Birthdays are always special but for Ollie and Sophia this one is extra special. It’s Ollie’s birthday and he has asked Sophia to share it with him at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Ollie’s dad Max has driven them to the zoo for the day and as they are Taronga Zoo volunteers they have special-access passes to go wherever they are allowed. They have bikes organised for them and can ride all around the various habitats. As they are cycling along, Sophia and Ollie name the collective nouns for each group of animals they see; dazzle of zebras, mob of meerkats, conspiracy of lemurs, tower of giraffes (when standing still), journey of giraffes (when moving), crash of rhinos, coalition of cheetahs, memory of elephants and a bloat of hippos.
Sophia and Ollie are able to watch the vets working on a cheetah through the glass windows at the hospital and later on, a wedge-tailed eagle who has been injured. They also take part in an echidna enrichment where a first time failure leads to a successful second try and a valuable lesson for Sophia. During their time at the zoo, Sophia has been feeling quite anxious as her gift for Ollie has yet to arrive. She is distracted and keeps checking back with the office and Ollie is feeling disappointed. Sophia realises that her presence is really only the gift he wants and later apologises for her distraction.
One of Ollie’s birthday surprises includes a private feeding of the giraffe that loves carrots. But the biggest surprise of all is staying overnight at the Zoofari Lodge where they are able to observe the animals on the savannah and join a Sunrise Safari in the morning. For Ollie and Sophia this has been a memorable weekend for many reasons and when Sophia’s gift finally arrives, it is another wonderful surprise for Ollie.
Party Animals as well as the first book in the series, Poo at the Zoo, would make engaging class novels as the stories are highly entertaining, and shared throughout are so many valuable teaching moments that educators could expand on. The interesting facts presented all through each story as well as Ollie’s Fun Fact File could also lead to further research and discussion.
A knowledge of the ancient folkloric tale of Robin Hood is important background to the reading of Not for the faint of heart. Author Lex Croucher takes the reader back into the world of Sherwood Forest, rewriting the old tale from a queer, romantic and comedic stance that is nuanced and not without significant attention to values and causes. It makes for an unusual and thought-provoking read which offers a different to the mainstream (although not unheard-of) interpretation of the well-known characters.
Not for the faint of heart is set in the same Sherwood Forest, seemingly very little changed from the story we know in that it's still a land of deep dark forest and impoverished villages with hovels made of turf and medieval market towns with the wealthy living in castles. It's still a land where the divide between rich and poor is immensely unjust. The issues of social and economic injustice have not improved since Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham's day. Not for the faint of heart is set two generations into the future with the main characters being the descendants of the original characters - the grandchildren.
Mariel is a newly blooded captain of the Merry Men, grand-daughter of Robin Hood and Maid Marion and keen to do anything she can to win the favour of her harsh and critical father. Her father, the Commander of the Merry Men has a very powerful influence over her understandings of leadership style. Since the beginning of his command, the woods have been unhappy and at war. Impoverished villagers have lost faith in the Merry Men being able to help them as in Robin Hood's day and the Merry Men themselves are not so merry but rather fighting amongst themselves. Mariel's arch-enemy is the grandson of the Sheriff of Nottingham of Robin Hood's day so the hostility has passed down unchanged through the generations. The delightful Clem, village healer, is kidnapped by Mariel's motley group of Merry Men and so begins an adventure, the forging of friendships and romances and a fight for their lives and the life of the greenwood. Clem is cheerful and hilarious. Her humour seems to be indefatigable and resistant to any horror. 'She prided herself on her commitment to the absurd'. Gradually she has a huge impact on her kidnappers resulting in a questioning of values, change and resultant new directions.
Lex Croucher paints the blossoming of young love with delicate and sensitive strokes. The dialogue between the characters is on point, befitting an action adventure story with character descriptions and action sequences that are so visually vivid, one can imagine Not for the faint of heart being made into a movie. Often hilarious, the humour flows from Clem, whose pithy remarks provide a commentary on the action.
This is a clever book, offering delightful word choreography and entertainment along with deeper messages on a number of themes including what is good governance and friendship in the face of peril. Recommended for the capable young adult reader.
Themes Governance, Social justice values, Intergenerational leadership and change, Queer romance, Camaraderie.
Wendy Jeffrey
Dot! Scribble! Go! by Herve Tullet
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761181214. (Age:3+) Recommended.
