Reviews

Sharkpedia

cover image

DK Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781465463128
If there is one section of the library that is just as popular as 567.9, it is 597.3. And if there is one piece of music that still sends shivers up the spine of many it is this . . .
As the Australian summer and holiday season approaches, these creatures will be in the news as people venture into their territory and the debate about their continued existence will rage again.
So this safari with Professor John Bigelow Finnegan (aka Big Finn), a "round-the-globe expedition to study these mighty and mysterious creatures" visiting shark haunts and hideouts to study the habits and habitats of a variety of species will be a welcome addition to the collection. Using photos, diagrams, headings, accessible text and a clever variety of other devices this will appeal to all those who are fascinated by these creatures and who want to know more. As well as the usual facts and figures, it dispels myths, looks at current research and even introduces some of the stories, movies and television programs that feature sharks, painting a whole-well-rounded picture that demonstrates that these creatures not only have a right to their existence but play a critical part in the planet's ecology.
Done with the usual DK thoroughness and understanding of what young readers want and how they want it, this is perfect for both the experienced and novice shark-trackers.
Barbara Braxton

Professor Astro Cat's Solar System by Dr Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman

cover image

Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781911171379
Professor Astro Cat is the smartest cat in the alley, in fact so much so, he's got a degree in just about any discipline under the sun. In this, the latest in a series to help younger readers understand science better, he takes young explorers on a journey around the solar system, visiting each planet and explaining its various features in simple to understand language and appealing illustrations that will answer the questions and pique the interest of those who want to know more.
From the time they are able to distinguish night and day, little ones want to know more and so this is an excellent beginning book that will help them understand how things work. In keeping with the demands of the young and the potential of the digital environment, there is also an app which has a four-star review from Common Sense Media With the heavy emphasis on STEM in the curriculum and the NSW government investing $80 000 000 in STEM over the next three years this would be a worthwhile investment for your collection for littlies.
Barbara Braxton

Soon by Jessica Love

cover image

Echo Books, 2015. ISBN 9780994232397
My dad is leaving soon.
He is going to another country to help keep other families safe.
Soon is coming too fast . . .
It is Christmas today.
My dad is still gone. I am sad. Christmas feels strange without him . . .  but soon is getting closer.
Time is such an abstract concept for young children to grasp that adults usually resort to the seemingly innocuous "soon" when asked, "How long till . . . ?"
But soon can seem to be a long time when you're young, seemingly meaning "forever" when it stretches over birthdays, Christmas and Easter, and almost touches "Never!" When creator Jess Love's dad was deployed overseas with the Australian Defence Forces, she became one of many children, including my own grandchildren, who measured the concept of "soon" in special days, events and activities missed. Even letters, emails and phone calls become bittersweet because while it is great to catch up, it just makes the pain of missing even more acute and "soon" seems just as far away as it ever was. Even knowing the absence is because someone else is being helped doesn't really register with littlies because they want their daddy or mummy there to help them.
The predecessor to Sometimes  by young author Jessica has articulated and illustrated the innermost feelings of any child missing a loved one who is absent for whatever reason, not just overseas deployment. While the adults in their lives can understand calendars and do mental countdowns and fill their days, young children have to be satisfied with "soon" and it can be confusing. Is it a long time, getting closer, almost here, or taking too long? And for some it can mean feeling bereft or even abandoned.
This is an important book for parents to know about so they can understand that "soon" isn't enough in times of extended absence; that while their child might seem to understand time it can be confusing and there needs to be some sort of mechanism that help them have a picture of what "soon" means such as a calendar to cross off the days or the number of sleeps left; something that helps them realise that "soon" will come and it will happen.
For the children of those in the Defence Forces or other professions that entail long absences, it is important for them to know that their feelings are real, shared and validated and that "soon" will come eventually. While crossing dates off a calendar might seem pointless and endless, perhaps instead of marking special things missed, they can set themselves a goal to achieve before "soon" happens. Riding their bike, playing a tricky tune on the piano, knitting a jumper, achieving the next level in a sport - whatever is their passion can become their driving force for making "soon" hurry up. And even though it seems that it is dragging its feet, it eventually does arrive.
As teachers there is much that we can do to acknowledge the anxiety, help the understanding of time by making the countdown the kickstart for a series of lessons about how humans have measured time over millennia and make "soon" become "now".
Another important addition to our mindfulness toolboxes and collections.
Barbara Braxton

