Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408857007
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Stereotypes, Being yourself. A gloriously
energetic story deriding stereotyping of a young girl who knows she
is a girl and is proud of it, but demands to be different. The
phrase, 'I'm a girl!' appears every second double page as she rails
against people thinking her a boy because of what she wears or does.
Readers will love saying the phrase as it comes up, yelling it out
when the font size becomes more strident. Although she's supposed to
be nice, all sugar and spice, the illustrations show that she is
messy, active and out there. Readers will laugh out loud at the
illustrations showing her to be the opposite of what girls are
supposed to be. She's fast and brave and spontaneous, but when the
librarian offers her a nice boy's book about boats, she yells 'I'm a
girl!', or when she plays with the others and prefers a car to a
doll, and told again that girls like dolls, or boys like cars, then
the refrain screams out of the page, 'I'm a girl!'. A fun look at
stereotyping which readers will adore, the illustrations will
intrigue the readers as they follow the girl's adventures in trying
different things meant to be for boys, and when she finds a like
minded boy at the end, the theme is doubly cemented in the readers'
minds.
A book to read out loud, with children joining in, a book to be
discussed and read again in classrooms and at home.
Fran Knight
Too busy sleeping by Zanni Louise
Ill. by Anna Pignataro. Little Hare Press, 2015. ISBN 9781742979625
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Babies, Family, Grandparents, Bedtime. When
baby Rueben is brought home from hospital, Eleanor longs to play
with him. But he is never awake long enough. So begins this
delightful book about babies and the impact they have on a family,
particularly the siblings. Each set of four pages gives the reader
an image of Eleanor doing something with Grandma or Grandad or Dad,
being subtly kept away from the house while Mum takes care of their
new child. And each page ends with a wish from the child that her
new baby brother will play with her, but each finishes with the line
that he is busy sleeping. Readers will love to predict the repeated
lines and be surprised when the baby is finally awake for Eleanor,
but with an unexpected result.
Children will instantly recognise the ideas in this book: the
arrival of a new baby and the changes needed to be put in place at
home, the place of the grandparents helping the family, seeing less
of Mum and Dad as they concentrate their efforts more on the baby.
The gentle pastel and collage illustrations suit the story
admirably. They echo the house and its contents, the family and the
changes needed to be made with a new baby while the inclusion of
materials, patches and laces from days gone by adds a feeling of
continuity, of new beginnings but also links to the past. Readers
will be intrigued with the collage and perhaps use the ideas in
their own art work. This is a worthy addition to the class or school
library.
Fran Knight
Sofia Martinez : My Family Adventure by Jacqueline Jules
Ill. by Kim Smith. Picture Window Books, 2015. ISBN: 9781479557905
(Ages: 5-7) For schools teaching Spanish as a second language, Sofia
Martinez and her family will be a great resource as the two
languages are seamlessly combined in the stories which focus on
family life in the Martinez house. The pink writing for the Spanish
may have some boys cringing but it also indicates they are special
and can be found in the glossary.
In the first episode Sofia decides that she and her sisters all look
alike. With school photos coming up she decides to make sure she
stands out in the crowd by borrowing her cousin's hair bow.
In the next episode Sofia decides to make a pinata for Abuela's
birthday. Unfortunately just as she and her cousins are preparing to
make the paste, Hector drops the bag of flour which lands on the
cat. In the chaos that follows, and after cleaning up the mess, it
takes some convincing for Tia Carmen to allow them to complete the
project.
An escaping class pet, a white mouse, causes Sofia to have some
anxious moments as she tries to recapture it before Albert finishes
his piano lesson.
The colourful illustrations, larger well-spaced font and of course
the pink Spanish words and phrases make the text easy to read. The
creativity and thoughtfulness Sofia displays as she interacts with
her extended family is engaging. Even if Spanish isn't a focus
language the exposure to it and the opportunity to predict what
Sofia might be saying is a valuable activity in itself for young
readers.
