UQP, 2016. ISBN 9780702254000
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Belonging. Books. Birds. Little Wing lived on
a small island. He was very smart and when a trunk filled with books
washed up on his island, he read them all. They taught him how to
read and write, how to calculate, all about science, and about
almost everything else in the world. But there was one problem. No
where in all of his books was there something like him.
He read them all twice. He wasn't a lizard, he wasn't a fish, and
neither could he fly. Each day he tried out to be something he had
seen in his books, until one day something flew past that looked
just like him. He used all of his new skills to learn to fly and
follow the bird. He joined the other bird on another island and he
knew where he belonged.
Accompanied by full colour illustrations, children will love looking
at Little Wing and working out where he belongs. They will enjoy
recognising the different iconic images shown in the book,
reflecting Little Bird's attempts to find out just who he is, and
rejoice at the emphasis placed upon books for fun and research.
I enjoyed the endpapers with their summation of being alone and then
being one amongst many, using the images of feathers to show how his
isolation has finished.
Many discussions could emanate from reading this story: of being
together, of being with people of like minds, of belonging and
finding a place where you belong. And of course of the importance of
books in our lives.
Fran Knight
Computer coding games for kids by Jon Woodcock
Dorling Kindersley, 2016, ISBN 9781740333405
Way back when, in the dawning of the age of home computers which
were huge and clumsy in comparison to today's mini-marvels; which
ran on cassette tapes; had green or amber font on a black screen and
had no facility to display graphics, if you wanted to play a game
you bought a book of instructions and carefully tapped the commands
in, one keystroke at a time. It was the realm of the real computer
nerd and if you were patient and precise, eventually you got to play
the most basic of games.
Fast forward 30+ years and now our kids have computers in their
pockets, on their wrists and even in their clothes. And with the
increased focus on science, technology, engineering and maths once
again the red-hot buzzword in schools is coding as students learn
not to program a clumsy turtle that only went backwards, forwards
and sideways, but to create and develop their own games to play,
some in the hope that theirs will be even bigger than Pokemon Go!
But no longer do they have to sit in solitary confinement
painstakingly tap, tap, tapping. These days, the most commonly used
development tool is Scratch,
a free program which helps young people learn to think creatively,
reason systematically, and work collaboratively, essential skills for
life in the 21st century, and Dorling Kindersley have produced what
might be the beginners' bible in learning how to create a computer
game. Not for them the single volume, monochrome pamphlet that
crossed your eyes just looking at it this is a beautifully
presented, full colour, step-by-step guide presented in the typical
DK layout that is so user-friendly. Beginning with an introduction
that describes what makes a good game, the types of games and how
coding works, it moves on to introducing Scratch, accessing it and
then straight into making a basic game, eventually moving on to more
and more complex tasks and challenges.
Fifteen years ago I went to computer classes and tried very hard to
make a cow jump over the moon using a program Macromedia Flash.
Night after night it absorbed me until I gave up in defeat and
despair, clearly I just didn't have the brain for it. So to test out
Computer coding games for kids I read through the
introductory chapters, accessed Scratch and had a go at the first
project Star Hunter, a fast-paced underwater treasure hunt. In
just seven quick steps I had a cat that followed my mouse all around
the screen and was ready to build the next part of the game. WINNER!
If I can do it, anyone can! So when the curriculum requires students
to have a basic knowledge of coding, this has to be the go-to book
for teachers and students. Even the most confirmed luddite will
succeed and the students will be having such fun as they read and
follow instructions and learn without realising it that coding
will become a key part of the school day!
In fact this book was going to be a donation to a school library I
know but I think I will keep it because I can see hours of fun ahead
for Miss 10 and Miss 5 and me on the wintery days yet to come for us
and even those when it's too hot to go outside. Who knows, we may be
the creators of the next Pokemon Go!
Barbara Braxton
Edge of extinction: It's them or us by Laura Martin
Edge of extinction series, bk. 1. Harper Collins, 2016. ISBN
9780008152895
(Age: Upper primary, Lower secondary) This absorbing story, set in a
future world, is the first in a series and it establishes a momentum
that is sure to carry readers along to the final book.
It is easy to empathise with the three main characters, living in a
world fraught with danger since scientists brought dinosaurs back
from extinction.
Sky Mundy is the first person narrator, explaining her motivation
for leaving the underground colony where she has lived since the
disappearance of her father, branded a traitor. Her best friend,
Shawn, follows her into exile and they take refuge with a young boy,
Todd, and his family and friends in a treetop sanctuary.
