Reviews

Car, car, truck, jeep by Katrina Charman

Ill. by Nick Sharratt. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408864968
(Age: 3-5) Recommended. Themes: Cars. Rhyming story. Sing along. Read aloud, Nursery rhyme. Machines. Sung to the tune of 'Baa baa black sheep', this funny story will delight its younger readers, listeners and singers. In bright primary colours every possible form of wheeled transport is shown and included in the rhyming couplets, starting with
"Car, car, truck, jeep
Have you any fuel?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three tanks full"
children will quickly learn the rhyming sequence and participate in the sing along, predicting the rhyming words at the end of each pair of lines. There is a tank full for the red bus, one for the train and one for the jet plane. From there, mum and the kids go down the lane past the tractor, then see a motorbike weaving its way amongst the traffic, they pass another train, see a hovercraft, then a helicopter, a truck, a yellow taxi, a dumper truck, police car and ambulance, until finally they are amongst a lot of traffic all headed home, tired out by the day's work.
Each page will have children hunting out the things described in the verse, commenting on what each does or sounds like, participating in the rhyming lines and making appropriate sounds. A whole heap of fun for younger readers and teachers alike, along the way discussing with them what they can expect to see on the road and how useful each of these machines is to our lives.
This may even lead to discussions about road rules and safety on the road and in these machines.
Fran Knight

Wild asparagus, wild strawberries by Barbara Santich

(Age: Adult) Recommended. Food writer and historian Barbara Santich recounts her experience as a young mother of twins, moving to France with her husband in the 1970s and then immersing themselves in French village life. Brave enough to do as a young idealistic but penniless couple, but even braver with two babies in tow! The book provides fascinating insight into French provincial life, the trips to the local market, and the experiments with traditional cuisine - rabbit, mutton, fish soup, quail, partridge. For those who would like to try, there are recipes for pot-au-feu and other iconic dishes. I'm going to try the Potato gratin, one of the recipes from the time where the family had to subsist on 30 kilos of potatoes when their money transfer failed to turn up from Australia. Wild asparagus and wild strawberries are just some of the foraged treats, wine from the local 'cave', meat cooked over the burning grape vine clippings, and cherry clafoutis - it all sounds wonderful. It is a lovely recollection of a way of life that sadly is changing, but it is reassuring to know that there is still a shepherd leading his flock to pasture somewhere above the village of Nizas.
This book is a pleasure to read, and for the cooks among us, there is an index to the recipes at the end. Helen Eddy

The super life of Ben Braver by Marcus Emerson

Allen & Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760631680
(Age: 8-10)
Themes: Boarding schools. Heroes. Bullying. Courage
Marcus Emerson, author of the popular 'Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja' introduces us to a new sarcastic superhero sixth-grader Ben Braver. After a boring summer hanging out in the basement watching the sixties Batman shows in his basement, Ben's life changes when he goes out in search of a peanut butter cup. Confronted by the school bully Dexter Dunn, Ben's special superpowers are unleashed. This manifestation hospitalises Ben and on waking up he's sent to Kepler Academy a unique school for kids with superpowers. When he gets there he finds most of the time is spent learning to control a super power, not develop it. This is a commitment as he has to have no contact with his parents while he's away.
Ben's diary is hilarious with plenty of asides, funny one-liners, jokes and comments directed at the reader. He expresses his fears and anxieties, unsure of how he fits in with the other academy students. Penny who can control small animals, and fire-belching Noah become great friends, they investigate the mystery of the ghost in Ben's dorm room and help Ben come to understand his powers. School life is filled with exciting classes, eccentric teachers, encounters with the school goat and midnight adventures. Bullies Dexter and Vic's evil trick at the Talent Show brings Ben to a crossroads, as he decides whether to return home or dig deep and learn to be resilient.
Emerson's cartoons add to the comedy and fun of this superhero story, there's his eccentric teachers, silly antics and mysterious meetings in the wood. The super life of Ben Braver includes plenty of 80's references suited to adult readers sharing this story with their pre-teens, or teachers reading to classes. Marcus Emerson's middle grade novel begins slowly and builds up the pace, leaving us with questions unanswered, Emerson will bring his superhero Ben back in a second and third instalment.
Rhyllis Bignell

