The Secret Histories Book 5. Angus and Robertson, 2019. ISBN:
9781460754801. pbk., 110pp.
French's historical novels present an area of history readers know
little of, but by the time they read her books, they will have
gained an overview of the period in which the book is set, a glimpse
into the lives of people their own age and a strong feeling for the
setting of the incident.
Based on eyewitness accounts, this fifth title in The Secret
Histories series reveals a time of rebellion amongst the
disenfranchised in the early years of Sydney Town. The Castle Hill
Rebellion of 1804 is given scant attention in history books, but
French fleshes out the rebel Philip Cunningham, the reasons for the
uprising, its failure and consequences for the colony.
Like the four other novels in this fine series, a young person is at
the centre of the action and we see this doomed riot against the
government through his eyes.
Homeless in Sydney Town sees Frog stealing for a living, waiting at
meetings to pick pockets and one day he meets Mr Cunningham, an
Irish convict, sent to Australia in irons for his part in the anti
British uprisings in Ireland in the late eighteenth century. Told to
watch out for the fire at Parramatta, the signal for the rebellion
to start, Frog is taken up with the cry, Death or Liberty, and sets
out to join Cunningham and his army of rebels.
But the series of fires set as the signal to join in do not
eventuate, spies and traitors within the camps having given them
away. Wounded and watching from his vantage point in a tree, Frog
sees the rebels killed, captured and taken away, the rebellion put
down.
He is taken in by a family who look after him and he hears of the
wider problems within the social structures in Sydney Town, caused
by the power and influence of the NSW Corps or Rum Corps as it was
known. French adds several pages of information at the end of Frog's
story filling in details about Sydney Town at the time and why
people were so unhappy they were willing to fight.
A piece of Australia's history is made known to a wider audience
through this well told story of Frog. French does not overtax her
readers with facts, leaving them at the end for people to read after
the story has finished, but unbeknownst to them, readers will have
gained more than they realise through the story.
Fran Knight
Mr Archimedes' bath by Pamela Allen
Angus and Robertson, 2020. ISBN: 9781460758960. 32pp., hbk.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. As the 40th anniversary reprint
testifies Mr Archimedes' bath has become a children's
classic as each new generation learns about the Greek mathematician
Archimedes and the physics of water displacement in the best
possible way - with lots of fun and giggles! With delightful
illustrations of a portly Mr Archimedes, Kangaroo, Goat and Wombat,
Allen brings to life the mathematician as he tries to work out why
the water overflows when he and his animal friends get into the
bath.
Readers will be entralled right from the first illustration where Mr
Archimedes and the animals are all stuffed into a bath, Kangaroo's
tail and paws sticking out, Wombat's head just above water and
Goat's hoof resting on Kangaroo's neck while water pours onto the
tiled floor. This sets the tone for the rest of the illustrations,
one in sepia on the left hand side of the page and a full colour
drawing on the other. The expressions on the faces of all are
delightful and readers will have a wonderful experience following
the story through the illustrations.
The story itself features big print which will be a boon for
beginning readers and the mathematical ideas will delight any child
or adult as Allen demonstrates the ways that Mr Archimedes
experimented and worked out his mathematical theory. He measured the
depth of the water, but it still rose and all the animals denied
doing it; when they all got out of the bath the water had gone down.
When Kangaroo stayed out it still rose and so on with each animal
until only Mr Archimedes was left. Then the friends have so much fun
making the water go up and down with such a mess.
Commended in the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards
1981, and winner of the Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's
Literature (1980), Mr Archimedes' bath is a must for every
library and will fit in beautifully with the mathematics curriuclum
in the classroom. Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Problem-solving, Humour,
Measuring, Scientific method, Mass, Volume and Capacity,
Mathematicians.
It is such a wonderful story with truly memorable illustrations that
parents will find it becomes a firm favourite with children and a
book that will be kept for the next generation.
Pat Pledger
Earth Hour : A lights-out event for our planet by Nanette Heffernan
Illus. by Bao Luu. Charlesbridge Publishing, 2020. ISBN:
9781580899420. 32pp.
