Esme d'Arc adds up to more than zero by Jordie Albiston. Illus. By Lucy Pulvers
Little Steps, 2021. ISBN: 9781922358592. (Age:5+)
This third book by poet and author Jordie Albitson takes the reader on the journey of Esme d’Arc, who is portrayed in the illustrations as a child but who appears to think she is only a zero. This quirky story tells of how Esme tries to overcome her inadequacies of just being a zero and with the support she has of her friends, a puppy named Pepe, a duck called Kwack and a doll called Polly she eventually becomes a hero.
This book is loosely written in a narrative poetry style format and is at times both confusing and almost nonsensical. The detailed illustrations are essential components of this book as they help the reader to understand the gist of the story.
Themes Friends, Fantasy.
Kathryn Beilby
Cricket I just love it! by Alister Nicholson. Illus. by Tom Jellett
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760526801. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
With the endpapers outlining some of the aspects of cricket, this book with its lively illustrations will please all comers. The zany words that absorb cricket fans are all there: wide, appeal, Yorker and duck plus a few I had not heard of, all designed to inform the uninitiated. The final endpaper gives potted stories using the words learnt, all designed to inform, please and tickle the funny bone. Kids will love reading of the sport, this book out just in time for the summer season, which will see teams arrive from across the world to play in Australia. Well, that is the plan!
In rhyming pairs of lines, the story is outlined of a number of children playing their favourite game. The verses include nearly all the words associated with the game, reinforcing the images and text on the endpapers, and shows the kids playing at school, in the garden, on the street, in the hallway at home, on the beach and on an oval. Each place reveals different games with different rules. In the hallway, catching is most important to avoid smashed windows and crockery, in the street, a safe place should be sought, on the oval, whites are worn and spectators watch from behind the fence.
We are shown a child’s equipment, and some of the strokes a cricketer may make and on one double page an outline of the field is presented so that understanding positions like mid on, gully and cover are less enigmatic for the beginner. Famous names are included which will whet the appetites of readers, eager to find out more about these people who the children wish to emulate. Practice is stressed as the main characters talk about their dreams for their future in cricket; wearing the baggy green and scoring one hundred at the G.
A wonderful introduction to Australia’s favourite game, this engaging book is informative and involving as the reader learns lots about the sport and is prompted to try it out for themselves.
Themes Cricket, Sport, Community.
Fran Knight
Born to run by Cathy Freeman. Illus. by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
Cathy Freeman, one of Australia’s greatest athletes, has told her story in a beautifully illustrated picture book for readers both young and old. From Cathy’s very happy childhood in Queensland to the world stage of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, this story is an important one to share.
Cathy was a shy and quiet child who had incredible talent as a sprinter. She was encouraged to run from an early age and had amazing support from her family throughout her career. Unfortunately, Cathy experienced hurdles along the way, the most disturbing being racism. She relates to the reader how as a young child at a country zone athletics meet, she won four out of five events, but the medals were given to the white girls who came second. This treatment of Indigenous Australian athletes is a shameful reflection of society at the time, but it did inspire Cathy to dream to be the first Aboriginal person to win an Olympic medal. At the age of 16, Cathy was chosen to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand in the 4x100 metre relay and became the first Aboriginal to win a Commonwealth gold medal for track and field. Sadly, her eldest sister passed away not long after and Cathy became determined to always run for her.
Her journey to Sydney 2000 had its ups and downs but Cathy was determined that the gold medal for the 400m would be hers. Cathy’s role in the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony was an incredible achievement and her 400m race was outstanding. Her gold medal was for all Australians but especially her people.
Born to Run is a valuable book for home, school and public libraries. Young children who long to achieve great things will be inspired by Cathy’s story.
I love endpapers, and the first endpaper shows us long lines of framed photographs of male astronauts in the Hall of the Hero at Space Command. Each of them begs a second look, and eager eyes will notice not only the absence of women, but that the bottom row depicts photos of animals. Questions will explode, encouraging readers to read further.
Stella wants to be an astronaut, but the people at Command Centre think of a raft of excuses to deter her. She is able to overcome each of the reasons, showing them that their reasoning is flawed.
She is an elephant, but as she rightly points out, other animals have flown in space. She would not fit any of the space suits, so she sews her own. She has not had any training, so she trains. She has no crew, so she amasses one. Every time the people in charge (men) come up with a reason to impede her desire to be an astronaut, she is able to deflect their misgivings and provide a solution.
