Illus. by Steve Evans. Collins/Times, 2019. 3rd ed. ISBN:
9780008320324. 48pp., hbk.
In all my years of teaching (nearly half a century!) either as a
classroom-based teacher or a teacher librarian, it has never ceased
to amaze me how little ones are fascinated by maps and atlases and
they pore over them for hours, dreaming dreams and making plans for
the future. I remember as a youngster spending endless hours with an
atlas mapping out a route around the world that would take me to
every capital city, and surprisingly (not) that atlas is now among
my treasured possessions inherited from my wanderlust mum, along
with an amazing dictionary that got just as much attention!
So there is no doubt that this new atlas for young children will
have the same sort of fascination for your young readers.
Designed to take children on a journey of discovery around the
countries of the world, it begins with intriguing endpapers of the
world's wildlife and then plots a contents journey around the
continents that is perfect for its target audience. Funky, colourful
illustrations depict a range of themes of the iconic features of
countries, building up a hankering to see these in real life when
they are older. Minimal text provides basic information and there
are the usual non fiction features like an index to help them
navigate their way through the book as well as around the world.
Guaranteed to provide hours of engagement and entertainment!
Barbara Braxton
You made me a Dad by Laurenne Sala
Illus. by Mike Malbrough. Harper Collins US, 2019. ISBN:
9780062396945. 32pp., hbk.
From the time a man first discovers his partner is pregnant, the
bond between father and child begins to grow and this relationship
is celebrated in this charming book. From the time of the first baby
bump through to camping out beneath the stars, the father shares his
joy and his wonder and his gratitude at being able to guide and
share the life of his little one, the big occasions and the not-so.
Perfect for a dad to give to his child on a special occasion, this
is a companion to You Made Me A Mother and turns the tables
on the usual format of the story being told by the child about the
dad.
Barbara Braxton
Frankly in love by David Yoon
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241373439
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. This is David Yoon's first book and it
marks him as an author to follow. The story of Frank Li explores
racism, friendship, families and love in a sensitive and engaging
page turner.
Frank belongs to the Limbos. Limbos are second-generation
Korean-American young people walking the line between their
involvement in American culture in school and their Korean culture
at home.
David's writing is nuanced and witty as he describes Frank's journey
in negotiating the perils of young love with the backdrop of high
expectations. Frank's parents expect their children to marry Koreans
and have already disowned Frank's older sister for dating an
American. An elaborate scheme to 'fake date' leads to Frank growing
in awareness as he becomes a conflicted and insightful observer of
his parents and friends. Frank is able to see his parents as complex
characters with unique experiences.
How easy it is to take it for granted that children will speak the
same language as their parents. This story highlights the language
and cultural barriers immigrant families negotiate on a daily basis.
Frank wants to understand his father and mother - and is pressed to
action by circumstances arising from a chance encounter.
The themes of racism and love are intelligently and sensitively
explored in a way that has the reader laughing out loud, or aching
with compassion, in response to the well-drawn authentic characters.
David's clever writing invites the reader to consider that the
adults can be just as compelled to 'fit in' as any teenager.
So frankly this book was a joy to read.
Linda Guthrie
100 ways to make the world better by Lisa M. Gerry
National Geographic Kids, 2019. ISBN: 9781426329975. 256pp, pbk.
From something as manageable as forgiving someone or leaving a
complimentary note in their locker to more complex ideas such as
taking a First Aid class or letting your trash be someone else's
treasures, this is a small book full of big ideas about how to make
the world a better place both physically and emotionally.
With philosophy such as being the kind of friend you'd like to have
and being inclusive, it covers personal issues that can help the
individual be more calm, more mindful and more responsive to their
world while also taking actions that can help shape the world into
what they want it to be. Ideas are presented as simple concepts with
engaging graphics and photographs, and many are followed by detailed
supporting information, including advice from Nat Geo explorers,
interviews with experts and weird but true facts. Readers can get a
sense of their own power to make a difference and an understanding
of what actions contribute to positive outcomes and how they can
change things by themselves.
