University of Queensland Press, 2017. ISBN 9780702259616
(Age: Primary) I highly recommend this book. Olive imagines the
sadness felt by her family members as different grey animals. These
animals appear to follow the person around and pull them down, while
the grey animals are there the person seems to have trouble being
happy.
Olive is determined to get rid of these animals and make her family
happy again. Olive confides in her best friend to help her with a
task that seems so mammoth. She soon realises that getting rid of
these animals may not be as easy as she first thought but she is
determined.
This book touches on a topic that is very real but not talked about
especially with younger children. This book is well written for
younger readers and it gives some idea about the topic of depression
without going into too much detail. The book uses language easily
understood by younger readers.
The simple illustrations in the book support the story and help to
depict the mood of the chapter.
I would recommend this book for primary school age children; it
could be used as a class novel to support learning around emotions
and encouraging discussions about different emotions.
Karen Colliver
The wizards of once by Cressida Cowell
Hodder Children's Books, 2017. ISBN 9781444939576
(Age: 10+) A wizard with no magic and a warrior with magic get stuck
in a big mess. Can a wizard and a warrior be friends and get out
alive?
This story is make-believe but the story is so intense it feels like
you are the characters. The characters are Xar a wizard (with no
magic) and Wish a warrior princess (who has magic). These characters
entwine in an adventure that neither of them or their friends will
forget.
The settings are the bad woods, the wizard camp and the warrior
fortress.
The story has a few plots entwined together to make this story. The
theme for this story is fantasy and being friends with the enemy.
I recommend this book to 10+ boys and girls. Also if you have
enjoyed this book you might like How
to train your dragon because it's the same author and if
you have read How to train your dragon you might like this
book.
Grace Colliver, Year 6
Battle for the shadow sword by Adam Blade
Team hero, bk 1. Orchard Books, 2017. ISBN 9781408343517
The first chapter is when Jack used his powers to save people in his
class. The first chapter made me want to read more.
The problem was not predictable and the conclusion was not
predictable either. Sometimes when you put the book down you ended
on a cliff hanger.
The book was very interesting and the best part was near the end of
the book.
The main character is a bit believable. The problem is sometimes
similar with Sea Quest and Beast Quest books and
I would recommend this book for Beast Quest and Sea
Quest fans.
Heath Colliver, Year 6
Skip to the loo! A potty book by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Ill. by Anita Jeram. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406377347
(Ages: 1-3) Toilet training. Board book. Rhyming book. Bunny needs
his potty so off he skips to the loo and one by one, many other
characters join in. "Look! Everyone's on their potties! POO! POO!
POO!" It's a potty party: all the animals are sitting on their
potties of varying shapes and sizes and there are balloons and
music. "WAIT! Isn't someone missing? I wonder... is it YOU?".
From the illustrator of Guess how much I love you comes
this potty book, which encourages toilet trainees to join the potty
fun. The mirror page at the end is a cute invitation to the reader
to join in and is definitely the most successful element of the
book. While it could be useful alongside other toilet training
books, it is not instructive enough to work as a standalone
introduction to toileting. Despite it being a play on the song 'Skip
to my Lou', the text itself is not singable; it even sounds clunky
and lacks rhythm when read. In addition, the progression of animals
is a little odd. It starts off fairly standard, with a bunny and a
kangaroo, but then along comes Lord and Lady Huff-Puff (two dressed
up cats), a naughty big fat monster called Stinkaroo and some spooky
wookie ghosties (animals wearing white sheets). In addition, the
old-fashioned chamber pots some of the animals are using as potties
might be confusing, particularly as they look like teacups.
It is all a little hodgepodge and while the toilet message is there
and the illustrations are well done, it definitely isn't an
essential book for young toilet trainees.
Nicole Nelson
Room on our rock by Kate and Jol Temple
Ill. by Terri Rose Baynton. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742764108
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Refugees. By the time any
child reads to the end of this book, they will be saddened by the
selfish seals, reigning over their bit of rock in a vast ocean,
turning away a mother and her pup who try to land. But the
instructions at the end of the book tell the reader to read
backwards, and in doing so, the same words are read, but reading
them from back to front offers a message as old as time: welcome.
