Harper Collins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008332310.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Themes: Horses; World War II; Refugees. This
is not a sickly-sweet pony club story, rather it is a mature story
based on historical fact that combines the history of some famous
horses that were almost part of Hitler's equine breeding programme.
It also includes the fictional story of their youthful Polish
rescuer - Zofia; and then her protege, the Syrian refugee - Mira. Prince
of Ponies begins with Zofia's account of her introduction to
the Arabian stallion - Prince of Poland - during a time of great
stress as the Germans were taking over her home in Poland in World
War II. The bond that was forged between rider and horse gave her
opportunity to survive and then flee from Hitler's advancing program
of destruction. The account of Zofia's early life is related to Mira
so that she can record this history and she is also trained to ride
the horse - Amir, from the breeding line of the original stallion.
Mira's own life of struggle as a Syrian refugee living in Germany is
a side issue to the training and performance of the horse and its
youthful rider. With a hint of the bullying that Mira must face in
her school context, this is also a story about rising above the poor
treatment inflicted by others.
This book is reminiscent of stories written by Michael Morpurgo
where a serious historical incident is woven into a powerful story.
It is written as the story of Mira, but includes the recount of
Zofia as a separate narrative. The relationship between the much
older Zofia as riding coach and the young Mira is unusual, but
connects the two narrative elements. This is a book that is worthy
of recommendation for the historical quality of the story, but horse
lovers and enthusiasts of dressage and show-jumping will also be
impressed by the detail of this in the book. The growth and maturing
of the young protagonist as she overcomes difficulties and fears
will also appeal to readers.
Recommended to readers aged 11+ (Not just for lovers of horses!)
Carolyn Hull
The man that got away by Lynne Truss
Constable Twitten Mystery book 2. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN:
9781408890530.
(Age: Adult) Themes: Detective novel, Deception, Subterfuge, Murder,
Mystery. Young Constable Twitten is very sharp, he has read
Mitford's Noblesse oblige and knows that the language a
suspect uses can betray his origins, whether upper or lower class.
He also has a mind for detail, and regularly updates his notebook
with observations and paths of inquiry. Unfortunately however, he
has to contend with the clumsy ineptness of Sergeant Brunswick and
the vain delusions of his superior, Inspector Steine. And then there
is their tea lady Mrs Groynes, whom Twitten believes to be a
villainous mastermind. But nobody believes him.
First there is the discovery of a body, in a deck chair on Brighton
Beach, not a suicide as Steine too readily dismisses, but a murder
committed in broad daylight amidst other holiday makers on the
shore. Twitten continues to follow his leads, determined to solve
the crime, but it just becomes more and more convoluted the deeper
he gets. It involves two sweethearts, a family of thugs, and string
of confidence tricksters. Twitten's colleague Brunswick goes
undercover as a trumpet player in the local nightclub, joining a
whole gang of double agents. Fortunately for the reader, at this
point Truss, the author, provides us with a little list of who's
who.
There are many odd characters and funny scenes; in fact one scene is
just so hysterically funny, it just caps off the whole book. The man that got away is the second in the Constable
Twitten Mystery series, and while it easily stands alone, it
does make the reader curious to read its predecessor. This book will
appeal to readers who enjoy the Miss Marple type of detective story
with a lot of quirky characters adding red herrings to the plot.
Helen Eddy
The immortal jellyfish by Sang Miao
Flying Eye Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781911171799. 40pp., hbk.
Grandpa is explaining about the immortal jellyfish to his grandson,
a creature that begins its life again when it is about to die. When
the boy asks his grandfather if humans are immortal, he is told that
there are other ways humans can live on but sadly the old man dies
before he can explain. While the boy is devastated, one night his
grandpa appears in a dream and takes him on a journey to the Life
Transfer City where those that have died can choose a new identity.
But before he discovers his grandfather's choice he is taken back to
the real world on the back of a beautiful white bird . . . Will he
ever recognise his grandfather again?
At first glance, this seems a rather morbid book with its dark
palette, but it really is a most beautiful way to help young
children deal with the passing of a loved one as sadly, so many have
to. Helping them understand that those who die live on in our
memories and thoughts, the things we see, do and smell or taste,
even when they are no longer physically here is a way that we can
help with the grieving process, particularly if there is no
religious belief of an afterlife. It offers a way for the bereaved
child to think about those memories and what their loved one might
choose to be, as well as being able to share those thoughts rather
than not talk at all, which is so often the case. Grown-ups often
want to protect little ones by not talking, but often that's just
what the child needs to do.
