My dog Socks by Robyn Osborne and illustrated by Sadami Konchi
Ford St, 2017. ISBN 9781925272826
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Dogs. Family. Love. Imagination.
Socks' owner loves walking with his dog, because wherever they go
Socks becomes another animal. If they are in the forest, he becomes
a black bear, scraping the trees with his claws, or a wild wolf,
calling to the moon, or a terrible tiger, searching for prey. When
they visit the farm, he is more like a contented cow, rolling in the
grass, or a pongy pig, mucking about, while at the beach he becomes
a daring dolphin, cresting the waves. In the garden he becomes a
mischievous magpie, reaching for snacks, or a curious cat, racing in
circles. Each double page has a glorious illustration of the boy
with his dog, Socks, as he and the dog explore their environment,
the dog taking on the attributes of each animal, with its shadow the
shadow of that animal. Readers will love seeing the dog become those
animals as they turn each page. The watercolour illustrations are
just delightful, underlining all the while the antics of the dog,
and the bond between Socks and his owner, as they walk through the
forest, visit the farm, go to the beach and play in the garden. A
host of different activities are shown, and the background displays
an Australian lifestyle, a barbecue, paling fence, Hills
clothes-hoist, outside toilet and bungalow.
Each animal is presented with alliteration followed by two sentences
brimful of movement and colour.
I love the front cover, impelling the reader to pick up the book and
turn the page while the endpapers cleverly reflect the relationship
between the boy and his dog and foreshadow the way in which their
relationship is represented.
Children will relish the way the dog is part of the boy's life, and
see that their relationship is a mutual one, each is the other's
best friend.
This is a lovely addition to the range of books available about the
place of dogs in our families and our hearts.
Fran Knight
A semi-definitive list of worst nightmares by Krystal Sutherland
Penguin, 2017. ISBN 9780143573913
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Fear and Anxiety; Resilience;
Cowardice and Bravery; Mental Illness: Suicide; Teen Romance; Family
Struggles. This is a book filled with gut-wrenching fear - for the
characters, not the reader. It is a book filled with oxymorons -
tragedy and comedy; cowardice and bravery; depression and hope;
obsession and a light touch. Krystal Sutherland has also managed to
braid into the harder parts of this book romance and understanding
of the very complex world of those who struggle to live well with
mental illness. And you won't want to put this book down because the
characters will charm you!
Esther Solar is the quirky, fear-riddled central character whose
family appear to be cursed with struggles that lead them down the
road of mental illness in a myriad of forms. Her family life could
only be described as twisted out of shape. Her twin brother is
severely challenged by the dark, her mother is afraid of bad luck
(which she seems to court by her gambling habit) and her father has
not left the basement for years; and Esther manages to keep going,
wearing bizarre outfits that are her way of disappearing (even
though everyone looks at her!). Her best friend, Hephzibah, is a
selective mute and together they have silently battled being the
odd-bods at school by sticking together. The only person from their
past who supported them, Jonah, dramatically reappears into the
action. He then proceeds to complicate Esther's existence in ways
that she could never expect, compelling her to confront the long
list of fears that hangs over her like an ever present storm cloud,
ready to drop an unexpected deluge of disaster. And through all of
the complexities of her life walks the visitor from her
Grandfather's tales - the visitor that no one ever wants: Death!
There are many laugh-out-loud moments in this book as Esther's
family's frailties are 'undressed and revealed' in their raw
humanity in the face of the deep darkness that accompanies them.
Despite this expose of severe mental illness, the care of a friend
and the expressions of love provide opportunities to see hope grow.
Not with an easy-fix, but as if the clouds part and small glimpses
of sunshine peek through. Jonah is an endearing and strong
character, who has his own tough issues to deal with - but is
absolutely a 'winner'. But don't expect everything in this book to
be completely believable!
The book contains some hints about how to seek help for those facing
their own battles with anxiety and mental illness.
NB: The personification of Death in this book could enable this book
to be used as a paired text with Markus Zuzak's 'The Book Thief' for
Senior English students.
