Happy Farter's Day by Zoe Foster Blake. Illus. by Adam Nickel
Puffin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761345678. (Age:4+)
What can I say? As an adult I might cringe at the jokes, but the target audience of children who love the word 'fart', and there are many, will be thrilled to shock everyone in their family with the wild and silly jokes in Happy Farter’s Day. It is subtitled A Mix of Dad AND Fart Jokes to Blow You Away, and the book contains just that. Every double page contains two fart jokes, eg. opening the book, the question on one side of the page is 'What’s Dad’s favourite dinosaur?' Answer: 'A Fart-a-saurous Rex', and on the other, 'What does a dod’s fart smell like?' Answer: 'Ex-stink-shun'. These two jokes are illustrated on the double page with a huge green dinosaur chasing a blue dodo and farts emitting from both.
Children will have lots of fun trying to guess the answers to the questions, and even more fun trying out the jokes on their long-suffering fathers.
Adam Nickel’s illustrations are hilarious, all done in bright colours with wonderful expressions on the faces of the farts and the children and dads. They really enhance the text and add another dimension to the humour of the jokes.
This book is the very definition of poignant! Sarah Crossan has woven a love story into the dreadful times of the potato blight in Ireland. With famine, death and disease a constant companion for the poor Irish workers, they must live alongside English landholders who treat all the Irish with unveiled contempt. Nell, the central teenage character of this book, has obtained a service role as a scullery maid in the local landholder’s home at the beginning of the period of the failure of the potato crops. Her connection to the Landholder’s nephew Johnny grows to become an impossible romance, with both threatened by their interest in one another. But sadly, the scourge of the potato blight leads to the death of many and the subsequent desperation leads some to seek drastic solutions. Will Nell and Johnny’s love survive separation, famine, grief and violence?
Written in Crossan’s beautiful prose poetry, this book resonates with simplicity but unspeakable sincerity as it deals with a fictional account of impossible love in difficult times. The romance element is always charged with danger in the face of societal pressures, and Nell’s wisdom and intelligence shine through the pages. This book will echo through the memory for readers who love historical fiction and romance fiction, but the writing style of prose poetry adds an emotional and lyrical beauty to the harshness of the times and the awfulness of grief and famine. Not every detail of the historical period needs to be explained, but the essence of the history is revealed with a gentle touch despite the dire circumstances.
When the lights went out by Lian Tanner and Jonathan Bentley
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761180019. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Lian Tanner and Jonathan Bentley, creators of the award-winning Ella and the ocean have joined forces again to produce another stunning picture book. Mum, Dad and a young boy are all snug and cosy in the kitchen when the lights go out. Oh no! It is very dark and the little boy is scared but Dad strikes a match and the family could see that all the lights have gone out in the street. The family creep up the stairs to find more candles, imagining that they are explorers, and after lighting all ten of the candles, they look out the window, to see that the neighbours have come out, and together they sing brave songs and songs that they made them’ tap and sway.’ Then they all dance ‘with the moon and the owls and the little red foxes’ until suddenly the lights come on again.
Tanner’s narrative flows along smoothly, ideal for a read aloud, and children who are afraid of the dark will be reassured with the way the little boy’s parents manage the sudden blackout. Community togetherness is emphasized, and it is lovely to see all the neighbours gathering, singing and dancing.
Bentley’s illustrations are wonderful. He captures the darkness of the night with deep blues and the highlights that the candles make shine with bright gold. The family’s faces are very expressive, showing the fear on the little boy’s face, while Mum and Dad's expressions are calm and soothing. Little details like the family’s cat and foxes in the neighbourhood will intrigue readers who will want to go back and follow their journeys as well.
This lovely story about being scared in the dark and then joining with neighbours to celebrate the dark is a keeper and likely to win more awards for this talented duo.
Themes Fear, Dark, Community life, Electricity.
Pat Pledger
Is my phone reading my mind? The real facts about artificial intelligence by Dr Matt Agnew
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761180446. (Age:7-12) Recommended.
