Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn by Belinda Murrell
Ill. by Serena Geddes. Random House Australia. ISBN 9781742758756.
pbk., 86pp., RRP $A9.95.
Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn is the first in a new series by
Belinda Murrell for young girls who are verging on being independent
readers and looking for a novel which features a young heroine just
like them. Lulu Bell is just eight, the practical one in a family
that includes her six-year-old sister Rosie, who loves wearing angel
wings and sparkly shoes; her three-year-old brother Gus who always
wears his superhero suit; her dad, a busy vet and her mum, an
artist- not to mention a menagerie of pets.
It is Rosie's birthday and everyone is ready for the party. But just
before the guests arrive, disaster strikes as little brother Gus
lets a wayward pony into the kitchen. Suddenly, there is no mermaid
birthday cake and it is way too late to get another one from the
bakery. But practical, thoughtful Lulu has a solution as well as a
surprise that turns the pony from villain to hero. And with a guest
appearance by King Neptune, Rosie's day is complete.
Barbara Braxton
Big red kangaroo by Claire Saxby
Ill. by Graham Byrne. Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 9781921270420.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Kangaroos. Using
charcoal and digital media, Byrne replicates the image of one big
red kangaroo across each page, showing his proportions, stance,
agility and habits for every child who picks up this book. The spare
prose story of this kangaroo, accompanied by non fiction paragraphs
of information will lead readers to gaining a multi layered
appreciation of the survival of this most recognisable of
Australia's marsupials.
The tale follows the life of one big red, head of his mob, leading
his females and joeys to places where food can be found, to shelter
from the wind and occasional rain, while keeping his position as the
leader from younger rivals. Each segment of his life is paralleled
by small paragraphs of information in italics augmenting what is
happening in the story. Readers will have three levels of interest,
one in the amazing illustrations, one in the story and the other
with the information. Each is engrossing and adds to the students'
knowledge of these animals and their habitat.
The illustrations show a vast almost featureless land inhabited by
the kangaroos. Few other animals or birds exist in this bleak,
waterless desert, with the spare use of reds and browns underscoring
its harshness. At night, when most action occurs, the night sky is
an amazing background to their foraging, and the rising moon a
spectacular backdrop to his inevitable challenge by a younger male.
This is a most satisfying read, one that gives more the more it is
read and pondered, entertaining, informative and thought provoking
as readers scan the images and read the print.
More information is given at the end of the book, a brief index
allows students to find information for themselves, and these are
followed by information about the author and illustrator. A
worthy purchase for any library.
Fran Knight
Girls, goddesses and giants by Lari Don
Ill. by Francesca Greenwood. A & C Black, 2013. ISBN
9781472903068. Hardcover, 128 pages.
(Age: 8-10) Highly recommended. Subjects: Heroines, Goddesses,
Myths, Legends, Courage, Women in Mythology. Lari Don is a popular
Scottish children's novelist. Her first collection of myths and
legends is a celebration of feisty, smart heroines from around the
world. She is also a storyteller and her strong narrative voice
makes each tale a great read-aloud. 'I've spent years searching for
authentic old stories with girls who fight their own battles,' she
comments in her author notes.
The front cover is bold introduction to the text with Francesca
Greenwood's eye-catching red silhouette of a sword-wielding girl
fighting a pale orange dragon surrounded by stylised flowers. Strong
black paper cut images lead into each tale and black flowery line
drawings are included as decorations as well. These strong
statements really contrast with the current pastel fairy and
princess series and collections.
The collection of twelve short stories is drawn from different
cultures including Greek, Indian, Norse and Cameroonian. These pit a
strong central girl character against all kinds of evil from demons,
monsters, and wolves to sea serpents. They use their courage,
kindness, wiliness, intelligence and special abilities to save
themselves and their tribes.
In Innana and the Box of Monsters, the goddess outwits her
uncle Enki, stealing all his treasures. On her journey home she
successfully fights fifty two monsters including the blue
wild-haired enkum. The retelling of an early version of Red
Riding Hood has quite a surprise ending.
I highly recommend this book for readers from 8-10 years of age.
This is a great resource for English, exploring narrative stories.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Extraordinary Mr Qwerty by Karla Strambini
Walker Books Australia, 2013. 32 pages. Hardcover. RRP: $27.95.
