University of Queensland Press, 2023. ISBN: 9780702266188. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
A beautiful homage to the sounds of the bush is presented by author illustrator, Sally Soweol Han. The image on the cover of a bus stopped on the highway, will make readers stop and think about why the bus is there, and what are the bubbles streaming into the night sky.
Lewis is bored in the city. The noises all around him are clashing clicking noises and the interminable conversation of his parents is just tedious. When that finishes it is time to go and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind him.
In the bus its constant noise makes Lewis sleepy, but when it breaks down they must all alight from the bus. Here in the open, Lewis is aware of different sounds, and wanders off to see how many more he can hear. Sounds now are comforting, recognisable, endearing. He wanders over the fence, following the companionable noses in the night. Noise of the creatures roaming in the night sky, looking for insects, owls fly overhead with their distinctive cry, nighttime animals make small noises in the trees, even the creek makes music and soon they all combine to make a wonderful nightsong.
This is a delightful picture book guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of the readers, as they too listen closely to the noises about them. Differentiating perhaps between man made sounds and those from natural occurrences, young readers will enjoy some time outside to listen and take in the daysong that they hear, contrasting with the nightsong that Lewis hears.
The illustrations are wonderful, using blacks and charcoal and white to give a realistic image of the night noises heard outside the bus.
I love the double page image of the huge tree, with insects all around, Lewis listening to the nightsong.
Children will enjoy the contrast between city and country life, and the image of Lewis walking across the field collecting noises, a marvellous contrast to the first few pages at odds with the city noises.
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment is a warm and magical first book in what is going to be a series that captivates young readers. Reminiscent of a combination of Hogwarts and Narnia, the reader enters the world of the island of Whetherwhy..."You could sail or walk or fly for a year and a day and never find the land of Whetherwhy" explains the grandfather (narrator) in the prologue.
This tale is exciting, dangerous and warm-hearted all at the same time. The authorial choice made by British writer Anna James to create an armchair warmth from which to craft the ensuring tale keeps young readers experiencing the range of emotions: fear, hope, disbelief...from the safety of being a small grandchild at the feet of a lovely old grandfather in a "...burgundy cashmere jumper and corduroy trousers"..."in a velvet armchair whose arms have been worn to a shiny softness." To guide the plot, readers enter the world of grandfather and grandchildren being introduced to the tale in the "Prologue". As the reader (represented by the grandchildren who are being told the tale) becomes desperate, stressed and full of questions about what is going to happen there is an "Interlude." There is a calming interchange between grandfather and the children ..."Let's find out, the grandfather says, settling back into his chair and turning to the next chapter." In the "Epilogue", the grandfather closes the book saying, "That was the first Chronicle of Whetherwhy..." and he suggests that "perhaps" he could read a second chronicle...
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment begins on the first day of spring when the magic of every thirteen-year-old in Whetherwhy is measured. All children have magic but not every child can be an Enchanter. A sense of combined old magic and history is created. Our central characters Rafferty and Juniper are twins. Juniper discovers that she is an Enchanter and has to leave her brother and family to study at Thistledown Academy of Enchantment. Juniper begins to take lessons learning how to control her magical power, Rafferty follows her to the capital city of Stormgrove to take up an apprenticeship as a book binder and dangerous magical forces rise up. There is a sense of approaching doom, of increasing disruption to the fine balance of the seasons. People are not who they seem to be. There is a sinister evil force emerging.
Anna James is the author of two fantasy adventure series for 7+readers. Pages and Co. is an internationally bestselling series of six books. Chronicles of Whetherwhy will be a four book fantasy series. Anna has been a book journalist, literary scout, host of literary events and panels, writer about theatre and most importantly - a school librarian. Readers of Chronicles of Whetherwhy will be in very safe hands. David Whyatt's whimsical and detailed illustrations perfectly complement this delightful tale.
Much more can be said about the literary value of Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment. The language is rich, the pace of the narrative is pitch perfect, the structure supports the narrative, the setting is magical and the characters (both good and evil) are well developed.
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment is highly recommended for lovers of fantasy aged 7+.
Themes Magic, Enchantment, Loyalty, Family, Seasons and nature.
Wendy Jeffrey
Taronga big book of animals
Penguin Random House Australia, 2024. ISBN: 9781761347467. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
Taronga Big Book of Animals is a beautifully presented large non-fiction book that will become a firm favourite in a home, school or public library. With bright, bold and colourful illustrations and over 200 fascinating facts, this treasure trove of fabulous information will engage and entertain readers whether read from beginning to end or as interest dictates.
