The Library at Mount Char is a difficult book to review. For one thing, it encompasses multiple genres. It is an urban fantasy horror novel with strong elements of science fiction. For another, it is violent and terrifying while also being darkly and confusingly humorous.
The Library at Mount Char is also a difficult book to read. From the beginning, the reader is plunged into a story that seems to have started before the novel began. We meet the protagonist, Carolyn, walking down a deserted country road covered in blood. It is casually mentioned that the blood belongs to a detective Carolyn has recently killed but the audience does not know how, when, or most importantly, why. And if you think Carolyn is going to fill you in anytime soon, you can think again.
What follows is a slow-building nightmare of a novel where the reader must work to put together the scraps of information and clues that the author Scott Hawkins has left scattered throughout. The book seems both fragmented and tightly plotted; a contradiction that only makes sense once you are well into the novel. Through a series of horrifying flashbacks, the reader slowly pieces together what has happened in the past to drive Carolyn towards her bloody and bizarre present.
In a world that is both drastically different and eerily similar to our own, Carolyn and her siblings are on mission to find their missing father. That she has eleven siblings who are not related to her, her father kidnapped them all when they were children and that this surrogate father might just be God are just three of the details that make up Carolyn’s existence. Repressed and brutalised since her childhood, those around her think her cowed, compliant and complicit. But Carolyn has carried something within her for years, a burning hot core of rage. And now, Carolyn is ready to take her revenge.
The Library at Mount Char is a reading experience like no other but readers must be well aware of the adult themes and high levels of violence in the novel before deciding to read it. For those who make it through however, the payoff is well worth it.
A Blue Kind of Day is a thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated story about Coen, a young child who is having a day where he feels out of sorts. Author Rachel Tomlinson is a registered psychologist, and she has provided a simple yet powerful story that will resonate with parents, carers and teachers and provide support when dealing with unexplained feelings of despair in young children.
Coen is unable to articulate his feelings and chooses to stay wrapped up in his own world. 'Coen felt like a lost kite: loose in the breeze with feelings that tangled like string. He couldn’t find the words to describe why everything felt so wrong, so instead he tucked safely into himself like a turtle.'
His parents and sister Junie, who care deeply about him and his intense feelings, try very hard to engage with him and cheer him up. He does not respond and turns away from them. Finally, the family just quietly cuddles close to Coen until he reaches out to them of his own accord.
The stunning illustrations by Tori-Jay Mordey reflect a diverse family and truly enhance the text. In the final pages of the book, the author has provided further information about children and their feelings, examples of depressive symptoms to look for and how carers can help. A very valuable and important resource for home, schools and public libraries.
Eric Carle died in 2021, and The World of Eric Carle series is being published by Penguin. His The very hungry caterpillar was first published in 1969 and has been a favourite story, repeatedly published ever since. In this new book, the caterpillar takes the reader on a hunt for bugs in their garden. A lift the flap board book, the book will be a favourite as young children follow the caterpillar on its journey. Four double pages ask the reader to look up, look closely, look under and look inside in their search for bugs, while the last page reprises all the bugs seen in the pervious pages and shows young readers how all can care for the insect world. The cover shows a range of insects to be found inside the book and will support observation of what is on each page, encouraging the readers to observe and talk about what they see.
Brightly coloured illustrations recall the talent of this wonderful author illustrator and will lead younger readers to his other books, certainly The very hungry caterpillar amongst the seventy he wrote and illustrated.
Themes Environment, Insects, Bugs, Observation.
Fran Knight
Wild Australian life by Leonard Cronin. Illus. by Chris Nixon
Allen & Unwin, 2022. ISBN: 9781760637224. (Age:7+) Highly recommended.
The gorgeous cover of Wild Australian Life will immediately draw the reader to this wonderful new publication by Leonard Cronin, one of Australia's well-known authors of non-fiction books dealing with Australia’s diverse animal and plant life, and their natural habitats. Combined with the stunning illustrations by visual artist Chris Nixon, this book will be a fantastic source of information for readers of all ages.
