Millie Muffin written and illustrated by Alisha Henderson
Storybook Sweet series. Bauer Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781925695984.
(Age: 4-8) Highly recommended. Themes: Self-esteem, Confidence,
Belonging, Well-being, Acceptance, Recipes. Millie Muffin is
the very first tale in the Storybook Sweet series written by
young Melbourne baker, Alisha Henderson. Millie feels that she is a
plain old boring muffin and does not have much to offer the rest of
the sweet treats on Buttercream Bend. She aspires to be like the
Cupcake Girls who are all glitzy and glamorous with their icing
decorations. While on her daily stroll she meets other treats who
are also feeling lost and lacking in confidence about how they look.
Millie kindly points out what makes them special and realises that
she is not the only one unhappy with her looks. She finally realises
that what is on the inside counts for so much more than looks.
The reader is drawn to the simple, yet colourful illustrations. The
clever rhyming text further enhances the story and keeps the reader
focused. The writer has also included five recipes at the end of
story which children can bake with an adult. This picture book will
be an asset to any classroom or home where children are struggling
with low self-esteem and lacking in confidence.
Kathryn Beilby
Bold tales for brave-hearted boys by Susannah McFarlane
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760524715.
(Ages: 6-9) Susannah McFarlane's book of 'tilted' fairy tales gives
an interesting slant to four traditional tales; Jack and the
beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, The Emperor's new clothes
and Sleeping Beauty. It is beautifully illustrated by
Brenton McKenna, Simon Howe, Matt Huynh and Louie Joyce. I love the
thoughts expressed in the preface poem, which tells boys that they
can be 'clever, honest and bold of heart' and 'strong is more than
muscle and might: it's following your heart to do what's right'. The
four stories are not greatly different from the original and it
could be an interesting class exercise to compare the originals with
these, to look at how the characters vary from the originals and how
that impacts on the adaptations. Titles that imply the book is for
one gender only are not my cup of tea and this one has not really
endeared itself to me. Written as a companion to the author's Fairytales
for feisty girls, the book subtly tells girls they can do and
be anything they want, but it does not seem to give the same message
or permissions to male readers. Whilst Hansel is able to come up
with the idea of how to escape, he has to rely totally on Gretel
having the courage to rescue them. Prince Leo is simply following
the family business and doing what he has spent his life training
for, whilst Aurora breaks the stereotype of what princesses can do
and be. This book has shown me that I prefer my fairy tales to have
characters that are larger than life rather than ones that are as
ordinary and mundane as the rest of us.
Jan Barwick
Through the animal kingdom by Derek Harvey
Illus. by Charlotte Pepper. DK, Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN:
9780241355442.
Recommended for library collections for younger Primary students.
Themes: Animals, Environment. In this book the globe and all
continents are traversed, revealing the animals that reside in
various environmental regions in the world from the Arctic Tundra to
Antarctica. With small paragraphs to describe behaviour or
adaptations that enable survival, this is a book that provides an
overview only, with little benefit for inquiry learning or research
for younger students.
The illustrations by Charlotte Pepper combine collage and
photographic representations to realistically represent the
environment and array of animals that can be seen in the different
habitats.
Carolyn Hull
Blood in the water by Jack Flynn
Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781447298281.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. 'Homeland Security agent, Kit Steel, is
committed to avenge terrorism. And she's after the blood of her
nemesis, one of world's most ruthless and dangerous criminals,
Vincente Carpio. He has the blood of her husband and young son on
his hands, and Kit is unwavering in her determination to see him
kept behind bars forever. . . Harbour Union chief, Cormack
McConnell, has lived his life close to the wire above and below the
law, and he controls everything that happens on Boston's waterfront.
Someone wants him out of the way, fast.' (Publisher)
The easy to follow storyline and highly readable text make this
action packed story very enjoyable. It brings up terrorism and
criminal behaviour.
This is recommended for older YA from 15 onwards and is most
suitable for those who like thrillers as there are many twists and
turns.
Vincent Hermann
The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760876685.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. An engrossing retelling of the
ancient ballad of Mulan will have fans of historical stories and
martial arts with a dash of romance, grabbing this story as soon as
it comes their way. It is China, 484 A.D. Mulan has trained to win a
duel against her family's enemy, but when the Rouran invaders come
into the north each family has to send one soldier to fight. Mulan's
brother is too young and her father paralyzed, so disguised as a
man, she sets out to join the army. Then she meets up with a young
princeling with secrets, and together they cross the Great Wall of
China, trying to find a traitor who is betraying their army.
