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Bear to the Rescue

Oct5
Bear to the Rescue

Bear to the Rescue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear to the Rescue

Romane Cristescu & Nic Gill

Sylvia Morris

CSIRO Publishing, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781486314904

Some dogs are made to be curl-in-your-lap, sleep-all-day dogs, but not Bear.

Bear was a bounce-about, full-of-energy, make-mischief working dog who needed to be kept busy and if he didn’t have a job to do, he made his own.  Some owners called him naughty, and others called him bad until he met Romane who realised that what Bear needed was a job.  And because she, as one of the researchers setting up the Detection Dogs for Conservation as part of a program to protect koalas, knew that his intensity, energy and playfulness that was so frustrating for his series of owners was just what was needed for a detection dog, Bear found his place in life.

After lots of intensive training, Bear learned to sniff live koalas in the wild through the scent of their fur, helping them be monitored by the researchers or be taken for treatment if they were ill.  Until the summer of 2019-2020 when the worst bushfires ever recorded in Australian history, devoured the landscape of south-east New South Wales, swallowing everything in their path, leaving very little left for the creatures that had survived the flames to eat, shelter and thrive.  And now Bear’s talents had a new role – searching the devastation for surviving koalas, particularly in the Two Thumbs Wildlife Sanctuary -a wildlife reserve just 50km from where I live which had not only been razed by the fire twice but which was also the scene of the C-130 air tanker crash – eventually finding nine koalas, all of which were taken into care at the ANU and later returned to the sanctuary. And, as well as saving the koalas, his very appearance on the site brought healing to those whose hearts needed a boost at the time –  all in exchange for a game with a ball, and maybe some pizza, chicken or sardines!

Told by Bear himself, through the words of his handler, Romane Cristescu,  with extensive author notes at the end, this is a rare story of happiness and hope that has emerged from that dreadful summer that caused such heartbreak and horror, particularly as another fire season is now on our doorstep. For the little puppy who drove his original owners to distraction by his self-imposed tasks of being a shoe-finder, interior designer and renovator is now an international hero with lots of awards, many online references and videos including a documentary, an entry in Max Hamilton’s book Dogs With Jobs, and now his very own book!

 

Dogs with Jobs

Sep19
Dogs with Jobs

Dogs with Jobs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dogs with Jobs

Max Hamilton

Albert Street, 2025

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

9781761181016

Serendipity can be a strange thing.  First my FB feed begins to fill with ads alerting me to the upcoming release of Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping, the sequel to the outstanding, award-winning, made-into-a-movie, must-read Runt; then I receive a review copy in the mail; then the magical Elise Ellerman shares her wonderful free resource relating to books that students might like to read if they enjoyed Runt in preparation for revisiting Upson Downs. Not one to be backward about coming forward, I suggested she also include some links to books about working dogs to satisfy those who like NF,  and then this book comes to the top of my review pile!!!  If ever it was meant to be read, reviewed and shared, this seems to be its moment!

While young readers might be familiar with the family pooch who just offers love and companionship, enough in itself, and they may have encountered guide dogs, companion dogs, even farm dogs, they may not realise that there are many other ways humans use dogs – like having them protect penguins,  jump out of helicopters to rescue people at sea or even sniff out whale poo so scientists can monitor the health of orcas!! 

Each double-page spread spotlights a real-life dog doing a real-life job somewhere around the world – like Bear who can detect the scent of koalas that need to be rescued after a bushfire.  And for every “bear” there will be others doing a similar role. By using this approach of ‘personalising’ each occupation, young readers engage with the text and then perhaps explore further to stories like the series about Mr Walker, the ambassador for Guide Dogs Australia at the Park Hyatt hotel in Melbourne, dig deeper through books like Amazing Dogs with Amazing Jobs, or enjoy watching Oddball and know that his amazing work continues despite his death in 2017. And just so we don’t leave our littlest readers out, they need to meet The Inside Dog, and George, who goes to the farm! 

It is superb books like these that are the true reading adventures, IMO – leading reader (and reviewer) down rabbit holes to new discoveries!  That, in itself, is enough to make this a must-have. Learning how and why dogs are truly “man’s best friend” is a bonus. 

This is Elise Ellerman's resource to accompany Runt. There is a full pdf version available via the link above, or click on the image. Not only will it take readers on a range of reading adventures but it could also be a model for them to create their own to share with their peers. (Used and shared with permission.)

This is Elise Ellerman’s resource to accompany Runt. There is a full pdf version available via the link above, or click on the image. Not only will it take readers on a range of reading adventures but it could also be a model for them to create their own to share with their peers. (Used and shared with permission.)

