Illustrated by Adam Rex. Published by Harper Collins, 2013.
Hardcover. ISBN 9780 0620 17819.
(Ages: 3 - 8) Highly recommended. Neil Gaiman has written a book for
his youngest audience yet. This is the tale of Chu, a little Panda
with a big BIG sneeze. Chu's sneezes always lead to trouble. When
Chu sneezes, Bad Things happen.
This is a simple story which is brought amazingly to life by the
detailed and quirky illustrations of Adam Rex. There are small,
delightful details (such as an elephant sized space for elephants at
the library, the aviator goggles, the expression on Chu's face when
he sneezes) which add a huge degree of richness to what is a fairly
straightforward text.
There are many elements of the story which make it ideal for
beginning readers - this is a text where there are many
opportunities to predict what will happen next, to read the repeated
text, and to engage with the bold print. There is also an
accompanying teachers guide, which will assist with lesson planning,
and may guide beginning teachers in their explorations of guided and
modelled reading.
This book is a delight to read aloud, and I found that the more you
build up the 'ah, ah, AH . . . ' the funnier the 'no' becomes. It
has also been suggested that this book immerses children in the
skills required to be 'comic literate' which I found an interesting
perspective. An example of this is the large image of Chu appearing
above the text, in much the same way as occurs in comics. Visual
literacy is such an important skill set, and this book makes the
skill set accessible in an endearingly simple way. This book comes
highly recommended.
Freya Lucas
Pirate gold by Michael Salmon
ll. by Michael Salmon. Ford St Publishing, 2013. Paperback. ISBN
9781 9216 65691.
(Ages: 5-9) Parents and teachers around in the late 70's - mid 80's
will recognise the illustrative style of Michael Salmon from the
Alexander Bunyip show (and toys, boardgames, fabric etc). Salmon
wrote over 160 books including Bobo and The Monster that ate
Canberra.
The latest book from Salmon is a journey to find Captain Porker's
missing treasure. At the beginning of the book we meet the various
Piganeers, including Pigswill the cook and The Ships Rats. We also
meet Admiral Horatio (Pirate Hunter) and Captain Fang (the Pirate
Rival) before going off on a journey over land and sea. Who stole
Captain Porker's treasure? Was it the Froggy Sailors? The Grandee
Goats? Captain Porker's rival Captain Fang? The culprit (or
culprits) will be a surprise, that's for sure.
The book also features a Piganeer photo album and a photocopiable
colouring in page, to continue the joy of the story long after the
book has been read. With its bright and detailed illustrations, this
story is sure to appeal to readers who have moved beyond the picture
book phase, but aren't too fond of chapter books just yet.
This would be a popular choice for 'free reading' in any classroom
library.
Freya Lucas
What the Raven Saw by Samantha-Ellen Bound
Woolshed Press (Random House Australia), 2013. ISBN 9781742757353.
pbk., RRP $A16.95. Ebook: 9781742757360288.
Vain, arrogant and grumpy, Raven lives in the belltower of an old
country church surveying all that goes on below with a very
judgemental eye. He is convinced that the weatherhen who
swings with the wind with a range of rusty tunes is in love with
him, and he is contemptuous of all his other feathered relations,
particularly the pigeons. What Raven does like is the music
which soars from the church during Sunday Mass, so much so that he
has revealed his deepest secret to Father Cadman - ravens can talk
to humans, and so after the congregation has left, he joins Father
Cadman at the ancient organ so he can learn to sing the hymns.
The story opens with Raven watching the funeral of Todd Trebuchet, a
young boy killed by a car after a row with his sister and it is his
conversations with Todd's ghost and the distress of McKenzie, his
sister, that begins Raven's journey of seeing more than that which
physically surrounds him. Making a T of the bottletops (specially
shined with eucalyptus) that are part of his precious, closely
guarded treasure to mark Todd's as yet unmarked grave, is the start.
But it is when, from his perch in the rafters above the Sunday
congregation, he sees Barnabas Brittle pocketing part of the
collection and other treasures, that the journey really
begins. Knowing how he feels about his own treasure, he tells
Father Cadman of the theft, but, to his astonishment, Father Cadman
does not believe him and bans him from the church and his beloved
music.
