Star! Stable! Saviour! The Christmas Story in S by Cameron Semmens
Ill. by Rod Allen. Wombat Books, 2015. ISBN 9781925139600
(Age: Pre-school - Yr 2) If you like to start the festive season
with a story about the story behind the celebrations, then Star!
Stable! Saviour! could be a great choice. Drawing on the
traditional elements of the Wise Men (scientists) and the shepherds
seeing a star and following it to the stable where they find Baby
Jesus the story is told using as many words as possible starting
with the sound of 's'.
'See - a star!' stated a slightly stunned, smart, snazzy scientist
to several similar smart, snazzy scientists.
These scientists from The South Saudi Sands, Sudan (or somewhere
similar) searched the stars for signs.
This strange star was certainly a sign.
See it shine!'
With bright, clear illustrations which capture so much movement and
expression, the story is told in alliterative format which brings
new life to it so even those who have heard it every year about this
time will get a fresh perspective and enjoy it again and again.
Originally published under the title The Star, The Stable and
The Saviour it's been repackaged and republished by Wombat
Books in time to bring a new version to the traditional Christmas
literature fare in a quirky but respectful way.
This will be read on Day 2 of the Christmas Countdown at my school,
following The First Christmas in which Jan Pienkowski has
illustrated the original text from the New Testament so those
children who may be encountering the story for the first time can
consolidate what they learned from that experience. Told without a
religious editorial, it gives those students for whom Christmas is
not a religious or traditional festival an understanding of what it
is we celebrate at this time of the year, the meaning behind many of
the symbols they see and why it is so important to so many.
Barbara Braxton
The light that gets lost by Natasha Carthew
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408835869
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Trey is no Harry Potter, even though his
English parents were murdered in front of him as a small child. This
story is set 8 years later and there's no sugar coating the events
that shaped the orphaned teenager in foster homes, which bring him
finally to a reformatory. Trey's hard luck story has led him to
arson and finally to incarceration with other young offenders, at
Camp Kernow, which is managed by the infamous preacher. Some of it
has been deliberate - Trey's plan to exact revenge on his parents'
murderer if not society in general.
Among the jailers and inmates, Trey finds both bullies and comrades
but he confides in no one. Lamby, his unlikely side-kick,
deliberately takes a beating requiring medical attention, in order
to blow the whistle on the illegal activities of the cult running
the camp. When the preacher and his cronies flee, the camp becomes
almost dystopian under the thug, Wilder, Preacher's illegitimate
son.
Trey and his band, united by their inner strength to do what's right
despite their circumstances, must escape when it becomes clear that
the outside world, itself in decay, is not coming to their rescue.
The geeky Lamby and Trey's love interest, the very level-headed Kay,
prove calming influences. Through affecting imagery, Carthew
captures the inner turmoil that besieges a protagonist conflicted by
hatred and intent on reprisal. With few rays of hope in this dark
narrative, young adults will appreciate how events and characters
can influence us in negative ways unless we fulfil our destiny in
service of others.
Deborah Robins
Wordburger by David Astle
Allen and Unwin, 2015 ISBN 9781760113575
(Age:9+) Highly recommended. Wordburger is an engaging look
at the world of words. Children will become word acrobats as they
reorganise letters to make new words. They can read chapter 7 to
find word origins and investigate words with double meanings. Wordburger
will engage any reader who enjoys words and it will be a good book
for parents and children to read and talk about together. It is a
good book to keep in the car for long road trips or to add to the
collection on the toilet windowsill. I have a friend with an
eclectic collection of books on her toilet windowsill who would love
this one for her collection! It would also be a good book to read to
students due to the variety of different chapters and topics. This
is highly recommended for anyone who loves finding out about words.
Readers aged 9+ will be able to negotiate the different topics
easily as it is clearly set out with titles and subtitles, images,
captions and little challenges for the readers to complete.
Kylie Kempster
Pivot and win by B. Hellard and L. Gibbs
Netball Gems series. Ill. by Cat Macinnes. Random House
Australia Children's, 2015. ISBN: 9780857987686
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Netball, Teamwork, Family Life.
Netball Gems is a junior fiction series written in collaboration
with Netball Australia. Authors and sisters Lisa Gibbs and
Bernadette Hellard are experienced A-grade level netball players and
supported the sport as coaches and umpires. Each of the books
introduces one Marrang Gems player and focuses on her family life
and skill development. Hot tips, drills and a player profile are
included at the end of the novel.
