The Camping Trip : A book about learning by Jane Martino. Illus. by Annie White
Penguin, 2021. ISBN: 9781761040092.
Henry's greatest delight is finding out about things, particularly the animal world, from his Big Book of Animals. Even when he is outside amongst nature, he uses his book to discover new things about the creatures he sees. But on a camping trip in the bush with his dads, brother and best friend Ruby and her family, Henry discovers his book is missing! How will he learn about all the fantastic things he finds and sees on the trip without it? At first he sulks and misses out because he doesn't have his book to consult but then he discovers there are other ways to learn.
This is the final in this series which includes The Inside Day, Noisy Tom,Super-Me and The Thank You Present developed in collaboration with Smiling Mind, Australia's leading not-for-profit organisation in the pre-emptive mental health space. Like its predecessors it includes activities to engage the child after the book is read, in this case inviting them to explore nature using all their senses. There is also a three-minute Nature Sounds meditation written especially for 3-6 year olds available on their free app.
The mental health of our little ones who have been deprived of their friends' company at such a crucial time of their socialisation development is finally being recognised and so any guidance that enables parents to keep their little ones emotionally okay as well as physically safe is to be welcomed. The suggestions for the senses scavenger hunt outdoors when picnics are making a huge comeback is perfect and so this is a title that parents need to be made aware of. That the stories features a two-dad family, the norm for many of our students these days, is an added bonus.
Themes Camping, Mindfulness.
Barbara Braxton
Dally and Dash go to the bush by Lisa Holt. Illus. by Nandina Vines
Little Steps, 2021. ISBN: 9781925839975. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
This is a lovely story with beautiful illustrations.With the text and illustrations on separate pages it makes this book visually pleasing. The layout of this book also makes the text easier to read for younger readers.
The book starts with the rules Dally and Dash need to follow on their walk to keep themselves safe and look after the environment.They meet a selection of Australian animals on their walk and are friendly to all they meet. The friends have a great day in the bush and are tired and hungry by the time they get home.
The fun facts at the end of this book add another element to this story, and build the readers knowledge of the different animals that Dally and Dash encounter on their bush walk.
I can’t wait to see where Dally and Dash will go on their next adventure.
I highly recommend this book.
Themes Dogs, Australian animals, Bush.
Karen Colliver
The Best Cat the Est Cat by Libby Hathorn Rosie Handley
State Library of NSW, 2021. ISBN: 9781925831191. (Age:5+) Recommended.
Situated in the heart of Sydney on the corner of Macquarie Street and Shakespeare Place since 1826, the State Library of NSW is the oldest library in Australia. And among its bigg-est, small-est, and strang-est items is a secret cat with magical powers that make it and its followers invisible. And so young readers are taken on a special journey around the library - to the reading room which is the booki-est place; to the art gallery where ghosts might come alive; to the stacks, seven stories below street level, where there are stories, poems and pictures from near and far as well all sorts of curios telling the story of this country; to all parts of the library revealing its treasures both visible and not. The cat introduces them to the biggest, the smallest, the strangest, the rarest and the gluggiest objects, shows them secret places and spaces and introduces them to some of the workers.
Using clever rhyme and superlative language and illustrations which are a blend of collage, digital artwork and sketching, the cat explores all the corners of this institution finally revealing itself to be none other than Trim, the cat that helped Matthew Flinders put Australia on the map. And all the items that are featured in the story are given their own brief explanation in the final pages not only encouraging demonstrating the broad spectrum of items on offer but encouraging further exploration.
Any NSW resident who has a public library card can access the State Library's collections and so introducing young readers to all that is on offer opens up one of the finest collections of books (end to end, they would stretch 140km), letters, journals, paintings, photographs, maps and objects that they can access for free to assist with whatever investigation they are undertaking.
The Best Cat even has its own web presence with teachers' notes and a competition offering the opportunity to win a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Library with author Libby Hathorn and illustrator Rosie Handley.
This is the Library's first foray into publishing children's books and it has set an extremely high bar.
Themes State Library of New South Wales. Cats, Libraries, Australia - History.
