Fremantle Press, 2018, ISBN 9781925591545
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Recycling, Waste, Collecting. Henry
Harper loves collecting, so when he collects Kate he asks her to
stay with him on his planet. She agrees saying that she just loves
collecting and together the two passionate collectors collect all
they can find. In funny rhyming couplets the list is endless:
balloons and spoons, TVs and a pair of skis, sneakers and speakers,
elastic and toys made of plastic. The audience will love predicting
the word that rhymes, learning some of the engaging couplets to say
for themselves. And absorbing the drawings on each page they will
see how the planet is getting very overcrowded. Tons of stuff is
illustrated: all the sorts of things that may be seen dumped along
roads, or in the sea, or left out for the rubbish collection, things
no longer used or unable to be recycled.
And the contrast between the overcrowded planet, weighed down with
rubbish, and the last few pages where things are clean and green,
will not be lost on the readers.
They will have a great time looking at the detail included on each
page, and make suggestions about how each could be reused, recycled
or disposed of with care. Leading onto discussions about the waste
we produce, this book will form a great cornerstone of any
discussion about waste, and channel the class' ideas to how to
recycle things in their classroom, at home and in the community.
With the current discussion about waste, this book forms a timely
addition to picture books which will initiate class attention on this
urgent matter. Eager eyes will scan each page and call out all the
things they see that have become rubbish, with the wonderful
endpapers reiterating what they have seen in the pages of this book. Teacher
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Digby and Claude by Emma Allen
Ill. by Hannah Sommevillee. National Library of Australia, 2018.
ISBN 9780642279279
(Age: 7) Recommended. Themes: Australian History, Development,
Heritage, Architecture, Housing. The change that came across
Australian suburbs in the 1030's with clearing away of slums and
abandoned buildings is shown here through the story of two young
boys, Digby and Claude. They have an ideal life of roaming freely
through their neighbourhood, of claiming a small patch of land with
a wonderful old tree as their play space, of dragging all sorts of
discarded materials to make their cubby house extend up into the
tree. As the boys build their tree house, they watch the
redevelopment project across the road, of slums being demolished and
low cost housing being built in its place. Claude's father prevents
his son coming to the site because of the danger posed by the trucks
and diggers. When summer arrives so do the families and their
children, and Digby welcomes new friends to his tree house. And in
the tree, he tells the newcomers stories of days long ago when a
friend called Claude helped build the tree house.
This is a warm and enveloping story about the place where you
belong, a story of memories that build up around your own place,
that place called home. Digby and Claude together build their own
place and stock it with memories that they share, and when Claude
goes, Digby recalls those memories with others, sharing his place
with the newcomers. The contrast with the rebuilding over the road
reinforces the idea of home, how each new generation builds their
own memories and stories about their own place. Buildings come and
go but the stories remain.
The illustrations, redolent of images found in books and annuals
published for children between the wars, recreate the carefree and
innocent lives of children where they had the freedom to imagine and
build a tree house, meeting their friends there for the days with
nothing to do but play and chat and build, while in the background
we see the changes in the skyline of the suburb.
Several pages after the end of the story are devoted to a time line
of housing in Australia which will give readers an idea of the range
of housing in Australia from early times, and will encourage them to
look further. A page is devoted to a newspaper article outlining the
Erskinville development one of the first of its type in Australia, a
small cohort of low rental flats for families with children.
An interesting read, Digby and Claude could be used in conjunction
with the iconic "My Place" (Nadia Wheatley) which shows the changes
in Australia over time, through the life of one tree and the lives
of those around it, both books extolling the idea of home. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Dino diggers: Dumper truck danger by Rose Impey
Ill. by Chris Chatterton. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408872482
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Dinosaurs, Technology, Accidents. In
Dino-Town, the Dino Diggers are all ready for action. Dressed in
their hard hats and fluoro jackets, they can take on any problem
which comes long, so when the town bridge collapses after a heavy
rain storm, they are ready with their machines to clear the path and
help rebuild the bridge.
Young readers will adore the five friends, Terri,Tyrone, Bruno, Ricky
and Stacey, working out just why each has that particular name,
their size and physical attributes eagerly recognised by dinosaur
hunters. The problem of the bridge and the baker's van stuck beneath
causes the team some headaches as Tyrone takes his digger down into
the river bed to get the van out. He does this successfully but they
both end up on the wrong side of the bridge. Another problem creates
another solution, and all ends happily, with the dinosaurs reopening
the bridge in time for traffic. The Dino Diggers have done their
work.
