Colin Cockroach goes to Caloundra by Chris McKimmie
Ford St Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781925804553.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. When Colin decides to follow the smell coming from upstairs, he embarks on a wonderful holiday north of Brisbane, unwittingly hitching a ride with the family which has left because of the cockroach infestation. They leave a cockroach bomb in the house to rid it of the pests and take a holiday while the fumigant does its job. But Colin is in one of their paper bags along with an assortment of necessaries for a holiday: suncream, chocolate, paper towels and chips.
He goes north past the Glasshouse Mountains and the big pineapple. He spies a koala and a budgie and when he gets to Caloundra he dons his flippers and snorkel to wander along the beach. Then he rides a wave or two before being spotted, and everyone runs away, even the shark. That evening sees him at the disco where he dances the night away with Kylie the crab. All the facets of a good holiday: sun, surf, things to see, good food and a romantic interlude!
When the time comes for him to return to his family, he finds they are not where he left them and he fears the roach bomb has done its work, but rest easily, there is a happy ending.
McKimmie's way of seeing the humble cockroach is most endearing; through his eyes we see an insect like those we spy on the kitchen floor, but readers will now take a second look as they trip across to the toilet late at night. Not only does McKimmie impel a second look at this insect, but he also showcases a tourist's view of Queensland from Brisbane to Caloundra, inviting readers to have a look for themselves.
His entertaining illustrations reflect a sophisticated naivety, using a seemingly childlike technique which invites readers to look more closely at how they are produced. They will see a range of skills using collage, gouache, pencils and watercolour amongst the many forms of illustration used to produce the spindly Colin and the plethora of detail on each page.
Witty, laugh out loud, ingenious, Colin Cockroach goes to Caloundra is a story begging to be read over and over again, poring over the intricate drawings, children making an effort to replicate what they see.
And I am sure they will want to read more of the adventures of Colin Cockroach.
Themes: Cockroaches, Insects, Adventure, Queensland.
Fran Knight
Show me the money by Sue Lawson and Karen Tayleur
Wild Dog, 2020. ISBN: 9781742035895.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Show me the money is a contemporary
non-fiction publication which gives the reader a detailed look at
Australia's money. The Contents page clearly sets out the topics for
an easy search for the required information. The book begins with
the history of money in Australia and then moves onto our coins, and
banknotes. Each note is clearly explained with a large coloured
image and information links to all the different details.
The key figures on each note are explained with a timeline of
important dates and an interesting biography. There are fast facts
at the end, a conclusion and a comprehensive timeline showing Before
Colonisation to 2020 Next generation of notes. The book also
contains a glossary, an index and a list of pictures and images used
throughout the book.
This informative book would be a valuable resource in any school and
public library. Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Australian money, Banknotes,
Coins, History.
Kathryn Beilby
A clock of stars: The shadow moth by Francesca Gibbons
Illus.by Chris Riddell. HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780008355036.
(Young Adult / Children). Highly recommended. A brilliant new fantasy
author has been found in Francesca Gibbons. Her debut novel A
clock of stars: The shadow moth, aimed at older children and
younger teens, is a fun and easy read. The story centres on sisters
Imogen and Marie who follow a moth through a hidden doorway in a
tree and end up in another world. Like Alice and her rabbit, Imogen
and Marie find fun, adventure and peril in this alternate universe.
In this world ruled by an evil king where conflict bubbles beneath
the surface, the sisters meet lonely Prince Milo who agrees to help
them find their way home if they will be his friends and help him
restore peace to the realm.
What a coup for Gibbons to have secured Chris Riddell as her
illustrator. A prolific and well-loved children's illustrator and
author himself, Riddell's work has appeared in many books, including
those by Neil Gaiman and J.K. Rowling. His signature style is
apparent upon opening the book, immediately drawing the reader into
Gibbons' fantasy world.
Although pitched at a juvenile audience, adults and older teens will
also find themselves enthralled by the world-building, magic and
wonderful illustrations. A little bit Alice in Wonderland, a
little bit Narnia and very much its own, A clock of stars
is highly recommended. Themes: Magic, Magical creatures, Royalty,
Sisters, Family, Friendship, Animals.
Rose Tabeni
Aussie Kids: Meet Matilda at the festival by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern
Illus. by Tania McCartney. Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760894511.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Eight stories in the Aussie Kids
series, each set in one of the states and territories of Australia,
will appeal to those who have just achieved competency at reading
chapter books. Each of these books is short, with brief chapters,
well set out for early readers, highly illustrated and published in
a clear well spaced font. The stories are evocative of life in each
of the settings, and this one, set in Canberra, conjures up the
lifestyle with its embassies and variety of people from around the
world.