(Age: 5-12) Highly recommended. Earth Hour this year
takes place on 28 March 2020, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. This is an
ongoing worldwide response to the impact we are having on our planet
with our use of energy consumption. The World Wildlife Fund for
Nature (WWF) sponsors this event and thousands of communities from
all over the world support the initiative. Earth Hour by Nanette Heffernan is a cleverly written picture
book which explains very clearly how we use energy in our day-to-day
life. The text is simple but thoughtfully crafted and so easy for
children of all ages to understand. This book explains what Earth
Hour is and how it unites the world on one evening in March. It
shows images from famous icons in different countries and provides
more information for both teachers and students at the end of the
book. The illustrations are beautifully drawn, so colourful and
clear even when the lights are out.
This book is a wonderful resource for both parents and teachers to
share with children and explain the reasons behind the Earth Hour
movement. Themes: Energy, Environmental issues, Conservation,
Sustainability, World-wide unity.
Kathryn Beilby
Weird little robots by Carolyn Crimi
Illus. by Corrina Luyken.Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406387988.
pbk., 240pp.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. As the title suggests, Weird little
robots is centred on robots created out of bits and pieces.
Eleven year old Penny Rose Mooney is new to town and more
importantly, new to her school. Her father is an entomologist who
has taken over responsibility for running the household as Penny
Rose's mother has a new job in a bank which is why they have moved.
She is an only child who spends her time in her own ramshackle shed
constructing small robots out of anything she can find such as
dentures, a calculator and an old mobile phone. She gives the robots
names and talks to them as if they are real. Penny Rose's neighbour
across the road is Lara Hinkle who is in her class at school and is
seen as a geek by her classmates. Lara constructs bird houses and
has a relationship with the birds who live in them. She wears large
sunglasses at all times and is a loner. Penny Rose's parents
encourage her to make friends with Lara and through a series of
amusing events this eventually happens.
Mysteriously, after a cold wind blows through the shed, the robots
come to life. Lara, who is sceptical about the robots at first, comes
to love the robots as much as Penny Rose and together the two
friends construct an amazing metropolis for the robots called
RoboTown. At Lara's instigation the girls sign a proclamation
promising never to discuss the robots with another living soul.
However as what happens so often with girls and friendships, one of
the friends decides to choose another more popular group over her
true friend. The pull of belonging to a Secret Science Society is
just too much for Penny Rose and she abandons her friendship with
Lara. After some very difficult challenges for Penny Rose, she
eventually realises that Lara is her true friend and they carefully
rebuild their relationship and slowly form friendships with other
students.
Throughout the story are clever black and white illustrations which
perfectly reflect the text and keep the reader engaged. This is an
enjoyable read for middle primary students. Themes: Girls,
Friendship, New school, New challenges, STEM, Inventions, Science.
Kathryn Beilby
Peppa the Easter Bunny
Penguin Random House, 2020.ISBN: 9780241411827. 16pp.
(Age: 1-4) Peppa has an idea: "Let's have a surprise Easter-egg
hunt, George!". "Yippee!" cheers George. Peppa and George decorate
Easter eggs and hide them in the garden for their friends to find.
Peppa has another idea: "Can I surprise my friends and dress up as
the Easter Bunny?". "Cheep? Cheep?" asks George. After a riffle
through the dressing-up box, Peppa and George are all set and it
isn't long before their friends arrive. "This is the best Easter-egg
hunt ever!" cries Candy Cat. But where are Peppa and George? Tap!
Tap! Tap! There are two enormous eggs and they are beginning to
crack! "Surprise" says Peppa the Easter Bunny. "Cheep!" says George
the chick.
The beauty of the world of Peppa is that it so often shows the
family working and playing together and this is no exception as
Mummy and Daddy Pig help George and Peppa prepare the hunt, dress up
and hide. It's a fun book that emphasises a giving element of Easter
(preparing something that will be enjoyed by others) and of making
your own fun. This will be enjoyed by little ones who love Peppa,
dressing-up and treasure hunting. Themes: Board book, Peppa Pig,
Easter.
