Reviews

Milly and the mulberry tree by Vikki Conley and Deb Hudson

Milly and her Papa planted the mulberry tree on Milly’s birthday. Every year they sat under the tree on her birthday, eating the ripe mulberries. She grew up with that tree, circling her arms around it when young, stretching her arms up to measure herself against its height, watching the silkworms, her friends become cocoons and then leave the casings as moths, watched over by Milly. She adored the feel of the silky cocoons, storing them in her scrapbook. But older, she moved with work, now residing in a different part of the world where she encountered the silky end product of her silkworm friends. She used the memories of her tree to make sketches for garments, ate whole mulberries, celebrated her birthday under a canopy of red lanterns, found some fluttery friends, sipped mulberry leaf tea but none of this felt like home.

The climax of the story of Milly and her wish to be back home will flatten everyone’s heart as she gets her wish to spend her birthday under the mulberry tree. This is a delightful look at the place home has in everyone’s heart and the strings which bind us to that place.

The illustrations to this rhythmic tale are just as impressive, with the mulberry tree hanging over many pages, its large leaves and bright red fruit hanging enticingly in front of your eyes. Old gardens may have a mulberry tree so it is worth seeking one out to acquaint the readers with the sight of these magnificent trees. The life cycle of the silkworm is another story to tells the readers after the book is read and eagle eyes have spotted the moths, cocoons, and caterpillars of the silkworm story. And they will also have need lots of other details while they read.

Themes Mulberry tree, Growing up, Life cycle, Silkworms, Fabric, Japan.

Fran Knight

A Shorebird Flying Adventure by Jackie Kerin. Illus. by Milly Formby

A fascinating new CSIRO release, A Shorebird Flying Adventure, provides all readers, both young and old, with insightful information into what may be an unfamiliar topic about an amazing species of birds. In Australia there are over 50 species of shorebirds, many of whom travel thousands of kilometres to the Artic Tundra to breed.

The journey of the shorebirds is well-documented by pilot, zoologist and illustrator Milly Formby who has combined with author Jackie Kerin to present a wonderful factual picture book style read that will immediately appeal to younger readers. The pages are bright and colourful with beautiful illustrations, and full of interesting information. The clever use of text boxes, labelled drawings of different birds encouraging the reader to spot them on the page, as well as detailed maps and diagrams, will engage the reader from beginning to end.

Did you know that shorebirds are one of the most endangered species of birds in the world due to changes in their wetland habitat? The impact of agriculture, development, climate change, aquaculture, hunting, human and animal disturbance plus invasive plants is having a detrimental effect on their existence. This is clearly represented in a clever double page spread followed by another double page showing how and why wetlands are important to all.

There is a fabulous website by Milly Formby which students can access to find out further information, Wing Threads. There are also excellent teacher notes.

This book would be a significant and worthwhile resource for all school and public libraries.

Themes Migratory Birds, Shorebirds, Australia, Endangered Species, Environmental Issues, Wetlands.

Kathryn Beilby

Is there anyone better than Henrietta? by Martine Murray

Is there anyone better than Henrietta? is one full coloured book comprised of four Henrietta stories. The delightful and enchanting Henrietta P. Hoppenbeek is back and she is just full of joy. This is a book that asks to be put straight into the hands of early years teachers for their class read alouds and parents for warm and funny bedtime stories.

Children will laugh a lot with Henrietta and also feel with her as she navigates the common concerns of being five years old like starting school, being a good sister for a new baby brother, being a friend and being actively involved in the real world and the world of the imagination. They will love the play of language. Their imaginations will be fired by Henrietta's hilarious, adventurous approach to life.

