Archives

Our Dance

May18
Our Dance

Our Dance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Dance

Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton

Janelle Burger

Lothian Children’s, 2025

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

9780734423429

Under the moon, by the big gum tree,
let’s dance and sing in the corroboree.

With ochre on our bodies, Our dance awaits,
Our mob, Our culture, let’s celebrate.

As our youngest readers begin to understand the deeply spiritual connection that First Nations people have to the land on which they were born, this beautifully illustrated book helps them understand that relationship even better, as the movements of the creatures they share the land with are interpreted into dance.  As the children in the story “celebrate the land beneath our feet”, learning their culture through music and movement, so too can non-Indigenous children join in to learn how to slither like a snake, jump like a kangaroo, crawl like a goanna, run like an emu and fly like an eagle, all movements they can mimic. The invitation for the reader to join in is strong so like those in the story, they learn from each other, perhaps even investigating which of our iconic animals and birds are native to their region and how they might devise their movements to incorporate into their own versions. What are the unique features of the cockatoo and how might they translate those into dance?  Or the koala?  There could be much more learning than anticipated as they delve deeper. 

Anyone with experience of working with preschool children, no matter their heritage, knows that movement is an essential element to the learning experience, not only because their concentration span is still developing and sitting still is tricky, but also that they absorb the world through all their senses. Thus, with it so easy to use technology to access the thrum of the yidaki – the didgeridoo in the language of Yolngu Matha-speaking people of eastern Arnhem Land- to add to the atmosphere -this is a wonderful way to introduce our littlies  to something that they are going to encounter throughout their lives. 

WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History

May17
WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History

WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History

Ben Lerwill

Sarah Walsh

Nosy Crow, 2025

112pp., pbk., RRP $A27.99

9781788007351

There are more than 1 000 000 species of animals that have been identified on the planet, ranging from the smallest tiddlers in the shallows of the pond to the largest beasts that roam the jungles. While each is fascinating, there are some individuals who have lived outstanding lives, making an incredible contribution to their species or ours.  

In this collection of true stories, the lives of 50 remarkable creatures are documented and celebrated.  Among them, there is the story of Cher Ami, a pigeon who saved soldiers’ lives in World War 1 ( a story echoed in On Gallant Wings); Ozy who showed the staff at the Island Bay Marine Research Centre in Wellington, New Zealand, just how intelligent an octopus is; and, of course, the legendary Duffy, the donkey who assisted Simpson at Gallipoli.

Divided into sections of Rescue & Protect; Adventure & explore. Change & Solve; Discover & Pioneer, and Inspire & Influence, reflecting the nature of the animal’s significance, each story has an illustrated double spread with information that is easy to read and gives enough information to not only satisfy curiosity but also inspire further investigation.  

While some animals are recognised by awards like the Dickin Medal for bravery and courage, there are so many more that make people’s lives better but whose own go unnoticed – even the companion dog who safely guides the sight-impaired or is the reason someone gets out of bed in the morning, has a story to tell.  This book could be the starting point to investigating those.

 

 

Goodnight, Glow Worms

May13
Goodnight, Glow Worms

Goodnight, Glow Worms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodnight, Glow Worms

Aura Parker

Puffin, 2025

32pp., board bool., RRP $A14.99

9781761354915

Goodnight, Glow Worms shining bright,
Time to dim your Glow Worm light.
Glow Worms gleaming, beaming round,
Can’t switch off and can’t wind down.

It is glow worm bedtime but they are finding it very difficult to go to sleep.  Something is missing.  But even when that’s discovered, Yellow Glow Worm just can’t turn off his light.

This is another delightful story for littlies from the author of the equally delightful Meerkat Splash written in rhyme and repetitive text and accompanied by illustrations that encourage discussion and interactivity with its focus on helping little ones identify colours. But it could also lead to bigger things with the child’s curiosity about glow worms sparked and an investigation into why and how they glow.  Can they really turn off their lights?

