Reviews

The most perfect snowman by Chris Britt

Balzer and Bray, 2016. ISBN 9780062377043
Built in the first flurry of winter snow, Drift was the loneliest of snowmen. With his stick arms, small mouth and coal eyes he stood forlorn and forgotten amongst the bare winter trees. He dreamed of having a smart scarf, warm gloves and a long orange carrot nose like the other snowmen so he could join in their banter, their fashion parades, snowball fights and other fun stuff. But he was too plain and different to be included, so his days were spent swooshing and sliding through the woods, stopping and standing in the shadows to watch the others at play.
Then one day some children gave Drift all that he wanted - a fluffy blue hat, warm mittens, a soft scarf and even a long orange carrot nose. Suddenly the other snowmen found him acceptable now that he had his new accessories and watched as he played all afternoon with his new friends. But that night a blizzard blew and Drift lost his smart new clothes and no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find them. All he had left were his scarf and his long orange carrot nose. Then he heard a tiny voice - a little bunny was lost in the snow, frightened and shivery cold. Drift knows he can save the bunny by wrapping it in his soft scarf and giving it his long orange carrot nose but can he bear to part with them? Can he go back to being that plain snowman with skinny stick eyes, a small nose and coal eyes?
This is a charming story about what it means to be 'perfect' and whether it is about looking a particular way or having the right things or whether it runs deeper than that. What is the meaning of the old adage 'Clothes maketh the man' and is it true? Are we more visible and therefore perhaps more powerful because of our external appearance?
It also raises the concepts of selfishness and selflessness and whether even giving just a little can make any difference. Do we need to be applauded and rewarded for doing something kind or should it be enough to know that we have made a difference? Do we have to be the person giving the boldest and brightest present at birthday parties or is it the phone call saying thank you afterwards that is most remembered?
The soft palette echo the gentleness of both the story and its message but this is more than just a story to welcome winter.
Barbara Braxton

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: The Awesome Guide by Calvin Scott

DK Children, 2017. ISBN 9780241280393
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Sure to appeal to LEGO fans, The Awesome Guide is just that. It gives details of all the super heroes, their origins and the two cities, Metropolis and Gotham City that dominate the world of DC Comics super heroes. Then there is information about the planet Krypton, the superpowers possessed by the heroes and their secret identities, vehicles and weapons. Of special fun will be the section where readers can answer a quiz to find out 'Who is your alter ego?', 'hero, friend, ordinary bystander or, gulp, villain!'
The villains found in the comics are not omitted either. There is a section based on their identities, skills and weaponry and readers can do a quiz to find out how bad they are.
Each of the sections are illustrated in a double page spread, vividly featuring the LEGO hero or apparatus, and many having small blocks of information showing a Bick-sized fact and a Stat Scan. There is a Table of Contents, a list of the LEGO sets and an index. There is also a Wonder Woman exclusive mini figure contained in the cover.
Although the reading level is definitely for an older audience, this book and especially the action figure contained in it will appeal to Lego fans who are much younger and who will appreciate an adult reading sections to them.
This would be an ideal gift for any child who enjoys Lego and superheroes.
Pat Pledger

The world of dinosaur roar. A series created by Peter Curtis with rhyming text by Jeanne Willis

Macmillan Children's Books, 2017.
Dinosaur roar! : The Tyrannosaurus rex. ISBN 9781509835669
Dinosaur Boo! : The Deinonychus. ISBN 9781509834952
Dinosaur Munch! : The Diplodocus. ISBN 9781509835652
Dinosaur stomp! : The Triceratops. ISBN: 9781509835690
Ages: 1 - 6) Recommended. Board Book. Written in association with the Natural History Museum, this series of four rhyming texts introduces the very youngest of children to the world of dinosaurs; each character being endowed with a delightfully cheeky personality. The dinosaurs depict behaviour typical of what we have come to expect of each species. Vegetarian Diplodocus incessantly munches leaves whilst Tyrannosaurus Rex threatens the others more aggressively as we might expect of the carnivore.
The fabulous rhyming text is great fun for the adult reader too but be warned - for best results refresh your dinosaur vocabulary and pronunciation before you begin reading with your little one! The different dinosaurs from the series 'support' the main character of each individual narrative with their slapstick but just scary enough antics. The final pages of each story provide some basic facts about the dinosaur focussed on in that text. This is a very fine series for stimulating the imagination particularly of the child with a fascination for dinosaurs. I certainly would have jumped at a series like this for my eldest son who had to be restrained on a daily basis, from boring his Year 1 class to death on this subject quite a few years ago now.
Elizabeth Avery

