Ill. by Anna Walker. Viking, 2012. ISBN: 9780670075201.
Highly recommended for younger children. The busy life of a young
girl and her family is broken down, day by day. With calendars,
lists, school notices, homework and invitations pictured on the
front end papers, any parent with young children will identify with
the activities and responsibilities of getting everything organised
to keep on top of the daily routine. Each day at school brings a new
activity for the girl, with Saturday no exception. With swimming
lessons, orchestra, after school care, library visits, shopping and
weekend sport, the girl becomes more and more tired as the week
progresses. When Sunday arrives, the family loves nothing more than
to announce that they have 'no plans'. Finally each member of the
family has time to rest, relax, play, create and appreciate nature
and the small things in life, as well as simply enjoying one
another's company before their return to rushing and routine.
The wonderful pairing of Jane Godwin and Anna Walker is truly a
match made in heaven. Godwin's rhyming, engaging text is sure to
delight adults and children alike as it tells the story of a busy
week. Walker's free flowing, sketches and water-colour paintings
complement the story perfectly. The differences in the end papers at
the beginning contrast brilliantly to those at the end as the
conclusion of the book shows no lists, alarm clocks or the like but
instead depict the fruits of a day spent on creative pursuits and
relaxation. This could be used in Junior Primary classrooms to
discuss family activities, sequencing, days of the week,
appreciation of nature and the value of time spent dreaming. A truly
beautiful book!
Jo Schenkel
Speechless by Hannah Harrington
Harlequin Teen Australia, 2012. ISBN: 9781921796579.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. I absolutely loved Harrington's first
novel, Saving June, so I was excited to see this one. I am
not sure why we get it at least 6 months before the US market, but
for whatever reason, thank you! Speechless is almost the
perfect teen contemporary novel, and will be very popular amongst 15
and 16 year old girls.
Chelsea is living a precarious life. Her deepest fear is that her
BFF, Kristen, popular cheerleader material, will suddenly realise
how boring Chelsea is and dump her for more wealthy, more good
looking, more daring girls. So Chelsea plays dangerous games,
gossiping, judging, and criticising her peers to entertain Kristen
in a desperate attempt to keep her friendship. Readers know this a
slippery slope and it's inevitable she will make a complete fool of
herself, but even when it happens, it's shocking and horrible.
The consequences are monumental and the one thing Chelsea dreaded
happens: Kristen dumps her completely and publicly, and Chelsea's
life at school does the predictable thing: dives from winner to
loser, popular to shunned, heckler to heckled. If I had one
criticism of the book, it was the way other students treated
Chelsea. The sheer amount of bullying she deals with is horrifying,
and hopefully unrealistic. Maybe kids do suffer as much as Chelsea
does, but I sure hope not.
Chelsea chooses a life of deliberate silence. Not trusting herself
to speak, she stops altogether, and the story shows how the people
around her react to this provocative behaviour. Many adults don't
cope, so imagine the younger crowd. Needless to say, the plot now
becomes fairly standard teenage fare: Chelsea bonds with new quirky
people, finds a part-time job, and learns to live with the mistake
she has made. Her honesty and resilience in dealing with her bad
behaviour, and the treatment she receives afterwards, allow great
character development. Harrington's writing is full of humour and
affection.
This novel is not long or drawn out; Harrington keeps it tight and
strong. The love-interest is a terrific character, honest and loyal.
The new best friend has her own story, and Chelsea's family aren't
left on the (unrealistic) sidelines. Themes include bullying, peer
pressure, romance, family relationships, coming-of-age, friendship,
and identity.
Trisha Buckley
Superworm by Julia Donaldson
Ill. by Axel Scheffler. Alison Green, 2012. ISBN 9781407132044.
(Ages: 4-8) From the author illustrator team that bought you such
masterpieces as StickMan and The Gruffalo comes Superworm
- a rollicking tale about a worm who is flexible, helpful and loved
by all. Much like Donaldson's other work, the hero of the tale finds
himself in some strife, which he overcomes, returning again to the
place where he is loved and adored.
This is one of the strongest selling points of the book -
Donaldson's work quickly becomes familiar to children - they know
there will be adversity, and sometimes the situations the main
characters find themselves in can be quite precarious indeed - but
that this will be overcome, and things will return to their natural
state of equilibrium soon enough.
Superworm is everything a hero should be - he's super long, super
strong, and keen to lend a hand. He prevents baby toad from being
squashed, becomes a skipping rope for bees, saves beetle from
drowning, but then . . . disaster strikes, in the form of a crow, an
evil wizard, and some treasure hunting.
