Reviews

The croco dolly by Martin McKenna

Omnibus, 2015. ISBN 9781742990712
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended, Crocodiles, Pets, Problem solving, Humour. When feisty Adelaide begins to cook a cake, she finds that one of the eggs she cracks, opens up to reveal a baby crocodile. They fall instantly in love with each other, but a problem exists: she is not allowed to keep a pet. Thinking about how to camouflage her new pet, she dresses him in her doll's clothes, complete with a wig and long eyelashes. He looks terrific as she shows him to her friends, although they can all see that this doll is unlike any other they have seen. One problem exists for Adelaide: Ozzy the croc keeps growing.
The fabulous illustrations reveal a delightful green crocodile that has eyes only for Adelaide. Growing bigger as we turn each page, the crocodile causes problems where ever they go. Each double page reveals the crocodile upsetting the scene and with a high level of humour in the detail, the patient Adelaide trying vainly to lessen Ozzy's impact on the population. Finally the queue of complainers at her door forces her to take measures that will ensure everyone is happy as she works out the ideal spot for Ozzy to be.
The story of Adelaide making sure that Ozzy's skills are put to good use is a delight and the digital illustrations certainly set the scene adding a level of brilliance to the tale. The images of Ozzy in the doll clothes are priceless and those of Adelaide trying vainly to fit in with her friends and their dolls most amusing. Readers will love Adelaide and her attempts a fitting in and will applaud her problem solving skills at the end. A crocodile frocking up! What fun. Fran Knight

The white mouse by Peter Gouldthorpe

Omnibus, 2015. ISBN 9781742990910
(Age: 9+) Recommended, World War Two, Heroism, Resistance, Nancy Wake, France. The story of one of Australia's greatest heroes, Nancy Wake is brought to life in this exceptional story book by Gouldthorpe. Each double page illustrates the story of the Nazi occupation of France during the Second World War, and along the side of the page, usually written on notepaper, as Nancy was a journalist, is her story. Each page fills in the tale of her life, from moving away form Australia to work in Paris in 1934, to seeing Nazi intimidation at first hand in Vienna in the same year and then deciding to join the underground movement in France when war broke out.
Gouldthorpe's illustrations take in a broad sweep of the occupation of France. We see the increasing numbers of Nazi troops in French streets, people being taken away for questioning, tanks moving about the countryside, the Vichy Police force emulating the Nazis. Everywhere is touched by the Nazis and their strict regimes, all is conquered and overwhelmed, but a few brave people do things to undermine their power. Nancy, now married, travels with her businessman husband taking information, clothing, documents to those in need. She helps many refugees and even a large number of British soldiers to escape their prison. But she is captured and tortured, escaping only when a colleague takes an extraordinary step. She eventually escapes to Britain and trained as an SOE (Special Operations Executive) then parachuted back to France to help the Resistance. Dubbed the 'White Mouse' by the Nazis, she must use all her powers to survive, even convincing the members of the Resistance that she is who she says she is. Her daring bicycle trip to Chateauroux is breathtaking and when the Germans pulled out of France in 1944, she headed straight back to Marseilles to find that her husband had died at the hands of the Gestapo.
Nancy Wake is revealed to a younger audience through this enlightening book and visiting the War Memorial in Canberra, they will be able to view her medals. Gouldthorpe's illustrations include full page drawings of warfare, many backed by newspaper print from the time, maps and postcards, adding to the impact on the reader of her daring deeds during an horrific time. The endpapers with their full spread of maps will help the readers pinpoint the places spoken of in the text.
Fran Knight

My dead bunny by Sigi Cohen

Ill James Foley. Walker Books, 2015. ISBN 9781922179593
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Zombies, Horror, Verse tale, Humour. Brad the bunny was fried last holidays when the rabbit's owner and his friends played video games, while the pet rabbit played with the electrical cord. They buried him in the backyard, but the boy was so upset that he dug him up again putting him not back in the grave, but on the rubbish heap. The video game, Zombie Terror 3, comes to life as Brad the dead rabbit terrorises the household as a zombie.
This is a very funny take on zombies and horror video games, with the verses using laugh out loud rhyming words are sure to tickle the fancy of younger readers. Brad's disheveled appearance, googly pink eyes and appalling stink cloud the pages, as shadows are used to accentuate his position in the house. The children try to rid the house of this pesky zombie without success, the sister being taken away by white coated wardens to a hospital, and the whole family moving out of the house. But Brad follows leaving them with no choice, and children will be heartily amused at their solution, and its repercussions. Wonderfully funny illustrations with mainly black and white drawings, shadowing, images of cemeteries and gravestones, surplus of worms and large eyes of the protagonists reinforce the zombie motif.
Fran Knight

