First book of tractors and trucks by Isobel Thomas. Bloomsbury,
2013. ISBN 9781 4081 9292 4 First book of trains by Isobel Thomas. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 978 1
4081 9291 7 First book of aircraft by Isobel Thomas. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 978
1 4081 9293 4
(Age: 5-7) Recommended. Machinery. This easily held, colourful
and informative set of little books for younger readers will
introduce them to the delights of non fiction with its easy to
read and highly pictorial style of presentation. Each of the three
books I read have the same easy to use features including concise
contents and index page, and I was pleased to see on the back cover
that more are in the offing.
Using the aircraft book as a guide, each page presents an
illustration of the aircraft under discussion, with pointers showing
its features. A small amount of information is included, adding to
the boxes of information which will readily draw the eye of the
reader. The illustrations are clear, labelled and uncluttered,
allowing a child to see clearly what the machine has. Some
planes have a double page spread (cargo plane, supe jumbo,
helicopter, titlrotor and seaplane) while all the rest (25 in all)
have only one page. A glossary of words is followed by a spotter's
guide for the last few pages and then a page of useful websites to
follow up after reading the book.
The train, tractors and trucks books follow the same layout, simple,
clear and informative and the set would be a useful group of non
fiction books for the early reader. I enjoyed reading them
particularly the aircraft book, all of which was new to me, and I am
sure boys particularly will love them.
Fran Knight
Day of doom by David Baldacci
Cahills Vs Vespers series. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN
9780545298445.
(Age: 11 +) Recommended. Day of Doom is a great way to
finish the second series of Cahills vs Vespers.
Amy and Dan have recently found out that the Vespers are trying to
build a doomsday device that could destroy Earth. It is an 'all out'
chase to stop them using this device.
This book takes you on a ride of mystery, action, near misses and
reunions. I was a little disappointed with the use of so much bad
language and the excessive amount of deaths, but absolutely loved
the suspense and action.
Isaiah Low (student)
Love by Kirrily Lowe
Ill. by Henry Smith. Wombat Books, 2013. ISBN 9781 1 922074 82 9.
(Age: 3+) Picture book. Love. Part of a new series called The
Invisible Tree, at first I thought this book to be published
in the USA, as the tale is very didactic and obvious in its concern,
having the theme of love to extol to the readers. On rereading it
and looking more carefully at the illustrations, I did find things
to like about the book, and can see that it may have a place in some
classrooms where the intention is to be more forthright in teaching
virtues.
I love the recycled look of the illustrations, the pages that look
like they are made from hand made paper, the scraps used to make up
words and images, the cut outs making up the characters, all drew me
in to look at them more closely. I like the rhyming nature of the
sentences, which will draw in an audience to predict what word will
rhyme, and repeat sentences to gather the rhythm. And the list of
things which explains what love is all about through the book can be
discussed and added to by the audience, particularly in a class
where values are a focus. And the last page has a template for using
an idea in the classroom to discuss love.
Fran Knight
Pigeon Problems by Frances Watts
Sword girls series, bk 6. Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 978 1
74331322 0.
(Age 9+) Highly recommended. In Pigeon Problems, we meet
Tommy, a young girl who wants to be a knight. Part of a series, Pigeon
problems revolves around a day of games and activities to
celebrated Lady Beatrice's birthday. There is also an underlying
story about Sir Walter's pigeon who feels unwanted and neglected
when Sir Walter fails to call on him to sing or deliver messages.
Young Tommy is Keeper of the Swords and has discovered the animals
around the castle talk. There is also a group of old swords, in her
care, who have the spirits of their previous owners inside! The
swords speak too! Sounding interesting and a bit quirky? Set in the
times of knights, I like the idea of a girl being allowed to be
non-stereotypical but caring and supported. It is a fun and quick
story with a moral and I highly recommend it for independent readers
aged 9+. I think both girls and boys will enjoy the easy to read
language and the talking swords give some good advice.
