Reviews

Blue and other colours with Henri Matisse

Phaidon, 2016. ISBN 9780714871325
(Age: 2-6) Recommended. Board book, Matisse, Art, Colour. A board book full of reproductions of Matisse's work with scissors, done when he was old and arthritic, sitting in bed with painted paper and a pair of scissors is offered to encourage younger children to recognise colours through the medium of an artist's work. It is a lovely book to hold and look at each page in turn. The text draws the reader onto the next page, a child wondering what the words will say as they explain the colours on each page. Some pages reflect one colour, then another colour is added, then several colours are shown, then the book comes back to one, adding a subtle level of excitement for the reader. Reading aloud with a group of children will encourage their colour recognition, involvement in an artist's world and the possibility of trying the technique themselves. The last double page shows a whole range of colours inviting the reader to recognise and point to each in turn, the last page has a potted history of Matisse and his work for the adult to read out to the child and incorporate in the use of the book, while inside the front cover is a list of all the works shown in the book with their details. This is one of a series of board books published by Phaidon, First Concepts with Fine Artists.
Fran Knight

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Wild and wacky edition 2017 by Ripley's Entertainment Inc.

Scholastic, 2916. ISBN 9781338113242
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Crazy facts. Humour. The latest edition of Ripley's believe it or not looks at crazy facts, and really weird wonders of the world. It is sure to be an absolute winner with people of all ages who like to read about strange and wonderful things and often get a laugh or a sense of amazement about what goes on in the world. The cover with its vivid face set in a lettuce leaf and with a pickle protruding from the mouth will be enough to entice the reader to open up the book and see what is inside.
There is an easy to read and enticing Contents page, with the headings Extra-ODD-inary Legacy, Entertaining Enterprises, Bend over backwards, Bizarre World, Funky Fauna, Cross your fingers, and Culture Collection. An index is also available for those who want to go back to a particular occurrence. The Extra-ODD-inary Legacy gives an overview of the Ripley world and how it began, with pictures of the different spots around the world where Ripley worlds can be found. The reader is then off to read about the wonderful things that have been gathered together. I was particularly intrigued by the little girl who invented ZolliPops, tooth friendly treats and the creation of cardboard shoes. The picture of a giant African tortoise being taken for a walk, dressed in a pink outfit also brought a smile to my face while the photo of the elephant selfie was amazing.
Interspersed throughout the book are quizzes, which when answered will send the reader off to sections that may interest them, another way of browsing according to what the reader may want to read. The photos are so vivid and interesting that they make the reader want to read the captions and find out about the wild and wacky things that are going.
This will appeal not only to reluctant readers but anyone who picks it up and would make a great addition to a classroom or library and will give individuals the chance to talk about strange things.
Pat Pledger

Classic nursery rhymes introduced by Chris Riddell

Ill. by Dorothy M Wheeler. Bloomsbury Education, 2016. ISBN 9781472932389
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Nursery rhymes. Nostalgia. This stunning re-release of a book of English nursery rhymes, was first published when World War One was raging. Apparently a chance discovery in company archives exposed the original book which is now presented with its original illustrations by Dorothy Muriel Wheeler (1891-1966). Wheeler is best known for her illustrations for the books of Enid Blyton, but she also produced postcards and a series of cards, particularly featuring fairies, and illustrated books by Anne MacDonald. First published by A. & C. Black (bought by Bloomsbury in 2000) in 1916 as a music book, the nursery rhymes featured were selected and edited by L. Edna Walter, and the harmonies were written by Lucy E. Broadwood.
The watercolours accompanying the text in the new edition which features an introduction from Children's Laureate, Chris Riddell, have been restored giving the classic rhymes included in this volume a new life while the musical arrangements created by Lucy E. Broadwood have been kept for this new edition.
This lovely presentation of a book first published one hundred years ago, will make any Gran happy as she recalls nursery rhymes of her childhood and can present them to a new generation. The book includes some old favourites, 'Little Jack Horner', 'Jack and Jill' and 'Humpty Dumpty' and with its stunning illustrations, redolent of books from long ago, the book is aimed at the Christmas market.
Fran Knight

