Crikey and Cat by Chris McKimmie
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781760110031.
(Age: Pre-school - K) It is such a dark night - so dark, in fact,
that all the stars have disappeared from the sky. So what do
you do? You gather up Crikey your dog and Cat, hop in your
ute, go to the all-night hardware store for supplies, build the
longest ladder, climb it and put them back! Amazing what can
be achieved with scissors and glue. Now Crikey and Cat can sit
outside and enjoy the night sky again. All is well with the
world. But then a storm comes . . .
'Big rain!
Big rain!
Whirly wind!'
Safe into shelter they run. But, once again, all the stars are
blown from the sky. Can they be replaced?
This is another one of Chris McKimmie's masterpieces. Written
with a minimum of text, the story is told in his iconic illustrative
style demonstrating how a can-do attitude, resilience and
persistence can overcome almost anything. Set against a uniquely
Australian background, it demands that the reader look closely at
the pictures and draw on their imagination to extract the richness
and meaning of this story. While the text and pictures work
really well together, the full impact of the story is probably best
gained from a shared reading where a knowledgeable adult can point
and discuss and question the 3-6 year old who is the target
audience.
Chris McKimmie has been a CBCA nominee three times - Crikey and
Cat may be his fourth.
Barbara Braxton
Caesar the war dog: Operation pink elephant by Stephen Dando-Collins
Random House, 2014. ISBN 9780857981684 (pbk)
(Age: Middle primary) Well recommended. An exciting and realistic
adventure story with a chocolate Labrador called Caesar, his handler
Ben and a group of Australian Special Forces men on a mission to
Tanzania to catch the notorious Zuba, who is poaching and killing
elephants for their tusks and selling them to the Chinese. This is a
captivating story with all the elements of a thrilling chase.
The journey to Africa is graphically detailed with Ben and Caesar
having to jump from the helicopter and land in the sea! It's a very
dangerous mission, extremely well described and full of action and
heroism. Ben's good mate Lucky has been captured by Zuba and the
Special Force has come to free him and the many children he kidnaps
and forces into his service
The fast moving pace captures the real feeling of the horror and
fear the kidnapped children feel. Caesar's scent helps free the
captives and the ivory before it leaves the African docks. Operation
Pink Elephant is successful.
There is a list of Military terms and a Fact File which is very
informative.
Sue Nosworthy
Head of the River by Pip Harry
University of Queensland Press, 2014. ISBN 9780702253263.
(Ages 13+) Recommended. Set in present-day Melbourne, Head of
the River tells the story of seventeen-year-old fraternal
twins desperate to lead their school to victory in Head of the
River. Their stories begin six months prior to Head of the River, an
Australian school rowing event, however the twins, Leni and
Christian both encounter many different challenges that push them to
their limits as they fight to stay on the team while maintaining
relationships with peers and family.
All the characters in Head of the River were well rounded
and relatable, with both flaws and merits that affected how they
interacted with their surroundings. The story alternates between
Christian and Leni's point-of-view. Both have the same goal, however
their personalities and choices take them on completely different
journeys. While Christian considers the use of drugs and steroids to
lose weight and make it back onto the team, Leni finds herself
trying to manage relationships and school while training for the big
event. The plot is very character driven, and although it is a bit
slow to begin with, it quickly picks up. It was refreshing to see
characters in realistic situations face realistic consequences based
on their choices. The dialogue flows smoothly and adds to the
characters. There is some coarse language, however it is used
sparingly to show the mood or personality of characters. Head of
the River deals with themes such as family, peer-pressure,
drugs and friendship in a mature and sensitive way while stressing
the importance of decisions and how they impact both the lives of
individuals as well as those around them. The writing style is
simple and unobtrusive, with the tone changing depending on the
point-of-view. It instils a wide range of emotions in the reader
from guilt to joy and creates vivid scenes that remain true to life.
The first person, present tense gives readers and in depth look into
the protagonists' minds and keeps them on edge as the plot develops.
