Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408854969
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Clouds, Imagination, Daydreams, Friendship.
Franklin is a cloudspotter. He spends the day with his binoculars
and backpack spotting all the clouds in the sky. He imagines them to
be all sorts of things and then imagines himself to be part of them,
in them, on them or driving them. One day a scruffy dog begins to
hang around Franklin. Franklin has no friends and decides that he
does not need any so when the dog stays around more often, becoming
part of his daydreams, he does something about it. He makes a hot
air balloon and puts the dog into the basket and sees him off.
But he soon realises that he misses the dog, the dog had become his
friend. Fortunately the air balloon snags on a tree and the two are
reunited. They can now watch the clouds together and have adventures
together.
This is a lovely story of friendship, of not seeing a friend nearby
until it is almost too late, of doing things together.
I loved the soft illustrations, conjuring up the feel and look of
various clouds in the sky, drawing them to suggest the images the
child sees in them.
As a lovely tale of friendship or as an introduction to a group of
lessons about clouds and their formation, or lessons outside looking
at clouds this book will prove to be most helpful.
Fran Knight
Dragonfall Mountain by Paul Collins and Sean McMullen
The Warlock's Child bk 2. Ford Street, 2015. ISBN
9781925000931
(Ages: 10+) Fantasy. Following on immediately from the first in the
series and beginning in the middle of a battle, it is wise to have
read the first book which introduced the main characters, including
the dragon, with suggestions of unknown forces at play, magic and
traitors yet to be discovered.
Dantar, the son of Dravinian Battle Warlock Calbaras is heading to
shore having been flung from his sinking ship. He is captured by the
Savarian sailors and set to work cleaning the prison castle
believing his status as an officer will keep him safe.
Dantar's sister Velza, having also escaped as the Dravinian fleet is
destroyed by the Savarians with a little help from the marauding
dragon, is determined to rally the survivors and continue their
mission to destroy the port.
The death of the dragon Dravaud, Calabaras alive and well and
seemingly welcome in the Savarian castle, and the reappearance of
Marko who assists Dantar to escape via the sewers, add to the action
and intrigue. The confrontation between more dragons and the King
leaves the reader anxious for the next instalment to find out who
'the creatures of forbidden magic' are dangling from the dragon's
claws, and what is really going on in this word of power, treachery
and magic.
Once again there are more questions than answers but the easy to
read, fast paced text keeps the reader interested as alternate
chapters follow the fortunes of Dantar and Velza telling the story
from their different situations and viewpoints.
Sue Keane
Escape from Wolfhaven Castle by Kate Forsyth
The impossible quest series. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781743624067
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Historical, Fantasy, Bravery. This
highly detailed novel, the first in a series of five, introduces
four characters quickly: Tom, the pot boy in the kitchen of the
castle, the squire, Sebastian, Eleanor, daughter of the lord, and
Quinn the witch's apprentice. When their castle is infiltrated by
bog-men, the four flee before they too are captured or killed. This
unlikely crew must work together to survive, even of Elanor has been
brought up on books of courtly manners befitting her station, and
the knight in waiting israther too aware of his station in life,
while Quinn has not yet got all her powers, their rubbing together
makes great reading as they must overcome some great impasses.
Brimming with medieval setting of knights and battles, rush floors
and castles, the story is easily read, moves along very quickly and
grabs at the readers' throats as the four must overcome some very
odd difficulties.
The Grand Teller at Wolfhaven gives them all a gift which can be
used in emergencies and as they leave their birth place, they find
that these gifts are not the stuff of folk lore but actually help
them.
With Tom's dog, Fergus making up the five, they learn their way
around each other, showing bravery against all odds and learning
above all to survive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look
forward to the next in the series.
Fran Knight
The Burning Sea by Paul Collins and Sean McMullen
The Warlock's Child bk 1. Ford Street, 2015. ISBN
9781925000924
(Ages 10-14) Fantasy. This is the first of new fantasy series
written in collaboration by two well known writers who are adept at
building a fantasy world where dragons and magic are commonplace.
Students will recognise the cover art by Marc McBride from the Deltora
Quest covers and accompanied books.