A Song For Ella Grey by David Almond

Hodder Children's Books 2014. ISBN: 9781444919547
(Age: Teens) A Song for Ella Grey attempts to incorporate both visual and aural elements. Every action is easy to visualise and the writing is completely accessible to young people.
The story takes place in the North of England during the final year of schooling for Claire and her friends. Since winter, they have been planning a trip to the beach in Northumberland. When Spring break comes however, Ella, Claire's best friend, can't go and so the group leave her behind. The trip is everything Claire wanted it to be - a week of boisterousness, booze and boys. But without Claire it's not the same. When a mysterious stranger appears (a musician and a wanderer), Claire feels like she needs to share the experience with Ella. She calls Ella and the mysterious man talks and serenades her. They have an instant connection.
When term resumes Claire notices that Ella is more dreamy than ever. She is fixated on Orpheus, despite never having met him, and convinced that he is going to come for her. Unable to do anything to prevent their meeting, Claire can only stand by as Orpheus comes to sweep Ella away. But real life isn't so neat and before long, disaster strikes, snatching poor Ella from their grasp. To prove his love, Orpheus disappears, searching for a way into the underworld to rescue her.
The novel incorporates some elements of Greek mythology as one of the characters, Orpheus, is potentially the mythological Orpheus, legendary musician and poet. He has the ability to charm all living things, this is apparent in the novel through Bianca's infatuation. Despite being a mythological element, there is no direct mention of Orpheus as a mythological figure and so no prior knowledge is necessary. Dealing with issues surrounding school, alcoholism, stress and boyfriends, this is a novel that I would fully expect any teenage girl to pick up and read.
Kayla Gaskell (age nineteen)

The Squid Slayer by Jack Heath

Scream bk 4. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781760152116
(Age: 9-12) Axe Falls is a really terrifying place to live; there are strange animals, mystifying shipwrecks, mysterious monsters and frightening events happening. From the very first page, danger and drama follow adventurous Sarah and her best friend Yvette who ignore the warning signs and explore the deep caverns and tunnels in the sea cliffs. Instead of a ghost sighting, they observe a man in a hi-vis vest carrying explosives. Scared and worried they rush down to the beach. A colossal squid has beached itself and Sarah is unfortunately caught by a thrashing tentacle. A shot from the Sheriff's gun is needed to free the young girl from its suckers. Sarah's diving skills are tested when she explores the shipwreck under the pier near her houseboat.
Every chapter is packed with drama: Sarah and Yvette's exploration of the sunken ship with hundreds of empty cages, the confrontation with a sea monster and the sinking of the houseboat.
Jack Heath's Scream series are fast-paced, action-packed junior novels with short chapters suitable for readers who have high interest levels and lower reading age. The dark graphic descriptions make this a novel suited to 9+ readers. The the black edged pages and borders, the tentacles reaching down from the net and scary chapter headings, all set the atmosphere for this scary novel.
Rhyllis Bignell

Tashi and the Magic Carpet inspired by the Tashi series written by Anna and Barbara Fienberg

Based on the Popular Television Series. Flying Bark Productions;
Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781925267013
(Age: 6+) Themes: Fantasy; Magic; Time travel; Puzzles. The original Tashi book series by Anna and Barbara Fienberg has been transformed into a television series, and this book is a glossy retelling of one of the episodes involving Jack and his distant cousin Tashi. The boys attend an auction conducted by Second Uncle (Tashi's distant relative) and unwittingly buy a magic carpet. By accident his leads them on another adventure as they travel backward and forward in time and eventually rescue Second Uncle from an ill-advised venture.
This glossy publication also includes questions about the story, puzzles, riddles and activities, so would make a good gift for a young independent reader (aged 6+) who has also discovered the TV series.
Carolyn Hull

Tashi and the Big Scoop inspired by the Tashi series written by Anna and Barbara Fienberg

Based on the Popular Television Series. Flying Bark Productions. Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781925267006
(Age: 6+) Themes: Fantasy; Newspapers; Puzzles. The original Tashi book series by Anna and Barbara Fienberg has been transformed into a television series, and this book is a glossy retelling of one of the episodes involving Jack and his distant cousin Tashi. The boys create a 'quiet' mode of presenting news using a printing press rather than the disturbing and loud manner that Tiki Pu uses to share news in the village. In their attempts to race to gather local news they encounter an ogre and a giant and a mother 'Airmaid' eager to rescue her egg.
This glossy publication also includes questions about the story, puzzles, games and activities, so would make a good gift for a young independent reader (aged 6+) who has also discovered the TV series.
Carolyn Hull