(Age 5-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Imagination, Creativity,
Individuality, Inventions.
'There once was a man called Norman Qwerty . . . who ideas were far
from ordinary.'
Mr Norman Qwerty is an imaginative man who worries that his ideas
are a little strange, so he hides them under his large bowler hat.
Mr Qwerty's home workshop is jam-packed with his inventions from
wind-up egg cups and mouse traps, there are pulleys and levers
everywhere and six-fingered model hands holding pencils to catch his
new ideas. There are so many wonderful things to explore on each
spread, the striped zippered giraffe suit, the toaster warming socks
and so much more is waiting to be discovered. When Mr Qwerty
ventures out in the world, everyone else seems grey, bland and they
think differently. Of course he's mistaken and each person really
has wonderfully unique thought processes shown visually like
carousels, scientific experiments, hot air balloons all emerging
from their hats. When his inventions finally grow so big and his
world changes, he discovers that he is not alone and the world is
not the same.
Karla Strambini's unique black and white scribbled, cross-hatched
pencil illustrations with small spots of red or blue colour are
outstanding. They add a rich depth of meaning to the simple yet
powerful text. They emphasize the emotions of loneliness,
creativity, individuality and acceptance.
I would highly recommend this book for readers from 5 to 7 years old
and for classes from Reception to Year 7! This book is a wonderful
read aloud, the simple narrative balanced by the complexity of the
illustrations. This book is great for Science - simple machines and
as a springboard into art activities and design in technology. A
great teacher's
guide is available from Walker Books that includes the
interesting development of the story and illustrations.
Rhyllis Bignell
Sailmaker by Rosanne Hawke
UQP, 2013. ISBN 9780702249723.
(Age: 11-14) Highly recommended. Themes: Step-parents and
stepchildren, ADHD, Belonging, Ghosts, Family, Friendship, Mystery
Fiction.
Rosanne Hawke's Sailmaker is the second fast-paced adventure
story in this trilogy that started with The Keeper and
concludes with the publication of the Killer Ute in 2013.
With this first person narrative, the reader sees the world through
Joel's eyes as continues to struggle with his medication and ADHD,
his family relationships and friendships. He is a believable teenage
character who is struggling with his own self confidence and
self-control.
The mystery Joel and his friend Mei set out to solve involves a
lighthouse ghost, an abandoned tinny and an escaped prisoner.
Rosanne Hawke uses the setting of the coastal town, the elemental
sea and the nearby island with its bird sanctuary and iron
lighthouse to effectively underpin Joel's adventures. There are many
appropriate metaphors used to develop the reader's understanding of
Joel, he calls his problems with his biological father a shark of
his own to deal with.
Joel's relationship with his foster father Dev Eagle is still
undergoing some difficult patches causing some anxiety as well. Vern
Solomon, the sailmaker and bird sanctuary caretaker who lives on the
island provides sage advice and sanctuary during the storm. Rosanne
Hawke's adds Dev's sister, problems with his biological mother Zoe
and his druggie ex-con father Scott into the mix. School life with
its dramas, bullying and illness management is realistically
portrayed. Sailmaker was a CBCA Notable book in 2003 and this reprinting
introduces Joel to a new generation of readers. I would highly
recommend this series for readers from 11 to 14. They are excellent
for a class read-aloud and for reluctant teenage boy readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
Stung by Bethany Wiggins
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408840665.
(Age: Older teens) Stung is an all-star, action packed novel written
by author Bethany Wiggins that creates an aura of adrenaline and
excitement for the reader who gets hooked by this elaborate
masterpiece. The twists in the plot gives a sense of mystery and
suspicion and keeps the reader guessing while they enjoy life-like
dialogue between characters and realistic situations that the
characters find themselves in. A book best suited for older
teenagers rather than younger teens due to some themes included,
these themes may confuse younger readers.
Fiona wakes up in the middle of disaster; the people she loves are
missing, her house is a ruin and she has physically aged by a few
years. This is what happens when life as you know it is plunged into
chaos . . . Over bees. Waking up, she finds a strange tattoo on her
hand and something moving in her house as well as a lack of
memories. Making an escape, she walks out into a brand new world.
