Clementine Rose and the seaside escape by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House, 2014. ISBN 9781742757513.
(Age: 8+) Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape sees 5 year
old Clementine and her family heading for the English seaside while
their home is getting a new roof. Clementine meets Della and Freddy.
She enjoys spending time with Freddy but tries to avoid Della -
she's annoying. Freddy and Clementine love spending time at the
beach and are surprised when they find a baby seal. When Della
decides to go and investigate at night time, both children go after
her, worried she will get into trouble. Watch out Freddy and
Clementine, it looks like you might need rescuing! Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape is a descriptive novel
aimed at girls, who read independently, aged 8+. It is a sweet story
with easy to read text and is great for readers moving on to novels.
The story is easy to follow, has a definite narrative structure and
is accompanied by black and white illustrations.
Kylie Kempster
Wimpy Shrimpy by Matt Buckingham
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 97817426761022.
(Age: 4+) Shrimpy is a worry wart so when his friends ask him to
play he always says no - what if he got hurt or lost? One day,
Shrimpy realises no one has asked him to play and he feels lonely.
There is only one way to not feel lonely but is Shrimpy brave enough
to play with his friends no matter the consequence? Wimpy Shrimpy is a cute story about how important it is to
try new things and be brave. It has gorgeous illustrations to engage
the readers and will be enjoyed by children aged 4+; the text is
suitable for independent readers aged 7+ and it would work well with
the Child Protection curriculum in schools, encouraging children to
discuss ways to be safe and the mixed feelings we can have.
Kylie Kempster
Cycling to Grandma's House by Jac Torres-Gomez
Ill. by Erin-Claire Barlow. Lulu Publishing. 2014. ISBN
9781483406374.
Luna has a challenge from her teacher . . . 'Find out the most
incredible characteristic of being a girl or boy. Then present it to
the class on Monday.' But she is flummoxed - what was so special
about her that would connect her to every other girl in her town?
Knowing she could rely on her to solve the problem, Luna asks hers
mother who tells her she does have an idea but 'only the most
courageous girl in our town could do a whole project about it.' Luna
is intrigued, particularly when her mother says she will have to
cycle around town to speak to a lot of women and that it connects
not only them but also girls all around the world. And it is then
the Luna learns about menarche, a girl's first period, and how
different cultures celebrate this critical coming-of-age event.
Luna is excited by the idea and decides to head for her Mexican
grandmother's house to find out more. On her way she meets her
friends from a host of countries and cultures, and when she explains
why she is cycling to Grandma's house, they share their stories of
how menarche is treated and greeted. She learns much in such a short
trip! When Luna presents her project at school on Monday, she is
bombarded with questions, each of which every girl is likely to ask
and Luna realises that cycling to Grandma's has been the discovery
of a lifetime.
With a granddaughter who is likely to reach this milestone in the
next couple of years, I was eager to review a book that addressed an
issue not normally featured in a fictional setting. Yes, there are
many non-fiction resources available that present the physical facts
about menstruation but to find something that addresses the
emotional side and could such a great be a conversation starter
between mother and daughter is rare. Well-written in a format that
straddles the picture book-novel bridge, and beautifully illustrated
with bright, engaging pictures, this is a book that needs to be in
every library. We need to de-mystify this important event and help
our girls to take it as another stride in their journey to
independent adulthood, as well as ensuring our boys are informed so
they are compassionate rather than embarrassed.
The mission of the team behind this book is to 'empower communities
everywhere to understand and address the barriers women face around
menstruation'. This book is certainly a step in that direction.
Barbara Braxton
To the wild sky by Ivan Southall
Text Classic reprint. Text Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781922147868.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Thirteen years of age is too young to have
to deal with a life threatening emergency but when an aircraft pilot
dies from heart failure, a group of children on board are forced to
respond.
Gerald, the son of a wealthy pastoralist invites a group of friends
to a birthday party at the family sheep station and the group
travels in a light aircraft from the town. The lad is much
admired by two boys, Bruce and Colin, and a girl, Carol, who is
smitten by him. Bruce's twin sister Janet dislikes both Gerald and
Colin yet has been invited along with Colin's immature younger
brother Mark, from politeness.
