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What Do You Call Your Mum?

Apr17
What Do You Call Your Mum?

What Do You Call Your Mum?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Do You Call Your Mum?

Ashleigh Barton

Martina Heiduczek

ABC Books, 2026

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

9780733343810

In every country around the world are mums – some short, some tall.

Though they go by different names, we love them one and all.

Whether it’s Mummy, Mama, Mum or Ma, or a word from another language altogether the bond between mother and child and the memories we make are unique and both Barton and Heiduczek have captured them perfectly in this new companion to What Do You Call Your Dad?,  What Do You Call Your Grandpa? and What Do You Call Your Grandma?,  another celebration of the special relationships with special people in our lives, regardless of the name we call them.

Apart from giving little ones a chance to share the special things that they do with their mum, maybe even different to those that their siblings do, it provides an opportunity to introduce the concept of people speaking different languages because they come from different places, and, beginning with the first word that so many say, regardless of their heritage,  share that special word for our female parent while learning new ones.  Build a word wall with photos and labels to explore how many languages are spoken in students’ homes.

Great for promoting inclusivity as well as being the focus for Mother’s Day on May 10!!!

Ramadan Kareem

Feb7
Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan Kareem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramadan Kareem

M.O. Yuksel

Hatem Aly

Farshore, 2025

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

9780008654603

We gather to gaze at the new crescent moon. Ramadan Kareem! The holy month of mercy and blessings has begun.

As many of our students will observe  Ramadan, the Muslim festival considered as one of the five pillars of Islam, and revered as the month that Muhammed revealed the Qur’an,  from the evening of Monday, 16 February 2026 until Wednesday, 18 March 2026, this is an important book to have in the collection so that they can see their beliefs are acknowledged and accepted within the school community, as well as helping non-Muslim children understand the traditions and practices that underpin this important time for so many.

Vivid illustrations portray the anticipation and joy of the narrator’s excitement as she participates for the first time – as many-students will be doing- and readers learn of some of the special routines that families follow, the food they eat, the prayers they say and the other activities that are the focus of that first day, and the month that follows making it obvious that while self-denial is important, Ramadan is much more than that.  Brief notes and a glossary add more information.

A peek inisde...

A peek inisde…

Intercultural Understanding is one of the General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum, focusing on reflecting on culture and cultural diversity, engaging with cultural and linguistic diversity and navigating intercultural contexts,  while the Personal and Social capability has outcomes explicitly supporting “students to recognise the emotions, abilities, needs and concerns of others [and to] develop their understanding about how respecting the perspectives, emotional states and needs of others is essential to social interactions”.   So this is an ideal book to develop those goals.

It might even be an opportunity for all to share their own religious beliefs, customs and traditions so that they can provide a foundation for investigation throughout the year as they occur. Given recent and continuing events, it would seem the need has never been greater.

 

The Cockatoo Crew (series)

Nov7
The Cockatoo Crew (series)

The Cockatoo Crew (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cockatoo Crew (series)

Elif’s Itchy Palm

9781760803148

Sambu Won’t Grow 

9781760803155

Lora Inak

Kruti Desai

UWAP, 2025

90pp., pbk., RRP $A15.99

As this school year draws to a close, we all recognise the gamut of feelings some students are experiencing as they face a move to a new school, whether it’s because it’s the natural next step in their education, family circumstances or something else that is uprooting them from their comfort zone. Anticipation, expectation, trepidation, anxiety, fear  – all underpinned by the common concern about will they be liked and will they make friends.  Then compound those feelings by being in a new country, knowing no one except your family and scarcely speaking a word of English.  All you know are the few words you learned in school in Türkiye and yet, here you are, in a new country, quieter, greener, wider, bigger  and cleaner than what you are used to with no familiar sights, sounds or smells .

It’s Elif’s first day at Cockatoo Hill English Language School and despite her dede reassuring her that it won’t be long before she feels she belongs, Elif is very nervous.  She meets her special helper who speaks both Turkish and English and who will be by her side at school helping her until she has the confidence to cope but how long will that be? And then she meets the Cockatoo Crew, her eight classmates each from a different part of the world, and each with different beliefs, perspectives and stories. Could these be the friends she has been craving?

