Ill. by Donovan Bixley. Scholastic New Zealand, 2017. The great egg stink. ISBN 9781775433668 The lava melt shake. ISBN 9781775433675
A new series about dinosaurs that I am sure will be a hit with young
boys. There is plenty of toilet humour and descriptions of bodily
excretions. We meet Arg and his family and a wide array of
dinosaurs. Poor Arg finds himself in a number of difficult
circumstances, which ultimately lead to him narrowly escaping
trouble with his parents. Each book is a story within itself -
consequently they do not have to be read in order. The books are set
out in chapters and will be popular with students moving into short
novels. The text is reasonably large and accompanied by
illustrations. They would fit into the 'Quick Read' section of the
library.
Kathryn Schumacher
The Scattering by Kimberly McCreight
The Outliers book 2. Harper Collins 2017. ISBN 9780008115081
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Only weeks have passed since the incident at
the camp in The Outliers. Wylie and Jasper are both far from
fine, united in their shared insomnia and horror. Cassie is dead.
Nothing can help that. But things fall into seeming normalcy as
everyone tries to move on. Wylie, now aware of her Outlier powers,
has been practising reading people. She has discovered how to
diverge her anxiety from that of others, but even still, reading
someone can be difficult. While it seems like the horrors born of
her Dad's research are over, they have only just begun.
A new researcher as appeared and is interested in taking over Dr.
Lang's work, this time with a theory about the girls being outliers
due to an illness. While at first, he seems harmless, things change
when Wylie is captured, drugged, and awakes confined in a quarantine
area with a number of other outliers. As if that weren't enough to
send Wylie's anxiety over the edge, Kendall (one of the cops from
the camp) appears, this time as a doctor. The other girls have
decided that Wylie is mad. It doesn't take Jasper long to break into
the ward and find Wylie but she refuses to leave. She can't just
abandon the others. Faced with the problem of how to save people who
don't know they need saving, Wylie must use all her wits to keep
them all safe.
Following on from The Outliers, this novel can only be read
as a sequel. Although not as great as the first, it still retains
the mystery subplot and focuses more on family and loyalty than on
romantic subplots - keeping the focus on Wylie's anxiety and outlier
abilities. Recommended for readers fourteen and up.
Kayla Gaskell
Play by Jez Alborough
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406373073
(Ages: 2-5) Play features Bobo the Chimp from the immensely popular
Hug. The simple story is told mainly through illustrations,
with limited text (some speech bubbles with one to two word
utterances). Bobo's mother is attempting to get Bobo to settle down
to bed but the sun is still up and Bobo is determined to play with
his friends. He repeatedly sneaks off when his mother's back is
turned. When the sun does set, Bobo is alone and scared. 'Mummy' he
calls in a loud, shaky voice. Sighted and flown home by his pelican
friend, Bobo is delivered safely into the arms of his worried
mother. The double page where Bobo and his mother are intertwined in
sleep is gorgeous and portrays a real sense of safety and comfort,
which young children who enjoy snuggling with a loved one will
identify with. The next day Bobo wakes early with the sun and is
filled with excitement for the day ahead. 'Play', he says. Following
the illustrations across the page is lots of fun and the vivid
illustrations bring the actions and emotions of the characters to
life. The use of simple words makes this great for emerging
independent readers and for younger ones who will be able to tell
the story using only the illustrations. There is a touch of moral
teaching here about listening to your parents and keeping safe but
it is more a celebration of every day adventure and the uncrushable
spirit of young children. It may also open up conversations about
the cycle of day and night. The artwork really is something special,
especially as Alborough has perfected these characters in previous
books Hug, Tall and Yes. A must for all Bobo
the chimp lovers but it will also be enjoyed by those who haven't
met him before.
Nicole Nelson
Marsh and me by Martine Murray
Text, 2017. ISBN 9781925498011
(Age: 9+) Tolerance. Diversity. Acceptance. Joey is a shy, sensitive
boy who longs to be good at something. He just wants to stand out -
maybe as a famous astronaut or a mountain climber. At the back of
Joey's house is a hill where a rubbish dump used to be. This is his
sacred place where he goes to escape from the dramas of everyday
life.
One day he discovers a tree house in an old peppercorn tree on his
hill. Now someone has invaded his hill. This is his private domain.
Who could it be? How will Joey be able to meet her? He decides to
lie in wait.
