Reviews

Monsters by Anna Fienberg

Ill. by Kim Gamble and Stephen Axelsen. Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760293369
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Monsters, Fear, Confidence, Friendship. This beautifully presented picture book will have readers enthralled at the everyday things: plants, furniture, curtains, even a clothesline, that harbour a monster or two. They are peeping out from every corner of each page, scaring poor Tildy witless. She sees them when she goes to sleep, when she wakes, when she walks down the garden path.
They make her feel scared, and her parents try to comfort her without success.
At school a new boy called Hendrik sits next to her and draws monsters instead of listening in class. Tildy is eager, he is unafraid of the monsters, telling her he kills them with his sword.
Later he asks her to come and play and stay overnight in his tent in the backyard. Tildy is pleased to go but when night comes around she becomes fearful and wants to go home. When she tells him that she wants to go, he is upset saying that he thought they were friends. She tells him why she does not wish to stay. Hendrik knows just what to do, and he draws her monster, helping her defuse her fear.
This lovely book about confronting your fears and sharing them with others, will be a treat to read out loud in class, encouraging children to look closely at the wonderfully descriptive illustrations.
Kim Gamble, who has illustrated many of Fienberg's books, died during the development of this book and the finishing was taken on by Stephen Axelsen, illustrator and friend. The finished product is stunning, with monsters peering out from every corner of the page. Fans will relish the touches of Tashi in this book dedicated to the memory of one of Australia's finest illustrators, Kim Gamble.
Fran Knight

The New Kid : Unpopular me by James O'Loghlin

Pan Macmillan, 2018. ISBN 9781760554255
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. "The New Kid Unpopular Me" is a hilarious story about being the new kid in school. If it can go wrong it will! Sam is 11 and has just moved to Canberra with his family. He has already been targeted by the class bully, has only made one friend who is pretty unpopular and his mum keeps buying him rather embarrassing clothing. Sam is lonely. He won't admit it and he wants to be a good friend to his only new friend Gary. Sam decides he has to make Gary more popular to help himself become more popular. Will it happen during the school camp? Will fireworks be a good idea? Could the school play help Sam become more popular?
"The New Kid Unpopular Me" is a fun read with several embarrassing moments along the way. Sam's mum is just as embarrassing in the situations Sam finds himself in. Readers who have been to a new school will relate to the exaggerations in the story telling. It would be a great read aloud for the classroom thanks to its easy to read and descriptive text. The situations Sam gets himself into are also good for discussing feelings during the Child Protection Curriculum. It is highly recommended for independent reader aged 9+.
Kylie Kempster

Bab Sharkey and The Animal Mummies: The weird beard by Andrew Hansen and Jessica Roberts

Bab Sharkey and the Animal Mummies Book 1. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781760650001
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Themes: Ancient Egypt, Humour, Time travel, Adventure. Award-winning Australian comedian Andrew Hansen, best known for "The Chaser", has teamed up with his wife, designer Jessica Roberts, to create this series of funny books, beginning with Bab and his exploration of Ancient Egypt.
This is a time travel with a difference, as our hero, twelve-year-old Bab Sharkey picks up a beard in the Egyptian desert, which attaches to his face. He is transported back in time and is now the pharaoh with some very odd powers. Bab befriends some unusual beings, a pair of undead animals wrapped in bandages called Scaler the Fish Mummy and Prong the Ibis Mummy. But the previous owner of the Beard, the ancient and evil sorceress the Unpharaoh, wants her beard back. While having the time of his life in Ancient Egypt, Bab learns more about his amazing place and it is all there for middle to upper readers who have a distinctly wacky sense of humour, and love a fast paced story served up with fun, tongues lodged firmly in cheeks, set against a fascinating background.
Fran Knight

The hole by Kerry Brown

Ill. by Lucia Masciullo. ABC Books, 2018. ISBN 9780733335235
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Animals, Problem solving. Walking through the woods, a squirrel comes upon a hole on the path way she is using. Peering in she falls, and clings onto the top of the hole, hoping that she has not woken the beast that lives below. An ostrich passing by offers to help, and peering into the hole, becomes stuck as well. Then three small monkeys happen by and soon all five are hanging from the top of the hole.
Told in rhyming stanzas, full of alliteration, repetition and fun, the verses will be a treat read out loud, inviting listeners to predict the last lines of each couplet, and learning when some o the repeated words will appear, and so say them along with the reader. The use of the word, 'Then ...' at the end of some of the pages will appeal to the readers as they are asked to predict what will happen over the page.
The soft illustrations depict all the animals with affection, and the looks on their faces will appeal to the young readers, underlining the concern abut what lies beneath.
A field mouse happens by and also gives a hand, especially when the monster below stirs. The whole troupe hears its scritching sound and as it gets closer, so the readers will sit up and take notice. A wonderful resolution occurs, an they all sit down to eat what was in the squirrel's basket.
With some nods to fairy tales, the story will be a wonderful read aloud and engage children in developing ideas around problem solving.
Fran Knight

