Reviews

Leaf by Sandra Dieckmann

Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781911171317
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Polar bears. Climate change. Hope. Difference. An animal floats into the bay, and finds a cave to shelter in. The animals all stay away from him, they have never seen anything like him before, and when he goes out into the forest and eats leaves, they run away. The other animals view him with suspicion, concerned that he is different. Everyday the creature they have called Leaf, is discussed amongst the other animals. One day they see him covered in beautiful leaves running through the forest. He leaps off the edge of the cliff but falls into the water, retreating to his cave. When he attempts this again and is lying exhausted on the shore, the crows decide to talk to him. He tells them that he is a polar bear and has drifted a long way from his home and desperately wants to go back. The crows work out a way that they can take the animal back to his own environment and the other animals decide to tell his story, so that no animal would ever get lost again.
Children will love hearing of the polar bear's plight and the way the animals are at first suspicious of something so different, relating it to their own classroom or neighbourhood, where someone new is not initially welcomed. The story of the animals working together to help the polar bear will encourage them to feel for the newcomer, and marvel at the way things can be resolved.
This story of the outsider is beautifully illustrated with brightly coloured detailed drawings that will entice younger readers to look more closely at the pages to see what they can see.
Fran Knight

The secret garden and other stories

Usborne Illustrated classics. Usborne, 2017. ISBN 9781409586562
Usborne have added another volume to their stable of illustrated collections that bring us the myths and legends that have been shared with and enjoyed by children throughout the generations. This collection includes The secret garden, The railway children, The wizard of Oz, Black Beauty, Little women and Heidi, all based on the original stories and beautifully illustrated to entice the young reader ready to take their reading in a new direction.
There are some stories that have endured over time for very good reasons and this collection is one that celebrates some of those that continue to be published in full so many years later. They are the sorts of stories that grandparents and even great-grandparents remember fondly and love to give, so these abridged versions are the perfect introduction to the longer, original stories. Apart from just being a good read, they give 21st century children a glimpse into the lives of children of the past, to a time when life wasn't dominated by screens and technology. Who wouldn't be tempted to explore the mysteries of Misselthwaite Manor, wander down the yellow brick road or be afraid of going from luxury to poverty overnight?
As well as being an essential addition to the collection, this could be one to flag in your suggestions for Christmas purchases for parents!
Barbara Braxton

Poe stories and poems: A graphic adaptation by Gareth Hinds

The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson

Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781407170992
(Age: 10-14) Highly recommended. 'Goldfish Boy' is the nickname given to Matthew by one of the visiting grandchildren of a neighbour. Matthew is in his own form of goldfish bowl, staying in his bedroom night and day, staring out of the window, looking at the goings-on in his neighbourhood.
His OCD behaviour has made it impossible for him to attend school or join in any family activities. He records all the actions of the people who live in his small street in notebooks. They are all everyday occurrences until toddler Teddy disappears from his grandad's front garden. Who has taken him and can Matthew solve the puzzle?
Matthew is helped by a young neighbour, Melody Bird, who insists on supporting him in his quest. She has her own issues and problems (as do all the street residents) but her own determination and acceptance of Matthew creates a friendship between them.
Lisa Thompson has made Matthew a believable character who struggles with a family tragedy by keeping germs at bay. He is flawed but likable and his humour and observations of others adds a lightness to her writing.
Bullying, kidnapping, OCD, loneliness and personal loss are all issues discussed, as the mystery of the missing child is slowly unravelled.
The cover by Mike Lowery shows Matthew 'alone' in a crowd of his neighbours. Its restricted pallet of colours works well and demonstrates this book is not a mainstream mystery story.
This was an engrossing read and the nearly 400 pages of story passed very quickly. A very accomplished first novel by Lisa Thompson. I highly recommend this book for students aged 10 to 14 years old.
Jane Moore

