Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408858516
(Age: 13+) It is July 1945, Hitler's Third Reich has fallen, and
Berlin is in ruins. Living on the edge of survival in the cellar of
an abandoned hospital, Otto and his ragtag gang of kids have banded
together in the desperate, bombed-out city. The war may be over, but
danger lurks in the shadows of the wreckage.
Caught between invading armies, ruthless gangs and the constant
threat of starvation, Otto and his friends must learn to stay alive.
But the Nazi regime left psychological wounds that are slow to heal:
rifts arise in their little group and terrible secrets surface when
a sinister figure emerges from the darkness.
Dowsell has created a masterpiece that draws on themes such as
searching for the truth, friendship and survival against the odds.
After living through the horrors of war, the children are now trying
to find a life that resembles some sort of normalcy in
Russian-occupied Berlin. There are a number of strong characters in
the book, none more so than Ulrich. He is in constant turmoil
between the brainwashing he received in the Hitler Youth and the
reality of how he is now forced to live. Ulrich still clings to the
ideology of the 'Master Race' but, in reality he is beginning to
question this.
This is definitely a YA novel as it tackles some issues that would
not be suitable for readers younger than 13. It would be a positive
addition to the library collection on World War 2, particularly as
it exposes experiences of children on all sides.
Kathryn Schumacher
The princess in black: Three smashing adventures by Shannon and Dean Hale
Ill. by LeUyen Pham. Candlewick Press, 2017. ISBN
9780763697778
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Themes: Humour. Monsters. Adventure.
Superheroes. Getting a monster to return underground where it
belongs is not a task allocated to a pretty Princess in Pink,
Magnolia, replete with tinkering glass slippers and a tiara. But it
is just the right task for the Princess in Black, her alter ego, who
can change her clothes in an instant, and leap onto her charger, a
few minutes before a unicorn in the paddock calmly chewing the
grass. But things do not have quite the same ring as a superhero,
for the princess must change into her new guise in the broom closet,
slide down a channel built into the castle walls to meet her horse
outside the castle walls. Once on the go, she meets up with the goat
boy, Duff, trying to protect his goats from the blue monster which
has appeared above ground. It cannot remember just why it should not
go outside the underground cave where it belongs but soon recalls
the reason when the Princess in Back forces a reminder. While she is
away the nosey Duchess Wigtower snoops around her castle, adding
another layer to the story, with humorous results. The illustrations
add to the story, splitting up the text for newer readers, and
adding a level of visual literacy that is inviting and fun.
This series turns around the idea of superheroes, with Princess
Magnolia changing from her pink outfit to the black to defeat her
enemies. The princess in black is the first in the series,
followed by The Princess in black and the perfect princess party
and The Princess in black and the hungry bunny horde while
at the back of the book there are pictures of several more in the
series.
Each is funny, adventurous and involving. They will appeal to
younger new confident readers.
Fran Knight
Fluke by Lesley Gibbes and Michelle Dawson
Working Title Press, 2017. ISBN 9781921504891
Under the shadow of the great harbour bridge a little southern right
whale is born. For weeks it stays and plays with its mother getting
stronger for the long journey south to the Antarctic waters,
delighting the people of Sydney who hadn't seen a pair like this for
many years. But one day a ferry's motor startles Fluke and he dives
deep to the bottom of the water where it is dark and murky and he
can no longer hear his mother calling.
The people of Sydney begin an anxious search for him knowing that
without her protection he will be easy prey for a shark...
Based on actual events, this is a charming story illustrated in a
palette as soft and gentle as both the text and the events
themselves. Like the humpbacks that are so prevalent down the
Humpback Highway at the moment, southern right whales - so-called
because early whalers believed them to be the 'right' whale to catch
because they were large, slow-moving, rich in oil and blubber and
floated when they were killed - were hunted almost to extinction in
the early 20th century and so the appearance of mum and bub in the
harbour brought both joy and hope. The endpapers provide a thumbnail
sketch of these wonderful creatures, adding an extra dimension to
the book.
Now that whale-hunting has taken on a whole new meaning and with
seeing a whale in the wild on many bucket lists making it a
sustainable tourist industry for many little coastal towns, learning
about them through stories like Fluke can only bring a greater
awareness and help to guarantee their revival and survival. The
whalers were an important part of our coastal history and
settlement, making them an important part of the history curriculum
but unlike a generation ago, their activities can now be scrutinised
through several lenses as students discuss and debate the
'rightness' of their endeavours. The use of books like Fluke would
bring another perspective to a webquest.
