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The Riding Gallery

Jul27
The Riding Gallery

The Riding Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Riding Gallery

Sally Murphy

Martina Heiduczek

Walker Books, 2024

176pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781760657345

Throughout the year, Anton Weniger travels the countryside with his swing boats, shooting gallery and little merry-go-round, settling in St Kilda in Melbourne for the summer.  But Anton has a dream – to build a ride like those he experienced in his boyhood Germany. “a ride of such magic, and beauty and awe that all who sat aboard and all who witnessed would be amazed” and music that sounds like there is an orchestra inside.

But this is 1914 and war between England and Germany is imminent. Evelyn’s dad is a newspaperman and because he must be “where the news is” he is moving his family again, this time from Wodonga to St Kilda. Evelyn is not impressed by yet another move, although being close to the sea appeals, and on her last night before she is uprooted again, her mum takes her to the fairground and there she meets Mr Weniger and she is delighted to discover that his rides will be in St Kilda each summer.  Perhaps the move won’t be so bad after all.  In fact, once she meets Rory-over-the-fence, who despite being a boy, becomes her BFF and Mr Weniger arrives with his rides, St Kilda becomes a place of wonder and fun.  Until it’s not.

Because Mr Weniger is a German immigrant and suspicion and hatred run deep.  When Rory’s three older brothers join up to fight “the Hun” Evelyn’s relationship with him starts to splinter because while she enjoys the magic of the rides, even moreso when Mr Weniger’s  dream carousel comes to fruition and she is among the first to ride it, Rory sides with those who have a hatred of all Germans and all things German, made more acute when one brother comes home badly injured and the other is killed….

Based on true events, this is a verse novel told by Anton Weniger, Evelyn and Rory which explores the perspectives of each as their worlds collide and a faraway war has an impact on each of their lives, a technique which allows the reader to see inside the thoughts and feelings of each character and understand their point of view.  Each of their poems is interspersed with  “found poems”, created by “using only words and phrases that appeared in original articles from 1914-1918, which tell the story of the progress of the war itself.  

While, for younger readers, this is a poignant story that introduces the concepts of perception and position in a story and how friendships can grow and change through circumstances, for older readers, excellent  teachers notes explore the characters and their relationships, and the impact of outside influences on those, as well as the choice of format in much greater depth. 

For me, the ending was the twist because it fast-forwards 50 years when Evelyn watches her granddaughter on the very carousel that gave her so much joy – a carousel that has given my own son and granddaughters just as much joy on a regular basis as their childhoods have been spent in Canberra.  All Anton Weniger ever wanted to do was build a riding gallery that provided wonder and happiness for those that rode it.  With its “fifty two horses running four abreast carved with spectacular detail, decorated with glass jewels that sparkle in the light, two wooden elephants safe enough for the littles children, panels painted with scenes of Australia, of the world of happiness, mirrors that dazzle and reflect riders and spectators and an organ that plays such lovely music” and he would be thrilled to know that 110 years on, not only did his dream come true but it lives on.  

Anton Wneiger's dream lives on...

Anton Wneiger’s dream lives on…

 

Cora Seen and Heard

Jul25
Cora Seen and Heard

Cora Seen and Heard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cora Seen and Heard

Zanni Louise

Walker Books, 2024

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

9781760657666

After her beloved Pop dies, Cora’s family move from Ipswich in Queensland to Caroline Creek in Tasmania because her dad has bought an old, dilapidated theatre he wants to renovate.  As well as leaving her school and old home behind, Cora sees it as a chance to leave her old self behind too – the self that is tongue-tied, invisible, ignored, unheard and beige.  Goodbye Cora 1.0 and hello Cora 2.0 – the calm, cool, collected one who is self-assured, is confident, has plenty to say and is like all the other cool kids she knows.  

But there are surprises in store for Cora, not least the one she finds in a book about the town’s legend, Clair de Lune, the international singing sensation who began her career in the theatre where Cora now lives but who disappeared suddenly years ago, and rumoured to be living a hermit’s life in Canada.  Tucked into the pages of the book is a letter from Clair herself, addressed to Bug -a name Cora’s Pop used to call her – and in it she talks about people only seeing the outer shell of a person and not the one deep inside that really matters.  And while Cora seems to making friends at school, even having a bestie, the letter resonates with her and she begins to write back to Clair, expressing her self-doubts, her nightmares, her fear that her parents are splitting up and all the other insecurities that young girls transitioning through puberty have.  And then the unthinkable happens – not forgetting to wear undies to school, but the book and the letters going missing and even worse, being published in the local newspaper!!!

