Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781681190433 (Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Halloween, Ghost and ghouls, Monsters,
Humour, Board book. In the midnight hour, Vlad has called a meeting
of the Fright Club, designed to get his friends run through their
scariness for Halloween. His friends include Frankenstein, a witch,
a wolf and a mummy. There are three things they need to practise
before Halloween: ghoulish faces, scary moves and chilling sounds.
Unfortunately, their faces wouldn't even scare a daddy long legs and
Vlad is extremely disappointed. A knock at the door reveals a rabbit
intent on joining their club. Rabbit is sent away and Vlad returns
to his teaching role. Just as Mumford's eyes are boringly popping
out of his head, there's another knock at the door and the rabbit
has returned, this time with her lawyer Frances Foxx. Vlad shuts the
door in their faces and tries to get his monster friends to focus.
But rabbit returns with her critter friends complete with banners
and lots of noise. They pound on the door and show their amazing
scary steps and frightening screams, scaring the Fight Club to bits.
A compromise is reached and Operation Kiddy Scare is set to be the
best Halloween yet.
This is a wonderfully dark and devious story, designed to have
readers laugh out loud at the implications of Vlad and his club
refusing entry to rabbit and her friends.
A wonderful read aloud, full of information about Halloween which
seems to be gaining more interest in Australia, but also giving an
underlying lesson in compromise and working together.
The funny illustrations help make this board book a joy to read.
Fran Knight
Gumnut babies by May Gibbs
Angus and Robertson, 2016. ISBN 9781460752555
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Classics, Australian children's literature,
Environment. This beautifully presented compendium of May Gibbs'
stories is a centenary edition of the first publication of the Gumnut
Babies in 1916. Beloved all over Australia, many homes would
still have older editions on a bookshelf and many more would have
more recent editions, her books remaining in print over the years.
Containing seven stories: Gumnut Babies, Gum-blossom
babies, Flannel Flowers and other Bush Babies, Boronia
Babies, Wattle Babies, Nuttybub and Nittersing,
Chucklebud and Wunkydoo, the whole is lavishly illustrated
with her wonderful drawings and paintings. The book is finished with
a biography of May Gibbs containing a selection of photographs of
May, her house and garden, along with more images of her work. This
is a wonderful book to reintroduce children to these stories of
Australia's environment, published at a time of great emphasis on
our natural world, when Gibbs imagined the bush was full of little
gumnut people, along with dastardly villains ready to ensnare them.
Her emphasis on our natural environment must have been a wonderful
introduction for many children in the early part of the twentieth
century, and her using a range of flowers, flannel, native fuchsia,
boronia and gum blossom, along with animals such as koala, possum,
kookaburra and so on would have enthralled a society with a closer
knowledge of the bush. But all this changed when the Depression
meant that her cartoon strips were no longer bought by the
newspapers and replaced with those from the USA.
The biography at the end of the book is brief but most enlightening
about her life and career, urging readers to look for more
information. And it is amazing to read that a place like Nutcote was
about to be demolished, but is thankfully there for all visitors
wanting a look at where she developed her ideas.
Fran Knight
Mulga's magical musical creatures by Mulga
Hachette Australia, 2016. ISBN 9780734416704
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Imagination. Humour. Intrigued by the
author's name, Mulga, I went to his website and found
that 'Mulga is Joel Moore, a Sydney based artist, freelance
illustrator and poet who paints murals, designs t-shirts and runs
the Mulga brand.' In this intriguing picture book Mulga has drawn
some magical animals who play musical instruments and in a fun
rhyming story tells how his dreams inspire the creation of music.
Readers will be fascinated by the beautifully coloured animals that
dance across the pages. There are fishes in ponchos playing their
guitars against a desert background, elephants tooting trumpets in
vivid jungle, beautiful owls in boots playing the banjo, lions in
pink and blue sunglasses singing in mics and gorillas playing on
drums. All are coloured in gorgeous bright yellows, blues and pinks,
with lots of intricate detail that begs for a second look. Young
children will delight in the humour of the illustrations and spend
time finding how many animals are hiding on each page.
