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Alexander’s Outing

Jun16
Alexander's Outing

Alexander’s Outing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander’s Outing

Pamela Allen

Puffin, 2025

30pp., board book., RRP $A14.99

9781761355134

When Alexander’s mother decided to take her little tribe of ducklings on an adventure across the city because she was bored, she told them to ‘Stay close, take care.”  But Alexander did not stay close and he did not take care. He straggled behind with his head in the air – and disappeared down a deep dark hole.

How on earth will they get him out?

Thirty years ago, Kiwi author Pamela Allen first offered this title for young readers to love and laugh at, and ponder over how they would rescue Alexander.  And now it is time for them to share that delight and puzzle with their own children as it is re-issued in sturdy board book format.  With its endearing characters, and a subtle message about staying close to mum, today’s littlies will get just as much joy from it as the language rolls off the tongue and they suggest wonderful ways that they would use to save Alexander from his predicament.  

There is a reason that this and others like Mr Archimedes’ Bath (1980), Who Sank the Boat? (1982) and all her other books including , of course, the intrepid Mr McGee  have endured for over 40 years and can be counted as classics.  So many of today’s readers are readers because they were introduced to the magic of story through Allen’s works, and now is the time and opportunity to pay that forward to the next generation. 

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Dec24

 

 

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Don Daily

Running Press Kids, 2024

20pp., board book, RRP $A14.99

9780762486700

On the first day of Christmas…

Beginning on Christmas Day, the twelve days of Christmas traditionally embrace the days following up until January 5, the day before the Epiphany which commemorates the arrival of the Magi and this song marks each of those days. Given that it dates back to at least the late 18th century when it was first published in  an illustrated children’s book, Mirth Without Mischief, it has evolved over generations with the current version attributed to Frederic Austin in 1909.  And with such a long history, it has been published, adapted and presented many, many times so one wonders what could make yet another version stand out.

The answer lies in the illustrations.  While the text is that of the familiar song, Daily has interpreted them in his iconic, detailed style that brings a whole new magic.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Its board book format is ideal for small hands as families share this classic and they begin to learn the words of a song that they will hear again and again.  The perfect finale to this Christmas Countdown. 

Are We There Yet? 20th Anniversary Edition

Nov4
Are We There Yet? 20th Anniversary Edition

Are We There Yet? 20th Anniversary Edition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are We There Yet?  20th Anniversary Edition

Alison Lester

Puffin, 2024

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

9781761620416

The year I turned eight, Mum and Dad took us on a trip around Australia. Luke, Billy and I missed school for the whole winter term….

So begins the story of Grace and her family as they begin a journey around Australia in a fold-out camper van – a journey  that began a little west of Melbourne, took them to all sorts of places as they explored the coast, the bush and the outback, and which became an instant classic when it was first published 20 years ago because it opened up this country to children who didn’t know much of what was beyond their immediate environment.  

Along with Possum Magic, this was a story that could be used to initiate so many lessons and learnings about the diverse landscapes, lives, and livelihoods in the days when the internet was not as accessible and affordable to all – for many dial-up connections  for the family computer were all they had, and the first iPhone was three years in the future.  While television was a staple, travelogues were not the choice of little ones so here was a story that featured a relatable family taking off on an adventure that was told with engaging characters, story-telling and illustrations and the familiar refrain of, “Are we there yet?”  Grace’s journey was tracked on large wall maps and young readers would delight in declaring that they were familiar with a particular place and relating their adventures.  

Now, in a different gold-foiled livery and a different world, parents can share this story that delighted them with their own children and plan and plot their own journeys as many take to the roads post-pandemic, particularly as taking children out of formal schooling is not as drop-jaw now.  

And it hasn’t lost its relevance for the classroom as students could explore their own neighbourhood and identify the places, people and events that make it a unique attraction for visitors even if they take them for granted, or they could set up a challenge based on the family’s adventures for others to identify significant places around Australia based on clues such as this on from Backpack Bear, (an online quiz about Australia and Australians that I developed over 20 years ago and which is still available for free), encouraging a variety of research and presentation skills.  