The coldest girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Changing gear by Scot Gardner

Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760631468
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Journeys. Road trip. Western Victoria. Merrick tosses in his final weeks of school, just before his year twelve exams, to take off on his beloved motorbike and see what happens. Seemingly with no particular aim to begin with, he finds more than he expected, walking side by side with a homeless man, a tramp who has plied the roads for over thirty years.
I love the story on the road, but found the early interaction with his peers heavy going, as he seemed so out of touch with them, a watcher rather than one of the group. Once on the road this persona falls away and he is able to breathe the fresh air, see the horizon and just ride. That is until his chain breaks, out on a dirt road miles from Dimboola. But Merrick has made some bad choices: leaving behind his wallet, not taking essentials like matches and toilet paper and not taking anything to repair his bike. So finding the philosophical old man tramping between the towns, offering advice, helping with things like how to clean your bottom without loo paper, is serendipitous, leading Merrick to understand just how and why he is here.
Based partly on Gardner's own motorbike trip around Australia, meeting a man who formed the basis of Merrick, enjoying the freedom of the open road, this story reflects the journey of many, that of finding out where they belong in a confusing world.
The banter between Merrick and Victor exposes the eighteen year old to the reader, and they will see his ideas about who he is and his place in the world develop as he travels further from home.
Gardner writes stories that reveal the stress of boys growing up to be young men, confused at what life offers, unsure of where they fit in with other people, particularly girls, often putting on a brave face, but in this case, having that mask questioned by an old man, one who has seen everything in his years on the road.
Fran Knight

My life and other failed experiments by Tristan Bancks and Gus Gordon

Tom Weekly Book 6. Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780143781615
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Pets. Brothers and sisters. Humour. What's next for Tom Weekly, his sister torturing his guinea pig, taking on the most annoying ice-cream man and dealing with a killer possum attack? Tom has a new motto 'never give up, never give in' and he's determined to survive the crazy situations he encounters. Tristan Bancks continues to raise the bar for Tom whose goals include eating a car and most importantly getting your parents off social media - there's photos of baby poo!
Older sister Tanya dangles Tom's guinea pig out of his open window demanding all his birthday money for Gus's safe return, and Tom needs to take quick action. A quick pull on his bedroom rug sees Tanya fall, land in the compost bin and unfortunately Gus poops pellets in her mouth. That's just the first of many laugh out loud incidents. In 'Razorblade Fruitcake' there are fruitcake frisbees, and Tom is chased by a mad woman in a hot-pink granny cart. He won't be helping his Nan again anytime soon. Tom's personal problems are aired in 'Buttman', his Mum says 'his bum makes unpleasant odours on a far too regular basis.' Tom's solutions involve either a total butt removal or inventing a chemical freshener 'Buttfresh' that will sell to millions of people and save the world from the methane emissions of cows. Tom's Santa suit experience and unfortunate candy cane regurgitation end this novel with a reality check for this relatable character, no special Christmas kiss for him!
My life and other failed experiments is a hilarious novel. Bancks includes humour, jokes, cartoons, gross body anecdotes, weird facts and lists of thought-provoking questions such as 'Who would you rather be?' Gus Gordon's cartoons add to the fun and craziness that is Tom Bank's life. This extremely popular series is perfect for middle primary readers and for a class read aloud novel.
Rhyllis Bignell

Scaredy Cat by Heather Gallagher and Anil Tortop

New Frontier, 2018. ISBN 9781925594171
(Age: 3-6) Themes: Pets.
"Have you seen my Scaredy Cat?
He's afraid of this and afraid of that!"
Scaredy Cat's gorgeous covers decorated with shiny hearts and a cute little girl with just a hint of her missing pet are delightful drawcards. Heather Gallagher's fun rhyming refrain is a perfect picture book to share with toddlers and pre-schoolers, and they'll soon join in responding to the rhymes and discovering where scaredy cat is hiding! Take time to observe the scene from the tower, as each of these characters appear throughout this delightful story.
Scaredy Cat's afraid of many things: bees, trees and Granny's super-duper sneeze, muck and quacking ducks. Luckily for this loved pet, the little girl is 'brave like this and BRAVE like that!' She's there to rescue her friend from all the dangerous situations, the sights, the smells and the sounds. Her brave actions rid the beach of pirates and then her karate skills remove the creeping crooks. With a final unexpected twist, she is reunited with her Scaredy Cat.
Anil Tortop's gorgeous digital illustrations provide the visual clues that perfectly underpin Gallagher's rhyming story. His bright palette of colours and designs sweeps across the endpapers and is creatively utilised in each fun scene. Heather Gallagher's sense of rhyme and rhythm and her understanding of the special bond of a child and her pet makes this a joyful story, one to be shared over and over again.
Rhyllis Bignell