While the along-the-lines story tells of how Raven enlists the help
of Todd, McKenzie, the other ghosts and even the pigeon to show
Father Cadman that Brittle is, indeed, a thief so that he can again
enjoy the hymns, it is the between-the-lines story of what Raven
learns from those he considers to be his inferiors, that give this
story its richness.From a suicidal public servant to a
dilapidated, out-dated scarecrow, he learns a little about
compassion and humility, companionship and modesty - Raven at the
end of the story is quite different from Raven at the
beginning. He even views Weatherhen and Pigeon differently.
While younger, independent readers could read and enjoy this story,
as much for its different approach as anything else, I believe
someone with the maturity to be able to view it a little more
objectively to delve into its underlying message will enjoy its
depth. It would be very well suited to a guided reading text
for upper primary students with a teacher leading the way to show
students how there is often much, if not more, to a story if they
take the time to ask the critical questions to prise out the
between-and-beyond the lines story. It would be a great starting
point to help them develop those skills required to interrogate a
story which they will be expected to have when they go to high
school and are confronted by some of the classics that are so much
more than a few hours of entertainment.
This is the author's first published novel but, if this is the
calibre of her storytelling, she is certainly a new Australian
author to look for in the future.
Barbara Braxton
The boy who grew into a tree by Gary Crew
Ill. by Ross Watkins. Penguin, 2012. ISBN 9780670076734.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. An old couple came from the old country and
not finding a warm welcome built themselves a hut in the mountains.
The old man sold ferns for bedding and his wife gathered herbs and
mushrooms from the wilderness. The townspeople bought their wares
but didn't trust them. After a refreshing storm the old woman finds
herself expecting a baby that they called Arbour. He was a strange
child, nut brown, speaking in whispers like the wind in the leaves
and stretching his arms like a tree. Then one day a terrible fire
caused devastation.
I always expect something thought provoking when I pick up a book by
Gary Crew and this is no exception. Themes of prejudice and mistrust
as well as loyalty and love of the bush permeate the story which
reads like a fairy tale. The power of the bush to regenerate itself
after a fire and to renew itself after rain is vividly described.
Ross Watkin's stunning illustrations are like those found in a book
about botany. Beautiful black and white lines and shadings show the
dark forest, mushrooms and plants. The only colour is the red of the
fire destroying the forest. There are beautiful endpaper to examine
as well.
This is a book with themes to think about. Astute teacher and
teacher librarians will be able to use it when discussing the
environment and the power of story telling.
Pat Pledger
Quicksand by Anonymous
Sub-title: A true story of HIV/AIDS in our lives. Candlewick Press,
2012. ISBN 9780763660697.
(Age 12+) The author of Quicksand seeks to promote compassion for
people infected with HIV/AIDS and respect for those who speak openly
about their status. Above all, she wants to 'change the world' so
that people living with this disease do not have to keep their
condition a secret. The experiences of the author's brother-in-law
provide the book with a narrative while information has been gleaned
from reputable publications and medical practitioners.
The content and style of Quicksand can be characterised as 'plain
speaking'. The author has anticipated questions that readers might
ask and answered them in simple, unvarnished prose, interposing
information about the illness with descriptions of its emotional and
physical effects on her brother-in-law as well as its impact on
relatives, friends and colleagues. She writes honestly about how
HIV/AIDS is contracted, diagnosed and treated, and examines the
reactions of friends and colleagues whose unfounded fears contribute
to the social stigma which adds to the distress of sufferers. The
book ends on an optimistic note, reflecting on changes in social
attitudes towards other medical conditions and hoping that
eventually people with HIV/AIDS will be able to reveal their
condition without fear of judgmental assumptions and rejection.
Readers may want to discount both the credibility of an author who
writes anonymously and a mission that sounds like a crusade.
However, the writer's need for anonymity is her message. She would
prefer to use her name but has been asked not to by her
brother-in-law. Her desire to change the world is the only
intemperate statement in an otherwise measured book.
The publisher has recommended Quicksand for readers of 10+.