Thomas is an author who previously has written award winning adult
historical and romance novels, including two featuring a skilled
Chinese heroine with a martial arts background, so she is eminently
suited to writing this novel. Her descriptions of life in the
Chinese court, the buildings and the upper class provide an in-depth
background to the feud between the two families. The life of a
soldier too, with all its trials, is vividly described and the
readers will find themselves holding their breath as Mulan and Kai
try to find where the enemy is camping and identify who is the
traitor. Lots of twists and turns, deception, friendship and loyalty
make this a great read.
It was interesting to find that the story is based on the real Ballad
of Mulan, translated here.
Thomas has also provided an interesting Author's note and Notes on
language and historical miscellany. Teacher's
tips are available from the publisher's website.
Anyone who enjoys a grand adventure with lots of action, great
characters and splendid setting will love this story. Fans of
Kristin Cashore, Robin Lafevers and Rachel Hartman will be happy to
find another author who writes about a young woman who loves her
family but is strong enough to break the stereotypes of her society.
Pat Pledger
Funny Bones ed. by Oliver Phommavanh, Kate Temple and Jol Temple
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760524333.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Funny Bones is one of the best
compilations of stories I have read in a really long time!
It has 'over 100 stories for kids from Australia's bestselling
authors, illustrators and funny people', and does not disappoint. It
is a huge book, which could be quite overwhelming to some readers
but upon opening and flicking through it is quickly evident that
this book is filled with an array of stories of all different
lengths. Some are just text (but only a few pages long), some have
small funny pictures and some are humorous cartoons!
The book has been edited by Kate and Joel Temple and Oliver
Phommavanh, and is so clever in the order of stories, poems, and
cartoons through out the book. My 9 year old son and I read this
book, and we loved the different text types and didn't feel the need
or want to flick past stories to find something else.
The authors who contributed to this book are some of Australia's
finest, including Andy Griffiths, Zoe Foster-Blake, Terry Denton,
Sally Rippin, Josh Pyke and Madeline West. Readers are going to be
very familiar with lots of the names, drawing them into the text
with familiarity and then they will certainly have trouble putting
it down after they begin reading all the hilarious tales.
The stories are all very funny, lots were even laugh out loud
material! There is toilet humour, funny poetry, hilarious cartoons
and scary stories. We particularly liked 'Punbelievable or: a series
of punfortunate events' by Fiona Katauskas (who doesn't love a
pun!), 'Disgusting Things' by Josh Pyke (a poem fit for the
stinkiest of children!), and 'Dr William's big, bad Dad joke word
search' by Sean Williams (which is really a word search with answers
completing all the terrible Dad jokes).
I could go on and on about our favourites but truely we really did
enjoy all of the stories. This book would suit an 8-9 year old
reader as it has a range of text types that require a higher level
of comprehension knowledge, but children as young as 5 would find
many of the stories funny when read out loud by a parent or older
sibling. We give this book 5 out 5 and think it would make an
awesome holiday book, or present for any fart-loving friend!!!
Lauren Fountain
The beach wombat by Susannah Chambers
Illus. by Mark Jackson. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760631857.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Wombats, Australian animals,
Beach, National Parks, Wilson's Promontory. This charming tale of a
young wombat exploring his environment has instant appeal. Its
simple rhyming structure will draw in the readers as they predict
the rhyming words and learn the lines with its wonderful use of
alliteration adding to the fun.
Sea, sand, sun and smoke figure prominently during the morning as
the wombat baby and mother wander along the beach, eventually
becoming rain, twilight, starlight and moonlight as evening draws
near. Adventure at the beginning and end of each day sees them
trying to get the sand out of their fur, running to get the smoke
from their eyes, sheltering from the rain with other animals and
finally finding a place to rest.
At the national park, we see the interaction between human and
animals, as each goes about their activities separately, not
intruding on the other, each making use of the environment, although
the fire gives a nod to the negative impact of humans. The
illustrations are wonderful, showcasing this lovely Australian
marsupial in its natural setting. It coexists with others:
kangaroos, pygmy possums, crabs, gulls, spiders, frogs and birds,
and its day is set against the Australian bush with its scrubby
trees, large buttress trees, ferns and coastal rock formations.
