Ill. by Sheena Dempsey. New Frontier, 2018. ISBN 9781925594072
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Yoga babies by Fearne Cotton
is a gorgeous story which follows the daily routines and lives of
some very cute little people and their families. Each page shows a
different family and how a different Yoga pose has been incorporated
into their day. The pictures are beautiful and really entice the
reader into the book, with great colour, movement and spacing.
I have read this about 20 times to my 3 year old since receiving it
to review- she really loves it! We love the rhythm each page brings
and she is able to 'read' with me and say the last rhyming word of
the sentence. I have also watched her go from having no interest in
Yoga (and not knowing about it at all) to wanting to try the poses
and copy the children in the story. This book has lived next to her
bed and has certainly become a firm favourite in our night time
routine. I especially love the page where the mum has had a bad day
and then uses Yoga as a way to calm down and reset for the rest of
the day.
This book would also be a great addition to an early childhood
classroom, through its easy introduction to Yoga and simple,
realistic prompts within the story. An educator could read the book
at an appropriate wind down time, thus engaging the students with
the poses and hopefully allowing for a more relaxed group.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, both for the fun
rhythmic story and the beautiful, colour filled illustrations. 5 out
of 5 from myself and Miss 3!
Lauren Fountain
Splish, Splash, Ducky! by Lucy Cousins
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406376791
(Ages: 1-3) Themes: Rain, Rhyming Books. Lucy Cousins (Maisy)
brings her distinctive style to a new picture book about a duckling
and the joys of a rainy day. She uses the same bold black outlines
and vivid colours that have made her such a standout in the world of
toddler books. As in most of her books, animals, birds and flowers
are abundant and there is minimal background detail or fuss. Also
true to her past form, it has good rhythm and sounds great read
aloud. It uses simple and short rhymes with a repeated "quack,
quack, quack", which children will love joining in with. Duckling
loves playing out in the rain with his friends ("Into the pond to
play with the swans", "We shake our feathers in the rainy weather")
but when the rain stops he is feeling sad and heads off to find his
dad. This is a great change from the numerous books that use a
mother figure as the go-to parent. Dad makes him see that the sun
can also be fun, especially for some other creatures. There are lots
of action words (hop, squirm, hug, swim, shake) and water sound
words (drip, drop, plip, plop, splash, splish) and young children
will be able to relate this to their own experiences with the rain
and how it feels and sounds. This is simple, cheerful and vibrant
and will be a hit with the toddler crowd, especially those who are
fans of the Maisy books.
Nicole Nelson
Rain Fall by Ella West
Allen and Unwin, 2018, ISBN 9781760296834
(Age: 14+) Themes: Adolescence, Mystery, Murder, Coal Mining - New
Zealand.
"I'm not running late like I usually am. Maybe that's why I look in
the river, maybe that's why I stop when I see it. A dark-coloured
raincoat, the arms spread wide, floating, hood-first down the
river."
Set against the backdrop of a small New Zealand coal mining
community, this elemental adolescent story is centred around fifteen
year old Annie and her observations of rural life. Rain is a
constant force throughout, driving the action, the body in the
raincoat floats past Annie as she cycles to her basketball game.
West's description of rain, water, weather sets up the moody tone of
Rain Fall.
When her neighbour's house explodes and he's not found in the
wreckage, Annie searches for his hiding place. Riding her horse Blue
down to the rain soaked beach, she notices and scuffs out Pete's
footprints in the sand. Annie is an observer; she listens in to
conversations and watches out for the strangers who seem to be after
Pete.
