Reviews

Python by Christopher Cheng

Ill. Mark Jackson. Walker Books, 2012. Hbk., RRP $A29.95. ISBN 9781921529603.
'It is morning in the bush. Python stirs and sleeps out from her sheltered, nocturnal resting place . . .' She is looking for breakfast, but there are other important things to attend to, and in this beautifully illustrated book we learn so much about this magnificent creature in a way that immediately engages both the young reader and the adult reading to them, as well as those who can read for themselves. It truly meets the tag 'suitable for all ages'.
Chris Cheng is the MASTER of a genre I've dubbed 'faction' - bringing real life to life through story. Even though the story only took place in the author's imagination, it is so well-researched and accurately portrayed that it could have happened, and, as we read, we get both information and insight into these extraordinary creatures. Television news likes to show images of the bulging belly of pythons that have eaten quite large creatures, but who knew they got inside because the python can unhinge its jaws to swallow them, and then expand their bodies to digest them?
As well as the story, there are interesting facts on each page and absolutely spectacular, detailed illustrations from Mark Jackson. The whole becomes a fantastic package for learning about pythons that is perfect for the younger reader - and as teacher librarians, we all know the fascination snakes have for them. This book will not stay on the shelves. You'll need two copies - one in the fiction section and one in 597.96. And if you are recommending books for the Christmas stocking through your newsletters, this one HAS to be on it. Both parent and child will thank you.
If you're still not convinced, take a sneak peek at Walker Books.
Barbara Braxton

The selfish giant by Oscar Wilde

Ill. by Ritva Voutila. Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74237 650 9.
(Age 8+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Fairy tale. Redemption. Some books are simply a pleasure to pick up and hold, and this is one. Beautifully bound, the cover illustration is redolent of the northern European landscape, cold and dull, sun part hidden by the shadowy clouds, the castle lacking any warmth. But one tree is covered in blossom, standing out from the others which are bare in the winter cold. And Voutila's illustrations capture the eye for the rest of the book.
Oscar Wilde's fairy tales, published in 1888, contained five tales, including The happy prince, the most well known of the group. Each has a moral basis, and this one is no exception. Reading it again, I was surprised at the Christian element as I had not remembered that at all, but the story of a selfish man finally giving over his garden to the children of the town is certainly one of forgiveness and redemption.
The children gather each day in the giant's garden as it is full of life. But the giant returns after a seven year absence, and puts a no trespassing sign on his gate, forbidding all to enter. Cold sets in and spring, summer and autumn never come to the garden again. The giant is bereft, not understanding why the garden never changes, until one day he helps a small boy with marks on his hand, climb a tree. This encourages the other children to return and so the giant is happy, offering his garden to all to visit. When he next sees the small boy with the marks on his hands, he asks what they are. And the boy replies they are the marks of love, and tells the giant he will live with him in his garden in Paradise. And so the giant dies.
This lovely story will bring tears to the eyes of its readers, as they absorb the selfishness of the man, and how this is repaid with the cold until he relents and allows the children into his garden and his life.
The beautiful illustrations are breathtaking, spreading across each double page, bringing the art tradition and landscapes of northern Europe into the classroom. The sepia tones hold the attention of all who look inside the covers, the myriad of detail intriguing all who read the story, the motifs repeated, insisting that the reader thinks more closely about what is being represented. When the giant relents, colour returns to the pages, and even in the cold of the day he dies, there is life in the tree above him.
For classes looking at various fairy tales this is an exceptional book to use, the text and illustrations dovetailing together. For secondary classes this would be an entirely engrossing book to use to allow older students to marvel at the link between text and illustrations, or simply look at some fabulous illustrations and the imagery presented.
Fran Knight

Black Spring by Alison Croggin

Walker Books, 2013. 283pp.
Recommended for 15+. The blurb on the back of Black Spring describes it as 'an evocative reimagining of Wuthering Heights' and indeed it is. In both books there is the outsider who has travelled to an isolated area and who meets, and hears the story of, the doomed lovesick protagonist who, as a young boy, was adopted into a farming family. Here it is Damek who plays the Heathcliff role and who shares a free, roaming childhood with Lina, the daughter of the master. Like Cathy and Heathcliff, Lina and Damek share a love of nature. Lina, passionate and willful, loves Damek but when, like Heathcliff, he is ousted from his childhood home - here by the foul Masko - and then disappears, she marries the gentle, loving Tibor. Her story mirrors that of Cathy, except that Lina is born a witch with violet eyes. When Damek returns a rich man seeking revenge, the pregnant Lina is torn between her husband and her lover. The story is told by Anna, adopting the role of Ellen in Wuthering Heights, as the sensible, calm, rational, and loyal Christian servant.
The difference between the two books is that this novel focuses on the passionate and volatile relationship between Lina and Damek, whilst Wuthering Heights devotes its second half to the lives of the next generation. Black Spring also has wizards and a vendetta which destroys many of the men-folk. This makes Black Springs a gripping read, with short chapters and sense of place, characters and time expertly realized. Alison Croggin captures the inexplicable passion and madness of the lovers in the same manner that Emily Bronte does. This is a sophisticated read given its length, language and detail but, even so, the many readers who go on to read Wuthering Heights may well find Black Spring a more enjoyable experience.
Kevyna Gardner