This is a story more for the top end of the readership of this blog, but it is such an important and transformative one that it needs to be shared.  For it is the story of so many young girls of this age, who only see the shell, the mask, the pretence that their peers show them which, compared to their own lives, seem glamorous, cool, trouble-free, smooth-sailing, something to be admired, envied and emulated.  But through the author’s carefully crafted authentic characters the reader discovers that everyone has self-doubts, insecurities and secrets that they keep hidden for fear of what others might think. Much of who they are is disguised, just like the fancy dress that Cora and her friends like to put on so they can pretend to be more than who they are.

If ever there were a one-size-fits-all book that should be read by those of Cora’s age group in their last year of primary school, then this is it.  It doesn’t matter that the characters are primarily female, because the message about being honest and true to who you are and that that is enough is just as applicable to boys.  The physical and emotional journeys from dependent child to independent teen can be tough enough without adding the layer of trying to be someone else to the task,  Excellent, thoughtful teachers’ notes are available to guide the conversations, but even without them, this is a book that could change a life and its pathway forward.  It is one that I wish had been available to my 12-year-old self all those years ago.  

Unreal

Jul22
Unreal

Unreal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unreal: Can you tell the fact from the fake?

Kate Simpson

Leila Rudge

A & U Children’s, 2024

64pp., hbk. RRP $A29.99

9781761180347

There’s been a mix-up at the Museum – some of the displays from the Myths and Legends exhibit have snuck into the Natural History wing.
We have to sort it out, but how can we tell fact from fiction? Animal from apparition? Megafauna from monster?

Oh my goodness!  If ever there were a book written to go straight into the teacher librarian’s toolkit, this is it.  Right here, in these 64 pages with their intriguing illustrations and fascinating snippets of information is your information literacy program for a term, if not a year!  And it is one that is going to grab even the most reluctant readers who are yet to discover the magic between the covers of a book.  

Beginning with a brief introduction of how to identify fact from fake by answering these questions…

  • Who is providing me with this information?
  • Do they have evidence for their claims?
  • Why are they telling me this?
  • How recent is the information?
  • Do other sources agree?

the reader is presented with five or six samples with a picture accompanied by a smidgen of fact and they have to determine creature or plant which is real and belongs in the Natural History section and which need to be returned to Myths and Legends.  Topics covered include weird and wonderful  things like Into the Deep, Cryptids, Bioluminescence and Animal Mash-ups among many more, and all will send the reader to the shelves and/or the internet to discover the truth (or otherwise) of the claims made, all the while honing their information literacy skills, as well as employing their critical analysis as they interpret and evaluate what they are reading.  Because each double-page spread provides a new challenge, the same skills are applied in a new context each time so they become embedded in the reader’s thinking.  They will become naturally more critical of what they are seeing, hearing or being told so are more likely to handle this world of fake news. artificial intelligence, scams and phishing better.     What more could you want?

Well, IMO, it is the perfect model for each to create a similar page for their peers to investigate, drawing on a wide range of topics from the real world and marrying them to the gamut of people and creatures that populate the stories of the world’s peoples so there is a feast of learning going on, beyond practising their skills in context.  

Definitely one for the toolbox of every teacher librarian.  

Jack’s Island

Jul21
Jack’s Island

Jack’s Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack’s Island

Norman Jorgensen

Fremantle Press, 2024

224pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

 9781760992958

World War II, and following the bombings of Darwin, Broome and Onslow, the threat of a Japanese invasion of Western Australia looms large.  Jack’s father, with his specialist skills in road-making, is one of many required to go to Rottnest Island to construct an aerodrome as a first line of defence should Perth be attacked.  

As the local ferry Valkyrie hits turbulent seas on the journey there, with all but Jack hanging over the side in dire straits, it does not presage well for this to be a smooth period in young Jack’s life, and as he himself says, “I’m not that bad – I just get caught a lot.”  Jack soon teams up with Andrew “Banjo” Paterson and together, they find themselves in all sorts of strife as they just do the things that boys of that age in that era did – being in school where corporal punishment at the hands of stern schoolmasters was the norm, building billy carts and canoes, being where they shouldn’t because they are fascinated by what’s going on around them, climbing cliffs and trees with the inevitable consequences….

