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Koala Koala

Apr27
Koala Koala

Koala Koala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Koala Koala

John Williamson

Jonathan Bentley

Puffin, 2025

24pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781761344244

Ask any little person (or international visitor) to name an iconic Australian creature and it’s highly likely they will say “koala”.  Yet there are fears that this favourite will be extinct in NSW by 2050, the greatest threat being loss of habitat because of  urban development, agriculture, mining and the expansion of existing infrastructure. Already, those in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory have been  classified as an endangered species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) since February, 2022.

So this picture book version of John Williamson’s 1990 song of the same name, is a provocative reminder that even though we have recognised the predicament of these favourites for decades, there is still much to be done.

With the original lyrics slightly modified and enriched by poignant, evocative illustrations by Jonathan Bentley , little ones are introduced to needs of koalas and the key dangers koalas face – deforestation, traffic, bushfires and dogs – helping them to understand that if they want to be able to show their children this treasured marsupial, the time to act is now. While they might not have the power to stop urban sprawl, they can be aware of the work of Koala Conservation Australia   (of which, Williamson is a special ambassador) and perhaps hold a fundraiser to support their work in building a new breeding facility, education the public generally, or even visiting the centre.

Even just learning about the koala’s habitats and habits can be a start, and such a study was my go-to intro to developing information literacy skills with kindergarten.  Use the book itself as well as lots of different pictures of koalas so there is at least one between two, and ask pairs, “What can we learn about koalas just by looking at these pictures?”. Record the responses,  and then classify what has been discovered into three columns… What do we know for sure? What do we need to check?  What more do we want/need to find out?  Not only does that give a structure to the class investigation but it also gives them the foundation for their own personal investigations into other native species.

On the other hand, more mature readers could use it as a starting point to investigate how songs and music have been used over time to build awareness of human rights, environmental and other issues to reach a wider audience, particularly the anti-war protest movement of the 1960s, although there have been many before and since. 

An essential addition to any collection to support the environment and sustainability curriculum. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t)

Mar18
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn't)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t)

Briony Stewart

Lothian, 2024

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

9780734421883 

Every single minute, of every single day, a child somewhere loses a baby tooth. And, if you counted every child in the world then that means they are losing 200 teeth a minute. Multiply that by the number of minutes in an hour, hours in a day and you can work out how many teeth that are lost every day!

But what happens to all those teeth?

Little ones will tell you that they are collected by the Tooth Fairy, as real to them as Father Christmas and the Easter Bunny. But as they get a little older, kids get curious and start to ask questions like  “How do they know you have lost a tooth? What do they do with the teeth? What happens if I swallow it before they get here?” and a whole range of others that only a child could think of and which a grownup might need help answering.

So, here, in this straight-forward, Q & A book are not only the answers but a golden opportunity for the child to learn that sometimes parents don’t have all the answers but together they can find out by looking in a book.  Even the trickiest questions such as why do some kids get more money than others is addressed in a way that they will understand yet doesn’t put the parent on the spot or make anyone feel awkward.  A mother herself, Briony Stewart has used her imagination to create a magical world where tooth fairies need and use the teeth, even the damaged ones, in their daily life that will win over the most cynical child.  She provides plausible explanations that address all the traditions and myths of the fairy’s visit, while adding more information that continues the magic and mystery for a little longer.

This thoroughly deserves to be nominated as a 2025 CBCA Notable Book of the Year for Early Childhood – it has great potential to teach more than just about the Tooth Fairy, including dental hygiene, and maybe stray into the world of The Mightiest Bite.

Where Does Water Come From?

Feb2
Where Does Water Come From?

Where Does Water Come From?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Does Water Come From?

Kimberley Kinloch

Dan Taylor

Usborne, 2025

12pp., board book, RRP $A19.99

9781474998437

It is the most essential element to sustain life on the planet but where does water come from?   Why does it rain?  Why do we need water? How much water in is the ocean? Is there enough for everyone? 

