Australia's Great War series bk 4. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN
9781743622506
(Age:12+) Recommended. The fourth in Australia's Great War series
and published on the 100th anniversary of 1917, this novel concerns
Alex, a young airman making reconnaissance flights over the trenches
in Belgium.
I really like this series because these novels tell plausible
stories based on historical fact, using authentic characters who
reflect the real people revealed in the letters and documents
researched for the story. Gardiner continues the style, creating a
solid, captivating story which educates young Australians and allows
them to feel proud of those who served, without ever glorifying war.
Alex and his comrades are heroes, but they are very much afraid of
dying horribly in the ghastly war which seems without end. Flying
above the trenches and photographing everything in detail for
military analysis, the airmen observe the hellish conditions endured
by the infantry even though they return to relatively clean, safe
and warm billets upon landing. Their lot is no safer however as the
life expectancy of airmen was measured in days as they fell prey to
the enemy fighters flown by the likes of the famous Manfred von
Richthofen (Red Baron), and the anti-aircraft fire from the ground.
Sadly, a great many of their number also perished in flying
accidents, either in training or during active service on the front.
The narrative is carried along via letters between Alex and his
sister Maggie but this is balanced by descriptive passages in the
author's voice. Alex's family are pacifists who actively protest
Australia's continued participation in the war and particularly the
campaign by Prime Minister Billy Hughes to introduce conscription.
The family's aversion to the war places them in a vexing position
when Alex enlists for service, yet they of course share the same
fear for his safety experienced by every other family of soldiers,
sailors and airmen of the time.
The novel presents the Australian homefront very well. Civilians are
jaded and completely fed up with the war and suffer from shortages
and restrictions. Most of all, the population is sick of the endless
call for men to serve the war machine which kills so many and
returns the rest broken in body and spirit.
Content is not too gruesome for younger readers and I recommend the
novel for twelve years and over.
Rob Welsh
What not to do if you turn Invisible by Ross Welford
HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780008156350
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Genres: Fiction, Comedy, Magic. There
are many reasons to love this funny, playful, yet emotional book.
Some may know the author of this book through another of his
creations; Time Travelling with a Hamster. This book
undeniably conforms to its reputation. Its light and adventurous
themes didn't fail to entertain me, as much as it would a middle
grader, or for that matter - an adult. The reader follows a girl who
has 'horrendous' zits, and who just wanted a way to cure them. With
a sunbed and a mixture of untested medicines to cure her acne, she
may have found the secret to invisibility (You'll have to read it to
believe it). You cannot help but love the protagonist, Ethel, as she
develops in many ways through the book.
Ethel has come from a rocky past and lives with her Grandmother in
London. She is bullied for her excessive amounts of acne and deals
with many matters in her search for identity. She makes close
friends with a boy named Elliot, which is a testament to her
personality. Only through this cautionary tale, does she uncover a
mystery and discover her enlightened self.
I became consumed in the predicaments that you can imagine follow a
girl who can become invisible. I was constantly torn between anxious
suspense and guilty cries of laughter. The journey of the Ethel was
very fast paced, but the author didn't fail to carry me through each
scene and surround me with all of his heart-warming characters. The
character development was definitely a dominating feature, and
overall sold the story to me. The ending wrapped the story up
perfectly, without being too heavy, or conversely unstated.
The character of Ethel has certainly earned a place in my heart. I
would recommend this book to anyone from ages 10 to 100. You can
only benefit from enjoying this tale.
Ethan Russell (Student)
The ABC book of places to go by Helen Martin and Judith Simpson
Ill. by Cheryl Orsini. ABC Books, 2017. ISBN 9780733334283
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. The new addition to the ABC picture book
non-fiction series explores all the places families love, from the
backyard, library, to faraway lands. There are 'all kinds of
different places, some you know and some are new.'
Helen Martin and Judith Simpson's easy to read verses use familiar
words, alliteration and animal sounds as the text flows up and down
or follows the curves of paths travelled. The story is fun to read
aloud, and to share as a family, discussing each scene, the
different ages, lifestyles and situations presented.
