At first the things that we must not forget are the mundane, the ordinary: wearing socks, making the bed, doing homework. But soon the reminders are far more about people and the environment around us, reminding us to smile, lend a hand, listen to the music, watch the sea, to run and laugh.
This salutary reminder of who we are and what is important in life, will not be lost on the reader, as they may have concerns about who they are and where they fit in.
A subtle emphasis on mental health has been enfolded within many recently published books and they are more adept at reminding people to accept who they are, to be happy with themselves, that there are far more important things in life that making the bed or doing homework.
Melbourne based author/illustrator, Anna Walker uses pencil, ink and collage for her work. She loves the everyday details of life and uses them to perfection. Her picture book, Mr Huff, won the 2016 CBCA Book of the Year for Early Childhood. On each page of this new book, Walker includes small details of a child's life: cycling, reading under a makeshift tent in the lounge room, playing with friends, shopping, playing with the family, flying a kite and climbing a tree. All things readers will recognise. Full of activity, many outside, nearly always with friends and family, the illustrations parallel the text, reminding us all of the good things in life, not to forget them while absorbed in the things some see as important.
Jane Godwin has written over twenty books, published internationally and awarded in Australia. With this book, reminding us not to overlook the simpler things in life, she helps students discuss issues which concern them, encouraging them to see that they aren't alone.
Don't forget not only applies to the things shown, but also to the family and friends around us, people with whom we can communicate our worries, peers with whom we can spend time.
Pan Macmillan Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760980535. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
After reading Six Stories for Fans of Beautiful Australian Gothic by Kathleen Jennings in Tor.com, I became intrigued by the idea of the Australian Gothic novel, one that I had not considered before and picked up her slender volume Flyaway (192pp.) Beautifully written and illustrated with black and white drawings, Flyaway tells the story of Bettina, a young woman whose mother dominates her, ensuring that she acts like a lady always, beautifully dressed, obedient and very polite. Her father and two brothers are missing, whereabouts unknown, and she has lost contact with the friends that she had in her youth. When the word 'Monsters' is written on her house and she receives a note naming her as Tink, the nickname her brothers had given her, she sets out on a quest to find them.
Set in a small Australian country town, Jennings' lyrical narrative brings to life the sights and smells of the eucalypts, the dust on the unpaved roads and the mustiness of old abandoned houses. The tension is built up as with the help of Gary and Trish, friends from her past, she goes on a trip to find out what happened to her brothers. She hears stories from Gary and Trish about weird dogs prowling, a Pied Piper like man, a school covered in thorns, and a bottle to grant three wishes, and finally arrives at a familiar farmhouse, where memories from her past rise to haunt both her and the reader.
Although short, Flyaway has much to offer the reader. The combination of small-town life, beautiful bush, a protagonist wrestling with memories and eerie beings, all overlaid with a feeling of dread that leads to an unexpected conclusion left me wanting to re-read it to follow the clues and understand the magic. Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay, The dressmaker by Rosalie Ham and Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan are other Australian gothic tales suggested in the article.
Themes Australian Gothic fiction, Horror, Memories.
Pat Pledger
Tell me why by Archie Roach
Simon & Schuster, 2021. ISBN: 9781760858865. (Age:13+) Highly recommended.
‘Tell me why’ is a line from an iconic Archie Roach song about two people whose love for each other was broken apart, and the refrain is 'why would you destroy a love like that'? That is a question that Roach has repeatedly stumbled up against - why would you break up families, why would you take children away, why would you do that? It is such a deep hurt, and though the young Archie was loved and well cared for by his foster parents, that hurt and the longing to know his first family was something that he could never reconcile, and meant that he had to head off on his own to find where he came from.
His life path was not an easy one – drifting, drinking, begging, a few stints in prison, but what stands out is the amazing friendship, support and wholehearted welcome from the Aboriginal people he encountered no matter where he ended up. He just had to find the local blackfellas and he would be looked after. Amazingly he did get to meet his long lost brothers and sisters, but not before his parents had passed on.
Archie Roach will always be remembered for his breathtaking but confronting song 'Took the children away'. He was one of those children, one of the Stolen Generations. It is a terrible history, one that should not be swept under the carpet; people need to know what happened in this country, the suffering that was inflicted, and the ongoing trauma carried through generations. Roach's book is a personal account, a testimony that needs to be read and shared, so that we know and remember what happened. It is our history, a history that should be taught in schools. Roach's book, adapted for younger readers, is an attempt to talk about the past so that we can move on and make a new future with new positive stories.
