Tashi and the wicked magician: and other stories by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg
Pictures by Geoff Kelly & Kim Gamble. Allen & Unwin, 2014.
ISBN 9781743315088
(Age: 5-8) I have discovered over the past twenty years, most of
those as a teacher-librarian, that everyone loves this heroic and
clever little figure, who comes from far away. Tashi's adventures
have entranced readers, both boys and girls, from his very first
appearance and this latest instalment will prove every bit as
enchanting.
Tashi's gift as a storyteller is only rivalled by that of his
creators and this lovely hardbacked collection of five stories would
make a wonderful gift - but will also be a hot favourite in any
primary school library. I have seen the toughest and most advanced
readers excitedly scoop up new Tashi books with a nonchalant
disclaimer 'I loved these when I was younger Miss' - then take them
home and devour them!
In this collection Tashi and his friends deal with a nefarious
wandering magician (though there is some doubt as to whether saving
the greedy Baron's treasures is a worthy cause), have a narrow
escape in a dangerous house fire, thoroughly rout some thieving rare
orchid snatchers and finally, as told on the fun camping trip with
his 'adopted' family, Jack & Co, a story that demonstrates
Tashi's resourcefulness and courage in the face of a rather wily
dragon.
The Tashi books, including this one, offer children and teachers to
explore themes of friendship, bravery, loyalty, ethical problem
solving, teamwork and more. There is a richness in the stories that
can springboard into many follow on activities including exploring
other cultures and countries.
Sue Warren
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Allen & Unwin, 2010. ISBN 9781742375281
(Age: Preschool - F) In the spirit of Harold and the Purple
Crayon, this book by Frenchman Herve Tullet is so simple in
concept yet so engaging in practice. Speaking directly to the
reader, Tullet encourages the very young reader to 'press here' on
the yellow dot and then rub, tap and shake their way through the
book. Using nothing more than coloured dots, every action causes a
reaction on the next page, one that is almost magical in its
manifestation. This is interactivity through imagination - no bells,
whistles, electronics, sound effects or other whizbangery. It's
fabulous for getting little ones to follow instructions and talk
about what happens when they do - perhaps the beginning of
understanding cause and effect.
For a better understanding, have a look at the book trailer
and an internet search will bring up a range of activities including
instructions for making your own mini-book.
Even though this is a 2010 publication, it is well worth seeking it
out as Tullet has a new one called Mix It Up which explores
colour and which is already featuring on many most-popular charts.
Barbara Braxton
Our Village in the Sky by Janeen Brian
Ill. by Anne Spudvilas. Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743318140
(Age: Yr 2 - Yr 6) 'Our village sits above the great river, nestled
in the Himalayan mountains. This is what we do on summer days when
school is closed for holiday time, in our village in the sky.'
Written as a series of narrative poems which merge seamlessly
together, this is the story of a day in the life of the children in
a remote Buddhist village showing how ordinary, everyday chores are
turned into games and fun. There is Drummer Boy who makes music on
the container that he has to take to the village water pipe. There
is Washer Girl whose job is to launder her brother's trousers,
dreaming as she soaps, squeezes, rubs and rinses. Washer Boy ensures
that the lamas have clean bed linen and robes while Herd Boy tends
the goats and chases after runaways. Each child has work to do and
each does it as part of the family and the community, without the
distractions of modern technology or even toys. But, nevertheless
there is plenty of joy and fun . "A ladder lying down makes no
sense. But a seesaw does." Five stones make the traditional game of
knucklebones.
With beautiful imagery and evocative language, Janeen Brian has
captured the joy of life in summer in the high alps, so different
from the white, cold and frozen of winter. Anne Spudvilas's soft
water-colour images are the perfect accompaniment as they complement
the gentle, uncomplicated, peace-loving life that we associate with
these people. Simply drawn, they capture the friendliness and
happiness of the children, and coupled with the colour choice they
evoke a feeling of warmth and contentment.
This is a life very different to that lived by most Australian
children where for most, getting water is as simple as turning on a
tap, so it is a perfect introduction to a compare and contrast
investigation as students examine their lives, their roles and
responsibilities in their families, the way they entertain
themselves and then relate it to that of the children in the story.
