Reviews

Baby touch. Hello, Daddy!: a touch-and-feel playbook illus. by Lemon Ribbon Studio

Ladybird Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780241422328.
(Age: 0-3) New fathers will love reading this Baby Touch book to their little child. And any baby will love the touch-and-feel aspects of the books, feeling the soft nose of the horse, the black stripes on the tiger, the soft white fur of the dog and textured pink material of daddy elephant. The bright colours are very attractive and will hold the baby's attention, their simple shapes and design engaging.
A lot of fun can be had when reading the book, with the adult making the appropriate noise that goes with each baby animal and its daddy. There will be lots of neighing with daddy horse, roaring with daddy tiger, woofing with daddy dog, and tooting with daddy elephant. But the page that the baby will most love is the last page with its wonderful mirror with the words, Baby, look. Here you are!
Others in the series are Baby touch: Opposites and my little grandson's favourite, Baby touch: Night-night.
Pat Pledger

The Paris secret by Natasha Lester

Hachette Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9780733641886. pbk., 450pp.
(Age: Secondary) Historical fiction at its best that will set you flying high above the clouds. Australian author, Natasha Lester brings us her new novel about three women who are bound forever by war. Lester's blending from fact to fiction is perfect in The Paris secret. I can just imagine how much research she did to make it this story feel real, making me feel as if I am there in the story.
The Paris secret is set in the 1930s, 1940s and present day Australia. It's a story about fashion, aviation, spies, romance, lost love, friendship that lasts a lifetime and war. We follow the story of Kat Jordan discovering secrets her grandma has kept for the last 65 years. We discover her role during the war and about the lengths people go to protect one another. Skye Penrose and her sister Liberty have an amazing story alongside Skye's soulmate Nicholas Crawford who is engaged to Margaux Jourdan.
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres especially about women and how they survive in a man's world. I loved reading about the struggles of women pilots in the war, as men then didn't believe women had the intelligence and strength to fly planes. Well this story shows us otherwise and the role that some females played. We learn a bit about the Air Transport Auxiliary and how women were treated in concentration camps. I am not a fashion person but learnt quite a bit about fashion designer Christian Dior and his sister Catherine. I would really love to see the blue dress.
As an educational book, I think this is a great read for readers to learn about the struggles of single mums and female pilots and female spies with their struggles and what they achieved during the war.
Maria Komninos

Funny Kid: Peeking Duck by Matt Stanton

Funny Kid Book 7. HarperCollins/ABC Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780733340598. pbk., 256 pp.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Great for reluctant readers. Funny Kid is the mega-bestselling series from author/illustrator Matt Stanton that's got everyone laughing especially me.
Peeking Duck is the seventh book in the series and I had to fight kids in my class to read it. As soon as they saw that I was reading the newest book they couldn't wait till I finished so they could read it. They were begging me to pass it over.
Max is the funny kid, he isn't the fastest, tallest, best looking or smartest kid around. Plus, his best friend the duck follows him around. In Peking Duck, Max is being questioned about how brave he is by his friends. He is put to the test to see if he or Abby is braver. And so the competition begins.
We read funny situations Max gets into with the brave competition and of course a family road trip from hell is involved. Oh yeah . . . Duck goes missing too.
I loved reading Peking Duck and can't wait to read other books in the series.
This is a great series for reluctant readers or anyone that likes a breezing read. I would highly recommend it on any classroom or library shelf. I'm loving the new books coming out by authors at the moment that kids are loving like Funny Kid, Bad Guys, Hot Dog etc, all easy reads for reluctant readers with great pictures.
Maria Komninos

