HarperCollins, 2014. ISBN 9780062237057
(Age: Preschool - Yr 2) Winter is coming and it is time for bears to
hibernate. But Bernard Bear did not want to sleep in the bear cave.
It was too noisy, too big and too crowded. But he must find
somewhere . . . and soon. So he sets out to find a bed that is just
right for him.
Frog's lilypad looks nice but it is not made for a bear and wet is
not comfortable. And Bird's bed is too windy and Rabbit's is too
small. Will Bear ever find a bed that is just right for bears? And
how will a teeny, tiny mouse help a big bear find a bed?
Even though the theme of creatures looking for that which is just
right for them and trying all sorts of options is common, this is a
charming tale that has a sense of newness and novelty about it.
Illustrated with no extraneous detail apart from the focus of the
text, the characters take centre stage, each one original and
quirky. The text has a repetitive element that young children will
join in with and they will delight in trying to find Mouse in the
pictures. It could be a great introduction to investigating where
animals live as well as challenging them to think of the
characteristics that a bear's bed should have before Mouse solves
the problem.
There is also the issue of Bear destroying all the beds he tries
without apologising or helping to fix them which could set up some
discussion about ethical behaviour at the child's level.
An intriguing debut for this author/illustrator that, like good
picture books do, offers more than initially meets the eye.
Barbara Braxton
Hooray! It's a new royal baby! by Martha Mumford
Ill. by Ada Grey. Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 97814088 65712
(Age: 4-7) Royal family, Children, Siblings, Humour. The third book
in the series of stories following the royal offspring born in the
United Kingdom, is full of fun and promise just as the other two,
with a parallel theme of how an older child will deal with the birth
of a sibling.
The palace is in heightened anticipation, the nursery is being
readied, with the mobile being hung, the teddies all put in order
and the bassinet rocking horse polished. Royal Baby George helps his
aunt and uncle hang balloons on the royal gate but he begins to
wonder about the New Royal Baby playing with his toys. He is not so
sure that he wants someone else playing with his dinosaur and when
the New Royal Baby arrives home, George is a little underwhelmed.
His mother gives him a goldfish of his very own, but the changes in
the New Royal Baby begin to interest him as well. This book gently
leads the readers to see just how the two children will get along,
underlining the ways they can play together, and the role of the
parents in facilitating this. By the end of the book George is happy
to play with the New Royal Baby as it is much more interesting than
the goldfish. The last few pages will have parents laughing as well.
Boldly illustrated the fun of being parents is very much apparent
with a few side issues being gently dealt with. The euphoria of the
birth of a royal baby is infectious and this book will be just as
popular in Australia as in the UK, along with the other two, Shhh!
Don't wake the royal baby, and Happy birthday, royal baby!
Fran Knight
A Small Madness by Dianne Touchell
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760110789
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. This book is impossible to put down.
This novel tackles the issues of teen pregnancy and the power of
denial. Each character in this novel is etched in detail - being
both believable and raw.
Rose and Michael are in love. Their families think the best of them.
They are regarded as the 'good kids'. Liv (Rose's friend from the
first day of school) comes from a more permissive family. Liv called
Rose a late starter.
'Rose didn't tell anyone about it. She wondered if it showed. She
looked at herself in the mirror and turned this way and then that
way.'
Be prepared for an emotional journey as the powerful writing has you
confronted by the ways Rose, Michael and Rose's mother deny the
undeniable.
'Liv's mother had a saying: no good deed goes unpunished.' Liv, in
trying to help Rose and Michael face the reality of their situation,
becomes ostracised and yet is the person able to manage a tragic and
life threatening situation at the end of the novel.
This novel deals with shade of grey in relationships. It challenges
the reader to consider if Rose is indeed a monster or is
experiencing a small kind of madness. Is Rose's mother (Violet) also
experiencing this madness or is she negligent as a parent?
Linda Guthrie
The Reign by Lynne Stringer
Verindon bk 3. Wombat Book, 2014. ISBN 9781921632709
In the third and final book of the Verindon series Lynne
Stringer keeps the action ramped as star-crossed lovers, Keridan and
Sarah finally get together, but for how long?
The book opens with Overlord, Lady Sarah, reluctantly choosing her
consort. Sarah has begun to accept her responsibilities as Overlord
though still with anger and resentment at being denied the man she
loves. It is not until a near successful attempt on her life, which
Sarah herself, in the most unexpected way foils, that she is able to
be with her true love.