A murder investigation brings a new police detective and his
seventeen year old son to Westport. Seventeen year old Jack
Robertson a professional rodeo competitor watches as Annie and her
chestnut horse hide the evidence of Pete's escape. Annie and Jack
secretly meet at the rain-soaked beach, riding their horses and
share stories about their lives. Jack probes her about her missing
neighbour and slowly they uncover the truth behind the raincoat in
the river. They begin a romantic relationship after she learns the
truth about Jack's supposed girlfriend in the US. When her father's
job driving the coal trains through the mountains is threatened,
Annie's family is forced to face up to some hard truths. Annie's
determination to find Pete, leads to a desperate confrontation in
rugged bushland. Pete, Jack and Annie are forced to flee from the
armed men who have been chasing Pete. They want the cache of hidden
explosives to continue their criminal activities. Rain Fall by Ella West looks at the environmental impact of
coal mining in New Zealand and the ongoing dilemmas faced by the
unemployed men and women. This emotive novel deals with violence and
murder and is suited to more mature teenage readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu
Penguin Books 2018. ISBN 9780141386836
(Age: 12+) Marie Lu brings Batman into the twenty-first century as
an eighteen-year old coming into his inheritance. After an impulsive
joyride, Bruce Wayne finds himself doing community service at Arkham
Asylum where he meets Madeline Wallace, a ruthless killer with a
soft spot for billionaire orphans. Unwilling to talk to anyone else,
Bruce and Madeline soon strike up a strange, distrustful
relationship as they try and understand one another. Bruce allows
her to dupe him multiple times, even getting him arrested for her
escape. But Bruce Wayne isn't the kind of man to simply sit in a
jail-cell when his friends are in danger - it is time for Batman to
emerge and save the day.
This portrayal of Batman is a lot more pacifist than I remember from
previous stories. Bruce acts in self-defence or else contains
threats with as little violence as possible. While I feel that the
films and comics are still superior, this is a much less violent
take on a well-known story. Bruce is not only less violent but more
moral, weighing up many of the decisions which could lead him into
disaster before making them. He is wary and apologetic, yet still
impulsive and strong.
With hesitation I recommend this for a mainly male audience age
twelve and up. I hesitate only for the violence portrayed
throughout, while it is toned back quite a bit, there is a lot of
emphasis on punches to the head which should not be encouraged.
Kayla Gaskell, 22
You could have been . . . by Anne-Marie Imrie
Ill. by Zheng Qu. Little Steps Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925545562
Highly recommended. This is a touching book that broaches the hard
to talk about subject of the loss of a baby.
This is a well written book that is sensitive while allowing the
opportunity to talk about the topic in an open and respectful way,
it starts off with what could have been and then talks about what
is. This book can be used to support someone talk about this
subject.
This book could also be used to assist in discussing this subject
with children.
The illustrations in this book tie the story together well.
This book also has information of places to go to for support on
this topic. Money from the sales of the book support the stillbirth
foundation.
I highly recommend this book.
Karen Colliver,/p>
The day they shot Edward by Wendy Scarfe
Wakefield, 2018. ISBN 9781743055199
(Age: 16+) In a modest household in 1916 Australia, a family
struggles to cope with life's challenges.
Nine year old Matthew occupies an uncomfortable position surrounded
by adults whose mysterious behaviour is seldom explained adequately
to him. His father (terrifying to the lad) lies dying of
tuberculosis, quarantined in a room sealed from the house, tended by
Matthew's mother and grandmother. Gran appears to be more of a
mother figure to Matthew, showing him love and doing the best she
can to guide him through difficult times as his mother seems unable
to cope with her disastrous marriage and financial hardship.
Charismatic Edward, a dockyard union organiser who is subversively
active in protesting against First World War conscription is a
frequent visitor to the house. Here he enjoys the company of
Mathew's beautiful mother, shares political ideology with Gran and
develops a genuinely affectionate, almost paternal relationship with
Matthew.
Matthew is shown to be deeply sensitive, acutely aware of the pain
and suffering of others and is bewildered by the attitudes and
actions of adults who move in his sphere. Strong, handsome and
intelligent Edward is afraid of nobody and Matthew understandably
idolises him, given that the kind man brings a sense of stability
and security to his life.
As powerful as Edward is, in terms of his personal physique and as a
leader of hardened working men in the union, he is naive in failing
to understand the reach of the undercover police and government
agents who investigate him. At a time when the Australian army was
mustering troops to support mother England, openly criticising the
commitment and engaging in strike action invited being considered a
traitorous anarchist by the establishment.