From the appealing endpapers to the remarkable bird image on the introduction page and throughout the whole book, the reader will be fascinated both by the information shared as well as the images complementing the text. The Contents page is followed by information about the Animal Kingdom and an easy to comprehend classification table. The next double page provides a clever hook for the reader. With the title ‘Curious Discoveries,’ it highlights clues for different hidden creatures with just a magnifying glass and page number.
Some of the interesting topics covered in the book include Magnificent Mammals which discusses Monotremes, Placental Mammals and Marsupials, Skulls and Skeletons which looks at an array of different clearly labelled animal skeletons, Whales & Dolphins, Spiderly Tactics, Radical Reptiles and Masters of Disguise. Towards the end of the book are pages devoted to various habitats and creatures who dwell there, containing quite detailed and striking images as well as comprehensive information. In the final pages is an index plus a short paragraph about the author and the illustrator.
This larger hardback book has something to interest every reader and would make a beautiful gift for an avid animal lover and a fabulous resource for a school or public library.
A perfect book for young children, Everything you want to see is sure to stimulate their imaginations and give adults and children many different things to talk about. The collection of things that a toddler might like to see range from the very familiar: dog and house, to a tiger in a car and an alien playing an electric guitar. In an article Hughes-Odgers tells how his young children inspired this board book with ideas of things for him to draw and the things that he has put into his board book are certainly ones that my grandson will love to see in a book. What young children isn’t fascinated by a dinosaur, a happy mouse, and Lego trucks, not to mention star glow and a bin that stinks? It also is a lovely read aloud with some interactive questions (a lion’s roar! Too scary?), and rhyming couplets,
A tiny flea a boat on the sea
All the objects are beautifully illustrated with bright oranges, dark khakis, and vivid reds, and all are easy to identify. Some pictures are very humorous, like the gorilla with a banana on his head and a giant cake with a ladder leading up to the top, while other illustrations are very small and will need a keen eye to see the object featured, like the tiny flea and the little fairy.
The use of knowledge of everyday things interspersed with amazing imaginative objects beautifully blends the familiar with the imagination. This sturdy board book will be a treat for any child lucky to have it.
Most definitely an ode to libraries, librarians and book lovers, this historical novel tells of the amazing little underground library established on the disused Bethnal Green train line during the London Blitz. A whole community was established in the bomb shelter, with rows of bunk beds, a cafe, a theatre, and of course the library. Thompson’s heroine, Clara Button, is the librarian, having retrieved books from the bombed out local library and establishing a thriving library service underground, one that inspires a love of books, and a shared community spirit.
Clara and her staunch friend Ruby take advantage of the new freedoms offered women with the men away at war, and step into the roles of librarians come caretakers and social workers. They are the heart of the community; the library is a place of conviviality and education, particularly for lost and lonely children. Both women are grieving, Clara for her husband killed at war, and Ruby for her sister suffocated in a desperate crush of people during the bombing. But the library gives them a purpose that helps them to overcome the past.
There is the inevitable romance, for each, and an amusing cast of stereotypical minor characters that include Clara’s heartless mother and mother-in-law, the sturdy shelter manager Mrs Chumbley, gentle bereaved Mr Pepper, and the officious library manager Mr Pinkerton-Smythe, all of whom add to the drama, for life does not run smoothly in the underground library.
Each chapter begins with a quote about libraries or love of books, a rich source of quotations gathered by Thompson in her research for the book, all useful material for a ‘Save our libraries’ campaign. Thompson is enthusiastic in her support for libraries, particularly in difficult times, during the war, and now with the Covid pandemic.
The Mr Men and Little Miss are heading down under – or 'up over' as Mr Topsy Turvy would say and I couldn't love this more. I have always liked the Mr. Men books and their simple stories that engage young readers so I really wanted this book to feel similar to my childhood memories and it exceeded my expectations and will be one that I keep on my shelf both at home and in the classroom.