Cheryl Orsini's lively scenes are bright and colourful, while
different characters, from young to old and family groups, make the
story visually appealing. The scenes are presented from different
viewpoints, above the action - bird's eye views, the medical
centre's open walls, the close-ups and picture maps. The ABC Book of Places to Go is an excellent resource for
Foundation Geography, where students learn about familiar places and
build connections to them.
Rhyllis Bignell
Happy Campers by Yvette Poshoglian
Ill. by Danielle McDonald. Ella and Olivia series, bk 18. Scholastic
Australia. 2017. ISBN 9781760157210
(Age: 5-7) Recommended. Ella and Olivia are sisters and best
friends. Ella is seven years old and Olivia is five-and-a-half years
old, they live with their mum, dad, and little brother Max. The
girls are very excited about their big summer camping trip. They are
sharing their fun holiday with their identical twin cousins, their
aunty and uncle, even Bob the puppy is included.
When the family car is packed to overflowing with the tent, bags,
camping gear, fishing rods and the totem tennis equipment, Dad
realises they need a bigger vehicle. Luckily, Nanna and Grandad have
a kombi van big enough for the family and all the gear.
After a long drive, Ella and Olivia help set up the tent and unload
the van then it is time to play with Josh and Charlie. Climbing tall
trees, sausage sizzles, toasting marshmallows, playing jokes and fun
games of totem tennis make this a great start to the holiday.
The Ella and Olivia series are written specifically for
young readers who are beginning to read enjoy simple plots and
relatable characters. The extremely large font and line drawings
support the transition from picture book to beginning novel. This is
the eighteenth book in this popular series.
Rhyllis Bignell
Frazzled: Everyday disasters and impending doom by Booki Vivat
HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780062663665
(Age: 9-12) Recommended. Themes: Confidence, Brothers and Sisters,
School Life, Emotions. Booki Vivat's debut novel Frazzled
introduces the emotion-charged writings and drawings of Abbie Wu, a
Chinese-American girl about to journey into the great unknown -
Pointdexter Middle School. Abbie suffers from middle child syndrome,
Peter her older brother is good at everything and he has all the
trophies to prove it. Sweet six-year-old Clara is her confident
little sister, a wonderful artist who is all ready to start
kindergarten. Then there is Abbie whose anxiety is overwhelming her
life; she believes 'nothing good ever happens in the Middles.' Even
her mother brushes off her daughter's concerns, busy with being a
single parent she does not really understand Abbie's anxieties.
Even her best friends are looking forward to middle school: actress
Maxine is excited to join the drama elective and Logan is excited to
hone his skills as part of the computer gaming and programming
group. Abbie however is so concerned with her lack of talents - she
is uncoordinated, prone to stage fright, tone-deaf and
technologically confused, she believes that everything is hopeless.
Abbie's hopes and dreams of delicious school cafeteria lunches are
crushed. While the eighth graders enjoy tasty meals, the rest of the
school lines up to receive standard soggy vegetables and bland
mystery meat meals. Without an elective choice, Abbie joins all the
loners and troublemakers in study hall. Here, Abbie finally
discovers her special abilities.
Vivat's fun pencil and ink illustrations perfectly display Abbie's
emotional lows and highs. They are complimented by the expressive
text sizes and styles ranging from bold and vibrant to tiny-labelled
diagrams. The contrast of black and white explodes off the pages,
especially when Abby pictures her school life as a gigantic black
hole.
Booki Vivat's enjoyable novel develops well-being themes including
self-esteem, growing in confidence, discovering your own talents and
finding your own place in the world around you.