Matilda's father works for the government and so she has access to
people from the embassies. Her close friend is Hansuke from the
Japanese Embassy and she knows his house with its screens and quiet
gardens as well as he knows hers, with its kangaroos in the park
nearby.
A festival to celebrate the Emperor's birthday is held at the
embassy and Matilda and her family join in each year. Mum and
Matilda wear their kimonos and Matilda has a special goodbye present
for Hansuke, as his family moves back home, a scrapbook of all their
adventures in Canberra.
As they turn the pages of the scrapbook, Matilda finds it hard to
keep back her tears, but Hansuke has a surprise for her when a new
ambassador from Ireland comes with a daughter her age. She knows
Hansuke well and has heard about Matilda, so they are instant
friends.
The clear easy to read text gives the reader a feeling for life in
Canberra, and Japanese words appear in the text, giving an
authenticity to the story. I can imagine classes wanting to try out
origami or the Japanese food mentioned in passing, and certainly the
story gives them a tourist's view of what there is to see in the
nation's capital.
Themes: Japan, Canberra, Friendship, Festivals, Aussie Kids
(series).
Fran Knight
Combat Wombat to the rescue by Gina Newton
Illus. by Tiffanee Daley. Ford Street Publishing, 2020. ISBN:
9781925804577.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Combat Wombat to the rescue is a
beautifully illustrated picture book about Australian animals
trapped in a bushfire. They are led to safety by Combat Wombat
Wildlife Warrior who has discovered he has a super-sensitive nose,
ears and paws. Along their journey to safety they overcome obstacles
including outwitting sneaky Dingo Bingo, to finally arrive on
Billabong Island where they can relax and play.
This is a perfect read aloud for younger students and has all the
elements children love - danger, excitement and a hero to save the
day! However the story could also be used as a lead-in to a unit of
work on Bushfires for all primary aged students. Ford Street
Publishing has developed a comprehensive Teacher
resources pack to supplement the book. The topics covered
include:
1. Habitat is home
2. Fire in the bush
3. Aboriginal peoples and fire
4. To the rescue!
As well as curriculum links to HASS, English and Science for
Foundation to Year 3, the resources also look at sustainability and
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures. There
are printable worksheets at the end of the pack.
The stunning illustrations by Tiffanee Daley perfectly complement
the simple text. She has created a series of behind the scenes
videos showing how she completes her drawings from the storyboard
concept, found on her YouTube
channel.
Themes: Wombats, Bushfires, Australian bush, Australian animals.
Kathryn Beilby
The secret garden: the story of the movie by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Linda Chapman
HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780008340070. 224pp., pbk.
First published in 1911, The secret garden is the story of
Mary, a sickly, neglected, unloved and unwanted 10-year-old girl
whose care has been mostly left to the servants who care for her
English family in colonial India. After her parents die in a cholera
epidemic, she is sent back to England into the care of her unknown
uncle Archibald Craven at his isolated mansion Misselthwaite Manor
on the Yorkshire Moors. At first, Mary is rude and obnoxious,
disliking everything about her new circumstances but eventually she
warms to Martha Sowerby who tells her about her aunt, the late
Lilias Craven and how she would spend hours in a private walled
garden growing roses. After his wife died in an accident in the
garden, Mr Craven locked the garden and buried the key. Mary becomes
interested in finding the secret garden herself and once she
discovers the key, her life begins to change.
This version is based on the screenplay of the 2020 movie which
has finally been released and which many students will have seen.
Telling the core of the original story it evokes a magical world
that encourages self-discovery and change and perhaps an interest in
reading the original. A stunning way to introduce a new generation
to a classic. Watch the official trailer
on YouTube.
Barbara Braxton
Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis
Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241397046.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Ideal for Halloween, this thriller/horror
story is one that will keep readers glued to the page as they follow
the trials of Lola Nox, the daughter of a horror filmmaker. With her
father is founded with multiple stab wounds, she is sent off to stay
with the grandmother that she has never met. The rural town of
Harrow Lake was the setting for Nolan Nox's most famous horror film
and the place where her mother was brought up. The town has used
this setting as a tourist attraction and each year there are
unexplained disappearances which are never solved. Some bizarre
occurrences, a strange puppet like creature called Mister Jitters,
legends about cannibalism and weird tapping noises set the scene for
some very scary moments as Lola tries to find out what happened to
her mother Lorelei who abandoned her as a young child.
