Diary of a Minecraft zombie book 6. Koala Books, 2017. ISBN
9781743818329
(Age: 5+) Zombie goes to camp tells the follow-on tale of
Zack Zombie and his friends going to camp. Zack is 12 years old and
completely terrified of going to Creepaway Camp; luckily his friend
Creepy is coming along too!
Like the previous books, Book 6 is written in a daily diary style
and uses language that children as young as 5 (and anyone who loves
Minecraft) will understand.
The story moves through Zack's time at camp, with the first part of
camp being filled with his concern that the camp counsellors are
really brain eating humans who especially enjoy mob kids and that
the food served in the cafeteria would spring to life as the camp
food monster and eat them!
The kids at camp also participate in lots of stereotypical summer
camp activities that many children will be able to find a link with
and gain an understanding of the situations (except the potential
brain eating counsellors) Zack and his friends are in.
Thankfully Zack and his friends survive the terror that is Creepaway
Camp and come through both alive and with a whole heap of new
friends.
The ending leads the reader nicely onto the next book and the next
adventure for Zack Zombie, keeping them interested and keen to read
again.
This book, and this series, is perfect for young Minecraft lovers
from age 5 and also parents/teachers who listen to children talk
about this phenomenon and aren't sure who or what they are talking
about!
Lauren Fountain
Wreck by Fleur Ferris
Random House Australia, 2017. ISBN 9780143784319
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Tamara Bennett is leaving her
temporary job at the Coastal Daily, and is looking forward to
Orientation Week at university. Interested in only reporting good
news stories, she is looking forward to becoming a journalist. Then
she arrives home to find her home invaded and dangerous men after a
note. What could this note be? Did it have something to do with the
letter in the bottle she found on the beach and reported in the
Coastal Daily? She has to make up her mind who she can trust,
especially after Zel Chisel, youngest son of the Chisel newspaper
moguls, gets her out of her house and away from danger.
Told in alternative voices by Tamara and Zel, Wreck takes
the reader on a roller coaster ride as they both go on the run.
Tamara is determined to find out the truth even though the
charismatic Knox Chisel tries to get her to stop and paints a
picture of a mentally unstable Zel. Meanwhile, in Zel's voice the
reader discovers the background to the note as they follow the
Chisel family's yacht foundering at sea, and the disappearance of
Christian, the Chisel who was being groomed to take over the
newspaper empire. Could Christian still be alive and did he send a
note in a bottle?
The power that the very rich wield is uncovered as Tamara finds just
how far reaching the Chisel influence is. She has to rely on her own
instincts about Zel and uses her research skills and intelligence to
work out what is happening.
The themes of corruption, media monopoly and family rivalries will
resonate with readers, but it is the tension and edginess that will
keep them reading.
Readers who enjoyed Ferris' previous books, Risk
and Black,
will be delighted to have another suspenseful, exciting book from
this author.
Pat Pledger
The adventures of Miss Petitfour by Anne Michaels
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408868058
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. The adventures of Miss Petitfour
is a collection of short stories describing the adventures of a
lovely lady and her cats - cats who like arts and crafts and a lady
whose favourite mode of transport is a tablecloth that flies.
Miss Petitfour has a collection of tablecloths that fly. It just
depends on where she wants to go as to which cloth she chooses! Miss
Petitfour is a whimsical character who, along with her 16 cats,
loves adventures. One of her favourite things to do is to fly to her
favourite bookshop in the village for tea and a chat with the owner.
In the first story, readers are introduced to Miss Petitfour and her
cats. The cats go on all the adventures by inking their tails around
each other and trailing behind Miss Petitfour like the tail of a
kite. This story is also the first adventure. The marmalade jar is
empty and a daring flight to the store occurs. it is a bit windy and
one of the cats gets stuck on a pole.
The stories are descriptive, whimsical and gorgeous. Every now and
then, a new word is introduced as part of the story. From
'perambulator' to 'gesticulation', the narrator speaks to the
readers. This book is highly recommended for readers aged 9+
(including grownups). It is a lovely and innocent collection of
stories.