Good fun will be had following the guidelines in this very different drawing book. It encourages young children to use their drawing full of dots, scribbles, and colour to make images. Armed with a hand and the finger too, stars can become dots and between the dots colour can be added.
Then something can circle the dots or make lines between them, and children will be on their way to make a beautiful drawing. Then some scribbles appear and the child is encouraged to make some scribbles too. Scribbles can be anything and use lots of colours. Out of these scribbles, a form may appear and filled with scribbles will look most attractive.
This easy to follow guide to drawing will attract younger readers to give it a go, to try something they may not have tried before, to see that whatever they do will end up as an image, a picture.
A sturdy cover ensures the book will be useful when armed with paper, crayons, pens and water nearby, while the pages inside can be marked but wiped almost clean. Kids will love using their imaginations with this book, and parents and teachers will use the models it provides. Energetic, full of charm and wit, the book encourages playing with scribbles, dots and colours, thinking outside the norm, trying something for themselves.
The last pages are a fold out image of what the dots, scribbles, lines and colour could achieve.
Themes Drawing, Colour, Humour.
Fran Knight
South with the seabirds by Jess McGeachin
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761068645. (Age:6+) Highly recommended.
Well-known author/illustrator Jess McGeachin’s latest non-fiction book is a fascinating story about four female scientists who visited Macquarie Island in 1959. As a young girl, Mary Gillham was enthralled by sea birds and spent hours sketching them. She grew up to be a naturalist and travelled all around the world studying strange plants and animals. Mary was desperate to visit Macquarie Island but in that time Antarctica was seen as not a place for women. However, three other women from overseas were hoping to go and finally it happened.
Travelling with Mary were Isobel Bennett, Hope Macpherson and Susan Ingham. They set sail on the icebreaking ship Thala Dan and travelled for five days in calm and rough weather. They were followed by seabirds which are gloriously illustrated and labelled across a striking blue sea, until they came ‘to an island at the edge of the world.’ They were here at last. Once they had landed they studied the kelp, the rockpools, the seabirds, seals, penguins, wild plants and animals. Their research was so important to the future of the island which was added to the World Heritage List in 1997, was declared pest free in 2014, and in 2023 the marine park surrounding the island was tripled in size.
South with the Seabirds is a captivating story about the achievements of four strong and passionate scientists who have lakes named after them on the island. Jess McGeachin has told an incredible story, full of facts as well as stunning drawings of the bird, plant and animal life. The endpapers show a clearly labelled map of Macquarie Island and there is a timeline showing the history of the island as well as further information about the female scientists and tips for young naturalists.
This book provides a wonderful opportunity for educators and their students for further research into Macquarie Island and its environment and/or the four amazing scientists who provide such vital information.
Themes Scientists, Women, Macquarie Island, Research, Natural Environments.
Kathryn Beilby
Mural by Stephen Downes
Transit Lounge, 2024. ISBN: 9781923023185. (Age:Adult - Young adult) Recommended.
On opening this pretty, beautifully produced book the reader is confronted by endpapers showing an engraving of the sinister standing stones at Carnac followed by an unsettling quote from Thomas Bernhard’s story Reunion about parents destroying their children; so, when the story starts with an account of Harry Ellis arriving in Australia in 1875 we are already off balance. “I want to tell you about the things that leap into my bedlam of a mind” says “D” who has been asked by psychiatrist Dr Reynolds to write down his thoughts after being incarcerated again for unspecified crimes, “my movements are as predictably reciprocal as a piston”, hinting at the sexual and repetitive nature of his crimes. D wants to talk about obsession, in his case malice, but through two examples of obsessives who have found a benign compulsion to save them from becoming like him. The first of these is Harry (Havelock) Ellis whose life story, is summed up as a lonely, bush loving boy, who “read more than he lived” and “made sex his life’s work” p. 23 (he became an expert in the psychology of sex)). The second is Napier Waller, the famous Australian artist whose murals adorn many buildings in Melbourne. Along the way D reflects on the Pre-Raphaelites, the mosaics in the Basilica di San Vitale, the influence of the standing stones of Carnac and a patricide in Tasmania, always through the lens of his own preoccupations about parents and children, repressed sexuality and the idea that small things build up until the last straw results in action. The tone is arch, detached and egocentric as D reveals more of himself though what interests him. Peppered throughout the book are unremarkable supporting photos which seem to illustrate D’s assertion of the past as “fuzzy, conflated slides…compressed for easier viewing” p. 171. I was disappointed in the ending, but this is a fascinating little book, and while there is an undercurrent of sex there is never anything explicit or offensive. Given the interest in true crime, mental health and unusual perspectives on Australian history I could see this as a senior school winner, worthy of closer reading.
