Reviews

Guinness World Records: Science and Stuff

Guinness World Records, 2018, ISBN 9781910561638
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Subjects: Science - Records, Earth Science, Robotics, Science Experiments. Guinness World Records: Science and Stuff is a big, bold dive into an amazing array of scientific records, from around the world, under the earth and into the sky. Catchy titles, fun facts and figures, close-up photos all engage the reader in an amazing array of scientific endeavours, amazing animals, robotics and Mad Science. Why go to Mars, what does Usain Bolt eat, what makes burps so loud are all big questions people want answered. The Guinness World Records team take us deep into the ocean to learn about octopus intelligence, into space to explore travel to Mars and hygiene and toileting on the International Space Station. With section of unusual animals, investigating science careers from dino-poop collection to becoming a pyrotechnician, there's something for everyone.
Mad professor Burnaby Q Orbax, and his lab assistant Sweet Pepper Klopek present ten cool experiments to try at home including the familiar Mentos and soda car, creating superslime and making a marshmallow catapult. Science is presented in a crazy, fun, exciting way capturing the interest of a wide reading audience. Of course there are the grossest, weirdest, most unusual and bizarre facts presented in a bright, bold format, layered photographs, double-page spreads packed with colourful text. There are backgrounds that pop and information written with an easy to read style.
Guinness World Records: Science and Stuff is an excellent resource for STEM teachers, a fabulous addition to a classroom or school library and for a scientifically minded reader from eight to eighty.
Rhyllis Bignell

Kookaburras love to laugh by Laura and Philip Bunting

Omnibus (Scholastic), 2018. ISBN 9781742769660
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Kookaburras, Australian animals, Humour, Difference. When one kookaburra begins to laugh, the other kookaburras cannot help themselves. They all join in. They laugh when it is rainy and when it is sunny and when it is windy. It is what they do. But one is different. He is the one kooka in the borough who does not join in. He has always been different, and it makes the others a little nervous. Day after day they try to get him to join in: they play jokes, they dress up, they do pranks, but all to no avail, he decides to leave. But in doing so he comes to see that all flocks have their flaws. Some are too quick, some too loud, some are greedy and some are just mean. But when he is about to give up, he finds a groups which seems to suit his purposes. But something is not quite right.
Meanwhile the other kookaburras miss him and decide that when he returns, they will try to be a little more serious, but when he does come back it is he who begins to tell jokes and does some other things which cause laughter. They have all learnt to get along even though they are different.
Readers will cackle and guffaw at the words, and ask that it be read out loud, kooing and kaaing like the kookaburras as it is read to them over again. The wonderful illustrations by Philip Bunting are perfectly suited to the text, showing the kookaburra on each page, a few deft changes altering the mood of each event.
Fran Knight

Libby in the middle by Gwyneth Rees

Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408852774
(Age: 9-12) Themes: Family life, Sisters, Moving House, Secrecy, Adolescence. Libby in the Middle is a realistic family story, centred around twelve-year-old Libby, her fractured relationship with her older sister Bella and her interactions with much younger Grace. Gwyneth Rees explores the impact of bullying on sixteen year old Bella and the consequent relocation of the family to dad's childhood home. This layered story explores sibling rivalry, there's secrets new and old that come to light and relationships are tested. Told from twelve year old middle sister Libby's point of view, her experiences, mixed emotions about moving and her fractured relationship with Bella is realistically portrayed. Libby also has a cute younger sister, Grace the baby of the family, who seems to have more of their parents' love and attention. Libby is definitely stuck in the middle.
Although dad doesn't want to return to the country, his sister Thecla overturns his decision by offering to pay for the girls' attendance at a private school near the village. Bella is furious about this decision and sneakily plans that Sam her boyfriend follows them and tries to find work as a mechanic. Hiding Sam, finding a place for him to stay, taking food and money from Aunt Thecla lead to arguments between Bella and Libby.
When Libby makes a new friend Tansy in the village whose father is linked to Aunt Thecla and her own dad's past, Libby begins to uncover hidden truths. Libby is a relatable protagonist, thoughtful, lacking in confidence, seeking the truth at all costs and beginning to find her way into her teenage years.
Libby in the Middle explores family dynamics and how the past can influence the present.
Rhyllis Bignell