Lazily circling above an invasion fleet of Dravinian ships, Drvaud
the dragon is aware of a hint of something dragon-like on board one
of the ships. For Dantar life as a cabin boy is not easy, especially
as the son of the Emperor's Battle Warlock, bought up in the royal
palace. His older sister Velza is a very competent officer who is
keen to prove herself in the male dominated world of the navy.
As the fleet draws closer to Savaria there appears to be someone
prepared to sabotage the success of the invasion as Dantar overhears
talk of traitors and a fire is lit in the oil store. When the fog
bank that they had been sailing behind disperses, their element of
surprise is lost. With their secret weapon, the Deathlight which
employs mirrors and the sun's rays to set fire to the sails, the
Savarians attack.
Survival seems impossible for Dantar, who cannot swim, as he is
flung into the ocean but the timely arrival of Velza and a piece of
drift wood, fill him with hope as he heads towards shore.
The scene is set for the next book in the six part series with more
questions raised than answers given. This is a good example for
getting readers to predict what will happen next, and with a short
time frame between each book's release, there will be a ready
audience for book two.
Sue Keane
Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
Orion Children's Books, 2014. ISBN 9781780622194
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Internet dangers; Environmental
issues; Adventure. A young teen meets an unusual environmental
warrior while waiting on the beach for his cousin who is due to go
away to boarding school. This girl does not show up and eventually
it is revealed that she has run away with someone she met on the
internet. The environmental warrior who lives as a virtual hermit,
but who is also a returned soldier and former governor and is also
apparently 'dead', decides to help Richard find his cousin. They
embark on an amazingly risky search through the alligator populated
swamps and rivers of Florida.
This is an exciting rescue and although it stretches believability
on many occasions, is still an engaging adventure story. Hiaasen
introduces environmental themes that are linked loosely through the
story, with references to a presumed extinct woodpecker and the
protection of loggerhead turtles laying their eggs on the beach.
Carolyn Hull
The Slightly Annoying Elephant by David Walliams
Ill. by Tony Ross. Harper Collins, 2015. ISBN 9780007493999
(Age: Pre-school - Yr 2) Recommended. One day, without really
thinking about it, Sam filled out one of those "Adopt
an Animal" forms that are available from zoos. So you can imagine
his surprise
when he answers the door to find not his mum, not a friend, not the
postman but
. . . a very large blue elephant who has come to make its home
with Sam. A big, blue
bossy elephant that has Sam flummoxed and frustrated trying to meet
its demands.
A bath, food, an exercise bike. So when there is another knock on
the door, Sam
hurtles to answer it and welcome his mum back from the shops but . .
.
Full of the quirky humour that is Walliams and accompanied by the
masterful
illustrations of Tony Ross, this is a laugh out loud book that will
have
children of all ages enchanted and wanting to hear it over and over.
The ending
is very quirky with a lesson to be learned and opens up a discussion
about what
Sam will do next. My students were totally engrossed in it, joining
in and
thoroughly enjoying themselves.
This is the first picture book by David Walliams and while the theme
of a wild
animal turning up unexpectedly to make its home with a child is not
new,
Walliams brings a fresh approach that ensures this book will be a
winner.
Barbara Braxton
Operation Code-Cracker by John Townsend
Black Cats Series. Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781472906816
(Age: 8-10) Recommended. Themes: Codes, Spies, Mystery, Adventure.
The Black Cats series written by popular British authors
targets the newly confident and high interest-low reading age
audience. The chapters are shorter, some illustrations are included
and the novels are structured to build reading confidence.
John Townsend's Operation Code-Cracker is filled with spies,
action, adventure, clues, codes and car-chases. Max is staying with
his father in his old run-down house in London. When his football
disappears into the neighbour's yard, Max is caught up in a spy
network. The creepy man Max calls The Child Catcher has been
watching the father and son, knows all their routines and recruits
the ten year old boy to help in a situation of national security.
The reader is drawn into the action with codes and puzzles to solve,
Max's special skills help to save the situation. Max enlists his
Gran's help they hop in her pink Morris Minor convertible, and race
across London to save Miya who has been kidnapped. A surprising
ending brings this story to a thrilling conclusion.
