Yinti: book 2. Magabala Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925936902.
Highly recommended. Written mostly from the perspective of the dingo
companion of young boy Yinti and his family, this is a collection of
anecdotes and accounts of family life in a traditional Aboriginal
community in desert country. As a companion text to Yinti
Desert Child, this book tells the same stories, but the
perspective of the dingo adds an intriguing quality to the accounts.
From the early details of the capture of the young dingo by Yinti's
mother, community life and travel in the desert and into a station
country, the animal skills of the dingo are revealed. The incredible
capacity of the indigenous community in surviving in inhospitable
terrain is also evident, as is their resilience and capacity for
change.
Written simply, using the childhood experience of Jimmy Pike as the
scaffold to create the stories of Yinti, this is a lovely book for
non-indigenous readers to grow in understanding of traditional
aboriginal life. Aboriginal readers will also be thrilled to
encounter their own culture presented in a positive and natural way
for all Australian children to enjoy. This is certainly a good book
to share in a school context to expand cross-cultural understanding
and respect. Themes: Traditional Aboriginal Culture; Dingoes.
Carolyn Hull
The Princess Rules by Philippa Gregory
Illus. by Chris Chatterton. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN:
9780008339791. 256p.
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Three stories by award winning author
Philippa Gregory will be grabbed by readers who enjoy having their
fairy tales turned upside down. Those who love adventure and humour
too, will delight in the three tales in this book, 'Princess
Florizella', 'Princess Florizella and the Wolves' and 'Princess
Florizella and the Giant'. Princess Florizella is not your classic
fairy tale princess. She does not abide by the Princess Rules (eat
little, dress beautifully and have glorious hair) but is adventurous
and happy to spend lots of time riding her horse Jellybean and
working in the Palace office.
When Prince Bennett invites all the princesses to come to his
kingdom so he could choose one to marry, she decides to go to see
her friends and enjoy the party. She is not ready to marry.
First dedicated to her daughter, the stories have been presented
once again, this time dedicated to her grandchildren. They have not
lost their appeal and young readers will have a lot of fun following
the antics of Princess Florizella as she rescues Prince Bennett,
encounters a wolf pack and a giant. The illustrations by Chris
Chatterton are full of amusing details and give the reader a feeling
for the personality of Princess Florizella, her parents and Prince
Bennett.
This is a perfect book for the newly confident reader who wants to
embark on a book that is longer and more complex that the short
junior novel, but which is divided up into three stories so is not
as daunting as a longer novel could prove to be.
Pat Pledger
Total quack up again! ed. Sally Rippin and Adrian Beck
Illus. by Jules Faber. Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781760893583.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Short stories; Humorous stories.
This is a collection of funny stories that kids will enjoy. Filled
with lame jokes, duck jokes, dad-dogs and fart stories and quirky
and odd situations, there are many examples of kid-friendly humour,
written mostly by well-known children's authors, plus one child
author.
This is the type of book that kids enjoy for the awkward humour and
because most of the stories require little or no reflective thought.
However, if you want your 8-11 year old to read, then Total
Quack Up Again will appeal.
With additional writing tips by Jacqueline Harvey for those who want
to pursue their own story writing, this chapter creates opportunity
for the development of reading and writing!
Carolyn Hull
Rescue by David Long
Illus. by Kerry Hyndman. Faber and Faber, 2019. ISBN: 9780571346325.
hbk. 192p.
(Age: 9+) A book for fans of heroic deeds, Rescue will fascinate
readers who enjoy reading about the bravery of real people.
Subtitled Daring missions from on, under and above the earth,
there are 28 stories of incredible feats by people all around the
world, ranging from the rescue of a young child trapped in a well,
to diving into a lake to pull people out of submerged bus, Sully's
magnificent landing of an aeroplane in the Hudson River and a 9 year
old boy rescuing his classmates after an earthquake.
Each story is relatively short (5 or 6 pages long) and illustrated
with complementary coloured drawings, so it is ideal for the reader
who likes to have short bursts of reading with the opportunity to
come back again if individual stories appeal. And there is plenty of
information that is sure to grab the reader's attention.
I particularly enjoyed the story of 'Buster' Cain who rescued people
during the London Blitz and 'The Seebies: saving a family teetering
on the edge', had me holding my breath as a mother and her two
children were rescued from a car, hanging from a bridge.
There is a contents page with titles that give a good indication of
what the story might be about, and each story has captions that grab
the reader's attention and make you want to read on.
The epilogue states that 'you don't need superpowers or a mask and
cape to be a real-life hero,' and this book is sure to inspire young
readers with its stories of gallantry and heroism.
Pat Pledger
Twelve days of kindness by Cori Brooke and Fiona Burrows
New Frontier, 2019. ISBN: 9781925594751. 32pp., hbk.