Stray by Rachael Craw

Spark series, bk 2. Walker Books Australia, 2015. ISBN 9781922179630
Suggested reading age from 14 years of age. Evie has just found out what it means to be a shield, a DNA altered super protector, and though protecting her best friend Kitty was fine, she just wants to live her life surrounded by her loved ones and not have to answer to the Affinity Project. This will be difficult seeming her Aunt, Miriam and boyfriend Jamie are both shields like herself and are obligated to the project. When Affinity finally catches up with Evie, she will not go down without a struggle.
This sequel was one of the better sequels that flows right on from where Spark (first book) finishes. The fast paced action and adventure keeps you hanging until the next chapter. The relationships Evie has with her friends and family have all grown since Spark and it was great to finally see what the Affinity Project was like and how Jamie and Miriam both interact with the agents involved, showing a different side that we saw with Evie from the first book. Evie's relationship with Kitty is great and after everything that has happened to both of their characters Kitty remains a strong support and encourages her to live her teenage life.
I wouldn't recommend reading this book without reading Spark first and I think ages from 14 years and above would find the subject matter easy to comprehend. This series from Rachael Craw could be compared to Graceling by Kristin Cashore, or Inheritance by Lisa Forrest.
Jody Holmes

My Dad is a giraffe by Stephen Michael King

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

Ill. by LeUyen Pham. The Princess in Black bk 2.Candlewick Press, 2015. ISBN 9780763665111
(Age: 5-8) Recommended. Fantasy. Chapter book. It's Princess Magnolia's birthday and just as her guests were due to arrive for her birthday party, her monster alarm went off. She has to rush to the broom closet to transform herself into the Princess in Black, mount her faithful steed Blacky and go off to fight the monsters who just want to eat goats. When she has finally dealt with one monster and is all ready to enjoy her birthday party, her alarm goes off again and again and she has to use all her ingenuity to hide her secret from her guests, especially Princess Sneezewort.
I am a fan of Shannon Hale's stories and particularly love the idea of the Princess in Black, whizzing off to rescue the goats, being bold and daring, while fooling everyone with her perfect pink princess persona. The pictures are very amusing and LeUyen Pham shows an increasingly disheveled Princess Magnolia, as she returns from her rescues.
This is a perfect chapter book for the newly independent reader, combining humour, a great storyline and witty illustrations to ensure a fabulous read.
Pat Pledger

Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright by Chris Riddell

Goth Girl bk 3. Macmillan, 2015. ISBN 9781447277897
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Humour. Lord Goth is holding a Literary Dog Show at Ghastly-Gorm Hall and literary contestants are bringing their dogs along, hoping to win. There is Plain Austen with Hampshire Hound, Homily Dickinson and her Yankee Poodle and Georgie Eliot and Flossie, as well as other literary figures, including the judges Countess Pippi Shortstocking and Hands Christmas Andersen. Ada and her friends from the Attic Club as well as the Vicarage sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne are all in attendance. But something is going on at Ghastly-Gorm Hall; there are chewed shoes and howls in the night. Can Ada and her friends solve the mystery?
This is a fantastic book. I loved the first, Goth Girl and the ghost of a mouse and this is even better. It has the same gorgeous appearance, black hardback cover decorated with gold metallic skulls and foliage and a lovely picture of Ada and the literary dogs on the front and Ada and a cheeky monkey on the back. The illustrations inside are brilliant, with each literary figure coming to life and Lord Goth looking particularly saturnine and handsome in his Regency garb. ;
There are so many hilarious allusions to literary works that older readers and adults will really relish, but at the same time there is enough plotting about the Dog Show and the mysterious howls in the night to keep younger readers enthralled. The misadventures that; occurred when the train designed by Charles Cabbage carrying the elaborate dinner to the guests came off the tracks is; Even a flick through the book, looking at the pictures is totally engrossing.
This is such a feel-good book, one that will be enjoyed by readers of all ages and certainly one to treasure.
Pat Pledger