Perfect for preschoolers, and for those who want to know more (or who have to answer the questions), check out Glow.

Odder

May12
Odder

Odder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odder

Katherine Applegate

Charles Santoso

UQP, 2025

40pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780702269158

Odder the otter’s life starts just like those of so many of her kind – cuddled on her mother’s belly, being taught all the things an otter has to know and tethered to a rock with kelp when her mum has to leave her to seek food for them. 

But right from the get-go there is a special sparkle in Odder’s eye – she knows she was born to play. 

She twists and darts,
weaves and rolls,
circles and swirls,
leaving frothy trails in her wake.
Why simply somersault
when you can triple-doughnut?
Why simply dive
when you can dazzle?

But then a storm hits, the kelp leash breaks and she is tossed up on the sands like a piece of driftwood.  Until huge shadows loom over her and strange creatures whose paws have stubby tentacles pick her up and she find herself in a clear calm pool… 

A fictional account of a true story based on the work being undertaken at the  Monterey Bay Aquarium in California where its resident sea otters nurture and raise orphaned pups for release into the wild, this is a beautifully illustrated picture book version of Katherine Applegate’s verse novel of the same name which spent over 80 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.  Like Applegate’s other stories, particularly the One and Only series, while she doesn’t shy away from the real-world threats like predators, pollution, disease, habitat destruction and so on that challenge her characters and includes elements of separation, loss and grief, there is always the thread of optimism and hope that ties the narrative together.  So when Odder is eventually returned to the sea and then once again, needs rescuing, there is a sense that this is not the end of her story.  And, indeed it isn’t. 

Told in the free verse of the original, sometimes narrative, sometimes from Odder’s perspective, parts of it will echo the confusion that some readers might be experiencing in their own lives, but both text and illustrations compel you to keep reading,  because you care enough about Odder to want to know what happens to her.

This book, and the original,  have been reviewed over and over by the best of the best so there is nothing that I can add that hasn’t already been said.  Except that it’s exceptional – as we have come to expect from this author – and that there is an insightful interview with her here,  and if you really need to dissect it rather than just appreciating it for the beauty of the story as is, then there are teachers’ notes here.

 

 

Encyclopedia of Birds

May8
Encyclopedia of Birds

Encyclopedia of Birds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encyclopedia of Birds

Jules Howard

Namasri Niumim

Wide Eyed Editions, 2025

184pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9780711295278

Each morning, just before the sun breaks over the hill, I hear the distinctive call of a bird, ‘tuk-tuk-tuk’ as it counts down those seconds before daylight hits and those last luxurious moments under the covers.  I have no idea what it is, and no chance of spotting it hiding in the massive snow gums that surround us.  It is but one of the 11 000 species of the world’s birds, and while I recognise many of the tweets, squawks and cries of the wrens, rosellas, kookaburras, currawongs, gang gangs and galahs and so many others that visit regularly – we can tell both the weather and the seasons by the visitors to the bird feeders – this particular one eludes me.  Perhaps, if I ever catch a glimpse of it, this book will help me identify it.

With an introduction to what a bird is and bird families, this encyclopedia for young readers then examines a number of those families including birds of prey, pigeons and doves, hole-nesters and tunnel-nesters and even birds of torpor.  Each of the 300+ entries  has a true-to-life diagram and basic information designed to help the reader identify the birds that they see around them, or if there is one they are particularly interested in, discover its habitat and habitats for the best chance to see it.  It’s laid out with all the elements that help readers to navigate it independently including an index and glossary, even a diagram of how to interpret the various entries.  

While the concept of a “twitcher” might evoke a picture of a rather eccentric Englishman in hat, waterproof coat, and knickerbockers, draped with cameras and binoculars, nevertheless, there is a growing interest among young people in being able to recognise birds by both sight and sound and there is even an annual Aussie Bird Count in October each year where we are encouraged to record and submit the numbers that are seen in a 24-hour period. 

