New Frontier Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9781925059410
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Whales, Depression, Friendship,
Environment. When Penguin hears Whale singing the blues, he decides
to investigate. He asks what the problem is and Whale points out
that his bike is not right. Penguin laughs saying it is just upside
down and puts it up the right way and Whale is happy. Later Penguin
hears him singing the blues again and asks him what the problem is.
Whale is concerned that his bike is getting wet so Penguin gives him
a towel to dry it. This story line continues as the Whale sings the
blues and Penguin comes along like a good friend to help. Each four
page sees something which troubles Whale, and a friend coming to his
aid. When Turtle turns up on a trike, Whale laughs when Penguin
explains that he cannot use a trike as he has no legs and arms. This
evokes a great belly laugh from Whale and the friends are happy that
Whale is happy.
A gentle repetition of one line about the Whale feeling happy will
be a line readers will call out when each situation occurs. The song
to accompany the story is available as a download, and the
illustrations will cause a ripple of laughs from the readers as they
spy the absurdity of Whale's concerns under the sea. Along the way
readers will get a sense of some of the rubbish which eventually
finds its way into the oceans, and wonder how it affects the animals
that live there.
Fran Knight
The Tournament at Gorlan by John Flanagan
Ranger's Apprentice, The Early Years bk 1. Random House
Australia, 2015. ISBN 9781742759302
(Age: 10+) Recommended. I admit that I am a big fan of the Ranger's
Apprentice series and so I was looking forward to reading this
prequel.
This book takes us back to earlier days when Halt was an aspiring
Ranger. He travels with friend and fellow Ranger, Crowley, on a
mission to rebel against Baron Morgarath's evil plotting.
King Oswald is virtually a prisoner and Prince Duncan apparently has
begun to behave in a cruel and un-princely manner, losing the
support of his people.
Halt and Crowley need to find the many Rangers who have been
dismissed and replaced with Baron Morgarath's puppets.
This book highlights the friendship between Halt and Crowley. They
enjoy each other's company and their friendly banter and jibes are
comical and entertaining. Each ex-Ranger that joins their group
brings their own story and skills but they are only a small group
and Mogarath has the support of many.
The action, suspense and dialogue keep the reader entertained and
always curious about the next chapter. This is a classic good
against evil story that delivers a great tale.
I recommend this book for students from 10 years +.
Jane Moore
As big as you by Sara Acton
Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781743629697
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Difference, Elephants, Size and shape.
The soft watercolour illustrations of Sara Acton fill the pages of
this engaging book showing its readers the difference between the
words big and small, as the father (Claude) and baby elephant
(Finlay) compare their exertions. Claude flaps his ears to cover his
head from the sun, while Finlay can only wriggle his: Claude can
trumpet loudly but Finlay can only produce a squeak: Claude's feet
on the ground sound like thunder, while Finlay's little feet only
bounce. Claude can run very fast and Finlay has trouble catching up,
so much so that he lags behind and cannot see his father. He climbs
a tree to see if he can see Claude, and then falls, finding he can
use his ears to float to the ground and into his father's arms.
All the while the wonderful illustrations will attract the readers
to watch as Finlay explores his environment, learning what he can
and cannot do at his age. Guided by dad, he learns things about
himself, and learns particularly that he will grow up to be like dad
in time. A wonderful book to read with young children, reinforcing
the relationship between father and son, showing readers that they
too will be like dad one day, and teaching them the difference
between the words big and little.
Fran Knight
Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway
Simon & Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781471144134
(Age: 15+) Readers will laugh out loud and sympathise with a heart
wrenching story as they enjoy Robin Benway's, Emmy and Oliver.
After the kidnapping of her best childhood friend - Oliver - in 2nd
grade, Emmy has wanted to be in charge of her own life and break
free from her overprotective parents. Now, in her final year of
school and on the cusp of adulthood, Oliver is back. He's not the
little boy Emmy remembers from next door - he is a tall, handsome
stranger. Though he isn't the carefree little boy he once was.
Oliver is dealing with a tumultuous past - he must come to terms
with being kidnapped and lied to all these years by his own father
and learn to fit in to his new life with a mother he barely
remembers and her new family - the one she started after he was
snatched away.
Emmy and Oliver have always shared a connection that neither can
ignore - one that picks right up where it left off. Benway writes
with humour and captures poignantly what it's like to be a teenager
facing grown up decisions. Readers will love her easy-to-read style
of writing and connect with her surprisingly real characters, though
should be aware of the occasional profanity she uses in order to
express the raw emotions of an aching heart. Benway drops the pace
slightly midway through the novel, but finishes strong. This novel
is recommended for public and school libraries for mature teen
audiences. (15+).
