Walker Books Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651107. 32pp.
(Age: 2-5) Lisa Kerr is a Melbourne-based author and illustrator,
best known for the Cheeky
Monkey series of books. Featuring the same warm and
richly-detailed illustrations, Big Hug, Little Mouse
features a new character named Millie the mouse who loves her life
and loves giving her friends big hugs. One day, however, Millie
doesn't wake up her normal cheerful self. Her tummy feels funny, she
feels sad and she thinks she has lost her hug. Will she be able to
find it again? Pretty soon all of her friends are giving her hugs:
big bear hugs, hello hugs, sleepy hugs, well done hugs and one-arm
hugs. And perhaps that was all Millie needed to find her cheerful
self again! 'Thank you hugs for everyone', she says.
This is a lovely story about how even the happiest of people feel
down sometimes and about how those around can help with extra love
and attention. It is also a nice reminder to children of the
importance of verbalising feelings so that others can help and a
reinforcement that sad moods don't last forever. Themes: Hugs,
Sadness.
Nicole Nelson
The StrangeWorlds Travel Agency by L.D. Lapinski
Orion Children's Books 2020. ISBN: 9781510105942.
(Ages: 8+). Highly recommended. Magnifying glasses, outlandish
suitcases and a dusty mysterious store begin this fantasy tale of
multi-universes and exciting travel. Twelve year old Flick Hudson is
moving to a different home in the country. It is in a new housing
estate close to the village of Little Wyverns. She is not happy.
Both her parents work shifts and she has to be responsible at times
for her baby brother Freddy as well as many of the household tasks.
Flick has a great desire to explore and travel the world and this
wish comes to fruition sooner than expected. While exploring the
local village Flick stumbles upon an old stone Victorian Arcade and
The StrangeWorlds Travel Agency. On entering the store she sees
suitcases of different shapes, hues and designs stacked against the
walls and meets eighteen year old Jonathan Mercator who is the
proprietor of the travel agency and head custodian of the suitcases.
While they do not warm to each other at first, Jonathan realizes
that Flick has special magical powers when she observes what are
known as schisms through broken glass. Flick is invited to join the
StrangeWorlds Society and Jonathan takes her on her first journey
into another world through a suitcase. They visit the Crystal Forest
where they see very different landscapes and creatures. This visit
for Flick is a relatively safe taste of things to come.
Central to the plot is Jonathan's missing father who has not
returned from another world visit for a number of months. With
Flick's help he must try to track him down although all is not what
it seems as Flick later learns. Visiting the City of Five Lights
puts both Jonathan, Flick and the whole other world in danger and
they must use all of their wits to out play the desperate Thieves.
Descriptive language and original imagery, a fast paced and action
packed plot maintains the reader's interest and engagement. For fans
of a fantasy series this will not be a stand-alone read. There are
questions still to be answered and a clever hint at situations still
to be resolved. A really appealing and refreshing new read. Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Family, Magic, Travel, Fantasy
Worlds, Friendship, Mystery.
Kathryn Beilby
The sky is mine by Amy Beashel
Rock the Boat, 2020. ISBN: 9781786075550.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. This is a powerful, raw and
confronting story of a young girl struggling to find her way,
assaulted and blackmailed by the school bully, ensnared by the
manipulations of her step-father, and witness to the humiliation and
abuse of her mother. This book cries out to be read - Beashel
captures the voice of Izzy so well, her pent up feelings, her
loneliness, and the fear, walking on eggshells around stepfather
Daniel, the Clooney look-alike, who won over her mother and then
gradually bent them both to his will. Izzy can still remember her
father, from early in her childhood, the man who was so pleased to
see her, calling her his 'sunshine'. The jar of broken yellow beads
is all she has to remember him by. Everything else has been
gradually stripped away. And even that precious jar becomes a weapon
that Daniel will use against her.
Beashel paints a very realistic picture of domestic violence and
child sexual abuse - how becoming a victim to one person leads to a
path of victimhood that is extremely difficult to escape. Whilst
Daniel is the perpetrator, Izzy is also alienated from her mother
because of the sense of betrayal, and her mother's failure to
protect. She carries a shame she is unable to reveal and share with
others, even her closest friend.
