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All the Colours of the Rainbow

All the Colours of the Rainbow

All the Colours of the Rainbow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the Colours of the Rainbow

Rae White

Sha’an D’Anthes

Lothian, 2025

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

9780734423061

Sometimes when Jem bounces out of bed in the morning, they feel like wearing their yellow dress and blue sandals, and on other mornings, blue jeans and orange sneakers get the nod.  Some days they feel like a girl, others like a boy, but most importantly, what they choose to do is not defined by their biological gender.

But, sadly, some adults only see the world through a black and white (or blue and pink) lens and try to limit Jem’s choices because of their stereotypical views of what what boys and girls should do, wear, enjoy and live. Fortunately, Jem has an understanding mother who shows her that anybody can be any colour of the rainbow at any time and this can change as often as they choose.  

For a while gender fluidity was becoming a non-event in society with people being accepted for who they are and stories for young readers contained characters who were diverse so readers could read about themselves, see themselves as just part of life and accept their differences which became less and less important.  For most, who a person chose to love or sleep with or not had no bearing on their public life.  That was until a certain extreme right-wing president got elected, anything not seen as being on the straight and narrow got banned from school curricula and even public libraries, and now, in his second term, within 24 hours of inauguration has made the “two sexes” policy official. Disturbingly, there are right-wing politicians in Australia, already elected, who believe the same thing and hope that a change in government here will bring about similar legislation.  

Therefore, books like these which gently explore gender diversity and subtly educate those who share them, particularly the adults who have set-in-concrete views because, just as in real-life it is the adults in the story who disapprove of Jem’s choices, have an even more important role to play as we encourage children to love and accept themselves no matter what colour of the rainbow they are.  As  The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, said during her sermon at the inaugural prayer service at that president’s inauguration,  there are “gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families,” across the country “who fear for their lives.” and our kids have enough to deal with without having who they are denied.  Children need to read about those who look, live and love like they do.

Even without referring to gender, White’s clever use of the colours of the rainbow and D’Anthes illustrations help little ones understand that it’s okay and completely natural to be different whether that be related to our heritage. our feelings, our beliefs, our activities or whatever – it’s the colours of the rainbow, as they merge and separate and merge again that give the world its beauty.  

Fifi and Friends: The Super Car Race

Fifi and Friends: The Super Car Race

Fifi and Friends: The Super Car Race

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fifi and Friends: The Super Car Race

Tamara Ecclestone Rutland

Amy Zhing

New Frontier, 2024

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

9781923145078

Fifi is a little girl who LOVES nothing more than tinkering about in her go-kart, whether it’s fitting a new engine, inflating the tyres or painting it a shiny new pink. She’s been really busy lately because there is a super-car race this afternoon and all her friends have put in a special effort to decorate their cars… hers is like a pink cloud while Zac ‘s resembles a triceratops, Hope’s a unicorn and Mario’s is a cheetah.  Only Nathan, who is compelled to win at everything keeps is covered till the start.  Fifi’s little sister prefers dogs so she is going to watch.

There is great excitement and anticipation as race time draws near, but will it be a fair race – or does Nathan’s competitiveness overpower the fun and friendship?

This is a colourful, action-packed picture book for young readers that has characters that they will recognise among their own friendship group, and focuses on the bonds of cooperation, inclusivity and mutual support that keep them strong.  The illustrations are eye-catching, rich in detail and distinctive in style, offering lots of scope to help the child connect them to the story particularly in the race scenes where they can not only connect the characters to their cars but also learn ordinal words like first, last, next, after and so on.   They could also talk about Nathan’s perspective, perhaps what underpins it,  as well as what they would do if they saw a friend in trouble but helping might prevent them realising a dream.

These days, there should be no surprise that Fifi’s dream is to be a mechanic so there is scope for the perennial “when-you-grow-up” discussion but personally, I think children will derive a lot of fun looking at the features of each car and working out they were made, then drawing what their dream go-kart would look like.