No one could be in any doubt about the message in this lovely book.
The selfish seals try to keep their land for themselves, even though
there is plenty of room. But in reading backwards, a welcome is
given to share their rock, to join them.
The evocative watercolour illustrations give a poignancy to the
animals as they lounge on their rock or swim and surf in the ocean.
The vastness of the sea and waves is given sway on every page,
underscoring the isolation of Australia from the rest of the world,
and with the first reading of the book, a voice is raised with
concern about how Australia meets its refugee responsibilities.
But the tide turns with the reading backwards, and will delight and
engage young readers, revitailising discussions within the classroom
about our multicultural country, its immigrants and their huge
contribution to the Australian way of life. One of these books has a
place in every school.
Fran Knight
Jack's daughter: Growing up German in World War 11 Broken Hill by Christine Ellis
Wakefield Press, 2017. ISBN 9781743055090
Recommended for mature readers of historical biography. Christine
Ellis writes a loving biography of her mother's life.
Maisie Schuster's father Jack died at the age of 54 years when she
was ten years old. His illness from pneumoconiosis (caused by dust
from mining) not only robbed him of his own life but also assigned
Maisie to a life of hardship and pain which she would not have
endured had he been present to protect and guide her through
adolescence.
Maisie and Jack had enjoyed an especially close and loving
relationship and the girl's life became miserable and unduly harsh
as she coped with a hard, sometimes brutal mother who appears to
have transferred her own suffering to the daughter. Circumstances
were made worse by the depressed economy and high unemployment in
their city of Broken Hill. The fact that Jack was German and World
War 2 had begun a year previously also meant that the family
suffered from suspicion, bullying and bureaucratic discrimination.
Given that the nation was at war, fear of enemy infiltrators is on
some level understandable, except when applied to families who had
been residents and model citizens for decades. Some aspects of the
security measures were breathtakingly stupid and unfair.
Life was incredibly tough for everyone at the time and for Maisie's
family living on the late Jack's compensation payments, frugal
attention to the spending of every penny resulted in them living in
what we would now recognise as desperate poverty. At the time
however it was simply accepted as hard times, with an observation
that the situation for others was worse.
Christine Ellis rejoices in her mother's resilience, resourcefulness
and kindness to others. Whilst I completely understand her pride, I
felt a great sense of sadness that this woman was perpetually
dragged down by others when she showed so much promise in her
achievements. Denied education by her mother, this academically
gifted achiever who yearned for a nursing career was instead pulled
out of school for domestic work at home, caring for her mother and
brothers. Refusing to give up, she set up her own hairdressing
operation and earned managerial positions in business, only to have
to leave to care for her manipulative and controlling mother who
subjected her to physical and emotional abuse, including savage
beatings.
Sadly, it would appear that this treatment conditioned Maisie to
perpetually relegate her own needs and wishes to those of her family
members and later an abusive husband. At times it seems that
Maisie's pain and misery will never end, yet I'm pleased to say that
hope and fulfilment are also present in this account.
Whilst heartbreaking in parts, Christine Ellis emphasises all that
was good in her mother's adventures and gives an affirming tribute
to her mother.
Rob Welsh
Boogie bear by David Walliams
Ill. by Tony Ross. HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008172770
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Difference, Polar bears, Brown
bears, Adventure. When the polar bear falls asleep after eating her
magnificent lunch, she wakes to find that the ice on which she has
slept has broken away and been swept far from where it started. She
is most concerned, and the words, 'oh dear' begin to appear on the
pages as her situation goes from bad to worse. The ice melts as she
drifts towards a warmer climate, until finally it melts altogether,
dumping her into the sea. Spying an island nearby she bear paddles
towards it only to be confronted by many pairs of eyes. Her
situation becomes more dire when she finds that the eyes belong to a
pack of brown bears, who are not altogether happy with this
interloper. She climbs a tree, only to be shaken and she falls into
a muddy puddle. Here things happen which make her see things are
about to get much better.
The tale of how one polar bear is accepted by the pack of brown
bears underlines the idea of cooperation and acceptance, of being
different but the same. The tale will make readers laugh out loud
and they cannot help but understand the theme of diversity. The
little additions of bear facts will further enhance the fun in the
book.