Young readers will love looking at the array of work done by each of
the trucks illustrated, recognising these implements from seeing
them on their streets. The illustrations give a streamlined image of
each of them allowing kids to point out the features of each.
Recognisable work safety measures are included, alluding to the
possible dangers of this work, and showing readers what needs to
happen to keep themselves safe. In the last few pages is a cardboard
cutout of Stacey's dump truck with instructions on how to put it
together, continuing the fun of the book.
Fran Knight
Mummy Fairy and me : Fairy in waiting by Sophie Kinsella
Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780141377896
(Ages: 5 - 7) Recommended. Themes: Fairies. Humour. "Ella's
family has a big secret - her Mummy is a fairy. She can do amazing
spells with her computawand. Only, sometimes the spells go a bit
wrong, and that's when Ella steps in to the rescue.
In this brand-new book of magical adventures, there are very naughty
monkeys, a swimming pool filled with ice-cream, and the best
birthday party ever - complete with giant cakes and fairy dust."
(Publisher)
And after so much fun and adventure, will Ella get her wish and
become a magical fairy, just like her Mum?
The magic and mayhem in this young chapter book make it a sweet and
funny series for 5-7 year-old's. There are lots of messy adventures
and parents who do silly things.
Donna Isgar
Melowy : The ice enchantment by Danielle Star
Ill. by Danielle Stern. Melowy series book 4. Scholastic,
2018, ISBN 9781338151800
(Age: 6-8) Themes: Unicorns, Fantasy, Friendship, Courage. In the
Castle of Destiny hidden by a sea of clouds, Melowies, winged horses
with gorgeous colourings, gather to be schooled in magic. Cleo,
Electra, Maya, Cora and Selena wake to a beautiful morning eager to
begin their classes in the Art of Powers. Cleo's destiny is unsure,
she hasn't received her place in a realm yet: will she be a Winter,
Spring, Day or Night? To find the nature of the young filly's power
she needs to attend all the classes with her friends. This proves to
be difficult for her, as she suffers sunburn in the Day Tower,
tangles herself up in plants in the Spring Tower, and has candle
problems in the Night Tower.
Cleo seeks advice from Theodora the friend who raised her after she
was left on the castle steps as a baby. She needs encouragement to
keep on with her lessons. Mysteries and problems abound, with a
stolen magic book, a classmate casting a forbidden spell and
problems in creating ice sculptures from the magic waterfall. Little
by little, Cleo learns the power of friendship and patience.
Bright colours, pretty embellishments and beautiful creatures adorn
the pages, making this junior novel sparkle. Danielle Star's magical
fantasy series are just right for newly independent readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
Meet me at the intersection: Short stories edited by Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina
Fremantle Press, 2018. ISBN 9781925591705
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: LGBTIQA+. Disabilities. Indigenous
Australians. Cultures. Short stories. Meet me at the intersection
is an collection of short stories by authors who write from the
heart about issues that have personal meaning to them. These authors
include those with a disability, are LGBTIQA+ or are Indigenous and
are passionate about sharing their stories written from their point
of view.
At the beginning of each story is a blurb about the author and the
inspiration for their story, which is fantastic as it gives the
reader an insight to how and why the author came to write this
particular piece.
My favourite of the short stories was 'Harry Potter and the
Disappearing Pages' by Olivia Muscat because of the Harry Potter
connection. The author says right from the beginning that the
character in the story is her and this connection seemed to
personalise it for me.
Many of the stories are raw and brutally honest. There is no filter
to what is written and they say exactly what they think. Sometimes
this can be confronting but mostly you appreciate the honesty and
frankness of the story. With some of the stories, I wondered what
the point was but in hindsight, the point is really a snippet of a
story that is waiting to be told.
The stories are quite diverse and it is refreshing to change pace at
the beginning of each new story. The stories are not long and at
times, they leave you wishing for more. Some are revelations and
others make you think about topics not normally spoken about.
I would recommend this book to 14+ readers whose interest is in
diversity amongst our population.
Gerri Mills
Kissed by the moon by Alison Lester
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780670076758
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Themes: Influences.
Growing up. This beautiful book has been reissued as a board book,
and will win hearts all over again with its wishes for the future of
a new born child. Alison Lester, one of Australia's best known and
loved author illustrators, is able to capture a parent's wish for
their child to wonder at the world in which they have been born, to
experience the community and the environment, to splash in the
water, to experience the ocean, to hear the birds as they wake, to
walk in the untamed forest, all the things experienced by the
parent in their youth.