 

Noodle & Bao

Noodle & Bao

Noodle & Bao

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noodle & Bao

Shaina Lu

HarperCollins US, 2024

224pp., graphic novel, RRP $A19.99

9780063283404

Momo has lived in Town 99 her entire life. She knows all its quirks and rhythms: the best places to buy fruit, practice tai-chi in the park, and, most of all, get the best meal: Noodle & Bao, run by Momo’s best friend, Bao, and their amah, Noodle.

But Town 99 is changing. Rent is becoming unaffordable for Momo and her parents, and even Noodle & Bao has been edged out of its storefront, which was just recently bought out by a new business venture—Fancé Cafe. Fancé is run by the ambitious Ms. Jujube and her henchmen, who claim they’re only beautifying Town 99 with good business.

Momo knows that’s not true, and knows that if she doesn’t do something, she’ll lose everything she loves about her neighbourhood. From undercover recon to a cook-off proposal, protest signs to petitions, Momo and Bao are on a mission to protect Town 99. Will they succeed before it’s too late?

Twenty years ago, Odo Hirsch wrote a series of books about a feisty, determined young girl called Hazel Green which included one, Think Smart, Hazel Green, in which Hazel found herself in a not dissimilar situation to Momo.  It was a series that really captured the imagination of the girls particularly, because it was one of not many books and series that had a courageous, don’t-back-down girl as its main character.  And in this graphic novel, Momo shows that same sort of awareness and resilience as she notices subtle changes to her local Chinatown – changes that are changing lives as well as the landscape – and she, accompanied by some friends and some anthropomorphic animals, is determined to show that progress is not always positive and it is usually driven by motives well beyond what is good for the community.

While this book is based on the real stories of the changes in Chinatowns throughout the USA, as explained in the final pages, it is also something our own children might have noticed or even experienced, particularly those who live in “tourist towns” as their surroundings change, expand and become more expensive to cope with the annual influx of visitors.  So it could become the impetus for taking a close look at their own neighbourhood and investigate changes, their causes and impacts, as well as those things that are worth fighting to preserve. 

Although the format of a graphic novel precludes it from being a class read-aloud, it could be worth searching out the Hazel Green series  to underpin any unit of work that has a theme of change and progress.  

Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mia Megastar 3: In the Spotlight

Ada Nicodemou

Penguin, 2024

160pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

 9781761342172

Mia’s life is pretty interesting and amazing. Apart from being the only kid in her class who lives above a shop renowned for its yummy pastries, she dreams of being a megastar and she and her friends have just produced a successful play and now the spotlight is shining on her.

But does she really want to be the megastar she has always dreamed of being?

In this third and final in this series, Mia has to decide what next… she’s discovering that being in the spotlight is not as welcoming as she thought it would be- in fact, it’s making her cringe; she’s been invited to apply for a performing arts scholarship at a prestigious school but worries about how that might affect her friendships with the kids at her current school particularly as they are about to make their own movie; and even though she’s been invited to audition for her favourite television show, what it she does and then doesn’t get the part! Is she ready (and willing) to step out of her comfort zone and try new things, including making new friends? Is there a way she can juggle everything, including the increased business her stardom has brought to the family shop?

Another series best read in order, this will appeal to young independent readers who have aspirations like Mia’s and give them food for thought. If they go to the edge, will they be afraid they will fall, or take the chance to fly? What will Mia do?

 

 

 

Funny Kid Spookytime

Funny Kid Spookytime

Funny Kid Spookytime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funny Kid Spookytime

Matt Stanton

ABC Books, 2024

240pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9780733342011

Horror Night 3 is the talk of the classroom but Max won’t be going to see it because why pay good money to have something scare you.  You don’t go into the shops to buy something to make you cry – or worried, jealous, frustrated, guilty… After all, a movie is just flat pictures on a screen and you’re sitting in a comfy chair, dribbling ice cream down your shirt, spilling your popcorn, as safe as safe can be.

Abby says she has seen it, Pip’s going on the weekend, Hugo’s not allowed and Tyson thinks it’s a joke.  But, no, Max isn’t going to see it – he’s not scared – he just has something else on that night…

But then Miss Sweet has set the class an assignment to make their own movie, and while Max’s teammate Hugo has an idea about a love story between a bath and a toilet, Max has a much better idea… why not make a horror movie that will make the entire class scream and wet their pants, especially Abby…

Since 2017 when young readers were first introduced to Max, the kid who likes to make others laugh, in Funny Kid for Presidentthis series has been entertaining young independent readers and this is now the 13th in the series. Unlike other series like Harry Potter where the characters naturally age and mature, Max and his mates are stuck in time and so each new episode just continues on the laughter and shenanigans that the fans expect.