Twelve year-old Lily Scott's family is passionate about netball, she
dreams of playing for the Diamonds in the future. One problem she
faces is her height; will she ever be tall enough for a professional
team? Her mother Janet coaches their team and she provides great
support for all the players, her daughter as well. Lilly and her
team mates practice the pivot and super-pivot move, while passing
the ball smoothly down the court. 'Catch, spin, pass,' the girls
repeat as they work on their game plan.
At home, Steven, a typical thirteen-year-old brother, is up to his
usual tricks, playing pranks on Lily and hiding her things. Lily and
her friend Phoebe work out a plan to settle the score that involves
frozen tennis shorts!
This fun series is just right for netball fans, who are keen to
learn more about the sport. Black and white graphic drawings by Cat
Macinnes display Lily's netball moves.
Rhyllis Bignell
Glenn Maxwell: State Showdown and World Domination by Patrick Loughlin
Random House, 2015. ISBN 9780857988881
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Glenn Maxwell: State Showdown and
World Domination is two books in one and both books are about
cricket. In State Showdown, the main character is Will, an up and
coming Victorian cricket star who has made it to the Youth Team. He
is very skilled and very confident. He is very supportive of all his
team mates but his constant reminding of how to play better cricket
is not going down well with his team. Will his confidence be his
downfall? Can Will learn from his team instead of trying to tell
them how to play? In World Domination, Will makes it to the
Australian Youth team and is off to compete in England. The team is
made up of players Will has played against before so relationships
aren't great and when he is made captain of the team these issues
become more real. Can the players all learn to get along and become
a winning team or will their rivalry turn them into enemies instead? Glenn Maxwell: State Showdown and World Domination is highly
recommended to cricket fans aged 9+. They will love the cricket talk
and the cricket action. The stories move quickly though short
chapters and the books themselves are approximately 100 pages long
with a good sized font supporting them as an easy read. It is a
great book for readers who are just starting to read novels.
Kylie Kempster
Ugly by Robert Hoge
Hachette Australia, 2015. ISBN 9780733634338
(Age: 10+) It has taken me a while to get to review this Younger
Readers' version of Robert Hoge's successful memoir. My Year 8
students have been working on an English task which was to research
and write a feature article about an inspirational hero and one of
my young ladies had chosen Robert because she had started reading
his memoir. I had just received this review copy so handed it to her
in case she might find it helpful as well. Not only does the book
come with her recommendation, she was so delighted that Robert
responded to her email to him and she has been able to ask him
questions directly. What a generous human! Thank you Robert - you
provided this wonderful young girl with an amazing learning
experience!
Today I spent a very pleasant hour or so reading this funny and
moving, honest and courageous recollection of growing up as the
'ugly' kid. Robert's story is by now pretty well known to many
adults who have either learned about his life via the book or the
media but this new edition will bring his inspirational story to a
whole new readership.
When Robert was born with severe physical problems including a large
facial tumour, his family's life changed in many respects but not in
the most important aspect. They were still a loving, supportive unit
who when faced with a challenge rose to it with an admirable and
enviable ease.
But let's not make light of this. This is an incredible story - of
not only a wonderful human being but an exceptional family.
Do yourself a favour and read it. Better still put this on your
shelves! The Younger Reader version is eminently suitable for
readers of around 10 and up.
Check out Robert's website
here and teaching notes here.
Sue Warren
Itty Bitty Kitty by Joan Holub
Ill. by James Birks. HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN 9780062322197
(Age: Pre-school - Yr 2) Like many little people, Ava's greatest
wish is to have a pet of her own but her parents believe she is too
small. Besides, with a new baby and her dad's work her parents are
busy enough already. However, Ava is not deterred and when she finds
a "furry purry, snuggly huggly, cutie patootie itty bitty kitty"
abandoned in a box near the seat at the end of her street she thinks
her dreams have come true. Even though she wants her parents'
permission, they're too busy to listen and so she decides to keep
Itty Bitty a secret. He was just what she wanted but sadly he didn't
stay itty-bitty for long - he was a very hungry kitty - and the
damage bills kept mounting. Disaster strikes when he escapes from
her room and he 'scared the fish, broke a dish, chased a bug, clawed
the rug, leaped from a cupboard and got DISCOVERED!" Ava is
devastated and it seems that Itty Bitty Kitty is to be abandoned yet
again until.
