Ill. by Kris Easler. Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781681191485
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Humour. Childminding. Nathan and
David are twins. Terrible twins! So terrible that they have made
life impossible for hundreds of Nannies over the years. Their
constant bickering and competitiveness, plus their messy behaviour
and lack of attention to school work and other common courtesies,
mean they are very difficult to deal with until their parents find
Martin Healey Discount - a moustachioed Male Nanny (Manny), of
dubious background and the last on the list of possible
replacements. Within a very short space of time the boys are
transformed, but bizarrely the boys become responsible despite the
irresponsible behaviour of the Nanny.
This is a warped 'Mary Poppins' story, with warped characters, and
lots of doubtful humour that might entertain a young reader. It is
not great literature, but it is just a simply silly tale, with
ridiculous mo-ments (Mustache joke!!) No great cerebral work is
required to understand the nonsense, but the comical moments are
just ridiculous rather than cleverly amusing. Consequently it will
still appeal to young readers who like an occasional chuckle as they
read.
Carolyn Hull
Illuminature by Rachel Williams
Ill. by Carnovsky. Wide-Eyed, 2016. ISBN 9781847808868
"Nature never stops. With every tick of the clock, an animal
wakes up and
goes in search of food. The sky might be dark when the creature
first stirs;
night-time is ruled by the nocturnal animals. During the light
of day
diurnal animals like to hunt. And as the world welcomes dawn,
or bids
farewell to the day at dusk, crepuscular creatures appear."
And in this most amazing book the reader gets to discover what's out
and
about at the various times of the planet's rotation. Firstly
you select a
destination from amongst ten different habitats which include such
diversity
as the Simpson Desert, the Weddell and Ross Seas of Antarctica, the
rainforest of the Congo, the Andes Mountains, even the Ganges River
basin.
From the observation deck what appears to be a jumble of colour
slowly
exposes itself as the outlines of a number of creatures, but when
you then
use the special multi-coloured lens which is supplied, and peer
through the
different colours a whole new world emerges! The red lens exposes
the
daytime creatures, the blue lens those who prefer a darker
environment while
the green lens illuminates the plant life of the region. Then
to make the
experience even better, there is a double-page spread that
identifies each
creature with some brief information about it. There are 180
different
creatures to discover throughout the book, 18 for each region!
This is not a ready reference book packed full of information about
the
world's habitats and their inhabitants. There are countless other
resources
that do that. This is an introduction to the boundless wonders
of nature,
its diversity and difference that reveals itself with the passage of
time
and which will leave the reader with a feeling of awe and perhaps a
greater
awareness of just what might be living in or dependent on the
environment as
they go stomping through it. It truly does illuminate Nature.
Have a sneak
peek at what's on offer.
Barbara Braxton
The bike ride by Jan Ormerod
Ill. by Freya Blackwood. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2016. ISBN
9781760128982
Bear's world revolves around Maudie, and so does Maudie's. Bear is
the hero
that every little person needs in their life. The one that
does everything
for them, no matter how trying they are; the one that is the
guardian angel
on their shoulder; the one that loves them unconditionally no matter
what.
So when Maudie says she needs some exercise, in particular a bike
ride, Bear
is there ready to help out. He gets the bike while Maudie
gets... her
sunglasses, then their hats, then her scarf, sunscreen, bug
spray. All the
while Bear waits patiently until at last they are ready to go. But
just who
gets the exercise?
This is a gentle, quirky story from the late Jan Ormerod,
re-released in
board book format so it is perfect for the little hands of its
intended
audience. As usual, Freya Blackwoods's gentle pictures in
their soft
palette bring the words to life in a way that just wraps the reader
up in
all the love that Bear has for Maudie.
Barbara Braxton
Fizzlebert Stump and the great supermarket showdown by A. F. Harrold
Fizzlebert Stump series, bk. 6. Ill. by Sarah Horne.
Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408869451
(Age: 7+) A.F. Harrold's Fizzlebert Stump comical stories
come packed with quirky individuals, farcical situations, general
silliness and mad mayhem. We begin with Chapter 4; luckily, the
narrator consistently interrupts with stacks of irrelevant and
irreverent background information! Fizzlebert Stump formerly lived
in a travelling circus with his clown mother and strongman father.
Now Fizzlebert or Fizz to his friends is a strong twelve-year-old
boy currently working as a bag boy for tyrannical Mr. Pinkbottle's
superstore. Fortunately, the tale returns to Chapter 1 and all is
explained - the Ringmaster has sold the circus and all of the circus
performers under contract are given new jobs in the store. Fizz
overhears Mr. P's diabolical plans to blackmail the Ringmaster and
disband the circus.
