This is a third verse novel in the series, following on from the award-winning The One and Only Ivan (based on a true story) and its sequel The One and Only Bob. The One and Only Ruby picks up shortly after the Bob installment, taking place in a wildlife sanctuary where she now lives with a herd of aunty elephants as well as being close to both Ivan and Bob. Ruby is growing up and her tusks are coming in, which means it is nearly time for her Tusk Day. But Ruby has a secret; she doesn't like her tusks and she doesn't want to celebrate them. When a carer from her old orphanage shows up it reminds Ruby of all sorts of things from her past- both good and bad. She lightens her load by sharing her story, which helps the others to understand her and her feelings and make her Tusk Day a happy experience.
The first-person narration helps the reader to empathise with Ruby as we directly hear her feelings, experiences and fears. Her voice is a relatable child's voice and equatable to human life: relationships with family, self-doubt, worries, grief and curiosity. Applegate manages to anthropomorphise Ruby, while at the same time telling a true-to-life tale of an elephant. There are some distressing themes, including drought, death, grief, poaching and painful memories but these are tempered with the supportive network of humans and animals in the wildlife park and touches of humour in Ruby's conversations and wonderings.
The verse format of the novel means that despite it being 200 pages it is really approachable, with plenty of white space, text broken up with headings and a smattering of black and white illustrations. The book includes an elephant body language visual dictionary, a glossary of terms used in the story, a sneak-peak of Ivan for those who haven't read it and a brief author's note about the true plight of elephants in the wild and in cruel captivity. There is also a film adaptation of The One and Only Ivan. There is no need to have read the other books first, this stands perfectly well alone, but it will be adored by fans of the other books, wildlife and conservation advocates and those who enjoy verse novels and true stories.
Themes Wild Animals, Friendship, Empathy, Kindness, Memories, Novels in Verse.
In a 2008 prologue we see young mothers, Felicity and Jenna relaxing on the lawn with their two year old daughters, Clementine and Senara, on a rare sunny day in Cornwall. All seems fine until little Senara starts digging in the garden and Felicity explodes, angrily shouting at the toddler to stop digging there. Jenna gathers her daughter up and goes home, vowing never to go there again. Fast forward to the present and three local Pentrellis sixteen year olds, Josie, Gareth and Senara, are outside the mysterious, vacant Cliff House grounds planning to fly a drone over as part of Gareth’s media project. When the drone crashes they climb over the fence to retrieve it, scaring themselves with stories of ghosts and zombies. When Senara finds a bone in the camellia bushes she has a feeling of déjà vu but the others just want to film themselves with the bone to add drama to the video. Senara leaves and finds the drone but she also finds old Mrs Roberts, the scary lady in the caretaker's cottage but instead of calling the police she has Senara make her a cup of tea and they become friends. The narrative slips back to 1940 when Violet Roberts picks ten year old evacuee Martha Driscoll as one of four London children to live in Cliff House during the war, a huge house which seemed to the children like a castle. The story switches back and forth between time periods, the next being 1988 when the mothers from the Prologue are sixteen. Felicity and her brother Alex live in Cliff House and when their parents go to Paris for the summer holidays, Felicity’s best friend Jenna comes to stay and they plan a party. The story shifts between the generations, Martha from 1940, Felicity from 1988, and Senara’s first person account from the present, always with the Cliff House as the focus and an undercurrent of menace from things left unsaid. There are a lot of characters in this book and it is hard to keep track of them, especially as the same characters appear in different timelines and take on different roles at different times. Constantly shifting the timeline requires a degree of repetition which interferes with the pace of the book and I sometimes lost the thread as to which 16 year olds were planning a party especially as there was not much happening in between. There were a few nice character studies and I liked Senara’s synaesthesia, but the love stories near the end seemed tacked on and the great mystery of who or what is buried in the garden was not enough to make me keep reading.
Themes Friendship, Mystery.
Sue Speck
Smile your way to happy by Bernie Hayne. Illus. by Valery Vell
Little Steps, 2022. ISBN: 9781922678379. (Age:3-7)
This brightly coloured picture book is a joyful celebration of the superpower of a smile. With creative rhyming text and diverse character representation, this is a book that will bring a smile to those reading and listening to the story. Sometimes it is hard to find something to smile about, but the happy and positive verse cleverly provides simple strategies to support children to find a way to smile again.
It’s easy when you’re feeling great, But if you are a little blue… just remember, big or small, what a simple smile can do.
When you are feeling down, just smile as big as you can. You can turn your mood around, and feel better all over again.