Rhyllis Bignell
The shark caller by Dianne Wolfer
Random House, 2016. ISBN 9780143780557
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended, Sharks, Papua New Guinea, Mythology,
Westernisation. Fourteen year old Izzie is on her way back to her
island near Papua New Guinea with her twin brother's ashes to be
scattered in the lagoon near their family business, the Sea Star
Resort. She longs to see her home again, but is dismayed when she
sees her old school closed, the resort looking a little worse for
wear, the rainforest on a nearby island cut down. The scar left by
logging has meant that tourists are less evident, the community now
cannot afford a teacher and the kids must board each week at a
nearby school, returning on the weekends. Later that evening she
overhears the men talking about the sharks. The community's life is
bound with the sharks. The men can call them and Izzie finds out
that her brother was the last of the shark callers.
Her father from Broome is wrapped up with his new life and his
family's pearl industry and Izzie has had little to do with him
since her parents separated. Noah, her islander cousin tells her of
the stories around the shark callers, letting her know that they are
relying on her to do what her brother would have done, diving into a
deep cave to bring back an artifact which will ensure the islanders
will be able to catch more sharks, and secure the long term
viability of the reef which surrounds their home. Izzie is torn. He
parents had taken them away because of the myth of the shark caller,
but now back, she is being besieged with the idea that she and only
she can ensure the island's survival.
Noah trains her in the skills needed to get into the cave to fetch
the piece of obsidian so needed for the community's survival, and so
follows a breath taking account of Izzie's dive, where some things
are solved but questions are left lingering.
It is wonderful to see a story set in one of our near neighbours,
full of the sights and sounds of that nation, their beliefs and
customs woven into the story, with a glossary at the end to acquaint
readers with their language. The problems of this nation seem to
replicate problems worldwide: logging of rainforest, reliance on
tourist dollars, the drain of the younger people and stress on the
fishing industry. A marvellous read for middle school people.
Fran Knight
Mopoke by Philip Bunting
Omnibus Books, 2017. ISBN 9781742991658
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Reading aloud, Australian animals,
Humour, Word play. The opening line, This is a mopoke.
states baldly what the book is about, showing the reader that there
will be no excess of words and introducing a complimentary pared
down colour palette for the illustrations. Readers will be
enthralled and immediately begin to wonder what story lies inside.
Turning the page children will laugh out loud as the author plays
with the bird's name. He becomes a highpoke, then a lopoke, a
poshpoke and a poorpoke, each new word encouraging the reader to
tease out its meaning. On each page the mopoke stares out at the
reader from his branch set (usually) in the middle of the page,
inviting the reader to notice his plumage, large round eyes, clawed
feet, the time setting and his environment. And a small paragraph is
given on the publication page giving further details about this
Australian bird.
Mopokes love peace and quiet but as the tale unfolds, he is beset
with morepokes, ones that play with a yo yo, ones that play tricks,
some that wear a moustache or an affro, some that wash and find they
can't do anything with their hair, until crossly he disappears to
make a nopoke. Readers will love the simplicity of the humour and
laugh out loud when it is read to them, or take it away to read for
themselves. I love the blocks of colour, reminiscent of stencils or
block prints, simply placed on each page, only the mopoke's eyes
betraying what he feels about all the interruptions.
A funny read aloud, the story introduces the idea that some like to
be alone, and shows what one Australian animal is all about.
Fran Knight
Duck gets a job by Sonny Ross
Five Mile Press, 2017. ISBN 9781760405359
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Work, Following your dream, Humour.
When Duck realises that he needs to get a job, he looks at his
friends, all of whom have jobs in the city. They love their
spreadsheets and encourage him to apply for a job like theirs. So he
follows their lead and applies for a job and getting an interview
must decide how he will look. After several swaps, he puts on a hat
and takes a briefcase with him, opting for the professional look.
Following advice from his friends, he gets the job and begins his
work in the city. But he finds the work boring and falls asleep and
so decides to quit.
He thinks hard about what he should do. He has always loved art and
done well with his art work, so he puts his work into a portfolio
and applies for a different job. The interviewer hires him and so he
has work which he loves, and he never falls asleep.
