Ill. by Linda Catchlove. Walker Books, 2014. ISBN 9781921977589.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Fairies, Birth, Family. With Lili-Pilly's
mother about to give birth, Lilli-Pilly is concerned whether the
crib they have built will be satisfactory for her new sister, but
mother points out that it could be a boy. So we are invited
into the realm of the fairies, see their surroundings, the
Australian bush, the Lilly Pilly or Australian Cherry, the gum
trees, the naimals, Mum has difficulty opening her wings to fly as
her belly is so big and round, and sends Lilly-Pilly off to gather
things for the baby, all the while discussing what it might be.
The soft watercolour images augment the words, showing the soft warm
colours of the Australian bush, stylised gum trees rise out of the
creek bed, an array of insects and birds go about their daily
business, and many beautifully drawn flowers and plants fill the
pages.
For small children this book not only provides a delicate
introduction to the imminent arrival of a sibling, it also gives
parents and teachers the chance to engage their charges in
discussions about birth and babies, and where they come from.
Within the ambience of the Australian bush, the opportunities
offered by this book are wide reaching. Small children and others
will thrill at the depiction of the fairy family in their hippy
guise, and ponder at the array of small things peering out of the
dense scrub. The fairy family's use of found objects in their
environment is also a source of wonder from the reader. Classroom
ideas are available.
Fran Knight
Claws of the Crocodile by Bear Grylls
Mission Survival series. Random House, 2013. ISBN
9781849418423.
(Age: Year 3+) Beck Granger is just thirteen years old but, as the
son of Special Operations Directors for the environmentalist direct
action group Green Force, he knows more about surviving in harsh
conditions and climates than most people would learn in a lifetime.
In this adventure, Claws of the Crocodile set in the
Kimberley region of Australia, Beck goes in search of an Aboriginal
elder whom he met as a young child and who has a precious USB stick
with evidence that the earlier disastrous contamination of an area
of the Kimberley was caused by the cut corners and slipshod methods
of the multi-national company behind the project. Beck has a
personal interest in finding Pindari because finding him might
provide the clues and evidence for his parents' deaths. Accompanied
by his friend Brihony Stewart and two citified Aboriginal men, he
ventures into the hostile outback on this new mission.
This is a grand story told in the fashion of ye olde Boys' Own
Adventure - the action starts on the first page and doesn't let up
till the last. Written by Bear Grylls, known around the world via
his television series as an outdoorsman and survivor, this is a tale
that captures its audience from the beginning and keeps going. While
some of it may seem a bit far-fetched from the adult reader's
perspective, it works very well for its younger audience with lots
of information about survival embedded in the story as well as
explicit advice at the end. Grylls is well qualified to share his
knowledge having served 21 years in the British SAS, being appointed
as the youngest ever Chief Scout to 28 million Scouts worldwide and
one of the youngest to reach the summit of Everest. The adventures
he leads people on have raised huge amounts of money for children
around the world. As you read you get a real sense of the author
knowing what he is talking about - he has walked the walk.
That said, this story with its Australian connection, would make a
great read-aloud introduction to a unit on survival exploring needs
vs wants and the minimum requirements to be taken for any expedition
into the bush, even just an afternoon walk. With Australia's
bushfire season a regular threat such knowledge needs to be part of
any family's fire plan, but even more than that it could lead into a
worthwhile investigation of all our emergency services, professional
and volunteer, and what they do for us. Perhaps it might even lead
to some new recruits for the service most applicable to your area! Claws of the Crocodile is just one of a series written for
the Year 3+ brigade. Others, each with a different geographical
setting, include Gold of the Gods (The Colombian Jungle); Way
of the Wolf (Alaskan Mountains); Sands of the Scorpion
(the Sahara); Tracks of the Tiger (Indonesian Wilderness);
and Strike of the Shark (The Caribbean Sea). This is a
series that will not only appeal to those who love the outdoors, but
it may tempt those indoor-lovers out there.
Barbara Braxton
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore by William Joyce
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012. ISBN 9780857079442.
