Dorling Kindersley, 2017. ISBN 9780241276358
Anyone who has spent time with little people, particularly boys,
will know that they often gravitate to the non fiction collections
of the school library where they can get a THICK book (very
important) and then pore over the pictures for hours at a time. If
the pictures and diagrams are of high quality then they can absorb a
lot of information from them even if they can't manage the text yet.
In this new publication from non fiction experts DK the editors have
mastered combining stunning illustrations with just the right amount
of text to support the beginning reader, often only one sentence and
using vocabulary that is appropriate to the age group whilst not
'talking down.' Divided into four sections - All About Animals;
Amazing Animals; Animal Antics and More Very Important Animals - it
begins with a clear explanation of what animals are, differentiating
them from plants, and then moves on to those of land, sea and air.
Using lots of colour, a clear, clean font of a good size, labels,
speech bubbles and other literary devices, the young reader is taken
on a journey through the animal kingdom that they will return to
again and again, all the while honing their reading skills as they
want to know more than just the pictures can tell them. At the back
they are introduced to the concept of a glossary which explains the
meaning of some of the more unusual words they might encounter like
amphibian and exoskeleton, as well as an index that will help them
find just what they are looking for.
With more and more research emerging about the need for children to
develop basic literacy skills using print if they are to use and
interpret online information efficiently and effectively, this is a
must-have addition in both the school and home libraries.
Barbara Braxton
Little baby books: Outdoors ill. by Mel Four
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408873786
(Ages: 0-2) Board book. High-contrast pictures. Animals. The other
book in this new series for the very youngest of children is Everyday.
Both feature bold black and white pictures with pops of coloured
foil on each page. The shine of the foil will draw baby's eye as
well as providing a tactile element. Each double page has one word
(bird, ladybird, bee, snail, butterfly) and features an illustration
of outdoor things (leaves, flowers, etc.) The visually beautiful and
high-contrast illustrations will engage the developing eyes of very
young infants. This is a perfect first baby book but older babies
and toddlers will also enjoy it, especially due to the shiny foil
inlays. Older infants will also be able to point to and name the
objects and creatures on the pages.
Nicole Nelson
Literature to support the Science Curriculum Foundation - 7 by Fran Knight and Pat Pledger
Pledger
Consulting, 2016. ISBN 9781876678470
Following the same layout as some of their previous Australian
Curriculum publications, the authors provide lists of titles for the
various year levels from Foundation to Year 7. They use the headings
that exist in the Science curriculum, including Biological Sciences,
Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth and Space Sciences.
They supply useful lists of resources that suit the year level
content in each strand. The various ReadPlus reviewers have highly
recommended many of the titles listed and the annotations give one a
great overview as to the content of each book. This document will
join the other LinksPlus publications as a major time saver for
teachers planning their overviews for Science, and for librarians
putting together bulk loans of resources for classroom teachers.
Given that most of the books listed are recent publications of less
than ten years of age, they should be readily accessible in most
libraries.
The introduction contains a reminder to the teacher or librarian to
'read the books to judge their suitability for their particular
clientele and school situation before using them in the classroom.'
A selection of related websites are also provided, along with a
suggestion that the ReadPlus database also exists to save time when
checking for up to date information on the titles recommended. There
is a comprehensive index, containing the authors and general subject
headings which appear within the pages of this publication.
This is another 'must have' title for every school library and will
prove to be a major asset, supporting any time poor teacher or
librarian keen to provide useful resources for teachers wishing to
use fiction titles as an integral part of their science curriculum.
Jo Schenkel
Letters to the lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408883525
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: YA Romance; Grief;
Relationship; Family; Juvenile Justice; Photography; Alcoholism.
This is a story of the compounding distress of grief and loss; a
story of two young teen lives irreconcilably altered by different
tragic circumstances who happen upon each other through their words
on a page - delivered at a graveside. Their twisted and distorted
realities make them vulnerable and uncertain, and as strangers they
bond as they share with one another truths that they could not say
face-to-face. This dialogue enables them to come to grips with all
that is happening in their lives and leads them to a relationship
that could all come unravelling very fast if they actually knew who
it was that they were unburdening themselves to. The complexities of
grief and the impacts that it has when those who grieve feel an
element of guilt, are part of the burden for the teen protagonists,
Juliet and Declan. The two letter writers (and eventually email
correspondents writing under assumed names) are both reeling,
pushing people away in real life and hiding from help, but the
lifeline of their correspondence gives them hope and draws them
together. This is not a Romeo and Juliet saga, but it does have some
of the anguish of a developing young relationship built on shaky
ground.
