Penguin Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9780143796879. 288p.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Dogs, Working animals. I must
start this review by saying that I absolutely LOVE this book! It is
literally a book about awesome dogs that do amazing things - and
they are all true stories!
'Dogs have been living with and helping humans for around fifteen
thousand years. All those years ago dogs were either hunters or
guardians, but today, dogs can do all kinds of amazing jobs.'
This book just really ticks lots of boxes for me. It contains 30
stories about a variety of dogs, each one written with a young
audience in mind. It asks questions of the reader and links
experiences from their lives to that of the amazing dog. I really
liked this aspect as when I read chapters to my 9 year old he was
able to find topics he could relate to, he also liked working out
which countries the dogs came from and where they were located in
the world!
Each amazing dog has a 'Dog File' which gives a quick overview of
the breed, skills and positive parts of the job. This part also
helps give the reader an idea of what is to come, and if they would
be interested in continuing to read.
It is hard to pinpoint a favourite dog, as they really are all so
amazing! But the ones to mention are Bailey the 'Assistant Director
of Seagulls' who keeps seagulls from pooing on historic ships,
Caesar the Canine mascot for an AFL team and Montgomary who is a
doggy blood donor!
This book is not only a fun read, but it has also taught me a whole
heap of new things that dogs can do! They can donate blood, they can
be artists, actors, assistance dogs, and even owl detectors. It has
really given me a new appreciation for canine abilities.
I must commend Laura Greaves on a really well written book. It is
full of questions, interesting facts, and sentences that are just
written with humour. We give this book 5 out of 5, and is a great
book to be read to younger children (5 years +) or be read by
readers 8 years and up.
Lauren Fountain
Toffle Towers : Fully booked by Tim Harris
Illus. by James Foley. Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143795421.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Theme: Humour. Ten-year old Chegwin
Toffle, is a daydreamer of the most advanced kind, who, out of the
blue, inherits a hotel. He is determined to make this run-down hotel
into a success.
A super fun laugh-out-loud story Fully booked is action
packed with loveable characters. It depicts thinking outside the
square, using your imagination, the importance of friends and
family, with some mystery thrown in.
An engaging plot, funny conversations, pages filled with thought
bubbles, lots of word play, and lists and letters will captivate
younger readers. It is very well written and the setting is depicted
so that the reader can easily visualize what is happening.
Wonderfully illustrated by James Foley, it has cartoon-like
illustrations throughout the book, such as 'strange things people
might inherit'. Teacher's
notes are available.
Donna Isgar
Leaping Lola by Tracey Hawkins
Illus. by Anil Tortop. New Frontier Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925594591.
(Ages: 2-5) Dance, Rhyming Story. Lola is a brown Jersey cow who
just loves to dance. But Lola is a milk cow, not a black and white
cow; Jersey cows just aren't built to dance, her mother says.
Regardless, Lola cannot help it, she clip-clops her hooves, flicks
her tail, pirouettes here and spirals there. With the help of her
friend, she disguises herself and slips into the Black and White
Ball. She's just getting warmed up when . . . splash! A downpour of
milk washes her mud disguise away, exposing her for the brown cow
she really is.
There are lots of movement words in the story, making it a fun and
rollicking read aloud, but the story itself lacks a sense of purpose
and the ending doesn't resolve everything as nicely as it could. Teacher's
notes are available.
Nicole Nelson
Is it Halloween yet? by Susannah Chambers
Illus. by Tamsin Ainslie. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN:
9781760297404. 24 pg.
(Age: 4 - 6) Recommended. Themes: Halloween, Family, Humour. What
fun to read about a warm and loving family and the tricks and
dressing-up for Halloween! Emily is a little girl who is very
impatient for Halloween to come. She wants to make a Jack-o-lantern;
she spots a vampire bat in a tree and paints her cat black to make
it into a witch's cat. As she creates havoc with her creations, her
patient mother looks after her baby brother while doing household
chores and working on her daytime job. Grandma is also around,
gardening and making a Halloween costume for Emily.
