Harry Potter: A history of magic by the British Library
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN 9781526607072.
(Age: 10 - Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Magic. Fantasy. Harry
Potter. Another book for fans of Harry Potter, this handsome volume,
now in paperback, is sure to appeal to anyone who has read the books
or seen the Harry Potter films. Curated by the British Museum for
their 'Harry Potter: A history of magic' Exhibition, this book has
immediate appeal with its vivid cover and beautiful illustrations by
Jim Kay and copies of manuscripts from the British Museum. These are
dispersed throughout the book and make for a fascinating initial
perusal of the book, for those who like to flick through to get a
feeling of what is inside.
It has an introduction by Julian Harrison, the lead curator of the
exhibition and learned articles from people like Julia Eccleshare,
Lucy Mangan and Tim Peake, but what made it stand out for me were
copies of the original manuscripts that J.K. Rowling had written,
and pictures of some of her drawings of characters and scenes. It
was fascinating to see her annotations, her erasing of certain words
and the appearance of her characters in her clever illustrations.
The British Museum exhibition must have been a wonderful experience
for people who managed to see it, and this book makes it accessible
to all. It is a book that begs to be read from cover to cover, but
it rewards the person who dips into information that interests them.
I was really taken by the information about mandrakes and the
drawings of them were fascinating. Any reader will gain much
knowledge about the history of magic and will wonder at the
knowledge that J.K. Rowling brought to her books.
A table of contents gives easy access to different aspects of the
history of magic, including potions and alchemy, herbology,
astronomy and charms as well as care of magical creatures.
This would make a beautiful gift for any Harry Potter fan, and would
grace any school or public library collection.
Pat Pledger
Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian
The Ash Princess series, book 2. Macmillan Children's Press,
2019. ISBN: 9781760559106.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Theodosia's escape from the Kaiser
has succeeded and for the first time since she was six years old she
is free from his clutches. But at what cost? With the help of her
aunt, the notorious pirate Dragonsbane, she makes for Sta'Crivero
where King Etristo has invited all of the eligible royal bachelors
to try for her hand in marriage. But with Soren imprisoned and
Blaise's berserker symptoms worsening, marriage is far from Theo's
mind. In Sta'Crivero Theo's priorities turn to her people in the
nearby refugee camp, however, the camp is nothing like Theo
expected, the Sta'Crivero people believing that the refugees bring
misfortune. King Etristo is one of Theo's strongest allies and she
must do her best to pretend to be the dim little girl they all
expect her to be - but how can she curb her enthusiasm now that
she's free of her shadows? Can she find a way to avoid marriage yet
save her people?
Similar in ways to Daenerys' story from George RR. Martin's A
song of ice and fire, the second book in The Ash Princess
series gives hope for Theo and her friends as they press forward in
their quest to retake their Astrean home. Dealing with friendship
and the ever complicated love triangle, Sebastian highlights the
importance of trust, honesty, and, most of all, friendship. Filled
with rich, complex characters, Lady Smoke is sure to keep
you captivated.
Highly recommended for young people twelve and up, particularly
those who enjoy fantasy.
Kayla Gaskell
The big chicken mystery by Meredith Costain
Ill. by Danielle McDonald. Olivia's Secret Scribbles.
Scholastic, 2019. ISBN 9781743817636.
(Age: 5-7) Recommended. Themes: Chickens. Theft. Diaries. Meredith
Costain's fifth Olivia's Secret Scribbles story focuses on
the rehoming of the Year 2 chickens. The Year 1 students are ready
to begin their chicken rearing and Olivia's class have the
opportunity to take Pearlie, Roxy and their friends home. First
Olivia writes a persuasive list of reasons to help Mum and Dad
agree. The whole class wants chickens to come to their homes, so the
teacher announces a competition for the best designed coop. Olivia's
diary is filled with her detailed plans, the Deluxe house includes a
swimming pool, tiled roof with a garden on top.
