Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526615251. 214pp.
(Age: 8 - 12) Bloomsbury has republished this delightful story,
originally written in 1975. With beautiful cover illustrations
and chapter headings created by Melissa Castrillon, this edition is
one to treasure. The story of Winner Foster, who is kidnapped
by the Tuck family, learns in time of the family's secret of
immortality, once its members have drunk from a spring in the wood.
It is a classic tale, not lengthy, and simply told, and it has
endured through past decades, thoughtfully revealing great wisdom
about life and death. Natalie Babbitt was awarded the
inaugural E. B. White Award for achievement in children's
literature. Tuck Everlasting has been adapted into two
feature films and a Broadway musical.
A must read for all generations.
Julie Wells
All the young men: How one woman risked it all to care for the dying by Ruth Coker Burks and Kevin Carr O'Leary
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781409189114.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Ruth describes this book as a memoir
of love, AIDS and chosen family in the American South. The reader
will find this book is about genuine human kindness and selfless
compassion.
Ruth's life takes an unexpected turn one day when visiting her
friend, Bonnie, who is in hospital for cancer treatment. Observing
nursing staff reluctant to care for a patient calling for help, Ruth
takes action to support a young man as he takes his last breath.
This happened in Hot Springs when the AIDS epidemic had heightened
fears and homophobia in the general public. Misinformation about
ways the disease was contracted marginalised sufferers, and those
who supported them.
The reader comes to understand more about Ruth, her daughter Allison
and her ex-husband. Ruth has a complex history that forged an
enduring resilience and positivity that drove Ruth to create
innovative ways to assist and protect AIDS sufferers. As news of her
special qualities spread, the numbers she supported swelled to being
in the hundreds.
Ruth describes herself as a regular person, however the depth of her
compassion and her capacity to create connections/relationships in
order to advocate for the young men sets her apart from a regular
person. Because of that, this book is difficult to put down and the
reader is moved to tears and/or anger as Ruth describes the
behaviours of families, medical professionals, religious leaders and
community members along with the ways the public health system
failed to take the epidemic seriously. Ruth's selfless love for
others, combined with a persistence and willingness to take
calculated risks meant the world to the young men abandoned by
everyone else and that makes this is an important book for today.
Ruth continues to advocate for the LGBTQ community and decided to
write this memoir following the sharing of an unauthorised film about her work.
Themes: Relationships (family, friends), Homophobia, AIDS, Religion,
Ethics (medical).
Linda Guthrie
Christmas wishes by Enid Blyton
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781444957198. pbk., 316pp.
After a year like no other, when things that have been taken for
granted for decades have suddenly become novelties, Christmas is
coming again - almost the one certainty - and people are returning
to the old classic rituals and routines in a way unseen for many
years. It is as though the security of the past is bringing comfort
in this uncertain present and so it seems logical that we should
also turn to the stories that have endured and given such joy in
previous times.
If any writer of previous generations has survived that test of time
it is Enid Blyton and in this collection of 30 Christmas tales taken
from her series and short story collections of yesteryear, young
readers will be taken back to a time when there was just the written
word, the imagination and the magic. Even those who are not as
old as me and who don't recall Blyton being an integral part of
their reading history will revel in the sheer innocence and joy of
these simple stories. From a dog who discovers the joy of Christmas
to Santa Claus who gets himself out of a muddle with a little help
from his friends, these stories celebrate shared times, festivities
and wonder. Even if there is no opportunity to organise a full-blown
Christmas Countdown, sharing just one story a day as a family
or a class will bring back that sense of calm and normality in a
world that seems to have gone mad.
This is a collection that holds so many memories for me that I'm
passing it on to Miss 14 and Miss 9, knowing they will enjoy
them regardless of their ages and that they are likely to hang on to
it for that distant day of their own families. Thanks Hachette for
adding to the nostalgia.
Barbara Braxton
The strays of Paris by Jane Smiley
Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781529052985.
(Age: Middle school/secondary/adult) Highly recommended. A group of
animals lives on scraps and their wits around the Eiffel Tower in
Paris. The horse, Paras is left in her stall after a race, and when
no one comes to take her home, nudges open her gate and walks out.