So regardless of where you live on the planet, and whether your outlook is bushland, desert, coast or urban, chances are there is something that your will discover both outside your window and within this book, 

A peek inside

A peek inside

 

Wildlife of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

May6
Wildlife of Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Wildlife of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Myke Mollard

Woodslane, 2023

48pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781922800367

Stretching for 2300 kilometres and encompassing 344 400 square kilometres of ocean off Queensland’s coast, even visible from space, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system and home to a myriad of species.  But, despite being World Heritage listed, the reef is in decline – mostly from human impact – and so this stunningly illustrated book is ideal for introducing the diversity of life that call it home.  From the living coral itself which makes up this vital protection of the Queensland coastline to the fish, birds, reptiles and other marine creatures that are dependent on it, the reader is taken on a journey of its wonders so that there is not only greater understanding of the importance of the interconnection between land, air and sea but a deeper appreciation for it. 

With large, colourful, highly detailed spreads of the various kinds of inhabitants (each of which is identified in a miniature on the final endpages) you don’t have to be a scuba diver to begin to be in awe of what Mother Nature has to offer, although it may well encourage a young reader to add scuba qualifications to their must-have activities. (You can get a restricted PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification from the age of 10, and full certification from 15.) There really is nothing quite like seeing the underwater world from the seabed, particularly at night when there is a whole different perspective on offer.

This is yet another fascinating and absorbing release from someone whose work as a biological illustrator I have come to know, admire and recommend through my reviews, and while it evoked memories for me – who can forget the graceful Spanish dance nudibranch drifting by, fluorescent in the light of our cyalume sticks? – it is ensured to inspire young students to not only protect the reef itself, but also to explore it in person.  Extensive teaching notes covering everything from the biodiversity of the region to its significance to First Nations peoples offer something for everyone with any interest to investigate and share their new knowledge so that this unique phenomenon which is on our doorstep is there for future generations ad infinitum. 

 

Bear

May3
Bear

Bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear

Natalia Shaloshvili

Frances Lincoln Children’s, 2025

40pp., pbk., RRP $A24.99

9781836002604

When Bear sits on a bench in the meadow, he thinks 

“I love being a bear.  I love my cookie. I love my book. I love ,y balloon. And I love sitting on my bench all by myself.”

But then Fox wants a spot on the bench, Wolf asks for a bite of cookie, Rabbit wants a turn with the book. And Elephant would really like the balloon… Bear’s day is not what he expected but will he share? Or will he explode?

From the get-go, our little ones are taught to share their things, but what happens when you have given away all you have?  Do you speak up and risk the wrath of those around you, accused of being selfish?  Or do you learn the art of saying “no”  without hurting feelings or feeling guilty? Do you really have to give away some of the things you hold dear? Are you ever allowed to just let your frustration go?

While Bear’s words say one thing, his expression and the clever use of font say another, giving the reader the opportunity to consider his body language and speculate on what he is really thinking, offering yet more lessons in how to “read the room”, particularly if the adult sharing the book begins a conversation about these sorts of non-verbal cues and clues. 

While this is primarily aimed at the preschool child who is learning about operating in the world of family and friends, it also has implications for those a bit older as they also learn to develop respectful relationships and that it is not only okay to say no, but sometimes it is essential.  

Navigating the world of relationships, especially in this time of political correctness and social politeness where there is always someone who will take offence, is tricky for the most mature of us, and so retreating to Bear’s isolated world of a bench, a book and a balloon seems to be idyllic but because, as John Donne said. “No man is an island”, we must learn to map and walk our path carefully. even though sometimes we want to, can and do scream AAAAAARGH! (Or words to that effect and who cares about the consequences!)