Having flown beside his father in the past, Gerald has had the
chance to 'take the wheel' and has some rudimentary knowledge of
flying which enables him to recover the aircraft when the pilot
dies. Maintaining altitude, direction and adjusting engine speed are
completely new to him however and his epic struggle to master these
over five hours in the face of an enormous dust storm is brilliantly
portrayed. The author was a wartime pilot and his knowledge of light
aircraft operation enables him to describe the myriad interconnected
factors and implications in a way which allows the reader to
appreciate the enormity of the situation. The tension is
excruciating as Gerald grapples with both the aeroplane and the
almost intolerable responsibility to try to save those on board
whilst the passengers impotently wrestle their personal terrors.
A crash landing with only minor injuries to those on board is an
amazing outcome but the group's trials are only just beginning when
they realise that they have no idea where they are and that the
chance of rescue is minimal given that they have flown off course
for many hours.
Different aspects of leadership, heroism, fortitude and initiative
are explored in the events which follow and it is delightful to
revisit a story from the sixties which remains solid and captivating
for modern readers. Southall writes honestly and does not hold back
from revealing gritty and confronting aspects to survival, including
the description of what we now call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The author was also way ahead of his time in promoting Indigenous
pride and respecting the knowledge and skills which enabled survival
in extreme environments. Some of the language and social
propriety in the narrative is perfectly ridiculous under the
circumstances and it is a shame that the convention of the time
prevented him from using realistic dialogue. However this is an
absolute must-read for those 12 years onwards who relish exciting
survival stories.
Rob Welsh
A feast for wombat by Sally Morgan
Ill. by Tania Erzinger. Omnibus Scholastic, 2014. ISBN
9781742990187.
(Age: preschool) Recommended. Australian animals, Wombats,
Friendship. Underground, Wombat does what wombats do, he scratches,
snuffles and sleeps. But on waking he feels alone, so decides to go
above ground for a dust bath and to see who is there. He finds
Magpie, Dingo and Goanna having a wonderful time together. Wombat
watches them for a while thinking how special they all are. He talks
to Goanna who with its skilful legs can climb the tree without
thinking. He offers to teach Wombat how to do this, but Wombat's
short stubby legs are not equipped for this task. When he speaks to
Magpie he sees what a beautiful voice the bird has and tries to
emulate it. But his voice is not nearly as good, and with Dingo he
tries to dance but does not succeed. Tired and down at heart, he
heads back down his burrow, but the others tell him about his
expertise, things they could not do, and invite him to a feast to
celebrate.
So the four friends support each other, and the reader learns just
what attributes these Australian animals have.
Erzinger, the illustrator has given us a soft edged group of
animals, accurately showing each of their size, shape and
colourings. No reader would be at a loss to know about these four
animals, and may even notice that several other smaller animals make
an appearance. A lovely read a loud and sharing book for younger
readers.
Fran Knight
The Last Shot by Michael Adams
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743316733.
The second book of a trilogy, The Last Shot is a fast paced,
gripping read. Set in Sydney and the surrounding countryside in the
not too distant future, it picks up the story hot on the heels of
The Last Girl. A reader could get away without reading the first
book in the series, but would lose a lot of the background . . . and
why would you not read it - The Last Girl is a fabulous read
as well. The Last Shot continues the dystopian future of a
world that has disintegrated when overloaded brains saturated with
social media and being plugged in to everyone else's petty everyday
trivia suddenly have an evolutionary jump that means everyone is
directly wired into everyone else's thoughts, unable to shut
anything out. Most people become catatonic, but some escape the
vortex of thoughts dragging all into overload.
The events in The Last Shot occur in the second week after
'the snap' that is the premise of the story. Many people by now are
dead or dying. There is already a small-scale nasty new world order
to contend with, so as well as being a survival story, there is an
enemy to evade as well. The many intricacies the author covers in
the book would make great discussion material. This novel is not for
the squeamish though - it is realistically told, and many characters
die.
Adam's trilogy (The Last Place will be published in 2015) is
definitely a set for the school library. These books are on a par
with John Marsden's Tomorrow When the War Began series and
should appeal to many readers. Teachers considering this as a class
novel would need to choose the first book, probably for Yr 10, and
then make sure there are several copies of The Last Shot in
the library!
