Boss of your own mind by Byll & Beth Stephen. Illus. by Simon Howe
ABC Books, 2024. ISBN: 9780733342769. (Age:3+)
Exuberant digital illustrations show a group of children interacting with other children, in their street, at home, at the playground, swimming pool or basketball court. Sometimes they are shown with their families, but mostly with other children. Each interaction shows a situation where a difference of opinion may occur. But the story reiterates, ‘you are not the boos’ of the school or playground or who becomes friendly with whom.
But you are the boss of your own mind, so no one can tell you what to think or how.
Each page presents a different situation which will provoke readers to think about the options offered. Discussions will ensue about behaviour, about what to think about other people and their relationship with you. But the premise still holds that ‘you are the boss of your mind’, a change from the earlier ‘you are not the boss’ of what other people think, feel or do.
The book title reveals the theme of each book, so adults picking the book to read with younger children will know what is at its heart.
Boss of your own mind tells us straightaway that the theme will be about thinking, challenging the readers to be cautious about telling others what to do, but equally, not allowing themselves to the swayed by others.
Each scene shows us a situation which will spark a familiarity with the readers; they have all been to a playground where someone else tries to tell them what to do, or where friends are fluid, and not expected to be exclusively yours.
Lots of positive words are used which reiterate the positive results of being your own boss. Words such as flexible, change, decide, reassured, safe, calm, peace of mind are used through the rhyming lines, prompting readers to incorporate these words into their vocabulary of how to explain how they feel. And these words and their practice will lead to greater well being and peace of mind.
Knowing your own mind means that you can tell others how you feel with kindness and respect.
The book leads children to think more about how they are treated and how they treat others, encouraging respect between all their acquaintances, family and friends.
Themes Kindness, Respect, Well being, Trust, Family, Friendship.
Fran Knight
Somewhere beyond the sea by TJ Klune
Pan Macmillan, 2024. ISBN: 9781035009381. (Age:Adult fiction) Recommended.
Arthur Parnassus has built a life for himself and the children in his care - as the headmaster and caretaker of an orphanage for magical children, he's making sure their lives are free from the horrors of his own childhood. Living on a curious island, he is joined by the love of his life, Linus Baker, who has left his life behind to assist him in raising the children as well as spend his life with him. Together they'll do anything to protect their magical and powerful charges.
When Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself fighting for those under his care. It's also a fight for a better future that all magical people deserve. When a new child joins them - one who calls himself a monster - Arthur knows they've reached breaking point. With an inspector coming from DICOMY (the department that monitors magical people, in particular children), tensions are high. Will their family grow stronger or fall apart?
Somewhere Beyond The Sea is the second in a series by TJ Klune, the first titled The House in the Cerulean Sea, and thus is the continuation of the story started in the first book, however the first book is told from Linus' point of view, and the second is told from Arthur's. The characters from the first book are all present in the second book and are just as well-rounded and easy to love again, with more history for some being explored. The story itself reflects common themes seen in the world still today - prejudice, fear, racism, specific groups being targeted, group think and government control. This series is well worth the read, with humour, love, belonging and just a beautiful story all over.
Themes LGBTQIA+, Fantasy, Prejudice, Fear, Belonging, Government Control, Humour, Love.
Melanie Pages
Crypt of the moon spider by Nathan Ballingrud
Titan Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781803368801. (Age:Adult, Young adult)
Veronica’s childhood memories of their farm in Nebraska include a happy moment with her father under the night sky where she expressed a desire to visit the moon with its forests because it looked lonely. Now it is 1923 and she and her husband are in a moon shuttle on their way to the Borrowfield Home for the Melancholy and a new beginning, free from her ungrateful selfish sadness. He has booked her in for expensive treatments involving experimental brain surgery and Moon Spider silk but we get the impression he is dumping her in the facility which can only be reached by shuttle and that he is signing her in for treatment 'until sane' to seize a new beginning for himself. The Moon Spider, believed to have psychic properties, spun its web throughout the forests and was worshipped by a group called the Alabaster Scholars. When it died the scholars continued to live in its lair and harness the power of the spider silk. Veronica is locked in small cell in the facility built over the lair and Doctor Cull, who calls himself ‘a surgeon of the mind’, repeatedly snips away at her brain to replace the ‘bad bits’ with a silk repair, while his assistant, Grub, cleans up.