When Mr Platt their teachers announces the winner, Olivia is so
excited, Pearlie, Roxie and Sweetie are coming home. On Trouble
Tuesday, the hen house is empty and the girls begin a frantic search
to find the escapees. Olivia's diary records the trials of having
the chickens and the lack of eggs laid. After a visit to The Secret
Garden community centre for Nanna Kate's birthday, Olivia, her
sister Matilda and their mother work out a special plan for their
chickens.
Meredith Costain's easy-to-read book is just right for readers from
ages 5-7. Olivia's Secret Scribbles series is an excellent
introduction to chapter books for young girls. There is a brightness
and bubbliness to Olivia's point of view, that is presented with
yellow coloured bold text and design.
Danielle McDonald's cartoon illustrations capture Olivia's emotions
adding to the fun of the story; love the chickens roosting in Mr
Pappas' ginormous undies. The big chicken mystery looks at caring for chickens and
being responsible. Costain uses many different writing and design
styles to engage her young audience.
Rhyllis Bignell
The big race by David Barrow
Hodder, 2019. ISBN 9781444929294.
(Age: 4+). Recommended. Themes: Competition. Friendship. On race day
Lion takes down the name of all those strong, big and fast animals
who wish to enter the race. At the starting line are the fastest,
biggest and strongest animals, Lion, Cheetah, Crocodile and Buffalo,
each determined to win. But alongside these animals is the little
Aardvark, scoffed at by the others. He is just as determined, and as
the field sets off, he is just behind the pack, running hard to stay
with them.
He swims, traverses the waterfall, rides his bike, all keeping in
touch with the rest of the field, and when they ascend in their hot
air balloons, he is there beside them in his personal lifting
apparatus. But when this goes pop and he lands near the finishing
line the others are in a struggle to get over the line, ending up in
a big scramble of heads and feet, bodies and tongues, but who came
first?
Children will love to read of this take on the tortoise and hare
story, as the Aardvark takes on the mighty animals, pitting his
strengths against theirs. The funny illustrations will be a treat
for all readers, adults included, as they see allusions to the range
of sports played out each day on our TV set, people vying with each
other, pitting their abilities against the others, all for a medal at
the end.
Fran Knight
Princess Scallywag and the no-good pirates by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Claire Powell. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN 9780008212995.
Princess Scallywag and the Queen are out on the royal yacht enjoying
the fresh air when they are invaded by three stinky, sweaty, no-good
pirates waving their swords and determined to take them prisoner.
But three stinky, sweaty, no-good pirates are no match for the
quick-thinking Queen and the persnickety princess, although it is
touch-and-go for a while as they desperately try to save themselves
from being made galley slaves, scrubbing the decks and walking the
plank!
A sequel to Princess
Scallywag
and the brave, brave knight, this is a bold adventure story
for those who like their princesses feisty, clever, and subversive.
Barbara Braxton
Australian Backyard Earth Scientist by Peter Macinnis
NLA Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780642279347.
(Age: 8-15) Highly recommended. Themes: Geology, Earthquakes and
Volcanoes, Water, Weather, Climate Change. This is a spectacular
book, written in an genuinely accessible style. In a very simple
manner, the book explains scientific information about the earth's
history and the forces and influences that have created and shaped
our world. I was incredibly impressed at the way Macinnis has
distilled significant scientific detail into language clear enough
for a young reader to understand, without avoiding difficult
concepts. The detail about complex issues such as tectonic shift,
earth science, climate change, volcanic action and weather
influences in the world is exceptionally clear and is interspersed
with brilliant photographic detail and practical projects or
experiments to help an interested child to recognise principles for
themselves. There is no 'barrow' pushed or covering over of
difficult issues, rather there is simple honesty of the difficulty
of explaining the complexity of the scientific influences and
understanding of the geology of the earth and what has changed over
time. This balanced perspective, both scientifically rigorous and
honest in expressing the difficulties of being certain about what
has had the most impact over the course of time is refreshing, and
very suitable for a young reader.
