We're going on an egg hunt by Laine Mitchell and Louis Shea
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781743620410.
(Age: 3-5) Easter, Rhyming story, Read aloud. Five animals, a fox,
pig, chicken, kitten, and a kid goat set out to find eggs at Easter
time. Using the same rhyming sequences and refrain as We're
going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, this
version resonates with Easter, eggs, chocolate and bunnies, making
it a useful tool for Easter time with kids.
The group has to cross the biggest hurdles, a nest, a maze, a lovely
garden full of flowers and bees, and finally a warren, which like
the cave in Rosen's story, ends with the five bumping into the
Easter Bunny in his deep dark warren. They all take fright and run
away, running through the obstacles they first had to pass, until
they finally arrive at the bird's nest where they started, finding
eggs along the way. The last page shows them all covered with
chocolate. A fitting end to this story.
Kids will love the tale read aloud, will thrill at the rabbit in his
warren, and smile at the eating of the chocolate eggs at the end.
Accompanying the book is a CD with the rhyme read aloud, another
treat for the listeners. Astute teachers will use this with the
original, We're going on a bear hunt (Rosen and Oxenbury)
because using the two will underline the humour in the text, the
rhyming sequence used by Rosen and the fun of the hunt.
Fran Knight
Thunderbirds: The Comic Collection by Gerry Anderson
Egmont, 2013. ISBN: 9781405268363.
As a graphic novel of almost 290 pages, this tome was a tad
overwhelming to receive and review as I have obviously never really
been a massive fan of 'comics'! This was perhaps not the best choice
for me but, nevertheless, one I chose to read as a large number of
our primary aged students devour graphic novels. Containing a
multitude of brief adventure stories and cross-sections of the
machines, this book would no doubt hold much appeal to many boys in
both primary and lower secondary who adore the format of graphic
novels.
Personally, as a 'more mature' reader with failing eyesight, I did
find this book a challenge to read. Because it contains art works
from the original comic strips and is written in upper case
handwritten type font, I kept feeling that the images and print were
somewhat blurry, probably not an issue to younger readers. I did
enjoy the 'Elegance, Charm and Deadly Danger' of Lady Penelope's
sections. This truly was a return to an earlier era, including
cardigans, two piece designer suits and a low slung pink Rolls Royce
so I found it quite amusing.
Despite not having been a devotee of the Thunderbirds on television
in my youth, I nonetheless recognised the characters with ease and
now feel the need to go and find some of the animated clips which I
am sure are available on YouTube. This book of vintage comics will
probably encourage the growth of a whole new generation of
Thunderbirds fans!
Jo Schenkel
Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant
Random House, 2013. Horse Crazy & Horse Shy ISBN 9780857980632. Horse Sense & Horse Power ISBN 9780857980649. Trail Mates & Dude Ranch ISBN 9780857980656. Horse Play & Horse Show ISBN 9780857980663. Horse Wise & Rodeo Rider ISBN 9780857981042. Hoof Beat & Riding Camp ISBN 9780857981059. Starlight Christmas & Seahorse ISBN
9780857981066. Team Play & Horse Games ISBN 9780857981073.
As the name of this series suggests, The Saddle Club centres
on a love of horses. Three friends, Stevie, Carole and Lisa, formed
the club at Pine Hollow Stables, Virginia, and from there has grown
a whole empire of books, a television series, a website and
merchandise that has endured since Bonnie Bryant first wrote the
original series in 1988- 2001.
There is something that connects horses and girls of about 10-13,
whether they live in the city or the country, so that having a
series of books which focuses on that combination was a winner.
Certainly in my school library at the time, new releases were
eagerly awaited, reserve lists were long and older titles read and
re-read each year. This new collection from Random House with two
stories in each book provides the opportunity to introduce a new
generation of girls to the club. In smart new livery, there are
eight in the collection providing a chance to renew those tatty
titles that have been literally loved to death. At the end of this
month, there will also be a re-release of single titles in ebook
format so all preferences can be catered for.