There is a positive ending, and it is thanks to the women who run
refuge homes for battered women and their children. With time and
space, Izzy is able to find her inner strength and look up to the
sky.
These are serious themes, but the writing is beautiful, and easily
pulls you into Izzy's world. I am sure that anyone who has
experienced any of these things will find strength from reading how
Izzy finds her way out. Others will gain a better understanding and
empathy for the survivors . . . and especially realise the
importance of being a good friend. At the end there is a list of UK
and US support services. It would have been good to include
Australian services as well. There is also a list of interesting
questions for discussion.
Themes: Domestic violence, Sexual abuse, Cyberbullying.
Helen Eddy
The Besties make a splash by Felice Arena and Tom Jellett
The Besties series. Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760890964.
80pp.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Felice Arena and Tom Jellett have
teamed up with a series called The Besties. In each book the
two main characters are introduced through illustrations and speech
bubbles on the first double page. These are fun, page turning
stories for beginning readers that are based on everyday familiar
situations. At about 80 pages each and an easily held size, the
appealing illustrations beg the reader to enter the story and read
on.
In The Besties make a splash, Ruby and Oliver are at the
beach. Through the story, the reader gets to know about things to do
at the beach, and the protocols put in place by the family and
lifesavers. They will learn about beach etiquette, swimming safely
and about body surfing. Ruby and Oliver meet other friends and they
all get an ice cream from the van, but are attacked by a mob of
seagulls. All is fine however, getting back into the water with
people watching from the shore, while they wash off the bird poo
sees the foursome repair their friendship.
Easy to read, divided into chapters of about 5 pages, copious
illustrations and a clear font make these ideal for the child who
has mastered early chapter books. Engaging stories with known
characters add to the appeal, and the books are finished off with
puzzles and cartoons and information. Activities
for the series can be found on the author's website. Themes: Beach,
Swimming, Safety.
Fran Knight
Old MacDonald had a farm illus. by Matt Shanks
Scholastic Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781742993706.
(Age: 2-5) This Australian take on the classic song features all the
suspects you would expect: kangaroo, koala, wombat, cockatoo,
platypus and emu. Simple illustrations inject some humour as the
native animals cause chaos throughout the farm, much to the chagrin
of the farm animals. The roo jumps through the chooks and sends them
into a tizz, the platypus have taken over the duck pond, wombats dig
holes all over the farm and the emu chases Old McDonald and pecks
him on the bum. By the end of the story the poor old fella is tired
out and falls fast asleep.
This is a simple, yet effective re-imagining that benefits from not
having been played around with too much. The illustrations are
sparse, yet humorous, bright and cheerful. Themes: Songs,
Australian Animals.
Nicole Nelson
The Book of Chance by Sue Whiting
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651367.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Chance's implacable family life is in
the balance after she finds that all is not what it seems. She has
always seen the world in black and white, she and her mother
anchored with an unvarying bond of companionship, love and respect
Next door is her best friend and now that the two girls are in year
seven, all seems steady and rock solid. Chance's mother, a single
parent works hard to support the refugee families in the town,
Wollongong, and has little time left for their home.
Wanting to thank her mother, Chance unwittingly invites chaos into
her world, by contacting a TV show that does house makeovers. She
exposes her background to the presenter, and her mother's story of
her father being killed in a fire in Perth with Chance being born
soon after, comes under scrutiny, as the presenter was there. Mum
has kept a book for Chance, The Book of Chance, in which all of her
life is recorded. But now Chance comes to question what is written,
it is no longer black and white, but what is the truth?
This is an intriguing look at truth and lies, as Whiting reveals the
rock that Chance's life sits on begin to crumble. She has always
thought that what her mother told her was the truth, unvarying, and
she admired her mother's steadfast nature but a photo of her mother
undermines all that she has been told.
Skilfully paralleling Chance's predicament with the school crackdown
on the misuse of Facebook resulting in one child's leaving the
school, Whiting plots this story with aplomb. We know from the start
that something has happened as Chance is being interviewed at a
police station, and from there the story if told as a countdown,
increasing the tension and need to know for the reader.