Each page opens the child's mind to the possibilities of what is
around them, encouraging the parent to ensure that the child is
exposed to all the good things of life.
Lester's soft watercolours draw the eye to the detail of the images
she draws, as well as creating soft love-filled pages, underscored by
the spare prose. Each page shows a different environment and season,
covering aspects of the Australian climate, be it snow, spring
produce, a sunny beach or the falling leaves of autumn. Every
picture is filled with the safe secure arms of a parent, guiding the
child to experience its surroundings. The subtle subtext of caring
for the environment is there, in lines which assume the rivers, fish
and oceans will still be there, and the forests as wild.
Lester's talents with many different art forms along with her
ability to encapsulate meaning in a brief smattering of words, is
enough for anyone to gasp at the depth of her work, for parents to
smile with recognition and children to read for themselves the
wonder of childhood.
Fran Knight
The honey factory by Jurgen Tautz and Diedrich Steen
Black Inc Books, 2018. ISBN 9781760640408
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Recommended. Non-fiction. The
subtitle 'Inside the ingenious world of bees' describes exactly what
this book is about - not so much a guide to beekeeping but a
detailed exploration of what bees do and how their community works.
And it is absolutely fascinating! Tautz and Steen reveal to us the
workings of the intelligent bee superorganism - a community of
individuals dependent on one another and working together to make a
single breathing, living entity. Each bee has its role to play - the
queen, the drones, the workers; there are nurse bees and field bees,
guards, scouts and foragers. Tautz and Steen reveal to us how they
communicate in the pitch darkness of the hive, how they regulate the
temperature of the hive, how they communicate food sources with the
waggle dance, and what leads them to swarm or move house.
The two authors make different contributions to the book - Steen is
a long time beekeeper and Tautz is a renowned bee researcher. So the
book is a combination of practical knowledge and scientific
research, distinguished in the text by different fonts. It is
possible for readers wanting a 'lighter' approach to just read the
Steen contributions, whilst others may enjoy the insights offered by
the experiments and studies that Tautz describes. There is a logical
sequence to the book; however an index is available at the end for
quick reference.
The last chapter describes the bees' struggle for survival -
extinction remains a probability, and sadly the main threats are
from human factors. Anyone reading this book must hope for greater
understanding and appreciation of bees for it truly seems that they
offer us an insight into an amazing community based on unconditional
and mutual sharing, something that humans could only learn from.
Helen Eddy
Ruby's worry by Tom Percival
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408892152
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Anxiety. Depression. Sharing.
Friendship. Ruby's life is carefree and happy, but one day a worry
finds her. At first it is a very small worry and can be hidden
behind her, or even ignored. But as time goes on the worry increases
in size, becoming a constant shadow next to her as she goes to bed
at night, eats her breakfast and catches the bus to school. She
tries to work at school, but the worry sits next to her, invading
her thoughts. The worry gets bigger, staring at her over the
breakfast table, sitting on the swing besides her. She realises that
no-one else can see her worry, until one day she sees a young boy
sitting in the park. He too has a worry and this time, Ruby can see
his worry. He is sad and reflects just how she feels, so she sits
down next to him and they talk about their worries. As they do this
their worries become smaller, and lift from their shoulders. They
are aware that by sharing their worries they become smaller, and
Ruby knows that although her shadow is still there, much smaller
than it was, she now has the skill to keep it under control.
This story, like Mr
Huff (Anna Walker, 2015) is most useful at a time where
mental ill health has become a problem amongst younger children.
Children will instantly recognise the background to the story, many
knowing someone who suffers from anxiety, and see that having a
worry is not unusual and there are steps they can take to help
themselves not be overwhelmed by the feeling.
Fran Knight
Uncle Shawn and Bill and the pajimminy-crimminy unusual adventure by A.L. Kennedy
Ill. by Gemma Correll. Walker Books Ltd, 2018. ISBN 9781406360509
(Ages: 6-9) Recommended. Themes: Friendship. Humour. Bonkers
story of friendship, llamas and total evil.
Uncle Shawn and Bill are back, and so are the llamas. In a book that
could stand alone or work as a sequel, they have settled into a
happy life at their llama farm in Scotland with their new llama
friends. But all is not right on the horizon as someone new to their
village is stirring up trouble, and encouraging anything 'unusual'
to be vilified and the perpetrators locked up...