Following her nose she comes to a broad expanse of wonderful sweet
grass, close by a very tall tower. Here, a dog called Frida
befriends her, and a raven, Raoul, tags along, followed by two
ducks, Syd and Nancy. The gardener chooses to ignore them, as animal
issues are not his concern, people at the markets give the dog
scraps and are amazed when she gives them money in return. The raven
pontificates about the essence of freedom, the ducks squabble about
responsibility, the rat is worried about finding a mate, and the
horse just loves the fresh juicy grass and a place to roll around.
They are watched by an eight year old boy, Etienne, who lives with
his 97 year old blind great grandmother, and one day he takes the
horse home.
A beautifully written story of friendship, the tale enfolds all
readers with its humour and charm, allowing us to believe that this
could really happen.
Etienne keeps the stabling of the horse in their house a secret,
although several shop keepers nearby become aware that something is
not quite as it should be. The baker is sure she is hallucinating to
see a horse in the city streets, and gives her oats and bran, the
butcher provides scraps of meat for the dog, while the greengrocer
is good for carrots, apples and greens, and the gardener happy to
collect the horse poo for the garden. Each separately provides for
the animals as well as Etienne who shops each day for his great
grandmother, but each does not think beyond themselves, only coming
together after the old woman dies, to discuss what happened.
This beguiling story of love and friendship, tugs at the idea of
responsibility. But all comes to a wonderful denouement, more than
any reader could have hoped for, as each delicate strand is woven
together to make a satisfying conclusion. The Parisian background is
an absolute delight, and the characters, both human and animal whose
lives we follow are astonishing in their grasp of their place in the
world.
Themes: Animals, Paris, Humour, Homeless, Love, Loneliness, Freedom,
Friendship.
Fran Knight
Olga by Bernhard Schlink, translated by Charlotte Collins
Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2020. ISBN: 9781474611145.
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. Schlink's novel begins in early
20th century Prussia, with the story of Olga, the strange girl who
liked to observe; and then Herbert, the boy who tripped forward in
his eagerness to go somewhere else. We read of how they are drawn to
each other, the impoverished orphan and the privileged aristocrat,
of how she thirsts for knowledge and he thirsts for adventure, but
perhaps different forms of the same thing. Part 1 is the outline of
their relationship; part 2 is Olga's later life as seamstress in the
family of the young boy Ferdinand; and then part 3 is the discovery
of Olga's long lost letters to her love, finally filling out the
picture with all the secrets previously unknown.
Schlink grapples with questions of how could someone love a person
involved in colonial African massacre, how could someone love a Nazi
SS officer in charge of torture, how could it happen? Any of our
preconceived stereotypes give way to the stories of real people
struggling to understand and care for one another, sharing ideas and
aspirations, lovers overcoming separation, and the complexities of
parent relationships with child.
Olga's life is one of coming to grips with loss, lost love, lost
relationships. But in the end, she determines to make her own
statement, one we only discover in a surprising twist in the last
pages. Schlink the master storyteller brings it all together neatly
at the end, but I challenge any reader to let it rest there; I had
to go back and read the story all over again and just marvel at the
subtlety with which the author gradually reveals more and more of
the story.
Some aspects of the book reminded me of The
Dutch house by Ann Patchett (2019), a completely
different story in a different setting, but what the two novels
share is their portrayal of how children perpetuate the
characteristics of their parents, even those aspects that most
alienate them. And both novels explore themes of love, loss and
obsession.
Olga is an unusually constructed novel, it gives one version of the
story and then like a paintbrush over a painting, we are given
another layer and then yet another. Each layer enriches our
understanding. It is an intellectually rewarding novel to savour and
think about long afterwards.
Themes: Love, Loss, Imperialism, Politics, Parent child
relationship.
Helen Eddy
A tale of witchcraft by Chris Colfer
Hodder & Stoughton 2020. ISBN: 9781510202191.