Yet nothing is simple on Verindon. Even as Sarah's hopes and dreams
are fulfilled, the machinations of Denzik continue to plague her and
soon she, Keridan, their friends and those that they are sworn to
protect confront danger on every front. Even Sarah's newly
discovered abilities don't promise safety.
Though the ultimate outcome is positive, the reader must bid
farewell to two familiar characters, which in one case was
surprisingly sad. However, at the very end, in the midst of an
idyllic picnic, the reader is left wondering if Stringer has just
laid the background for a future series on Verindon.
Stringer has provided and managed many resolutions in this final
book with an adroitness that promises continued success.
R. Lange
Any questions? by Marie-Louise Gay
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760113179
(Age: 6+) Writing, Imagination. The process of writing is given a
wildly funny and unusual outing in this heavily illustrated book by
Canadian author, Marie-Louise Gay. She tells of the amazing range of
questions asked by a class of children, and leads them through the
process of writing a book. From the blank page she adds colour and
characters, asking the children for their ideas and suggestions.
Each suggestion leads to a page of illustrations suggesting a story,
so the white paper and the questions about polar bears may lead to a
story of a polar bear in a snowstorm, or the purple paper may lead
the children in another direction entirely. The colour of the paper
is important in pushing ideas forward. From there different ways of
adding words to the paper are exposed. Some write down a series of
words, some phrases, these are added to the paper as ideas
spawn and the story develops. Illustrations fill the pages adding to
the excitement of the developing story as Gay encourages children to
write.
This colour filled picture book encourages teachers and students to
write, giving them a scaffold to do it, while being an entertaining
read as well. The story which this class develops is told at the end
with all the additions by each child involved. As a model for use in
the classroom, it has merit, and may encourage members in the
classroom to try their hand at writing.
Fran Knight
Book of the Dead by Michael Northrop
Tombquest series, Book 1. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN
9781743629246
(Age: 10+) Themes: Egyptology, Adventure stories, Good & Evil,
Museums. Another series from Scholastic where the reader has to wait
patiently for the next instalment to be published. This is a dark
story more suited to readers over 10 than the recommended Year 3
audience. Over five novels the two young protagonists are caught in
a dark adventure, as an ancient Egyptian evil is unleashed, mummies
are awakened and a plague of scarabs invades the underground
tunnels.
Alex Sennefer's suffering from a fatal illness, nothing can help
him. He leaves the hospital and very quickly is embroiled in the
mysteries at his mother's work place, the Metropolitan Museum of
Art. She is an Egyptologist, involved in a secret society, who
carries a powerful magic amulet at all times. She knows that the
answers to Alex's getting better is hidden in the Lost Spells of the
Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Alex and his best friend Ren are drawn in to fight a Death Walker,
who has 3000 years to plan his revenge. There is a real darkness to
this story, as they fight evil, are confronted by a thousands of
stinging scarabs killing the animals in Central Park and engage in a
battle in abandoned underground railway tunnels.
This a confronting story, the bad guys are violent and scary and
Alex and Ren are so caught up in the battle, the reader knows little
about their characters and their friendship.
For readers over 10 years.
Rhyllis Bignell
Alice's food A-Z: edible adventures by Alice Zaslavsky
Ill. by Kat Chadwick. Walker Books, 2015. ISBN 9781922179388
(Age: 8-80) Highly recommended. Fruit.
Vegetables. Healthy Cooking. Recipes for children. Alice Zaslavsky
is known for her promotion of healthy eating and great recipes, from
her time as a contestant on the 2012 Master Chef program and her
current role as a children's TV quiz show host in Kitchen Whiz and
as the official Face of Prahan Markets. Her first foray into
publishing, Alice's food A-Z: edible adventures brings to
life an amazing array of foods, everything from apples to zucchini.
What in the world did she find for X? X-cellent Alice discovered
coconuts belong to the Xylocarp family - a fruit with a hard, woody
exterior! Each entry includes fun facts, photos, food history, tips
and recipes that are child-friendly. Alice includes her babushka's
borsch recipe, a delicious after school snack in her Russian home.
Kitchen safety tips are included even Hi Jean - hygiene is included.
The healthy recipes range from easy grilled haloumi and watermelon
skewers to carrot cake.
Kat Chadwick's stylish designs including colourful backgrounds,
peeling notes attached by sticky tape, food styling, close-up
photos, layered text and fun sketches, add excitement to Alice's
edible adventures.
