Walker Books, 2018, ISBN 978140637153
(Ages: 2-5) Recommended. Themes: Identity, Lions, Child Protection.
Polly Dunbar's fun picture book immediately starts to question the
readers' perception about the large male lion as he fiercely stares
at you. 'Fierce, isn't he? Too fierce for you?' Stop reading and ask
the audience to predict what will happen next, where will he go and
what will he do? The following pages are humorous. With questioning
text, the author paints funny scenarios as the lion dresses up in a
trilby hat, matching blue jacket and dances down the street twirling
a red umbrella. His antics are watched by a young brother and sister
safe behind the window pane.
Ding dong and the door is opened to welcome the large polite lion
who even asks about Auntie Sue's health. There's 'hoobie-doobie'
dancing and twirling to music from a wind-up gramophone, and a
delicious lunch where the plate is also eaten! A little frisson of
danger occurs as he opens his mouth wide, showing all his
pearly-white teeth, will the children become dessert? With a giant
roar, the youngsters quickly hide under the table cloth and make
their decision. Boldly they declare hand in hand, strong assertions
that it is time for the huge lion to leave with his hat and his
umbrella.
Dunbar's easy to read story includes changes of text size,
interesting word placements, and emphatic statements, and she uses a
questioning style in the narrative. Her ink-and-wash artwork is
spirited, and included are large two-page spreads where the action
is focussed on the large lion set against white space, then moves to
bright scenes filled with movement. The high-contrast red
backgrounds underpin capture the change in mood. A Lion is a Lion carries the keep safe message, highlighting
the rights of the child to say no to intimidating behaviour. A
perfect picture book to share as a family and in a learning
environment as part of the Child Protective Behaviours curriculum
and as an introduction in English to punctuation and questioning in
dialogue.
Rhyllis Bignell
Small spaces by Sarah Epstein
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781921977381
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Thriller, Confinement,
Kidnapping, Drug use. When the Fisher family returns to their rural
community along the mid north coast of New South Wales, Tash's fears
reappear. The Fishers have come back to the place where their
daughter Mallory was kidnapped but found alive a week later, her
abduction unseen by anyone except Tash, or so she believes. Nine
years later, Tash is still not trusted but she cannot push her
memory of the events of that day out of her mind. She told the
police that she had seen a man take the girl from the toilet block,
but no one believed her, dismissing her words as attention seeking
behaviour after the birth of her brother.
This tale of Tash's inability to dodge her mother's disapproval, her
psychiatrist's ongoing reasoning and her own doubts suffuse this
thriller. From the start, the reader is unsure just who is telling
the truth and suspect each of the protagonists in turn of not being
honest.
A strained relationship with her parents makes her life even harder
so when her estranged aunt asks her to look after her dog for the
weekend Tash goes, wanting to be away from her family and wanting to
prove she can cope by herself. But it means going back to the place
where Mallory was kidnapped.
Mallory's brother, Morgan has teamed with Tash for an art project
and has promised that he will call and they can work on their
project. But things happen at the house, a source of constant
dispute between Tash's aunt and her father, and her fears resurface
after her aunt's dog is targeted.
Meanwhile a bully at school keeps undermining Tash while her
relationship with her best friend, Sadie, is tottering because of
her her inability to put things out of her mind.
But when the bully is mugged and Tash returns to her aunt's house
for Easter, events come to a head, ensuring everyone will keep
reading to find out the truth.
This is a stunner of a read, drawing the reader into having to
decipher truth and lies. Readers will eagerly read, marveling at the
strength of Tash in keeping herself together, despite all the
suspicions and doubts that hang about her, urging her to unlock the
mystery that has kept her constrained for nine years.
For those who are not happy about confined spaces then this book
needs to be read with caution, as it is true to its title and the
passages where several of the characters are confined in small
spaces are seriously creepy.