Overall, Head of the River is a highly enjoyable, thoughtful
read that takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions with complex
and three-dimensional characters that stay with them even after the
end. The novel deals with issues that are relevant to many
teenagers' lives and shows the importance of family and friends.
Head of the River appeals those who would rather curl up with a book
than go outside as well as those who enjoy sports, specifically
rowing, making it a very entertaining read.
Ruby T. (Student)
A Last Dragon Slayer Novel: The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde
Hodder & Stoughton, 2014. ISBN 9781444707281.
(Age: 11+) Jasper Fforde uses a very conversational tone to portray
his main character, Jennifer Strange, an orphan working for the
Kazam house of enchantment in a very warped presentation of the word
as we know it.
Set in the 'Ununited Kingdoms' where sorcerers are free to go about
their business and fantastical creatures thrive, Jenny is
responsible for the last two dragons in existence, young males known
as Colin and Feldspar who are under threat by the Mighty Shandar.
The Might Shandar is an old and powerful Sorcerer who was charged
with the task of destroying all dragons. Paid an incredible sum for
the task his honour is in question when Jenny saves the dragons from
him. In exchange for their lives he asks Jenny to find him the
legendary Eye of Zoltar, a pink jewel the size of a goose egg which
shines with inner light. Jenny, for the dragons' sake, agrees. Along
with her friends, Perkins and Colin (and a grumpy princess in
disguise), Jenny sets off for the Cambrian empire with a huffy
princess in toe, picked up along the way at her mother's insistence.
Once the group reach the hub of jeopardy tourism in the empire they
discover that where they're going has the highest causality rate of
all. Gathering their courage and the best tour guide they could
find, Jenny's group set off with a 50% fatality index, not knowing
who will perish upon the way.
Fforde brings a new meaning to 'whirlwind adventure' with this
novel, presenting a world so warped that even the familiar becomes
unfamiliar. Combining the real and the unreal in a spectacularly
surreal piece, this novel is one of the most confusing books I have
ever read. Despite being difficult to get into I quite enjoyed this
book, and I would recommend for lovers of surreal fantasy,
particularly for people aged eleven and up as the content might be
difficult for younger readers to grasp.
Kayla Gaskell (age eighteen)
Look and see by Shane Morgan
Magabala Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922142221.
(Age: Preschool) Aboriginal themes. Animals. Shane Morgan, a
descendant of the Yorta Yorta people of Victoria received an
advanced diploma from the Goulburn Community College where he
studied Koorie Art and Design. He has put his skills to good use in
this simple rhyming tale which shows six Australian animals in their
environment. Each double page has an opening sentence asking the
younger reader to look a the animal being show: the lizard is up a
tree looking down on the narrator, the kangaroo hops over him, the
emu catches him, then the fish chases him out of the water, while
the tortoise nips his toe. And in the end the dingo howls at the
moon, to say goodnight.
Each cheeky animal does something to the boy, as the pages are
turned.
The bold illustrations, with simple line drawings and blocks of
colour are most expressive, showing the animal and its features and
its environment. The book will serve young children well,
introducing Australian animals to them, and encouraging them to
predict what the rhyming word will be, finishing with the dingo
saying goodnight.
Fran Knight
Hasel and Rose by Caroline Magerl
Penguin/Viking 2014. ISBN 9780670077342.
'Rose was a new face in a new street. And there was a new town right
outside her window.' What, for some, might be the start of a
new adventure filled with anticipation and excitement, for Rose is a
descent into loneliness and apprehension. Rose looked out her
windows to the stars and wished. But the wish thing which has no
name did not come. It did not make its way across country
sweeping along the powerlines on the great poles that stride across
the land; it did not come swept by stormy winds on a
parachute. Nothing could bring peace and joy to Rosie's heart
until . . .
