Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760897024. Recommended.
The ANZACs is one of 6 in the new series, Puffin Little, celebrating 80 years of Puffin. These books return to the publisher's roots of non-fiction books educating children about world events. Each book is essentially narrated by Little Puffin (the cute penguin from the logo) and follows an easy to read format that will enable younger readers to engage and learn through the text and illustrations.
This particular title is for 'Little Historians' (others include Little Cook, Little Environmentalist and Little Scientist) and is an excellent way for children to learn about the War and the ANZACs' contribution. The non-fiction text is set up with an introduction, 6 chapters, a glossary, fast facts section and a quiz to finish off. Each section is visually pleasing, with the black text well-spaced and always on a white background. Important words are highlighted in purple (The feature colour of this title, each in the series has its own predominant colour) and can be find in the glossary.
I think the writers of this title have been considerate in their approach and have explained details of what occurred during this time thoughtfully and age appropriately. I gave this book to my 10 year old son, who was able to easily read it, but more importantly he said that it was very interesting and explained the information to him in a way that was easy to understand. He liked the two-colour nature of it, and thought that the illustrations were nice, but there could have been more.
Although aimed at the younger readers, I learnt a few things myself and appreciated that the text was not filled with a strenuous amount of detail. This book would be great for a project and also as a potential starting point for older students who may be doing a project about the ANZACs.
This title, and the others in this series would be all of great benefit to any home or school library.
Lauren Fountain
The last Light Horse by Dianne Wolfer. Illus. by Brian Simmonds
The Last Light Horse is the fourth and final book in the Light series, which began with Lighthouse Girl followed by Light Horse Boy and In the Lamplight. Each story provides older children with an historical account of different aspects of World War One. Each book is a stand-alone story and this final book with its striking purple cover and gold writing, contains detailed charcoal sketches as well as archival facts and photographs and will truly complete this wonderful series.
This remarkable story is about Sandy, the only returning Australian warhorse from 136,000 sent to the battlefields of the World War One. His journey was one of hardship and danger and is told from his perspective in four compelling sections under the title of his handler at time. We first meet Sandy as a foal in the High Country of Victoria and then with Francis who trained him to carry bricks in the town of Tallangatta. Francis patriotically donates Sandy to the war effort, and he becomes the property of Major General Bridges. In October 1914, Sandy is loaded onto the Orvieto, flagship of the Australian Fleet, and is one of three horses, or Walers as they were known, belonging to Major Bridges. Conditions on the ship were hard for the horses and they were at sea for five weeks. They disembarked in Alexandria where they regained fitness before heading off to the Gallipoli Peninsula arriving on April 25.
Sadly, Major Bridges was seriously injured and passed away. Sandy then came under the care of veterinarian, Captain Leslie Whitfield, and in 1916 they were sent to France where they were a part of the Battle of the Somme. Captain Whitfield handed over the care of Sandy to Private Archibald Jordan who was suffering from the horrors of the war. Archie and Sandy formed a strong bond and Sandy who had damaged his eyes relied on Archie more and more.
Eventually Sandy and Archie were sent back to Australia in November 1918. Sandy’s journey did not end there. As the only returning war horse he was very much in the public eye. He was saddled and ridden in ANZAC Day marches for as long as his health allowed and was honoured with a replica statue placed at Albany’s Mount Clarence.
For older primary and lower secondary students this book along with the others in the series would make excellent resources for ANZAC Day and World War One topics.
Further information for teachers is available here.
Themes First World War, Horses, Australia, Infantry, Suffering, Death, Loss, Light Horse, ANZAC Day.
Kathryn Beilby
Krithia: The Forgotten Anzac Battle of Gallipoli by Matt McLachlan
This book describes in great detail the murderous disaster of the Helles and Anzac battles at Gallipoli, on Turkey’s Dardanelles peninsula in1915. The story examines the outcome of the often overlooked battle for the key village of Krithia from the perspectives of individual soldiers from New Zealand, Australia, England and France as well as the views and actions of the Turkish enemy.
The key elements highlighted in this thoroughly researched story are incompetent leadership, lack of well thought out plans, inadequate equipment, poor communication, and underestimation of the capacity of the Turkish response to the invasion of their homeland. The author highlights individual acts of extreme bravery at the landings and in the following days as the Australians and New Zealanders attempted to capture the strategic village of Krithia by frontal assault against deadly machine gun and rifle fire.
