Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781742990095.
(Age: 6+) Recommended.Picture book, City, Imagination. Using pen and
ink on paper along with a prodigious imagination Hurst gives her
readers a city like no other. A few words, arranged into several
short stanzas of poetry, say all that is needed. The illustrations
reflect the words and add an imaginative city around the woman and
the two children visiting the city from the country. Their trip on
the train flags the inventive nature of the book, as the next door
seat has a rabbit reading the newspaper. Readers will be excited
turning the page to find out what else will appear in her playful
drawings. And they will not be disappointed. Each page has a myriad
of detail to be absorbed, a bridge with a bear as its pylon, hotels
of fantastic proportions, an art gallery where the sculptures are
reading the paper while a statue of a girl looms into the sky,
people flying away pulled by their open umbrellas, fish and tigers
walking the streets, an Aladdin's cave of treasure at the museum, a
chess playing cat and so on. The pages will entreat and delight,
absorb and create thoughtfulness as each picture presented provokes
the mind.
I loved it and I'm sure younger readers will too, seeing what is one
each page and thinking about what it all means.
Fran Knight
The night run by Bali Rai
A & C Black, 2014. ISBN 9781472904362.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Historical novel, India, Survival. Bali Rai
has distilled the events of April 1919 in Amritsar into a short
novel telling of one boy's struggles to release his innocent father
from prison. It is 1919, in Northern India where protests have been
occurring against the British Raj. Many have been taken away and
Arjan is aghast to see his father arrested at his market stall,
finding out that he would be sent by train to a place where he and
many others would be hanged as rebels.
He wakes during the night and sneaks out of his house to try and get
to the prison where his father is being held. It is a terrifying
journey. He must avoid the soldiers out to capture anyone evading
curfew; he is cornered by a pack of wild dogs; he is taken in by a
woman he does not know but who knows him; he is kidnapped by a man
who rules part of the back streets, holding children in semi-slavery
to do his bidding. Over the night we see many aspects of darker
India and all the while, feel the breath of the British Raj
breathing down Arjan's neck, while developing sympathy for those
trying to overthrow their regime.
The events which occurred a week after this novel is set, shocked
the world and heralded the demise of the British Raj.
In this shorter novel students will appreciate many of the forces
alive in India at the start of the twentieth century through this
exciting and well told story of one boy and his quest. This is one
in a new series called Flash Backs, historical novels
written specifically for younger readers, or those wanting a quick
read. Their website shows the large range
of these publications.
Fran Knight
Diary of a Super Swimmer by Shamini Flint
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN: 9781743318843.
(Ages: 7 to 11) Highly recommended. Following on from the success of
five previous titles in the series, Shamini Flint brings Marcus
Atkinson back in Diary of a Super Swimmer. At nine years old, Marcus
hopes that his dad has finally run out of sports to make him try,
and that he'll finally be left alone to play his computer games. His
dad has other plans though, and is convinced that the only reason
Marcus hasn't been good at any of his previous sporting endeavours
is that they have been on land . . . So to Marcus' absolute horror,
it's off to the swimming pool, for a series of embarrassing but
hilarious adventures. Through his journey Marcus learns something
about himself, and about his sister Gemma, which adds a nice twist
to the ending.
As with all in the series, the easy-to read diary format and the
cleverly drawn cartoons will entice even the most reluctant reader
to pick these up again and again. The sports theme always resonates
with children, and whether they love sports or are more like Marcus
himself, they will find it easy to identify with the characters and
situations in this book. Not only will kids love reading about
Marcus' misadventures, they will also learn a lot about sport!
Donella Reed
Dark Emu: Black Seeds: agriculture or accident? by Bruce Pascoe
Magabala Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922142436.
(Age: Secondary - Adult) Experienced author, national award winner
and Bunurong man, Bruce Pascoe, provides us with a completely new
insight into Australian history in this easy-to-read non-fiction
book.
Pascoe refutes the long-held belief that the Aboriginal people were
simple hunter-gatherers and challenges that notion as a
convenient lie by colonisers intent on ignoring the original
Indigenous owners of this land. With evidence from original records
and early diaries Pascoe presents new evidence about food
production, construction of dwellings and clothing. Contrary to the
European colonists claim that the Aboriginal people did not farm
this land, Pascoe describes the sowing, growing of crops, irrigation
methods, food preservation and building undertaken by the First
Australians, outlining a society that was far from being subsistence
hunter-gatherers.
