Olivia series. Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471164224
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Spying. With seven books about Olivia
published, children will be thrilled to see another outing for this
wonderful character.
Olivia is in her mother's bad books, again. She has used the blender
to make a blueberry smoothie, but in spite of being told to be
careful and not overfill the appliance, she does, and it splashes
all over the kitchen leaving a ghostly outline of Olivia on the
wall. She puts dad's white shirts in the washing machine with her
red socks! The reader knows she is in trouble, and will snigger
happily anticipating where the story may take them. She overhears
her mother on the phone, complaining of Olivia's lack of foresight,
asking whether she will ever grow up, and suggesting that she might
have to be sent somewhere else to find some sense. Olivia finds that
she is interested in what her mother says, and resolves to listen in
whenever she can. She becomes a spy, and blends in with her
surroundings to overhear conversations.
Readers will laugh out loud at her attempts to remain hidden,
pointing out her features concealed on the pages.
But of course she hears something which is upsetting, she overhears
the word 'institution' and asking her teacher next day what this
word means, finds that sometimes it means a prison.
She is distraught and so when her mother tells her she has a
surprise and to get ready to go out, she is ready to be sent to
prison. Imagine her delight when it is the ballet they come to see,
but there is another twist in the tale for readers, as nothing
Olivia does is straightforward. A cautionary tale told in the most
delightful way, Olivia's adventure will have readers laughing out
loud as they recognise the adage 'eavesdroppers never hear anything
good about themselves'. Wonderful illustrations compliment the
story, showing Olivia in all manner of disguise as she attempts to
avoid being seen.
Fran Knight
Say yes: a story of friendship, fairness and a vote for hope by Jennifer Castles
Ill. by Paul Seden. Allen & Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760294670
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Voting. Referendum. Australian history.
Aboriginal history. The story of the 1967 referendum which gave
Aboriginal people the right to be included in the census as well as
the right to a federal government making laws on their behalf is
given in this non fiction story told through the eyes of two
friends. It seems a sorry thing that Aboriginal people were not
included in such basic rights prior to 1967 and will, I imagine,
shock many readers.
An event that occurred fifty years ago is revisited here with the
question of how much things have changed for Aboriginal people. Two
young girls sit together on a hot summer's day but when they decide
to go to the swimming pool, one is not welcome. They go to the
pictures but again, one is not welcome. When her grandmother is ill,
and the family tries to board a train to go and see her, they are
told they are not allowed to leave their state. Basic things but the
law of the time restricted what Aboriginal people were allowed to
do.
As a consequence, two women in particular stood up and demanded that
the law be changed. Jessie Street and Faith Bandler were at the
forefront of the referendum debate, asking for change to occur. An
overwhelming number of Australians (90.77%) voted yes to the
question put to them, and as a consequence, Aboriginal people are
included in the census and laws made by the federal government apply
to them as citizens of Australia.
In this simply told tale, it is salutary to see that such laws
existed, that Aboriginal people were not seen as Australian
citizens, and so to ponder the question about how far things have
changed.
Fran Knight
Jack of Spades by Sophie Masson
Eagle Books, 2017. ISBN 9780994528001
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Mystery. France. Historical fiction. Spy
stories. Mystery, spies, hints of romance and adventure are linked
together in this drama for teen readers. Sophie Masson has set this
story in 1910 France and has introduced a young British heroine
(Rosalind, or as she prefers, Linda), who is unwittingly seduced
into a political mystery involving potential 'terrorists' keen on
destroying the socio-political status quo. Linda's father, a
renowned Shakespeare expert, has gone missing. Linda's impressive
common sense and independent thinking, with her ability to read
clues and interpret meaning is put to the test. Who can she trust,
and is her own life in danger?
This book is written in a style reminiscent of early 20th century
crime or spy novels. The opening chapter is perhaps a little
'clunky' as Masson attempts to give background detail in order to
introduce Linda and the 1910 setting. But the action ramps up
quickly and the suspense and dramatic urgency (with a small dose of
humour en route) is interlaced into the spy scenarios. Without the
sophistication of an adult spy novel, it will still appeal to young
readers who will connect with the young, intelligent protagonist. It
is suited to readers aged 13+, with some capacity for understanding
political movements that might lead to terrorist action with
murderous intent (eg Fenians, Nihilists), but who enjoy mystery and
adventure. The 1910 setting adds appeal, simply because it is a
reminder that the world used to have to function without mobile
phones, internet and email and the rapid spread of information. A
spy novel in this time was heavily reliant on mailed letters!
