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Parcel For Penguin

Mar28
Parcel For Penguin

Parcel For Penguin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parcel For Penguin

Shelley Knoll-Miller

Puffin, 2023

24pp., hbk., RRP $A14.99

9781761046612

Down in the icy wastelands, Penguin and his friends are trying to keep warm when a surprise parcel arrives from Gorilla.  What could be in it?

Young readers will delight in joining Penguin in trying to use the clues to guess what is in it and will be delighted when it is revealed.  

This is the first in a series of stories on the theme that are coming for our littlest readers – Parcel for Gorilla will be out in May, followed by Parcel for Koala in July – each following a similar theme so they can not only predict the plot but also learn about applying what they know to solving the puzzle.  If Penguin’s parcel is too hard to be a scarf, too cold to be a hot water bottle and not boofy enough to be a blanket, what does its shape suggest?  They will love being part of the storytelling showing that they have power over the printed word, a key factor in becoming a reader. 

Mim and the Disastrous Dog Show

Mar17
Mim and the Disastrous Dog Show

Mim and the Disastrous Dog Show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mim and the Disastrous Dog Show

Katrina Nannestad

Cheryl Orsini

ABC Books, 2023

256pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9780733342240

Imagine being a young girl travelling the world in an old wooden caravan pulled by a horse that decides where they will go and which seems to have magical powers that mean borders and mountains and oceans are no barriers.  And that caravan is full of books, because it, too, has a magic that means that it is like a Tardis with so much more on the inside than appears on the outside. 

That is the life of 10-year-old Miriam-Rose Cohen (who prefers Mim), her father and little brother Nat, Coco the cockatoo and Flossy the horse.  They travel to wherever they are needed, wherever there is a child in need of a book to make their world right again because “the line between books and real life is not as clear as people suppose.”

This time, in the fourth episode of this intriguing series for young independent readers, Mim has arrived in the picturesque Cotswolds, in England just in time for a dog show. But the judge, Lord Melville-Timms, is in a pickle. He has judged cakes and flowers and vegetables, but never dogs. And his bulldog, Bubbles, is shamefully disobedient! Mim knows they’re here to help Lord Melville-Timms. To give him courage. To prevent a dog-show disaster.  If only she can find Lord Melville-Timms the right book. If only Dad would stop giving him the wrong book.

Put “bookshop” in the title of a book and you’ve got me – and, I suspect, many others. Young readers will delight in meeting Mim and Nat and their dad again as well as travelling to a completely different country as this series (this is #4) goes from strength to strength.  Even though I’ve never quite seen the point of dog shows and the like – they’re all beautiful just as they are to me- this one still kept me reading to the end.  

How Do You Say I Love You?

Mar16
How Do You Say I Love You?

How Do You Say I Love You?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Do You Say I Love You?

Ashleigh Barton

Martina Heiduczek

ABC Books, 2022

32pp., hbk., RRP $A22.99

9780733342172

In every country around the globe,
we all have ways to show
the people who mean the most to us
what they ought to know.

And whether through actions or words, the three most important we can utter are “I love you” and every language has its own phrase to express the emotion.

In this companion to What Do You Call Your Grandpa?, What Do You Call Your Grandma? and What Do You Do to Celebrate?  young readers journey around the world from dawn to dusk, having meals and school days in a variety of places and learn that wherever they are, the bonds are strong and each country has its own way of saying “I love you.’ Whether it’s Sami saying munayki in Quechua, one of the official languages of Peru and Bolivia or Tala in the Philippines saying mahal kita in Tagalog, or Henry signing in Auslan, it’s obvious that regardless of the words, it is the love that is shared that is the main thing. 

While there are clues to the locations in the illustrations, there is also a glossary that explains where the children are, the language they are speaking and where they are living.  It just screams to be added to by the children in your care as they add their own special words in their language. No wonder it’s a CBCA Notable Book for 2023. 

