Buzz Words Books

Billy’s Boatshed : The Project

2012-02-17T09:00:00.000+11:00

Billy’s Boatshed : TheProject by AimeeAtkins, pictures byFranfou Studio (RandomHouse)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 978-1-74275-313-3

Reviewed byEmma Cameron

Billy andLilly live in Washaway Bay with their friendsPauly the Pelican, Sparky the speedboat, Bazza Barge and a sailboat with pinksails named MJ. The project tells how Billy plans to spend the day finishingbuilding his boat. When Lilly walkie-talkies him to say she is having troublecounting all the fish in the reef, where she is standing knee deep in thewater. For some reason, Billy thinks building a ‘glass bottom boat’ will makeLilly’s task easier.

Of course,drawing up plans for this distracts him from his original project. As does the‘Honk Honk, Honk Honk!’ Billy hears from Bazza the Barge, who is struggling toraise his anchor. Billy dives under the water to untangle it, and gets thebright idea that he should make a submarine with big arms and a glass bottom asthat would help Bazza untangle his anchor and help Lilly count fish.

When Billybegins building this, Sparky the speedboat yells for him to come and save hisbeach ball that landed on the sand while Sparky was playing with it. Sparkycannot travel across sand to save it and when Pauly flies over to return itBilly thinks of a great solution. He will put wheels on the submarine he isgoing to build, as that would mean it could go up to retrieve the ball infuture.

But thatmust wait, as it is now tea time. While nothing has been built, the story endswith Billy looking into the sky before bed time and wondering if he shouldbuild a spaceship instead. Franfou Studio have used simple, bold colours toshow what is happening just as it is told in the text. This story may appeal tochildren aged 3-4 years.

Don't

2012-02-16T10:14:00.000+11:00

Don't by Ann Harth, illustrated by Angelita Ramos (Soto Publishing)
PB RRP $9.00/$12.95
ISBN 9780982171110
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Don't is a story that will ring true for young and old alike. Jackson's busy family is always telling him, 'Don't.' But as soon as he hears that word, he is immediately drawn to the forbidden and disaster inevitably follows. However, Jackson's school teacher Miss Connor prefers 'do'. This simple act boosts Jackson's feelings of self worth and even when disaster still ensues he is able to stay calm.

Ann Harth carefully selects her words and the reader is with Jackson all the way as his 'shoulders twitch and ... fingers tremble.' My particular favourite is 'my skin quivers like a horse with flies'. The text is filled with humour and though the story has a powerful message it never comes across as didactic. Angelita Ramos's bright and colourful illustrations faithfully portray the text. She is particularly good at depicting Jackson's facial expressions. i could almost see his mind ticking away.

With its message of positive reinforcement and the encouragement of children, Don't would be especially useful within pre-schools and in early primary school as well as reminding all of us in contact with children that encouragement wins out every time.

Don’t can be bought on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Ann-Harth/dp/0982171110 $12.95

or directly from the publisher

http://www.sotopublishingcompany.com/Don-t.html $9.00

Losing Turtle

2012-02-15T12:55:00.001+11:00

Losing Turtle by Adrienne Frater, illustrated by CatChapman (Walker Books)

PBRRP $ 11.95

ISBN9781921529108

Reviewedby Vicki Stanton

Losing Turtle is a collection of three delightfulshort stories for emerging readers: LosingTurtle, Top Secret, and ScrambledEggs. Each of the stories star Sam, an inventive and thoughtful boy whosolves his dilemmas in unique ways and with surprising results. Although thestories are simple with carefully selected words and straight forward sentencestructure the stories are anything but bland. Sam’s personality shines throughand the images of his family and school life that are built up will keepchildren reading and looking for more. What more could we want in this NationalYear of Reading!

CatChapman’s black-and-white illustrations jump off the page with joy and humour,adding to the reading experience and ensuring that children are neveroverwhelmed by a page of words.

Walker are to be congratulatedfor their Walker Stories series for younger readers. The Walker Stories target readershipgroup of young and emerging readers are not generally catered for as well asthey might be in the publishing world and titles such as Losing Turtle fills this important niche.

Billy’s Boatshed : MJ Saves the Day

2012-02-13T15:42:00.000+11:00

Billy’s Boatshed : MJSaves the Day byAimee Atkins, pictures byFranfou Studio (RandomHouse)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 978-1-74275-314-0

Reviewed byEmma Cameron

This storyopens with Billy and Lilly packing their things to go and watch baby seaturtles hatching on the sand. While they do this, MJ the sailboat watchesSparky the speedboat speeding around the bay. When he asks if she can go asfast as him she says, ‘No Sparky, without an engine, I can’t go that fast.’ Shesails away and Sparky takes Billy and Lilly to Barnacle Bay.

Once Sparkyhas dropped Billy and Lilly off he goes and amuses himself by speeding continuouslyfrom one side of Coral Reef to the other. Back at Barnacle Bay,Lilly takes photos of the hatchlings. ‘Billy, Lilly and Pauly were so happy they’dseen the turtles hatching, as it only happened once a year.’ They send Pauly thePelican to tell Sparky they are ready to set home.

Sparky setsoff to pick them up, only to discover he can’t go all that fast anymore. He’sused up all his fuel by zipping around having fun. Coincidentally, MJ happensto be sailing past and offers to tow Sparky back to pick up Billy and Lilly andtake them home. Sparky suggests that next time they go to Barnacle Baythey should take MJ with them and the story ends, saying that ‘ MJ was thehappiest little dingy in the world!’

FranfouStudio have used simple, bold colours to show what is happening just as it istold in the text. MJ has the brightest pink sails ever and, in contrast toLilly’s black hair and green eyes, Billy has the reddest hair and very blueeyes. This story may appeal to children aged 3-4 years.

Dance Steps for the Self-Employed Editor

2012-02-13T09:54:00.001+11:00

The details of this course was sent to me by one of the wonderful Buzz Words' subscribers and it sounds just the sort of thing I need. If I was in Melbourne I'd be there in a shot. Cut-off for rego is today:

Soc Eds (Vic) presents training course: Dance Steps for the Self-Employed Editor, with Jackey Coyle

To be successful as a self-employed editor, there's so much to stay on top of: marketing, administration, keeping track of the money, finding work and staying current. And that's above and beyond actually doing the work.

'Dance steps for the self-employed editor' combines information, discussion and activities across the five essential elements of being successfully self-employed:

* Getting it out there - honing your identity; optimising internet and social media; exploiting free marketing opportunities

* Mastermind - managing your business; controlling correspondence; optimising your billable hours; making bookkeeping your ally

* The money trail - budgeting for cash flow; establishing invoicing and bill-paying systems; sorting tax and GST

* Irons in the fire - brainstorming networks for generating work; managing conflicting deadlines

* Know how - keeping your knowledge and skills current.

When: Saturday, 25 February, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm

Where: CAE, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Cost: Members (Soc Eds, APA, ASTC, ANZSI, WV) $180, non-members $240. Tea, coffee and mini muffins are provided.

Bookings: close 6 pm 13 February. Visit www.socedvic.org/training/index.html for the forms.

My Australian Story: Sydney Harbour Bridge

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000+11:00

My Australian Story: Sydney Harbour Bridge by Vashti Farrer (Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 9 781741 699531
Reviewed by Felicity Pulman

Vashti Farrer’s new addition to the My Australian Story series gives a detailed and valuable insight into the construction of one of the world’s most notable icons.

After a passing reference to August 1930 (with some fascinating information about how the bridge spans were finally joined together) the book begins in January, 1931. Through the diaries of Billie and Alice, we read about the year leading up to the opening of the bridge from two very different points of view. Alice lives on the north shore. Her father is an engineer working on the Bridge so her perspective of the construction is very different from Billie’s, whose father has been out of work and whose employment as a ‘donkeyman’ on ‘the Iron Lung’ has proved a life-saver for the family.

The two viewpoints coincide nicely as we learn about different aspects of the Bridge’s construction from both the workers’ and the management’s point of view. Detailed information about the construction process is spread throughout the text, bringing home to the reader just what a mighty project this was, and how far-reaching the consequences. The danger of working on the Bridge is also highlighted. There were 16 deaths associated with its construction, and many men were injured.

Because the building of the Bridge took place during the Great Depression, Billie’s diary is of particular interest, touching as it does on how some families struggled to survive during those hard years. Billie is keeping the diary to share with his mate Bluey, whose family was dispossessed by the clearance of houses before building on the Bridge commenced. Unable to afford housing elsewhere, the family has been moved to Happy Valley Camp at La Perouse, home for the homeless. The resolution, at the end of the Diary, is touching. It also brings home the truth of why the Bridge was called ‘the Iron Lung’ – ‘because it employed a total of 1654 workers and so kept Sydney “alive” through jobs.’ The notes at the end of the Diary are of particular interest.

The politics of the time are skilfully interwoven through the narrative: the refusal of Labor Premier Jack Lang to pay the interest on NSW’s overseas debt, his raiding of the State Savings Bank in an effort to keep NSW solvent, and his refusal to invite either the King or the Governor to formally open the Bridge are set against the rising popularity and machinations of the New Guard, culminating in the opening of the Bridge with all its attendant drama.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sydney Harbour Bridge, and I learned a lot while doing so. Highly recommended.

© Felicity Pulman
www.felicitypulman.com.au
www.youtube.com/felicitypulman

The Two-Hearted Numbat

2012-02-08T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Two-Hearted Numbat by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina (Fremantle Press)
PB RRP $16.95
ISBN 9-781-921-888-007
Reviewed by Neridah McMullin

What is a Numbat? It’s a small native Australian marsupial also known as the banded anteater or walpurti. Once they were widespread across southern Australia, and are now mainly found in Western Australia. Thankfully, these cute little guys are now protected by conservation programs.

Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina are from the Bailgu and Nyamal peoples of the Pilbara region of Western Australia and The Two-Hearted Numbat, is a story close to home, told in the style of a dreamtime story.

Numbat has two hearts—one is made of feathers, and the other is made of stone. When Numbat is wearing his feather heart, he’s soft, kind and likeable—but exhausted from helping others. When he wears his stone heart, he’s strong, hard working and clever, but not very likeable. Numbat is torn between choosing a heart of stone that promotes strength and self-confidence at the expense of caring about others, and a feather-heart that promotes compassion for others at the expense of caring about oneself.

Feeling conflicted, Numbat consults the wisest of the numbats and they encourage him to go on a journey to discover his true heart. Facing many challenges, Numbat realises he needs both strength and gentleness, and his two hearts merge into one. “I once thought I had to choose between being as strong as a stone, or as gentle as a feather. But now I know that no one is truly strong who does not also have the softness to care for others. And no one is truly caring of others who does not also have the strength to care for themselves.” Numbat gains wisdom, and becomes a great leader.

The style of the artwork is a contemporary blend of modern and traditional. The use of brightly coloured rainbows of hot pinks, deep blues and jungle greens are throughout the book. There are identifiable, key elements of indigenous art—spirals, magical auras around the numbats and aerial views of the landscape. The traditional methods of ‘x-ray’ painting is also used to show Numbat’s two hearts, clearly visible inside his body.

The Two-Hearted Numbat is a vibrant combination of beautiful visuals and narrative; it’s simple and profound and thought provoking. It is a delightful story with an important message and will appeal not only to pre-schoolers, but older readers too.

Neridah McMullin is the author of three books for children. Her next book is an Indigenous folklore story called 'Kick it to me!'. It’s an ‘aussie rules’ story that’s being endorsed by the Australian Football League. Neridah loves family, footy, and doing yoga with her cat Carlos (who also just happens to love footy). www.neridahmcmullin.com

Girl Parts

2012-02-06T09:00:00.000+11:00

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick (Walker Books)

PB RRP$16.95

ISBN9781406334340

Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

The ideafor this book is distinctly out of the ordinary but with a very current theme.It focuses on the effects of technology on today’s society and its invasion ofpeople’s personal lives. It written in a humorous style and exhibits a flairunusual for a first novel. The author is a literary agent of books for childrenand teens.

The settingis Westtown where all the prime land around the man-made lake belongs to DavidSun’s father, a computer magnate. All, that is, except the small piece thatCharlie and his dad, refuse to give up. They are thought of as weird becausetheir idea of perfection is a natural existence.

The storyopens with Nora committing suicide on a video blog with 750 people watching.Someone could have, but no one tried to stop her, for in Westtown frighteningstatistics had emerged. ‘Cases of moral apathy, suicide, and anhedonia’ were onthe increase. This proved the suspicion that many ‘interpersonal relationships’were ‘increasingly crowded out by electronic distraction’ and that the youngpeople at St Sebastian’s had become disconnected from reality.

Abehavioural specialist/counsellor is brought in to help the boys relearn how toreconnect with the moral side of life. Mr Roger ‘a pioneering researcher of Teen Dissociative Disorder’ isassociated with Sakora Solutions - a company that makes female robotic Companions(in several models) David’s parents coerce him to accept a solution to his indifferenceto drinking and driving, and immoral habits in the form of Rose. She is theoriginal model-type and perfect in every way. (The only thing that candecommission her is total submersion in water)

Rose isconnected via satellite to a data bank at Sakora Headquarters. Her IntimacyClock has a security system and she learns things by listening to and repeatingothers, and through data transferred to her wiring.

Davidbelieves he has found the perfect partner. Her demure manner and moral stancemoves the vain David. Although he is initially envied by all his friends, Davidquickly becomes frustrated when he finds Rose has a set of ethical standardsthat he simply can’t overcome, and robotic companions are not made of the stuffthat humans are. David returns to his old ways and breaks off with Rose. Everythingliterally goes hay-wire.

The weirdyet wonderful Charlie steps in and saves Rose’s life when she too, tries tocommit suicide. But Rose is not the same. A series of entertaining yet sad andfrightening events are set in motion and we discover that the world we arereading about is similar to the one we are living.

This is aterrific Science Fiction future read and many frightening truths are hiddenwithin. It is witty and light-hearted, yet it addresses a great issue.

Bluefish

2012-02-04T09:00:00.000+11:00

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz (Walker Books)
HC RRP $24.95
ISBN 9780763653347
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Travis carries secrets. They are bottled up and twisted with his anger. Therefore he is a boy of few words. He’s bitter, lonely and has just started another dreaded year at a new school. On the first day he goes out shortly after going in. Travis is also suffering from grief and loss, of which we have no inkling of till well into the story.

He lives with his grandfather who is also a man of few words that always cut the air and end too soon. Grandpa has just started AA, chain-smokes, and works at the local bakery to keep food in their stomaches.

Velveeta also has secrets. Some that are never exposed but at which the reader can guess through the absence of attention to her fears. Reasons for her existential problems become known to us through letters that she writes to her old friend Calvin, who has recently died and left her his wife’s scarves. These scarves are the emblem of her belonging to someone and something. Each day she wears a different one. She copes with her grief by utilising her observant eye and astute mind. These she converts into sharp talk with a flippant attitude. Her isolation is compounded by her mother’s inability to sever ties with an alcoholic partner and take control of her life.

The third young central character is Whistler. He is short, wears braces and glasses, is always being bullied and cannot overcome his fears. Yet he has an optimistic view of life, nurtured by a loving family which is absent in the other two young people lives.

These three outsiders merge to form a circle of friendship and support in a subtle and slow fashion; feeling their way towards acceptance and the need for one another.

The pivotal role is claimed by the dedicated teacher Mr McQueen who quickly identifies the main cause of Travis’ withdrawal. It is his gentle and matter-of-fact manner that indirectly steers the boy and Velveeta toward change.