Teachers' notes are available
Loved it.
Barbara Braxton
Discovery Globe: Build-Your-Own Globe Kit by Leon Gray
Ill. by Sarah Edmonds. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406378474
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Geography, Globes,
Exploration. A beautifully designed and constructed model of a world
globe comes complete with a book, A world explorer's guide, which
will give many happy and profitable hours of fun for any avid model
maker or person who is interested in the world and Geography. The explorer's guide is what the reader will find when the sturdy
box is first opened and on reading will discover many topics
including information about the earth, its biomes, water, natural
wonders, animals, megacities, sports and arts just to mention a few
in the easy to follow Contents page. Instructions are given how to
use The explorer's guide and how to make the globe. The globe itself
is made out of sturdy cardboard and will spin around. Adult
assistance will probably be needed when constructing the globe but
it is well worth spending the time to make it as it opens the doors
to much new and interesting information from natural wonders to
famous people and the book can then be used to find further
information.
Children will enjoy making the globe and spending time with a
helpful adult, learning lots of new information and skills along the
way. This would make a wonderful gift for the curious child and any
adult who enjoys model making will love it as well.
Pat Pledger
Don't let go by Michel Bussi
Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2018. ISBN 9781474601795
(Age: secondary to adult) Recommended. Themes: Crime fiction,
Reunion, Murder, Tourism. Don't you love new settings for crime
fiction? Set on an island east of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean,
Reunion is a multi racial department of France, once home to many
French, lured there by tax concessions, as well as Indian, Muslim,
African and Creole inhabitants.
Martial is on holidays with his second wife, Liane and their
daughter, Sophie, but suddenly, Liane disappears. Everyone has seen
her walk through the lobby to the elevator in the up market resort,
but when Martial goes looking for her, she is nowhere to be found.
Theories abound, but the Chief Inspector, Aja Purvi, focusses on the
husband whose behaviour is odd to say the least. When she finds that
his son died in suspicious circumstances ten years before, things
begin to escalate, especially when Martial takes off with his young
daughter in tow. A police hunt ensues, made more impossible for
Purvi by the arrival of her superior from Saint-Denis, wanting to
put his stamp on the investigation. Her off sider, Christos further
complicates things when he tells his partner of the investigation
and she becomes involved, unravelling a thread which leads to her
death.
A police chase over parts of the island sees Martial planning his
escape with precision, even down to the arrival of a temperature
inversion bringing fog across the mountains, giving him protection
form spying eyes.
But not all is at it seems, as the narrative is told from several
perspectives, and Bussi keeps us guessing all the while with clues
as to what is actually going on.
I found the background to this cat and mouse story fascinating.
Reunion is not a place I had known about so to read about it as the
setting of this story held my interest, and had me checking
Wikipedia for more information.
Bussi puts in translations of some of the often used words for
people according to their backgrounds, and a map at the start is a
guide to identifying the places spoken of, although I sourced a more
detailed map on the Internet.
This is a translation, which may explain some of the awkward
expressions, but the characters are fully developed and interesting,
while the main story with its peaks and valleys is easily addictive.
Fran Knight
The girl with the lost smile by Miranda Hart
Ill. by Kate Hindley. Hachette, 2017. ISBN 9781444941364
(Age: 8+) Recommended. "Chloe Long has lost her smile. She's looked
everywhere for it. (Under her pillow. Under her bed. Under her nose.
Obviously.) She's tried everything to bring it back. (Her favourite
cake. Her favourite gran. Her favourite joke. Obviously.) But
nothing seems to be working!
Until one night, something utterly magical happens - and Chloe finds
herself on an adventure that is out of this world . . . "
Miranda Hart (you may be familiar with her from Call the Midwife),
has constructed a book that is certain to make you laugh and cry at
the same time. She takes us on a magical, adventurous journey that
celebrates the imagination and the strength of true friendship.
Although the book is quite long (361 pages), the text is fairly
spaced out and reasonably large.
There are still so many messages that can be taken away from this
book. Chloe, the main character, struggles with her own issues,
allowing herself to escape to her 'magic land' where she battles
'shadow bandits'. I believe this actually parallels with Chloe
fighting her own inner thoughts and worries. I think the author may
have quite cleverly intertwined some of her own childhood memories
into the storyline.
