Amazing Australians in their flying machines by Prue and Kelly Mason
Ill. by Tom Jellett. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781922244635
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Flight. Adventure. Invention. This engrossing
hard cover book details the role of ten early Australian aviators
who through their efforts helped change the face of Australia's
aviation industry, bringing in a chance for people to travel to
places that could only be reached by sea. The first to suggest some
form of air travel was Dr William Bland who arrived in New South
Wales in 1814 as a convict, transported because he killed his
opponent during a duel. When in Australia he began to experiment
with hot air balloons, which preceded Lawrence Hargreave's
experiments with box kits by forty years. Then George Taylor lifted
a plane into the air in 1909.
Each of the group has a double page devoted to them, one page giving
a slice of their timeline while the other encapsulates what they did
for aviation. Jellett's quirky illustrations fill each page, giving
a cartoon image of their face, as well as illustrating their chosen
form of aviation, and illustrating something for which they are
known. The illustrations and text will satisfy the most inquisitive
of readers while tickling their funny bones at the same time. The
people covered in this way include Ross and Charles Kingsford
Smith, Bert Hinkler, Nancy Bird and John Flynn, as well as people
wholly unknown to me, George Taylor, Norman Brearley and Richard
Williams, amongst others. It is an interesting read, giving amazing
facts about the people as their contribution to Australian aviation
is briefly shown amongst a range of fascinating illustrations, while
the pages include a 'did you know?' and a timeline. The whole is
served with a sturdy index, a double page about Australian aviation
today and a section about the authors and their buying an antique
plane. This book will have appeal to those interested in aviation,
adventurous Australians and those interested in how our industry developed.
Fran Knight
Happily ever after: Beauty and the Beast by Alex Field
Ill. by Helen Magisson. New Frontier Publishing, 2017. ISBN
9781925059809
This is a great version of a traditional story and describes a young
girl overcoming her fear to protect her father. The realisation of
what is inside is far more important than what the outside looks
like.
The illustrations draw you in, and the butterflies are a great
touch.
A classic story is represented in a way that appeals to most age
groups.
Karen Colliver
Defy the stars by Claudia Gray
Hot Key Books, 2017. ISBN 9781471406362
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Science Fiction. Artificial
intelligence. Robots. Space travel. Relativity. Pollution. Earth is
dying, and there is a war between it and Genesis, one of the colony
planets. The people of Genesis have closed down access to their
planet knowing that Earth will only destroy it the way their own has
been destroyed. In a raid on Genesis, Noemi a brave young pilot
boards a ship and meets Abel, a mech warrior from Earth. Programmed
to obey commands from humans, Abel at first seems like any other
robot to Noemi, but gradually she realises that he is no ordinary
mech, instead he is unique and has the ability to dream.
This is a truly fascinating, exciting and engrossing story. The
reader is swept along as Noemi and Abel fly through space trying to
find the parts that will enable them to block access to Genesis and
save the other young pilots who were preparing for a suicide
expedition to fight Earth. They travel to various colony worlds each
unique and intriguing, and meet the Vagabonds, a group who sail
forever in the stars. Life on board the space ship and on the colony
planets is vividly described and each of the characters is fully
realised.
What makes this a stand out novel though is the theme of what makes
a human. The gradual realisation by Noemi that Abel is more than a
robot makes her question all she has been brought up to believe. If
he has the ability to dream and to feel, is he then more than a
machine? Perhaps he should be given the right to make his own
decisions about whether he will die for Genesis. But then what will
happen to Noemi's world?
With a low-key love story, a high octane plot, and a stunning
exploration of what it means to be human. Defy the stars is a
riveting read. I can't wait for the next in the series.
Pat Pledger
The red book by Beck and Matt Stanton
ABC Books, 2017. ISBN 9780733334856
(Age: 5-6) Recommended. 'For the grown-ups: Okay, Batwig. We have a
challenge for you. It's your job to convince the nearest kid that
everything in this book is actually red. And we mean everything. It
will not be easy! They'll try to persuade you that things are not as
red as you say, but you will stay strong! And the kids will love
it!'
Described as books that drive kids CRAZY, authors of This is a
Ball and Did You Take the B from my _ook? Beck and
Matt Stanton have done it again with The Red Book. To be
read in an animated but convincing way, The Red Book will
have five-year-olds in stitches as you persuade them that a frog is
red and a penguin too.
