Era Publications, 2011. ISBN 9781741205114
(Age: Upper primary) Hubert Wilkins is probably not well known to
Australian students although he was born in South Australia in 1888
and was quite famous in the 1920s. This biography written for upper
primary age students highlights Wilkins' pioneering work studying
weather in polar regions and the significance of his use of
technology, exploration and leadership.
Early chapters of the book describe the young man's farm experience
and the hardship caused by drought. Understanding the weather became
a motivating force in his life. He became a film maker, learnt to
fly and experienced the Arctic climate first hand. Each new
adventure gave Hubert the skills and understanding to undertake new
missions such as the study of Australia's Aboriginal people, the Inuit
of Canada and Russia. The First World War battle field tested his
courage and willingness to undertake difficult challenges.
Through short paragraphs and appropriate vocabulary the author
presents the life of a forgotten hero whose discoveries were ahead
of his time. Each page is illustrated with interesting photographs,
maps and illustrations. Important background information (e.g.
drought, the first movies, life in the trenches) is highlighted in
brief side panels. The book's conclusion includes a timeline and
glossary.
Paul Pledger
My grandfather's war by Glynn Harper
Ill. by Jenny Cooper. EK Books, 2018. ISBN 9781775592990 My grandfather's war tells us of a more recent conflict, the Vietnam
War, a war where those who served are now the grandparents of its
target audience, our primary school students.
At a time when the world had almost emerged into a new era following
World War II, the USA and the USSR were the new superpowers and the
common catch-cry promoted by prime ministers and politicians was
"All the way with LBJ", Australian and New Zealand joined forces
with the USA in this new conflict to stop the "Yellow Peril" of
China moving south and overtaking nations just as Japan had tried to
do between 1941 and 1945. Among the 65 000 troops of both nations
committed between 1963 and 1975 was Robert, Sarah's grandfather who
now lives with her family and who is "sometimes very sad."
Possibly a natio, drafted because a marble with his birthdate on it
dropped into a bucket, old enough to die for his country but too
young to vote for those who sent him, Robert, like so many others of
his age whose fathers and grandfathers had served, thought that this
was his turn and his duty and that the war "would be exciting". But
this was a war unlike those fought by the conservative, traditional
decision-makers - this was one fought in jungles and villages where
the enemy could be anywhere and anyone; one where chemicals were
used almost as much as bullets; one where the soldiers were not
welcomed as liberators but as invaders; and one which the soldiers
themselves knew they could not win. It was also the first war that
was taken directly into the lounge rooms of those at home as
television became more widespread, affordable and accessible.
And the reality of the images shown clashed with the ideality of
those watching them, a "make-love-not-war" generation who, naive to
the ways of politics and its big-picture perspective of power and
prestige, were more concerned for the individual civilians whose
lives were being destroyed and demanded that the troops be
withdrawn. Huge marches were held throughout the USA, New Zealand
and Australia and politicians, recognising that the protesters were
old enough to vote and held their futures in their hands, began the
withdrawal.
But this was not the triumphant homecoming like those of the
servicemen before them. Robert came home to a hostile nation who
held him and his fellow soldiers personally responsible for the
atrocities they had seen on their screens. There were no welcome
home marches, no public thanks, no acknowledgement of heroes and
heroism, and Robert, like so many of those he fought with, slipped
back into society almost as though he was in disgrace. While the
official statistics record 578 killed and 3187 wounded across the
two countries, the stats for those who continued to suffer from
their physical and mental wounds and those who died because of them,
often at their own hands, are much more difficult to discover. Like
most returned servicemen, Robert did not talk about his experiences,
not wanting to inflict the horror on his family and friends and
believing that unless you were there you wouldn't understand; and
without the acknowledgement and support of the nation he was
supposedly saving and seeing his mates continue to battle the impact
of both the conflict and the chemicals, he sank into that deep
depression that Sarah sees as his sadness but which is now known as
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Disturbed by his sadness but told never to talk to her grandfather
about the war, Sarah is curious and turns to the library for help.