This is definitely a character-based novel. It’s moving, multi-themed and layered within perfect prose. Its minimal and direct style complements the beauty of the language which distils the themes, and the emotions of the exceptional characters. It is about surviving loneliness, loss and grief, and learning how to live with it all. It is also about the great well of potential that each person has inside them, which often only surfaces when acknowleged, encouraged and supported by others.

There was an Old Sailor

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000+11:00

There was an OldSailor byClaire Saxby, illustrated by Cassandra Allen (Walker Books)

PB RRP$16.95

ISBN9781921720765

Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

Winner ofthe Crystal Kite Member Choice Award, Australia and New Zealand Division,SCBWI, 2011, There was an Old Sailor isa joyful tale written in verse of a gluttonous sailor. It begins and ends withlaughter on the reader’s lips.

The feastbegan when ‘he swallowed a krill’. That it will make him ill didn’t seem tobother him so he ‘swallowed a jelly, that wriggled and wriggled and jiggled hisbelly’ to catch the krill. It seems his appetite was whetted for then heswallows in turn and in rhyming verse, a fish, then an unbroken chain of otherfishes of sorts to catch the previous one. But he ‘had to kneel to swallow theseal’ and ‘it must have been dark when he swallowed the shark.’

His tummyis growing and growing and it appears that so is his hunger. It’s when heswallows ‘the whale to catch the seal’ that the biggest burp exits hiscavernous tummy and he sets sail.

What joyfulgalloping rhyme and rhythm this book has with its accompanying, beautiful andsubtle coloured illustrations. The fly pages show a swirling aqua sea with fishswimming. The title page has the Old Sailor looking out to sea through hishand-held telescope. The front coverdepicts the sailor and his rotund upper body, with a krill sitting on hisrounded shoulder. The back cover is areplica of the sea and fish depicted on the fly pages. The book is perfect forreading out loud; for listening to, and for the simple pleasure of reading byyoung and older aged readers

It wasextremely satisfying to see the listing of the media used for the excellentillustrations – gouache and pencil, on the publication page. I have longed forthis information to be included for interested readers/collectors of picturebooks since I wrote about the exhibition of children’s books at Birrarung Marr long ago. Good for you Walker Books! May all thepublishers of illustrated books follow in your footsteps.

All Monkeys Love Bananas

2012-01-31T17:02:00.000+11:00

All Monkeys Love Bananas written and illustrated by Sean E Avery (Fremantle Press)
HB RRP $24.95
ISBN 9-781-921-888-731
Reviewed by Neridah McMullin

All Monkeys Love Bananas is a fast paced, funny rhyming story about a little monkey who has had too much of a good thing – bananas!

“All monkeys love bananas! For breakfast, for dinner, for snacks and for lunch, they all crave bananas, munch, munch, munch. Well, most monkeys do…”

Lou McGrew has eaten so many bananas, he can’t stand the thought of eating another one.

Any Dr.Suess fans out there will love the rhythm of this story as Lou he runs away from his mum and shares his tale of woe with his bunny rabbit best friend Sue Hopoloo. Sue also has a similar problem, she cannot stand to eat another carrot! So they decide to swap carrots for bananas.

“But when they taste each others food…they are happy, they are rude. Blegh! YUCK! Are you trying to poison me?!”

So bananas aren’t so bad after all…and Lou and Sue go back to their original food sources.

The prose is well written and moves along with adventurous speed and high energy in a delightful singsong fashion. My seven-year old enjoyed it immensely (and now tries out the last line on me all the time at mealtimes: “Are you trying to poison me?!” Yes, I say, eat it).

Two themes are put up for discussion here: ‘the grass isn’t always greener on the other side’ and the question of tolerance in that ‘we all like different things’ and that’s what makes the world a wonderful place.

The artwork is a humorous fusion of drawing and digital, the mainstay of colour being black and white tones with splashes of colour throughout. Sean E Avery is a very talented sculptor and artist and there is no doubt his work is unique.

This is a highly recommended read for pre-school and lower primary school readers.

Neridah McMullin is the author of three books for children. Her next book is an Indigenous folklore story called 'Kick it to me!'. It’s an ‘aussie rules’ story that’s being endorsed by the Australian Football League. Neridah loves family, footy, and doing yoga with her cat Carlos (who also just happens to love footy). www.neridahmcmullin.com

The Language of Cat and Other Poems

2012-01-31T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Language of Catand Other Poems byRachel Rooney, illustrations by Ellie Jenkins (Walker Books)

RRP $15.95

ISBN9781847801678

Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

Every nowand then I ask myself, ‘how did this outstanding book find me?’ The poetrycomes from an English woman trained as a special needs teacher who currentlyworks with children with Autistic Spectrum Condition. She also does workshopsfor West Sussex’s Gifted and Talented programme. In November 2011The Language of Cats was long listed forthe Carnegie Medal. The book contains 54 poems and has illustrations in pen andink.

This is abrilliant compilation of poems in changing poetical styles, from sonnets torhyming verse and written for children of no specific age group through toreaders of any age. They are sometimes edgy, are always inventive, and morethan frequently moving and profound. They could be enigmas, riddles ormind-benders, but every single one is thought-provoking.

Moved, Ifelt the need to contact Rachel Rooney. She was generous enough to tell me alittle about her work. When I asked her how she learned to use words in thisway; what experiences in her life brought about this skill, she repliedfrankly.

‘I didn’tstart writing until I was 40, although I loved writing as a child. Initially Iwrote very light-hearted stuff for children’s anthologies but after some fairlyheavy life events in my mid forties, I felt the urge to write more questioning,fibrous stuff. The collection TheLanguage of the Cat combines some earlier work with the latter writings.

‘I think Idon’t specifically write for children these days, I write “with the child inmind”. So I hope that the concerns I’m addressing are as relevant to adults asthey are to older children; questions about identity, desire, independence,etc. And I try to use references that don’t alienate either audience. Thesedays I only write if there’s something I want to say or work out in my ownhead. Therefore I’m a slow worker!

‘I think Imade a conscious effort to try a variety of styles as a way of cutting my teethand learning the craft, although I do lean towards form and patterns in mywork. How did I learn this? I’m not sure, other than reading and lookingclosely at poets I admired, i.e., Carol Ann Duffy’s poems for older children.’

I want toknow if her work with autistic children shaped her view of the world and herwriting in any way.

‘There area number of poems in the collection that are influenced by my teaching ofautistic children such as Tornado andThe Trouble Is to name a few. Also Itap into my mildly autistic nature when I write – focused, attention to detail,the feeling of being “other/outsider”.’ I then query the possibility of new work.

‘I have apicture book, A Patch of Black, comingout in September. It’s pretty much a poem about fear of the unknown and wasinspired by the same earlier mentioned life events. I’d love to write afollow-up poetry collection. At the moment I’m too busy teaching. I’m hopingthat will change fairly soon.’

Forsomething impressive, different and unforgettable, read Rachel Rooney.

The Truth About Penguins

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Truth AboutPenguins by MegMcKinlay, illustrated by Mark Jackson (Walker Books)

PB RRP$16.95

ISBN9781921720772

Reviewed ByAnastasia Gonis

In thissuperbly detailed, finely illustrated book, the reader learns the truth about penguins.But not before that truth is passed from mouth to beak fully garnished withgross exaggeration, to form a continuum of nonsensical information.

Ahand-painted banner announces that the penguins are coming. We look upon adouble-paged, fully illustrated bird’s-eye view of the zoo in intricate detail.There are monkey cages, hanging bats, owls, a lake with alligator andhippopotamus co-existing; meerkats, a panda enclosure, and lots of birds andother animals in cages and enclosures.

‘What’s apenguin?’ the squirrel asks after reading the banner. The giraffe thinks heknows but can’t exactly describe it. The meerkats that are standing nearbylisten in. Various birds give their opinion. Then one-by-one, each animal givestheir description about the life of penguins. Each pretends to be well informedand tries to surpass the other in knowledge. This is done to impress thelistening animals that are gathering and growing in numbers.

As eachanimal speaks, we see what the squirrel visualizes. It’s hilarious! Theillustrations give life to the text and the words meld with the pictures.

The passingon of nonsense to the poor ignorant squirrel gets out of hand until the zookeeperputs a STOP! to it. He starts to set the record straight and we learn the truthabout penguins. He slowly repairs the damage the misinformation has done topenguins. The reader is now in the real penguin world. The illustrations againare so in sync with the text, depicting the life of penguins that words andillustrations seem to become one.

Agloriously entertaining and informative book. The text is hand-written in blackink. It is superbly illustrated with a repetition of shades of ochre, mustardand yellow through the pictures giving it a delightful feel of continuity.Earthy colours bring the animals to life as well.

The coversare an equal delight. The front depicts the animals in gloss against a creammatt background. The back cover shows glossy swinging monkeys and meerkatsagainst a blue matt background. The fly covers are full of motion with dancingpenguins on the bottom and swimming penguins on the top. An attractive borderof blue, interspersed with red dots, and swings of green below stand against amustard background. There are illustrations also on the publication page.

Unicorn Riders Bk 2 : Willow’s Challenge

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000+11:00

Unicorn Riders Bk 2 :Willow’s Challenge by Aleesah Darlison, illustratedby Jill Brailsford (Walker Books)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN978-1-921529-98-6

Reviewed byEmma Cameron

Does agreasly venturing from the forest signal a bad omen? Or is that an old wivestale? Willowbelieves ‘where ever greaslies go, bad luck follows’ and is proven right. LordGildenfair, struck down with a mystery illness, has sent the riders a messageasking them to bring him a last resort elixir to save his life. He says Flossy,AKA Willow, knowsthe way to Arlen. But Willowdoesn’t wish to help. She feels he harmed her family in the past.

The ridersdiscover Lord Gildenfair is her uncle and reason that she must go but, seeing asthe message was sent to the group, say they will ride as one. Willow takes some convincing but agrees. Ontheir way to Arlen they spot soldiers, led by Lord Elsen, on a mission toattack and overtake Arlen. When the riders reach Arlen, Willow discovers a childhood friend, Calder,is her uncle’s servant.

Gildenfair’scondition continues to worsen and he says the doctor’s medicine makes him ill.He is in no position to help his people and when Arlen is surrounded by Elsen’stroops things turn desperate.

The ridersgather with the people of Arlen to defend the city and Ula, Quinn’s unicorn,sends Quinn a mind message to say that the enemy is already among them. Theriders agree the best option is to prevent battle but the soldiers attack andturmoil ensues.

To add tothis, the enemy among them traps Willow so she can’t give her uncle the elixir.Her quick thinking and teamwork of the riders sees them using magic tooverpower evil, save the city, and get the elixir into Gildenfair just in time.By story’s end, readers have learnt, and may be shocked by, who the true enemyamong them was. They will also know that justice will be served.

Thoughtfulillustrations pull readers into this fast paced, powerful tale. Readers see Willow overcome past fearsand anger as she learns the truth and understands that life is not always as itseems. A strong message that forgiveness shows strength, not weakness, comesthrough clearly and the deceit and double-crossing at play shows how greed andpoor values can only cause grief and harm.

Jake’s Great Game

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000+11:00

Jake’s Great Game by Ken Spillman, illustrated by Chris Nixon (Fremantle Press)
PB RRP $10.95
ISBN 9-781-921-888-502
Reviewed by Neridah McMullin

Jake’s Great Game is a fast moving, fun and lively read for junior primary readers.

Jake decides he wants to start playing soccer and his dad takes him to buy some footy boots. Jake likes the silver ones, and he just knows he’s going to be an awesome soccer star! But Jake’s enthusiasm soon takes a nosedive, as he finds out that soccer is not as easy as he thought it would be. When he isn’t tripping, he’s slipping. His dribbling looks like bad passing and his passing looks like bad dribbling. Will he ever get his great game? Everyone else seems to have the hang of it except him.

The moral of Jake's Great Game is that if you keep trying you'll be rewarded. It’s all about persistence and application. This message is delivered through the story of Jake trying to play soccer. His initial failure (despite his new silver footy boots) is compounded by the fact that Jake’s dad isn’t very knowledgeable about soccer either, as much as he tries to help Jake. However, things greatly improve when Jake's coach recognises Jake’s instinctive ability as a goalie. Jake’s Nana provides him with lots of practice in the backyard and his first game is a an absolute triumph. Jake is an awesome soccer star goalie!

Funny, wise and beautifully told, Jake’s Great Game is a fun story for kids who are starting to read books with chapters. Chris Nixon’s black-and-white illustrations can be found on every page. You don’t need to have to have read all the other Jake Series books to enjoy this one but if you have read the others, you’ll probably want to read this one, too—especially if you like books about sport.

The Jake series are terrific stories for boys and girls from five to ten years of age and they have a range comprehensive teaching notes readily available on-line at http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/resources/teachersnotes

Neridah McMullin is the author of three books for children. Her next book is an Indigenous folklore story called 'Kick it to me!'. It’s an ‘aussie rules’ story that’s being endorsed by the Australian Football League. Neridah loves family, footy, and doing yoga with her cat Carlos (who also happens to love footy!). www.neridahmcmullin.com

Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000+11:00

Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck written by Michelle Gillespie with illustrations by Sonia Martinez (Fremantle Press)
HB RRP $24.95
ISBN 9-781-921-696-008
Reviewed by Neridah McMullin

Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck is an evocative and compelling true story about the daring rescue of the passengers and crew of the shipwrecked SS Georgette off the Western Australian coastline in 1876.
Stockman Sam Isaacs is out with his horse tracking stray cattle when he suddenly hears the cries of shipwrecked people in the wild sea off Calgardup Bay. Sam gallops back to the homestead to tell the Bussell family (whom he works for) what has happened, and their young daughter, Grace Bussell, races out and jumps on her horse. With ropes in hand, 16-year-old Grace Bussell returns with Sam to see what they can do to help.

By this time, most of the lifeboats were breaking up in the rough sea. Urging her horse into boiling surf, beyond a line of roaring breakers, Grace and Sam reach the boats where the women and children are in great peril. With as many women and children clinging to Grace and the horse as possible, she makes for the shore, landing them safely. Sam and Grace do this over and over again until they’re exhausted. It took four hours to rescue 50 people.

Sam Isaacs and 16 year-old-Grace Bussell performed amazing acts of courage. They were awarded medals from the Royal Humane Society for their efforts and Grace's legend lives on through the name of the coastal hamlet of Gracetown, north of Margaret River in Western Australia, near the wheat belt town of Lake Grace.

This picture book is fast paced and makes a great ‘read aloud’ book. “There is something about this morning—a quiet in the hills, a shiver in the air—something that prickles the nose of the stockman’s horse.”
It’s quite dark at times, and you can definitely feel the ‘intensity’ of the situation and the unpredictability of the rough sea. The illustrations are dramatic and unusual, involving mixed media collages, combining computer generated images with oil paintings. The images are powerful yet perfect for this amazing story.

Pitched at older primary-age children, this book should make an excellent resource for teachers and librarians trying to encourage young readers to learn more about Australia’s history. Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck has it all - adventure, bravery, history and horses!

Neridah McMullin is the author of three books for children. Her next book is an Indigenous folklore story called 'Kick it to me!'. It’s an ‘aussie rules’ story that’s being endorsed by the Australian Football League. Neridah loves family, footy, and doing yoga with her cat Carlos (who also just happens to love footy). www.neridahmcmullin.com

Have you seen Ally Queen?

2012-01-21T09:00:00.000+11:00

Have you seen Ally Queen? by Deb Fitzpatrick (Fremantle Press)
PB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9-781-921-888-489
Reviewed by Neridah McMullin

Have you seen Ally Queen? is an engaging, realistic and delightful read for teenagers and adults alike.

