It is refreshing to read and view a picture book retelling of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. The concept for children and indeed adults is both daunting and complex, but this beautifully illustrated and well-presented book is the perfect introduction to this well-known scientific theory. In 1859 after travelling the world and observing nature, Charles Darwin changed the thinking of his generation that everything in the world began at the same time. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection is explained thoughtfully in the book, often with humour, and written in an easy to comprehend story-like format so young readers will grasp some if not all of the concepts. There is information about variations and differences and how these help with survival and can be passed down through generations and how some babies of species may not survive and those that do are better able to adapt and breed in their environment. Also, that useful traits can passed on to future generations. In the final pages is an Author’s Note, Appendix, Misconceptions, Glossary and Recommended Literature.
The author and illustrator, Sabina Radeva, has a science background with a degree in Molecular Biology. She has created an excellent resource for children that will have a place in any school or public library.
Themes Animals, Habitats, Behaviours, Adaptations, Charles Darwin, Scientists, Theory of Evolution.
Kathryn Beilby
The last graduate by Naomi Novik
Random House, 2021. ISBN: 9781529100891. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Following A deadly education the first in The Scholomance series, Novik ups the suspense and action as El fights against the maleficaria that seems to be targeting her. She has a group of allies around her and is determined that she will ensure that the students in the Scholomance make it out alive.
The constant thrills kept me on the edge of my seat as El recounts everything that is happening to her and her friends. Graduation is the goal and it was fascinating to follow El’s efforts to get everyone to work together, no mean feat considering the power of the enclaves and the needs of individuals who will do anything to find allies.
The story is told in the voice of El, who is often sarcastic, and this provides a welcome touch of humour against the breath-taking action and suspense. El matures along the way, gradually accepting that she does have friends, and accepting their strengths in her plan to get everyone out of the Scholomance. Her relationship with Orion also develops slowly and leads to the final mind-blowing cliff-hanger. There just has to be a third book in the series!
Novik is a clever author; her world is unique; her characters are relatable and the action is wonderful. Readers who love action and character driven fantasy are sure to like this series.
Themes Magic, School.
Pat Pledger
Enola Holmes and the black barouche by Nancy Springer
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781761065255. (Age:Middle school)
A Netflix sensation, Enola Holmes has been the hero of six novels, and the seventh, Enola Holmes and the black barouche has now been published. In this exciting novel, Enola chases down a man she believes to be a murderer, the Earl of Dunhench, the husband of her friend's sister, Felicity, who has died in the most unusual of circumstances. Not only was the death certificate signed by Dr J Watson, who refutes this, the sister, Letitia, only received a short note from the Earl about Felicity’s death.
Letitia hires Enola to look into the situation, especially as his first wife had died in similarly strange circumstances. She goes to the village where he lives, cleverly asking questions of the locals but being a single woman she is not allowed to stay in the village inn, so she goes to his hall where she uses her guile to stay overnight, questioning the servants further as they dress her for dinner. Enola is a convincing fascinating character, who espouses twentieth century ideas while having to live by nineteenth century morals and customs. The comparison is enticing as she describes the way people live around her. The excitement of the hunt for the murderer is equally as interesting as the background information Springer includes in her tale. We see the disparity between rich and poor, the easy power of the upper classes, able to control people in their employ, the condition of the roads and transport, the difficulty of travel and the restriction that women’s clothes brings.
The first in the series, Enola Holmes and the missing marquess was followed by five more by Nancy Springer, now grouped together as the Enola Holmes mysteries. The seventh, Enola Holmes and the black barouche is now followed by an eighth incarnation. The first, Enola Holmes and the missing marquess, was made into a film by Netflix and so well received that a second is in production.
The books are full of adventure with an enticing main character, smarting against the restrictions society at the time impose on women. She is much more modern than the times, and with hints of the Suffragette Movement in the background along with the way women are treated, gives food for thought for the more mature readers.
Themes Sherlock Holmes, Nineteenth century England, Mystery, Humour.