The story is wonderful, modelling never giving up, to always keep trying, to question and offer solutions. Stella reveals clever solutions to each of the obstructions put in her path and in the end she wins out, to the betterment of all her friends who now adorn their own Hall of Astronauts.
Readers will love Stella, with her frilly sleeves and big brown eyes, walking boldly into the Command Centre. They will eagerly spot the different animals dotted through the story, and watch out for the touches of humour that appear on each page. The receptionist at the Command Centre who keeps on tapping his keys and drinking his coffee when Stella approaches, signals the comic tone of the illustrations, ensuring readers will watch out for more digs at our modern world. The plethora of crew cut men adorning the walls shows the lengths this organisation has taken to be exclusive. Readers will laugh at the comparisons between the endpapers at the start and end of the book, love the fold out page with its witty look at the new astronauts, and pore over the last endpaper with its list of just what has been sent into space. Astonishing.
A great read aloud, an informative introduction to the idea of space travel as well as promoting inclusivity, Stella is an engaging character who will cheer readers with her positive outlook. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Space, STEM, Inclusivity, Discrimination, Animals, Space travel.
Fran Knight
Legends unite by Anh Do
Rise of the Mythix book 4. Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760879068. (Age:9-13) Highly recommended.
Legends Unite by Anh Do is the fourth book in the exciting and engaging Rise of the Mythix series. The story begins with a violent battle between the frightening three-headed Cerebus and the heroes. Unfortunately, Minh the Minotaur has been knocked out, Jimmy the Griffin is in hiding waiting for the opportunity to strike and Kelly the Unicorn has been left alone to fight for their survival. They eventually escape with Stanley their supportive offsider and head back to Capitol City. Once there they are provided refuge by Jimmy’s brother and wife, but it may not be as safe as they think. Meanwhile the evil Collector and his partner in crime, Crickshaw, are plotting a dastardly act to draw the Mythix out of hiding. By painting the moon in three separate parts during a lunar eclipse, the Collector has forced the heroes to try to find each part hidden all over the city. Without the moon the weather becomes destructive and causes havoc all over the country. The trio plan to go in search of each painting after receiving insider information as to where they are. They successfully achieve this but not before their mythical powers and their friendship are put to the test in all sorts of ways. The Collector will stop at nothing to rid the world of the Mythix and unleashes another terrifying creature, his once loyal Aitkin transformed into Medusa. Jimmy succumbs to the Medusa’s power and the story will be continued.
Anh Do writes with a great understanding of what will appeal to middle grade readers. This illustrated series is exciting, full of danger and drama, as well as in this latest book, a hint of a developing attraction between Kelly and Jimmy.
Themes Fantasy, Myths, Dystopia, Adventure, Power, Good vs Evil, Friendships, Danger, Families.
Kathryn Beilby
Rabbit, soldier, angel, thief by Katrina Nannestad
At the beginning of this compelling story, we meet Sasha who is mute, traumatized and in a Berlin hospital. His memory and ability to talk are unlocked as he collects things which were significant to him during the war, such as feathers and spoons. He gradually retells his harrowing and brave survival story to the caring staff and patients. Sasha's story starts in 1942 and he is 6 years old living in a near idyllic Russian village. The Germans inflict violent retribution on villagers supporting the partisans, including Sasha’s mother and sister. His sister implores him to run and hide but when he returns the village has been razed to the ground. After the destruction of his home, he is taken under the wing of a division of The Red Army, who he travels with until the end of the war. A major part of the story takes place during the Siege of Stalingrad when the Germans were forced to surrender because they were cut off from food supplies and the severe Russian winter took its toll on their troops.
Nannestad successfully creates an endearing character in Sasha, who grows from a timid child to a more self-assured boy soldier. She based this work of historical fiction on a real Russian child soldier. Knowing this makes the story more significant. There are many likeable characters who become Sasha’s army family but principally it is Major Scruff who is Sasha’s protector and father figure. Nannestad gently teaches her readers about the horrors of war through Major Scruff’s words of wisdom to Sasha. As WW2 progresses Sasha learns that the “German monsters” are human too and his own Russian soldier friends are capable of retribution. The audience for this story is quite young, 10+, and Nannestad deftly tempers the necessary violence with Sasha’s contemplative voice, kindness, and humour. People die but this is never bloody or graphic. I liked the use of memorabilia collections, and it was an effective device for helping the story unfold. It was an easy read and reminded me of Gleitzmann’s “Once” series.
Themes War, Love, Kindness, Death, Survival.
