Ill. by Miguel Ordonez. Hodder Children's Books, 2018. ISBN
9781444933444
(Age: 3-6) Themes: Rhyming stories, Volcanoes - fiction. Follow
Dwayne and Jane and a cast of colourful and quirky characters on
their journey across the globe to see a volcano. Andy Stanton's
super rhyming story gathers a cast of silly characters, aliens,
rabbits, cheerleaders, dinosaurs and a marching band, together with
two intrepid explorers determined to see an active volcano.
Down the lane-o, riding the Great Dane-o, sitting on the train-o,
jumping on a plane-o, the rhymes and ways of travelling become
bigger and funnier as we see their adventure unfold. Even the rain-o
doesn't dampen their enthusiasm. There is a pause in the rhythm of
the story as they gather on the volcano's rim, a perfect opportunity
for the reading audience to predict what happens next. Yes the
ending involves a lesson in safety and a sensible warning!
Miguel Ordonez adds colour and fun with his delightful digital
illustrations, simple characters with silly expressions, aliens,
robots and dinosaurs. Take time to look at the line-up at the end of
the story and see if you can find them on the previous pages.
Andy Stanton's Going to the Volcano is just right for
sharing, the rhyming endings are easy to guess and this fun story is
one that can be re-read and enjoyed.
Rhyllis Bignell
Peg + Cat : The Eid al-Adha Adventure by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson
Candlewick Books, 2018. ISBN 9780763699321
(Age: 3-7) Recommended. "Peg + Cat : The Eid-Adha Aventure" is a
simple, yet interesting story that could be used in so many
different ways. The basis of these stories surround Peg and her
sidekick Cat, who always come across really big problems, and they
generally need to fix them using basic mathematics. As it is also a
TV show on a children's channel many children will be familiar with
the characters and the format of the story. This particular story
has the added features of 2 new friends Yasmin and Amit, and their
favourite cultural holiday Eid-Ahda. This particular holiday
surrounds the notions of giving to those with less, making a smooth
transition to the mathematical themes of less and more (and their
signs < and >).
The friends also have to divide meat into thirds, and use scales to
ensure that their servings are the same. On top of the math concepts
that can be discussed and taught through this book,
teachers/carers/parents could also use this story to look at
different cultural traditions and holidays, how to decipher needs vs
wants and also learning about helping those that need assistance
through illness or hardship.
I really like books that can be both simple, fun stories and a
teaching tool. This enables the listener to purely listen, and
through the enjoyment of the story pick out extra learnings and
understanding. My children (3 and 7) loved this book as they knew
the characters and the format, as well as some of the predictable
phrases. We give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Lauren Fountain
Jake Atlas and the hunt for the Feathered God by Rob Lloyd Jones
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406377712
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Themes: Action, Adventure, Twins, Mystery,
Aztec - history. Hunted by international police and hiding from the
evil People of the Snake, treasure hunters and tomb raiders Jake
Atlas and his family are in danger. During this enforced stay in an
English stately home twins Jake and Pan hone their martial art
skills, train in using new developed technology, learn ancient
languages and bicker, argue and question their parents' motives. Why
aren't they searching for the second emerald tablet? When their
friend and tech whiz Sami is poisoned, they are forced by the People
of the Snake to undertake a dangerous mission to discover the tablet
in exchange for a cure.
Their destination is a legendary Aztec tomb dedicated to the god
Quetzalcoatl, hidden in the Honduran rainforest. The Atlas family
must face traitors, bandits, big cats, tarantulas and crocodiles and
learn to rely on other's abilities to help them. Their arguments and
squabbles lead them into deeper trouble as they face monsoon rains
and arduous conditions on their lengthy trek in the jungle. They
barely survive ancient Aztec snares, climb a cliff built from
skulls, leap over a huge waterfall, escape from a trap made out of
swinging blades as the momentum builds to a crescendo.
