The fourth I have read in the wonderful series of books by Danny Katz and Mitch Vanne first published to high acclaim in 2003 is just as funny and involving as the others, The school gate, The bubblers and The slide.
Set in a school playground at recess time, the fifteen minutes of respite from the classroom, the stories are full of drama, adventure and friendship.
This book, The monkey bars, contains three short stories, each about areas within a playground that children and teachers know well, the monkey bars, the bench beside the bin and the school shed. Each area is a scene where demarcation disputes sometime occur. Tamara hogs the money bars every recess time, stopping others from using it. When Melanie questions her a competition of who can hang on the longest begins. Melanie gives up, when the idea of her hanky sits in her mind, and Tamara elated at her win, does a more ingenious movement than usual, causing her to be very ill.
Manny is eating a very large sandwich at the bench near the bin. It contains almost everything he can think of, and all the children stop and look, in awe of each piece of meat, fish and votable matter that enters his moth. But one thing puzzles them all, the small purple balls. Through his full mouth he says it is beetroot, but they hear beetroop and so the fun continues as they try out various ways fo saying this new vegetable. When Mrs Gonsha slips on the tomato, the sandwich flies through the air, and the beetroot does what beetroot is known for, it stains.
Battie who dresses in a cape just like his hero, Batman, goes all the way in the last story when dress up day sees him arrive at school dressed as his favourite supehero, Batman. He is ready to emulate his hero and wants to help. He rushes around the school looking for someone in need but all to no avail until a small fluffy dog renders him helpless and Mrs Gonsha comes to his rescue.
Each of the three stories is full of humour and show incidents in the playground that are recognisable and familiar. A Little Lunch Bag rounds off the last few pages of the book and includes activities, games and puzzles to keep readers amused.
Another Lev Grossman marvel! This is the second book in The Silver Arrow series and I loved this adventure as much as the first. Kate and Tom are back in their normal lives auditioning for a role in the school musical or practising martial arts skills and waiting … waiting for Uncle Bertie to deliver a new Silver Arrow assignment to restore animals to their natural habitat using the magical and mysterious train line. When disappointment overtakes Kate, and her fears for her missing uncle start to weigh heavily on her, she takes matters (and the magical talking steam train with its appealing carriages) back onto the track and tries to do things independently. A near head-on crash and some other strange encounters leads her to join forces with Jag, a fellow student from her school and the Conductor aboard The Golden Swift, and continue the work of environmental restoration that is so important to the natural world. But has she meddled where she is not meant to be? And where is Uncle Bertie and is the odd and proper Jag a threat or a friend?
This magical fantasy world combines environmental issues and the challenges of human interference in the natural world with an adventure on board a train! The central character is about to turn 12 years old and also is coming to terms with friendship struggles and personal growth issues in her non-magical existence. This book has hints of the magic of Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree with its worlds of fantasy a heartbeat away, mixed with the drama of an epic David Attenborough nature documentary … and in combination with alternate modes of transport and childish delight in independent adventures, this is a somewhat unique reading experience. But the mixture just works! This is a great Primary years story and readers aged 8-12 will want to get on board and help save the animals in the natural world.
Themes Trains, Environmentalism, Fantasy adventure, Natural world, Friendship.
Carolyn Hull
Mister Fairy by Morgane de Cadier. Illus. by Florian Pige
Red Comet Press, 2021. ISBN: 9781636550008. (Age:4-7)
Translated from the French, Mister Fairy is a classic tale about finding your 'thing' and your place in the world. The woodlands where Mister Fairy lives are filled with fairies and they all have something they're great at. But not Mister Fairy; he's good at nothing and can't get any of his magic right and he's clearly grumpy about it. He leaves his home and ends up in the city, where everyone is grumpy and everything is grey. It's here where he shines, injecting colour, life and laughter into every dark crevice. On returning back to his woodland home he realises that the colours have faded. Could it be the effect of his absence?
There's a beautiful message here that sometimes it's not until someone is missing that we realise their true and unique value. This is overtly stated at the end: 'Mister Fairy realized that although he could not wake the forest or magic a kiss, he could make it all better in his own special way'. The illustrations are Jon Klassen-like with their muted colours and fuzzy edges. One particularly pleasing detail is that Mister Fairy has the 'he' pronoun but is wearing a dress like all the other fairies. This is a lovely story with a heartwarming message.