This is the story of all the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters that children will be familiar with coming to Australia. They take a logical journey around our wonderful country - and by that, I mean that they start in Sydney, head to Tasmania before coming back to Melbourne and then heading west. They do not jump all over the country, which frustrates me as it minimises the size of the country.
The illustrations are amazing and the vibrancy of the colour palate make the Australian landscape come to life, as each character gets to do something they have wanted to do or that fits with their personality. The book includes something of interest for each place they visit, highlighting some of Australia’s most famous landmarks while also including others that might not be as well-known thereby introducing them to the young reader in a fun and interesting way. This is a book that is sure to delight Australian children and their international friends.
The familiarity of the characters and their personalities are perfectly reflected in the book from Mr. Greedy finding a food he won't eat, to Mr. Mean being upset there isn't gold to be found on the Gold Coast, the book felt like revisiting an old friend. This is a perfect book to introduce children to the Mr. Men characters as well as for adults to reconnect with childhood favourites. I highly recommend this book for both home and school use, as I can see many ways that it could be used in the classroom.
Themes Mr Men and Little Miss, Australia, travel, friendship.
This is a gem of a fantasy tale, suffused with anguish, power imbalances, romance and the struggle to understand a history that is veiled. Alizeh is the central character, a girl mired in poverty and servitude, but who has a past that suggests much greater things and must stay hidden. Her speech, demeanour and care for others though gets her into trouble and Prince Kamran becomes witness to her unusual actions as a servant girl, actions that defy conventional wisdom. The mystery and intelligence of the girl compels him and unnerves him, and slowly their lives and paths become woven together. Her ‘side line occupation’ as a seamstress gives her a reason to escape her servants’ quarters, and the occasional magical moment propels her into a royal intrigue. And all the while there is the devil’s prophetic words to unravel. Can she trust his words? What is truth and who can be trusted? And will her past as the rightful heir of her kingdom cause the connection to the Prince to shatter before love can take root? A truly magical tale on many levels.
I cannot say how much I enjoyed the quality of the writing in this Fantasy tale, it was beautifully rendered. The fantasy world was unfolded gently and with minimal detail, not unlike a diaphanous piece of fabric fluttering in readiness for a finished creation. As details emerged, they were just enough to explain the magical and lyrical quality of the story. The language use was mature and threaded with metaphor. Tension was felt all through the dramatic story and the author created a resonant and subtle mystery about the central character. The romance elements of the story were restrained and yet compelling, and the overall effect was breathtaking. Magic was never overused as a solution to problems, and would sometimes surprise as its existence was revealed. With a startling conclusion, this book leaves me in wonder. On the whole, I will be highly recommending this book to lovers of fantasy and romance. Its audience will cross from YA readers to adult fantasy enthusiasts… and all will be entranced and impressed.
Themes Fantasy, Power, Magic, Romance, Royalty.
Carolyn Hull
You can live on the bright side : The kid's guide to optimism by Lucy Bell
You Can Live on the Bright Side: The Kid’s Guide to Optimism is a bright and engaging wellbeing/self-help resource that will appeal to a range of age groups including teachers, parents and carers. The book begins with a contents page and a detailed introduction. This introduction discusses optimism and shares ideas about how to accept that some days things may not be so great but there is always hope, and ways to find something we may enjoy doing to help with our feelings.
The book is divided into eight chapters covering a variety of topics: Mind, Body, The Great Outdoors, Create, Learn New Things, Home and Lifestyle, Help People and Help the Planet. Each chapter is colour coded and contains information about topics related to the theme. For example, The Great Outdoors chapter talks about cloud-watching, hugging trees, walking in the rain, and even making a daisy chain. Also contained within each chapter are tips, Did You Know? segments, and personal profiles of children from all over the world who have achieved wonderful things from simple ideas.