Nicole Nelson
19 love songs by David Levithan
Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922268921.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Short stories. This collection by
award-winning author David Levithan is full of heart-warming,
sometimes funny, stories of young friendship and love. The scathing
humour of quiz bowl team member, Alec, immediately drew me into the
first story 'Quiz Show Antichrist', the story of a mismatched quiz
team vying in an interschool competition, and I often had to laugh
at his jokes. But at its heart is the story of his unarticulated
crush on Damien, the cool guy, little realising that true love lies
elsewhere, close at hand.
'The Good Girls' is the story of a boy who hung out with all the
good girls - a sisterhood and he was the brother. Only gradually
does he become aware of his gayness and develop a circle of good
guys. It is a gentle story, no bad things happen, just a gradual
awakening.
This is the flavour of this set of stories - gentle love songs. I
must admit I caught my breath on reading of the date between
six-foot-four transgender star quarterback Infinite Darlene and cute
male cheerleader Cory from the opposing team. I kept anticipating
something mean, some cruel sabotage, but no, it is a lovely first
date, ending with a first kiss.
The other stories, which include a cartoon strip on first kisses, a
song playlist and a poem, all provide insight into the gradual
exploration of identity, friendships and love.
The final poem 'Give Them Words' dedicated to librarians, teachers,
writers and others, highlights the power of words to share
experience and understanding of others. This book is a wonderful
collection of words that provides insight into the experience of
LGBTQ+ young people in a way that we can all identify with and enjoy
reading. I recommend this book for all school libraries. Teacher's
notes are available.
Helen Eddy
Morphing Murphy by Robert Favretto
Illus. by Tull Suwannakit. Ford St Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925804324. 32pp.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Murphy the tadpole loves life in his
weedy pond. He swims around and around all day long. But one day he
notices two tiny bumps near his tail. He is concerned and tries to
shake them off, but they grow into legs. His new legs give him extra
speed and maneuverability, but then, two more bumps sprout near his
gills. These become front legs which allow him to steer and get
food. All is good, and life goes back to normal again, but then, his
tail disappears. He is aghast and tries hard to find it, but notices
that without a tail he can jump out of the water and breathe the
air.
The metamorphosis of the tadpole to a frog is complete, and readers
will not only have an endearing story of Murphy and his concern
about change, they will learn the stages a tadpole goes through to
become a frog, finding out all the benefits that accrue, and see
that change is a good thing, saying goodbye to the old and welcoming
the new.
The patterning of the words make it an excellent read aloud, with
children quickly picking up the repeated refrains and calling them
out with the reader.
The repetition of 'life is good, I won't change a thing' is followed
by 'But the', alerting readers to another change in Murphy's body.
They will turn the pages with eager anticipation seeing how Murphy's
body is transforming. And of course, the wonderful twist at the end
of the tale will have readers laughing out loud, recalling lots of
stories about frogs and the myths about them.
Suwannakit's wonderful water colour illustrations recall the green
weedy pond, with other small animals hiding in the watery plants in
Murphy's world. I love the pages after a new appendage has developed
showing Murphy scrambling all over the pages trying to shake off the
new growth. The pages are full of movement as the text follows the
little tadpole, highlighting for the reader the dismay Murphy is
feeling at change.
Suwannakit is a Melbourne based illustrator known for his Sad,
the dog and Thimble.
Favretto lives near Melbourne and has several funny vampire books
for middle primary people published.
And new words will be introduced focussing on the word, 'morphing'
used in the title, encouraging readers to thinks about what it means
and where it comes from. Teacher's
notes are available.
Themes: Frogs, Tadpoles, Change, Metamorphosis.
Fran Knight
Jelly-boy by Nicole Godwin
Illus. by Christopher Nielsen. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781760651237. hbk., 32pp.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. When the jelly fish becomes entangled
with her jelly-boy, an unusually shaped animal that floats in the
sea, she is blown away with his daring and bravery. He is big and
strong, but he doesn't glow in the dark like others of her ilk, and
her family is not keen on him.