The story is told in rhyming verse that would be a joy to read
aloud. A discussion about musical instruments, the sounds they make
could lead to lots of fun with children finding other instruments
and drawing animals with them. The idea that dreams can be an
important part of creativity and using the imagination is also a
theme that could be pondered upon.
Pat Pledger
Fox and Goldfish by Nils Pieters
Book Island, 2016. ISBN 9780994128218
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Picture book for older readers.
Themes: Adventure, Friendship, loss, remembrance, pets. As soon as
this book is opened, the reader knows that there is a different
journey to what would be expected from the cover illustration. The
opening words by Nils Pieters,
a Belgium author, sets the scene: Oh Goldfish, my friend
Maybe your time has come,
But I just can't let you go like this . . .
It is obvious that Goldfish is unwell and Fox is distraught for his
friend, so he takes him on a quest to see the wonders of the world.
They fish off tall rocks and splash in the sea, ride a motor bike
through the desert of Utah, view fabulous mountains, trek through a
tropical forest, and even catch a rainbow. Fox drags Goldfish behind
him on ski trip and together they look at earth from outer space.
Then it is time for Fox to let Goldfish to go: Okay, my friend,
Now you can go.
The joy of discovery that Fox and Goldfish experience is expressed
without words through the vivid illustrations painted in bold,
bright colours. There are only the six lines of narrative in the
book and it is the strange memorable drawings that make such an
impact. The theme of friendship shines throughout the book. Fox is
such a good to make sure that Goldfish's last days on earth are so
memorable. He has also make some wonderful memories for himself to
treasure as he sits in front of Goldfish's memorial stone. The theme
of impending loss is handled so positively that it will be an
inspiration for many not to be overwhelmed by grief but to do
wonderful things and make happy memories to last.
This is a moving book that will appeal to all ages.
Pat Pledger
Botanicum by Katie Scott and Kathy Willis
Five Mile Press, 2016. ISBN 9781783703944
(Age: 8+) Museums, Evolution, Plants. As with Historium and
Animalium this beautiful book will make an excellent library
book which some children will chose to use. Students will need to be
shown this book and when they dip inside will be amply rewarded.
As with any museum, each double page is like a gallery, inviting
students to look closely at the detailed illustrations by Scott and
then read Willis' words.
Again, reminiscent of wood block prints of the past, the highly
detailed illustrations beg the eyes to look closely and deeply,
lingering over the intricacy of the pictures shown, taking int he
text and all it offers. Some illustrations, like the Giant Sequoia
are pictured across the double page, increasing its interest to
readers, its placement underlining it size. Information about its
size, plant group if belongs to and where it can be found is given
underneath along with references to the illustrations. Kids will be
amazed at the information and pictures given in this book. Seven
chapters are given in all, starting with The First Plants, moving on
to Trees, Palms and Cycads; Herbaceous Plants; Grasses, Cattails,
Sedges and Rushes; Orchids and Bromeliads and finishing with a
chapter on how plants have adapted to the environment. All in all a
fascinating book to read or dip into, to use as a reference or just
gathering information. A detailed index is given at the back between
the most glorious of endpapers.
Fran Knight
Why is that emu wearing one red shoe? by John Field
Ill. by David Legge. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760154493
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Bush song, Singalong, Australian animals.
With an accompanying CD version of the bush song in this hardback
book, teachers, children and parents will have great fun with this
rollicking rhyming ballad. Songwriter and performer, John Field has
put pen to paper using recognisable Australian backgrounds and
animals. The ballad includes a range of animals that are also shown
in the illustrations by David Legge. Both text and illustrations
will encourage readers to differentiate between Australian and non
Australian animals.
Great fun will be had reading the book, singing along with the CD,
predicting the rhyme that ends each line, adding verses of your own.
The illustrations draw the eye towards the range of things shown on
the page, encouraging the reader to look more closely at the details
shown, recognising the Australian background for themselves.
