Ill. by Keith Robinson. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408846995
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Dancing, Humour, Alliteration/Rhyme,
Monsters, Reconciliation. Sir Dancealot lives in times of old and
his great skill as a dancer makes him a winner against all opponents
(including bogglesnots, beasties and monsters). That is until he
meets his match in the light footed and daring Dragon who has
mastered the fearsome art of Dance! The Dragon is a formidable
competitor and a dance-off . . . on ICE . . . is proposed to find a
winner. Who will survive as the winner?
This is a lovely tale with alliteration, rhyme and wonderful
illustrations with warts, fangs and dance moves. Friendship is the
winner after a dangerous move on the ice creates a sinking feeling
for the pirouetting pair. The illustrations are bright, and
endearing and bold colours and the silver mirror ball and stars on
the cover will cause this to leap from shelves into the waiting
hands of young readers.
Carolyn Hull
Shiver me timbers! by Oakley Graham
Ill. by Nina Caniac. Big Sky Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925520002
Themes: Pirates/Piracy. This is a book that incorporates piracy
descriptions and terminology in rhyme, with limited plot and
narrative strength, and there is a repeated refrain . . . 'Yo Ho Ho!'
Pirates are probably not known as great literature lovers and they
have not motivated a great story in this book, they are really just
the inspiration for the bright, colourful and funny illustrations.
The last 2 double pages revert to non-fiction style to reveal some
background information about basic piracy and historical characters.
The rhyming text does reveal something about the pirate life that
will appeal to young male readers particularly - the Poop Deck and
the illustration of the pirates relieving themselves will no doubt
'charm' an avid Pirate fan.
Carolyn Hull
The wonder by Emma Donoghue
Picador, 2016. ISBN 9781509818396
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended.
Emma Donoghue is the bestselling author of Room, shortlisted for the
Man Booker Prize in 2010, now an award winning film. That book was
about a young boy and his mother held captive in a room by a child
abductor. With this latest book, The wonder, Donoghue ventures into
the world of historical fiction - it is set in the Irish Midlands in
the 1850s, a time of fervent religion mixed with superstition, and
bog marshes that could easily sink a body. In this story also, the
child is like a prisoner under constant watchful guard, and there is
an undercurrent of suspicion of abuse.
Anna, the child, has been extolled as a wonder, a miracle from God,
she has not eaten for months but seems healthy nonetheless. She is a
'fasting girl' - one of a number of recorded cases of girls and
women hailed for surviving for long periods without food, in
the sixteenth to twentieth centuries. Lib, a nurse trained in the
latest medical approaches by none other than Florence Nightingale
herself, is hired by a local committee to observe the child and make
a report at the end of her two weeks of observation. A no-nonsense
believer in science, Lib is determined to expose any trickery, and
she sets about ensuring there is no secret smuggling of food.
However, as her observations record the gradual deterioration in
Anna's health and she is shocked into realising she is also
complicit in starving the child, Lib has to decide what action she
should take.
At the heart of the story is an analogy with the fairy story of
Rumpelstiltskin, where a young girl is compelled to weave straw into
to gold because of her parent's boastings. Her debt to the strange
little man who comes to her aid can only be broken by guessing his
name. So there is the play between Anna and Lib, of guessing games
and riddles, which creates a kind of friendship between the two. But
Lib gradually comes to realise that she has to do more than just be
a friend, she has to take action.
This book is an intriguing mix of fairy story, science and religion,
each contributing to the puzzle that Lib has to solve. In addition
there is a thread of romance as she is befriended but also
confronted by the charming yet astute young journalist William
Byrne. The tension builds as Lib comes closer to working out the
truth and realises that she alone can save the child. Is she clever
enough and brave enough to do what is needed? I found I couldn't put
this book down in the last chapters - it is a gripping yet very
satisfying story because it is clearly written from a real
understanding of the world of the child, of parent-child
relationships, the complexities of child abuse, the power of
religious and superstitious beliefs, and the individual struggle
with conscience and finding the courage to take a stand against the
prevailing group. It's a fascinating and thought-provoking book -
highly recommended, and has my vote for best book for 2016.
Helen Eddy
Gwendolyn! by Juliette MacIver
Ill. by Terri Rose Baynton. ABC Books, 2016. ISBN 9780733335174
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Penguins. Habitat. Environment. Home.
Gwendolyn the penguin loves living in the jungle. She greets Jaguar
in the morning, and he can only complain about the heat. She meets
the monkeys but they can only complain about their bruised bananas.
