Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9780143774655.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Hound is known for always solving his
cases, hunting out clues to find the answer to the question, but
this time he is stumped and asks the readers to walk alongside him
as he follows the clues on each page. Readers are at once saddled
with a quest, to seek out the clues on each page, noting
things which may lead Hound to a conclusion, and along the way
search for the 17 hidden caterpillars.
Readers will love searching through the detective paraphernalia
illustrated, from magnifying glasses to the deerstalker hat, while
notes, scraps of paper, letters, postcards and signposts all muddy
the waters ready to sweep the avid sleuths onto the wrong trail.
Each page has a different clue, given in the rhyming stanza,
pointing the reader to look in a certain way and travel along the
path given, through several houses, and gardens, a village fair,
shop and cabin in the woods, a train station, and finally to a dark
part of the town with overhanging Elizabethan timbers to meet his
fate.
A fun time will be had as readers follow the sleuth, finding with
him the answers to the questions posed in the stanzas, marvelling at
the sumptuous illustrations, taking in the huge amount of detail
before their eyes, watching out for the array of animals on each
page, hunting for the caterpillar, and above all having fun.
Author of Puffin
the architect and Song of the river, Kimberley
Andrews lives and works in Wellington, after training as a biologist
in Canada and living and working in London, New Zealand and Borneo
before settling in New Zealand where she is able to pursue her
passion for the plants and animals of that country.
Theme: Detecting, Clues, Animals.
Fran Knight
The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde
Hodder & Stoughton, 2020. ISBN: 9781444763638.
(Age: Adult). Recommended. Jasper Fforde is back with a satirical,
absurd but surprisingly relevant novel, The Constant Rabbit.
Known for his Thursday Next series helmed by The Eyre
Affair, Fforde is no stranger to outlandish and humorous
stories. What he has managed to do with this book however is to
intertwine the ridiculous with the less savoury aspects of recent
times.
Set in an alternate England where rabbits have anthropomorphised
into six feet tall talking humanoids, The Constant Rabbit
centres on Peter Knox, a mild-mannered father living in a small
village who is forced to make a moral choice. Peter works for the
Rabbit Compliance Taskforce and his job is to ensure the largely
segregated rabbits are following human laws and living peaceably in
society. When Prime Minister Nigel Smethwick of the UKARP (United
Kingdom Against Rabbit Population) party announces a plan to
forcibly move all rabbits into a facility in Wales, Peter is torn
between his job and the concerns of his fellow villagers and his
increasingly complex relationships with rabbit neighbours and
friends.
The novel paints the picture of a society where xenophobia, paranoia
and "fake news" are the norm. The story is an irreverent but clear
dig at contemporary British society where racism, anti-muslim and
anti-immigration sentiments and Brexit concerns have dominated the
social and media landscape in recent years. It is a challenging
though excellent read and the reader will be constantly pulled
between the witty, dry jokes and the realisation that the plot is
hitting too close to home. This book is recommended for fans of
Fforde's previous work as well as those who enjoy cutting but
humorous observations of human life. Themes: Rabbits, Xenophobia,
Humour, Satire, United Kingdom.
Rose Tabeni
What Zola did on Tuesday by Melina Marchetta
Illus. by Deb Hudson. Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760895167.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. The second in a series of books about
the irrepressible Zola, has the year two girl becoming interested in
knitting, partly because her Nonna is trying to knit a scarf, but
also because the new family next door is doing some knitting. When
her teacher encourages the class to do something for those less
fortunate than themselves, Zola suggests knitting a scarf. But once
she has suggested this she remembers that perhaps her Nonna is not
such a good knitter.
Full of humour and brimming with the close ties of family, alongside
new arrivals in the community, children will love reading of Zola
and her life. She helps Nonna in the community garden, tries hard to
make her dog obedient, plays with her friend Allesandro who lives in
the house behind her, and now makes new friends with Bianca and Omar
next door.
With gentle subtle humour, Marchetta parallels the arrival of
Italian migrants to these shores several generations ago with the
newer arrival from the Middle East.