Carolyn Hull
What's where on Earth? Atlas ed. by Chris Hawkes
DK London, 2017. ISBN 9780241228371
This is an ideal reference tool for young readers who want to see
the world at a glance, rather than having to click through screens
that can become confusing and lost. Clearly divided into 10
sections - each continent, Early Earth, Polar Regions, The Oceans
and Reference - it brings the planet's geography alive with 3D maps,
lots of pertinent facts and illustrations about the landscape,
population, landmarks, climate and wildlife. Each section also
takes a particular focal point and expands on it - South America is
the Amazon Basin; Australia and Oceania is New Zealand - providing a
ready reference tool that kept both Miss Nearly 11 and Miss 6 poring
over its pages on a recent wet afternoon.
Globes and maps have a fascination for children - they love to
discover where they came from, where their family and friends might
be and also the settings of their favourite stories so to have a
book that provides not just maps but so much more is a treat.
While many school libraries are doing away with their reference
collections, having a beautiful volume like this on permanent
display so students can flick through it at their leisure will not
only grab their attention but may have them demanding more
information about a particular region.
Miss Nearly 11 was particularly fascinated by the Early Earth
section as she knows Australia is ancient and we regularly drive
through an area littered with huge granite boulders, the remnants of
long ago mountains now weathered away. Miss 6 liked Australia
but also New Zealand where she had a holiday in 2015!
Definitely something for everyone which would be a superb addition
to the collection that students will keep returning to.
Barbara Braxton
Charlotte and the rock by Stephen W. Martin
Ill. by Samantha Catterill. Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143785309
Like many young children, Charlotte wanted a pet. She didn't care
what sort of pet, even a pig would do, so she was very surprised to
see what her parents bought her for her 6th birthday, it wasn't a
dog, or a cat, or a hamster or even a pig - it was a rock! A large
rock.
Even though it wasn't quite what she expected, nevertheless she
tried to remain positive and look for its good points. It was a good
listener, quiet, easy to train, and hypoallergenic. But it was
tricky to take it for walks, and wouldn't eat her broccoli and the
teacher didn't believe her homework excuse. But being resourceful
she soon learned to make the best of her pet and learned to love it.
She would just like it if it could love her back. And then one night
...
Even though the rock appears to be an inanimate object, both
Martin's text and Catterill's illustrations give it a life through
Charlotte's interactions with it. There is subtle humour in this
story that will appeal to young readers, especially as Charlotte
attempts to take her rock for a walk and for a swim, and there is
more to discover with each reading. This is a story about dealing
with the unexpected, looking on the bright side and being careful
what you wish for. It is positive and uplifting and will bring a lot
of joy to young readers.
Barbara Braxton
Beyond the bright sea by Lauren Wolk
Corgi Childrens, 2017. ISBN 9780552574303
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Historical. Belonging. Sometimes a
book comes along that lingers in the mind and Beyond the bright sea
is one of those wonderful lyrical and heart wrenching stories.
Twelve-year-old Crow was found drifting in a small boat when she was
just a few hours old. Rescued by Osh, a lonely man, she has been
brought up by him and Miss Maggie, a neighbour across the sandbar.
She is a curious person and when she sees a fire on the island
across the water, she begins to piece together her own history. Her
discoveries lead her and her companions into danger, as the mystery
of her birth and the strange occurrences on the island of Penikese
in Massachusetts begins to unfold.
Beautifully described, the life that Crow leads on the island in the
1920's comes alive. She is intelligent and intuitive and really
wants to know where she came from and why many people avoid her. She
is dearly loved by Osh and Miss Maggie but discovering why she was
set adrift as a new born begins to obsess her. As she uncovers the
truth surrounding her birth, she also begins to understand the true
meaning of family and belonging.
At the same time, Wolk has woven in a mystery surrounding Penikese,
the island that had been the home of lepers in the past. Crow is
integral in solving who is the evil man haunting the island and what
has happened to long lost pirate treasure.
The Note at the back of the book details the research that provided
the background of the leper colony and the shipwrecks that occurred
in the seas surrounding the islands.
Beautifully written, this is an outstanding story. With its focus on
belonging, identity and prejudice it would make a wonderful read
aloud or a class novel or literature circle novel.
Pat Pledger
The recorded poems of Och Aye the G'nu by Jimmy Barnes
Ill. by Kat Chadwick. Five Mile Press, 2017. ISBN 9781760407070
Hardcover, 96 pages and CD
(Age: 4+) Recommended. The Recorded Poems of Och Aye the G'nu
is a wonderful collection of funny, rhyming stories written by Jimmy
Barnes in collaboration with The Wiggles. From the inviting tartan
cover to the bonus CD with Barnes's distinctive voice and animated
reading, accompanied by musical trills and interludes, this is a
delightful experience. Kat Chadwick's fun line drawings bring the
characters to life.