Luckily for Matthew, he finds friendship with Mr. Werther, his aged
German Headmaster. Together they share the world of music,
celebrating all that is gentle.
Rob Welsh
Butterfly Wishes: Tiger Streak's Tale by Jennifer Castle
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681193731
(Age: 6+) "Sisters Addie and Clara have just moved to a new house
where they discover that their backyard is a gateway to an enchanted
realm of magical butterflies. These special butterflies - called
Wishing Wings - have the power to make wishes come true!
A new butterfly named Tiger Streak has just emerged, but something
isn't right. She's under a curse that has her confused - she thinks
she's a bee because of her beautifully striped wings! Now, only
Addie and Clara can help her break the spell. But they have to do it
before the day is over or she'll lose her magic forever."
(Publisher)
Well who does not like a girlie book? With the eye-catching cover, I
am sure this will be a hit with young girls who are moving onto
chapter books. The text is reasonably large and set out like a novel
for the skilled reader. This will sit along-side the likes of Juliet,
Nearly a Vet, Clementine Rose and Violet Mackerel.
The storyline follows a traditional narrative but in all good books,
it has a happy ending! This is sure to become a popular series.
Suitable for ages 6 and up
Kathryn Schumacher
Visiting you - a journey of love by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg and Andrea Edmonds
EK Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925335668
There are many ways to visit Hope Meadows. But whether you go by
train, bus, tram or ferry, there is always someone sharing the
journey with you. And whether that is a scruffy, gruff man who is so
tall he can touch the roof without stretching who lives apart from
his daughter; a gruff and grouchy old man with hair like white fairy
floss and a big round nose whose wife has died; a grouchy and cross
girl with hair as black as night and ring through her nose whose
grandfather no longer remembers her; or a woman as big as a bear
with tattoos down her arms whose son may not recover from a
motorcycle accident; each has the same purpose and a similar story
to tell - the loss of someone they loved dearly, whom they miss
terribly and who brought joy and love to their lives. Each of them
love and miss their family member just as much as the little girl
loves and misses her dad, and while his journey has reached its
final destination, this love continues and brings joy.
Undeterred by outward appearances, the little girl asks each the
same question - Who are you visiting? - and in return discovers that
love is what binds us together regardless of how we present
ourselves to the world. Rather than focusing on physical
differences, it is the common humanity of the community and the need
to give and receive love that binds us. This commonality is echoed
through the repetitive style of the text and illustrations which
feature a pathway of love that connects the memories of each person.
This focus on our similarities rather than our differences is a
familiar theme of many stories for children, but Visiting You stands
out as it looks beneath the surface to our emotions and helps us
understand that really, all you need is love. That will carry you
through the most trying situations. It offers an opportunity for the
reader to reflect on those whom they love and the memories they
would share if something were to happen to that person, perhaps even
create a class journey of love so they can be reassured that there
is someone in their life who loves them as much as they love in
return.
Barbara Braxton
I'm a duck by Eve Bunting
Ill. by Will Hillenbrand. Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9780763680329
Highly recommended. Little duck is scared of the water, and worried
he will sink. Sometimes we all need to be brave to face something
that we know we should be able to do and this book looks at the
bravery needed by little duck to overcome his fear and the
satisfaction that he feels when he is successful.
This is a lovely story of how little duck with the support of his
family and friends is able to overcome his fear. This book can be
used to talk with children about their own fears.
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and they support the
text in telling this story.
I highly recommend this book for young children.
Karen Colliver
Lyla: Through my eyes by Fleur Beale
Through My Eyes: Natural Disaster Zones series. Allen and
Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760113780
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Themes: Earthquakes, New Zealand,
Disasters, Emergency services. 2011 saw a major earthquake in the
south island of New Zealand, shattering the lives of the inhabitants
of Christchurch, killing 185 people from all over the world and
leaving an immeasurable damage bill.