I highly recommend this book, the style is open and friendly, easy to read. Each chapter is introduced by a song that has its source in the life experiences he goes on to tell us about. Despite the deep suffering the message in the end is one of reconciliation and love.
Themes Stolen Generations, Identity, Loss, Aboriginal history.
Helen Eddy
The tale of the whale by Karen Swan and Padmacandra
University of Queensland Press, 2021. ISBN: 9781912650491. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
A young lad is taken by a whale into the depths of the ocean, initially to enjoy the forests on the ocean floor, a shipwreck, the other sea creatures. Each four line verse ends with two lines such as :
I smiled at the whale and the whale smiled at me.
Kids will love predicting these last two lines and repeating them with the reader as they tell the story. The wonderful illustrations reveal a beautiful ocean: full of wonder and awe, colour and interest. After frolicking on the ocean waves beneath the warm rays of the sun, they dive deep onto a shipwreck, full of mystery and magic, then swim through mountains and valleys of sand, the colours of the ocean astounding the boy. All seems quite benign until the whale opens its gigantic mouth to take in a sea of water and food. With dismay the boy and the reader note that this mouthful is full of junk - junk left by us. Readers will spot ring pulls and plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic netting, all wrapped around the creatures in the ocean. The tone of the story changes
I cried with the whale And the whale cried with me
as the tale of the whale becomes a plea for his environment, one now so polluted and begging to be reinstated to what it once was. The plastic soup sea is there for all of us to help clean up.
This is a determined look at the ocean and what we have done to it, imploring readers to take action. The verses are easily learnt and repeated and the last few lines should be emblazoned in every classroom as the imperative for change is spoken.
Along with beautiful dreamy blue watery illustrations, the story cannot help but be read and read again in lots of classrooms, enlisting the enthusiasm of the young to better use their environment and repair the damage that has been done. Teacher's notes are available.
In the town the boy walks slowly to school, the old woman walks with hobbling steps to the shop for her goods, the cat searches for someone to love, but a song drifts out from a high window, wrapping everyone in its sounds: the boy suddenly has a spring in his step as he walks to school, the older woman no longer has to wrap herself with the shawl against the cold and walks more easily on her way, the cat rounds a corner and finds a family waiting just for him. The whole town is happy, people are speaking to each other, they care about each other, sharing a new found kindness and peace.
But one day the music stops. People looks up at the window waiting for it to resume, but it does not. People loose what skills they have developed, they become less communicative, even the flowers droop in the window boxes, people stay in bed, and everyone becomes grumpy. They hold a meeting and the boy climbs up on their shoulders to look in the window to see what is wrong. There he finds an exhausted wren.
He climbs inside and together he and the wren sing music for everyone.
This delightful story will resonate with younger children as they see the healing power of music. Music in the form of flowers litter each page, taking the eye across each page of wonderful illustrations, seeing what the music does to the town's people. Each grows with the music swirling around them, and when the music stops, they too become smaller, inward looking, unresponsive. That they work together to solve their problem is a lesson not lost on younger readers, as they cheer when the young lad reaches the window sill and peers inside. The community has solved its problem, by working as one.
I love Morris' illustrations, her people Lowry like in their simplicity. Her images of the music flowing over each page is continued on the end papers attracting young eyes to see what flowers they can pick out. I am sure an astute teacher or parent will be able to find some appropriate music to play while reading this book to an eager audience, initiating discussions about what makes them feel happy.
Themes Mental health, Community, Friendship, Working together, Music.
Fran Knight
Amira's suitcase by Vikki Conley. Illus. by Nicky Johnston
New Frontier, 2021. ISBN: 9781922326133. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
A poignant story of finding friendship in the least friendly of places, new arrival Amira is looking for a place to hide, but finds instead a small seedling, growing in the corner of one of the discarded suitcases. Lovingly she cares for he seedling, nurturing it with water from her cupped hands, talking to it, moving the suitcase to garner some sunlight. She dreams of the pear tree back home, a tree from which she could pick beautiful fruit. She attracts the attention of another child in the mean surroundings, Nala, and she brings another seed for the suitcase, so the first seed is not lonely. That night Amira dreams of her mother's mint tea. The next day Tien gives her more seeds to plant and the three watch the seedlings grow, together.
