Just because by Matthew McConaughey. Illus. by Renee Kurilla
Penguin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761343582. (Age:4+)
Pairs of rhyming lines present the contradictions that life offers us in a humorous way which will appeal to young readers, and McConnaughey’s lines are supported with equally funny illustrations.
Each set of lines starts with ‘just because’, and then offers an alternative. One that caught my eye was ‘Just because I’m in the race, doesn’t mean I’m fully ready.’
And I laughed out loud at the ideas that came to mind. Kids will enjoy talking about being in the race, and what that means, as they are expected to be in lots of races. At school they are encouraged to compete, especially in sports, while even at home, siblings compete with each other. Being fully ready will bring recognition as we are often in a race or competition, without being aware of it at the start. Kids will be able to see funny sides to this truism: picture a runner without her running shoes or a cyclist without his bike. Another that resonate with me ‘Just because they do not hear you, doesn’t mean you have no voice’. This too will win recognition from children able to detail situations where this has been their predicament. Lots of discussion could emanate from this pair of lines.
The last few pages tell us 'Just because the sun has set, doesn’t mean it will not rise’, and then the ‘just’ disappears and the next set reads, ‘Because every day is a gift, each one a new surprise’, which is a wonderfully positive note to leave this book of surprises.
Themes Advice, Sayings, Growing up, Childhood.
Fran Knight
Fractal noise by Christopher Paolini
Pan Macmillan, 2023. ISBN: 9781035001125. (Age:Young Adult/Adult) Highly recommended.
On book reviewing websites across the internet, Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini has a long list of mixed reviews. Some reviews rate the book highly and provide effusive praise. Other reviews give the novel a low rating. However, unlike most books, the reasons listed are not on the grounds of plot, pacing, world building or even writing style. These poor reviews are mostly about the cover.
Fractal Noise made history by becoming one of the first novels with an AI-generated cover image (or, at least, one of the first novels where this fact has been publicly admitted to by the publishers). Before the book was even released, savvy readers realised that there was something unusual about the cover image. There was also no credit given to a cover designer. Surmising that the cover must be AI-generated, the readers forced a reluctant admission and apology from Tor Publishing Group. However, the cover remained unchanged due to the book’s publishing schedule. This has unfortunately led to sustained backlash against Fractal Noise, something that the novel, compelling and well-written, does not deserve.
Fractal Noise is a prequel to Paolini’s 2020 novel To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, which dealt with humanity’s first contact with an alien race. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a story of action and wide-ranging catastrophe. Readers may have been expecting something similar from Fractal Noise. However, in contrast, this prequel is a novel of slow-building dread and tension.
In the year 2234 in a remote planetary system, the crew aboard the spaceship Adamura discovers an anomaly, a huge circular pit on a barren world, that is clearly not of natural or human origins. A group of crew members, including a geologist, astrophysicist and xenobiologist are tasked with landing and journeying on foot towards the anomaly, to determine what it is and why it is there. It is a slow and difficult journey that is made all the worse by the increasing sense of unease the group feels, the closer they get…
The Wish Sisters: The running wish by Allison Rushby
University of Queensland Press, 2023. ISBN: 9780702265945. (Age:6+) Highly recommended.
The running wish is the third in the delightful The wish sisters series, which feature Flick and her baby sister Birdie, who can call on an imp to make wishes come true. In this episode, the family is off to the school’s sports day, Dad hoping to win the parent-teacher race and Flick hoping to overcome her poor starts in the running race. Both are hoping that Birdie does not make any wishes that will bring her to the attention of Mrs Mortlake their nosy neighbour and the news team that she has invited to the sports day.
With a laugh aloud first chapter featuring Dad in ’green-and-black stripy socks, black shorts, a green tulle skirt and a green t-shirt’ ready for his race and hoping to win points for the green team, readers know that they are going to have fun reading about the antics of this family. What will Baby Birdie get up to when she gives wishes at the sports day? Flick must be very alert to make sure that the green team is not given an unfair advantage.
Karen Blair’s black and white illustrations perfectly complement the flow of Rushby’s narrative. I loved the family resemblance between Flick and Birdie with their tight curls and big eyes and the drawings of Dad in his tulle skirt are hilarious.