Ann Veitch
Tigers on the Beach by Doug Macleod
Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780143568520. Previously, I read and reviewed Doug Macleod's CBCA Book of the Year
short-listed The Shiny Guys. It was a gritty and macabre
meditation on mental health, laced with experimental technique and
dark humour. Macleod's most recent venture, Tigers on the Beach,
while still tackling difficult subject matter (death) is much more
whimsical and upbeat. Despite this new approach, the author's
trademark biting wit and meticulous attention to detail are
retained. Tigers introduces us to Adam, an inquisitive and highly
likeable teenage boy. The sudden passing of his cheeky grandfather
sets into motion a series of events, including his extended family
and their respective issues, and his own adolescent trials,
particularly first love.
Two aspects of this novel stand out in particular. Firstly, the
balance between elements is astonishingly sensitive and effective.
Doug Macleod presents storytelling with humour and pathos, the
absurd and the banal, contemporary and nostalgia, autobiography and
originality. He does so in an uncannily natural and poignant way.
The second aspect of this novel which deserves praise is the
author's talent for creating clever and engaging dialogue which
flows beautifully. Each twist and turn-of-phrase highlights the
wonderfully developed cast of characters and their dynamic
interactions in a manner which is completely enthralling.
Without this, the novel would not be as strong, as the sharp
dialogue and pace injects new life into the 'dysfunctional family'
cliche.
The novel concludes with touching resolve and closure. I enjoyed Tigers
on the Beach more than almost any book I have reviewed this
year - it is a charming and anecdotal work, with a fine balance of
emotional naivete and strength which will appeal to many readers.
Henry Vaughan (Student)
Women who made Australian History by Aisling Marlor
Trocadero, 2014. ISBN 9780864271464. Immigrants who changed Australia . . . since 1901 by Victoria
Macleay. Trocadero, 2014. ISBN 9780864271259. Imperial China: Six centuries of all-powerful dynasties by Matthew
Williams. Trocadero, 2014. ISBN 9780864271457.
Continuing the tradition, Trocadero Publishing have released three
new titles in their series which matches the Australian Curriculum
so well. Women who made Australian History, from the They Made Australia
series, introduces, acknowledges and celebrates women who have had a
significant impact on what our nation is today. From the well-known
such as Daisy Bates and Caroline Chisholm and Mary Reiby to the
not-so such as Tilly Aston, Faith Bandler and Lucy Osburn, there are
snapshots of their contributions covering almost every aspect of
life succinctly detailing their work and paving the way for a deeper
investigation of the impact of their achievements. Immigrants who changed Australia . . . since 1901, from The
National Identity, focuses on people whose names are familiar
but whose origins are overseas. Many are names who are claimed by
Australia as their own but who, in fact, came here with their family
as a child or made the move later in life and have helped put this
nation on the map for a range of reasons. While there are waves of
immigrants who come here, such as the Chinese in the goldrush and
the Europeans after the war, and whose impact is well documented and
studied, this title focuses on the individuals whose stories may not
have been told so often. From the familiar stories such as Petrov
spy scandal, Simpson and his donkey and the achievements of Olivia
Newton-John and Russell Crowe to the lesser known such as Tan Le,
Charles Moses and Jennie Baines, the contributions of over 50
newcomers are outlined.
Both of these titles beg the question of who would today's
generation add if they were asked to contribute a name and a story.
Who has been left out that should be there? Should their heroes
stand the test of time and are they likely to do so? In Imperial China, from Asia-Pacific Timelines, the Yuan, Ming and
Qing dynasties who each claimed the 'Mandate of Heaven' as their
god-given right to rule are put under the spotlight, From 1271 to
the collapse of the Imperial system in 1911, students are introduced
to the critical people and events of this time.
As with all the other titles that this publisher is producing to
support the Australian Curriculum, particularly those topics in the
Yr 5-8 band, each book has a modern layout with the text presented
in manageable chunks accompanied by a range of photos, maps and
tables that offer extra insight. Arranged in either alphabetical or
chronological order, there are very easy to navigate.
Even though there seems to be a demand by some to replace
non-fiction titles with online resources only, such demands are
ill-considered because they are ignoring the evidence that students,
even those who are independent readers, prefer and need print
resources when they wish to read deeply for meaning rather than just
skimming a text as they do with online-based materials, and
therefore we have an obligation to meet those needs. These series by
this publisher are fulfilling this need with modern Australian
Curriculum-related resources very well.