I can see children aged eight and up loving this heart-warming book
which has such a positive message. An added bonus are the gorgeous
illustrations by the very talented Kate Hindley interspersed
throughout the story. A welcome addition to the fantasy collection
that will very quickly become a favourite for many.
Kathryn Schumacher
Laugh your head off again and again! : more funny stories for all kinds of kids by Andy Griffiths et al
Pan Macmillan Australia, 2017. ISBN 9781760553197
(Age: 8+) This contains stories by Andy Griffiths, R A Spratt, Alex
Ratt, John Marsden, Deborah Abela, Tony Wilson, Meredith Costain,
Alan Brough and Tristan Bancks. These authors' stories will make you
laugh your head off again and again! A scary shower, three twisty
little pigs, a choose your own adventure, a Halloween chicken, a
demonic clown, an unexpected gift, terrible twins, a famous dancing
dog and a running race like no other equals one hilarious book.
What is not to like about this book! With its neon orange cover and
lime green writing, the cover is sure to attract the attention of
many. This book contains nine stories by some of Australia's most
talented and loved children's authors.
At the end of the book I really like the biography about each author
and what they find funny. It will give the readers an insight into
the lives of the authors they love. With the psychedelic lime green
illustrations throughout the book they will certainly attract the
attention of the reader.
This will make a welcome addition to the humour or short story
section of the library and I think students from 8 years old and up
would love to read it. I also think it would make a fantastic read
aloud and I look forward to doing this with my students.
Kathryn Schumacher
The secrets we share by Nova Weetman
UQP, 2017. ISBN 9780702259784
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Themes: High school. Friendship.
Depression. Fire. Beginning high school in the coming weeks, Clem
and her friends Ellie and Bridge are concerned about what to wear,
who they will share classes with and how they will cope with year
seven in such a different place. They spend time together in these
last few days, Ellie coming in as a new friend and so altering the
long term relationship between Bridge and Clem, while finding that
the two girls will be in the same home group, while Clem is by
herself, puts a further wedge between them. But Clem has a secret.
Her mother, Sarah, suffering from depression has returned home after
some months in care. They live in a tiny flat, waiting for their new
house to be built replacing their home which was burnt down twelve
months before after Mum left a candle burning.
Sarah's return means a recollection of past events, a change to the
easygoing single parent her father had become, a tension filling
the flat that was not there before.
Upstairs, Maggie has become a fast friend, one to whom Clem can turn
for help, but now she has her nephew, Matt staying, and he has a
secret too. Matt and Clem find common ground, Matt is a roofhopper
and introduces Clem into his world, while Clem runs when things
become too hard to unravel, pounding away until she can forget her
fears.
Insight into the effects of depression on a family is well presented
as Clem must deal with the very real anxiety of having an ill
parent, one who is prickly but trying hard to repair their
relationship. The situation is well handled, exposing the tension on
all sides, the fear they all have that things will not go as well as
they hope, exploring the relationship Clem has with her friends, who
are kept in the dark.
A sequel to the 2017 CBCA Notable listed book, The secrets we
keep (2016) this novel will be eagerly read by those following
Clem's story and those taking it up as a stand alone novel. It is an
involving story, taking the reader down unexpected roads.
Fran Knight
Burke and Wills : The triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers by Peter Fitzsimons
Hachette Australia, 2017. ISBN 9780733634109
(Age: Senior Secondary) Recommended. Supported by a research team,
Peter Fitzsimons has delved into the historical records related to
the Victorian Exploring Expedition that left Melbourne with
enthusiastic crowds and high hopes on 20th August 1860. The early
chapters of the book reveal a deeply flawed leader, Robert O'Hara
Burke, with no navigation or exploration experience and an impetuous
nature. The expedition was supplied with 20 tons of equipment 6
wagons, 23 horses and 26 camels, but much of the equipment was
useless and had to be abandoned on the journey north. Eventually the
food supply began to fail, there was insufficient knowledge to be
able to live off the land and local Aboriginal offers of help were
spurned. With William Wills as navigator, John King, and Charley
Gray, Burke decided to make a dash from their depot on Coopers Creek
to the Gulf coast. The difficulties of the journey slowed the
exhausted party down and they returned to the inadequate supply
depot, just a few hours too late. Only King survived with the help
of the local Aboriginal people.
