Hazel’s Treehouse

Jan11
Hazel's Treehouse

Hazel’s Treehouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazel’s Treehouse

Zanni Louise

Judy Watson

Walker Books, 2024

16099., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781760657222

Imagine if you were a little girl,  nine years old, as long as your bunk bed and as kind as a marshmallow, and you lived in a treehouse in the bush with your friends Walter the wombat, who loves to clean but can have an attitude issue Tiny the honey possum, who is so small she travels in your pocket; Odette the pademelon, who is constantly bouncing; and Poky, an echidna who alters colours and shades depending on Hazel’s emotions.  What adventures might you have?

For this is the story (or stories) of Hazel who is just such a girl,  and this is a collection of short-ish stories that recount their lives together whether it’s staying in bed all day on a Sunday because Wombat doesn’t want to get up or searching for rainbows on rainy days or celebrating a special day even if you don’t know why it’s special.  

Whether read alone or read aloud, these are gentle stories about ordinary things but made extraordinary by the characters, each of whom has their special quirks and charm.  But despite these differences, each story is woven with the threads of friendship, collaboration, and being in touch with your emotions while  embracing and navigating the ups and downs of everyday life, including starting school for the first time which makes the final chapter very relevant for this time of year.

.Judy Watson’s detailed drawings really bring the stories to life offering adventures in themselves and invite the young reader to use their own imagination to put themselves in Hazel’s position and make up their own story.  What will she tell her friends when she comes back from that first day? 

 

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

Jan10
MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

Scotty James

Steve Worland & Dave Atze

Penguin, 2024

176pp., pbk., RRP $A15.99

9781761347429

As Mooki the alien does a backflip out of his spaceship to greet his friend Cindy and her dog Ralph as he returns from his Moon home, he spots a sign advertising a gigantic toy called Cog. After Cindy explains what a toy is, they head to the toy shop to see if they can find Cog only to find it closed.  But, suddenly the door opens, and because it is “not breaking and entering if the door opens for you”. they go inside.  

But it is not as easy to find Cog as they expect, particularly as they are pursued through the store by a gang of clowns intent on stealing Ralph.  And if the clowns aren’t scary enough, there are drones stealing toys and taking them to the top floor?  What is going on there?  And will Mooki’s curiosity lead them to deeper trouble or will they escape?

What appears to be a simple story with just a few lines on each page and an abundance of monochromatic illustrations, is actually an intriguing adventure for newly independent readers bridging the gap between basal readers and novels, and which has strong themes of friendship, loyalty, and being both brave and resilient.  While the concept of toys coming to life when adults disappear is not new, the idea that they may actually be mean and nasty puts a new spin on the way children usually view them and suddenly the appeal of being loose in a toy store after hours with no adults is turned on its head! However, they will understand the need to rescue Ralph, whose nervous wees at inopportune moments add the humour for the age group, and so they will want to keep reading to discover if he is saved.  

Some will recognise Scotty James as being Australia’s leading snowboarder and he has revealed that his childhood nickname was Mooki and that the challenges in the stories – the first in the series is Mooki vs The Big Scary  – represent the sorts of things he has had to face and overcome on his own way to the top, with Mooki himself being a symbol to always dream big, reach for the moon, take advantage of opportunities and faces obstacles head on. 

The final page clearly demonstrates there is more in this series to come and young readers are going to be looking forward to them.  

 

Pablo and Splash: Frozen in Time

Jan9
Pablo and Splash: Frozen in Time

Pablo and Splash: Frozen in Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo and Splash: Frozen in Time

Sheena Dempsey

Bloomsbury, 2024

240pp., graphic novel, RRP $A17.99

9781526662804

Pablo and Splash are two penguins, and even though they are very different in that Pablo loves his icy home and Splash is sick of the cold, they both agree that a holiday would be a good thing.  But it’s tricky when you live at the bottom of the planet in Antarctica and warm places are too far to swim and without wings, you can’t fly.

But Antarctica means there are scientists nearby and surely they have a solution…  And that’s how they discover Professor O’Brain and her Timebender machine who sent them to the sunny beach they craved but they found themselves sharing it with dinosaurs.  In this second episode of the series, they decide to visit Professor O’Brain again to see if she has mended the machine, but both are determined that they will not end up in some weird destination this time, especially as this time they know where the secret hole takes them.  

