Mr Beaky tells us clearly where he and his flock roam, where they fly, where they live. They can be found all over Australia. They speak several languages. His name, budgerigar comes from the Gamilaray language and means good food. Called budgies, they come in all colours, usually green and yellow, some are blue, some white. But their colour is unimportant as they are all budgies.
Like Aboriginal people, some have darker skin, some lighter, some hair black, some grey, some red, some light. It is their makeup that matters, what they feel, what is inside, their soul or spirit. Cassie and Sue take the story out of the sky and the birds and into the realm of country, where we all live. Aboriginal people have been on this place for more than 60,000 years, and an image at the bottom of the page shares this with the time of the Ancient Egyptians, 4000 years ago. Mr Beaky reminds us that we should all care for our country. Country means animals, fish and birds, grass and trees, the land and water, Elders and ancestors. To do this, Mr Beaky tells us that we must respect our land, by listening to our Elders and our country. Only when this is done can we all be healthy.
This beautifully astute look at our Aboriginal heritage will grab the attention of all who read it. Using the budgie as the lead in, we see how widespread Aboriginal people are, the depth of their knowledge of the land, their respect for the land, the differences in language and appearance. Just like the birds, they have been here for an astonishingly long time, out stripping all the things usually used as a benchmark for longevity.
Young children will gain a host of understandings and information from this seemingly simple text. This is an informative book which gives more on rereading. At the end of the book a small glossary gives meanings to the Aboriginal words used in the text, while a page of information about the budgie is given.
The illustrations are arresting, using lines and circles, with dot techniques as the background on each page, keeping eyes firmly on the pages with their wonderful images of the budgie and its 3000 feathers.
An important message that should be read by all.
Themes Aboriginal themes, Budgerigars, Australian history.
Fran Knight
The Kelly Gang Kids by Coral Vass. Illus. by Deb Hudson
The vibrant cover of the picture book The Kelly Gang Kids with four rambunctious and gleeful boys running towards their next adventure will draw young readers in. On opening the book, the front endpapers show the gang heading off for the day and the final endpapers show them heading home in the setting sun.
Once the boys are out for the day, they chase each other and cause all sorts of unintentional mischief. First off, it is Miss Callaghan’s washing that suffers, then Old Peterson’s sheep escape and finally the old Blacksmith has a mess to clean up. After each event the author Coral Vass has cleverly used repetitive rhyme:
“You rascals! What mess!” the old Blacksmith said, chasing behind and shaking his head.
But WHIZ out of sight and swift on their way, the Kelly Gang kids skedaddled away.
This day for the Kelly Gang does end a little differently though when after coming out of hiding, brave Ned saves Richard Shelton and becomes the town hero. Throughout the book, the rhyming verses flow freely and tell of an exciting and adventurous day. The full page illustrations by Deb Hudson are glorious in both their colour and detail and add to the engagement of the story.
The Kelly Gang Kids is an enjoyable and entertaining read. Ned Kelly and his gang are famous characters in Australia’s colonial past and this story, based on true events, adds another layer to the Kelly Gang story.
Themes Friendship, Bravery, Mischief, Ned Kelly, Childhood.
Kathryn Beilby
Snow globe by Soyoung Park
Penguin, 2024. ISBN: 9780241681060. (Age:Middle years, from ages 12+) Highly recommended.
In a frosty future world transformed by climate change, lies the extraordinary city of Snowglobe, snugly encased under a giant dome where the weather is perfect, and life is a dream - a city that thrives due to geothermal vents harnessed by the Yibbon Corporation.
Beyond this cozy haven, in the icy wilderness, brave souls pedal away on stationary bikes, generating power to keep Snowglobe running, while battling the elements for warmth and food. Their sole source of entertainment? Round-the-clock reality TV that showcases the glamorous lives within the dome, used to inspire hope in the Outer World. Becoming a revered resident of Snowglobe and snagging a spot on one of the reality shows, whether as a star or behind the scenes, is the ultimate goal and the stuff of dreams for those outside the dome.
Goh Haeri shines like a radiant sun within Snowglobe, illuminating the lives of those in the Outer World. She embodies the ideal young woman – beautiful, confident, and someone many aspire to emulate. Imagine being in her position, adored by countless individuals. What sacrifices would you make to embody such radiance and warmth? Chobahm resides in the Outer World and aspires to be a show director. Her dream seems within reach when a renowned director presents her with an opportunity to step into the shoes of Goh Haeri, Snowglobe's top star who Chobahm bears a striking resemblance to. It is not long however that Chobahm learns that beneath the facade of perfection lies a society that thrives on superficiality, where lives revolve around manipulating personal relationships for entertainment purposes.
