Africa, amazing Africa: Country by country by Atinuke
Illus. by Mouni Feddag. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406376586.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Themes: Africa, Geography, Climate,
Animals. Every page is full of colour and fascinating information in
this highly readable account of the 55 or so states in the continent
of Africa. Divided into four sections, following the points of the
compass, each section deals with the countries within its area. So,
Southern Africa for example lists the states of Angola, Botswana,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland,
Zambia and Zimbabwe. A page is devoted to each country and an
introductory paragraph outlines the main features of the place which
might include geography, climate, main cities, features, history,
customs and industry. This is accompanied by vibrant illustrations
and several facts at the bottom of the page. Each page is enticing
in what it reveals about that country, the information given is
absorbing, capturing the imagination of the reader.
I read it from cover to cover, it is so well written it lends itself
to that use, while in a classroom, its usefulness is enhanced by a
sound index and references to websites for further information. I
was struck with the positive thrust of the book. The information
about Africa is future focussed, each country is presented as a
vibrant community working together to overcome problems of the past.
The illustrations present a colourful, intoxicatingly positive aura,
full of life, colour and movement to encourage every reader to see
this extraordinary continent with fresh eyes.
The book's introduction outlines some of the things about Africa which
make Africa amazing and unique: the first humans walked there, there
are 55 states, but this is variable, there is a huge range of
temperatures, climates and landscapes as well as animals and
religions, languages and governments. Impossible to put into one
book, the facts given will whet the appetites of the students with a
desire to know more about the world they live in.
Fran Knight
Akin by Emma Donoghue
Picador, 2019. ISBN: 9781529019971.
(Age: Adolescent - Adult) Recommended. This beautifully written
narrative takes us into the world of Noah Selvagio, an older man
faced with a challenge that is unexpected. His decision to agree to
guardianship of his young great-nephew, Michael, a boy who has no
other living relatives, brings him a joy that we see him realise
only in the last lines of the narrative. Noah had lost his wife and
Michael's parents had struggled with drug use, poverty, and lost
their battle to live. Vibrant, entertaining and beautifully written,
this novel plunges us into the lives of two people, of vastly
different ages and experience, forced together at a difficult time
for both of them.
Yet while this young boy is tough, he resents being handed over to
an old man whom he doesn't know. Noah's struggle to adapt to such a
radical change in his own lifestyle evokes our empathy, given that
he is about to turn 80, and booked to return to the country of his
birth for the first time. He has only a photograph and a few ideas
about his mother's life, and is eager to find a sense of how she
managed, as a young Jewish woman, to escape from France during the
Second World War.
In the quirky inclusion of his late wife's words of wisdom, we read
of Noah imagining her commenting on his actions or telling him what
to do whenever he has a decision to make. When Noah realises, with
her 'help', that it is not sensible to admit to 'aches and pains' to
young people as they would 'write you off', she tells him, he is
convinced that he must be acknowledged as a capable and competent
carer for this street-smart but needy child.
This wonderfully uplifting, rewarding novel is appropriate for both
adolescent and adult readers. Emma Donoghue focuses on both the
challenges and the humorous aspects of aging, the tough outer
persona of youth, and the capacity for human beings to build
resilience, even to developing a loving friendship, even in the most
unlikely and unexpected ways. It is suitable for adult and older
adolescent reading and is a delightfully wry comment on the chance
of an unexpected event radically altering our lives.
Elizabeth Bondar
In the forest by Nancy Bevington
ISBN: 9781925594348.
(Age: 0-3) Board Book. Themes: Forests. This is one in a new series
for babies called Can you find? (others are Under the ocean,
At the beach, On the farm). Nancy's previous titles
have included the ZenTails and Mad Dog the chef
series. In this book, each page says 'In the forest there are . . .'
and then shows and names three things found in the forest (trees,
leaves, rabbits, toadstools, butterflies, foxes, waterfalls,
badgers, etc.) New Frontier publishes in the UK as well, hence the
English references. The illustrations are large and the animals are
happy and fun but quite realistically drawn. Each page has a
contrasting background colour. The last page says 'Can you find all
the things in the forest?' and shows all of the illustrations
included within the previous pages. These are simple but impressive
early vocabulary books that encourage parent-child interaction and
positive book experiences for babies.
