DK/Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780241410691.
Recommended for readers aged 8+. Themes: Bats, Ecology. Bats are
often misunderstood, so this book written and illustrated by
Charlotte Milner helps to demystify these mammals and describe the
features of bats and their important role in the environment. Giving
a broad overview of different types of bats around the world - big
and small, plus explaining their food preferences, and physical
features, this book is a simplified introduction to the creatures
that few get to see because of their nocturnal habits.
Set out in a clear way, answering the common questions related to
bats in short paragraphs utilising simple language and through
simple illustrations, this is a book that young readers can access
and enjoy. You won't find photographs of bats, distribution maps or
a comprehensive list of all known bats or a focus on Australian
species, but that would be far beyond the scope of this simple
introduction for younger readers. The 'picture book' cover would
attract both male and female readers (the wisdom of using pink and
blue colours a not-so-subtle visual hint to this). (Note Charlotte
Milner has other books presented in a similar way: The
bee book, The sea book).
Carolyn Hull
What makes us by Rafi Mittlefehldt
Candlewick Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780763697501.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Eran is a passionate student who
believes in standing up for social justice. His discussions with his
teacher Mr Riskin explore the boundaries of when violence is
necessary and legitimate and when it becomes terrorism. Eran is
leading a protest against increased police powers to stop and
arrest. He believes that his anger is a justified response to
oppressive forces, and in moments of conflict he refuses to bow
down, he always rises to the fight. And that is what happens, in a
split second, when a counter protest meets with the student group,
and a belligerent bearded guy provokes him, Eran reacts with a push.
The man falls backward, and suddenly Eran's mother, Eema, is there
before the news cameras saying 'This is not our fight'.
That moment changes Eran's life. An astute reporter makes the
connection between Eema's words and an incident 15 years earlier
when a Jewish terrorist blew up a group of people and himself. The
Jewish terrorist was Eran's father, the man who left them when he
was only a toddler. Suddenly Eran comes face-to-face with his hidden
identity, and obsesses over whether he has the same violent
tendencies, and whether his anger is part of his genetic
inheritance. Can anger be justified? Can it be a good thing? Or is
it something that is always going to get him into trouble?
The issue of anger and anger management is explored thoughtfully in
the novel, as the tide of community anger turns against Eran and his
mother, the supposed terrorists in their midst. It is a new young
friend, Jade, also discovering hidden secrets in her family, who is
finally able to provide the calmness and insight that Eran needs.
The descriptions of the community's blind violence towards the
perceived 'other', the Jewish terrorists, is very powerful, and is a
reminder of the destructiveness of ignorance and prejudice, the kind
of prejudice that currently often has expression towards Muslim
people in our society. Mittlefehldt's novel is a very clever and
thoughtful exploration of the issues, and deserves to be included in
school discussions of racism, bigotry and terrorism. The book is so
well written, I am sure that teenagers will readily identify with
the character of Eran and the dilemma he faces. It is also
encouraging to see the portrayal of a caring and involved teacher,
Mr Riskin, who tries to interrogate some of the fear and anger that
Eran carries. And the loyalty and friendship between the young
students is also another strong positive value throughout the book.
There is much to think about and enjoy in this book. I can highly
recommend it to teenage and adult readers.
Helen Eddy
Tiger Heart by Penny Chrimes
Orion Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781510107045.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended.This is a fantasy story set
'magically' in the period of English life that the author describes
as "somewhere between the Georgians . . . and the Victorians" and in
the gutters of London. In this environment abandoned workhouse-girl
Fly works in extreme hardship as a chimney sweep. She manages to
escape her brutal 'boss', but finds herself in a cage with a tiger
instead. This however proves to be a delightful meeting and the
tiger recognises her immediately as someone who needs his
guardianship, but also someone who has far more worth than her
blackened and ragged outward appearance would suggest. With the
ability to communicate together and also to use some magical skills
to obfuscate and distract, the pair work together with the
assistance of other 'gutterlings', to save other animals destined
for life as caged entertainments for the wealthy toffs of London.
Woven in the story are magical moments of good and evil, and Fly
must do her best to survive and escape London with her menagerie.
The second half of the story has Fly escaping from another brutal
and shady character who has connection to her hidden past life. The
love and connection between Fly and the Tiger is deep and moving and
leads then both to a changed life.
Penny Chrimes has written a delightful fantasy, with some historical
detail woven together with a fantasy country and despotic
governance. The gentle tale of friendship and fantasy powers and
concern for creatures who are powerless is delightful. The language
of the London guttersnipes is delightfully quirky (a glossary is
included at the end of the book) and adds touches of humour . . .
leaving the reader with a 'gigglemug'! Young readers will enjoy the
adventure and the inventiveness of the poor children as they survive
in extreme situations and try to outwit adults, and the presence of
a benevolent tiger to provide wisdom and care is also appealing.
