Our mob by Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton. Illus. by Seantelle Walsh
Ford Street Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781922696236. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
Our Mob beautifully explores a number of different mobs across Australia. With stunning images and easily accessible text, this book is perfect for children from early years through to middle primary to grow their understanding of First Nations culture. Each mob is presented across a double page spread and gives a welcome in their own language as well as sharing simple stories. From South Australia is the Wirangu People of the Western coastal region:
Wai (hello), my name is Kaiden and I’m a proud Aboriginal kid from Wirangu Country. I love going camping and fishing with my family. We collect firewood for our garla (fire) to cook the fish we catch. My gurndili (aunty) says it’s important to go back to Manda (Country) to reconnect.
The colourful full-page illustrations are striking in their detail and perfectly complement the text.
This wonderful picture book will be an excellent addition to a public or school library and an important resource to use for both Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes First Nations Culture, Children, Family, Stories.
Kathryn Beilby
Gurawul the whale by Max Dulumunmun Harrison. Illus. by Laura La Rosa
As a young 10-year-old boy, Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison, was given the ancient legend of Gurawul the Whale from his grandfather and uncles with a promise that he would go the southern land to search for the whale dreaming of their Ancestors. Seventy years later, his journey to fulfil this promise has been published in a strikingly presented factual story with stunning images and a beautiful cover. The cover shows two panels of a three-sectioned painting displaying the bubbles left by the whales for people to follow to safety and Gurawul migrating from Antarctica to Kari (Hervey Bay).
The story of Gurawul The Whale begins with a contents page followed by a foreword by Dean Kelly acknowledging Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison and the importance of the teachings he has passed on to others. This is followed by a preface by Dwayne Bannon-Harrison, grandson of Uncle Max, who was privileged to be with him as the story of Gurawul was revealed. Following this is the story of the promise with the subsequent chapters sharing Gurawul’s Story, the journey, traditions, finding the place where the rock images and formations are, and how the legacy has been handed down and will continue to be. All through Uncle Max’s journey, there were spiritual connections made, lore passed down and lessons to be learned. Traditional and cultural stories are shared, and the outstanding illustrations add to the mystic and gentleness of the story. There are photographs, acknowledgements, and further information about the author, Max Dulumunmun Harrison, who passed into the Dreaming in December 2021.
This deeply engaging story is one which is important to be shared with others. As well as sharing the story of Uncle Max and his journey, it talks about living in harmony, taking only what is needed and learning from the natural environment. A truly special book that has a place in a school or public library.
Themes First Nations, Story, Whales, Ancestors, Family, Journey, Lore, Dreaming.
Kathryn Beilby
Wylah the Koorie Warrier: Custodians by Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard
Albert Street Books, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180040. (Age:10+) Highly recommended.
Custodians is the second book in the series Wylah the Koorie Warrior and is as equally engaging as the first. In this story, Wylah is desperately searching for her whole village who have been stolen by dragons to work in gold mines in a faraway land. This time though Wylah has the support of the five united Guardians and her animal companions and friends as she navigates dangerous lands in search of her tribe. With her Grandmother now in the Dreaming, Wylah has become the Koorie Warrior with all the responsibilities of such an important role and the others look to her for guidance and protection.
Throughout the trek the friends face one perilous situation after another. They meet the aggressive Alinta who is Custodian of one of the lands they travel through and who challenges Wylah and Pippy to a contest of speed. There are fierce and fiery drop bears, thieving baby yowies and their formidable mother, a giant red Yara-ma-yha-who that swallows Jayden, a stranger who joined the group early on but whom Wylah does not quite trust, a great Emu who is protecting her eggs and tries to squash them, attacked by Ngarparuts (growl rats) and finally a terrible battle with fire-breathing dragons. In each of these challenges Wylah must call upon her Guardians to help and her companions all bravely join in the battles. Unfortunately, things do not go according to plan and Wylah and her companions are betrayed.
For the reader there is the opportunity to learn about First Nations culture and language, their deep connection to Country, their spiritual beliefs and strong family relationships. This is a fast-paced and exciting read. Strong, brave characters with humour abounding and excitement on every page. The publisher has provided an activity sheet. Book 3 will be out soon.
Text Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781922790194. (Age:13+) Recommended.
