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Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Apr4
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Jacinta Liu

Freda Chiu

Lothian, 2025

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

9780734421791

I have two grandmothers.
One with brown eyes, and one with blue eyes.
One makes dumplings, and one bakes bread.
They are my grandmothers.
One lives in the East, and one lives in the West.

So many of our students could have written those lines as a reflection of their family structure as “mixed marriages” are just a normal part of today’s society, and so this is one that is going to resonate with so many.  At its heart is the strong message that despite differences in their heritage and history that has made them them, grandmothers come together and give the very best of who they are as they love, accept,  teach, protect, and guide and their grandchildren so they can grow up to be the best they can be. While each may have different belief systems  – one was blessed under the protection of the Chinese dragon, full of dignity and strength. One was kissed by the light of the Cancer moon, filled with grace and style – or different food prep preferences and techniques or perhaps a different language the best of who they are is melded within the child so they too can say I am from the East and the West.

Written by a Chinese-Australian and inspired by her own family history, its authenticity  is apparent and will inspire young readers, whether they have a dual heritage or not, to consider the traits they share and the things they like, eat and do that have been directly passed on to them by their grandparents. It is the perfect accompaniment to Joanna Ho’s Eyes the Kiss in the Corners and Eyes that Speak to the Stars   and others that celebrate intergenerational relationships.

While these sorts of books tend to get a particular focus during Harmony Day celebrations, they have year-round appeal to any child who picks them up and sees themselves and their circumstances portrayed in a book for all to see.  As adults, we should never underestimate the validation and reassurance of who they are that that offers. 

My Big Secret

Feb18
My Big Secret

My Big Secret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Big Secret

Felice Arena

Penguin, 2025

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

9781761349706

Everyone, and that means EVERYone in Piggy’s family go for the red team.   Mum, dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, even his guinea pig… they all like the red team. It’s a family tradition.

But Piggy likes the blue team.  

He has to sit there silently cheering for the blue team because to show his preferences might mean they won’t love him any more. Until the day when the blue team beats the red team in the dying seconds of the game and…

As footy season begins once again, this is a story that will resonate with many as memorabilia and merchandise appear and families again begin to follow their favourites.  And little ones are expected to follow the family allegiance, regardless of who their particular heroes are, fearing rejection and exclusion if they don’t conform . Inspired, by his own childhood experiences, Felice Arena says he  wanted to create a story that would show children that they are loved and accepted for who they are even if their interests and feelings are different to those around them, and that compassion and understanding and love are bigger than that.

While for younger students this may be about supporting a particular team and being fearful of the family’s reaction, for older students it could be about any number of deeper things such as gender identity, religious views, their moral compass, or any number of diverse beliefs and values and so as well as the teachers’ notes expanding the story for younger, on-the-surface readers, there are also opportunities to approach those bigger picture issues with those who are more mature, including encouraging them to put themselves in the place of the one who is “different” and thinking about their thoughts and feelings. Using anthropomorphism is a clever technique to put the characters at arms length so discussions are safe and not personal, but nevertheless give readers an opportunity to think about and respond to “What if…?” as they also begin to explore the concept and  impact of peer and social media pressures, and develop strategies to withstand them.  

The best picture books span all age groups, and this is definitely one of those.  A hidden gem for those prepared to look.

Lamingtons and Dumplings

Feb3
Lamingtons and Dumplings

Lamingtons and Dumplings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamingtons and Dumplings

Pho Yann

Annelies Billeter

Little Steps, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.95

9781922678898

It is hard to imagine two more disparate places to live – a farm outside of Alice Springs, and an apartment in Beijing,  But that’s where penpals Connor and Jianyu live and while they have different lifestyles, nevertheless they find they have much in common such as going to school, doing things after school and enjoying favourite foods.

Using the internet and social media, the boys meet up regularly (although there is also a place for the traditional method of penpals connecting through mail) and share their lives, each building an understanding of how they can be different but essentially the same. 