The 700 page book explores the impetus for the expedition and also
examines the repercussions, including the search party, a Royal
Commission and Victoria's first State funeral. There have been a
number of earlier accounts of the tragic story but in his own
inimitable way, Peter Fitzsimmons brings the voices of the
participants to the fore in this version. The maps, photographs, and
drawings provide a valuable accompaniment to the story.
Paul Pledger
Diary of a wimpy kid: Double down by Jeff Kinney
Puffin Books, 2017. ISBN 9780143309338
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Diary of a wimpy kid: Double down
finds Greg Heffley continuing his hilarious journey through middle
school. In Double down, Greg starts his diary by reflecting on what
it would be like if his life was a documentary being watched by TV
viewers everywhere. Greg's thoughts are funny and readers will be
drawn into his crazy daydreams. Greg continues to reflect on his mum
seeing him as gifted and he ended up in a so called champion group
which was all about him learning to speak properly.
In Diary of a wimpy kid: Double down, every few pages is a
new story in Greg's life; from talking about his pet pig to winning
candy and his sneaky brother getting out of doing chores. Each entry
has an accompanying cartoon that is as funny as the text.
This series of books sells itself and all fans will want the next
instalment. The vocabulary continues to be enticing and exciting. It
is highly recommended for readers aged 9+. Old fans and new fans
will enjoy it and won't be able to put it down.
Kylie Kempster
Beatrice Zinker upside down thinker by Shelley Johannes
Hachette, 2017. ISBN 9780734417336
(Age: 6-9) Recommended. Themes: Individuality. Self-perception.
School. Friendship. Humour. 'Beatrice Zinker did all her best
thinking upside down.' Life in the Zinker family proves difficult
for middle child Beatrice, everyone else 'likes boxes and
boundaries, they follow the rules and prefer to fit in with their
friends'. In first and second grade Beatrice and her best friend
Lenny loved wearing costumes, playing pirate games and testing the
limits. Over the summer holidays, Beatrice waits for her best friend
to return from the Philippines; she has big plans involving ninja
suits, reconnaissance and spying.
On the first day back, Lenny has transformed into a normal third
grade student, new sparkly shirt, a skirt, and no more glasses. What
a shock for Beatrice, but instead of accepting the changes, she
concentrates on still trying to be friends. While Lenny, her new
buddy Chloe and their classmates are playing veterinarians at
recess, Beatrice creatively tries to fit in. Could she be a bat,
hanging upside down, or a sticky gecko? When an accident happens and
Beatrice spends time in the nurse's office, her creative mind works
on a possible solution to her friendship and classroom dramas.
Shelley Johannes' gentle story encourages young readers to think
positively and celebrate their different styles and personalities.
Her creative language uses alliteration, humour and sensory
experiences to build a picture of Beatrice's journey. Beatrice
Zinker upside down thinker is a wonderful read aloud novel for
years 2-4, one to stop and ponder the sage advice, the creative
thinking and discuss the valuing of individual differences. Johannes
has drawn from childhood experiences and this is beautifully crafted
in this junior novel as she explores emotional wellbeing,
friendship, self-perception and anti-bullying.
Rhyllis Bignell
Married quarter: Boots, berets and bloody uniforms by Maria Augustus-Dunn
Big Sky Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925520453
(Age: Adult) Themes: Military life. Family relationships. Cambodia.
Travel. Identity. Life as the spouse of a serving Australian
Military man is revealed, 'boots and all', in this very personal
memoir. Maria Augustus-Dunn reveals her own big personality and
sociable self to her audience as she details 21 years of life with
her identity impacted by the highs and lows of the Armed Services.
With multiple moves and homes along the way she quite delightfully
shares how the 'other half' of a married Military man is impacted
when decisions are made for deployment and redeployment. Her social
life gathers friends in far off places; she needs to deal with
uniforms and expectations that have no training College for
preparation; she is forced to find new work after another move
across the country or just contend with being alone for long
periods. In addition, Maria finds herself having to deal with a
foreign diplomatic posting to Cambodia, with the difficulty of
language learning and addressing the myriad of cultural issues that
accompany this change. The author's good humour and respect shines
through the text, and her enjoyment of a good party is also
abundantly clear.
This honestly written memoir reveals other participants and their
connections to Maria and her husband Brad, but she deliberately
masks their identities to enable to keep some anonymity (necessary,
but sometimes frustrating for the reader). Maria does not hide her
own failings and her 'foot-in-mouth' moments add to the
light-hearted representation of the personal history and make the
book worth reading.