Every so often, a book is published that will deeply engage the reader from first glance and will continue to offer the opportunity to browse time and time again. The Grown-Up's Guide to Picture Books is one such book. It is a refreshingly detailed and supportive look at the mechanics of picture book writing for authors, illustrators, educators, book reviewers and critics, new writers, children and interested adults. Commencing with a page of testimonials from some well-known identities from the book industry including Andrea Rowe, Anne James, Jules Faber and Peter Carnavas, there is then a meaningful introduction, followed by the thoughtful, well-answered question, 'What is a picture book?'
Set out in alphabetical order, beginning with A is for Animals and ending with Z is Zeitgeist, a German word meaning ‘spirit of the time’ where it describes the common beliefs of an era, this wonderful book is full of fascinating ideas, structures, useful tips, and so much more. There is the opportunity to further explore the striking images accompanying the text with some probing talking points and questions, to extend and encourage participation from the reader. For example, in the chapter H is for Heroes, the question is asked ‘What does this illustrated page tell us about different kinds of heroes?’ The image shows a large drawing of an older person surrounded by a few tiny brightly coloured superheroes and a notorious Australian icon in the corner. The chapter, Y is for Yucky Stuff, is one that may divide some readers but perhaps this is an apt and fitting comment, '…gross-out humour provides a dash of small-scale rebellion. Children delight in the squirming faces of teachers, parents, and librarians…'
This is a quote from the chapter J is for Joy, and with the recent debate regarding literacy skills of children in Australia, it is vital that we strive to encourage a love of reading, '…reading purely for pleasure has significant benefits for comprehension …vocabulary extension…skills in critical analysis, general knowledge…confidence as a reader…interpreting a scenario from the illustrations alone (visual literacy) are important elements of reading. Allowing kids to explore a picture book for the fun of it…helps change their perception of reading from a chore to joy.' p28
As an adult reviewer of picture books, The Grown-Up's Guide to Picture Books is an invaluable resource that I will use time and time again. A must-have for those who love picture books, who write and illustrate picture books, who are looking to write their own picture books, or those who read and share picture books with others.
Themes Picture Book Mechanics, Storytelling, Illustrations, Themes, Activities, Resource text.
Kathryn Beilby
The wonder of little things by Vince Copley with Lea McInerney
This new edition of Vince Copley's autobiography, edited for young readers, provides a personal account of what it was like as a young boy to grow up under the constant restrictions of the Aboriginal Protection Act. As a young kid on Point Pearce mission the fun was rousing around with siblings in a pedal car, lollies from the shop, catching rabbits, and hugs from aunties, but later as he grew older he became aware of categorisations of ‘full-blood’, ‘half-caste’, etc., things his mother told him to ignore, because ‘You’re as good as anybody else’.
Vince chose to go to St Francis school for Aboriginal boys, at a time before it became a place to send stolen children. It became a haven for him when his mother died, ‘another kind of family’. The bonds that united those boys held strong in later years when they encountered racist slurs. The call on the football field to ‘go back to your tree’ became a joke amongst the boys as they joked about ‘which is my tree’. Humour became a weapon of self-protection.
There were appalling moments in his life, like when his brother Colin died from infection after being turned away from the Maitland hospital which didn’t treat Aboriginal people. Vince himself was turned away from Ardrossan and Maitland hospitals before being treated at the Wallaroo government hospital for appendicitis. The harrowing significance of those events only sank in later.
Overall, Vince’s story is of the simple things that made up a good life despite adversity and racism. Thankfully there were so many good people that offered friendship, and a place to stay when he needed it. He seemed to have a natural understanding that resentment and anger would only give himself pain. Instead he responded with a happy open heart that connected with the right people.
Vince Copley became a champion footballer and a premiership-winning coach. The path was often difficult but his innate optimism and good cheer always held him up, so that looking back, he can revel in ‘the wonder of little things’. It is a very inspiring, uplifting life story of overcoming hardships and working with others to make things better.
This edition of Vince’s story is highly recommended for young readers. Older readers would be encouraged to read the more detailed The wonder of little things (2022). Lea McInerney has developed a blog that contains recordings of Vince talking, his history, Papa Joe and Grandfather Barney, historical archives, and much more.