This is a scientific book that also includes lots of
Australian-focused information and examples and is presented with
clarity and in a magazine-style format. All illustrations, tables
and sidebars are clearly captioned and informative and even the
quirky carton illustrations by Tony Flowers scattered through the
book add to the visual appeal of this book. Careers of those who are
involved in various aspects of the field being discussed in each
chapter are explained (with an accompanying cartoon) - a useful
addition to encourage STEM careers. This is certainly a book worth
purchasing for a school library or gifting to a young reader who is
fascinated by science.
Carolyn Hull
Editor's note: The author has a site
'with a large collection of big format pictures of rock/earth
related things. . . All have a Creative Commons copyright allows
non-commercial use in any form, with attribution and share-alike.'
(Peter Macinnis)
Sleep tight, Platypup by Renee Treml
Penguin Random House Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9780143789697.
(Ages: 2-5) Recommended. Themes: Platypus, Night time, Fear. This is
a sweet bedtime book about conquering fear of the dark. A young
platypus, named Platypup, wakes up in his burrow: 'Shadows moved
across the burrow walls. Something rustled outside'. He's all alone
and he is frightened. 'Mummy! Mummy!' he calls. Mummy doesn't tell
him he is being silly. She gives him a big hug and helps him to
understand the night. She takes him outside and asks him what he can
see and hear. He sees the wattle tree, the rocks and the big old
gumtree; just like during the day. He hears leaves whispering and
grasses shifting in the wind; just like during the day. That's not
scary at all, Platypup decides. After a moonlight swim Mummy tucks
Platypup back in the burrow; 'now you must sleep and dream and
grow', she says.
We manage to learn a little about platypus habitats and habits, but
mainly this is a beautiful story about how everything is just as
familiar at night time as it is during the day if we can relax and
think clearly. The illustrations are simple but warm and emotional,
effectively depicting movement, sound and the calm of night. This
will be very useful with children who do have a fear of the dark,
but is a beautiful bedtime story for any young child.
Nicole Nelson
A curse so dark and lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A Curse So Dark and Lonely book 1. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN:
9781408884614.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Good versus evil, Monster,
Folklore, Cerebral palsy, Fairy tales retold. Kemmerer returns with
a retelling of Beauty and the beast for a modern audience.
Harper Lacy is sucked into the world of Emberfall after trying to
rescue a girl on the streets of Washington. There she meets Prince
Rhen, who is desperately trying to break the curse that an evil
enchantress has placed on him; every autumn he turns into a monster
killing everyone in sight, including his own family. The curse will
only be broken if a girl falls in love with him.
There is action a plenty as our intrepid heroine shows Prince Rhen
and his commander, Grey, what it means to be brave and daring, even
when she is in danger and in an unknown land. Readers will love her
feisty nature, her quick verbal come backs and her intelligence, as
well as her ability to overcome adversity. They will also empathise
with Rhen as he struggles to overcome his arrogance and begins to
care for the people under his care. Grey too is a young man that
readers will love for his loyalty. (Kemmerer has a deft hand with
male characterisation, as she ably demonstrated in her best-selling
series, Elementals). Minor characters are also fleshed out
well in the second half of the book, and readers will look forward
to the return of Harper's brother Jake and her guard Zo.
The setting of Emberfall feels real, with an enchanted castle,
people struggling with poverty and a Queen from a foreign land who
has begun an invasion. The story is narrated in two voices, that of
Rhen and Harper, and Kemmerer's easy to read style makes this an
engrossing read. The cliff-hanger at the end ensures that readers
will pick up the next in the series.
This is a story that will appeal to readers who have enjoyed Marissa
Meyer's stories. Those who like the fairy tale Beauty and the
beast could go on to read Beauty by Robin McKinley,
and Jane Yolen and Shannon Hale have written excellent books
retelling fairy stories. Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters
series is another to recommend to readers waiting for the sequel to
A curse so dark and lonely.
