Albert Street Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781760876661. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Fans of the adorable Floof will be happy to see him feature in another picture book, Shmoof. With her signature colourful, simple illustrations Heidi McKinnon brings to life Shmoof a super shmoofy dog, who is just gorgeous. Shmoof is introduced into the household of Floof, the floofiest cat and the reader will have lots of fun when Shmoof meets Floof. Shmoof is a super friendly dog who really wants to make friends, but Floof reacts with fur standing on end and tail erect – he is ready to never be friends. When Shmoof does doggy things like sniffing and finding balls, Floof runs and hides in a paper bag. The only thing that can make them cooperate is a dislike for the vacuum cleaner and the loud Vroom! Vroom! it makes. What can they do to make it disappear?
Shmoof is likely to become a favourite with young children. The sparse text reads aloud beautifully for young children and would be a lovely narrative for children just learning to read. And of course the illustrations are wonderful. Readers will relate to the drawings of Shmoof and Floof and feel that they know the characters, while the humorous last page will have everyone laughing aloud.
Shmoof is a keeper, a warm story for lovers of dogs and cats.
This is such a fun poetry collection children will just revel in. It’s full of word play, rhymes, and kid’s humour, like the nose picker who ‘stuffed the snot between his toes’, Josy who ‘got busted spitting cherry pips real high over the school fence’, the go-cart propelled by a fart, the kid who becomes the ‘viscious-huge-tyrannosaurus flesh-eating-sharp-clawed dinosaur Rex’, and so many more that will have you laughing.
There are others, though, that are more serious, as their titles may suggest: Try, Anxiety, Standing Ovation, Strange Fruit, Broken-hearted, The Smallest and Most Important of Gestures, The Black Dog. They capture feelings and anxieties, but most of all the importance of caring for others.
The brilliant thing is that at the back there is an index by poetic form, with just about every example a budding poet might want to refer to: acrostic poems, found poems, free verse, haiku, limericks, narrative verse, pantoums, sonnets and tongue twisters. What a boon for the English teacher! Easy access to examples to inspire writing in the classroom. With titles like Redback Spider Bite, Rats in the Roof, and There’s a Blowfly in the Dunny, you can’t miss. I love the challenge posed by There’s No Rhyme for Purple: “you can rhyme with purple, just give it a try!'
There are 99 poems in this book. Something for everyone.
The white crow is a thriller that I couldn’t put down. I first met Philomena McCarthy in When you are mine and couldn’t resist reading about her again – although The white crow can be read as a stand-alone. She is an irresistible character – the daughter of a London crime boss Edward McCarthy, she has decided that she wants to be on the right side of the law and has spent the last four years as a young officer with the Metropolitan Police Force. This has not always been easy as her colleagues don’t always trust her and it strains her relations with her family. One night she is with another officer when she spots a young girl cowering in a hedge, her nightdress covered in blood. Daisy, the little girl, tells her that she can’t wake her mother, and while her colleague rushes off to a burglary in a jewellery shop across town, Philomena investigates and finds the body of the girl’s mother. When the two investigations clash Philomena is faced with some difficult choices. Who can she trust? How involved is her father in the burglary? Will she be allowed to investigate the murder?
Robotham has combined all the elements of a police procedural with a gripping thriller, and fans of both genres will be taken along for an exciting ride. Details of Philomena’s father’s empire and the tactics he uses to make money are explored as he is faced with a takeover by a violent gang boss. His problems lead to Philomena facing extreme danger and the reader is left wondering who will come to the rescue – her new husband Henry, her family or the police force. The underlying mystery of the death of the little girl’s mother is a tantalising thread throughout and the officer in charge, DCI Brendan Keegan, is also faced with choices between expediency and truth.
This is a gripping story, told by a master storyteller, and I can easily imagine it being made into a film or TV series. I eagerly await more books from this wonderful author.
Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town by Li Chen
Penguin Random House, 2025. ISBN: 9781761353406. (Age:7+)
Energetic kitten, Beans, is determined to solve crimes through applying the basic principles of detecting. The crime scene is secured, evidence collected and written up in case notes, suspects interviewed, inevitably leading to the case being solved. Keen to share detecting skills Beans opens a detective school and publishes “the Daily Detective” news sheet. He also uses his maths book for drawing ideas and comics as the single-minded kitten is not keen on the subject. That is until best friend, Biscuits, points out that detectives get paid and he can charge clients by multiplying his hourly rate by the time spent.