The only girl in the world: a memoir by Maude Julien

Text, 2017. ISBN 9781925498110
(Age: Mature senior secondary) Recommended for mature readers who should be given opportunities to discuss the content. Maude Julien's memoir details a horrific childhood of deprivation and suffering inflicted by parents determined to create an exceptional being who would not suffer from any intellectual or physical weakness. Maude's father was a wealthy French company director who had a Nietschzean belief in his own power and consequently despised human emotional fragility. He raised a poor miner's daughter, Jeannine, from infancy and in time she became the mother of Maude, the author. The couple isolated themselves from the world and raised their child to master all skills and eliminate all weakness. Part of her training taught her to regard other people with suspicion and fear. She is set constant endurance tests and never shown any affection. Maude's teacher is her mother, who is a victim of Louis almost as much as Maude is. Maude is woken in the night and made to sit in darkness in the cellar to overcome her fear of rats. She is forced to traverse the grounds of their mansion again at night without a light. She must sit for hours without moving. Bells are sewn onto her jacket to ensure that she does not move. Louis wants a guard dog so Linda, an Alsatian, is purchased. Linda loves Maude but her father forces Maude to shut Linda in a tiny cage during the day. Maude must not allow herself to be ruled by sentiment. She must excel academically, despite being taught by her mother who does not understand what she is teaching. She must be a gymnast, despite having no trainer, and she must learn a range of musical instruments. Oddly, despite their suspicion of the world at large, Maude's parents allow frequent contact with a vicious gardener who sexually abuses the child, and her accordion teacher is a sadist who stubs out his cigarettes on her knees. Louis has a philosophy that is a mixture of Masonism and Nazism, but the essence is that he must be recognised as godlike. He tries to force Maude to promise to watch over his grave for the rest of her life. He fails in this but he does force her to toilet and bath him, and share in his copious consumption of alcohol. He eventually organizes her marriage which he does not intend to be consummated. However Maude seizes her chance and escapes. Psychologically Maude is saved by the love her few animals, Linda the dog, Arthur, a pony, and a duck, give her, and ultimately by a fine and wily music teacher who manages to extricate the seventeen year old girl from her isolation. She begins to recognize her talents as a writer and musician, and to understand that it is possible to enjoy being with others. She has many disabilities, a damaged liver, nightmares, and chronic distrust among them, and it takes many years of different therapies before she functions as a happy and successful person. The message finally is that psychological damage can be repaired, but at a great cost over a long time. The importance of simple loving kindness in raising a child is critical. The memoir is engrossing but an emotionally difficult read. The cruelty inflicted on the child and the animals is almost unbelievable and is certainly disturbing. It can be recommended for mature readers who should be given opportunities to discuss the content.
Jenny Hamilton

Wild animals of the south by Dieter Braun

Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781909263970
(Ages: 5+) Australian animals. African animals. South American animals. Antarctic animals. This is a translated edition of a German publication, with a second book, Wild animals of the north, also available. There are many of these artsy, illustration-based non-fiction books around for children and lots of them are extraordinary in terms of their visual appeal as well as their ability to engage young readers, many of whom are becoming more discerning about the aesthetic qualities of their reading material as well as shying away from text-heavy books. This one is organised into four regions: South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. In keeping with the visual focus, the contents are graphical (using a map) and the index, organised by region, is pictorial (confusingly not ordered alphabetically).
The introduction sets a conservationist tone for the reader as it draws attention to the many species of animal currently threatened with extinction. It opines 'We are intruders in the animal kingdom and with every animal that dies out, our life on this planet loses a part of its power and colour and beauty'. This is a wonderfully written statement with the power and clarity to resonate with adults and children alike. The author, by providing breath-taking illustrations that display their beauty and immenseness, emphasises that wild animals need to be respected and protected. The illustrations are not completely realistic, but they are scientifically accurate and incredibly detailed. The colours are bright and vibrant, but not always true to life. Many of the animals, composed of layered geometrical shapes, appear to pop off the page, piercing you with their intense eyes.
This is a book to appreciate visually but is in no way a reference or research book. Despite the introduction telling us, 'this book... tells us how and where they live, what they look like, what they eat, how they find each other or hide from one another and all the other things they get up to' the illustrations really are the main event and they deserve to be. Scientific names are given alongside common names but aside from this inclusion (which is probably done to give an exotic feel rather than for educational purpose) minimal and sometimes no information is given about the included animals. What information is given is limited in scope and often pertains to one aspect (e.g. the kookaburra's laugh). In addition, it is far from comprehensive; it includes only eighteen Australian animals and a mere eight from the Antarctic region. While clearly not intended as a reference book, it seems odd that information is not given for each animal. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful book of art sure to be treasured by animal lovers and young artists.
Nicole Nelson

