When a child is young, they learn lots of things: from crawling to letters and numbers, colours, how to kick a ball, speaking and dancing, rolling over. And as time goes on, they learn to say hello and goodbye, say sorry, make friends, and ask why. Some will learn to play an instrument, some to dance, sing and act, some love numbers, some play a range of sports. The thing about this range of skills, sports, numbers and so on is that it all started somewhere, perhaps unsteadily at first, but practice and perseverance enable kids to find their way.
This is the basis of this book, encouraging young people to try and try again. Not to be despondent about not being the best at the start, but to keep on trying. There will always be days when things don’t go their way, shoelaces will be untied, paint will splatter everywhere, numbers will simply not match up. Angry words will be spoken, toys thrown across the yard, others may seem more competent, and tears will fall.
But mistakes are part of learning, others may help, they may ask for help or try again. Just as bodies grow and develop so do brains and if we don’t get things straight away there is always another day.
A gentle reminder to children and adults that learning is a continuum, things are learnt over time, some things take a long time to master, some only a short time, but however people learn, there is always another day to try again.
Coupled with colourful usually smiling kids, the message will not be lost on young readers. They will all have had some moments of frustration, convinced that a skill they are trying to master will not be learnt. But trying again is at the heart of this picture book, the children in the pictures doing just that.
Lethal Lizards is the second book in Gregg Dreise’s Scales and Tails series following Super snake. In this Creation story, Dreise has authored a wonderful narrative about goannas, lizards and snakes. In the Dreamtime the goannas and lizards were white and were frightened by the snake brothers. Biamme decides to help them and crushes blue objects, making them a dillybag each of Biamme’s Blue Poison which will collapse the snakes if it is wiped on them. Meanwhile the snake brothers persuade the lizards to let them paint them with magic and each of the goannas and lizards are given the beautiful colours and patterns that they have today. They also become more courageous and resilient and can face the snakes head-on.
I love the illustrations in Lethal Lizards. The beautiful ochre colours of the land, the bright blue of the sky and the gorgeous patterns on the creatures are a feast for the eye. And each of the creatures has a distinct face, with wonderful eyes and often a smile. There is a section at the back of the book on Dreise’s art which gives details of how he uses traditional and modern art to make his Indigenous picture books.
At the conclusion of the book on the last page is a section titled About the story which give a summary of the theme of Lethal lizards: 'Lethal Lizards is a story about physical appearances. When we understand unique differences as beautiful, and bullies stop trying to create fear, then our children will grow up happier than ever before.'
The underlying theme of being brave and standing up for yourself will appeal to both an adult who is reading the story aloud or the newly independent reader who may try it. The lizards use their intelligence and cunning to overcome the bullies which is reassuring for young readers.
This is an uplifting story that is sure to appeal to young children and is likely to become a favourite in a home library as well as a classroom.
Gracie has always been a good thief, from a childhood spent in foster homes, alongside her best friend, and foster brother, Adam. They honed their skills together, but when Grace runs off with Adam’s very expensive watch, they are bound, one to disappear and run, the other to seek revenge. At the Brisbane Stamp expo, Grace has her eyes on her target as he wanders around the floor. She knows he has some very expensive stamps in his possession. And then she spots Adam. She must run again, and this time, she must cross borders. She finds herself in a small German town, Battendorf, in the Adelaide Hills. Wanting a place to lie low for a while, she looks in the window of a collectables shop with a help wanted sign. She knows this sales area well, one of her foster parents was involved so she has developed skills and expertise which have stood her in good stead in stealing and assessing stolen goods.
She goes into the shop introducing herself to the meek, mousy proprietor, Erin. She is hired almost too quickly and Erin invites her to come and live in her granny flat. Grace is elated as two of her problems are solved, although she is aware that her employer has agoraphobia and happy for Grace to be the main face in the shop. Grace cannot believe that Adam would be able to track her down, but she is still very cautious. The reader can see that Grace’s behaviour is not that much different to that of Erin, and wonder about her background.
