If the world were 100 animals by Miranda Smith. Illus. by Aaron Cushley
Red Shed, 2022. ISBN: 9780008524371. (Age:6+) Highly recommended.
What a treasure trove of information, presented in a way that is accessible to mid primary aged children and older, filled with colour and maps, illustrations that draw the reader in to look more closely, taking in every detail. I had fun with this book and I am sure many children will too.
To distill the huge numbers of animals, into a base of 100 is awe inspiring. Out of 100 animals in the world 94 are invertebrates and 6 are vertebrates. The invertebrates (those without a backbone) include a huge range of animals, many so small they can only be seen using a microscope.
Out of 100 mammals, 94 are placental, while 5 are marsupial and 1 is a monotreme. The book continues with each double page offering another companion, interesting facts and eye popping numbers. Illustrations cover each page to showcase the animals being spoken of and each is a fascinating spread on which to feast the eyes and take in the science. Readers will want to research some of the new words, adding the animals that fit into the category. Who can go past the word monotreme and not want to know which animals are in that small group?
Some of the pages are just mind boggling. A beautiful double page opens out on its side and illustrates the depth of the sea, with lots of pairs of eyes looking out at the reader, because, of every 100 animals that live in the sea, only 9 are known! No wonder there is lots of sea exploration going on. Another which will give readers cause to stop and think is the 100 animals that live in the wild. In the past all animals were wild, but now only 5 live in the wild, 36 are humans and 59 are found on farms.
A page which children will recognise too is the one about pets. It would be interesting for readers to predict just how many dogs and cats, birds and fish are kept as pets before they open this page. They may be surprised.
And another page which I found fascinating was that of 100 animals, 10 are still living, while 90 have becomes extinct.
On the publication page is information about where the statistics came from and on the last double page is information to make readers think a little further after they have read the book.
A group of kids will greatly enjoy this book, while in a class, it will engender much discussion and research, and looked at alone will be engrossing.
I loved it and I’m sure many others will too. It is a companion to ‘If the world were 100 People' also published by Red Shed, part of the HarperCollins group.
Spice Road is the first novel in a series to be written by Maiya Ibrahim, an Australian, who has set out to create a magical world imbued with the Arabian culture of her ancestry. So for diverse readers, it will be a joy to read of characters dressed in sirwal, eating a felafel sandwich, and drinking a special spiced tea.
Imani has grown up in the privileged world of the Sahir. She has excelled in her training as a Shield warrior, and has learnt how to use the magic of the misra tea to transform the force of her dagger into a sword or a spear. She is bound to protect her country and guard the secret of the Spice tea. It is only when she ventures out on a quest to find and bring back her disgraced elder brother Atheer, who has supposedly broken his allegiances and shared the magic outside of their country’s border, that she starts to build a broader picture of the wider world and the people within it. She comes to question everything she has been told as a child, and has to adapt her thinking to the new experiences that impact her. This is the most compelling part of Ibrahim’s novel – the depiction of a closed, almost xenophobic mind, gradually opening up and reassessing her belief system. Issues of privilege, class and prejudice are explored from many angles.
All of this is set in an ancient mystical world, with djinns and monsters to overcome, each of the challenges revealing some new understanding as the characters grow and develop. There is romance, but the two potential love interests each have their barriers to trust and friendship, and are another puzzle for Imani to gradually work out.
All in all, Spice Road is an exciting fantasy adventure. The Kingdom of Alqibah is beautifully described and the reader is easily carried along through scenes of crumbling ruins and desert sands. The quest become one of finding one’s heart or true values, learning to see beyond the sheltered home world to embrace affinity with others who live a different life, part of a wider humanity. The ending is a satisfying conclusion, but the threads are there to pick up again, as Imani has yet to face the return home and make a decision about what to do with her new knowledge. Readers will no doubt eagerly await the sequel.