The glossy, brightly coloured panels and cute kitten characters in short, often pointless, cases are for quick, fun consumption as Beans creates cases and solves them. There are lightweight visual gags, often spilling out onto the page margins, with little dialogue. The short stories include “Beans and the King Chip” where a pigeon steals his biggest chip, here the subtly coloured cartoon pigeons are delightful. Most of the characters are fun, consistent and attractive, though the strange ice cream man Mr Brickle is a bit scary even before he is disguised as a polar bear, and the scary Mum in “Beans and the Sleepover” might need some adult explanation. In “Beans and the Lost Bag” there are some slightly off messages if translated into real life and, given some children’s literal interpretations about lost property and strangers, could need adult explanation. It is disappointing to see best friend Biscuits depicted as the brainy female wearing glasses taking a passive role compared to the feisty Beans but overall the 33 comics make entertaining reading, especially for those with a short attention span like the protagonist. This is the second book in the extremely popular Detective Beans series and more comics can be found on Li Chen’s Instagram, Exocomics.
Sariyah has an unusual gift. Her brain constantly receives messages about other people’s needs. These are usually little things: Paper clip. Crayon. Shoelace. Chewing gum. She carries a ‘Santa bag’ to hand out items to needy persons, often even before they’ve become aware of their need. Thus the nail file she hands to the shop owner turns out to become a defence weapon when the woman is attacked at night. It’s a kind of ADHD; she is inattentive and distractible because her brain is overloaded with buzzing messages. Everything takes a horrible turn when her friend Deja goes missing and the last thing Sariyah handed her was a pepper spray.
There is a lot going on in Sariyah’s life: her parents live separately, her younger brother has sickle cell disease, and her mother is severely depressed. Sariyah, as eldest child, is the person that has to hold the family together. She and her best friend Malcolm are also grieving the loss of his sister Tessa, five years ago. Now that Deja has disappeared, another black girl gone missing, Sariyah and Malcolm want to make sure the police investigate thoroughly this time, and are determined to make her case go viral on social media.
Set in a black community in Atlanta, the story takes a little while to gather pace, but the mystery of Deja’s disappearance soon had me hooked. Desamours explores issues of racial profiling, the lack of public interest in a black disappearance compared to a similar case where a young white girl disappeared. The teenage protagonists are angry and frustrated at police disinterest and incompetence. Sariyah’s empathetic brain messages don’t help and only make her feel guilty and responsible for the train of events. There are hints of possible familial abuse, inappropriate relationships, abuse of drugs, the usual things that arise when someone goes missing, but the suspicions only swirl around the truth. Desamours’ novel makes good use of the mystery, speculative fiction genre, to explore many social issues in a way that is not confronting, and remains suitable for a YA audience.
Themes Mystery, Missing person, Grief, Racism, Depression, Social media, Responsibility.
The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal is a powerful and moving historical fiction novel, that will appeal to those interested in uncovering more about the perils experienced in Europe during the reign of the Nazi Regime. At its heart are two unforgettable young protagonists: Klara, a Jewish girl from Germany, and Lucien, a Jewish boy from France. Their parallel journeys reveal how ordinary children were swept up in extraordinary, terrifying times.
The story shares the daily lives of both characters in their home countries, describing the growing fear and persecution that was endured as the Nazi threat spreads. When both children are forced from their homes, they ultimately find themselves interned in the Gurs detention camp in the southwest of France.
Leal’s sensitive writing excels at conveying this period through a child’s eyes: the confusion, and fear, entwined with small moments of hope and laughter, all within the desperate longing for safety. Balancing danger and suspense with empathy and humanity, the reader is immersed in the lives of Klara and Lucien. The atmosphere of the camp is described vividly but appropriately for the age group, showing poor conditions, hunger and fear while also highlighting camaraderie among detainees and small acts of kindness that sustain hope.
Beyond its compelling narrative, The Year We Escaped is also an excellent resource. The back of the book contains detailed historical notes on the Gurs camp, the persecution of Jews under Hitler, and important statistics that give readers real-world context for Klara and Lucien’s fictional experiences.