Themes: Poverty; Animals; Fantasy; Friendship.
Carolyn Hull
Are these Hen's eggs? by Christina Booth
Allen and Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760523497. 32pp.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Hen can't wait for her eggs to hatch.
She counts the days, the sunrises and sunsets as she sits
impatiently on her nest containing three eggs. But one night,
thunder roars, and lightning flashes, water cascading across the
landscape. Next morning, Hen along with some other birds: a goose,
duck, cockatoo and owl, search for their eggs, the farm dog and cat,
pig, sheep and horse helping as well. Hen gathers ten eggs beneath
her, aware that some are not her eggs. Duck has brought along one of
her eggs knowing how anxious Hen is. Hen waits for the sunrise,
counting the days once again until her eggs hatch.
Children will love seeing the various chicks that hatch from the
eggs beneath Hen. Each of the mother birds comes along to claim
their chicks, reinforcing the link between chick and parent bird.
And then there is one last egg to hatch, a twist that will make the
readers laugh, all the more so when Hen does not see the difference
with the little turtle snuggling into her warm feathers to sleep.
Christina Booth, author of such wonderful titles as One
careless night, 2019 (the story of the Thylacine) and Welcome
home, 2013 (the return of whales to Tasmania's shores)
is known for her strong ties to environmental issues and this book
reveals another strength: humour. The illustrations expose the
relationship between the animals in the environment, the duck even
giving Hen one of her own eggs, underlining the efforts we must make
in helping others. The fun of the reveal when the eggs hatch will
greatly amuse younger readers, and Booth has cleverly used her
endpapers to show the difference between the eggs' size, making sure
readers know which egg belongs to which animal. Are these Hen's
eggs? presents a different take on an egg hunt sure to be a
hit at the upcoming Easter festivities. Themes: Hens, Eggs,
Counting, Anticipation, Friendship.
Fran Knight
The dingle dangle jungle by Mark Carthew
Illus. by Dave Atze. Ford St Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781925804416.
32pp.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. In the dingle dangle jungle lives a wide
variety of animals. Some are big and strong, some have speckles and
some stripes, some are short while others are long. Some like to
sleep all day and only come out at night, while others are awake
through the day. Some have talons, some fangs, and some like to tear
and bite and many could give a fright to those venturing into the
jungle.
The rhyming stanza invites readers and listeners to predict the
rhyming word, listening well to the beat of the lines, getting ready
to shout out the word.
The four lines give a great deal of information about the variety of
creatures to be found in the Amazon, and will intrigue younger
readers enough to check out where the jungle is on a world map. And
looking up the names of all the animals represented in this story
will keep them well occupied once the story has been finished.
Some of the animals are named, encouraging readers to work out which
animal has the attributes listed. Some of the animals will be more
familiar to younger readers than others, so a great deal of fun
could be had finding out about the range of animals, what they look
like, where they live and what they do.
Brightly coloured illustrations full of humour, movement and life,
cover each page and readers will love following the journey of the
two children in the dingle dangle jungle, calling out when a less
than peaceful animal appears. A very handy list of all the animals
shown on each page is given at the end of the book, and some readers
may like to look these up, to see which are endangered. Teacher
notes are available on the website. Themes: Jungles, Animals,
Humour, Rhyming story.
Fran Knight
Edie's experiments: How to make friends by Charlotte Barkla
Illus. by Sandy Flett. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN:
9781760891770.
(Age: 8-11) Highly recommended. Edie's experiments: How to make
friends is book one in a new series written by Adelaide author
Charlotte Barkla who has a background in civil engineering and
physics teaching. She cleverly uses scientific language and her
extensive knowledge of science and experiments to write an
entertaining and humorous story about a young girl who is STEM
obsessed fitting in at a new school.
Edie Baxter, aged 10-and-a-quarter years, has moved to a different
area of the town as her Mum is beginning a new full-time job and her
Dad has gone part-time to help look after Edie's two year old
brother Max. Edie has left her best friend Winnie behind and is
desperately keen to make friends on her first day at her new school.
This is where the mayhem begins. Her first experiment to provide her
new classmates and teacher with their own ball of slime is a
disaster due to the air conditioning being turned off during
lunchtime. Edie is sent to the Principal Mrs Newton, who has a
distracting obsession with Chihuahuas, and is placed in detention on
her first day. Not a good beginning.