On the bottom of each page, little comments can be found to help the
reader persuade the children by simply saying at their marbles are
on the floor, and they have well and truly lost them. Overall, it's
a bit silly but highly enjoyable.
Keely Coard
The awesome book of rap, rhyme and putrid poetry by Andy Jones
Ill. by Jules Faber. HarperCollins Australia, 2017. ISBN
9781733335562
(Age: Mid primary) At 260 pages long, this is a wonderful porridge
of putrid humour for readers in mid primary. They will find really
sick jokes, disgusting verse and outrageous limericks while reading
the five pages long table of contents will encourage every reader to
take delight in what lies inside.
The words pus, bum, poo, burp, fart, drool and snot, figure
prominently, and will thrill the target audience. The limericks give
an outline of how to write a limerick, and sections at the end on
similes, metaphors, alliteration and personification teaches younger
readers about poetic imagery and how to write it for themselves. Can you guess the reason why
My little bro is called 'pick my'
Yes, you guessed it, you know its true
He likes to wipe his snot on you (Pick My, p79)
Jones includes rap and then gives instructions for the reader to
write their own. He parodies Shakespeare and teaches the readers how
to write it. There are three rhyming short stories and illustrations
by Faber adding another level of humour to a book which will capture
many readers' imaginations. I Like to Dance in my Underpants, or Drool Sandwich,
A Sticky Boogie Treat, Shakespeare Diarrhea and Vomit,
Vomit, are just some of the titles offered in this book, a
page turner for an audience wanting to laugh themselves silly at the
content and then have a go at writing them for themselves.
Fran Knight
Flight path by David Hill
Penguin Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143770527
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Towards the end of World War II, in the
weeks prior to the Allied invasion of Europe, a crew assembles to
fly a mighty Lancaster bomber over Germany.
Eighteen year old Jack and some fellow New Zealanders are crewed
with an Australian, a Pole and an English pilot and the reader is
taken on their fearful journey from being assigned to a squadron to
flying their first operations.
This is a first rate story comprising genuine characters behaving
realistically under trying circumstances within a narrative
framework based on excellent research. The military service of New
Zealanders is seldom encountered in Australian literature beyond the
World War I ANZAC experience and it is refreshing to read this
historically accurate presentation.
Crews serving in the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command suffered
appallingly with a 44 percent death rate from falling to enemy fighters,
flak and flying accidents. Jack and his mates understand the
importance of their service, especially in terms of destroying the
launching pads for the V1 and V2 unmanned rockets or flying bombs
which caused massive and indiscriminate casualties and destruction
in British cities.
This is not a simplistic war story depicting heroes defeating an
evil enemy however. The Allied crew members reveal complex
perspectives concerning their role in the war. Stefan, the Polish
co-pilot harbours a deep hatred for all Germans after his sisters
were brutalised and his family murdered. Other airmen acknowledge
that decent German people suffer similarly for opposing the regime.
Jack, as the bomb aimer, is tormented in the knowledge that the bombs
he drops will possibly kill innocent civilians including women and
children. The author avoids allowing both the crew and the reader to
have parochial blinkers by creating an unavoidable situation.
Manning one of the Lancaster's machine guns, Jack defends the
aircraft against an enemy fighter and must reconcile having
personally killed the pilot beyond doubt. Other incidents in the
book also carefully prompt consideration of the value of human life
on a level which surpasses mere identification of which nation's
uniform is worn.
Off duty moments are portrayed realistically with the crews being
exhausted, anxious and bored and a romantic interest helps maintain
an optimistic faith that life will return to normal in the near
future.
This author is to be commended for writing a worthy story which
understands and respects the heroic airmen who showed immense
courage and fortitude flying in operations over Germany. Sadly their
service was not acknowledged by the British Military to the degree
that it ought to have been after the war.
Rob Welsh
Gecko's echo by Lucy Rowland
Ill. by Natasha Rimmington. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408859506
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Animals. Families. Breeding. Rhyming story.
Underlining the adage of strength in numbers, mother Gecko in
protecting her eggs from the marauding thieves, needs to get help
from other geckos in her neighbourhood.
