Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545611186.
(Age: Preschool) Recommended. Rex finds being a dinosaur very hard.
He is bigger than everyone in his class, even the teachers. Everyone
can find him when he plays hide and seek, and his desk is too small.
Everyone thinks he is scary, but really when he goes RAWR! he is just
saying hello.
In vivid colour, a bright green Rex pops off the page, his yellow
and black eyes gleaming out at the reader. The brightly coloured
shapes of the houses, bus, cars and school grounds are just what
small children will enjoy and the addition of soft material on the
picture of Rex on the front cover will entice little fingers to
touch and feel.
The text is simple and short and good to read aloud and the
underlying messages about being kind, polite and helpful will be a
boon for parents. The use of the word RAWR! will give occasion to
lots of loud roars at bedtime and lots of fun for both caregiver and
child as well as sending out messages that big and loud aren't
necessarily scary.
This is a book that all little dinosaur lovers will enjoy.
Pat Pledger
Ubby's Underdogs: Heroes beginnings by Brenton E. McKenna
Magabala Books, 2013. ISBN 9781922142139.
This graphic novel is the second in a trilogy by Indigenous
author/illustrator Brenton E. McKenna. Inspired by comic books from
a young age and with a passion for both writing and art, McKenna has
put his studies in Visual Arts to excellent use in this series which
takes its setting and characters from his own hometown of Broome.
In post-WW2 Broome, the population was already a melting pot of
multiculturalism with a rich history of plucky characters and
exciting incidents. This second episode reintroduces characters from
the first and continues the The legend of the Phoenix dragon.
The main protagonist, Ubby, is a young Aboriginal girl (based on
McKenna's feisty grandmother) but her Underdogs encompass youngsters
from a variety of backgrounds.
With a gripping backdrop of both Aboriginal and Chinese mythology,
Ubby's Underdogs take on a mission to rescue their friend Sai Fong,
the Dragon Summoner, from the rival gangs pursuing her for their own
evil ends.
McKenna's art training is evident in the stylish presentation of
this graphic novel - the black framing and outstanding use of colour
heighten the intensity of the story. There is a 'manga' feel to the
design which devotees of that genre will find appealing. While
recommended for upper primary to secondary, I would suggest that
some of the phonetic/accented dialogue may be a challenge for less
than capable readers. Both boys and girls would relate to this book,
as although Ubby is the leader of her rag-tag band, she is clearly
not the most 'girly' girl.
The growing market for graphic literature attests to its popularity
with a young generation who are far more visually influenced than
those of the past. This series would be a fabulous addition to your
Graphic shelves - or if you have not yet ventured into graphic
literature this homegrown series may be a fine starting point.
There has been some resistance from some quarters who suggest that
graphic novels are 'easy' reading and therefore to be dismissed with
scorn. Clearly they have not read any of quality, would be my
response! This series could equally add to Australian studies as a
springboard to discussion of Broome, the Chinese in Australia, the
pearling industry and more.
Sue Warren
Ethan's voice by Rachel Carter
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781407135502.
Appropriate for upper primary students, this story is set on an
English canal and the central character Ethan lives with his mother
and father on a narrow boat. Life is simple for the trio who clearly
struggle financially as the father seeks intermittent gardening work
and the mother keeps a market stall to help maintain the family.
There is a sense of security, routine and belonging conveyed in the
narrative, to the extent that this family is loving and happy
despite the hardships. The biggest issue faced in their daily lives
is Ethan's inability to speak which has led to taunting and bullying
at school and subsequent withdrawal from mainstream education.
Home-schooled on the boat, Ethan is happy roaming and interacting
with nature, yet he is clearly a lonely little boy, given that he
can only communicate silently with his kindly mother and loving, yet
stressed and tense father. When another boat moors nearby, a whole
new world opens up for Ethan as Polly, a girl of his age, comes to
visit and the pair set out on innocent adventures and exploration of
the local environs. Importantly, Polly is a tolerant and undemanding
soul who understands Nathan's nature and shows sensitivity regarding
the speaking disability.
Narrative development is linked to Nathan's creative writing of a
journal, ostensibly for his studies, which reveals the trials and
tribulations of a Medieval Page who yearns to become a Knight.
The reason for Nathan's speech impediment is revealed gradually and
his capacity to understand and reconcile it provides the framework
for the story's conclusion. Within the tale are interesting little
references to being blindfolded or not being able to use one's arms
in games. This helps to demonstrate that other means can be adopted
to fulfill a need, and also that the assistance of others in a
trustful relationship is valid.