Easy to read fantasy with great setting and relatable characters, Into the Labyrinth, the first in the Mage Errant series, is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy books set in academia with the bonus of a great library. Hugh of Emblin is a shy student, with no self-confidence. Bullied by the son of a noble, he is friendless and believes that he is worthless, unable to perform even the simplest of spells. When he is chosen by a Librarian mage to be his apprentice, life changes for him and he gradually becomes friends with the other two apprentices, Sabae and Talia.
The world building was fascinating. The Great Library with its floating shelves and strange Index and the idea of Hugh having a warded room to himself will thrill readers who like libraries as a main feature in their fantasy. The world of the labyrinth below Skyhold is frightening and the demons and monsters, traps and tunnels are vividly described.
Bierce gradually expands his story with the four young people beginning to gain confidence in their magical ability and starting to believe in themselves. Their trial in the Labyrinth is action packed, each bringing their unique skills to fight off the monsters and get out of the traps hidden in the tunnels.
Into the Labyrinth is a quick and enjoyable read with likeable characters, a unique world and plenty of action. Readers will want to follow Hugh and his friends in their next adventure, Jewel of the Endless Erg, and those who like books set in academies may enjoy the more demanding Scholomance series by Naomi Novik.
Themes Magic, Libraries, Coming of age.
Pat Pledger
The glass horse of Venice by Arnold Zable. Illus. by Anita Lester
Text Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9781923058002. (Age:6+) Highly recommended.
Each day when Claudia runs to school in Venice, she stops at the shop of the glassblower. She peers at the animals made of glass: the swans and giraffes, lions and elephant, but her eyes are always drawn to the horse, especially the winged horse. The glass animals fill the canals and building around her. One day the glassblower offers her a gift, and tells her that the horse has broken wings, but one day, if she cares for it, she will find its secret. She takes the wingless horse and places it on her windowsill where she ignores it, wanting a winged horse in its place.
One day the rain comes, and water overlaps the canals and finds its way under the doors of their apartment.
The horse calls her, but she ignores it.
The water keeps rising so the family packs its goods and moves to another apartment away from Venice. Claudia misses Venice and the glassblower. She finds her wingless horse and places it in the light. Its wings grow and she is able to climb upon its back. They fly over Venice as she calls to Pegasus to fly. She sees the city she loves and flies into the night before returning to her home with the wingless horse on her windowsill.
An enchanting book of an imaginative journey as Claudia learns to believe the impossible. The story of Pegasus parallels the story of this book and children will love finding out about that story and its similarities and differences. They will soar with Claudia as she sits on the horse’s back. In the morning the wingless horse sits happily on the windowsill waiting for another nighttime excursion.
Illustrations by Anita Lester are amazing, bringing Venice to life as children pore over the detail of the people, the steps, bridges, boats, buildings and red tiled roofs. Looking at them begs the reader to enter Venice on foot, prowling around its waterways.
But the aerial view is stunning, and readers will cheer along with Claudia as she see her beloved city on the back of the winged horse. Children will marvel at the images of the glass animals, especially the winged horse as it takes Claudia on her longed-for ride.
Miss Austen investigates is a cosy mystery set in the world of Jane Austen and starring her as a detective. She is happily anticipating a proposal from Tom Lefroy at a ball when a shocking discovery is made. A young woman has been found murdered; her body left in a linen cupboard. When her brother Georgie is found with the woman’s necklace, he is arrested and faces the hangman’s noose. Jane is determined to find the culprit, as she knows that her brother is too gentle to commit an act of violence.
The strength of the novel lies in the historical background. Jessica Bull deftly adds in accurate details about the countryside, the way people lived, the role of women, marriage, and the Austen family, and the reader becomes immersed in Jane Austen’s world. A quick perusal shows that the author is knowledgeable about Jane Austen and fans of Austen and mysteries are likely to enjoy seeing Jane as a sleuth. Jane is dogged in her pursuit of the truth, following one clue after another, and having no qualms about accusing different members of the gentry. There are many red herrings and the reader learns much about society of the late 18th century as Jane goes to inns, farms, manor houses and pawnbrokers in her search for the truth.
Jane is intrepid and impetuous, often racing headlong into thinking she has worked out the identity of the murderer, and then having to back down. Her romance with Tom Lefroy is beautifully handled, the author cleverly showing how difficult it was in those times to marry for love, when both parties are impoverished and rely on rich relatives for patronage.