While journalling and personal challenges are becoming a popular way
to have students focus on the positives and support their mental
health, sometimes knowing where to start can be overwhelming so this
could be used to guide that journey by having students set
themselves the 100 tasks over the school year, and help them
structure their progress that way as they work their way through
them. They might also have spaces for another 20 ways they discover
that are not mentioned in the book and these could be added to a
class wall chart to inspire others to look more widely.
While these sorts of books always inspire when you first pick them
up, without accountability life can go back to routine quickly so
offering ways to keep the ideas in focus and support the reader over
time will not only help them, but also the adult offering that
support. We can all make our world better.
Barbara Braxton
The curse of the school rabbit by Judith Kerr
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008351847. 80pp, hbk.
Ever since it peed on him in Miss Bennett's Year 2 class, Tommy has
hated Snowflake the school rabbit. And now it has come to stay
because his sister Angie is in Miss Bennett's class and Snowflake
needs a home while Miss Bennett goes to look after her mother. But
because Angie is so little, Tommy has the task of looking after
Snowflake and while the extra pocket money will be handy because he
thinks if he wants a new bike he will have to buy it, this is not a
task he is savouring. And so the trouble starts . . . dangerous dogs
bale him up in the park when he is walking the rabbit; his
out-of-work-actor father misses out on a job because Snowflake pees
on someone important, Angie gets really sick, Snowflake goes missing
. . . There really is a curse!
Written and illustrated during the final year of her life - Kerr
died in May 2019 aged 95 - this is an engaging story for the
newly-independent reader from the author of classics such as the Mog
the forgetful cat series and When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit.
It shows she still had all the imagination and wit that she had when
she first wrote The tiger who came to tea in 1968 and will
probably gain her a whole new legion of fans.
You can read more about her work in this obituary.
Barbara Braxton
What Momma left me by Renee Watson
Bloomsbury, 2010, 2019. ISBN: Bloomsbury, 2010, 2019. ISBN: 9781681199498.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Family; Friendship; Abuse;
Overcoming difficulty; Resilience; Christian Faith. Renee Watson is
an Afro-American writer drawing on her own community experience to
create a story that weaves the dreadful circumstances of a murder
with the Afro-American experience of Christian life and practice
within a Baptist church family. The central character is a young
Eighth Grade student, Serenity, and with her younger brother Danny,
they have experienced the worst family tragedy. The story reveals
their need to recover after the significant family trauma, which
destroys their family and challenges their own identity and
security. Their grandparents are involved in a Pastoral role in a
Baptist church, and Serenity and Danny become reconnected with them
and make new friends, when they move to restart their lives.
Attending Christian events, volunteering their time and challenging
poor choices, and attending counselling become part of the journey
to recovery. They carry with them baggage from their past, with
attendant tears, and they must also learn how to redefine
themselves. Their new friends have the potential to lead them
astray, but the influence of their grandparents shines through.
The traumatic events and difficult circumstances that are addressed
are quite confronting for a young reader, but there are moments of
lightness scattered through the book, along with delightful pieces
of poetry and other explorations of literary devices. These are
school-based English tasks, that headline the chapters and reveal
Serenity's internal dialogue. The cultural experience of an
Afro-American experience of Christian faith in a church community
will be foreign to most Australian readers, but there are some
delightful and perhaps quirky features of the service-oriented
family life within this context. Those without any Christian
heritage will perhaps find some of this faith-based expression to be
unusual. The author has included risky behaviours for some of the
young characters that include some illegal behaviour, and in
combination with discussion about incestual abuse as well as family
violence, and the keeping of unhelpful secrets, there are some very
complex and mature issues that are dealt with within the lives of
the main characters. Resilience and character formation are woven
through these difficult issues, but sometimes the author seems to
have aged them beyond their stated age.
Recommended, with some reservations, for readers aged 14+.
Carolyn Hull.
Song of the River by Joy Cowley and Kimberly Andrews
Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572533. 32pp., hbk.
