the boy he has met. Dad asks all
the wrong questions, prompting Jack to be a little impatient with
him but eventually they learn about Tashi, the boy who arrived on a
swan. This wonderful story is followed by Dragon breath.
With their bright new covers, the stories will be wonderful read
alouds as well as being most attractive for younger readers to pick
up. Themes: Tashi, Adventure.
Fran Knight
Puffin Little Environmentalist: Composting
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760897017. 96pp.
(Age: 6 +) Highly recommended. This small format book is just right
for any child (or indeed adult) who is interested in doing something
about the amount of waste that goes into landfill. How to make
compost is explained in simple, easy to understand language that
will appeal to young children who are becoming independent readers.
It will also appeal to an adult who may be reading to a child as
this book gives great hints about composting that they could do
together.
Commencing with an introduction to what a compost bin is, the book
continues on with information about compost, what can be done with
it, why we should compost and best of all, it gives a detailed way
of making a small compost bin that would fit in a backyard or on a
balcony. This small compost bin consists of a plastic bin with holes
in it and shows children how to make compost themselves, just
requiring a small amount of help from adults, by purchasing the bin
and drilling holes in it.
The simple language, easy to follow instructions and rationale will
provide the newly independent reader with enough information to get
started. A good Contents page, Fast Facts page, Glossary and Quiz
complete this very useful book. Illustrations and the little puffin
that parades throughout the book also add to its appeal.
This would be ideal as a present for young children who wish to help
the planet and will provide children and adults alike enough
information to have a go at composting.
Pat Pledger
Shapes and colours by John Canty
Berbay Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9780648529187. 32pp.
(Age: 0)+) Highly recommended. All the colours of the rainbow and
many different shapes are beautifully illustrated in this lovely
picture book from John Canty, the award-winning author/illustrator
of the Heads
and tails series.
Right from the beginning as the reader turns the cover, bright
shapes appear, with the words, What's red? What's orange? What's
yellow? What's green? and What's blue? Each sentence appears in a
shape that matches the colour, so we see, for example, a green frog
and a yellow banana, all designed for the young child to guess what
the object is. Turning the page, the frontispiece has What's indigo?
and What's Violet, and then the reader will guess that these are the
seven colours that this carefully designed book will contain.
The shapes for each colour are coloured on a double page spread with
the question in one big drawing in the centre. The child needs to
guess what each picture is, and then when the page is turned, finds
a detailed multi-coloured picture of each shape, with the main
colour as the background. I especially liked the colour indigo, with
its vivid picture of a beetle gracing the page.
New words will be introduced to the young child. For example on the
page featuring What's orange, there are a couple of difficult
shapes, and when the page is turned, the reader will find a picture
of a popsicle, orange, safety vest, autumn leaf, pumpkin, traffic
cone and carrot all surrounding a large picture of a goldfish.
This is an imaginative way of introducing different colours and
shapes and is a book that will prove to be a keeper and one that may
well be treasured and handed down to the next generation.
Pat Pledger
The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781473693050.
(Age: Adolescent - Adult) This is a story about ordinary people who
can sometimes be extraordinary, inhabiting a world that, for them,
is different. They have powers of observation, movement,
understanding and power that enable them to move in space, to
create situations in which different things can happen. They can be
outside of the world that we normally inhabit, and act in a capacity
that may save people from disaster. While focusing on adolescence,
this narrative is very much about the real world of today, a world
that is somewhat fraught with anxiety, and one in which it is still
important to love and find love, to spend time with family and
friends, and to seek to understand those close to us, as well as the
outside world.
Essentially this story has an 'added reality' that reflects that
which used to be called 'science fiction'. The powers possessed by
the Extraordinaries are much envied by their peers, while actually
often causing the Extraordinaries to experience emotional angst that
causes them to suffer. The narrative takes place in a country that
reflects much of the modern world, that raises issues pertinent to
this current world and that highlights the emotional world of
adolescence, particularly that of the 'queer' world of the text,
that controversial issue of sexual preference for one's own gender.
The protagonist is yearning for love, and is lonely because of his
situation, the loss of his mother, and living with a father who is
yearning for his wife, and desperate to love and care for his son.
Yet the father's job often keeps him at work late and the boy is
left alone, at home.
At its heart, this narrative reflects the issues of adolescents in
the world of today, that of planning a future in a world that often
appears to be unstable to the young, and of a world in which they
are hoping to find a place or a group to which they belong, and to find
a pathway that will be fulfilling. This is essentially a story about
love, particularly in families where it is sometimes forgotten. It
is about the compassion felt for those who struggle for whatever
reason. Klune subtly suggests that we consider 'difference' as
something that exists, that we strive to continue to love and
support those people in our own worlds, offering loving and
compassionate understanding. The novel is suitable for both adult
and adolescent readers.
Elizabeth Bondar
The teeny weeny genie by Julia Donaldson
Illus. by Anna Currey. Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781509843602.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. When Old MacDonald on his farm finds a
genie in his teapot, things happen. He wishes for a new tractor and
it appears, then a wife to help with the farm, and she comes along.