Pat Pledger
Larklight by Philip Reeve
Ill. by David Wyatt. Bloomsbury, 2006. ISBN: 9781526606617.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Larklight is a rip-roaring
adventure science fiction book with a wonderful whimsical story and
terrific characters, now a major motion picture. It is set in
familiar Victorian times with the added dimension of the British
Empire ruling some of the planets. Larklight is a large dilapidated house that flies around in
space in an orbit near the Moon. Art Mumby and his sister Myrtle
live there with their scholarly father. One day Mr Webster,
supposedly from the Royal Xenological Institute, visits and they
discover to their consternation that he is an enormous white spider
like creature, one of the First Ones, who captures their father and
takes over Larklight. Art and Myrtle manage to escape in a lifeboat
and are rescued by the pirate Jack Havock, who takes them aboard his
ship The Sophronia. Many hair-raising adventures follow in
their efforts to foil the First Ones and save the British Empire.
Wyatt's wonderful, funny and detailed drawings are a joy to look at
and add to the enjoyment of the incredible creatures and objects
that pervade the story. The book is one that booklovers will want to
keep for its beautiful illustrations, (including a final one of the
author and illustrator recording a new species of ogleweed), long
involved chapter headings and humourous footnotes.
Apart from the breath taking adventures, readers will love the zany
humour and references to Victorian customs and the weird beings that
live in this world. Hoverhogs whiz around and clean up, winged
ships, powered by a device called an Alchemical Wedding, flap their
way through the aether and the Crystal Palace attacks London.
Readers can look forward to further adventures and lots of fun.
Pat Pledger
Pirate Pug: The dog who rocked the boat by Laura James
Ill. by Eglantine Ceulemans. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408895948.
(Age: 5-7) Recommended. Themes: Dogs, Adventure, Pirates, Sailing. Pirate
Pug is the fourth fun adventure for this roly-poly pet and his
owner Lady Miranda. Although Pug can't swim, they are off on a
seaside, staying in the deluxe suite of the Smuggler's Rest Hotel,
Pebbly Bay. Running Footmen Will and Liam are responsible for
transporting the holidaymakers down to the beach in a sedan chair
which comes in very handy along the way. An unfortunate accident
with a beach ball sees Pug with an eye injury and he has to wear a
pirate patch.
The town of Pebbly Bay is preparing for the annual parade,
celebrating four hundred years of freedom from pirate rule. Lady
Miranda and Pug meet the mayor who's wearing a special memorial
chain that is snatched by Rio the parrot. A chase ensues, pitting
Miranda and her new friends against three mean boys who've been
throwing stones at Rio the parrot.
Ingeniously with Liam and Will's help the sedan chair becomes a
galleon and the children are off sailing to Finders Keeper's Island.
Laura James builds the tension and drama with Pug captured by the
enemy gang, a sunken ship and finally everyone needs to work
together to save the day. Pirate Pug is written in large easy to read font, with
colourful and engaging illustrations adding fun to this story. Laura
James explores the themes of friendship, teamwork and how to face up
to your fears. As a perfect transition from picture book to
beginning chapter books, share the junior novel with Junior Primary
classes opening up discussion about the characters' feelings and
actions, interesting settings and narrative writing.
Rhyllis Bignell
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Ill. by Lauren Child. HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008289362.
First published in 1934, Mary Poppins was the greatest success of
Australian born Pamela Lyndon Travers. It gained a new lease of life
when Disney produced a musical movie adaptation in 1964 starring
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and introducing the world to songs
like A Spoonful of Sugar, Chim Chiminee and of
course, Supercalifragilisiticexpialidocious. Now, with the
release of Mary
Poppins Returns, the stories of this magical nanny are being
discovered by a new generation and so the publication of a
reimagined, abridged edition of the original, beautifully
illustrated by Lauren Child, is the perfect way to build a bridge
between the movie and its original premise.
