In the bush Christmas always starts with a lucky dip from Mrs Roo's pouch and this year all the little animals have discovered musical instruments, perfect for tootling and banging and tinging as they march down to the beach for the Christmas party.
"I wish we had a Christmas tree," Little Wombat muses, and suddenly, after they have been rolling and jumping in the sand, they did. Not only that, there was Santa and a reindeer ... and a very clean beach.
Little Wombat and his friends are fast becoming a preschool favourite series as not only are the creatures familiar and seemingly the same age as they are, they do the sorts of things that little ones do while there is always a subtle message to gently absorb as they read - this one about being aware of how we treat our beaches. Despite being an Englishman living in England, Fuge's illustrations capture Little Wombat and those in his world perfectly with just the right blend of anatomical correctness and whimsy.
While our little ones are no doubt seeing the traditional pine tree being decorated for this festive season - whether it is real or fake - it is an opportunity to think about how else they could make a Christmas tree from what is around them. They might not have an echidna with a spiky back, but it only takes a little imagination... At the same time, older siblings might like to investigate why we have trees at all, as well as what inspired them to be decorated. From seemingly simple books can come lots of learning... this one is going in my to-keep collection.
Themes Wombats, Christmas.
Barbara Braxton
Christmas at Hogwarts by J.K. Rowling. Illus. by Ziyi Gao
Fans of the Harry Potter books will be thrilled to collect another book, this time a picture book celebrating Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts. The text is taken from Chapter Twelve of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, with plot spoilers omitted, and it is beautifully illustrated by Ziyi Gao. The enticing cover shows Christmas trees, decorations, candles, bonbons and the high windows of the Great Hall and immediately draws readers in, making them want to peruse the delight of Christmas at Hogwarts.
The book begins with the opening sentences of Chapter Twelve: “Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow.” Readers first catch a glimpse of Hogwarts through the eyes of a great white bird and then the warm glow of light in the Great Hall. After that they can follow Hagrid carrying a huge Christmas Tree and join Harry and Ron spearing food on a toasting fork and opening presents. Harry’s amazement at receiving an Invisibility Cloak that had belonged to his father is heartwarming. Gao’s colourful illustrations bring alive the expressions on the faces of all the friends and staff reminding readers of the joy of giving and receiving presents.
This book is perfect for a family to share at Christmas, an ideal present for lovers of the Harry Potter series and a gorgeous introduction to Hogwarts.
Themes Christmas, Harry Potter, Wizardry, Magic.
Pat Pledger
Snow Bunny's Christmas show by Rebecca Harry
Nosy Crow, 2024. ISBN: 9781805131076. (Age:2-5)
Snow Bunny and her friends Mouse, Fox and Bear, live in the forest, and as Christmas draws near, they decide to put on a show. As they build a stage, and put up lights and curtains, each thinks about what their act might be. Snow Bunny has ideas for each of them, but just as she begins to think of what she might do, the audience begins to arrive. There is no time for her to do anything but introduce the other performers.
At the end, while Mouse, Fox and Bear are receiving the accolades, Snow Bunny feels a bit left out but then...
As school concerts and other performances are in full swing, there are going to be those who are disappointed that they might not have the spotlight they desired, so this is an excellent (and original) opportunity to show them that it takes a team on the stage and behind it to put on a show, and one can't happen without the other. It's also a timely reminder to acknowledge the back-stage folk who work so hard as well as remembering that there are those who prefer to be back-stage and respecting those feelings. Ask me how I know...
Themes Christmas, Concerts.
Barbara Braxton
The Magic Faraway Tree: A Christmas adventure by Jacqueline Wilson
A second offering from Jacqueline Wilson that is inspired by the stories about the Magic Faraway tree written by Enid Blyton. This time the children – Milo, Mia and Birdy - who were introduced in the first book, stay at the cottage beside the Magic Faraway Tree in winter for a Christmas holiday. They soon find all their friends at the top of the tree and are excited to see new lands arrive each time they slip out of the cottage to visit the tree. They enjoy the Land of Sunshine where they play on the beach, swim with mermaids and have a lovely beach picnic. The land of the Frozen North presents some interesting experiences, such as meeting friendly bears, arctic foxes and running away from terrifying wolves, not to mention seeing Santa’s reindeer fly out of danger. Each land they visit presents new experiences and new challenges and the Land of Toys is so appropriate for this story set at Christmas time.