At a time when many students are trying to find their feet in new situations as the school year begins, this is one to share to show that kids are kids everywhere; they do a lot of the same things even if the details are different and much can he gained if they have the opportunity to share. Built on a series of shared statements that compare and contrast the boys’ lives, and accompanied by illustrations, this could be a model for a class project where couples are paired up to do a similar comparison.  Even if their lives are not as diverse as Connor and Jianyu’s, and appear similar on the surface there will be revelations that give each a new insight and understanding of the other, perhaps leading to deeper friendships and discoveries.    At the very least, there could be recipe writing and food sharing!!!!

Some might even like to look for a penpal for themselves or the class, either nationally or further afield, and while there are a number of sites that come up with a search, verification of their authenticity and safety could become a teachable moment in itself. 

Small Acts

Oct11
Small Acts

Small Acts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Acts

Kate Gordon & Kate Foster

Walker Books, 2024

256pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781760655938

Josh closes his laptop on the video his class has been watching about how people’s lives have been changed because strangers did something kind for them.  But even though the screen is now blank, the images continue to play in his mind, leaving him feeling overwhelmed.  For ever since his clever, computer-nerd BFF Andrew won a scholarship to a new, posh school Josh has felt alone yet desperately wanting to belong.  Perhaps being kind will be the key of the door of acceptance, but he is also confused.  How can an 11 year old boy make a difference -the only money he had was that which h had saved to buy a special camera for his photography – and how can he reach out when the ideas and emotions are often too big for his brain and speech becomes impossible, so he has to write his thoughts and make his lists to make sense of them?

And then there is Ollie – Olivia Alwyn Joan Richards to be precise – but that name was for a girl who was sweet and pretty, and Ollie was just Ollie.  Artistic and autistic, Ollie didn’t do talking either preferring to express herself through her art and her poetry, and after her best friend deserted her in the meanest of ways, she has struggled to believe that she is enough, that she is worthy of another’s attention, let alone kindness, even though she, herself, has reached out through one of her sculptures to a strange boy she has seen sitting on the park bench and whom she believes to be homeless because of his too-small, too-old clothes…

What they don’t know yet is that video assigned by Mr Parham, 5P’s teacher with  a passion for red, is going to change their lives and the lives of those around them in ways that will be profound…

IMO, put either of these author’s names on the cover of a book and you know you are going to be in for a quality, thought-provoking read and this one lives up to expectations.  As much as it gives the reader an insight into the world of those on the spectrum and how such a diagnosis is not one-size-fits-all but manifests itself in different ways for different children, it is also a powerful story for those who are ASD.  All four key characters – Josh, Ollie, Andrew and even Mr Parham – are autistic but each is very different, as are all neurotypical children, but first and foremost, they are children with all that that entails, and to be so brilliantly portrayed in a story that ‘normalises’ their thoughts and actions for themselves as much as  it enlightens the reader can only be a positive.

For me, who was so engrossed in the story that I read it right through the NRL Grand Final, the most powerful chapter is the poem written by Ollie in which she reflects on whether she will ever be enough in the eyes of those she holds most dearly, and then gradually comes to understand that maybe, more important than being enough for other people, she could find her own enough inside her.  If that isn’t a key message for strong mental health for all children, then I wonder what is. 

Comprehensive teachers’ notes are available that will help readers not only understand the story, its purpose and message but also apply what they have learned to their relationships so these are stronger, more compassionate and empathetic and richer for everyone.  

Should it be a read-aloud for a class so others can understand the lives of those on the spectrum?  That depends on the class and the teacher’s knowledge of any neurodivergent students within it.  While it is critical that such children can now read about themselves in stories like this, (a category search of this blog for “autism” will deliver several results), for some, having their condition exposed publicly may be too much, may lead to emotional distress and even more marginalisation and so a conversation with their parents who will always know the child best, should be a prerequisite.

Billy’s Brilliant Butterflies

Sep29
Billy's Brilliant Butterflies

Billy’s Brilliant Butterflies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy’s Brilliant Butterflies

Jacquie Ward

Winona Kieslich

Little Steps, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.95

9781922678324

For little Billy Moss, his heart is happiest when he is out in the garden hunting for tiny treasures, growing juicy red strawberries and drawing pictures of magical rainforests, where his world is calm, quiet, familiar and predictable.  .  When the world gets too loud or too busy, he seeks refuge in his treehouse, puts his headphones on to block out the noise and escapes into his daydreams.  

