Lothian, 2015. ISBN 9780734416315
(Ages: 3-6) Very simple text is combined with vibrant, action-packed
illustrations in this story inspired by the children's game duck,
duck, goose. As two ducks venture further out into the river they
encounter an incredible cast of characters, from frogs doing kung-fu
to a ghost shooting boo and a hippo getting a shampoo. The repeated
rhyme continues through the whole book, with the last word or phrase
changing each time, 'Duck, duck, boo! Duck, duck, pirate crew. Duck,
duck, shampoo.' The group grows bigger and bigger with each page,
and the book ends with them all looking at the reader, 'Duck, duck,
you!'.
In this simple, but humourous picture book, young children will
enjoy the strange characters the ducks meet along the way and will
be able to join in with the repetitive, predictive text.
Nicole Nelson
Way Down Dark by J P Smythe
Hodder & Stoughton, 2015. ISBN: 9781444796322
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. The blurb to this first book in a
trilogy boasts 'This is a hell where no one can hide'.
This dystopian novel really does take you way down dark. It really
is hell. Chan, the narrator, was born on Australia. She is
seventeen, strong, clever and courageous. The world of Australia is
cutthroat and savage. Australia is a ship that has left Earth and
inhabitants are waiting to arrive on a new safe planet. The leaving
of Australia happened many generations ago and society has split
into the Pale Women, the Bells, Shopkeepers and the Lows. Families
are terrorised by the Lows and life is only possible for those who
can stand up for themselves.
This book has many strong female characters who are well respected
and portray the strong maternal theme that runs through this book.
Agatha looms large in this book and she is integral to the character
of Chan. Importantly in this novel there is little attention given
to the looks of the female characters and this give greater depth to
the story.
Many of the characters are violent and the chaotic scenes in the
book are described so well it is easy to imagine being there.
'There's One Truth on Australia. You Fight or You Die'
This fast paced novel has a twist near the end that leaves the
reader reaching for that second book. Where is it?
Linda Guthrie
Billie's wild jungle adventure by Sally Rippin
Ill. by Alisa Coburn. Billie's Super Dooper Adventures
series. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2015. ISBN 9781760124441
(Age: 4-6) Highly recommended. Themes: Friendship, Imagination,
Kindergarten, Jungle Animals. Sally Rippin's new series takes her
fun-loving character Billie B Brown and explores her younger years.
In this picture book Billie can't wait to go to Kinder, find her
friend Jack and engage in some imaginative play. Jack and Billie
swing happily on the tyre hung in the mulberry tree. They soon
pretend they are deep in the jungle with pink-and-purple pythons
hiding in the jungle-juice trees. They are having so much fun, until
Billie accidentally picks up a python. The young jungle explorer has
a brilliant idea and she is freed from the python's grip. With a
ride on the back of a friendly tiger, they return just in time for a
fruit snack.
Alisa Coburn's illustrations are reminiscent of those from The
Little Golden Books; there's so much activity and interest to engage
the young reader and class. The softly coloured pages in pastel
greens and pinks show the inquisitive children drawn with monkey
bodies and little ears enjoying the jungle setting.
With PACA - Play as a Creative Activity and the Nature Play's focus
in preschools and kindergartens, Billie's Wild Jungle Adventure
encourages imagination, creativity, risk taking, discovery and
exploration in a safe setting.
Rhyllis Bignell
Kizmet and the Case of the Tassie Tiger by Frank Woodley
Puffin Books, 2015. ISBN 9780143308546
(Age: Yr 2-4) "The creature's breathing was wet and crackly as it
crept through the dark. The goat was standing very still. Actually,
it was asleep. The creature's black shape leapt across the face of
the full moon, crashing into the goat and digging its teeth into the
victim's woolly shoulder. The force sent them both tumbling and
bouncing down the grassy hill, splashing into the dam below. The
shock of the cold water confused the predator and its jaws
slackened, releasing its prey. A hoof kicked frantically, leading a
painful blow on the monster's nose. The desperate goat, struggling
to escape, became bogged in the sticky mud at the edge of the dam.
The terrible creature rose onto its hind legs, its fangs dripping
with spit."
