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On Gallant Wings

Apr25
On Gallant Wings

On Gallant Wings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Gallant Wings

Helen Edwards

Riveted Press, 2025

288pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781763526051

Darwin, December 1941.  Even though her dad is a navigator for the RAAF and is stationed somewhere overseas, for 12-year-old Ava the war is a distant thing and she goes about her daily life with her mum and older brother Fred, playing with her best friend Kazuo, whose dad was born in Japan, and raising her pet pigeons. She lives by her own self-imposed rules and rituals and her greatest delight is watching the progress of her new chick Essie, her favourite pigeon, who is already showing signs of leadership, ready for her first flight early. while dodging Billy the Bully is her greatest fear.  Life is okay, under the circumstances – until it isn’t.

Fred lies about his age so he can join up and “do his bit” and is to be sent to training camp shortly; Pearl Harbour is bombed by the Japanese and Kazuo and his family are sent to an internment camp, even though both Kazuo and his mother were born in Australia; and then Darwin, itself, is bombed and Ava and her mum barely escape with their lives.  Forced to evacuate, Ava and her mum join the other families in making the long and arduous trip south to stay with Grandma Dot and Grandpa RaRi in Lake Boga near Swan Hill, Victoria, a town as different from Darwin as it could be. And such a change means a new set of rules -including the one about making no new friends because everyone leaves anyway. Yet despite the difference in location, the war follows Ava, both in reality as a secret Catalina flying-boat maintenance base is built on the lake and her mother joins the WAAAF and works at the base,  and in her head as the sights and sounds of the bombing continue to haunt her.  Infrequent letters, heavily censored, keep her in touch with her dad and Fred who is now with the Signals Directorate working with Essie and the other pigeons in preparation for deployment to New Guinea and despite her rule not to make friends because friends leave and heartache follows, she teams up with Pete, Jenny and Stevo and with school and swimming in the lake, watching the Catalinas and the pelicans, there is a semblance of normality again. That is, until her life is turned upside down when Kazuo appears in the dead of night having escaped from the family internment camp, terrified of being send to the single men’s camp where Japanese prisoners of war will see him as a traitor to their nation. Ava is torn between helping him and living by her rules of telling no lies to her grandparents… Can she find a way through her ethical dilemma so she doesn’t break her grandparents’ trust, can keep Kazuo safe and yet remain true to her self?

Written by Ava, and interspersed with those precious letters, this is an intriguing and engaging story for independent readers about a little-known period of Australian history.  While even our youngest have a sketchy knowledge of why we commemorate ANZAC Day, the wars and the conflict and upheaval they caused, are fading into the memories of even their great-grandparents now and the stories of the children’s lives of the time are disappearing. Life before the internet is tricky to remember, let alone life before television, and so a war fought in a time when soldiers had to roll cable out through the jungle and rely on carrier pigeons for communication is almost unimaginable and so this is an important story for giving today’s readers a glimpse into a life that was very real for their great-grandparents, and ultimately influenced who they, themselves, are. (My own grandchildren proudly volunteer as flag bearers each ANZAC Day at the Australian War Memorial, commemorating the service of their great-grandfathers, grandfathers and other family members, continuing that contribution to community through their Scouting activities.)   Meticulously researched, it also fills in gaps for those of us who are older but whose parents chose not to talk about their wartime experiences – too raw, too scary and too incomprehensible if you weren’t there and didn’t live through it.  It may even spark an interest in investigating personal family histories, or perhaps the story of someone whose name is etched on the town’s war memorial. 

As well as Ava’s own experiences, there are also broader issues that can be discussed and explored such as the automatic internment of those Australians deemed to be enemies because of their heritage; the secrecy surrounding the devastation of Darwin;  even the impact of PTSD on children and how seemingly unrelated events can cause triggers.  More general teaching notes following these themes and others, including the uncensored letters, are available here.

Through Essie, Tommy and the other pigeons, we also learn about the role they and other animals have played in wars -so many  more than Simpson’s donkey – and those with an interest can not only read about the Dickin Medal which was awarded to Essie, but can also read more in Pidge’s Poppies and Wear a Purple Poppy. 