The pace is fast, and the book is hard to put down, indeed it is one
that many readers will want to finish in one or two sittings,
holding their breathes as they read. There are some truly memorable
scenes like a dead tree that has hundreds of teeth hanging from it,
and a frightening group of caves, housing a derelict church.
Lola is not a person who the reader will readily identify with in
the beginning but as the story unfolds, the reader will get to know
what her life has been like with a totally controlling father and
will begin to sympathise with her. It is hard to tell the truth from
what could be her wild imaginination. Is her friend Mary Ann really
appearing to her? What is the meaning of the secrets that are
written on bits of paper and hidden and why did Lorelei collect
strange bug like creatures? Is someone stalking her? Can she trust
Carter the young man who has befriended her? What is her grandmother
hiding and where has Lorelei disappeared to?
Fans of thrillers and horror stories will find Harrow Lake
difficult to put down and will have fun working out the truth in
Lola's unreliable narrative and enjoy the horror tropes of a scary
town with strange people, stalkers, dark woods and horrifying
puppets.
Pat Pledger
Piper picks the perfect pet by Caroline Tuohey
Illus. by Nicole Johnston. Ford St Publishing, 2020. ISBN:
9781925804591.
(Ages: 3+) Highly recommended. Starting the book with the lines, My Dad says I can chose a pet But I'm not sure what pet to get
will fire the imaginations of all readers as they choose a pet along
with the narrator.
And with every good verse story, the lines entice readers to predict
the rhyming word as the pages are turned.
The choices are numerous, from a bouncy dog or a flouncy dog, a
puddly dog or a jumpy dog, a perhaps a tabbly or Persian cat, a
donkey, an axolotl, a horse or ferret. Every different sort of pet
is illustrated and questioned over its suitability, until finally at
a pet show at school, the narrator's choice is revealed.
A fun read, supported by delightfully comic illustrations, the verse
tale will entreat and captivate readers, many of whom will have had
the same dilemma, what pet to chose, and those that have not had to
make this choice will be equally charmed, thinking about
possibilities to come.
Johnston's pencil and watercolour illustrations reveal a playful
family life, fill of animals and a supportive school which has a pet
show to encourage and involve students. The antics of each of the
animals portrayed reveals a subtle humour as they are shown in
various guises. A poodle taking its place along the chaise lounge, a
large dog taking up the whole chair, a Manx cat playing with the
mouse, a donkey refusing to budge, while a goat takes its master up
the hill. Children will laugh out loud at the antics of each animal
as the pages are turned, wondering which one to choose for
themselves and for the narrator. And there is a prize for every pet.
Teacher's
notes are available.
Themes: Animals, Pets, Humour, Choices, Alliteration.
Fran Knight
Chickensaurus by James Foley
S.Tinker Inc. series. Fremantle Press, 2020. ISBN:
9781925815788.
(Age: Primary) Recommended. Chickensaurus is the fourth book in the
S.Tinker Inc. series that follows the tales of Sally Tinker
and her gang as they invent a plethora of wondrous things (including
robots, giant dung beetles and tiny submarines to investigate her
brothers insides!) with this story surrounding her arch enemy
turning chickens into monstrous dinosaurs.
Sally and her crew are forced to flee into the maze to try and
escape the crazy trifeathertops and the pteroducktyl, however they
eventually end up in the basement where all sorts of unexpected
things happen . . .
This graphic novel was written with middle primary aged children in
mind, and was perfect for my year 4, 10 year old. He thought it was
a great book, and especially loved the illustrations and the idea of
morphing a chicken and a dinosaur. He felt that lots of kids he went
to school with would like the book, and wanted to tell the school
librarian to look into this title and the other three in the series.
I also thought it was a good, easy enough read that would suit the
middle primary bracket, but I think it would be most beneficial to
readers who may struggle with short novels, or younger students who
want a challenge. I enjoyed the flow of the stories conversation and
found myself easily giving characters accents and voices. I think
that James Foley has done a really good job in drawing in a wide
variety of readers at different engagement and skill levels. The
illustrations really help the story too, with the characters showing
emotions and the Chickensaurus being quite amusing.
After finishing the book I wanted to check out the other 3 in the
series as I enjoyed the characters, story and the illustrations so
much!
Overall I think James Foley is a very good writer, and one that
deserves to be on my children's book shelf. He has written a number
of other books, plus some short stories which we will definitely be
looking into. 4 out of 5 for Chickensaurus. Teacher's
notes are available.