This is a story that will appeal to young readers, particularly
those who empathise with Ava in their own quest for a pet, but also
because of the internal rhyme structures in places that give the
text a lyrical rhythm. There is no repetitive phrase for them to
anticipate and shout out but the story moves along at a fast clip
and the ending, while predictable, is satisfying. The illustrations
are big and bright and bold, almost cartoon-like, and right from the
front cover it is clear that this is anything but an itty bitty
kitty setting up the reader for a story of contradiction!
While Joan Holub as an author is new to me, she is cited as being
the " New York Times bestselling author of Mighty Dads. She is also
author and/or illustrator of over 130 books for children, including
author of the picture books Little Red Writing and Zero the Hero,
and co-author of the bestselling Goddess Girls and Grimmtastic Girls
chapter book series." There is a new Itty Bitty Kitty adventure due
early next year.
Barbara Braxton
Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Anderson
Candlewick Press, 2015. ISBN 9780763668181
(Ages 14+) Highly Recommended. Biography. It is the 1920s, and
Dmitri Shostakovich is a young and gifted musician. His appearance,
however, is not inspiring: he's thin, weak; with glasses and a
nerdiness which sets him apart. He is polite to a fault, won't stand
up for himself, and meekly accepts every criticism. But Shostakovich
can do something no one else can: he can compose music that is bold
and innovative; that speaks to people. He is part of a colourful
rebellion in art that has swept through Bolshevik Russia. But
Shostakovich's music is under threat from a force of evil that
controls every aspect of Russian life - the rule of 'Comrade'
Stalin. Yet Stalin is not Shostakovich's only threat, because Hitler
has his eyes set on Shostakovich's home city of Leningrad.
The city is crippled when the Nazis cut off supply lines and the
harsh Russian winter sets in. People are trapped in Leningrad,
Shostakovich included, - but Shostakovich comes up with an unusual
way to support the war effort: he composes a symphony. He toils on
amid the bombs, deaths and rationing to describe all the pain and
suffering, the hardship and the comradery of the citizens in his
music. This is his masterwork in the making, but one thing weighs on
Shostakovich's mind: its premiere will either be a morale-boosting
triumph for Leningrad, or a life-jeopardising tragedy.
M. T. Anderson's witty and easy-to-read biography of the great
composer is a stunning work. Constructed from the limited
information available about Shostakovich, this biography is a unique
blend of music and history. It is the emotional story of kindness,
humility, love and suffering - both of one man, and a whole nation.
The story jumps wildly from humorous success, to deep personal
tragedy. I found it at times gripping, and at others entertaining.
Anderson's careful mixture of fact and narrative makes Symphony
for the City of the Dead an enjoyable and engaging read.
Thomas B. (Student)
The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon
Greenwillow Books, 2015. ISBN 9780062320940
(Age: 10-12) Recommended. The Doldrums is not only the name
of the local newspaper in the novel but also the state of Archer's
mind.
Archer is a Helmsley and his grandparents are famous world
adventurers. He lives in their home with his parents. The house is
full of stuffed animals (who Archer communicates with) and
collections and curios from around the world.
It is The Doldrums Press that announces that his
grandparents have gone missing on an iceberg. Archer's mother
recognizes the dreamer/ adventurer in him too and fearing the worst,
forbids him to leave the house except for school.
Trapped in his own home Archer reaches out to Oliver his not so
adventurous next-door neighbour and Adelaide a French girl with a
story of her own. Together they plan to escape on their own
expedition.
This is a gentle, whimsical story. The back-stories of the main
characters and their developing friendship are central to the novel.
Between them, the children have to deal with bullying, parental
over-protection or neglect and being different.
The final chapters have a 'chase' ending with a mixture of
excitement and humour.
The binding, jacket and illustrations give the novel a 'just right'
old world feel, very like the Helmsley's own home.
The use of creams, burgundies and dark green used by the author in
colour plates interspersed throughout the book, give a richness to
the illustrations.
This is Nicolas Gannon's first book and I feel it will appeal to
children in their middle primary years about 10 to 12 years old.
Nicolas Gannon has a beautiful website to go with his
novel and has made a book
trailer about The Doldrums.
I recommend this book for purchase.