Given the unpredictability of today’s world, the 24/7 news cycle and television and the internet bringing the world’s conflict into our students’ lounge rooms, many are feeling great anxiety about their future so want to escape into fantasy adventure where they have the power to control events, but with carefully selected historical fiction such as this, we can show them that previous generations have faced just as dire circumstances and come through – challenged and changed, but resourceful and resilient – and that there is hope for them too.  Humanity will prevail.

From pigeons and Morse code to satellites and cyberspace: 100 years of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals

"Rat on wings": the little pigeon that won a gallantry medal

“Rat on wings”: the little pigeon that won a gallantry medal

Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

Mar25
Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady

Dianne Wolfer

Fremantle Press, 2025

160pp., pbk., RRP $A17.99

9781760995270

Robin Miller is one of Australia’s unsung heroes.  

Born in Perth in 1940 to pioneering parents – her mother was Dame Mary Durack of Kings in Grass Castles fame and her father the co founder of MacRobertson Miller Airlines which serviced the vast expanse of land between Perth and Darwin when Australian aviation was in its infancy, particularly in that region – it’s no wonder she grew up with a love for both the region and flying.  While the clacking of her mother’s typewriter was the music of her childhood, as more and more siblings were born, Robin spent a lot of time with the father doing the “milk-run” route visiting those isolated towns of the Pilbara and the Kimberley.

But when it came time to leave school and take on work she met the patriarchy and misogyny that thwarted so young women’s  many dreams. While women worked before the inevitable marriage and kids that was a woman’s lot in those times, they didn’t fly aircraft with passengers, despite the breakthrough of those like Millicent Bryant and Nancy Bird Walton.  Even her father said it was not something for a woman to do, despite knowing his daughter’s dreams and capabilities. So she took on nursing training instead, but as the scourge of polio spread through the country in the 1950s, it seemed like only those in the cities would have access to the life-saving Sabin vaccine until it was decided to send “vaccine caravans” to some of the more remote areas.  But these could take months to get to their destinations and even then, so many were still missing out,  despite their communities being impacted by the disease.  Until Robin Miller saw a solution…

This is the biography of this remarkable woman, written for younger independent readers, that tells the story of how thousands of lives were saved because of “The Sugarbird Lady.”  It tells of her perseverance and persistence as she lobbied the powers=that-be to let her take the vaccines to those beyond the city limits; her determination to gain her commercial licence so she could fly with passengers and patients even though she had to purchase her own plane and maintain it; the resistance to her doing any nursing beyond administering the vaccine because she might “overreach ” herself’; and the remarkable breakthroughs she made for nursing. aviation and women generally before her life was cut short by cancer in 1975.

 

Inspired by Miller’s own books, Flying Nurse and The Sugarbird Lady, which are now out of print, Dianne Wolfer says she “wanted to bring Robin’s story to a new generation of readers.” describing her  as “a trailblazer for women, winging through “glass ceilings” in a miniskirt and impressive bouffant hairdo”.  She has done this in a most engaging way, bringing to light and life another hidden woman of history.  There is an interview with the author at Good Reading Magazine, and teaching notes probe the story and Miller’s impact not only on women’s history but the liveability of  the remote regions of WA itself, more deeply, inspiring readers to hold on to their dreams and make them come true. 

Hugs Still Feel the Same

Mar24
Hugs Still Feel the Same

Hugs Still Feel the Same

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hugs Still Feel the Same

Kiralee Strong

Jenni Barrand

EK Books, 2025

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

9781922539960 

Even though once again the rain is lashing the window, the clouds hide the morning sun and paint the outside grey, things will be okay because morning hugs are still the same. And as the day progresses, the little girl is still calm and optimistic because everyone’s hugs feel the same.  Even when her life is turned upside down, even the hugs of strangers are reassuring because a hug can get us through so many tough times.

This story starts like the beginning of any wet day – there might be a bit of regret as plans have to be changed, but a hug from a loved one will soothe that away.  But as the rain continues and the refrain is repeated, you know there is something brewing – what has gone wrong?  Whose hug is going to be missing? 