Ally has been forced to leave her home in Perth (for reasons initially unknown to her) to a sleepy coastal town she likes to refer to as ‘hicksville’; a place full of bogans, surfies and greenies. Bullied at her new school, Ally finds it hard to fit in. Her mum can’t help her as she was a witness to a hit-and-run accident and is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and she isn’t someone Ally can turn to right now. Ally misses how things used to be. She feels like she’s stumbling through her new life, awkward and out of place and completely misunderstood.

But Ally is a tough nut and eventually she finds her own space and place in the world. She learns to like herself. Ally is funny, quirky and smart and it’s a reminder of the difficulties that teenagers face, particularly teenagers dealing with parents who have their own problems.

This story is fast paced and fun. Fitzpatrick is spot on with her language, using common turns of phrase that are engaging and accessible to teenagers. Her writing voice and narrative is strong and genuine and uniquely written in an Australian cultural and historical context. It’s very cool! The iconic descriptions of the beautiful beaches and surrounding mountains are poetic prose and her description of school camp was delightful. Fitzpatrick’s humour is contagious and shines through her writing. Ally is quick witted and self-effacing but Fitzpatrick avoids the usual clichés of perfect parents and domineering teachers and the input of Miss Carey is wonderful.

Ally has an inner dialogue with her alter ego Angelgirl and this layering of complexity adds texture and interest in the story line. I have admit to laughing out aloud a couple of times whilst reading this book. (I’m the mother of two teenagers so I knew exactly where Ally was at).This story is written in a distinctive and engaging style and is to be thoroughly recommended to Young Adult readers.

This is Deb Fitzpatrick’s second novel and now I’m going to track down her first book to read!

Neridah McMullin is the author of three books for children. Her next book is an Indigenous folklore story called 'Kick it to me!'. Neridah loves family, footy, and doing yoga with her cat Carlos (who also happens to love footy too). www.neridahmcmullin.com

Guardian of the Sky Realms

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000+11:00

Guardian of the SkyRealms by GerryHuntman (IFWG Publishing Group)

PB RRP US$14.99(published in US; available online)

ISBN9780984329885

Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

The storybegins in Sydney. The focus is on the unpopular teenager Maree who lives withher mother, her father having left them long ago. She likes Jason who ismulti-talented, musical and gorgeous. For some time now, Maree has been mesmerisedby angels and angel images, particularly one that hangs in a gallery near TheRocks. Her plan is to steal it, and own it to admire.

But a youngman is there, also admiring Wings InDespair. He tells her the story of the painting; about Alanar, Guardian ofthe Northern Sky Realm, and his share-heart Mirriam. They were the Divine,Protectors and fighters of the daemons of the Fire Lands. But Mirriam waskilled in conflict. Alanar has awaited her Rebirth to take up the battle again.Before Maree realizes it, she falls into the painting and flies away with thestranger, who is himself, the Alanar of the painting’s story who has come tobring his Mirriam home.

The timid Mareeembarks on a fantastic journey in another World; one where the flow of time isdifferent to her own. It is a journey of disbelief, discovery, knowledge andRebirth. She becomes Mirriam, an exciting and courageous girl, continuallyevolving, strengthening in every sense, and nothing like the person she wasbefore.

The storygoes back and forth, from then and now, the then being Mirriam/Maree’s HumanWorld in Sydney, and the now, her new life in the Sky Realm. In alternatingchapters, we see the happenings in her Human World. Her mother believing she isdead is battling with grief and fear.

We see whatis happening to Jason. Back in the Human World, his parents are attacked andthe shroud of mystery surrounding his identity begins to fall away. There arechoices both young people must make. Maree must find a way back to Sydney toassure her mother of her existence without revealing her new life.

Their travelstake them through Paris on Christmas night, where the gargoyle Darius becomestheir ally in unexpected collisions with daemons, then through the Himalayasand the US, through portals, caverns, Shadowlands, and dangerous entrances andexits; amidst the warring of good and evil up to the last explosive revelation.

The book isa US production using American English (IFWG are thinking of producing anAustralian edition in the next year or so). However, Barnes and Noble (online)are asking US$13.50 at the moment - plus postage and handling.

Gunnedah Hero

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000+11:00

Gunnedah Hero by Clancy Tucker(morrispublishingaustralia.com)

PB $30.00(plus postage and handling approx $5)

ISBN78-0-646-55733-5

Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

Gunnedah Hero is a book that will be rememberedlong after its reading. It’s an Australian historical, fictional adventurepresented in two parallel stories set in the past and present. It showcases theeffects of drought on the lives of the farming communities and the landscape,as it profiles the drastic measures taken by desperate farmers to save theirstock and land.

Fourteen-year-oldGunnie Danson is faced with a real challenge when he has a school assignment onthe drought. He knows nothing about the subject. But a weekend at the cattlefarm Wiralee Station that has been inthe family since 1848, and a manuscript in a box left to him by Smokey, hisgreat, great grandfather, will change his life forever.

As Gunnie beginsto read the manuscript, little by little he uncovers Smokey’s life, includingthe greatest challenge he faced when he drove their remaining one hundred cattleduring the harshest drought up the long paddock in1910, to save Wiralee Station.

The centralstory is told in lyrical prose in Smokey’s words. The language reflects thepoetic style of the era used in poems and story-telling. This coming-ofage-story about a boy with courage, resourcefulness and resilience plays outamidst other sub-stories of Australian pioneers seeped in their own grief, lossand a struggle for survival.

But it isnot a dark tale. The story is filled with light and hope; with impressive charactersthat coloured the early landscape with their escapades and adventures. Somecarried terrific stories along with news to the lonely drovers theyencountered. Others brought danger and were a threat to the solitary traveller.A recurring point that flows through the book, is the relationship between thedrovers/farmers and their animals – mainly dogs and horses, and the crucial,often life-saving role they played.

The poetrythat the author has included gives another dimension to the prose with itsrelevance and humour. These poems are again singular sub-stories which portrayother lives; where life becomes thefocus, no matter whose life is portrayed.

This is aperfectly crafted, exceptionally well-written book which has beenself-published. It comes highly recommended by the reviewer.

The Scorpio Races

2012-01-17T16:25:00.000+11:00

TheScorpio Races by MaggieStiefvater (Scholastic Inc.)

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9780545224901

Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

This beautifully bound and illustrated bookcaught my eye straight away. The bronzed effect, black silhouetted female rideron a horse and embossed gold letters speaks quality and intrigue.

I have become a fan of Maggie Stiefvater.The elegance and simplicity of her writing reveals a poet’s sensibilities. Nowords are wasted, although, perhaps, she endows the young male character, SeanKendrick, with a little too much poetic vision. But then, he is an unusualyoung man and I’m not surprised his leading lady, Kate Connolly, alias Puck,falls for him. As with all leading men, Sean has skills and abilities whichdraw admiration from other characters within the story, as well as the reader.He is a gifted horseman and the horses in this story take some handling! Theyare part mythical kelpie, part harpie, part devil, but beautiful in theirdangerousness. Let me explain.

Each year on a frigid beach of the island, thecarnivorous water horses, the capall uisce come out of the foam to hunt. It is the annualtest of manhood to catch one and train it to run in the Scorpio Races. SeanKendrick is a natural, as was his father, But unlike his father, who died inthe race years ago, Sean has a small gift of magic with the beasts. He hascaptured Corr, the red horse his father rode that day and he wins almost everyyear riding him.

This year, however, against all advice,there’s a girl in the race and she intends to ride a normal warm-blooded,herbivore, Dove. The stakes are high for Kate, who must win the prize money inorder to keep her eldest brother from leaving the island to look for work.Otherwise it will be just herself and her slightly autistic brother, Finn, andthey are dirt poor.

So, the ‘evil dude’ – he’s BenjaminMalvern, who owns the big flash stables and sells horses to rich Americans likeGeorge Holly. Sean is indebted to the Malverns and is slowly working off hisdebt by using his talents to make them richer. He dreams of saving enough moneyto buy Corr. The Malvern’s son, Mutt, a useless oaf, jealous of Sean, is alwayslooking for an opportunity to humiliate or harm the gifted horseman.

The myth and legend in this story are partIrish/Celtic culture, part Stiefvater, but it’s appealing and adds to theauthentic feel of the harsh but somehow entrancing island life. Having lived onan island myself, in Scandinavia, I could taste the salty wind and the coldnessthat seeps into your bones after sunset and the freshness of mornings on adeserted island beach. There’s nothing quite like it. Having done her researchin the south of England, Stiefvater does a wonderful job of recreating theculture, language and climate of island life.

The build-up of tension is just right.Stiefvater cleverly invites us to invest in the hopes of these two people andtheir fledgling love, to feel excited and yet frightened about the outcome ofthe race. Will Kate survive? Will Dove be able to run against the bigger,faster, meaner Capall Uisce without being eaten? Will Sean give up his dream ofbuying Corr with the winnings of this race just to help the girl he loves winit? Will Mutt Malvern be successful in his attempt to get Sean killed ‘byaccident’? And most of all,( to me), does Corr, the water horse with the killerinstinct, feel any connection or loyalty towards Sean?

You’ll have to read it to find out!

DawnMeredith writes from the Blue Mountains and is a May Gibbs Fellow 2011. You canfollow her exploits at www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com

Writing Historical Fiction: Gunnedah Hero

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000+11:00

Historical fiction is a personal favourite of mine and today Buzz Words Books has the privilege of participating in the Gunnedah Hero blog tour. Author Clancy Tucker gives us an insight into why and how he writes historical fiction:

G’day. Sadly, very little Aussie history is taught in our schools today, yet I can still rattle off dates and facts that I learnt in primary school. Before I wrote my Aussie historic adventure, Gunnedah Hero, I contacted a very senior person in the curriculum branch of the Victorian Education Department, wanting to know what Aussie history was taught in our schools. The answer I received was stunning, ‘Not much at all. Kids find it boring.’ That comment inspired me to write a story that contained hidden historical facts within a great yarn.

I believe we need to pay more attention to our extraordinary past. We have such a rich tapestry of events – discovery, early settlers, the Rum Rebellion, the Eureka Stockade, the Wave Hill Walk Off etc. We are only where we are because of those who have gone before us, and my book, Gunnedah Hero, pays homage to their efforts. I write historic Australian fiction because I have a fascination with, and appreciation of, Australian history. Hopefully, this book will inspire teens to read more about our past, and maybe realise how well off we are today.

This book contains two stories in one – 1910 (Smokey) and 2010 (Gunnie). Readers will find wonderful connections between the main protagonist, Gunnie, and his great-great-grandfather, Smokey ‘Gun’ Danson. Although they are 100 years apart in the story, they are both fourteen-years-of-age. Gunnie’s full name is Gunnedah Swenson Danson; named after Smokey who became known as the ‘Gunnedah Hero’ in 1911. Also, Gunnie’s middle name is the maiden name of his great-great-grandmother, Molly Jane Swenson. Gunnie wears both names with greater pride after he finishes reading an extraordinary manuscript left by Smokey in the attic at Wiralee Station – the story of his epic journey up the long paddock in 1910.

Throughout the story, there are wonderful moments where Gunnie admires the spirit of Smokey and appreciates how tough it was for our pioneers. Being the same age as Smokey was in 1910, Gunnie appreciates the resilience, dedication and integrity of his great-great-grandfather – alone with cattle in a drought, coping with all sorts of disasters along the way without modern technology or luxuries. Reading Smokey’s story at Wiralee Station makes Gunnie realise how much hard work has gone into making Wiralee the most drought-free station in Australia.

Gunnedah Hero is suitable for anyone from 8 to 80 years-of-age. Already, senior citizens have acclaimed it as having a realistic, honest, and detailed account of the life and times around 1910. The sequel, ‘A Drover’s Blanket’ is finished and I am currently working on book three, ‘Magic Billie’. Gunnedah Hero is Smokey’s story. A Drover’s Blanket is Molly’s sad story. Magic Billie will be about Smokey’s closest mate, a wonderful Aboriginal drover he met on the ‘long paddock’ during one of Australia’s worst droughts in which Australia lost 19,000,000 sheep and 2,000,000 cattle.

Writing, or bossing words around, is an absolute pleasure for me. I climb into my character’s heads and provide the reader with a realistic view of each character. How? I choose real people I know to be my characters. That way, I know exactly how they will react to certain situations and can easily describe their anger, reactions, speech, laughter, humour or fears; even the scar on their face, a crooked tooth or a slight limp.

Reading books provides something unique that movies, DVDs and mobile phones do not – the use of your imagination. It is my job as an author to incite that imagination, keep my readers enthralled, conjure up a situation or a scene, and leave my readers wondering what will happen next.

At the bottom of my letterhead is a comment I truly believe, ‘Books are cool. They take you away to awesome places.’

Clancy Tucker

Gunnedah Hero is available as a paperback from http://morrispublishingaustralia.com and http://clancytucker.com.au

EBook available from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114638

and Google ebooks: http://books.google.com.au/ebooks?id=30aI67LULpQC&dq=Gunnedah%20Hero&as_brr=5&source=webstore_bookcard.

GIVE-AWAY: As a part of this blog tour, Morris PublishingAustralia and Clancy Tucker are giving three eBooks to readers of the blogs. Goto http://morrispublishingaustralia.com anduse the form on the Contact Page. Fill in your first name, email address, andput Blog Competition and your preferred eBook format in the message. (Choosefrom ePub, PDF, Kindle) The winners will be drawn on January 31st, 2012. Allwinners will be notified by email and their eBook will be attached.

Paperback Price Slashed: From 14th to 31st January, theprice of the Gunnedah Hero paperback will be slashed to $25. Go to thewebsite http://morrispublishingaustralia.com andchoose the Buy Now button under Discount copy text.The usual postage charge will apply.

Battle Boy – Book 15 Underwater War

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000+11:00

Battle Boy – Book 15 Underwater War by Charlie Carter (Pan Macmillan Australia)

PB RRP $9.99

ISBN: 978 0330 40432 7

Reviewed byWendy McLean

The highlysuccessful Battle Boy series is a dramatic and thrilling series that combinesscience fiction, history and adventure all into one. In each book, 11 year oldNapoleon Augustus Smythe (Battle Boy 005) travels back in time as a Human DataCollecting Device (a HD-CD) – to spy on the past and solve famous historicalmysteries. Each intriguing mission lands Battle Boy right in the thick offamous battles and military exploits. Battle Boy is guided through his missionsby Professor Perdu and a multitude of hi-tech gadgets.

Book 15 isjust as gripping as the earlier books, with Napoleon heading back in time to thefamous Battle of the Atlantic– the longest battle of the Second World War. Napoleon must survive theunderwater wars between Allied battleships and German U-boats. With thismission possibly his most dangerous Napoleon will need every bit of his survivalgear (Simulskin, Boot Boosters and Chameli-Shirt) to survive!

The BattleBoy Series is a compelling, action-packed series that will engage even the mostreluctant reader. The books are short, and are divided into eight to twelveeasy to read chapters. The text is broken up by black and white illustrationsof Napoleon’s special survival gear and dramatic battle scenes. The authorCharlie Carter has cleverly drawn on famous historical battles and events and reworkedthem into action-packed adventures that will appeal to boys and girls aged 6-10years.

Readers cancheck out the other Battle Boy books at: http://www.battleboy.com.au/

Clancy Tucker - Gunnedah Hero - Blog Tour and Give Away

2012-01-11T17:03:00.003+11:00

Historical fiction is a great love of mine so Buzz Words Books is thrilled to be participating in the blog tour of a new historical fiction book for young adults set in 1910.