Aroha ahau ki a koe

Down in the Dumps (series)

Mar14
Down in the Dumps (series)

Down in the Dumps (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Down in the Dumps (series)

Wes Hargis

HarperCollins, 2023

96pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

Down in the Westerfield Dump amongst all the rubbish discarded by the local community live Nana the dried up banana, Ms Kettle the teapot and Moreland, the crusty blob of goo.  And they are the best of friends. Not for them the familiar meaning of being “down in the dumps” – they are very happy to be who they are, where they are, doing what they do. 

This is a new series for young readers who are just beginning to transition from structured basal readers to the world of novels.  Almost like a graphic novel, they are specifically written for this cohort with minimal narration (clearly set in text boxes) and the action is carried in the illustrations and  speech-bubble conversations. Chapters are short and fast-paced and at the end of each, readers are given direct encouragement to keep reading. 

Despite a landfill area being an unlikely setting and the characters being somewhat different to what we expect, nevertheless they are very relatable with the common themes of friendship, acceptance, loyalty and fighting for what’s right (even if you’re trash) as they face issues that will spark consideration and conversation with suggestions for thinking, feeling and acting offered in the “super Stinky Games” section.

Years ago, writers like Paul Jennings, Christopher Milne, Morris Gleitzman and Andy Griffiths tapped into the young readers’ love for characters and plots that would make adults blush or cringe, and this does a similar thing.  There’s something appealing about that which doesn’t appeal to grown ups, and with four in this series planned, at least, this is one for even the most reluctant reader. 

Ratbags 1: Naughty for Good

Mar11
Ratbags 1: Naughty for Good

Ratbags 1: Naughty for Good

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratbags 1: Naughty for Good

Tom Harris

Shiloh Gordon

Puffin, 2023

192pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

: 9780143777441

Rats, in general, do not have a good reputation for being friendly and kind, and The Ratbags are no exception.  Their goal in life is to make trouble and to look for naughty things to do.  They ream of mayhem and believe rules are for losers.  Except for one – Jigsaw.  He got his name because he does not fit in, like a puzzle piece that won’t squeeze into place no matter how much you twist and turn it. Jigsaw likes both rules and humans so he doesn’t fit in with the other rats and they shun him. 

But things might change when a new pizza shop opens in town…

This is a new series from the author of titles like Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables and this time he has joined with illustrator Shiloh Gordon to create a series that is likely to appeal to young boys, particularly those who don’t choose reading as their first choice for free time.  With minimal text, cartoon-like illustrations, and lots of laughs,  the story moves along at a fast clip more like an animated television program than a print resource, driven by the characters rather than events.  

It’s the first in the series and there’s a quiz that readers can take to see which character they themselves are most like, because every little one dreams of being brave enough to not toe the line, unless they are Jigsaw.  But just below the surface, there are subtle messages about friendship,  peer pressure and having the courage to stand your ground.  Despite the rats’ bad behaviour, however, there are several heartwarming messages buried beneath the surface. ‘It’s not preached at all, but there’s a nice subtle message that we can be friends with other people, no matter what our belief system or no matter how different we are to them,’ says Tim Harris.

Buy the first one and give it to your reluctant readers to determine if you should get the rest in the series.  You may well hook them into reading not only this, but reading in general. 

 

Hello, Emma Memma

Mar10
Hello, Emma Memma

Hello, Emma Memma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, Emma Memma

Emma Memma

Kerrie Hess

Puffin, 2023

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

9781761341045

On a gum tree, amidst a cloud of orange and pink blossoms and butterflies hangs an orange and pink cocoon which gradually grows and changes to reveal its secret – the emergence of Emma Memma, a new character in children’s books for our youngest readers in what is the first of “an expansive publishing program encompassing story, novelty and activity formats.”.

Welcome to a place
With a gum blossom tree
And pink painted leaves
What else can you see?