Barbara Braxton
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo. Illus. by Sophie Blackall
Answelica the goat’s antics immediately draw you into this quirky and charming tale set in medieval times. Together with Brother Edik, the earnest monk with the wild wandering eye, the two help nurse a young girl called Beatryce back to health. We understand that Beatryce has had terrible things happen to her and she is repressing these memories. She also dreams and tells amazing stories, which are quite significant elements in the plot. Most importantly Beatryce has the unusual ability to read and write, a thing no girl should do. The other monks from the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing believe she is a demon girl and send her away to scribe the confessions of a soldier. She must be disguised as a boy and is guided by a boy called Jack Dory. The story becomes a quest to find the truth and it is evident Beatryce’s life is in danger due to a prophecy about a girl who will unseat the current king.
Kate DiCamillo is a Newberry Medalist writer who creates unique stories with just the right amount of description, diverse settings, and strong endearing characters. There are many scary incidents, and the characters must be brave and face their fears. All except the fearless Answelica! This goat is a great comic animal character who brings light relief but also devotion and love. The spoken language between the characters keeps the story moving quickly. Along with bravery there is a clear theme of the importance of reading and writing for girls and everyone. Those in power manipulate access to reading and writing in order to maintain their power. Sophie Blackall’s beautiful black and white illustrations manage to create the medieval milieu really well, as do the illuminated letters at the beginning of each chapter. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Bravery, Love, Equality.
Jo Marshall
Wishyouwas by Alexandra Page. Illus. by Penny Neville-Lee
The appropriately named Penny Black is under the care of her austere Uncle Frank, the local Postmaster, waiting for her mother’s return from her duties as a pilot to deliver airmail. While in the post office she discovers a mysterious but cute rat-sized creature, with a naive mastery of grammar, that appears to be raiding letters. An unlikely friendship develops and before long Penny is involved in rescuing the tiny creature from an awful ratcatcher who has been hired to exterminate the vermin. The small creature, named Wishyouwas, is a charming participant in solving the mysteries of ‘lost letters’ alongside the normal mysteries of mail deliveries. Penny eventually becomes involved with the community of ‘lost letter’ creatures and soon must protect the entire population from the ratcatcher and his evil plots to make money from their presence.
This is an absolutely charming story, and you cannot help falling in love with Wishyouwas, the innocent and loyal friend to Penny. The setting of the 1950s post-war postal system is also appealing, with mailbags and post boxes, last-minute Christmas deliveries, and the underground postal rail system playing a part in setting a magical backdrop to this charming fantasy. The lost letter creatures employ intriguing and inventive strategies (akin to The Borrowers) for carrying out their work and their secrets deserve to be protected. With rats employed to create havoc and attack the mini-lost letter workers, there are moments of tension and fantasy violence. With the ratcatcher trying to throw Penny off his trail, there is fear that the gentle creatures will not survive.
Young readers should be able to deal with the tension, but this would make a wonderful read-aloud or a shared book with an adult. The scary moments with the rats and the ratcatcher’s snarling dog might not make this conducive for a calming bedtime story though.
Themes Post World War II, Postal system, Fantasy, Friendship, Bravery.
Carolyn Hull
The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethel
Usborne, 2021. ISBN: 9781474966849. (Age:7+)
Blue Wing is desperate to become a shark caller like her waspapi Siringen.
"I want to be able to call the sharks. Teach me the magic and show me the ways," she begs him for the hundredth thousandth time but he refuses, telling her she knows why he will not.
Instead she must befriend infuriating newcomer Maple, who arrives unexpectedly on Blue Wing's island. At first, the girls are too angry to share their secrets and become friends. But when the tide breathes the promise of treasure, they must journey together to the bottom of the ocean to brave the deadliest shark of them all... and it's not a great white.
Papua New Guinea is just as a mysterious land now as it was when I lived there 50 years ago, steeped in history, legends and traditions going back to the earliest civilisations and when the author moved from there to the UK (and had to wear three jumpers even in summer) she was peppered with so many questions about her life there that she wrote this book to help answer them. And in doing so, she has woven an intriguing tale of adventure, friendship, forgiveness and bravery with such a real-life background that I was taken back to the days when I was there with all sorts of memories that I thought were forgotten, including the pidgin phrases.
Competent independent readers of all ages will immerse themselves in the story which, even though it has such a diverse backdrop, still has a universal theme threaded through it. For those interested in finding out more there are the usual Usborne Quicklinks, as well as a most informative note from the author and some questions for book clubs that delve deeper. One for those who are ready to venture into something a little different.
