Faber, 2011. ISBN 978 0 571272389.
Andy Briggs' contemporary Tarzan story shows a great deal of loyalty to
the vision and style of Edgar Rice Burroughs. The original Tarzan
of
the apes was published nearly one hundred years ago, yet one is
immediately aware when reading this new episode that very little change
was necessary in the setting. The early Tarzan was way ahead of his
time in recognising and resisting the threat posed by European
exploitation of Africa's rain forests. Today jungles are being cleared
and animals threatened at an alarming rate, hence it is natural that
Briggs calls upon this true eco warrior to defend his animal friends in
the same valiant tradition.
Briggs establishes Tarzan in modern times with the death of his wealthy
parents in an air crash in the Congo whilst striving to protect the
ecology of the region. Tarzan is then raised by a band of gorillas with
whom he establishes bonds and rudimentary communication.
The character Jane finds herself in the forbidding jungle when her
financially desperate father organises an illegal logging operation.
This in itself enrages Tarzan, but so too does the presence of greater
threats from local poachers and heavily armed warlords who have fled
neighbouring Rwanda.
The inclusion of these plausible and realistic elements enabled Briggs
to create a story with some depth which will educate young readers
concerning the environmental destruction, social problems and political
upheaval within the region.
Whilst the narrative appeared to labour in the first few chapters, the
story gathers pace as the various characters and groups interact. The
hero Tarzan must apply ingenuity, strength, courage and animal
communication to defeat the most evil of enemies and for the purpose of
the narrative, the despoliation of the forest by loggers is considered
a lesser threat. Whilst protecting Jane from a range of hazards, Tarzan
is able to educate her regarding the environmental impact of her
father's timber operation. This contrasts with his ferocious attacks
upon the armed brigands and the reader is made aware of Tarzan's innate
intelligence compared with Jane's intellectual development prompted by
her exposure to ecology and experience with him.
Like many adventure tales, the reader must forgive certain details,
such as a flimsy construct which explains why Tarzan can speak basic
English and his super-human demonstrations of physical strength and
athleticism. This story does have substance, offering valuable insights
on various topics regarding a continent of which many young people will
have limited knowledge. Readers will be captivated by the Tarzan
character as so many have in the past and will be enlightened whilst
being entertained.
Rob Welsh
Night monkey day monkey by Julia Donaldson
Ill. by Lucy Richards. Egmont, 2011. ISBN 9780749748937.
(Ages 3-6) Recommended. Another intriguing book from Julia Donaldson,
the author of Gruffalo, this one tells the tale of two monkeys,
one
that sleeps during the day, another who sleeps at night. Each monkey
has a different perspective on night and day, but when each one
explains what is misunderstood, they become best friends. They often
have breakfast (Day monkey) and tea (Night monkey) at dawn, chatting
about what has happened.
This is a clever book that clearly illustrates the difference between
night and day. With amusing examples, Donaldson show what comes out at
night like owls, bats and fireflies, and what comes at during the day
like butterflies and parrots. Shadows, which can be clearly seen during
the daytime but disappear at night, are introduced in a delightful way
that is sure to fascinate young children.
This is a great little story to read aloud. Both internal word and line
endings rhymes make it fun to listen to and it could be a good story
for the beginning reader to try.
Lucy Edwards' illustrations are bright and colourful and bring both day
and night to life. Details against the deep blue of the night allow the
reader to discover what is happening. Night is contrasted beautifully
against the paler blue of daytime.
This book is one I will keep for my grandchildren to enjoy over and
over again.
Pat Pledger
Give Me Four Reasons by Lizzie Wilcock
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN 9781921541827.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Paige is a quiet, shy girl who never
attracts much attention. On the last day of school, she discovers no
one has written in her yearbook apart from her three best friends, and
as a result she starts to feel lonely and invisible to everyone. She
also has some family troubles in the holidays, and no one seems to
care. When she gets back to school after the holidays, she accidentally
falls in with the popular crowd and she struggles to remain the quiet,
kind person she always thought she'd be. Give Me Four Reasons is a very nice book. It has lots of good
messages
in it, such as trying to stay true to yourself and the importance of
family. The plot is complicated without becoming overly ridiculous and
the characters are well-developed and believable. Little bits of humour
are strung throughout to give this at-times-sad book a lighter edge.
