The silly book of side-splitting stuff by Andy Seed
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408850794.
(Ages 9+) Highly recommended. A must read collection of humorous and
interesting facts for all ages including the young at heart! Take a
walk through history with Andy Seed as he looks at the funny side of
historical facts, wacky and unbelievable inventions, nonsensical
poems, silly sports with their blundering commentators, mishaps and
glitches, the worst films titles ever, live T.V blunders and
shockers, subtitles that went bad, games that bombed, preposterous
names, silly careers as well as splendid obsolete or archaic words
to name just a few.
Find out what Hollywood has taught us, who's on the list of most
annoying people and why, the most disgusting foods from around the
world, yucky survival foods you probably won't want to try,
hilarious one liners that are still used today, ways to get yourself
out of a jam, along with the crazy laws made by the most silliest
rulers and the eccentrics of history.
Andy Seed looks at some of history's greatest accomplishments and
the things that worked, as well as the things that didn't go so
well! There is also something for those who are interested in
building their vocabulary! Find out what buildings were built in the
most unimaginable places.
If you are the type of person who likes Horrible Histories,
you'll love this book and its collection of history's funniest and
amazing people, inventions and other crazy stuff. Andy Seed has
something for everyone's fancy no matter how young at heart you are!
Christina Sapio
In the Memorial Room by Janet Frame
Text Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781922147134.
(Age: Adult and mature secondary readers). Beautifully produced with
a dust-jacket in hardback format, the cover design of Janet Frame's
In the Memorial Room enigmatically evokes its title and
contents. The Cote d'Azur is reflected in one illustrated spectacle
lens, while the other lens is clouded. These hint at several
elements of this dense, extraordinary satire.
New Zealand writer, Harry Gill, has won the Watercress-Armstrong
Fellowship, an incestuous award administered by Frame's insufferable
minor characters. This award is supposed to be a living memorial to
real poet, Margaret Rose Hurndell who lived and worked in Menton,
France, where Harry is expected to work in a tomb-like room. Janet
Frame also received a Fellowship to France so we can assume that
some of Harry's appalling experiences might resemble her own. Some
of the award trustees unsubtly signal that their son, Michael,
should be the recipient of the Fellowship. He looks much more like a
writer and even has an artistic beard.
Partly due to his poor eyesight, Harry is timid and bookish; he
misses the best of things and seeks 'intentional invisibility'.
Frame's descriptions of his retreat and obliteration using imagery,
surrealism and fear-of-hyphens is impressive.
English teachers could incorporate a number of Frame's literary
techniques to create lessons or lesson breaks: metonyms, metaphors,
similes and anticlimax; speaking or writing primarily using verbs;
verbal versus written conversations in real time and deconstructed
letter writing.
Joy Lawn
Karana, the story of the father emu by Uncle Joe Kirk, with Greer Casey and Sandi Harrold
Ill. by Sandi Harrold. Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781743623138.
(Age: 4-6) Australian animals, Aboriginal themes. The story of the
emu playing a definitive role in the hatching and bringing up of the
emu chicks is told in this tale by Uncle Joe Kirk a Brisbane and
Wakka Wakka elder to tell younger readers of the strength that
family has in society.
The emu builds a nest all the time watching out for the female emus
coming by. In rhyming couplets, the story is told of how the emu
sits on his eggs through heat and cold, until he finally feels
movement beneath him and the eggs hatch. He then shows them what to
eat and drink, swallowing small stones to help digestion, and
flattening their bodies on the long grass to avoid the threat posed
by eagles, snakes, dingoes and goannas. Once he has taught all he
knows for his offspring to survive, they go off by themselves, and
he builds a nest ready for the next female to come by.
A story which reinforces the role of the male within the family and
of a family teaching its young how to survive, the lessons learnt
will make a neat platform for discussion in the classroom, using an
Australian animal as the role model as well as showcasing a story
used in Aboriginal families.
Fran Knight
Dead dog in the still of the night by Archimede Fusillo
Ford St Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781925000344.
(Age: 14+) Reluctant readers. As the son of Italian immigrants
growing up in Melbourne, it is no surprise that Archimede
Fusillo's work often features an Italian flavour and with more
than a nod to his own adolescence.
