Archive | November 2014

Press Here

Nov30
Press Here

Press Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Here

Hervé Tullet

Allen & Unwin, 2010

hbk., 56pp., RRP $A19.99

9781742375281

 In the spirit of Harold and the Purple Crayon, this book by Frenchman Hervé Tullet is so simple in concept yet so engaging in practice.  Speaking directly to the reader, Tullet encourages the very young reader to “press here” on the yellow dot and then rub, tap and shake their way through the book.  Using nothing more than coloured dots, every action causes a reaction on the next page, one that is almost magical in its manifestation.  This is interactivity through imagination –no bells, whistles, electronics, sound effects or other whizzbangery.  It’s fabulous for getting little ones to follow instructions and talk about what happens when they do – perhaps the beginning of understanding cause and effect.

 For a better understanding, have a look at the book trailer  and an internet search will bring up a range of activities including instructions for making your own mini-book. 

 Even though this is a 2010 publication, it is well worth seeking it out as Tullet has a new one called Mix It Up which explores colour and which is already featuring on many most-popular charts.

Ten Terrible Dinosaurs

Nov29
Ten Terrible Dinosaurs

Ten Terrible Dinosaurs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Terrible Dinosaurs

Paul Stickland

Random House, 2014

pbk, 32pp., RRP $A14.99

9780552572514

What do you do if you have ten terrible dinosaurs standing in a line?  Well you count them down until there is just one and then…you bring the others back again.  This is another of the traditional rhyming counting-backwards book that have appealed to young children for generations but it is so beautifully illustrated that it will become a firm favourite.  Firstly, using dinosaurs is a masterstroke because 40+ years of experience has shown me that this is a perennially favourite topic of the very young.  Secondly the colour and detail of each dinosaur will appeal and make it really easy to help young children with their visual discrimination.  Who’s missing this time?  And thirdly, it help with prediction skills as the reader thinks about who will go next and who might be the last dinosaur standing – or sleeping in this case. 

The rhythm and rhyme of the text not only help children appreciate the nuances of the language they hear each day but also help them join in as they predict the next number based on the rhyming pattern.  Is there much that is better than hearing young children shout out with the delight as they join in knowing they are right?  Such a feeling of empowerment over those squiggles on the page as they realise they can make them make sense.

Miss 3–and-almost-time-for-preschool loved this book as did Miss 8 who loves to play school and was very busy showing Miss 3 how to write the number sentence for each page.  Not sure that Miss 3 got that part but she certainly got a lot of enjoyment out of reading this with her sister and to herself.

Timeless

My Little Star

Nov28
My Little Star

My Little Star

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Little Star

Mark Sperring

Nicola O‘Byrne

Bloomsbury. 2014

Pbk., RRP $A15.99

9781408849613

 

“When the day is done and sleeps draws near

When the moon’s aglow and stars appear

I’ll whisper something crystal clear-

Words just meant for you hear”.

Mem Fox once said that the bedtime story routine is like “drawing the curtains on the day” and this lovely lullaby-esque is the perfect story to finish off and share a kiss goodnight.  With soft, gentle illustrations, animal mothers look up and share their love with their babies.  Lions, giraffes, koalas, even penguins show that the bond between mother and child is deep, enduring and unbreakable.  It could start a chat about the individual and personal routines the children follow – is an on-the-knees prayer still part of it? – as well as being a perfect starter for focusing on Mothers Day and what our mums do for us.

Little ones will love this and will want to make it part of their go-to-sleep ritual every night.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

 

Augustus and His Smile

Nov27
Augustus and His Smile

Augustus and His Smile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Augustus and his Smile

Catherine Rayner

Little Tiger, 2014

pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781845062835

Augustus the tiger has lost his smile.  So, after doing a huge tigery stretch he sets off to find it.  Under bushes, to the tops of the tallest trees, scaling the crests of the highest mountains and down to the bottom of the deepest oceans– but still he could not find his smile.  He even pranced and paraded through the longest desert without success.  And then it started to rain.  Augustus danced and raced as the raindrops bounced and flew, and he splashed in puddles when suddenly…

This is an excellent book for young readers, not just because of its engaging text and illustrations.  It is full of movement, textual and visual, that beg the children to emulate as well as emphasising the meaning of those common positional prepositions. It also encourages them to look closely at the pictures because Augustus’s face changes as his quest continues – as does his tail. The pictures in picture books are not just decorations – they add so much more to the words.  As Augustus learns that he carries his smile with him – it would come whenever he was happy – readers can also learn this and talk about the things that make them happy and bring their smile out. 