Because of the popularity of the series in print, the impending
release of the ebook titles, the television episodes available on
YouTube or on DVD , the website with
games, merchandise and so forth this would be an ideal vehicle to
introduce senior primary students to the power of multi-faceted
marketing as well as having them compare the stories as they are
interpreted by different formats. (ACELY1713)
Even though the series originated as an idea of an editor of a
publishing house (Bantam Books) and Bryant was more equestrian
expert than novelist, there is a quality to the stories that has
enabled them to endure over 25+ years and be adapted and renewed so
often. I believe that these new releases will spawn a whole new
generation of fans and if you ask your students to ask their
parents what they read, this series will get more than one mention.
Barbara Braxton
How I Love You by Anna Pignataro
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN: 9781742838182.
Highly recommended for all readers aged 0-60+. In this gentle,
beautifully illustrated Australian tale, each baby animal in the
bush spends time with its mother, demonstrating how it loves her.
With carefully worded, sparse text, and perfectly paired images,
each double page focuses on a different mother and baby. Clean white
backgrounds add to the uncluttered nature of the book and hence the
illustrations cannot help but draw the reader's attention to every
detail. Direct speech is employed as each animal makes its
declaration of love to its mother and the important verbs are
highlighted in blue print.
Anna Pignataro's illustrations utilise the colours of the bush with
muted blues, greens and browns giving a realistic impression of each
creature, despite the animals looking decidedly 'cute'. The most
vibrant and striking colours are those used to show a pair of
parrots and some toadstools.
In the classroom, this title could be used in many ways for varied
units of work. As part of an author study, particularly if looking
at Australian authors, this would fit brilliantly. Teachers could
focus on settings, animals and their habitats and behaviours. As a
mother's day title, one could consider the love of mothers for their
babies and vice versa. As stated previously, verbs could be pulled
out of the text and alternatives provided and punctuation used in
direct speech could also be considered.
This is a delightful title which I would recommend to readers of all
ages.
Jo Schenkel
Half bad by Sally Green
Penguin, 2104. ISBN: 9780141350868.
Themes: Good vs Evil; Witchcraft/Magic; Coming-of Age. The author
uses the Shakespearean quote from Hamlet, 'There is nothing either
good or bad, but thinking makes it so', as an opening epigraph. This
book is about witches - White or Black. The epigraph perhaps
introduces the idea that witches may be either good or bad depending
on how you view them. Perhaps setting aside the idea a 'rotten
apple' is rotten even if there are portions of it that look good,
this book focuses on the Witch world that lives alongside our own
'fain' world. The central character, Nathan, is in the unfortunate
position of living as a barely literate half-caste witch, but with
an extremely notorious absent father who is a Black Witch that has
been viewed badly by Nathan's own family and the wider White witch
community. The approaching Gifting ceremony to mark Nathan's passage
to Witch status at the age of 17 is the focus of the narrative and
its twists and curls. Magic is present, but almost understated. This
is a coming-of-age story, with family dramas involving abuse of the
one who doesn't fit the norm, a little forbidden romance, combined
with a quest to find the absentee father who deliberately remains in
obscurity. The book begins with short 'snapshot' chapters looking at
various circumstances of the captive life of the main character.
This is intriguing, but may create some confusion for an immature
reader. It does require a little persistence to reach the stage of
the book where the narrative becomes more straightforward and
chronological in its style. Perhaps this is part of the 'magic' of
the book.
I am sure this book will appeal to some in the YA female market. The
central character allows us to see the world through his eyes, and
consequently the abuse and hardships he suffers will elicit sympathy
in his female readers. A male readership may find the central
character to be too 'soft' and controlled in some of his responses
although there is still teenage/witch angst expressed.
As a reviewer I need to declare my Christian world view may have
tainted my impressions of this book. I have also resisted Twilight
reading or viewing and other Dark Worlds literature, so I came to a
book about Black and white witches and a central male character who
is Half black and Half white witch with some reservation. The
concept of evil, and how persuasive it can be, may be drawn from the
text. Even some of the 'good' characters and those in authority
(where power is corrupted for their own ends) cannot resist
inflicting hardship and violence on each other. The author does
temper this with some 'gentler' more caring relationships and
friendships that go beyond the expectations of the witch world.
Carolyn Hull
Ubby's Underdogs: Heroes Beginnings by Brenton McKenna
Magabala, 2013. ISBN: 9781922142139.
