Fantasy Adventure Trilogy

Apr3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scarlet Defender of the Universe

James Davis

Dotty Sutton

HarperCollins, 2025

240pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9780008653620

 

Heartseer: The Tale of Anise Star

Rowan Foxwood

Usborne, 2025

336pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781803707372

 

Inkbound- Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

Philippa Leathley

HarperCollins, 2025

384pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9780008660956

The genre ‘fantasy adventure’ is described as combining “the elements of fantasy (supernatural, magical, and often imaginary worlds) with the adventure genre (epic journeys, quests, and exciting undertakings), resulting in stories with magic, danger, and exploration.”  Unique landscapes, societies and cultures are the background to seemingly ordinary human characters embarking on personal quests that involve action, risk and danger and usually in company or conflict with imaginary beings to quell the malicious intent of those who seek to harm them.  As they seek to ensure that good triumphs over evil, often with unique and mysterious powers, they also learn much about themselves, who they are, what they stand for and what they can accomplish and achieve as regular people.  

Popular since the days of Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree series when young readers transported themselves away from the horrors of World War II to lands where fairies, elves and other magical beings dwelt and life was so different to their lived reality, continued through the 50s as my generation went through the wardrobe into Narnia, then brought into the realm of the modern young reader through the exploits of Harry Potter and his friends and  the making of the movies based on Tolkien’s classics of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings  trilogy, and perpetuated through any number of video and computer games, it is a firm favourite with independent readers across the ages.  Those written for children not only allow the child to dwell in an alternative world that may be more appealing than the one they are in, but also enable them to become the hero with both power and powers that the real world denies them.  They are in charge, they are calling the shots and making the decisions – something rare in the  pre-teen’s life.

Therefore, these three new releases from British authors will fit the genre, the demand and the library collection perfectly.

Scarlet Defender of the Universe, is a smart, 9-year-old redhead who answers an advertisement for the role of Defender of the Universe to prove to her annoying younger brother that it’s not a real thing. Thus, she’s a little surprised to be told that she’s got the job and is now responsible for the safety of the entire galaxy. Along with her co-Defender Jasper, Pom-Pom, the cutest alien in existence, and Bot, the cleverest AI robot that’s ever been invented, Scarlet is thrown into a whirlwind adventure that takes her to the furthest reaches of the cosmos and back again, on a mission to prevent the destruction of planet Earth by an alien species who will do anything for a warm cup of hot chocolate.

In Heartseer: The Tale of Anise Star the reader discovers that there are more deities and daemons in the world than stars in the sky but only Heartseers like Anise Star can see them because only they still believe… Anise’s job is to help humans and daemons live happily together. But when the villainous Mr Babbitt tries to steal her home in the White Woods and drive the daemons out, she is forced to travel to the capital to ask the High King for help. First, though, she’ll have to convince him that daemons still exist. Accompanied by loyal daemon-dog Wolf, Anise sets out on a spellbinding and treacherous journey, meeting magical musician Robin and fox god Whin, and facing the cunning Magpie Queen and a deadly poisonous ink monster. In the midst of her battles she learns that it’s not just the daemons of the White Wood she must save, but all the daemons of the world.

Inkbound- Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo also has a female protagonist about the same age as the intended reader as on her tenth birthday, Meticulous ‘Metty’ Jones receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her tattoo will reveal an exciting destiny: travel, discovery or adventure. What appears is a skull in the palm of a violet glove – Metty’s fate is to be a murderer.  When Metty’s father disappears in mysterious circumstances, Aunt Magnificent takes her to the glittering city of New London, filled with magic, wonder and enchantment. But when Metty hears rumours of a shadowy organisation known as the Black Moths, she begins to suspect they are connected to her own dark fate …

Each feature those essential elements of the fantasy adventure genre with fast-paced narrative that draws the reader into both the setting and the action, while dropping tiny but important clues along the way whose significance only becomes apparent as the climax approaches.  There are elements that echo the reader’s world making the transition to the imaginary one seem more seamless as they take on the role of the protagonist as they are able to relate, perhaps even empathise, with the struggles they face, yet each features a lightness of touch that makes them ideal read-alones or read-alouds.  They also all seem to set themselves as the possible beginning of a new series that keen readers will seek out.