Antidote to a curse by James Cristina

Transit Lounge, 2018. ISBN 9781925760033
(Age: Adult) Following a sexual encounter Silvio Portelli finds himself increasingly drawn to the Bosnian immigrant Zlatko, whilst waiting to learn the results of his test for HIV. Portelli wants to write, and the mystery of Zlatko's life may be his story. Chapters of his Melbourne cafe meetings with Zlatko are interwoven with dream passages that seem to predict the unravelling story of what happened in Bosnia Herzegovina.
The characters take hold of the author and he follows where they lead. The novel itself is a reflection on the art of writing - Portelli tells Zlatko that he has no plot outline, he does not know where the story will go; but his dreams take hold of him and bring it together. The reader has to trust and follow along too. It is nevertheless a well crafted novel.
It makes for an interesting, at times challenging, read - I felt I needed to know more of the history of the Bosnian war. Some relevant works are acknowledged at the end of the novel and could make for further reading for those who are interested.
Helen Eddy

From Twinkle with love by Sandhya Menon

Hodder, 2018. ISBN 9781473678736
(Age 13+) Highly recommended. Twinkle, a 16 year old high school student, dreams of being a movie director. When she hears about an up and coming film festival, she is determined to make her mark on the industry and direct an amazing movie for everyone to see. When Sahil Roy asks her to be his partner for the festival, she eagerly accepts his offer, knowing it will bring her closer to Sahil's twin brother Neil, who she has a crush on. But little does she realise that Sahil has liked her since they were 11 and is hoping she will notice him instead. As Sahil and Twinkle start to work together, Twinkle realises they have more in common that she first thought and finds herself conflicted in her feelings for the wrong brother. What will she do, which brother will show her their true colours?
The book is written in the form of a diary, with each entry being a letter to one of Twinkle's favourite movie directors. This format was different to your average chapter book and easy to follow. The characters have an authentic feel to their personality, each one I found I could relate to in their feelings and the choices they were faced with as teenagers. The story touches on themes of friendship, conflict, loyalty and the trials we all encounter as we are growing up. Twinkle makes many choices in her attempt to define who she really is and learns a big lesson along the way.
"From Twinkle with love" is an inspiring and engaging read, full of humour, at times sadness and the emotional ups and downs of growing up. I highly recommend this read.
Mia Rice (Student)

The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

Penguin Books, 2018. ISBN 9780141375397
(Age: 12+) Recommended. A princess, a soldier, a hunter, a traitor, and a thief. Following the paths of Princess Catherine, Ambrose, March, Edyon, and Tash; these five people will soon come to find their futures are connected by a mysterious bottle of demon smoke. Who will unlock its secrets? These five young people are trying to survive as much as everyone else is but with their kingdoms at war, they are all facing their own demons. Unwanted marriages, revenge, crossroad decisions and literal demons, they will have to have all of these problems and more.
Sally Green has crafted a character-driven story with the themes of war, social classes, forbidden love, mystery and a dash of the fantasy. Her characters are fleshed out, and uniquely expressive and driven in their own ways, each so different from the other. With it being a lengthy story, the plot is somewhat slow but pulls the reader back in with its action, suspense and surprising plot twists. And with that, it kicked off a series of events that kept me clinging to the book wanting more. Green spares no detail in this encapturing story of kings and kingdoms, love and loss, and demon smoke. I would recommend this to young and young adult readers.
Kayla Raphael