Filled with adventure, danger and emotional truth, Suzanne Leal’s novel is a beautifully written and important work that gives young readers a real sense of history through two resilient, relatable characters. It is a valuable tool for fostering empathy and understanding while honouring the memory of those who suffered during this dark time.
This middle grade novel will certainly appeal to those readers who have enjoyed We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad and The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
Themes World War II, Friendship, Empathy, History.
Michelle O'Connell
Kenneth and Queenie: Super Sweet! by Raymond McGrath
Kenneth and Queenie: Super sweet, the first in a new graphic novel series created by Raymond McGrath, is a colourful, engaging and thoughtful read that will appeal to many. Filled with large, vivid illustrations, and bursting with personality, this book is a visual treat that will draw children right into the world of bees and blossoms.
The story follows Kenneth and Queenie - two very different types of bees, each with very different kinds of roles. Kenneth is sensitive and driven, and determined to save the world, while Queenie is spirited and enthusiastic, and almost queen of the hive.
While they explore the beginnings of a friendship, after a rather rocky start, they realise the importance of acceptance and respect. Finding out about each other through careful listening, consideration and kindness, they explore the wider world together; discovering things within it and learning how balance is essential.
Beyond the story of friendship and acceptance, Kenneth and Queenie: Super sweet, also includes light humour and interesting scientific facts about pollination, ecosystems and the crucial role insects play in keeping our world healthy. McGrath strikes an excellent balance, making sure the educational content is woven seamlessly into the adventure. Young readers will learn about the importance of bees in a fun, interesting way – perhaps sparking further curiosity and investigation.
Cleverly structured, this book is broken into three short chapters, each with a distinct division that offers something special: a moment where the reader sees the pollination process from a flower’s perspective. These interludes provide a humorous pause in the narrative while also reinforcing the science at the heart of the story.
Overall, Kenneth and Queenie: Super sweet is both entertaining and educational. The large, colourful illustrations invite kids to linger on each page, noticing details about the bees, flowers and the natural world. McGrath has created a unique and interesting graphic series where science, humour and kindness collide.
Grandpa's guide to happiness by Andrew Daddo and Christopher Nielsen
ABC Books, 2025. ISBN: 9780733343629. (Age:3+)
A companion to the funny Grandma’s guide to happiness, this new book which showcases the things grandpa says, makes everyday a happy day.
Grandpa says the busiest days are the happiest days, as he adds to the list of important things to do, in plain sight on the fridge. Even as he has morning tea with his grandson, he is adding to another list of really important jobs to do. Sometimes easy jobs can be much harder that expected, while other jobs that seem to be hard, can be much easier than expected. Grandpa says to just put one foot forward, and all jobs can be done. But sometimes he just likes to tinker in his shed.
At the beach he loves to swim; he loves to play games involving everyone in his antics in the kitchen. Like a traffic light he is always red for stop and green for go. He loves to watch tv but this is quieter and reading time when he becomes so quiet, he falls asleep. He loves taking photos and mount them all telling the children that photos hold memories and memories make you happy. He can open his mouth to show us his gold teeth and wriggle his ears, all giving happiness, but none so good as a huge hug.
But whatever he does, he is happy, and it is this happiness that is passed on to everyone around him.
A wonderfully cheery happy book showing that all sorts of activities both indoor and outdoor can be rewarding. And being happy is infectious, sharing that feeling with others, especially a grandfather, helps create a strong link within the family.
Themes Family, Grandfather, Humour, Activities.
Fran Knight
Baabinje's backyard by Ella Noah Bancroft and Bronwyn Bancroft
Little Hare, 2025. ISBN: 9781761214325. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
A beautifully crafted book about a beloved grandmother and her love of her garden encompassing her family and her country, a love passed on from one generation to the next.
The child loves to be in the garden with her baabinje. Here her grandmother shows how she is connected to the land, firmly planting her feet in the soil. Her overalls are colourful, full of pockets containing all she needs when she is in the garden. She shows the little girl the bundjalan which come to the garden because of the flowers she plants, and the things she grows there, while even some weeds can be useful. There is much that they need grown in the garden, so they have little need to visit the supermarket. Some of these are good to eat, but some contain medicines and can help with aches and pains.
Gran tells her how important the soil is, needing to be healthy and full of bugs, she sings the songs of the older generations, ones taught to her, passing on the importance of the soil.
