Constable, 2017. ISBN 9781472120649
(Age: Secondary to adult) Recommended. Themes: Crime. Amsterdam.
Cold case. World War Two. Sympathisers. This is a wonderful
concoction of a crime thriller set in a totally different
environment, Amsterdam, with its canals, polders and tulips.
Detective Lotte Meermon is back after four months off police work
after being shot. Some do not want her back, and actively encourage
her to go, while others are giving her the benefit of the doubt. But
here again, she rubs people up the wrong way, insisting that the
death of a painter at a building site was not an accident. When his
wife of six months finds a locker ticket Lotte is called to help but
finds the bag in the locker contains bones. Lotte is sure there is
more to the death that appears, even though her partner, Thomas is
unconvinced.
With a single-mindedeness seen in Saga Noren from 'The bridge',
Lotte ploughs on, following leads that seem to come from fresh air.
Forensic examination of the bones reveal them to be from the war,
and the DNA matches them to a public prosecutor, brought up on
stories of her heroic grandfather, killed by the Nazis for his work
with the resistance, but the forensic examiner has also found a
spare arm, the DNA linking him to a crime boss not seen for some
years. Thomas follows the leads in this part of the investigation,
eager to excel with such a big case, leaving Lotte to follow the
painter's death, but the two coincide, bringing in a range of people
from Lotte's youth when she helped find the killer of her friend
Anges, when she was ten. Now that her mother has broken her wrist
and is staying with her, the antipathy between them adds another
level of comment into the story, comparing it with the fate of
several other older parents involved in the case.
Lotte is a fascinating character through this book, revealing
snippets of herself, and her past, but certainly saying what she
thinks, to the sometimes astonishment of those around her.
This is an involving sequel to A cold death in Amsterdam
(2015) and a third book is about to be published. I love reading
crime novels set in new places, and with a character as complex as
Lotte, the series will please.
Fran Knight
Ultimate Lego Star Wars
DK, 2017. ISBN 9780241288443
(Ages: 8+) In 1999 the first LEGO Star Wars sets were released and
since then the collaboration has continued to grow. This is a
definitive, unrivalled encyclopaedic guide to every LEGO Star Wars
minifigure or set ever produced. Each of the three main sections
(characters and creatures; locations and vehicles and equipment) are
comprehensive visual galleries. It shows their evolution from the
very first creations to what technology allows the LEGO designers to
create today. Even non-fanatics will be interested in seeing the
progression from the old yellow mini-figures with minimal detail to
the intricate figures with personalised facial details available
today. While there is only one version of many of the figures and
models, some have up to a dozen variants. The text accompanying the
photographs of each model includes a little information about the
Star Wars character itself, but is mostly committed to the actual
design and differences between the variants. There are even some
quotes from a LEGO designer scattered throughout the book for some
added insight. All the important information is included for both
serious LEGO fans (year, set number) and serious Star Wars fans
(mini-figure homeworld and affiliation, vehicle and equipment type
and model, location sector and system, etc.). There is a lot of
information here, but large visuals, easy to read text and labelled
pictures make it accessible even for a young audience. This is
really for the most serious LEGO Star Wars fans and collectors but
is fascinating even for those who aren't.
Nicole Nelson
The birthday invitation by Lucy Rowland and Laura Hughes
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408862995
(Age: Junior primary) Recommended. Who would believe that losing
just one birthday invitation could lead to such surprising results?
Who will catch the invitation that Ella dropped? A wizard, a
princess, even a pilot flying high above.
Planning a birthday party is always so much fun, but never did Ella
anticipate such a colourful bunch of new friends turning up to help
her celebrate her special day, even a pirate's parrot.
This brilliantly illustrated book is a rollicking rhyme, skilfully
crafted and a delight to read.
I would recommend it for Junior Primary children who all enjoy a fun
and imaginative tale.
J Kerr-Smith
Pick a pine tree by Patricia Toht
Ill. by Jarvis. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406360608
"Pick a pine tree from the lot -
Slim and tall or short and squat.
Long, straight limbs
Or branches bent . . . .
Mmm! Just smell that piney scent!" Publisher
I absolutely loved this picture book. It bought back many wonderful
memories of my own childhood - my sister perched up the tree with
Mum directing her as to which branch to cut and then the difficult
task of trying to make the said branch stand somewhat nicely. This
book takes us all on a familiar journey that we all venture on at
this time of year. It starts with choosing the perfect tree and
strapping it to the roof to ensure it arrives home safely. On
arrival home, the arduous task of rearranging the furniture to allow
the tree to have pride of place. The beautiful rhyming in the book
will provide ample opportunities for prediction as it is read aloud.