Fran Knight
Jehan and the quest of the lost dog by Rosanne Hawke
UQP, 2017. ISBN 9780702259609
Recommended. When the monsoon hits Pakistan earlier than usual, its
devastation is particularly ferocious, causing villages to be swept
away, crops and towns annihilated. Rosanne Hawke lived in Pakistan
for ten years as an aid worker, often returning to the place she
loves, and writing stories brimful of understanding and empathy. In
Jehan and the Quest of the Lost Dog, a companion story to Kelsey
and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll (2014), Jehan is a young
boy who survives the flooding of his village, finding a tree to
shelter in, pulling his string bed up behind him as a platform to
lie on. When he can beat the monkeys to the mangoes in the tree, he
can eat, but life is lonely especially remembering his family and
where they might be. Into his world comes a small dog, and they
salvage stuff from the water rushing by, the dog disappearing to
tend to her pups. From his tree Jehan can see what is left, and
amongst the rubbish that passes by is a man offering to take him
with him to the city, telling him that no one has survived the
flood. But when the dog returns he has a green ribbon tied to his
collar, giving him hope. Another man takes him to a refugee camp,
where Jehan finds the dog's owner, and together they search for
their families.
Throughout the story we hear of Jehan's village, his life with his
family, his mother's stories, his school life, what he wears and
what he eats. Hawke delivers a background uncompromisingly
authentic, as she tells of the effect the 2010 flood had on the
whole state, the worst in living memory cutting a swathe thirty
miles wide, destroying all in its path.
Jehan clings onto his life in the tree, determined to find his
family, because that is what is most important and all readers will
understand this as they read of this boy.
Throughout the story Hawke uses Urdu for some of the often used
words, bed, dog and family names for example, and a glossary at the
back of the book explains what they mean. Included too is a brief
outline of the devastation of the 2010 flood to the country, a place
already impoverished by years of terrorism.
Fran Knight
Gaolbird: the true story of William Swallow, convict and pirate by Simon Barnard
Text Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925498172
Highly recommended. Australian history, Convicts, Van Diemen's Land,
Mutiny, Transportation. William Swallow's escapes are breathtaking
as he lurches from one prison to another always managing to elude
his captors, but in the end dying an unheralded death at the prison
at Port Arthur after serving time at the notorious Sarah Island.
Simon Barnard has chronicled his life and times in this book, Gaolbird,
in which Swallow's life and that of his fellow convicts is drawn
with humour and panache, reminiscent of Hogarth.
Swallow, born William Walker in 1792 came back from the Napoleonic
Wars with no option but to thieve to keep his family alive. Sent to
Van Diemen's Land he escaped and returned to England, but then was
sent out again, only to escape in Hobart. Sent to Sarah Island he
managed to take over the ship, the Cypress and incredibly he
and his fellow convicts made it to Japan and then China, fooling
many about who they really were.
Popjoy, another of the convicts aboard the Cypress, escaped and
eventually returned to England where he was able to undermine what
Swallow had said about their adventures. A spectacular trial at the
Old Bailley saw several of the group hanged and incredibly again,
Swallow was set free. This mercurial man was eventually sent back to
Hobart and there died in the 1830's.
This absorbing read, an amalgam of comic, graphic novel and history
book will keep readers highly entertained. The funny illustrations,
the snippets of information, the rollicking story line are all
designed to entrance the reader, as they absorb the history of the
convict era in Australia. Barnard's eclectic illustrations reveal
the lives of the convicts and their escapades with rollicking humour
and many readers will delve into the illustrations with glee,
winkling out the smallest of detail.
The convict records in
Australia and England are there for all to peruse and I am sure
readers will take the opportunity offered to look further, and
incredibly a picture
of Swallow was very recently found in Japan.
Fran Knight
Grandma is precious by Laine Mitchell
Ill. by Alison Edgson. Scholastic Australia, 2018. ISBN
9781743812006
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. This book is simply written and talks
about the ways that grandmas are different and special in their own
unique way.
The illustrations in this book are bright and colorful and draw you
into the story.
It is a lovely book for any child to share with their special
grandma.
I highly recommend it for 4+.
Karen Colliver
Hide and seek with Mum by Ed Allen
Ill. by Laura Wood. Scholastic Australia, 2018. ISBN 9781743819746
(Age: 3+) Recommended. This is a fun book about a baby penguin
playing hide and seek with its mum.