It would also be a wonderful introduction to narrative poetry and
free verse and the use of imagery to convey a message and an
atmosphere. "Sometimes my fingers flutter like small, brown
butterflies and the sound is their heartbeat." The best picture
books are more than just a story - they are a symbiosis of text and
illustration that offers many layers of meaning and response. This
is one such book.
To explore if further, teachers'
notes are available and there is a QR link to listen to poems
read aloud.
Barbara Braxton
Alice-Miranda at Camp by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House, 2014. ISBN 9781742757612 Alice-Miranda 2015 Diary. ISBN 9780857984104
(Age: Yr 3 - Yr 6) Alice-Miranda and friends are back on a new
adventure at their school camp. "There are sleep outs, treasure
hunts and so many other activities to look forward to! However, it's
not all fun and games. Alice-Miranda and Millie will need to keep a
close eye on Caprice, the school's newest student, who seems
determined to cause trouble. Next door to the camp is Pelham Park,
where Alice-Miranda's father, Hugh, grew up. These days, Hugh's
beautiful old house serves as a retirement home but when some
startling objects are uncovered in its cellar, the peaceful estate
is turned upside down. With help from a much-loved relative,
Alice-Miranda sets out to investigate".
If your girls haven't discovered Alice-Miranda
Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones who attends boarding school at
Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies, then
make this series a new year's reading treat for them. This is the
11th in this series and it is sure to be just as popular with those
in Year 3-6 as the others have been, because despite her
important-sounding name and prestigious school, she is a young lady
with whom they relate and can imagine themselves being. School-based
series have been popular for generations and this is the 21st
century version that is capturing the hearts of today's.
Alice-Miranda now has such a following that she has her own blog (which she
shares with Clementine Rose Appleby) and there's a book
trailer and other goodies for Alice-Miranda at Camp.
Even better news is that her 2015 diary has now been released. This
is a beautifully illustrated tome in which young ladies can not only
record their daily doings and secret thoughts, but there is a host
of other things to do like quizzes and puzzles, recipes to follow
even learning a few Japanese words! This is one to be adding to your
list of recommendations for Christmas gifts which parents value so
much (I know just who I'm giving one to) or even as an end-of-year
presentation prize.
Barbara Braxton
The Cleo Stories: The Necklace & The Present by Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN: 9781743315279
(Age: 5-8) You just know when you pick up a book created by this
pair of very talented individuals, that you are in for a real treat.
Certainly, this is no exception!
Cleo is six and like most little six year old girls loves her family
and her friends very much. She also loves necklaces and presents and
in these two stories, her imagination and ingenuity come to the fore
- amid some tiny mishaps.
When my eldest daughter was this age, she came home from school one
day asking for pink court shoes because 'everyone' at school wore
them. So when I read The Necklace with Cleo asking her parents for a
necklace because 'everyone' else has one, I laughed with the
reminiscence. As Mum and Dad kindly point out, three friends do not
make 'everyone' and necklaces are special presents, not everyday
gifts. Undeterred, Cleo is inspired by her clearly much-loved Uncle
Tom and comes up with a highly creative solution!
Cleo's next dilemma is trying to think of just the right present for
her Mum's birthday. Having only a few coins in her piggy bank
doesn't allow for buying something expensive and flashy, she doesn't
want to 'share' in Dad's present, she doesn't think helping Dad cook
dinner is much of a present so what can she do? She wants to give
Mum a proper present, wrapped up and tied with a bow. Then once
more, her imaginative little mind results in the most perfect
present Mum could ever want!
This is a gorgeous book - with sweet gentle stories which will
resonate with little people, especially girls, and the
ever-beautiful illustrations of Freya Blackwood (oh those
endpapers!!! Just lovely!).
I am put in mind of the simple but charming stories of
Milly-Molly-Mandy from so long ago - stories which still engage
young readers. I foresee this will be in the 2015 shortlist - and
deserves to be.
Imagination, creativity and values which we should be encouraging
and nurturing in our small humans imbue the text throughout.
If you have a special little girl in your life - this will make a
treasured gift - and for your newly independent readers wanting to
move into a lengthier picture book, a perfect addition to your
library shelves.