The three main characters in this book are so unalike that you would never think they could end up supporting each other as they do, and building the friendship that ends up forming through the book. The way Eve, Julia and Lucy are introduced though their individual stories and then slowly woven together shows the great storytelling ability of the author.
Eve has been involved with the prawn industry in Wallaby Bay for as long as she can remember, and has been living in the past for a long time. Her goddaughter Julia works in Melbourne in research, and has issues with work and her relationship that she is not ready to face. Lucy is the wife of a FIFO worker struggling with family life when her husband is away. These three women are thrown together in the most incredible way.
This is a great story. Three unlikely characters drawn together by unusual circumstances, each believing they don’t need anyone but themselves. As the relationship between the three women grows their need for each other also grows. This unlikely friendship helps all three women to start looking forward at the future rather than living in the past.
The hardest thing for Eve was to accept that she needed help. Julia and Lucy both needed someone to confide in but neither of them realised the importance of sharing their problems. All three needed to learn to let go of the past and look to the future. Help can come from the most unlikely places and when Eve lets her stubbornness go a little she was able to see what a difference a new friendship can make in her life. Julia and Lucy both realise that opening up and talking about things can help to reduce the burden. The way we each deal with life’s challenges is what makes us who we are.
The powerful way this book is written made me feel like I knew the characters and had a personal connection to them. I had trouble putting this book down; I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The story kept me hooked right to the very end.
Who would have thought that such a small insect could have such a big impact!
So much can happen in such a short time. In less than a month Brian’s whole life changed.
With the coronavirus pandemic in full swing Brian and his wife Emma are struggling to get their new business off the ground. A family holiday seems like a good idea to refresh them, but little did the family know that the holiday would change their lives completely.
After enjoying a BBQ on the beach Emma became unwell and the family decided to cut their holiday short and head home. As they traveled home Emma’s condition became dramatically worse leading to a visit to the ED, where she was diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). To add to the trauma of his sick wife Brian received a huge hospital bill that his insurance refused to pay.
On top of this Brian’s daughter was not herself and slowly becoming more unwell, even with repeated trips to the ED Brian was not able to get them to take the illness seriously. Brian didn’t realize how serious his daughter's illness was as she seemed to get better then sick again then recover and the cycle continued. Everyone kept telling him it was due to his wife being unwell and she was just upset.
Through the troubling times Brian managed to find someone in similar situation to him who was able to support him. Jeanne became a great support to Brian while he was trying to support his daughter through what had happened to her mother.
Through all of this Brian discovers that the hospital and insurance company bosses are out to make money no matter who they hurt in the process, it is all about the bottom line. Brian is determined to expose these people for who they really are.
Remember you should always read the fine print….
This is a gripping story of family struggles and how big business treat the little person.
Themes Revenge, Insurance Companies, Viruses.
Karen Colliver
Swim, Little Wombat, Swim! by Charles Fuge
Walker Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781760653538. (Age:3+)
Little Wombat is so very excited because he's found a fun new friend to play with - one with a strange name Pla-ty-pus and with an even stranger walk, a funny face and who can swim like a fish. But when Little Wombat tries to mimic Platypus's walk and finds himself in the water and having to be rescued by his new friend, he realises water is not for him. Nevertheless, he is determined to learn to swim and while trying to teach Little Wombat, Rabbit and Koala begin to wonder if wombats should, after all, stick to dry land!
Swimming lessons are such an integral and necessary part of our littlies' lives that when the NSW "roadmap to freedom" was released it was quickly changed to bring forward the opening of indoor pools because of the outcry of parents demanding access to swimming lessons for their young children. Indeed, in my teacher ed days in New Zealand we could not graduate until we each had our swimming teacher quals as swimming lessons were a compulsory part of the phys ed curriculum for both term 4 and Term 1 with most schools, even in the coldest parts of the country, having their own learner pools installed as a matter of course.
So this is a timely tale about the importance of learning to swim and the fun it can be, as Little Wombat learns to kick his legs and float using a log, to paddle like a dog and dive like a frog. After all, if a wombat can learn to swim and become a wom-bat-y-pus, then so can any little child! So sharing this message with a lovable little character with the most endearing expressions with them will give them confidence to try and the expectation that if they work hard as Little Wombat does, they will succeed. Swimming is just what Australian kids do.