Fizz's life becomes a game of cat and mouse, locked up in the cold
room, forced to deliver bags of shopping, an interlude in a library,
listening in on conversations and being forced to wear a gorilla
suit and clean the floors with a small brush and pan.
Providentially, Fizz has loyal friends, Kevin who switches places
with him and Alice who is a strongperson for Neil Coward's Famous
'Cicrus'. What a fun ending, even the police join the performers to
put on a show.
Sarah Horne's black and white cartoons enliven the pandemonium,
there is Madame Plume de Matant's flatulent explosion at the cheese
counter, Alice's burglar under Mr. Pinkbottle's desk and Fizz's
reunion with Fish the sea lion. Fizzlebert Stump and the great
supermarket showdown is the grand finale to this comical
series, just right for young readers who enjoy slapstick humour.
Rhyllis Bignell
Fridays with the wizards by Jessica Day George
Castle Glower series, bk 4. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN
9781408858417
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Fantasy. Adventure. Castle life,
Mythical creatures. Jessica Day George's Castle Glower
fantasy series continues in Fridays with the wizards.
Twelve-year-old Celie's life is growing up; her pre-adolescent
feelings and attitudes are changing and so is the magical world
surrounding her. This novel is centred on the family's return to the
castle, the betrothal of her older sister Lulah to Prince Lilith and
the escape of the evil wizard Arkwright. The royal family realises
that Arkwright has made plans dangerous to their country and deadly
to them. Celie's skills as a mapmaker and discoverer of secret rooms
and special artefacts are of much benefit. Two dozen exquisite
griffins now inhabit the palace, each one bonded to their owner.
Celie adores her pet Rufus who accompanies her on her daring
adventures to find the escaped wizard, through the ever-changing
rooms and secret castle passageways.
Amidst the endless fittings for wedding clothes, the joy of watching
new griffins hatch, the building of a ship in the sheep meadow,
Celie's experiences some angst and self-doubt. Her decisions at
times seem selfish which cause problems for her family especially
elder brother, Wizard Bran. Fridays with the wizards is a slower-paced narrative, with
less of the surprising fantasy elements included in Jessica Day
George's previous junior novels. Growing up, family loyalty and
taking responsibility for your own actions are key messages here.
Promises of a new magic kingdom with unicorns and a royal wedding
will excite fans of this series.
Rhyllis Bignell
The woman on the stairs by Bernhard Schlink
Hachette, 2016. ISBN 9781474604994
(Age: 15+) Bernhard Schlink's novel, written in 2016 and in
translation from German, is a sleekly woven tale of one woman,
Irene, the gloriously beautiful and enigmatic Irene, whose portrait
was painted by the artist, Schwind, as she stood still on a
staircase, for the husband, businessman Gundlach, and subsequently
stolen by Irene herself, with the help of the besotted lawyer, for
whom, Irene claimed, she was the 'damsel in distress'.
Many years late all three men come together to Gundlach's house to a
frail Irene, living in a ramshackle shack at the bottom of a hill, a
farm on the New South Wales coast, accessible more easily by boat
from Sydney. This is where Irene had been living for many years,
having chosen to live away from the old Europe in the freshness and
freedom of Australia.
The lover, as narrator, having finally traced Irene, was determined
to find out what had happened, why she had abandoned him in their
youth, and why the painting, apparently kept by her for many years,
had been donated anonymously to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
This entire novel is dream-like, captivatingly strange, yet calmly
rational at times, in a sense reflecting the woman herself. Setting
his background tale in a Europe of the last century, Schlink
literally catapults us into the modern world, and an Australian one
at that, the narrator flying in a helicopter to the Australian
countryside, depicted in such stark contrast to the mannered nature
of old Europe, admittedly historically an unsettled political world.
Dreamlike, musing on the meaning of relationships, art, time and
love, Schlink captivates the reader, taking us into the rational
mind of the story-teller who seeks to unravel the mystery of the
woman's disappearance and the reasons for her action, that was bound
to summon the three men.
Absolutely engrossing, this novel forces us to consider love,
loyalty, art, relationships, friendship and ultimately, the meaning
of life. As life slips away, the dying Irene faces the unknown,
helped by the gentle kindness of the would-be lover of the past. The
ideas, the words, the passion, all stay with the reader for days,
Schlink capturing so many of the puzzles about why and how we live
our lives, musing on different relationships, and on the deeply
moving nature of art, on what life means, on love and on loyalty.
