Magabala Books, 2016. ISBN 9781925360431
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. Published by Australian company Magabala
Books which aims to promote, preserve and publish Indigenous Australian
culture, Shane Morgan's Cheeky animals reflects just that.
Cheeky animals successfully captures the humour and playfulness of
some of our Aussie animals in this sturdy board book.
Shane Morgan's simple pictures and wording allow children to easily
follow this humorous rhyming tale depicting how animals interact
with human contact. However, from an adult perspective, one animal
interaction that is quite strange and a little inappropriate is from
the Emu, though, children would find it hilarious.
Images are simple and earthy which magnificently reflects the
Australian outback. Overall, Cheeky animals is a wonderful
reflection of our Australian culture.
Keely Coard
The Midnight Gang by David Walliams
Ill. by Tony Ross. Harper Collins Children's Books, 2016. ISBN
9780008188573
(Age: Independent readers) Themes: Humour; Hospitals/Illness; Hope;
Adventure; Friendship. Walliams has created a great story that is
Dahl-esque in style and quality, and fun for all ages. The children
in the Children's Ward at Lord Funt Hospital are at the mercy of
horrible adults with gross manners and unpleasant personalities
(except for the unfortunate but caring Porter). Despite their
illnesses and injuries they band together as The Midnight Gang to
give themselves hope and joy . . . and a Midnight adventure. Young
Tom, whose unlucky cricket injury has caused his Hospital excursion,
has escaped his horrible existence at his very expensive but
oppressive boarding school for medical care and has become the
latest participant in the adventure at Midnight. This is a story of
the power of friendship and hope, despite the pressures of the adult
world around the children, and the gravity of illness. And their
adventures are just wonderful! The image of the 99-year old dementia
patient floating off over London with her misappropriated collection
of helium balloons is delightful!
Walliams has written this with considerable comedic flair and the
book will appeal to readers who also love Roald Dahl's dark humour,
but there is also the potential to see a message hidden beneath the
light-hearted (and almost farcical) imaginary journey. Tony Ross's
cartoon-like illustrations add quirky and extremely humourous visual
detail to the text. This is a book that independent readers will
love, but would also make an enjoyable 'shared text' read by a
teacher or parent to an eager listener keen to hear a 'funny story'.
Carolyn Hull
The soldier's curse by Meg and Tom Keneally
Monsarrat series. Vintage Books, 2016. ISBN 9780857989369
The Monsarrat series begins with an absolutely mesmerising
story of a trusted convict at Port Macquarie in the north of New
South Wales. It is 1825, and Monsarrat, a convict with a legal
background who does the secretarial work for the commandant, Major
Shelborne, realises that his wife's health is worse than the surgeon
thinks. A trusted convict, Monsarrat spends many mornings drinking
tea in the Government House kitchen with the cook, Mrs Mulrooney and
it is she who tends to Mrs Shelborne, trying different ways of
tempting the ailing woman to eat. Through Monsarrat's descriptions
of these events, we see the misery of the penal settlement, the
destitute convicts serving out their time on hard rations, strict
punishments and little chance of surviving, let alone getting the
prized ticket of leave at the end of their sentences.
The writers, Meg and Tom Keneally insinuate so much historical
detail into the story that the reader will feel they know the place
and its inhabitants intimately.
A cruel second in command, Captain Diamond relishes the absence of
Major Shelborne, sneaking around the little settlement looking for
breaches of rules, then using these infringements for his own ends.
His cruelty is demonstrated when one convict, Dory attempts an
escape. On being recaptured he is given one hundred lashes, Diamond
taking over from Private Slattery to deliver more that the allocated
number, leaving the wretch lying on his stomach in hospital with a
skinless back, soon to die.
But it is after Mrs Shelborne's death, seemingly from being slowly
poisoned, that Diamond's vindictive nature comes to the fore,
accusing Mrs Mulrooney and by implication, Monsarrat of her death,
his arguments overwhelming the grief stricken husband.
Monsarrat must tread carefully if he is to prove their innocence.
Marvelous historical detail, believable characters, a setting that
at times is beyond belief and a style of storytelling that takes the
reader back to literature of the nineteenth century, combine to make
this one of the best historical novels I have read. The Kenneallys
touch on a whole range of themes significant to life in convict
Australia: treatment of indigenous people, women in colonial
society, struggle between rich and poor, education, isolation, our
convict beginnings and so on, raising many issues which will be
thought about long after this book has been read.