By now the seedlings have grown just like their friendship, each nurturing the other in this inhospitable place. And they watch the fluttering leaves pointing up and imaginatively they climb the tree ready to reach the sun and all that it promises.
Nicky Johnston's pencil and watercolour images warm each page with their delicate touch, the young girl Amira, wistful and yet hopeful, as her parents unpack their meagre belongings. When she finds something to hang on to, life becomes more bearable within the very bleak environment. Finding other children gives her hope, and the images of the children change, smiles added to their faces. They are now in a friendship group, doing things together, and as the seedling grows in the last few pages so too does their hope and the readers' hope for their futures grows. And I love the end papers, reprising the inside of an old suitcase, stained and worn, but one that harbours the seedling, offering new life.
A story the will encourage thought and empathy, as readers take in the child's surroundings, linking it with places they have heard about, wondering at her situation, so unlike their own.
The pared back text offers a look at children's lives outside their own, the illustrations portraying the stark realities of life for many children around the world.
The end offers hope, the text paralleling the illustrations in which the sun offers guidance to a better life.
Fuelled with determination and a passion for science, a bright young girl named Fei Fei builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. There she ends up on the adventure of a lifetime and discovers a whimsical land of fantastical creatures.
Based on the Netflix original animated film, this illustrated novel retells the story of Over the Moon and includes original concept art!
Directed by animation legend Glen Keane, and produced by Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou, Over the Moon is an exhilarating musical adventure about moving forward, embracing the unexpected, and the power of imagination.
Although I am unfamiliar with the screen version of this story, this novelisation offers an engaging tale of a modern young miss who likes both sides of the story - the one her mother used to tell her of the fantasy and the scientific explanation of the same phenomenon given by her father. Does the moon change its shape because the Space Dog bites chunks from it until the Moon Goddess Chang-e makes him spit it out, or is there another explanation? There is a delicate balance that keeps the reader entertained as Fei Fei fulfils her quest, at the same time as offering the reader another, deeper layer to accompany the screen version.
Just as very young readers like to connect with the print versions of their favourite screen characters, so too those who are older and independent. The subtle nuances of the written word add substance to what might be lost in the whizbangery of the animation.
This will be a great addition to those who have a focus on screen-print matches this year while offering a quality read to take our girls to new worlds. It also opens up the world of traditional tales that have carried the stories of generations over generations.
Barbara Braxton
Zoom : Space adventure by Susan Hayes. Illus. by Susanna Rumiz
What on Earth Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781999967987. (Age:1-4) Recommended.
Ava is all set to go off on an adventure into space. The young reader or listener will be intrigued with the cut-out of the rocket ship that launches with both her and her little white cat aboard. The climb of the many stairs that show the preparations that take place before lift-off will grab attention. What will happen next?
Ava is an engaging character and children will love the little cat that also peers out the window of the rocket ship. The colourful illustrations give much information about space travel, the objects found in space and the activities that take place there. Not only is information given about a rocket launch, but Ava docks at the International Space Station to drop off supplies, repairs a solar panel during a spacewalk and collects samples on the Moon. Then off to the Solar System to see the Sun and eight planets that travel around it, as well as the Curiosity Rover on Mars and an asteroid belt. Finally, in a wonderful last pop-up, there is a supernova exploding.
This a very informative board book, the fairly sparse text giving a very good overview of space exploration and the solar system for young readers. It also is very sturdy and will withstand much handling. The cut-outs will provide fun for small fingers and children are sure to love finding that cute little cat on every double page spread.
Themes Space flight, Rockets, Space stations, Moon, Solar system, Mars, Imagination.
A wonderful joining in story will appeal to young readers as the story is read aloud to them. They will not be able to contain themselves, calling out Vernon's name at the appropriate places, and whooshing with the words denoting the movement of the penguin as he strives to achieves his greatest ambition: to fly. From the cover where Vernon sits with a kite, a crash helmet firmly placed on his head, the smiling will start, then turning the cover and seeing the endpapers filled with images of Vernon in various poses, kids will laugh out loud as Vernon aspires to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Since he was born he has always wanted to fly. At night he dreams of twirling and swirling and one day he makes a decision. He makes some wings but they do not work, he attaches himself to a bunch of balloons, has himself shot from a cannon, uses a seesaw, a slingshot, a hot air balloon, but all to no avail. Mother tells him to go and see the wise old penguin on the ridge. He tells her his problem and she offers a solution, one that shows him that although he cannot fly, he can do other things.