I am at the top of a mountain, first climbed by a European in 1840 and named by Polish explorer Count Paul Edmund Strzelecki. He named it after one of his country’s heroes because he thought it looked like his tomb. While it stands in Ngarigo land, it is yet to be given an official indigenous name although Kunama Namadgi has been proposed.

The climb to the top was quite easy – a 6.5 kilometre walk along a raised walkway after I got off the chairlift from Thredbo and a short stop at Australia’s highest public toilet at Rawson’s Pass. The walkway protects the fragile alpine environment.

The summit is 2228 metres above sea level, making it Australia’s highest mainland mountain and from it I can see other mountains of the Main Range of the Great Dividing Range, including Mt Townsend which is the second highest mountain, Mt Carruthers and Mt Twynam. They are all part of a national park which shares the name of this mountain.

If you wish to follow in my footsteps, you need to come here between November and April, although if you are skier you can come during the winter..

Where am I?

Because it is a classic and so well-known, winning many awards, including being selected as a key focus book for the National Year of Reading 2012, there is a plethora of resources available online to support other activities including this one from Reading Australia. Our world may be smaller and different from that of Grace and her family, because although the book is 20 years old and its foundations began 10 years before that, it is still as relevant and refreshing now as it was then.  And I can hear parents saying, “I remember this” as they see it on shop shelves and pick it up to share with their own little ones and make more memories. 

The Happy Prince

Sep23
The Happy Prince

The Happy Prince

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Happy Prince

Oscar Wilde

Adapted & Illustrated by Harry Woodgate

Andersen Press, 2024

80pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781839134289

High above the city stood a statue made of gold and precious stones, honouring the Happy Prince. One day a swallow flying to Egypt perched on the empty space between the statue’s feet. As he was resting, a drop of water fell on him. On looking up, he found tears streaming down the Happy Prince’s statue’s cheeks.  

The swallow asked the Happy Prince why he was crying; the statue replied that from his vantage point he could see the entire city and now he saw and understood the miseries of the people, particularly the poor and the homeless, their hunger, and starvation. He was distressed and sorry to see so many people in his city living in such dire straits so he asked the swallow to help these people by taking his gold covering, sapphires and ruby to them to help alleviate their circumstances because he, himself, couldn’t move from his pedestal. Together they brought some happiness to those who knew none.

In this new version of this 1888 classic, it is a boy called Swallow who who rests at the statue’s feet and does the Prince’s bidding but when all the gold is gone, the important councillors of the city tear down the statue for it is no longer beautiful, each wishes to replace it with a statue of himself.  It is cold and the kind people of the city take the little boy into their homes. Together they discuss how best to use their pieces of gold and wonder about why there are statues in the city. The boy tells them of the beautiful warm lands that he comes from, and the plants and animals. The people decide that they will build a city garden with their gold where everyone can come to grow food and enjoy the beauty of nature. Swallow plants a fruit tree to remember the sweet kindnesses of his friend, the Happy Prince.

Wilde’s original tale has stood the test of time and this version retains much of the original including its strong moral message which remains relevant, but the adaptations bring it into a more modern world where the economic circumstances of the original will be familiar to many. while offering opportunities to think about how the community, including the government could and should help those who are less fortunate.  Whose responsibility is it?  And why, do those in power still put their own agenda before the greater good, as has happened with the Help to Buy housing scheme, as an example. Despite the original being nearly 140 years on, has anything changed?

Although students might not yet be sophisticated enough to debate the ins and outs of such plans and policies, this is an example of a story written long ago still having relevance today because of its underlying themes, and thus helping readers understand the essence of what makes a story a classic. At the same time, they could consider whether they would have read the original and understood its application to life today. Given that, it could also be an opportunity to compare the two versions and investigate the concept of zeitgeist – “the spirit of the age” reflecting the ideas, beliefs, values and culture of a particular time.  In this case, how the endings vary, or perhaps even the attitude towards building statues and monuments, offering students are new layer for understanding texts. Even if the lens varies, does the core message remain?

They could also broaden their reading horizons by comparing the themes of The Happy Prince to another of Wilde’s classics, The Selfish Giant to not only look for 21st century relevance in that but also how an author’s beliefs can be their motivation for writing in a certain way. 

