Ill. by Shane McG (McGowan). Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN
9781925266382
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Hens, Space, Achievement, Read a loud.
Zelda is sure of one thing; she wants to travel in space. And not
only to get there amongst the stars, but to be the first chook to
achieve this.
She asks the other chooks if they can help. But each she asks in
turn is unable to help. One is too busy, while several cannot do the
things she asks, so she does the work herself. Sawing the wood for
the spaceship, making plans for her journey and exercising to get
herself ready for the event.
Shane McG's illustrative technique will entrance the readers, with
his chooks reflecting so much character in their faces and body
language. The view from space of the farm and all of its out houses
intrigued me as did the wonderful suitcase and little green aliens,
adding subtle touches of retro. The readers will laugh uproariously
at the thought of this diminutive chook hurtling off into space with
a wooden spaceship (take note of its beginnings!) and cosy nesting
box. But she succeeds, circling the skies, and conducting her
experiments. When she arrives home, all the other chooks want to be
part of her success, and tell people that they had a hand in her
preparations. But the readers and Xelda know better. Everyone agrees
however that this was the most exciting thing ever to happen in
their chook yard, and Zelda imagines that if she goes again she will
take her friends.
This is a layered read aloud with possibilities for classes when
talking about space and space travel, but also about friendship and
what constitutes a friend. Zelda is most accommodating with her
friends and even though they declined to help her she includes them
in her big adventure when she returns, even thinking about taking
them on her next trip. She is a lovely character and I wonder where
she will go next.
Fran Knight
Ella Diaries: Friends not Forever by Meredith Costain
Ill. by Danielle McDonald. Scholastic Australia, 2016. ISBN
9781760157173
(Age: 6-9) Recommended. Friendship. School plays. This is the first
in the series that I have read and I really enjoyed reading about
the trials that Ella faced, not only in performing in the school
play but in keeping a best friend. Two exciting thing happened at
Ella's school - there was a new girl named Amethyst and there was
going to be a school play about pirates. Ella and her best friend
Zoe are determined to be in the cast for the play and spend a lot of
time practising their lines.
Ella writes down the details of her life in her diary in a most
entertaining and interesting way. The reader will have lots of fun
following what is happening as she tries out for the school play, is
side tracked by Peach's bad behaviour and comes to grips with the
fact that Zoe is becoming friends with Amethyst. Her humorous and
sometimes touching entries are accompanied by fabulous little
illustrations that are sure to bring a smile to the reader's face.
The diary format will be very appealing and the themes of joining in
a school play, getting along with siblings and working out the
dynamics of friendship will be ones that young readers will find
easy to relate to and enjoy reading about.
Pat Pledger
When Michael met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Pan Macmillan, 2016. ISBN 9781743534977 (Age: Secondary students) Highly recommended. This is superb and should be recommended reading to all high school students! Randa Abdel-Fattah is able to uncover the essence of high school life and relationships, at the same time as revealing the dilemmas of the feisty Mina, the young Afghani refugee and the unsettling bigotry that exists and grows within Australian society. Abdel-Fattah does this gently, and with understanding, revealing the struggles of the very intelligent Mina as she tries to fit into a North Shore School as a scholarship holder. Her background is so foreign to the students that she shares class with that the discovery of friendship is very powerful, and her presence also changes those around her, giving them insight into their own attitudes. Mina's friendship with Michael changes his life in ground-shattering ways, and her rapport with her friend Paula is delightfully 'decorated' with Oscar Wilde quotes.
Every young person should read this engaging narrative, not least because it esteems Poetry Slam events, standing up for others, academic achievement, and gives voice to the experience of those who are happy to call Australia 'home', and yet are not given the chance to understand its rules, or are criticised when they seek to hold onto a small taste of what is familiar to them.