The publisher's blurb says, 'A magical story of hope and new
beginnings for anyone who's ever loved and lost'. Hasel and Rose
celebrates the power of imagination and resilience, even when things
seem too hard, and it would be difficult to express the theme of
this story better. When parents make a decision to move away from
all that is familiar, there are many worries and what-ifs that haunt
children, often too big for them to articulate and so nothing brings
comfort, particularly with the natural impatience of the
young. But this story, written by someone who, herself, has
experienced dislocation of the familiar and friendly many times and
accompanied by her own evocative hand-coloured etchings which add so
much atmosphere and tension, offers confirmation that sometimes all
it takes is time, and new journeys can happen around any corner.
The journey of the evolution of Hasel and Rose is told by
the author
and it, in itself, is a remarkable piece of writing because it helps
to answer that question that children always ask authors . . . Where
do you get your ideas from? Like many stories, it evolved over a
long period of time, an idea tickling the edges of the mind until it
found a purpose and a pathway to become more. Its crafting and
development is as much of a journey as Hasel's, and that in itself
is a most valuable lesson for students and their teachers to learn.
Great stories cannot be written to order and a timetable, but need
to be nurtured and nourished and allowed to flourish in their own
time . . . just as Rosie did.
Barbara Braxton
Do you dare? series
Puffin, 2014 1836: Fighting Bones by Sophie Laguna. ISBN 9780143307556. 1844: The Last Horse Race by James Moloney. ISBN
9780143307822.
(Age: Yr 3+) To quote Penguin's publicity because it encapsulates
the concept so well . . . 'Do You Dare fills a much-needed
gap for engaging Australian historical fiction for boy readers aged
8 to 12. These fast-paced, adventure-driven stories effortlessly
bring to life so many facets of our past. But most importantly,
they're compelling reads, driven by vivid action, great characters
and some thrilling moments of jeopardy!'
Written by some of Australia's leading authors, the series
introduces some of the lesser-known elements of our history through
fast-moving stores set against an historical background of fact. In
Fighting Bones, we learn about the Point Puer Boys' Prison in
Tasmania which was the forerunner to our current juvenile justice
system where boys under 16 were incarcerated and despite the harsh
discipline, they were given a chance to learn a trade, garden and
farm; the importance of hygiene; attend school in the evenings and
even given an opportunity to play. The Last Horse Race has
mid-19th century Moreton Bay as its backdrop. Both require their
heroes to examine their beliefs and take risks that might be
unlawful but which seem the only option at the time. It is this
element of having to go against the flow that sets the series apart
from other stories in this genre. The reader is confronted directly
with the question of 'What would YOU do?'
Historical fiction is a powerful way to introduce past times to
students who are just learning about the importance of knowing what
has gone before as it enables them to get a feel for the life of the
times without being confronted by dry facts and figures. With male
heroes of a similar age to theirs, they can engage, perhaps
empathise, with the characters while learning at the same time. Each
book has factual information at the end which sets the full context
for the events in the story. Others in the series include 1931:
Tough Times focusing on the cricketing era of Bradman leading
to the Bodyline series of 1932 and 1841:The Bushranger's Boys
and no doubt, more are in production. They are also available as
ebooks which may also engage those reluctant boy readers, although
girls will enjoy them too. Some of the titles have teaching notes to
accompany them - just search the Penguin website.
An absorbing read, even for one who has read a lot of historical
fiction, particularly Australian-based.
Barbara Braxton
Caro was here by Elizabeth Farrelly
Walker Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922244833.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. A short novel about 12 year olds and younger
siblings taking an illegal afternoon off school and finding an
unlikely adventure, and real danger, on deserted Goat Island in
Sydney Harbor. Set in the modern world, the narrative is of an
unexpected adventure with danger and salvation, friendship and
jealousy.
The characters are quirky and all different, and there is much
initial bickering, but, as all good stories do, this one sees the
resolution of all conflicts, the revelation of the best of each of
the characters, and finishes with all being well.
There is some significant danger in their escapade, and, while it is
fun at first, it becomes evident that the young people are caught in
a perilous situation with little hope of rescue, unless they solve
the issues themselves. Which of course, like all good
story-tellers, Farrelly has them do - and significantly reveals much
about what the different characters.