Recommended for senior secondary students: the events depicted are not for the faint hearted reader. Hand to hand combat is described from vivid first hand accounts and horrendous conditions on the battle field are heart-rending.
Themes Gallipoli, Anzacs, World War 1.
Paul Pledger
The hidden hat by Phil Cummings. Illus. by Jennifer Goldsmith
How do you write a picture book about war that exposes young children to the unknown stories of their grandparents’ lives, gives information that can be easily absorbed and at the same time provide a rush of pride in the ceremony of Anzac Day. Phil Cummings has shown that he is a master of this genre, with Anzac biscuits (2013) and Ride, Ricardo, ride (2015) showcasing children touched by war in widely different circumstances.
And this book strengthens his reputation, using an old man’s hat to unlock memories that have lain dormant. Just as in Newspaper hats (2015) where a hat helps recall memories in a nursing home, this one enables the grandfather to recall things that he was part of sixty years ago.
Hiding in Grandpa’s wardrobe, Mitch finds an old hat. Tumbling out of the wardrobe parallels the grandfather, now pictured as a young man, hiding in the jungles in Vietnam, and from this page on the words and actions of the children on one side of the page complement the actions of the soldiers on the facing page.
This way of showing the war and Grandpa’s involvement, gives it a more personal feel for young readers, while the illustrations by Jennifer Goldsmith are amazingly detailed in their imagery of the man’s farm and his time in war.
Showing their find to Grandpa, unlocks memories of his time in Vietnam: going on patrol, walking carefully through the jungle, helping his mates, waiting for a chopper, losing his hat, looking down from the chopper at the jungle below.
The watercolour illustrations bring the children and their grandfather to life. Smiles radiate from the faces, arms hold the children to the old man's chest as he remembers his youth glancing back over his shoulder at the choppers in the sky.
The movement achieved with the watercolour medium is spectacular. The wind whips up the leaves on the farm, swirling around the children’s feet, while in Vietnam, the choppers cause mayhem as the men's clothes and foliage are picked up as the blades rotate. The soft images of the old man and the children are admirable, and bear closer inspection, particularly on the second last double page of the story which shows the march along the main street, Grandfather with his old mates, his family (watch out for the dog) looking on.
Over the page can be seen a meal with the family and an outline of facts about the Australian soldiers’ hats.
This is a most satisfying picture book about war. It begins and ends with the family, the children now more aware of their Grandfather’s time in Vietnam, he supported by his old friends and the stories they share together.
Themes War, Vietnam War, Families, Grandchildren and grandparents, Memory, Anzac Day.
Fran Knight
Australia remembers Len Waters: Boundless and born to fly by Catherine Bauer
Big Sky, 2021. ISBN: 9781922488602. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
Len Waters: Boundless and Born to Fly is the third book in the Australia Remembers series and tells the story of Len Waters, a proud Kamilaroi man and Australia’s only Indigenous fighter pilot, who struggled through prejudice and adversity to achieve his dream of ‘taking to the skies.’ Author Catherine Bauer has shared Len’s journey in this historical non-fiction narrative with an honest account of the struggles he, and indeed many other First Nation Australians, underwent during his lifetime. We learn of Len’s humble beginnings, his family life, early schooling and passion for learning, his work ethic, joining the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1942 at the age of 18 and his life after World War Two ended. The discrimination suffered by Len and others during this time is both shameful and distressing yet Len was able to stay focused, study and work hard to achieve his dream. He rose through the ranks of Aircraftman to Sergeant and finally Flight Sergeant. Len’s incredible story is intermingled with quotes, fast facts, questions for the reader, maps, diagrams, captioned photographs and Did You Know segments. There are 14 chapters with the last chapter providing simple activities, as well as a glossary, bibliography, online sources section, index and acknowledgements.
This book is truly an excellent informative and historical record of the time particularly suited to middle to upper primary students. A prefect resource for ANZAC Day. YouTube video Remembering Australia’s only Indigenous WWII fighter pilot is available.
Themes Australia, First Nation Australians, Dreamtime Stories, Aboriginal Culture, Royal Australian Air Force, Racism, Prejudice, Bravery, War, History, Family, Resilience.
Kathryn Beilby
Australia remembers: Wartime nurses by Jacqui Halpin
Big Sky, 2022. ISBN: 9781922615602. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
The latest book in the Australia Remembers series gives a fascinating and highly readable account of military nursing in Australia. Chapter 1 begins with a brief introduction to nursing and the formation of the NSW Army Nursing Service Reserve (NSWANSR) in 1899 with the first group of Australian nurses setting sail for South Africa in 1900. Each chapter that follows gives further information about the role nurses played during world conflicts ending with Chapter 11 where modern-day military nursing is discussed. In these more recent times, ADF nurses have served with medical teams during military and peace keeping operations, humanitarian aid missions as well as Australian natural disasters.