One night while returning from an auction, Grace comes across a road accident. A man in one car is being rammed by another. She stops and helps, the perpetrators driving away. The man being attacked proves to be a retired police officer. She rings for an ambulance, and gets him into a safe place, then leaves. The police officer begins to investigate who his saviour is, as soon as he is out of hospital. Three different stories are now entwined.
And we know that Adam must be on his way south, he wants his watch. And there is another man seeking Erin.
Disher has woven a very clever series of stories into one making it wholly probable and exciting to the reader. We all sympathise with Grace who has never known a solid family life, and craves a place where she need not worry. Erin too wants a place of safety as the reader later finds out, an abusive ex partner is searching for her. Adam is looking for Grace to get his watch back, and the police officer is looking for her as he has worked out that her life is a fabrication. All stories converge into one exciting sequence of events at the Battendorf lockup.
Disher has created a group of wonderful characters and set them against a wholly plausible backdrop described meticulously. He has entwined strands of modern themes: domestic violence, retirement, modern policing and identity theft. I love the ending which ties things up so well, with Grace able to use her skills to make the lives of the good people she has encountered, more comfortable.
I listened to this book, through LIBBY at the South Australian Public Library Network, narrated by Cam Ralph.
A wonderful Dreaming story set on Wadjemup, Rottnest Island, in modern times when the animals find they must do something about the tourists who come to the island.
The quokkas are expected to pose for the many cameras and some quokkas eat the food offered by these people. Koboorl Koon, the fat quokka becomes sick and asks Old Nana Quokka for help. She goes into the bush and finds some leaves, grasses and seeds for him, with the words, ‘eat only what your ancestors ate’. Then an osprey lands nearby, obviously in peril with a plastic ring around her neck. She asks Old Nana Quokka for help and she enlists the aid of the crabs who with their nippers, cut the ring from the bird’s neck. A snake asks for her help. He was lying on the road in the sun, when he was hit by a child on a bicycle. Since then, he has been unable to shed his skin. Old Nana Quokka blows onto her paws and helps the snake’s skin come away.
Old Nana Quokka has had enough. The next day when the tourists flock to the island to take their pictures, the quokkas turn their backs and fart causing the tourists to run away. When they sat on their rugs to have a picnic, the seabirds dropped plastic bottles on their heads, forcing them to leave.
Aunty Osprey flies to the mainland and talks to Mother Nyingarn, the echidna, and she hears the same complaints. The people are ruining the land, digging it up, chopping down trees and polluting the land and the air. Back on Rottnest, the animals are called for a gathering and follow Dreaming tracks to come together. They produce a letter to all the people of Australian and the visitors to Wadjemup. It is written at the end of the story and outlines a statement for the future of this country.
A charming tale to encourage people to have more consideration for the land and animals they live amongst, children will take heart that the aims are guidelines we should all share.
The third in the series, Spirit of the Dreaming, Old Nana Quokka is subtitled Caring for country and promotes a singular message that we should all follow.
A YouTube clip can be found here, in which Aunty Rhonda talks about the book and what prompted its theme.
A song can be found at the end of the book, along with a glossary of Noongar words found in the text and an explanation of the six seasons recognised by the Nyoongar people.
Themes Noongar, Western Australia, Rottnest Island, Sharing, Community, Aboriginal beliefs, Dreaming Story, Pollution, Spirit of the Dreaming series.
Fran Knight
How we share cake by Kim Hyo-Eun. Translated by Deborah Smith
Kim Hyo-eun, Korean author/illustrator of I Am the Subway, which was the winner of the 2021 World Illustration Award, has again used her unique design skills to create a picture book that will resonate with children whose families have more than one child. Learning to share and make everything equal and fair is a seemingly common and natural part of growing up in a family. As this book cleverly attests to, it is not always easy.
In this family of three sisters and two brothers with the author being the second born sister, there are daily discussions about how to clearly and correctly share whatever food or items are being presented. There are always different ways to share, and by using maths to solve this they are able to divide and cut into equal amounts where food is concerned or count out equal time to ride the one scooter in the house. Of course it is not always straight forward, and when sharing a roast chicken with each child liking different parts, it becomes complicated.