These are just some of the big questions asked in this new lift-the-flap book from Usborne. Using the expert advice from the international non-governmental organization Water Aid,  readers explore the water cycle, looking at where rain comes from, flooding and droughts, the importance of clean water and how water reaches the kitchen tap.

But not only are the answers given in an engaging lift-the-flap format, the  layout also models how big questions  generate smaller questions that help break down the topic into manageable parts – an essential element of the information literacy process, offering opportunities to students to formulate their own. More mature students could use Jamie Mackenzie’s revised Questioning Toolkit to develop even more sophisticated supporting questions about this or their own passion, demonstrating that a book’s format does not limit its audience to a preconceived age group.

If the primary role of the teacher librarian is to spark curiosity and help students develop their critical and creative thinking skills, then this new release (and its companions) goes well beyond teaching children about the importance of water. 

 

 

First Big Book of How

Jan26
First Big Book of How

First Big Book of How

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Big Book of How

Sally Symes

Kate Slater

What On Earth Books, 2024

256pp., hbk., RRP $A39.99

9781804661185

Whether as parents or teachers we have all been challenged by some of the questions our little people ask us and are sometimes flummoxed not only be their off-piste thinking, but also the answer!  So this book is not only full of the answers for us but a golden opportunity to share doing some research together.

Covering questions such as How do scientists see into space? How do we know what the dinosaurs looked like? How do chameleons change colour? How do bugs walk on walls? How do bones grow? How do keys open locks? it offers authentic reasons for learning to use essential elements  like the Contents Page, index, glossary, and other cues and clues to navigate a non fiction text.  First the curious child has to think about what category their question might be listed in – the body, machines and buildings, wild animals, bugs & creepy crawlies, Earth or space and then search to see if what they want to know has been listed.  Then, if their exact question is not asked, they can use the index to see if it might be under a more general topic. Then, following the page numbers they can go straight to their focus and use the accessible text, diagrams and illustrations to investigate further.  Interspersed with the Q&A are pages entitles, “WOW, What’s that?” which explores things like flies’ eyes and Velcro that they didn’t even know they wanted to know about!

What could be better?  Well, two things… firstly we know that little ones, especially boys, like to borrow big, heavy books and this is certainly that, but it is also described in the publishers’ blurb as a “compendium” and how better to impress than to drop that word into a conversation!!!!

This would be an ideal introduction to the new school year by setting up a display that features a Wonder Wall of the children’s questions and a collection of compendia (another new term, perhaps even a foray into the different forms plurals can have) that might answer those questions.  They could then also investigate the features of a non fiction resource that enable them to find what they want efficiently and effectively, writing explanations for each that are combined to develop a go-to chart for other library users. 

First term InfoLit program sorted!

The cues and clues of non fiction

The cues and clues of non fiction

Usborne Big Book of Facts

Nov24
Usborne Big Book of Facts

Usborne Big Book of Facts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Usborne Big Book of Facts

Alex Frith  Mairi Mackinnon  Megan Cullis  Amy Chiu  Victoria Williams

Abiyasa Adiguna Ross Crawford Mal Made Carole Verbyst

Usborne, 2024

192pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781805071174

Over my 50+ years in education,  there are many things I have learned, but some are stand-outs, especially when it comes to connecting kids to reading, particularly boys.  They include

  • many prefer the information of factual texts rather than the imagination of fiction
  • many like their reading in small chunks so it is accessible and they have the time and the capacity to absorb and assimilate it
  • many, especially those who have not yet mastered the skills, will mask their perceived inadequacies by choosing the biggest, heaviest book on the shelf
  • many will rely on the illustrations and diagrams to help them understand what the words are telling them, particularly if their peers have moved on to novels and picture books are considered to be for babies
  • some of the greatest learning (about both reading and the world in general) comes when a group of boys are gathered around a table, sharing the same book, such as the Guinness Book of records,  and each is trying to out-do the other.