Tamsin Ainslie has perfectly created a warm, loving, busy and
creative family with her delightful water colour illustrations that
abound with humour and warmth. There are lots of fun details for a
reader to pursue, especially the myriad of bats and little ghosts
that are strung throughout the house. Readers will laugh out loud as
they see Mum wrapped around with toilet paper with Emily say 'Are
you SURE it's not Halloween yet . . . Mummy?'
The narrative is delightful, with Emily often asking a question or
making a statement on one page and her busy mother replying and not
noticing just what Emily is up to. This is a really enjoyable book
for both children and adults and is one that would become a family
favourite when read aloud. And a bonus page at the back contains
instructions for making an origami bat that will be welcomed by
families and teachers alike.
Pat Pledger
A different land by Paul Jennings
Illus. by Geoff Kelly. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760528720.
128 pg.
(Ages: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: Migration, Resilience,
Courage, Loneliness, Difference, Persistence, Cultural acceptance.
The snake on the front cover of A different land, slithering
its way through thick bush, will immediately grab the attention of
readers who will want to know what happens to the three figures in
the background. And they won't be disappointed in this short tale of
Christopher, his mother and Anton who have travelled 12,000 miles to
Australia and then made a long train journey in hope of employment.
When the trio arrive though, they find that the pub is very run down
and they have to live in a caravan smelling of dead pig.
Jennings explores what it is like to be a migrant in a new and very
strange land. Christopher is lonely and missing his familiar
homeland, but knows that his mother Pat believes they will have a
better future after leaving their bombed home town and the deaths of
his twin brother and father. He is determined to find out about
Crayfish and his wife Peggy and what he is doing in the bush and at
the same time must learn to fit in.
Humour and pathos permeate this story, a companion to A
Different Boy and A
Different Dog. It would be an ideal read aloud or class novel,
examining the aftermath of war, the resilience of new migrants
coming to Australia and the courage and persistence of all who try
to make a living in the bush. The slight reference background to
Anton's story of running away from a boy's home could also be
researched by curious readers.
Illustrations in strong black ink strokes by Geoff Kelly add to the
atmosphere of the book and give readers an in-depth feel for the
bush setting, the wooden buildings, the waves and the boat.
Scroll down the page for teacher's
tips from the publisher.
Pat Pledger
The Iliad - a graphic novel adaptation by Gareth Hinds
Candlewick Press 2019. ISBN: 9780763696634.
Themes: Ancient Greece, myths/ legends. Homer's epic poem, about the
tenth year of the Trojan War, fought around the twelfth century BCE,
has endured as one of the greatest war stories of all time, but it
is more than a war story, it is one of human heroism and failings,
and the interference of gods. To help understand the work, all in
beautiful fine watercolours, Hinds presents us with an illustrated
cast of characters, important Achaeans, mainly in blue (Greeks) and
Trojans, mainly in red, explaining that each character's initial can
be found worked into his armour. The other important players are the
twelve Gods who are depicted in semi-transparent pastel shades.
A prologue sets the scene, explaining the modern day location of the
warring armies, how the war started and the involvement of the Gods.
The story picks up as the battle weary Achaeans, camped outside the
fortress of Troy make offerings to appease the Gods who have brought
sickness to the camp. It is seen that the Gods are angry about the
refusal to ransom the daughter of Apollo's priest, taken as a war
spoil by Agamemnon, the leader of the Achaeans. He agrees to give
her up but claims Achilles' woman Briseis in return. A well placed
footnote explains that the army had been raiding allies of Troy and
that men and women became slaves, valuable 'spoils of war'. Achilles
is furious and withdraws his support. The war continues with the
upper hand shifting backwards and forwards between the two armies
often influenced by the Gods who struggle to exert dominance over
each other. Brave men die on the battlefield, their names recited,
ensuring everlasting fame and honour for their families.