The addition of some important tiger facts at the end is a bonus – a first step in learning about this amazing, critically endangered species.

Catherine Rayner spent many hours at the Edinburgh Zoo sketching tigers so she could get Augustus just right and she has already won the Kate Greenaway Medal for her work. The UK Daily Telegraph said, “Catherine Rayner has a marvellous gift for capturing the souls of animals in a few, rich washes of colour” and this is very evident in her depiction of Augustus.  He is just charming.   Such is the power of this story it has been translated into Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, Czech, Farsi, French, Haitian-Creole, Hindi, Irish, Lithuanian, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovakian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese and Welsh.

 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Once Upon A Timeless Tale

Nov26
Once Upon a Timeless Tale

Once Upon a Timeless Tale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack and the Beanstalk

Retold by Margrete Lamond with Russell Thomson

Illustrated by Andrew Joyner

Little Hare, 2014

hbk., 32pp., RRP $A12.95

9781742975245

 

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Retold by Margrete Lamond with Russell Thomson

Illustrated by Anna Walker

Little Hare, 2014

hbk., 32pp., RRP $A12.95

9781921894923

 

The Princess and the Pea

Retold by Margrete Lamond

Illustrated by Mitch Vane

Little Hare, 2014

hbk., 32pp., RRP $A12.95

9781921894930

 

The Ugly Duckling

Retold by Margrete Lamond

Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley

Little Hare, 2014

hbk., 32pp., RRP $A12.95

 

Henny Penny

Retold by Margrete Lamond

Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie

Little Hare, 2014

hbk., 32pp., RRP $A12.95

9781921894954

 

Little Red Riding Hood

Retold by Margrete Lamond

Illustrated by Anna Pignataro

Little Hare, 2014

hbk., 32pp., RRP $A12.95

9781921894879

These are indeed timeless tales, those traditional stories that are handed down from generation to generation and which we expect our students come to school already knowing (although that is often a misconception). These are the original pre-Disney version of these stories told way back when, retold by Margrete Lamond and beautifully illustrated by some of the best illustrators for children, bringing them right into the world of the 21st century child and a new generation.

While there may be a perception that fairytales such as these are the domain of the preschooler and very young readers, they actually have a place on the shelves of every library, primary and secondary.

Firstly, they are a part of our oral culture and there is an expectation that when you mention a particular story, the students will know enough of the core story to bring it to mind.  So this can be compared to other cultures whose history has been passed down orally.

Secondly, the original purpose of such stories was a didactic one – each had a lesson or a moral to be learned by the younger generation without putting them physically at risk – so students can not only examine what that lesson is, but also compare it to the traditional stories of other cultures to investigate if similar, universal truths were a common theme.

Thirdly, most of them are now hundreds of years old so what is it about these stories that mean they have endured over time, place and space?  Even though they have been retold, re-interpreted and repackaged into a variety of formats, why does the core and essence remain intact? Why are they told again and again and again and children’s eyes light up when you pick up a familiar one to read to them?  Which of today’s stories will survive the test of time?  Even though The Very Hungry Caterpillar is now 45, Corduroy is now 40, and Hairy Maclary, Hush and Grandma Poss are all 30-something, do they have whatever it is it takes to notch up centenaries and bicentenaries?

Finally, for now, these books lend themselves to helping students understand that critical information literacy skill of interpretation.  Because there are so many versions available it is easy to collect enough of them to provide the variety required to examine how both the story and the illustrations have been interpreted. What has been added, deleted, or changed to give the story a particular purpose or slant? How would the story change if it were told by another character? Which parts of the story have the illustrators chosen to depict and how are their pictures of the same thing, such as the giant, similar or different?  What common knowledge do we share even though no one has ever seen a giant and is there evidence of stereotyping?

Given their reasonable price of $12.95 for a hardback book, this series would make an affordable addition to the library’s collection so students can start to delve into the deeper questions.  