As emu goes on his walk he attracts the attention of a range of
animals who attach themselves to him, following in his wake. So it
is not just emu on his walk, but a straggle of hanger-ons, all
wondering why he has only one shoe. On the end of the line come a
jogger and motor cyclist, and they all end up at a shop which makes
shoes.
A monkey fits his new shoes and all is well.
A happy, rollicking ballad for kids to listen to, sing themselves,
and join in.
Fran Knight
Here comes Mr Postmouse by Marianne Dubuc
Book Island, 2016. ISBN 9780994128201
Recommended. Themes: Picture Books; Animals. The winning feature of
this book by French-Canadian author Dubuc is the detailed pen and
ink style cartoon illustrations which show the homes of the animals
to which Mr Postmouse delivers his parcels and letters. The text
accompanying these illustrations are printed in a very tiny font
which signposts that they are to take a 'back seat' to the quirky
and cute illustrations that show the cross-sections of the animal
homes, revealing lifestyles of the families inside - for example,
the 7 level bunny bunk bed.
Young readers (particularly pre-readers!) will love browsing the
illustrations for the quirks of family life revealed both above
ground, behind closed doors and under water.
Carolyn Hull
King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor by Andy Riley
Hodder Children's Books, 2016. ISBN 9781444929591
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. King Edwin is a kid and a king. He
rules Edwinland and is loved by everyone. (especially on Fridays
when he spends his pocket money on chocolate and shares it with
everyone). Minister Jill helps King Edwin run the country while evil
Emperor Nurbinson continually plots to steal Edwinland from them
all. How will a cow disguised as a dragon be the downfall of the
kingdom? Will the people of Edwinland be easily swayed? How does
shaving 2 sheep help Edwin hide his crown? Can Edwin become a guard
in Nurbinson's army and spoil Emperor Nurbinson's plans? By the way,
his people call him King Edwin. You will have to read the book to
find out why he is called King Flashypants in this story. King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor is a hilarious read and
highly recommended for readers aged 9+ . Thanks to funny events like
itchy bums and characters with crazy names, reluctant readers will
be laughing all the way to the end. The text is descriptive and
moves quickly. It is scattered with funny cartoons and readers will
be hanging out for the next King Edwin adventure.
Kylie Kempster
There is a monster on my holiday who farts by Tim Miller
Ill. by Matt Stanton. ABC Books, 2016. ISBN 9780733334658
When the family goes around the world for their holiday, something
nasty goes with them - a fart. The fart appears at every place they
visit, and the illustrator has fun drawing images of various places
around the world that the family goes to. The readers sees the Sumo
wrestlers in Japan, the tranquil water off Greece, the Leaning Tower
of Pisa, the Pyramids of Egypt, but all accompanied by a fart. The
family crosses the Alps in a hot air balloon, helped by the fart,
they see the Mona Lisa in Paris but she seems to be gagging on
something, and we find out why the person is screaming in the Munch
painting in Oslo. Each place they visit is also visited by a fart,
until the parents call a halt.
This funny story will be recognised by the readers as they all have
experience of someone farting in their midst. They will laugh out
loud at the places the family visits and the effect of the fart on
that place. They will recognise many of the places and could well
use a world map to find where these places are.
The book takes the readers on a trip around the world, highlighting
may significant sights and experiences. I love the little detail
included by the illustrator, flags of some countries, food that
might initiate the fart, and the selfie takers. What a clever way to
introduce countries of the world to a younger audience.
Fran Knight
Sir Dancealot by Timothy Knapman
Ill. by Keith Robinson. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408846995
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Dancing, Humour, Alliteration/Rhyme,
Monsters, Reconciliation. Sir Dancealot lives in times of old and
his great skill as a dancer makes him a winner against all opponents
(including bogglesnots, beasties and monsters). That is until he
meets his match in the light footed and daring Dragon who has
mastered the fearsome art of Dance! The Dragon is a formidable
competitor and a dance-off . . . on ICE . . . is proposed to find a
winner. Who will survive as the winner?
