Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 9781408803776.
(Age 11+) Recommended. Cess is a 13-year-old girl who looks after the hens at Montacute House. One day she finds a beautiful necklace in one of the hens' nests and wonders how it got there. Fearful of being accused of stealing it, she hides it away. Meanwhile a boy's blackened and blistered body has been found and her friend William has gone missing. She suspects that there is a connection between the two occurrences and decides to see if she can find out what is happening to the young boys.
Jago's clever imagery and excellent research make 16th century England, the religious differences found in society, the class structure, poverty and the populace's fear of witches come alive for the reader. Montacute House, where the action is set, is a real house in Somerset and it is obvious that the author is well acquainted with it. Her descriptions of Cess looking after the hens, the town market and the inns are really vivid and remained in my mind long after I finished the book, as did the images of witchcraft.
I was intrigued by the mystery in this book, the power of witchcraft and the well-developed character of Cess. In some ways it reminded me of books I loved as a child. I adored the stories where the heroine was brave and intrepid, solved the mystery and found a place for herself and this is one such book. I feel sure that girls will love it. It contains all the elements of a good story: a touch of romance, evil characters, hidden crypts, ghastly experiments and political intrigues.
Pat Pledger
Glister: The Faerie Host by Andi Watson
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN: 9781406320503.
Recommended for ages 9 and up. Glister Butterfield's father loves Christmas and begins his preparations months in advance, with Glister feeling less and less enthusiastic each year. Following the arrival of a letter from the Council, outlining the new changes to the boundary of Faerie land, we realise that all is not well in our fearless, fun loving protagonist's life. The reader is introduced to the story of a 'missing mother' and the heart ache which has beset Glister and her father since her disappearance. Suddenly, Glister begins receiving visits from her mother who had disappeared many years earlier. Janet Butterworth appears as an image in Glister's dressing table mirror. This time, when her mother leaves, Glister follows her to try and find a way to have her return home permanently. Thus begin her adventures as she enters into the land of Faerie to retrieve the one person who can truly make Christmas a special time for her again.
Watson again introduces a different aspect to the setting and a whole raft of slightly sinister new characters. They help keep the reader hoping for the best possible outcome for Glister, the brave but tragic heroine, as she fights to save her mother. I have just re-read my review of the first two titles in the series and still hold with my earlier comment: 'Given the amusing characters and entertaining storyline, this series should work well for children who, although more mature readers, are looking for more depth of plot without ploughing through dense amounts of text.' The wonderful cartoon style illustrations, with a hint of Manga and the contrast of traditional corn dollies thrown in, add to the mood and supplement and balance the story perfectly. This title certainly seems to hold more depth than its predecessors and is my favourite to date.
Jo Schenkel, Pilgrim School
Sam and Albert go to sea by Louise Elliott
Wombat Books, 2010. ISBN 9781921633089.
Highly recommended. This little book for early readers has enough
repetition to make it easy to read along with delightful illustrations
to aid decoding. It is a quaint story of a cat who wants to go to sea
and his owner who keeps finding excuses not to. Sam nags Albert to take
their boat out to sea on a daily basis but Albert always says no -
until Saturday. They finally have a great day sailing, singing and
splashing despite a number of accidents and then they plan to do it
again.
Vicki Nunn
Fool's girl by Celia Rees
Bloomsbury, London, 2010. ISBN 9781408803325.
(Age 12+) Historical. Recommended. When Feste and Violetta arrive in
London, finding refuge with Sir Toby,
now fallen on hard times, they seek out Will Shakespeare and begin to
tell him their tale. Feste is taken on by Will to replace the clown now
gone over to the Rose, but not before they get Will to promise to help
them in return. The time is about 1600, Will is making his name in
London at the Globe Theatre, Queen Elizabeth 1 is on the throne of
England, with the remarkable Robert Cecil as her secretary and master
spy. Violetta and Feste have escaped Illyria, now in ruins, a haven for
pirates attacking Venetian traders.
For Shakespearean buffs, the names Violetta and Feste will spark
remembrances of the play, Twelfth Night, but for those not
familiar
with the play, they will soon learn all about it. The story told by
Violetta and Feste parallels the play written in 1601, which tells of
twins, Viola and Sebastian, falling in love with the Count Orsino and
the Duchess Olivia. Violetta's story takes up the thread after the
marriages, when the pairs of lovers become bored with each other, and
disaster ensues, leaving their respective kingdoms in tatters.