Edie wants to make amends but everything she seems to try ends up
being a disaster. As the story continues, you are drawn into the
frustration Edie's character feels when all of her good ideas and
what she sees as good deeds for science experiments seem to go
completely wrong. However the main adults in her life and her best
friend Winnie support and encourage Edie to persevere and not lose
hope. Edie does triumph in the friendship department finally, but
along the way she learns valuable lessons about interacting with
adults and what may be appropriate conversations.
An interesting and clever aspect of the book is that all of Edie's
scientific experiments are written up as procedures using the
headings: Aim, Equipment and Method. This would be a perfect
read-aloud class novel either by the teacher or whole class when the
Year 3/4/5 curriculum calls for procedure writing. The imaginative
illustrations by Sandy Flett add to the humour of the story and help
keep the reader focused. A second book in the series, Edie's
experiments 2: How to be the best is coming soon.
Themes: Science experiments, STEM,
Making friends, New school, Family, Humour, Procedure writing.
Kathryn Beilby
When we were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781982148713.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Zelda is unusual. She has a
fascination with all things to do with Vikings, and she wants to
live her life by their code. We learn that she suffered brain damage
at birth due to her mother's alcoholism during pregnancy. Now,
having escaped from creepy Uncle Richard, it is just her and her
brother struggling to get by. But the problem is that in order to
get away and set up their new life, her brother Gert has become
embroiled with thugs and the world of crime. There are some dark
scenes in this novel, but throughout it all we are buoyed by Zelda's
curiosity, her naive questions and literal interpretations of what
people say. It will make you laugh, but at the same time you know
that she is in danger and some of the people around her are really
bad characters.
This novel has been compared to A critical incident of the dog
in the night-time, but this is definitely an adult version.
Zelda is 21, and she wants to have sex with her boyfriend Marxy, a
fellow participant in the community centre programs for 'different'
people. The people around her have varying attitudes to her interest
in sex, from her counsellor, Dr Laird, to Marxy's mother Pearl, to
her brother Gert, to her friend AK47, Gert's ex-girlfriend. But
Zelda is very strong willed and determined to do what she wants.
It is that determination and courage, part of the Viking code of
honour, that sees her enter some very dangerous situations, in the
quest to become her own legend, and save her brother from danger.
This novel will keep you laughing and engaged until the end. And you
can't help but admire Zelda's determination and courage; it is her
values that are at the heart of the novel, and ultimately see her
conquer the evil Grendels.
Helen Eddy
A is for ant illus. by Kate Slater
Dorling Kindersley, 2020. ISBN 9780241435922. 16pp. board book.
(Age: 1-5) Recommended. Young children are in for a treat as they
learn about ants in this engaging board book from DK. As is usual
for this publisher, the information and artwork is beautifully
produced in a most enticing board book. Every young child who has
this read aloud will be certain to learn lots about ants, while at
the same time, learning the words that start with 'a' (ant, antenna,
apple, anthill, air, ant farm, awesome, anteater and amazing). The
facts are basic and memorable: 6 different types of ants are
illustrated on the beginning double page spread and then a single
page is used to give information about specific parts of the ant and
what they eat. Children will be fascinated by the idea of an
ant farm and I am sure there would be some requests to have one in a
classroom or home.
The illustrations are bold and colourful, with some humour being
added; for example the long red tongue of the cute anteater will be
sure to bring smiles to the faces of children who are listening to
the well-structured narrative, which reads aloud very well.
This is a lovely non-fiction introduction to the world of ants, an
ideal book for any child who is interested in nature.
Pat Pledger
The haunting of Peligan City by Sophie Green
Illus. by Karl James Mountford. Potkin and Stubbs book 2.
Picadilly Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781848127630. 384pp., pbk.
(Age: 10-12) Everyone needs a friend like Lil. Dependable,
courageous and with a nose for a story, Lil's dream is to write for
the underground newspaper, the Klaxon, to report the REAL news. Some
ghastly events are happening in Peligan City. It's creepy! Prominent
people are simply disappearing. Who is behind it all, what happened
to poor Delilah, and is the Doll Hospital really just that? Lil's
good buddy, Nedly, makes people shiver when he passes near them. But
Nedly has invaluable skills that most people lack, like passing
through walls, because he just happens to be . . . a ghost!
Lil 'noses' her way into situations by tagging along with private
investigator, Abe Mandrel and his little dog Margaret. Abe is
baffled with the furtive happenings and when the Governor is
murdered too, Lil knows she must use all her knowledge and
experience to assist in solving the shocking crimes.