Barbara Braxton
The ratcatcher's daughter by Pamela Rushby
Angus & Robertson, 2014. ISBN 9780732297138.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Historical fiction, Plague, Australian
history. A little known part of our early twentieth century is
highlighted in this descriptive account of Brisbane in the first
years of the new century, playing host to a disease only found in
accounts of Medieval times. When thirteen year old Issy becomes a
maid in an undertaker's house, she has never seen a dead body but
the sight of a dead child and the ritual of burial becomes a
fascinating backdrop to the life she is about to enter, as an inmate
in a quarantine centre out of the city. Her father is a rat catcher,
and from the start the reader is made aware of the increasing number
of rats in the city, and when she helps her friend with her job as a
maid at the local doctor's house, she overhears a conversation about
a disease coming closer to Australia. It is only when the boy next
door dies of appalling swellings that she hears the word,'plague'
for the first time, and puts together the things she has heard.
This is an engrossing read. Rushby incorporates the inability of
those in government to deal adequately with the disease and its
consequences, the fear of many as they shun their friends, the over
reaction of local authorities, the situation in the hastily erected
quarantine camp outside the city and the divide between rich and
poor, allowing those with money to be treated at home. In watching
Issy learns that even her trusted employer is involved in protecting
the rich from the ignominy of the disease.
Issy bravely carries on, and when her father becomes ill with the
other appalling disease which caused he deaths of many, Influenza,
she takes over his business, learning that there is more to life
than being a maid in someone else's home. An entertainingly rich
read about past times and a young woman's coming of age as she
perceives there is life outside the narrow restrictions of the past.
Fran Knight
Bring on the birds by Susan Stockdale
Working Title Press, 2014. ISBN 9781921504594.
(Age: Pre-school) Recommended. Birds, Environment. In simple rhyming
text, Stockdale showcases a number of birds, their bold bright
colours standing out from the spare backgrounds. Each of the twenty
three birds chosen for this book is presented on an unadorned page,
making the bird and its plumage stand out for younger readers. The
birds include, an owl, penguin, ostrich, peacock and crane, and
while they are designated as swooping birds or swimming birds in the
text, it is at the end that we find their real names and information
about each bird illustrated.
Stockdale cleverly presents exotic birds in the majority of her
book, coming closer to home towards the end with a heron, duck and
robin, the final robin shown with children watching through the
window. In this way she refines the number of birds known by the
child bringing it back to something they may have seen themselves,
watching in the garden. The bold illustrations, accompanied by large
print text makes it easier for a child to read for themselves, or an
adult to read out to a child, asking them to recognise things about
the birds illustrated. Because she puts the birds into a category
(eg diving or swimming) the text allows the child to ask questions
or the reader to encourage questions or to give information. This is
a user friendly book for pre-school age children introducing them to
a wide variety of birds and how they behave.
Fran Knight
Poppy by Mary Hooper
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408827628.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. World War 1, Women, Class distinctions. It
is 1914, England and Poppy is dismayed to realise that she won't be
going to the grammar school but will become a servant at the big
house. She is the type of person who makes the best of what happens
to her, but it is a time of great change and this will affect
everything that she does. Poppy finds herself falling in love with
someone unsuitable who would never be able to marry her and when she
is given the opportunity to join as a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment)
nurse she grasps the chance to learn.
I am a fan of Mary Hooper's writing and have loved all her books.
Her historical research is impeccable and she brings to life the
attitudes and way of living of her characters so that the reader
becomes immersed in the period that she is writing about. She also
has wonderful young women as her main characters and this is true of
Poppy, who is an intelligent, determined girl.
The novel is set in a time of great change for women and for the
working class Through Poppy's eyes we find out about what it was
like to be a parlour maid, the restrictions that class put on what
such a girl could and couldn't do and then the problems and hard
work that it took to become a VAD nurse. The only reason that she
was able to join the VADs was because her ex-teacher sponsors her
with an allowance, as it was a voluntary position. She works
alongside girls from privileged backgrounds, all on an equal footing
as volunteers. Her romance with her employer's son Freddie seems to
blossom as she leaves her employment, but the reader knows that it
will always be a difficult road to travel.
