Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781408880517
(Age: 2+) Recommended. Board book. This is the fun story of Bobo the
panda and his friends as he explores the things around him and what
shapes they are in a lift the flap book.
Bobo is celebrating his birthday, and his new tent is a triangle,
his pass the parcel is squares; what other shapes does he find
during his party?
This book can be used to encourage the reader to look at what other
shapes they can see in their immediate surroundings as well as
looking at everyday items and identifying the shapes that are there.
The flaps in this book are large so that little fingers can help
turn them.
I recommend this book for 2+
Karen Colliver
Bobo and Co. : Opposites by Nicola Killen
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781408880500
(Age: 2+) Recommended. Board book. Bobo the Panda and all of his
friends are exploring the concept of opposites in this lift the flap
book. This is a simple story about opposites with great
illustrations. It explores the concepts of in and out, small
and big, down and up, slow and fast and loud and soft.
This book is a fun way to explore with Bobo and his friend's
opposites and see what they get up to.
The flaps in this book are a good size for small children to be able
to help with opening them.
I recommend this book to 2+.
Karen Colliver
Undercover by Mark Powers
Ill. by Tim Wesson. Spy toys book 3. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN
9781408870907
(Ages 7-9) Themes: Toys. Spies. Espionage. Undercover is an
action-adventure story in which a cast of misfit creatures, a doll,
a teddy bear and robot rabbit join forces and return to solve a new
dilemma. Overnight the entire Chimpwick's Chocolate factory has
disappeared, and the Department of Secret Affairs is called in to
help. Mysterious Auntie Roz calls on the assistance of Dan the
superstrong Snugaliffic Cuddlestar bear, Arabella the angry
Loadsasmiles Sunshine Doll (who doesn't like children) and Flax a
custom-made police robot rabbit to discover who is behind this
terrible situation.
Auntie Roz believes Paula Dimple a disgruntled ex-employee, now
working a science teacher, is the troublemaker. Dan, Arabella and
Flax are equipped with unique disguises, android bodysuits and sent
in to Water Shrew Lane Primary to investigate. Arabella's anger and
attitude lead her into some amusing confrontations. After school the
trio ride across the wasteland on rocket-powered bikes with the
Science Club kids to the Learnatorium, an abandoned museum. Here evil
Penelope Spume, leader of SIKBAG a secret society for brainy kids,
shares her diabolical plot to rid the world of four factories
responsible for children having fun instead of learning. Her special
teleporting device moves the Snaztacular Ultrafun Factory to the
Sahara, and has targeted the Bogey Cola a fizzy drink factory and a
kids' television studio.
Flying on an A4 hexi-silicone paper plane, Arabella and Dan fly off
to Paris to rescue their captured friend Flax held captive at a
secret SIKBAG location.
Tim Wesson's over-the-top comical illustrations compliment the
action and brings the strange characters to life. With plenty of
action, humour, ridiculous characters and crazy inventions, Mark
Power's Undercover is an easy to read novel for the newly
independent reader.
Rhyllis Bignell
The poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2018. ISBN 9781405291460
(Age: Older teens) Highly recommended. Verse novel. The Poet X
is a novel which grabs a reader by the heart and transports them
into another world. Poet X takes us on an emotional, heart-rending
journey through a tumultuous time in her young life and every moment
of joy, agony and discovery, is powerfully communicated through her
unique mix of prose and poetry. The other players in her life are
finely drawn and authentically portrayed; Mami is truly formidable
and Twin, in contrast, is sensitive and loving; Ms Galiano is the
caring English teacher we all wish we had in our lives and Caridad
is the perfect friend, critical when it counts but supportive when
it's needed most. But best of all, Xiomara, affectionately dubbed
Poet X by the adoring Aman, is passionate, feisty and strong in the
face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles (her Mami), it's
impossible not to fall in love with her. Transfixed by the power and
magic of her words, the reader can only cheer her on as she strives
to find her voice and empathise with her very real, adolescent
struggles.
I loved this book. While at first I was apprehensive about its
'verse novel' nature, it wasn't long before I was totally hooked by
Elizabeth Acevedo's protagonist and her gorgeously articulated
story. Every page offered a new lyrical adventure and there were
times when my heart alternately burst with love or was gripped by
anxiety and shared pain. Acevedo's way with words is magical and
addictive. Teenage and adult readers alike will be mesmerised by the
power of the language and the desire to devour just one more
delicious page . . .