Gunnedah Hero by Clancy Tucker is published by the new, independent and Australian publisher Morris Publishing Australia.

The tour dates are:

January 14th http://www.kids-bookreview.com - Author Interview

January 15th http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com - Book Review

January 16th: www.buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com - Article - Writing Historical Fiction

January 17th: http://carolwarner.wordpress.com/ - Author Interview

January 18th: http://elaineoustonauthor.com/ - Review

January 19th: www.buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com - Review

January 20th: http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com - Author Interview

January 22nd: https://www.facebook.com/aussiebookreviews - Review

January 23rd: http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/news-update-blog.html

January 24th: www.sherfordbear.co.uk - Review

January 25th: http://misshelenwrites.wordpress.com - Author Interview

January 25th: http://content.boomerangbooks.com.au/kids-book-capers-blog/ - Author interview

January 26th: Grand finale - http://www.blogbud.com/clancytucker - What's next for Clancy

Gunnedah Hero is available as a paperback from http://morrispublishingaustralia.com and http://clancytucker.com.au

eBook available from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114638

and Google eBooks: http://books.google.com.au/ebooks?id=30aI67LULpQC&dq=Gunnedah%20Hero&as_brr=5&source=webstore_bookcard.

GIVE-AWAY: As a part of this blog tour, Morris Publishing Australia and Clancy Tucker are giving three eBooks to readers of the blogs. Go to http://morrispublishingaustralia.com and use the form on the Contact Page. Fill in your first name, email address, and put Blog Competition and your preferred eBook format in the message. (Choose from ePub, PDF, Kindle) The winners will be drawn on January 31st, 2012. All winners will be notified by email and their eBook will be attached.

Paperback Price Slashed: From 14th to 31st January, the price of the Gunnedah Hero paperback will be slashed to $25. Go to the website http://morrispublishingaustralia.com and choose the Buy Now button under Discount copy text. The usual postage charge will apply.

Taken Away

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000+11:00

Taken Away by Celine Kiernan (Allen & Unwin)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-74237-772-0

Reviewed by ThaliaKalkipsakis

Not since childhood have Ifelt the need to hide a book under my bed, face down and beneath a pillow, incase the terrors lurking within somehow made their way out as I slept...

That is, until I read CelineKiernan’s gripping ghost tale, Taken Away.

A small, pale hand grabbed the edge of Dom’s bunk.Little fingers curled around the mattress. I could see the indents of thefabric where they gripped tight. There was a pause, as thought it wasfrightened to look, and then a small, pale, dark-eyed face cleared the edge.

Taken Away tellsthe story of twin Irish boys, Dom and Pat, whose family has been displacedafter their home burnt down. The effect of the fire is not only displacement; somehow,it also means that the ghost is able to seethe twins. And when he does, he thinks he’s ‘found a home’.

Through Pat’s eyes we feelhis horror and sense of helplessness as his twin, his partner in life, ispossessed. Dom disappears, becomes a ‘whistling void’, and in his place issomething that no longer belongs in this world. The situation is made all themore compelling because Pat is the only one who realises that something iswrong.

As with other trulyterrifying ghosts, this one is not all that he seems. To save his brother, Patrealises that he must also help the ghost. And so, the twin’s plight becomesentwined with a tragic World War I mystery.

Recommended for readers from13 to 16 years, Taken Away is muchmore than just a haunting. The mystery and suspense keep the pages turning, butit is the relationships that take this story to a higher level, not the leastof which is the connection between twins and the resulting anguish when eventscause their separation.

Thalia’s latest book is called Head Spinners: six stories to twist your brain (www.thaliakalkipsakis.com).

You Can Draw Anything

2012-01-09T17:07:00.000+11:00

You Can Draw Anything by Kim Gamble (Allen & Unwin)

PB RRP $9.99

ISBN 978-1-74237-798-8

Reviewed by ThaliaKalkipsakis

Created by Kim Gamble, themuch loved illustrator of the Tashi series, this appealing paperback reprint isboth entertaining and highly informative.

Designed to teach young artistshow to draw, the instructions are given in light-hearted, simple language, butit is also possible to learn the techniques simply by following thestep-by-step visuals. My nine-year-old daughter opened the book, followed theillustrated instructions showing how to draw a lion, and then declared: ‘That’sthe best drawing I’ve ever done!’

Any budding artist who takesthe time to read Gambles instructions will not be disappointed. He clearly anddeftly demonstrates the shapes that make up all objects around us, how to drawby following a grid, faces and expressions, perspective, shading and much more.He is encouraging, warm and full of useful tips; ‘Practise expressions in frontof the mirror – look for the little lines that change, especially around theeyes.’

Despite the apparent easewith which he draws, the humour and character in each image makes it clear thatwe are in the hands of a true talent. Designed for children fromeight to twelve, the dedication for this book reads: ‘For Mum, who kept mesupplied with pencils and paper.’ Any parent of a buddingartist would most likely already be following the lead of Kim Gamble’s mum, butthey would do even better to add this book to the supplies.

Thalia’s latest book is called Head Spinners: six stories to twist your brain (www.thaliakalkipsakis.com).

Unicorn Riders Book 3 : Krystal’s Choice

2012-01-07T09:00:00.000+11:00

Unicorn Riders Book 3 :Krystal’s Choiceby Aleesah Darlison, illustratedby Jill Brailsford (Walker Books)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN978-1-921529-99-3

Reviewed byEmma Cameron

The thirdin this series holds excellent lessons on being wary of one who offers somethingspecial to lure you away from what is truly important and who, despite thefacade, does not have your best interests at heart and may even be a danger. Itshows how one can be duped and that it is important to listen to the voiceinside that warns you when things do not feel right. A real strength of it is howit uses a combination of wonder and delight alongside that of menace and drama,all without a trace of didacticism.

The storyopens with the Unicorn Riders helping the poor folk of Stillmet rebuild afterfloods. Krystal, having left a life of luxury on her parent’s estate whenchosen as a Rider, doesn’t delight in drab jobs. She is chastised for shirkingduty while using her Unicorn, its magic, and her riding skills to entertainStillmet’s people. While being a rider is the highest honour one can be given,she feels life as an entertainer would be far more her thing. She is relievedwhen Queen Heart sends the Riders on a mission to track down and rescue childrenwho have been disappearing from Miramar.

Once inMiramar Krystal meets Dezoban, who leads a troupe of young travellingperformers. Krystal does not realise they are stolen children. Her inner voicequeries whether she should take up his invitation to see his unusual animalcollection but vanity and desire to be special is easily won over. Seekng herdream, she sneaks away from the others. When Dezoban gifts her a peacock charm,marking her as one of his entertainers, she keeps it secret. It takes hold ofher thoughts, making convincing suggestions.

Herunderlying wish sees her fall under the charm’s spell and she convinces herselfit will do no harm to follow its suggestions. It is when she leads the Unicornsand their riders to their capture that Dezoban reveals he had her do this so hecould steal the unicorns for the magic held in their horns. He traps the ridersand a great battle ensues in which Krystal’s love for her friends and her true,good self sees her use all her strength to release herself from the charm’sspell and rescue the others, including the stolen children.

The Tale of Kyla Koala

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Taleof Kyla Koala by Susan Hall, illustrated by Ben Guy

(NationalLibrary of Australia)

HB RRP $14.95

ISBN 978-0-642-27726-8

Reviewedby Emma Cameron

WhenKyla Koala is caught in her very first bushfire ever, none of the other animalshelp her. They all simply flee. Unsure of which direction to take, Kyla doesher best. Sadly, it’s not enough to prevent burnt paws. Through dialogue of theUprights, readers learn that the only thing that saved her was what saved theUprights and their homes; good fortune of wind changing in time.

Ayoung girl, distressed because her dolly was burnt in the barn, discovers Kylaand sees her burnt paws. Though the girl’s parents say she can’t keep Kyla as apet, they do help her tend to Kyla’s burns. Kyla’s repeated attempts to escapeare thwarted by the young Upright who is desperate to keep her and it is onlywhen Kyla finally succeeds in escape that a compromise found.

HungryKyla is unable to return home or to find food where she used to as all isblackened, but nearer the Upright’s home is a tree that will be suitable. Whenthe little girl sits under the tree sobbing at her loss, Kyla climbs the treeand settles in it to munch on some leaves. The young girl understands it is theseleaves, and the tree as a home, that mean Kyla is likely to stay nearby. Happythat they will be neighbours, the girl stops trying to keep Kyla trapped.

Oneof four in the Animal Tales series, thetale shows early settlers caring for injured native fauna and shows how theylearnt about the life of the native animals. Besides incorporating small factsinto the story, the book also ends with pictures showing some of the earlypaintings done by early settlers and how much they got wrong first up!

Storyillustrations by Ben Guy are accurate presentations and capture the franticdilemma native animals are threatened with when natural elements of ourenvironment hit hard. His illustrationsalso show farms and homes of early settlers interspersed between bush scenery,as it truly would have been in the early days. From the scenic Australian endpapers to stylish cloth case and jacket, this is a beautiful production.

The Tale of Kaz Kangaroo

2012-01-03T15:54:00.000+11:00

The Taleof Kaz Kangaroo by Susan Hall, illustrated by Ben Guy

(NationalLibrary of Australia)

HB RRP $14.95

ISBN 978-0-642-27729-9

Reviewedby Emma Cameron

Leaningout of Mother’s pouch one day, Kaz spots an interesting shape out to sea that’sheading for land. She hops a very long way, further than she has ever been onher own, to reach the beach and investigate this apparition. She thinks it maybe a whale, until she spots Uprights crawling all over it and realises sheshould return home. Sadly, she can not remember which way home is.

TheUprights, who are setting up camp on land, try to catch Kaz. When fear takeshold and paralyzes her, all the Uprights try to work out what this strangecreature is. It’s not a dog, a deer or a gigantic rat! One of them tries todraw her. When Kaz’s mum shows up, Kaz disappears into Mum’s pouch. TheUprights are amazed and, although wary of Mum’s size, they crowd around.

Kaz feels safe enough in Mum’s pouch to pop her head out and this makes one Uprightorder the others to back away, meaning Kaz and Mum can get home. One of four inthe Animal Tales series, this tinyhardback explores the reaction of Europeans to our native fauna when they firstcame to Australia.Uniquely, it does this via the viewpoint and experiences of each creature; inthis case, Kaz.

Youngreaders will enjoy the initial story about Kaz and, as they grow up and learnmore about the world around them and our history, they will see into more ofthe issues faced by early settlers and our native animals when they first met.Besides incorporating small facts into the story, the book ends with picturesshowing some of the early paintings done by early settlers; most interesting,as they got a lot wrong first up!

Storyillustrations by Ben Guy are accurate presentations of our kangaroos andillustrations of the ship and the early settlers are a step into the past. Fromthe scenic Australian end papers to the stylish cloth case and jacket, this isa quality production, and a percentage of proceeds goes to the RSPCA.

Amazing Grace: An Adventure at Sea

2011-12-28T16:20:00.000+11:00

Amazing Grace: An Adventure at Sea by Stephanie Owen Reader (National Library of Australia)
HB RRP $29.95
ISBN 9780642277435
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

This book is absolutely outstanding from the story created around the factual evidence to the presentation and production quality.

In December 1876, sixteen-year-old Grace Bussell (and others) risked their own lives to save passengers and crew from the shipwrecked Georgette. A fictionalised account of the rescue is interspersed with paintings, newspaper clippings, photographs, eyewitness accounts and other historical documents from the National Library of Australia's own collection. A true sense of pioneer life at the time is built up.

The author is a master storyteller, able to draw the reader into the thoughts of feelings of passengers, crew and rescuers. Grace is shown as a capable and affable, but not extraordinary country girl, who nonetheless does not hesitate when action is needed. Other rescuers such as the Aboriginal stockman Sam Isaacs, and James and William Dempster are given due credit for their bravery.

A list of characters, glossary, short chapters and plentiful illustrations and further information ensures that the story can be followed by competent younger readers as well as being enjoyed and appreciated by older readers and even adults.

I highly recommend Amazing Grace and it should find a place on all bookshelves.

Mr Darcy

2011-12-27T15:33:00.001+11:00

Mr Darcy by Alex Field, illustrated by Peter Carnavas (New Frontier Publishing)

HB RRP $24.95
ISBN 9781921042836
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

As a lover of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice it was a no-brainer I would love Alex Field's picture book Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy is a duck who lives by himself at Pemberley Park 'where the trees blossomed and the lake sparkled'. Although he is lonely he feels too important to accept an invitation to tea from Lizzy and her sisters. Disaster occurs when Mr Darcy falls in a puddle (a little smile crossed my lips with visions of Mr Darcy from the BBC series emerging from the lake!). Lizzy, her sisters and their friends (including Bingley the horse) help free Mr Darcy and, realising the value of friendship, he accepts Lizzy's invitation.

The text and illustrations combine perfectly to bring this delightful story to life. Peter Carnavas once again shows why he is an award-winning illustrator. The illustrations are uncluttered yet full of energy, movement and emotional integrity. Mr Darcy is the stand-out character and his journey is brilliantly portrayed. Plenty of white space keeps the focus on the characters and does not distract the reader, ensuring that the message of the text is conveyed but never in a didactic manner.

Children and parents will both love this gentle and amusing story.

Brumbies

2011-12-26T20:29:00.001+11:00

Brumbies by Paula Boer, illustrated by Rowena Evans (IFWG Publishing)
ISBN -978-0-646-56641-2
PB RRP $15
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Paula Boer's Brumbies is the first in a five-part series set in the Snowy Mountains of Australia where wild brumbies roam the National Parklands. Such is their numbers that authorities are forced to cull by mustering the horses for the sales yards. Unfortunately, most end up in the pet food market.

The two young protagonists, Louise, a city girl just moved to the country, and Ben, a farm boy, are keen to save at least some of them and plan to hold a muster of their own before high school resumes. When the teenagers happen upon part of a herd and see a buckskin and a colt they would love to capture for themselves, the personal element really kicks in.

Any young horse-lover will be thrilled with this novel, and I certainly relived my fascination with horses as a young girl. This is no pony club story, nor purely an entertaining adventure story - it is an education in riding, mustering, and breaking-in horses told in great and fascinating detail with the authority of Paula's experience as a horsewoman. It is this detail that sets Brumbies apart from the usual pony read. The problem-solving is especially intriguing to those who have never belonged to the horse world, and here again, Paula's expertise provides answers that, without first-hand experience, would be very difficult to portray.

Brumbies draws the reader into a different world, one populated by Australian birds and fauna, and the rigours of riding in the Snowy Mountains. Although maybe a little overly-descriptive for some readers, I personally felt any small flaws were not worth a mention in the joy of experiencing a truly inspiring Aussie adventure story told with such passion and truth. You want Louise and Ben to succeed, you understand their determination to win through and you suffer alongside them when things go wrong.

Brumbies includes a Glossary which will be most helpful to readers, especially those who are not familiar with Australian slang terms.

Rowena Evans' illustrations complement the story and the cover, with its pen and wash depiction of a herd of brumbies on a background of vivid green, is very attractive. Her engaging black and white drawings and maps are scattered with great effect throughout this excellent novel.

Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000+11:00

Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat by Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis (Walker Books Australia)
HB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781921529191
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

The delightful Violet Mackerel is back with her newest theory: the Theory of Helping Small Things. However, Violet finds that helping small things is not so easy when the ladybird Small Gloria dies in the home Violet has made her. Violet discovers all about natural habitats and Small Gloria provides the key to repairing Violet's relationship with her sister Nicola who is 'going through a stage'.