Currently, in the school library in which I volunteer, it is series like these that seem to be constantly circulating, so to be able to bring some new reads to the selections will definitely spike interest as our long winter nights approach. 

The O in the Snow (series)

Apr2
The O in Snow series

The O in Snow series

The O in Snow series

The O in Snow

9781925868609

The AU in Dinosaur

9781922800381

The I in Island

9781922800077

The NG in Ningaloo

9781922800787

The A in Rainforest

9781925868821

The OO in Uluru

9781925868180

The EE in the Deep Blue Sea

9781925868401

The English alphabet has just 26 letters, yet there are 44 phonemes (perceptually distinct units of sound) that make up the words we speak, making the teaching of reading and writing with a primary emphasis on phonics or “sounding it out” tricky at best.  Many will be familiar with “ghoti” which is “fish” spelt from the sounds of ‘enough’, ‘women’ and ‘nation’ and T. S. Watt’s  poem which begins

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, lough and through?
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?  

is a common visitor to Facebook feeds, while The Chaos written in 1922 by Gerard Nolst Trenité has over 800 irregularities in both spelling and pronunciation.  

So how can we help our young readers make sense of this language that is constantly changing and evolving as words are added, fall out of use or have their meanings changed entirely?

In this series of seven books (to date) young readers are introduced to the various spellings of a particular sound by taking them on a journey through a particular Australian landscape.  For example, The O in Snow is inspired by The Man from Snowy River and celebrates the creatures of the High Country and the drovers that once mustered horses and cattle on the high plains, while The AU in Dinosaur follows the journey of several young Australians on a time travel ride back to see real dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.. 

In each book, the particular sound is highlighted in all its guises each time it appears, and Janie Frith’s stunning illustrations bring the whole to life so that even if the emphasis is not on the phonic awareness, the reader is still introduced to the Australian landscape and its inhabitants, and the teaching notes which accompany some of them offer ideas for exploring the many layers of each.  For example,  The O in Snow covers the relationship to the original poem as well as the Indigenous language and heritage of the Alpine High Country; the annual journey of the bogong moth; the Snowy-Hydro Scheme (and its current extension); renewable energy; the natural inhabitants of both the Monaro and the high country; the threats they face and the controversial current treatment of the brumbies; as well as developing vocabulary, listening to the original poem and the movie’s musical score (add in the Wallis and Matilda version)  and a variety of creative arts, giving it a broader audience than those coming to grips with the peculiarities of the language.

But, if that is your main focus, then challenge students to build their own version of The Chaos by seeing how many of the 800 irregularities they can find.  Here’s a kickstart…

 

Our Strange Lingo
When the English tongue we speak.
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it’s true
We say sew but likewise few?
And the maker of the verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard
Cord is different from word.
Cow is cow but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose, dose, and lose
And think of goose and yet with choose
Think of comb, tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll or home and some.
Since pay is rhymed with say
Why not paid with said I pray?
Think of blood, food and good.
Mould is not pronounced like could.
Wherefore done, but gone and lone –
Is there any reason known?
To sum up all, it seems to me
Sound and letters don’t agree

(Author in doubt)

Design & Building on Country

Apr1
Design & Building on Country

Design & Building on Country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design & Building on Country

Alison Page & Paul Memmott

Blak Douglas

Thames & Hudson, 2024

152pp., pbk., RRP $A26.99

9781760763565

Whenever our young people hear the now familiar Welcome to Country or recite their school’s Acknowledgement of Country, are they just hearing or saying words or do they have an understanding of the meaning and purpose behind them?

Ever since 1835 when NSW Governor Richard Bourke implemented the legal principle of terra nullius in Australian law as the basis for British settlement until its repeal in 1992 by the High Court’s Mabo Decision that recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ continuing connection and rights to land through Native Title., there was a legally perpetuated belief that Australia was, indeed, a  “land belonging to no one”, having “a complete absence of people and additionally the absence of ‘civilised’ people capable of land ownership” and thus, was used to justify and legitimise the dispossession, dispersal, and inhumane treatment of First Nations peoples.