Kylie Kempster
How to keep a boy from kissing you by Tara Eglington
HarperCollins Australia, 2013. ISBN 9780732295172.
(Young adults) How to keep a boy from kissing you by Tara
Eglington is a novel that turns out completely differently from a
first impression of the book. This novel is inspirational and
relatable, the target audience being young adults.
Aurora Skye is a dating guru, or she aspires to be, sweet sixteen
and never been kissed and she wants to keep it that way until she
finds her perfect prince. But her own love life is almost pushed out
of the window when a number of her friends find potential princely
partners; it's up to Aurora to play the role of Cupid. As well as
all of these romance situations, Aurora has to deal with Hayden, the
infuriating boy-next door AND family troubles at home.
In this book, the theme being romance, the story of Aurora Skye is
set in modern times. One of the best features of this book is that
you can't judge it by the cover. It has the ability to change and
influence the reader about being open-minded and positive in most
situations, (even if things look their worst) and that sometimes
accidents were meant to happen.
Aurora Skye and her friends all change throughout the novel which I
believe makes them so realistic, the author's ability to make
everything seem so real has you fooled through the book and thinking
that you were in the slightly hap-hazardous world that is the life
of Aurora Skye.
Sarah Filkin (Student)
King Pig by Nick Bland
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781 74283 495 5
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Power. Kingship. A
salutary tilt at the misuse of power, Nick Bland's comic tale is of
a king worried about his subjects not liking him, trying different
means to gain their sympathy but failing miserably. Bland shows the
king in all his majesty, strutting around the kingdom in his rich
clothes, a small sheep holding his train. King Pig is pompous, high
handed and besotted with appearance. He has the sheep, his subjects,
clean the castle walls, he has them strap boards to their backs so
he can walk over them without getting his dainty feet dirty, he
unfurls a huge portrait of himself, but all to no avail, they simply
do not like him. Disturbed by this he invites them into his castle
and then in the most amazing contraption, dyes their coats, strips
them of their wool and has them knit him some new clothes, while he
sleeps. The next day sees him strut around in the most fantastic of
clothes, resplendent, rich and brightly coloured. But still the now
bare sheep ignore him. It is up to his little servant to point out
the error of his ways to create a neat conclusion.
This is a charming story beautifully illustrated and presented,
offering a funny tale for younger readers, a fantastic book to read
aloud, and with a theme which is universal in its application at
home and in the classroom. For younger readers being introduced to
the idea of government with its array of presentations around the
world, this book would make a great opening to the theme.
Bland's illustrations are wonderful, from the king sized word, KING,
emblazoned across the cover and title page, to the little jokes
hidden in the pages to the expressions on the faces of the sheep,
all is a delight to look at again and again. Watch out for the pig
shaped topiary and the No pigs sign above the drawbridge, the King's
feet, and the bath used at the end for dying the wool. All is
glorious. Children will not help but spy the differences between the
king's lifestyle and that of his subjects and this will engender
even more conversation amongst the readers.
Fran Knight
Stagefright by Carole Wilkinson
Black Dog Books 2013. ISBN: 9781922077585. Paperback, 289 pp. RRP:
$15.99
(Age 13+) Recommended. What a talented writer Carole Wilkinson is,
seemingly able to turn her creative hand to any genre. Not
many writers have the chance to publish their novels twice either!
This is exactly what Carole did with Stagefright - you will enjoy
the anecdote of how this came about at the end of this hugely funny
but also insightful book.
Velvet S. Pye is feeling very hard done by - with the sudden plunge
of the family fortunes from very comfortably off to pretty well
destitute, Velvet has lost everything she considers important. She's
lost her clarinet and her piano, there are no more luxury holidays,
her old friends have deserted her and worst of all she can no longer
attend St Theresa's Anglican Ladies College. Instead she is forced
to attend her local state high school Yarrabank High - which is not
only apparently full of feral students but has no music or dramatic
program of any description, all available funding being poured into
the school's sporting program. For a girl who despises sport,
landing in the middle of a school renowned for its sporting prowess,
headed up by a sports mad Principal Kislinski, there could be no
worse fate.