Fran Knight
The busy tailor crab by Bingbo
Ill. by Gumbi. Starfish Bay Children's Books, 2016. ISBN
9781760360412
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Humour, Crabs, Sewing. Zhao Bingbo is a
prominent author working at the Zhejiang College of Liberal Arts. He
is the Vice-President of the Hangzhou Writers Association, and has
many children's literature titles to his name and won many awards.
Some of his titles are published in Australia by Starfish Bay,
including The busy tailor crab.
Young children will laugh out loud at the image on the front cover
of a crab with its oversized claws running material through the
treadle sewing machine.
The tailor crab makes clothes for the animals. He makes a jacket for
the praying mantis and pants for the caterpillar. And he is happy at
his work and charges ten dollars for each garment. But one night he
works out that in making pants for the caterpillar he had to make
many legs, so decides to charge more for many legged pants. Ten
dollars per garment but five for each leg that has to be made is
posted. His notice shocks some animals who cannot afford to pay per
leg, but some animals take advantage of the one cost per garment. An
elephant comes along and wanting a shirt, so the tailor crab works
very hard cutting out the pattern in the material and sewing it for
the animal. Next a boa constrictor has pants made and because it has
no legs, tells the tailor that he cannot charge him, so after three
long days of work the tailor receives nothing for his efforts.
Sitting dejectedly outside his house, the elephant comes back with a
bunch of bananas to thank him for his lovely shirt and the boa does
the same bringing a basket of apples. The tailor crab works out what
makes him happy, and tears down the notice. Since then his house is
full of friends and customers.
This is a lovely tale with a moral which children will love to talk
about. The illustrations are charming, and readers will see lots on
each page to look at and ponder.
Fran Knight
The horse thief by Jane Smith
Tommy Bell Bushranger Boy bk. 2. Big Sky Publishing. ISBN
9781925520064
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. After his first escapade, Tommy now has some
understanding of bushrangers, their lives and the history of the
Australian goldfields. His teacher Mrs O'Grady is certainly
surprised; she has no idea that on a recent holiday to his
grandfather's property, the young boy ventured back in time to 1863.
Here, he had a chance meeting with a bushranger, Captain
Thunderbolt.
In The Horse Thief, Tommy's family travel to the Hamilton
Show for him and Cosmo his horse, to compete in the dressage
competition. Mum encourages him to take his horse for a ride to
settle him down before the event. Of course, with his hat on, his
clothes magically change to moleskin trousers and a cotton shirt and
he lands back in June 1850. Tommy quickly becomes embroiled in a
drama involving stolen horses, rustlers and a bushranger with
several identities. Together with their rightful owner squatter
William Morton they track the thieves down and bring bushranger
Frank Gardiner to justice.
Teacher librarian, archivist and author Jane Smith continues to
weave fact and fiction together in her Tommy Bell Bushranger Boy
series. These short junior novels are suited to young readers
beginning their chapter book journey and are a great read aloud
class novel. They also support the Year 5 History Curriculum and
provide understanding into the era, making them an easy to use
research tool - comparing and contrasting daily life, transport and
the motives behind the bushrangers' actions. Her Australian
Bushrangers factual books provided accurate insights into the lives
of Captain Thunderbolt, Moonlite, Starlight, Ben Hall and Frank
Gardiner.
Rhyllis Bignell
Bush bolts by Soraya Nicholas
Starlight stables series. Puffin Books, 2016. ISBN
9780143308621
(Age: 8-12) Horses, Friendship, Adventure. Twelve years old Poppy is
at her Aunt Sophie and Uncle Mark's property, a riding school
Starlight Stables, with her friends, Milly and Katie, and soon her
best friend, Sarah will be joining them. But Sarah does not share
her friends' passion for horses and is more interested in helping
the animals with their injuries. When a bushfire threatens the
people and the stables, it brings them all closer together to save
what they all love.
An easy to read short novel with much about relationships, family
life and of course lots about caring for horses and horse riding.
Includes 'Handy Horse Tips' as well as information about the author
and the other three books in this series.
Bush bolts is the third in this series, beginning with Pony
detectives, Gymkhana hijinks and lastly, Saving
Starlight. All will appeal to the target audience of mid
primary school girls.