With elements of gothic horror in a surreal setting Nathan Ballingrud’s elegant prose confidently leads us into a nightmare world where time and memory are manipulated. The horror does include tiny spiders crawling out of opened skulls, but the psychological drama is cleverly delivered on many levels as Veronica’s sense of self evolves. At just 88 pages this novella is surprisingly powerful and subtly thought provoking.
Small town in winter and four people vanish in a single night without a trace... Nora's best friend, Becca, is one of the lost. Nora is determined to find her, and after discovering a string of coded messages Becca has left her, she begins to unravel a decades old mystery. Thirty years ago, another girl went missing and a sinister urban legend, a goddess figure, played an eeire role in Nora and Becca's own childhood games... As Nora looks further into the mystery, it's clear there are dark forces at work in her town - and they'll stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried deep.
This intensely dark thriller reads well with even pacing, timeline flashbacks that enhance the story and realistic dialogue. The story mainly follows Nora, with some of it following Becca mainly in flashbacks, and then other characters in further flashbacks. There are several mysteries in the story to solve, a look at semi toxic best-friendship, the line between make-believe and belief and a look at the occult. Relationships are looked at through a variety of lenses, covering family, friends, romantic and inappropriate relationships. The author handles this all very well and everthing informs the story. It would be good for fans of House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson.
Anyone who has loved the Grinch, that wonderful green, grumpy character by Dr. Seuss, will be delighted to see him star in a chapter book graphic novel. The Grinch isn’t sure what a vacation is and when he sees the Whos dressed in strange clothing and looking very excited, he decides to take a vacation to discover what the fuss is about! First of all, he goes to the beach, which he finds is very crowded, the water is wet and the sun is hot. Next, he goes to a theme park and after a few rides, and a snack decides it is not for him – the rides made him dizzy and the snacks were weird. Finally a trip to the mountains and it is there that he finds that the memories you make are what is important about taking a vacation.
Children are sure to examine the cute illustrations while following the grouchy Grinch on his holidays. They will have ample time to talk about what they like and dislike when on vacation and will bring back memories of some that they have taken. The humorous contrast between the Grinch’s negative posts on social media and Max’s positive ones about the vacations could start a discussion about different perspectives. Children can also follow instructions on how to draw Max and work out emotions on the faces of the character sketches at the back of the book.
Organised into three chapters, one for each vacation spot, The Grinch takes a holiday could be an early introduction to chapter books for young readers. But most of all it is a fun graphic novel about a familiar character.
Themes Holidays, Memories, Graphic novel.
Pat Pledger
Tiny Jenny: Little fairy, big trouble by Briony May Smith
Mr and Mrs Wren are surprised when a tiny, wingless fairy hatches from one of their eggs. But they lovingly name her Tiny Jenny and decide to raise her as their own, along with Min and Dru. But the other birds are not happy - for the fairies in this wood are known to be mischievous and mean and, in time, Tiny Jenny seems to be just like them, for all that she has no wings.
She digs up squirrel nuts and blocks mole hills and torments Hedgehog. When she hears the other creatures complaining about her to Mr and Mrs Wren, Tiny Jenny decides it is time to leave her home and seek out her fairy family. But it turns out the fairies are anything but welcoming, and before Queen Merletta is willing to give her wings, Tiny Jenny must prove herself in the fairy parade... But this is not a beautiful procession that the reader might expect. No, it is a cruel raid in the woods, where things were smashed and stolen and Mr and Mrs Wren's own nest is threatened...