The secondary characters in this book are winningly portrayed -
Declan and Juliet's teachers, who care in an above-and-beyond way
and see through the masks that are exposed to the world; friends who
are robust in complexity and yet are strongly loyal, and are not
stereotyped; family members who themselves need to deal with the
torturous path of recovering from loss. This aspect of the book
makes this a multi-layered romance and exploration of deeper
relationship issues, but while still retaining clever plot
development and nuanced characterisation. The power of photography
to capture a moment is also used in an intriguing way through this
story.
Note: No inappropriate language issues - rare in YA fiction and very
much appreciated.
Carolyn Hull
Why can't I be a dinosaur? by Kylie Westaway
Ill. by Tom Jellett. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760294724
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Dinosaurs, Family, Weddings,
Determination. A delightfully funny look at a family wedding, in
which Nellie is to be a flower girl, this book will appeal to all
readers, adult and children alike. Adults will readily recognise the
child who does not want to get out of her favourite costume, and the
nervousness that applies to everyone before a wedding, while
children will laugh out loud at Nellie's attempts to remain in her
favourite guise.
Nellie stomps around in her dinosaur costume, roaring and scaring
all others in the house, with Mum quietly reminding her of her
position in the wedding as a flower girl. Nellie is adamant that she
will not wear the purple dress, preferring dinosaur green and she
will be able to eat the cakes on offer even though dinosaurs prefer
vegetation. She has an answer for each obstacle. Finally the family
arrives at the wedding, seemingly happy with Nellie in her purple
outfit, but when she sprinkles the petals, the seated friends and
family notice her claws. On closer inspection they see how Nellie
has remained true to her dinosaur costume, without quite fooling
everyone.
Jellett's illustrations are full of humour as the family prepares
for Aunt Daisy's big day. It is wonderful to see a quiet family and
friends gathering at home, taking their vows with a celebrant in the
back yard of a single fronted cottage in the inner suburbs. This is
not the traditional wedding which children see so often in the media
and many things about this wedding will engender lots of questions
and comments about weddings and what makes a wedding. And Jellett's
wry expressions on the faces of all participants add another level
of humour to the day.
A wonderful book to read and reread, read out loud or use as the
basis of class work and discussion.
Fran Knight
The cursed first term of Zelda Stitch by Nicki Greenberg
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760294908
(Age: Year 3 - Year 6) Recommended. Zelda Stitch is about to start
her career as a primary school teacher. She is nervous because she
is facing a new class and hopes to keep the fact that she is a witch
a secret from the school, especially the principal. All the students
in the class have their own personalities and ways but Zelda is
particularly aware of Phoebe who happens to be the vice principal's
niece. The vice principal seems wary of Zelda and this only adds to
her anxieties.
Zelda feels she has been unsuccessful as a witch and doesn't match
up to the skills of her witchy friends. Even her own mother would
like Zelda to excel more at witchcraft. To add to Zelda's worries is
her very grumpy cat, Barnaby who pays her little interest and is a
destructive force at home. There are mysterious magical odd goings
on happening in the class and the principal seems always to be
missing. Can Zelda balance her two worlds successfully or will the
subtitle 'Bad teacher. Worst witch' sum up her life?
This is a fun story told in the first person, so we closely follow
Zelda's ups and downs, most of them comical. As we see the world
through Zelda's eyes we make the same assumptions as she does about
what is happening magically in the school but all is not as it
seems.
The pages are peppered with Nicki's energetic black and white
illustrations. The bright cover is appealing with the stunned
looking Zelda and grumpy Barnaby staring out at the reader,
suggesting things are not going very well at all!
I recommend this book to primary school students, years 3 to 6.
Jane Moore
Alice-Miranda in China by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House, 2016. ISBN 9780857985200
(Age: Year 3+) Recommended. When Alice-Miranda and her friends
depart on a school exchange to China, adventure, mystery and a small
amount of mayhem ensue, especially with Ms Baldini as one of the
chaperones. With their journey taking them from Hong Kong to
Shanghai and Beijing, the students have the opportunity to
experience everyday life, as they stay with the local families. With
some mutual interests, the girls share in their passions of
performing in an acrobatic troupe, shopping, eating the local
cuisine and learning about cultural differences, while living in the
homes of the various girls they meet. They see the different sides
of life, with some staying in the home of a wealthy family and the
others in a traditional hutong. As can be expected, they rise to
these challenges in different ways.