 

Something Special

Jul18
Something Special

Something Special

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something Special (40th Anniversary Edition)

Emily Rodda

HarperCollins, 2024

80pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781460766415

In the spare room, the second-hand clothes hang in rows, stirring in the sunlight. Sam walks through the rows, brushing velvety sleeves, touching lace, sensing memories and magic and wondering about the stories they could tell if their previous owners were there to tell them. 

The clothes all have neat price tags. They’re ready to be sold at the school fete on Saturday. Sam knows that some of them are special. Her mother, who is running the stall at the fete, has told her so. But she is soon to find out just how special they really are…  But is Sam’s experience a dream or was it something else?

Forty years ago, this debut novel from Emily Rodda hit the shelves and quickly became a favourite not only because it was a gentle introduction for young readers to the fantasy genre but because it marked the beginning of the outstanding contribution to children’s literature by Emily Rodda. What began as a bed time story for her daughter morphed into an amazing collection of stories for young readers, most notably the Deltora Quest and Rowan of Rin series, still favourites today.  (In fact one of the most successful lunchtime activities I offered involved students reading and responding to a series of activities based on each of the Deltora Quest 1 books,  as they worked towards being awarded a gem to complete their own belts. )

While there are classic picture books that are shared through the generations, there are not that many novels, particularly those for young emerging readers, that hit milestones like 40th anniversary editions, and so it is testament to the quality of the story and the skill of the writer, that Something Special has fine new livery and is all set to engage and enchant a new generation of readers.

Indeed, as Children’s Book Week draws closer, this is the perfect time to showcase her works, not just because this year’s theme lends itself to exploring fantasy as a genre, but because  Rodda has won the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year for Younger Readers Award a record six times, as well as receiving many Children’s Choice awards and the Aurealis fantasy award. Whether it’s a series like Deltora, Rondo, Monty’s Island, Fairy Realm or a stand-alone like  Eliza Vanda’s Button Box  His Name was Walter,  or The Shop at Hooper’s Bend, there is something that will delight your fantasy readers as well as honour this remarkable author. 

And the icing on the cake?  There’s a new series coming in October!

Where is the Green Sheep?

May6
Where is the Green Sheep?

Where is the Green Sheep?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where is the Green Sheep? 20th Anniversary

Mem Fox

Judy Horacek

Puffin, 2024

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

9781761347832

Resplendent in a gold foil cover to celebrate its 20th birthday, is one of my favourite early childhood books of all time.  

Few children in Australia in the last 20 years would not be familiar with these words…

Here is the blue sheep, and here is the red sheep.
Here is the bath sheep, and here is the bed sheep.
But where is the green sheep?

And among them is my own granddaughter who gave me one of my most memorable grandma-moments when she sat up in bed at just-turned-2 and read it to her older sister. We had yet another reader in the family!!!

And now she is 13 and reads everything she can, (as does that sister) and all because of the fun, predictable, rhyming text of an Australian classic with its gorgeous illustrations that allowed her to predict what the words said even if she didn’t quite recognise them yet.

Could anyone ask any more of a book for little ones? My copy will be put aside for her to share with hers when she is older. But it will also be a must-get for a brand-new grandmother… 

Read about how it came to be here

Where is the Green Sheep? is 20 years old

 

 

 

An Aussie Night Before Christmas

Dec24

 

 

 

An Aussie Night Before Christmas

An Aussie Night Before Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Aussie Night Before Christmas (10th Anniversary edition)

Yvonne Morrison

Kilmeny Niland

Scholastic Press, 2015

32pp., hbk., RRP $A18.99

9781760157487

 

Twas the night before Christmas; there wasn’t a sound.

Not a possum was stirring; no-one was around.

We’d left on the table some tucker and beer,

Hoping that Santa Claus soon would be here…

So begins this iconic salute to Christmas in Australia drawing on the familiar sights and sounds of a night that is usually so hot and it’s hard to sleep because it’s still daylight outside, never mind ‘dreams of pavlova’ dancing around heads.  And when there’s a ruckus outside that needs to be investigated, who would be surprised that it’s Santa in a rusty ute pulled by eight mighty kangaroos? Kangaroos called Kylie, Kirsty, Shazza and Shane, Kipper and Skipper, Bazza and Wayne?  

