A young girl and her three brothers stop by the hot and dusty desert road to pick flowers for their mother and wanting a cool space after their travels, enter the Paradise Sands Hotel.
Washed clean in his pool, we fall under his rule . . . Away from what is, we all are now his.
Their mother’s poem is repeated by them as they take advantage of the stopover in the cool shade.
The brothers swim in the pool and take the drinks offered, but the girl sees them swimming as dolphins in the pool. Almost like a fairy tale, the story is other worldly and borders on the supernatural, as the girl seems hesitant and attempts to alert her brothers to some sort of danger as the Teller draws them inside his domain. The eerie silent walls offer contentment, but the girl wants her brothers back as they were and negotiates with the Teller for their return. If she can stay and not eat or drink for three days then all will be restored as it was, the lion tells her.
This she does but one small slip sees a future hold that she cannot escape.
The reader almost expects a moral to the tale, some sort of lesson to be learnt about the nature of human desire, but none comes immediately although there will be much to discuss and ponder as the young men fall easily within the grasp of the Teller rather like Ulysses’ men falling to the trickery of Circe.
Breathtakingly illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medalist Levi Pinfold, the images fancifully evoked for me references to the Beats in the 1950’s and Kerouac’s On the Road (1957) along with paintings by mid nineteenth century American artist, Edward Hopper depicting people in a familiar yet unexpected landscape. Touches reveal a setting half a century ago, with macrame hanging from the rear vision mirror, the girl wearing a pinafore, the boys in t-shirts, a la James Dean, the brutalist architecture, the hospital bed. Each page brought something different to focus the eyes, and the wonderful outdoor eating area with columns and a range of backgrounds was riveting, as was the muted palette changing from the dark sombre colours of eerie silence to the shock of the blue sky before the whole is blown away into dust.
More can be found about the haunting illustrative techniques of this young author illustrator here.
The Emmie and Friends series is very popular in school libraries and Remarkably Ruby will be no exception. If the reader has read the other books in the series they would be familiar with the format of these books, but if they haven’t it can take some getting used to. The Emmie series is written from the point of view of two characters, one written as a novel with illustrations and the other in a graphic novel format. As the text chapters open each book this may put off readers who are looking for a purely graphic novel but I would encourage them to give it a try as this style of book is a great way to move from graphic novels into chapter books.
Ruby is the main character in this book and the one who has the text chapters. Readers of the series will recognize her as Baked Bean Girl - she suffers from a medical condition that causes her embarrassing side effects. She also struggles in new social situations which means she has few friends and seems to be on the perimeter of the friendship groups. Then there is Mia, whose story is written in the graphic novel format; she is popular, ambitious - to her detriment at times, and she used to be Ruby’s best friend. Both girls come to realise their value as they develop confidence in themselves and experience new friendships.
If someone is struggling in upper primary or high school this book is so relatable, the characters are open and honest about the difficulties they are facing and they both show that school and life is not easy but that the right attitude can help, as well as friends and a supportive teacher or adult. What I like most about this series is that it is real and the author does not shy away from the embarrassing and devasting moments that impact teenagers everywhere. This is a book and series I would highly recommend for teenagers and upper primary students to read alone but I would also encourage parents and teachers to read this book and the whole series to get an honest insight into how their children and students might be feeling and the experiences that they might need support with.
Definitely one to recommend to students if they are looking for a new series to read and discover.
The Accomplice is another well written novel by Steve Cavanagh that keeps you going till the very end. When you feel like you know what is happening another twist is thrown in to make you rethink everything and wonder what is coming next.
Daniel Miller has been identified as the Sandman who killed fourteen people before his disappearance. His wife Carrie is now on trial for being his accomplice. Eddie Flynn has the hard job of proving that she was not involved in these murders and in fact she is a victim the same as all the others who had the misfortune to cross paths with the Sandman. As Carrie’s trial starts, she becomes scared and goes into hiding, and this makes it even more difficult for Eddie Flynn to defend her and prove her innocence. Everyone believes because she has run away, she must be guilty. When the Sandman reappears, killing witnesses to protect his wife, the challenges for Eddie continue to grow.
Eddie is finally able to convince Carrie to trust him and come to court so that she can testify to her innocence. But as the trial comes to an end and it seems like everything has been dealt with nicely another twist is thrown in to change the whole outcome.
This novel is written with different chapters from the various characters points of view, and this adds to the suspense within the story.
This novel will keep you hooked and guessing to the very end. I highly recommend this book.