Rhiannon Mesner
True Light by Susannah McFarlane
EJ12 bk 20 series. LemonFizz Media, Scholastic, 2015. ISBN
9781925206036
(Age: 8-10) Highly recommended. Themes: Family Life, Spies, Codes
and Ciphers, Resilience. Family is a very important part of Emma
Jack's life, both her mother and her Farmor - father's mother have
undertaken SHINE missions and adventures. Although Emma is upset
about the loss of her grandmother, she must show courage and
resilience as she takes on a new mission with SJ45 her mum.
Somewhere in the Arctic Circle SHADOW agents have set up a
laboratory to make copies of every world currency. Emma's skills in
solving codes are called upon to help find the hidden location.
In EJ12 Girl Hero 20: True Light, solving the present day
mission and one that occurred nine months earlier in Sweden are
mysteriously linked. In a flashback Emma recalls her special visit
with her father's family, celebrating wonderful Christmas
traditions. She loves the food - smorgasbord meals, making the
meatballs with her cousin and singing to the ham. Emma's father and
aunt are concerned for their mother who is looking frail. The day
after Christmas Emma and her mother are called out on a mission -
Farmor BH85 has a secret spy room in her wardrobe as well.
EJ12 is on another amazing adventure, dog sledding across the icy
landscape, helping poisoned reindeer, finding the hidden mine and
collecting a mysterious little red horse that has a hidden message.
Her present day mission in the Arctic summer is just as exciting, as
she works with her mother again to stop SHADOW's evil plans.
Susanna McFarlane's novel gives the reader a great insight into
Emma's family life and the SHINE connections. Her descriptions of
fabulous scenery, delicious food and Swedish Christmas traditions
make this an extra special story in this popular series.
Rhyllis Bignell
The naughtiest reindeer at the zoo by Nicki Greenberg
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760112141
(Age: 5+) Recommended, Christmas, Reindeers, Pets, Zoos, Families.
In rhyming stanzas Nicki Greenberg tells the tale of Ruby the pet
reindeer. Last Christmas she caused mayhem at Grandma's for
Christmas, so when the family heads off again this year, they leave
Ruby at the zoo. But here she causes even more mayhem and needs to
call in for extra help. Ruby is very lonely at the zoo, the other
animals are grim and will not speak to her, and she misses the
companionship of the other reindeers in Santa's sleigh. The animals
point out to her that she has nothing to be sad about. After all
they never get a visit from Santa. All the children are at their
homes, the keepers stay away and no one visits them, let alone bring
a present. Silly Ruby decides to give them all a present and finding
the keeper's key, lets the animals out.
Now she does need Santa to call by and help her put them all back in
their cages. A clever idea does just that and has all the animals
rand the children visit each other on Christmas Day. A cute story,
underlining the role of Christmas in children's lives and the fact
that zoos are closed only one day of the year. Families are
portrayed as doing things together at Christmas and the customs that
underpin Christmas are shown. A brightly illustrated story that will
give children a treat.
Fran Knight
Devoted in death by J.D. Robb
In death bk 41. Piaktus, 2015. ISBN 9780349403731
(Age: Adult) Crime. thriller. Serial killers. Ella-Loo and Darryl
are a couple on their way to New York, when they they find that they
become addicted to murder after killing a motorist for his car. They
manage to get away with multiple murders until they kill a much
loved musician in New York and Lieutenant Eve Dallas puts together
the clues that link this murder to many others across the country.
Now they have taken another young woman and their grisly acts are
ramping up. Devoted in death is different in that the reader knows who
has committed the murders and why they have been committed. Robb
gives an in-depth description of the two criminals, how their minds
work and what they do and all the suspense in the story is to be
found as the reader desperately hopes that Eve and Roake can put
together the pieces and rescue the pair's latest victims.
Not many authors are able to keep the reader's interest in a series
that contains 41 books, but Robb manages to provide enough thrills,
chills and suspense to keep the reader engrossed and look forward to
another one.
Pat Pledger
Snow bear by Tony Mitton and Alison Brown
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN: 9781408853344
(Ages 2-6) This is a heart-warming, rhyming narrative with poetic
descriptive language. It uses a common premise in children's books-
a lonely character searching for a home-but is a particularly
pleasing version. We do not know where little Snow Bear has come
from, but he is wandering through the cold, snowy night alone
looking for a place to sleep. He finds some cosy places but other
animals are already living there and there is no room for him.
However, when he spots a warm, cosy farmhouse he discovers a little
girl who is lonely just like him and a place he can call home. The
illustrations perfectly capture the contrast between the white,
wintry world of loneliness and the warm, fiery, cosy world of home.
Descriptive language and imagery adds a poetic tone-'But ahead the
snow's waiting, unbroken and fine'. This would be a good title to
use when discussing concepts of home and feelings of belonging, as
well as for discussions around descriptive language. Equally, this
is a timeless and touching story perfect for just sharing and
enjoying.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
A family is like a cake by Shona Innes
Ill. by Irisz Agocs. A Big Hug Book. Five Mile Press, 2015.