This book has lot of good descriptive words when baby penguin is
looking for mum.
The illustrations in this book help with the telling of the story.
Mum is hiding in some interesting places, some very obvious, but
still baby penguin does not find her.
There is also a yellow bird on most pages who is helping baby
penguin to find its mum.
I would recommend this book for 3+
Karen Colliver
Face by Benjamin Zephaniah
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781408894989
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Martin Turner is good looking, funny, and
the leader of his Gang of Three, which also includes his mates
Matthew and Mark. He also has a girlfriend, Natalie, who he has even
kissed. The four kids make up the main characters in the story, who
are all aged about 15. The author writes the characters' speech using
a lot of colloquial language that was popular at the time, circa
1985, including homie, guy, man, as terms of endearment and poxy,
geezer as insults. This aspect of the novel felt a little
stereotypical and didn't add a lot to the storyline.
Martin and his friends are out late one night at a dance party.
Here, the reader will learn a little about the under-age drug
problems of East London in the 1980s. When offered drugs from
over-age sellers, the three lads decide to leave and are offered a
lift by an ex-school friend. Unbeknownst to them, the driver is high
and out of his mind on heroin; the vehicle is stolen and soon they
are pursued by the police. Martin and his friends are all involved
in a high-speed crash and he wakes two days later in hospital,
suffering deep partial thickness (3rd degree) burns to his face.
The novel then takes on a different aspect. The author, having done
a lot of research, writes about burns recovery and Martin's
experiences with facial reconstructive and skin grafting surgeries.
The language used here is descriptive and well-written, particularly
Martin waking up after the accident and eventually looking in a
mirror.
Martin's return to everyday life is well documented by the author.
Martin works through his feelings of aggression with the help of a
clinical psychologist, Alan. Martin begins to understand the idea of
everyone managing grief and loss differently, despite the unfailing
support of his family. His former friends withdraw; Mark leaves the
gang to form a new one where he is the leader; Natalie, now seems
vain and self-obsessed.
Most refreshingly, the author has found a way to write about
discrimination that is outside of the norms. Martin learns to
respond to tormentors and bullies by being honest - I'm still me /
I'm not disabled / I can still do everything I did before. He
rekindles his passions and interests and makes new friends who don't
see him for the facial disfigurement. Readers will enjoy and
celebrate as Martin finds his confidence and identity post-accident.
While I would recommend this novel for readers in secondary school,
the content is appropriate for capable readers who are younger - 12/13
years.
Clare Thompson
The Poppa platoon in World War Chew by Danny Katz
Ill. by Mitch Vane. Omnibus (Scholastic) 2018. ISBN 9781742769189
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Themes: Humour. Illustrated novel. War. Brave
Major Poppa takes his granddaughter, Abbie, and grandson, Flynn, to
the Royal Show. One hilarious day transpires as Major Poppa and his
platoon weave their way around all the exhibits, attack Hamburger
Hill only to find their lunch a greasy bit of meat stuck in a stale
roll and navigate the House of Horror Ride. As time goes by the
clock must be watched because they have a bus to catch at 4.59. But
they still have one place to negotiate before they leave - the
Showbag Pavilion to get a particular showbag, the Chunky Choc
CherryChew bag. Major Poppa plans their attack with precision, but
does not take into account the fierce opposition. Their foray into
this place of hell allows Mitch Vane to use his hilarious cartoon
style deliciously ensuring the audience will laugh out loud at the
scenes portrayed before them, linking it to memories the readers
have of their trips to the show.
Major Poppa gives Abbie a rendezvous point in case they loose each
other in the throng of large bums, and off they go, hell bent on
their target.
A very funny tale replete with equally funny illustrations will
ensure kids pick this up in a school library or on the bookshelf.
The whole sings with memories of show visits in the past, using
battleground words to describe this trip to hell, and warns of some
of the pitfalls of going to the show. But the excitement and fun of
going to the show is all there, enticing readers to read the story.