Stanton is very much in tune with what kids in those middle years like to read about, particularly characters that they can relate to and secretly wish to be.  The place that the edgy humour of Jennings, Gleitzman and Milne played in their parents’ childhood is now being filled by him with great success, demonstrating that good stories with lots of humour and over-the-top situations are always winners, particularly if they have a slightly serious side that anchors them in reality and adds depth to the story. He now has his own YouTube channel that features lots about his writing and drawing that value-adds to his stories.  

This is one not only for those who are already fans of this series, and Stanton’s works generally, which also include the Fluff, Bored, and The Odds series, but one to recommend to parents to encourage their children keep reading. After all, reading is much less scary than watching horror movies…

Over or Under?

Over or Under?

Over or Under?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over or Under?

Pip Harry

Hilary Jean Tapper

Lothian, 2024

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

9780734421807

I’m jumping waves at the beach with Dad.
If they’re small I can leap over their frothy peaks.
Easy!
But further out, when they’re big, you have to duck dive under.

It’s time for a break at the beach, and Maisie is learning to navigate and negotiate the waves as they constantly roll in  Some are gentle and float her off the sand but then comes one that is a bit more vigorous and she has to make a decision to go over or it or under it. Before she makes up her mind, it has her in its grasp and she is tumbled over and over, unsure which way is up until Dad’s strong hands guide her and take her to shore.  And like any of us who has been dumped in that fashion, Maisie decides to spend the rest of the holiday close to mum and safely onshore.  But come the last day, does she have the courage to venture into the waves once again?

This is a story that will resonate with many young readers as they start to look forward to a long hot summer at the beach, maybe because they find the waves and their endless heartbeat-of-the-planet motion, either exhilarating or daunting.  There will be few who have not been dumped and experienced that momentary panic as they seek the surface, and the relief as someone’s hands guide them back to shore. They will also understand Maisie’s dilemma as she wants to be both safe with her mum but also out there with her dad, so this is a time to review and reinforce those rules for safe swimming that are provided on the final page.    

But then, just as the sea has many levels, this is written by Pip Harry who gave us both August and Jones, and The Little Waveand so as well as being Maisie’s story, it is also one for older kids who find themselves being knocked about by the waves of life and having to dig  deep and find the resilience and courage to put their toes in the water again.  End of year can bring extra stress for many as the safe haven of school and its routines are not there, Christmas holidays with their emphasis on family togetherness can mean heartache and hurt, and the uncertainty of the new year, perhaps with a new school, as well as any number of other factors.  So while there is the surface level of Maisie’s experience and the re-iteration of water safety, perhaps it’s an opportunity to review strategies and services that older students may need to draw on during this time.  And, just as Maisie’s dad is there to help her up, and her mum there for a safe refuge, there are those who can offer them similar help. 

In her blog post about the book’s birth, Harry says she likes ” to imagine that Maisie goes on to become a strong ocean swimmer or surfer and it’s that special, triumphant day on the beach that ignites a lifetime of connection to the coast. ” But it just might be the impetus for someone else to dip their toe in the water – so to speak – to try again, to try a new way, or to try something new altogether and celebrating each step conquered.  Or maybe, just learn to pick their battles – which ones do we float over, dive under or face head on – at the risk of being dumped.

An excellent example of a picture book being for all ages.  

For those who find this time of year, or life itself, overwhelming…

An infographic listing various mental health support services in Australia, including contact information for Beyond Blue, Suicide Call Back Service, Kids Helpline, and more, with each service's availability and target audience briefly described.

Millie Mak the Mender

Millie Mak the Mender

Millie Mak the Mender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Millie Mak the Mender

Alice Pung

Sher Rill Ng

HarperCollins, 2024

256pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781460763797

Millie Mak is back!  The little girl who loves to recycle, repurpose and upcycle things rather than buy new, returns in the second in this series for younger independent readers  in two more stories that will resonate with so many.