She meets parrot who complains about not finding a wife, despite his
beautiful plumage. In responding to each animal's complaint, penguin
tells us of the contrast they would find in the Antarctic, so
acquainting the reader with facts about that place. But so much so
that Gwendolyn wants to go there.
And if it is odd to find a penguin in the jungle, then this
strangely informative book shows where she should live, and what her
habitat should be, while contrasting it with where she is now
residing. For children reading the book for all its fun and laughter
they will assimilate lots of facts about a penguin's habitat and be
able to tell others about life in the Antarctic.
Gwendolyn the penguin is irrepressible, with her responses to the
animals' complaints and her travel to the Antarctic. For all her
sadness at being separated from her species she finds that she
misses the jungle and so returns.
A luxurious jungle greets the reader on most pages. The pencil and
water colour illustrations are dynamic, making it easy for younger
readers to pick out the features of either the jungle or the
Antarctic. They will love recognising the many animals that live in
each place and follow Gwendolyn's exploits with lots of laughter.
But most of all they will love discussing who lives where and why an
environment is more suited to one or the other animal, and whether
this should restrict where Gwendolyn lives. This a delightfully
thought provoking book about the old adage, 'home is where the heart
is'. And readers will love calling out her name as it is prompted in
the text.
Fran Knight
Swarm by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti
Zeroes bk 2. Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781925267242
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Thriller. Super heroes. 'Every power has a
dark side'. Reading the second in the Zeroes series takes
the reader on a dark, scary and unexpected trip on the wild side.
The Zeroes - Ethan (Scam), Nate (Bellwether), Thibault (Anonymous),
Kelsie (Mob), Riley (Flicker) and Chizara (Crash) have made
themselves an underground nightclub where they are experimenting
with crowds and controlling their powers. One night two other
Zeroes, Coin and Glitch, take to the dance floor and the Zeroes find
that not only are there more people out there who have super powers,
but a powerful person, Swarm, is out to harm them. On the track of
Swarm, the friends find themselves in deadly danger, and Swarm's
actions make them face some issues. Bellwether's confidence is
severely challenged; Mob has to face the dark side of her power;
Anon realises that he doesn't belong anywhere; Crash has to question
the morality of her actions while Ethan faces trying to fit in.
An exciting second novel, this finds the characters growing and
working out the limits to their powers. There are lots of unexpected
moments and it is difficult to predict just what is going to happen
next. Lots of action and suspense kept me glued to the page but the
personal conflicts that each character faced brought plenty of heart
wrenching moments as well.
This is one dark, frightening and thrilling ride. There are some
rather horrific deaths that are not for the faint hearted and the
conclusion leaves the reader reeling from the shock of it, and
desperate for the next instalment.
Pat Pledger
Four silly skeletons by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN
9781408867143
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Humour. Skeletons. Bodies. Verse. Four silly
skeletons named Fred, Sid, Belle and Bill live at the top of a very
steep hill. Lucky for them their dear old Aunt June lives near the
bottom of the hill and she is very sensible. The four do some very
silly things, slipping on a banana skin, overfilling the bath,
hitting a ball with the tennis racket and smashing a vase. But sweet
Auntie June is there to put things right. One night they become
entranced with the music that they hear. They dance and jive, leap
and swish, all over the top of their hill. Auntie June calls out
very sensibly to take a torch but they do not listen, and fall over
the cliff. They become a jumble of bones at the bottom of the cliff,
and Auntie June must try to put them together again. She gets out
her sticky glue and attaches the bones together. But she does not do
it at all correctly and the four silly skeletons are arranged a
little differently.
This is a very cute rhyming cautionary tale. It reminds readers
through a fun story, of taking note of your elders, of taking
precautions when out at night, of watching where you are going. It
will raise gales of laughter from the intended audience and readers
will want to write their own 'Four silly skeletons' verse. The
luminous illustrations add to the fun of the story and an astute
teacher will have skeletons ready to be cut out and danced across
the pin up board, and use the tale to introduce work on the body.
Fran Knight
I broke my trunk! by Mo Willems
An Elephant and Piggie book. Walker Books, 2011. ISBN
9781406373592
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. Humour. Injury. Picture book. Animal
characters. Friendship. Mo Willems manages to entertain with few
words and simplified illustrations (and all text in speech bubbles);
and young children will love this! With few colours and few words,
Elephant tells the convoluted reason for his injured trunk. This
begins as a recount of the events leading to his injury (akin in
style to the fable, The giant turnip), but leads to a twist
connected to his friendship with Piggie. The simple explanation is
the basis of the humour, but this is then compounded and magnified
when Piggie also gets his own 'broken body part'!