This delightful story based firmly on the author's own experiences,
will have younger children loving hearing it read aloud, or read
themselves, absorbing the message of following your dreams, of not
being influenced by others. The tale will be a wonderful springboard
for children to share ideas about their own likes, dreams, abilities
and futures. I love the illustrations, with humour for kids to find
and laugh about, offering differing visions of city life, showing an
obvious delineation between the job that Duck hates and the one he
loves. The colours reflect Duck's mood and the duck motif is
repeated in the glorious endpapers. With deceptively simple but
beguiling text I loved working out just how the author had achieved
his aims through the text and his illustrations.
Fran Knight
Words in deep blue by Cath Crowley
Pan Macmillan, 2016. ISBN 9781742612386
(Age: Adolescent - Adult) Recommended. This delightful novel is
about the joy of writing, of love, of families, of the angst and joy
of adolescence, of stories and of the place of books in today's
world. Situating her story in a country town, Cath Crowley centres
her story on one family who own a bookshop, who are passionate about
books and reading, and who live above the shop. The struggle to
survive as booksellers in today's world, is at the heart of the
narrative, particularly given the threat to books, and by inference,
to reading, that is potent in the novel.
The quirky and charming aspect of this shop is that many people
write notes to loved ones, to friends, to those who are no longer
living, or just to anyone who might, one day, find the note. Some
write back, their reply encouraging friendship or relationships, and
others just read the notes. The simple love of reading, of the
welcoming of readers who come into the shop just to read the notes,
is at the core of the novel. We know from the start that the
bookshop's role in the town is threatened, and we are caught up in
the underlying note of sadness - that with the demise of the shop,
their lives will change drastically.
Crowley captivates her readers, inviting us into the intimate world
of people's thoughts and relationships through the letters, the
little love stories, the stories of those who part, and the stories
of deep friendship, of loss and of recovery. Crowley has included
some thought-provoking little messages at the start of each chapter,
and these reflect the emotions and lives of the characters. The
letter-narrative is told in the first person from a number of
note-writers, while the narrative itself is told by various
characters, of different ages, told in the first person. Somehow,
once we get to recognize who is speaking, this quirky structure
works and we begin to understand the characters in their sometimes
confessional, sometimes angry, sometimes puzzled narratives. Despite
the presence of change and of incipient loss, the feeling of
possibility is potent, as we are caught up in the small worlds of
the adolescents and the adults who live, for a brief time, in this
quirky story. It is suitable for both adolescent readers and adults
who are happy to read about life as experienced by adolescents, with
all its angst, joy and potency.
Liz Bondar
Editor's note: This is a CBCA Notable for older readers, on longlist
for the Inky Award.
Where's Wally by Martin Handford
30th Anniversary edition. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406375695
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Wow - 30 years ago Where's Wally
first appeared and the book has lost none of its appeal over the
years. When it arrived on my desk I immediately spent quite some
time going through and finding the picture of Wally on different
pages as he travelled around the world. I was thrilled when I did
find him, but needless to say I had a few pages that completely
baffled me and even returning again couldn't find the little figure
with the red striped jumper and hat.
After the initial browse I went back and read the new letter from
Handford to his fans and discovered some more things that the reader
could search for, including the tail of Woof, making the book even
more enjoyable. As the search goes on, there are lots of fascinating
and humorous little figures, details and scenes which are so
enjoyable that hours could be spent perusing the pages.
This is a wonderful book to give children as a gift and it will also
keeping the family occupied for hours. In the library make sure that
no one marks where Wally is and spoils the fun!
Pat Pledger
The fix-it man by Dimity Powell and Nicky Johnston
EK Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925335347
Dads can fix anything - that's what dads do. Kites, kennels, teapots
- whatever is needed. He can even cobble together a rug made of
rainbows and old hugs for mum - but he can't fix mum. Not even with
his special peach and honey brew. Even the doctors and lots of rest
can't fix mum. Not even all the love in the world. And no matter how
hard they try, little girls can't mend broken hearts - not hers, not
dad's and not Tiger's. Well, not with sticky tape or glue or needle
and thread. But dad has one more special thing up his sleeve and
together they start to mend.