I would highly recommend this book to older teenage readers. It
shares its place with other 'coming-of-age' novels but for me was a
much more candid, intense and genuine portrayal of very real,
contemporary issues than some.
Jennifer Cross
Feed by M. T. Anderson
Walker, 2018 (2002, 2012). ISBN 9781406345209
(Ages: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Dystopian fiction. Future. I
reviewed this book on its rerelease in 2012, and said: "about to be
released as a film, this republication of the award winning novel by
American author, M. T. Anderson, Feed will engage a new generation
of readers as they like me are amazed at the predictions shown in a
dystopian future written 10 years ago. Uncannily many of these are
now part and parcel of the Y Generation's lives. Feed, is a word
describing the constant marketing material pumped into their brains
through an implant inserted at birth. Some 'unlucky' ones have this
done later in life, and so Violet, who was home schooled and has odd
parents, is outside the usual thirst to be connected 24 hours a day.
It is she who when her implant begins to fail, see things
differently from the friendship group she has just formed and as an
outsider, pulls Titus along with her.
On the moon for an experience, the group is invaded by a virus which
makes their feeds malfunction. It is fascinating to see them all
cope without the feed, just as Generation Y today cannot cope
without their mobile phones and internet access. Anderson was
certainly right on target with his prophecies about the future, and
his darkly ironic story is most engaging. For an older spectator
like me, the images created along with the ideas of a whole society
simply being fed information, music, advertisements 24 hours a day
was alarming, but to many not so. Being 'tuned in' or wired, is
given a whole new level of meaning in this stunning book. Not only
advertisements and information, but a transference of texts rather
like emails is sent and received between the teenagers, allowing
them to chat to each other without a third person knowing. It is
incredibly unnerving, foretelling an appalling future.
An informative web
site gives further facts about the book and background
information as well as a discussion of its impact. The book won two
major awards in the US in 2003." And it has appeared on my desk for
a third time (2018) with comments on Walker Books' website showing
why it has been republished. It is reissued in paperback with an
appealing new cover, in conjunction with reissues of Thirsty
and Burger Wuss and with the publication of Landscape
With Invisible Hand. It is the winner of the L.A. Times Book
Award and a National Book Award Finalist, and is a classic of YA
dystopian literature, still relevant after 15 years. And it
certainly is. It still astounds me that this was written 15 years
ago.
Fran Knight
Everless by Sara Holland
Hachette, 2017. ISBN 9781408353622
(Age: 12+) Jules and her father are poor, not of money, but of time.
In the world of Everless, payments are collected in the form of
time, which is siphoned through blood. Through alchemy, this time
and blood is bound to coins (the larger the coin, the more time is
captured). In this world, the rich experience both the luxuries of
wealth and time. The richer you are, the longer you live. To save
Jules' father from spending his blood, she desperately takes a job
in the city of Everless; a place of fuzzy and traumatic memories for
Jules surrounding the noble Gerling family's boys, Roan and Liam.
While working as a maid, Jules learns of the arrival of the Queen
(whom is known to be ancient, beautiful, and fearsome). From this
point on, nothing Jules knew will ever be the same. Both her past
and her future become unsteady, as she strives to understand the
unravelling world around her. In a land where money, time, and blood
are consumed, what more will Jules have to give to understand
herself, and the truth of the realm around her. Everless a powerful young adult novel about love, trust,
mystery, fantasy, and suspense. It is a story that doesn't fade from
the reader's mind after they've put it down. Sara Holland has truly
created a novel that engages the reader and captures their attention
as they experience the story unfold before them through the eyes and
mind of Jules. Jules is a unique and complex character who is the
centre of the novel and has solid historical emotions and
experiences, as well as strong connections with other story
characters. Holland has created a realistic character that has depth
to her thinking and actions.
Jules's experiences will connect with readers (12+) and keep them
engaged in a story that is full of unexpected developments. If the
story and characters weren't enough to keep a reader hooked, the
conclusion certainly is. Holland leaves the reader needing to know
more; the next instalment will surely be strongly awaited by readers
of Everless.
Sarah Filkin
Thunder Creek Ranch by Soya Spreen Bates
Orca Books Publishers, 2013. ISBN 9781459801127
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Thunder Creek Ranch is a short
story full of adventure. When Jake visits the neighbouring ranch,
even though he knows he shouldn't, a chain reaction of events
unfolds. Jake and his younger brother Tommy are visiting their
grandparents at Thunder Creek Ranch. Tommy is the annoying younger
brother and Jake is expected to take Tommy wherever he goes. They
are both expected to stick together and look out for each other.