 

George goes to the Farm

Jul27
George goes to the Farm

George goes to the Farm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George goes to the Farm

Sinead Saint

Wild Dog Books, 2025

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

9781742037011

George is a city dog. He has a busy life of lattes, trips to the salon and meeting pals in the park during the week so when the weekend comes, a country minibreak will be just what he needs.

But when his farm friends need help because one of them is sick,  will George jump up and get the job done? Or will he be the pampered pooch of his week day routines?

This is a charming rhyming story for our littlies that offers many opportunities to explore not just along the lines but between and beyond them. For starters, it helps them not only identify the days of the week but distinguish between those that are considered working and break days for many, although for the little ones I will share it with every day is a workday because they, themselves, live on farms.  Perhaps it will be a case of unpacking which are school days and which are not. 

There is also the opportunity to begin to learn to compare and contrast as they learn to look for differences that might not be so obvious as the usual attributes of shape, colour, size and so forth – for example, George having his hair done in the salon compared to the same procedure on the farm.  And while my little ones will be familiar with some of the things George has to undertake, such as gathering eggs, they might not be so familiar with city dogs gathering in the park on leads, restrained by owners carrying pooper-scoopers.  To them, body waste is part of daily life not to be stepped in so just watch where you’re going.

So, despite the anthropomorphism of George – which adds to his appeal, the humour and the plot of the book – there is still much to gain from an after-read discussion. There are teachers’ notes to assist this.

However, there is also a place to share this with older readers because it is based on the author’s own life – having grown up on a farm, she likes to retreat there for weekends with George, her ageing groodle and revisit the life of her childhood – and because we tell newly-emerging story-tellers and writers to concentrate on what they know and have done to begin with, this becomes an excellent model for how even the most ordinary can become extraordinary.  Just as Saint has taken her dog’s regular routine and asked “what if…?” and come up with an engaging tale, so too can they begin to tweak something mundane into something magnificent.  

This is the debut by this author but hopefully there will be more that offer our newest readers just as much fun and richness. 

Jo Weston’s Netball Besties (series)

Jul17
Jo Weston's Netball Besties (series)

Jo Weston’s Netball Besties (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jo Weston’s Netball Besties (series)

The Mystery of Missing Billie

9781761348525

Foul Play

9781761348532

Double or Nothing

9781761348556

Penguin, 2025

192pp., pbk., RRP $a14.99

Author of this new series, Jo Weston is a senior member of both the Melbourne Vixens and Australian Diamonds, representing Australia for the past nine years and helping to lead the Diamonds to gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 World Cup so she is well qualified to create stories for young, independent readers that have netball as their focus. 

In the first episode Jo finds herself a new netball buddy when Ava and her family move into the property next door but strange things begin happening in Talma Valley…Farm gates are left open, Jo’s escape-artist cow Moo-dini is on the loose, mountain bikers are going missing – and then Billie, her beloved Australian Shepherd disappears!  It’s up to Jo and Ava  to use all their wits to solve the mysteries.

In the second episode, everyone has to pitch in to help with the harvest as the Weston nut farm prepares for the biggest market of the year, which means Jo has to juggle farm duties, netball training and a big school project.

Her team has a big game against their rivals, The Ogres, on Saturday – the same day as the market. But everything that can go wrong, does go wrong! The harvesting machine breaks down, and it looks like sabotage. It’s up to Jo and her friends to find out more and crack the case! Can they fix things in time for the market and the big game?

While, in the third episode, due in October, it is school holidays and Jo and Ava are leaving Talma Valley for an adventure in the city. They have been selected to play in a special team at half-time in a professional netball game – and they can’t wait. Their trip gets off to a dramatic start when Jo opens her suitcase – only to see that there has been a mix-up and she has someone else’s bag! What’s inside is even more intriguing.  The girls set off on a quest to find the owner of the suitcase and to retrieve Jo’s belongings. Can they solve the mystery in time to play in the big game?

Following a familiar formula of having to solve a mystery or find a solution to a big problem so everyone can be ready for a vital match, nevertheless this is a series that will capture the imagination of younger readers, particularly those who play netball as they put themselves in the role of the main characters and not only relive their own fame experiences but learn new things that will help them improve.  As well as the sport itself, there are the themes of friendship, cooperation, sportsmanship and coping with crises that underpin these sorts of stores, ensuring that readers and players learn the values that are most important, regardless of on field rivalry. 

Shmoof

Jul17
Shmoof

Shmoof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shmoof

Heidi McKinnon

Albert Street, 2025

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

9781760876661

Shmoof is Shmoofy.
Shmoof is super shmoofy.
Shmoof is ready to be best friends.
But Floof? Floof is not so sure…

The sequel to Floof, this is an hilarious story of Floof, who, being a cat, rules the household, being introduced to a newcomer to the family – and it is a dog!   