Ethan's and Polly's mutually beneficial friendship provides
companionship, and confiding in each other enables them to cope with
life's challenges.
Rob Welsh
I spy pets by Edward Gibbs
Koala Books, 2013. ISBN 9781742760704.
Preschool picture book with potential.
The game 'I spy' has been popular for generations keeping children
occupied on those long and boring car journeys before the advent of
electronic games and DVD players. The novel idea of observing the
passing countryside seems to have bypassed the current young
traveller but the game is alive in this series of picture books.
Edward Gibbs has used the concept of a peephole which neatly fits
over one eye of the pet featured. He uses the cut out circle to
highlight a colourful part of the animal's body and makes a feature
of the adjectives used to describe his clue by employing a bold
font. For example 'I spy with my little eye... something with shiny
scales.' This clue is also followed by a speech balloon offering
another clue generally about the food the animal eats. Turn the page
and lo and behold a beautifully detailed goldfish with the hole
fitting perfectly over the eye to give a seamless double page spread
and another speech balloon with the goldfish declaring 'I am a
goldfish'.
This book will be particularly attractive to the preschool reader as
they identify the pets which range from a puppy to a chameleon or
tortoise and learn a little about them. Other learning opportunities
spring to mind talking about direct speech and other features that
could be clues for each animal.
Due to the descriptive clue I immediately felt the coloured circle
and was disappointed that there was no texture. Too many feelie
books given to the grandchildren obviously!
Sue Keane
The hunger games: Catching fire: The official illustrated movie companion
Scholastic Press, New York, 2013. ISBN 9780545599337.
(Age 12+) Recommended. Movie tie in. Dystopian fiction. Adventure.
Strong women characters. Timed to be released as the second film in
The hunger games series is due out, this will be a surefire
winner of a book. Jam packed with information, the book will fill
any follower of the series with all they need to know - and a lot
besides. The photographs taken from the film fill the pages,
sometimes the whole double page spread is used, and the effect is
quite breathtaking. No one will be able to resist this offering. As
with the first tie in book for the first film in the series, The
hunger games, the opening section gives a brief introduction
as to what has happened before this story starts, so whetting the
appetite for what may follow.
The book then follows the plot of the new film, giving side panels
of information about the setting or the characters or the actors. So
in Part 3 'Expanding the world of Panem', a great deal of
information is given about the setting, particularly that of
Katniss' world, while furthering the plot development. Part four
'Designing the arena' is just as fascinating, detailing the plans
for and evolution of the arena for Book Two. Part Five focusses on
costume design, an amazing part of the films, with wildly
imaginative costumes made for the competitors and the leading
figures in the organisers. The whole chapter is a mass of photos of
these extraordinary creations that will satisfy any reader.
The whole book whets the appetite for seeing the film, released just
before Christmas, 2013, and is every bit as good as the first of The
hunger games.
Fran Knight
5-minute Marvel stories by Marvel Comics Group
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781743622216.
(Age 6+) Fantasy. Heroes. Reluctant readers. Bound together in one
volume come 12 stories of super heroes from the Marvel Comics Group.
Readers will be overjoyed to read about the adventures of their
favourite heroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Avengers and the
X-men. To be able to read or to listen to a story about them that
takes just five minutes is a plus. The super heroes are busy foiling
alien invaders, battling super crooks and making sure that the
villains get their come-uppance.
This is an ideal book for children who love the super heroes.
Because of the shortness of the stories, all of which are brightly
illustrated, each makes for a great read for the newly independent
reader and a fun read aloud as a bedtime story. Reluctant readers
will also enjoy this book, as each exciting story is short, but the
book itself is large and well organised.
This is a fun book that children are sure to enjoy and would make a
welcome gift for the child who adores the Super Heroes.
Pat Pledger
The forgotten rebels of Eureka by Clare Wright
Text Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781922147370.
(Age 16+) Recommended. Many readers of Australian history know that
women sewed the Eureka flag. Less well known is that they were at
the forefront of the 1854 rebellion as activists and participants.