Bringing all her energy to finding a way to get out of sport, Velvet
finally convinces Mr Kislinski that she is completely and utterly
without any aptitude for any kind of physical activity and is off
the hook. Her delight with her success is short-lived however, when
she finds the alternative for the very few non-sporting students is
a Cultural Studies class, populated by a small but particularly
bizarre group of misfits the like of which she has never before
encountered, including jaded teacher Mr MacDonald.
No doubt motivated by his annoyance with this bunch of no-hopers, Mr
Kislinski charges the group with living up to the Cultural Studies
title and 'giving back to the school' by producing a performance for
the school's anniversary celebrations. With no budget, zero
motivation and apparently few skills, the Cultural Studies
group surprise themselves bonding into a supportive team of friends
with a modicum of various talents, in the process turning
Shakespeare's Richard the Third into a rock musical.
A continuing thread of hilarity runs through this novel and I found
myself laughing out loud on several occasions, but underlying the
humour is a strong message about what is most valuable in one's
life, not judging on appearances and tolerance. Carole
Wilkinson suggests it is possible that there will be another
Yarrabank High novel and I for one will look forward to encountering
the students and staff again.
Recommended for readers 13 +, it would work well as read
aloud for both boys and girls though I think boys might be put off
by the rather 'girly' looking cover.
Sue Warren
In too deep by Tom Avery
Frances Lincoln, 2013. ISBN 978 1 84780 389 4.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. In Too Deep is the story of two brothers, Emmanuel and Prince, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are currently alone, living in foster care and in England. It is part 2 in the story and even though we don't know how they were separated from their family, the story gives hints and thoughts to help you understand.
Imagine the brother's surprise when their mother turns up with a new baby sister and no idea where their father is! Life changes quickly for Emmanuel and Prince as they move in with their mum and get to know her again. For Prince, there is one question he needs an answer to - where is their dad?
A heart-felt story of a young boy who tries to be happy but can't, of a father who will do anything for his family. I would highly recommend this to independent readers aged 12+ as it switches between what is happening in Tanzania (with the father), England (with the boys) and the past. The story is quite grown up and despite being set in England; it is still relevant to young Australian readers as they befriend refugees from across Africa. Some of the events in the story seem quite impossible but it is those moments that keep you wanting to read more.
Kylie Kempster
Song for a Scarlet Runner by Julie Hunt
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743313589.
(Age 9-12) Julie Hunt, author of CBCA shortlisted Picture Book The
Coat has written about survival and loyalty, superstition and
the value of friendship set in a bleak and unwelcoming landscape. It
will take a mature 9-12 year old reader fond of the fantasy genre to
appreciate the whole story.
Nine year old Peat, red haired with one green and one brown eye
lives with her sister Maisie at the Overhang tending cows and making
cheese. They were banished to this lonely, desolate place 4 days
walk from the nearest village due to Peat's appearance.
When a travelling stranger brings disease to the village Peat is
blamed and just escapes the mob. Alone and knowing she cannot return
to the Overhang Peat travels towards the marshes at the opposite end
of the valley. She is accompanied in her adventures by an animal she
calls a 'sleek' which will scratch and steal her food one moment and
save her life the next.
In the marshes she is captured by Eadie one of the magical 'marsh
aunties' who takes Peat on as an apprentice and teaches her how to
tell stories particularly the one about the Siltman. Peat is taken
by the mysterious and Siltman and his hounds during a storytelling
at the Hub and needs to escape again with the help of the sleek, a
nine hundred year old boy and a ghost hound.