Fran Knight
Bobo and Co. : Shapes by Nicola Killen
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781408880517
(Age: 2+) Recommended. Board book. This is the fun story of Bobo the
panda and his friends as he explores the things around him and what
shapes they are in a lift the flap book.
Bobo is celebrating his birthday, and his new tent is a triangle,
his pass the parcel is squares; what other shapes does he find
during his party?
This book can be used to encourage the reader to look at what other
shapes they can see in their immediate surroundings as well as
looking at everyday items and identifying the shapes that are there.
The flaps in this book are large so that little fingers can help
turn them.
I recommend this book for 2+
Karen Colliver
Bobo and Co. : Opposites by Nicola Killen
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781408880500
(Age: 2+) Recommended. Board book. Bobo the Panda and all of his
friends are exploring the concept of opposites in this lift the flap
book. This is a simple story about opposites with great
illustrations. It explores the concepts of in and out, small
and big, down and up, slow and fast and loud and soft.
This book is a fun way to explore with Bobo and his friend's
opposites and see what they get up to.
The flaps in this book are a good size for small children to be able
to help with opening them.
I recommend this book to 2+.
Karen Colliver
A school day smile by Zanni Louise
Ill. by Gillian Flint. Tiggy and the magic paintbrush series.
Five Mile, 2018. ISBN 9781760680404
(Age: 5-6) Themes: First day at school. Friendship. It is Tiggy's
first day at school, and although she is very independent, she uses
her secret, magic paintbrush to paint on a confident smile.
Unfortunately it also means she is silent! Making friends and
communicating with your teacher is very hard with a 'painted' smile.
Eventually she works out how to solve this problem.
It is written simply, for early independent readers, with simple
cartoon style illustrations by Gillian Flint. This is not a chapter
book (more like a miniature picture book), but it has a fun and
appealing personality that will appeal to readers aged 5-6.
Carolyn Hull
Monash's masterpiece: The Battle of Le Hamel and the 93 minutes that changed the world by Peter FitzSimons
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9780733640087
(Age: Senior secondary) Recommended. The name, Monash, is common in
parts of Australia, linked to a University, suburb and street names.
However, for the reader of this book, the importance of Sir John
Monash is brought to life by Peter FitzSimmons.
Almost 100 years ago, the World War I, Battle of Le Hamel,
encapsulated the imaginative thinking, meticulous planning and
outstanding leadership of the Australian commander, in what has been
described as the first modern battle. Infantry, tanks, artillery and
aircraft operated together as a coordinated force. Unlike other
battles of the war, for the first time each infantry battalion was
accompanied into battle with a tank, preceded by a careful artillery
barrage and supported with supplies by air drop. The results of the
93 minute battle were devastating for the enemy and Australian (and
American) losses were relatively low. Monash said: 'A perfected
modern battle plan is like nothing so much as a score for an
orchestral composition, where various arms and units are
instruments, and the tasks they perform are their respective musical
phrases'.
FitzSimmons writes with verve and passion about Monash and his men.
He scorns the commander's detractors and highlights the momentous
importance of the victory of the battle for ending the war, the
introduction of American soldiers, use of technology, importance of
planning, organisation and communication. The stories of ordinary
soldiers and their incredible bravery are also embedded in the
account.
The book is researched from a wide variety of sources and is
accompanied by excellent maps and photographs.
Paul Pledger
1918 by Libby Gleeson
Australia's Great War series. Scholastic. 2018. ISBN
9781743622513
(Age: 12+) Recommended. This is the last book in the Australia's
Great War series. Each book concentrates on a different year
and the series has had a variety of authors. 1918 written by
Libby Gleeson, concentrates on the final year of WW1, where it is
obvious that fatigue and the toll of war has had a deep effect on
the soldiers in the fields.
Based in the Western Front, Ned and his mates will be part of the
battle at Villers-Bretonneux. It is through Ned's eyes that we
experience the final months of battle. The conditions in the
trenches and the horrifying injuries and loss are described by Ned
who longs to return to his home in Australia. The great enthusiasm
that Ned experienced signing up to fight has been replaced by
fatigue and a hope to survive.