But as much as this story is about the derring-do of lads who find reserves of courage and resourcefulness they didn’t know they had, it is a story of friendship and loyalty and the acceptance of people for who they are as they are that only seems to happen amongst children.  This is particularly true when it comes to protecting the intellectually-challenged Dafty, and when he is lost overboard at sea, the boys are devastated. 

Norman Jorgensen has delved deep into his family’s past, particularly his father’s adventures on Rottnest during the war, and from this has created something unique – a story that shines a light on a past time when life was much more carefree in some ways, but also so much more restricted in others, not the least being the continuing prejudice towards those who are different in any way as well as rationing, conscription, and the threat of invasion hanging overhead especially when the boys find the helmet and rifle of a Japanese soldier at the base of a cliff. But for all that, there are times when it is LOL funny, and tear-in-your-eye serious, with endearing characters that took me back to my own childhood in post-war years when we roamed our local shoreline freely told to return only “when the tide turned or it got dark”. 

When this was first released, it won the WA Young Readers’ Book Award 2009 and was a CBCA Notable for that year, awards that were thoroughly deserved.  Now, re-released in a new livery, it remains an excellent read, one that will entertain and engage a new generation, including all those young lads who will see themselves in Jack and Banjo.    

To add an essential extra to the read, complete with actual photos of the time, be sure to watch and share this  remarkable book trailer

 

The Vanishing

Jul15
The Vanishing

The Vanishing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vanishing

Mark Greenwood

Fremantle Press, 2024

112pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781760993962

October 21, 1978.  A clear Spring night perfect for flying and a small Cessna plane takes off from Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne bound for King Island, a trip that should take just over an hour to complete.  At the controls is a young pilot Frederick Valentich  whose intention is to land at King Island, pick up some crayfish and return home to his parents.

With a full fuel tanks giving him five hours flying time and a range of 800 kilometres, Fred checks in with Melbourne Flight Service, and hugging the Victorian coastline, advises them when is over Cape Otway before heading over Bass Strait to the island.  But six minutes out from Cape Otway, Fred contacts them again asking for information about any other aircraft in the area because there is something mysterious flying below him.  What follows is a six-minute conversation in which he remains calm but confused about this other craft, which ends in a series of strange sounds followed by silence but which begins one of Australia’s most baffling aviation mysteries.  For no trace of Fred or his aircraft has ever been found…

Another in the History Hunter series, this is an intriguing story made all the moreso because not only is it true, but it is also recent and there will be many parents who remember the publicity surrounding the disappearance.  Complete with the transcript of the conversation between Steve Robey of Melbourne Air Traffic Control Flight Service, the story details the flight of the Cessna and the subsequent search for it, including the many theories and sightings of what were then known as UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and what are now labelled UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena). What was the strangely lit, cigar-shaped craft that seemed to be travelling faster than any known aircraft at the time, and able to come at him from every direction, turning almost at whim?

The plaque commemorates the landmark of the disappearance of Frederick Valentich.

As with The Dragon’s Treasure, this is a compelling read that raises more questions than it answers -because the mystery has never been solved – and while it is written for a younger readership, it is one that is going to appeal to anyone with an interest in real-life mysteries, aviation and UAPs. As well as the more-to-explore pages, a simple online search offers lots of avenues to find out more and rabbit-holes to wander down.  Teaching notes can guide these explorations but the one question that remains unanswered, apart from what happened to Fred that night, is are we alone in the universe?

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

Jul14
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra

Cassy Polimeni

Hykie Breeze

UWAP, 2024

92pp., pbk., RRP $A15.99

9781760802899

Life is a tad tough for Ella right now = her family has just moved house and, as she unpacks,  she’s finding it hard to let go of her old room and its familiarity, particularly her BFF Viv living next door.  No matter how hard her dad tries to make things fun, the constant rain and mess are really getting her down.  So when the rain does stop, she takes the opportunity to go outside into the fresh air and open space.  

