Illus. by Lisa Stewart. ABC Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780733339196.
(Age: 0-3) Recommended. Themes: Babies, Mobility. What a joyous,
beautifully illustrated book that parents will enjoy reading to
their very young children! Two little toddlers, just learning to
walk and run wobble across the pages of this delightful book. Wibble wobble, walking tall.
Wibble wobble, tumble fall.
The soft pastel illustrations from Lisa Stewart are a delight to
follow as the two toddlers and their pet dog and cat stumble across
the page, moving from building a tower with ten blocks and gradually
toddling outside where they have a great adventure in a mud puddle.
Finally they are bathed and off to bed: Wibble wobble,
cheeky mites.
Walk tomorrow . . .
sleep tonight.
The rhyme of the story lends itself beautifully to reading aloud and
a carer will have lots of fun emphasising actions, while the small
child will delight in the repetition of the words, 'Wibble wobble'.
This would be a delightful gift for parents with young children and
is sure to become a favourite as the young child learns to walk.
Pat Pledger
New Class at Malory Towers by Patrice Lawrence et al.
Hodder, 2019. ISBN: 9781444951004.
(Age: 8-11) Themes: Short stories, Boarding School, Girls. Enid
Blyton's Malory Towers popular boarding school stories were
written in the late 1940s and early 1950s, suited to the children of
post-war Britain. Now, a new generation of writers has taken these
stories and added new characters, twenty-first century thinking and
issues. Blyton's central character Darrell, named after her second
husband, still plays a central role.
Patrice Lawrence's introduces Marietta whose 'skin was still much
darker than her father's and her face was framed by rows of neat
plaits.' Marietta comes from a circus background; her mother's been
injured in the boxing ring and consequently something drastic has
happened to her daughter. 'A Bob and a Weave' explores themes of
acceptance, diversity and overcoming fears as Marietta grows and
changes.
Lucy Mangan's story 'Bookworms' challenges stereotypes and looks at
the problems schoolgirl pranks cause. Popular girl Darrell is on
thin ice, her mischievous actions have been noticed by the sports
mistress. One more misdeed and she's benched from the next lacrosse
game. Darrell discovers a new place to hide and meets a new friend,
Evelyn Hartley who loves keeping the library in order. She
recommends a new book for Darrell, The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe and opens up the world of literature to her.
'The Secret Princess' by Narinder Dhami brings new girl Sunita
Sharma into Malory Towers. There's an air of mystery about her and
the third form girls speculate about her family background. When
Alicia comes up with the idea that she's an Indian princess, Sunita
decides to play along with interesting results.
Rebecca Westcott's 'The Show must go on' sees the girls preparing
for the fourth form showcase. Everyone has different talents, some
are good at sports, others at tumbling and juggling. They must come
together, work through their differences and present a unique
performance for their parents and visitors. New Class at Malory Towers rewrites Blyton's elite boarding
school stories making them accessible to a new generation of
readers. These four authors have set their stories in post-war
Britain in a world without technology and social media. The issues
the school girls face are still familiar, developing their
self-esteem, struggle with acceptance, inclusivity, bullying and
building friendships.
Rhyllis Bignell
Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
Tom Doherty Associates, 2019. ISBN: 9781250229793.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy,
Folklore, Secrecy, Magic, Recluses, Diversity. What an impact for a
slim volume of just 109 pages, which can be read in one sitting!
Tobias is a wild man who lives alone in the forest. When Henry
Silver, the new owner of Greenhollow Hall, comes to visit, old
secrets are stirred up as the woods seem to come alive.
Reminiscent of the Green Man myths, the author's details about the
lush green of the woods and the trees, the cottage where Tobias
lives and the strange dryads who are his friends provide an eerie
background to the story of how Tobias has become the Wild Man of the
woods and the impact that Henry Silver will make on his life.
Interesting supporting characters like Pearl the cat, Henry's mother
and a young woodsman, add depth to the magic of the story.
Silver in the wood is perfect for fantasy and folklore lovers who
want to escape briefly into a magical green world with fascinating
people. I can see it being nominated for a Hugo Award in 2020.
Pat Pledger
Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin's brilliant career began by Libby Hathorn
Illus. by Phil Lesnie. Lothian 2019. ISBN: 9780734417879.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Themes: Miles Franklin, Literature,
Australian literature, Governess, Rural life. Sweeping painterly
images draw the eyes across each page as Lesnie presents a young
girl taking up a position as governess in rural New South Wales, a
station near Yass, in the late nineteenth century. The text by
foremost Australian writer, Libby Hathorn, reveals the girl, teenage
Stella Miles Franklin, a long way from home, teaching four children
on the property but intrigued by the young orphan girl, Imp, who
plays outside the schoolroom after doing her chores, always with one
eye on the blackboard.