The strong dystopian concept really strikes a chord, and readers will empathize with Chobahm's desire to live in Snowglobe and her realisation that the world was not as perfect as she had envisioned. While the ending was fulfilling, I am excited to see what happens next in the sequel!
This engaging book presents the six seasons of the Noongar calendar in English and Noongar written and illustrated by newly published First Nations talent Ebony Froome and Leanne Zilm.
In Djinang Bonar the seasons are explained by watching things in the environment. We must look at the behaviour of animals, the plants and the sky as they all give clues as to what season we are in. Each season is annotated with Noongar words, while many of the well known things, kangaroos, swans, magpies and so on, are also presented Noongar language.
One most impressive double page, only one amongst many, shows two magnificent whales (moorong) breaching in the ocean. They have appeared after the rain (boorong) has fallen across the country. This is the season called Makeuru. The magnificent illustrations give a breathtaking image of the pair of whales, far out in the rolling ocean, as they make their way north to warmer waters. Banurur, another season is shown by the flowering of the large gum trees and the Zamia fruit ripens for the weitj (emu) to eat.
The Noongar country is portrayed in spectacular detail with gorgeous illustrations of the plants and animals typically seen in each season of the year. Looking up to the sky also offers clues to the season.
This wonderful picture book for everyone to share provides insights into the six Noongar seasons learning some Noongar language along the way.
Author Ebony Froome was born and raised on Wardandi boodja in Busselton, WA and despite living in Perth remains strongly connected with her birthplace. Leanne Zilm is a descendant of the Wudjari and Goreng Noongar groups. Born in 1962 it was her mother who interested her in painting.
Dung Beetle on a Roll is a fascinating look at one of the tiniest of creatures, the dung beetle. Without dung beetles gathering up the dung/poo from nature and recycling the nutrients from the dung into the soil as well as aerating the land, our farming and natural ecosystems may not be as healthy as needed. Dung beetles can collect and push dung balls weighing up to 50 times their weight. They come in three different types:
1. Rollers, that roll the dung into a ball and then find a perfect spot for it where a female may be impressed. 2. Tunnellers, that make tunnels under the dung where they bury small balls to raise babies in. 3. Dwellers, who move into the perfect dung and make a home in it.
Following on from the information in the early pages, there is a story about an adult male dung beetle that rolls a huge ball of dung that breaks apart. He then realises that quality is better than quantity and sets about to create the perfect dung ball that might attract a mate.
Sandra Severgnini, as both author and illustrator, has created an informative and highly accessible book that has striking illustrations showing considerable detail that perfectly complement the text. The clever title and the front cover are delightful and will appeal to younger readers. The ingenious use of two different maze activities on the front and back endpapers are an added bonus. The Fabulous Facts about Dung Beetles in the final pages are important for those children whose interest is piqued and would love to find out more. Teacher notes are available.
Simon & Schuster, 2024. ISBN: 9781761105272. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
Anita Heiss brings us another wonderful historical romance, following the success of Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (2021) which told the true story of the heroic feats of Aboriginal men, Yarri and Jacky Jacky during the Gundagai floods of 1852. With Dirrayawadha, she now celebrates heroic warrior and resistance fighter Windradyne and his clan’s war against the English invasion of Wiradyuri country in the early 1800s.
The novel centres on young Wiradyuri woman Miinaa, the fictional sister of Windradyne, and her life as a servant on an Irish Catholic couple’s property, Cloverdale, near Bathurst. When handsome Irish convict Dan O’Dwyer comes to serve out the last years of his sentence at Cloverdale, love blossoms between the two. It is a gentle love story, the two having to gradually learn about each other’s culture and build a trusting relationship. It is an opportunity for Heiss to draw parallels between the Irish and Aboriginal experience of dispossession at the hands of the English. Just as Dan swore to fight for his homeland of Ireland, Miinaa also wants to join Windradyne to fight for their country and protect their culture. Some of the conversations Miinaa has with Dan provide the most compelling insight into Aboriginal connection to country and their culture of respect and sharing, a culture that is disrespected and crushed by the brutal incursions of the invaders.
