I swapped my brother on the Internet by Jo Simmons
Ill. by Nathan Reed. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408877753
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. This laugh out loud novel starts with
a pop up ad that immediately grabs the attention of nine-year-old
Jonny, and also the reader. Who hasn't dreamed about getting rid of
their annoying sibling at one time or another? For Jonny, of course
he was going to click! The SiblingSwap.com website opens and is
filled with pictures of brothers and sisters playing and laughing
together. Jonny begins to fill in the form . . . but in his haste
fails to tick the box that says "living", and the one that says
"human" (I mean that was obvious, wasn't it?) so SiblingSwap.com
begin to send Jonny a line of increasingly bizarre replacements for
his brother Ted. Jonny finds himself trying to make do with a
merboy, a boy raised by meerkats and then the ghost of Henry the
Eighth! The only person Jonny can trust with his secret is his best
friend George, who finds all of it very interesting compared to life
helping his Dad in a fish finger factory.
This story will have young readers, or whole classrooms full of kids
in peals of laughter. Every child will be able to relate to wish
fulfilment gone wrong. As the brother replacements begin to get more
and more weird, Jonny begins to figure out that Ted is really okay
after all . . . at least compared to his replacements. Teachers
could use this as a gateway for talking about relationships, sibling
rivalry, trust or jealousy. Jonny is forced to look at some of his
annoying habits too, so could be used as a means for self
reflection.
The story is easy to read, and well put together. Readers will find
it hard not to giggle as King Henry tells Jonny off for being a
potty-mouth about his Cockapoo named Widget.
This book is highly recommended, please read it to your children or
your class.
Clare Thompson
My brigadista year by Katherine Paterson
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9780763695088
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Cuba, Literacy, Gap year,
Volunteering, Civil war, Corruption. After Castro took power from
the corrupt, USA supported leader, Batistia, things changed for
Cuba. Castro wanted the country to become more literate and
thousands of teens were recruited to go into rural Cuba and teach
people to read and write. In this absorbing novel by the award
winning Paterson, she tells the story of these brigadistas through
the eyes of her central character, Lora. At thirteen she is caught
up in the fervour of helping Cuba become literate, trained to be a
teacher, given her supplies and a hammock and a brief knowledge of
first aid, then sent to a village in the mountains, a place where
anti Castro forces still exist, where one of the brigadistas was
killed in the previous year. This is the first time she has left the
safety of her home, and her parents are fearful for her, but she is
determined to go.
Lora's story is deftly told. Paterson is able to diffuse complex
ideas into an easily absorbed story. The reader learns about the
background to this highly volatile situation, with arms supplied by
the Americans to the anti Castro forces as Castro is seen as too
Russian leaning for the USA, where the teachers sent are viewed with
suspicion and must earn the trust of those they live with. Behind
Lora's year in the jungle is the invasion of the Bay of Pigs (1961)
and so the reader is able to absorb a different view of a little
known historic incident.
Brought up with an anti Castro western view of Cuba, this little
book offered me a a chance to reassess ideas held in the past, and
for younger readers this is an historical novel of immense interest
and research which will give readers a new perspective on why Trump
and Obama have such differing views of the USA's relationship with
Cuba.
The central character leads the way, developing skills necessary to
live with an unknown family, learning their way of life, learning to
fit in and to teach them the skills necessary for a modern Cuba.
And all the while is the threat from the terrorists in the mountains
behind the village.
A wonderfully involving coming of age story, Paterson shares a
background unique in children's literature.
Fran Knight
What's your favourite colour? by Eric Carle
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406356526
(Age: 5-Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Colour. Children's book
illustrators. In this beautiful book 15 outstanding illustrators
have chosen to let the reader know what their favourite colour is
and have drawn a picture to illustrate this, telling why they have
chosen that colour and why they love it. The contributors include:
Eric Carle, Lauren Castillo, Bryan Collier, Mike Curato, Etienne
Delessert, Anna Dewdney, Rafael Lopez, William Low, Marc Martin,
Jill McElmurry, Yuyi Morales, Frann Preston-Gannon, Uri Shulevitz,
Philip C. Stead, and Melissa Sweet and readers will be fascinated by
the colours chosen and the wonderful illustrations that accompany
them. Each artist has a double page spread with a usually short
piece about the colour and then a gorgeous drawing in that colour.
I was particularly taken with the two illustrators who chose grey as
their colour as I had not personally considered it as a favourite.
Melissa Sweet wrote a haiku for grey: Foggy morning grey
Makes other colours glimmer.