Lauren Fountain
What Zola did on Wednesday by Melina Marchetta
Illus. by Deb Hudson. Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760895174.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. What Zola did on Wednesday is
the third story in the humorous and entertaining Zola
series. Zola lives with her Mum and Nonna Rosa and is very busy with
the garden project after school on Monday and playing with her
neighbours and Nonna's knitting grandmothers on Tuesday. In this new
story Zola hears something going on in Leo's yard and climbs a tree
to investigate. Leo's mother Justine is a police officer and has
brought home Vesper the police dog for a visit. Justine tells Zola
all about the work a police dog does and when Sophia's turtle goes
missing Zola comes up with an idea. The idea does not quite go as
expected and the neighbours all support Zola and her friends and
keep them safe. Justine talks to the children about being careful
and visits Zola's school for her news talk. Justine also organises
dog training on Wednesdays after school and Zola and her friends are
kept busy.
The multi-cultural community aspect of this series shows the
diversity of the Australian culture and how we can all interact
positively with others in our daily lives. At the end of the story
the author shares tips for training your pet dog to sit. This book
would be a lovely read-aloud for a classroom teacher or parent and
an excellent read for a young child moving onto independent reading.
Themes: Friends, Neighbours, Diversity, School, Dogs, Safety.
Kathryn Beilby
Watch over me by Nina LaCour
Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922330604.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. After being in the foster system
since her mother abandoned her, 18-year-old Mila is looking forward
to her job, teaching a young, home-schooled child on a farm. She is
desperate for a home, a place where she can belong and hopes to find
it with Terry and Julia, who own the farm and with the other people
there, particularly Billy and Liz and her small charge, Lee. What
she does not know when she accepts the job is that something strange
is going on there and that it will bring back all the bad memories
of her past.
An eerie combination of ghosts and ordinary life on a farm, LaCour
manages to keep the suspense alive as Mila's story gradually
unfolds. What are the ghostly figures that danced at night and why
did everyone except for Lee and her wear gold bracelets and
pendants? And what happened to the girl who used to teach Lee? Where
has she gone? The story has a gothic feel and I almost felt that I
was reading a novel set in the 1800's, until there would be a
reference to driving to a market with flowers or using a phone.
In lyrical prose the author describes bit by bit the memories of the
trauma that Mila had undergone when young, and the struggle that she
is having with them resurfacing. Lee has also suffered trauma and
Mila tries her best to help him, even as he sees ghosts too.
This is a disturbing read, with undertones of domestic violence,
abandonment, guilt and grief, all part of Mila's struggle to accept
her past and find a new home. Add a mix of ghosts, fear and mystery,
and Watch over me will grip the reader until its powerful
conclusion. Teacher's
notes are available from the publisher.
Pat Pledger
Santa and the Sugar Glider by Alexa Moses
Illus. by Anil Tortop. Lothian Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9780734419521.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Santa and the Sugar Glider is an
appealing Christmas story written for younger children. Snap, the
littlest glider in the rainforest, is longing to do something
important but all the other animals mock him for being too small to
achieve anything. They are surprised when a big red object wobbles
across the sky and lands in the bush. The animals rush to have a
look and find that it is Santa looking for a replacement reindeer
for Comet who has sprained his ankle. He invites the animals to
audition at sunset and Snap thinks this will his chance to shine.
However the other animals are not very kind and Snap decides not to
audition. Fortunately he saves Comet from eating some stinging
leaves in a spectacular way and Santa chooses him.
Children will enjoy listening to this story of a little one finally
being able to achieve something important. The detailed
illustrations and the highlighted text showcasing verbs and
important words as well as the colourful presentation will make this
a popular read aloud for children. Themes: Christmas, Santa,
Australian Animals.
Kathryn Beilby
The Tindims of Rubbish Island by Sally Gardner
Illus. by Lydia Corry. Zephyr, 2020. ISBN: 9781838935672.
The Tindim family of smaller than usual stature, live together on
Rubbish Island where they recycle all they find. Introducing the
family as the story unfolds gives Gardner plenty of scope for her
humorous telling and daughter Corry, a platform for her funny
illustrations, designed by both not only to entertain, but teach
some solid facts about conservation, recycling and waste.
The family is headed for the Brightsea Festival, but due to the
enormous mountain of plastic bottles on their island, they can no
longer see where they are going. In times past they were able to
recycle paper and wood rubbish, but since plastic came on the scene,
the rubbish from these items has grown beyond comprehension. So the
family searches for a solution. Always a secretive group, they must
now expose themselves to children to realise their aim of recycling
more rubbish and showing children how it is to be done.