Tiny Jenny finds herself caught in the middle - does she protect those who have nurtured her or does she do what it takes to get those precious wings? Where does she belong? What is the difference between playful mischief and deliberate bad behaviour?
Although this is a somewhat wordy story that destroys many of the beliefs that young readers may have had about fairies, nevertheless, the illustrations alone will take them and their imaginations deep into the undergrowth of the woods where everyone knows little creatures dwell and unseen magic happens, providing the perfect setting for making up their own stories.
A peek inside... A peek inside...
This would be an excellent story to use as a springboard for an investigation into stereotypes, preconceptions and prejudice. Present it with the cover wrapped in brown paper and have students draw their image of a fairy as well as some descriptors and then compare those to Smith's depiction. As you share the story, talk about whether Tiny Jenny is naughty as she grows more independent, and then once she discovers the fairy family, pause and have them predict what will happen based on the fairy stories they have read. Then, having finished the story, discuss how their preconceptions were challenged and extend this into the real world... Build on the elements of text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world to show how stories, even those about fantasy creatures such as fairies, can have a real place in teaching us about ourselves and our worlds, as well as how authors use fantasy characters to hold a mirror to our lives.
Much more to this one than meets the eye... and worth seeking out the author's other stories, Mermaid Moon and Margaret's Unicorn.
There's a whisper of woodsmoke that tumbles and twists Through the ribbons of dawn and the morning's soft mists It weaves through the eaves of a house with a curl Then downwards it drifts in the breeze...to a girl...
Add that text to this image and you know that you are about to embark on a very special story.
And indeed it is.
As Grandad emerges from the cottage and joins Ava for their regular walk in the woods, she declares that she wants to stay there with him forever, but Grandad knows that nothing stands still, that life moves forward and things grow and change and so he takes her to an ancient oak tree that 'has a lifetime worth knowing. A lesson it shares with each season growing. And the long-ago song that it sang as I grew Has become a new song that it's singing for you.'
And so, through the year, they make memories together as both time and the tree roll through the seasons, swinging on the old swing, picnics in its shade, crunching through the leaves and then comes winter. But Grandad is not well and there are no trips to the tree together - just memories to recall until Spring comes again...
Described as "a tender, stay-with-you-forever story about one little girl's relationship with her grandad, and the hope that lies in the changing of the seasons and the circle of life" this is one that can be enjoyed by anyone of any age who has memories to treasure of times shared with a grandparent and how those memories are such a part of who they are now, as well as being especially appropriate for helping a little one deal with a recent loss.
The last few pages are particularly poignant as Ava tends the acorn that she and Grandad planted and as she grows, so does it, until she, in turn, takes her own son to learn the lessons of long ago... Because where you think there's an end, there's always a beginning . . .
Emotional, personal, sensitive and beautifully illustrated, even though this is a story that is essentially about the decline and loss of a loved one, at its core is a story of hope and promise of the future as the circle of life revolves and evolves. In fact, in answer to a question in an interview, illustrator Paddy Donnelly suggest that Circle of Life from The Lion King would be an appropriate song to accompany it and I agree.
From the day we arrive on the planet And, blinking, step into the sun There's more to see than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done There's far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found But the sun rolling high Through the sapphire sky Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the circle of life And it moves us all Through despair and hope Through faith and love 'Til we find our place On the path unwinding In the circle The circle of life
heart-shaped lies is not a pleasant book but it is an eye-opener for those on the periphery of the digital social media world or those of a different generation to current school leavers. It is a disturbing read and also one that may act as a warning because the protagonists' world is the world of the dark internet, of influencers and vulnerable young people who may become tangled in the lure of the artificial, curated world of the internet and real life love traps.