Told in rhyme, the story begins with the mother Gecko waiting for
her eggs to hatch, sweeping the area in front of her cave. The next
morning a snake slithers by, seeing a gecko and licking his lips at
the thought of gecko eggs for breakfast. But Gecko warns him that
she has one hundred other geckos inside her cave ready to come to
her aid at a shout. He quickly leaves. Similarly an eagle thinks
eggs would be a good feed and is told the same thing, flying away.
But when a rat calls wanting those eggs, he is not so easily fooled
by her threats, and takes a step closer. Children will laugh out
loud at the way the mother gecko protects her eggs, and be charmed
by her bravery.
Told in rhyming couplets the verse lends itself to children
predicting the rhyming word at the end of the couplet, while
learning some of the verses will be an easy task. Following the path
of the eggs from egg shapes to cracking open to reveal new baby
geckos will be a natural way for classes and families to talk about
babies, birth and family increase. The illustrations add
another level of humour to the tale and counting the one hundred
geckos on the middle double page will keep many children amused for
quite a while.
Fran Knight
King Flashypants and the creature from Crong by Andy Riley
Hodder Children's Books, 2017. ISBN 9781444929607
When is the recommendation of 50 serves of vegies a day a good
thing? When you are king and not very old you need someone to help
you run the kingdom, some advice is good and some not so good, like
the recommendation everyone should have 50 serves of vegies every
day. Read this thrilling adventure to find the answer.
King Edwin Flashypants sets off to prove he is a proper king by
defeating the terrifying monster that gets bigger and grows more
eyes every time someone tells the story of it. King Edwin
Flashypants with his adviser and friend set off to save Edwinland and
prove that he is the rightful king. Emperor Nurbison on the other
hand is trying to do everything in his power to ensure King Edwin
Flashpnats is unsuccessful in his quest. King Edwin Flashypants and
his group encounter a number of trials along their journey and they
need to use their team work to try and overcome, while Emperor
Nurbison does his best to ensure that King Edwin Flashypants is not
successful. Who will triumph to become the rightful king of
Edwinland?
A funny story written in a way that will appeal to readers of
various reading abilities, it will have everyone laughing.
Karen Colliver
My friend Ernest by Emma Allen
Ill. by Hannah Sommerville. Angus & Robertson, 2017. ISBN
9781460750544
It is the first day of school and Oscar has put his brave on along
with the knight's shining helmet from the big dress-up box. But just
as he goes to get the shield he is shoved out of the way by a kid
who snatches the dragon tail. A knight and a dragon are traditional
enemies and so it seems to be the case again. Oscar is intimidated
by this scary dragon-child and even though he acts brave he's not
really. Seeking shelter in the cubby he finds a princess who is
hiding from the crocodiles and then in comes the dragon.
This is a story that was probably reflected in most of the schools
around Australia just three or four weeks ago as the newest bunch of
big-schoolers began their new adventure. No matter how big and brave
and fearless they were on the outside, they were just little
five-year-olds in a big new world on the inside. While in those
traditional scenarios Oscar would have slain that dragon, in this
story he faces his fears. He tells the dragon he is not afraid of
him but when they come face to face he is able to articulate that he
is a little bit scared and why. Rather than hiding behind his fears
and perhaps not having the best start to school because he makes
Ernest scarier than he is, Oscar learns that acknowledging them and
facing them can lead to something much better. He also learns that
just as he is hiding his concerns behind the knight's outfit, others
might also be hiding behind a brave face and that taking the time to
dig a little deeper can lead to some rewarding and fun times.
From the front cover, Sommerville's illustrations bring this text to
life - young children will know immediately that this is going to be
about two little boys - one a knight, the other a dragon and thus
destined for conflict. But there is also a clue to the outcome in
the title - the main character is Oscar but the book is called My
Friend Ernest.
Even though the beginning of term is slipping away into the memory,
this would be a timely book to read to children and remind them of
how they were feeling back then and how far they have already come
in conquering their fears and how brave they are and can be. Life is
going to be tricky at times - just how tricky depends on how we deal
with the twists and turns.
Barbara Braxton
Frogkisser by Garth Nix
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760293512
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Humour. What a delight to
pick up another fantasy by Garth Nix. He is one of my favourite
authors and I was not disappointed in this hilarious, thought
provoking and stirring fantasy adventure. Princess Anya is on a
quest to rescue a frog, who is not a frog but a prince who has been
turned into one by Anya's evil stepstepfather because he was in love
with Anya's sister, Morven. She is rather reluctant to move from the
library where she is comfortably ensconced, learning some magic
tricks, but she has made a 'sister promise' and knows that she will
have to do something about Prince Denholm. Accompanied by Ardent,
one of the Royal Dogs, she travels through the Kingdom of Trallonia,
trying to get the ingredients she needs to make a lip balm to use
when kissing the frog.
