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The Dictionary Story

Oct1
The Dictionary Story

The Dictionary Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dictionary Story

Sam Winston & Oliver Jeffers

Walker Books, 2024

56pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781406395471

All the books on the bookshelf seemed quite happy to be there because they knew what they were about.  Except for Dictionary who had all the words that have been read so she could say all the things that could ever be said, BUT, even so, she didn’t have a story to tell even if you read all her pages from first to last… although that was something few ever did because a dictionary is a dip-and-delve book not a read along, between and beyond the lines book.

So one day, Dictionary decided to bring her words to life, and as she was wondering where to begin, alligator appeared and he was hungry.  And so begins a mad romp with an alligator chasing a donut who doesn’t want to be eaten so flees and disturbs a ghost and…   It all ends in a terrible tantrum that only Dictionary can sort out because this was not what she had in mind at all because neither her words or her story was of any use to anyone.  But then along comes her friend Alphabet who has a very familiar song…

As much as this is a delightful, original story in itself, so much of its charm lies in the clever use of illustration and layout incorporating photography, typography, painting, and handwriting and it is not surprising that, with the attention to its intricate detail which includes dictionary pages with carefully chosen words and clever definitions – for example, ‘rose’ is defined as  “a plant with thorns and scented flowers that gave birth to a million love poems and greeting cards (to varying degrees of success). –  it took seven years to complete. 

This is definitely one for all ages – apart from learning about the purpose of a dictionary, perhaps even starting to use a simple one, little ones could have fun using the alphabet song to help Dictionary put the words back in order; while, at the other end of the spectrum older readers could choose and use words in order to build their own story or examine the definitions and then make their own with similar whimsy.  There is also much to learn about what goes into the creation of a picture book, enhanced by the insights from this interview with Winston and Jeffers, which in itself is a useful adjunct for those leading professional learning based on A Grown-Ups ‘ Guide to Picture Books. Like the story in the book, the ideas of how to use it just keep gathering pace. 

Developing a child’s vocabulary so they are able to articulate they ideas, emotions and experiences is a critical part of their development, let alone the requirements of the curriculum, and it is books like this that demonstrate the fun of words that inspire them to want to know more. 

The Happy Prince

Sep23
The Happy Prince

The Happy Prince

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Happy Prince

Oscar Wilde

Adapted & Illustrated by Harry Woodgate

Andersen Press, 2024

80pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781839134289

High above the city stood a statue made of gold and precious stones, honouring the Happy Prince. One day a swallow flying to Egypt perched on the empty space between the statue’s feet. As he was resting, a drop of water fell on him. On looking up, he found tears streaming down the Happy Prince’s statue’s cheeks.  

The swallow asked the Happy Prince why he was crying; the statue replied that from his vantage point he could see the entire city and now he saw and understood the miseries of the people, particularly the poor and the homeless, their hunger, and starvation. He was distressed and sorry to see so many people in his city living in such dire straits so he asked the swallow to help these people by taking his gold covering, sapphires and ruby to them to help alleviate their circumstances because he, himself, couldn’t move from his pedestal. Together they brought some happiness to those who knew none.

In this new version of this 1888 classic, it is a boy called Swallow who who rests at the statue’s feet and does the Prince’s bidding but when all the gold is gone, the important councillors of the city tear down the statue for it is no longer beautiful, each wishes to replace it with a statue of himself.  It is cold and the kind people of the city take the little boy into their homes. Together they discuss how best to use their pieces of gold and wonder about why there are statues in the city. The boy tells them of the beautiful warm lands that he comes from, and the plants and animals. The people decide that they will build a city garden with their gold where everyone can come to grow food and enjoy the beauty of nature. Swallow plants a fruit tree to remember the sweet kindnesses of his friend, the Happy Prince.