The tree house girl, Marsh, is wild and hostile and does not
appreciate Joey invading her new-found haven. Joey tries desperately
to get to know Marsh but he has no luck. He knows that Marsh is
hiding something from him but he can not figure it out. One day Joey
decides to follow her home and try to discover some things about
Marsh for himself. Marsh and Me follows the path of a developing friendship
between two people that just want to be 'normal' and accepted. Both
have their own quirks but begin to appreciate themselves for who
they are. The characters begin to realise their self-doubts are
unfounded and start to have insights into each other's lives. A
heart-warming story that would fit into themes such as tolerance,
diversity and acceptance. The print is relatively large and would
suit children from 9 years old and up. Teacher's
notes are available on the publisher's website.
Kathryn Schumacher
Ice Breaker by Lian Tanner
The Hidden series, book 1. Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN
9781760293178. (First published 2013. Rejacketed.)
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy; Adventure;
Friendship; 'Junk Punk'; Overcoming adversity; Conflict. This is the
first book in The Hidden series of fantasy adventure set in a
strange time on board an ancient icebreaker in an environment marked
by icebergs, pack ice and extreme cold, and a reverence for all
things mechanical! And there is a 'sleeping captain' that provides a
mysterious backstory that is intriguing and hinted at rather than
given strong detail to explain why this rusting and antique vessel
exists in this austere location. The ship is the home to an isolated
community that is strongly caste-like and divided based on their
roles on board the ship. In this fiercely contested hierarchy we see
the world through the eyes of the central character, Petrel.
Petrel's parents had defied the hierarchical rules, to their peril.
Petrel lives an outcast's life, hidden amongst pipes and corridors
and shunned by the entire ship's population. Mostly she is just
ignored, but a few are openly hostile and she is friendless (except
for the ship rats). The plot shifts when a boy, abandoned on the
pack ice is pulled aboard. His story hints at an ancient conflict,
and he is embroiled in a destructive plan that is kept a closely
guarded secret. Petrel though, displays remarkable qualities and
kindness towards this potential enemy and together they hide and
scramble to escape the ship's hostility after they are accused of a
crime.
The setting of this book is unique and the 'Junk punk' genre (hints
at the past and with less than perfect technology) creates an
interesting backdrop to a story about outcasts and conflict, with a
fantasy with some technology twists!
Highly recommended for readers aged 11. This is an intriguing and
exciting journey from start to finish.
Carolyn Hull
We're going on a bear hunt by Hannah Pang
Walker Books, 2017 We're going on a bear hunt: My adventure field guide. ISBN
9781406375954 We're going on a bear hunt: My explorer's journal. ISBN
9781406375961
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. These two companion titles based on
the We're Going on a Bear Hunt animated film offer children
a wonderful opportunity to find out about their environment while
giving parents and carers a great tool to make excursions more
interesting. My Adventure Field Guide is divided into the following
sections: High in the sky, Down in the ground, Further afield, Tiny
plants and tall trees, Incredible Creepy Crawlies, Extraordinary
creatures, Keeping on Track and The Big Wide World. There are many
facts contained here with easy to understand explanations of many
things that children wonder about: Why is the sky blue? Why is the
sea salty? What is an insect? There are also projects that children
can do like building a worm farm and making a bird cake to feed
birds in winter. Some recipes that children can make with adult help
are also featured. The Big Wide World section looks at ways that
children can look after their environment by recycling and
conserving water My explorer's journal is a companion to the field guide and
gives information on how to keep a journal. Children are given ample
opportunity to record what they have seen on their outings. The book
is sturdy with thick paper with plenty of room for children to write
down their observations and draw what they have seen. Some
activities include pasting in flowers and leaves and making a back
garden den. Blank pages at the end mean that children can come up
with their own ideas, drawings and collections of natural objects.
The activities are not for very young children but the familiarity
of the We're going on a bear hunt book and film will still appeal to
older children. The illustrations are based on the soft water colour
palette by Helen Oxenbury and are very appealing.
These two books would be ideal to take on holiday as they have so
many things that children would find interesting. They provide not
only activities about the natural world but a wealth of information
that will stimulate learning and could also be used in the classroom
as a tool to encourage curiosity about the natural world.
Pat Pledger
Alex Rider: never say die by Anthony Horowitz
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406377040
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Spies, Thriller, Action adventure,
Suspense. What a read! all the trademarks of a highly sophisticated
adult thriller are here to delight, entrance and entertain. Hard to
put down, I was engrossed with Horowitz's ability to get Alex Rider
into the most dire of circumstances then extricate him with flair
and just a little suspension of belief. I found myself saying, 'oh
come on' with disbelief at some of his escapades, but it is all
written with such tongue in cheek awareness, that I had to remind
myself that it was just a story. And a brilliant one at that, the
eleventh in the series.