Lessons of a LAC by Lynn Jenkins and Kirrili Lonergan

EK Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925335828
In one village on one side of the mountains live the LACs - Little Anxious Children who constantly look for danger and who only have negative self-talk; in another village on the other side of the mountains live their enemies the Calmsters who can take life as it comes because of their positive self-talk. The two sides are constantly battling because when one wins, the other shrinks.
One day Loppy the LAC decides to climb the mountain and spy on the Calmsters but his anxiety goes through the roof when he spies a Calmster looking back. And not only looking back, but coming to meet him! Who will win the impending battle? Does there have to be a winner and a loser?
Anxiety amongst children in on the increase. According to a recent national survey of the mental health and wellbeing of Australian children and adolescents, approximately 278,000 Australian children aged between 4 and 17 struggle with clinical symptoms of Anxiety. (For a summary see kidsfirst children's services). Therefore books which shine a light on this condition which affects 1 in 7 of those between 4 and 17 and which can be used as a starting point to help the child manage the symptoms are both important and welcome, particularly as mindfulness and mental health are gaining traction in school curricula. While there are almost as many causes of anxiety as there are children affected by it, such as not being perfect - Perfect Petunias by Lyn Jenkins, helping children turn their self-talk around, as Curly did for Loppy, is a critical starting point.
Not only do such explicit statements give the anxious child prompts for the new words, but they also acknowledge that anxiety is real and that there are others who are anxious too. While climbing that internal mountain as Loppy did can be hard, knowing that there are others who also battle can be reassuring. While teachers are not clinical psychologists like the author, having tools like the Loppy books in the mindfulness collection and using them not only to help the Loppies move forward but also to help the Calmsters learn that some of their friends may be like Loppy so deserve and need understanding rather than ridicule can be a starting point in achieving harmony in the classroom.
Teachers' notes which extend the story into practical applications are available.
Barbara Braxton

Mun Mun by Jesse Andrews

Piecing me together by Renee Watson

Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681191058
(Age: Young Adult) For Jade, a young black woman living in New York who attends a school that offers specific help to students, particularly financial help for those who need it, the final years of high school are pivotal to her future. She has to travel a long distance to attend school and because of the straitened circumstances of her family's life, often has little to eat. Taking the opportunity to learn Spanish opens her mind to the meaning of words, and she embraces the opportunity to think about her world in a new way. We see the chapter headings as pertinent to the novel in that they reflect Jade's thoughts and her joy in incorporating her new knowledge into her life e.g. Chapter 10, presentar, to introduce.
To find out who she is and what possibilities exist for her in the future, she feels driven to seek answers from her everyday experience. This is limited, as her family struggles to have enough to eat, she has to travel a long distance by public transport to get to the school, and her mother needs to work long hours to support them, desperate to keep Jade in school to enable a better future for her. Fortunately, the school institutes a program that offers mentorships by women not too much older than the girls, and this is the door that offers hope.
We are gradually made aware of her family's poverty, yet, despite this her mother is determined that their life be one that is grounded in love and kindness. Watson's intention is to enable us to recognise immediately that Jade's family is decent, good and desperately clinging to the hope that Jade will be able to find a path to a more hopeful future. Her turning point arises when she decides to speak out about what is wrong with the program, suggesting that what girls like her need is not just what has been planned but what she has come to understand needs to be done.
Watson's writing is intensely powerful, without guile, and her narrator's voice is a call that does not excite agitation or a call for violent upheaval, structuring characters and plot that foregrounds the need for a rational and calm approach to the education of all minorities, one that will enable them to able to choose and thrive in the world, taking their place fairly and justly alongside all others.
This challenging book is exciting and uplifting in the hope it offers, setting a challenge for people who do not realise the level of poverty in which some people, impoverished by education and financial background, colour or race, manage to live, in big third-world cities such as New York.
The narrative fits perfectly into its niche, occurring in the present, modern world that foregrounds the claim for equality but too often falls short of this high ideal. It is suitable, and indeed highly recommended, for adolescents and adult reading, its clarity of issue never suppressing the wonderfully told narrative that captivates us to the last page. The characters are deftly drawn and match their circumstances, and the place, New York City, comes alive through the vivid construction of place by its writer. It is a compelling book precisely because it advocates change through ways that do not frighten people, rather calling for the recognition of the humanity of all and the need for us all to be equal, in all ways.
Elizabeth Bondar

My Australia by Julie Murphy

Ill. by Garry Flaming. NLA Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9780642279163
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. "My Australia is a poetic journey across the Australian landscape. Celebrating both the ancient and modern Australia, the book invites readers to travel across the delights of our continent - from dry deserts to lush rainforests, from high mountains to stormy seashores, from winding rivers to fertile swamplands - all the magical places that are my Australia." (Publisher)
This is a beautifully illustrated book about Australia, it touches on all of the unique areas that can be found in Australia in a simply written story. At the end of the book there is a section that gives information on the diverse range of habitats that can be found within Australia.
This book could be used as a starting point to introduce the topic of different habitats within Australia.
I highly recommend this book for 4+.
Karen Colliver