Timing the machine by Gary Crew

Ill. by Paul O'Sullivan. Harbour Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781922134530
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Fantasy. Future. Science fiction. Time travel. When Enoch becomes lost in the museum, he is at a loss to even remember who he is, let alone why he is there, who his teacher is, and how he was separated from his class. He questions himself as he tries to find his way, stumbling over things in his path. Bleeding, he begins to even question his own humanity, as he continues to stagger on through the place. Mixed with time travel, H G Wells' The Time Machine which the class is studying, a museum full of strange offerings, Enoch's journey will intrigue all readers. They, like him, will struggle to find out where he is and why he is there. Sometimes there appears to be someone else in the room, sometimes his hands become automated, sometimes he climbs large staircases finding something at the top of the stairs that may unravel the mystery. All lead the reader on, wanting to know about the journey Enoch is taking. The mystical language, full of what if's and why's, never offering an answer, will delight younger readers, while O'Sullivan's illustrations will carry the reader into the story, offering clues and hints, about what is going on.
This is a marvellously intriguing book, with writing that charms and insinuates, complimented with illustrations that sometimes defy the imagination, but always take the reader further along into a fantasy world where time is immaterial and time travel an option.
I love the Escher style staircase, the hands that move with metallic parts, the soaring Gothic building, the rolls of film on every few pages that tell part of the story of Enoch looking for an answer. He doesn't get an answer and neither do we, but the journey is fascinating, and well worth the travel.
A sequel to The visions of Ichabod X, which was shortlisted for the Australian Book Designer's Award in 2016.
Fran Knight

Little Owl's egg by Debi Gliori

Ill. by Alison Brown. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408853795
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. Little Owl is surprised and a little jealous when Mother Owl announces there is a new baby owl inside the egg Mummy has lain. He wants to remain Little Owl and is scared there won't be enough of his mother's love to share with a new baby as well.
Clever Mummy decides a walk in the woods with the egg safely in its nest pusher will help. Little Owl is adamant: 'I'm your baby owl. You don't need a new one'. Mummy pretends the egg will hatch into an array of different creatures. Is it wiggly worm crawling underground, a chocolate egg, a penguin eating a fish on the freezing ice or a baby crocodile? Each suggestion is met with a negative response from Little Owl, not a baby crocodile, until Mummy suggests an elephant, and Little Owl loves the idea of water fights! There's the suggestion of a dragon, much to Mummy's horror and a wonderful imaginary creature who eats eighty legged snort beans and green tubers. As they return to their home in the tree, Little Owl contemplates all the suggestions and comes to an important realisation that a baby owl may be the best thing of all.
Alison Brown's charming creatures take on human characteristics and show a range of emotions as Mummy Owl and Little Owl venture through the green woodland. Her paintings delightfully depict Debi Gliori's humourous narrative and fantastic story. A story to share before a new sibling arrives.
Rhyllis Bignell

The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry

HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9781460752036
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Inquisition. Middle Ages. France - History. Miracles. Dolssa de Stigata is a deeply religious girl who believes that she must preach. Persecuted by the Inquisition and hunted by Dominican Friar Lucien, she flees for safety and is found by Botille, a matchmaker in a small seaside town. Hidden in Botille and her sisters' inn, Dolssa talks to God and begins to help the villagers. But danger stalks all of them.
This is an outstanding piece of historical fiction. Berry brings the period and the characters to life - the deeply religious Dolssa and her belief in God, the Friar Lucien who believes that Dolssa is a heretic, and the three sisters struggling to make a living in a poor inn. There is humour and heartbreak as Berry describes the daily life of the villagers, their love and needs, as well as the horror of the Inquisition that hangs over ordinary people and leaves a sense of impending danger throughout the story. Botille is a courageous young woman and her narration brings both tears and laughter to the reader.
At the back of the book Berry gives an historical note, writing that the historical setting is real and that 'Dolssa de Stigata's story is based on the lives of several medieval female mystics'. There is more information about the period and a glossary adds to the authenticity of the narration.
This is a demanding and engrossing read, beautifully written, that vividly describes the life and beliefs of the Middle Ages. For readers who have problems with the ending, Berry has written a piece on her home page: About the Ending: Unraveling The Passion of Dolssa not to be read until the reader has finished the book.
Pat Pledger