This contains great hilarious posters, comic style illustrations and
informative chapter headings evoking old Victorian novels. It is a
very visual story, with plenty to read around the words themselves.
The theme of celebrating difference and not being afraid of who you
are, is well covered by a vast number of different habits and
hobbies of the people in Pandrumdroochit. They get involved in an
exciting adventure as Bill and the llamas (as well as some other
friends) work together to defeat the evil threatening them all.
The story is totally bonkers, but such good fun and has a lesson of
friendship at its heart.
This is a great series, with lovely short chapters, lots of action
and silliness and full of things to look at.
Donna Isgar
Funny Kid: Prank wars by Matt Stanton
Harper Collins, 2018. ISBN 9780733335990
(Ages: 8-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour. This is the third
book in the Funny Kid book series. Max, otherwise known as
'funny kid' is determined to make his class mates laugh at his
pranks and antics, at any cost. When Max's class embark on a school
camping trip, he makes grand plans to humiliate Tyson, the new boy,
by making him the centre of his gags. A prank war is on between the
two boys, after Max finds himself at the unfortunate end of one of
Tyson's master pranks.
While engaging in their prank war, Max, Tyson and their class mates
grapple with mysterious lake monsters, makeshift toilets, a smuggled
pet duck and plenty of gas inducing beans. A generous serve of
ingenious pranks makes this one very unforgettable camping trip.
Prank Wars:
Full of appealing toilet style humour.
Targeted at 8-12 year old's.
The illustrations are comic book style, with interesting
speech bubbles.
Hilarious and slapstick adventures of fun and frivolity.
For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates
and WeirDo.
Donna Isgar
Amazing Australian Women by Pamela Freeman and Sophie Beer
Lothian Children's Books, 2018. ISBN 9780734418456
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Women - Australia. The authors
have chosen twelve Australian women from different backgrounds and
time periods to feature in this brightly illustrated book. Some of
them will be familiar to all Australians, for example Mary Reiby,
convict and business woman who features on the $20 note, while
others like Tarenore, an indigenous resistance fighter, may not be
as well known. It is this mix of well-known and less well known
women that make this book such a fascinating read.
It is a book that can be read from cover to cover, with the women
arranged in chronological order, but it can also be perused by using
the introduction and map of Australia at the beginning, and then
skimming through the book either to find women from an Australian
state or a woman whose work is unfamiliar to the reader. I knew some
of the background of Mary Lee and Nellie Melba, but found more
snippets of information that greatly added to my knowledge. I became
engrossed in the story Tilly Aston, teacher writer and disability
activist, while the scientist Ruby Payne-Scott and her work with
radio telescopes will provide a great role model for girls who want
to succeed in the science area. The information about each woman was
succinct and interesting and the illustrations will appeal to the
book's audience.
The back of the book has a section "More information", with links to
websites including biographies and other details, e.g. Emily Kame
Kngwarreye, has links to three websites displaying her art and a
link to images of Emily from Trove.
The conclusion notes that it was hard to select just twelve women
and that there are extraordinary women doing extraordinary things in
every walk of life. And then challenges the reader to
"Ask yourself
What is my story going to be?
What will I do?
How will I change the world?"
This is a must have for every library and would be a perfect gift
for any child interested in Australian history and achievements.
Pat Pledger
How I didn't straighten my hair (and other life lessons) by Angela May George
Omnibus Books, 2018. ISBN 9781742999555
(Age: Upper primary - lower secondary) Themes: bullying,
friendships, Greek culture, family. Dora is trying to find "her
thing" but, disappointingly for her Greek family, Greek dancing
isn't for her. 17 year old sister Athena, is a born dancer, tall,
slim and beautiful with the composure of an Ice Queen but her
"thing" is ballet. She is not at all like 13 year old Dora, whose
unmanageable frizzy hair and impulsive behaviour seem to rule her
life. Dora loves her Greek culture, especially the food cooked by
her grandparents; but it can also be embarrassing, like when her
Yaya and Popou play loud music and dance in their garage. Ethan, a
popular boy in Dora's year, lives next door to them and doesn't seem
to mind, he also seems to like Dora which she finds difficult to
believe as some girls in her group have said they are awarding her
the trophy for the ugliest girl in their year. Dora is reluctant to
tell her parents about the bullying as her dad lost his job and they
have enough worries. Her sister tells her to follow the high school
rules, which include keeping her head down and not talking about
anyone else but things come to a head when Genevieve, the girl who
has been bullying her, stomps on Dora's hand breaking it. In
hospital Dora meets Lucy, a girl her age suffering from Juvenile
Diabetes. Dora finds she has a talent for making friends and that
she is ambidextrous so she goes back to school able to keep up with
the work. However Genevieve's brother knocks Dora down and her
parents are angry at the school's handling of the bullying and
decide to change schools. The change turns out to be a good thing
for both Dora, who is no longer fearful at school and makes some new
friends, and for her sister, whose boyfriend attends the new school.