A wonderful addition to the recipe collection of a young cook or for
a family who love to create healthy meals and snacks.
Rhyllis Bignell
Love and other perishable items by Laura Buzo
Allen & Unwin. 2015. ISBN 9781760112424
(Age: 14-18) Highly recommended. Young adult fiction. Originally
this debut novel from Laura Buzo was published as Good oil
and commended in the CBC Older Readers offerings of 2011. It was
further shortlisted in the 2011 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.
Now re-issued with a new title, this is a wonderfully funny, tender
and compellingly engaging read. Buzo has a marvellous knack of
writing real life with a completely authentic and convincing voice
which resonates strongly throughout her novels.
When 16 year old Amelia lands herself her first job - part-time at
her local Woolies - as so many young people do, she meets 21 year
old Chris, final year uni student. Outwardly a gauche awkward teen
and an extroverted 'class clown' with a six-year age gap that seems
an insurmountable chasm, these two 'click' with immediacy as they
discuss every conceivable topic from quality literature to feminism
to pulp movies with gusto and passion. And of course, fall in love -
though not without obstacles. Amelia is smitten from the start but
despairs of Chris ever regarding her as more than the quirky 'young
'un', while Chris stumbles from fantasy perfect woman to
unsuccessful pursuit, all the while falling more and more
convincingly for Amelia.
Not only the main characters but those secondary and even on the
periphery of this story are drawn so utterly real and the plot
unravels with warmth and wit, absorbing the reader who is drawn into
this melee of personalities with ease.
There is an intriguing and subtle comparison of the two
personalities revealed through their alternate narrations.
Apparently 'uncool' Amelia has in fact developed far more
sophisticated coping mechanisms to deal with her stresses with
family life and school than the generally perceived 'cool' Chris,
who resorts to over-indulgence in alcohol and recreational drugs to
escape from his own troubles.
The parallels which can be drawn between Amelia's English reading
list (and frustrations with the curriculum and her teacher) and the
gradually evolving relationship between herself and Chris are also
delightful, as the reader is invited to predict the eventual outcome
between these two distinctly likeable characters.
Highly recommended for mature readers of around 15 and up, you won't
go wrong with this one.
Sue Warren
The Hueys in none the number by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins, 2014. ISBN 9780007420698
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. How do you explain the concept of none,
nothing, zero? That something that isn't even there is something?
This is one of the most difficult mathematical concepts for very
young children to understand, given that they are still very much in
the concrete stage of development, yet given its importance in maths
it is one of the most critical. And in this charming counting book
Oliver Jeffers manages it perfectly.
Using his quirky characters The Hueys, he builds up the idea by
adding one to none to get a blue telephone and then two beds until
the big day building up to a crescendo of items that are suddenly
taken away leaving none. Jeffers doesn't confine himself to the
usual objects found in counting books - each collection is a story
in itself like the seven oranges being balanced on things. Why would
you try to balance an orange on something? Or the teddy-shaped
parcel that becomes everything from a tennis racquet to a train set.
And the nine seagulls that steal Frank's chips just invite the young
listeners to share their own stories.
Oliver Jeffers has a knack and a reputation for making the ordinary
extraordinary and this third adventure of these lovable characters
is no exception.
Barbara Braxton
Shine: A story about saying goodbye by Trace Balla
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743316344
(Age: Preschool + ) 'Far, far away and long, long ago, on a
beautiful planet, amongst the golden stars there lived a young
horse. He was so kind and bright, so sparkly and shimmery, that
everyone called him Shine.' Shine galloped with the other horses
under the smiling moon until one day he met Glitter, the loveliest
horse he had ever seen and soon Sparky and Shimmer had come to make
a beautiful family. But sadly and too soon, Shine had to return to
the stars and Glitter, Sparky and Shimmer are heartbroken, crying an
ocean of golden tears and climbing the high mountain of grief until
they finally see and understand the overwhelming size of the love
they shared. And far above, the brightest star of all shines on them
and brings them peace.
Trace Balla wrote this book for her niece and nephew when they lost
their dad, suddenly and unexpectedly. Even though it is so difficult
to explain the inexplicable to young children, it gave them a moment
of peace and beauty and moments are sometimes all you can get at
such a difficult time. But it also gave them reassurance that they
were still surrounded by love, and hope that, in time, they would see
their Shine shining down on them.