The ballad of songbirds and snakes by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic Press 2020. ISBN: 9781743836811.
(Young Adult/Adult). Recommended. Fans of The Hunger Games, rejoice! Suzanne Collins is back. A decade after the last book in the original trilogy was published, Collins has finally released a prequel novel. Set decades before the events of The Hunger Games, The ballad of songbirds and snakes takes us back to a Panem that is feverishly preparing for the tenth annual Hunger Games. Centering on eighteen year old Coriolanus Snow - yes, THAT Snow - we see this eventual master villain in a new light. Snow is a member of a once mighty but now fallen family. His only chance to redeem his house and make a name for himself is to mentor the winning tribute in this year's Hunger Games. He is therefore appalled when he is assigned the tribute from District 12, a district that never produces winners. But the tribute is Lucy Gray Baird, a girl with a beautiful voice who has captured the attention of the Capitol. Snow begins to see a way forward working with Lucy but what he does not expect is for stronger feelings to develop.
While this novel is never going to produce the same levels of adoration that are still associated with The Hunger Games trilogy, it is nevertheless an interesting take on a much-maligned and much-hated character. The book acts as a villain 'origin story' of sorts and gives readers much greater insight into the background of Snow. There is perhaps a little too much internal dialogue and focus on Snow's feelings about what is occurring around him. Fans of the original series may also find the pacing and tone different from Collins' previous works. However The ballad of songbirds and snakes is a worthwhile and engaging read with a very explosive ending. Themes: Dystopias, Violence, Inequality, Romance, Identity.
Rose Tabeni

Confident Coco by Chanh Kien, Phuong Ong and Claire Amore

Illus. by Aleksandra Szmidt. Little Steps Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781925839760.
(Ages: 3-6) From her appearance alone Coco oozes confidence; the front page shows her wearing a cape, with a wide stance, hands on hips and head held high. The illustrative style uses large heads on a small body which also adds to her larger than life confidence. But there's one thing at the park Coco isn't confidence about: the big slide. Her other friends go down but Coco feels too small, she's scared that she might fall or go too fast or crash to the ground. Her friends are wonderfully empathetic in a way that we hope all children would respond to the fears of others: "Ruby shared, 'I know how you feel, I was scared too, and the fear is real. But I pushed through, I told myself I'd be fine . . . What was holding me back was all in my mind." We hear Coco's thoughts as she works to push through her fear, emotions that will be identifiable to most young children. Eventually she takes a deep breath and with a new push of confidence and encouragement from her friend she decides to give it a go and trust that everything will be okay. "This is the fear that I own today. I need to do this in my own way," she says as she sits down and pushes off from the top of the slide.
This is quite direct in the way it teaches strategies for confidence and resilience but it is told in a way that is accessible and meaningful, especially because it uses a context that most young children will identify with. "With belief in herself and a friend supporting her through, Coco's got the confidence to tackle anything new". The modelling of both how to support a friend though fear and strategies to support yourself through fear is near perfect. The end of the book also contains discussion questions that will help to facilitate conversations about these two aspects. Themes: Confidence, Fear, Rhyming story.
Nicole Nelson

Rebel gods by Will Kostakis

Will Kostakis once again delivers a great Aussie YA series which is fun to read, where a bunch of Greek gods are waking up beneath sanctuaries of Aussie schools.

Rebels Gods is the second book in the Monuments series and it picks up where Monuments let off. We find the newbie gods Connor, Sally and Locky wanting to change the world . . . but they are soon drawn into a centuries old conflict that just might destroy the world that they are trying to make better.

I enjoyed reading Rebel Gods; it was fast paced, fun and action packed. Many times I found myself laughing at how the characters discovered what they could do in society today with the power of a god. Hmmm . . .  turning parish lawn rainbow colour, making tunnels to visit secret boyfriends and the fear of never getting old around their loved ones.

I found Rebels Gods more about relationships. You got to love the relationships they build and learn more about their internal struggles between the characters and family. They are also exposed to community and societal issues and how they cope while also fighting the Rebel Gods. Rebel Gods is also one of the first YA books I have read that have parents still around and with a loving family that supports the main characters.

Rebel Gods to me was a book about teen identity which explores our place in the fantasy world of Modern Greek Mythology. It also shows us how social media also works in getting things out there too. It's a great easy read of adventure, family and of course love.

Themes Modern Greek Mythology, Fantasy, Friendships, Adventure, LGBT.