Each family is strongly family oriented, with a grandma living with
the families. They come together over their animals and knitting,
while the two families share some of their culture with each other.
This is a charming story of Zola and her eagerness for make people
feel welcome. The book is one of a set of seven and has two pages of
knitting instructions at the end of the book for those so intrigued
that they want to try it themselves.
Theme: Family, Immigration, Knitting.
Fran Knight
The Verindon Alliance by Lynne Stringer
Rhiza Edge, 2020. ISBN: 9781925563993.
(Young Adult) Recommended. While The Verindon Alliance is a
prequel to Australian author Lynne Stringer's Verindon
trilogy, no prior knowledge of the original stories is needed to
read this standalone novel. Set in the same universe as the trilogy
but with a more immediate and explicit focus on the science fiction
genre, The Verindon Alliance is a fast-paced and enjoyable
story for young adults who enjoy their action with a dash of
romance.
The novel centres on Princess Vashta of the Vendel and Brandonin,
the prince of Verindal (the confusing proliferation of V-words
eventually begins to make sense). The Vendel and Verindal races have
been warring for centuries and this conflict influences every aspect
of the royals' lives. Vashta has just graduated from combat training
and is ready to actively join the fight when, unexpectedly,
Brandonin approaches the Vendel monarch seeking peace. The two find
themselves working together, despite the hostility of their
families, to face an external danger that threatens the future of
both their peoples.
Both main characters are well-developed, three-dimensional and
easy-to-like, particularly Vashta, a strong-willed and determined
young woman who refuses to conform to any stereotypes associated
with princesses. Stringer is also adept at blending the romantic
aspects of the plot with the action sequences and does not go
overboard with either. The Verindon Alliance is an easy and entertaining read from
this emerging Australian author. Readers of the Verindon
trilogy will especially enjoy the fleshing out of the story of
Vashta and Brandonin's love and alliance. Themes: War, Love, Family,
Aliens.
Rose Tabeni
Small town by Phillip Gwynne
Illus. by Tony Flowers. Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760893484.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Irresistibly charming, this tale
applauds the work done by small communities which have welcomed
refugees into their midst, offering accommodation, work and support
in their new country. Small cities such as Toowoomba, Bendigo
and Newcastle and even smaller communities such as Nhill, have given
these new arrivals a place of safety.
Gwynne tells of a small community losing its population to the city,
putting their economy and school in peril of shutting down. This is
not a new occurrence, but how some communities respond is
wonderfully new. Milly is aware that some of her friends have left
and her class is smaller, but when the loss of girls imperils the
future of her basketball team, she decides to act. Her teacher has
told them of war, famine and privation overseas and the class has
discussed refugees, so Milly writes and asks that some come to her
town where there are jobs and housing to accommodate them.
The mayor questions what she is doing, but she has an answer for
every negative point he brings up. The children make a video of
their community and send it to the refugees.
They wait and wait and another family leaves, but then a convoy of
cars comes with refugees. The whole town pitches in and welcomes
them, repairing the empty houses, helping them unpack their
belongings, finding them work, happy to have a doctor in the town at
last.
The contrast between the town as it was and the town as it is now is
subtly shown with the naming of Millie's basketball team. Initially
it was made up with four girls called Chloe, and Millie. Now
it is two Chloes, Farhia, Hanan, Amina, Sharifa and Millie.
Wonderful in its seeming simplicity, Gwynne uses powerfully spare
prose to get his message across.
Flowers' watercolour illustrations reveal small town life in
Australia with dots of houses spread over vast areas, windmills, a
runway and tin roofs with a soft pallet of colours, reminiscent of
long sunny days in the country.
The town's unusual name is used as a refrain, 'my town is so nice,
they named it twice' repeated through the story encouraging children
to join in as it is read to them and forming a link between the old
and new generations.
Themes: Small towns, Refugees, Inclusivity.