Fran Knight
Ten minutes to bed Little Dinosaur by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton
Penguin, 2022. ISBN: 9780241532676. (Age:2-5)
This is the board book version of Ten minutes to bed Little Dinosaur which has been reviewed when it was first published and the review is duplicated here. It is part of a series of Ten Minutes to Bed books (including Little Monster and LittleMermaid). It's an overt bedtime story set in The Land of Nod (the endpapers show a map of the land and where each of the characters live) and is similar in concept to other books about bedtime reluctance such as Play and I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed. In addition, a counting element is included as it counts down the minutes until bedtime from ten to one. 'Ten minutes to bed!' Mum tells Rumble. But Rumble just loves to have fun. So off he thunders, sending birds and frogs hopping and fluttering, splashing about in the mud and running all the way to an erupting volcano. 'Five minutes' say all the dinosaurs racing past him in a rush to escape the lava. 'Four minutes to bed . . . but where am I, I wonder?', he says when he finds a safe place to rest. It's rainy and thundery and getting dark when a shadow appears. It's Mum, come to take him home. 'Two minutes,' she said. 'You are never alone.' Before the last minute is even done, Rumble is in bed and fast asleep, snoring.
Rumble's romping journey will delight young ones, who will see in the illustrations the progression from sunset light to moonlight. The mountain forest where the dinosaurs live is vivid and magical and the depiction of light will cleverly calm and soothe children (glowing lights within the forest, moon and shimmering stars). There is a nice message here for children about being responsible and in control of their own body and winding down for sleep. Little Dinosaur seems to pay no attention to the countdown but by the end of the ten minutes he is already asleep. It may even help some younger children to set in place their own countdown to bedtime and assist with an understanding of self-settling.
This short novel tells the story of the Stewart family who visit the zoo on a cold wintery day and on the way out tell a penguin he can come to visit anytime he wants....and then he arrives on their doorstep.
Einstein the penguin is a friendly animal who invites himself into their home and makes himself very comfortable. The children are extremely happy he has arrived and he adds an extra element to the family dynamic. The story goes from what seems like it will be one of family escapades with their penguin to a mystery and adventure story where the children are all in to try and find Einstein's friend.
The story is easy to read, and would suit an independent reader of about 8/9years old.
My 7 year daughter enjoyed listening to it, and thought the concept of having a penguin come to stay was hilarious. She loved how Einstein became part of the family and communicated with everyone. I also enjoyed how Iona Rangeley explained the environment and what was going on. It was very easy to form a picture in your mind whilst reading.
The book is dotted with funny little line drawings that depict the range of emotions felt by the family and the animal they take into their home. My only issue with David Tazzyman's illustrations is that all the human characters have rather wonky eyes (eyes going off in interesting directions or looking crosseyed)! They are certainly interesting to look at but it does make you think that the family is a bit quirky, which when I come to think of it - they probably are as they invite a penguin to come and stay! Very funny!
We give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Themes Penguins, Humour.
Lauren Fountain
Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760878818. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
I love The Old Kingdom series and reread all the books in the series in 2021 when the 25th anniversary edition of Sabriel came out. I was thrilled to see that Nix has written the story of Sabriel’s parents, Terciel and Elinor, and eagerly followed their story. Readers will have known about Terciel as Sabriel and Lireal’s father, and it was wonderful to learn about him as a young Abhorsen-in-Waiting, and about Elinor and her connections to Charter Magic.
Elinor has led a solitary life in Ancelstierre, with only an elderly governess and ex-circus performer to shield her from the tyranny of her mother. When the wind from the North brings danger from the Dead, Terciel appears to fight it with Tizanael, the Abhorsen. Elinor is left to struggle with what the Charter Magic means for her, and she goes to Wyverley College to learn about it. Eventually she meets up again with Terciel and together they must fight the Dead.
Elinor is a wonderful character, agile with throwing knives, loving theatre and putting on productions. The love between Terciel and her is beautifully described, while many background details will flesh out the characters in the Old Kingdom. Readers of the series will love to gain insights into Mogget’s character, the Clayr and their paperwings and the work of the Abhorsen. The book will also be a good introduction for readers new to the series.
I hope that Nix returns to the Old Kingdom, because this series has it all – wonderful characters, a unique world and plenty of action.
Themes Fantasy, Good and evil, Love, Courage.