Excitement is built as each stage is reached and then the spreading
of Christmas cheer reinforces the true meaning of this special time
of year. This will be a welcome addition to the Christmas collection
and it will be sure to catch the eye of the reader with the sparkly
writing on the cover. Many children will be able to connect to the
story with this yearly ritual being performed every year right
around the world.
Kathryn Schumacher
A very quacky Christmas by Frances Watts and Ann James
ABC Books, 2017. ISBN 9780733329623
(Ages: 3-7) Highly recommended. Themes: Christmas, Giving. Samantha
Duck is getting ready for Christmas. She's putting up tinsel around
the reeds, singing her favourite Christmas song ("We wish you a
quacky Christmas") and hanging her Christmas stocking. "Christmas is
not for animals", her tortoise friend Sebastian tells her. Samantha
carries on regardless. "Christmas is about giving and sharing isn't
it? And animals like to give and share, don't they?" she asks. Faced
with this infallible logic, Sebastian reluctantly agrees to help her
deliver presents to animals all over the world ("That's impossible!"
he exclaims). The other animals on the farm are impressed with
Samantha's idea, donating their wool, eggs and other products to be
made into Christmas gifts. Samantha and Sebastian work hard day and
night making and wrapping gifts, but the delivery is the hard part.
Donkey lends them his cart but how will they make it fly? It isn't
until Sebastian thinks of all the generous animals and starts
believing that Christmas is for animals that their running and
flapping help the cart take to the skies. "Christmas is for
animals", he says.
In a world where the true religious meaning of Christmas has been
all but lost this is welcome reassurance that even non-religious
Christmas is worthy as a time of giving and sharing. If you want or
need a story that celebrates the humanity and generosity of
Christmas without harking on the religious tradition, this is
fantastic. It echoes the Santa Claus narrative but focuses on the
ability of everyone to be generous and make someone else happy. It
is also about how believing in the impossible makes it possible: the
true magic of Christmas.
The text seems effortless in its simplicity and reads exceptionally
well. The black line and watercolour illustrations from the talented
Ann James (I'm a Hungry Dinosaur, It's a Miracool, Shutting
the Chooks In) are stunning and Samantha and Sebastian are
very endearing characters.
Nicole Nelson
A Christmas wish by Beatrix Potter
Puffin, 2017. ISBN 9780241291757
Board book. It's Christmas Eve and Peter Rabbit and his sisters are
excited, but Peter is worried too. They have all wished for a
special present but Peter can't sleep, and he knows Father Christmas
won't visit if he's still awake. As the hours drag by anxious Peter
hears a little creak here, and a little bump there, so now he's even
less likely to fall asleep, especially as he is convinced each noise
must be Santa and he gets up to investigate. Then he decides to sit
and gaze at the lights on the Christmas tree . .
. will Santa come while he's there?
The charm and delight of Beatrix Potter's tales about Peter Rabbit
have endured over decades and this adaptation is no exception.
Perfect for that final sleep on the BIG night, little ones will
empathise with Peter as they share his excitement and find it just
as tricky to get to sleep it will become a classic part of the
annual Christmas Countdown.
Barbara Braxton
The Dollmaker of Krakow by R M Romero
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406375633
(Age: 10+) "In the land of dolls, there is magic.
In the land of humans, there is war.
Everywhere there is pain.
But together there is hope."
Karolina is a living doll whose king and queen have been overthrown.
But when a strange wind spirits her away from the Land of the Dolls,
she finds herself in Krakow, Poland, in the company of the
Dollmaker, a man with an unusual power and a marked past. The
Dollmaker has learned to keep to himself, but Karolina's courageous
and compassionate manner lead him to smile and to even befriend a
violin-playing father and his daughter - that is, once the Dollmaker
gets over the shock of realizing a doll is speaking to him. But
their newfound happiness is dashed when Nazi soldiers descend upon
Poland. Karolina and the Dollmaker quickly realize that their Jewish
friends are in grave danger, and they are determined to help save
them, no matter what the risks.
This book is beautifully written in quite an unusual way. There are
two worlds in the story - the stark reality of Krakow, Poland in the
1940s and the fantasy world of The Land of Dolls where Karolina
hails from. The reader is certainly drawn to the similarities
between them. It is heart-warming to see the friendship develop
between the dollmaker and Karolina and how a little wooden doll
begins to warm the heart of an old lonely man. Faith in humanity is
restored with the bond developing between the two main characters
and a Jewish girl and her father.