Jo Marshall
Frankenstiltskin by Joseph Coelho. Illus. by Freya Hartas
Frankenstiltskin Fairy Tales Gone Bad, written by Joseph Coelho is a story cleverly written in poem, and with a wildly wicked twist on the Brothers Grimm classic Rumpelstiltskin. Using ingenious alliteration and rhyme throughout story, the reader is easily immersed and enthralled in the storyline.
Briony is a taxidermist and the king searches for an expert to not only stuff animals but bring them back to life. As with the storyline of Rumpelstiltskin, her father gets carried away with his tales of his daughter’s greatness and agrees that she can in fact bring “life back to the dead”. The king immediately takes her to his mystical castle. There she is told to bring back to life all his son’s dead creatures. The king is not fond of animals and doesn’t realise or appreciate the beauty of nature. Briony is the opposite. She is very in tune and even has the ability to delve into the animals’ past life before she performs her taxidermy role. However, she has never been able to make them breathe and walk and run again. Enter the little ugly creature who has this ability. How far will Briony go to appease the king? Will this strong and determined girl be able to change her circumstances, flee her captors, change their outlooks on nature and survive to tell another story?
Coelho is a highly acclaimed author of poetry, plays and picture books. This bold yet bizarrely twisted story is the second of a three-part series of the classics and brings back the brilliance of the old masterpieces, looking at the morals and underlying meanings of each tale. The book is also filled with engaging illustrations by Freya Hartas. These give the reader another opportunity to connect with the text and provide extra visualisation of the story.
Frankenstiltskin Fairy Tales Gone Bad is a story that will keep readers engaged and eager to find out how everything will end. It will also make a great read aloud with its poetic flow of rhyme, rhythm and awesome alliteration. I can’t wait to read the next one!
Themes The Classics, Problem solving, Storytelling, Nature.
After Plum's devastating betrayal where Wrench only just managed to stop his evil plan as well as just scraping through the Minster Schism event, Wrench finds her powers are diminished and her faith in others hanging by a thread. As Cabal Thirteen's Brasswitch, her low level powers are a safety issue, and her mechanoid boss, Bot, instructs her to continue practicing with the new thaumagician, Vexanna. All the while Wrench and Bot continue to investigate rouge remarkables, and trying to locate Plum. As Wrench struggles with her confidence, the Cabal Thirteen team is continually battling with Captain Flemington who wants to destroy them and all other Remarkables. Unsure if she can trust anyone anymore, unsure if she will ever regain her full power, Wrench faces numerous challenges. Lucky she has the Remarkables of Thirteen to give her support.
The second book in The Rise of the Remarkables steampunk series, following Brasswitch and Bot, The Thaumagician's Revenge is action packed, dramatic and humorous. Well suited to middle grade students, this steampunk book set in the Victorian era gives readers adventure and mystery while weaving magic throughout. Covering relevant topics such as self-doubt and confidence issues, prejudice, trust and relationships, readers will find Wrench relatable. Delving deeper into Wrench's history, the book also covers revenge and the difficulty of letting go. The characters called Remarkables face prejudice and as a Remarkable, Wrench attempts to battle her mixed emotions as well as helping to educate others. With plenty of laughs as well as action, this steampunk novel is enjoyable.
Themes Steampunk, Prejudice, Good and Evil, Magic, Revenge, Mystery.
Bluey Sleepytime is a captivating story about Bingo who decides that she wants to be a big girl and sleep in her own bed. Mum reads her a bedtime story about space, before tucking her in and reminding her that she is always here if Bingo needs her.
Taking her soft toy Floppy to bed with her, Bingo dreams about going on an intergalactic space trip. The reader sees the world as an egg, cracked open by Bingo who trips off on her adventure. She passes another planet egg that has been cracked open and wonders who has left it. On the next page the reader sees that Bluey has woken up, wanting a glass of water, but by the time Mum gets it, he has gone to bed with Dad. Meanwhile Bingo finds a cosy spot between Bluey and Dad, while Mum curls up in Bingo’s bed. All the bedhopping will bring smiles to the adult reader’s face, as Mum and Dad struggle to get some sleep.
Sleepytime, was named by the New York Times as one of the Best Television Episodes of 2020 and the book reflects that quality. It is large, with a hard cover, showing Bingo cracking open the world egg, with splashes of yolk spilling over the sides, all against a black night background. There are surprises for the reader with large fold out pages, and the iconic figures will please the young child.
Sleepytime is a heart-warming story about a young child moving towards independence, surrounded by loving family members who are always nearby if she needs them.
