Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406367232
(Age: 5+) Recommended for a library collection. Themes: Sisters;
Imagination; Reconciliation. Two sisters need to go outside. One, a
book-loving reader, settles under a tree with her book. The other
wants her sister to play with her. The ignored sister creates an
imaginary Secret Fort to entice her sister to join her and play. The
developing imagined detail is peculiar and grows with features as
her imagination explores the ways to connect with her sister.
However an argument bubbles to the surface. Eventually there
is a compromise to explore Fort-building together and this draws the
two sisters into a closer connection. This reconciliation after
conflict makes this a useful book to discuss differences and solving
problems. The illustrations are simple in style, but there is
sufficient detail to engage a younger reader.
Although the book incorporates colourful detail, the tonal quality
is somewhat muted.
Carolyn Hull
The Storyteller's Muse by Traci Harding
Harper Collins, 2016. ISBN 9780732299415
(Age: Senior secondary) Ageing author Penelope Whitman needs to
write a story which she has been incubating for a long time but is
frustrated by her failing faculties. Peter, a nurse in the aged-care
home where she lives is a frustrated author and she asks him to help
her write the story she dictates. The thread then alternates between
the story and the writing process until the author dies leaving the
narrative unfinished. A third story is introduced, Peter's own
creation, based on historical research thrown up by Penelope's
unfinished novel. Interspersed are strange supernatural incidents
identified as the 'muse' or spirit that can be dangerous as well as
creative. The chapter headings list the components of the writing
process and there is some insight into what it takes to develop as a
successfully published author although the luck and support budding
writer Peter receives is a bit beyond belief.
Traci Harding is known for her stories in the fantasy genre and this
convoluted tale may be of interest to her readers to understand how
she writes. There is a sex scene which may preclude the book from
some school libraries but senior students with writing aspirations
may like it as will Traci
Harding fans. It could be read with Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl,
also a story about a writer.
Sue Speck
At the edge of the orchard by Tracy Chevalier
HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780008135294
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Pioneer life in the US. Farmers.
Apple growing. Family life. It is 1838. Deep in the Black Swamp of
Ohio, James and Sadie Goodenough try to scrabble out a living,
cutting down trees and attempting to grow the 50 apple trees that
they need to claim their holding. James loves the apples, especially
the sweet apple brought from his home in Connecticut, but Sadie is
addicted to the applejack they make. Robert one of their sons, loves
the apples too and watches out for his overworked sister, Martha.
When disaster strikes, Robert leaves the farm and roams across the
country, working on ranches and trying his hand at gold mining in
California. When he meets William Lobb, a naturalist who collects
seeds, he begins to work for him, but when his past catches up with
him, he has to decide whether he will continue on his solitary way
or make a home.
This a stunning book, meticulously researched, and the background of
apple growing and the appearance of the folk hero Johnny Appleseed
is fascinating. Pioneer life is described in all its brutality, the
loneliness, isolation, back breaking work, infant mortality and
alcohol addiction running counter with the family dramas as James
and Sadie battle it out about whether the apple trees should be
'eaters' or 'spitters' to make applejack. The hardships that the
family face are overwhelming and it is easy to imagine Sadie giving
into the enticement of applejack.
Chevalier uses the different voices of her characters to tell the
story. The reader learns about James' affection for the apples, his
jealousy of Johnny Appleseed and his trust in two of his children,
Robert and Martha. Sadie's narrative is less educated and more
strident, and it is easy to see the lonely, difficult woman in her
words. When Robert strikes out alone, it is his yearly letters to
his family that bring alive his character and his narratives are so
striking giving the reader information about the settlement of the
US, the gold rushes and the fever that overtook the miners, and the
hardship that women faced. The descriptions of the redwood and giant
sequoia groves, the efforts of William Lobb to collect saplings and
seeds to send back to England and the growing effect of tourism are
rivetting. Martha's letters are heart rending and really make a huge
impact about the reality of frontier life for young girls and women.
Notes are at the back of the book about the research Chevalier
carried out and add to the reader's knowledge of some of the real
life characters, Johnny Appleseed, William Lobb and others.
This book was a joy to read - the prose was vivid, the history
fascinating and the family dynamics engrossing.