Kylie Kempster
Eric the postie by Matt Shanks
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743811931
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Work. Postmen. Echidnas. Australian
bush. Eric comes from a long line of successful echidnas.
Photographs on the wall attest to the position some of his forebears
attained: a judge, scientist and artist, even one batting for
Australia. But he has less grand dreams. He wants to be a postie. He
has all the attributes of being a good postie: a long beak to help
open the letters, a fearless disregard for dogs, a long tongue to
lick the envelopes, an ability to keep the post pest free and a
burrowing capacity to avoid the rain.
But the post office will not take applications from any animal, so
he must prove himself another way.
The regular postie notices that he has fewer letters and parcels to
deliver, but the array of letterboxes outside people's homes shows
that many items are still being delivered. The people are very happy
as their mail is dry and pest free, it is delivered safely and the
envelopes are sealed. Tracking down the evidence the postie sees
what has happened and solves both their problems satisfactorily.
This delightful story of one echidna's path to happiness is
deliciously illustrated with warmth and humour. Readers will love
noticing the different people and their mail boxes, the range of
material that can be posted, perhaps guessing what might be inside
some of the odd-shaped parcels, the slew of different animals
depicted and the happy conclusion to the story.
Fran Knight
Party time! by Anh Do
Hot Dog! Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781760279011
(Age: 6-10) Recommended. Anh Do, well known for the book The
happiest refugee, has been successful with the Weirdo
book series for children. These books have appeal because they're
funny with easy to read text and many illustrations. The Hotdog!
books follow the same format.
Hotdog is a sausage dog and his two friends are Kev the cat who
loves dress-up costumes and Lizzie the lizard. In this second book,
it is Kev's birthday and Hotdog and Lizzie are planning a surprise
party that includes all the favourites such as sprinkles, popcorn,
jelly and a pinata.
Part of the surprise includes buying Kev a much wanted 'Roaring Dino
Bike'. Fortunately they are able to purchase the last available bike
but this annoys both Rooster and Donkey who also wanted to acquire
it. Hotdog and Lizzie need to try to outwit Rooster and Donkey and
make sure they can't take Kev's bike.
These books have great appeal with primary school aged children. The
book has the look of a novel and features an attractive, bright
cover.
Dan McGuiness's drawings are used extensively throughout the book.
Dan has created graphic novels such as his Pilot and Huxley
books and his illustrations work well with Anh's text. One colour is
used throughout the book, in this instance yellow.
Anh's books are so popular at my primary school that I have had to
buy several copies of the same text. They are entertaining and allow
students to succeed at reading. Newly independent readers are
attracted to both the Hotdog and Weirdo series. I
would recommend these books for 6 to 10 year olds.
Jane Moore
When Mu meets Min by Shen Shixi
Starfish Bay, 2017. ISBN 9781760360344
(Age: 5-7) When Mu meets Min, by Shen Shixi is a tale
narrated by a Chinese farmer, and tells us a story about unlikely
friends, a cat and a dog. Min the overly friendly puppy, joins the
family first and when a plague of rats comes to the farm and he
cannot get rid of them, Min the cat joins the family too.
As the story goes on the two young animals get along and become
friends (much to the neighbour's surprise), they play games and
sleep next to each other, however as they grow older it is not meant
to be.
They drift apart and all of a sudden they are fighting every day
instead of playing.
Children reading this story will be able to find links to their life
or other stories they know, lending this book to be one that teaches
a lesson as well as being a story.
The biggest lesson occurs when Mu falls into a water tank and cannot
get out. Although they do not get along, Min goes and finds help to
rescue Mu and save the cat from drowning.
Shen Shixi writes this story with the underlying messages (which are
not specifically spelt out) that even though they may not be best
friends anymore, the two can still help each other out and that they
can be civil and friendly. I also think it shows a different kind of
friendship that most children would not usually identify with.
The pictures are attractive, show movement around the page and also
some comical aspects.