Check out Libby's website
and also Freya's.
Sue Warren
Ten Terrible Dinosaurs by Paul Stickland
Random House, 2014. ISBN 9780552572514
(Pre-school - F) What do you do if you have ten terrible dinosaurs
standing in a line? Well you count them down until there is just one
and then . . . you bring the others back again. This is another of the
traditional rhyming counting-backwards book that have appealed to
young children for generations but it is so beautifully illustrated
that it will become a firm favourite. Firstly, using dinosaurs is a
masterstroke because 40+ years of experience has shown me that this
is a perennially favourite topic of the very young. Secondly the
colour and detail of each dinosaur will appeal and make it really
easy to help young children with their visual discrimination. Who's
missing this time? And thirdly, it help with prediction skills as
the reader thinks about who will go next and who might be the last
dinosaur standing - or sleeping in this case.
The rhythm and rhyme of the text not only help children appreciate
the nuances of the language they hear each day but also help them
join in as they predict the next number based on the rhyming
pattern. Is there much that is better than hearing young children
shout out with the delight as they join in knowing they are right?
Such a feeling of empowerment over those squiggles on the page as
they realise they can make them make sense.
Miss 3-and-almost-time-for-preschool loved this book as did Miss 8
who loves to play school and was very busy showing Miss 3 how to
write the number sentence for each page. Not sure that Miss 3 got
that part but she certainly got a lot of enjoyment out of reading
this with her sister and to herself.
Timeless.
Barbara Braxton
Baby Days by Alison Lester
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781760111724
(Age: 1-4) Is there a new baby or a toddler in your circle? If so,
the inimitable Alison Lester has once again created a beautiful book
that would make a perfect first-book gift.
Combining four stories, Bibs and Boots, Bumping and
Bouncing,Crashing and Splashing, Happy and Sad,
previously available as board books, into an exquisite single volume
with a lovely padded cover, Baby Days is a delightful collection for
small humans 'discovering the world of things they love to do'.
Each double page spread is like a snapshot framed in a border, with
the signature Alison Lester style, displaying activities that tiny
people will recognise and to which they will respond.
Little details abound - such as the rather shocked faces of toys who
are being speedily pulled along in a wagon attached to a billy cart
or the baby eating sand in the sandpit, rather than digging in it.
Scenes from the backyard, the playroom, the beach, the park, the
farm, the kitchen, Grandma's place and more will resonate with the
small audience and provide much conversation and little ones explore
language.
In sunshine and rain, whether happy or sad, babies will recognise
much that corresponds with their own families and homes.
Pop one into the Santa sack of your favourite little human this
Christmas!
Sue Warren
Augustus and his smile by Catherine Rayner
Little Tiger, 2014. ISBN 9781845062835
(Age: Preschool - Yr 2) Augustus the tiger has lost his smile. So,
after doing a huge tigery stretch he sets off to find it. Under
bushes, to the tops of the tallest trees, scaling the crests of the
highest mountains and down to the bottom of the deepest oceans- but
still he could not find his smile. He even pranced and paraded
through the longest desert without success. And then it started to
rain. Augustus danced and raced as the raindrops bounced and flew,
and he splashed in puddles when suddenly . . .
This is an excellent book for young readers, not just because of its
engaging text and illustrations. It is full of movement, textual and
visual, that beg the children to emulate as well as emphasising the
meaning of those common positional prepositions. It also encourages
them to look closely at the pictures because Augustus' face changes
as his quest continues - as does his tail. The pictures in picture
books are not just decorations - they add so much more to the words.
As Augustus learns that he carries his smile with him - it would
come whenever he was happy - readers can also learn this and talk
about the things that make them happy and bring their smile out.
The addition of some important tiger facts at the end is a bonus - a
first step in learning about this amazing, critically endangered
species.