The second title in the Ubbys Underdogs Trilogy, this book continues
the story of Ubby, a tough aboriginal girl and her gang as they try
to find the Chinese girl Sai Fong. Containing an assortment of over
twenty characters, some of whom are animals with an assortment of
unlikely talents or abilities, this is a rollicking tale of
adventure, twists and turns as good strives to win over evil.
Because many of the characters originate from a diverse variety of
countries and backgrounds, the author seems to draw on legends and
tales of each location as well. The reader is challenged to try and
distinguish good from evil, as are the characters in the story. It
would be interesting to read the final book to see how the series is
resolved.
Despite not being a major fan of the graphic novel genre, I found
the layout of this title very appealing. Generally, there were fewer
than eight panels per page with striking black borders around each.
This contrasted well with the brilliant white speech bubbles and
clear type face which used both upper and lower case letters. The
illustrations were clear and colour was used in the backgrounds to
demonstrate the times depicted in each spread. I was grateful for
the character blurbs at the beginning of the book as I had not read
the first title in the series. Unfortunately, with two Christian
schools using my library, the focus on evil spirits would possibly
preclude me from adding this title to my primary school collection.
Jo Schenkel
Kokoda by Alan Tucker
My Australian story. Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781743622056.
Recommended for 12 years and above. The 39th Battalion which faced
the Japanese on New Guinea's Kokoda Track in 1942 were militia,
meaning that they were civilian reservists, rather than regular
army. Poorly trained, ill equipped and under resourced, they were
disparagingly referred to as 'Chocolate soldiers' (due to the colour
of their uniforms) and were considered to be second rate.
The amazing courage and endurance displayed by these soldiers who
not only survived intolerable conditions but effectively resisted
the previously invincible Japanese army has earned them a special
place in Australian military history.
With the use of letters, diary entries and chronological narration,
Alan Tucker explains the background events and details to readers
who might be unfamiliar with the legend. Three brothers are
characters involved in masterful storytelling which presents an
authentic and plausible family drama. Oldest brother Harold is
serving with the A.I.F. in the Middle East whilst middle brother Des
has joined the Militia which was destined to be the first to face
the advancing Japanese at Kokoda. Archie, the youngest, suffers from
a stutter and has always been protected by Des but has to grow up
and fend for himself against a bully which imitates what is
happening in the political and geographical theatre of war.
The author employs realistic techniques to progress the story. Des's
reportage of events on the track could not have taken place via
letter as this was impossible under the appalling circumstances but
infrequency and military censorship would have prevented it anyway.
Instead, a blood stained, smeared diary in jaded script finds its
way to Archie who has been charged with recording the family's
wartime experiences. History shows that Prime Minister Curtin did
demand the return of the A.I.F. troops from Syria to help defend
Australia and the reader accepts that Harold and his cohort come to
reinforce Des and his mates on the track. The wounded, exhausted and
traumatised survivors from the 39th really did turn around after
being relieved by the A.I.F. to go back up the track to support the
reinforcements who were facing overwhelming attackers. These details
are well known to older generations but this novel recounts history
to younger readers in a way which reads like a work of fiction, but
it's not, it's true. This book would have great value for studying
literature and history strands simultaneously and I greatly respect
the author for weaving an engaging but educational story with such
care and attention to facts whilst avoiding glamorising conflict.
Rob Welsh
First reader series by Kerry Argent
Omnibus Books, 2014. One woolly wombat. ISBN 9781742990477. Hide and seek. ISBN: 9781742990491 Best of friends. ISBN 9781742990484. At the beach. ISBN 9781742990507.
(Age: 4-7) Highly recommended. Early reader. Australian animals.
Counting.