It's quite suitable for kids moving from primary school to high school,
with good advice on surviving the transition, good advice on coping
with the new environment and people, and good advice on friendships.
Sometimes this book will come across as very dramatic, such as the last
few chapters, and there is a small problem with the ending, because
everything seems to tie together too perfectly. Everything is concluded
too neatly. Apart from those few small flaws, this is certainly worth a
read. Give Me Four Reasons is a lovely book with great characters and
a
good plot. Younger readers, especially girls, would definitely like it.
I highly recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 978 1 407121 12 3.
Reviewed by
This is an excellent sequel to Lament and continues the
relationship
between James and Deirdre as they both embark on life at Thornking-Ash
School of Music.
Each chapter is a reflection from one of three main characters - Nuala,
a faerie obsessed with James, James or Deirdre (Dee). Although Deirdre
is part of the main story it is text messages she writes but doesn't
send to James that give us an insight in to the concerns she has and
her ongoing relationship with the faeries. James is trying to deal with
the constant presence of Nuala, the concerns he has for Dee and
day-to-day life at school and his interactions with Mr Sullivan his
English teacher.
In the chapters that contain Nuala's reflections an extract of a poem
titled 'Golden Tongue: Poems of Steven Slaughter' is given providing a
link with the faerie world and insight into her thinking.
As the characters lives intertwine and the influence and effect of the
faeries becomes greater so does the danger for James and the people
around him. Interestingly the involvement of minor characters initially
proves to be important and significant as the story develops. James is
forced to make a difficult choice between Nuala and Dee and the reader
is kept guessing as to the final outcome until almost the last
page of the story.
Tracy Glover
What happened to goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Penguin, 2011. ISBN 9780141337791.
(Age 13+) Recommended. Sarah Dessen has the happy knack of writing
about people that come alive on the page. Mclean, the product of a
bitter divorce, is moving from one town to another with her father as
he sets up restaurants. In each new place she reinvents herself as
Elizabeth, Eliza, Lizbeth and Beth, until she is not sure just who the
real Mclean is. But when she arrives in Lakeview, she discovers the boy
next door and begins to make friends. Will Dave be able to see the real
Mclean or just one of her many inventions?
I always enjoy Dessen's books and usually devour them in one or two
sittings as I did this one. Mclean is a very intelligent girl who has
the ability to take on any role that she wants, from perfect student to
popular girl. I found it fascinating to think about Mclean trying on
some many different personas and worried that she would lose herself in
the many moves. However Dave the boy next door and the people she meets
make her think about herself and who she really is. She has to make up
her mind whether this will one place where she does say goodbye to the
people she knows, or just leaves them in the lurch as she has in other
places.
Dessen explores the fallout of a divorce in a moving way. Mclean has a
loving relationship with her father, whom she has elected to live with,
even though it is disruptive of her schooling. She hates the high
profile of her parent's divorce and refuses to have anything to do with
her mother or her new sibling.
A journey of self discovery and coming of age, What happened to goodbye
will join Dessen's other books, as a favourite for girls who like
contemporary books, with issues that touch the heart and a touch of
romance.
Pat Pledger
Pearson Picture Books series by various authors
Pearson, 2011.
(Age 5-7) Pearson Picture Books are a series of readers aimed at Grade
2. The stories were all interesting and well illustrated with pictures
that would appeal to young children. They are also suitable for the
library and 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 books
have hardbacks, so are very study and would hold up to a lot of
handling. I enjoyed all the stories.
Cat and Rat Fall Out by Geraldine McCaughrean.
Ill. by Klaas Verplancke. Pearson, 2011. ISBN 978 1 44254 819 0.
'This is a story from Africa. It tells us why cats and rats are not the
best of friends.' This is the best of the group as one would expect
from an author of McCaughren's calibre. It also contains more
vocabulary.
Jasmine's Duck by Jane Wood
Ill by Barbara Vagnozzi. Pearson, 2011. ISBN 978 1 44254 785 8.
Jasmine's spots a little duck in the park and thinks it's ill.
Jolly hungry Jack by Carrie Weston
Ill. by Nick Schon. Pearson, 2011. ISBN 978 1 44254 783 4.
Jack is hungry andimagines all the things that he could eat for dinner.
Lion's Lunch by Hiawyn Oram
Ill. by Woody. Pearson, 2011. ISBN: 978 1 44254 7957.
An amusing story of a crafty lion who lured animals into his cave for
lunch.