This was a book that I could not put down. I loved the voice and concerns of the main characters and the understanding that young people are multi-faceted. I was also impressed in the way the conflict between opposing viewpoints was introduced with sensitivity, examining principles rather than descending into a distasteful brawl, and also giving insight into the way the media can also become embroiled in communicating viewpoints. Highly Recommended. Carolyn Hull
Ella and Olivia: Zoo rescue by Yvette Poshoglian
Ill. by Danielle Macdonald. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760157203
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Zoos. Penguins. Orangutans. Ella and Olivia
are really excited because they are off to the Zoo. Olivia is
particularly interested in the orangutans, and Ella can't wait to
see the penguins. Ella has learnt a lot about penguins when she did
a research assignment on them and she really wants to see them.
However when they finally get to the penguin enclosure, it is closed
because the penguins are being moved to a larger site. Ella spots a
penguin who has been left behind and she and Olivia go its
rescue.
With large print and lots of black and white illustrations this is a
perfect book for the young reader who is just leaving picture books
and wants something a bit more demanding. The story is divided into
five short chapters that will enable the reader to break up the
plot. There are also lots of details about penguins and orangutans
that will fascinate young children learning about animals and will
really appeal to children who like to discover more about animal
life.
Pat Pledger
When Luke Skywalker became an X-wing pilot by Trey King
Star Wars. Story-time saga. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2016. ISBN
9781760128401
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Young fans of the Star Wars saga will
be delighted with this picture book that shows Luke Skywalker when
he has joined the rebels in their fight against the Empire. They
want to destroy the deadly battle station, the Death Star, and Luke
is on a mission as an X-wing pilot to attack it.
Readers familiar with the film Star Wars: A new hope, will
recognise the episode and those new to the Star Wars story
will be thrilled with the action of the X-wing fighters as they zoom
against the Death Star. When Luke gets into trouble his friend Han
Solo swoops down in the Millennium Falcon to help out. Luke has to
become confident and use the Force to win the battle, remembering
the advice of Obi-Wan.
Large print and words in bold will be a boon for beginning readers,
and younger children will enjoy having this story read to them. The
bright illustrations complement the story and give a vivid
impression of the tense action in the battles. This is sure to
become a favourite of children who love the movies and the Lego
figures associated with Star Wars.
Pat Pledger
Penelope Perfect: The truly terrible mistake by Chrissie Perry
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2016. ISBN 9781760120276
Penelope Kingston (aka Penelope Perfect) has made a terrible
mistake. When she answered the questions on the maths test, she
missed five of them on the back of the page!! Not only does that
mean she might not get an A on her report card (and thus the
admiration and another $20 from her absent father) but she has also
received the same mark as Joanna, the 'naughty girl' in the class
who is much more adept at blowing spitballs than academics. Penelope
is devastated, especially when Ms Pike refuses to let her take the
test again!
But she sees a way to redeem her grades (which seem to be her
motivation and on which her entire self-worth is based) through
excelling in the drama competition instead. In fact she has already
written a play that will put them ahead of the other groups, but
then her drama teacher Mr Salmon mixes up the groups and instead of
her usual crew, Penelope now has Joanna in her group - and Joanna
most definitely has her own ideas!
Penelope turns to her beloved grandfather for advice - as she often
does, particularly when she feels the loud, bossy, angry twin of her
Gemini personality rising - and he gives her the cryptic message to
'colour outside the lines'. So will she be able to work as a team
member and shine in the play or will her wilfulness and need to be
perfect (in her eyes) destroy all her relationships? Is even her new
best friend Bob deserting her?
Barbara Braxton
When friendship followed me home by Paul Griffin
Text Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925355499
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Friendship. Dogs. Cancer. Editor's
Choice in the New York Times. A heart wrenching but uplifting
story, When friendship followed me home, is the tale of Ben
Coffin, a 12 year old who is in foster care. All seems fine, he has
adopted a scruffy little dog, called Flip and enjoys reading sci-fi
at the library. When Ben meets Halley, the librarian's daughter, he
believes he has a friend, but his foster mother Tess, dies and Ben
finds himself once again trying to cope. He goes to live with
Jeanie, Tess's sister, but her partner Leo has anger management
issues and he faces loss and isolation.
