When Sam lets in a little fear one night, he's sure it won't be any bother. But before he knows it, the fear has grown and grown and grown. Until even the sunniest of sunny days doesn't feel very sunny any more. There's only one thing for it. Sam must try and be a little bit brave .
It's not so long ago that if we wanted books that addressed the mental health of our youngest readers we would be searching the shelves, possibly in vain. But with the growing recognition and understanding that the well-being of our teens and young adults begins with their ability to cope with their earliest fears - fears that all children have as they start to navigate the road to independence - then books like this are not only becoming more common but, sadly, more necessary.
Sam's particular fear is not identified but it is given shape, form and colour so that it seems real, and that in itself is important because it acknowledges that for Sam, and other children, whatever it is is a real concern so the story has wider applicability. In Sam's case, the fear grows so large it follows him around like a big black cloud until he decides that to be brave, he just has to put one foot in front of the other. There is no indication that he tells anyone about it or seeks adult help, so if this book is used in a class program perhaps those steps should form part of any ensuing discussion. To give the impression that something that has grown as large as it has is something the child could/should deal with alone is perhaps instilling even more anxiety especially if using Sam's strategy doesn't work. So while facing our own individual demons, regardless of their size, shape and colour, all of which can keep changing, is something we ultimately have to do ourselves, there needs to be a strong message that we don't have to do it alone. So while I'd recommend it as part of your mental health collection, it is one that should be shared in the first reading.
Themes Fear.
Barbara Braxton
How to draw the Gruffalo and friends by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Award-winning illustrator Axel Scheffler has created a wonderful step-by-step guide to learning how to draw images based on the popular books by much-loved author Julia Donaldson. Celebrating 30 Years of Favourite Stories, this colourful and well-presented book, is a treasure trove of characters and scenes from The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, Room on a Broom, The Snail and The Whale, The Smartest Giant in Town, A squash and a Squeeze, Monkey Puzzle and Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book.
The book begins with a warm introduction from Axel Scheffler and in each of the eight sections he gives personal thoughts and ideas. He also includes an important orange-coloured Top Tip bubble for the reader. Each character is cleverly introduced with instructions provided in an easy-to-follow manner. There are starting points and extra support with guide lines being added. As an additional bonus is the opportunity to design and create scenes for some of the characters.
For readers of Julia Donaldson’s books this a wonderful addition to a home library or for a teacher to share with their students. It gives a valuable behind-the scenes look at how Axel Scheffler brought these popular books to life.
Kathryn Beilby
The blue umbrella by Emily Ann Davison and Momoke Abe
Andersen Press, 2023. ISBN: 9781839132520.
It wasn't supposed to rain the day the little girl found the blue umbrella on her doorstep with a note that said, "For you." But she took it with her to the park just in case, and sure enough the rain started. As it got heavier, she realised her mum was getting wet, and even though it was just a little umbrella she told her mum to get under it. And, miraculously, they both fitted. As they noticed more and more people getting wet, they invited them to shelter too, and the umbrella grew to embrace them all. But the biggest miracle was yet to come...
This is a heart-warming story of the power of community coming and working together that will delight young readers, particularly. Somewhat reminiscent of the story of the magic pot that kept multiplying the food so all the peasants could be fed, but without the didacticism, it shows just how the ripples of kindness can spread into unexpected corners - how a simple act might be the shining light in a person's struggle, as it was for the old man on the park bench. Perhaps the children might not have a mysterious, magic umbrella but they do have a smile that can spread just as widely.
Themes Umbrellas, Rain, friendship, Community life.
Barbara Braxton
Where's Wally? Days out colouring book by Martin Handford
Walker Books, 2023. ISBN: 9781529507386. (Age:5+)
Young fans of Where’s Wally? will enjoy this latest colouring book of destinations including an art gallery, restaurant, parade, doggy day care and even a Jurassic scene. With detailed drawings in black and white, and Wally hidden on the page, there is the opportunity for the young reader to make each double page their own. There are items to search for and also black and white stickers to colour in.