The contents page is set out under habitat headings of rainforests, rivers and lakes, deserts, grasslands, oceans and coastlines, mountains, forests and scrubland, polar regions. There are over 100 animal facts discussed in each habitat and include details such as binturongs smell like buttered popcorn, scorpions do not lay eggs but give birth to live young, marine turtle nests will produce only female babies if the sand is warm, dunnart babies are smaller than grains of rice, wombats can run as fast as humans. Each double page spread is strikingly designed with full colour backgrounds, large animal illustrations and the highly accessible text is thoughtfully spaced out with clear headings and large font. Also included are maps, Did you know? sections, and most importantly a Taronga’s Actions For The Wild report where applicable. In the final pages is further information about the artists and designer as well as a comprehensive glossary and index.
Sales from this striking book will go towards supporting Taronga Conservation Society Australia. It would make a wonderful Christmas or birthday gift for children of all ages. I cannot recommend Taronga Big Book of Animals highly enough.
Have you seen my egg? by Penny Olsen. Illus. by Rhonda N. Garward
10th Anniversary edition. National Library of Australia, 2023. ISBN: 9781922507501. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
This tenth anniversary edition is a most welcome book to present to young readers. Lifting the flap will intrigue and delight as the children read about an emu looking for his lost egg. Eddy asks many other animals, and we check out their offspring as he searches. He is puzzled. He asks the magpies, and they show him their eggs, small and spotty; the echidna’s egg is very different, while the lizard’s eggs are tiny compared to the emu eggs. Eddy goes on to talk to the frog with its small, black and white eggs, the spider with its eggs in a silk bag, the snail’s eggs are tiny and transparent, and the crocodile's eggs may be large like the emu eggs, but are white. Eddy goes on to talk to the shark, a turtle, penguins, a hen, and as children lift the flaps they see what these eggs reveal as they crack. Eddy goes back to his nest to find if any of his eggs have hatched and one has.
This is a lovely introduction to babies and offspring. Each of the animals is presented in its environment, informing the child not only about the animal and its eggs, but also where it lives. I found it wholly engrossing, and I loved the image on each page of Eddy searching for his lost egg.
The illustrations detail each animals and its eggs, encouraging the reader to be curious and questioning about the animal and its environment. The lizard for example, lives in an area more akin to a desert, with its rocks and wild flowers, whereas the turtle lives on a beach, sandy and soft, allowing it to dig a hole for its huge number of eggs. Readers will love pointing out the differences.
Each page provokes questions and promotes interest, and a need to discuss what they see and why the environment is important to that animal. And of course, this learning is all tailored with the quest of Eddy looking for his egg and children will give their attention to the reasons his eggs are different from those he comes across.
Four pages at the end of the book give more information about the animals shown in the book.
The book is a wonderful addition to books deemed as supporting STEM, giving amazing information about a group of animals, their reproduction and environments, and enthusing readers to carefully seek out eggs in their backyards.
Themes Reproduction, Eggs, Australian animals, Environment.
A visually stunning look at some of the creatures that inhabit the dark reaches of the ocean willencourage younger readers to think outside the square, seeing animals that live all their lives in a world without light as we know it.
When the narrator goes into the deep dark ocean she comes across a pair of eyes, Fergus, and asks what sort of creature he is. He scuttles off when a light appears, and the narrator sees an approaching anglerfish, the light on her head a lure for other fish to come by and be eaten. When she leaves, Fergus reappears but swims quickly away when a spook fish appears. This one has a different light around its eyes, ready for any passing interested food. When Fergus reappears heis startled to see two vampire squid, and he disappears again. All the while the narrator's asking what sort of creature Fergus is and the last page shows us all.
A funny, involving look at some of the life which can be found deep down in the oceans, readers will love the information about these nasty creatures, and laugh out loud at the last page where a surprise is in store.
Through the encounter with the fish, anglerfish, spook fish and vampire squid and Fergus, the reader is given snippets of information about how animals survive at such depths. We also learn about what they feed on and why some have lights and others don’t.
The stunning illustrations set against black, reinforce the feeling of being in the depths of the ocean where some fish can see a little. A double page at the end of the book gives more information about this array of fish and the scientists who go down to look at them. And do check out the talking seagulls in the endpapers.
Themes Non fiction, Picture book, STEM, Oceans, Fish.
