When 8 year old Levi Anderton was laughed at in class because he froze when his teacher asked him to read something aloud, the situation had the potential for any number of outcomes, all of them profound and some of them not good. But Levi was able to turn the incident on its head and within 6 months he was the boss of his own company selling reading rulers and cases online fielding and fulfilling orders from around the world. Like Sir Richard Branson, he turned his disability into an opportunity.
For years, Scott Pape, author of highly successful The Barefoot Investor has been engaged in programs to make financial literacy a key part of every primary and secondary school curriculum including having an annual 4-6 week money challenge similar to the Premier's Reading Challenge, and, for primary students in particular, showing them the power of working, saving, spending and giving.
And so, in this engaging easy-to-read step by step guide for young readers to make and carry out a financial plan, interspersed with success stories like Levi's for encouragement, there is the blueprint to help them become financially savvy at the very least, if not world-leading entrepreneurs. Money may be the "root of all evil" but it seems to be something everyone desires. Regardless of how we might prefer it to be different, success still seems to be measured by salary and despite odds of one in 292 million of winning the recent mega US $2 billion lottery, millions around the world bought tickets in the hope of becoming rich. Closer to home our students are probably seeing the consequences of the 'cost-of-living crisis" that is reported on every news bulletin, so it would seem that a book by a recognised expert that has both sound advice and practical strategies would be very appropriate and timely.
Arranged into the six steps entitled Earn Some Money, Stash Your Cash, Be a Barefoot Boss, Get What you Want, Make Someone Smile and Grow your Money, readers are taken from that first basic understanding that money comes from working and even though they might resent pitching in with household chores there are ways that make them in charge so they are in control of both what they do and what they do with the rewards. There are charts and checklists so each child can map their own path (even those under 7) including being able to pitch the idea of being paid for chores confidently to parents.
With language and layout chosen so that the reader is encouraged, supported and successful on each page, this is a must-have for every child so that they not only get the things they want without having to wait for Christmas or birthdays but they develop the critical understandings and foundations for their future financial security as they learn so much in a practical, personal real-life way. You could not give a child a better gift. It would have been brilliant for when my son was little, but now I have grandchildren.
Safar is a very beautiful hardcover book with its pastel coloured pages and soft illustrations of people, designs and places by renown artist Amani Haydar. ‘Safar’ means journey. The chapters explore what different kinds of travel mean to Muslim women: travel as a journalist, travel as adventure, travel to original homelands, changes to identity in different countries, finding a new home, the politics of travel, and the peace and spirituality of natural spaces.
The chapters draw together conversations with such interesting people as Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Dr Susan Carland, and Tasneem Chopra, to name just a few. One contributor, Zenith Irfan, was the first woman to scale the mountains of Pakistan on a motorbike at the age of twenty! Dr Umber Rind shares her experience as a Badimaya Yamatji and Pakistani woman working in anti-racism advocacy. We hear stories from all of these women, with many humorous, thoughtful and inspirational insights. Malik includes their tips, as they share what they have learned in their journeys.
The Muslim tradition of Hajj, the pilgrimage made by millions to the Kaaba in Mecca, is named after Hajar, wife of Abraham, who, lost in the desert, sought guidance from Allah, and then discovered water. In honour of her, and other notable Muslim women travellers of the past, this book highlights the stories of discovery and transformation made by modern day women. It offers thoughts and reflections, and stories that all readers can empathise with, regardless of their religion, but must be a particular source of pride and inspiration for young Muslim women and girls. The book presents such a fascinating collection of intelligent and confident women.
For those who enjoy the book and want more, there is a very good YouTube video of Sarah Malik in conversation with TV Presenter Farah Celjo and illustrator Amani Haydar on the release of Safar.
Themes Muslims in Australia, Travel, Identity, Self empowerment.