At last her friends at her new school have accepted her and Millie has a group of four close friends who enjoy both her company and her passion, including the snooty Shanelle whose little sister Safire was the recipient of the dolls house that Millie and her Scottish grandma rescued in the first story.  Things are a little better at home because while her mum still works at the aged care home, her dad’s leg has mended and he is now studying to follow his dreams.  Little sister Rosie is still making toddler mischief but because her Chinese grandmother Ahma who lives with them always seems to blame Millie for Rosie’s antics, Millie is convinced that she is not loved as much, and prefers to spend her time at her Scottish grandma’s house.  Ahma also seems to be more concerned with what other people’s opinions and perceptions are about the family which is also troubling, as Millie often feels shy and awkward, particularly in public and they have been invited to a wedding that is very important to Ahma,

But the main focus of this story is Millie’s relationships with the residents at the aged-care facility because, like many young children,  she sees only their age, illnesses and disabilities, rather than their personalities until she starts making them individualised hats and realises that there is still someone young and fun-loving, even adventurous inside the physical appearance.  However, when bully  Geri takes over the hat-making turning it into a public project for her own glory, the relationships between her friends becomes strained and Millie is caught between a rock and a hard place. 

Similarly, in the second story, when Millie’s abilities attract the attention of a television presenter and the Fru-Gals are invited to appear on a national television show. While Millie wants the girls to wear the things they have made, they have other ideas for their own reasons, and there is tension which comes to a head when the show’s producer has different ideas entirely, preferring to stereotype Rita and Veesa based on their cultural identity.

Once again, Alice Pung nails the issues of young girls straddling being the “little girl” and the one finding her identity as independence and the double-digit years loom, complicated by the physical differences and expectations as puberty kicks in.  Millie expresses a lot of those inner thoughts and concerns that most have while trying to negotiate the ups and downs of relationships that involve others with similar insecurities.  But,  as Fru-Gals becomes Ahem Creations with Rita as marketing designer, Veesa as fashion designer and product producer,  Shanelle as publicist and Millie as maker and mender,  above all, there is the belief that each will find their own path, and with that, inner calm and hope for the future.  

This is a series that will appeal widely to those in that Year 3-6 age bracket who are finding their own interests and paths to follow, and need encouragement to keep going despite the nay-sayers. There are detailed instructions for some of the things that Millie makes, including the little dancing toy she makes for Mr Feik’s project, that not only inspire readers to get started but also show that creativity can come in many forms.  So if sewing doesn’t appeal, something else will. 

Howzat Pat! (series)

Howzat Pat! (series)

Howzat Pat! (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howzat Pat! (series)

Dare to Bowl

9781460764688

Mission Wildlife Rescue

9781460764695

Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley

Serena Geddes

Harper Collins, 2024

192pp., pbk., RRP $A15.99

I’m Pat Cummins and I love playing cricket. I love it so much that I sleep with my bat!

With another summer of cricket starting to warm up, this is a timely new series for young independent readers with a love for the game and for whom current Australian captain, Pat Cummins, is an idol.  Beginning with the news that his family is moving from the coast to the mountains, and Pat experiencing all those concerns and anxieties about fitting into somewhere new, teaming up with the wrong crowd and having to make tough choices, there are themes that will resonate with many. And because this is semi-autobiographical in places, many readers will realise that he came from an ordinary family like theirs and so they, too, can have dreams and make them come true.

Integrated into the stories are things like his pre-game rituals, letters from his mum and sisters when he first became captain of his local junior team,  and other incidents and adventures that have an aura of authenticity as having been real events even if they have been altered to fit the narrative.  So while the story is told in the first-person, there is a sense of Pat’s personal involvement in its creation rather than just being an overseer as some similar series seem to have. 

Cummins is the second-youngest of five and so there are strong themes of family throughout the books, but as he finds “his tribe” including Prav and Beth among others who have a similar passion for the game, and strong bonds are forged, the importance of friendships and the support they can give us, emerges encouraging the reader to understand that we are not alone and are at our best with others around us.