Pat Pledger
Nannie loves by Kylie Dunstan
Working Title Press, 2016. ISBN 9781921504839
(Ages: 2-6) Family. Grandparents. Farm life. The story starts with
an illustration of a child posting a letter addressed to her Nan,
while the text reads 'Nannie lives on a farm'. From there, the
illustrations show us the child's family visiting the farm and
exploring it with Nannie, while the text on each page tells us
something about Nannie and her farm. In this way, the text and the
illustrations each add something different to the story and provide
plenty of material for discussion with children. Each page ends with
'Nannie loves her dog/garden/family/me'. The text is simple, but
children will love it because they get to join in with the repeated
'Nannie loves...' on each page.
The collage and pencil illustrations, in earthy, natural colours are
simply wonderful. They are bright and joyful and perfectly show the
wonder and excitement the children have for the farm. Nannie's
enthusiasm and love for the farm also shines through as she shows
them around and does her jobs.
This is a great story for sharing and enjoying. It will also be
fantastic for demonstrating mixed media illustrations and as
inspiration for classroom art. The chooks on the endpapers are
particularly fabulous, as are all the illustrations within.
Nicole Nelson
Milo: A moving story by Tohby Riddle
Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760111632
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Friendship. Forgiveness. Tohby Riddle has
created a visually interesting tale of friendship with quirky
twists. The central character, Milo, is a dog with a couple of
friends (with odd names!) A simple falling-out of friendship and an
unusual storm event puts Milo into a position of danger. He
eventually is able to return to offer an apology.
The illustrations within Riddle's book are muted in tone, but full
of detail so are worth inspecting more closely. Young children may
not instantly warm to the style, but an adult could spend some time
pointing out the eccentric detail. I think this book could create
discussion. The New York setting and references plus illustrations
of other famous locales may lead to an exploration beyond the plot
for older readers (or the adults who read it to the younger
generation).
Carolyn Hull
Maralinga's long shadow, Yvonne's story by Christobel Mattingley
Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760290177
(Age: 11 - Adult) Highly recommended. Aboriginal peoples. Nuclear
weapons. Biography. Non-fiction. Maralinga's long shadow
continues the themes explored by Christobel Mattingley in
collaboration with the Anangu people in Maralinga,
the Anangu story (2009) and Survival in our own land
(1988).
This latest book is Yvonne Edward's story, a story that reflects the
experience of too many Aboriginal people, turned off their
traditional land and their children taken away. Yvonne's
recollections expose the further horror of the Maralinga nuclear
bomb tests carried out by the British government from 1953 to 1957.
As Yvonne says so powerfully it was her grandparents' home that was
bombed. 'That was their home where the bomb went off', sending up a
radioactive cloud and contaminating the land. Subsequent generations
of Yvonne's family suffered the consequences. Her husband was one of
the Aboriginal men sent in to clean up the site without the
protective clothing worn by the white men. Her family and others
travelled through the area unaware of the dangers to their health.
Devastatingly, her husband and two sons died of cancer and her
grandson was born with a stomach defect. Yvonne herself died before
she could finally work on the story she wanted people to know about.
But Mattingley had collected enough notes from their long
conversations to be able to bring the book to fruition. It is an
important story to tell.
Learning about this terrible history through the lived experience of
Yvonne's family makes it so much more potent, and very sad.
Mattingley uses simple though often poetic language to tell the
story, often using the words of Yvonne herself. Coloured photographs
of the people and country make it very real and personal. This
story, and Yvonne's beautiful paintings reproduced in the book,
creates a wonderful legacy of a strong and courageous woman, proud
in her culture, and determined to be heard.
Helen Eddy
Pig the winner by Aaron Blabey
Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760154288
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Cheating, Winning, Good sportsmanship.
Pig the pug loves to win. But he will do anything to come first, as
Trevor finds out. If he doesn't win by putting his foot out to trip
Trevor in a race, then he throws a tantrum so fierce that Trevor
gives in telling him he has won. The long suffering Trevor can only
look on as Pig goes to great lengths to overcome his partner, but
one fateful day, Pig suggests that they see who can eat their food
the fastest. Trevor decides that this is not for him and declines
the invitation to compete, but this does not faze Pig. He wolfs down
all the food he can find, his treats, his biscuits, his bowl of dog
food, but incredibly in his haste, he finds that he has eaten his
bowl.
Good old Trevor knows just what to do, grabbing the dog form behind
and giving him a squeeze to force the bowl out. In doing so the bowl
ricochets off the ceiling and pushes Pig into the rubbish bin. A
much embarrassed Pig then becomes a much nicer dog to be with and
plays with Trevor much more fairly, well, most of the time.