Sensitive and heart-warming, but not sickly-sentimental, this is
something special for one of the most difficult parts of growing up.
Barbara Braxton
Don't worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406385519. 48pp., hbk.
In the rockpool above the sea, live two crabs: Big Crab and Little
Crab. Today, they're going for a dip in the sea. "This is going to
be so great!" says Little Crab as they go tic-a-tac, tic-a-tac over
the rocks, splish splash, splish splash across the pools and
squelch, squelch, squelch through the slimy, slippery seaweed. "I
can go ANYWHERE", says Little Crab.
But when he reaches the sea and sees the size of the ocean waves, he
is somewhat daunted and very reluctant to take that final leap. Will
he find the courage?
The illustration style is very distinctive and it tells as much of
the story as the text does. bout a little one finding the courage to
face their uncertainty. This is a common theme in children's picture
books, this time inspired by the creator's observations
of crabs and their human-like way of moving. and the way they
braced for the impact of a wave but then went about their business
once it frothed away. In fact, the story of its evolution gives a
real insight into where authors get their ideas and how they are
shaped, so it is worth sharing that too. It wasn't so much the
message that came first, but thinking about what was in front of him
and working from that! Perhaps a lesson for budding writers about
being observant and curious and working backwards!
Barbara Braxton
Christmas Wonder by Vicki Conley
Illus. by Cheryl Orsini. Affirm Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781925870770.
32pp., hbk. Christmas time,
Seven sleeps.
Busy house
Tummy leaps.
In a series of eight-word rhymes, the magic and excitement of the
countdown to Christmas in Australia is captured in this charmingly
illustrated book. Embracing all the familiar things that families do
at this time, combining the traditional with the contemporary, young
readers will enjoy spotting their family in the illustrations while
talking about what's happening and sharing their stories of what
they do that is similar as well as what they do that is a bit
different. It's a great opportunity to broaden understanding and
share diverse perspectives - there are few who don't celebrate
Christmas, even if they do it differently.
In a storyworld with many Christmas-themed books to choose from, it
is refreshing to have a new story that has some depth, reflects who
its readers are and what they do while not making them caricatures
of all that is "ocker", and opens up the opportunity to explore and
explain.
Barbara Braxton
The beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams
Illus. by Tony Ross. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008385644.
Fanciful, escapist, heart-stopping action is in store for children
who read David Walliam's latest book The beast of Buckingham
Palace. What a clever, multi-faceted book - if you can get
over the action to the underlying themes and the history.
Our hero is small, weak, bespectacled Prince Alfred who is captive
in Buckingham Palace in the year 2120 (one hundred years from now.)
It seems that humans have wrecked the planet, all of the major
landmarks of London are in ruins, the water undrinkable, the people
starving and the land is in darkness. The royal family still live in
the palace under the control of evil forces that are progressively
unveiled as the story proceeds. It is a classic fight of good
against evil with a mash-up of the historical going back to the time
of King Alfred and the futuristic with laser gun-toting guards, the
All-seeing Eye and the Octobut.
Twelve year old Prince Alfred discovers his strength and leadership
ability with the aid of a little street mite, his mother the queen
and a band of elderly lady revolutionaries. Together, through a
series of exciting and dangerous twists and turns they fight
supernatural power that is magically derived from the ancient
scripts and texts from the days of old Albion.
David Walliams, as in Grandfather's great escape, captures
with warmth and humour, the effective partnership that can exist
between the very elderly and the very young when bad things have to
be overcome. What a band of feisty fighters the old ladies turn out
to be, fighting for Britain with their handbags, rolling pins -
whatever comes to hand! They are crucial to the victory with their
dauntless, fearless and canny strategies!
David Walliams and Tony Ross go together like Roald Dahl and Quentin
Blake. This book is a visual feast of pictures and weird fonts that
complement the action packed story line and onomatopoeia-laden text.
Children will love this book.
Wendy Jeffrey
My Mummy's magic by Shaun Bartlett
Illus. by Denise Muzzio. Little Steps Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839357.
(Age: 3-6) Rhyming book, Mothers, Pregnancy. 'My mummy's magic . . .
