Nosy Crow, 2016. ISBN 9780857635211
(Age: Preschool - Yr 2) Baxter adores books. Books about scary
wolves, brave lions, cuddly bears, cute little rabbits. He loves
stories so much his greatest wish is to be in a one too. As he comes
out of the bookstore laden with new purchases he spots a sign for an
audition to be in a storybook. This is his dream come true! He is SO
excited but when he joins the very long line of characters waiting
to show their talents, he realises all have been in storybooks
before - except him. But he is convinced of his talents - he can
sing, dance, act and do gymnastics - so goes forth undaunted onto
the stage as the first performer. Imagine his disappointment when
the judges dismiss him because they just don't know what he is. He's
not a scary wolf, a brave lion, a cuddly bear, a cute rabbit or even
a hungry crocodile and when he tries to be like them, he fails. Why
is being himself not enough?
This debut picture book from Icelandic author Hrefna Bragadottir is
quite charming with its lovable main character (who is a totally
original concept) who is prepared to follow his dream but finds
himself not accepted because he's different and doesn't fit the
stereotype of a storybook character. As a story in itself, with soft
pastel pictures that take the edge off his rejection, it is a
stand-alone but there is greater depth here than just a single read
because it raises all sorts of questions about stereotypes - are
wolves always scary and rabbits always cute? - as well as being true
to oneself, tolerating difference and all those other relationship
issues young children encounter when they step into the bigger world
of preschool or big school for the first time. Venturing into the
unknown always raises some questions of self-doubt and when things
don't go as anticipated there can be all sorts of ramifications. The
heart-warming ending to the story will bring reassurance and
recognition and Baxter will never be an oddity again! Young readers
will delight in identifying the characters they know like the three
little pigs, but there's also scope to investigate other stories
that feature the creatures - perhaps make lists and displays to
inspire wider reading - and compare and contrast each character with
the stereotype. Character analysis in preschool!!! For those a
little older it could lead to discussions about preconceptions and
misconceptions we have about people and start to break down some of
the barriers that are already in place even at this age. Baxter's book is a perfect example of children learning about life
through literature and why we need to keep sharing such wonderful
stories.
Barbara Braxton
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press, 2016. ISBN 9780763681173
(Age: 9-12) Recommended. Family breakdown. Friendship. Meaning of
life. Loss. Kate DiCamillo is renowned as a two-time Newbery
Medallist, as author of the Tale of Desperaux and Flora
and Ulysses. In this, her latest book, she uses the
inspiration of her own childhood memories to tell the enigmatic tale
of Raymie Clarke who believes that if she wins the 'Little Miss
Central Florida Tire competition' she might be able to entice her
father back home (he has left town with a dental hygienist and is
currently out of her life completely). With childish logic, she
needs to add baton twirling and good deeds to her 'resume' for her
competition entry, and meets two other girls who are also entangled
in pursuit or sabotage of the Little Miss Central Florida Tire
title. The challenges of friendship, and understanding the world
around her and the wisdom of adults come to the fore as she grapples
with life, loss and the big questions of existence. Keeping life's
batons twirling can be very difficult. There are some curious adults
within her circle of contacts, and her new friends are also
extremely unique.
This is a quirky tale that highlights that children can sometimes
feel that they need to solve the problems of their world or are
unaware of the consequences of their choices; problems that from an
adult or psychological perspective should never be borne by a child.
It is a simply written tale, and the naivete of the children and
their responses to poverty, marriage breakdowns, death and their own
difficult circumstances are dealt with in a gently humorous way that
makes the story entertaining and accessible for a young reader.
Carolyn Hull
Hugless Douglas and the great cake bake by David Melling
Hugless Douglas series. Hodder, 2016. ISBN 9781444919882
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Cooking. Humour. The series of Hugless
Dougless books has created a large fan base, and this, the
fifth in the stories about the bear, will be well received. Douglas
is big warm and friendly, staring out at the reader as he involves
himself in one adventure after another, adventures which all readers
will recognise.