ISBN 9781760066314
(Age: 5+) Families, Emotions. One in the series A Big Hug Book,
written by clinical psychologist, Shona Innes, the books create a
story around families portraying all the emotions we expect to see
in a family. The stories create a platform whereby younger readers
can discuss and talk about their emotions within their family or
school, through the emotions portrayed in the stories. Although
didactic, the stories do fill a niche in schools where something
quite explicit is needed to create the platform on which to discuss
such issues.
In A family is like a cake, the family is compared with a
cake, having different shapes and sizes, full of different
ingredients, needing mixing carefully, having rules, and so on. Each
time a new comparison is introduced it is expanded with a family in
mind, the illustrations adding to the text, drawing the readers'
eyes to the animals portrayed, reinforcing what has been said. And
sometimes the cake does not turn out as everyone wants and this too
is discussed towards the end of the book.
This would make a terrific introduction to a discussion or unit
about families, springboarding to the array of books about families
working, playing, laughing and being together.
Fran Knight
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot by Dav Pilkey
Captain Underpants bk 12. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN
9781760152611
(Age: 8+) Dav Pilkey's twelfth Captain Underpants book is
filled with all the grossness, wicked humour and funny situations
that the fans love.
George and Harold are back along with their clones Yesterday George
and Yesterday Harold and of course they up are up to their usual
antics. Two of them attend school while the other two hang out in
the tree house playing video games, and at first this seems ideal.
When the boys' evil gym teacher Mr. Meaner consumes a tiny chunk of
Zygo-Gogozizzle 24 and his brain becomes super-charged, things
rapidly change. He invents a secret formula made from several
chemicals and Clamato Juice that needs to be strained through dirty,
stinky gym socks. This creation becomes a mind-control spray that
turns students into obedient, perfect children who do as Mr. Meaner
and the other teachers command. When Yesterday George and Yesterday
Harold are called into the gym teacher's office and are sprayed with
the noxious cloudburst, their crazy behaviour changes dramatically.
George and Harold need a plan and develop disguises to protect them
from the evil spray. Dressed as adults, they command the students to
perform crazy stunts, filling the teachers' cars with cottage
cheese, watering inside houses and shaving off eyebrows. A trip to
the future in the time-travelling Robo-Squid suits finally foils Mr.
Meaner - Sir Stinks-A-Lot's - plans and all is back to normal for
the boys, well at least for a moment.
Dav Pilkey's inclusion of ADHD comments, twisted 60's song titles
for chapter headings and some political remarks seem to have been
included for an adult audience - parents reading this junior graphic
novel for younger fans. He even includes hints for the next
installment - time travelling as well as a Dog Man comic.
Rhyllis Bignell
Silence is goldfish by Annabel Pitcher
Indigo, 2015. ISBN 9781510100435
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Tess has just found out a secret - a
secret that hurts her deeply and turns her world upside down.
Nothing can be as it was before. She becomes mute, in a silent
rebellion as she reels from the hurt and shock. But a fish-shaped
torch that she clasps in her pocket becomes a voice for all her
hopes and fears as she struggles to navigate her changed world,
losing her dearest friend in the process, and unsure who she should
trust and who she should not.
Readers will readily identify with the themes of struggling to find
personal identity, broken friendships, and battles with school
bullies - particularly the nastiness of anonymous cyberbullying. The
conversations she has with the toy Mr Goldfish are a perfect foil
for the confusion in her mind - who is a friend, who is enemy, and
who can she really trust?
I read this book in one sitting, swept along with Tess in the stream
of consciousness technique that takes us inside her mind - it is a
natural and authentic voice that quickly draws in the reader and has
its moments of humour as well. The conclusion is a rewarding
affirmation of acceptance of self and others, and finding true and
lasting relationships. Silence is goldfish is Annabel Pitcher's third novel - her
two previous novels My sister lives on the mantelpiece and Ketchup
clouds are both award winners (Branford Boase award and
Waterstone's Children's Prize respectively) and this book clearly is
of the same calibre.
Helen Eddy
Christmas at Grandma's beach house by Claire Saxby
Ill. by Janine Dawson. Five Mile Press, 2015. ISBN 9781760065140
(Age: 5+) Warmly recommended. Christmas, Australia, Holidays, Beach.
