Archive | October 2015

Horace the Baker’s Horse

Horace the Baker's Horse

Horace the Baker’s Horse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horace the Baker’s Horse

Jackie French

Peter Bray

National Museum of Australia, 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.95

9781921953255 

As “mornings come with ash grey light, daytime nibbling away the night” Old William, the town baker, slides crusty loaves and fancy buns out of his ovens, steaming and fresh with an aroma that can never be forgotten.  Alongside Old William is his grandson Young Billy, helping out before school and learning his family’s trade in the traditional way, while, outside, Horace the baker’s horse waits patiently as Big Bill loads them into the baker’s cart to be delivered to the townsfolk. Life in this town, like many others around Australia of the time, is lived in a different way and to the beat of a different drum – the sound of horses’ hooves as they plodded around the town pulling distinctive carts and making their daily deliveries of bread and milk and ice and vegetables and meat, even rabbits!  Their route was as familiar and predictable as the routine of those who prepared the goods they delivered. The merchants knew their customers and their regular orders, and their horses were as much a part of the community as the children who loved them.  (Many spring roses owed their magnificence to the gifts left by the horses.)

But it is 1919 and the scourge of Spanish flu is sweeping the nation.  Even Old William is not immune and to Horace’s dismay he slumps to the ground unable to carry on.  Horace’s whinnies wake Big Bill and Young Billy and they find themselves doing the jobs that three used to do, and then Young Billy finds himself having to do it all.  At night he carries wood for the fire for the ovens, makes and mixes the dough, kneads and shapes it, cooks the loaves and buns and then piles them into the cart to deliver them.  Clearly too much for one little lad but he knows that if his family and friends are to recover they need the bread so they can have something to eat to regain their strength.

But what happens when Young Billy just cannot make bread all night and then deliver it all day?

This is a story dear to author Jackie French’s heart because it is one from her own family.  When the Spanish flu decimated populations (killing more people than World War 1) many of the deaths were because people just had no one to care for them.  Jackie’s great-grandmother made vats and vats of stew but while the protein and vitamins were essential, it was the carbohydrates in the bread that gave the energy to push on.  So, inspired by the stories that her grandmother told her and Bakery Cart No. 168, an exhibit at the National Museum of Australia, Jackie has crafted this wonderful story that is not only a story in and of itself but is also an integral part of the story of our country, of life in another time, of people whom we will never know again. Through Young Billy and Horace, neither of whom were unique, another thread has been woven into the fabric that is Australia.   

Combined with the exquisite illustrations of Peter Bray who has created a visual mural of life in post-war Australia and captured the essence of the people who lived it, this is the perfect example of how we can engage even the very youngest student in times that have gone before.  Even though their grandparents’ memories might not stretch so far back (unlike Jackie and me), nevertheless Grandma and Grandad may well remember stories told to them by their grandparents that can be shared again and the thread continued. Just as my child was amazed that my New Zealand childhood did not include television, so his children are amazed that his did not have the internet, and while it was confronting when they first asked me, “What was life like in the olden days, Grandma?” nevertheless it was an opportunity to tell them of a life spent roaming the shoreline as free as the seagulls above me – a life that came to life for them when I took them “home” a few weeks ago.

The inquiry questions for Foundation of the HASS strand of the Australian Curriculum are

What is my history and how do I know?

What stories do other people tell about the past?

How can stories of the past be told and shared?

Horace the Baker’s Horse is the perfect way to show how our history is told through story and to encourage our students to discover theirs, share and compare. Even at the launch in Canberra yesterday, audience members were sharing stories about the anticipation that the smell of a hot loaf of bread evoked and the scoldings endured because the centre had been eaten out before the loaf reached home!  If Jackie had been able to eavesdrop, she might have gleaned the material for another book!

A must-have.

 

The launch of Horace The Baker's Horse at the NMA in Canberra

The launch of Horace The Baker’s Horse at the NMA in Canberra (Click the picture for the Canberra Times article)

Suri’s Wall

Suri's Wall

Suri’s Wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suri’s Wall

Lucy Estela

Matt Ottley

Penguin 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780670077755

Suri lived a lonely life.  As if being isolated from the outside world in a citadel with a high wall and a guard on the gate wasn’t enough, being much taller than the other children has made them suspicious of her and she is shunned by them. She is so tall that she even has dinner at a special table and sleeps in a special bed. Her heart aches for their company but instead she has only the wall with its stones and mortar which gave her warmth when she touched them.  She even loved the iron gate!