Clare Wright may have rewritten the history of a significant turning
point in Australia's political and social history. The forgotten rebels of Eureka, is both an academic argument
and a narrative history. The author's thesis is that women played a
crucial role in transforming discontent over mining licences and
access to land into a call for justice and the extension of
democratic rights. The early chapters depict the journey to Ballarat
from overseas and across colonial borders, the creation of homes in
a tent city and the search for sources of income. Many of the women,
including those who became influential leaders, are identified by
name. Their experiences as wives, mothers, miners, shopkeepers,
journalists, hoteliers, actors and prostitutes help to explain the
dynamics of a community in crisis. Once readers are familiar with
the fabric of Ballarat society, Clare Wright launches into a
narrative of the rebellion and its aftermath, demonstrating that
women were both present at the stockade and among its casualties.
The writing style emphasizes rather than understates the drama.
Excerpts from newspaper articles and memoirs provide contemporary
voices. An epilogue charts the post-Eureka lives of some of the
principal participants and the large font eases the demands of
digesting a wealth of information. Source notes and a bibliography
will satisfy scholars. Explanations of some aspects of life on the
goldfields may be confronting for young adults.
By including women in the story of Eureka, Clare Wright has
redressed a longstanding gender imbalance in the telling of an
iconic story, to reveal a community of people who challenged the
existing order. In doing so, she has also illuminated many of the
rebellion's larger themes including multiculturalism, the role of
the press, the administration of justice, the use of armed force and
the campaign for universal suffrage.
Elizabeth Bor
The Wombats go on camp by Roland Harvey
Allen & Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743315040.
A Roland Harvey book is always a gem with plenty to discover in each
picture. With the success of his other books like At the beach
and In the city and my particular favourite My Place in
space we have come to expect busy pages of tiny detailed,
colourful and humorous pictures populated by a wealth of characters.
The Wombats go on camp is more focussed, featuring a small
group of twelve children and two adults.
The Wombats are attending their first ever camp. The end papers
contain a picture and profile for each student which gives relevant
information about their likes and dislikes. Each double page spread
features an activity at camp from the bus trip through settling in
to the dormitory to the usual adventure activities, performance,
night walk and late night scary stories. Accompanying each picture
is a reflection by one of the students on the activity and the
actions of their peers.
While there is not the usual chaotic feel to the pictures there are
familiar touches in his signature kangaroos, possums and other
native animals scattered through the pages. Other quirky drawings
keep the reader amused from the adults racing to save adventurous
children to an elephant's trunk appearing at the performance. My
favourite page would have to be the night walk for its atmospheric
feel.
The Wombats will be popular with students familiarising themselves
with what to expect before they embark on their first camp, and to
remind the teachers that they may be mad suggesting a camp in the
first place.
Sue Keane
Clumsy Duck by Britta Teckentrup
Koala Books, Australia: 2013. ISBN 9781742760353.
Preschool Picture book. Clumsy Duck is always tripping over and is
very frustrated when friendly Chick comes along and invites Duck for
a walk. Chick decides there is a reason Duck has oversized feet and
after some experimentation and a tumble in the pond they discover
what it is.
This is a gentle story of friendship and discovery, celebrating
difference as the duck and chick try a variety of activities that
chick is good at but which duck tries and fails. Duck is persistent
as she has a go at everything despite the obvious limitations of her
feet.
The illustrations are bright and colourful as the birds move through
a stylised flower strewn landscape which also features a frog, snail
and various insects to add interest. The eyes of both birds give an
impression of sadness and happiness simply with the placement of the
black dot within a white circle.
The oversized format is great for sharing by little people on the
floor but could be problematic for little hands and laps.
Sue Keane
Man made boy by Jon Skovron
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743315132.
(age: 12+) Recommended. Frankenstein's monster. Love. Mythology.
Humour. Boy, the son of Frankenstein's monster and the Bride, lives
with his parents in an underground series of rooms and caves beneath
Time Square. Known as The Show, the Trowe dug levels of living space
for the creatures shunned by the human race, Medusa, Sirens, Charon,
and Trolls, amongst others. Boy is a clever and intuitive computer
hacker and it is his skills that are nightly required to keep the
networks in the theatre going, attracting the audiences which comes
to be scared by the monsters.
But Boy is restless. He feels undervalued. He is bullied, and his
parents want to send him to Switzerland to stay with the
Frankenstein family. More importantly he loves Liel, a Troll. Having
developed a computer program that he thinks will change the world,
he rallies support from his online friends, packs his bag and
leaves.