Tony Ross' laugh out loud illustrations will intrigue and delight
the readers, as he shows the bear in all her glory, merrily floating
out to sea, falling haphazardly into the water, attempting to find
land and then dealing with an angry mob of brown bears. Each
illustration of the bear adds to the humour as Ross with a few
seemingly simple lines can add touches of emotion to the faces of
the animals. Children will be in no doubt about the polar bear's
anxious moments and her finding resolution at the end, and may even
see the link to climate change and the changing environments that
animals now have to deal with.
Walliams' books have sold over 20 million copies around the world,
and his collaboration with Ross has seen some great picture books
and novels being published.
Fran Knight
48 hours: The vanishing by Gabrielle Lord
48 Hours series book 1. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781743629758
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Themes: Kidnapping, Detectives,
Murder enquiries. Jazz's best friend, Anika has been kidnapped. Her
blog about a dusty old journal she found hidden in her house seems
to have attracted the wrong sort of attention. Her parents are
adamant that the police not be called as they wait by the phone for
instructions from the kidnappers. So Jazz, an amateur detective who
sees everything through a detective's eye, decides to find Anika.
But she needs help, and the only other person with a brain like hers
is her mortal enemy, Phoenix, whose mother just happens to be a
forensic scientist with a lab at her home!
Together they search Anika's house for clues, using the correct gear
from the lab, but the CCTV reveals nothing, until a loose floorboard
opens up a portal ripe for avoiding being seen. Gathering DNA
evidence along with fingerprints, the results lead them to a cold
case.
But the 48 hours deadline is looming large over their heads, so time
is of the utmost importance.
An exciting opening book in a new series, 48 Hours will have
readers looking forward to the next in the series, as Lord offers a
range of research techniques for the amateur detective. The
Vanishing offers two new characters, sometimes at odds with
each other, but combining their skills to find an answer to the
question as quickly as possible.
Well written, with plot twists to keep readers going, and forensic
detail to intrigue, the series offers an easy to read set of books
for middle school people.
Fran Knight
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Ill. by Jon Klassen. HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9780008158286
(Age: 11 - adult) Highly recommended. War, peace, Animals, Foxes.
When his gruff and distant father leaves to fight in the war,
motherless Peter is forced to stay with his grandfather and made to
abandon his pet, a fox called Pax.
At his grandfather's he learns of the dog his father once owned and
cared for. They were inseparable. Duty and responsibility overwhelms
Peter. He feels abject guilt at leaving his pet behind and decides
he should be with Pax. He packs his rucksack, takes some water and
food, and sets off, back to the place where he abandoned the fox,
and in alternate chapters we learn of what Pax is doing to get back
to his human.
After he falls and breaks a bone in his foot Peter meets Vola a one
legged recluse living in the woods. Through her he comes to
understand the effect of war, as he is maneuvered to use her
marionettes to tell the story of Sinbad. She killed a man in a
previous war and finding a tattered copy of the Voyages of Sinbad in
his coat pocket, carved the puppets as a memorial to him, but now
she needs to see it performed. Peter is forced to stay with her
until his foot has healed enough for him to move on, but he is
anxious to leave and she is just as anxious that he is able to
survive alone. The two rub against each other just as Pax is finding
it difficult surviving with the other foxes he meets, learning the
skills he missed as a kit,
An involving story of survival, the author is able to get inside the
fox's head to portray its survival with assured realism. She
beautifully contrasts the development of all three characters as
they adapt to the changes in their world, while Klassen's brittle,
black and white illustrations form a majestic backdrop to the
events.
Beautifully written, Pax can be read by children and adults alike.
The image of war is ever present, from the father going off to war,
the woman, Vola and her wooden leg and her mission to see the Sinbad
story performed, and the threat of encroaching war.
Peter eventually leaves to find the fox, and a heart stopping
conclusion brings the reader to rethink the idea of friendship and
challenge the concept of war and its effects on the people involved.
Allusions to Sheherazade, the tale of the phoenix, the stories of
Sinbad, the roc, and so on are throughout the book, impelling the
reader to look further into the tale. The stories behind Vola's life
too are captivating as she becomes the teacher she wanted to be,
rather than the soldier she was.
