Ford St, 2014. ISBN 9781925000542
(Age: 5-10) Recommended. Picture book. Australia. Humour. Journeys.
The thirtieth anniversary edition of this book will find a place in
Australian schools where it will be used as an adjunct to the
emphasis now given to Geography in the curriculum.
Burra the Boggabri, a monster which lives in a small cave behind
Uluru is being kicked out of house and home by the many tourists now
visiting the centre of Australia. He decides it is time to find
another home and spends some time wandering around Australia looking
for just such a place.
He visits every capital city, looking at some of their famous places
deciding that each place is not for him. Some are too cold or wet,
others do not taste very nice, eating Blue Poles in Canberra meant
that an alarm goes off, the noise sending him to the next city. In
Sydney, horror of horrors he is captured and placed in a cage at
Taronga Park Zoo, where he is besieged by hundreds of tourists
coming to look at him, point at him and take photos. This is the
final straw, he nibbles his way out of the bars and returns to
central Australia, but not before many readers have had fun following
his ventures around the country as shown on the map on the title
page.
Salmon's funny illustrations add to the laugh out loud humour of the
book which is suitable for early to middle primary students.
Fran Knight
Funny bunnies (series) by David Melling
Hachette, 2014. Rain or shine. ISBN 9781444919127. Up and down. ISBN 9781444917840.
(Age: Preschool) Board book. Preschool. Weather. Two books in this
series Funny bunnies, Rain or shine, and Up and
down, are designed to be held by young hands and used without
a care for the niceties of reading a book. In hard board ready to
take any treatment dolled out by children still unable to appreciate
how to handle a book, these will be used within early childhood
centres and in the home.
Each shows the funny bunnies on their pogo sticks in situations
which reflect the terms, up and down, or aspects of the weather in
rain and shine. Each is told in rhyming phrases, encouraging the
child to develop a sense of the rhythm of words, and help them to
predict what the next word might be.
In Up and down, the bunnies demonstrate two words which
mean the opposite. So we have the bunnies pulling a cow, and then
pushing a cow, or a bunny going fast while the next bunny goes slow,
or some bunnies play while some fight. Each double page shows the
opposites and so lends itself to discussing words and their
meanings.
In Rain or shine, each double page illustrates a different
aspects of weather, including hail and snow, fog and storm.
Both books will provide a strong book for younger readers which will
teach them new aspects of their language and environment.
Fran Knight
Panic by Sharon M. Draper
Simon & Schuster, 2013. ISBN 9781442408975.
(Age 14+) Sexual exploitation and abuse. Family issues.
Teenage issues. Dancing. Relationships. The cover of this book
displays a beautiful tropical butterfly pinned sadly by one wing.
This is a metaphor for what is to follow in this sad tale of the
abduction of a young dancer named Diamond, who is exploited by a
predator who makes films for the prurient interests of internet
viewers. The ease with which the character allows herself to be led
into the abductors 'net' by the promise of fame is sadly
frightening. Intertwined with this distasteful plot line are the
stories of the dancers from her troupe that are left behind grieving
and dealing with their own teenage, school, friendship and
relationship issues. The abuse of one of the characters by her
aggressive, but attractive boyfriend, and ultimately the sexting of
images that creates great pain also added another agonising plot
line. Set in an undisclosed US locale, the dialogue is peppered with
uniquely American teenage slang and some bizarrely chosen character
names. The incongruity of the horror of the
central plot line with the fragility and innocence of the male and
female dancers as they practise for an approaching performance is
almost painful.
This book reminded me of the unpleasantness of the adult novel by
John Fowles, The collector, or of Emma Donoghue's, The
room, but without the quality of writing. Attempting to make
this into a teenage text perhaps creates the discomfort, although
the author has obviously endeavoured to make this more about
teenagers and the way they deal with contemporary personal
difficulties. Because this book has a younger target audience (in
the 14+ bracket), I am not sure I would actively promote this book.