With a nod to the many cooking shows on our small screen, this time
Douglas follows the trail of honey to find a group of sheep
collecting the ingredients they need to make honey cakes. The black
faced sheep don his apron for him, and pass down all the food they
have collected, as he offers to be involved as well. The process for
making the cakes is followed in the story and the mixture eventually
made, with admonishments about not eating the mixture before it is
cooked.
But as the group stands in line with their plates waiting for the
cakes to be taken from the oven, a food fight beaks out and Douglas
is so involved that he misses the cakes. When he realises what has
happened they have all been eaten. Still hungry he must eat the
rejects, the carrot and nuts, but finds them to his liking, even
though they are not topped with honey.
This is an easily absorbed story of cooking cakes, of the process
involved, of the etiquette of cooking and eating what has been
cooked, of waiting your turn, and of the idea that vegetables and
nuts can be as good as cake.
Fun filled illustrations will drag the readers' eyes along the
pages, following the antics of the black faced sheep and Douglas.
Fran Knight
Hello! by Tony Flowers
NLA Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9780642278876
Look at your school population. Are all the children native English
speakers? Or is there a mix of languages almost as diverse as the
children themselves? In my Collection Policy for the school I was
recently working in, under the heading Purpose and Role of the
Collection I included the clause 'provide a wide range of materials
on all levels of difficulty, with a diversity of appeal and the
presentation of different points of view including those that
reflect the lives of students in relation to their culture,
ethnicity, language, religion and beliefs, community and family
structure, sexual orientation and any other consideration' and this
new publication from the National Library of Australia fits the
language aspect of this perfectly.
Superbly illustrated in cartoon style by Tony Flowers and presented
in a clear uncomplicated layout, we meet twelve Australian children,
each of whom speaks a different language including Kala Lagaw Ya
from Badu Island in the Torres Strait; Kaurna from Tarntanya in
Adelaide; and Murrinhpatha from Wadeye in the Northern Territory as
well as the more common languages of Italian, Thai, Korean, Greek,
Vietnamese, Japanese, Indonesian, and Chinese. Even the Lebanese
version of Arabic is included and there is a pronunciation guide at
the back of the book to assist the reader but which has been
dovetailed to meet needs rather than being a linguistic reference.
Each child has two double spreads so as well as introducing the
reader to the word for 'hello' in each language, each then shares a
little of their life including favourite foods, special days,
costumes, musical instruments, games and activities and how to count
to ten and each of these is then highlighted at the back of the book
with photos available in the NLA.
As much as the children I was working with last year loved to
practise and share their new skills in English, their faces always
lit up when they discovered a resource written in their own language
or which was about their own country. They were so happy to see
something familiar amongst the unfamiliar and loved to show it to
their friends and then take it home to share with their families. So
this wonderful resource is sure to strike a chord with so many of
those in our care. Apart from the familiarity it also demonstrates
that we acknowledge and value their origins by having resources for
them available. Seeing yourself in a book is such an affirmation of
who you are.
There are so many opportunities within the Australian Curriculum and
within the calendar to investigate and celebrate the origins of the
children in our classes that this book could be in use all year.
There are comprehensive teaching
notes which include how to make some of the items featured by
the children; but I can envisage it being a pivotal text for
this year's Book Week theme - Australia: Story Country. Make it
model for the children to tell their story by producing a poster and
display for the library to be hung in honour of their country's
national day. This was one of the most popular displays that
attracted so much interest from parents and teachers as much as from
the students. They really valued the recognition.
Barbara Braxton
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
Macmillan, 2015. ISBN 9781447264101
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Mystery. Lies. Truth. Fantasy. Costa
Book Award for Children's Book (2015), Carnegie Medal Nominee
(2016), Costa Book of the Year (2015), YA Book Prize Nominee (2016).
When Faith's father is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, she is
determined to find out what has happened to him. Her mother and
uncle drag his body into the orchard, and Faith refuses to believe
that he has committed suicide. She reads his journals and finds
references to the Lie Tree that he has hidden in a cave, a tree that
feeds off lies and reveals hidden truths when lies are fed to it.
