Reviews

A single thread of moonlight by Laura Wood

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Laura Wood has written a charming retelling of the classic Cinderella tale in A single thread of moonlight. Iris was the apple of her father’s eye until he remarried. Her new stepmother and two stepsisters are cold, and when her father died in mysterious circumstances, she fears for her life. She runs away to London where she is fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of a seamstress and the embroidery skills her mother taught her make her a valuable employee. Then handsome Nicholas Wynter comes into the shop one day and Iris is given the chance to have revenge on her stepmother. Posing as an heiress, she goes to her old country home to help Nicholas’ own plan of vengeance and at the same time try to reclaim her inheritance.

Wood manipulates the well-known story of Cinderella, with a feisty heroine who is courageous enough to run away from danger and then make a living for herself. The wicked stepmother is portrayed well as evil and conniving, but the reader will have some sympathy for a woman who must look after herself and her daughters in the late 19th century, when she cannot own her own property. And of course, Nicholas Wynter is a swoon-worthy hero and the romance between the pair sparkles.

This is another feel-good story from Wood with witty dialogue and wonderful background of a fashion house with gorgeous clothes and upper-class life in a country mansion. Readers may enjoy others by Wood like Under a dancing star, The agency for scandal and A season for scandal and would find it worthwhile chasing up Eva Ibbotson’s lovely romances.

Themes Romance, Women, Upper classes, Great Britain - 19th century.

Pat Pledger

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Friday Barnes: Collision course by R.A. Spratt

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Collision Course, the exciting twelfth instalment in R.A. Spratt's well-loved Friday Barnes series is here! Bringing another dose of clever sleuthing and high-stake adventures, the readers will not be disappointed.

Once again, the audience will find themselves immersed in the world of the courageous young detective, Friday Barnes. As the story quickly unfolds, Friday finds herself embroiled in a whirlwind of danger and intrigue when she is falsely accused of terrorism and faces imminent arrest by the Paris police. Friday must quickly decide what her next steps will be.

Luckily, she has her great allies, Melanie and Ian to help work out a plan. Friday discovers her mother has already been arrested in Switzerland, and together they must navigate a perilous path to clear her name and uncover the truth behind the sinister plot that threatens the Barnes’ family. But, how will she possibly get across the border undetected, help her mother and clear her own name? This will definitely need some ingenious strategies!

Friday Barnes, with her super sharp intellect and unflappable determination, once again proves herself to be a force to be reckoned with. Fearlessly tackling each new challenge that comes her way, alongside her loyal friends Melanie and Ian, Friday embarks on a thrilling journey.

Friday must navigate and manoeuvre her way amongst her very intriguing physicist family members, police and lawyers. However, with Ian’s sudden disappearance, can Friday focus on each twist and turn that is thrown at her, or will everything become too much?

Spratt, has again, masterfully weaved a web of suspense as Friday cleverly navigates each crime as it unfolds, and keep readers guessing until the very end. Collision Course is a must-read for fans of the Friday Barnes series and newcomers alike. With its gripping storyline, compelling characters, and expertly crafted suspense, this latest novel is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating another one of Friday's adventures.

Themes Detective, Adventure, Suspense, Mystery, Determination, Bravery, Friendship, Teamwork, Problem solving, Neurodiversity.

Michelle O'Connell

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Ready, set, big school by Jan Stradling and Jedda Robaard

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Another in the series of Play School books published by ABC Books in the Mindfully Me project, promotes a positive, friendly introduction to the next stage in the education of Maurice.

Told with the characters, Little Ted, Big Ted, Jemima, Humpty and Kiya listening to a talk by the representative from the big school, Mr Bao, he reveals some of the customs required when getting ready to go to the big school. There is talk about shoes, uniform and backpack, but when Maurice brings in a pile of equipment, he is gently told they are for camping, not school.  Big Ted then shows him what things he needs to take in his backpack. 

Maurice gets a funny feeling in his stomach but Big Ted helps him by telling him how to meet his new friends, introducing himself and telling them what he likes to do. When Big Ted drops Maurice off at school, he ha a funny feeling in his tummy as he prepares to leave.

The new class does a range of great things, including painting and reading, and when a bell sounds, Maurice is told that means a change of lesson. Outside he introduces himself to another new person and the two then build a castle in the sand pit. The day passes by very quickly and before he knows it, Big Ted is waiting for him at the door.

The Play School Mindfully Me series helps children and their carers tackle life's challenges together - big or small in a way that takes the reader on a journey with Maurice, in this case, through a situation they will all encounter, giving them guidelines about what to expect and how to react.

Themes Play school, Mindfully me (series), Preparation, School.