I found this book extremely interesting reading with much new
information about the historical background of the Aboriginal
people. Fascinating newly recognised facts about Aboriginal
architecture and settlements (often up to 1000 people), diverting of
watercourses and irrigation of crops, the use of fire as a tool for
the last 120 000 years are just some of the enlightening revelations
here. Some of this information is completely surprising e.g. the
cultural practices around graveyards.
Pascoe urges our authorities to begin to acknowledge the truth about
the Aboriginal society and culture at the time of the European
invasion and his history is supported by respected historians and
scholars. I think this book, which is very accessible, interesting
and often revealing, would be an excellent authoritative resource
for school libraries, particularly secondary ones. Suitable for
Sorry Day and for Reconciliation Week, this book is a worthy
addition to your curriculum and library collection.
Sue Warren
Max by Marc Martin
Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780670077434.
Max and Bob are great mates. They live by the sea and during the
day, Max keeps Bob company in his fish and chip shop (Max loves both
fish and chips so it's a perfect partnership) and in the evening
they go fishing together.
How can that scenario make for a most enchanting story that kept 9
and 10 year-olds engaged for over an hour and wanting more?
Well, Max is a seagull, who's a little bit cheeky and a little bit
mischievous, and this is the story of a friendship that endures even
after Bob has to close his shop because of a lack of business. When
Max comes to the shop one morning, Bob has gone, and even though he
waits and waits and waits, his friend does not return. Without Bob
there is no attraction for Max and so he decides to leave - but as
he flies high over the city looking for another home he smells a
familiar smell . . .
Marc Martin won the 2013 Crichton Award for Australia's best new
illustrator and the illustrations for 'Max' add so much to its
message and its charm. Using a variety of techniques, vignettes and
full-page spreads, (the class laughed out loud at Max sitting on top
of the No Seagulls sign) they are rich and exquisite, providing so
many more layers to the story than just the text alone. For example,
while there is no written explanation for the downturn in business,
the picture of cranes soaring high above the funfair, the main
drawcard of the area, tells its own story and opened up a discussion
about the impact of tourism on local economies (particularly
pertinent where I live). Later, the reason for the dismantling for
the funfair is also evident and sparked a debate about 'you can't
stop progress'. What seems like a simple tale for a preschooler to
enjoy is so much more.
As well as an enthusiastic discussion that ranged from personal
stories of feeding seagulls hot chips, recalling other seagull
stories we've read such as The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch and
Samantha Seagull's Sandals to the importance of the snow-oriented
industry on our region, to country versus city living, the students
also embraced the task of imagining what Max would have seen as he
flew over our town and then drawing a birds-eye view map of it.
Suddenly that concept made sense to them! What started as a story to
share because I loved it became a rich and rewarding experience for
all of us that went far beyond the focus and timeframe I'd
allocated. But when you're on a good thing . . .
Barbara Braxton
Prisoner of night and fog by Anne Blankman
Headline, 2014. ISBN 9781472207821.
In just a few hundred pages, Anne Blankman has truly unravelled a
unique story which is both compelling and sympathetic. With fresh
and original characters, she manages to revive a piece of history
with an engrossing original storyline intertwined with true events.
From the very beginning, Anne delivers a beautifully crafted
masterpiece and seduces readers to fall in love with every
character, good or bad. It's a coming of age story that's prominent
for its historic settings and disarming plotline which stimulates
the main character's growth.
The book takes place in Munich 1931, a few years prior to Hitler's
utmost height of power. The National Socialist Party holds Munich in
their tight hands and Hitler is hypnotizing his audiences with
patriotism. After the chilling event of her father's death,
seventeen year old Gretchen Muller dwells in the shadow of her Uncle
Dolf. Fallen victim to Hitler's patriotic deceit, she disarms the
lies of her father's death bit by bit and hunts for the truth. With
ploys and ferocity brandished at the ready, Gretchen joins forces
with quick-witted Jew reporter, Daniel Cohen much to the utter
dislike of her family.
