Illus. by Briony Stewart. NLA Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780642279460.
(Age:5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Bondi, Sydney, Australian
history, Nineteenth century, Beach wear, Swimming, Surf lifesaving,
Aviation history. When cousins, Charlie Smith and Rupert Swallow go
to the beach on a hot summer's day in 1907 to dive into the surf,
they swim out beyond the breakers and cannot get back. Bondi has
always been known for its deadly rip and although the boys know
about it, when they decide to swim back to shore, the rip tires them
and they find that they cannot swim against it any more. Rupert
encourages Charlie to keep going, but all Charlie wants to do is
rest, and float down into the sea. Rupert waves to the shore, and is
spotted by Sadie who alerts some surfers on the beach. They take a
line out to the boys and pull them back in, a crowd on the beach
watching with fear in their eyes. Sadie Sweeney pushes forward
telling people she is a nurse and uses the latest resuscitation
techniques on the seemingly lifeless Charlie, bringing him around.
The fear and excitement of a near tragedy on the beach is heightened
when statistics tell us that nearly 250 people are drowned every
year in Australia, and Charlie is Charles Kingsford Smith, going on
to fame as an aviator, the first to fly from America to Australia in
1928. His plane 'The Southern Cross' is a permanent
exhibition at Brisbane Airport.
This engrossing picture book retells a part of our history which
resonates today with the formation of the Bondi Surf Life Saving
Club occurring within weeks of Charlie's rescue, followed by many
other volunteer clubs in and around Australia. The importance of
these volunteer groups cannot be underestimated, rescuing hundreds
of thousands of swimmers. Surf Life Saving Australia has over
200,000 members and is the largest volunteer organisation in the
world.
Beautifully illustrated, Stewart has used archival photographs to
render her images accurately, and the clothing, particularly the
swimming costumes will delight younger readers. I loved looking more
closely at the women's clothes, all decked out for a day on the
beach, few venturing into the water, some perhaps getting their feet
wet. What a contrast to today's beaches.
Readers will be encouraged to think about and discuss their own
safety in the water.
At the end of the story, information is given about Charlie Smith,
Sadie Sweeney and Surf Life Saving in Australia. A small glossary
will help those new to the terminology used and references are given
to places where more information can be found.
Fran Knight
Anna at war by Helen Peters
Nosy Crow, 2019. ISBN: 9781788004718.
(Age 8-12) Recommended. Anna at war will introduce young
readers to the reality of war, of being a refugee and to some of the
evils perpetuated in WWII. The storyline is engaging, from the
horrors of Kristallnacht, to the aching sadness of family
separation, with a dash of adventure, terror and courage whilst
displaying the enduring power of kindness.
Helen Peters has researched her topic extensively and also
demonstrates a deep understanding of children's interactions with
each other and the adults around them. The result is a very readable
book that draws the reader immediately into Anna's story, as she
relates it to her grandson for his school assignment. Anna journeys
from Germany to England on one of the Kindertransport trains and is
fortunate to be fostered by a kind and caring family, only to be
faced with a terrifying situation in her new home. The book could be
a good introduction to a child who knows little of the impact and
realities of war or promote a deeper understanding for those who
have already read in this area. Despite the grimness of the subject
matter it is a surprisingly gentle read.
The book, dedicated 'For all the children who have had to leave
their homes and make new lives in other places' will be a useful
tool in helping children understand the confusion, dilemmas and
challenges that face the refugees and victims of war that they will
meet.
Jan Barwick
Super Nova by Krys Saclier
Illus. by Rebecca Timmis. Ford St Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925804300.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Sibling rivalry, Brothers and
sisters, Family relationships, Space, Aliens, Courage. Nova's
brother seems to be blamed for all the things that Nova gets up to.
Someone steals Dad's raspberry muffins, but it can't be Nova.
Someone tangles Gran's wool, but it can't be Nova because she
wouldn't do such a thing. Someone steals bits of the Harry's
chemistry set, but he thinks Nova is too small, and it is her
brother who is ordered from the room.