‘Care for the earth and it will care for you’ is whispered in the girl’s ear, reminding her of the responsibility in caring for the garden and by inference the whole of the land on which we live.
Grandmother does not waste anything, all is recycled, and reused. She loves having friends visit. When they talk together, they help with the gardening, planting and weeding. Her garden reflects diversity, with a range of plants, lots of animals and insects visiting and people who drop by.
This wonderful overview of the ties we have to the land and our responsibility in keeping it healthy, will have resonance with all readers, following the way the young girl learns of her place in the land she lives on.
Beautiful illustrations fill each page, drawing the eyes to the richness of the environment, and representing some of the things which the woman cultivates. Children will love the movement and colour presented for their delight, and eagerly follow the journey taken by the girl as her Gran reinforces her love of the land.
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781760526276. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
Henderson, author of the highly recommended I see, I see has written and illustrated another challenging book which will keep the reader thinking and wondering. The subtitle A tale in tangrams gives a clue to the exuberant cover illustration of a young child being dragged along by a dog: they are both made from a square cut into seven pieces. Turning to the frontispiece the reader is shown a square, divided into seven different bits to form a tangram. Then the fun begins!
Today, I am this and tomorrow I'm that. Today, I'm a tiger! Tomorrow, a bat. By Saturday, I will have been all of that. So ... who might you be?
Younger readers will be carried along by the wonderful rhyming story which can be read aloud just for the pleasure of hearing the rhymes and rhythm and laughing aloud at the humour. Imagination is valued and the young person in the story can be many things, not only a tiger and a bat, but a student, a knight, a patient, a part of the galaxy and a grumpy old bear. The reader is told that there are ”plenty of me. (And plenty of have-beens and goings-to-be.)”, a reassuring message for children as they grow and develop.
A second read gives the reader or listener the opportunity to look closely at the pictures that Henderson has made from the bits of the tangram. I particularly loved the fierce tiger with its open mouth, while my grandson was fascinated by the fangs in the vampire bat’s smile. Many illustrations which demonstrate the author’s wonderful imagination are placed against a single vibrantly coloured background. Readers will have fun predicting what the next page might hold and the final page has a tangram that can be traced and cut to see what the reader can make and who they might be. What fun to have a go at making a tangram, cutting out the seven pieces, colouring them and using their imagination to make an illustration of their own.
This book is a keeper. It celebrates the power of the imagination, challenges children to count the shapes in a tangram and perhaps make their own story. all while supporting their sense of self.
I read this book with tears in my eyes and fear in my heart. Every page details the extraordinary story of the French Resistance Alliance network - led by the amazing female leader Marie-Madeleine Fourcade known by her code name - Herisson (hedgehog). It is a story that honours the incredible bravery and determination of the French Resistance in the face of the horrors of Nazi invasion. It is also a love story and a declaration of the incredible power of one beautiful woman raging against all odds, with a team of people who literally were prepared to lay their life on the line for the honour of France and its people, and for her. There are so many uncomfortable human stories woven through this fictional retelling of this real history, but it is absolutely a joy to discover the people involved and to be awestruck by their place in providing the necessary intelligence to enable the Allies to repel the Nazi onslaught. In an era before the internet and technological ease for spying and transferring information, using crystal radios and Morse code, there are many close calls and impossible prison escapes, and danger lurks on every page.
This is the kind of book that lovers of history will devour and if, like me, the stories of the Resistance warriors have not been well known, then they will appreciate the intense research that Natasha Lester has undertaken to tell this story. Yes, she has needed to use some creative ‘back-filled detail’, but it is essentially a brilliant story of WWII heroes. There are moments of extreme emotional distress (even the love story is not easy). The fear factor for readers is intense as each character must put their lives and loved ones into harm’s way as they seek information to bring down the relentless attacks on their country. I feel honoured to have finally discovered their stories. Readers aged 16+ will devour this brilliantly written historical masterpiece.
Themes Themes: WWII - French Resistance, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, Nazi occupation, Courage.
Carolyn Hull
Music Camp by Penny Tangey
University of Queensland Press, 2025. ISBN: 9780702269028. (Age:10-12) Recommended.
Music Camp is an appropriate read for children in the ten through to twelve age range because the level of complexity matches children of that age in terms of language, style and voice of the characters and familiarity of the content.