This is a poignant story of loss and one that will resonate with
many children who have lost a parent or other loved one. With its
gentle text and soft palette, even though it is sad, it is not gloomy
because the love between this family oozes from the page and from
that, the hope is tangible. And the threads that bind the family are
stronger and more enduring than nails, glue, sticky-tape or any
other kind of man-made adhesive or fastening.
Grief is a natural part of life and while we might like to protect
our children from it, nevertheless it happens and we often struggle
helping them to cope with their loss. This book allows conversations
to start and explores the way it is an emotion that we each express
and deal with in our own way. Dad's lap is cosy and warm but his
face is crumpled and wet; pieces spill out from Tiger's heart and
little girls try to do what they can to paper over the cracks - but
they are too wide. But together...
Whether shared as a 1:1 or as a class, it offers children the
opportunity to talk about losses in their life and to learn that
they are not alone in feeling lonely, lost, scared and even betrayed
but there is love and it does get easier.
Barbara Braxton
Freeks by Amanda Hocking
Pan Macmillan, 2017. ISBN 9781509807659
(Age: 15+) Freeks by Amanda Hocking is an exciting and fast
paced novel about a young girl called Mara and her life in a
travelling circus alongside her mother and friends. Set in 1987,
Mara's colourful travelling companions are desperate to find their
next short stop as they scrounge for their livelihood going from
town to town and looking to attract large crowds. Their main appeal
to the public is their one-of-a-kind circus performances which
includes fire dancers, tigers, magic tricks, a house of horrors, the
sideshow, a Ferris wheel and more. But these are not the ordinary
attractions of just any circus, half of the population whom live
with the travelling show have abilities that breach the border
between the natural and supernatural. On their way to their next
stop (like it or not for Mara and company), many members of the
troop get bad feelings about the upcoming town which put many at
unease, and these feelings worsen when one of their own wanders from
the camp for longer than her usual spells of absence. It's up to
Mara to interpret the signs shown to her and take care with the
inhabitants of the town, and find if the town brings out more in
Mara than she first anticipated. Freeks is a captivating story that indulges its readers to
the engaging internal dialogue of Mara which helps add to the
mystery and thrill of the story as we interpret the events that
unfold both through our own eyes as well as hers. This novel is
better suited for an older teenage audience due to both adult and
violent themes. Overall, Freeks is an exciting read that is
refreshing and leaves the reader looking for more fantastic writing
by Amanda Hocking.
Sarah Filkin (University student)
My brother is a beast by Damon Young
Ill. by Peter Carnavas. UQP, 2017. ISBN 9780702259579
(age: 4+) Highly recommended. Siblings, Family, Rhyming story, Read
aloud. From the creators of My sister is a superhero, comes
an equally funny sequel, where her brother is a beast. In a series
of eight line stanzas, the first three double lines tell of what
other brothers do: Some brothers scrub with sponges
to clean glue from dirty doors',
each set of six lines ending with the refrain, 'But my brother is a beast . . . '
The repetition is infectious and the repeated last two lines will
have kids in gales of laughter, working out what the rhyme will be,
following the antics of the beastie brother.
Each page is filled with colour and laughter, movement and music as
the brothers show their skills at playing drums, or the bassoon, or
harp, or clean the stables, or make a table, or row a canoe. But
towards the end of the story, the children are tiring out as the
brothers sleep in a hammock, or laze in an armchair, while the beast
of a brother makes a cave of sheets for his sister to sleep in.
Carnavas' watercolour and ink illustrations suit the mood of the
story beautifully as he repeats the round eyed children motif, and
children will watch out for the array of animals he includes on each
page. Children will love to read this book aloud, reading along with
the older reader, predicting rhymes for themselves. The book lends
itself to making up lines using the model given in the book, and
drawing the children in different situations, using Carnavas'
drawings as a template. I can imagine lots of brainstorming of
lines, 'Some brothers . . . ' and 'But my brother . . . ',
encouraging younger readers to learn about rhyme, rhythm and metre
at an early age.