In the Help People chapter, ten-year-old Mabel Peisley from Kaurna Country (Adelaide) started the Undercover Kindness online campaign. With her mum Tabitha, they do random acts of kindness. Her story is wonderful to read and share with others. She also gives tips to help other kids live on the bright side. The Create chapter shares the information that 72% of people have creative ideas while in the shower! This chapter is sub-divided into Draw, Cook (with lots of recipes), Write and Art & Craft.
The activities for each chapter are endless and all readers will be able to find something that may appeal to them. For those children experiencing periods of Covid isolation, this would be a great book to have on hand to help fill long hours of staying at home. This book is a surprise package – so many great stories, ideas, thoughts, activities in one brightly coloured easy to read publication. In the final pages are a list of resources, useful apps and websites, as well acknowledgements and information about the author, who also wrote You can change the world.
Six couples at a secluded, private resort. Should be a lovely holiday for all of them, especially the couple there on their honeymoon. But after the bride, Jane Brinkwood, receives threatening notes, things escalate and when she storms off from dinner, the rest of the guests are left shocked. Then when she is discovered dead shortly after, all the guests are suspects - but they all have solid alibis, including the police couple who were the last to check in at the resort. They immediately start the investigation, but the resort has limited access points, and the only suspects were together at the time. It looks like an unsolvable murder. It's now months later and the case has been lost its momentum. Lucy, guest at the resort, who happens to be the ex-wife of Jane's newly widowed husband, is desperate for answers. She sends a letter to the murderer - but she doesn't know who it is, so she sends the letter to all the guests, reopening the investigation.
Set in England, this cozy murder mystery revolving around multiple couples is written from multiple perspectives. Moving from past to present, the story jumps seamlessly for readers to enjoy the added elements to the mystery. It is well written with plenty of twists and interesting characters. Part of the 'Spilling CID' series written by Sophie Hannah, this novel sees Detective Constable Simon Waterhouse and his wife, Charlie Zailer, Detective Sergeant, on holiday when the murder is committed. The novel doesn't indicate that it's part of a series, nor does not having read any detract from the experience. Good read for those who like a light, yet twisty mystery.
Thank you for the Little Things is a delightful, brightly illustrated picture book that celebrates the happiness the little things in life bring. It is also the perfect introduction to the concept of time and what may occur during a day, from morning to night.
The young diverse child in the story goes through the day giving thanks and recognising the smallest of things that bring joy even when feeling down. A ladybird, daisies, a dog, playground swings, squelchy mud, puddles, and a strong stick, are little things to be appreciated. As the day draws to a close, quiet time drawing, eating noodles, drippy ice-cream, bubbles in a bath, story time and finally bed with a favourite toy are all special pleasures to be grateful for.
The bold and colourful crayon illustrations combined with the simple rhyming text will appeal to very young children:
Thank you lovely playground swings, you make me fly, like I have wings. I love the cool wind in my hair as I swoop upwards through the air.
A beautiful book to share and read aloud with Early Years children in a home, childcare setting, school or public library.
Mila & Ivy is a very appealing picture book that tells the story of two young sisters, Mila and Ivy who love cardboard boxes, and often work together on cardboard box building projects. Mila is the designer, and her younger sister Ivy often helps her with ideas and the construction. Some of their quite incredible designs include robots, zoos, roller coasters and a time machine.
One of their favourite things are cupcakes and they decide to build an invention based around them. They create the amazing cupcake catapult. However, their harmonious relationship takes a turn for the worse when Ivy begins to tear their other designs into cardboard confetti. Mila becomes very angry and does not listen to Ivy’s ideas to make the cupcake catapult even better. In the end though, Mila realises that she needs Ivy’s help when her new and improved cupcake catapult fails.
From the interesting endpapers to the gorgeous illustrations, this is a book that all children will relate to especially if they love creating things out of cardboard and have siblings who may annoy them at times! Early Years teachers could use this as an introductory text to a STEM topic about making things from recycled materials. An enjoyable and entertaining read.