This book is perfect for reading as a bedtime chapter book for younger children as it uses simple language and contains a selection of small illustrations. The font is larger than most books this size making it ideal for young independent readers as well.
Crammed with 250+ pages of Christmas-themed jokes, riddles, (possibly unfactual) facts and tongue twisters this book is a must for joke book lovers over the holiday season. Approachable for young ones and actually not as terrible or annoying as the title makes out, this is a follow on title to Warning! These jokes will annoy everyone you know. Joke books are perfect to get reluctant readers engaging with text and the simple language and uncluttered format of this will keep them going. Is there a better way to get young ones reading, chatting and laughing together over the summer holidays than a new joke book all about their favourite time of the year?
Imagine... it's Christmas Eve and you're tucked up in your bed when something wakes you. It's Santa Claus leaving something special for you. What would you do?
Lie there quietly? Pretend you're still asleep? Or jump up and pepper him with questions like, "Did you read my letter?" "Did you wipe your shoes?" and make him choose between cats and dogs. Would you offer to play your recorder, follow him up the chimney and hitch a ride in his sleigh? Because that's what happens to the little girl in the story - she wakes up and there is Santa, right at the end of her bed!!!
While the text is written entirely in the little girl's incessant and numerous questions - and anyone with experience of a curious child demanding answers now, will hear her - the story is carried in the warm 'fuzzy' illustrations that hover between dream and reality so the reader is transported along on the adventure - because who wouldn't want to be - but left wondering if indeed, it really happened. Santa's expressions are many and one wonders if he is pleased to have company on his trip or if he wishes she had stayed at home - or maybe he is glad that she is such a chatterbox and he doesn't have to answer! .
We know little ones always have lots of questions, and they often from left-field or places that only a child's mind goes, so how much fun would it be to ask them what they would ask Santa if they found themselves in this little girl's situation. And then have them imagine what Santa's answers would be.
Stories like these not only reignite the excitement of Christmas that is building in our little people but also the joy in sharing stories with them as we are drawn into the magic and imagination.
Delightful.
Themes Santa Claus, Questions.
Barbara Braxton
Clementine's Christmas by Annie White
New Frontier, 2024. ISBN: 9781923145061. (Age:3+) Recommended.
Three wonderful romps with Clementine walking, having a bath, and finding a treasure have been published for younger audiences to much hilarity (Clementine’s walk, Clementine’s bath and Clementine’s treasure). A very large, energetic dog, Clementine loves her family and wants to help with their Christmas preparations. We meet the family putting up the Christmas tree, decorating the room and sitting the presents, already wrapped and named, under the tree. Granny sits in the background knitting while Clementine looks on. As the family takes the children upstairs to bed, Granny finds that she has lost her purple wool. Clementine helps Granny find it, wrapping everything with purple wool. Granny finds her ball of wool, and in picking it up joyously pulls over the tree and all the presents. Together they put back the tree and the decorations, while Granny puts the names onto the presents. All good fun, readers will love laughing along with the mayhem on each of the pages, predicting the rhyming word at the end of each four line stanza.
Kids will love predicting what might happen on Christmas Day after Granny and Clementine have put things back together again, and laugh with the family as each receives the present with their name on it.
The verses are accompanied by lovingly drawn illustrators, showing a close family getting ready for Christmas, the day when many families spend time together.
Young reader will love spotting all the accoutrements of Christmas shown in the illustrations.
Clementine will win lots of hearts, and the inappropriate presents received by family members will cause much mirth.