The illustrations are bright and vibrant, with the 'baddies' having
suitably shifty eyes, and the 'goodies' being drawn with aplomb.
This is a delightful book, and would be a great addition to any
collection, for ages 4-8.
Freya Lucas
That's what I'd do by Jewel
Ill. Amy June Bates. Simon and Schuster, 2012. Hardback. ISBN:
9781442458130.
This is a beautifully illustrated piece, with the watercolor,
gouache, pencil and pastels illustrations lifting the rhyme, which
limps along as a story, not flowing very well, but comes into its
own as a song.
Mother and baby are pictured in beautiful environments, both indoor
and outdoor, with whimsical additions such as hearts, flowers and
animals. There are many butterflies to count within the pages, which
adds a nice touch, an extra visual focus for the child being read
to.
Described by the author as a devotional letter, the book certainly
reads that way, at times even a little over the top. I felt that
there were opportunities within the illustrations to be more
inclusive of diverse parenting practices - for example the mother
was pictured feeding the baby with a bottle - however there can be
no doubt of the love of the mother for her child in these
illustrations.
The content of the story itself is simple and time honoured - if I
was a painter, a carpenter, a rabbit, this is what I would do. The
mother in the story is clearly besotted with her child, and their
relationship which is played out on the pages is a very special one.
I would recommend this book for libraries frequented by new parents
of all kinds - there is much about this book which would appeal to
mothers in the first flush of baby love.
Freya Lucas
Earthfall by Mark Walden
Bloomsbury, 2012.
Earthfall is the first book in a new series by Mark Walden,
the author of the popular Hive series.
In an eerily deserted London, a solitary boy flees for his life, his
enemy a fearsome creature like a mechanical jellyfish with amazing
strength. He is saved from death by the intervention of an
armed girl, the first human he has encountered in 18 months.
Who is the mysterious girl? What has happened to the previously
thriving human population of London?
The boy and his new friend, Rachel, are attacked by a second
fearsome creature, a Grendel, and this time their lives are saved by
a human known as Jay. Jay and Rachel, the boy discovers, are
part of a small group of humans, fighting for survival and also
waging war on the invaders.
This is a fast paced novel, with an imaginative but seemingly
logical explanation for the disaster that has befallen not only
London but other cities on Earth. Walden quickly sets the
scene, vividly and economically creating characters to whom we can
relate. Each chapter leaves us wanting more, the story
carrying us along to an alarming conclusion. As we reach
the end to this adventure, we know that we are promised just as much
action in the sequels to come.
Any lover of adventure will enjoy this story, whether male or
female.
Thelma Harvey
Shine light by Marianne de Pierres
Random House 2012. pp 229. ISBN 9781742753232.
(Age: Upper secondary) Recommended. In this eagerly awaited finale
of the Night Creatures trilogy, Naif returns to party
island, Ixion, knowing she has to save all the teens on it from
certain death. In Angel Arias, book two, she learnt that
they were there for the Ripers (rulers) to siphon off their life
force. Naif had previously escaped from her oppressive homeland,
Grave, where, she later discovered, the Elders were in league with
the Ripers. With the help of the pirate, Ruzalia, her bonded Riper
lover, Lenoir, and her friends from her first stay on Ixion, all of
whom we met in Burn Bright, book one, she has many problems
to solve.
How can she stop the workers, the uthers, maintaining the Ripers?
How can she convince the young they are in danger? How to reverse
the badges which drain their life force? How can she prevent Ixion
remaining in eternal darkness? What will be her eventual
relationship with Lenoir and her friends, Rollo and Markes. And how
can they defeat the Night Creatures, those slimy, tentacled
creatures which lurk alongside the paths, ready to strangle any
strays.
This adventure quest series is sustained by the character of Naif,
who transforms from the shy, repressed teen, Retra, to a fearless,
compassionate and quick-thinking leader who puts others before
herself and risks all to save Ixion. This well paced story is about
sacrifice, friendship, honesty and love. True, fate often intervenes
to save them in the nick of time, the solutions are fantastical and
the final conflict is over too quickly, but Marianne de Pierres has
created an unforgettable world with characters fans love. The ending
is simultaneously satisfying and elusively open.