Rhyllis Bignell
A Wonderlandiful World by Shannon Hale
Ever After High Series. Hachette, 2015. ISBN 9780349131870
(Age: 9-12) Shannon Hale's Ever After High trilogy comes to an
exciting conclusion in A Wonderlandiful World. This
fairytale world is filled with aptly named, colourful characters,
overflowing with fairy puns and unique language. With embellished
borders and flowery phrases, themes of good and evil, magic and
mayhem, this is definitely a story the fans will enjoy.
This story shifts the focus to the Wonderland characters, Maddie
Hatter, Lizzie Hearts, Kitty Cheshire and Cedar Wood who is
Pinocchio's daughter. There is a mysterious force overpowering Ever
After High and everything is badly affected. The evil Jabberwocky
has been released from prison and is determined to destroy Ever
After. As the Ever After students magically change into objects -
Apple White's face turns rosy red and a branch sprouts out of the
top of her head, the Wonderland characters become real - Cedar's
body transforms from wooden to human. Other students change into
animals, the furniture comes alive and the school grounds fade to
black and white. There are mad chases, unexpected events and even
the Narrator has problems continuing the story. Maddie is forced to
become the narrator and her friends are caught up in the evil magic,
as this fast-paced and crazy adventure comes to a surprising end.
For fairy tale fans from 9-12.
Rhyllis Bignell
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle<br>
Walker Books, 2015. ISBN: 9781406361537
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. The warmth and humour of the main
character, Nate, make this book a really great read that will appeal
to all ages.
Nate, has big aspirations, but is trapped in a small town. His best
friend, Libby helps him plan an escape to Broadway where he hopes to
make his dreams come true by winning a role in a musical version of
ET. This story waltzes you along with the adorable Nate and
surreptitiously feeds the back story of love, relationships, family,
forgiveness and hope.
The story gently and thoughtfully touches on the small town response
to a young man who wants to sing on Broadway.
'My sexuality, by the way, is off-topic and unrelated. I am
undecided. I am a freshman at the College of Sexuality and I have
undecided my major, and frankly don't want to declare anything other
than "Hey jerks, I'm thirteen, leave me alone. Macaroni and cheese
is still my favorite food - how would I know who I want to hook up
with?"
The reader can't help smiling and laughing and completely relating
to the main character, Nate, as he bravely negotiates New York City
and the cut throat world of Broadway auditions, ably supported by
Libby, Freckles and Heidi.
Linda Guthrie
Operation Boy Band by Yvette Poshoglian <br>
Ill. by Jacqui Davis. Frankie Fox - Girl Spy. Lothian
Children's Books, 2015. ISBN 9780734415707
For afficiandos of EJ 12, Frankie Fox, aimed at a
slightly older audience, has all the attributes to keep them
reading. Not only is she a capable spy but the boy band of the
title, Band of Brothers, is enough to make any music fan
curious, especially as they appear to be modelled on One
Direction.
Frankie (Francesca) lives with her father, a billionaire scientist
and her dog Boss in Harbour City where she attends school and
pursues her career as a junior spy for Griffin, against the evil
Alliance. After participating in a school Robot Wars Tournament and
progressing to the next round, Frankie is sent to Edinburgh
Scotland, by Griffin, where she meets up with other agents and is
excited to attend a Band of Brothers concert. There they
discover that the band's song Freedom appears to brainwash
the audience. Despite what appears to be an earthquake in the middle
of the concert which causes chaos, the band members carry on their
performance unfazed. Alliance is suspected.
Attending a Symposium of Bright Young Minds at the Institute of
Autonomous Robotics and Artificial Life in Aberdeen, Frankie and
partner JJ are to investigate the involvement of Professor Boffini
who it is believed is developing a robot army with less than
honourable intentions. Frankie escapes after a confrontation with
Boffini and his army which confirms all their suspicions.
The action then moves back to Harbour City where it is up to Frankie
and JJ to save the city by preventing Band of Brothers singing their
signature tune, Freedom, and expose Boffini and his robots army.