So begins a new adventure and a new series for younger readers
featuring Kizmet Papanicillo, her father Detective Spencer and
Gretchen, a feisty currawong and the narrator of the story. Having
just returned from solving a mystery in Scotland, they are
immediately off to Tasmania where a mysterious creature is attacking
and killing livestock. Could it be a Tasmanian Tiger, long thought
to be extinct but rumoured to still exist in parts of the southern
wilderness? Naturally, the team from IMPACT - International
Mysteries, Puzzles and Crimes Taskforce - are called in but it is
soon clear that even though her dad is officially the detective, it
is Kizmet who is the chief crime-solver. From the moment he crash
tackles a "Tasmanian Tiger", a dressed-up model promoting a soft
drink, her dad proves to be more of a hindrance than a help. Working
with an array of interesting characters including the lisping Dr
Cecil Simpson, Kizmet needs to solve this mystery and her quick
thinking and clever deductions expose the truth. Tasmania is not to
become a tourist destination for those looking for this mysterious
creature after all.
Younger readers who like a good meaty mystery with well-drawn
characters and just the right amount of suspense will be drawn to
this new series written by well-known comedian Frank Woodley. The
prologue written in white text on a dark page sets the tone and the
short chapters, quirky illustrations that break up the text, fast
pace and humour will appeal to both boys and girls in the Year 2-4
audience and they will enjoy pitting their wits alongside Kizmet
trying to solve the clues before she does. Finishing as it began
with Kizmet already packing for the next case, Kizmet and the
Case of the Smashed Violin is also now available.
Barbara Braxton
Lasseter's Gold by Warren Brown
Hachette, 2015. ISBN 9780733631603
Like most Australians, I had heard of the legend of Lasseter's reef
of gold, discovered in the late 1890's but never located again. What
I wasn't aware of was the amazing expedition undertaken in 1930 in
an attempt to rediscover what was believed to be a vast deposit
worth countless millions of pounds. This is the story cleverly told
by the well-known cartoonist Warren Brown.
Harold Lasseter claimed to have made this spectacular find by
accident, having become hopelessly lost whilst trying to cross the
Continent from Cairns to Kalgoorlie on horseback. Having lost his
horses, and near death, he discovered the reef somewhere near the
border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory in Central
Australia. He stated that he took samples before staggering
deliriously through the desert for days, finally being miraculously
rescued by an Afghan camel driver.
In 1930 he approached the Australian Workers Union with a proposal
to put together an expedition to find the reef. The subsequent gold
fever and greedy scheming he stirred up created a wild commitment to
his plan, based upon this outrageous tale, which seems incredible
with the benefit of hindsight. Brown explains the various
machinations which came together to fund and assemble a grossly
unprepared and laughably disorganised expedition into some of the
harshest terrain on earth - all based on fervent hope rather than a
bushman's experience and common sense.
The author provides all the background to the gold legend, however
the real story in this book is the expedition itself as the
characters involved and their wild exploits are truly remarkable.
The reader is captivated by descriptions of a group of men (some of
whom intensely dislike each other), working together to force a
heavy truck through murderously difficult mulga scrub and almost
impassable and impossible sand dunes. The presence of aircraft, used
for the first time in Australian geological surveying, gives another
dimension. Like many thunderingly good stories, there is much
mystery and speculation about what motivated some very strange
characters to act in the duplicitous and irregular ways that they
did whilst risking death over and over in the arid wilderness.
There are so many complexities to this tale that it could have
become difficult to understand, yet the style and structure of the
narrative is such that everything is explained in a manner which is
meaningful and connected whilst the book reads like an exciting
thriller. The many photographs of the events are amazing to see.
I really like that this author has dedicated so much time to
researching and writing about this incredible expedition and the
legend which started it all, yet he avoids claiming to have solved
the riddle or having written the definitive version of events as
many would have done in his place. Instead, the details are
presented and some bewildering options are discussed, yet the legend
is treated with a kind of respect that recognises that the exact
truth will probably be never known and the reader is left with a
definite sense of wonder that maybe there is some minute chance that
the reef really did exist
This book will circulate like mad in public libraries, however I
sadly believe that school students would fail to appreciate what
they are missing in this marvellous story.
Rob Welsh
The boy with two lives by Abbas Kazerooni
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743314838
(Ages: 13+) Fictionalised memoir. Ten-year-old Abbas arrives in
England to start a new life having escaped from conscription into
the Iranian army, and immediately after arriving in England Abbas is
sent to boarding school by his guardian, Mehdi. Abbas struggles to
overcome the language barrier and cultural differences, even
commenting about an event at one point that 'In Iran this would
never have happened, nor would it have been acceptable.' However,
time passes and Abbas thrives, learning English quickly and
gradually being accepted by his peers. His hard work and diligence
win the approval of the kindly Mr and Mrs Griffiths, the principals
of the school, who are sympathetic to Abbas.