Sadly, this is a story that is going to resonate with many of its readers, particularly children, and particularly those in coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales right now, and while its message is a positive one of resilience, the kindness and care of strangers and the power of a hug, it could be a trigger because the climax is the family having to evacuate their home as floodwaters rise, and are rescued by the SES and taken to a community shelter as they watch their home float away.  (I’m disclosing  the end because it could also be a trigger for the adult sharing it.)

Inspired by the author’s real-life experience of the severe flooding that engulfed the Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia in 2022 and being a volunteer for the recovery efforts, it was important to look for the beauty amongst the devastation and regardless of what was going on around, the comfort that a hug from a loved one was palpable.  It’s just sad that it’s publication comes at this time, so soon after the events on the Gold Coast and Brisbane and the current events in Townsville, but then, perhaps fortuitous because it could be a timely reminder that hugs are still the same. They still offer a consoling message  of a shared experience and emotion.

But even for those who haven’t been through the trauma of such scary weather events, there is still a strong message for anyone who has gone through similar profound tragedy – that reaching out and physical connection between loved ones and even strangers gives so much comfort and empathy and works so well when words won’t. While teachers’ notes help explore the book more deeply, to me it’s essence is in its reassurance of family resilience, of community connection and that, no matter whether you’re giving or getting them, hugs still feel the same.  

 

Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

Mar21
Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mavis: The Little Plane Spotter

Angela Toniolo

Shannon Melville

Wombat Books, 2025

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

9781761111938

It’s World War Two and Darwin has been bombed.  Families have built trenches for air raid shelters and the tension is high.  Mavis wants to help the war effort, but what can a ten-year-old girl do? She has her answer when a soldier comes to her school looking for volunteers to be plane spotters.

And so, along with her older sister Doreen. as members of the Volunteer Air Observers Corps,  every Saturday they climb the stairs of the town clock tower armed with binoculars and pictures of enemy bombers to record the times they are spotted and the direction they are flying. On one Saturday, when Mavis is working by herself she spots one of the planes in her pictures… Does she have what it takes to save the town?

Based on real people and true events, this is a story that not only exposes a little-known piece of Australia’s civil defence, but introduces today’s readers to the lives of children in the past, those who are perhaps their own relatives – as Doreen and Mavis are for the author.  Imagine living with the fear of being bombed every day – although sensitive teachers will need to be aware of any triggers this may pose for those who have escaped just that, while at the same time helping children have a better understanding of what some of their classmates might have lived through..  However, rather than dwelling on that fear, this is more a story of how a community came together at a time of need – as it so often does- and determination, resilience, and the power of little acts, even those done by children,  can make such a difference.  The illustrations capture this moment in time perfectly, offering the modern reader a glimpse of what their life might have been like had they been born into that era when there were no phones and screens to entertain.  What did the children do?

With ANZAC Day on the horizon, this is an opportunity to explore a little-known part of Australia’s wartime history that will span all age groups. 

Neville’s Great Escape

Mar17
Neville's Great Escape

Neville’s Great Escape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neville’s Great Escape

Sean E. Avery

Walker Books, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A25.99

9781760659042

Neville’s story begins well before the beginning of the book.  It starts back in Frank’s Red Hat, when, being a risk-taker, he agreed to wear the beautiful red hat that Frank had made.  But as soon as he put it on, he was swallowed by a killer whale!  

Now, Avery continues the tale because while everyone assumed that landing in the whale’s throat was the end of Neville, in fact there was a further tale to tell.  Because as well as being a risk-taker, Neville was brave and bold and figuring that he hadn’t yet been eaten, he was determined to escape.  Not helped by the pessimism of Reg – a seal also awaiting its fate in the whale’s maw – be, nevertheless, is persistent in his efforts to get out of there.  There’s no wiggly teeth to dislodge and wriggle through, and the whale’s blowhole is not only out of reach, but not even in the same part of its body.

So – does Neville succumb to what seems the inevitable, particularly as the whale starts to make eating-like movements, or is there a happy ending?

