Scholastic Press, 2012. ISBN: 9781742833835.
Recommended for the 7+ reader. Jackie French continues to sell her
environmental message this time focussing on captive animals used as
a promotion tool.
Glam Rock, pop star, performs with a Siberian Tiger on stage and
according to his publicity supports a breeding program at his
wildlife park to save Siberian tigers from extinction.
Leo, with his ability to communicate with animals, learns that this
is far from the truth and with Mozz decides to rescue the frightened
animal.
With elements of Mission Impossible and Mozz's amazing machines the
children break into Glam's penthouse apartment via the air
conditioning system and of course are caught in the act.
The series could also be used as a tool in an integrated unit on
Conservation. The ethics of using animals for publicity is touched
on and could be used as a great conversation starter when
investigating animal and environmental conservation.
Sue Keane
Ophelia Wild, Secret Spy by Elena de Roo
Illustrated by Tracy Duncan. Walker Books, 2012. 79pp.
(Ages: 7-10) Recommended. Ophelia Wild, Secret Spy and her trusty
assistant Albert are set up to solve all the toughest cases from
their tree-house headquarters and they demonstrate their skills in
cooperation, respect and persistence in this gem of an easy reading
book.
Divided into three quite distinct chapters which are essentially
narrative poems, this book delights young and old by its simple
portrayal of good-will, friendship and how cleverness and ingenuity
can overcome thuggish unkindness. Written completely in verse the
three sections follow Ophelia and Albert as they outsmart the
bullyboy gang, not once but twice, and solve a mystery involving a
cat, an elderly man and some missing false teeth.
Elena de Roo has done a fantastic job with the flow and rhythm of
the text. It never seems forced and follows a wonderful narrative
flow that makes it easy and delightful to read. Not only is this a
fabulous book to read aloud but one which when reading it alone it
seems impossible (for me anyway) to not add the rhythm and
expression that the text seems to demand. The large black and white
illustrations which adorn every page add to the playful and bubbly
nature of the story.
The 'bully' theme is quite a major one in this book and is
quite stereotypical in its portrayal of bullies as beanie-wearing,
spiky-haired, courage-in-numbers types. Assistant Albert is also a
stereotypical intelligent book-reading child with oversized glasses.
The lack of grey area or depth of character seems unimportant
however, in a story focused on beautiful themes of community,
friendship and strength over adversity in a simplified manner.
This is the first Ophelia Wild book and I am hopeful that it won't
be the last.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
Simon and Schuster, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-85707-284-9.
Two passionate teenagers. One Prize. Who will win?
Set in the present time this novel is about the choices people make
and life changing decisions which impact on your friends and family.
The illegitimate child of an opera singer and a good for nothing
play boy, Carmen Bianchi has had anything but a normal life. Her
friend and mentor Heidi, is the only relief from the hours of
constant practice and performance of being a musical prodigy.
Told in the first person the story follows Carmen as she prepares
for the prestigious Guarneri, a classical music prize held once
every four years for violinists worldwide, but is this really what
Carmen wants? Her mother and Yuri have driven her for years
encouraging her to reach utter musical perfection but is that really
possible with Inderal? Is using Inderal fair on the other
competitors? Seeds of doubt worm their way into Carmen's mind in the
weeks before the competition causing Carmen to think of the Guarneri
as an elusive dream, something that she'd never be able to hold so
long as Jeremy King is her competition. Virtuosity is a compelling novel about love, loss and
freedom. An involving novel, I would recommend it to those who
enjoyed reading The Last Song and the movie Raise your
Voice. Jessica Martinez did a wonderful job describing the
joys and triumphs that come with being a musician and the ups and
downs of just being a teenager and rounded off her novel nicely as a
story of hope and freedom.
Kayla Gaskell, age 16.
Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr
Harper Collins Children's Books, 2012. ISBN 9780007456864.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. For fans of Melissa Marr (bestselling author
of the Wicked Lovely series), this collection of short
stories will be a delight. It includes twelve original short stories
written by Melissa Marr, some themed around the world of Wicked
Lovely, and some completely new to the reader. Faery Tales and Nightmares consists of twelve short stories,
however there are too many to review here, so these are some of my
favourites. Where Nightmares Walk: Nothing more than a page and a half,
this nevertheless is a spooky intro to the novel. Winter's Kiss: This tells the story of a princess cursed with
icy breath, and a snow bear that sees it as a gift. It reads like a
very interesting, traditional fairy tale. Love Struck: An interesting love story and fairy tale about
selkies. A complex storyline, but quite sweet and beautiful. The Art Of Waiting: The story of a town that is incased in
snow and ice each winter, but melts to beauty in the spring. A man
and his daughter come to the town, and the townspeople wait to see
if they, like so many others, will leave. Interesting and amusing,
this reads much like a poem. Flesh For Comfort: A disturbing story about a girl willing to
do anything for beauty. Easily the most unsettling out of the
non-Wicked Lovely themed stories. The Sleeping Girl And The Summer King: This story was the
original inspiration for the Wicked Lovely series.
One extra point to make is the design of the whole novel. The cover
is exquisite and each story has a small illustration beforehand,
making it all beautiful to look at.
While all the stories are interesting and very well written, the
short story Winter's Kiss is the standout here.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams
More or less : democracy and new media ed. by Helen Sykes
Future Leaders, 2012. ISBN 9780980332070.
(Senior secondary: Adult) Future leaders is an organisation which
seeks to foster and promote leadership by young Australians and
their latest publication is a collection of essays which guide
consideration of the nature and role of new media in Democratic
society. The second half of the book contains examples of creative
writing pieces submitted by senior secondary students.
Contributions by prominent Australians and academics form chapters
which are distinct and unrelated beyond the common theme of media.
The observations are often complex and sometimes expressed in lofty
terms, to the point that some contributors could be considered self
- indulgent. Other writers employ ordinary language to convey worthy
and thought provoking points of view and because the works stand
alone, the reader can be selective.
Whilst many secondary students will reject this work as too
challenging or because they are disinterested in the topic, others
will benefit from the opportunity to consider concepts and ideas
which they might not readily encounter in their regular sphere. This
is a notion touched upon by some of the writers when referring to
the standard and style of news / current affairs appearing on
television and radio or the staggering political bias perpetuated by
suffocating and dominating media ownership. Agenda driven or
erroneous material available on websites and blogs and the capacity
to reduce serious matters to puerile catch cries or to convert inane
or unimportant incidents to 'news' in online updates, sound grabs or
tweets is also revealed. Populist movements, regarded as powerful
and just or alternatively naive and ineffective, (depending upon
one's point of view) also come under scrutiny.
This book offers many insights on topics such as the balance of
freedom of information against personal privacy and security,
questioning whether we are becoming more ignorant when access to
information has never been greater and consideration of the
principle that exchange of ideas is vital in healthy democracies. If
nothing else is gained however, students will understand that they
must be discerning in what they read, see and hear, to appreciate
who is behind the presentation and to what extent they are being
manipulated.
Rob Welsh
Editor's note: A free copy of this book is available for every
secondary school. Contact Dr Helen Sykes at Future Leaders: helen@futureleaders.com.au
Bog Frog Hop by Kyle Mewburn
Ill. by Rebecca Cool. Little Hare, 2012. Hbk. RRP $22.99. ISBN
9781921714580.
'In a soggy bog is a mossy log and swimming around it are ten
polliwogs, plip,
plop, glip glop, flip, flop.
One slippery polliwog grows legs, becomes a frog.
Nine slippery polliwogs
Plopping in the soggy bog
One flippy floppy frog
Sitting on the mossy log
Croak Croak Lonely frog.'