The easy to read text has a quote from the Spy's Handbook to begin
each chapter which will help readers predict the action to follow.
The smaller font size of the print may be a turn off for some
readers who otherwise would enjoy the characters and action packed
adventures.
Sue Keane
Alice in Wonderland : Down the Rabbit Hole a Modern Retelling by Lewis Carroll <br>
Retold by Joseph Rhatigan and Charles Numberg. Ill. by Eric
Puybaret. Koala Books, 2015. ISBN 9781742761411
The 150th celebration of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by
Lewis Carroll this year, was the impetus for publishing this picture
book retelling of part of the classic tale. Young readers are
introduced to Alice, the White Rabbit and a few of the animals that
inhabit the topsy-turvey world down the rabbit hole, in a way that
retains the magic of the original but in a simplified, modern style.
Sitting on the river bank Alice is having an ordinary day when a
white rabbit ' . . with pink eyes, a red jacket and a great big
pocket watch' runs by. Being a curious girl, Alice follows him and
finds herself falling down the hole only to see the rabbit disappear
down a hallway at the bottom.
Alice has a disconcerting time either drinking or eating cake,
making her smaller or bigger in an effort to access the beautiful
garden on the other side of a tiny door. There she meets Mouse,
Duck, Eaglet and Dodo before once again following the rabbit and
finally coming across the Blue Caterpillar who helps her return to
normal size. As Alice wonders how to get back to the riverbank she
knows that what lies ahead will not be so ordinary after all.
The phrases which are most remembered from this early part of the
story such as 'Curiouser and curiouser!' and 'Oh my ears and
whiskers how late it's getting' are retained in this retelling which
is but a small part of the whole and certainly much more accessible
for young readers than the original.
The richly coloured illustrations help the reader manage the
absurdity of Alice's situation as we look down on a shrinking Alice
and up at her growing. The animal characters have a human feel
dressed as they are in top hats and coats especially the White
rabbit as he zooms through the pages focussed on his watch. The
background plants and trees have a surreal look with the last page
hinting at other characters yet to come with a tea party setting in
the distance and a smiling cat perched in a tree.
Sue Keane
First Things First: Selected Letters of Kate Llewellyn 1977-2004 edited by Ruth Bacchus and Barbara Hill
Wakefield Press, 2015. ISBN: 9781743053645
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Ruth Bacchus and Barbara Hill are
researchers at Charles Sturt University (Bathurst). They have
compiled an anthology of letters written by Kate Llewellyn to her
friends and fellow authors and writers.
Kate Llewellyn (poet and author) has published many notable works,
including her most recent book, A Fig at The Gate (2014).
These letters have the reader peeking into Kate's life to see her as
funny, vulnerable, weary and energetic. The letters give insight
into her simple pleasures such as making Christmas cakes, growing
seeds and gardening. They also describe her as a writer, from
miserable experiences as a writer in residence to pleasant surprises
such as a reviewer (SA's Katherine England) actually reading her
work when Kate's experience was that many reviewers had not actually
read her work.
They also reveal an author who was constantly on the move and had
opinions on feminism that were bold for their day.
'I took a taxi home and the driver said I was the third drunk lady
he had driven that night and wondered what was going on in the town
and I said 'It's the Women's Arts Festival, mate, and there's about
a thousand of us in the same state'.
Kate, and the recipients of the letters, are still alive.
Opportunities to hear her speak lend authenticity to these letters
and reinforce the frankness and honesty with which she writes.
Linda Guthrie
Splosh for the billabong by Ros Moriaty
Ill. Balarinji. Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760112127 Summer rain by Ros Moriary
Ill. Balarinji. Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760112110
(Age: Junior primary) Recommended. Early readers. Aboriginal themes.
Indi Kindi Early Literacy Project. The Indi Kindi
Early Literacy Project aims to assist young Aboriginal
children in remote communities reach the basic levels in Australia's
literacy benchmarks. With this aim in mind, Moriarty has produced
these two books, Splosh for the billabong and Summer
rain, with an emphasis on words and images found in these
communities. Kangaroos hop and Ten scared fish have
also been reviewed on Readplus. Each of these books introduces children to aspects of
their community and adds words, some known and others not well known,
to describe what they are seeing on the page. Accompanying the
boldly placed words are images which swirl around the page, offering
colour and patterns amongst which are animals easily recognised by
the student.
