Reviews

Hooray for birds! by Lucy Cousins

Candlewick Press, 2017. ISBN 9780763692650
(Age: 3-7) Highly recommended. Can you imagine just for one day you're a busy bird? Lucy Cousins invites her young audience to visualise themselves as beautiful birds in this wonderfully bold and engaging picture book. She begins at dawn with the rooster's cry and ends at night with the brightly coloured owl's 'Tuwit tuwoo!' Set against solid bright backgrounds, each painted bird displays vibrant plumage inside strong black outlines. Cousins understands the use of contrasting and complimentary colours and the use of simple shapes and design.
Her rhyming text is easy to read to little ones, the bold letters flow across the page, moving up and down with the swimming swan and swooping up, down and around like the starlings. The gorgeous pink flamingo, invites us to 'Stand very tall on just one leg' as the text stretches to emphasize his stance. In a read aloud story circle, a kindergarten or library setting, young listeners can actively participate, predicting the rhyming text and waddling like a penguin, running like an ostrich or cuddling like a parrot in the nest.
From the popular author of the Maisy series, Cousins' Hooray for Birds is a wonderfully engaging picture book that can lead into extension activities in art, dramatic play and science - the basic needs of living things.
Rhyllis Bignell

Scavengers by Marcus Emerson

Ill. by David Lee. Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja bk 7. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760295615
(Age: 9-11) Marcus Emerson's ten book series follows the chaotic life of 6th grader Chase Cooper, each follows the action-packed school life at Buchanan School. Schoolwork takes a secondary role in this series, the focus is on secret societies, friendships and bully busting.
Cousin Zoe Chase is running for student president owing to the unfortunate chewing gum saga that occurred in Career's Week. Chase is her Campaign Manager in charge of publicity, in charge of baby kissing, her schedules and a free pizza lunch. In the middle of helping Zoe, another secret club The Scavengers invite him to join. By refusing this offer, an avalanche of revenge attacks occur and Chase has the whole school disliking him; even his friends desert him and an old school reporter follows his every move trying to expose his secret ninja clan.
This fun series needs to be read in order, as the characters refer to previous events and incidents. David Lee's dark comic illustrations bring the difficult and dramatic events to life: Chase's ninja clan friends, the moment of truth with the Scavengers in the Dungeon and the secret group hidden behind their vulture masks.
Rhyllis Bignell

Me and you by Deborah Kelly and Karen Blair

Viking, 2017. ISBN 9780670079247
There are many people in a child's life - parents, siblings, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, neighbours, best friends, parents' friends, pets . . . and that's before they even venture into the world of preschool and big school! And the shape of the relationship with each one is different. In this new book by Deborah Kelly, as softly illustrated as its focus, the connections are explored and enjoyed - the arty-crafty days; the yummy-scrummy days; the pedal-pushing days; the silly-billy days; the sandy-sandwich days; the footy-playing days; the slippery-sliding days; the grubby-garden days; the woofy-wagging days; the handy-helper days; the sausage-sizzling days; the stretchy-yawning days - all mixing, matching and melding together to enrich the child's life and cocoon them in love. Apart from the variety of adventures that the child has and the reader will resonate with, the richness of the language and its rhyme, rhythm and repetition will engage and perhaps even encourage the young reader/listener to start thinking about the relationships they have and starting to describe them using similar language. Primarily aimed at the preschooler, this book could also have traction with older students as an extension of learning about friendships so they move from thinking about what makes a friend and how to be one but also the types of relationships they have with those in their lives. For example, the relationship with their parents will be different from that with their teacher, and that with other children can be shaped by age, expertise and even power. Discussing why we are friends with particular people (or aspire to be), how friends should make us feel and where we fit in others' lives brings confidence and builds empathy and resilience when things don't work out.
Many parents seem to be deeply concerned about the friendships their children make particularly when the meetings are beyond parental control - as evidenced by this request to an international email group where a parent was looking for books about "choosing the "right" friends. She has requested that there be African American characters and she is concerned that he [bright son] seems to be choosing friends who are in the lower academic classes." By sharing Me and You older children might examine the friendships they have and what holds them together; debate the notion of "right friends"; discuss how a variety of friends who bring different circumstances, skills and attitudes can enrich our lives; and begin to understand the role and influence that friends have in their lives as well as their position in the lives of their friends. Such understanding may well offer valuable insight into their connections with other people now and in the future, helping them to make the sorts of choices their parents would be happy with or defending those that they wouldn't.
Perhaps author and illustrator just wanted to share the joy of being a child with all its fun and activity, but for me the best picture books work across a number of levels and delve deeper than the immediate storyline and pictures and therefore this one works very well.
Barbara Braxton

