Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406369779
(Age: 12-15) Recommended. Subjects: Friendship, Teenage life,
Cyber-bullying, Family relationships. Nicola Morgan is an
internationally recognised author of teenage health and wellbeing
books including Blame My Brain: The Amazing Teenage Brain
Revealed and The Teenage Guide to Stress. In The
Teenage Guide to Friends, she explores the topic of
friendships, looking at making friends, establishing healthy
relationships and online experiences. Sections on personality types,
family position and being empathetic are written in a practical,
relatable format. Morgan emphasizes the value of having a trusted
adult to share with, to provide support and guidance.
This book is divided into four sections: What are Friends; Making
and Managing Friendships; Empathy and Behaviour and Personality. She
explores the thousands of years of human evolution, the development
of the human brain and 'the ability to think rationally and use self
control.' Each section includes an introduction, questions and
responses, signs to look out for and things to think about. Online
friendships, cyber-bullying, the influences of social media are
discussed with guidelines for handling online cruelty, looking ahead
to choices made as a teenager and the consequences for adulthood.
Negative and positive behaviours, personality traits, keeping
friendships strong, dealing with 'frenemies' are important topics
for teenagers to understand.
Teenagers and preteens can use the comprehensive index and explore
just the section that interests them, their area of concern or
issues that they are dealing with. This reference book is a useful
tool for classroom and home teachers, as well as health
professionals. Quizzes and a resource section are included as well.
Rhyllis Bignell
Words collide by Chris Colfer
The Land of Stories, book 6. Little Brown, 2017. ISBN
9780316355896
(Age: Year 3+) 'The statues are alive! How is this possible?'
The policewoman clicked the radio on her shoulder.
'Officer Sanchez to Dispatch,' she said, 'The library is under
attack. I repeat, the library is under attack! We need all available
units to join us immediately!'
'Copy, Officer Sanchez,' a voice responded over the radio. 'All
available units have been notified. Are you able to identify who or
what is behind the attack?'
Still in disbelief, the policewoman hesitated to respond.
'It's magic,' she said breathlessly. 'The library is being attacked
by magic!'
Will it or won't it? This is the question on the lips of fans of The
Land of Stories. Throughout this final book, Colfer drops some
not so discreet hints that will leave one wondering is this really
the last of the worlds. Readers will not be disappointed with the
strange situations, difficult life lessons and cosmic dramas. Throw
in evil and good characters becoming involved from various worlds
battling through many of New York City's landmarks to top it off. It
is pleasing to see Colfer bring all his fairy tale worlds from
throughout the series to a satisfying close, with all plot lines
from previous books converging in the finale. Book 6 sees many
characters return for one last hooray - the flip side being they are
reduced to cameo appearances albeit memorable.
The book needs to be read after the five others have been completed
for sense to be made. There is the odd bit of violence and the
occasional 'swear word' (crap, bastards, butt). Has a door or two
been left open for another story?
We have students in Year 3 and up reading this series.
Kathryn Schumacher
Back to Scare School by Zack Zombie
Diary of a Minecraft Zombie book 8. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN
9781743818343
(Age: 7-9) The popular fan fiction series is presented as Zombie's
diary and in this junior novel, he has finished 7th grade and is
uncertain about being an eighth grader. The week before school
starts is challenging and of course, he is nervous and super
anxious. With Dad's Zombie Credit Card he shops up a storm choosing
a large number of fashionable items, unfortunately his father forgot
to mention the $30 limit. When the School Schedule arrives, Zombie
is in the Advanced Scare Class 201, now he can scare Minecraft
miners instead of villagers.
Each step of the way in preparation of the new school year proves
daunting, which elective to pick, Zombie Pig Farming or Modding
class. Even choosing school supplies is problematic, Mum says no to
the 100-pocket backpack, perfect for storing dried booger snacks, no
Voice Changing megaphone, just the basics for Zombie. Steve his
human friend gives him some great advice and his parents promise him
a ScareStation 465 if he receives all B grades.
School life proves to be challenging as Zombie recounts his daily
experiences in his journal with missed buses, shrinking uniforms,
and volunteer orientation and modding lessons. Humour, grossness,
body humour and plenty of Minecraft activities are just right for
the fans of this popular series.