The children are drawn well, and that is significant in enabling us
to understand each one of them and what makes them who they are -
indeed there are some very poignant moments in the revelations that
endear us to each character. Family connections draw some
together and poignant details of a spoiled rich girl who is barely
loved and mostly ignored catch our empathy. All characters are
finely drawn and altogether their story is very entertaining.
I would recommend this novel to early and middle adolescents as it
is a rollicking good adventure. It could be rather scary for
younger readers as there is the presence of real dangers, of being
lost at night threatened by real criminals and illegal drugs,
although this latter detail could be missed by younger readers.
Elizabeth Bondar
Emilio by Sophie Masson
Through My Eyes series. Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN:
9781743312476.
(Age:11-14) Sophie Masson continues the excellent work in this
series by providing readers with an action-packed and vivid account
of one boy's experience in Mexico City. Emilio Lopez lives with his
mother, a moderately successful businesswoman, in one of the world's
most dangerous cities. Rife with crime, conflict and ongoing raging
drug wars, Mexico City is a place of stark contrasts between the
have's and have-not's, the criminals and the law-abiding citizens
and the guilty and the innocent.
Kidnapping for ransom is an increasingly used tactic by drug gangs
particularly in this city. When Emilio's mother is kidnapped purely
on the basis of her upcoming partnership with an American company,
their family is plunged into intense despair and a frightening
nightmare. Working closely with the family, the police and a
sympathetic liaison officer, support the family as they work against
the clock to save their loved one.
Emilio is an engaging character with a strength and determination
that is both mature and admirable. The warmth of his family is a
bulwark to his distress in this awful episode of his young life.
Not so graphic nor confronting as to be disturbing, but realistic
enough to impress on young readers the dangers faced by other
children in less fortunate circumstances, this novel would shape the
reader's understanding of the conflicts experienced in other
countries. Further, there will be some students who have come from
similar situations for whom this novel will resonate. Caution would
be advised before sharing this with some who may find it too
strikingly traumatic in an echo of their own personal experiences.
Additionally, readers are introduced to the vibrant and colourful
Mexican culture and traditions, enhancing their world view
(connecting to the Australian Curriculum in the Literature strand as
well as Geography).
Allen & Unwin have provided excellent teaching notes here
and a book trailer here. There
is also a video interview with Sophie Masson here.
This is No. 4 in the Through My Eyes series conceived by Lyn
White and a portion of the proceeds goes to UNICEF. While I have not
read others in the series, if they are of this calibre, I believe
they would all be a very worthy addition to your shelves for Upper
Primary to Lower Secondary.
Sue Warren
Nightmares by Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller
Corgi Childrens, 2014. ISBN 9780552571920
(Ages: 9+) Highly recommended. Charlie Laird has several problems.
1. His dad married a woman he is sure moonlights as a witch.
2. He had to move into her purple mansion, which is NOT a place you
want to find yourself after dark.
3. He can't remember the last time sleeping wasn't a nightmarish
prospect. Like even a nap.
Charlie is eleven years old and not very happy. In fact, he's
exhausted and constantly terrified by the awful nightmares he has
night after night. Ever since his mum died and his dad
remarried, Charlie's life has become worse by the day - or so it
seems to him. Even at school, there seems to be no escape because
despite the fact that his long-time friends still stick by him, they
are all being menaced by the horrendously scary new principal.
Gradually, Charlie discovers that it is not just his dreams that are
being taken over and in fact, the whole of Cedar Creek is in danger
of becoming lost to the real world forever.
Facing fears is never easy but Charlie does this with the help of
not only his Cedar Creek friends but also some newly acquired
Netherworld friends when he crosses through the portal between
waking and dreaming for real.
Spooky enough to be exciting, but not in any sense graphic or nasty,
this is a super book for children to respond to about their own
fears. The humour throughout moderates the suspense and the reader
is able to explore themes such as friendships, support and
solidarity, grief/loss, being judgmental and accepting differences.
Aside from the obvious aspect of frightening nightmares, it is also
a wonderful opportunity to examine the 'fear' of a new step-parent
and changes in the family dynamic. Charlie could not have been more
wrong about his 'step-monster' Charlotte and discovers for himself
that sometimes it is easy to misinterpret the actions and
appearances of others.