Catherine Rayner spent many hours at the Edinburgh Zoo sketching
tigers so she could get Augustus just right and she has already won
the Kate Greenaway Medal for her work. The UK Daily Telegraph said,
'Catherine Rayner has a marvellous gift for capturing the souls of
animals in a few, rich washes of colour' and this is very evident in
her depiction of Augustus. He is just charming. Such is the power of
this story it has been translated into Albanian, Arabic, Bengali,
Simplified Chinese, Czech, Farsi, French, Haitian-Creole, Hindi,
Irish, Lithuanian, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian,
Slovakian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese and Welsh.
Barbara Braxton
The Monster Who Ate Australia by Michael Salmon
30th Anniversary Edition. Ford St Publishing, 2014. ISBN:
9781925000542 (hardcover). ISBN 9781925000559 (paperback)
(Age guide: 5 -9 year olds) Highly recommended for Prep children and
up! I think back over 20 plus years of teaching and reflect on how
many 'geography' lessons I've taught in either Lower School
classrooms or the library with the aid of so many of Michael's
books. If you've never had the joy of reading aloud The Great
Tasmanian Tiger Hunt to a class of five year olds and have
them squealing 'He's THERE!' all the way through it, in fits of
laughter - your teaching experience is missing out!!
So it is with great pleasure that I am able to review the 30th
Anniversary edition of Michael's The Monster Who Ate Australia.
Burra the Boggabri lives in Uluru, peacefully and happily, until it
starts to swarm with noisy tourists who keep him awake with their
rowdy antics. Fed up with all this disruption Burra sets off to find
a new home and treks all the way around Australia, not only visiting
national icons but eating them! From the Royal Perth Yacht Club to
Adelaide's Festival Hall to Lake Burley Griffin and the National
Gallery, to the Sydney Opera House and onto the Big Pineapple, Burra
tries his best to find somewhere to fit in. By far the lowest point
in this journey of discovery is being locked up in Taronga Park Zoo.
Luckily, nothing is safe from Burra's appetite and he stealthily
escapes after nibbling away the cage bars. In the end, like so many
other travellers, Burra realises that there is no place like home,
after he arrives back at Uluru, completely exhausted from his epic
expedition.
Like all Michael's books this is a humorous colourful romping
adventure and like many of them is such a wonderful way to share
special locations in our nation with little people, giving them a
sense of place and a pride in our unique natural and built
landscape. Plotting Burra's journey on maps, finding out more about
the places he visits/eats, conversations about which students have
travelled to other states, starting a communication with interstate
peers are all part of the fun and learning that accompany such a
book. This is a splendid opportunity to introduce Michael's work to
the newest generation of readers and is worthy of a place on any
library bookshelf - or home shelf. I know where this copy is
staying!
Sue Warren
Counting Aussie Animals in my Backyard by Bronwyn Houston
Magabala Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922142542
(Age: Pre-Primary) This book has already established itself as a
favourite on our shelves for bedtime. Explore a lush tropical
setting filled with vivid colours and familiar Australian birds and
animals, while practising simple counting. From the gorgeous
endpapers to the simple text, from the stunning artwork to the
classy design, this is a real treasure.
Bronwyn Houston lives in Broome and is descended from the Nyiyaparil
and Yindijibarndi people of the Pilbara region. She has previously
collaborated on three other books but this is her first entirely
solo effort - and one would truly hope not the last! Bronwyn draws
on her environment for inspiration and that has truly transferred
into this 'richly textured' new book.
From toddlers and up this is not 'just another counting book' but a
feast for the eyes of little animal lovers everywhere.
Comprehensive teaching
notes and links to the AC can be found here.
Sue Warren
Elephants have wings by Susanne Gervay
Ill. by Anna Pignataro. Ford St Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781925000399
(hardcover). ISBN 9781925000405 (paperback).
(Age: 7+) Picture Book. Elephant and the blind men
Once upon a time, there lived six blind men in a village. One day
the villagers told them, "Hey, there is an elephant in the village
today."
They had no idea what an elephant is. They decided, "Even though we
would not be able to see it, let us go and feel it anyway." All of
them went where the elephant was. Everyone of them touched the
elephant.
"Hey, the elephant is a pillar," said the first man who touched his
leg.
"Oh, no! it is like a rope," said the second man who touched the
tail.
"Oh, no! it is like a thick branch of a tree," said the third man
who touched the trunk of the elephant.