But Sky and her friend, Shawn, are followed by ruthless members of
the Underground Compound, and now with Todd accompanying them, they
must elude them as well as the ferocious dinosaurs. Fortunately, a
dinosaur hunter saves their lives and Sky discovers that he, Ivan,
is her grandparent. The three young people are relieved when he
agrees to join their search for Sky's father.
The next episode is coming soon. I'm sure young readers will look
forward to it.
Thelma Harvey
Grandpa's big adventure by Paul Newman
Ill. by Tom Jellett. Penguin, 2016. ISBN 9780670078172
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Grandpas, Swimming, Tall tales,
Adventure. The narrator of this delightful story is afraid of the
water and cannot swim. Grandpa tells him he must learn to swim if he
is have big adventures like his and so takes him to the pool to
learn. At the pool Grandpa recounts the tale of his big adventure,
where he swam around the world. He tells of how he covered himself
with grease, and packed his things in a plastic bag to keep them
dry, and took along sweets and tea to eat and drink along the way.
He swam all day long, making sure he turned onto his back to avoid
one sided sunburn, and slept at night. One day he bumped his head on
the equator, another time he had to deal with sharks, and one time
he had afternoon tea with the Prince of Whales, and while coming
into New York harbour, he was treated gloriously. Grandpa's big
adventure encourages the young boy to learn to swim, and Jellett's
illustrations show the lad becoming more at ease with the idea of
getting into the pool as the story progresses. At first his face
reflects his dislike of the water, and as the story is told, he
comes closer and closer to the water's edge, donning bathers,
goggles, having sun screen lotion applied, then sitting on the edge
of the pool before finally getting in. Grandpa's tall story has led
the boy to the water.
The story is a delight, dealing with overcoming a child's fear of
the water with small steps, Grandpa telling him a wonderful story
full of adventure and overcoming adversity.
The humour in both the text and illustrations will resonate with the
young readers, and they will have a great deal of fun looking at the
range of people at the pool, listening to the word play and mapping
Grandpa's swim around the world.
Jellett's illustrations are full of life and humour and I love his
depiction of Grandpa in his bathers with a wry look upon his face,
talking his grandson into attempting to swim. And I love the use of
the end papers to showcase images of Grandpa at various locations
around the world. This will have readers looking at a map of the
world to work out just where he went. Readers will love the ideas
presented in this book, recounting tall tales they have heard from
their families, talking about their attempts to learn to swim, and
what they do with their grandparents. Close to Father's Day this is
a lovely way of including Grandpas as well.
Fran Knight
Football High by Patrick Loughlin
Young Gun series bk 1. Random House, 2016. ISBN 9781925324501
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Themes: Soccer, Teamwork, Friendship,
School Life. Sports fiction is an extremely popular genre, and
currently cricketers, footballers and soccer players are writing
novels for the fans filled to the brim with tactics, strategies, and
game moves.
Twelve-year old Nick Young is a passionate soccer player with big
goals; he wants to play for the A-League and the Socceroos. To set
the scene the junior novel quickly segues from applying for a
scholarship to the National School of Football to the first day of
campus life. Nick has a lot to live up to; his father Shane Young is
the current striker for Arsenal. Nick finds the comparison of his
abilities to his father difficult; he calls it My Life in the
Shadows.
His friends Bazzo, Lexi, Grace support him especially when his
fiercest rival Kane Kruger teases him. Nick's dad lives in England
with his new wife and baby son while Nick lives half a world away in
Australia with his mum. He has a hidden scrapbook with clippings of
his father's career; however, when the newspaper reports on Shane
Young and the birth of his first baby boy, Nick is very upset.
The play-by-play descriptions, match tactics and teamwork provide
plenty of football action for the fans and the characters'
experience real-life dilemmas, first crushes, bullying, difficulty
with school subjects and fun off the field.
Patrick Loughlin's Football High is another exciting sports
based series from the author of Billy Slater - Rugby league
and the Glenn Maxwell cricket series.
Rhyllis Bignell
Marly walks on the moon by Alice Pung
Our Australian Girl series. Penguin, 2016. ISBN 9780143308522
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Australian history, Multiculturalism. The
fourth in this Our Australian Girl series about Marly, the
daughter of a Vietnamese couple living in Melbourne is a delightful
mix of Vietnamese customs surviving in their new home and an overlay
of modern Australian culture seen through their young daughter. It
is 1983 and Marly is mad for Michael Jackson and wants to dance like
him, emulating his Moonwalk, while Mum with her second child is
confined to her home for a month after the birth just as women were
in Vietnam. Grandmother is scrupulous in trying to keep alive the
old customs and finds it difficult to accept Marly's differences.