High in the mountains where he lives, Cam tells his grandfather that
he wishes he could see the sea and his grandfather promises to take
him there "one day."
But as winter turns to spring and the snows begin to melt, Cam
watches a trickle of water running through the pine trees, water
that splashed and sang in the voice of the snow,
"Come with me. Come with me. I will take you to the sea." And unable
to resist its song, Cam follows it and begins a journey that
broadens his horizons in so many ways.
The beautiful, lyrical words of one of New Zealand's premier authors
for children, Joy Cowley and the stunning, detailed, muted
illustrations of Kimberly Andrews which echo both the high country
of New Zealand and the Canada of her childhood come together in what
is indeed a song of the river. With a text that builds much like the
river itself, rises to a crescendo and then returns to its original
melody like a piece of music, this is indeed an aptly named story
both in content and style. It lends itself to all sorts of mapping
activities, more than just the physical journey of the trickle to
the sea. Even exploring why the author named it Song of the
River rather than Story of the River will open up the
beauty of the language and the build-up of the journey.
With a landscape very different from those of the illustrations, and
much of the country in one of the worst droughts ever, this is an
ideal book to begin an investigation of Australia's rivers and
compare their origins and uses to those of the river in the story. A
search of the NDLRN using Scootle will bring up a number of units of
work focusing on the Murray-Darling Basin such as A Sense of Place
(TLF ID R11374) (written by me for Year 3-4 but which could be
adapted for both age and situation) that could be the perfect
companions to maximise the impact of this book.
Barbara Braxton
Space on Earth by Dr Sheila Kanani
Alma Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781846884559. 1287pp., pbk.
The 50th anniversary of man stepping on the moon and the declaration
by President Trump that they will be back there by 2024 with NASA's
Project Artemis has again ignited the debate about the cost of space
exploration and whether the money could be better spent back here on
this planet.
So the publication of this new book from Dr Sheila Kanani, a British
astronomer with a particular interest in Saturn, is very timely
because it examines how the discoveries in space have been
translated back into everyday objects on Earth. It is full of
amazing facts about everyday innovations, from drills and
dustbusters to bike helmets, that have been inspired by space travel
and includes sections on the people who brought them to us,
Divided into three sections - technology, health and fashion - it
examines objects as diverse as baby blankets, artificial limbs and
skiwear, examining how their development is related to space
exploration as well as a short piece about the scientist who
imagineered the development.
Intriguing and offering much food for thought that could spark
further investigations.
Barbara Braxton
William Bee's wonderful world of trains, boats and planes by William Bee
Pavilion, 2019. ISBN: 9781843654155. 48pp., pbk.
"Once upon a time , the only way for people to get around was by
walking, or on the back of a horse, or in some sort of contraption
that was pulled by a horse. And then along came..."
Young readers who are fascinated by transport can join the lovable
William Bee as he and his dog and a collection of traffic cones
wander through the world and history of trains, boats and planes.
Part true and part imaginary, his adventures are based on actual
facts and these are woven into the narrative to make an engaging
story that educates and entertains. With its humour and bright
detailed illustrations, young readers have much to pore over and
discover and perhaps even be inspired to design their own craft.
This is one of a series of three - William Bee's Wonderful World
of Trucks and William Bee's Wonderful World Of Tractors
And Farm Machines that would sit very well within a unit on
transport and travel.
Barbara Braxton
The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9781787474420.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. This book was a surprise. Initially
the story appeared to be a light read. The story begins with Tiffy
searching for a flat. She is a quirky editor for a publisher of DIY
and craft books. Tiffy accepts an offer to share a flat with Leon
Twomey, a palliative care nurse who works nights. Because of work
commitment's they will never be in the flat at the same time - and
share the one bed.