There are many stories that put the Aussie spin on Christmas, but this is such a rollicking good yarn, funny and engaging that it’s still available nearly 20 years since it was first published. 

Accompanied by the distinctive illustrations of Kilmeny Niland, this is the perfect story to read to the little ones before they settle down, and the perfect story to end our Christmas Countdown.

The Jolly Christmas Postman

Dec22

 

 

 

The Jolly Christmas Postman

The Jolly Christmas Postman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jolly Christmas Postman

Janet & Allan Ahlberg

Puffin, 2021

62pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9780141340111

The Jolly Postman has a busy day ahead. It’s Christmas Eve in Fairy-Tale Land and there’s plenty of post for him to deliver! There’s a card for Baby Bear, a game appropriately called ‘Beware’ for Red Riding Hood from Mr Wolf, a get-well jigsaw for Humpty Dumpty and many more! But, can he deliver it all by Christmas?

In 1986 we were introduced to The Jolly Postman, who delivered the mail around Fairy-Tale Land and tucked into tiny envelopes were actual letters like  a letter of apology for the three bears from Goldilocks, a postcard from Jack for the giant, and a solicitor’s letter on behalf of Little Red Riding-Hood for the wolf who ate grandma. Five year later we were treated to the Christmas version and more than 30 years on this is still delighting a new generation as they eagerly await both Christmas and perhaps the postman bringing something special for them.  As well as introducing them to the concept of printed cards and letters and so forth, disappearing so rapidly in these days of digital communication that Australia Post is cutting back to every-other-day delivery, it offers opportunities for them to create something special for their favourite character from the world of stories.  In fact, the book has been so popular, that a quick internet search brings up many suggestions for activities that will keep little ones occupied during those times when parents are so busy.  

A Christmas classic that deserves its place in any collection. 

Spot’s Hide and Seek: A Pop-Up Book

Oct2
Spot's Hide and Seek: A Pop-Up Book

Spot’s Hide and Seek: A Pop-Up Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spot’s Hide and Seek: A Pop-Up Book

Eric Hill

Puffin, 2023

8pp., board book, RRP $A16.99

9780241554432

 Over 40 years ago, in 1980, Eric Hill’s Where’s Spot? was the first ever lift-the-flap book – and his ground-breaking innovation continues to delight and surprise readers with interactive fun. Translated into over 60 languages and  selling over 65 million books worldwide,  Spot has now been a trusted character in early learning for generations.

In this new adventure Spot and his friends  Steve, Helen and Tom are playing hide-and-seek and little learners will enjoy lifting the flaps to discover who is hiding where. The interactivity shows them that there is so much fun to be found in print books, while parents recall happy memories of their own discoveries with the ageless little dog.  

No little learner’s library is complete without this series.

Edward the Emu 35th Anniversary Edition

Jul19
Edward the Emu

Edward the Emu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edward the Emu 35th Anniversary Edition

Sheena Knowles

Rod Clement

HarperCollins, 2023

32pp., hbk., RRP $A22.99

9781460764084

Edward the emu was sick of the zoo,

There was nowhere to go and nothing to do,

And compared to the seals that lived right next door,

Well being an emu was frankly, a bore. 

And so Edward decides he is going to be someone else entirely – he tries swimming with the seals, he spends a day lounging with the lions, and even slithers with the snakes – before realising that perhaps the thing he is best at is being himself.

This is an Australian children’s classic, first published 35 years ago, and one shared with so many classes and children in my care ever since.  The children always respond so well because apart from the storyline, its rhyme and rhythm and its glorious illustrations, it is one of the best stories ever for helping our young people understand that who they are and being that is enough.  And their turn to shine will come, even if the spotlight is on someone else right now.  Certainly, when I include a copy of it in a storybook cushion, parents buy it because they remember it as an integral part of their childhood story journey.

And there is even more fun if it is teamed with  Edwina the Emu, the sequel which follows Edward’s journey but with a focus on his mate who is also trying to find her identity.

 

Edwina the Emu

Edwina the Emu

These two stories are classic Australian children’s literature at its best – there is a message of being comfortable and confident about who you are but it is subtle and embedded first and foremost in an entertaining engaging story which has to be the primary focus of any author. No wonder they have stood the test of time and are still around to delight yet another generation.