Throughout the book the use of Mathematical concepts such as cardinal and ordinal numbers, fractions, word equations and angles provide children with examples of how Maths can be used during the day. The delightful beginning endpapers show the family in a photo montage of their lives with the final endpapers showing them altogether sharing a room. There is a depth to this story which may not be immediately obvious and the glorious pencil and watercolour illustrations add so much more to the narrative.
Themes Sharing, Siblings, Families, Mathematics.
Kathryn Beilby
White noise by Raelke Grimmer
UWA Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9781760802851. (Age:14+) Recommended.
In the humid and heat-soaked climate of Darwin city life we get a glimpse into the life of a family of two, still coming to grips with the death of one. Grief lays like a cloud over every aspect of Emma’s life, and her father too is struggling, but hiding his pain under the pressures of his work as an ED doctor and his role as a single parent. Friendship connections help Emma and her father, but being a teenager means that there are many layers to life – school demands, dreams and hopes for the future, relationship possibilities. Into this familiar plotline lands the bombshell of the diagnosis for Emma of her autism. Pieces that had made no sense, become clear, but things are not easier. Emma must navigate the grief she feels and the struggles of her mental meltdowns that can arise without a lot of warning. She also is targeted as a future Institute of Sport talent and must weave a heavy training schedule into all the other demands of her life. And yet, even when things seem complex, Elliot seems to see past her diagnosis and is attracted to her in a gentle and understanding way. Will this high school relationship survive despite Emma’s grief-state, trauma, injury, illness? What lies ahead for them all?
This is a nuanced high school-based story, with profound insights into the difficulties of negotiating grief and autism. Emma’s autism could be described as high-functioning, but the description of the short-circuitry that impacts her functioning would be helpful for anyone who goes to school with someone diagnosed with autism. The complexities of grief are also explored in compassionate ways. The overall impact of this book is a tender understanding of these issues, with the overlying complexities of the teenage years. Friendship and romance must also negotiate the random barriers and hurdles of conflict and misunderstanding. I enjoyed this gentle story told through the perspective of Emma herself, and the impact of the Darwin setting with the pervasive heat is also refreshingly different. Anyone who has visited Darwin will recognise the localities referenced, but it is good to have a book set in the Top End. Recommended for readers aged 14+.
Themes Grief, Autism, Family life, Darwin, Romance, Same-sex attraction.
Carolyn Hull
When the lights went out by Lian Tanner and Jonathan Bentley
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761180019. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
A wonderfully affirming book about community and family, this story shows what happens in one street when the lights go out. At first the child is scared, but Mama and Dad make a game, an adventure in the dark as Dad lights a match and the family finds its way upstairs to get some candles. Coming downstairs, the explorers hear music. It is their neighbour Mrs Martinez playing her guitar. The family gets rugged up and walks outside to find other neighbours have joined them, and they smile and laugh and sing. Mrs Martinez plays sad songs and brave songs and ones that make them tap their feet and sway in the cold night air. The community dances with Mr Harada, and just when the night is almost over and they are all yawning, the lights come back on. They go back to their own homes, with the small child wrapped up in bed, hoping it happens again.
A gentle story about neighbourhoods, of people coming together, is told in this understated tale. The people react to the light going out by sharing their resources, coming out of their houses to greet their neighbours. They commune together on this cold dark night, reassuring the young and strengthening the ties in their street.
Bentley’s illustrations are wonderful, creating a street where people know each other, their little single-fronted cottages showing an inner-city suburb containing a diverse range of people. The candle on the front cover lights the way for the family as the dark falls around them, soothing the fears of the child on Dad’s back. Outside, the cold bites the reader just as it does the families singing together.
The pencil and watercolour images will stay in the readers’ mind long after the last page is read. And they will turn back to feel again the warmth in the dark street as the people all come together. The usual inhabitants of the night, foxes and owls, keep watch on the intruders in their domain, and can be seen taking back their territory once the families return home.
There are so many touches that say family and warmth and togetherness: the crocheted quilt cover on the child’s bed, the scarves and coats worn by those who come into the street, the smiles on the faces of the children, the warmth radiating from the candles, the almost sad faces when the light comes back on, the warmth of the light shining through the windows of the houses. All of these underscores the feelings the community radiates.