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Ill. by Chris Riddell. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408870600
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Myths. The story, first published in 2009 and a World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novella, has been given a new face with the fabulous illustrations by Chris Riddell. Odd, whose name means tip of a blade, is left fatherless when his Viking father dies after a raid. His mother remarries but his step-father and step siblings don't want a boy who is a cripple around. One winter that doesn't want to end sees Odd fleeing to the forest and the old woodcutter's hut that his father once used. There he encounters a fox who leads him to a bear that has become trapped while trying to gather honey. Overhead an eagle has hovered watching what was going on. Odd becomes aware that the trio are Norse gods, who have been trapped in their animal forms by the frost giants who have taken over Asgard the city of the gods. Odd goes on an epic journey to find Thor's hammer and overcome the frost giants all the while carrying a wooden sculpture that his father had left behind.
The narrative flows along and keeps the reader engrossed in the tale of Odd, who is a most engaging young man and whose courage in the face of danger and disability is as strong as his resilience and kind heart. The legendary figures of Thor, Odin, Loki and Freya are fascinating and readers will laugh at Loki's antics and smile at the Riddell's illustrations which make them seem life like. The knowledge that Odd's mother had been taken from Scotland by his father and that she had always sung songs in her own language, provides a theme that readers will want to pursue and makes the ending all the more poignant.
The black and white pencil drawings are stunning. The front cover shows Frey, a frost giant and Odd, with a fabulous cut out of icicles and when the reader opens it up there is the strange face of a frost giant. The illustrations of the transformation of Odd from a young boy to a tall young man and the three gods to their proper forms are wonderful and readers will want to pore over them.
This is a story that begs to be read again and again for its approach to adventure, Norse myths and Vikings, while the illustrations ensure that it will be a keeper for families and in libraries.
Pat Pledger

Snow White - a Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan

Candlewick Press 2016. ISBN 9780763672331
The classic story of Snow White is a dark one; her mother dies, the wicked stepmother usurps her father's love and is jealous of her. She survives a murder attempt and briefly finds friendship in the seven dwarfs only to be poisoned; rescue comes only at the last minute. This graphic adaptation embraces that darkness and imbues it with 1920s style. It opens with the 'glass coffin' scene but here 'White as Snow' lies in Macey's Christmas window display with NYPD crime scene tape in the foreground. The detective interviews a street urchin, one of 'the Seven' and then the story flashes back to the beginning. The monochrome pencil and ink illustrations and foggy winter setting effectively suggest the coldness of Snow's life making the rare splashes of colour quite startling. The stepmother is a famous Zeigfeld Follies star who has enthralled her father and the magic mirror is replaced by a ticker tape machine which seems not only to have protected them from the stock market crash but also to emit statements about who is the most beautiful. The Seven are a group of motherless street urchins who protect Snow when she is alone on the streets and take her in. When the inevitable happens, the investigating detective is the one to give the kiss and wake Snow adding colour to all of their lives.
The visual storytelling is multi layered. A quick read with little dialogue but the attention to detail reveals a great cast of well-drawn characters and an authentic feel of Depression era New York. Not for the very young but a popular story cleverly retold.
Classroom ideas are available.
Sue Speck