 

First Encyclopedia of Seas & Oceans

Apr30
First Encyclopedia of Seas & Oceans

First Encyclopedia of Seas & Oceans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Encyclopedia of Seas & Oceans

Felicity Brookes & Ben Denne

David Hancock

Usborne, 2025

64oo., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781836041658

Any warm day or any long weekend and the attraction of the beach is irresistible for those who live within driving distance of our coastline.  Is there anything better than jumping around the rocks peering into rockpools, or strolling along the sunlit sand and letting the imagination wander and wonder about what is out there.  (Well, there is if you are a scuba diver, but that’s not for everyone.)

The endless pulsing of the waves like the planet’s heartbeat is mesmerising, and exacerbated when huge swells hit, as exemplified by the dreadful drowning toll this 2025 Easter.

So this new release from Usborne is going to fascinate young readers who were there to witness the spectacle and had their imaginations fired.   Simple, easy-to-read text, detailed photos and lively illustrations introduce topics such as the formation of waves, currents and tides,  as well as basic questions like how fish breathe, whales that wander. and what lives really deep down like the colossal squid.

And for those who want (and need) to know more, there are the usual appropriate Quicklinks to take them further… Or maybe add some Jules Verne, Moby Dick, King Neptune  or the tales of Atlantis into the mix.  

 

Koala Koala

Apr27
Koala Koala

Koala Koala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Koala Koala

John Williamson

Jonathan Bentley

Puffin, 2025

24pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781761344244

Ask any little person (or international visitor) to name an iconic Australian creature and it’s highly likely they will say “koala”.  Yet there are fears that this favourite will be extinct in NSW by 2050, the greatest threat being loss of habitat because of  urban development, agriculture, mining and the expansion of existing infrastructure. Already, those in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory have been  classified as an endangered species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) since February, 2022.

So this picture book version of John Williamson’s 1990 song of the same name, is a provocative reminder that even though we have recognised the predicament of these favourites for decades, there is still much to be done.

With the original lyrics slightly modified and enriched by poignant, evocative illustrations by Jonathan Bentley , little ones are introduced to needs of koalas and the key dangers koalas face – deforestation, traffic, bushfires and dogs – helping them to understand that if they want to be able to show their children this treasured marsupial, the time to act is now. While they might not have the power to stop urban sprawl, they can be aware of the work of Koala Conservation Australia   (of which, Williamson is a special ambassador) and perhaps hold a fundraiser to support their work in building a new breeding facility, education the public generally, or even visiting the centre.

Even just learning about the koala’s habitats and habits can be a start, and such a study was my go-to intro to developing information literacy skills with kindergarten.  Use the book itself as well as lots of different pictures of koalas so there is at least one between two, and ask pairs, “What can we learn about koalas just by looking at these pictures?”. Record the responses,  and then classify what has been discovered into three columns… What do we know for sure? What do we need to check?  What more do we want/need to find out?  Not only does that give a structure to the class investigation but it also gives them the foundation for their own personal investigations into other native species.

On the other hand, more mature readers could use it as a starting point to investigate how songs and music have been used over time to build awareness of human rights, environmental and other issues to reach a wider audience, particularly the anti-war protest movement of the 1960s, although there have been many before and since. 

An essential addition to any collection to support the environment and sustainability curriculum. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

 

On Gallant Wings

Apr25
On Gallant Wings

On Gallant Wings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Gallant Wings

Helen Edwards

Riveted Press, 2025

288pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781763526051

Darwin, December 1941.  Even though her dad is a navigator for the RAAF and is stationed somewhere overseas, for 12-year-old Ava the war is a distant thing and she goes about her daily life with her mum and older brother Fred, playing with her best friend Kazuo, whose dad was born in Japan, and raising her pet pigeons. She lives by her own self-imposed rules and rituals and her greatest delight is watching the progress of her new chick Essie, her favourite pigeon, who is already showing signs of leadership, ready for her first flight early. while dodging Billy the Bully is her greatest fear.  Life is okay, under the circumstances – until it isn’t.

