Walker, 2018. ISBN 9781406371680
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Jonah has always struggled to fit in at
school. He's too busy caring for his mother to make friends. But
when he finds a lucky button, it connects his world with
Nathaniel's, a foundling boy from the eighteenth century. Can
Nathaniel's story help Jonah? And can the lucky button work its
magic again? A moving story about friendship, fortune and music.
The mastermind of story writing, Michael Morpurgo has done it again.
It certainly piqued my interest in investigating the Foundling
Museum further after reading the brief summary at the end of the
book. The descriptive language is enticing and allows the reader to
gain a clear vision of the world Morpurgo creates. The clever
intertwining of the two boys' lives is evidence of true friendship.
Themes such as hardship, loneliness and compassion are throughout
the book. The beautiful illustrations by award winning Michael
Foreman are absolutely stunning. Children aged nine and up who are
lovers of historical fiction will love this book.
Kathryn Schumacher
Marvellous Miss May: queen of the circus by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Heritage Heroes series. National Library of Australia, 2018.
ISBN 9780642279156
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Australian history, Women,
Circuses. In this sumptuously presented book, with copious
illustrations and reproductions of advertising banners and circus
ephemera, Reeder tells the story of May Wirth, a tiny acrobat and
equestrienne travelling with Wirths Circus around Australia and
overseas in the early part of the twentieth century.
The life and times of the circuses that toured Australia is
beguillingly presented, giving the reader a glimpse into a life now
rarely seen and a theatrical experience much changed.
Besides the main story of May is the story of the circus and the
lives of the circus folk, the precarious way they lived, the
training and dogged determination to succeed at their craft, with
sections showing us how the circus travelled, the animals that were
part of the circus menagerie and other circuses around the world.
Readers will thrill with the array of animals, then the main
attraction of the circus, and marvel at the world wide fame of
Little May Wirth.
Abandoned by her parents when she was seven, May was adopted by the
Wirth family, and trained to be an acrobat and eventually a bareback
rider. So skilled was she that she came to the attention of larger
circuses, eventually travelling overseas, and touring with the
Ringling Brothers, and Barnum and Bailley in the USA, and circuses
in England and France. An amazing life is portrayed for us in this
highly readable account, liberally accompanied by coloured
illustrations and circus mementos, drawing the reader's eye to every
page, taking in every detail. I loved the circus posters and the
maps showing where they went, the photos of the circus people going
about their daily tasks, the views of the ships with the equipment
and animals aboard.
Included is information about how circuses developed and what they
are like today, and the whole is accompanied by an excellent index
and glossary, along with author notes, making this a valuable tool
for children researching circus life as well as the life of May
Wirth.
Stephanie Owen Reeder is the author of the Heritage Heroes
series published by NLA, and information about these involving books
presenting heroes of the past can be found here.
Fran Knight
The truth and lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr
Penguin Books, 2018, ISBN 9780141367002
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Emily Barr presents a fast-paced,
adrenaline-filled novel that keeps the reader on their toes right
until the end. The novel follows Ella Black, a teenager who believes
battling her inner darkness - which she has named 'Bella' - is her
biggest challenge. That is until her parents take her out of school
and whisk her away to Rio. Frustrated with her parents' refusal to
provide her any explanation for their spontaneous trip, Ella's
curiosity culminates in her finally discovering out for herself the
purpose of their trip. The information proves to be devastating and
Ella finds herself unable to cope with the result of her prying. She
chooses to run away, and in doing so, uncovers even more deep, dark
secrets about her life. Consequently, Ella must learn to cope with
these revelations, whilst simultaneously exploring and coming to
terms with who she really is.
An important tale about being comfortable with you are and where you
come from, this novel is appropriate for ages 15 and up due to its
references to violence and mature themes.
Ella is a fantastic protagonist, as her internal conflict and
adventures keep the reader engaged, and unwilling to put the book
down. The characters that she meets on her journey are realistic,
wonderful, whole people that you will take with you even after you
close the last page. If you're a fan of adventure, mystery and
romance, you will not regret picking up this book!
Daniella Chiarolli
The rules of magic by Alice Hoffman
Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471168987
(Age: 14 - adult) Recommended. This novel takes the reader into a
world of magical possibility! Magic 'works' in this story of family,
love, loyalty, jealousy, war and peace. Deeply embedded in the New
York of the past, its settings are rich in detail, its stories and
characters resonating with anyone who loves a good plot set in an
interesting and vibrant city.
