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
Santa's secret by Mike Dumbleton
Ill. by Tom Jellett. Random House, 2012. Hbk., RRP $A19.95. ISBN
9781742748801. (Also available as an ebook 9781742748801)
Santa has a secret and I can't tell you too much about this book
without giving the secret away. But if you want to know what Santa
gets up to after he's finished delivering all the presents, and if
you're looking for a fantastic tale, superbly illustrated, that has
a twist in the tale and is the perfect addition to your collection
of Christmas books, this is the one to buy.And look out for who's on
your beach this summer and be suspicious if your child comes home
with a free present and a strange story.
Barbara Braxton
The down-under 12 days of Christmas by Michael Salmon
Ford St. 2012. ISBN 978 1 921665 60 8.
(Ages 5+) Christmas, Picture book. A brightly coloured and
infectiously rhyming remake of the old favourite, The 12 days of
Christmas, will encourage all comers to join in the fun of reading
this book, whether read as a story, a poem, or joining in with the
music which is easily accessible on Google (well, with a bit of
searching around. There is an Australian version on Youtube which is
hard to listen to, but alldownunder.com
has the music and several Australian versions listed which can be
listened to)
Each page has a range of different Australian animals depicted, with
the refrain gathering a kookaburra, snakes, galahs, lyrebirds,
kangaroos, sharks, emus, dingoes, crocs, wombats, lizards, and
possums as the presents for the narrator. Students will love the
build up of animals as shown on the right hand side of the page as
the cumulative number of animals is revealed, s well as closely
perusing each page to see what else s there. There are a number of
versions of this song around, so it would be a good opportunity to
look at the original and compare it with the other versions. Many
students will love to find out more about some o the animals they
know little about, ponder about the setting for each group of
animals, and possibly suggest others that could have been included.
Discussion about rhyme and metre will also flow from using this song
and book in the classroom.
Fran Knight
Bartholomew Biddle and the very big wind by Gary Ross
Candlewick Press, 2012. ISBN 9780763649203.
(Age 5-9) Highly recommended. Bartholomew Biddle and the very
big wind is simply a joy - a joy to look at, and a joy to read
not just to oneself, but aloud. Penned by Hunger Games
director Gary Ross, and supported by divine oil paintings, which add
texture and depth, from Matthew Myers, it's a must have for any
library, home or school.
The idea for Bartholomew Biddle and the very big wind came
to light when Ross was asked to pen a piece for David Koepp, who was
shooting the 1996 film The Trigger Effect and needed a
bedtime story to be read in a scene. It was the very beginnings of
this wonderful story, which was put aside until now, when Ross (who
was once a library commissioner!) gave it life again.
Bartholomew Biddle sails from his bedroom window one night, using
his bedsheet as a sail - the language is lyrical and beautiful 'why
this silly old wind was nothing to fear, with a bedsheet to sail and
an instinct to steer', compelling the reader to fly out of the
window with Bartholomew, and fly we do.
Over the roof tops, where a gleeful Bartholomew proclaims 'This is
INSANE!', to a strange land with pirates, an even stranger land of
glum children marching in conformity, and finally into a canyon,
fair littered with historical figures, such as Amelia Earheart.
This book is pitched as being for ages 6 and up, but I found it just
perfect for two young siblings in my life, who are a mature 9, and
an immature 5 - something for everyone! Enough quirk and surprise to
engage the elder, and enough rhyme and visual for the younger.
This book is a masterpiece, and comes highly recommended. It's been
a privilege to review it.
Freya Lucas
The dreadful fluff by Aaron Blabey
Penguin Viking, 2012. ISBN 978 0 670 07599 7.
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Picture book. Perfection. Humour. I know
just the child who would love this. A perfection addict, nothing is
out of place, all is neat and tidy and planned in her five year old
world. And woebegone anything that changes her routines, just like
Serenity the young perfectionist in this new book by Blabey, whose
body of work includes Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley,
Sunday chutney and The ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon,
some of which have been short listed and won awards. But back to
Serenity swanning around in her ballet costume, the reader noting
the Nobel Prize award on her wall or her achievements in the
dressage ring, she pulls fluff from her belly button. She is
distraught. But worse still, the fluff seems intent on devouring
everything in its sight, growing bigger and bigger by the minute.
But when it targets the baby, Serenity acts. In one decisive
movement she saves the day, returning to her not so perfect world,
and challenging the fluff each time it appears.
This is one very funny book, there are loads of things to look at in
the illustrations, the looks on the faces of all involved, the
background noise, the things on the wall, the way the pages get
darker and creepier as the thing grows larger and larger, all
conspire to catch the readers' attention and hold it there while
they intently scan each page. I just loved the cat with its security
blanket, the mother in her old comfy slippers, the baby and Serenity
fighting the thing as it attempts to eat the child, the pages split
into two or three pictures, the increasingly dark pages and the
figure of Serenity, standing, feet apart, baby on hip, challenging
the monster in her sights.