Set in a fictional school in South Australia, this is the story of friendship, online likes, and the battle to find yourself in a constantly shifting environment. Tully comes from a non-traditionally configured family. Her artist mother has left and is now far removed from Tully’s life. Her father’s new partner is now the live-at-home (and work-from-home) mother while her father pursues his busy career in Sydney. Things are complicated. Tully, a high-schooler, is often attached to her phone and besotted with the online world of young influencers and Insta-famous identities. When Dene, an Insta-heroine, arrives at school, Tully loses perspective and abandons an established friendship to get close to the radiance of this online ‘personality’. Dene is both vulnerable and powerful, but it is the ‘like’ culture, the self-promotion of Insta-fame and the absence of perspective in Tully’s life that causes seismic ripples to occur in their lives. What does friendship look like? How can friendship last in a fake, like-unlike world? Who is Tully (and Dene) really when no-one is looking?
This is an appealing teen story about friendship that is complicated by online perspectives. It is both a critique of the falsehood of the selfie and friendship based on the ephemera of a moment-in-time click or hashtag, but also an insight into the world of the influencer and the battles of the teenage years in being able to navigate one’s own path in life, particularly when there are many obstacles in the way and the enticement of the online world is always present. ‘Control-Alt-Delete’ is not an option. Teens will instantly connect with this book. It is not overly complex, but it does address some serious family concerns obliquely as the overarching theme of self-awareness and identity unfolds. The world of teen ‘connection’ and family connection criss-crosses through the story. Teens aged 13+ will enjoy this book. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Social media, Friendship, Family, Identity.
Carolyn Hull
The super adventures of Ollie and Bea: Otter-ly ridiculous by Renee Treml
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761068126. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
This sixth installment in the sensational junior graphic novel series The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea series (It's Owl Good, Squeals on Wheels, Bats What Friends Are For) is perfect for young, independent readers or for read alouds. The chapter divisions also help with making reading goals approachable. The series will appeal to fans of the Duck, Duck, Porcupine series by Salina Yoon, the Elephant and Piggie series and Renee Treml's other graphic series, Sherlock Bones. While accessible to a younger audience, its content and format will be equally appealing and relevant to an older age group.
In this installment, Bea wants to play hide and seek and Ollie reluctantly agrees. Soon they invite their friends to play as well. There are rollercoaster emotions from everyone; sometimes they are good at hiding and declare themselves invincible and sometimes they can't find someone and they feel sad. They decide no one is really the best at hiding...perhaps they are all good sometimes. When two of the friends get into an awful argument, the others try to cheer them up with some jokes, but that just leads to another pair getting grumpy at each other. Then it's Ollie and Bea's turn to try...same problem. Luckily, along comes deer, with some super solving to save the day and help the friends fix their 'otter-ly ridiculous' problems. Apologies and restorative chats follow and the friends are happy and playing again in no time.
Children will love the jokes and word play that come thick and fast ('I did nut think you would find me here', 'I guess this means I'm not the best at hide and squeak') and the story is told exclusively through sharp, fast-paced dialogue. Renee Treml's (Sleep tight, Platypup) full-colour illustrations are crisp, clear and sparse with a superb focus on the changing emotions of Ollie, Bea and company.
This is such a wonderful series that explores the real problems children have within friendship partnerships and groups. It's a beautifully honest look at those emotions that most kids have but many find it tricky to talk about. It also models wonderfully positive and uplifting ways to be a friend (and the fun of friendships) without glossing over the times when it is hard or uncomfortable.
Themes Friendship, Problem-Solving, Forgiveness.
Nicole Nelson
Hello, Emma Memma by Emma Memma
Penguin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761341045. (Age:3-5)
Emma Wiggle makes a slow and graceful transformation into Emma Memma in this first Emma Memma book. Opening with an invitation to look closely at the 'gum blossom tree and pink painted leaves', beautiful watercolour illustrations by artist Kerrie Hess reveal little yellow and pink butterflies. As the book gently progresses the short rhyming text alerts us that 'someone is almost in sight. A friend, a buddy, a pal to play games. She is ready to join in, Emma Memma is her name'. The tree is growing and a cocoon emerges. Could it be hiding someone inside? The first signs of Emma Memma to emerge are bundles of twirly orange hair, followed by her body bursting out of the cocoon, 'pink shirt, orange dress. With pink and orange shoes. Emma Memma is ready for adventures with you!'.