Beth's writing is impeccable as she artfully reveals the back
stories for Tiffy and Leon. Through posits and episodes of stalking
the reader begins to understand that Tiffy is recovering from
emotional abuse that includes gaslighting. The reader journeys with
Tiffy as she is supported by Leon and her friends to come to the
realisation that her sense of reality has been skewed by her
previous relationship. The supporting characters provide robust
clarifications of boundaries within relationships, cleverly
delivering a perceptive analysis of intimate relationships. This is
where the book moves from being a light romantic comedy to being an
insightful exploration of abuse and injustice presented from the
point of view of hope and compassion.
This funny and uplifting debut novel from Beth O'Leary is a must
read.
Linda Guthrie
The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
Illus. by Axel Scheffler. 15th Anniversary Edition, Macmillan, ISBN:
9781509894475.
(Age: 2+) Highly recommended. Themes: Rhyming story, Mythical
animals. What a joy to read aloud to very young children and what a
fun picture book this is for older kids! The 15th anniversary
edition of the well-known picture book will be welcomed by all who
would like an updated version with a wonderful wrap-around play
scene that forms part of the cover, and press-0ut pictures to use as
the story is read.
It is easy to see why The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's
child remain favourites. The easy to read, rhyming story flows
along beautifully when read aloud, and the illustrations are
delightful. The Gruffalo's child is a mini version of her father,
with tiny horns, and humorous little details like the snowman that
looks like a Gruffalo will bring a smile to the faces of readers. I
loved the risk taking little Gruffalo who is not too scared to go
exploring on her own out in the wild wood, trying to find the Big
Bad Mouse. The way the clever little mouse outwits the Gruffalo's
child making a large mouse is great and would lead to much
discussion about shadows.
As well as the wrap around play scene this edition contains some
activities, 'The Gruffalo's Child Song', a quiz and information
about putting on a play.
This is a keeper for me. It will make a wonderful gift and it would
likely become a favourite book in the classroom, with its strong
read aloud aspects and valuable activities.
Pat Pledger
Dog Man: For whom the ball rolls by Dav Pilkey
Dog Man, Book 7. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781338236590.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Graphic novel. Themes: Humour,
Superheroes, Villains, Dogs, Cats, Fear. Another fabulous, funny
graphic novel featuring that favourite character, Dog Man, will
delight all the fans out there, as well as making new ones. What?
Behaviour modification for Dog Man! When Dog Man becomes obsessed
with chasing a ball, rather than chasing the bad guys, his friends
have to try and break his bad habits. Then he finds himself the
target of a supervillain. Meanwhile Petey's father arrives with
funny results.
With chapter headings like 'The old man and the seafood crackers',
'The very hangry raterpillar', 'A farewell to arms' and 'The Mud and
the stars', adults and kids will find themselves chuckling aloud as
they follow the adventures of this super crew. For readers new to
the series, there is an introduction to what has happened so far,
giving them the opportunity to dive straight into the book without
reading the previous volumes. Although, of course they will want to
go back and read each one! The pictures are just so funny and the
characters so loveable, that it is always difficult when the last
page arrives. However there are notes to peruse, lots of things to
learn to draw and a super page, 'Be a Supa Buddy #DoGood', for kids
to enjoy.
This is sure to be a firm favourite in every library and home.
Pat Pledger
The safest lies by Megan Miranda
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241344408.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Mystery and suspense, Fear,
Kidnapping, Agoraphobia. Wow, another great page-turner from
Miranda, who is fabulous at writing exciting thrillers featuring
interesting heroines. Kelsey is a young woman who has been raised by
her mother to see danger everywhere. Her mother never leaves the
house and has a safe room, fully equipped for any emergency. When
Kelsey has a car accident and goes over a cliff, and her mother's
real name is printed in the news report of the accident, what
follows makes Kelsey wonder if her mother's paranoia about hiding
and keeping safe after her abduction and torture as a teenager is
real.
