Reviews

Clap hands series by Pat-a-cake

Ages: 0 – 4) Recommended. Board Book. Boldly illustrated as a series of four rhyming texts, each is your classic 'touch and feel' board book, every page featuring a differently textured material for parts of the characters' bodies. Here come the monkeys depicts different species of monkey on each page with Koko on page 3 bearing a lovely rough paw made of hessian that tells our little reader she must have been doing quite a lot of walking in addition to swinging from tree to tree. Each character is introduced by name and a little birdy, who remains nameless throughout the series, points out each feely feature. The reader is bid to clap hands for the clever creature at the turn of the page. My 11 month old granddaughter delights in the opportunity to display her recently acquired clapping skills after having a good feel. All the touchy textiles are well embedded making the book sturdy and long lasting. In the case of Here come the dinosaurs, the reader is introduced to a range of creatures falling under that umbrella with contractions of the species' names for each one. Terry is Pterodactyl's name and he sports one beautifully shiny foil wing which little birdy on the side sagely points out. The fold out surprise page at the end of each book provides an overview of and contextualizes the monkey, puppy, kitten or dinosaur varieties and providing an opportunity for further discussion with the older toddler. You do need to make the suggestion to your little reader however, that care must be taken with the fold-out, as it is not quite as sturdy as the rest of the book. A great little series for the very youngest of readers to get them hooked on books. Elizabeth Avery

The Maddie diaries a memoir by Maddie Ziegler

Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9781460753750
(Age: 11+) Biography. Maddie Ziegler was born in 2002 in the US and commenced dance lessons at an early age. She started appearing on the US reality show Dance Moms at age 8.
The singer Sia a fan of the show, detected something special in Maddie and asked her to appear in Sia's video of the world wide hit song Chandelier. Since then Maddie has become known world wide and has appeared in all Sia's videos.
This memoir charts her journey to stardom in a chatty and readable style. Maddie comes through as a thoroughly nice, grounded hard working young person. It highlights her awe at working with famous actors, singers, choreographers. Her fame continues to spread with her work as a judge on 2016 show So you think you can dance: the next generation and touring with Sia in the US and Australia.
The book includes lots of drawings by Maddie - another of her talents - and coloured photos.
At the end of most chapters a section on Dear Maddie, where questions related to teenagers (bullying, self image, problems with parents/teachers, etc) are answered in a positive and empathic manner.
Hints on make up, clothes, etc are included as well as sections where friends and colleagues write about Maddie. Sia (whom Maddie now considers as family) provides the Foreword.
This is a positive uplifting memoir from a very young hardworking star. The memoir will appeal especially to 11+ aged girls and all those interested in dance.
The book is a New York Times best seller.
Ann Griffin

Olivia the spy by Ian Falconer

Olivia series. Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471164224
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Spying. With seven books about Olivia published, children will be thrilled to see another outing for this wonderful character.
Olivia is in her mother's bad books, again. She has used the blender to make a blueberry smoothie, but in spite of being told to be careful and not overfill the appliance, she does, and it splashes all over the kitchen leaving a ghostly outline of Olivia on the wall. She puts dad's white shirts in the washing machine with her red socks! The reader knows she is in trouble, and will snigger happily anticipating where the story may take them. She overhears her mother on the phone, complaining of Olivia's lack of foresight, asking whether she will ever grow up, and suggesting that she might have to be sent somewhere else to find some sense. Olivia finds that she is interested in what her mother says, and resolves to listen in whenever she can. She becomes a spy, and blends in with her surroundings to overhear conversations.
Readers will laugh out loud at her attempts to remain hidden, pointing out her features concealed on the pages.
But of course she hears something which is upsetting, she overhears the word 'institution' and asking her teacher next day what this word means, finds that sometimes it means a prison.
She is distraught and so when her mother tells her she has a surprise and to get ready to go out, she is ready to be sent to prison. Imagine her delight when it is the ballet they come to see, but there is another twist in the tale for readers, as nothing Olivia does is straightforward. A cautionary tale told in the most delightful way, Olivia's adventure will have readers laughing out loud as they recognise the adage 'eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves'. Wonderful illustrations compliment the story, showing Olivia in all manner of disguise as she attempts to avoid being seen.
Fran Knight