Fran Knight
A snicker of magic by Natalie Lloyd
Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9780545552738
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Natalie Lloyd's warm-hearted debut novel
celebrates the mystical and magical, families and friendships, the
interconnectedness of village life, the impact of past decisions and
the importance of making things right. She weaves a multitude of
quirky characters into an Appalachian folk tale, like a ballad
handed down over generations. There is a celebration of
super-abilities not disability, a message of philanthropy, of
building character and learning to be resilient.
'And I like words; I collect them. I like poems, songs, stories...
everything. But words never sound right when I try to string them
together and say them out loud. They're just for me to keep. I've
always seen words. I see them as clearly as I see you.'
Sixth grader Felicity Pickle is a word-collector, a 'logophile'. As
she travels across the country with her Mama, younger sister Frannie
Jo and her dog Biscuit, she captures and records 'spindiddly' words
in her blue notebook. Thousands of words swirl around Felicity
filled with love, loss, pain and happiness, and she is able to
express herself in written, not spoken words. When her mother's
restless spirit is finally drawn back to her childhood home magical
Midnight Gulch, Tennessee, Felicity comes to understand her family's
own snicker of magic.
Felicity's friendship with Jonah Pickett, whose life is not bound by
his wheelchair, leads her to uncover the truth behind the curse of
the Threadbare brothers and how their story has impacted the town
over many years. Magical icecream, the power of invisibility,
dancing shadows, duelling music, disappearing hot air balloons,
there is an abundance of imagery conjured up in Natalie Lloyd's
whimsical prose.
A snicker of magic is a special story to challenge the lover
of magical realism. Felicity's motivational quotes encourage the
reader to see the value of words, poetry and creative writing.
Rhyllis Bignell
Me and Moo and Roar too by P. Crumble
Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760156930
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Me and Moo and Roar too is a
beautifully illustrated picture book. The main characters are Me, a
young boy, and Moo, a cow. They are the best of friends and have had
a book written about the two of them already. In this new story,
they have a new friend, Roar. Roar is a lion who loves to wear mum's
sun hat! He also loves her hairbrush. Unfortunately, Roar's loud
snoring meant he had to move to the zoo. Imagine everyone's surprise
when other friends had to take their animal pals back to the zoo.
Thankfully, Roar likes it at the zoo. Me and Moo and Roar too is a lovely story of friendship and
make believe. It would make a great read aloud book for younger
classes, especially as the Science curriculum has them looking at
how to take care of pets. Children could listen to the story and
create their own zoo, draw their own pet or a pet they would like.
Older students could use the book as a model and write stories for
younger students to read, creating positive peer relationships.
Younger classes could also help their teacher create a new Me
and Moo story by adding animals they are looking at in
Science. Highly recommended for readers aged 3+.
Kylie Kempster
Made you up by Francesca Zappia
Greenwillow Books, 2015. ISBN 9780062670328
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Mental illness (Schizophrenia). High school.
Friendship. Relationships. YA books can deal with tough issues, Made
you up addresses the difficult world of schizophrenia. In this
book Alex deals with the struggle of working out what is real, and
what can't be trusted. Is everything in her life a true
representation, or is it the result of a hallucination storm that
glides into her reality creating a slippery slope of uncertainty?
You can't help but like Alex as she battles to control her delusions
and her reality, and her relationships with her new classmates after
being forced to change schools. Into this new uncertainty, changing
schools is always difficult, come friends Tucker and Miles, two
young men who are incredibly accepting as Alex negotiates her mental
illness roller coaster. As readers we are given Alex's view of the
world and understanding her struggles to keep everything in place
creates empathy for those who have to live with a mental illness.
The complexities of school life, romance, family dynamics, dealing
with psychological support and medication weave in and out of this
dramatic tale, and Zappia has also knitted in other mental illness
manifestations among the narrative. This just adds to the drama!
Zappia has written a great book to add to the YA library of books
dealing with Big Issues. The mental illness aspects are also
represented through the conversations with the Magic 8-ball
scattered amongst the chapters, and although this sounds eccentric,
it helps us understand Alex's distress as she deals with life in all
its manifestations. The author has cleverly created tension leading
to the final chapters, and because it is Alex's world we inhabit,
there is work for the reader in making sense of the action. I was
even led to research signs and symptoms of schizophrenia to make
sure that I understood what was happening. The winners in this book
though are the friends who accept Alex, despite her illness and the
wonderful sense of normality that pervades even the most difficult
of her symptoms.