(Age: Young Adult). Highly recommended. Brystal Evergreen and her
band of magical friends are back to entertain in A tale of
witchcraft, sequel to 2019's A
tale of magic. The Fairy Council have defeated the evil
Snow Queen and negotiated for the emancipation of women and the
lawful use of magic throughout the four kingdoms. Brystal is now in
charge of the magical academy founded by her mentor, Madame
Weatherberry, and has welcomed magical beings from across the land
to the school. However, from the novel's opening page we know that
something is once again amiss. Legal tolerance of magic does not
automatically equal social acceptance and the ascendance of magic
users has given rise to a movement of magic-haters called the
Righteous Brotherhood, who are determined to stamp out fairies and
their ilk once and for all. If this isn't concerning enough, a
mysterious witch with dark intentions arrives at the academy to
recruit students for her rival school. Brystal knows it is only a
matter of time before the mankind vs magic conflict begins again . .
.
While Chris Colfer's books may be set in fantastical lands with
little similarities to our own, there are always parallels to be
drawn between his plots and our own society. As once marginalised
and oppressed minority groups become more accepted and vocal in the
community, so to do reactionary movements intent on returning things
to the status quo. A tale of witchcraft is in part an
allegory for our times. It is also an entertaining and fitting
sequel for A tale of magic and readers will be thrilled to
follow Brystal and her friends as they once again battle to save
themselves, their community and all of humanity.
Themes: Magic, Magical creatures, Witches, Friendship, Cults,
Adventure, Schools.
Rose Tabeni
365 Real-Life Superheroes written by Valentina Camerini
Translated by Moreno Giovannoni. Piccolo Nero, 2020. ISBN:
9781760642471.
(Age: 9 - 12). Recommended. 365 Real-Life Superheroes would
be a worthwhile addition to the children's section in a public
library, a primary school library or classroom. This illustrated
paperback is filled with short uncomplicated snapshots showcasing
365 superheroes both past and present. These include sportspeople,
scientists, journalists, explorers, doctors, astronauts, musicians,
artists and activists. Each person profiled has a symbol imprinted
on the page to show the value or talent they have displayed. These
include generosity, determination, courage, intelligence,
creativity, justice and curiosity. Many of the superheroes will be
unknown to both adults and students but all have contributed in some
way to the betterment of the world and time they lived in or who
were able to initiate change. Some of the lesser known profiles
include Bill Haast who let snakes bite him and ended up donating his
blood for scientific research and fifteen year old African American
Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on a bus for a
white person and was arrested. There are more famous profiles
including the band Queen who played to Soviet citizens in a time
when there was animosity between the Soviet Union and the western
world and Malala Yousafzai who defended everyone's right to study
especially in her home country of Pakistan. Two well-known
Australians profiled in the book are Lowitja O'Donoghue who was the
first Aboriginal woman to study at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and
Eddie Mabo who fought for the right to his land.
While this book does not contain an introduction or contents page
and would benefit from both, it does have an index of those
discussed. Students in the middle grades often have a fascination
with the lives of people who have made changes both in recent and
historical times and sharing this book with students may encourage
and inspire further research. Themes: People Who Changed the World,
Role Models, Non-fiction.
Kathryn Beilby
Peter and the Tree Children written by Peter Wohlleben
Illus. by Cale Atkinson. Piccolo Nero, 2020. ISBN: 9781760642518.
(Age: 5+) The author of The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter
Wohlleben, has written a children's picture book, Peter and the
Tree Children, which explains the connection between adult and
young trees. In the story he writes about the way trees communicate
between each other, how they feel and what is necessary for growth.
In particular he looks at the majestic beech tree. The story begins
with Piet, a little squirrel, who feels sad and alone because he
does not have a family. Peter the Forester takes pity on Piet and
they begin a journey through the forest. Along the way Peter shares
his knowledge of trees with his focus on searching for tree children
to show Piet. They find a tree-felling machine on their journey and
with great sadness Peter tells Piet how the tree machine compacts
the soil so young trees cannot grow. They discover a clearing where
the young trees are not growing well as the soil is poor and they
have no shade protection from the adult trees. Finally they find a
grove of young beech saplings which have grown from beechnuts hidden
by Piet last fall but which he had forgotten where he had buried
them. Peter is excited by the discovery of these new tree children
in the beautiful beech forest and they happily return home to the
forest lodge. However Piet is still upset about not having a family
and Peter offers an important solution.
