Compared to the big and boisterous city of Biggerborough, Charlie's home town of Little Import is very staid and sedate, which is extremely embarrassing for someone who is supposed to slay monsters and keep people safe. But in reality, Charlie had never even seen a monster, let alone fought one, and she spent her days reading about them in her Big Book of Beastly Brutes and imagining them.
But what she didn't realise was that the slow demise wasn't being caused by the brashness of Biggerborough and the knights there fighting mile-high monsters and ogres, but by a host of little monsters that were hiding in plain sight in her own town. It starts with her helping the baker get rid of the Triple-Tier Hungerbeak who has been eating his pastries every night for a week and the word of her knowledge and bravery spreading...
This is one of the most original stories I've read and reviewed for a long time, one that will have readers of all ages engaged in Charlie's adventures. As each character presents Charlie with their problem, there is a description of the monster in a separate box and so astute readers will want to use the clues to see if they spot it before Charlie does.
A peek inside...
The ending is a delightful surprise demonstrating that solving small problems can lead to big changes, not only in Little Import but also in life itself, offering a subtle message that having the courage to confront small issues when they arise can prevent bigger problems. The old adage 'A stitch in time saves nine' comes to mind and older readers might want to probe the meaning of that.
Themes Knights, Monsters, Courage.
Barbara Braxton
This is Skateboarding by Hannah Wilson and Peter Phobia
Farshore, 2024. ISBN: 9780008614102. (Age:9-12)
While the name Tony Hawk may be familiar to some, the name Arisa Trew will be well-known to many of our students as this young Australian has just been named the action sportsperson of the year at the prestigious Laureues Awards, up there alongside the likes of tennis player Novak Djokovic and footballer Aitana Bonmatí. At the age of 13, Arisa became the first female to land the notorious 720 trick in skateboarding competition, a feat first performed by skating great Tony Hawk in 1985.
And with the Paris Olympics in view, she will be among the topline skaters displaying their craft for a generation of young athletes who are embracing those non-traditional sports and inspired by them, setting their own goals to make their dreams come true. So this new book that is a guide to all things skateboarding celebrating celebrate the rise of the global skateboarding scene, from the streets of LA to its first Olympic Games and including iconic skateparks, gravity-defying tricks, trailblazers, activists and medal-winning champions, and how skateboarding has influenced everything from shoes to art and urban design will be a perfectly timed addition to the collection.
With bite-sized pieces of information in amongst the many illustrations, the text speaks directly to the reader encouraging them to express their individuality in so many ways.
With COVID restrictions keeping us indoors in 2020-2021, many were introduced to skateboarding as an Olympic sport as we watched it at the Tokyo Olympics, and marvelled at how young some of the leading competitors were, as well as their athletic ability. Since then the sport has grown in both stature and followers, particularly for women, and with Australian names sure to be at the forefront in the Paris competition, skateboarding is going to be an in-demand subject as studies of the Olympics generally, step up.
The Other Shadow is a stunning read; full of intense emotion, broken children and finally, hope and healing.
Ten year old Thomas and his two year old sister Tilly have just lost their beloved dad to cancer. Their mother is bereft. Her grief is incomprehensible and life as Thomas and Tilly once knew it is about to change dramatically. When their mother does not come back from the shops, the children are taken into foster care while their mother heals in hospital. On returning back to their mum, life settles down for a while until it unravels and foster care is again sought. This is not an ideal placement and the children are moved once more to a new family, the Henare’s, where they find acceptance, stability, security and love.
Running parallel to the struggle Thomas and Tilly have coping with their mum’s mental illness and the foster family roundabout, is Thomas’s Other Shadow. Appearing after his dad passed away, this shadow is there for Thomas always but is it friend or foe? At times Thomas feels it is a guide and something to rely on but at other times it causes Thomas angst and leads him into some challenging situations. In the final dramatic scene in the story, the Other Shadow’s true purpose becomes evident.