Athena buys Dora's silence with the promise of a hair straightener
but her loyalty is tested when their parents catch Athena secretly
meeting her boyfriend. The incident shocks the family and Dora is
caught in the middle. Loyalties to friends are also tested as Dora
juggles her new friends (and her attractively straightened hair) and
the need to keep in touch with old friends, especially Ethan. Things
seem to work out in the end with family and most friendships intact.
The novel is a bright and funny trip, with a 13 year old finding her
place in the world; negotiating culture, family, friends and first
relationships. Suitable for upper primary and lower secondary girls.
Sue Speck
Princess Swashbuckle by Hollie Hughes
Ill. by Deborah Allwright. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408862803
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Princesses, Stereotypes, Adventure,
Frogs, Family, Verse, Humour. All Princess Swashbuckle wants to do
is be a pirate queen, to sail away on a pirate ship and be the ruler
of the waves. But her parents want her to marry a frog and settle
down. How can she marry Hubert who lives in a bog or Gerald who
lives beneath a log? She packs her bag and steals away one night,
boarding the Stinky Fish. Finding its crew is upset at seeing their
captain swim for shore, she is the perfect replacement.
Together the princess and the crew have incredible adventures,
sailing the seven seas, meeting a range of other people, helping out
where they can. They teach a mouse to be brave, and show a snake how
to make a cake, but once all their adventures are done, Princess
Swashbuckle feels a little out of sorts. She writes to her parents
and receives a reply which apologises for their insistence that she
marry, and invite her back to Frogland. Without hesitation she makes
her way back home, allowing her parents to retire while she takes
over ruling the kingdom, albeit with a pirate flavour.
This charming story full of whimsy and humour, will appeal to
younger readers, lapping up the allusions to fairy stories with a
reversal of the usual roles, and parallels to frogs which they will
perfectly understand.
The detailed illustrations attract the eyes drawing them into
perusing the things in the background, referencing things that
pirates do and adventures associated with this group of people.
Readers will thrill at the kingdom's seawall, shaped like a dragon's
body, or the watchful eye of the ship, or the pirate's flag. All
good fun.
Fran Knight
Norman the Knight gets a fright! by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Ed Eaves. Bloomsbury, 2108. ISBN 9781408873991
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Knights, Dragons, Employment. When
the four children and their cat apply for the job of helping Norman
the Brave, a knight of renown, they are surprised at what he expects
them to do. Their work involves darning his large pile of socks,
ironing his pants, cleaning his armour and scrubbing him in the bath
after fetching loads of hot water. They must then squeeze him into
his armour, and use a hoist to lift him into his horse's saddle,
after first catching the unresponsive animal. They are all ready to
go to the Royal Parade, Norman looking very brave and shiny after
all the efforts of his knaves, our four friends by contrast looking
shabby and weary. At the parade the knights are set upon by a group
of brigands and bandits, while trying to deal with a fire breathing
dragon. Norman and the other knights cower in the background while
the four knaves take charge, putting out the dragon's fire and
seeing off the brigands and thieves.
Norman then puts his knaves further off side by bragging about his
exploits at saving the day whereas the knaves know what really
happened, making the readers laugh at the knight's duplicity. The
work might not be the job for our four friends, and at the end of
the story, another workplace seems to be before them, making sure
the readers will want to see the next book when the four try out
working with a magician.
Told in rhyming pairs of lines, readers will love predicting the
rhyming word as each line is read, and be intrigued with some of the
new words offered: knave, brigand, bandit, which they may not have
come across before. There are hilarious illustrations with lots of
detail to look at, funny faces and situations to laugh at, as well
as a lesson to be discussed about humility, and information included
giving readers an insight into the lives of knights and knaves
during Medieval times.
Fran Knight