Themes Bedtime, Independence, Family love.
Pat Pledger
Mr Bat wants a hat by Kitty Black and Laura Wood
New Frontier, 2021. ISBN: 9781922326218. (Age:3-6)
Mr Bat is a happy bat. He loves swooping, flapping and making friends with insects (before he eats them!). But when he spots people wearing hats he realises what he has been missing all his life. He simply MUST have one. It is the most beautiful, glittery, flowery hat that makes his eyes pop with love, and after snatching it from a helpless baby's head Mr Bat has two voices in his head: the first says 'Oh. A sad baby. She likes hats too', while the second says 'Too bad!'. Children may be awed or amused by Mr Bat's absolute selfishness as he awards himself the 'Best Dressed Bat Award' to an exasperated audience of animals. But his conscience finally gets the better of him; he swoops in and returns the hat to the still-screaming baby. 'I like hats too, but this one belongs to you', he whispers. Young listeners will see how his good behaviour is rewarded, as the baby hands him her socks. Mr Bat is delighted - 'hats are so last season anyway'. The last page, showing Mr Bat coveting a pair of roller-skates, provides perfect post-reading discussion material.
This is a good book for conversations about not taking things that belong to others, doing the right thing, fixing mistakes and about kindness begetting kindness. The moral of the story is completely front and centre and it acknowledges the difficulty of making the right choices and how sometimes we can be conflicted between getting something we want and being kind to others. The simplicity of the story is what makes this perfect for the target age group, all of whom will identify with Mr Bat's dilemma or of being in the position of the baby and how it feels to have something precious taken from them. This can lead to discussions about how we can pause to look at things from someone else's perspective before taking action. It also provides opportunity to talk about what to do if you have a friend like Mr Bat, as in the story the friends are just going along with his appalling behaviour rather than calling it out. Some people might be put off by Mr Bat being rewarded for giving the hat back, considering he stole it in the first place, but I think for children it's a perfect example of how mistakes can be fixed, and if taking the perspective of the baby, how we can be forgiving.
Described as 'speculative fiction' Eugen Bacon's collection of short stories are a highly original mix of myth, sci-fi, supernatural, and dystopian genres that provide a black, predominantly female, exploration of issues including gender, class, migration, military dictatorships and climate change. That might sound like a wildly eclectic range of themes, but that is exactly what Bacon manages to achieve with her imaginative and intriguing stories rich with poetic language and imagery.
In the titular short story, the 'danged black thing' is 'Embu', the sleek black laptop that Champ, the narrator, buys for her husband, Slade. The notebook is described in sexual terms as a 'dark truffle', and 'black velvet', a seductress that gradually wraps Slade in the silk of her web, until the jealous Champ is driven to smash and destroy her rival. But that is not the end of the story . . .
'The water runner' is a futuristic story of a water starved planet where water runners have the job of harvesting salvageable fluids from the dead. Picking up on this theme, another story 'When the water stops' describes volunteers giving 'bleeds' for their water content, until volunteers are exhausted, and yet blood must still flow for the survival of the species.
For me the most touching story was 'Still she visits' set in a psychiatrist's room with Segomotsi remembering her little sister Mokgosi, her name meaning 'a call for help', a sweet little sister who always stood ready to defend and protect; a little sister who dies of AIDS back in Africa, whilst Segomotsi is 7,000 miles away in Melbourne, unable to visit.
There are a variety of other stories, fascinating to read. Transit Lounge is to be commended for publishing this collection by a Tanzanian-Australian computer scientist turned author, whose work has, in the main, only been published in the U.K. and the U.S.
Themes Short stories, Dystopia, Technology, Cultural diversity, Black experience, Migration, Women.
Helen Eddy
The Viking who liked icing by Lu Fraser and Mark McKinley
In wonderfully infectious verse, the story of Nut the Viking unfolds, irresistible to all kids listening to the tale of someone who does not quite fit in. Born into the Viking clan in a cold region of the world, Nut’s sister Leaf does all the things Vikings do. She loves her sword ands practises with it as Nut reads recipe books, she bravely swings out over the water, while Nut practises in the kitchen, she can fire an arrow and hit the target, whereas Nut’s attempts cause people to hide. But Nut’s worst day of the Viking calendar is here; Viking Sports Day. He will be expected to do all the things his sister does: fire an arrow, run heartily, swim and climb, and he knows that he will come last for every event. And he does. He falls into the water while running, sinks while trying to swim and fires his arrow into Erikson’s bottom. But worse is to come. It is the horn throwing competition. All the entrants unscrew their horns and throw them, but Nut does not have a horn so he throws the only thing at hand: a cake.