Whiting touches on the role of the media, the use of social media,
the half truths told in families. This is a powerful book written by
Whiting after a crime was exposed in 2017, making her think about
the child involved at its centre. Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Family, Crime, Friendships,
Truth.
Fran Knight
Slow Down: bring calm to a busy world with 50 nature stories by Rachel Williams and Freya Hartas
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781916180512. 128pp. (Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Calling all nature loving children! This is the book for you! It is a beautiful mixture of short stories about the wonderful things that happen in the great outdoors. Each 2 page spread explores an animal and something interesting they do. It could be snakes shedding their skin, a rainbow occurring, bees pollinating, weaver ants building a nest or a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. They are beautifully illustrated by Freya Hartas and this really makes the book. The colours are vibrant, yet sometimes soft and mellow-and all at the perfect level. Every page you turn brings not only new information but the most amazing illustrations of the animal in the spotlight. You can see their distinguishing features, their faces and often images of their habitat. My children are 5 and 9 and are both enthralled in this book. The text is written so that Miss 5 can understand, but with a few tricky words thrown in so in conjunction with the illustrations provided master 10 was able to extract the higher meaning. We also used some of the animal illustrations as inspiration for an drawing session! This book is the most beautiful glimpse into the awesome things that happen in nature and within the animal kingdom. Children from ages 4 years and up will really enjoy the information and the illustrations. 5 out of 5 - a book that should be in every library. Lauren Fountain
The map from here to there by Emery Lord
Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526606648.
(Age: 14+) Paige is in her last year of high school, the year to
make decisions about what she wants to do and where she wants to
study. She has a wonderful group of friends and a gorgeous new
boyfriend, Max, who is incredibly understanding and supportive of
whatever she decides. The problem is Paige is recovering from the
death of her former boyfriend in an accident and also the recent
loss of her beloved grandmother. And memories of the lead up to the
divorce of her parents still haunt her, despite the fact that they
seem to be getting along really well following the separation.
Although she has had counselling Paige still experiences anxiety
about any decision she has to make and always fears all the worse
possible case scenarios. Then there is another accident which sets
her back even more, and all the relationships she cares about start
to crumble.
Whilst Lord's novel builds a world of teenager friendships that most
young people might easily relate to, for the non-American reader
some of the language and situations could be quite unfamiliar and a
bit off-putting: words such as freshman, sophomore, senior;
the complicated process of applying and writing to universities;
baseball and cheerleading; homecoming balls etc. But if you can get
past that, the characters are warm and relatable, the twists of the
relationships are interesting, and the story of overcoming panic
attacks and insecurities may become another useful addition to the
genre of young adult fiction that deal with mental health issues,
with ultimately a positive message.
Themes: Anxiety, Panic attacks.
Helen Eddy
I'm ready for the new baby by Jedda Robaard
Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760891626. board book.
(Age: 2-5) This new title in the I'm Ready series (those
already published include I'm
Ready for Preschool and I'm
Ready for Christmas) is a fun, bright board book dealing
with a common occurrence for children within the target age group.
Beautiful illustrations by Jedda Robaard are accompanied by simple
text written from the perspective of a young Tasmanian devil about
to become a big sister. 'I'm getting ready to meet someone new,
someone very special. My new baby brother! Am I ready to be a big
sister?' She tells the reader about all the things she is looking
forward to (playing with him, teaching him) as well as how the
family is preparing (talking to Mum's baby bump and decorating the
baby's room. When the day finally arrives, Grandma and Grandpa take
her to the hospital to meet her new baby brother. 'He's tiny and
soft. I give him a cuddle and a kiss on the head . . . I guess I am
ready to be a big sister after all!'
This is a warm, comforting way to introduce the idea that a new baby
is on the way. It shows the whole family being a part of the
preparations and arrival and encourages little ones to think about
all the exciting elements of having a younger sibling, also allaying
any of those fears around being forgotten or replaced. Themes; New
Sibling, Families.
Nicole Nelson
The year the maps changed by Danielle Banks
Lothian, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419712. 310pp.