Jane Moore
Death and Co: Fault Lines by D. J McCune
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN: 9781471402715
(Age: Teens) Fault lines is the final book in the Death
and Co trilogy written by D.J McCune. Adam Mortson is part of
Britain's leading Luman family. The Lumans are charged with leading
the dead to the afterlife. Adam's brothers easily slip in to their
role as guides to the light; however Adam struggles to comprehend
his own role. He is torn between two very different worlds, one
where he wants to go to school, hang out with his friends and
struggle to pass tests and get his very first girlfriend; however
his life as a Luman is slowly beginning to overpower any other
option. Adam Mortson is a sandy haired, blue eyed, fifteen year old,
with an extra-ordinary gift. He is able to see a person's death
before it actually happens, and on a school trip to Japan this gift
allows Adam to pre-empt a tsunami that will kill thousands of
people. This one event will change his life and that of his friends
. . . But only if they survive.
This enthralling novel is told from the perspective of Adam as he
goes through many life changing decisions. The major themes that
present themselves throughout the novel are death, friendship, and
family. I would recommend this novel to teenagers who enjoy reading
fantasy or mythology novels.
Emily Madden
The secret chord by Geraldine Brooks
Hachette, 2015. ISBN 9780733632174
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Historical. King David. Biblical
times. Violence. Pulitzer Prize winner author, Geraldine Brooks has
brought to life the story of the biblical King David in this
compelling tale bridging his life as a young boy, as a fighter, a
hero, a stately king and finally an old man who has been corrupted
by power. It is told in the words of the prophet Natan, who was
close to David from the time when David took him from the village
where everyone else had been slaughtered to the time of his death.
Brooks tells a violent and cruel story as the reader is taken on a
compelling and enthralling voyage through the Second Iron Age. David
was a neglected and abused shepherd boy when he faced down the giant
Goliath and won. From then he becomes a leader and soldier and
ultimately king. Brooks doesn't flinch from descriptions of the
violence of the times. Battles and murders are described in detail
and the reader is sometimes left reeling from the slaughter and
cruelty that occurred. The power that David wielded as a king was
enormous, and gradually he began to abuse it, taking what he wanted
without regard to his loyal friends or the feelings of those around
him. David is not only seen through the eyes of Natan, but through
the eyes of his wives Mikhal, Avigail, and Batsheva and their
stories leave an emotional impact.
The often beautiful and lyrical language made it a stand out read
for me. David's strengths and flaws are brought to life, by writing
of an author at the top of her game. Right from the first page
the descriptions are so vivid and graphic that even though many of
David's actions are indescribably painful, it is impossible not to
continue reading.
Brooks' has a fascinating afterword where she describes how her
son's decision to learn the harp lead to her decision to research
and write about David, and indeed she lists many scholarly works as
her inspiration as well as the Bible.
This is not always an easy read, due to the corruption, violence and
bloodshed, but ultimately it is a rewarding and unforgettable one.
Pat Pledger
The big Book of Mr Badger by Leigh Hobbs
Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760112431
(Age: 6-10) Highly recommended. Four of the Mr Badger stories can be
found in this one big volume that is sure to delight readers new to
Mr Badger as well as those who already love his adventures. The
stories are: Mr
Badger and the big surprise,Mr.
Badger and the difficult Duchess, Mr
Badger and the missing ape and Mr Badger and the
magic mirror.
Mr Badger is the highly organised and capable manager of special
events at the Boubles Grand Hotel and he has some amazing
adventures, saving a special birthday party, finding a missing ape,
looking after a difficult duchess and going through a magic mirror.
All the characters are well rounded and Mr Badger is delightful, a
wonderful father who never misses reading his children their bedtime
story even though he has had an exhausting and adventurous day at
the hotel.
This collection of stories is ideal for the newly independent reader
who is ready to tackle chapter books and the size will give these
children a thrill as they read each story and finally get to page
294! The humour and quirky illustrations are a delight and an adult
reading these aloud will also have a very enjoyable time imagining
the hotel and London surrounds.
Pat Pledger
These shallow graves by Jennifer Donnelly
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBBN 9781471405150
(Age 13+) Recommended. New York City. 1890. Jo Montfort is used to a
life of ease - rich and pretty, she is expected to marry a young man
from her class and become a society hostess. But this is not what Jo
wants - she loves to write and dearly wishes to become a reporter
like Nellie Bly, who spent 10 days in a mad house and described what
happened to her. When Jo's father is found dead in his study shot
with his own pistol, it is ruled a suicide, but some things just
don't match up and Jo, with the help of handsome Eddie, a reporter
at her father's newspaper, decides to investigate. Secrets are
uncovered, seedy neighbourhoods are visited and deadly danger is
faced while the dirty truth is uncovered.