Rhyllis Bignell
The great rabbit chase by Freya Blackwood
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743811641
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Rabbits, Animals, Neighbours. When mum
goes shopping for gumboots and comes home with a large furry rabbit,
there can be only one name for him. The rabbit is clever at chewing
and scratching, but what he does best is escape. One day when he
escapes, mum is in the shower, and Norman is at the front door ready
to play, but Gumboot's owner has only one thing on her mind: to find
her rabbit.
There follows a very funny tale of a journey to seek and find the
rabbit and take him back home. We follow the trail as the trio
crosses the road, seeing John daydreaming with his stop sign and car
owners beeping their horns. As they follow the rabbit, others join
their escapade, a man in his business suit, a neighbour on her
walking frame, the stop sign man, a woman and her screaming baby in
its pram. Down the streets they go, until they come to a park, where
they all lie down for a rest, mum still in her towel from the
shower.
Children will have great fun looking at the array of people on their
road trip, wandering the streets and then the park looking for
Gumboot. Freya Blackwood cleverly includes small touches revealing
the personalities of the people involved. I love the business man
taking his shoes and socks off, and the two older people sitting
down for a chat under the tree.
Blackwood's pen, pencil and watercolour illustrations are just
wonderful, the cut out perspective of the rabbit's tunnel, and that
of the house and the maps on the endpapers, will encourage students
to look at the neighbourhood from a different angle. Their journey
is circular, with people who have joined the hunt going back to
their own places on the way home. This delightful story will be a
tremendous read aloud as the children follow the path taken by all
participants. A wonderful journey that all readers will enjoy.
Fran Knight
Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp
Old Barn Books, 2017. ISBN 9781910646328
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Dogs, Therapy dogs, Reading,
Libraries. Madeline Finn does not like to read. She refuses to read
magazines, books and menus. And she especially hates reading out
loud. When she tries the others in her class snigger. They get stars
from the teacher for their reading, she gets a sticker which tells
her to keep trying. She is despondent. She really wants a star. One
day at the library, Mrs Dimple, the librarian takes her to meet
Bonnie, a dog who loves to hear people read. In a room with many
dogs listening to children read, Madeline finds that the dog does
not giggle when she makes a mistake, and puts its paws onto her lap
when she tries to read a word she does not understand. They learn to
get there together and with Bonnie's help she keeps going.
After a few weeks the teacher asks Madeline to read again and this
time she imagines that she is reading to Bonnie and after a hesitant
start, reads to the end of the page, receiving her star. She takes
it to the library to give to Bonnie and finds out why Bonnie was
missing last week at the library.
This charming story of finding your feet, of developing the strength
to do something that is difficult will thrill all readers. Bonnie
the library dog gives Madeline the confidence to carry on, her
simply being there overcomes Madeline's fears about reading.
The soft illustrations depict the dog and child beautifully,
supporting those children in the same predicament.
Part of the proceeds of the sale of this book goes to Pets as
Therapy, an organisation in the United Kingdom that supports
read2dogs. Go to http://www.petsastherapy.org
for more information.
Fran Knight
The Princess in Black and the mysterious playdate by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Ill. by LeUyen Pham. The Princess in Black book 5.
Candlewick Press, 2017. ISBN 9780763688264
(Age: 5-8) Highly recommended. My favourite princess is back and
this time she is having a playdate with Princess Sneezewort.
Unbeknowns to her a monster has followed her from the goats' field
and is terrorising the children who have pets in the park near
Princess Sneezewort's palace. When Princess Magnolia hears of the
threat she quickly dons her Princess in Black attire and goes to the
rescue. Princess Sneezewort follows the directions for becoming ' a
monster battling hero' and dressing herself in a disguise of
blankets, becomes the Princess in Blankets, and goes to the pets'
rescue as well.
Filled with funny moments and humorous illustrations, this episode
shows that with a bit of help, anyone could be a hero. The
friendship portrayed between the two princess, both as their
ordinary selves and then as heroes, is heart warming. The two
friends have such fun playing dress-up slam and karaoke jam and
playhouse romp and snack-time stomp. When they vanquish the monster
it is time for a victory dance with the Goat Avenger and they slap
hands, they wiggle bums and say 'Callooo!'