Where's Wally? The colouring collection by Martin Handford

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406375701
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. With the interest in colouring in going strong, both children and adults will find lots of pleasure in this colouring book featuring Wally. Even those who are not so keen on colouring in will still love the opportunity to find Wally in the many black and white scenes that can be found in the book. Wally is lurking near a pond, in a dinosaur park and in the middle of a medieval festival as well as many other exciting and interesting places. The pages present quite a challenge for the colourist to complete, with their small and intricate drawings, and definitely would be rather difficult for little hands to manipulate.
The paper is thick, the book sturdy and there are other challenges to complete. I was taken with the Super Sneaky Villains who all look like Wally with the exception of having mostaches and had fun trying to find Wally in the pages of villains. At the back of the book is a giant size poster featuring dinosaurs (and Wally is rather hard to find here), which could be pinned up in a library, classroom or bedroom and completed at leisure.
This book will give hours of relaxation and fun. It would also be a fabulous gift for children who have to while away hours on a long car or plane journey.
Pat Pledger

We're all wonders by R. J. Palacio

Penguin, 2017. ISBN 9780141386416
(Age: 4-7) Highly recommended. Paperback, 32 pages. Imagination. Play. Emotions. Feelings. Acceptance. Tolerance. Special needs. R. J. Palacio's best-selling novel Wonder introduced readers to Auggie Pullman an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. This novel inspired the Choose Kind movement that encourages everyone to choose kindness, be tolerant and accepting of other's unique qualities.
We're all wonders with its simple, bold statements and colourful, graphic illustrations introduces Auggie and his dog Daisy to younger readers. Palacio's desire is to help children understand the need for tolerance, acceptance and kindness. Auggie does ordinary things, riding a bike, eating an icecream and playing ball, however he does not look ordinary. On the portrait wall, even though there are students from different backgrounds, countries, with different facial features, he stands out. His loving mother says he is a wonder but he knows others see him as different.
Palacio's emotive, stylised illustrations beautifully portray Auggie's emotions when his feelings are hurt: the little boy, his dog, even the blue bird in the wagon all are drawn with their heads down looking dejected. His helmet is drawn as a symbol of protection and he blasts off across a starry galaxy to Pluto where all the creatures who have the same unique faces welcome him. Auggie is shown looking back to Earth wishing that there is room for everyone to be loved and accepted.
This simple picture book is a fantastic starting point for families to discuss tolerance, acceptance and physical differences. From the front cover, to the last page where the world is reflected in Auggie's one eye, this is a powerful picture book. We're all wonders is a key book for teaching ethical understanding in the Early Years: identifying and appreciating similarities and differences in people; exploring how people feel when they are included and excluded from groups and demonstrating appropriate language when encouraging others.
Rhyllis Bignell

My amazing body machine by Robert Winston

Ill. by Owen Gildersleeve. DK Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9780241283806
Young children are always fascinated with their bodies and how they work and this new publication from DK is the perfect starting point for those who are ready to delve a little deeper.
Divided into nine sections, each dealing with a different but related phenomenon of the body, with bite-sized chunks of information in accessible text interspersed with colourful informative diagrams and photos, this would be an ideal addition to the family reference library, ready to consult when questions are asked, as well as the school library collection. Having it out on display so students can leaf through it as they wait will spark lots of curiosity and a desire to find out more. The perfect introduction to the role of the encyclopedia as a starting point to finding out a little and sparking the desire to go to a more specialised book to find out more.
DK have been at the forefront of introducing non fiction to young readers for decades and this is no exception.
Barbara Braxton