The easily accessible text is broken up into segments of information with introductory paragraphs in white boxes and further headings such as Fast Facts, Did You Know? Medical Breakthroughs, in different shaped and coloured text boxes. There is also the opportunity for the readers to answer some deeper questions related to the information being shared e.g. Do you have a uniform you wear with pride? The archival photographs from the 100 years of nursing add an important element to the book and each is clearly captioned.
For those readers familiar with Sister Vivian Bullwinkle, a worthy recipient of the Florence Nightingale Medal, there is a page dedicated to her amazing heroism. Further information can be found at ABC Documentary Vivian Bullwinkel An Australian Heroine DVD Trailer - Bing video There is also mention of South Australian nurse Sister Caroline Wilson who survived the Antwerp invasion, a tidal wave striking her ship on the way to England and was among the survivors of the HMAS Barunga when it was torpedoed in 1918.
The final two chapters in the book discuss ‘Medals and Memorials’ and ‘The Sacrifice of Serving’ and are followed by simple activities, glossary, index, bibliography, electronic resources and acknowledgements. This new release, with so much information to impart, is another valuable book to share with students in the lead up to 2023 ANZAC Day commemorations.
Themes Australia, War, Nursing, Military Nurses, Care, Sacrifice.
Kathryn Beilby
Blood and fury by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland
Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland are both New York Times bestselling authors of multiple Star Wars stories and YA SFF books. They have effectively combined their talents to write the duology Chaos and Flame and Blood and Fury. Chaos and Flame (2023) is the first book in this "ferocious" YA fantasy duology. Blood and Fury, the sequel, is a challenge to read as a stand-alone novel but once the reader sorts the complexities of the fantastic world and creatures that Gratton and Ireland have built, the effort is worthwhile.
The novel begins with a preface which introduces the villain of the story, Aurora, second scion of House Cockatrice. In the introduction, Aurora is eleven-years-old, living in the Dragon Castle and unloved. She is drawn to a room under the castle, where she discovers an old journal belonging to "the blood" which will give her the strength to leash and crush Chaos and have power instead of love. The story then leaps ahead thirty years where the results of this unleashing of blood magic has caused catastrophe in the Kingdom of Pyrlanum. The first section of the book is entitled "Blood" and the second is "Fury". The chapters throughout the entire book alternate between the point of view of Talon Goldhoard, first scion of Dragon House, to that of Darling Seabreak, as the two move from being enemies to allies. Darling is transformed into the legendary Phoenix and her destiny is to unite the fractured Houses of the land. Talon has the task of ending the war which his family began. They have to learn to recover from the betrayal that lies between them in order to unite to save the kingdom. The violence, the dark blood forces, are deep within his own House Dragon.
A glossary of mythical creatures, ancient military hardware etc. would be useful at the back of these books to aid the reader who is unversed in the medieval and ancient worlds. However what is complex and obscure for the uninitiated is fuel and fire for fantasy lovers. For fans of the Science fiction/fantasy (SFF), Blood and Fury may be relatively easy but for those unfamiliar, the story is initially difficult to follow because of the complexities of the concepts, terms, society and culture of the mythical kingdom of Pyrlanum that Gratton and Ireland have built. Once the code is untangled there is great satisfaction in the logic of the structure within the political and military structure of the kingdom and the Houses. The colourful and complicated system of governing scions, with their regents, empyreals and armies will be disbanded as a future that looks more like a democracy with elected leaders is brought in.
Despite the military interest (albeit a very mythical and mystical form of military) and the bloody violence of the clashes between good and evil, there is a tenderness and gentleness in most of the major characters. There is romance, loyalty and betrayal and lovely relationships between war princes and their "war drakes" which are reminiscent of the relationship between cavalry and their steeds. The strangeness of the whole landscape and pageant of castles, soldiers and mythical creatures would make a visually stunning screen adaptation or a challenge and delight for the artist.
Chaos and Flame is indeed a challenging and engaging ride into a "ferocious" fantasy and ancient magical world resplendent with wonderful transforming mythical creatures and strong and engaging characters. The duology is recommended as a powerful SFF read - dramatic visually and action-wise.