On the night of the shooting star by Amy Hest and Jenni Desmond

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406377330
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Friendship. Borders. In this fable for modern times, Dog and Bunny live next to each other. They carry on their own lives, doing what each does: Dog loves to knit and sits in the garden knitting and listening to his radio, while Bunny nibbles all day in the long grass on her side of the fence.
The beautiful illustrations show us the two lives, living next door but not interacting at any time. Each wonders what the other is doing but no one speaks. Each wonders why the other has no friend, but does nothing about it. Until one night a shooting start passes overhead. It is gone in an instant, but as each animal retires to their own houses, they think about what they have seen.
They resolve to do something, and Dog takes a plate of biscuits to the fence, while Bunny brings out cocoa.
Once the ice is broken, the two become inseparable friends, spending each day with each other doing the things they love to do and doing them together.
Readers will understand the message of the book immediately. It is a situation they will all know well, finding new friends, meeting new people, being reticent to make the first move. All sorts of discussion will emanate after reading this book, and children will eagerly scan the pages for detail about the lives of Dog and Bunny shown in the witty illustrations. And of course, talk about shooting stars, and how they occur and when they can be seen. Wikipedia has a concise definition of a falling or shooting star, and there are some photos of them on the internet.
Fran Knight

Toto: the dog-gone amazing story of the Wizard of Oz by Michael Morpurgo

Ill. by Emma Chichester Clark. Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780008134594
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. When I had my sixth birthday my older sister gave me an illustrated copy of The Wizard of Oz and I immediately fell in love with the story. This poor book (which I still have) was re-read many times and is now looking a little shabby but is still treasured deeply.
How absolutely marvellous to have one of our greatest modern storytellers bring a fresh new take on this now 'antique' tale - first published in 1900 by L. Frank Baum. Michael Morpgurgo has conceived a wondrous version which re-tells the story from the point of view of Toto, Dorothy's courageous little dog.
Now an old Papa dog, Toto delights in telling the young pups stories and of course the favourite is the story of his and Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz. Most of the pups get bored with the endless reminiscences but not the youngest who laps them up especially the Oz story no matter how many times he hears them.
Toto's voice is completely as one might imagine from a little Kansas country dog and this re-tell keeps closely to the original story which is especially satisfying. Morpgurgo also keeps closely to the language style of the original while still making it accessible to modern readers.
Colourful and contemporary styled illustrations give this book a really attractive and vibrant look which will thoroughly engage young readers for what might be their first introduction to the Oz stories. They will definitely love the 'emerald' foiled highlights on the cover!
Much as I love my original even after so many years this was simply a joy to read - as indeed are all Morpurgo books!
Highly recommended for readers from around 8 years upwards!
Sue Warren

City of saints and thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

Oneworld Publications, 2017. ISBN 9781786072290
(Age: 14+ ) Highly recommended. This novel grabs your attention from the very first page and races along at an intense pace. Christina, a young refugee from Congo, commonly known as Tiny Girl, is living a life of danger as a thief in Sangui City, Kenya. We learn her rules of survival: don't exist, trust no-one, don't have friends, have a plan etc. Her plan is: Dirt. Money. Blood. She wants to get the dirt on Mr Greyhill and his secret gold and arms deals with corrupt militia, pass the information on to the Goonda gang for their blackmail extortion racket, and then take the ultimate revenge on Greyhill himself, in retribution for his murder of her mother. With his death she will finally be free to take care of her sister Kiki, in hiding in a convent school.
Tiny sticks to her rules, she is highly skilled, fearless and dangerous; but not everything goes to her plan. She finds that at moments of desperation, she has to count on help from people she had not allowed herself to consider as friends, the gifted tech-savvy Boy-Boy, and her childhood playmate, Michael, Greyhill's son. Can she allow herself to trust them, and count on them when all their lives are in danger?
The characters, whilst larger than life, are still believable: Tina's grief for her mother, her struggle to find her roots and what that means for her identity, finding her own values, these are all things that young readers may readily identify with. The themes of refugees, social justice, modern day conflict and corruption are also very relevant.
The story is an incredibly exciting and tense thriller; I could easily envisage it as an action movie, with each suspenseful moment holding the audience on the edge of their seats. But it is also draws on real-life persecution stories that the author heard firsthand in her work with refugees in Kenya, as well as from documentation from Human Rights Watch and the UN Security Council. A Q&A with Natalie C. Anderson tells about her experiences and how they shaped the book.
Helen Eddy