Themes Fairies, Ability, Magic, Self-esteem.
Nicole Nelson
Hug, cuddle, read and snuggle: Nursery rhymes for quiet times by Jenni Leece. illus. by Naya Lazareva
Little Steps, 2022. ISBN: 9781922678799.
This is a collection of fun rhymes to enjoy with your little one.
The illustrations add to the rhyme on each page.
The text is easy to read, and the illustrations are bold and colourful.
These rhymes are unique and will engage the imagination.
This collection of original rhymes can be sung to traditional nursery tunes.
Themes Nursery rhymes.
Karen Colliver
A mirror mended by Alix E. Harrow
Tor Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781250878250. (Age:15+) Recommended.
A Mirror Mended is the next instalment in Alix E. Harrow's Fractured Fables series and follows A spindle splintered. Zinnia Gray has been spending time rescuing Sleeping Beauties and is beginning to tire of it all when she looks into a mirror and sees the face of an evil queen looking back at her. She is thrust into another story - that of Snow White – and has all her preconceptions about that story turned upside down. The evil Queen is desperate to avoid dancing to her death in red hot shoes, the ending that is in store for her, and Zinnia finds herself in danger as the Queen wants her help. The pair face many adventures and danger as Zinnia begins to realise that perhaps characters have different versions of the fairy stories.
The novella length is welcome and can be read in one or two sittings. Its brevity does not take away from the author’s ability to tackle some challenging themes like facing up to responsibility and what friendship means while taking the reader into the land of fairy tales. The snarky narration keeps the reader immersed in the story and provides some lighter moments in amongst the dark perils that face the pair. Zinnia is coming to terms with the fact that she has to face up to her own destiny while her relationship with the Queen is very believable.
With its blend of tales of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, A Mirror Mended is perfect for fans of fairy tale retellings. Harrow has a unique approach to her stories which are engaging and well written. And the reader is left at the end of the story pondering the thought of ‘Living happily’ instead of the usual ending, ‘Happily ever after’ .
Fans of Shannon Hale, Laini Taylor and Neil Gaiman are sure to enjoy this series.
Themes Fairy tale retelling, Princesses, Folklore, Queens, Women.
Maggie is a seventeen-year-old, scholarship student at a convent boarding school in country Victoria in the 1960s, escaping from the poverty and violence of her home life with an abusive alcoholic father. Lonely and in need of affection, she is immediately drawn to the charming new priest Father Lloyd Nihill who seems to recognise her neediness and her intelligence and enjoys drawing her into conversation. It becomes a taboo relationship, as he draws her into ever more intimate situations.
The story is told completely in Maggie’s voice, her point of view, and while we as readers may recognise the selfishness and self-interest of Lloyd, Maggie is completely naive. They are 'in love'. She wants the closeness with him. As she becomes more entangled, she risks the future she had planned for herself, of being independent, going to university and becoming a scholar.
But, perhaps against the expectations of readers, Johns does not present Maggie as a victim. Maggie remains clear about what she wants, and she remains as honest and truthful as she can be in the situation she finds herself in. Perhaps it is that transparency of her character that draws people to generally act kindly towards her despite their intrinsic disapproval.
Johns has not written a moral tale, it is not the harrowing story of a woman’s downfall, but rather it is an account of a young woman finding her own path, despite societal disapproval, and staying true to her values. She is a quiet hero that draws our empathy.
Catherine John’s writing style though spare includes beautiful descriptions of Maggie’s appreciation of light, art and scenery around her. Much of the book also includes conversation that is natural and authentic. The chapters move quickly and it is easy to keep reading to discover how Maggie is going to navigate the challenges she faces.
The themes of this novel, though set in the 1960s, lend themselves to discussions of modern day issues of consent and responsibility, as well as reinforcing values of honesty and caring for others.