Sue Keane
Two tengu tales from Japan: retold by Duncan Ball
Ill. by David Allan. Christmas Press Picture Books, 2015. ISBN
9780992283865
(All ages) Highly recommended. Christmas Press continues their
celebration of stories from around the world. This impressive,
beautifully illustrated picture book is a retelling of two Japanese
folk tales. Duncan Ball author of the Selby the talking dog
and Emily Eyefinger series introduces the tengu, magical
forest goblins who grant wishes to people who need a miracle. They
are tricksters and there is always a sting in the tail. There's
always a consequence, often unexpected. Good and evil, poor and rich
are themes that resonate here. Kenji's magic sandals is the tale of a sick mother and her
son who will do anything to buy medicine for her. She lies helpless
by the fire, as Kenji leaves on a cold winter's day to beg for aid
from his mean uncle Gonzo. Even with the promise of money from the
summer crops, Gonzo refuses to help. A long-nosed, red-faced tengu
magically appears and gifts Kenji with a magic pair of geta - wooden
sandals. When the wearer falls over, a gold coin magically appears;
they deliver a magic coin. The tengu warns that this will cause the
person to shrink in size. This is a cautionary tale; Kenji does the
right thing, his mother receives her medicine, but when Gonzo hears
about the sandals, he is punished for his greediness.
Hichoiki is a sneaky, lazy, greedy villager whose bad habits cause
trouble in The invisible cloak. On a journey through the
mountains, he tricks a tengu into giving him a straw cloak of
invisibility. He walks through the village stealing food and sake,
scaring the townsfolk who think he's a ghost. When the innkeeper's
daughter throws the dirty cloak into the fire, Hichoiki covers his
bare body with the magic ashes and runs through town.
David Allan's art nouveau styled scenes, inspired by Japanese
paintings and linocuts, are wonderful, bringing the stories to life.
They evocatively set the scenes, showcasing the traditional ways of
life, the mountains and countryside. An engaging read for families
and classes, one to share with young and old.
Rhyllis Bignell
The football's revolt by Jan Le Witt and George Him
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781851778478
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Football. Soccer. Community. The
design duo, Jan de Witt and George Him arrived in London from Poland
in 1937, and here they wrote and illustrated this children's book,
while working for the Victoria and Albert Museum, and designing
posters and advertising material for Guinness and the Festival of
Britain. The Victoria and Albert Museum has recently republished a
number of books first appearing in the 1940's which testify to the
timeless appeal of good, well illustrated books.
In this, the football is sick of being pounded by the teams at
Kickford and Goalbridge, time honoured rivals. Every year it is the
same match: both towns vie for the win with each community filling
the stadium in support of their home team. After one particularly
vicious kick, the ball decides to stay in the air with hilarious
results. The communities try a variety of ways of bringing the ball
back to earth but with varying results until a solution is found by
the youngest members of the towns.
This lovely edition reveals the wonderful illustrations of the first
edition in 1939, with its reduced palette of colours, its stylised
representations of people and backgrounds, its very funny look at
the crowds of football fans. The footballers are shown in their
acrobatic glory while the fireman teeters on the end of the ladder
trying to retrieve the ball. The story and illustrations will cause
readers to laugh out loud at the antics of the townsfolk and the
football.
Others published by the V and A are included on the back cover, and
deserve a new outing as does this. The story is timeless, the
illustrations redolent of the times but still fresh and insightful.
This book is lovely to hold with its dust cover and heavier paper
inside the hardback edition, reprising the sorts of books that
children in the 1940's valued.
Fran Knight
Ten little dinosaurs by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty
Orchard Books, 2015. ISBN 9781408334003
(Ages 2-5) Recommended. From the creators of Ten little pirates
comes this noisy rhyming story perfect for sharing with
dinosaur-loving young children. Following the classic countdown
formula - 'ten little dinosaurs, walking in a line. 'Stomp!' goes
Diplodocus. Now there are . . . nine' - the story follows the dinosaurs as
they set off to explore the world while mummy is sleeping.
Predictably, they run into all sorts of trouble, including hungry
meat-eating plants, bubbling springs and a charging triceratops. At
each turn, they lose another member of their travelling party. Sure
to please the young reader is the illustration of the dinosaurs
trying to dodge the poo piles of the Stegosaurus! It is a happy
conclusion when mum turns up to save the last little dinosaur and
all the others too. Bright and bold computer-generated graphics give
the book a video-game look and the happy dinosaurs, with their
varied colours and designs give opportunity for discussions and
activities around shape and pattern. The illustrations have oodles
of little details that will amuse and delight; there are little
creatures everywhere and multiple action points on each page.
Another focus is on sound, with noisy words enlarged and bolded.
Young children will love joining in to make the sounds; they can
roar, stomp, slurp, grrrrr, caaaaaark, splooosh, snap, swiiiiish,
and boom along with the reader. In addition to the obvious use for
developing number concept, there is so much here to explore -
fantastic for preschools and early childhood libraries and homes.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Emilia Mouse by Elizabeth Hardy
Ill. by Sophie Norsa. Little Steps, 2015. ISBN 9781925117288
Emilia Mouse lives in the attic, as many mice do. But she is not a
shy little mouse hiding in the dark in the dust or taking shelter
behind the skirting board. She is a brave, bold mouse on the lookout
for adventure. So when she climbs on some boxes and finds a whole
orchestra of musical instruments, her eyes open in wonder and her
heart fills. Especially as there is a trumpet waiting to be blown.