Rain stones by Jackie French

Angus & Robertson, 2016. ISBN 9781460753170
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Rural Australia. Drought. This newly presented edition celebrates twenty five years since this book was first published. With a new cover and an edition in ebook format, times have changed, but not the charming set of stories reflecting life for young people in rural Australia.
The opening tale, Rain stones is a story which tells of life in rural Australia during a drought where mum must work in the town, Helen must get tea ready while dad works on the old pump getting what little water there is into the dam for the few sheep left on the property. French breathes life into this scenario as Helen strives to follow up the story about Aboriginal people bringing rain through special stones. She asks the local historian and finds that one of the boys in her class has Aboriginal heritage. She talks to his father but seemingly to no avail, until both groups meet to encourage rain. It remains a wining tale of coming together in drought ridden Australia, and reflects values now part of that time.
In 'Afternoon with Grandma', a visit by a family to their Grandma with Alzheimer Disease sees the two children told to go into the garden, where they meet a girl they think is their cousin and play with her learning all about her life and dreams. It is only talking with their mother that they learn that their Gran's dreams were the same.
In the third story, Ben meets Jacob at the swimming pool for lessons and realises that he is blind, while another story concerns the dinosaurs living in the hills around Canberra. All stories are quite delightful, revealing the early writing of Jackie French for a new generation of her avid readers.
Fran Knight

Rather be the Devil by Ian Rankin

John Rebus series. Orion Books, 2016. ISBN 9781409159414
(Age: Senior secondary to adult) Highly recommended. Cold case. Crime. Edinburgh. John Rebus though retired, hasn't put away his interest in crime or the criminals in Edinburgh. A cold case stimulates his interest; the death of wealthy, promiscuous Maria Turquand in a room at the Caledonian Hotel was never solved. Her murderer was never found despite there being a notorious rock band and all of its hangers on staying at the same hotel that night. Away from the old 'Cal', Edinburgh's criminal underworld has seemingly flexed its muscles when crime boss Darryl Christie is assaulted and Big Ger Cafferty is the prime suspect.
Siobhan Clarke and Malcolm Fox have to put aside their differences and work together with Rebus, not always a welcome partner in their investigations. Christie's criminal dealings are of interest to revenue and customs, particularly possible money laundering through his betting shops. The fact that he's been assaulted could mean he owes money, or there may be a takeover bid for his Edinburgh businesses.
Rebus has a history with Cafferty so is a useful go-between for Fox and Clarke, but is regarded with distrust by the hierarchy in the force. He can be a loose cannon which is of course, part of his charm.
Links between the cold case, old money and a struggle for supremacy in the Edinburgh underworld lead the investigation in circuitous routes, but who is pulling the strings? Is Cafferty a spent force? Is Rebus' health a problem?
Rankin gives us the old Rebus forging ahead breaking rules, putting himself in danger in pursuit of the perpetrators of crime, and of course Clarke and now Fox are teamed with Rebus to make a familiar and satisfying triumvirate. And for those who love the haunts of Edinburgh, there are descriptions of both the known and unknown of this city, so beloved by Rebus and his creator, Rankin.
Mark Knight

The Memory Book by Lara Avery

The giant's necklace by Michael Morpurgo

Ill. by Briony May Smith. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406357127
(Age: 10+) Recommended (with reservations for sensitive children) Themes: Ghosts; Death. Young Cherry, the only girl in her family, is keen to finish the excessively long 'Giant's Necklace' (a shell collection on a string) before the family leaves their beachside holiday home. Unfortunately, her focus on finishing the task prevents her from noticing the changing sea conditions, and this prevents her from leaving the shore safely. Her attempts to climb the cliff to escape the wild seas leads her to the old abandoned tin mine, where she encounters ghosts from a long ago mine collapse. Although Morpurgo cleverly leads the reader to think this is a story of survival, it is actually a ghost story and might be quite confronting for readers too young to deal with the grief-washed ending.
Morpurgo writes very engagingly with metaphor dripping from the pages, and simple scenarios of family life revealed in a way that children can connect to. The challenging theme of lives lost though may mean that this is one of Morpurgo's books that may need to be discussed with the child reader, rather than just placed in their hands. The illustrations by Briony May Smith are colourful and in a naive style, and perhaps may wrongly hint at a more light-hearted story.
Carolyn Hull