But in this book, shortlisted for the CBCA 2025 Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, the authors and illustrators have provided a critical insight into the culture and history that underpins those  statements and helping them better appreciate what they are hearing and saying.  With easily accessible language, impactful illustrations and an appealing layout, they show that not only was the land populated by a culture that has been here for 65 000 years at least – making it the longest continuing culture in the world – but that there were amazing homes and buildings constructed, as well as incredible science, technology and design knowledge  ensuring both its continuation and development.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Speaking directly to the reader, they start with an explanation of the difference between ‘country” and “Country’ as it forms such an integral part of who the Aboriginal person is, their heritage, beliefs, values and identity. Using their own cultural heritage as well as their professional expertise in design and development to show that this country was anything but terra nullius, readers learn about how the need for food and shelter were satisfied by the invention, development and refinement of tools and structures that were unique to the land and landscape around them as well as contributing to that deep connection to the land and their spirituality. But as well as offering the information itself, the reader is also encouraged to consider how their own environment determines and impacts how their lives are lived.  While modern technology and transport might mean that our food needs and availability are fairly generic, how does my mountain landscape change my life compared to that of my brother on the Queensland coast?  How does what those who have lived thousands of years before us influence how we live now?

Originally published as a book for adults in the First Knowledges series edited by Margo Neale which include: Astronomy, Country, Innovation, Plants, Health, Songlines. Design and Law, this is the second from that series that has been developed for young readers, the first being Songlines. itself a CBCA Notable Book for the Eve Pownall Award in 2024. Both, and any future adaptations deserve a prominent place in any primary or secondary school collection supporting First Nations studies.

The Strange and Unlikely Tale of Montgomery, the Mysterious Bird of Mystery

Mar31
The Strange and Unlikely Tale of Montgomery, the Mysterious Bird of Mystery

The Strange and Unlikely Tale of Montgomery, the Mysterious Bird of Mystery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Strange and Unlikely Tale of Montgomery, the Mysterious Bird of Mystery

Antony Elworthy

Walker Books, 2024

176pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781760658915

Every Wednesday he cycles over to the Twilight Retirement Village to visit Gramps and listen to the remarkable tales he has to tell of his past life. It is the high point of the week for both of them and Gramps certainly seems to have had a most interesting life, because today’s tale is just as intriguing as those told before.  Having decided to give up being a deep sea diver because he didn’t want his innards sucked back up through the hose and sprayed across the boat’s deck, Gramps decided to become a magician.  Before long known as The Astonishing Alfredo, he is  famous across the land, particularly for his trick of being able have his white dove Montgomery fly from a seemingly empty hat, and who then serenades the audience with a song.  Between them, they bring the house down but mysterious forces are afoot and in a strange twist, the two find themselves in each other’s shoes.

Readers are warned to “Expect the unexpected and believe the unbelievable ” and this is certainly the case for both the boy and the young independent reader as they are immersed in a story that seems hard to believe, but it really doesn’t matter because it is the sharing of story and time between grandfather and grandson that is at the core of this debut novel. Even though he finds it difficult to believe his grandfather’s stories, nevertheless it is the bond they have formed that drives the story and the weekly visits.

Enhanced by the author’s own illustrations – he is an animator who has worked on Corpse Bride and Coraline, among others – the reader becomes just as immersed in the story, wondering if Gramps will ever be able to get his wand back and reverse what Montgomery has done. And, if he does, what will he have learned from his experience?

For me, it was a step back in time to the 50s and visits to my own grandparents who lived across the road from the ocean and always had many a tale to tell as the waves pounded on the nearby rocks, adding the perfect music and atmosphere to the adventures they shared.  Perhaps it will inspire today’s readers to connect with their elders in a similar way so the stories are not forgotten or lost altogether. 

Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

Mar30
Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counting Sheep: A Farmyard Counting Book

Michelle Robinson

Nikki Dyson

Walker Books, 2025

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781406384918

Down on the farm, it’s time to sleep. So Sam the sheepdog who is really tired himself,  rounds up the sheep…  But they don’t want to go to sleep. and even though he tells them to count each other because everyone knows that counting sheep will send you straight to sleep, but the problem continues because the sheep can’t count!  And the horses, cows, pigs  and chickens don’t want to settle down either.  Sam is getting exasperated! What is keeping them awake?

With its bright, bold and expressive illustrations our youngest readers will have fun identifying the familiar farm animals, counting them, imitating the sounds they make and trying to work out what is keeping them awake.  They will also LOL at the ending!  Then , to finish off, there is a challenge to find and count the animals – they will delight in finding seven mice!