What's where on Earth? Atlas ed. by Chris Hawkes

DK London, 2017. ISBN 9780241228371
This is an ideal reference tool for young readers who want to see the world at a glance, rather than having to click through screens that can become confusing and lost. Clearly divided into 10 sections - each continent, Early Earth, Polar Regions, The Oceans and Reference - it brings the planet's geography alive with 3D maps, lots of pertinent facts and illustrations about the landscape, population, landmarks, climate and wildlife. Each section also takes a particular focal point and expands on it - South America is the Amazon Basin; Australia and Oceania is New Zealand - providing a ready reference tool that kept both Miss Nearly 11 and Miss 6 poring over its pages on a recent wet afternoon.
Globes and maps have a fascination for children - they love to discover where they came from, where their family and friends might be and also the settings of their favourite stories so to have a book that provides not just maps but so much more is a treat. While many school libraries are doing away with their reference collections, having a beautiful volume like this on permanent display so students can flick through it at their leisure will not only grab their attention but may have them demanding more information about a particular region.
Miss Nearly 11 was particularly fascinated by the Early Earth section as she knows Australia is ancient and we regularly drive through an area littered with huge granite boulders, the remnants of long ago mountains now weathered away. Miss 6 liked Australia but also New Zealand where she had a holiday in 2015! Definitely something for everyone which would be a superb addition to the collection that students will keep returning to.
Barbara Braxton

Beyond the bright sea by Lauren Wolk

Corgi Childrens, 2017. ISBN 9780552574303
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Historical. Belonging. Sometimes a book comes along that lingers in the mind and Beyond the bright sea is one of those wonderful lyrical and heart wrenching stories. Twelve-year-old Crow was found drifting in a small boat when she was just a few hours old. Rescued by Osh, a lonely man, she has been brought up by him and Miss Maggie, a neighbour across the sandbar. She is a curious person and when she sees a fire on the island across the water, she begins to piece together her own history. Her discoveries lead her and her companions into danger, as the mystery of her birth and the strange occurrences on the island of Penikese in Massachusetts begins to unfold.
Beautifully described, the life that Crow leads on the island in the 1920's comes alive. She is intelligent and intuitive and really wants to know where she came from and why many people avoid her. She is dearly loved by Osh and Miss Maggie but discovering why she was set adrift as a new born begins to obsess her. As she uncovers the truth surrounding her birth, she also begins to understand the true meaning of family and belonging.
At the same time, Wolk has woven in a mystery surrounding Penikese, the island that had been the home of lepers in the past. Crow is integral in solving who is the evil man haunting the island and what has happened to long lost pirate treasure.
The Note at the back of the book details the research that provided the background of the leper colony and the shipwrecks that occurred in the seas surrounding the islands.
Beautifully written, this is an outstanding story. With its focus on belonging, identity and prejudice it would make a wonderful read aloud or a class novel or literature circle novel.
Pat Pledger

The pearl thief by Elizabeth Wein

Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781484717165
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Crime fiction. Scotland. Historical fiction. Prejudice. When Julia returns from Switzerland to help her family clear out her grandfather's estate before a school takes over the house, she arrives a few days early and goes for a walk in the valley, aware it will be for the last time. But she wakes three days later in hospital, hair shaved and a blinding headache, while the nursing staff treat her with contempt. She was found unconscious by a group of Travelers and the resultant newspaper headline and her scrappy clothes did not endear her to the hospital staff. Prejudice against the Travelers was well ingrained in the 1930's. But back at home, where she and her family are living in just a few rooms while they pack, she finds that her Grandfather's pearls are missing, the pearl price paid by the Travelers generations ago to use the land each year, along with those he found in the waterways on their estate. But when the curator sent from Oxford to catalogue the estate's trove, also vanishes, Julia begins to take a closer interest in the artefacts and the man's disappearance. With her memory of the circumstances when she was struck slowly returning, she puts herself in danger. She wants to find out what happened to her, and in trying to find more evidence in the water where she was when hit, finds a jar with the stolen pearls. She and her brother, Jamie, alone with the Traveler twins Euan and Ellen who rescued her, make a decision about what to do with the pearls. And again they are all in danger.
With a wonderful setting amongst the hills in Perthshire this page turning story with hints of the nineteenth century stories of Stevenson and Scott, as well as nods to Robbie Burns, the tale will appeal to mid secondary readers who relish crime stories. With elements of a cosy but full of rounded beguiling characters, a touch of romance and a style which will remind readers of Agatha Christie, Patricia Wentworth or Dorothy Sayers, this is
a prequel to the highly successful, Code name Verity, and Rose under fire. The pearl thief will delight readers with its setting, construction, characters and plot twists. Wein cleverly shows the changing attitudes to women through Julia and Ellen, and their changing circumstances reflect the changes in society as a whole, as the titled family moves from its ancestral home, and the Travelers find it difficult to find a place to camp.
Fran Knight