Her wishes do come true. She waved her magic wand, confirming what
she knew'. This first page (featuring a woman holding a pregnancy
test with positive symbols fanning out as if she is casting a magic
spell) will probably make parents giggle. Indeed, the rest of the
book may seem a little indulgent also, with its focus on a mother
wishing and hoping a baby into existence.
There is a lovely story here though, which shows the journey of a
new baby and the close bond between mother and baby. The growing
baby is compared to an animal, a clever way of helping children
develop meaningful understandings. 'For in her magic belly, taking
shape at speed, was me so teeny tiny - it's hard now to believe. I
was no bigger than an ant!' This refrain is repeated throughout the
book and we see the mother's belly swell until the unborn baby is
about the size of a lemur. In between these updates we see the usual
goings-on of pregnancy and how the mother cares for her baby;
sleeping, feeling unwell, eating and food cravings, scans and
spreading the good news.
The illustrations are fresh, vibrant and organic. 'My mummy's magic.
She wished with all her might to bestow her greatest gift of all -
my very first breath of life'.
This is a lovely book for a toddler or pre-schooler with a growing
interest in the concept of pregnancy, and particularly for those
with a sibling on the way.
Nicole Nelson
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Alex Stern book 1. Orion, 2019. ISBN: 9781473227972.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Good Reads Best Fantasy Winner,
2019. Themes: Sexual abuse, Rape, Drugs, Secret societies. Alex
Stern, the sole survivor of a terrible multiple homicide, is in
hospital when she is offered the chance to go to an elite
university. Why her? She has been a school drop-out, has been
involved with drugs and drug dealers and her life was going nowhere.
Tasked with checking on the occult used in Yale's secret societies,
she is drawn into a strange and different world, mentored by
Darlington, who introduces her to the rituals of the rich and
privileged people who belong to them.
Bardugo has previously written YA fantasy and this is her first
foray into fiction for adults. It is dark and disturbing and
certainly for adults. The themes that are explored against the
fantasy background of the secret societies include rape, date rape
and the attitude of rich and powerful young men who believe that
they can have everything without any consequences. Alex however
doesn't believe that and her revenge is challenging for the reader.
The question of class, privilege and poverty is also explored, as
Alex struggles with her classes and realises that the murder of a
poor woman doesn't have the impact of that of a rich white person.
Add in ghosts who haunt her, the quest to find who is a murderer,
and the gradual realisation of her powers and the reader will be
dragged along with Alex.
This is a book for readers who enjoy a mix of dark horror and
fantasy, laced with themes that are pertinent in today's world.
Pat Pledger
Gregory Goose is on the loose: In the jungle by Hilary Robinson
Illus. by Mandy Stanley. New Frontier Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925594874.
(Age: 0-3) Board book, Rhyming book, Search and Find book. The
bright, eye-catching colour of this new board book series (the other
title is On
the moon) will draw and hold the attention of even the
littlest children. In each of the books, children can search and
find Gregory the Goose as he camouflages into the background of each
page. In this case, he is travelling through the jungle, complete
with safari jacket and binoculars. 'Gregory Goose is on the loose.
Let's try to find him!'
Simple, predictive and rhyming text make this perfect for the target
age group and in each page Gregory is well-hidden but not difficult
to spot. I particularly like the sense of perspective used, as in
some pages he is close to the front so larger, while in others he is
put further into the distance and is quite small. The text ('Is he
with the chimpanzees, or wading in his boots?') also gives clues
about where we might find him or what he might be doing. The final
page sees all the jungle animals come together for a party; 'Look!
Who's eating jungle cake?' It's Gregory, of course!
This is a bright, engaging board book for little ones to explore
alone or for a fun shared activity.
Nicole Nelson
Where else do teachers go at night? by Harriet Cuming
Illus. by Sophie Norsa. Little Steps Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839050.
(Age: 5-7) Rhyming Book, Teachers. This is a follow-up to the 2015
publication Where do teachers go at night? It doesn't
present anything new but follows the same pattern as the previous
book, an add-on rather than an elaboration. 'Shooting the Congo
river rapids in Africa, or crescent sailing in Madagascar' are just
two of the suggestions of nocturnal teacher activities.