'Morris Lessmore loved words. He loved stories. He loved books. His
life was a book of his own writing, one orderly page after another.
He would open it every morning and write of his joys and sorrows, of
all that he knew and everything he hoped for.' Dressed in a dapper
brown suit, he would sit on the balcony of his hotel room,
surrounded by books read, to-be-read and to-read-again, and write
his beloved story. Until, one day, in something reminiscent of the
tornado in The Wizard of Oz, his world is turned upside down and
everything he knows is scattered, even the words of his book. Sadly,
bemused and confused, he wanders through a dark and colourless world
looking down in deep depression. Until, 'a happy bit of happenstance
came his way' and he looks up, to see a lovely lady drifting above
him pulled along by 'a festive squadron of flying books'. Knowing
that all he needed was a good story, she sent him her favourite . .
. leading him onto a whole new chapter of his life as he discovers
the treasures of a library and how it helps him and those around him
. . .
Reviewing a book that won an Oscar in 2011 for Best Animated Short
Film and was an acclaimed animated app, both before it made its
print debut is somewhat daunting for what can I say that hasn't
already been said? But such is my conviction that this book must be
on your shelves, I felt I had to bring it to your attention. To
quote Shanetia P. Clark's review from the Nerdy Book Club (founded
by Donalyn Miller of The Book Whisperer), 'This carefully crafted
tale needs to be on display in every classroom, every library, and
every home. It illuminates the importance of sharing great stories
with one another, the joy of being caught up in a story; and the
transactional connection between the written word and reader. The
illustrations, too, tell a beautiful story and work in concert with
the written text.'
It would be the perfect title to start a new school year of reading
- for the younger students to introduce them to the magic of story
and for older students to delve deeper than reading along the lines
to reading between and beyond. To help you get started there are
some questions
to ask and some activities to do. YouTube has a range of
clips that bring the story to life; the app is available through
iTunes and there is even one called the IMAG-N-O-THON which brings
the pages of the book alive when they are viewed through an iPad 2/3
or an iPhone!
If you are not yet familiar with this beautiful story and its
equally rich and stunning illustrations, you need to be. If you have
it on your shelves but have forgotten about it, then bring it out
and start with a winner.
Barbara Braxton
Banjo Paterson treasury by Banjo Paterson
Ill. by Oslo Davis. Random House, 2013. ISBN 9780857980069.
(Ages: All) Recommended. This treasury of poems by Banjo Paterson
contains not only really well known classics like Waltzing
Matilda, The Man from Snowy River, Clancy of the
Overflow and Mulga Bill's bicycle , but other lesser
known poems that are a joy to read. It is arranged in chronological
order starting with an introductory poem, Prelude, first
published in 1895 and continuing through Paterson's publishing life
finishing with Unforgotten, written in 1940 and two poems
with dates unknown. There is an index of first words, which will be
useful for people who know the first lines of some of the poems, or
who can work out what the topic is by reading the first line. Black
and white illustrations by Oslo Davis add to the meaning of the
poems
The very interesting About section gives a potted biography,
telling of Paterson's early childhood growing up in the bush and his
adult work as a solicitor, war correspondent, ambulance driver in
World War 1 and editor of Sydney Sportsman. The poems
reflect his love and understanding of the bush and his experiences
as an adult. There is a poem about Federation, Song of the
Federation as well as many poems about war and national
identity, all of which would be very useful for the Australian
history curriculum.
Of course, it is well known poems about the bush that are more
recognisable, and still have the power to stir the emotions of the
reader as they learn about the hardship the pioneers faced, the
larrikins who roamed the countryside and the horses that were
coveted. These will be a thrilling read aloud or wonderful performed
by a class or group.
Pat Pledger
This star won't go out by Esther Earl, with Lori and Wayne Earl
Introduction by John Green. Penguin Books, 2014. ISBN 9780141354033.
(Age: 12+) Cancer. Diary. When Esther Earl died in August 2010 of
Thyroid Cancer, her friends and family with her, she left behind
diaries, emails, photos. These have been used as the basis for this
book, augmented by reminiscences from friends and relatives, nursing
staff and doctors. Esther's story is brought to the fore in this
large tome, as her parents and friends reveal what they knew of the
young woman who fought to the end with grace and attitude.