The illustrations by Cale Atkinson are colourful and reflect the
text well. The author provides a note for the reader in the
beginning as well as facts at the end about trees and their
families. Themes: Science, Nature, Environment, Trees.
Kathryn Beilby
The devil and the dark water by Stuart Turton
Raven Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781408889657.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) Recommended. In the mid 1600s the
Dutch East India Company had cornered the spice trade and were
powerful, extremely rich and ruthless where trade was concerned.
Turton has set his extraordinary tale aboard the Saardam sailing
from Batavia to Amsterdam. Any voyage from the East Indies to Europe
was dangerous, but this one had some extra dangers to contend with.
Jan Haan the Governor General of Batavia was returning home with his
wife, daughter, mistress and a very valuable cargo of spices. Also
on board as a prisoner is Samuel Pipps a celebrated detective on his
way for trial in Amsterdam, which may lead to his execution,
and his protector Arent Hayes. Just as the company is boarding the
ship a disconcerting and eerie incident takes place at the docks. A
figure dressed in rags like a leper foretells disaster for the
voyage before bursting into flames.
Unease among an already superstitious crew, and fear among
passengers that there may be a demon among them multiplies as
peculiar events take place. Strange marks appear over the ship,
animals are slaughtered, the dead leper stalks the ship and a fierce
storm almost sinks them.
The endpapers of this edition provides a map of the ship which shows
the layout of the cabins in which many of the main characters
reside. And as the book is 550 pages long, a guide is most welcome.
Stuart Turton weaves a complex mystery with its origins in the past
which connects many of those on board. Greed, lust for power and
revenge are the elements he uses while the Saardam itself is
an oppressive force which links all the characters. There are many
twists and turns in Turton's narrative which make it nigh impossible
for the reader to solve the crimes committed on the ship. He creates
a genuine atmosphere of fear which keeps the pages turning and the
interest piqued.
Inspired by the true story of the Batavia shipwreck, one of
Australia's most thrilling maritime stories, this novel is the
second written by Turton, whose first novel, The seven deaths of
Evelyn Hardcastle was acknowledged as Best First Novel of
2018.
Themes: Power, Dutch East India Company, Java, Batavia, Dutch East
indies, Ships, Murder mystery, Historical novel.
Mark Knight
Fish by Brendan Kearney
Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780241439470.
(Ages: 4-8) As with the recent publication Mama
Ocean this book addresses the significant problem of
ocean pollution, however, Fish takes a much more didactic
approach, explaining to the reader exactly what we can do to resolve
and reverse the problem. The problem and solution is encased within
the story of elderly fisherman Finn and his quest to catch a fish
for dinner. We get early clues to what is coming, with rubbish
floating in the water and some unhappy seals grappling with plastic
bags under the water. Finn, with his dog Skip for company, is having
absolutely no luck. There are no fish biting in their favourite
fishing spot. 'Suddenly, Skip spotted something bobbing in the waves
. . . and with a huge SPLASH he jumped in to investigate'. A
double-page spread shows the reader the enormity of the situation;
there is rubbish of every kind hiding just under the surface. Finn
works to scoop out as much of the rubbish as he can and before long
the small boat is inundated. Hungry and tired they head to shore and
are met by a group of young children who offer their help. 'We're
beach cleaners' the girl explained. 'We pick up litter that has been
washed ashore by the tide, so that it doesn't get swept back into
the sea'. What follows is the children explaining to Finn why
rubbish, especially plastic, is so destructive to the ocean and what
we can do on a simple level to help (recycling, repairing and
reusing, avoiding single-use plastics and spreading these messages).
The book hints at the other significant ocean problem of
unsustainable fishing with the juxtaposition of the huge fishing
boats in the marina next to Finn's tiny wooden boat, but this is not
directly addressed. It could be a conversation starter though. There
is a nice message here for children about their ability to influence
attitudes and make a difference in the world. It also reflects the
current climate where young people are taking a stand for the
environment, educating older people and becoming harbingers of
change. Unfortunately, the didactic portion of the book feels a
little tacked on to the actual story and the seemingly instant
revival of the ocean a little too optimistic. Themes: Ocean
pollution, Rubbish and recycling.