After losing his grandfather, teenager Rintaro Natsuki is left lost and alone - as well as Natsuki Books, a tiny second-hand bookshop his grandfather had loving cared for throughout his later years. As his own parents are gone, a distant family member (an aunty) is contacted to become his guardian. With her living far away, this means that Natsuki Books will close as Rintaro will need to relocate. This is difficult to face, as the shop holds precious copies of rare editons, literary masterpieces, well loved books, as well as memories of his life with his grandfather. As Rintaro prepares for the closure, a talking tabby cat appears and informs him that help is needed from the New Proprietor of Natsuki Books. Rintaro is confused, as he is not aware of a new proprietor, however the cat soon clears this up, stating that Rintaro is 'Mr Proprietor', and that he must help save books. The pair set off into labyrinth after labyrinth, on a mission to save books.
Translated from Japanese, The Cat Who Saved Books is such a delightful, heartwarming story that shows the value of books, friendships and courage in life. With numerous likeable characters, this book is written in third person and the cat's gender is never disclosed, leaving it up to readers to either assign or not assign a gender. A simple urban fantasy, the descriptive writing enables readers to picture the book store along with scenes created throughout the book. As it is set in Japan, the book contains aspects of Japan that all readers will take pleasure in reading. Ideal for those who have experienced loss and its aftermath, those who love books and reading, and those who enjoy a tale where the hero uses book knowledge to help save the day!
Sister secrets by Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760525910. (Age:Secondary)
Cate and Bronte Campbell, successful Olympians, share their journey from their childhood in Africa, where they swam before walking (even though they lived in a land locked country!), through to their family moving to Australia, to their dreams and ambitions of being Olympic swimmers. Detailing their ups and downs, the sisters share life lessons with readers, as well as real world aspects of being a swimmer. Containing numerous chapters with both sisters contributing, this book has more in its pages than swimming alone - life lessons, traps to look out for and the do's and don'ts of social media are just some of the things readers will learn while progressing through the book.
Written by sisters Cate and Bronte, this joint autobiographical book goes from one sister's point of view to the other, detailing childhood memories along with outlining what shaped their motivation to pursue swimming at an Olympic level. Incorporating numerous anecdotes, divided into chapters covering dreams, winning, losing, COVID-19, Tokyo 2020 and more, this personal rendition of the lives of two of Australian's beloved Olympic athletes is an easy read. It is littered with family photos, swimming photos and Olympic images, and has bright, colourful pages. This book would make a good addition to high school libraries. Ideal for aspiring swimmers, as well as for those looking for inspiration or going through a hard time.
Australia has unique and highly endangered wildlife, and the most endangered marsupial is the Gilbert’s Potoroo found in Western Australia. When a bushfire in 2015 ripped through Two Peoples Bay in WA, only seven potoroos survived. One Potoroo: A Story of Survival is a gentle story about one potoroo’s rescue and journey to a safe habitat. After being found, treated for burns and nursed to recovery, the potoroo is taken to the fenced Waychinicup National Park where it can safely source food and be free of predators. It is here that the declining potoroo numbers will slowly begin to increase, and the hope of conservationists is to eventually return the Gilbert’s potoroo species to its natural habitat at Two Peoples Bay.
The striking full-page illustrations by Alicia Rogerson complement this well written and engaging story. The author uses a blend of short sentences intermingled with longer ones as well as a focus on key verbs to add to the reader’s understanding of what is happening. Following the story are detailed facts about the Gilbert’s Potoroo across a double paged spread which also includes further information about other potoroos in Australia. One interesting fact included in the Author’s Note at the end of the book is that forward-thinking conservationists prepared for the threat of bushfire ten years before the actual event by transferring small numbers of potoroos to safe environments in 2005.
This story will appeal to children of all ages and the free Teacher Notes available from the publisher are a very worthwhile resource.
Themes Potoroos, Endangered Marsupials, Australian Animals, Bushfire, Conservationists, Natural Habitats.
These Unlucky Stars, written by Gillian McDunn is a thought-provoking story around the concepts of developing friendships and finding out who you are as a person. Delving into the challenges of growing up in a small town and discovering more about yourself, this story will engage many readers. They are sure to grow fond of Annie, as she discovers some of the complexities of life and explores her connections with others.