It’s a classic tale of cat meets dog and the interactions between the two are all you’d expect -until they find a common enemy. 

Told is very limited text because the action is carried long perfectly in the distinctive illustrations which express the thoughts and feelings of both Schmoof nd Floof so well, the young reader can really engage with the story using their own words to tell the story, developing all sorts of early reading behaviours as they do, including the way some words just roll around your mouth. Both animals have particular individual personalities – the cuddliness of friendly Shmoof and the haughtiness of aloof Floof  – and as well as sharing the story, littlies will enjoy sharing stories about their own pets, perhaps even venturing into how there was someone or something they didn’t like but have overcome the feelings. 

One to put on the must-share-with-preschool list. 

 

 

 

Dog People, Ugh!

Jul6
Dog People, Ugh!

Dog People, Ugh!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog People, Ugh!

Danny Katz

Mitch Vane

Walker Books, 2025

64pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

9781760658748

They say this world only has two types of people – those who love dogs and those who don’t.  And Rosie certainly doesn’t.  She just can’t understand why anyone would want to pat dogs, play with dogs , cuddle dogs, talk to their dogs, jog with their dogs, even kiss their dogs – let alone be happy to carry around dog poop in little plastic bags like they’ve just gone shopping at a poop-supermarket! 

And then her mum drops a bombshell – they are going to go to a rescue centre  to get one because “a dog might bring a bit of fun and energy into our lives.”  And because she can’t resist all the bribes her mum offers to get her to agree, Specky comes to live with them.  But will Rosie ever become a dog person?

This is another hilarious story from the team who gave young readers the Little Lunch series, as well as the inaugural story in this new series designed to appeal to its intended audience of emerging readers who prefer short and sweet stories. Given they are a married couple and have a dog called Specky, could it be that one of them is “mum’ and the other. Rosie? There’s an interesting, easy-to-read article that tells the story behind the story – and given that Specky has now provided the material for a new book, perhaps there is even more regard for him than before!!! 

 

My Name is Jemima

Jun22
My Name is Jemima

My Name is Jemima

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Name is Jemima: A tale of a guide dog superstar

Olivia Muscat

Allison Colpoys

Scribble, 2025

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

9781761380457

These days, it is no longer uncommon to see official assistance dogs in their official coats accompanying their owners out and about in the community.  On the one hand it is sad that it is no longer uncommon suggesting that the need for these special friends is so high; but, on the other, perhaps it just means that people who required their support for medical or mental reasons are now able to be out and about in the community rather in isolation at home.  Not so long ago, the only assistance dogs that were known were like Jemima – guide dogs (or ‘seeing-eye’ dogs) who helped their blind owners navigate daily life, usually large, placid labradors with their soulful eyes and gentle nature that made regular people want to reach out and oat them, almost instinctively.
But assistance dogs are working dogs, and in this heart-warming story, young readers are introduced to the life and work they do through the real-life partnership of the author and her dog, Jemima. Told from Jemima’s perspective using humour and mischief, and accompanied by Colpoys’ distinctive illustrations in a limited palette of orange, pink and purple  they learn that Jemima, like most dogs, loves hugs, pats, cuddles, playing games and food, but when she is wearing her vest and harness she is working and cannot be distracted, no matter how well-meaning someone is. Her job is to keep her owner safe and she needs to stay focused.  As a team, they have undertaken a lot of training to be able to be independent in public and her handler’s life depends on Jemima being alert and aware at all times.
Assistance dogs like Jemima are different to companion dogs and emotional support dogs because they help their human who is living with a disability in accordance with Australian Disability laws, responding to needs that are specific to their human’s disability by using their advanced skills which must meet international training and behaviour standards.. This allows their human to engage in activities that may otherwise have been too difficult or challenging. According to the Assistance Dogs website it takes two years to train and costs up to $60,000 to provide a qualified Assistance Dog. free of charge to their clients who may have to wait for two years.. This covers all training, veterinary treatment, kennelling costs and placement with a client. They receive no government funding, and are reliant solely on the generosity and philanthropy of individuals and organisations, so perhaps this could be an opportunity for students to share what they have learned by reading this book and raise some funds too. 
A light blue vest for pups-in-training and a darker blue for graduated, working Assistance Dogs. Image from Assistance Dogs Australia

A light blue vest for pups-in-training and a darker blue for graduated, working Assistance Dogs. Image from Assistance Dogs Australia

As well as the physical book, there is also a QR code that can be scanned to access an audio version, acknowledging that not all have the capacity to read and thus improving accessibility for a wider audience.  One to be shared and promoted so everyone is aware of the role of these animals, their responsibilities and their rights as they contribute to their handler’s wellbeing.  