With an engaging quokka on every page smiling his way through different situations, this would be a lovely book to share with young children who may be finding things challenging or just need a delightful story to brighten their day.
Themes Children, Feelings, Diversity, Smiles.
Kathryn Beilby
How brave I can be by Bryll & Beth Stephen. Illus. by Simon Howe
Sisters Byll and Beth Stephen, co- creators of the hit ABC TV show, Teeny Tiny Stevies, have written a book which covers those brave moments in a child’s life as they grow in confidence. Initially with parents guiding hand but more and more with them taking a lesser role, there to support rather than guide. Life’s funny moments figure prominently as she grows, parents down on the floor with her, then guiding her learning to ride a bike, learning to swim, going to school, but as she gets older, the guidance is from another step back, as she climbs a tree, learns to surf, swims with friends, develops relationships at school, then is dropped off by dad for a date with a boyfriend.
The parents are there, but not overwhelming her, allowing her independence until one day, the car packed, she goes her own way, safe in the knowledge that their guiding hands have helped her get to this point.
Humorous illustrations support the timeline of a child’s life, growing up, becoming more independent, growing in confidence, learning to navigate all the world offers by themselves. The images of the interactions between parents and child will support the emphasis on family life at the heart of a child’s life.
Each page shows a family doing what families do: playing together, encouraging the child to get up and try again when she falls from her bike, walking along the street, playing sport and so on. The detail on each page supports the notion of family and the interaction of each member of the family, their support and love.
ABC Iview takes the reader to the Teeny Tiny Stevies series. Kids and classes can watch the shows within the series, and listen to the rollicking songs which support the shows. The mixture of pop and rock is infectious, and kids will learn the lines from many of the songs with ease, if they don’t already know them.
This is a special 3D Coo-llector's edition of the first book in the Real Pigeons series (originally published 2018), which currently boasts ten titles. A holographic cover and some drawing and activity pages at the back provide some extras on the original. For the uninitiated, the Real Pigeons are a team of diverse pigeons named after real pigeons and featuring unique attributes. Rock Pigeon is good at blending in so is constantly in ridiculous disguises. Frillback Pigeon is covered in curly feathers and is super strong (after eating sausages). Tumbler Pigeon somersaults while in flight and is super bendy, Homing Pigeon always returns so is great with directions and Pouter Pigeon (Grandpouter in the story) is the leader of the pack.
There are three parts or separate mysteries to each book, but they are generally connected by the end. This one includes The Great Breadcrumb Mystery, The Bat Trapper and Danger at the Food Truck Fair. Humorous and detailed black and white illustrations are interspersed throughout. Simple, matter-of-fact writing and added dialogue in the pictures gives Real Pigeons a faced-paced and comical flair. This first book in the series shows Grandpouter recruiting the pigeons to form his squad of crime-fighting pigeons because 'Pigeons are perfect for fighting crime. We are everywhere. We are fast. And we can attack.' Their first mystery is why there are no breadcrumbs in the park (clearly a problem for pigeons) and behind each of the mysteries is a criminal animal seeking power or glory. It's a real battle of the city animals and their humorous characterisation. Humans feature only as part players.
This is such a funny series with plenty of word play, hillarious visuals and graphic dialogue. They are not the smartest of super sleuths and while they are usually trying to work together, everything is a little silly and chaotic rather than well-designed problem solving. Fans of Bad Guys, Investigators and the Treehouse series will be instant fans as will those who like quirky humour and rollicking fun in their reading material.
Themes Humorous stories, Mysteries, Pigeons.
Nicole Nelson
Liar's beach by Katie Cotugno
Penguin, 2023. ISBN: 9780241612675. (Age:16-20)
Linden is a lacrosse-playing scholarship-holding College student living amongst other students with far greater financial means. An injury has allowed him to escape vacation work and a romance break-up and yet it also puts his scholarship at risk. Invited to holiday with his College room-mate, Jasper, on their east-coast island holiday home, Linden encounters the life of privilege that is far removed from his own life and his struggles. Keeping his background a hazy unknown allows him the pretence of fitting in and romancing Jasper’s sister. His former childhood companion (ironically named Holiday, and from the wealthy family where his mother works as housekeeper) is also on the island and they reconnect in the heady environment of the USA young adult social life of wealthy indolence. A potentially fatal mishap to one of the former friends of Jasper’s family leads Holiday and Linden to reconnect and try and unravel who might have caused the violence and solve the mystery that the police seem uninterested in pursuing.