Therefore, this new release from Usborne is going to be a winner because it meets all the criteria that these lads are looking for.  

There are over 5000 facts that stem from the importance of the number seven to so many to the connections between cells and DNA.  With simple explanations accompanied by bright charts, diagrams, graphs and other infographics, there are so many fields to discover that this will keep the curious child, the budding scientist and those groups of boys engaged for the entire year!  And while the topics that are explored are those that often appeal, the facts within take off in all sorts of directions that just invite further exploration.  For example, although we know that over the planet’s history various flora and fauna have become extinct, with the death of the dinosaurs probably being the most significant, scientists believe that not only have there been five distinct mass-extinction events (where over 75% of the Earth’s species die out at nearly the same time) but that we are currently in another event called the Holocene and that it is probably due to overhunting, overfishing, habitat loss, climate change and the spread of diseases.  Imagine where knowing about that could take you…

And for those who do want to know more, there are the usual Quicklinks which are such a unique and integral part of this publisher’s presentations.

Having a robust non fiction collection is an essential in any school library, particularly a primary school, for many reasons, and when it comes to preferred publishers, Usborne are in my top five.

Our World Full of Wonder

Nov8
Our World Full of Wonder

Our World Full of Wonder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our World Full of Wonder

Jevita Nilson

Jess Racklyeft

CSIRO Publishing, 2024

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

9781486318155

Floating in space, our world seems just a sphere of blue and green, but when you explore it, you discover there is a place where the night sky is a ballet of light; there is a place where an everlasting storm electrifies the sky; there is a place where a forest of stone creates an eerie shadow..

Our world is, indeed, full of amazing natural wonders and in this new release for younger independent readers, they are taken on a journey to just a dozen of them through the lyrical text and vibrant, come-hither illustrations.  Some like the “multi-coloured maze” where ocean creatures roam may be familiar but most will be unknown and as mysterious as their descriptions imply. Luckily, at the end there is a map and an explanation of where the journey has taken us from the North Pole (Aurora borealis,) to Australia (The Great Barrier Reef}, China (The Rainbow Mountains), Iceland (Reynisfiara Beach), back to Australia and Lake Hillier, the USA into the Sequoia National Park and half a dozen other natural phenomena, each inspiring the reader to know more and discover more about the landscapes and the landshapes of this planet. While teachers’ notes suggest ways to use the book in the classroom, it opens up all sorts of possibilities to research those places already identified or to add some extra pages of other features such as the dazzling blue flames that stream down mountains, the rainbow trees in a forest of green, or even the mud pools that boil like huge puddles of porridge, delving in to all sorts of science, geography, and history.

This is another awe-inspiring publication from CSIRO Publishing that encourages our young people to know more about their planet so they are more likely to protect and preserve it and it will be joined by a companion  Our World of Wild Wonders in early 2025 that has a focus on the creatures that inhabit it. 

I Wonder: A Book of Questions with No Answers

Sep3
I Wonder: A Book of Questions with No Answers

I Wonder: A Book of Questions with No Answers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Wonder: A Book of Questions with No Answers

Philip Bunting

Walker Books, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A25.99

9781760657802

I wonder what love is?

There are infinite ways to describe love, and it seems to be the answer to so many of our questions  But what is love, exactly? We know it when we feel it. Maybe love is why we’re here? It might be that our finite hearts and minds will never be able to quite understand it. Perhaps there are some things that don’t need to be understood. 

Since the dawn of humankind, people have wondered about all sorts of things. And while some mysteries have been answered, often the answers themselves throw up even more questions…

This is a beautifully illustrated book that explores some of those big questions – the ones that little ones ask and which leave you searching for an answer that satisfies their curious minds.