He decides to check up on Nova and see what she is up to. He follows
the trail of crumbs outside and there finds her staving off a bunch
of aliens with the muffins, a rocket ship in the background. She
bravely stands her ground in front of the horde of green monsters,
throwing the wool net over them. She ties them up, puts them in the
rocket and sends them off into space back to where they came from.
When Mum comes out admonishing them for being outside so late in the
evening, he takes the blame for them being out so late, promising to
take Nova back to bed, which he does, looking at his brave little
sister in a fresh light. She truly is a Super Nova.
This is a delightful tale of families and sibling relationships. The
boy blames his little sister for him being in trouble so often, but
when it comes to the crunch, takes the blame for her and admires her
for what she is doing.
In the background is the older brother, so protective of his own
space, with Dad, Mum and Nan living in the house as well.
The bright, engaging illustrations will appeal to the reader, noting
the array of familiar things in the background, then marvelling at
the images of the aliens in the garden and how Nova deals with them.
This different tale of sibling rivalry, told with lightness and
humour, would be a good read aloud and initiate discussion about
space.
Fran Knight
Handa's noisy night by Eileen Browne
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406320015. 32pp., hbk.
Handa and her friend Akeyo live in Kenya, and when Handa has a
sleepover with Akeyo, the girls are allowed to spend the night in a
little hut near the house. They're excited to be on their own, but
as they get ready for bed, Handa feels more and more nervous. She
keeps hearing things - strange snorts, chitter chattering, a big
thud. Akeyo says it's only her noisy family, but on the opposite
page the reader sees the nocturnal animals who are really making the
noise - and while some of them are familiar, others are very
peculiar looking indeed!
With rich, vibrant night-time illustrations, sound effects, and
plenty of curious animals, coupled with Akeyo's explanations which
are not only hilarious, but ingenious, this is a story that will
resonate with children the world over as they step out of the
familiar and have their first sleepover away from home with all the
unfamiliar noises that will keep them awake. While the causes might
not be as exotic as those that kept Handa awake, nevertheless there
is never a limit to the imagination when it's dark.
We first met Handa from the Luo tribe in south-west Kenya in Handa's
surprise nearly 25 years ago and that book was included in the
Seven
Stories'
Diverse Voices list - 50 best children's books
celebrating cultural diversity in the UK since 1950. That, and its
sequel Handa's hen have sold more than a million copies
globally, with each focusing on a topic that children all over the
world can relate to, and perhaps even adapt to their own
circumstances. If you were sleeping in a tent or a caravan, what
might be making the snorting, chattering, rattling, squeaking and
slurping noises you can hear? Rich pickings for the imagination!
Barbara Braxton
The last voyage of Mrs Henry Parker by Joanna Nell
Hachette Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9780733640377.
(Age: Adult) 'The Golden Sunset' ship is near the end of its
life as is Mrs Henry Parker, wife of the retired ship's surgeon. The
couple had decided to spend their retirement on board the cruise
ship but on this trip, Evelyn can't seem to find her husband. She
knows the ship routines and expects Henry to turn up at any moment
but failing eyesight and increasing confusion mean her search is
erratic. The staff don't seem to take her concerns seriously but a
kind couple who are on their first cruise befriend her. Evelyn's
long term memory is perfectly good and she lucidly tells her life
story from meeting Henry on board the 'Orcades' in 1953
through good times and bad, it's just the recent past she has
trouble with.
Evelyn is treated with humanity and compassion in this poignant and
heart-warming story from the viewpoint of someone with dementia. I
had to suspend disbelief a few times, especially as the ending is a
bit over the top but it is entertaining reading for older adults
from the author of The single ladies of Jacaranda Retirement
Village.
Sue Speck
At the beach by Nancy Bevington
New Frontier Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781925594355.