However, instead of finding her in her lab as they expect, they discover the time machine has misbehaved again and this time it is the professor, herself, who has been stranded in the Ice Age.  Clearly, Pablo and Splash must help her  and so the brave penguin buddies set out on a rescue mission – destination 68,000 years ago! When a Neanderthal man accidentally wanders into their time machine, it’s not just the professor who is stuck in the wrong time period. But luckily a scientific breakthrough for Pablo and Splash’s endlessly upbeat approach to life’s challenges helps save the day!

Graphic novels, time travel and familiar, appealing creatures on a rescue mission are the right ingredients for a story that will engage young readers and with its bright, full-colour illustrations that carry the story along with just speech bubbles as text there will be many who could be enticed to pick up a novel-length book for the first time. 

As with the first one, it’s an opportunity for the reader to think of where the next adventure might take place, who or what Pablo and Splash might encounter and perhaps research and write their own story.  Perfect for the CBCA Book Week 2025 theme of Book an Adventure. 

 

Noodle & Bao

Jan8
Noodle & Bao

Noodle & Bao

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noodle & Bao

Shaina Lu

HarperCollins US, 2024

224pp., graphic novel, RRP $A19.99

9780063283404

Momo has lived in Town 99 her entire life. She knows all its quirks and rhythms: the best places to buy fruit, practice tai-chi in the park, and, most of all, get the best meal: Noodle & Bao, run by Momo’s best friend, Bao, and their amah, Noodle.

But Town 99 is changing. Rent is becoming unaffordable for Momo and her parents, and even Noodle & Bao has been edged out of its storefront, which was just recently bought out by a new business venture—Fancé Cafe. Fancé is run by the ambitious Ms. Jujube and her henchmen, who claim they’re only beautifying Town 99 with good business.

Momo knows that’s not true, and knows that if she doesn’t do something, she’ll lose everything she loves about her neighbourhood. From undercover recon to a cook-off proposal, protest signs to petitions, Momo and Bao are on a mission to protect Town 99. Will they succeed before it’s too late?

Twenty years ago, Odo Hirsch wrote a series of books about a feisty, determined young girl called Hazel Green which included one, Think Smart, Hazel Green, in which Hazel found herself in a not dissimilar situation to Momo.  It was a series that really captured the imagination of the girls particularly, because it was one of not many books and series that had a courageous, don’t-back-down girl as its main character.  And in this graphic novel, Momo shows that same sort of awareness and resilience as she notices subtle changes to her local Chinatown – changes that are changing lives as well as the landscape – and she, accompanied by some friends and some anthropomorphic animals, is determined to show that progress is not always positive and it is usually driven by motives well beyond what is good for the community.

While this book is based on the real stories of the changes in Chinatowns throughout the USA, as explained in the final pages, it is also something our own children might have noticed or even experienced, particularly those who live in “tourist towns” as their surroundings change, expand and become more expensive to cope with the annual influx of visitors.  So it could become the impetus for taking a close look at their own neighbourhood and investigate changes, their causes and impacts, as well as those things that are worth fighting to preserve. 

Although the format of a graphic novel precludes it from being a class read-aloud, it could be worth searching out the Hazel Green series  to underpin any unit of work that has a theme of change and progress.  

Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

Jan7
Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

Ada Nicodemou

Penguin, 2024

160pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

 9781761342172

Mia’s life is pretty interesting and amazing. Apart from being the only kid in her class who lives above a shop renowned for its yummy pastries, she dreams of being a megastar and she and her friends have just produced a successful play and now the spotlight is shining on her.

But does she really want to be the megastar she has always dreamed of being?

In this third and final in this series, Mia has to decide what next… she’s discovering that being in the spotlight is not as welcoming as she thought it would be- in fact, it’s making her cringe; she’s been invited to apply for a performing arts scholarship at a prestigious school but worries about how that might affect her friendships with the kids at her current school particularly as they are about to make their own movie; and even though she’s been invited to audition for her favourite television show, what it she does and then doesn’t get the part! Is she ready (and willing) to step out of her comfort zone and try new things, including making new friends? Is there a way she can juggle everything, including the increased business her stardom has brought to the family shop?

Another series best read in order, this will appeal to young independent readers who have aspirations like Mia’s and give them food for thought. If they go to the edge, will they be afraid they will fall, or take the chance to fly? What will Mia do?