Fran Knight
When she was good by Michael Robotham
Cyrus Haven Bk 2. Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780733644849
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended. Following Good
girl,
bad girl, comes a thrilling instalment in the lives of
Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac. At the end of Good girl, bad girl
readers were left pondering the mystery of just who Evie was and why
she had been hiding for so long. She has been safe in a secure home
when Cyrus is called in to investigate the murder of Detective
Superintendent Hamish Whitmore. As he follows the trail left by the
detective, he gradually grows closer to finding out the secrets of
Evie's past. However, Evie knows that it is very dangerous for Cyrus
to be uncovering what has happened in the past and both she and
Cyrus are in peril from some very powerful people in high places and
the evil hitmen hired by the leader.
Told in alternating chapters by Cyrus and Evie the story of Evie's
past gradually unfolds. The tension was so great that I devoured
this book in a few sittings as I followed Cyrus' investigation of
what has happened, heart in my mouth as I saw how dangerous it was
for Evie and appalled at the child abuse, manipulation and murder
that she had witnessed. It was horrifying but totally engrossing to
find out Evie's background, while also seeing Cyrus develop as a
person and to find out more about his broken childhood.
Evie's ability to tell when a person is lying is a strong thread in
the story, as is the question about whether the past should stay
buried and monsters left alone. The ability of powerful people to
manipulate the police and the justice system was also highlighted.
Robotham's clever plotting, character development and twists and
turns keep the suspense alive the whole way through to the
unexpected and exciting conclusion. Although the main mystery of
Evie's past is uncovered for the reader in When she was good, fans
will be happy that some options have been left open for Cyrus and
Evie to continue working together, using their unique skills and
backgrounds.
Pat Pledger
LEGO Batman : Batman vs. The Joker by Julia March
Dorling Kindersley, 2020. ISBN: 9780241409404.
If you are a fan of LEGO and Superheroes, then this book is for you!
In this brightly coloured comic-ish style book fans will see the
ultimate list of superheroes vs villains and be able to choose for
themselves who is the final winner!
In the never-ending saga, Batman wants to show The Joker that he is
the boss of Gotham City and brings his friends Robin, Nightwing, The
Flash, and Wonder Woman (to name just a few) to help him out. The
Joker also has a team behind him comprising of bad guys such as Lex
Luthor, Poison Ivy and Scarecrow (plus many more). They also bring
their trusty vehicles along which many kids will love.
As children move through the book, they will see a huge range of
LEGO Batman sets and minifigures which are used to create the
illustrations for this book. All of which are said to be the latest
toys - making it the perfect book for LEGO Batman fans!
This book is full of facts and information about the characters and
their nemeses, pitting them up against each other in 4 different
sections: vehicles, Gotham City, wider world, and loyal friends.
As a LEGO fan from my childhood, and now with LEGO loving children
this was a great read. Although it was limited on words, it meant
that both my 10 and 6 year old could enjoy it together and were able
to both get enjoyment out it. They loved the 'Did you know?' section
and often had to get up to tell Daddy (another LEGO fan) what they
had read about. When I asked what their favourite part was they both
loved the real LEGO sets and figures (especially their facials),
with the only criticism from Master 10 who would have loved a list
of the actual sets with item numbers so he could look them up to
purchase! The two added LEGO figures (Batman and The Joker) were
fought over for days, but a lovely tactile addition none the less.
Overall, this would be a great book/gift for a LEGO or Superhero
loving child.
Lauren Fountain
The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff
Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526620538.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Highly recommended. I am a great fan
of Meg Rosoff's books (particularly There
is no dog and Picture
me gone) which are complex, challenging and
unforgettable. The great Godden is no exception, a book that
highlights manipulation and loss of innocence. One large messy
family stay in a holiday house by the sea every summer, but this
year there is a difference, the Goddens, charming Kit and morose
Hugo, are staying with older cousins nearby. It is a summer when
unexpected consequences will unfold, told in the unforgettable voice
of the unnamed narrator. Everyone talks about falling in love like it's the most
miraculous, life-changing thing in the world. Something happens,
they say, and you know . . . That's what happened when I met Kit
Godden. I looked into his eyes and I knew. Only everyone else knew
too. Everyone else felt exactly the same way. pg. 1.