Tashi storybook by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg

cover image

Ill. by Kim Gamble. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760295684
If I were asked to name one of the most popular series for newly independent readers that has endured over my time as both a teacher and a teacher librarian, I would undoubtedly answer "Tashi", and now it is time for another wave of emerging, newly-independent readers to get to know this magical little fellow who has such big adventures.
This special selection of stories includes 'Tashi and the Baba Yaga', 'Tashi and the Genie', 'Tashi and the Big Stinker', 'Tashi and the Haunted Houe', 'The Book of Spells', 'The Three Tasks', 'Tashi and the Phoenix' and a brand new story 'Kidnapped!'
Tashi, the imaginary friend of Jack, is a delightful little character who is so clever, resourceful and brave as he confronts fearsome opponents set on destroying his village and his peace, often having an ethical dilemma to come to grips with as he seeks a solution.
Not only is he a lovable character, the short stories and the amazing monochrome illustrations that break up the text are perfect for starting newly-independent readers off on their journey through novels giving them the confidence and satisfaction of reading a "chapter book" for themselves. Tashi and his adventures have been the springboard for many a young reader over many years and this new selection will no doubt encourage many more.
Barbara Braxton

Little i by Michael Hall

cover image

Greenwillow Books, 2017. ISBN 9780062383006
The alphabet letters were quite happy being what they were until one day Little i's dot fell off. It rolled down a hill, tumbled over a cliff and splashed into the sea. Little i felt weird and the other letters felt confused because now Little i looked like a number and you can't make words with numbers.
So Little i decided to find his dot and starts off on an adventure that takes him to some interesting places. His question mark boat takes him across the seas until he finds an island that has a remarkable sea passage that passes a spectacular exclamation point waterfall, through the cold dark parenthesis tunnel (with asterisk gems), through the field of lovely comma sprouts, across the spine-chilling hyphen bridge to the very edge of the land where his dot completes his journey like a full stop at the end of a sentence. But when Little i puts his dot back on he feels strange, setting his quest and his story up for an imaginative and fun end.
With bold shapes and colours, this is one of those books that seems really simple on the surface but then you wonder what sort of mind could make such a story. But then he did write Red, a crayon's story. Not only is it clever it is brilliant, so rich in so much for the very young reader. Little i feels incomplete without his dot and that he doesn't really belong in the alphabet, just as some children feel adrift if they haven't got their mum, a special friend or a favourite toy by their side and so talking about Little i's story may help them realise that they can not only survive without that security blanket but be even better for being brave enough to leave it behind. Self-confidence in who we are is such a critical part of growing up.
It is also wonderful for those who are just beginning to understand that words are constructed from letters - Hall shows this by having the letters in the words do their talking; distinguishing between letters and numerals; and maybe starting to wonder what the other marks on the page are. There is a myriad of talking and teaching opportunities as the children demonstrate their knowledge of those initial concepts about print that are part of early kindergarten assessments. Yet, whatever level the child is at for looking at the technicalities and tools of language, overall and throughout there is an engaging story and a satisfying finish which have to be at the core of anything we share with little ones if they are to love stories and reading and all that they offer.
Barbara Braxton

Molly Mischief and the big pet by Adam Hargreaves

cover image

Pavilion, 2017. ISBN 9781843653424
Molly, aka Molly Mischief or MOLLY!!!, has lots of ideas, some of which are not as good as others. When her dad takes her and her brother to the zoo, she decides that she would really like a BIG pet, one much bigger than Polka her pet mouse. And so she tries a few - a hippopotamus, a polar bear, a giraffe, a tiger, a rhinoceros, even a walrus - but none of them is just right. Even the ostrich and the snake weren't suitable - her family is so hard to please. But then she discovers the elephant...
When his father Roger died after a series of strokes in 1988, Adam took over the successful Mr Men series and even though it took him "years of trial and error" to perfect his father's art style, he persevered and it is that same canvas that adds the charm to this new series that will resonate with many children who have good but out-there ideas, annoying brothers, and a twinkle in their eye.
When almost-independent Miss 6 spotted this on the review pile, she pounced on it and did not surface until it was complete, and even after reading it she had so much to tell us as she speculated on the sort of pet she could/would have! A better recommendation than any fancy words I might write!
Barbara Braxton