Alex has been sent to San Francisco with the Pleasure family,
ostensibly to start a new life after the deaths of his uncle and
mentor, Ian Rider, and friend, Jack Starbright.
But he receives a cryptic phone message. Knowing Jack as well as he
does, he sets out on a journey to find her, convinced that she is
still alive. He flies to Cairo returning to the place where he was
hideously tortured and forced to watch Jack being killed. Here he
meets again some of the thugs he met before, but MI6 is also on his
trail, wanting him to keep out of their business, and return to San
Francisco. But again he evades them all, going to the South of
France to find a ship. Sneaking on board he fights for his life with
the impressive Dragana Novak who had recently stolen a Lightning
Strike helicopter from a demonstration in the south of England,
ready for the Grimaldi brothers to use in their outrageous plan.
And this is only half way through.
Fifteen year old Alex has been used by MI6 before, but they feel
morally bound to keep him safe and in school, so the continuous
tension between them makes a neat contrast with the journey he is
actually taking.
The plan to use the massive helicopter to steal a school bus full of
children with obscenely wealthy parents is mind boggling, as Alex
works out just a little too late what the brothers plan to do. He
leaps from the car's ejector seat grabbing the undercarriage of the
bus and is then carried into Wales where the children are kept
captive in a disused coal works. Alex of course, saves the day with
panache and not a little skill, and at the end where he is about to
be sent back to school, Mrs Jones at MI6 realises that he is the
only person who can solve her current problem. The next installment
of this highly entertaining series awaits.
Fran Knight
The grand genius summer of Henry Hoobler by Lisa Shanahan
ISBN: 9781760293017.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Fear; Overcoming difficulties; Family; Friendship; Holidays. Henry Hoobler is full to the brim with doubts, fears and the wobbly tummy feeling that accompanies them - and the family camping adventure that the family has planned will bring all of these to the forefront for Henry. Henry is a delightful, sensitive lad - a middle child squeezed between an older brother with the confidence of early teens and a younger pre-school aged sister whose collection of 'little ponies' and precocious personality makes her an absolute joy. This is a family tale set in a happy family camping holiday that explores family relationships, friendships and overcoming the things in life that get in the way of joyful exuberance - like being afraid of riding a bike without trainer wheels.
Lisa Shanahan has written a beautifully sensitive exploration of fear and perseverance to overcome the tough things in life. Young readers will recognise themselves and the portrayal of family is overwhelmingly healthy. The delight of the book is the character Cassie who is a permanent resident of the Holiday Park that Henry and his family are visiting. She is wonderfully feisty and wise and 'more alive than a normal person' despite a life with its own struggles and hurdles. The delightful shared family holiday is also portrayed as a wonderfully positive experience with children exploring new things that demonstrate their own genius moments in an atmosphere of freedom and gelato tastings.
This is a book to recommend to readers aged 8 to 11 - or a great book to share as a read-aloud shared text for aged 7+ because of its social and emotional discussion potential.
Carolyn Hull
Henrietta and the perfect night by Martine Murray
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760290245
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Family, Siblings, Birth. The effervescent
Henrietta notices the her mother is getting fatter. Her parents
explain that Henrietta is going to have a baby brother or sister,
but not now, later in the year when the apples ripen on the trees.
Her father tells her about the seeds growing in the ground and how
they develop and grow. When the apples are picked and they make
apple crumble, the baby will arrive. She is elated but a little
nervous about being an older sister and goes to a neighbour's house
to practise on their baby. Here she finds some of the things which
amuse a young child, but when it does not do what Henrietta wants,
it begins to cry, the mother telling Henrietta that it is tired.
The book is divided into five easily read chapters detailing aspects
of Henrietta's life. Going to school for the first time, she is
unsure until she sees someone else less sure than she. She comforts
the girl, finding that by staying with her she becomes more at ease
at being in school, and the two together have a good first day. The
story takes Henrietta and her new friend, Olivia through their first
months at school, having a sleepover and being in the school play.
All the while the delightful illustrations show the change of
seasons and the change in mum's appearance. One day they motor to a
friend's house and look at some puppies. Henrietta would dearly love
one but other things happen to change the day for the family. Mum
must be taken back home, and the midwife called. Dad and Henrietta
watch a movie, and Dad goes off to help Mum. When the baby arrives,
Henrietta is introduced to Albert and everyone is smiling.