Annie lives with her family that she feels slightly detached from. Her mum left when she was young, and her Dad and brother, Ray, are like two peas in a pod. They both enjoy routines, practicality and predictability. Whereas Annie is creative, loves art and her hometown mountains and is prepared to try new and different things. Annie feels a sense of disconnection from others, and she is not sure where she fits in. On top of all that, she has been given the idea that she is tainted with bad luck and bad things will always happen to her.
While Annie questions her place in the world and struggles to connect with others to form friendships, everything just doesn’t feel right. But when Annie makes a spur of the moment decision, her life is turned upside down. Once again, she sees this as just her continual bad luck…. But sometimes what you first think is bad luck, can actually be the best thing for you. And maybe in our lives, it is in fact ‘not luck, just life’ that we experience.
Gillian McDunn has written an engaging and enchanting story. The reader connects quickly with Annie and her journey. The clear and carefully written story, with clever descriptive texts enables the audience to acquire a clear picture of Annie’s feeling and how she perceives each situation. A beautiful story and journey through life, love and learnings.
Rachel’s home and studio is her creative space. Fortified against the outside world, protected by cliffs and the river, surrounded by bushland, it has survived bushfires and dodged the pandemic. Here she forges her glass masterpieces drawing inspiration from the natural world around her. Here her self-sufficiency and routines control anxiety and keep her from a very dark place. With the help of her sister she has been able to build a secure life for herself. All that is shattered when a woman with a baby hammers on her door, frantically asking for help as people are dying everywhere. Not a pandemic this time but panic and fear followed by an 'emptying out' and death. Hannah and baby Isiah are from the nearby town where everyone has died and they find that all communications have ceased. When Isiah becomes ill with a fever they set out upriver to find Monique, Rachel’s sister who is a doctor who will have the antibiotics he needs. As they journey through the Australian landscape the scars of bushfires and climate change are balanced against the beauty and details of nature like the marks on the scribbly gum trunks, or the crimson rosella leading them on. Rachel’s habits of a capable person from a capable family enable her to find the resilience at her core and the women’s survival instincts carry them forward. As they journey on they face a maelstrom of horrors and challenges that dwarf anything that has gone before but the brutal events are balanced by the wonder of our world and art along with the notion that, in the words of the Joni Mitchell song ‘You don’t know what you’ve got. ‘Till it’s gone'. Rachel is the last woman in the world you would think could show such strength and resilience but with responsibility comes selflessness and courage.
There is much to think about in this sensitive and thoughtful novel. The poetry of Mary Oliver is mentioned and it is worth following up.
Mrs Bondarchuk is a loyal neighbour to Mr Louis and Mr Angel in their New York apartment. She is their eyes and ears and not quite the harmless old lady she appears, but then neither are Angel and Louis who, we learn, are associates of private detective Charlie Parker and not averse to killing bad people. “Sometimes this is how it must be done. It’s wrong and it stains the soul, but it has to be, because the other option is much worse.”p76. When De Jaager, an old ‘fixer’ in Amsterdam Louis knew and respected, is tortured and killed brutally, his family raped and their bodies placed in a macabre crucifixion arrangement, Louis realises the killing had to do with reprisal from Serbian war criminals Spiridon and Radovan Vuksan of the Zemun crime syndicate who are settling a few old scores before retreating back to Serbia. Sparked by this, killings come thick and fast; connections are made with people smugglers, money launderers, Serbian mafia and Netherlands narcotics rings and unofficially assisted by FBI agents, Lois and Angel set out across Paris, London, Vienna, London and Amsterdam to avenge De Jaager’s death. Private detective Charlie Parker who must feature in previous books is mentioned and there is some connection to the murder of his daughter but the character plays no role in this book. We learn a lot about Eastern European events since 1980 and I sometimes struggled with the numerous characters all apparently intent on killing each other in the most gruesome way; no sooner do we get to know their names than they are killed and replaced with a new set.
Readers who enjoy the anticipation of horror descriptions and who enjoyed Connolly’s 18 other books in this series will embrace this well constructed thriller but for me the cruelty and self-justification left me feeling diminished.
Themes Crime, Murder, Eastern Europe history, Thriller.