This delightful picture book, told in rhyming stanzas will be a hit
with younger children who will predict what words will come next
when it is read to them, enjoy sharing stanzas with their friends
when reading together or discuss the implications of cheating when
talking about sports. With so much press devoted to the scandals
involving today's sportsmen and women, this is a timely book to
introduce the theme with younger children at a level they can
understand and laugh about. Blabey's illustrations are always
delightful, and this book furthers the adventures of Pig the pug,
and Pig the fibber, all subtly teaching some home truths to the
readers.
Fran Knight
Big Nate blasts off by Lincoln Peirce
Harper Collins, 2016. ISBN 9780008135331
(Age: 8-13) Recommended. Themes: Bullying; Cartooning; Friendship;
Growing up; School drama; Humour. This is a book that Diary of a
Wimpy Kid devotees will also love. Big Nate is an ordinary kid
who deals with a dad who makes dreadful lunches, a fellow classmate
that intends harm, a connection with a girl that is hinting at
romance and the normal ups and downs of school life with his
friends. He shares his life with style - cartooning style! He has a
quirky view of the world that he translates into wonderfully
entertaining caricatures and cartoon strips. The big event of the
book is an Ultimate Frisbee tournament against a rival school that
needs to overcome the romance dilemmas, the bullying and detentions
in order to overturn a 37 year losing streak!
This is not the first book with Big Nate, so look for other titles
in the series, and it can be recommended for a school library
collection (even though teachers are the target of many of Nate's
jokes!) The book will not stay long on the shelves in the Library.
Recommended as a fun book for reluctant readers aged 8-13; but all
younger readers will enjoy the humour and the cartoons.
Carolyn Hull
Annabel's Dance by Diane Jackson Hill
Ill. by Lois Bury. Wombat Books, 2016. ISBN 9781925139358
Picture book. High in the mountains lived a mob of sheep - ordinary
sheep with wool the colour of whipped cream growing in neat tight
crinkles. With them lived Annabel who was the colour of a mud puddle
and whose wool was straight and spiky. She couldn't just stand and
nibble grass all day - her legs went every which way, she flipped
head over heels, she was always wriggling and jiggling. She was
picky with her food because the grass prickled her tongue; she hid
at shearing time because the loud noises hurt her ears. No matter
how hard she tried, Annabel just didn't fit into the mob and they
shuffled her to the outside.
;"Hazy mazy, oops a daisy, wriggle your ears but don't go crazy,"
she'd tell herself whenever she felt alone or was trying to be
brave.
;Because she hid every time it was shearing time, for six years her
wool grew and grew and grew. But even though it kept her warm and
protected her from bumps, she couldn't see or hear very well.
Annabel is super-sensitive to the world around her and even when
Farmer Shanks tries to help her, she can't cope and makes a dash for
the mountainside.
But he is determined and calls in extra help, gives her headphones
to block out the sound of the shearing machine and even puts a
bucket of strawberry clover nearby so she can imagine herself still
out on the mountainside.
Annabel is like those students we have who are somewhere on the
autism spectrum, whose sensitivities are so heightened they can't
cope with being touched or hearing loud noises, yet all they would
like to do is be part of the mob. To belong. But instead of their
differences being accepted and their needs catered for, they are
shunned and left to themselves until eventually there is a
catastrophe.
This is a humourous but poignant story that can be read on its
surface level as being about an eccentric sheep or it can be
explored more deeply to talk about how we, as people, are all unique
each with our special needs and preferences. But some differences
are not through choice and we need to be more tolerant and more
inclusive, make allowances and reach out to help those who are
struggling or marginalised through no fault of their own - just as
Farmer Shanks did. There are many Annabels in our classrooms as
there are many more children on the spectrum than those who qualify
for special assistance so, as teachers, we need to vary our
practices, help the child develop physical or mental strategies to
cope, and inform the other students so they understand what is
happening. Indeed, under federal legislation, we are obligated to do
so but the crux of this book is that it puts us in Annabel's world
in a way few others stories do and gives some insight into a world
that is too noisy and smelly and busy for some.
Barbara Braxton
My sister is a superhero by Damon Young
Ill. by Peter Carnavas. UQP, 2016. ISBN 9780702253928
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Sisters. Family. Bedtime. In wonderful
rhyming couplets, the story of the little girl and her amazing
sister will resonate with the readers as the story affirms the close
bond between sisters. Each line opens with something that other
sisters do,
'Some sisters roll in carts, under jacaranda trees
Some sisters ride their sleds over waterfalls that freeze
Some sisters glide on scooters next to lanes of tooting cars'
ending with 'But my sister... '
and children will hoot with laughter at seeing the things sisters do
and what the superhero sister does, calling out the rhyming word in
the last line. The sisters at the start of each line do fairly
ordinary things compared with the superhero, but children will love
to recognise things they do together.