Fran Knight

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The key to deceit by Ashley Weaver

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The key to deceit is second in the series featuring Electra McDonnell (Ellie) and follows A peculiar combination. It continues the story of a family once engaged in breaking open safes and theft and now engaged in working for the government. Ellie misses the adrenaline thrill she once had when unlocking a difficult code but is more than happy to serve her country. When Major Ramsey wants her to unlock a bracelet on the wrist of a woman found floating in the Thames she agrees and they become involved in uncovering a spy network working for the Germans.

Set in London just before the beginning of the Blitz in 1940, The key to deceit will delight readers who enjoy  a suspenseful spy thriller with plenty of danger. Ellie is a feisty young woman who uses her skills to break the codes on locks and her intelligence to work out clues to the espionage ring. Major Ramsey is the strong silent type and there is a hint of romance with both the Major and Ellie’s friend Felix on the scene. A secondary mystery thread is Ellie’s search for evidence that her mother did not murder her father and she slowly gains some new insights into this as the novel progresses.

This can be read as a standalone but beginning with A peculiar combination will flesh out the characters for the reader. It is an easy-to-read book that should appeal to readers who like historical fiction combined with a spy thriller and murder mystery. I will be sure to pick up the next in this series, Playing it safe.

Themes Mystery, Espionage, World War 2, London.

Pat Pledger

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Who am I? I'm a duckling by Liv Wan, illus.

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One in a number of books in the Who am I? series published by New Frontier, the book about a duckling will have instant appeal to the very young, just learning to hold and open a book. Study board books are great introductions, and combined with am engrossing theme concerning a variety of animals, told simply and surrounded by wonderful bright illustrations, younger children will be enthralled.

In the duckling book, various traits are given about an animal, then the question ‘Who am I?’ is posed, answered by opening a flap to find the picture of the animal. In this book, children will see the difference between a cow, a horse, a duckling, pig, when on the last page the flap reveals a mirror, subtly including them in the carnival of animals. The background detail shows a little of the environment in which these animals live, and a few other animals are included, encouraging recognition by the reader. They will love this board book, sturdy and strong, brightly coloured and detailed, giving range to a host of learning about animals.

Themes Animals, Farm life, Recognition, Question and answers, Lift the flap, Board book.

Fran Knight

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A season for scandal by Laura Wood

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I loved The agency for scandal and when I saw that the second in the series, A season for scandal, had been published I had to read it immediately. Laura Wood has done it again – writing a witty, romantic mystery with wonderful characters and a delightful  background featuring Bloom’s Florist shop and the meaning of flowers.

Marigold Bloom accidentally drops a book on Oliver Lockhart’s head in a bookshop, and bursts into tears with this latest misfortune in her day. Her fiancé has broken off their engagement, his father has propositioned her and put the family business into danger. Oliver gives her a card for the Aviary, an agency to help women in distress, and there she finds not only assistance for her plight, but the chance to become an investigator. Oliver Lockhart needs the help of the Aviary to uncover the truth behind the return of his long-lost sister, and Mari finds herself masquerading as Oliver’s fiancée in his cold Yorkshire castle.

The trope of dark, ill-tempered hero and optimistic heroine is managed with a light hand by Wood. Readers who read The agency for scandal would remember Oliver from there, and it was great to see him gradually being drawn out of his isolation by Mari, who has a sunny nature but is also well organised and a very skilled botanist. The romance takes centre stage, but the mystery is also gripping as Mrs Finch and her detectives try to work out just why Oliver’s newly discovered sister might be a fraud.

I eagerly await the next in the series and continue to read Wood’s backlist. These books are feel-good escapist reads and lovers of mystery and romance are likely to enjoy them and perhaps books by Eva Ibbotson and Georgette Heyer could also be recommended.

Themes Romance, Mystery, Detectives, Women, Upper classes, Great Britain - 19th century.

Pat Pledger

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Skywake: Endgame by Jamie Russell

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Casey Henderson, aka Casey_Flow, came to notoriety through her gaming ability in the game Skywake. Her involvement in a gaming tournament introduced her to a group of teammates and in Skywake: Invasion (Book 1 of this series) they were abducted by aliens and needed to use their gaming skills to fight back. In this final book in the series, they are again back on earth and needed to bolster the local resistance’s efforts in overcoming the alien invaders. In the course of Casey’s adventures in the cosmos she has unlocked telepathic and telekinetic skills that are needed to fight against the alien forces acting against earthly existence. The world is in turmoil, and it seems that the young gamers and their new friends in the resistance movement are the only ones agile enough to have any hope to counter the formidable oppression of the invaders with their advanced technology. Casey and her friends must intervene in the search for an array of additional hidden alien technology which would unfairly bolster the current invaders’ power. Can they get there in time, and will Casey’s brother, Pete, be a hindrance or a help to their efforts? 