The third in the DS Walker series following Outback and Paradise has Walker showing his sister Grace outback Australia. His cousin Blair has been prospecting for opal in Kanpara, and wants to get out of town so Walker and Grace go to bring him home. But Kanpara is in the Channel Country and a major floods locks them into the town. When two bodies are found, Walker finds himself investigating the brutal murders. His cousin is on the list of suspects. Can he prove Blair's innocence while keeping Grace safe? There had been a rumour of a large opal being found. Was this a motive for the murders?
The descriptions of an opal mining town, the Channel Country and the flood bring the Australian outback to life for the reader, who will learn about life in a country town as well as opal mining. Walker is an engaging character and his investigative powers will entrall lovers of mysteries as he unravels the reasons for the murders.
Fans of Wolf's previous books are sure to enjoy Opal, which is a quick, easy read.
A wonderful lift the flap book about Spot baking a cake will enthuse many readers not only to follow the funny story, but to be so excited with the story that they will seek out someone to cook with them.
Mum tells Spot that Friday is Dad’s birthday. They check the calendar, and then take a trip to the supermarket to buy the necessary ingredients. Spot is very excited, so much so that he makes a huge mess, one that must be cleaned up afterwards. Each stage of baking the cake is shown, from the idea to a list, to buying ingredients, to making the cake, popping it into the oven and finally taking it out, making icing and decorating the cake, finally having a birthday party for Dad with the cake as the main focus. The procedure of baking a cake is all there, along with some funny illustrations showing Spot and his Mum cooking together. This family centred book, resonating with warmth and companionship on each page, will involve younger readers as they follow the stages that Spot takes, from the idea to the party. On each page a lift-the-flap reveals a part of the story, and engage children with the story and the activity of baking a cake.
A wonderful addition to the array of lift-the-flap Spot books.
A beautifully presented gold edition of Mem Fox’s and Judy Horacek’s playful story heralds the twentieth anniversary of this book being in children’s hands. For those libraries where the ragged copies on the shelves have been loved to near exhaustion, or parents who recall their thrill at reading this book some years before and just about everyone else between, this new edition will be well received.
Here is the blue sheep And here is the red sheep Here is the bath sheep And here is the bed sheep But where is the green sheep?
Each five lines shows four different sheep and the expanded stanza ends with the refrain ‘But where is the green sheep?' prompting children to read along with the reader. They will predict words that rhyme, interact with the sheep and follow the question of where this pesky green sheep has got to.
In each line can be found descriptive words within our children’s sight: up and down, red and blue, bed and bath, rain and sun. The rhythm of each line is mesmerising, and children will love hunting for the green sheep
Horacek’s lively illustrations are hilarious, showing all sorts of sheep on the spindliest of legs doing an array of things that will evoke lots of loud laughter, a predictable response from any audience engaged with this book. Who has ever seen a sheep juggling, or a sheep in bed, or a trio of sheep holding hands? Well just open this lovely book to laugh along with the creators of this story and try to find the green sheep.
A happy, joyous book to tickle the funny bone of children and adults alike, as they read the wonderfully concise and precise words, teamed with bright engaging illustrations showing a range of dotty looking sheep doing the most of unexpected of activities.
Sophy Stanton-Lacy is a charming and strong willed young woman and when her father Sir Horace leaves her with her aunt before setting out for South America, she finds that things are not all fine in that ohusehold. Her cousins are facing difficulties - her cousin Cecilia is in love with a poet but is supposed to marry a lord who has contracted measles; Hubert is in deep trouble with debts; Charles the older son has turned into a domestic tyrant while managing the family's finances, because his father has been reckless with his fortune. Charles is also engaged to be married to an unpleasant bluestocking, who is not popular with the rest of his family. Sophy being an intrepid manager, is determined to improve the life of her cousins.
Heyer's novels always sparkle with wit and humour, and The Grand Sophy is no exception. Sophie is feisty and confident that she is right, and the devious plans that she puts into place to save her cousins are delightful. Who could resist a monkey let loose on the household, a shooting contest in the drawing room, highly strung horses and reckless riding?
The Regency period is vividly brought to life with excellent characterisation and world building and will appeal to readers who like witty and well written romances. A favourite among many well loved Georgette Heyer Regency romances, The Grand Sophy is one I return to when I need a feel good, escapist book. Fans of the Bridgerton series may also enjoy the humour and romance.
Themes Romance, Regency.