Ben is a beautifully realised and remarkable character. As his
friendship with Halley develops he is the strong one who is
optimistic and caring as she deals with her cancer. Together they
begin to write a story called The magic box, and Halley
refuses to tell him what is in it (what a wonderful surprise that
will be for the reader!) His resilience, his compassion and his
humility make this a stand out story. Then of course there is the
little dog Flip who has lots of tricks that endear him as a therapy
dog when he works with Ben and Halley helping children to learn to
read.
Halley's parents are also beautifully portrayed and the relationship
that Ben gradually builds up with them is heart-warming. Halley's
father is a magician and when Ben begins to work with him, he starts
to have confidence in himself and begins to feel at home in the
family.
Although I shed many tears throughout When friendship followed
me home, the kindness of Ben and Halley's family, and of Tess,
his foster mother shone through reminding the reader that
helpfulness and friendship are all important even though there is
abandonment, domestic violence and poverty in the world.
This is a feel good book that won't easily be forgotten. It would
make an outstanding read aloud, class text or literature circle
novel. Teacher's
notes are available.
Pat Pledger
Dig World by Steven O'Donnell (Bajo) Stephanie Bendixsen (Hex)
Ill. by Chris Kennett. Pixel Raiders series, bk 1.
Scholastic Australia, 2016. ISBN 9781760159252
(Age: 8+) Stephanie Bendixsen and Steve O'Donnell are writers and
presenters for the ABC3 show Good Game and Good Game: Spawn Point
and Good Game: Pocket Edition. They are video game enthusiasts,
dedicated gamers across all platforms and they have collaboratively
written this new virtual-reality gaming series - Pixel Raiders.
Ripley and Mei are fanatical gamers; each has a high level of skills
and mastery of INREAL GAMES including - Teamforce Splatter, Dungeons
of Direworld and Space Horizons 1-4. A wonderfully exciting day is
about to happen; their class are visiting the INREAL gaming
headquarters to see where all the new games are tested. There is an
amazing opportunity for the best gamer, who will test the latest VR
game. Rip and Mei battle each other in Super Block Knights and each
plays to their strengths determined to win the prize, however Angela
outsmarts the kids and is declared the winner. A week later, the two
gamers are invited to return to INREAL to play Pixel Raiders Level 1
- Dig World.
Trapped inside this brand new game, Rip and Mei work together to
build shelters, find food and use voice recognition to move through
the game world. George the Wizard is their guide and they soon
discover the need for protecting their health. They need to survive
for three days in this strange pixelated environment, fighting green
arrow shooting goblins and flame tigers, chopping wood for fires and
discovering the reasons for fart flowers. Dig World is an action-packed adventure for readers who love
gaming and the world of virtual reality.
Rhyllis Bignell
My Lovely Colouring Book
Bloomsbury Activity Books, 2016. ISBN 9781408879306
(Age: 7+) Recommended as a gift. With the craze for colouring in
books still happening, this beautifully produced book is sure to be
a winner.
There are flowers, fish, animals of all kinds, fruit and vegetables,
all beautifully designed to catch the interest of someone who would
like to relax and be creative with colour. The separate
illustrations of two fabulous owls caught my eye as I was flicking
through the book. On the left hand side of the page it is coloured
in and on the right hand side is the same image for the user to
colour in as the imagination demands or perhaps for a younger user,
to copy. Each of the many illustrations has wonderful shapes and
patterns, some in colour to stimulate interest and some in black and
white to whet the artistic bent of the user.
This would make a lovely gift for anyone who is interested in
colouring in and is sure to prove to be both stimulating and
relaxing.
Pat Pledger
Olive of Groves and the great slurp of time by Katrina Nannestad
Harper Collins Children's Books; ABC Books, 2016. ISBN 9780733333705
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Olive is the only semi-sane character
attending Mrs Groves' Boarding School for Naughty Boys, Talking
Animals and Circus Performers. This is the second book in the
series, and yet again her voice of reason and her kindness come to
the fore in the midst of the crazy and bizarre happenings that
follow when a time traveller lands in the midst of the usual
'madness' of the unusual school life, and inadvertently creates a
'time slurp' that sucks all logic from this funny story.