Plunged into a world of different possibilities we are told that,
through magic, things can be changed - and sometimes revenge can be
exacted on those who have hurt others. Grounding her story firmly in
the idea of witchcraft as a gift to be used carefully and
intelligently, Hoffman describes the witches as understanding the
extraordinary aspects of human behaviour - and who know how to use
the aspects and matter of the world to bring about change.
Hoffman's characters are deftly drawn, and so comfortably human that
it would be impossible to not be convinced of their authenticity. We
are drawn deeply into the world of the novel, reading about the
violence, hatred and fear that some characters endure, in America
and in Europe during the terrible conflict of the Second World War.
The comfort and healing that is offered by witchcraft is evident in
the narrative - whether by medical intervention, nursing, magic or
love, or a combination of these gifts. Through her superb
characterisation, her deft handling of situation, and her
description of how magic works, Hoffmann imbues this world with
credibility.
Accepting the magic or suspending disbelief, in this captivating and
enjoyable novel we discover a fine tribute to human endeavour. At
its heart it is about people and families in good and bad times, and
about how we find ways to cope during such times. This narrative
glimmers with the possibility of forgiveness, love and loyalty in a
world where kindness is often scarce. I would recommend it as a
well-constructed narrative that addresses important human issues -
suitable for high school students and adults.
Liz Bondar
A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle
Time quintet book 1. Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780241331163
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: Science fiction.
Individuality. Time. STEM. This movie tie-in edition of the classic
novel first published in 1962, will bring L'Engle's wonderful book
to the attention of many more readers. This was the first time that
I had read the book and found that its timeless themes of being true
to yourself and fighting evil would still resonate for today's
readers.
Accompanied by her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin, Meg
Murry goes on a quest to find her missing father, who had been
experimenting with time travel. Helped along the way by Mrs Whatsit,
Mrs Who and Mrs Which, they travel through time to another dimension
where they encounter the evil It, who wants everyone to conform to
its idea of perfection.
L'Engle has high expectations of her young readers and their ability
to follow difficult concepts, but at the same time has written an
exciting adventure story that has great appeal. The book is
sprinkled with quotes from philosophers and scientists and she
explores scientific and mathematical concepts along the way. Readers
undoubtedly will be pursuing the meaning of the word 'tesseract' as
they follow Meg and her companions' dangerous journey through time
and space.
Meg's character stands out. She is often in trouble at school and
doesn't fit the expected mould but when she is faced with danger,
she is able to come up with solutions with courage and
determination. Her relationship with her brother and Calvin are
realistic and the actions of Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which will
keep readers enthralled as they try to work out just who and what
they are.
I believe another generation of readers will be inspired by A
wrinkle in time, whether it is read aloud to them or they
discover its adventure and challenge for themselves. Readers will
also find the section at the back with information about the author
to be very informative as well.
Pat Pledger
Maisy goes to the bookshop by Lucy Cousins
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406377071
(Age: 2-5) Recommended. Popular author and illustrator Lucy Cousins
first created her Maisy Mouse character in 1990 and her picture
books continue to be much loved family favourites. Her bright
colours, familiar characters and everyday settings are just right to
share with toddlers and pre-schoolers. Maisy goes to the bookshop is the latest adventure in this
popular series. The young mouse enters the shop to discover her
friends busy choosing books from the colourful displays and shelves.
She enjoys reading a bear book, a noisy truck book, a long fish
book, even a book about drawing and painting. Her friends are there
to share in the fun; Charley the crocodile imagines he's a pirate,
while Eddie the elephant looks at a first aid book; will he be a
doctor or a firefighter? After story time with Ostrich the
shopkeeper, Maisie and her friends enjoy cupcakes from the cafe.
After a bus ride home, Maisie is happy to share her new bird book
with her pals.
Lucy Cousins' stories with their recognisable formats, simple
settings, easy to read text and familiar characters are great
resources for teaching narrative to early years students.
Rhyllis Bignell
Stephanie Chiocci and the Cooper's Hill cheese chase by Matt Porter
Footy Stars series. Ford St, 2018. ISBN 9781925272888
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Girls in sport. Football. Cheese.
Humour. Sports training. Bullying. This easily read, shorter story
tells the story of Stephanie Chiocci going to England to compete in
a cheese racing competition. The captain of Collingwood Football
League Women's team, Stephanie is the main character in the first of
a new series of books based on the lives of elite football stars.
Rolling a cheese down a hill is far harder than it seems, especially
when the fate of a family owned cheese business is at stake.