The text is certainly accessible with nine, succinct, clearly
defined chapters, a question and answer format, a glossary and an
index. However, parents and educators may wish to use their own
judgement given the author's decision to write frankly about some
aspects of sexuality. Quicksand is an informative, enlightening and
thought-provoking book for older children and young adults.
Elizabeth Bor
The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond
Ill. by Oliver Jeffers. Walker, 2012. ISBN: 9781406320763.
(Ages: 7+) Author David Almond and illustrator Oliver Jeffers are
well matched in this whimsical novel for younger readers; they share
a childlike sense of humour which, in its less inspired moments, can
easily seem affected and flat. The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas
recounts (at a steady pace) the story of young Stanley Potts, who
runs away with the circus after his uncle turns the family home into
a fish cannery. Along the way, he meets a host of quirky people
whose faith in him eventually enables him to overcome his chronic
passivity as a character, and - spoiler alert - swim with piranhas.
There's subtle social commentary aplenty, all of which is handled
skillfully enough that young readers will find it perfectly
accessible, if a little tedious. First and foremost, however, this
is a book about the pleasures of storytelling itself, and Almond
fills most of it with playful, self-conscious language and
metafictional showmanship. Alliteration abounds, fish figuratively
'flicker and flash', and Almond keeps his narratorial hand firmly on
the reader's shoulder as he guides them through the imagined world
of the story, even inviting them at one point to decide whether or
not the villain should be eaten by piranhas. Techniques such as
foreshadowing, tense switching, flexible focalisation and third
person omniscient narration are explored with gusto. It is, in many
ways, an English teacher's dream.
Parts of this novel are undeniably charming. There's Tickle Peter,
the terminally glum circus performer who'll pay one hundred pounds
to anyone who can make him laugh. Then there are the goldfish, who
are so poetical that they exclaim 'O my companions!' but who seem
incapable of saying anything else. For some, The Boy Who Swam
with Piranhas will be an offbeat treat, deliciously different
from the straightforward storytelling that dominates children's
fiction. Not all young readers, however, will enjoy watching Almond
splashing around in puddles of language for 250 pages.
Samuel Williams
The herd boy by Niki Daly
The herd boy by Niki Daly
Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2013. ISBN 9781847802170
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Picture book, African themes.
Each day Malusi the herd boy sets out from his village in the
Transkei, with his grandfather's sheep and goats. He heads for
the nearby hills for the animals to graze, where he often meets with
his older friend, and his dog, Koko. Together they play fight and
talk and tend the sheep, Malusi collecting dung for the village
shopkeeper. Overhead eagles soar, and in the hills they are watched
by a tribe of baboons, ready to take a lamb when no one is watching.
An older baboon comes down from the hills and attacks one of the
lambs, springing the boys into action, scaring away the invading
animal, and saving the wounded lamb.
Walking back to the village, Malusi is concerned about his
grandfather's reaction, but when stopped by a well dressed old man
in a chauffeur driven car, they forget their problems as this man
asks what they will do when they are older.
Lungisa wants to play for the country's football team but Malisi is
too shy to answer. Lungisa speaks up for him, telling the smiling
man that Malusi wants to be president one day.
A beautifully presented picture book about responsibility and
striving to achieve one's dreams, the author notes at the end of the
book that Nelson Mandela was also a herd boy and he became President
of South Africa. The background to the story is fascinating as we
watch the young boys taking the animals into the hills with their
many dangers, staying with them all day, protecting them from
the baboons and snakes. The illustrations render the village
and life in the hills with intricacy and perception as we see
Malusi's mother making breakfast for her son before he leaves,
the simple bed made for him when he returns, the village and its
surrounds, the hills with the baboons, and the play fighting of the two
boys as the tend their flocks. Children will be intrigued to see the
day in the life of a child their age in a different continent, and compare their
lives.
Daly uses Afrikaans and Xhosa words in the text and there is a
glossary at the end of the book to explain these. He lives in South
Africa and many may recall his evocative stories of Jamela. Follow
Daly's life and works on his blog, http://nikidaly.wordpress.com/.
Fran Knight
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 9780857078070.