While the text is short and approachable for young ones, it is language rich, with words like 'developing', 'protective' and 'emerging' as well as lots of simple descriptive words (bright, sway, swing, curly wurly). According to the website, Emma's new persona 'focuses on a new generation of communication, where she and her friends navigate challenges and adventure using sign language, choreographed dance narratives, gesture, mime, singing, speaking, listening, making craft and drawing'. This introductory book will delight former Emma Wiggle and now Emma Memma fans.
Game-obsessed Max in having a very, very bad day. After being pranked by his brother Liam in front of his class, he is now being looked after by their crazy neighbour Miss McBoob.
But things get even worse when Liam starts playing Shrinkle on Miss McBoob's phone because the app suddenly shrinks both him and Max to the size of a minifigure and their house, once so familiar, is now a treacherous landscape! Everyday objects loom large and even the cat is more like a tiger! Can they scale the sofa mountain, escape Miss McBoob's snoring mouth and outsmart the now-enormous pet cat? And will they stay tiny forever? Can they actually work together to beat the game?
Written to draw reluctant readers into print stories, the author says, 'Reading should be a pleasure and it was my aim to write books that pull you in and hook you from the start. Hopefully, then you can't help being moved by the characters as they grow and develop. I love comedy in books, but funny books also have to have heart, believable characters, and a great plot that keeps you reading till the very end.'
Using a modern premise of being drawn into a game, with characters not unlike themselves, and the sort of fast-packed , immediate action including countdowns, levels and time limits, this is the sort of story that will pull even reluctant readers away from their screens. They might even like to speculate on what might happen if they (or Liam and Max) were drawn into their own favourite game, a concept which, in itself, might spark story-writing and a group display of possibilities. Some might like to be inspired by the Lego Masters television series and recreate the world of their game, while others might prefer to broaden their horizons and explore the world of The Borrowers, a classic series by Mary Norton that dwells in the realm of ordinary becoming extraordinary.
Themes Computer games, Apps.
Barbara Braxton
The moon is a ball by Ed Franck. Illus. by Thé Tjong-Khing
Gecko Press, 2023. ISBN: 9781776574933. (Age:4+)
Panda and Squirrel have an unbreakable friendship. They can’t live without each other and do everything together: lie on the rocks to look at the moon, take walks, play games. One of their journeys lasts for only two steps, another day they discover a newly hatched duckling. But like most friends, sometimes they argue but they always make up again.
This is a book of nine short stories about the responsibilities and rewards of friendship, helping younger children understand that you don't always have to like the same things as your friend or agree with everything they say or do to remain friends. That sometimes the richest friendships are those built on the differences that each brings to the relationship. After all, could there be aby combination more physically different than a panda and a squirrel?
Translated from the Dutch edition by David Colmer, and richly illustrated it offers many opportunities for discussion, including asking the child what they might do in a similar circumstance.
Themes Friendship, Squirrelsl, Pandas.
Barbara Braxton
The secrets of Dumbledore: The complete screenplay by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves
Bloomsbury, 2022. ISBN: 9781408717431. (Age:12+)
Professor Albus Dumbledore knows that Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Seeking assistance from Magizoologist Newt Scamander, along with a team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker, the group embark on a dangerous mission. Grindelwald is gathering more followers, and making progress in Europe in his plans for domination. The group encounters old and new beasts and clashes with Grindelwald's followers. With so much going on, the stakes are high - how long can Dumbledore remain on the sideline?
Full of stage directions, costumes sketches, cast character notes and location renderings, this official screenplay of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is an insightful way of experiencing the story. Readers will enjoy the wizarding world that J.K. Rowling created, developed further with Kloves here in the Fantastic Beast series. With Newt Scamander being the main character, the inclusion of more magical creatures is expected, and readers won't be disappointed - the regular creatures that we've come to expect are there, with a few new ones. The book also includes sketches for posters, newspapers, tickets, key moments in the movie and notes from creative team members, as well as production staff. A great way to read the third book in the series, especially for those who might struggle with a casting change in the movie, and would prefer to read instead of watching the movie.