But while Abbas is enjoying his new life in England, he worries
about his family; especially his mother who is trying to gain a visa
to enter England. Infrequent phone calls to his mother are the only
connection Abbas has, and he clings desperately to hearing his
mother's voice. And just when everything seemed to be going well for
Abbas, he becomes homeless - living out the titular 'two lives' -
one as the school boy at an elite public school, and the other as a
poor, homeless child who spends his days working for a meagre wage
just to survive.
Told in first person narrative, Kazerooni's memoir seizes our hands
and drags us along. The book is about perseverance and sacrifice,
but most of all - optimism. We experience the misery and the
suffering along with Abbas, - but also share in his good times too;
all give the reader an insight into his strength of character.
While Abbas possesses great optimism, the book itself can be quite
depressing. I found that during the reading, the agony of his
experiences was just too much. Because it is a memoir the fact that
it really happened makes it even more depressing. Despite that, this
book illustrates the plight of refugees, and it is a gripping
account of how much some people are willing to sacrifice to have a
better life.
Thomas B.
Sweet boy, dear wife by Heather Rossiter
Wakefield Press, 2015. ISBN 9781743053782. (Age: 16+) Non-fiction. What an
amazing woman! Jane Dieulafoy cut her hair short and dressed as a
man, and set off with her husband Marcel to explore the mysterious
lands of Persia, riding a horse and carrying a shotgun for
protection against bandits and other dangers, including lions! She
learnt and spoke Farsi fluently, outwitted canniving despots,
suffered numerous attacks of malaria and fever, endured thirst,
hunger, fleas and headlice, and survived to explore the ruins of
ancient times, uncovering beautiful artefacts beneath rubble and
dirt. Archaeology and photography were among her many talents, as
well as wits and determination, for there were times when Marcel,
seriously ill, had to depend on her to protect and guide them to
safe refuge.
Could such a woman have really existed in the late 1880s?
Unbelievable as it might seem, this is not fiction. Author Heather
Rossiter draws on meticulous research to piece together the story of
their adventures, drawing on Jane's own diaries and the writings of
others from the period. The result is a thorough documentation of
Jane's life culminating with the award of Chevalier de la Legion
d'honneur by the President of the French Republic. The Lion and
Archer friezes retrieved from Persia and displayed in the Louvre
Museum are the treasures that she brought back.
Rossiter includes many of Jane's black and white photographs of men
and women she encountered, from palaces, from harems and lowly
villages. These are supplemented by the author's own colour
photographs of the temples and ruins the couple explored. The story
of Jane and Marcel is supplemented by rich historical detail of the
times of Darius, Alexander the Great, Xerxes and other rulers in
Ancient Persia, and creators of the marvels that Jane and Marcel
documented for their audience at home in France.
The book is an interesting combination of biography, history, and
travel. So much so, I've now added Iran to my travel wish list.
Helen Eddy
Star Wars: The adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight by Tony DiTerlizzi and Ralph McQuarrie
Egmont, 2015. ISBN 9781405275835
This is the story of Luke Skywalker's journey from farm boy on
Tatooine to Jedi Knight, told in the words of award-winning author
Tony DiTerlizzi and matched with the remarkable paintings of Ralph
McQuarrie, the concept artist behind the series that has captivated
generations since its first release in May, 1977.
There are those so much more able than I to review this new book
from this iconic series, many of whom are in or near their 40s and
are still devoted fans of the series that was an integral part of
their childhood lives and remains a cultural phenomenon still sought
after by the young students I teach today. So I will just use the
words of the foreword by the author.
"It may be difficult to imagine, but there was a time when Star Wars
was not a part of our popular culture. Long before the toys, books
and lunch boxes, and even before the first feature film flickered on
a movie screen, Star Wars existed in the imagination of only one
man: George Lucas. Working from Lucas's various screenplay drafts
and through a creative collaboration with the writer-director,
visionary artist Ralph McQuarrie realised a universe filled with
unlikely heroes, sinister villains and otherworldly vistas.
Rendered in his muted palette and streamlined style, McQuarrie's
gouache concept paintings depict what are now some of the most
iconic moments in the original Star Wars trilogy. Though Star Wars
is a major film franchise, its genesis was told with words and
pictures, so it is with great pride that I return this epic battle
of good versus evil to its original form."
I could get myself massive brownie points with certain family and
friends if I were to pass this book on to them, but given the
voracity for this series amongst my young clients, I know it will be
a surefire hit on the library's shelves instead.