About his first book Sparring with Shadows Archie wrote 'I
have tried to show that boys do have emotions, are vulnerable, and
that it is acceptable to express their feelings. There is a constant
duality of feeling one way and having to appear another.'
His new book with the eerie title continues this theme and once
again focuses on a character struggling to come to terms with many
conflicting feelings. Primo is the youngest son of a family with
strong personalities, long held resentments and simmering sibling
rivalry. His domineering and womanising father is reduced to an old
man suffering dementia and in a nursing home, though still exerting
his influence on the family. Primo's mother is trying to come to
terms with her long-suffering of her husband's many infidelities,
his middle brother has become embroiled himself in an ugly
separation due to his own indiscretion and also facing the wrath of
his mistress and her drug dealing brother, his older brother wants
to sell off the old man's mechanical workshop and take possession of
his prized classic Fiat 500 and Primo is dealing with his final year
at school and a disintegrating relationship with his girlfriend,
Maddie.
The immaculately preserved scarlet Fiat becomes a focal point of the
story. 'I want to buy a car. A special one. A Bambino. Red. Red for
speed. Red for the sex.' While Primo's family might think this
statement of their father reflects upon his philandering, it becomes
apparent that this one thought had sustained him from his peasant
childhood until its fulfilment. For Primo the car represents
adulthood and independence as well as being his father's prized
possession. For older brother Santo, it is a classic cash cow - ripe
for the picking.
When Primo 'borrows' the car to impress his girlfriend and then
prangs it, he is desperate for money to repair it before anyone
finds out. Brother Adrian's peccadillo with his adultery provides an
opportunity for Primo to warn off the scorned lover, Crystal, with
the promise of payment for services rendered albeit not in the way
Adrian had envisaged. Tangled and intricate, the plot unravels with
miscommunications, wrong perceptions, hidden emotions and gritty
realistic episodes. While the media release suggest this book is
suitable for readers 10 and up, my own recommendation would be for
older boys - perhaps 14 and on. There are numerous references to
drugs, sex, violence, strong language and adult concepts. Heaven
sent for some of my own reluctant Year 10 readers.
Sue Warren
The secret maker of the world - stories by Abbas El-Zein
UQP, 2014. ISBN 9780702250071.
(Age: Yr 11-Yr 12, Adult) Recommended. I resisted this collection of
adult short stories at first and then I read several stories in
rapid succession. I found the stories elegant but did not feel
engaged. The stories while diverse featured a similar theme a man
who unknowingly awaits his fate and whose self absorption has stood
in his way of perceiving the truths around him. I found the stories
to be packed with beautiful lines but at times wished the writer had
'killed his darlings' more often.
However the memory of the stories linger and play with my mind and
two in particular have subsequently gripped my imagination. Red
carpet is the story of a corrupt politician, as he waits in
his office for his aide, mulling over his rise and rise, and
preparing for the speech that will define his success. He is unaware
that in the ten minute walk to deliver his speech his life will
unravel. The killer blow lays in the last line. Birds eye tells the story of the wise scholar who is
oblivious to the undercurrents around him and who procrastinates and
makes increasingly foolish choices as the medieval city Merv is
about to be conquered and sacked. In a preface it is explained that
this story is based on historical events and figures.
There is a vivid imagination and the stories leap across time,
cultures and continents. I feel it will enhance any collections of
short stories gathered for Years 11 and 12.
Michael Jongen
World War 1, unclassified by Nick Hunter
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781472905253.
(Age: 9+) Warmly recommended. World War 1, Archives. Another book
produced with the authority of The National Archives in Britain,
this is a fascinating introduction to the events and times of World
War 1 and will be a boon to those looking at war, as it gives access
to a range of documents, photos, diaries, postcards and maps usually
not seen in the text books.
Looking at the contents page gives an overview of what is inside,
and it includes some topics which can prove elusive to the student.
The opening chapter shows life in the trenches, then the book harks
back to the reasons for the war occurring, each double page covered
with a meaningful brief text, photo, maps, and quotes, with a WW1
fact file containing an interesting piece of information. The
expected chapters are there, Digging in, Trench life, Beyond the
Western Front, Home front, each with a plethora of information,
followed by chapters on topics such as Treating the wounded,
Munitions factories, The war at sea, New weapons and War with words.