Using her journals, diaries and letters, photos from family and
friends, videos, blogs and utube uploads, reminiscences from those
around her, copies of her drawings and many many photos of her in
the last stages of her life, the book is a powerful look at a person
who keeps her star shining. Powerful because she never gives up, and
from age 12 to 16, she discusses all with the medical staff as well
as those about her, she does not stint in asking the hard questions,
nor does she falter in finding what is best for her. And she is
honest. Interspersed between the words are accounts in orange taken
from the website, Caringbridge,
set up in 2008 in which people record their feelings, and her family
document the progression of her disease.
One of her friends was John Green who recently wrote, The fault
in our stars. He, with a number of other people, spent a day
with Esther several months before she died, and he recounts that day
in his introduction.
This is not an easy book to read, and as there is no contents or
index page, it is difficult to just dip into and read sections at a
time. Many girls will read it from cover to cover, adding the book
to the range of books about kids with cancer, and many will go on to
read John Green's The Fault in our stars, looking for traces
of Esther in the main character, Hazel, although he started his book
years before meeting Esther.
The support from her family and friends, shines through the whole
book, and it is a testament to the young girl's courage in life that
John Green dedicated his book to her.
Penguin has published this book in a heavier paper, and although
paperback, is a solid book to hold, its 430 pages making it a long,
intense read.
Fran Knight
The Great Fire: A City in flames by Ann Turnbull
Ill. by Akbar Ali. A & C Black, 2013. National Archives. ISBN
9781408186862.
For readers from 7-9 years of age. Themes: Great Fire of London,
1666, English History, London (England) History. Anne Turnbull's new
junior historical novel is set in London in 1666. Sam has been taken
by the Giraud family after he was left homeless during the Great
Plague. He now enjoys working as their servant boy. His life has
settled down and he is thankful to have Budge his dog who proves to
be a loyal companion with him. Unfortunately the son Andre
constantly bullies him.
Pivotal to the plot is the Great Fire of London that started in
Pudding Lane and spreads with ferocity through the city, even
burning the houses on London Bridge. Of course the boys are drawn
into observing the flames devouring businesses and houses, watching
the fire-squirts trying to control the blazes and even helping in
the bucket brigades.
Adventure waits as the family flees to safe ground and both Andre
and Sam learn the meaning of relying on one another in times of
crisis.
Sam's previous adventure (Plague : a cross on the door)
described the impact of the bubonic plague's devastating impact in
England. Ann Turnbull has partnered with the British National
Archives to produce junior novels suited to the English History
curriculum.
Rhyllis Bignell
Stars in jars: new and collected poems by Chrissie Gittins
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408196939.
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Poetry. Humour. This lovely volume of short
poems would suit classroom use as well as another book of poetry in
the library. Gittins, often a poet in residence or speaker at
schools in Britain, has four published books of poetry, each about
all sorts of topics, most very funny.
Over one hundred poems deal with topics such as The British Museum
Print Room, How to Make a Cup of Tea, Computer, The Ballet Teacher,
The Fragrant Pirate, and so on. I loved the poem about the sloth,
especially after reading The Advertiser with its article about the
sloth in the Adelaide Zoo being the oldest in the world and Death
in the Poetry Library with its image of the poet's words
'lapping along the corridor', or Dusk at the Botanical Gardens,
Bath with its image of the half pancake moon, and remembering
the tastes of summer in winter in Summer Pudding.
Many of the poems are just a joy to read alone or aloud with a
group, and I can imagine these being read out in the classroom. Some
are a little more serious, while some are wonderful models for
children's writing. Here I am thinking of poems such as the group of
limericks, or Sam, Sam, Quite Contrary, Suzannah the
Tailwagger, The Hysterical Tulip or Riddle.
This infectious book would be ideal for leaving out for kids to pick
up and read to themselves or their friends.
More information about Gittins can be found at her website.