Readers will enjoy looking at the range of Australian landscapes
presented, and thrill when the endpapers reveal a map of the
wombats' journey, which they can follow with ease.
Wonderful to read aloud, allowing the listeners to predict the
rhyming word, readers will ask for it to be read again and again,
poring over the informative illustrations, learning more about their
natural environment as they read and look. I love the small touches
of humans: a fence post, a plastic shovel, a bucket on the sand, one
whole page depicting a family on the beach, but in the main, the
beach belongs to the animals.
Fran Knight
Weapon by Lynette Noni
Whisper, book 2. Pantera Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781925700503.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Wow! Some unexpected twists and turns
made this a compulsive page turner which I had to finish in one
sitting. Following the 2019 Gold Inky Award Winner, Whisper,
Noni has upped the tension and suspense in the sequel, Weapon,
as Lyss tries to fit in with the Remnants, and save her friends who
have been left behind in Lengard. Stopping the evil scientist who
has been torturing those who have been brought to Lengard is a
priority and she has only 24 hours to stop him. She is also
desperate to learn to control her powers as a Speaker, but is
confronted by secrets and lies from those around and even more
disturbing, strange memories of her early life begin to emerge. What
and who can she believe? Who is Riley the strangely familiar young
man? What has happened to her family?
The setting of tunnels under Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo, Luna Park
and a laboratory under Centre Point Tower will enthrall readers who
live or have visited Sydney, and others will definitely want to go
to see the sights of this magnificent city. A chase through the
amusement section of Luna Park brought shivers as Lyss tries to
rescue a young man on the run from the scientists at Lengard.
Characterisation is strong in this duology. Lyss is a very strong
young woman who is able to determine right from wrong and who is
fiercely loyal to her friends. The problems of communal living and
leadership are also explored and friendship is a major theme.
There is much to like and remember in the two books in this series,
and I look forward to reading future books by this author who is
'currently collaborating on a project with #1 New York Times
bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas'. (Publisher)
Pat Pledger
The scholar by Dervla McTiernan
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9781460754221.
(Age: Secondary-adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Crime, Ireland,
University, Corruption. When Cormac Reilly and his girlfriend, Dr
Emma Sweeney move to Galway they are hoping to put the past behind
them and build their relationship, at the same time establishing
their careers. But Reilly has a past and the new police department
keep him tethered to cold cases until Emma comes across a body on
her way into her lab one night at Galway University campus. She
rings him and as he has made his concerns about his relegation to
cold cases an issue, is given this case. But her involvement becomes
more deeply entrenched causing him anguish and putting him in the
spotlight of the police tribunal.
The identification of the body is simply the first of their
problems, and mistakes are made from the start. Cormac finds a web
of intrigue beginning with the relationship between the dead girl,
Della Lambert, an exceptional student who dropped out after the
first semester, and Carline Darcy, the granddaughter of the
laboratory's benefactor, John Darcy. A missing laptop may hold the
clues to what exactly is going on, but first Cormac must combat the
mine field of pressure from above, pressure from the tribunal, and
legal representatives from the pharmaceutical company which feels it
owns Carline and Della's work.
Meanwhile, a disgruntled member of his team, is spreading rumours
abut Emma causing people to look more closely at her involvement,
and before Cormac can sort this out, her credentials are questioned
and her involvement scrutinised. Cormac is taken off the case
because of the conflict of interest and investigated, not before
putting Emma offside with his questioning. Her past puts her in the
frame, and it takes another of Cormac's team, Fisher, to unravel
what is going on, despite the risk he is taking on Cormac's behalf.
An exciting crime story, the involvement of big pharma companies and
the lengths they will go to protect their discoveries is paramount
to the crimes committed, leading the investigators down paths that
question the integrity of the laboratory work at undertaken at the
university.
Large amounts of money are involved and where there is money, lies
power and influence, so Cormac and his team must tread with utmost
care. The location of this fine series makes for a fascinating
backdrop as the isolation has a part to play, as well as the
problematic relationship between north and south.
The first novel featuring Cormac, The ruin was very well
received and offers an introduction to his character, along with a
gripping story of neglect, so is a good read to have under your belt
before the third appears in 2020.
Fran Knight
Lie with me by Philippe Besson
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241987094.