We tend to think of death as adult-business but whenever an adult
dies there is so often a young child deeply affected and trying to
come to terms with the loss, not quite understanding the finality
and perhaps blaming themselves for not being good enough. Whatever
the circumstances of the death, it is essential that the child knows
they were loved deeply and will continue to be so, and this story
not only shows that but celebrates it. It acknowledges and allows
the sadness of all those left behind, the grieving process is
accurately depicted as a huge, steep mountain to climb that will
take time but it also shows that it can be conquered and that there
is still joy in the world. Little people don't have the vision to
see beyond the horizon and so a story like this gives them some
comfort that eventually the hurt starts to heal and the love shines
through. They have not been abandoned, they are not lost and they
are still loved.
Because school is often the one constant in the child's life at this
time and particularly if the child is not involved in the final
farewell process, it often falls to the teacher to provide the
support that is needed and having a story like Shine to
share gives them a starting point to share and talk with the child.
It is gentle, it is reassuring and based on the belief that 'We all
come from the stars, we all go back to the stars' it can be shared
without risk of contradicting any religious beliefs.
Sadly, this particular copy will not be added to the collection at
my school - it is on its way to a little person who needs it right
now and who will get great comfort from it. I thank Carolyn Walsh
from Allen & Unwin for making that possible.
Barbara Braxton
The greedy dog by Rosie Dickins and Francesca di Chiara
Usborne Picture Books, 2015. ISBN 9781409584841
(Age: Preschool - Yr 2) Dog is always hungry and his thoughts are
always about food. Even though he had already had a slice of steak,
half a ham and a whole string of sausages, he was thinking about his
dinner. In the market town it is market day and his nose leads him
to the butcher's stall where there are all sorts of delicious doggy
delights - in particular, a big juicy bone that is irresistible.
Carefully, he sneaks up and snatches it, hightailing it out of town
before anyone can catch him.
Delighted with his daring and his success, he runs until he comes to
a river and the cool water reminds him he is thirsty and needs a
drink. But as he bends over the water, he sees another dog with a
bone, fat and juicy and bigger than his. He is determined to have
it.
This is a retelling of The dog and his reflection, a fable by Aesop
that dates back hundreds of years. Written in an entertaining way
and brought right up-to-date with lively, colourful illustrations it
provides the platform for a discussion about being content with what
we have as well as a springboard to other fables, their format and
messages. Are stories meant to entertain us or educate us, or is
there room for both? It could be the start of having even very young
students start looking below the surface for the juicy bones beneath
- the message that the writer is trying to help us understand.
But even without the philosophical discussion, it just a lovely
story to read aloud to our youngest readers.
Barbara Braxton
Alfie in the bath by Deb Gliori
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408853511
(Age: 2-5) Highly recommended. Baths. Imagination. Alfie-Bun
is splashing around in the bath, surrounded by his toys, bubbles
floating in the air, he's having fun. What's under the waves? What a
surprise for the young reader when the gatefold spread is opened,
the bath toys have come to life. He's in the middle of an underwater
adventure. There's a large blue octopus waving seaweed, the tugboat
steaming along, catfish - half cat, half fish, and a big
multi-coloured Merlion rides the waves. Crab is splashing in soap,
his claws ready to pinch frog, there's so much to enjoy and
discover. Alfie pretends to be a sea monster waving his tentacles
and sinking the other animals. When he pretends to be a huge whale
spouting and makes a giant splash, Daddy-Bun is there to clean up.
This is a wonderful read-aloud picture book. Scottish author Deb
Gliori's simple text is filled with sounds and noises, just right
for repeating. There are little pink crab's claws licking
SNICK-SNECK, the snorkel bubbles and hisses and the giant wave goes
KERSPLOOOOSH! Her illustrations are bright and her animated
characters are boldly drawn with pen, ink and watercolours. Shades
of blue anchor each page as the swirling bathwater underpins the
animals' activities. Alfie's bathtime is a celebration of the
imagination.
Rhyllis Bignell
Red, a crayon's story by Michael Hall
HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN 9780062252074
(Age: K-6) His label clearly states he is Red. But sadly, he wasn't
very good at being red. In fact, whenever he was asked to be red as
in a fire truck or a strawberry he was the exact opposite - he was
very blue. His mother Olive thought he should mix more with others
so she introduced him to Yellow and suggested they make an orange -
but instead it was greenish. His grandmother Silver gave him a warm
red scarf for the school portraits - but that didn't help. The other
crayons begin to gossip thinking Red just needs to try harder,
although Sunshine suggests he just needs more time. But no matter
what, even with the interventions of the other art supplies, Red just
didn't. Until one day Red meets Berry.