Going into the human world is something many of the monsters dream
of doing, and it is an unknown world that Boy steps into. He moves
in with a hacker he knows from the internet but must find work to
live.
But one night he sees Liel, and she reveals she is there because of
an email he sent her. He is thrilled, but the question remains, just
who is hacking his system and sending information to people
purportedly from him.
Liel becomes housebound, her green skin not conducive to going
outside, and so Boy is forced to seek help from Luellen from The
Show who uses glamour to change his form and allow him to mix freely
with humans. As Liel becomes more hooked on using this drug, Boy
finds her shunning his company for her new human friends. On top of
all this, someone is stalking him. His program has developed a mind
of its own. The created has become a creator.
This is a great read, funny, warm and often moving. We follow Boy's
dreams of living in the human world with empathy, see him stride
through the streets avoiding questions and giving out the story that
his stitches are the result of a bad accident. When Liel appears,
his life is complete, but problems mount as someone is hacking his
computer, stalking them, and the problem of Liel's use of the drug
glamour becomes overwhelming. Leaving New York, Boy meets up with
the granddaughters of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and together they make
a road trip to New Mexico where another complex like The Show
exists, to seek answers from The Sphinx.
This book is a glowing mixture of many genres, adventure, crime,
romance, alienation, retelling of myths and will appeal to a wide
audience, particularly those who crave a long read in which the main
characters are so well drawn that the reader cares about their
fates. The one liners poke fun at the mythology surrounding
Frankenstein and many of the monsters involved, making this a laugh
out loud read, and in the end a story about what makes us human.
Fran Knight
Of Lions and Unicorns by Michael Morpurgo
HarperCollins Children's Books, 2013. ISBN 9780007523313.
(For all ages) Subtitled A Lifetime of Tales from the Nation's
Favourite Storyteller. As the title suggests, this collection of short
stories by one of the most popular English writers for children,
covers a wide range of subjects. Michael Morpurgo is well-known in
Australia too, with so many of his works available here. The
adaptation of his famous story, Warhorse, to a stage play and film
has furthered our interest in his career. There are
twenty-five short stories in this anthology, written over the past
30 years, along with extracts from a further twenty-five of his
best-loved novels.
The joys and turbulence of his childhood, the impact of wartime on
his family and country, his passion for rural experiences, and his
love of animals, art and adventure all emerge in this interesting
and charming collection of tales. Morpurgo's language can be
deceptively simple; in some ways his writing style is a touch 'old
fashioned' but his sentences flow and it is very easy to stay
immersed in each of his stories. Some will appeal more to
older readers - indeed, numerous stories will be of particular
interest to those who have read about Morpurgo - there are numerous
stories revealing his own life experiences. This collection
can be browsed through, read in detail or one or two can be singled
out - in each case, the reader will not be disappointed as the
author's sincerity and warmth emerge quite naturally from his
storytelling. For a book of nearly 600 pages, the text size and
paper choice work well, and helpful copyright details for each entry
are included at the back of the book. Illustrations by Quentin
Blake, Christian Birmingham, Michael Foreman and others add to the
appeal, along with black and white page markers denoting each story.
Julie Wells
The Bloodhound Boys : The Great Blood Bank Robbery by Andrew Cranna
Walker Books Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781922179302.
A Graphic novel primary aged cartoon and adventure enthusiasts will
enjoy.
With a title like this what boy would not be tempted to pick up the
book and at least flick through the first few pages. There they will
see black and white cartoons much like they might draw featuring a
myriad of monstrous characters living underground in Skull River
City. The main characters, are six school friends, Rocky Werewolf,
Vampire Vince, Gretel Ghoul, Ancient Archie (a mummy), Luci Fer and
Loch Ness Leo, who enjoy a Bloodshake at The Headless Horseman cafe
after a stirring game of skullball.
Unfortunately the pipes delivering blood to the cafe are empty and
soon the friends find out about the Blood Bank Robbery. Vince and
Rocky decide to investigate. Rocky's dad works in security and they
have access to the Bank and they are motivated by their friend
Gretel who suffers a rare blood disease and is in danger of dying
unless she can access a regular supply of fresh blood. The adventure
continues with many twists and turns including saving a dinosaur,
finding Vince's Dad who disappeared years ago and challenging the
Mosquito King.
The story is told through the cartoons complete with backgrounds and
speech bubbles and of course the inevitable sound effects without
recourse to linking captions. The characters, whilst monsters are
charming and expressive as they rise to the challenges before them.