Martine Murray is the author and illustrator of acclaimed books. Henrietta and the perfect night which is included in this collection was a CBCA Honour book in 2018. Henrietta, there's no one better (also included in this collection) has been shortlisted for several awards. It comes as no surprise that this book was shortlisted, best book for language development, Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, 2005. Murray's use of language is playful and exciting. These books are made for reading out loud, for playing with words and for having fun. Classes of children will be delighted with the vocabulary - Sheezamageeza! Oh Lordy! Lordy! Somewhat reminiscent of a combination of  Pippi Longstocking and Milly Molly Mandy, Henrietta is really her own self. We see the world through her eyes, through her own first person voice.

These Henrietta stories are an invitation for imagination and play. Adults and children will find inspiration for a lot of sheer fun if they borrow ideas from Henrietta. How about wearing a pair of pants on top of your head with your pigtails coming out through the legholes? What about making some of that favourite, fabulous Chocolate Ripple cake? If teachers combine activities and silliness with the reading of these stories, there will be constant requests for more Henrietta. The stories virtually read themselves as the playful text design highlights expressive speech in bold, in different fonts, in different colours and sometimes by spiralling around on the page. 

The whimsical, happy, pencil and ink drawings with gouache colour swirl across the pages accompanied by an equally attractive text design. Comprehensive teacher resources are available on the Allen and Unwin site. 

Do introduce the children in your life to Henrietta Hoppenbeek.

Highly recommended.

Themes Starting school, Family, Friends, Imaginative adventure.

Wendy Jeffrey

Banjo Tully by Justin D'Ath

Banjo Tully is an average 15-year-old boy living in country NSW. He is in Year 9 and is an easy-going prankster with a good group of friends and a strong sense of fairness. Banjo’s family own a farm and are living with the impact of a community in severe drought. They have already had to sell their cows, and all around them are other families who are also on the edge – selling farms and closing businesses.  

One morning Banjo takes his horse Milly and makes a stand against perceived injustice at his school, 21 kilometres away from home. In doing so he comes to the attention of a Vietnamese girl in Year 10. Mai Le is a well-informed, well-spoken and energetic female character who plays a vital role in increasing awareness of climate change throughout this story.

Mai pushes Banjo to become a poster boy for drought and climate change, by encouraging him to ride Milly over 800 kms to Canberra. Banjo is somewhat unwilling to begin with – the idea is crazy and all he really wants is to be able to keep Milly on the farm, not change the world! 

With some fast planning, though, he mounts Milly and heads towards the Climate Emergency Summit to be held in 12 days. The journey opens his eyes to the reach and devastation of the drought, and to the impact that one teenager can have in raising awareness. He is repeatedly aided by strangers along the way who admire his courage and growing conviction, and who all do what they can to help Banjo and Milly.

This book has a host of positive features: likeable and strong protagonists (both male and female), short chapters, love and care of animals, cultural diversity, and Australian setting/issues (drought, climate change, mateship and looking out for each other).

There is a comprehensive teacher resource available including curricular/cross-curricular links for Years 5-8, covering suggestions for use as well as discussion points.

This book could be used as a class text alongside Justin D’Ath’s 47 degrees, with shared themes of Australian environment, animals and different cultures.

Themes Drought, Climate change, Adventure, Friendship, Horses, Diversity, Australia.

Kylie Grant

The Inside Day by Jane Martino. Illus. by Annie White

It's one of those day when the classroom windows rattle and shake as rain drums on the glass and rather than being able to go outside to play, it's going to be one of those no-good, long, boring, inside days. Milly and her friends feel as gloomy as the weather but Miss Fish has all sorts of ideas that will make them feel sunny inside even though they are stuck inside. And soon, even Milly has joined her classmates in focusing on the things that make them feel good and has forgotten about the sandpit and all the attractions that the outdoors offers.

This is a timely release as so many children are stuck inside, not just because it's winter but also the current public health orders. So it's the perfect time for teachers to become Miss Fish, adapt her ideas and help children see the possibilities and potential of this enforced stay-at-home time. As well as encouraging students to be in the moment, she also wants them to say how they are feeling so there are lots of similes and vocabulary to explore and illustrate. If something makes you feel like "colours are bursting out of your mouth" what would that look like if it actually happened?