Rob Lloyd Jones channels Indiana Jones, Lara Croft Tomb Raider and
Alex Rider in this fast-paced action adventure. Each of the main
characters are relatable, Jake's gung-ho attitude means he's quick
to jump into dangerous situations while his sister Pan is a thinker,
skilled in linguistics and a student of history. A family of tomb
raiders and treasure hunters is unique in this fiction genre and
adds a different and realistic perspective. The author's
historically accurate facts are fascinating and eye-opening - the
Aztec's religious practices of human sacrifices and worship of
Quetzalcoatl. Filled with exciting new technology - nano-drones,
smart-goggles and satellite trackers and Biosteel reinforced jungle
suits, "Jake Atlas and the Hunt for the Feathered God" will
appeal to a wide range of readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
The making of Martin Sparrow by Peter Cochrane
Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780670074068
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Set on the Hawkesbury river, a community
struggles to survive in the early years of the New South Wales
Colony.
Emancipated convict Martin Sparrow has led a disastrous life but has
been granted the standard thirty acres of land to farm. Having no
knowledge or experience, Sparrow's agricultural endeavours are
hopeless and he appears to have been set up to fail in the sense
that he cannot possibly meet the Government's produce requirements
or repayments to his creditors.
In 1806, a monstrous flood completely destroys all of his miserable
possessions and produce, prompting him to fantasise about bolting to
the fabled paradise West of the Blue Mountains. Aptly named, Sparrow
is revealed to be physically weak, unremarkable and unable to assert
himself. Lacking a strong sense of identity or purpose, he is
susceptible to suggestion and manipulation by violent men with no
scruples. Naively accepting tales of easy living in nature's bounty,
surrounded by exotic, affectionate women, Sparrow agrees to
accompany desperate men on a shambolic expedition to cross the
mountains to the mythical land of plenty.
Cruelty and suffering appear on many levels in this story. Convicts
struggled in freezing cold and blazing heat to build roads and
infrastructure in a colony clawing for survival. Military overseers
mistreated convicts, free settlers and each other whilst government
administrators profited from the labour and hardship of the convicts
and settlers.
The treatment of the local Dharag people by vicious soldiers and
bloodthirsty settlers is extreme. Foraging for food on their
traditional land is considered theft by settlers who respond with
unspeakable brutality, torturing, raping and murdering without any
consideration of moral or legal restraint.
Some of the female settlers also lead brutal lives, subjected to
sexual violence and exploitation, illegal imprisonment and even
being traded and sold by men who consider them property.
In a landscape filled with harsh individuals trying to eke out an
existence, Sparrow embarks upon his ill-conceived journey and for
the first time in his life comes into contact with solid, decent
people. These include a Romany girl who has been grossly mistreated,
the local constable charged with trying to sort out complex and
dreadful crimes, an eccentric explorer and a kindly landowner.
Fighting to survive in the bush, Sparrow stumbles from one disaster
to another, yet the extreme nature of his adventures and reaching
the point of no return cause him to commence thinking for himself
for the first time in his life. Part of Sparrow's awakening involves
consideration of the welfare of others and he develops a capacity
for moral consideration and altruism which he had not previously
possessed.
Grim in places, this novel is still instantly appealing to those who
enjoy historical fiction. I knew I would enjoy this book from the
outset and was captured and taken on a long, dark journey.
Recommended for age 16+
Rob Welsh
Running on empty by S. E. Durrant
Nosy Crow, 2018. ISBN 9780857637406
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Disability. Athletics.
Family. Grief and loss. Persistence and perseverence. AJ is a pretty
normal kid, trying to work out life after the death of his loving
and gracious grandfather - a man who was a mentor and an inspiration
in his life. This grandfather had created a passion for running in
AJ's life and he was desperate to honour his grandfather's memory by
continuing to run. And... his parents have learning difficulties.
Because of this AJ is very much missing his grandfather's support,
because now he has to take on even more responsibility and try and
avoid any bills that 'have red' on them. AJ also has an Aunty, Uncle
and young cousin, Aisha, in his life. None of them have a problem
with AJ's parents - they are all just people trying to do their very
best; and Aisha just brings joy wherever she goes with her innocent
enthusiasm and honesty. This is the story of the pre-teen AJ as he
adjusts and strives and copes with supporting and caring for his
parents, while trying to make them proud and protecting them from
the worst of reactions from those outside the family, including his
school teachers. AJ also has the added fear that if anyone finds out
that Grandfather can no longer help them, that he might have to be
taken into care. His growth and budding maturity is hinted at in his
insights into how others may react, and in his own misdirected
responses to those around him, but he lacks the discernment that
would save him from some pain.