All the main characters from Twelfth Night are included, Sir Toby
Belch, Sir Andrew Agnew, Malvolio and so on, which enables the reader
to learn more of the play, as well as become deeply immersed in the
story presented by Rees. And deeply engrossing it is too, as the pair
roams London's streets, taking refuge where they can, looking for
Malvolio who has stolen the icon of Illyria, which Violetta, as the new
Duchess, wants to retrieve, so setting her country on its rightful
path. Surprisingly Shakespeare hatches a plan with Cecil, taking his
troupe on tour to Stratford, while following the progress of Malvolio
and the Venetian ambassador, intent on inciting an uprising in
Protestant England. Fool's girl is an entertaining and
enlightening
read, full of memorable characters placed against a marvelous setting
and will engage lower secondary readers.
Fran Knight
Kisses for Daddy by Frances Watts and David Legge
Little Simon, 2010. ISBN: 9781416987215.
(Age 2-5) Recommended. A reissue of the book first published in 2005, this story will be a hit at bedtime. A grumbly Baby Bear refuses to give his father any bedtime kisses, although Daddy imagines all the different types of kisses that baby animals give their fathers. There are many types of kisses including bear kisses, long tall giraffe kisses, and cuddly koala kisses, but Baby Bear's answer each time is 'No kiss for Daddy'. This is a beautifully illustrated story that clearly shows the love between father and child. Daddy Bear is gorgeous and patient, using things around the house to come up with ideas for different animal kisses.Children will have fun finding the animal on each page, the drawings often carefully hidden in a shadow or as an everyday utensil. It's a book that could lead to a lot of fun at bathtime and bedtime, with father and child reciting the words and having lots of kisses and closeness. There is enough repetition of key phrases like 'No! ' said Baby Bear. 'No kiss for Daddy', for the parent and child to remember the story as they prepare for bed, or for them to make up other animal kisses and action. Pat Pledger
I spy mum by Janeen Brian
Illustrated by Chantal Stewart. New Frontier, 2010.
(Ages 3+) Recommended for children under five. A little boy out at sea
is searching for his mum and on his search he finds lots of mums doing
different things. The story is based on I spy and is beautifully
rhyming so ideal for reading out loud.
The illustrations are full of movement and mums doing energetic things!
Kathryn Pledger
Editor's note: This is a companion volume to I spy Dad.
Sports Stories Series by various authors
Raintree, 2010. Each book in this series offers a senario where the main character
finds a way to overcome a seemingly difficult personal situation. All
the situations are resolved peacefully and without conflict. The
language is modern and simple with lots of direct speech and short
chapters. The text style may well appeal to non readers or those
who find reading difficult. The modern black and white illustrations
are large and bold and help interpret the text. Many sports not usually
given space in the media pages are represented in these books and it's
refreshing to see them brought into prominence, a little like the main
characters in these stories. Each book gives a paragraph
about the author and illustrator; an informative glossary plus two
pages of words and phrases particular to that sport so that someone
reading the book will have practical and useful information about that
sport. Discussion questions and some writing prompts follow. A
page of resources, both print and web based conclude this particularly
well presented section. These books are written to entice the reader to
believe in themselves and encourage discussion. It seems the
series would be a useful teaching resource for incidents encountered
outside school, where young people may experience awkward situations
and may not have anyone to help them through the situation.
Skateboard save by Eric Stevens ISBN 978 1 406 21393 5.
Here it's the bully Tony, who threatens Joe not to enter the
skateboarding competition. He and his friend Rob discuss the
actions
of Tony and his hanger-on friends, helping the reader to sift through
the possible ways of reacting to the situation.
Record run by Eric Stevens ISBN 978 1 406 21400
0.
Harry learns that the best opposition is to run against the clock and
this inspires him to continue running rather than being chased by Paul
the running captain, who cleverly convinces Harry to join the team and
become the youngest member.
Half-pipe prize by Eric Stevens ISBN 978 1 406 21411
6.
Tess is returning to Winterton to surprise her two best friends and to
enter the annual snowboarding competition.Anna is delighted to
see her but Sofie's behaviour worries Tess.; Is winning again more
important than friendship? Tess discusses her dilemma with Anna and her
parents and resolves her problem in an appropriate way.