Frogkisser by Garth Nix

Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760293512
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Fantasy, Classic tales, Sorcery. This novel spins a tongue in cheek fantasy/fairytale which will entertain readers of any age. Nix includes all the elements necessary for the genre, a reluctant heroine, an evil sorcerer, magic, royalty, forests, castles and talking animals.
Princess Anya is second in line to the throne of a tiny kingdom, her sister Princess Morven is self absorbed, interested only in her latest beau and throwing tantrums. Anya seeks refuge in the castle library where she reads about magic. Her step-father Duke Rikard has become obsessed with magic and sorcery and wants the kingdom for himself.
He has plans to send Anya off to a remote school from which she may never return. Rikard has been refining his transformation spells and has turned Morven's suitor into a frog. Anya has to leave and find the ingredients for a magic salve which she must spread on her lips before she kisses the frog to turn him back to a prince.
With help of the Royal Dogs she slips out of the castle knowing that Duke Rikard will be hot on her heals. Thus begins her quest. But as she travels through the fractured kingdoms she finds that the expectations of others complicate matters and her quest becomes one to return justice and rule of law to the old kingdom which has been divided by the ill use of sorcery.
I recommend you join with Garth Nix and his wonderful cast of characters in this magical fantastic journey. Of course you know that good will triumph over evil as it always finally does, but the road travelled is amusing, gripping and enthralling.
Mark Knight

The things we promise by J. C. Burke

Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760290405
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. AIDS, Australian history, 1990's, Prejudice. The focus of Gemma's life in year eleven is the formal at the end of the year. She and her friends, Linda and Andrea talk about it incessantly, Gemma relying on her brother's return to do their hair and make up. He is a stylist in New York, where he has lived for five years with his boyfriend, Saul.
But tensions are mounting in her household. Mum is distraught when Billy's first boyfriend, Matt dies, she is evasive when Gemma talks about her brother's return, and Gemma is cross when the swatches for the material for her dress are sent by Billy's friend, Claude.
It is the early 1990's and the setting is recreated by Burke with absolute clarity. No one could be unaware of the climate in Australia when AIDS first became known. Community attitudes are clearly delineated, posters of male-female love appear, accepting no other possibility, gay men are called a range of offensive names, some like Gemma's father simply leave the family, avoiding the issue altogether.
Gemma finds a photo of Saul and Billy at a party in New York, in her mother's drawer. Billy has used his talents to make Saul look like a zebra, and the line on the back alludes to something being well covered. The reader is alerted, and eventually Gemma finds that Saul has AIDS.
A fascinating set of decisions need to be made as she gets on with her life. Who to tell? She is hesitant to tell her best friend, Andrea because of her homophobic attitudes, and with her knowledge, other people's ignorances seem to stand out. Through her growing knowledge of the disease, the reader is also given information with which they can judge the reactions of the school and the community in which Gemma lives. In following Billy's decline and visits to the hospital, Gemma is in no doubt about the seriousness of the illness, and the reader is privy to the range of prejudices and reactions of other people when confronted by the disease. In the background, Gemma is becoming closer to Ralph, a boy she likes and his involvement with her lands him in some trouble. The year rolls to an end and the formal is close at hand but other more important events take hold of the family and their friends.
For information about AIDS in Australia today,  an article about the decline in the number of HIV/AIDS cases. HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence and the number of deaths is insignificant, whereas in the 1990's about 1000 people died each year.
This is a beautifully told gripping story with some hard issues to follow. Burke makes the times ring with clarity.
Fran Knight

How the queen found the perfect cup of tea by Kate Hosford

Ill. by Gabi Swiatkowska. Carolrhoda books, 2017. ISBN 9781467739047
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Humour, Tea, Adventure, Quest. When the queen sips her morning cup of tea, she finds something is amiss. It simply does not have the taste she is looking for. Her servant James is puzzled: is there too much milk or not enough sugar. She takes to the skies in a hot air balloon to seek out the perfect cup of tea. She calls in at several places and a child makes her a cup of tea each time. The three are from different cultures and sharp eyed readers will notice the very different ways that their tea is made. Each time it is prepared, the queen becomes more involved, and children will see that her participation in the ritual of making tea is making her happier.
Repetition in the story makes it even funnier, as the same thing happens but with a different outcome each time, until she finally realises that she can make it for herself, and if she can make a cup of tea, then many other things she can do flow on.
This is a funny tale, sure to raise a laugh from the audience, whether read aloud or by themselves. Children will be sure to join in once they see the repetition, and watch out for the many animals that join in the fun along the way. The illustrations too compliment the tale well, adding another level of humour to the story. Readers will be looking to make a cup of tea at the end of their reading.
Fran Knight