Miss Franklin is lonely and often sits on a rock on the hill
dreaming about what she wants to do. Imp sometimes catches her there
and together the two provoke each other to do more than dream.
Imp is asked into the classroom but chooses instead to watch through
the window where she learns her letters, while she provokes Miss
Franklin into writing - using the skills she has brought with her
along with her pens and ink and paper. And she does. So one of
Australia's best known early works was written, My brilliant
career, published in 1902 after Franklin's stint at a station
far from home.
She went on to fame both here and overseas, needing to work in other
fields to live. She moved to the USA and London, returning to
Australia in 1927. She was an avowed feminist, writer and scholar
who has left her mark on Australia's literary traditions, with two
prizes awarded for writing each year: The Miles Franklin Literary
Award for outstanding work and the Stella Prize specifically for
women's writing.
Hathorn's imagined relationship between the two lonely but clever
girls in rural New South wales brings a softness to Franklin's
image, endearing her to younger readers.
The sweeping illustrations, redolent of the colours and hues of
inner Australia, will be quickly absorbed by the readers as they
imagine what it must have been like to travel so far from home at
such a young age, your earnings needed by your family. Franklin's
isolation is underscored by the illustrations, the broad sweeps of
the Australian landscape, the hills rolling away to the horizon,
knowing with absolute clarity that you are alone. This is a
wonderful story about Miles Franklin, bringing her tale to a younger
audience, inciting interest in the woman and her legacy, surrounded
by the most breathtaking of scenery beautifully captured by
illustrator, Phil Lesnie. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Mother of pearl by Angela Savage
Transit Lounge, 2019. ISBN: 9781925760354.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Themes: Surrogacy, Medical tourism,
In vitro fertilisation, Thailand. Two women's lives become connected
when Meg, an Australian who has suffered many failed IVF attempts,
turns to the option of a commercial surrogacy arrangement in
Thailand, and Mod, a poor Thai woman contemplates the role of
carrying another couple's child; but it is a third woman, Anna,
sister to Meg, that provides the moral heart of the story. Anna has
worked for many years as an aid worker in South-east Asia, she
speaks Thai among other languages, and from experience she has
learnt that there is often a huge gap between how things appear and
how they really are. Wanting to support the sister she loves, but
distrustful of the surrogacy business, and concerned about the
exploitation of Thai women, Anna becomes a kind of go-between,
wanting to ensure that everyone is treated fairly.
It is through Anna that we learn about the complexities of
commercial surrogacy relationships. Despite the high standards
of Thai medical care and expertise, the powerlessness of the
surrogate mother is revealed: the commodification of her body, and
the hazards - medical, financial and emotional - that she faces.
Savage also provides insight into the varied motivation for the
surrogate mother - not only the obvious escape from poverty and
abuse, but the Buddhist idea of attaining merit, doing a good deed
to bring better karma and atonement for past failings, the
opportunity for a spiritual connection that the paying customer too
often may not understand or appreciate.
I thought that the relationship between Anna and her sister were
particularly well drawn - the love and closeness between them, but
also how jealousy and resentment can bubble up at any time, because
of the different choices they have made in their lives.
And of course, there will be many who will empathise with the
anguish of Meg, longing for a child, the hopes and bitter
disappointments of each failed IVF attempt, and the tensions that
brings to her relationships with her husband, her sister, and her
friends who have become parents. Mother of pearl is an interesting story on many levels,
providing insight into human relationships as well as the complex
issues of assisted reproduction, medical tourism, and poverty and
inequality.
Helen Eddy
Meerkat splash by Aura Parker
Puffin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143792895.
(Age:3+) Recommended. Themes: Meerkats, Humour, Bath time, Verse,
Colours. In rhyming pairs of lines the story of a group of
differently coloured meerkats coming down the internal tunnels of a
meerkat burrow to their bath is told. Meerkat black, blue, green,
white and even pink, find their way to the large tub of water,
splashing around before bedtime.
Younger readers will love the bright breezy illustrations, full of
colour and movement showing the meerkats finding their way to the
bathroom. The colours of the animals are replicated in the
background of each page, reiterating the name that matches each.
Children will love telling the reader the colour and pointing out
the matching hue on each page.
The text begs children to call out the rhyming word, asking them to
predict the word that comes next, marvelling at the number of words
used to describe the meerkats' time in the bath. Splish, splash,
splosh, swim, slide etc will ensure the attention of the reader as
they try out these words for themselves.