Outside the garden seems full of promise for the future, but when she hears a strange crick-crick sound it’s seems the future is here.  What could be making that noise?  Bending down, by her gumboot she sees a tiny frog, no bigger than her thumb and it seems to be wanting her to follow it.  And so she does – and finds herself in the midst of something so special she is entranced.  For in front of her is an abandoned, overgrown pond full of an amazing variety of frogs, all calling to each other and creating her private frog orchestra.  

And when she starts at her new school, Ella learns that protecting the local frogs is a major focus of her classmates and she discovers so much more about the species as her new friend Mai shows her the school’s frog bog.  With her new knowledge and respect, Ella is devastated to discover her neighbour’s yard being dug up and her frogs have disappeared… 

This is a new series for newly independent readers that not only has characters that they will resonate with – so many will recognise the anxiety and other emotions that come with moving house and starting a new school – but which also has an original storyline that offers new insight into a common curriculum focus.  Who knew that frogs have a homing instinct that means they can find their way home because they know just where they belong?

As well as being one of the most common species investigated when it comes to learning about life cycles, frogs are also an indicator species, demonstrating that the local environment is healthy, although sadly, in Australia alone, there are more than 40 species listed as endangered or vulnerable.  Thus, building awareness of their importance through an engaging story, including instructions for building their own frog pond in their backyard, young students can begin to appreciate that while Ella’s frog orchestra  may be the turning point in her new life, they have a critical role in the bigger picture.  

An excellent story to springboard to greater investigations. 

Now for the Good News

Jul9
Now for the Good News

Now for the Good News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the Good News

Planet Ark

Penguin, 2024

144pp., pbk., RRP $A19.99

 9780143779582

So often lately our students are confronted by stories of doom and gloom about the state of the planet, its habitats and inhabitants. They are exhorted to do this, that, and the other if they want to have a future in a healthy environment, constantly being assured that every little bit they do will make a difference.  

But is there any progress really being made?

In this book, written especially for young Australians by environmental champions Planet Ark, positive environmental advances, initiatives and inventions happening in this country are showcased bringing the message of hope that some of our kids so desperately need.  Whether it is being done by corporate bodies or grass-roots individuals there are things being done that are making a difference and by using a user-friendly layout , upbeat language and a can-do attitude, readers are encouraged to not only see a future but get themselves involved in making it better.

Launched in time for Planet Ark’s National Tree Day on July 26,  it is just the spur needed to re-ignite the care-for-the-environment message as spring looms and new growth and possibilities beckon.  Whether it is reinvigorating an existing project, contributing towards one already happening in the community or being inspired by an idea in the book and making it happen locally, to see the evidence that such things do make a difference is just what we need. 

 

It’s Boba Time For Pearl Li!

Jul4
It's Boba Time For Pearl Li!

It’s Boba Time For Pearl Li!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Boba Time For Pearl Li!

Nicole Chen

HarperCollins US, 2024

368pp., pbk., RRP $A19..99

9780063228627

School’s out for the summer and Pearl Li is planning to spend the time hanging out with her best friends, Cindy and Priya, and going to her favourite boba café to visit the wise Auntie Cha who Pearl believes is the only adult who understands her and her need to create her traditional Taiwanese amigurumi dolls,  Both her parents and big sister are immersed in the world of technology, computing and coding and at a recent science fair her mother openly scoffed at her model while praising one made by rival Kendall on a 3D printer.  Pearl fells like an outsider in her own family, and all she really wants is for her mother, particularly, to understand and value physical things made by hand as much as she values those made by machines and mechanics.

So when Pearl discovers that Boba Time is facing closure because Auntie Cha doesn’t have the money to fix its fridge, she decides she will raise the money by selling her dolls.  But the business world can be a tricky place for a 12-year-old to navigate especially when you have to lie about your age and keep things secret and even with the best intentions, secrecy can have all sorts of unforeseen consequences including risking your relationships with those you love most.

This is an original story that has all sorts of real-life twists and turns that will make the reader think about their own family dynamics and friendships.  With characters of Taiwanese, Chinese, Indian and American descent each bringing their personal perspectives to the narrative and each of them having that perspective challenged as events unfold, it has a depth and complexity that can be appreciated at the adult level but is also an absorbing read for younger independent readers who not only enjoy a good story but also understand the simple joy of creating something from virtually nothing, and the joy that the something can give to others. Whether it’s considering how we might unwittingly leave someone feeling isolated because they don’t have the same language or experiences that we take for granted, or discovering that our classmates have talents we have not discovered, or navigating the tricky path of being a tweenager, this book has something for so many.  Maybe it’s even time to plan a Kids’ Creativity Fair of your own!