Cat lives in Kent with her parents and is two years older than her more sensible, tree-hugging sister, twelve-year-old Luna. The two main influences in Cat's life are Taylor Swift and “The Bible to the Stars”, her astrological guide to everything. Her secret main obsession is classmate Alison Bridgewater, ‘the Prettiest Pisces Princess” p15 and she dreams about kissing her and decides to write her a poem. When Alison asks her to meet after school Cat is ecstatic but when she sees Alison talking to a boy, she is so distracted she steps in front of a bus. Cat is not badly hurt and her friends rally round to cheer her up. Best friend Zanna is her main supporter and knows about her crush but Cat is part of the popular, pretty group at school ruled by queen bee, Siobhan who gets to decide who is in and who is out and Cat wants to fit in so keeps her preference secret. The girls know Siobhan is a bully but want to be included in her group for protection. At weekends Cat’s mother has a sewing group and her best friend’s son, Jamie Owasu, regularly spends time with Cat though they have nothing in common. When Cat accidentally mentions she thinks he is good looking Jamie starts gazing at her in a different way and then she tries to hide her crush on Alison from Siobhan and her group by saying she likes Jamie. Before she knows it, they are boyfriend and girlfriend and Cat’s life gets even more complicated. When new girl, Morgan Delaney, a Gemini and not one of Siobhan’s group, rescues Cat’s journal from the river things start to change and Cat must reassess the horoscope assertion ‘never trust a Gemini”. Packed with fun alliteration like ‘brutal broomsticks” and ‘dancing dingoes divine” Cat’s is a fun story for young middle school girls (the characters seem much younger than their stated age). Racism and casual xenophobia are called out with a light touch, a bit too light really, and it does shine a light on peer group bullying and the importance of standing up for others; again, rather weakly and late in the piece, similarly with homophobia. I was a bit disturbed by the disappearance of Jamie on page 147 with no follow up on his welfare, and the lack of any good male characters was a shame. The fast-paced dialogue-rich narrative is broken up with occasional poems and group chats. This is very much a girls’ book, a bit shallow and thoughtless but it will no doubt appeal to its intended audience.
Themes LGBTQ+, friendship, astrology.
Sue Speck
Miss Penny Dreadful & the malicious maze by Allison Rushby
The second in this highly readable and engaging series of mystery stories centring on the wonderful Penny Pickering will catch readers who crave something more, casting aside the mountain of rosy pink BFF stories that have crowded shelves of late. Penny is a feisty, single minded girl, taken out of boarding school by her equally headstrong mystery writer aunt, to solve puzzles that come across their path.
When Penny visits her missing parent’s apartment and finds their laboratory turned upside down she knows something is wrong. A postcard from Switzerland does not allay her fears, but when Aunt Harriet is asked to solve the mystery of the malicious maze, this takes priority.
They immediately go to the house in Surrey, Harewood Hall, and instead of announcing themselves at the door, they go instead to the towering maze. No sooner do they step inside the maze, that Aunt Harriet disappears, leaving Penny all alone. But Sir Fothergill suddenly appears. Harriet and Penny follow him to the hat room, where Penny finds a maid’s hat with an article from the paper tucked inside its brim. The story concerns the missing servants, but when Penny tries to get some answers, she is forestalled. Only a talk to the stableboy Tom, allows her to feel she is getting somewhere, and donning his clothes goes to the village to seek answers.
But a second postcard has appeared from her parents, given over by the inscrutable Mr Crowley who has arrived without warning. Penny is always suspicious of his motives and the postcard adds to her concerns.
A stunning mix of mystery and suspense, the tale of Penny Pickering and the maze will delight mid and upper primary readers.
The first in the series, Miss Penny Dreadful and the midnight kittens (2022) is a wonderfully entertaining introduction to the stories about Penny, and her adventures are continued in Miss Penny Dreadful and the mermaid’s tale (2024)
An author’s note at the end of this story details the fascinating role of the Penny Dreadful in Victorian literature.
Themes Adventure, Mystery, Series Miss Penny Dreadful, Mazes, Humour.
Simply the best historical fiction I have read, the scenes of the English Civil War and the siege of Lyme Regis will stay with the reader long after the book is finished. And Minette Walker’s creation Jayne Swift is memorable.
Without taking allegiance to either the Royalist or Parliamentary forces in the English Civil War, Jayne Swift continues to practise her life’s work: healing. She finds herself at Lyme Regis setting up a hospital for the embattled town as Royalist forces hammer at their gates.
The eight week siege sees her skills needed every hour of every day, and she conscript many others to the hospital. Here she learns of the beliefs tearing families apart, not least her own. Coming from a Royalist family, she is surprised when one of her brothers enlists in Cromwell’s forces. But in the hospital and in Lyme itself Jayne becomes aware of the conflicted nature of opposing beliefs, and the utter brutality of the war, where intrigue and guile are used to undermine the opposing forces. Into this mix she meets William Harrier. Each time she meets him he is hiding behind a different guise, one a footman, a Caption at the Royalist stronghold of Corfe Castle, then a spy, but for whom? Their paths cross more often than she would like as a grudging interest in the man develops.