A very funny tale about accepting who you are will bring tears of laughter to the readers' faces, as they strive with Vernon to achieve his impossible dream, only to find that there are lots of things he can do that involve the same sorts of skills. He can swirl and twirl, swish and curl just as well sliding along the ridge flying into the air and landing in the water. And he can do it very well, receiving lots of applause and accolades from the onlookers.
A delightful tale of being yourself, of striving for something out of your reach but accepting your limitations. I love the images of the little penguin, looking upwards, seeking to fulfil his dream. A few changes with a pencil and he is sad, another, optimistic, but always engaging and funny.
Themes Dreams, Goals, Achievement, Penguins.
Fran Knight
Jungledrop by Abi Elphinstone
Unmapped Chronicles. Simon & Schuster, 2021. ISBN: 9781460753903. (Age:9-13)
Eleven year old twins Fox and Fibber are very unlikeable children. In fact they have been trained to be that way by their very unlikeable parents, who have always pitted one twin against the other. Their scheming, crooked parents (with the very apt name of Petty-Squabble) have set the direction for their future . . . until they embark on a journey to Jungledrop, the fantastical other world of the Unmapped Kingdom, a place where the earth's weather is controlled.
Unfortunately the evil Morg has taken control of large parts of Jungledrop and is spreading havoc while searching for the Forever-Fern. It is Fox and Fibber's quest to retrieve the Forever Fern, rescue Jungledrop and return the rains to their own world. A difficult feat when they have been trained not to trust each other.
There is some wonderful imagery and characters in this story. I particularly enjoyed the majestic golden panthers and Heckle the parrot, who verbally relays your thoughts out loud for all to hear.
The twins, in particular Fox, grow and develop in the story and learn about themselves, their sibling and the destructive negative influence of their parents. Relationships is a strong theme in the novel and the need for environmental protection is strongly implied. Greed should not win over the needs of the planet.
This book continues the Unmapped Chronicles series, preceded by Everdark and Rumblestar. I had not read the previous novels so I came to this book without any background information which might explain why it took me some time to get into the plot.
There is to be another book is the Unmapped Chronicles series coming out this year.
This novel will be enjoyed by fantasy genre lovers and would be suitable for ages 9-13 years.
Jane Moore
100 Things to Know about Saving the Planet
Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474981835.
There has been a plethora of books about how individuals can save this planet recently and so adding another to the mix seems almost superfluous.
However, this one is for slightly older readers who have a broader perspective than just the regular reducing, reusing, recycling of household goods and changing personal practices. Its cover is intriguing with statements such as "recycled jeans can keep horses warm' and "eating beef saves water" so the reader is enticed to look inside to discover more.
And inside are even more intriguing tidbits set out in a colourful appealing way that make a provocative statement followed by an easily accessible explanation. How could plastic-eating bacteria help reduce waste? Can a river be given human rights? Could we generate all the power we need from the sun and the wind? How do woolly sweaters help penguins in peril? Would building a giant sunshade in space stop the world from overheating?
The environment and its sustainability permeate our lives in a way that makes even the youngest reader aware of the consequences of their actions so books like these that open up new ideas such as joining a jeans library so fewer pairs have to be made or knowing that making one hamburger actually uses more water than a person drinks in three years are an integral part of our understanding and actions. While each article offers its explanation, there is scope for an interested student to engage in a deeper investigation to explore, expand and explain the particular phenomenon.
As well as all the usual supports for locating, selecting and using the information, there are also the popular Quicklinks that take the reader beyond the text to new knowledge.
Barbara Braxton
Penguin Bloom : The odd little bird who saved a family by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive
An uplifting and poignant book, Penguin Bloom: The odd little bird who saved a family, speaks powerfully from the lived experience of a horrifying accident and the long road to acceptance of the consequences of that accident. It is written by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive. The beautiful photography throughout is by Cameron Bloom. Harper Collins have published this book in hardback format. The cover and internal design and photography are beautiful.
