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Costa’s Garden: Flowers

Jan19
Costa's Garden: Flowers

Costa’s Garden: Flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costa’s Garden: Flowers

Costa Georgiadis

Brenna Quinlan

ABC Books, 2024

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

9780733343360

In days gone by, lessons about flowers focused on drawing diagrams, sometimes from real-life models, and labelling the parts with terms like petals, pistils, stamens, leaves and so on and that was pretty much it.

But did you know that flowers can be loudspeakers, billboards, memory-makers and even tell stories?

In the first of this new series of narrative non fiction picture books, gardening guru Costa Georgiadis invites young readers to put on their nature goggles and join him in his garden to take a closer look at the flowers that grow there.  But rather than a horticultural tome dumbed down for littlies and prettied up with pictures, it becomes an adventure as we wander through the flower patch and learn how flowers connect us to nature, and, indeed, nature to nature.

“They are a bit like a bum and undies.  They go together.”

As each page is turned and we are presented with stunning illustrations of actual flowers we learn about their critical role in maintaining both the balance in nature and human wellbeing as we learn how flowers engage our heart, head and hands. 

“I believe in gardening the soil as well as the soul.”

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Over the past few years there have been a number of books for younger readers that have raised awareness about the importance of the local environment, and particularly, the critical predicament of the insects and minibeasts that live there as there habitat diminishes and thus their ability to carry out their vital function in Nature is threatened, and this has inspired many to plant gardens, even if that is just a flower box on a balcony.  But this is one of a few that actually examines what is being planted, how it grows, and its connections and contributions to big picture.  It encourages readers to see and feel the joy in nature, explore its wonders and marvel at how the tiniest things can have the most enormous impact. If the previous books haven’t inspired them to go outside and get their hands dirty, then this one does because who could resist not only being surrounded by the colour, smell and miracles of flowers but also doing something, even if it’s small, to make their world that bit more magical.

“With our nature goggles on, the more we look, the more we learn, the more we learn the more we understand…the more we understand the more prepared we are to act. And when we act, we fall more and more in love with nature.” 

Perhaps taking a troubled child for a walk through a flower-filled garden and then helping them create one of their own could be just the therapy they need.  

Boss of Your Own Mind

Jan18
Boss of Your Own Mind

Boss of Your Own Mind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boss of Your Own Mind

Byll & Beth Stephen

Simon Howe

ABC Books, 2024

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780733342769

You’re not the boss of what other people think,
what they say and how they exist.
You’re not the boss of how someone else behaves —
the positions they take and the decisions they make.
But you ARE the boss of one thing …

In this sequel to the very important and powerful Boss of Your Own Body , our youngest readers are reminded that while they might not be in charge of many things because they are still young and learning, nevertheless they are in charge of how they feel and how they respond to particular situations. While they can’t be in control of things like the weather or deciding family holiday plans, or who is in their class at school or even who likes them or not, they can be responsible for how they cope with the inevitable disappointment, frustration, sadness and other not-so-fun feelings they are going to encounter as they become more independent.

Within the list of things they can’t be expected to be the main decision-makers, there is the constant affirmation that they are the arbiters of their thoughts as well as some simple strategies to deal with situations and these are reinforced by the appealing illustrations.  For example, while they might be surrounded by activity and busy-ness, if not chaos, they can still calm their thinking to restore peace of mind; they can disagree with a friend’s thinking but still treat each other with respect; and they can take themselves to their happy place when they are feeling unsure or overwhelmed.

There are many mindfulness programs that are now an essential part of the health and wellbeing curriculum as the anxiety levels and mental health concerns of students are at such a high level and so this book, with its target audience of our youngest students, is an essential tool if we are to try to empower them to be in control of their emotions, responses and actions early.                                                                                                                                              

Hazel’s Treehouse

Jan11
Hazel's Treehouse

Hazel’s Treehouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazel’s Treehouse

Zanni Louise

Judy Watson

Walker Books, 2024

16099., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781760657222

Imagine if you were a little girl,  nine years old, as long as your bunk bed and as kind as a marshmallow, and you lived in a treehouse in the bush with your friends Walter the wombat, who loves to clean but can have an attitude issue Tiny the honey possum, who is so small she travels in your pocket; Odette the pademelon, who is constantly bouncing; and Poky, an echidna who alters colours and shades depending on Hazel’s emotions.  What adventures might you have?