A friend, a buddy
A pal to play games
She is ready to join in
Emma Memma is her name.

But to many, she is not so new because before the curly red hair, pink shirt and orange dress, Emma Memma was dressed in a familiar yellow skivvy performing with The Wiggles from 2013 to 2018. And behind the entertainer’s face is Emma Watkins, a woman passionate about raising awareness  of Australia’s deaf community, who already has formal qualifications in Auslan and who is currently undertaking her PhD in “the affective, artistic integration of sign language, dance and film editing.”  So, through a range of projects, young readers can expect to be entertained through “movement, creativity, inclusiveness and friendship” that embrace those with special needs because as well as the storybooks, there will be simultaneous releases of an ebook, audiobook and an Auslan video translation, accessed through her website where there is already much to entertain.

This not the first picture book released by a media personality whose name is already familiar but it would among but a handful that reaches out beyond the pages of print so that a much broader audience can enjoy what their peers are reading. 

 

Little Lunch (series)

Mar9
Little Lunch (series)

Little Lunch (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Lunch (series)

Danny Katz

Mitch Vane

Walker, 2023

80pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

It’s only 15 minutes in the school day so really, what can happen in such a short time?  Ask any teacher who has ever been on playground duty and you will discover the answer is – a lot! And in this series of books that are perfect for those venturing into the world of novels because of their relatable characters and events and text/image balance, the reader discovers what teachers already know- it can be the most significant 15 minutes of the day.

Set in a suburban primary school in Australia each episode highlights  the adventures of a class of Year 5 students and their teacher Mrs Gonsha during morning recess as relationships ebb and flow over what seems like the most innocuous events. In fact, so much happens during that short time that there are three stories in each book. And whether it’s Tamara Noodle hogging the monkey bars, fighting over what kind of sandwich Manny was eating or Battie became SUPER BATMAN GUY, each provides an engaging read that not only has heads nodding but also offers opportunities to discuss how the issue was or could be solved without argument or violence.   

The series was first released 20 years ago, was made in to a TV series, still available on iView, in 2015-2016 and is as popular now as it was then because the characters and the things that happen essentially don’t change.  The issues a teacher deals with on the playground today at recess will be similar to those I dealt with all those years ago.  

Apart from just being a fun read, Danny Katz shows that writing about every day stuff, the stuff you know about and have done can be just as entertaining as the most far-fetched fantasy, and thus the stories in the book could be a basis for a writing exercise for a class.  Have them really observe what happens in the playground, analyse the relationships among those involved and how the dynamics made the incident worth watching, show them how to disguise real-life by giving the characters new identities and then have them create their own story for an extra addition to the series.  Usually picture books are the inspiration for a class writing endeavour, but this series is just ideal too. 

 

Football Fever 3: Next Level

Mar8
Football Fever 3: Next Level

Football Fever 3: Next Level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Football Fever 3: Next Level

Kristin Darell

Puffin, 2023

144pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781761048081

It’s time for the Under 11s Merridale Fever to test their skills against the most talented young footballers in Australia! The whole team has been selected for the National High Potential Pathway program and are taking part in a two-day camp. Both Kat and Crabbie are determined to be chosen for the Game of Stars match but will need to find a way to perform when they’re faced with challenges on and off the field. Can they learn from their football heroes and take it to the next level when it counts?

This is the third in this series that is part of  an expansive publishing program in the lead-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ hosted by Australia and New Zealand and features many of the well-known names of both the Australian Matildas and Socceroos teams.  Young football fans of both genders who are independent readers will enjoy putting themselves in the story as team sports get under way again and the big event approaches, particularly as the titles are being released regularly so there is not a long wait between episodes. 

Regardless of whether the reader is a soccer player or fan, or prefers some other game altogether, the underlying themes of the benefits of playing something such as working together as a team, sharing goals to achieve, overcoming problems and making new friends permeate the stories and thus there is something for each to relate to.  New series which attract and inspire readers are always welcome additions to the collection and one that has such current relevance, particularly so. 