The love story is romantic and will keep the reader engaged until the end, but the true power of this book is the portrayal of historical hero Windradyne, his heart torn between safeguarding his family, and a determination to resist and rise up – dirrayawadha! As his people are killed, and traditional sites are overrun, Windradyne draws different clans together in a united resistance, in what came to be known as the Bathurst wars, with loss of life on both sides. Eventually the toll is too much, and a tentative peace process is pursued.
Religion is another strong theme running throughout the story with comparisons made between Catholic and Wiradyuri ideas of god, prayer and moral values. It further illuminates the Wiradjuri values of respect and family, and gives credence to their unique spirituality.
Wiradyuri language is woven throughout the novel, and generally the meaning may be understood by context, but a glossary is also available to refer to at the front of the book. It is part of Heiss’s determination to reclaim and maintain the traditional language of her people.
Dirrayawadha is brilliant way to engage readers with Australian history from an Aboriginal perspective and help people understand the loss and dispossession, the injustice and violence that characterised the colonial years, and the repercussions that continue to be felt today. Heiss writes that ‘we can create a better future for all if we can be honest and brave in our storytelling, in truth-telling, and in being willing to listen to what needs to be heard, particularly around warfare across the land, which in the main still goes unheard’. Following the disappointment of the 2023 referendum, Heiss sees truth-telling as the path forward. This book is a part of that.
Mum would love to play tennis with her sports addicted kids, but in the Kimberley, there is little opportunity to do this as there are no courts. Like Backyard footy (2023) this is a delightful look at what kids get up to in the Kimberley, using what resources they have to join together and have fun.
Mum and her daughter take some hits with the racquets and balls, and Chelsea puts her head over the fence, asking what ‘you mob’ is up to. The refrain ‘come and play’ is repeated throughout the story as more and more kids see an opportunity to jump in and have fun.
As the story is read, the audience will join in with the question about what the mob is doing and sing out the refrain, ’come and play’.
Thai puts his head over the fence, then Ja’lae, Angel and others so the backyard becomes too small. They hunt around for a bigger area as their arena, and Mum makes drinks for them all.
This wonderfully engaging story stresses the involvement of all the kids as they work out how to learn the game in circumstances beyond those known by kids in the towns and cities. I loved the illustrations which clearly show the environment in which these kids live. The white plastic chairs, the tennis net, the stump which the umpire sits on, the bare feet, the cyclone fences, the mango tree, all gave me a feeling of life in such a remote area.
A very warm and satisfying look at kids in the Kimberley making do with what they have, the story stresses the closeness of family and friends.
The next famous racing car driver joining legends Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton is Lando Norris. This very popular Racing Legends series is written by Maurice Hamilton who has attended over 500 Grand Prix races all around the world and has commentated on F1 races for BBC Radio 5 Live for 20 years. His knowledge of all things racing related is second to none.
The book has a colour photograph of the driver on the front cover and contains 101 facts about Formula One. The Contents page begins with Chapter one: An introduction to Formula One and the second to last chapter in each book has the heading ‘How can you be like Lando Norris?’ Throughout the book are illustrations as well as tables, diagrams, maps, comparison facts, highlighted key words, F1 terminology as well as the opportunity to learn about what goes on behind the scenes.
The exciting facts about each driver provide readers with snapshots of their lives. Lando Norris was the youngest ever Karting World champion at the age of 14. He then progressed onto faster cars to finally becoming the youngest British driver to compete in Formula 1 at the age of 19 in the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.
Each of the four books in the series are proving to be entertaining reads for those middle to upper primary readers who are sport enthusiasts and prefer information over fiction. With engaging facts and numerous infographics to absorb and discuss with their friends, these books are flying off library shelves.
Themes Racing Cars, Drivers, Family, Competition, Biography.
Brilliant is a quirky new picture book that will offer the opportunity for a lively discussion with young readers about words, their meanings and how ingeniously they can be used to tell a story. Told using only 16 words, with 14 of them ending in ‘ant’, this delightfully simple and surprising story will become a popular read.
The story begins with a full page illustration of an ‘expectant’ queen ant with the word alongside. This is followed by more double page spreads showcasing ‘ant’ words in various stages in the life of an ant e.g. infant, militant, contestant, assistants. There are also words such as important, abundant, triumphant and vacant cleverly used to add to the story. A humorous twist introduces the word ‘elephant’ and the resulting ‘faceplant’ by the intrepid hero of the story will definitely raise a smile or two.