Liz Bondar
Taking a punt by Peter Endersbee
Wakefield Press, 2016. ISBN 9781743054093
(Age: Adult) Peter Endersbee, a photographer and former football
star, was confronted with the shock diagnosis of serious prostate
cancer at the age of 59. He describes how he came to the decision to
go ahead with the surgery which, whilst life-saving, would
potentially leave him incontinent and impotent. I must confess that
in the early parts of the book I, like some of his family and
friends, found myself wishing he would just toughen up and get over
the fear about lost erections - after all he had his life, as well
as a loving supportive partner. But with further reading I came to
understand that as with any loss, there is a rollercoaster of
emotions, and most particularly grief and anxiety over loss of
identity. Endersbee is in fact very brave in revealing his struggle,
putting it into words that can be shared with others undergoing the
same trauma, breaking the silence about secret men's business. This
incredibly honest book would be helpful to anyone facing a similar
situation, and also helpful to family and friends trying to
understand and be supportive.
Helen Eddy
The baker's dozen by Aaron Shepard
Ill. by Wendy Edelson. Shepard Publications, 2010. ISBN
9780938497486
Van Amsterdam the baker was well known for his honesty as well as
for his fine Saint Nicholas cookies, which were made of gingerbread
and iced just as people imagine St Nicholas to look like. When he
made the cookies he weighed his ingredients meticulously and always
gave his customers exactly what they paid for - not more, and not
less. They were very happy and Van Amsterdam was very successful.
But one day a mysterious old woman in a black shawl came into the
shop and demanded that Van Amsterdam give her thirteen biscuits
because that was how many were in a 'baker's dozen'. Van Amsterdam
refused so the old woman left without her cookies but as she left
she told Van Amsterdam 'Fall again, mount again, learn how to count
again.'
From that day, business went downhill and Van Amsterdam was left
almost penniless and with no customers. Then one night he is visited
by St Nicholas in a dream and he learns a lesson about being
generous.
This is a retelling of an old tale that goes back into history with
the first recorded version being noted in 1896. Accompanied by
exquisite illustrations it brings yet another legend associated with
Christmas to life and underscores the need to be unselfish at this
time. It includes a recipe for St Nicholas cookies and a Readers
Theatre script.
Something a little different.
Barbara Braxton
The night Santa got lost: How NORAD Saved Christmas by Michael Keane
Ill. by Michael Garland. Regency Kids, 2015. ISBN 9781621573982
'On a day long ago began NORAD's tradition-
Tracking Santa's red sleigh on his once-a-year mission.
Using radar and satellites - fighter jets too!
Reporting on Santa, wherever he flew'.
But one Christmas Eve a blizzard rolls in and so Santa leaves the
North Pole early much to the dismay of NORAD who weren't prepared
for the unscheduled start. And as the green blip disappears off the
radar screen and there is no sign of Santa or his reindeer, panic
ensues. A four star general and the Commander-in-Chief order the
fighter jets into the air and every last piece of technology the US
Air Force has is set to searching for Santa.
Eventually he is found buried deep in a snow drift but now it is too
late to get all the presents to the children in the traditional way
of reindeer and sleigh, so once again the bigwigs put their heads
together and come up with a most audacious plan that involves NATO
and other US allies, battleships, cruisers, submarines, helicopters,
C-17s, trucks and tanks and every other sort of transport available
to the military. And for those places where 'The children love
Santa, but the leaders say no', there are Special Ops, Navy SEALS
and tough Army Rangers.
Will their mission succeed? Will they get to all the children of the
world in time?
Dedicated to the children whose parents 'allow us to live in a world
where we have the freedom to believe in Santa Claus' this is a very
different story for Christmas, one that acknowledges those who serve
by showing them in a less-than-traditional setting. NORAD (North
American Aerospace Defence Command) is a joint United States and
Canadian military organisation and for over 60 years it has tracked
Santa's flight each December 24. Children can watch where he is by
going to the website or downloading an app so they know when they
have to get into bed after their tour of the local Christmas lights
as more than 1500 people trace his every movement through 47 radar
installations in Northern Canada and Alaska, alerting them to when
Santa actually leaves the North Pole, and satellites at about 22,000
miles above the Earth with infrared sensors, which see the heat
coming off of Rudolph's nose. In addition, there are high-speed digital
SantaCams set up around the world to catch a glimpse of him passing
by the different cities.
Written in the vein of The night before Christmas this is
one that even older children will enjoy. While predominantly
American and with several pages of explanations at the end,
nevertheless it will resonate particularly with children whose
family members are in the services.