No running by Alison Hawes
Ill. by Michael Reid. Pearson, 2011. ISBN: 978 1 44254 787 2.
Bill gets into trouble for running and splashing at the pool, but there
is one time when he does the right thing.
Robby in the river by Judy Waite
Ill. by Judy Brown. Pearson, 2011. ISBN' 978 1 44254 791 9.
Robby the dog has fun in the river until he finds the bank too slippery
to climb out. It is up to Lucy to help him out.
Pat Pledger
Pig boy by J. C. Burke
Woolshed Press, 2011. ISBN 978 1741663129.
(Ages 14+) Highly recommended. Expelled from school on his 18th
birthday, Damon needs a gun. Hearing that the Pigman's assistant has
been sacked for doing drugs, he searches out this reclusive Yugoslavian
man to suggest that he be taken on. At least, he thinks, he will learn
how to use a gun. While working for this strange bullish man he learns
more than he bargained for, he learns about himself. First though, he
needs to apply for his shooter's license, a feat in itself, allowing
for the incident in year 10 in which he was found with a gun near a
girl's dormitory on a school camp. But this is just one of the things
Damon must do. His list includes many things and when the police later
discover his lists, they tie threads together; many lists of kids and
adults he would prefer dead, lists of those who have bullied him, the
list of things to do to learn to use a gun, the gun in his wardrobe and
finally, the liaison with the Pigman.
Through his sometime wandering account of his life thus far, we hear
Damon explain just why some of these things have happened, why his home
town, Strathven, has turned against him and why he is viewed with
suspicion, even by his own mother and his best friend.
Tied together with amazingly real accounts of catching and killing
pigs, then long slow nights spent around a campfire, the story is taut
and captivating, as we learn to trust the big Yugoslav, Miro, as does
Damon, seeing in him the father he has never had, a mentor who can see
more than he realises, because he has been there before him. Miro, a
refugee from the Balkan war of the 90's, reveals pieces of himself
toDamon, strengthening all the time the argument that war is not the
way to solve problems, that taking to arms is no solution.
The novel leads us to think, as do the police, the community and
Damon's mother, that he is planning a school massacre, like the one on
his favourite computer game, and he is thrown into jail.
A page turner which leads the reader to a thought provoking non
conclusion, the tale of the long term effects of bullying, exacerbated
by poor parenting skills and a community which has turned a blind eye
to the bullying behaviour of its wealthier members, this is a telling
story with a rich background enticing young adult readers, especially
boys to read to the end.
Fran Knight
Little Miss Princess by Roger Hargreaves
Penguin, 2011. ISBN 9781409388098.
(Age 3-6) One of the series of Little Miss books, of which
there are
34, Little Miss Princess tells the story of a princess who was
kind and
good. She has people to do everything for her, from mowing the lawn to
making the bed. She tries to help people in need and when Mr Bump
broke his leg, she decides that she will help him herself instead of
sending around her staff to do the work. When she goes shopping for him
she doesn't know where to go to buy things and when she finally gets
what he needs she puts them away in the strangest places. And then she
cooks him tea with disastrous results!
This is a delightful little book that will bring a smile to the faces
of the children who read it. All the things that prove difficult for
the little princess are ones that children will know about. They will
know to go to the butcher to buy meat and to put it away in the
refrigerator. They would even know how to make the bed. This knowledge
will make them feel good as they follow the misadventures of the little
princess. Hargreaves concludes the tale with a funny punch line that is
very satisfying.
I am sure that a new generation of children will delight in the
adventures of Little Miss and long to collect them all.
Pat Pledger
Bindi wildlife adventures by various authors
(Age 8+) Some more of the Bindi Wildlife series to add to your
collections:
Book 13: Jail Break! by Jess Black
Publisher: Random House Australia,
2011. ISBN:
978-1-86471-830-0
Bindi, her brother Robert and mother Terri travel to Tasmania to take
part in a fundraising concert for the endangered Tasmania Devil. The
headlining celebrity unwittingly let loose a group of the animals
that were backstage waiting for Bindi to show them to the audience and
talk about the disease that is prolific among them. Can the
Devils be found before they injure themselves or get hopelessly lost?
Book 15: Bears Aware! by Jess
Black
Random House Australia, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-86471-832-4.