Shirin and Amir and the dragon smoke by Liz Drummond and Jemima Shafei-Ongu. Illus. by Magie Khameneh
Little Steps, 2024. ISBN: 9781922833525. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
As a result of the 2019-20 'Black Summer' bushfires, many diverse communities were unaware of the danger posed by the smoke haze drifting across city areas. Researchers from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) at the Australian National University (ANU), worked collaboratively with the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies to devise ways to inform families about how to stay safe during these challenging times.
In the story Shirin and Amir and the Dragon Smoke, two young friends, forced indoors by the smoke, creatively play how they stayed safe inside. By pretending the smoke was from a dragon, they bravely fight the dragon by rolling up towels to seal off gaps, wear face masks and stay inside their playhouse. Amir also keeps his asthma inhaler close by. Once the smoke hazard has passed by, the children see the neighbourhood returning to normal.
This engaging read with brightly coloured full page illustrations is an important book to be shared with all. It has been translated by the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies into Persian, Arabic and Turkish and will hopefully reach many communities. It is a valuable resource for school and public libraries.
This quote from co-author Jemima Shafei-Ongu, perfectly sums up the reasons behind this important publication:
'Picture books can be a wonderful conduit between parents' and childrens' experiences, can introduce and hold space for difficult conversations; and when bilingual texts are shared, can expand a child's experience of language and culture beyond the page.'
Gumbaynggirr artist, writer and designer Melissa Greenwood has added a fifth book to her beautiful series for younger readers. The gorgeous cover in a soft palette of greens and apricots on a black background draw the eye to this lyrical and gentle narrative.
Aunty and child wake to the day and go on a walk through the bush at the base of the juluum (mountain). They pay their respects to Country around them as they walk and notice changes and movement – the fresh green growth on the jaliigirrin (trees), the bindarray (river)rises and falls, the creatures who live at the base of the juluum and the animals that live in the bush. As they ascend the juluum they see smoke signals to the meeting place at the tip and prepare for a corroboree. Aunty shares stories of creation and how juluum watches over them.
The colourful full page illustrations throughout provide a stunning visual backdrop for the words. Giinagay Juluum is a delightful book to read aloud and has an important dual language aspect with a complete Gumbaynggirr translation included in the final pages.
Themes First Nation’s Stories, Country, Mountains, Family, Respect, Dual Language.
Kathryn Beilby
Kevin saves the show by Jacqueline Harvey. Illus. by Kate Isobel Scott
In verse, each pair of rhyming lines will intrigue readers as they hear more about the wonderful Kevin, the curious sheep, and predict the rhyming words as they turn each page. Readers will love reading again about Kevin, introduced two years ago in Kevin the sheep. Ever adventurous, Kevin tries things which other sheep find most concerning. At the local show, Kevin sets up a song competition. For a dollar admission the prospective competitors will use karaoke to display their talents. Kevin in his purple phase, welcomes the range of competitors who turn up. Wanda the bantam is followed by Polly the pig and Gary the goat who precedes the four sheep, Shaun, Shauna, Sheryl and Shane.
The last sheep performs, making the audience gasp at his spine-tingling singing. Kevin then gives out all the commendations and then the runner up. But when the winner is announced, no one is surprised. But eagerly picking up his cup, he trips over a cord and his sheep suit falls off his back.
Everyone is in uproar; a wolf has come into the fray and the scrum which follows causes Kevin to grab the microphone and ask for quiet so the wolf can speak.
What he says will have readers laughing hilariously as the wolf garners sympathy from the sheep with his tale of rejection.
Kevin in his purple phase invites the readers to open this book. His genial face on the front cover is reciprocated as the story evolves. Funny images appear on each page, designed to entrance younger readers, who will seek out the various sheep mentioned in the tale. I love the image of the four sheep working together for their act, the many sheep attempts at winning the cup, and the wolf’s tears as he begs for help. A wolf in sheep’s clothing indeed.
Themes Sheep, Karaoke, Competition, Wolves.
Fran Knight
Kung Fu Roo: Enter the Roo by Anh Do. Graphic art by Jeremy Ley
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761069918. (Age:7+) Highly recommended.