Miss Austen will return in another story The foreign princess, and the first chapter of this can be found at the back of the book. This is certainly an enjoyable book for fans of historical mysteries, and those wanting to know more about Jane Austen’s world.
Themes Mystery, Jane Austen, Murder, Hampshire (England).
Pat Pledger
Digger digs down by Johanna Bell. Illus. by Huni Melissa Bolliger
University of Queensland Press, 2024. ISBN: 9780702268656. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
This delightful story is one of few words but rich in engagement through how the words are used, and the vibrant imagery displayed. What would happen if you kept digging? Where would you end up? And that is exactly what Digger did.
Digger is a playful dog who loves to dig. As he digs, he goes down, down, down to places deep below the surface. He passes by all sorts of things in his digging like skeletons, fossils and utensils, even an extremely precious rock. He eventually comes to a magical underwater world full of wondrous sea creatures. He hears his owner calling and retraces his steps back up to the surface. Only to begin digging again.
This is a story full of imagination with striking images, the vibrant colours layered and softly blurred but with so much depth to what is on the page. There is a strong and inquisitive need for the reader to look carefully to see what treasures Digger uncovers on his travels. The alliteration and rhyme are a joy to read with words moving and flowing as Digger digs. The clever use of positional language for the Early Years age group provides an ideal teaching moment for educators to use. Teacher's notes are available.
A wonderful book for those who love dogs and digging, and whose imagination takes them to places beyond their own backyard.
Kathryn Beilby
Before we met by Gabrielle Tozer. Illus. by Sophie Beer
Before we met, I made a wish Upon a starry night begins this verse story of how a child will be welcomed into its family.
Each stanza begins much the same encouraging readers to read along with the adult. A different second line offers a different set of things the family is waiting for and wanting to do for their new baby. Firstly the child will be brought home, its world to be filled with light. The baby’s face will be stroked and kissed and the parents will sing lullabies, later the parents will hold its hand, run its bath and hug the child tightly. The parents will teach it well, guide its way and fill the days with fun. The parents will watch it grow and see it shine, and love it whether near or far away. All of the things mentioned are virtues that the family shares, loving and caring for their offspring, no matter how it was brought to the home or where it lives. This book is a celebration of the diversity of families, of the array of people that love and care for children, parents known for their part in bringing up a child. At the start the bright illustrations show a variety of ways a child comes into a home. There might be a hospital birth, or IVF, or adoption. The child will be in a home of love and excitement, where a new baby is anticipated and welcomed. The illustrations again show an array of families, all having the one thing in common, the welcoming of an anticipated new baby in their lives.
Freddie Spector, Fact Collector: Space Cadet is the second book in Ashleigh Barton's delightful series. Aimed at young readers, eight-year-old Freddie Spector continues his mission to collect interesting facts - this time about space. With so many amazing space facts, and even an oobleck recipe, this book has everything to keep readers page turning with curiosity.
Freddie's excitement reaches new heights when he learns that he will have the opportunity to interact with a real astronaut. As one of only five children selected to ask a question, Freddie feels both thrilled and anxious. He is determined to come up with a fantastic question that will impress the astronaut, but his thoughts are interrupted by the strange happenings in his neighbour's backyard. After hearing a loud bang and noticing a large, mysterious hole, Freddie is convinced that aliens have landed. This suspicion leads him on a fun adventure as he tries to unravel the mystery, while also preparing for his big moment at school.
Barton skilfully balances humour and suspense in Space Cadet, blending Freddie's imaginative theories about extra-terrestrial visitors and his concerns about his question for the astronaut. Cheong’s black-and-white illustrations add a fun and engaging touch to the story. His drawings complement the text beautifully, bringing Freddie’s world to life and enhancing the storyline.
Space Cadet is a delightful read that will appeal to young readers with an interest in space, science and adventure. It captures the joys of learning and discovery. Readers may even find themselves jotting down their own notes and researching further facts, as their curiosity is stimulated
Freddie's boundless enthusiasm for learning is contagious, making him a relatable and endearing protagonist for children who love asking questions and discovering new things.
A perfect book for children who love exploring the unknown and enjoy stories that blend everyday experiences with a dash of the extraordinary.
Song of the six realms is a complex novel for adolescents and young adults. The plot plays out against the backdrop of spiritual worlds and philosophical themes. It is rather a beautifully written book in terms of linguistic content, vocabulary density and also in terms of its ethereal quality. The living focus and driver of the novel is the central character -Xue'er (Guxue) meaning Solitary snow. In simplistic terms the novel is a Cinderella story but it is multilayered and complex steeped in magic and the exotic actual and spiritual realms of China.