'So dusting off the cobwebs
She held the trumpet tight
And with the deepest breath
Blew and blew with all her might
Emilia was startled;
The trumpet blast was loud,
Yet she knew the sound that she had made
Would always please a crowd.'
But Emilia's music playing also woke two very cranky cats who were
very keen to see who had disturbed their sleep. And while Emilia may
be adventurous she finds there is a fine line between adventure and
stupid when she challenges the cats and finds herself about to be a
cat snack. Her solution is ingenious and has the most amusing
consequences which not only make the reader smile but also
demonstrate the power of music as a universal language.
This is a delightful story that is totally unique in its concept.
The author, Elizabeth Hardy, is a retired music teacher so the
rhythm and rhyme of the language of the book come very naturally and
really contribute to both the subject and the understanding of the
story. How else would you tell a music-based story? The
illustrations are by Sophie Norsa who has been nominated for a
Crichton Award (for Yellow Dress Day) and, like Emilia, they are
bold and brassy and a perfect fit for the text. Mem Fox always
emphasises the need to read aloud to our youngsters so they can
learn the rhythms of our language so this is perfect for that but it
also would be excellent for sharing with those who are learning
English as another language. Cats, mice and musical instruments are
common to all, the story will appeal to all ages and there are lots
of opportunities for discussion about the wisdom of Emilia's
actions, unlikely consequences, making friends and so forth.
I can see and hear myself sharing this story and that, to me, is the
hallmark of a great picture book.
Barbara Braxton
Cloudwish by Fiona Wood
Pan Macmillan, 2015. ISBN 9781743533123
(Age 12+) Highly recommended. Adolescent. Van Uoc Phan makes a wish at a creative writing class - a wish that gorgeous Billy Gardiner would notice her. But when he does start talking to her she is unsure whether he is doing it to set up an elaborate joke, as he often does, or whether he is really interested in her. And even though Van Uoc doesn't believe in fairies, or wishes, there is a small doubt about whether the little vial that she wished on, could make a wish come true.
Loosely connected with some characters from her award winning Six impossible things and Wildlife, Wood has written a fabulous story that was impossible to put down. Van Uoc is the daughter of Vietnamese boat people, who have high expectations that she will go to university and get a much better job that her parents have. A scholarship girl at the exclusive private school, Van Uoc's life is organised fully with study, helping out at homework club and having one night off to watch movies with her friend Jess. When Billy starts paying attention to her she finds herself out of her comfort zone and doing some things that she hasn't dreamt of doing.
The reader becomes immersed in Van Uoc's life, getting to know the trauma that the boat people went through to gain a better life through her mother who is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress and empathising with Van Uoc who is caught between two worlds, translating English for her parents, while not knowing Vietnamese well enough to be fluent in it. The homework club that Van Uoc helps out at also gives an insight into the lives of refugees and just how hard it is to leave loved ones in search of a better life often for the children in the family.
Billy too grows as a person, as he gets to know Van Uoc and it was great to see Lou and Michael from Wildlife keeping an eye on Van Uoc and making sure that Billy wasn't playing games with her.
Van Uoc uses the novel Jane Eyre as a guide to what she should do in certain circumstances. She uses the strength of Jane as a model and both she and her friend Jess use quotes out of the classic to fit what is happening in their lives.
This would make an ideal class text or literature circle book, as there are many things to discuss - class, plight of refugees, post-traumatic stress, and family expectations. Above all it is just a fabulous novel to read, enjoy and think about.
Pat Pledger
Burn by Paula Weston
The Rephaim bk 4. Text, 2015. ISBN 9781925240078
(Age: 15+) Recommended. The final book in the Rephaim series,
following Shadows, Haze, and Shimmer, Burn
brings this series about angels to a satisfying conclusion. Gaby has
finally regained all her memories about why she didn't join Jude and
the Outcastes when they left the Sanctuary and just why she wanted
to hurt Rafa before they left. This is a tremendous shock to her but
even worse is the knowledge that there is going to be a big showdown
between the demons, the Fallen angels and the Outcasts, that could
jeopardise everyone in the town of Pandanus Beach, which she loves.