Helen Eddy
The gecko and the echo by Rachel Bright and Jim Field
On the island, the little gecko called Goldy dreams of being a star. She sings out of tune, loudly and at length, annoying the neighbours, who do not seem to be able to anything about it. The little gecko knows that to be a star, she needs to practise and practise so she does. It goes on incessantly, 24/7 and Goldy's noise becomes very annoying to the other animals. The last straw comes along when in time with the crickets chirping, Goldy sings a song through burping. The animals beg Goldy to stop, as it is all me, me, me and they do not want to have to listen to the singing. Deflated, Goldy leaves and walks to the Red River Campus where she is convinced she will find an audience that appreciates her singing.
Here she calls out and is surprised when she is answered. She calls out lots of sounds and they all are returned. She sings and is even more surprised when the song comes back. But it is out of tune, so Goldy wants to find the other singer to help. A passing butterfly whispers in Goldy’s ear that the voice she is hearing is an echo. It is her voice she is hearing.
Shocked. Goldy determines that she will return to her family a different gecko. She hums for the babies when they go to sleep, waltzes to the back of the queue at breakfast time, and gives space to others to dance, being mindful of the needs of those around her and kind in her dealings with the family. All the animals now have the opportunity to shine and together they will all be stars.
This is a lovely story of stepping back, of not hugging the limelight, of encouraging others to try things out for themselves and of course for those with big personalities to make sure everyone else has a go.
Vibrant illustrations cover each page with the lush flora on the island, supporting all the animals that live there. Readers will love picking out all the animals shown and identifying them in their environment. More about this English illustrator can be found here.
And readers will love drawing along with him on his website as he demonstrated how to draw one of his characters, Monsieur Roscoe.
Aura Parker, the author of Meerkat Splash has created a clever rhyming book which will appeal to young readers. From the charming cover to the gorgeous front endpapers featuring the meerkat elves busily making presents and the back endpapers showing a traditional Christmas celebration, this enjoyable read is about the meerkat friends playing a wobbly Christmas game which may end in disaster!
The story begins with the following rhyme across two double pages which is complemented by delightful illustrations:
Hi hooray! It’s Christmas Day! Meerkat One, it’s time to play. Meerkat Two and Meerkat Three. ‘Cheeky elves! Come climb with me!’
This is a perfect book released just in time for the Christmas season and one that early childhood readers will enjoy over and over again.
Themes Meerkats, Christmas, Rhyming.
Kathryn Beilby
The offline diaries by Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth Uviebinene
This is a story of friendship, and also the sadness of lost connection, set within early high school and with additional social media pressures. Ade is a new arrival in a new town and school. Moving has not been a happy change and all the pressures of ‘starting over’ are weighing heavily on her. A chance meeting at the hair salon her mother attends, gives her the opportunity to make a new friend. Shanice frequently spends time at her father’s salon because she is often alone and lonely, especially since her mother died. The surprise encounter and almost immediate connection between the two 12 year-old girls develops further at school and via their online chats. Sadly though, Ade also manages to connect with the two popular but mean girls at school, despite Shanice’s warnings about their self-centred and cruel demeanour towards her in the past. Can their friendship survive when Ade is pulled in two directions? Can Shanice survive being excluded again?
This is a social drama story for pre-teens and early teens, with characters who do not have an Anglo-Saxon heritage. There are light-hearted moments and also some naive aspects to the lives of the two main characters as they negotiate inter-personal challenges. With some of the conversations and interactions shared as ‘Chatback’ conversations, and each of the girls communicating via their diary or journal entries, there are insights into the friendship impacts, especially when things start to go awry. There are some struggles with the bullying and exclusion of the ‘mean girls’ which are intensified by the influence of social media communications. Family life has some challenges for both girls, but they are loved and there are positive aspects to their lives, and they are genuinely hurt when their friendship suffers. Young female readers aged 11-14 will enjoy this story, and it will be endearing for readers with African or Caribbean heritage.
Themes Friendship, Bullying, Social media, Grief, Family.