Just a joyful story that will resonate with any child who has been on a farm or wants to visit one.

 

You Can’t Pat a Fish

Mar29
You Can't Pat a Fish

You Can’t Pat a Fish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Can’t Pat a Fish

Ruth Paul

Walker Books, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A25.99

9781760656973

“I asked for a pet, but what did I get?”

The little girl’s parents have agreed to let her have a pet, but when it comes to all the choices in the pet shop, they decide that a fish in a bowl is the best choice.  Clearly the little girl is disappointed because while you can play with a puppy, cuddle a cat, snuggle a rabbit and pat a pet rat, no matter how much you wish, you can’t pat a fish.

There are so many things you can do with any of the other creatures that she could have had, but instead she has a boring fish, Until…

This is a charming rhyming story for young readers that will resonate with any of them who have wished for a pet and all the reasons why.  But while it is also a cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for, it’s also a reminder of looking for the silver linings and being optimistic, because suddenly the little girl sees the positives of having a fish and where her imagination takes her.  

Little ones will enjoy sharing their own stories about their pets, perhaps do some early graphing activities and enjoy the rhyme and rhythm as it carries the story along,  Definitely one to share with the preschool group I read to weekly. 

100 Things to Know About Money

Mar28
100 Things to Know About Money

100 Things to Know About Money

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100 Things to Know About Money

Usborne 2025

128pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781805076407

In How it Works – Money, younger readers  learned about what money is, making, borrowing, saving, investing and spending it, how it is moved around and even its history. Now, this book takes this further by exploring unusual facts about money, particularly as over 90% of money only exists online as cards take over, and while cash will always be king IMO because it is more reliable than our access to the internet, there are many little ones who seldom see it, receive it or physically have it. 

So they can find out answers to questions like why does rain make chocolate more expensive, how does music make people spend more, where does gold grow on trees, and  who tried to sell the Eiffel tower, and gain a better understanding of this thing that seems to underpin every element of modern society where power and influence seem to be tied to the size of the bank balance. 

Some might have the traditional piggy bank to keep their pocket money in and the history of these is explored, while knowing about phishing and whaling is a new skill that we all need to be aware of.

Certainly, the more we know about money the more we can control what comes our way, and so this is a valuable addition to the collection that will keep readers engaged for hours, particularly if they find themselves going down rabbit-holes like a particular reviewer I know! 

See Inside – Future Energy

Mar27
See Inside - Future Energy

See Inside – Future Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Inside – Future Energy

Amy Chiu & Tom Mumbray

Sam Chivers

Usborne, 2025

16pp., board book., RRP $A19.99

 9781803701585

Imagine a future in which Earth is just one of the many places humans live in the solar system.  How will the planet be powered? Will there even be a planet?

While politicians blether on about the need for nuclear versus the importance of renewables, and grown-ups grizzle about their power bills, currently Earth is in crisis as the amount of fuel we burn to power our lifestyle causes irreparable damage to the planet. Is there a solution – or even a compromise?

Using the familiar loft-the-flap format, this book imagines a future world packed with exciting, innovative renewable energy technology. It explains what that technology might look like, how it will work, and how it will change the world we live in for the better. It looks all the way to a future where energy can be generated in outer space – one day, enough to fuel the entire solar system. Technology covered includes: solar power – in space; wind turbines – high in the sky; nuclear fusion; wave power; geothermal energy; new forms of transport, from airships to hydrogen planes to solar-powered ships; new sources of food and new types of farm; innovative ways to store energy.

It gives young readers a taste of what their future may look like, and to inspire them to know more, perhaps even build something like a solar tower, there are Quicklinks to online sources that have already been vetted for suitability.

In a country that leads the world in rooftop solar panel installation, producing “a total of 25 GW installed capacity in Australia; surpassing the amount of coal generation installed in Australia” this is a book that offers not only possible solutions  but hope, particularly if the politicians and NIMBYs can set aside their personal agendas in exchange for the common good. 

We Live in a Bus

Mar26
We Live in a Bus

We Live in a Bus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Live in a Bus

Dave Petzold

Thames & Hudson, 2024

32pp. hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781760764647

Imagine getting up in the morning and doing whatever you like, going wherever the road takes you unimpeded by having to go to school or work.  Sounds like a dream for the future after your working life is over and you have retired – and, indeed, for thousands of grey nomads, it is living the dream.