The humour is so infectious. I laughed out loud every time Gerald
the Herald (one of many) appeared and the news that he gave about
Anya was hilarious. Even the nickname Frogkisser will make the
reader chuckle as Anya valiantly goes on her quest. She meets many
strange creatures on the way, like the thief turned into a newt and
an otter turned into a strange being, as well as a princess turned
wizard, and many many frogs. I loved the Royal Dogs as will any
person who is a dog lover.
Underlying the fun of Anya's quest, is her gradual understanding of
responsibility. She is a princess, with many privileges, but she
begins to realise that with privilege comes an obligation to do the
right thing for her people. Although I waited for a prince to come
along for Anya, Nix didn't fall into the trap of having her kiss a
frog and find her true love – instead he concentrates on her
personal growth and quest. This is very refreshing.
There are some unexpected twists and turns all making for a very
enjoyable tale. In his acknowledgements at the end Nix
mentions Robin McKinley, Diana Wynne Jones and Lloyd Alexander among
others as influences on his work, and readers who have enjoyed works
by these authors are sure to enjoy Frogkisser as well. And if they
are not familiar with those authors then readers will be in for a
treat if they try books written by them.
Pat Pledger
Melling sisters triology by Robin Klein
Text Classics. Text, 2017. All in the Blue Unclouded Weather. ISBN 9781925498325 Dresses of Red and Gold. ISBN 9781925498332 The Sky in Silver Lace. ISBN 9781925498349
(Age: 11+) Recommended. It is time for a new generation to fall in
love with the four Melling sisters as they grow up in post-war
Australia. Robin Klein's heart-warming trilogy follows their trials
and tribulations as they embrace the realities of small country town
and city life. Each novel focuses on different events in Grace,
Heather, Cathy and Vivienne's lives, as they develop their own
identities, explore friendships, build relationships and creatively
address their family's financial worries. All in the Blue Unclouded Weather introduces life in rural
Wilgawa, with their father away prospecting and a rather forgetful
mother, the sisters creatively learn to live within their means. The
youngest sister Vivienne has a vivid imagination; she escapes into
the creative worlds of poetry and literary figures. She hates
hand-me-down clothes and shoes and longs to visit wealthier Majorie
Powell's beautiful house. The sisters argue, bicker and constantly
long to be in a better social class. Klein's attention to detail -
Grace's debutante dresses, cooking disasters, coping with the
O'Keefe family, cousin Isobel's flights of fancy and her depth of
insight into small town ways make the stories come to life.
The second novel, Dresses of Red and Gold, oldest sister
Grace leaves to work in the city and study dressmaking, while the
other sisters continue to cope with their dire financial
constraints. Vignettes of family life include scary stories of the
bogeyman, Heather's visits to cheer up the elderly, Aunt Ivy's
meddlesome visit and Cath's aversion to being a bridesmaid. Dad's
reappearance also is a cause for concern. The Sky in Silver Lace concludes the trilogy, with the
Mellings forced to move to the city, moving from place to place
whilst waiting for the Housing Commission apartment. Heather and
Cathy win places at a special girl's only secondary school; however,
they are mortified at wearing second-hand uniforms. Viv's scared of
city life; she is lonely and wants to make new friends. There is a
sense of sadness that pervades this story, each sister has grown,
changed and proved their reliance in coping with all the stresses of
their family misfortunes.
Robin Klein's novels are insightful, displaying another time when
children and teenagers used their creativity, imagination and
resourcefulness to cope without the material pleasures and today's
technology.
Rhyllis Bignell
Remind me how this ends by Gabrielle Tozer
Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9781460751688
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Relationships. Grief. Decision-making.
Milo has finished school, but doesn't know where his life is headed.
His long-term girlfriend has moved away to study and she now has a
whole new life and a circle of 'friends' that do not include him.