Young Och Aye the G'nu is a talented wildebeest who loves to sing,
dance and play the bagpipes, dressed in his Scottish kilt. He is a
crowd pleaser who enjoys the accolades of his fame, and even the
Queen and the Prince and the Great Grand Wazoo love to watch his
antics. 'Every wildebeest needs a good friend who is true' and Kanga
fits this supportive role very well. He is there to cheer him up
with African songs when Och Aye is missing his homeland and even to
share food and blankets.
In seven easy to read chapters Och Aye experiences a sea cruise,
buys new shoes, gets the flue, sings the blues and celebrates a
birthday.
Listening to the CD adds to the fun and excitement of sharing these
humourous tales, perfect for families and classes as they join in
and predict the rhyming words. The Recorded Poems of Och Aye the
G'nu is ideal for a young reader to develop their confidence
and independence. A wonderful text to use for Early Years English,
students can build on their understanding of patterns of repetition,
and use the writing style to create more adventures for Och Aye and
Kanga.
Rhyllis Bignell
Clementine Rose and the wedding wobbles by Jacqueline Harvey
Ill. by J. Yi. Penguin, 2017. ISBN 9780857987907
(Age: 6-10) Highly recommended. Themes: Weddings, Family Life,
Mothers and daughters, Mysteries, Film making. Penberthy House is
buzzing with excitement; everyone is busy with the wedding
preparations, the presentation of Basil Hobb's film documentary on
historic homes and of course there is another mystery to solve.
Clementine Rose is positively 'fizzing with excitement', she is
nervous about introducing the film in character as her great
grandmother and concerned about the possibility of her flower girl
dress not being finished on time. Clementine's great Aunt Violet
changeable character and secretive actions cause some concern as
well. One minute she grumpy and hiding secret letters and the next
she's busy dashing through the countryside chasing the missing
wedding flowers.
Harvey's characters are wonderfully named, beautifully described and
imbued with range of enjoyable qualities. Of course, there is the
over-the-top wedding planner extraordinaire Sebastian Smote, whose
visions include an aviary filled with doves and a cherub fountain
for the front garden. He greatly tests Aunt Violet's patience as
well. Why does she become overly protective of young Clemmie and why
does the mysterious guest from Sweden threaten their family's
happiness? The wedding celebrations, the ceremony and reception are
a delight to read; there is the delectable wedding feast, the
stylish dancing, the dessert dilemma and Clementine Rose's near
disaster with her flower girl dress.
Jacqueline Harvey's series are extremely popular, as they contain a
perfect mix of adventure, fun, mystery and excitement. In this
thirteenth novel in the series, Clementine Rose finally understands
more about her family origins and realises that a true family is all
about those people who love you and care for you.
Rhyllis Bignell
AFL Factivity 2 by Michael Panckridge
Puffin, 2017. ISBN 9780143785330
For those who follow AFL this bright colourful, carefully
constructed factivity book is the ideal accompaniment as fans of all
ages can test their knowledge, learn new things and participate in
some brain-tingling activities that focus on their favourite sport.
Some of the activities are challenging, such as writing a player
profile for the back of the Crunchy Crispies cereal pack; others
will require some research while there are also the usual word
searches and the like. However, it can also be used as a teaching
resource as many of the activities can be made open-ended, having
students apply the challenges to a sport of their choosing or to
have them create a similar challenge for their chosen sport.
Developing your own crossword involves a lot more than just
completing one.
Hooking kids into learning by engaging them with their passion is a
surefire way of getting them to learn-by-stealth so even the most
reluctant readers can find something that will help them understand
reading does have a purpose, it can be fun and it IS for them. A
double sheet of stickers at the end could add to the motivation!