What a wonderful book to talk about with a class. It could be part
of a discussion about your body, or being concerned about being
perfect, talking about the expression, 'nobody's perfect', or read
just for fun. Over and over again.
Fran Knight
Deadly reads
Saltwater series. Magabala Books, 2012.
(Ages 3-5) Aboriginal themes, Readers, Warmly recommended. This
series of four titles is aimed at indigenous and non indigenous
children, with their short sentences, range of words and bright
attractive illustrations. They are levelled so will be easily
selected by teachers and parents. Written and illustrated by
Aboriginal authors and artists, the stories are culturally sound and
appropriate, with illustrations that clearly reflect our Aboriginal
heritage. The words used have been specifically chosen to expand the
child's vocabulary, increasing in complexity as the stories proceed. Claws, eyes, flippers ill. by Dub Leffler (ISBN 978 1 921248
74 0
shows the similarities and differences between two animals, the crab
and the turtle. Each has eyes, and these are quite different, and
each have arms, but in one they are called claws and the other,
flippers. In four short sentences, the similarities and differences
between these two Australian coastal animals is shown, with clear,
colourful illustrations that not only show where they live, but also
how we might see them. Animals move, ill. by Dub Leffler (ISBN 978 1 921248 75 7)
Four animals, a crab, dolphin, bird and fish are shown moving within
their environment. Four short sentences give the name for their
movement, and the illustrations show the animal in its environment
and how we might see it. A beach for us to play by Nola Turner-Jensen, ill. by Maggie
Prewett
(ISBN 9781 921248 76 4)
The family on the beach shows the reader all the things they are
doing on the beach, looking at shells, flying a kite, playing with a
bucket, building a campfire to make damper, swimming and then
fishing which results in a crab and a fish to cook and eat. Each of
the things to do is shown with bright illustrations while the short
sentences bring the story to a close with a shared meal. A happy
sharing family using their environment to have fun and catch food. I have ... by Nola Turner-Jensen, ill. by Maggie Stewett
(ISBN 978 1 921248 77 1) Maggie shows us parts of her body (arms,
legs and toes) and these are contrasted with those of animals she
sees in her environment. When she says that she has arms, the turtle
says he has flippers, so leading the reader into making sure that
they have an understanding of the correct terms for the animal's
appendages. The humour in the last page will not escape the reader's
attention.
Fran Knight
Shatterproof by Roland Smith
Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 9780545298421.
The fourth book in the 39 Clues series, Shatterproof by
Roland Smith, takes the Cahill family into even more danger.
Unpredictable and ruthless, their enemies, the Vespers, are forcing
Dan and his sister, Amy Cahill, to commit crimes in order to ensure
the release of seven kidnapped members of the Cahill family.
Not only must Dan and Amy stay one step ahead of the Vespers, but
they are also being pursued by the police, desperate to stop the
crime wave created by the Cahill's.
The action takes place in exotic far flung places, from Samarkand to
Timbuktu and Germany in-between. In a race against time, Dan and Amy
must rely upon their wits to unravel mysterious secrets.
How do the Vespers stay so close to Amy and Dan? Is there a spy
working amongst them? Will Amy and Dan manage to save their family?
Inside the book cover are game cards and a link to the website so
that readers can stop the Vesper Mole!
Thelma Harvey
Hey Baby by Corinne Fenton
Black Dog Books (Walker Books Australia), 2012. Hardcover, full
colour photographs. ISBN; 978 1 742032 49 8.
(Age : Under 8's) Highly recommended. This book was produced with
assistance of the Australian Council for the Arts, and what a piece
of good fortune that is, because it's just delightful. The message
is just as beautiful as the full colour photographs, which leap off
the page and draw the reader right in.
While this is described as a 'love letter to baby', it doesn't feel
at any point cliched or cloying (as so many books of its ilk do) -
more honest, heartfelt and genuine. The photographs of the animals
are bold and sweet, cute and funny, all at the same time, and they
add a whole extra layer of meaning and movement to the story.
It would have been easy with a book such as this to fall into the
trap of having dappled watercolour illustrations, but the book has
shied away from this, and I think this is the key to its success.
There is enough going on on each page to keep even the most wriggly
toddler enraptured, while you hope that the message of love is
sinking in through the wiggles.
This would make a great book for reading before leaving for
childcare, preschool or school. I read this with a just starting
schooler, on his way out the door, in order to ease some of those
'first days of school' nerves, and it was just perfect for that.
A highly recommended addition to any home or early childhood
bookshelf, to be read often to the under 8's.