Board rebel by Bob Temple ISBN 978 1 406 21395 9.
Mason has moved to a new school and there is nowhere to
skateboard. When he finds the Curves he also encounters Benjamin
the local bully and his family who seem to run the affairs of the
town. With his friend Billy, he returns to his old skateboard
area and meets Will, one of Benjamin's friends. An interesting
situation ensues when Mason devises a scheme which enables him to
skateboard and make friends.
Free throw by Anastasia Suen ISBN 978 1 406 21399 7.
Jason is giving Theo a hard time for the coach has chosen Theo rather
than Jason, to play centre. Pressure is mounting on Theo for he just
can't seem to gain the points from the free throws. Jason's unkind
asides are very off-putting, so Theo works hard to find a way to
succeed.
BMX bully by Anastasia Suen ISBN 978 1 406 21394 2.
Alex's father has bought the BMX track from Matt's Dad and Alex and his
Dad ignore the BMX racing rules by which Matt abides. Matt's dream of
making the Evergreen team is threatened but the resolution is
appropriate and justified.
Skater's secret by Lisa Trumauer ISBN 978 1 406 21408
6.
Maggie and Shannon are sisters who love figure skating. Shannon would
love to score over her sister. The plot is well developed for
Shannon secretly finds the perfect music to skate to, only to find that
Maggie has chosen it. The twists and turns of sibling rivalry are
well explored to both sisters' satisfaction.
Ballet bullies by Emma Berne ISBN 978 1 406 21412
3.
Marissa loves ballet but her growth spurt is embarrassing her to the
extent that she no longer wants to dance. She tries all sorts of
subterfuges but finally the derisive laughs from Kelly and Alice are
resolved and with her friend Rachel's uncompromising support, Marissa
dances the Star Fairy role with joy and all the talent she has.
Horse-riding hopes by Diana Gallagher ISBN
9781406214093.
Molly desperately wants to learn to ride. Her best friend Kari
encourages her when she sees 'Riding Lessons, Low prices'. Molly
learns to ride, saves Gabrielle and her horse. Gabrielle and Lily
rode 'sleek' horses making Mollie feel awkward and embarrassed. Mollie
and Kari gain confidence and enjoy their new found recreation.
Tennis trouble by Chris Kreie ISBN:
9781406214109.
Alexis is thirteen and thrilled to make the under eighteens team for
the first time. Olivia, Morgan and Rachel expected to make the team,
but with the inclusion of Alexis Rachel this is a problem. As a much
younger girl in the team, Alexis has many headaches, but with the
support of Ellie and Miss Taylor the school coach, and eventually
Olivia, Alexis is able to contribute to the team effort. Even Morgan
acknowledges Alexis' position on the team.
Back on the beam by Eric Stevens ISBN: 978 1 40621 406 2.
Nadia is nervous about being back in competition after an ankle injury
and her rival, Claire, makes comments that don't help
Storm surfer by Lisa Trumbauer ISBN: 978 1 40621 404 8.
Abby and Sarah think surfing in a storm will be amazing but who is to
rescue them when the waves get too big?
Team spirit by Eric Stevens ISBN: 978 1 40621 403 1.
Will Anna, Bethany and Jasmine feel at home on their new girls'
football team?
Sue Nosworthy
Beatle meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams
Read by Felix Gentle. Louis Braille Audio, 2009. ISBN 9781742123783.
Penguin, 2009. 9780143011491.
(Age 14+) Recommended. One night at a tram stop in Melbourne, Beatle,
so called because his real name is John Lennon, notices a girl wearing
sunglasses and reading a book. Her name is Destiny and it almost seems
as if they were fated to meet. There is an immediate attraction, but
problems loom, as Beatle already has a lovely girlfriend who stood by
him as he pulled through the aftermaths of a stroke. Every day at
Destiny's home, horoscopes are read and tarots are often consulted.
Beatle's home is chaotic; his mother never getting over the fact that
her husband had left her for a younger woman. To make matters even more
complicated, Winsome, Beatle's non identical twin sister, has begun to
date Destiny's brother, Frank, who is a teacher at their school.
I had read this book before I listened to the tape. I had thoroughly
enjoyed it, especially liking the humour and the witty dialogue between
all the characters. I found that Felix Gentle's reading brought all the
smart conversations alive and I found myself laughing out loud at the
funny situations the pair got themselves into. Williams has an
excellent ear for the way teenagers speak and Gentle was able to
modulate his voice so well that the characters came alive and the word
play and repartee was just wonderful when read aloud.