She wishes for tools and wood to make a cupboard to store her
clothes, then has some left over to make a cradle and wishes for a
baby. But he is crying so a rattle is needed to quell him, then he
wants a dog, the dog wants a cat and on and on it goes, getting more
and more complicated and very funny as the wishes come along thick
and fast.
This beautiful read aloud will be a treat for a young audience as
they can call out the noises each of the wishes makes: the noise of
the tractor, the howl of the baby, the woof of the dog and so on.
Each page is a delight of fun and noise.
And the wonderfully lively and colourful illustrations, will have
the readers recognising the animals they see and spotting known
things in the farmyard, asking a myriad of questions about what they
do not know.
The blue genie gets a little annoyed with the wishes on the farm,
and wants it all to go away, but he cannot make his wish come true,
only those for other people. He attempts to get back into the
teapot, but finds a green genie there instead. The two wish for each
other, the teapot grows wings and the two are whisked away to a
lonely beach where all they can hear are the waves while they drink
their tea. Then they climb into the teapot and rest happily.
Be careful what you wish for is the basis of this funny tale,
cautioning readers not to take wishes lightly because the results of
this may be more than they bargained for.
This is a wonderfully funny, noisy tale which will have readers
jumping with joy.
Themes: Farmyard, Cautionary tale, Humour, Animals, Parody, Read
aloud.
Fran Knight
Carly Mills pioneer girl: A new world by Jane Smith
Big Sky Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922265074.
(Ages: 8-11 years). Recommended. Carly Mills Pioneer Girl: A New
World by Jane Smith is the first book in a new series which
looks at famous women in History. In this story Carly and her friend
Dora travel back in time to 1841 to meet Caroline Chisholm. Carly
has arrived in Sydney from rural Queensland to spend time with Dora
before she attends boarding school. While they are exploring Sydney
they visit Customs House where two shawls from an exhibition are
dropped and then given to the girls after they try to return them.
When Carly places the shawl around her shoulders she is immediately
transported back to the docks of Sydney Harbor and meets Caroline
Chisholm who is in the process of setting up a home for young female
immigrants who are being taken advantage of by unscrupulous males.
While there Carly endures a night far removed from her modern life
and learns how dangerous life is for young girls travelling alone.
After she returns to the present day, Carly encourages Dora to join
her on the next adventure and they experience life as two new
immigrant girls being placed safely in a caring home in a rural
area. Carly has been experiencing great trepidation about attending
boarding school but on returning to the 21st century, learning Dora
will also be going, and after surviving life in 1841, she realises
she is brave enough to cope with the major schooling change in her
life.
This book is a clever introduction to early Australian History for
middle grade readers. Later books will look at Dr Lillian Cooper,
Dame Nellie Melba, Florence Nightingale, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie
and Miles Franklin. Themes: Women in History, Australian History,
Friendship, Time Travel, Adventure.
Kathryn Beilby
Coco the big city kitty by Laura Bunting
Illus. by Nicky Johnston. Scholastic Australia, 2020. ISBN:
9781743834602.
(Age: 5-10) Recommended. Coco is a born to the city kitty cat who
just loves the hustle and bustle of the world around her. Her
favourite colour is pink, she loves ballet, she is always dressed in
a tutu and she hates bugs (even butterflies). We learn so much about
Coco and her big city life in the first instalment of this new
series that she quickly becomes a vivid character. She loves
crafting and creating, is polite and enthusiastic and is super
organised (a list-maker). Her life in the city is full of action,
noise and excitement but everything is orderly and controlled. A
perfectly, perfect life. So, how will Coco react when her parents
break the news that they are moving to the country? Coco is
distraught; she loves her life in the city and the countryside will
be full of bugs! But pack up they do, and 'as they drove out of the
city, Coco looked back and felt a pang in her chest, like someone
was pulling her heart with a rubber band'. She has so many questions
and so many worries about her new life, but when the countryside
greets them with a beautiful rainbow Coco can't help but be hopeful
- 'just so long as there were no bugs.'
In Coco, Laura Bunting has created a rich and endearing character
and Nicky Johnston's sweet, charming and warm illustrations help to
bring her and her beautiful world to life. This is a gorgeous new
series that perfectly bridges the gap between picture book and early
reader. It will be adored by lovers of Ruby Red Shoes,
ballet, fluffy kitty cats and the colour pink. Themes: City and
Country, Moving House.