Pat Pledger
Mole's spectacles by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A sturdy board book with humorous verses from Julia Donaldson, will certainly please the younger audience it is aimed at. Easy to hold and fold back to make a flat book, the story will be a treat for younger readers listening to the words, looking at the detailed illustrations, predicting a rhyming word or two, and enjoying the fun of the search for the lost spectacles. Mole cannot find his glasses anywhere and here is a wonderful opportunity for older readers to talk about the low vision of moles.
He searches everywhere, in all sorts of places in the house and garden. He looks around his reading room, then searches the dresser, tries to find them in the kitchen, then looks through his desk, even the bathroom and cellar are searched. In the garden he scours the lily pond, then walks to weasel’s shop, calling on his friends to help. The glasses still cannot be found. But when he gets the teapot out to make a cup of tea for his friends, they are found. And in the most unlikely of places.
Another surprise awaits the readers on every page because as Mole searches he is able to lift flaps to reveal something inside, but not his glasses. Younger readers will have a great deal of fun with this verse book, as will the older readers helping them lift those flaps.
The bright illustrations show Mole as he searches, getting more forlorn as he goes. The detail will intrigue younger readers as they recognise things that are used in a particular room, recognise the plants and animals he sees, and rejoice with him when the spectacles are found.
Themes Search, Animals, Mole, Spectacles.
Fran Knight
The Violet Veil Mysteries: A case of misfortune by Sophie Cleverly
A Case of Misfortune is the 2nd book in the series, The Violet Veil Mysteries. It is a mystery/thriller set in Victorian England. Violet is the daughter of an undertaker and is aggrieved that she isn’t being considered for future work in the family business, just because she is a girl. Violet had great success solving a case in the first story, A Case of Grave Danger. So, she decides to quietly set up her own detective business and soon has a very interesting case to solve. This leads her to the Grecian Theatre which is owned by a family of Greek heritage. She and her offsider, Oliver, and dog, Bones, become friendly with the teenage children of the owners. Central to their inquiry is a fortune teller, Lady Athena, who is keeping the theatre afloat with packed audiences. But there is something very fishy about how her predictions come true.
This is a light humorous story with colourful characters and many twists, turns and even a murder. Violet has a 6th sense where she can communicate with ghosts, which enhances her ability to solve the mystery and adds interest. So does Bones' extraordinary ability to find people and places. I liked the choice of a Greek family and the way the author slipped in Greek language and customs. One of the teenagers, Eleni, had to use a wheelchair and the cheeky retorts she made when people asked her what happened to her were laugh out loud funny. Violet gets into a lot of trouble for her determination to be independent. Apart from this strong theme of ‘girls can do anything’ are themes of who can you trust, recognizing when you are wrong and the need for teamwork. It would make a great read-aloud for year 4/5 children.
When a letter arrives for Elizabeth from one of her ex husbands, asking for a safe house to stay for a while, the reader's interest is piqued. We are about to hear more of Elizabeth’s background, the former MI5 operative, the head girl of this group of friends at Coopers Chase retirement village who came together in the Thursday Murder Club, Osman’s stunning debut novel.
The setting in a retirement home gives Osman scope for a great deal of fun with a group of retired people not yet ready to retire from the world, but equally aware of their limitations as they age. The four intrepid sleuths are on the trail again, and readers will laugh with them as their different but complimentary personalities are revealed. Joyce speaks volumes in stories from her own narrow world, each full of common sense but laced with good humour and forbearance. Elizabeth, ex MI5 is a no nonsense sort of person, able to engender fierce loyalty and get her friends to do things outside their experience. Ron the reliable is able to get the resources Elizabeth needs, while Ibrahim the retired psychologist is a calm voice amongst the group. Outside the group but attached is the village caretaker, Bogdin, a brooding deep fellow able to pitch in whenever he is needed, without question.
Douglas turns up one day with a minder, Poppy, expecting a safe haven. He tells Elizabeth of a stolen cache of diamonds worth twenty million pounds, but when a potential killer is killed by the minder, they must leave. Later Elizabeth and Joyce find their dead bodies, and when Elizabeth finds a letter dropped by Douglas for her to find, the chase is on.
Full of exciting twists and turns, copious red herrings and trails that lead somewhere but not quite where expected, the book is a wonderful read. I laughed, particularity at the wonderful portrayal of a group in a retirement village not quite ready to throw in the towel. They are alert, clever and sprightly but in the background we see others not so well.