This is the kind of sci-fi adventure that will impress gamers and young teen readers. The heroes are from the quick-witted gaming community that are used to jumping, shooting, blasting and problem-solving in a constantly evolving, rapid-fire environment. They come from different backgrounds, but their combined talents make them formidable opponents. When pitted against aliens (and enabled with some alien enhanced abilities too) they become ‘super-human’ in more ways than one. Adults are superfluous in this game-like environment.  I was impressed by the excitement and tension created in this sci-fi adventure and wish I had read all the books in the series. The young characters had quirky, adventurous qualities (as all good gamers do), tempered by occasional teenage reticence in the face of life-threatening  danger, and yet they display courage in the face of fire. I admired their perseverance and quick spins out of danger. This is the kind of book (and series) that the 10-14 year old cohort will love. It has strong male and female characters, action aplenty, intriguing aliens and weaponry, and twists in the plot that are unexpected. A worthy book to recommend to this age group that will keep them away from their own gaming pursuits. (I also loved the homage to some older games - eg space invaders, and game arcade history.)

Themes Sci-fi, Gaming, Aliens, Conflict, Space, Resistance, Courage.

Carolyn Hull

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Eighth grade vs the Machines by Joshua S. Levy

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Jack and his middle school friends are aboard Public-School ship 118 which is stranded on Earth after the rest of its human population has mysteriously vanished.  This book is a sequel to Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy and continues the story which I would describe as a Science Fiction version of a Percy Jackson adventure.  Jack, Ari and Becka are continuing their space training around the empty cities while their ship is being repaired.  Once they finally take off in the PSS 118 it is captured by a robot army who are commanded by the powerful Minister. Jack and his friends are working hard to find out what happened to their families from Earth but there always seems to be someone on the inside ruining their efforts.  Could there be a traitor in their midst?

The narrative is interspersed with diary entries which gives different perspectives and reveals much about each character’s thoughts and feelings.  There is an abundance of action and fight scenes to keep the story moving and many references to futuristic tech and weaponry to satisfy the fans of this genre.  Robots and robot technology play a major part in the story and the questions about whether robots could take over the world could form an interesting discussion for classrooms in Technology.

Themes Science fiction, Robots, Aliens, Life on other planets.

Gabrielle Anderson

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Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French

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The author duo Nicci Gerrard and Sean French have written a memorable thriller that not only describes the investigation into the disappearance of Charlotte Salter but the effects that the disappearance has on her family and friends. When Charlotte Salter does not turn up for her husband’s 50th birthday party, her children, especially fifteen-year-old Etty, become increasingly worried. It is not like her to be late, but when Etty contacts the police, her fears are brushed aside. When Charlotte’s coat is found by the river and the body of her friend Duncan Ackerley is found in the river the police conclude that the pair were having an affair and that Duncan murdered her and then committed suicide. Thirty years later Morgan Ackerley, now a successful documentary maker, comes back and persuades his brother Greg to join him in making a podcast about the disappearance. This stirs up trouble with a suspicious fire turning to murder. Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor is sent to Glensted to take over the investigation and uncovers secrets from the past.

The novel is divided into three parts: Part 1 1990 events around the disappearance, Part 2 2022 the podcast, and Part 3 the investigation by O’Connor. French writes sympathetically of the Salter family, each member coming alive, with their characters, with flaws and strengths, giving a vivid picture of the family dynamics. Charlotte Salter is beautiful and loved by all, while Alec Salter is shown as a faithless husband. I was most drawn to Etty a strong and determined teen.

One of the highlights of the novel for me was the portrayal of the damage that never knowing what happened to Charlotte had on the whole family. Etty at 15 is bold and strong, living a life of a teenager with friends and parties. Thirty years later, she is tightly controlled and mourning the loss on one brother. Meanwhile Morgan Ackerly, an unpopular young teen, has achieved international success and is confident and sure of his ability to uncover some of the secrets surrounding Charlotte and his father.

The third section of the novel is given over to police procedure as Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor casts fresh eyes not just on the death by arson, but on the missing woman and dead man from thirty years ago. She is intelligent and intuitive and comes to a stunning conclusion that was a complete surprise for me.

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? is a gripping story with enough twists and turns to make it hard to put down.

Themes Crime, Missing persons, Murder, Psychological mystery.