Nat's naughty nits by Giles Andreae

Ill. by Jess Mikhail. Orchard Books, 2017. ISBN 9781408329375
(Age: 4-6) Hardcover, 29 pages. Lice. Rhyming stories. Humorous fiction. Health. Daily living.
'There are nits in the treetops,
Nits in the town,
Nits on the toilet seat with their pants pulled down!'
Giles Andreae tackles a new but very familiar subject in this funny rhyming story. Nat's naughty nits have come to play, they have invaded his hair and his life, they are even playing football, eating treats and sleeping safe and sound. There is an abundance of little black creatures up to all sorts of mischief, until Mummy appears with her shampoo and comb. Nate's nits are gone, and he is looking very smart until we see them travelling along the tabletop off to find a new head.
Jess Mikhail's lively nits wear a bold array of outfits perfect for their insect bodies, as they engage in a humourous range of activities. Their funny expressions, up close antics and settings are delightful, an amusing accompaniment to Andreae's rhyming story, which is presented with a range of font sizes from big and bold to tiny.
Nat's naughty nits is a fun story to share with a family or class, especially as an introduction to healthy living and how to cope with this very common school problem.
Rhyllis Bignell

Star Wars: the visual encyclopedia by Tricia Barr, Adam Bray and Cole Horton

Clap hands series by Pat-a-cake

Ages: 0 – 4) Recommended. Board Book. Boldly illustrated as a series of four rhyming texts, each is your classic 'touch and feel' board book, every page featuring a differently textured material for parts of the characters' bodies. Here come the monkeys depicts different species of monkey on each page with Koko on page 3 bearing a lovely rough paw made of hessian that tells our little reader she must have been doing quite a lot of walking in addition to swinging from tree to tree. Each character is introduced by name and a little birdy, who remains nameless throughout the series, points out each feely feature. The reader is bid to clap hands for the clever creature at the turn of the page. My 11 month old granddaughter delights in the opportunity to display her recently acquired clapping skills after having a good feel. All the touchy textiles are well embedded making the book sturdy and long lasting. In the case of Here come the dinosaurs, the reader is introduced to a range of creatures falling under that umbrella with contractions of the species' names for each one. Terry is Pterodactyl's name and he sports one beautifully shiny foil wing which little birdy on the side sagely points out. The fold out surprise page at the end of each book provides an overview of and contextualizes the monkey, puppy, kitten or dinosaur varieties and providing an opportunity for further discussion with the older toddler. You do need to make the suggestion to your little reader however, that care must be taken with the fold-out, as it is not quite as sturdy as the rest of the book. A great little series for the very youngest of readers to get them hooked on books. Elizabeth Avery

The Maddie diaries a memoir by Maddie Ziegler

Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9781460753750
(Age: 11+) Biography. Maddie Ziegler was born in 2002 in the US and commenced dance lessons at an early age. She started appearing on the US reality show Dance Moms at age 8.
The singer Sia a fan of the show, detected something special in Maddie and asked her to appear in Sia's video of the world wide hit song Chandelier. Since then Maddie has become known world wide and has appeared in all Sia's videos.
This memoir charts her journey to stardom in a chatty and readable style. Maddie comes through as a thoroughly nice, grounded hard working young person. It highlights her awe at working with famous actors, singers, choreographers. Her fame continues to spread with her work as a judge on 2016 show So you think you can dance: the next generation and touring with Sia in the US and Australia.
The book includes lots of drawings by Maddie - another of her talents - and coloured photos.
At the end of most chapters a section on Dear Maddie, where questions related to teenagers (bullying, self image, problems with parents/teachers, etc) are answered in a positive and empathic manner.
Hints on make up, clothes, etc are included as well as sections where friends and colleagues write about Maddie. Sia (whom Maddie now considers as family) provides the Foreword.
This is a positive uplifting memoir from a very young hardworking star. The memoir will appeal especially to 11+ aged girls and all those interested in dance.
The book is a New York Times best seller.
Ann Griffin

