Candlewick Press, 2011. ISBN 978 0 7636 4835 0.
(Ages 12+) Recommended. When Dewey Turner sees Darwin play
Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy, dressed as a minstrel, he decides that
he will take the part in the school production the following year,
and so uses black shoe polish to cover his white skin in rehearsal.
Unfortunately it will not come off, and the following day, his first
day at high school, becomes miserable, as do the following
weeks. He is bullied about being a coloured boy, called Sambo,
not allowed to use the toilet, because it is whites only, and older
boys do random acts of intimidation, like taking his lunch, during
his school days. Outside school, it is not much better as he tries
to make friends with others of his age in the neighbourhood.
The only person he is able to befriend is another outsider, Darla,
who wears her hair like Shirley Temple, and sings and dances.
Together the two become aware of bigger issues within their
neighbourhood.
An almost frightening look at middle America in the mid 1960's, when
teachers taught America versus Communism, and spoke of The Society
for Coloured People, and Martin Luther King Jr as being communists,
and fathers were called 'sir' and took off their belts to punish
their sons for misdemeanors, the background of racism is evident.
The janitor at the high school, in the all white neighbourhood of
Tampa, is black, and is about the only black person this narrow
community sees. So when Dewey and his brother are told by their
father to drop his leaflets at the homes in the poor black suburb,
their eyes are opened to the inequality and racism which exists
around them. The novel becomes a coming of age story where Dewey
eyes are opened not only to racism, but the effects of the Vietnam
War, abuse and his own sexuality, giving the reader a definitive
look at USA in the 1950's and 1960's when segregation was the norm.
Fran Knight
The ring of water by Chris Bradford
Penguin, 2011. ISBN 978 0 141 33254 3.
(Ages 11+) Fantasy. Recommended. The fifth in the series, Young
Samurai, begins with Jack Fletcher wakening stiff and sore, in a
wayside, inn, having lost everything including his most precious
thing, his memory. He has also lost his swords and his father's
rutter, and so he goes to try and retrieve them. In doing so he
meets up with a masterless Samurai called, Ronin, and a girl called
Hana, an outcast. Jack has been trained as a Samurai and a ninja but
because he is a gaijin, a foreigner, he is looked down upon by
everyone else. As a result, the Shogun is after him, as he has
expelled all the Europeans and Jack is just another one.
The story is at its heart a boy's own adventure, where the three
overcome all odds and retrieve Jack's swords and rutter, with lots
of fight sequences where Jack and Ronin are able to use their
prodigious skills against the Shogun's men and other outlawed gangs
trying to get them. An exciting well written read, which drags the
reader along with great action sequences and some humour, this book
will have readers eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
Mark Knight
Tiny little fly by Michael Rosen
Ill. by Kevin Waldron. Walker, 2010. ISBN 9781406330977.
(Age 2-5) Recommended. Tiny little fly has great fun stirring up the
tempers of some very large animals: a tiger, elephant and hippo. The
great big elephant tries to tramp and squash the fly, the hippo
attempts to roll on him and the tiger swoops on him with his great
big paw. They are all determined to catch him but that elusive
little insect is way too quick!
As you would expect from Michael Rosen, a British Children's
Laureate, the poem in this story is catchy and memorable. With a few
sparse words, he is able to catch the teasing nature of that
annoying small fly, in a wonderful rhyme that will have children
asking for the book time and again. It is a delightful book to read
aloud and one that will linger in the memory. The rhyme and rhythm
will help emerging readers to remember words and to predict what is
coming next.
Kevin Waldron's illustrations are really wonderful. He manages to
catch the size and ability of the three dangerous predators. With a
few bold black strokes, the stripes on the tiger jump out of the
page, and his bright green eyes glare at the reader. The pink of the
hippo's mouth is a delight and brings up all sorts of images of just
what that animal could swallow, not to mention what damage the size
of the elephant's feet could inflict on that pesky fly. As Rosen
tells the tale from the fly's point of view, Waldron's illustrations
follow, showing just parts of the animals, until they emerge as a
full vivid illustration. Children have to guess what the next animal
will be and will enjoy working it out from the drawing.
Humour lifts this story as each animal takes two winks at the fly
and the funny ending will bring a smile to everyone's faces. It also
provides an opportunity to act out the actions of the animals as
they attempt to bring down the fly. This is a keeper for my
grandchildren.
Pat Pledger
The butterfly heart by Paula Leyden
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 9781406327922.
This modern story set in the butterfly shaped country of Zambia in
Southern Africa considers the existence of traditional beliefs in
contemporary society. Bul-Boo and Madillo are twin sisters in their
early teens who discover that their close school friend Winifred has
a distressing problem. Winifred's father has recently died and
according to traditional custom, her domineering and aggressive
uncle has taken her widowed mother as a wife, and worse, has
promised Winifred as a bride to his equally repugnant friend.