Theodosia has an unusual life and unique skills, talents, and interests in Egyptology. It helps that her father is a museum curator with a significant Egyptology collection and that her mother is an archaeologist. In this second book of the series involving this feisty and intelligent young 11-year-old, she is again inveigled into an investigation involving a powerful and magical Staff that she has discovered in the museum basement, that has power to both animate and destroy. It even has the capacity to enable London’s collected mummies to ‘waken’ and relocate! If the ‘Serpents of Chaos’ get their hands on the staff before her own investigative team (already introduced in Book 1, in their role as secret protectors of society) can uncover the truth of their nefarious plans it could mean world-wide conflict.
This is the second book in the Theodosia series (the book has been re-released for a new audience who will have been introduced to the main character via the TV series that has been produced in 2022). It is action-packed, and filled with Ancient Egyptian myths, curses and superstition over-laced with supernatural possibilities and secret societies. A truly exciting journey into the past and as Theodosia is a girl from 1907, there is very limited intrusion of technology! Information is gathered remotely using a local friendly ex-pickpocket recruited ‘for good’. Interestingly, her heroics are also designed to protect the world from war. The museum has its own difficulties and her family is intriguing - especially her grumpy and stuffy grandmother. Learning who can be trusted is also a challenge. The fast-paced action will appeal to young readers aged 10-14, and those who love ancient cultural intrigue and magical fantasy will be especially interested. I really enjoyed the journey into social life of the early 1900s with the complications for an intelligent female, but also the fascination of Ancient Egyptian mythology. This is exciting and full of potential interest. ( Those who enjoy the Percy Jackson series may also enjoy this mythology fantasy.) Ancient cultures are part of the Australian Year 7 curriculum, and the mythology of the ancient Egyptian culture makes for captivating content in this fantasy adventure.
Themes Egyptology, Spells and curses, Secret organisations, Museums, Magical fantasy.
Carolyn Hull
Loki A bad god's guide to taking the blame by Louie Stowell
Walker Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781529501223. (Age:8+)
Loki is a mighty god (of trickery), in the body of a puny mortal, sent to earth to learn how to be good - but he has to go to school! With his intellectual diary, in which he must record all his actions and the diary will provide a running tally of his point score, Loki makes many attempts to be good. Then he's accused of theft, of his brother's hammer no less - his brother is Thor, god of thunder and the sky. When no-one believes Loki that he didn't steal the hammer (including his own diary!), he sets out to discover who has framed him and make them pay! Or, make them tell the truth at least. Can a god of mischief and trickery become good?
The second in Louie Stowell's hilarious series (Loki: A bad god's guide to being good), this light hearted novel is perfect for fans of Marvel (where movies have been dedicated to these characters) and the series by Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Not to be taken too seriously, there are still a few hidden morals about how to treat others and about being a good friend. Filled with illustrations throughout, the story is written evenly and the images assist with moving the story along. Told from the point of view of Loki, with the diary throwing in its perspective, readers will enjoy the silly fun that the author has infused throughout the story.
Themes Humour, Fantasy, Comedy, School Life, Friendships, Families, Truth.
Melanie Pages
Where? by Jordan Collins. Illus. by Phil Lesnie
Allen & Unwin, 2022. ISBN: 9781760526382. (Age:All) Highly recommended.
The question, ‘where are you from’ was so often asked of the author, that while a teenager they wrote a poem underlining the commonness of us all. In this poem they highlight the beginnings of the universe, the big bang, the void and cosmic dust, the cataclysmic creation, the clouds, the oceans and the earth. We share common ancestors who decided to get up on two legs and walk, we shared voyagers and men and women who painted on cave walls and created their religions. The timeline of humanity includes all of us.
But they is often asked ‘where are you from’ because of the colour of their skin and hair, and affronted they say, ‘you see skin and I see supernovas, you see hair and I see nebulae’, impelling people to see that we all from the same place, so there is no need to ask again.
The word ‘where’ implies an overtone of racism as the questioner sees this person as not belonging. They are being questioned not about where they are from, but more why are you here? They are an ‘other’, someone not part of us, someone who does not belong.
