Archive | August 2014

Crikey and Cat

Crikey and Cat

Crikey and Cat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crikey and Cat

Chris McKimmie

Allen & Unwin, 2014

Hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781760110031

It is such a dark night – so dark, in fact, that all the stars have disappeared from the sky.  So what do you do?  You gather up Crikey your dog and Cat, hop in your ute, go to the all-night hardware store for supplies, build the longest ladder, climb it and put them back!  Amazing what can be achieved with scissors and glue. Now Crikey and Cat can sit outside and enjoy the night sky again.  All is well with the world.  But then a storm comes…

“Big rain!

Big rain!

Whirly wind!”

Safe into shelter they run.  But, once again, all the stars are blown from the sky.  Can they be replaced?

This is another one of Chris McKimmie’s masterpieces.  Written with a minimum of text, the story is told in his iconic illustrative style demonstrating how a can-do attitude, resilience and persistence can overcome almost anything. Set against a uniquely Australian background, it demands that the reader look closely at the pictures and draw on their imagination to extract the richness and meaning of this story.  While the text and pictures work really well together, the full impact of the story is probably best gained from a shared reading where a knowledgeable adult can point and discuss and question the 3-6 year old who is the target audience.

Chris McKimmie has been a CBCA nominee three times – Crikey and Cat may be his fourth.

The Big Book of Old Tom

The Big Book of Old Tom

The Big Book of Old Tom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Big Book of Old Tom

Leigh Hobbs

Allen & Unwin, 2014

pbk., 460pp., RRP $A19.99

9781743318447

“Angela Throgmorton lived alone and liked it that way. One day, while doing some light dusting, she heard a knock at the door.  There, on her front step, was a baby monster.  Angela was curious so she carried him in…and brought him up”.  And so begins one of the most enduring series that has captivated younger readers since 1992.  In a few lines of pen-and-ink, Leigh Hobbs created a most captivating cat, Old Tom, and in this bumper book, five of his most iconic adventures are drawn together.  There is the original “Old Tom” (whom the author himself describes as “more like an Australian cattle dog, or blue heeler, perhaps with a touch of Tasmanian devil, than he is a cat”) as well as “Old Tom at the Beach”, “Old Tom Goes to Mars”, “Old Tom’s Guide to Being Good” and “A Friend for Old Tom”.

With a few lines of text on each page and the real story being told through the dramatic movement and emotion of the pictures, this series captivated my reluctant readers right from the start and all these years on, still does.  A graphic novel, before the term had been widely adopted, Leigh Hobbs has captured what it is that readers of this age like without going down the toilet-humour path.  Here is boldness, determination, courage, resilience and humour all packaged in a cat who changes Angela Throgmorton’s safe, predictable life for ever. Even though Old Tom drives her crazy at times, she loves him. 

If your younger readers haven’t met Old Tom yet, then they must.  He is one of those literary characters that will be remembered most fondly by parents who will be delighted to see their own children bringing him home in their library bags.

Good Dog Hank

Good Dog Hank

Good Dog Hank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Dog Hank

Jackie French

Nina Rycroft

HarperCollins, 2014

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

9780732293642

ebk., RRP $A13.99

9780730496397

Hank is a very good dog – or so it seems. He obeys all the house rules like not eating from the table or climbing on the beds or chasing cars although he does have his own way of interpreting them! But it’s always with the best of intentions or the taking of opportunities that present themselves.

This is a really funny story from master author Jackie French brought to life by the charming pictures of Nina Rycroft, the team who created Dinosaurs Love Cheese.  Apart from the humour of Jackie’s words, their interpretation using what has to be the B-I-G-G-E-S-T dog ever, who is all legs, tongue and tail, makes this the perfect picture book in which there is such a marriage between text and illustration that one would be diminished without the presence of the other.  Written at a fast clip with nothing extraneous, we follow Hank as he gallops through the day in his own way, being really good in a wink-wink, nudge-nudge sort of way, depending on whether you are viewing his actions through the perspective of an adult, a child or Hank.  It would be a great introduction to teaching children that how we see something depends on our role within it.  It might be OK to wear a sock washed by Hank’s slobber if you’re a child, but maybe not so flash if you’re in charge of family laundry.

This is a feel-good story that can be a read-aloud, read-along or read-alone because it will touch the heart of anyone who has ever had a dog with a mind and a mischief of its own.  You don’t have to be a younger reader to relate to this story and enjoy it. One of these days I’m going to do one of those magical garden tours of Jackie’s garden and I fully expect to see Hank there somewhere.

A Secret Safe to Tell

A Secret Safe to Tell

A Secret Safe to Tell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Secret Safe to Tell

Naomi Hunter

Karen Erasmus

JoJo Publishing, 2014

pbk, 32pp., RRP $A16.95

9780987587916

 

“He said I would get into BIG TROUBLE if I told anyone… I never wanted to be bad.”

“He said I would UPSET a lot of people if they knew what I had done…I didn’t want to make anyone cry”

“He made hurts in places where Band-Aids could not reach…”

“I tried to heal the pain but I wasn’t strong enough.”