Fred lies about his age so he can join up and “do his bit” and is to be sent to training camp shortly; Pearl Harbour is bombed by the Japanese and Kazuo and his family are sent to an internment camp, even though both Kazuo and his mother were born in Australia; and then Darwin, itself, is bombed and Ava and her mum barely escape with their lives.  Forced to evacuate, Ava and her mum join the other families in making the long and arduous trip south to stay with Grandma Dot and Grandpa RaRi in Lake Boga near Swan Hill, Victoria, a town as different from Darwin as it could be. And such a change means a new set of rules -including the one about making no new friends because everyone leaves anyway. Yet despite the difference in location, the war follows Ava, both in reality as a secret Catalina flying-boat maintenance base is built on the lake and her mother joins the WAAAF and works at the base,  and in her head as the sights and sounds of the bombing continue to haunt her.  Infrequent letters, heavily censored, keep her in touch with her dad and Fred who is now with the Signals Directorate working with Essie and the other pigeons in preparation for deployment to New Guinea and despite her rule not to make friends because friends leave and heartache follows, she teams up with Pete, Jenny and Stevo and with school and swimming in the lake, watching the Catalinas and the pelicans, there is a semblance of normality again. That is, until her life is turned upside down when Kazuo appears in the dead of night having escaped from the family internment camp, terrified of being send to the single men’s camp where Japanese prisoners of war will see him as a traitor to their nation. Ava is torn between helping him and living by her rules of telling no lies to her grandparents… Can she find a way through her ethical dilemma so she doesn’t break her grandparents’ trust, can keep Kazuo safe and yet remain true to her self?

Written by Ava, and interspersed with those precious letters, this is an intriguing and engaging story for independent readers about a little-known period of Australian history.  While even our youngest have a sketchy knowledge of why we commemorate ANZAC Day, the wars and the conflict and upheaval they caused, are fading into the memories of even their great-grandparents now and the stories of the children’s lives of the time are disappearing. Life before the internet is tricky to remember, let alone life before television, and so a war fought in a time when soldiers had to roll cable out through the jungle and rely on carrier pigeons for communication is almost unimaginable and so this is an important story for giving today’s readers a glimpse into a life that was very real for their great-grandparents, and ultimately influenced who they, themselves, are. (My own grandchildren proudly volunteer as flag bearers each ANZAC Day at the Australian War Memorial, commemorating the service of their great-grandfathers, grandfathers and other family members, continuing that contribution to community through their Scouting activities.)   Meticulously researched, it also fills in gaps for those of us who are older but whose parents chose not to talk about their wartime experiences – too raw, too scary and too incomprehensible if you weren’t there and didn’t live through it.  It may even spark an interest in investigating personal family histories, or perhaps the story of someone whose name is etched on the town’s war memorial. 

As well as Ava’s own experiences, there are also broader issues that can be discussed and explored such as the automatic internment of those Australians deemed to be enemies because of their heritage; the secrecy surrounding the devastation of Darwin;  even the impact of PTSD on children and how seemingly unrelated events can cause triggers.  More general teaching notes following these themes and others, including the uncensored letters, are available here.

Through Essie, Tommy and the other pigeons, we also learn about the role they and other animals have played in wars -so many  more than Simpson’s donkey – and those with an interest can not only read about the Dickin Medal which was awarded to Essie, but can also read more in Pidge’s Poppies and Wear a Purple Poppy. 

Given the unpredictability of today’s world, the 24/7 news cycle and television and the internet bringing the world’s conflict into our students’ lounge rooms, many are feeling great anxiety about their future so want to escape into fantasy adventure where they have the power to control events, but with carefully selected historical fiction such as this, we can show them that previous generations have faced just as dire circumstances and come through – challenged and changed, but resourceful and resilient – and that there is hope for them too.  Humanity will prevail.

From pigeons and Morse code to satellites and cyberspace: 100 years of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals

"Rat on wings": the little pigeon that won a gallantry medal

“Rat on wings”: the little pigeon that won a gallantry medal