Teachers’ notes help to explore these more fully, as well as other activities such as creating a Cricket Hall of Fame that will allow those for whom the sport is also a passion to show leadership, but they also explore other aspects of the stories such as Beth’s indigenous heritage, civics issues  and setting and achieving goals,  so that this becomes more than just another sports-oriented series, making it one for a range of readers.

Sports heroes come and go, somewhat like the seasons, but there is a sense that long after Pat Cummins the current cricket captain has moved on, this will be one series that maintains its relevance and appeal as a story for cricket lovers. 

Turtle Moon

Turtle Moon

Turtle Moon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turtle Moon

Hannah Gold

Levi Pinfold

HarperCollins, 2024

336pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9780008582081

Life has been unflash in the Trevelon household for some time as Silver’s parents try unsuccessfully to have another child and discover that it is not going to happen.  So much so that 11 year-old Silver feels she is second-fiddle to that unborn child and there is nothing that she can do to please her parents, particularly her mother.  She can’t even do well in a school art competition, even though her father is an artist. So when her father is invited to visit a turtle sanctuary for three months to paint pictures of the turtles to be turned into fund0raising souvenirs, it seems just like the circuit-breaker the family needs.

Life in the jungle of Costa Rica could not be more different than their English home, but, despite that, her parents’ melancholy continues – her mum spending her day reading and sleeping in a hammock and her dad unable to see the colours around him and confining himself to using black, regardless of the best efforts of Tickle, the capuchin monkey.  Silver finds a friend in Rafi, the son of the sanctuary’s overseer and who goes nowhere without Speedy, the baby sloth, draped around his neck.  Rafi recruits her to his secret one-man TAPS – the Turtle Agency Protection Society – that has its headquarters high in a treehouse – and Silver and the reader begin to learn about the turtles of the seas and the dangers they face, especially the eggs they lay in the sands on the beach. While all are endangered and in danger, it is the leatherback that hasn’t been on the beach for two years that is of the most concern, so when Silver sees one crawl up the beach and lay eggs, not only does she feel a special connection with the mother, but it sets off a train of events that others have described as Gold’s best story ever.

From her first novel, The Last Bear,  its sequel, Finding Bear, and The Lost WhaleGold has become synonymous with offering stories for young independent readers that shine a spotlight on some of the world’s most endearing and endangered species, entertaining and educating at the same time. But this one is a little different because, although its lead character is again somewhat lost and alone because of parents not available physically or emotionally, Gold has drawn on her own experience of not being able to have children to show that even if your life doesn’t follow the path you expect, there are other pathways you can take.  Thus, Silver’s parents play a more prominent role in this story than its predecessors, but nevertheless, in all four, there is a strong theme of the humans learning as much about themselves as they do about the creature that is their focus, and offering the reader pause for reflection.  

Offer me a book with Hannah Gold’s name on the cover and it’s straight to the top of the TBR pile – and this one proved its promise. 

Willow’s Gumboots

Willow's Gumboots

Willow’s Gumboots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willow’s Gumboots

Beverley McWilliams

Hélène Magisson

Midnightsun, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781922858535

Willow’s gumboots are pink with green spots and she loves them!  No matter where she went, she wore them – the garden, the beach, parties… And how special they looked when she flashed them up with green ribbons.  No one had shoes like hers.  But then one day she discovered they were worn out – right through to holes and now, instead of keeping the dirt and the sand and the prickly grass out, they let them in.

So her beautiful boots were hidden under her bed all through the cold winter when all she had to wear were plain sneakers, not nearly as joyful as pink gumboots!  But as Spring came and her mum was out in the garden again at last, Willow has an idea – and her beautiful gumboots are back on show again!

So many children often have a favourite piece of clothing that they hang on to well after its first useful life is over, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have a second life as something else.  Willow’s idea to upcycle her boots means they will go on for a lot longer, and the author has provided some ideas for upcycling so others can follow Willow’s example.  There are even instructions for making gumboot plant pots just like Willow’s – imagine a garden of gumboots along the school wall as we encourage our students to do the same as they plant and nurture seeds as part of the science program.  Teachers’ notes are available but the children’s imaginations will probably suggest so many ways they can upcycle favourite things so they last a bit longer.  Who knows how many will begin a lifelong habit.