Dog Man: a tale of two kitties by Dav Pilkey

Dog Man book 3. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9780545935210
(Age: 7+) Recommended.  Humour, Graphic novel, Crime. The third in this series of graphic novels about Dog Man solving crimes is sure to be scooped up by those who love Pilkey and his work (Captain Underpants), those who look out for graphic novels and those who just love to laugh out loud.
The first in the series, simply called Dog Man shows the beginnings of this hybrid creature, when Greg the police dog and his human companion are injured and must undergo surgery. But coming out of the anesthetic reveals Dog Man, the body of a human and the head of Greg the dog. With the smelling ability of the dog, Dog Man is able to sniff out crimes and solve them.
In this tale, Dog Man is on the trail of the lost kitten, Li'l Petey, and this is told in graphic format over ten easy chapters alluding to some of Charles Dickens work. At the end of the story several different ending are given for those who want to keep reading, and Pilkey follows this with instructions on how to draw cartoon animals.
Dog Man is still learning a few tricks of the trade and causes the Chief of Police no end of grief as he chews up the furniture. So Dog Man is on slippery ground and must prove his worth. Littered with outrageous puns on anything doggie and catty, and drawing on Dickens' A Tale to Two Cities, the story will case hilarity amongst the target audience, and have older readers who know A Tale of Two Cities, marvelling at the parallels.
Fran Knight

Here I stand : stories that speak for freedom by Amnesty International

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406373646
(Age: 15+) In an eclectic collection of themes, forms and style, Amnesty presents short stories which invite us to walk in the shoes of those who suffer various injustices.
Whilst confronting, not all of the stories deal with the grimmest of subjects yet those which consider molestation, sex trafficking and suicide as a consequence of relentless bullying make this suitable for a 15+ readership.
Other situations are equally moving. An overworked public defender seeks the best legal outcome for a black youth entangled in gang culture. A young girl is tormented by the fact that her former best friend, with whom she shared a mutual devotion, now shows contempt and disgust for her sexual orientation. In a tale with a similar theme, a black youth is incredulous that his former best friend shows vile hatred towards him because of his skin colour. The very real situation of a child being embarrassed by having to interpret for her mother in delicate conversations with doctors and school teachers is the subject in another story.
A sliding doors moment is considered in the life a young migrant who is groomed to become a suicide bomber but also has the option to pursue the path of education and enlightenment towards a fulfilling life.
The brutality and futility of state sanctioned execution in a U.S. prison prompts a lawyer to ruminate on meaningful ways to manage 'redemption'. He imagines a remote island with a futuristic penal facility which protects wider society but enables prisoners to engage in environmentally productive work which generates income as compensation to victims of crime.
Industrial pollution destroys a river system in a developing country and completely devastates the communities which live upon its banks. No longer able to fish, these people starve in an unequal battle against a powerful international corporation with no concern for those who suffer from their negligence.
A recurring element in these stories is bullying which appears in various ways and on a range of levels. The trauma and pain caused is clearly evident but what I liked about this book is that the intention is to provoke thought and introspection. Despite the dark and harsh realities of many situations, these stories largely focus on the possibility for change and the creation of a safer, more just world.
Rob Welsh