A lovely set of four early readers showcases Wombat of One
woolly wombat fame and is ideal for young children just
beginning to read. What makes the series so outstanding is the
quality of the illustrations which make the stories come alive. Full
of humour, the entertaining stories will be a delight for any child
learning to read. There is a short line of text to each page and the
story lines are amusing and enjoyable and the settings are ones that
would be familiar to children. One woolly wombat is a counting book that goes to the number
14 and highlights Australian animals in funny situations. Argent
uses of a variety of words that do not condescend to the young
reader, who will have no trouble remembering them after the book has
been read a couple of times. The illustrations add humour to the
entertaining book. At the beach is the story of Woolly Wombat and his loveable
friends, including Bandicoot, Koala and Platypus. They have great
fun swimming, although there is a big surprise in the water, and
Wombat likes to make sand castles as well. In Hide and Seek, Wombat has lots of fun hiding from his
friends, but of course when the picnic food is brought out, he
decides that sometimes hiding is not the best option.
The complexities of friendship are explored in Best of friends.
Argent shows all the reality of being friends, like eating together
and playing together, but also the fact that sometimes best friends
fight but always make up.
Quality illustrations and superb story telling make this series
ideal for young readers.
Pat Pledger
Black Warrior by Tiffiny Hall
Harper Collins Australia, 2014. ISBN 9780732294557. Black Warrior completes the series starring Roxy Ran
following on from White Ninja and Red Samurai and is probably best
read with at least some knowledge of the content of these books. As
with the rest of the series the focus is on developing confidence
and self belief with a strong emphasis on taekwando, for which the
author has a black belt and writes about with some authority.
Roxy and sister Electra are learning to live together after Electra
emerged as a samurai, sworn enemies of the Ninja clan. Cinnamon,
Roxy's best friend is training and losing weight and planning Roxy's
fourteenth birthday party, Jackson is still as gorgeous as ever,
Hero the bully is being bullied and the school is still divided into
Gate One and Gate Two students.
Trouble begins with a fire and crater at the front of the school.
There is unrest in Lanternwood, caused by the disappearance of many
citizens and a tiger dragon with blazing blue eyes threatens Roxy.
Determined, to find out the truth about her real father, Roxy and
her mother continually clash but when Cinnamon disappears during
Roxy's party she is desperate to find her. But when she Cinnamon
returns she is far from the friend of old.
Many truths about the characters are revealed as the Ninja and
Samurai clans are forced to join forces to save Lanternwood and Roxy
comes face to face with her real father who is bent on revenge. In
an exciting climax Roxy needs to face her fears without her Ninja
powers to rely on.
As the final in the series many of the issues raised in previous
books are rounded out. Hero, often referred to as a mummy's boy, is
revealed as being the sole carer for his mother, who is suffering
from advancing dementia. Roxy's mum finally agrees to marry Art, and
Jackson talks about his brother Morgan who has Leukemia. And finally
the symbols of difference and discrimination, Gate One and Gate Two
are destroyed.
Sue Keane
Don't Call Me Sweet by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Angela Rozelaar
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2014. ISBN 9781408838822.
(Age: Pre-school - 6) Recommended. Monsters. Humour. Fear. The
little monster believes that he should be called Scary not Sweet,
because he likes to stomp around, get covered in mud and become very
stinky. He also loves to cook bug eye stew, gets splattered with goo
and becomes very slimy. All good reasons to be called Scary and not
Sweet. But when he meets an ogre he decides that he not scary,
stinky or slimy but rather sweet.
This is a fabulous read aloud for young children. With its
alliteration, rhymes and rhythm it is perfect to listen to and there
is enough repetition for children to chime in with the refrain,
'Call me Scary . . . Don't call me sweet!' Some of words are in bold
upper case letters and these too are perfect for young children to
call out with the reader. All of this makes for lots of fun as a
bedtime story or for a story for children just becoming independent
readers.
The illustrations by Angela Rozelaar are very humorous. Little
Monster has one tooth sticking up in his smiley mouth, and one tooth
sticking down, giving him a cute appearance which children are sure
to love. The drawings add to the story as Little Monster reads a
book on how to be scary, and when he makes bug eye stew the bugs are
shown in jars, with a terrible mess going on as the stew is made.
Every so often the pictures are on a double page spread which the
reader has to turn around to look at and this gives variety to the
story as well as showing wonderful drawings of the monster.
Little Monster really wants to be taken seriously, especially as all
the older monsters want to pat his head and think that he is cute.
When he is faced with a bigger monster, the ogre, he has to decide
how to get himself out of danger and stand up for himself against
the bad, hairy giant.