Nicole Nelson
On the farm by Nancy Bevington
Can you find? series. New Frontier Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925594362.
(Age: 0-3) Board Book. Themes: Farms. This is one in a new series
for babies called Can you find? (others are Under the ocean,
In the forest, At the beach). Nancy's previous titles
have included the ZenTails and Mad Dog the chef
series. In this book, each page says 'On the farm there is . . . '
and then shows and names three things found on the farm (cows, a
pitchfork, hay, a farmhouse, a scarecrow, a wheelbarrow, a mower
etc. The illustrations are large, happy and fun but quite
realistically drawn. Each page has a contrasting background colour.
The last page says 'Can you find all the things on the farm?' and
shows all of the illustrations included within the previous pages.
These are simple but impressive early vocabulary books that
encourage parent-child interaction and positive book experiences for
babies.
Nicole Nelson
Invisible boys by Holden Sheppard
Fremantle Press; 2019. ISBN: 9781925815566. 344p; p/b. (Age: 15+) Recommended. Charlie, Zeke and Hammer each struggle to come to grips with their homosexuality in a small, conservative town. Invisible boys is a highly character-driven story, so it's only natural that the characters in the novel are well crafted. Characters are strongly introduced with relatable or familiar elements but ascend beyond stereotypes as the plot progresses into their hidden depths. As the synopsis likely suggests, the novel has a direct, central theme about the struggles of homosexuality in intolerant circumstances. It's not pleasant to read about, but it's an important perspective on privilege. The plot progresses in chunks as each character faces their own different struggles, but they're carefully woven together to keep the pace flowing. The novel is set in the modern day, in the real town of Geraldton, characterised strongly as small, highly religious, and as a result, intolerant. It's a familiar feeling for anyone who's lived in small towns before where everyone knows everyone and everything. The book follows the perspective of each major character, interspersed with grave letters to keep things compelling and tense. The pacing of which characters take focus when, is impeccable, and a continuous tone of dread permeates the entire novel, causing the reader to sympathise with the characters' awful plights. Teacher's notes are available. Vincent Hermann
Minor Mage by T. Kingfisher
Argyll Productions, 2019. ISBN: 9781614505006. 174p.
(Age: 13-Adult) Recommended. Themes: Magic, Drought, Coming of age.
Oliver is a minor mage with the ability of being able to cast only a
few spells, including the ability of tying shoelaces together and a
pushme pullme spell. He is clever with herbs and helpful in his
village, but when his mother is away, the villagers insist that he
goes on a quest to bring rain to the drought stricken area. On the
way he faces much danger, including being imprisoned by a strange
couple, encountering a ghost and nasty bandits in a dark forest and
meeting the eerie cloud herders who could bring rain.
Ursula Vernon writes as T. Kingfisher for adults and this novella
has caused some controversy as her editor didn't feel it was for
children. It does contain some gory bits - a mage who makes harps
out of the bones and hair of humans who have been murdered, ghuls
who chase Oliver trying to eat him, some vicious and violent fights
and a theme of adults acting in bad ways when under the influence of
a crowd. However Oliver is still only 12 years old and sounds like a
child and his familiar the armadillo is an endearing character.
Kingfisher gives the reader lots to think about, especially the
nature of crowd behaviour and how a clever and influential liar can
influence how people act.
The brevity of Minor Mage, the witty dialogue and intriguing
situations that Oliver and his familiar find themselves in made this
an engrossing, quick read. I think it would be suitable for teens
who don't mind some gory details and adults who enjoy T.
Kingfisher's clever narrative and original ideas will find it a
treat.
Pat Pledger
Step sister by Jennifer Donnelly
Hot Key Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781471407970.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fairy tale retelling,
Stepsisters, Bullying, Redemption, Feminism. I'm very fond of the
retelling of fairy tales and this one kept me reading to finish it
in a couple of sittings. Award winning author Donnelly takes the
reader on an engrossing tour examining what happens to Cinderella's
step family after she leaves to marry the prince. Isabelle, one of
the ugly stepsisters, had cut off her toes in an effort to win the
hand of the prince and now finds it difficult to walk, while the
whole family has been shunned by the villagers who taunt them for
what they did to Cinderella. Meanwhile the Fates have mapped out a
path for Isabelle, one that Chance their rival is determine to
change. Tanaquill, the fairy queen also becomes involved in
Isabelle's life and offers her the chance to find the three missing
pieces of her heart, granting her one wish and hereon her life begin
to change. Isabelle believes that being pretty is the most important
thing that she could wish for and begins a journey to find her
heart, on the way learning that her strengths of bravery and
fearlessness are ones worth having.