The teller of small fortunes by Julie Leong (Malaysian Chinese American fantasy author) is one of those rare books that plods along at the same rhythm and pace as Laohu the mule, who is a full on important character himself as he pulls the wagon with "Teller of small fortunes" painted on the side, accompanying our hero Tao in her constant travels from village to village. It is a tale of travel, small adventures and of friendship. It is a grown up version of the coming home stories of childhood. It is about leaving home, finding home and returning to home.
In this Euro/Asian rural, medieval fantasy world, our main character Tao is an immigrant. She is an outsider who is distinctly different in appearance and language to those who she meets on her travels. She is Shinn but she speaks Eshteran - the language of the world that she visits. Her..."foreign features - dark,hooded eyes;tawny skin;and black hair twisted up into a loose bun..." mark her as an outsider but she explains to suspicious villagers that she meets on the way that she comes from the faraway empire of Shinara as a humble traveller and teller of small fortunes. It is not apparent what Tao is escaping from but it seems that she has a power beyond what she is prepared to display and is in someway marked as special. Whether she is escaping danger or expectation from her past or a responsibility or acceptance of her true self is a question. She is solitary, lonely, defensive and bristly, keeping to herself until other travelling companions are thrust upon her. Together with Mash, an ex-mercenary, Silt, an ex-thief, Kina, a baker and a magical cat, Tao encounters danger and learns to trust and believe in family. Her past is chasing her and choices have to be made.
The teller of small fortunes is a refreshing read in its quietness and gentleness. There is fierce emotional content but it is tempered by Leong's warm, steadying authorial voice. The characters and their relationships with each other are slowly and carefully revealed and developed. There is no lack of humour to boot.
This is the outstanding prequel to R.A Spratt's bestselling series about the circus-performing pig who is also a brilliant nanny. Packed full of wit and vocabulary to die for, this delivers on all the levels that the original series is loved for. Beginning with her life as a young piglet in a teeny tiny sty along with thirteen identical fourteen-uplet sisters (and one black-sheep brother) we learn the intricate details of how she came to be a circus star and then eventually a nanny. Readers love the complete wackiness of these stories and this is no exception - there is a ringmaster who dishes out chocolate cupcakes laced with a sleeping tonic, a Russian bear who is the most spectacular ballet dancer and an elephant with an atrocious memory. R.A Spratt is wonderful at not writing down to her younger audience - she gives them everything, including complex jokes and references that make these books a delightful read for both children and adults. There is an entrance point for everyone and multiple levels of understanding that demonstrate just what a master of language she is. There is wonderful tragedy and unbelievable immorality, reminiscent of A Series of Unfortunate Events. At the end of the book is a glossary of her siblings, a translation of useful Russian phrases (for translating Boris) and a recipe for emergency chocolate muffins. Those already familiar with Nanny Piggins with adore this prequel, but it is also a wonderful introduction to her (and R.A Spratt) and will no doubt lead new readers to the rest of the series.
Themes Pigs, Circus, Humour.
Nicole Nelson
How plants talk by Helena Harastova and Linh Dao
Albatros, 2023. ISBN: 9788000068114. (Age:6+)
How Plants Talk is a beautifully illustrated board book for early primary school aged children. There is a touch of humour throughout as the plants communicate with each other as new situations arise such as a worm entering the root system, a caterpillar munching on leaves, travelling by night in a car, repotting and pruning, being fed nutrients, and finally settled and healthy in a flower shop. The clever use of speech bubbles draws the reader’s attention to the plants sharing their thoughts and the delightful illustrations are an added appeal as is the opportunity to ‘Life the Flap’. The highlighting of key concept words is helpful for the reader but the complexity of the text and information at times will need an older reader to explain in detail what is happening.
Themes Board Book, Lift the flap, Plants, Facts, Humour.
Kathryn Beilby
Shout it out! Yoga therapy for emotional resilience by Loranine Rushton & Adele Vincent. Illus. by Andrew McIntosh
Little Steps, 2024. ISBN: 9781922833228. (Age:6+)
This book is for children who may be experiencing big feelings leading to frustration and responses to situations that may not be quite as they want. Jasmine is having one of those days where all is not going as well as expected. She tries very hard to change her way of responding and thinking and some important yoga poses and techniques are helping her to get through her day.