Maria Komninos

Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson

Illus. by Leila Del Duca. DC Comics 2020. ISBN: 9781401286453.
(Age: Upper primary+) Recommended. Lovers of DC Comics' creation Wonder Woman will recognise the birth story of Princess Diana of Themyscira on that mythical island populated by Amazons, but in this story she is celebrating her 16th 'born day' like any other gawky teenager, hoping she will shed childhood weakness to join the warrior women of her island. Her gifts include the magical lasso, bracelets and tiara which will contain Wonder Woman's signature power but just as the celebrations begin the warrior women are called to repel mortals who are washing up on the island's shore. Diana ignores warnings and leaps to their aid, rescuing those in the sea and returning them to their boats. But her island has disappeared and she is left to join the refugees in their boats and experience first-hand their plight when they reach land, as they are processed and interned in a camp. Her aptitude with languages means she is able to be of great assistance to the people which attracts the attention of United Nations inspectors who organise for her to go to America and study to help refugees. There Diana has to learn that not all societies are like hers, that there are homeless people, poverty and injustice in America. She also learns about being an American teenager, about 'facepox' 'moonbleeding' mood swings and friendships as well as enjoying parcour and polka. When she learns about child trafficking she draws on her 'heart strength' and we see her tap into her superpowers to fight evil.
The graphics are strong and accessible, using varied and interesting framing and point of view. Important moments occupy double page spreads and insets and border art keep it lively. Diana is tall, energetic and relatable as a teenager with clear speech bubbles and thoughts in blue. The dedication is to refugees and asylum seekers and the title echoes the inscription on the Statue of Liberty welcoming exiles. There are resources at the end of the book for those in need of support. Recommended for upper primary and middle school lovers of superheroes who may learn something about poverty and refugee issues.
Themes: Superheroes, Refugees, Justice.
Sue Speck

League of Llamas: Undercover Llamas by Aleesah Darlinson

Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760894191.
(Age: 6-10). Highly recommended. The League of Llamas (LOL) are a group of secret Llama agents with distinctive traits. Agent 0011, Phillipe Llamar is quite vain and secretly in love with the gorgeous Elloise Llamaresky (agent 0077). His sidekick, Lloyd Llamanator is always on the lookout for food! This is the third book in the series which started with The golden Llama, followed by Llama impossible.
As this story begins, Phillipe is ambushed and has allowed the chickens from Chickenlovakia to get hold of some important files from the Llama Republic. He is rescued by the lovely Elloise and returns to home base where Mama Llama gives them their next mission. Phillipe and his group are to go undercover as band members with another famous Llama who has helped LOL before, the talented, handsome and very famous singer, Bruno Llamars. Their mission is to apprehend the nasty Hilda and her hench-chickens but to do this they must go into Chickenlovakia with Bruno to perform at his next concert.
As the Llama friends wrestle with the pressures of a real performance in addition to working out what the chickens have in mind for the world, Phillipe also has to contend with the idea that Elloise may prefer the dashing Bruno over him after all, and he is devastated.
The books in this series are full of wonderful Llama puns and word plays and this book also adds lots of egg-cellent egg and chicken word plays to the mix. There many references to real world spy stories that will delight readers and keep parents who are reading this aloud to younger children in fits of laughter. They are great books for those newly independent readers and they also read aloud well for JP classes who are looking for an action-packed story for a class novel. Themes: Llamas, Detectives, Bands(music), Villains, Criminal Investigation.
Gabrielle Anderson

Hope: 50 ways to help our planet every day

Puffin 2020. ISBN: 9781760896737.
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Hope: 50 Ways to Help Our Planet Every day is an Australian non-fiction resource targeted towards children who are becoming increasingly aware of the need for action to combat our growing environmental issues. This global problem is prevalent for children all around the world and this extremely user-friendly book will give children in Australia ideas of where to begin and what steps to take to make small changes that fit in with their daily lives. The book contains 50 short chapters beginning with Chapter 1: Take a Pledge and Chapter 2: Start a Save The Planet Squad continuing to the final chapter Use Your Voice. In each chapter are various quotes, illustrations and facts that relate to the topic. As well as this, case studies, instructions and activities are spread throughout the book.
Some of the topics covered include: the 4-minute shower, love your leftovers, start a school swap shop, change your light bulb, make do and mend, and love your library. This book is easy to read and garner ideas from. It is written in a manner that both children and adults will understand and be able to go back to time and time again. Hope: 50 Ways to Help Our Planet Every day reinforces the idea that it is not hard to make a difference and the simplest of ideas will help. Themes: Case Studies, Environmental Issues, Global Change, Climate Change, Children, Ideas, Australia.
Kathryn Beilby