For this is the story (or stories) of Hazel who is just such a girl,  and this is a collection of short-ish stories that recount their lives together whether it’s staying in bed all day on a Sunday because Wombat doesn’t want to get up or searching for rainbows on rainy days or celebrating a special day even if you don’t know why it’s special.  

Whether read alone or read aloud, these are gentle stories about ordinary things but made extraordinary by the characters, each of whom has their special quirks and charm.  But despite these differences, each story is woven with the threads of friendship, collaboration, and being in touch with your emotions while  embracing and navigating the ups and downs of everyday life, including starting school for the first time which makes the final chapter very relevant for this time of year.

.Judy Watson’s detailed drawings really bring the stories to life offering adventures in themselves and invite the young reader to use their own imagination to put themselves in Hazel’s position and make up their own story.  What will she tell her friends when she comes back from that first day? 

 

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

Jan10
MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

Scotty James

Steve Worland & Dave Atze

Penguin, 2024

176pp., pbk., RRP $A15.99

9781761347429

As Mooki the alien does a backflip out of his spaceship to greet his friend Cindy and her dog Ralph as he returns from his Moon home, he spots a sign advertising a gigantic toy called Cog. After Cindy explains what a toy is, they head to the toy shop to see if they can find Cog only to find it closed.  But, suddenly the door opens, and because it is “not breaking and entering if the door opens for you”. they go inside.  

But it is not as easy to find Cog as they expect, particularly as they are pursued through the store by a gang of clowns intent on stealing Ralph.  And if the clowns aren’t scary enough, there are drones stealing toys and taking them to the top floor?  What is going on there?  And will Mooki’s curiosity lead them to deeper trouble or will they escape?

What appears to be a simple story with just a few lines on each page and an abundance of monochromatic illustrations, is actually an intriguing adventure for newly independent readers bridging the gap between basal readers and novels, and which has strong themes of friendship, loyalty, and being both brave and resilient.  While the concept of toys coming to life when adults disappear is not new, the idea that they may actually be mean and nasty puts a new spin on the way children usually view them and suddenly the appeal of being loose in a toy store after hours with no adults is turned on its head! However, they will understand the need to rescue Ralph, whose nervous wees at inopportune moments add the humour for the age group, and so they will want to keep reading to discover if he is saved.  

Some will recognise Scotty James as being Australia’s leading snowboarder and he has revealed that his childhood nickname was Mooki and that the challenges in the stories – the first in the series is Mooki vs The Big Scary  – represent the sorts of things he has had to face and overcome on his own way to the top, with Mooki himself being a symbol to always dream big, reach for the moon, take advantage of opportunities and faces obstacles head on. 

The final page clearly demonstrates there is more in this series to come and young readers are going to be looking forward to them.  

 

Noodle & Bao

Jan8
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

Jan7
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?

 

 

 

The Hotel Balzaar

Jan1
The Hotel Balzaar

The Hotel Balzaar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hotel Balzaar

Kate DiCamillo

Júlia Sardà

Walker Books, 2024

160pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781529523782

In the land of Norendy, stands the slowly ageing and slightly shabby Hotel Balzaar where the rule-abiding Alfonse presides over the reception desk and lobby, Norman the bellman has perfected the art of sleeping on his feet, and where Marta’s mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly—like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel’s wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. She is very worried that he will not find them if they keep moving and he doesn’t know where they are.

Then into her world comes a guest – a Countess no less – with a large blue and green parrot on her shoulder and some mysterious stories to tell Marta.  At first, the stories seem disconnected and incomplete but gradually Marta starts to put the pieces together and connecting them to the words in the last letter she had from her father… Could they hold the secret to her father’s disappearance?

Described as a series where “where tales swirl within tales” , this the second in this trilogy and the ideal start to reviews for 2025 as hopefully there will be many more tales within tales as the year unfolds.  Written for independent readers and supported by black and white illustrations which help the reader put themselves alongside Marta, this is a story that needs to be read to the end – preferably in one sitting – so that all the pieces fall together without interruption.  Underlying Marta’s yearning for her father to come home, even though her mother seems to have given up hope, is a thread of having faith  and believing that there will be a happy ending, something that will resonate with many young readers.  While their resolution might not come through a mysterious old woman with stories to tell and a parrot called  Blitzkoff who may or may not be a bewitched army general regretful of the hurt he has caused, nevertheless they will be encouraged to have courage and continue.  Discussion questions in the teachers’ notes can help guide a deeper investigation.