 

Alfie in the Garden

Nov25
Alfie in the Garden

Alfie in the Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alfie in the Garden

Deb Gliori

Bloomsbury, 2014

hbk., 24pp., RRP $A22.99

9781408839515

Alfie Rabbit is helping Mama-Bun in the garden. But his world turns from real to imagined as he peers through the leaves. Now he’s in the jungle! He’s a lion on the prowl, an elephant spraying water from his trunk, and a little bird flying home to his nest . . . to have a nap with Mummy! Alfie’s imagination is bigger than his backyard! 

This is a beautiful book for preschoolers that takes the child into the backyard jungle of their home.  Just what is hiding in amongst all those bushes and flowers that are at eye-level for the young child?  Deb Gliori’s beautiful, distinctive illustrations open up a new world that could be really useful in getting our littlest readers to start exploring the world of creatures even smaller than they are.  The soft colour palette, the curved lines of the insects –even those with heart-shaped noses –and their gentle expressions take away any threats so the reader sees this as a friendly world, although there is always the need to share a word of caution especially in Australian gardens.

A great read-together for the very young reader.

Found You!

Nov24
Found You!

Found You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found You!

Mardi Davies

Ford Street, 2014

Pbk., 32pp., RRP $A14.95

9781925000672

 

The backyard is full of great hiding places and Florence Moon and her dog Trevor are having a wonderful game of hide-and-seek.  Trevor is doing the hiding and Florence Moon is doing the seeking but Trevor is not very good at finding places to conceal himself.  Florence Moon finds him in seconds.  Every time. They talked about camouflage, disguises and choosing places that were big enough but still she found him.  Every time.  She counted forward she counted backward, she counted every number she knew.  But still she found him easily.  This game was running out of fun so Florence Moon stopped playing. But Trevor didn’t get the message.  He followed her wherever she went.  Everywhere.  And that gave Florence Moon an idea…

Who doesn’t like a good game of hide-and-seek?  Miss 8 and Miss 3 play it endlessly when they are here but Miss 8 is a bit like Florence Moon and Miss 3 is a bit like Trevor- obvious places, giggles and little calls of “I’m here!” give Miss 3 away every time.  So when this was their bedtime story on Saturday night, they loved it, and not just because it resonated so strongly with their own games. 

Author/illustrator Mardi Davies has spent many years creating animations at Walt Disney Animation Australia and her skill and knowledge shine through this book.  Both Florence Moon and Trevor are very appealing with their expressions and body language being an integral part of the text as well as the pictures, and the techniques of frame-by-frame, close-ups and subtle hints like the chicken reading “Does Your Pet Have Separation Anxiety?” drag the reader right into Florence Moon’s thinking. Miss 3 loved looking for the chickens –she’d spent the day trying to get friendly with our new ones which she named Chicken and Licken – and Miss 8 was fascinated by the representation of Trevor as a shadow.  “That’s just like Stacey – she follows me like a shadow!” A great introduction to the use of imagery! Every page has riches to explore and offers opportunities for talking and learning.

This is a charming book about friendship, loyalty and the joy of childhood which has wide appeal.   

Elephants Have Wings

Nov23
Elephants Have Wings

Elephants Have Wings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elephants Have Wings

Susanne Gervay

Anna Pignataro

Ford Street, 2014

Hbk., 32pp., RRP $A26.95

9781925000399

 

Bedtime.  And that means a bedtime story, a nightly ritual in many homes and especially this one.  Snuggled under the covers, the children wait in anticipation as Father begins Grandfather’s Story, a tale from his childhood. 

“One night, your grandfather told me and the other children to go outside and search for the secret…”

And so begins a new take on the old story of The Blind Men and the Elephant

The children all think the secret is something different – “a rope”, “a tree branch”, “a marble”, “a scarf”, “a sandy wall” they cry, and begin arguing until they are so angry they are shrieking at each other like a babble of monkeys because each believes they were right.  And then Grandfather came outside carrying a candle and the children saw that each had been right but had also been wrong. 

“So what is the secret?” asked the children.

“It is for you to discover,” said Father.

And as the children fall asleep, pondering, they set off on a magical adventure flying on a mystical elephant with wings through to morning where they discover the secret.