Carolyn Hull
Scientists are saving the world! by Saskia Givinn and Ana Albero
Scientists are Saving the World! is a wonderful new graphic style picture book that will provide an excellent introduction for young readers to the world of science and the role scientists play in our lives. Bright and colourful images are complemented by simple accessible text clearly written and well-spaced out.
Written as a story, the book begins with a young child asking the question, “If all the scientists are saving the world right now…who is working on time travel?” His mother’s response takes the young boy and the reader on a connected journey exploring a variety of different scientists and their discoveries. Mary Anning, palaeontologist is the first one mentioned. She discovered her first dinosaur when she was 12 years old. This is followed by astronauts including Leonid Kadenyuk who was the first Ukrainian citizen to go to space. Perhaps one of the more unusual and unfamiliar scientists are the acoustic biologists who listen to animals and record their sounds. Katy Payne recorded elephants trumpeting and with her husband discovered that hump-back whales sing songs. Many of the scientists mentioned in the book are trying to protect Earth from climate change. Biologist Wangari Maathai grew up in Africa and started a campaign to encourage local women to plant more trees. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace prize in 2004.
In the final pages of the book are 24 brief snapshots of the scientists mentioned and could be used as a ‘gateway’ for further investigation and research. Teachers may find this book a valuable resource to share with students when looking at the STEM curriculum.
Themes Scientists, STEM, Protecting the Planet.
Kathryn Beilby
Flipper and Finnegan by Sophie Cunningham. Illus. by Anil Tortop
Albert Street Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781761180071. (Age:4+) Recommended.
Subtitled ‘The true story of how tiny jumpers saved Little Penguins’ readers will look closely at the colourful knitwear adorning the penguins on the cover. Beguilingly the story opens giving readers information about the lives of these Little Penguins, found on the southern coast of Victoria. Readers will learn how they fish and dive, and of their nightly parade watched by thousands of tourists every year on Phillip Island, and of course, why they are called Little Penguins.
There are dangers lurking in the water but they learn to avoid them until one day a dark cloud hangs over their patch of the sea. They come up for air only to find themselves covered in oil. Meanwhile at the Wildlife Centre, Prasad and Mac have heard of the oil spill. Flipper finds herself covered in oil, oil she cannot clean, and she cannot find Finnegan, so she goes back to a new barrow only to find herself trapped. She struggles to escape but stops when she realises there is another occupant in the cage, Finnegan. Back at the Centre the only thing available to stop the penguins preening themselves and ingesting the oil that covers their bodies is a jumper. A call is put out on radio, TV and the Internet to ask for help, and even the oldest man in Australia knits. After that it is bath time, where all 10,000 feathers are cleaned with soapy water.
Once cleaned, the Little Penguins were rested up and fed before being released.
A story that gives lots of information, added to with the pages at the end of the book. Colourful illustrations of the lives of Little Penguins add to the wonder of the story which promotes environmental concerns and the impact of disaster on the natural world. When people band together a solution can be found.
Themes Environment, Little Penguins, Victoria, Oil spill, Disasters, Knitting.
"From outside on the busy north London high street, Pages & Co looked like an entirely normal bookshop, but once inside it didn't quite make sense how everything fitted inside its ordinary walls. The shop was made up of five floors of corners and cubbyholes, sofas and squashy armchairs, and a labyrinth of bookshelves heading off in different direction. A spiral staircase danced up one wall, and painted wooden ladders stretched into difficult-to-reach corners. Tall arched windows above made it feel a little like a church when the light spilled in and danced on the air. When it was good weather the sun pooled on the floor and the bookshop cat - named Alice for her curious nature - could often be found dozing in the warmest spots. During the summer the big fireplace behind the till was filled to bursting with fresh flowers, but at it was October, a fire was roaring there."