Kate Di Camillo is recognised as one of the best storytellers, being the author of iconic stories such as Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Desperaux and having won the Newberry Medal twice, and so this is a great opportunity to introduce readers to her works.  

Shout It Out!

Nov26
Shout It Out!

Shout It Out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shout It Out!

Yoga Therapy for Emotional Resilience

Loraine Rushton & Adele Vincent

Andrew McIntosh

Little Steps, 2024

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

9781922833228

Every now and then we have terrible, horrible, np-good , very bad days when everything seems out of kilter and our emotions get the better of us.   Jasmine is having one of those days and she is feeling overwhelmed, particularly as each new frustration seems to compound the previous ones.  However, she has learned how to navigate and manage her feelings, using breathing, movement, noise and her imagination as she practises the things she has learned doing Ryoho yoga.

Everyone experiences these “big feelings” – they are a natural part of who we are as humans – but it is how we deal with them that has the most impact on those around us that is critical.  At the time of the year, particularly, when there is much excitement and expectation, as well as fear and fatigue as the familiar routines of school and friendships are changing, children can find themselves between a rock and a hard place and unable to manage.  Although there is no one silver bullet for all children and all circumstances, this book not only helps the reader realise that feelings of being overwhelmed and frustrated are common to everyone, but offers them yet another set of strategies to help them self-calm and relax.  

There is an old adage about the straw that broke the camel’s back that can often explain why something as simple as being asked to tidy your room can lead to an emotional outburst of undue proportions and although our younger ones might not be able to identify these, let alone articulate them, until they are more mature, nevertheless the earlier we can help them begin to develop their emotional awareness and intelligence so they do get better at recognising how they are feeling and why, and offering ways that might help them express them appropriately the better. 

In a recent news item from the ABC,  it states, “almost 40 per cent of young men today feel pressured to conform to certain rules, such as acting strong or fighting back in order to behave like a ‘real man’. Thirty-four per cent feel society expects them to ‘use violence to get respect if necessary’ ” particularly as they are exposed to some of the toxic attitudes that prevail on social media, demonstrating that every single one of us has a role to play in helping children understand what is driving their thoughts, actions and reactions.  This book provides us with yet another tool. 

 

Over or Under?

Nov23
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 Wave, and 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.

George the Wizard: Let your magic shine!

Nov17
George the Wizard: Let your magic shine!

George the Wizard: Let your magic shine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George the Wizard: Let your magic shine!

Tony Armstrong

Emma Sjaan Beukers

Lothian, 2024

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

9780734422163

High on a mountain top George loves using his magic to speed around on his flying cloud, looking after his crystal gardens and making himself a never-go-cold bubble bath every night.  But for all that he could conjure up whatever he wanted, George is lonely.  He wants friends but he is afraid that they will laugh at his magic.  

Meanwhile, nearby in a village, Harriet has her own special talent and is able to hear George’s wishes so she sets off through the forest to find him to see if she can help. Despite the embarrassment of catching him in his bubble bath and her offer to take him to the village to meet other people, George has lots of excuses about not going – his fear of being laughed at has overwhelmed his need for company.  But Harriet is nothing if not persuasive, so they set off only to discover the village is under attack by a dragon, and George has to use his magic to save it.  But will the villagers embrace him or shun him?

While the overt narrative of the story is about using ‘real’ magic, there is an underlying theme of everyone having some sort of magic or special gift within that can and should shine, and this is emphasised in the illustrations where every villager is a different colour, size and shape and clearly with all sorts of individual idiosyncrasies.  Yet these differences are no barrier to them being friends – in fact, as Harriet says, “Imagine how boring life would be if everyone pretended to be the same.”

Fifty years ago in the first Australian classroom I taught in, there were three of us team-teaching – there was Jennifer who was a Scot, Jill who was from Germany and me, a Kiwi. And I still recall the first lessons we shared where musical Jennifer taught the children a ditty about being special which each child sang and then shared what was special about them.  The pride they took in sharing their unique origin, talent, or whatever using whatever props they had prepared, and the sense of unity amongst those 90 kids has stayed with me all these years and completely influenced and infiltrated how I teach.  To this day, when people ask what I teach my reply is always. “Kids”. And in all those years, I have not met two the same – even identical twins who kept me baffled and tricked – because I had learned in those early days to let each let their light shine. 

This would be the ideal book to use at the beginning of the school year as students and teachers are getting to know each other, offering them an opportunity to embrace their individuality whilst sharing it so just as a cake is made of diverse ingredients, when they are all combined they become a delicious whole.