Illus. by Lucy Truman. Nosy Crow, 2019 Ariana and Whisper. ISBN: 9781788004565. 112pp., pbk.
Imagine a school where you meet your own unicorn and have amazing
adventures together! That's what happens for the girls at Unicorn
Academy on beautiful Unicorn Island. There are 12 books in the
series (some still to be released), the latest being Ariana and
Whisper.
Written for younger independent readers, the series appeals to those
for whom unicorns remain a fascination and who dream of having their
own one day, a fascination that shows no signs of abating. Such
series are very popular with younger readers just starting their
reading journey through novels as they associate with and invest
themselves in the characters, putting themselves in their shoes and
truly immersing themselves in the experiences. They form
relationships with them that mean they are eager to read and re-read
each one in the series, honing their skills and understandings of
reading as they do so. So this is a series that will have a strong
following because it features all those characteristics that hook
these emerging readers in. Worth the investment, not just for
themselves but the reading pathways that keen readers will then
follow.
Barbara Braxton
Collins children's picture atlas by Collins Maps
Illus. by Steve Evans. Collins/Times, 2019. 3rd ed. ISBN:
9780008320324. 48pp., hbk.
In all my years of teaching (nearly half a century!) either as a
classroom-based teacher or a teacher librarian, it has never ceased
to amaze me how little ones are fascinated by maps and atlases and
they pore over them for hours, dreaming dreams and making plans for
the future. I remember as a youngster spending endless hours with an
atlas mapping out a route around the world that would take me to
every capital city, and surprisingly (not) that atlas is now among
my treasured possessions inherited from my wanderlust mum, along
with an amazing dictionary that got just as much attention!
So there is no doubt that this new atlas for young children will
have the same sort of fascination for your young readers.
Designed to take children on a journey of discovery around the
countries of the world, it begins with intriguing endpapers of the
world's wildlife and then plots a contents journey around the
continents that is perfect for its target audience. Funky, colourful
illustrations depict a range of themes of the iconic features of
countries, building up a hankering to see these in real life when
they are older. Minimal text provides basic information and there
are the usual non fiction features like an index to help them
navigate their way through the book as well as around the world.
Guaranteed to provide hours of engagement and entertainment!
Barbara Braxton
You made me a Dad by Laurenne Sala
Illus. by Mike Malbrough. Harper Collins US, 2019. ISBN:
9780062396945. 32pp., hbk.
From the time a man first discovers his partner is pregnant, the
bond between father and child begins to grow and this relationship
is celebrated in this charming book. From the time of the first baby
bump through to camping out beneath the stars, the father shares his
joy and his wonder and his gratitude at being able to guide and
share the life of his little one, the big occasions and the not-so.
Perfect for a dad to give to his child on a special occasion, this
is a companion to You Made Me A Mother and turns the tables
on the usual format of the story being told by the child about the
dad.
Barbara Braxton
Frankly in love by David Yoon
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241373439
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. This is David Yoon's first book and it
marks him as an author to follow. The story of Frank Li explores
racism, friendship, families and love in a sensitive and engaging
page turner.
Frank belongs to the Limbos. Limbos are second-generation
Korean-American young people walking the line between their
involvement in American culture in school and their Korean culture
at home.
David's writing is nuanced and witty as he describes Frank's journey
in negotiating the perils of young love with the backdrop of high
expectations. Frank's parents expect their children to marry Koreans
and have already disowned Frank's older sister for dating an
American. An elaborate scheme to 'fake date' leads to Frank growing
in awareness as he becomes a conflicted and insightful observer of
his parents and friends. Frank is able to see his parents as complex
characters with unique experiences.
How easy it is to take it for granted that children will speak the
same language as their parents. This story highlights the language
and cultural barriers immigrant families negotiate on a daily basis.
Frank wants to understand his father and mother - and is pressed to
action by circumstances arising from a chance encounter.
The themes of racism and love are intelligently and sensitively
explored in a way that has the reader laughing out loud, or aching
with compassion, in response to the well-drawn authentic characters.
David's clever writing invites the reader to consider that the
adults can be just as compelled to 'fit in' as any teenager.
So frankly this book was a joy to read.
Linda Guthrie
The land belongs to me by Alys Jackson
Illus. by Shane McGrath. Big Sky Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781922265111.