Beatle meets Destiny has many situations which teenagers will identify
with. Crushes on teachers, falling in love with someone else while
having a perfectly good girlfriend, sibling rivalry and friendship are
all themes that are relevant to their lives. Wrapped up in a humorous
package and read with zest, this audio would be a perfect reading for
teens.
Pat Pledger
My Dad thinks he's funny by Katrina Germein
Ill. by Tom Jellett. Black dog books, 2010. ISBN 978174203121 7.
Picture book. Kids will love the literal meanings of the words and
phrases used in this very funny picture book. Each thing the boy says
to his father is turned around by dad taking the meaning as implied by
the words, not the meaning as we all recognise. So when someone asks
his father, 'How are you going?', father replies 'By bus', instead of
the response to a question about his well being. The humour comes thick
and fast, as the boy asks his dad for help, because he 'doesn't know
how', dad replies, 'I know How, he's What's brother', parodying the
famous dialogue between Abbott and Costello about a baseball game with
How, What and Who on each diamond.
Tom Jellett's individual style of illustration adds a new level of
comedy to this already funny story. The black line drawings seem to
have been done on a variety of resources, wallpaper, material, brown
paper, graph paper, crumpled paper and so on, all stressing the
ephemeral nature of the words and their use.
The illustrations provide a great model for work in the classroom, and
the children's work on new phrases which can be taken two ways added to
their efforts.
All very tongue in cheek and showing a delightful family setting
underlining the humorous dialogue which occurs everyday between parents
and children, siblings and friends. Children will squeal with delight
as they recognise the differences between how words are used in our
language, and will attempt to add some of their own. ESL students in
particular will be puzzled and delighted at finding out how English is
used in their new home.
Fran Knight
The three musketeers retold by Pauline Francis
Evans Brothers Ltd, 2010. ISBN 978 0 237 53911 5.
Recommended for Upper Primary and early Secondary students. An old
favourite, well written for young audiences. The original,
written by Alexander Dumas, was published in 1844. It was 1625 and
d'Artagnan an eighteen year old had come to Paris to make his
fortune. He had a letter of introduction to Monsieur de Treville,
the Captain of the Musketeers - the men who guarded King Louis of
France. D 'Artagnan wanted more than anything else to be a
musketeer. The introduction is very useful as a quick historical
background to the story. It's a fast moving story which still excites
readers today.D'Artagnon meets three musketeers called Athos,
Porthos and Aramis and together they frustrate a plan against King
Louis and his Queen. Written with humour and wit, the story
evokes the eternal pull of history and intrique.
Sue Nosworthy
The rebel prince by Celine Kiernan
The Moorehawke Trilogy, book 3. Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN
9781741758719.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. The concluding volume in The Moorehawke
trilogy, The rebel Prince
does not disappoint. Wynter, Razi and Christopher finally reach the
camp of the exiled Prince Alberon where they are embroiled in the
intricacies of the political plots that Alberon has hatched and his
desire to keep the kingdom safe by using the death machine that
Wynter's father invented. Razi has to use all his diplomatic powers to
convince Alberon that he is not after the throne, while Wynter is
forced to look at her relationship with Christopher and all its
complexities. The complex diplomatic ties that Alberon is trying to
forge with traditional enemies are also a source of dismay. When
the Wolves, led by David le Garou, arrive as envoys, it takes all of
Christopher's loyalty to Razi, not to enact revenge on them for their
evil enslavement of children and disfigurement of his hands. Finally it
is up to Wynter to make decisions that will either preserve the kingdom
or plunge it into chaos.
After a slow start in the first chapters, where background details
about the exiled Prince's allies and camp are given, The rebel prince
moves into some of the most gripping action scenes and emotional
tension of the series. I loved the way Wynter had to decide whether she
wanted to be a woman of the court and help decide the future of the
realm or remain true to Christopher, who just wants them to go on their
way and be happy. Razi, too, is faced with a complex diplomatic task,
reassuring Alberon that he is the heir to the throne, while plotting a
way to get the prince back to his father. The action packed finale,
with its cliff-hanger battle is breath taking and I had to re-read the
last chapter to finally make sense of the denouement.