Recommended: For mature readers aged 15+ (Readers who have enjoyed
John Green books will also enjoy this book). There is some swearing
included.
Carolyn Hull
Danny Blue's really excellent dream by Max Landrak
Hachette, 2017. ISBN 9780734417589
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Blue, Colour, Change,
Invention. A quick flip through this book shows readers that blue is
the predominant colour for most of the book, while more colours
creep in towards the end, and the endpapers at the start show only
various chades of blues while the last endpaper shows the whole
colour spectrum. So kids' interest will be piqued and they will want
to know about Danny and why his last name is Blue.
Danny lives in a world of blue. There is nothing in his world which
is not blue. He eats blueberries out of a blue bowl with a blue
fork, he wears a blue striped shirt, he lives in Blue York, his
favourite band is The Blues Brothers, his favourite food,
blueberries and his favourite colour sunset blue! One night in his
blue bed he dreams about the blue whale, but suddenly the whale
isn't blue anymore. Danny does not have the words to describe what
he has seen in his dream, and despite being sent to Dr Indigo, and
playing his blues guitar and eating blue cheese, he cannot get the
new colour out of his head, so he decides to make it. He uses his
chemistry set to make up the colour he has seen, and tries to share
it with others. But they are not so sure: some do not like it at
all, some are baffled by it, some think it the worst thing ever, but
every now and again the non blue colour turns up in the most
unexpected places, until it becomes accepted. But then comes the
problem of a name . . .
This lovely tale of invention and change will cause ripples of
laughter from the audience as they read of the blueness of Danny's
world, and his attempts to bring about change. In doing this he
accepts that people are unhappy about change but by simply
presenting what he has seen, change does occur, from something small
to something more widely accepted. People are encouraged to move
outside their comfort zone and accept something new.
This delightful book, like a fable, will engender much discussion
and little fingers will love looking a the various shades and hues
of blue and the way the illustrations reflect the sameness at the
start and the beginnings off change towards the last few pages.
Fran Knight
Max Booth Future Sleuth: Tape Escape by Cameron Macintosh
Big Sky Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925520606
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Max Booth might be on the run, have no
parents and no real home but he does have an excellent sense for
survival, adventure and amazing resilience. He also has a dog robot
called Oscar. What more could a boy want in this futuristic world?
Max and Oscar live, in secret, in the museum and help their friend
Jessie out. In return, Jessie looks after them. When Jessie finds an
unusual object from the past, Max and Oscar are off to discover what
it is. After breaking into a warehouse that houses books from the
past, Max discovers the mysterious object is a tape cassette. On it
is a long lost recording of David Snowie (love how they have changed
the famous names). Unfortunately, Max trusts the wrong person and
the tape is stolen. Will Max and Oscar's crazy plan to get it back
work? Max Booth Future Sleuth: Tape Escape is highly recommended
for boys aged 7+. Young readers will love reading about such a
strong and resilient character like Max. They will laugh at his
hi-jinks and imagine the high-tech futuristic world he lives in.
Readers will want a robot dog just like Oscar. Max Booth is a quick
moving story where good wins over evil. The vocabulary is
descriptive and easy to read and will encourage reluctant readers.
It is a great first chapter story.
Kylie Kempster
I wish I could be a superhero by Susan Hall
Ill. by Cheryl Westenberg. National Library of Australia, 2017. ISBN
9780642278890
(Age: 3+) I wish I could be a Superhero written by Susan Hall and
illustrated by Cheryl Westenberg is a gorgeous picture book about
Wesley Wombat who is desperate to be a superhero like his friends.
Each page showcases the 'superpower' of one of his Australian animal
friends, and repetitively ends with But when he tried . . . enabling
younger readers/listeners to join in the story and turn the flap to
reveal his attempts. My daughter enjoyed naming the all of the
Australian animals and the book enticed interesting conversations
about what these animals could do and also about their habitats. The
illustrations are bright and colourful, but not too cluttered so the
visual information is easily seen and deciphered. I really enjoyed
the addition of the extra information about each of the animals at
the back of the book. It was easy for younger children to understand
(as young as 3) and also provided interesting facts that captivated
both myself and my 7 year old. I personally thought that there were
perhaps too many animals in the book (7) as the repetitiveness was
slightly frustrating and by the end my 3 year old had lost interest
in the extra information by animal 4; however for the target
audience of pre-schoolers this book is a winner as they get both the
picture book/fiction story and then the information. Introducing
non-fiction information in this context is also a great way to
increase interest and learning with our younger readers. Target
audience 3+.