(Ages: 0-3) Board Book. Themes: Beaches. This is one in a new series
for babies called Can you find? (others are Under the ocean,
In the forest, On the farm). Nancy's previous titles
have included the ZenTails and Mad Dog the chef
series. In this book, each page says 'At the Beach there is . . . '
and then shows and names three things found at the beach (sea,
flip-flops, sandcastles, boogie boards, kayaks, seagulls, goggles
etc. The illustrations are large, happy and fun but quite
realistically drawn. Each page has a contrasting background colour.
The last page says 'Can you find all the things at the beach?' and
shows all of the illustrations included within the previous pages.
These are simple but impressive early vocabulary books that
encourage parent-child interaction and positive book experiences for
babies.
Nicole Nelson
It sounded better in my head by Nina Kenwood
Text Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781925773910.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Winner of the Text Prize. In her
debut novel, Nina Kenwood tells the story of Natalie, a
seventeen-year-old whose world is turned upside down when she learns
that her parents are getting a divorce. Still getting used to the
fact that her two best friends, Zach and Lucy are a couple, Natalie
is understandably lost and struggling to understand where she fits
in this new dynamic and just where her life strayed from her plan.
Then, when Zach's older brother Alex starts paying her a little more
attention, she finds herself caught in a new world of change that
she must learn to navigate one step at a time. A relatable, moving
and achingly vulnerable depiction of the challenges that life throws
in our way and the power of learning who you are and growing into
the person you're meant to be, Kenwood's first novel is an absolute
delight. Her rich characters and world truly touch the reader to the
core and make this a novel that you'll immediately want to share
with anyone and everyone you know. This book is perfect for high
school students, especially those that are nervous or unsure about
the big wide world they're about to experience as they leave school
and continue to University or beyond. Natalie, Alex, Zach and Lucy
will hold their hand, hug them and remind them that no matter what
life sends you, you are more than capable of handling it. Warning:
sexual references and mentions of alcohol and drug use. Book
club notes and teaching
notes are available.
Daniella Chiarolli
Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA stories edited by Michael Earp
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781760651039.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: LGBTQ, Queer stories, Short
stories. Using the word 'Kindred' as the title for this enticingly
readable dozen stories by young adult writers from the queer
community will have readers enthralled. The word 'kindred' has so
many layers of meaning: placing all sorts of people next to,
alongside and with each other, responding to their needs and wants,
sharing, giving and supporting.
Each of these stories was selected to show connection, their writers
part of the LGBTIQ+ community, and reflect people from First
Nations, people of colour and disabilities, people of various
sexualities, genders and identities. The twelve stories are about
connection, sharing a kindred spirit, of diversity, and each is as
fresh as the sea breeze, alerting the readers to something being
offered that outpaces other books of short stories.
I loved reading 'Rats' (Marlee Janes Ward) with its dystopian
setting grounded in a tale of connection. And set in Melbourne gave
it a hair on the back of your neck feeling of recognition all the
way through. And I loved 'Laura Nyro at the wedding' (Christos
Tsiolkas), with its confronting themes, as Jack wants his estranged
father to attend his wedding. He tries to contact him; a man jailed
for sex with a fifteen year old, years before. But the effect on his
family makes everyone ask questions. Some reviewers have suggested
this story is out of place in a book for teens but the tale raises
issues teens come across. And 'I like your rotation' (Jax Jacki
Brown) tells an involving story from a disabled perspective.
Benjamin Law rounds off the book with his insightful 'Questions to
ask straight relatives', and the book has several pages of further
resources for queer teens, and potted bios of each of the
contributors.
It is so important for people to see themselves represented in
literature, to know they're not alone, to know that others share
their journey, and equally important for others to be able to read
of people seemingly different but not so different from themselves,
and so encourage empathy, understanding and connection, and this
book offers connections not often seen in mainstream books for
teens. And so it has a place in school and public libraries where
teens gather to read relevant stories. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Mining and me by Michael Martucci
Illus. by Naya and Kostya Lazareva. Little Steps, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839210.