Donnelly confronts society's view of what a young woman should be
like as Isabelle meets danger, and with daring and cunning overcome
much adversity. Her descriptions of how Isabelle was ridiculed for
her 'ugly' appearance and her fierce fighting ability and Tavi, her
sister, for her intelligence and scholarly interests will resonate
with readers who will relish the girls' gradual transformation from
a pair trying to be beautiful and fit a mould into doing what they
do best, even if it is not what their mother or many men judge fit
for young women.
Although a fairly lengthy book, (469 pages), short chapters and
snappy dialogue make this an easy to read story and the reader will
quickly identify with Isabelle as she struggles with how she has
behaved with Ella, her sorrow about losing Felix and her horse Nero
and her triumphant coming of age.
Pat Pledger
A different land by Paul Jennings
Illus. by Geoff Kelly. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760528720.
128 pg.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Themes: Resilience, Migration,
Courage, Loneliness, Humour. Standing on the platform watching a
steam train pull away but with no one there to meet them, Mum (Pat),
her son Christopher and Anton, the boy from the boat are concerned
that they have come all this way for nothing. Applying for any job
she could meant getting out of the migrant camp and this one could
not have been more isolated. 1500 miles and greeted by a grizzled
man expecting to pick up another man to help in his hotel,
dumbfounded that Pat is a woman and with two young boys in tow. But
with no where else to go, they are bundled into his truck and in
paths cut into the forest, drive to his hotel, a run down, dirt
floored, building smelling of barbecue and with little in the way of
the comforts they were hoping for.
In telling this story, Jennings is recalling the concerns of all
migrants, as they come to a new land, full of hopes that may be
dashed, fear lurking beneath the surface, but resilient enough to
see their decision through. Pat is determined to make their move
work, and bolsters up the two boys when confronted with things like
the camp stretchers, snakes, wild boar and long drop toilets.
Jennings has included many things which will make his audience laugh
out loud, but a loving family and a welcoming lot of isolated people
ready to accept a new family in their midst gives the story an
emotional edge. Readers will recognise courage and resilience in the
dreams of the new migrants, reflecting the feelings Jennings and his
family had when arriving in Australia as 'ten pound poms'.
A companion piece to the two 'different' stories, A different
dog and A different boy, themes unite the stories and
the last of the three will draw a wide, appreciative audience,
loving the life and death adventure Christopher finds himself part
of and equally delighted by the black and white illustrations
accompanying the text setting the scene for the readers. Scroll down
the page for teacher's
tips from the publisher.
Fran Knight
Return of the Temujai by John Flanagan
Brotherband, book 8. Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780143785941.
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Themes: Action; Adventure; Conflict;
Teamwork. John Flanagan writes with an amazing flair for tension and
action-adventure stories for young adults who have grown up on
video-game conflict. In this, his 24th book since the original
successful Ranger's Apprentice series began and the 8th book
of the side-shoot Brotherband series, there is action
aplenty with risks taken and plans and strategies employed to defeat
the advancing Temujai - the war-hungry nation of horse-riding
archers. The Brotherband, usually sea-faring but also well-trained
land-based fighters, are required to assess the defences of their
Skandian countrymen. After an attack in a mountain strong-hold, and
then in what seems to be an impossible up-river and against-the-odds
sortie, the small band of misfit 'brothers' led by their youthful
leader, Hal, are required to change the course of the threatening
Temujai. The multi-faceted nature of their combat skills makes them
a formidable defence team, but they are a quirky bunch of
individuals!