This can be read as a stand-alone, as there is a synopsis given at the beginning of the story which outlines the main characters and how the wishes began. The magic of the wishes is introduced in The party wish and readers might like to start there and continue with the rest in the series, The big wish and The pet wish.
Ideal for newly independent readers, this series is sure to be a hit.
These little feet by Hayley Rawsthorne & Briony Stewart
Albert Street Books, 2023. ISBN: 9781761069017. (Age:3+) Recommended.
A wonderfully playful book for young and old, These little feet is about love and dreams for the future as the new baby takes centre stage in the family. Mum looks at her daughter’s little feet. She ponders the places they will go and the mountains they will climb, she wonders about the dreams they will have and the dances they will do. Her little hands will greet people, feel snowflakes, write letters and play the drums. The poem goes along in this pattern asking questions that have all to do with love and parenting. Sometimes a boy sometimes a girl, the central character is always with an adult, Mum or Dad, grandparents or extended family member, showing a diversity of adults and children across age groups. And next come the ears: what may be heard by these little ears, what songs will they love and noises be feared. His mouth is looked at, with Mum pondering what treats it will eat and kisses given.
Each time one aspect of the baby’s body is looked at, a refrain begins adding several things about the future dreams of that aspect of the child’s life. The whole is alive with dreams of the child’s future life: what will be seen, felt, heard, tasted and smelled as the child grows older.
A double page of postcard like images is at the end of the book, brings the poem back to the start, kissing the little feet and wondering what love the child will find along its life’s journey.
Like Ten little fingers and ten little toes by Mem Fox, the book begs the reader and child to act out the poem as it is read.
Soft inviting illustrations accompany the text revealing constant eye contact between the child and its carer, always found doing things together. Each of the opening lines is framed with a wreath of flowers or leaves, shells balls of wool, making a contrast between the first line and the rest of each stanza.
Themes Family, Love, Future, Dreams, Parenting.
Fran Knight
The glow by Sofie Laguna
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761066825. (Age:10+) Recommended.
Sofie Laguna has been writing for children and adults for over 20 years.
I well remember the publication of My Yellow Blanky and, of course, Too Loud Lily. I have been astounded and moved by The Eye of the Sheep, The Choke and Infinite Splendours, written for adults. She is an outstanding creator and obviously writes constantly! I thoroughly enjoyed the magic of The Song of Lewis Carmichaelin recent years, written for middle primary years, and she has now followed up with The Glow, both of which are illustrated so beautifully by Marc McBride.
Written as fantasy for middle grade readers, The Glow tells of two great friends who relish each other’s company, particularly as Megan is obsessed with drawing fantastical creatures and Li writes the stories to go wth the pictures. The Glow visits the town where they live and everyone is immobilised, except the two girls. They set out to help, and become entwined in a very exciting series of events involving a terrible monster. The story is beautifully written and holds much tension for the young reader. Laguna cleverly brings reality and fantasy together and also acknowledges the power of creativity. The two friends work their ‘magic’ to the best end.
Themes Monsters, Creativity, Friendship.
Julie Wells
Let's never speak of this again by Megan Williams
Text Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781922790392. (Age:14-18) Recommended.
Abby is sixteen years old, living a full and active life, and enjoying her friendship circle. Complications are minimal, but her Meema (her grandmother) has slipped into a state of memory fog from which there is no return. Being a dutiful daughter, studying hard, visiting Meema, shooting practice goals and hanging out with her friends, especially Ella, is a relatively smooth life. New girl Chloe arrives and throws an unexpected twist into the friendship dynamics, a first kiss and negotiating feeling ‘left out’ are woven into the story of Abby’s unremarkable life. It is however the unexpected and traumatic death of Ella’s brother, Will, that really creates a major turning point in the story of Abby’s transition to maturity and understanding. There are still some things she is yet to experience and there is plenty of time, but can friendship heal grief and will she be able to connect properly with family and friends as she negotiates what lies ahead in her life?
