Seababy : a little otter returns home by Ellen Levine
Ill. by Jon Van Zyle. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 978 0 8027 9808 4.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Picture book. Animals. Family. A charming
tale of a lost sea otter, separated from his mother when the seas
become rough, but taken by humans to a rescue haven, where he is
nursed back to health and then put into a larger pool with an older
female otter who teaches him how to fend for himself. The survival
skills necessary for this baby otter are shown clearly from the
skills taught by his mother, to the care taken by the humans and
then the skills taught by the surrogate mother. Each shows readers
very distinctly how an otter survives and the sorts of things they
need to keep themselves alive and safe.
The otters must learn how to dive to find food on the bottom of the
sea, bringing up clams to open by smacking their shells on rocks
placed on their stomachs. And at night he must pull together some
seaweed to create a bed on which to lie in the rolling sea.
The happily descriptive illustrations show contented otter lazing
around on their seaweed beds, and also the skills taught them by the
older otters. A reader can be in o doubt about how these little
animals survive whilst at the end of the book, a page of information
is given detailing the work of the Californian Monterey Bay
Aquarium, along with further references and websites for students to
pursue their research. This book is a happy mix of story and
information.
Fran Knight
Let's build a playground by Michael J. Rosen
Photographs Ellen Kelson & Jennifer Cecil. Harper Collins, 2013.
ISBN: 9780763655327. Hardcover. 32 p.
Reading Age: 8-10. Themes: Outdoor Recreation, Planning &
Design, Measurement, Playgrounds - Design and Construction.
This is a bright, colourful photo journal that chronicles the
design, planning and construction of a fantastic playground in
Andrews Academy Indianapolis. Kaboom! Consultants, a US national
non-profit organisation joined with the students, parents and
community in their journey to build a creative play space.
Michael J. Rosen's questioning free-verse comments on each stage of
development. At the beginning the wildly imaginative ideas of the
students include 'a hot tub a tower, a roller coaster that turns
into a rocket'. These are developed into a purple triple slide,
climbing walls and much more. The choice of colour scheme needs a
vote for consensus - the perkiest green for spring.
Each stage of the procedure is documented through verse, supported
by photos that show the active engagement of the teachers and
students. The children's voice, enthusiasm and engagement is heard -
'we cooked up a project of our own; we painted dozens of stepping
stones.' Factual text boxes add interest using child-friendly terms
- the playground equipment weighed as much as 126 students!
This factual account is a great classroom resource: for procedural
writing; mapping; technology design; model-making; Maths -
measurement; Poetry lessons using Michael J. Rosen's free verse
style and his other poetry books including The hound dog's haiku
(2011).
Rhyllis Bignell
Blood prophecy by Alyxandra Harvey
Drake Chronicles. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN: 9781408836699. Blood Prophecy by Alyxandra Harvey is another beautifully
written and the last instalment to the Drake Chronicles.
Solange Drake, the youngest of the unusual Drake family is
prophesised to be queen of the un-dead but this is not something
Solange had ever wanted. Plagued by strange visions of another life
and another time Solange loses control of her actions and this
affects herself, the rest of the noble Drake family and the whole of
the vampire world.
This novel is written from Solange's point of view as well as her
bestfriend Lucy Hamilton and her vampire hunter friend, Hunter. The
fact that the author has written in these three different character
perspectives gives the reader the opportunity to see different
aspects within the one story. Solange gives the reader a sight into
the vampire world and the Drake family life, Lucy gives a human
perspective upon the events in the novel. Lucy has grown up with the
Drakes but attends the vampire hunter school Helios-Ra with the
skilled and highly academic Hunter. Hunter gives a view of the novel
from a Helios-Ra hunting student perspective with greater knowledge
on the hunters and their traditions.
The recommended age for this novel in my opinion would be a teenage
audience due to the supernatural themes and violence. Even though
this is the last book in the Drake series there are also novellas
and smaller instalments for the chronicles but in my opinion this is
a fantastic way to finish a fantastic series.
Sarah Filkin (Student)
Our first class camp by Miss Kelly and her year 2/3/4
Camp of St Joseph's Gladstone, 2013. Available from Meg's Bookshop,
Port Pirie or St Joseph's, Gladstone.
(Age 4+) Warmly recommended. Picture book. Journeys. Camping.
School. Many many classes resolve to make a book reflecting their
experiences, but few actually have a finished product, certainly not
as beautifully presented as this one. It will not be readily
available, but is worth pointing out that it may appear on their
website, or your library may be able to purchase one to have as an
example of what a class can achieve.