Houses are deserted and the people she knew have either changed or
disappeared. Finding confidence in an old friend, Fiona tries to
understand what has happened to her, her family and friends and the
place she grew up.
This is a twist of a novel and I can't wait for the sequel to be
published; I thank the author for a brilliant read that kept me
excited and addicted to the very last page.
Sarah Filkin
The Frog Who Lost His Underpants by Juliette MacIver
Ill. by Cat Chapman. Walker, 2013. ISBN: 9781921977893.
Recommended for 4-6 year olds. Subjects: Frogs - Fiction, Underwear,
Stories in rhyme, Jungles, Problem Solving.
Juliette MacIver's rhyming picture is an adaptation of a favourite
children's action rhyme Round and round the garden, like a teddy
bear. The teddy bear is walking through the jungle kicking up
the lakka leaves when he meets an orange-spotted jungle frog. The
small frog ask Teddy for help he needs to find his stolen underpants
to regain his dignity. Their search takes them deep in the jungle
and they encounter little chimpanzee and Mr. Elephant who join in
the hunt for the missing item of clothing. The resolution to the
problem with the clever use of jungle materials will be enjoyed by
the young reader.
Cat Chapman's busy paintings fill the double page spreads, with the
rich green jungle background and the funny antics of the jungle
animals in the foreground. The frogs fighting over the underpants is
a fun close-up showing a range of emotions from happy to determined.
Juliette's rhyming text is fun to read aloud and students soon pick
up the pattern and join in. There are some tricky words like dignity
and distraught that are great words for discussion.
A Teacher's Guide is available
.
Rhyllis Bignell
Reboot by Amy Tintera
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743315507.
(Ages: 13+) Lacking the revolutionary struggles of the constrained
society in Divergent, and the badassery and depth of
character development of June in Legend, I found Reboot
by Amy Tintera to be lackluster in comparison. It's already been
optioned for a movie by Fox and is receiving rave reviews
everywhere, but unfortunately, I couldn't see the appeal.
The concept of Rebooted humans who wake up minutes after their death
stronger, faster, and with healing abilities, is appealing and
unique. Those who wake up sooner after their death are more attuned
to their human emotions than those who woke up later. Wren, who woke
up 178 minutes after her death, is the perfect soldier. She takes a
new student under her wing, Callum (or number 22) who is closer to
human than most. He's weak, emotional, and is going to be a problem
. . . at least when it comes to HARC, who trains the Reboots to
extract or assassinate humans.
Wren, as a main character, was inconsistent. Because she rebooted so
long after her death, she's cold, emotionless, basically lacking
human emotion. When she meets Callum, she is attracted to him
physically, but sees him as weak as he is governed by his emotions.
Instead of falling in love with Callum's human traits, she pretty
much mimics him towards the end - giggling, laughing and kissing -
not the emotionless soldier we believed she was.
While Wren is the perfect soldier, Callum is weak, can't bring
himself to harm or kill humans, won't follow orders, and is always
crying in the book. The chemistry seems forced between the two and
we're lead to believe this non-complimentary couple is good for each
other.
The world building was also poor. We don't know how or why people
are rebooting and the book doesn't go into detail about the nature
of the environment they are living in. Instead of fleshing it out,
the plot became wholly focused on the romance. Reboot is action packed with a great concept, but overall, I
think there are much better dystopians out there.
Jeann Wong
Welcome to my country by Laklak Burarrwanga and family
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743313961.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. This is a beautiful book. Laklak and
her sisters invite you in to learn about Yolngu country and culture
in northeast Arnhem Land - country that many people may know only as
the land of Yothu Yindi, the famous Aboriginal band with their songs
Treaty and Djapana Sunset Dreaming. Laklak explains that in
Yolngu culture, yothu yindi means mother-child, a relationship that
is core to their beliefs and part of the land as well, like the web
of Dhuwa and Yirritja moieties that weave and hold everyone and
everything together. With each chapter we learn a little more -
about water, the six seasons, collecting and sharing food, the
counting system, astronomy and space, justice and peace,
relationships and warnings.