(Age: 4+) Themes: Cautionary tale, Ownership, Environment. When a
beetle looks up from the flower he is on, he tells us that he owns
all from the daisy to the tree, every flower and twig belongs to
him. But the raven disagrees. From the fence post to the daisy to
the oak tree belongs to him. Disagreeing, the farm cat tells them
that he owns every nook and cranny from the farm house to the fence
post to the daisy to the oak tree. The farm dog disagrees, adding
what he owns, then this is supplanted by the cow and what she owns,
then the farmer intervenes. All tell the readers that they own the
land and all on it, repeating the string of things each says with an
easy rhythm.
By now the readers will have understood the message that everyone
thinks they own the land, and question perhaps who does? Turning the
page the argument heats up with a queen, a pirate and a general
disputing the ownership, the general using force to get his point of
view across. The dispute over land ownership has taken a nasty turn.
Children will easily see the outcome of land disputes and through
this story, predict what will happen when such disputes occur. They
will be relieved when turning the page the story comes to a
resolution, one that more should abide by.
The illustrations engender a feeling of comedy behind the story,
diffusing the reality somewhat, making it more palatable to younger
readers. This will readily encourage students to talk about their
environment, who owns it and just who is responsible.
Fran Knight
100 ways to make the world better by Lisa M. Gerry
National Geographic Kids, 2019. ISBN: 9781426329975. 256pp, pbk.
From something as manageable as forgiving someone or leaving a
complimentary note in their locker to more complex ideas such as
taking a First Aid class or letting your trash be someone else's
treasures, this is a small book full of big ideas about how to make
the world a better place both physically and emotionally.
With philosophy such as being the kind of friend you'd like to have
and being inclusive, it covers personal issues that can help the
individual be more calm, more mindful and more responsive to their
world while also taking actions that can help shape the world into
what they want it to be. Ideas are presented as simple concepts with
engaging graphics and photographs, and many are followed by detailed
supporting information, including advice from Nat Geo explorers,
interviews with experts and weird but true facts. Readers can get a
sense of their own power to make a difference and an understanding
of what actions contribute to positive outcomes and how they can
change things by themselves.
While journalling and personal challenges are becoming a popular way
to have students focus on the positives and support their mental
health, sometimes knowing where to start can be overwhelming so this
could be used to guide that journey by having students set
themselves the 100 tasks over the school year, and help them
structure their progress that way as they work their way through
them. They might also have spaces for another 20 ways they discover
that are not mentioned in the book and these could be added to a
class wall chart to inspire others to look more widely.
While these sorts of books always inspire when you first pick them
up, without accountability life can go back to routine quickly so
offering ways to keep the ideas in focus and support the reader over
time will not only help them, but also the adult offering that
support. We can all make our world better.
Barbara Braxton
The curse of the school rabbit by Judith Kerr
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008351847. 80pp, hbk.
Ever since it peed on him in Miss Bennett's Year 2 class, Tommy has
hated Snowflake the school rabbit. And now it has come to stay
because his sister Angie is in Miss Bennett's class and Snowflake
needs a home while Miss Bennett goes to look after her mother. But
because Angie is so little, Tommy has the task of looking after
Snowflake and while the extra pocket money will be handy because he
thinks if he wants a new bike he will have to buy it, this is not a
task he is savouring. And so the trouble starts . . . dangerous dogs
bale him up in the park when he is walking the rabbit; his
out-of-work-actor father misses out on a job because Snowflake pees
on someone important, Angie gets really sick, Snowflake goes missing
. . . There really is a curse!
Written and illustrated during the final year of her life - Kerr
died in May 2019 aged 95 - this is an engaging story for the
newly-independent reader from the author of classics such as the Mog
the forgetful cat series and When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit.
It shows she still had all the imagination and wit that she had when
she first wrote The tiger who came to tea in 1968 and will
probably gain her a whole new legion of fans.
You can read more about her work in this obituary.
Barbara Braxton
One runaway rabbit by David Metzenthen
Illus. by Mairead Murphy. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN:
9781760523558. 32pp, hbk.
Lulu is happy to live in her hutch in the backyard but one night
when she spots a hole in the fence, she is tempted through to
explore the world further. Unfortunately a hungry fox is on the
prowl and his nose smells Lulu and the chase is on. Can she escape?
Metzenthen has used the minimum of words to tell this tale because
with the exquisite illustrations in a style that might be unfamiliar
to younger readers, no more than what are there are needed. This is
perfect for encouraging the reader to look carefully, tell their
version of the story and predict the outcome. All are essential
elements of the early reader's arsenal in making sense of print and
stories and demonstrate their level of comprehension.
A delightful story that offers something new to explore each time it
is read, especially if the astute adult asks "what if . . . ?".