Bird to Bird by Claire Saxby and Wayne Harris

Black Dog Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925381122
(Age: 4+) Recommended. This is the journey of a tree from seed to what the timber is made into.
A bird drops a seed, the seed starts to grow, the tree is cut down. The timber is taken to the city and then used to make beds on a convict ship, once the ship has finished its journey the timber is used again and again in different places, ending up carved into a bird. The very animal that started its journey in the first place.
This book can be used to discuss how things change with time, and how some things can be used over and over for different purposes. It can be linked to reusing items not throwing them away after just one use.
I recommend this book for 4+
Karen Colliver

The Lily and the Rose by Jackie French

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Pan Macmillan, 2017. ISBN 9781760555313
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Who doesn't want to be a superhero? Nova despises the Renegades that failed to save her family during the age of anarchy. Taken in by her uncle, the notorious Ace Anarchy, just before The Battle for Gatlon, Nova was raised with the ideals of the anarchists, however neither she, nor her alias Nightmare, were ever quite right for the anarchists. Having retreated underground with the survivors, Nova is thrust back into the fray when a plan to kill Captain Chromium leads the renegades directly to their hiding place. A new plan must now be set in motion, one which her uncle would have approved of - going undercover into enemy territory. Nova must become a Renegade to discover how they can be overthrown and how she can keep her anarchist family safe. However, being a Renegade means adopting a whole new world-view. Can Nova maintain her anarchist roots in spite of the comradery of the Renegades and the particular attentions of Captain Chromium's son, Adrian?
In a world where there are prodigies who can use their powers for good (joining the Renegades) or evil, social structures are threatened as the people go from anarchy to a reliance on superheros. Exploring ideas of loyalty, friendship, and open-mindedness, Nova discovers that no one side is entirely right or entirely wrong. I would highly recommend for fans of superhero or dystopian fiction aged twelve and up. I am certainly looking forward to the sequel!
Kayla Gaskell, 22

Yoga babies by Fearne Cotton

Ill. by Sheena Dempsey. New Frontier, 2018. ISBN 9781925594072
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Yoga babies by Fearne Cotton is a gorgeous story which follows the daily routines and lives of some very cute little people and their families. Each page shows a different family and how a different Yoga pose has been incorporated into their day. The pictures are beautiful and really entice the reader into the book, with great colour, movement and spacing.
I have read this about 20 times to my 3 year old since receiving it to review- she really loves it! We love the rhythm each page brings and she is able to 'read' with me and say the last rhyming word of the sentence. I have also watched her go from having no interest in Yoga (and not knowing about it at all) to wanting to try the poses and copy the children in the story. This book has lived next to her bed and has certainly become a firm favourite in our night time routine. I especially love the page where the mum has had a bad day and then uses Yoga as a way to calm down and reset for the rest of the day.
This book would also be a great addition to an early childhood classroom, through its easy introduction to Yoga and simple, realistic prompts within the story. An educator could read the book at an appropriate wind down time, thus engaging the students with the poses and hopefully allowing for a more relaxed group.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, both for the fun rhythmic story and the beautiful, colour filled illustrations. 5 out of 5 from myself and Miss 3!
Lauren Fountain

Splish, Splash, Ducky! by Lucy Cousins

Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406376791
(Ages: 1-3) Themes: Rain, Rhyming Books. Lucy Cousins (Maisy) brings her distinctive style to a new picture book about a duckling and the joys of a rainy day. She uses the same bold black outlines and vivid colours that have made her such a standout in the world of toddler books. As in most of her books, animals, birds and flowers are abundant and there is minimal background detail or fuss. Also true to her past form, it has good rhythm and sounds great read aloud. It uses simple and short rhymes with a repeated "quack, quack, quack", which children will love joining in with. Duckling loves playing out in the rain with his friends ("Into the pond to play with the swans", "We shake our feathers in the rainy weather") but when the rain stops he is feeling sad and heads off to find his dad. This is a great change from the numerous books that use a mother figure as the go-to parent. Dad makes him see that the sun can also be fun, especially for some other creatures. There are lots of action words (hop, squirm, hug, swim, shake) and water sound words (drip, drop, plip, plop, splash, splish) and young children will be able to relate this to their own experiences with the rain and how it feels and sounds. This is simple, cheerful and vibrant and will be a hit with the toddler crowd, especially those who are fans of the Maisy books.
Nicole Nelson