Themes Lawyers, Murder, Runaways, Trials.
Karen Colliver
Amy's balancing act by Bjorn Sturmberg. Illus. by Laura Stitzel
Little Steps, 2022. ISBN: 9781922678072. (Age:8-12)
On first read of this boldly illustrated picture book about the use of clean energy there was some initial confusion about the story. However, on reading the final pages where each new clean energy source is explained, it helped to clarify understanding of the story and the message being presented.
Young Amy delivers post on the island of Energia using an ageing packhorse named Clyde. Along her journey she finds her customers complaining about how destructive Clyde is for the local environment. As Clyde begins to find the workload too much, Amy is encouraged to use other sources of energy including a goanna, albatross and glider. Each of these Australian animals represents clean energy. The goanna presents photovoltaic solar panels, the albatross presents wind turbines, and the glider represents pumped hydroelectricity. This book sends the clear message that finding solutions to energy concerns plus teamwork will help human society in the future. For middle primary school and lower secondary students studying sources of energy, this book may be useful as an introductory text.
Well-known South Australian children’s author Katrina Germein has written her first information picture book in collaboration with illustrator Suzanne Houghton. Wonderful Wasps is a stunning read with ingenious rhyming text and striking illustrations and is all about a number of little-known wasps that exist in Australia.
From the detailed endpapers where eleven different wasps are displayed and labelled, to the double-page spread of facts and the glossary in the final pages, this delightful book will engage its young readers with its interesting information and colourful illustrations.
The book begins by asking the question: What do you know about wasps? It then mentions ‘not the plain European wasp’ but ‘colourful, wonderful, weird Aussie wasps.’ The text then goes on to explain about Australian wasps, what they do, where they are found, what might happen if they are no longer around, as well as giving a snapshot of some of their characteristics including this one of the Orange spider wasp:
Spiders are food that many wasps need. They paralyse spiders so larvae can feed. A wasp lays an egg right onto a spider. The baby wasp hatches and feeds from outside her! (Think that sounds gross? It’s what parasites do, and they need to eat, like me and you.)
When reading and sharing stories with young children the ability to connect them with the text is so important and this has been skilfully achieved with questions posed throughout. This entertaining new release is an outstanding book that will be enjoyed by all readers, both young and old.
Kate Ritchie, well know author, actor and radio personality, has written an honest and breezy account reflecting on the joy to be found in everyday life. The book begins with a personal note from Kate telling of her past happiness found from being in the garden and then not having a garden but finding delight doing a myriad of other enjoyable activities that are either free or inexpensive. Everyday Play does not have a contents page at the beginning but is set out in seasons beginning with Autumn and in the final pages there are a range of lists with different activities to do with the corresponding page numbers for easy access.
This attractively presented book is full of ideas such as writing a story, reading a book, making a worry doll or lollipop spiders, starting a collection of items from nature, even cooking up a storm with recipes such as pizza, rainbow fruit platers and shortbread. Complete with delightful photographs and illustrations, coloured pages and inserts, plus clearly segmented information, this easily accessible book is perfect for middle - upper primary school readers and their adults who might find themselves at a loose end during holidays, on a weekend or after school.
Act is the third book in the series about Olive and her classmates. In this book she is in sixth grade and life is starting to get complicated, her best friend has developed a crush and Olive is realizing that life is not always fair and equitable.
At the start of the book, Olive and her class are going to see a play in the city; however she soon realizes that not everyone attended the outing. When she discovers that the reason for one of her classmates not attending is because she can’t afford the fee, Olive decides to change the policy and so the story about social justice and politics in schools begins.
Olive’s aunt Molly encourages her to look at peaceful protests and historical incidents that have changed social policy. The story focuses on Olive running for student council and the issues that this raises not just with her friendship group but also within the wider school. Act is very much a realistic look at the school dynamics of school council elections and the wider issues of popularity, social disparity and evolving friendships.
I really enjoyed this book as the storyline moves quickly and in a way that doesn’t feel contrived or simplified. The characters are relatable and the issues they are all dealing with are real and ones that the reader will either have faced or will be dealing with as they are reading. The illustrations are great, I love the bright colourful nature of each strip and the fact that so much can be said without words.
This series is a brilliant addition to any book case and is definitely one I would recommend for a classroom library as it is great for all students as it will encourage thought provoking conversations between peers and their families.
Themes Family, Social injustice, Friendships, School, Politics.