The horrors of war are also vividly described as Poppy starts to
nurse the wounded soldiers that are returning from France. Their
courage and humour shines through the misery of trauma and missing
limbs. Through her brother's letters, the reader is given a glimpse
of what it was like in the trenches and then what it was like to be
a deserter.
I read this book in one sitting, enthralled with the strength of
the main character, Poppy, as she learnt to nurse and to navigate
affairs of the heart and the horror of war.
The reader is left with Poppy applying to work as a VAD nurse in
France or Belgium. There is a sequel to come, Poppy in the field
which I am looking forward to reading.
Pat Pledger
Vengeance by Megan Miranda
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408839584.
(Age: 14+) Thriller, Supernatural. Following Fracture, this
sequel is told from the point of view of Decker. Everyone blames
Delaney for Carson's death, but Decker knows that she is not to
blame. Instead she is drawn to people who are dying. But rumours
have spread about the curse that surrounds the friends, and Decker
is devastated when he sees a body lying in his kitchen and knows
that Delaney could have told him what was going to happen. After
some strange and frightening incidents threaten them all, Decker
begins to realise that something or someone is out for revenge.
Having read the first book Fracture, it was easy to catch up on the
main characters, Decker and Delaney and follow through their
heartbreak over their friend's death. Decker is less forgiving of
Delaney's actions when she doesn't tell him of an impending death
and much of the novel centres on the angst of Decker ignoring the
one person that he loves.
The strength of Miranda's writing lies in the way that she manages
to get the reader to start questioning whether Delaney's rescue from
drowning in the frozen lake has created some kind of supernatural
revenge from Falcon Lake or whether there are other factors in play.
There is an overriding air of foreboding as near fatal accidents
occur around Decker and Delaney and Decker is left not knowing who
to trust.
Teens will enjoy the chilling atmosphere, the teenage romance, the
parties and life in high school and the touch of the paranormal will
be welcome by fans. This is a tense and exciting psychological
thriller that is a successful follow-up to Fracture.
Pat Pledger
Naveed by John Heffernan
Through My Eyes series. Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN:
9781743312483.
I would highly recommend this title and the whole series thus far!
Following the death of his much loved father, Naveed, a young
Afghani boy, shoulders the responsibility of caring for his mother
and younger sister, Anoosheh. His young sister had lost her legs as
the result of an exploding landmine. Despite their lowly income and
existence, the family members display strong ethics and positive
natures with honesty, hard work, generosity of spirit, loyalty and
resilience being traits they have in abundance. In order to provide
the family with food and pay the rent for their meagre
accommodation, Naveed willingly works for a variety of employers,
even continuing despite them taking advantage of him and underpaying
him for his impeccable work. He maintains a positive attitude and
work ethic, often reflecting on the sayings and teachings of his
father. Thankfully, not everyone with whom he interacts is as
predatory as the gang that accosts him in the street and he manages
to find some allies. Amongst his allies is a dog that he names
Nasera, and the pair becomes inseparable. When he develops a
friendship with Jake, an Australian soldier, Naveed and his
extraordinary dog are offered a job which seems almost too good to
be true. There is the possibility they could become a valuable team,
assisting in making Afghanistan a safer place. Will they succeed?
Whose plans could be foiled through their actions if they take on
their proposed role? Through My Eyes is one series on which I expect to continue
to heap praise! With these titles, younger students can be
introduced to the realities and atrocities of war. Amongst these
realities are weapons, suicide bombers, IEDs, warlords, gangs of
thieves and the unfair treatment of both the poor and females,
particularly widows, by the male Afghani. Although containing plenty
of aspects which could be considered confronting, these titles are
more accessible to upper primary and secondary students as the
protagonists are of a similar age to the readers.
Lyn White has used her experience working as a teacher librarian to
create detailed and eminently useable teacher notes for each of the
books in this series. Having heard her speak at the ASLA conference
last year, I agree with her sentiment that both the books and
teacher notes are truly a gift to all teachers. Teacher notes for
Naveed can be found here.
I have previously taught various units on war and conflict and
believe these titles support any such unit brilliantly. Each of the
Through My Eyes titles would be well received by older
students in literature circles. Personally, in the primary school
setting, I would prefer to be able to use them as the basis of a
whole class unit, reading aloud and discussing various elements of
the text and the information brought out in each. I believe this
title could work well with any students from Year 5 and above but
believe that perhaps the previous titles may be better suited to the
slightly older classes.