The famous finale between the Trojan hero Hector and Achilles is
gripping, it is a bitterly fought battle vividly brought to life in
the illustrations. The author's note at the end reflects on why we
still read the Iliad. 'Humanity is on display with all its nobility
and pettiness and violence and tenderness, it is, simply, a powerful
story.'
Introducing a new readership to some of the most important works of
Western literature has been the goal of Gareth Hinds' wonderful
adaptations of classics such as Beowulf, the plays of Shakespeare,
and this companion volume to The
Odyssey. The adaptation retains the essence of the original
with helpful maps and notes but some students may find it long and
challenging. However, the characters are the original superheroes
and the story compelling, while senior students will find it
rewarding it will also appeal to action graphic fans of all ages.
Sue Speck
Sea monsters by Sharon J. Yaxley
Forty South Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780648168881.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Seashore, Tide pools, Seaweed.
A magnificent book of photos from the seashore is given extra life
by the inclusion of poetic lines giving the hint about what we
are seeing. Not seaweed but monsters with eyes and tusks and jagged
teeth, whispering tales from the deep.
The monsters were torn from beneath the ocean and tossed and torn
upon the waves, then left on the sand along the beach where their
shapes became monsters.
Children will thrill recognising the flotsam they see upon the
beach, viewed with different eyes, becoming tails and fins and eyes
and tusks, lying in wait for those who venture there, telling
stories of what has happened to them, waiting for the next high tide
to bring them back on the shore to tell even more stories.
Copious teacher notes are available at the author's website but
I would prefer to let the kids take charge and be wowed by the
images and how these images could be seen as monsters. I think a
class could make wonderful use of this book, sharing experiences by
the sea, imagining the monsters seen on the shore, perhaps visiting
the beach for themselves to see what they can find. The pictures are
simply stunning, taking the reader's breath away as they pour over
each page, remembering the feel of the sand, the rubbery texture of
the seaweed, the coldness of the water.
Fran Knight
Charlie turns into a T-Rex by Sam Copeland
Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780241346228. 280p. pbk.
The much anticipated sequel to Charlie
changes into a chicken is finally in bookshops. Charlie is
sorely tested in Charlie turns into a T-Rex, but gradually
team work pays off with Flora, and to some extent Moshin and Wogon
too, assisting Charlie McGuffin to master his special ability. As
they understand more about the phenomenon, they harness it as a
weapon to help Charlie's dad save his job. The last thing Charlie
wants to do is sell his house, move across town to live with Aunt
Brenda (a peg- legged crazy cat lady) and worst of all - change
schools and lose the special connection with his good friends.
Solving this problem isn't easy when Charlie's nemesis, Dylan, is
intent on unmasking Charlie despite Charlie's affinity with
different helpful species like Jean Claude, the pigeon.
The first thing that hits you about Charlie changes into a T-Rex
is Sam Copeland's conspiratorial writing style, which rapidly draws
you in. While agreeing that there's a touch of Roald Dahl about his
work, Copeland's writing is unique and cleverly-crafted. Firstly,
the humour targets both children and adults, so while there is
plenty of toilet humour, there is also a pop culture element that
will make adults smile. This universal appeal reinforces that kids
love to hear adults laugh just as much as we love to hear them
laugh. An early highlight comes when Charlie discovers that his Cat,
Chairman Meow, has a whole other life, in which he believes he has
supreme power over his universe.
While this sequel is another split-your-sides-laughing kind of
story, the humour has effectively been used as a mechanism for
addressing childhood anxiety with the lightest of touches: a tricky
issue to deal with at the best of times. Parents and educators all
know that children can talk non-stop about a whole range of bizarre
and wonderful things. However, they are not always so forthcoming
about issues that worry them, and while this book isn't an
authoritative source, it gently introduces the benefits of
mindfulness and happiness and, of course, the power of friendship.
Find out more
about this talented author.