The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson

Ill. by Helen Oxenbury. Penguin, 2017. ISBN 9780141363820
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. Something is hiding in poor Rabbit's burrow, scaring the forest animals. The creature hiding inside announces 'I'm the Giant Jumperee and I'm scary as can be!' Each of Rabbit's friends offers to help remove the intruder. When Cat slinks up to burrow ready to pounce, he is greeted by the creature's taunting remark - 'I'll squash you like a flea!' Bear offers to knock him down with his big paw however, he is told 'I'll sting you like a bee!' This mysterious animal certainly knows which buttons to press to scare each one away. Mummy Frog stands at the each of the burrow, arms akimbo, eyes wide open, determined to sort out the problem. She's not concerned and challenges the Giant Jumperee to appear on the count of three! Out jumps her Baby Frog, happy to have scared all the animals. Mummy Frog is not amused while Elephant, Rabbit, Bear and Cat lay back in the green grass, laughing at the trick played by the little frog.
Donaldson's uncomplicated story uses rhyme and repetition to delight the young audience. Oxenbury's colourful paintings are delightful; they show the range of emotions each animal feels as the Great Jumperee defeats them. This gentle story is just right for predicting the outcome and engaging a Preschool or kindergarten class.
Rhyllis Bignell

Zombie Swap by Zack Zombie

Diary of a Minecraft Zombie bk. 4. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9780986444166
(Age: 7+) This popular fan fiction series is presented as Zombie's diary and in this junior novel, he has swapped bodies with his friend Steve the Villager. This sets the scene for much awkwardness at school and home, for many new and difficult situations and of course, plenty of gross humour. Zombie discovers what it is like to be a human; there are problems with wearing clothes, using the SHA-WUR, what is SO-AP and how to use a TA-WOOL. Zombies normally do not spend a lot of time cleaning their bodies, they have holes in their faces and bodies and love to smell and be filthy.
Human school is a very scary place, Steve is a very popular guy and Zombie finds it hard to fit in, andn know what to do, what to say and how to act. His normal life is opposite. Steve has to live with the Zombies, Creepers, Skeletons and Slimes of Minecraft, and try to fit in as well. There are plenty of difficult situations for Zombie, luckily, Steve's friend Alex is there to guide him through the pitfalls. He even competes in the PVP Death Match Tournament with his new human friend Eli, and together they learn how to rely on each other and defeat the other team.
Zombie Swap is another humorous addition to the series, just right for Minecraft fans who enjoy reading about their favourite characters and their zany lives.
Rhyllis Bignell