The last chapters, Armistice, The cost of war, and Lest we forget,
bring this whole to a sombre close.
The book concludes with a double page timeline, a double page
glossary, and then two pages of extra references and resources, with
a well stocked index at the end.
All in all a fascinating introduction to World War 1 for the younger
child, and an admirable text for the older primary student. I am
sure it will be well used in the library and classroom. I was
particularly taken with the postcard on page 15, an example of what
the men sent home. A wish or Christmas with a soldier pointing his
gun at the recipient! On the following page is a photo of a trench
system before and after bombing, and it beggars belief that people
survived in the trench. A photo too of a horse drawn ambulance on
page 29 got me thinking about transport on the battlefield, while
the photo on page 44 of a wounded man being carried off the field n
1917, brought home the difference between the land at the start and
finish of the war.
Even though I have taught this topic for decades I found this an
interesting and evocative book about a war which began one hundred
years ago.
Fran Knight
Prince of shadows by Rachel Caine
Michael Joseph, 2014. ISBN: 9781921901881.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Such is the skill of Rachel Caine in
recreating the life and times of Verona that the reader can't help
but believe this is a true account of the back-story to Romeo
and Juliet.
In this adventure, the hero is Benvolio, the Prince of Shadows (the
greatest thief in Verona) who gives his own account of the events
that surround the well-loved Shakespearean Tragedy. Caine stays true
to the details of the play but cleverly interweaves other stories
and introduces other characters while also providing insights into
minds and hearts of the ones we know so well.
Women, in this novel, show spirit, power and intelligence, as
Benvolio states, 'In their own way the girls of noble families were
soldiers - merely armed with different weapons'. p95. Benvolio's
grandmother rules her household with an iron fist, in fact she is
referred to as 'the iron lady'. Veronica, his sister, is definitely
no blushing damsel, and is not afraid to wield her power, though not
always for good. But it is Rosaline, with her calm and sensible
approach, who gains the respect of the reader and as it transpires
that of Benvolio also.
As in the play, violence abounds in this story as the Capulets and
Montagues continue to battle out their feud on the streets of
Verona. Tybalt is still a violent and dislikeable character who even
takes out his temper on his sister, Rosaline - something neither the
reader nor Benvolio can forgive. Mercutio, at least at the
beginning, is the lovable rogue but his sexual preferences are a
portent for tragedy. Balthasar continues as the loyal and trusted
servant, who always has his master's back, whether that be in the
form of the noble Montague or the Prince of Shadows.
Caine provides an interesting twist to Mercutio's dying words, 'a
curse on both your houses' providing both an unexpected twist for
the reader and a last challenge for Benvolio. Prince of Shadows incorporates enough Shakespearean
expression, even with some reference to other plays, to add
authenticity to this satisfying tale.
Barb Rye
A house for Donfinkle by Choechoe Brereton
Ill. by Wayne Harris. Walker Books, 2014. ISBN 9781921720536.
(Age: 4-6) Warmly recommended. Building, Friendship, Humour. When
Donfinkle wants to build a house of his own, he goes ahead and does
it. His mud brick walls and brick porch, his wonderful uplifting
door and beech windows are just what he wants.
But then friends come along with suggestions. They do not like what
he has done and pick faults with his construction, making plans for
other things to be added or changed. Flooble whines that his roof is
too bare so to placate him, Donfinkle adds constructions to his
roof. Then of course the walls are not strong enough, according to
Flooble, so poor Donfinkle attaches string and grasses to the walls.
Along comes Goozle with different ideas, He feels that there is no
security and so Donfinkle adds thorns to his house to keep intruders
away. But the next visitor, Blooble adds some bright paint. By this
time however, the house is not anything like the house that
Donfinkle built, and so he tells his friends that he will tear down
all their additions so that it is just what he wants.
Shamefaced, his friends help him, and when all is finished come
inside for a cup of tea by the fire.