I believe this book would appeal to children 10 and over and as the
worlds of fantasy and historical fiction collide, lovers of both
genres would certainly enjoy this book. I believe this book would
make a great read aloud and I can see interesting discussions with
children as they discuss good and evil, develop their awareness of
empathy and see that good can prevail over evil.
Kathryn Schumacher
Stanley's playing the trumpet! by John Field
Ill. by Tull Suwannakit. Book+CD. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN
9781743815892
(Ages: 3-6) Themes: Musical instruments, talent. This is a musical
story about Stanley, a rhino who practises and practises but can't
quite get the hang of playing the trumpet. It isn't until he gets
the urge to play the drums that he discovers his true musical
talent. The accompanying CD contains the story set to music and is
upbeat with a fast tempo. Some of the lines are magical ("a
syncopated symphony of rhythmic passion"), and the book both reads
well and sounds great sung. The story is about finding the
instrument that suits you best and about having fun playing music
with friends.
We often say to children that if they practise enough they will get
good at something but this explores the idea of innate talent suited
to a particular musical instrument. It is also a reminder to
children that it is okay not to be great at everything, but to keep
trying new things.
The story uses humour within the text and the illustrations,
particularly to show the reader just how terrible Stanley's trumpet
playing sounds. Birds are startled, Mum, Dad and the neighbours
cover their ears and owls fall from trees in shock. Sound noises are
also used in the text and within the illustrations: pop, squeak,
flop, wheeeee, blooort and blaacch are just some of the ear-piercing
noises that come from Stanley's trumpet.
The illustrations are fun, action-packed and filled with humour.
This is great for music teachers wanting to encourage children to
keep looking for the instrument that suits them best.
Nicole Nelson
The Bolton Boys' balloon adventure and other stories: Sound Stories by Barbara Murray
An Introduction to Consonant Sounds: Part 1. Ill. by Sarah Hardy.
Little Steps Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925545074
(Ages: 4-6) Themes: Phonemic Awareness, Synthetic Phonics. This has
been written by the co-author of the Sound Waves resources, which
teach spelling and reading skills using a phonemic approach, and is
one of four books introducing the 43 consonant and vowel sounds used
in the English language. Their aim is to help children hear and
identify individual sounds within speech. This first book contains
12 short stories, each one focussing on a different consonant sound
represented by the letters b, k, d, f, g, h, j, l, m, n, ng, and p.
There are some slight differences between these 43 sounds and the
popular Jolly Phonics programme sounds. Apparently, the Sound Waves
sounds are those specifically heard by Australian children. The
programme, being Australian, is also based on the Australian
Curriculum. The stories are short and simple with a clear narrative
structure, allowing for varied tone and pace when reading aloud. The
book contains an explanation of phonemic awareness and synthetic
phonics and clear guidelines for getting the most out of the
stories. The lists of words using the target sound, in both the
illustrations and the text, are useful, however it would be better
if there were more things within the picture that begin with the
target sound. While most of the pictures are quite detailed and
contain many things beginning with the initial sound, there are a
few that only have two or three. This is understandable for a sound
like ng, but even the j illustration only has a jellyfish. It should
also be noted that the text is small and is not suitable for helping
children to recognise the visual manifestation of the sounds (a
point of difference between the Jolly Phonics introductory books and
this series). This is a great addition for schools using Sound
Waves, but is a useful resource even for those using other synthetic
phonics programmes such as Jolly Phonics.
Nicole Nelson
Big Bash League series by Michael Panckridge
Random House Australia, 2017 Academy smash. ISBN 9780143782278 Championship Dash. ISBN 9780143782292 Representative Clash. ISBN 9780143782315 Carnival Clash. ISBN 9780143782339
Just in time for the cricket season come four additions to this
popular series which focuses on the Big Bash League, the
professional Twenty20 domestic cricket competition in Australia.
With the Australian women's team retaining The Ashes this will be a
competition eagerly followed by both boys and girls and, so, to have
new episodes in print will be eagerly sought.