I wonder what happened before the Big Bang…

I wonder how we wonder…

I wonder why I go for mint choc-chip…

Many classrooms start their year by developing a Wonder Wall where children pose the questions about things they want to know and providing the driving force for their investigations as they learn to pose questions and then engage in the processes that might reveal the answers and this approach is confirmed when Bunting tells us that “the very act of wondering is what drives us towards knowledge”. So as well as validating that Wonder Wall, it can also set up the teacher librarian’s information literacy program for the year as students not only follow their own interests, thus keeping them engaged, but allows for the individualised development of skills based on their current knowledge and abilities.  While the teachers notes address each of the questions that Bunting raises offering avenues to explore as a starter, because the big questions are more abstract so probably more suited for exploration by older students, little ones can still start their researching lives with something more concrete, more here-and-now and more personal.

This is an intriguing book, as most of those with Philip Bunting’s name on them are, and it would not surprise me to see it in the nominees for the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books in the 2025 CBCA Awards lists.

 

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Aug20
Wedge-tailed Eagle

Wedge-tailed Eagle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Claire Saxby

Christina Booth

Walker Books, 2024

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

9781760655686

Look up.

Way up into the clear blue.

Those two tiny specks are two wedge-tailed eagles.

Watch them soar…

And no matter how often you see them riding the thermals, mock fighting, or diving down on some unsuspecting prey, there is always a sense of awe and wonder as these masters of the skies do what is normal for them but extraordinary for the land-locked watcher. 

In this latest addition to the Nature Storybook series,  Claire Saxby once again brings her magical way with words to explore the family life of a pair of wedge-tail eagles as they mate, nest and raise their chicks.  Accompanied by stunning, lifelike illustrations by Christina Booth (whose own book Purinina: A Devils Tale is due to be re-released) as well as informative back matter and detailed  teachers’ notes,  the reader is taken high above the land of the territory of the eagles and into their nest, deep, strong and safe as they prepare for this annual event.  

For me, the sight of eagles soaring is not uncommon because of where I live, but even more fortunately, Pete Graham, the hero of this rescue story, is a close friend who lives across the valley and is a well-known wildlife carer.  Many the time I’ve visited him and his wife, a fellow teacher librarian, and sat chatting while feeding an orphan wombat!  

Wedge-tailed eagles back in flight a soaring triumph for wildlife rehabilitation carer

This is an outstanding narrative non fiction series for young readers, combining a personalised story of the focus creature masterfully combined with factual information that not only allows the reader to feel connected to the subject but also sparks interest to find out more, look for it in the wild and share their new awareness of any dangers and threats it faces.  

And while my review copies usually end up at a local school or in the hands of special children, I know just where this one is going.  After all, there are five special grandchildren who should know just what their grandfather has done!!!!  

And here they are – on Father’s Day, 2024.  Sometimes we can give just the right book to just the right person at just the right time!

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.  

Brown Bears

May12
Brown Bears

Brown Bears

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brown Bears

Dr Nick Crumpton

Colleen Larmour

Walker Books, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A27.99

9781529508727

Spring has arrived in Alaska, and a brown bear is waking up. She was alone when she fell asleep at the start of winter; now she is climbing out of her den with two cubs. Follow them as they discover how to survive in the wilderness, from climbing trees to catching salmon, as their mother teaches the cubs how to be bears. There is a saying about not getting between a mother and her cubs, and the confrontation between a male and the mother demonstrates this, showing that a mother’s protection of her offspring extends into the animal world as well as the human. The perfect choice for a Mother’s Day review as young readers can reflect on the other parallels between human and animal mothers!

While this story is set in Alaska, zoologist-author Nick Crumpton explains that because this species is not fussy about its diet, they are able to live in many countries, although exclusively in the northern hemisphere, opening opportunities to explore the differences in climate, seasons, habitats and inhabitants of those regions compared to Australia,  

This is another in the brilliant Nature Storybooks series that personalises the stories of particular creatures by focusing on one member of the species while providing more general facts separate to the narrative.  It is a successful technique that engages young readers because it brings the information into the child’s realm rather than being a series of disconnected facts and figures, and thus provides a solid bridge between fiction and non fiction.