South Australian author of The Other Shadow, Tania Ingram, is a former clinical psychologist who is well qualified to write about the deep and lasting effects parental mental illness can have on children. In the final pages of this compelling story Tania explains bipolar disorder, briefly shares her experiences of children whose parents were struggling and provides contact details for children who may need support.
For those adults who educate, care and work with children in any capacity, The Other Shadow may open conversations for more understanding and support for these children whose own personal stories may not be quite what they appear to be.
New South, 2024. ISBN: 9781742237978. (Age:12-17, adult)
Vanessa Pirotta describes herself as a science communicator and this communication is very personal. A lifetime interest in whales has led her to take on many jobs associated with marine mammals and dolphins, leading to her academic studies in whale research. Central to this is the Humpback Highway along Australia’s east coast where whales make their annual migration from Antarctica to the warm waters off the Queensland coast. Hunted almost to extinction the humpback is a story of conservation success but our knowledge of them is still relatively sparse. Looking for non-invasive ways to sample whale material in the wild, Pirotta and her team pioneered the use of drones to fly over spouting whales, capturing whale snot on a petrie dish to investigate what bacteria and viruses inhabit whale lungs.
The book is slow to start with lots of short sentences and unconnected narrative. We are introduced to the breakout boxes so we can “learn something” but the boxes often repeat what is in the text, just disrupting the flow but randomly contain new information which could be interesting. I would rather have had some whale identification line drawings and diagrams or even a glossary of whale jargon like “mugging,” ”breeching” and “logging”. As she gets into the swing of the personal account we are drawn into Pirotta’s world of whale research and the six pages of colour photos in the middle are very personal. Her team approach, academic rigour and research achievements are awesome and her enthusiasm is contagious; a must read for anyone interested in whale research, a comprehensive list of references is included.
Themes Whale research, Science communication, Popular science.
Milly and her family, including Gilbert the dog, are back for their annual summer holiday with Grandad, and while she is rummaging in the attic to build a pirate fort, Milly discovers a beautiful rainbow flag. It sparks a discussion about how Grandad used to march in the Pride parades, celebrating the diversity of the community and sharing the message that regardless of who they love or their gender, everyone should be treated with equality and respect.
When Milly suggests going to a parade in the old camper van, and Grandad tells her his partying days are over, she has an idea... and Pride comes to Grandad and the village!
Not only is this a joyous celebration of Pride and all that it means, it is also a down-to-earth explanation that young children can understand immediately, and many will delight in seeing children just like them portrayed in the illustrations as the villagers come together to make this a brilliant celebration. Like Grandad's camper, its predecessor, while gender diversity is at its core, it is more about relationships and communities and connections regardless of differences like skin colour, beliefs or living arrangements. After all, we are all humans striving to be loved and treated with dignity and respect.
Fans of Saint’s other books Ariadne (2021), Elektra (2022) and Atalanta (2023) will eagerly reach for her latest, Hera, about the sister and then wife of Zeus, a queen of the gods with a reputation for jealousy and cruel revenge. Saint is expert at bringing to life the overlooked women in Greek mythology, telling their stories of resilience, rebellion and empowerment in a male-dominated world. This is another.
There is a reason for Hera’s fury. She fought by her brother Zeus’s side when he and their siblings defied their father Cronus and defeated the Titans, seizing power as supreme gods. She expected that seven of them would share the glory in the halls of Mount Olympus and that she would sit alongside Zeus as his equal. The three male gods divide the realms between them, the goddesses have instead to argue for their place. Hera discovers that instead of being granted her rightful status, as daughter of Cronus, Zeus decrees that her position is to be his wife, subservient to him. She will be the goddess of marriage, patroness of brides. Her realm is one of ‘empty promises, of stunted hopes and ruined faith’, whilst Zeus assuages his rapacious appetite with conquest of goddesses, nymphs and mortals.
Hera’s rebellious spirit rises and she determines to avenge herself. She undertakes many secret plots, but each seems to turn back on her. Zeus even seems to enjoy the challenge of trying to outwit her. Their marriage is one of distrust and constant sparring.