Wilde’s original tale has stood the test of time and this version retains much of the original including its strong moral message which remains relevant, but the adaptations bring it into a more modern world where the economic circumstances of the original will be familiar to many. while offering opportunities to think about how the community, including the government could and should help those who are less fortunate.  Whose responsibility is it?  And why, do those in power still put their own agenda before the greater good, as has happened with the Help to Buy housing scheme, as an example. Despite the original being nearly 140 years on, has anything changed?

Although students might not yet be sophisticated enough to debate the ins and outs of such plans and policies, this is an example of a story written long ago still having relevance today because of its underlying themes, and thus helping readers understand the essence of what makes a story a classic. At the same time, they could consider whether they would have read the original and understood its application to life today. Given that, it could also be an opportunity to compare the two versions and investigate the concept of zeitgeist – “the spirit of the age” reflecting the ideas, beliefs, values and culture of a particular time.  In this case, how the endings vary, or perhaps even the attitude towards building statues and monuments, offering students are new layer for understanding texts. Even if the lens varies, does the core message remain?

They could also broaden their reading horizons by comparing the themes of The Happy Prince to another of Wilde’s classics, The Selfish Giant to not only look for 21st century relevance in that but also how an author’s beliefs can be their motivation for writing in a certain way. 

 

The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books

Sep16
The Grown-Up's Guide to Picture Books

The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books

Lara Cain Gray

Lorena Carrington & Timothy Ide

MidnightSun, 2024

64pp., hbk., RRP $A34.99

9781922858504

Most grown-ups think of picture books as being books with pictures for young readers. particularly those just beginning to learn to read. Few stop to consider what has gone into this “simple layering or words and illustrations” that is often seen as a short story with colourful pictures to entertain as a quick read before bedtime. 

Yet, it is one of the toughest disciplines to write because if a book is “being asked to both teach a child to read and spark their lifelong love of reading” then it has a big and important role to play in the child’s development and thus has to be more than something dashed off in five minutes. It needs to have characters that appeal, a setting that is relevant, a problem that is recognisable and relatable, a situation that is plausible, a solution that is satisfactory, and include illustrations which illuminate the text helping the reader to understand all the story’s layers and beyond, while being entertaining, engaging and even educational all within the standard 500 words (or less) and 32 pages. 

In this new publication by Dr Lara Cain Gray , the essential elements of the construction of a story in this format that has both word and page limits are examined in an A-Z format that explores subjects spanning A is for Animals to Z is for Zeitgeist and including examining critical literary strategies such as D for Dialogue, I for Illustration, L for Language, N for Narrative Structure and U for Underlying Themes.  Within those, there is an explanation of what they are, how they work within the story, their contribution and importance, as well as talking points to focus on when next reading a picture book and a suggestion for immediate practice using either the book itself or an illustration as an example.  For instance, under T is for Title, the reader is asked to consider what the book might be called if it didn’t have the title it does, while under B is for Baddies, they are asked to determine who are the villains in the illustration offered,  

Designed to upskill all those who enjoy, read and share picture books so they can get the most from the creators’ craft and knowledge, this is a must-have in any teacher’s toolkit and fellow teacher librarian Sue Warren has put together a comprehensive set of teachers’ notes that take the reader on an in-depth and practical exploration of this genre, delving deeper into those essential elements so that they are well understood, as well as offering suggestions for seminal titles to get the novice started.  

No teacher, teacher librarian or library collection, regardless of the age of their audience because picture books are for all ages,  should be without this important text.  In fact, IMO, led by those teachers’ notes, it should form the core of professional learning for staff so they not only value the format but use their knowledge to value-add to every story they share with their students.  Picture books are so much more than the “stepping stone ” to “real reading” that many regard them as – they are as valuable, valid and valued as any piece of writing that we choose to read, a standalone part of the reading experience and deserve not only this examination but an essential place in any collection of books.  