This is the most entertaining roll-off-the-tongue counting rhyme
Miss Nearly 6 and I have shared for ages. The language is such fun
and such a great example of its rhythms and rhymes that it's a
delight to share. The illustrations by CBCA shortlisted illustrator
Rebecca Cool, are the perfect accompaniment with their colour,
simplicity and quirkiness. The little listener is drawn to counting
the polliwogs as more and more become frogs and as they do, there is
much to discover to intrigue and delight, especially when the
scriffy scruffy dog becomes part of the action. And all the while,
the rain falls harder - Drip! Drop! Glip! Glop! Splish! Splosh!
Plish! Plosh! Splish! Splash! Ka-plish! Ka-plash!
And then the rain stops . . .
I took this book to a kindergarten class I was teaching and we had
such fun turning it into a voice band to accompany the story and all
the counting, adding and subtracting we were doing. Then we had a
heap of fun creating our own polliwogs and frogs and raindrops for a
mural that showcased their talents for all to see. A must-have on
the shelves of our youngest students!
Barbara Braxton
Wired series by various authors
A and C Black, London, 2011. Drawing a veil by Lari Don. ISBN 9781 4081 5559 2. Pitch dark by Robert Dodds. ISBN 978 1 4081 5573 8.
(Ages: 11+) Recommended. Quick reads. One in the series, Wired,
aimed at lower secondary students with perhaps a need for a quick
read or who may have lower literacy levels, Drawing a veil
touches on issues within a school community which many students come
across. Amina has decided that she will now wear a veil. She wants
to be seen and known as a modest Muslim girl, and her friend, Ellie
is ambivalent about her reasoning, but when she is bullied stands up
for her right to make her own choice.
This little book deals effectively with the issue of a Muslim girl
wanting to wear a head scarf, and shows why she has decided to do
this, but along the way the book reveals bullying which occurs in a
school, and the strength needed to stand together for what the girls
believe. The arresting cover in which Amina stares out at the reader
will attract browsers.
The second, Pitch dark, tells a highly engrossing story of a
boy who moves to a new school, wanting to be selected for the soccer
team. When he is rejected he walks home through the now deserted
soccer pitch near his home and there exchanges shots with a man in a
wheelchair. When he says something about this at school, he is
derided as the team that played there was killed in a bus crash,
only the coach surviving. This is a neat little thriller, told
succinctly and well, and is another easily read offering in this
series.
Each of these books is very short, some 60 pages with large clear
print and wide margins and a few drawings to break up the pages.
Similar to the Lightning Strikes series, these will be
eagerly selected by students wanting something quick and easy or one
which aims at their lower literacy level, or to a classroom teacher
wanting a set of books to have for their students to fill in spare
moments or build a lesson round.
Fran Knight
The Greedy Crocodile by Sally Morgan
Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 9781921720659.
(Age: 8 years +) The Greedy Crocodile is a beautifully
illustrated collection of short stories and a companion title to The
Flying Emu. The author, Sally Morgan, was brought up in a
family where storytelling was a regular part of life and through the
book she hopes to share this pleasure with younger readers.
While the stories in the book are not traditional indigenous ones,
they nevertheless have an essentially Australian flavour. Greedy
crocodiles, fat wombats and dingos feature alongside magic and
spirits from the rivers and sky. The author was told some of these
stories as a child and the ideas for others have come from her
children, nieces and nephews. All the stories contain a moral lesson
for the reader to consider. The boy who nearly wished his life away
learns the hard way to be careful what you wish for and the proud
goanna becomes a victim of his own vanity.
The stories are all reasonably short but younger readers may find
the text a little too sophisticated to manage alone. However, they
will delight in hearing them read out loud and hopefully will enjoy
them enough to become storytellers themselves one day!