Older readers (17+) who can cope emotionally with the horrors of
sexual exploitation in an abduction scenario would be better to read
the previously mentioned adult books.
Carolyn Hull
Emus under the bed by Leann J Edwards
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 978743313459.
(Age: Preschool) Recommended. Picture book. Indigenous themes. When
the narrator visits her Aunt Dollo on Saturdays, she not only
connects with family, but her Aboriginal culture. Aunt Dollo is an
artist. She collects feathers from all sorts of birds and makes
flowers with them. Aunt Dollo tells her niece where she gets the
feathers, and together they make a headband for the girl. At lunch
they sit outside with Uncle Rex who makes them damper to eat under
the gum trees. But Aunt Dollo has a surprise and asks her into the
room to lift the quilt. Under the bed are six emu chicks. What a
marvellous day.
During the day the reader assimilates much about Aboriginal culture,
and can relate the birds that live close by, the sorts of trees to
be found in their community and what the family eats. The passing on
of culture is shown as the aunt teaches the girl about using their
environment to make an art piece.
The illustrations reflect the story, with swathes of colour crossing
each page, and the stylised images recognisably from an Aboriginal
pen. This book is one of a number produced under the auspices of the
Emerging Indigenous Picture Book Mentoring Project, with the support
of the Little Big Book club, Allen & Unwin and the Australia
Council.
Fran Knight
Hana's suitcase: a true story by Karen Levine
Anniversary edition, Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743317679.
(Ages: 10-14) Highly recommended. There would be few people who
remain unaware of the poignant story of Hana's suitcase and
the diligent unravelling that brought a young Holocaust victim back
to the living. After the successful radio documentary, numerous
awards, film documentary, years of touring and travelling and
speaking, by the author Karen Levine, the determined Fumiko Ishioka,
Hana's brother Georg as well as his daughter Lara, this tenth
anniversary of the book republishes the original text and adds a
wealth of updated information and images.
The main participants in sharing Hana's ill-fated story with modern
children, in their stalwart endeavour to spread the message of
peace, each add their reflections on the past ten years. There is
also much additional material in the messages, images and poetry
from children all around the world.
'From little things, big things grow' is very apt in this instance.
When Fumiko, curator of the Japanese Holocaust Education Centre,
requested a child's artefact from the Auschwitz Museum, to be the
focal point of an educational program and exhibit 'The Holocaust
through the Eyes of a Child', she little thought that her group of
dedicated students would spur her on to uncover the truth about Hana
Brady's fate in the darkest days of human history. When Hana's
suitcase arrived from Auschwitz, bearing only her name and the
information that she was an orphan, there was scant evidence to
piece together the rest of the puzzle. How fortunate that this
remarkable young woman refused to be daunted and kept on digging
until she was not only able to piece together Hana's history but
become connected with Hana's brother and in a small way help him
heal after sixty long years.
I can only say if you have not yet read this - you must - and share
it with all young people who are able to appreciate the enormity of
both the atrocity and the challenge to restore Hana to her living
family.
Visit the Brady Family
museum online.
And view the trailer of 'Inside
Hana's suitcase'.
Sue Warren
Our village in the sky by Janeen Brian
Ill. by Anne Spudvilas. Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743318140.
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Poetry. Himalayas. Village life. With short
poems reflecting the lifestyle of those who live in the village and
its setting in the Himalayas, this book is a treat. Each poem shows
another aspect of the children's lives, all contrasting with the
lives of our students, while some show unexpected
similarities. The watercolour illustrations of these children are
absorbing as Spudvilas manages to get so much detail into a wash
drawing, entreating the eye to look at the pots and pans, clothing,
footwear and housing of these villagers, all the while surrounded by
the mountains.