But with her questions unanswered there, she finally plucks up the
courage to ask him and then she learns Grandad's story - a story
that could be told to our students by any number of grandfathers,
and one that will raise so many memories as the 50th anniversary of
the Battle of Khe Sanh approaches, and perhaps prompt other Sarahs
to talk to their grandfathers.
Few picture books about the Vietnam War have been written for young
readers, and yet it is a period of our history that is perhaps
having the greatest impact on our nation and its families in current
times. Apart from the personal impact on families as grandfathers,
particularly, continue to struggle with their demons, it opened the
gates to Asian immigration in an unprecedented way, changing and
shaping our nation permanently.
Together, Harper and Cooper have created a sensitive, personal and
accessible story that needs to be shared, its origins explored and
understanding generated.
Lest We Forget.
Barbara Braxton
Sorry Day by Coral Vass and Dub Lefler
NLA Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9780642279033
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Themes: Aboriginal themes, Sorry Day,
Aboriginal history, Reconciliation, Apology, Kevin Rudd. Two stories
coincide in this beautifully illustrated picture book telling of
National Sorry Day celebrated on May 26. The momentous day of
February 13, 2008 is the setting of this tale as Maggie and her
mother stand amongst the crowd eagerly waiting for Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd to say sorry to Aboriginal families for what was done to
them in the twentieth century taking away their children as a matter
of government policy.
In the crowd Maggie loses sight of her mother, and in this way the
book parallels the plight of those children forcibly removed. But
all is well for Maggie and she is restored to her mother, just in
time to hear the Prime Minister utter the words that so many have
longed to hear for generations.
This is a deceptively simple story, sparsely told, one that shadows
the Stolen Generation in its words and illustrations. Without over
telling the tale, students are acquainted with the bare bones: that
children were taken - enough to ignite many discussions and stories
in the classroom as part of the Australian Curriculum.
The illustrations accompanying the text parallel the words with
subtle sincerity. The sepia wash double pages show what happened in
the past, reflecting the lifestyle of the groups living in fear of
the men in authority coming for their children. In between these
pages subdued colours show Maggie and her mother waiting in the
crowd, excited by the momentous happenings on that day.
Each double page reflects the difference between Maggie and her
mother celebrating with their families and the children of the past
being taken. One page has legs hiding Maggie as she loses sight of
mum, while the next shows the legs of the authorities rounding up
the children. Readers will enjoy recognising these parallels and
marvel at the skill of the illustrator, Dub Leffler, a descendant of
the people of south west Queensland, the Bigambul and the
Mandambarji, underscoring the events of each day
With a foreword by Lee Joachim, Chair of Rumablara Aboriginal
Cooperative, a double page spread giving an outline of Sorry Day and
its history, and photos on the last pages, the book offers an
insight into the celebration of Sorry Day and why it was
established, making it a must read for any library and classroom to
initiate discussion, inform, delight and educate.
The front cover is stunning, with the colours of the Aboriginal flag
subtly forming the background, the young girl focussed on looking
ahead and the grasses in one corner offering a link to the past, and
I love the fold out page towards the end where all the themes come
together, everyone looking forward together. Teacher
notes are available on the NLA website.
Fran Knight
Turtle Trackers by Samantha Wheeler
UQP, 2018. ISBN 9780702259951
(Age: 9-12) Recommended. Ten year old Isaac lives with his widowed
mother in a caravan park in seaside Queensland. They are the park
caretakers and the huge workload impacts on their lives, ensuring
Isaac has very little free time during his holidays. His passion is
for the migrating turtle species who arrive on the nearby beaches
every year to lay their eggs. These eggs are at risk from marauding
dogs, visiting tourists and feral wildlife. Isaac wants to be an
official turtle tracker, someone who watches over the turtles and
their nests, but his commitments in the caravan park make it
impossible for him to fulfil his dream.
To add to the pressure, visiting travel blogger Eddie Eastwood is
visiting the caravan park with his unleashed, mischievous dog Bella
and it looks as though a poor review will be forthcoming . . . bad
news for his Mum and her future employment with the owners of the
park, the local council.