The text reads fairly well aloud, despite a couple of clunky rhymes
and a grammatically grating first line ('Skating in Iceland on
luminous lake') and the watercolour illustrations are visually
engaging and thoughtfully laid out. Disappointingly, the teachers
are stereotyped (bespectacled female librarian always with her head
in a book, burly male PE teacher with a whistle around his neck,
lab-jacketed science teacher with crazy beard and thick glasses). I
assume this is to further play on the misconceptions of students but
it seems unnecessary. The book ends with the main teacher being
wheeled into school by a nurse, looking happy but fairly out of
sorts. The children look confused and worried.
As with the first book, this is very tongue-in-cheek and does
absolutely nothing to help young kids realise that teachers are
actual human beings with lives outside of the school. The worldly
adventures that the teachers embark on and the busy and sometimes
humourous illustrations are where the fun lies. There is also a frog
and a snake to spot on every page.
Nicole Nelson
The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Lucerne by Katrina Nannestad
ABC Books/ Harper Collins, 2019. ISBN: 9780733338199.
Highly recommended for readers aged 9-12. Themes: Family
relationships; Lucerne; Mystery; Secrets. The girl is Freja - a
delightful and wise young lady; the dog is Finnegan - a rambunctious
and exuberant hound, with his nose in everyone's business and their
food as well; and the writer is Tobias - a clumsy crime-writer with
a heart of gold, or perhaps chocolate. They have arrived in Lucerne
with the opportunity to reconnect with Freja's mother Clementine who
is fragile and ailing in a hospital overlooking Lake Lucerne. Freja
is living with the hope of a miracle, and to some extent she
discovers small miracles in the love of the people around her, and
the opportunities to solve another mystery involving copious amounts
of milk chocolate, the Swiss alps and a woman bandaged from head to
foot. The delight of a story with chocolate, alpine castles, secret
passages, and wonderful and unique characters is sometimes shadowed
by the secret that Freja's frail and very unwell mother has yet to
share with her daughter. Tobias and Finnegan take Freja to wonderful
places between her visits to the hospital, and the growing love
story with Tobias and Vivi - the Italian chocolatier, plus the
growing mystery of the chocolate thefts distracts Freja from
thinking too deeply about the secret that her mother has not shared
with her. Ultimately this is a story about love and the love that
can be known in family and in overcoming difficulties together.
This is the third book in the series with The girl, the dog and
the writer and it could be read in isolation, but the
personality growth and maturing of Freja would be understood more
fully by reading all three books - in addition this would give three
times the enjoyment!. The dog and writer are both impossibly
reckless in a completely loving and warm way. Who wouldn't want to
have discussions about the way a body might fall from a third story
building so that it might be included in the next crime novel, or
have the cream licked off your hot chocolate and the chocolate
licked from the corners of your mouth? Their personalities and
slightly disorderly approach to life contrast beautifully with the
endearing and growing bravery of Freja.
Everything about this book is sweet (and not just because there are
lots of chocolate tortes and chocolate delicacies scattered
throughout) and the relationship warmth between all the characters
will warm the heart of any reader.
Carolyn Hull
The Book of Stone by Mark Greenwood
Illus. by Coral Tulloch. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781760650872.
Recommended for a school library collection. Themes: Geology;
Poetry. This book is a poem with reverence for the place of stone in
our existence. That sentence almost seems strange as I write it, but
Mark Greenwood has led us on a journey of reverie beginning with one
stone, and layering it with possibilities as he unfolds and reveals
the many ways that stone appears in our world and through time. The
language is spare and yet crafted beautifully, almost like a
weathered rock itself. The illustrations by Coral Tulloch are
delightful - mostly detailed pencil sketches, with variations
depending on the content. The endpapers include detailed
illustrations of on array of different stones, rocks, fossils and
gems. As Greenwood says, "Every stone has a story" and the
combination of words and pictures in this The Book of Stone
together tell the story of stone and illustrate it with finesse.
This is a great book that I could see being used by teachers in a
poetry unit rather than as a reference book for those interested in
geology. Particularly as it points out the way that stone is used in
the course of the human story rather than to just describe a
geological formation story. Classroom
ideas are available from the publisher.
Carolyn Hull
Atlas of Ocean Adventures by Emily Hawkins
Illus. by Lucy Letherland. Quarto Group, 2019. ISBN:
9780711245303.
Highly recommended. This beautiful book, focusing judiciously on the
world's oceans, is a timely addition to any library collection. The
pages are busy with detailed soft water-colour illustrations of
marine animals and birdlife of every ocean and continent with each
placed within their particular habitat. The book is large (37x27cm)
and the pages are of good quality, responsibly sourced paper.