This series of books come highly recommended. The characters are
well developed and most likeable and will appeal to a wide range of
children. The delightful drawings complement the warmth and charm of
the story, which is also action packed for readers who enjoy
adventure. Readers will have lots of fun searching for the monster
who is very adept at hiding.
I look forward to further exploits of the Princess in Black and her
trusty friends.
Pat Pledger
There is no dragon in this story by Lou Carter
Ill. by Deborah Allwright. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408864906
(Ages: 4-7) Recommended. Fairy Tales. This is Lou Carter's first
picture book and her background in teaching has evidently helped her
create this engaging and clever story. Similarly to Nick Bland's The
Wrong Book, the reader is addressed directly, making them feel
a part of the story. 'This was supposed to be a story about a dragon
who captured a princess . . .' but Dragon has gone off in a huff ('I
will not capture any icky, frilly princesses today', he says) and
gone searching for a story where he gets to be the hero for once. He
traipses around fairy tale land, pleading with well-known characters
to be the hero in their stories. He offers to save the Gingerbread
Man from that Fox and to save the Second Little Pig from that Big
Bad Wolf. -No, no no, that's not how it goes. There is NO DRAGON in
this story- is the refrain. A fantastic picture map shows him being
turned away repeatedly, by Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel, and Little
Red Riding Hood. NO! they all say. He is just trying his luck with
Jack when his bad timing sees him become part of the story, altering
its path and throwing fairy tale land into chaos. What everyone
really needs now is a dragon to be the hero! Can he summon up the
courage?
Young children will love identifying all the familiar fairy tale
characters depicted within the story. It may even encourage them to
revisit them or seek out those unfamiliar to them. The book could be
used to inspire creativity in storytelling as it shows how
introducing an unexpected character or event can change a story's
trajectory and how it isn't always necessary to follow a traditional
story pathway. It could even be used to discuss stereotypes and how
we can break free of them, both within the stories we tell and
within our own existence. Dragon is a fantastic character who is
easy to empathise with; he wears his heart on his sleeve, is full of
exuberance and determination, and is just a little crazy. The
illustrations are fantastic, particularly the dark pages showing the
fairy tale characters stumbling around and making a mess of their
stories. A great read aloud, especially for fairy tale fans.
Nicole Nelson
A friend in the dark by Pascal Ruter
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406372601
(Age: 12+) The novel A Friend in the Dark is a sweet story that
makes its readers evaluate their prior knowledge of blindness and
becoming blind. Written in a way that makes you wonder about the
universe and all that is around you, A Friend in the Dark is
captivating and thoughtful. The story revolves around Victor who
lives with his dad (an antiques trader), and is a failure when it
comes to school and being social. He is good friends with a boy
called Haisam, and while Haisam (the Honourable) is a genius (who
plays chess every day with his father, and is believed to be all
powerful and all-knowing according to Victor), Victor, himself, does
what he can to scrape by and not cause trouble. This all changed one
day when a classmate starts to take notice of Victor, and he
suddenly (and as a surprise to everyone) gets a decent mark at
something he has no clue about, particularly, maths. Where did this
knowledge come from? Why is his classmate Marie taking much more
notice of him that she usually does? Maybe there's something deeper
going on here than a classmate taking pity on a peer who is dismal
in the academic setting . . .
The book A Friend in the Dark is written in a soft way that allows
readers to understand the mind and thoughts of Victor. The style of
writing, perspective, and themes in this book are like the preferred
writing style of John Green and his young adult novels; true love,
mystery, and a strong first-person perspective. This novel would be
well suited for teens and young adults (12+) because of the
character development, concepts, and themes. This book gave a
different light to some concepts and developments that others may
find relatable in life; whether it's school, social life, family
life, or even medical issues, this book is warm and easy to read
with its relaxed and characteristic narration style. A Friend in the
Dark is definitely a friend for those who love to get lost in a
fictional world.
Sarah Filkin
Secret Ninja Force by Julia March
DK Readers. Lego, 2017. Level 2. ISBN 9780241285534
(Age: 6+) Recommended. In Secret Ninja Force the reader will
find out about the ninja heroes of the Lego Ninjago movie. The
personalities of the six friends are explored as well as Master Wu
who gives them excellent advice about being ninjas. Their strengths
are details and weapons explained, all with bright illustrations
that aid the narrative.