A lift the flap book will be read eagerly by all kids who love to see what lies underneath, and when the book is full of rabbits and presents then lifting the flap creates an extra frisson of delight as things are revealed. The four rabbits are going to a birthday party, but first they must find their party hats. They lift flaps on the page to find them, and off they run, run, run. Next they spy some ducks near the pond that they must get over, quack, quack, cheep. After these they see a mouse with a balloon cart and need to find the red balloons under a flap, run, run, run. Over the page they hitch a ride on a cart pulled by two horses, trot, trot, neigh! They arrive at a market where they hunt for some candles and off they run, run, run. With their red balloons candles and hats they almost collide with a small lock of sheep, baa, baa, leap. Passing a bakery means stopping to get a party cake and many different cakes are under the flaps for them to choose. Finally with the red balloons, hats, candles and cake they are ready to attend the party with all those they met along the way included in the feast. A wonderful time is had by all.
Younger readers will love predicting the rhymes and what they might see under the flap. The repetition is enough for younger readers to say the lines along with the reader, enjoying the variety when a different animal is found. They will love reading of the animals, and especially love the feast laid out for the birthday party. All the elements of going to a birthday party are included, adding to the fun, the excitement and expectation.
The fun illustrations add another element to the story and its humour, they are bright, and fill each page with colour and detail. Lifting the flaps is an activity younger readers delight in and this is sure to win fans aplenty. And it is the latest in a series which includes, We're going on a treasure hunt, We’re going on an elf chase and We’re going on an egg hunt.
Themes Farm life, Rabbits, Birthday party, Lift the flap, Verse.
Fran Knight
Twin Crowns by Katherine Webber and Catherine Doyle
What’s not to love about an easy-to-read fantasy with romance, adventure, twin princesses and a corrupt palace courtier? Princess Rose has always known that she will become queen of Eana after the murder of her parents when she was an infant. Witches were accused of the crime by the Kingsbreath Willem Rathborne but unbeknownst to everyone, her twin sister, Wren, was smuggled out of the palace and taken to live with the witches. Wren has always known that she would take over the throne and rescue her people. When Rose is kidnapped by Shen and taken to the witches’ stronghold on the cliffs, she begins to understand what really happened to her parents and becomes increasingly attracted to Shen. Meanwhile Wren has taken her place in the palace and is forced to learn about being a princess and try to withstand her fascination with her prospective husband’s guard. The wellbeing of both the witches and the kingdom is threatened and Rose and Wren face danger as they try to fit into their new environments.
Told in alternating chapters the voices of both Rose and Wren are clearly defined. Rose has always believed that Willem Rathborne had her best interests at heart and was unaware of his machinations to gain control of the throne for himself, so much so that he is willing to allow a rival kingdom to take over. She is stunned to learn that she is a healer and that all the witches are under threat. Wren has been brought up to be strong and tough always believing that the throne should be hers and she would be the saviour of her people.
The pace is fast with action galore, a wild gallop across the desert, forays into secret passages, encounters with wild beasts and a cruel king, dire prophecies and kidnappings, all keeping the reader engrossed. The authors have added some humour and snarky repartee, and of course the romances are engaging.
This light-hearted romantic fantasy is sure to appeal to readers who will want to read the next in the series, The cursed crowns. They may also be interested in The Queen's rising by Rebecca Ross or Three dark crowns by Kendare Blake.
George lives by the sea, but feels lonely. He wishes for someone to talk to, to share things with, someone to laugh with - he wants a friend. One day he finds a rockpool and there he spies a fish with bright green fins and golden scales. He talks to the fish and before he knows it he is lying on his back in the sun telling the fish everything. He calls the fish Claude, because that’s what friends do. And proposes to meet him the next day. But when he goes to see his friend, the rock pool is no longer there, the tide has come in. He runs to the shed and gets out his boat and rows out into the sea, although he is a little wary, but this is what friends do, so he keeps at it. Eventually he finds Claude and sweeps him up into his goldfish bowl. So the pair floated over the seas, George telling Claude all the things he wanted to tell his friend as they watch the other creatures. But Claude does not seem all that happy. George realises that he has been preoccupied with what he wanted, and not the needs of his friend, and returns Claude to the sea.
With copious amounts of blue paint, Evans has created a wonderful sea vista for all readers to lose themselves in. Readers will be entranced with the range of sea creatures shown, and love the contrasting end papers with lonely George walking the shore line at the start to the array of sea creatures at the end, George happily diving amongst his new friends. The repetition of the line ‘because that’s what friends do’ is beautifully included along the way, rounding off the story as George rows back home, followed by some of the fish, checking on his safety, ‘because that’s what friends do.’