But life is about to change drastically for Billy because he is going to be starting school with all its people, noise, movement, busyness, unfamiliarity and unpredictability.  And already the butterflies in his tummy are beginning to flitter-flutter as his anxiety builds,  However, he finds his brave, and even though the butterflies are now doing somersaults and he wishes she could stay longer, he lets his mum leave and sits on the edge of the mat as Miss Dee reads to the class.  Will it be home time soon?

No, it’s only lunchtime and as the other kids race out to the playground, a little voice asks him, “Are you okay?” Amelie has noticed his distress and they face the playground together, not joining in the boisterous games but hunting for treasures because Amelie is good at that too.  And Miss Dee understands as well, setting up a quiet place for the two to go when they need a break, even encouraging them to have a wander out under the trees if that’s what they need…

Research estimates that between 15-30% of the population could be labelled “highly sensitive”, possessing “a deep sensitivity to their physical, emotional and social worlds” and expressing this through vivid creativity, highly tuned intuition, deep empathy, an appreciation for beauty and a natural affinity to animals and the natural world.  But it can also mean being prone to overstimulation and feeling overwhelmed so they need more time out to be on their own in peace.  So, as much as this is about the normal anxiety of starting school and the butterflies that we all get, it is also an insight for parents and teachers into the world of the HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) and how their needs can be acknowledged and accommodated within the classroom environment.  While it is seen as a personality trait rather than a mental health disorder. nevertheless it can prevent the child, particularly, from participating in some of the normal aspects of childhood, and so the author has provided some factual information about the condition that is useful for helping the child survive and thrive in the busy world of school – although encouraging a calm, predictable environment with provision to take time out, celebrating particular creative talents and providing opportunities to pursue these, has to be a win-win for everyone.  

As preparations for the new school year begin, this is worth reading as we welcome new children to this new world, so we have an awareness of not only the sorts of questions to ask parents but also the sorts of things we can incorporate in the classroom life to ensure everyone has a positive, supportive time. 

Kevin Saves the Show

Sep15
Kevin Saves the Show

Kevin Saves the Show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Saves the Show

Jacqueline Harvey

Kate Isobel Scott

Puffin, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A17.99

9781761048968

Now that Kevin, the idiosyncratic sheep has been accepted for who and what he is by Shaun, Shauna, Sheryl and Shane and the rest of the flock, no one looks twice at his purple locks and quirky unsheeplike ways. He loves to learn and try new things so when he decides to host a song competition,  there are lots of entrants – many as eccentric as he is, but all safe in the knowledge of being accepted and welcome.  Thirty performers line up to pay their $1.00 admission including a donkey in leg-warmers, the beautifully dressed Polly Pig and even Shaun, Shauna, Sheryl and Shane appear as the baabaa-shop quartet! 

But while they may look and dress the part, sadly not many have the talent to match until…

But who’s the new sheep that the spotlight’s revealed?
And how has such talent been so well concealed?

However, there is panic and fear when the identity of the winner is revealed, until Kevin steps in. Because he knows what it is like to be different and on the outside…

Continuing Kevin’s saga from the original released earlier this year, young readers will not only laugh out loud at the competition performers, but they might also pause and think about the masked singer.  How often do we make judgements based on appearance, reputation and prejudice?  Perhaps the naughty, ostracised child has a different story to tell, one that is masked by their behaviour or circumstances and all they want is the acceptance, perhaps even friendship of those around them.   

Both author and illustrator have created delightful characters that will appeal to our younger readers, and they will eagerly wait to see if the newcomer can fit into the farmyard.  Or perhaps they will write their own sequel… 

A Penguin Like Me

Aug21
A Penguin Like Me

A Penguin Like Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Penguin Like Me

Marcus Pfister

North South Books, 2024

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

9780735845589

Every penguin is different.  But each one is a penguin…

At first glance, all the penguins in the colony look the same, but when you examine them more closely, each one is different.  

Lucas has come from another colony on the other side of the island and looks a little different; Ida is a little confused about just who she is yet but she would dearly love to soar like an albatross; Timmy hides his anxiety and depression by being the colony clown; Felix is loving and friendly despite his wings being shorter than those of the others; Lena loves Ida rather than one of the boy penguins and Sofia lives in a very special world of her senses … 

No matter their physical, emotional, cultural or mental differences, they are all penguins and they all get along together as a colony and a community.  In fact, the colony is richer for its diversification as each contributes something unique and accepts what is offered by the others.