(Age: 10 - 12) Highly recommended. This wonderful story is told
through the voice of 11 year old Winifred (Fred, Winnie). Fred lives
in Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula with her police-officer,
step-father Luca, grandfather Pop and Luca's new partner Anika and
her son Sam. Fred rails against the new family situation and is
fractious and difficult with Anika and Sam, particularly when Sam
ends up in the same class as her. Fred's mother died some years
before and she dwells on memories of her mother and feels loyal to
her. Then Anika has a difficult pregnancy, is hospitalized and Fred
becomes more empathetic.
It is late 1999 and when the war in Kosovo causes refugees to flee
for safety the Federal Government is compelled to take some in and
they get housed in a disused quarantine facility near Sorrento. This
creates both support for them but also conflict amongst the locals.
Fred's and Sam's class teacher, Mr Khouri, is smart and passionate
about world events and not only shares this interest with his
students but also supports the refugees. When the Government decides
it is safe to return the refugees home the refugees and their
supporters try to prevent them being sent back. Also a tragedy
creates deeper understanding and love amongst all Fred's family.
This novel had many different serious threads, yet doesn't feel
didactic because of the convincing storyline and the authentic
character of Fred. Maps, the artificialness of borders and the
things which people have in common is a predominant theme. Themes of
needing love and acceptance and dealing with grief also stand out.
The ways past Australian governments have responded to waves of
refugees can be contrasted with current government policy. The
reader can also ponder whether sticking to the letter of the law is
always morally right. You can't help but feel attached to Fred and
care for all that happens to those around her. These are really
three dimensional characters who react and think in believable ways.
The sense of place is really strong and the author's respect for the
Aboriginal people who lived in the region for aeons is admirable.
Jo Marshall
The mummy animal book by Jennifer Cossins
Hachette Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419897. 32pp.
(Age: 2-6) Recommended. This new title by artist and animal fact
lover Jennifer Cossins (The Baby Animal Book and The
A-Z of Endangered Animals) is the perfect follow on from
her previous publication The Baby Animal Book. This one will
suit a slightly older audience as it contains more information about
both mother and baby. A partner title, The Daddy Animal Book,
is also due for release shortly. Cossins's distinctive and colourful
illustrations are both realistic and pleasing to the eye. Thirteen
animals, both Australian and otherwise, are highlighted. The
information takes the same form on each page, with colour and
bolding of text used to highlight the key words. 'A mummy swan is
called a pen. A baby swan is called a cygnet.' There is a one
sentence fact included for each animal, all relating to something
significant about mother or baby or their relationship, e.g., 'If a
cygnet gets tired of swimming, its mum will carry it around on her
back'.
This small format publication is perfect for little lovers of The
Baby Animal Book and of animals in general. Themes: Animals,
Mothers and Babies.
Nicole Nelson
From Space to Core: A journey to the centre of the Earth by Guy Holt
Wild Dog Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781742033792.
(Age: 6-12) With an incredibly wide scope, From Space to
Core covers information relating to human-made elements of the
earth, atmospheric conditions, geology, flora, fauna and marine
life. It is organised using a distance scale, starting on page one
in the upper regions of Earth's atmosphere before travelling down
beneath the Earth's surface to the centre of the planet. At 408km
above sea level is the International Space Station, accompanied by a
photograph and a snapshot of information (launch date, crew, speed,
etc.). Then follows various space missions and information about the
different layers of the Earth's atmosphere and what is comprised of.
As we move closer to Earth we see the highest balloon flight,
freefall jumps and aircraft, high-flying birds and mountains. And so
continues through highest city, low-level clouds, deepest scuba
diver, deep-sea marine creatures, shipwrecks and submarines.
Extra information is also given about the layers of the ocean and
the Earth.
One of the most interesting aspects of this layout is how it shows
the intersection between natural features and animals and human
endeavour. Temperatures relevant to elevation are also a good
addition along the side of each page, as are the names of the areas
(troposphere, sunlight zone, midnight zone, trenches). This is a
very visual and meaningful representation of the vastness of space
and the Earth and what has and is happening at each level. It
cleverly captures and holds attention with short bites of
interesting information, a selective approach about what to include,
an uncluttered layout and dynamic photographs. Complex information
is made easily accessible for younger readers, making it appealing
to both science and non-science lovers as well as competent and
reluctant readers. Themes: Non-Fiction, Earth Sciences.