Pat Pledger

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Foul play by Fiona McIntosh

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Fiona McIntosh brings back DCI Jack Hawksworth in the 5th mystery featuring this charismatic detective and his off-siders. This can be read as a stand-alone, as I did, but I am sure that readers will want to go back to read others in the series to see the development of the characters. In Foul Play, McIntosh examines extortion of superstar athletes as her main theme. When footballer Luca Bruni receives a photograph showing him in a hotel room with a woman, he swears that he was not involved and refuses to pay the ransom, instead getting in the police to investigate. Hawksworth and his team uncover numerous counts of athletes being swindled, all of whom have paid the ransom money, rather than going through the police and facing the inevitable media scandals. Luca Bruni is stubborn and is determined to bring the perpetrators of the extortion racket to justice, even though he must navigate marriage problems with his pregnant wife. When a brutal murder that Jack’s colleague Geoff is investigating overlaps with the extortion case the suspense is ramped up as the two teams investigate.

The action and tension were well paced and the sporting background and issues surrounding celebrity gave depth to the mystery. I particularly liked reading about young Luca’s life as a potential football star and the work and sacrifices he had to undergo to become a megastar. Jack is a very likeable character and details about his personal life were enjoyable, as were details about his teammates Kate and Geoff.

Foul play was hard to put down and easy to read because of its gripping plot. I certainly will be seeking out more books featuring Jack and his team.

Themes Mystery, Extortion, Murder, Sport.

Pat Pledger

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Losing the plot by Annaleise Byrd

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Basil and Terry are neighbours, but they have nothing in common.  Terry is passionate about sport but needs help with his reading to improve his schoolwork.  Basil is an avid reader, so he is roped in to help Terry every Saturday morning, a task he is not looking forward to.  They begin by reading from an old copy of The complete Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, and when Basil accidentally opens a magic portal, Gretel lands in his bedroom asking them for their assistance.  She needs them to help her to find Hansel, who is missing from his fairytale and must be found before disaster strikes fairytale land. She transports them to Fairytale land, and they must unravel the mystery of Hansel's kidnapping or face Deep Trouble (which is an unknown punishment, but scary nonetheless). Filled with all the witches, princesses, princes, conmen and troublemakers from all the fairytales you can think of, readers will be amused by the antics of these characters when they are not in their particular stories. Basil and Terry are well developed through the story and come to appreciate each other through their experiences together, proving that the even the most unlikely children can become friends.

This is a very entertaining story revolving around fairytales and the characters in them.  It gives the reader a completely different perspective on these stories.  It will even appeal to some older readers and would be a great read aloud in class.

Themes Fairy tales, Grimm Brothers, Folklore.

Gabrielle Anderson

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Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle

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Pirates of Darksea is a spellbinding tale that will captivate readers of all ages with its irresistible blend of adventure, magic and heart. Catherine Doyle’s masterful storytelling transports audiences to a world where the impossible becomes possible.

Eleven year old Chris desperately wants to join the legendary pirate kings who sail the seas of Darksea. He heads down to the shores on the night of a full moon with his younger brother, Max, but is left deeply disappointed with no ship appearing on the horizon. Sending a note, he hopes for another opportunity to sail amongst the magical world.

Two years later, Chris has become gravely ill and is in hospital, and Max is really struggling without his older brother at home. When a nuisance bird named Squawk appears with Chris’ letter, Max is tricked into following him; thrusting him into an adventure he never imagined.

Heading over the rogue wave to cross the horizon, Max’s adventures begin on the famous ship, the Stolen Sunrise. He must learn very quickly to navigate the magical waters of Darksea, as there is great darkness there at the moment. The stardust is waning and the captain of the ship, Eliza O’Malley has lost her courage to protect the magical ocean.

Max finds a trusty ally in Ruby and together they decide to tackle the malicious vessel, the Dreadmaker, who is destroying Darksea’s good magic. Along the way they encounter a myriad of challenges, each more daunting than the last. Can Max defeat the evils of the Dreadmaker and restore Darksea, or will it be destroyed forever?

Catherine Doyle masterfully crafts a landscape teeming with vibrant imagery and intense tension, drawing readers in with interwoven danger and wonder. Max's journey is one of resilience and determination, as he confronts his fears head on in a bid to restore balance to Darksea and fight for his brother. His unwavering bravery in the face of adversity serves as a poignant reminder of the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.

Themes Determination, Resilience, Adventure, Pirates, Bravery, Friendship, Teamwork, Problem solving, Cancer.

Michelle O'Connell

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On the way to school by Vikki Conley. Illus. by Lucia Masciullo

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Going to school may be a common activity for children around the world, but many get to school in very different ways. This delightful rhyming story shows children on foot, catching a bus, riding a cablecar, crossing on a bridge, by canoe and toboggan. All with the same aim of getting to school.