This is a story far removed from middle-class Australia, and yet television has given us a glimpse of how wealthy US teens might live their lives. This book feels like it might be waiting to become a film script, with romance, mystery and conflict melding together in an older teen drama set amidst mansion-like holiday homes. I can’t say I loved the setting and the characters, and it has hints of a Great Gatsby drama. The influence of great wealth has a cloying atmosphere and relationships seem to bounce between bedroom and swimming pool or beach parties. The story revolves around the envy and yet desire of Linden to fit in, and his inability to read those around him, and the nonchalance of the wealthy young adults towards the individual whose life has been altered irreparably in the family swimming pool. I won’t rush to recommend this book, but there will be some 16-20 year olds who might enjoy the escape into the alternative life of the uber-wealthy young adults and the mystery in their world. Note: Some drug-references, swearing.
Themes USA – Social life, Wealth and privilege, College students, Mystery, Relationship conflict.
Carolyn Hull
Prank Queen by Zoe George and Dani Vee. Illus. by Jesus Lopez
Mum is a prankster. She is quick and able to catch her family unawares with her practical jokes. She throws water balloons at the kids in bed, gets them to help her fill their Dad’s work bag with spiders and tie dye his shirts pink. They put a fish in the pavlova and chilli in the porridge. Sand finds its way into Dad’s shoe, and his bed is full of itching powder. He seems content to putting up with the practical jokes that come his way, but fart spray in the car seems a little too much.
Even when he is asleep they attack hm with whipped cream, and one day he decides to turn the pranking around. He wraps her car with glad wrap and shuts the doors tight, he replaces all her handbags and shoes with very smelly old rags. But he cannot compete with he Prank Queen as he finds out to his chagrin.
Told in verse, kids will love the pranks that Mum plays on her family. Each description will bring squeals of delight (being wet by a water balloon), trepidation (spiders in the bag) yuck (fish in the pavlova) - the group of kids listening will have a range of responses to the stanzas that detail Mum’s wild and zany actions. They will cheer seeing Dad get some of his own back, but know that the Mum is after all the Prank Queen and will come out on top.
Wonderfully bright and detailed illustrations cover each page, showing clearly the lengths Mum goes to create havoc within her family. Long suffering Dad shows remarkable equanimity with the joke always being on him, providing a positive role model for all. The family works together well, and the illustrations will draw kids eyes to the feeling of cooperation between the members of the family, playing together and treating each day with humour and zeal.
The jokes are all things people may want to have played when they were younger, and the book gives the opportunity for people to do just that. I can just imagine a car wrapping exercise or trying out some of the recipes, and the book gives kids a chance to think of some pranks for themselves. A book trailer is available.
Larrikin House keeps on proceeding books that make me laugh and classroom and homes will love laughing alone with Prank Queen and other books in their list, conveniently shown on the back endpaper.
Following a call from her mentally troubled mother suggesting she is going to end her life, Layla finds herself alone in trying to respond to this latest crisis. She has too much happening in her life, with career, marriage and relationships going badly; and she seems to have become distanced from anybody who might have been able to help.
As Layla gathers herself to travel on an urgent flight to her mother and the childhood home in Tasmania, memories from the past gradually build a picture of fractured relationships in her family. She hopes that she will finally find out the truth about how her father died, and why her mother has never been able to confide in her. However the secrets that come out disrupt her life in a way she never expects.
Layla is a flawed character, who in coming to terms with hidden aspects of the past, has to reassess the important things in life, and renew friendships with those she has neglected. Although there are episodes from Layla’s childhood which may draw the empathy and interest of younger readers, as a story of middle-life crises, this book is more likely to appeal to adult female readers.
Eric Hill died in 2014, but many books are still being published which showcase his wonderful character, Spot.
This story, presented in a heavy duty board book shows the Spot family on a camping holiday in Australia’s outback. They paddle a canoe across the billabong, noting the colour of the surroundings. They stop for lunch on the shore and Spot finds some frogs under the bulrushes. After lunch mum and dad look for Spot but cannot find him and so go off in search of their son. They spy something moving further up the sand dunes and come across a thorny devil while sleeping under a rock. They see a bilby. A termite mound looms up over the page hiding an echidna. Coming to a cave they wonder whether Spot has gone inside. Each time they stop to look for Spot they see another Australian animal hidden beneath a flap. Kids will love lifting the flap to reveal the animal, and of course wonder where Spot might be. Eventually they return to the camping ground to find Spot waiting for them.