Nicole Nelson
Kitty is not a cat: Bath time by Jess Black
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419798
(Age: 5-7) Highly recommended. Bath time is one of a series of
junior fiction books based on the popular animated television series
Kitty is not a cat produced by BES Animation based in
Melbourne. The TV series has screened in over 85 countries and is
voiced by well-known Australian actors and comedians. So, it is no
surprise that the book series, written by Jess Black, has been very
well received.
There are 4 books so far; Lights
out! , Teddy's
bear, Hired hound and Bath time.
In this series Kitty arrives at the front door of a house filled
with stray cats who love making music and parties. The cats have
strict rules about not allowing any humans in their house, but this
human seems to believe she is a cat. She is dressed in an orange cat
suit and only purrs, meows or hisses. Slowly the clueless cats take
on the task of teaching Kitty how to be a human, in the hopes of
sending her back to the human world, and in this book they tackle
the task of keeping clean. But cats and water are never an easy mix
and it seems Kitty also shares their aversion to the idea of getting
wet. But with furballs seriously cramping her singing abilities
Kitty needs to stop licking herself clean and take the plunge. The
cats just need to work out what will make the bath attractive enough
for Kitty to jump in.
This easy to read novel uses illustrations that match the graphics
from the TV series except not using full colour, just blacks, greys
and orange. It is a funny and engaging novel for early readers.
Themes: Girls, Cats, Baths.
Gabrielle Anderson
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760878283.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. A reprint tying in with the Netflix series,
readers will be sure to enjoy the original book first printed in
2010. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have again produced a sparkling
collaboration, with two main characters, Lily and Dash, passing
dares. Dash finds a red notebook full of dares from Lily on a shelf
in his favourite bookshop. He decides to take up the challenge over
the Christmas holidays and leaves dares for Lily as well. They both
have lots of fun leaving messages and carrying out weird dares, but
will they be able to get along when they first meet each other in
real life?
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the humour and some of the witty
repartee had me laughing out loud as Dash and Lily went out their
funny and exciting dares. The fact that much of the book was taken
up with a flirtation through a red notebook made it even more
enjoyable and I was sorry when their journey ended. Their love of
books and the many literary allusions made the story one for book
lovers as well.
Dash and Lily were such likeable characters that I was compelled to
follow their story virtually in one sitting. Even though Dash's
nickname is Snarly, he comes across as a caring boy who looks out
for his friends. I loved that Lily played soccer and followed her
gradual coming of age, gradually convincing her large extended
family that she could manage on her own. All the supporting
characters were well rounded and interesting, especially Lily's
homosexual brother Langston, who instigates the notebook dare and
Boomer, Dash's friend. These supporting characters added to the
depth of the story and gave the reader an insight in Dash and Lily's
personalities.
The humour, funny banter and amusing events, as well as an
engrossing romance, make this a compelling read for the mature teen.
Their story continues in The
twelve days of Dash & Lily and Mind the Gap,
Dash & Lily.
Pat Pledger
Slinky Malinki's Christmas 123 by Lynley Dodd
Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9780143775355.
(Age 1+) Highly recommended. Right from the front cover, with its
cheeky little black cat, clutching a toy Santa and surrounded by
Christmas decorations, any young reader will be enticed to open the
book and see what Slinky Malinki is up to. Turning the page, Slinky
is seen creeping up to a beautifully decorated Christmas tree - 1
one creeping cat, followed by 2 two red-nosed mice, 3
three shimmering shells, with Slinky getting closer and closer
to the tree. Finally, 10 ten busy hands put all the
decorations back on the tree with the end papers, showing Slinky
peering out from behind the top branches. Oh, Slinky Malinki.
Happy Christmas!
This is a joyful book that is just perfect to read aloud in the days
before Christmas. The colourful illustrations are exquisite, and any
cat lover will recognise the actions of Slinky as he pounces on the
decorations and plays with those he gathers from the tree. The glee
on his face will bring smiles to the reader's face, too. And readers
will have fun guessing which decoration he will grab next and
counting numbers 1 to 10 as he plays havoc with the tree. Big bold
black text will help a beginning reader as well.
This is a delightful, durable and strong board book, that would be a
perfect Christmas present for cat lovers and young children. It
would also be a lovely bedtime story.