Nabila is the new girl in school and like many new kids, she's
finding it hard to fit in with the established crew, particularly
when she looks different to them and eats her strange lunches alone.
But Holly comes to her rescue as their common love for soccer takes
over. But when both Holly and Nabila are picked for the school team,
there is still disunity and the two girls realise if they are to
come together to play well, they need a plan . . .
A search for "Twelve Days of Kindness" on the Internet brings up a
number of projects and resources, mostly connected to Christmas but
this is something that could be developed by a group or an
individual at any time to promote kindness, compassion, empathy and
build something harmonious. Some schools like to take students on
camp in the early days of Term 1 to build bonds for a successful
year, but if this is not viable, organising something like Twelve
Days of Kindness could be an alternative. Having students directly
involved by having them articulate those things they don't like and
identifying how such behaviour can be changed and the environment
they would like to be in gives ownership and helps them understand
the power to change is in their hands. Promoting empathy
activities rather than always focusing on the 'don'ts' of
bullying can be a new approach that has an impact by making it
personal. Again, the solution is theirs to decide and implement.
Author of the CBCA shortlisted All I
Want for Christmas is Rain, (as appropriate now as it was in
2016) Brooke has again delivered a story that promotes thought and
inspires action. Teacher's
notes are available.
Barbara Braxton
Sarah's two Nativities by Janine M. Fraser and Helene Magisson
Black Dog Books , 2019. ISBN: 9781925381795. hbk., 32pp.
This is the story of Sarah, daughter of Sadek and Anna,
granddaughter of Ali and Azar, and granddaughter of Maria and Paul.
In Sarah's house the Bible and the Koran sit side by side on the
shelf, each full of stories which her grandmothers tell her when
they come to visit. Sarah's favourites are those about the birth of
Baby Jesus, but she is confused because even though parts of each
story is similar to the other, there are parts that are different.
"How can they both be true?" she asks.
Sarah's situation is not an uncommon one - there are many families
where there are differing belief systems, and these are often
highlighted at this time of the year. Similarly, in our classrooms
we share stories about the Nativity with children who might hear a
different version at home. How can the two be reconciled?
Grandmother Azar provides an answer that satisfies Sarah and
celebrates the richness of the two cultures her family straddles.
This is a beautifully illustrated story that is sensitively told and
acknowledges that this is a special time of year for many, not just
Christians, and that there can be bonds that are stronger than
anything else.
Barbara Braxton
Harry Potter and the goblet of fire by J.K. Rowling
Illus. by Jim Kay. Harry Potter, book 4. Bloomsbury, 2019.
ISBN: 9781408845677. hbk.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Readers will need no introduction to
the wonderful books by J.K. Rowling and fans and collectors will
certainly want to keep this fabulous illustrated version of the
fourth book in the series, Harry Potter and the goblet of fire.
Jim Kay's illustrations open up a new world for readers which will
take them past the film images and let their imaginations work
overtime. Starting with the fabulous wrap around jacket featuring a
tiny Harry Potter battling an enormous beast, opening onto end
papers showing a strange and fascinating octopus-like creature and
then continuing with brightly coloured illustrations for lighter
moments in the book, and dark, intriguing pictures for darker
events, readers are in for a treat.
This is certainly a book for fans and for collectors and would make
a wonderful gift. I also think that the illustrated editions (Harry
Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling has also
been reviewed) would tantalise even the most reluctant of readers
Pat Pledger
Yinti: Desert child by Pat Lowe and Jimmy Pike
Magabala Books, 2019 (c1992). ISBN: 9781925768831.
Highly recommended. Themes: Aboriginal Australians, Indigenous life,
Family. In a series of short anecdotal recounts, we follow the early
life of the desert child, Yinti, and his family as they love, thrive
and explore community life. The simplicity and complexity of the
life of the community are revealed as if told by one of the youngest
members of the indigenous community. It is gloriously naive, and yet
reveals the incredible resilience, bravery and intelligence of the
indigenous community living in the Great Sandy Desert of Western
Australia. Not until the last few chapters do we have a hint of the
influence of the kartiya (non-Aboriginal people).
Based on the early life of Jimmy Pike (who was born in 1940, in the
desert country of Western Australia), this is a wonderful book and
would make an excellent read-aloud book to share with students as
they learn about traditional Aboriginal culture in the 1950s.
The illustrations through the book are exceptionally naive, in a
black and white simplicity.
Carolyn Hull
Girl Geeks: Perfect holidays by Alex Miles
Girl Geeks book 3. Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143795070.
(Age: 9+) Girl Geeks: Perfect holidays is part of the Girl
Geeks series which has been . . . "developed in partnership
with Girl Geek Academy -
an Australian-based global movement . . . " which aims to encourage
girls to engage with technology." The story is set around school
holidays and the activities and interests of four school girls who
are into technology.