The final two pages of the book are devoted to directing the reader to focus on their own feelings and there is an activity pack available as well. The icing on the cake is that Penguin Random House is one of the publishers who have agreed to extending the exemptions of the 2020 Storytime Agreement to this period of lockdown so the book can be read online to a class behind a password-protected platform.

Themes Wellbeing, Feelings.

Barbara Braxton

Eliza Vanda's button box by Emily Rodda

Milly is a quiet, shy girl in her final week of Year 6. Her family live in a seaside town and own five little cottages for rent. It's winter so the cottages sit empty and things feel strange and lonely at home. Milly's new baby sister has arrived early, and Milly's dad is racing to finish building a room in the attic before the baby and stepmother come home from hospital. Milly knows it makes sense for her to have more space and privacy in the bright new room, and for the baby to have her tiny old room next to the bathroom, but she can't help feeling a bit pushed out.

Then a wonderful stranger arrives to rent a cottage. Her name is Eliza Vanda and she needs space to finish an important job. Eliza is warm and lively. She introduces Milly to a world full of magic and fantastical characters, all accessed using buttons from Eliza's button box.

Buttons three, attend to me!

Take me where I want to be!

Milly embarks on a whirlwind of magical errands. She meets amazing folk including royal families, a witch, talking animals and people with tiny creatures (their emotions) living in their hair.

Milly grows so much over a week spent with Eliza. She makes smart choices, gains courage and belief in herself, and helps others with their courage and tempers. She speaks up for what is right, both to take responsibility for her own mistakes and to challenge authority figures. And over the course of a few days she comes to realise she is ready for change after all and is ready to move to her new room.

Multi-award-winning author Emily Rodda has written a rich story with wonderful characters, tangled mysteries and magical adventure.   

This would be a good choice for a book club and has teacher's resources available. Points for discussion include not judging people based on looks, taking responsibility for your actions, emotions (especially courage, anger, resilience and empathy), what makes a home, and how language is used to convey different worlds.

Themes Magic, Family, Resilience, Courage, Adventure, Mystery.

Kylie Grant

The cousins by Karen M. McManus

Another easy-to-read compulsive thriller from McManus will be welcomed by her fans. Author of the best-selling One of us is lying, McManus is a master at writing mysteries that are very hard to put down. This time, three cousins Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are invited to work for the summer on the island resort of their rich grandmother, whom they have never seen. She had disinherited their parents before they were born so it is very surprising to hear from her.  When they arrive, it is clear that she doesn’t welcome them and the longer they stay the more they learn about their family and the secrets their parents have harboured for years.

The book is written in alternative chapters in the voice of the three cousins and their backgrounds and personalities are easy to follow, while at the same time, many questions about why their parents were disinherited are raised. Readers will be tantalised by the information revealed in the chapters by 18-year-old Allison, mother of Milly, and wonder if murder has been committed and if so by the parents of the cousins.

The class divisions between the very rich Story family and the towns people, the mansions and holiday homes, parties on the beach and a Gala all form a background that adds depth to the story. The characters are equally as richly described, and it was easy to sympathise with each of the cousins as their strengths, flaws and vulnerabilities are revealed.

I read this in one sitting, eager to find out why the cousins’ parents were disinherited, trying to guess what happened and totally satisfied with the stunning ending.

Themes Mystery and suspense.