Each poem and illustration shows a different aspect of life in this
remote village. The opening double page shows a young girl sitting
with her village and the mountains in the background, just losing
their wintry white cover of snow. The opening pages introduces the
reader to a place not well known, and through the book, it becomes
more tangible. Then we see the child using the water tub as a drum
on the way to the pipe, then struggling to bring the full tub home.
And over the pages small children are helping their parents build
their house. They must dig mud out of the ground and take it to
their father who moulds it with clay and straw and dung before
putting it into moulds to make bricks. On another page the young
girl is cleaning her brother's clothes, and on another, they mind
the goats or wash the dishes, or use a ladder as a seesaw, all with
smiling faces, all using the experience to draw some fun out of the
work.
Janeen's poems are delightful, adding nuances to the children's play
which is poignant and affecting. Her imagery is controlled, and
reflects a deep understanding of village life. As a read-aloud or a
class story, as a model for their own writing, this book will have a
multitude of uses in the classroom, where looking at other
countries, particularly in the Asia Pacific region is part of the
increased emphasis on geography in the curriculum.
Fran Knight
How to babysit a grandma by Jean Reagan
Ill. by Lee Wildish. Hachette Children's Books, 2014. ISBN
9781444918120.
(Age: 4-6) Picture book. Grandmothers. Babysitting. Family. If a
child has any concerns going to stay overnight with Grandma, then
this book will ensure they are all dissolved as the task is turned
on its head with the child babysitting Grandma, showcasing a close
and companionable relationship between the girl and her grandmother,
as well as the parents as they leave the girl to look after the
older woman.
The pair engages in a range of different activities including going
to the park, feeding the ducks, cooking together, watching for the
first evening star, using charades to tell the woman how much she is
loved, then going to bed after making sure the front light is on.
Each activity is one which grandparents do with their grandchildren,
but done the other way allows for some very funny lines as well as
humorous illustrations in which the child is the leader.
A companion for the New York Times bestseller How to babysit a
granddad, this one will also win hearts as the young girl allays all
her fears of being away from her parents by helping her grandmother
fill in her time with a basket of activities.
Children will easily recognise situations where they have a
babysitter and involve themselves in the things the two do together,
comparing them with what they do when staying with someone else, and
look forward to doing them themselves. The close ties of the family
are stressed all through with the child saying I love you to her
grandmother several times, with the illustrations reflecting all the
good things that make up a happy and close relationship.
Fran Knight
The astrologer's daughter by Rebecca Lim
Text Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781922182005.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Avicenna never wanted to become an astrologer
as her mother, Joanne, was. Avicenna knew the trade, understood it,
but never wanted to be one herself. However, when her mother
disappears she is forced to follow in her mother's footsteps to
uncover the truth. When one of her mother's clients seeks out
Avicenna's help to find the truth behind a cold-case murder, she
discovers a connection to Joanne's disappearance. With the help of
Simon, her rival for the R. M. Tichborne Prize, she pieces together
the facts. The astrologer's daughter was not what I was expecting in any
way. A compelling read, one that hooked me from the beginning, I was
taken straight into the story and felt compelled to complete
Avicenna's story with her. Mesmerized by the way Rebecca Lim wrote
the novel, I could not put the book down. The chapters flowed on in
a way that keeps the reader captivated, wanting to help Avicenna
with her mystery. I love that Avicenna is strong-willed throughout
the novel, even after her mother's disappearance. While the ending
was vague, it left thoughts of how Avicenna will now continue on and
allows the reader to create their own thoughts of what will come
next in her life. A wonderful 'coming of age' novel set in
Melbourne, Australia.
Cecilia Richards
Sonoma meets Miss Mouse by Di Morrissey
Ill. by Julie Sydenham. Harbour Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781922134400.
This is the first children's book written by popular Australian
author Di Morrissey. With experience spanning over two decades in
publishing, Morrissey is known for her adult fiction that covers
themes including personal relationships, the environment, Aboriginal
reconciliation, identity and Australia's relationship with its South
East Asian and Pacific neighbours. Dedicated to her granddaughter,
Morrissey's first foray into children's literature tells a tale of
friendship and compassion. The main character, Sonoma, is a brave
young girl who is not fearful of darkness or being alone at night.