I read this to Mr 6 and Miss 3, both enjoyed the story, however Mr.
6 did not pick up on the 'lesson' without prompting and needed
discussion to understand where Shixi was taking the story.
A positive story for 5-7 year olds.
Lauren Fountain
Squishy Taylor and the silver suitcase by Ailsa Wild
Squishy Taylor. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2017. ISBN 9781760128784
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Squishy Taylor and the Silver Suitcase
is a fun adventure for girls. The main characters are three sisters
and it is based in Melbourne. Squishy and her step sisters Jess and
Vee (she calls them bonus sisters as they were a bonus when her dad
remarried!) spend their summer holidays at the University waiting
for their mum to finish summer lectures. As the girls explore rooms
within the university, they stumble across 2 adults acting
suspiciously. Their word is 'dodgy' and through the story the
sisters refer to them as the Dodgy Duo. Squishy overhears the Duo
discussing a trip to the museum and her mystery-solving senses kick
in. A trip to the zoo, an encounter with a black cockatoo and
learning about bird smuggling leads the sisters to trying to capture
the Dodgy Duo. The girls are sure they are trying to smuggle birds.
However, the police don't believe them and the zoo expert is acting
suspiciously too. Will the sisters solve the mystery or will they
end up in a little bit of trouble? Squishy Taylor and the Silver Suitcase is a mystery adventure
for girls and is highly recommended for readers aged 8+. Squishy
Taylor is a series but this is a stand-alone story, easy to
read and follow. Readers will be trying to guess who the criminals
are. Squishy, Jess and Vee are great role models for girls. This
story would be an excellent class novel when investigating
endangered species.
Kylie Kempster
Ball Stars: Reppin' It by David Lawrence
Penguin Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143781677
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Basketball; Sportsmanship;
Leadership; Sport. In partnership with Basketball Australia, this is
the story of young players who are trying to make their mark in the
world of basketball. It is both a celebration of all the things that
are good about team sport involvement and just an honest and
intriguing story that will appeal to kids.
The boys and girls from Robdale Primary need to try out for the
District representative team and put their talents on show. Danny
and Crystal, and several of their team mates go through the trials
and get selected, but Danny and Crystal demonstrate the qualities
that make their peers honour them with selection as Captains.
Crystal's selection is easy, but the captaincy for Danny comes with
the difficulty of dealing with a team mate whose temper is seriously
out of alignment. The games are played with wonderful running
commentary from Cody, with great skills on display and the hope of a
win - if they can work together! In the background to this great
sporting contest is a school environment with Dahl-esque qualities,
led by Miss Take (Yes, that is her name!). Family members and adults
have caricature-like personalities with larger than life quirks that
create a comedic contrast to the 'serious' basketball contests. This
is a wonderful tale that demonstrates the qualities of good
leadership and the fun of exploring a sport and playing it for all
it's worth!
Highly recommended for ages 8 - 12. Both genders will enjoy this,
and all lovers of sport will be thrilled to see characters who
understand their passion for sporting achievement.
Carolyn Hull
Georgina: Holocaust memoirs by Gabriella Kovac
ISBN: 9780992338930.
Recommended for those who enjoy 20th Century history. Themes: Jewish
History; Migrants; Hungary - 20th Century; War history. Family
memoirs are not always interesting for people outside the family
circle, but this is an intriguing and fascinating account of the
family and social history of a Hungarian family who demonstrated the
most amazing resilience and survival through torrid periods of
European history. Gabriella Kovac relates the circumstances for her
Jewish forbears through periods of great torment, but also reveals
that their survival was partly related to luck, but also their
incredible bravery and forthright approach to all difficulties. An
incredible amount of fortunate coincidences enabled them to use
their natural talents for business to be successful when many around
them faced death. Georgina, the mother of the author, personified
confidence in the face of the horrors of war and Jewish opposition,
and her ability to turn even the most dreadful of situations to her
advantage almost seem unbelievable, yet this is the story of a
survivor whose incredible personality seemed to create opportunities
where others would have floundered. For students of war
history with an interest in the Holocaust experiences of Jewish
individuals or an interest in Hungarian society during the first
half of the Twentieth Century, this book is a snapshot through the
lens of one family. The circumstances of those who migrated to
Australia are thought-provoking for anyone who is interested in this
part of our own history.