This book is action from beginning to end, and yet there is warmth
in the relationships between the ship-based Brotherband (which
includes one female warrior) that tempers the adrenaline and
ferocity of the conflict. This gentle warmth, trust and
companionship makes this (or any book in the series) a book to
recommend for male and female readers. The pace and tension of the
story, with the intelligence of strategy as the characters are
required to overcome adversity and fight to survive, will be loved
by many readers.
Carolyn Hull
If you're out there by Katy Loutzenhiser
Balzer + Bray, 2019. ISBN: 9780062865670. 320p. Hbk.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Themes: Friendship, Mystery, Romance, Social
media. An engrossing story featuring female friendship and a mystery
is sure to engage both fans of suspense and those who like a
romance. Zan is devastated when her best friend Priya ignores her
calls and emails after moving to California. Her social media posts
don't sound like her at all and she can't believe that Priya would
just leave her hanging without saying why. With Logan, the new boy
at school, she begins to investigate what has happened to Priya even
though everyone believes that she should just let go of the past. A
clue in Priya's latest selfie and then a cryptic email make her
continue on her search for her friend.
Zan is the sort of friend that everyone would want. She believes
that she knows Priya so well that she can't be the shallow person
posting comments and selfies and so she decides to try and do
something about it. Logan, who has lots of problems of his own, is a
supportive and helpful friend and the dialogue between the two is
witty and humorous. Family dynamics play an important background
role in the story with Zan's mother giving advice from her therapist
viewpoint, and Zan coming to terms with her father's treatment of
her when her parents split. Loutzenhiser's skilful writing also
gradually brings to light Logan's bad boy background story in a
satisfying way and keeps the reader in suspense wondering whether
Priya has ghosted her friend or whether she is in trouble.
With its themes of social media, relationships and a diverse set of
characters, this light and easy to read story is sure to be popular
and its theme of female friendship is one to recommend.
Pat Pledger
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Christmas Eve by Eric Carle
A lift-the-flap book. Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241350249.
12p.
(Age: 1-4) Recommended. Themes: Christmas. What fun to meet the very
hungry caterpillar again, this time haunting a house that is getting
ready to celebrate a snowy Christmas. The reader is encouraged to
lift the flaps following the narrative that is set out in rhymes and
is great to read aloud: It's Christmas Eve
and the moon shines bright,
Who's at home
on this silent night?
In gorgeous bright hues, the reader is introduced to three
inhabitants of the house, a cat, a dog and a mouse, and must lift
the flap to find out which one is behind it. Then after lifting a
beautifully decorated Christmas tree, the final page reveals a
special surprise: Father Christmas, wishing everyone a happy
Christmas. Meanwhile, the reader will also have lots of fun finding
the very hungry caterpillar who is lurking somewhere on each double
spread.
The cover of the book is particularly eye-catching with a background
of gold foil and its gorgeous Christmas tree, surrounded by presents
and decorations. The caterpillar is well camouflaged as well! The
back cover is equally as gorgeous with its gold background and
little cat batting at snowflakes.
This would make a delightful book to have on hand to read before
Christmas.
Pat Pledger
The adventures of Anders by Gregory Mackay
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760632076.
(Age: 7+) This large book contains the first three graphic novels
about Anders and his friends, by author and illustrator Gregory
Mackay celebrating friendship, adventure and creativity. In the
first, Anders
and the Comet Anders and his classmates are surprised
when their teacher gives them a homework assignment for the school
break. They have to write a report on their holiday activities.
Anders, his cousin Eden and new mate Bernie enjoy family outings,
visiting the zoo and a carnival, exploring the local park, playing
video games and play and craft activities. They make bows and
arrows, build a box cubby, imagine they are in far off lands and
have adventures with the Green Grabber.
The second in this compendium is Anders
and the Volcano, which has the three friends camping
near an extinct volcano. When a new friend, Veronica, joins them
with her own flying beetle, Bernie is reluctant to try, and all
seems to go well until they find themselves in a tricky situation.
The third in this collection, Anders and the Castle has mass
appeal once again, pitting the friends again in a tricky situation
they must join their talents to find a solution. While reading this
funny tale of survival, readers will learn a great deal about
castles, as Mackay illustrates various components of castles,
explaining what each is used for. Keeps, moats, castle walls,
drawbridges, cellars, lots of winding staircases and battlements all
figure within this graphic novel to intrigue and inform the readers.