Metzenthen says he dreams of writing the perfect story - this is
getting close to it.
Barbara Braxton
Hollow Earth by John Kinsella
Transit Lounge, 2019. ISBN: 9781925760279.
(Age: 18+) Recommended. Themes: Dystopian fiction, Addiction,
Climate change. John's science fiction novel tells the story of
Manfred, who after a complex and difficult childhood, escapes to
Hollow Earth via a cave that takes him through the Earth's crust.
Reminiscent of Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Manfred
finds life beneath the surface. He befriends Ari and Zest and guides
them to the surface to experience another life.
This is a confronting story of addiction. Addictions come in many
forms and this book highlights these as Ari and Zest interact with
the violence and betrayal of humanity. John's work addresses the
issues of climate change, drug use, sustainability, respectful
relationships and inclusive communities. The reader is invited to
draw their own conclusions.
While not an easy read, this book offers an opportunity to consider
the lives of surface dwellers from the perspective of a new arrival.
We are left to reflect on the ethical and natural consequences of
our current cultural and political practices.
Linda Guthrie
What Momma left me by Renee Watson
Bloomsbury, 2010, 2019. ISBN: Bloomsbury, 2010, 2019. ISBN: 9781681199498.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Family; Friendship; Abuse;
Overcoming difficulty; Resilience; Christian Faith. Renee Watson is
an Afro-American writer drawing on her own community experience to
create a story that weaves the dreadful circumstances of a murder
with the Afro-American experience of Christian life and practice
within a Baptist church family. The central character is a young
Eighth Grade student, Serenity, and with her younger brother Danny,
they have experienced the worst family tragedy. The story reveals
their need to recover after the significant family trauma, which
destroys their family and challenges their own identity and
security. Their grandparents are involved in a Pastoral role in a
Baptist church, and Serenity and Danny become reconnected with them
and make new friends, when they move to restart their lives.
Attending Christian events, volunteering their time and challenging
poor choices, and attending counselling become part of the journey
to recovery. They carry with them baggage from their past, with
attendant tears, and they must also learn how to redefine
themselves. Their new friends have the potential to lead them
astray, but the influence of their grandparents shines through.
The traumatic events and difficult circumstances that are addressed
are quite confronting for a young reader, but there are moments of
lightness scattered through the book, along with delightful pieces
of poetry and other explorations of literary devices. These are
school-based English tasks, that headline the chapters and reveal
Serenity's internal dialogue. The cultural experience of an
Afro-American experience of Christian faith in a church community
will be foreign to most Australian readers, but there are some
delightful and perhaps quirky features of the service-oriented
family life within this context. Those without any Christian
heritage will perhaps find some of this faith-based expression to be
unusual. The author has included risky behaviours for some of the
young characters that include some illegal behaviour, and in
combination with discussion about incestual abuse as well as family
violence, and the keeping of unhelpful secrets, there are some very
complex and mature issues that are dealt with within the lives of
the main characters. Resilience and character formation are woven
through these difficult issues, but sometimes the author seems to
have aged them beyond their stated age.
Recommended, with some reservations, for readers aged 14+.
Carolyn Hull.
Song of the River by Joy Cowley and Kimberly Andrews
Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572533. 32pp., hbk.
High in the mountains where he lives, Cam tells his grandfather that
he wishes he could see the sea and his grandfather promises to take
him there "one day."
But as winter turns to spring and the snows begin to melt, Cam
watches a trickle of water running through the pine trees, water
that splashed and sang in the voice of the snow,
"Come with me. Come with me. I will take you to the sea." And unable
to resist its song, Cam follows it and begins a journey that
broadens his horizons in so many ways.
The beautiful, lyrical words of one of New Zealand's premier authors
for children, Joy Cowley and the stunning, detailed, muted
illustrations of Kimberly Andrews which echo both the high country
of New Zealand and the Canada of her childhood come together in what
is indeed a song of the river. With a text that builds much like the
river itself, rises to a crescendo and then returns to its original
melody like a piece of music, this is indeed an aptly named story
both in content and style. It lends itself to all sorts of mapping
activities, more than just the physical journey of the trickle to
the sea. Even exploring why the author named it Song of the
River rather than Story of the River will open up the
beauty of the language and the build-up of the journey.