Rose Ravensthorpe Investigates: Black Cats and Butlers by Janine Beacham

The dragon with a chocolate heart by Stephanie Burgis

Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408880319
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. The dragon with a chocolate heart is a wonderfully woven fantasy adventure that should come with a warning - needs to be read while drinking hot chocolate and sampling a large box of delicious chocolates! Stephanie Burgis combines the world of dragons, the forces of magic and brings a feisty hero to life. She sets her novel in traditional old world town - Drachenburg - where chocolate houses vie for royal favour.
Aventurine is a young dragon desperate to escape her boring family life. When she leaves her family caverns filled with golden treasure to search for her own dinner, the young dragon is tempted by a cup of sweet smelling hot cocoa from a mysterious food mage. In an instant, she changes from a colourful scaly dragon into a wingless human girl. Aventurine learns to adapt to her human body and sets off down the mountain into town. She meets scoundrels and townsfolk out for their own good and runs away from the first couple who just want an unpaid servant.
After some twists and turns, she meets young Silke who help her with suitable clothing and she finds a job as apprentice chocolatier at the Chocolate Heart. Her passion for chocolate and her love of finding the perfect flavours is beneficial for the business.
Burgis writes a rich and engaging fantasy narrative, filled with delicious sweet descriptions and cups of special hot chocolate to delight the royal family. Her setting amongst the delights and dramas of life in Drachenburg with all the behind-the-scenes details of the chocolate shop, the secret recipes, spicy touches, and the well-rounded characters add to the warmth of the story. How can the feisty young girl save the town from the attacking dragons who happen to be her own family?
The dragon with a chocolate heart explores the themes of acceptance, courage, resilience and making the right choices, a wonderful story for fantasy fans and just right for Middle Primary students.
Rhyllis Bignell

Maisy goes swimming by Lucy Cousins

Walker, 2017. ISBN 9781406374049.
(Ages: 3-5) Illustrator and author Lucy Cousins first created her Maisy Mouse character in 1990 and her picture books continue to be much loved family favourites to share with youngsters all over the world.
Walker Books have published the delightful interactive story of Maisy goes swimming as a 25th anniversary celebration. Now a new generation of toddlers can help Maisy get ready for swimming at the pool. The young mouse is dressed for winter in many layers of clothes and she needs to put on her bathing suit. First, her blue hat and scarf come off, next her big brown boots and red coat. Each spread show the ever-patient mouse waiting for our help, as we lift, slide and open the sturdy flaps. Next comes more colourful layers, grey cardigan, green trousers, until at last we pull down her orange bloomers! At last, it is time for Maisy's colourful striped swimsuit and she is ready for the pool.
Maisy goes swimming is an entertaining book to share with a young child, to prepare them for swimming lesson and to stimulate their engagement with picture books, developing their pre-reading and motor skills.
Rhyllis Bignell

Princess Cora and the crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

Ill. by Brian Floca. Candlewick Press, 2017. ISBN 9780763648220
(Age: 5-8) Recommended. Princesses and royalty. Independence. Identity. Fantasy. Childhood. Fairy tale. In a classic fairy tale style with a princess, talking animal and a little bit of implicit magic, combined with some grit from a frustrated princess comes this charming tale. Princess Cora begins life impressing her parents with her blue eyes and pink toes, but almost immediately they are concerned for her royal role and her life is bound up with responsibilities that are dull as dirty bathwater. Cora endures her princess 'training' for some time until her polite frustration leads to a letter to an unseen fairy godmother. The solution to her woes is a crocodile!! With a little bit of 'changing places' magic, Princess Cora discovers some freedom and the joys of childhood while the crocodile metes out some reptilian payback for Cora's royal training regimen. Ultimately there is some happiness for all, in the manner of all good fairy tales. Hidden beneath the charming fairy tale plot is a little bit of a 'moral' for the adults in a child's life - allow children to be children before 'training' them for their adult roles. And a child reader will see a compliant child who learns to speak up and explore her independence, while still showing respect.
The illustrations by Brian Floca (a Caldecott medallist) are delightful and complement the text sympathetically. This is a lovely transition text between a picture book and an early chapter book.
Recommended for aged 5-8 years, it would make a lovely shared read-aloud text for an adult and child.
Carolyn Hull