As each chapter begins, Anne Blankman grants the reader lyrical
storylines entangled with disbelieving plot twists and world
building backgrounds. She presents us with a tale like no other and
charmingly bestows us with characters we love to hate or we just
simply adore.
An additional few pages of the Author's Note provides keen readers
with an insight to Anne Blankman's fictional and non-fictional
characters with bonus content on Gretchen's Munich. Teaching this
novel to a class will bestow them an alternative view on Munich in
1931 and those who allied themselves with Adolf Hitler. The book can
be well compared with The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak
as they both offer a young and unpredictable girl's view on this
exclusive part of history.
Samantha May (Student)
Mary's Australia: How Mary McKillop changed Australia by Pamela Freeman
Black Dog Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922077905.
(Age: 9+) The lifespan of Mary McKillop coincided with a period of
transformation in the Australian colonies. Pamela Freeman has asked
how Australia changed during that time and to what extent the
subject of her book contributed to that change.
The result is two narratives in one - the story of colonies that
united to form one nation, and the story of a woman with a passion
for teaching, who was determined to ensure that children from poor
families had access to education. Readers can follow Mary's life
story alongside the events of her era. The inclusive and
wide-ranging depiction of colonial society provides details of daily
life, as well as accounts of the social, political and economic
upheavals that helped to shape Mary's experiences. The author's
balanced and thoughtful approach to the writing of history ensures
that readers will learn much from her brief overviews of the issues
that emerged during Australia's development. Her focus on the lives
of children and the limited opportunities available to
underprivileged people, explains not only the social issues that
motivated a young governess to found a teaching order, but also the
significance of Mary McKillop's educational reforms.
Photographs, cartoons and illustrations on every page provide
further insights into colonial life. They are generously sized and
clearly captioned. The use of double columns and a small font are
common in history books but younger readers may find this format
challenging. Population statistics, an index and a limited glossary
are useful.
Mary's Australia will meet the needs of readers who want to know
only about Mary McKillop's life and achievements. However, Pamela
Freeman has succeeded in presenting her biography as part of a
larger canvas - the growth, discoveries, setbacks and social reforms
of an extraordinary era in Australian history.
Elizabeth Bor
I am Cow, Hear me Moo! by Jill Esbaum and Gus Gordon
Viking, 2014. ISBN: 9780670077106.
For early readers 4 years and up. I can practically guarantee that
every teacher has had, at some point, a Nadine in their class.
Nadine is very talented, very brave and very special cow - well, in
her own opinion which is, after all, the only one that really
counts.With some rollicking rhyming Nadine impresses her friends
with her daring tour through the scary woods. Friends being suitably
awed, they depart - night falls and Nadine is left on her own in a
spooky gloomy cave. Suddenly her bravado evaporates and she must
conquer her sudden lapse of over-confidence.
As always, Gus Gordon's illustrations are absolutely delightful and
make this picture book a must have. Young children will enjoy the
story and rhythm and no doubt will recognise the Nadine in their
midst.
Read Kids' Book Review's interview with Gus here.
This parable would be a very useful discussion starter for smaller
people - what is bravery? Is it important how others perceive us? Is
it important how we see ourselves? Having confidence is a wonderful
thing and there would be some small people who would truly benefit
from recognising that they have that confidence in themselves.
Sue Warren
Gigantosaurus by Jonny Duddle
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781742761015.
(Age: 5+) Fantasy, Picture book, Humour. The intricate illustrations
will enthrall those readers who love books about dinosaurs and
fantastical inventions as the dinosaur parents warn their offspring
about the Gigantosurus.
They must be wary of this gigantic creature with sharp teeth and
sharp eyes, on the lookout for small creatures as a snack.
Bonehead tells his friends, Tiny, Bill and Fin to stay where they
are while he climbs an anthill to see if the huge dinosaur is
coming. Three times he calls out that it is coming, and his three
friends run and hide, and each time he tells them he is just testing
them. When the Gigantosuaurs does come he is caught unawares and is
almost eaten.