She is not behaving like a subservient girl should, and Marly
bristles at the adoration given to the new baby because it is a boy.
Meanwhile school has its problems as well. The in crowd derides
Marly, but her best friend, Yousra encourages her to dance at the
end of year school concert. A party at Lauren's house shows her
another world, and the kindness of that family is in stark contrast
with the casual racism of some of the other children at school.
The dance and the support of her family, friends and teacher bring
all the threads together, with Grandma making her Michael Jackson
costume and Mum allowed out for the first time since the birth of
her son. A lovely, gentle story which will encourage readers to
think about the customs brought here by the multitude of different
cultures that make up today's Australia.
Fran Knight
Rory the dinosaur wants a pet by Liz Climo
Hachette, 2016. ISBN 9780316277297
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Friendship, Companionship. When Rory visits
his friends Hank and Vera they have a surprise for him. Hank has a
pet and they do lots of things together. Hank shows off his pet,
Sheldon, as they play fetch and hide and seek. Sheldon is so much
fun and when Rory walks off back home he wants a pet as well.
Rory searches high and low, asking some creatures whether they will
be his pet, but they say no. He looks up in the trees, in the
jungle, on the beach, all to no avail. When Rory turns to go back
home the unexpected happens. A coconut falls from the tree and lands
nearby. He takes him back to the tree house and asks his father
whether he can keep him. The age old excuse of 'he followed me home'
is used with much recognition and humour. Rory names his new pet,
George and makes a space for him to sleep. They do lots of things
together: playing games, dressing up, fetch and hide and seek.
After searching for a friend, Rory has one that found him.
This seemingly simple tale of companionship will appeal to younger
readers as they recognise the urge to have friends, and see that in
wanting and seeking them out, they may miss the obvious right under
their nose. A charming story of friendship and all that means for
younger readers, this book has bright colourful illustrations with
lots of little things to watch for, talk about and recognise.
Fran Knight
Hijabi girl by Hazel Edwards and Ozge Alkan
Ill. by Serena Geddes. Bookpod, 2016. ISBN 9780994358356
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. Children's librarian Ozge Alkan collaborated
with Hazel Edwards to write a junior novel with the main character,
a spirited eight-year-old Muslim girl. Melek's dream is to have her
own Aussie Rules football team and of course to be the best player
in the world. When she helps new student Tien on her first day of
school, Melek remembers how difficult it was for her, especially all
the jokes about her hijab. Was it a towel, did she have cancer or
was she bald under the scarf?
Their classroom is a wonderful learning environment 'a doing kind of
place', with science project models, a Rainbow Reading Chair and
colourful encouraging posters. Of course, there is one student at
Melek and her friend Lily's table who loves to cause problems. While
Miss is writing an A-Z of positive characteristics on the board,
Zac's pet rat escapes from his bag, but Rattus Rattus is soon
captured and returned to his bag. After Tien's introduction to her
new class, she is seated at the blue table with Melek, Lily and Zac.
Her special skill is drawing, sketching and blending colours from
her large collection of coloured pencils.
At the end of the day, their teacher announces the Book Parade
scheduled for Friday and all her students are to dress up; they may
even win the Best Dressed Class Award. Together Melek and Tien plan
to write and illustrate a new book - 'Super hijabi girl plays Aussie
Rules Football'. Melek's mother is a tailor who makes super hijabi
scarves, which have many uses as butterfly wings, flags or capes.
The authors have written an easy to read junior novel that explores
friendships, the respect of cultural differences and religions,
creative problem solving and the importance of having goals in life.
Discussion
notes and activities are available. Hijabi girl is a
fabulous resource for classes to learn about social inclusion,
celebrate diversity and to explore our multicultural society.
Rhyllis Bignell
The puberty book by Wendy Darvill and Kelsey Powell
6th edition. Hachette Australia, 2016. ISBN 9780733635496
(Age: 9-14) Highly recommended. Puberty. Growth and
development. Sex and sexuality. Health. Authors Wendy Darvill and
Kelsey Powell have utilised their extensive working knowledge of
family planning and the sex education of both primary and secondary
students to update the sixth edition of The puberty book.
The popular book for both males and females supported by informative
diagrams and amusing cartoons, covers the changes that happen at
puberty, sex and sexuality, physical and mental health, teenage
relationships, pregnancy and birth. Worries and concerns about these
issues are dealt with in an honest and open manner. Preteens and
teenagers from 9-14 ask questions across a broad range of issues -
HIV to pregnancy and the easy to understand answers given are
insightful.