 

 

 

Digger Digs Down

Sep6
Digger Digs Down

Digger Digs Down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digger Digs Down

Johanna Bell

Huni Melissa Bolliger

UQP, 2024

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

9780702268656

Digger the dog loves to dig. So when he is bored when his little friend goes off to school, he follows his nose until he finds just the right patch of dirt.  Down, down, down he digs, only changing direction when he meets something he can’t dig through.  He digs down so deeply that he comes across something quite unexpected – something to explore.  But then he hears a little voice calling him…

Inspired by the author’s  daughter (then three years old)  telling her a story about a dog called Digger, which was quickly scribbled on the back of a receipt, this is perfect for our youngest readers to read to themselves as the illustrations tell the story almost without needing the simple repetitive text. And they will enjoy predicting what Digger might find when he starts his next hole… just what does lie below the surface that we can’t see? And what adventures might he have while he is there? 

Teachers’ notes help develop the story encouraging older readers to pay greater attention to the language and  illustrations, such as the significance of the rainbow shining in the hole, while the fossils he uncovers and his final discovery could spark an interest in the layers of the landscape and how it has been built over time, all demonstrating that picture books, and this one in particular, are not just for younger readers.  

Caterpillar Cake

Aug11
Caterpillar Cake

Caterpillar Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caterpillar Cake

Matt Goodfellow

Krina Patel-Sage

Otter-Barry, 2024

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

9781915659392

Would you like to eat a caterpillar cake? Join a rocket race into space? See crazy crocodiles at the zany zoo or play with a furry, purry cat? 

In this collection of funny, original poems young children can let their imaginations roam as they respond to the rhyme, rhythm and repetition that is such a crucial part of early language learning. from the high octane Hide and Seek hiding in a crocodile’s jaw, to the more sedate little pencil that started with a mark and ended with a poem, to the sleepy river sliding through the night, there is something to suit every situation.   The illustrations are vibrant and reflect the diversity of the children who will enjoy listening to the language as it rolls off the tongue as they appreciate how much story can be told in just a few words. 

When it was first released in the UK in 2022, it was shortlisted for CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award)  the only award that celebrates outstanding poetry published for children in the UK, which is testament to not only the quality of the poems themselves but also the importance of poetry in the literacy development of young learners.  Matt Goodfellow is once again on the shortlist for 2024 with The Final Year which focuses on the trials of the final year of primary school, perhaps one that is appropriate for this time of year for our older students. 

 

Legends of Sport(series)

Aug7
Legends of... (series)

Legends of… (series)

Legends of… (series)

Ben Simmons

9781761181276

Sam Kerr

9781761181269

Daniel Ricciardo

9781761181351

Mary Fowler

9781761181344

Kit Cross

Leigh Hedstrom

Albert Street, 2024

128pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

At so many post-race/post-game interviews at the Paris Olympics, competitors have expressed the hope they have inspired the kids who are watching at home, so that when their turn in the spotlight is done, there is someone who can step in their shoes, wear their mantle and perhaps their medal. 

And when these big events are dominating the screens, teacher librarians know they are going to get so many requests for books about the heroes in the headlines, so that the need and demand for books like this new series (Simmons and Kerr are out now, Ricciardo and Fowler follow in late October) is constant.  Written in an easy-to-read format that means even the youngest independent reader can manage them, and dream just as their heroes did.  Sam Kerr watched Cathy Freeman win her legendary gold medal in the 400 metres, sparking a dream in the young 6-year-old, just as Kerr, herself, does today.  

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

While a star’s time in the spotlight may seem brief, it is the years of build-up and practice from that moment of inspiration that often go unseen, and so we can never underestimate the power of putting one person’s story in the hands of a little one so they can begin to understand that not only did their hero start life as an ordinary kid just like them  and they, too, can reach the stars. 

At the other end, older readers might like to create a list of questions that they would like to ask their own hero, or use the graphic format of the series as the inspiration to create their own poster or presentation about their own particular hero, from whatever field that might be.  Good books have great potential and this is a series to look for. 