Saint’s novel become one long tale recounting one misadventure after another, and she references many of the famous myths. There is a simplified, but still complicated, divine family tree at the beginning of the book showing primordial deities, Titans and Olympians and their offspring. This is helpful, but there are still many more characters encountered along the way. Because of this, the story of Hera is not as enthralling as Saint’s previous novels, lacking a more dramatic central plot. I would recommend reading the other books before this particular one, and then if the reader still has a thirst for tales of strong female characters in Greek mythology, this latest book provides a grand overview of many familiar characters and stories.
Allen the Alien and his pet Byte decide to visit Earth. They believe that the Earthlings are very friendly, but they run away in fear when they appear. Allen has some favourite toys with him – a ninja star, x-ray gun, double headed axe and alien lazer sword – and thinks that the children will love to play with them, but when they flee, he decides that they want to play hide and seek. Byte wants to play fetch in the park but dogs don’t like to play with him. In the meantime, news reporters are gathering around and a breaking news flash is telling people to run for their lives.
The hilarious illustrations are opposite to the simple text. While Allen and Byte think that the children are happy to see them, the expressions on the children's faces and their actions tell a different story, one that children will have lots of fun examining and talking about. The ‘illustrations were created in biro then finished in a digital collage of photos, paint and mixed media’ and are sure to appeal to children. Young children will have fun listening to the text and following the contrasting story, while older children (and adults) will delight in the sly humour in the illustrations and funny captions.
Another layer can also be found when thinking about Allen the Alien. Children could discuss people’s fear about the alien creatures and talk about accepting difference and how easy it is to have differing beliefs about the same things.
A fun book, with quirky illustrations, Allen the Alien has instant appeal.
I listened to a podcast of this author speaking at Sydney Writer’s Festival, and was so intrigued I checked that it was on Audible to listen to. Bird is on the run. And while avoiding the places where others may be looking for her, she uses burner phones and leaves cold trails for others to follow. She is always on the lookout. Bird has been transferred to Birmingham to work in an outpost of the Secret Service set up to check others within the organisation, with hints she may be tapped on the shoulder for the top job. Initially I felt disheartened at her introspection, but with hints along the way of a stronger theme, I kept listening.
Bird is running presumably for her life, from the clutches of the Secret Service where she worked. Her father had been a spy, and in her 30’s after being discharged from the army she was tapped on the shoulder and offered this post. But in debt, with her chief of staff complicit in withholding information about this breach of conditions, she runs to a small town in Scotland’s north, when her situation is exposed. This is a place where she has happy memories spending time with her friend Flavia and her daughter. It is a strange relationship, intriguing and almost self combusting. Bird goes there for refuge after escaping Birmingham, but finds since their time it has become a rental. All the while she recalls moments of their friendship, and Bird questions her romantic interest in Flavia.
But spine tingling episodes invade the introspection, as she must plan her route carefully, watching those who might be looking for her, using a burner phone and giving little away at her infrequent stops, sometimes sleeping rough.
I wanted to know what happened so kept on listening, all the while asking myself how I would cope having to step away from my house and its comforts to avoid disclosure.
Bird is the single figure in the plot, the others almost shadows to the central figure, but important to the succession of events. There are some with clout, and many whose loyalty she must question.
I was surprised when the end of the story came somewhat abruptly, and seemed to leave a few threads unresolved, which may lead to a sequel.
Themes Spying, Thriller, Iceland, Norway, Secret service (London).
The 4th in the Cyrus Haven series following Good girl, bad girl,When she was good and Lying beside yousees the return of Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac. The first three books unfolded some of the secrets of Evie’s past and in Storm child the reader will finally learn more about what happened to her as a child. They are best read in order.