The background of the English Civil War is wonderful, giving a blow by blow account of the cruelty of the forces as they try to outdo each other, and giving the reader an intimate knowledge of the reasons each group fights. Through a small number of families, Walters is able to show the allegiances which supported each side, prolonging the agony for the smaller communities as their crops are razed, flocks taken for food, women assaulted, men killed, houses and farms destroyed. The portrait of the siege of Lyme Regis is powerful, allowing even the most casual of reader to understand the blood, sweat and tears that such a siege engenders.
The growing feelings between Jayne and William carries the story behind the fighting, and allows the reader to see just how different life was for women in the seventeenth century as she must tread a careful path lest any be aware of their mutual regard, particularly her parents.
I read this book via an audible version and the reading in a Dorset accent was thrilling. Jayne Swift is a character you will want to know better, her beliefs and expertise at a time when most doctors still followed the ideas of humours causing illness, bring her detractors as well as supporters both at home and further afield. This is an exceptional read on so many levels.
Themes Medicine, English Civil War, Dorset, Charles 1, Cromwell, Lyme Regis, Siege of Lyme Regis, Women’s role, Hospitals, Surgery.
Jamie by L. D. Lapinski is a heart-warming story, that brings hope and understanding to the forefront. Jamie is bold, brave and beautiful, and this delightful novel will have you hooked from the very beginning.
Jamie is a happy eleven year with two amazing best friends, Daisy and Ash. They love nothing better than hanging out together. Jamie has shared a secret, that had been gnawing away for a few years, with those nearest and dearest. Jamie’s happy secret is they are non-binary. To Jamie this was a great secret…one that made them feel happy and at peace with themselves. However, they are somewhat surprised that it doesn’t have the same happy effect for everyone.
The trio are in year 6 and nervously excited about the new world of high school next year. But, when given only two choices for high school, the boys school St Joseph or the girls school Queen Elizabeth, this doesn’t sit well; for obvious reasons. Where does this leave Jamie? Can they simply choose a school, the girls’ school with Daisy or the boys’ school with Ash, or do they need to stand up and demand a change?
Beautifully written, filled with thought-provoking insights, this is a story to get people’s attention. On point with information and sharing of insightful perspectives, this opens conversations and doorways to how our world can be more accepting of everyone. This novel deals with relevant information; to build greater understanding and deeper empathy in society.
L. D. Lapinski has created a highly engaging and inspiring novel. Cleverly interwoven with ‘between chapters’ of definition and terms; this adds to the story’s content and provides important information about gender, identity and more. This novel delves into people’s feelings and builds deeper understanding about how treatment can affect people in negative and positive ways. Jamie is a highly engaging story that gives wonderful perspectives and encourages acceptance for all.
InvestiGATORS: Heist and seek by John Patrick Green
Pan Macmillan, 2023. ISBN: 9781529097207. (Age:7+) Highly recommended.
Mango and Brash are at it again…but can they solve the case of the missing art pieces, before it is too late?
Heist and Seek is the sixth book in the extremely popular InvestiGATORS series, created by John Patrick Green. Filled with colourful cartoon style illustrations, this graphic novel is one that will grab your attention until the very end.
The fundraising gala for the art museum is fast approaching, and Mango and Brash are delivering rare artwork for the event. When they discover that pieces have mysteriously gone missing from their moving vehicle, this sounds a little bit suspicious. Who could have possible taken them, and how?
Mango and Brash think that this looks to be an inside job and it is going to need some quick thinking, super sleuths on the job. Thank goodness Mango and Brash are here! Both gators will need to go undercover as famous painters and artists to solve this crime. If they don’t solve this mystery fast, it is going to be a disaster because the art gallery cannot afford this catastrophe.
Can Mango and Brash work together to solve this heinous crime and save the art gallery from bankruptcy, or will things become too much for them?
John Patrick Green has again cracked the code for an engaging book. With an abundance of colour and an easy to follow lay out, it entertains and grabs the reader’s attention. Even though this is the sixth book in the series, you can get away with reading it first. You will probably get so hooked that you will want to read the other five books too!
Similar in humour and style to the highly popular Dav Pilkey’s DOGMAN and Cat Kid Comic Club, you won’t be disappointed! If you like fun, humour and lots of wisecracking jokes, then this is the book for you.
Themes Detective work, Teamwork, Adventure, Art, Problem Solving.
‘The Way to Impossible Island’ is a great dual timeline book that many middle grade children will lose themselves in. Reading it as a class novel would be cool too.