The cover of Immortality, with the view of a woman from above, her dress around her like the wrinkles of a brain, is just as eye-catchingly dramatic as the cover of its predecessor, Anatomy, with the skirt spread like the red chambers of a heart. This time the focus is not so much on the gaining of surgical anatomical skills as the pursuit of the chemistry of immortality. The second book in the Anatomy duology picks up the story of Hazel Sinnett, a young lady determined to become a surgeon and physician in Edinburgh in the early 1800s. At the same time she wants to learn more about the secret Tincture that supposedly gives immortality to those who dare to swallow it. Perhaps then, she will find out if her lost love, Jack Currer, is still alive, waiting for her somewhere in the world.
The frequent problem with sequels is the amount of time that has to be spent in the second novel explaining who the characters are and filling in the story until that point, and Immortality suffers from this drawback just as much as any other. In fact the first third of the book becomes a kind of rehash along with the introduction of several otherwise interesting characters who are introduced for plot purposes and then dropped with little to no reference to them again. It is only after that prolonged section of the book is concluded that the real story picks up as Hazell is given the role of physician to the Princess Charlotte of the Royal House of Hanover, a princess who seems to be cursed with a mysterious ailment that prevents her fulfilling her role as princess of England, and then ultimately mother to a future king.
It is only in the last third of the novel that we discover what happened to the dashing Jack Currer, the man who stole Hazel’s heart in the graveyards and theatres of Edinburgh. Will Hazel ever find happiness; will she be able to practise medicine alone as a single woman; or will she have to find some kind of compromise in a society that expects women to become wives and mothers?
Despite the plot flaws, Schwartz provides a good examination of the roles of women, corruption of the political world, the flaws of humankind, and the imaginative possibilities of immortality. This along with a good mix of macabre gruesomeness and gothic romance makes this book one that will be popular with young adult readers, especially those who were hooked into the excitement of the first novel and who may have felt a bit disappointed with its ambiguous ending. All the ends are neatly tied up by the closing pages of Immortality, so while some readers may be reluctant to finally set it down, I am sure that Dana Schwartz is up to beginning a new historical mystery romance that will be equally engaging.
An afternoon spent by the beach gives the opportunity for a mother and daughter to strengthen their relationship over the things they find by the sea. As they wander by the shore, the girl picks up little treasures which she shows her mother in her cupped hands. "Look", she says as they wonder at the small purse pebble, the strand of seaweed, blue sea glass and a tiny heart shaped pink shell. They take these precious jewels down to the sea where they spy a ship passing by taking goods to far away places. They build a sand castle to house their treasures, and splash through the water nearby. Running up the sand dunes, they leave behind footprints that look like stepping stones between them, and the girl sits on top of one dune, surveying the world beneath her feet.
All the while, mother and daughter are sharing adventures, sights, sounds and found objects, bringing them closer together, sharing things that will be wonderful memories when they return home. The simplest of things, an afternoon at the beach can be suffused with imagination and activities that are not done everyday, so creating a stronger bond between the woman and her child.
Told in verse form, the story begs to be read aloud, encouraging young children to join in with the repeated words, and predict the rhyming word at the end of each line.
The story evokes the strong connection between mother and daughter, and this connection is beautifully depicted with the stunning illustrations. The spectacle of the sea and sky and the sand dunes, gives every reader a sense of the openness, the vista, the panorama of being at the beach where no one else can be seen, their footprints the only ones there. Water colour and pencil illustrations are cut out and reformed to make collage spreads, illustrating their time at the beach and all that they saw. Younger children will love picking out the detail on each page. I loved the rock pool, where the two are paddling and seeing what they can see. Goldsmith’s water colour technique gives the reader a soft, loving and companionable feel to the images, and nowhere is this more striking than the last page where they are sharing the pink shell surrounded by some of the other things they found during their time at the beach. A wonderful offering for Mother’s Day, reiterating the joy to be found in doing the simplest of things together.
Themes Mother’s Day, Mothers and daughters, Beach, Sea shells, Sand castles, Family.