(Age: 3-8) Richly illustrated with the reds, yellows and browns of
the outback, Mining and me is a special book that describes
the life of a 'fly in, fly out' family. Martucci's father was a 'fly
in, fly out' miner, and he himself is a second generation 'fly in,
fly out' worker, so he brings an in-depth understanding of what
family life is life for both the children and the parents of these
workers. He describes the background to the story in an article
in Mining People International.
Written as a poem, the reader follows the story of a young boy who
has moved around Australia from Queensland to the Northern
Territory, his father working in different mines. He has '. . . a
parent who stayed, A parent who left' and he describes the feelings
of the child and the love that both his father and mother showed
him. The loving relationship in the family is very evident in the
way the children interact with their parents, and how the young
child grows up to be a loving father himself. An evocative touch was
the picture of his father as an older man, watching his
grandchildren. The strong message in the book was that the father
does it for love of his family, 'It was for them, to grow up happy
and strong.'
The illustrations are done in water colours and the backgrounds are
particularly evocative of the outback mines and countryside.
Children will love the wide eyed characters and cute little dog and
recognise the family life that features throughout the book. Mining and me will be a boon for any family who has a 'fly
in, fly out' family member, providing great bedtime reading and will
give the wider community a greater understanding of what it is like
to be part of a mining family.
Pat Pledger
In the dead of the night by Arthur McBain
Illus. by Tom Knight. Little Hare, 2019. ISBN: 9781760503413. 32pp.,
hbk. It's a cold, rainy night and a storm is outside
Rain beats on the window by Lily's bedside
She's scared of the dark so she shuts her eyes tight
She hates nothing more than the dead of the night
Tap. Tap. Tap. Comes a noise from the hallway . . .
There is something about hearing strange sounds in the middle of the
night that makes our imaginations run wild as we think about the
possibilities - is there a monster with horns on its head; a vampire
looking for prey; or a mesmerised ghost? All of these ideas fill
Lily's head as she lies there listening to the Tap. Tap. Tap. But,
remembering her little brother is also asleep and needs protecting,
she summons her courage and determines to conquer whatever is making
the noise . . .
Using rhyme and repetitive text, and stunning illustrations that are
fearsome but not too scary, McBain and Knight have managed to build
a story that reaches a crescendo of tension but which resolves
itself with an unusual twist which will resonate with lots of young
readers whose imaginations are as active as Lily's. It's an
opportunity to talk about what might be making the tap, tap, tap and
for little ones to share their fears about the dark and the noises
of the night, and to reassure them that even as adults, we are all
scared of the unknown at times and we have to summon our courage to
investigate too.
Reassuring and different.
Barbara Braxton
My name is not Peaseblossom by Jackie French
Angus and Robertson, 2019. ISBN: 9781460754788.
(Ages 12+) Recommended. A modern retelling of William Shakespeare's
A Midsummer Night's Dream, My Name is Not Peaseblossom
follows the title character who would rather be known as Pete. A
member of the fairy court, Pete is known as Peaseblossom; a servant
to Queen Titania. However, whenever he gets the chance, Pete time
travels ahead in time to eat at his favourite pizza restaurant, The
Leaning Tower of Pizza. Here, he meets a selkie named Gaela who
makes the best pizza in the world. Unfazed by her magical charm,
Gaela is intrigued by the stranger who refuses anchovies on his
pizza and the two bond; sharing magical secrets and unknowingly
falling in love. Complicating the matter is the fact that Pete can
only be gone from the Fairy Court for so long, and the fact that
both of them are engaged to be married to other people. Challenging
the values and traditions of the Fairy Court, Pete will decide once
and for all whether he can make the sacrifices necessary for his
freedom.
A beautifully told tale of the role of free will, the importance of
staying true to who you are, and the wonder that is true,
unenchanted love, My Name is Not Peaseblossom will be adored
by readers regardless of their familiarity with Shakespeare's tale.
With relatable, charming and multi-layered characters, this novel
encourages the reader to temporarily live in an enthralling, magical
world that they will be sad to leave when the last page turns.
Daniella Chiarolli
Rise of the Mythix: Golden unicorn by Anh Do
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760525132.