Children from aged 8-12 will enjoy the bizarre exploits of rats,
moose, goose, acrobats and a plethora of other strange characters
that have gross, explosive and disgusting habits. A former student
returns to add difficulty to school life and Mrs Groves also proves
herself to be the literary world's most inane and peculiar school
'leader' who is unable to recognise a lie if it fell on top of her
and crushed every bone in her body! The rules for time travel are
also challenging, and nearly result in a terrible disaster.
Nannestad writes in a way that is disarmingly quaint and endearing,
with charming asides that allow her own humour and understanding of
what can tickle the funny bone of young readers to sparkle lightly
through the story.
Recommended.
Carolyn Hull
Hillary, a biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Karen Blumenthal
Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408873922 (Age: 16+) Recommended. 'The challenge is to practise politics as
the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible' - Hillary
is quoted on the front cover. This biography by Karen Blumenthal
traces Hillary's life story and reveals an amazingly determined and
assured woman who always rose to the challenge no matter the
obstacle. In fact opposition only made her more determined to find a
way to prevail.
Early experiences provide insight into her strength of character. As
a student of law she championed children's rights; her first
scholarly article 'Children under the law' was published in the
Harvard Educational Review'. Yet one of her first assignments as a
legal aid lawyer was the defence of a factory worker accused of
child rape, not a task she wanted to take on. Nevertheless she put
enormous energy into giving him the best defence possible, bringing
the case to a plea bargain. In any job assigned to her, Hillary
immediately set to work and gave it her utmost. Early on, Bill
Clinton once said of her 'this is a woman whose future is limitless.
She could be anything she decides to be'.
What she decided to do though, was support him. She was Bill
Clinton's strongest campaigner and strongest support. And it seems
like their partnership was the perfect marriage of skills, his charm
and sociability combined with her strategy and hard work ethic, a
combination that saw Bill rise to Governor of Arkansas and then
President of the United States.
The two of them also made a conscious decision, to provide a
constant and close family relationship with their daughter Chelsea.
Even at the hardest times, in coming to terms with Bill's
infidelity, they were united not only in their combined goals, but
their love for their daughter. There is a very poignant photograph
after the Lewinsky revelations, a back view of them walking away
together, Chelsea between them, holding both their hands. They do
all appear to have come through that time, still linked by love and
respect.
It is interesting to ponder what Hillary may have achieved if she
hadn't chosen Bill and followed her own career. But the message of
the book seems to be that each of them benefited from the
partnership, it was their winning team combination that got them
both as far as it did. Hillary's star has continued to rise - as
Obama's Secretary of State, and now her tilt at the Presidency
itself. No matter the outcome, it is clear she is an amazingly
driven person, and it is fascinating to read how her life path has
evolved. The book provides an inspiring story for young women
of today, to stay strong, never give up, and believe in yourself and
what you want to do.
Helen Eddy
The nose pixies by David Hunt and Lucia Mascuillo
Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9780733334870
(Age: 3+) Cautionary tale. Nose picking. Health. You will never pick
your nose again after reading this horribly descriptive cautionary
tale. And hopefully neither will the young audience to whom it is
targeted.
Oliver has a very nasty habit, that of picking his nose and planting
the pickings in his mouth. He tells his hands to behave but without
thinking those fingers sneak back into his nose. One night Dad tells
him a very strange story, that of the nose pickers whose job it is
to mine noses. The story has been made up just for Oliver, and Dad
tells it with gusto.
Warning: this will make you feel ill for much of the story. Designed
to put kids off being involved in this nasty habit, the book will
certainly achieve its aim. Kids will read it for the humour and the
yuck factor, relishing everything that comes out of Oliver's nose,
but take to heart the message given. Young boys in particular will
have a great laugh as the story is told, and will relish watching
the eight pixies go about their mining work.