Nicole Nelson
Machines in motion : The amazing history of transportation by Tom Jackson
Illus. by Chris Mould. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN :
9781547603374. 64pp.
(Age : 8-12) This large format non-fiction book covers a vast range
of forms of transport ranging from ancient times to the present. It
groups the forms of transport into 13 main types and each of these
has a double page timeline along the bottom of the page with a
humorous illustrated maze of these dates and the inventor/invention
above it. This is followed by at least one double page of more
detailed information on each of the more outstanding developments.
For example the first topic is trains. The timeline page spans from
1500's German wagonways to 2004 Shanghai Maglev. The following
double page goes into greater detail about 9 major types of train
over time.
This book is suited to a child who is quite an enthusiastic browser
of facts about forms of transport and is willing to spend time
enjoying the detail and humour of Chris Mould's terrific black ink
illustrations. There is so much to enjoy that I wonder why they
didn't think to add a 'Where's Wally' element to the book. Chris
Mould is a prolific illustrator of many series of fantasy fiction
and non-fiction. In the past decade we have seen more esoteric books
for children which are well illustrated and are an antidote to the
plethora of information on the internet.
This non-glossy book is a good addition to this collection. Since it
does not have an index it seems the publishers aren't creating a
traditional reference book.
Jo Marshall
I'm ready for Easter by Jedda Robaard
Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760891596. board book
(Age: 2-5) This new title in the I'm Ready series (those
already published include I'm
Ready for Preschool and I'm
Ready for Christmas) is a fun, bright board book
celebrating all things Australian Easter. Jedda Robaard's
characteristic Australian animal illustrations are accompanied by
simple text that sets the scene beautifully. 'The days are getting
cooler. Coloured leaves are falling from the trees. I'm getting
ready for a special holiday'. Dad's in the kitchen making pancakes
and new pyjamas and warm slippers are pulled out for those cooler
nights. The shops are filled with hot cross buns and colourful
Easter treats. Young ones are busy making Easter bonnets and weaving
baskets. 'On Easter Sunday, all my cousins and friends arrive. When
no one was looking, the Easter bunny hid gifts in the garden.' After
the egg hunt it's time to sit down together, eat and celebrate.
This is a beautiful depiction of the fun and joy of an Easter that
looks and sounds distinctively Australian. Themes: Easter Traditions
and Celebrations.
Nicole Nelson
More than a kick by Tayla Harris and Jennifer Castles
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525804.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. As Tayla says, you might not
initially recognise her name, but if prompted with "Women's footy .
. . kick . . . photo . . . trolls" there is probably some
recollection of the furore around the dramatic image posted online,
an amazing shot of footballer Tayla Harris, leg flying high as she
kicked a goal. It was not the image itself, although it was an
incredible shot, but what came afterwards that drew media attention,
for the image became a magnet for vile trolls who wanted to demean
her with threats of sexual assault. The AFLW response was to take
down all comments including the original image. But that was
disturbing because it meant that the trolls had gotten away with
what they'd done. Tayla reposted the image in an act of defiance,
and drew the support of many supporters and wellwishers. The
experience led her to make a stand against online harassment,
becoming a role model for girls not only in sport but in any
endeavour they wish to pursue.
Tayla Harris's book More than a kick is aimed at helping
young people navigate social media, but starts off by introducing
Tayla herself, her life, her daily routines, her diet, the things
that make her who she is. And then it goes through the experience of
the trolling of her image, and what she learnt about how to handle
that. She lists the things she does to stay safe, things she does to
feel okay, and advice for someone who is being cyberbullied or
trolled. There is a link to the site of the Doing Nothing Does
Harm campaign which aims to motivate people to do
something when they see or hear disrespect towards women. The book
as a whole is very accessible and attractive, easy to read, with
large font and lots of pictures. It can easily be recommended for 12
year olds and upwards, but is an interesting read for adults as
well.
I highly recommend this book as an inspiration for young girls and a
valuable resource for all school libraries.
Themes: Girls in sport, Girls' education, Self-assertion,
Cyberbullying.
Helen Eddy