Level 2 has been designed for the child who is beginning to read and
introduces characters that will be very familiar to fans of the Lego
Ninjago movie. It is ideal to read aloud for the child who is
fascinated by the movie, but also is an ideal book for the newly
emerging reader to tackle, because of the popularity of the subject
matter.
Containing 48 pages, a table of contents, a quiz and an index as
well as a note to parents, Secret Ninja Force will have
instant appeal for children and was quickly grabbed by my six year
old grandson.
Pat Pledger
Shark Attack! by Julia March
Level 1. DK Readers. Lego, 2017. ISBN 9781465461933
(Age: 4-6) Recommended. In Shark attack! readers will meet Lord
Garmadon, the villain of the Lego Ninjago move. He is the most evil
man in Ninjago City and he has built up a Shark Army with special
weapons and vehicles in an effort to take over the city. The ninja
must defeat him and his army.
This has instant appeal for any child who likes Lego and who has
seen the movie. Level 1 is for the child who is beginning to read.
It doesn't look like a reader, but it contains short sentences and
words that children will be familiar with and will have no trouble
pronouncing. The illustrations are colourful Lego figures which
complement the text and give clues to what is going on.
The book has a table of contents with 24 headings as well as an
index at the back, making it seem much more like a book than a
reader. There are 24 pages in the book and a 5 question quiz that
children will enjoy doing. The note to parents is helpful as well.
Well designed and produced, with a hard cover and the popular Lego
figures, this is sure to be a hit with children and is likely to
lure a child to begin reading.
Pat Pledger
A jigsaw of fire and stars by Yaba Badoe
Zephyr, 2017. ISBN 9781786697981
(Ages: 14+) Highly recommended. The story starts with a treasure
casket thrown into the sea as a ship sinks. Inside is a pillow of
gold dust, and another of diamonds, a bamboo flute, a jewel studded
dagger, and a tapestry cloth wrapped around... a baby, a black
African baby, who is blissfully unaware of the fire and oil, and
people drowning around her. It sounds like the beginning of a
fantasy story, a foundling washed up on a shore and rescued by a
circus troupe, brought up to dance on a pony in the circus ring.
There are many elements of a fantasy adventure: the eagle Priss who
guards and protects the baby floating in the casket and remains at
her call whenever she is in danger; there are the circus twins,
Cobra, the green-eyed boy who can call up snakes, and Cat the fierce
girl who hurls daggers. Other characters make up the bizarre troupe
- Mama Rose, Redwood, Midget Man, Mimi and Bizzie Lizzie. These are
the people that Sante knows as family, yet there is another family
somewhere, ghosts in the shadows, that come to her in dreams, a
mystery that she yearns to find the answer to. But seeking the
answers puts her and her friends in grave danger.
However this is not some story set in a mystical other world, it is
here and now in Spain, and reminders of the modern world intrude,
things like television, mobile phones, the Internet. There are
police, the 'black-boots', and there are malevolent criminals like
Miguel and Grey Eyes. The story uncovers serious issues such as
'illegal migrants', human traffickers and sex slavery. Sante and the
circus troupe are just one group of people trying to live 'beyond
the grid', avoiding attention and possible arrest, not sure who to
trust, staying together in their tight little group and always
moving on. A jigsaw of fire and stars is a very beautiful magical story
encompassing modern day issues in a way that may be easier for
younger people to deal with. It is completely enthralling, and would
be a book enjoyed by both teenage readers and adults. The author
Yaba Badoe is a Ghanaian-British filmmaker whose focus has been on
stories of black African women, but often also incorporating
traditional Ghanaian folktale. It makes for a unique approach to
telling a story of complex issues that is very imaginative and also
satisfying.
Helen Eddy
What George forgot by Kathy Wolff
Ill. by Richard Byrne. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408884027
(Ages: 3-7) George is off to school. He knows he has forgotten
something but he can't quite remember what. He remembered to wake
his mum (with a running bear hug) and to put on his brand new
superhero watch. He has even remembered to tell his dad his three
funniest pirate jokes. So what is he forgetting? Could it be...
oh yes, his shoes! Phew! says George as he boards the bus without
his pants...
George's morning routine is sure to amuse readers, with the text and
playful illustrations both contributing to the humour of the story.
