Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593124963. 336pp.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Ivy and Iris are twins, separated when their
parents divorced, Ivy staying with her father, and Iris going with
her mother. They still saw each other intermittently, but now they
are thrown back together again, when their mother dies in an
accident whilst jogging across a bridge. It's six years since they
were all living together - and it feels really strange. They were
never close as sisters - too dissimilar to feel a real connection
despite being twins. Ivy feels uneasy about the way Iris wants to
step into her life, wear her clothes, attend all the same classes at
school, and meet up with her friends. What happened to Iris's last
lot of friends? Iris ranges from cool aloofness to sudden tears that
she seems able to conveniently turn on like a tap. The tension
builds as Iris gains in popularity regularly sidelining Ivy, and
isolating her. Her manipulations lead to Ivy losing the trust of her
friends, and even her father. At least she still has her boyfriend
and her counsellor . . . for now.
This is a thrilling page-turner that will keep you reading,
wondering about what is going on with Iris - could she be a
psychopath? Why is she intent on infiltrating and destroying Ivy's
relationships? What happened the night their mother died? Readers of
mystery thrillers will enjoy the twists of this story until the very
last page. Themes: Mystery, Grief, Psychopath.
Helen Eddy
Taking the lead: how Jacinda Ardern wowed the world by David Hill
Illus. by Phoebe Morris. Penguin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780143774518.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. On 15 March 2019, a gunman killed and
wounded Muslims while they were at prayer in the mosque at
Christchurch. Without hesitation, New Zealand's prime minister,
Jacinda Ardern flew to Christchurch, donned a head scarf and hugged
those affected by this act of terrorism. Her speech punctuated with
the phrase, 'we are one' was heard around the world, a response from
her heart.
And reading this absorbing book takes the reader to her background
and experiences which have made her what she is, a stalwart amongst
world's leaders, a shining example of humility and understanding.
From her early years growing up on an orchard at Waikato, concerned
that others in her class did not have access to the things she took
for granted, to helping her aunt's campaign in New Plymouth, to
going overseas and working in Tony Blair's office, then becoming the
president of the Union of Socialist Youth where she travelled
widely; each step gave her the confidence and the experiences needed
to help her become the youngest elected MP in New Zealand's
parliament in 2008. Dismissed by commentators in the same way that
Australia's Julia Gillard was, Jacinda promoted improving the lives
of women, teaching te reo Maori in schools, and tackling climate
change and was elected her party's leader in 2017.
Her story is one of dedication and sticking to her ideals. Her
saying, 'let's do this' is often heard when she has work to do, and
nothing seems to phase her. Her reaction to the massacre in 2019,
leading New Zealand to restricting access to guns, has made her
someone to be admired and emulated. And her stamina and work ethic
is stressed by the use of the bee on many pages.
This brief book is most informative, each sentence full of facts and
interest, the illustrations placing Jacinda within her background,
the beehive parliament house in Wellington, the orchard in Waikato,
to the world stage meeting the queen in a korowai, a Maori robe. All
is brought together with a most useful timeline at the end of the
book. A wonderful biography for younger readers of one of this
century's outstanding leaders. Themes: Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand,
Leadership, Terrorism, Biography.
Fran Knight
Fish Kid and the mega manta ray by Kylie Howarth
Fish Kid series. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651138.
160pp.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended.The first in this excellent series (Fish
Kid and the lizard ninja) sees young Bodhi living on a
boat with his parents, a marine biologist and an ocean photographer,
both passionate about saving the marine environment. But he is
afraid of the sea and its creatures. Emily, the skipper's daughter
plays a trick on him to overcome his fear and in the backwash he
develops secret powers. It is these powers that save them both when
lost on a island with an iguana, and in the second in the series the
powers are tantamount to the story involving manta rays on the
Ningaloo Reef while the pair is holidaying with his grandparents.
Information about the reef and its creatures give a strong factual
background to the story which I loved reading, and younger readers
will be able to readily absorb these as the story develops.
Kylie Howarth includes clever illustrations and fish files giving a
factual background for the reader. The story is a fast moving and an
enjoyable read and links well with the first in the series, while on
the last page is a promo for the third, coming soon: Fish kid and
the turtle torpedo). Teacher's
activities are available. Themes: Fish, Sea, Adventure,
Conservation, Marine biology, Friendship.