Each double page opens to reveal a new part of the world. A large
marine landscape/habitat covers both pages. Upon this landscape the
creatures can be found and each is accompanied by interesting facts.
Each page contains an inset box with a map highlighting the place in
the world depicted in the landscape. Most pages contain a second box
with a detailed labelled diagram of particular animals.
The wealth of information contained within these pages is easily
retrieved by the young researcher through the index or the contents
pages and further enhanced by titles, sub-titles, friendly language,
maps, illustrations and diagrams. The casual reader's attention
would be drawn by the sheer pleasure of turning the huge pages and
looking at the intricate pictures. Atlas of Ocean Adventures opens with a large double page map
of the world's continents and oceans and then focuses on particular
oceans and the unique wildlife found in each. At the end there is
information about the dangers to oceans and activities which send
the child back into the book searching for details in the
illustrations.
This is a very special book. Junior and Middle Years teachers would
find it a useful and attractive resource for teaching within the
Geography and Science areas of the curriculum. It is a book that is
made for sharing - adult to children or children together. It's the
kind of book that would make a very special gift for a child.
Although it could be in a general student borrowing circulation,
this book deserves to be displayed prominently in a reserved
reference area within a library where it could be available for
maximum access for students and teachers.
Wendy Jeffrey
The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
Orbit, 2019. ISBN: 9780356507002.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Listen. A god is speaking.
My voice echoes through the stone of your master's castle.
This castle where he finds his uncle on his father's throne.
You want to help him. You cannot.
You are the only one who can hear me.
You will change the world.
This challenging and thought-provoking fantasy will have fans of
award winning Leckie wanting to talk and discuss it. A change from
her science fiction (Ancillary Justice and Provenance) Leckie
explores the idea of how gods and men fare when a pretender takes
over the throne.
Written to the warrior Eolo in the second person (using pronouns
you, your, and yours), by the Raven, it took me some time to become
familiar with this as it was relatively new to me, but once I
settled into the book, found it a fascinating way of getting to know
the characters from a different perspective. Eolo is a warrior, body
guard to Mawat, the true heir to the throne, and seen from the
Raven's eye is cool and courageous and very willing to take risks to
uncover what is happening and whether murder has been committed.
Underlying all is the story of the Stone, a great and patient god,
and the stories of how men use gods to try and understand and
manipulate what is happening in their world. And what an ending! It
will stun readers and leave them desperate to reread parts to see
how Leckie managed to pull it all together.
This is a challenging fantasy; the second person writing may daunt
some until well into the novel and the thought of how people have
worshipped different gods over the ages makes for a fascinating
background to the story.
Pat Pledger
The Girl and the Dinosaur by Hollie Hughes
Illus. by Sarah Massini. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408880524.
(Age: 3-7) Recommended. Themes: Rhyming Book, Imagination,
Dinosaurs. Sarah Massini's (Kiss it Better, The Boy and
the Bear) beautifully rich and detailed illustrations are
perfect for this magical, dreamy tale. 'There's a town beside the
sea, not so very far from here, with golden sands and rock pools,
and a tattered, battered pier. And there's a girl upon the beach her
name is Marianne, she's digging for a dinosaur just beneath the
sand.' The fisherfolk are worried that Marianne is too preoccupied
with old bones; 'She needs to find some friends', they say. But one
night Marianne wishes with all her heart for her dinosaur to come to
life. 'The wishing stars burn bright that night, the air is thick
with dreams, and a deeply sleeping dinosaur is waking up, it seems .
. . ' And so, we are witness to Marianne and her dinosaur friend's
magical journey in the night: past unicorns and giants, through
magical moonlit clouds and to a party place for all children and
their dream creatures. 'Back to the town beside the sea and back to
empty beds, and back to secret memories to keep from grown-up
heads.' Upon waking, Marianne finds other children who also dream
and imagine and they dig and explore together.
The peaceful, sparse and windy English seaside scene created by
Massini is reminiscent of Emily Sutton's illustrations: evocative
and full of texture. There are so many stunning double-page spreads
and the colour choices and Marianne's flowing red hair are perfectly
executed. The poetic language used throughout is rich with imagery
and flows beautifully when read aloud.
This is a calming and charming bedtime story perfect for dinosaur
lovers and all children who dream.
Nicole Nelson