What a wonderful affirmation of family life, of siblings, of one
sister looking out for the other, reading and telling stories to her
at bedtime. Carnavas' illustrations reflect a variety of funny
situations engaging the reader readily with their humour,
complimenting the words on each page. Children will love searching
out what happens in each illustration and seeking out the superhero
and her sister and the things they do together. This is a wonderful
addition to the other two by Young and Carnavas, beginning with the
hilarious, My gran is a Ninja, and following with My pop
is a pirate, both characters making a reappearance in this
book, along with a curious hen.
I do like the endpapers with the superhero and her sidekick in
superhero poses. Another reason to like this book so much.
Fran Knight
Wonderment in death by J. D. Robb
In death bk 41.5. e-book. Piatkus, 2016. ISBN 9780751554106
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Mystery. Thriller. Novella. New York,
2061. When Darlene Fitzwilliams kills her brother and then jumps
from a tall building, it could be taken for a murder/suicide but Eve
Dallas' friends insist that Darlene would never have murdered her
brother. When Eve discovers that Darlene has been visiting psychics
and someone with a penchant for Lewis Carroll's Alice in
Wonderland has been messing with Darlene's mind, the hunt is
on for the motive and the murderer.
This is a quick read, in novella form, so there is not much
character development, but readers who are familar with Eve, Roarke,
Peabody and colleagues won't mind that as they will know and
understand very well how the main characters operate.
The plot and action however is exciting and different. Robb manages
to keep the reader in suspense for the duration of the novella, and
the references to Alice in Wonderland add a certain
whimsical touch to the plot. Eve and Peabody find clues to the type
of people that Darlene had been visiting in the months before her
death and quickly make sense of the crazy man whom she's been
visiting.
This is certainly one for fans of the series - fast paced and
engrossing - it is a very entertaining read.
Pat Pledger
Stanley by Colin Thompson
ABC Books, 2016. ISBN 9780733332852
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Dogs. Prejudice. Family. Readers will
recognise their own dog from the start of this very funny tale of
not judging a book by its cover, or in this case, a dog by its
appearance. Stanley is not a star turn as dogs go, he is built as if
from old weathered bricks, but loves four things: his owner, Gerald,
his food, his bed and his red ball. Gerald takes him to the park
where he can run after his ball, but one day it is taken by another
dog, a small fluffy dog that will not let it go.
The next day, a man, his daughter and their dog appear on the
doorstep offering back the now battered red ball with a new ball as
its replacement. Coming in for a cup of tea and biscuits, friendship
blossoms between Gerald's mother and the man, and even Gerald and
his daughter, and surprisingly Stanley and the small fluffy dog.
Each dreams that night of who they have met and after many visits
and many cups of tea and biscuits, the house becomes a home for all
of them, a new family.
This is a delightful story of finding love again, of creating a home
after a period of loneliness. Small hints are given about Gerald and
his mother; there is no Dad, Mum is alone, Gerald has no brothers
and sisters. And the man and his daughter standing on their doorstep
with their dog, seems just the answer they are looking for as
relationships develop over tea and biscuits.
Thompson's illustrations are admirable, with the cheeky looks on
Stanley's face to the little hidden motifs within each picture, the
pages will attract all readers to think about what they are seeing
as they read the text. I particularly loved the thumbnail sketch of
Gerald with his paper thin frame and deep eyes, his inability to
look the girl in the eyes, reflected in the book he is reading. I
laughed out loud at many things but this took my breath away as it
described so many boys who find relationships difficult. They will
recognise themselves and see that things will get better.
Fran Knight
The big fish by Pamela Allen
Penguin, 2016. ISBN 9780670078974
Once upon a time a little old man, a little old woman, a small boy
and a small girl went to spend the day by the river. The little old
man took out his fishing line, put some bait on his hook, and cast
it into the river because, like everyone who goes fishing, his dream
was to catch a really big fish.
I wish, I wish,
Oh, how I wish
I could catch a big fish!
It's not long before there is a tug on his line, so strong that he
nearly falls in and he has to call on the little old woman to help
him. But even together they are not strong enough so the little old
woman calls to the small boy. Will the old man and his family land
the catch - and just what is on the end of the line anyway?