Recommended for adults who like to peek inside the lives of others
or to those who want to find out more about the life of those who
share the Military Married Quarters. This is not great literature... but memoirs are very personal.
Carolyn Hull
The Nutcracker, a colouring book ill. by Jill Tytherleigh, Lydia Coventry and Sophia O'Connor
Macmillan Children's Books, 2017. ISBN 9781509853601
(Age: 7+) A delightful gift which combines a wonderfully traditional
story with detailed outlines ready to be filled. At this time of
year, the book could be used for mindfulness activities with middle
years classes, but could also be enjoyed by adult and children
alike. The colouring book is an adaptation of the short story The
Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A Hoffman. While the
colouring book is interspersed with quotes from the original story,
the artist repeats themes of rats and ballerinas with a magical
holiday theme which does not depend on the reader to know the plot.
The detailed drawings are not too complex, though some are more
simplistic, which means no need to concentrate on filling in tiny
shapes for hours. There is within the pages, enough detail for those
who consider themselves expert with the colouring trend, although
some of the simpler pages would be a great starting point for a
novice. The quality of the pages mean that pencils, felt tips or
connector pens can be used, though I would check for bleeding ink on
darker colours. I look forward to seeing this one available in shops
ready for the Christmas season, with a festive cover highlighted
with red and gold it is sure to be a popular gift.
Clare Thompson
A very quacky Christmas by Frances Watts and Ann James
ABC Books, 2017. ISBN 9780733329623
(Age: 2-5) Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Sharing,
Perseverance. Samantha Duck is singing her favourite song, We
wish you a quacky Christmas as she gets ready for Christmas.
She believes that animals love to share and she wants to give
presents to animals all over the world. Sebastian the tortoise is
not so optimistic. He believes that it cannot be done, and says
"Christmas is not for animals," but Samantha is determined because
for her "Christmas is about giving and sharing". When they approach
their farmyard friends for help all the animals decide that
Christmas is for them. The sheep donate their wool for Samantha and
Sebastian to knit socks and scarves, the hens donate their eggs for
the pair to make cupcakes, the cows the daisies in the field for
daisy chains and then they wrap everything in brightly coloured
paper. The donkey shares his cart so that the friends can deliver
their presents all over the world. With determination and a final
belief that Christmas is for animals from Sebastian, the pair soar
into the air, delivering their presents all over the world.
This is a joyous picture book that is destined to become a Christmas
favourite. I found myself humming along to Samantha's We wish
you a quacky Christmas for hours after reading the story and
kept the images of the Samantha and Sebastian dancing to the song in
my head, making me feel happy at the thought of sharing and giving
at Christmas. Children will delight in the gorgeous illustrations of
the friends as they make their presents and soar across the sky and
will easily follow the themes of perseverance and generosity that
permeate the story. A very quacky Christmas is a keeper and one for all
libraries, homes and classrooms.
Pat Pledger
A Christmas menagerie edited and compiled by Beattie Alvarez
Christmas Press, 2017. ISBN 9780994528049
(Age: 7-12) Recommended. Themes: Christmas, Short stories. Twelve
short stories will delight young readers and any adult who reads
them aloud to children. The stories are by well known authors,
Janeen Brian, Michael Pryor, Sophie Masson, Gabrielle Wang and
Sherryl Clark as well as some new and emerging authors.
This is a compilation to dip into and enjoy. Clever wombat
by Janeen Brian has a very busy Wombat ticking off the tasks for
Christmas from his list but needing the help of his friends to find
a special Christmas tree. Children will giggle about Michael Prior's
story of Santa's special helper the pig who has to help Santa out by
eating all the treats left out by families, the delightful
illustrations by Kathy Creamer adding to the humour in the story.
Adults and children alike will thrill to the story of The
ancient wren by Michael Grey, with its moral "Happiness, like
kindness, is only real when shared". I was really taken with Pony
for Sale, written and illustrated by Gabrielle Wang. Although
it isn't a traditional Christmas story, the themes of generosity,
sharing and caring that come through this tale of a little girl who
has to give her pony away when her family moves to a small flat are
ones that bring the spirit of the festive season to life.
Each story is illustrated by different illustrators, Kathy Creamer,
Fiona McDonald, Beattie Alvarez, Ingrid Kallick, and Yvonne Low and
the bright colourful drawings all add to the joy in the book.
A selection that will continue to be enjoyed by children over the
years, this is a worthy addition to every library and classroom.
Pat Pledger