Against this, Fleur Beale has written a highly involving tale of one
family and its reaction to this event, bringing in their friends,
relatives and neighbours to give a reality that is unsurpassed. I
shuddered with them at each aftershock, and marveled as children
voted on the magnitude of the shock, or people went to their
emergency kits because there was no water in the pipes. It's the
little things that many people do not think about when an earthquake
occurs, that Beale has drawn these seamlessly into the drama of this
group's survival. When Lyla reaches home, walking from the city, she
surveys the neighbourhood, helping some, leaving notes for others to
come to her house. She gathers mattresses for beds, raids the
freezer for food to cook on the bbq and retrieves codeine for Matt
who is severely bruised.
All the while she fields questions from people who ring on the
landline, looks after the two young children from next door, while
their mother goes into the CBD to help, and waits for her parents,
one a policeman, one a nurse, to come home.
She is a stalwart of emergency procedure and organisation, recalling
effortlessly the drills they have all undertaken at school, putting
into practice things learnt from the most recent earthquake, a few
months before. As bits of Christchurch still shudder and fall around
them, power is restored in some areas, food is distributed and Lyla
takes a major risk to retrieve a friend's laptop.
The course of the few days sees Lyla reconsider her arrogant
neighbour Matt, a rugby fanatic in year eleven, who despite his
swollen ankle and shoulder, helps her where he can, offering support
and encouragement.
Her school is red stickered, and many of her friends' families have
decided to move away, so Lyla often feels alone until lessons are
resumed at another school, being bussed there in the afternoons,
with her classes piggybacking at the other school.
But months after the earthquake, Lyla falters and it is up to others
to come to her aid, and we see through Beale's story just how
emotional aftershocks can take hold. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
A skinful of shadows by Frances Hardinge
Macmillan, 2017. ISBN 9781509869305
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Caught between Catholics and
Protestants in the seventeenth century and wielding a dangerous
supernatural power, Makepeace must make herself as inconspicuous as
possible to have any chance at surviving in her father's family and
her Inheritance.
The night is dark and full of terrors for Makepeace, even more so
when she finds herself alone after her mother's death. Alone and
fool-hardy, the girl is desperate to learn more about the ghosts she
has always been told she must keep out. In doing so she soon finds
herself in more than one dangerous situation as something which is
scared and frightened finds itself trapped within her own mind. Sold
to her father's family to offset the burden of housing an insane
girl, Makepeace finds herself caged, a position both she and her
animal friend detest. Soon she learns to be one with Bear and
conceals him from her Elders and Betters. It is with Bear's help,
and that of her cousin, James, that she survives three years with
the Fellmottes and avoids her inheritance, or at least part of it.
Stronger than most of the family, Makepeace's fear of ghosts keeps
her wary and prepared to deal with those that would possess her, as
well as open minded to the possibilities and uses of saving those
souls she deems worthy. But is that enough to save her from the
dreaded inheritance?
Illuminating and engaging, Hardinge's novel draws the reader right
in alongside Bear and Makepeace as they fight for their freedom and
the freedom of the people. Highly recommended to lovers of fantasy,
particularly featuring animals or a medieval setting.
Kayla Gaskell, 22
Jack Fortune and the search for the Hidden Valley by Sue Purkiss
Alma Books, 2018. ISBN 9781846884283
(Age: Primary 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: Adventure, Orphans,
Botany. Sue Purkiss drew inspiration from the British botanist
Joseph Banks and the 'plant hunters' who ventured across the globe
often in dangerous situations to search of rare vegetation, seeds
and cuttings. In Jack Fortune and the search for the Hidden
Valley, a young orphan boy travels with his Uncle Edmund to
the Himalayas in a difficult and dangerous quest. This is
reminiscent of a Boy's Own adventure, filled with
quintessentially British characters who learn to rely on each other
and develop mettle in the face of challenges.
When Jack is orphaned he's sent to live with his Aunt Constance, who
despairs of his boyish pranks and mischievous actions. She's
promised his mother that Jack won't be sent off to boarding school,
so Uncle Edmund is called in to help deal with the situation. His
uncle is a naturalist about to embark on a plant gathering mission
to the foothills of the Himalayas and he reluctantly agrees to take
him along. Jack finds solace drawing in his father's sketchbook,
touching the picture of his mother's face. These secret skills
become very important as he records their travels, the plant
specimens they discover and the myths and customs of the people he
encounters on his journey to the hidden valley.