Kung Fu Roo - Enter the Roo is a lively and colourful graphic novel that takes readers on an unexpected adventure; blending martial arts, humour, and a touch of the supernatural. Anh Do’s story follows three friends - Kai, Charley and Harry - who are on a train heading to a highly anticipated Kung Fu competition, when things take a strange and dangerous turn.
The plot kicks off with robbers taking over the train, aiming to steal passengers' valuables. As if that’s not enough, a meteor strikes, releasing a mysterious purple goo that changes everything. Kai wakes up in a hospital and discovers he’s not feeling quite right. Thinking it is just a side effect from the accident, he is really thrown when he begins having cravings for lettuce and, even more bizarrely, discovering he can understand kangaroo conversations! When he talks with his friends, they come to the realisation that the goo from the meteor must have merged them with some animals that were on the train too. They then realise that they have all developed some unusual new powers.
As they grapple with their newfound abilities, Kai, Charley, and Harry decide they need superhero names. But before they can work these out, they hear that the train robbers have escaped and are causing chaos. The trio realise they’ve been thrust into the role of unexpected heroes. With their animal powers in tow, they set out to stop the villains and save the day.
While the story takes some time to gather momentum, it builds to an action-packed, thrilling conclusion that leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next instalment. Anh Do’s knack for blending humour with exciting plot twists keeps the narrative engaging. Jeremy Ley’s vibrant illustrations add to the novel's captivation, bringing the animal-human hybrid heroes and their adventures to life with expressive, colourful artwork.
Kung Fu Roo is perfect for young readers who enjoy action, humour and twisting tales. It combines a fun plot with themes of friendship, courage and teamwork, making it an entertaining and exciting read.
Themes Heroes, Teamwork, Action, Supernatural, Friendship, Problem solving, Animals.
Into the labyrinth, the first in the Mage Errant series, had Hugh and his friends surviving a deadly labyrinth, while Jewel of the Endless Erg moves into a new setting, that of a vast desert known as the Endless Erg. Their teacher Alustin wants them to train them there improving their magical skills and finally take them to a meeting in a powerful city, Theras Tel, ruled by Indris Stormbreaker, a dragon. But what was supposed to be a quiet summer turns into a whirlwind of dragons, monsters, sandstorms and conspiracy.
Bierce cleverly builds up a new world for readers to appreciate. It is easy to imagine the desert dunes of the Endless Erg and the deadly sandstorms that plague any who dare to be in that environment. Hugh and his companions learn to hone their skills there, and when pirates attack, Hugh uses his ability to help the ship to escape from danger. The city of Theras Tel is vividly described with its huge court for the Queen, her courtiers and young dragons.
The magic system that Bierce portrays is fascinating. In Jewel of the Endless Erg he presents a unique look at dragons and their magic and the magic that Alustin wields in a huge battle is amazing.
The four apprentices begin to learn more about their magical skills and the background of each other. Hugh is still reticent and quiet but his growing ability to control his magic helps him become more confident, even daring to hope for romance.
Danger, betrayal and battles make for a very exciting action-packed plot with a cliff-hanger ending that will have readers wanting to read to the next in the series, A traitor in Skyhold. Readers who enjoy books about dragons may like to read the Harper Hall of Pern trilogy by Anne McCaffrey, which begins with Dragonsong.
Mysterious Mole & Old Croc is the fifth book in the captivating Tales from the Bush Mob series. Written and illustrated by well-known First Nations creative Helen Milroy, this series provides all readers with a story that shares lessons about life. There is a valuable introduction to the series in the beginning of the book as well as illustrations of the birds and animals that feature throughout the story.
In this new narrative, the story is set out in five sections: Mysterious Mole, Old Croc, Down Came the Rain, A Cunning Plan and Platypus to the Rescue. Molly the Mole is blind and should live quietly underground but sadly she has become allergic to dust and now has to spend more time above ground. Old Croc is so old all he wants is peace and quiet. He is afraid of the dark and caves and spends nighttime either in the water or on the banks gazing up at the stars. As drought worsens his billabong is taken over by other animals and he is not happy. Finally, the drought breaks and the rains come. Molly is trapped in the flood and is rescued by Old Croc. They form an unlikely but important friendship and cleverly concoct a plan to create their own billabong away from the other animals. This causes a long term problem and all of the animals have to work together to find a solution. The Epilogue provides a summary of lessons learned by all of the animals.