Many different environments are shown giving a hint as to where each child lives. We see snowy streets, streets which are more familiar, children riding a donkey in a mountainous region, children rushing for a bus, canoeing down a river, some walking hand in hand through the fields, one brave child on a sling going across a ravine, catching a very fast train, walking through streets where cows roam freely.

The happy dancing, laughing children move across each page, encouraging the readers to laugh along with the children they see. It will an interesting discussion about where these children are, expanding the life views of the readers. A map at the end of the book will help the readers locate the place where these children live. 

Wonderfully exuberant illustrations encourage the reader to join in the fun shown on each page. The illustrations reveal a diversity of children and methods of travel, and how some children overcome the barriers put in their way making travelling to school ore difficult for them. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes Diversity, Travel, School, Difference.

Fran Knight

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Tonight, I burn by Katharine J. Adams

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Penny is a young witch living with her mother, grandmother, and sisters in a coven of Thorn witches. Their role in their warped and damaged world is to repair the veil between life and death, as instruments of the Warden, a man whose power plays can only be described as evil. The Thorn witches can only do their job by passing into death themselves, through a process of immolation - ritual burning. A return to life after their journey into Death is possible but fraught with risks, and Penny is looking ahead to her first burning with trepidation. Her coven is also responsible for transforming others in their world into virtual puppets to the Warden - masked and diminished, and sadly less than they were. So much has been damaged in the world of magic and Penny seems to have more power than most to affect a possible repair, but first it seems that she has to rescue someone close to her.  Unfortunately though, she places herself in greater danger and makes a risky covenant with a formidable, but intoxicatingly magnetic person existing in Death. What begins with a burning, escalates into something that blazes in intensity and power for Penny and all who exist in Life. There is no turning back. 

This is an intense fantasy saga embroiled in the black and sombre environment of witches, dark magic, and death - not a happy place for this reviewer! Despite that, there is the redeeming aspect of characters who love, who display loyalty, who fight for the good of others, and who go to extreme lengths to overthrow authority that does not consider those around them. There is even romance within this dark tale (that almost extends to the erotic at some points, with both same-sex and heterosexual attraction and expression - there is more than one way to burn!). The dark journey into death is also quite confusing and the fantasy world created by Adams is intensely complex, and so this book is only for those with mature fantasy interests - there are no magic wands or fairy dust in this magical world. The plot begins in a very intense way and there is no let-up in the intensity as more and more complexities are woven into Penny’s role as potential rescuer, and in the restoration of her world. There is violence and danger scattered throughout the story, and readers will champion the fearful Penny as she faces up to her role in overcoming what seems to be an awful future. And this is only Book 1!  Although I am not a fan of this kind of darkly magical and depressing fantasy, I accept that there will be some who will find Adams’ fantasy story writing craft as compelling and will become trapped within the pages of her Thorn Witch Trilogy as they follow Penny’s journey. This is not a light-hearted or child-friendly fantasy.

Themes Witches, Fantasy, Magic, Death, Power, Fear, Rebellion and resistance, Romance, Same-sex-attraction.

Carolyn Hull

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Circles of life by Gregg Dreise

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Well-known Kamilaroi and Euahlayi author and illustrator Gregg Dreise has brought together his proud knowledge of his own traditional art and culture in this beautiful picture book Circles of Life. In this gentle book readers are taken on a journey alongside two young girls and shown how to create a traditional painting of Gabayindah Guroos or Thank You Circles that are a celebration of the different elements of our world. Using ochre from Mother Earth, sticks and stones, readers are encouraged to create their own Thank You Circle.

The painting begins with a small circle in the centre of the page representing Father Sky. This is followed by circles placed around Father Sky which represent Mother Earth and what she brings. More circles follow representing water and trees, followed by even more dots representing animals. Ancestors who have cared for Country surround the circular formation, followed by Elders and then children. The last layer is perhaps the most poignant, a wish for the children of the future - that they have a sustainable Country to connect with. After the completion of each layer thanks is given for what nature has provided.

Written in careful and reflective verse, surrounded by striking illustrations in bright and bold colours, this book is wonderful introduction to an aspect of traditional art and story. The dramatic endpapers show a handprint amidst many Thank You Circles.

Circles of Life deserves to be read slowly, savouring the words while creating a thoughtful Thank You Circle. This book would be an excellent resource for Harmony Day as it sends a message of being in harmony with the land by connecting to Country, and listening to Songlines through the words of Ancestors and Elders.

Themes First Nations People, Art, Drawing, Country, Connection, Culture, Respect.

Kathryn Beilby

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