This book is definitely not for the faint hearted! Nor should it be
read late at night or if you are home alone! 10-12 yr olds should
enjoy this book.
Joan Smith
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781526619211.
This collection of Norse Myths translated and adapted from original
texts by Neil Gaiman examines some of what has become the source
material for countless books, films and TV series. A mythology is
clearly articulated with an introduction to the gods and their
worlds before launching into stories of powerful players, strong
women, great trials of strength, betrayal and brutal retribution.
Stories of gods who shape men's lives; fickle, vain and
unpredictable beings who fight giants and sea monsters using magic
and cunning in stories which have been told and retold for
centuries. We learn that Odin is prepared to sacrifice a great deal
in his quest for wisdom and that he transformed himself several
times to steal the Mead of Poets. Great storytellers are
said to have tasted "Odin's gift" and the bad ones the wet fart he
let out as he escaped. In Freya's Unusual Wedding Thrym,
lord of the ogres has stolen the hammer of the gods, Mjollinir
wanting to marry the beautiful Freya as ransom. Mighty Thor is
persuaded to disguises himself as the bride to steal his beloved
hammer back. Always in the background is the devious Loki, never far
away when things go awry.
This is storytelling at its best, clear, accessible, funny and
engaging. It is a surprise when we read a text so rhythmic and
immediate that it cries out to be read aloud. In this era of high
definition video and amazing special effects we sometimes miss the
power of the spoken word to waken our own imagination and activate
memories that go back to the scary fairy tales we heard as children.
This is just scary enough to be loved by all.
Themes; Myths, fantasy, magic.
Sue Speck
Me and my boots by Penny Harrison
Bronte. Illus. by Evie Barrow. Little Hare, 2019. ISBN:
9781760502331. 24pp.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Boots, Personality, Family,
Activities. Bronte's boots never leave her feet. She loves them and
in this charming tale of family relationships each person tells her
what they mean to them. Some people call them her bossy boots, queen
of all the land boots, but Bronte tells us that is not really her.
Mum calls them her brave-girl boots, Da her bright-eye boots, Gran
her big-dream boots, Pa calls them her you-beaut boots, Ben, her
brother calls them her bear-hug boots as they snuggle into the chair
to read together, her teacher calls them her bustling boots as she
rushes around the classroom doing jobs. Each person in her family
and friendship group have a different perception of who Bronte is,
and use the boots as a measure of her personality. We see her in
various places: home, the school and playground, interacting with
members of her family and those outside her family: friends, school
friends and the teacher. Each sees her differently.
Barrow's stylish illustrations hit the mark as they show a young
skirted Bronte doing a variety of activities, interacting with
various members of her peer group and family, acting out various
personas. And the readership will love looking for the details in
Barrow's illustrations, comparing the things in the house and
bedroom with those they have at home, drawing them closer to the
girl in the centre of the story. And at the end of the tale we learn
what Bronte thinks her boots reflect, herself.
Fran Knight
I am change by Suzy Zail
Black Dog Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925126839.
(Ages 16+) A confronting but important story inspired by the true
experiences of young Ugandan women. I Am Change follows
Lilian, a young girl who dreams of becoming a teacher or a writer in
a village where women's education is not valued or encouraged.
Fighting hard to be the first person in her family to graduate
primary school, and eventually the first girl from her village to
graduate university, Lilian faces countless obstacles on the path to
these goals. From fasting so that the men have more to eat, to
exchanging sexual acts for basic school supplies, the women in
Lilian's village have accepted that their purpose is to please the
men in their lives. While the injustice and oppression around her is
suffocating, Lilian is determined to break free from the cultural
expectations that surround her and forge her own path towards the
future she dreams of. Zail fictionalises the recounts of real young
women in Uganda with an authenticity and rawness that maintains the
reader's interest and anger at the injustices that they face from
the first until the very last page. The novel highlights the
cultural beliefs and expectations that are still actively present in
Ugandan communities and brings them to the attention of readers;
providing a confronting insight into a very different environment,
with a hopeful message; while education is the key to battling
injustice and poverty, inner strength, determination and persistence
can improve even the toughest circumstances. Lilian's drive and
resolve not only improved her own life, but the lives of the women
around her, replacing feelings of shame, regret and hopelessness
with courage and light. Warnings should be noted for sexual assault,
domestic violence, female genital mutilation, sexism and misogyny.
Not recommended for younger readers.
Daniella Chiarolli
Funny Kid kicks butt by Matt Stanton
Funny Kid, book 6. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2019.
ISBN: 9780733336027. 281 pp., pbk.
(Age: 8-10) Just what does a kid have to do to become famous?