Every month Suri measured herself against the wall until one day she discovered she was taller than it!  She could see over the top!  Not only that, she feels a tugging on her hand and as the feeling spread through her body, she discovers one of the children holding her hand begging her to tell her what she can see over the wall. 

 *Can you see, Suri?  Are you tall enough?”

“Yes, Eva, I can.”
“What’s there? What can you see?”

”What can I see?” Suri looked out over the wall.  “Oh, it’s beautiful, let me tell you all about it.”

As she tells the children of the beautiful sights she can see, they are entranced by her words.  Suddenly, the walls in Suri’s life are destroyed and at long last she is one of the children.  They were no longer afraid of her and she was no longer lonely.  And so the days go on and on and Suri entrances the children with stories of what she can see. 

But what Suri sees and what she tells the children are two different things… and even though she knows that they will find out that it’s not the rosy, dream-filled picture she has described, it will not be today that they discover the reality. Despite the war-torn town below, Suri tells the children what she knows they want to hear not what she can see.  Not only does it keep their spirits up, but ensures their friendship for a little longr.

Accompanied by stunning exquisite illustrations that capture Suri’s imagination, the mood and atmosphere perfectly, this is a most sensitive story about being different and being lonely. Within the wall, the palette is muted, almost gloomy but Suri’s visions are a riot of colour and joy. We don’t learn why the children are kept behind the wall but there are suggestions of children in detention centres in Australia peeking through, isolated through no fault of their own and desperately wondering what life is like on the other side of the fences that keep them confined.  But throughout there is a thread of hope, that the innate goodness of the human spirit will prevail as the children get to keep their innocence for a little longer.

This is a picture book for older children rather than the very young because those with a little more experience will appreciate the underlying story better, perhaps even understand that physical walls are not the only things that imprison us.  Just being different can be isolating in itself and hopefully something will crack the wall and open the heart.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Abigail

Abigail

Abigail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abigail

Catherine Rayner

Little Tiger Press, 2015

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

9781848956469

Abigail the giraffe loves to count but each time she does, she encounters a problem.  Ladybird disappears under a leaf, the leaves, get eaten, Zebra’s stripes keep moving and Cheetah’s spots are way too fast!  Even when she finds something that seems okay and her friends help her, there are problems.  Her animal friends can’t count.  So Abigail teaches them but just as they are getting things sorted the sun goes down.  How will they practise in the dark?

This is a charming counting book for young readers written and illustrated by Kate Greenaway medallist Catherine Rayner who has given us a number of beautiful animal stories including Augustus and his Smile  Little people will love to join in with the counting as they practise theirs and will share her good-natured frustration as she has to keep starting again.

Like many others, I’m a fan of Rayner’s emerging menagerie as each creature comes to life with its own personality with a few strokes of her watercolour brush and its accompanying text. She spends hours studying her subjects so they are just right.  In fact she shares her instructions for drawing Abigail at and the story is read online here.

 Perfect for preschool.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Silver Shoes (series)

Silver Shoes

Silver Shoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broadway Baby

9780857989031

 

Lights, Camera, Dance

9780857989055

 

Samantha-Ellen Bound

Random House, 2015

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

 

Broadway Baby and Lights, Camera, Action are the latest additions to the Silver Shoes series which follows the early dancing days of a group of friends at the Silver Shoes Dance Studio.  Each girl has her favourite genre and this time it is the turn of Ellie and Ashley to shine again. Since her success in And All That Jazz, Ellie has been taking singing lessons and now she is determined to wow them in a Broadway musical and become a ‘triple threat” – one who can act, dance and sing.  However, her strength is jazz ballet not tap dancing and there are those who are better than she also auditioning.

Meanwhile, in Lights, Camera, Action hip-hop lover Ashley is now inspired by reggae and is desperate to impress an agent looking for the star of his next music video.  But, as with the others in this series, there are those who are determined to be better than the heroine so like Ellie, Ashley has to dig deep into her inner self to persevere and test herself. 

Dancing remains one of the most popular sports for Australian children and so it’s no wonder that this series has been a hit with so many of the young girls I know.  Once again, the author’s expertise shines through and while the key focus is on the dancing element, she still holds a mirror to the life of this age group who are branching out into new ventures and friendships as they try out new independence.  Each reader sees herself as the lead character on the stage but can also relate to the challenges that have to be faced to get there. 

I know these will be snapped up as soon as they appear – here’s hoping there are more in the pipeline!