Gently humorous, with a touch of concern about where Spot might be, toddlers will love looking for Spot with his parents, lifting the flaps in their search of the Australian landscape, taking in the colours, the animals and flora depicted. New words are presented, an adventure which is out of the ordinary, all couched within the known and loved framework of Spot.
Younger readers will love the scope of this little colourful board book, marvelling at a new edition of Spot, harking back to all the other Spot books they have read.
Themes Lift the flap, Spot, Australian animals, Adventure.
An array of instantly recognisable dads is presented in this charming rhyming tale of the different sorts of dads children come across. From a story dad to a whiffy dad, a snorey dad to a rifty dad, all sorts of dads are shown on the pages. Between the pages where two different words are used to describe the dad, are connecting sentences which give a slightly different angle. So we have a dad who has made you theirs, and dads who come as a pair, and a live apart dad, and an always in your heart dad.
Whatever the dad the pages are full of love and affection as the child and his dad are doing things together, looking squarely at each other, each the heart and soul of the other. The wonderful illustrations underscore the togetherness of a child and their dad, as they show them hugging, holding hands, doing things together, jumping on his shoulders, going out together, being at home together, racing, cooking, gardening, barbecuing, and sitting still for a photograph.
Children will love reading of what fathers do, seeing their own dad reprised on each page and be able to add phrases to the story celebrating what their dad does that perhaps no one else does.
This is a humorous, playful story, full of gentle humour and replete with love and affection, so the end of the book when asked who the perfect dad is, the children will have no hesitation in announcing theirs.
Themes Love, Affection, Fathers, Family.
Fran Knight
The last comics on Earth by Max Braillier & Joshua Pruett
Chapter 1, distinctively monochromatic, is described as the comic within the comic book and here we see avid comic readers Jack, Quint, June and Dirk reading their favourite comic book whose hero is Z-Man. When these last kids on Earth go their local comic store they find that they have read the very last Z-Man issue even though their hero, protector of Apocalyptica, is left falling off a cliff, a real cliffhanger ending. Preferring the comic apocalypse to the real thing they decide to write their own, casting themselves as the superheroes. The kids choose their characters, referring to the backstories and origin stories of the comics they have read, with lots of puns and wordplay. By chapter two we have the full colour comic “The Legacy of Z-Man” starring the kids’ alter egos Doc Baker; Super inventorist dude, Moonstar; The quasar warrior, fantabular lord of space, Boy Lightening; The boy with the superpowered brainstorms and The Savage Aloner. The comic is set in Apocalyptica, the nexus of all apocalypses, a city where the remnants of every apocalypse converged to form the ultimate megapocalypse. Filled with absorbing fun detail and awful jokes the colourful comic is action packed, always poking fun at the comic genre. Not only are there are evil villains, superpowered crystals and superhero gadgets there are also adverts and merchandising pages to add to the humour. What the kids struggle with however is the ability to work together as a team and until they do the evil villains will not be vanquished. Following on from the highly successful Last Kids on Earth books which have been made into a Netflix series and a video game, readers will love this addition and at the end is the promise of more. This book does successfully stand alone, celebrating the Kids’ resilience, courage and tolerance of difference and the importance of working together. New readers will want to access the whole series.
Yawning: Everyone does it. But no one knows why. The one thing for certain about this book is that you will yawn while it is being read.
Scientists have studied when we yawn - it starts at about 12-14 weeks in the womb - and how often but they still don't know why. Is it because our brains need extra oxygen, or because we are changing from one state of mind to another, or because it cools the brain by bringing cold air into our bodies? And why is the act so contagious?
While the big question remains unanswered despite the brightest minds trying, there are many other questions that are explored and explained in this fascinating non fiction book for young readers which combines accessible text with appealing artwork. Did you know that mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish yawn but insects don't? What's the common element between those creatures that do? Does that has something to do with it? Maybe it will be a reader who discovers the answer!
It is books like these that provide the strongest evidence and justification for having a robust print non fiction collection in the primary school library at least. It even has a formal 'sources cited' bibliography for further exploration, although none of those would be in a school library - the author has done the research and distilled the information into child-friendly language and explanation.
One to pair with Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book for some fun-filled fact-finding!
Loosely, very loosely, using aspects of Arthurian legend, Croucher has written a rollicking gay love story with twists and turns that eventually plunges heard-first into a full-on knight's battle, the main characters emerging weary but wiser, to live happily-ever-after.
18-year-olds Art and Gwen have been betrothed since childhood but can hardly conceal their dislike for each other when they are forced to spend the summer tournament season at Camelot together, before their marriage that will join their two families.