Isaac has a strong environmental passion which is evident in the
story and the author uses his voice to educate about the importance
of protecting turtles and the impact of pollution on the turtle
population. Only one in a thousand hatchlings will survive to
generate new eggs so it is important to be aware of the necessity of
protecting the turtle's future.
Although this book has a strong message to tell, the story
entertains and keeps the reader interested in Isaac and his hopes
and dreams.
For the reader that wants to learn more about turtles, the author
provides further information and links at the end of the novel. Turtle Trackers reminds me of another of Samantha Wheeler's
books Mister Cassowary, which gives an insight into the
prehistoric like cassowary, while telling an interesting story about
a boy and his family's past.
The bright primary colours on the jacket are appealing and clearly
identify the book's focus.
I recommend this novel to 9 to 12 year olds.
Jane Moore
Being Fishkill by Ruth Lehrer
Candlewick Books, 2018. ISBN 9780763684426
(Age: Mature14+) Being Fishkill focusses on 12-year-old
Carmel Fishkill who is named after a highway exit sign her mother,
Keely, glimpsed while giving birth in the back seat of a car. Her
life is complex and she decides that starting seventh grade in a new
school is an opportunity to reshape her image, now that her abusive
grandfather is dead, and her drug-addicted mother has vanished.
Starting with a name reversal, Carmel becomes the tough girl,
Fishkill, but her plan is thrown off course when the more precocious
but equally tough Duck-Duck Farina befriends her.
The novel is dark, with moments of lightness, as Fishkill quietly
'fights' to establish an identity that is not based on her
dysfunctional family. This narrative is about a search for
connections and also enters the realm of the first stages of
exploring sexual identity.
For me, as a reader, Fishkill and Duck-Duck seemed much older than
their 12 years, and that caused a block in the plausibility of their
characters.
There are flashbacks to a disrupted and disturbing life with her
mother and grandfather. This is countered with Duck-Duck's mother,
Molly. who welcomes her into the home.
There are many twists and turns in this novel which would keep the
reader engaged. Emotions and experiences are intense and at times
confronting.
I would recommend this for more mature readers of 14 years and up.
Maree Samuel
Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. ISBN
9780544947306
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Philip
K. Dick Award (2017). Themes: Dystopian fiction, Science
fiction, Murder, Birth control. Years after an environmental
disaster has devastated the world, killing millions, the Coast Road
in the US has developed a thriving culture, where birth control is
mandatory and people must earn a banner if they want to have a
child. In Haven, Enid has not only earned a banner but is an
Investigator, helping to solve problems and mediate when necessary.
When there is a suspected murder in another town she is sent to
investigate and uncovers more than she was anticipating. Bannerless is a sometimes bleak and very different take on a
dystopian future, with less emphasis on solving a crime but
exploring a society that allowed it to happen. Through a series of
flashbacks the reader follows the progress of Enid as she grows from
a restless young woman roaming the roads with Dak to a responsible
member of her community trusted to obey the laws that allow it to
flourish and to enforce them if necessary. People live together in
small groups, grow their own food and look after each other, putting
the needs of the community before individual needs. Cities no longer
exist and much of the technological knowledge that ruled the world
before its downfall has disappeared. The Coast Road people managed
to salvage what knowledge they thought was most important, birth
control being one of the major needs.
Vaughan, better known for her Kitty series, featuring a
werewolf, shows off her writing ability in Bannerless, bringing
alive a different and unique take on a dystopian future. Its themes
of birth control, self sufficiency, sharing and group living, as
well as the ethics surrounding the murder of a loner, make it a
fascinating and memorable read.
Pat Pledger
Fantastically great women who made History by Kate Pankhurst
Bloomsbury, 2018, ISBN 9781408878897
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Subjects: Women - History, Women -
Biography. Fantastically Great Women Who Made History looks
at the lives, discoveries and achievements of many important women
from Hatshepsut in Ancient Egypt to Russian astronaut Valentin
Tereshkova. Kate Pankhurst's has an engaging and unique presentation
design, interweaving fun and interesting factual information with
stylish cartoon characters, bold coloured text boxes and visually
engaging fonts and sizes.