There are four teenagers in the family, beautiful Mattie who
immediately attaches herself to Kit, Tamsin who is obsessed with
horses, younger brother Alex, who loves bats and wildlife, and our
unknown narrator, who loves to draw and observes everything that is
going on. Initially life continues as normal with swimming and games
and then there is a wedding to plan for Mal and Hope (known
affectionately as Malanhope), but Kit is an unexpected storm on the
family's horizon. Mattie is not the only one who comes under Kit's
influence, even though the morose but ultimately surprising Hugo
tries to warn the narrator about his nature.
Rosoff's description of the way that Kit manipulates Mattie, playing
on her emotions, attentive one moment and cold the next, will be a
lesson for all about the manoeuvres of a master controller and the
devastating consequences of sex without feeling. There are some
shocking revelations about Kit's actions and how he sways the whole
family. The great Godden has been compared to Rumer Godden's The
Greengage Summer, a tale of loss of innocence. It is a coming
of age story that will linger in the memory, ideas to be brought out
again and again to examine and think about. The manipulation here
could also be compared to that in The
lost witch by Melvyn Burgess.
Rosoff is a skilful writer and it is easy to see this story becoming
a modern classic and it would also make an ideal TV series.
Pat Pledger
Time for adventure, Daddy by Dave Hackett
UQP, 2020. ISBN: 9780702262852.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Following Time
for bed, Daddy(2015) and Time for school, Daddy
(2018) Dave Hackett's funny look at family life with Dad as the main
character being sorted out by his single minded daughter, will
elicit gales of laughter from the audience as they sympathise with
the two characters and recognise themselves and situations they have
been in. Circumstances are reversed as the daughter gets ready for
an adventure, packing a picnic basket, making sure Dad has been to
the toilet before they leave home, returning all the things he wants
to take with them.
And they have a great time, skipping over stones in the creek bed,
stepping over a big log, finding a worm to take home, walking in the
sunshine, collecting leaves and twigs, and when Dad's feet become
too tired to walk any more, deciding where to place the picnic
rug for their picnic.
All the fun of outdoors is shown as the pair walk, skip, run and
jump, making use of the environment around them. An array of things
are shown which children will recognise and enjoy, recalling the
last time they did something similar or living in some expectation
of doing it in the future.
In these times of isolation, the book is most apt, revealing
something everyone can do, a picnic with the family, wandering
through the great outdoors, be it close by or some way away. All the
efforts at getting the outing ready are shown, as well as the things
to be expected when away from home on such an occasion. And all told
with a great sense of humour as the roles are reversed, and the
adventures are filled with fun.
The jaunty illustrations add to the sense of fun as the wide smiles
invite readers to see what fun can be had from a simple outing with
their Dad. Teacher's
notes are available.
Themes: Humour, Fun, Adventure, Role reversal, Picnics.
Fran Knight
Kitty is not a Cat: Teddy's Bear by Jess Black
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419774.
(Age: 6+ years) Recommended. Kitty is not a Cat: Teddy's Bear
by Jess Black is one of four books being released this year by
Hachette. The book series is based on the Australian animation
television series which has been sold around the world. Orange is
the theme colour of this book and the other remaining books are
blue, purple and pink. The story begins with a brief introduction to
the characters and an explanation of the context of the story. Kitty
is a girl who is dressed in a bright orange costume with ears, a
tail and paws. She joins the clutter of cats that live in the
mansion on the hill. Each cat has its own name and special qualities
it brings to the group. In this particular story the cats decide to
find a teddy bear for Kitty. Each cat brings what they think a teddy
bear is to the others but one interpretation causes absolute mayhem.
Eventually a teddy bear is found for Kitty and peace reigns once
more.