Beautifully written and pitched perfectly for younger readers, this third Violet book is a heart-warming exploration of family dynamics and of a child working out the world around her and how she and others fit into it. Branford also provides advice on how best to keep a ladybird in a jar including that it is best not to keep them for long.

Sarah Davis' ink and pencil illustrations grace every page bringing Violet and her family to life. Davis has managed to capture the very essence of Violet's personality. In particular, I loved the illustration of Violet searching for Small Gloria in the rain.

Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat is the most gorgeous book and a must-have for all book shelves.

Lily's Wish

2011-12-20T14:48:00.001+11:00

Lily's Wish by Barbara Pyett and Serena Geddes (New Frontier Publishing)
PB RRP $9.95
ISBN 978192104289
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Lily writes to Santa with just one wish: wings to fly. She has a gift that needs to be delivered to the other side of the world. Santa ponders the request. On Christmas Eve, he drops by Lily's house and takes her on a sleigh ride across the world and Lily delivers a kiss to her grandmother in London. Lily wakes the next morning and wonders if it's all a dream until Grandma rings to tell Lily she has company-Lily's toy rabbit.

Lily's Wish explores the meaning of Christmas without being didactic or ignoring the excitement Santa brings to children. Gorgeous water colour illustrations bring the minimal text to life and extends it. Throughout the story there is no mention of the rabbit though it appears as Lily's constant companion in the illustrations. The illustration of Lily blowing the kiss is perfect.

Lily's Wish is a book that will certainly feature under many Christmas trees.

Hal Junior – The Secret Signal

2011-12-17T08:52:00.000+11:00

Hal Junior – The Secret Signal by Simon Haynes (Bowman Press Australia)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 978-1-877034-07-7

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

From the author of the YA Hal Spacejock series comes a junior science fiction novel in which Hal Junior, who idolises Captain Spacejock, is the hero. Hal lives aboard a futuristic space station where Dad “once told him about people washing with actual water” and the idea of washing in it or “sloshing it all over your plates to clean them was insane.” Hal’s story begins with him needing best mate, Stephen 'Stinky' Binn, to help him retrieve his homework from the recycling hatch. Sounds simple enough, except it requires tampering with the space station’s gravity controls. Very carefully.

A whole series of events is set off in which his teacher, a robot, is hijacked and Hal discovers a sinister plot that puts the entire space station in peril. The set-up, which includes Mum as chief scientist and Dad as maintenance man for the air filtration system, ensures all of Hal’s antics are plausible. My favourites include his use of a home-made space cannon, bungie-jumping with elastic shoelaces and Hal drifting about in space, uncertain whether he will be able to hook back up with his family and friends ever again.

The book also contains small line drawings and some funny visual jokes, particularly at the beginning of each chapter. The technical diagrams scattered throughout, many of them explaining concepts in the text, add further interest. There are even plans for readers to follow that produce the world’s most acrobatic paper plane; the one Hal’s homework was written on the back of when it sort of accidently flew down the recycling hatch (which is what started the whole story).

Young readers are likely to be quickly drawn in by the likeable character of Hal. He is adventurous, fun, and a little cheeky, but always hopes to ensure that only fairness prevails. Being a hero, he manages to save all. Packed with danger and tension, as well as humour and sweetness, his story is highly recommended for confident readers in upper primary.

The Boy and the Crocodile: the legend of East Timor

2011-12-16T09:00:00.001+11:00

The Boy and the Crocodile: the legend of East Timor illustrated by children from the Familia Hope Orphanage (Affirm Press)

PB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-098713262-8

Reviewed by Lillian Rodrigues-Pang

www.thestoryline.com.au

This book is an absolute inspiration. It is a creation tale about how East Timor the island came into being, how it got its shape and how kindness and friendship can create great things.

This is particularly apt as the story of the book creation is a magnificent one. It came from collaboration between Australia (Affirm press), Familia Hope Orphanage and Arte Morris in Dili, East Timor. Familia Hope Orphanage is home to 30 children, many of whom lost their parents in East Timor’s violent struggle for independence. They are now at an age where they must look to personal independence in the near future. This book was designed to give them a helping hand. All proceeds of this book will go to the orphanage.

The artwork was produced through workshops with the children of the orphanage and Arte Morris. Arte Morris is a free Fine Arts and Cultural Centre in Dili. It was established to use art as a building block in the psychological and social reconstruction of East Timor, a country devastated by war. It has a particular focus on the young. Its story alone is fascinating - www.artemoris.org

This book goes beyond helping those in the orphanage alone. Copies of this book were presold to finance the production and distribution (free) of a Tetum version of The Boy and the Crocodile. 5000 copies are being given out in the hope to foster an understanding of their own culture, legends and language, something sorely missing in East Timor presently.

All up this book is a gorgeous creation tale. The illustrations are beautiful and offer a variety that is true of a communal production. It teaches of friendship and kindness. It allows those who purchase it to assist others less fortunate. What more could you want in a book for yourself or as a gift for others?

Murgatroyd’s Garden

2011-12-15T09:00:00.003+11:00

Murgatroyd’s Garden by Judy Zavos, illustrated by Drahos Zak (Walker Books)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 978-1-921720-52-9

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

It is no wonder that this book won CBCA Honour Book, Picture Book of the Year in 1987. It’s rerelease is sure to be adored by those who battle at bath time because it means the dreaded task of hair washing. It opens with the havoc Murgatroyd’s AMAZING screams cause EVERYWHERE. They cause chaos for the Mayor, the Queen, the President and more. So much so that, by order of the Mayor, Murgatroyd’s parents must not wash it anymore.

At first, Murgatroyd is happy. As is everyone else. Peace and quiet is a good thing. Better still, it seems dirt ridden hair that grows a garden proves to be a novelty. The entire neighbourhood is kept stocked with freshly picked flowers. Experts can’t believe it. People come from the world over to witness it. And Murgatroyd becomes famous for something other than screaming.

The garden grows bigger and bigger. It produces vegetables and fruit trees. It becomes home for birds. The bigger and heavier it gets, the smaller and more miserable poor Murgatroyd becomes. Those visiting to sticky beak, and the animals living in the growth, don’t keep Murgatroyd company. He becomes lonely. And worried. “Soon there would be all garden and no Murgatroyd.” It is agreed, that the garden must go and Murgatroyd is so pleased with being able to stand again, he happily has his hair washed. Regularly.

Zak’s artwork is splendid. Sepia tones, with teensy dobs of colour, form detailed illustrations of Murgatroyd’s town. Black is often used on white to outline parts of Murgatroyd’s personal world, with the key features being in bold colour. Sepia returns to show the garden growing and, as it blossoms into much life, enormous amounts of colour pull readers into the action and help hide poor Murgatroyd. There is so much for readers to look at and find in these pictures, they will come back again and again. This book is highly recommended for pre-schools and young readers.

Ships in the Field

2011-12-14T09:26:00.000+11:00

Ships in the Field by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by Anna Pignataro

(Ford Street Publishing)

HB RRP $26.95

ISBN 978-1921665233

Reviewed by Francine Sculli

Joining the mastery of award-winning author, Susanne Gervay and award-winning illustrator, Anna Pignataro – Ships in the Field is a picture book filled with significance, beauty and rich subtext.

Narrated through the simple, but intuitive eyes of a little girl, this picture book tells the story of life for a refugee family who have fled from their war torn country and started a new life in a foreign land. The little girl shares heart warming family moments with the reader. Images of her father splashing her with water from the laundry tub, making hats for the whole family from paper napkins, promising her a puppy that she so longs for, or sitting on top of trees that give a view of the whole world; all of these provide a safe and comfortable foundation for her to share other images of her family’s life that are far deeper and more complex. We see her mother crying in the hallway as she sleeps, we hear of how the night scares her, we hear of the loss of their previous life, and the complexity of mistaking ‘ship’ for ‘sheep’. These images are delicately interwoven in a way that brings hope and understanding.

The intricate images from Anna Pignataro are wonderfully complimentary and equally telling. She captures the warmth, solidary and strength of the family through her soft, watercolour images; however, the double page image spreads also provide the subtext for what is left partially unsaid in the narrative – the gloom, loss, fear and devastation of war. Colour is a significant part of the illustrations and the sense of hope overcoming loss and devastation is depicted through the changing colours, as the darker and more neutral tones are slowly replaced with brighter and more vibrant colours towards the books close.

Through its imagery, clever word play and warmth, Ships in the Field has created a thoughtful and touching insight into the world of a child whose life has been shredded by war. While it is a great insight, it is not overly confronting and easily accessible for younger readers. It is a significant picture book that will assist children (aged 7+) to develop empathy and understanding.

Unicorn Riders Book 4 : Ellabeth’s Test

2011-12-13T09:00:00.000+11:00

Unicorn Riders Book 4 : Ellabeth’s Test by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Jill Brailsford (Walker Books)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 978-1-921720-00-0

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

When Willow breaks her leg, Ellabeth volunteers to be lead rider in her place. The team’s latest mission is to acquire magical diamond scales from a specific Dakkar Serpent, needed to make Princess Serafina’s armour for her initiation ceremony. The ceremony will be followed by a Council of Kingdoms meeting that the princess will attend in an effort to avoid a war. The Unicorn Riders must travel dangerous territory and return in time for the armour to be made before the meeting.

Though Ellabeth is at first adamant she should take the leadership role ahead of any other rider, she soon learns that being a leader isn’t simply about bossing people around. It means lots of decision making. It’s frightening when the black Mists of Shanahan engulf the riders, making it impossible to keep track of their path. Ellabeth becomes plagued by self-doubt and battles self-pride before she finds it within herself to ask for help.

After the team makes it to the serpent’s home, they must face another obstable; convincing the serpent to give the scales freely. Their magic will die if taken without permission. Ellabeth, tired and snappy, does not treat the serpent with the respect she deserves. The serpent decides she “can not entrust the Dakkar Diamonds to one who is not respectful.” Fortunately, Ellabeth is placed in a position where her actions enable her to redeem herself.

Besides a map that allows readers to follow the riders’ journey through Avamay, there are illustrations that capture scenes within new territory and characters no-one has met before. As well as reading about the fantasy world Darlison has created, girls aged eight and up will be able to visually absorb it and its people.

Like others in the series, this story is magical and uplifting. Action and adventure is high on the list, with risks and dangers that are sure to engage readers. Moving forward at a lively pace, while also exploring possible failure as Ellabeth makes her way through this test, guarantees the attention of young readers is held.

The Fabulous Flying Machines of Albert Santos-Dumont

2011-12-12T09:02:00.005+11:00

The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith, illustrated by Eva Montanari (Abrams Books for Young Readers)

HB RRP $16.95 US

ISBN 9 781419 700118

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

Scant knowledge of flight history had me believing that the Wright Brothers were the first to fly a plane. It seems, however, it’s not all that simple. Their first flight required their plane to be pushed before it could ascend. All sorts of people were hoping to be the first to get a self-propelled plane into the sky and one of the most famous was a Brazilian living in Paris who, believe it or not, did his errands by airship. He was the first to achieve his goal.

This picture book for children aged 6-10 portrays Alberto as a man of quirky personality who flew a dirigible over Paris to run errands. He “sometimes tethered his flying machine to a lamppost in front of a fashionable café and asked the waiters to send him up a glass of champagne or coffee." As the son of a wealthy plantation owner, Alberto had the financial backing needed to pursue his project.

The visual portrayal, in rich, smudgy oils and pastels, gives readers a feel for Paris of 1906, its people and the excitement that went with events. End note photos of Alberto and his dirigible over the Eiffel Tower are nice for readers but the illustrations that capture the feel of the time, the pursuit of the dream, Alberto’s success and everyone’s response will give great perspective and much delight.

The book intersperses Albert’s story with that of history and some quirky elements are revealed. For example, in his wish to always time his journeys, Albert Santos-Dumont asked his jeweller friend Louis Cartier to make it easier for him to clock flight times, saying a fob watch was too fiddly. Louis presented him with the first male wristwatch. A Cartier watch called the Santos is still available today.

The story also shows Alberto with his hat maker, expressing his belief that "once people are able to fly to different countries, they will see how much we have in common. We will all be friends." While he was the first man to take off in a self-propelled plane, end notes tell how Alberto’s wish for world peace was dashed when he saw that planes were used in war. Sadly, he took his own life.

Side by Side - Shoulder to Shoulder

2011-12-11T09:00:00.013+11:00

Side by Side - Shoulder to Shoulder by Neridah McMullin, illustrated by Ainsley Walters (One Day Hill)
PB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9780980794823
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Football is an integral part of Melbourne and defines the culture of the city. Side by Side gives the young reader an insight into what that meant in the Great Depression where football teams bound communities and provided a distraction from the harsh realities of unemployment and hunger.

It is the eve of the 1935 Grand Final and, with hundreds of other supporters, young Tom and his grandfather attend the final training for the Collingwood team at Victoria Park. Grandpa points out the fearless players of 'The Machine' including the Collier brothers and Gordon Coventry as well as legendary coach Jock McHale. A buzz runs through the crowd when the news that Bob Pratt the champion full forward of South Melbourne, Collingwood's opposition in the 1935 Grand Final, has been hit by a truck.

Underlying the story of the club is the strength of the relationship of grandfather and grandson. Above all, it is the sense of belonging and familial loyalty to the team that comes through McMullin's text. Tom may be hungry but he feels lucky to be part of something bigger.

Ainsley Walters' colourful illustrations are perfect for the nostalgic feel of the book and the addition of original newspaper clippings, cartoons and photographs give a true sense of the era. A glossary of football and historical terms, facts and a rundown of six grand finals are included as well as biographies of many Collingwood players of the era.

Love 'em or hate 'em, Collingwood Football Club is an icon of Australian Rules Football and still holds the record of four premierships in a row from 1927 to 1930. Side by Side is perfect for young Collingwood fans and lovers of this great game.

Celeste, Nick and the Magical Tea Party

2011-12-10T09:00:00.000+11:00

Celeste, Nick and the Magical Tea Party by Miss Dinkles, illustrated by Adam Oehlers (www.celesteandnick.com)
HC RRP $22.45 online
ISBN 9781921596803
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Discovering the world of Celeste and Nick is like rediscovering ancient wisdoms about the connectedness of all life.Celeste, unlike her carefree sister Renee, is anxious about leaving her home with the pond in the yard and moving to a big city. Settled in the new house, Celeste doesn’t feel safe outside. She shares tea parties with imaginary friends in her room and is unhappy until she finds an old radio in the shed. Listening to music evaporates her darkness.

The first day of school is traumatic. She is teased, has her hair pulled and eats her lunch alone. At night she cries, feeling lonely and alone. She puts on the radio and is transported from her room to a place of grassy fields, soft clouds and blue skies. Colour and light fills her life; colours of the sun, grass, water and sky.

Nick sits next to Celeste at lunch the following day. He tells her of his loneliness when he started at school. Later, Celeste is transported to that other place when she closes her eyes and dances to the music. Further miracles of nature await her. She waters the plant from her previous visit and watches it grow. Streams and the colour blue enter her life.

This pattern continues. Music is the prelude to Celeste’s visits to the other world. Nick joins her in her excursions to that other place. More things grow. Animals, plants and colour join the children. With dance and closed eyes, they commune with nature and the environment. Celeste wants to share this new-found knowledge with everyone. They decide to throw a tea party in the park and show the other children how easy it is to connect with music and nature, simply by closing your eyes.