This little class boarded their bus at their school at Gladstone,
headed for the River Murray. They stayed along the river, visiting
Monash Playground, waking early to beat the sun, talking with the
Ranger about local flora and fauna, and generally having a first
class time.
The group collected together photos and drawings of their trip, and
with the help of Margie Arnold of Meg's Bookshop in Port Pirie, were
able to put together a book of rhyming sentences showcasing their
experiences. All of the photos show children enjoying themselves,
playing together and having a great time. The illustrations range
from the simple page of faces to the more adventurous winged bus,
which I love, and the drawing of the playground and its maze, as
well as children rolling down a hill.
The whole is bright, inviting and reflects the three strands of this
little school in South Australia's mid north: faith, friendship and
families. Reading it I couldn't help but think of ways it could be
used in classrooms: talking about journeys, school camps, being away
from parents, living together and so on. This is a wonderful model
of what to do once a camp is completed, using the children's
experiences to develop an end point that will be remembered, shared
and treasured.
Fran Knight
Big Brother by Susannah MacFarlane
EJ12 Girl Hero. Scholastic Australia, 2012. ISBN 9781921931161.
(Age 8+) Highly recommended. I love all the EJ12 books. I think they
are well written. This book is no different. In the other EJ12 books
some of details in the beginning are the same but in this book the
details have been changed. I love how the SHINE HQ is relocated.
Nothing like that has happened in the previous books and I think
this is a good change. I like how the retired horse agents are kept
busy, so they don't just stand in the paddock all day. One of few
negative things I would say is I wish the books were longer because
I find the book finishes just as you're getting hooked! I like how
new SHINE agents have been introduced in this book, because you can
get a bit bored with the same agents. I also like how Emma Jacks
faces her fears - this sends a good message to readers. I love how
there is a wide range of wildlife from horses to dogs to kangaroos.
It's cool that they have a bit of trickery in it, so it keeps the
book interesting. All of the ideas that evil agency SHADOW come up
with keep you on the edge of your seat. I like how Emma finds a way
to deal with her brother in the end. And I love how good conquers
all - although at first, the characters are scared to do something
that makes them feel uncomfortable. It's a great book and I am sure
you will enjoy it!
Lauren H. (Student)
Unravel me by Tahereh Mafi
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743310939. Unravel Me, the sequel to Tahereh Mafi's novel, Shatter
Me, focuses again on the central character Juliette and her
untold power to harm those people she touches. Although she has
escaped the clutches of The Reestablishment and their attempts to
use her as a weapon, finding refuge instead at Omega Point, the
headquarters of the rebel resistance, Juliette's problems are only
just beginning. She thought she had found Adam, the love of her life
and the only person who has seemed immune from her lethal touch, but
now it appears that he too can be harmed by her power. And war with
the Reestablishment is brewing . . .
Stylistically, the novel is written to resemble a
stream-of-consciousness form of the main character's thoughts,
including strike-through phrases. Sometimes this requires more
intense concentration to follow, however it also successfully
captures Juliette's insecurities and her sense of alienation from
the people around her and their poorly veiled attempts to hide their
fear of her power. The intensity of the physical connection between
Juliette and Adam is described quite evocatively, using sometimes
unusual, but powerful figurative language to capture the strength of
their emotions.
While Unravel Me combines the features of the dystopian and
romance genres, it is clearly a Young Adult novel, exploring the
search for identity and purpose that drives the independence of the
teenage experience. In some ways, Juliette is still a child,
searching for love and acceptance, but she is also coming to terms
with herself, her power and her role in a hostile, often
exploitative world, not so different from our own.
Kate Hall
The sleepwalkers by Viviane Schwarz
Walker, 2013. ISBN: 9781406323597. 93 pp. Ill.
(Ages: 9-13) Graphic novel. Do you have a bad dream that will not go
away? Are you afraid to sleep at night? Write us a letter, put it
under your pillow . . . and we will come and save you! That gives a
fairly accurate overview of the plot of this adventure story which
uses sarcasm and left-of-centre humour combined with imagination and
detailed illustrations to draw the reader into this parallel world.
The old sleepwalkers have reached the time where they need to return
to the waking world but before they go they must raise three new
sleepwalkers to replace them. Who would save children from their
nightmares otherwise? Ergo three new sleepwalkers are raised and
must learn the ropes before the old sleepwalkers continue on their
journey. The characters have distinct and unique personalities
captured through humourous dialogue and detailed illustrations. They
are faced with difficult missions to save children from their
nightmares and battle dreams of complete darkness, a sunken world,
animals made of hair and the classic dream of being naked in public.