From the mess he leaves in his wake to the hairy-foot tickle
inflicted on his sleeping father, there are plenty of opportunities
for laughter. George is a great, happy character with so much
enthusiasm for the important things in life (like inventing a flying
backpack-putting-on machine) that he simply can't remember those
other things (like putting his pants on).
Parents and children will identify with this morning struggle and
giggle at George's funny antics. They might also be squawking at
him: Your pants, George, you have forgotten your pants!
Nicole Nelson
My encyclopedia of very important animals
Dorling Kindersley, 2017. ISBN 9780241276358
Anyone who has spent time with little people, particularly boys,
will know that they often gravitate to the non fiction collections
of the school library where they can get a THICK book (very
important) and then pore over the pictures for hours at a time. If
the pictures and diagrams are of high quality then they can absorb a
lot of information from them even if they can't manage the text yet.
In this new publication from non fiction experts DK the editors have
mastered combining stunning illustrations with just the right amount
of text to support the beginning reader, often only one sentence and
using vocabulary that is appropriate to the age group whilst not
'talking down.' Divided into four sections - All About Animals;
Amazing Animals; Animal Antics and More Very Important Animals - it
begins with a clear explanation of what animals are, differentiating
them from plants, and then moves on to those of land, sea and air.
Using lots of colour, a clear, clean font of a good size, labels,
speech bubbles and other literary devices, the young reader is taken
on a journey through the animal kingdom that they will return to
again and again, all the while honing their reading skills as they
want to know more than just the pictures can tell them. At the back
they are introduced to the concept of a glossary which explains the
meaning of some of the more unusual words they might encounter like
amphibian and exoskeleton, as well as an index that will help them
find just what they are looking for.
With more and more research emerging about the need for children to
develop basic literacy skills using print if they are to use and
interpret online information efficiently and effectively, this is a
must-have addition in both the school and home libraries.
Barbara Braxton
Little baby books: Outdoors ill. by Mel Four
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408873786
(Ages: 0-2) Board book. High-contrast pictures. Animals. The other
book in this new series for the very youngest of children is Everyday.
Both feature bold black and white pictures with pops of coloured
foil on each page. The shine of the foil will draw baby's eye as
well as providing a tactile element. Each double page has one word
(bird, ladybird, bee, snail, butterfly) and features an illustration
of outdoor things (leaves, flowers, etc.) The visually beautiful and
high-contrast illustrations will engage the developing eyes of very
young infants. This is a perfect first baby book but older babies
and toddlers will also enjoy it, especially due to the shiny foil
inlays. Older infants will also be able to point to and name the
objects and creatures on the pages.
Nicole Nelson
Letters to the lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408883525
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: YA Romance; Grief;
Relationship; Family; Juvenile Justice; Photography; Alcoholism.
This is a story of the compounding distress of grief and loss; a
story of two young teen lives irreconcilably altered by different
tragic circumstances who happen upon each other through their words
on a page - delivered at a graveside. Their twisted and distorted
realities make them vulnerable and uncertain, and as strangers they
bond as they share with one another truths that they could not say
face-to-face. This dialogue enables them to come to grips with all
that is happening in their lives and leads them to a relationship
that could all come unravelling very fast if they actually knew who
it was that they were unburdening themselves to. The complexities of
grief and the impacts that it has when those who grieve feel an
element of guilt, are part of the burden for the teen protagonists,
Juliet and Declan. The two letter writers (and eventually email
correspondents writing under assumed names) are both reeling,
pushing people away in real life and hiding from help, but the
lifeline of their correspondence gives them hope and draws them
together. This is not a Romeo and Juliet saga, but it does have some
of the anguish of a developing young relationship built on shaky
ground.
The secondary characters in this book are winningly portrayed -
Declan and Juliet's teachers, who care in an above-and-beyond way
and see through the masks that are exposed to the world; friends who
are robust in complexity and yet are strongly loyal, and are not
stereotyped; family members who themselves need to deal with the
torturous path of recovering from loss. This aspect of the book
makes this a multi-layered romance and exploration of deeper
relationship issues, but while still retaining clever plot
development and nuanced characterisation. The power of photography
to capture a moment is also used in an intriguing way through this
story.
Note: No inappropriate language issues - rare in YA fiction and very
much appreciated.
Carolyn Hull