Avery is a master of offering original, whimsical, offbeat stories and this is no exception. Perhaps with some slight overtones of the biblical tale about Jonah, the reader finds themselves hoping that Neville’s plans will work and that the joyless Reg who is happy to play cards while he awaits his fate will be proven wrong.  

Given that Frank’s Red Hat was not only shortlisted for the 2023 CBCA Picture Book of the Year but won the of Shadow Judges Picture Book of the Year this is a companion title that has to be in the collection, particularly as the ending suggests that there is yet more to come.. 

 

Croc Candy

Feb17
Croc Candy

Croc Candy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Croc Candy

Claire Thompson

Deborah Brown

Woodslane, 2025

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

9781922800817

Seven-year-old Angus Copelin-Walters is like so many little lads that we all know – he would much rather be outside doing the boy-things that he loves than inside the classroom struggling with reading and maths, especially when the numbers jumble and the letters twist and tumble.

But that could be where the similarity ends because for Angus, who lives in Australia’s Top End, his favourite thing is interacting with the many crocodiles at his local fun park, preferring to wrestle with them than the marks and squiggles on a page that seem to make no sense.  As his self-esteem and belief in himself goes into a downward spiral, despite his mother’s wise words to do things his own way, Angus sees a television doco about homeless people and suddenly his life is changed for ever…

Inspired by a desire to do something, he finds both a purpose and a product, and even though the numbers still jumble and the letters twist and tumble, he perseveres because now he has a need and a reason to tame them.

This is the most uplifting true story of yet another child hero who sees a problem and tries to fix it – in this case, by creating special croc-shaped lollipops that are based on traditional First Nations bush tucker. Now, at 14, an ambassador for global charity Made by Dyslexia, and acknowledged by dignitaries such as the  late HM Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Richard Branson, his story is told and his name known so that he can stand alongside peers like Campbell Remess who is continuing to change the world “one teddy bear at a time” and other Australian child heroes who continue to prove that not only not all superheroes wear capes, but that success can be defined by so much more than a mark on an assignment or a score on a test.

As the new Australian school year gets underway and some students are embracing it while others are dreading it, this is a must-share. Not only does it demonstrate that success takes many forms, that doing things in your own way and wanting to make a difference and believing that you can can have great rewards and “numbers that jumble and letters that twist and tumble” or any other learning challenges can be overcome, it encourages children to identify their own hopes and dreams,  set their goals and pathways to them, and understand that trial and error, practice and patience are all part of the journey.  They can learn to harness their personal superpower that, as Sir Richard Branson says, “helps us to see the world differently and come up with new and exciting ideas.”

How many green ant lollipops will they have to taste-test until they find the combination that is just right?

 

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

Jan10
MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys

Scotty James

Steve Worland & Dave Atze

Penguin, 2024

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

9781761347429

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Hotel Balzaar

Jan1
The Hotel Balzaar

The Hotel Balzaar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hotel Balzaar

Kate DiCamillo

Júlia Sardà

Walker Books, 2024

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

9781529523782

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

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

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

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

Over or Under?

Nov23
Over or Under?

Over or Under?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over or Under?

Pip Harry

Hilary Jean Tapper

Lothian, 2024

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

9780734421807

I’m jumping waves at the beach with Dad.
If they’re small I can leap over their frothy peaks.
Easy!
But further out, when they’re big, you have to duck dive under.

It’s time for a break at the beach, and Maisie is learning to navigate and negotiate the waves as they constantly roll in  Some are gentle and float her off the sand but then comes one that is a bit more vigorous and she has to make a decision to go over or it or under it. Before she makes up her mind, it has her in its grasp and she is tumbled over and over, unsure which way is up until Dad’s strong hands guide her and take her to shore.  And like any of us who has been dumped in that fashion, Maisie decides to spend the rest of the holiday close to mum and safely onshore.  But come the last day, does she have the courage to venture into the waves once again?

This is a story that will resonate with many young readers as they start to look forward to a long hot summer at the beach, maybe because they find the waves and their endless heartbeat-of-the-planet motion, either exhilarating or daunting.  There will be few who have not been dumped and experienced that momentary panic as they seek the surface, and the relief as someone’s hands guide them back to shore. They will also understand Maisie’s dilemma as she wants to be both safe with her mum but also out there with her dad, so this is a time to review and reinforce those rules for safe swimming that are provided on the final page.    