Bindi is visiting a friend, Katrina, and her Dad in Alaska. This
is her chance to see Kodiak bears in the wild but are hampered by
hunters. While the girls saved a bear from being shot by the
hunters, an earthquake happens. Does everyone survive the
earthquake, do the hunters have a change of heart and will the Kodiak
bears be safe?
Book 16: Rhino Safari by Ellie
Browne
Random House Australia, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-86471-833-1.
Bindi, Robert and mum Terri have the chance to help transport a rhino
from South Africa to a national park in Mozambique. But during
the operation, they realize they are not the only ones interested in
their unusual cargo. Dangerous poachers are lurking, waiting to
steal the rhino. Can Bindi and Robert save the rhino from pending
disaster?
Janet Cassidy
Reckoning by Kate Cary
Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-4052-5467-0.
(Age 14+) After escaping from the clutches of Quincey Harker, the heir
of count Dracula, Mary's life can't go back to the way it was before.
Mary fears to venture outside after dark due to the possibility of a
vampire lurking within shadows. Not even sleep can bring comfort to
Mary after losing her fiance to the dark side of life with horrible
nightmares awakening her each night. To add to her troubles, Mary's
father is suffering from a strange virus that is threatens to take his
life. Mary vows to her father that she will start to enjoy her
life and not let her fear take over her life anymore.
So when an invitation arrives for Mary to dine with the charming Xavier
Bathory, Mary must agree to his invitation to keep her father at rest.
Mary might be able to get over her fears until Quincey Harker arrives
back in town in search for her.
This novel is the second book in the Bloodline series that enjoys the
same easy flowing storyline as the first book in the series. Reckoning
plays high on the readers emotions through the ups and downs of the
plot. The plot is left open for another novel which I can't wait to get
my hands on. I would highly recommend this book to other people as I
wasn't able to get enough of it.
Lauren Pfeiffer (Student, Year 12)
Black painted fingernails by Steven Herrick
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781742374598.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended Steven Herrick's book, Black painted
fingernails, makes a positive impression from the moment you first
spy
it with the intriguing, well-designed cover. I expected a verse novel
but this offering is written in prose. Still, there is the same
economical use of words that we find in his verse novels. The writing
is beautifully crafted with strong descriptive language; it is
perceptive, emotive and the words linger.
The story focuses on two main characters, James and Sophie. Each short
chapter features a particular character - James, Sophie, James' mother
Angela or James' father Michael. James is heading west for a temporary
teaching position in the country leaving behind anxious parents, who
have coddled him as their only child. Sophie has left a broken home,
where she grew up with a loving father and two brothers in difficult
circumstances at times. They have disparate personalities and lives,
yet we come to like each of them as individuals and marvel at their
developing relationship.
There is a keen sense of place in terms of micro and macro settings
with specific geographical locations in Sydney and country NSW. Place
names like Rose Bay and Hillston (central west) will be familiar to
locals. And there are several 2011 touches to the story eg with
references to iPod, voicemail.
Essentially this is a road trip novel with an innovative structure and
a love story with a difference. The story moves along well and should
appeal to a wide range of readers. There are some sexual and drug
references. I would like to see the use of the conditional tense as
appropriate, but this probably won't worry the target age group. It is
suitable for senior secondary students Years 10 and up.
Margaret Strickland
Literature Live! Brings Books Alive
5 kids' book creators; 5 trailblazing mums taking books and
writing workshops to thousands of school children across Australia via
video conference.
These women are Literature Live!: Aleesah Darlison, Laurine Croasdale,
Nina Rycroft, Jeni Mawter and Susanne Gervay (OAM).
From Sydney to the outback, Literature Live! share their love of books,
writing and illustration with thousands of kids through the Dept of
Education's Connected Classrooms program.
Their workshops are delivered regularly to schools across Australia
using the latest video conferencing and interactive whiteboard (IWB)
technology. Parents and school communities can see the equipment they
fundraised for being put to good use.
As a special treat this August, Literature Live! are presenting their
Book Week Shows with all 5 book creators together. The shows will be
hosted by Western Plains ABC radio presenter Dugald Saunders and will
feature interviews, reviews, competitions and much, much more.
Highlights:
Aleesah Darlison talks about her picture books
Puggle's Problem and Warambi. Students learn about
Australian animals,
endangered species and how to protect the environment.
Susanne Gervay's I am Jack inspires kids to keep
their school safe by saying 'NO' to bullying.