Fran Knight
Twenty questions by Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson
This intriguing, investigative book will lead readers to ask questions, answer some, ask others, connect with others and share their answers, so initiating stories based on some of the imaginings. Who could resist deciding which woman robbed the bank on the third double page. I cam imagine kids having a great fun making observations and deductions about the six women shown, winkling out who could have done it and why, thereby writing a story about opportunity, need and consequences. Similarly the wonderful 'Who is she waiting for?' towards the end of the book, had me thinking about a host of scenarios and situations, possibilities and intrigues and younger minds will slip into wild imaginings with relish.
And the cow on the wind turbine! Why is she there, how did she get there? What is she thinking?! How will she get down?! What are the other cows thinking?! What can she see?! Endless very funny possibilities.
Quirky, explorative, leading, the twenty questions posed in the book will initiate many more as kids grab hold of the opportunity offered in developing story.
I remember being offered one liners as openings to a story to be written in an exam, how much better is this, offered a question which could lead anywhere and everywhere, supported by Christian Robinson’s amazing illustrations, each as different as the last, each offering a context to the question posed, each offering an open ended investigation.
Who is on the other side of this door? Illustrated with a high snow covered peak, a door near the top of the peak, intriguingly placed where a door could not possibly be. Robinson’s mountain provokes more questions, prompting the viewer to think of many things other than who is waiting on the other side. I would love to be a fly on the wall for some of the discussions that evolve after reading this book. Full of wit and humour, the whole book grabs the reader and encourages them to think, imagine, observe. What a treat!
Until 1960, when Jane Goodall observed a chimpanzee using a blade of grass to 'fish' for termites, it was believed that humans were the only animal to use tools and that the use of these because we have opposable thumbs were what separated us from animals in general. However, since her discovery, we've learned that many creatures use sticks, leaves, rocks, and other natural items as tools to perform all kinds of tasks.
In this fascinating picture book from Caldecott Honor-winning team Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, readers learn all about what makes a tool a tool - 'an object than an animal manipulates and uses to affect its environment, another animal or itself' - and the remarkable ways animals that use them to interact with the world. From the tailorbird, which repurposes spider silk to stitch a leaf into its nest, to the gorilla, which uses sticks to test water depth and build bridges, these animals are intelligent, innovative, and creative.
Written in a narrative style that is easily accessible to the young independent reader, and using his signature cut paper illustrations, Steve Jenkins offers readers a closer look at these animals, their habitats, and their behaviours, making it a 'poster-child' for why we must continue to offer our students a robust non fiction print collection. How else will they discover that apes and monkeys regularly clean their teeth, that crows indulge in sword-fighting just for fun and the bottlenose dolphins of Shark Bay, WA have learned to use seashells to catch food?
This is one that will fascinate animal enthusiasts and aspiring inventors everywhere, and perhaps inspire them to look more closely and investigate further.
George is no ordinary bear. He lives with a little girl called Clementine and her mother, who have taught him to read! There was nothing he liked more than to sit in the garden and read once he'd helped out around the house because, next to reading, being useful was his favourite thing to do.
One day, when George finishes his book early and knows it will be a long time before Clementine and her mother return home, he decides to go to the library by himself. At first it's exciting to stroll along the sunny street. But poor George's trip soon ends in disaster because not everyone can cope with seeing a large brown bear walking down the street, and, to make things worse, his library book is ruined. Do bears really cry? Can anyone help George to feel better when his feelings are hurt?
This is a heart-warming story for young readers who probably wouldn't blink if they saw a bear walking down the street and they certainly wouldn't carry on like the townspeople. But it is also a timely reminder that some of the things that we say and do can hurt other's feelings, even if that is not our intention, and so we need to think before we speak or act and be sensitive to the feelings of those around us. For little ones who are so egocentric this is something they have to learn and so this, apart from being just a grand read-together, is a great discussion starter.
Down in the Westerfield Dump amongst all the rubbish discarded by the local community live Nana the dried up banana, Ms Kettle the teapot and Moreland, the crusty blob of goo. And they are the best of friends. Not for them the familiar meaning of being 'down in the dumps' - they are very happy to be who they are, where they are, doing what they do.