Fran Knight
Meet the Anzacs by Claire Saxby and Max Berry
Random House Australia Children's, 2014. ISBN 9780857981929. eBook
ISBN 9780857981943.
Highly recommended for children from Prep upwards. With perfect
timing as we approach the centenary commemorations of World War 1
and the Anzac legend, this new picture book in the Meet . .
. series (which includes Ned Kelly, Saint Mary
MacKillop, Captain Cook and forthcoming Douglas Mawson) has been
beautifully executed with younger readers in mind. The simple but
eloquent text describes the beginning of the Anzacs as young men in
Australia and New Zealand enlisted and their subsequent travels and
experiences leading up to Gallipoli.
Children from around six and up will be able to grasp the sense of
excitement first felt by these young men, trace through the boredom
of seemingly endless training and drills and realise (without any
graphic detail) the awful realisation that battle engagement brought
the corps.
The inclusion of a timeline at the close of the book will provide
more able readers with interesting, and calamitous, facts.
Linking to the national curriculum examining historical skills,
knowledge and understanding, World War 1 and the role of key groups
in Australian history and society, this would be a valuable addition
to any library's Anzac collection.
Many of us have struggled in the past to find suitable material for
our younger students in promoting awareness of this significant
chapter in our history. This book fits the bill to a high standard.
Sue Warren
Doctor Who: The Vault - treasures from the first 50 years by Marcus Hearn
BBC Books, a Random House Group Company, 2013. ISBN 9781849905817.
In 2013, the television series, Dr Who, celebrated its 50th
anniversary even more popular now than when it began. The TARDIS,
that time machine disguised as a police telephone box, continues to
transport fans, new and seasoned, into another world providing them
with a momentary diversion from the here and now. And in this
magnificent creation of Marcus Hearn, fans can travel back across
time, without a TARDIS, to revisit their favourite memories.
Hearn is a Doctor Who fan, and when he realised that there is no
central archive of props and paraphernalia, he decided to curate a
collection within in a book as a way of marking the program's 50th
milestone. Each chapter is devoted to a year, or other short off-air
periods, in its history and through text, remarkable photographs and
other graphics, the timeline is told. Much of the material is rare
and much of it not seen before. A specific event sparks each chapter
such as the story of the Daleks in 1965 and the phenomenon of time
travel in 2007. This really is an
all-you-wanted-to-know-about-Dr-Who tome.
But it is much more than a book for the aficionados. Given the
popularity of sci fi with our students, this book encapsulates its
development as a genre over the years in both text and film so there
is much that could be used for comparing and contrasting activities.
The development of costume design and makeup could be an interesting
theme as well as the impact of technology on special effects It
would also help satisfy the Year 10 history strand which focuses on
'Popular Culture (1945 - present)' and examines the influences of
music, film and television.
In my opinion, the author has well and truly achieved his aim of
curating a museum in a book and this has a place on the shelves of
every secondary library at least. It is a remarkable work that is
likely to satisfy the appetites of established fans and whet that of
new ones.
Barbara Braxton
Going bush with Grandpa by Sally Morgan and Ezekiel Kwaymullina
Ill. by Craig Smith. Omnibus, 2014. ISBN 9781742990262.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Aboriginal themes. Gold prospecting.
Family. When Pete is asked by his Grandpa to go bush in search of
gold, he jumps at the chance. He helps load up the four wheel drive
with all their gear, food, swags, metal detector and of course, Ace
the dog. At night, camped at Grandpa's favourite place and eating
under the stars, they tell each other stories, Grandpa telling the
boy about corroborees and his fine dancing technique. They go to
sleep, one dreaming of dancing, the other of finding gold. The first
two days prove unsuccessful, the pair only finding a metal can, some
nails and a horse brass, but on the last day when the camp is packed
up, they go out one more time and find a large nugget and two
smaller ones. Their few days away are successful.