It immerses the reader into the tech world as a natural part of the
protagonists' lives. The concern of the author is for girls to
understand the pitfalls and traps of social media including the
falsities of photo feeds and the mental exhaustion associated with a
life that pings with posts.
In these politically correct times this book ticks all the boxes.
The central girl protagonists represent multicultural friendship.
Their friendship is wise and supportive and they communicate through
social media with feeds that intersperse the text. The single father
of Eve (the central character) is loving and supportive as are all
the parents. Manners and good citizenship are demonstrated by
instances such as the father and daughter giving up train seats for
an elderly man and a pregnant woman.
Eve is an overachieving, competitive perfectionist. She is a girl
who makes "To Do" lists, who wants to please others, who over
commits and in the end makes herself sick. She is helped towards a
life balance by her father and friends. The book represents a
journey of friendship, good citizenship and understanding of self in
a technological world as experienced by Eve.
At the back of the book, there is a friendly invitation for girls to
contact Geek Academy, holiday activities and profiles of the women
involved in Geek Academy. Girl Geeks: Perfect holidays is
simple and accessible both in content and interest reading level. It
would be an easy, light read designed to encourage girls around year
5 level to engage with digital technology.
Wendy Jeffrey
The big blue hullabaloo by Andrea Smith
Illus. by Aleksandra Szmidt. Little Steps Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839432. hbk.
(Age : 3-6) Annie is a very cute little koala who lives at the
zoo. She loves to race high through the tree tops and balance
butterflies on the tip of her nose. Then one day she feels blue and
Keeper Carl races her off to the hospital. There Dr Rosie diagnoses
her with leukameia and it is disease that is making her blue. She
has treatment and her hair falls out ("I really don't like being a
Koals bare!"), but a friend Lottie who also knows all about
leukameia, helps her cope.
This is a special and warm way of telling children about leukameia,
its effects and treatment. From information in the dedication, the
reader will learn that the author Andrea Smith, has battled with
leukameia herself. It is obvious that she is in a unique
position to write this story which is positive and informative.
Children will love the pictures of Annie and are sure to get a
giggle out of the huge mustache and beard on Keeper Carl. The caring
nature of Lottie is very evident from her actions portrayed in the
drawings and kids will enjoy watching Annie and Lottie's progress
and final discarding of their knitted hats as they both feel better.
This would be a very helpful picture book to have in a school
library or classroom to gently inform children about leukameia and
its effects and that it is a disease that threatens
koalas as well as people.
Pat Pledger
Polly Profiterole's little town: Good enough to eat by Maggie May Gordon
Illus. by Margarita Levina. Little Steps Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925839227.
(Age: 6-8) Imagine a whole town made up of cakes and biscuits.
That's what young readers will find in this unique story of Polly
Profiterole who is fed up with her town. She is the only person who
has a shop in the township; there are no churches, pubs, schools or
shops. She decides that she will bake a town and her husband Percy
would build it and she gets on with the job with gusto.
Readers will be introduced to many different types of cakes as she
builds her town and will delight in the thought of a town made of
cakes and lollies. There is a choc-chip church joined together with
melted chocolate, Lots of Lollies Lolly shop joined with chewy
toffee, Hot Bread Bank made up of lots of dough and the Beef Burger
Butcher Shop joined with tomato sauce. And after reading the book
children will be fascinated to go back to the front cover and work
out where some of the shops in Polly's town are.
Polly Profiterole is portrayed in her chef's hat and clothing, with
a ginger cat for a companion and is a likeable character as is Percy
her husband, who is a hard worker.
Very colourful pictures bring the story to life and the narrative,
with lots of alliteration, flows easily and would make a good read
aloud for young children.
Pat Pledger
Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780751571936.
(Age: Older adolescents - Adult) Highly recommended. A dark mass on
her brain - this is what the MRI showed, following the examination
of little Chika by a neurologist, and there was no one in Haiti who
could help her. Brought to America by author Mitch Albom, the
operator of the orphanage in Haiti where he met Chika, the diagnosis
was a brain tumour with the survival rate of zero. Albom and his
wife Janine had to make to a decision - to take her back to Haiti to
spend the last few months of her life . . . or to fight it. They
decide to fight - because Chika has always been a fighter. She was
born just before the Haitian earthquake of 2010, and brought to the
orphanage at the age of three; they know her as a cheeky fun-loving
child with an indomitable spirit.
The book becomes a love letter to the little girl who captured their
hearts. Albom has written it as if he were talking to her still.