It is a crazy story with silly illustrations, but very appealing for
a young audience aged 3-6.
Carolyn Hull
Home of the cuckoo clock by Robert Favretto
Ill. by David Eustace. Ford Street, 2016. ISBN 9781925272253 (hbk).
ISBN 9781925272260 (pbk)
Deep in the Black Forest nestles the village of Schoenwald, frozen
in time - but a somewhat chaotic time for there were no clocks and
people did things when they felt like it (or remembered) rather than
according to hands making a particular pattern on a numbered face.
One day a weary cuckoo lands in a pine tree and is dismayed to see
the disorder and disarray in the village and so the next morning,
and every morning after that, this natural time-keeper for Nature
sang out. What a difference this regular greeting made. Until one
night a huge storm brought the cuckoo's pine tree crashing down and
the cuckoo was blown off the mountain and way down into the valley.
Superbly illustrated in a calm palette and with intricate detail
(including a hidden egg on each page) that draws the reader into this
isolated village in a beautiful part of the world, this is a perfect
story for introducing children to the concept of time and the need
to have some order and continuity in our lives. Little ones will
have lots of fun imagining what would happen at home or school if
everyone could do what they liked when they liked and I can imagine
two contrasting murals being created with each child contributing a
vignette. Having explored the world of no-time, they could then be
introduced to the vocabulary of time - before, after, during, now,
then, soon, morning, afternoon, evening, night, dusk, dawn, first,
next, last - and the skills of sequencing. Those wanting greater
challenges could explore how and why the day is divided into the
chunks it is; time zones; time pieces; what they can achieve in a
given period of time. Time is the most abstract concept to teach but
it is the one that is most prevalent in our lives. To have such a
unique story and such stunning illustrations to kickstart its
investigation is such a gift.
Students could also have lots of fun enacting a storm (complete with
sound effects) so fierce that the cuckoo was blown away as well as
predicting what will happen to the village. How could the problem be
solved? what role might Franz, the village craftsmen have in that?
The call
of the cuckoo might be unfamiliar to some so they could listen to it
and discuss why it might be preferable to that of a rooster as a
wake-up sound. This could lead
into an investigation of familiar bird calls or the reasons behind
the 'dawn chorus' as well as setting up a bird-watching station and
identifying the common and seasonal birds which visit the school
playground. And of course, there is always the old favourite round,
Within
the
shady thicket. Maths, science, history, music and English
outcomes could all be explored in this one title.
Further teaching
notes are available.
Barbara Braxton
Black Sunday by Evan McHugh
Omnibus, 2016. ISBN 9781743627990
(Age: 11-15) Recommended. In February 1938, the largest mass rescue
on an Australian beach took place when up to 300 people were swept
out to sea from Bondi. I knew very little about lifesaving before
reading this novel and found it informative and moving, to the point
that I now have some understanding of the immense pride and
affection that beachgoers have for their local lifesaving clubs and
brave members.
Suitable for eleven to fifteen year olds, the story is told in diary
form by Nipper, a boy of twelve who idolises his Grandfather and his
lifesaving colleagues who patrol the beach at Bondi. Normally I find
diary entry chapters tiresome, however the author has worked hard to
make the story more interesting than simply leading to the main
event, by setting time and place in the context of the
post-Depression years in the prelude to World War 2.
Sometimes writers of historical fiction feel compelled to include
every tiny detail of remote relevance from their research and there
is faint evidence of this. However on the whole it works well and I
completely understand why the author chose to do this, given that
modern readers may have little appreciation of the simplicity of a
time when children routinely left school at thirteen, possessions
were few and the sight of an aeroplane was a magical wonder.
Some might consider the inclusion of Indigenous, environmental,
gender, refugee and geopolitical issues to be a little busy and
contrived. This is because they are all tied in to the story and
certain characters voice modern, socially acceptable points of view
as a counter to the prevailing attitudes of the time. This will
however help younger readers understand historical perspective.
Importantly, this is an exciting story with plenty of structure and
drama which recounts an amazing historical event without being a
boring lesson. On this momentous day, a series of colossal, freak
waves dragged hundreds of people far out to sea in dangerous rips
which prevented their return. By chance, a large number of
lifesavers beyond those on duty were present for training and they
soon plunged into action. What happened was truly stunning and the
reader is brought to understand the enormity of the feat by Nipper's
description of rips and long training periods where he tries to
improve his swimming to a standard which will serve him in later
years as a lifesaver.