This beautiful book carries strong messages. It teaches children about the unity of all living things. Its unique fine line illustrative style uses colours of the earth, trees and natural surroundings. Symbolism is used to unite and present the ideas. Its superb front cover shows Celeste and Nick through a brown hollow of a tree, walking through rippling grass toward a giant sun in the horizon. The back cover reflects the tools of Celeste’s loneliness (the tea set) being swept away with the dark clouds over a crescent moon in a sky flickering with stars. The end pages are the brilliant yellow of the sun. Delightful!

The Flying Emu

2011-12-09T09:00:00.001+11:00

The Flying Emu by Sally Morgan (Walker Books)

PB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-192172064-2

Reviewed by Lillian Rodrigues-Pang

www.thestoryline.com.au

Sally Morgan is a well know Australian writer having written books for both children and adults. Her autobiography, My Place, is an Australian classic and has been published in a special children’s edition called Sally’s Story.

This is a collection of her short, folktale like stories that she has written and illustrated. Her illustrations are gorgeous. Sally is a respected visual artist whose work has won international acclaim. She is represented in galleries in Australia, US and elsewhere. Sally is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of northwest Western Australia.

In her preface Sally states that the stories in the book are not traditional ones although some were drawn from her childhood. Many read as ‘modern folktales’ and I particularly enjoyed Old Poker Face and The Laziest Seagull. She tells of her childhood memories of hearing stories and the importance they had in her life and encourages readers to have fun making up their own stories to share.

The stories include characters such as the moon, the sun, the planets, a vain emu, a young girl Jilji and her nemesis ‘Fatfella’ and the list goes on, all colourful characters that make for good reading. I enjoyed this collection very much. They are relevant for today, enjoyable, use exciting fun language and offer great colourful illustrations. This is another wonderful contribution by Sally Morgan and one to have on your shelf.

Giggly Times Giggly Rhymes

2011-12-08T09:00:00.001+11:00

Giggly Times Giggly Rhymes: Poems for Children by Richie Cotton, illustrated by Rhonda Cotton (Billy’s Books)

PB RRP $19.95 inc. P and H

ISBN 9780646522302

Giggly Times Giggly Rhymes No 2: Picture Book Poems for Children by Richie Cotton, illustrated by Rhonda Cotton (Billy’s Books)

HB RRP $29.95 inc. P and H

ISBN 9780646541747

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

These two delightful books are evidence that creativity originates from many sources and through many daily life experiences. The first book was born through a father’s need to entertain his young child. He created rhymes, some nonsensical, all simple rhymes in varied lengths, about everyday situations and all kinds of animals. The second book is an extension of the first.

Giggly Times Giggly Rhymes incorporates pirates, rabbits, maths on a blackboard, garden fairies, jelly beans, and a whole range of exciting and naughty situations and animals. The natural world is alive throughout the book which entertains and educates.

In Giggly Times Giggly Rhymes No 2, the layout of the pages and the rhymes adhere to the style of the previous book with a change in subjects and characters. Also, this hard cover comes with a jacket identical to the cover of the book.

There are frogs and falling donuts, cactuses to cuddle and a truckie duckie amongst other cheeky, happy, characters. The rhymes again have a strong entertainment quality. They are funny, silly, and very appropriate for young children.

It is the illustrations that make these books special. They are outstanding, have the minute detail that children look for in their world of books, and the characters are portrayed in an expressive and colourful way. For an illustrator without any formal training, Rhonda Cotton has translated the text perfectly. The front and back covers are fully illustrated with all the characters that appear inside. The title pages are identical, showing Billy blowing blue bubbles all over the red title. Both back end pages have the naughty rabbits from the rhyme, Naughty Rabbits, driving away in a green ute leaving ‘see you next time’ behind them!

Mention must be made to the durable and excellent quality of the paper used in the books’ production.

The Tale of Peek Platypus

2011-12-07T09:00:00.001+11:00

The Tale of Peek Platypus by Susan Hall, illustrated by Ben Guy (National Library of

Australia

)

HB RRP $14.95

ISBN 978-0-642-27728-2

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

As the sun sets on a beautiful day, Peek swims in the river and spots a strange thing swishing back and forth above him. It’s a scoop net and he is picked up in it by ‘Uprights’. The humans peer into the net and argue over what Peek is (duck, beaver, valuable fish). It becomes obvious to readers these humans have no idea. They pop Peek into a bucket of water with a lid so he can’t escape.

One of the humans thinks Peek could be worth a fortune. A kinder, gentler one thinks he belongs in the water. Once the humans are far enough away from Peek, a curious dingo disturbs the bucket and Peek is able to reach the water. There is a close call as the greedy Upright pulls him back but the dingo does not give up and the kind, gentle human is relieved to see Peek swim away.

One of four in the Animal Tales series that explores the reaction of Europeans to our native fauna when they first came to Australia, this is a tiny, hard backed treasure. Young readers will enjoy this book for the initial story about the animal but, as they grow up and learn more about the world around them and our history, they will see into more of the issues faced by early settlers and native animals. Explanatory notes at the books end will help with this.

Like all books in the series, this one includes beautiful bush scenes that show animals in their peaceful, natural setting. Scenic end papers and a stylish cloth case and jacket finish off this quality production. The last pages include pictures of the early paintings done by early settlers; most interesting, as they got a lot wrong first up! Story illustrations by Ben Guy are far more accurate presentations of the creatures we know so much about now.

Totally Twins - Tropical Trouble

2011-12-06T16:28:00.005+11:00

Totally Twins - Tropical Trouble by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Serena Geddes (New Frontier Publishing)

PB RRP $14.50

ISBN 9781921042690

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

Identical twins may look the same, but can be such opposites in personality. This story, the third in an illustrated series for girls aged seven plus, is written as a travel diary because Persephone and her twin Portia are off to

Fiji

with Gran. One snag is that they have to take Dillon, the seven-year old pest from next door. And as Portia finds it easy to make friends, Persephone feels like she’ll be stuck with him. Thank goodness she has her diary for company.

At Kids’ Club, the only two girl’s similar in age to the twins hit it off with Portia immediately. The three pal around, leaving Persephone out on her own. Activities at the resort’s Kids’ Club, like dancing, show off Portia’s ability. Persephone is over her sister’s popularity and writes, “I wanted someone to notice me”, confessing that she would like that someone to be the resort owner’s son Ashton.

Not wanting him to like her over Portia, Persephone gets on with the activities everyone is doing, including swimming with sharks and sailing the open sea. That sees her, Portia and Dillon unable to return to shore, but Ashton rescues them. Less skilled at sport than dancing, Portia suffers injuries at tennis and basketball. Again, it’s Ashton to the rescue. Why does everything always work out for Portia? Or does it only seem that way?

By the story’s end, Dillon, an only child, reveals how special Persephone is to him. She sees his loneliness and, despite petty squabbles with Portia, realises she wouldn’t want to be without her. And at the Kid’s Club Disco Dance-off, Ashton wants to dance with her, not Portia. Turns out to be a great holiday, really.

The books simple yet effective line drawings capture adventure, thrills and the emotional rollercoaster of the holiday, as well as the setting, personalities and relationships. It is sure to engross young girls and does not need to be read in the order it falls in the series. This series will be popular in school libraries and have longevity.

Adventure Classics for Boys; Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Kidnapped!

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000+11:00

Adventure Classics for Boys; Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Kidnapped! (Egmont)

HB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-140525465-6

Reviewed by Lillian Rodrigues-Pang

www.thestoryline.com.au

This book offers three classic adventure stories. It is all boy in presentation with a blue mock cloth cover, a shipwreck image on the front and gold gilding around the edges. It is an attractive hard cover book. The original images are used throughout which are a delight.

A few months ago my son’s teacher suggested he start reading the classics. I gave him Treasure Island after finding it in a second hand bookstore. It began well enough although the language was a major barrier - he came to me so often with English phrases that are out of date and that I had no idea what they meant. Some we looked up, most were too difficult even to guess at and in the end we had to give up on the story. Thankfully this abridged version takes some of the harder classical English out while retaining the feel of the story. The stories are accessible in this format and I am glad as I felt a huge loss at not being able to get through the original.

The first story is Robinson Crusoe. The concept of a shipwreck and living completely alone on an island is one many good tales have come from. If you can put aside the fact that native peoples are portrayed as cannibals and inferior it is a grand adventure tale of survival and determination.

The second story is Treasure Island. I really enjoyed this story. I like the fact that the protagonist is a boy who makes bold decisions. He is wonderfully capable and adventurous and a great judge of character. He fights against the odds and in the end gets a share in the treasure.

The third and final story is Kidnapped. It is an intriguing story that shifts and changes but contains a strong friendship at its core. The story is quick moving and resolves well.

A Safe Place to Live

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000+11:00

A Safe Placeto Live written, illustrated and published by Bic Walker

RRP $20
ISBN 978 0 646 56516 3
Reviewed by Hazel Edwards www.hazeledwards.com
Available in selected bookstores and directly frombic.walker@bigpond.com

As a 3 year old, Bicwas a boatperson, a Vietnamese refugee. Now she is an architect, wife and mother of two children.

Ashburton Primary School is ourlink. Bic’s children now attend this school, and in my childhood, so did I,from prep to Grade 6 Last Friday night,enthusiastic Asian families filled the hall for the book launch. In the 1950s,no-one in my class was born outside Australia. A picture book travelswell across cultures and helps explain the universal story of the individual, which in this story is the familyvoyage on a refugee boat.

When Bic e-mailed aninvitation to launch her self-publishedpicture book ‘A Safe Place To Live’ I agreed. Bic’s architecturalskills are apparent in her design of the paintings which form the illustrationsof this large sized picture book. The tone of the story is matter of fact tomake this sensitive subject approachable. ‘A Safe Place to Live’ is the kind ofpicture book you can recommend, and reads well aloud because although itincludes the sub-text of politics, pirates and danger, it also has the courageof the quest for a new life, which is universal.

The voice is child-centred. The figures are stylised in anaïve, child-like way. The colour is striking.

My favourite quote is: My brother took his kite, my sister took her teddy and I only took withme my memories.

It starts with ‘Once upon a time, my family lived in a placewhich was unsafe…People were always fighting and there was war everywhere. Despite the fictional ‘once upon a time’, the story followsthe facts, as remembered by her older sister. This picture book is faction, but the child is generic.

At the end, the photo ID of 3 year old refugee Bic holding the ID board with her refugee numberat the camp, and the acknowledgements, indicate the depth of this picture book.

Sometimes a story can travel even further than a person. ‘A Safe Place toLive’ would make a good audio story and could be translated or become a duallanguage book with some tweaking of the illustrations for space.

Highly recommended for all ages and especially for schoolsand libraries with local refugee communities to initiate discussion with localswho are not refugees.

Hazel Edwards (www.hazeledwards.com)is a National Ambassador for the 2012International Year of Reading, a nominee for the 2012 Astrid Lindgren Award andan author of picture books such as ‘There’s a Hippopotamus on our Roof EatingCake’ (Penguin)and co-author of the YA novel ‘f2m:the boy within’(Ford Street)She also attended Ashburton Primary School

Famous Classics for Girls; Heidi, What Katy Did, Black Beauty

2011-12-04T09:00:00.000+11:00

Famous Classics for Girls; Heidi,What Katy Did, Black Beauty (Egmont)
PB RRP$19.95
ISBN978-140525466-3
Reviewed byLillian Rodrigues-Pang
www.thestoryline.com.au

This bookoffers three lovely classic stories. This collection has something for all girlsand mothers – who grew up loving these tales. This abridged version takes someof the harder classical English out while retaining the feel of the story. Thebook is covered in mock cloth and the cover images contain silver gilding,which adds to the classic feel.

The firststory is Heidi. Heidi is an endearing story of love that I have always enjoyed.I love the character of the grumpy uncle and the power of good outdoor livingfor healing.

The secondstory is What Katy Did, a classicalstory that pays tribute to more traditional values. In this story Katy andher impetuous nature lead to a major spinal injury. During her confinement sheis changed from impetuous and selfish to giving and humble – the centre of thehearth and home.

The third andfinal story is Black Beauty. I remember when I first read Black Beauty, I wassurprised by the fact that it is told from the horse’s point of view. I findthat my eight-year-old daughter loves stories with strong animal characters andthis held true for Black Beauty. It is a powerful and sad story that stays inthe imagination long after it has been finished.

Thiscollection of Famous Classic for Girls was first published in the 60’s and theoriginal black and white illustrations are included. I enjoyed looking at theseimages, the hairstyles, the clothing, the presentation of poverty isinteresting and makes for a discussion in its own right with younger readers.

Wonderstruck

2011-12-03T08:37:00.000+11:00

Wonderstruck by BrianSelznick (Scholastic Inc)

HB RRP $34.99
ISBN9780545027893
Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

It’s 2:47am and I’ve just finished reading Wonderstruck.I couldn’t put it down. I had to read it all in one sitting. To hell with workthe next day! I fell in love with Selznick’s debut novel,The Invention of Hugo Cabret, #1 New York Times children’s bestsellerand winner of the 2008 Caldecott Medal among countless other awards. The 3Dmovie, Hugo Cabret, is due for release in 2012. I didn’t think it wouldbe possible to produce something better, but this book captured me from thevery first page.

Thesimplicity of the dialogue and uncomplicated style belies a complexcriss-crossing web of emotions and unresolved conflict, exploring themes ofstruggle with identity, the meaning of family, modern attitude to marriage andchildren, friendship and loneliness and courage. So many aspects of humanexistence are touched upon in this book! It’s like an encyclopaedia, areference book, available for children and their parents to explore together. Abook of gifts.

Aswith the first book, the drawings are spellbinding and tell great chunks ofstory just by themselves. Selznick is so clever in his ability to show a readerhow to be an interpreter of visual imagery not just a reader of words. And thisseemed particularly apt as the story centres around two main protagonists whoare both deaf, for whom visuals are everything. I liked that juxtaposition. Thegrainy, black and white illustrations of this 460 page volume draw us in, mute,but with astonishing storytelling power.

Thetwo stories involve Ben, a young boy recently orphaned, who sets out to findhis father and Rose, a young girl whose mother was a famous actress and hadlittle time for her daughter. These two characters are separated by time andalso modality. Ben’s story is told in words, Rose’s in pictures. Eventually wefind Rose is actually Ben’s grandmother and they meet in the present day. Benfollows a trail of clues to the city’s museum where he meets a young boy,Jamie. Homeless, Ben stays hidden in the museum for days. But it’s in thosedays that he gradually uncovers a secret.

Likeunfolding layers of silk around a treasure, Ben realises the mysterious manfrom this very museum, Daniel, whose portrait is inside his mother’s locket,came to his home town by the lake to do research. And fell in love with Ben’smother. But just as Ben makes thisamazing discovery he realises that his legendary father died. I had held mybreath, hoping for the best outcome, but no. It was devastating to me, asreader, that Ben be denied his father, after longing to meet him his wholelife! But with childlike acceptance, Ben keeps searching, following the clues,until he makes a delightful discovery which brought tears to my eyes – hisgrandmother Rose. A new chapter begins in Ben’s life—a sense of belonging, anintimate family connection, a place.

Perhapsmore than anything, this book does not seek to shield children from anuncomfortable truth – that life sometimes contains sadness and regret that wedo not have control over these things and that other joys may await us if wehave an open heart and an inquiring mind. The delights of the old exhibits inthe museum, the beautifully crafted cabinet, the ‘Wonderstruck’ in which hisfather displayed fabulous items and many other joys made this book fascinatingto me.