This is the first in this new series that is for those who are newly independent readers, whether they are like Elif and just mastering this new language, or just mastering reading or both,  And from the get-go where the front pages greet you with a range of “portraits’ of kids welcoming you in their own language, you know that this is going to be a stand-above series because it is filling a gap in the collection by putting the reader directly into the shoes of Elif and Sambu and the others so they can view the world through the lens of those not born here, who don’t speak the language, are unfamiliar with the food and games, and don’t necessarily understand  the quirky things that Australians do.  Yet, at the same time as learning to appreciate the challenges such children face, it is soon clear through the stories that despite the differences all children share the same hopes, aspirations and fears.  Elif is worried that she has lost the special $2 coin here dede gave her; Sambu that even though he is about to be 10 he is not tall  like his Kenyan Massai Warrior ancestors… And just as the English-speaking child learns that, so too, the non-English speaking child sees a story about themselves and their first experiences as they put their foot in the door of the Introductory English Centre for the first time… and learn that you do not have to be the same as everyone else to fit in and belong.  

With all the supports these children need, including familiar characters and situations, uncomplicated storylines,  shorter chapters, larger fonts and plenty of illustrations to illuminate unfamiliar concepts and vocabulary, the production crew has nailed the formatting, while the critical issue of a well–written, engaging story remains central.

Throughout my time in schools, including an IEC, and particularly on a gazillion playground duties,  if I’ve learned anything, it is that despite any differences they might have on the surface, kids will find a work-around so they can play together, enjoy each other’s company, and have fun.  Everything else is irrelevant because after all, we all smile in the same language.  And this series captures that perfectly, making it a must-have in any school where there is anyone from elsewhere who needs some support and reassurance – with the language or otherwise.  

A simple way to welcome all out students and their families - the kids had to dress themselves in one of the variations of our school uniform! The chatter to ensure they had an original combo was exciting to eavesdrop on...

A simple way to welcome all out students and their families – the kids had to dress themselves in one of the variations of our school uniform! The chatter to ensure they had an original combo was exciting to eavesdrop on…

Sundays Under the Lemon Tree

Nov1
Sundays Under the Lemon Tree

Sundays Under the Lemon Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sundays Under the Lemon Tree

Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Myo Yim

Scribble, 2025

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

9781761381485

On Sundays, our family gets together to eat good things under the lemon tree in the backyard.” 

But before they eat, there is the cooking to be done and everyone pitches in to help- except for the littlest one, also the narrator, who  is deemed too small to help.  But when Dad can’t carry three buckets at once to collect seawater which is the secret ingredient to making ricotta, things change and the reader is taken on a journey that not only takes them through the park, up and down a big hill, across a busy street down the 67 wooden steps to the beach (and back again) but also involves them in the making of a special handed-down-through -generations recipe that becomes the hit of the meal. 

Drawing on her Maltese heritage and her broad experience as a cook and a cookbook author, this is one that will reflect the experiences of many of our students, not only as they gather for family dinners but also learn those traditional foods and recipes that bind and bond families together in unique ways.  While some of the budding cooks might like to try making the Apple, Lemon and Ricotta cake from the recipe supplied, others might like to share their own family events that bring them together regularly and the foods they share, especially as the upcoming celebrations seasons, in all its manifestations, is almost upon us again.  It offers the opportunity to share what happens in their families and why, investigate the origins of the observances, discover those passed-on recipes so strengthening intergenerational relationships,  but also engage in instructional writing as they share recipes, maths as they make them and developing a general awareness of the ties that bind us no matter where we are from.

Not to mention the memories it evokes and makes!

At a time when “Peace on Earth” seems to be the catchcry – although not the reality – stories and activities that bring people together can only help to promote it.  

And to kick start proceedings, here is my family’s recipe for pavlova, passed on through six Kiwi generations so far and eaten at every Christmas dinner I can recall… even when sugar was in short supply, post-war. It’s taken from the Edmonds Cookery Book that has been passed through the family since my Great-Gran got a copy for my Nanna in the early 20th century! (And my Nanna only had a wood stove till the 50s, as did we –how posh we were when we moved to Christchurch in 1960 and had an electric one.  And a fridge!!!) 