Freya Lucas
The Rumpelgeist by Fiona McIntosh
Puffin, 2012. ISBN 978067007511.
(Age 10+) Recommended. Fantasy. Adventure. There are children
disappearing from the capital of Drestonia and a strange apparition,
the Rumpelgeist, seems to be haunting the city. Crown Princess Ellin
must use her magic and work with Flynn Jolien to solve the mystery
and save the children. However a wily sorcerer, Grendel is using his
magic and the pair will need all their courage to find Grendel.
Overcome the witch Grevilya and return the stolen children of Floris
to their parents.
The sequel to The whisperer, this can be read as a stand alone
although of course, fans of the first book will be fascinated to see
the next generation of people in the kingdom and how the main
characters have grown and changed. Familiar characters from the
first book, including Pilo, the centaur Davren, Bitter Olof, Calico
Grace and Little Thom, make their appearance and provide much of the
humour and action in the book.
t Princess Ellin is a brave and feisty girl who knows that she will
have to learn her magic to help save her kingdom. Although Flynn has
been injured by a rival he too will have to use his powers to help
Ellin. The slight romance between the two adds an element of
interest for those who like relationships. The adults in the story
play a secondary role and it is Ellin and Flynn who solve problems
and come up with solutions that will keep the kingdom safe.
There is plenty of action and adventure to keep the reader totally
interested in the story. Magic is central to the story but it is the
thrill of the chase and the quest to overcome the evil Grevilya that
makes this a gripping read.
While it has been written for a younger audience, any lover of
fantasy or adventure should enjoy this well written and compelling
tale.
Pat Pledger
Eleven eleven by Paul Dowswell
Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4088 262 2
(Age: 11+) Recommended. World War One. Armistice. Three lives are
coming together to meet possibly for the first and last time. They
are all young men, caught up in a war out of their control, joining
up for reasons as different as they are poignant and sad. It is
November 11, 1918, and some men representing the armed forces of
England, France and Germany are meeting to discuss the laying down
of arms after four years of bloody conflict.
Starting at 2 am on that last day of conflict, a sleeping Alex
Meyer, a German teen full of pride of being in the forces, and the
English boy, William Franklin, lying about his age to get in and
finally Eddie Herts and American pilot are introduced to the reader.
Each of their lives is defined most succinctly and we follow their
lives through the events of that last day until they meet at 11 am,
Armistice.
Dowswell always writes convincingly of conflict, whether it be the
Napoleonic Wars, the Cold war of the two World Wars, each of his
books is absorbing and informative as he takes young teens and
places them in an event which showcases the futility of war. Eleven
eleven presents the last day of conflict for his readers, and
although at times a touch unsubtle, it is a good read, drawing the
reader into the worlds of these three young men, importuning the
reader to ask what they would do in these circumstances,
sympathising with the characters in their world turned awry.
I was stunned by chapter 6 which fictionalises the meeting between
the representatives of the German, French and English armies,
discussing the laying down of arms. I had never thought about the
actual instigation of Armistice before so the events as outlined are
telling of the attitudes of the participating armies, and Dowswell
certainly made me think about how it was achieved. In an afterword,
Dowswell explains just how much is fact and fiction, so giving the
reader another level of understanding of the events outlined in this
page turning book.
Fran Knight
Find Fenton! by Martin Berry and Stuart Cooper
Headline, 2012. ISBN 978 0 7553 6399 5
(Age: 6+) Picture book. Humour. Cartoons. In the line of Where's
Wally, Find Fenton! follows the effects of the lost
labrador, Fenton as he makes his destructive way around many of
London's iconic places. Starting with Richmond Park, where he causes
havoc, he moves on to Wimbledon, the Oxford Cambridge boat race,
Notting Hill Market, the Proms, the House of Commons, Buckingham
Palace, Tate Modern, St Pancras Station, Trafalgar Square, London
Zoo, Camden Market, the Unolympic games, Leicester Square, Hamleys
for Christmas shopping and finally Somerset House for Christmas.
Each double page has a myriad of figures and things to navigate in
the search for the image of the dog, finding that its face, or feet,
or eyes are to be spotted amongst the colour and movement on every
page. it takes some eyes quite a while to do this, but I am sure
that younger eyes will do it in a trice. At the end of the book is a
list of other things to spot on each page as well as Fenton's lead,
collar, stick, footprints, turd and deer.
Each event in London's diary will intrigue the readers of the book,
finding out about the events and their characteristics, which
along the way are infused with some subtle social comment. the
strawberries at Wimbledon, one of those things associated with the
tennis matches, has people queueing with bags of money, while the
pigeons in Trafalgar Square have a placard which reads, 'Follow us
on twitter'. A book of pure escapist fun.
Fran Knight