It’snice to think that out there somewhere, despite the loneliness and isolation ofour individual journeys, that there is a warm soft place to land. Like along-lost grandmother.

DawnMeredith writes from the Blue Mountains and isa May Gibbs Fellow 2011. You can follow her exploits at www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com

The Rosie Black Chronicles: Book 2 - Equinox

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Rosie BlackChronicles: Book 2 - Equinox by Lara Morgan (Walker Books)

PB RRP $24.95
ISBN9781921529405
Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

The second Rosie Black book is riveting. It has anaction-packed storyline and the symbolism in the language gives the writingrichness. Emotional tension between Rosie and Pip threads through the story andjuxtaposes the violence and death with soft and subtle romance.

Set fivehundred years into the future, Equinoxis an underlying theme of environmental negligence. Food, water, and shelterare scarce. There are three social classes of people fighting for survival indifferent ways. The deadly MalX virus created by the Helios Enclave determinedto rule the world, has spread, and fear of mutation and transfer is everywhere.

Rosie Blackhas escaped Mars after blowing up Helios’ Enclave. Pip and Riley helped save herfather who is slowly recovering from the virus thanks to a transfusion from Pipwhose blood acts as an antidote. From his hiding place, he has been transfusingto save as many people as he can.

Rosie is fearlessin mind and body, and immune to the deadly virus; a virtual superwoman. Pipwalked away from her and went into hiding, leaving behind feelings of betrayal tohaunt her. But Pip surfaces again. So does Riley, believed to be dead. A thirdand enigmatic character, rich boy Dalton Curtis, enters the trios’ sphere. Partof Rosie’s flight class at the Academy, she is initially suspicious of Dalton’sfriendliness till she discovers that he’s working for Riley.

The fourpick up the war against Helios with urgency for Riley discovers that Helios isnow building a wormhole that will access travel across great distances in amoment. Riley inserts a cortex implant of the plans in Rosie’s brain thendisappears in fear of his life. Rosie now owns the security protocols ofHelios, the number of staff, their names and positions. They set a plan inaction as Rosie knows who the Pantheon – the ruling five, are.

But the waragainst MalX and Helios are not the only wars raging. Friendship and loyaltyare shadowed and betrayal is as common as breathing. So the group remainvigilant for there is the burning animosity of Cassie, Riley’s sister, and thesuspect Agent Sulawayo, a former Helios, who now leads a breakaway factionclaiming altruistic intentions. How can Rosie trust them? What is Sulawayo’sreal interest in Pip? Why did she tape vision of her father’s transfusion and thenthreaten exposure? Highly Flammable reading!

Squish Rabbit

2011-12-01T08:49:00.000+11:00

SquishRabbit by Katherine Battersby (UQP)
HB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9780702239250
Reviewed by Jo Burnell

This adorable children’s tale is not just a picturebook with cute characters. Squish Rabbit’s simple wisdom will withstand thetest of time.

Being little has its difficulties, but being alone iseven harder. We journey with Squish as he learns how to make friends.

What do you do when you are too small to join inadult conversations? How do you get by when you are too short to catch a flyingballoon? Made up friends don’t do a lot and trees can’t play by the rules. Whenthings get out of control, how do you make it all STOP?

Squish is irresistible. Simple graphics keep thestory rolling for little ones, while adults will enjoy the unspoken humour cleverlydepicted body language. These same qualities are the perfect starting point forteaching nonverbal cues to preschoolers: a perfect pre-kinder introduction tomaking friends.

About Face

2011-11-30T08:32:00.000+11:00

About Face by RobertMoore, illustrated by Monkeystack (IPKidz)

PB RRP $26.00
ISBN 9781921869129
Reviewed by Margaret Warner

Thebold cover of About Face invitesyoung readers into this humorous story in which each of the facial featuresbecomes an independent character. Nose even has a bandaid across the bridge andmouth has a missing tooth, just like the children who will enjoy this book.Each eye and ear, the nose and mouth all work together using their differentfunctions in a surreptitious adventure to make raspberry pies while having fundancing to lively music.

Thevibrant colours of the illustrations against the darker background willimmediately capture a child’s interest and be a source of discussion. The textstands out boldly, printed in white against the dark blue background of eachpage, making it easy for a young reader to follow the words. In the finalpages, the child who has dreamed of the fun adventure wakes up to the realityof an earache, a runny nose, watery eyes and cracked lips.

Youngchildren will enjoy having this book read to them or reading it themselves andwill have a giggle at the characters up to mischief. The book could becomplemented with songs and rhymes about the face and body and be a usefulresource in a unit of work on the senses.

The Not-So-Goblin Boy

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Not-So-Goblin Boy by Ezekiel Kwaymullina (WalkerBooks)

PB RRP $16.95
ISBN978-1-921720-15-4
Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

Samuel haslots of questions about his life. The twelve-year-old hates everything abouthimself. Abandoned as a new-born by his birth parents, he was adopted andraised by goblins. He is the only human boy in his world of rival goblins andgnomes.

His life isa struggle to prove himself. He is a misfit amongst creatures who see him aseasy prey. Although lacking in magic skills, Samuel is highly intelligent andinventive. He has created a fart forcer which is his strongest weapon, andwhich proves a constant life-saver.

Entry intothe Goblin Academy appears to be the solution to his lack of esteem, and withhis Uncle Magtal as the co-ordinator he doesn’t see why he can’t win. But beinghuman is again his greatest obstacle. Uncle Magtal tries to convince Samuelthat perhaps he was born for greater things, something the boy sees asinconceivable.

A frustratedand totally disillusioned Samuel falls into the hands of the Dead Bottom Piratesled by Captain Bockles and the beautiful Scout Master, Jet. The pirates havejoined forces with Uncle Magtal to save the Goblin Empire from being destroyedby evil forces led by Drake, and Tolle, Jet’s former best friend who wasbelieved dead. Samuel believes Drake knows something about his real parents. Isthis the reason he was abandoned and why Drake has him targeted?

Being humanmight just prove to be Samuel’s reason for being born. He is faced with greatchallenges when his family is kidnapped. He calls upon all his resources,mental, physical, and the goblins to back him up. He proves he is more than he thought, andmuch more than others expected when he battles for acceptance and a place inthe world.

This storyis cheeky, gross and a highly entertaining adventure with its magical fantasyfor the 12+ age group. In a note from the author at the end, we learn that lifeexperiences usually produce the best writing material. Ezekiel’s revelationsare inspiring and encourage young writers to dream and never give up,regardless of the personal obstacles they may face.

Bruno Fiddlestein’s Dilemma, Mrs Papadopoulos’s Purple Hippopotamuses and Widow Hegarty’s Goat

2011-11-28T21:49:00.001+11:00

Bruno Fiddlestein’s Dilemma, Mrs Papadopoulos’s Purple Hippopotamuses and Widow Hegarty’s Goat: collections of short stories by Vashti Farrer, illustrated by Naomi Kelly (Five Senses Education P/L)
PB RRP $12.95 each
Reviewed by Felicity Pulman

Vashti Farrer’s humorous and quirky short stories and poems have long been enjoyed by readers of NSW School Magazine, and her work will now reach a far wider audience with the publication of both old and new stories in these collections with subtitles: ‘stories to snortle at,’ ‘tall tales,’ and ‘unlikely escapades’. Readers will chortle over the antics of such things as a friendly emu called Ethel, a pair of naughty purple hippopotamus slippers, a pigeon with street smarts, the match-making goat of Widow Hegarty, and the garden gnomes who make themselves useful. They’ll also discover how Miss Muffet overcame her fear of spiders, and what happens when you play the violin to vegetables.

Of particular interest to my grandchildren were the fun stories about their favourite animals: cats and dogs that often got into trouble or had to save their owners. Some old favourites are also included in the collections: the stories of Lulubelle and Bones, Mr Pavlov’s Possum, and Green Piece’s Princess Euphorbia (ribbit!)

Alert readers will enjoy the puns. Imagine having classmates with names like Will Argue, Aidan Abbett, Wanda Round, Iona Broome and Luke Heare, and being taught by Miss Happ!

Naomi Kelly’s delightful drawings illustrate most of the stories and poems, adding an extra dimension of fun. Enjoy these wonderful collections, and remember:

‘Don’t maffle, cronk or chimble

When a bumblepuppy’s nigh,

It might clawscrunt up your mazzard

Nurk your goblocks on the sly.

It might knoup your knevel slister,

Sloom your snortle on the run,

Till you’re faffled, motched and gloppened

And it’s had its bit of fun.’

Fluff and Billy do everything together

2011-11-27T09:00:00.000+11:00

Fluff and Billy do everythingtogether by NicolaKillen (Egmont)

PB RRP$16.95
ISBN978-140525425-0
Reviewed byLillian Rodrigues-Pang
www.thestoryline.com.au

Fluff andBilly are best friends. The two penguins do everything together. When Fluffclimbs up, so does Billy, when Fluff slides down so does Billy, they have agreat time playing, yelling and copying each other. When Billy hits Fluff witha snowball Fluff is hurt and not impressed and their friendship takes a turnfor the worse. Thankfully their playful attitude overcomes any problems and thefriendship resumes.

Bright blue, a lot ofwhite and yellow are used liberally throughout this book. The graphics areentertaining and easy on the eye. The layout of text and the placement ofgraphics is fun. It adds another level of enjoyment for young readers.

This is aheart-warming story. The text includes a high level of repetition, which youngreaders to actively engage. The graphics compliment the story and allowindependent interaction with the story. My three year old enjoys reading thisbook with me as she understands the pattern of the text and can say her lineswith ease. It is already a bedtime favourite in our household.

Recon Team Angel: Assault

2011-11-26T09:00:00.000+11:00

Recon Team Angel:Assault byBrian Falkner (Walker Books)

PB RRP$19.95
ISBN9781921720543
Reviewed byAnastasia Gonis

After Falkner’sprevious award-winning works, this breath-stopping sci-fi adventure series willblow the top off every previous fast-paced read.

The settingis 2030, Australia, now known as the New Bzadia. The Aliens have control ofAfrica, Europe, and most of Asia and are headed for America. Humans are at warwith Alien forces that have been slowly strengthening in mass and ability formany years in preparation to take-over the world.

Recon TeamAngel in made up of a group of six highly trained teenagers selected fromaround the world; four boys and two girls. Their leader is Lieutenant Chisnall,the eldest of them all. They have been preparing since puberty for their rolesin an elite team to war against the Alien Bzadian army. The Angels’ mission isto infiltrate a top secret Alien Facility behind enemy lines which is in thecentre of Uluru, and discover what is being hidden there.

For theinfiltration to be successful, the six had been made to look like Bzadians.Their bone structure has been restructured to Alien shape and form, and theirskin dyed. They’ve learnt the language and habits, and lived as Bzadians so thatthey could convince any Alien that they were one of them.

Chisnall isthe perfect leader who keeps secrets for the safety of his team. It is onlywhen they lose a member do that they discover that there is a traitor in theirmidst.

Arriving atUluru are five Angels and two SAS troopers disguised as RAF officers that theteam picked up on the way. At Uluru Military Base, it is not the warhead that theyplan to detonate to destroy the alien stronghold that scares the life fromthem. Nor is it the fact that one of them is a sleeper. It is what theydiscover in the glass cubicles that gives the gut-wrenching twist to themission. Chisnall is faced with the hardest decision. How many lives can beclassed as collateral damage?

All theadult action is superbly covered but simultaneously balanced by exposing theyouthful side of the characters. Their thoughts, dreams and interactions arerevealed in a witty, comical way. These comic insertions give the storylight-hearted relief from the severity of the chaos that surrounds theteenagers.

The Perfect Baby

2011-11-25T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Perfect Baby by Tony Bradman, illustrated byHolly Swain (Egmont)

PB RRP$6.00
ISBN978-14052755-1
Reviewed byLillian Rodrigues-Pang
www.thestoryline.com.au

Little Lucygets a brand new baby brother. While everyone else is excited Lucy finds it hardto be happy about a baby that just sleeps, cries and makes disgusting noisesand smells. Her solution is to take him back to the hospital and get a new one.

We join Lucy and herfamily as they trial a range of new babies. They get a baby tortoise, a babybaboon, a baby elephant and others, all of which presented different problemsfor the family. In the end Lucy decides that the first baby was actuallyperfect.

This book presents afast paced humourous approach to all those parents struggling to encourageolder siblings to accept and love their newborn siblings.

The graphics are fun,full of colour and detailed. The images and colour scheme interplay with theword layout and enhance the story nicely.

The Boy Who Ate Himself

2011-11-24T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Boy Who Ate Himselfby ColinCardwell, illustratedby Tony Lowe (RandomHouse Australia)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 978-1-74275-243-3
Reviewedby Emma Cameron

Told in rhyme, this it the tale of Harold Bartholomew Jones whose regulardiet is less than desirable. Besides ice-cream it includes “chips, MORE CHIPSand tomato sauce – Never anything green, off course.” When Mum declares it isto be no more and says it will be replaced by healthy foods only, Harold hidesunder his bed … and decides to eat himself!

Designed to convince young readers that healthy food is easier to eat thanthey may think, the story opens by warning them it is a gruesome, horrible andscary tale. While it states that eating one’s self is not considered good forone’s health either, it proceeds to show that it isn’t all that hard for Harold.Through quirky, brightly coloured and fun illustrations, readers becomerelaxed.

But then they see the last thing that’s left … a mouth that can’t eatitself. Could it get worse? YES! The mouth is “left behind on his bedroom floorfor his mum to find.” Thank goodness the shock of that is enough to wake him.Readers will be most relieved. And thank goodness that, when recalling hisdream, Harold feels ill and figures giving cabbage a go couldn’t possibly be allthat scary.

With the cabbage comes carrots, beans, lettuce, broccoli and even aubergine.Harold grows fitter, stronger, and turns his back on even the tiniest biscuitcrumb. A sweet illustration on the last page shows him in a bubble bath where,“for a special treat”, he may sometimes indulge in nibbling his feet. No doubtreaders will be left giggling but, somewhere in the mix, their subconsciouswill surely digest some of the important message.

Ten Bush Babies

2011-11-23T09:00:00.000+11:00

Ten BushBabiesby Susan Hall, illustrated by Naomi Zouwer (National Library of Australia)

PBRRP $17.95

ISBN– 978-0-642-27732-9
Reviewedby Emma Cameron

Givinga delightfully Australian twist to the well-known rhyme of Five Little Ducks,this version sees Mother Duck replaced with Mrs Roo, who takes on the role ofthe bush animals’ teacher. Rather than ducklings wandering out each day, it’sten bush babies who go out “Into the sun to jump and play.” When Mrs Roo ringsher bell, “ding-ding-ding-ding”, one less baby returns each day.

Giventhat there are ten different babies to begin with, readers will delight inperusing the illustrations to see who failed to return that day. Lifting theflap confirms whether readers are correct. It also reveals that the bush babyhasn’t simply vanished but has, in fact, headed off for a specific purpose,showing readers something about the characteristics and habits of that creature.Written on the back of each flap is also an interesting fact about the animal.

The sing-song rhyme and repetition of refrains are thingsthat children aged two to five will easily latch on to and the lift-the-flapdesign is most inviting. This well thought out, quality production has fun andlively pastel illustrations of our native animals in their natural habitat. Atthe very end are duplicates of paintingsdone by Jon Gould, a naturalist who came to

Australia

in 1838.

Showcasingour wombat, echidna, koala, possum, bilby, platypus, kangaroo, quoll, dingo andemu, this book is perfect for Australian children, a must for pre-schools, andwill make a beaut souvenir for visitors or a unique and special gift foroverseas friends and relatives. From counting how many animals are left, toidentifying each one, working out which is missing, and learning facts about them,this book gives much to do and is sure to be a favourite.