Pat Pledger

Small town by Phillip Gwynne

Illus. by Tony Flowers. Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760893484.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Irresistibly charming, this tale applauds the work done by small communities which have welcomed refugees into their midst, offering accommodation, work and support in their new country. Small cities such as Toowoomba, Bendigo and Newcastle and even smaller communities such as Nhill, have given these new arrivals a place of safety.
Gwynne tells of a small community losing its population to the city, putting their economy and school in peril of shutting down. This is not a new occurrence, but how some communities respond is wonderfully new. Milly is aware that some of her friends have left and her class is smaller, but when the loss of girls imperils the future of her basketball team, she decides to act. Her teacher has told them of war, famine and privation overseas and the class has discussed refugees, so Milly writes and asks that some come to her town where there are jobs and housing to accommodate them.
The mayor questions what she is doing, but she has an answer for every negative point he brings up. The children make a video of their community and send it to the refugees.
They wait and wait and another family leaves, but then a convoy of cars comes with refugees. The whole town pitches in and welcomes them, repairing the empty houses, helping them unpack their belongings, finding them work, happy to have a doctor in the town at last.
The contrast between the town as it was and the town as it is now is subtly shown with the naming of Millie's basketball team. Initially it was made up with four girls called Chloe, and Millie. Now it is two Chloes, Farhia, Hanan, Amina, Sharifa and Millie.
Wonderful in its seeming simplicity, Gwynne uses powerfully spare prose to get his message across.
Flowers' watercolour illustrations reveal small town life in Australia with dots of houses spread over vast areas, windmills, a runway and tin roofs with a soft pallet of colours, reminiscent of long sunny days in the country.
The town's unusual name is used as a refrain, 'my town is so nice, they named it twice' repeated through the story encouraging children to join in as it is read to them and forming a link between the old and new generations.
Themes: Small towns, Refugees, Inclusivity.
Fran Knight

Missing Marvin by Sue deGennaro

Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742769509
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Bullying. Practical jokes. Feelings. When Marvin finds his friends' jokes are just too much, he goes missing, so it is up to the friends to find him, reassure him, and for Marvin to say how he feels when they tease.
Marvin and his friends work for Baggage Handlers United and get along very well. They all do the baggage handling work that is required, and while Marvin really likes his work, his friends feel the need to play practical jokes on their workmates to fill the time.
Barry, Shelley and Ivan sometimes place balloons on the luggage causing it to rise out of reach, sometimes they put fish in the water cooler, and sometimes have a bucket of water placed on a door so that when Marvin opens the door, he gets covered in water. He becomes less and less amused with their pranks, and begins to think that they only seem to be targeting him. And one day when he is wet all over, he goes home and stays at home for several days. Meanwhile his friends begin to notice that he has not returned to work, and play the jokes on each other. They come to see that they are not so funny after all, and when Marvin returns the next day, they are able to tell each other how they feel.
All is resolved and each of the friends is happy. Each has been able to understand the other and Marvin has been able to tell them how he feels when they plays jokes.
I do love Australian author and illustrator, Sue deGennaro's work (Milly loves ants, Peas and quiet, Reindeer's Christmas surprise and The vegetable ark come to mind) with her soft illustrations, full of humour and not a little pathos when needed. Kids will laugh out loud at the looks on the faces of the animals she chooses to use as her protagonists and scan the backgrounds of each page to glean more jokes.
I can easily imagine this book being read out loud and an astute teacher using the interest in the story to discuss gently how people feel when they are on the receiving end of a joke, or point out the similarities between making a joke and bullying. And I do like the double meaning of the title.
Fran Knight