The grand genius summer of Henry Hoobler by Lisa Shanahan

Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760293017
(Age: Yrs 2-4) Recommended. Henry Hoobler is a boy with worries. He is travelling with his family on a camping holiday but would rather stay at home with Nonna and not have to think about all the things that could go wrong or have to face the challenge of learning to ride the ominous new bike that is coming along on the holiday too.
His older brother Patch is more concerned with his music and his younger sister Lulu is obsessed with her toy ponies.
But holidays can bring new experiences and change and one of the first people he meets is Cassie who whizzes past him on her dragster, confident, self assured and friendly.
Supported by a caring, loving family, Henry gradually learns to face his concerns. He becomes good friends with Cassie, who has her own family issues and together they have a 'grand genius summer'.
I enjoyed the characters in this novel and was often laughing at the antics and comments of Lulu, Henry's preschool sister. Henry's internal thoughts highlight the importance of trying new things even if they are scary and he observes that confident people have their own fears and issues to deal with too.
Lisa Shanahan is able to write about the everyday happenings of families, friends and fears that children think about about and identify with.
The cover is bright and cheery and shows Henry and Cassie the main two characters, riding their bikes together, a major highlight and achievement for Henry.
Henry is in the summer holiday break before he starts year 3 so this novel would be a great story to read to years 2-4.
This is a good book and I would recommend this novel for purchase for your library.
Jane Moore

The secret place by M.L. Simmons

Little Steps Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925117998
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Themes: Mystery Adventure; Farm life; Bushfire. This charming story of the life of a young lad in rural Australia begins with the reporting of an unusual event after a bushfire, with a mystery involving a discovered skeleton that was inexplicably connected to saving Andrew's life. Later we read of the events that led to this unusual event. Andrew has lived on an isolated rural property all his life - beyond Bourke - which means School of the Air via Radio and a life of farm-related skills and activities. A shift to another property means life is about to change in many ways, including the chance to attend a 'real' school. However the majority of this book is about the celebration of the rural life, the Aussie bush, and family; with the warmth of a genuine insight into this young lad's life on a farming property. The mystery of an unusual neighbour, a quirky Aunt and a wild and remote 'secret' picnic spot all intertwine to lead to an explanation of the opening mystery.
This story is worthy of recommending to a young reader who is also on the verge of change and ready to demonstrate their independence. The Australian countryside and farm and family life is the star in this simple and innocent tale. City dwelling children will perhaps be amazed at the chores and tasks that Andrew and his siblings are required to do as part of their rural life.
Carolyn Hull

Millie loves ants by Jackie French

Came back to show you I could fly by Robin Klein

Introduced by Simmone Howell. Text Classics. Text Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925498318. First published Penguin Viking 1989
(Age: Middle school students) Recommended. Drug addiction. Friendship. Family breakdown. Eleven year old Seymour is spending his summer holidays with his mother's friend, hidden from his father while his parents get a divorce. Thelma says he must stay safely in the house during the day while she is at work and not make a mess. Seymour tries to comply but heat and boredom get the better of him and he climbs into the alley behind the house. Chased by bullies he panics and mistakenly runs into a neighbouring backyard where he encounters 20 year old beautiful, vivacious Angie who is nice to him and lets him choose earrings to go with her flamboyant clothes. The two strike up a friendship, much to Seymour's amazement that someone like Angie would want to spend time with someone as timid as him. She takes him on outings and she shares her fantasy world with him where everything is lovely, they live in a big house and everyone is happy. As they spend more time together reality starts to seep through Angie's facade. As Seymour becomes more confident Angie's world starts to collapse and their roles reverse.
When it was first published in 1989 Came back to show you I could fly trod a daring line between depicting the destructive nature of drug addiction, the breakdown of trust and the fracturing of relationships while avoiding any actual drug-taking scenes which parents and educators would have found unacceptable. It has been studied in the English curriculum of Australian schools for many years and its coming of age story of finding yourself, helping others and the power of friendship is timeless. Recommended for middle school students.
Sue Speck

Buchanan Bandits by Marcus Emerson

Ill. by David Lee. Diary of a 6th grade ninja bk 6. Allen & Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760295608
(Age: 9-11) Buchanan Bandits is the sixth humorous novel focussing on Chase Cooper and his secret band of school ninjas. Each novel explores a week in his wild school life with his helpful cousin Zoe, crazy friends, underground societies, secret plots and bullies to stop. There is always something happening, drama, mayhem, ninja problems and embarrassing situations follow Chase everywhere. Student President Sebastian and Wyatt, Chase's enemy, are involved in another nefarious plot. With all the 6th grade students involved in Careers' Week activities each afternoon in the cafeteria, what could go wrong?
The Buchanan Bandit is secretly stealing all the chewing gum at school and Wyatt wants Chase to help him uncover the thief. Of course, by Tuesday, all the gum appears in Chase's locker and he is caught in a difficult situation. This junior novel is layered with subplots, twists and turns, and Chase needs to gather clues, uncover the thief's identity and work out why Sebastian's is selling colourful sweet-smelling erasers as a moneymaking venture. There is a creepy clown mentor and a showdown in the library, where Chase just avoids the wolf pack's clutches and uncovers another bully.
Rhyllis Bignell