Lauren Fountain
Ten pound Pom by Carole Wilkinson
Ill. by Liz Anelli. Black Dog Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925381214
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Immigration, Migrant experience,
Voyages and travel, Australian history. The story of Carole
Wilkinson's journey to Australia in the 1960's is revealed here for
a primary audience to encourage their understanding of the trip made
by many of the migrants coming to Australia after World War Two. A
scheme encouraging migration from the United Kingdom was set in
place in 1945, called the Assisted Package Migration Scheme, with
the catchcry of 'Men for the land and women for the home', with a
similar scheme begun in New Zealand in 1947. Over one million people
migrated from the United Kingdom between 1945 and 1972 swelling
Australia's population.
With her family making the decision to come to Australia at the
height of the Cold War, saying goodbye to friends and family was the
order of the day. Dad built some big boxes to take their furniture
and these were picked up by the authorities. On the ship, Wilkinson
outlines some of the things they did, while calling in to several
places along the way. Anelli's mixed media illustrations scatter the
book, giving an outstanding visual accompaniment to the text,
putting into pictures the Wilkinson family's journey.
The family discusses what will happen to them and so the readers
will learn of what happened to migrants arriving in Australia. No
nissan hut for this family, they were to live with family members
for a while until dad could get a job and find a house.
At the end of the book is given a brief outline of the government
policies which instituted the Assisted Migrant Scheme, along with a
glossary of unfamiliar words used in the text, and a useful index.
An engaging text, full of the hopes and concerns (particularly when
dad's boxes were unloaded in Perth instead of Adelaide) of the whole
family, alongside lively illustrations will ensure that this book is
well received, giving a perspective of Australia's migrants not
often seen. It will fit well in a unit of work looking at the
different ways Australia's population has developed and students
will be able to compare the differing government policies towards
migration to our shores.
(NB: I read Pea pod lullaby by Glenda Millard, and
illustrated by Stephen Michael King, at the same time as Ten
pound Pom and could not help thinking about the difference
between the migrant experience presented in the two books).
Fran Knight
Ruben by Bruce Whatley
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743810354
(Age: 7 to adult) Highly recommended. Picture book for older
readers, Homelessness, Cities, Survival. A child emerges from his
safe place. He must venture out into the abandoned factories and
buildings around Block City to find food. He watches the huge
overloaded trains that come into the city, delivering their goods,
returning empty. Nothing is available to him, the goods vans all
locked. He must be careful wandering around this place avoiding the
robotic watchers on the prowl for people who should not be there.
So Whatley develops his bleak and scary background, a few spare
words being but a small part of the evocative story, the
illustrations detailing a city dying at the edges, living only for
itself, oblivious to the plight of the street people, the homeless,
those surviving on the edge. Every page of the three sections is
full of meticulously drawn detail, detail that will astonish the
reader, at once absorbed by the city and its structures, but also
grieving for the lone child who lives in its shadows.
Children will soak up the atmosphere Whatley creates through his
pencil drawings, using just light and shade, a wonderful exposition
of entwined factories, industrial detritus and abandoned warehouses,
above ground train lines, derelict buildings, metalwork and
plumbing. I was enthralled looking at the detail offered on each
page as will younger readers pointing out detail and found objects
to each other as they read and follow Ruben's story.
The 100 or so pages zip by as the readers are drawn into Ruben's
tale, their hearts with him as he avoids the huge wheels of the
train, runs from the Listeners, the Controllers and the Sweepers and
strives to find something useful in an increasingly sparse and
hostile environment.
As he goes further into the city he sees someone else in the shadows
and makes a small boat which slides down the puddle to her.
He picks up a book dropped from one of the carriages, and in the
Epilogue their stories come together.