This passionate poem draws readers’ attention to the idiocy of the question often heard. We are all born from the same seismic happenings in our universe, we share a common ancestry. For readers the story opens a slew of questions and observations. They will question the notion that people are ‘from’ somewhere other than the place they are at right now. The question of inclusivity and diversity will pop up, but overall the main thrust will be our common source. They do not want to be seen as ‘other’ but a human being like everyone else.
Performing this poem at a poetry event led to its publication, and along with the stunning illustrations by Phil Lesnie, will have an assured place in all school libraries. And I came across a new expression, slam poetry or poetry slams, where poems are performed to an audience, often loudly, and then judged by a panel. Typing ‘slam poetry’ into the internet gives you a range of performed poems at a slam.
For a wonderful synopsis of the book coupled with some heartfelt comments about its themes see here.
Lesnie’s illustrations are awe inspiring, as they show the universe in its magnificence, from the big bang to the swirl of cosmic dust, nebulae, moons, planets and suns, the seas and then the land upon which we first walked. He is able to give the impression of the sweep of the universe with his digital illustrations done on an iPad!. And the touches of Jordan’s lonely walks are heartfelt as he wanders along the highway or sits on a playground swing, walks along the beach leaving his single footprints on the sand. Through his journey his black cat is by his side, oblivious to the questions being asked of him, but a loyal and constant companion. The other child on the swing shows in his facial expressions the antipathy the question often reflects, while the faces on the audience at the poetry reading reflect sympathy and solidarity. An interview with Phil Lesnie can be found here.
This stunning contribution to the discussion about racism will draw in teachers and adults wanting to reconsider and discuss, while children will sympathise with Jordan and their journey tackling the big issue in all of our lives. An interview with Jordan can be found here.
Themes Racism, Inclusivity, Universe, Big bang, Loneliness.
Exquisite, like the music wrought from a precious musical instrument, Meehan’s latest book is rich in melodic language, telling the story of the acclaimed musicians, the Forquerays father and son, in the time of Louis XIV in Paris, France.
The story is recounted by Charlotte-Elisabeth the mute sister of Jean-Baptiste, a child prodigy cruelly and brutally forced by his father Antoine to be his successor as the most acclaimed violist of the royal court. He is a child compelled to play the music of his father, music never written down; constrained to be the unique perpetuator of those original compositions. Jean-Baptiste’s sole existence is to be the ongoing voice, the instrument, for his father’s music.
Voice is a recurring theme of the novel: Charlotte-Elisabeth is mute from the age of seven, in stubborn defiance of her father’s demands. She draws out the unsaid words of the other characters, the secret cache of hidden passions, as she narrates their story. She is one of a number of women who find a different way to resist the stifling oppression of men.
Other interweaving chapters detail the meticulous hand-crafting of an absolutely beautiful viola by an ancient craftsman who has gathered precious pieces of timber throughout his life. The viola created for Jean-Baptiste is a work of art in itself - another unique voice threatened to also be crushed by the savagery of the father; for the son’s subservience leads him to always seek the love and approval of the oppressor and he is compelled to reveal his treasure.
Meehan’s exceptional work of historical fiction has created a thing of beauty and mystery giving voice to music, art, beauty and passion, the voice that struggles to rise above cruelty and oppression. As Jean-Baptiste learns ‘Our aim is not harmony and perfection. Our aim is energy. This is what music is about. Not as a creation but as an action of creating, of driving pleasure and energy and power into the hearts of all who listen’.
An ungrateful instrument is a joy to read. The themes of the book are complemented by its beautiful presentation; it is a hardback volume with marbled endpapers, a ribbon bookmark, with the cover image from a painting by Alexandre-Francois Desportes. This is a book to keep and treasure.
Violin & cello by Catherine Greer. Illus. by Joanna Bartel, music by Alexander Lau
EK Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781922539274. (Age:4+) Recommended.
Side by side in an apartment tower live two budding musicians. He plays a violin which is kept in a violin case, while she plays a cello kept in a backpack. They practise alone, and are taught by different music teachers on Saturdays. On one balcony sits a ginger cat while the other balcony has a lovely garden. One day the boy writes a piece of music, an allegro, and makes it into a paper plane which he throws across the balcony. She picks it up. Everyone loves listening to the music but they are still alone.Then she write a piece took and sends it back across the balcony. Her piece is an adagio.