Each chapter starts with a conversation from Laklak to the reader,
describing the season, and inviting you to join in whatever activity
is happening at the time. Each chapter also has a story that
illustrates and adds meaning to the lesson learnt. We learn the
history as well - of the early relationship with the Macassan
traders from Indonesia, the struggle for recognition of land rights,
and the creation of the Bark Petition now hanging in Parliament
House, Canberra.
The book is written simply in a conversational style, the font is
large and there are many attractive coloured photographs, but this
is not a simple book. Although the early chapters might be shared
with a younger audience, the lessons become increasingly complex,
and a later chapter deals with the serious issue of forbidden sexual
relationships.
There are layers upon layers of knowledge, like peeling the layers
of a paperbark tree. As Laklak says, 'For Yolngu, knowledge is told
in context, at the right time and to the appropriate audience. If
you are reading this, it is the right time for you to learn'.
For me, I feel I could read it over again, and begin to understand a
bit more with each reading. This invitation to country provides an
insight into a wonderfully rich and complex culture that stands
proud and strong, offering to share knowledge and go forward in a
two-ways learning exchange.
Helen Eddy
World War 1 tales by Terry Deary
Bloomsbury, 2013 The last flight ISBN 9781408191682 The war game ISBN 9781408191743
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Historical fiction. World War One. Early
chapter book.
In the series, World War 1 tales, Terry Deary offers stories
that are not well known to his readers.
In The last flight, letters from Alfred to his sister back
home outline his extraordinary luck at not being sent to the
trenches during World War One. He was able to volunteer his
photography skills when the men were being photographed and so from
there moved into the Air Force where he and a pilot were sent to
photograph enemy lines before the push against the German Army in
1917.
The letters reveal a great deal of information about life for a
young man in the army at this time, and much of this would be new to
the age group reading this easy to absorb series of books. At just
60 pages, with large print, some informative illustrations, wide
margins and information added at the back about some of the things
mentioned in the text, this series of books will be readily picked
up by the target audience. In the back is an outline of the others
in Deary's series, Viking tales, Pirate tales and Victorian
tales. As yet there are only two in the current series about
war.
The second, The war game, outlines the story of Christmas
Eve in 1914, when Germans and British soldiers came together to
spend the evening together, playing a football match. Told through
the eyes of two men, Charlie and Alfred, the readers will absorb the
boredom of life in the trenches at the time, the orders given by
those above in rank, and the humanity of the ordinary soldiers and
their wanting to be safe at home. Bloomsbury's
website lists several more in this series.
Fran Knight
The novel cure: An A-Z of literary remedies by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elberkin
Text, 2013. ISBN 9781922079350.
This book is written in praise of literature as a cure for physical
and psychological ailments. It is organised under 'ailments', which
are arranged alphabetically and include topics both serious and
comical. The authors claim that Abandonment, their first condition,
can be remediated if not cured by reading Kent Haruf's Plainsong,
which shows how characters with losses have their needs filled by
surprising contributions from their community. The last condition,
Zestlessness, it is suggested can be cured by reading Doctorow's Ragtime,
an energetic capturing of life in New York in the early twentieth
century. Some of the discussions inbetween deal with equally serious
subjects, Insomnia, Happiness, Hatred, while others are
tongue-in-cheek, for example Itchy teeth (apparently a condition
described in Saul Bellow's Henderson the rain king and which
needs to be consulted for the cure) and Idiot, feeling like an (read
Dostoyevsky's The idiot!). The headings are beautifully
organised, with cross-references that work, and concludes with an
index of authors and titles. There are also lists of recommended
reading , under the heading of 'The ten best...' These include
recommendations for audio books, novellas, 'big fat tomes', for
'drowning out snoring', for 'reading on the loo', and for each
decade from the teenage years to the over one hundreds. The
recommendations are widely based, and include classics, little known
works of the twentieth century and very up-to-date publications.
Dickens is here, Austen too, and Cervantes, and so are Suzanne
Collins, John Green, Mark Dunn and Sam Lipsyte. The writing is
lively and entertaining, and following up the cross-referencing is
enjoyable. The discussions of the texts and sometimes the ailments
are usually insightful, though classics teachers would disagree with
the characterisation of Odysseus as having 'itchy feet'. This is an
energetic and entertaining approach to reading for adults, but is
appropriate for senior students and should be very useful for
teacher-librarians and teachers of literature. It is also great fun
too for a casual browse.