She begins to spread lies across the island and the truth begins to
appear.
Dark and demanding, this is not a book that can be read in one
sitting. Rather, it is one to savour over a period of time, think
about and return to when ideas have begun to meld into
understanding. Perhaps one of the most interesting themes of the
book is its well-researched background about Victorian science and
the gathering of fossils, the role of women in Victorian times and
Victorian funeral customs, including taking photos of the dead. The
reader is drawn into the lives of Faith and her mother, both
constrained by attitudes to women of the time. Faith desperately
wants to study natural science and to be recognised by her father,
but that is not something that is acceptable for girls living in
that time, while her mother is forced to act as the helpless lady,
needing a man's protection, to get any stability for her family. The
final chapter is a wonderful summary of the difficulties that Faith
will face, but the effect that her efforts could have on 'some later
girl'.
The idea of a Lie Tree is a compelling one, and the reader is
dragged along into the consequences and nastiness that result from
the lies that Faith feeds the tree in her efforts to find who has
murdered her father. She not only lies, but attempts to
scientifically and rationally analyse the physical and dream
evidence that she finds in order to work out the mystery. She is
helped along by Clay, whose photography skills not only let the
reader know about funeral customs, but also help to uncover the
truth.
Hardinge has an original voice and mature and intelligent readers
will find much to savour in The lie tree.
Pat Pledger
Max by Sarah Cohen-Scali
Text, 2016. ISBN 9781922182852
(Age: 16+) Recommended. This book, first published in France, has
won awards in Europe. It is well researched and covers a period in
history marked with cruelty and evil.
Max is a product of the 'Lebensborn' (Fountains of Youth) program.
This program was designed to produce perfect blonde, blue-eyed
members of the Aryan race to regenerate the Reich. His story spans
the years 1936 to 1945 and begins with Max in utero.
Max brings to life the ideals, thoughts and motivations of the
Hitler Youth. He explains the atrocities and evil practices with a
complacency and coldness that is at once confronting, brutal and
illuminating.
At regular intervals the author calls to the attention of the reader
the age of the narrator (foetus, 3 months old, or one year old).
This at times interferes with the flow of the reading, jarring the
reader, as the writing is infused with well researched historical
information and adult perspectives.
The book is confronting as it portrays the complacency of some
caught up in the holocaust, their moral choices and the battle waged
by good over evil. The themes of friendship and identity are
explored through the unlikely relationship that develops between Max
and Lukas (a Polish boy). There is an adult insight into the moral
dilemmas faced by everyday people as they grappled with a situation
that was tumbling out of their control. There is a poignant section
at the end of the book where Max is oblivious to an opportunity for
love and redemption that will have adults reaching for the tissues.
Linda Guthrie
Red Professor: The Cold War life of Fred Rose by Peter Monteath and Valerie Munt
Wakefield Press, 2015. ISBN 9781743053720
(Age: 14+) Recommended. This book is written by historians based at
Flinders University in South Australia. The work is extensively
researched and leans heavily on the numerous primary sources that
document the life of this relatively unknown player in Australia's
history.
Fred Rose is a little like Forest Gump in that he seems to have
popped up in a range of important times in history during his
lifetime. The writing gives the reader the impression that Fred Rose
is very impressed by his own importance. It may be this that lead
Colonel Spry of ASIO to identify him as a Soviet spy who went by the
code name 'Professor'.
Fred's life spans several continents and encompasses work as an
anthropologist on Groote Eylandt, a meteorologist, an academic in
Canberra and East Berlin, a champion of the rights of Australia's
indigenous people and a father informing on his children to Stasi
handlers. He is portrayed as a flawed human being who made
interesting decisions that charted a life that has ultimately left
more questions than answers. Would his life have been more positive
and more productive had he made different decisions? Perhaps so.
The historical information is a real treat for those interested in
more about those heady times during the Cold War and the Petrov
Affair. Though brimming with historical facts (including diaries and
archival material), this book is easy to read. The referencing style
is cumbersome for those readers interested in identifying the source
of information or quotations and this at times disrupts the reading.