In Academy Smash Billy loves to bowl - fast! He's also a
massive Melbourne Stars fan and when his friend Wen-Lee lets him
know about a cricket academy camp, run by none other than the Stars,
Billy is desperate to go! So is Wen-Lee, even if she does barrack
for the Brisbane Heat. Trouble is, the applications are about to
close and Billy needs to find a way to raise money for the entry
fee. Perhaps a speed-bowling competition is in order! Championship Dash features The Kangaroo Flat Galahs who are
preparing for their annual match against the Edenhope Eagles. The
stakes are high with the winner qualifying for the State T20
Championships in Perth. They'll also receive tickets to the Perth
Scorchers versus Melbourne Renegades double-header! The Galahs
haven't beaten the Eagles in 30 years, but that was before they had
the mysterious and brilliant Allunga on their team. Can they finally
turn the tables? Representative Clash, the 7th in the series focuses on Tommy
who is a huge hitter and loves nothing more than smashing balls out
of the park with his impressive handmade bat. He's a diehard Hobart
Hurricanes fan and has his fingers crossed that he will be selected
for the Hobart representative team that will take on Adelaide in the
upcoming Adelbart Clash. But when Tommy's bat goes missing he can
feel his chances slipping away. It's up to his friends to help him
find his bat so he can chase his place on the rep team!
The final story in this collection Carnival Clash culminates
in the first T20 Crickomania Carnival and two teams of kids have
been selected to represent the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.
Maddie, Chase and Jye are a few of the lucky ones and they can't
wait to test out their cricket skills and meet some BBL and WBBL
players. The event begins with lots of excitement but also some
strange occurrences. There's a mix up with the coaches, unexplained
rules and an opposing team who really wants to win. Can everyone
pull together to make the carnival a success?
Definitely a series for the cricket lovers and one to recommend to
parents to keep reading going over the long summer holidays!
Barbara Braxton
I hate everyone but you by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760631482
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. A modern coming-of-age novel written
through a series of emails and text messages, I hate everyone
but you tells the story of best friends Ava and Gen, who are
starting their first year of college on opposite sides of the
country. Humorous, relatable and quirky, this book, authored by best
friends Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin, previous writers at Buzzfeed
Video and currently featuring on their largely popular Youtube
channel Just Between Us, delivers an important glimpse into
the modern teenager, raising diverse themes from first loves,
long-distance friendships and family relationships to mental
illness, sexual orientation and discovering who you are. This novel
is innovative and insightful in its inclusion of diverse themes,
including some which are still quite controversial, ensuring that
any reader is able to relate to Ava, Gen or their experiences.
Although this novel is riddled with hilarious quips, a fantastic
storyline and relatable characters, there are some sexually explicit
elements that are inappropriate for younger readers. Further, due to
the fragmented structure of this book, expressed through text
messages and emails, readers may have a hard time keeping up with
the simultaneous experiences and milestones of Ava and Gen.
Nevertheless, this novel provides a wonderful exploration of the
bonds of friendship and family, and an insight into the
unpredictable nature of life. Through Ava and Gen, the reader is
brought on a whirlwind of a journey, and is given the opportunity to
perceive the world through two vastly different perspectives. These
contrasting yet complementary protagonists provide every reader with
something to relate to, and a vital message to take away; change
isn't always a bad thing.
Daniella Chiarolli (university student)
The start of me and you by Emery Lord
Bloomsbury 2017. ISBN 9781408888377
(Age: 12+) Recommended. A new year, a new plan, a new start. Grief
is hard, no matter what, but it can be more complex when you're
grieving for someone you hardly knew. Paige's first boyfriend died
in a swimming accident leaving her to deal with her newfound
reputation as 'the girl whose boyfriend drowned'. With a new school
year Paige is determined to pull herself free of her grief and
embrace teenage life. She decides that this year she will date her
long-time crush, apply for a screenwriting course in New York, join
a club, and overcome her fear of swimming. It can't be that
difficult, right? With the support of her three best friends, Paige
leaps back into high school life, underestimating all the challenges
she will face throughout the year as new friendships form and old
ones evolve. Nothing could be worse than losing Aaron again.
Nothing. Not now that her parents are being civil again after the
tumultuous divorce. Paige will discover that her goals are more of a
challenge than she first thought, particularly with her growing
friendship with Ryan Chase's nerdy cousin.
Moving, funny, and intelligent, I would highly recommend The
Start of Me and You for girls twelve and up. This coming of
age story deals with ideas surrounding grief and relationships as
well as presenting messages about being true to yourself and open to
trying new things, despite the stigma (Paige joining Quizbowl).
Paige faces her fears throughout the novel, learning that what is
right and what is wrong is not always as simple as we would
sometimes like to think.
