It is Edward's first day at knight school and to protect himself from the battles he expects to face, he puts on his full suit of armour. Sitting in the back of the Great Hall surrounded by unfriendly creatures, he is mortified when the king asks him to tell the others about himself. Even though at home he likes to fight giants and ogres, here at knight school he seems to be surrounded by them and he is not so brave. And when one sits beside him on the bench as he starts to eat his lunch, things are r-e-a-l-l-y scary...
It is that time of the year again when the prospect of Big School is looming closer and closer and some of our little ones are getting really apprehensive. There is a mixture of nerves that can become overwhelming. So stories like these that not only show that fears are shared but they can be overcome are welcome as they offer such reassurance. Cleverly illustrated showing the ogres and dragons as ordinary boys and girls and the concept of the physical armour holding him back in the same way that mental armour does, Edward comes to some new understandings and discovers this school-thing isn't as frightening after all.
This is one to add to your collection to share to give an added dose of confidence and show that even the bravest can feel nervous.
Themes Starting school, Fear.
Barbara Braxton
Penny Platypus lends a hand by Chelsea Schar-Grant. Illus. by Aaron Pocock
Little Steps, 2023. ISBN: 9781922833471. (Age:4+)
A number of well-known Australian animals show how they help out either in their community or home. Penny Platypus plants trees, Sam Snake helps out in the surf, Collin Cockatoo is a coach, Kristina Koala helps at home, Dan the Dingo leads at dancing, Kevin Kangaroo jumps for fundraising, Emma Emu tidies up her home and her neighbourhood, Billy Bilby is a volunteer, Chris Crocodile looks after his neighbour, Andy the Australian Sheepdog joins in a fundraising walk, Ed the Echidna helps his mate and Kate Kookaburra helps herself by having a bath!
The full page illustrations are bright, colourful and full of detail. There is quite a lot to see on each page and children will enjoy the visual images throughout the book. This book lends itself to promoting discussion with young children about how they might be able to help and show kindness to others.
Themes Australian Animals, Helping, Community, Making A Difference.
As a fan of historical fiction, Georgette Heyer and detective novels, I was thrilled to read the blurb of The Agency for Scandal, promising a story about an all-female detective agency, a feisty young heroine who has a crush on a Duke and missing jewels. Then I read that it had been nominated for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medal and I knew that I was in for a treat.
Isobel Stanhope looks like the perfect wallflower. She hovers in alcoves at balls, and wears nondescript clothes, making it easy to overlook her. But she is hiding a lot of secrets. She has a crush on the Duke of Roxton but he can never remember her name. Her family has lost its wealth and she has had to find a job to support her ailing mother and brother who is away at school. At night she has another persona, masquerading as Kes, a youth who is an expert pick lock, working for the Aviary, where Mrs Finch operates an all-female agency that investigates cases where women desperately need help. When she becomes involved in stealing a mysterious brooch, she and the Duke pair up together, donning various disguises to unravel the secrets it is harbouring. As they work together the duo get to know each other and the Duke is forced to examine a society where women have no rights and are dominated by husbands and brothers.
With a deft hand, Wood describes the role of women in the late 19th century as the women from the Aviary help those in distress from husbands who gamble away their money or threaten their sanity. This serious theme is cleverly brought to light in the Aviary’s cases and Izzy’s thoughts about marriage.
I finished this charming book in two sittings, and although it was over 500 pages long, it had wide margins and attractive illustrations as chapter headings, making it an easy read. And of course, the fast-paced plot and budding romance made it difficult to put down. Fans of the Enola Holmes books by Nancy Springer, the Bridgerton series as well as books by Georgette Heyer are likely to enjoy The Agency for Scandal, and those who like espionage in a modern setting could turn to Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu.
Themes Detectives, Women, Upper classes, Great Britain - 19th century.
A kind of spark is the debut novel by Elle McNicoll. It was published in 2023 and was closely followed by Like a charm. A kind of spark is a warm and well-constructed novel. This reader recommends the latter Like a charm more strongly than A kind of spark as the growth in McNicholl's authorial skill such as the increased depth of skill in creating setting and historical background makes the second book of more value to children as a piece of literature. However, A Kind of spark is an enchanting, funny and heartbreaking novel and recommended too.
Elle McNicholl offers more than many current writers, who it seems, espouse the neurodiversity or disability or genderdiversity agendas with a thin narrative woven around the cause that they wish to promote. McNicholl, by contrast, does not allow the issue to eclipse the story. She offers rich settings and interesting characters who are able to time travel or at least tap into periods of history. This creates multi layers to her stories that make her books a worthwhile contribution to the literature that our children are exposed to that goes far beyond agenda-driven offerings.
In A kind of spark, we see the world directly through the first person authorial voice of Addie. Addie comes from a very warm, funny and interesting family. She and her sister are both autistic and McNicholl describes the autistic view of the world as being supercharged, supersensitive to particular stimuli and a special and valuable thing. Through Addie's clear descriptions we see the good and the bad in people and a very clear sense of justice. Addie is a fighter. When she discovers that her village was a centre of witch trials and witch hunts in previous times, she fights to have a memorial built to recognise those poor hunted women and girls who suffered because, like Addie, they were a little different. Modern day cruelty to the child who is different is demonstrated in the character of Miss Murphy, Addie's school teacher. Nasty classroom and playground incidents raise uncomfortable questions about the treatment of autistic children, especially those who have meltdowns, in mainstream classrooms today.
Addie has a visceral connection with a tree in Juniper Woods where witches were tortured and hung in the past. After a school excursion to this tree awakens her understanding, she researches and campaigns to raise funds for a public apology in the form of a memorial in her village that had previously and still did prefer to close its eyes to the facts of the past.
Through the lively, feisty, strongly sensitive and clear-eyed intelligence of Addie, the reader is invited into a lived view and experience of autism. McNicholl has cleverly linked the outsider/ difference experience of autism with the possibility that the "witches" of the past were simply poor girls and women who could have been autistic or at least just a little different to the mainstream. The hunting and killing of witches in the past and the bullying of autistic children by their peers, some adults and ostracism within communities today may be ignorant behaviours and prejudices that have not improved much over the years. Further ostracism of difference is exemplified by the enigmatic Mrs Miriam Jensen who lives on the periphery of the village (really within the woods) who is treated by the villagers as something of a strange old woman. At the culmination of the story Addie tries to push through a crowd of people to thank Mrs Jensen..."But she seemed to vanish." McNicholl knows how to create ambiguity...
A kind of spark would be a great book to read to classes aged 10+ especially if the aim is to help children accept and understand difference in their peers or even in themselves. The delightful Addie is a character who children will relate to and the other characters are far from flat. The storyline and authorial voice are captivating.
A kind of spark is warmly recommended along with other books by Elle McNicholl.
Abundance is all around you by Lauren McLeish. Illus. by Aleksandra Szmidt
Little Steps, 2023. ISBN: 9781922833969. (Age:3+)
Abundance is All Around You is a bright and colourful picture book that shares the joy of all the things nature provides. With clever rhyming couplets, the book explores various different habitats from land, sea and sky and what familiar things can be found there.
See the layers of petals on the flowers,
and clusters of leaves on the trees.
The family of ants marching along,
and swarms of buzzing bees.
This is an enjoyable read to share with early years students and with an explanation of some of the more unfamiliar words such as abundance, awe and droves, it will be one to read time and time again. The full page illustrations are full of creatures to find and identify and beautifully complement the text.
Themes Nature, Rhyme.
Kathryn Beilby
The very big sum by Adrian Dudek. Illus. by Naya Lazareva
Little Steps, 2023. ISBN: 9781922678928. (Age:7+) Recommended.
The Very Big Sum is a surprise read. The text is quite lengthy but it cleverly rhymes and tells the story of two siblings who try to get out of doing chores by solving a huge mathematical problem set by their mum. They have to add up all the numbers from 1 – 100!
They begin by adding each individual number starting at 1 + 2 = 3, 1 + 2 + 3 = 6 and so on. BUT they realise this will take ages and they will never get outside to play.They sneakily grab a calculator but mum is one step ahead and has removed the batteries. They then begin to think harder about the problem and look at other strategies for adding up so many numbers. In the end they come to a very clever solution and solve the problem in no time, impressing their mum.
This is an entertaining read and will encourage children to see if the children in the story calculated correctly.The illustrations are delightful with bright colour and full of expression and definitely add to the busyness of the story, and the huge effort to solve the maths problem!
With an emphasis on the word YOU, this picture book asks questions to encourage readers to think about how they contribute to the environment in which they live. The children are camping and when they get up in the morning, questions are asked about the practical aspects of the day. Do you make your own bed, or breakfast, onto the more imaginative: did you make believe, or make noise, or make friends. Each question will encourage young readers to think about how they contribute to their family’s day, and their environment as they live each day.
The emphasis changes as children are asked about making a discovery, a decision, a team and a plan. Each of these challenge the readers to think about things outside themselves, as they work with others. They can affect change working together. A challenge again appears, as children are asked to make a start, make progress, make time for others, and time for themselves.
The scope of the tale opens as the question is asked if they are making time for today and then tomorrow, pointing them in the direction of planning something for the future. This leads back to the opening question, ’In a world where anything’s possible, what will you do today? ‘
Designed to encourage readers to think about change and what part they may play, the questions on each page will stimulate plenty of thought and discussion as children ponder their part of their world.
Subtle, understated illustrations fill every page, showing children at their campsite, making decisions making friends, planning, deciding, even making mistakes.
Readers will readily identify with the activities shown on each page, and add their own list of when they make decisions, or made the bed, or friends.
On the last page is a diagram of the six understandings promoted in the text and illustrations, encouraging children to participate in the world in which they live. Teacher's notes are available.
As we have come to expect, 'Knights of' publishing company has published in debut novelist Samantha Baine's Harriet versus the universe, another novel that enhances the voice of people with disability. In this instance it is the first person narrative of Harriet, a ten-year-old girl with a hearing disability that we hear. The reader is immersed, through Harriet's chatty voice and access to her thinking, into her world. The text is accompanied by the cheerful cartoon-like artwork of Ella Masters (cover art) and Jessica Flores (interior artwork). The font is large with the combination of text and artwork making Harriet versus the universe a simple and engaging read for young readers.
The plot is reassuringly predictable. Harriet normalises and describes the use of hearing aids and the origin of her deafness. She describes school, bullying, friendships and living with her dad. When she stays with her grandma, her life changes as aliens, an alien organisation and new friends enter her life. As a result of the discovery of a special skill associated with her hearing aids, Harriet is able to save the world - with the help of her friends.
There is a warmth and wisdom exuded through the authorial voice. Quotable quotes include...'The house actually reminded me of Robin as it was all chilled out on the surface but you could see there was stuff going on underneath...' and ...'maybe the ground flowers were like the horrible kids at my old school and I was like a plant in a pot because I didn't fit in.' Any child who feels on the outer would find comfort in the sassiness and quirkiness of Harriet.
Harriet meets a person called Robin who can't decide whether 'they' is a girl or a boy. 'On Monday I felt like a girl and today I feel like a boy and so I'm both. Sometimes I don't want to be a boy or a girl.' Harriet accepts this thoughtfully by employing the analogy of comparing Robin's admission to her own wanting to be grown up sometimes and a child at other times. From then on Robin is referred to by the pronoun 'they' and the possessive 'their'. This is new for this reader and most children. Teachers and librarians should have a 'heads up' re this aspect of the book in order to avoid possible issues in the hands of the wrong reader. At the same time, this book treats the subject of gender identity issues with a gentle nonchalance and this would be comforting for children with the same issue who need to see themselves represented in literature.
Each chapter is bookended by a double-page spread of one of Harriet's imaginary planets. This interrupts the flow of the narrative but may be enjoyed by some readers who might be encouraged to make up imaginary lands of their own.
Harriet versus the universe is a humorous first novel for well-known English comedian and actor Samantha Baines. It could be particularly enjoyed by children with gender identity issues and /or hearing disabilities and could provide awareness about the current correct use of gender specific pronouns.
Themes Gender identity, Hearing disability, Bullying, Family, Aliens and space.
Imagine if you could enter another person’s mind, their mental ‘house,’ and explore the hidden rooms, and even shuffle some memories so that they are not so dominant; basically rearrange the furniture a bit. For Bernie Moon, as a child, it starts as fun, stepping inside, and switching around some experiences. It was a game called House that she played with her best friend Katie. But for the two young girls, pre-menstruation, it led to some disturbing incidents, a school boy expelled, and a teacher dead.
With menopause, later in life, Bernie finds a new surge of power, sparked by the murder of a woman jogging in a park at night. Her rage is fuelled by the social media posts that blame the victim, running alone. She starts to wonder if she can identify the perpetrator by stepping into their thoughts. Thus, she encounters Woody, actually a friend of her husband, planning his drink spiking conquest of a vulnerable young waitress.
Harris’s novel found its naissance in the #MeToo campaign and the Sarah Everard murder in the UK. It is without doubt an angry book; the anger of the menopausal woman’s rage against all the men that have kept her confined over the years, afraid of expressing an opinion, afraid of provoking HIS anger. With menopause, Bernie finds a return to the long suppressed mind-altering powers of her youth, and with the aid of the rescued waitress, sets out to rebalance the world a bit.
This is a really intriguing book, it is never clear whether Bernie’s super mind-altering capabilities are real or not, but the mystery keeps the reader drawn in, especially with the recurring question of what really dwells in the mind of Bernie’s husband. The novel gives expression to all the anger and vengeance of the #MeToo movement; women’s rage against the abuse and oppression they have endured.
I thought the story was leading up to a very predictable ending, but Harris surprises us with a fascinating twist that opens up new suggestions. This is a highly original, compelling novel, with its mix of magic, feminism, modern issues and mystery. It would certainly merit discussion in a book group.
For further insight into Joanne Harris’s motivation for writing Broken light, read her blog post on Tumblr.
If you love dinosaurs, dangerous quests and tales that have heroes that need to rise above their own fears and failings, then this book is for you! This is the second of the Deadlands books and a small group of exiled and outcast herbivorous dinosaurs with different skills sets and qualities are on a quest to confront the dreaded Carrion Kingdom, populated by carnivorous dinosaurs intent on manipulating the power structure within the ancient world. In a world where the environmental conditions are almost intent on destroying the outcast collective as they pursue their quest, this is a story where the exiles must use their wisdom to overcome many obstacles. Focusing mostly on the characters Eleri (an Oryctodromeus story-teller) and also the small feathered Zyre (an Anurognathid wind whisper – a spy and secret gatherer), the challenges that the dinosaurs face are extreme. The story is exciting and tense, and yet we know the world will not be able to maintain sustenance and security for them forever.
A tense and exciting story with dinosaurs – this is a narrative arc that will be loved by those who have a passion for the extinct creatures. In some ways it has a magical quality as the characters deal with lava, dangerous and lethal gases, and earthquakes as they traverse a strange environment and put themselves into danger and risk their own lives. In some ways this book will appeal to readers who have loved the dragon fantasy series Wings of Fire, as it has similar tensions and dangers (just without magic). The characters also are young and have personal struggles that have limited their past, but that also help them connect to their fellow travellers. They must also problem-solve to overcome extreme circumstances and rely on each other’s strengths as they find themselves in difficult scenarios. This will be enjoyed by fantasy lovers aged 10 – 13, but if Dinosaurs are not your ‘thing’, then perhaps imagining that the characters are fantasy or magical creatures will overcome this barrier.
Disney Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781368080996. (Age:3-5)
Cara Lee is a proud mouse. She is proud of her big sister Dee. She is proud of her specially decorated journal. And now she's proud to become what she's always wanted to be: a student. But her first day of school is different than she imagined. Everyone keeps comparing her to Dee. But who is Cara Lee?
Faced with an issue that many young children will encounter in the next few weeks as they start school and find themselves in the shadows of their brothers and sisters who have gone before, this is a touching tale of a little mouse who has to learn who she is, rather than just being Dee's sister. Using her mother's advice that often you see yourself more clearly if you stand alone, Cara Lee sets out to discover just who she is and what her unique talents are.
A sequel to Loud Mouse, in which Dee, herself finds her voice, this is one to share with little ones starting school to give them the confidence to shine in their own way, as well as showing those around them that being siblings doesn't mean you are the same.
Cesare Aldo is sent to the Convent to investigate a story that a man had been seen scaling the walls. Sceptical, Aldo meets the Abbess who denies such a thing has happened taking him on a tour of the buildings. While doing this he spots a day school girl and recognises her as his niece, Isabella, the daughter of his estranged sister.
His investigations uncover undertones of intrigue at the convent and when a body is found, things become even more complex. Aldo has to tread a careful line between his employers at the criminal court and the very powerful reaches of the Church. He stays after the body is discovered, to investigate the murder, and talks his niece into staying at the now enclosed convent to keep her eyes open to what may be happening. He is told to leave.
Meanwhile Stroochi has gone to his home town with his new wife to visit his mother. While there he catches sight of a familiar silver buckle, and realises it is the one worn by the missing corrupt officer, Cerchi. Exhuming the body left after being in the water for some months, limbs torn by the recent floods, Strocchi notices nicks on two ribs which point to his death as murder. The investigations of both Strocchi and Aldo are sure to intersect as Aldo gets himself onto the Visitation sent by the church to investigate the convent. Aldo deduces what may have happened to the deceased, and at odds with the head of the investigating committee he wheedles his way into staying at the convent using Isabella as an excuse, and deliberately makes himself a target to the poisoner.
Bishop packs a load of information about Medici Florence into his books. The sights, sounds and smells of the city sweep before the reader as each page is turned and chapter read.
The second in the successful series about Cesare Aldo, an officer of the criminal court in Florence in the mid sixteenth century, where the Medici family rules, the books are full of wonderful back stories, telling readers what life was like for rich and poor alike in tis well known period of Italy’ s history.
This book won the 2023 CWA Historical Dagger for the Scottish author, and was shortlisted for several other awards.
Themes Crime, Florence, Medici Italy, Women in the sixteenth century, Convent life, Roman Catholic Church, Power.
Fran Knight
The Paper Museum by Kate S. Simpson
Union Square Kids, 2023. ISBN: 9781454949855. (Age:9-14) Recommended.
Lydia’s family are responsible for the protection and curation of items from the ‘past’ associated with paper. The world has changed, and everyone utilises technology rather than relying on writing, books and printed materials. In combination with their curatorial responsibilities at the Paper Museum, they also have a magical connection to an unusual essence that empowers their community and restores it to equilibrium. Lydia has had her own equilibrium unsettled when her parents disappeared and it seems that the supportive curator, Uncle Lem, has also gone missing. Another Uncle has been tasked with her care, but he is far from caring. The Mayor seems intent on taking over the Museum, and without her parents and Uncle Lem to support her, Lydia must use all her ingenuity to solve the mystery of their absence and prevent the Museum from being closed or acquired. Firstly, she must restore a friendship, find out who she can trust, and find the magical book that seems to hold the answer to where her parents have gone.
This is a quite charming journey into a magical zone, and the esteem placed on the written and published word is part of the magic. With a quite compelling mystery to be solved, and intriguing characters living at a time when conventions and expectations have altered, there is a captivating reading adventure ahead for young readers. Written for children (recommended for 9-14 year-olds), there is much for them to enjoy, some moments of humour as well as unsettling scenarios in a world tinged with magical influences. The central character Lydia must be resourceful and an independent thinker, and her problem-solving strategies are part of the delight of this book.
Lenny is born aboard a boat, with waves lapping its sides. From the first welcoming day he has many adventures living on the boat. In the harbour, they are tossed this way and that, as he grows he learns of the environment he is in. He sees dolphins and lizards, fish and birds. Mom dives for fish to eat and Dad collects things from the beach. They give a lift to a girl wanting to save the planet, and all see the amount of rubbish from their boat. They call in at the Azores Islands, and he learns to ride a bike, and makes friends of kids on other boats. Together they get to go to day care, but he is always eager to get back on the boat where he is first mate and helps his parents as they sail across the oceans.
When baby Darwin arrives, Lenny knows just what to do, as he can remember when things were a little scary living at sea, but with his help he will be able to acclimatise just as Lenny did.
Illustrations reveal life at sea, as many of the images are on the boat. Readers will see many of the animals that Lenny sees, and be aware of what they do when they land and stay a while.
Readers will love looking at the things Lenny does, the adventure he has, and the things he learns.
Themes Friendship, Life at sea, Oceans, Pollution, Family, Adventure.
Fran Knight
Cosmic Wonder: Halley's Comet and Humankind by Ashley Benham-Yazdani
Over 4.6 billion years ago, about the same time the rest of our solar system was created, a comet was born - one that now visits this planet on its long orbit around the planets and the sun and beyond, only once is a person's lifetime. Unlike many others that are comparatively short-lived because they lose ice and debris each time they pass a star, this one has survived and for those lucky enough to be alive in 2061 it will light up our skies once again.
Named after the Edward Halley, the astronomer and mathematician who calculated that the comets that had been seen in the skies in 1531, 1607, and 1682 were one and the same and accurately predicted that it would return in 1758, Halley's Comet has been orbiting since time immemorial, the last time being in 1986. During that time it has seen so many changes on this planet as humans developed and with their curiosity and creativity have transformed it.
Essentially then, this is a history of Earth seen from the comet's perspective as it makes its regular sweeps told in simple, almost lyrical, language and depicted in stunning artworks. Tracing the changes (which are summarised in the final pages) it tells the story of the planet's development from a time when nothing and no one saw it light up the night sky to that of a lone teacher fascinated by it perched like Humpty Dumpty on a wall in her garden in 1986. (I have no idea why scaling a 2 metre wall would give me a better view but there I was...)
As well as giving the reader a unique perspective on history, showing us just how small we are and how short our time here is, this is one not only to explore the other bodies in the universe but also to consider what the comet might see when it returns in 2061, provoking all sorts of textual and artistic responses. What would they like it to see? They might even consider what their contribution to those changes might be.
Innovative and visually outstanding, this is such a different way to view the world that it will capture not only those budding astronomers but also those who dream and wonder and imagine... Another reason to have a rich and vibrant non fiction collection.