This is an endearing story of an older man and his grandson, going
out into the bush, being together telling stories, the older man
passing on stories of his youth, tales of the bush, wisdom from his
experience with the environment and its conservation. Sally Morgan
and Ezekiel Kwaymullina's subtle way of telling a tale means that
the reader is unaware that they too are learning something new,
skills which may help them when out in the bush.
Craig Smith's illustrations are just wonderful, adding a level of
humour which readers will love, as they pick out things they
recognise as the two camp in the bush.
With larger print and each page having illustrations, this is a
perfect early chapter book for younger readers, and a second by the
trio, One Rule, is due out shortly.
Fran Knight
Alice-Miranda in Japan by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House Australia Children's, 2014. ISBN: 9781742757599.
Highly recommended for readers from 8-10 years of age. Themes:
Mystery, Adventure, Japan - travel, Tokyo. Jacqueline Harvey's ninth
Alice-Miranda book takes the reader on another exciting overseas
adventure. The pacing with the effective transitions between the two
female protagonists, underpinned by the rich descriptive setting
makes this another winner for the author.
Alice-Miranda's family seize the opportunity and travel to Japan
when their family cook Dolly Oliver receives an invitation to share
her food invention at a Tokyo conference. Along for the adventure
are Millie, Jacinta and her mother Ambrosia, Uncle Lawrence the
famous actor, Aunt Charlotte and Alice-Miranda's cousin Lucas. The
Highton-Smith-Kensington Jones family and friends pack a lot into
their holiday, exploring a temple, tasting sushi, trying on kimonos
and dressing up in Harajuku costumes.
Intertwined with the excitement of experiencing the different food,
fashion and culture, there is another mystery for Alice-Miranda to
solve. For an eight and one quarter year old girl she is extremely
perceptive and intelligent, piecing together the strange occurrences
happening around her, with the problems in the house next door,
their meetings with a young servant boy, a missing princess and
strangers tracking their movements. Dolly's newest invention helps
save the day. A chance meeting between Alice-Miranda's father and
his old friend Kenzo Aoki the Emperor's Grand Chamberlain leads to a
luxurious meal at the Imperial Palace. Here Alice-Miranda and her
friends finally unravel the mystery of the missing princess.
Rhyllis Bignell
Butterfly grave by Anne Cassidy
The Murder Notebooks, bk 3. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN
9781408815526.
(Age: 13+) Crime. Thriller. Murder. The third book in The Murder
Notebooks, following Dead
time and Killing
Rachel, finds Rose and Joshua travelling with their friend
Skeggsie to Newcastle because Joshua's Uncle Stuart has been injured
in a fall from a cliff. Both Rose and Joshua's parents had
disappeared 5 years earlier in an undercover police operation and
when they find themselves living near each other in London, the pair
decide to hunt for their missing parents. Their stay in Newcastle is
fraught - Joshua is convinced that they are being followed, the
murder notebooks are stolen and their meddling leads to an awful
conclusion. Even Uncle Stu seems to have a secret, dark past.
Someone is out to stop them finding their parents, but who is it?
The emotional toll that his Uncle's accident and other dire
incidents have on Joshua is one of the main themes in Butterfly
Grave. Joshua begins to realise that the actions that he and
Rose are taking can have dreadful consequences and that their search
for their parents is very perilous, not just for them but for the
people who are nearest to them. Rose finds it very difficult to cope
with Joshua's feelings, but they do grow closer together in their
attempts to work out what is happening around them.
More clues are revealed in Butterfly Grave about what is
going on and Rose and Joshua are still determined to find their
parents, even though they have been warned off. Obviously reading
the novels in sequence would be preferable, but I found that Cassidy
gave enough background information for the reader new to the series
to work out what was happening and to remind readers of the previous
books of the story. The last chapters are taut and the ending is
sure to encourage readers to get the next in the series, Dead
buried, when it is published.
This is a well written, suspenseful book that lovers of crime and
thrillers will enjoy.
Pat Pledger
The Nanny Piggins guide to conquering Christmas by R. A. Spratt
Random House Australia Children's, 2013. ISBN: 9780857980922.