Roald Dahl: Words by Roald Dahl

Illus. by Quentin Blake, Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780241440001.
(Age: 0-4) Highly recommended. Another sturdy board book will bring joy to both faces of very young children and their parents as they explore the world of words as illustrated by the wonderful Quentin Blake, at the same time being introduced to some of the characters that they will encounter when they begin to read the Roald Dahl stories.
This is a very colourful, durable board book, which has the addition of substantial lift the flaps that should stand up to rugged use by young children. Right from the first page, where children will hear the instructions, "Up, up and away!" they will have fun finding the pictures of the words that are read, and then counting the balloons that are soaring on the page. The engaging crocodile, so familiar to many adults, is on the next page, and there is a lift-the-flap for children to uncover a fabulous elephant. The book continues in this manner, with several pictures and words, fun exclamations and exciting lift-the-flaps, sure to engage any young child, while they learn new words and skills.
This is a perfect gift for a young child whose vocabulary will increase in a very fun way, and all will love the exhortation at the end, "Never stop reading".
Pat Pledger

Burn by Patrick Ness

Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406375503.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. It is 1956, the Cold War is at its height, and Sarah Dewhurst's father has decided to hire a dragon to help him work the farm. Sarah and her father are grieving over the death of Sarah's mother and are finding it difficult to cope and the arrival of a blue dragon doesn't help matters. Kazimir, the blue dragon, saves Sarah and her friend Jason Inagawa from a racist policeman, and then tells Sarah that she is part of a prophecy and will be instrumental in saving the world. Meanwhile Malcolm, a young man who is part of a dragon-worshiping cult, is travelling to assassinate Sarah believing that he will be the one to save the world.
Ness cleverly combines details of a universe where dragons co-exist with humans, but where there are alternative universes, where fear of the Soviet Union using a satellite to spy on the United States might escalate into a nuclear war, and where racial harassment is almost a daily event for Sarah and Jason, who are just trying to survive from day to day. Then he adds a LBGTQIA relationship into the mix, making Burn a memorable story, both as fantasy and as historical fiction.
The twisty plot and the surprising creation of an alternative universe make for exciting reading, as it is impossible for the reader to predict what is coming next. Scenes of the devastation that the fierce dragon has wrought across the countryside are vivid. There are many characters, all deftly fleshed out by Ness. Malcolm's relationship with Nelson is handled sensitively and the FBI agents, especially Woolf, are quite fascinating characters. Readers too, will find the comparison of the actions of the different people in alternative universes an engrossing plot device from a master in narrative prose.
Themes of racial discrimination, historical insights into the Cold War and Japanese internment camps, tension between dragons and people and gay relationships all make for a fabulous story. Anyone who loves dragons will be interested in this one and might like to read on with The story of Owen: Dragon slayer of Trondheim by E. K. Johnston.
Pat Pledger

All the science you need to know by age 7 by Katie Daynes

Illus. by Stefano Tognetti. Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474968966. 80pp., hbk.
Little people always have lots of questions about the world around them - it's how they find out how it works. Often the answers to those questions lie in quite profound science and relate to topics like plants, animals, materials, time, weather, forces and energy, all of which are gathered together with others in this single volume that provides the basic answers beginning with the premise that a scientist is one 'who studies the world around us' and therefore anyone can be one using their powers of observation and some simple tools.
Author Katie Daynes is a specialist in answering questions about science for young people and so you can be assured that the information in the book is pitched at just the right level and offered in a format that is accessible and appealing. As well as the colour-coded sections there are also a glossary and an index, both supporting early information literacy skills as students learn to navigate nonfiction texts efficiently and effectively. And, as is common with publications from Usborne, there are curated quicklinks which provide further information to support further questions.
This is an ideal text to capitalise on children's natural curiosity, demystify what science is and open up a whole new world at the same time. Perhaps an interest piqued today will be the knowledge that defeats a pandemic tomorrow.
Barbara Braxton