This wonderful book held me to the end.
Fran Knight
The brilliant fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781681195476
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. E.B.
White Read Aloud Award 2010. On your mark... get set... go
finish your science project? All Gianna Zales wants is to compete at
the cross-country finals, but there's something standing in her way
- a science project. She has less than a week to collect and
document twenty-five leaves, and she'll lose her spot on the team if
she can't pull it off. With a forgetful grandmother, a
hearse-driving father, a mean-girl running rival, and new feelings
toward her best friend, Gianna wishes life would just leave her
alone to finish the project. Can Gianna Z. get the stroke of
brilliance she needs to make it all work out?
Gianna will quickly draw people in with her infectious personality
and will resonate with many tweens. With themes of family,
friendship and being true to oneself, connections will be able to be
made throughout the story. The various storylines including the
lengths some will go to avoid completing homework, an ailing
grandmother who is developing signs of Alzheimer's and the
stereotypical mean girl all combine together to make an enthralling
book. Gianna is torn in so many directions while trying to balance
her commitment to the track team and taking on the roles of artist,
daughter, friend and grand-daughter. This book will be a huge hit
with a wide variety of children and I would strongly recommend it
for ages 10 and up. A must have for the library collection.
Kathryn Schumacher
Deception by Teri Terry
Dark Matter, book 2. Orchard Books, 2018. ISBN 9781408341742
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Themes: Science fiction. Epidemics.
Dystopian fiction. Following on immediately from Contagion, the first book in the series, readers are swept into the
British countryside as an epidemic sweeps the country. Shay is
convinced that she is the carrier of the virus and without telling
Kai, has left Shetland to give herself up to the authorities. Kai
follows her trail, desperate to find her and faces danger on the way
as the survivors of the plague are hunted down by vigilantes and the
secret service.
This is an adrenaline fuelled story that is fast paced and very
exciting. Told in short snappy chapters from three viewpoints, Shay,
Kai and Callie, recount their stories and give different viewpoints
of what is happening. Shay comes into her own, as she learns to use
her towering intellect and new powers, while Kai's determination and
skills of survival are wonderful. Some more survivors, including
Spike and Freja, are introduced and enrich the plot, giving insight
into how people are coping with the epidemic.
Readers with a bent for science will also find the descriptions of
antimatter and matter fascinating as Terry gives an explanation of
the origin of the virus and the creation of the survivor's strange
powers. There is much to ponder about the misuse of scientific
experimentation even if the end result might provide cures for
diseases.
There are some unexpected twists and turns and conclusion which will
keep the reader enthralled and waiting for the next book in the
series. Both Contagion and Deception would engage
anyone who likes easy to read but totally engrossing stories.
Pat Pledger
In the city I see by Tori-Jay Mordey
Magabala Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925360790
(Ages: 0-3) Themes: Cities. Board Book. These Young Art
books (other titles are At
the beach I see, At the zoo I see) are simple
but beautiful with each illustrated by a different Indigenous
artist. They contain simple descriptions of the everyday that will
encourage discussion between reader and child. This one uses a
painterly art style, with bright colours bringing the city sights to
life. Both moving (walking dogs, hungry pigeons) and static (big
signs, tall buildings) elements are included and are things that
every child will notice when driving or walking through the city.
The illustrations capture the diversity of Australian cities and how
Indigenous culture is represented within them (there are Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags flying on the top of a
building, there is a busker playing the didgeridoo and a dot style
painting on the side of a bus).
This is a great book for children living in rural and regional
areas, who may not be familiar with city sights, as well as for
those living in urban areas.
Nicole Nelson
Valensteins by Ethan Long
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781619634336
(Ages: 5-10) This can be summarised simply as monsters learning
about love. Fans of Long's previous book Fright
Club will love this as it uses the same cast of
characters and illustrative style. There are dark gritty
illustrations with a smattering of pink to suit the love theme. The
bright pink highlights on the front cover will definitely grab
attention and the use of familiar monsters (Frankenstein, etc.) and
their witty banter will even please children who think they are too
old for picture books. While the rest of the Fright Club is busy
working on their scaring techniques, Fran K. Stein is working with
pink paper, scissors and glue. "Are you making a mask?" asks
Vladamir. He is, of course, making a Valentine's Day heart. An
explanation of Valentine's Day and love follows: "That's when two
people feel all mushy mushy about each other". The rest of the
Fright Club members respond mainly with horror and disgust,
especially when they discover that love involves kissing on the
lips. Fran ignores them and goes off to find his Valentine. While
pondering love he decides that it isn't really about fluttering your
eyes or cutting out paper hearts, but "something you feel in your
real heart, even if it does feel a little funny sometimes."