As she awakens one night, she hears the sound of a soft and sad
whimper. Sonoma hears the whimper turn to crying, and she is
concerned because she does not like anyone to be sad. When she
discovers that the source of the crying is a little mouse, Sonoma is
surprised but she is quick to befriend young Miss Mouse. The story
continues as Sonoma goes out of her way to help small Miss Mouse
find food.
The way that Sonoma shows empathy towards Miss Mouse and is able to
consider the world from Miss Mouse's viewpoint would prove to be a
good discussion point for young readers. The theme of friendship is
strong throughout as Sonoma offers her friendship unconditionally
but is greatly rewarded in return by Miss Mouse.
The illustrator, Julie Sydenham, displays her strength in working
with colour and texture through the beautiful illustrations that
accompany the text. The dark colour palette features rich purples
and blues with pops of orange and pastel highlights.
Children will enjoy this book being read aloud to them and will fall
in love with kind Sonoma and whimsical Miss Mouse. It is a good
prompt for discussions about being caring to others as well as
giving and receiving help. I can imagine this becoming a favourite
at bed time.
Stephanie Bell
A secret safe to tell by Naomi Hunter
Ill. by Karen Erasmus. JoJo Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9780987587916.
'He said I would get into BIG TROUBLE if I told anyone... I never
wanted to be bad.'
'He said I would UPSET a lot of people if they knew what I had done... I didn't want to make anyone cry'
'He made hurts in places where Band-Aids could not reach... '
'I tried to heal the pain but I wasn't strong enough.'
'I thought about TELLING... but he said I'd be a LIAR... and
no one would ever believe me.
One in five children will be sexually assaulted in some way before
their 18th birthday.
I remember being told that stark fact at a staff meeting in 1990
and, like many of my colleagues, didn't really understand it, let
alone grasp its reality. That sort of thing didn't happen to kids at
our school, to kids we knew. But as we undertook courses in
protective behaviours and mandatory reporting the reality started to
hit. Sadly, it would seem that nearly 25 years later the statistics
haven't changed according to Bravehearts but the
awareness has. Sadly, given the Royal Commission and the prosecution
of some high profile personalities, it is clear that this does
happen to kids in our school and kids we know. But, because of that
Royal Commission and those prosecutions, there is a greater
awareness of the problem and children are finding the courage to
tell and adults are taking the time to listen. A secret safe to tell, written by someone whose dedication
makes it plain that she was a victim, is a step in helping empower
young children to tell, and if the first person doesn't listen then
keep on telling until someone does. Tenderly capturing the thoughts
and emotions of someone who has been abused - 'My heart felt BROKEN.
... I think it started to CHANGE COLOUR' - this story will speak to
the child and perhaps give them the courage to speak too, so they
too can break his power and swing HIGH into the sky where his hands
cannot reach. At the end of the book there is a list of numbers a
child can call and know there is someone who will listen and act on
what they have to say.
On September 12, Bravehearts will host its annual White Balloon Day
and is asking the question, 'Who are you protecting?'
(#whoRUprotecting) and encouraging each of us to snap a
#whoRUprotecting selfie: Answer the question 'who are you
protecting' by writing a name on your palm and display the answer in
a photograph.
When Tom from Int Books
sent me this book to review, I read it and put it aside knowing
there would be a perfect time to share it. This is that time.
Difficult though this subject may be and difficult though this
review has been, the children in your school deserve to have access
to this book - you just never know whose life it might change.
Barbara Braxton
Magisterium: The Iron Trial by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
Doubleday, 2014. ISBN 9780857532503.