Multi-talented Jason Segel says he also had nightmares as a child
and this was one of his motivations for writing this novel for
middle-school kids - the first in a proposed trilogy.
Visit the Nightmares website here
for activities, videos and more information.
Sue Warren
The masked echidna by Michael Salmon
Five Mile Press, 2014. ISBN 9781760063061.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Humour. Australian animals. Bullying. Echidna
fancies himself a superhero, especially after spending his days
watching his favourite films on his huge TV. So when the Wombat
Brothers come to town bothering the population of the tiny hamlet of
Black Stump out west, he decides to act. He builds himself a
supercar, and with his assistant, Miss Kylie, takes messages of help
from the populace.
A very funny look at courage and taking a stand against bullies, the
story will resonate with many readers, following the antics of the
bullying brothers and the efforts of the echidna in stopping them.
Readers will laugh out loud at the methods the echidna uses, and the
strange things that the brothers do to create havoc.
Salmon's pictorial style is infectious, with heavily outlined
pictures of various Australian animals showing a variety of skills
and talents. The background is instantly recognisable with its
dugouts, paling fences, windmills and gum trees, all adding to the
humour and interest in the story.
Younger readers will love the antics of the animals, and recognise
situations they may like to discuss in a classroom, where bullying
is under discussion.
Fran Knight
Clementine Rose and the treasure box by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House Australia Children's, 2014. ISBN 9781742757537.
(Age: 7+) There is something so delightfully Milly-Molly-Mandy-ish
about the Clementine Rose books! In this new episode
Clementine Rose is thrilled when the old house at the end of the
lane is refurbished and an exciting new family move in. She has
friends to play with - Mintie and twins Tilda and Teddy plus their
pet tortoise, Flash. Lady Clarissa, Clementine Rose's adopted
mother, enjoys meeting the children's parents, Basil and Anastasia
but Aunt Violet is rather snooty (as she always is). That is until
she realises that Anastasia is THE Anastasia Barkov, retired Prima
Ballerina of the Royal Ballet. After all, Aunt Violet is the
ultimate snob!
Clementine Rose is more than excited about her new playmates, she is
looking forward to beginning ballet classes with Ana, who is opening
a ballet school in the village hall. And to add to that excitement,
Basil is a documentary filmmaker and wants to film Penberthy House.
It's all happening in this little village!
Then disaster strikes - the village hall burns down due to faulty
wiring. How can the ballet classes go ahead, not to mention all the
usual village activities centred on the hall?
A meeting of the village residents sees a fund raising fete planned
for the grounds of Penberthy Hall, along with guided tours. When
Clementine Rose, her new friends and Lady Clarissa start clearing
out the attic with all its accumulated discarded 'junk' a real
surprise is in store.
Along with the usual cast additions of Uncle Digby, Lavendar the
teacup pig and Pharoah the Sphynx cat, there are various villagers
to meet in this community spirited story.
Girls from 7 and up will adore this and others in the series.
Visit Jacqueline Harvey's website
for more information, trailers, teacher notes and fun stuff and find
a sample reading here
at Random House.
Sue Warren
Yolo by Sam Jones
Simon & Schuster, 2014.
Simon Pulse, 2014. ISBN 9781481415484. (Ages: 14+) Companion
novel to Wtf and Fml. Contemporary fiction. The
party of the year is tonight and Emily, Brandon and Ana are about to
get more than they bargain for when they set out on their road trip
up the mountains on their way to the Steins' awesome mansion. The
three friends' supposable straightforward journey becomes impossible
when they stop for a quick meal in the middle of nowhere. Before
long, the three of them are swept up into one crazy adventure with
more than a few tricky situations. As Emily and her friends get
further and further tangled into a tale of petty criminals, loony
old folks, drugs and thieves the situation seems to get worse and worse,
but there is a bright side. The swoon-worthy Chris is along for the
ride. Can anyone control this whirlwind of a trip? Yolo is a short, fast-paced story chock-full of humour and
suspense. It's a must for fans of its companion novels Wtf
by Peter Lerangis and Fml by Shaun Hutchinson and probably
appealing to more reluctant teenage readers. Mad characters and
ridiculous plot lead to a fun, light read, though readers should be
warned that the novel features very frequent course language and
themes of drugs and alcohol which may not be suitable for younger
readers.