The engaging and glossy full-page illustrations are delightful and add depth and visual interest to the story. The endpapers give a birds-eye view of where each of the bush mob live. A wonderful read-aloud story to share with Early Childhood and lower primary students.
Themes First Nation’s Stories, Australian Animals, Danger, Collaboration, Problem Solving, Friendship.
Amy Wheeler is on an island off California, owned by novelist Rosie D’Antonio, the world’s second best crime thriller writer.
Amy is a high class bodyguard, hired by the rich and famous when threatened. And this client has fallen foul of a Russian oligarch, Vasily Karpan, who wants her dead. There is only one other person on the island, the chef, an ex Navy Seal, Kevin. But he has been offered more money than Amy’s boss, Jeff Nolan, and as Amy fights to the death with Kevin, Rosie joins in, excited at being part of the action. Kevin is dispatched and the women board a boat back to the mainland, but it takes in a lot of water in the shark infested sea. Three influencers, clients of Jeff, have been murdered and each time, Amy has been within calling distance. And with her blood found at the scene, she feels threatened. With Rosie in tow, her father in law, Steve is the only person she trusts.
Exiting, fast paced ad incredibly intriguing, this laugh out loud thriller will grab all readers as they are taken into the modern world of celebrities, Russian oligarchs, influencers, ChatGPT, money laundering and murder brokers.
Amy is in daily contact with Steve a policeman settling into retirement through the local quiz night, watching local cats, talking to his dead wife, Debbie, with some local sleuthing on the side. A desperate call from Amy sees him flying to USA, something he never thought he would do. Landing at a small airport to be greeted by an impassive border security guard, Carlos Moss, is priceless. You can almost hear Osmond chuckling, thinking up the most improbable of sequences, coincidences and conversations for his characters.
And the humour keeps flowing.
Followed by someone hired to kill her, Amy, Rosie and now Steve must think one step ahead of the killer. They land in St Lucia, then Dublin all the while Amy putting clues together to get to the heart of Francois Loubet, someone who uses ChatGPT to hide his identity, and is determined to kill her. Steve has a friend interview the owner of the Vivid Viral Media Agency and finds this company of one person is a front to hire people who think they are influencers to do a job which seems to gets them killed. One of these influencers it still alive, serving a ten year sentence in a Dubai jail, so Amy asks her husband, Adam, there for a diamond conference to interview her to get some answers. But she is already dead. So, back to basics.
Characters flash across the page like fireworks, each having a part in the whole, and each delightfully different. I listened to this book via Audible, wonderfully read by Nicola Walker (Spooks, Unforgotten and Annika) And would heartily recommend it.
Marie Lu has followed Stars and Smoke with a thrilling sequel showcasing superstar Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette. It has been a year since the pair were on a secret mission in London, but Winter knows that he cannot turn down another assignment from Panacea especially with Sydney acting as his bodyguard. The pair are sent to Singapore to extract another agent, Sydney’s ex known as the Arsonist, who is in danger. And Winter brings along an old girlfriend too, so expect fireworks!
Icon and Inferno starts off slowly with an emphasis on relationships. Someone is writing a book revealing Winter’s life and secrets. Who in the family would do that and has Gavi Ginsburg, his old flame, leaked information? Jealousy simmers when Winter finds out that the Arsonist is Sydney’s ex-boyfriend and Sydney is not very happy about Winter and Gavi.
The story is an engrossing balance of romance and suspense, which will grip readers who enjoy both genres. Sydney’s loyalty to Panacea and the good of her country is admirable, and it is easy to relate to the problems that Winter faces as a world celebrity. They make a wonderful team.
The action really ramps up with car chases, bullets flying and sinister figures attempting an assassination when Winter and Sydney start on their mission in Singapore. And so does the slow-burning romance between the pair.
This is an admirable second book in the series with deep development of the characters of Sydney and Winter. And the fabulous action will keep readers glued to the page. I hope to see the duo again in the future.