Themes Mythical beasts, Ancient fantasy kingdoms, Love, Betrayal, Political intrigue, Magic.
Wendy Jeffrey
Outrageous Fortunes by Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex
La Trobe University Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781760645052. (Age:Adult)
Who knows the identity of the first female author of a detective series, years before Conan Doyle’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’? It is an Australian woman, Mary Helena Fortune, author of The Detective’s Album, in 1871. As was the case with many female authors of those times, she wrote under her initials or pseudonyms such as Waif Wander, Nessuno (nobody), or Nemia. And it is only through the extensive detective work of the two researchers, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex, that the full extent of her prolific writing output has been uncovered.
As the onetime wife of a policeman, then as the mother of a young criminal, and perhaps even as an informer herself, Mary Fortune had insight into the criminal underworld, a world that would become a mine of stories to be told in her detective series and her newspaper articles. She dared to write stories of murder, rape, assault and armed robbery, in published serial chapters, short stories and articles, which captured the attention of colonial-era Australia. In her ‘Ladies Column’ for 'The Herald', she dared to describe her visit to Pentridge prison, disguising the fact she was visiting her own son, for George had led a life of recidivism, from one crime to another. Mary Fortune herself led a colourful life, as bigamist, flaneuse, and drunkard, an independent woman who crafted stories, often autobiographical, that captured the attention of her readership.
If it were not for the persistent research of Brown and Sussex, Mary Fortune’s life and that of her son George, the other outrageous Fortune, would have disappeared from memory. The extracts from Mary’s writing that are included in this book, reveal a competent and entertaining writer, that readers might like to discover further. Happily some of her stories have been collected in a NewSouth publication Nothing but murders and bloodshed and hanging (2025) also collated by Brown and Sussex.
Written with a poetic touch, this short novelette tells the story of a blackbird and his family and their encounter with a cuckoo. The blackbird is known for his appealing call; the cuckoo known for her heartless abuse. In this short story the wind is also given a voice and an all-seeing perspective, looking out over the blackbird’s family (with its interloper offspring). With a little bit of heartache and the tenderness of family connection, this is a simple tale set within an English woodland that is home for many innocent creatures (excepting the cuckoo and the fox).
The poetic style for this story creates an almost lyrical feeling and the author who writes as a Blackbird (a pen name), gives a gentle telling of the natural world. More a fantasy tale than an environmental revelation, the story has a gentle quality with a hint of the compassion and tenderness of the Blackbird family - an example of literary personification. For those who enjoy short stories and also love poetic play or portraiture with language, this is a quick and enjoyable reading journey. Suitable for 10–14 year-olds looking at the short story genre or for others who just love language used well. It is published in pocket sized format, so could easily fly as a gift with the benefit of the postal service.
Themes Birds - Blackbirds and Cuckoos, England, Family, Short stories.
Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga is a highly entertaining and engaging YA fraternity/sororiety campus novel that takes the reader into the grubby world of a finishing school for the world's ultra rich and powerful elite. After being enmeshed in the battles and intrigues of four teenagers who must navigate the world of the elite finishing school (Almus Terra Academy) and who are pitted against each other to be the next successor of the Kingdom of Ashland, the reader is left with a bad taste in the mouth when it comes to contemplating the back room power games and intrigues that go on in the real world of power politics on a world scale.
King Leander Eldana of Ashland has organised for his heirs to be brought up out of the public eye. Each of the first four chapters of the novel introduce the reader to the four contenders for inheritance. Alaric has grown up surviving with his fists in the streets of Dublin; a supposed orphan in government care. Emmeline, has grown up, extremely wealthy but unloved in the care of body guards and paid companions whose sole purpose was to train her for successful entrance to Almus Terra Academy. Titus had always known that he would inherit the crown and his parents have actively trained him for it. Sadie, on the otherhand, is a commoner, a citizen of Ashland and the highly intelligent winner of a scholarship.
Almus Terra Academy is the setting for Royal Heirs Academy. Duga has modelled Almus Terra Academy on a real finishing school for the children of royalty and the global elite (UWC of the Atlantic) which is located at the 12th century St. Donat's Castle in Glamorgan, South Wales. Being a campus novel, set in surroundings of medieval splendour and being concerned with aspiration, intrigue and rivalry, Royal Heirs Academy, shares similarities with the Harry Potter series set in the fictional Hogwart Castle and other campus novels including The secret history by Donna Tart set in the fictional, elite Hampden College in Vermont and The princess diaries series by Meg Cabot set in the fictional Einstein High School in New York City. Royal Heirs Academy is set very much in contemporary times with current world issues being very much the concern of the students.