Joanna B. (Student)
Bears, bears, bears by Martin Waddell
Ill. by Lee Wildish. Hodder Children's Books, 2014. ISBN
9781444906790.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Bears, Greed. Loving bears as she does, Ruby
puts up a sign inviting bears to come and play with her. One bear
appears from the Bear Wood, and together the two have bear hugs and
play chasey. But Ruby is not satisfied, she asks for more bears. Two
more appear, and they have a great time together, until, Ruby, again
asks for more bears. This goes on until the whole house is full of
bears, and she cannot sleep in her own bed. Undeterred, she takes
her blanket to the bathroom, but finds that room filled with bears
as well.
She turns to her original bear and tells him there are too many
bears. He calls 'Bears out', and they all find their way out of the
house and back to the Bear Wood. Ruby and her one bear are alone at
last.
The illustrations are just wonderful, the expressions on the bears'
faces will draw the young readers to look at each individually. Each
bear is different, and the pages with many bears crowded together
invites the reader's close attention. Look closely at the bears in
the bathroom, they are using all the facilities!
I love this take on being satisfied with what you have, of not being
greedy, of too much of a good thing being overwhelming, and can
imagine teachers and parents being able to use the lovely tale to
point out a few home truths to a group of children. After they have
read it for its huge sense of fun, of course.
Fran Knight
The one and only Jack Chant by Rosie Borella
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743311387.
(Ages: 13-16) Highly recommended for Upper Primary/Lower Secondary
with particular appeal to girls. Amber has finished school and her
friends have all left town - scattered to universities and other
places but somehow Amber is just not sure what she wants to do or
where she wants to go. Biding time and wanting to earn some money
while she decides, Amber does a three month training as a carer for
the elderly and is able to secure a job in the local nursing home.
Tranquil Banks (or Tranquil Blanks to locals) has only been open for
a year and so the facility has been a welcome addition to the
community and people are happy knowing their elderly residents are
being cared for by professionals.
However, Amber shortly realises that the philosophy of the
facility's owner/manager Mrs Ingersoll is not always aligned to the
best interests of her senior citizen residents - nor is she
supportive or even appreciative of her hard-working staff.
Amber enjoys the work and is very capable and compassionate with her
charges but is baffled by both their references to a mysterious
'Jack' and then her own meeting with this strange boy who looks like
he's from another place and time. As is revealed, Jack is indeed
from another time, having suffered at a tragic accident at the very
same location of the new Tranquil Banks over eighty years
previously.
When Amber's much-loved elderly neighbour Vera is unwillingly forced
into the nursing home by her family, it is Amber and Jack who join
forces to support her in her final requests. Jack's mysterious
calling to this place and connection with the residents is revealed
in the process.
Curiously, this is another recently received review book which has
resonated on a personal level for me given my mother's situation in
a very similar nursing home and at times, this made me feel like
slapping Mrs Ingersoll, the owner, sharply :-)
I was heartily pleased to see her outcome, and the initiative shown
by Amber to take the nursing home to a new and improved future.
As Rosie Borella's first novel this is both competently and
engagingly written with deft touches of humour as well as pathos.
Described as a coming-of-age story, it is that and more as Amber
discovers more about herself, the elderly and others as well as her
path in life. It is certainly insightful into a sadly too common
treatment of our elderly by some, and the saving compassion of
others to provided our older people with a dignified, comfortable
and happy twilight. The sweet romance between Amber and the
enigmatic Jack is delightful and readers will relish the interaction
between the two. Readers will also no doubt empathise with Amber's
somewhat turbulent relationship with her parents - a common theme
for sixteen-year-olds everywhere.
Sue Warren