A lovely tale of friendship, of doing what you want to do, using the
offers from friends without allowing them to take over, the tale
could be well used with siblings or with classes where standing on
your own two feet is an issue amongst friends. But I am sure kids
reading it by themselves or with a friend will get the message loud
and clear and laugh out loud as well. The illustrations are superb,
Harris has playfully depicted the friends as all sorts with bits of
many different animals making up their appearances. Kids will love
looking at all the different animals shown, and work out what they
are, while reading the book out loud will enhance the music behind
the rhyming stanzas and the rhythm of the names of the friends. A
wholly satisfying read.
Fran Knight
Maxx Rumble Soccer series by Michael Wagner
Ill. by Terry Denton, Black Dog Books, 2014. Shocker, bk 2. ISBN: 9781922244819. Grand Final, bk 3. ISBN: 9781922244826.
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Soccer, Sports, Competitions, Brothers. After
nine years author Michael
Wagner has finally added another sporting series to his much
loved Maxx Rumble Cricket and AFL Football books. This time Rexxy,
Maxx's younger brother is old enough to play for the Stone Valley
Saints Soccer team in a knockout competition.
True to formula the competition is fierce, devious and up to no
good. Wagner delights in choosing puns for team players, there's
Oliver Sudden, Buster Hamstring and Lou Nartick on the field for the
Outhouse Rodents. In Shocker Boofa the opposition captain
uses a deadly weapon, his beautiful sister Jennifer Boofersoon who
casts a love spell cast on poor Rexxy who is smitten and totally not
focussed on the game. As the reader knows the final minutes are key
to the Saints success and Maxx is always on hand to come up with the
last minute save. In Grand Final the Saints come face to face with the
Plankluvin Pirates the 'rottenest' team in the competition.
Unfortunately, there are only four Saints fans supporting Maxx's
team whilst the Pirates have a huge following. Tensions mount as the
crowd's noise level interferes with hearing the referee's whistle.
Another tense game is played and the reader will be delighted to
read of Maxx and his team's determination to pursue the prize.
Terry Denton's cartoons capture the key moments of the soccer games
and his humorous style of drawing adds to the enjoyment of these
books. This new series is suitable for younger readers, especially
soccer fans.
They are great middle primary class novels for readers from 7-9
years.
Rhyllis Bignell
Delilah's dream by Ian Trevaskis
Ill. by Janine Dawson. New Frontier Publishing, 2009. ISBN
9781921042232.
(Age: 3-5) Recommended. Picture book. Ambition. Adventure. Chickens.
Delilah the chook has a dream, she wants to fly. She doesn't want to
be like her sisters and just scrabble around for scraps, she wants
to fly and have adventures. The other chooks scoff at her, deriding
her dreams and telling her not to be silly. While the other chooks
sleep, tucked away from Delilah, she keeps on dreaming of soaring
like an eagle, of being amongst the stars.
One day a fox is seen in the vicinity of the chook yard. The chooks
huddle together in their henhouse, their heads in the straw, not
knowing what to do. Only Delilah takes steps. She climbs across the
roof of the hen house, onto the tree and leaps across the gap
between the chook house and the farmhouse, until she gets to the
bell hanging in the verandah. She swings from side to side, waking
the farmer, and so saves the day. She has flown after all.
A fable about following your dreams, this will be a delight to read
out loud to young children. They will recognise the moral of the
tale immediately and talk of other books which have a similar theme.
Discussions will follow about their dreams and what they aim for in
their lives, be it simply where they will go after school, to what
they hope to do for a holiday to a bigger dream like that of
Delilah.
The illustrations show the hen house on the farm with its cyclone
fences, windmill and corrugated iron roof. The chooks and other
animals will delight younger readers as they see how each group
reacts to the threat of the fox, and their renewed friendship with
Delilah.
Fran Knight
The other side of nowhere by Steve Johnston
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2014. ISBN 9781742976907.
Looking forward to a sailing cruise to an island only three hours
off an unspecified part of the Australian coast, teenager Johnno and
his younger brother Matt journey by bicycle to the town of Shell
Harbour to meet up with old friend and yacht owner Nick. Unknown to
Nick, Johnno has organised for his cousin Georgina to join them on
the venture and the awkward revelation at her arrival causes some
embarrassment for all present.