Carolyn Hull
Winnie the Pooh: The Great Heffalump Hunt by Giles Andreae
Egmont, 2017. ISBN 9781405278300 Piglet trotted happily beside his best friend Pooh.
Talking about nothing much as best friends often do.
When suddenly Pooh stopped and said, "I've got a Grand Idea".
"I'm going to catch a Heffalump. I've heard they live around
here."
Giles Andreae of Giraffes Can't
Dance fame has taken this wonderful and well-known adventure
of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and reinterpreted into a
delightful rhyme and pictorial experience. More than 90 years on
from the first publication of the adventures of Christopher Robin,
Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet and Tigger inspired by a real-life
bear Milne's stories are as enchanting and popular as ever so
to have this one in a picture book version for our youngest readers
is a treat indeed.
As well as providing a taste of the delights of what is in the
original collection, it celebrates friendship, bravery and the
imagination, even providing the basis for an inquiry project for
beginners. Just what is a Heffalump, what does it look like, and
what would be the best way to catch it? Each child could create
their own version, design a suitable trap and bait and maybe even
start to consider whether catching wild creatures is ever a good
idea. Those a little older might even start to investigate the role
of zoos and how they've changed, particularly given Winnie's
origins.
Even though this is an adaptation of a classic, in its new form
there are so many layers to explore that it is perfect as a
standalone, and another generation will learn to love this lovable
bear and his endearing friends.
Barbara Braxton
Town Mouse, Country Mouse by Richard Jones
Ill. by Libby Walden. Caterpillar, 2017. ISBN 9781848575462
Living in a bustling town is exhausting for a little mouse and she
dreams of a quiet place in the country. So she writes to her country
cousin to see if she can visit for a while, swapping homes so they
each have a holiday.. Country Mouse is very excited because he has
always wanted to be "a mouse about town." But things are not quite
as wonderful as they expect and neither is sorry when their holiday
is over and it's time to go HOME.
This traditional fable from Aesop has been retold in rhyme, bringing
its powerful message of what it means to be home and to belong to a
new generation. Cleverly illustrated with a gentle palette and
strategic cutouts it's a story that has endured over time because of
its timeless message of "the grass always seems greener" . Little
ones can have fun imagining what it might be like to live the life
of their hero or in another place, but then also reflect on the
things they would miss if they were really able to make the swap.
A classic.
Barbara Braxton
Living on Hope Street by Demet Divaroren
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760292096
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. The book opens with Kane's voice
telling the events of yet another night when his father has come
home, late for dinner, drunk and ready to pick a fight. The night
spins into violence, his mother ends up in hospital, and the
Department of Human Services is checking on them again. The next
voice is Sam, Kane's little brother, traumatised by the violence at
home and the bullying at school. And so the chapters go on, each
told from the point of view of another person living on their
street. There is kind-hearted Mrs Aslan who helps them out whilst
yearning for reconciliation with her own daughter and granddaughter,
the lonely African refugee family struggling in a house with no
possessions, and racist Mr Bailey the Vietnam veteran who distrusts
them all.
Kane is a bundle of anger building to explode against his father. He
has lost track at school and is caught stealing. But he gradually
makes new friends, at the alternative Teaching Space he has to
attend, and with the migrant teenagers in his street. The challenge
for Kane is whether he can find his way or become just another
version of his father working things out with his fists.
All of the people in this story are living in tough circumstances,
but instead of their differences dividing them, gradually the values
of love, friendship, generosity and compassion come to unite them,
and the message of the book is one of hope and optimism.
As Demet Divaroren says on her website her stories are
about 'love, friendship, courage, loneliness, identity and
belonging'. She gives voice to 'the human experience, raw, honest
and real'. Living on Hope Street is powerful in its voicing
of many people's lives and experiences and offers the opportunity to
identify with others and discover common humanity.
