Archive | April 22, 2014

Lone Pine

 

Lone Pine

Lone Pine

Lone Pine

Lone Pine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lone Pine

Susie Brown & Margaret Warner

Sebastian Ciaffaglione

Little Hare, 2014 (First World War centenary edition)

hbk, 32pp., RRP $A24.95

9781742978703

In 1915, on a Turkish hillside a lone pine stood in a barren wasteland above a fierce battle being waged between the Turks and ANZACs, a conflict that has become part of Australia’s history and identity. 

In 1934, a sapling grown from that lone pine was planted in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia’s national capital.

In 2014, that tree still stands tall in beautiful, lush surroundings in memory and recognition of the events of 1915.

In 2015, it will be a focal point of the centenary of those events.

Lone Pine is the true story of that journey.  From a soldier looking for his brother, a mother mourning the loss of her son, a gardener understanding both the significance and the vision, a Duke performing a ceremonial duty we learn of how a tiny pine cone from that solitary tree has become such a symbol in our commemorations.  Told in simple prose against a backdrop of muted but magnificent artistry which you can view on the artist’s website , the story is both moving and haunting.  The soldier’s mother plants three seeds but only two saplings survive, just like her sons; fierce storms batter the sapling the day it is planted at the AWM, just as war clouds started rumbling around Europe once again; it survives to stand tall and strong despite the storms it has to weather, just as our hope for peace does. The continuity of life through the pine tree echoes the seasons and cycles of human life.

Jointly written by a teacher librarian and a teacher, there is a real understanding of how to engage the target audience and tell a true story that is not just a recount of an historical event. Accompanying the story are notes about the events it depicts including more information about the tree itself which  reinforce the theme of the renewal and continuity of life.  As well as the sapling planted at the AWM, its twin was planted as a memorial to the fallen brother in Inverell, and even though this has since been removed because of disease, its son lives on at Inverell High School, planted by the fallen soldier’s nephew.  Two trees propagated from the pine at the AWM were taken to the Gallipoli Peninsula and planted there by a group of ANZACs in 1990.

There is much more about the tree and its descendants at the Australian War Memorial and teaching notes are available that will take the students well beyond the story of a remarkable tree. For those who have access to the NSW school magazine Touchdown, the April 2013 teaching guide also has activities to support the story.

With the centenary of both World War I and ANZAC Day drawing closer, the resurgence of the significance of ANZAC Day in the understanding of our young, and a pilgrimage to the Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove becoming a must-do, life-changing event, the story of the lone pine deserves to be better known, and this wonderful book HAS to be a part of any school library’s ANZAC collection. Its quality was acknowledged when it was listed as a Notable Book in the 2013 CBCA awards – not a common feat for first-time authors!

 

A peek inside

A peek inside…

Another look...

Another look…

 

Once Upon a Timeless Tale

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.