On the farm by Roland Harvey

Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74175 882 5.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Picture book. Agriculture. Humour. For those who have enjoyed Roland Harvey's series of books about holiday adventures around Australia: going to the beach, the bush, the city, the top end and Western Australia, here is another to enjoy, as the family goes to visit Uncle Kev on the train. All sorts of experiences are to be had, many emulating the nursery rhyme, Old MacDonald had a farm. For those new to the work of Roland Harvey this is a treat, showcasing his style of presentation, the array of little figures and drawings, pages filled with life and movement, inventions, humour and things to search for.
Each double page opens to a different vista of the farm. One of my favourite pages is that with the orchard, where Henry is sent to spread the poo to fertilise the trees. Most of the page is covered with the fruit trees and between the trees is drawn an array of things to catch the attention of the readers. On the bottom left hand side an old car is making its way to the trees with the owner singing, 'I'm a fruit tree' which will be parodied by many of the readers. Along the road are several other cars of indeterminate vintage with extraordinary appendages. One child is flying a kite of sorts, another is sending a letter by pigeon post, while further into the trees people are picking fruit in various ways. In the centre of the page is a small train pulling along several of the family, while a tractor is pulled by a pig. And that's just for starters. Each double page will hold a child's interest for quite a while, as they look at each of the little pictures drawn and relate it to the text on the left hand side. And I love his poem about the shed.
Each of the family has work to do to get the place ready for the festival, as well as cope with Kev's foray into the world of romance.
Very funny, absorbing and informative, all readers will have such a good time with this book as they pore over the minutiae of life displayed on each page.
Fran Knight

A is Amazing! ed. by Wendy Cooling

Frances Lincoln, 2012. ISBN: 9781847802552.
Recommended for children of all ages. Subtitled Poems about Feelings, this is a collection of poems to fit various alphabetical categories of feelings, ranging from Amazing, Argumentative, Bored and Careful to eXtraordinary, Young, Zestful and fiZzy! The poets are equally as diverse, coming from Japan, India, Africa, Australia, the UK and USA. Their styles and language vary from the traditional verse and riddle to rhyming and non-rhyming poetry and from formal language to that spoken with a Jamaican lilt. From arguments to death, saris to sport and contrasts in stepmothers this book has the lot. With illustrations by Piet Grobler to match the style or origin of the poem or poet, this book is one I am keen to take to school and introduce to the classes that are studying poetry. In the classroom setting, I can imagine using this book to simply engage children in poetry, a genre which, as a child, I hated. Now, I see myself reading these works to children and having them celebrate the use of language, the imagery and the concepts included therein. With older children, there could be a discussion of the setting, both time and place and the content of the various works. A great collection of verse!
Jo Schenkel

Topsy-turvy world by Kirsty Murray

National Library of Australia, 2012. ISBN 978 0 642 27749 7.
(Ages: 10+) Recommended. Non fiction. Australian animals. Subtitled, How Australian animals puzzled early explorers, this attractively produced large non fiction book will amaze and intrigue readers as they look inside its pages. Not only do they see pictures of animals drawn by the earliest explorers and their illustrators, but they have descriptions taken from their journals, ready for the reading market back in Europe. Europeans were fascinated by stories from unknown lands and read journals and books about explorations and discoveries with fervour. Each of the animals is given between four and six pages, the ones that caused the most controversy having the larger number of pages allocated. Each section begins with a full page portrait, usually done by an artist who accompanied the expeditions. Following this is a page of information, then two or more pages giving more illustrations and information, including a fact file and small map. The fifteen animals included range from the expected kangaroo, thylacine and platypus to the lesser known bandicoot, flying fox and sea dragon.
Several were of exceptional interest to me and a perusal of the information given gives an idea of the sort of things included for all the other animals.
The pig-footed bandicoot was fist journalled by the explorer Thomas Mitchell in 1836. He described this lovely little animal as pig-footed, the size of a young wild rabbit and with a backward facing pouch. He asked local people for examples but was unable to add to his information. The drawings done by naturalists show a strange long eared creature the shape of a small pig with a snout, all rather at odds with the photo of the stuffed example found in a museum. But before scientists could properly examine this new creature it had died out, probably through the arrival of cattle. It used to frequent poor land, and so a common expression in the nineteenth century was the term, bandicoot run, used to describe a strip of poor land.
I found each of the four pages devoted to this small animal, enthralling, as I would expect many readers would, who like to follow up examples of Australian animals, and the way they were first seen by Europeans.
This book would be well used in classes looking at the early history of Australia, the history of European settlement, the story of the animals, and particularly the extinction of several species covered in this book, the thylacine and the pig-footed bandicoot.
A detailed index, a glossary of the people who first noted and drew these animals, along with glossary of terms and lists of where the illustrations came from, complete this inviting book.
Fran Knight