Pat Pledger
Voice of the sea by John Williamson. Illus. by Andrea Innocent & Jonathan Chong
Singer songwriter John Williamson has used his prodigious talents to pen a hymn for the sea. He poses the question, ‘where did it go, your love for me?’ as he surveys the sea around our island. Children will instantly understand that he is talking of the way we have misused the sea, killing animals, overfishing, pouring our rubbish into it, allowing oil spills to smother the bird and animal life.
He wrote this song after a request from The Australian Marine Conservation Society and his song is a wake up call to all those people who hold the sea and its inhabitants dear. He impels us to question what is being done to the seas in our name, and asks again, ‘where did it go, your love for me?’
A video clip can be viewed here. The playing of this clip will encourage readers to listen and sing along with the ballad. They will notice the descriptions of the harm we have piled upon the sea. The song includes a reference to past transgressions, and the destruction of the coral reefs, many animals and birds. And a look at this video shows children singing the song, including a group singing with signing.
Wonderfully complementing the text are the illustrations by Andrea Innocent and Jonathan Chong, and more about this duo can be found here. The two are extremely accomplished artists having experience and expertise in design as well as illustration.
Within each page can be found examples of our misuse of the sea and its inhabitants. The first few pages show the sea: clear and blue with sunlight reaching the ocean floor, but soon this all changes, as the sea becomes murky, the corals die, and animals are snapped up in huge nets. The turtle shows us what we are doing to the sea, as it swims across the oceans, carrying many recreational people, fishermen, an oil rig, ships and ski boats. None of these are designed to protect the thing we love. The images shown on each page will make readers stop and think about what impact we have upon the sea, as they spy many fish being hauled up, plastic littering the sea, animals trapped in bags, the sea dark and murky. Readers will have no illusions about the impact of human kind upon the sea, and through both the text and illustrations, wonder what they can do.
A wonderful read aloud, sing a long and discussion starter, young readers will ask this to be read over again, singing along with the video clip, then asking what they can do.
A wonderful touch is the companion between the first and last endpapers, enough detail for readers to engage their curiosity.
A laugh out loud verse story about the very alternate Kevin, not happy with being one of the herd, happy to try different things which sometimes result in the other sheep being derisive.
He loves to cook, likes to play the drums, is content to read while the other sheep do what all sheep do, munch grass. He has his hooves painted purple and has his wool styled, his favoured drink is icy mint tea. He learns to knit following instructions on Ewe-Tube, and learns to play football and kung fu. He tries to fit in but is remarkably unsuccessful until one dark night, everything changes and he and the herd are able to see each other differently.
A very funny verse text is equally matched by the wonderfully funny illustrations. The idea of a non conformist sheep is given full rein in both images and text and will be highly appreciated by the readers.
Warching the sheep sitting around the campfire or doing a line dance will make everyone laugh out loud.
I am in awe of an illustrator who can make a sheep look so nonchalant. Hilarious.
Penguin Random House Australia, 2024. ISBN: 9781761342028. (Age:Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended.
Ten years ago the small Victorian town of Edenville was rocked by the death of five hikers on Jago Ridge. Nearby lay the body of Bill 'Creeper' Duvant, known for stalking campers. It seemed obvious that he was the killer, so the case was closed. but as the 10th year anniversary nears, Detective Contstable Sally White begins to look at the case. She is drawn into danger as the Duvant family begin to notice her activities. And she finds secrets in the backgrounds of the five murdered hikers.
Hickey brings alive the location of the small town and the beautiful hiking trails in the surrounding mountains, while building up an eerie atmosphere as details of the evil that was committed are brought to light. Sally White is young and clever, and the reader can relate to her personal problems of fitting into a small town and deciding whether to commit to a relationship with Jim Brear, the park ranger who carried Laura, the only survivor of the attack, down the mountain. Laura is coming back for the anniversary with a film crew and Sally must deal with this as the only member of the police in town. As she investigates the cold case, Hickey ramps up the suspense. Who is watching her? Who can she trust?
This is a gripping Australian crime novel and I look forward to reading other books by this author. Readers who enjoy books by Jane Harper and Chris Hammer may like The creeper.
A delightful story is told by the horse as it watches its young charge become more sure of herself, eventually finding a friend. Sal is a very competent rider; she can do all sorts of tricks with her horse and rides it everywhere on the family farm. She would love to be a real cowgirl to match her father who is a cowboy, droving the cattle, keeping them safe on their farm.