Nicole Nelson
Tashi by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg
Illus. by Kim Gamble. 25th Anniversary Edition. Allen & Unwin,
2020. ISBN: 9781760525446.
(Age: 5-9) Since the first Tashi book was published in 1995, the
series has sold over one million copies around the world. This
special edition of the original Tashi book celebrates
Tashi's 25th anniversary, and includes Tashi and the Silver Cup,
and Kidnapped! from Tashi's Storybook. There are
four stories included here: Tashi and the Silver Cup, Tashi,
Dragon Breath and Kidnapped!Tashi and the Silver
Cup details Tashi's birth and first birthday in the old
country and introduces us to his family. The original stories Tashi
and Dragon Breath tell of how Tashi came to Jack's world, was
nearly taken back by a War Lord and how he tricked the last dragon
of all. Kidnapped! is about the time Tashi's uncle sold him
to General Zeng. These illustrated stories provide a nice
introduction to Tashi and Jack but the four stories don't flow on to
one another particularly well. In fact, young readers may become
confused because of the unclear timeline. Perhaps as an introduction
to Tashi the original books may be preferable. Regardless Tashi is a
great fantasy adventure series for newly independent readers or for
reading aloud to children that still has a valid place on every
library shelf. What keeps these stories so enchanting is that good
and evil are not portrayed as black and white; there are good people
who do horrible things (his parents sell him), family members who
are despicable but still part of the family and Tashi just takes it
all in his stride. Tashi's out of this world adventures are sure to
enchant a new generation of fans. Themes: Fantasy.
Nicole Nelson
The Martian by Andy Weir
Crown, 2014. ISBN: 9780091956141.
(Age: Secondary/Adult) Highly recommended. Astronaut Mark Watney, one
of the team sent to Mars, is abandoned when a storm forces the leader
to make an instant decision. They see Mark being swept away by the
storm and their data shows he is no longer alive.
But, he is alive and busting to keep alive until he can be rescued
in four years time when the next Mars landing occurs. Trouble is
that there is only so much food and water in the Hab, the tent-like
construction built for the team of six. He assesses his chances
objectively, deciding to eat part meals to conserve food, designing
a way to reuse all the water he can and make some more using parts
from the abandoned module. He devises a way to grow potatoes using
those sent with them for Thanksgiving, using his own waste as soil.
He sets himself up well, and because he is such a likeable narrator,
the reader accepts all the science. This wonderful read, science
fiction at its best, a survival story that defies the imagination
will keep everyone reading to the last page. Full of NASA speak,
acronyms abound, but we learn a little of the minutiae of the life
of an astronaut and marvel at Watney's adaptability.
The book is divided into 26 chapters, most of which are the log
written by Watney as he charts his days, telling whoever finds his
body exactly what he has done to survive, but hopeful, of course,
that he will be rescued. Between these chapters are those set in
NASA as one of the technicians notices that tents have moved on
Mars' surface. She alerts those in charge and this unleashes a crowd
of experts all vying for their voice to be heard. The questions
asked within this room are mesmerising: should they tell the press,
should they tell his parents, or tell the other five now returning
to Earth, all the while having all of their expertise concentrated
on finding a way to bring him home. It is a riveting read, we listen
to the arguments made by those at NASA, and their attempts at
communicating with him, while working with Watney on the planet Mars
in his efforts to survive. A stunning science fiction novel in the
tradition of the Robinson Crusoe novels, (Robinsonade)
where someone is marooned and must survive, this book is a stunner,
made into a film in 2015 starring Matt Damon.
I listened to this as an audio book. Themes: STEM, Science fiction,
Survival, Robinsonade, Communication.
Fran Knight
Fierce, fearless and free: Girls in myths and legends from around the world by Lari Don
Illus. by Eilidh Muldoon. Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781472967138.
158pp.
(Ages: 8-10) Recommended. This enjoyable, diverse anthology of
thirteen myths and folktales, stars young women from different times
and across different continents. There is a 4000 year old Sumerian
myth about the Goddess Innana who outwitted a mountain god intent on
destroying the world. In another folk tale, with a Chinese origin,
Sister Lace is able to make lace creatures and bring them to life in
order to escape marriage to an evil emperor. We are introduced to
the notion of feetwater in an Irish folk tale about getting rid of
witches from your cottage and in a Nigerian legend Nana Miriam
successfully uses her magic to defeat a monster hippo.
These stories are very concise and simply told with touches of
humour. The author, Lari Don, makes them very approachable for
young, newly independent readers but they will also work well read
aloud. The collection is a good resource for teachers to use with
their students to study myths and folktales and the common links
that folk tales around the world have. For example the Italian story
of Petrosinella could be compared to the more well-known Rapunzel.
In addition Lari Don provides interesting notes on the derivation of
each of the stories and lets us know that such tales of strong and
smart girls are genuinely old and important. The cover is modern and
inviting and each story has a one page black and white illustration.
Jo Marshall
Little White Fish and his Daddy by Guido Van Genechten
Catch a Star, 2020. ISBN 9781922326034.
(Age: 2-5) Recommended. Brightly illustrated, this board book will
engage young readers as Little White Fish learns about the daddies
that other animals have. Swimming under the sea, he encounters
little octopus whose daddy has the longest arms of all; Little
Turtle's daddy is super strong and Little Goldfish's father has more
shells than anyone and so on until the final double page spread
where Little White Fish tells the reader that his daddy 'is just
very sweet. We play together he reads me a story every night.'
Set against a black background the underwater creatures are all
vividly coloured and stand out on the page. All the faces are
individual and very happy. I loved the golden seahorse whose father
is the fastest of all and the blue starfish will bring a smile to
the faces of little children.
This board book is very sturdy and small, suitable for little hands
and a lot of handling. It is a lovely tribute to fathers everywhere
and would be a good choice to read for Father's Day.
Pat Pledger