Kevyna Gardner
Tell me about your day today by Mem Fox
Ill. by Lauren Stringer. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 9781 74283 578 5.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Picture book. Family. When the little boy
goes to bed after a kiss, a story and the last goodnight, he talks
to his toys, asking them in turn about their day. Each responds
similarly, 'the who, the what, the why and the way, the whole wild
thing turned out okay'. He asks the goose, the blue horse, the fat
rabbit, and they all respond in turn, finally asking the little boy
what his day was like. The rhyme and repetition is infectious and
will delight younger readers, when they realise that they are able
to join in and follow the story. I can imagine groups of children
repeating the phrases as they come along, adding more pages to the
book to include some more animals that they may have at home.
The celebration of the boy's friendship, of his imaginative play
with his animals, of the cosy feel of the boy and his toy animals
snuggled up in bed is comforting and warm. The illustrations depict
a scenario which parallels the toys' responses to the boy's
questions. We see the goose caught in the rain with her pink
umbrella, we see the horse frightened by the lightning, snuggling
under the blanket which the goose brings for him, we see the rabbit
falling in a puddle then being hung out to dry, only to fall from
the clothesline and have a band aid placed on its behind. The boy
then reprises the whole activity with his animals, as we see him up
the tree with the goose, hiding from the lightning with his mum,
going under the blanket with the horse, and playing in the puddle
with the rabbit. The friends did indeed have a great day which
turned out okay. The illustrations will delight younger children as
they search for the things mentioned in the text, and find more
besides. They will recognise the design of the endpapers, and
compare the boy's pyjamas with their own, and talk about what they
do on a wintry day when it rains with thunder and lightning. A
lovely, unpretentious book to read aloud on a wet day indoors.
Fran Knight
The gobbledygook is eating a book by Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting
Ill. by Tom Jellett. Penguin, 2012. ISBN 978 0 670 07657 4.
(Ages: 3+) Recommended. Picture book. Reading. Readers of all ages
will
have a great time working out just what is meant by a gobbledygook.
Is
it an animal? an idea? a play on words? No matter what, it will
intrigue younger readers as they hear of the giant orange thing
tearing
up and eating books. Howls of despair will be heard as the thing
munches its way through the shelves, eating the space books, the
cookery section, the dinosaurs, the circus area as well as books
about
the Antarctic.
In rhyming sentences, the fun of the idea of the monster eating the
pages of books munching its way through the Dewey system continues
unabated.
Tom Jellett's illustrations in bold colours, painted over paper
splatted with colour, or looking like crushed paper, along with
pencil
drawings, readily reminds the reader of his previous book, My
Dad
thinks he's funny, with its similar humour and wit expressed
through
the drawings. Readers will love the antics of he gobbledydook, and
have
a whale of a time asking older people what the word means to them,
using a dictionary and thesaurus to further investigate the word.
And
how lovely to have the last word of the alphabet rhyme with bed! and
this may also initiate some discussion.
This would be an imaginative read a loud as well as a sound
introduction to the way a library is shelved, or just a fun way to
look
at rhymes and rhyming. But of course, the main thing is the fun, and
this book has that in spades.
Fran Knight
Spark by Brigid Kemmerer
The Elementals Book 2. Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN: 9781743310748.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. The first book of the Elemental
series, Storm, came out in May. This second book, Spark,
was recently published in October, and there's a third planned for
next May. Kemmerer also writes novellas, a trend that has become
very fashionable - short stories that fill in gaps, or that come
before, or sometimes even years later. So far, I have found three of
these. They are only published in digital format, and appear to have
been originally free. You can find them on websites such as Amazon.
The Elemental series is the story of four brothers. They are each
able to harness a different elemental power: Michael, the oldest,
channels Earth; the twins, Nick and Gabriel, manipulate air and fire
respectively; and the youngest, Chris, needs water for his power.
They are very strong and must be watched and controlled. Other
lesser Elementals want them destroyed, but their parents made a deal
which kept them alive. Unfortunately the deal didn't save the
parents, who are dead by the time we meet the Merrick boys in the
first book, which had Chris as the main focus. Spark gives
readers Gabriel's story.
It seems predictable to make this character fiery and out of
control, but it works extremely well exactly because it's what we
expect. Although Gab is unruly, undisciplined, and just plain angry,
it's also easy to sympathise with him because he feels responsible
for the death of his parents. His twin faced death (in the
resolution of book one), he is almost failing Maths, and all of a
sudden his world no longer feels safe or trouble-free. His character
is beautifully realised.
When Gabriel comes to know Layne and a growing mutual attraction
begins, this relationship is teased out slowly and realistically.
The best feature of these books is that Kemmerer grounds the
paranormal in a very contemporary world. Her descriptions of the
everyday are strong: Michael tries to feed and parent his brothers,
bullies pick on Layne's deaf younger brother, and Hunter is jealous
of Chris and Becca's relationship.