Jenny Hamilton
What is a crocodile's favourite thing? by Ben Hawkes
Jonathan Cape, 2013. ISBN 9781780080222.
One of the world's greatest unanswered questions - until now.
What IS a crocodile's favourite thing? Is it a racing car that
looks like a sausage or maybe riding a tricycle made of jelly on the
moon? No - it's ...!
Children will have a lot of fun with this book, not only making up
crazy-daisy scenarios that might be the answer but also interpreting
them in art! But beware of the twist in the tale.
This is another one of those quirky picture books that just look
like a lot of fun on the surface, but which, in the hands of a
creative teacher, can lead to a lot of literacy and language
learning.
Barbara Braxton
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie's sleepover by May Gibbs and Mark McLeod
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742830216.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Picture book. May Gibbs. A beautiful
present, this hardcover picture book with May Gibbs' illustrations
adorning every page will entice younger readers to further explore
this classic Australian author and illustrator. One of three
commissioned by Scholastic with copyright holders, the Northcott
Society and Cerebral Palsy Alliance, part of the proceeds
gained from the books will assist in their work.
The story centres around the two friends inviting others over for a
sleepover. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie invite Obelia, Ragged Blossom
and Mrs Koala's children to join them.
But someone has forgotten to invite Mrs Kookaburra, partly because
her six very noisy offspring would not be good to have at a
sleepover. Cuddlepie is put into a position where he must invite
them, and of course, the predicted outcome happens. Ragged Blossom
goes to find Snugglepot and Cuddlepie to tell the baby kookaburras a
story in the hope that this will help them sleep, but cannot find the
two friends anywhere. A delightful story with May Gibbs' beautiful
illustrations will take her work to a new generation.
Fran Knight
Marcy Series 2 by Susan Halliday
Ford Street, 2013. Quiz champs ISBN 9781921665721 (pbk.) Thirteen dolphins ISBN 9781921665738 (pbk.) Lost dogs ISBN 9781921665745 (pbk.) Award winners ISBN 9781921665752 (pbk.) Netball challenge ISBN 9781921665714 (pbk.)
Box Set ISBN 9781921665882.
In order to appeal more to girls, Susan Halliday has written a
parallel series to the Toocool series by Phil Kettle, with
Marcy as the main character.
Containing the same structure as the Toocool series, each
again concludes with some factual information, a glossary and some
jokes and is based on the same characters. Written in narrative
format, these titles are easy to read and Marcy sets some great
examples to her readers. She cares about others and is always
willing to help. Her positive, helpful nature and self image means
that there is no challenge to which she won't rise. From rescuing
dolphins to finding homes for lost dogs, each title is easy to read
and contains a touch of humour often based on the ever present
rivalry between girls and boys at the ages of these characters.
Halliday includes some phrases which are somewhat old fashioned and
allows Marcy to find the meanings of the words, along with the
reader. With the new Australian curriculum, these titles could be
used as read alouds or in literature circles with younger children
and changing language could be discussed as an offshoot of these
books, as could the positive messages included therein.
Jo Schenkel
Meet Captain Cook by Rae Murdie
Ill. by Chris Nixon. Random House, 2013. ISBN 9780857980175.
In this, the third in this series of picture books introducing our
younger readers to those who have contributed so much to Australia,
we meet Captain James Cook. While it might be said that there
couldn't possibly be room for yet another book about Cook on the
shelves, this one has the younger reader, the one for whom the name
Cook is still unknown, in mind. Succinctly dealing with his
younger life, the story picks up with the beginning of the journey
which was to lay the foundation for Australia's future and tells the
story that we all know.
Fitting neatly into the history strand of the Australian National
Curriculum for Years 3-4 this is a text written at a level for this
audience, its picture book format adding to its appeal. It is
accompanied by a timeline which continues on to later travels as
well as easy-to-interpret maps on the endpapers. Written in a way
that draws the reader into a story rather than just a series of
facts and figures, this is a perfect introduction to the topic that
teaches as it tells.
Others in this excellent series focus on Ned Kelly and Mary
MacKillop, with a new title about Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson
due for publication early 2014.
Barbara Braxton