Barbara Braxton
The pearl thief by Elizabeth Wein
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781484717165
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Crime fiction. Scotland. Historical
fiction. Prejudice. When Julia returns from Switzerland to help her
family clear out her grandfather's estate before a school takes over
the house, she arrives a few days early and goes for a walk in the
valley, aware it will be for the last time. But she wakes three days
later in hospital, hair shaved and a blinding headache, while the
nursing staff treat her with contempt. She was found unconscious by
a group of Travelers and the resultant newspaper headline and her
scrappy clothes did not endear her to the hospital staff. Prejudice
against the Travelers was well ingrained in the 1930's. But back at
home, where she and her family are living in just a few rooms while
they pack, she finds that her Grandfather's pearls are missing, the
pearl price paid by the Travelers generations ago to use the land
each year, along with those he found in the waterways on their
estate. But when the curator sent from Oxford to catalogue the
estate's trove, also vanishes, Julia begins to take a closer
interest in the artefacts and the man's disappearance. With her
memory of the circumstances when she was struck slowly returning,
she puts herself in danger. She wants to find out what happened to
her, and in trying to find more evidence in the water where she was
when hit, finds a jar with the stolen pearls. She and her brother,
Jamie, alone with the Traveler twins Euan and Ellen who rescued her,
make a decision about what to do with the pearls. And again they are
all in danger.
With a wonderful setting amongst the hills in Perthshire this page
turning story with hints of the nineteenth century stories of
Stevenson and Scott, as well as nods to Robbie Burns, the tale will
appeal to mid secondary readers who relish crime stories. With
elements of a cosy but full of rounded beguiling characters, a touch
of romance and a style which will remind readers of Agatha Christie,
Patricia Wentworth or Dorothy Sayers, this is
a prequel to the highly successful, Code name Verity, and Rose
under fire. The pearl thief will delight readers with
its setting, construction, characters and plot twists. Wein cleverly
shows the changing attitudes to women through Julia and Ellen, and
their changing circumstances reflect the changes in society as a
whole, as the titled family moves from its ancestral home, and the
Travelers find it difficult to find a place to camp.
Fran Knight
Wombat warriors by Samantha Wheeler
UQP, 2017. ISBN 9780702259586
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. Conservation. Wombats.
Confidence. Mouse (real name, Minnie) is a young girl who needs to
stay with her Aunt Evie for an extended period in rural South
Australia while her parents are overseas. Mouse reflects her name in
that she is shy and lacking confidence and the thought of going to a
new school fills her with fear. Anxieties are set aside when Mouse
discovers that Aunt Evie shares her house with a rather affectionate
Wombat and a curious duck. Living in a rural environment, Mouse soon
discovers that local farmers do not share her enthusiasm for the
friendly wombats. A new friend who also shares her passion for
wombats and a school project that gives her a reason to explore ways
that wombats can co-exist with their human neighbours creates the
'Wombat Warriors'. Even in the face of opposition, Mouse's concern
for the safety of her friend and for the threatened wombats gives
her reason to speak out and make a difference.
There is enough adventure and emotional growth in this story to make
it interesting on a number of levels, and will appeal to animal
lovers and those concerned about environmental issues as well.
Carolyn Hull
Baby Band by Diane Jackson Hill
Ill. by Giuseppe Poli. New Frontier Publishing, 2017. ISBN
9781925059779
(Age: 3-5) Ukulele playing author Diane Jackson Hill's new picture
book Baby Band celebrates the power of music, its ability to
create moods and emotions and bring a community together. Giuseppe
Poli's charming pen, ink and watercolour illustrations support the
emotional tones of the simple text.
In an apartment block, the residents live separate lives; they never
interact, share a meal or notice each other's activities. On the
front endpapers, each one engages with the park musicians, singers
and dancers individually, while a pregnant mother rests alone on a
bench. Everything changes when the baby arrives in apartment 8A,
this little one cries all the time, day and night. Mum tries
everything to stop the loud wailing, to no avail. Everyone on level
8 is annoyed and nobody stops by to help. Time passes and the little
boy discovers the pots and pans, he laughs as he clangs the lid and
saucepan together. His noises cause the grandma next door to scream,
the teenager in 8C to dance and stomp and slowly through the
apartments, the music brings the place to life. Doors are flung open
and everyone hoots and hustles their way to the rooftop. Where did
the baby go? Is he somewhere safe and quiet? The final endpapers
show everyone singing, dancing and celebrating the joy of music
together at the park bandstand. Baby Band is a pleasing story, one that looks at the
importance of music in people's lives, as it brings a community
together, celebrating diversity and making the world a better place.
Rhyllis Bignell
Welcome home, Harley by Jess Black
Little paws series. Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143781776
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Dogs. Guide dogs. One in a series called Little
paws, this is a collaboration between Random and Guide Dogs
Association of Australia, bringing short easily read stories about
dogs to life for the newly independent reader. In this title, Lexie
and Tom go to the information session with their parents. Here they
learn all about the aims of the training schedule and what is
expected of them as trainers. The two are very excited when they
meet their dog, Harley, and learn why the dog was named. Given a
carrier, food, bowls and collars the family sets off home to
introduce the dog to their family home. Here it will stay, gaining
valuable training in what it means to be in a family and given a
wide variety of experiences. After a few hiccups in which the
children learn as much as the dog about being in a family, they
settle down to training the dog both at home and at preschool. Easy
to read, short, with some illustrations, these will appeal
enormously to the early reader and they will learn a lot along the
way about guide dogs, having a dog in the family and the
responsibility and care of an animal.