At home she and her horse can do a load of circus tricks, tricks which reveal her competence at riding the horse, but when Sal goes to school, she loses her confidence.
Here she has no friends, she no longer feels smart or wild, brave or strong. The horse senses that if the children could see Sal in the paddock with her horse, they would learn that she is all the things she is not at school. One day Sal summons the courage to tell her classmates about her horse and her skills. Several are impressed but one sees her on the weekend. Together the pair ride their horses, setting out on a mission in the forest. The next day Sal skips to school, feeling very brave. She is a real cowgirl.
Children will love watching the horse as it tells the story of Sal, demonstrating through the lovely illustrations how the animal feels for her owner. A rewarding story about feeling brave, but having the courage to tell people how you feel, the illustrations are stunning, the use of watercolour giving a wraparound feeling of intimacy and involvement in the surroundings on the farm. Crispe has an interest in zoology and her horse images are beautifully formed, and the other animals that eagle eyes will spot in the background, are redolent of the Australian countryside.
For more information about Susannah Crispe, go to her website.
Themes Australian bush, Horses, Bravery, Courage, Shyness.
Fran Knight
The knowledge gene by Lynne Kelly
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761470707. (Age:15+) Highly Recommended.
Does humankind have a single supergene that we can ascribe to our ascendency over the apes? Dr Lynne Kelly’s theory is both biological and anthropological but weighted firmly in the latter.
The Knowledge Gene thesis springs from a group of patients born with a mutation of the NF1 gene (believed to be a tumour suppressor) leading to Neurofibromatosis – a condition whose most outward signs are skin and tissue nodules of varying severity. A wide variance in phenotype can also mean varying degrees of dysfunction in language, perception memory, attention, executive functioning and social skills. With recent advances in molecular biology it made sense that a supergene is involved and various genes, alleles and molecular promotors and modifers are now known to contribute.
This textbook is of definite appeal to fans of popular science authors like Phillip Ball (How Life Works) writing about the oversimplification of molecular biology in practice, which is holding us back in our understanding of the relationship between phenotype and genotype in any apparently single-gene condition and hindering the quest for affective treatments.
However, molecular biology is only the beginning as Dr Kelly unpacks the last 500,000 years of human evolution through archeology, art, communication, music, oral knowledge, memory and wayfaring amongst other constructs, along a linear journey of one uniquely successful mammal’s distinctive creativity and acuity using surviving pieces of cultural evidence.
Chapters reflect the authors substantive knowledge of indigenous memory systems gleaned from art and song but also those showcasing generalized literacy and spacial ability before recommending how to use these tools and systems such as music, repetition even tangible learning boards, in order to improve our current learning capacity. The colour plates bring key pieces of evidence to life and really lift the content to a higher level of fascination.
The appendix containing tables of Knowledge Gene skill sets, the author's notes and a comprehensive index, all make this humble paperback a user friendly aid to researchers and practical educators. Whilst eclectic, this cultural history textbook cross referenced with molecular biology, has practical purpose. If only as general awareness and caution against oversimplification in science or the quick dismissal of simple technology, it is a foundational fusion of academic disciplines to encourage lateral thinking, even if librarians will agonise over the best location on the shelf. 416p
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761181092. (Age:12-14) Recommended.
Insyirah is an anxious Muslim girl who lives with her mother Sarah in Sydney. But her proud, wealthy grandmother has a fall, and they are forced to return to Kuala Lumpur to live with her in their ancestral home. Insiyrah is happy to be back with Nenek in her beautiful home and discovers things about her family that she had never encountered in Australia. She learns about the powerful and hidden world of jinn (ancient jungle spirits) and how her grandmother has had one to do her bidding since she was a girl. Insyirah had never felt completely at home in Sydney where her religion set her apart from her friends at school and made her a target of racial abuse. In her Malaysian school she makes friends easily and begins to enjoy her new life but that is when things begin to go wrong. Her school seems to be haunted by an evil jinn and this one has a grudge against Insyirah and her ancestors. She must get to the bottom of the horrible secret that has made this jinn so determined to get rid of her and at the same time figure out how to help her family and friends with her newly found power. A fast-paced, exciting debut novel from this author that is an absorbing read for older Primary and lower secondary students and is a refreshing education into Muslim religion and Malay culture. It focusses on jinn, part of Malaysian folklore that I have never heard of before and gave me a great introduction to explore this supernatural world.