In Splosh for the billabong, we see the billabong at river's
bend where ants and flowers, tree roots, birds and fish can be
found. Each description is brief, with wonderful words for young
children to say out loud, to ponder their meaning and add their own
flavour. The rain comes making the land by the waterhole squishy,
allowing the crabs to dig their hidey holes, and making the ground
soft to do some finger painting.
In Summer rain, too, words and images fill each colourful
page, showing the things which occur through the day from sunrise to
sunset. The words used all evoke images and feelings, such as
lizards crawl, wind scatters, rain splutters, wattles burst and fish
feed. Each describes an activity which children could emulate, and
discuss the various uses of that word while watching the brightly
formed pages.
For any early learner these books fill a niche in encouraging
younger children to open their eyes to what is about them, using
their natural environment to help their vocabulary and understanding
of language. The last two pages of each book has the story in
Yanyuwa language of Northern Australia.
Fran Knight
Muddle & Mo by Nikki Slade Robinson
Starfish Bay, 2015. ISBN 9780994100757
(Age: 2-5) Ducks. Goats. Identity. Muddle is a small yellow
duck who peppers her friend Mo, a very long-suffering white goat
with lots of questions. Muddle compares her duck features with Mo's,
they are different colours, the goat's beak is hairy, his wings are
on his head, even his poos are different. As they walk together, Mo
is silent, he's a listener. When they arrive at Goat Farm, Muddle's
lightbulb moment occurs and he sees why Mo is different. Mo finds
his voice and explains to his little friend 'You are one hundred
percent duck!'
Set on a textural background of compressed cardboard, Muddle and Mo
are simply and expressively painted. With simple brush strokes, we
see Muddle's beak opened wide to state his ideas about wings or be
surprised about the different kinds of beaks. This is an easy to
read story, a simple tale of two animals' friendship and a search
for identity. Nikki Slade Robinson's observations about her own pets
gave her the core idea for this story.
Rhyllis Bignell
12 annoying monsters: Self-talk for kids with anxiety by Dawn Meredith
Shining Press 2013. ISBN 9781876870669
As a teacher, Dawn Meredith has encountered and worked with many
children suffering from anxiety - anxiety so debilitating that it
interferes with their daily lives. As a sufferer herself she felt
she had something to offer them to help them help themselves and so
she has written this book in which she talks directly to the child
to help them understand their fears and then overcome them.
Using language they can understand but which treats them with
dignity and acknowledges their intelligence, she explains what
anxiety is and invites them to analyse their feelings, offering
lists of words that will help describe them. She also offers
step-by-step suggestions for getting in control such as breathing
deeply, letting yourself go floppy and banishing the bad thoughts.
Because she has already taught the child about the physiological
effects of feeling anxious, these steps connect directly to this and
so make sense. That in itself is calming and helps the sufferer
understand that they can be in control.
She then tackles the twelve annoying monsters that are the most
common causes of anxiety in children such as 'Bad things always
happen to me'; 'Everything must be perfect'; 'I'm all alone and no
one loves me' and 'It's my fault.' For each one there is an
explanation of the message the monster is giving showing that the
monster is wrong, is a liar, or is pathetic and then offers
suggestions for self-talk to drown out its voice and practical steps
to banish it. Apart from all of the great advice in this book, the
fact that it's available shows that no one is alone with their
fears, they are not freaks but a member of a larger group all with
the same feelings, and offers the sufferers some comfort. 'No one
would bother to make the time and energy to write such a thing if
your fear was unique and isolated - you are not alone in this' can
be the message that starts the road to recovery and control.
Given that as teacher librarians we are often the first port of call
when someone wants a title that will help a child in a specific
situation, this is a must-have on the shelves and worth a whisper in
the ear of any students you know that need it. More information is
at the author's website.
Barbara Braxton