This is a beautiful story of unconditional love, of people doing
their absolute best in the most trying of circumstances and of one
young boy's fierce loyalty in the face of loss and great difficulty.
This is a book that will inspire, as AJ only knows the richness of
the love he shares in his family. AJ and his parents' honourable
simplicity and naivete will be evident to an older reader, and this
makes this a book that can be enjoyed by older readers. Just as the
two books, The boy in the striped pyjamas and
Wonder communicate complex ideas through a naive
narrator, this book speaks with incredible power through the
youthful voice. A pair of running shoes becomes a powerful symbol of
love, hope and care. This is a 'must read' book, and will be enjoyed
by all who pick it up to read. And please allow young teenagers to
read it too, because they will recognise the themes, but also be
buoyed by the persistence of AJ and his parents despite their lack
of privilege.
Highly recommended for ages 10+
Carolyn Hull
Tropical Terry by Jarvis
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406378627
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Difference. Friendship. Coral reef.
Fish. Terry is an unexciting blue fish swimming amongst the coral of
a coral reef. His large eye watches as the beautiful, differently
coloured coral fish swim by and longs to be with them. They seem to
have all the fun as they swim by in a large group, showing off their
plumage and colours. But Terry's friends, Cilla the crab and Steve
the sea snail, tell him not to worry but to keep playing with them.
They play hide a fish (which Terry is very good at as he blends into
the background so well) and dodge a dolphin, while the coral fish
above swirl around and around. Terry is dismayed, so he takes a fish
net and gathers up a lot of seaweed, asking his friends to help make
him look more interesting.
When they finish making him up, he looks stunning, equaling the coral
fish in appearance and they accept him as one of their own.
The brilliantly coloured illustrations reveal the secrets of a coral
reef with its large numbers of brightly coloured fish, the corals
and seaweed alongside the other sea animals. The colours are
engaging and younger readers will enjoy picking out all the
different things they can see.
But with Terry gamboling amongst the coral fish, going around and
around, a hungry eel passes by targeting the brightest fish he can
see, Terry. Terry must avoid being eaten and his friends Cilla and
Steve call out to him helping him escape the eel.
All ends happily as the coral fish come to realise that appearance
is not all it's cracked up to be, and readers will be able to
discuss concepts such as difference, envy, friendship and keeping up
with the crowd.
Fran Knight
Pig in a wig by Chrissie Krebs
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742762654
(Age: 3-7) Pig in a wig by Chrissie Krebs is a story about a pig who
happens upon a wig and gets chased by all the usual suspects you
would find on a farm. It follows a pretty simple rhyming pattern,
with a few fun words thrown in like gnarly, glorious and shrieking.
In essence the story is funny and likeable - pig wears a wig, gets
chased by shocked and scared barnyard friends, in the end a long
procession is in chase, then just as they gain on him the wig falls
off and they run straight past!
The issue that we had when we read it (miss 3 and master 7) was the
illustrations. They are frankly a bit scary! The faces of all the
animals are either angry or looking frightening with eyes looking in
different directions and tongues hanging out flapping in the wind.
My youngest said that this was the only part of the book she didn't
really like (the farmer had 'crazy eyes') but that the pig was
funny. Master 7 liked that he could read the text, and enjoyed
learning the fun words that are thrown in.
Overall, I have to say that unfortunately I wouldn't choose this for
my library or personal collection. The illustrations put me off and
I feel that they are too over the top for the intended audience. 2
out of 5 stars.
Lauren Fountain
Hello, Horse by Vivian French
Ill. by Catherine Rayner. Nature Story Book. Walker Books,
2018. ISBN 9781406349948
(Age: 5-10) Highly recommended. Themes: Horses, Fear. Another in the
highly successful and exceptionally well produced series, "Nature
Story Book", comes a heart-warming story from popular author Vivian
French and illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medal winner Catherine
Rayner. With two such talents, the book can only be beautiful!