(Age:16+) Highly recommended. Philippe Besson is a French author and
this novel (originally in French) is translated by Molly Ringwald.
This book is a compelling read and impossible to put down. Told in
three sections the narrator speaks of his first love. Philippe and
Thomas are 17 and at school in a very small village in France. Their
love is secret and passionate. The vulnerability of Philippe and
Thomas is poignant as they both live the lie of appearing
heterosexual while their love for each other occupies their hearts
and minds.
Social class is also explored. Philippe is the son of the headmaster
of the school and Thomas the son of migrant labourers. Thomas is
aware from the beginning that Philippe will leave the village, and
him, to make his way in the world.
As an adult Philippe meets a young man who resembles his first love.
The young man is the son of Thomas. From this point in the novel we
hear how this first love has shaped the lives of Thomas and
Philippe. While they did not stay together - they were always in
each other's lives. The reader discovers the outcomes of secrecy and
self-deception, combined with the oppressive prejudice and
discrimination they faced, as both poignant and thought provoking.
Although this novel is short it is a powerful story beautifully
told.
Linda Guthrie
More by Matt Preston
Pan Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781760781828.
(Age: Adult) This may just be the book for anyone who is trying to
add more vegetable into the daily diet. Subtitled More Recipes
with More Veg for More Joy, Matt Preston presents a huge
variety of recipes (over 100) that feature vegetables with a variety
of flavours and colours. The Contents page includes the headings:
Salads, barbeque, Pasta, noodles and rice, Bakes, Tray bakes,
Braised and Fried and Meat appendix for the meat lovers who can't
bear to not have meat but want to add more veggies to their meals.
There is a handy Index and an extended index. Each recipe is
illustrated with a full page colour photo of the dish, making the
book not only very attractive to the eye, but helpful for the final
presentation of the dish. The list of ingredients is easy to follow
as are the instructions.
There are plenty of recipes here to make the taste buds water. If
you like rich and creamy, 'The Decadent brie, leek and almond honey
pie' recipe would make an excellent entree served with sourdough
bread and red grapes, not to mention the 'Decadent vego souffles
with creamed leek, cheddar and jalapeno'.
I couldn't resist trying out the delicious 'Zucchini slice version
5.0' which adds asparagus and dill in a variation of the old popular
recipe. 'The creamiest coddle egg' looked amazing, and the 'Dadaist
sausage rolls for Barry Humphries' contain no sausage meat but a
delicious combination of zucchini, nuts and panko breadcrumbs
amongst other ingredients and would make for a great conversation
starter at lunch. Recipes for 'Singapore noodles' and 'Vegan
Bolognese' will also give an alternative for family favourites. More would make a very useful addition to a family's
collection of recipes and is sure to extend the use of vegetables in
daily meals.
Pat Pledger
Ghost bird by Lisa Fuller
University of Queensland Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780702260230.
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Themes: Mystery, Aboriginal beliefs,
Speculative fiction. When Stacey's twin, Laney, goes missing the
entire mob goes into action to find her. But Stacey has been hiding
Laney's romance, her lies and her after-dark exploits with the
bad-boy Troy from her protective mother. The uncertainty surrounding
the missing twin escalates and the mystery of the taboo mountain
near where Laney disappeared, combined with the racist family that
lives nearby, adds layers of intrigue and threat. The dramatic
disappearance releases all manner of uncertainties in the Aboriginal
community, highlighting racism against their mob, but also
inter-family distrust that had its genesis many generations before.
Stacey struggles as her mother's protection goes into over-drive.
Then, as her dream-life takes on a scarily ominous tone, it causes
her to abandon her good-girl persona and take risks in her
friendships and in her attempts to find her twin. The dark and
un-named superstitions that surround the taboo mountain descend and
take on physical form and create a frightening and bewildering
scenario for the young teen.
Part coming-of-age story, part 'Romeo and Juliet' romance, part
speculative fiction, part Aboriginal spiritual revelation, part
mystery - this is a story that is mature on many levels. In the
voice of Aboriginal teens and their community (with some
rough-and-ready grammar, language and expressions) from the town of
Eidsvold in rural Queensland, this is a story that reveals a
non-white view of the world, and an Aboriginal religious perspective
that is seldom known in the wider non-indigenous community. Because
of this, a powerful insight is given into the love and experience of
a family who are open to non-scientific explanations for what
happens in the world. The community experience and the history of
racism and its impacts are also revealed from the perspective of an
Aboriginal voice.