The main characters, Captain Spoons, Mug, Jug, Brew, Skittle and
others live on the island in a warren of underwater rooms, including
a toothbrush library and a hospital for sick fish. Laugh out loud
with the names and scenes set by mother and daughter writer and
illustrator. I loved the names of the days of the week, and the
comments about some of the rubbish they find: a water bottle, who
would bottle water? Read about the Tindims on their first ocean
adventure as they show children how to help protect our planet for
the future.
The first of a series, three more books will be published in 2021,
all promoting recycling and conservation.
Themes: Conservation, Waste, Recycling, Plastic, Ecology, Oceans.
Fran Knight
The frangipani tree mystery by Ovidia Yu
Crown Colony, book 1. Constable, 2017. ISBN: 9781472125200.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. After reading The
paperbark tree mystery I immediately pursued the first
in the series and was not disappointed. The frangipani
tree mystery introduces SuLin, a young girl who suffered polio
in her youth. Educated at a mission and very intelligent, SuLin
wants to become a journalist and travel, escaping an arranged
marriage. When the opportunity comes to look after Dee-Dee, the
daughter of the Acting Governor of Singapore, she grabs it, even
though it looks as if Charity Byrne, the Irish governess has been
murdered in mysterious circumstances. When another murder happens at
the Governor's residence, SuLin's acute observation skills and
ability to gain the trust of the people around her, assist Chief
Inspector LeFoy in working out just what happened.
It is 1936 in Singapore and Ovidia Yu brings a fascinating
historical background to the mystery. She weaves the history of
colonialism and the belief of superiority that the white British
administrators have, as a backdrop to the mystery. It is always
subtly done, but by the end of the novel the reader has become well
acquainted with life in a governor's residence, the way servants are
treated and the hierarchy of Chinese residents, with SuLin's
grandmother organising money lending and owning shops.
Some of SuLin's Chinese family's superstitions are also explored.
They believe that because of her limp, she could bring bad luck, and
she is prepared to work for a living if she can. Dee-Dee has an
intellectual disability, and Yu's sympathetic portrayal of her makes
her a relatable character, as is her brother Harry who disappears on
strange assignations at night.
This is an easy to read mystery with fascinating historical detail
and big themes like racism, class, gender and family relations, all
brought in as subtle background to the murder. An article featuring
the author and her writing can be found here.
The frangipani tree mystery certainly sets up all the
atmosphere and plotting of a very good entertaining mystery, leaving
the reader wanting to see what happens next with SuLin and Chief
Inspector LeFoy.
Pat Pledger
The stolen prince of Cloudburst by Jaclyn Moriarty
A Kingdom and Empires. Allen & Unwin, 2020. 536pp. ISBN:
9781760875060.
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. Esther returns to start year 6 at
Katherine Valley Boarding School. All the giggling girls are
delighted by their new teacher, Mrs Pollock. Two of Esther's best
friends have left and the new intriguing Autumn and Pelagia have
taken their place. Esther is normally a high achieving student but
now can never get better than a C-. She also gets detentions which
prevent her from attending fun events. Her confidence plummets. A
shocking incident creates mayhem and leads to a number of
revelations. Autumn is from a family of Whisperers who are regarded
suspiciously. Katya, who has played an important role protecting the
school from Shadow Mages, has to be sent away for medical help.
Esther runs herself ragged trying to do Katya's job. Fortunately
Esther gets a break when the family go to Spindrift to join in
celebrations to welcome back long lost Alejandro, Prince of
Cloudburst. However more catastrophe ensues with rising oceans and
tidal waves. Is it climate change or some other sinister magic?
Esther and her family are in the thick of it, unearthing mysteries
and battling evildoers.
This was a delicious, addictive and satisfying fantasy. It subtly
weaves themes of bullying, resilience and friendship into the plot.
So many things go wrong for Esther but she is never despairing as
she continues talking to us readers, with humorous asides and
reminders of previous incidents. It has a lovely old-worldy setting,
being an English style boarding school and the seaside, but it is
never fusty. The characters are all quirky and baddies abound such
as the Radish Gnomes. Although this is quite a long book the many
pencil illustrations by Kelly Canby and short chapters don't make it
feel onerous. In fact the publication is quite inviting. This is the
third book in A Kingdom and Empires series, although it can
be read as a stand-alone. It will more likely appeal to confident
readers and is similar to books like the Stella
Montgomery series by Judith Rossell.
Jo Marshall