A trailer
is available.
Barbara Braxton
The twelve underwater days of Christmas by Kim Michelle Toft
Silkim Books, 2007. ISBN 9780975839041 hbk, ISBN 9780975839034 pbk.
Take the traditional Christmas song, add the most magnificent
creatures of the world's oceans, include important information about
those creatures and immerse the whole in the beautiful painted silk
artworks of Kim Michelle Toft and you have, quite simply, my most
favourite Christmas book ever!
Toft has used the words of 'The twelve days of Christmas' not
only to introduce readers to the dwellers of the deep, but has also
built on the traditional concept of gift-giving at this time to
emphasise what a precious present these creatures are - one that we
may not enjoy for much longer if we don't start to value it now.
'All of the magnificent creatures in this book rely on the ocean for
their survival and many were once found in abundance. This is no
longer true. Modern technology, huge increases in the world's
population and lack of management have resulted in some serious
problems. These problems include over fishing, pollution from poorly
treated sewage, effluents from oil spills, litter and global warming
which is contributing to the destruction of coral reefs all around
the world. It is up to nations, governments and the will of the
people to work together to help conserve these incredible gifts from
nature.'
Thus, as well as being a stunning visual feast, there is a serious
message that can be emphasised, enabling this book to sit well
within any sustainability curriculum. Even though students might not
be able to replicate the artworks which are hand drawn with gold
gutta on white silk then painted with brushes using silk dyes, the
concept itself might inspire a class project of those things in the
local region that might disappear if no action to preserve them is
taken.
At the end of the book is an amazing poster containing all the
creatures mentioned, and some versions have a CD
of Toft's lyrics sung by Lisa Hunt. What a wonderful song to add to
the Christmas repertoire.
Toft always writes and illustrates about her passion - the
preservation of ocean life - and you can see all her publications online.
She is one who must have a place on your library's shelves - school
or home.
Barbara Braxton
The legend of the Christmas cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall
Ill. by Richard Cowdrey. ZonderKidz, 2015. ISBN 9780310747673
It is the Great Depression and Jack is missing his father who has
gone West to work, desperately - even more so now that he knows he
won't be home for Christmas. As he walks into the kitchen on
Christmas Eve, he smells sweet bread and licorice but there haven't
been cookies in the cookie jar for over a year. But tonight his
mother has decided to make traditional Christmas cookies for the
needy at church, although Jack would rather have them for himself.
The wooden cookie boards with their Nativity moulds are brought out
and as she bakes, his mother tells him the story of Christ's birth
through the shapes, just as was done in medieval times when people
were too poor to go to school to read.
Next day, they take the cookies to church, but to Jack's delight his
mother has saved him the angel one that he liked so much. But just
as he is about to take a bit, there is a knock on the door...
In the Scwaben region of Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland
these cookie moulds - or springerle moulds - were used to press into
biscuit dough and this story is built on that. While not necessarily
a regular custom in Australian homes, it is common in the US and it
is yet another tale associated with the traditions of Christmas that
is worth exploring and discussing the virtue of selflessness and
giving rather than receiving. It does have a strong Christian bent
although the message of helping others in need is universal
regardless of beliefs. The back flap includes a recipe for Christmas
cookies and while the wooden moulds may be hard to obtain, there are
enough Christmas shapes available to start a new family tradition.
A trailer
is available.
Barbara Braxton
Christmas in the barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Ill. by Anna Dewdney. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780062379863
First published in 1952, but reprinted with new full-colour
illustrations, Christmas in the Barn is a retelling of the Nativity
from the perspective of the barn animals. As dusk comes and night
settles, and the animals take up their usual places and positions
two people come into the barn and before long, without fuss or fear,
Mary gives birth. The star shines, the shepherds and the Wise Men
arrive and the baby is laid in a manger, no crib for a bed.
Told in rhyme this is a charming retelling of the traditional story
that underpins the celebration of Christmas that is quite secular in
its interpretation, making it perfect for sharing and explaining
what is behind the images and imagery that is common at this time.
While some schools and communities have bowed to political
correctness and taken the story of the Nativity out of the
curriculum, I believe that given the widespread celebration of
Christmas in Australia, all children should know its origins so they
can understand the importance placed on it, just as they should know
the stories and understandings behind the commemorations and
celebrations of other religions. Because this version makes no
reference to God - indeed neither the people nor the baby are even
named because the emphasis is on the warmth, safety and harmony of
everyone and everything in the barn - it is perfect for introducing
very young children or those unfamiliar with Christmas to the basis
of the beliefs of those who celebrate.