Tina Cain
Shadow Runners by Daniel Blythe
Shadow Runners series, Book 1. Chicken House, 2012. 243 pp
(Ages: 10-16) In this story we go on a journey into the
supernatural with our at times reluctant teenage heroine, Miranda
May. Set in a small English seaside town the book is distinctly
English in many of its references but still accessible for
Australian audiences. The scene is set when Miranda moves to a new
town after a family tragedy. It isn't long before strange things
start happening, not just around her but also to her. Finding it
hard to fit in Miranda is soon torn between two friendship groups, a
girl who has similar interests to her, and a mismatched group who
seem to know much more about the odd things happening in the town
than she does. Soon drawn into their mysterious group Miranda starts
to question everything and everyone she knows and is soon caught in
the middle of a mission to track down the dangerous shadowy evil
that threatens to destroy them all.
Themes of friendship, special abilities and the hidden paranormal
activity hiding in dull towns abound in this fast-paced and
intelligent book. The last chapter names the group of teens as 'the
shadow runners' and sets the scene for a plethora of follow up
titles for this new series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story
especially as it was full of believable teenage voices, wit and
banter. This is primarily achieved through the set up of the book as
the diary of Miranda which allows for her attitude and personality
to shine though in the text.
Although at times corny, implausible and overly exacting in its
explanation (perhaps not giving the reader enough credit) the book
is engaging and keeps suspense high with many twists, turns and
surprises. This story has little or no potential for classroom use
but will be enjoyed by younger readers who enjoy supernatural
stories set in the everyday world. The very subtle incorporation of
a hint of boy-girl adoration and the incorporation of some complex
ideas unnecessary for plot understanding make the book appealing to
a broad age range.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
The million paws puppy by Chris Kunz
RSPCA Animal Tales Series book 1. Random House Australia, 2012. 70pp
(Ages: 7-10) Nine-year-old Cassie Bannerman is animal mad. She is
also determined, headstrong and always ready to lend a hand (or
two). The storyline, while lacklustre at times, is simple enough for
newly independent readers and well-written enough to engage the
young reader. The story is the first in the RSPCA Animal Tales
series and it is therefore fitting that the story revolves around
Cassie meeting the new RSPCA vet and convincing his son, Ben, to
participate in the RSPCA Million Paws Walk. When a little puppy runs
away from his owner on an adventure Cassie and Ben and their dogs
initiate a successful rescue mission.
Being an advocate for all things animals Cassie is the perfect
heroine for this all-new series which includes fact files about the
RSPCA and pet care at the end of the stories. This is definitely a
series which will appeal to pet-loving children all around
Australia. Not only those who are familiar with the challenges and
joys of being a pet-owner, but also the many children who have
all-consuming dreams of pets and animals. Themes of making
friends, inclusiveness and compassion are intertwined with humour
and lightness making this a great book for young readers.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Shy the platypus by Leslie Rees
National Library of Australia, 2011. ISBN 9780642277411. $24.95
(Ages: 8+) This book, first published in 1944, outlines the
adventures of Shy as she grows up and leaves the family nest to have
a life of her own. It begins with a forward by Leslie Rees'
daughter, outlining us why and how her father addressed a lack
of books for children about Australian animals.
The style is very descriptive and would be ideal for a read aloud
text during a study of Australian animals in Year 3 or 4. Also ideal
for teachers wanting to ensure they cover classic literature as well
as contemporary texts with classes.
The book finishes with factual information about the platypus and
details about the beautiful illustrations included to support the
text. A worthy addition to a school library or lovely present from
grandparents wanting to give their grandchildren a quality book to
treasure.
Chris Lloyd
My father's islands: Abel Tasman's heroic voyages by Christobel Mattingley
National Library of Australia, 2012. ISBN 9780642277367.
(Ages: 10+) Historical. Highly recommended. Craesjen introduces
herself from the start, a strong minded, chatty young girl,
continually asking questions of her seafaring father, Abel Tasman,
especially when he arrives home after months at sea, bringing with
him the scent of spices and many, many tales. In this wonderful
recreation of the story of this early explorer and his amazing
discoveries, Christobel Mattingley has taken on the voice of his
daughter, a girl who loves her father, despite his being at sea for
so long.