This book is a very readable story that will entertain young
developing readers who are ready for short novels. The fact that it
is series will also appeal to those students who will benefit from
word repetition. The book contains very detailed illustrations and
highlighted text where emphasis on a specific word is important to
the flow of the story. Themes: Cats, Friendship, Bears.
Kathryn Beilby
Mr Brown by Thomasina Williams
Illus. by Naya and Kostya Lazareva. Little Steps, 2020. ISBN:
9781925839463.
Recommended. Mr Brown is a story about a bear trying to organise
himself for hibernation. Mr Brown has a long list of things he needs
to do before he can settle in for his big sleep, but it seems that
something always gets in the way! It may be his memory, a fire that
won't light, or fish that get scared away. Fortunately for Mr Brown
he has wonderful friends who are there to help him through each
stage and get him sorted.
This is a lovely rhyming book that tells listeners a story of
friendship. It shows how when we help our friends (or just others
around us) we are doing a good thing, but also making them smile. I
also loved how at the end Mr Brown cannot resist but share his
prepared meals with all his friends as a thank you gesture - it was
very sweet!
Each of Mr Brown's friends only want the best for him in his time of
hibernation and through the illustrations we see their genuine
faces.
We enjoyed both the story and the illustrations as together they
really contributed to a good reading experience. There were lots of
things to discuss in the pictures and Miss 6 and I had a great talk
about hibernation and friends. Her favourite animal was the cat,
however mine was the rabbit who can be seen stealing the last
sandwich off cat's plate as they toast their friend to a happy
hibernation!
Overall a nice story with interesting illustrations and a good
message, 4 out of 5.
Lauren Fountain
My place, for younger readers by Sally Morgan
Fremantle Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781925816761.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. This latest publication of Sally
Morgan's iconic My place (1987), a classic of Australian
literature, is adapted for younger readers in this new edition with
a bright new cover taken from a screen print of the author's artwork
'Women of the Earth'. It is a long time since I read the original
book, but the things I remember are all still there, the
down-to-earth descriptions of family life, the humour and funny
stories. For me the stand-out memory is Morgan's anecdote of her
mother and future mother-in-law planting out stalks of fresh-cut and
plastic flowers in the garden the morning of Sally's wedding, and
her serendipitous purchase of a cream and gold Indian caftan for her
wedding dress just hours before the ceremony. This latest edition is
supposedly aimed at young readers but it is still a hefty book at
359 pages. Despite this, it retains its easy conversational style
and is sure to draw in readers across age groups. It truly is a
must-read account of early Aboriginal - white settler relations,
with its revelations of the life of Arthur Corunna, long-time
hard-working Aboriginal labourer and stockman; Gladys Corunna, taken
from her Aboriginal mother at the age of three and sent to
Parkerville Children's Home; and finally the long suppressed story
of Daisy Corunna, the unrecognised daughter of a white station owner
and long-standing servant to the family. This is Aboriginal history,
the personal stories and lived experience of people not recognised
in the accounts of the white history makers.
The suffering and deep sense of loss that is revealed in these
stories, and the long-lasting impact and sense of shame that
Morgan's family carried, hiding their heritage behind the deception
that they were of Indian descent, was brought out into the open in
Sally Morgan's original book and now deserves to be re-read again in
this latest edition. This new publication is a timely reminder of
our shared history and a most worthy addition to school libraries.
Themes: Aboriginal history, Stolen Generations, Identity, Racism.
Helen Eddy
Meet Mia by the jetty by Janeen Brian
Illus. by Danny Snell. Aussie Kids.Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781760893668.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. A new series of eight books, each set
in a different state or territory of Australia with eight different
characters and themes is a welcome addition to the library of books
available for the newly emerging reader. Each contains a map of
Australia to pinpoint its setting, a postcard at the start to
introduce the main character and several pages at the end to explain
things which have appeared in the text. Short chapters, copious
illustrations, good spacing and easy on the eye font, all packaged
in a smaller book size make this series most useful. Meet Mia at the jetty is a gentle seaside story by South
Australian, Janeen Brian, reflecting the sights and sounds of Victor
Harbor, south of Adelaide. Here two sisters, Mia and Alice are told
that they will have a boy, Jim, staying with them while his mother is
in hospital. Mia is delighted thinking she will be able to show him
around their town, and makes herself a tour guide badge. Alice is
somewhat dismissive as is the want for an older sister, but as the
story develops the two girls learn to be positive about each other.