But they are still alone.
The readers will anticipate their coming together and be happy when they finally make the move.
One day they decide to play their pieces together. They sit on their balconies and they first play the adagio, quick and zippy, then the allegro, dreamy and slow. Everyone in the street stops to listen. And the mystery friends become real friends. They visit each other, eat together and make music together.
This lovely story will creep up on the children as they see the possibilities of the two musicians, living next door to each other, but neither making the first move to share their music. All sorts of possiblities will pop into the readers’ minds; will the cat get them together, perhaps their love of the garden, what about the other neighbours, will someone not like their music, and so on. Prediction will be in the minds of the readers as the story gathers steam.
The repetition of the position of the violin and cello too will encourage thoughts about these instruments and how they need protecting, and the information about the music too will inform the readers and encourage a greater interest in what is written on a page of music. A tryout of the music offered in the story will be a must.
The illustrations reflect the children’s isolation as they practise their instruments alone. And the attention to detail will enthral readers as they pore over each page showing the detail of living in an apartment in a tower block.
And some wonderful sayings to do with music could be discussed: music is the soundtrack of your life; when words fail, music begins; music is the language of love; music can change people.Teachers' notes are also available.
Themes Violin, Cello, Musical instruments, Music lessons, Friendship, Apartment life.
Fran Knight
Little lunch: The school gate by Danny Katz and Mitch Vane
A very welcome reissue of Danny Katz’s funny and well observed set of stories based on the happenings at recess time, or play lunch, that fifteen minutes that breaks the morning in the classroom. The group of kids get up to all sorts of adventures, which involve friends, learning limits, learning strategies, problem solving and not a few moral issues lightly touched upon along the way. Each story covers about 20 pages and is littered with Mitch Vane’s hilarious illustrations.
The first story in this book sees Manny looking at his play lunch dropped on the footpath outside the school. Mrs Gonsha has a strict instruction that no child will leave the school, so Manny and his friends all try to get the parcel, each finding a stick with which to drag the bag closer to the fence, each friend adding another stick to the first one which is not long enough. Eventually the bag is dragged in, the problem solving has worked. Manny is so grateful he offers his play lunch to those who helped, depriving himself to the treats he imagined were inside.
The second story, 'The girls’ toilet' will again have readers recognising situations and places within their school grounds. Here the girls are making paper crowns using the toilet paper after Amba finds Debra-Jo crying in the girls’ toilet. Unable to placate the girl, after she is called some choice names Amba begins to wind the paper around her head telling her she looks like a princess.
The third story sees the group Rory, Melanie, Atticus and Amba kicking the ball to each other in a circle. Bored with this they make numerous attempts to try something different, each proving to be involved and problematic.
Adding to the fun of the stories is a series of pages at the end, the Little Lunch Bag containing puzzles and jokes, riddles and games all designed to keep young readers laughing.
Themes Humour, Playground, School, Recess time, Friends.
‘Follow your heart’ – this is the essential message of Comer’s verse novel about two young teenagers, each with artistic talent, but each struggling with the differing expectations of their parents. Grace loves the violin and wants to pursue music performance after high school. But her parents push her to excel in more career oriented subjects. Similarly Crux’s parents want him to put his education before his passion for street art. Opportunities open up: for Grace it is the chance to play violin with her music teacher in a bar in the evenings; and Crux gets invited to join a group of street artists working on painting commissions. When by chance, their paths cross, the two young people develop a close friendship built around their shared love of music and art. But everything they do seems to meet with parental disapproval.
The setting is Melbourne, 2020, with people becoming increasingly anxious about the threat of Covid-19.The chapters, alternating the voices of Grace and Crux, in a melodic easy-to-read verse form, or in brief text conversations, are at times followed by a ‘Corona chorus’ providing updating COVID statistics and accompanying online comments. So just when Grace and Crux get the chance to explore some of their dreams, their difficulties are compounded by lockdown and isolation.
Comer’s novel presents a very realistic portrayal of the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on young people’s school life, on essential workers, on the arts industry, on family life, and on aged care homes and hospitals. It adds another layer of problems to the struggle that Grace and Crux are already experiencing in trying to work out their relationship and their aspirations.