When Dr Matt asked ChatGPT for a list of titles for a book on artificial intelligence for ages 8-12 one of the serious titles it offered was AI Adventures: Discovering the Secrets of Smart Machines; a title that could easily suit the book. The success of the exercise tells us that we need to know more about how AI is changing the way we live and to understand something about how it works. The book uses cartoon illustrations and coloured pages and fonts with breakout boxes for examples and explanations to break up the text and allow for the inclusion of a lot of material. Starting with an explanation of artificial intelligence (AI) and the importance of algorithms, the building blocks of AI, it then goes on to look at where we find it in our everyday lives. That chapter swerves into a detailed mathematical explanation of how machine learning can predict whether a dog is more likely to be a labrador or chihuahua with calculations using averages, means, modes and medians. The coloured fonts on coloured pages sometimes make the numbers indistinct and a picture of a dalmatian in one of the illustrations doesn’t help the either/or exercise. There are good examples of AI use in our lives, like ordering something from Amazon and some history in a breakout box about the first time a computer beat a human at chess. The difficult concept of ethics dominates the next section where we learn that ethics are guidelines that help us understand if an action is right or wrong and that laws are more formal, stronger and carry a consequence. In explaining Kantian Ethics the example is stealing chocolate, which is against the law so it is a poor example, and in explaining Utilitarian Ethics the classic trolley problem clearly highlights the ethical dilemma but the Pokemon card example really should include the option to leave the card on the ground and do no harm; not including it just makes the question more confusing. These examples highlight the difficulties of the subject and should not discount the value of the book which covers a lot of ground; any attempt to increase understanding and raise awareness of how AI might be misused in deep fakes, echo chambers and through influencers must be commended. The author is well qualified to comment on the subject, the tone is friendly and the language accessible without condescension. Teachers might find some good examples to use in class discussions and parents should read this book with your children and then get them to explain AI to you.
Stephen Hogtun, the author/illustrator of Leaves (2023) and Deep (2023), has written another beautiful and poignant story called Herd. This book follows the journey of an elephant herd as they travel through the African landscape with baby elephant always wondering if he will “ever find a place that felt like home.”
The herd travels through the forest, to the river, across the grassy plains and each time they stop, the baby elephant asks the question but it never quite feels right. While the other elephants sleep, baby elephant searches for a place to call home but he loses his way and finally begins to realise that home is not necessarily a place.
This gentle story will resonate with young readers and evoke feelings of their own homes and families, and how they can feel safe there. The glorious illustrations are striking and showcase a range of colours to represent the landscapes the elephants are travelling through. A wonderful read.
Kathryn Beilby
The isles of the gods by Amie Kaufman
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180064. (Age:13+) Highly recommended.
What a roller-coaster ride The isles of the Gods is! I can’t imagine why I left it unread on my shelf for so long, but luckily for me, I have the sequel The heart of the world, to pick up immediately. Selly is determined to sail the north seas to meet her father but her plans are dashed when she discovers that her Captain has agreed on a secret mission, taking a handsome young stranger, Prince Leander, to the sacred Isles of the Gods where he is to perform a ritual to his god, Barrica. On board too is Keegan who desperately wants to reach the Bibliotek to start his dream of being a scholar. Meanwhile, Laskia, a young woman who worships the sleeping God Macean, is desperate to gain the approval of her sister and is willing to do anything to achieve that. Jude once Leander’s friend, must protect his sick mother and Laskia manipulates him to help her destroy Leander. What follow is mayhem on the high seas, murder, gods and magic, with two countries on the brink of war.
Told in alternate chapters by Selly, Leander, Keegan, Laskia and Jude, it is easy to follow the story and relate to each of the characters. Selly is a determined and clever sailor, whose skill and growth is crucial as much of the action takes place on a small sailboat in a dangerous sea. Leander has always been carefree and frivolous but must face his responsibilities and draw on hidden strengths. Keegan is a hero, willing to give up his plans for peace in the world. Laskia is the villain of the story; her desire to impress her sister Ruby and the nuns overtakes any moral qualms she has, while Jude is one that I felt sorry for – trapped looking after a sick mother.