Stephanie must not tell her coach where she is or what she is doing
as it may interrupt her training regime, but here she finds the
skills she needs to catch the cheese are just the same as those she
practices for the football match. At first she finds following the
cheese difficult, but putting her football skills into practice
makes it much easier.
Through the lightly told story is a strong background of football,
the skills required, the sportsmanship, the team work, training, and
even an outline of the football field. At the end of the story is a
brief biography of Steph, and some hints about playing a game of
football.
This is the first in a new series called Footy stars,
featuring AFLW stars like Chiocci and its humour and fast paced
action make them highly readable.
Fran Knight
The art garden by Penny Harrison and Penelope Pratley
EK Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925335590
Sadie loves playing with colour and finding patterns and shapes in
unlikely places, looking at details of lines and texture with the
eye of an artist. More than anything she wants to be a painter, just
like her best friend, Tom whose brush dances across the page,
swooshing and swirling into shapes and stories and drawing Sadie
right into them. But whenever Sadie picks up a paintbrush her
colours slip and slurp, splatter and splodge and her paintings don't
look anything like the real thing. So instead, she spends her time
working in the garden or playing with Tom. But, one day, when she
ends up painting herself instead of a picture, Sadie chucks a
tantrum in frustration and climbs her favourite tree - and suddenly
gets a look at things from a different perspective and makes a big
discovery about herself and her own creativity.
This is a unique story, charmingly illustrated in watercolour, that
will offer a new perspective to those who don't see themselves as
creative just because they cannot paint. It opens up lots of
potential for discussion about how each of us is creative even if
'we can't draw a straight line', whether it's working in a different
medium such as stone or fabric or in a different field such as words
or music or movement. While we each interpret our environment
differently. each one of us is creative and it is creativity that
drives us forward.
Like many kids, Sadie focuses on and is frustrated by the things she
can't do rather than paying attention to that which she does well
and her self-talk of doubt takes over. Sadly, sometimes negative
language is all that some of our students hear so they need to learn
to think 'I can...' rather than 'I can't...' with the help of
visible affirmations so maybe get the students to write a personal
'I can't...' statement relating to something they really want to
achieve, then rephrase it into an 'I can...' mantra that can
start to change their inner voice and the thinking that drives it.
Quality picture books are like the seeds that Sadie planted... an
engaging story that is the beautiful flower but so much more beneath
the surface that is grounding it and helping it grow. This is
quality.
Barbara Braxton
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Arc of a Scythe, book 1.Walker Books, 2018. ISBN
9781406379242
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Teens Top Ten. 2018
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Goodreads
Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction
(2017), Michael L. Printz Honor (2017). Themes: Dystopian fiction,
Death, Good and evil, Violence. Citra and Rowan are two teens who
have been chosen to be the apprentices of Scythe Faraday, one of the
Scythes who ends life in a society where hunger, poverty and even
death itself has disappeared. This is the only way to control the
population size and the pair have to learn how to choose and glean a
life. However Scythe Goddard, who really enjoys killing, begins to
change the rules about taking a life and Rowan and Citra find that
they are in danger of being killed in the political fallout.
Shusterman has written a riveting but also challenging book that
looks at what would happen in a world that has conquered disease and
death itself. He has described a world where creativity seems to
have disappeared and little innovation is necessary as the
Thunderhead, an impartial cloud computer, has oversight of
everything except the work of the Scythes. At the same time he keeps
the reader's interest with the action packed adventures that Citra
and Rowan are faced with as well as the ethical dilemmas with which
they have to come to terms.
Diary entries break up the narrative and provide readers with time
to pause and think about what it means to live in that society, the
feelings of the Scythes about killing and what death means to an
individual. Amid all the bloodshed and violence, there are glimpses
of humour, and readers are faced with the question that Citra and
Rowan must face as Scythes - could they kill another person?
A fabulous cover, fast paced action and a world that should be a
utopia but isn't, all make Scythe a most memorable tale and
enthralling beginning to the series.
Pat Pledger
The pink hat by Andrew Joyner
Random House, 2018. ISBN 9780143789369
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Women's rights, Power. An
older woman knits a pink hat. She uses it in a number of ways until
one day the wind sweeps it out of her window and into the street. A
cat plays with it as it flies up again into a tree. Several children
try to get it down, and it falls into a pram where a baby hugs it.