(Age: Teens) Highly recommended. Unspoken is a modern Gothic novel
set in a small village in England, called Sorry-in-the-Vale. Kami is
a 17 year old, half Japanese schoolgirl, who is bright, funny, and a
little bit nosy. Kami has been connected mentally to a boy,
Jared, since she was born. They can reach out to each other and
speak through their minds to one another at any time.
Sorry-in-the-Vale lies in the shadow of the Aurimere Manor, which is
owned by a very powerful family, the Lynburns, who no longer live
there. When the mysterious Lynburn family return to their home with
no explanation Kami suspects that there is something sinister about
the family and so she investigates and is determined to discover the
truth. She then comes across lots of old, strange legends about the
family and discovers that everyone has a secret to hide. Curious
things begin to happen and there are two new kids at school, Ash
Lynburn and his cousin, Jared, who seems oddly familiar. As secrets
begin to unfold and lives change forever, Kami will begin to wish
her imaginary friend had never become real.
This is not a romantic tale, as is first implied, but a gripping
story of passion and emotion. The story line is very original and
unlike anything I have previously read and there is a very good
contrast of genres. Kami, and her best friend, Angela, both have a
very witty sense of humour, which makes the book enjoyable to read,
and there are also times it is incredibly exciting and hard to put
down. There was also, of course, the occasional moments when I may
have shed a tear or two, because of how closely you feel you can
relate to the characters. There is so much detail in the book, you
feel like you really know the characters and their wants and fears.
The book was, at times, a bit slow, but I felt the author made up
for this towards the end of the book, when all the action happened,
and it became fast paced and incredibly exciting. I particularly
liked Sarah Rees Brennan's style of writing; it is easy to read but
also very descriptive. Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed this book
and I highly recommend it to those who are fans of the genre.
Isobel Davies (Student)
Toocool Series #5 by Phil Kettle
Ford Street, 2013. 55 pages, B format paperback , AUD$9.95 each.
Boxed set with Marcy: $89.95. The Big Bash ISBN 9781921665783 (pbk.) Pirates ISBN 9781921665790 (pbk.) The Interview ISBN 9781921665806 (pbk.) Round 'Em Up ISBN 9781921665769 (pbk.) The Race ISBN 9781921665776 (pbk.)
Box Set ISBN 9781921665882.
(Ages: Beginning readers) Adventure. Just watch the smaller humans
scramble for the shelves when they see these arrive! All those eager
little readers who are beginning their 'chapter' book journeys just
eat up these fun and exciting stories and bask in their success in
doing so. A perfect addition to any school or home library, and
available singly or as a boxed set. As the characters in both the Toocool
series and the Macy series are the same, both boys and girls
can relate to them and share the laughter which inevitably results
from following their exploits.
Once again Toocool makes readers laugh and groan as he retells his
newest adventures from jetskis to jackeroos, cricket to celebrity
interviews, all in his own inimitable self-flattering style. Phil
Kettle's Toocool series has proven itself to be immensely
popular (sales in excess of one million copies) cultivating an
enthusiastic readership amongst lower primary students, particularly
boys. While the stories themselves are always both amusing and well
paced, the books also feature valuable additions such as
informational pieces, glossaries as well as jokes. All these enhance
the experience for readers. As a teacher-librarian, I have always
relished the way in which Phil Kettle subtly endorses imaginative
and active play for children. Toocool and his friends each crafting
their own personal pirate ships from recycled materials would
inspire any child to follow suit - a project I'm inspired to
undertake with my own 7 year old granddaughter after a read aloud
session.
Sue Warren
Sand swimmers by Narelle Oliver
Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 9781822077288.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Picture book. Australian environment.
Desert. Animal life. Subtitled The secret life of Australia's
dead heart, this visually stunning non-fiction picture book
was unsurprisingly lauded when it first appeared in 1999.
Shortlisted for the Eve Pownall Award as well as the Queensland
Premier's Award for Children's Literature in 2000, this book set a
high water mark in presenting information to young readers. The
fascinating facts are given in a variety of images and shapes, and
each page holds a treat for its readers.
From the earliest beginnings through to Aboriginal occupancy of this
land, the story follows Sturt's expedition across the centre in
1845. Pages have a sketch map of his journey, while others have a
picture of the things he would or should have seen, underscored with
excerpts from his diary showing his disappointments. Each page shows
another part of his trek, as he came across landscape he had never
seen before, all the time searching for an inland sea.