Picture book illustrator, Nina Rycroft, draws live
with students, creating characters from her book Ballroom Bonanza.
Jeni Mawter shares her side-splitting, real life
stories behind her books.
Laurine Croasdale takes an everyday occurrence
and turns it into an Aussie CHOMP - watch out kids, this could happen
to you!
Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2011. ISBN: 978 1847801593.
Recommended for ages 4 and above. Living in the zoo, Batty feels he is
often ignored by the visitors, despite his best efforts to make himself
more interesting and appealing. As he visits the other animals, he
tries to become more like them. With each visit to a different
creature, he becomes more despondent and feels less as though he
belongs. Only at the very end of the story does he realise that he does
have one very important skill which he must learn to value more highly.
Author/illustrator, Dyer, provides few words in this simple story. Her
illustrations are cleverly matched to the text on each page. They add a
great deal of humour as they depict the various animals in their zoo
enclosures, each behaving in their own unique manner, with Batty
endeavouring to join in. Images of penguins scoring one another's
dives, the flea circus depicted with the gorillas and the lions lazing
in the sun with sunscreen and tanning lotion whilst reading '101 Ways
to Cook Zebra', make this book accessible to readers of different ages.
Perspective in the illustrations adds yet another dimension to the
story. On some pages, the pictures appear to be 'the right way up', yet
on others the bat seems to be humanised and standing erect with the
whole book needing to be rotated in order to read the text. Friendship
and appreciating our individual or unique strengths and differences are
key themes in this book which could be an asset to many classroom
units, even for students in middle primary classes.
Jo Schenkel
Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Candlewick Press, 2011. ISBN 9780763641559.
(Ages 10+) Highly recommended. Jack loves elephants. They are his
favourite animals, but when he and his Mum are on their way to the
Seawall Camp Grounds and his Mum refuses to let him see Lydia, the
elephant in Maine, it causes an argument. The next morning he wakes up
to find he is all alone. His Mum had taken everything except him
and his stuff. Abandoned by his Mum and really far from home he
decides to wait, thinking that she'll have to come back in a few days
or he'll miss the first day back at school. He knows she is always
doing strange things but she always comes back and that is why he
waits. When she doesn't come back he decides to walk home and so he
starts the long walk home with nothing but a small toy elephant as
company.
This book was great. I just couldn't put it down, I really felt sorry
for him. Jack is definitely one brave kid at just eleven years old. He
didn't take the easy way out like most people would. This book brought
tears to my eyes at the end but it was still a great book.
Tahlia Kennewell (Sudent)
Ubby's underdogs: The legend of the silver Phoenix by Brenton E. McKenna
Magabala Books, 2011. ISBN 978 1921248313.
(Ages 9+) Recommended. Graphic novel. Broome in the 1940s is
recreated by this new author illustrator, as he teams the unlikely
combination of feisty Aboriginal girl, Ubby and her mates, Selimut and
Gabe, with a Chinese girl, Sai Fong, newly arrived from Shanghai. In
large swirling images, the action is as fast paced and absorbing as a
martial arts or ninja film, ensuring approval from many middle school
readers.
Sai Fing and her uncle, Poe, are taken to the House of Refuge, where
they will be accommodated until Poe can meet the pearling master. Sai
Fong is told to go and lie down, as she has a mysterious illness that
her uncle is keen to find a cure for. But when she goes to the women's
dormitories, she is bullied by the girls already there. Ubby and her
crew, passing by, step in. They take Sai Fong with them and bump into
several people who cause grief, ending with a challenge made. The
football game that ensues ends with Sai Fong kicking the winning goal,
and so ensuring the wrath of the loser, Pegleg, who must take off his
trousers and sing for the multitude.
A breathtaking story, full of the charm of ancient Chinese mythology,
the sights and sounds of Broome of the 1940's, and the amazing array of
different cultures which inhabited the town, the story of Ubby and her
underdogs is rivetting stuff, reflecting the strata that existed in the
town, the prejudices and dislikes brought from other countries and the
mix that made up the community.
The illustrations are in full of colour and reflect action and
movement, drawn with wonderful perspectives and characters, imagining
Broome of half a century ago with nostalgia and fondness. An
outstanding graphic novel which sets a new standard for Australian
writer/illustrators.
Fran Knight
Editor's note: There is a website
to support this book.
Pat Pledger