With each chapter he describes the different ways she changed their
lives; the laughter, the games, the hugs, and then sadly the
farewell. Every reader will love Chika as the Alboms did, and no
doubt every reader will also shed tears at the heart-breaking
conclusion. At the age of seven, she had to give up the fight. But
Chika lives on in the joy she brought to a family and the renewed
discovery of love and caring for others.
This is a sad but beautiful story, and a reminder to us all to
cherish the people in our lives, and to take time out to appreciate
what life offers us. Themes: Love, Grief, Childhood cancer.
Helen Eddy
Bluey series by Bluey
Penguin, 2019.
Bluey : Fruit Bat. ISBN: 9781760894047. Bluey : time to play. ISBN: 9781760894030.
(Age: Preschool - 5) Highly recommended. If you have a pre-schooler
in your house then you would have probably heard of Bluey (or had to
do the dance), you may have been asked to play Keepy Uppy or even
Mount Mum and Dad!! Or you may just be wondering what I am talking
about . . .
Bluey is a 6 year old blue heeler from Queensland who is energetic,
funny and inquisitive and with the help of her younger sister Bingo
gets into hilarious and somewhat educational situations in every
episode of the ABCkids show. The award winning series has now been
turned into board books and also an activity book- both of which
were met with squeals of delight by my 5 year old. We read Fruit
Bat which is a glow in the dark book where Bluey doesn't want
to go to sleep, and upon finding out that fruit bats don't sleep at
night either decides to dream about them! We loved that the story
was just as awesome as the TV show and the illustrations are just as
bright and engaging.
We also received the Activity Book Time to play which was a
huge hit with miss 5 and has been used every day in the last week!
There are over 80 stickers to use and lots of the familiar games
from the TV show are represented within the book which was another
bonus in this Bluey fest!
The creator and illustrator have been very clever in producing these
first titles, they are familiar and loved by so many families and
may just be the next best thing to help tired parents get their
children away from Bluey on the screen, as they can now read Bluey
in bed!
We loved it, especially how true it was to the TV show! 5 stars from
us!
Lauren Fountain
Kensy and Max: Out of sight by Jacqueline Harvey
Kensy and Max series. Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN:
9780143791928.
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Adventures, Mystery, Spies,
Friendship, Problem Solving, Spy School for children, Missing
persons, France, Travel. Jacqueline Harvey's fourth book in the Kensy
and Max series: Out of Sight, is a fast paced and
action packed read. The author cleverly keeps the reader up to date
with the twins' story so far by providing case notes, a map and a
cast of characters. The 11 year old twins are Pharos agents in
training and attend the Central London Free School which has a
mixture of trainee agents and regular school children. There are
complicated ways for the trainee agents to get to their secret
classrooms and unfortunately Kensy and Autumn early on in the story
are followed by a new student who infiltrates the secret area and
has to be dealt with very carefully.
Throughout the story the reader is reminded of previous adventures
had by the twins and the fact that their parents who have been
missing for many years are all back together again living
comfortably in their fortress-like home in London. However nothing
is quite what it seems in this entertaining series and once again
the twins and their family are drawn into another mystery. Missing
journalists from the family-run paper and the theft of valuable
artefacts sends both the twins, their father and their loyal
companions on perilous journeys.
Key to this story is a new drama teacher at the school, Theo
Richardson, who is an accredited agent but is living a double life.
He trains the students in becoming masters of disguises and
convinces Kensy to commit what turns out to be acts of crime in a
roundabout way. Both Kensy, who has amazing skills as an inventor,
and Max, who is a master of coding, use their skills to thwart the
criminals. They are ably assisted by Carlos and Autumn who join them
on an adventure to Paris where they eventually solve the mystery of
the missing journalist and the stolen valuables.
For middle primary school aged readers to teens, this is an exciting
read which holds your interest throughout. It contains all the
elements that children want in a story - humour, justice, belonging,
danger, wonder and there is a hint of a budding relationship between
Max and Autumn. The story though does not solve the challenging code
Max has been trying to decipher neither does it let the reader know
how the twins go in their first agent-in-training review. The next
book will be eagerly awaited by fans of the Kensy and Max
series.
Kathryn Beilby
Kensy and Max: Spy Journal by Jacqueline Harvey
Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780143796978.
(Age: 9-12) Themes: Spies, Journal writing The Kensy and Max Spy
Journal is a hardcover book where readers can learn the craft
of being a secret agent and keep their own notes on all manner of
mysteries in their lives. The journal gives the writer ideas on how
to use this journal as well as providing information about codes,
languages, navigating a map, how to ask questions, where to hide
things, real life skills for spies, how to tell if someone is lying,
a list of items for a spy kit plus a crossword on all things Kensy
and Max related. There is also an opportunity to create your own spy
profile based on an examples of Kensy and Max.
For the avid fan of the Kensy and Max series this would be a
wonderful gift.
Kathryn Beilby