Sure to become a favourite, Don't call me sweet is a monster
tale that is full of fun.
Pat Pledger
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Michael Morpurgo
Walker, 2013. ISBN 9781406348880.
Knights of the Round Table, amassed under the famed King Arthur's
rule, were legendary as being the finest and fiercest Knights of the
Kingdom of Britain.
Worthy Knights, to this day, wear a silken belt. Why? The answer
lies with the tale of the chivalrous and courageous nephew of King
Arthur, Sir Gawain.
Stronger in battle than any other, honest and true, Sir Gawain
stepped up to the challenge thrown down by the dreadful, murderous
green man, on his huge green steed, who dropped in on Camelot,
brandishing a gargantuan battle axe, just as their New Year's Eve
feast was about to commence.
Terrible to behold, the Green Knight challenged Sir Gawain to strike
his head from his shoulders with his weapon. But, the rules of the
'game' were such that the Knight must agree to seek out the Green
Knight of the Green Chapel twelve months and a day later, and submit
to a 'return match', this time with the Green Knight wielding the
massive axe.
As the next New Year approached Sir Gawain valiantly bid Camelot
farewell and journeyed alone in search of the Green Chapel.
Travel-weary and hungry he came upon a magnificent Castle, where he
was welcomed, feasted and entertained for several days.
The very hospitable Lord of the Castle took his men hunting on three
days, leaving the quite perplexed Gawain in the company of the
Castle's ladies.
Why did the Lord's beautiful wife try to entice Sir Gawain into a
love situation? Did the dazzling green belt really possess magical
powers? And who was the ugly old crone who seemed to be forever
watching the young Knight?
Eventually the day of his appointment with the dreaded Green Knight
dawned, and, leaving the Castle with much trepidation, Sir Gawain
rode to his rendezvous with destiny at the Green Chapel.
Who really was the Green Knight?
Joan Kerr-Smith
The Lego Movie: The Official Movie Handbook by Ace Landers
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9780545624626.
(Age: 8+) The Lego Movie: The Official Handbook introduces fans to
the characters in the movie, using comics and text to engage its
readers. It is not a novel or story but a variety of texts that
introduce us to the Lego world - Bricksburg.
Fans will meet and learn about the movie characters, find a poster
inside and a read a sneak peak about the movie.
Any Lego Movie fan will enjoy it and independent readers aged 8+
will find it a lot of fun.
Kylie Kempster
The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
Text, 2014. ISBN 9781922182227.
(Age: 14+) War is something which many teenagers have little
experience of. High school students in Australia are required to
study historical events relating to that violent three-letter word.
It is a distant concept for many young people in this society, but
even more foreign to young people is the lasting impact of war on
returned soldiers. The Impossible Knife of Memory is
concerned with the after-effects, providing insight into the
psychological battles returned soldiers and their families face.
Our narrator, Hayley, is familiar - a sarcastic, defensive outsider.
For eight years she has been 'un-schooled' by her single father, an
Iraq war veteran. The book maps her re-adjustment to conventional
school after this period of nomadic travel, and her struggle to
reconcile her difficult, turbulent past.
This is a strong, hard-hitting novel in many ways. The characters
are human, dynamic and relatable, the prose itself at times poetic
but always with a realistic edge. The extensive dialogue is one of
the highlights, as I find much writing fails to effectively
incorporate conversation into the narrative. The tension builds
gradually and relationships develop in a highly entertaining way
throughout the book. Of course, as hinted earlier, the psychological
impact of war lingers as an obstacle for Hayley, with her own
adolescent issues mirroring her father's post-service trauma. The
only obvious let-down is the unnecessary use of 'text-talk' early in
the story as Hayley establishes relationships with peers at her new
school - this style is inconsistent with the overall serious tone. The Impossible Knife of Memory works as both a solid piece of
writing for young adults and a meditation on the emotional side of
war not often exposed to young people in study of the topic.
Henry Vaughan (Student)
I was Only Nineteen by John Schuman
Ill. by Craig Smith. Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743317235.