Deborah Robins
Red by Jed Alexander
Cameron Kids, 2018. ISBN: 9781944903114.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fairy tale, Wordless. A
wordless take on the classic tale, Little Red Riding Hood,
in which the Big Bad Wolf and other woodland creatures are planning
something surprising sees Red scampering through the woodland,
meeting the wolf and other creatures along the way. Children will
tell her to be careful of the wolf, but a bigger surprise is about
to happen. I love the wolf's body seen through the trees, and the
red of the girl's cape contrasting with the black and white
background, the small creatures welcoming her to the forest, readers
needing to look closely at each page to spot them all. The image of
an elderly comatose Grandma is turned around as the girl reaches
Grandma's house and finds all the animals there waiting for her. The
black, white and red illustrations beg the audience to add their own
words. They will all know the original story but these illustrations
will make them use their imaginations to build a new tale, one in
which everything ends happily, wolf included, rather than his
stomach filled with stones and drowned.
Fran Knight
Computer coding projects for kids by Jon Woodcock and Carol Vorderman
Dorling Kindersley, 2019. ISBN: 9780241317761.
(Age: 8-16) This is a visual step-by-step approach to split
complicated code into manageable chunks, so that the most impressive
projects become possible. Suitable for complete beginners, this book
gives a solid understanding of programming, how to create their very
own projects from scratch, and move on to more complex programming
languages like Python. Difficult coding becomes easy and fun to
understand using Scratch 3.0, the latest software from the world's
most popular programming language for beginners.
'Make a Dino Dance Party or create your own electronic birthday
cards. Build games, simulations and mind-bending graphics as you
discover the awesome things computer programmers can do with Scratch
3.0.' (Publisher)
Donna Isgar
Miss Kraken by Nicki Greenberg
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760637743.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour, Read aloud, School,
Marine creatures. Kids will laugh out loud at this very funny look
at a class's response when an unexpected teacher turns up for the new
year. The children's faces show amazement as the large sea creature
appears, their expressions at once wide-eyed, quizzical and a little
concerned. But there Miss Kraken sits, nestled onto her eight
tentacles at the front of the classroom, one leg having written her
name neatly on the backboard.
And she is a cranky teacher, writing up an endless list of rules on
the blackboard, confiscating all manner of things not allowed, her
multiplicity of tentacles coming in very handy (whoops).
When she announces that they are to go on an excursion, the children
are disconcerted; usually trips outside the classroom are fun, but
with all the rules Miss Kraken imposes, they are not looking forward
to their day out.
Greenberg uses pencil, ink and watercolour for her illustrations,
using photography with digital drawing and collage to complete these
eye popping illustrations.
Miss Kraken is a wonderful creature, her eyes peering out from the
font cover, her tentacles spreading across many pages fulfilling a
variety of tasks. The children's faces are a scream as they take in
their new teacher, showing resignation at the regime imposed,
concerned when they cannot find her at the aquarium, only to have
their fears return when their replacement teacher shows up.
This is fun from start to finish, readers will love Miss Kraken, the
tricks she can do, the fear she engenders and the search for a place
to call home in the aquarium.
Touches about school life, new teachers and excursions are
priceless, from the students' behaviour, the manager asking where
their teacher is, the children changing from poorly behaved to
concerned about losing the teacher, their eyes searching in the dark
of the muted aquarium. Readers will love recognising the things they
have done on excursions and search each watery page for the now
elusive Miss Kraken.
The Kraken of mythology will intrigue readers who wish to delve
further, and accessing this Kraken site will
satisfy their curiosities and augment the fun they will have in
reading this book. Scroll down for teacher's
tips.
Fran Knight
Baby's first jailbreak by Jim Whalley
Illus. by Stephen Collins. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408891810.
(Ages 4+) Highly Recommended. Themes: Animals, Babies. Baby Frank is
back. A hilarious follow-up to Baby's
first
bank heist, this wonderful rhyming story, is full of
mischief and cute animals. It is so much fun to read aloud, the
illustrations are brilliant, with lots of little details for young
readers to spot.
Can Frank and the animals convince the visitors that they belong
right where they are? The answer is both yes and no. But what
happens finally, you'll have to discover, by getting your flippers,
trunks, or other appropriate appendages on a copy of this
chuckle-worthy book.