Starlight Stables series by Soraya Nicholas

Brumby rescue, book 5. ISBN 9780143787440
Barmah brumbies, book 6. ISBN 9780143787433
Penguin, 2018.
(Age: 9-12) Recommended. Themes: Friendship. Horses and horse riding. Brumbies. Soraya Nicholas' Starlight Stables series is packed full of fun, friendship and horses. Twelve-year-old Poppy, Milly and Katie enjoy their weekends riding, caring for their ponies, competing in events, camping out and experiencing new adventures.
In Brumby rescue Poppy accompanies her Uncle Mark, a veterinarian to a horse auction. Poppy enjoys listening to the auctioneer, the buyers bidding on the horses as they are paraded around the ring. She is alarmed at the fate of some older and unwanted horses as they are sold to the Meat Man. Poppy passionately bids on a wild brumby using all of her savings and some extra money from her uncle. A new chapter in her life begins as she learns to gain the wild horse's confidence with the assistance of her Aunt Sophie. Poppy and her friends still enjoy cantering across the country side on their horses, helping out in the stables and going home each week for school. This story explores the dynamics of taming a wild creature, shows the patience and resilience required, and displays how family and friends help in tough times.
Barmah brumbies continues with Poppy, Millie and Katie keen to ride in the Barmah Muster. Aunt Sophie looks into the possibilities and decides they will join in the Barmah Heritage Ride instead, spending five days riding in the forest and camping in the muster yards. There's the excitement of a one-day horse event before they leave with Poppy and her pony Crystal winning the competition. Poppy, Millie and Katie help at the campground, and Storm the brumby seems to recognise the sounds and smells of this familiar country. Aunt Sophie rides Storm while the girls love participating in the ride on their ponies. Their decision to sneak out of camp and search for the wild brumby herd causes problems as they become lost and their uncle and aunty have to frantically search for them.
Soraya Nicholas shares her knowledge of horsemanship and the responsibilities of being a horse owner in these exciting Australian stories. Her characters are realistically portrayed, they struggle, share their concerns and encourage one another. She brings the countryside to life and shares her passion for wildlife rescue and respect for the environment. The Starlight Stables series is perfect for readers who like animal and nature novels and for horse lovers.
Rhyllis Bignell

Bring it on! by Jo Stanley

Play Like a Girl, book 1. Five Mile Press, 2017. ISBN 9781760409470
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. Themes: AFL, Girls' fiction, School life, Friendship. Play like a girl is a new series celebrating Australian Rules Women's Football, inspiring young girls to have a go, join a team and share in the fun of playing footy. Radio presenter, comedian and author Jo Stanley's novels are easy to read exploring the girls' family life, their school days, team practices and match day fun. Each book focuses on a different team member of the Milsborough West Flyers.
In Bring it On! Sarah is starting at a new school far from her friends and the surfing beaches she loves. When she enters her new class, Sarah realises just how hard these changes will be; her new classmates are football fans, last year their team was runner-up in the grand finals. How is she going to fit when she can't even handle a football? With the help of new friends Hahn and Maddie and the encouragement of her parents, Sarah begins football training. Their coach Shawna has been at Milly West for a long time and she is supportive of Sarah's skill development. "Skills are easily learned . . . but ya have to start to love what ya doing!" says Shawna as she talks about having passion for football.
Jo Stanley's characters are very relatable; she adds touches of humour, understands the difficulties of making new friends, the emotional struggles of moving house and attending a new school. This celebration of girls playing Australian Rules is very timely and is released in partnership with the AFLW.
Rhyllis Bignell

Bush bolts by Soraya Nicholas

Starlight stables series. Puffin Books, 2016. ISBN 9780143308621
(Age: 8-12) Horses, Friendship, Adventure. Twelve years old Poppy is at her Aunt Sophie and Uncle Mark's property, a riding school Starlight Stables, with her friends, Milly and Katie, and soon her best friend, Sarah will be joining them. But Sarah does not share her friends' passion for horses and is more interested in helping the animals with their injuries. When a bushfire threatens the people and the stables, it brings them all closer together to save what they all love.
An easy to read short novel with much about relationships, family life and of course lots about caring for horses and horse riding. Includes 'Handy Horse Tips' as well as information about the author and the other three books in this series.
Bush bolts is the third in this series, beginning with Pony detectives, Gymkhana hijinks and lastly, Saving Starlight. All will appeal to the target audience of mid primary school girls.
Fran Knight