Burn has plenty of action to keep the reader who enjoys the violence
of battles and descriptions of fit young Rephaim fighting very
happy, but it is the emotional impact of the story that had me most
engrossed. Gaby/Gabe finally comes into her own, recognising her
feelings for Rafa and the Fallen angels. She has to decide whether
she will hold past grudges or begin to forgive what has happened.
Rafa is still as witty and acerbic as ever, and Jude's leadership
qualities are sorely tested.
The setting of Pandanus Beach, with its beautiful surf will be
familiar to Australian readers, and provides a fabulous background
to the massive battle that happens on the beach. It is also an
emotional, but grounding place that Gabe/Gaby can begin to call a
home of sorts.
I cannot go into any more detail without giving away what happens,
but it is sufficient to say that there are some surprises, a lot of
moving emotions and some very thrilling scenes and all the strands
are brought together in a most satisfying way. A well written,
compelling and exciting series about angels, it is one that that
won't be easily forgotten.
Pat Pledger
Lola's Toy Box : The Patchwork Picnic by Danny Parker
Ill. by Guy Shield. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2015 . ISBN 9781760124366
(Ages: 5-7) Recommended. Fantasy. The new series Lola's Toybox
will complement the popular Billie B Brown books for young girls
keen to become independent readers. The larger font size and
well-spaced print, with the occasional addition of bold print for
emphasis and italics for unspoken thoughts, coupled with Guy Shields
full page illustrations make this series a welcome addition to the
bookshelf.
Lola is given an old toy box, much to her brother's annoyance. He
always seemed to want what Lola had. In an attempt to escape his
pestering Lola and her favourite toy Buddy, the
learn-to-dress-clown, hide in the toy box. After some strange sounds
and shaking, Lola opens the lid and steps out of a picnic hamper, no
longer in her bedroom but on the side of a hill accompanied by a
walking talking toy clown, Buddy. They are in the Kingdom, where
toys go when they are not being played with, and just in time for
the Teddy Bears Picnic.
All is not well in The Kingdom. Lola recognises Felix the son of The
Great High Bear as her own teddy bear. Felix has been to Nevercalm,
ruled by the Plastic Prince who, according to Felix, is building an
army of toy wind up soldiers in preparation for an attack on the
Kingdom. Lola feels she needs to intervene and save the soldier but
must undertake a test to prove her worthiness.
The problem Lola encounters in the Kingdom is mirrored with her
problem with her brother, and as she finds a solution for the toys
so she builds her confidence to face the real world problem facing
her at home.
This is Lola's first adventure to the Kingdom but with many places
to visit and toys to see I am sure there will be more to come.
Sue Keane
Octonauts Creature Report by Grosset & Dunlap
Grosset & Dunlap, 2015. ISBN 9780448483542
(Ages 3-7) The popular Octonauts animated television
series follows a team of underwater adventurers who dive into the
ocean to explore marine creatures and save their environment. The
Octoauts Creature Report explores fifty different animals and
creatures, providing Octofacts, diet, habitat, features, scientific
names and a crew quote. Colourful stickers are provided in the
centre of the book that can be added to complete each creature
report.
Unusual marine animals are included, as well as the more familiar
ones. The pig-nosed fish from Hawaii the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a or
Humuhumus fish lives in the coral reefs, can swim backwards and has
eyes that move independently. There's creatures that live in the
depths of the oceans - like the blobfish whose diet is unknown and
the oarfish that can grow up to seventeen metres long. Take time to
discover all about the Snot Sea Cucumber, Wolf Eel, Cookie Cutter
Shark or the Vampire Squid! The images are screenshots of the
cartoon animals, one real photo would have made a positive addition
to each report.
This activity book is specifically designed for the young Octonaut
fan, who loves to learn simple, interesting facts about marine life.
Rhyllis Bignell
Paperweight by Meg Haston
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404566
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Eating disorders are not an easy
subject to tackle in the slightest. The psychology of them is far
more complicated than simply 'not eating', and it's a topic that's
rarely discussed seriously in teen novels.
As a beautiful and complex examination of eating disorders and the
people who suffer them, Meg Haston's Paperweight fills this
gap - and then some. The main character in Paperweight is a
seventeen-year-old girl called Stevie, who has just been sent to a
treatment centre for eating disorders 'in the middle of nowhere'
(well technically, New Mexico). However, she doesn't mean to stay
there for long - in twenty-seven days, in fact, she plans to
disappear forever. However, as Stevie starts developing connections
with the counsellors and fellow patients, she begins to reflect on
her past, and the choices that got her where she is. Paperweight is an ingenious novel that treats the complicated
topic of eating disorders in an intelligent, highly sensitive way,
and offers a fascinating glimpse into the complex worlds of anorexia
and bulimia. The author herself writes in an afterword that the
story was largely inspired by her own experiences with eating
disorders - both as a therapist and a survivor - and naturally this
lends a particular ring of truth to the novel. The characters are
developed in wonderful, subtle ways - particularly Stevie, whose
life is revealed in strategically placed flashbacks, and who stands
out as one of the most realistic teenage girls in recent fiction.