This is like seeing inside the life and mind of a sixteen-year-old. There are moments of angst, the uncomfortable exploration of growing-up with the addition of alcohol, relationship ups and downs, hopes and dreams, and the desire for romance and the curiosity about kissing and sex. There are also serious journeys into grief and supporting those who grieve. Not everything is easy. The best part of this book of insights is the gentleness that Megan Williams uses to convey the story. The characters are not awful, ‘mean-girl’ types, and relationships seem relatively low-key, even when they do not flow well, and parents are genuinely shown to be trying their best. The 100-goals-a-day for Abby’s Netball preparation adds a delightful normality to her life. Told in small snippets, almost like diary entries, the tale just travels lightly through the months of her Year 10 life. Exams and career choices are still some way off, but boys and physical connections are becoming important in their lives. This is a book for teens who are at a similar stage of their life journey. It details the internal struggles and conversations of a girl trying to do life well, but not always getting it right, but nevertheless learning along the way. This is a book for 14-18 year-olds. It won the Text Prize in 2022. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Coming-of-age, Friendship, Grief, First kiss, Teen sex, Relationships, Family dynamics, Memories, Dementia, Netball.
An Australian hero few of us know about, the story of Alice Betteridge deserves wider recognition and this beautifully designed book will promote an understanding of who she was and what she achieved.
Born in the Hunter Valley in NSW in 1901, her father ran a dairy and Alice would run with him as he brought in the cows, often having a vantage point on his shoulders. She loved the outdoors and tore off her shoes at every opportunity. But one day she toppled over with a burning fever. Put to bed she slept for days and when she woke she could neither see nor hear. In Sydney the family was told to bring her back when she was older to gain some education.
She kept up her life on her parents' farm, learning to differentiate the range of floor coverings, playing with the animals, until she was seven. Then she returned to Sydney to go to school. Her teacher used her shoe to teach her the word in Deafblind language and when she finally realised what her teacher was showing her, she was on her way.
The sepia style illustrations reflect the times around Federation in Australia, the lack of colour reminding the reader that Alice could not see. The images are photographic in their presentation, depicting scenes on the farm before Alice became deafblind, and her life on the farm learning to live with this disability, and her time at school where her teacher taught her the Deafblind Alphabet using Alice’s shoe as the stepping off point.
It is a lovely book, its style and design making the story resonate with compassion. The story of Alice’s life to age seven will encourage readers to look more closely at Alice’s life and find out what she achieved. The last page outlines the Deafblind Alphabet which children will be able to learn and practise. Next to the Deafblind Alphabet is the Braille Alphabet giving readers a chance to empathise with those who live with vision loss.
There is surprisingly little about Alice on the internet. A small article from Wikipedia can be seen at here while more about the school that bears her name can be viewed here and an article naming her as Australia’s Helen Keller can be seen by searching that title. Teacher's notes are available.
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781760526900. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
The author was born in the USA and now lives in Melbourne, having already explored many interesting places and had many adventures. She began a women’s history podcast in 2018 - The Exploress - which attracted a huge following. She also created a podcast which followed the creation of this cleverly devised story. This background will appeal to the young adult readers who will be the main readership for Nightbirds.
Nightbirds presents a fantasy world where women are not permitted to use magic, yet four girls living in the city of Simta do have special powers which they can pass on to the next generation if the Nightbird system is protected and well-guarded. They are kept like birds in gilded cages.
“No Nightbird’s magic is the same….The Goldfinch will help you change your feathers, making you look like someone else. The Ptarmigan gives the gift of camouflage….The Nightingale will let you manipulate someone’s emotions…”.
A discovery soon brings a threat to this system and the girls must make choices as to how they will use their magic, bringing about change to an ingrained social and cultural institution or keeping the status quo. The story is an intriguing one, the setting well described with some beautifully drawn maps of the kingdom (The Eudean Republic) and the city in the opening pages, and the characters move through the story with style and intelligence, ever aware of the challenges which will determine their behaviour for good or ill.
A beautiful cover design with poetic pieces, written by the author, placed before each chapter, add to the attraction of Armstrong’s first novel. Highly recommended.
Themes Magic, Freedom, Power.