This series is fantasy at its best. If you have an older teen who wants
something with werewolves in it, give them this - the romance between
Wynter and Christopher is gripping and demonstrates the values of
loyalty, trust and caring. Full of emotion, action and beautifully
developed characters, this is one series I will not be lending to
anyone for fear of not getting it back!
Pat Pledger
Grimsdon by Deborah Abela
Random House Australia, 2010. ISBN 9781741663723.
(Age: 8-11) Isabella, heroic and resourceful, heads a small band of
children on the seaward edges of Grimsdon. She leads the twins Bea
and Raffy, Griffin and Fly (who doesn't talk, but has other special
abilities), on exploring and scavenging forays into the deteriorating
buildings. They collect enough to keep them well fed and safe.
Grimsdon, a thinly disguised London, is a nearly submerged, decaying
city three years after the sea waters have risen and flooded the low
lying areas. The only inhabitants of Grimsdon are adults who choose to
live there away from regular society (like pirates who exploit
children), or children who were stranded after the rescue attempts
ceased. Water separates the buildings requiring boats and ropes to
navigate. Tides and rogue waves have to be taken into account and there
are vague fears of sea serpents.
Life for the children is interesting and limited until Xavier comes
into their lives. Their world broadens, becomes more dangerous and
interesting as Xavier takes them further a field using the incredible
Aerotrope.
I found Grimsdon an easy to read novel and could imagine the students
who would enjoy reading it. This narrative is an engaging, easy little
read for middle primary readers, although it might appeal to a few
upper primary students, especially those who like an imaginary land,
strong predictable characters and a bit of fantasy.
Although Grimsdon touches on issues of independence and belonging, and
introduces the concept of changes in the environment being brought
about by the actions of humans, the subjects are not followed through
to a depth strong enough to provoke serious discussion.
S. Whittaker
Look out, Leon! by Jez Alborough
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN: 9781406319927.
(Ages 2+) Recommended. Leon the chameleon is learning fast how to
change his colour to blend in with his surroundings. Dad keeps a
watchful eye on Leon as he goes out to explore the scary jungle with
lots of hungry animals to hide from.
This pull the tabs book lets the reader change the picture and text and
follows Leon through the jungle on his adventure. Under fives will love
the colourful Leon.
Kathryn Pledger
Me and my dad by Sally Morgan and Ezekiel Kwaymullina
Ill. by Matt Ottley. Little Hare, 2010. ISBN 9781921541810.
(Age 3+) Recommended. At the beach, the boy is amazed about Dad's
courage. He is not afraid of sharp shells, falling sandcastles, crazy
crabs, giant waves or hungry sharks. He is brave and fearless, but
there is one thing that scares him and the boy and his dog can help him
out. Dad says that they can be heroes together.
This story, with its carefully chosen short text, is ideal to
illustrate the loving attachment between father and son. The son is
afraid of many things at the beach, but Dad is intrepid, happily facing
the dangers of many seaside animals. The young reader will be able to
identify with the boy's fear and the awe he feels when his father
bravely faces each obstacle. I loved the section where the boy
discovered that there was one thing that he could rescue his Dad from
and the warmth and love of the two heroes together is heart-warming.
Matt Ottley illustrations are vivid and compelling, enhancing the text
and adding an element of humour. The opening double page spread of
Dad's elongated leg and huge foot wrestling with pointed shells was my
favourite and is sure to delight young and old. The fear on the faces
of the young boy and his dog and the heroic expression on his Dad's
face are very expressive, as are the wicked looks on the faces of the
sea gulls found in each illustration. The bright blue of the sky,
yellow of the sand and blue green of the sea are gorgeous.
This is a wonderful book for families to have to show the love between
father and son, and would be useful for displays for Father's Day and
for units of work on families in the classroom. It certainly deserves a
place in the
library.
Pat Pledger
Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin
Ill. by Katherine McEwen. Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 9781406326321.
(Ages 1+) Highly recommended for under fives. Farm yard animals
cause havoc in the farm house and have a great time waking up Farmer
Tom while he snoozes in the haystack and then again in his armchair.
The story has a singsong quality and is best read aloud with all the
animal noise effects. The illustrations are humorous with a lot of
detail and one cheeky little mouse hidden on each page to find.
Children who love animals will love this book and the mischief the
farmyard animals get up to.
Kathryn Pledger