Evie and Cyrus have visited a Lincolnshire beach, when they see the horrific scene of bodies of immigrants washing up on the beach. A teenage boy is the only survivor and Cyrus becomes involved in the investigation when the boy reports that the boat was deliberately rammed and the immigrants left to drown. Evie is traumatised by the drownings and spends some time in hospital with Cyrus realising that somehow there is a link to this tragedy and Evie’s past. With Cyrus working hard to solve the case and Evie getting flashes of her past, the reader is kept rivetted to the book. Everyone they interview is afraid of The Ferryman, but is he real? Does he really kill the refugees who don’t pay to be transported? What happened to Evie’s mother and sister? And what happened to her if she was an illegal immigrant?
I was fascinated to see the growth of Evie while reading Storm child. She works at a shelter for abandoned dogs, has a bank account and even goes on a date with her neighbour Liam. Witnessing the death of so many people is a blow for her, and it is during a trip to Scotland searching for the origins of the trawlers that might be transporting illegal immigrants that her memories of what has happened to her return. The pair face some breathtaking danger while they search for the truth.
As usual, Robotham writes a mystery that is hard to put down. Themes of human trafficking, rape and child abuse are difficult to read about; however, I was satisfied to see how the threads of Evie’s childhood were drawn together, and the emotional growth of both Cyrus and Evie was positive.
"From outside on the busy north London high street, Pages & Co looked like an entirely normal bookshop. But once inside it didn't quite make sense how everything fitted inside its ordinary walls. The shop was made up of five floors of corners and cubbyholes, sofas and squashy armchairs, and a labyrinth of bookshelves heading off in different direction. A spiral staircase danced up one wall, and painted wooden ladders stretched into difficult-to-reach corners. Tall arched windows above made it feel a little like a church when the light spilled in and danced on the air. When it was good weather the sun pooled on the floor and the bookshop cat - named Alice for her curious nature - could often be found dozing in the warmest spots. During the summer the big fireplace behind the till was filled to bursting with fresh flowers, but as it was October, a fire was roaring there."
Does this not conjure up every booklover's dream of a magical place, a bookstore where magic and mysteries, adventures and escapades beckon? And for it to be the home of Tilly who prefers the company of book characters to the people in real life and, although not having been outside London, is a seasoned traveller within the pages of the books that abound on the shelves just shouts that this is going to be a series for booklovers and readers that will deliver all that is expected and more.
But what if your favourite characters could not only come out of the books and have real-life conversations with you but could also take you back into the book to have your very own adventure within the story? Tilly discovers that this is part of her relationship with her books and that, unlike other series where it is a secret power, this one is shared by her family. There is much more to her grandfather and grandmother and the family's history and lives than she ever imagined. Bookwandering is what this family does, and it might explain the mysterious disappearance of her mother and the absence of her father.
Keen readers have followed the adventures of Tilly and her friends since 2018, and if Ms Now 13 is an indication, they will be as eager to read this final instalment as they were the first, for it is, indeed, "as comforting as hot chocolate" as the blurb says. In this last adventure, Tilly, Oskar, Milo and Alessia venture into King Arthur's realm in search of the wizard Merlin, and discover that the magic of bookwandering is not at all what they thought. Together, they must journey into myth and legend - to bargain with the trickster Loki and unlock their destinies with the help of the Three Fates - and find a way to untangle the Alchemist's grip on the world's imagination. To save Pages & Co. and the very foundations of bookwandering, Tilly and her friends will have to learn the true power of imagination in a thrilling final adventure, but an unexpected enemy stands in their way . . .
If you don't have the series in your collection, it is available in a variety of formats including a boxed set, but you may have to search beyond your usual suppliers for the five earlier books because it is a series that is best read in order. It will be well worth the effort because this is one of a handful of series that I have sought out all the additions to review over the years, and one which my granddaughters yelled "yes please" when I told them I had the final, even though they are so much older now. This is a series that, like The Magic Faraway Tree and Harry Potter, will be kept for their own children to enjoy. It is for independent readers with a penchant for magical bookshops and being able to really delve into the world of stories and become part of them. And for those who have to wait their turn, or those who ask, "What next?" you could suggest The Bookseller's Apprentice and The Grandest Bookshop in the World. For those a little younger, suggest The Travelling Bookshop series.
Themes Literary characters. Booksellers, Mystery.