The little boy featured in the story meets Shannon, a big brown
horse. Initially he is intimidated by the size of Shannon but
Catherine reassures him that the horse is very friendly and gentle.
As the story develops the boy learns much about horses and gradually
overcomes his fear. By the end of the story the reader sees the
little boy riding along a leafy lane.
On most double page spreads, not only is there the fiction story,
but in different print, there is information about horses'
behaviour, their size, what they eat and how to groom them. At the
back is an index that tells the reader to look at both sets of type
when finding a word, and there is a 'More Information' section.
As a lover of horses, it was immediately evident to me that the
author and illustrator knew and loved horses and this was confirmed
by the 'Author's Note' at the end of the book, which states that
Shannon the lovely bay mare featured in the book is real and has
belonged to Catherine for more than twenty years. Catherine's water
colour illustrations of Shannon the horse are delightful and the
horse's gentle inquisitive nature comes to life as the little boy
gradually gets to know her.
This such a beautiful story that begs to be read aloud at home and
in the classroom. Readers will not only learn about horses but the
story would help children who are fearful of such a large animal and
those familiar with horses will revel in the details found in the
book.
Pat Pledger
My encounters with minibeasts by Densey Clyne
New Holland Publishers, 2018. ISBN 9781925546170
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: Insects, Spiders, Frogs, Non
fiction. A wonderful beautifully illustrated book about the creepy
crawlies that abound in our houses and gardens and further afield is
presented by well known insect aficionado, Densey Clyne. Known for
her work, writing books, writing scripts for documentaries as well
as broadcasting, Densey has produced over thirty publications
dealing with the insect world and beyond. This book offers thirty
five stories of her life with these animals. Wonderful to dip into,
to read from cover to cover or use the four pages of index to
research your favourite insect, the book is a treasure trove of
information and story, each complementing the other for the reader.
From "Secrets of the High Country" to "A Short Walk in Papua New
Guinea", the stories are personal, often simply told form her
experiences in her own garden. Her close study of the mistletoe tree
for example gives us an entertaining look at the insects which use
this tree as their home. ("Mistletoe and friends")
And the chapter on the phasmid or goliath stick insect (A phasmid of
colour and character) will interest students in keeping these
insects as pets, while the symbiotic nature of insects is nowhere
more telling than in her the tale of the ant and the imperial Blue
Butterfly. The butterfly pays its eggs near the ants' nest, the ants
then protecting the larvae when they are hatched from the eggs.
("You scratch my back" . . .)
Each chapter is detailed and entertaining, reflecting Clyne's
interest and knowledge of the insect world, and readers will
appreciate the chatty, personal style that she uses to inform the
readers. This is a wonderful reference book, but is also easy to
read, the photographs wonderful to look at more closely and the
chapters short and to the point.
Fran Knight
I got a chicken for my birthday by Laura Gehl
Ill. by Sarah Horne. CarolRhoda Books, 2018. ISBN 9781512431308
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Poultry, Birthdays, Presents. Ana
really wants tickets to the amusement park for her birthday and she
has told her abuela (grandmother) three times. But the day of her
birthday arrives with a large gift wrapped crate and inside is a
chicken. She is disappointed, but realises that she needs to feed
it, and going to do just that, the chicken displays a sign saying
she has no time for food. Ana thinks that perhaps she likes
scrambled eggs, but going to the chicken she has another sign
telling her that she has no time for laying eggs, and gives Ana a
huge list of things to collect and buy.
When all the things are amassed for the chicken, she spends her time
with pencil and ruler, working out dimensions, and then roping in
Ana's dog to help. Next she has the cat working as well. The hamster
becomes the tractor driver, and lots of other animals call in to
help. Readers will be agog to see what the chicken is building, as
lengths of wood are hoisted into the air, and a framework built.
By now readers will be making guesses at what they will eventually
find, and laugh out loud at the illustrations showing the animals
donning builder's belts, hard hats and wielding building tools for
the task.