There is much to like about the characters especially the
independent and optimistic Peat and the sleek which is so human in
its reactions. Siltboy with his stilted speech and bravado and even
Eadie, despite her betrayal of Peat, elicits sympathy at the end.
The story moves along at a good pace with twists and turns a plenty
as Peat seems to move from one perilous situation to the next and
one hopes the sleek will turn up like the cavalry, just in time.
However it is the Siltman's kingdom across the Silver River, 'the
Ever' as Siltboy calls it' which keeps me thinking and poses the
most questions.
Sue Keane
The heiresses by Allison Rushby
Pan Macmillan, Sydney, 2013. ISBN 9781742613147.
(Age 16+) Recommended. Imagine an episode of Gossip Girls
set in roaring twenties London and you can imagine the world of this
novel: high society, parties, alcohol and young girls concerned
about money and beaus.
The central story concerns a set of triplets who were separated at
birth when their mother died. At age 17, their aunt brings them back
together in the hope of restoring her sister's legacy to her nieces.
But first there are several puzzles to solve and deals to be done.
For the girls are essentially battling for their share in a personal
fortune which could change their lives: for Thalia it could bring a
welcome escape from her dour 'family', for Ro it could enable her to
study at university, whilst Clio would be able to provide her ailing
mother with the care she so desperately needs. The key question is
whether the girls will work together in their new-found sisterhood
or whether their own personal desires will stand in their way.
Whilst London in the 1920s is captivatingly drawn and Allison Rushby
has assembled an engaging cast of characters, there is something
rather formulaic about this novel. Each of the girls seems to be a
particular type: the sharp-tongued, party-loving Thalia, the steady
and rational Ro and the kind-hearted Clio (who just happens to have
been raised by a vicar). Despite some twists and turns, there is
also a sense of predictability in the plotting: by novel's end all
has been explained, wrongs have been addressed (if not always
righted) and each of the girls is looking forward to a brighter
future. We even have a marriage in the closing pages.
There may be nothing particularly new in this novel but the story is
told in an engaging manner and there are sufficient romantic
entanglements to keep teenage girls captivated. This is an enjoyable
light read but with the heady mix of drugs, alcohol and sex that
seems to overtake the lives of these sisters, some school libraries
may prefer to promote this book to more mature readers.
Deborah Marshall
Poppy's angel by Rachel Billington
Frances Lincoln Children's, 2013. ISBN 9781847803627 Poppy's Angel is the sequel to Poppy's hero and
Poppy's life has once again suffered a major disruption. She is, as
her friend Jude says... almost an orphan, and with her dad still in
prison and her mum now in Poland, Poppy does feel more than a little
alone. She is staying with Jude until her mother returns and their
relationship has never been easy.
Poppy's other friends are also proving to be less than ideal
companions, especially Angel who turns up in her now deserted home,
bleeding all over the floor and refusing to go to the hospital. Will
remains loyal and steadfast but between his illness and his mother
it is sometimes impossible to get hold of him.
Divided into 2 parts, Part One focuses on Angel. He too is feeling
very lost and alone, with his father again missing, having taken
Angel's mobile and anything else that he thought might provide
'ready' cash, and his mother in hospital awaiting the birth of her
fourth child.
Billington pulls no punches in allowing the reader glimpses into
less than perfect lives. Angel has been taught to trust no-one, rely
on no-one; Snake, a gang leader, beats up little kids because he
gets beaten up at home; Eloise, Angel's aunt and now primary
caregiver, refuses to allow him to live at home, loses his four year
old sister and is hinted at being too free with her hands. Each
person seems to be trapped by his or her circumstances with no help
in sight as the police, or indeed anyone in authority, are the last
people anyone in Angel's world would contact.
Big Frank, Poppy's father is the focus of the second part of the
book. He is now in an open prison but seems once again determined to
ruin his chances of rejoining his family, at least on weekends, by
once again becoming involved in criminal activity. He knows it will
mean returning to prison, but will Frank says, make them ...