Bush Bash by Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina

Little Hare, 2012. hbk. ISBN 9781921714771.
Dingo is on a mission - but no one knows just what it is. He is dashing through the country, intent on something, and ignores those around him. So they decide to join him to see just what has got his attention - two nosy numbats, three flying frogs, four burrowing bilbies . . .
More than just a unique counting book, this colourful tale not only tells a story but also introduces our youngest readers to some of Australia's unique creatures - some well-known, some not-so. And all the while, there is the speculation about just where is dingo going. The answer is revealed and children will delight in it.
The illustrations are rich, detailed and bright - just what we expect of Sally Morgan - but they are actually done by her daughter, Ambelin Kwaymullina, who is obviously as talented as her mother. Hidden within each are hidden objects - some made by Aboriginal people, others animals that should have no place in our bush - and as well as being guaranteed to engage the reader deeply in the illustrations, they offer more talking points that can introduce our littlies to the life of those who have been here forever and the impact of those who have come since.
This is a very special book that works on so many levels it is a must-have in your collection.
Barbara Braxton

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Elementals Book 2. Allen And Unwin, 2012. ISBN 13981743310748.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. In the second of the Elementals series, Kemmerer continues with her gripping stories of four brothers whose powers allow them power over the elements. Spark stars Gabriel, who is trying to find ways to use his paranormal power and control fire. When an arsonist starts to create havoc in the town all the evidence points to Gabriel and even his brothers start to look at him in odd ways. But he is not the one lighting the fires and he has to find out who is. At the same time he is becoming fascinated with Layne and worries about his growing relationship with her.
Kemmerer manages to blend some compelling realism with a paranormal twist to make for a compelling story. The relationships between the four brothers is beautifully described. I felt for Gabriel when he began to feel increasingly isolated as his twin Nick becomes involved with a girl that he doesn't like. The fact that his brothers don't trust him is shattering for him and he turns to Hunter for friendship.
Their forays into the night to the fires that have been lit are thrilling. The descriptions of the fires and the actions of the fire preventation personnel are really authentic and Gabriel's heroism in entering dangerous buildings and using his power to rescue victims is entralling. At the same time the realism of what happens at school, his relationship with Nick and his growing interest in Layne keep the reader in the real world and teens will identify with the actions of the mean girls and what happens in the school yard.
This is a series that has it all: action, romance, thrills and angst, all against a background of the issues that teens face with their families and at school.
Pat Pledger

Yellow Dress Day by Michelle Worthington

New Frontier, 2012. ISBN: 9781921928291.
Highly recommended for children aged 4-6. Ava owns dresses in every colour of the rainbow and dresses each day to match her mood and the weather. She wears red on days when the sun shines on cracked, dry roads, pink when flowers open their petals toward the sun, purple when the clouds abound, blue on snowy days and yellow on windy, autumn days. When she awakes one 'whistling, whirly, windy day', she looks for her yellow dress only to find it is not in her wardrobe. Realising that she has worn it the previous day, she needs help in finding something else to match the feeling in her heart. Will she find just the right thing?
On face value, this is just a joyful celebration of seasons, childhood and imagination. On reading the dedication page, one discovers that the book is written for Ava Lardner, a child whom one can only assume suffers from Rett syndrome. Consequently, 5% of the profits from the book go to supporting the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. The publisher's details provide only a snippet of information regarding the illustrator Sophie Norsa but she is certainly someone to watch out for. Apparently the illustrations for this book were done following her Year 10 work experience with the publisher and she is now studying for her HSC. Her free and simplistic illustrations depict the joy of childhood and Ava's emotions perfectly. The colours are vibrant and happy and complement the descriptive text perfectly.
As well as being a delightful story to share with very young children, I can imagine it being used with Junior Primary classes to provide a starting point and model for descriptive writing lessons.
Jo Schenkel