This is a lovely tale with alliteration, rhyme and wonderful
illustrations with warts, fangs and dance moves. Friendship is the
winner after a dangerous move on the ice creates a sinking feeling
for the pirouetting pair. The illustrations are bright, and
endearing and bold colours and the silver mirror ball and stars on
the cover will cause this to leap from shelves into the waiting
hands of young readers.
Carolyn Hull
Shiver me timbers! by Oakley Graham
Ill. by Nina Caniac. Big Sky Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925520002
Themes: Pirates/Piracy. This is a book that incorporates piracy
descriptions and terminology in rhyme, with limited plot and
narrative strength, and there is a repeated refrain . . . 'Yo Ho Ho!'
Pirates are probably not known as great literature lovers and they
have not motivated a great story in this book, they are really just
the inspiration for the bright, colourful and funny illustrations.
The last 2 double pages revert to non-fiction style to reveal some
background information about basic piracy and historical characters.
The rhyming text does reveal something about the pirate life that
will appeal to young male readers particularly - the Poop Deck and
the illustration of the pirates relieving themselves will no doubt
'charm' an avid Pirate fan.
Carolyn Hull
The wonder by Emma Donoghue
Picador, 2016. ISBN 9781509818396
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended.
Emma Donoghue is the bestselling author of Room, shortlisted for the
Man Booker Prize in 2010, now an award winning film. That book was
about a young boy and his mother held captive in a room by a child
abductor. With this latest book, The wonder, Donoghue ventures into
the world of historical fiction - it is set in the Irish Midlands in
the 1850s, a time of fervent religion mixed with superstition, and
bog marshes that could easily sink a body. In this story also, the
child is like a prisoner under constant watchful guard, and there is
an undercurrent of suspicion of abuse.
Anna, the child, has been extolled as a wonder, a miracle from God,
she has not eaten for months but seems healthy nonetheless. She is a
'fasting girl' - one of a number of recorded cases of girls and
women hailed for surviving for long periods without food, in
the sixteenth to twentieth centuries. Lib, a nurse trained in the
latest medical approaches by none other than Florence Nightingale
herself, is hired by a local committee to observe the child and make
a report at the end of her two weeks of observation. A no-nonsense
believer in science, Lib is determined to expose any trickery, and
she sets about ensuring there is no secret smuggling of food.
However, as her observations record the gradual deterioration in
Anna's health and she is shocked into realising she is also
complicit in starving the child, Lib has to decide what action she
should take.
At the heart of the story is an analogy with the fairy story of
Rumpelstiltskin, where a young girl is compelled to weave straw into
to gold because of her parent's boastings. Her debt to the strange
little man who comes to her aid can only be broken by guessing his
name. So there is the play between Anna and Lib, of guessing games
and riddles, which creates a kind of friendship between the two. But
Lib gradually comes to realise that she has to do more than just be
a friend, she has to take action.
This book is an intriguing mix of fairy story, science and religion,
each contributing to the puzzle that Lib has to solve. In addition
there is a thread of romance as she is befriended but also
confronted by the charming yet astute young journalist William
Byrne. The tension builds as Lib comes closer to working out the
truth and realises that she alone can save the child. Is she clever
enough and brave enough to do what is needed? I found I couldn't put
this book down in the last chapters - it is a gripping yet very
satisfying story because it is clearly written from a real
understanding of the world of the child, of parent-child
relationships, the complexities of child abuse, the power of
religious and superstitious beliefs, and the individual struggle
with conscience and finding the courage to take a stand against the
prevailing group. It's a fascinating and thought-provoking book -
highly recommended, and has my vote for best book for 2016.
Helen Eddy
Gwendolyn! by Juliette MacIver
Ill. by Terri Rose Baynton. ABC Books, 2016. ISBN 9780733335174
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Penguins. Habitat. Environment. Home.
Gwendolyn the penguin loves living in the jungle. She greets Jaguar
in the morning, and he can only complain about the heat. She meets
the monkeys but they can only complain about their bruised bananas.