Two fatherless pre-teen (Year six) girls meet on a music camp. Miley is living in a caravan with her mother as a flood has destroyed her home. She's won a scholarship to attend the camp and her aim is to have people accept recorder as a serious instrument. Flautist Juliet comes from a wealthy musical family background. The two both audition for the only woodwind solo at the final night's concert. They do not see eye to eye. Flood threatens the camp - what could go wrong?...
Like an orchestral piece, the plot unfolds from the alternating narrative view points of Miley and Juliet. The book is structured thus: Prelude (where we meet feisty Miley and bookish Juliet), Day one - Movement, Ensemble, Day Two-Auditions, Rhapsody, Day Three - Rehearsal, Accompaniment, Waltz, Day Four-Promotion, Flight of the Orchestra, Performance, Nocturne, Day Five - Finale.
Music Camp would be especially enjoyed by children who play musical instruments and who have been on or are contemplating music camps. Author, Penny Tangey is clearly inspired by her own upbringing in central Victoria, surrounded by musicians, where recorder revival was a big thing. The characters in Music Camp must juggle and come to understand and accept where they stand in the tension between excellence and performance and playing for pleasure. All the passion and hard work that sits with every musician and is a source of much pain and pleasure is quite astutely depicted by Tangey. The intense rivalries and friendships and budding romances and disappointments are cleverly described.
The childrens' growing understanding of the changing climate, the role of big corporations and the ethics of event patronage is gently developed, moving from the flood that has made Miley homeless, to the flood of the camp, to rising sea levels and environmental refugees from the Pacific. The children are developing a consciousness of their world, entirely in sync with the moral development of twelve -year- olds and protests and activism re the environment starts to interest them. It is another channel for music other than concert performance or for pleasure.
Music Camp describes a passage that ambitious children must follow to find their place in the world. Children with particular skill and passion sometimes have a more difficult path because they have to recognise and accept where their talent lies in relation to others and then to find ways to channel or use that talent. Acceptance of failure is hard. Finding a path, with the guidance of really cool and nice music teachers and other friends was what happened for the regional children at the Music Camp at a riverside cabin resort.
A warm and funny read about music camps, friends and finding your way - especially when you are smart, sassy, passionate, ambitious and maybe just a little bit different. There are good lessons in this book that the reader can learn vicariously. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Music in school, School camps, Friendship, Environment, Activism, Acceptance, Finding a path.
Wendy Jeffrey
Ebb & Flo: Brain freeze by Laura Bunting & Philip Bunting
Brain Freeze is another story in the delightful Ebb and Flo series by talented creators Laura and Philip Bunting. It is a bright, funny and highly engaging short novel; perfect for early readers. With its vibrant, playful illustrations and simple, entertaining text, this book is ideal for children just starting to read independently or for sharing aloud with an adult.
The story begins with Ebb and Flo overjoyed at the arrival of Boop and his ice cream truck - because who doesn’t love a good ice cream? But excitement turns into a small dilemma when Ebb can’t decide which flavour to choose. After much indecision, he finally makes his pick, only to get an epic brain freeze when eating it all in one bite!
What follows is a series of hilarious and relatable attempts by Ebb to figure out what is happening to his body and how to avoid this chilly problem in the future. He experiments with different “solutions,” all of which go humorously wrong, before discovering the simple but effective answer; eating ice cream slowly.
Young readers will love watching Ebb’s silly strategies and share a laugh at his expressive reactions, all beautifully brought to life in the Buntings’ signature colourful and engaging artwork.
This book is wonderfully designed for early readers, with clear, accessible language and a strong, easy-to-follow storyline. The fun characters and lively pictures keep children’s attention, encouraging them to read along and predict what might happen next. It’s also a perfect choice for shared reading, sparking giggles and conversation about favourite flavours, making choices, and of course, avoiding brain freeze.
Brain Freeze is a charming addition to any early reader’s collection. With its entertaining plot, loveable characters and vibrant illustrations, it’s sure to become a favourite that children will want to return to again and again - especially any time they hear the ice cream truck coming!