This wonderful story of one family and its journey to having a
second child will have instant appeal. Not only does it reflect a
close, loving family, but it shows the stages a family goes through
in life. Physically Mum changes shape, but Henrietta's awareness
develops too. She becomes more aware of what she will be expected to
do as an older sibling: practising on her neighbour's child, and in
going to school, learns to be compassionate to those around her.
In a small hardback format with engaging print, the book fits well
in the hand and will be rarely on the shelves. As an explorer of
life, Henrietta's warm, funny commentary is most entertaining.
Martine Murray is able to reflect a child's view of what is
happening around her with humour and panache.
Fran Knight
The big bad mood by Tom Jamieson
Ill. by Olga Demidova. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408839201
(Ages: 3-6) Recommended. Feelings. Having spent most of his time
writing for television and radio, this is one of the author's first
forays into children's literature and is the illustrator's second
picture book (her first was Usborne's Peep inside the Farm).
Their relative newness to the field is not apparent as this
collaborative effort pairs witty and age-appropriate writing with
attention-grabbing illustrations that successfully capture the
emotions of the main characters. An appealing and well-designed
front cover with bold colours draws the eye immediately and children
will want to find out more about this big, dark creature (the
personified Big Bad Mood who looks a bit like a blue Mr Chicken).
The story features George, who is having a particularly bad day.
When his mum tells him that there is a big bad mood hanging around
him he goes looking and finds 'a curious fellow, rough like
sandpaper and smelling of socks which REALLY needed changing'.
Children will identify with George; everyone has had one of those
days and done their fair share of stomping, shouting and huffing and
puffing. They will also love hearing about the mischief George is
dragged into by his Big Bad Mood: making a Big Bad Mood Sandwich
with caterpillar legs and spider mayonnaise, and filling the
swimming pool with jelly and custard. The Big Bad Mood is having a
great time but George is getting a bit tired of being grumpy (it is
hard work and his friends aren't very happy) so off he goes to tidy
up, to say sorry to those he might have hurt, and play happily with
his friends. Making the Big Bad Mood an incredibly happy,
enthusiastic character (rather like Drop Dead Fred), whose job is to
make everyone grumpy, is great as it adds a life and humour that may
have been missed if it had been a grump itself. This is a great
reminder to children that it is ok to have grumpy days when they
don't want to share or play nicely with their friends but that their
friends won't want to play with them if they are in a bad mood all
the time. It also shows young children how to deal with the
aftermath of a grumpy episode (saying sorry, tidying up) and gives
them the language to talk about their emotions and frustration with
their parents, teachers, and friends.
Nicole Nelson
My school project: Family, friends and furry creatures by Liz Pichon
Tom Gates series, book 12. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN
9781743816523
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Boys. Family life. School
activities. Family trees. Drawing. Tom Gates is back with another
humorous diary packed with furry creatures, silly doodles, fun
cartoons and a running commentary about school and home life. What
happens when his shoes make loud raspy sounds on the way to school,
on the newly polished hall floors and in class? Tom tries
unsuccessfully to make everyone believe it is no shoes day at
school, but Mr. Fullerman sends him to the office and Tom has to
wear a pair of dazzling white gym shoes. Class 5F are building their
family trees, interviewing their family members to find stories of
their lives for this project. Tom creatively draws his baby picture
when he forgets his photo.
Of course, nothing is ever straightforward with Tom Gates, even
though he tries hard. He's a great procrastinator; he'd rather be
eating snacks or creating furry creatures with sticky tape and
pencil lines. Tom uncovers loads of interesting facts about his
family and his friends. There is the Wrinklies - his grandparents
who have been travelling around the world for the past seven years,
even swimming with sharks. There is lots of humour in Tom's unique
school project, he reveals family secrets, embellishes his
grandparent's careers and includes some rather embarrassing moments.
Liz Pichon's Tom Gates series is perfect for reluctant
readers who enjoy stories told through visual presentations,
cartoons, doodles and sketches. The text is minimal, presented in a
variety of formats, styles and sizes, handwriting, bubble writing,
emphasized words, block writing and words made out of patterns. My
school project : Family, friends and furry creatures is
another fun addition to the popular Tom Gates books, recommended for
a readers from 8-11.