Kayla Gaskell, 21
Ali-A adventures. Game on by Alastair Aiken and Cavan Scott
Lead artist: Aleksandar Sotinovski. Puffin Books, 2017. ISBN
9780141388168
(Age: Primary - Lower secondary) Recommended. Themes; computer
games, aliens, superheroes. Ali-A is attending a gaming convention
with his dog, Eevie and partner Clare, reporting to his online fan
base of gamers. It is the launch of the new game "Alien Liberator
II" and as he is about to do an interview everyone starts to morph
into Thralls, vulnerable aliens from the game. Things go from bad to
worse as the models of the Giant Tyrantors come to life too and
imprison the Thralls and Clare. It is up to Ali-A to become the
Liberator with his knowledge of playing the game to help him
overcome the evil ones. We progress through the levels of the game,
Ali and Eevie picking up super powers on the way but Ali also loses
some of his allocated five lives on the way and it is touch and go
at the end. Fast paced and engaging, the story blends the excitement
of a computer game of alien forces and special powers with a
traditional story of teamwork and belief in oneself triumphing over
bullies. Beautifully crafted graphics maintain the excitement and
add depth and dimension to what is a simple adventure story. Readers
will probably be familiar with Ali-A's online presence; according to
Wikipedia his YouTube subscriber count is 4.6 million so this book
can be a useful bridge for young online fans who might be reluctant
readers. Recommended for primary and lower secondary students.
Exclusive Video! Ali-A
Introduces Ali-A Adventures Game On! - YouTube
Sue Speck
Year One by Nora Roberts
Chronicles of The One book 1. Piatkus, 2017. ISBN
9780349414942
(Age: Adult - 16+) Dystopian fiction. Pandemics. A deadly pandemic
sweeps through the world, leaving devastation in its trail. Billions
die and amongst those who are left rise people with magical
abilities. Lana, a New York chef, can move things around, Fred can
bring up light, Jonah a paramedic can tell the future of those he
touches and Katie has just had twins who may have a touch of magic.
Together this group flees New York in search of a safe haven.
I am a fan of Nora Roberts and will happily read anything that she
writes. In Year One she tackles a dystopian future, where an
avian flu pandemic has swept the world. Her description of the
spread of this deadly disease seems all too real and she sweeps the
reader along as she introduced her main characters and their fight
to leave New York before the authorities grab them for their strange
abilities. I have read many books with dystopian futures and I
really enjoyed the first section of Year One. However I
found the mixture of witchcraft and realism disconcerting, as if
Roberts had started off with the science fiction premise of a world
gone wrong and then takes on the fantasy aspect of magic, fairies
and elves, which stuck a slightly discordant note.
There are a lot of characters to remember in Year One, and I
was very invested in their survival. I was surprised in the later
part of the book when Roberts concentrated on just one part of the
story and left me wondering what had happened to the other main
protagonists, but undoubtedly they will reappear in future stories.
Readers looking for a big dose of romance in this story will be
disappointed, although there are strong relationships and people
that you care about.
I will definitely pick up the next in the series and with so many
main characters already introduced can see quite a few books to
come!
Pat Pledger
Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies by Jackie French
HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9781460753583
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. A tale of espionage, love and
passionate heroism. Inspired by true events, this is the story of
how society's 'lovely ladies' won a war.
Young Sophie Higgs has grown up a privileged girl being the only
child of the wealthiest man in NSW, Jeremiah Higgs the king of
canned corned beef. But in the rigid society of Sydney, as in
England, 'trade' is scorned and so despite her wealth, intelligence
and beauty it would seem Sophie will always be second-class by the
established standards. Until that is, in order to deflect Sophie
from an unsuitable love affair, she is sent to England to the home
of her father's old army friend Earl of Shillings to be coached by
his cousin Miss Lily and eventually be presented at court.
In England Sophie's world is wonderfully and gloriously opened wide
as she becomes the prized 'pupil' of the enigmatic Miss Lily and
makes new friends, is sought after by new lovers and particularly
held in esteem for her wit, courage and compassion. But the
glittering world of the debutante is quickly extinguished by the
outbreak of war and it is here that Sophie demonstrates her real
abilities and character.
As with all of Jackie's historical novels a completely captivating
and richly detailed narrative is interwoven with actual historical
fact to create a mesmerising offering. I was hooked from the very
first page and would have been extremely sorry to reach the end
except for the fact that I had the next volume with which to
continue. How fortunate are we to have such an exceptional writer to
claim as our own? The breadth of her talents seems endless.
Highly recommended for readers of around mid-teens upwards. Find
teaching notes here.
Sue Warren