The story switches between two main characters who are both facing difficult challenges in their life and timelines. Both characters are seeking an impossible dream of adventure.
There is Dara, a modern day boy who is finally getting major heart surgery that will give him the freedom to do what he dreams of, like rowing out to the island in the Bay.
And there is Mothgirl, a Stone age girl that has no say in her life especially when her father has agreed to hand her over to the terrifying Vulture tribe to keep her safe.
Both Dara and Mothgirl are facing difficult challenges and run away only to fall into a time slip where Mothgirl appears in Dara’s world. This is where both their worlds collide and the adventure they seek begins.
I love the way Sophie Kirtley has written this book to engage children with the descriptions and language she uses to tells us what Mothgirl sees. Like ‘high sky huts’ and ‘food deerskins’. My favourite is Mothgirl’s pet wolf’s name, ByMySide. The wolf never leaves her side. Brilliant name. Plus, who wouldn’t want a wolf as a pet, I sure would.
‘The Way to Impossible Island’ is Sophie Kirtley’s second book which is a follow up of her first, ‘The Wild Way Home’ which is based on older siblings. Impossible Island is definitely a brave, life affirming adventure about finding your family and finding yourself. A book which any child would lose themselves in.
Themes Self esteem, Self empowerment.
Maria Komninos
E-Boy: Superhuman army by Anh Do
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761065668. (Age:10-14) Recommended.
The fifth book in the series, this story continues the adventures of Ethan, a boy who has gained some extraordinary mental powers during an operation to remove a brain tumour, and the astonishing android, Gemini, who performed his operation.Ethan, Penny (Gemini’s handler), and Gemini embark on a perilous mission to stop the mythical Grapes of Atlantis, which provide Gemini’s power, from getting into the wrong hands. The tiny powerful crystals have come out of their hiding place and the heroes must find them and replace them deep in an underwater cave before they are taken and used for the wrong purposes, such as powering a superhuman army to take over the world. Other titles in the series that started with E-Boy are Robofight, Enter the Jungle, and New Gemini.
Robots and Artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming popular topics of conversation among many in the science world and this story shows how we imagine they could be used to assist humans to keep us all safe and the dangers they could create if used for unscrupulous purposes.This book has plenty of action with a story that will engage some of the most reluctant readers.The strange monsters, nasty bad guys wanting to take over the world and conquering heroes all serve to make these stories highly accessible to a wide audience in upper primary and lower secondary schools.
Cursed crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber
Electric Monkey, 2023. ISBN: 9780008492236. (Age:14+) Recommended.
In this exciting sequel to Twin crowns, twin queens Rose and Wren have been crowned but all is not well in the kingdom. Wren is determined to rescue her grandmother, Banba, who has been taken captive to Gevra, that icy realm ruled over by King Alarek, while Rose is not happy with the people of Eana, many of whom want to get rid of the witches. Rose plans a tour of the kingdom, but Wren in her usual impetuous way, rushes off to Gevra, leaving Rose to face a rising rebellion.
Told in alternate short chapters by real-life sisters-in-law Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber, Wren and Rose come to life on the pages. Both have a distinct voice and are easy to relate to, and each character has both strengths and flaws. Wren’s loyalty to her grandmother commits her to attempting to rescue her, but she often doesn’t think about the consequences of her actions. Rose is the steadier of the twins and must do her best to keep the kingdom safe.
The action is fast paced and exciting, each twin facing trials and danger. The icy realm of Gevra and its ruler test Wren, who makes a magical bargain that is hazardous to everyone. Rose meanwhile travels to the Sunless Kingdom where unexpected secrets are revealed. The romance between Rose and Shen Lo also is tested, while Wren’s feelings for Tor are put on a back burner. The authors explore the power of propaganda as the rebellious Arrows chant OUT WITH THE WITCHES and ignite fear of the witches’ power throughout the kingdom.
Readers are left knowing that future books will explore the prophesy: Break the ice to free the curse, Kill one twin to save another . . .
And they wil look forward to Rose and Wren uniting to save their world.
When faced with a crime, wouldn’t you like to choose how to follow the clues and find the answers? Well look no further, this is the story for you!
The Missing Magic is the third book in the Solve your own Mystery series, written by Gareth P. Jones. Filled with suspects, clues and questions, your detective skills will certainly be put to the test. A highly engaging and entertaining storyline. You honestly feel a part of the action…well after all, you are the detective in charge of this investigation!!
In the city of Haventry, a place where normal and paranormal coexist, a crime has been committed. On the first day of Magicon, the world’s biggest magic convention, the magic goes missing. But, not just missing, it has been stolen! How could this be, and more importantly who could have done this dastardly act. It is up to you to investigate and solve this crime and restore the magic before the opening ceremony.