Fran Knight
Girls can fly by Sally Morgan
Illus. by Amberlin Kwaymullin. Magabala Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781925936759. 48pp.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Sally Morgan and her daughter, Ambelin
Kwaymullina have collaborated to produce a small but pithy tome
studded with vibrant statements for young girls to read and so be
encouraged to fly. Each second page has a few sentences, asking
questions, ending with a statement that reads like a homily or poem,
encouraging the reader to take hold of what they dream, to be proud,
to be a role model and to always have good thoughts. Many encourage
positive thoughts and actions, eschewing dark thoughts, fear,
worries about being a lesser person or the ear worm that settles in
your head filling it with darkness. Many talk about positive mental
health and could well be used in a class where mental health is
being discussed, along with self worth and self image.
This important addition to the books which encourage a positive
outlook is aimed specifically at girls in the middle school, a time
when many children struggle to maintain their equilibrium. A book
such as this will encourage them to think more clearly about who
they are and where they want to be in this world, and this book
would augment programs designed to do just that.
Each page encourages the reader to stop and think, to take hold of
how the few sentences apply to them, and inspire them to be positive
about themselves. Each page is colourful and stimulating, vibrant
and attractively designed, with the facing page having just two or
three words which summarise what is said in the clutch of sentences.
Any could be used as a poster around the classroom: love your
awesome self, girls can do anything, grow a big heart, trust
yourself, being but a few, which will enliven, encourage and gladden
the hearts of the students in your classroom. And for a girl taking
the book from the shelf, finding a quiet spot and reading the pages,
the results could be uplifting. Themes: Participation,
Encouragement.
Fran Knight
Bubbay's desert adventure by Josie Wowalla Boyle
Illus. by Fern Martins. Magabala Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781925936797.
pbk., 36pp.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Wonghi woman, Josie Boyle, born in the
remote reaches of Western Australia, brings an authenticity to the
story of Bubbay, a lone boy who tends his goats in the desert,
selling the milk to those who want it, but especially Mrs Timms, who
swaps the milk for eggs.
He beds down for the night on the ground, watching the night sky. He
dreams that the falling stars are his friends, coming to earth to be
with him, but he longs for family of his own. One night a star tells
him to collect five special things by morning for his wish to come
true. A stone, a feather, an egg, a seed and a shell need to be
found and Bubbay is a little nonplussed about how to go about it.
His grandma Gubarlee appears, and invites him to come with her. She
enlists the help of Wise Mother Kangaroo, Old Man Emu, Tricky Crow
and Bower Bird to collect the things together. But he has one to go,
a shell. How to find a shell in the desert?
Each page is layered with the brilliance of the night sky as Bubbay
finds the objects he is looking for by morning. The dark blues will
mesmerise readers as they are drawn into Bubbay's quest, willing him
to succeed and unable to predict what will happen.
The desert environment shines through in the images - the sparse
vegetation and the animals that help Bubbay. Each animal is depicted
in a background that will help younger readers understand more about
them, noting their place in the environment where Bubbay and Mrs
Timms live. That Bubbay finds a someone who loves him will thrill
younger readers, knowing the importance of family in their lives.
This is a warm-hearted story with vivacious illustrations, first
published in 2012 (Bubbay: a Christmas adventure), and now
reedited for a new generation of readers. Themes: Aboriginal themes,
Outback, Loneliness, Magic.
Fran Knight
Euphoria kids by Alison Evans
Publisher: Echo, 2020. ISBN: 9781760685850. 247pp., pbk.
(Age: Young Adult readers) A modern Young Adult fairy tale exploring belonging, identity, friendship and gender. Alison Evans has written a very imaginative story full of magic and tenderness.
I find Alison's books have a way to provide support and representation that is aimed at gender queer youth. She has managed to do this once again with a modern fairy tale full of magic, witches, realms, faeries and many other magic folks. I think Alison's books are a great addition to a school library to help queer kids try to find a place in our world and school.
Euphoria kids takes the reader on a journey exploring three characters, Iris, Babs and a boy who has not got a name yet. They meet each other at school and become good friends. They explore who they are and who they want to be while supporting one another finding their true self. All three come from loving and supportive families and we read how they negotiate life between school, family, home, classes, the woods, and magical realm.
The characters are very interesting and you could probably read more into them. Iris is identified as non-binary and who grew from a seed. Babs is a girl who is a girl who often feels invisible and sometimes is, she is made of fire. There is also a trans boy who is new to the school who has not yet found his real name.
I must say when I first picked up Euphoria kids I thought does this continue from Alison's last book Highway bodies a zombie apocalypse novel which I enjoyed. Nope, Euphoria Kids is nothing like it but still an enjoyable read.
Maria Komninos
Putting Australia on the map by Carole Wilkinson
Wild Dog Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781742035932. 32pp., hbk.