How to win a Nobel Prize by Barry Marshall and Lorna Hendry

Piccolo Nero, 2018. ISBN 9781760640064
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Themes: Science - History. Nobel Prizes. Science experiments. Imagine travelling through time to meet eleven famous scientists who have won Nobel Prizes. Young scientist Mary loves to undertake science experiments at home and desires to win this prestigious award when she grows up. Her curiosity leads to a fortuitous discovery at her mother's workplace, where she stumbles across a secret meeting of past winners. When Mary threatens to reveal that these scientists travel through time to meet and discuss science and peace, Dr Barry Marshall offers her a special arrangement. With a special golden orb in hand, they can journey back in time to meet eleven Nobel Prize winners.
Time travelling is an art and it takes Dr Marshall several tries before he connects with adult Albert Einstein who discusses his theory of relativity and his research leading up to his win in 1921. Mary and Barry then journey back in time to meet the Curie family whose experiments with polonium and uranium led to the development of X-ray machines able to take internal pictures of the human body. They meet Alexander Fleming and learn of his discovery of penicillin, Marconi's invention of Morse Code and wireless telegraphy and Gertrude Elion's lifetime work on developing drugs to treat cancer patients.
Between each chapter is further factual information about the scientists and a safe science experiment to try. Mary visits both male and female scientists, from across the globe who have worked both from a young age and into their later life in pursuit of their passion. How to win a Nobel Prize is an interesting scientific adventure story suited to readers from ages 9 to 12.
Rhyllis Bignell

The Popeye murder by Sandra Winter-Dewhirst

A Rebecca Keith mystery, book 1. Wakefield Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743055236
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Themes: Mystery. Food. Adelaide. Rebecca Keith is a food editor and is invited to many restaurants and dinners as part of her job. When one of the Adelaide's top chefs is murdered and turns up on The Popeye, a boat with a restaurant, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Using her inside knowledge of the food industry and the people who work there, she is able to come up with clues as she covers the murder for her newspaper. Then another person is murdered and she finds herself in mortal danger.
The background for the novel, Adelaide and South Australian restaurants and wineries, many real, make for an interesting read. South Australians will revel in the familiar places that the author describes and will enjoy the description of the Australian Food Festival. Others will be intrigued by the references and may want to visit Adelaide for its food and wine culture after reading the novel.
Winter-Dewhirst also deftly describes how a journalist writes an article for the local newspaper and this adds to the enjoyment of the novel. A slight romance with Detective Inspector Gary Jarvie livens the story. However it is the macabre and different murders that hold the reader's attention in this easy to read murder mystery.
The Popeye murder would fall into the 'cosy' murder genre and fans of Kerry Greenwood and Agatha Christie are likely to enjoy it.
Pat Pledger

Head, shoulders, knees and toes ill. by Matt Shanks

Scholastic Australia, 2018. ISBN 9781760276942
(Age: 3+) Recommended. This book is the traditional song of 'Head, shoulders, knees and toes' with a slight variation. It is a fun variation including tail, scales, claws and paws. The illustrations add to the fun of the book.
All of the characters are joining in and having fun in this book, and this encourages the person reading the book to also do the actions.
This book can be used to build up body awareness, and identifying particular features of face and body.
I would recommend this book for 3+
Karen Colliver

Dad by my side by Soosh

Lothian Children's Books, 2018. ISBN 9780734418739
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fathers. Daughters. Relationships. Family. Love. The most beautiful watercolour illustrations demonstrate from page one the loving relationship between a father and his daughter. Dad is depicted as a very large person indeed, with his slightly too small shirt and pants, thongs and very curly beard and hair. He dotes on his daughter; they do everything together, sharing their days as they play games, read, talk, cook and try new things. But not only this, he stops his work to listen to her, he comforts her when she is sad and gives her lots of cuddles. When he goes away they are both sad, but he rings often to sing her to sleep. He makes marks on the door frame to show how much she has grown, learns from her just as much as she learns from him.
The highly humorous illustrations will tickle the readers as they spy the large man attempting to do everything his daughter wants him to do. Seeing him crawling under the table, or keeping watch as she sleeps, ready to take on the monsters that may lie under her bed will delight and endear the story to the readers, exposing some of the fears they may have. Each image underlines the bond between the two and reiterates what a happy household is like where things are shared, where the child is supported, where Dad is part of the meld.
A lovely story to read out loud, to give to children to learn to read for themselves, for children to see how much of the story relies upon the illustrations, and how much the illustrations tell the reader.
The text and images speak for themselves and make the word from the author at the end seem rather superfluous.
The endpapers recreate some of the images used in the book.
Fran Knight