The Inside Dog

Mar4
The Inside Dog

The Inside Dog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Inside Dog

Pip Harry

Carolyn Davis 

Lothian Children’s, 2025

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

9780734423009 

Cuddles is an inside dog and he loves nothing more than warm laps, snuggly couches and soft beds. Going outside to chase balls, fetch sticks or meet other dogs was not his thing – in fact, watching people pass by the window was the closest to the outdoors that he got.

So you can imagine his dismay when the family take him on a farm holiday, rather than sending him to doggy daycare for his usual pampering sessions.  And being on the farm is even worse than he imagined for he has to stay outside with the farm dogs!   The open paddocks, fresh air, rain and angry alpacas are his worst nightmare, until he recalls some words from his humans when he first hid his leash so he wouldn’t have to go to the park…

Once again, Pip Harry, author of August and Jones, The Little Wave, and the CBCA 2025 Notable, Over or Under has tapped into that common fear of stepping beyond our comfort zone that we all share.  Having the main character as a dog puts that fear of the unknown at arm’s length for young readers, but nevertheless offers an opportunity for them to talk about things that they have been reluctant to do but have ultimately tackled and succeeded. Such a discussion might inspire others to have a go and something that has been too daunting up till now, maybe setting a goal, working out a pathway of steps that will enable them to achieve it and then choosing the most significant person they could celebrate this with.  (How well I recall a young lad being told by an unkind, judgmental relative he would never swim the length of the big pool and his delight in not only proving the adult wrong but telling him so.  He had turned those mean words into motivation. )

Teachers’ notes are available to help explore the story further including a bibliography of other books with a similar theme that could be the seeds of a display to encourage young readers to take the next step, as Cuddles did. 

Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

Jan4
Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willa and Woof 8: Best Idea Yet

Jacqueline Harvey

Puffin, 2024

128pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

9781761343575

It’s been a little over two years since we first met eight-year-old Willa Jane Tait  and her best friend Woof, a four-legged albino wolfhound, her same-age best friend Tae Jin whose name means “person of greatness” in Korean; and her old-age best friend Frank Pickles who lives next door in the retirement village and is very old and very grumpy with crinkly skin and bags under his eyes. 

Told by Willa herself with that typical young-person humour, there have been a series of adventures  that have not only engaged young independent readers but demystified old age so that they feel more comfortable building relationships with those beyond their immediate family and school-based friendship circle.  And in this final story in the collection, when  Willa accidentally learns that Sunset Views Retirement Village, and Frank’s only home, is about to be sold, she has a feeling something isn’t right. Trouble is she’s super busy with Clubs and soccer matches, and there’s a fete to prepare for so will she have the time to investigate further, and then come up with a plan to save it?

Saying goodbye to a series, particularly one where the releases have been regular enough for it to be an almost continuous read and the characters can seem like real-life friends, can be tough, but Jacqueline Harvey has written several others including Clementine Rose, Alice-Miranda, and Kensy and Max  so it could be an opportunity to introduce fans to one of those as they wait for whatever will come next. 

Queen of Dogs

Nov10
Queen of Dogs

Queen of Dogs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen of Dogs

Joe Weatherstone

Walker Books, 2024

288pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781760658588

Feeling somewhat out of place in her high-achieving family with their high-achieving expectations, and not fitting in at the elite school she attends, Maddy is much more at home playing with her little dog Gusto.- a dog that she was reluctantly given in exchange for promising to get a place at the school.  She is at peace in Gusto’s company although he can get into doggy mischief at times and cause her grief with her parents,   But when he goes missing, strange things happen as distraught Maddy is determined to find him.  She discovers she has the power to communicate with dogs, a little like Dr Dolittle, and as more and more dogs go missing, there is clearly a mystery to be solved. 

Adding to the collection of recent releases with dogs as the central characters, this is one for independent readers who like mysteries and while they might not have Maddy’s special powers, can still see themselves in the role of the hero solving the enigma and saving the town’s pets. 

Despite outward appearances, there are many children who are lonely or feel isolated even when they are surrounded by family and friends, and this is evident by the success of  companion dogs both in schools and the community, and so many will also relate to  Maddy’s situation and understand the role that a dog can play in a person’s well-being. 

This is a feel-good story that will encourage those who haven’t yet found their place in the world to follow their heart, find their passion, while understanding that each of us is unique and while we might not be good at everything, we can be good at something.  Success is determined in many ways, not just by collecting trophies or certificates, and each of us can be successful somehow. This is particularly appropriate for this audience who are at an age when they are branching further out into the world, away from family and need independent validation that who they are as they are at this time,  is enough.