By the creator of The Rainbow Fish, this is a delightful story for young readers that not only demonstrates that each of us is an individual with our own stories, talents, dreams, likes and concerns but celebrates those differences for what they add to the bigger picture.  While the theme of accepting and celebrating diversity is not new in stories for young children. it is a message that our little ones need to hear over and over in many guises as they venture beyond the confines of family and encounter children whose lives are very different to theirs.  Pfister’s artwork which captures each penguin’s personality is sublime, adding touches of humour while inviting the reader to examine it closely to see if they can detect each penguin’s personal profile before it is revealed in the text. 

Respectful relationships education is now a mandated part of the Australian curriculum and  right from Kindergarten/Foundation children are learning to develop their social, emotional and thinking skills, forming new friendships, encountering unaccustomed situations, identifying and describing emotions as they learn to express their feelings appropriately and building the capacity to deal with these unfamiliar and unknown circumstances respectfully, so this book with its emphasis on the acceptance of difference regardless of what that might be, is a valuable resource to share and explore. The children could discuss which penguin they are most like, or if they were joining the colony what unique thing they would bring to it.  

Masterful.

 

Gorgeously Me!

Jul17
Gorgeously Me!

Gorgeously Me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeously Me!

Jonathan Van Ness

Kamala Nair

Walker Books, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781760659462

I won’t be afraid to stand out or show the world what I’m all about.
I am exactly who I’m meant to be. Perfectly, happily, gorgeously me!

Using a rollicking rhyme that catties both the story and the reader along at a fast clip, and its exuberant illustrations, this is a book that encourages each child to celebrate themselves, just as they are and whatever that is. Regardless of what they look like, what they like to do, wear or eat, or how they express themselves. who they are is just fine, regardless of outside opinion or perception.  But while it celebrates each child’s uniqueness it also acknowledges that there can be down times, when feeling alone or sad can sometimes overwhelm, but it emphasises that these feelings are natural and normal and it is the love and joy of others that pulls you through.

And perhaps that could be the most important message of this book.  That life is not just one big party full of good times and good feelings that others pretend to portray – that feeling anxious or having a disagreement with a friend or just being out of step with the world are all part of everyone’s life and can be embraced and worked through as an integral part of the maturing of you.  

Over the years of doing reviews, it is significant that more than 400 titles have been tagged “identity” , each one sharing a similar theme to this one – that we are each unique individuals, and that our differences make us unique but our similarities unite us yet, regardless, who we are as we are is enough.   We don’t have to dance to some other piper’s tune or have our strings pulled by a master puppeteer and even though this is such a familiar theme, given the apparent precarious state of the mental health of our young, it is a message they need to hear over and over again.  

While some may recognise the author’s name from the television show Queer Eye in which a group of non-binary hosts offer lifestyle advice, for those for whom gender diversity in children’s books may be an issue, there is no reference to that in this title.  Although it may offer affirmation to those who are gender diverse, there are no direct references to that situation – it’s all about celebrating who we are for who we are whatever that might be.  

To and Fro

May17
To and Fro

To and Fro

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To and Fro

Anton Clifford-Motopi

A&U Children’s, 2024

304pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781761180378

For twelve years, it has just been Sam, his mum and his Nanna (and Grandad when he was alive) and Sam has been okay with that.  He has survived his mum’s cooking, passion for second-hand things and dreadful driving; he visits his nanna often and copes with her religious beliefs, ornaments on every surface and gallery of photos of dead people on the mantelpiece; he fits in well at his school, has friends although they make fun of his Afro haircut especially Lachlan Bott, manages to rub along with his teacher Mr Peacock whose antics mimic his name and like most in Year 6, is counting down the days till primary school is over.  He has a dog called Trevor who has a haircut similar to his own, and altogether, he is just like everyone else he knows.

He has never met his dad although he knows he was a Black African who apparently left his mother when she was pregnant, and even that is unremarkable these days when family structures are so diverse.  But what he is not ready for is his dad suddenly appearing in his life, and his having to make the decision about whether he will meet him with all the ramifications that that will have. 