This work is well suited as a resource for the Research Project and
History students.
Linda Guthrie
A Lottie Lipton adventure: The scroll of Alexandria by Dan Metcalf
Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781472911872
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. If you are looking for a new series to
engage newly independent readers, you need look no further!
Imagine living in a museum full of rare and wonderful objects.
Lottie Lipton, nine years old, lives in the British Museum with her
Great Uncle Bert and absolutely adores the Great Library with its
vast collection of rare and valuable books. Rapacious Sir Trevelyan
Taylor, the new Head Curator of the museum, has other views and sees
the disposal of the books as a prime money raiser, claiming that
books have no place in a museum and no regard for the Royal
Appointment that placed them there by King George - which came with
unbreakable instructions that the collection must not be split.
But if Lottie and Great Uncle Bert can find the last remaining
scroll of the ancient library of Alexandria, which would definitely
constitute a museum artefact then the nasty Sir Trev's plot will be
well and truly foiled.
Young readers will love helping Lottie with her puzzle and decoding
secret messages as this determined girl follows the clues to find
the missing scroll. Her fellow investigators, Great Uncle Bert and
Reg the caretaker are fun characters adding humour to the story. A
glossary of more difficult words is included at the end of the book
along with a couple of additional brainteasers to solve.
Look for at least three more titles forthcoming in this terrific
interactive series. Highly recommended for readers from around 7
years up.
Sue Warren
Clarrie's pig day out by Jen Storer
Ill. by Sue DeGennaro. ABC Books, 2016. ISBN 9780733334443
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Words. Dogs. Farm life. Humour. When
Clarrie goes out to get some chickens for his hen coop, he tries to
take his dog, Bert with him. But he mixes up his words, and instead
of calling to his dog, calls instead to his dag. In putting on his
hat, he puts on a cat which cost him a lot of funny. Of course, a
huge hint about the exchange of letters is on the title on the
cover, Clarrie's pig day out, so children will be forewarned
about what may lie inside. And they will not be disappointed. All
through this very funny book, we see Clarrie making elemental
mistakes with his words, usually changing just one letter for
another with funny results. Children will laugh out loud at the
mistakes he makes, noticing the error almost immediately then
calling out what the real word will be in the blink of an eye. Each
word that needs a change is highlighted as if it is on a small piece
of paper stuck to the page, while the rest of the sentences are in a
thin pale font. For children reading the book, they will immediately
see the problem words.
The humorous illustrations by DeGennaro will have the readers
scanning the pages eagerly to look at the range of things shown.
Clarrie's kitchen is full of interest and each page draws the eyes
to something different illustrated there. I love the stylised trees
and plants, the price tag on Clarrie's new gum boots and the flag
atop the hen house. What an enjoyable book for young and old.
Fran Knight
Hello, goodbye and everything in between by Jennifer E. Smith
Headline 2016. ISBN 9781472235565
(Age: 12+) Recommended. If, like me, you have often struggled to
find a romance for tweens without graphic or inappropriate content,
this is one to put on your list.
From the author of The statistical probability of love at first
sight and The geography of you and me this is the
thoroughly enjoyable story of Clare and Aidan and a list. These two
seniors have been an item for the final years of high school and
along with their best friends, Stella and Scotty, are about to
embark on the thrilling but anxiety-making adventure of college.
The conflict lies in the fact that these two are bound for colleges
on opposite sides of the country and their last night is one of very
mixed emotions. Clare has made a list (that's something she is very
good at) and the pair re-visit their favourite haunts, the scenes of
firsts, catch up with their friends and toss the problem of whether
to break up or not, back and forth. The very thought of being apart
after their two years of being virtually inseparable is completely
distressing for both and they postulate on whether it might be less
painful to break up rather than let the relationship die away from
long distance constraints.