Barbara Braxton
The pointless leopard by Colas Gutman and Delphine Perret
Pushkin Press, 2014. ISBN 9781782690405
Leonard's parents are determined to have him appreciate the beauty
and the benefits of the country. But Leonard thinks it is ugly,
green and boring. While his parents like to spend their weekends
drinking tea in front of an open fire listening to the silence,
Leonard would much prefer to be walking on the pavement, jumping on
benches, going to the cinema and chasing pigeons. But being a little
boy, he has to go with his parents who like to take long walks. On
one of these walks, Leonard meets a talking sheep. And a cow, and a
hen and their conversations prompt Leonard to consider just what a
child is. But they're not impressed and so they take him to meet
Wolf. "We're bringing you a city kid! Bon appetit!" they call. But
when even the wolf rejects him, Leonard is very sad. Perhaps he is
pointless after all.
Translated from the original French story L'enfant this is a
humorous short tale that is told with charm and lightly illustrated
with line drawings that capture the expressions perfectly. It's a
story like no other and perfect for newly-independent readers who
want something a little different.
Barbara Braxton
Dinosaur Disco by Deborah Kelly
Random House Australia Children's, 2015. ISBN 9780857981363
(Age: 3-8) Highly recommended. Really we can never get enough of
dinosaurs! Boys or girls, fiction or nonfiction, surely they must be
one of the most eternally popular choices for kids' books.
In our house this is most definitely true and we loved the crazy
dinos shaking their booties and the boards on the disco floor. Lots
of rhythm and rhyme and onomatopoeia abound as the dinosaurs salsa,
moonwalk and even crump it up. With so many different types of
dinosaurs strutting their stuff the floor starts to really rumble
but the very ground shakes with the arrival of a gate crashing
T-Rex! Let's hope he isn't looking for supper!
The text also cleverly integrates some of those rather pesky long
dinosaur names and luckily there is also a pronunciation guide for
those of us who are not as able as five year olds to get our tongues
around them. To follow up the story some strange but true facts are
also included making this book not only fun but educational.
Daron Parton's illustrations of the decoratively dressed dinosaurs
lend even more quirkiness to the story.
This is bound to be a favourite with many young readers.
Highly recommended for boys and girls aged around 3 to 8 years.
Sue Warren
Me & Mr J by Rachel McIntyre
Electric Monkey, 2015. ISBN 9781405273442
(Age: 15+) Recommended This book is confronting on many
levels. Lara is fifteen, still in high school, and is the
subject of vicious and persistent bullying. The bullying is
humiliating and public. Lara tells her story through her diary and
the reader is privy to the impact of the sustained and demoralising
bullying.
At first the appearance of the new, and startlingly good looking,
English teacher seems a reprieve for Lara. She begins to recognise
some of her positive attributes and very real potential. Then the
reader sees their relationship move on to become a romantic
relationship.
Here, as a reader, there is great concern for the welfare of Lara
and the disaster that looks to be looming for her. Rachel McIntyre
takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotion as she unveils Lara's
story, and though it ends abruptly she pulls all the elements
together with skill.
This well written book will spark conversation and dissent when the
issues of bullying and teacher/student relationships are discussed
following the reading.
Linda Guthrie
Two birds on a wire by Coral Vass
Ill. by Heidi Cooper Smith. Koala Books, 2015. ISBN 9781742761619
(Age: 2-6) Recommended. Little Bird Blue and Little Bird Black have
both found the perfect wire to sit on. The only problem is . . . it
is the same wire! Black is blocking Blue's view but Little Bird
Black refuses to leave. Blue Bird will not go-he was there first!
There is a stand-off - staring, followed by snapping, shoving and
heckling. But neither would budge. Little Bird Black declared to
Bird Blue 'THIS WIRE IS MINE for I'm BIGGER than you'. And Little
Blue says 'You might be bigger but I'm awfully LOUD'. A competition
ensues; who can fly higher? Who is the fastest? Who is the best?
Finally, they slow down and think 'Why don't we share?'
This well-executed rhyme echoes the everyday arguments of young
children for a seat, a toy, a friend or a parent's attention. We all
hope that in the end, just like Little Bird Blue and Little Bird
Black, they realise everyone will have more fun if they agree to
share! Although it contains a moral lesson, the book is fun and
engaging, providing for a discussion around social skills but also
being a great story to share just for enjoyment.
The illustrations are simple but fantastic, with the autumn
countryside restrained against the shiny plumage of Black and Blue.
The expression that comes through on the faces of the two birds and
their body language is fantastic and gives opportunity for further
discussion.
This is a great title for early childhood educators to have on hand.
Nicole Nelson
Grandad's Island by Benji Davies
Simon & Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781471119958
For many children, losing a grandparent is often their first
experience with death and grief. The emotions of this may be openly
expressed or may not be so visible to observers. Using a picture
book to invite discussion on this topic may be very valuable for
either individuals or classes.