Author Judy Lim was born in Taiwan and grew up in Canada. She loves the escapism of imaginary worlds and these she has created for readers who similarly enjoy fantasy and escapism. Her previous Book of tea duology (A magic steeped in poison and A venom dark and sweet) along with Song of the six realms have made her a bestselling author with The New York Times.
Song of the six realms is a coming of age story. It has the intimacy of the first person voice of the main character Xue whose life's story is central to the plot. Xue is an engaging, likeable character. She is beset with major losses and frightening and perplexing incidents but she has a strength and smartness about her- a feistiness and great kindness aswell as a remarkable skill with the ancient Chinese musical instrument- the qin (also known as the "seven stringed Chineses zither"). Mastery of this instrument was seen as a "refined practice" associated with poetry, scholarship and philosophy. Poetry and philosophy and Xue's ability to interpret and apply her skill are crucially important to the events in this novel. There are many references to Chinese mythology, folk religion, astrology and numerology that Lim explains have no connection with real-world practices or belief today. They have been successfully adapted for the purposes of the story creating the mood and atmosphere of the world that Xue has to negotiate and learn to understand.
Readers are challenged with the Chinese characters, the terms for these characters, their pronunciation and their meaning. There is a helpful glossary at the back of the book. There are many characters in the book with the reader being challenged to understand their name including the pronunciation and the Chinese translation. Likewise locations have place names, Chinese names and pronunciations to decipher.
There are six realms: the Mortal, the Demon, the Celestial, the Spiritual, the Ghost and the Barren. All are inhabited by different beings and have different governance structures. Mortal lives for example are governed by the Celestials and the afterlife is governed by the Demons in the Ghost realm. Through the Rite of Ascension some mortals can ascend to the Celestial Realm. Co-existence and balance is supposed to be maintained between these realms but certain seismic shifts are happening and certain beings are able to traverse across realms either saving or destroying.
Song of the six realms is structured musically and poetically with verses and interludes aswell as chapters. There is a lot of interesting fodder for the lover of fantasy, the lover of the intersection between philosophies and spiritualities, for those interested in class and governance structures and representations of good and evil. Though complex in its settings and subject matter, it is also a beautiful story of love and survival as Xue is faced with every monster and deity of the six realms as the realms teeter on the brink of disaster.
Song of the six realms is a "melodic tale inspired by Chinese mythology". It is for capable readers who enjoy the fantasy genre.
Themes Chinese mythology, poetry, music, celestial/mortal realms.
Danielle Binks, author of The Year the Maps Changed, has written a deeply moving and powerful novel looking at the lives of neighbours and former best friends, Tash and Leo. Both Year 6 students, feisty and adventurous South African girl Alytash (Tash) and gentle, studious library monitor Polish boy Leopold (Leo), reconnect at a time in their lives where there are major changes taking place.
For Leo, his dad is away in WA and his mum’s brother and dad’s best friend, Aleks, is living in the family rental to help support the family. Leo’s Dad has left for his reasons which are hinted at often and become clear later in the story. Leo is bereft without him but has a strong relationship with his mum although her expectations can be a source of angst.
Tash has her own devastating reasons for ending her friendship with Leo in Year 4, which left him bewildered and deeply hurt. But when she comes back into his life in the final weeks of Year 6, Leo is confused and finds it difficult to trust her motives. When she announces she is not going to Graduation and asks him to let her friendship group know, Leo is curious and once again drawn back into her life.
The neighbour at No 7, Mrs Shepparson has always been a person of mystery to Tash and Leo, but through a series of unfolding events the children gradually learn her story and the historical tragedy behind it. Unexplained occurrences triggered by the bullying tactics of an American building firm place the children and Mrs Shepparson in grave danger which eventually leads to a time of healing for all.
This contemporary novel which shares events of the past in order to understand the present, will resonate with many library readers, both young and old. There are references to borrowing books by Tristan Bancks, rereading Morris Gleitzman’s Once, librarian Mx Chambers referred to as they, and the significant comment “…where some schools no longer have libraries..” For some children like Leo, the library is a haven of safety but also a place to find out more.
Six Summers of Tash and Leopold is a wonderful read with strong believable characters all having a role to play and connected in the present by very different stories from the past.