Along with their own personal dilemma the night holds many other
complications as tensions run high while they hang out with each
other and others. Of all the events that impact on the pair probably
the most confounding is that Stella and Scotty who have sniped at
each other incessantly since kindergarten have suddenly become a
couple. And it is this that influences their respective thoughts as
much as anything else.
All in all this is a really engaging novel with very likeable
characters for which the reader can really care. One cannot help but
wish them the happiest of endings as they are such funny and
endearing people. Recommended for your romantically inclined readers
from around 12 years up.
Sue Warren
I just couldn't wait to meet you by Kate Ritchie
Ill. by Hannah Sommerville. Random House Australia, 2016. ISBN
9780857989703
(Ages: 3-7) Family. Babies. Love. Kate Ritchie, of 'Home and away'
fame, began work on this as a letter to her infant daughter. It
talks directly to the reader, reminiscing on what it was like
waiting for her baby to be born ('Would you grow up big and strong?
What would be your favourite toy?') before reflecting on life with
her baby ('and although you challenge me, I know we will be okay').
The sex of the baby, through the use of neutral colours and careful
wording, is unidentified. This means that all young children will be
able to relate to the baby in the story.
The text rhymes and flows quite well. The verse only occasionally
seems clunky - particularly the last page ('I am so lucky that I met
you. I just couldn't wait to meet you!'), or not reflective of how a
parent actually speaks to a child ('Each day my glad heart sings').
Otherwise, it is tender, reassuring and well phrased ('So
I'll be here to watch you grow, and guide you on your way').
Hannah Sommerville has done a wonderful job illustrating this with
warm, earthy tones and rounded, comforting lines that add to the
welcoming, caring feel of the story. The front endpapers have
illustrations of things that might be stuck in a baby scrapbook:
ultrasound photos, lists of names, baby shower invitations and belly
photographs and the back endpapers show artefacts and photographs of
the new baby's milestones: first smile, footprint, lock of hair,
first painting, etc. These will provide talking points for parents
and children as they discuss these things within their own family
context (What would I have been called if I was a boy/girl? When did
I first smile?). It might even prompt the pulling out of their baby
book or photo album.
This book, to be shared between parents and children, could be used
to reinforce how special and loved a child is, particularly if a new
sibling has or is joining the family. It will also be reassuring and
touching for new parents and seems to be written as much for them as
for children.
Nicole Nelson
Crabbing with Dad by Paul Seden
Magabala Books, 2016. ISBN 9781925360158
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Aboriginal themes, Family
relationships, Crabbing, Fathers. The simple act of doing something
with Dad is shown in this delightful new book from Magabala Books.
The universal story of families working together is infectious and
all children, indigenous and non indigenous will enjoy the trip to
the creek to catch a crab. The warmth of the family outing, the
closeness between Dad and his children, the inclusion of the fellows
fishing on the beach, the addition of a cousin, all make the day a
marvellous success.
Sam and his brother, Mahli, put on their life jackets and speed off
with Dad along the creek to their secret spot. They throw over their
crab pots (judiciously we are told the laws about crab netting in
Australia at the start of the book) and watch the fish swimming
beneath them. When the pot is pulled from the bottom of the creek
they have caught the biggest crab ever and need to do things to it
to stop it from nipping their fingers. We are shown aspects of
culture through this story, and the respect shown to the fish in the
creek, as well as respecting the laws of the land: lifejackets,
sunscreen, safety on the water and wearing hats. And I particularly
like the illustration on the front cover: young readers will quiver
with excitement at the thought of being nipped by those large claws
looming out at them and eagerly turn the pages to find out what the
boys do on their day with Dad.
This lovely story, richly showing a day out with Dad that all kids
can read and admire, underlines the importance of the father in all
our societies giving a man's perspective to young boys growing up.
The way the excellent Paul Seden has told this seemingly simple
story stressing the role of men, as well as giving a procedural
account of going crabbing, makes the reader look for more. Supported
by luminous illustrations, I hope that Paul Seden has many more
stories up his sleeve to share with us all. A Darwin based author
illustrator, Seden's work first appeared with Kick with my left
foot (Allen and Unwin, 2014).