Rich. Rich. Rich. RICH! Refusing to acknowledge the danger, he is,
he tells Poppy, doing it all for her; something that she doesn't
want to hear.
However, despite the ever present undercurrent of violence and
danger, Poppy remains secure and largely unaffected by the events
occurring around her. She is safe for the moment, inhabiting the
wealthy world of Jude and Will. Billington also offers hope, at
least to the reader, with the introduction of Gus, an old man who
teaches 'bad boys' football and offers them a routine and common
sense advice and help. Maggie too, with six sons and ten grandsons,
is also a stable presence who knows everyone and everything that is
happening on Angel's estate and can occasionally provide advice and
assistance.
Billington offers late primary, early secondary readers a glimpse
into a world where safety and security are not givens. The book ends
happily: Angel's mother is home and he has a new brother while
Poppy's mother has returned from Poland and Big Frank maintains
loudly that he is a reformed sinner. Maggie and Gus also remain,
each exerting a benign yet reassuring presence. Yet, the reader is
left wondering, at least in Big Frank's case, whether problems can
really be resolved so easily.
Ros Lange
Clementine Rose series by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House, Australia 2013. Pbk, 128pp, RRP $A12.95. Clementine Rose and the perfect present. ISBN 9781742755458. Clementine Rose and the Pet Day disaster. ISBN 9781742755434.
Here are the next two adventures in this series about this
fun-loving five year-old designed for the newly independent reader
who is looking for a recognisable character and the support of short
chapters, an easy-to-read style with a splash of humour and cute
illustrations that add a richness to the story.
In Clementine Rose and the Pet Day disaster, Clementine is
very excited because she is about to start school. Her best friends
Sophie and Poppy are also starting, she has everything ready well
before time and she's really looking forward to being taught by
kind, loving Miss Critchley who is sure to teach her how to read on
the very first day. But things don't quite work out that way. Her
teacher is the stern, austere, Mrs Ethel Bottomley, making the
butterflies in Clementine's tummy feel like they were having a
boxing match, because Mrs Bottomley is very no-nonsense, telling
these new kindergarten students that 'It's time to shake off the
playful habits of youth and start some serious study.' There will be
time for fun, but it will be orderly fun. When Clementine refuses to
leave her mother and line up, Mrs Bottomley asks if she is going to
join them, 'Or is she having a bit of a sook?' NOT the best way to
encourage a loving relationship. Finally coaxed into class, to her
dismay the children are seated in alphabetical order and Clementine
is not with Sophie and Poppy, but next to the obnoxious Angus. Her
day is certainly not going as planned, she doesn't learn to read and
what's more she's expected to go back tomorrow! But not if she can
help it, and with a little help from Dr Everingham. It is only the
announcement of a Pet Day and the chance to show off her teacup pig
Lavender that entices her through the doors again but the title IS
'Pet Day disaster' so don't expect everything to flow smoothly.
In Clementine Rose and the perfect present there is much
excitement at Penberthy House for there is to be a wedding, an event
which will help pay some bills and perhaps some to go for the
much-needed new roof. But of course, nothing goes to plan and when
Aunt Violet is put in charge, then things are going to go downhill
even faster. And what do you do when you're five, your uncle is sick
and you want to give him a present but no one has time to take you
to the village shop, yet you're surrounded by piles of beautifully
wrapped presents?
Even though she is only five and the readers of this series will be
slightly older, there is still something very likeable about
Clementine that appeals anyway. Perhaps the reader sees herself as
the big sister, or maybe remember similar sorts of things that
happened to them - whatever it is, the first two in this series were
a hit with my younger readers and they are going to be thrilled when
I offer them a couple more, with the promise of even more to come.
Both books are also available as ebooks.