When Jake sees another boy at the neighbouring ranch, he can't
resist heading over to see who it is. He leaves Tommy up a tree to
keep watch and meets Cory, the owner's grandson. A quad bike ride, a
chase, escaped cows and before the boys know it Tommy is lost and
Jake is panicking. The sudden storm complicates things and the boys
are about to discover why the ranch is called Thunder Creek. Thunder Creek Ranch is an easy to read story with themes of
adventure and listening to others. Jake has a great imagination and
while he might forget to follow the rules sometimes he never gives
up and always tries to do the right thing in the end. This short
novel would be great for young readers choosing their first novels
as well as for reluctant readers who prefer to avoid larger books.
The boys in the story are all under 12 years of age and it is highly
recommended for readers aged 8+.
Kylie Kempster
The 1,000 year old boy by Ross Welford
Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780008256944
(Age: 10-14) Highly recommended. Themes: Youth; History-fiction;
Friendship; Adventure. What if you never got old? What would you do
if you were stuck as an 11 year old for 1000 years? For Alfie this
is his life! The stories passed down through the ages of the people
who do not age, who seem to live forever, is it possible that there
is a truth behind the legends? For Alfie, surviving through history
as the result of an almost impossible elixir that prevents him from
aging, but not from dying, comes with a whole array of problems -
not the least of which is that everyone that he might be friends
with will get old and leave him where he is. The uncertainty of this
kind of existence comes to the fore when disaster strikes. Two new
potential friends discover his secret and the need to protect Alfie
from outside influences takes them into unknown territory. What
follows is a magnificent tale, with action, adventure and wonderful
characters, told in an exhilarating and yet compassionate way.
Friendship proves to be a powerful inspiration for change.
Ross Welford has written a book that is compelling and slightly
fanciful, but in a convincing way (suspending disbelief is
necessary, but plausibility is not necessary for enjoyment). This
will be a book that young readers aged 10-14 will certainly enjoy
and they will love the character Alfie, his quirky friends Aidan and
Roxy, and the complexities of life if you are perpetually 11 years
old. I could not put this book down, so expect to lose young readers
while they are engrossed in the adventure of agelessness.
Carolyn Hull
Ruby in the ruins by Shirley Hughes
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406375893
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Ruby in the Ruins is a
beautifully illustrated story depicting life in the ruins of London
after World War Two. The war is over and Ruby and her mum are
eagerly awaiting the return of Ruby's dad, a soldier. Ruby and her
mum have survived the bombings of London while dad has been fighting
in the war. Ruby and her mum huddled together, waiting for the bombs
to finish falling and praying for their house to stay safe. When the
war was declared over, many families celebrated and waited for their
husbands and fathers. Ruby was excited but did not recognise the man
in her home. It had been a long time without him. Ruby's family is
now different and London is very different. Ruby and her friends
explore the ruins around London and it is during one of these
explorations that Ruby realises just how much she needs her dad.
Many of the stories published about the war are from the perspective
of the soldiers or about the returning soldiers. Ruby in the
Ruins is from the perspective of a child. Readers will see how
London was damaged without the gruesome details of war. Each
detailed picture will create a discussion and encourage the readers
to ask questions about this period of time. The text is aimed at
readers aged 8+ but could still be read out loud to younger children
as it is descriptive but simple. It is highly recommended for
readers aged 8+.
Kylie Kempster
I have lost my way by Gayle Forman
Simon and Schuster, 2018. ISBN 9781471173721
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Themes: Mental illness. Friendship.
Homosexuality. Diversity. Gayle Forman the author of the bestselling
If I
stay and the sequel Where
she went among others, has done it again. I have lost my
way is a powerful, memorable and engrossing stand-alone story
that delves into the lives of three young people, all who have
problems. Freya, on the verge of becoming a star, has lost her voice
while recording her first album, Harun is running away from his
boyfriend, too afraid to come out to his family and Nathaniel has
come to New York totally alone. When Freya falls on Nathaniel in the
park and this is witnessed by Harun, the three unite and while
taking Nathaniel to the hospital the reader finds out their stories.
All have lost their way.