This book has won acclaim as the winner of the David Unaipon Award
and it works powerfully on many levels. The tension towards the end
of the narrative is palpable and reveals the deft touch by the
author and makes this teenage story a powerful piece of speculative
fiction. Teacher's
notes are available. (Note: Language warning; Sexual assaults
mentioned)
Carolyn Hull
Mum's jumper by Jayde Perkin
Book Island, 2019. ISBN: 9781911496137.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Grief, Loss, Death. Loss and death
are never too far from many children's lives and so a book helping
children accept the death of a loved one will have a place in a
classroom or home, where quiet time reading a book together can help
children understand, in a small way, what has occurred.
In this the young girl visits Mum in hospital, and later when her
Mother dies, the routine of the death process is shown. People come
and go, expressing sorrow, crying, saying a range of things which
sound like platitudes, they offer support, flowers are given, but
the girl finds it hard. She cannot concentrate at school, she feels
like a large black cloud is hanging overhead, and despite all her
friends around her she feels angry and alone.
When she and Dad go through Mum's things she finds a jumper, a
favourite and puts it on. She wears it for a long time, and when Dad
washes it, he tells her that grief is like that jumper, she will
grow into it, the jumper will get smaller.
And it does, the girl eventually packing the jumper into the drawer.
She knows it is there, but no longer needs to wear it everyday.
In wonderfully evocative illustrations, the story of acceptance
unfolds. The book was written with the support of the Let's Talk about Loss,
and the Cruse Bereavement
Care Centre in Bristol and more information can be found at
these sites.
Fran Knight
No one likes a fart by Zoe Foster Blake
Illus. by Adam Nickel. Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143794493.
Hardback Book and Plush Toy Box Set. Have you ever wondered if a
fart could teach you about friendship? Well, if that's you then look
no further than No one likes a fart by Zoe Foster-Blake! In
all seriousness, I did wonder how a story with a fart for the main
character could help me discuss friendship and differences with my
child. BUT . . . I was wrong to wonder. This story actually did
those things! It tells of Fart who doesn't really belong anywhere
because he smells and is different to everyone else, and no one
wants to be his friend. He can't find the friend he desperately
wants until he comes across Burp; all stinky, just like him! He
finally (after lots of trying) finds a bestest friend who likes him
just the way he is.
The illustrations by Adam Nickel have a retro feel about them, with
colours such as brown, baby poo green, orange and black outlines.
I will admit that this book will probably only appeal to children
who appreciate the word fart and its stinky aftermath. Those who
find the whole scenario off-putting are best to steer clear of this
one.
Fortunately for me, my youngest (who is well taught by her sibling)
loves toilet humour so found this story amusing. She also thought
the soft plush 'Fart' (as part of the gift pack) was a hilarious
addition, but 'if it made a noise that would be better'.
All in all I liked how this book could be used purely as a picture
book, but also as the gateway to a discussion about accepting others
and also the concept that the world is not always a nice place. A
great start for Zoe Foster-Blake as she dives in to the picture book
world after a successful run in the adult fiction zone.
Lauren Fountain
The Wildlife Winter Games by Richard Turner
Illus. by Ben Clifford. Starfish Bay Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781760360757.
(Age: 5-12 years). Recommended. Themes: Sports, Animals, Arctic,
Antarctic, Winter sporting events. The Wildlife Winter Games
is a very different and interactive look at popular winter sporting
events. These events, clearly explained on each page, include such
sports as ice hockey, bobsled, luge and curling. Rather than humans
competing, the author Richard Turner has used a variety of Arctic
and Antarctic creatures to compete for each of the gold, silver or
bronze medals on offer. Some of these creatures, the caribou, musk
ox, colossal squid and the snowshoe hare will be unfamiliar to the
reader who has to decide which one will win the event and receive
which medal. To help the reader make a choice there are interesting
and often little known facts about each creature presented on the
page.
The illustrations by Ben Clifford are quite stunning. There is so
much detail to take in that the reader is drawn back to the page
time and time again in case something is missed. For those children
who are sports mad this would be a perfect shared or partner read as
many of these unique winter sports do not feature widely in
Australian life nor do the amazing creatures competing in the
wildlife games.
Kathryn Beilby