Working for the Dutch East India Company means taking on an array of
things, chasing pirates, catching smugglers, charting unknown waters
and islands, searching for any new goods which could be sold at high
profits back in Europe and carrying cargo back to be sold. Made
captain, his abilities are recognised and he is commissioned to
explore the seas north of Indonesia, the Dutch East Indies, and
later given the command of two ships, the Zeehaan and the Heenskerck
o find new goods and things to trade.
This fictionalised biography of Tasman never falters. We hear of his
exploits and courage, his daring and expeditions through the eyes of
his daughter, and so are given an easily digested version of his
life and discoveries. What might have been ponderous is exciting and
visual, told with a child's perspective, and the inclusion of many
maps and drawings from the draughtsman on this voyage in 1642 add to
the fascination of Tasman's life.
There has been a number of excellent fictionalised biographies of
late, the wonderful Taj and the great camel trek by Roanne
Hawke, giving the exploits of Giles' expedition across the Nullarbor,
and Anthony Hill's absorbing recreation of Cook's voyages in Captain
Cook's apprentice.With the Australian Curriculum's history
focus, students are well served with these books, and My
father's islands will be the icing on the cake for those
studying Australia's early exploration. Having been taught that
Tasman was one of our foremost early explorers, paving the way for
Cook and others to discover more of our shorelines and so
precipitate the settlement of Australia by Europeans, to read that
Tasman was dismissed as not courageous enough by his masters in
Batavia, was shocking. I hope that younger readers who read this
book will be equally disturbed by the reception this great man
received, after reading this engrossing account of his life and
achievements.
Fran Knight
Australian Backyard Naturalist by Peter Macinnis
National Library of Australia, 2012. ISBN 9780642277428.
From the furry to the slimy, the large to the tiny, Peter Macinnis
explores the lives of the animals that share our lives and spaces in
this fabulous book designed to introduce the reader to the
fascinating world living in their backyard. From possums to parrots
to pill-bugs, we learn about the habits and habitats of creatures
that many of us never even notice yet are critical to ensuring that
our environment is healthy and harmonious. Much as I think that some
creatures have way too many legs and shudder as I think of them
creeping over my skin, I now have a new respect for them and
although I'm yet to be convinced of the value of a fly, I do
understand that without them there would be no maggots and therefore
the medical world would be deprived of an important source of
therapy.
For this is the sort of information that is characteristic of
Peter's books - he doesn't just give dry facts that can be clicked,
copied and pasted into some equally dry assignment - he tells a
story that absorbs you so you just keep reading and learning,
engaged and intrigued, and emerging with not just information, but
insight.
Each section comprises smaller sections that make its information
accessible in the short chunks that support the learning needs of
its audience. In My Backyard gives Peter's experiences with
each sort of creature and it's this personal touch that is one of
the elements which sets this book apart. At a Glance gives a
broader background of the creatures and this is supported by Amazing!
full of those quirky facts that some may wonder at the author's
ability to winkle out, but those who are familiar with his writing
and know the depth of his research are not so surprised. A
Closer Look examines more complex issues such as chemical
signals in ants and then the storyteller side of the scientist
returns with fascinating histories about man's interaction with the
creature. Did you know that Amalie Dietrich spent ten years living
rough in the Queensland bush in the mid-19th century collecting,
preparing and preserving specimens for use in European scientific
studies, including the first-ever taipan snake? Her work led her
become known as 'Australia's first spider lady'. Finally, each
section has at least one project idea that students can engage in so
they can see for themselves just what it is they have been learning
about. (Miss 5 is going to love those and Grandma is just going to
have to grow some backbone.)