Not knowing how to help, the twins enlist the help of Ifwafwa, the
local snake catcher who has mysterious powers but is kindly with
decent values. Not knowing if he will be able to deal with this
problem, the help of a 'Witch' (in the sense of witch-doctor) is
also sought. Through these two characters, the reader appreciates
that traditional laws are being misinterpreted and misused by the
Uncle and that ancient cultural values exist to prevent such action.
The affirming notion evident throughout this tale is that innocent
children must be protected and that risks should be taken and fears
overcome to achieve this.
This novel is interesting and easy to read, but I was left feeling a
little disappointed by what I perceived to be confusion in direction
and an incomplete resolution. There are many veiled references
to premature death and the creation of hardship for families and
orphaned children, yet H.I.V. is only explicitly mentioned once and
the sheer enormity of the situation may escape some readers.
One cannot expect 'happily ever after' conclusions in novels of this
type, however I was disappointed that important elements
specifically introduced by the author were not finalised. Others
however may consider that metaphysical and metaphorical elements
provided the facility for the reader to construct their own outcome.
This novel will educate readers about social and economic realities
in Southern Africa and will give some appreciation of how fortunate
and secure most of us are in the developed world. It is
fitting that it has been endorsed by Amnesty International.
Robin Welsh
Find Chaffy by Jamie Smart
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 9781407120904.
(All ages) A fun alternative to Where's Wally, this book will keep
children (and adults) entertained for hours as they attempt to find
Chaffy, who is white and has a cute little face and one droopy ear.
Ten of these little Chaffies have wandered off and become lost and
it is up to the reader to find them.
Jamie Smart has written and drawn an incredibly detailed adventure
for the little Chaffies. He has placed the lost Chaffies in a double
page spread with hundreds of black and white pandas for a start, and
it is not an easy task to find a white Chaffy in a sea of pandas, I
can tell you! I was pleased that there was a hint on the front
cover, showing where a couple of them could be located. This helped
a bit in understanding just how tiny they were on the page. At the
kitty circus, nine Chaffies are lost, but one looks different and so
on!
Every alternative double spread has humorous stories about the
Chaffies' adventure and is very funny to read. The detail of all the
little faces that Jamie Smart has drawn is amazing.
This would make an ideal present for any child who likes to examine
detail and needs to be entertained for hours searching for things.
In a library the trick will be to stop the ever-eager reader putting
a mark on the Chaffy when they find it!
Pat Pledger
If you're happy and you know it! by P. Crumble and Chris Kennett
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 9781741698916.
(Age: 2-5) An Aussie edition of the very familiar song If you're
happy and you know it, this book will have children climbing a
tree with a possum, digging a hole with a wombat, bouncing around
with a wallaby, scratching fleas with a dingo and laughing out loud
with a kookaburra. And that's just a few of the Australian animals
and their actions!
A good addition for parents and pre-schools, this gives a unique
twist to the classic rhyme and provides a lot of fun for youngsters.
In fact, if you are sick of singing the traditional rhyme this will
be a good alternative! Children are sure to enjoy doing the actions
associated with the animals. The book starts with the first verse of
the song, and then gives a double page spread for each Australian
animal, with the first line of the song on the left hand side and
pictures of each additional animal on the right. After the reader
gets to 'When you're a koala and you know it, fall asleep', the text
shows each of the verses for the animals in a separate box for each
one. This means that the book could be used as a story or the
teacher/parent could just go the back of the book and find all the
rhymes to sing and act out.
The illustrations are cute and will appeal to young children. They
are colourful and cartoon like, with human accessories like a bow in
the pink possum's hair and glasses on the bandicoot. If the aim of
the book were to teach about Australian animals, it would pay to
have real photos as well, to compare just what they look like.
The popularity of this song has stood the test of time and this will
be a whimsical option when singing it or reading out loud to
children.
Pat Pledger
Flood by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN978 1 742630728.
(Ages: All) Recommended. Picture book. Environment. The watery wash
and pencil drawings of Bruce Whatley are an enticing counterpoint to
Jackie French's spare writing, in which the power of the floods to
destroy much of riverside Brisbane is evoked in this magnificent
picture book. From the beginnings, where gentle rain falls, to its
becoming incessant and surging down rivers, breaking their banks
forcing people onto their rooftops, the power of the water is
obvious in both word and illustration. Whatley's pictures go from
green to brown as the water swirls up soil and debris, while
French's words remind us that people are always there, volunteering
to fill sandbags, helping people from their roofs, ferrying them
across swollen rivers.