Whatley began this story ten years ago and began the illustrations
six years ago. This engrossing finished product will create much
discussion and debate within the classroom, from talk about being
homeless in our society to dystopian fiction and its implications,
impelling us to rethink the environment in which we live. But
reflection ensures the reality of Whatley's book hits home, it is
not a future but a now that we are looking at. His book makes us
profoundly aware of the dramatically changing industrial landscape
leaving so many of our population bereft. It is a salutary read.
Fran Knight
The rogues: Accidental heroes by Lian Tanner
The rogues series. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760293529
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Fantasy, Power, Magic. When the
country was over run by the invaders from Halt-Bern, five hundred
years ago, they called the land Neuhalt, and built a city they
called Berren around the Grimstone, the Saaf place for ceremonies.
The Bayam begged the invaders not to do this, but they did not
believe in magic, so scoffed at the Saaf. One Bayam survived inside
the Strong-hold, waiting her chance and when an idle-cat strolled by
speaking to her, she began looking for a child who could take on her
powers and bring back the magic.
But this child Pummel has come to the city to be a Sniffigator, a
member of the force which clears the streets of any vestiges of
magic, and then she spies another one, a girl, Duckling, come to the
city with her scheming grandfather. He is after a young boy to be
the dupe in his scheme to enter the citadel and Pummel is enveigled
to leave his post and join them. The trio gets inside the
Strong-hold, and Pummel is offered to the Heir as a companion, but
both children are taken in, and once the trio stays the night they
are trapped inside the place, never to leave.
So begins a multi layered and breathless fantasy tale that will
impel its readers to follow the exploits of the two children in the
Strong-hold. Each member of the large cast of characters is
entrancing, complex and fascinating, living on the pages as the
readers follow their journeys.
Duckling finds that she hums and this brings up a little wind about
her, while Pummel can do things others cannot. Each child has an
aura of magic recognised by the Bayam, and when on their first night
in the Strong-hold, they foil a plot to assassinate the Heir, things
become very tense. Others have been beheaded before them, so they
come to see themselves not as companions but protectors of the Heir
and his rise to the Faithful Throne. But who to trust? Duckling
keeps secrets from Pummel and certainly distrusts her grandfather.
She is as fearful of those around her as Pummel is trusting.
This is the first in a series of three stories about the duo, Pummel
and Duckling, and their attempts to bring back the magic to the
Grimstone.
With lashings of humour, the story is cleverly told with readers
highly involved with the trail these children wander.
Fran Knight
Crazy about cats by Owen Davey
Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781911171164
(Age: Primary school) Highly recommended. As the title suggests this
book gives you information about cats, mainly concentrating on the
wild cat species. Did you know there are 38 different types of cats
in the world? This book has large amounts of beautiful illustrations
and infographics surrounded by bite sized amounts of information.
The 34 chapters (which are double page spreads) include the
different cat species, hunting for food as well as weird and
wonderful facts. There are some fascinating references to cats and
mythology as well. Crazy About Cats has a perfect balance of information and
visuals for primary school aged children. The setting out of the
facts using infographics make the book both informative and easy to
read. I particularly like the diagram showing the comparison of
different cat sizes with a human.
The colour palette for this book is stunning, with the author/
illustrator using warm colours with muted greens. This makes the
book a visual treat. The illustrations themselves are slightly
stylised and are more like works of art. The end papers are just as
attractive as the rest of the book.
The author has also produced two other books in this series, using
alliteration for their titles as well. They are Mad About
Monkeys and Smart About Sharks.
This is a book you can go to for information but also read just for
the compelling way it has been created. A visual joy from the
beginning to the end.
I highly recommend this book for primary school students and suggest
it should be in every school library collection.
Jane Moore
DK Children's Encyclopedia
DK, 2017. ISBN 9780241283868
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Encyclopedias. DK has produced another
excellent non fiction reference book, this time for younger children
who will really appreciate the excellent illustrations and
relatively easy to read text that DK Children's Encyclopedia
has to offer. There are over 250 topics in the book including
ancient civilisations, Astronomy, Climate change, Clocks, Galaxies,
Insects, Milky Way, Continents, Vikings, Weather and Zoos. The
Reference section contains lists of artists and writers, alphabets
and writing systems, scientists and mathematical information.