(Ages: 11+) Themes: Magic, Family, Boarding Schools, Disability,
Orphans, Grief/Loss, Good v Evil. The Iron Trial is the
first book in a new series which will appeal to middle school
readers who love Harry Potter. Unfortunately, some reviewers are
already casting it in a negative light because of its similarity to
the Rowling books, however, it does have enough differences to make
it worth a read.
Callum Hunt is a broken boy. Physically, as a baby his leg was
twisted beyond repair, so now at 12, he limps and is considered weak
by his peers and his teachers. But there is also damage to his
psyche. He's been traumatised by his mother's death, which happened
at the same time as his leg was ruined. His father has raised him to
hide his magical ability, and even as he is about to sit for the
examination that will allow him to enter The Magisterium, he knows
his father's expectations - Cal must fail.
All this is set up in the first few chapters. It's clearly aimed at
middle graders, but since we know there is a plan for five books,
each one following Cal through a year at the school, we can predict
a couple of things: Cal will grow up and age, and developmentally so
too will his readers. And I am betting the books will progress into
darker territory.
There is a range of supporting characters, and we don't know who to
trust. The narrative moves at a reasonable pace. There are clues
left scattered so readers can foreshadow horrible masters, jealous
peers and potential love interests. Due to his impairment, Cal is
used to being treated badly and left alone. But he never uses his
limp as an excuse. He wants to be given the same opportunities as
everyone else, and it is gratifying to see him find some friends and
start to feel a part of a group.
There are a couple of unexpected, but welcome plot twists. They are
probably signposted a little too obviously, but for readers who
simply get caught up in the story, and don't question motives or
hints, the story does play out unpredictably.
Okay, back to Harry Potter. I know people bemoan how derivative some
books are, but I have to say I have kids in my library who still
call Harry their favourite read, and are searching out for something
similar. The Iron Trial might just fill that void.
I found it absorbing and tense, especially the concluding chapters.
Trisha Buckley
Stuff happens series by various authors
Penguin Australia, 2014. Michael by Phillip Gwynne. ISBN 9780143308102 Sean by Will Kostakis. ISBN 9780143308119
Highly recommended for boys from 7-11. Stuff happens is an
exciting new series written specifically for boys aged from seven to
eleven, that explores everyday life, family relationships, mates,
school problems and fitting in. Written by popular authors such as
Phillip Gwynne and Will Kostakis, these novels are great additions
for school libraries and for engaging reluctant boy readers. They
are set in the fictional Monvale Primary School and each story
focusses on a main character who has a struggle or challenge to
overcome. Each first person narrative is simply written in an
empathetic voice with real feelings explored and emotions displayed.
In Sean, Sean Summers has relocated from Bunbury, Western
Australia, leaving behind his best friends Eddie and Christian and
his familiar way of life. The first day at Monvale Primary School is
difficult, everything is different, his new teacher is strict, he
doesn't want to join with the soccer game at recess and he's
forgotten his hat. In the No Hat, No Play area, he meets Karlie and
cartoonist Angelo and life at school begins to change. He confronts
his classmate about copying his maths, has his mobile phone
confiscated and works hard to prove he's a good friend and
classmate.
In Michael, Michael is a champion swimmer, his whole life
revolves around practices and competitions. His father has given up
his job as a sanitary inspector to support Michael and transport him
to the pool. Dad now works from home selling sports memorabilia on
ebay. On the drive to the Aquatic Centre, Michael enviously watches
Skate Dude fly down the steep hill on a skateboard with absolute
freedom and skill. Will the choices the young swimmer makes affect
his swimming?
Rhyllis Bignell
As red as blood by Salla Simukka
Hot Keys Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781471402463.
(Age: 13+ secondary). Highly recommended. Salla Simukka's As red
as blood ticked all the boxes with me. I instantly fell in
love with Lumikki, the heroine in the tale and her sharp mind, witty
humour and brain power. Simukka has intertwined a compelling
storyline with much loved fairytales and hardcore criminal action.