Anders is a positive role model of how to support, interact and
build friendships. He accepts his friends and their choices they
make without hesitation. He is inclusive and encourages new
friendships with the people he meets wherever the friends go. The
full colour graphic novel incorporates explicit learning with
information given to the readers in all three stories, about comet,
volcanoes and castles. The three stories are broken up into chapters
and presents an easy read for younger readers who are just beginning
the journey into graphic novels.
Fran Knight, Rhyllis Bignell and Annette Mesecke
Give me back my bones! by Kim Norman
Illus. by Bob Kolar. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406384932. 40pp.,
hbk.
A stormy night and the fast-flowing ocean current has uncovered and
scattered the pirate's skeleton all over the seabed and he is
desperate to put himself back together. And with clever language and
a rollicking rhyme, young readers not only help the pirate gather
himself but also learn how their own skeletons go together and the
correct names for all the bones. Help me find my head bone,
my pillowed-on-the-bed-bone,
the pirate's flag-of-dread-bone,
I'm scouting out my skull.
But as he comes together, a danger even greater than storms and
currents is lurking. Will this be his last hurrah?
From the scattered bones on the front endpaper to the complete
skeleton on the back, this is engaging, entertaining and educational
and little ones will love to have it over and over, soon chanting
the rhymes for themselves. Lots of fun and lots of learning, the
ideal way to introduce the body's anatomy, find their own bones and
the potential for the children to try to piece the body parts
together for themselves.
Barbara Braxton
Little Puggle's song by Vikki Conley
New Frontier, 2019. ISBN: 9781912076345. Little Puggle's Song by Vikki Conley is pretty picture book
that tells the story of Puggle (a baby echidna) and how he cannot
find his voice.
It follows a fairly familiar storyline where the main character
wants to be like everyone else, but is lacking a key feature.
In this instance, Puggle wants to sing just like his friends Little
Blue, Fancy Crest, Brown feather and Long tail, join the bush choir
and sing the welcome song for the baby emu due to be born at any
moment. Sadly he just doesn't seem to have his own song, so watches
intently from the side lines.
In the final moments we see Puggle find his place, front and centre,
and join the choir!
Overall I thought the story was similar to many I had read before,
however it has an Australian twist and some interesting points of
conversation along the way. I liked how Puggle called his friends
different names to their correct ones (Brown Feather in stead of
Kookaburra), and the description of the animals songs throughout the
book. Whilst reading the book the students tried to imitate the
sounds and also made their own noises.
I really liked the soft, pretty painted illustrations. Helene
Magisson's technique brings just the right amount of life into the
animals (especially the final choir scene), and shows the plant
variety and colours of the Australian bush.
My only issue is the ending (spoiler alert!). I expected to see the
choir singing and then a cute baby emu, given a funny nickname by
Puggle. Instead it's just Mrs and Mr Emu waiting for the eggs to
hatch - I was a little disappointed! I feel that maybe one more page
with the babies would have rounded it off nicely.
A good story that may be used for discussions about patience and
perseverance, or even Australian animals and their individual songs.
Teacher's
notes are available.
Lauren Fountain
The very hungry caterpillar's Australian friends by Eric Carle
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241401583.
(Age: 2-5) Highly recommended. Lift-the-flap board book. Themes:
Australian animals. A beautifully illustrated lift the flap book
will delight young children, as they explore the seaside and
landscape of Australia searching to see what lives behind the flap.
With Eric Carle's signature bright colours and the very hungry
caterpillar to be found, little children will have lots of fun
searching for the crawling hermit crab and fishing pelican by the
sea, a drifting seahorse, swimming turtle and dolphin at the coral
reef and a snapping crocodile and platypus along the river. In the
outback are lizards, kangaroos and snakes parrots, a jumping frog
and the very hungry caterpillar in the rainforest.
The language will extend the vocabulary of the young child, with
phrases like 'waves tumble, roll and fall' and the rhymes will
encourage the guessing of what comes next in the narrative.
The book is very strong and well made, with solid flaps that should
withstand much use from little fingers. This is a book that will
make an ideal companion to The very hungry caterpillar, and
children will have lots of incidental fun learning about Australian
animals and where they live.
Pat Pledger