'To make history you need to be brave, bold and believe in yourself
- just like the women in this book.' The book begins with Harriet
Tubman who helped many runaway slaves escape through the Underground
Railroad between 1850 and 1860 in Maryland. Flora Drummond fought
for women's equality and for the right to vote in Edwardian England,
as did the author's relative Emmeline Pankhurst. Chinese Qiu Jin
wrote poems, articles and gave speeches about the unfair treatment
of Chinese women, in the late 1800's. She was passionate about the
cruel practice of feet binding and encouraged her students to
secretly rebel against the old-fashioned government rulers. English
inventor Ada Lovelace designed a flying machine in 1828 when she was
just twelve, and later worked with Charles Babbage on his Difference
Engine.
Pankhurst travels through history, focussing on inspirational women,
some famous and others who have made important contributions to
women's rights, people's lives and living conditions across the
arts, literature, music and world issues. Pankhurst concludes with a
challenge 'How will you make history?' Fantastically Great Women
who made History is an excellent resource suited to Humanities
and Social Sciences from Year 2-Year 9 reflecting on women's
influences in the shaping of Australia and the world.
Rhyllis Bignell
Wildcat Run by Sonya Spreen Bates
Ill. by Kasia Charko. Orca Book Publishers, 2018. ISBN 9781554698301
(Age: 6+) Tommy, Jake and Lexie are on the slopes. The cousins have
been skiing for a week, but Jake's Dad twisted his knee on the last
run and had agreed they could do one more run, provided they stick
to the easy levels. Tommy is Jake's little brother, though he's
improved a lot, he is less confident than Jake and Lexie. Once
they're on the chair lift, it doesn't take much for Lexie to
convince her the boys to try Wildcat Run.
The ski trail itself was an old logger's run, unlike its namesake,
there haven't been wild cats on the mountain for years . . . until
now. What are those tracks? What can they hear near the stream?
Jake, Lexie and Tommy are suddenly in a race for their life down the
hill, except Lexie has an accident and the trio has to think a bit
more laterally.
In this easy read novel, with Jake as the narrator, the reader
experiences Jake's ability to lead his cousins to safety, showing
survival skills and all the while has a low literacy need. Readers
as young as six will easily follow the storyline, so it would also
be good as an introduction to narratives or as a read-aloud at
bedtime for younger readers. I especially enjoyed the interspersed
thought commentary Jake uses to help him problem-solve. For example,
" I am a downhill racer, going for another practice run . . . this
time I'll get a personal best".
At times the book is similar to Secret Seven or Famous
Five where the children have to use logic and smarts to
survive a situation. It is also part of a series, where the
characters refer back to other adventures they've shared. Those who
enjoy adventure will love this quick read.
Clare Thompson
Bird builds a nest by Martin Jenkins
A Science Storybook about Forces. Ill. by Richard Jones.
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406355130
(Ages: 3-7) Highly recommended. Themes: Forces, Push and Pull. In
the front matter we are given a brief introduction to forces: "This
is a book about forces. A force is something that makes an object
move, stop moving or change direction. We can apply a force by
pushing or pulling". The collage-like illustrations using earthy
colours are beautiful, depicting flowers and trees from the
endpapers and throughout. The narrative story itself is
distinguished from the information by different and larger type. The
story can be read alone but it also works very well when read
alongside the informative text. The explanations are clear and easy
for even the smallest children to understand. We are introduced to
Bird and follow her through the day as she builds her nest in
preparation for laying her eggs. First, she is hungry so she needs
to pull a worm out of the ground. The small text reads, "Bird is
getting ready to pull the worm. When you pull something, you are
applying a force towards you".