A tension between Johnno and Nick is gradually revealed, based upon
the fact that whilst the pair had been inseparable companions as
youngsters, their friendship has changed since family circumstances
led to Nick moving from the city, to live with his father on a farm.
The sailing trip had been an eagerly anticipated opportunity get
together and enjoy adolescent male fun in the form of unsupervised
boating and camping. Nick recovers the situation by accepting and
making welcome Georgina and the group soon makes way. This follows
warnings from Nick's father to make sure he heads immediately to the
island to make safe anchorage prior to possible weather changes. The
members of the group are very young and only two have sailing
experience, causing the reader to query the wisdom of allowing the
significant venture.
An unexpectedly vicious storm seizes the vessel and the crew shows
courage and ingenuity to try and save the boat yet the situation
becomes so overwhelming that they are glad to escape with their
lives. Surviving the storm was harrowing but the group's ordeal
continues on the island when they realise that no rescue is
imminent, contrary to previous expectations, and their supplies of
food and water are extremely limited.
All are hungry and exhausted and Johnno's anxiety is increasing from
self analysis following his desperate actions during the storm.
Seeking shelter, the group encounters threatening criminals and must
apply themselves in extreme situations to try and evade them.
The angst of friendships which have been altered by time, changing
circumstances and then tested by trauma, as well as fraternal
rivalry and confused romantic yearning are important influences upon
how the group deals with challenges and threats.
Rob Welsh
Into the still blue by Veronica Rossi
Under the never sky series, bk 3. Atom, 2014. ISBN 9781907411076.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Dystopian. Survival. The final in Under the never sky series, following Under the never sky and Through the ever night, Into the still blue finds Perry and Aria in a desperate bid to save the Dwellers and the Outsiders by entering into the elusive Still Blue, where the Aether is calm and where they can set up a settlement free from storms and destruction. Both Perry and Aria have been tested in the first two books and it takes all their leadership skills, determination and sacrifice to fight their way to a satisfying conclusion.
An engrossing read, Into the still blue brings a very good series to a somewhat rushed but very rewarding conclusion. The growth and depth of the characters stand out. Both Perry and Aria have to make sacrifices and to think about what is best for all the survivors, even if they are at odds with each other. Roar is helped through his grief and desolation by Aria's understanding and Perry's friendship. The role of the villains, Sable and Hess, is explored more fully as the group stages an attempted rescue of Cinder and the reader begins to understand their motivations. Cinder is crucial to everyone's survival and Perry stays by his side as they try to navigate through the Aether, even though it may mean death for both of them. Soren becomes an essential part of the story and grows into a much more likeable character who is prepared to use his skills for the greater good.
The action is thrilling as Aria and Perry fight to gain access to the craft that will take them into the Still Blue. There is bloodshed, sacrifice and a touch of romance, all of which combine to make this an enthralling story as the reader breathlessly follows the group's attempt to gain safety from the Aether.
Fans of The hunger games will delight in this series, with its interesting ideas, compelling dialogue and heartbreaking moments.
Pat Pledger
Spooky house by Sally Rippin
Billie B. Brown series. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2013. ISBN
9781742976518.
(Age: 6-8) Recommended. In this, another starring the very popular
Billie B Brown, Billie and her friends form a Secret Mystery Club
and their quest for mysteries to solve leads them to the spooky
house at the end of her street. Just who lives there? Unfortunately,
Billie's imagination is a bit too much for her friends and they
threaten to leave. Undaunted, Billie is determined to find out and
sets up a plan - one which puts her in a very awkward situation with
her family! Trying to dig herself out of that hole means visiting
the spooky house, accompanied by her friend Jack for security but
what happens there sets up a heart-thumping situation, and teaches
Billie a sound lesson about friendship.
This book is the first in a new series featuring Billie B Brown, a
character familiar to many already through the Billie B.
Brown series. It is probably best described by teachers
as a "beginning chapter book". With its short chapters, large font
and monochrome illustrations, it is a perfect bridge between the
structure of the instructional reader and a novel, enabling
independent reading. The storylines of that series are engaging and
at the right level for the 6-8 year-old girl. They could imagine
being in Billie's circle of friends and empathise with her. Now that
Miss 7 is becoming more independent with her reading she is loving
this series and was thrilled that this was a new one to explore.