Surviving the Wild 1. Allen & Unwin, 2022. ISBN: 9781761065453. (Age:7+) Highly recommended.
Rainbow the Koala, written and illustrated by Remy Lai is a new graphic novel from the Surviving the Wild series. This is a book with a message; SAVE OUR PLANET, PROTECT OUR BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE! Filled with cute and engaging pictures, this story is sure to appeal to many. Endearing and thought provoking, everyone will love Rainbow and be caught up in her journey.
Rainbow is a baby koala trying to learn how to survive in the wild. Her mum teaches her to cling, climb, feed and always stay away from the dangerous humans. These life skills are embedded before she sends Rainbow out to fend for herself, after she turns one. Finding her own home, enough water to survive and battling unknown dangers are just some of the troubles that Rainbow encounters along the way. Being a koala isn’t as easy as it appears! Rainbow must navigate the outside world with strength and determination. But what happens when a terrible bushfire ravages her homeland? Will Rainbow and the other wild animals survive? Can Rainbow be helped, to become healthy and strong again?
Remy Lai has written another strong and thought-provoking graphic novel. This cute and adventurous story is fast paced and amusing, yet poignant and moving. The comic style writing and colourful pictures create great visuals to support the storyline. Based on true events, this story will be one that the reader will connect with and reflect on. An enchanting book for everyone to enjoy; but if you love Australian Wildlife and are a Climate Change Combatant, this story will have an extra special place in your heart.
Themes Australian Wildlife, Environment, Climate Change, Bushfires, Koala rescue.
Flick (Felicity) Lions lives with a disability – she is an amputee. But for Flick this is not the worst thing. What distresses her the most is the disappearance of her father, a magician who has developed a reputedly amazing magic trick with The Great Fox. The Great Fox is the patron of a new reality television show to find a worthy young magician, so Flick enters the competition in the hope it will lead to the discovery of the truth about her father. She meets and works in a team alongside another kid with magical talents (Charlie), who has his own sadness motivating his entry in the competition. Will Flick and Charlie win the competition, or will they miss out on the big prize and solving their family concerns?
This book has magical qualities and intrigues from beginning to end as the conjurors ply their sleight-of-hand and entertaining talents. With some magic tricks explained as the competition proceeds, it also has mystery and subterfuge woven through the story. With short ‘snappy’ chapters, this book has a fast-paced style woven with the Reality TV challenges. The conclusion may disappoint some readers, but it is still worth recommending to readers aged 9-14. I enjoyed the conjuring world and the magical characters who were endeavouring to overcome some serious issues in their lives.
Themes Magic and Magicians, Reality TV, Disability.
Years of devastating storms have ravaged Mina's homeland, with her people believing that the Sea God who was once their protector has instead cursed them, even abandoned them. In order to appease him, each year a young maiden is selected to be thrown into the sea as an offering. They hope the Sea God will select his true bride and end the suffering. The next maiden to be selected is Shim Cheong, but she is in love with Mina's brother, Joon. The night of the sacrifice, Mina follows her brother, who has followed Shim Cheong, which is forbidden by the rules of the sacrifice. To save her brother, and Shim Cheong, Mina throws herself into the water in her place. Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a city full of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina finds the Sea God trapped in an enchanted sleep.
This wonderfully written story is a feminist retelling of a classic Korean legend, and has been written descriptively and full of relatable characters. Told from Mina's perspective, following her journey to find a way to break the enchantment on the Sea God, as well as to recover her soul and determine her own fate, Mina proves to be a relatable and endearing character. The book moves seamlessly, moving between action, intrigue, twists and romance. The city beneath the sea has been envisioned clearly and readers will be able to picture themselves there, moving between the streets, Houses and the palace. Containing plenty of traditional practices for honouring ones elders, this novel demonstrates certain aspects of Korean philosophy in different ways. Perfect for fans of the Manga series 'The Water Dragon's Bride' by Rei Toma and for fans of the popular anime 'Spirited Away'.