Maybe a fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406372892
(Age: Upper primary - lower secondary) Highly recommended. Even if this story had been written by one author, readers would marvel at the skill and craftsmanship of the writing. Instead it is a collaboration, all the more impressive for that because: a singular voice rings out across the book; there are no stylistic fluctuations along the way; and the narrative development is seamless. This is despite being a complicated story, with several threads weaving through. The central story is about Jules coming to terms with the tragic and pointless death of her sister; this is the second tragedy her family suffers and she and her Dad stay strong to support each other. Other stories intertwine with this: Sam, the school friend, hopeful for the return of the long-unseen catamount; his older brother, Elk, returned from Afghanistan, but mourning a best friend who didn't; the rambling yearling bear that brings out the local hunters; the dangers and mysteries of the Slip, where the river disappears into an underground cauldron for a while, and the legendary but unfound Grotto, both of which hold resolutions to these interlacing stories. But these resolutions don't come so simply and comfortably. Like weft across braiding threads the tale of Senna is thrown; Senna, the vixen of three kits born just as Sylvie disappears; Senna of a mythical fox world, a Kennen with connection to the human world. And her connection is Jules. The fabric shimmers and tightens as these stories intersect and move to a compelling conclusion that answers the question in the title. Because of the implied middle school readership of the book it is important to mention not a spoiler but an alert: perhaps this story goes one tragedy too far. The ending is traumatic, with an achingly-sad last chapter that is hard to bear. Other choices could have been made that would have been uplifting and hopeful and still been satisfying. With that one caution this extraordinary book is highly recommended for upper primary and lower secondary readers.
Kerry Neary

Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406369090
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Wing Jones is a confronting novel about the aftermath of a car accident caused by drink-driving. Focusing on the family of the person responsible, it gives insight on the difficulties faced not only by the perpetrator, but the family and friends of the perpetrator.
A world where you are a nobody and your big brother is a somebody is always going to be difficult to navigate, let alone having both Ghana and Chinese heritage in a school with a mostly white population. Wing Jones is unlucky enough to be all of above - an outsider to anything considered vaguely normal by her peers. As bad as that is it all gets worse when her brilliant brother comes crashing down from the pedestal she's placed him on and the police come to the door with grim expressions for the second time in her life.
As the news of Marcus' drunk driving spreads, the school is engulfed by grief. From hero to villain in one night, Marcus' sister and best friend, Aaron, bear the brunt of it alone. Marcus is trapped in the hospital and they don't know if he'll ever wake up to face the two charges of vehicular manslaughter to his name. Swamped by her older brother's guilt and encouraged by her spirit animals, Wing must learn a new way to cope before the weight of Marcus' guilt breaks her. She starts to run - an act she'd avoiding since childhood - and she's good. With Aaron's help and the slim glimmer of hope that her athletics will help Marcus, Wing joins the track team and shocks not only her classmates, but her mother and Grannies too.
Dealing with issues surrounding drink driving, bullying, and racism, this coming of age story is highly recommended to people thirteen and up.
Kayla Gaskell, university student

Stepping stones by Margriet Ruurs

Ill. by Nazar Ali Badr. UQP, 2017. ISBN 9780702259739
(Age: 5 - Adult) Recommended. Refugees, Syria, Arabic, Sculpture. A worthy addition to the range of books about refugees with which to engage children, Stepping stones, will delight younger readers with its parallel text in Arabic, its amazing illustrations and concise story, best read aloud. With others like Out (Angela George, 2016) Teacup (Rebecca Young, 2016), Suri's wall (Lucy Estela, 2016), Flight (Nadia Wheatley, 2015) and My two blankets (Irena Kobald, 2014), a class set of books about refugees would be the richer for their inclusion, allowing children to pick out and read several books, or work with a class using these books to reflect the story of refugees today.
Stepping stones is unique however in its depiction of the people fleeing their homes. The illustrator, Nizar Ali Badr, a sculptor, works from his home in Latakia in Syria, and the author, having seen one of his stone pictures on the internet was propelled into writing a story to match the image. It would be intriguing to present the images to a group of children to write their own story, they are so graphic and detailed, that I am sure they will understand the story without hesitation.
Canadian author Ruurs, presents the story of this family whose love holds them together, finally finding a place of refuge where they are welcomed. Canada stands like a beacon of humanity in our world today.
The parallel text in Arabic is beautiful, the calligraphy a standout and will intrigue children as they look at the wonderful script, wanting to know more. I can imagine classes using this book as part of a discussion about refugees, allowing children to read it for themselves and share it with others, along with the stories depicted above. I can imagine children trying out the stone images for themselves, or trying to write script in Arabic. All their efforts will bring them to a closer understanding of the issue of refugees through one child's story.
Fran Knight