Abby Jimenez founded Nadia Cakes bakery which has amassed an international cult following. Her literary wit was widely recognised as being behind the hilarious viral comments on the now famous Nadia Cakes Vageode TM cake. This wit has not been wasted because Jimenez has now further applied it to the writing of romantic comedies. Her novels have sold millions of copies and been translated into twenty-eight languages. Jimenez's wit is on full display in the character of Samantha, the main female character in Say you'll remember. Appropriately and unsurprisingly, fictional Samantha has a similar job to real-life author Jimenez, being incredibly savvy in the field of social media marketing and influencing and, in her case, employed to market mustard through hilarious contribution and commentary to the social media platform promoting the Murkle's mustard brand. It is always more authentic when authors write from real-life experience.
Memorable funny encounters and experiences pepper the entire story which tracks the development of the relationship between Samantha and Xavier, (who looks like Rhysand from the ACOTAR series) and is of course the impossibly gorgeous main male character and love interest. This reader was constantly waiting for Xavier to be revealed as a serial killer but no... Incredibly beautiful people exist. Samantha too is beautiful - long black hair, brown eyes, curvy and when Xavier first meets her in his veterinary clinic, she has a kitten tucked into her bra, sleeping in her cleavage. This meeting sets the scene.
Samantha is called back to California to help her family take care of her mother who is moving rapidly through the advanced stages of dementia and Xavier must remain in Minnesota to run his veterinary practice. The entire story details the frustrating long-distance relationship that the pair try to manage over a year. Although the reader may feel frustration with both of them for not being able to solve their dilemma, the pain of it is unrelieved and continues throughout. Neither seems to be able to move... The dreadful pain and stress placed on families in caring for a loved one with dementia is described in excruciating detail and the toll on all involved is laid bare.
Alternating chapters adopt the viewpoint of Samantha and then Xavier and in this way the plot is neatly unrolled.
Say you'll remember is a warm, funny, frustrating read (for those who lack patience with characters who can't make decisions). It does not shy away from some of the really harsh realities of life, like family having to manage the care of a very ill family member in a declining and irredeemable health situation. The impact on family relationships is depicted with clarity and insight. Humour salvages even the grimmest situation.
For readers who enjoy contemporary romance novels, complete with witty banter, relatable characters, mild sexual content and some emotional and issue-related depth, Say you'll remember is a good suggestion.
Themes Long distance romance, Caring for a family member with dementia, Animal protection.
Wendy Jeffrey
A lemon for Safiya by Jemima Shafei-Ongu. Illus. by Nisaluk Chantanakom
Safiya first notices her. An older woman sitting in the gutter near their house. She notices her different clothes as she and Mum come closer to the woman, noticing the bright yellow lemon in her hand. They try to speak to her, wondering where she lives. They put her in their car and drive around the streets hoping to find her home. Safiya’s mother speaks to her in Arabic, asking where she lives. But every question Mum asks results in a response from the women’s past. She talks of playing amongst the olive trees, telling them that her father had built their house, brick by brick. When they pass a large lemon tree, she calls out that Hanna had planted that tree. In asking further questions, Mum finds that Hanna was her daughter, and the word means happiness in Arabic. But they find that the woman has lost Hanna. Safuya sits next to Maryam, telling her her name, and notices a bracelet on her wrist. They realise that is in an address. Dad turns the car around. They drive to the street that is Maryam’s street, and see a family and neighbours searching for her. A happy reunion ensues with the families sitting down together, and as Safiya offers her the lemon, Maryam gives it back to her, a gift to someone who has shown compassion from an old woman who is losing her memory.
This delightful story of loss and hope, will energise readers to think about Maryam and what has happened to her. Readers will love finding the woman’s home and communing with the family, pondering the importance of the lemon tree.
Through the story are Arabic words which can be accessed in the glossary at the end of the book. Children will be able to read the story with the Arabic words, adding some new words to their vocabulary.
The beautiful illustrations show the old woman’s lined face, each holding a story. Her clothes are delicately shown, encouraging readers to look at how people dress and what group wears this particular style. The gentle colours used when Maryam talks of her past are a wonderful contrast to the other pages, and encourage readers to think about what these illustrations show about her past life.
The gentle woman holds her child close to her, yellow the main colour in the background. Readers might like to find out where lemons are grown and where the lemon tree first came from, and think about why the lemon is important to the older woman.
I love the endpapers with the lemons, and the families sitting down together, the page of Arabic words, and the images of the old woman sitting in the gutter. Each poses questions which will form a point of discusion among the class members.
A thoughtful story to present to a class, with lots of hints about time and place, of what has happened to Maryam and what is happening at the moment. Teacher's notes are available.