Highly recommended. Australians, we can be extremely proud of our
own Carole Wilkinson with her 2020 release of this special book Putting
Australia on the Map which is published by Wild Dog books,
Abbotsford Victoria.
Librarians, do not allow this book to be processed and then lost on
the shelves in your schools. Promote this book particularly to
teachers. Hardback, A4, landscape orientated, sepia toned; this is
an attractive book. Layout and design are by Eion Pty Ltd.
This is a book for teaching and learning about cartography from the
time of Ptolemy (150CE) to Matthew Flinders (early 1800s). It is a
book for every student of the history and geography of the world
from the perspective of the discovery and progressive piercing
together of the map of the coastline of Australia and its
geographical location in relation to the rest of the world. This
book has appeal and relevance to all students of every age but is
particularly pertinent to the Year 4 curriculum. Putting Australia on the Map is not a boring factual book.
Carole Wilkinson, as we know from Dragonkeeper, does her
research and is a storyteller who knows how to captivate the reader.
The historical narrative is lively, informative and accompanied by
images of detailed, beautiful, ancient maps courtesy of the National
Library of Australia, the State Libraries of Queensland and Victoria
and Wikimedia Commons, as attributed for the student right at the
very front of the book.
The text and the maps track the sequence of visitors to Australia's
shores and the development of knowledge of Australia's shoreline
within the context of world (particularly European) quest for
discovery, trade, scientific knowledge etc. Putting Australia on the Map is easily navigated. The reader
is assisted by the Contents page (with provocative title pages), an
excellent Glossary and Index.
This is one fabulous resource for Australian schools and for the
private collections of lucky children. Highly Recommended.
Wendy Jeffery
Big hug, little mouse by Lisa Kerr
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651107. 32pp.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Melbourne author/illustrator Lisa Kerr has
added another charming picture book to her growing number of
publications. Hugs galore feature in this book about the different
types of hugs to be had. Millie has had a wealth of experience in
sampling different hugs and relates them all in this book. Included
are the l'm-happy-to-see-you hug, the I'm-Sorry hug and the Goodbye
hug, to name a few. But when Millie loses her hug, how can she find
it again. She becomes anxious and worried that her lost hug is
nowhere to be found. But in asking some of her friends, she is
hugged back into feeling better. A good hug is all that is needed.
This is a story about giving hugs, getting hugs and making sure the
people that matter most to you know they're loved. It is about
giving and receiving and the positive nature of hugs for both the
giver and receiver, particularly when one is unhappy or anxious.
And Millie's world is populated with an array of different animals
that children will search for within a richly illustrated world with
plenty of detail to keep their minds actively engaged. Kerr's
watercolour illustrations are a treat for younger readers, seeing
themselves in Millie's bedroom getting ready for bed with her
pyjamas and bed toys, hugged by her parents, smiling towards a good
night's sleep. Contentment reigns.
I think this book would make a great read aloud, where everyone can
practise their hugs and talk about the different types of hugs given
and received. Themes: Mice, Love, Hugs.
Fran Knight
The Pupstars by Yvette Poshoglian
Illus. by Phil Judd. Puppy Diary book 3. Scholastic 2020.
ISBN: 9781760662950.
(Age: 6 -8 years). In The Pupstars, Book 3 in the Puppy
Diary series by Yvette Poshoglian, Archie and his friends are
involved in the filming of a commercial at doggy daycare. The star
is the world famous Dion the Bichon Frise who according to Archie is
the biggest pupstar in the world.
At doggy daycare the puparazzi is hanging around trying to catch a
glimpse of Dion but only see Archie of whom they are not very
complimentary which offends Archie. Daycare is in turmoil and the
playground has become a television wonderland and all of Archie's
friends have been primped and cleaned to look very smart for their
upcoming screen tests. Of course Archie has no idea of how to do a
screen test but his forever wiggling tail is an instant hit with the
camera crew.
Dion the pup-professional star is not quite how he seems on
television and certainly suffers from a clear case of being spoilt.
He is dismissive of the other pups and once again Archie is told how
scruffy he looks and is to be put in the background of the shoot.
The shoot does not go according to plan through a series of pup made
mishaps and Dion sulks in his trailer. This is Archie's chance to be
the star. However there is more mayhem in the daycare centre and
Archie's friends come to the rescue.
When the opening diary entry begins with "You are never going to
believe what happened to me today!" this perfect sizzling starts
draws the young emerging reader in. The clever use of cartoon like
images by Phil Judd to visually enhance the text gives the reader an
extra opportunity to understand and follow the story. The author has
imaginatively used puppy type language such as pawsitively,
un-pup-ular, pupmergency, pawful to further engage the reader.