Even the gull's beak And then gives a list of different greys and an illustration of
Maine, its boats and water. In comparison the grey chosen by Rafael
Lopez "dares to be different" and knows how to make the other
colours sparkle and a cheeky grey octopus proves this in the
illustration. Marc Martin chose crimson red because "it is the
colour of the crimson rosella" and vibrant rosellas fly across his
double page spread. Other pages are equally as interesting.
This book will inspire readers to consider their own favourite
colours and why they have chosen them. In the classroom children
could do their own drawing and writing and all readers will be
inspired to find books by these wonderful artists to see more of
their art work. There is short biographical information about them
at the back of the book with a photo of each artist as a child and
this is fascinating as well.
Pat Pledger
Three cheers for women! by Marcia Williams
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406374865
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Women. Marcia Williams returns
with her signature comic-strip style in Three cheers for women!
which celebrates over 70 women who have made a great contribution in
all walks of life throughout history. The front end papers grab the
eye with a multitude of banners featuring the areas that women have
excelled in: leaders, inventors, discoverers, thinkers, authors,
environmentalist, doctors, campaigners to name just a few. Of the
women featured some are very well known and some less famous, but all
have led interesting and inspirational lives. The women featured
with their own double page spread are Cleopatra, Boudicca,
Joan of Arc, Elizabeth I, Mary Wollstonecraft, Jane Austen, Florence
Nightingale, Marie Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Frida
Kahlo, Wangari Maathai, Mae C. Jemison, Cathy Freeman and Malala.
Then there is a section for Leaders and World-changers, with brief
biographical information about women like Edith Cowan, Australian
politician and social campaigner and Sheryl Sandberg, American
executive, activist and author. Readers will learn much about their
lives and will be inspired to follow up and do research on them.
Another double page spread looks at Sportswomen and Creatives and
readers will have fun finding names they know (JK Rowling, Beatrix
Potter) as well as ones they probably haven't heard of (Zaha Hadid,
Iraqi-British architect, and Paula Rego, Portuguese artist). Hooray
for Scientists, Pioneers and Adventurers features Dame Jane Goodall,
Elizabeth Kenny, Australian nurse, Rachel Carson, conservationist,
among many others.
There is a Dear Reader letter at the end from Williams that states
that the women in the book have reminded her "that, whether you are
a boy or a girl, you are never too young to too old to do something
world changing!" A clear index concludes the book.
The facts, quotes and great cartoon style will grab the reader's
attention and the achievements of the women will remain in the mind
as a reminder of what these individuals have achieved. This is
highly recommended for any library or classroom.
Pat Pledger
Dark in death by J.D. Robb
In death, book 46. Piatkus, 2018. ISBN 9780349417868
(Age: Adult) Mystery. Eve Dallas is called in to investigate the
killing of a woman in a cinema while watching Psycho. An
ice-pick had been sunk into the back of her neck by the murderer who
then disappeared. As Eve puts together the clues to this murder, new
evidence comes to light: an author comes into the station claiming
that the murder was based on one of her police mysteries and from
there on Eve knows that there will be further murders as the author
has written a number of books in her series. Further investigation
turns up another murder that resembled one of her plots and Eve
knows that she has a serial killer on her hands.
Fans of the In death series will not be disappointed. This
is an easy to read and engrossing mystery and Robb's narrative as
always keeps the interest of the reader. The murderer is not at all
obvious and the plot twists through a series of events and theories
as Eve puts all her intellect and good solid police work to find out
who is behind the bizarre killings. On the way, there is much
fascinating information about police procedures as well as how a
best-selling novelist handles the demands of her fans, which
certainly has a ring of truth to it.
The continuing relationship between Roarke and Eve will please
romance lovers. Fans are sure to want to pick up the next in the
series as each of Robb's plots are certainly different and unique,
at the same time keeping the familiar and very likeable main
characters of Eve, Roarke, Peabody, Mira and Nadine.
Pat Pledger
Women in science by Jen Green
DK, 2018. ISBN 9781465468604
More and more as news coverage reports scientific breakthroughs, it
is a woman who is the face of the science rather than the
stereotypical man in a white coat. Women leading scientific
discoveries is not a new phenomenon, as this new DK publication
demonstrates with its introductory section about scientists of
ancient times, but at last it is becoming understood and accepted
that science is not "bizniz bilong men".
Written especially for young readers who are verging on independence
or who have made that journey, this book links the achievements of
just a handful of women who have made significant contributions to
their field of study. Familiar and unfamiliar names are included as
well as a brief introduction to just some of the fields that come
under the science umbrella, encouraging the reader to perhaps be the
next big name.