The book is written from different points of view and the reader
gets to know each character in depth and is able to sympathise with
their crises and with their backgrounds. Freya has not only lost her
voice, she has lost her sister who she once sang with and her father
who has returned to Ethiopia to live. Harun has been so successfully
in hiding his sexuality that he is being sent off to meet his bride
and Nathaniel, that brave boy, has lost his grandmother and his
father, who he has cared for over many years.
This is an unforgettable story. Each character is so well described
that you feel you know them very well and can relate to their
problems and applaud their strengths. The power of friendship shines
through this book and will be a beacon for readers who see how
friends who are there for you can make a huge difference. Other
themes like mental health, children who are left to be the main
carers of adults, manipulation by the music industry and suicide all
make it a book not to be missed.
An article from Publishers
Weekly notes that Forman had lost her own way before writing
this compelling story. She had started seven projects, none of which
satisfied her and finally decided to face her problem by writing
about it. This article also links to a recording of A
little white dress, a song that resonates for Freya in the
story.
This is a very satisfying and uplifting story, sure to become a firm
favourite for many readers.
Pat Pledger
Nobody real by Steven Camden
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008168384
(Age: Older teens and young adults) Recommended. What an unusual
style for a novel, loaded with great imagery and poetry.
I found this novel difficult to understand at first as I was
challenged with following who was narrating at different times. Once
I started to recognize how the different fonts related to different
characters and scenarios, it became easier to follow.
It has a very unique storyline of imaginary friends and growing up
in a society where young people are expected to follow the usual
'future paths' - school, university, university debt, work; where
imaginary friends are not only real to the creator, but real in
another world. The creativity and 'make believe' of artists and
authors perhaps are fueled by not only their imagination but also by
the strength that they feel from someone 'not real'.
The overall story is relate-able to today's young people - full of
references to up-to-date technology and the way that young people
use these in their social interactions. The issue of broken
families, abandonment and surviving with guilt and grief, lends this
novel to perhaps help readers and others to gain perspectives and
empathy for people who experience these very real issues.
The characters are realistic and I felt that I could easily depict
various 'real' people that I know as the characters. Thor and the
other 'non real' people, are also very realistic with their thoughts
and reactions. The only 'unreal' aspect of the imaginary people are
their descriptions (bear) and their super powers (flying). They
suffer, feel and react just as real people would which makes them
more credible as 'imaginary FRIENDS'. No friend wants to be
forgotten and just fade away from the memory of someone who is dear
to them.
Steven Camden as an author, has been brilliant in his ability to add
poetry in a teen novel which enhances the important focal points and
which (I think) promotes the power and beauty of poetry as a
literary creative art form.
Maria Burford
The story of Tantrum O'Furrily by Cressida Cowell
Ill. by Mark Nicholas. Hodder Children's Books, 2018. ISBN
9781444933802
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Cats. Survival. Stories.
Cautionary tales. When Tantrum pads across the roofs in search of
food with her three hungry kittens in tow, they ask for a story. So
she tells them a story about Smallpaw, a pampered kitten living
comfortably in a house where no stories are told. She has a lovely
bed but each night after her tea, she presses her nose at the window
and wonders what it is like outside. Mrs Worrykin, her owner, has
told her that outside is full of dangerous stray cats, bad cats that
fight with each other and with dogs. Smallpaw tries hard to be a
good cat, but she is bored, so one night when the cat flap is left
unlatched, she creeps outside. There a fox talks to her, encouraging
her to take another step and hear his story. She comes closer until
he leaps upon her telling her he will eat her. Suddenly another cat
comes out of the gloom and fights off the fox. The stray cat tells
her that she can write her own story, all it takes is courage.
After that Smallpaw is allowed outside and a saucer of milk is left
for her, but she only drinks half, leaving some for the brave cat
that saved her.
With that, Tantrum climbs down and shows her kittens the saucer of
milk, half full, left for them.
This delightful fable of good and bad, a cautionary tale encouraging
children to see beyond the words, would be a great read a loud,
children joining in with the conversations between the fox and the
cat, or between the cats when the kitten is rescued, and calling out
when the fox attacks.
With the wonderfully ingenious illustrations washing across each
page, the brush making sweeps of colour evoking movement, children
will be entranced as they see the animals that make up the story and
recognsie danger when they see it. This modern fable tells us all
that being aware of the dangers is good, but these fears cannot rule
our lives, it takes courage to take that first step.
Fran Knight
How to be a fashion designer by Lesley Ware
Ill. by Tiki Papier. DK, 2018. ISBN 9781465467614
The world of fashion, with its perceived glamour and glitz, always
appeals to a certain number of students who care about what they
wear and have the ability to make the proverbial sack look good.