Rain Fall by Ella West

Allen and Unwin, 2018, ISBN 9781760296834
(Age: 14+) Themes: Adolescence, Mystery, Murder, Coal Mining - New Zealand.
"I'm not running late like I usually am. Maybe that's why I look in the river, maybe that's why I stop when I see it. A dark-coloured raincoat, the arms spread wide, floating, hood-first down the river."
Set against the backdrop of a small New Zealand coal mining community, this elemental adolescent story is centred around fifteen year old Annie and her observations of rural life. Rain is a constant force throughout, driving the action, the body in the raincoat floats past Annie as she cycles to her basketball game. West's description of rain, water, weather sets up the moody tone of Rain Fall.
When her neighbour's house explodes and he's not found in the wreckage, Annie searches for his hiding place. Riding her horse Blue down to the rain soaked beach, she notices and scuffs out Pete's footprints in the sand. Annie is an observer; she listens in to conversations and watches out for the strangers who seem to be after Pete.
A murder investigation brings a new police detective and his seventeen year old son to Westport. Seventeen year old Jack Robertson a professional rodeo competitor watches as Annie and her chestnut horse hide the evidence of Pete's escape. Annie and Jack secretly meet at the rain-soaked beach, riding their horses and share stories about their lives. Jack probes her about her missing neighbour and slowly they uncover the truth behind the raincoat in the river. They begin a romantic relationship after she learns the truth about Jack's supposed girlfriend in the US. When her father's job driving the coal trains through the mountains is threatened, Annie's family is forced to face up to some hard truths. Annie's determination to find Pete, leads to a desperate confrontation in rugged bushland. Pete, Jack and Annie are forced to flee from the armed men who have been chasing Pete. They want the cache of hidden explosives to continue their criminal activities.
Rain Fall by Ella West looks at the environmental impact of coal mining in New Zealand and the ongoing dilemmas faced by the unemployed men and women. This emotive novel deals with violence and murder and is suited to more mature teenage readers.
Rhyllis Bignell

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

Penguin Books 2018. ISBN 9780141386836
(Age: 12+) Marie Lu brings Batman into the twenty-first century as an eighteen-year old coming into his inheritance. After an impulsive joyride, Bruce Wayne finds himself doing community service at Arkham Asylum where he meets Madeline Wallace, a ruthless killer with a soft spot for billionaire orphans. Unwilling to talk to anyone else, Bruce and Madeline soon strike up a strange, distrustful relationship as they try and understand one another. Bruce allows her to dupe him multiple times, even getting him arrested for her escape. But Bruce Wayne isn't the kind of man to simply sit in a jail-cell when his friends are in danger - it is time for Batman to emerge and save the day.
This portrayal of Batman is a lot more pacifist than I remember from previous stories. Bruce acts in self-defence or else contains threats with as little violence as possible. While I feel that the films and comics are still superior, this is a much less violent take on a well-known story. Bruce is not only less violent but more moral, weighing up many of the decisions which could lead him into disaster before making them. He is wary and apologetic, yet still impulsive and strong.
With hesitation I recommend this for a mainly male audience age twelve and up. I hesitate only for the violence portrayed throughout, while it is toned back quite a bit, there is a lot of emphasis on punches to the head which should not be encouraged.
Kayla Gaskell, 22

You could have been . . . by Anne-Marie Imrie

Ill. by Zheng Qu. Little Steps Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925545562
Highly recommended. This is a touching book that broaches the hard to talk about subject of the loss of a baby.
This is a well written book that is sensitive while allowing the opportunity to talk about the topic in an open and respectful way, it starts off with what could have been and then talks about what is. This book can be used to support someone talk about this subject.
This book could also be used to assist in discussing this subject with children.
The illustrations in this book tie the story together well.
This book also has information of places to go to for support on this topic. Money from the sales of the book support the stillbirth foundation.
I highly recommend this book.
Karen Colliver,/p>