They must work together and capitalise on the skills of each other
to ensure they can rescue the child and get back to the safe house
for a cup of tea.
A somewhat complicated storyline and some hard-to-follow dialogue
make this graphic novel suitable for a slightly older age range.
This is far from a fast-paced action adventure novel and is more
about the depth of the characters, their uniqueness and how they
work together to conquer the dreams they land in even when they are
afraid themselves. The inclusion of a banana milkshake recipe (to
get you through the tough times) is a nice addition, especially the
advice that instructs 'don't use milk of animals you don't know'.
Beautiful graphics and full colour make this a nice addition to
offer the growing crowd of graphic novel fans.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Brodie by Joy Crowley
Ill. by Chris Mousdale. Walker Books, 2013 (2001) ISBN 978
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Picture book. Cancer. Walker Books
Australia has continued republishing classic Australian and New
Zealand picture books. Amongst those being republished are some I
have not seen before, so it is pleasure reading those which
have won awards in the past, especially those I have missed. For
more information about these, the inside back cover shows some which
have been republished. Brodie by award winning New Zealand author, Joy Cowley introduces
the reader to a young boy who is ill. Brodie's friend in his class
speaks about his friend, the affable, talkative Brodie, who makes
the class laugh with his jokes, who draws continually and talks of
being a helicopter pilot. But hinted in the subtle text we know that
he is ill. When he is in hospital the class visits and several give
him presents. His teacher, Mrs Patawai gives him her grandfather's
Spitfire helmet from World War One, while his friend gives him a big
drawing book and some felt pens.
One day Mrs Patawai must tell the class that Brodie died the evening
before, and grief follows. Each child expresses their grief
differently, and each asks their teacher about what happens next.
This a masterful tale, beautifully told, giving a wide variety of
expressions of grief, death and what happens after death. No easy
answers are given but a child reading this book will be made aware
that there are as many answers as there are questions, and that
people have their own ideas about the big questions of life.
The wonderful illustrations, showcase a variety of techniques and
ideas, giving the reader another layer of story to read as they
delve into the book. Cut outs, letters, boxes of tears, pencil
drawings and water colour, crayon and splatter all used with great
effect, made me turn each page with care in case I missed something.
Readers will absorb the illustrations, seeing them reflect what is
happening in the tale.
This book won the New Zealand Post Children's Picture Book Award in
2002 and the Best First Book Award,as well as being a 2002
Storylines Notable Picture book.
Fran Knight
The false prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Ascendance trilogy, bk 1. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 9780545284134.
Hardback
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Fantasy. Conner, a nobleman of the kingdom
of Carthya, recruits four orphans and trains them to impersonate the
king's long lost son. He intends to choose the best one to take on
the role of prince and ultimately king. One of the boys, Sage, is
defiant and fights against Conner, but realises that his life is on
a knife edge, as Conner is ruthless and merciless. Sage must be
chosen as the boy to impersonate the prince or he will die. As
Conner trains the boys, Sage find that he is in a fight against
treachery and must use all his cunning and skills to stay alive.
This was a very exciting read that I found I couldn't put down. The
plot was thrilling, the characters were well rounded, there was
plenty of action and clever writing brought the book to life. What I
most liked about the book was the character of Sage, who is clever
and whose witty comments lighten the most serious of situations. He
is quick witted and devious and his actions had me laughing at
times, and at other times I felt breathless at his audacity and risk
taking.
This was a most entertaining read and I look forward to reading the
next two in the trilogy. It will appeal to both boys and girls who
are sure to enjoy putting together the clues that are subtly placed
in the story and who will find the action and characters very
engaging.
Pat Pledger
Definitely no ducks by Meg McKinlay
Ill. by Leila Rudge. Walker Books, 2013. ISBN: 9781921977855.
109 pp.
(Ages: 7-9) Recommended. After the very successful Duck for a day
Meg McKinlay has followed up with this delightfully charming follow
on story. The fact that this is written by an Australian author may
make it relatable for young Australian readers however the story is
not a quintessential Aussie one. In fact it presents one of those
whimsical schools that only seem to exist in literature for young
readers where teachers always have big frizzy hair and principals
are slightly goofy. Even if the school is less than realistic it is
a comforting environment to be sheltered in and makes the book
light-hearted and appealing. There are many themes mixed into the
story that make it a worthwhile read. First of all is Noah who,
while he struggles with expressing his ideas and explaining things,
is able to stand up and find his voice when he really needs to.