“I thought about TELLING…but he said I’d be a LIAR… and no one would ever believe me.”

One in five children will be sexually assaulted in some way before their 18th birthday.

I remember being told that stark fact at a staff meeting in 1990 and, like many of my colleagues, didn’t really understand it let alone grasp its reality.  That sort of thing didn’t happen to kids at our school, to kids we knew.  But as we undertook courses in protective behaviours and mandatory reporting the reality started to hit.  Sadly, it would seem that nearly 25 years later the statistics haven’t changed according to Bravehearts  but the awareness has.  Sadly, given the Royal Commission and the prosecution of some high profile personalities, it is clear that this does happen to kids in our school and kids we know.  But, because of that Royal Commission and those prosecutions, there is a greater awareness of the problem and children are finding the courage to tell and adults are taking the time to listen.

A Safe Secret to Tell, written by someone whose dedication makes it plain that she was a victim, is a step in helping empower young children to tell, and if the first person doesn’t listen then keep on telling until someone does.  Tenderly capturing the thoughts and emotions of someone who has been abused – “My heart felt BROKEN… I think it started to CHANGE COLOUR”- this story will speak to the child and perhaps give them the courage to speak too, so they too can break his power and swing HIGH into the sky where his hands cannot reach. AT the end of the book there is a list of numbers a child can call and know there is someone who will listen and act on what they have to say.

On September 12, Bravehearts will host its annual White Balloon Day and is asking the question, “Who are you protecting?’ (#whoRUprotecting) and encouraging each of us to snap a #whoRUprotecting selfie: Answer the question ‘who are you protecting’ by writing a name on your palm and display the answer in a photograph.

When Tom from Int Books  sent me this book to review, I read it and put it aside knowing there would be a perfect time to share it.  This is that time.  Difficult though this subject may be and difficult though this review has been, the children in your school deserve to have access to this book – you just never know whose life it might change. 

The Dawn Chorus

The Dawn Chorus

The Dawn Chorus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dawn Chorus

Suzanne Barton

Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014

hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780140839218

Deep in the forest, just as the sun begins to rise, little Peep is woken from his slumbers by the most beautiful song. Stretching his wings and fluffing his feathers he sets out to find out where it is coming from.  But if it’s not Owl or Mouse or Frog, who could it be?  AHA!  There on an enormous tree on the top of a hill are lots and lots of birds, all singing their hearts out.  It is the Dawn Chorus and their job is to sing lustily each morning to let the world know a new day has begun.  Because Peep loves to sing, he wants to join and the conductor invites him for an audition the next morning.  But Peep doesn’t make it in time the next day, and the day after he was so tired all he could do was yawn!

“Perhaps you’re not meant to sing”, sighed the conductor.

Peep is so disappointed.  “Why can I sing in the evening but not in the morning?” he asks.  And suddenly, he has the answer – one that lifts his spirits and his voice and brings joy to all!

This is a beautifully illustrated book by new author and illustrator, Suzanne Barton. A combination of collage, drawing and painting, the gentle colours and delicate patterns are enchanting and very appealing.

Anyone who has heard a real dawn chorus wonders at the diversity of sounds as each bird adds its greeting, and this concept is enhanced by each bird in the tree being different.  However, even though as individuals each has a song to sing, it is when all are singing together that the true magic happens. But as well as celebrating unity, there is also the ability and need to celebrate difference, as Peep discovers.   What a wonderful way to introduce those concepts to young learners. I’ve put this one aside for when I work with a Year 1 class next week – I can see myself working with it, and that’s the greatest compliment of all from a teacher librarian.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Happy Pants

Happy Pants

Happy Pants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Pants

Heather Gallagher

Liz McGrath

Wombat Books, 2014

hbk., RRP $A22.99

9781921632938

 

“When mummy wears her happy pants we build sandcastles, go out for babycinos and have lots and lots of cuddles.” But things change dramatically when she comes home with Baby Darcy – her happy pants stay in the wardrobe.  No matter what, there is no more happy mummy. Even though Daddy steps up, there’s nothing quite like a happy mum.  Feeling betrayed and confused when nothing he does works, things come to a head for the family when the happy pants are accidentally ripped and the little boy asks, “How can you put a band-aid on your heart?” Even though the focus is on sad feelings, Liz McGrath’s bright illustrations keep it from being a sombre story and there is such a feeling of hope towards the end that you just know mummy will have her happy pants on again one day.

With perinatal depression affecting one in seven women, this is an important book to have in the library’s collection so that young children who are in such a situation can learn that they’re not the only child with a sad mummy, it is not their fault and that things can get better.  Primarily written for a preschool audience, nevertheless there are many in the F-2 cohort who are welcoming new siblings and who must be at risk of being in a family where PND happens.

At the same time, it has a place in your parents’ collection so sufferers and their partners can understand that help is available.  It includes a range of organisations that can offer support for those who suffer, and their families, but it’s most important purpose, in my opinion, is to bring this condition into the open where it can be talked about as a common occurrence, not something that is to be ashamed of or to feel guilty about. It is more than just “baby blues”  Normalising it through a children’s picture book is a powerful way to do this, particularly if it is promoted through your links with the new parents in your community.