Mhairi Alcorn
The Crayons Trick or Treat by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
The hilarious crayons from The Day The Crayons Quit are ready to celebrate Halloween! They want to go trick-or-treating, but they're not sure what to say!
So Purple Crayon tries to teach the rest of the box the magic words to say when they ring their neighbours' doorbells. (Hint: It's NOT "Boo!")
This is a story for young children who are noticing the preparations happening in stores for this not-so-traditional celebration in Australia but who are fascinated by it, its trappings and the concept of trick-or-treat. While it is growing in popularity here, there are still many who mutter about it being an American thing but in fact, it is much older than that, dating back to pagan times and the festival of Samhain which marked the end of the harvest season then gradually morphing into All Hallows Eve as the night before the Christian festival of All Saints Day as Christianity spread throughout Britain, and its familiar celebrations were taken by the Irish to the USA.
Written as a conversation between the crayons themselves, the font used means that this is one for adults to share with littlies, which opens up opportunities to talk about the origins of trick-or-treat as well as the importance of using manners.
Themes Crayons, Halloween.
Barbara Braxton
Rainbow Fish and the storyteller by Marcus Pfister
North South, 2022. ISBN: 9780735845008. (Age:3-8) Recommended.
The latest in the Rainbow Fish series, Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller, is about a fish called Humbert who befriends Rainbow Fish but tells very tall stories that frighten the other fish. The first story is about a plug at the bottom of the ocean that is going to be pulled out. Another story is about a huge blue whale who is going to eat all of the plankton so the little fish might starve. But for each story the hero is Humbert who is going to be the fish who saves them all.
Humbert is just looking for company and friendship, but he is going about it the wrong way. The other fish soon decide to leave Humbert alone and not listen to his stories anymore. Humbert is lonely and Rainbow Fish and Red Fin decide to help him by suggesting he tells stories to entertain his friends rather than frighten them.
The beauty of the Rainbow Fish stories are the striking illustrations which always appeal to a wide audience. This story might have a valuable lesson for younger readers in not to act boastfully and to be honest with friends.
Dead Good Detectives by Jenny McLachlan is the first novel, in what will certainly be a popular new series for anyone who enjoys adventure and the supernatural. This brand-new adventure is one like no other. With a protagonist who is appealing and relatable, a plot that has twists and turns and an ending that will keep you guessing, the story has many appealing qualities. It is full of adventure, action and anticipation, and charmingly interwoven with concepts of self-identity, teamwork and determination.
Sidonie Jones is a twelve-year-old girl who is struggling to fit in with what she perceives as normal life. She lives in a small town called Fathom with her father and has a wonderful best friend called Zen. However, this beautiful friendship is tested as she questions how to fit in with other peers. She prefers to just blend in and go unnoticed, whereas Zen likes to be bold and stand out; he doesn’t seem to worry about what others think.
Her life is turned upside down when on an ordinary afternoon, Sid discovers she has accidently released a 300-year-old ghost who is trapped because of unfinished business. What is she to do? Dealing with these problems on her own, for fear with what others will think of her, causes life to be really difficult and Sid and Zen gradually drift apart. What is friendship really about? Can Sid embrace who she really is and help her new ghost friend, or will all be lost forever?
Jenny McLachlan has created an engaging and interesting novel. This story will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good adventure, some ghosts and a little bit of fun. Chloe Dominique’s illustrations fill pages with further engagement and entertainment to bring extra interest for the reader. With sequels to come, this is a novel that will be enjoyed my many!
Themes Friendship, Adventure, Teamwork, Problem solving, Ghosts.
Michelle O'Connell
The trip by Paul Beavis
Little Steps, 2022. ISBN: 9781912678648. (Age:3-6) Highly recommended.
The trip looks at the concepts of mine, yours and ours and can be used to support the teaching of me, you, us, mine, yours and ours to young children. It shows that some things are mine, some are yours and some are ours to share. This is a good book for an early reader as the words are minimal, repetitive and simple. Teacher's notes are available.
It has bold uncluttered illustrations that support the story well.
A very simple story with a good message and I highly recommend it.
Finally, fans of The inheritance games and The Hawthorne Legacy will have all the questions that came up in these first two books answered, as well as some twisty riddles to try and solve and a powerful opponent to face in the final book in the series.
Avery has lasted almost a year at Hawthorne House and is almost set to inherit the billions that Tobias Hawthorne has left her. Then a familiar face turns up and she knows that she must solve the last problem that Tobias has left. With the help of the Hawthorne brothers, she pits her wits and intelligence against an unknown adversary, prepared to lose everything in the game.