With a cliffhanger at the end of the first chapter and a graphic
and nail-biting description of the car accident and resulting rescue
attempted by volunteer firefighter Ryan, the reader is hooked into
the story and it is virtually impossible to put it down until all is
revealed at the end. The descriptions of all the measures that
Kelsey's mother takes to secure their home and provide for a
possible invasion are detailed and fascinating and provide the
background to the question about fear, and whether it can be handed
down in DNA or learnt by observation. However, Kelsey may be afraid,
but she is resourceful and when faced with danger and a missing
mother, manages to think through issues and plan what to do. Ryan,
the love interest, is also adept at handling emergencies and the
pair make good partners when things get tough.
This is definitely a read for anyone who enjoys suspense, likes a
strong heroine and enjoys a book that keeps the suspense alive.
Readers who enjoyed Two can
keep a secret by Karen McManus and Broken
things by Lauren Oliver are sure to want to pick up The safest
lies.
Pat Pledger
Little Mermaid: Ten minutes to bed by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton
Ladybird Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241372678.
(Age: 3-6) Ten minutes to bed is a beautiful series by
Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton, aimed at young children at
bedtime. Each book follows a similar progression where the
parent/family member counts down the minutes to bedtime while the
main character flits around doing lots of fun things before bed. The
books are all based on mythical type characters and are whimsical in
nature.
Each book has a map at the beginning (daytime) and end (night-time)
of the book showing 'The land of Nod' which young children can
engage with, finding the home of the book's character and also the
homes of the other two in the series (Little Unicorn and Little
Monster).
Splash the little mermaid lives in Golden Cove, deep down below the
waves. She is surrounded by merpeople and lots of merchildren. She
feels small compared to others and in order to feel bigger and
braver she decides to go on a bedtime adventure under a big wave and
into the ocean. She meets lots of very cute sea creatures, but also
a big shark! Luckily, she finds a friendly whale to help her get
back home to the castle and into bed.
The illustrations are bright and colourful, with swishes of rainbow
fishes and pretty pink and purple palaces. The cover has some pretty
pops of tactile sparkles, giving off shimmery colours in the light.
The characters all have facial expressions, giving extra meaning to
the story.
On top of the count down from 10 to bed, children can name the sea
creatures they see and create little side stories on each page. As
with the other stories in the series, we loved this one. The rhyming
nature of the story mixed with very cute illustrations makes it a
book that will stay by the bedside for quite some time!
Lauren Fountain
The Dutch house by Ann Patchett
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781526614964.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Themes: Family, Love, Betrayal, Loss,
Revenge. This is a subtle, highly original story of loss and
betrayal told through the eyes of two children, Danny and his older
sister Maeve, whose lives have always centred around the exoticly
beautiful Dutch house and what it has meant to their family. Their
father, an astute real estate businessman, proudly brought his young
family to install them in its luxuriousness, not comprehending the
impact it would have on the young wife he coaxed away from the
devotion and servitude of a convent. The rift it causes in the
family leads to desertion by the person they love most.
Then along comes Andrea, a woman who has a way of getting what she
wants - and she wants the Dutch house. Danny reflects that 'I'll
always believe that Andrea's face fell for an instant when she
looked at Maeve and me' for the two children were not part of her
picture of the future. What follows is a story of betrayal,
obsession and vengeance; but also a story of devotion, the devotion
of a sister to a brother who cannot remember the love of his mother.
The thing I find most interesting about The Dutch house is
the depiction of the way that children, despite being alienated from
a parent, often develop exactly those same characteristics that
cause the distance between them, thus Danny becomes as aloof and
unaffectionate as his father, a lack of attachment that sees him
also separating from his wife in the end.
The stepmother figure is also not the stereotypical evil stepmother,
her evil is not of cruelty but of not caring, a lack of empathy. As
Danny is aware, the faults are not all one-sided.
One might wonder how this sad story of entangled lives might end -
and surprisingly the ending is a delight, a revelation of warmth and
compassion that suggests that with the turn of generations, people
might come to better understanding and love. This is a richly
rewarding story providing insight into family relationships, love
and loss. I highly recommend it to readers who like stories to
provide psychological depth and development of character, and lots
to think about afterwards.
Helen Eddy