I look forward to learning more about Hunter and Nick and continuing
to follow Gab, Chris, and Michael. I cross my fingers that the
females continue to be feisty and independent, and I hope somewhere
down the track these brothers learn to relax and appreciate what's
left of their family. Right now it seems unlikely. Highly
recommended for secondary students who enjoyed books such as The
Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and the Unearthly
series by Cynthia Hand.
Trisha Buckley
Mouse mansion: Sam and Julia by Karina Schaapman
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781 74331299 5
(Age: 5+) Picture book. The reader is introduced to the home of the
two mice, Sam and Julia as they live in a mansion of the author's
making. The mice are quite different, Julia lives on the sixth floor
with her mother in a tiny apartment while Sam lives in the middle of
the mansion with an array of family, including aunts, uncles and
grandparents. Where Sam is shy and obedient, Julia is boisterous and
nosy, so the two play together well. They find a hiding place
beneath the stairs and there spend many hours with each other in
their cubby. In the apartment house lives many other people and we
are introduced to the neighbours as the story proceeds.
While the story is somewhat slow, the background to the story is
marvellous. Each page is a treasure trove of little things to look
at, seek out and identify. Children will marvel at the creation of
these things which make up the lives of the two mice, and be
intrigued about how they were produced. Each page is a myriad of
small made objects, drawing the eye into the picture and begging the
reader to think about how each thing is made with recycled
materials. The ingenuity is staggering, particularly when more
information can be found about how it was built using the web. One
website shows the mansion on display in a window in The Netherlands
and is well worth sharing with a class. http://nestproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/the-nest-of-the-mouse-mansion-het-muizenhuis/
The images shown will be quite a draw card to share with the class
when reading the book, and entice them to try and replicate some of
the flats and their contents for themselves.
Fran Knight
We're going on a croc hunt by Laine Mitchell
Ill. by Louis Shea. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74283 248 7.
(Age: 4+) Picture book. Australian animals. Another picture book
reprising a well known rhyme for children to sing along with and
emulate in the classroom is presented here within the Australian
environment. 'We're going on a bear hunt' springs to mind in this
story of a group of Australian animals off to find a crocodile. A
dog (dingo?), koala, snake, Tasmanian Devil, turtle and a cassowary,
all climb through different environments to find their prey. A
swamp, hot itchy sand, a reedy waterhole, rocks and scrub must be
navigated, each having its own problems to overcome. Readers will
delight in seeing the reactions of each of the animals and those
they find along the way, to the problems they encounter.
A CD accompanies the book with the tale being sung by children's
entertainer, Jay Laga'aias with a group of kids as the chorus,
making good fun to use in the classroom. The CD also has a musical
version on it, giving students and teachers a different way of using
the music. This hardback book is brightly coloured and uses a
variety of designs to carry the poem across each page. I loved the
cassowary being used instead of the emu which seems to figure
largely in books such as these, and the crocodile scale drawings on
the end papers adds a point of interest to readers. On many of the
double pages other Australian animals can be found, various rock
wallabies, birds, a goanna, lizards, platypus and hopping mice. Each
page will draw the reader's eyes to the detail given, and add to
their knowledge of Australian animals.
Fran Knight
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Little, Brown, 2012. ISBN 9781408704202.
(Age: Senior secondary - adult). Topping bestseller lists and in
prime position in bookshops, how good is J.K Rowling's, A Casual
Vacancy and does it warrant such attention? And of what appeal does
it have to young adult readers?
Most Australians, especially YA readers, would not be interested in
this book when hearing that the plot is about a vacancy on an
English parish council. Charismatic councillor, Barry Fairbrother
has dropped dead and the two council factions are trying to fill his
vacancy. Built from this rather dull-sounding plot outline, however,
is a wickedly constructed, contemporary tragi-farce. Depending on
the view of different characters, Barry is either a hero or a
disengaged, possibly devious, cipher. He is devoted to helping
disadvantaged young people, especially Krystal Weedon from the
notorious adjoining housing estate, the Fields. The differing
opinions about Barry are representative of the novel's style. There
are, not only different perspectives on characters, but also an
array of viewpoints. This is one of the strengths of Rowling's
writing and is also an entry point into the book for younger
readers. We are given insight into the jaded lives of Barry's peers,
the parents of older teenagers, but we also hear the absorbing
versions of their children's angst, betrayals and tentative hopes.