Just like Molly by Pippa Dowling

Ill. by Sunshine. Empowering Resources, 2016. ISBN 9780994501073
At some stage in their young lives, children have an imaginary friend - one who likes to do the things that you like, eat the things you eat, be scared of the things you are scared of and share good times with you.  And so it is with the little girl in this story.  Her friend Molly loves playing games, going to the park and going on the slides, eating fish and chips and gelati.  She doesn't mind the other kids who are noisy but the barking dogs are a bit frightening.
But one day Molly disappears and no amount of searching finds her.  Things are bleak and lonely especially as school has just started and everyone seems to have a friend already.  And then one day a little girl called Zoe offers to share her crayons . . .
This is not an uncommon theme in children's storybooks but the remarkable thing about this one is that the author wrote it when she was just 10.  She is now just 13. Whimsical characters in colours that echo the mood of the story bring the little girl and her friend to life and reassures those who are about to begin a new phase of their life that there will be someone ready to support them. It opens up opportunities to talk about what friends are and how to initiate friendships through kindness and that through our lives we will have many different friends.
You can read more about this young author on the publisher's site and perhaps her story will inspire the writers in your class to keep at it.
Barbara Braxton

The magic word by Mac Barnett

Ill. by Elise Parsley. Balzer and Bray, 2016. ISBN 9780062354846
Paxton C. Heymeyer seems to have forgotten his manners, so when he asks his babysitter for a cookie she asks him for the magic word. But instead of saying, "Can I have a cookie, please", Paxton C. Heymeyer shouts "Can I have a cookie, alakazoomba?" Suddenly, in a puff of blue smoke he not only discovers a cookie in his hand but the power to summon up anything he wants with that one magic word. A walrus to chase the babysitter to the North Pole; a waterslide in the living room; a jungle bedroom; anything his imagination lets him dream. Even an elephant and a robot-servant!
But when Rosie comes to play he finds that things aren't quite what he wishes for because elephants can't play cards or any of the other things friends do together...
There would be few of our littlies who have not been asked for "the magic word" so they will relate well to this engaging story of being able to have whatever you want - it brings life to the saying "Be careful what you wish for." Asking them what they would wish for or dream of having will elicit a lot of discussion and drawing, but there is also much to think about when Rosie refuses to play and goes home. Friendship and happiness are not all about material things and instant gratification, and this book may provide food for thought for those who want to have the latest thing NOW, and those who wish they could.
Barbara Braxton

Cric Croc series by Anthony W. Buirchell

Ill. by Nikki Ball. Vivid Publishing, 2016.
Cric Croc. ISBN 9781925442595
Cric Croc and the bedraggled pony. ISBN 9780995424302
In the first of what is proposed to be a series that spans the Australian continent, young readers meet Cric Croc who is a baby crocodile born on the Daintree and learning to lead a healthy life with exercise, good food, plenty of sleep, lots of fun, friends and love. Intended to be a "role model for good behaviour", the lovable Cric Croc does lots of things that preschoolers will identify with and perhaps emulate. The things he does support the health syllabus for early years and young children can discuss the things that they do that Cric Croc also does.
In the second book, Cric Croc wants to learn to ride and befriends a bedraggled, bullied pony he meets in a stable and between the two of them they triumph. Its focus is looking beyond the physical appearance to the inner person beneath and how mutual respect and teamwork can be win-win.
Written in rhyming text by retired teacher Anthony Buirchell and illustrated by Nikki Ball, this is a new team to the Australian publishing scene with plans to take Cric Croc, his friend Roo and their cameras across the country sharing the sights it has to offer, introducing children to places beyond their neighbourhood. Those in WA can have free visits to schools while those further afield have access to other support materials.
Something new that will entertain and educate and perhaps become a favourite character in young children's lives.
Barbara Braxton

You choose... Flip me by George Ivanoff

Random House, 2017
Alien invaders from beyond the stars/Night of the creepy carnival ISBN 9780143784029
Super sports spectacular/Trapped in the games grid. ISBN 9780143784036
Remember the frustration of finishing a book in a series that you have really enjoyed but you need to go to the library or the bookstore to track down the next one? Or worse, still, wait for it to be written and published? The solution seems to be having two books in one as with the new packaging of George Ivanoff's very popular You choose series. Now our students can have all the fun of following pathways through one book and when they are done with that, flip them over to read through another immediately. No waiting, no cooling of enthusiasm, just more reading.
For a couple of decades at least, the choose-your-own-adventure stories have been popular, particularly with boys, as they like the interactivity and the gaming nature of them. So to be able to serve them up two at a time to aficionados not only encourages them to keep reading but also shows them that the library DOES have stuff that meets their interests and needs. That has to be good.
Barbara Braxton