As with the first two in the series, the reader is kept immersed in the riddles that surround Avery. In her determined way she goes about solving the clues to the mystery of the identity of the ruthless person who is threatening everything, and in a thrilling chess game she tries to outwit her opponent.
All the Hawthorne brothers, with Rebecca and Thea, and Avery's sister, play a part helping her to solve the mysteries surrounding Hawthorne House and her legacy, each growing in strength and understanding of themselves. Such a lot of characters to love! The themes of grief, not belonging to a family, and feeling unloved by parents, are managed sensitively by Barnes and bring depth to the story.
And of course, the readers who have been following Avery’s love life will enjoy the growth of her relationships, and those who have been asking themselves what they would do with billions of dollars, will follow the theme of the power of the very rich and how they manipulate money markets and adversaries.
This has been an engrossing series, well worth reading and recommending and The final gambit is a thrilling conclusion. Fans of other books like The Westing game by Ellen Raskin and One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus and We were liars by E. Lockhart will be sure to enjoy the series.
Daniella (Dani) Murphy is determined to play rugby league, but she keeps getting the message that girls don’t play footy. She is determined to play like her brothers, but since her mum passed away her grandma says no, and her dad says nothing. Dani is determined to show them that she is as good as any of the boys and can play. She has been training with her older brother and is getting good until a terrible accident that threatens her dream.
Dani doesn’t give up and with the inspiration of another local girl playing footy she is determined. Her brother comes up with a ploy to help her prove to her family that she has what it takes. Once her family see how passionate she is and that she can play they are reluctant but willing to let her have a go. Dani realizes that her family are not being mean when they say no, they are just overprotective since her mother passed away. In the end Dani is able to follow her dream and prove that girls can play footy.
This book highlights that you can achieve your dream if you are willing to work for it. Teacher's notes are available.
I recommend this book.
Themes Rugby League, Girls, Sexism, Persistence.
Karen Colliver
Coco and the bee by Laura Bunting and Nicky Johnston
Coco and the Bee is the third book in the series and this book does not disappoint.Coco is a little kitten who is living in a new house and discovering lots of new things. She is interested in gardening but doesn’t like bugs so is unhappy when she sees a bee on her strawberry plants.
Coco has moved to a new house in a new town and when her mum invites the boy next door over for a playdate Coco is concerned they will have nothing in common.Through the course of the book not only does Coco learn that friendships grow from not only our shared interests, but our differences and she also discovers that bees are very important and that there are many different bees in the world.
The Coco books are beautifully written with illustrations that support and enhance the text; the books have more words than a typical picture book and this makes them great as a classroom read aloud or bedtime story.The font is easy to read, making them a great first read alone book as well.
I adore the Coco series for its gentle stories and the real-life challenges that are solved through experiencing life from different perspectives. There is a lot of information in the book about bees however this doesn’t feel like an information book.The facts are woven into the story in such a way that the reader can learn new information while considering the other aspects of the story such as acceptance, presumptions and adapting our thinking for a happier outcome.
I genuinely believe that this series will be a classic in years to come as children and their families share the stories together.I also think that this book would be a great introduction for teachers to use in the unit on minibeasts or bees.The text is simple enough for children to understand and the story will engage students as they discover new facts about bees.
Mertales: The mysterious rainbow thief by Rebecca Timmis
Albert Street Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781760526580. (Age:6+) Recommended.
This was a Fin-tastic book.
Four friends, Pear Periwinkle, Shell Shimmerfins, Coral Clearwater and Sandy Starfish are faced with a mystery – all of the colour in Cockleshell Cove is disappearing. The friends decide they need to try and solve this mystery before all of the colour disappears and everything turns grey.
Sandy thought she could catch the colour thief by herself, she has read all the Merlock Holmes books and believes she can solve this herself. As the colour continues to disappear Sandy starts to realize she can’t catch the colour thief by herself. This is too big a job for one mermaid. Once Sandy accepts her friends' help and the four friends work together combining their individual strengths, they are able to catch the colour thief and restore colour to Cockleshell Cove. Sandy learns that working as a team can help get the job done.
The fin facts at the back of the book adds an extra element to this novel. The fun illustrations in this book also add another element to the story.
This book can be used to support the concept of working as part of a team to achieve a collective goal.
I recommend this early novel to anyone who likes mermaids and enjoys fishy puns. There are three more books in the set so if you enjoy this one I am sure you will enjoy the others.