The pace ramps up in the second half of the book and Kaufman is not afraid to describe the deadly actions that Laskia is prepared to commit in her quest to kill the prince. There is a frightening chase across perilous waters and magic swirls through the air. The under current of fear that Leander will not reach the Isles of the Gods in time to sacrifice to Barrica and that Macean will wake and bring war is very suspenseful and the cliffhanger ending will have fans desperate for the next in the series.
The Isles Of The Gods is a riveting fantasy with a slow burning romance, well deserving of its awards: Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Nominee for Book of the Year for Older Children (2024), CYBILS Award Nominee for Young Adult Speculative Fiction (2023), and Older Readers Book of the Year Award Notable Books 2024. Readers who enjoyed the fantasy and the sailing aspects of the book might like Fable by Adrienne Young and Devil’s ballast by Meg Caddy.
Themes Princes, Magic, Gods and goddesses, Sailing.
Two young boys, Max and Milo, are next-door neighbours and best friends. They are inseparable, and enjoy their time spent together playing, building, racing and stargazing on Sunday nights. They love all things space-related and are even preparing an old abandoned car to use as a rocket to travel into space.
After a time, Milo does not come over to do all the things the boys used to do together. Max finds out that Milo is leaving and feels a sense of loneliness and emptiness. Milo, though, has left something for Max in their rocket ship. It is a page of space facts about distances and Max realises that he can still keep in touch with Milo. That he is not so far away compared to distances in space.
The Space Between is a beautifully told story that shares a delightful friendship filled with joy and imagination between two young children. The bold and colourful illustrations, set in rural Australia, are visually stunning. They showcase the big wide landscapes of both the land and the night sky in gorgeous hues. The endpapers share some clever fun facts and are the perfect accompaniment to this wonderful story.
This is a boy-friendly sci-fi fantasy involving boys who battle beasts from other realms. It is deliberate in being simple in language and sentence construction, so would automatically appeal to readers who are not yet adept at tackling complicated plots and details, but want action and are switched on by fantasy battles against ‘dinosaur-like’ beasts. It is an easy read chapter book with few chapters. With technology to assist, and a robotic dog, there are lots of features that add twists to the action ‘fight scenes’. A section of the plot is told via graphic novel illustration in one chapter. I can’t say I loved it … but it does have a place in meeting the reading demands of some young readers.
This is definitely a book for readers who are at risk of switching off to reading, appealing to those aged 5-7. (Beyond this age it would suit those who are struggling with their reading.) It will not meet the needs of capable readers, the simplicity in sentence construction will feel very clumsy for able readers. There is the occasional hint of humour, but the impossible scenarios are inherently bizarre rather than funny. Those readers that love graphic novel style may be enticed to read this simple story. (A brief introductory section details the premise of Boys vs Beasts series, and introduces characters.)
Themes Fantasy battles, Beasts, Graphic novel.
Carolyn Hull
Swiftle: the ultimate Taylor Swift puzzle book by Lucy Doncaster
Puffin, 2024. ISBN: 9780241723807. (Age:7+)
Young Taylor Swift fans will enjoy completing the many different types of puzzles in this new unofficial release to celebrate the popularity of this well-known singer and entertainer. This will test young diehard fan’s knowledge and also provide new facts about this world-wide singing sensation.
Throughout the book are word searches, word tracers, crosswords, hidden letter hunts, words within words, number pyramids, all sorts of coded activities, jumbled letters and clever wordokus.
This book is a great introduction to the kinds of puzzles children may see their parents, grandparents or other adults completing. It contains the solutions in the final pages as well as attribution pages that list all of Taylor Swifts albums, songs and films.
Swiftle would make a wonderful gift for a Taylor Swift fan.