Does this not conjure up every booklover's dream of a magical place, a bookstore where magic and mysteries, adventures and escapades beckon? And for it to be the home of Tilly who prefers the company of book characters to the people in real life and, although not having been outside London, is a seasoned traveller within the pages of the books that abound on the shelves for in the first in the series she discovered her father was a fictional character and she, herself, was half fictional. There is much more to her grandfather and grandmother and the family's history and lives than she ever imagined. Bookwandering is what this family does, and it might explain the mysterious disappearance of her mother and the absence of her father. As she and her best friend Oskar search for her missing mother, they meet the powerful but sinister Underwood family, search for the mysterious Archivists and encounter the Sesquipedalian, a magical train that uses the power of imagination to travel through both Story and the real world. It is owned by Horatio Bolt who specialises dodgy dealings as a book smuggler trading in rare books, and his nephew Milo...
In this, the second last in this series, Tilly and Milo hurtle towards their final showdown with the Alchemist, and the stakes are higher than ever - though there is always time for hot chocolate! Milo Bolt is ready to be the hero of his own story. With Uncle Horatio trapped in an enchanted sleep by the power-hungry Alchemist, he sets off with his new friend Alessia to find a cure and save them all. Their journey leads them to the magical treehouse - home of the Botanist, the Alchemist's sworn enemy. Against the clock, they hunt for the cure: foraging in the Secret Garden, challenging Robin Hood and confronting the mighty Jabberwock.
But the Alchemist will stop at nothing to unlock the powerful secrets of The Book of Books, and Tilly, Pages & Co. and the whole world of imagination are under threat as a battle for the fate of bookwandering is set in motion..
Created for independent readers or perfect for classroom read-alouds, this is a series that really needs to be read from the first one in order so that the subsequent adventures have context but it will have the book lover hooked from the start, regardless of their age, and wishing they too could bookwander into the magical, mystical world of their favourite characters. Miss Now 12 is going to be delighted when her copy arrives in the post as she has been hooked on this from the start.
And if you have readers looking for similar stories about magical bookshops, suggest The Bookseller's Apprentice and The Grandest Bookshop in the World. to tide them over while they are waiting for the final of Pages & Co., probably about this time next year. In the meantime, those who haven't ventured into the doors of this magical place have time to catch up!
An outstanding view of Earth from space is constructed in this highly original perspective of our place in space by internationally applauded author illustrator, Oliver Jeffers.
A father takes his two children in the car travelling initially to the moon. Driving at 37 miles an hour, they will take one year to cover the half a million miles. From the moon they look back at Earth one year ago, and see people cannot agree on what to do about the world’s problems. The family travels on to Venus, seventy eight years away. Looking back they see that Earth 78 years ago was besieged by war with tanks, soldiers, planes dropping bombs, with an atomic bomb seen in the background. Driving on for another 150 years take them to Mercury and looking back they sees the carve up of Africa, as European nations fight over this continent. Mars is 170 years away, and adult readers will be predicting what conflict Jeffers may allude to as the family arrives on the red planet. Four nations again are fighting over a small piece of land jutting into the sea. Not much has changed.
And so on we go, the readers taken on a trip around space, seeing what planets are in our solar system and how far they are from each other, giving children a unique perspective of our place in space. And more importantly a perspective on what we have achieved over millennia, as each turn takes us back a number of years, revealing the incessant conflict which has occurred.
A children’s guide to the universe and a brief history of the conflicts of the world are presented in a way that is most accessible, as the children are in a car with their dad, driving between planets. The vastness of space is broken down into manageable chunks, the view back to Earth conceivable as the readers are all aware of the tensions that borders create.
Jeffers was born and raised in Northern Ireland and says that being in New York gives him a perspective of the conflict back home. The us and them becomes just us, as he travels back in time to when man first lived in caves, intent on survival, and nothing else.
Beautiful images of space throughout this story will give all readers pause for thought as each of the planets radiating from Earth comes into view. The small car and its three occupants journey across space and time taking the willing readers with them, sharing a view of the trouble the world has built for itself, finding in the end that there is no place like home.
The endpapers offer an outline of our solar system with Earth’s distances from each planet and a time line reprising the conflicts alluded to in the text. Adults and children alike will be intrigued and provoked, initiating endless discussions and multiple readings, while quotations from astronauts add another layer of interest.