Carolyn Hull
The Ogglies: A dragon party for Firebottom by Erhard Dietl
Starfish Bay Publishing 2016. ISBN 9781760360016
(Ages 7-10) Recommended. Join the Ogglies of Smelliville as they
organize a birthday party to cheer up their pet dragon, Firebottom.
Written and illustrated by Erhard Dietl, The Ogglies: A dragon
party for Firebottom is one of three in the series following a
very interesting family. With gruesome but hilarious descriptive
language, The Ogglies series are sure to have boys hooked.
In addition to words such as slimy sludge and cheesefeet, Dietl's
illustrations are bright and detailed with whacky things to find on
every page.
In addition, The Ogglies may be used as a tool for visual
arts, allowing readers to create their own Ogglie character and
describe its unique features similar to what can be seen on the
opening page.
This beautifully illustrated picture book is filled with quirky
characters including a special sing-along birthday song, sure to
keep children giggling for hours.
Keely Coard
Life hacks by Girlfriend Magazine
Hachette, 2016. ISBN 9780733635755
(Age: Teens) Highly recommended for all school libraries. Themes:
teenagers, puberty, love, friendship, sex, gender identity,
depression, bullying, health. 'All of the answers, none of the awks'
claims this teen guide. Based on the Australian teen magazine's
advice column and drawing on advice from an impressive number of
named experts and commentators the information is attractively
presented in a simple yet accessible format. The content unfolds
logically in a chatty style with clear headings, diagrams,
strategies and checklists, working through changes every teen will
experience both physical and mental, then body image and
friendships. The next chapter on Identity may challenge some school
libraries celebrating, as it does, the whole spectrum of sexual
identity. 'So if you're bi, trans, gay, sexual, cisgendered, or not
quite sure yet, read on. There's something for everyone.' ('If you
were born a girl and identify as a girl (or born a guy and identify
as a guy), you are cisgendered'). The following chapters on love,
sex, mental and medical awareness as well as how to help someone
with problems and get help yourself are less controversial and very
well presented. Chapter nine outlines where in Australia to get help
and the acknowledgements and references might suggest sources for
further study.
Overall it is a modern life guide all teens should read presented in
a format they are likely to read and share. This guide would be a
useful tool for teachers of health courses or for discussion topics
in pastoral care sessions. It is supported by the magazine's website.
Sue Speck
Applesauce weather by Helen Frost
Candlewick Press, 2016. ISBN 9780763675769
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Applesauce Weather is a
beautifully illustrated story told through poetry. Faith and Peter
know Uncle Arthur will arrive when the first apple falls and the
first two poems introduce this brother and sister duo. The poems are
a stark contrast between the younger sister - who eagerly awaits the
uncle's arrival - and the older brother who now doubts the magic of
a far away uncle even knowing when the first apple will fall. Uncle
Arthur is mourning the loss of his beloved wife and memories of her
are reflected in each poem. Each poem is a small story; building up
to Faith worrying Uncle Arthur has no more stories to Faith finally
seeing the signs of her fun loving uncle again. The poems are simply
named according to the person's perspective - Faith, Peter, Uncle
Arthur. It is beautiful and melodic storytelling, creating a sense
of togetherness while also allowing our characters to be
independent. The vocabulary is as simple as it is descriptive,
explaining the love story between Arthur and his wife, Peter's
feelings for his first crush and Faith's joy at spending time with
Uncle Arthur. This book is highly recommended for readers aged 10+.
It would be a great read aloud in the classroom as students
investigate different points of view and would also be good to help
build character profiles.
Kylie Kempster
Growing together by Taro Gomi
Phaidon Press 2016. ISBN 9780714871264
(Age: 2-5) Recommended. Written by internationally bestselling
author, Taro Gomi, Growing Together is a four book box set designed
to share. Neatly backed in a sturdy display box, readers will find
four small books titled Growing, Imagining, Sharing
and Exploring all of which are nicely connected.