Especially more famous than that celebrity rich kid Spencer Daniels,
with his humungous bodyguard, The Fridge.
Max, alias 'funny kid', is super confident of winning the major role
of Captain Kickbutt in the new movie. But, things don't always go as
planned, so Max and his friends must resort to 'borrowing' a
superhero costume from the wardrobe department and, hey presto,
Thunder Butt is born.
From rescuing a guinea pig up a tree to saving an old man from being
run down by a bus, Superhero Thunder Butt must work very hard to
achieve his dream of becoming famous. Then there is the matter of
the stolen necklace from Hugo's family's jewellery store. Classmate
Abby tried to sleuth it out, but she needs Thunder Butt's help to
finally trap the culprit. Thunder Butt has no option but to
embarrass and infuriate 'famous kid' Spencer during very public
interviews, in a very mischievous way. While 'famous kid' throws a
massive tantrum, Thunder Butt realises being a Superhero is not all
fun, sometimes the best plan is to . . . RUN!
This entertaining little book is easy to read and should captivate
children aged 8-10 who like adventure and plenty of action.
Joan Smith
The colossal book of colour by Lorna Hendry
Wild Dog Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781742035727.
(Age: 6+) Recommended. With several pages introducing the idea of
colour and its importance, Hendry then has a double page about white
light, introducing the terms dispersion and refraction in terms
which will be easily understood. Following this she are two
fascinating pages describing what colour is and how we see colour.
Then a double page on each of the colours black and white follows.
When the book is read from cover to cover, the scheme makes sense
but it is hard to dip in and out without a contents page or index.
A colour wheel explains the positions of colours in relation to each
other, the primary and secondary colours and how they form
complimentary colours. The primary and secondary colours each have a
double page in which the colour is explained followed by several
more pages showing different aspects of that colour. Blue for
example has a page on why the sky is blue and the colour of snow, as
well as a page about colour blindness and a series of colour
perception tests.
Each page is fascinating and begs the reader to read it all,
thinking about it as they go, trying out some of the tests for
themselves, and attempting some of the suggestions. I love the facts
given at the end of some of the pages, the 'did you know' section
will be lapped up by eager readers.
With sections about the colours only animals can see, or how to make
your own dyes, how colours help some animals survive, the colours of
music, each page offers a variety of information and will keep
readers interested. And illustrated in the vibrant colours
described, interest will not wane.
Themes: Colour, STEM.
Fran Knight
Two can keep a secret by Karen A. McManus
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780141375656. 327pp. pbk.
Twins Ellery and Ezra must stay with their grandmother in a small
town in Vermont, Echo Ridge, near the Canadian border while their
mother, Sadie is in rehab following a conviction for crashing her
car under the influence of a prohibited drug. They know that the
town lies under a cloud. Their mother's babysitter, Melanie had a
daughter, Lacy, who was killed five years ago. This is still an
unsolved murder and everyone has an opinion about who killed her.
And Lacy's boyfriend, Declan leaving soon after her funeral, divided
people's opinions.
But on the way to Echo Ridge from the airport, the twins discover a
dead body on the road - a popular teacher, victim of a hit and run.
Settled in, Ellery begins watching. She is a true-crime buff and
wants to know as much as she can about Lacy's murder, and her own
aunt's disappearance some twenty five years before.
She and Ezra go to the local fun park, once called Murderland, but
after the discovery of Lacy's body there, had its name changed to
Fright Park. Here the two apply for part time work.
Declan's brother, Malcolm has never felt comfortable with the burden
of being in the same family, and now when things begin to happen
again, it is Malcolm who is found at the crime scenes. Graffiti is
sprayed at the fund raiser for Lacey, Malcolm found with the spray
can in hand. At the cemetery where he and Mia go to put flowers on
the teacher's grave, he finds a montage declaring that a third
homecoming queen will be killed.
When Ellery plucks up enough courage to ask her Grandmother about
her missing aunt, she sees the impact the deaths have had on the
people of the community and resolves to uncover the secrets hidden
in the town. She and Malcolm follow the clues and almost lose their
lives in their endeavours to uncover the truth.
A gripping read, this tightly plotted story has an underbelly of
secrets, some reaching back into past history, others more recent,
but each obscuring the reality of what is going on. Set at the time
of the homecoming ball, the backdrop of life in a school in the USA
is illuminating.
McManus is the author of acclaimed, One of
us is Lying (2017) where five teens walk into the detention
room and only four walk out. A thriller writer, McManus is honing
her crime writing skills with these two books and will gain a
willing audience.
Fran Knight