Sadly though, enduring emphasis on body image continues despite all
that is done to combat it and many soon realise they don't have "the
look" to be a top model and turn away. But in this
easy-to-read manual other avenues in fashion are explored,
particularly those of the designer and the stylist. "While
designers create their clothes, stylists know how to put them
together."
Using themed double-spreads students are taken through the basic
steps with typical DK layout pizzazz, illustrations galore, tips and
challenges that encourage them to start designing now. The
last 20 pages offer opportunities to design a t-shirt, trousers,
skirt, hat, shoes and accessories with outlines already provided so
new knowledge can be applied immediately as the reader learns about
colour, texture, patterns and shape while being encouraged to be
inspired by the event and the environment. Recycling and upstyling
are explored so not only is waste minimised but even those with few
dollars do not need to be deterred.
Ware believes that those who can "speak up with fashion" have the
courage to speak up in other ways too so as teachers we should look
to those who dare to be different as being more than clothes
horses. A close-to-home example is a student I taught a few
years ago who always made the compulsory school uniform a personal
statement, who was a whizz at design puzzles like tangrams and who,
at 17, starred in a local show in a country town and then six months
later in 2017, had her designs on the catwalk
in Vancouver and more recently, Nassau in the Bahamas! Her story
alone should give students confidence to continue.
Written to support a STEAM curriculum, the suggestions in this book
offer an entire term's curriculum for those with this sort of
interest but even those who aren't particularly interested in
fashion can learn how to step out with a bit more style to give
themselves a confidence boost.
Barbara Braxton
The walkabout orchestra by Chloe Perernau
Quarto, 2018. ISBN 9781786030795
The orchestra have an important concert to play - but all the
musicians have gone walkabout! But each has sent a postcard to
the Maestro saying where they are. So the challenge for the reader
is to help him and his faithful assistant find them using the clues
in those postcards.
From Reykjavik to Rio young readers will enjoy this search-and-find
tour of the world that introduces them to the instruments of the
orchestra as they test their powers of observation using the
pictures of each in the introductory pages as a starting point.
With busy pages that test the eye (although not quite as busy as Where's
Wally?) this book encourages readers to examine the details in
things rather than just glancing quickly at them and moving on. To
add to the mix there is a little yellow bird on each double-spread
with his own quest that adds a further challenge. All eventually
come together in a concert hall with some interesting audience
members, and for those who just can't find them, an answer key is
provided.
While this ostensibly introduces children to the instruments of the
orchestra, it works better as a search-and-find book which is much
more fun and informative.
A great addition for those who have pored over Where's Wally
and who are looking for a new challenge in that collaborative
reading activity that is so important to emerging readers,
particularly boys.
Barbara Braxton
The great Shelby Holmes meets her match by Elizabeth Eulberg
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408871492
(Age: 8-10) Recommended. Themes: Detective stories, School stories,
Juvenile Diabetes. Feisty nine-year-old girl detective Shelby Holmes
returns to solve a new mystery and confront an old enemy. With her
friend and mystery-solving partner John Watson they are ready to
face new challenges. Both are attending a new school - the Harlem
Academy of the Arts, in the same year level because Shelby's 'brain
attic', her knowledge and deductive abilities have helped her skip
two grades.
John has experienced new schools and different places and as an army
kid, and is confident about their fitting in, however he's concerned
about Shelby's unique style, her lack of reading social cues and
bluntly pointing out everyone's secrets which causes problems.
Shelby delves into the background of the mysterious new teacher Mr.
Crosby and his missing heirloom watch. They face problems caused by
Shelby's nemesis Moira who hacks the school director's email, steals
Mr. Johnson's watch and locks Shelby and John up in a basement
boiler room. Here, John who has juvenile diabetes suffers a medical
incident and Shelby desperately and creatively finds someone to help
him.
Eulberg includes numerous references to the original Sherlock Holmes
stories, which may be beyond her reading audience's background
knowledge. Interestingly, she includes descriptions of the white
students' skin tones as a point of reference. Matt Robertson's
cartoon drawings are entertaining: there's Shelby's unique
hairstyle, smoke bombs exploding and eyes appearing from the
darkness. Shelby Holmes meets her match has themes of friendship,
solving mysteries and overcoming worry and anxiety, and is an
enjoyable novel suited to ages 8-10.
Rhyllis Bignell