Another nice theme is that of working together when everything is
going wrong and of helping one another, even if it means losing
something yourself. Alongside this is also the idea of justice and
how to deal with something you feel is unfair.
Max the duck is in big trouble. The very important school
assembly is just around the corner and somebody has destroyed the
class Antarctica display. Everybody knows it is Max's fault. But is
it really? Abby and Noah are determined to find the truth before
they lose Max and their teacher. Beautiful black and white
illustrations add to the story and the funny chapter headings such
as 'The duck is not practical' are great. There is an underlying
storyline here about animal rights and pet care which could also be
explored further. While this is a shorter chapter book it will
better suit a slighter older independent reader rather than a
beginning reader. With the myriad of issues brought up by the story
this would be great as a read-aloud or class novel.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Fizzlebert Stump and the bearded boy by A.F. Harrold
Fizzlebert Stump series bk 2, Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN:
9781408835210. 267 pp.
(Ages: 9-12) A. F. Harrold is an English poet and his love of words
shows in this well-written novel with a fantastic flow. Told in
first person narration by a non-present character the story is
centred on young Fizzlebert Stump and his life with a travelling
circus in Britain. The age-old charm and eccentricity associated
with travelling circuses is captured and mixed in with a great dose
of wit and unpredictability. The acts that travel with the circus
really are one big strange family made complete by Fish the sea lion
who despite his spangly waistcoat doesn't actually do anything in
the circus. In fact he spends his whole time eating and being
disappointed that what he has eaten is not fish.
Fizz lives in the circus with his clown mother and his strong man
father and takes pride in his own act which he performs with the
circus' resident lion. Life is simply fantastic. It even looks like
Fizz has got a friend his own age when the bearded Barboozul family
join the circus with a young son named Wynstan. But then things
start going wrong. His mother loses her nose and as I'm sure
everyone knows a clown is not a real clown without her nose. The
bunny in Dr Surprise's magic act has come down with a terrible case
of diarrhoea. Even Fizz's own act has been compromised. Not to
mention the British Board of Circuses inspector is due at the circus
to decide on its fate. Will the circus be closed down? Will Fizz
have to live in a brick house with the same view from the window
every day and eat boring cabbage and fish fingers for dinner?
This is a charming story with vivid imagery and creative twists and
turns. I really enjoyed the way the author was talking directly to
the reader as if I was sitting in a real-life storytelling session
with A.F. Harrold. This may be reflecting his performing
personality. At times the narrative is directed obviously at the
reader such as 'This particular boy's called Fizzlebert. It's a
silly name, I know' while at others it is included through additions
or bracketed after thoughts such as ('Nobody knows why tiptoeing
people hold their hands up like little paws, but it always seems to
work better that way'). This is a book which celebrates
story-telling as an art. A very fun setting with characters that
burst with possibility for future humourous adventures. I have no
doubt we will see more of Fizzlebert in the future.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Blood of dragons by Robin Hobb
Harper Voyager, e-edition April, 2013. ISBN: 9780062116871.
Highly recommended. For mature readers and adults. Includes
heterosexual and homosexual sexual references, torture and some
depravity.
This is the fourth and final book in the Rain Wilds Chronicles
(The Dragon Keeper, Dragon Haven, City of Dragons),
and the action picks up immediately after the dramatic events which
closed City of Dragons when lives, both human and dragon, magical
and non magical, were in mortal peril. This is an exceptionally
crafted conclusion to the quartet which explores with deft skill and
sensitivity complex issues of discrimination, prejudice, love,
justice and the place of memory in the present. As always with Hobb,
the focus is on exploring complex characters, their dilemmas,
decisions and fate within a world that is magical and mundane.
Answers to a few mystical mysteries from previous trilogies (The
Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders and The
Tawny Man) are revealed, and fans of the earlier works will
find many delightful echoes as the new (and some ancient) Elderlings
and dragons unlock the secrets to the city of Kelsingra. Hobb is
both a visceral and poetic writer, giving readers an insight into
the physical and spiritual lives of her characters. However, in
several parts of the book the details are a little too graphic; I
found some passages violent and difficult to read (blood is both
metaphoric and literal). My only other minor criticism was that I
read the ebook from Amazon, and there were formatting errors
throughout which fused separate narrative voices together. This was
very interruptive and distracting. Overall, a compelling read, and I
hope that Hobb returns to the Rain Wilds and her dragons again soon.
Jennifer Ford
A magical friend by Chloe Ryder
Princess Ponies series bk 1. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN: 9781408827277.
120pp.