 

Supersquirrel and the Crazy Rain Maker

Jun24
Supersquirrel and the Crazy Rain Maker

Supersquirrel and the Crazy Rain Maker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supersquirrel and the Crazy Rain Maker

Russell Punter

Josh Cleland

Usborne, 2024

80pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

9781805315889

The Animal Action Squad is a top secret organisation of superheroes dedicated to fighting crime, and Supersquirrel is one of its operatives.  With her undercover occupation as a taxi driver, and her superpowers including being able to fly extremely quickly, x-ray vision and superhearing, she has to outwit the fiendish criminal mastermind Dr Drizzle and his sidekick Rocky who have stolen a top secret formula meaning danger if it gets in the wrong hands.

But she can’t do it alone – she needs the reader’s help, and this is what sets this remarkable little book aside from so many.  Part stepping-stone novel, part graphic novel, it is packed full of puzzles and clues that the reader needs to solve, making it as interactive as a print text can be.  Being directly involved as a character means the reader has to engage with the story, the text and its illustrations rather than a skim-read-what’s next book.  It can be read alone or shared as participants stop to consider what they have learned from a particular excerpt and how it fits into the overall scheme of things, encouraging deeper thinking, reflection and synthesising information. Although it doesn’t require making decisions to determine the path of the story, it could lead to an interest in the choose-your-own-adventure genre. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

This is the first in this series that I predict will become a must-have as it reaches out to newly independent readers, including those who are beginning to think that reading doesn’t really hold much for them.  So much more fun than pressing or tapping buttons just to accumulate a high score.  

Billy And The Epic Escape

May26
Billy And The Epic Escape

Billy And The Epic Escape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy And The Epic Escape

Jamie Oliver

Puffin, 2024

416pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

 9780241683965

Billy and his best friends Anna, Jimmy and Andy are looking forward to a summer exploring Waterfall Woods, discovering more about the magical creatures who live there and the Rhythm of nature, the beat that keeps nature in harmony and keeps their world, and ours, in balance.

Then the woods come under attack from a mysterious red lady, forcing the sprites and brothers Wilfred and BiIfred into hiding, and the gang rush to the rescue! But what does the red lady really want? Could she be connected to Bilfred’s disappearance all those years ago? And, if so, how is it possible she looks exactly the same decades later. . .

Can Billy and his friends uncover the truth and stop the red lady’s plans, before the Rhythm is put in danger once again?

The sequel to Billy and the Great Adventure, this is an adventure fantasy, a genre popular with many young readers as they see themselves in the role of the hero conquering evil and saving their family, friends and even the world.  But what I love most about the series is that author Jamie Oliver has been deeply involved in its production using his own childhood experiences of having difficulty processing text and so it is formatted to be accessible to those with dyslexia as he is.  The print edition is in a sans serif font while the audio version has state-of-the-art sound effects, multiple voices including narration by the author so that the characters and situations are brought to life in “a fully immersive experience”. But apart from those physical concessions, at its heart this is an engaging, entertaining tale for all readers who enjoy these sorts of adventures. 

How children learn to read has been the subject of research and pedagogical debate for decades – in fact, a century when one considers the breakthrough works of Sylvia Ashton Warner – and clearly, if there were one approach that was the silver bullet for all children, it would have been identified by now.  But as factions and their fads wax and wane, there are kids who fall through the cracks as the favoured method does not meet their needs, and so there are many who get to be 8,9, and 10 for whom reading is a chore, who see and label themselves as failures already, and for whom the school experience becomes a negative to be endured with all the implications of that  Thus, any book that identifies and then caters to the needs of these children gets a big thumbs-up from me.  To add to the positivity, is the fact that the author is celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and it is so easy to find stuff by and about him that he can be held as a role model for these students with their fragile self-esteem.  Not only has he made a successful, high-profile career from cookery but even with his reading difficulties he has written two books – so if he can do that, what can they do?

They can start by enjoying an action-packed adventure that carries them along at a fast clip and enables them to join in discussions with their friends so they too can be part of something they felt excluded from.  And having achieved that success, who knows…. 

Grey

May24
Grey

Grey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grey

Laura Dockrill

Lauren Child

Walker, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A27.99

9781406389562

Today I am grey.