By the light of the moon by Tom Percival

Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408852118
(Age: 3-6) Moving house is a difficult time for adults and young children, their familiar rooms and play spaces are gone.
Ivan's old house had always been so warm and friendly. This new one was NOT.
When Ivan cannot fall asleep in his strange new bedroom, he sits up and stares out of his window. A magical shimmering ball of light falls in the garden and he dashes downstairs to see what it is. Ivan is led on a nighttime escapade past rocks, streams and flowers. Suddenly the light changes into Moji a small friendly magical creature, who paints the world with moonlight. Ivan becomes a brave boy following Moji on a special adventure, up into space flying by the stars and the moon. Moji's magic paintbrush illuminates the sky, moonbeams shine down on Ivan's new house. Dancing through the deepest forests and diving under the sea, Ivan's courage grows as he holds Moji's hand.
When Moji paints the word home across the night sky, Ivan realises that he can make new memories in his new house.
Tom Percival's computer-generated backgrounds use broad brushstrokes in muted tones. A palette of blues, pinks, blacks and greys brings the night setting to life, as motion lines create movement around the stylised characters. By the light of the moon is a gentle magical story, just right for those times when young children need reassurance.
Rhyllis Bignell

Discovering dinosaurs by Simon Chapman

Ill. by Rudolf Farkus and Mike Love. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408194614
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Dinosaurs, Non fiction, Fossils. The spectacularly ferocious image of a Tyrannosaurus Rex on the front cover is a winning invitation to this book with lift the flaps and pop ups about the perennial favourite topic, dinosaurs. I can't imagine too many people, kids and adults alike, moving past this book on the shelf. I picked it up immediately, reveling in the feel of this over-sized hard cover book and its thick pages revealing a host of hidden things telling me more about dinosaurs than I had read for a while.
Any good non fiction book is armed with a contents page, index and glossary and these, apart from an index are offered in this book, teaching young readers how to access information.
An introduction by Simon Chapman gives us the background and readers will love the 'boys own adventure' lifestyle he seems to lead.
The first double page introduces the reader to the time periods under discussion, Triassic, and the lift out flaps on each page reveal the Jurassic and Late Cretaceous periods, placed over a map of the world. Each double page thereafter reveals a different area of the world and the dinosaurs particular to that area. So the first page introduces the reader to where and when the dinosaurs first appeared on earth, followed by the velociraptor, amongst many others. Each double page tells us about the dinosaur with a fact box of all those curious bits of information young children absorb. Some pages have full page illustrations, some have many smaller pictures, some pages have lift the flaps and some have pop outs. It all leads to the last pages, one of which talks about their extinction while the next tells us about fossils and what they show us. All in all a fascinating addition to the range of books about dinosaurs which I am sure will be well read. A forward thinking teacher, parent or librarian might like to show kids how to use it carefully.
Fran Knight

Maladapted by R. Kurti

Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406346299
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Science versus Religion in this fast-paced dystopian adventure. Cillian, a budding mathematician, is the sole survivor of a terrorist attack on the Metro (subway). Triggered by the trauma, hitherto untapped superpowers enable Cillian to save himself. Sadly, his father's parting word, 'Gilgamesh', quickly becomes his quest.
Within hours, Cillian's home is burgled and he knows he must look for the answers to the sole clue to his real identity. But there is another lost soul for him to meet in Foundation City. Tess is an orphan. She was raised by an extreme religious group, 'Revelation' who were responsible for the subway disaster and every other attack on the high tech ruling elite. Tess is sent to observe and ultimately destroy Cillian but the pair become friends, united by their distaste for the extremism on both sides.
Of course the friends endure, but it is clear they have unfinished business in Foundation City. In Maladapted, characterisation is not one of Richard Kurti's strengths so readers looking to get to know Tess and Cillian, will be disappointed. However, the electrifying plot commands you to keep reading and we can expect that the main characters will be fleshed out in the ensuing series. Maladapted is crafted to satisfy fans of the Maze Runner and Divergent series or similar novels in the popular dystopian/sci-fi/horror category.
Deborah Robins