It is through correspondence between Ned and his family that we get
a glimpse of his former life on the farm at home and the impact the
war has on his family. There is obviously a larger issue between Ned
and his brother Jim who has had to stay behind. The mystery of why
Jim did not join up and Ned's guilt over his brother is slowly
revealed during the novel.
Lighter moments are when Ned and his friends are on leave and meet
young Australian nurses who have to cope with the bloodied and
disfigured men who continually pass through their care.
Although I have seen this novel recommended to 9 year olds and
older, I feel that this book would be more appropriate from 12 years
on.
I recommend this book to students in upper primary and high school.
Jane Moore
Armistice by Ruth Starke
Ill. by David Kennett. Working Title Press, 2018. ISBN 9781921504914
Highly recommended. On Sunday, November 11 2018 at 11.00am the
world will stop and remember that after a long, gruelling, deadly
war that shaped both history and nations alike, the guns finally
stopped a century ago.
The centrepiece of the Australian commemoration at the Australian
War Memorial will be the installation of 62,000 knitted red
poppy flowers, each representing an Australian life lost during the
conflict. While those 62,000 voices have been silent for a century,
this new book, a companion to My
Gallipoli, brings together the voices of many who waited for
the inevitable outcome. From the Chief Allied Interpreter, soldiers
and civilians and even Corporal Adolf Hitler, lying wounded in a
military hospital, the events and the emotions are given a human
side rather than the stark words on the pages of history books or in
the mouths of modern dispassionate commentators.
While the guns were silenced on November 11, 1918, the talking
continued for seven months until the Treaty
of Versailles was finally signed on June 28, 1919 and the
reader learns not only of the changes that were made to the world
itself but also the conditions that meant that a second world war
was inevitable.
With endpapers that show the political changes that occurred in
Europe between 1914 and 1925, thumbnail sketches of those whose
voices have been quoted and comprehensive teachers'
notes available this is a remarkable book that will help our
students understand the significance of the time and its centenary.
It is a must-have in any collection relating to World War I.
Lest We Forget.
Barbara Braxton
Undercover by Mark Powers
Ill. by Tim Wesson. Spy toys book 3. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN
9781408870907
(Ages 7-9) Themes: Toys. Spies. Espionage. Undercover is an
action-adventure story in which a cast of misfit creatures, a doll,
a teddy bear and robot rabbit join forces and return to solve a new
dilemma. Overnight the entire Chimpwick's Chocolate factory has
disappeared, and the Department of Secret Affairs is called in to
help. Mysterious Auntie Roz calls on the assistance of Dan the
superstrong Snugaliffic Cuddlestar bear, Arabella the angry
Loadsasmiles Sunshine Doll (who doesn't like children) and Flax a
custom-made police robot rabbit to discover who is behind this
terrible situation.
Auntie Roz believes Paula Dimple a disgruntled ex-employee, now
working a science teacher, is the troublemaker. Dan, Arabella and
Flax are equipped with unique disguises, android bodysuits and sent
in to Water Shrew Lane Primary to investigate. Arabella's anger and
attitude lead her into some amusing confrontations. After school the
trio ride across the wasteland on rocket-powered bikes with the
Science Club kids to the Learnatorium, an abandoned museum. Here evil
Penelope Spume, leader of SIKBAG a secret society for brainy kids,
shares her diabolical plot to rid the world of four factories
responsible for children having fun instead of learning. Her special
teleporting device moves the Snaztacular Ultrafun Factory to the
Sahara, and has targeted the Bogey Cola a fizzy drink factory and a
kids' television studio.
Flying on an A4 hexi-silicone paper plane, Arabella and Dan fly off
to Paris to rescue their captured friend Flax held captive at a
secret SIKBAG location.
Tim Wesson's over-the-top comical illustrations compliment the
action and brings the strange characters to life. With plenty of
action, humour, ridiculous characters and crazy inventions, Mark
Power's Undercover is an easy to read novel for the newly
independent reader.
Rhyllis Bignell