Fran Knight
Spooks and scooters by Elen Caldecott
The Marsh Road Mysteries bk 3. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN
9781408852736
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Themes: Mystery; Adventure; Industrial
espionage. The Marsh Road Mysteries revolve around a group
of English friends who seem to keep finding mysteries that need
their combined talents to help solve the problems that adults are
incapable of unravelling. In this adventure, Flora and Sylvie, who
are twins with very different personality traits, attempt to rescue
their father from disaster when his business becomes the target of
intellectual theft and industrial espionage. The consequences will
be catastrophic for his business prospects and he is at risk of
losing everything. The twin's parents are separated and the girl's
father has a new girlfriend who has not yet won Sylvie's affection.
She too becomes embroiled in the mystery. Is she the thief? The
twins' other friends assist them to outwit the bumbling Personal
Investigator that has been hired by the business, and together they
use their talents to piece the puzzle together.
This is a crime mystery for young readers and will satisfy the needs
of those young readers who like mystery and intrigue. The child
characters use their talents and brain power, and young readers will
enjoy the way they problem solve (and bend the rules) to enable them
to pursue their investigations. Caldecott manages to write in such a
way that a young reader will not feel patronised. Perfect for a
school library collection, it can be recommended to young capable
readers and older readers who like an intriguing tale.
Carolyn Hull
Get in trouble by Kelly Link
Text, 2015. ISBN 9781922182630
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Short stories. 'Be bold, be bold. But not
too bold - lest that your heart's blood should run cold.'
This book is an Indies Choice Book of the Year Finalist for 2016.
You will need to be bold to encounter the nine short stories
included here for the reader to enjoy. The writing is captivating
and the stories are weird, engrossing, surprising and at times
alarming or disturbing.
These stories encompass a range of characters that include: a young
girl, a middle-aged movie star, a spoiled birthday girl, astronauts,
evil twins, bootleggers, The Wizard of Oz and superheroes.
Some of the stories require the reader to really slow down and
collect all the clues in the writing for there to be real
understanding and appreciation of the intricacies in the telling.
The stories unfold in a dreamlike stream of consciousness where the
connections seem logical in that space and time but, at the end of
the story, the reader marvels at the creativity and imagination that
created the journey to an unexpected destination. The Summer People is a compelling first story in this
collection. It has teenage Fran caring for the 'summer people'.
These people are holiday makers that visit for the summer. There are
also 'summer people' to look after and they are always at home. This
story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of making agreements with
fairies.
While these are short stories, they are for sophisticated readers
able to suspend belief and enjoy the ride.
Linda Guthrie
My family is a zoo by K A Gerard
Ill. by Emma Dodd. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408869406
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Humour. Zoos. Families. Birth. Verse. The
family is going on a journey. Dad's elephant is packed into the car,
after all he has had him since he was three, then the story teller's
big brown bear, sister's whale, and big brother's dinosaur. Each
person gets into the car with their animal, and the reader will read
the story told in a four line stanza telling of the new arrival in
the car. By now the readers will be intrigued about just how these
people and their animals are fitting into the car, and the humorous
illustrations by Emma Dodd, show the car getting very full. A
seemingly few simple strokes of her pen give priceless expressions
on each of the family members as well as the animals, as they stop
again for uncle and his penguin, the cousin and her kangaroo, aunt
and her monkey. Adding a dog and his pet as well as a pair of polar
bears means the car is absolutely stuffed full. There is truly not
enough room for a pin. But the surprise ending means room will have
to be found for the extra passengers.
Young readers will love reading this out loud, looking at the bright
breezy illustrations, working out just where everyone will fit in
the station wagon, and be amazed at the surprise at the end.
Discussion will follow about zoos and the animals that are there,
why the family owns all these animals, if indeed they are real
animals, and where to go to from here with their extra luggage.
A great way to talk about happy involved families, owning a pet and
the responsibilities involved, and the introduction of a new sibling
or two to an already full family.
Fran Knight