The book contains a table of contents with the topics organised in
alphabetical order. There are instructions on how to use the book
giving details about how the topics are colour coded into nine
different key subject areas, Art, People, History, Earth, Nature,
Science, Technology, Space and the Human Body. At the back there is
a comprehensive index as well as a glossary. The "Story of..." pages
are double-page spreads about interesting topics like colour,
storytelling, clothing, energy, water and inventions all of which
contain useful information for research and class work.
Each page deals with a different topic and is illustrated with
wonderful pictures that will help the child's understanding of the
topic. See also boxes will send the reader off to associated topics
giving the reader the opportunity to further their knowledge. The
information given is interesting and informative and is sure to keep
the inquiring child occupied for hours.
This would be an ideal gift for the young child. It is sturdy and
beautifully produced. It would also be an excellent reference book
in the library and classroom.
Pat Pledger
Prisoner of ice and snow by Ruth Lauren
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681191317
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Who would have thought one would set
out to be arrested? But that is exactly what Valor intends to do.
Tyur'ma is a prison for criminal children and no one has escaped
from this frozen facility in over 300 years. But Sasha, Valor's
sister finds herself sent there accused of a crime she did not
commit - or did she? When Valor is arrested, and sent to Tyur'ma,
she begins plotting an escape route from the inside. She used all
resources that she can find and outsmarted both the guards and other
nosey fellow prisoners. In order for the plan to be successful,
alliances must be formed between unlikely allies.
This is a fast-paced fantasy novel that hooked me in from the
beginning to end. Although it is a fiction book I did find myself
thinking at times that parts of it could have been true. Valor was a
strong leading protagonist who grew and rose to all the challenges
that were presented to her. Themes such as bravery, friendship,
perseverance and determination are running strongly throughout the
book. Interestingly all the main characters in the book are strong
female characters whether they be good or bad!
I would recommend this book for children over 10 years as some of
the action in the book can be a little confronting. I would strongly
recommend this book to be added to a library collection.
Kathryn Schumacher
The bad guys episode 6: Alien vs bad guys by Aaron Blabey
The bad guys series. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781760279486
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Aliens. Survival. Adventure. Having
saved the world from the clutches of Marmalade, the guinea pig, the
quintet finds itself in deep space, trapped in a space ship with an
alien at their heels.
The group now known as the Good Guys, squabble about what they
should do. The alien in question has many arms emanating from his
body all ending in a bum (butt). The group is horrified, especially
when the alien lets go. Not a fart but tons of goo which the boys
fall into. But Mr Snake finds an escape pod, and fiddling with the
keypad thinks he has a way out for them all.
So begins another hilarious adventure with the very changed bad
guys. Presented in the now familiar cartoon-like small book, with a
storyboard offering the characters and their escapades, young
readers will chuckle all the way through, following their exploits.
Bums and goo add to the fun of an alien with bums on the end of its
many tentacles, and the horror of being enveloped by its goo, will
draw screams of delight from the target audience. And Mr Shark is
able to use his consummate skill at dressing up to good use. Those
familiar with Blabey's offerings will be in no doubt of the hilarity
inside the easily held book, and cackle right to the end where they
will find that another sequel is in the offering: this time when Mr
Snake fiddling with the controls, launches them into the distant
past complete with dinosaurs. Can hardly wait.
Fran Knight
D-Bot Squad series by Mac Park
Ill. by James Hart. Allen and Unwin, 2017. Deep dive. ISBN 9781760296025
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It's up to D-Bot Squad to
catch them. Hunter and his team dive deep under the sea to catch
five kronosauruses. But soon they become the meat in a giant squid
and krono sandwich... Stack attack. ISBN 9781760296018
Hunter and Charlie have made the best double d-bot, to catch an
argentinosaurus. But they have a new friend to save first!