I can see the book being popular with students looking for a simple
but at times amusing dialogue who will enjoy and be tempted to
emulate the cartoon style and create their own version.
Sue Keane
The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson, with Marilyn J. Harran and Elizabeth B. Leyson
Simon & Schuster, 2013. ISBN 9781471119675.
For all ages. This book is a memoir, recollecting the author's
experiences over a period of years. Encouraged by his wife and a
publishing friend, Leon Leyson decided to tell his story. As a
Jewish boy of fifteen years, he and his family were rounded up by
Nazis and placed in unbearable circumstances; at times separated
from each other, suffering hunger, exhaustion and extreme neglect
and hatred. Oskar Schindler thought this young boy's life was of
value and went to great lengths to ensure the survival of most of
his family members. Leon was given a box to stand on as he worked in
Schindler's factory.
The Prologue introduces the reader to Leon in 1965 when he meets his
saviour before taking us to earlier, happy times when Leon is
growing up in a rural village in north-eastern Poland before moving
to Krakow. The youngest of five children, Leon describes his parents
and siblings with great warmth and affection, and informs the reader
about life in Poland at the time. When war comes, the Poles are
confident that the allied forces will stop the invading Germans, but
hopes are dashed on 6 September, 1939, when, less than a week after
crossing the border into Poland, the enemy troops arrive in Krakow.
The years of hell had begun for Leon and his family.
Obviously the subject of this book is confronting, but the innocence
of Leyson's narration is very powerful and brings the story close to
readers of any age.
Julie Wells
Riggs Crossing by Michelle Renee Heeter
Ford Street, 2012. ISBN: 9781921665707.
(Age: 15+) After being hurt and traumatised after a car accident,
Len Russel is placed in the Refuge, a Sydney home for children with
no where else to go. Without any formal schooling to occupy her time
Len becomes sour and judgemental, preferring to think that she will
have a glamorous future like Clarissa Hobbs, the protagonist of her
favourite television show. Wielding an outstanding level of
intelligence Len has private tutoring with a woman from the
university, Miss Dunn. It is Miss Dunn who encourages Len's aptitude
for reading while carefully neglecting to comment on Len's
intelligence. Despite maintaining that she has no recollection of
her name or past, memories swirl around her like dust motes, easily
disturbed. She soon gathers that her father was involved in the
illegal farming of marijuana crops. In spite of her youth Len knows
better than to share her memories, knowing that it could get her
father into serious trouble. Unsure of what to do Len becomes more
solitary, preferring to keep to herself and away from the other
Refuge children.
Written in the first person and present tense Riggs Crossing
is a highly engaging read and I would recommend it for people aged
fifteen and up (drug references and some inappropriate language). A
combination of flashbacks, present day events and case notes Riggs
Crossing demonstrates how easy it is to unknowingly emulate
others and pick up their habits, good and bad. This is shown by
Len's knowledge of the drug trade and by her rebellion and
harassment of the other children once Bindi and Cinnamon leave the
shelter.
Kayla Gaskell
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Divergent series, Bk 3. HarperCollins, 2013. ISBN
9780007538027.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Science fiction. Dystopian fiction.
Goodreads Choice for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction (2013).
Tris and Tobias finally have a chance to find a new life together
when the faction based society they were living in is shattered by
violence and power mongering. However the society that they find
beyond the fence is even more distressing than the one they left
behind and Tris and Tobias face even more dilemmas as they begin to
learn the truth. Allegiant does not stand alone and readers need to be
familiar with what has happened in the previous two books to work
out the motivations and backgrounds of the characters. Told in two
voices, that of Tris and Tobias, the reader is immediately pushed
into the action following Insurgent, book 2 of the trilogy.
It is impossible to write too much about the plot because it would
spoil it for readers. It is sufficient to say that Roth pulls no
punches in this dystopian society. People that the reader cares for
die and Tris is faced with a terrible choice that will require all
her courage.
The themes of bravery, loyalty, sacrifice, power and morality are
all integral to the story and make this into a book that will linger
in the mind long after it has been read. What is happening in the
larger world that Tris and Tobias and their friends face is shocking
for them and for the reader but Roth's powerful conclusion, amid
violence and death, does make sense in a dystopian society.
This is one of the better dystopian series around and it will be
interesting to see how it translates into film.
Pat Pledger