When seemingly staid and upright Miss Poppins arrives to be the new
nanny for the Banks children - Jane, Michael, and the twins, John
and Barbara - it seems that nothing much will change from previous
nannies. Good behaviour is encouraged, misbehaviour punished and
order and routine are important. But within her stern exterior are
some magical powers such as being able to slide up banisters, float
in the air, step into pictures, stick stars on the sky, and talk to
animals. Mary takes the Banks children on a series of magical
adventures, such as using a magical compass to travel around the
world, and suddenly the children find themselves forming a
relationship with her that they don't have with their busy,
neglectful, upmarket parents.
Lauren Child has created an edition of this classic tale that is
perfect for this time and generation and which should have pride of
place in any collection featuring classics which are being
introduced to a new generation. It is excellent as an independent
read-aloud but would also be great as a bedtime read-along,
introducing younger readers to the concept of novels with chapters
that continue the story with the same characters.
Barbara Braxton
The lucky horseshoe by Chloe Ryder
Ill. by Jennifer Miles. Princess Ponies book 9. Bloomsbury,
2019. ISBN: 9781547601646.
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Ponies, Magic. Chloe Ryder's ninth Princess
Ponies story The Lucky Horseshoe takes Pippa and her
magical ponies on another entertaining adventure. It's St Patrick's
Day and poor Pippa's experiencing loads of bad luck, her cereal's
run out, she trips on the front steps and she's placed in a
different team for gym class. As she lays in bed thinking about her
day, she hears a noise outside her window and there are her friends,
Captain Rascal a black and white horse with a purple eye patch and
three other ponies. They need Pippa's help to stop Divine a
trouble-making pony from taking over Chevalia with an evil spell.
Just at the end of the street is a bedecked pirate ship tied up to
the bank. They set sail on The Jolly Horseshoe to search the
coves of the enchanted island of Chevalia to find Captain
Scallywag's hidden treasure. Their trip is filled with danger, high
seas, fierce winds and the mast caught by ropes. After Pippa climbs
high to free the sails, their magical seahorse friends tow them to
safety. Encounters with cowsharks, watching a special theatre
performance and meeting royalty, all lead Pippa up to uncovering
something special. Life on Chevalia is exciting and magical, this
young girl loves helping her friends and solving mysteries. Lucky
for Pippa, time in the magical kingdom is different to her earthly
time!
Chloe Ryder's junior chapter book is just right for young horse fans
who like a little magic and adventure. Jennifer Miles' line drawings
bring the enchanted horses of Chevalia to life.
Rhyllis Bignell
Flat Cat by Hiawyn Oram
Ill. by Gwen Millward. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406371543.
(Ages: 3-8) Recommended. Themes: Freedom, Independence, Materialism.
Bright crayon illustrations bring the world around the flat cat to
life (because Jimi-My-Jim really is just a flat, line drawing).
Sophie lives at the top of a big apartment building in a beautiful
city with a beautiful cat. She really spoils Jimi-My-Jim with the
best food, toys, fancy collars and cheeky clothes. 'Most of the most
spoilt children in the world didn't have as many tantalising toys as
Jimi-My-Jim'. Jimi tries to be grateful and do what Sophie wants but
deep down he feels trapped. 'When Sophie went off with her parents
each morning Jimi sat at the window watching her go, watching the
world he longed to be a part of, watching a cat he so wanted to
meet'. He really does live a 2-dimensional life and starts to feel
and look flatter and flatter. When the chance to escape presents
itself, Jimi doesn't hesitate, making straight for the cat he so
wants to meet. The cat, named Blanche, shows him around town and
Jimi has the best day, ending in a party back at the apartment. When
Sophie and her parents arrive home to the mess all his new friends
disappear, leaving Jimi to face the telling-off alone.
'I think I know why you did it', says Sophie later, 'You wanted the
world, you wanted the wild and all I've done is smother you with
THINGS'. He is soon presented with his own set of keys and some
rules: keep out of fights, be in bed by ten and no dodgy friends in
the apartment.
The illustrations and text are humorous (children will love the
Jimi's ridiculous outfits and the dodgy cat party) but there is also
a nice message about how living life and doing gives us happiness
rather than things. It is also about how part of loving someone is
letting them be who they are, not just keeping them to ourselves.