Peer pressure, the power of social media, friendships, teasing and
bullying and parental concerns raise a minefield of concerns for
teenagers growing up in today's society. Embracing a healthy
lifestyle, a balanced diet, sleeping, hygiene and looking after your
mental health are discussed, acknowledged as legitimate concerns
with the answers sensitively written in terms the target audience
can understand. Each chapter focuses on one topic - in 'Learning
about sex', Wendy and Kelsey explore sex and sexuality, sexting, same
sex relationships and when sex is not ok.
The authors promote effective sexual education for children
approaching puberty, keeping an honest and open dialogue between
them and their parents. The aim of this book is to communicate the
content in a healthy and constructive way. With each new edition,
current information is added on contraception, medication and the
influence and pressure of social media. The puberty book 6th edition is an excellent resource for
families, educators, health professionals, counsellors and those who
work with preteens and teens.
Rhyllis Bignell
Turning pointes by Emma Freedman
Angus and Robertson, 2016. ISBN 9781460751633
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Emma Freedman is a radio personality and
2015 winner of Dancing with the Stars... and now author. She has
written a very likable dance school story that can be recommended to
young female readers aged 11+ with absolute confidence.
April, the character around whom the story spins gracefully, is
charming and is entering her teenage and high school years with
elegance and maturity. Above all though, she is a dancer. She has
given years to the discipline of ballet, and with her two close
friends, has become a talented devotee of dance. But with the
changes that high school has brought, there are other changes on the
horizon - parties, new friends, more challenging times at school.
Will ballet remain her first love or is there something else that
will inspire her passions, or distract her from her artistic
discipline? Being secretive or being honest become choices that
challenge relationships at school, ballet school and particularly at
home. Will she destroy everything by making the wrong choice?
What I loved about this story is the way Freedman shows that family
and friendship are complimentary and not in competition. The respect
shown to those in authority and peers is overwhelmingly positive.
Even the 'mean girls' and 'wayward boys' that are part of the story
give the central characters opportunities to show there are positive
ways to live. This is a wholesome and refreshingly simple tale set
within the disciplined and well-mannered community of those who love
to dance. Be prepared to be inspired by their commitment.
Carolyn Hull
One step by Andrew Daddo
Penguin Random House, 2016. ISBN 9780143573616
(Age: 15+) Adolescence. Bullying. Suicide. This book is an
uncomfortable read on many levels. Being inside the mind of a young
pubescent male with pimples is a difficult place to be. But added to
that it is peppered with multitudinous poor choices, rampaging
hormones, fickle friends, romantic inclinations, bad jokes and a
family that makes his life embarrassingly difficult (as all families
are for teenagers); this is a place that is intrinsically
uncomfortable. When Dylan becomes the butt of everyone's humour and
taunts after a bullying incident and his own lack of wisdom in the
moments afterwards, the story begins to spiral downwards in a
terrifying dive from the high tower (Dylan's sport of choice). And
the degree of difficulty is high, but the landing is far from
pretty!
This is not a book for the faint-hearted. The messiness and
insecurity of teenage life and the difficulties of being the one who
becomes the target for everyone's jests and the difficulties of
navigating friendships and girls when you are not confident is raw
and painful (despite the author's humour in presentation). In fact
as the book progresses, it is obvious that this is not a fun, Diary
of a wimpy kid clone, but rather a serious descent into the
grim issues that confront some teens. As a consequence, the list of
Help and Counselling services in Australia is included at the end of
the book. It is also what makes this book hard to put into the hands
of teenagers. It points out how easily life can turn ugly for some
young people, when they are at the mercy of others. I am not sure
that this book is helpful in presenting a picture of hope.
This is hard to recommend without the highest level of caution, and
definitely not to someone who is already struggling with their own
self-esteem, bullying or mental health issues. Do not conclude that
this is a comedic exploration of teenage life; language and modes of
expression are also vulgar in places.
Carolyn Hull
Breaking the boundaries: Australian activists tell their stories edited by Yvonne Allen and Joy Noble
Wakefield Press, 2016. ISBN 9781743054185
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Editors and activists Yvonne Allen and Joy
Noble have collected the personal stories of forty-five Australians
who have campaigned for change. Breaking the boundaries provides a
fascinating insight into their lives. The causes they have espoused
include conservation, climate change, Indigenous disadvantage,
support for refugees, overseas aid, fundraising for medical
research, the decriminalisation of sex work, disability awareness,
voluntary euthanasia, the acceptance of transgender people, food
security and pacifism. The age and backgrounds of the activists are
as diverse as their campaigns. Some embraced activism as school
students while others decided to make a difference after retirement.