The Anything Shop

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Anything Shop by Dawn Meredith,illustrated by Lesley Vamos (Wombat Books)

PBRRP $14.95

ISBN978-1-921633-51-5

Reviewedby Jacque Duffy

Firstimpression of this chapter book was that it would be perfect for boys age 7-10. Thanks to the cover illustration at first glance I was reaching for thisbook rather than others on the table and I am sure it would have same effect onchildren. The illustration of two young boys scheming supposedly against the crankylooking older couple on the cover is engaging.

DawnMeredith’s story of young Charlie and his new friend Sam is one most childrenwill relate to. The story shares a valuable life lesson in a way children willembrace. The Anything Shop is a strange building that has suddenly appeared intown. Charlie discovers the elderly man and woman from the store know his nameand know his dreams. They swap his embarrassing hugs for a cricket bat thatalways hits a six, something that makes him very happy. It is not long before heand other children in the town discover they miss the hugs, laughter and kissesfrom their families, and that new toys can not replace affection.

Meredith’swriting is flavored with recognizable smells, sounds and sights and is adelight to read. “It was bright and clean inside the shop and smelled ofvanilla and licorice.” This sentence invites you into the store and then on thenext page the reader can feel a sense of uncertainty. “Meryl jumped down offthe counter lightly. ‘Come into the storeroom,’ she said, beckoning with a bonyfinger, looking at him over the tops of her glasses. Her high heelsclip-clopped on the floor as she led him to a blue triangular shaped door atthe rear of the shop. On it was a sign that said ‘All your dreams in here’.”

Thelayout of the book is clean and easy to follow. Vamos’ illustrations are a bigpart of the book and keep the story flowing nicely giving affirmation to theyounger reader who may be a little unsure. Each black and white illustration isstrong and appears to be full of life and colour.

Youngreaders will enjoy this book.

Jacque Duffy is the authorand illustrator of the series ‘That’s not a …” learn to read books used in allQueensland State Primary Schools and one local history coffee table book. www.jacquesartandbooks.com

Maya and the Crystal Skull

2011-11-21T09:04:00.000+11:00

Maya and the Crystal Skull by Robyn Opie Parnell (R&R Books Film Music)

PB RRP: $19.95

ISBN: 9781873671009

Reviewed by Zoya Nojin

Although Robyn Opie Parnell has had over eighty books published, this is her first foray into a longer novel for middle grade readers and it displays a ‘new direction’ to her writing. Her enthusiasm for her thoughts on the ‘spiritual connectedness with reality’ pervades this story which starts with the main character, Maya learning about ‘universal consciousness’ from a spirit boy as she deals with the loss of her mother.

When Maya discovers that her father is in danger in Mexico, she must travel there with her spirit guide to rescue him while trying to elude a mysterious villain and recover ancient crystal skulls. She soon learns of the skulls’ significance to the future of humankind and that her destiny is intertwined with them.

Written in the first person, Maya’s thoughts and discussions of the spiritual can slow the pace a little while her guide explains how ‘everything in the world is connected’. But the teen voices are realistic, it is easy to read and there is enough action and plenty of dialogue to keep the story moving. Readers will love to hate Sophia, Maya’s minder and enjoy the thrill of the chase through jungles and Mayan ruins.

The cover will whet the appetite for adventure with its gleaming crystal skull staring out over a fiery ancient temple. As this book is the first in a series, one can presume there will be more adventures to come in seeking crystal skulls, with further insights into how Maya’s future is linked to them.

Maya and the Crystal Skull is being marketed as a ‘paranormal thriller for children aged 8+’.

The Bedtime Band

2011-11-20T09:00:00.000+11:00

The Bedtime Band by Michelle Worthington, illustrated by Sandra Temple(Wombat Books)

HB RRP $19.95

ISBN978-1-921633-57-7

Reviewed byJacque Duffy

This book issuitable for pre-school aged children learning to read. The rhyme and rhythm ofthe words with the repetition of sounds will make ‘sounding out’ easier andenjoyable. First impression of this bookwas that it would be perfect for bedtime reading too as is suggested in thetitle.

MichelleWorthington has captured night noises that most children in suburbia as well asthe country should recognize from their own backyards. The other night timeanimal noises that they may not recognize will add (without frightening) to theexcitement and adventure that will surely invade their dreams after this story.

The book isbeautifully printed and bound; the hardcover opens fully assisting in readingto children while showing and discussing the illustrations. Sandra Temple theillustrator is an award winning artist with a love of conservation, this loveof conservation shows through in her illustrations of the animals. The layout of the book is easy to follow and Temple’s illustrationsare beautiful with her coloured pencil over soft back ground colour. Althoughthe colours in the illustrations are true to the strong Australian colours theyremain soft and calming helping to make TheBedtime Band a marvelous book for peaceful bedtime reading.

Reading this booktogether before lights out will be an enjoyable experience for the parent andthe child.

JacqueDuffy is the author and illustrator of the series ‘That’s not a …” learn toread books used in all Queensland State Primary Schools and one local historycoffee table book.

www.jacquesartandbooks.com

The Tale of Wil Wombat

2011-11-19T00:05:00.000+11:00

The Tale of Wil Wombat by Susan Hall, illustratedby Ben Guy (National Library of Australia)

HB RRP $14.95

ISBN 978-0-642-27727-5

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

When Wil asks what the strange white shapesbetween the trees are, his mother says, “They’re the Uprights’ inside-outburrows.” Despite her warnings to stay away from the bushmen that she refers toas Uprights, Wil’s inquisitive nature sees him getting close enough to betrapped under a wooden box. And his captor calls to his mate Bill to get thefire roaring so they can have a cook-up!

This tiny, hard-backed treasure, is one offour in the Animal Tales series, andexplores the reaction of Europeans to our native fauna when they first came to

Australia

.Uniquely, it does this via the viewpoint and experiences of each creature; inthis case, Wil Wombat. His sturdy physical attributes and natural ability todig are what saves him from becoming someone’s dinner.

A major strength of the series is itslongevity, as young readers will enjoy it for the initial story about theanimal but, as they grow up and learn more about the world around them and ourhistory, they will see into more of the issues faced by early settlers. Thebook also shows how early settlers didn’t know what to make of creatures theyhad not seen before.

Besides incorporating small facts into thestory, each book also ends with pictures showing some of the early paintingsdone by early settlers; most interesting, as they got a lot wrong first up!Story illustrations by Ben Guy are far more accurate presentations of thecreatures we know so much about now.

There is something beautifully special aboutthe bush scenes throughout, and the antics of the creatures and the ‘Uprights’as the wombats know them. Humans and wombats, however, seemed to muddle throughbeing exposed to one another well enough. From the scenic Australian end papersto the stylish cloth case and jacket, this is a quality production.

A Year in Girl Hell

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000+11:00

A Year in Girl Hell by Merideth Costain (Hardie GrantEgmont)

PB RRP$24.95

ISBN978-192175948-2

Reviewed byLillian Rodrigues-Pang

www.thestoryline.com.au

Written inthe first person we delve into the lives of five girls as they face a tortuousfirst year of high school. I wish I could say that I enjoyed this book but tobe honest, as a parent of soon-to-be high school students, I found itfrightening. The first year of high school for these girls involves cyberbullying, nasty friends, striving to be popular, bullying in the schoolgrounds, bulimia, parental separation and not a positive proactive parent insight!

On theserious side it was a riveting read and I believe girls will love this book.The language and situations depicted are well written and relevant to girlsfacing the first few years of high school (or changing schools). I had to laughat all the talk of boys, the descriptions, the ‘pash-ability scale’, etc.

As we readthe book we are presented with a different girl’s perspective per term; fromthe bullied to the bully. A year of Girl Hell presents a year of change,friendship, bullying and acceptance with an overall satisfying ending – notrosy or too positive, but satisfying. This book is well worth reading and willoffer a platform for discussion that is sometimes very difficult to find.

Stew a Cockatoo My Aussie Cookbook

2011-11-17T09:00:00.004+11:00

Stew a Cockatoo My Aussie Cookbook by Ruthie May, illustrated by Leigh Hobbs (Little Hare)

HB RRP $16.95

ISBN 978-192154151-3

Reviewed by Lillian Rodrigues-Pang

www.thestoryline.com.au

This book is a breath of fresh air. You can learn Australian culture, lingo, history and food recipes. There is even a recipe on how to stew a cockatoo – page 21.

This is a cultural offering for all the family. Ruthie May describes iconic Australian speech such as rhyming slang and offers interesting facts such as the number of meat pies consumed at an AFL Grand Final day in the MCG. From this book I learned the history of many iconic Australian dishes, including a few of our family favourites. The lamington, which was accidently created by Lord Lamington and the creation of the pavlova in Western Australia to honour the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova – I wonder if anyone called her pav for short?

Some of the introductions are priceless – “Thighs, breasts and eggs – chooks have it all…” (pg 20), “The Aussie barbeque is the natural habitat for many Aussies…the shielas make salads…the blokes guard the barbeque…and everyone swats flies.” (Pg 24)

Over recent years my children have received or borrowed many childrens cooking book and one of the things I dislike are the ridiculous recipes. Usually they are colour and sugar filled concoctions that I do not want my children making let alone eating. This book offers healthier recipes as well, on page 16 there is the Dinky-di Icy Pole recipe made from blended kiwifruit, oranges apples strawberries and passionfruit – yum!

The graphics are by Leigh Hobbs – really how could it get any better? The pictures of Uncle Daz tenderizing the meat, Dame Melba inspiring peaches and cream and bush pig fairy bread are hilarious. Highly recommended as gift for visitors, children and anyone inbetween.

The e-book process

2011-11-16T09:00:00.020+11:00

Today at Buzz Words Books we have our first guest author post. YA author D L Richardson gives personal insights into the e-book process. You can read an expanded version of this article in the 1 December 2011 issue of Buzz Words.

There’s good and bad things said about e-books. My favourite quote doing the rounds is this one: “The good thing about e-books is that anyone can publish one. The bad this is that anyone can publish one.” It’s an accurate sentiment and one that I’d take seriously if I hadn’t read a lot of trash in print format.
So what is it about the e-book that’s so darned appealing? Is it because in this current economic climate they’re cheap to produce? Is it because in this current environmental climate a rainforest can be saved by not printing a book? Or has this sudden boom in e-books sales got to with something else, say, the coming of a new revolution?

It’s no surprise the e-book is popular. Aspiring authors who have grown tired of mainstream publishers locking the doors on their creativity have at last found the means to produce and sell their work. For many, the e-book is about empowerment. I was fortunate enough to get a contract with an e-book publisher so I haven’t had to do my own editing, cover design or distribution. But is empowerment enough to push the print book out altogether? After all, DVD replaced VHS. Motion pictures replaced silent films. Cars replaced horse and cart.

Once upon a time the only way to travel was through a travel agent. The internet empowered the consumer but we still have travel agents. We’ll probably still have mainstream publishers because empowerment is a powerful thing. But expertise is equally powerful.

D L Richardson is the author of Young Adult paranormal novel The Bird With The Broken Wing. She is currently working on her second novel.

You can read an extract of D L Richardson’s debut novel The Bird With The Broken Wing at Kobo Books.

You can purchase The Bird With The Broken Wing at Etopia Press, Amazon.com/uk, Barnes &Noble, Kobo Books, and OmniLit

NO RETURN Captain Scott’s Race to the Pole

2011-11-15T09:00:00.001+11:00

NO RETURN Captain Scott’s Race to the Pole by Peter Gouldthorpe (Lothian/Hachette)
HB RRP $28.99
ISBN 978 0 73441 220 1
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Peter Gouldthorpe is a CBCA award winning author/illustrator and his talented artwork is showcased in this recounting of the race to the South Pole by Robert Falcon Scott.

Lieutenant Scott heads The National Antarctic Expedition in 1901, sailing from London in the Discovery, specially built for hazardous ice conditions. Apart from gaining scientific knowledge of plant life and unearthing geological secrets, Scott hopes to fulfil his dream of being first to reach the South Pole.

Among Scott's party are Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson and 19 huskies. The men trek to within 850 kilometers of the South Pole, but are forced back by terrible deprivation and the loss of all the dogs. Nevertheless, they remain there for two years before arriving back in England in 1904 with their data of new discoveries. Scott is hailed as a national hero and promoted to captain.

Interest revives in the South Pole after Robert Peary conquers the North Pole in 1909 and Shackleton’s own expedition to Antarctica comes close to reaching the Pole. Scott, spurred on by this news, forms a second expedition funded by himself. On June 1, 1910, the Terra Nova sets sail for Australia. To Scott’s dismay, a telegram arrives while docked in Melbourne to say Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer was challenging him in the race to the Pole.

Once in Antarctic waters, it takes a month for the ship to navigate through the pack ice. The Terra Nova anchors off what is now called Cape Evans, and the preparations for the race to the South Pole begin in earnest. Within two weeks, a hut is built to house the men in the bitter Antarctic winter ahead.

Scott sends out two exploration parties. One returns with the news that Amundsen's ship has anchored in the Bay of Whales. Scott works out that the Norwegian will be 97 kilometers closer to the Pole than his own party. Wondering whether his rival will reach the Pole first must have lain heavily on his mind through the long winter months.

The many experiences of the twenty-five men who remain behind after the ship returns to New Zealand are recorded in both text and brushwork. Peter Gouldthorpe's detailed and powerful illustrations magnify the horrendous conditions and challenges Scott's exploration party face. -44°C temperatures without modern thermal clothing would have been daunting enough, but along with the blizzards, the men suffer fatigue, hunger, frostbite, painful snow blindness, and loss of companions and horses (whose meat provided valuable food). The picture book's title is well chosen.

No Return pays homage to Captain Scott and his team. Their courage, determination and sacrifice is an inspiration and has reserved them a well-deserved place in history. A poster showing maps and a time line is included with the book and is an excellent tool for an instant overview of the race to the South Pole.

Aoki

2011-11-14T13:24:00.001+11:00

Aoki by Annelore Parot (Hardie GrantEgmont)

Padded HBRRP $24.95

ISBN978-174297003-5

Reviewed byLillian Rodrigues-Pang

www.thestoryline.com.au

Aoki is avisual and textual delight. It is a padded hardback with the image of Aokistitched onto the cover. I have enjoyed just having my hands on this book ithas such a unique and enticing design.

Aoki is a JapaneseKokeshi doll. Kokeshi dolls were traditionally made from left over wood withsculpted hair and little rounded bodies. Now they are coloured. This bookcenters on Aoki who is one of a family of dolls. They are a cute set of dolls,with attention to the little details such as rosy cheeks, cherry hair bands andmatching lunch cloth bags and dresses.

In this story Aoki isoff to visit her friend Yoko who lives in Tokyo and “is one of the most kawaii(cute) of kokeshis!” The story is sweet and the images are typically Japanese –attractive, high use of colours and patterns and very cute. The bookincorporates Japanese language throughout and various culturally significantconcepts such as the search for beauty, cherry blossoms, the high speed train,bento lunch box and relaxing in Zen gardens.

Theinternal pages incorporate a wide range of visual discovery and presentation,from peep windows, to lift flaps of all shapes and orientations and raisedgraphics on the final spread. All of my children (and I) enjoy holding the bookand moving through each double page spread. Eventhe youngest child (3 years) could enjoy this story and the overall book withoutmy supervision. It is a delightful, positive and satisfying story of discoveryand adventure. I recommend this absolute delight of a book.