It is uncertain what King Leander is looking for in his heir. All four young people have different strengths and frailties. Some are more likeable than others; some are more manipulative than others. Certainly the characters are well rounded, built in relation to each other and through their actions, mirroring what is right and wrong with society and politics. Issues like living with chronic illness and race representation are subtly nuanced. The reader becomes invested in each of the characters and expectant of certain outcomes. Is this going to be a rags-to-riches story? Will King Leander be more interested in an heir who can nastily manipulate and play underhand terrible games, or in one who has the common people behind them? Will the crown go to a commoner or one born and bred to be a successor? The answer is a surprise. There is a twist and then another.
Royal Heirs Academy is a wild ride - unputdownable! It is a great piece of escapism to read about an exclusive campus which is beyond the reach of ordinary people-a school that is set apart to cater for the world's future leaders so that they can network and train for leadership of multinational companies and government in the contemporary world. The alliances, betrayals, romances, secrets and drama make for riveting reading.
Themes Royalty, Politics, Succession, Romance, Wealth, Entitlement, Campus life.
R. A. Spratt is epically famous amongst young readers for her Friday Barnes stories and the Nanny Piggins tales (as well as other delightful books that you should be sure to read. I have read more than one of her books.) In this spectacular book she allows the infamous Nanny Piggins to regale her charges (and us as readers) with chapter by chapter retelling of Greek mythology. She never does anything without cake (and side serves of quirky humour), so this book is full of sweet delight AND the awfulness of the Greek Gods from ancient mythology. Pedants will find her Piggins-inspired storytelling to be full of twisted truths (things that should never get in the way of a good story, apparently). But those of us who love a liberal serving of irony, eccentricity and cake will enjoy her mythologies. (And children will love her distaste for school, formal instruction and homework!)
This is a book that introduces mythology but could never be considered a ‘reference book’! But children aged 9+ will find it appealing. Because Ancient Greek mythology is a rarely taught topic in schools, most children will come with little or no background knowledge of Zeus, Apollo, Achilles and other ‘famous’ mythological Greeks, but perhaps Nanny Piggins can pique their interest. Nanny Piggins readers will immediately recognise her bizarre character traits, but even if she is an ‘unknown’ it won’t take long to recognise her eccentric approach to all things. I can see this book flying off the shelf (with the assistance of a nymph or two) and creating a mirth-filled escape for young Primary-aged readers.
Melbourne University academic, Adrian Moore was shocked when Irene, his wife of ten years left him, saying she didn’t want to spend the rest of her days with someone more passionate about death than he was about anything in life. For the last year, to fill the void, Adrian has immersed himself in death, his specialist field, exploring the cultural and social meanings of death, but he hasn’t been able to move on in his life. He has a good friend in Keziah, a 28-year-old neighbour who works in a call centre to pay the rent while she pursues her passion in making handmade art papers. She is the one to remember Adrian’s 43rd birthday and theirs is a good and companionable friendship. Kezi grew up in Crossroads, a fundamentalist Christian community, but left when condemned for her sexual preferences. Estranged from her family, she struggles with how to reconcile her faith, creativity and chosen life with the stringent rules her parents and their community required. When Adrian meets social scientist Laura Benady at his favourite cheese shop, she has just completed a large development project. In her late 50’s and, she believes, happily married to her life mentor Tony, Laura is treating herself to a carefully chosen blue cheese for lunch. Adrian is smitten by this tall dark woman who also has a passion for cheese and they agree to share two different varieties for lunch. Their friendship develops, as does Adrian’s newfound love of music, particularly Mahler and all three characters seem to have reached a plateau of meaningful lives. But Laura’s discovery of her own wants unbalances the relationship she has with her jealous and controlling husband and her marriage becomes dangerously toxic just as Kezia experiences a crisis in her life. The title, from Mathew Arnold’s poem, considers “Whence our lives come and where they go” and there are supporting quotes from many sources throughout the book (book clubs could tease out a very comprehensive reading/listening list) and Andrea Goldsmith examines small moments in her characters’ lives that demonstrate the power of love and friendship on that life journey. There is a real sense of place and the different circles the characters inhabit including academic snobbery and an appreciation that music can have powerful effects at certain times in life.