Rhyllis Bignell
Running on the roof of the world by Jess Butterworth
Orion, 2017. ISBN 9781510102088
(Age: 10+) Set on the top of the world in Tibet and India we follow
the adventure of Tash, a 12 year old girl who is intent on meeting
the Dalai Lama, who she believes can help rescue her parents who
have been arrested by Chinese soldiers. Her father publishes an
underground newspaper. The brave girl escapes her hometown with her
best friend, Sam, and together they set out on an epic journey
through the Himalayas armed with two yaks and her Dad's backpack
that contains mysterious but important papers. The pair are hoping
to escaped a persecuted Tibet and cross the border into India where
they will be safe.
Friendship, perseverance, overcoming adversity and never losing hope
are strong themes that run throughout the book.
This book is suitable for children aged 10 and upwards and would
make a perfect read aloud.
Kathryn Schumacher
Sweet as sugar by Oakley Graham
Big Sky Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925520033
Picture book. Highly recommended. A beautifully illustrated book,
telling the story of a young sugar glider who has to make her own
way in the world. Sugar finds herself a place to live and works hard
to make it a home. Sugar's new neighbours make her feel welcome.
Sugar notices she is different to her new friends and she didn't
like it, until one day when she learnt why she was different and
used this difference to save her new friends.
Sugar learnt that we are all different for a reason, we just need to
work out what that reason is.
Karen Colliver
Boy by Phil Cummings
ISBN: 9781760277055.
(Ages: 4-8) Highly recommended. Perception, communication, deafness, power. From the author and illustrator of Wang Wang and Funi comes this modern fairy tale that cleverly conveys important moral messages. The title character, Boy, lives in a small village on the edge of a forest. He also happens to be deaf. He communicates with his 'dancing hands' and by drawing pictures in the sand, but only his parents are able (or want to) understand him. The dragon that lives in the forest is always fighting the king and their battles are always noisy ('Cling clong clang!', 'ROAR!'). While Boy can't hear the endless fighting he can feel and see the fear. One day, when he accidentally finds himself in the middle of the battlefield, he writes a question in the sand: “Why are you fighting?” When the dragon and the king start talking, they discover that their fighting is the result of misunderstanding and a lack of communication. Because of his influence in solving the problem, the villagers finally see Boy as a person worthy of their time and make an effort to communicate with him. There are many layers of both simple and complex messages here; the most obvious being that we need to make an effort to understand others and that we shouldn't make assumptions. Boy may not communicate like the other villagers but he does have important things to say and the dragon may be big (and called a dragon) but he is not scary or mean. It reiterates that the pen is mightier than the sword and that power can be silent rather than loud and aggressive. There is potential to use this story to discuss issues faced by those with a hearing impairment as well as how society often overlooks or ignores the voices of people with disabilities (and even just those who are not as loud or who don't communicate in the dominant manner). It may also open more general discussion regarding different forms of communication and the importance of communicating effectively. The overall tone is one of hope and optimism; it implies that if we communicate and make an effort to hear the voices of everyone in our community everyone will get along better. This is supported by the rounded, soft illustrations in which even the dragon is cute rather than scary. There is a lot of symbolism in both the text and the illustrations and it will engage and stimulate children of different ages on different levels.
Nicole Nelson
Dr Karl's little book of space by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
Ill. by Russell Jeffery. Pan Australia, 2017. ISBN 9781925481235
(Age: 10+) Junior Non fiction. Dr Karl's Little Book of Space
is a small book full of fun activities (quizzes, puzzles, drawings,
etc) related to space. As such it is not a text book, but a fun and
interesting way for children to learn facts and concepts related to
space.
Examples: Space race: determining which of 3 spacecraft navigating
their way through various routes will be the first to reach a
planet; It's a sign activity where a sign language is used as a
method of attracting attention in space (since screams cannot be
heard in space).
Chapters cover most of the planets, sun and other stars and some
historical aspects eg what Ancient Egyptians believed about space
with a related Egyptian hieroglyphic decoding activity.
There is an answer section which further enhances the value of the
book.
It would be a great little book to keep children (about 10 years of
age and over) usefully occupied during journeys, holidays, etc).
The book is in the form of fill in activity book in which users
complete drawings, quizzes, etc so, if teachers wish to use some
pages, and are able to gain duplication consent, the activities
could be incorporated into science lessons and/or used as extension
exercises.
The book by a famous Australian would be a great gift for children
who have an interest in anything related to space. It would also be
a useful addition to a Junior Library non fiction collection.
Ann Griffin