Jo Schenkel
The Hairy-Nosed Wombats find a new home by Jackie French
Ill. by Sue deGennaro. HarperCollins Australia, 2014. ISBN
9780732295486.
Not so long ago, there were only 176 Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats
left in the entire world! And because their home was at risk of
flood and fire meaning they would be gone forever, they had to find
a new home. But where would that home be? The one they had was just
right (except for the threat of flood and fire) and it was going to
be tricky to find one that had tasty grass and was safe and secure
enough for them to have babies. So five brave wombats went on a
wondrous wombat adventure to find that new home . . .
Rarer than the giant panda, the northern hairy-nosed wombat has been
critically endangered for many years, with their numbers dropping to
just 35 ten years ago when drought crippled much of Australia, even
though they were in a protected, secluded and exclusive environment.
When the rains did come, their numbers had increased to 176 by 2010
but fire and flood still threatened their special home and so a new
one had to be found again. This is the story of their plight, their
move and the joy of a baby being seen in March 2011 and it is Jackie
French displaying two of her passions - storytelling based on
detailed research and wombats. Even though the wombats' plight is
pared down to its basic thread, she has woven a wonderful account
that introduces the very youngest reader to the predicament of these
creatures and shows that species can be saved by providing a safe
place to live with good food and water. (The full story underpinning
the events is provided at the end.) It's an introduction to how we
all need to share our planet and that our lives are so much richer
when we do.
Jackie's words are powerful, but they are made even more so by Sue
deGennaro who has translated them into the most divine pictures
using a whimsy which brings the characters to life - why wouldn't a
hairy-nosed wombat have a magnificent moustache and be delighted
when the girls arrive? And why wouldn't they arrive in a bus with
all the modern accoutrements to setting up home? Or parachute in to
a ready-made environment? Using watercolour to draw the wombats and
collage to dress them (the story of that is told too) Ms deGennaro
has created the perfect accompaniment that kept Miss 3 and Miss 7
totally engaged and wanting to know more. It went from a first-read
to a favourite immediately and each time we shared this story, there
was more to see and each time we understood a little bit more of
what it all meant. And the freezing cold day gave us the perfect
excuse to stay indoors and draw and dress our own wombats! Miss 7
even remembered that when she was just Miss 4, she got to snuggle a
baby wombat because a close friend raises orphans for a wildlife
foundation, http://www.laoko.org.au/ and the week before she and I
had been making pouches for the new orphans who sadly, continue to
arrive.
Released in time for Hairy
Nosed Wombat Day on May 11, Jackie is donating the
proceeds of this book to enable further research. However, in
alignment with the theme of the book that we can all make a
difference, there are a range of resources for schools available
(even a recipe for hairy-nose truffles) on that page and more at http://wombatresources.com/.
And if you want to make a personal contribution, why not wear
whiskers for wombats next Sunday, make a donation and tell your mum
it is her Mothers' Day gift? I suspect that given the impact of this
book on my little ones, that's what I will be getting. YES! http://www.wombatfoundation.com.au/HairyNosePoster.jpg
Barbara Braxton
Found by Salina Yoon
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408854402.
(Age: 0-4) Recommended. Bears, Lost things, Friendship. When Bear
finds a toy bunny in the woods, he is distraught that someone's
favourite toy has been lost and so does something about it. He
prepares a number of posters, and taking the toy rabbit with him,
pins them up far and wide. He places the poster on trees and notice
boards, looks down the river, and up on a tree, but all to no avail.
No one seems to have lost their toy bunny. All the while, Bear
becomes more and more attached to the little toy and wishes it was
his to keep.
They do everything together until one day a Moose calls out to them.
The toy's name is Flopsy and Moose had the toy when he was young.
Bear turns away disconsolate, but Moose calls out to him. And all is
resolved.
This is a lovely story of friendship, of caring, of trying to find
the real owner, despite wanting to keep the toy yourself.
The bold illustrations by Yoon, remind the readers of her earlier
books about Penguin, all three of which contained similar themes,
friendship and togetherness. Her seemingly simple texts evoke basic
emotions, while her equally stylised illustrations with bold bright
colours are wonderful to look at and read.
Fran Knight