"It is like a big hand fan" said the fourth man who touched the ear
of the elephant.
"It is like a huge wall," said the fifth man who touched the belly
of the elephant.
"It is like a solid pipe," Said the sixth man who touched the tusk
of the elephant.
They began to argue about the elephant and everyone of them insisted
that he was right. It looked like they were getting agitated. A wise
man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked them, "What
is the matter?" They said, "We cannot agree to what the elephant is
like." Each one of them told what he thought the elephant was like.
The wise man calmly explained to them, "All of you are right. The
reason every one of you is telling it differently because each one
of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the
elephant has all those features what you all said."
"Oh!" everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that
they were all right.
The moral of the story is that there may be some truth to what
someone says. Sometimes we can see that truth and sometimes not
because they may have different perspective which we may not agree
to. So, rather than arguing like the blind men, we should say,
"Maybe you have your reasons." This way we don't get in arguments.
In Jainism, it is explained that truth can be stated in seven
different ways. So, you can see how broad our religion is. It
teaches us to be tolerant towards others for their viewpoints. This
allows us to live in harmony with the people of different thinking.
This is known as the Syadvada, Anekantvad, or the theory of Manifold
Predictions. http://www.jainworld.com/literature/story25.htm
Taking inspiration from this old moral tale used in many spiritual
traditions including Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sufism, Susanne
Gervay has created a beautiful story for children to explore 'the
humanity in all of us'.
After their father retells his version of the story, two children
are magically transported on a winged elephant to discover the
meaning of the parable. This beautiful tale is accompanied by
wonderful illustrations created from a variety of media in an
expressionistic style.
The book has been endorsed by the Blake Society with the Blake Prize
for art and poetry exploring themes of spirituality, religion and
human justice and links perfectly with the Australian Curriculum:
Asia & Australia's Engagement with Asia.
A beautiful addition to your collection for children Lower/Middle
school.
Sue Warren
Go to Sleep, Jessie by Libby Gleeson
Ill. By Freya Blackwood. Little Hare, 2014. ISBN 9781742977805
(Age: Preschool - Yr 2) Jessie now shares big sister Jo's bedroom
now and she won't go to sleep. Every night she screams and
screams and Jo cannot get to sleep. Even sharing T-Bear only works
for a little while and mum and dad aren't a lot of help when Jo
pleads with them to do something. A clean nappy and a lullaby only
work for a little while until Jo demands her own room back - she
NEEDS to sleep. "You wouldn't like that," says Mum and when Dad
finally puts Jessie in the car and drives her around the block again
and again and again Jo realises mum is right. So when Jessie wakes
again after the long car ride, she has to think of another solution.
This is a lovely story from the brilliant pairing of Libby Gleeson
and Freya Blackwood that will resonate with many young children who
share a room with their baby brothers or sisters. It's a story of
love and tenderness and is so real that it will strike a chord with
most. The classic muted tones of Blackwood's illustrations are there
but this time in tones of blue and orange which juxtapose the
upstairs and downstairs worlds of the house as well as the peace and
love in the story with the noise and frustration of Big Sister.
Blackwood writes about this in her blog.
I love these sorts of pictures books because they provide an
opportunity for the children to become so involved in the story -
most of them have a similar story to share or something to
contribute and they're the perfect opportunity to start the
prediction and problem-solving processes. In this case, asking them
"What would you do?" and "What do you think Jo will do?" will open
lots of talk and help little ones realise that stories are fun,
stories can be about them and they have something worthwhile to
offer. Essential steps as they develop their early literacy skills.
Barbara Braxton
Alfie in the Garden by Debi Gliori
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408839515
(Age: Preschool) Alfie Rabbit is helping Mama-Bun in the garden. But
his world turns from real to imagined as he peers through the
leaves. Now he's in the jungle! He's a lion on the prowl, an
elephant spraying water from his trunk, and a little bird flying
home to his nest . . . to have a nap with Mummy! Alfie's imagination
is bigger than his backyard!