This is a delightful story reminiscent of the traditional tale of
The enormous turnip and with its repetitive refrain and cumulative
language it has a rhythm that will draw the young listener in so
that soon they will be engaging with the language as well as the
story. And with a few simple necklace-type signs to designate their
roles, they will be clamouring to be involved in a re-enactment of
it immersing themselves even more so that it becomes a treasure
trove of riches for drama and a language study.
Students will love to tell their own tales of going fishing and the
tips and tricks they can pass on to their friends. They could make a
class map of favourite fishing spots - river, lake, sea, waterhole -
and investigate the sorts of fish that inhabit them that they might
catch. The class expert could explain the parts of a fishing rod and
the different types of lures that are used and why, as well as
explaining the procedure of getting a fishing line ready for use or
what to do with their catch once they have landed it. Speculating
and illustrating what is on the end of the old man's line offers
huge scope for the imagination and because the author doesn't
disclose what it is, no one can be wrong so the smug chorus of 'I
was right!' that usually accompanies predictive questions is
avoided.
There is a range of 'the mechanics of language' that could be
explored from understanding the word 'tug' and how the author shows
its meaning through its repetition to examining the various fonts
and how they add to both the meaning and the reading of the story.
Even the use of speech bubbles and exclamation marks and the
cumulative language structure can be discussed to help develop their
understanding of book language and the conventions used to make it
more like speech, thus enhancing their own reading through their
'inner voice'. Throughout, Allen uses words like 'tug', 'pull' and
'haul' so there could be an introduction to the concept of synonyms
and a challenge to find as many words that could be used to replace
'got' as possible.
The story also lends itself to the mathematics of size, order and
position particularly through the illustrations and the
re-enactment, offering lots of opportunities for the students to be
physically involved as they position themselves according to height
or age or gender.
Pamela Allen is one of the mainstay authors of literature for the
very young and she never fails to deliver the most wonderful stories
that are perfectly illustrated so that the marriage between text and
illustration is seamless. Even our very early readers can tell
themselves this story without having to have heard it let alone read
it for themselves. Miss Just-Turned-Five is going to love sharing
this with Grandad, an ardent but not always successful fisherman, as
they snuggle up for their bedtime story soon.
Barbara Braxton
Book of lies by Teri Terry
Orchard, 2016. ISBN 9781408334287
(Age: 15+) Witchcraft. Truth and Lies. Supernatural/Horror.
Although the reviewers quoted on the endpapers about Terry's
writing, provide hints that this might be a dystopian narrative, it
is probably more a dark journey into the world of the supernatural.
If this was made into a film it would be scary! Terry writes in such
a way that the gentle journey into fear happens slowly, and the
ordinary although sad beginning slowly twists the reader into the
tangled web of lies. Just as a web-captured insect does not envisage
the ultimate end, the reader too is drawn into an ultimately
difficult conclusion.
The well-written and compelling story begins with the death of a
mother in horrific circumstances, and the discovery by her estranged
daughters Quinn and Piper, that they are identical twins, separated
deliberately to save them from the family secret that haunts them.
The reason for their separation is the essence of the story, and
what draws them together. But it is also what makes this a chilling
and unsettling journey into a family that has been separated by lies
and by the sinister magic of their ancestors. The core of identity
for the twins, and their ability to deceive others around them adds
to the tension of the tale, told through the individual voices of
the girls. A shared love interest adds a layer of complication as
does the setting for part of the narrative in the foreboding wild of
the Dartmoor moors. But ultimately this is a story where evil and
lies invade a family to create a sense of dread.
Recommendation only for those aged 15+ who can cope with the torment
and tension of the supernatural horror story. Well-written and
difficult to put down (even for someone who does not like this
genre!)
Carolyn Hull
Horton and the kwuggerbug and more lost stories by Dr Seuss (aka Theodor Seuss Geisel)
Harper Collins, 2016. ISBN 9780008131272
Dr Seuss. Rhyme. Originally published in magazines in 1950's
this collection of lesser known Dr Seuss stories will be enjoyed by
his fans. They contain the usual whimsy and fun, with simple rhyming
patterns, and his created words. Dr Seuss manages to hide some more
serious ideas underneath the nonsense, for those prepared to look.
This is definitely worth adding to a Seuss collection. Horton
appears and is tricked by a pesky bug; a school child explains the
reason for his late arrival at school; a policeman on the beat saves
the community from disaster and the Grinch proves that he is a
little sneaky, but a good salesman.
Carolyn Hull