The last word sees the return of Natalka, Benedict and Edwin, who first appeared in The postscript murders. Natalka and Edwina are now running a detective agency in Shoreham, Sussex and when they are approached by two sisters who are convinced that their mother, Melody Chambers, a local author, has been murdered, they are thrilled to take on the case. Edwin who peruses the obituary pages, notices that Melody’s obit has been written by someone who is already deceased and finds links to other authors who have also died. Benedict and Edwin decide to attend a writer’s retreat which the authors have all attended, hoping to find clues to what has happened. And then another murder is committed and the amateur investigators seek the help of Detective Harbinder Kaur.
Readers wanting to read more of Harbinger Kaur’s investigations, starting with The Stranger Diaries, winner of the 2020 Edgar Award for Best Novel, will be disappointed as she plays a minor role in The last word, but those who enjoyed the quirky natures of Natalka, Benedict and Edwin from The postscript murders will be pleased to see them return. As always Griffiths’ characterisation is brilliant and it is easy to visualise the people she portrays in her story. The plot is very twisty and there are many suspects. I didn’t guess the outcome – which is always a plus in a mystery story. Why would going to a writer’s retreat or belonging to a book club lead to murder?
Although The last word can be read as a stand-alone, better understanding of the characters would come from reading The postscript murders. This was an enjoyable and very clever cosy mystery with snatches of humour to lighten the way.
Mia Megastar: The Juggling Act written by Ada Nicodemou, is the second book of a new series for primary-school aged readers. In this latest book, Mia is fully involved in a play that she and her friends, known as the Summerdale Stage Stars, will perform for family, friends and the community. Mia’s involvement as director, producer, co-writer, actor, acting coach, advisor to the set designer, costume finder as well organising the venue may well begin to take its toll.
Meanwhile the drama teacher Mr J has organised a hugely popular television and stage star to visit the Stage Stars and Mia is dumbstruck! Aston Kingsley gives some great tips to the stars including projecting your voice, stand where the director tells you, not to have your back to the audience and if you forget your lines try not to panic.
As the play progresses, Mia’s friends and fellow Stage Stars, Ted and Petra have other commitments and are struggling to keep their focus on the play. Added to this, some of her friends in the club are annoyed that Mia is taking over everything and expecting too much from them. The play is only a few weeks away. What will Mia do? Will the play go ahead?
Mia is a larger than life character with big dreams and big ideas. She often leaves others in her wake but her heart is in the right place. This book is full of fast-paced busy scenes with illustrations and highlighted key words to maintain the dramatic flow. Also include are recipes for a delicious village salad and haloumi and zucchini mini frittata. Plus, some welcome acting tips. Book 3 is due in October 2024.
Themes Drama/Acting, Friendship, Family, School, Drama Club, Greek culture, Teamwork.
Kathryn Beilby
PD McPem's Agency for Mysterious Mysteries: The baffling beach bandit by Anna Battese. Illus. by Ruth-Mary Smith
This is the third book in an early chapter book series about PD McPem and her detective abilities. Today PD is unable take her beloved puppy Scooter on a beach excursion with her class as all pets are banned from her school after an unexpected event in a previous PD McPem book called The Puzzling Pet Parade.
Arriving at the beach, the class find that the boats are all sunk so they need to find something to do. PD, her friends and Grandpa discover that something has ruined a picnic for some beach goers and Mr Li’s ice creams have had a bite taken out of them and his bike bell is missing. Lots of mysteries for Detective PD Pem and her crew to solve. After some careful gathering of clues, the mysterious culprit is uncovered, and with some help from the adults the children are able to enjoy their beach excursion.
The generous spacing of text and the use of short sentences and paragraphs as well as intermittent illustrations throughout, make this an ideal read for those children who are learning to independently read early chapter books. These gentle and engaging stories are full of friendship, problem solving and fun.
It's time for bed but Sleepy Sheepy isn't sleepy - and there are 101 things he wants to do apart from snuggling down under the blankets. Like building blocks or knitting socks - anything but go to bed. "He was WIRED and absolutely NOT TIRED!"