The plot centres around three girls who all find out that they are dating Tommy Harding, the internet's most famous prank star. Kiara is the internet official girlfriend. Increasingly and alarmingly, she is pushed into filmed situations that make her uncomfortable and there is an increasing level of intimidation and coercion from Tommy towards her. Priscilla is Tommy's costar. Behind the scenes, there is a clandestine relationship between Priscilla and Tommy. Tommy convinces her that it is just a matter of timing before Kiara will be dumped and Priscilla and he can be the next internet prankster super couple. Nevaeh is the quintessential pastor's daughter who Tommy has been grooming online. All three girls converge during a high school class trip to Florida's biggest theme park. It is against that backdrop that Tommy is murdered, his lies are exposed, the girls are accused and reality takes on a very twisted form.
As a crime novel, heart-shaped lies is text book. Readers get the sense early on that with all the lying and dissembling things are not going to go well. As the story becomes more twisted, the reader is faced with red herrings and false leads. Any of the characters could have murdered Tommy. All had the opportunity. Macabre and grotesque scenes and vicious behaviour resulting from fractured relationships, drugs and alcohol and teenage passion abound through the student accomodation and the themepark rides resulting in a cinematic nightmare. Young people are hurt and damaged physically and psychologically and the adults, though well-meaning, are duped, out of it and left behind in the chaos.
Full of internet slang, the book vibrates with what is essentially internal, exclusive teenage patter or code. The book is riddled with terms eg "simping". This is the world of hackers, burner phones, IT nerds, blackmail, control and the dark web. Influencers (clickbait junkies) breathe and feed on the oxygen provided by the number of hits and the internet can destroy reputations. On Tommy's death, the internet followers switched from exposing Tommy for being a "toxic wannabe frat boy" to mourning the loss of "the notorious prank star." It seems that there is no sense of right and wrong on the internet. It's basically a killing field where young people can be assassinated by public opinion that is informed by lies.
elizabeth agyemang (lower case internet script) is an illustrator, printmaker and storyteller. She writes romance and fairytales and draws from her African heritage. heart-shaped lies is her debut novel. Reminiscent of Donna Tartt's The Secret History, heart-shaped lies is a frat house/college murder story with broad themes including envy, manipulation and social class. heart-shaped lies is a very contemporary frat murder story set very much within the internet social media world. The message of the story is found in the dedication..." To anyone who has ever lost sight of who they are."
Themes Social media risks, Online dating, Influencers, Friendship, Belief in oneself, Social class.
9-year-old Gilbert is very keen to win the surfing competition but he is thwarted by an octopus. With Fluff as his ‘wingman’ (or should that be his ‘support bunny’) he is led into several strange arenas as he investigates ways to explore success. His desire to win sends him into a seniors’ exercise class and a Senior Citizens Games contest, despite his age being far below the definition of ‘senior’. Will he win at all costs or discover what it is to enjoy participating (and enjoy the company of seniors in the process)?
This is an easy-to-read, charming, funny and quirky story with a bunny (Fluff) and a fish (Nelson) that talk and do other impossible things, and a boy that learns from his experiences. With a gentle, humorous touch this is a tale with the moral wisdom that cheating in order to win will not be satisfying and that older people should be appreciated. The cartoon-style illustrations add to the fun of this short, entertaining book for readers aged 6-9.
Themes Humour, Winning and losing, Surfing, Old people, Competition, Lies.
Carolyn Hull
Fifi & Friends: The super car race by Tamara Ecclestone Rutland. Illus. by Amy Zhing
New Frontier, 2024. ISBN: 9781923145078. (Age:4+)
Fifi loves her car. She loves fiddling and tinkering with them, so is surprised when Riri comes into her work place with a new friend, a puppy, Teddy, who jumps up at Fifi causing her to drop her wrench barely missing her toes.
She asks Riri to take the dog elsewhere as she and her friends are getting their cars ready for the Super Car Race. Zac arrives with his green go-cart, Lilly with the go-cart covered in bright flowers, then twins, Mario and Hope arrive with their brightly painted go-carts.
The horn on Hope’s go-cart falls off, but Fifi takes no time to repair it for her. They are all ready for the big race. But as they line up, Nathan turns up. The group is dismayed as he never plays fair and this time his go-cart has spikes.