I don’t feel sunshine yellow, or balloon orange bright, or treetop green…”

Or, indeed, any of the other colours of nature that surround me.  Today I am grey like the scribble on the page, the puddle on the road, the storm when in the clouds…

And that’s fine.  It’s  OK to be grey. Grey days are normal and natural  but the colours are still inside you, they’re just a little overwhelmed right now . They will peek out and come back soon.

This is a charming book exploring those feelings we all have, and its simple, direct text combined with Lauren Child’s iconic illustrations including clever cutouts offers the child not only validation of their emotions but also reassurance and hope that the brighter days are close by.  It also provides the little one with a way of expressing their feelings as often they don’t have the words to articulate either the how or the why of their mood.  

Colour is used to express  emotions across languages and cultural traditions, and particular colours are associated with various feelings regardless of our beliefs or origins.  We feel blue, see red, or we are green with envy and while this could be an area to investigate, perhaps for this intended audience it is the metaphorical use of the language that could be fun.  Little ones don’t necessarily need to know adult words like “simile” and “metaphor” but how engaging is the phrase “as grey as tea when it’s gone cold” or “lullaby blue”?  What fun they could have sharing their own favourites and how rich their language and writing will become.

But for all that, this is a story that tells our little ones that no matter how they feel, the feelings are natural and the adults in their lives will understand and love them regardless.  And that’s a message they need to hear over and over again.  

Jonty’s Unicorn

May22
Jonty's Unicorn

Jonty’s Unicorn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonty’s Unicorn

Rebecca Fraser

ifwg Publishing, 2024

140pp., pbk., RRP $A22.99

9781922856678

In the quiet hamlet of Blaxby in the Kingdom of Irrawene, twelve-year-old Jonty Fairskye’s mother is gravely ill. A tonic from Dagatha, the fearsome witch who dwells in the dark heart of the Terrenwild Woods may be her only hope, but everyone knows Dagatha’s cures cost dearly — both in gold and regret.

Determined to save her mother, Jonty resolves to enter the King’s Annual Horse Race on her beloved horse, Onyx. The prize, a pouch of gold — more than enough to pay Dagatha. When Jonty discovers Rose, an injured unicorn, during a woodland training session, she is wonderstruck. There hasn’t been a unicorn sighting in Irrawene for over a century. Jonty smuggles Rose back to the safety of her barn to recover.

As the great horse race draws closer, disaster strikes and Jonty is forced to make a decision that will impact the lives of everyone she loves. Danger and betrayal lurk around every corner, and Jonty will learn that the true meaning of kindness and bravery comes down to how much you’re willing to sacrifice.

If ever there were a stereotypical entry into the world of fantasy for young readers, then this would be it. From setting to situation to characters to plot, it has all the hallmarks of what you expect from this genre for this age group from the ailing parent and the young child down to their last pennies; the possibility of a cure from the wicked witch who lives deep in the forest but at a cost too much to pay; the possibility of winning the money; the child ready to save the parent whatever it takes;  the disaster, the disappointment, the redemption – and of course, a magical unicorn.  But this is not a bad thing for the newly independent reader because it confirms and brings to life all those mind-pictures that they have formed already from listening to such stories and seeing illustrations in picture books.  Beautifully descriptive, here, in words alone, are all the things that have been imagined and now they can read them for themselves and solidify that platform they have built, perhaps even extending their reading by seeking others in the same genre.  

It also has the classic plot structure of a novel for younger readers with problems, possible solutions, complications and suspense to the final resolution making it an ideal way to introduce this longer format and the value in persevering rather than expecting the story to be done and dusted in one sitting like a picture book or television episode, while the underlying perennial message of being resilient and standing up for what is right is also strong as it carries the story along

Perhaps a little more expensive than other paperbacks, nevertheless its value as a mentor text for examining the tropes of this genre, the construction of a plot, and descriptive language that would enable even the lousiest artist like me to construct a mental or physical image of the setting and the characters, and its potential to extend the readers interest to find similar stories,  make it a worthwhile investment.