Full of energy the meerkats love their bath and readers will spy
various things used by them in the bath, recognising their own bath
time. But one more meerkat is ready to jump in, and readers will get
ready for the commotion that this one creates, laughing at the waves
as they wash over them all. A fun filled treat for all bath times.
Fran Knight
Incredible journeys: discovery, adventure, danger, endurance by Levison Wood
Illus: by Sam Brewster. Wren and Rook, 2019. ISBN: 9781526360434.
(Age: 8-14) Recommended. Themes: World exploration, World explorers
- Alexander the Great, Vikings, Christopher Columbus, Magellan and
Drake, Captain James Cook, The Silk Road, Amelia Earhart. This book
is a shining light on the adventurous spirit of those who have
explored the world and opened the way for trade, adventure and
travel to those who have followed their path or been inspired by
their fortitude. Levison Wood is himself an explorer and adventurer
of some repute, even though he is not yet 40 years old. With a
background in the British Parachute Regiment, he has also travelled
extensively in some of the world's most difficult terrains and
circumstances - traveling the length of the Nile and of the
Himalayas as an example. His curiosity, bravery and pursuit of
knowledge as he traverses the world makes him the perfect person to
inspire a new generation of explorers.
The book details the routes and experiences of many early explorers
whose exploits are well known. The list of these important people
includes Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus. He
also details other lesser known explorers whose pursuits are also
significant and includes the details of many women who were able to
defy the stereotypes of their generation and venture into obscure
territory. Their stories are not so well known, but they too were
breaking new ground and exploring new possibilities. Interspersed
with personal reflections of Wood's own journeys through the lands
and routes of the historically famous explorers are annotated maps
and also some general information about how to pursue 'exploring'
for younger readers.
Illustrations by Sam Brewster are naively detailed and the colour
palette is limited, but the overall impact is still appealing for
young readers.
Recommended for ages 8-14, and especially for those of an intrepid
nature or who are 'armchair' explorers.
Carolyn Hull
Gym squad tumble by Meredith Costain
Illus. by Danielle McDonald. Ella Diaries book 16.
Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781760662844.
(Age: 6-9) Themes: Gymnastics, Competitions, Djibouti. Ella's
super excited, her school is celebrating International Sports Day.
Each class will choose a country, research and practise the sports
and present one item at a special event. Will there be 'high
jumpering, table tennising, bicycling and hopefully gymnastics'
Ella's favourite event? Her diary shows just her excitement.
Unfortunately, Peach (Precious Perfect Princess) desperately pleads
with their teacher to be the special name-chooserer and much to
everyone's surprise she picks Djibouti out of the hat.
Miss Weiss, Ella's teacher guides her students in researching the
African country, she sets different groups and leaders to
investigate and report back to their class. Ella desperately wants a
leading role, but unfortunately others are picked and she's a little
upset. Ammi finally asks Ella to take on the job of Head Designer of
Gymanstical Outfits - imagine leotards with feathers, bells, tassels
and glitter mesh sleeves!
Dramas, design dilemmas and divas all play a part in the highs and
lows of Ella's diary entries. She has a wonderful, expressive way of
writing exaggerating and embellishing words. As her class develops
their special routine for the International Sports Day, Ella sense
of fairness is tested. She realistically portrays the personalities
and problems she faces.
Author Meredith Costain's Ella Diaries are fun to read,
filled with an abundance of girly things, exploring the ups and
downs of Ella's life, her friendships and difficult relationship
with Peach Parker. She openly and honestly portrays school life,
adding unique words to build Ella's character. Danielle McDonald's
illustrations add a liveliness and excitement: there's a ROO-TEEN,
Peach's dramatic dive off the tree stump and Ella's sparkly outfit.
Bold text, expressive sizes and styles of font make this another fun
and fabulous addition to the Ella Diaries, just right for
readers from six to nine.
Rhyllis Bignell
Goat on a boat by Nick Dent
Illus. by Suzanne Houghton. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781760669164.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Goats, Migrants, Asylum
seekers, Refugees. When a goat turns up at the island on a boat, the
response from the sheep who live there is varied. The older gruffer
sheep, Bighorn Bill, tells everyone that if you let one land then
many more will follow. He warns that their island cannot sustain
more inhabitants and that the goat came uninvited.
The island does not have a lot of food, the sheep having to nibble
at anything that they spy on the ground, so uncertainly agree with
Bill.
One of the sheep, Fleecy Jean argues with the ram, that the goat has
as much right to be there as they, and what the ram is doing is
mean. Bill talks about detaining the goat, but the goat lands and
takes to the hills beyond the shore, a place where the sheep do not
go. The goat finds pasture at the top of the mountain and shows the
sheep how to access the slopes and so the new grass.