The Billie B. Brown series is a must-have on your library
shelves to cater appropriately for those 6-8 year-old girls who are
still little girls and this spin-off series will be eagerly
anticipated.
Barbara Braxton
The Stone Lion by Margaret Wild
Ill. by Ritva Voutila. Little Hare, 2014. ISBN 9781921894855.
(All ages) The stone lion crouched on his pedestal guarding the
entrance to the town's library. Lifelike in size and appearance, he
was 'so real, so fierce and cold that small children scuttled past
at the sight of him' and in stark contrast to the warm, inviting
environment that the concept of a library portrays. Only Sara,
homeless and alone, weeping gently and cuddling a small bundle that
is her baby brother snuggled into his paws, while Ben the librarian
leaned against him at lunchtime while he ate his sandwiches and
read, laughing occasionally. Even though the gargoyle perched on the
portico above his pedestal explains Sara's distress and Ben's
delight, the stone lion has no understanding of such feelings. He
just wants to come alive so he can run and prowl and leap - to just
move. He imagines himself strolling along the street in front of the
library and running in the park across the road.
'Sometimes, stone animals are granted a chance to become warm,
breathing creatures' the gargoyle tells him, 'But it is for a very
short time only, and they must desire it greatly, with a generous
heart.' Even though the lion does desire it greatly with no apparent
ability to feel, it seems like a dream that will be unfulfilled.
Then winter comes and it hits hard. Snow falls and lies deep, and
once again Sara comes to the lion's feet, sinking onto the steps and
going limp. A snowflake falls on the baby's nose and he wails,
waving a tiny fist, and a stab of pity pierces the lion's heart . .
.
This is a picture book for all ages with many levels of complexity.
Accompanied by evocative pictures created with oil pastels on grey
velour paper which portray the mood and atmosphere perfectly, this
story is a mixture of fantasy, fairy tale and fable. The lion at the
end of the story is not the lion of the beginning, much like the key
characters in The Selfish Giant and The Happy Prince
opening the way for in-depth and comparative studies of these texts.
How can a single act of kindness make such a difference to so many?
Teaching
notes are available at the publisher's website.
Barbara Braxton
Run by Gregg Olsen
Hot Key Books, 2014. ISBN 9781471401855.
(Age: Teens) Gregg Olsen knows how to create a page turning crime
thriller mystery but in Run the main character is fifteen,
an unlikely hero for this genre. Somehow he makes it work. What
could be improbable becomes probable, the unbelievable believable.
The novel starts at a zipping pace and doesn't let up. Rylee comes
home from school and finds her father dead with a knife through his
chest, her mother missing and the word RUN scrawled in blood on the
floor. Far from breaking down Rylee heeds the advice and together
with brother Hayden flees the scene. We learn through Rylee's
flashbacks that 'running' is part of her everyday experience - her
family has been running all their lives. This fact helps the reader
accept Rylee's actions throughout the story. Her mother has taught
her 'not to trust anyone' as well as a few other not so legal means
of surviving.
At the beginning of each chapter Rylee lists the state of her
situation: Cash, Food, Shelter, Weapons, Plan. This clever device
provides the reader with the changing nature of Rylee's
circumstances. Very early in the story Rylee leaves Hayden with a
newly discovered Aunty and becomes the chaser instead of the runner
as she searches for her mother and the man who has taken her. The
plan becomes 'find mum, kill dad'.
The novel then turns to one of vengeance and retribution, with
gruesome results, many of which are committed by the young girl who
we first met when she was contemplating whether to have spaghetti
for dinner and counting how many texts she had received from her
boyfriend. Yet we still support her: she has justice on her side.
Needless to say there is resolution to this story but not without a
few twists at the end which explore, though not deeply, the actions
of Rylee's mother and the motivation behind the man she has
discovered is her real father.
A disappointment of the novel came right at the end when Olsen so
blatantly sets the stage for a sequel or even a series with his last
lines, 'The people who understand where I come from are the people
who matter. The ones . . . I can help'. Do we now have a new
super-hero in the making? The probable has now become the improbable
- however I can see such a series having wide adolescent appeal.
Barb Rye