Part way through the story, the wood and metal boardwalk is loosed
from its moorings and begins to float into the Brisbane River,
threatening whatever is in its path. A small but determined tug boat
chugs out and nudges it into the middle of the river where it washes
out to sea, safe from causing harm. The tug, a metaphor for all the
brave volunteers who took it upon themselves in those days to feed,
house and clothe the many made homeless by the floods, or those
filling sandbags and rowing the boats, cheered the hearts of all who
watched.
In a forward by Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland, the reader is
told that every school in Australia will receive a free copy of this
book, while profits made from the sale of this book, will be donated
to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal. At the end of the book,
both Jackie French and Bruce Whatley give more information about the
book and its development.
This is a most pertinent picture book, not only telling a rousing
story with beautiful illustrations but one which could be used over
and over in the classroom where environment, sustainability,
disasters and particularly, floods, are under discussion.
Fran Knight
Herbert the Brave Sea Dog by Robyn Belton
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978921529313.
Herbert was loved by everyone, but most of all by Tim. One
day, Tim's father and two friends began an everyday trip in their
boat through the French Pass in New Zealand's Marlborough
Sounds. Because those waters are treacherous, Tim was left to
make the trip by car with his mother, but Herbert the dog jumped on
the boat ready for adventure. And what an adventure it
was . . . At first the sea was calm and sparkling but as
is common in that area, things soon changed for the worse, and in
the middle of the storm, Herbert was lost overboard, slipping in
unnoticed.
This is the true story of a little boy's faith, a courageous dog and
a happy ending. The end-papers pay tribute to what Herbert
endured during his 30 hours at sea, and a story that will be in
Nelson's folklore forever. The book won the Russell Clark
Award which recognises excellence in children's book illustration
and received very positive reviews from publications such as the New
York Times and the Toronto Star. All are very
well-deserved. I found it compelling reading.
Barbara Braxton
I love you, Mummy by Catherine Vase
Gullane Children's Books, 2011. ISBN 9781862338098.
Board book. Mummy is all of Little Elephant's favourite things . .
. a woolly jumper, soft and snug; a cat's gentle purr; a juicy
strawberry. While the concept of the book is quite simple and
it is a complete tuck-me-in, kiss-me-goodnight story, it also has a
place in kick starting a child's venture into figurative language
and writing. Imagine how a mother would treasure a book
written and illustrated by her child telling her she is the golden
sunshine for Mother's Day, or a dad getting the same for Father's
Day. And imagine the learning that would go into creating such
a tome. This book has the potential to be more than a
feel-good warm fuzzy.
And my mum??? You are the springboard off which I jumped, the safety
net that caught me and the soft, warm quilt in which I wrapped
myself.
Barbara Braxton
Pearson Picture Books series by various authors
Pearson, 2011.
(Age 5-7) Pearson Picture Books is a series of readers aimed at
young children. The stories were all interesting and illustrated
with pictures that would appeal to young children. They would be
ideal to send home with children who are just beginning to read as
the number of words is fairly limited and there is lots of
repetition to help children learn new words. The hardback books are
study and would hold up to a lot of handling. The stories are ones
that would appeal to both boys and girls.
Two baby elephants by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. ISBN
9781442548114.
Recommended. Two children have lots of fun with tow baby elephants
while Mum is away. They eat the food, leave the dirty dishes and
leave havoc behind wherever they go. This is a lot of fun to read
and the illustrations are fabulous. The text rhymes and it is easy
to predict. The conclusion makes a humorous finish to a book that
will appeal to children.
Try again, Emma by Jane Langford and Ann Kroneimer.
ISBN 978 1 44254 799 5.
A cute story about a little girl, who makes a poster for a
competition, has a message about continuing to try to do one's best
even if there are pitfalls on the way.
The day the sky fell down by Michaela Morgan and Jane Cope.
ISBN 9781442548015.
A variation on an old folktale, about a chicken that thought the sky
was falling in, this verse story is amusing and should appeal to
young children.
Pat Pledger
In the Sea there are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda
Random House, 2011. ISBN 9781846554766.
Highly Recommended. This is a compelling and intimate story about
Enaiatollah Akbari and his journey from Afghanistan to Italy.
Fearful for her son's life, Enaiatollah's mother takes him to
Pakistan. Without explanation and without warning she leaves him
there to make a life of his own. He is only 10 years old. What is
truly incredible about Enaiatollah's story is that it is not unique;
there are other boys, just like him, refugees from Afghanistan
trying to survive, trying to stay safe, trying to find a place they
can call home.
Before she left him, Enaiatollah's mother made him promise that he
would not steal, he would not take drugs and he would not use
weapons. Three promises she left him with, as a manifesto, a guide
to follow whilst making his journey into manhood. Without the
protection of family, as well as living in strange and violent lands
Enaiatollah strives to uphold those ideals.