 

The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond

Mar7
The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond

The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond

Amy Sparkes

Walker Books, 2023

256pp., pbk., RRP $A14.99

9781529505665

Nine, so called because she was the 9th thief to be recruited to the gang of pickpockets led by the evil Pockets, is back with her new friends  – Flabbergast a wizard who has lost his magic, Eric the troll who can’t cook (but insists on doing so), Bonehead the gloomy skeleton, Cas the gargoyle, and Dr Spoon, the wooden spoon- is back  on the third, and possibly final, episode of this magical mystery series for younger, independent readers. 

Having cured the house of its hiccups, they are off to the strange and utterly unpredictable Back of Beyond in search of Professor Dish – Spoon’s best friend and partner in all things alchemy – so he and Spoon can continue working on their secret recipe for making gold.  But such a formula is always going to attract attention so when they find Dish trapped by the greedy witch Ophidia in the basement of a particularly marvellous shop, it soon becomes clear they’re going to need something more than Flabberghast’s dicey magic and Nine’s quick thinking to triumph this time. What they really need is a rather clever witch – one particularly good at curses… Because as well as the captors, there is also Flabbergast’s sister, who also is at odds with her brother (she shrank him and his house in book 1) and doesn’t like their aunts either, to contend with as she has her own agenda and plans.

To add to the intrigue, Nine  has discovered that her mother, an occupant of the house in years gone by, left something deposited with the Safekeeper (also found in Beyond) and Nine is determined to find out what it is. On top of that there is a suspicion that Dr Spoon may not be telling the full story of what he and Professor Dish were working on…

With the introduction hinting that everyone, everywhere has a secret that will eventually come to light and cause consequences, this is a book of twists and turns that will keep every reader guessing as they travel to wondrous places that inspire and spark the imagination.  Best read in order, this is a series to capture those who enjoy this genre (including Miss 11 who has been waiting not-so-patiently for this one) . It is well-written, thorough and even this non-fantasy fan enjoyed it.  

 

Julian at the Wedding

Feb25

 

 

 

 

 

Julian at the Wedding

Julian at the Wedding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian at the Wedding

Jessica Love

Walker, 2020

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

9781406397482

Julian and his grandmother are attending a wedding. In fact, Julian is in the wedding along with his cousin Marisol. When wedding duties are fulfilled and with a new dog friend in tow, the pair takes off to roam the venue, exploring everywhere from underneath tables to enchanting willow trees to muddy puddles!  So when Mariola’s dress gets ruined, Julian has the perfect solution. But how will the grown-ups respond?

We first met Julian and his flamboyant grandmother in Julian is a Mermaid, a brilliant but controversial interpretation of being true to oneself. This sequel is just as good as it subtly shifts the narrative of convention so that the wedding being that of two brides is as normal as any other is almost unremarkable. After all, a wedding is just “a party for love.”

However, its impact may be more profound. 

The story behind Charles M. Schultz introducing a black character into the Peanuts comic strip has been well-documented and there are stories galore of how this impacted young black readers in the US, particularly.  Suddenly they were seeing themselves in literature in a new and positive portrayal. And so it may well be with children like Julian – those who don’t live in a conventional family; those for who two mums and two dads is the norm; those who prefer to be mermaids than superheroes. Here they are in a story that treats their situation as the norm and moves on to the real issues – ruining your bridesmaid’s dress at a wedding where, traditionally, you’re supposed to remain pristine!

Like its predecessor, most of this story is told in the stunning illustrations with the minimum of text, and they hold so many riches that the book demands to be explored again and again. Jessica Love won the Bologna Ragazzi Award and Klaus Flugge Prize for Julian is a Mermaid, her debut picture book and it is quite probable that this will be among the prizewinners too. 

Originally published November 3 2020

Updated February 2023