But the barren sand does hold life, and it is this life which Oliver
reveals in her sparse, carefully selected words and imaginative lino
prints. Sweeps of sandy hills hide small animals, and an explanation
is given about each. Small lino prints dot the pages, along with
majestic pages of colour and movement as the animals and their
environment are shown. Along the bottom of the page, Sturt's journey
is rendered in red smudged pencil, showing the work he did on his
expedition. The last few pages include an extensive bibliography, an
index to the array of animals represented in the book, as well as an
introduction by Robyn Williams, and a page of information about and
by Narelle Oliver, giving her reasons behind the making of the book.
As an introduction to a part of Australia rarely seen by our coastal
populations, a reference book for younger students, a beautiful book
to look at and admire, or a book to keep in the home, this book is
extraordinary, and we all benefit from Walker Books Australia and
their handsome republication of Australian classics, many of which
are pictured on the last page.
Fran Knight
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
Feiwel and Friends, 2012. ISBN 9780312569037
(Age 14+) Recommended as an easy to read adventure
story. When a devastating hailstorm wrecks Dean's bus, Mrs Wooly,
who has driven another bus into the shelter of a large department
store, manages to rescue the teens. Altogether there are 14 people
taking shelter in the Greenway store, ranging from high school teens
to six little kids. Mrs Wooly ventures outside to find help and they
are left alone finding to their dismay that the gates have locked
them in. They all need to find their strength and determination to
survive in a world that seems to have gone mad, made worse by the
leakage of chemical warfare agents that affects each person
differently depending on their blood type.
This was an exciting adventure story that kept me reading to the
end. The premise of being marooned in a department store where there
are unlimited delights to be had is always an interesting one.
Laybourne manages to create an world that is believable with the
children behaving in ways that different characters would behave
when faced with disaster and with unlimited materials goods. It is
the setting and the strong characterisation that make this book work
as an enjoyable read.
Dean, the quiet bookish boy, who narrates the story, finds that he
has strengths and can look after younger children. His young brother
Alex is a gadget guru and manages to keep things working in the
shop. Niko is a boy scout whose ability to organise proves
invaluable. There is the stereotypical beautiful girl, Astrid, and
handsome, popular athlete Jake, as well as the little kids,
all of whom have distinct personalities. When two adults appear on
the scene, hard decisions have to be made.
I enjoyed this book and think that it would appeal to reluctant
readers and fans of Michael Grant's Gone series. There are some
scenes of drinking, taking drugs and violence that make it less
suitable for younger teens.
Pat Pledger
The big sleepover by Yvette Poshoglian
Series Ella and Olivia #6 Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742836584. RRP
$7.99
Recommended for girls from 5-7 years. Family, friendship, school
life. Ella and Olivia are ballet-loving sisters who love having
adventures. Imagine the excitement of planning and engaging in your
very first sleepover. Ella is seven and a half and Mum agrees to
have her best friend Zoe stay over on Saturday evening. It is a week
full of challenges and responsibilities showing Ella's determination
to succeed. Ella proves she is a caring, older sister when she
allows her little sister Olivia to enjoy the slumber party and
midnight feast as well.
This is a great addition to those very first chapter books targeted
to girl readers. The style of writing in short, crisp sentences
conveys Ella's feelings of happiness as she plans the Saturday
sleepover. The large size font transitions the young reader into the
wonder of beginning novel reading. Yvette Poshoglian's style of
writing captures the imagination of the young girl audience and
makes it a fun family/school focus novel. Danielle McDonald's line
drawings bring the characters to life. Even the pages are edged with
a printed, lace motif just to add an extra dimension. The reader can
access more Ella and Olivia fun and games at the accompanying
website EllaandOlivia.com.au. This book is the sixth in the series
and is recommended for girls from 5-7 years.