But what if you’re a child and it is your reality?  Because that’s the life of the family in this CBCA 2025  Shortlist nominee for Picture Book of the Year.  Every day there is somewhere new to go and something new to do or see as they travel around in  Gracie Joy Rufus Bean, a bus especially converted to be a mobile home, with her door that goes tic-shhh! and Blob, the bus spider who lives over the top bunk.  There are new people to meet and stories to share, adventures to have and camping under the stars wherever you pull up puts you in tune with nature.  

Creator Dave Petzold talks about the inspiration and process or creating the book on his website, stemming from his own family road trip, and with its straightforward, onomatopoeic text and distinctive illustrations (which he describes in this interview as “a smudgy jumble of collaged shapes and lines”),  it encourages the reader to appreciate the journey as much as the destination- wherever that may be.  Taking time out to play on a musical fence, listen to the sound of the budgies as they take off when the buss rolls through, learning the stories of Country, and feeling the cool of the clear water of the unspoiled waterhole. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

This has the potential to spark lots of discussion about the pros and cons of such a lifestyle, encouraging young readers to look closely at their own and identify what is precious to them, as well as considering those new things they could explore if they were not tied to timetables, screens, and after-school activities. Are there ways they could have the best of both worlds?    Are there places they want to visit and maps to make?  Are there dreams to build and make come true?

Petzold himself was CBCA Shortlisted for the New Illustrator award in 2021 for his first book, Seven Seas of Fleas  – two nominations from two works makes him one to look for in the future. 

 

Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

Mar25
Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

Dianne Wolfer

Fremantle Press, 2025

160pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781760995270

Robin Miller is one of Australia’s unsung heroes.  

Born in Perth in 1940 to pioneering parents – her mother was Dame Mary Durack of Kings in Grass Castles fame and her father the co founder of MacRobertson Miller Airlines which serviced the vast expanse of land between Perth and Darwin when Australian aviation was in its infancy, particularly in that region – it’s no wonder she grew up with a love for both the region and flying.  While the clacking of her mother’s typewriter was the music of her childhood, as more and more siblings were born, Robin spent a lot of time with the father doing the “milk-run” route visiting those isolated towns of the Pilbara and the Kimberley.

But when it came time to leave school and take on work she met the patriarchy and misogyny that thwarted so young women’s  many dreams. While women worked before the inevitable marriage and kids that was a woman’s lot in those times, they didn’t fly aircraft with passengers, despite the breakthrough of those like Millicent Bryant and Nancy Bird Walton.  Even her father said it was not something for a woman to do, despite knowing his daughter’s dreams and capabilities. So she took on nursing training instead, but as the scourge of polio spread through the country in the 1950s, it seemed like only those in the cities would have access to the life-saving Sabin vaccine until it was decided to send “vaccine caravans” to some of the more remote areas.  But these could take months to get to their destinations and even then, so many were still missing out,  despite their communities being impacted by the disease.  Until Robin Miller saw a solution…

This is the biography of this remarkable woman, written for younger independent readers, that tells the story of how thousands of lives were saved because of “The Sugarbird Lady.”  It tells of her perseverance and persistence as she lobbied the powers=that-be to let her take the vaccines to those beyond the city limits; her determination to gain her commercial licence so she could fly with passengers and patients even though she had to purchase her own plane and maintain it; the resistance to her doing any nursing beyond administering the vaccine because she might “overreach ” herself’; and the remarkable breakthroughs she made for nursing. aviation and women generally before her life was cut short by cancer in 1975.

 

Inspired by Miller’s own books, Flying Nurse and The Sugarbird Lady, which are now out of print, Dianne Wolfer says she “wanted to bring Robin’s story to a new generation of readers.” describing her  as “a trailblazer for women, winging through “glass ceilings” in a miniskirt and impressive bouffant hairdo”.  She has done this in a most engaging way, bringing to light and life another hidden woman of history.  There is an interview with the author at Good Reading Magazine, and teaching notes probe the story and Miller’s impact not only on women’s history but the liveability of  the remote regions of WA itself, more deeply, inspiring readers to hold on to their dreams and make them come true.