Bush bolts by Soraya Nicholas

Starlight Stables series bk 3. Penguin Australia, 2016. ISBN 9780143308621
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Horses. Bushfires. Friendship. Although this is part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone and is sure to appeal to horse crazy girls. Poppy is thrilled to have her best friend Sarah visit Starlight Stables with her. She really wants her to love horses as much as she does, but it soon becomes apparent that Sarah is more interested in helping Poppy's uncle, who is a vet, with the small animals at the farm. Sarah is brave though, and goes on a trail ride with Poppy, and her friends Milly and Katie, but fierce lightning threatens to start a bushfire and the girls have to ride for their lives.
Although Bush bolts is the third book in the series it was very easy to quickly become familiar with the four main characters. Poppy is worried that her best friend Sarah won't fit in on her first visit to Starlight Stables. One of the main themes of the story is about Poppy accepting what her friend Sarah is interested in, even though she finds it hard to understand that Sarah doesn't love horses as much as she does. Milly is a fiery character who often blurts out things without thinking while Katie is sweet and understanding but gradually the four begin to understand each other.
Readers will be drawn to the adventures that the group have, trail riding, facing down cattle and escaping a bushfire. The girls face danger of the bushfire with great bravery, and Poppy shows her leadership skills as she looks after Sarah and directs the girls back to the farm. The author gives excellent background information about bushfires and proper preparation for them, as well as lots of riding hints and details about caring for horses.
Readers are sure to want to find more of the series after reading this very enjoyable story.
Pat Pledger

My perfect pup by Sue Walker

Ill. by Anil Tortop. New Frontier Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925059601
(Age: 4+) Dogs. Pets. Choice. Responsibility. A tiny dog sits patiently in the pet shop waiting for someone to choose him. Two children arrive on their tandem, wanting a dog. Milly wants a dog to brush and preen and primp, and Max wants a dog that will learn tricks. They take home the little dog and call it Tiny, but Tiny resists the things the children want him to do, and he grows to be anything but tiny. So one day they return him to the shop! Tiny now waits for the perfect owner. And sure enough the perfect owner appears, loving Tiny for what he is.
This story shows readers that one size does not fit all, a dog that the children thought would be just what they wanted, turned out to be far from their dreams. The book teaches the reader that there is more to appearance when it comes to choosing an animal or friend. They will see from the story that there is a particular animal that will suit them, and they must choose wisely.
The illustrations add a level of humour to the story, showing Tiny as he goes from being a quiet, attentive little dog in the shop, to growing to be a big fluffy dog at home and readers will laugh out loud at his change, as they will when looking at the array of people who come into the shop looking for a dog to buy.
This is perhaps a gentle reminder that there is more to buying an animal than meets the eye and could be taken further in talking about choices we make in life.
Fran Knight

The Star of the Week by Sally Rippin

Hey Jack series. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2015. ISBN 9781760124410
This is the final in the very popular Hey Jack series written for those very young readers who are stepping between "home readers" and "chapter books." The best friend of Billie B. Brown now has a 20-book series deliberately written for boys who don't identify with action heroes or spies.
As with the others in the series, Rippin takes a situation that her target audience can relate to and explores it in an imaginative and engaging read. This time, Jack is named "Star of the Week", a much sought-after accolade but he's not sure he can carry the responsibilities of the role particularly as his primary duty will be to introduce soccer star Tim Little at the impending school assembly and he is full of nerves and excitement. But then he discovers Aaron crying in the boys' bathroom because his dog has died and he has a brainwave that might cheer his friend up. It means he won't get to meet the famous sportsman but . . .
Rippin says she was inspired by Dr Seuss, Richard Scarry and Joyce Lancaster Brisley (Milly-Molly-Mandy series) when it came to writing both Hey Jack and Billie B. Brown and she was determined they "would begin in second person, contain the language of a school reader and stick to the simplest day to day occurrences of a six to eight year old," so they would be accessible and appeal to the reluctant reader. She tried them out on her own son, massaging them based on his responses and eventually bringing two series that have been the starting point for so many to fruition. In an interview, she says that she wanted her readers to be someone "who is ready to try their first chapter book. Someone who wants to read about a character they can relate to and who could, very possibly, become their very best friend."
Having watched both family members and students immerse themselves in both Hey Jack and Billie B. Brown and make enormous steps in their competence and confidence, I think she has hit the mark.
Barbara Braxton