Pat Pledger
The wizard in my shed: the misadventures of Merdyn the Wild by Simon Farnaby
Hodder & Stroughton, 2020. ISBN: 9781444954388. 323p.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Merdyn the Wild was the world's greatest
Warlock in the 6th Century before the showdown of Chapter One
wherein his nemesis Jerabo discredits Merdyn in King Paul's eyes,
before casting Merdyn into the rivers of time as punishment. Will
Merdyn ever see Princess Evanhart again?
Meanwhile in the 21st Century, Rose doesn't fit in at school and is
harangued afresh by a group of bullies after auditioning for the
school Talent Show. Suzy, her mum, is still grieving the loss of
Rose's father who was always the one to assure Rose that she would
develop one exceptional talent. Rose had hoped it was singing, which
makes it easier to aid and abet a crazed magician who promises to
give Rose the singing spell to fulfil her destiny.
Merdyn is like a fish out of water and causes havoc at every turn.
The fun begins when the broken but hospitable family realizes that
Jerabo has followed Merdyn through time, to finish him off, crown
his own descendent as king of the world, before returning to the
Dark Ages to marry Princess Evanhart and murder the King. Along the
way, Merdyn's down to earth logic changes Kris (Rose's brother),
Suzi, Rose and all her friends and neighbours more than the
spectacular magical spells.
One couldn't be blamed for misjudging this book as frivolous fare
with Claire Powell's cover design and illustrations reminiscent of a
feature animation. The Warlock's name seems a spin off of Merlin,
history's most famous fictional wizard. Lastly, we have watched a
wise but ditzy medieval wizard in the 1970's television sitcom, Catweazle.
But Simon Farnaby is no lightweight author claiming his inspiration
came from all children's books and films where children encounter
magical creatures.
Farnaby's characters and what happens to them is thoroughly
believable despite the impossibility of spells, talking guinea pigs
and time travel. In addition to the embossed neon cover, over 300
pages is bursting with publishing gems to flesh out the reader's
total experience. Bold fonts emphasise the really awesome stuff.
Footnotes explain the meanings of Olde English insults and phrases.
Chapters end with rhyming teasers before appending a guide to
grasses to highlight natures magic and function can be seen in a
blade of grass.
Farnaby's unpredictable narrative entertains and educates through
epic events bisected by myriad themes of identity, grief,
self-confidence, power, faith, friendship, nature, history, belief
and more. Readers of all ages will look forward to future titles in
the series and the inevitable movie version. Meaty enough for
read-aloud and study, we can but hope Simon Farnaby keeps writing
and gives up acting! (Horrible Histories and The
Dectectorists) Themes: Fantasy, Magic.
Deborah Robins
Harry Potter: Christmas at Hogwarts: a movie scrapbook
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781526628244.
(Age: 8+). Highly recommended. Fans of the Harry Potter
phenomena will be thrilled to receive this latest offering to add to
their collection. Christmas at Hogwarts takes the reader on
an intimate and fascinating journey through the Christmas scenes
showcased in the film versions. The book goes into great detail
about the decorating of Hogwarts, the Yule Ball, the Slug Club
Christmas party in addition to other key Christmas events. As well
as offering the avid reader of the series new understandings into
the wizarding world at Hogwarts and further afield, there are
numerous interesting facts about the films that many fans would not
have known - such as the special effects department added witches on
brooms circling the top of the Christmas trees or that the costume
department kept a dedicated knitter on hand for all eight films to
produce Molly Weasley's jumpers and scarves. This collectible
scrapbook contains removable objects to entice the reader to delve
deeper with anticipation into its pages. There are bookmarks,
stickers, posters, sketches, illustrations and pre-drawings. Of
particular interest are the sketches of the costumes worn at the
Yule Ball. Behind the scenes photographs from the movies are
explained carefully and provide a valuable insight into the
complexity of creating the movie version as true to each book as
possible. This movie scrapbook has a beautiful cover with raised
gold writing and will unlock more of the Harry Potter curiosities
and make a wonderful addition to a Harry Potter fan's Christmas
gifts. Themes: Harry Potter, Wizardry, Witchcraft, Christmas, Magic,
Wonder, Film effects.
Kathryn Beilby