(Age: 9-13 years). Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Myths,
Legends, Dystopia, Adventure, Power. 'Some heroes are legends.
Some legends are real. The tyrant known as the Soul Collector
desires to own everything that is beautiful, unusual, or unique.
Kelly Swift is trying hard to be an average teenager, to keep her
head down and her hoodie up. But every day her powers are growing:
she can run faster than the wind, she can hear people's thoughts,
she is not normal. When her mother is taken by the Soul Collector,
Kelly can't linger in the shadows any longer. But who is she
really? Can she be the one in the prophecy? Is she . . . The
Golden Unicorn?
The Golden Unicorn, the Minotaur and the Griffin -
Only these three united to a common purpose
can fell him who seeks to triumph over all . . .' (Publisher) Golden Unicorn by Anh Do is the first book in the Rise of
the Mythix Series. This dystopian adventure is set in
Australia in a time when there is an absolute tyrant who rules by
wielding cruel and brutal power over his people. His army of
bullies, the GB, have control of the city with cameras everywhere.
The population lives in fear as anything out of the ordinary becomes
a magnet for the Soul Collector to add to his immortal canvas
collection achieved by Lucifer's Ring and the complete power that
ring allows him. By facing the ring at the person or setting, the
Soul Collector is able to drain the colour and immortalise it
forever on canvas.
As well as the Soul Collector, the other main characters, Kelly
Swift and Stanley Solomon are introduced thoughtfully into the story
and you gain an understanding of the roles they will play in
defeating this evil leader. Kelly is a teenager who has become aware
that she has just lately begun to develop unusual powers of speed
and mind reading. She grows a unicorn horn and is caught up in a
battle when she is attempted to be captured. Stanley Solomon, the
Chief Archaeologist, discovers a prophecy that will involve him and
trying to save the kingdom. He has a personal reason for joining
forces with Kelly and support her as much as he can.
The clever graphic illustrations by Chris Wahl help support the
reader's understanding of the storyline. The illustrator gives us a
clear vision of the characters' unique traits and adds a touch of
drama to the text. Those reluctant readers who struggle with the
amount of words on a page will enjoy the fact that the illustrations
break up the text and keep the reader engaged.
Anh Do's popularity as an author will be further enhanced with this
new series. It is exciting, full of action, and quite unique in its
plot and characters. I look forward to the second and third books.
Kathryn Beilby
Clancy the quokka by Lili Wilkinson
Illus. by Alison Mutton. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760634711.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Quokka, Verse, Food, Western
Australia, Picnics. In four lined rhyming stanzas, Wilkinson tells
the story of a quokka who waits until he hears the tell-tale noise
of campers, holiday makers and tourists to make his way to their
campsite to grab some of their food. He is well practised in taking
food from the picnic tables, and when he sees a beautiful birthday
cake sitting in the middle of the table, he wants it for himself.
Pitting himself against the children and adults at the camp site,
mayhem follows as the little quokka becomes entangled in ribbon, and
the humans dive and weave around trying to prevent him taking the
cake.
When he at last is able to grab the cake, he hears loud crying as
tears fall from the children's faces. Chagrinned, he returns the
cake to the family. Instead of being very cross, the birthday girl
calls out 'look at his face and those cheeky cheeks' before having a
selfie with the animal. Selfies finished the quokka leans back in
his chair with a slice of watermelon, but turning the page sees him
return to eyeing off something more inappropriate.
A delightful story about quokkas but also about native animals and
the food they eat, particularly when they live close to tourist hot
spots where food is available on tables and in bins. The story begs
discussion about the appropriate feeding of native animals in such
places at Rottnest Island as well as camping places where kangaroos
and others may come visiting.
The funny illustrations serve the story well, revealing the range of
children in this particular party, their faces alight with the
experience they are having, while entranced with Clancy at the end,
despite his behaviour almost ruining the birthday party. Food
figures prominently in the illustrations and readers will delight in
recognising party food of all descriptions. And with all that
ribbon, wrapping paper and paper plates, it is good to see it all
cleaned up at the end before they leave.