Julie Wells
Mason Mooney supernatural sleuth by Seaerra Miller
It seems that, like all good comics, the last Mason Mooney book ended with a cliffhanger and readers are provided with a recap of those events where Mason’s evil doppelganger, Nosam, steals his heart and disappears into another dimension. There is also a helpful chart of characters and their roles. In this story sinkholes are opening up around the town of Grimbrook and Iris persuades Mason to follow a stranger down into the labyrinth of tunnels under the sinkhole. Here they discover the secret Order of the Emerald Palm, paranormal investigators who can open portals to other dimensions. Sam and Iris set out on interdimensional adventures seeking Nosam and Mason’s heart as well as the Hand of Glory and the ring needed to use it. Along the way they discover the importance of friendship and cooperation to achieve their goals. The colourful comic style graphics and clear characters with just the right amount of fun filled text will appeal to readers of the previous Mason Mooney books as well as new readers who will want to go back and check out the rest of the series.
Themes Supernatural, Adventure, Friendship.
Sue Speck
The littlest penguin and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade by Penguin Foundation and Jedda Robaard
The Littlest Penguin & the Port Phillip Island Penguin Parade is a delightful story about a group of penguins from their birth to adulthood. Little Penguin is the main character and with Scruffy, Cheeky and Big Chick, they learn to navigate life after leaving their burrows.
The story begins with Little Penguin as a chick safe with her parents. As she grows, she is apprehensive about moving from her burrow but begins to experience hunger and it forces her to be brave and join the other young penguins as they begin their long search for food. The four friends encounter dangers along the way but all support each other as they continue their search. With full bellies they return home and prepare for the next stage of their lives. Throughout the story, readers are able to learn key facts about the life cycle of penguins, their characteristics, habitat, diet, and the threats to them and their environment. At the end of the book is valuable information about the little penguins, fun facts, plus details about Jedda Robaard and the Penguin Foundation.
This story is beautifully told with both humour and an understanding that life is not easy for the little penguins. The gorgeous illustrations on each page complement and break up the text which allows the story to become more accessible and engaging for independent or reluctant readers. The Littlest Penguin & the Port Phillip Island Penguin Parade would be a wonderful story to read aloud to a class from Reception to Year 3 and with its small hardback presentation would make a perfect gift for Christmas or birthday. Teacher's Notes are available.
Based on his webcomic of the same name, Pebble and Wren follows human girl Wren and her live-in monster, Pebble, as she teaches them all about how the human world works - from why the moon changes shape to why we don't eat candy wrappers - while trying to unlock special abilities without which Pebble will have to return to the monster forest.
Pebble, a young monster, must venture out of the hidden forest and into the world of humans as a monster's rite of passage to unlock their skills but everything seems daunting, until one house seems to be welcoming. Living there is a young girl called Wren, and her two fathers. Although the little monster is fond of food or, in fact, anything that can be eaten, including books, rocks, and furniture, its special skill seems elusive as the pair become close friends.
While Pebble is a shape-shifter, Wren has talents of her own. She enjoys explaining things and instructing Pebble on a variety of topics: moon phases, humans' inner ear structure and skeletal anatomy, and the thermodynamics of refrigeration and gradually the pair begin to understand each other and share adventures that help Pebble gradually realise that their special skill has been discovered.
Although each page of this graphic novel has only uncomplicated frames, and the nine chapters seem to be connected as a developing story, this is very much driven by the development of the characters rather than a series of adventures or quests so it's appropriate for independent readers who enjoy this format and like to delve into the lives of the personalities.
Renowned artist Kirsty Burgu has drawn on memories of a story told by her Uncle and which she had loved as a child. It is the story of Argula, a warning tale about the Bush Devil, who will get you if you are too greedy. When two boys go fishing, they are so intent on catching fish that they do not notice Argula, hiding behind a bush and eating their catch. When they finally turn around to look at their fish, all they find are skeletons. One of the boys yells, 'Who is eating all our fish?' And the Argula roars 'I have!' and grabs the boys and swallows them in one gulp. After a while Wadoo their uncle comes back from his hunting trip and sees that the boys have been taken. He follows the tracks of the Argula and finally rescues them. Once home, they promise not to be greedy again.
The narrative flow smoothly, building up tension as the reader can see the danger that the two boys are in. It would be perfect read aloud and a fabulous choice when a scary story is what children would like to hear. The illustrations are outstanding, featuring all the beautiful browns, reds and yellows of the Kimberley region. The two boys and their uncle are outlined in white and each page has interesting minute details like ants, snakes and tufts of grass. The front cover grips the reader’s attention with a hairy arm and orange hand with blue claws, while the end papers, showing sun rise and sunset are very beguiling.