Click here for a review of the first two in the series

Click here for a review of the first two in the series

Click here for a review of others in the series

Click here for a review of others in the series

 

 

Remarkably Rexy

Remarkably Rexy

Remarkably Rexy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remarkably Rexy

Craig Smith

Allen & Unwin, 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781760113940

Rex is the most dazzling cat on Serengeti Street and has been for years.  Proud and majestic, and maybe brave, he is a superstar.  Grooming himself to perfection, he goes out onto the footpath to wait for the kids on their way to school.  While he waits, he practises his dance steps ready to accept their accolades with aplomb.  But just as they arrive, an interloper arrives and puts on her own show.  Pretty Pamela is going to outdo Remarkable Rex. Even though he pretends to ignore her, deep down he is worried.  Perhaps he is no longer the star of Serengeti Street!  Until suddenly the show is interrupted as Towser escapes and chases the cats.  Rex heads up the nearest tree while Pamela races off.  But this is not the end of Rex’s troubles…

Even though his career spans 40 years and 380 titles, this is the first book that Craig Smith has both written and illustrated and it’s delightful, full of his signature humour and quirkiness.  From the masterful portrait of one who knows his own magnificence on the front cover, to the enchanting endpapers which reinforce Rex’s position in the neighbourhood to the vignettes of Rex’s preparation for his fans, Smith has captured the mood and manners of this fabulous feline perfectly.  In fact, Shaun Tan says, “You will not find a more charming, sympathetic or beautifully drawn examination of complete feline (and completely human) self-obsession.”

Young readers will absolutely love Rex – they will laugh out loud and hold their breath and then ponder at the ending.  Rex may well be remarkable, but so is this book!! 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Dinosaur Disco

Dinosaur Disco

Dinosaur Disco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinosaur Disco

Deborah Kelly

Daron Parton

Random House, 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780857981363

It’s Saturday night and there is a great sense of anticipation in the line-up at the door of the disco.  The doors, open, the crown surges, music starts to pump… and the dinosaurs surge into the hall!  Each has their own unique style – styracosaurus salsa, corythosuarus crumps and maisaura moonwalks across the shiny floor – but it doesn’t matter because each is having fun and loving what they are doing.  With the disco ball and lights flashing, the conga line snakes across the floor until the music stops, the ground begins to shake, there’s an eerie silence and some of the little dinosaurs dive for cover.  What could have cast such a pall of gloom over the fun and frivolity?

If you looking for a raucous, rollicking book that young dinosaur lovers can really get into, then this is perfect.  In their amazing way, they will get their tongues around the difficult and unfamiliar names and will move and groove with the dancers.  They will hold their breath when the intruder arrives but delight in the ending, joining in with great gusto.  

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Dinosaurs are perennial favourites with young readers – and they can never get enough of them. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, old and new titles are eagerly sought and this one combines the best of both worlds as there is a pronunciation guide as well as some fast facts about the champions in the book. Bright illustrations add to the appeal and while somewhat stylised they are close enough to the child’s perception of each species, they will delight in being able to identify them.  Definitely one for the collection but it needs to have some loud music going to get the atmosphere happening for a memorable storytime. 

Gwendolyn Grace

Gwendolyn Grace

Gwendolyn Grace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gwendolyn Grace

Katherine Hannigan

HarperCollins, 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780062345196

Oh dear, there is a new baby in the Alligator family and Gwendolyn Grace is too noisy.  Mama Alligator asks her to be quiet so Baby can sleep and Gwendolyn Grace is dismayed at all the things she can no longer do. She is a busy, boisterous child and now there is no more making music in the kitchen, or sliding down the stairs, or swimming in the bath.  No more of any of the fun things Gwendolyn Grace loves to do until…

Young readers who know what it’s like to have a new baby in the family will empathise with Gwendolyn Grace in this engaging debut picture book from Katherine Hannigan.  They will recognise all the things that are suddenly not allowed, laugh as Gwendolyn Grace re-enacts all the things that she knows will be banned just to test her mother’s reactions, be challenged by thinking about what Gwendolyn Grace could do, and delight in the ending. 

Told in the format of a request and response, the minimal text is complemented by the most delightful pictures that convey so much emotion and action. A thoroughly charming story for the very young.

Milo’s Dog Says Moo

Milo's Dog Says Moo

Milo’s Dog Says Moo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milo’s Dog Says Moo

Catalina Echeverri

Bloomsbury, 2015

32pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781408838808

It’s Milo’s 7th birthday and at last he is getting the dog that he has waited his whole life for.  Everything is ready – all that remains is to go with his parents to the Waggy Tails Dogs’ Home to choose it.  But mum wants a dog that is small and has a fancy haircut and dad wants one that gives good doggy kisses.  But Milo wants one that is rather large and looks a little different from all the others.  He immediately names him Beans and because it is Milo’s present, his parents agree.