Finding Bear

Jun29
Finding Bear

Finding Bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Bear

Hannah Gold

Levi Pinfold

HarperCollins GB., 2024

352pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9780008582012

When her mother is killed in a car crash, April’s scientist father retreats onto himself as he tries to deal with his grief and becomes the epitome of the absent-minded professor, leaving11-year-pld April to pretty much fend for herself.  So when he tells her he has applied to man the weather station on remote Bear Island in the Arctic Circle and they will be there alone for six months over the northern summer, April sees it as a chance to reconnect with her dad and start to build a new relationship with him.

However, things don’t work out that way with her dad becoming more and more withdrawn, leaving April to explore the island and entertain herself all day and all night as the sun does not set at this time of the year. Although she has been told that once polar bears roamed the island freely, because of climate change and the melting of the sea ice, there are now no bears left,  one evening, on the horizon, silhouetted against the sun , something moves. Something big and loping and gone in the blink of an eye but a polar bear, nonetheless. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life…

Now, in this sequel to that compelling story of The Last Bear, April , who is not having an easy time trying to fit into school and all that that entails, returns to Svalbard after hearing that a polar bear has been shot and injured and she is convinced it is her special friend. As they begin an unforgettable journey across frozen tundra and icy glaciers. they discover a tiny polar bear cub, desperately in need of April’s  help. In freezing temperatures, she must navigate the dangerous Arctic terrain and face her deepest fears if she’s to save him, particularly as it means dealing with someone who is willing to shoot every polar bear on sight.

As with the first one, as well as bringing environmental issues to the fore, it also deals with some bigger issues as April has to learn to navigate and cope with her new relationship with her father as well as his new relationship with her principal.  There are echoes of this in the relationship between Bear and his cub and so, again, April is able to learn much about herself as she does about wild life and humanity’s impact on it, but there are also echoes of the relationship for the reader who may also be watching their own family dynamics transition, not only in terms of new partners coming in but also their own developing maturity and independence.

The Last Bear was such a compelling read that those who enjoyed it will want to follow up what happened next for April, her dad and the bear; while for those who haven’t read the first, this is a wonderful duo that will absorb them for days.  

 

 

Who’s Who: Greek Mythology

Jun28
Who's Who: Greek Mythology

Who’s Who: Greek Mythology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who’s Who: Greek Mythology

Hannah Sheldon-Dean

Thomas Nelson US, 2024

192pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781646434565

Long, long ago, at least 1200 years before Jesus Christ was born and the modern calendar began to have some sort of starting point, the Ancient Greeks ruled the lands around the Mediterranean Sea in a series of city-states, each with its own government, often a king. Despite being separate entities, nevertheless their cultures had much in common including the worshipping of many gods and goddesses, often used to explain those things that seemed to be without explanation.  

Yet, despite being such a long time ago, those deities which were so important and which featured in so many stories, poems, artworks, buildings and traditions still spill into the modern world – the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris being a prime example – as well as references to them in the many modern superhero and fantasy stories that have captivated young readers in recent years.  And so, it is not surprising that there remains an interest in who’s who, how they connect, what their influences were, and all the other elements that mean their stories are repeated over and over the generations and millennia. 

Brave Heracles, mighty Zeus, wise Athena, beautiful Helen, and more come to life in this new collection of easily-accessible information that explains what young readers need to know if they are to understand what powers the stories they enjoy including 

  • A brief history of ancient Greece as well as the Olympian family tree (which will be a focus in the coming weeks)
  • In-depth profiles for each of the major gods, goddesses, heroes, and demigods and the myths surrounding them
  • Awesome and terrifying mythological creatures, including Medusa and the Minotaur

There are stories of  heroism, jealousy, vengeance, love, fate, honour, and hubris that will rival modern novels, each accompanied by vibrant illustrations that will inspire the imagination.

For independent readers, this one reaches far beyond that initial primary school audience, offering something for anyone with an interest in the tales that continue to underpin life in the 21st century.