From their initial meetings with the gymnast, Summer, the mystery
begins to unfold and the girls, ably lead by Alice-Miranda, solve
the riddles with which they are faced. True to form, Alice-Miranda
proves herself to be a delightful guest, relishing the opportunities
afforded her and, in good grace, accepting all that is on offer.
Caprice, however, meets her match in the form of a spoilt little
rich girl. Many characters learn a lesson, as the resolution is
reached.
As with all of the other books in the series, this title is an
engrossing read and Alice-Miranda, the girl who is everyone's best
friend, is as endearing as ever. Independent female readers from
year 3 and above will ensure that this title is never on the library
shelf.
Jo Schenkel
Do you know about space? by Sarah Cruddas
DK Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9780241283820
What is space? Where does space really begin? Why is Jupiter stripy?
What is a light year? How are rockets launched?
There are few parents of young, curious children who have not been
confronted with questions like these as their offspring begin to
realise that there is a world even larger than the one immediately
around them and they want to find out more.
So here is the answer - a new publication by DK that uses children's
questions and an inquiry approach to provide the answers. Using
extraordinary photos and clear diagrams supported by child-size
bites of text over 200 common questions about space have been
answered at a level that the child will understand. Yet there is
enough information for the really curious to want to investigate
further. For example, in 2007 tiny animals called tardigrades
survived for 10 days in space outside a spacecraft - but what is a
tardigrade? (You can find out here.)
There are even quick quizzes that encourage them to read the text
closely, including picture captions, critical information literacy
skills.
DK have a sound and deserved reputation for bringing non fiction to
young readers in a way they can access and engage with and this new
addition is no exception. Ideal for the eyebrow-raising questions
for parents who can get themselves off the hook by suggesting they
use the book to find out together, yet tantalising enough for those
with a need to know more.
Barbara Braxton
The build up season by Megan Jacobson
Penguin Books Australia, 2017. ISBN 9780143573388
(Age: Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Themes: domestic
violence, first love, first sex, family, coming of age, Darwin. 17
year old Illy and her mum are living in her Nan's house in Darwin,
escaping domestic violence. Illy had been sent to boarding school to
keep her safe but angry and rejected she managed to get expelled.
Her mum, Eve is a wellness expert, hosting retreats to make a living
but her calmness belies the fact that they all live in fear of being
found and punished by Iliad's violent father Troy. Refusing to be a
victim Illy takes her anger out on her family and schoolmates, she
doesn't fit in and is only interested in Art. Max, a boy who lives
near her is also keen on art, wanting to make films but when he asks
her to drive him home and suggests they stop at his house to see his
python Illy misinterprets, overreacts and orders him out of the car.
A prank war ensues mediated to some extent by Mia, a geeky,
idiosyncratic classmate Illy feels protective of. Mia turns out to
be strategically perceptive and supportive and she and Max's mate
Hamish are there for their friends when they are most needed.
When Illy meets and falls in love with Jared Lovett, the principal's
son, she learns that love is not rational. She becomes besotted with
the self-centred frustrated actor, spending all her time with him,
working out ways to help him be successful. As the relationship
develops she makes a conscious decision to have sex with him,
pondering the meaning, in this modern world, of the significance of
losing one's virginity. However, Jared has anger management problems
and becomes very jealous leading to a violent outburst. Illy finds
herself making excuses for him, slipping into the role of victim.
Dealing with this revelation pales into insignificance once the real
terror begins and she discovers who she can turn to in a crisis.
Just as the heat and humidity of Darwin builds, so does the threat
of violence but for Iliad things also become clearer as she makes
her own decisions and adjusts her perspectives.
A powerful story about surviving domestic violence and first love
and while explicitly exploring first sex it is with empowerment
rather than loss. The minor characters are well drawn, each with
their own issues but subtly looking out for one another. The novel
also acknowledges the academic disruption caused by domestic
violence and shifting schools yet Illy is able to have very real
aspirations not dependent on broad academic excellence which many
students will relate to. Highly recommended for senior students.