It flies off again and is chased by a dog, until it is found by a
young girl. She takes it home and washes it, wearing it while she
boxes at the gym, goes shopping with her dog, goes swimming, uses it
as a pillow as she lies on the lawn and then joins a parade where
everyone is wearing a pink hat.
The pink hat stands out on every page in its different guises and
uses, being chased by various people and animals, finding a home in
many different places and finally being washed and cared for by a
young girl.
The pink on top of every head in the parade evokes a coming
together, a solidarity of opinions and aims as the large group
marches for women's rights.
Each page is full of movement as the hat travels from one place to
another, being shared by a diverse range of people and animals,
forming a cohesive bond between them all. The line illustrations are
beguiling in their simple message of women's rights.
This stunning picture book grew out of the march held across the
world in January 2017, in which an estimated five million people
marched in eighty two countries, promoting the idea that women's
rights are human rights.
It is a book designed to encourage discussion and interest and it
does that admirably.
Fran Knight
Lola Dutch by Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781681195513
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour, Adventure, Art,
Friendship. Lola Dutch loves to do different things, to have
adventures with her friends, Bear, Crane, Gater and Pig.
Bear travels along behind her, telling her that sometimes she is
just too much, as she flings herself into yet another scheme.
When they wake in the morning, Bear is ready for tea and toast, but
not Lola. She asks her friends what they want and makes up an
extraordinary feast of pancakes, pastries and grits. Going for a
walk, the group descends upon the library where she revels in books
about inventors, scientists and great writers, taking home a
cartload of books about art and artists. With that in her mind, she
starts painting all the walls and even the ceiling. "Too much" says
Bear. After all that effort, it is time for bedtime and the group
all get into their nightwear. But bedtime for Lola is never ordinary
and children will laugh with glee as they see what she does and how
the story resolves.
Readers will love following Lola's zany activities through the day
beginning with breakfast, a time at the library, painting the house
and then bed time. Her day parallels the day of many of the readers,
but with a vastly more interesting overlay of actions. Children will
love her quirky take on the familiar and follow her actions with
gales of laughter.
The illustrations add another level of humour to the tale, asking
readers to look in more detail at each page. I particularly liked
the pages where she and her friends are painting the house,
referencing many known artists and their work. It will be fun with a
class to check out each of these paintings and their artist. The
whole book resonates with delight, and readers will love Lola and
the Bear as they clean up after breakfast or go to the library and
then to bed. Bear is always there to help Lola complete her schemes.
A friendship to be savoured.
Fran Knight
King of the outback: The story of Sidney Kidman by Kristin Weidenbach
Ill. By Timothy Ide. MidnightSun Publishing, 2017. ISBN
9781925227246
(Age: 7+) Sir Sidney Kidman was one of the most successful
pastoralists in Australian history. Kristin Weidenbach has told his
story from the night he left home as a thirteen-year-old runaway, to
the celebration of his 75th birthday with a rodeo on the former
Jubilee Oval next to the University of Adelaide.
The text is a straightforward narrative which introduces readers to
German Charlie who employed the teenage Kidman and taught him stock
management. It also explains Kidman's realisation that if he bought
a chain of stations rather than just one, he could move his stock
over large distances during times of drought. Eventually, as
Weidenbach tells her readers, Kidman's cattle stations together
covered more land than England. A life rich in varied experiences is
a challenging subject for a picture book. However, the omission of
both Billy, the Indigenous man who taught the budding pastoralist
bushcraft, and Sackville, who bought his brother's cattle for his
butchering business, may underplay the extent to which Kidman
learned from and was assisted by others. A page of detailed
information at the end of the book will help adults to answer
questions or prompt older children to find out more. The author uses
short but effective sentences which convey the sensations of hard,
physical labour, riding in the outback and sleeping under the stars.
Her narrative is complemented by Timothy Ide's skilful
illustrations. Some of the pictures evoke the vastness and colours
of the terrain, while others capture the chaos at the rodeo when the
cattle panicked because they were alarmed by the crowds. King of the outback will introduce young readers to a man who
owned an empire in the outback, and to a way of life which is
outside the experiences of people who have not lived in the bush. It
will also help to explain the role of pastoralism in the making of
modern Australia.
Elizabeth Bor
Don't leap, Larry by John Briggs
Ill. by Nicola Slater. Pavilion, 2017. ISBN 9781843653387
Lemmings are small rodents that live in the Arctic regions and are
best known popularly known for the misconception that they commit
mass suicide by jumping off cliffs, So when one little lemming
decides to stand out from the crowd and not do as they do, there is
great confusion and consternation.