But they float around in the ocean, riding the swells, diving down
deep, exploring, braving the stormy water. But one day his bravery
almost ends with his demise as he floats up towards the propellor of
a boat. All is well, but they are taken up by a fast current of
water. In this current she sees many other jelly-boys, just like
him, dangerous, destructive and deadly. She cannot break herself
away from them until her family comes to her rescue and join
tentacles to drag her clear.
By now the reader will have worked out what jelly-boy is, and they
will look back to see how the writer and illustrator have shown the
destructive power of plastic bags in the ocean. This amazing story
will move children to ask questions, to take plastic bags to task,
to think about their use of the plastic bag and ask the question at
home. The last page of the book outlines some disturbing facts about
the plastic bag and its harm to our environment, and propel readers
to action.
Godwin's message is relayed by using straightforward, unencumbered
short, sentences, creating images that will stay with the reader,
while the mix of medium used by Nielsen in his illustrations creates
a world beneath the ocean, at once blue and beautiful, but
undermined by death and destruction in the form of the plastic bag.
The layout with large print moving with the ocean, parallels the
movement within the ocean and that taken by the fish and the plastic
bags. Some words are written in bold: deadly, destruction,
dangerous, for example, forcing the reader to say them out loud,
reiterating the wanton nature of the jelly-boy.
Children will delight spying the various creatures that inhabit the
ocean, but be dismayed when noting the evidence of pollution in the
form of the plastic bags, tins and discarded rubbish.
A wonderful read aloud as well as a cunning cautionary tale about
the destructive nature of the plastic bag in our environment, this
book deserves a place in every classroom to be read and discussed
along with a rethink of their use of the plastic bag. Themes: Sea
creatures, Pollution, Jellyfish, Environment, Marine pollution.
Fran Knight
When sadness comes to call by Eva Eland
Andersen Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781783447954. pbk., 32pp.
(Age: 5+) When sadness calls the images in this book show the child
trying to deal with the cloud that hangs over his head. At first he
tries to shut it away, then he finds that he becomes the sadness so
must find another way of dealing with it. The book shows the child
grappling with the cloud: giving it a name, talking to it, doing
things together, taking it outside.
Each strategy offers the child feeling sad a way to deal with it
themselves: trying different activities, walking in the park,
playing games. By accepting that this sadness will come along, the
child develops mechanisms to help him cope with its existence.
This book would be a good starter to talk to children who may suffer
some bouts of sadness and depression. It is a starting point that
some may need to discuss with children, as well as a starter for
children to open up about their own misgivings.
Strategies are given which may help children think about how to cope
with feelings of sadness, and certainly with help and guidance may
find the book a useful tool within a self help program.
The reduced illustrative technique serves to reduce the sad feelings
to their basics; there are no intrusive backgrounds to distract the
reader, but simply a child in need with a blue cloud hanging
overhead. The endpapers too, reveal other people with sad feelings,
broadening the topic for the child to see he is not alone. Themes:
Depression, Sadness, Emotions.
Fran Knight
Gold Rush by Jackie French
Illus. by Dave Hackett. Fair Dinkum Histories - All the Stinky
Bits series. Omnibus Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760667634. pbk.
160pp.
Another in Jackie French's inviting series of Fair
Dinkum Histories will attract a wide readership when
students read the cover which promises to reveal all the stinky bits
of Gold Rush history. They will crinkle their noses when they read
of life aboard ship on the way to Australia or the toilet habits of
the miners or the filth of Melbourne's river. Jackie French uses
humour to expose the gritty bits of Gold Rush history in Australia
and the impact it had upon the newly emerging nation. Many students
will have a rudimentary knowledge of the Gold Rush but French works
to make it far more alive and interesting than texts they may have
read. And accompanied by Dave Hackett's intriguing and enlightening
illustrations the book will grab the attention of kids and adults
alike.