With its quirky rhyming text and hilarious illustrations, this is a story that will resonate with anyone who has tried to put a toddler to bed when that toddler has other ideas. So who wins the battle?
The perfect bedtime read but be aware, Sleepy Sheepy is a thoroughly modern sheep preferring to skateboard or play with the karaoke machine so other toddlers might get new ideas to delay the inevitable.
One to give the new parents or grandparents - or perhaps not!
Themes Sheep, Sleep, Bedtime.
Barbara Braxton
Deep is the fen by Lili Wilkinson
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761066863. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
What a thrill to read another book set in the world of the award winning A hunger of thorns. Deep is the Fen is a book dedicated ‘For every girl who refused to be a damsel in distress.’ This time our indomitable, although at times annoyingly stubborn heroine, is Merriwether Morgan. She is looking forward to enjoying the holidays at the end of school with her best friends Teddy and Sol, while avoiding snobbish Caraway Boswell, her arch enemy and joint dux of the school. She has vowed to avoid magic at any cost, because a witch killed her mother, and she is devastated to learn that Teddy, a very talented blacksmith, is determined to join the Toadmen, a strange secret society only for men. It is rumoured to use magic deep in its headquarters in Deeping Fen and Merry is determined to rescue him from its clutches. But the Toadmen have been hiding dangerous secrets and when she decides to travel to the Deeping Fen with Caraway to find Teddy, she faces incredible danger.
Wilkinson has created a unique frightening world of evil toadmen, witches and dark water and gradually builds up the suspense in the book leaving the reader wondering whether Merry will manage to overcome her fear of magic and use it for good or whether she will become the latest victim of the Toadmen. She gradually overcomes her dislike of Caraway and the slow simmering enemy to lovers trope will engage lovers of romance as she gets to know him. Although Merry refuses to listen to advice and blindly goes her own way she finally makes some spectacular decisions leading to a very satisfying outcome.
Corporate greed and monopoly are strong themes, with Wilkinson’s emphasis on young women taking control adding depth to the story. Readers who love fantasy set in a frightening world with an engaging romance are sure to enjoy Deep is the fen and will eagerly wait for more set in this world. Meanwhile they may like to read Mask of mirrors by M. A. Carrick.
Themes Magic, Feminism, Romance, Fantasy.
Pat Pledger
Hi from Outer Space by Fiona Katauskas
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761069260. (Age:7-12) Recommended.
Alex knows she is good at cartooning and wants to win the National Young Cartoonist competition’s junior division category 'Truth is stranger than fiction' and entries close soon. When an inspired experiment involving a banana peel and a cactus lands her dad in hospital with a prickly bum, he is very understanding. Banana peels really are slippery in real life and the video goes viral but Alex still needs inspiration for the competition comic so takes the dog for a walk. She is stunned when a spaceship lands nearby and an alien emerges saying 'Take me to your leader'. It turns out the alien, Hi, whose real name 'sounds like someone bashing a toy piano with a large inflatable hammer then accidentally stepping backwards onto a cat’s tail' has been dropped off by his parents to complete a school assignment on leadership for his human studies class. Hi, (he chose the name Hieronymus Bosch from the list of Earth’s 673 coolest names) wants to interview an earthling leader to get an A++ for his assignment. Seeing mutual opportunities Alex takes Hi home for the night where she starts to suspect Hi is more interested in shoes than completing his assignment. The pace is fast and the subplots well handled. The opportunities for fun takes on everyday activities, like making pancakes, viewed through alien eyes, are beautifully realized both in prose and the energetic cartoons full of detail and affection. The wordplay is great with lots of puns and alliteration like Discombobulation Denial Disorder and there are fart and poo jokes thrown in. Ultimately the pair learn a lot about what makes a good leader and gather plenty of inspiration along the way. The author’s background in political cartooning makes the cartoons exceptionally engaging.