Fabio Geda retells Enaiatollah's story with warmth and compassion,
interacting with him in a gentle and intimate manner which brings
depth to the story. Although written as a fictional piece the
story is recreated from Enaiatollah's memory. With its
simplistic style, the reader is drawn into the world of the child:
his thought processes and his perceptions. The story spans five
years, Enaiatollah is only fifteen when he arrives in Italy and
realizes that this is the place he wants to call home.
Sue Mann
The loser list by H.N. Kowitt
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 978 0 545 24004 8.
(Age 10 years+) The Loser List is an insight into the lives
of 12 year old kids and the ups and downs of fitting in at school.
It is told from Danny's point of view, the kid who generally walks
to the beat of his own drum, until his name gets put on the 'Loser
List' in the girl's toilet (of all places). Danny tries to remove
his name but is caught. Through a trip to detention, he meets Axl,
the school bully, and before long others are seeing him differently.
Unfortunately, while some good things happen, Danny is unknowingly
involved in a theft! The Loser List is a comical story of when to do the right
thing, being accepted by your peers and accepting yourself.
Will Danny officially join Axl's gang to be popular? Will Logan ever
forgive him? Will he get his best friend back? Readers 10 years+
will enjoy the fast-paced novel with easy to read text and cartoon
illustrations. It will appeal to readers who have enjoyed the Diary
of a Wimpy Kid series.
Kylie Kempster
Pink by Janet A. Holmes and Jonathan Bentley
Little Hare, 2011. ISBN 9781921541797.
Lily loves all things pink - strawberry ice cream, her pink bike,
her pink tutu, her pink ball and her pink high-heeled boots, hat and
feather boa. But poor Lily has no one to share her ice cream, to
play catch with, to dance or ride with or even to dress up with.
Poor, lonely Lily. She tries to make friends with the snail, the
mouse and the chicken and the goat chews her beautiful hat. Will she
ever find a friend? And then, along comes the perfect friend of all
. . . a beautiful, intelligent, pink . . .
Miss 5 adores pink and she adored this story. It's fun, it's
imaginative and the perfect feel-good, close-your-eyes story for
bedtime. I just hope she doesn't ask for a pink . . . to go with all
her other pink things. Could be tricky.
Barbara Braxton
Mole hunt by Paul Collins
Ford St, 2011. ISBN 9781921665264.
This book is hard to categorise. Part science fiction, part
thriller, part action adventure, barely does it justice.
Maximus Black is thoroughly unpleasant, totally self centred and
prepared to do whatever is necessary to achieve his ends. This
includes wholesale murder and manipulation. Maximus is a star
cadet for RIM, a law enforcement come spy agency with tentacles
across the galaxy. The only problem is that he is also a mole
in RIM and is there to achieve his own ends. One day a message is
received at the agency that there is a mole in the agency. As he is
the mole Maximus Black takes swift and decisive action against
Anneke Longshadow the author of the message. Thus begins an
exciting cat and mouse game of move and counter move as Anneke seeks
to uncover the mole and Maximus tries everything he can to remain
undetected. The violence escalates as each thwarts the other.
There is plenty of technical detail to keep the science fiction fans
happy and it still manages to stay on the right side of believable
as the story unfolds. Neither of the main characters is particularly
likeable, their creed being the end justifies the means.
It is an exciting fast paced story and I am sure that it will have
many readers looking forward to the sequel to find out more about
Maximus and his evil schemes.
David Rayner
The happy book by Malachy Doyle
Ill. by Caroline Uff. Bloomsbury Books, 2011. ISBN 9780747595489.
(All ages) Highly recommended. Malachy Doyle hits the spot with this
wonderful picture book. In the blog, An
Awfully Big Blog Adventure he writes that the
inspiration for the book was an old Swedish proverb:
'Fear less, hope more,
Whine less, breathe more,
Talk less, say more,
Hate less, love more
And all good things will be yours.'
Doyle takes the reader, young and old through a series of scenarios
showing both negative and positive feelings and behaviours. Malachy
comes up with ways of helping to prevent the nasty situations and
emotions that all children face: teasing, having toys grabbed from
them, grumbling, shouting and squabbling. Each scenario gives the
reader a real solution to start feeling happy in difficult times. I
particularly loved the 'Tease less' on the left hand page and
'Tickle more' on the right hand page and the 'Worry less', 'Wonder
more' instruction followed by the 'Be happy'command.
The language has a rhythm to it that lends to having it read aloud,
and I can imagine young children joining in with a chorus of the
antidotes to the negative feelings. Caroline Uff has produced warm,
colourful images of an older sister and younger brother in familiar
surroundings. Her drawings complement the words and add to the
inviting nature of the book.
This is certainly a book that could be used for classroom discussion
to help produce a happy, co-operative atmosphere and will be a boon
as a family read. Now I have to decide whether to keep it for a
personal bible to being happy or send it to London to my
grandchildren!
Pat Pledger