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

Hodder and Stoughton, 2012. ISBN: 9781444723137.
When Liza wakes to find that her brother Patrick has 'changed', she knows that the Spindlers, spider like creatures in whom only she and her baby sitter, Anna, believe, have taken his soul. She is the only one who may be able to save him. Armed with nothing but a broom, she leaves her dysfunctional family and heads 'Below' to try and find out what has happened to Patrick and bring him home. On her arrival she meets with a quirky rat, clad in makeup, a wig and clothing including a skirt made of newspaper and a paper hat. It is Mirabella who offers to help her on her quest to find the Spindlers. During their journey, they come across many other characters that cause them grief and try to stop Liza from completing her task.
I found this to be a totally engaging story involving many new and fantastic creatures and settings. The powers of each of the creatures need to be overcome before Liza and Mirabella can continue on their way. Together, the two manage to progress, despite the odds. In this sense, it is a tale reminiscent of Rodda's Rowan of Rin series and is a great example of the Hero's Journey. The two could be used as paired texts by upper primary students to compare and contrast the different journeys and strengths of the characters.
Oliver points out that one should not jump to conclusions about any situation or character or base one's feelings on stereotypes. Liza demonstrates a great deal of change throughout the tale as does Mirabella. Bravery, loyalty, family, resourcefulness, friendship are amongst the many positive themes of this book and I would not hesitate in recommending the title to children aged 10 and above.
Jo Schenkel

Earthfall by Mark Walden

Bloomsbury, 2012.
Recommended for readers 12 +. The huge following of fans Walden hooked with his H.I.V.E. series will be not be disappointed by the debut of his new book Earthfall. 14 year old Sam has been on his own for 18 months, believing himself to be the sole survivor of a frightening and devastating 'alien' attack on contemporary London. Hiding by day, scavenging by night, he has managed to avoid the ever-present threat posed by the 'Hunters' who constantly maintain their vigil over the enslaved 'Walkers'.
A terrifying encounter and a narrow escape reveal to Sam the presence of some other survivors when he is unexpectedly rescued by feisty and scruffy girl who takes him to a secret and secure headquarters. He discovers that the group of equally young survivors, headed by Doctor Stirling, are a well-organised and efficient band of resistance fighters - and quickly demonstrates his own innate skills and instincts as he too trains in guerrilla techniques. As the truth about the devastating 'invasion' unfolds, the reader is both fascinated and horrified by the underlying premise of Walden's plot. Aficionados of The Matrix, Garth Nix's Shade's Children and speculative fiction of similar ilk will relish the complex riddle behind the 'Threat'.
With unfinished business and unanswered questions embedded into Earthfall's conclusion, Walden leaves the reader well and truly anticipating the next instalment of Sam's journey. Top marks for tension and a terrifically paced plot.
Sue Warren

A Great Cake by Tina Matthews

Louis beside himself by Anna Fienberg

Allen and Unwin, 2012.ISBN 978-1-74237-994-4.
Recommended for upper primary students. Louis loves words. He collects them the way other people would collect stamps or trading cards. His father loves nothing more than to wrestle his son, with special moves such as 'The Walls of Jericho' or the 'Five Star Frog Splash'. His friends love basketball and skateboarding so Louis's passion makes him a little bit different form everyone else.
Enter runaway Cordelia into his life. She appears as a burglar one night and Louis decides to help by allowing her to camp in a tent on their lawn. He keeps Cordelia a secret from Dad but for how long?
A wonderful feel good book about families, friendship and personal courage. Anna Fienberg (of Tashi fame) has made Louis a believable character who learns a lot about himself while sharing his love of words with the reader.
A book trailer is available.
Jane Moore

Peggy by Anna Walker

Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 9781742832708.
(Ages 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Independence. Safety. The seemingly simple tale of Peggy the chook, finding her feet in the city will attract a willing audience in all places where books are read and enjoyed. Peggy lives in a small world; she wakes in her little house in a quiet street, eats breakfast, plays in the garden and watches the pigeons. But one day a gust of wind springs up and carries her away, landing her in a street in the city, far from home. In beautiful, understated ink and collage illustrations, the feeling of the little hem lost and alone in the busy streets, ignored by the bustling workers with their sea of umbrellas will win the hearts of the readers, watching as Peggy tries to find her way home. In her wanderings through the street, she sees things she has never seen before.But finding her way home is not easy. She follows someone with a bunch of sunflowers just like the ones in her garden, and sits on the train, before finding the pigeons she used o watch in her backyard.So all is well, but now she has friends and experiences outside her own home that she can recall, and sometimes even repeat.
This is a lovely story, full of adventure as Peggy finds new sights and sounds in the city, and unexpectedly finds friends. Her bravery and courage are to be admired as she boards the train, sits on someone's head, settles down for the night on a cushion in a shop window, and asks strangers for directions. Each of the things she does could initiate discussions with children at home or in the classroom, about being lost and keeping safe. But it could be well used for many discussions about bravery and courage, about trying something new, about adventure, about not being afraid of the unknown.
The illustrations with their nod to Tohby Riddle and John Brack, are wonderful. Each time I read the book, I see something new to think about and look at again, and children will too.
Fran Knight

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan