How it works: Light by Sarah Hull. Illus. by Kaley McKean
Usborne, 2023. ISBN: 9781474998895. (Age:7+)
Most of us know that light is the key to life on this planet and that our major light source is the sun. But there are many other facts about this phenomenon that remain a mystery to us, even as adults, and in this new book from Usborne some of the ways that light works that baffle us are explained in a lift-the-flap format with simple text and bright, appealing diagrams.
Budding young scientists (and even those who aren't) can learn how light works, why there is even light at night, how colours are formed and perceived, and a host of other fascinating facts including some simple experiments that can be tried to understand the concepts better. More for the age group that has a basic awareness of science than our youngest readers, this is a book that answers those fundamental questions ranging from rainbows and reflections to lightyears and lasers and then these are backed up by the usual Quicklinks for those who want to know more about particular aspects.
The format could even serve as a model for a class investigation as students pose their own questions and then explore and explain the concept to develop their own answers.
Themes Light.
Barbara Braxton
The space between here & now by Sarah Suk
Quill Tree Books, 2023. ISBN: 9780063373129. (Age:14-18) Highly recommended.
This intriguing story focuses on the life of Aimee Roh, a seventeen-year-old Canadian-Korean, ready to move into the adult world, leaving behind her often silent father and the gaping hole of an absent mother. But first she must deal with her present struggles and her past memories. Her situation is somewhat different to most of her peers because she also deals with a condition that has a sci-fi quality – Sensory Time Warp Syndrome, a condition that propels her back in time into her own memories. Unable to make changes to her past, she simply becomes a spectator in her own life, gaining perspective, but not always the answers she wants. Her ‘disappearances’ from her present life become increasingly problematic and can’t be hidden or ignored. The chance to resolve the mystery of her missing mother, and her father’s reticence to share the detail of her mother’s absence complicate Aimee’s grip on her memories and her present life. A visit to her mother’s home country in Korea seems to bring the search for understanding to a critical point, but it also gives her opportunity to find answers to her queries about her condition. It may even enable a romantic connection to develop and the possibility of the restoration of relationships.
This is an exceptionally clever YA story with a unique ‘time travel’ premise involving specific memory travel. The development of the characters from a Canadian-Korean background and with Korean language and culture woven through the plot is delightful and wonderfully unique for Australian readers. Understanding loss and moving beyond family secrets is also part of the thread of this story. The concept of a ‘known’ syndrome created for the story, is so seamlessly woven into life that you could almost assume it was a real condition. The gentle friendship relationships that Aimee shares firstly with Nikita, and then later with Junho, are tenderly painted and the start of a romantic connection has a sweetly winsome quality. I loved the cultural journey into Korea and the setting and sensory excursion adds a wonderful warmth to the story. This is a book to recommend to those who are beginning to dabble in Sci-fi, but who also enjoy relationship and family drama or romantic realism, particularly readers aged 14 – 18 years.
Themes Memory, Grief, Time travel, Family, Korea, Canada, Romance, Friendship.
Kate DiCamillo, winner of the Newbery Medal and other awards has written another charming fable that will delight fans. An old sea captain has died, leaving behind a chest containing five puppets, a boy, a girl, king, owl and wolf. The chest is sold and eventually ends up in the home of two sisters, Emma and Martha. They decide to put on a play featuring the puppets, who were waiting for their adventures to begin.
The story is told in three acts, and in alternating voices, and the reader will learn about the unrequited love of Spelhorst, the sea captain, the wishes and adventures of the five puppets, the puppet play organised by Emma, and the desire for change of the maid Martha. These overlaying tales are beautifully brought to life by DiCamillo and lovingly illustrated by Julie Morstad in black and white illustrations that bring to life a Regency life period. The voices of the puppets who could not control their own destinies, were particularly poignant, and I loved the wolf who would like to use her sharp teeth. Award-winning Kate DiCamillo discusses the book here.
Perfect for young independent readers, The puppets of Spelhorst would also make an engrossing and challenging read aloud class novel. As this is the first in a planned series called A Norendy Tale, readers are sure to want to pick up further books, and may like to try other books by DiCamillo like Raymie Nightingale and The Magician’s elephant.
Fen and Rey are foundlings. Left as babies near The Light House, they grow up with a history of a mother who left them with foxes; a mother who lived in the Wildlands. The two red-headed girls are entwined, with different talents related to the natural world, but always they hanker for their story and identity to be made clear. Their life in The Light House is simple, with a collection of other foundlings and Lissa who is their carer, but always the call of the wild lingers, and the appearance of a fox stirs their desire to escape. Will they be able to discover their identity and find their mother?
This is a story of the ache of children with no real identity, it is full of the melancholy of loss. The girls share stories to make up for the absence of their own story. Consequently, it is almost heart-breaking to hear inside the hearts of those who feel that they do not belong and who need to weave their own make-believe stories to lighten their view of their world. The girls have each other, and their sibling bond is strong, and Fen also has a powerful desire (expressed with the sighting of the fox) to live free in the Wildlands, a place that seems to be attempting to return the land to its natural state. This unexpected environmental thread is understated but is just an expression of being connected to the natural world. Balen’s writing style is spare, and simple, but also very atmospheric. It creates an emotional and heart-rending depth that is unusual in a children’s book. It is not so sad though that children would be distressed as they read. As many children’s authors hide serious issues with other light-hearted threads, this book is different as it is always serious in tone. The girls’ quest does lead to a moving conclusion, but not what might be expected.
With only the most basic of information about the Wife of Bath in Chaucer’ Canterbury Tales, this story has been teased out to produce not only a great read, but one that remains true to the original character, on her way to Canterbury with other pilgrims in the late fourteenth century. The story reveals the background of the time, when men could beat their wives, where villeins still were part of the farm’s stock, little more than slaves, where the church held sway despite the countless examples of hypocrisy, and when people went on pilgrimages to places held holy because of dubious relics held there, or because they are places of importance in the Christian world.
Eleanor’s early life is a mix of being treated like part of the family which adopted her, but also seen as a servant, until she is caught at 12, about to be deflowered by a priest. She, of course must shoulder the blame, after all she is a woman, and so is given in marriage to a man fifty years her senior. It is this marriage she looks back on with warmth, as he treats her with respect and builds up her skills at the loom. After his death, his son takes over the property and Eleanor is kicked out. This is the way her life continues, a husband, five of them whose death sees her lose everything, forcing her to rebuild her life. Going on a pilgrimage at the end of each marriage gives her time to pause and reflect. But she still makes far reaching errors of judgement, that give her friends caused for alarm.
This is a wonderful retelling, rich in detail, funny, sometimes brutal and bawdy, allowing us a glimpse of the times, particularly focussing on the plight of women, through Eleanor’s inquiring eyes. Geoffrey Chaucer is related rather losely to Eleanor and so has an enduring relationship with her in the form of letter writing and occasional visits. It is he who promotes Eleanor’s first marriage, knowing the old man would treat her well and teach her useful skills.
She goes on creating workshops where women are employed, testing the ideas and teachings of the church and the various forms of government she crosses. It is in London that she meets up with an arm of the Guild, so appalled that she as a woman has set up a business, her house and livelihood are smashed up and her dogs and one of her entourage, slaughtered.
Each time she goes up against aggrieved men who will not allow her to do what she wants, she goes on a pilgrimage. So we are taken to Rome, Canterbury, Jerusalem, and St Martin’s Le Grand, all sparkling in the descriptions given by Brooks, as Eleanor sees all with a critical look.
Karen Brooks has written a fascinating account of the life and times of a character in Chaucer’s classic tale. This story exposes the plight of women in the Middle Ages, although for some, not much has changed.
This is historical fiction at its best, thought provoking, descriptive, wonderful characters and a background that rings with truth.
Themes Historical fiction, Middle Ages, Pigrimages, Role of women, Abuse, Inequality.
Fran Knight
I try by Susie Brooks and Cally Johnson-Isaacs
Farshore, 2023. ISBN: 9780008542337. (Age:3+)
One of the common complaints from kindergarten teachers is that new-to-big-school children often demonstrate little resilience - the ability to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again, solving the problem through trial and error. And they need to develop special lessons and programs to teach this to compensate for the helicopter parenting where all the child's potential problems have been eliminated in advance by over-zealous adults and thus the child hasn't had the opportunity to learn to cope with setbacks and sadness. So this book would seem to have been written especially for them to aid in those lessons.
Addressed directly to the child reader, it offers ways to encourage them to be adventurous and learn something new; be brave and do something tricky; be strong and don't give up. Using examples from the animal kingdom, this book motivates little ones to try new things, build their confidence and become resilient in all aspects of life. If you're too short to reach, ask someone to help; if something doesn't go as you expected, try again; if you're afraid, take the first step.... The cute and relatable cast of children work together and support each other, showing that there is always help around, especially when venturing into the unknown.
With anxiety levels apparently at an all-time high amongst our children, one of the kindest and most powerful things we can do is help them develop the belief in themselves and the strategies they need to face new situations so these simple suggestions provide an excellent starting point for that.
In Cub and Brown, whimsical storytelling by Edwina Wyatt (The Secrets of Magnolia Moon) is perfectly complemented by detailed and classic black and white illustrations by Evie Barrow (Horatio Squeak). There are nostalgic nods here to Paddington and Winnie the Pooh, especially in Brown's tendency to take the spoken word very literally (with humorous Amelia Bedelia type results). Cub is a Scout who's come to the woods to camp with his group. Imagine his surprise when he comes across a bear, and an angry one at that. But as Cub quickly finds out, Brown is only grumpy because he is tangled in his own shoelaces and the two quickly become firm friends.
Separated into twelve short chapters (labelled as Tip #1: Be Prepared, etc), each is a standalone short story about Cub and Brown. In each one Cub uses his Scout prowess to help Brown in some way, from helping him understand the concept of time to stopping him from sucking his thumb. Cub is practical, while Brown is a little impetuous and the dialogue between the two is humorous. Some standout stories are when Brown tries to catch Cub a fish for his birthday and is told by a bird to use his head and his stalling when it is time for Cub to go home is just glorious: 'One last thing,' said Brown. 'Have you got a pocketmouse?'. His efforts to catch the culprit who has been making an almighty mess in his house is also very funny. Fans of gentle books will adore this with its pop of humour and fabulous characters. It would work wonderfully as a class read aloud with lots of areas for discussion, particularly in regards to language use and character development. The illustrations throughout and short chapters that can standalone also make it approachable for newly independent readers and those who may struggle to focus on a longer novel or chapters that follow on from each other.
What a brilliant book by the amazing Matt Stanton. I was expecting this to be a bit of lighthearted “fluff”, but instead I read a book about dealing with bullies. Matt Stanton has delivered a book that will resonate with children and their fluffy protectors.
When Gilbert’s underpants are hung from the school gate and around his neighborhood by Carl the school bully, he decides that revenge is needed, after all the bully needs to be taught a lesson. Together, with his best and fluffiest friend, Fluff, Gilbert plots his revenge and what follows is a series of ill-advised revenge plans enacted by Gilbert and Carl until a truck load of Parmesan cheese is dumped on a caravan.
Gilbert’s mum has faith that he will work this out and solve the problem, no intervention by the mum occurs and Gilbert must resolve this himself.
This book is a great look at bullies, revenge, and the power of “not feeding the turtle”. It will become a family favourite with its easy-to-read story and its fast-paced action. Gilbert’s underdog status will appeal to the reader and Fluff and Gilbert’s goldfish add a comedic dialogue that keeps the story moving and the reader laughing.
This is a book that would be great as a book for a newly independent reader but also as a class read aloud, I am sure that students will be wanting to hear about the escapades of Gilbert, Fluff and the bully, Carl. It is also a great way to talk about bullying and the fact that there will always be bullies and people who are mean for one reason or another, but that revenge might not always be the best option.
I am really looking forward to Book 2 in this series as I can see it becoming a favourite with parents, teachers, and young readers.
Themes Friendship, Bullying, Revenge, School stories.
In Some desperate glory, Emily Tesh, the author of the award-winning Silver in the wood (World Fantasy Award for Novella, 2020), moves into space with a thought provoking and challenging look at life on the Gaea Station. Earth has been destroyed by the Majoda and the inhabitants of the Station have vowed to avenge the loss of their homeland. Kyr is a young woman, a strong and skilled warrior who expects to fight for her ideals. Instead, she is assigned to the Nursery to bear sons and her brother Magnus is sent off to certain death. She is determined to avenge the death of her planet, rescue Magnus and face the Wisdom, an all-seeing weapon used by the Majoda. She seeks out Avi, a talented friend of her brother, who understands the station’s operations, and together with an alien prisoner she escapes from everything that she has known.
Initially Kyr is not very likeable; her crew mates believe she is a bully and she is fixated on making them the best group on the ship. However, as she faces danger and explores a world outside of the space station, she grows in understanding and empathy, and begins to question everything that she has been taught. The adventures she faces are exciting and it is easy to become involved in her quest and to relate to the people around her.
Life aboard Gaea Station is brutal and those in command are lacking in compassion and are abusive, depriving the young of food and encouraging unhealthy competition.Tesh does not flinch from describing scenes aboard the station and themes including fascism, racism and abuse underpin the story. Sources she includes in her Acknowledgements are Fascists, Spartans and Scientology.
The tense action, the interesting science of time slips and AI all make for an engaging space opera, while the underlying themes add a level of complexity that many readers will find engrossing.
Themes Space opera, Racism, Coming of age, Abuse, Revenge.
Pat Pledger
Ruby's rescue by Elizabeth Mary Cummings. Illus. by Cheri Hughes
Big Sky, 2023. ISBN: 9781922896285. (Age:5-8)
Ruby was riding her horse Rusty when the terrible bushfire appeared. Now sporting a cast and a wheelchair (although it isn't really clear if she was already using a wheelchair) Ruby is desperate to help with the bushfire cleanup. But it's hard to move herself in the chair and her mum won't let her ride Rusty to go out looking for injured animals. She feels completely useless until an encounter with a possum with burnt paws gives her a clever idea: special gloves for the injured animals. The following pages show her brainstorming: possible names, required research, fabric considerations and patterns. There is also a copy of her letter she sends to the mayor asking for help and the flyers she puts up to get the community on board. Before long 'Everyone is happy to be working together to help the animals.'
This is a lovely story about community working together to help out when things are tough and mirrors what actually happens in our society after events such as bushfires. It shows that one person's idea and their determination to make it happen can lead to real results. It's a great example for children of their own agency even when faced with things that might make them feel anxious or helpless. Simple text makes this suitable for independent readers but makes a great classroom text, especially if looking at how to take ideas and put them into action. This is a lovely story that is relevant to many Australian children and will be especially useful for children who worry about natural disasters and their implications. At the end of the book is a list of how to protect your home from bushfires (taken from NSW Rural Fire Service Online Guide).
Themes Bushfire, Ideas into Action, Compassion.
Nicole Nelson
Wollemi: Saving a Dinosaur Tree by Samantha Tidy. Illus. by Rachel Gyan
Imagine if, in the course of your daily work, you discovered something so significant that only a handful of people were ever allowed to know where you had been and even they were sworn to secrecy.
This is the story of the discovery of the Wollemi pine, a tree that can grow to over 40 metres tall but whose existence was unknown until just 30 years ago, when Ranger David Noble found a clutch of them growing in a deep gorge in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. A tree so old that it dates back to the dinosaur period and so rare that there were less than 100 in existence at the time. No wonder its location remains a secret so that sightseers can't traipse in and bring in diseases on their shoes, damage the site and perhaps wipe out those remaining so it is gone forever.
Sadly, though, humans aren't the only threat to this ancient species and this is the story not just of the tree but the remarkable efforts that were made to protect the grove and the gorge during one of NSW infamous fire seasons, for surely, something that has descended from a family of trees going back 200 million years, and has survived ice, fire and the passing of many generations deserves to be saved no matter what.
This is another remarkable publication from CSIRO Publishing shining the spotlight on yet another unique Australian creature so that our youngest readers can start to build their awareness and knowledge or the amazing things we share this landscape with, and hopefully, with that knowledge and awareness, become its protectors. Introducing Mia, the schoolgirl daughter of botanist Kate, brings the story right into their realm and when Mia suggests that her class plant a seedling to help conserve the Wollemi, they might be inspired to do the same thing as they explore the story further through the teachers' notes.
In a series of anecdotal stories, we are given a glimpse inside the lives of classmates and school attendees in a USA Middle School. Each story focuses on a separate child, and their stories are loosely linked. But this is a funny collection of insights into the joys and dramas of being a pre-teen. From friends who discuss boogers (bogies); an eclectic group of kids who ‘shake coin’ from others, but whose hearts have been softened and yet scarred because of difficult family circumstances; a skater who prefers to skate out of school and avoid human contact; to the child of the school crossing supervisor who is battling anxiety – all of these anecdotes have humour woven through them. There are some serious issues that are touched on, but the naive humanity of the young participants shines through.
This is a book set within a community of Afro-American students with limited financial resources and their voices reflect the vernacular and dialect permutations and grammar of this community. This may confuse some Australian readers, but exposure to USA television should have prepared them for some of these language oddities. But for some Australian readers in the pre-Secondary years this may create confusion, but it is interesting to see how language becomes distorted in different environments. The stories are easy to read and each one follows a different route from school to home and reveals the personal struggles and joys for each of the characters. I can recommend this book for readers aged 10-13 who enjoy short stories that make them think (a little), but never too much, and who like to laugh at kids their own age. For those who have enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid this is a short story collection with more text, but a light-hearted touch to some quite difficult personal circumstances.
Recommended (for those who can cope with the non-Aussie setting and language use).
Themes School - USA, Friendship, Family, Short stories.
Carolyn Hull
Alight: A story of fire and nature by Sam Lloyd. Illus. by Samantha Metcalfe
We are introduced to five things which will be the focus of this entertaining and informative book about fire and its use in the Australian bush. The Eucalypt tree, the Wallum Banksia, Christmas Bells, Wallum Sedge Frog and Antechinus have the tale of the fire woven around them and their behaviour during a bush fire.
The eucalypt watches over the people lighting a spot fire, knowing it will be controlled by them and necessary for the animals to smell the smoke and find a hiding place, while being a reminder to plants that this means a time for new growth to appear. So the Wallum Banksia divests itself of the seed pods waiting for the fire to open them, the Christmas bells wait for the fire to initiate the splendid bells to appear, dragonflies and damsel-flies shelter amongst the sedges while the frog looks for a place to hide. The antechinus burrows into the tiny tree hollow, and smaller animals, ants and beetles live under the topsoil, protected from the fire, while seeds that have lain dormant for years wait to be germinated by the fire. As the fire passes, it rains, helping the bush to recover and germinate. Fungi begins to grow at the base of the trees, seeds germinate, small animals reappear, larger animals hunt for food, Christmas Bells appear and these attract honeyeaters, bees and ants. The cycle of fire and regrowth has come full circle as the bush recovers.
Stunning illustrations accompany the story making sure readers will understand the flora and fauna mentioned in the text. The delicate small insects and animals, larger trees plants, and larger animals are all shown with detailed accuracy, ensuring every reader will watch out for them next time they venture into the bush.
The endpapers will grab their attention as they spot things read about in the book, while the glossary will inform and educate the readers. Teacher's notes are available and the author has shared why fire management and healthy fire is so important.
Themes Australian bush, Australian flora and fauna, Fire, Regeneration.
Fran Knight
Palazzo by Danielle Steel
Pan Macmillan, 2023. ISBN: 9781529022421. (Age:Adult - Senior secondary)
The title refers to a Venetian palace owned for centuries by the main character’s family – the Saverios, owners of an Italian haute couture leather goods family business.
The contemporary story focuses on the eldest daughter, in her early twenties, becoming responsible for the business and her younger brother and sister on the sudden death of their parents 15 years earlier. The story basically details the trials and tribulations of Cosimo Saverio’s battle to keep the business and the palazzo in the face of the brother’s treachery.
The romantic element is somewhat predictable and the characters appear somewhat as stereotypes and not always believable.
A book for light reading entertainment with the main theme being dealing with family conflict while maintaining standards and values. The modern day settings of Venice, Rome, Paris add interest as do the comparisons of the family business with Hermes.
Themes Fashion industry - Italy, Leatherwork, Venice, Death, Gambling.
Ann Griffin
Giant-sized butterflies on my first day of school by Justin Roberts. Illus. by Paola Escobar
Putnam, 2023. ISBN: 9780525516446.
When a little girl wakes up on the first day of school, the butterflies in her stomach feel positively giant-sized! She really wants her mom to stay with her, on this first day. As she and her mother make their way to school, her mother explains how the butterflies are a good thing. Everyone gets them (including parents) and they are a sign of something exciting happening - that we're about to learn and grow from a new experience and they can help us through it. So with the butterflies as her guide, the girl soars into her first day.
As little ones' thoughts turn to the next big step in their lives - moving from preschool to big school - it is natural that there are going to be nerves and anxiety as the transition will be daunting for many. So this is another one to add to that collection to share to reassure them that their feelings are natural but they can be managed if they look through a positive lens. Even though it is American, it carries the universal message that everyone shares a fear of the unknown to some degree and that, in itself, can bring peace and calm. It also reassures them that they are old enough and brave enough to take this step, and it will only be a short time with new and familiar friends before their butterflies have disappeared.