Most kids meet their parents when they’re born. All they need to do to impress them is poop, sleep and make goo-goo ga-ga sounds. But I’m twelve. None of that is going to impress my father.

And given that Mr Peacock has set the class a major investigation into “who am I and where do I come from?’ so Sam’s focus is already on his origins, it is a dilemma that only he can decide.  He does go ahead with the meeting but that just sets up more questions than answers – deep-seated questions that will shape his identity – but which provoke a lot of turmoil within and without.  Is he a white kid with a black dad? Or a black kid with white skin? Or half-black and half-white? How can he make his outside match his insides if he doesn’t know who he is?

This is an engaging novel for independent readers, many of whom may find themselves in Sam’s predicament whether the conflict be based on race, culture, religion, gender or something else.  As kids move through puberty, even those in the most “standard” of families, question who they are as they try to find and establish their place as independent individuals in the scheme of things, so it is going to have broad appeal.  Told by Sam himself, and being somewhat akin to the author’s own experience, the reader is drawn into Sam’s confusion from his perspective, rather than that of a narrator imposing their interpretation.  It’s funny, has a certain amount of toilet humour that appeals to the age and gives it authenticity, but more than anything, it is a compelling read that tackles deeper issues than just constructing a family tree because it takes that to the next level of looking at the relationships on it and their impact on the current generation.

While many modern stories for that upper end of primary often feature fantastic creatures, superheroes and good vs evil in some shape or form, my experience is that these readers also love contemporary realistic fiction like this – stories where they see themselves or put them in a position of asking what would they do, giving them an opportunity to work through genuine life issues at arm’s length.  They like being respected as intelligent, thoughtful readers, and through both the characters and the storyline of this one, the author has nailed it.  

Heather Has Two Mummies

Apr20
Heather Has Two Mummies

Heather Has Two Mummies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather Has Two Mummies

Lesléa Newman

Laura Cornell

Walker Books, 2016

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781406365559

Heather’s favourite number is two – she has two arms, two legs, two pets and two lovely mummies, Mama Kate, a doctor, and Mama Jane, a carpenter, plus dog Midnight and cat Gingersnap.  But when Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy … and Heather doesn’t have a daddy! But then the class all draw portraits of their families, and not one single drawing is the same. Heather and her classmates realize – it doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the most important thing is that all the people in it love one another very much.

In the international bestseller, Lessons in Chemistry, which focuses on the attitudes towards women in the 1950s and early 60s, Teacher Mudford asks her Year 1 class to fill in a diagram of their family tree including a photo, but not only does she share what she learns about some of the diverse families of her students with other parents, but she persecutes those children who don’t have the stock-standard, mother-father-child/ren arrangement that was the only accepted model of the times.

Fast forward 30 years to the 1990s and the original version of Heather Has Two Mummies is published, despite many rejections from mainstream publishers because it was considered too controversial because attitudes had scarcely changed, and is challenged, banned, the subject of public debate, attacked by clergy and politicians alike. By the end of the decade it was the 9th most challenged book in US literary history.  

Now, another 30* years on, the self-published first editions have become collectibles, and reprints are common in school libraries because diverse family structures are mostly more acceptable and children have both the right and the need to read about themselves. While as recently as 2015 teachers in some US states faced dismissal for sharing such stories, a situation that has become even more dire in some US states since the extreme right-wing presidency of Donald Trump with books with any sort of reference to sexual diversity being pulled from shelves and banned in state-sponsored legislation, nevertheless this book has persisted and has not been out of print for 35 years, indicating that there is clearly a demand for these sorts of stories that address the tricky topics that children live daily, that cause both confusion and anxiety, and which have to be shared if we are to normalise anything that is not the norm. 

For those for whom such stories might be problematic because of the ethos of their schools, I invite you to read both the discussions that were generated in 2015 when I wrote the tricky topics hat for my 500 Hats blog and how it has been addressed in the Sample Collection Policy under Diversity and Inclusion. The mental health of our students is more prominent now than it has been in the past and much stems from feelings of being different, excluded, not belonging and so, IMO, we as educators have a responsibility to embrace diversity, to show that there is so much more that includes rather than divides. As the wise MS Molly in the story says, “each family is special, The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another.”