Firereads, 2022. ISBN: 9781728257587. (Age:15+) Recommended for mature readers.
Set within the Hope Juvenile Treatment Centre, this story is for the forgotten ones in the time of a severe and catastrophic plague, but perhaps also at any time. The haemorrhagic illness (much like the pneumonic plague of the past) is wildly infectious and impacts the wider community rapidly. The incarcerated and troubled teens who are protected by guards are abandoned by their captors without notice and must survive on their own. The gates may be open, but is leaving the best option? Survival is not ensured, and food supplies will run out unless they learn to work together. Because all the young characters come with their own histories of problems, learning to work together and trust each other is a slow process. For Logan, there is the added problem because of her disability, and when her twin, Leah, becomes infected she must deal with added isolation. Emerson is transgender and is learning who they are. Grace and Casey have their own history of abandonment and struggle that led them to this ‘rehabilitation’ home, but they must set the past aside to have any hope for a future for the remnant residents.
Written almost like a dystopian story or survival tale, this story was written during Covid times so will resonate with current teen readers who have lived through their own times of pandemic. It comes with its own content warning prologue: ‘This book deals with ableism, abuse, death, illness and implied eugenics, imprisonment, and transphobia. In addition, it includes mentions of assault, blood, gunshots, racial profiling, and sexual violence.’ This is not an easy tale, but it is a powerful story of teens on the outer who need to rise above their circumstances and work together. There are moments of great poignancy as they deal with the ever-present risk of death and illness, and the loss of connection with society. I would recommend this to mature readers aged 15+ who can cope with the significant issues that it raises.
Similar in concept to the Ten Minutes to Bed... series, Goodnight, Little Sloth is one in a series of simple bedtime stories designed to send little ones off to sleep. The longish, nonemphatic text is notable for its predictable storyline and calm tone. Sweet, earthy, watercolour art is punctuated with photographic illustrations of a baby sloth watching the world pass him by.
The busy parrots in the forest try to get him moving but he likes to take life slowly and he loves looking around and seeing what he can see. "Have you ever seen any of those things" he asks the parrots after he recounts all the creatures he has seen from his branch. They admit they haven't, but they still want to hurry Little Sloth along. When Little Sloth sees something truly remarkable from right where he is the parrots are busy sleeping after all their flapping and are very disappointed to miss it. "I really think it's time I took a nap after all that excitement" says Little Sloth at the end of the story - and he does. There is a lovely message within the story about having patience and about slowing down and noticing the little things and changes in our environment. This is beautifully illustrated through the sloth being present in the very moment an orchid opened one of its petals.
This is a gentle and soothing story that ends with Little Sloth settling down for a lovely long snooze. This peaceful ending along with simple, flowing language makes it perfect for bedtime or nap time.
Themes Sloths, Bedtime, Patience.
Nicole Nelson
Tomorrow is too late : A Youth Manifesto for Climate Justice by Grace Maddrell ed.
Tomorrow really is too late, as the contributors to this book about Climate Change and Activism highlight through their personal stories of experiencing climate change firsthand, be it environmental impacts or severe weather events, and their stories of their fight to bring awareness to those around them, as well as politicians and those who have the power to make change. Which, in reality, is all of us. Making small changes, as we are encouraged to do by the contributors in this book, making an effort to change and to talk to our friends, colleagues and families, can help in the long run. But greater change is needed to slow down the rapidly approaching disaster that is a total irreversible impact of climate change and its effects.
Written by numerous youth activists from all over the world and edited by Grace Maddrell, herself a young activist, the passion and anxiety these authors feel is conveyed through their stories. While a great book for youth to read, the people who should be reading it are those in power, those who aren't paying attention to the coming disaster that they believe is a future generation's problem. The problems are now, and should be addressed more than currently being done. An interesting fiction book that could be read alongside this is Green Rising by Lauren James (2021), where the youth are trying to be part of the solution, instead of part of the problem. I encourage those interested in Climate Change issues and those who are interested in how to participate in Climate Change activism to read this book full of essays from young people with a great heart for the world.
Themes Climate change, Activism, Youth Activists, Climate Justice, International issues.