There are many quality books that handle the topic of loss with
sensitivity and the wise teacher-librarian will usually have quite a
collection in order to be ready for the occasions when they are
needed.
This new book by Benji Davies examines this topic with a beautiful
and gentle grace as the close bond between grandfather and grandson
and their final parting is described. The colourful illustrations of
his favourite destination underline the 'perfect place' in which
Grandad chooses to stay and reassure Syd that Grandad will be happy
there.
I also believe this would be an excellent choice to deal with the
concerns a child might have about a grandparent going into a care
facility.
Watch the book
trailer to see a preview and find out more about the
award-winning author here. Sue Warren
Once upon a timeless tale series retold by Margrete Lamond
Little Hare, 2015. The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Ill. by Anna Walker. ISBN
9781742974019 The Three Little Pigs. Ill. by Jonathan Bentley. ISBN
9781921994916
These are the two latest additions to this series of timeless tales.
Based on those original, traditional stories that have been handed
down from generation to generation and which we expect our students
come to school already knowing, they are the pre-Disney version of
stories told way back when, retold by Margrete Lamond and
beautifully illustrated by some of the best illustrators for
children, bringing them right into the world of the 21st century
child and a new generation.
While there may be a perception that fairytales such as these are
the domain of the preschooler and very young readers, they actually
have a place on the shelves of every library, primary and secondary.
They are a part of our Anglo-Saxon oral culture and there is an
expectation that when you mention a particular story, the students
will know enough of the core story to bring it to mind. This can
then be compared to other cultures whose history has been passed
down orally. As the original purpose of such stories was a didactic
one - each had a lesson or a moral to be learned by the younger
generation without putting them physically at risk - students can
not only examine what that lesson is, but also compare it to the
traditional stories of other cultures to investigate if similar,
universal truths are a common theme and whether the values of the
past hold true today across society.
Given that many of them are now hundreds of years old , students
could also examine what it is about these stories that has enabled
them to have endured over time, place and space. Even though they
have been retold, re-interpreted and repackaged into a variety of
formats, why does the core and essence remain intact? Why are they
told again and again and again and children's eyes light up when you
pick up a familiar one to read to them? Even students with little or
no English request and borrow these stories over and over.
Conversely, which of today's stories will survive the test of time?
Even though The Very Hungry Caterpillar is now in his mid 40s,
Corduroy is over 40, and Hairy Maclary, Hush and Grandma Poss are
all 30-something, do they have whatever it is it takes to notch up
centenaries and bicentenaries? What is the secret ingredient that
turns "popular" into "classic"?
These stories also lend themselves to helping students understand
that critical information literacy skill of interpretation. Because
there are so many versions available it is easy to collect enough of
them to provide the variety required to examine how both the story
and the illustrations have been interpreted. What has been added,
deleted, or changed to give the story a particular purpose or slant?
How would the story change if it were told by another character?
Which parts of the story have the illustrators chosen to depict and
how are their pictures of the same thing, such as the giant, similar
or different? What common knowledge do we share even though no one
has ever seen a giant? Is there evidence of stereotyping? Why are
the human characters predominantly depicted as having European
colouring?
Riches indeed that go beyond the sharing of a favourite story.
This series which now has 14 titles would make an affordable
addition to the library's collection so students can start to delve
into the deeper questions.
Barbara Braxton
You're the kind of girl I write songs about by Daniel Herborn
HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN 9780732299507
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Set in Sydney's inner west, this is the
story of Tim and Mandy.
Mandy is well into her gap year and is accomplishing not much. She's
restless and wants to do something with her life - she just doesn't
know what that might be yet. Enter Tim, who is trying to finishing
school (in Year 13) and is an aspiring song writer and musician. He
has a mysterious past. Where are his parents? Why does he live with
his uncle?
This is a slow-paced novel told in chapters alternating between the
point of view of Tim and Mandy. This gives the reader the
opportunity to appreciate the qualities of the characters (such as
the way Mandy gives meals to a homeless man she sees regularly).
'I unwrap the parcel and it's a mixtape Tim has made for me. Cute
boys making me mixtapes has always been my sad secret fantasy, the
thing I'm too cool to admit I wanted.'
The book is infused with the essence of Sydney, the Australian music
scene and includes mentions of artists and bands that have the
reader searching the Internet for more information. This book is about
love and friendship, with the sensitive writing giving insight into
how the characters think and about how they feel about each other.
There is much to relate to in this book.
Linda Guthrie