In a world where reality comes straight into our living rooms, it is lovely to share a story that offers the suggestion of peace and hope.  As the elephant soars over the world’s landscapes showing the children its beauty but also its ugliness, the children learn about people and the core thread of humanity that binds us all together.  The elephant is symbolic in many religions, representing courage, hope, endurance and wisdom and so the parable of The Blind Men and the Elephant is part of the story-telling of many religions and cultures, making this re-imagining a story for all children. 

The riches of tradition, mythology and spirituality are woven into a wonderful tapestry, beautifully captured by Anna Pignataro’s imagination in the outstanding pictures, intertwined with imagery of the Asia and India where the story first originated. Even the endpapers with their merging rainbow colours emphasise the message.

elephant_wings3

The concept that we are all the same but different is a difficult one for young people to grasp because they only see the external but this partnership of Gervay and Pignataro (who also brought us Ships in the Field) is so successful that the message it accessible to all. So much so that it has been awarded the Blake Prize logo, an annual Prize and Exhibition program for contemporary art and poetry exploring the themes of spirituality, religion and human justice, and the first children’s book ever to have been honoured in this way.

This is a book for all ages. The commonality of its story across so many religions begs an investigation into why it would be – what is its core message that has such universality?  Going back to the original story could spark a discussin about what is truth and how our perception of events is dependent on our role within them and the lens through which we are looking. Even though each picture is full of the richest details, its true beauty only emerges when we look at it in its entirety.

I have a shelf on which I put the books that I think are going to be CBCA award winners this year.  This one is going onto that shelf!

elephant_wings2

A peek inside…

Dragon Jelly

Nov22
Dragon Jelly

Dragon Jelly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon Jelly

Claire Freedman

Sue Hendra

Bloomsbury, 2014

pbk., 3299/. RRP $A15.99

9781408838846

 

It’s Max’s monster party – there are yucky, scary games to play like bouncing on the jumping castle that sprays out gunk and pass-the-parcel which contains something not-quite-nice.  There’s even a hairy green magician who can make frogs hop from behind Max’s ear, and before they eat there’s time to cool down in the paddling pool filled with buzzing botfly eggs and whiiffy fruit-bat drool. The food is just as savoury and there’s excitement when Max’s birthday cake appears.  Earwax candles???   But the pièce de resistance is the dragon jelly that is scary hot to eat.

This is a fun romp through a children’s birthday party told in rhyming verse that will delight the very young – perhaps their first introduction to the horror genre or an inspiration for their next birthday party.  Whichever, the imaginative text and the bright pictures set against a black background for extra effect will engage and entertain and this is sure to become a firm favourite.  Just perhaps not as a bedtime story just in case of nightmares 

Birthday parties are big deal for the very young so this would be an ideal way to help young students think about the steps required to plan them, starting with lists of guests and games and food and then a flowchart to sequence and sort – the first steps in helping them to select and organise their information. Information literacy can start at a very young age with the simplest of scenarios.  

Noni the Pony goes to the Beach

Nov21
Noni the Pony goes to the Beach

Noni the Pony goes to the Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noni the Pony goes to the Beach

Alison Lester

Allen & Unwin, 2014

hbk., 24pp., RRP $A24.99

9781743311141

 

Noni the pony is back – this time in a fun romp along the beach with her farm friends, the “ladies-next-door’ Coco Cat and Dave Dog.   Sliding down the dunes, splashing in the waves, building sandcastles and just enjoying the sunshine.   But there’s trouble when a whale catches Dave’s attention and he swims too far out.  Will Noni be able to rescue him?

Written in rhyming text, this is a charming adventure story for young readers who will be able to relate to the activities, especially the part about going after tired after a very long day.  With summer approaching, perhaps even here early, this is the perfect introduction to a unit about beach safety for little ones.  As Cat sleeps in the ‘hammock’ is she wearing sunscreen?  Promote the slip, slop, slap and wrap message.  If you saw a whale, would you go too far out?  Who might rescue you?  Introduce the message and meaning of the red and yellow flags.  Encourage the children to be the spokespeople for beach safety in their families. Consider a display with Noni the Pony offering pieces of advice.  A search of the internet will bring up colouring pages, video clips and activities that will help the children understand the message. Teachers’ notes are available. 

Alison Lester is a master at making a simple story that on the surface is just a delightful parent/child read-along carry a complex message that a skilled teacher can turn into an investigation that brings about lifelong learning.