Informative historical notes are included at the conclusion of the
story.
This delightful book would make an excellent text for study at
senior primary level and libraries should consider it for general
reading.
Rob Welsh
Mechanica by Lance Balchin
Five Mile Press, 2016. ISBN 9781760401085
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Picture book for older readers,
Technology, Machines, Environmental destruction, Extinction, Science
fiction, Dystopia. Machines have taken over the role of animals in
this dark view of our future, where the continued use of fossil
fuels has caused the environment to collapse, species have become
extinct and large areas of the world uninhabitable. Built to replace
the work done by animals (for example, a mechanical bee was
developed to propagate the crops) these interbred with drones built
for surveillance purposes when the world descended into war. Their
offspring are presented in this highly imaginative and compulsive
picture book, set out like a scientific catalogue of a new species.
What began as drones escaped into areas beyond human reach and
meeting the mechanica, designed by man to replace the animals lost,
their offspring become the most intricate and beautiful of
creatures, darkly mechanical, steam punk in their design and
absorbing in their detail.
Each verso page has the most imaginative of illustrations, depicting
one of these mechanica. One I particularly like is on page 23:
Interfectorem Apis (scientific name) or Killer Bee, and beneath is
given information about where it is found, how it was developed and
why it is called a killer bee. An example of its power is given and
then facts about the mechanica: its weight, length, speed, power
source, sensors and origin. Each fact adds to the knowledge of this
bee, giving hints about why it was created in the first place and
how dangerous it now can be. It is a formidable bee, and the
illustration is staggeringly beautiful. Readers will be enthralled
at the detail given, the mechanical elements of the creature and its
possibilities. And this is only one of a dozen or so creatures,
which aided by a useful index will be enjoyed by readers of all
ages. An afterword tells how the person who complied this catalogue
has found a real butterfly, so adding a note of optimism to this
bleakly dystopian story.
Readers from a young age to adult will pour over these pages,
looking at every detail of these creatures.
This powerful image of our future will resonate with many readers,
stunned by the destruction of our global environment and concerned
at the advance of war technology.
Fran Knight
Mac the Dog Man by Elizabeth Vercoe
Elizabeth
Vercoe, 2016. ISBN 9780994587008
(Ages: 3-6) The author, Liz Vercoe, met Mac in Melbourne during her
early morning walks by the river. Her story is about him: a dog
walker who is a 'kind-hearted king and the boss of the dogs'. The
text is comprised of stories that Mac tells about his dogs ('When I
came back, this one was so excited that she jumped right up to my
shoulder'), alongside details about Mac's practices ('Mac speaks
gently but firmly to all the dogs'), and with refrains of 'The dogs
love Mac' and dog noises ('Snoodle! Woff! Yap!'). The text is quite
lengthy and the way it jumps around may make it difficult for
younger children to follow. Some children may also find it difficult
to grasp some of the stories Mac tells about the dogs; but what they
will understand is that the dogs love Mac and Mac loves the dogs.
The soft watercolour illustrations highlight Mac's gentle nature and
the unique character of each of the dogs. This will appeal greatly
to dog lovers and the rhythmic language flows beautifully when read
aloud.
Nicole Nelson
Snail and Turtle: Rainy Days by Stephen Michael King
Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760159061
(Ages: 3-6) Friendship. Stephen Michael King brings his distinctive style to this seemingly simple tale of friendship. Snail and Turtle are friends but it has been raining for days and days and Snail will not come out of his shell. Turtle tries performing Snail's favourite tricks, but to no avail. Therefore, Turtle works very hard to build Snail a lovely, warm shelter. Turtle's tenderness and patience with his friend is inspiring and the book carries a lovely message about being in tune with the feelings of others and thinking about how we can bring lightness to their lives. Turtle's smile is obvious the whole way through the story, as he remains optimistic that Snail will one day come out of his shell. As always, King's illustrations are playful, lovable and filled with symbolism. While this is a story with a deep undercurrent of depression and inescapable sadness, I feel like its symbolism may be lost on younger children who may think that Snail is refusing to come out of his shell because it is raining (thereby being confused because snails generally like the rain). While its theme may be appropriate for older children its simplicity makes it more suited to early childhood use. Nevertheless, this book will please fans of its predecessor, Snail and Turtle are friends, as well as those unfamiliar with the pair.