Rhyllis Bignell
Drongoes by Christine Bongers
Ill. by Dan McGuiness. Omnibus, 2013. ISBN 9781 86291 982 2.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Chapter book. Humour. The series,
Mates, has added 16 wonderful stories to the small range of books
offered to the emerging independent reader. This series engages the
new reader with stories that are immediate, based on situations they
know, full of humour and fun, with words which may cause a hiccup or
two shown in a different font, adding another level of interest to
an already fascinating page of colour, excitement and involvement.
If you didn't know the meaning of the Australian slang word, drongo
when you started reading, then you will certainly know it at the
end, and to add to your understanding two pages are given after the
story to further explain the history of this precise word.
Eric and Jack are best friends, and although not overstated or
explained, Eric has problems with breathing. He desperately wants,
just once, to finish a race at school. Both boys are always beaten
by the brash Rocket Robson, and when it comes to the final event of
their primary school year, the cross country, they train to be able
to beat him, and on Eric's side, simply to finish. They train
running around and around Corbie Park, thrilling the pack of
spangled drongoes that live there. On the big day, they all run
well, but as Rocket eats several meat pies before he starts, the
inevitable happens, and the two boys are able to pass him. But near
the finish line, Eric starts to wheeze and pulls back, while Jack
almost gets to the tape. But what can he do about Eric? The spangled
drongoes save the day in a surprising way making this a entertaining
story about what winning actually means.
Fran Knight
The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
Greenwillow, 2012. ISBN 978-0062026507 The crown of embers by Rae Carson. Gollancz, 2012.
978-0575099197.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. The girl of fire and thorns
was awarded 2012 ALA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults and the
Andre Norton Award Nominee for Young Adult Science Fiction and
Fantasy (2011). The second in the series The crown of embers
is equally as good. This is quality fantasy with an inspiring
heroine, adventure, romance and angst, all of which are sure to
appeal to teens.
Although Elisa has the Godstone, a symbol of the Chosen one, she
feels inadequate. Things change when she is betrothed to marry a
king from a neighbouring kingdom. She is overweight and has used
food as her solace, but when she arrives at the kingdom of her
husband Alejandro she discovers that she has the strength to become
a worthy person. Kidnapped by revolutionaries, she shows
determination and strength to survive a long trip across the desert,
only to find her enemies very close by and very dangerous. In the
second book The crown of embers, Elisa, now queen, has to
find her way through court intrigues and the desire of her advisors
to marry her advantageously.
Although the action is compelling and the adventure gripping, it is
the coming of age of Elisa that kept me reading avidly. She is such
a courageous heroine, who doesn't appreciate her own good qualities,
but who meets the demands of every dangerous happening, be it her
own kidnapping or her capture by an evil sorcerer. The characters
surrounding her are brave and intelligent too. The romance in both
books is compelling but not overwhelming.
I loved these two books for their complexity, wonderful characters
and many thought provoking layers. Readers who enjoyed Melina
Marchetta's Lumatere chronicles or Juliet Marillier's Seven
Waters series will be delighted with this series.
Pat Pledger
The Mechanomancers by H. J. Harper
Bureau of Mysteries 2. Random House Australia Children's, 2013.
ISBN: 9781742756486. 320 pages.RRP: $15.95.
(Age: 8-11) H. J. Harper takes readers on another rollicking
romp with the wacky characters from the Bureau of Mysteries as they
battle ancient nefarious spirits to save Little Obscurity. Joining
forces with Sir Periwinkle Tinkerton and his strange silent
assistant Lexica Quill, level-headed George Feather, former chimney
sweep, solves yet another baffling mystery to win the gratitude and
admiration of his fellow Obscuritians. Once again, George is
not-so-ably helped in his endeavours by his 'superior' colleague,
Imp Spektor, and far more, efficiently by his support team,
Hobb and Tempora. Befriended by a giant rat, almost
exterminated by rampant plants and recruiting seemingly
fearsome air pirates are just a few of the new adventures to befall
George, all handled with a terrific pace and hilarious asides.
Harper employs some delightful word play particularly with puns,
which could prove a& useful springboard for teachers.
Student readers will delight in the codes and cryptograms
incorporated into the text as well as Nahum Ziersch's illustrations
of the various characters.
This is a really fun interactive read that would be particularly
enjoyed by boys of about 8-11 years.
Sue Warren