There are 8 books in the series and they do not have to be read in
order. The series will be a welcome addition to a library or added
to the collection of take home readers. The love children have for
dinosaurs is never ending and this series is no exception.
Marc Park cleverly uses words the children can read independently.
They will certainly serve the purpose of getting even the most
reluctant readers engaged. There are between 70-80 pages per book
and the text is relatively large and with illustrations
interspersed, so the books don't appear too daunting. With the added
appeal of chapters the reader will see themselves as entering the
next stage - the illusive chapter books!
Kathryn Schumacher
Scarface Claw, hold tight! by Lynley Dodd
Penguin Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143770985
(Age: 2-7) Rhyme. Rough and rugged Scarface Claw, arch-enemy of
Hairy Maclary, is back in another adventure of his very own. As with
all of Lynley Dodd's work this is an absolute joy to read aloud: a
rollicking, fun adventure full of fabulous description and vivid
imagery. In contrast to most of her books in the Hairy Maclary
and Friends series, in which the animals are front and centre,
people are the main action; Scarface is a bit of a bystander. This
gives the story quite a different feel to others in the series. In
fact it may disappoint some of Scarface's fans, who would probably
like to see a little bit more of him and his antics! He is being a
lazy old sleepyhead and is just drifting off to sleep when his
comfortable spot begins to move. Off and away goes the car, with
Scarface on top. Everyone the car passes tries to alert Tom that his
cat is on the roof, but he is oblivious. Boys in the school bus hoot
and whoop and Pete the plumber waves a sock. Even the police officer
starts a chase. Eventually rescued, Scarface is expectedly crotchety
(the illustration of his grumpy face seen through the rear view
mirror is laughable) and is promptly driven home for a treat.
Fans of the series will recognise familiar characters and scenes
within the illustrations and many people will identify with having a
cat deciding to sleep somewhere inappropriate. There are plenty of
brilliant and uniquely Lynley Dodd passages ('Everyone pointed and
hollered and waved, they hooted and tooted and ranted and raved')
and her fans will not be disappointed, but it really is a shame that
we do not see more of Scarface as he is such a fun character.
Nicole Nelson
The amazing monster DeTeCToScOPe by Graeme Base
PenguinViking, 2017. ISBN 9780670079308
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Monsters, Childhood fears, Interactive
story, Rhyming story. What fun will be had by lucky children given
this as a present or those in a classroom where they are encouraged
to handle the book with care. It certainly warrants lots of looking,
reading, and interaction, and will make readers laugh out loud at
the way Base incorporates his monsters into the most ordinary of
household appliances. From the bathroom to the bedroom, laundry and
the kitchen, monsters lurk everywhere, and the plucky dog with his
newly purchased machine can scope them out. Readers will be able to
use the viewfinder to move the perspective of the picture to uncover
the monsters lurking inside. Many will recognise monsters they have
dreaded, particularly under their beds, as they read along. For
those with a meticulous eye, looking at the background of each
double page will intrigue and delight as all sorts of things are
included. But in the end the dog realises that his machine just will
not do, so he turns and confronts the monsters, which surprisingly,
melt away.
Children will be able to articulate what monsters they fear and
where they are to be found in their house, while reading this book
about the monsters lurking inside and out. Base has used his
considerable illustrative and design skill to reflect the fears of
children as the dog tramps through the house in search of the many
monsters. Each double page is different, exciting and enticing, the
mechanics of the turning wheel inviting to little fingers simply
wanting to know what will happen when they turn the viewfinder. Most
of the pages are shown through the dog's perspective: looking at the
dolls in the sister's room or looking into the kitchen, but several
take a different slant as the dog looks out into the road towards
the garbage truck, or Base shows a different view of the bathroom
from the ceiling. All adds interest and variety sure to captivate
the readers.
Base is well known to audiences for his unusual offerings since My
grandma lives in Gooligulch (1983) but it was Animalia
in 1986 that announced him as an award winning artist, winning many
prestigious awards. I loved The last king of Angkor Wat
(2014) and this new book is sure to be a favourite as well, having
parallels to Truck dogs (2003), which holds number one spot
with me.
Fran Knight