Nicole Nelson
Little Koala lost by Blaze Kwaymullina
Ill. by Jess Racklyeft. Omnibus Books, 2016. ISBN 9781742991283
(Ages: 2 - 5) Belonging, differences, Australian animals, counting.
This is an amalgamation of two common picture book structures,
comprising a counting element and a plot of a lost animal looking
for a place to belong. As implied by the title, one little koala is
lost in the bush, so off he goes looking for a place to live. 'Can I
live with you?' he asks two marvellous magpies, three tricky
turtles, four pesky pelicans, and so on. Each time the animals say
no, citing koalas lack of a physical attribute or ability that they
have that he does not. The emus tell him his legs are too short for
running fast and the magpies ask him how he would greet the dawn
when he cannot sing. Just when little koala has lost all hope and
begun to cry, ten kooky koalas appear in the trees. 'Would you like
to live with us?' they cry. The Aussie landscape depicted on each
page and the responses given by the animals that koala approaches
give some information about Australian animal behaviours and their
habitats. While there is little to set this picture book apart from
many others in the same genre, it provides a pleasant reading
experience.
Nicole Nelson
Such stuff: A story-maker's inspiration by Michael Morpurgo
Ill. by Michael Foreman. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406364576
What a master storyteller Michael Morpurgo is! His body of work and
his reputation are both completely awe-inspiring. This unparalleled
weaver of dreams who was the UK Children's Laureate from 2003-2005,
with over 100 books to his credit (many translated into other
languages) and numerous awards, has provided those of us who are such
admirers of this work with an unprecedented insight into his
writing. This is truly a joint production. When Michael's brother
suggested that so many people always ask about how the stories come
to life it would be a good idea to write about it, Michael took up
the idea with enthusiasm. It was natural to involve his long-time
illustrator and collaborator, Michael Foreman, who has often
provided him with the germ of an idea for a story. And along with
his wife, Clare, he began the task of collating anecdotes, excerpts and
background information for the brilliant format of this book.
The story of each book begin with Michael's recount of the first
idea, sometimes a real life incident, a media story, an historical
fact or a yarn from someone met in a pub. He discusses how the
pieces of each story then come together, to be woven into one
narrative. At times, many such singular ideas all combined into the
one book. Then follows an excerpt from the book in question, these
selected by Clare and lastly, a few pages of information that
provide back story to the particular theme of each all fascinating
and interesting aspects of the relevant title.
As an indulgence I must share this from the chapter on 'I believe
in unicorns': We know the best parents and the best teachers do this, change
lives. So often forgotten are the best librarians, dedicated
people who go quietly about their business of trying to encourage
reading. For many children who are not read to at home, or who
have been frightened of books, or bored by them, at school, a good
library and good librarian can change the life of a child, by
judicious and sensitive recommendations, by arranging book groups,
by readings, by inviting authors in to talk to children.
Thank you Michael both for that positive affirmation of our
profession but also for the joy you bring to our lives with your
superb writing.
I highly recommend this to you for students who are interested in
the process of creative writing, for lovers of Michael's work and
for your own professional reading. This one stays firmly on my own
shelf!
Sue Warren
Mila and the missing lions by Celeste Hulme
Five Mile Press, 2016 ISBN 9781760066826
(Age: 5+) Lions. Animals. Circuses. Lion taming. A curiously old
fashioned conceit of a child wanting to grow up to be lion tamer
like her parents will reveal a work environment no longer seen by
children. She takes the necessary equipment from her parents'
storage chest and makes a mane for her dog, Ralph. But Ralph simply
wants to sleep. He is not interested in being Mila's lion so that
she can practise. So Mila goes to the cage where her parents keep
their lions and inadvertently lets them escape. So begins a game of
cat and mouse as Mila asks the other circus people if they have seen
anything unusual. She does not want anyone to know what she has
done. She walks around the circus until she finally gets to the tent
of the bearded lady, an act that the lions seem to like. And sure
enough there they are sitting down to afternoon tea with her. Mila
works out how to get the lions back in their cage and all is well.
A delightful tale of righting a mistake the child has made, and
working something out for herself, while showing a younger
generation what an old fashioned circus is like. The illustrations
move the story along, adding another level of humour to the story.
I love the double page of framed portraits of Mila's family, and the
things being juggled by the juggler, while readers will love
following the tail they see escaping onto the next page. And the
last page of the text adds another level of humour and anticipation
as Mila works out what she wants to do next.
Fran Knight