This is a fun easy to read book which will keep younger readers
entertained and looking for other books in the series. Themes:
Puppies, Diary entries, Movie Stars, TV Commercials, Friends, Doggy
Daycare, Young Readers.
Kathryn Beilby
Danny Best: Watch this! by Jen Storer
Danny Best: Watch this! by Jen Storer
Illus. by Mitch Vane. ABC Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780733333361.
This is another of the humourous stories for boys to encourage
reading for the disengaged. It has limited text, but maximum fart
jokes, bum references, home-made sumo suits and silliness. Young
boys will enjoy the naughtiness of the characters and the text, but
adults will dislike the naughtiness! The book is divided into
chapters which are anecdotal accounts of the bizarre life of Danny
Best and his friends. At the end of each chapter there is a multiple
choice quiz (a little like a comprehension test, but with more
humour) and there is also a secret code that appears scattered
through the text and amongst the illustrations.
Jen Storer has made a book with limited literary quality, but any
author that can appeal to the disengaged reader has provided a
service to those who promote reading. The illustrations in this book
by Mitch Vane are quirky cartoons with backgrounds that look like a
messy child's smudged notebook.
(Note: Name calling does occur as part of the first chapter, and
'Bumface' is tossed around at one point. If this is deemed
problematic, then this book should be avoided). Themes: Short story;
Humorous stories.
Carolyn Hull
Daring Delly: Country vs City by Matthew 'Delly' Dellavedova
Illus. by Nathalie Ortega. Scholastic Australia, 2020. ISBN:
9781743832011. 144pp.
Highly recommended for Sports-interested readers aged 7-10. In the
Daring Delly books we are introduced to a young Matthew Dellavedova.
'Delly' is now an accomplished NBA player in the USA, and a member
of the Australian Boomers basketball team, so has considerable
recognition factor in the basketball world. This book highlights the
story of the young 'Delly' in his country junior team as they hone
their skills and challenge themselves against a feted city
basketball team with significantly more resources. This is a
charming story of the need to work together and the drive to succeed
in a young basketball player and his fellow team-mates. The
mixed-gender team practises hard after a last-minute loss to develop
their defensive skills and to improve their game skills. It
highlights that losses can provide good opportunities to learn. And
maybe success will come after practice when everyone is working
together . . . even your local country community.
This is a charming sports-themed story and will definitely be
enjoyed by young readers who love basketball. With naive
cartoon-like illustrations (that also describe basketball terms in
the text) this is a book that is easily read, but very enjoyable.
With a short biography of Matthew Dellavedova at the end of the
narrative and a double page Q and A, readers will also be introduced
to the adult 'Delly' as well.
Themes: Basketball; Teamwork; Practise and determination
Carolyn Hull
Salvation Lost by Peter F. Hamilton
Salvation Sequence Book 2. Pan Macmillan, 2019. ISBN:
9781447281368. 896pp.
This is a book only for extreme devotees of Science Fiction who
enjoy considering where the world and humanity might be heading in
the 23rd Century. Combining astro-physics, space travel through
portals, recreated earth-like geodomes, aliens, robotic-human
hybrids as well as technology that defies description, there is a
complication on every page that the author has managed to describe
using a vocabulary that is technical, futuristic and extremely
complex. With war looming with the Olyix, strategies and alliances
must be created to save humanity and keep everything on a path to
survival. Along the way there are strange relationships, medical
advances that are extreme (including augmentations for sexual
prowess), longevity that requires considerable enhancements and
forces and powers that are entangled and complex.
This is not a book for the faint-hearted! Nor can I comfortably
recommend it to anyone other than the Physics-engrossed Sci-fi fan
who desires a book that crosses warfare with Space solutions into
the future, and can grapple with explanations that would test their
University Science knowledge. Despite that, it seems that there are
people in the world who are clamouring for this kind of fiction, and
Peter F. Hamilton is the master. Themes: Science Fiction;
Speculative and futuristic fiction; Space travel; Robotics; Aliens;
Alien Invasion.
Carolyn Hull
Ella at Eden: New Girl by Laura Sieveking
Scholastic Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781743834930.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Ella nervously waits with her family at
Eden College, her new boarding school. All of the Year 7's have
arrived a day early to settle in. Fortunately Ella's best friend Zoe
is also attending the school.
The girls and families are welcomed by the warm and friendly
Headmistress, Mrs Sinclair. Once the families leave Ms Montgomery,
the House Mistress and Vice Headmistress, who seems very different
to the Principal, takes the students on a tour of the school.