This is a new series for young readers who are just beginning to transition from structured basal readers to the world of novels. Almost like a graphic novel, they are specifically written for this cohort with minimal narration (clearly set in text boxes) and the action is carried in the illustrations and speech-bubble conversations. Chapters are short and fast-paced and at the end of each, readers are given direct encouragement to keep reading.
Despite a landfill area being an unlikely setting and the characters being somewhat different to what we expect, nevertheless they are very relatable with the common themes of friendship, acceptance, loyalty and fighting for what's right (even if you're trash) as they face issues that will spark consideration and conversation with suggestions for thinking, feeling and acting offered in the 'super Stinky Games' section.
Years ago, writers like Paul Jennings, Christopher Milne, Morris Gleitzman and Andy Griffiths tapped into the young readers' love for characters and plots that would make adults blush or cringe, and this does a similar thing. There's something appealing about that which doesn't appeal to grownups, and with four in this series planned, at least, this is one for even the most reluctant reader.
Barbara Braxton
A marriage of fortune by Anne O'Brien
Hachette, 2023. ISBN: 9781398711150. (Age:Adult - Young adult)
The Paston family of Norwich live in difficult times. It is 1467 and the family, Margaret Mautby Paston, and her sons, Sir John and Jonty are struggling to hold on to nearby Caister Castle, a disputed inheritance from Margaret’s cousin Sir John Falstoff which cements their rather shaky position as landed gentry. Eldest daughter Margery, 20, is under pressure to marry into wealth and influence as her older brothers seem disinclined, more interested in court life, free of their mother’s marriage machinations. Margery however is more interested in the family’s bailiff, Richard Calle, ‘tall and fair, lithe and graceful' p. 9 a loyal and intelligent man she has known since childhood but a man of the merchant class without land. When it seems Margery is to be sent away to be boarded out in London to a respectable family where she might encounter a suitable husband the couple secretly make marriage vows 'per verba de praesenti' and consummate the marriage in bed. Her mother Margaret is incensed and when the couple refuse to deny their marriage Richard is dismissed and Margery turned out of the house. All this at a time in British history of instability and lawlessness as the houses of Lancaster and York battle a series of civil wars for control of the British throne. The story follows the women’s lives against this backdrop as they strive to hang on to what they have and to protect their positions and families in troubled times from the point of view of some of the main players; Margaret, her sister Elizabeth, whose Yorkist husband died on the battlefield against Lancaster (another disputed inheritance for the Pastons), Margery and Sir John’s betrothed, Mistress Anne Haute, the Queen’s cousin, a match approved by his mother but which he seems disinclined to formalise. There is a family tree at the beginning to help the reader keep abreast of the relationships and there is a family tree of the Royal Houses of Lancaster and York. Disappointingly there are no dates on either chart. The story follows these women’s lives from 1467 to 1484 through times of turbulence and change.
Lovers of women’s historical fiction will enjoy this addition to this much written about period of British history. The dialogue aims at an archaic expression and there is some reference to the clothing and fashions popular at the time. I really struggled to finish this book; at nearly 500 pages it might have been better to limit the scope either with fewer characters or a shorter timeframe. I have not read O’Brien’s previous book featuring the Pastons The Royal Game which might have made me more invested in the characters. Not quite a bodice ripper ‘my heart leapt in joy and fear beneath the confines of my gown’ p.28 but an interesting insight into the machinations of women in a male dominated society.
Themes British history, Wars of the Roses, Social standing, Family, Marriage.
In a ripping fantasy tale Jayben finds himself in an alternative world, but all his memories have disappeared. A magical torch, some bizarre crystals in his hand and a compass engraved with his name are all hints at something significant. When Jayben meets the local fantasy elfin individuals in their fantasy world, unrecognisable to those of us in Earth-time and place, they are convinced that he is there to save them from the evil forces deliberately trying to block the connection between Earth and the Elf world. Many strange things are happening and there seems to be an urgent need for Jayben to rediscover some memory. Careless adults are being morphed into Null-heads, and with no cognisance of their former lives, are becoming fantasy ‘zombies’. Jayben’s friends and the odd elf-world creatures, support him in an amazing quest. Can he discover his place in the fantasy world and save them all from evil agents by discovering his own powers and his memory before it is too late?