A funny tale about the interaction between humans and animals will
have children looking more closely at the quokka, and laugh again at
the myriad of selfies posted on the internet of humans and this
little animal.
Fran Knight
Scars like wings by Erin Stewart
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471185991.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Burns, Survival, Identity,
Resilience. Ava is slowly recovering from a house fire that killed
her parents and her cousin Sara; she is the sole survivor, but
survivor is hardly a word she likes because she has burns to 60
percent of her body and a face that is changed forever. Gone are her
friends, her boyfriend, and her future as a singer in the spotlight.
Instead she is forced to wear a body compression suit, and a bandana
to cover her patchy head and missing ear; her left hand is a stump
with a toe to replace her thumb; and her face is a patchwork of skin
grafts, with eyes that have loose hanging underlids. Her survival is
thanks to her father pushing her through the window to safety below
- a survival she claims was never a choice on her part.
Her uncle Glenn, and aunt Cora, Sara's parents, are now her carers.
To please them and the 'Committee on Ava's Life', Ava reluctantly
agrees to try out at a new school. There she finds a budding
friendship with another burn survivor, a car crash victim, Piper,
who takes a gutsy defiant approach to dealing with her
circumstances. Ava becomes involved in the backstage crew for a
school musical production and another tentative friendship leads her
to hope that one day romance might return to her life. However there
are always the looks of horror and disgust to deal with, the
whispers, and then the bullying. It takes Ava a while to understand
she can't just block people out of her world, she is actually in
need of the love and support being offered her by people who care.
The wings of the title are the wings of the phoenix rising from the
ashes, Piper's totem. Ava has to find her own wings, and her own way
towards a new future. It is an incredibly hard journey. The author Erin
Stewart spent time listening to the stories of burns
survivors, children who suffered the torture tank of skin peels and
multiple skin graft surgeries, and somehow managed to go on and find
joy in life again. So the story is heart-rending in its
authenticity. Scars like wings shares many of the themes of Sean William's
2019 YA novel, Impossible
music - the anger and isolation of the sufferer, the
loss of identity, bitter rejection of well meaning outsiders, the
path to humility and self acceptance, and the struggles to find a
new life that can somehow incorporate the passion of the life they
lost. Scars like wings offers insight into suffering, and
overcoming adversity, and finding personal strength and resilience.
Highly recommended for teenage readers.
Helen Eddy
Tulip and Brutus by Liz Ledden
Illus. by Andrew Plant. Ford St Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925804348.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Ladybirds, Insects, Stinkbugs,
Relationships. Tulip is a ladybug and lives with the other ladybugs
amongst the flowers, while Brutus is a stinkbug, and stinkbugs live
in trees. Each gets its nourishment from the plants quite
differently. A ladybug nibbles and sips, while a stinkbug bores and
sucks sap from the tree. One day it begins to rain. Each insect uses
smell to warn the others, so stinkbug lives up to his name and lets
off a whopper, while ladybug lets out a small pong. The rain sweeps
them away and they all end up together in a sticky pile of debris.
Here a dragonfly hovers overhead assured of a meal, but the ladybugs
and stinkbugs evade the invader, letting off a combined pall of
smell, sure to deter any possible threat.
After their near misadventure, both groups live happily side by
side, the ladybirds sipping the flowers and the stinkbug boring the
trees.
A funny tale of two different groups working together to overcome a
common enemy, the humour about letting off smells will be a treat
for younger readers, initiating discussion about why animals expel
air and how it is an aid to digestion as well as a way to warn
others. This seemingly little story gives a great deal of
information about insect life and will initiate discussion about
insects in the classroom. Students will see parallels between the
two sets of insects in the garden and the various different groups
playing in the playground at school, in the classroom or at home. A
warm tale of friendship, or working together to overcome a common
problem and of diversity, exemplified by Andrew Plant's hilarious
illustrations depicting the human characteristics of these two tiny
insects as they survive in the garden.
Fran Knight