There is a quiz to spark further investigations as well as the
characteristic DK attention to detail in the layout and supporting
clues and cues.
As well as introducing young readers to the work of these remarkable
women, there is scope for it to be the springboard as they answer
the questions, "Who would you add? Why?"
Barbara Braxton
The detective dog by Julia Donaldson
Ill. by Sara Ogilvie. MacMillan Children's books, 2018 (2016). ISBN
9781509801596
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Dogs, Board book, Detection. School.
Books. Libraries. Read aloud. I love books about books, stories that
tell of people sharing books, of reading books, of borrowing books.
Well, this one is someone stealing books! But it all ends happily,
so don't fret. Nell's story is told in rhyming stanzas, a tale of a
dog who is born to be a detective, her nose sniffing out the places
where all sorts of things lie hidden: socks, honey, a lost book, a
spider in the bath, a lost ball. And she loves going to school to
hear the children read, but one day when they come to school, the
library has been ransacked and all the books are gone. Catastrophe!
But Detective Nell to the rescue. She picks up the scent and follows
it, leading the class trailing out behind her. They traverse roads
and gardens, past the zoo and the take-away shop and into a wood.
Here they run through a very overgrown garden and push open the
messy gate. Behind the gate sits the culprit, a man with a stack of
books, his nose buried in one of them. He is most apologetic,
promising that he intended to return them after they had been read,
and he helps the children take them all back to school. A happy
relationship is established as the children show the man how to open
a library account and borrow as many books as he wants. The
infectious illustrations swirl with colour and life moving quickly
across the pages, inviting the readers to follow the action. The
dog, Nell, is a wonderful creation, one every child would love to
have, and the way Nell is depicted with her nose in everything about
will have resonance with most dog owners.
This is a charming homage to pets and libraries, to frazzled
teachers, to those sharing books, to those who are helped in their
quest to find books, and of course to skillful dogs and
accommodating children. A real treat. And now republished as a board
book spreads the fun to a wider audience.
Fran Knight
Toto the Ninja cat and the great snake escape by Dermot O'Leary
Ill. by Nick East. Hodder, 2017. ISBN 9781444939453
(Age: 7+) "Oh hi! You're here. Purrfect Timing! I wrote this story
about my cat. This is TOTO and she's awesome. But she is no ordinary
furry feline, my friends. She is almost totally blind, she has ninja
skills and at night she has amazing adventures with her cheeky
brother, Silver. Want to join them on their first great adventure? A
deadly King Cobra has escaped, and TOTO's going to have to use all
her powers to capture him . . . . "
For young readers who love books about animals this is bound to be a
popular series. It would make a fantastic read aloud or be equally
enjoyed by a child reading it by themselves. It is a purrfect fit
for those wishing to read chapter books as the text is large and
interspersed with gorgeous black and white illustrations. Underlying
themes of friendship, inclusivity and facing adversity and winning
it would make a great back to school read. I love the Q and A at the
end of the book with O'Leary as it gives the reader an added insight
into the book. Children will also appreciate the findaword. Toto
will fast become a favourite with many. Suitable for ages 7 and up.
Kathryn Schumacher
Lucky Button by Michael Morpurgo
Ill. by Michael Foreman. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406371680
(Age: 8-11) Highly recommended. Themes: Orphans and Orphanages,
Classical Music, Wolfgang Mozart, Friendship, 18th Century Britain,
Bullying. Michael Morpurgo's Lucky Button is a thoughtful
time slip story set in the present day and in The Foundling
Hospital, Britain's first home for abandoned children. This charity
was started by philanthropist Thomas Coram in 1739 with the
assistance of British painter William Hogarth and composer George
Frideric Handel.
Young Joshua Trelawney's life is divided clearly into two halves. At
home he cares for his wheelchair bound mother while at school he's a
loner longing for a friend while suffering the taunts of the bullies
who make fun of his name with Moby Dick taunts. Music is Jonah's
solace; he loves to sing and desperately wants to join the school
choir. Jonah escapes from the bullying seeking refuge in the chapel
originally part of the Foundling Hospital. Finding a small gold
button and meeting a ghostly organist helps Jonah to understand his
current circumstances and to find happiness.