This has elements of the great fantasy tale – the unlikely hero, the quest, and the other-worldly magical creatures, in combination with the human dilemmas of finding one’s place in the world. Jayben (Ben) is both a ‘lost boy’ and someone wanting to find security in a strange world. The likely combination of ‘lost periods’ in his fantasy life, and the possibility of epilepsy as a cause of memory-loss are a parallel to this author’s own journey with a brain injury and epilepsy. The fantasy world Thomas Leeds has created is unique and unfamiliar, and the characters that Jayben meets and the friendships that are forged have their own intrigues. There is humour, tension, and some strange pathways through the journey to the last page, with the occasional ‘missing moments’. This is not a Harry Potter story, but it will appeal to some fantasy devotees, aged 10+, if they can cope with the occasional confusions or absences due to memory loss. I enjoyed this story, but I found that I had to read it in larger chunks in order not to lose track of the plot progress. This can certainly be recommended to readers of fantasy, and it seems that a second book involving Jayben may be coming in the future.
Themes Memories, Fantasy, Friendship, Good vs evil, Courage, Disability, Epilepsy.
A disturbing and ruthless portrayal of the darkness of suburbia, Good Neighbours chronicles the events leading up to the fictitious 2027 Maple Street Murders. The plot is foreshadowed through the inclusion of fictitious media and scholarly reports teasing the tragedies soon to befall the characters.
Good Neighbours is set in Maple Street, a picture-perfect slice of suburban Long Island. This illusion is shattered when, devastated by an unforgiving heatwave, suburban Queen Bee Rhea organises a neighbourhood fourth of July barbecue to lift morale. All of the families in the neighbourhood are invited, except for the Wilde family. When they decide to show up anyway, assuming that their exclusion was an accidental oversight, tensions mount. Then, the earth opens up – an enormous sinkhole emerges in the park bordering the neighbourhood crescent. 6 days later, Rhea’s daughter Shelly falls inside, frantically running with Julia Wilde towards a better future after finally unloading a dark secret. Good Neighbours follows the Orwellian, futuristic neighbourhood as poisonous accusations are thrown around, testing loyalties, and putting the Wilde family in danger, until the climactic end of the novel in which blood is finally spilled.
Told through multiple perspectives that encourage the reader to treat the entire Maple Street neighbourhood as complicit in the tragedies that befall them, Good Neighbours is a thrilling dystopian story, exploring the notions of community, conspiracy, secrets, and betrayal. Langan asks the reader to consider whether history can ever really be truthful, and reminds us the importance of critically analysing information presented by seemingly trustful sources; fitting in the era of “fake news” and a world in which it is increasingly difficult to trust your instincts and far easier to follow the trend of those around you.
This novel is a stunning example of the importance of literature in asking hard questions through the lens of fictional narratives, and of understanding the things that make us human. As Gertie reflects towards the end of the novel, we must never fear showing others our “mess”. That is the true meaning of togetherness.
Recommended for students 17+ due to the distressing descriptions of death, abuse, betrayal, and violence within the novel. Also features descriptions of distressing acts of violence, including gun use, and includes brief sexual references.
As a child, Harper lives a dull life in a city that doesn't celebrate creativity, so when three figures arrive at her window in a flying canoe, informing her that she is due to start her apprenticeship, Harper discovers she is a Spectacular - a magical performer, gifted special powers from the stars. Harper is thrilled to be part of the Spectaculars' travelling theatre and boarding school, until everything is plunged into great danger. With her new friends Trick and Thief, Harper sets out to save her school... But while dreams come true at the Wondria, nightmares might just be lurking in the wings...
Touted as "The Greatest Showman meets Nevermoor", this is the first in a new series for older, independent readers who can cope with a longer book with characters and events that take them beyond their immediate world. Fantasy and magic are very popular right now and I know this is one that Miss 11, who has aspirations of being a performer one day, will really enjoy.