Barbara Braxton
Enoch the emu by Gordon Winch
Ill. by Doreen Gristwood. Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN
9781742838717.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Humour. Australian animals. A reissue of a
perennial favourite, Enoch the emu was fist published in
1986, and appeared in paperback in 1990, and is now again available
to titillate a fresh generation of readers. The tale of Enoch and
his long suffering wife, Wilhelmina, is a delight, sure to please
young readers with a look into the state of marital bliss.
After a night out with the boys at the Emu Club, Enoch arrives home
to find his wife sitting impatiently on their nine eggs. She berates
him for not doing his share of the housework and particularly the
egg sitting, whereupon, she flounces off leaving him to do the work.
Just when he thinks she has returned she announces that she is off
on a holiday.
And so he sits, through the dusty heat and driving rain, fending off
a dingo with his fierce look, until one day the chicks arrive and
make it all worthwhile. The others at the Emu Club are most
impressed and decide that sitting on a clutch of eggs is just the
thing to do. And emus have done so ever since.
This a glorious book full of fun which will involve all the readers,
spurred on by the stunning illustrations. A fascinating topic for
discussion in the classroom, the book will elicit all sorts of
responses about who does what about the house and in the classroom,
about gender alignment and sharing of all types of work. And parents
will love returning to a favourite story from their childhood.
Fran Knight
The girl with no name: The incredible true story of a child raised by monkeys by Marina Chapman (with Vanessa Chapman & Lynne Barrett-Lee)
Pier 9, 2013. ISBN 9781743362259.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. Marina Chapman has certainly had an
unusual upbringing. At the tender age of 4 (or thereabouts) she was
snatched from her village home and dumped deep in the jungle where
she was befriended by monkeys. Over the next 5 or 6 years in their
company, Marina learned how to forage for food and survive against
predators. She paints a colourful portrait of the sights, sounds and
smells of the jungle and how she grew to live according to its
rhythms. However, it is clear that life was not necessarily idyllic;
she had companionship but the monkeys were never her real 'family'.
So when she first sees a human woman, Marina is entranced.
Unfortunately, when she allows herself to be taken by a female
hunter, the poor child in her innocence has chosen badly and she
learns all too soon that humans are not necessarily as kind and
caring as her monkey family.
Whether it is working as a servant in a brothel, or surviving on the
streets of a nearby city, or later when she is enslaved by a
gangster family, it seems that Marina is often mistreated by those
in whom she puts her trust. What emerges from the pages of this book
is a clear and compelling story of resilience and fortitude. Life
often seems to deal Marina a bad hand but she shows remarkable
determination to survive against the odds.
Lynne Barrett-Lee has done a wonderful job of taking Marina's tales
to her daughter and weaving them into a coherent and compelling
story. She enables us to see how events unfolded through the eyes of
an often bewildered young girl, a girl who may not have had the
language to actually explain for herself what she was living
through. She allows Marina's strengths to shine through.
This is a story that will not be easily forgotten. Indeed, most
readers will be eagerly awaiting a sequel, to learn how this brave
young girl became a wife and mother.
Deborah Marshall
Megumi and the bear by Irma Gold
Ill. by Craig Phillips. Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 9781821977909.
(Age: 4+) Picture book. Friendship. As Megumi collects fir cones in
the forest at the bottom of her garden she meets a bear who asks her
to be his friend.
They do everything together, playing hide and seek, dancing,
snowboarding over a ramp, so much so that Magumi does not want to
let the bear go.
But when she goes down to the end of the garden again, he is not
there. She wishes on the falling star that he will come to her, but
it doesn't happen. None of the activities she is usually involved in
can take his place. Playing hide and seek with the other children
does not help, it only increases the weight in her heart. But she
keeps wishing, and her friend does return. A gentle story which looks
at differing styles of friendship, this may be a neat introduction to
class discussions about friendship, imaginary friends and wishing.
In beautiful soft watercolour, the illustrations shine on each page.
The trees shimmer in the snow, their browns and blues standing out
from the starkness of the white surrounding them.
Fran Knight