For information about this uniquely talented author look hereand be sure to check out the clip of the book on his website, or find it on YouTube.
Themes Conflict, Space, Solar system, Journey, Home.
This time, engineer Mike Lucas tackles the building of a backyard after Let’s build a house (2022) accompanied by illustrator Daron Parton who adds an inordinate amount of detail to every page, enough to keep the most inquisitive of kids happy. As with any gardening enterprise, planning is important so the first page sees dad and his daughter planning their grade. A tip truck delivers the soil which is then mixed with compost. A fence is built around the edge, luckily there is a large tree already there, a perch for the many birds in the area. The pair build a nest box and a bee hotel, then lay the irrigation system. A vegetable patch is dug and edged, a scarecrow erected, a pond installed and flowers planted. All done, it is time to rest in their new backyard.
All the fun of creating a useful backyard is shown in this rhyming text as dad and his daughter work on developing their garden. Children will love seeing the efforts they make in moulding the plan to something more usefully than the bare patch shown on the first page, and will enjoy the array of things illustrated on each page.
Perhaps the school has a garden which children may like work in, or one at home where vegetables are grown. Reading this book may give them ideas for the classroom or a space at home.
The book lends itself to talking about what can be grown at home or in the school, and what the vegetable pictured are.
Harbinder Kaur, first introduced in The Stranger diaries, winner of the 2020 Edgar Award for Best Novel, returns in another riveting story. She has been newly appointed as Detective Inspector and transferred to London. She is faced with a big case – a well-known climate change denying Conservative MP, Garfield Rice has been found murdered during a school reunion. Amongst the former students attending the reunion are Cassie Fitzgerald, now a police officer, who is hiding a deadly secret, Anna a foreign language teacher who has returned from Italy to look after her ill mother, a famous actress, a rock star, and another politician. As Kaur begins her investigation, it becomes increasingly clear that there is a link to a death of another student in their final school year – a young man who fell to his death from a train platform. Then another murder is committed, this time in Bleeding Heart Yard.
The story is told in three voices, that of Cassie, Anna, and Kaur, and all bring different insights into the narrative. Cassie believes that she and her friends killed their fellow classmate and has tried to hide this from her memory. She is convinced that one of her classmates could be the murderer of Garfield Rice and the reader becomes very involved in her feelings and memories of the past. Anna has different memories and has lived abroad but finds that returning to London brings back feelings long buried. Kaur must sift through all the evidence, relying on her instincts whie beginning to trust her fellow detectives.
It is easy to picture the London that Griffiths describes. In her afterword she says that Bleeding Heart Yard is a real place, as are the streets that Kaur’s flatmate Mette travelled along. The private school that Cassie and her classmates attended is also vividly described.
This was a well written, engrossing story, with an ending that I did not expect. This series is likely to prove as popular with readers as the Ruth Galloway series.
The Wondrous Prune by Ellie Clements is a heart-warming story, sharing strength, creativity and love. This charming tale will have you hooked from the very beginning. With a heroine who will capture your heart, you will be invested until the very end.
Prune Robinson is an ordinary eleven-year-old girl who suddenly discovers she has an extraordinary power. She loves to draw but is struggling with many conflicting feelings. Having just moved into her grandparent’s home with her single mum and older brother, Prune is extremely overwhelmed with emotions. Sadness from leaving behind her old friends and school life. Grief over the loss of her much loved Grandma and Poppa. Anger over her older brother’s choice in friendship and subsequent troubles. Fear at starting a new school and navigating new friendships.
When a normal day suddenly becomes one that will change her life forever, Prune is in shock and disbelief. Clouds of colours enter her life and she wonders if she has a problem with her eyes or even her brain. However, when she discovers these cloudy hues can be funnelled into bringing her drawings to life, Prune is uncertain about how to deal with this. The magical colours, that are for her eyes only, leave her confused and worried. To make matters worse, she has just found herself the target of ruthless bullying by “the Vile-lets” at her new school. Without wanting to worry her mother, she tries to deal with these perplexing situations alone. She can’t even rely on her older brother, as he has his own issues to deal with. What is she to do?