This little lemming, who wants to be known as Larry, does not want
to look like, sound like or act like his peers. When he is asked if
he would jump over a cliff, he says, "No, " but fronting up wearing
a mask and fins just in case he has to. Instead of digging a tunnel
to keep warm, Larry goes sledging with the puffins; while the others
squeak and squeal he plays bongos with the seals; and while they
nibble moss from under a rock he prefers pepperoni pizza with extra
cheese and hot sauce! He is certainly a very different lemming who
stands out from the crowd. So when the other lemmings call a meeting
and unanimously decide that all lemmings should be the same, Larry
knows it is time for him to move on. But he finds life with his
other friends a little different from his expectations - sometimes
the grass is not always greener. Is there a new and better life for
Larry or is he doomed to join them on that inevitable, fatal leap
over the cliff?
Humour and appealing illustrations which begin with the front cover
with Larry firmly attached to a parachute as he leaps off the cliff
make for a quirky tale that nevertheless has a strong message about
remaining true to yourself and encouraging others to question,
interpret and think for themselves too. A great discussion starter
about being individuals even in a culture that has children dressing
alike, looking alike and learning alike.
Barbara Braxton
Freaks on the loose by Leigh Hobbs
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760294311
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Humour. Schools. Teachers. Subtitled,
'The whole scary story', Leigh Hobbs' hilarious stories, 4F for
freaks and Freaks ahoy! have been collected into one
volume.
The first outing for this class, 4F, with little aptitude for
learning, is presented when Miss Corker confronts them on her first
day ever as a teacher. Their behaviour is appalling and she develops
a great idea to control the group, but in the sequel, Freaks
ahoy!, her disguise has become stuck, and so it is up to
One-Eyed Eileen to try her hand at unmasking the villain. But with a
busload of teachers to poke fun at, anarchy reigns supreme and kids
will not be able to stop themselves laughing.
Each of the stories is presented in short, easily read chapters,
most of each page filled with very funny illustrations. The large
print, 'Warning to teachers', in the introductory pages and the
cavalcade of portraits at the end will help engage the most
reluctant of readers.
A third section, 'Freaks line up', rounds off the volume, and
presents pictures of each of the characters in the book, including
the long suffering Miss Corker, and the permanently broken armed
Headmaster, along with One-Eyed Eileen, Scary Mary and Feral Beryl
amongst others.
Leigh Hobbs is well known for his wonderful picture books featuring
Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, Fiona the Pig, Mr Badger and Mr Chicken.
Old Tom is now a loved TV series, and Hobbs has won many Australian
children's choice awards. Shortlisted for the Prime Minister's
Literary Awards, my favourite, Mr
Chicken goes to Paris is a bestseller at Paris's Louvre
Bookshop, was adapted for the stage by NIDA, and was shortlisted for
the CBCA Awards - as were Horrible Harriet and Old Tom's
Holiday. A stage adaptation of Horrible Harriet
premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 2017. Hobbs is a wonderfully
entertaining author with an array of characters designed to appeal
to every reader from pre-school to adult.
Fran Knight
I love you stick insect by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408869925
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Stick insects. Butterflies.
Friendship. Recognition. When the stick insect spies another of his
kind, he falls in love. She is the most beautiful stick insect he
has ever seen and he dreams of their life together. They will have
fun and laugh together, join a band and make some marvelous noise,
dip their toes in the ocean, surf and fly with the birds. In the
background the butterfly keeps warning, 'It's a stick!'
Without drawing breath our ardent lover tells his beloved that they
will ride on motorbikes, and hop on a rollercoaster, go to the
pictures together with a huge bag of popcorn.
When he finally leans towards her he finds that butterfly is correct
and he bemoans the fact that no one told him, eliciting a wonderful
line from the butterfly.
Children will laugh with the stick insect as he imagines their
wonderful life together, becoming more aware that butterfly is
correct in her assertion.
It begs the question of things not being all they seem, or of
judging books by their cover, or taking a step back, of the saying
'fools rush in'. These could be discussed with children as they read
this book.
Teachers and students will take the opportunity to further research
this insect and possibly set up a stick insect tank in the
classroom.
The arresting illustrations use only a few lines to get across the
stick insect's ardour, sometimes filling in the background with
water colour wash that creates part of the setting. His highly
original illustrations took my eye when I read, I'm
going to eat this ant(2017) and I am hopeful that more
will appear from this engaging and creative author.
Fran Knight