Barbara Braxton
ABC disability by Sarah Rose with Alley Pascoe. Illus. by Beck Feiner
ABC Disability written by Sarah Rose with Alley Pascoe is a vibrant, engaging book sharing the ideas of understanding how special and unique we all are. The forward by Sarah Rose is an honest and open letter to all explaining her thoughts on her journey as a person with a disability, and what she has discovered.
Written in an A to Z format, this book is a guide to asking questions and opening up conversations around what it means to be a person with a disability. Beginning with A for ability, it is important to note that our different abilities make us unique. We all have some things we can do better than others and being disabled does not make us less. We all deserve kindness, respect and recognition of our abilities.
As the book progresses it covers the following topics in alphabetical order:
B is for brain injuries
G is for genetic disorders
L is for (prosthetic) limbs
Q is for quadriplegic
V is for (low) vision
C is for cerebral palsy
H is for hard of hearing
M is for mental health
R is for respect
W is for wheelchairs
D is for dwarfism
I is for invisible disability
N is for neurodiverse
S is for spina bifida
X is for x-ray
E is for epilepsy
J is for joints
O is for Obstacles
T is for talk
Y is for yawning
F is for friendship
K is for kindness
P is for Paralympians
U is for unique
Z is for zzzz
Each topic is thoughtfully discussed in easily accessible language with bold bright illustrations by Beck Feiner. Also included on each page is the Auslan sign for each alphabet letter.
With the Paralympic Games coming up soon, this would be a valuable book to share with students as it provides so much information that young children will be able to understand and appreciate.
Pan Macmillan, 2024. ISBN: 9781761266515. (Age:12-17)
When Warwick’s famous Adder Stone was stolen from its display case in the town hall, suspicion fell on Brodie McKellon, something of a wildcat, prone to a bit of shoplifting. When she left the small town soon after to go to boarding school, the blame settled on her and destroyed her friendship with Levi, who was convinced she had taken it, knowing that their friend Eli had lied, saying she was babysitting his cousin when she wasn’t. Three years later 17-year-old Brodie is back in town staying with her Nan in the post office and dead letter store. In the past the three friends had spent many hours puzzling over some old unclaimed letters between another three friends, August, June and Winnie, trying to identify the locals and find out what happened to them. Brodie and Eli pick up the search and Levi is drawn in despite the tension over the Adder Stone incident. Brodie has a lot to deal with, her mother’s death, her father’s absence, her Nan’s health and financial problems, so the hunt for clues is a good distraction. Also distracting are her growing feelings for Levi as the letter clues reveal the developing relationship between August and Winnie.
The mystery of the plot is rather contrived and the reader is asked to suspend disbelief a lot but at its heart this is a touching story of the power of friendship. The three unconditionally support one another while respecting boundaries and they have good old fashioned adventures in this little time warp of a country town which feels far more like America than I would expect from an Australian author. With almost no alcohol (except for Nan’s tippling) and romantic attraction without sex scenes it would suit younger teen readers and school libraries.
Themes Friendship, Mystery, Romance.
Sue Speck
The Seven by Chris Hammer
Ivan Lucic & Nell Buchanan book 3. Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761067426. (Age:Adult - Senior secondary) Highly recommended.
Detectives Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan (Treasure & dirt and The Tilt) are called to Yuwonderie, a country town that has been founded by The Seven, seven rich and powerful families that have been leaders in the community for decades. Now one of their own has been found in an irrigation canal. Who is responsible for the murder of Athol Hasluck, a financial advisor? Could it be linked to the story of a servant girl from the early 20th century, or the execution-style murder of another member of The Seven, thirty years ago? As Ivan and Nell probe into the background of the diseased they uncover secrets spanning the lifetime of the town.
The reader immediately becomes familiar with the layout of Yuwonderie; the illustrated map at the beginning of the book is beautifully drawn and is one that can be referred to often. The setting is reminiscent of NSW irrigation towns, and the availability of irrigation water is central to the plot. Ivan and Nell need to go back to the town’s roots in search of the money, uncovering some unsavoury secrets on the way.