The stand out aspect of this novel for me was the in-depth research
that had gone into the life and times of New York in 1890. Donnelly
brings the period to life, describing the rich and idle young women
who are desperate for wealthy husbands, the rules constricting women
of all classes from reaching their potential, the contrasts between
the rich and the poor, the desperate children who are forced into
crime and the shipping empires of the times. The new science of
forensics is also explored and will thrill readers who like those
details in their crime novels. The author has used real historical
characters like Nellie Bly and this is sure to engage the reader's
interest and could provide an incentive to do some follow-up
research.
Although it is 487 pages long, each chapter is quite short and easy
to read, and the narrative flow along very smoothly, building up
suspense as the reader is dragged into the dangerous world that Jo
and Eddie are investigating. Jo is a very engaging heroine and the
reader becomes emotionally involved with her struggle to become
something more than a wife and to overcome the prejudices of the
times. Eddie is a heroic figure as well and the growing feelings
between the two highlight the problems that people from different
classes have if they fall in love.
This is certainly a book that readers of historical crime will
devour as well as fans of Donnelly's other books: the award winning
Gathering light, Revolution and the Waterfire
saga.
Pat Pledger
Space Dumplins by Craig Thompson
Faber & Faber, 2015. ISBN 9780571303083
Recommended. Nothing is left to the imagination in Space
Dumplins. This book is a vibrant, glossy pictorial, written
and illustrated with a passion that will enthral the reader to the
last page. It's totally gripping, mesmerising fun.
Would you like to visit Shell-Tarr? It's the ultimate in astral
comfort and security, top of the line in luxury and modern tech.
Or perhaps you'd like to take a wild ride in one of the
out-of-this-world space machines, the zooming Burger Bus, or
Muskellunge Trike, each of audacious design with exciting, gadgetry
that no intrepid space kid could resist. Could you deal with the
challenges of the Lumpkins or Jirglebytes, something that looks like
an enormous crayfish, or the ghastly Spill - a flood of green, slimy
whale diarrhea! Ugh!
Violet lives with her mum and dad in a futuristic space environment
that author, Craig Thompson, has dazzlingly conjured up from his
fertile imagination. Violet's mum works in the zany fashion industry
and her dad, Big G, harvests whale 'timber' for energy nuggets. The
guardian robot, Chaperdrone, looks suspiciously female and tries,
mostly in vain, to keep Violet and her new friend, Elliot, the
bright little chicken button-runner, in check. Zacchaeus, another
tough little character, joins in as the three rocket from one
adventure to the next as the trio face peculiarly earth-related
problems.
Then Gar (Big G) goes missing and the three find themselves on a
very dangerous mission through the somewhat decrepit environment of
smashed-up earth junk and debris, as they try to find and rescue
Violet's missing dad. Tension causes emotions to boil over as the
likeable trio try desperately to escape from the Mucky Way? After
all, it's the largest garbage deposit in the galaxy.
You'll find the text easy-to-read, and when you've finished share it
with your little brother or sister. Guaranteed to keep them quiet
longer than usual, but don't read it to them just before bedtime!
J Kerr-Smith
Dork Diaries: Puppy Love by Rachel Renee Russell
Simon & Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781471144578
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. This is the 10th book in the series of Dork
Diaries. The series that follows the life of Nikki Maxwell.
It was a week ago since Mackenzie, Nikki's arch enemy, moved to the
very fancy North Hampton Hills International Academy. Nikki's dream
had come true.
Nikki loves every second without Mackenzie until she meets her at
the Cupcakery and starts to make trouble with her new friends. Nikki
and Brandon have another problem. Fuzzy Friends Animal Rescue Center
can't take any more animals. What should Nikki and Brandon do?
Brandon and Nikki hide some dogs from 2 strict parents, 1 crazy
little sister and an entire middle school.
What will happen when Mackenzie and Nikki meet again?
I enjoyed this book. I recommend this book for ages 7-11. There are
interesting cartoons which add humor and gives you a picture of what
is happening. I rate this book: 9 stars out of ten
Amelia W. (year 5)