Mermaid School: The clamshell show by Lucy Courtenay

Illus. by Sheena Dempsey. Andersen Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781783448388.
(Ages: 6-9) Recommended. The clamshell show is the second book in a series of three so far by Lucy Courtenay and is perfect for those younger children who have a higher reading ability. The series started with the book Mermaid School which introduces the main character, Marnie Blue, a girl trying to fit into a new school and make friends. This second book in the series focusses on a large-scale school musical production in which Marnie and her friend Orla vie for the lead role of Queen Marietta. However, there is a new girl called Gilly who gets the part. Gilly tries to make friends with Marnie to meet her famous Aunt Christabel Blue and her friends are suspicious of her motivation. She and her brother seem more focused on themselves and their rise to stardom than really putting any effort into the performance for her school. Her actions put the performance in jeopardy along with the appearance of a human at the concert venue, leaving Marnie and her friends to pick up the pieces and save the day. Underlying this storyline is more about Marnie's famous aunt who is also a singer and her mystery love interest that has sparked Marnie's curiosity.
The books in this series incorporate aspects of school life that will be familiar to children but in the unique underwater setting of the Mermaid world. Aspects of life as a mermaid are well incorporated including lovely details of the food being eaten and the beautiful flowing clothing and unique pets in Mermaid Lagoon. The illustrations that are scattered throughout the book provide some lovely details of the characters and life in Mermaid Lagoon. The map at the beginning of each book also adds interest for young readers to make Mermaid Lagoon come to life for them in these stories. Themes: Mermaids, Marine animals, Friendship.
Gabrielle Anderson

That's not my narwhal by Fiona Watt

Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474972109. 10pp., board book.
A little board book in this popular series that encourages children to explore both language through its repetitive text and their sense of touch through its textured patches actually has the potential to appeal to a much wider audience as students get ready to enjoy the 2020 Book Week theme of 'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds'.
This almost mythical creature, which actually lives in the cold waters of Greenland, Canada, and Russia, is rapidly becoming the 'creature-du-jour' with young readers looking for something more exotic than the unicorn which has become a bit ho-hum. So even though this book in this popular series explores why none of the five narwhals depicted is the reader's narwhal, the question that begs to be answered is, 'What IS a narwhal?', a question that could spark an interesting investigation and perhaps lead to a presentation entitled This is My Narwhal satisfying the Critical and Creative Thinking outcomes of the Inquiry strand, as they pose questions to identify, explore and organise information and ideas.
I love discovering books written for littlies that have application across the ages and this is surely one of them, and a most timely release.
Barbara Braxton

Finding our heart by Thomas Mayor

Illus. by Blak Douglas. Hardie Grant Travel, 2020. ISBN: 9781741177176.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Subtitled A story about the Uluru Statement for young Australians, this beautifully illustrated picture book provides insight into the history and intention of the 'Uluru Statement from the Heart'.
From the first page, this book drew me in with its depiction of an adult and two kids sharing a laugh over cups of tea at the kitchen table. One child has their leg comfortably drawn up on the chair, arms thrown back in laughter, all three faces with wide grins, in a very happy relaxed scene. The words 'We live in a big, beautiful country' capture the feeling of familiarity and being at home.
It goes on to describe Australia as a country that includes people from many parts of the world, and shows the map with flags from Lebanon, China, Japan, France, Italy, Israel, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
The next page shows the place before it was called Australia, with the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia with its many language and tribal groups. There is a reminder that Aboriginal people are the original caretakers of the country, and are the oldest living culture on the planet.
But there is a problem, the First Nations people were treated badly, the country is sad, and no-one can find the heart of the nation.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart was the outcome of a 2017 gathering of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all parts of the land, and is an invitation to accept Aboriginal voice and culture as a gift to be respected and appreciated. It is an opportunity to listen to Aboriginal people, and learn about how to care for our environment.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart suggests that First Nations people should have a Voice, a Treaty, and Truth about the past. An image shows the statement with all the signatures around the borders of the page.
While the book is presented as a children's story about the search to find the heart of the nation, and can be enjoyed on that level with the simple text and colourful illustrations, the final pages give the statement in full so that all readers can appreciate the heart-felt appeal for a new respectful relationship between the government and the First Nations people. And there are two pages of suggestions of what each person can do to 'help find our heart'. Teaching resources are available on the website of The Uluru Statement.
Themes: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Reconciliation, Caring for Country.
Helen Eddy