Dreams come true by Meredith Costain

Ill. by Danielle McDonald. Ella Diaries. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781760153045
(Age: 7-9) Highly recommended. Themes: Diaries, School Stories, Friendship, Girls, Celebrities. Ella absolutely loves pop star Cassi Valentine, her lyrics are fantabulously fabulous, her funky music is easy to sing along to when doing chores, her dance moves and fashionable outfits amazing. A true fan, Ella's bedroom walls are covered in posters, she has the lunch box, drink bottle and tote bag, even Bob the dog has a Cassi bandana.
When Miss Weiss their teacher announces a Cassi Valentine competition - a free lunchtime performance for the school with the best performing arts video, everyone is excited especially for Cassi's number one fan. Excitement builds with Ella and her classmates. Ella and her friends brainstorm some fabulous ideas for the video performance; they are super excited and can't wait until Monday lunchtime to share their suggestions. Of course Precious Princess Peach Parker bulldozes the meeting, sharing her ideas about the video performance, and unfortunately her idea is exactly the same as Ella's!
Meredith Costain's Ella Diaries captures both the excitement and the ups and downs of a young girl's life, sleepovers, friends, school dramas, music and family life. The quirky style of writing with hearts dotting the letter 'i' and 'j' add to the cuteness of the diary entries. Danielle McDonald's lively sketches - all tinted red this time, showcase the dramas and delights of Ella's life.
A fun and exciting junior novel for girls from 7-9.
Rhyllis Bignell

Jack versus Veto by Jim Eldridge

Wrestling Trolls bk 5. Hot Key Books. ISBN 9781471402678
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Fantasy, Adventure. The Wrestling Trolls have travelled to Bun to participate in the Great Bun Wrestle Smackdown, with two rounds of fighting - Big Rock versus Block and Princess Ava the Masked Avenger up against the Fighting Pink Fairy. Unfortunately, during the match their rather grumpy talking horse Robin has been stolen by ruthless rustlers. The Village Marshall sends Milo, the manager and the wrestlers off to Badlands Valley, where the horse-meat gang has hidden the stolen horses. There they confront Hard Harry and his cross-bow wielding thugs and with Blaze's help, they set the animals free from the corral. Blaze's ability to shape-shift into a dragon helps the Wrestling Trolls family as the battle continues.
In the second story, Lord Veto and his Chief Orc have vanished leaving this castle deserted. Jack sees this as an opportunity to return to the castle kitchen and retrieve a special ring he'd left behind. Of course multiple dangers lurk as the troop use the secret tunnel to gain access, giant rats, spiders and a huge hypnotic snake. What Jack discovers about the origin of the ring and his family members is extremely surprising!
Jim Eldridge's Wrestling Trolls series has all the fantasy elements rolled into one rollicking adventure ably complemented by Jan Bielicki's larger than life cartoon characters.
Rhyllis Bignell

River Riddle by Jim Dewar

Scholastic Australia, 2015. ISBN 9781760150518
Picture book. 'Tis the age-old quandary! If Jack leaves Dolly the sheep and the hay together on one side of the river, Dolly will munch it all while he's fetching Frank, the fox. If Jack leaves Frank and the sheep together, while he fetches the sack of hay, poor Dolly will surely become a meal for Frank! What to do?
Jack has to get to market, but the market's on the other side of the deep, wide river. The little boat is not big enough for Jack, two animals and the hay, all together. Jack must come up with a plan.
Clever Jack manages to solve his predicament, without the hay or Dolly being consumed, but all that paddling has left him quite exhausted. Did he reach the market on time?
River Riddle is a rollicking rhyming book, with candid, colourful illustrations, sure to appeal to children everywhere.
J. Kerr-Smith

Underneath a cow by Carol Ann Martin

Ill. by Ben Wood. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781742990880
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Animals, Farms, Safety. When Madge the cow notices a huge dark cloud over the farm, she invites the rabbit to shelter beneath her as the first large rain drops begin to fall. The farm dog passes by and takes shelter as well, then the mother hen and her chicks, while later an echidna rolls under her as well. Each addition causes a little mayhem at the start, but all settle down to shelter from the rain. When the rain stops Madge is presented with some flowers as a thank you and she tells them that what is important is that they are all in a safe place, while sometimes we are the safe place.
This is a charming story about safety, about putting aside differences to take shelter, to work together to be safe, and will encourage younger readers to discuss their safety within this carefully worded text. Martin uses repetition in some parts of the text which will encourage younger readers to predict what is happening next. The song she presents could be used as a learning tool to recite when this book is brought out for rereading.
I love the illustrations, Wood using mixed media and digital means to draw his characters, giving them amazingly human expressions. I adore Madge's udder which seems to leave the dog a little nonplussed, and figures a little more prominently when Spike crawls beneath her. What an introduction for parents and teachers to discuss where milk comes from, as few, if any, picture books show this important part of a cow's anatomy. Discussions too could evolve concerning the farm portrayed, comparing it with other picture books where Australian farms are drawn, and perhaps even discussing why Spike's animal status is not named. Perhaps this book is being aimed at an American market as well?
Whatever group of kids reads this, they will ask for it again and again as they absorb the playful humour of the farm animals sheltering beneath Madge the cow, make up their own song to go with the words and contemplate how they keep themselves safe.
Fran Knight