Penguin Bloom is written in the first person voice of Cameron Bloom. He narrates the story of his life with his wife Sam and his three boys Rueben, Noah and Oliver. The story begins with when he first fell in love with Sam and it traces their family before and after the accident which changed all of their lives irrevocably and profoundly. It is a deeply personal story, full of love and pain. Through this harrowing experience, the family learnt to rebuild their lives in a new way. Central to this rebuilding was the arrival of a wounded magpie that became a family member and saved the family from the self destructive spiral of guilt, depression and hopelessness that they had drifted into since the accident.
This true story is told with warmth. It flows well although it is emotionally not an easy read. There is a personal message from Sam herself at the end which is a no holds barred piece of advice for anyone who has suffered or had someone close to them suffer serious spinal cord injury and been paralysed. As she states,her words are ". . . brutally honest" but coming from someone who lives the experience, they are supportive and give hope and advice. A generous percentage of the book's royalties go to support the work of Spinalcare Australia.
This is a book that people all over the world will identify with. Sam's accident could happen to anyone of us. Set in Australia, as it is, the family life, the landscape and Penguin Bloom herself are very recognisable to Australian readers. This beautiful family are a tribute to the power of love, of family relationships and the importance of our relationships with animals. It is now a major motion picture starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln.
Highly recommended.
Themes Accident victims, Life changing events, Family relationships, Human-animal relationships.
Wendy Jeffrey
Mo and Crow by Jo Kasch. Illus. by Jonathan Bentley
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760631758. (Age:4+) Recommended.
Mo lived alone in his house surrounded by a high wall that kept out the rain and the wind and anything else that may happen by. But one day a tapping began. He blocked his ears, whistled, and put his hat over his ears. The tapping did not stop, and eventually a stone popped out of the wall and a crow's head appeared. Mo picked up the stone and put it back in its place. Undeterred the crow kept knocking more stones out of the wall, and just as quickly, Mo replaced them.
Mo told the crow to go, and shut his door but no matter what he said the crow stayed. He went to bed and when he woke the next morning, the crow was gone. He called out, and put the stones in his wheelbarrow and went to the wall to begin the repairs. But looking out, he saw the world. Where the wall had been was a view he had not seen before. He called the crow, and eventually it appeared, and the two settled down together.
The stunning watercolour and pencil illustrations by award winning Bentley, will captivate the readers as they read of the barriers breaking down between the two protagonists. Crow keeps trying, undermining the defences Mo puts in place, chipping at the wall he has built, getting under his guard. At first Mo repels all advances, but once used to the crow being there and seeing the world outside his walled garden, he relents, inviting the bird into his home.
A lovely tale of building bridges not walls, this story is particularly apt when readers hear of the physical walls being built in places around the world.
Did you know the oldest evidence of animals, fossilized animal tracks dating back 560 million years, was found in the Ediacara Hills in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia? Those adults and younger readers who are fascinated with palaeontology will be drawn to this new release, Fossils from Lost Worlds, as it discusses so much of what piques and maintains their interest. The book was originally published in France and the preface from the Head of Palaeontology at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris begins the journey into the book. There is a double Contents page clearly set out with images, topics covered and a list of the dinosaurs discussed. A detailed map of the geographical periods follows with illustrations, labels and highlighted text boxes showing important events that occurred over time. Each page uses a variety of visual techniques including graphics to focus on a different aspect or creature which allows the text to be segmented into readable and engaging chunks complete with detailed illustrations. The fascinating information conveyed is not onerous or complicated and will appeal to younger children and reluctant older readers. At the end of the book is an extensive but clearly presented Brief History of Palaeontology.
This book is an excellent new resource for home, school and public libraries.
In Maree Coote's endearing and well-known artistic style she has encompassed many of the City of Melbourne's famous iconic attractions. Trams, statues, stately buildings as well as familiar shops are some of the features illustrated in a fun, colourful and cleverly designed picture book. Published first in 2013, this book has been reprinted for a 2020 release. Clever speech bubbles create a sense of fun and encourage the reader to explore the very detailed and complex illustrations. One double page of particular interest is that of the State Library of Victoria where the seagulls are discussing authors and books. There is also a map of Melbourne's perfectly laid out grid of well-known streets. A dedication by the author to her mother thanks her for taking her to town. A trip to an Australian capital city was a highlight for many older readers who have memories of shopping and special treats. On the inside back cover is a number of items to count plus a comprehensive list of all the landmarks covered in the book.
This is an enjoyable book for reminiscing over trips to the City of Melbourne and would be a perfect souvenir or keepsake for residents or visitors alike.