Beware the Argula! has a moral about sustainability and treating the land’s resources with respect. If you are too greedy, the Argula, the bush devil, believed to live in the rugged Kimberly area and shown in rock art, will be attracted to you. Do not take more fish than you need.
Extensive teacher’s notes are available from the publisher and would be a boon in a classroom. This is the second title in the Kimberley Art Centre Series, following My story =: Ngaginybe jarragbe by Shirley Purdie (Eve Pownall Book of the Year Award Notable Books 2021, New Illustrator Award Shortlist 2021). Both are highly recommended.
Themes First Nations Peoples, Cultural Beliefs (Kimberley region of Western Australia), Storytelling, Sustainability, Responsibility, Greed, Consequences.
I remember hearing Louise Penny speak at Adelaide Writers’ Week some years back. Her partner of many years had died and she spoke of how Inspector Gamache displays many of her husband’s fine qualities. Chief Inspector Gamache, is the protagonist of 18 books set in Three Pines, a cosy village in Quebec, Canada. Still Life, the first in the series, was published in 2005; it has been followed by some great stories of crime and mystery all with the admirable Gamache at the heart of the story, the same setting, and with Penny’s fans waiting with much anticipation for the publication of the next one. She has a large and enthusiastic readership with her books available in 23 languages.
A World of Curiosities opens with the end of a bitter winter. A young man and woman appear in the village. It seems that as young children they were here and their mother had been murdered.
The case reopened, is tragic and disturbing and new puzzles are there to be discovered and solved now. With a great sense of place, and a satisfying mystery, this book has plenty of appeal for crime/mystery readers. Apparently, it is to be made into a television series.
Isda lives in the Channe Opera House in the city of Vaureille. She has lived here under the care of opera owner Cyril, since he rescued her 17 years ago when, as a newborn she was cast into a well for being a Gravoir. Fendoiras and Gravoirs are disfigured mutants with the ability to access people’s memories. Isda lives a hidden life in the crypt below the opera house, her only task is to manipulate the memories of the opera goers at the end of each performance so they remember it with praise. Isda has everything she needs including a piano, music being her delight, and she uses the memories of opera audiences to mentally venture out into the world. Everything changes when a new employee, 17 year old Emric Rodin enters the opera house and Isda hears his beautiful tenor voice evoking wonderful memories in colour, memories which, for the first time include a girl like her. As their relationship develops and Isda finds out more about her powers and Cyril’s ambition we learn why people fear Gravoirs and their ability to kill. This feminist twist on The Phantom of the Opera has many references to the original story and musical but it is set in a gothic horror world gradually hinted at and slowly revealed as the story progresses with scenes of mass violence and power madness that jarred with the idea of a love story. I found Isda’s character difficult to grasp and the world in which it is set confusing with its many sub plots so when it came to the ending I didn’t care.
Themes Fantasy, Mmemory, Love, Music, Horror.
Sue Speck
Hello Twigs, Surprise! by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood
Red is a WILD TWIG – “ I am Twig, hear me roar. ROAR” and he just loves surprising people. He believes that his surprises will make people laugh, but when he hides behind a bush and jumps out at Ziggy, she is scared and drops the snails that she was carrying to make a snail zoo. Noodle is not impressed when he surprises her, and nor is Stump – they don’t laugh but are scared as well. What is Red to do? Can he give his friends a nice surprise instead of scaring them?
The Hello Twigs series is a pleasure to read aloud and will delight beginning readers who are sure to love these unusual little characters, drawn with expressive faces and large eyes. In Hello Twigs, Surprise! readers will be amazed at the idea of a Snail Zoo – or a Snail Party as the snails like to call it and will follow along with the amazing illustrations as Red works on his surprises. Children will learn about happy and scary surprises and be able to relate to surprises from their own experience.
This is a wonderful introduction to the graphic novel genre and great for beginning readers. Teacher’s activities are available. Fans of Real Pigeons and the Elephant and Piggie series and Pigeon series by Mo Willems are sure to enjoy Hello Twigs.