In a heart felt tribute to the skills migrants bring to a country,
Dent parodies the oft heard phrase from the rams of this world,
'stop the goats', while giving the ram the voice of detention
centres and fear of the unknown to bully people into seeing it his
way.
In gentle rhyming stanzas, the island of Joxx (rhymes with rocks!)
becomes a place where 'a warm welcome goes a long way' in this
lovely picture book. Readers will love the illustrations, looking
closely at the faces of each of the animals, reflecting arguments
each offer in their search for a solution. I love the image of Bill,
a large confronting face staring out on the page then reduced to a
much skinnier version at the end of the book, and the readers will
be intrigued with the variety of boats and animals coming ashore.
A gently amusing look at refugees will engender discussion amongst
the readers. Teacher
notes are available.
Fran Knight
When we were warriors by Emma Carroll
Faber and Faber, 2019. ISBN: 9780571350407. pbk., 148 pgs.
(Ages: 7+) Emma Carroll has beautifully written a book which
explores themes of family and friendship with some mystery and
adventure during World War Two. The book consists of three short
stories set along Devon Coast in war torn England during the summer
of 1942.
In each short story we enter the life of a child and discover how
their own life and other children's lives were disrupted by
evacuation to the country and bombings in these country towns. Many
children were separated from their families.
What I really liked was how an ordinary everyday child rose up and
showed both courage and strength and with their friends they took
hold of each adventure. The characters all had their own
personalities which were very real and likable. Out of everyone I
have to say Eddie Johnston the American soldier and Velvet were my
favourite.
Each story was a standalone read but also were connected in an
interesting way.
Story 1 - 'The Night Visitors' was about Stan and his sisters and
how their lives changed by being moved from London to Frost Hollow
Hall after their house was bombed.
Story 2 - 'Oliver's Army' was based on Oliver and his adventures in
Budmouth Point and oh what adventures he had. Oliver and his
siblings were part of the Kinder transport during the war.
Story 3 - 'Operation Greyhound' was about Velvet and how she coped
with obstacles found in bomb shelters to save everyone's pets and
what to do when she found a man lying in the street during an air
raid.
After reading When We Were Warriors I am interested in more
of Carroll's books especially the ones based around Frost Hollow
Hall.
Maria Komninos
First Science encyclopedia by DK Australia
Dorling Kindersley, 2019. Australian edition. ISBN: 9780143795018.
(Age: 5-8) Recommended. Themes: Science; Life Science; Materials;
Physical Science; Earth and Space Science. Dorling Kindersley has
mastered the art of presenting information in a visually appealing
way for young readers. This introduction to Science is a simplified
reference book that includes information in small parcels and with
brilliant visual representations that make the book suitable for
very young readers. All information on a particular topic is divided
into small segments with clear headings and is explained in either
one or two sentences. This brevity means that lots of content can be
covered, albeit very briefly. As an introductory science book for
the youngest independent readers it explains some quite difficult
Science topics in an appropriately simple way. It is not terribly
helpful for school students who might need to investigate a topic in
some depth, but this is not the purpose of this book. The visual
appeal of the book means that it has the appeal of a magazine, and
with clarity presents information and some 'hands-on' projects to
explore a topic.
Recommended. This would make a wonderful book for the science
interested child aged 5-8.
Carolyn Hull
The Kowloon kid: a Hong Kong childhood by Phil Brown
Transit Lounge, 2019. ISBN: 9781925760361.
(Age: Adult) Non-fiction. Memoir. Phil Brown looks back with great
fondness on his youth growing up in Hong Kong during the 1960s. His
English grandfather Lord Roberts Brown first established the family
business, a construction company, back in the 1930s, and his son,
Phil Brown's father, continued it. Although Brown himself had no
interest in engineering, the city itself forever has a pull on his
heart, particularly the Kowloon district. Many subsequent visits
have continued his ties to the place, each time an opportunity to
revisit the scenes of his childhood.
He tells the stories with more than a little humour, stories of
colonial type hotels, the cricket club and larger than life
characters, but in the background we are aware of a parallel world
where aloof Chinese nannies and drivers fulfil their duties, with
little to no insight into their lives. There were just the bodies
washing up in the harbour reminding of the nearby threat of
Communist China.
It was a unique childhood, one shared with Michael Hutchence no
less! The book is a memoir of a special time in a city that is
changing fast, but still the sights and smells, and the exotic magic
linger on. Travellers to Hong Kong will enjoy this book.