(Ages 7-9) This is the first in a series of eight books about a
normal girl named Pippa who has been magically transported by two
giant seahorses to the enchanted island of Chevalia. Chevalia is a
magical island inhabited by talking ponies complete with a royal
family. But the island is in trouble and they need Pippa's help. She
needs to get back the eight horseshoes that keep Chevalia alive
before it disappears forever. It is no coincidence that there are
eight books and eight horseshoes as in each instalment Pippa works
with her pony friend Princess Stardust to find one more horseshoe.
But finding the horseshoes will not be easy as there are places on
the island that are so dangerous that no pony should go there. Not
to mention the not so friendly or beautiful horses that occupy the
other side of the island; the Night Mares.
This series of easy chapter books will be lapped up by beginning
independent female readers who will delight in the idea of an island
exclusively for ponies. Lovely read for those who are interested in
ponies and magic - of which there are many!
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Cake Pops by The Australian Women's Weekly
ACP, 2013. ISBN 9781742453828. 128pp., pbk RRP#A19.95
In many parts of the country school holidays are here and junior
masterchefs are looking for the opportunity to cook, and what better
way to indulge them by making cake pops. Cake pops are the new
cupcakes - just as lavishly decorated but just bite-sized mouthfuls
on a stick with fewer calories (for those who care.) In this
book, another from the collections of The Australian Women's Weekly,
there is a host of ideas about how to make, decorate and present
these morsels as well as step-by-step pictorial instructions for the
trickier tasks, a glossary, and an index so you can find just the
one that will satisfy your taste buds. Miss 6, who is looking
forward to the Possum Magic stage show in a couple of weeks, has
declared the possum cake pops on our must-make this these holidays
while Miss 2 likes the Little Lions because they remind her of her
favourite television show. But there are also suggestions for
grown-ups such as the wedding section, and the ideas in the holidays
section would make fabulous additions to special table settings.
The recipes section of a school's collection is always popular and
even moreso as more and more children are turned onto the art of
cooking and baking, and this book would be a well-received addition.
It is meeting the need for something that is in fashion right now
and that in itself promotes the library as having relevant and
current resources. Even though the decoration of the cake pops
seems to be quite elaborate and may well need an adult's touch, the
colourful and enticing illustrations in this book will attract even
the youngest students and provide opportunities for parents and
children to do something fun together in the home, for little cost
(although maybe a bit of mess), with easily accessible ingredients
and with great results. Who could ask for more than that?
Even if it's a little late to get this into your collection for
these holidays, they come around every 10 weeks or so, so perhaps
now is the time to start the process and make this one the focal
point of a display that could spark a whole new interest for your
students.
Barbara Braxton
A Transylvanian Tale by Deborah Abela
Ghost Club 3. Random House 2013. pbk., 210pp., RRP $A15.95.
ISBN 9781742758534 (print). ISBN 9781742758541 (ebook)
Got a problem with ghosts?
Then we can help!
Specialist in the business with over 150 years' experience
We can fix all your paranormal problems!
No job is too big, too small or too scary-
Same day service and no nasty chemicals
Call the Ghost Club now on 555-SPOOK
At 11 years old, twins Edgar and Angeline are the two youngest
members of the Ghost Club, established 150 years ago, whose mission
is to take care of ghosts, poltergeists and ghouls and whatever
other eerie creature might disturb your sleep.In this, the third in
this fabulous series by Maurice Saxby Award winner, Deborah Abela,
they are joined by Dylan and, with their parents who are also
members of the club attend the annual Ghost Club Convention in
Transylvania. At the convention, Angeline meets Ripley Granger, her
hero, and is so star-struck that she doesn't notice that there is
something amiss. It takes Dylan, the most inexperienced member to
work things out.
Given the resurgence in interest in ghosts and supernatural beings,
this is the perfect series for younger readers who are not yet ready
for the titles written for their older siblings. It's light, funny
and yet has all the elements of intrigue and mystery that delving
into the supernatural demands.
There's an intriguing trailer
which will entice and teachers'
notes for the first in the series The New Kid.
Read these if you want to find out more about the background for the
series - it is clearly well-planned and demonstrates the author's
affinity with and ability to appeal to this age group.
This is a series which is going to be in hot demand from
primary-aged independent readers - it has all the ingredients that
they are clamouring for right now - with the added advantage of
being very well written, with such engaging characters that the
reader will assume the role of one of them and become engrossed in
the adventures. Definitely deserves a place in your must-reads
display, and add to the mystique by using fishing line to suspend
some ghosts made from white balloons and white shrouds to float
above!
Barbara Braxton