A nervous start to the race see the group anxiously watching Nathan, but all turns out right in the end, Nathan even clapping the winner. Bright, detail rich illustrations cover each page, allowing readers to take in the images of the children and the go-carts. Fifi’s workshop is entertaining, and on each page are times to be searched for.
Lots of emphasis on friendship and helping each other flow through the story in which the group helps each other, are supportive and trusting, leading to a large amount of cooperation between the friends, with even room for the outsider.
Teacher notes are available on New Frontier Publishing’s website.
Themes Cooperation, Friendship, Car racing, Go-carts, Humour.
Fran Knight
Cassowary Dad by Beverley McWilliams. Illus. by Julian Teh
This strikingly illustrated new release, Cassowary Dad, is a wonderful book to read aloud and share with children. Written by talented and versatile South Australian author Beverley McWilliams, this factual narrative tells the story of a cassowary dad and his three young chicks. For those who know very little about the cassowary, this book provides clear and accessible information that will encourage new interest and learning about this remarkable bird. Set in the rainforests, mangroves and swamps of the Wet Tropics and Cape York regions of Northern Queensland, the endangered southern cassowary is the only species found in Australia and is of cultural significance to the First Nations peoples of these areas.
This engaging story begins with the dad sitting on the nest for 52 days. He is hungry but must protect his clutch of eggs. Finally they hatch and three stripy chicks appear. Throughout the narrative, the cassowary dad guards his chicks and teaches them how to survive. He watches out for predators, dangerous weather conditions and provides a safe haven. The descriptive language used is full of imagery and is cleverly positioned across each page among the glorious illustrations in predominate multiple shades of green:
Parched days give way to welcome rains. Starved streams swell. Rocky rivers rage. The rainforest wakes from its dry season slumber.
Key words are highlighted and feature in a glossary in the final pages. There are excellent facts to be read and discussed, with an important section on ‘Save our Cassowary’. Cassowary Dad will be a fabulous addition to a home, school or public library.
If you like to be challenged, confused and carried to the depths of death and uncertainty… then this book is for you! In the realms of the dead, zombies and living creatures are in conflict and Nona the ninth seems to be a key to a future, but nothing is clear. Nona is naive (and strangely both living and dead). She seems to be liked by all despite her child-like ineptness, and she is being nurtured by those with unusual powers for unknown purposes. Existing in a world that is unrecognisable, and in a power conflict that defies logic, she must navigate the confusion of life and death. And explore the complexities of life, death and love, as well as loss and sacrifice, within a world of conflict and lies.
I am not grateful that I had to read this book in order to review it - the literary genres that Muir has tangled in this book are not to my taste and it was torturous making my way to the final page. But, this book (and I assume the rest of the series, as this is Book 3) must have a following for those who like extremely dark and distressing content with the addition of zombies and cryogenics. The writing style is twisted and atmospheric in a strangely unique way. Clarity is lost in the process and so readers must be particularly persistent. In addition characters may have twisted histories, change form and shape and exist with alternate names, and dream scenarios are also scattered through the plot - a recipe for confusion. There are also very confusing religious threads that defy logical connection. The book is maddening and grotesque, and occasionally feels like a dark journey into hell with the occasional addition of humorous or intriguing companions. Consequently, this is only for a limited audience and only mature readers with extreme persistence (and a liking for zombie-conflict genre) should begin the journey.
Seawitch by Skye McKenna is the third instalment in the Hedgewitch series. Resuming with a delightful blend of magic, mystery and adventure, Cassie Morgan’s journey continues as she faces new challenges that test her courage, ingenuity and determination.
Cassie is determined to earn her Sapling pin early, but her path takes an unexpected turn when she is tasked with training a new witch to the area. This witch isn’t what Cassie anticipated, adding an intriguing layer of tension and growth to the story. Meanwhile, the ever-present threat of the Erl King, a powerful antagonist whose influence continues to challenge Cassie as she strives for answers about her mother and her whereabouts.