This picture book is a debut for Swazi-born, now Queensland-based writer, Rosi Ngwenya. The illustrations by Sandy Flett are bold and colourful, with the glossy paper adding extra pizazz to the text. Both author and illustrator have captured the essence of humour that will appeal to the Early Years age group. The gorgeous cover with the silver embossed letters, the front endpapers with multiple images of ants plus the final endpapers sharing more illustrated ‘ant’ words alongside the hero taking a bow, add so many more dimensions to this entertaining story. A thoughtful inclusion is the very welcome facts about ants and elephants in the final pages.
If only I had told her, the sequel to If he had been with me, is a love story told through three different perspectives – Finn, Jack and Autumn. It is a love story filled with authenticity, tragedy, and unanticipated connections that bring about healing.
This sequel complements the first book by offering Finn's perspective to Autumn's story, utilising flashbacks to focus on differing timelines. It's touching to witness the emotional depth from Finn's point of view, revealing the sadness and heartbreak both characters experience. Finn has always loved Autumn. She’s not just the girl next door or his mother’s best friend’s daughter, she is his everything. But she’s not his girlfriend. That’s Sylvie, and Finn would never hurt her, so there’s no way Autumn could know how he truly feels.
Autumn's journey of moving forward and coping with grief, especially as a teen mother, is portrayed excellently by Laura Nowlin. Autumn surrounds herself with books and wants to write her own destiny - but one doesn’t always get a new chapter and fate can be cruel to those in love.
The inclusion of Jack's point of view, though unexpected, adds another layer of depth that I found intriguing. Jack, Finn's closest confidant, has his doubts. Observing Finn and Autumn together, how could Autumn be unaware of Finn's feelings? Jack feels torn between supporting Finn and shielding him from the inevitable heartbreak.
The book imparts valuable lessons on loss, maintaining mental well-being during tough times, and the significance of healing to find peace. It's advisable to check for trigger warnings before delving into this emotionally challenging read.
For a reading of this book, go here. In short pithy sentences, Santos gives the readers a lot to think about with reference to their fathers. The narrator’s grandfather is no longer there and so Oliver tells us that he never met him, but neither did his father. So he tells us the things about his father that he would like his grandfather to know about his son.
He has the same number of arms, legs and eyes as any other dad, but he calls him octopus dad as he sees him, even when he is behind him, and always knows when to reach out a hand to help. He makes lots of jokes, and laughs a lot, ignoring others. He says that those who laugh, joke and love, live longer! He teaches him how to do things, rather than doing them for him.
He encourages him to read and says being without a book is like a house without a heart. When Oliver is angry he must count to ten, and although he cannot see the reason for this, when he gets to ten, he has forgotten why he was angry.
Hugs are food for the heart.
He always believes in Oliver, telling him he can be anything he wants. My grandfather never knew my dad but he would be proud of him, and my children will be proud of their grandfather.
Beautiful illustrations will entrance the readers as they hear the text and survey the pages.The soft palette of sepia colours embrace the mood of the story, making it at once magical and universal as well as talking of the here and now. Children will love looking at all the things their fathers do with them, making them feel included and special.
A wonderful story for the times, and with Father’s day coming up, one to be shared.
Themes Fathers, Childhood, Love, Grandfathers.
Fran Knight
The autist's guide to the galaxy by Clara Tornvall
Author Clara Törnvall was diagnosed with autism at the age of 42. Her first book, The Autists: women on the spectrum, is a memoir that shares her own story as well as offering an insight into how autistic women navigate the neurotypical world. Her second book The Autist’s Guide to the Galaxy: navigating the world of ‘normal people’ is a highly accessible information-style read for those autists who on a daily basis interact with neurotypical people or NT’s as they can be known.
For many autists, workplaces, schools, shops and family gatherings are often a source of confusion as to the expectations of behaviour and interaction. To be able to read this practical guide may provide a degree of understanding of what is actually happening to NT’s with words they use, in their actions and connections, and how this may impact on autists. For neurotypical people who regularly share each day with autists this small easy-to-digest book offers a valuable insight to the way of the world for those who view, say and think in other ways from NT people.
The Autist’s Guide to the Galaxy: navigating the world of ‘normal people’ is a handy reference offering explanations and ideas with examples and shared stories from autists. It is complete with tips, and facts as well as a good dose of humour. A worthwhile book to recommend and share with the neurotypical people and autists in your life.
Beautiful endpapers show the vista on a Western Australian beach, giving a wow to the reader as they open the book.