But then, just as the sea has many levels, this is written by Pip Harry who gave us both August and Jones, and The Little Wave, and so as well as being Maisie’s story, it is also one for older kids who find themselves being knocked about by the waves of life and having to dig  deep and find the resilience and courage to put their toes in the water again.  End of year can bring extra stress for many as the safe haven of school and its routines are not there, Christmas holidays with their emphasis on family togetherness can mean heartache and hurt, and the uncertainty of the new year, perhaps with a new school, as well as any number of other factors.  So while there is the surface level of Maisie’s experience and the re-iteration of water safety, perhaps it’s an opportunity to review strategies and services that older students may need to draw on during this time.  And, just as Maisie’s dad is there to help her up, and her mum there for a safe refuge, there are those who can offer them similar help. 

In her blog post about the book’s birth, Harry says she likes ” to imagine that Maisie goes on to become a strong ocean swimmer or surfer and it’s that special, triumphant day on the beach that ignites a lifetime of connection to the coast. ” But it just might be the impetus for someone else to dip their toe in the water – so to speak – to try again, to try a new way, or to try something new altogether and celebrating each step conquered.  Or maybe, just learn to pick their battles – which ones do we float over, dive under or face head on – at the risk of being dumped.

An excellent example of a picture book being for all ages.  

For those who find this time of year, or life itself, overwhelming…

Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars

Oct2
Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars

Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars

Catherine Norton

HarperCollins, 2024

256pp., hbk., RRP $A22.99

9781460763179

London. 1866. And Hester Hitchins’ life has been turned upside down.  Her mother has died while giving birth to twins, and her father is “Missing, presumed dead” when the ship he served on burned and sunk on the high seas.  So Hester, the twins, and her brother and sister have been sent to live with their unmarried Uncle Henry, not for altruistic reasons but because he sees the older three as free labour.  Her older sister Joyce is immediately made the housekeeper including raising the babies, Horace becomes his apprentice in his rope-making business and Hester, herself, is pulled from school which she loves, to spend her day braiding the dreaded whip known as a cat-of-nine-tails.  (She is so disgusted and fearful of them that she only makes them with eight lashes, but that proves to be her downfall.)

Life is so different and not easy for the children and Hester is convinced that her father is still alive – after all, “presumed” does not mean definitely.  As a young girl he taught her about the stars and their movements, particularly the Pole Star, and told her that as long as he had a compass, a telescope and could see the Pole Star he could find his way home to her. And so Hester believes that with the same tools, she should be able to find her way to him.  Under scary circumstances she gains a lodestone,  but her life changes again when she surreptitiously enters a test for admittance to Addington’s Nautical Navigation Academy, and wins a scholarship – at the same time that her deception with the whips is discovered and Uncle Henry decides to send her to be a scullery maid – the most a girl of her age and position can hope for in those times.

With the help of her sister Joyce, Hester dues find herself at the Academy but the problem is – it is only for boys!  

This is a glorious adventure story for independent readers that has a cast of intriguing, well=crafted characters, each of whom shines a spotlight on the customs and conditions of the time, not the least of which is the circumstances of girls, oppressed by their gender.  Many will see themselves in the resourceful, problem-solving, never-say-die Hester as she encounters problems and obstacles that only her determination and her new friends Nelson (despised by others at the school because of his Asian heritage) and Pru (a nature-loving girl who collects insects to draw), not to mention the wise Marguerite,  and will want to keep turning the pages to see if she does indeed discover what happened to her dad. 

Loosely based on real-life characters of the time including Janet Taylor  an English astronomer who was an expert in nautical navigation, and Mary Ward  whose stories are outlined in the author’s notes, this is a story that will lead the reader down many rabbit-holes (as it did the reviewer) not the least of which is a reflection of how life has changed so much for girls, particularly, in 150 years.  Once again we give thanks for the courage and determination of those on whose shoulders we stand.