The naughtiest reindeer takes a bow by Nicki Greenberg

cover image

Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760297653
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Rhyming story, Christmas, Reindeer, Presents. Christmas is approaching quickly and Ruby wants to help Santa this year so that he does not get stressed out delivering all the presents on time. Ruby, Rudolph's naughty sister was first introduced in The naughtiest reindeer (2013) and has had two more books about her playfulness, The naughtiest reindeer at the zoo (2015) and The naughtiest reindeer goes south (2016)
Ruby is enchanting and just as welcome in this verse story telling of her efforts to help.
She throws the sack of presents on her back the day before Christmas and heads off pulling the sleigh alone. Because she is unable to do this by herself, she falls onto the outside of the house of George and Amelia. They take her in, pushing all the presents into the garage, but their parents do not want the reindeer to stay at home, so the children take her to school where they are rehearsing their songs for Christmas Eve. The class are all dressed as reindeer, and Ruby tries to join in but makes things a little worse. Meanwhile Santa and the other reindeer are looking for the presents and so the two groups collide with predictably funny results, as Ruby works out how the two groups can manage to deliver all the presents on time.
Children will love reading of Ruby's adventures as she really tries to help, but finds that all her efforts cause some sort of mayhem.
Readers will enjoy predicting the rhyming words as they gobble up an array of new words, like astonish, admonish, disappear and initiative. I love Ruby and the reindeers, fashioned out of wood, with twig antlers, encouraging any reader to try one out for themselves, and the array of Christmas customs are reflected through the book for everyone to enjoy. The book's shimmering cover is sure to attract a host of readers.
Fran Knight

That Christmas feeling by Lili Wilkinson

cover image

Ill. by Amanda Francey. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760294960
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Christmas, Sharing, Grandparents. Jean, Dottie and Shortbread, the dog, are sad. Their parents have left them with their grandparents before Christmas, telling them that they will return in time. But the things they do with their parents before Christmas are simply not happening with their grandparents and there is no Christmas feeling to the days. They usually help mum make the Christmas pudding, but grandma makes a mess of it. They help dad make streamers and help put up the Christmas tree, but gran and grandpa don't have a tree to decorate. They are disappointed while they recall what usually happens at Christmas time in their house.
The children go outside, and there they see a lovely tree in the garden, and looking up see all the sparkling lights they would wish to see. And just as they are realising that the trappings of Christmas do not have to be as they always are, their parents arrive home with an addition to the family which underlines the theme of the story, that Christmas is about families and being together.
The things people do every year pale into insignificance as the family hugs all of its members close.
In a classroom this could initiate discussion about what the students do at Christmas, showcasing the array of events and decorations, customs and traditions that are unique to each family, and underlining that we are all different. The soft illustrations entice to readers to look more closely, taking in the way things were in the past for gran and grandpa, revealing the things the children do with their parents, and showing that Christmas does not have to be about things, but about sharing time within the family.
Fran Knight

One Christmas wish by Katherine Rundell

cover image

Ill. by Emily Sutton. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408885734
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Loneliness, Sharing, Decorations, Friends, Family. A modern fable, this story tells of a young boy's wish at Christmas and how his wish is fulfilled when he sees a star falling across the night sky.
It is Christmas Eve and he has been left with a new babysitter who falls asleep over her mobile phone in the kitchen. He takes the decorations from the strongly sellotaped box to hang on the tree, and is dismayed all over again that his parents have not replaced the broken ones. He attaches the damaged baubles and finds four more decorations at the bottom of the box: a toy soldier with a rusty drum, a fairy with damaged wings, a wooden horse on worm eaten rockers and a a bedraggled robin.
After he wishes on the falling star, he hears voices behind him and is amazed to see the four decorations asking for help to come down from the tree. From there the excitement of Christmas Eve, making friends and sharing with others takes on a reality of heartfelt proportions as Theo finds ways of making his friends happy. The horse is unscrewed from its rockers, and the robin helped to find someone who will teach it to sing as the five make their way to Mrs Goodyere's house. The robin stays to help her celebrate Christmas, remembering her dead husband, Arthur while she helps the robin sing. They find feathers along the way to repair the fairy's wings, and the tin soldier asks for help in finding someone to love. Theo cleans up his drum, and they head to the doll shop where they find a princess waiting for him. He leaves them guarding the infant in the manger in the town square while the horse makes its way into the sky. When Theo returns home, some magic happens for him as well when his parents return sooner than everyone expected after seeing a horse flying through the night sky and making them feel that they should return home to be with their family.
The warmth of the story is reflected in the detailed illustrations, reminiscent of books from long ago, with lots of Christmasy customs and images to pour over. Readers of all ages will get a thrill reading this lovely witty story and stopping to soak up the marvelous illustrations.
Fran Knight