Mia shows Jim around her town, pointing out features as they go.
Luckily they live across the road from the beach and Mia collects
things to have in her bedroom. They wander along the beachfront,
have a sandcastle competition, go out to Granite Island on the horse
tram, see a fairy penguin's home and then visit the Whale Centre.
Here they are hopeful of seeing a whale and climb to the lookout.
Mia thinks she sees one but it turns out to be a boat, until another
tourist does notice a whale, thanking Mia for pointing in that
direction.
A lovely story, Alice comes over to her sister's way of thinking,
even adjusting the badge on her sister's shirt. Danny Snell's
illustrations evoke all the fun of the seaside and holidays by the
beach. Younger readers will be introduced to what to expect in a day
at the beach and specifically what they will see when visiting
Victor Harbor, and have some environmental messages given about
fairy penguins, with more information about these animals given at the
end of the story.
Theme: Sea, Beach, Whales, Penguins, Victor Harbor, Family, Humour.
Fran Knight
Meet Sam at the Mangrove Creek by Paul Seden and Brenton McKenna
Aussie Kids. Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760894122.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. One of a series of eight books called
Aussie Kids designed for newly emerging readers this lovely
story set in the Northern Territory takes the children to a mangrove
creek with a new throw net to fish.
A postcard introduces the main character, Sam, and we follow him
getting out of bed excited for the weekend that has finally come
around. He and his friend Peter, along with the dog Bazza, are to go
down to the creek to fish. Sam is hopeful that they will catch a
barramundi. He packs a water bottle and pack of chips, grabs his
bike and cycles off to collect Peter. Together they ride to the
creek, mindful of Sam's father's advice to throw the net in the
creek's mouth. But Peter has brought banana lollies. Sam is
disgusted as you never take anything banana on a fishing trip. The
boys throw the net but wherever they throw it, no fish are caught.
Sam is convinced that the banana lollies have brought bad luck. An
older man who they saw at the shelter by the creek comes along to
them and suggests a better way of using the net. They take his
advice and are amazed at the two large fish they catch. Walking back
to their bikes they thank the old man but notice that his bedding is
in the shelter, so offer him the fish.
This charming story not only tells a good tale of two boys catching
fish it models life skills such as sharing information, being kind
to the elderly and sharing what you catch.
For early emerging readers this short story will enhance their
ability, as it is told in six short chapters enlivened with
illustrations on most pages, along with the introductory postcard
and two pages of information at the end of the story, while a map of
Australia shows the readers which state the story is set in.
Theme: Sharing, Northern Territory, Fishing.
Fran Knight
Baby touch : Opposites by Ladybird
Illus. by Lemon Ribbon Studio. Ladybird, 2020. ISBN: 9780241427408.
10pp.
(Age: 0+) A bright colourful touch-and-feel book, Opposites
is sure to make any baby happy as they explore the vivid pictures
and find the areas that they can touch and feel. Right from
the front cover, which has a touch-and-feel pale blue felt circle,
the young child will have a sensory experience. They will be able to
feel the fur on the dog and giraffe, the cut-outs and corrugated
cardboard on the balloon and car, the soft texture on the elephant,
the rough on the snail and feel and see the iridescent purple
of the fish. At the same time, they will begin to learn new words:
short and tall, up and down, big and small, above and below, slow
and fast.
The colours of this very sturdy board book are gorgeous; the animals
all have smiles on their faces, and I loved the little baby soaring
up in a balloon, while a monkey drives a car.
Babies are going to love exploring the textures and parents will
have fun talking about the things that are opposite to each other.
Pat Pledger