The Fandom by Anna Day

Chicken House, 2018. ISBN 9781910655672
(Age: Older teens - YA) Note on book: Not suitable for younger readers. Anyone in any fandom's greatest dream is to be transported into the canon world of their favourite story and live out the events as the main character. Maybe except for fans of The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones and now The Gallows Dance. The story follows four teens who were transported from Comic-Con to the canon world of The Gallows Dance, where regular humans are looked down upon and discriminated against. Of course, then it all goes wrong; they accidentally kill the main character and Violet, our main character, takes her place in the story. The Fandom is full of tropes and cliches, but is comforting in the sense that you can anticipate what happens next. The comfortably cliched style is reminiscent of novels like The Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni and is pleasant to read and follow along to; however, if you like suspense and surprise, you might feel the book falls short. The only problem I had with the tropes and cliches (without giving too much away) was the death-revival trope, as it doesn't allow for emotional payoff.
Although friendship is meant to be a large theme within the story, there doesn't seem to be much true friendship displayed throughout the book, something which disappointed me. The action moves quickly once the world is established, and though you know what's going to happen as the story follows canon, the writing describes it beautifully and of course, nothing ever really goes to plan. The twists and turns keep you on your toes as you read. The teens and the audience get a glimpse at how large and deep a story's universe is and how much effort goes into creating such a detailed, captivating world.
Day gives a satirical look at discrimination and oppression, emphasising everyone's humanity and the futility of social constructs. The main character Violet is a massive fangirl and a brave but reluctant hero, whose sarcasm and wit bring a spark to the book. The story was compelling and complex, with witty twists and turns.
I would recommend this book to people who want something comfortable and easy to read, but captivating nonetheless.
Stephanie Lam

These are animals by Daniel Egneus

Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408889909
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Animals. Humour. Read aloud. Movement. Sound. What a lovely way to introduce animals to young readers. A vibrant, colourful display of animals around the world is presented with verve and movement, noises and sounds for little kids to enjoy, join in, make the noises and move around copying the the traits of the animals shown.
Neatly divided into areas: woodland animals, polar, grassland, night time, rainforest and ocean, each section shows a range of animals that survive in this particular habitat. Grassland animals depicts, for example, giraffes, elephants, zebras and lions, encouraging children to make the noises of the elephant and lion, copying the expressions on their faces. Some readers may even question why these animals live in this particular part of the world, eliciting all sorts of information from the adults. Night time animals too, depicts bats, owls and wolves and children will laugh with delight trying out the noises that the owl and wolf make, while blinking like the owl or hanging upside down like a bat. Each page is brim full of ideas for younger children to take to heart: moving, making noises, stretching, jumping, howling, squawking and swinging through the trees.
This is a delightfully colour filled book of sound and movement to introduce younger readers to the range of animals that exist around us.
Fran Knight

A royal murder by Sandra Winter-Dewhirst

A Rebecca Keith mystery book 2. Wakefield Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743055243
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Themes: Mystery. Murder. Adelaide. During the Women's Australian Open golf tournament in Adelaide, Rebecca Keith discovers a silk duffle bag containing the body of one of the golfers. She then embarks on an investigation of the murder, cavorting through some of Adelaide's best restaurants and eateries, not to forget the delights of Kangaroo Island and the Barossa Valley.
Like the first in the series, The Pop Eye murder, this is an easy to read, lighthearted murder mystery, with the food and wine topping the bill for interest. South Australians will once again delight in recognising favourite restaurants and the fabulous Adelaide parklands as Rebecca follows clues to the murders, and other readers will enjoy the atmosphere and setting. It is heart-warming to see the close friendship of Rebecca and her two friends, Penny and Lisa. There are quite a few laughs to be had as they travel around South Australia.
The background to the murders is also unusual with Chinese triads, top women professional golfers and property developers on the suspect list. This keeps the reader involved following the clues while enjoying a gourmet food and wine trail. Details about the process of getting news articles published and a slow moving romance with the police officer Gary, also round out what is an entertaining read.
Pat Pledger

The case of the missing hippo by Laura James

Ill. by Emily Fox. Fabio: The world's greatest flamingo detective series, book 1. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408889312
(Age: 6-9) Highly recommended. Themes: Detective story. Animal tale. This is a 'classic' detective story involving the great Flamingo Detective, Fabio. He is an intelligent flamingo, with a very tall giraffe co-worker (who is not quite as clever, but he is very tall!) and Fabio is exceptionally good at solving the problem of the missing hippo. Putting together the clues and bringing the case to a satisfactory conclusion (in a Hercule Poirot revelatory and flamboyant style), is detailed very simply for a young reader, but without underestimating their desire for a good story. This is an interesting mystery - it is after all fairly difficult to hide a hippo! Young readers will love the story, and animal characters add a touch of humour.
Illustrations are scattered through the pages, done in a simple, but amusing, cartoon style, and intensely vivid pink and green pages are also randomly included. This colour explosion adds a burst of interest for even the most reluctant reader.
Highly recommended for independent readers aged 6-9, and could still appeal to an older reluctant reader as they will recognise the subtle (or not so subtle) humour.
Carolyn Hull