The Princess and the Christmas rescue by Caryl Hart

cover image

Ill. by Sarah Warburton. Nosy Crow, 2017. ISBN 9780857637079
Kept in her beautiful palace at the top of the world by parents who fear for her safety because of what lives in the surrounding forest, Princess Eliza is lonely But even though she is stuck inside all day with no one to play with, she is resourceful and she figures out how to make almost anything with a few bits of wood and some string - including her own toys! But her parents think that her mechanical inclinations aren't suited to a princess, and tell her she'd be better off devoting her time to searching for a friend.
But not being allowed to go out into the world makes that a tricky thing, and even drawing on her fairytales doesn't help - the gingerbread man skedaddles, the frog she kisses doesn't turn into a prince and even dangling her long hair out the window brings no visitors. But as she sits at the window she smells smoke drifting over the trees and is determined to find out who is making it and she slips out into the forest. As a huge shaggy shape looms up out of the snow she is frightened but it turns out to be a friendly deer who carries to his master's house where she finds elves who are overworked and despondent because Santa has the flu and they're unlikely to finish all the orders before Christmas Eve.
But Eliza knows just what to do - at last all that time spent with paper and paperclips, scissors and glue comes in very handy, but can she save Christmas?
Recommended by A Mighty Girl for being a story that empowers girls and encourages them to be "smart, confident and courageous" this certainly meets these criteria. From defying her parents and going into the forest, demonstrating her inventive intelligence in an elves-and-shoemaker kind of way to save Christmas and yet still keeping her feet on the ground (sort of), this is a story that will appeal to girls everywhere and help take the sting from the word 'princess' that it has acquired over the last decade or so. Being clever, imaginative and inventive is not restricted to boys! And it could well be the springboard for kickstarting some problem-solving as Makerspaces need new life breathed into them at the beginning of 2018. Students could brainstorm the other sorts of problems that Santa might encounter as he tries to meet everyone's requests and then they could invent something to solve them.
A joyful, fun story that will be a permanent part of my Christmas Countdown.
Barbara Braxton

Rudolph shines again by Robert L. May

cover image

Ill. by Antonio Javier Caparo. Little Simon, 2015. ISBN 9781442474987
It's a dark and snowy Christmas Eve so once again Santa wants Rudolph to lead the way for the sleigh as his nose shines bold and bright. But the other reindeer are jealous and not content with just laughing at Rudolph and calling him names, they are really mean and make him carry the heaviest loads, even using him as the ball when they played football!
Rudolph is so sad and whinges and whines so much that the light on his nose goes out! With no reason to stay to help and full of self-pity, he leaves the comparative safety of the North Pole for somewhere where he is unknown and unrecognised. And there he meets some rabbits whose babies are lost in the forest and at the mercy of foxes and wolves. Completely forgetting his own troubles, Rudolph promises to find them - but can he do it without his shiny nose to light the way? Of course he does and with the rescue comes a realisation that is brighter than any nose could be!
Written in 1954, this is the sequel to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer but unlike the original which May wrote to entertain children as part of a department store promotion, this one has a stronger message about there always being someone worse off than you, perhaps inspired by his family circumstances as his wife died from cancer as he worked on the original. While not necessarily the time for an in-depth discussion, nevertheless young children will feel Rudolph's pain at being bullied and might think about the feelings of others that they tease. They will also draw encouragement from Rudolph being able to get things in perspective and go back to face his tormentors knowing that he is strong and has a lot to offer.
This new release is stunning with its beautiful artwork bringing another dimension to the story, also told in rhyme, and making a special duo of books for the Christmas Countdown.
Barbara Braxton