(Age: 8-12) Themes: Christmas, Christmas Cooking, The Nativity,
Santa Claus, Humour. The one and only Nanny Piggins is back to
conquer all things Christmas from instructions for cooking festive
treats rewriting Headmaster Pimplestock's school play. She is
determined to add her own chocolate-infused style and slightly
irreverent views to the celebrations. With handy hints, fun games
and recipes this book is another great addition to the series.
One of the highlights is the Nativity story as told by Yudith
Piggins whose eye-witness account has been handed down through the
Piggins generations. Interspersed with comments from the children
Derrick and Samantha this story truly adds a new perspective.
'And this angel didn't mention anything about appropriate visiting
hours, or waiting a few hours while the mother got over a difficult
labour?'
Another humorous event is the Boxing Day skirmish between the boring
Green family and the crazy unconventional Piggins tribe who
celebrate with food, fights and fisticuffs.
Nanny's fashion advice includes wearing underwear with strong
elastic in case you have to tuck your dress up and race to the
dessert table and covering the chimney with chicken wire to stop
that home intruder Santa from entering the house.
R. A. Spratt's Nanny Piggins is a great character with a wicked
sense of humour and a very different take on life. This is
kid-friendly companion to Christmas festivities is a great read for
8-12 year olds. Parents and teachers too may find this novel a great
one to share in the lead up to the season.
Rhyllis Bignell
Meet Pearlie by Gabrielle Wang
Ill. by Lucia Masciullo. Our Australian girl series.
Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780143307945.
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Darwin. World War Two. Prejudice. Japanese.
Spies. Pearlie and her best friend, Naoko, love being in Darwin.
Since first meeting they share everything, their thoughts, secrets,
their spare time. But things are changing. American soldiers patrol
the streets, the threat of invasion by the Japanese Army to the
north seems imminent, people with Japanese or Chinese appearance are
treated with suspicion, and some of their school peers tease Naoko,
calling her father a Jap spy.
The girls have an adventure in a cave newly uncovered by a rock fall
and there they find a battery, which they add to their scrapbook.
But Naoko believes a man living close by really is a spy, not her
father, so intends to find out if this is true. Things point to Mr
Beake's involvement in spying and to get proof the girls break into
his house and look around, but when they present their findings to
General Mitchell, he has no real evidence to go on. But when Naoko
and her family are arrested and taken into detention, and Pearlie
realises that she has dropped her bracelet with her name on it in
Beake's house, complications compound.
This exciting tale of two girls in Darwin at the outbreak of World
War Two is engrossing. Gabrielle Wang has developed two easily
identified characters who will reach out to the middle primary
reader. These readers will learn about Australia's involvement in
war, the prejudice which existed in Darwin towards the Japanese, and
certainly have a feel for that developing city. This is the first in
a set of four about Pearlie within the Our Australian Girl
series which is augmented with teacher notes and extra help on the website.
Fran Knight
There's a dinosaur in my bathtub by Catalina Echeverri
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408839393.
(Age: 0-5) Recommended. Picture book, Dinosaurs, Bathtime.
Amelia loves her bath time as she plays with her friend, the
dinosaur, Pierre. He is French so he sits in the bath taking up a
lot of room, reading Le Journal. But Amelia does not mind as she has
many fun adventures with Pierre, going to see the moon with its
marshmallow stars, or hiding her friend somewhere in the house so
her parents do not see him, or sailing to magical lands with fairy
floss trees.
They do everything together, but Amelia knows that it is only for
the summer, Pierre must pack and leave at the end of these wonderful
summer days. And he does.
This is a beautifully told story of friendship and change, of people
enjoying themselves when together but knowing there is a time when
they must part. The quirky illustrations add to the style of the
story, whimsical and yet quite serious, making it a fun read but
knowing there is a realistic side to the story at the end. Using a
mix of line drawings, print techniques, cut-outs and various
painting mediums, Echeveri has imagined a wicked world of fun with
the dinosaur and Amelia, while grounding the whole in the everyday.
The fun of bath time mixed with the fantastical dinosaur will bring
laughs to those about to bathe and those who love a good tale.
Fran Knight