This is one of the most amazing picture books I've encountered in a
long time. It is superficially simple but there are so many layers
to it that every read reveals something new. The narrator is
depicted as a simple, everyday lead pencil and the other characters
are the crayons in their coloured wrappers whose comments not only
bring them alive but also match who they are - for example Army
Green suggest Red has 'to press harder' while Fuchsia thinks red is
'not very bright'. Set against a black background with white text,
the colours pop from the page and on those pages where Red and the
others draw, the pictures are very reminiscent of the drawings of
the very young. But there is so much more to this than a picture
book with visual appeal that introduces children to colours.
It has a message about celebrating difference, not judging things by
their appearance and the danger of labelling that we can all learn
from. It celebrates diversity and difference. Building on a recent
experience, my first thought was that this could be perfect for a
transgender child. It's most powerful message is 'be yourself' and
be happy about being different, a message emphasized by Angelina
Jolie at the Nickelodeon
Awards. Knowing who you are and being true to yourself is so
much more important than the opinions of others, such a basic
foundation of strong mental health for all ages.
If this were an Australian book, I'd expect to see it shortlisted
for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year - it is brilliant.
Barbara Braxton
The big book of Australian History by Peter Macinnis
2nd edition. National Library of Australia, 2015. ISBN 9780642278722
Australia's history has been in the spotlight with the commemoration
of the centenary of ANZAC Day so it is fitting that the new and
revised edition of this magnificent work be released at this time.
Peter Macinnis is a rare breed of author - not only is he a
meticulous researcher winkling out the most extraordinary and often
unknown material but he also then shapes it into a narrative that
brings the times alive for the reader. I always look forward to
reading and reviewing his work because I know I will learn amazing
things as I do.
Accompanied by stunning and unique images from the collection of the
National Library of Australia, we journey through a timeline that
spans the formulation of the continent as plate tectonics caused the
separation of the land mass known as Pangea to the present where we
are reminded that we are "history makers" and that what we do with
our lives becomes part of this nation's history. Using a
chronological format, we journey through ancient Australia, The
Dreaming, the coming of the Europeans and the founding and forging
of a nation. From the end of World War II when Australia's growth
was rapid through migration to the embracing of multicultural
Australia; from Aboriginal land rights to apologising to the Stolen
Generations; from droughts to flooding rains, Macinnis tells stories
of the unusual, the unknown and the unique that we need to know, and
tells them in a way that allows the reader to dip and delve, seek
and savour, and engages, educates and entertains.
The first edition of The big book of Australian History in
2013 was a Notable Book in the CBCA Book of the Year awards which is
testament to its quality. Regardless of whether this edition has the
coveted sticker, it is a must on the shelves of every school
library, primary or secondary, and would be the most wonderful gift
for any student of history whatever their age.
And don't forget Peter has offered us (for free) his Many
Voices project, over 1.5 million words of "a biased collection
of firsthand, secondhand and bystander accounts of events in
Australia's history" that he is continuing to collect for us. Is
there a better friend of teacher librarians?
Barbara Braxton
We all looked up by Tommy Wallach
Simon and Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781481418775
(Age: Upper secondary) Swearing, Drug use. Emotional abuse. Everything that could be an
issue is given to each of the four protagonists. Eliza's mother has
gone to live in Hawaii and her dad is dying from cancer. She is very
smart. Anita's parents have non-negotiable rules that Anita will go
to a prestigious college even though she wants to sing. Peter is a
star at basketball and Andy has no aspirations. An imminent
asteroid called Ardor is about to hit the earth and everyone is
concerned and frightened about their imminent demise. So, what they
have and haven't achieved is uppermost in their minds and this leads
to risks they would never have taken. From this perspective, the
inner discussions of each person enables the reader to share their
beliefs and worries. The physical violence is always prominent,
real, very unsettling and scary. The four young people learn about
themselves as well may the reader. It's a fascinating journey. It's
one that encourages the reader to look beneath the surface to what
is really important in his or her life. An unsettling book but with
many areas for real discussion.
Recommended for Upper Secondary only as strong language and drug use devalues the very fascinating issues that this author discusses.
Sue Nosworthy