Fran Knight
Secret princesses: The magic necklace by Rosie Banks
Orchard Books, 2016. ISBN 9781408336083
(Age: 6-9) Young novel. Princesses. Friendship. A series that
concentrated on magical princesses and the power of friendship is
sure to have a following. Best friends Charlotte and Mia are very
upset when Charlotte's family decide to move away, but when they are
given magic necklaces, they discover that they can see each other
whenever they want, and have adventures at the same time. When they
are taken to Wishing Star Palace they meet their friend Alice, who
is a pop star and also one of the princesses. She explains that the
secret princesses make wishes come true for girls and at the same
time help the Wishing Star Palace from being destroyed.
There is much to appeal to young readers with this book. The plot of
keeping in touch with your best friend using a magic necklace is
entertaining and the themes of aiding others and being good friends
is also alluring. Charlotte and Mia's task is to help out Olivia who
is desperate to make new friends but her party is being spoilt by
the evil Princess Poison who is determined that they won't succeed.
They have to use their ingenuity to foil her evil plans.
There is an extra commercial aspect to this book - Monsoon Children,
a UK based clothing company, is part of the campaign and children
are urged to get the same princess outfits that Charlotte and Mia
wear as well as a Best Friends necklace designed by Monsoon.
Pat Pledger
Ollie's Odyssey by William Joyce
Moonbot Books, 2016. ISBN 9781442473553
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Ollie's Odyssey is a cinematic
narrative, an epic 'a-venture' that explores the power of
friendship, courage and determination, the forces of good and evil
and even love and loss. This is a multi-layered story centred on the
world of favourite toys. On the crisp white pages, told from either
Billy's or Ollie's point of view, we engage with their special
friendship with special words - Yum for food to the simple pleasures
of being a toddler and a young boy with a creative imagination. The
love of a favourite toy holds a special bond. When Billy is born
with a heart murmur, his mother lovingly sews him a stuffed toy, a
soft rabbit teddy named Ollie. Inside she stitches a tinkling bell
heart from her favourite childhood wooden doll Nina.
Interwoven into the plot, on darker pages, marked with foxing the
antagonist appears - Zozo a chipped and battered clown toy abandoned
long ago by an amusement stand owner. Years ago, this toy loved a
wooden dancing doll with a bell heart. After Nina was won by a
little girl and taken from him, Zozo's wanted other children to
suffer by stealing their favourite toys and hiding them underground
in the derelict tunnels. The clown mastermind has created mechanical
henchmen the Creeps who assist him with his wicked plans. Torn and
dirty, the favourites are imprisoned and forced to watch as he
builds a new Nina, all she needs is a bell heart. Joyce's scary
painted illustrations display Zozo's dark personality and his evil
character.
After Ollie is stolen, Billy's strength of character and courage
shines through, with the aid of a band of misfits - the Junkyard
Gang, he plans and carries out a rescue mission. This is a unique
story, for a special audience of readers who still enjoy the magic
of toys, who will appreciate William Joyce's imaginative characters
and delight in the Billy and Ollie's adventures.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Tale of Gwyn by Cynthia Voigt
Tales of the Kingdom bk 1. Atheneum Books for Young Readers,
2015. ISBN 9781481421805
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. This reprint of Jackaroo
with a new title and cover is a boon for readers who enjoy fantasy,
especially one with a heroine in the vein of Robin Hood. Written in
beautiful language by award winning author, Voigt, the tale of a
kingdom ravaged by poverty is spell binding. There is little hope
for the common people who are starving and burdened by taxes and
wars until a masked outlaw called Jackaroo comes at night to leave
money and assistance for the helpless. Gwyn the daughter of the
innkeeper doesn't believe in fairy tales, but when she finds a mask,
cloak and sword in an abandoned cottage, she finds herself searching
for answers.
Gwyn is a fabulous character. She is practical and loyal, brave and
daring. Although the bones of the story lie in the tale of a masked
person giving to the poor, under Voigt's magical writing, the story
becomes much more than that. It is a vivid depiction of a medieval
type of society, with kings, earls, manors and common people, and a
beautiful rendition of a young woman's coming of age. The secondary
characters are fully realised and Burl the young servant at the inn
is a wonderful person, stalwart, calm and helpful.
Originally I read this as Jackaroo when it was first
published. I loved it then and it has stood up very well to the test
of time. An outstanding book by an outstanding author.
Pat Pledger