Readers will have guessed that Ana's abuela has given her what she
wanted for her birthday but in a more roundabout way than she
expected.
The vibrant illustrations are full of humour, reflecting the
disappointment Ana holds in not getting what she wanted, but
intrigued with what the chicken and the other animals are doing.
Young readers will love picking out the various farmyard animals
portrayed, and recognise aspects of building and the equipment
needed for such a task.
I particularly love the look on the chicken's face as she goes about
her task, especially when capped with a safety helmet.
Fran Knight
Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408888926
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Difference, Rules, Shapes. The Red
shapes loved being red. They loved wearing red hats, eating red
apples and sang red songs. But along cam some Yellow shapes. They
loved being yellow, eating yellow bananas, yellow books and yellow
cars. But the two groups found fault with each other, forcing each
other to make areas for themselves separate from each other. But
then along came another different, this time, a Blue shape. The Blue
shapes loved their blue guitars and blow ties, but ran foul of the
other two shapes, the red and the yellow.
The three groups then separated themselves from each other, making
rules about what they could and could not do.
By now readers and listeners will have realised that the story is
telling us about how we separate ourselves from others, making rules
and regulations to further restrict interaction. Younger readers
will be able to see that rules often divide, but be heartened when a
new group comes along in the book, overturning all the rules made by
the first three groups.
The new group is quite different, reflecting all the colours that
have gone before, and talking to the three shapes, encouraging
interaction, communication and friendship. Children will easily see
that discussion and communication is better than making rules which
only serve to divide. Being different does not mean that we have to
make rules to divide us from our friends.
Fran Knight
Marge and the secret tunnel by Isla Fisher
Ill. by Eglantine Ceulemans. Marge in charge series, bk 4.
Piccadilly Press, 2018. ISBN 9781848127333
(Ages: 6-8) Themes: Babysitting, Family Life, Adventures. Isla
Fisher's amusing stories about flamboyant Marge the babysitter and
her unique style of babysitting Jake and Jemima are fun to read
aloud and just right for a newly independent reader to enjoy. These
three short stories involve a secret tunnel that might lead to
Australia, Marge's unusual shopping techniques and a rather crazy
search for Clover the lost kitten.
In "Marge and the Secret Tunnel", when Marge arrives to babysit
Jemima and Jake, she's wearing a pink ski suit, goggles and a
helmet, the perfect outfit to explore the secret tunnel Jemima's
discovered in the backyard. Marge shares some Australian slang and
some fantastic palace stories as they travel through the dark space
into their neighbours' yard. They solve the mystery of their
disappearing toys and make a new friend Angie.
Marge's unique style, singing ability and unusual approach to
shopping makes for a fun adventure for Jake and Jemima. Racing
shopping trolleys down an empty mall and discovering what happens
when the shopping centre is locked for the night make for more silly
escapades.
In the final story, Angie's fluffy, white kitten Clover is lost and
Marge and the children decide to play detectives.
Isla Fisher's entertaining stories are just right for young newly
independent readers. Marge's unique fashion sense, her entertaining
ways and ability to turn the ordinary into humorous and fun
activities make her a loveable character. Eglantine Ceulemans'
cartoons add to the fun of the stories.
Rhyllis Bignell
Found by Fleur Ferris
Random House Australia, 2018. ISBN 9780143784326
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes: Thriller, Secrets. Beth Miller has lived in Deni all her life and she loves the country town atmosphere, her friends and her sporting activities. Her only problem is telling her over protective father that she has a boyfriend, Jonah. Then her father disappears before her eyes and soon she is running for her life. Her family's secrets have finally caught up with them, bringing danger and mayhem.
Ferris has written a gripping suspenseful novel that fans of her books will grab and devour in one sitting. There is plenty of action as Beth tangles with armed killers and tries to come to terms with what she learns about her mother and father. This would make an exciting movie, but it is not all action and spills. Beth is a great heroine - she is strong and well prepared by her father for the day when the past catches up with the family, but she has to come to terms with lies and learn to forgive as well.