The banner across the top of the cover of this book says, 'The
iconic song about the Vietnam War that helped change a nation' and
indeed, anyone who has heard the original with the haunting voice of
John Schuman as the lead singer of Redgum will find that echoing in
their head as they 'read' this picture book version of the song that
brought the realities of the war to a generation. If you are
unfamiliar with it, it's available on You Tube .
While, for the first time in history, war was brought into the
family living room through the immediacy of television news
programs, it was the personalising of what was happening through the
lyrics of this song that not only provided a real insight but which
has also endured. In fact, along with the picture
of the little girl running naked from her village after it had been
destroyed with napalm bombs it would be one of the most-recalled
memories of that time. It's refrain and final line, 'God help me, I
was only nineteen' encapsulates it all. Both the words and the
sensitive, evocative images of Craig Smith show that war is the
antithesis of the great adventure that these soldiers' ancestors
thought that it would be as they hastened to answer the call of 1914
and which will be in our thoughts as we move towards the
commemoration of ANZAC Day.
But this is much more than another picture book about Australia's
war effort to support the national history curriculum.
As one of those who was very much involved in the events of the time
and worked towards the big-picture objectives of not only having
Australia and New Zealand troops out of Vietnam because we were
against the 'all-the-way-with-LBJ' policies of the prevailing
governments but also against sending young men to war who, in their
own country could not vote or legally have a beer, we did not
consider or understand the effects our actions would have on those
young men when they eventually came home, mentally and physically
wounded, and to have served in Vietnam was a secret and a shame.
There were no parades or celebrations - you might talk about it with
your mates to keep you sane but that was all. There was no respect
from the public and each soldier was somehow held personally
responsible for the events which we saw each night. (If you, as an
adult, want a greater understanding, read Well Done, Those Men
by Barry Heard and Smoky Joe's Cafe by Bryce Courtenay.)
And so we have the situation today that many of our students have
grandparents who are perhaps not as they should be and cannot
explain why. They saw and did things that no 19-year-olds should
ever have to and it is their experiences, their illnesses, their
PTSD, their suicides that have changed the way we now view our
serving forces and how they are treated and supported when they come
home. The picture books and television shows always stereotype
Grandpa as being loving and jovial and every child deserves such a
person - the production of this book might help them understand why
theirs is not. It has an important role to play in helping our
little ones understand.
If just the lyrics or the clip of the original 'I was Only 19' were
the only ones used in a study of the Vietnam War, the story would
not be complete. It is through Craig Smith's final illustrations of
the young soldier now a grandfather with his grandson ducking from a
chopper, then sharing an ice cream and finally marching on ANZAC Day
together that are critical because they show that while he is still
troubled by his experiences, he has survived and 40 years on society
has moved on to a new and different attitude. For that we have to
thank the continued and sustained efforts of all those Vietnam Vets
who would not let us forget. We salute you now as we should have
then.
For those who see this as a teaching opportunity, there are
teachers' notes available.
Barbara Braxton
Editor's note: I highly recommend this for Age 6 - Adult. Pat Pledger
When I See Grandma by Debra Tidball
Ill. by Leigh Hedstrom. Wombat Books, 2014. ISBN 9781921632594.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Alzheimer's. Death. Grandparents. In this
heart wrenching but uplifting story, a young girl visits her Grandma
in her nursing home with her family. While her young brother plays
antics and makes the nurses and residents laugh, she brightens
Grandma's dreams by reminiscing with her. Important events in
Grandma's life are celebrated. Grandma loved singing so the young
girl sings her a song for her to dance on. She loves to brush her
hair and so did Grandma, so she brushes her hair, 'for her dreams to
dazzle on'.
Using the joyful illustrations by Leigh Hedstrom, the reader finds
out more about Grandma's life as a young girl when she was in the
war, got married, had children and then grandchildren. Each double
page spread has a picture of what is happening in the nursing home
and on the opposite side is a loving picture of grandma enjoying
life and then finally the family kissing her goodbye and she floats
off into the light to meet her husband.
This is a very moving book dealing in a most thoughtful way events
that many young children would be going through. It offers children
a way of coping with a beloved grandparent's slide into oblivion and
a way to rejoice a full and happy life. Proceeds from the sale of
this book will be donated to the Hazel Hawke Alzheimer's Research
and Care Fund.
Pat Pledger