Let's visit the Olobobs by Leigh Hodgkinson and Steve Smith

Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408897621
(Age: 1-4) Board book, Lift-the-flaps, Shapes. Based on the English children's television show "Olobob Top", as seen on ABC, this early learning book about shape has been created by Leigh Hodgkinson ("Are You Sitting Comfortably?") and Steve Smith. There are four Olobob Top titles planned for release this year and another four in 2019: some sticker activity books and some board books. Olobob Top is about the adventures of three friends, Tib, Lalloo and Boble, who live in the biggest and best tree in Olobob Forest. Their world is made up of all sorts of shapes and in each television episode they build new characters who come to life. "Let's Visit the Olobobs" begins by introducing the Olobob characters and each page features a shape that the reader is asked to find within the accompanying picture (e.g., "Can you spot a triangle?"). There is more than one of the shape within each picture but the target shape can be identified because of its colour, pattern, or other specifics. The reader is spoken to directly ("Yes! It's Lalloo's dress. It's a very spotty dress Lalloo"), making it sound like the television narration on shows like Tellytubbies.
Young children will like pointing out all the other shapes they can see within the illustrations, with varying levels of entry depending on children's shape knowledge and vocabulary. Other concepts are also scattered throughout, including counting (numbers), size (long, big) and position (around). What is especially great about this is how there are shapes within shapes and sometimes the shapes are even obstructed or overlapping, requiring children to understand layering and position (e.g. the semi-circle of Gurdy's shell is partly hidden behind his head) in order to correctly locate the shapes. Bright colours and interesting smiley characters make this easy on the eye and will appeal to young ones even if they haven't seen the show.
Nicole Nelson

Bohemia Beach by Justine Ettler

Transit Lounge, 2018. ISBN 9781925760002
(Age: Adult) Themes: Addiction; Musical career; Counselling. Catherine Bell is a renowned Concert musician, but everything in her life seems to be swirling in the swill of painful experience. Her 'self-medication' with regular consumption of alcohol and her affair with the somewhat capricious Tomas, while preparing for performance in Prague seems set to lead her further into the abyss . . . but she cannot see it. Ettler reveals the sad despair of the addict - completely oblivious to the poor pathway she is following and the impacts that this path will have on her career and relationships. The fact that her husband appears to be seeking a divorce, her mother is coping with a terminal illness, and a recording deal is teetering, are just side-notes in the discordant and badly played symphony of her life. At every turn, Catherine seems to be creating more problems for herself through a series of self-destructive choices. The voice of a trusted counsellor remains the only voice of stability in her life, but it is seldom loud enough for Catherine to make significant changes. Woven into this sad tale is the story of Catherine's childhood and her family dilemmas which seem to provide a link to the plot-line and setting in Prague. A destructive flood in Prague itself creates a subtle literary parallel to Catherine's alcoholic deluge, but seems to also bring her to a point of possible rescue.
With flashbacks and counselling reminiscences, the trauma of Catherine's life is revealed. Throughout the book, the author manages to deftly communicate the alcoholic's haze and driven circumstances with powerful pathos. Written with incredible skill from an accomplished writer, there are numerous literary references to other works including "Wuthering Heights" and a classic Czech tale. The author's own musical understanding and academic prowess in creative writing are evident in this very adult story. Not easily read because misery of the central character, still it is cautionary in its revelations of the powerful grip of addictive behaviour and the awful toll that this takes.
For adult readers only.
Carolyn Hull

Can I touch your hair? by Irene Latham and Charles Waters

The world's worst children 3 by David Walliams

HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008304607
Highly recommended. Where do I start when telling you about David Walliams "The worlds worst children 3"?! What an awesome storyteller he is!
This book is full of 10 short stories about a variety of horrible children or sibling groups who really are, as the title suggests, the worlds worst! They are terrible, awful, mean, nasty, stinky, gross, absolutely HORRENDOUS children, and after reading this book I am thankful for my well behaved spawn.
My almost 8 year old son and I read this book, and laughed the whole way through. David Walliams has the most incredible way of writing these stories that are appealing to so many different stages of readers. My son is a reluctant reader and would much prefer to be read to - however this book got his attention and hooked him in! He wanted to read it on his own which is a huge tick for me. The shorter chapters (each their own horrible story about another despicable character) meant that he could read them himself, with little help from an adult and also capture his imagination and sense of humour to keep him going.
My almost 4 year old also enjoyed listening and added in her fair share of laughs or often an 'Eeeww" or "that's yuk Mummy!" followed by laughter!
In addition to this the wonderful illustrations by Tony Ross compliment the story and help to increase understanding of the story for the younger listeners. They also made us laugh out loud even more! His drawings are both gruesome and lively, funny and captivating. I don't think the story would be as good without them.
The stories include Tandy who tantrums so badly her parents eventually leave her and move to Australia (and can still sometimes hear her), Hank who played pranks on his poor family and eventually had one turn on him and go terribly wrong and of course the triplets who were the most disgusting children I have ever read about (but I will let you read that story for yourself!).
This is the first of "The world's worst children" series that we have read and I am going to go and find the first two as we loved them so much. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars!
Lauren Fountain