Their reasons for choosing such a challenging path are revealing and
their practical advice about how to campaign effectively is drawn
from experience. Remarkably, despite the difficulties, not one
expressed regret and several found humour in their experiences.
Above all, the stories reveal humanity and determination.
While some of the information in Breaking the boundaries is
available on the Internet, online sources are unlikely to have the
impact of first-person narratives. Each feature-length story
provides readers with an insight into the unique voice, point of
view and experience of its narrator, and ends with a brief
biographical note written by the editors. Many readers will enjoy
reading the book from cover to cover in order to immerse themselves
in the variety of ways in which individual Australians have pursued
their causes. However, others might have preferred the inclusion of
an index to facilitate selective reading and study.
The editors hope that their book will prompt others to take action.
Those who are willing to take up causes will not lack inspiration
after reading Breaking the boundaries.
Elizabeth Bor
I spy Dad! by Janeen Brian
Ill. by Chantal Stewart. New Frontier Publishing, 2016. ISBN
9781925059649
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Fathers, Father's Day. First published
in 2010, this book along with I spy Mum! is a wonderful
story to read anytime, but has more resonance around those days
remembering fathers and mothers.
A young girl plays a game of I Spy, looking at the variety
of fathers that are about the place, but wondering what hers will
be. In rhyming lines, Janeen Brian outlines the variety of fathers
and their interaction with their offspring and this delightful tale
is beautifully complemented with the soft water colour drawings,
evoking movement, colour and laughter. Children will love looking at
the variety of fathers and the things they do with their children,
reminding them of what they do with their dads. Love oozes from each
page both with the words and illustrations.
The child see a splashing dad, a crashing dad, a dashing dad, dads
of all ages, sizes and backgrounds, doing all kinds of things that a
dad might do. Where will hers be? A diverse range of fathers is
shown, including some from different ethnic groups but all showing
the joy that comes from doing things with their children.
The rhyme and rhythm in the text are perfect for reading aloud, and
the positioning of the lines on a white background enhances its
ability to be read by beginning readers, while the rhyming lines
encourage the reader to predict the next word.
For classes it makes a wonderful introduction to talking about
fathers and families, and how each family is different but the same.
Fran Knight
Where's Dad hiding? by Ed Allen
Ill. by Anil Tortop. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760273859
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Fathers, Father's Day, Family. The little
bear searches for his father in all sorts of places. He searches the
woods, looks out into the fields, under the water, on the beach, in
the bus, on the toy shelf, but he is no where to be seen.
But reading this aloud with a group of children will have them
calling out as they can see Dad hiding on each page.
'There he is' will be heard as each page is turned in this funny,
involving story of searching for father. The hide and seek game
which all children love is reprised within this story as Dad finds
ingenious ways of staying hidden. Under the water he is in a clam
shell, in the field he is on an electricity line with the birds, on
the beach he is hiding in the sand castle. Each page is a delight of
suspense and recognition for the reader. They will love searching
for the Dad and marveling at how well hidden he is. And they will
cheer when he is finally found, but then the next question is,
'Where is mum?'
I love the use of endpapers to show the little bear at first
covering his eyes as hide and seek begins, and at the end, showing
joy at finding his father.
Fran Knight
Grandpa is great by Laine Mitchell
Ill. by Alison Edgson. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760276638
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Father's Day, Grandfathers, Family. With
Father's Day just around the corner, it is good to see a book
extolling the virtues of grandfathers as well. In this rhyming story
each page depicts an animal with its grandfather, doing all sorts of
activities. Gardening with a bucket and spade (meerkats), kicking
around a football (ostrich), reading comics (penguins) or playing
trains (bears) each older animal and his grandchildren play and
frolic, are active and sometimes quiet and restful, play with toys
or just watch the television together, but what ever they do,
Grandpa is number one.
The soft illustrations add zest, movement and colour to the text,
encouraging the readers to talk about the things they do with their
grandfather and sharing their family's experiences with the class or
friends. The easy rhyming lines encourage children to predict the
rhyming word and say the lines themselves when they have had it read
out loud a few times.
The humour in the illustrations will add another layer of interest
to the sharing of the story be it read aloud or shared in a small
group or just one to one.
Fran Knight