Tell it to the moon by Siobhan Curham

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406366150
(Age: 14+) Friendships. Identity. This book focuses on one year in the lives of Sky, Rose, Maali and Amber - the Moonlight Dreamers. The Dreamers are a group of teenage friends whose friendship (and dreams) propel this book through a series of dramas that reveal their growing identity explorations. Sky is a poet who is also learning how to cope with the life and schooling change that has been forced upon her; Rose is coming to grips with her sexuality and her dysfunctional family; Maali is coming to grips with losing her love interest and seeks guidance from her Hindu goddess statue, but something more serious is on the horizon; Amber is the unusually-dressed daughter of two gay dads and would really like to know the identity of her surrogate mother in order to know herself, but instead needs to rely on Oscar Wilde's influence through his scattered quotes and writing. They are all struggling to work out who they are, and what lies ahead in their lives.
Everything about this book seems a touch too dramatic and perhaps tries too hard to address many issues, and the power of the friendship group is perhaps too strong to be realistic when read from an adult perspective. The consequence is that there is a naive superficiality about the treatment of quite serious issues that could be handled with more gravitas. Peer friendship is esteemed above all other authority. There are some redeeming aspects, but this almost reads like a Baby-sitters Club or Pony Club book for older teenagers, with a dose of romance and some serious family concerns thrown in for good measure. Life does not always turn out as they expect or dream, but their friendship remains a source of strength in a sentimental way.
Carolyn Hull

The teenage guide to friends by Nicola Morgan

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406369779
(Age: 12-15) Recommended. Subjects: Friendship, Teenage life, Cyber-bullying, Family relationships. Nicola Morgan is an internationally recognised author of teenage health and wellbeing books including Blame My Brain: The Amazing Teenage Brain Revealed and The Teenage Guide to Stress. In The Teenage Guide to Friends, she explores the topic of friendships, looking at making friends, establishing healthy relationships and online experiences. Sections on personality types, family position and being empathetic are written in a practical, relatable format. Morgan emphasizes the value of having a trusted adult to share with, to provide support and guidance.
This book is divided into four sections: What are Friends; Making and Managing Friendships; Empathy and Behaviour and Personality. She explores the thousands of years of human evolution, the development of the human brain and 'the ability to think rationally and use self control.' Each section includes an introduction, questions and responses, signs to look out for and things to think about. Online friendships, cyber-bullying, the influences of social media are discussed with guidelines for handling online cruelty, looking ahead to choices made as a teenager and the consequences for adulthood. Negative and positive behaviours, personality traits, keeping friendships strong, dealing with 'frenemies' are important topics for teenagers to understand.
Teenagers and preteens can use the comprehensive index and explore just the section that interests them, their area of concern or issues that they are dealing with. This reference book is a useful tool for classroom and home teachers, as well as health professionals. Quizzes and a resource section are included as well.
Rhyllis Bignell

Words collide by Chris Colfer

The Land of Stories, book 6. Little Brown, 2017. ISBN 9780316355896
(Age: Year 3+) 'The statues are alive! How is this possible?'
The policewoman clicked the radio on her shoulder.
'Officer Sanchez to Dispatch,' she said, 'The library is under attack. I repeat, the library is under attack! We need all available units to join us immediately!'
'Copy, Officer Sanchez,' a voice responded over the radio. 'All available units have been notified. Are you able to identify who or what is behind the attack?'
Still in disbelief, the policewoman hesitated to respond.
'It's magic,' she said breathlessly. 'The library is being attacked by magic!'
Will it or won't it? This is the question on the lips of fans of The Land of Stories. Throughout this final book, Colfer drops some not so discreet hints that will leave one wondering is this really the last of the worlds. Readers will not be disappointed with the strange situations, difficult life lessons and cosmic dramas. Throw in evil and good characters becoming involved from various worlds battling through many of New York City's landmarks to top it off. It is pleasing to see Colfer bring all his fairy tale worlds from throughout the series to a satisfying close, with all plot lines from previous books converging in the finale. Book 6 sees many characters return for one last hooray - the flip side being they are reduced to cameo appearances albeit memorable.
The book needs to be read after the five others have been completed for sense to be made. There is the odd bit of violence and the occasional 'swear word' (crap, bastards, butt). Has a door or two been left open for another story?
We have students in Year 3 and up reading this series.
Kathryn Schumacher