This is a beautiful book for preschoolers that takes the child into
the backyard jungle of their home. Just what is hiding in amongst
all those bushes and flowers that are at eye-level for the young
child? Debi Gliori's beautiful, distinctive illustrations open up a
new world that could be really useful in getting our littlest
readers to start exploring the world of creatures even smaller than
they are. The soft colour palette, the curved lines of the insects -
even those with heart-shaped noses - and their gentle expressions
take away any threats so the reader sees this as a friendly world,
although there is always the need to share a word of caution
especially in Australian gardens.
A great read-together for the very young reader.
Barbara Braxton
The Iron trial by Cassandra CLare and Holly Black
Doubleday Childrens, 2104. ISBN 9780857532503
Many readers will already know these two authors - Cassandra from her very
successful Mortal Instruments series, and Holly from her equally
successful Spiderwick Chronicles partnership. Now these two have
collaborated on the first in a new series which Harry Potter fans
will no doubt eat up. In fact, HP devotees will love to spot the
similarities throughout the book I am sure.
Easy to read and a real page-turner, The Iron Trial
takes us into the Magisterium, a facility for educating potential
mages. Callum Hunt (Call) is the son of mages with no inkling of his
own magical ability, although at times strange things have happened
around him. As a baby, Call's mother died in an ambush by the Enemy,
and Call survived, though with a badly damaged leg. When Call's
grieving father Alastair discovers his dead wife, surrounded by
their dead comrades and discovered his baby son alive, he was struck
by his wife's mysterious last message scratched into the nearby rock
- 'Kill the child'.
When the kids of Call's district reach a certain age, they are
summoned to a testing day to assess their suitability for entry to
the Magisterium. Call, having been warned all his life by this
father to avoid magic, desperately wants to fail the tests - already
marking him as the odd one out as all the other applicants just as
earnestly want to be selected as Mages' apprentices.
Call's botching of the tests is spectacular and gives some
indication of his latent powers, but he is not successful in
avoiding selection. Master Rufus, most revered Mage, selects Tamara
and Aaron the two highest scoring applicants - and Call, the lowest
scoring as his new apprentices. Despite initial hostility between
the three apprentices, they forge a real bond with an understanding
of each other and their strengths and weaknesses.
Amid the usual personality clashes of a new school and the
inevitable 'stuck up' kid, the usual nervous ones and as it turns
out, the innocuous seeming boy who turns out to be anything but!
Call navigates his way through his Iron Year and realises that his
father's warnings seem far away as he comes to appreciate what magic
can achieve and how being accepted makes him feel.
There are undercurrents of secrecy as Master Rufus and Call's father
differ on the way to handle Call's magical ability, with Call
knowing less than most of the other kids about the history behind
the Mages and their wars with the Enemy.
You can be sure of one thing. Call will turn out to be the 'Chosen
One' and will no doubt be aided in whatever challenges lie ahead by
his fellow apprentices.
One of our Year 6 students last week picked up the promo postcard
from the Circ Desk and said excitedly, 'Oh Miss, this is a GREAT
book! I got it for my birthday and I read it straightaway! I can't
wait for the second one to come out!'. Not a bad recommendation, I'd
say. Again I say, for those who need a HP type fix, this is the book
to do it. I find it is darker and edgier with a little more real
humour than those but there are definitely many many similarities.
Sue Warren
A Chick 'n' Pug Christmas by Jennifer Sattler
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781599906027
Recommended for 2-5 year olds. Christmas is coming and Pug is
dressed up in his itchy Santa suit, he even looks a little like him
with his large tummy. His friend Chick is very excited and bursting
with questions about Christmas, who is this special person, what
does he do and how does he deliver all the presents in one night?
All Pug wants to do is nap in the snowy backyard. Chick is taken
with the idea that Santa is really a superhero, he really wants to
be his helper - an elf. They decide to help some friends, sharing
Christmas cheer with Mr. Snuggles, The Dude and an ordinary citizen.
Jennifer Sattler's new picture book celebrates the wonder and spirit
of Christmas, her familiar characters Chick and Pug are a quirky
duo. Her illustrations are bold and vibrant, the young reader is
drawn in to the excitement as the illustrations bring the story to
life - poor Mr. Snuggles wrapped up in Christmas bells.
Rhyllis Bignell