Helen Eddy
Dear Grandpa by Kate Simpson and Ronojoy Ghosh
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760523435.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Grandparents, Separation,
Letter writing, Communication. Henry sees the 2003 kilometres
between him and his beloved Grandpa in terms of blue whales placed
end to end, and goodnight kisses as impossible as shooting stars.
The letters written between the two reveal the love that exists and
the things that they once did together. Henry's letters are crowded
with information, beginning with 'Did you know' and telling Grandpa
of the things that he has noticed without him, while Grandpa turns
Henry's letters into possible ways of getting to his new apartment
in the city.
Laugh out loud letters go between the two, encouraging the readers
to sympathise with the older man and his grandson, separated by
thousands of kilometres. Readers will love picking up clues about
where each of the protagonists reside, Grandpa on a farm with lots
of out buildings and animals portrayed and mango trees, while Henry
is in a city with city lights, access to the zoo, shipping and
whales. Readers will compare the two sites, asking themselves which
is the better place to live, thinking about the advantages of each
residence.
Letter writing is brought to the fore in this delightful book and I
can imagine kids and classes trying out this form of communication
for themselves, working out the advantages and disadvantages of
letter writing compared with the electronic forms of communication
which are so well known. Pondering just why the two write letters to
each other will increase their understanding of the vast distances
involved in maintaining relationships in Australia, and may lead on
to talking about the communication tools we take for granted and how
to keep themselves safe in using them.
Ronojoy Ghosh brings his humorous illustrative technique to the
pages, encouraging the reader to look closely at each image. And as
I read this charming book, a story about a letter in a bottle is all
over the news, a bottle dropped into the sea fifty years ago,
turning up on a South Australian beach.
What a wonderful side issue for students reading this book.
Fran Knight
A dinosaur ate Dad's hair by Trent Roberts and Chrissie Krebs
Omnibus Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781742762678.
(Age: 4-8) Recommended. Themes: Humour, Fathers, Father's Day, Hair.
A unique and hilarious look at the reasons that one father comes up
with for explaining his hairless head, even though he does have very
hairy legs and a beard. First he says that a dinosaur ate his hair,
but the child is not convinced by that argument and then he comes up
with a number of implausible reasons culminating in the last one:
his hair just fell out, the one that his children find the funniest
of all.
The reasons that Dad give are very imaginative, especially the
Ty-eat-your-hair-us Rex that attacked his hair and the hair rope
that was used to rescue a ship's captain. All are accompanied by
cartoon like illustrations that still feel really life like. Readers
will be sure to identify with them and enjoy thinking of people that
they remind them of.
This could be read aloud to younger children who will enjoy the
narrative and pictures and emerging readers will have lots of fun
with the text and the humour, working out what is true and false and
perhaps researching to see why some men are bald. Teachers might
take the opportunity to talk about good manners when asking
questions about someone's appearance. However it is the humour of
the illustrations and narrative that make this a great read aloud
and lots of fun.
Pat Pledger
How (not) to annoy Dad by Dave Hughes and Holly Ife
Illus. by Heath McKenzie. Scholastic Australia, 2019. ISBN:
9781760663735.
(Age: 4-8) Recommended. Themes: Humour, Fathers, Father's Day,
Parent and Child. A hilarious take on family life will have readers
chuckling aloud as they follow three children having lots of fun
with Dad. Everyone will be familiar with children's attempts to do
things for and with Dad and in How (not) to annoy Dad their
efforts often have disastrous results. Each double page spread has a
heading in bold upper case letters like 'WAKE DAD BRIGHT AND EARLY
TO START THE DAY' and then the results are illustrated with little
details like the clock showing 54.50, 5. 25, 5.50, and 6.15, each
time with a very funny picture to go with each. Further pages show
Dad being made a healthy breakfast, having fun in the park, doing
interesting things and visiting interesting places finally
culminating in a caption that reads 'BE SO ADORABLE THAT DAD CAN'T
WAIT TO DO IT ALL AGAIN TOMORROW'.
McKenzie's illustrations are an absolute hoot. His koala family,
complete with Dad with a gap in his teeth are just too cute for
words, and the chaos that the three children bring is brought to
life on each double page spread. I particularly love 'PLAY FUN
FAMILY GAMES TOGETHER' with an exhausted dad putting up with the
child who is determined to win, the one who is in tears and throws a
tantrum and the tiny child who just wants to play hide-and-seek.
Perfect for Father's Day, this is a book that will be enjoyed by
adults who read it aloud as well as the emerging reader who will
have lots of fun with the text and pictures.
Pat Pledger