Nathaniel Hogarth shares his life story, abandoned as a baby at the
Foundling Hospital, then sent to live with kind foster parents in
the country. Music provides solace for young Nathaniel when he's
returned to the hospital, and he meets Handel and is chosen to sing
in The Messiah. Foundling 762 grows up to be apprenticed at the
artist Hogarth's stable and takes his surname. Fortuitously young
Nat moves on to Sir John Sullivan's estate where he becomes a
companion to young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Woferl. Lucky Button celebrates the power of music, with Morpurgo's
touching narrative beautifully told through Michael Foreman's
detailed watercolour paintings showing strongly drawn historic and
contemporary characters. This is a story that resonates with hope,
friendship and resilience rising above adversity, a story perfect
for sharing with students in Years 3-5.
Rhyllis Bignell
Race to the bottom of the sea by Lindsay Eagar
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9780763698775
(Age: Year 4+) Highly recommended. Can a clever young inventor
uncover a ruthless pirate's heart of gold? When her parents, the
great marine scientists Dr. and Dr. Quail, are killed in a tragic
accident, eleven-year-old Fidelia Quail is racked by grief - and
guilt. It was a submarine of Fidelia's invention that her parents
were in when they died, and it was she who pressed them to stay out
longer when the raging Undertow was looming. But Fidelia is forced
out of her mourning when she's kidnapped by Merrick the Monstrous, a
pirate whose list of treasons stretches longer than a ribbon eel.
Her task? Use her marine know-how to retrieve his treasure, lost on
the ocean floor. But as Fidelia and the pirates close in on the
prize, with the navy hot on their heels, she realizes that Merrick
doesn't expect to live long enough to enjoy his loot. Could
something other than black-hearted greed be driving him? Will
Fidelia be able to master the perils of the ocean without her
parents - and piece together the mystery of Merrick the Monstrous
before it's too late?
What a fantastic book for our Year 4 and up students, in particular
girls, to read. Fidelia encompasses many things that girls wish to
experience. This is a powerful book with a strong protagonist who
encounters pirates, treasure, adventure, mystery and suspense.
Fidelia is smart, nerdy and brave but also extremely compassionate.
She is very strong willed and does not let those around her deter
her intentions, though at times this can result in encountering
sticky situations. Fidelia's knowledge of marine biology, partly due
to her parents' occupations, will hopefully inspire many to look
after the ocean. A must have for your library.
Kathryn Schumacher
Love and gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406372328
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Themes: Secrecy. Romance. Italy.
Self-perception. Diaries. Feel good book. Teens Top Ten 2017.
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction 2016. Lina
has come to Tuscany to live with Howard, the father that she has
never met. Devastated by the death of her mother, Lina begins to
read the journal she has left behind of her early time in Italy and
with Ren, her cute neighbour follows in her footsteps. What she
uncovers is the truth about her father as well as learning about
herself.
This is an ideal book for anyone who enjoys stories about other
countries. The author captivates the reader's imagination with her
vivid descriptions of Tuscany, Florence and Rome and the life that
Howard leads in the American Cemetery where he works. Not only are
the wonders of the Italian architecture and sculpture described by
Lina but the reader is taken on a culinary tour, almost being able
to taste the gelato that she loves.
Told in the first person by Lina, and interspersed with extracts
from her mother's journal, the reader is led into the feelings and
loves of both mother and daughter. The style is breezy and easy to
read and the characters are very likeable. The mystery of what
happened to her mother so many years ago also keeps the reader glued
to the page as Lina follows the clues left in the journal about X,
the man her mother fell in love with.
I finished this book in one sitting - it had everything to make it
an outstanding contemporary romance - charming characters, wonderful
setting and feel good vibes.
Pat Pledger
The Kindness Club: Chloe on the bright side by Courtney Sheinmel
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681195315
(Age: 8+) Fifth grader Chloe Silver is good at looking on the bright
side. But staying positive has been difficult since her parents
divorced and she had to start at a new school. When Chloe is given
the chance to try out for the exclusive It Girls club, things are
finally looking up again. Then Chloe is assigned a science project
with offbeat Lucy Tanaka and brainy Theo Barnes. Together they
create an experiment that tests how people react to different acts
of kindness. Officially forming the Kindness Club, Lucy and Theo are
fun to be around, and their new club means a lot to Chloe. But the
It Girls don't want to share Chloe with anyone else. Can she find a
way to be kind to all of her friends, and still stay true to
herself?
This is a feel good book that will develop into a successful series.
I think the underlying themes of friendship, family and kindness
will resonate with many. Many children will be able to make strong
connections with Chloe, who may be experiencing divorce and having
to start at a new school. I like how the story looks at the meaning
of a true friend and the qualities they possess and that it is
possible to be friends with different groups of people. Acceptance
is a huge part of a child's life and Chloe seems to tackle it head
on in a kind way. This book has a great lesson for all readers -
that it is not always easy to do the right thing. The author
cleverly does this in a unique way ensuring that the novel maintains
interest and one develops feelings for the main characters.