The day they shot Edward by Wendy Scarfe

Wakefield, 2018. ISBN 9781743055199
(Age: 16+) In a modest household in 1916 Australia, a family struggles to cope with life's challenges.
Nine year old Matthew occupies an uncomfortable position surrounded by adults whose mysterious behaviour is seldom explained adequately to him. His father (terrifying to the lad) lies dying of tuberculosis, quarantined in a room sealed from the house, tended by Matthew's mother and grandmother. Gran appears to be more of a mother figure to Matthew, showing him love and doing the best she can to guide him through difficult times as his mother seems unable to cope with her disastrous marriage and financial hardship.
Charismatic Edward, a dockyard union organiser who is subversively active in protesting against First World War conscription is a frequent visitor to the house. Here he enjoys the company of Mathew's beautiful mother, shares political ideology with Gran and develops a genuinely affectionate, almost paternal relationship with Matthew.
Matthew is shown to be deeply sensitive, acutely aware of the pain and suffering of others and is bewildered by the attitudes and actions of adults who move in his sphere. Strong, handsome and intelligent Edward is afraid of nobody and Matthew understandably idolises him, given that the kind man brings a sense of stability and security to his life.
As powerful as Edward is, in terms of his personal physique and as a leader of hardened working men in the union, he is naive in failing to understand the reach of the undercover police and government agents who investigate him. At a time when the Australian army was mustering troops to support mother England, openly criticising the commitment and engaging in strike action invited being considered a traitorous anarchist by the establishment.
Luckily for Matthew, he finds friendship with Mr. Werther, his aged German Headmaster. Together they share the world of music, celebrating all that is gentle.
Rob Welsh

Butterfly Wishes: Tiger Streak's Tale by Jennifer Castle

Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681193731
(Age: 6+) "Sisters Addie and Clara have just moved to a new house where they discover that their backyard is a gateway to an enchanted realm of magical butterflies. These special butterflies - called Wishing Wings - have the power to make wishes come true!
A new butterfly named Tiger Streak has just emerged, but something isn't right. She's under a curse that has her confused - she thinks she's a bee because of her beautifully striped wings! Now, only Addie and Clara can help her break the spell. But they have to do it before the day is over or she'll lose her magic forever." (Publisher)
Well who does not like a girlie book? With the eye-catching cover, I am sure this will be a hit with young girls who are moving onto chapter books. The text is reasonably large and set out like a novel for the skilled reader. This will sit along-side the likes of Juliet, Nearly a Vet, Clementine Rose and Violet Mackerel. The storyline follows a traditional narrative but in all good books, it has a happy ending! This is sure to become a popular series. Suitable for ages 6 and up
Kathryn Schumacher

Visiting you - a journey of love by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg and Andrea Edmonds

EK Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925335668
There are many ways to visit Hope Meadows. But whether you go by train, bus, tram or ferry, there is always someone sharing the journey with you. And whether that is a scruffy, gruff man who is so tall he can touch the roof without stretching who lives apart from his daughter; a gruff and grouchy old man with hair like white fairy floss and a big round nose whose wife has died; a grouchy and cross girl with hair as black as night and ring through her nose whose grandfather no longer remembers her; or a woman as big as a bear with tattoos down her arms whose son may not recover from a motorcycle accident; each has the same purpose and a similar story to tell - the loss of someone they loved dearly, whom they miss terribly and who brought joy and love to their lives. Each of them love and miss their family member just as much as the little girl loves and misses her dad, and while his journey has reached its final destination, this love continues and brings joy.
Undeterred by outward appearances, the little girl asks each the same question - Who are you visiting? - and in return discovers that love is what binds us together regardless of how we present ourselves to the world. Rather than focusing on physical differences, it is the common humanity of the community and the need to give and receive love that binds us. This commonality is echoed through the repetitive style of the text and illustrations which feature a pathway of love that connects the memories of each person.
This focus on our similarities rather than our differences is a familiar theme of many stories for children, but Visiting You stands out as it looks beneath the surface to our emotions and helps us understand that really, all you need is love. That will carry you through the most trying situations. It offers an opportunity for the reader to reflect on those whom they love and the memories they would share if something were to happen to that person, perhaps even create a class journey of love so they can be reassured that there is someone in their life who loves them as much as they love in return.
Barbara Braxton

I'm a duck by Eve Bunting

Ill. by Will Hillenbrand. Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9780763680329
Highly recommended. Little duck is scared of the water, and worried he will sink. Sometimes we all need to be brave to face something that we know we should be able to do and this book looks at the bravery needed by little duck to overcome his fear and the satisfaction that he feels when he is successful.
This is a lovely story of how little duck with the support of his family and friends is able to overcome his fear. This book can be used to talk with children about their own fears.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and they support the text in telling this story.
I highly recommend this book for young children.
Karen Colliver