When a despot rules, the people suffer, truth suffers, and everyone feels powerless. Toward the end of 1989 the rule of Communist power under the despotic control of Nikolae Ceausescu in Romania led to an awful life for the ordinary folk. Survival was hard and everyone lived with the fear that someone else was spying on them. In this story, 17-year-old teenager, Cristian was still going to school, living with his grandfather, mother and father and his older sister in their tiny apartment, but even within the family it was hard to trust and speak out the truth about the awful regime that ruled their country. When Cristian gets recruited as an informer it is with great reluctance and incredible guilt and uncertainty. The insecurity of life is revealed with profound pathos through the eyes of this young man and the ultimate cry of ‘Freedom’ is so necessary for the whole country. But there is betrayal and violence before a future and hope can come alive.
This is a poignant tale that is compelling and worth recommending. Despite its recent history, the plight of the Romanian people under Ceausescu’s rule is probably relatively unknown for most Australian teenagers, so this engaging and powerful story is a wonderful tribute to those who suffered and spoke out for freedom despite the personal cost, and worthy of sharing to a new generation. The story is raw and painful, but brilliantly written, on the one hand highlighting the disparity between the life of a teenager in the USA (the son of the US Ambassador) and the awful circumstances of the Romanian teen and also revealing the pain of a forgotten country. Australian teenagers will be drawn too to the romance that blossoms amidst the pain of poverty. Highly recommended for mature teens aged 14+ to adult readers.
Themes Romanian history, Nikolae Ceausescu, Betrayal, Fear, Communism.
Carolyn Hull
What's new, Harper Drew? by Kathy Weeks
Hodder Children's Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781444961775. (Age:9-11) Highly recommended - Just for fun!.
The Drew family have taken ‘catastrophe’ and ‘disaster’ to award-winning levels. Every member of the family (except perhaps young James, aka Prune) manages to rate highly on the disaster rating at every step. Harper’s mother is a compulsive Supermarket shopper, and hopelessly disorganised; her father seems to have no idea about how to avoid life-threatening situations in his attempts to entertain and solve problems; Harper’s older brother Troy is just insanely focussed on his hair, and his latest attempt at avoiding anything that resembles work. Harper herself seems to be a great friend, a great organiser and perhaps the most useful family member, however even she can slip-up often. This very funny journal recounting Harper’s family life, her catastrophic family holiday to France, her attempts to win favour of the ‘cool’ girl at school and her endeavours to raise money to support her good friend Edward are all documented with a disarming candour.
This is just a very funny story with lots of eccentric characters, bizarre happenings, accidents and extremely wacky events. Children aged 9+ will chuckle all the way through. This is the kind of story where if something can go wrong… it will. And it is all child-friendly and easy to recommend to all children. Harper is loveable and her family are cringe-worthy in their attempts to live life to the full! She is a good friend to her neighbour Priya and wheelchair-bound, Edward. This is not unlike Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries, catering specifically for 9-11 year olds.
Reluctant readers, fans of Captain Underpants, Dog Man and Bad Guys will be instantly hooked on this hillariously witty, fast-paced graphic novel. Unlike some other comic strip style novels, these black and white panels are large with big text. The book is also separated into two main stories (as well as a brief intermission story) as well as into short chapters, making it perfect for those who struggle to read for longer bursts.
Fans of Rob Harrell's previous book Winkmay recognise the main character Garry Yorkshire. He's a perfectly average pink pig who loves eating sandwiches, playing video games and hanging out with his mates Carl the fish and Brooklyn the bat. But as we see in the first and self-proclaimed 'origin story' Garry develops super powers after being bitten by Brooklyn. Suddenly he is giving himself wedgies with his super strength, floating in air, eating ten sandwiches in one sitting and seeing through walls (pity it's Mrs. Hawley's giant collection of cat hairballs he can see!). Some fun adventures follow, from defeating giant lizards to bringing down an evil butcher with a curious list of demands.
There are witty little details thrown into every panel and the trio of friends have wonderfully well-drawn personalities with diaglogue that absolutely explodes off the page. Admittedly there is a lot of icky toilet humour but there are also clever one-liners and a funny interplay between dialogue and narration. The story also touches a lot on friendship and appreciating each others unique qualities. This is super-readable and brilliantly executed. The ending refers to 'the next book' so hopefully there is another installment to follow.