Gareth P. Jones has written another brilliant novel in the Solve your own Mystery series. Filled with an abundance of captivating black and white illustrations, by Louise Forshaw, this book is enchanting. The font and lay out makes for an easy and appealing read; to engage even those reluctant readers.
With every twist and turn leading your investigation, there are multiple opportunities to choose different paths; with no dead ends! You can read this story over and over, and have a different adventure for each one. For those lovers of detective work, crime and interactive adventure, this will definitely have you wanting to read each book in the series…..multiple times!!!
If you love a great choose your own adventure novel, throw in some fun filled detective twists, add some monsters, ghouls and more, then this is the series for you!
Themes Detectives, Magic, Adventure, Crime, Problem Solving.
Sarah tells us a bit about herself in the Prologue, she has some good friends and is loyal to them and to her neighbour and BBF (best boy friend, definitely not boyfriend) Leo. They are both in seventh grade but go to different schools. Sarah loves to design clothes, especially referencing her Mexican heritage. When Leo leaves his earbuds at his friend Ben’s he asks Sarah to get them for him as Ben goes to Sarah’s school. Sarah agrees but what Leo doesn’t know is that she has a crush on Ben and finds it difficult to approach him. When she does, she thinks she could take the opportunity to invite Ben to the spring dance with her. From this point on we have two scenarios and different points of view. The first, in text with illustration style, is that Sarah plucks up the courage to ask Ben and he agrees, followed by the outcomes, her confidence boost, telling her friends, planning her outfit, telling her mum and family and telling Leo. But there is the problem, she is worried about telling Leo, feeling disloyal as she hadn’t told him about her crush on his best friend. In the second scenario, told from Leo’s point of view in a more graphic style, she loses her nerve and doesn’t ask him. She loses confidence in herself, tells Leo about her crush and that she wanted to ask Ben to the dance but failed and makes alternative arrangements for the dance. Leo is concerned for her but doesn’t know what to say and feels awkward, caught between two friends. It took me a second reading to realise there were two threads to the story but it never hurts to go back and do a closer reading. As each narrative works out the characters grow and their worlds fill out. They learn more about each other and gain understanding, merging the two scenarios in the end. This is the seventh in the series Emmie and Friends which focus on upper primary to middle school age groups with their changing friendships and emotional challenges. Like others in the series there is a positive outcome, the characters feel authentic and their stories contain life lessons for all. There is a lot of supporting material for the series on author, Terri Libenson's website.
Themes Friendship, relationships, middle school.
Sue Speck
Dust child by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
One World, 2023. ISBN: 9780861546121. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
A ‘dust child’ is an unwanted child, an Amerasian, the child of an American soldier and a Vietnamese woman, during the Vietnam War. There were many such children, often abandoned, lost in a world that scorned them. The character, Phong, experiences additional racism as the child of a black American. He tries repeatedly to navigate the demanding application process for a visa to America, hoping to provide a better life for his family.
Author Nguyen alternates point of view by including the story of Dan, a white Vietnam veteran, and his wife Linda, travelling to Vietnam, ostensibly to work through the trauma that continues to plague him. However Dan also makes it an opportunity to search for the bar girl Kim, a girlfriend he rejected once she became pregnant. He wants to know what happened to his child.
A third thread of the story takes us back into the past, as we learn about the lives of the bar girls, Kim (real name Trang) and her sister Quynh, who have come to Sai Gon to earn money for their ailing and debt-ridden parents working the ricefields.
Nguyen includes conversations in Vietnamese, the meaning generally apparent from context. However when Phong meets and seeks help from the American Dan, the language barrier becomes very real as each struggles to communicate in their own language. The frustrations and misunderstandings are compounded as Phong realises that his interpreter is not translating all that he wants to say. He is left desperately trying to decipher facial expressions. It is a very poignant scene, and powerfully puts across the difficulties of communication between different language speakers.
The three threads of the story gradually draw together as people’s lives intersect. Each provides another perspective of the trauma of the Vietnam war and the impact for soldiers, civilians and children. ‘Dust child’ reflects the many traumatic stories that Nguyen heard whilst working for an organisation that helped unite Amerasians with their parents. Her book is a plea for ‘more compassion, more peace, more forgiveness and healing’. It is a multifaceted portrayal of the war and its aftermath, and exposes the ongoing human cost of war beyond the deaths and injuries.
Themes Vietnam War, Trauma, Racism, Lost children, Exploitation, Prostitution.