 

 

 

The One and Only Family

Jan6
The One and Only Family

The One and Only Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The One and Only Family

Katherine Applegate

HarperCollins, 2024

272pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9780008702465

In 2012, readers around the world were fascinated by the story of Ivan, a silverback gorilla who lived in a cage at Exit 8 Big Top Mall by the Video Arcade- 9,876 days by his own tally. Not recalling any other lifestyle, he is fairly content watching television, eating bananas, and making artwork that is sold by his  owner, but his friend Stella the elephant can remember, particularly the circus where she learned the tricks that she now performs daily. But as a chronic leg injury starts to impact her performances, and new elephant, Ruby, is brought to the mall and Ivan starts to see what really happens when wild animals are “tamed”, he has to work out how he can keep his promise to Stella that he won’t let Ruby suffer as she did…

Because it was based on the true story of a gorilla in similar circumstances, not only did it raise awareness that became outrage at animals kept in this sort of captivity and lead to the film, The One and Only Ivan,  Applegate also went on to write the stories of both Bob, Ivan’s stray-dog bestie, and that of Ruby.  Now, The One and Only Family is the final instalment in the series.

Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob who lives with one of the keepers,, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family! Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes because the babies can be a handful with their energy and curiosity. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle. the killing of his parents by poachers, the treatment of both his twin sister and himself when they are shipped to the US, and the life lessons he wants his own family to know so they can survive and thrive in an imperfect world where they might not have the freedom of the jungle but they do have the protection of the zoo.

Best read in sequence so that the stories and their events have the most impact, there is a strong message about family, friendship, finding silver linings in dark clouds, but because of its references to the violence he has experienced in his past, this is a series for more mature independent readers who can cope with what is, sadly, the reality for many species still.  Common Sense Media recommends for those 10+ but discretion is recommended.

Mitchell Starc – The Incredible True Story

Jan5
Mitchell Starc - The Incredible True Story

Mitchell Starc – The Incredible True Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchell Starc – The Incredible True Story

Clive Griffith

Carl Pearce

Farshore, 2024

144pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9780008608903

As record crowds flock to the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch the final test between Australia and India which will determine the winner of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, fast bowler Mitchell Starc has once again been a star and with his fitness and ability to play dominating sports news for days, his popularity is very apparent.  So a new release in this series of Amazing Cricket Stars  is just the thing to keep young aspirants interested in something beyond the game on screen.  

From his announcement that he was going to play cricket for Australia to his family at the age of 6, the easily-read story tracks Starc’s journey to being one of Australia’s foremost fast bowlers, so much so that there would be few who didn’t know his name.  But not only does it tell the story of the hours and hour of practice and training that went before his debut in the Australian team against New Zealand in 2011, it also shows that anyone can achieve their dream – you don’t have to be from the rich suburbs of a capital city to make it through the ranks to the elite. 

While a new generation of players such as Sam Konstas might be more flamboyant and attracting attention, Starc’s dedication and determination demonstrate the essential elements that underpin any true champion’s success and so not only does this book tell the story of a modern-day hero but reinforces those basic values of hard work, tenacity and patience – the real world it is not a click-and-it-happens place – and for that alone , it has a place in the collection. 

If one of Starc’s young fans were to rise to similar heights in 20 years time, what would their biography say about their early days?  Maybe this story becomes the start of theirs.

Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

Jan4
Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

Jacqueline Harvey

Puffin, 2024

128pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

9781761343575

It’s been a little over two years since we first met eight-year-old Willa Jane Tait  and her best friend Woof, a four-legged albino wolfhound, her same-age best friend Tae Jin whose name means “person of greatness” in Korean; and her old-age best friend Frank Pickles who lives next door in the retirement village and is very old and very grumpy with crinkly skin and bags under his eyes. 

Told by Willa herself with that typical young-person humour, there have been a series of adventures  that have not only engaged young independent readers but demystified old age so that they feel more comfortable building relationships with those beyond their immediate family and school-based friendship circle.  And in this final story in the collection, when  Willa accidentally learns that Sunset Views Retirement Village, and Frank’s only home, is about to be sold, she has a feeling something isn’t right. Trouble is she’s super busy with Clubs and soccer matches, and there’s a fete to prepare for so will she have the time to investigate further, and then come up with a plan to save it?