Regrettably Ella draws negative attention to herself after
commenting on the portraits of past Head Mistresses and offending
Saskia, another Year 7 girl who turns out to be that mean girl who
makes life difficult for Ella. Ella is also a scholarship student
and Saskia makes a point of drawing attention to this as often as
possible.
Ella and Zoe share a dormitory with Grace, a bubbly girl who talks
not stop and has trouble listening, and Violet who is quiet and
secretive. The first few weeks in the school term are action packed
for the four new students. They join extracurricular clubs, have a
disaster in the Science Lab, are involved in the search for missing
items plus deal with home sickness. Ella joins the school paper, the
Eden Press, and writes an article about the missing items after
interviewing the victims of the thefts. Eventually the surprise
thief is uncovered and the girls find out a secret about Violet.
Throughout the book are emails from Ella to her sister Olivia which
fill the reader with more information about daily life at the school
as well as keeping the connection between the two sisters. Ella
at Eden: New Girl is the first in the Ella at Eden
series and will be a popular hit with middle primary readers. It is
an enjoyable read that will keep fans of Ella and Olivia entertained
and looking for the next book in the series. Themes: Girls,
Friendship, New School, New Challenges, Boarding School, Reporter,
Missing Items.
Kathryn Beilby
Dear parents by Gabbie Stroud
Allen and Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760875268.
(Age: 16+) Subtitled Letters from the teacher - Your children,
their education, and how you can help. Gabby Stroud was a
dedicated teacher for fifteen years. In Dear Parents, she
shares her thoughts about education, parenting and the
parent-teacher relationship with the parents of a year 5/6 class.
The text consists of a series of emails sent to parents at intervals
during a school year, and organised into four, one-term chapters.
Unlike the professional detachment which usually characterises
teacher-parent communication, Gabby's emails are frank and
revealing. She discloses the exhaustion that results from trying to
meet the needs of her students, the demands of parents and the
education system's expectations. She also manages to find time to
parent her own children. Gabby's experiences provide evidence of the
complexity of teaching as she copes with a multitude of commitments
while catering for the learning needs of a class with diverse
backgrounds and needs. Classroom experiences give rise to
reflections about what she considers to be the negative impacts of
the crowded curriculum and standardised testing, both of which she
finds demoralising. Gabby's assertive responses to parents'
comments, questions, criticisms and praise are based on her
willingness to learn from experience and on her empathy for people
of all ages and backgrounds. Her writing ranges from blunt
descriptions of everyday life to candid observations about
Australian schooling and perceptive insights into the nature of
learning. Although the characters and setting are fictional, many
teachers will identify with her longing for the 'Magic Moments' when
students learn, as well as with her frustrations and weariness.
Parents may find that her revelations help them to understand the
challenging conditions in which teachers strive to encourage and
enable learning. They may also realise why some dedicated teachers,
including Gabby Stroud, have left the profession.
The author of Dear Parents is passionate about her vocation.
She has drawn on her personal experiences as a teacher in order to
raise fundamental questions about education in Australia.
Elizabeth Bor
The besties show and smell by Felice Arena
Illus. by Tom Jellett. Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760890988.
80pp.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Best of friends, Ruby and Oliver, sit
next to each other at school, but when a relief teacher takes them
for the day, things change, for the worse. He does not have a sense
of humour and when he spies Oliver drawing him in an unsympathetic
manner, separates the friends to opposite places in the classroom.
But Mr Botham is called away, leaving the class on its own and Ruby
rushes to the front of the room with her ukulele ready to present
her show and tell, cancelled by Mr Botham at the start of the day.
Oliver is worried that Mr Botham will return and be even more cross
and watches the door. And then when Zac goes to the front of the
room to show everyone how he makes rude noises with his armpit, he
sees the teacher returning and organises everyone to sit back down
and be quiet. But he is cross with Ruby because she initiated the
behaviour and refuses to talk to her at break.
How the friends resolve their differences takes up the next several
pages in this highly entertaining story. With easily recognised
situations and characters, younger readers will love this series of
books, involving events that happen everyday in classrooms, and with
a neat finish, show children how readily disagreements can be
resolved.
Jellett's funny illustrations add another level of humour to the
proceedings, ensuring every child will recognise themselves in the
classroom. And the addition of a short comic tale at the end along
with some Bestie jokes, Ruby's song and instructions on making a
loud noise with your armpit, readers will read this aloud to their
friends, laughing all the while. A wonderful series which fills the
niche between picture books and short chapter stories for younger
readers, these books will be eagerly shared, while teachers will
laugh out loud reading them to their class. Themes: Friendship,
School, Show and tell.
Fran Knight