Barbara Braxton
Penguin's Christmas wish by Salina Yoon
Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408882566
Pumpkin really wanted a Christmas tree this Christmas but there are
no trees on the ice where penguins live. But Penguin had an idea and
after loading up the sled and going on a long journey with little
brother Pumpkin, his friend Bootsy and Grandpa, they found
themselves in the middle of a forest where Pinecone had grown into a
magnificent tree. The penguins decorated Pinecone with all the
trimmings they had brought on the sled and it was so beautiful that
Penguin wanted to share it with everyone.
That night a storm blew up and a blizzard shrouded the tree and the
landscape. In the morning there was nothing to be seen. Penguin is
very sad but Grandpa tells him Christmas is about love not presents
and decorations. So Penguin goes off into the snow and shares what
he has learned. And when the snow begins to melt, he finds that
wishes do come true.
The sixth in this series about Penguin, this is a charming story for
young readers about family and friendship and sharing and finding
magic in unexpected places. The simple shapes, bold colours, and
thick, black outlines that are distinctive of Yoon's illustrations
will appeal to young readers in their simplicity, and while the
penguins all look the same she has given each a distinctive feature
so littlies can distinguish them and know who's who. And Penguin's
ingenious Christmas presents will help them understand that gifts
don't have to come in rich wrapping and cost a lot of money. Perhaps
they will use their imaginations and give those they love some
really personal, unique gifts too.
Barbara Braxton
Five little elves by Dan Yaccarino
HarperFestival, 2016. ISBN 9780062253385 Five little elves sitting on a sled,
The first one said, "Where's the man in red?"
With the concept of Elf on a Shelf gaining such ground in the homes
of those with little people - the perfect spy for Santa - this
timely release of this traditional rhyme in board book format is a
perfect addition to the Christmas stocking of the very young. With
its rhyme and rhythm and bold, bright illustrations it is definitely
one for sharing over and over, helping even the tiniest ones start
to learn the nuances of our language and the joy of story. At the
same time, being a board book, it is sturdy enough to be placed in
those tiny hands and survive the explorations that they and teeth
will make.
Board books are an ideal way to introduce children to the love of
reading as having heard the story in a safe, loving relationship,
their format allows them to be handled and sucked and chewed as the
little one begins to exercise their own power over the story. Even
though they might not yet be able to read the words for themselves,
may even be too young to join familiar rhymes and stories, being
able to handle and manipulate the book itself is a huge step in that
early reading journey.
Barbara Braxton
Cobweb Christmas: the tradition of tinsel by Shirley Climo
Ill. by Jane Manning. Harper Collins, 2001. ISBN 9780060290337
Tante is so little she has to stand on a stool to climb into bed and
so old she can't count all the Christmases she has seen. She lived
at the edge of a pine forest in Germany in a tiny cottage with her
canary, her cat and her dog. Beside the cottage was a barn with a
donkey, a goat, a rooster and a hen - so she had all she needed.
Usually Tante wasn't too fussed about having a spic and span house
but at Christmas time when the days were short and the nights long,
she cleaned her house from top to bottom and corner to corner
sweeping even the tiniest cobwebs and their inhabitants from the
rafters. She would chop down the best Christmas tree she could find
and decorated it with sugar cookies and gingerbread and put special
presents under it for her animals. She invited the village children
in to see her tree and share its goodies - there was something for
everyone including her animals, except the spiders who had all been
swept out the door.
But still Tante wasn't really happy - all her life she had heard
about the marvellous things that happened on Christmas Eve like
animals talking or bees humming carols. So she sat down to wait for
the Christmas magic but soon fell asleep so she never knew whether
it happened or not. She certainly did not hear tiny little voices
begging to be let in out of the cold - but Kriss Kringle did so he
opened the door a crack and in went all the spiders who had been
swept outside.
And the next morning Tante woke to find that Christmas magic had
really happened...
Based on an old European folktale, Shirley Climo and Jane Manning
have brought this story to the 21st century in a superb retelling
with charming illustrations. Tinsel - originally shiny strands of
brass or copper - has been part of traditional Christmas decorations
since the end of the 19th century as people tried to bring light and
sparkle into their homes at a dark time of the year in the northern
hemisphere. Anyone who has seen a cobweb dipped in dew in the early
morning and gleaming as the sun catches it can easily make the
connection between the spiders' work and the sparkly loops of foil
we use today.
This is a story worth tracking down to add to your Christmas
collection - well-written and adding just a bit more to the story of
this special time, it will be one to read every Christmas Countdown.
Barbara Braxton