Saying goodbye to a series, particularly one where the releases have been regular enough for it to be an almost continuous read and the characters can seem like real-life friends, can be tough, but Jacqueline Harvey has written several others including Clementine Rose, Alice-Miranda, and Kensy and Max  so it could be an opportunity to introduce fans to one of those as they wait for whatever will come next. 

Funny Kid Spookytime

Jan3
Funny Kid Spookytime

Funny Kid Spookytime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funny Kid Spookytime

Matt Stanton

ABC Books, 2024

240pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9780733342011

Horror Night 3 is the talk of the classroom but Max won’t be going to see it because why pay good money to have something scare you.  You don’t go into the shops to buy something to make you cry – or worried, jealous, frustrated, guilty… After all, a movie is just flat pictures on a screen and you’re sitting in a comfy chair, dribbling ice cream down your shirt, spilling your popcorn, as safe as safe can be.

Abby says she has seen it, Pip’s going on the weekend, Hugo’s not allowed and Tyson thinks it’s a joke.  But, no, Max isn’t going to see it – he’s not scared – he just has something else on that night…

But then Miss Sweet has set the class an assignment to make their own movie, and while Max’s teammate Hugo has an idea about a love story between a bath and a toilet, Max has a much better idea… why not make a horror movie that will make the entire class scream and wet their pants, especially Abby…

Since 2017 when young readers were first introduced to Max, the kid who likes to make others laugh, in Funny Kid for President, this series has been entertaining young independent readers and this is now the 13th in the series. Unlike other series like Harry Potter where the characters naturally age and mature, Max and his mates are stuck in time and so each new episode just continues on the laughter and shenanigans that the fans expect.

Stanton is very much in tune with what kids in those middle years like to read about, particularly characters that they can relate to and secretly wish to be.  The place that the edgy humour of Jennings, Gleitzman and Milne played in their parents’ childhood is now being filled by him with great success, demonstrating that good stories with lots of humour and over-the-top situations are always winners, particularly if they have a slightly serious side that anchors them in reality and adds depth to the story. He now has his own YouTube channel that features lots about his writing and drawing that value-adds to his stories.  

This is one not only for those who are already fans of this series, and Stanton’s works generally, which also include the Fluff, Bored, and The Odds series, but one to recommend to parents to encourage their children keep reading. After all, reading is much less scary than watching horror movies…

Giraffe Island

Jan2
Giraffe Island

Giraffe Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giraffe Island

Sofia Chanfreau

Amanda Chanfreau

Gecko Press. 2024

224pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781776575657

Far away in the middle of the sea there is an island shaped like a giraffe. Nine-year-old Vega lives there with her father and Grandad Hector—a gardener and former ringmaster.  Their shed—the Paraphenalium—is filled with every possible thing you didn’t know you needed.

Although her dad is attentive, he always seems distracted and cannot see the extraordinary animals that inhabit Vega’s life and keep her company. Her bathroom is home to a grey bear with shampoo-lathered fur, and every day she talks with the asphalt beaver and crosswalk zebra on the way to school. However, Grandad Hector can see them and he even has some weird and wonderful creatures of his own that live in his garden which is a magical place.

Vega has never met her mother and when she asks  about her, both her father and grandfather answer her in riddles so she really has no idea what has happened to her, although she longs to know. But she is worried about the changes that she is seeing in her dad as he becomes more distant and forgetful. When he introduces a woman called Viola to her, things start to get colder in the flat. There is a coating of ice everywhere, snow starts to fall and all the food that Dad prepares is cold. When Dad’s heart becomes coated in ice Vega decides to run away and find help. Along with her new BFF Nelson and Hector, transported by the magnificent Muffinmobile, (an invention of her grandfather), they go off to the mainland to seek Vega’s mother. They are convinced that she is living in the travelling circus and will be able to melt Dad’s heart and return life to normal. Using clues from Hector’s garden and a penpal’s letters from a school project, they set out to find answers and find not only a unique circus but also some unexpected answers. 

For independent readers who enjoy  ‘magical realist mystery adventures” , this won the 2022 Finlandia Junior Prize awarded by the Finnish Book Foundation for books in either Swedish or Finnish to “celebrate reading and highlight new Finnish first-rate literature” as well as being nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.  Detailed illustrations boost the reader’s imagination, and for all that it has the fantasy elements, it is deeply rooted in the need to belong to a family that we all have.