Throughout all four books, pictures reflect Taro Gomi's and Phaidon
Press's Japanese culture. Additionally, the stories include short
simple sentences, ideal for a young and growing family. Growing
Together is strongly family oriented and features real-life
scenarios.
Overall, the Growing Together set is about childhood and
families in all its honesty, unexpectedness and charm.
Keely Coard
The grabbem getaway by Adrian C. Bott
Ill. by Andy Isaac. Axel and BEAST series. Hardie Grant Egmont,
2016. ISBN 9781760127800
(Age: 7+) Recommended. What happens when a giant shape-shifting
robot BEAST crash-lands in Axel's garage? Twelve-year old gamer
Axel's life changes dramatically. One minute, he is battling
BAGGER_63 in the Tankinator Arena using his skill, stealth and
knowledge and the next he is off on an amazing action-adventure with
his new friend BEAST. The young gamer lives with his single mother
Nedra a motor mechanic, who home schools Axel because of the
bullying he suffered previously. When Axel, Nedra and BEAST sit down
to discuss the robot's fate, a holographic projection - a 3D image
of Agent Omega appears on the robot's chest. With his wise guidance
and some technological transformations, Axel and BEAST are ready to
fight the enemy.
Axel climbs inside the clear panel on the robot's chest and steps
into a clear, magnified world. Everything the BEAST senses, Axel can
sense, the words appear in front of him and describe the object,
material, history and the robot's abilities to utilise them. Flying,
accelerating, dodging missiles launched by the Grabbem pilots in
their flying ships, Axel is in his element, employing his gaming
strengths. Ingenuity and creative problem solving allow Axel to best
use BEAST's shape-shifting abilities to outwit the enemy.
Themes of having a go, standing up to bullying, courage,
resourcefulness, friendship and loyalty are included in this
action-packed chapter book just right for tech-savvy readers. Both
Axel and BEAST are well rounded characters: the robot has a gentle
nature, is fearful at times although he is really built to destroy
others. Rusty Rosie, the junkyard owner is also a key character
whose crane-driving skills play a vital role as well. Andy Isaac's
graphic cartoons bring the action to life - the shape shifting as
BEAST's SKYHAWK shoots into the sky like a rocket and the junkyard
scenes with the enemy ships tied up in cables. Axel and BEAST is a great junior novel to read to children
who enjoy robots, technology and gaming. This book is captivating
for readers with a high-interest and low reading level and is a
great read-aloud class novel. Challenge the class to write their
next adventure, develop and publish a short graphic novel or utilise
a graphics program to design a similar range of robots.
Rhyllis Bignell
Danny Best : Never wrong by Jen Storer
Ill. by Mitch Vane. Danny Best series bk. 2. ABC Books, 2016. ISBN
9780733333347
(Age: 6-8) Recommended. Diary narratives are an extremely popular
genre for young readers. Now author Jen Storer's Danny Best is a
larger than life character who believes he is a total legend, best
by name and best by nature. Danny shares four over-exaggerated
humourous short stories about his family, his friends and his school
life. Each story is told through Danny's eyes, in Chapter 1 'Bella
did it', he continually tests his mother's patience, playing with a
little wooden doll that sit above the sink. He plays tricks on his
mum until one day the arms fall off the doll. Of course, his dog
Pugsley disappears with one of the arms and Danny's race around the
back yard is truly frenetic. Finally, with his sister Bella's
interference and a little grunt glue and paint, his creative problem
solving pays off. Each story ends with a fun multiple-choice test,
how much did you remember?
Danny is a great friend inventing wonderful obstacle courses for his
gang, this time it is 'The Master's Challenge', and even Pugsley's
Dog Poo Desert is a feature. Danny proves himself a caring and fun
friend with an amazing creative ability to find the fun side of
life. When Danny's class are challenged to write stories - boys for
the girls and girls for the boys, Danny is up for the contest. His
lizard ballerina and killer slug tale is truly unique and of course,
he believes that his is a winner.
Mitch Vane's cartoon illustrations, dirty smudged backgrounds, fun
maps and crazy diagrams combined with the emphatic fonts, different
text sizes and styles make this a fast-paced story. Danny Best :
Never Wrong is perfect for independent readers who are ready
for chapter books. Read these humorous stories aloud to Year 2-Year
4 classes and challenge them to develop their own cartoon characters
and creative adventures.
Rhyllis Bignell