This is a retelling of The Boy who cried wolf in a different
guise and will entreat all those who read it. The information about
the various dinosaurs is given in the back of the book, along with
information about Gigantosaurus, which will intrigue dinosaur
followers. The luscious illustrations burst with life and mayhem and
humour, as many will stop to seek out the range of things in the
undergrowth.
Fran Knight
Diary of a Track and Field Titan by Shamini Flint
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN: 9781743317297.
(Ages: 7 to 11) Highly recommended. Marcus Atkinson returns in
another instalment of the Diary of a . . . series. Marcus
knows the only things he is good at are maths and computer games,
but his dad is convinced that there is a sport out there for Marcus,
they just haven't found the right one yet. After trying soccer,
cricket, rugby and taekwondo, his dad wants him to try track and
field. Thinking this through, Marcus decides he has had a lot of
practice running away from bullies, and he is good at throwing
things (like rubbish and tantrums!), so maybe track and field won't
be so bad after all. The usual hilarity ensues, with familiar themes
and in-jokes sure to please fans of the series.
Shamini Flint uses the diary technique and numerous cartoon
illustrations to encourage reluctant readers to continue. The sports
theme always resonates with children, and whether they love sports
or are more like Marcus himself, they will find it easy to identify
with the characters and situations in this book. Not only will kids
love reading about Marcus' misadventures, they will also learn a lot
about sport! As with all the titles in the series, Diary of a
Track and Field Titan is a light and entertaining read.
Donella Reed
Every word by Ellie Marney
Every series, bk. 2. Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743316511.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Mystery. James Mycroft has gone to
London without saying a word to Rachel Watts, who worked with him to
solve the mystery of the murder in Every breath, the first
in the Every series. Rachel is not happy especially when she
finds out that James will be investigating a car accident, very
similar to the one in which his parents had died many years before.
She knows that he will need her support, so using her reward money,
she hops on a plane and flies to London, where the couple
immediately find themselves surrounded by danger as they investigate
the accident and the theft of a priceless copy of Shakespeare's
first folio.
Readers will enjoy the vivid descriptions of the trip to London, the
crime scenes and the grisly police procedures and will be holding
their breath during the intrepid Rachel's adventure with a gang
determined to find out where the folio has been stashed.
Told from the point of view of Rachel, the reader gets a really good
feeling for the type of person that she is, starting from the
opening scenes where she is starring as an intrepid roller skater,
to the caring girlfriend who knows that Mycroft will need her
support in London, facing the memories of the death of his parents.
She is brave and intelligent and together the pair use their
considerable brain power to work out the mystery. Their romance has
some steamy moments as well, but never overwhelms the mystery and
action.
Every word is certainly not a 'cosy' mystery but rather a chilling
thriller. There is violence and gore and the book is not for the
faint hearted. The plot in this book is brought to a satisfying
conclusion, and once the pair are back in Australia, the seeds for
the next book are planted so that the reader is eager to read the
final outcome.
Pat Pledger
The way to the zoo by John Burningham
Walker Books, 2014 ISBN 9781406348408.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Picture book, Imagination, Animals,
Zoos, Sleeping. Born in 1936, Burningham has thrilled his young
audiences with imaginative stories and illustrations for over fifty
years. The way to the zoo brings a fresh approach to going to bed as
the young girl Sylvie, spies a door in her bedroom wall that she has
not seen before. Going through it leads to another door, and beyond
that the zoo. Here all the animals are intrigued and she takes a
little bear back to her bedroom with her. He sleeps the night in her
bed and in the morning she takes him back to the zoo, remembering to
close the door to her bedroom. The following night she brings
another bear back to her bedroom, the following night, three
penguins, and then a tiger and her cub. After than a flock of birds
come in, but when a larger animal, an elephant wants to come in, it
cannot fit. But baby rhino can and the next morning she sleeps in
and rushes to get the rhino back to the zoo, forgetting to close the
door before leaving for school. Catastrophe happens, and Mum's words
when she comes home make a laugh out loud comment on the whole
story.
This imaginative tale will be a delight to read to children before
bedtime, or in a class where animals and bedtime is under
discussion, or simply to enjoy a lovely story well told, with
illustrations that cause mirth and recognition. The pictures of the
animals in bed with Sylvie are charming, and I loved the image of
the rhino sleeping on the floor with its legs crossed, and the
flurry of mischievious animals in mum's lounge room.