With a landscape very different from those of the illustrations, and
much of the country in one of the worst droughts ever, this is an
ideal book to begin an investigation of Australia's rivers and
compare their origins and uses to those of the river in the story. A
search of the NDLRN using Scootle will bring up a number of units of
work focusing on the Murray-Darling Basin such as A Sense of Place
(TLF ID R11374) (written by me for Year 3-4 but which could be
adapted for both age and situation) that could be the perfect
companions to maximise the impact of this book.
Barbara Braxton
Space on Earth by Dr Sheila Kanani
Alma Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781846884559. 1287pp., pbk.
The 50th anniversary of man stepping on the moon and the declaration
by President Trump that they will be back there by 2024 with NASA's
Project Artemis has again ignited the debate about the cost of space
exploration and whether the money could be better spent back here on
this planet.
So the publication of this new book from Dr Sheila Kanani, a British
astronomer with a particular interest in Saturn, is very timely
because it examines how the discoveries in space have been
translated back into everyday objects on Earth. It is full of
amazing facts about everyday innovations, from drills and
dustbusters to bike helmets, that have been inspired by space travel
and includes sections on the people who brought them to us,
Divided into three sections - technology, health and fashion - it
examines objects as diverse as baby blankets, artificial limbs and
skiwear, examining how their development is related to space
exploration as well as a short piece about the scientist who
imagineered the development.
Intriguing and offering much food for thought that could spark
further investigations.
Barbara Braxton
William Bee's wonderful world of trains, boats and planes by William Bee
Pavilion, 2019. ISBN: 9781843654155. 48pp., pbk.
"Once upon a time , the only way for people to get around was by
walking, or on the back of a horse, or in some sort of contraption
that was pulled by a horse. And then along came..."
Young readers who are fascinated by transport can join the lovable
William Bee as he and his dog and a collection of traffic cones
wander through the world and history of trains, boats and planes.
Part true and part imaginary, his adventures are based on actual
facts and these are woven into the narrative to make an engaging
story that educates and entertains. With its humour and bright
detailed illustrations, young readers have much to pore over and
discover and perhaps even be inspired to design their own craft.
This is one of a series of three - William Bee's Wonderful World
of Trucks and William Bee's Wonderful World Of Tractors
And Farm Machines that would sit very well within a unit on
transport and travel.
Barbara Braxton
The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9781787474420.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. This book was a surprise. Initially
the story appeared to be a light read. The story begins with Tiffy
searching for a flat. She is a quirky editor for a publisher of DIY
and craft books. Tiffy accepts an offer to share a flat with Leon
Twomey, a palliative care nurse who works nights. Because of work
commitment's they will never be in the flat at the same time - and
share the one bed.
Beth's writing is impeccable as she artfully reveals the back
stories for Tiffy and Leon. Through posits and episodes of stalking
the reader begins to understand that Tiffy is recovering from
emotional abuse that includes gaslighting. The reader journeys with
Tiffy as she is supported by Leon and her friends to come to the
realisation that her sense of reality has been skewed by her
previous relationship. The supporting characters provide robust
clarifications of boundaries within relationships, cleverly
delivering a perceptive analysis of intimate relationships. This is
where the book moves from being a light romantic comedy to being an
insightful exploration of abuse and injustice presented from the
point of view of hope and compassion.
This funny and uplifting debut novel from Beth O'Leary is a must
read.
Linda Guthrie
The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
Illus. by Axel Scheffler. 15th Anniversary Edition, Macmillan, ISBN:
9781509894475.
(Age: 2+) Highly recommended. Themes: Rhyming story, Mythical
animals. What a joy to read aloud to very young children and what a
fun picture book this is for older kids! The 15th anniversary
edition of the well-known picture book will be welcomed by all who
would like an updated version with a wonderful wrap-around play
scene that forms part of the cover, and press-0ut pictures to use as
the story is read.
It is easy to see why The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's
child remain favourites. The easy to read, rhyming story flows
along beautifully when read aloud, and the illustrations are
delightful. The Gruffalo's child is a mini version of her father,
with tiny horns, and humorous little details like the snowman that
looks like a Gruffalo will bring a smile to the faces of readers. I
loved the risk taking little Gruffalo who is not too scared to go
exploring on her own out in the wild wood, trying to find the Big
Bad Mouse. The way the clever little mouse outwits the Gruffalo's
child making a large mouse is great and would lead to much
discussion about shadows.
As well as the wrap around play scene this edition contains some
activities, 'The Gruffalo's Child Song', a quiz and information
about putting on a play.
This is a keeper for me. It will make a wonderful gift and it would
likely become a favourite book in the classroom, with its strong
read aloud aspects and valuable activities.
Pat Pledger