Helen Eddy
Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard
Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780008244521
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Finding Gobi is a gorgeous true story
of loyalty, friendship and the lengths people go for their pets.
Dion Leonard, an Englishman, is competing in the gruelling Gobi
Desert marathon when he meets a homeless dog. There is an instant
connection and Dion names her Gobi. Gobi becomes his running partner
during the race but after the race is over, Dion must head back to
England. Gobi, however, is unforgettable and Dion and his wife
commit to bringing Gobi to England. This is no easy feat but thanks
to crowd funding, local Chinese people and the media, Dion and his
wife proceed to bring Gobi home. Gobi is an easy to read story told from the perspective of
Dion and Gobi. The story explains the steps Dion has to take in a
very child-friendly manner and we see how much Gobi loves Dion from
her comments. Readers will fall in love with Gobi and will be
cheering for her every step of the way. The story takes place in
China, making it a good class novel for Year 6. Students can map the
journey, create reports on the Gobi Desert while investigating
different perspectives. This book is highly recommended for readers
aged 10+ and adults will enjoy it as well.
Kylie Kempster
Little lunch: Triple the trouble by Danny Katz and Mitch Vane
Black Dog Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925381825
(Age: 8+) As seen on ABC TV, Little lunch follows the stories of
Battie, Atticus, Debra-Jo, Tamara, Rory and Melanie in the fifteen
minutes of Little lunch. The novel is split into three hilariously
entertaining stories and includes profiles of the characters and
photos of the actors who play them in the TV show. The best part is,
the books are stand alone in that readers do not need to have seen
the show to be able to follow.
In Triple the trouble, nerdy Debra-Jo is acting weirdly
after seeing a van that says 'Body Bus'; naughty Rory is put in
charge of the class when it was rained out; competitive Tamara
starts her version of the Olympics only including events that she is
sure to win. The bubbly characters are all very different but are
well developed throughout the novel, particularly the distracting,
naughty but extremely likeable Rory. The comic style companion
illustrations add another level of humour to the already fun book.
The by-line 'a lot can happen in fifteen minutes' is definitely true
in this case.
The series is available in either single form, or in an omnibus of
three books each. Students who enjoy the comedy genre, like the
real-life but huge misunderstanding type of scenarios or who simply
like a quick but funny read will really enjoy this book, and would
also be a good one for a Middle Primary class novel, though it isn't
very long.
Clare Thompson
Look out, Pink Piglet by Phil Cummings
Ill. by Sarah Davis.Lothian Children's Books, 2017. ISBN
9780734417305
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Pigs. Farm animals. Fear. Overcoming fear.
Bravery. Pink Piglet loves to explore his farmyard, climbing the
hills, nudging some of the smaller animals, discovering new things,
but one day he hears the loudest of screeches. All the animals are
frightened and make a range of startled noises. Readers will love
joining the animals with their own frightened noises. They all look
to Pink Piglet offering suggestions about the noise and where it
comes from. Big, hairy and scary they pronounce, telling Pink Piglet
that because he is brave he should go to the farmhouse to find out
what is making such a noise. Piglet sets off, but when he reaches
the farmhouse door the noise scares him so much that he drops to the
ground like a frightened rabbit. Fingers like worms come out towards
him, and he is relieved to see that it is something just like him:
small, pink and soft.
The soft-edged illustrations by Davis are a wonderful accompaniment
to Phil's deceptively simple words. Both author and illustrator have
given us a book that will make an excellent read aloud, with words
full of rhythm and repetition, begging to be read again, and the
illustrations providing humour and a touch of whimsy. A wonderful
tale to read about bravery and how fear can be overcome. It invites
younger readers to talk about their fears and developing strategies
to meet their fears, in a safe environment.
This book is a companion to Be
brave, Pink Piglet (2015) by Phil Cummings and Sarah
Davis, which tells of pink Piglet's bravery in leaving the security
of mum for the first time.
Fran Knight