Olivia the spy by Ian Falconer

Olivia series. Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471164224
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Spying. With seven books about Olivia published, children will be thrilled to see another outing for this wonderful character.
Olivia is in her mother's bad books, again. She has used the blender to make a blueberry smoothie, but in spite of being told to be careful and not overfill the appliance, she does, and it splashes all over the kitchen leaving a ghostly outline of Olivia on the wall. She puts dad's white shirts in the washing machine with her red socks! The reader knows she is in trouble, and will snigger happily anticipating where the story may take them. She overhears her mother on the phone, complaining of Olivia's lack of foresight, asking whether she will ever grow up, and suggesting that she might have to be sent somewhere else to find some sense. Olivia finds that she is interested in what her mother says, and resolves to listen in whenever she can. She becomes a spy, and blends in with her surroundings to overhear conversations.
Readers will laugh out loud at her attempts to remain hidden, pointing out her features concealed on the pages.
But of course she hears something which is upsetting, she overhears the word 'institution' and asking her teacher next day what this word means, finds that sometimes it means a prison.
She is distraught and so when her mother tells her she has a surprise and to get ready to go out, she is ready to be sent to prison. Imagine her delight when it is the ballet they come to see, but there is another twist in the tale for readers, as nothing Olivia does is straightforward. A cautionary tale told in the most delightful way, Olivia's adventure will have readers laughing out loud as they recognise the adage 'eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves'. Wonderful illustrations compliment the story, showing Olivia in all manner of disguise as she attempts to avoid being seen.
Fran Knight

What's where on Earth? Atlas ed. by Chris Hawkes

DK London, 2017. ISBN 9780241228371
This is an ideal reference tool for young readers who want to see the world at a glance, rather than having to click through screens that can become confusing and lost. Clearly divided into 10 sections - each continent, Early Earth, Polar Regions, The Oceans and Reference - it brings the planet's geography alive with 3D maps, lots of pertinent facts and illustrations about the landscape, population, landmarks, climate and wildlife. Each section also takes a particular focal point and expands on it - South America is the Amazon Basin; Australia and Oceania is New Zealand - providing a ready reference tool that kept both Miss Nearly 11 and Miss 6 poring over its pages on a recent wet afternoon.
Globes and maps have a fascination for children - they love to discover where they came from, where their family and friends might be and also the settings of their favourite stories so to have a book that provides not just maps but so much more is a treat. While many school libraries are doing away with their reference collections, having a beautiful volume like this on permanent display so students can flick through it at their leisure will not only grab their attention but may have them demanding more information about a particular region.
Miss Nearly 11 was particularly fascinated by the Early Earth section as she knows Australia is ancient and we regularly drive through an area littered with huge granite boulders, the remnants of long ago mountains now weathered away. Miss 6 liked Australia but also New Zealand where she had a holiday in 2015! Definitely something for everyone which would be a superb addition to the collection that students will keep returning to.
Barbara Braxton

Beyond the bright sea by Lauren Wolk

Corgi Childrens, 2017. ISBN 9780552574303
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Historical. Belonging. Sometimes a book comes along that lingers in the mind and Beyond the bright sea is one of those wonderful lyrical and heart wrenching stories. Twelve-year-old Crow was found drifting in a small boat when she was just a few hours old. Rescued by Osh, a lonely man, she has been brought up by him and Miss Maggie, a neighbour across the sandbar. She is a curious person and when she sees a fire on the island across the water, she begins to piece together her own history. Her discoveries lead her and her companions into danger, as the mystery of her birth and the strange occurrences on the island of Penikese in Massachusetts begins to unfold.
Beautifully described, the life that Crow leads on the island in the 1920's comes alive. She is intelligent and intuitive and really wants to know where she came from and why many people avoid her. She is dearly loved by Osh and Miss Maggie but discovering why she was set adrift as a new born begins to obsess her. As she uncovers the truth surrounding her birth, she also begins to understand the true meaning of family and belonging.
At the same time, Wolk has woven in a mystery surrounding Penikese, the island that had been the home of lepers in the past. Crow is integral in solving who is the evil man haunting the island and what has happened to long lost pirate treasure.
The Note at the back of the book details the research that provided the background of the leper colony and the shipwrecks that occurred in the seas surrounding the islands.
Beautifully written, this is an outstanding story. With its focus on belonging, identity and prejudice it would make a wonderful read aloud or a class novel or literature circle novel.
Pat Pledger