Ingredients

  • 3 egg whites
  • 2 tbsp cold water
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup  caster sugar
  • 1 tsp vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 3 tsp Edmonds Fielder’s Cornflour
  • whipped cream and fresh fruit – kiwifruit, strawberries and passionfruit

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 150˚C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and draw a 20cm circle on it.. Flip the baking paper so that the pencil line doesn’t transfer to your pavlova. Make sure there is enough baking paper to be able to grasp the edges to flip the pavlova when cooked.
  2. Beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff, add cold water and beat again.
  3. Add the sugar very gradually while still beating. Keep beating for 5 minutes to dissolve the sugar. (My Great-Gran and Nanna swore by doing it by hand but my mum had an electric mixer. All mod cons in the 50s.)
  4. Slowly add the vinegar, vanilla and cornflour.
  5. Pile the meringue in the centre of the circle and gently spread it out to the edge of the circle keeping it as round and even as possible. (The littlest one gets to lick the bowl, and the next in line the beaters. )
  6. Bake for 45 minutes, then leave to cool and dry in the oven overnight. That gives it its crusty shell.
  7. Gently place  a serving plate on top and flip the tray over so the marshmallow side is uppermost.  Peel away the baking paper. Cover with whipped cream  with whipped cream and fresh fruit.  (Or you can leave it crunchy side up and just decorate the top.)
Our family pavlova recipe.

Our family pavlova recipe – but not my photo because the resident chef (son) was too busy to cook for me this weekend.

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Apr4
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Jacinta Liu

Freda Chiu

Lothian, 2025

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

9780734421791

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

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

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

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

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.  

Shirin and Amir and the Dragon Smoke

Oct20
Shirin and Amir and the Dragon Smoke

Shirin and Amir and the Dragon Smoke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shirin and Amir and the Dragon Smoke

Liz Drummond & Jemima Shafei-Ongu

Magie Khameneh

Little Steps, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A21.99

9781922833532

Shirin and Amir know everyone in their densely-packed neighbourhood but their favourite thing is to hurry home from school to play in the park and have wondrous adventures. But when bushfire smoke drifts across from a nearby fire they are forced to stay inside for days on end, bored and miserable. Until Shirin’s imagination takes over and suddenly what is unhealthy bushfire smoke becomes dragon smoke complete with a dragon that has to be smited…

While, on the surface, this is a light-hearted story about kids making the most of a bad situation, it is both the back story and its message that are critical, particularly as bushfire season starts again. Written after the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfire season which impacted so many in so many ways (and continues to do so), it is designed to not only warn people of the dangers of inhaling bushfire smoke – after weeks of it and evacuating twice, we vowed we would never take our fresh mountain air for granted again – as well as provide something for those culturally and linguistically diverse communities who are unfamiliar with this annual threat in Australia. Scientific and creative teams from the ANU in Canberra have worked together to produce this story which includes information on the smoke, its hazards, protecting yourself and seeking help if you’re scared and it has also been translated into Persian, Arabic and Turkish. 

“We wanted to make a picture book about bushfire smoke, not the flames, as there didn’t appear to be any children’s books on this topic,” co-author Liz Drummond, and NCEPH Communication Officer, said. “It was important not to scare the children, so I decided to focus on fun imaginative play.” Thus, she asked herself what game would Bluey and Bingo play and from that grew the ideas of dragon smoke, masks that are helmets and an asthma puffer that is a magic flute, which, accompanied by eye-catching, detailed illustrations will appeal to young readers who are likely to share the message with their parents, as much as parents will share the message with them.  Such is the power of picture books. 

More on the story of its creation can be found here while teaching resources which include information about the hazards of smoke are also available. .

Many schools are set to receive free copies of this book – be aware that it is not just one to shove on the shelves but it has a critical message that needs to be shared. 

What Do You Call Your Dad?

Aug29
What Do You Call Your Dad?

What Do You Call Your Dad?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Do You Call Your Dad?

Ashleigh Barton

Martina Heiduczek

ABC Books, 2024

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

9780733343476

In every country around the world are dads – some short, some tall.
Though they go by different names, we love them one and all.