It hits the Chief on the head and as the pink icing falls down on his face, he wipes it with his tongue. It is delicious. He decides then and there that Nut will be in charge of the next banquet, because at baking cakes he is the first.
This delightful tale of being who you are, of being yourself, will make kids laugh out loud as they recognise the problems associated with not fitting in. Nut’s tale encourages them to stand up for who they are, of not being expected to be what others want them to be, in an easily digested verse story.
Grace and the Christmas angel by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker
Macmillan, 2021. ISBN: 9781529049800. (Age:5-8) Recommended as a gift book.
Set within a northern hemisphere fishing town just prior to Christmas, Grace and her younger brother Nicholas are ready for the school Christmas Eve concert, appearing as shepherd and sheep. Grace is also ready to perform a solo, and to share Christmas Day with their fisherman father . . . if he can escape the wild ocean to get back in time. The storm upsets Grace and her pleas for the storm to stop are heard by a guardian angel called Hope who does not understand the word “impossible”. The Christmas Day miracle has a magical quality and ultimately Grace gets to delight her father with her solo carol singing.
With mother and son authors, this book may yet be part of a series of guardian Angel books written with a magical quality rather than an overtly faith-based message. The book opens with an introduction with the idea of Guardian angels explained as helpful agents in times of distress. The rest of the picture book is a longer narrative which could be enjoyed by readers 5-8 years old, with winsome and detailed colourful illustrations by Jane Ray. For Australian children the idea of Christmas with school concerts, cold weather and roaring log fires is perhaps slightly foreign, but the mysterious intervention of a Guardian Angel (acting like a wish fairy) fits with some people’s notion of the magical quality of Christmas. The hardback book also includes a ribbon bookmark with an angel attached.
Saving Celeste is a modern dystopian fable. The 14-year-old boy who tells this highly unique and slightly disturbing tale is nameless. He lives alone in a vast apartment on the 40th floor of the !mmencity Tower. His mother is a corporate executive for !ndustry who he barely talks to, instead dealing with his mother’s PA. Fortunately he has a friend called Bryce who visits him to help eat the monstrous food deliveries and play the computer games organised by the PA. Based on a past romantic humiliation he is very wary when he meets Celeste a new student at school. Yet he is also very drawn to her. She doesn’t return to school so he tries to find her, but when he finds her she is very unwell with strange marks on her skin. His attempts to help her turn sinister, and he finds ways to trick his mother and authorities into helping save Celeste.
This is a very slim volume but it packs a punch. It is an English translation by the author of another unique story, Toby Alone. Timothee de Fombelle creates a truly original setting of kilometre high buildings which tower into the polluted air. There are carparks of vertically stacked cars like bookshelves and lifts which also have shops in them. It conjured up Shaun Tan illustrations for me as I read this. Although you hope the boy saves Celeste and you feel empathy for his solitary bizarre life, it is the mystery of what is happening to Celeste that is important and the driver of the story. It’s a book with depressing undertones however it also has a message of hope for the power of humanity to find solutions for a better world. It is a book worthy of discussion in middle grades classes.
Themes Dystopian world, Climate crisis.
Jo Marshall
The What on Earth Institute of Wonder by Lisa Nicol
Twelve-year-old Sal has a connection with animals, her younger brother is a prepper (for any disaster known to man or boys) and her mother has begun to study the moon obsessively, and they all are missing Sal’s Dad who recently left them unexpectedly. Each of them is perhaps demonstrating some strangeness, but Sal’s animal connection has even enabled her to talk to the kakapo who is now a semi-permanent resident. When the elephant arrives in town and follows young teen and next-door neighbour, Bartholomew, and his boom-box music, Sal and Roy’s life takes an unexpected turn. They become advocates for the inexplicably displaced elephant and attempt to rescue her. However, they get themselves in trouble with the local obnoxious Postman and their small-town community. Sal must decide if standing up for the environment is important enough to persist in the face of opposition.
This is a delightful story with elements of fantasy, environmental activism, family dilemmas and friendship all woven together with whimsy to create a charming story for young readers. The humour is gentle, but chuckle-worthy and even the issues of crime, bullying, family distress and environmental concern have a comic veneer. Despite some tears and challenges, this story is ultimately uplifting and warm, and quirkily appealing with a touch of the impossible. Readers aged 9-12 will enjoy this book.
