The Phoenix Five by Sandi Phoenix, Christopher Phoenix & Monica Millgate. Illus. by Katherine Appleby

Down by the coast, where the river meets the sea, there’s a secret meeting place beneath an old gum tree
Join the Phoenix Five as they discover the power of friendship, the joy of accomplishment, and the beauty of dreaming together.

On first read, this was just another cute Australian rhyming story, with a positive message about working together. The illustrations are appealing and engaging with lots of white backgrounds to draw the eye to the characters, and the rhyming text is easy to comprehend. Each of the five characters is introduced individually, along with a list of their strengths. It is apparent that they are close friends despite (or maybe because of) their differences. Younger children would enjoy the story as well as the search for the sixth character, a tiny frog, on every page.

On reaching the end of the story, discovering the Educator Notes, and realising the connection to my tertiary studies in sociology…Maslow’s hierarchy of needs…the book seemed to develop a greater depth. With emotional literacy having become part of the curriculum, rather than merely something teachers may include incidentally, this book can take its place as a vital resource.  As stated in the notes, it can be used as “a tool for teaching children about their needs through an idea called ‘Needs Literacy’.”  

In my previous role as teacher librarian, this is a title I would certainly have purchased for my collection, knowing it has a place in multiple curriculum areas.

https://www.phoenix-support.com.au/phoenixfive

Jo Schenkel