The whole book is lavishly illustrated with photos from the National
Library's collections and diagrams and photos that no Google search
will ever deliver. The whole thing has this rich, glossy, satisfying
feeling that a quality print resource offers and is accompanied by teachers notes.
I'm always honoured to review Peter's books and this one is no
exception - it's been a torment having to wait till most schools
were back in session so that as many as possible can know about what
I consider to be a vital addition to the library's non fiction
collection, primary and secondary. In 2010, Peter's book Australian
Backyard Explorer won the Eve Pownall Award for Information
Books from the CBCA - I predict Australian Backyard Naturalist
will be a similar winner in 2013.
If it is not readily available through your local bookseller, it is
online through both National Library bookshop and the distributor,
NewSouth Books.
Barbara Braxton
Wired series by various authors
A and C Black, 2011.
(Ages 11+) Recommended. Quick reads. Horror. The haunted mobile by Robert Dodds. ISBN 9781 4081 4258
5. The haunted mobile is a story that all of us can recognise as
a horror story for today. When Jake's mobile phone begins to send
him messages, asking for help and then texts his friends with
messages Jake did not send, he is perplexed. His friends think he is
lying, but when the messages become more insistent he takes action. Beast hunter by Kathryn White. ISBN 978 1 4081 4265 3.
Beast hunter tells a scary story of what may lurk in the old
quarry near Jacob's home, a quarry now filled with water. The signs
of danger and keep out are a magnet to the boys from the area who
spend the summer swimming in the cool water, until one fateful day,
one of the boys is drowned. But Jacob has seen something and
convincing those around him that what he has seen is a crocodile
draws derision from all and sundry. Beast hunter is a neatly
resolved, short horror story. Dead wood by Andy Croft. ISBN 978 1 4081 6335 1. Dead wood is an environmental horror story of sorts as
Holly's family move into an old house near a wood that her father
must cut down in the first moves to build a new housing estate. When
Holly's friend Ash stays the night weird things happen, resulting in
much damage to the house, which her parents blame on the girls, but
later when it happens again, her father ends up in hospital. A
horror story with bite.
Each of these books is very short, some 60 pages with large clear
print and wide margins and a few drawings to break up the pages.
Similar to the Lightning Strikes series, these will be
eagerly selected by students wanting something quick and easy or for
those who want a book which aims at their lower literacy level, or
to a classroom teacher wanting a set of books to have for their
students to fill in spare moments or build a lesson round.
Fran Knight
Collywobble by Malachy Doyle
Ill. by Petra Brown. Pont Books, Wales, 2012. ISBN 978 1848513204.
(Ages: 5+) Warmly recommended. Picture book. Be sure to wear your
woollies when reading this endearing tale of the runt of the litter,
rejected by the farmers who want a pup to be a big strong sheep dog,
and rejected by children who want a robust dog as a pet, then kept
on by Farmer Joe as long as he is able to earn his keep. But it is
mid winter, and when the pup's mum, Bess and Farmer Joe go out in
the snow to fetch the sheep, the pup knows something is wrong. After
all, no one has given him his tea. He ventures out into the snow,
and seeing the sheep coming along the road, closes the gate when
they trot into the yard. He then sets out to find his master and his
mother, having to hail down another farmer for help.
Named Collywobble, because he is a collie dog, but very small and
wobbly, the little pup will worm his way into the hearts of all the
readers of this little book. The illustrations, cute to the point
of 'aahh', are just wonderful in their depiction of the Welsh
countryside in mid winter. The dogs portrayed are charming, and will
appeal to every child and adult who reads the book. Pencil and line
drawings render the dog and its family beautifully. I just love the
double page spread of the determined little pup going out in the
snow on pages 14 and 15, and the water colour washes depicting the
Welsh Hills on pages 30 and 31, another 'aahh' moment.
A simple tale, well told in succinct prose, the book will be a hit
with its audience. It is published by a small publisher in Wales, Pont Books, but it is worth
ordering from your local supplier.
Fran Knight