This is a beautifully crafted and subtle exploration of relationships, though I found Tony’s character to be over-explained to the point of caricature. The ending was a bit unsatisfactory but as the poet Szymborska, quoted on page 81 writes “Every beginning is only a sequel, after all / and the book of events is always open halfway through."
Readers will immediately be drawn to the cover of My big secret, wondering what secret the little piglet is keeping to himself. Can it have something to do with his red scarf? Yes! Everybody in his family, from Grandma to his cousins, go for the Red team, but secretly he loves the Blue team. He wishes that he could wear a blue scarf and get the autograph of his favourite player, but he dreads what his family would think if they knew the truth. One night he can’t control himself and yells out 'Yes! Yes! Yes!' when the Blue team scores and his secret is out. But course, his family love him for being himself regardless of the colour of the team that he barracks for. And he paves the way for someone else to show their preference.
The simple illustrations are appealing and children will love following along as the family does all the things that are associated with following a team – wearing the colours, watching the matches on TV, and going to the sports ground. The colour red dominates at first but gradually blue comes in and then a surprise colour arrives at the conclusion of the book.
Arena cleverly shows children through the familiar situation of supporting a team that it is possible to have differing opinions and beliefs about things but still be loved and supported by your family. The theme of tolerance and acceptance for differing beliefs is one that is important today when children see violence and hate directed at diverse groups, and adults could use this book to initiate wider discussions about diversity.
Perfect for home, public and school libraries, My big secret is highly recommended.
The Lady Astronaut novels, beginning with The calculating stars, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus Awards, have continued to fascinate me with their strong characterisation, as well as the thought-provoking dystopian setting of Earth facing extinction after a devastating meteorite strike. The Martian Contingency finds Elma York, the Lady Astronaut, about to land on Mars, hoping to establish a habitat for Earth’s survivors without the hate and discrimination that has existed on Earth. But as she navigates her way around her new home, several clues lead her to question what may have happened on the first Mars mission. As she poses questions she is faced with a wall of silence. Could this lead to the mission being cancelled?
Kowal explores many issues as Elma settles into her new job as deputy in charge of the mission. She has new responsibilities as a leader and must learn to tread carefully through relationships and the mechanics of running a space station. Racial and gender stereotypes also play an important role in The Martian Contingency and are explored thoughtfully by the author. The setting of Mars and life under the domes is wonderfully described and it is easy to imagine the thrill of landing on its red soil and living through a new time zone. Readers wishing to learn more about space exploration will welcome the bibliography at the end of the book.
Readers who enjoyed the first three novels in the Lady Astronaut series are likely to want to pick up The Martian Contingency, and like me, will enjoy the growth in Elma York’s responsibility and character as well as the gripping action as the new habitat is developed. A satisfying continuation of the series.
Themes Science fiction, Dystopian fiction.
Pat Pledger
The humongous Humdingle Family and the tiny house by Michelle Wilson
With three generations - Grandma and Grandad, Mum and Dad, the four children - and a host of pets living in the same small house, things can get a bit frantic for the Humdingle family, particularly as there is only one couch, one television, one bicycle, one car, table, one toilet and only ONE bedroom. But even though it is squishy and noisy, it is never lonely or boring.
While the adults might be okay with the situation, each of the children wish it were different - being able to choose their own television shows, not having to listen to Grandad's snoring, not finding the toilet occupied every time you need to use it... Until the day Mum wishes that "humongous houses dropped from the sky."
This is definitely a book based on the old adage of "Be careful what you wish for" because even though the family suddenly has all the space they need and want, things are not quite as perfect as they hoped. With teachers' notes offering lots of ideas to explore the story further, this is an engaging story for readers to think about appreciating what they already have rather than always wishing for and wanting bigger, better and newer - sadly, a trait in this consumeristic, throw-away, keep-up-with-the Joneses society. With their lives being bombarded by advertising through every medium possible, our children seem unable to escape the message that they are only worthwhile if they have the latest and greatest, so this is an opportunity to step back and through the Humdingles' experience, reflect on those things that really matter for happiness. After all, how enduring is the buzz of opening something new? Perhaps they might even be encouraged to do an audit and a cull of their "stuff" and rehome it. Imagine the learning involved in their organising a class garage sale that raised funds for a chosen charity.
This is an ideal companion to The All New Must Have Orange 430 and an important addition to any unit that focuses on consumerism and humans' impact on the planet, including loss of animals habitats because of urban sprawl.
Themes Family – multi-generational living, Minimalism, Appreciation, Sharing.