Battlefront by Michael Adams

cover image

The Seven signs series book 7. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN: 9781743628072
(Age:13+) Recommended. Themes: Disaster; Truth and Lies; Adventure; Science-Fiction; Technology. This is the final episode in The Seven Signs series and begins in the tense circumstances that we and the DARE winners were left hanging in (literally) in the previous book. Sydney had just been subjected to an unnatural tsunami and the young teens needed to survive the horrific circumstances in order to prevent even further disaster in Antarctica. But at every turn there is another awful incident and threat to their lives. The Signmaker who is orchestrating the series of dangers that the teens must overcome is close to being revealed and maybe they have time to solve the sign and prevent worldwide catastrophe before havoc is released. Will their heroism rise against the tide again? Will their lives be spared? Or is this the end of the protagonists as well as the world as we know it?
Michael Adams has successfully created another action-packed drama, with tension on every page and a 'twist in the tale'. By dividing the adventure up into seven separate books, there is a little frustration in waiting for the next book when the cliffhanger at the end of each previous book is so tense. Therefore this should really be considered as one story, in seven different books; as each book needs to be read in order, and the story is not finished or satisfying until you have read this, the last of the series. I have to say that I enjoyed the entire journey in this futuristic, sci-fi influenced, technology-linked world and the teens involved are incredibly talented and resourceful (with a little help from technology). This series would make a good gift (as a set), and could be recommended in libraries (reading from book 1-7 in order) for both male and female readers.
Carolyn Hull

Ula's magic island by Di Morrissey

cover image

Harbour Publishing House, 2017. ISBN 9781922134059
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Ula's magic island is a beautiful story of imagination and magic. Ula has an amazing imagination and keeps herself busy daydreaming about being a queen, a trapeze artist and a princess. However, she also loves adventures and is always out and about, sliding down hills and looking for fish. One afternoon, she saw a magical island in the middle of the lake and despite being not allowed to go on the lake, heads over to it. A storm creates huge waves and Ula ends up in the water. When she awakes, Ula is on a magical island. She spends the day exploring the fruit salad trees and the spaghetti forest. She dresses up in the fancy clothes and does a hula with the animals. Ula is offered a wish by a friendly bird name Ambrose. What will she wish for? What does Ula want more - a room full of toys or to be home with her family?
Readers of Ula's magic island will not be able to take their eyes from the illustrations. The details in Ula's eyes draw you in; her emotions and her excitement in the amazing facial expressions are beautiful. Young readers will have so much to talk about as they explore the magical island with Ula and will be encouraged to use their own imagination as they discuss the wish they would make.
This story is highly recommended for readers aged 3+ when reading with a parent and for more independent readers aged 7+.
Kylie Kempster

Princess Snowbelle and the snowstorm by Libby Frost

cover image

Ill. by Lucy Fleming. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408890011
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Princess Snowbelle and the snowstorm is a gorgeous picture book and is also a lovely story of friendship, courage and resilience. Princess Snowbelle is rather nervous as she will be singing at the Snow Ball. Thankfully, her friend Sparkleshine will be helping her. As Snowbelle waits for Sparkleshine, a huge snowstorm hits the forest. Snowbelle and her pony Icetail race into the forest to get Sparkleshine but find themselves lost. Can Snowbelle use the magic in her charm bracelet to find her way? will she make it to the Snow ball in time?
Princess Snowbelle and the snowstorm's detailed and colourful pictures are engaging and help tell the story. They show feelings in the character's faces and the scenery is breathtaking. The story is quick and easy to read and would be easy to retell in a classroom situation or when parents read it to their child. The story would also be great in Child Protection lessons as children learn about feelings and problem solving. Alternate endings could be written, characters could be changed and children could create their own version.
It is highly recommended for girls aged 3+ and more independent readers aged 7+ can read it on their own.
Kylie Kempster

Ori the Octopus by Anne Helen Donnelly

cover image

Anne Helen Donnelly, 2017. ISBN 9780646962207
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Ori the Octopus is a good friend and his eight legs come in handy when everyone needs help. Ori can make a cake while cuddling a baby. He can sip his tea and help a hurt friend. Can he remember what he needs to do when his legs get too busy? Can you sip a bandaid and mix a baby? Oh no! What will Ori do? Can his friends help Ori?
Ori the Octopus is a gorgeous story about helping others. Ori is a fantastic role model for children and so are his friends - asking for help can be hard. The pictures are bright and colourful and it will be a great bedtime story. The book is also great for the classroom. It models how to treat your friends and how to help them. It is great for problem solving. The character cut-outs can be added to popsticks for retelling and the actions can be acted out, keeping the children engaged and active during the story. This book is highly recommended for children aged 4+.
Kylie Kempster