One of the features of the narrative is the voice of Miss Bessie Walker, who comes to the Titchfield’s property to work as a domestic servant. She writes letters to her mother Mrs Elizabeth Walker at Worthington Point Mission telling of the family she is working for, the neighbours who visit and the young men who go off to the First World War. Other chapters are written from 1993, when Davis returns from university to his grandfather’s property. Later his body is found lying as if he had been executed. Still more chapters relate the ongoing investigation that Ivan and Nell are pursuing, their relentless attention to detail and desperate need to find the killer who is still at large. All three strands are managed brilliantly by Hammer, who always had many threads as well as twists and turns in his storytelling.
The authentic country vibes with details of squatter aristocracy and Bachelor and Spinster Balls keep the reader engrossed, and there is a nice touch towards end with the appearance of Martin Scarsdale (Scrublands) who rounds off one of the mysteries. Chris Hammer’s books are not to be missed by fans of Australian noir, and The Seven is outstanding.
Themes Murder, Family secrets, Irrigation, Detectives, Country life - Australia, Crime.
The highly popular Emma Memma books are offered here in a small board book version of four little books within a small cardboard box: a little library of books.
Opening the little packet the toddler will find four Emma Memma books; Aslan, Numbers, Colours and Animals. Each little book has twelve solid pages, easy to fit in a child’s hand, and with brightly coloured, recognisable illustrations. The Number book for example has twelve pages showing numbers from one to ten, each decorated with the appropriate number of things: three butterflies and four boats for example, while ten has ten friends. Turning the page, Emma congratulates the reader for getting to the end then encourages them to start all over again.
Emma encourages the audience to sing, dance and sign as they read along with her. The Aslan book shows a range of popular signs, hello, drink and food, for example, then several that require a movement of the hand: how are you, and please, for example. Each of the little books asks the child to go back to the beginning and practise.
Attractively produced, the little books will be very popular and support work being done in the early childhood centres at home or in and school.
Themes Emma Memma, Animals, Colours, Aslan, Numbers.
Fran Knight
The big book of Little Lunch by Danny Katz and Mitch Vane
That break known as "little lunch" or "recess" is only 15 minutes in the school day so really, what can happen in such a short time? Ask any teacher who has ever been on playground duty and you will discover the answer is - a lot! And in this collection from the Little Lunch series are 18 stories that are perfect for those venturing into the world of novels because of their relatable characters and events and text/image balance, the reader discovers what teachers already know - it can be the most significant 15 minutes of the day.
Set in a suburban primary school in Australia each highlights the adventures of a class of Year 5 students Manny, Debra-Jo, Tamara, Rory, Atticus and their friends and their teacher Mrs Gonsha during morning recess as relationships ebb and flow over what seems like the most innocuous events. And whether it's Tamara Noodle hogging the monkey bars, fighting over what kind of sandwich Manny was eating or Batty becoming SUPER BATMAN GUY, each provides an engaging read that not only has heads nodding but also offers opportunities to discuss how the issue was or could be solved without argument or violence.
The series was first released 20 years ago, was made in to a TV series, still available on iView, in 2015-2016 and is as popular now as it was then because the characters and the things that happen essentially don't change. The issues a teacher deals with on the playground today at recess will be similar to those I dealt with all those years ago. Now bound into a big book, it also includes all sorts of bonus activities to stretch the brain.
Apart from just being a fun read, Danny Katz shows that writing about every day stuff, the stuff you know about and have done can be just as entertaining as the most far-fetched fantasy, and thus the stories in the book could be a basis for a writing exercise for a class. Start as a class exercise by posing a common problem and then asking, "What if ABC said or did XYZ instead?" "How else could the situation have been dealt with?" offering scope for individual scenarios and responses. Then have them really observe what happens in the playground, analyse the relationships among those involved and how the dynamics made the incident worth watching, show them how to disguise real-life by giving the characters new identities and then have them create their own story for an extra addition to the series.