The simple and engaging writing style hooks readers from the first
page and barely lets up for almost three hundred pages. Paperweight is a brilliant, oftentimes heartbreaking novel
that brings new light to the complicated world of eating disorders
and the people who have them. Despite the heavy subject matter, it's
an enthralling read, and a very impressive debut from a talented new
author.
Rebecca Adams
The other side of the world by Stephanie Bishop
Hachette, 2015. ISBN 9780733633782
(Age: Adults) Highly recommended. Themes: Marriage; Identity; Sense
of Home, place and identity. What a beautifully rendered book,
crafted with great skill to reveal the intricacies of a relationship
and the struggles for those who feel they have lost themselves when
they lose a sense of place, or take on the role of parent and leave
behind their sense of self. This is a book for adult readers. It
explores the difficulties of maintaining a marriage as well as
self-expression in the 1960s. The author demonstrates incredible
skill - painting a picture with words that is both delightful and
achingly poignant.
The gentle reflections and struggles for the young woman in this
story are so gently shared that the story has great power in
communicating very potent emotions. The reader understands, but at
the same time is puzzled by the difficulties she faces as she
becomes a migrant to Australia, leaving behind her history and the
small things that form part of her certainties. As she struggles
with the emotional impact that this dislocation has introduced into
her life, she flounders in her relationship with her husband and
slowly they drift into uncertain waters.
To rediscover herself she eventually makes a very difficult
decision. All the way through the book we are able to feel her pain,
but also to wonder how she could inflict pain on her family. Her
relationship appears healthy, and yet it is still not enough. The
husband she hurts as her dissatisfaction grows is also a victim of
the loss of home and his pain and his gentleness and lack of anger
are revealed with amazing skill. Bishop's crafting of this book is
poetic and extremely potent in revealing emotional complexities.
Carolyn Hull
Pig Dude - He can do anything by Michael Wagner and Adam Nickel
Billy Goat Books, 2015. ISBN 9780994251718
(Age: 4-8) Recommended. Humour. Mama really believes in Pig Dude and
tells him that he can do anything. Pig Dude is determined to find
out if he can do the impossible - fly! He tries all kinds of things
to get him into the air; he attaches a rocket to himself, pastes on
feathers but it is not until he gets a bunch of balloons and some
help from friendly birds that he is successful.
This is a very amusing book which will really appeal to its young
audience, who will be able to predict what Pig Dude might do to get
into the air. Of course he has lots of adventure, often with very
funny results which will also appeal to young children. Of course
there are some body function problems which will have children
giggling and make it a sure fire winner for the young child who
loves toilet humour.
The vibrant illustrations by Adam Nickel show a very appealing Pig
Dude, with a striped shirt and a cap with a propeller on it. These
are sure to grab the attention of the reader, and greatly add to the
appeal of the book. Pig Dude will appeal to children if it is read aloud to them,
who will appreciate the fact that Mama really believes in Pig Dude
and that he is determined to succeed. It will also be a boon for the
newly independent reader with its 64 pages, big type and easy
vocabulary.
Pat Pledger
The silly book of weird and wacky words by Andy Seed
Ill. by Scott Garrett. Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408853382
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. This is an amusing book that investigates
words, gibberish, jokes, riddles and more. Children are fascinated
by jokes and puns and The Silly Book of Weird and Wacky Words
has many examples.
The book starts with 'Juicy Jokes and Riddles' with wordplays such
as 'I didn't use to finish a sentence, but now I . . . '
'Bumper stickers' include 'Follow that car, Godzilla - and step on
it!' and 'Gravity gets me down'.
There are tongue twisters, spoonerisms, slang and wacky word games,
everything that you need to have fun with words.
The cover is bright and appealing and Scott Garrett's illustrations
complement the text. He uses a variety of fonts, drawings,
decorative backgrounds and borders to make the text look even more
appealing.
Andy Seed has written a collection of facts and jokes in The
Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff which won the 2015 Blue Peter Book
Award in England.
I recommend this book for primary school libraries and it will
appeal to 8 to 12 year olds and adults who are young at heart!
Jane Moore