But trouble begins when Milo takes Beans home.  He doesn’t like dog food – he prefers mum’s plants.  He doesn’t know how to sit and isn’t keen on walks.  And he fails at fetching the ball. He doesn’t like other dogs, doesn’t chew on bones and prefers to plat with cats rather than chase them.  And when it comes to barking…. The one thing he is good at is getting big – so big in fact that Milo has to build him an outside house.  Beans is very happy in his outside house but the next morning…

This is a whimsical story about a boy and his dog that is perfect to share with a young reader who will be in stitches because the adults can’t tell the difference between a dog and a calf.  They will love the fact they are smarter than the grown-ups!  They will love the bright, eye-catching pictures that capture all the fun and which will challenge them to find Beans amongst all the other “dogs” in the paddock.

If you’re sharing a first-read, a familiar and a favourite each night, be prepared for this to be in the ‘favourite’ pile very quickly.

Lara of Newtown

Lara of Newtown

Lara of Newtown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lara of Newtown

Chris McKimmie

Allen & Unwin, 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781760112325

When Misty’s owner becomes too old to look after, Misty is left wrapped in a basket and left like an abandoned baby on a restaurant doorstep in a busy street in Newtown, Sydney.   While she was well-cared for during the day, at night she was put in a cage and waited for the long night to pass.  All Misty wanted was a new home and to be loved as she had been.  One day her dreams came true and she was presented as a pet to Noni Nice of Pymble.  But when Misty did cat things like eating the budgie, she soon found herself back out on the street again having to fend for herself.  Until she was found by the Kafoopses who rename her Lara… Is this the home that she has been looking for?

Author-illustrator Chris McKimmie is gaining a reputation for creating quirky picture books that have many layers to them which is why they appeal to a wide audience.  Lara of Newtown is no exception.  Written from Lara’s perspective, the reader is drawn into the world of the abandoned cat and what it feels like to be so alone and unwanted. Even though McKimmie draws a bleak picture of life on the streets, nevertheless throughout there is always a glimmer of hope that this story will have a happy ending.  There are some very clever lines that give it an adult appeal too – look for the Bob Dylan reference – as well as a number of clever references in the details in the artworks like the low-flying plane being part of Duck Airlines.    

As well as McKimmie’s iconic illustrative style, there are a number of other illustrations interspersed throughout which are creations of the children in McKimmie’s life that add another layer, all of which are acknowledged on the publication page.  Even Misty/Lara is based on a drawing by a four-year-old. This approach, along with the random choices of font for the text lighten the theme of the story and add a touch of humour. Busy pages reflect the frenetic pace of parts of the story while those where Lara is alone and down are more subdued and empty.  There is a very clever meeting of visual effects mirroring mood and emotion.

On occasion McKimmie has created stories that some younger readers need help to interpret to appreciate fully, but even on just the surface level Lara of Newtown is a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever had a pet as well as giving pause to ponder the stories of those we know are unwanted for whatever reason.  It could lead to interesting discussions about the morality of abandoning them, the annual message of ensuring pets are wanted before you give them as gifts, perhaps even the compulsory neutering of pets. Over and above that there is the theme of identity and the need to belong and to be loved that is very human.  Food for thought.  

Go Home Little One

Go Home Little One

Go Home Little One

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go Home Little One

Cate James

words & pictures, 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $22.99

9781910277126

Winter is almost here and it’s time for Florence and Mrs Hedgehog to get ready for hibernation.  But Florence is not keen on having the final feast and snuggling down.  She loves spring, summer and autumn but she doesn’t know about winter because she hasn’t seen it.  And she’d much rather play with her squirrel friends, Harry and Barry.  But when she goes for one last play with them, the trio go deep into the forest unheeding of the warnings of Mrs Rabbit, Mr Badger and Mr Owl.  As it starts to snow they build a huge snow squirrel, oblivious to the dangers that is lurking in the trees and as darkness falls they realise they are far from home and are frightened. 

Suddenly Mr Fox emerges to greet them, telling them it’s time to eat.  They turn and run – but which direction is home?

This is a delightful story from Scottish artist Cate James which captures the adventure perfectly in short bursts of text and distinctive illustrations.  Young children will enjoy it immensely as they can see Mr Fox, even though the friends can’t.  Great for a young audience wanting something different and a perfect discussion starter about the changing seasons and animals which hibernate.