The illustrations support the explanation perfectly and allow young
children to tell the story using pictures alone (we see bird
straining to pull a large, strong worm and struggling to pick up
heavy and long twigs). It is made clear that some things are
possible for Bird based on her size and strength ("Bird can carry:
this quite large twig or two medium-sized twigs or three or four
small twigs") and some tasks are not possible or difficult (it shows
Bird exerting force on the actual nest that she is building as she
moves around it pushing it with her body). These are things that
children can actually relate to (pushing things with their body, the
ability to pick up things of different weights, sizes and
strengths). The book also touches on gravity and might lead to
discussions about how things can be a similar size but different
weights (she can carry many feathers and dried grass at once because
they are very light).
This is a really clever introduction to forces for those beginning
to understand the world around them and developing their scientific
vocabulary. The conversational tone is gentle and calm. At the end
of the book, there is an idea for an easy experiment using a ball of
clay and a ping-pong ball, which will be suitable for classrooms and
homes alike.
Nicole Nelson
P is for Pearl by Eliza Henry Jones
ISBN: 9781460754931.
HarperCollins, 2018. IBSN 9781460754931
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Recommended. Themes: Teen romance.
Grief. Friendship. Mental illness. Family. In a small coastal
country town lives 17-year-old Gwendolyn P. Pearson, a young lady
who is still struggling with the sudden death of her young brother
and her mother that occurred several years ago. She lives with her
stepmother, older stepbrother, Tyrone, younger half-sister, Evie,
and her dad who refuses to talk about her mother, and is too distant
to ever hold a proper conversation with her. After an incident at
the cafe where Gwen works with her best friend Loretta, Gwen is left
flooded with memories of her mother's and brother's death. She tries
to piece scattered memories of her mother together and grasp onto
the fading memories of her brother and this leaves Gwen unsettled
and full of sleepless nights. She tries to gain clarity by running
along the beach but all she can do is remember the stories her
mother told her, about mermaids existing and the white caps in the
water being mermaids. Now whenever she sees the whitecaps she longs
to believe it's her brother and mother waiting to see her again one
day even though that is too good to be true. However, when two new
city kids, Ben and his twin sister Amber, move into town things
within their high school change causing minor disturbances,
revelations and possible romance. P is for Pearl is a slow paced novel; the type of book you
can pick up, read a few chapters of, put down and read another book
then come back to it, remembering where you left off. This novel
would suit slow but persistent readers, that enjoy semi depressing
novels. Similar books to P is for Pearl would be Girl
in pieces by Kathleen Glasgow and Small
spaces by Sarah Epstein.
Emily V. (Student)
Can I touch your hair? by Irene Latham and Charles Waters
Carolrhoda Books, 2018. ISBN 9781512404425
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. This book is a collection of poems
written by Irene who is white and Charles who is black. These poems
delve into the differences related to race, mistakes, friendship
even hair. Can I touch your hair? is written like a school project with
two students who don't know each other having to work together on a
poem project. By the end of the book they start to look beyond their
differences and look at what they have in common.
It could be used as a teaching tool for a poetry project helping
people to get to know each other, to encourage people to look at
others' points of view on everyday things like hair, shoes, beach and
church.
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it for 10+.
Karen Colliver
Paris Syndrome by Lisa Walker
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9781460755242
(Age: Adolescent) This seemingly light-hearted story, as adolescent
fiction, touches on important aspects of the decisions of young
people who are becoming aware of themselves and their role in the
world. Covering fantasy, dreams, sexual awakening and love, Walker
takes us into the lives of a young woman, Happy (Happiness) Glass,
who is obsessed with all things French. The "Paris Syndrome"
dominates her life, and when all things French are part of her
city's celebrations, she finds herself caught up in more than she
had expected.
Lisa Walker captures the angst of adolescence in a well-constructed
and believable narrative, with adults in that world offering gentle
support and wise guidance for the young woman. Happy faces more than
just the light-hearted world of adolescence as she seeks to enjoy
life at the same time as she is faced with the risks of letting down
her guard, revealing who she really is to someone who may or may not
like her for this. Wisdom is there in plenty, from wonderfully
crafted interactions with older family and friends, particularly
Professor Tanaka, whose wisdom and kindness enable Happy to come to
terms with herself. This is a good text both for adolescent reading,
and for those who work with adolescents.