For more about these books see the Guide
Dogs Blog.
Fran Knight
Somewhere else by Gus Gordon
Viking, 2016. ISBN 9780670078851
Some birds fly north; some birds fly south; some birds take the bus
... but George Laurent doesn't go anywhere. It seems he is too
busy baking his scrumptious pastries to be able to explore the
world. Even when his world-travelling customers try to tempt him
with descriptions of a sunrise over the Andes, or Paris by night,
even the Alaskan tundra in autumn, George always has an excuse -
even the ironing is more important!!
But come the bleak, cold days when all his feathered friends have
disappeared to warmer parts and George is left alone, his only
remaining friend Pascal Lombard drops in looking for somewhere warm
for winter. He is puzzled that George has not gone with the others,
and slowly he manages to eke out the truth - George Laurent, baker
extraordinaire, does not know how to fly. When it was flying lesson
day all those years ago he had been doing something else and since
then he had just made excuses not to - even though he really would
have liked to have been able to go somewhere else. Pascal, who
believes he has a knack for solving tricky problems, is determined
to teach George how to fly but it is not until they see a picture in
a newspaper...
This is an engaging tale which will resonate with many children -
having a zillion reasons for not doing something you can't but are
expected to be able to do. As a teacher I was a master at detecting
avoidance behaviour because I lived it at home with my son, so as
soon as I started reading I knew there was an underlying issue. But
astute readers may well pick it up in the clues in the amazing
illustrations which use a variety of media, particularly collage.
From the carefully selected advertisements of old styles of luggage
on the endpapers, Gus Gordon has skilfully used pieces of print from
all sorts of sources to add depth, mystery and humour to the
exquisite illustrations. Every time you read it there is more to
peruse and ponder.
Time to get out the atlas and discover the places that George's
friends went and maybe even investigate the concept of animal (and
human) migration. Why are they always on the move? We can tell the
seasons where I live by the variety of birdlife that is present so
perhaps it's time to do an inventory of the local birdlife over time
- perfect real-life context for data collection and interpretation.
Or perhaps a physiological investigation into how most birds fly but
some can't and how this has been translated into human flight. Then
there is the philosophical question about "no place like home" as
George and Pascal discover something familiar is missing from their
travels. Some children might even learn from George and seek help to
find pathways around their own difficulties.
I love picture books that seem to be written for one age group but
with some consideration can transcend all ages, offering the prefect
reason to return to them again and again apart from just being an
absorbing story. A CBCA Notable for 2017, I was surprised this did
not make the shortlist.
Barbara Braxton
How to bee by Bren MacDibble
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760294335
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Bees, Dystopian fiction, Poverty.
Peony just wants to be a bee. She sees the others fall from the
branches of the fruit trees where they pollinate the flowers, and
knows the foreman will want two replacements the next day. Only ten
years old, she is quick and nimble, and she is thrilled to be able
to help her grandfather in keeping their little family fed. But her
mother arrives from the city with promises of better times if Peony
will only come with her. She struggles and runs away, but is
eventually recaptured and once in the city, sees her mother's life
for what it really is, a menial servant to the rich.
This is an eye popping addition to the genre looking at where our
society is going. The huge gap between the haves and have nots is
wider than ever, with one simply slaves to the other, with no power,
money or housing, while the use of pesticides has wiped out the bee
population and so flowers must be pollinated manually by the farm
workers, the lowest of the low. These people live in sheds on the
properties with no hope for ever making a better life for
themselves. But for Peony this is where her heart lies, with her
family.
Peony learns her new role in the city but yearns for home. In
becoming friendly with the housebound daughter of her employers, she
agrees to teach her to be brave, while Ez will show her how to leave
the city. Together the two plot Peony's escape, Ez becoming more
confident as each day goes by.
When Peony finally escapes she must hitch a ride in a truck
returning to Goulburn Valley, and then must walk thirty kilometres
to their farm.
Her tenacity shines through, her strength of character and purpose
draw her on to reach her goal, and with a new friendship and a
change in the life of bees, finds that the future looks bright.
This charming story with the determined Peony at its heart will
enthrall middle school readers.
Fran Knight