When Cassie’s cousin Sebastian invites her to his home at a seaside village to help him investigate stolen science equipment, allegedly taken by goblins, the adventure deepens. As Cassie and her close knit group from Oak patrol set out to help Sebastian, what begins as a seemingly straightforward task quickly spirals into a perilous quest involving faery treasure and the critical mission to keep it away from Erl King.
McKenna cleverly weaves these threads into a rich storyline filled with magical escapades and masterfully creates a vivid world, with the seaside setting bringing a fresh and atmospheric backdrop to the series. The stakes are higher than ever, and readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats as Cassie and her friends navigate treacherous waters - both literal and metaphorical.
Seawitch is a delightful continuation of the Hedgewitch series, appealing to fans of fantasy and middle-grade fiction. McKenna balances heart-pounding action; ensuring readers are invested in every twist and turn. With themes of friendship, resilience, and the importance of teamwork, this book is a must-read for young adventurers eager to join Cassie and her friends on their magical quest.
It is winter, yet despite the snow and the cold, many families are enjoying fun in the park, rolling snowballs, making snow angels and snowmen and just enjoying the fresh, crisp air. But when it is time to leave, the little boy discovers that during the fun, he has lost Little Fox, his favourite toy. Little Fox was on his sled as he pulled it up the hill but now it is nowhere to be found. Despite searching and searching, they don't find him and as darkness falls they have to go home empty-handed.
But we just couldn't find him, and now all I see Is the space next to Big Fox where Little should be.
But as he settles down to sleep, a real fox appears at the window, and the little boy decides to follow her. Moving through the silent city streets, past snowy meadows "tucked up beneath duvets of white". to the icy rivers where the boy realises the fox has led him to something special, and that she needs his help....
This is a beautiful story in rhyme that has a magical quality about it that makes you want to keep turning the pages. Why does the fox want the boy to follow her? Where is this journey taking them? Will he find his Little Fox? Was it all a dream? Told by the little boy who has lost his toy, and with Biddulph's iconic illustrations (there is a QR code to scan to learn to draw a fox), this is a charming story that will capture little ones' imagination as they relate to having lost something precious to them, the inconsolable emotions of the loss, and the joy as the drama and ending play out.
Rob Biddulph has a way of reaching out and connecting with young readers through both his story and his art. Gigantic is just one example - and this new release is just as powerful as it delves into that innocent world of the child who has complete faith that he will come to no harm by following the fox. Oh, to be so trustworthy and unwary and un-cynical again.
As a fan of Johnson’s early books and a lover of mysteries, I was thrilled to pick up a standalone thriller, Death at Morning House. When Marlowe Wexler accidentally sets fire to the house that she is looking after, on a disastrous first date, she is more than happy to leave her home and the gossip surrounding her actions. She is offered work as a tour guide of Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s but there is confronted with the mystery of what happened to the children there before it was abandoned. And what about the mystery of the death of the friend of the local teens who are also working on the island? When the woman who gave her the job on the island goes missing, secrets begin to be uncovered.
The dual timelines told by Clara in 1932 and Marlowe in the present were easy to follow. It was fascinating to learn about life for the children in the Ralston family in 1932. Their father had adopted children during the war and was bringing them up in a strict regime. He was dedicated to fresh air, healthy food and eugenics. Clara, his daughter, who related her life and built up the suspense of what happened in the house, is a wonderful character. Marlowe, too, is easy for the reader to relate to and pulls the reader in right from the first page, as she navigates her feelings for Akilah, whom she has been attracted to and now believes would not be interested in an arsonist. She is curious and cannot resist investigating the deaths of the children in the past, why the house was deserted and what has happened in the present.
Beautifully written, Death at Morning House is a gripping read which I finished in a couple of sittings. The interwoven plots, the brooding mansion, addictive characters and riveting suspense made this a mystery that would appeal to teens and adults alike.