Fran Knight
Silver in the blood by Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781681190242
(Age; 13+) Recommended. In the peak of youthful society of 1890's
New York, two young cousins, Lou and Darcia, are at their social
prime with constant attention turned on them as they are the mixed
blood of a wealthy New York family and an ancient Romanian line.
With vague warning, both girls are caught up in a whirlwind trip to
finally engage with their Romanian relatives and connect to their
ancient heritage. The trip is long and with it, more questions and
strange situations appear and are discussed in letters and journal
entries from both girls. Once in her home country, Darcia is
frustrated by her Aunt Kate's sudden change in personality; what
could make someone go from being like a mother, to a prison guard.
Darcia demands to find out what is the real reason they were
suddenly brought back to Romania and why everyone she knows and
loves is starting to act incredibly strange. By the end, neither
girl will ever be the same again.
Jessica Day George writes Silver in the Blood in such a way
that captures the reader's attention and really makes the 1890's in
America, Paris and Romania burst with life, painting a very
relatable and realistic scene for her characters to interact. With
reference to another well-known novel from the time, Silver in
the Blood is exciting for readers of fantasy and mystery. This
novel is recommended for an teenage audience (13+) due to themes of
violence and romance. A fantastic read that leaves readers hoping
for more stories about the two cousins, Darcia and Lou.
Sarah Filkin (University student)
This is Banjo Paterson by Tania McCartney
Ill. by Christina Booth. NLA Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9780642278982
(Ages: 4-8) Highly recommended. Tania McCartney and Christina
Booth's beautifully crafted picture book celebrates one of
Australia's most iconic legends, Andrew 'Banjo' Paterson.
The descriptive narrative focuses on his rural upbringing and the
people who influenced his life's journey. Young Barty as he was
known enjoyed his bush childhood, helping on the farm, riding his
horse Banjo to school, watching polo matches and horse shows. He
enjoyed listening to Jerry the Rhymer's tales about his bush life.
His grandma loved poetry as well and she shared her love of language
and rhyme with her grandson, whilst he boarded at her Sydney home.
His teenage years were filled with school, sports, and his creative
writing as well. This picture book tells of these special people in
his life and the influences and events that moulded his life and
developed his journalism career. He also worked in the legal field,
as a farmer, vet, jockey and most famously as a writer. Tania
includes special moments, the inspiration for 'Waltzing Matilda',
his marriage and his children. The story ends with the beginning
stanzas of 'The man from Snowy River'.
What sets this book apart from other biographies written for younger
children, are the beautiful watercolour illustrations by Christina
Booth. Here is a duality of storyline pictured visually, each
vignette shows today's children dressed in summer clothes acting out
the scenes. There is backyard cricket, Barty with a bush hat riding
his hobbyhorse and sharing picnics under the clothesline with family
and friends. Speech bubbles add to the commentary, rhymes,
statements and exclamations, as well as witty thoughts by his dog
who just wants a walk or to play catch.
Sharing these with a class, with a young audience at kindergarten or
preschool is a wonderful experience, opening up conversations about
life, changes, growing up and people who are important in their
lives. Even the scenes of leaving for war and the time when Paterson
went missing in France during World War 1 are sensitively
illustrated.
Tania McCartney has included a description of Banjo
Paterson's life in a newspaper format - 'The Snowy River Times'.
Photos, copies of original illustrations and the music to 'Waltzing
Matilda' provide additional information. This factual material
and additional poetry are a great beginning for research topics.
Dressing up and acting the scenes, making a wooden and bark hut,
singing along to 'Waltzing Matilda' and unpacking the text are all
wonderful learning opportunities. This is Banjo Paterson is an
exciting collaboration by McCartney and Booth, perfect for sharing
at home and in an education environment.
Rhyllis Bignell