Sue Speck
Pea pod lullaby by Glenda Millard
Ill. by Stephen Michael King. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN
9781760290085
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Lullaby, Hope, Refugees. A small boat with a
mother and her two children leave the barbed wire enclosed camp
where they live. They sail across the seas, taking a huge risk
leaving the war torn land behind them.
In beautifully simple lines, Millard extols the link between us and
them, between the me and the you, between us and the rest of the
universe. Each of the three lines stanzas underlines the compassion
felt for the plight of the refugee.
From, I am the small green pea
you are the tender pod
hold me,
as they step foot onto the boat, to I am the falling star
you are the wishful hands
catch me
as they float across the boundless seas, to I am the castaway
you are the journey's end
welcome me
as they finally reach shore, the message of interdependence and hope
is suffused throughout the text.
Millard's bare words say it all, how people are set adrift because
of war and dislocation, taking their chances on a sea of hope
eventually reaching a place which welcomes them.
The trio on the boat meet another drifting things on their journey:
a polar bear, far from his land, and whales which guide them back to
the bear's home, while they sail on through the high seas, wind and
rain until finally land is sighted.
The beautifully crafted water colour illustrations embrace the
journey taken by the family, reflecting the trauma experienced in
the land they leave behind and the discomfort of the journey they
undertake, not knowing where they will end up.
Together the text and illustrations make a hymn for the plight of
the refugee, tossed upon unknown seas, making their way across the
ocean to a new land.
The collaboration between the author and illustrator came about as a
result of a poem Millard wrote while writing for the Hush Foundation
book. The two came together to produce the final book, Pea pod
lullaby, which is a timely reminder of all of our backgrounds,
as our families made their way to Australia, many of whom in
situations not unlike the family in the book.
Fran Knight
The Dream Walker by Victoria Carless
Hachette Australia, 2017. ISBN 9780734417473
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Grief; Family; Violence; Small town
mentality; Alcoholism; Bullying; Suicide. Lucy is a dream walker . .
. just like her mother. But will it lead her to the same sad end?
Dream walking enables Lucy to enter the dreams of others, and in
doing so she gets a glimpse of the realities and experiences of the
people who knew her mother at the time of her death. As is the way
of dreams, this is a floating, ethereal reality, but it reveals some
confusing uncertainties about Lucy's life and community. The setting
of this book is heroic - a very small and struggling fishing
community in North Queensland. The residents battle to survive;
sometimes they battle each other and life has not dealt kindly with
many of them. Lucy has to overcome friendship issues, bullying, her
own grief, school expectations, an uncertain romantic interest and
helping her father make a meagre living and cope with his own loss
and grief. Despite her almost voiceless temperament, she does this
with incredible resilience.
The almost ethereal and mystical quality of dreams is also reflected
in Carless' writing style. The narrative floats, twists and turns.
Nothing is straightforward. In the same way that a tidal creek ebbs
and flows, and twists through its challenging environment, this book
leads the reader in a journey of discovery with an over-riding sense
of foreboding as the lingering pervasive atmosphere. It is an
interesting experience, but not one characterised by delight.
Perhaps the hopelessness of the struggling community is too raw an
experience to make this a joyful read. It is probably though worthy
to recommend as a book that a senior English student could analyse
for style and character and setting qualities rather than as a novel
to recommend for those that like to escape into a heart-warming
story.
Recommended for readers aged 15+.
Carolyn Hull
Wigglesbottom Primary: The toilet ghost by Pamela Butchart and Becka Moor
Wigglesbottom Primary book 1. Nosy Crow, 2014. ISBN
9780857634269
(Age: 6-8) Recommended. School. Junior novel. With three stories in
one book the emerging reader will have lots of fun with the
hilarious toilet ghost, a stinky shoe that can tell the future and
an itchy carpet.
Each of the stories is about 30 highly illustrated pages, with
medium sized print so that young readers will know that they have
moved on from the picture book format. The reader is introduced to
Miss Riley the teacher and the 15 class members as well as Mr Harris
the deputy headmaster, in a double page welcome. The personality of
each child comes out with the clever illustrations that are also
very funny as the story progresses. The toilet ghost is sure
to tickle the funny bones of readers as they imagine the boys
refusing to go to the toilet because of the ghost and the image of
Mr Harris in shorts after he was soaked.