Prometheus High: The books of the dead by Stuart Wilson
Penguin, 2022. ISBN: 9781761042263.
Athena and her bunk mate, Marceline are on a mission to uncover Marceline's past - though their plans seem to be risky and teeter on getting them expelled - or killed. As if starting their new semester on a zeppelin wasn't dangerous enough, they start the term with robbing the library. Back on the ground. Nothing serious, just taking 'The Book of Creators'. A slightly contentious text. Making it back to the floating airship with seconds to spare, the pair go about attempting to uncover the secrets of the book. With the occasional help of their friend Godfrey, they learn more about the book(s), themselves and Ancient Egypt, through the course content and Professors lectures.
The second in the Prometheus High series, The Books of the Dead is told from different perspectives, more so than the first book, which really gives a nice variety and roundness to the story. With a wide variety of characters - from fellow students to teachers, or 'creators', there are many characters to keep readers interested. Evenly paced, the novel reads quickly as it is well written. After learning a secret about Athena's bunk mate at the end of book one, Athena, and readers, are intrigued and want to learn more. Plenty of humourous questionable moral actions occur, plenty of action and adventure fill the book. A new kind of Frankenstein mixed with magic akin to the Skulduggery Pleasant series, this series may appeal to fans of these or for those interested in a quirky story. A must read for those who started the journey with the first book.
When 12-year old Josh Primm and his family move to New York City, they are surprised to discover a crocodile living in their attic - a crocodile that is fun, playful, and can sing! Josh and Lyle become best friends but then Lyle's former owner turns up to claim him for a new musical act and despite the issues Lyle has caused with a neighbour, the Primms realise how much Lyle means to them and that they need to keep him as part of the family.
Based on the original story by Bernard Waber, this is the novelisation of the film currently so popular with young children, making it an ideal addition to any family or school collection as we encourage them to read and revisit the fun they have shared. Knowing the scenario will support those who are consolidating their skills while others may seek out the original as well as others in the series and others by the same author, expanding reading horizons beyond the screen.
The prologue to Laura Shepperson’s version of the mythical Phaedra story sets the scene with the bard adapting his storytelling to the tastes of his audience, so the foreign princess becomes a seductress; Hippolytus, the macho son of Theseus is cheered; and the whole story is embellished to the cheers of the audience. The story is not the truth, the bard himself has no idea what the truth is, and he does not give a second thought to the hooded figures on the edge of crowd, the women, for their opinion is worthless.
At the heart of Shepperson’s story of Phaedra is a trial, the first of its kind in Athens, where the Cretan princess Phaedra accuses her step-son Hippolytus of rape. It is the word of one miserable woman against the word of the prince, in a world where women are used and abused. There is a whole chorus of women who have suffered at the hands of men. Phaedra hears their cries at night: It happened to me. And me. And me. Me too. Phaedra increasingly finds the strength within herself to stand up against the mistreatment of women. But she could not find herself in a more hostile situation.
In this intriguing version of the Greek myths, Shepperson suggests that perhaps the stories of women visited by gods are the excuse that desperate women in Phaedra’s situation revert to. How can she face the return of her husband to find her pregnant to another man? So perhaps she could say she was sitting by the shore awaiting his return and was visited by the god Poseidon instead. Then her child would be half god, and must be revered.
Stories of the gods may have been invented to account for all sorts of strange events. Perhaps there is a similar explanation behind the story of her mother’s birthing of the Minotaur. Indeed, was the Minotaur even a strange beast? Phaedra knows him only as a gentle kind brother hidden away from the view of outsiders.
Stories can be twisted and turned, innocent people can find themselves reviled by the crowd, just as can occur in our present times of social media, cyberbullying and trolls. This story drawing on Greek mythology has just as much relevance today in the times of court cases and ‘me too’ protests. Shepperson’s historical fantasy novel shines a light on the world of women in ancient Greece, but can also be seen as having parallels with the situation for modern day rape victims and casualties of social media.
This is another feminist retelling of ancient stories which would definitely be a winner with readers who enjoyed Jennifer Saint’s books, Ariadne and Elektra.