This wholly likable story about Christmas in Australia will have
people singing along to the words as they parody The Twelve Days
of Christmas, the English Christmas song, using a familiar
Australian Christmas scenario. The family is going to Grandma's
house by the sea. One the first day it is 'my Grandma, my family and
me', but as the days roll along, more and more people are added. The
second day sees two uncle Bobs, the third day three friends, then
four beaming aunts on the fourth day. Each group added is gloriously
happy and sunny as they come to spend Christmas at the beach. The
illustrations show the range of things families do at the beach,
including everyone in their fun and frivolity. There are sandcastles
to be made, beach cricket to play, sunbathing, sitting about
reading, people watching, digging channels to fill with water and of
course swimming.
The charming illustrations capture all of the family filled activity
that being at the beach involves, babies playing together, surfing,
being swamped with sun burn cream, and so on. And Christmas at the
beach means having Christmas lunch on the sand and this is shown
with the Christmas paper napkins and plates and mince tarts and cake
being served. Many people will find memories tugged at the fun to be
had during those lazy endless days of summer holidays at the beach
and the younger readers will be filled with anticipation at what may
lie ahead in their Christmas holidays. This is a lovely addition of
the range of Christmas stories being released.
Fran Knight
The visions of Ichabod X by Gary Crew
Ill. by Paul O'Sullivan. Harbour Publishing House, 2015. ISBN
9781922134547
(Age: Mid primary) Recommended. Future, Endangered earth. 'Time To
every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven' (Ecclesiastes 3) is quoted in the steam punk illustrations
which accompany Gary Crew's text. Beautifully illustrated in
intriguingly detailed pencil drawings, the story of a worker at a
cemetery meeting the boy whose gravestone he notices, is full of
references to time with watches, time pieces and an hour glass often
taking the predominant position on the pages. Ichabod the boy gives
the caretaker three presents: a flying machine, a spy glass and an
open lock. Each is designed to give the man a glimpse into the
future.
Crew never makes things easy. His introduction of the caretaker
using Ichabod's gifts to see into the future is then left for the
reader to pursue. No easy answers here, no tying up of the story, no
development of character, but questions, and turning the page offers
more questions. Ichabod does not tell the caretaker what he sees as
he views the future, it is up to the reader to develop this vision
for themselves.
Hints are given along the way.
Crew talks of 'the time we have', 'the destruction mankind might
cause', while the illustrations reveal a world destroyed by human
interaction, tall buildings desolate and bereft of people, frayed
electrical cords, wasps trying to get at the boy, an oak tree taking
over the headstones. With more than a nod to early silent movies,
particularly sci fi, classics, Metropolis and A trip to the moon,
the illustrations bear close inspection. All is intriguing and
demands the reader to think about what they are seeing, to think
about the future path of the world, and where it is headed. A
religious overlay caught my attention with the church and its
headstones figuring on several pages, a worn, dog eared Bible shown,
the quote from Ecclesiastes given, then the church revealed at the
end crumbling and in ruins. The link to time is everywhere, no where
more so than the hourglass chewing the watches at the top to reduce
them to the cogs and wheels in the base. An intriguing read,
questioning the way mankind has gone with science, and asking his
readers to ponder their futures.
Fran Knight
The Fourteenth Summer of Angus Jack by Jen Storer
ABC Books, 2015. ISBN 9780733334436
(Age: 9+) Angus and his sister Martha live with their widowed father
in an Australian beach town. Their father is distant and the
children have a lot of time on their hands to investigate their
surroundings.
They are immediately inquisitive when an unusual second hand shop
opens nearby. It is their interaction with the curious owner Reafen
and another character called the 'Donut Lady' that starts their
exciting adventure with goblins, Vikings and an evil force.
The children become involved in the Old Realm, solve mysteries and
confront Wild Magick.
The rich descriptions, fascinating characters and exciting conflicts
add to the enjoyment of the story. Every piece of information, even
their mother's family background, has a purpose, which leads to a
satisfying conclusion.
Black and white illustrations, some whole page, are included in the
story.
A book trailer is available at this address.
This book will appeal to children who enjoy reading fantasy and
confident readers from the age of 9 years will relish this novel. I
recommend this story for primary aged children.
Jane Moore
Standing tall by David Harding with Izzy Folau
Izzy Folau series. Random House Australia, 2015. ISBN
9780857986672
(Age: 8+) Themes: Sportsmanship; Rugby Union; Teamwork;
Perseverance. It's the Junior State Championships for Rugby Union
representative teams, and the boys from The Valley representative
team, coached by Izzy Folau, are about to be tested in the biggest
contest of their lives so far. They carry with them hopes and
dreams, fears and courage, skill and uncertainty. Will they become
champions, or will they suffer defeat ?
This is a story about getting to the finals and finding strength,
and learning about yourself in the process. The story is
predominantly told through the eyes of two main characters: the
captain, Daniel and shy and resilient Sione. It is an exciting
story, that will be enjoyed by young male readers (aged 8+) who have
a sporting interest - even if they know nothing about Rugby Union.
Carolyn Hull