Along the way they meet with a maharajah, journey with Sherpas and
deal with monks who guard the sacred mountain, all the while
maintaining their very British habits. Through Jack's eyes we see
the wonder of others' lifestyles. He observes the young monks at the
monastery and hangs a prayer flag before he starts his search for
the blue rhododendron. Resilience, courage, overcoming grief and
growing in self-worth develop within Jack along the way.
The author creates scenes rich with imagery, colourful landscapes
and adds a quirky and interesting mix of characters. Jack
Fortune and the search for the Hidden Valley is an enthralling
read, opening up a new historical horizons.
Rhyllis Bignell
Mr Bambuckle's Remarkables fight back by Tim Harris
Random House, 2018. ISBN 9780143785873
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Things are looking dire for the students in
12B. Their teacher Miss Frost lives up to her name with her cold
demeanour and extreme discipline. Principal Mr Sternblast supports
her strict classroom regime. What hope is there for 12B who are
missing the flamboyant and caring Mr Bambuckle?
A mysterious message results in Miss Frost being transported across
the world and the return of Mr Bambuckle himself, with his unicycle,
eggs, bacon and fun teaching.
We get to know more about the 15 students (the 15 includes the
perpetually absent Peter Strayer) in the class, their fears, likes
and families. Each student is highlighted in an information box at
the beginning of the book. There are interesting inserts in the
story, such as notes passed between the students, conversations in
voice bubbles and examples of homework efforts.
The novel has a bright, attractive cover featuring Mr Bambuckle and
his students. James Hart's illustrations are also interspersed
throughout the novel.
This book follows the first novel Mr Bambuckle's Remarkables,
which has been selected as one of the 2018 CBCA notables. The short
list had not been released at the time of writing this review.
The children of 12B help each other and Mr Bambuckle encourages and
supports his students when they are in need. It is a crazy,
unpredictable and often hilarious novel.
Author Tim Harris, is a teacher and has an intimate knowledge of a
classroom and its workings. He is known for his series of books Exploding
Endings, described as short stories with an unpredictable end.
I recommend this book to 8 to 12 year olds.
A fun book trailer is available at this site.
Jane Moore
Kate and the thing by Heidi Cooper Smith
Wombat Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925563290
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Themes: Mental health, Depression,
Insecurity, Changing school. Being a new kid at school leaves Kate
feeling despondent. The others in her school have their own friends,
and are in groups playing when she arrives. She watches them from
behind the tree, unsure of what to do. The Thing which accompanies
her on the way to school stays with her all day, watching her play
with her breakfast, standing alone in the line, hiding behind the
tree.
The next day she hides under the bed, but the day is rainy and the
Thing loves puddles so draws her out to play in the rain. Playing
like this helps her to feel smiley, and going to school she sees
things which make her happier, and through that week, the Thing
becomes less of a partner in her life as her courage grows.
As her confidence builds she forgets all about the Thing and never
looks for him
One day she notices another new boy, sitting by himself and she goes
over to him, knowing that he feels despondent just like she had, and
becomes a companion.
This is a neatly told tale of adapting to change. It plays with the
idea of change and accepting change in your life, encouraging the
reader to feel compassion to the newcomers in their midst.
Fran Knight
Bird builds a nest by Martin Jenkins
Ill. by Richard Jones. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406355130
Highly recommended. This book about bird building a new nest ties in
science themes into the story in a way that they can be read as part
of the story or left out depending on the age of the audience.
Bird has a task that has to be completed, bird persists until the
job is finished.
This book could be used with primary age students when looking at
the topic of forces. Students could attempt to make their own nest
and see what forces they need to make the perfect nest. It gives a
different way to introduce STEM to students, that can make it easier
to relate to the topic.
I highly recommend this book for use in STEM.
Karen Colliver