At school, home and in the claustrophobic community we learn about
the secret life of teens, most of whom engage in extreme behaviours
of self-harm, online intimidation, manipulative sex or explicit drug
taking. Fats Wall is the intelligent son of the deputy headmaster
and school counsellor. In trying to find authenticity he experiments
and destroys. His mate, Andrew, is obsessed with his fantasies about
new girl, Gaia, but has an innate decency in spite of his abusive
father. Krystal loves her young brother, Robbie, but how can she
protect him from her prostitute, addict mother?
Mature young adults will be interested in reading about the, ideally
vicarious, experiences of Rowling's young characters. The author has
a readymade YA readership because of Harry Potter and she
capitalises on this with her storytelling prowess, albeit now
clearly for the adult market, to keep their loyalty.
Joy Lawn
Do your ears hang low? sung by The Topp Twins
Pictures by Jenny Cooper. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 978 1 77543 104 6.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Song. Body parts. The
catchy tune accompanying this book on its CD, will drag every
listener into the rhythm and words of the ballad, and they will
eagerly sing along, adding actions to the song. Scholastic's There's
a hole in my bucket, is also with The Topp Twins and Jenny
Cooper.
For home and classrooms where music and singing is part of the day
these books are more than useful. The CD is easy to use, gives the
song and then the music without the singing, to enable the teacher
or parent to use either version with effect. Do your ears hang low, is a simple ballad about ears, asking
whether they can be tied, or can they drip when wet, can they be
used as a signal and so on. The wonderful illustrations add humour
to the ballad, and are simply delightful to look at as the hound,
lama, pig and rabbit have their ears pulled, drawn out and ruffled.
Watch out for the little muse seen on some pages, and the mirror at
the end of the ballad. Questions about the length and size of the
child's ears go through a range of funny situations, from sticking
out, or using them as a mop. Listeners and readers will love it! And
turning the pages as the CD runs will add another level of humour
and involvement.
In a home or class where body parts are under discussion then this
would be a great introductory activity, or simply using it as a song
or ballad, or part of a poetry lesson, this book and CD has a
variety of uses. The last two pages has a host of interesting facts
about ears to add to the fun.
Fran Knight
Path of beasts by Lian Tanner
The Keepers series bk 3. Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74237 197
9
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Fantasy. Adventure. When Goldie, Toadspit
and Bonnie sneak back into the city of Jewel they are unaware of
just who is ruling their community. They are shocked to see
mercenaries patrolling the streets and when a street-rig is pulled
up, the occupants questioned by the soldiers. Two of the Blessed
Guardians get out telling the men to throw some rubbish into the
canal. But they demur, questioning their authority and it is only
when the Protector also alights, that the children realise just what
danger they and their families are in. The Protector, once a revered
person in Jewel, has been replaced by the dreaded Fugleman, and when
they rescue the package thrown into the water, find it is his
sister, the beloved Protector whose position has been usurped.
So begins third in this exciting and page turning trilogy about the
amazing Museum of Dunt, a place where all the evils of the world are
kept, but plundered by the Fugleman for his own dark needs.
The children know most of what the Museum holds, and are appalled
that the Fugleman may release forces he cannot control. Goldie, now
the holder of powers that she must keep leashed, is in a quandary of
who to tell and how to use her new power. But even she does not know
the inner secret path of the Museum, the path of Beasts, and it is
this path she must tread.
The background to this wonderful fantasy adventure is all
engrossing, the cities beautifully described and the Museum a place
to wonder at. For those who want to look more deeply, parallels to
modern political and social institutions are there to be found and
ponder, as evil is about to be released.
I simply ate up the first in this trilogy, slowly meandered through
the second, but the third held me gripped all the way through.
Fran Knight
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie - First Words ill. May Gibbs
Scholastic Australia 2012, ISBN 9781742830438.
Another offering in the series from iconic Australian author May
Gibbs - which also features Snugglepot and Cuddlepie present
colours, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie 1,2,3 Count to Ten with
the Gumnut Babies, and Where are Snugglepot and Cuddlepie?
- to support the work of the Northcott Society and the Cerebral
Palsy Alliance.
The book makes clever use of its theme of First Words, using the
book to not only deliver first words with beautiful delicate colour
illustrations, but also to re-inforce common 'routine' for little
ones, with 'bath' being followed by 'story' 'cuddle' and
'goodnight'. I thought this was a nice feature.
This is a wonderful companion to the other books in the series, but
works equally well as a stand alone. Again, the ideal book to
introduce the printed word to the Under 2's, with the text being
supported with delicate Australian flora and fauna.
This book would make a lovely gift with a unique Australian theme.
Freya Lucas