Ellie Clements has created a highly engaging and inspiring novel. Where real life and supernatural easily intertwine, every reader will be enchanted and entertained. Bringing up interesting discussion points, as it delves into the positive and negative effects people have on one another and also how to overcome adversities in everyday life, this story has a lot to offer. The Wondrous Prune is a highly relatable and relevant tale, with a little touch of magic too.
Themes Bullying, Supernatural powers, Relationships, Problem solving, Creativity.
Michelle O'Connell
Little Ash: Goal getter by Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin
The fourth in this series of books ideal for young primary people, has Little Ash learning how to take defeat as she loses the lunchtime touch footy match. In year two, she is distraught at losing, but her friends take her to another game, lounge room golf to try out. When she loses this match she wants to give up sport altogether. Then she would never lose and so never have this awful feeling again.
Watching football that night, she is devastated when her favourite player misses the ball and the game is lost. Dad guess her some sage advice, to try her best and not worry about losing: a lesson she puts into practice the next day when she loses to James at tennis.
Each of the stories promotes open discussion between friends and family, they model supportive friends and family and promote determination and resilience. The stories are easy to absorb, do not preach and are attractive with information about Ash Barty, and the writer, Jasmin and illustrator, Jade inside the back cover.
Themes Tennis, Sport, School, Choice, Family, Determination, Little Ash (series).
Fran Knight
Need a house? Call Ms Mouse! by George Mendoza and Doris Susan Smith
Allen & Unwin, 2022. ISBN: 9781761066016.
The sign outside her home says that Ms Mouse & Co are "builders, designers and decorators" and certainly she has a portfolio to back her claims. All the animals want to live in a house designed by Ms Henrietta Mouse, because she is the only mouse in the world who understands exactly what makes a squirrel or a rabbit, a caterpillar or a frog feel at home.
With her faithful mouse helpers she has built just the right home for so many of her forest friends and each is shown in beautiful detail on each double spread from the spaceship for Squirrel to the underwater Atlantis for Trout to the highly tuned web for Spider. Fourteen homes in all, so what does her own home look like?
As the 2022 season of The Block draws to a close, the interest in home design and décor is rising, and I am always amazed at the number of children who not only turn up to view the open houses but who can speak quite knowledgeably about the contestants and what they have achieved. Some even aspire to be on the show themselves. So this picture book will inspire their imaginations as they think about what their own house might look like, taking into account their personal preferences and foibles, or perhaps inspire an activity that involves designing a home for an Australian animal, also considering their unique needs. Combine it with books like Puffin the Architect, and Built by Animals and there is the basis for a range of skills and strengths to come into play combining STEM and art that might even kickstart a career choice...
Themes Homes.
Barbara Braxton
Jorn’s magnificent imagination by Coral Vass and Nicky Johnston
Exisle Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922539144.
It is the backdrop to the lives of so many, draws millions of visitors from around the world, and yet is so familiar now that many don't even see it.
Who would have thought that such a magnificent structure could grow from a little boy playing with sailboats, watching swans land on water, collecting seashells and flowers, even playing with his breakfast orange peel? And yet it did and in this beautiful retelling of the young life of Jorn Utzon, the reader learns not only of the beginnings of one of the world's most recognisable buildings but the power of the imagination, and the importance of letting dreams lead us into amazing places.
Where might today's discovery take a young person in years to come? Even if it is a wet, indoors day, what might they build from "rubbish" that could become the start of something magnificent? In 50 years, will a nation be celebrating their dreams as they are about to celebrate Jorn's?
Sensitively written and illustrated in a way that doesn't reveal the mystery to the end, this is a book that not only celebrates a little life that has big dreams that come true, but inspires the reader to drift away and imagine... If Jorn could begin a building with orange peels, could they make a city floodproof by playing in their porridge and milk?