This interview with the author is worth reading.

The Princess and the Presents

The Princess and the Presents

The Princess and the Presents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Princess and the Presents

Caryl Hart

Sarah Warburton

Nosy Crow, 2014

hbk, RRP $A19.99

9780857632609

 

It’s Princess Ruby’s birthday soon and according to her father the King, nothing is too much for his spoilt, pampered daughter who is an entitled, obnoxious brat.  “My special day must be the BEST. Or else!” she said.  She demands a giant tree house, and a parrot that talks; a pair of fancy shoes that light up when she walks; a new tiara for each day at school, and a pony, some roller skates, and loads and loads of jewels.  Apparently besotted by his daughter, unable to say no to her whining, or perhaps fearful of her ability to throw tantrums where she screams so loudly you can see her tonsils, her father dashes out with a great big case of cash.  But even his best efforts are not enough for this “greedy little tyke” who is looking for a mobile phone, three puppies and a bike.   The more she demands, the more he gives her until there are presents piled high in every room in the palace.

And then disaster strikes.  And a lesson is learned.

In this cautionary tale about being careful about what you wish for, Princess Ruby’s character is so unlikeable that not even the most precious of princesses in the class could empathise with her and wish to take her place.  But then there is some salvation after the disaster which makes the whole story work in a way that’s not apparent from the start.  It provides lots of opportunities for discussion, not only about the characters but also values.

Written in rhyming text and accompanied by  boldly coloured illustrations that are full of humour and detail that they lift the text so it doesn’t become too moralistic, it remains entertaining to the end. Even the boys will enjoy it!

There’s a lion in my cornflakes

There's a lion in my cornflakes

There’s a lion in my cornflakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a Lion in My Cornflakes

Michelle Robinson

Jim Field

Bloomsbury, 2014

pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781408845608

This book starts in a most unusual way – a warning to ignore any messages the reader might see about collecting cereal packet coupons!  And the warning is based on experience because after making umpteen trips to the supermarket and spending a whole year’s pocket money, and even though it meant they had to eat cornflakes for breakfast lunch and tea until there were no cornflakes left, Eric and his brother Dan finally had enough coupons to qualify for the lion on the packet.  Oh, the things they could do with a free lion … if it ever arrived! They waited and waited and waited and even though it seemed everyone else had received theirs, by Sunday they were still waiting. 

Come Monday, it looks like their waiting is over – but it is just the start of the problem!

Told from Eric’s point of view, this is a very funny story that really amplifies the meaning of “Be careful what you wish for.”  Who knew that something as innocent as collecting coupons and cards could have such an outcome! Accompanied by illustrations that are as wacky as the text, this went from a first-read to a favourite with Miss 8 and Miss 3 (who are avid collectors of supermarket cards) literally overnight!  They loved the punchline at the end, and then went into hoots of laughter when we turned the page and saw what was happening!!  Miss 8, who is now such an avid reader that she will even read the cornflakes packet, asked me if I had any other stories by the same author so we checked out the website  and now have some on order!

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Snow Dog, Sand Dog

Snow Dog, Sand Dog

Snow Dog, Sand Dog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Dog, Sand Dog

Linda Joy Singleton

Jess Golden

Albert Whitman & Co., 2014

hbk., 32pp.

9780807575369

What do you do when you desperately want a dog of your own, but real ones make you sneeze?  Well, you can do what Ally does initially and draw pictures of them or you can go a step further and make one, using your imagination and a bit of magic.  When it snowed and the other kids were making snowmen, Ally made a snow dog. She gave him pebble eyes, a pinecone collar and a crooked icicle tail.  And even though her friends laughed at her, that snow dog followed Ally home and they had such fun together.  But when spring came, the snow melted and so did Snow Dog so Ally made a flower dog.  Then in summer she made a Sand Dog and in Autumn, a Leaf Dog, each giving her great fun and companionship. 

This is a lovely story about a girl and her imagination with the edges of reality being blurred by the charming artworks which add something special to this delightful story.  As an added bonus, for those children who can’t have their own dogs because of their own allergies, there are instructions on how to make one – without snow, sand, leaves or flowers!

Mike I Don’t Like

Mike I Don't Like

Mike I Don’t Like

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike I Don’t Like

Jol & Kate Temple

Jon Foye

ABC/HarperCollins, 2014

hbk., 32pp., RRP $A19.99

9780733333255

Mike I Don’t Like, doesn’t like anything, and in a series of rhyming couplets he lets the world know about it – just like many toddlers and pre-schoolers.  He doesn’t like lizards big or small or hairy dogs at all.  He doesn’t like worms because they’re too slimy and he doesn’t like bugs because they’re too grimy.  Whatever it is, Mike doesn’t like it until…

Younger children will enjoy this book because not only will they relate to it but the cadence of the text as it is read aloud to them will appeal – there is something Seuss like in the rhyme and rhythm.  The illustrations are very appealing, providing a great accompaniment to the text, adding to the humour that so delighted the readers I shared it with.  View the book trailer here.