Back to Scare School by Zack Zombie

Diary of a Minecraft Zombie book 8. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743818343
(Age: 7-9) The popular fan fiction series is presented as Zombie's diary and in this junior novel, he has finished 7th grade and is uncertain about being an eighth grader. The week before school starts is challenging and of course, he is nervous and super anxious. With Dad's Zombie Credit Card he shops up a storm choosing a large number of fashionable items, unfortunately his father forgot to mention the $30 limit. When the School Schedule arrives, Zombie is in the Advanced Scare Class 201, now he can scare Minecraft miners instead of villagers.
Each step of the way in preparation of the new school year proves daunting, which elective to pick, Zombie Pig Farming or Modding class. Even choosing school supplies is problematic, Mum says no to the 100-pocket backpack, perfect for storing dried booger snacks, no Voice Changing megaphone, just the basics for Zombie. Steve his human friend gives him some great advice and his parents promise him a ScareStation 465 if he receives all B grades.
School life proves to be challenging as Zombie recounts his daily experiences in his journal with missed buses, shrinking uniforms, and volunteer orientation and modding lessons. Humour, grossness, body humour and plenty of Minecraft activities are just right for the fans of this popular series.
Rhyllis Bignell

The great rabbit chase by Freya Blackwood

Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743811641
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Rabbits, Animals, Neighbours. When mum goes shopping for gumboots and comes home with a large furry rabbit, there can be only one name for him. The rabbit is clever at chewing and scratching, but what he does best is escape. One day when he escapes, mum is in the shower, and Norman is at the front door ready to play, but Gumboot's owner has only one thing on her mind: to find her rabbit.
There follows a very funny tale of a journey to seek and find the rabbit and take him back home. We follow the trail as the trio crosses the road, seeing John daydreaming with his stop sign and car owners beeping their horns. As they follow the rabbit, others join their escapade, a man in his business suit, a neighbour on her walking frame, the stop sign man, a woman and her screaming baby in its pram. Down the streets they go, until they come to a park, where they all lie down for a rest, mum still in her towel from the shower.
Children will have great fun looking at the array of people on their road trip, wandering the streets and then the park looking for Gumboot. Freya Blackwood cleverly includes small touches revealing the personalities of the people involved. I love the business man taking his shoes and socks off, and the two older people sitting down for a chat under the tree.
Blackwood's pen, pencil and watercolour illustrations are just wonderful, the cut out perspective of the rabbit's tunnel, and that of the house and the maps on the endpapers, will encourage students to look at the neighbourhood from a different angle. Their journey is circular, with people who have joined the hunt going back to their own places on the way home. This delightful story will be a tremendous read aloud as the children follow the path taken by all participants. A wonderful journey that all readers will enjoy.
Fran Knight

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp

Old Barn Books, 2017. ISBN 9781910646328
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Dogs, Therapy dogs, Reading, Libraries. Madeline Finn does not like to read. She refuses to read magazines, books and menus. And she especially hates reading out loud. When she tries the others in her class snigger. They get stars from the teacher for their reading, she gets a sticker which tells her to keep trying. She is despondent. She really wants a star. One day at the library, Mrs Dimple, the librarian takes her to meet Bonnie, a dog who loves to hear people read. In a room with many dogs listening to children read, Madeline finds that the dog does not giggle when she makes a mistake, and puts its paws onto her lap when she tries to read a word she does not understand. They learn to get there together and with Bonnie's help she keeps going.
After a few weeks the teacher asks Madeline to read again and this time she imagines that she is reading to Bonnie and after a hesitant start, reads to the end of the page, receiving her star. She takes it to the library to give to Bonnie and finds out why Bonnie was missing last week at the library.
This charming story of finding your feet, of developing the strength to do something that is difficult will thrill all readers. Bonnie the library dog gives Madeline the confidence to carry on, her simply being there overcomes Madeline's fears about reading.
The soft illustrations depict the dog and child beautifully, supporting those children in the same predicament.
Part of the proceeds of the sale of this book goes to Pets as Therapy, an organisation in the United Kingdom that supports read2dogs. Go to http://www.petsastherapy.org for more information.
Fran Knight