When Quokka hops to the beach he finds a seal pup sitting on a rock by itself. When Quokka meets Seal, he wants to be friends. Quokka thinks that making Seal smile would be a great way to start. But, despite his best efforts, Seal doesn’t smile. Quokka goes to great lengths to try to make Seal smile but to no avail. He makes a lot of fun faces, does tricks, uses seaweed and shells to decorate his body, but all failed. Eventually he falls into the sea, and he can’t swim. Seal dives into the water to rescue him. He offers to teach Quokka to swim, but Quoka does not want to learn to swim. He asks Seal if they can still be friends, and of course they can, even though they are quite different.
Can they be friends after all? A resounding yes is answered within the story, showing younger readers that people do not have to fit your mould of a friend. This latest picture book from children’s author Katie Stewart features well known Australian animals and uses her stories about animals to teach children the value of understanding each other’s differences.
Katie Stewart is an author and illustrator. She came to Australia at the age of nine. She has worked in a variety of positions, archaeologist, ethnohistorian, teacher and librarian, before using her skills as a illustrator to write and illustrate the stories, which now number five for Fremantle Press.
Themes Australian animals, Diversity, Quokka, Western Australia.
Fran Knight
Yarn quest: The search for the story realm by Brooke Scobie and Jade Goodwin
Penguin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761345227. (Age:8-10)
The search for the story realm is part of the Yarn Quest trilogy published by Penguin books. Before they were books, Yarn Quest was a first-nations led children's podcast, incorporating stories written by the Awesome Black team. AwesomeBlack is an agency that centres First Nations voices and stories and hence its support of Brooke Scobie, author of The Search for the story realm and Jade Goodwin the illustrator.
Brooke Scobie is a queer, auDHD, First Nations author. She is "passionate about creating stories and worlds where weird, wonderful kids of all shapes and sizes can see themselves in magical places on extraordinary adventures". This she achieves in The search for the story realm.
The two main characters, Tane and Sibyl, are loved real life children, to whom the book is dedicated, so there is an extra warmth about the story. Tane has difficulty finishing stories which causes him anxiety at school. The plot follows a magical adventure in the story realm of the Australian bush with a spirit called Fable. The sadness of the bush and the loss of the story spirit's energy could be an allegory for the loss of the Australian bush. Invasion is mentioned. The children have to save the spirit.
The search for the story realm exudes a warm-hearted, authentic voice which permeates the narrative and the dialogue. This is illustrated also in the warmth of the relationships with the aunties..."Of course you do, bub. Now, hats on before you leave, I don't want to see any sunburn on any of youse".
This story, The search for the story realm, and the other two books in the trilogy will be particularly enjoyed by First Nations children who will see the importance of story and feel the warmth of the narrator's voice speaking into their lives.
Themes Storytelling, Australian bush spirit magic, Truth and lies, First Nations.
It's rare to find a romance novel that is not only entertainingly funny but also rich in endearing, well-developed characters and intricate relationship dynamics.Ann Liang's talent shines through in both relatable character portrayal and development in I Hope This Doesn't Find You.
Protagonist Sadie Wen holds the titles of school captain, valedictorian, and is praised as a delight in class. Sadie has a coping mechanism to maintain her picture-perfect smile – she channels her frustrations into unsent email drafts. These emails allow her to vent about her power-hungry English teacher or classmates taking credit for her work, without causing any harm. Among her most strongly worded email drafts are those aimed at her infuriating co-captain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive nature have irritated Sadie since childhood. In these emails, Sadie expresses her true feelings without any filter, releasing her pent-up emotions.
When Sadie's emails unintentionally reach the entire school, she is confronted with the impending collapse of the facade she meticulously built - that of a perfect, diligent student who refrains from speaking ill of others. Liang uses this event to showcase Sadie's inner conflict, her struggle between shrinking herself to avoid conflict and the part of her longing to voice her thoughts. This sets the stage for her character growth. Initially a people-pleaser craving validation, Sadie gradually evolves over the story, prioritising her own feelings over others' approval. Amidst the turmoil, one unexpected person begins to appreciate the genuine Sadie – Julius, the very person she vowed to despise.
The story delves into who Sadie and Julius truly are, their motivations, fears, goals, dreams, and how these aspects intertwine.
I Hope This Doesn't Find You stands out as Ann Liang's finest romantic comedy. It's masterfully executed and beautifully crafted, a book I can envision revisiting multiple times.
Themes Romance, Contemporary Fiction, High School.