In just a few hundred pages, the author brings to light that
unpredictable teenagers can indeed outsmart well-connected
criminals. The element of alternate POVs (point of views) in the
novel gave an extra twist on the story and also provided a thorough
understanding of each character.
The novel is narrated by Lumikki, a sharp and wise seventeen
year-old who navigates life under one simple rule: to mind nobody's
business but her own. So when she comes across 500 euro bills
hanging in her school's darkroom and discovers that they were found
by three unlikely teenagers, she doesn't know what to expect. But
what's more surprising to Lumikki is the realisation that the money
is connected to an international drug trade happening in her very
own Tampere. Ensnared in a tangled web of deceit, corruption and
falsehood, Lumikki and her friends work together to bring down the
dark underbelly of Tampere and bring to light the truth.
From page one I was trapped in Lumikki's world. The brutal action
and intense dialogue were some of the ingredients that kept me
coming back for more. Sumikki created a beautifully rich backdrop
for this tale and absolutely has the potential for growing into a
coming-of-age story that sits atop every reader's bookshelf.
The author bestows us characters that we love to hate or simply
adore as she presents us with a tale like no other. A book like this
can be well compared to Robert Galbraith's The cuckoo's calling as
it features crime and a complex mystery.
Samantha May (Student)
Baby on board by Kes Gray
Ill. by Sarah Mayer. Hachette, 2014. ISBN 9781444920901.
(Age: Preschool) Picture book. Pregnancy and birth. Family. Mum's
pregnancy involves the whole family as the narrator shows us the
procedure of the pregnancy from the first month to the last.
Each double page tells us what happens in that month, from each of
the family's perspective. Mum has morning sickness, needs a larger
bra and knickers, feels the baby move inside. The husband keeps
suggesting names for the child and packs the case for hospital,
while the narrator wonders what sort of sibling she will get. At
each stage the size of the growing infant is given along with major
changes in its appearance.
This is a perfect book with which to introduce the topic in schools
or at home. The reader can see for themselves the development of the
baby and its impact upon the family. The pictorial presentation
makes it easy to see the stages of its development and will enhance
the child's idea of what will happen within each family.
For children who have been involved in the progress of the pregnancy
at home, or have a new baby in the house, or classes where pregnancy
is under discussion, or where the impact of a new sibling is being
talked about, then this is a useful book to share. I did like the
indented pages going from one to nine months making it easy to look
up what happens in that month and the drawings will be enticing and
instructive for younger readers.
Fran Knight
The seventh Miss Hatfield by Anna Caltabiano
Gollancz Publishing Group, 2014. ISBN 9781473200395.
Recommended for readers ages 12+ (middle school). Caltibiano's The
seventh Miss Hatfield intertwines an original concept of
time-travel and the endeavours of immortality into one tale. As I
had heard of this novel in the past, I was eager to start reading
and hoped it lived up to my expectations. When I came to the
conclusion of the novel, I planned to never read it again. It just
didn't hit the spot for me unfortunately. I wasn't fully enthralled
in the novel despite the amicable characters and imaginative plot. The seventh Miss Hatfield sparks a tale of fictitious
history and irrevocable love at first sight. The story takes place
in 1954 where flower wallpaper and mismatching furniture are what
you call 'hip'. We meet eleven year old Cynthia who only has one
thing on her mind: to impress her mother by becoming an independent
lady. So when the postman leaves the neighbour's mail on her lawn,
Cynthia is met with a mission that will hopefully make an impression
on her tough mother. When she knocks on her neighbour, Miss
Hatfield's door, she has no idea what's going to happen next. Met
with a disastrous fate that she can't change and a task that takes a
toll on her, Cynthia travels back in time to retrieve a painting
that isn't what it seems.
Although the book didn't make my toes curl with anticipation and my
heart stop with excitement, the concept of the book was
well-delivered. I really enjoyed the experience of reading from
Cynthia's point of view as the character was likeable and
entertaining.
Samantha May (Student)