Burningham's mix of subtle humour, imagination and the everyday make
this book most endearing to all who read it.
Fran Knight
Meet Douglas Mawson by Mike Dumbleton
Ill. by Snip Green. Random House, 2014. ISBN 9780857981950.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Picture book, Explorers, Mawson. A hardcover
picture book in the series, Meet ... will fill a niche in
primary schools where explorers and great Australians are an
accepted part of the curriculum. Others in this series include books
about Ned Kelly and Mary McKillop. Each is of necessity, brief,
giving an account of the person's life and achievements in sparse
prose, highlighting only a few events.
With Mawson, the focus is on the first Australian Expedition to
Antarctica, in 1911. With Mawson as its leader, the expedition
sorely tested those who went, and Dumbleton's pared down words
combined with the breathtaking illustrations, give an amazing
account of the privations these men underwent.
His determination to see the continent, mapping it, taking
measurements and geological observations in an attempt to understand
the place and how it evolved was paramount, but when Ninnis and his
sled plunged down a ravine taking most of their food with him,
Mawson and the other remaining team member, Mertz were five hundred
kilometres from their base.
The story of how Mawson survived is one of the great feats of
history and will amaze younger readers.
The wallpaper like images across the pages, underscore the freezing
nature of the environment, giving the reader the feeling of cold and
ice, building the feeling of dread as Mawson attempts to get back to
the base.
So fascinating is this brief taste, that students will feel impelled
to look further to find out more about this man, one of Australia's
heroes.
Fran Knight
Fizzlebert Stump - The boy who cried Fish by A.F. Harrold
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408842461.
(Ages: 7 to 12) Recommended. Fizzlebert Stump lives in a circus
where he has an act involving sticking his head in the mouth of a
very old lion. His best friend Wystan the Bearded Boy does an act
with a sealion called Fish. One day Fish goes missing, and the boys
believe he has been stolen to perform in the aquarium near the
beach. When they break into the aquarium though, they encounter
another mystery - all the fish keep disappearing. Through their
adventures we meet a range of interesting characters, from the
piratical owner of the aquarium Admiral Spratt-Haddock, to an
overly-friendly crocodile. The boys need to explore the aquarium and
their own circus family to discover that all is not what it seems,
and that sometimes people will to to extreme lengths to appear
something they are not.
This is the third title in the Fizzlebert Stump series, and again
A.F. Harrold has created a world of eccentricity, fantastical
characters, mystery, and all the nonsensical ramblings which middle
primary school children love. The way he plays with words and
incorporates himself as the self-deprecating author will have
children in fits of laughter and wanting to re-read this over and
over. Even the entertaining little doodles and illustrations by
Sarah Horne keep you turning the pages to see what the characters
will get up to next. A very enjoyable and light-hearted book.
Donella Reed
Athlete vs. Mathlete - Double dribble by W.C. Mack
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781599909387.
(Ages: 9-12) Seventh-grade twins Russ and Owen are very different
from each other, in looks and personalities. While Owen is a natural
at sports, Russ feels more at home with numbers. They don't even
look alike. Finally they discover something in common, and Russ
joins the basketball team. A new set of problems arise though in the
form of identical twins Mitch and Marcus. These new boys are
all-rounders, with a flair for sports and academia, leaving both
Russ and Owen feeling jealous and insecure. After and unfortunate
accident however, they realise that Mitch and Marcus only succeed
when working as a team. Russ and Owen must decide whether to use
this to their advantage to reclaim their place in the team.
As with the original Athlete vs. Mathlete book, this has
alternating chapters in the voices of the two boys. Much of the
content of Owen's chapters centres around the action on the
basketball court, which may become a bit tedious for readers not
interested in the sport. Kids who do enjoy sports however will be
able to relate to Owen's passion, disappointment and insecurities as
he faces the possibility of being 'benched.' The boys face a moral
dilemma which is resolved a bit too quickly, but without becoming
preachy and off-putting. Conflicts are also resolved a little too
easily to ring true to many readers. In general, this title will be
a welcome refuge for students wanting to focus on sport fiction.
Donella Reed