The storyline is great, as it gently introduces the downsides of
performing animals, without coming across in a preachy form.
I have to say, this is one of the funniest picture book series, in
recent years, with high hopes for more instalments of the adventures
of 'Baby Frank'.
Donna Isgar
Petal and the really hard riddle by Kathryn England
Illus. by David Allan. Christmas Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780648194545.
(Age: 6-8) Themes: Fairy tales. Katherine England's beginning
chapter book is based on the Rumpelstiltskin folk tale, one of the
less familiar fairy stories. She follows the similar plot lines,
reworking the ideas and introducing the cunning twin brother
Riddlestiltskin who's up to the same old trickery as his brother.
Petal's father can't help boasting about his daughter, she is
clever, grows the most gigantic pumpkins and can even juggle fiery
torches hopping on one foot. Of course, when he boasts about Petal's
ability to spin straw into gold, things come unstuck. The greedy
king summons the girl and locks her in a room with a bundle of straw
and a spinning wheel. Poor Petal is unsure about what to do next,
when a little bearded man climbs in through the castle window.
He promises to fulfil the king's commands if Petal can answer all
his tricky riddles. Luckily Petal has read 'The Giant Book of
Riddles' from cover to cover.
David Allan's black and white sketches add liveliness to this easy
to read chapter book. Katherine England's ending brings a new
interpretation to this fairy story, one which adds a fun conclusion.
Petal and the really hard riddle is an easy story tale for
young readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
Where the river runs gold by Sita Brahmachari
Orion, 2019. ISBN: 9781510105416. 340p; p/b.
Shifa has to protect herself and her brother Themba as she finds out
the unfortunate truth about her parentage and the controlling
government she lives under in a world supposedly ravaged by an
incredible storm. Characters are deep and well developed,
with even the seemingly most antagonistic characters having a human
side to them. The treatment of Themba's implicit neuro-divergence is
fairly respectful. The plot is largely character-based at first,
focusing on interactions in an oppressive society, but pivots to a
sort of thriller action with escapes and secrets towards the end, in
a way that is interesting and doesn't feel jarring, but the
conclusion does feel a bit rushed and insubstantial.
The novel tackles a variety of themes, and handles them largely
well. There is examination of the expression of creative freedom
under an oppressive government as people struggle under ARK's
'freedom farms'. The populace is controlled through complete
isolation from and lies about a better outside world, but people
fight back with stories and artwork. Treatment of people with
neuro-divergence and mental illness is also looked at, as Themba
struggles to cope on the oppressive farms and everyone tries to deal
with the old lady on the farm. At the core of the plot though, is
environmentalism, with the world presumed to be after a mass
extinction event and the protection of what natural life remains.
The novel takes place in the fictional 'Kairos Lands' with a vaguely
futuristic technology level after recovering from a cataclysm. The
setting is well established with some interesting, but not
too intrusive, world building.
Vincent Hermann
George and the great brain swappery by Cal Wilson
Illus. by Sarah Davis. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781742762760.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. The Pepperton family are back in the
follow-up to George
and the great bum stampede, another humorous story by
comedian, Cal Wilson.
The Peppertons are a quirky, energetic family. Mum is Professor
Pippa Pepperton, an Inventor Extraordinaire. She is always making
wacky inventions, so life for the Peppertons is never dull or
ordinary.
This is a tale of Mum's newest wacky invention, a 'Brain Swapping
Machine', its name giving an indication of the potential for causing
havoc. When the machine is stolen by one of George's classmates, and
taken on an excursion to the zoo, it's complete mayhem, as the
animals and visitors, start behaving rather strangely. This is a
tale about chaos.
This is a fun book for young readers, with creative interaction of
text and illustrations, interesting fonts and the use of space. This
is especially helpful for new readers, who may feel daunted by a
full page of text.
Once again, great illustrations by Sarah Davis, that really add
extra humor to the story.
Donna Isgar