Their relationship is further complicated by Gwen’s secret crush on feisty knight Bridget, and Arthur’s nocturnal transgressions and flirting with Gwen’s brother, the king-to-be, Gabriel. Bridget is a strong-willed young woman who has sacrificed much to achieve her dream of becoming a knight, while Gwen is less certain of her path in life. Gabriel fears he will always be miserable as he faithfully does what he thinks others expect of him, unlike Arthur who lives carefree and reckless.
For light-hearted relief we see Art and Gwen’s servants Sidney and Agnes fall head-over-heels in love, but even they have to court surreptitiously.
Croucher has created a group of endearing characters, young people seeking to understand and explore their feelings within a society with strict expectations, or so they believe. Gwen and Gabriel experience at times shame, obligation and uncertainty, and witness the effects on others, of their choices and desires as they navigate their romantic interests. As children of the king, they have to decide whether to accept and follow their feelings, or fulfil their responsibilities, or whether they can do both.
The characters’ teen-age banter and bad jokes make for easy and amusing reading, but Croucher also sensitively addresses issues of self-acceptance and coming-out.
These various love-interests are eclipsed in the final chapters as a full-on battle erupts, and treachery and treason are exposed. This section also sees a goodly number of battle casualties and injuries, described in considerable detail, somewhat at odds with the more upbeat earlier chapters.
Highly recommended for readers who like a gay romance and aren’t too concerned about historical accuracy.
Ahoy there matey, and where is the treasure! If you love historical fiction with some pirate action, this is a great book for you!
Blackbeard’s Treasure by Iszi Lawrence, set during the eighteenth century in the Caribbean, when piracy was at a high, is a great novel for anyone who enjoys adventure and history. Filled with action and anticipation, no one knows who to trust or where they will end up.
The year is 1718, when pirates roamed the seas to pilfer and steal. The Caribbean islands were full of slaves and wealthy plantation owners, and life was tough. Abigail Buckler is an eleven-year-old girl who lives the affluent life with her father, in a wealthy sugar plantation lifestyle. However, she lives a lonely life; forbidden to play with slaves' children. But, unbeknownst to her father, she has a secret friend, Boubacar.
After an attack by pirates, her life changes forever. Thrown into a world that is completely upside down to what she is used to, she is forced into decisions that would once have been wrong. However, when survival is the highest priority, Abigail must make decisions to ensure her safety.
With Boubacar at her side, she is faced with a life that is foreign and survival instincts kick in. Her prior life seems just a forgotten dream, as she is thrown into a world of theft, deception and terror. How will she and Boubacar survive these treacherous times and endure the life that they find themselves in?
Bringing historical fiction to life, the reader journeys amongst the Caribbean seas, with infamous pirates, slave trade and the dangerous costs of luxury items. This novel provides an insight into what life may have been like back then.
Iszi Lawrence has created an engaging and interesting novel. This story will appeal to anyone who is interested in history, pirates and adventure. Abigail’s brazen and daring actions will keep you in suspense right up to the very end…. And where is Blackbeard’s well talked about treasure really hiding?
Another offering in the Eric Carle Library, this book is a Colours book, designed to introduce colours to the very young with a strongly bound board book and the Very Hungry Caterpillar making its way through an array of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables.
Using Eric Carle’s words the book shows the caterpillar eating its way through red tomato soup and strawberries, orange baked beans and orange juice, yellow macaroni cheese and banana, purple onion, cabbage and aubergine, blue lollipops, brown bread sandwich and a cookie, pink hot dog and a piece of watermelon, a green salad, a black and white lunch with a white salad filled wrap and some blackberries and finally a multicoloured fruit salad.
Kids will love the board book, eagerly turning the pages to see what the caterpillar will eat next and what colour it is, recognising the fruit and vegetables shown. They will talk about which of them they have eaten, and try some of the unknown ones for themselves. Astute teachers or parents will have a few of them ready for the young readers to try.
A great introduction to colour as well as the array of fruit and vegetables there are to try, children will learn lots from this book.
Through the caterpillar, the idea of lunch as a small meal with lots of fruit and vegetable is reinforced, and the variety shown will be most acceptable to them.
Interestingly there are several readings on YouTube and the version read by the person from the USA shows differences that are intriguing. Not only are there spelling changes but also the names of some of the food offered have minor changes. The USA version also heralds a different type of food offered sometimes for lunch. For older readers this may offer a point of comparison to discuss.
Themes Colours, Lunch, Fruit and vegetables, Humour, Very Hungry Caterpillar.