This has a very American look and feel to it, perhaps owing to
America's pioneering of both Valentine's Day and Halloween, as well
as some of the vocabulary and phrasing ("it looks like a paper
butt", "tee-hee"). I wouldn't read this to young children who still
have a one-dimensional understanding of love as it may be confusing
for them. In addition, they wouldn't understand the repartee between
the monsters. Older children with an understanding of the difference
between familial love and romantic love and a keen sense of humour
are the target audience here.
Nicole Nelson
Indigo Blue by Jessica Watson
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9780734418135
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Adventure, Friendship,
Relationships, Sailing. Jessica Watson's magical story Indigo
Blue explores Year 12 student Alex's move to a new school, her
life with her eccentric aunt, her love of sailing and her friendship
with Sam a sailmaker's apprentice. This engaging novel draws from
Watson's extensive sailing knowledge, having circumnavigated the
world unassisted at sixteen. Her protagonist shows her inner
strength and independence, Alex chooses to restore an old sailing
boat rather than being drawn into activities by her classmates.
Life in the quiet lakeside town of Boreen Point proves challenging
for Alex, with her father away working in the United States, she is
sent to live with her artistic Aunt Robin. Alex begins her year as a
fish out of water with many hurdles to overcome. Her personal
journey, struggling with friendships, supporting herself, testing
the boundaries and finding her own path is captivating. When Alex
asks the local sailmaker for assistance, her eyes are opened to a
new underwater world. This slow change in direction, with surprising
twists, character revelations and acceptance of differences adds a
mystical element to the narrative. Alex and her classmate Sophie's
local history research, discovering hidden diary entries, trips to
explore the old lighthouse and uncovering the secrets of the
lighthouse keeper and his family provide Alex with directions for
her present life. Past relationships and struggles are reflected in
Alex's developing friendship with Sam.
Watson's teen novel Indigo Blue is more than a coming of age
story, there are mystical components, emotive settings and relatable
characters suited to a wider range of teenage readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
Julius Zebra: Entangled with the Egyptians by Gary Northfield
Walker, 2018. ISBN 9781406371802
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Animal Stories, Ancient Egypt. Julius
Zebra: Entangled with the Egyptians is the third graphic novel
written and illustrated by Gary Northfield. This is another laugh
out loud story, filled with puns, jokes, sarcastic one-liners and
plenty of slapstick comedy.
Shipwrecked on a foreign shore, the friends fall headfirst into a
new adventure. Captured by an Egyptian Commander and his troops,
they are marched off to be imprisoned. At this time, Egypt is
experiencing a drought, however when Julius raises his hands to
protest his capture, a fortuitous shower of rain occurs. Suddenly
their luck changes and he becomes revered as Heter the horse god -
bringer of good fortune.
They move quickly through the Egypt, visiting familiar landmarks,
living in the palace, visiting and nearly wrecking the ancient
library, generally causing drama wherever they go. Felix the
antelope's exploration of an underground tomb and greediness in
stealing a precious stone, intensifies the action. Factual
information is included, writing Roman numerals, hieroglyphics and
the art of mummification.
Northfield's hilarious cartoons highlight the perks of the zebra's
reign as pharaoh and his special treatment as an Egyptian god.
Palace life is luxurious, the food, the bath in donkey's milk and
the special clothes, wigs and Cleopatra's beard to wear. Even the
chapter headings add to the humour: "I want my Mummy", "Don't rain
on my Parade" and "Wheel of Fortune". Julius Zebra: Entangled
with the Egyptians delivers all the familiar characters,
historical touches and humour, just right for a springboard into
studies of ancient civilisations.
Rhyllis Bignell