Readers will quickly learn that friendship does not mean keeping that person in a goldfish bowl, hogging their company at the expense of others, that friendship means closeness as well as space, times together and times apart.
Swift and Hawk, Zen and Caleb, are back and they are in the thick of it - sent by Professor Clay, head of the Mobius Programme to diffuse a situation at SolTec, an American Robotics company, the teenagers are unprepared for what is waiting for them - the system has been hacked, and they discover out of control weaponized robots about to breach the safety of the lab and get into the city. Racing to shut down the virus, they learn this is just the beginning - and that they are going to have dig deeper to find out more - this calls for an undercover mission.
Swift and Hawk: Undercover is the second of the teen spy series by Logan Macx. Following the two teenagers who are technologically advanced, readers who are familiar with new technology and technology advancements will find the story easy to follow. Others might struggle with terminology, but still find the novel an enjoyable read. This story follows on from the first book, developing the characters and the Mobius Programme. Great for fans of the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, this series has more of a gender balance with Zen bringing some strong girl vibes. A slightly older version of Kensy and Max by Jacqueline Harvey, which fans could move to upon completion of that series.
What a reassuring read! Every child wants to know that they are loved and wanted, and that their outbursts of pique will always be forgiven and forgotten.
In this lovely verse story of a dragon and his parents, they are all getting used to each other, the almost new dragon asserting himself within the family, the parents showing love and support, and lots and lots of patience as the newcomer is sometimes over exuberant. When the dragon forgets himself and breathes fire and smoke, the parents do their best to calmly talk to him about curbing his behaviour. He knows that he has done the wrong thing and tries hard to conform, but now and again the fire erupts in the blink of an eye. His parents again mop up the mess, talking in low voices about how unfriendly this is, but not apportioning blame or recriminations. The dragon learns that his parents are saddened by his behaviour and so is greatly relieved when their sadness is short lived and they are all back to normal quickly.
Readers will have quickly picked up that the dragon is them, children of all shapes and sizes, who come into a family and learn to conform to the rules within the family, but always with an unconditional love given by the parents. The warmth shared by the mum and dad extends over every page as they nurture their dragon, keeping him safely within the family group, talking, holding, loving, cuddling, and even when quiet words are spoken in response to his unseemly behaviour, he is assured of their love and his worth.
Mem Fox creates a timeless image of a supportive family working in concert with each other, held together by love and tenderness.
The stunning illustrations in bold swathes of colour burst over each page, ensnaring every child’s eye as they read along with the narrator, predicting the rhyming words, learning some of the familiar lines, comfortably watching the little dragon as he settles into the routine of family life.
Themes Family, Love, Behaviour.
Fran Knight
The night travellers by Armando Lucas Correa
Translated by Nick Caistor and Faye Williams. Simon & Schuster, 2023. ISBN: 9781761104718. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
Imagine the heartbreak of giving up your child to ensure their safety. In The night travellers this happens not once but twice, over separate generations. Ally Keller is the mother of a ‘mischling’ child – Lilith’s father is black, an African German, in the time of the Nazi idea of eugenics and Aryan purity, and so Lilith is at risk of sterilisation at the age of seven. The only way to ensure the child’s safety is to send her in the care of two Jewish fugitives aboard the St Louis, the ship sailing to Cuba. History repeats itself when Lilith, in turn, finds herself compelled to give up her daughter Nadine in the time of the Communist revolution, sending her as part of the Operation Pedro Pan, to the hoped for safety of a new life with a German family in New York.
Correa’s book was written at the time of children imprisoned in cages at the Mexico-United States border, and the ongoing refugee crisis in Australia. It most vividly depicts the fear of the ‘other’: the fear of someone of a different skin colour, a different faith, a different language, a different sexual orientation, and reveals how repeatedly parents have been forced into the horrendous decision of desperately sending their children somewhere else for their safety.
It is a heartrending story told across four generations, of families split up, and of friends finding themselves on different sides of the political divide. No one is ever really safe, for there are secrets buried within families, secrets where supposedly ‘good’ people are revealed in all their fallibilities. In the end, the book is a story of great bravery and a plea for empathy, forgiveness and kindness towards others.