Elizabeth Bondar
My trip to the supermarket: Activity and sticker book by Samantha Meredith
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2018. ISBN 9781408883686
(Age: 4+) Recommended. "Work your way around the supermarket and
discover all the amazing things you can buy! Find your way through
the maze of aisles to the checkout counter, count how many loaves of
bread are in the baker 's basket, help the shop assistant stack the
empty shelves and much more." (Publisher)
This activity book has a selection of activities to maintain
interest. The stickers are bright and of a variety of sizes to match
the page they are designed for.
It could be used to talk about shopping and the sorts of things you
get when you go to the supermarket.
I recommend this book for 4+.
Karen Colliver
What the Fluffy Bunny said to the Growly Bear by P. Crumble
Ill. by Chris Saunders. Koala Books, 2018. ISBN 9781742761084
(Ages: 3-7) Rhyming Book. This is about a funny game of Chinese
whispers and while amusing it doesn't quite hit the mark. "There's a
surprise birthday party for Zebra. Wear a hat! Bring a cake! Pass it
on." Each time the message is wrongly remembered with humorous
results ("Wear a rat!", "Bring a snake!", etc). Young children will
like the silliness of the concept as well as one of the last pages
where all the animals turn up to the party (wearing meerkats, rats
and acrobats and carrying snakes, shakes and rakes) but the final
page tries to be a bit too clever and will probably go over their
heads. It might even take adults a couple of reads to get the joke.
This is a nice idea but lacks oomph at the end. In addition, the
illustrations are disappointingly sparse and blandly coloured and
the style seems inconsistent.
Nicole Nelson
Flamingo boy by Michael Morpurgo
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008134648
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: World War Two, Gypsies, Nazis,
Bullying, Flamingoes, Animals, Trust, Vincent van Gogh. At the end
of his final year at school, Vincent dons a backpack and walks
though the Camargue in Southern France, once the home of Vincent the
name on the painting which has always been in his bedroom. Suddenly
ill, he is befriended by a woman and man who share a house: Lorenzo
is a seemingly simple man, devoted to his animals, and the woman,
Zia, once a gypsy, cares for him as a lifelong friend would.
One night Zia begins her story, allowing Vincent to see what lies
beneath their friendship, how they came to share a house, and the
tale of how they survived the war.
Morpurgo layers story upon story in this mesmerising account, as he
rounds out each of the main characters, filling in their backgrounds
as we read. Each story is intimate and revealing, reflecting the way
we should all behave in the face of tyranny and injustice.
Zia's family owns a carousel which they play each year in the local
town. Lorenzo loves to ride the horse on the carousel and the two
families grow closer. Zia hates school where she is bullied for
being a gypeo, and Lorenzo's mother offers to teach her at the farm.
When the Nazis take over the area, the gypsy family moves to the
farm, a place of safety away from prying eyes, as gypsies are one of
the groups sent to prison camps.
Here Lorenzo shows Zia his hospital shed where he cares for injured
animals, especially the flamingo a familiar sight in the Camargue as
they nest there every year. But people stealing the flamingo eggs
are stopped by Lorenzo and his father, and in retaliation tell the
authorities where the gypsy family is hiding.
This is yet another masterful story from Morpurgo, giving the
readers a revealing tale of World War Two, making it more intimate
by placing it within a small community, wrapping it with
environmental concerns, reflecting the schemes of the Nazi invaders,
but tempering it with sympathy shown by the man in charge.
Readers will recognise the bullying which occurs on many levels: the
children as they taunt the 'flamingo boy', and Zia, the gypsy girl,
the Jewish teacher removed from the school, the townspeople
informing on the family hiding at the farm and the Nazi thugs who
take the family from the farm, showing readers how easy it is to
denigrate others.
Zia and Lorenzo are still friends and Morpurgo ties the story
together with Vincent van Gogh, the name he started with, who killed
himself because he was so alone. Morpurgo makes his point with
composure in this highly readable book.
This novel is most suitable for middle school readers, and teachers
wanting a novel to initiate discussion around the idea of bullying
in all of its forms, from Nazism to that found in the community and
classroom.
Fran Knight