His parents are persistently on his back to encourage him to make a
decision about the direction in his life... to overcome the lack of
direction in his life. And into this turmoil of uncertainty about
what the future will bring comes Layla. Layla is returning to the
small town of her childhood, where she was well known and had grown
up until her life was torn apart by the loss of her mother in a
dreadful accident. Still grieving, and struggling in a relationship
that is complicated by her tangled past, she blows back into town
and reconnects with Milo, her neighbour and friend from childhood.
Her vibrancy and spark ignites Milo in directions that he was not
expecting and gives them both a human anchor to hold onto as they
are buffeted by choices and decision-making.
Rich in the psychology of young relationships and the difficulties
of grieving well, and also in the angst and uncertainty of laying
the pathway to adulthood, this is a book that will appeal to young
readers. The text conversations between the main characters are
refreshing, with the humour laced with feistiness and the spark of
personality that is endearing. What seems an inevitable road in
their friendship has its own twists and turns, and you will wonder
along the way about how this will end - will there be tears, or is
this the start of something new? Gabrielle Tozer writes well for
older teens, and although her characters reflect teenage 'types',
they have their own unique ways of relating and interacting and
responding to their world. Set in a regional town, the weight of
expectations and the circumstances for teens who need to make big
decisions at a young age impact upon the direction of the
characters. This book demonstrates that many decisions can be
difficult and Tozer avoids giving neat and trite solutions to the
complexities that teens face.
Carolyn Hull
Pat-a-cake series
Hodder and Stoughton, 2017. ABC. ISBN 9781526380029 123. ISBN 9781526380050 Colours. ISBN 9781526380043 Animals. ISBN 9781526380036 On the Move. ISBN 9781526380012 Funny Faces. ISBN 9781526380005
(Age: 1-3) Recommended. 2017 has seen the release of six new
toddler's world learning board books from Pat-a-cake. Titled
ABC, 123, Colours, On the Move and Funny
Faces, each book is sturdy, vibrant, full of pictures and
ideal for very young children. Each page is filled with simple and
colourful illustrations paired with very simple wording. Pages are
thick and strong which is perfect for excited little hands. At the
end of each book, children are surprised with a large pop-up which
is a wonderful conclusion to each theme. Additionally, Funny
Faces has a 'look and laugh' mirror which is said to stimulate
baby's vision and help recognize the faces of the people they love.
Overall, the six books in the release are wonderful additions to a
toddler's library as they are excellent early learning resources.
Keely Coard
It's my pond by Claire Garralon
Translated by Sarah Ardizzone. Book Island, 2016. ISBN
9781911496021
(Age: 4-7) Recommended. It's My Pond follows a number of
different coloured ducks who claim 'it's my pond' until black duck
helps them realize that it can be everyone's pond.
With repetitive text, it can be used as a potential take-home reader
for slightly older ages, but additionally is a good resource for
children learning their colours and counting.
Keely Coard
Our (last) trip to the market by Lorin Clarke
Ill. by Mitch Vane. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781925266962
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Market, Families, Shopping, Fruit and
vegetables, Humour. With the word 'last' shown as an addition in the
title, readers will be warned that chaos lurks inside.
Mum and her six kids go to the market to get some potatoes and stock
for their stew, but while there a range of things is looked at both
by mum and the kids, some of which invites unruly behaviour. They
see a clown and a dog, a bakery and a boy on his bike, a busker,
coffee, an organic shop with bags of lentils, cakes, lots of fruit,
particularly watermelon, a magic shop and a flower shop. But the
humour lies in what the children do while at the market. In rhyming
stanzas the tale unfolds with mum having to call them away from the
mayhem they are causing. The wonderfully lively illustrations show
them taking the clown's rabbit out of his hat, taking away the dog,
digging into the lentils, overturning the vases of flowers, until
mum calls them to order with a stompity stomp and they head for the
car to go to Grandma's place for tea. The rhymes reveal the range of
food stuffs at the market as well as incorporating the children's
names, Anouk, Maximilian, Annabelle, Serenity, Alexander and Sam
with ingenious rhymes. The contrast between the children's faces and
the faces of the long suffering market traders adds another level of
humour and a small joke at the end, first by the children, then by
mum, will further delight the audience. Vane's illustrations
underline the humour of the story, adding another set of things to
laugh at and follow as the story is read. And I love the watermelon
endpapers, keeping alive the presentation of fresh fruit and
vegetables available at the market, underscoring the work done in
the classroom about good food.
Fran Knight