She meets parrot who complains about not finding a wife, despite his
beautiful plumage. In responding to each animal's complaint, penguin
tells us of the contrast they would find in the Antarctic, so
acquainting the reader with facts about that place. But so much so
that Gwendolyn wants to go there.
And if it is odd to find a penguin in the jungle, then this
strangely informative book shows where she should live, and what her
habitat should be, while contrasting it with where she is now
residing. For children reading the book for all its fun and laughter
they will assimilate lots of facts about a penguin's habitat and be
able to tell others about life in the Antarctic.
Gwendolyn the penguin is irrepressible, with her responses to the
animals' complaints and her travel to the Antarctic. For all her
sadness at being separated from her species she finds that she
misses the jungle and so returns.
A luxurious jungle greets the reader on most pages. The pencil and
water colour illustrations are dynamic, making it easy for younger
readers to pick out the features of either the jungle or the
Antarctic. They will love recognising the many animals that live in
each place and follow Gwendolyn's exploits with lots of laughter.
But most of all they will love discussing who lives where and why an
environment is more suited to one or the other animal, and whether
this should restrict where Gwendolyn lives. This a delightfully
thought provoking book about the old adage, 'home is where the heart
is'. And readers will love calling out her name as it is prompted in
the text.
Fran Knight
Swarm by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti
Zeroes bk 2. Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781925267242
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Thriller. Super heroes. 'Every power has a
dark side'. Reading the second in the Zeroes series takes
the reader on a dark, scary and unexpected trip on the wild side.
The Zeroes - Ethan (Scam), Nate (Bellwether), Thibault (Anonymous),
Kelsie (Mob), Riley (Flicker) and Chizara (Crash) have made
themselves an underground nightclub where they are experimenting
with crowds and controlling their powers. One night two other
Zeroes, Coin and Glitch, take to the dance floor and the Zeroes find
that not only are there more people out there who have super powers,
but a powerful person, Swarm, is out to harm them. On the track of
Swarm, the friends find themselves in deadly danger, and Swarm's
actions make them face some issues. Bellwether's confidence is
severely challenged; Mob has to face the dark side of her power;
Anon realises that he doesn't belong anywhere; Crash has to question
the morality of her actions while Ethan faces trying to fit in.
An exciting second novel, this finds the characters growing and
working out the limits to their powers. There are lots of unexpected
moments and it is difficult to predict just what is going to happen
next. Lots of action and suspense kept me glued to the page but the
personal conflicts that each character faced brought plenty of heart
wrenching moments as well.
This is one dark, frightening and thrilling ride. There are some
rather horrific deaths that are not for the faint hearted and the
conclusion leaves the reader reeling from the shock of it, and
desperate for the next instalment.
Pat Pledger
Four silly skeletons by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN
9781408867143
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Humour. Skeletons. Bodies. Verse. Four silly
skeletons named Fred, Sid, Belle and Bill live at the top of a very
steep hill. Lucky for them their dear old Aunt June lives near the
bottom of the hill and she is very sensible. The four do some very
silly things, slipping on a banana skin, overfilling the bath,
hitting a ball with the tennis racket and smashing a vase. But sweet
Auntie June is there to put things right. One night they become
entranced with the music that they hear. They dance and jive, leap
and swish, all over the top of their hill. Auntie June calls out
very sensibly to take a torch but they do not listen, and fall over
the cliff. They become a jumble of bones at the bottom of the cliff,
and Auntie June must try to put them together again. She gets out
her sticky glue and attaches the bones together. But she does not do
it at all correctly and the four silly skeletons are arranged a
little differently.
This is a very cute rhyming cautionary tale. It reminds readers
through a fun story, of taking note of your elders, of taking
precautions when out at night, of watching where you are going. It
will raise gales of laughter from the intended audience and readers
will want to write their own 'Four silly skeletons' verse. The
luminous illustrations add to the fun of the story and an astute
teacher will have skeletons ready to be cut out and danced across
the pin up board, and use the tale to introduce work on the body.
Fran Knight