The setting of a small country town is beautifully wrought and the friendships and lives of Beth's friends and acquaintances are so well described that the reader will feel they know the town and its people. The idea of a safe house under a dry dam is tantalising and readers will be engrossed as they follow Beth's wild race along the irrigation channels in the farmland.
Told in the first person by Beth with alternating chapters in Jonah's voice, the narrative goes along at a fast pace and the reader gets to know these two characters very well, as they cope with exceptional circumstances as well as try to keep their relationship alive.
A real page turner with lots of emotional moments as well, "Found" is sure to be a hit with teens.
Pat Pledger
Out of the cages by Penny Jaye
Rhiza Edge, 2018. ISBN 9781925563412
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Meena and Putali are two young girls
living in impoverished rural families in Nepal with no hope of
schooling or any kind of future away from the daily toil that is
their life. Meena's father is a drunk who beats her regularly and
Putali's father has disappeared. So when Meena's boy cousins tell
them about exciting job opportunities in the city, it seems like an
escape from all their problems. Putali will be able to send money to
help her mother.
However it is not long before they find that Meena's uncle has lied
to them, there are no waitressing jobs; they are trafficked to a
brothel in India, prized for their beauty, fair skin and youth -
Putali is only 11. As the littlest ones, they are kept in secret
rooms, in a hotel with caged windows. They have to pay off their
debt, the purchase price the Madam has paid for them.
Penny Jaye's novel shows just how easily young girls can fall prey
to the deception of traffickers; we understand the girls' hopes,
disillusionment and despair, as they find themselves in a trap
without any chance of escape. Fortunately there are services working
to save sex slaves - and at great risk to herself one of the workers
manages to get Meena to a hospital and to the Little Sister Rescue
Foundation. Whilst Meena is initially distrustful of everyone, she
gradually realises that she is one of the lucky ones. But it is not
an easy path to find trust and friendship again, she will always
carry the guilt of what happened to Putali.
The Rhiza Edge website
has information about the story behind "Out of the cages". There
is also a YouTube video of
the author speaking about the themes of the book. Every year
thousands of people - women, men and children - are trafficked
across the Nepali border, sold into slavery in India, in China,
Thailand, Dubai, even Australia. The focus of Jaye's book is the
hard path back - to rehabilitation, to home, to finding friends and
to finding one's own self worth again. The book quickly draws in the
reader, and while the topic may be dark, it is does offer hope that
there are people working together to help bring an end to slavery.
Helen Eddy
LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff
Lifelike book 1. Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760295691
(Age: 15+) Recommended for adrenaline junkies. Themes: Dystopian
fiction, Robots, Artificial intelligence, Memory, Extrasensory
perception. This book grabbed me right from the first page where the
reader meets Eve, a prisoner in a cell, who has to watch her family
being killed one by one. From then on, the story takes the reader on
a wild ride, with Eve fighting a in a robot gladiator that she has
built herself, only to find that she can destroy electronics with
the power of her mind, having the Brotherhood chasing her across the
barren landscape for her weirdness and then finding an android named
Ezekiel who claims to have known her from the past. With her best
friend Lemon Fresh and a little robot called Cricket, she treks
across irradiated glass trying to find her grandfather who has been
taken away by androids.
Time just flew away as I followed Eve's journey. There is so much
action, fighting and violence as well as some slight romance and
heart breaking moments, that the book will hold the attention of all
readers who like a fast paced sci-fi thriller. For those who have
read Asimov's book "I, Robot", the whole idea of robots and
artificial intelligence will be questioned as the androids in
"LIFEL1K3", change the 3 laws of robotics and start questioning what
they can do.
Kristoff brings his characters to life, especially Eve's friend
Lemon Fresh, whose delightful wit brings much humour to the story.
The robots' characters are so well developed that they seem like
real people and this also makes that reader think about where
artificial intelligence could lead the world.
With a totally unexpected twist at the end, readers will be sure to
pick up the next in the series and I for one, will be reading some
of Kristoff's previous award winning series, "The
Lotus War" and the "Illuminae
files" written with Amie Kaufman.
Pat Pledger