A Daddy here, a Baba there – or maybe he’s Papa

Turn the page, let’s meet a few of the finest near and far

This is a  companion to What Do You Call Your Grandpa? and What Do You Call Your Grandma? and like its predecessors, it introduces readers to all the words that our students use to refer to their fathers. . But whether it’s Tama, Taata, Dedi, , Buwa,  Papi or one of the other special names,  what is also in focus is that special relationship and bond that children have with their fathers and the precious memories that are made as they celebrate life together.  Whether it is creating a special hairstyle, climbing to a special view or cheering from the sidelines, there are magical moments that kids everywhere share with their dads regardless of where they live or what they call him.

As well as teaching little ones new names – I can envisage a wall display of photos of the children’s fathers sharing a special time and the special names they call them, especially as the author invites the reader to share – this would also be a grand book for those who are learning English as a new language because they will delight in seeing their own culture represented in a way that connects us all.

The perfect book for those who focus on Father’s Day and build a more inclusive classroom. 

Just Like You

Aug24
Just Like You

Just Like You/ Bitjan Nhakuna Nhe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Like You/ Bitjan Nhakuna Nhe

Natashia Curtin

Walker Books, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781760658069

Sometimes the world of today’s children seems so very different from that of their parents, particularly given the advances of and accessibility to technology,  but when you put that aside, literally and figuratively, it turns out that both generations like the same things – playing with friends, building cubbies, dancing to music, jumping in puddles, having cuddles… 

In this dual -language picture book, Natashia Curtin draws inspiration from her time growing up in Arnhem Land in a unique exploration of the universality of childhood as she shows her child that they share a love for the same things – it’s just that grew up in a Yolngu township in the Northern Territory rather than the city and so while both generations enjoy a picnic in the park or jumping into the pool, the settings are very different.  By the clever juxtaposition of the illustrations ,and the use of both English and Gupapuynu, young readers can follow both journeys and enjoy the similarities and differences at the same time.  

Regardless of the nature of the reader’s heritage, this is an opportunity to explore how similar childhood likes are for everyone, regardless of the time or place and there are discussion notes to help guide the conversations.  As well as a wonderful tool to help bridge the gap across generations, some children might be surprised to find that those who “have come across the seas” enjoy the same things they do, even if they do it in a different way, again building conversations, connections, and ultimately, communities.  There ls all sorts of scope to use the dual-language nature of this book to reach out to those whose mother tongue is not English to share their words for the activities, building a multi-lingual display that demonstrates, that for children, play is universal. 

This has the potential to be so much more than a reminiscing between mother and daughter, and for that, deserves a place in the collection as well as promotion for any studies of families and where they have come from.  

Chloe’s Lunar New Year

Jan12
Chloe's Lunar New Year

Chloe’s Lunar New Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe’s Lunar New Year

Lily LaMotte

Michelle Lee

HarperCollins. 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9780063076518

It’s almost Lunar New Year, and Chloe can’t wait to celebrate! But first, Chloe and her family must prepare for the new year. They buy new shoes, lay out good-luck oranges in a bowl, decorate the red envelope, and make a crispy turnip cake. Everyone comes together to cook a fantastic feast, saving a plate for A-má, no longer with them, of course. Chloe enjoys the festive celebration and yummy food, but most of all, she loves spending time with her family.

As many of our students start to prepare for their most important annual celebration, just as with the traditions of Christmas there are core elements that all observe, but this story focuses on the traditional things that form part of the Taiwanese version of the celebration, particularly the reunion dinner. There are many dishes, each with a special significance for individual members of the family and it is this coming together and sharing this special time that flows through this story.

The upcoming year is the Year of the Dragon, and while this opens up all sorts of possibilities to investigate, perhaps this story will encourage an exploration of how each of our Asian neighbours celebrate, especially the different emphases on various elements and the food that is shared.   Students could share their stories, acknowledging their culture and customs and feeling that they are continuing those traditions by teaching others about them.  A search of SCIS shows very few picture books about this important celebration that are readily available in Australia, so maybe this is an opportunity to collect the students’ stories and create a new resource for the collection.