Melbourne takes on a different hue when French evokes the image of
the Yarra with tanneries dotted down its side, pouring animal
entrails, blood and tanning sludge into its waters. Or the list of
the ways people could die on the gold fields or the problems
associated with looking for gold, the problem of bushrangers, itself
a precarious occupation, or the fact that some took a look at
Melbourne then returned home. All the unusual details that French
pours into her text are amusing, salutary and informative. Kids will
laugh out loud at the hapless miner, sewn into his one pair of
clothes, but saddened when they read of him breaking his back for a
possible sixpence a week only to find that will not buy a potato to
eat and spare a thought for the hardworking Chinese miners, sent out
here as virtual slaves to greedy overlords back home, having to deal
with jealous and ignorant miners on the goldfields. Lambing Flat is
dealt with in detail, adding a sad tale to Australia's colonial
past.
Damper was the main meal, along with sly grog to keep the hunger at
bay, so life was short, although the Gold Rush increased Australia's
population four fold. Included are chapters about the Eureka
Stockade, Marvellous Melbourne, and two chapters on gold being found
in the Snowy region and Queensland. The other states saw what an
impact gold fever had on Victoria and so advertised a reward for any
gold found in their states.
All in all a fascinating read. I enjoyed reading about this time in
Australia, and was amazed at the depth of information French is able
to give within nine short chapters. Statistics add another layer of
interest and the whole is tied together with funny and illuminating
illustrations.
Fran Knight
Aussie Kids: Meet Zoe and Zac at the Zoo by Belinda Murrell
Illus. by David Hardy. Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN:
9781760893651.
(Age: 6 - 8yrs) Recommended. Zoe and Zac are almost twins - born on
the same day, at the same hospital and live next door to each other
at the Zoo in Dubbo, Australia. They have just turned seven and are
finally allowed to help feed and look after the animals. During
their journey around the zoo they feed the lions, giraffes, meerkats
and scoop up elephant poo! It was hot and dusty work. On their final
journey home they find a missing lioness with a double surprise. Meet Zoe and Zac at the Zoo is one of the first in a series
of eight books about Aussie Kids from each state in Australia.
Interwoven throughout the text are simple factual details and at the
end Fun Facts pages about the animals mentioned in the story. There
is also a short biography about the author and illustrator.
Belinda Murrell has written an entertaining story that will appeal
to young junior primary readers who are ready for chapter books to
work on their rapidly developing reading skills.
The large print complements the thoughtful illustrations by David
Hardy which provide clear visual images for the reader. Themes:
Australia, Zoo, Animals, Friends.
Kathryn Beilby
The Easter bunnyroo by Susannah Chambers
Illus. by Laura Wood. Allen and Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760635015.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. When Dad brings home a rescue animal to care
for, our hero is convinced that the animal is not a joey but an
Easter Bunny, because of its long ears, big feet, hopping nature and
its convenient built in basket for carrying eggs in. He calls it EB,
but his family calls it Ruby.
The narrator begins to teach Ruby the skills needed to be an Easter
Bunny. Ruby must first and foremost be able to hide the eggs at
Easter, so he shows her what to do, annoying his family when he
hides the mobile phone and the car keys amongst other things.
Grandpa, Ruby and the boy practise painting eggs from the market and
then when all is ready he falls asleep, sleeping through the alarm
ready to wake Ruby to hide the eggs. But coming down the next
morning, he need not have worried, the eggs are all hidden waiting
for the siblings to find them.
This is a cute take on the Easter egg hunt, practised by many
families at Easter. The story outlines some of the customs
undertaken by families at this time, reinforcing the festivity and
its place within many world wide communities. Readers will eagerly
see how the eggs are coloured, perhaps trying this for themselves,
and find where the eggs have been hidden in the last pages, and
inquisitive students may be able to find out how many in their class
celebrate Easter in this way, and what the different customs are for
their peers. Themes: Easter, Easter bunny, Kangaroo, Egg hunt,
Easter eggs, Family.
Fran Knight
The chicken's curse by Frances Watts
Allen and Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525569. 272pp.
(Age: Mid - Upper primary) In the Australian year 7 HASS curriculum,
students investigate the Mediterranean world of the ancient past and
the contributions of the ancient world to our modern social,
political and economic systems. Students reflect on government and
democracy, laws, citizens and citizenship, develop empathy and
understanding of significance and perspectives.