Nicole Nelson
Calm mindfulness for kids: Activities to help you learn to live in the moment by Wynne Kinder
Dorling Kindersley, 2019. ISBN 9780241342299.
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Mindfulness. Kindness.
Emotional wellbeing. Wynne Kinder brings her comprehensive
experience in mindfulness education and creating digital content for
the brain breaks program GoNoodle
to this Dorling Kindersley information book. Calm mindfulness
for kids is beautifully presented with photographs of children
engaged in calming and distressing activities. Presented in six
chapters, educators and children can delve in to the sections -
Focus, Calm, Move, Change, Care, and Reflect. They are guided
through each chapter, through the distressing, learning calm breath,
sensory experiences, caring for themselves and collaborating with
others.
Mindfulness is a key tool which underpins classroom harmony,
promotes positive energy and helps support children developing
positive emotional health. There are colourful circles placed
throughout to help grownups support and explain the activities. In
'Bubbles of kindness' there is an easy-to-follow exercise with the
ingredients listed, bubble mix and twisted pipe-cleaners. Adults can
help the child focus on sending kind bubble thoughts to their
friends and those they find difficult to relate with.
'Reflecting is a way to turn an experience into wisdom.' By making a
gratitude paper chain, siblings, families, classes and teams can
write something they are grateful for on individual strips of
coloured paper, then build a chain to decorate their home or
classroom. A mindful body begins with eyes closed focussing on
breathing and quietly stilling the body. Each activity boosts
self-confidence and builds esteem. They are malleable enough to suit
the individual child's flexibility and levels of understanding. Calm mindfulness for kids is an excellent resource for
teachers supporting students developing their personal and social
capabilities. Kinder illustrates that promoting children's positive
wellbeing can be achieved in short sessions, without expensive tools
and is inclusive for all. For families, this is a wonderful tool to
promote a well-grounded sense of self-knowledge and self-confidence,
great for parents and children
Rhyllis Bignell
Hangman by Jack Heath
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN: 9781760297473. (Age: 16 - Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Cannibalism. Humour.
Crime. FBI.
Blake tucks into the arm he has kept in his freezer, thinking about
the man who once belonged to it, a killer recently lethally injected
at a Houston jail. Blake has a deal with an FBI director, Peter
Luzhin; he takes a body when he uses his incredibly well developed
skills of deduction to solve an unsolvable case. And if your funny
bone is not tickled by this, the gallows humour gets steamier, as we
eventually hear how Blake became addicted to human flesh. I laughed
out loud at the audacity of well known young adult writer, Jack
Heath, giving his older readers a cannibal as his hero. A man whose
parents were killed when he was a baby, who is ill educated and has
lived in care homes and foster homes, is the most unlikely of heroes
yet Heath invests him with a sense of right and wrong, a revulsion
at his addiction, a humanity, that makes us beguilingly sympathetic.
Luzhim comes to him when a boy is kidnapped and Blake gets more
involved than he wants, finding himself shackled to a wall, and
needing to be imaginative about how he can get away, along with the
boy lying next to him. But his powers of deduction have him
denouncing the wrong person and by the time he has worked out just
who the culprit really is, he is captured again and shackled with
the other five missing people. His offsider, a young police officer,
Reece Thistle, is attracted to this unkempt, sullen man (Scary
Timmy, who she recognises from one of the various care homes they
both inhabited as children) and when he begins to reciprocate her
feelings, he must put her off, citing religious reasons banning sex
before marriage.
But she still admires him, not believing the official line that he
is both the kidnapper and murderer and follows him to the place he
is held captive.
But all is not straightforward. The story twists and turns, adding
more information about our unloved hero, hinting at a romantic
liaison, holding us in thrall as we read to the breathless end. And
there is more, leading to a sequel.
And if the story isn't enough to hold your attention, Heath includes
riddles at the start of each chapter to get your brain cells active,
paralleling Blake who solves puzzles (and some less legal riddles)
for a living. Heath has published the answers on his website.
Fran Knight