More fun and games can be had in The stinky shoe of fortune
as children enjoy the pranks of Miles and his shoe while in The
curse of the itchy carpet, children will have fun with the
idea of a teacher with ants in her pants.
As well as gaining much enjoyment from the stories, children will
also be able to see the power of peer group pressure in persuading
everyone that things are happening in a certain, albeit humorous way.
Pat Pledger
Wigglesbottom Primary: The shark in the pool by Pamela Butchart and Becka Moor
Wigglesbottom Primary book 2. Nosy Crow, 2015. ISBN
9780857634818
(Age: 6-8) Recommended. Humour. Three more stories of primary school
mayhem from the Red House Children's Book Award shortlisted author,
Pamela Butchart. This time the children are afraid that there is a
shark in the pool while they are having their swimming lessons. Then
Gavin is sure that he has found a dinosaur bone in the school garden
while the class members are convinced that the play parchute can
make them invisible.
This was just as funny as the first in the series The toilet
ghost, and will have children rolling in the aisle with the
antics of the class. Kids will gain an good idea of how rumours can
be spread and panic ensue as things happen in the pool in The
shark in the pool. Then everyone will be interested in the
idea of finding a dinosaur bone in the garden with Dinosaur
Bones and will thrill to the idea of a parachute making you
invisible in The parachute of invisibility.
All the stories are quite original and very funny with great twists
at the end. The illustrations are fabulous, especially the shark
with its enormous teeth and greatly add to the fun of the stories.
The poor teachers handle the mayhem very well and are
sympathetically portrayed.
A great book for the emerging reader, who will have lots of fun
reading this.
Pat Pledger
Beautiful mess by Claire Christian
Text Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925498547
(Age: Adolescent - Adult) Recommended. Winner of the Text Prize,
this is the story of Ava and Gideon, adolescents who live in their
own worlds because the outside world is not one with which they can
easily identify, or indeed like. Both struggle at school to cope
with the world that ignores those who need help and the intense
self-interest that defines so many people. Finding an honest friend
like themselves is a source of great comfort to each of them.
Coming from families that are different, Ava and Gideon are able to
form a bond that gives each of them the support that the outside
world just cannot give. Ava cannot forget her friend whom she says
'didn't take a fall' but rather is 'dead', and is angered as to why
won't people say this! The fact that people won't face this truth,
and state the truth, consumes her and she feels alienated.
Gideon has two mums, and he is loved, but he is an adolescent, a
questioner and a deep thinker, scared of life and anxious about many
things, but not the love of his mums. He is able to express himself
well with few people but begins to be more open as his relationship
with Ava develops. Even though their relationship was supportive and
loving, her grief for her friend, Kelly, who suicided, is too
consuming and she feels unable to spend time with Gideon any more.
These complex intelligent young people speak to the world of the
angst of adolescence, of their fear of facing adulthood, of their
grief for lost friends, and of their anger at the world for its
unfairness. Christian's writing is compelling, her subjects topical,
her characters vivid, their lives touched by the maelstrom of
adolescence and their dawning awareness of the world. A beautifully
written novel, moving and truthful. A compelling read, suitable and
recommended for adolescent readers. Highly recommended for adults.
Elizabeth Bondar
How Lunchbox Jones saved me from robots, traitors and Missy the Cruel by Jennifer Brown
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781681194417
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. How Lunchbox Jones saved me from
robots, traitors and Missy the Cruel finds Luke stuck in the
robotics team. Sure, he likes computer games but he hasn't a clue
about robots. The rest of the team is a bit weird too. There are the
two Jacobs who look identical but aren't identical, Missy the Cruel
(she just makes Luke's life miserable) and there is also Lunchbox
Jones. Luke freezes every time he sees him and the rest of the
school seems scared of him too. As if year 7 isn't hard enough! Luke
is also angry at his older brother for joining the marines and no
matter what he says he can't get his grandfathers to accept he
doesn't play football. How Lunchbox Jones saved me from robots, traitors and Missy the
Cruel is an excellent interpretation of the trials and
tribulations of students in middle school. Readers will appreciate
Luke's family worries as well as the school issues he faces. Anyone
interested in robots will enjoy the robotics theme and if they have
read other middle school themed novels like Diary
of a wimpy kid then they will enjoy this too. The story
telling is descriptive and relative, exploring family, friendship
and school life.
Kylie Kempster