This content could be dry and formal or it could be introduced
through a class serial read of The chicken's curse. This
book is hilarious fun. The amount and quality of political, social,
economic and historical facts and events that are embedded cannot be
underestimated. What better way is there to learn than through
following a hilarious narrative! It's sub-liminal learning.
Our heroes are Livia and Felix. The same age as upper primary
readers, they are courageous, full of initiative and very likeable.
Representing different classes within Roman society, Felix is
escaping from the military and Livia is escaping slavery. Together,
with the questionable help of a crazy sacred chicken, a talking
camel, a magic carpet and others, they travel pretty well all the way
around the Mediterranean in a bid to see Caesar and to rescue
Livia's brother from being fed to the lions.
At the beginning of the book there is a map that students can refer
to in order to follow the action. Without effort, through this
process, they cannot help but come to understand the geography of
the Mediterranean. By following the antics of our heroes they
couldn't help but become very interested and engaged with what the
curriculum is requiring them to investigate.
It is great when teachers, parents and librarians have books that
they can direct students to which help to engage students with
curriculum content. The chicken's cursehappens to fit this
bill.
The hilarious efforts of General Fabius Maximus Porcius and others
are reminiscent of the Asterix comics so beloved of generations of
readers. There are so many springboards for further investigations
triggered by this book.
Recommended for mid-upper primary, The chicken's curse makes
one smile - indeed laugh out loud . . . and learn.
Wendy Jeffrey
Somebody give this heart a pen by Sophia Thakur
Walker books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406388534.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. An ode to the emotional release of
writing, Gambian-British poet Sophia Thakur's poems are courageous
in the exploration of identity, racism, love, violence, sorrow,
faith and so much more. This is the first published collection of
poems by the performance poet who has been writing, speaking and
performing since a teenager. When I found her extremely moving
spoken performance of her title poem 'Somebody give
this heart a pen' on YouTube I was surprised at how young she
is, because the tone of her work sounds mature and experienced, and
her language is so rich and expressive. And while the subjects may
sometimes be harsh there is none of the swearing that characterises
some slam poets, so this volume of poetry can easily be recommended
for teenage as well as adult reading. Some of the subjects will
resonate with teenage readers - such as conflict with parents, and
love and relationship break-up. Also, political topics such as
refugees and racism could be focus for classroom discussion.
Following an introduction titled 'the process', Thakur's poetry is
ordered into sections: Grow, Wait, Break, and Grow again, following
the path of life experience. It is clear she sees writing as
self-expression and growth. She writes Slow down and clock back
into yourself / Give your heart a pen. Her final poem is also
an exhortation to write - Write through and write around /
Absolutely everything that tries to steal your sound. I think
young budding song composers and writers could find her words
inspirational. It was Thakur's love of hip hop that initially
fuelled her passion for writing. Her book shows that performance
poetry can be read and enjoyed over again in written form. I can
recommend this book for teenage readers and also for adults who
enjoy savouring the language of poetry.
Helen Eddy
Counting our Country by Jill Daniels
Magabala Books, 2020. ISBN 9781925768657. 11pp. board book.
(Age: 1+) Highly recommended. This beautifully coloured, bright
counting book is a lovely addition to board books for young
children. Featuring different animals that the author has found in
her country of SE Arnhem Land, young children will be entranced by
the bold colours of the goanna, magpie geese, buffaloes and bull
sharks. All the illustrations are set against a solid colour and
each figure that is to be counted has a brightly hued outline,
making it stand out against the page.
Each number, 1 to 10, has a double page spread, with the name of the
animal featured in in Ritharrnu, Jill's Aboriginal language, and in
English. At the back of the book is a double page spread which gives
the pronunciation of the Ritharrnu words, sounds and spellings and a
short quiz for the reader and adult to see if they can say the
Ritharrnu animal names.
This book is not only an ideal way to teach young children their
numbers, it will also give an understanding of another Australian
language and an insight into Indigenous language and art for both
child and adult. It is ideal for both home, classroom and library.
Pat Pledger