The snippet of the second book at the end of the book is a very
clever marketing tool. Children 8 and up will enjoy this book.
Kathryn Schumacher
100 scientists who made history by Andrea Mills and Stella Caldwell
DK, 2018. ISBN 9780241304327
Throughout history there have been so many perceptive pioneers,
brilliant biologists, medical masterminds, clever chemists,
phenomenal physicists, incredible innovators and other scientific
superstars who have challenged the known to change our lives that to
choose just 100 of them must have been a taxing task.
Nevertheless, in this brand new release from DK, the achievements of
people as diverse as Aristotle, Alexander Fleming, Louis Pasteur,
Ernest Rutherford, Alan Turing and Edwin Hubble are all described in
typical DK format with it characteristic layout, top-quality
photography, bite-sized information and accessible language. But
there is so much (and so many more). Although not being of a
scientific bent, while many of the names of those in the clear
contents pages were familiar, there were as many that were not, and
sadly many of those not were women.
But the authors have included many women in the lists - who knew
that Hildegard of Bingen, aka the singing nun, born in 1098 could
have had such an impact on medical treatments through her study of
and writing about the medicinal uses of plants? Or that of five of
those credited with having such an influence on the development of
computing, three were women? Or that Mary Somerville correctly
predicted the existence of the planet Neptune in the early 19th
century and that there were many 19th century astronomers who were
female?
This is a wonderful book for everyone - not only because it will
introduce a new generation to those who discovered so much of what
we take for granted today - they didn't make history because they
became famous, they made the history we look back on so we can move
forward - but also to inspire - 'If them, why not me?' Challenge
your students to find another scientist who could have been included
and have them develop a page for them using the DK format as a
model.
I know a budding scientist who needs this book!
Barbara Braxton
36 questions that changed my mind about you by Vicki Grant
Hot Key Books, 2017. ISBN 9781471407086
(Age: Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Deciding to take part in
a psychological survey about discovering whether two participants
can get to know one another through asking and answering a series of
questions, Hildy, a high school student, 18 years old, intelligent,
and anxious because of her parents' worsening relationship, is
partnered with a young man, of a similar age and seemingly quite
different to her, with whom she will exchange answers to a series of
36 questions created to reveal their sociability, intelligence and
attractiveness to the other participant. Paul is doing it for the
money.
Their answers reveal many differences in their childhoods, family
and social circumstances. The questions are challenging and
personal, their answers revealing much about themselves. The
discussion generated gradually brings them together despite his
suspicion that she is 'out of his league'. The gentle flowering of
the relationship is captivating, and heart-warming, as we notice how
each offers the other an honest response to the questions, and
sometimes more emotional responses than they would have expected.
This is a well-constructed depiction of relationships in the modern
world, depicting the lives of two young people living in quite
different circumstances in the west coast of the USA. We are drawn
into their personal lives both through their question and answer
times and in Grant's narrative sections where she reveals more
detail about the two young people. The questions are intriguing and
challenging and their determination to reply honestly gradually
enables them to understand both themselves and their Q/A partner
better.
This is a delightful and intriguing new 'novel' about young people
and their relationships. I would highly recommend it for senior
school students, parents and teachers as both an unusual and
delightful introduction to how adolescents work out their place,
ambition, and how they wish to live in the modern world.
Elizabeth Bondar
How to get rid of a vampire by J. M. Erre
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781846884221
(Age: 9+) "Zazie has just received a beautiful new notebook, and
decides to keep a diary. Brimming with imagination, she writes down
her impressions of her cat Roudoudou, her awful cousin Lucas and her
new teacher, Mr Labat - who, with his pale skin and blood-red lips,
must surely be a vampire! In order to save her life and those of her
classmates, Zazie must find a way to get rid of Mr Labat - and what
better way than by following the advice found in Bram Stoker's Dracula
. . ." (Publisher)
This is an entertaining read that will resonate with those with a
wacky sense of humour. The brave and likeable heroine, Zazie will
have readers falling in love with her as her imagination takes its
course. There is a slight Roald Dahl influence in the story with
Zazie making up some words of her own - something that certainly
appeals to many children. Many of the audience will be able to
connect with the lead character as she is always in trouble at
school and at home - simply because adults do not get her!
This is a funny book that would be a perfect fit for both boys and
girls aged nine plus. We know that many children love the magical
world of vampires and I am sure it will become popular with many.
Kathryn Schumacher