The resolution provides really good messages about honesty and assertive communication. The characters are mostly acting from good motives; the conflicts can only be resolved by talking and listening, and being open to each other.
Themes Music, Street art, Emotions, Parent and child, Coronavirus.
Helen Eddy
City of light by Julia Lawrinson, Heather Potter & Mark Jackson
On 20th February 1962, the first American astronaut to travel around the earth passed over Perth, Western Australia. This stunning picture book celebrates that event, sixty years ago.
The children are in awe that an astronaut will pass overhead, and wonder if he will be able to see them. They will be able to see him as a small speck of light travelling across the night sky, but they are told that from that height only the big things like the pyramids or Amazon River or the Grand Canyon can be seen. But what if we leave our lights on the children wonder. And so they do. Their little idea takes root. They tell everyone in their street and suburb and city to turn on their lights. Sheets are hung on clotheslines with lamps to reflect the white light, veranda lights are switched on, torches used and apartment and office block lights turned on. All over Perth light can be seem, and more importantly can be seen by John Glenn, the American astronaut. John Glenn was pleased to report that he could see the lights of Perth from his amazing position as he orbited the earth, calling it the City of Light and thanking the people of Perth for their efforts.
Graphite pencilled and watercolour was used to create the atmospheric illustrations. The images in outer space of John Glenn are astounding, bringing the reality of his tiny capsule into focus. What a joy it must have been for him, alone in space to see the people of Perth signal him with their lights. He was not alone.
The images of 1960’s Perth brought back lots of memories to me and will educate younger readers about how differently we lived only sixty years ago. Clotheslines, outside toilets, a tiny TV with its aerial, girls only wearing skirts, dad smoking a pipe, old Holden cars, delivery trucks, the streets of Perth, all create an atmosphere of the ‘olden days’ which will initiate lots of discussion and thought. The illustrators must have had a great deal of fun seeking out 1960’s dinner ware, flights of ducks, wallpaper, clothing, furnishing fabric. It all gives a great sense of the times.
More about Julia Lawrinson can be found here, and the illustrators, Mark and Heather here.
Other books from this publisher can be found here.
Themes STEM, Science, Space, Space travel, John Glenn, Australia -1960’s, Universe, Australia - History.
Fran Knight
Rocks, fossils and formations: Discoveries through time by Thomas R. H. Woolrych. Illus. by Anna Madeleine Raupach
It is clearly stated in one section of the Science component
of the Australian Curriculum version 9.0, that by the end of Year 8, students
will be able to ‘compare processes of rock formation, including the timescales
involved’. Rocks, Fossils and Formations: Discoveries Through Time published
in 2023 and written by science communicator and exploration geoscientist Thomas
R. H. Woolrych is an informative and important book to support students from
Year 4-8. Readers in the lower years of this range will benefit from key facts and
new concepts being shared and discussed with an adult but older students will
be able to successfully use this book as a resource for research and further
learning.
The book begins with a forward from Dr Steve Hill, Chief
Scientist of Geoscience Australia, who introduces the concept of a time machine
to learn about the formation of Earth, and Australia. This is followed by acknowledgements
and finally the introduction where geoscience is explained clearly. The
contents pages highlight each Eon or Era of time beginning with Chapter One,
the Hadean Eon (4600-400 million years ago), and ending with Chapter Six, the
Cenozoic Era (66 Million years ago-present day).
Each chapter begins with a light-hearted personal message
from the time machine as it moves into a new eon or era. The chapters contain
different coloured pages with detailed information, clearly segmented and
labelled, diagrams, images, cross sections, maps or timelines, all
strategically placed to support the text. There are well written stories or
short passages throughout to explain a more complex concept and add to the
understanding of the readers.
In the final pages there is an Epilogue, discussing Geoscience
of the future, plus a very useful glossary where bold words from the text are
explained, and comprehensive index. For
those older children, and indeed adults who are interested in fossils, rocks,
minerals and earth’s formation, this is a well-researched and easily accessible
publication that provides an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of
this fascinating topic.
Detailed teacher resources for Rocks, Fossils and
Formations: Discoveries Through Time are available.