The long text is broken up by the use of larger font to emphasis key words. The illustrations show images of Jasmine initiating the yoga poses and in the final pages are the individual poses clearly shown with supporting instructions.
This picture book may be a resource for all who struggle with negative feelings and the yoga may help contain or refocus their feelings.
Themes Big Feelings, Children, Yoga, Emotional Resilience.
Kathryn Beilby
18,000 holes in the universe: Snack attack by Adam Wallace, Lisa Foley and James Hart
18,000 Holes in the Universe: Snack Attack is an energetic and imaginative story that combines adventure, humour, and just enough chaos to be healthy. Creatively written by Adam Wallace and Lisa Foley, and brought to life through James Hart’s vibrant illustrations, this book follows the fearless GOLF Squad - a group of resourceful kids - as they tee off into another wild and wacky adventure.
This time, the stakes are even higher as the squad dives into Snack Attack World, a deliciously dangerous land filled with larger-than-life snacks. Readers will be captivated by the surreal setting, featuring giant pizza slices, gooey melting marshmallows, and even an erupting volcano of popcorn. The quirky, food-themed obstacles add both comedy and suspense, making every twist in the story unpredictable and exciting.
The heart of the story centres on the kids’ mission to rescue their beloved Grandpa Galileo, who’s trapped in this zany golf universe. Adding to the tension is Grandpa’s brother, Great Uncle Goof, whose villainous plans to demolish the land threaten everything. Armed with their magical golf club - a versatile and imaginative tool that can morph into whatever they need - the GOLF Squad must work together, think creatively, and act courageously to save the day before time runs out.
Perfect for readers aged 7-12, 18,000 Holes in the Universe: Snack Attack is a fantastic pick for kids who love fast-paced action, offbeat humour, and imaginative escapades. It’s a celebration of creativity, teamwork, and perseverance, with just the right mix of silliness and excitement to keep readers turning the pages. Fans of adventure stories, crazy worlds, and snack-filled chaos won’t want to miss this delightful journey!
Themes Themes: Humour, Golf, Friendship, Adventure, Teamwork, Problem solving.
Michelle O'Connell
The too-tall tales of Alma T. Best: Out of bounds by Katherine Collette
When you're 12 years old and 6 foot tall, people ask the most annoying questions. The Number One Most Annoying Question according to Alma T. Best is, 'Do you play basketball?'
Uh, no. She hates basketball.
Alma lives in Shellsville, a town known for its sewage treatment plant and their basketball team.All her friends are looking forward to moving to Point Elizabeth High School, but Alma has won a scholarship to Holy Grace, an all-girls college that is also the biggest rival of the Basketball team.
When Alma arrives at the new school with the size 11 runners her mum purchased that do not fit in, rather than admit to living in Shellsville she makes up a story about living on a Peach farm far away from the sewage plant.What ensues is a true testament to the fact that one small lie can have long reaching consequences.
During a project to create a fundraiser for a Mother’s Day stall, her group decides to sell peach jam and Alma must produce the peaches.Rather than coming clean, Alma perpetuates the lie with theft, and more lies including failing to tell her family that she is on the basketball team.Alma is a smart, resourceful and well-read student but her need to continually make up stories and add to her lies impacts her whole life until she is caught out and must come clean.
The story is about fitting in, friendships and lengths one will go to fit in and be included but the constant lies and theft and the fact that in the end Alma really faces very few consequences and all is forgiven feels too neat and easy.This is a book that will appeal to readers who like Dork Diaries, BSC and other friendship stories, the inclusion of basketball will also appeal to the more sport orientated readers, however it isn’t one that would be one I would reach for due to the lack of consequences for Alma.The story was enjoyable, and I am looing forward to the next book in the series to see if Alma has learnt her lesson.
While it wouldn’t be a book I would reach for I do think that it will gain popularity in the school library and is one that is worth having, especially as it would lead to conversations about the consequences of lying and theft.
Themes Friendship, Sport, Lies, Family, Humour.
Mhairi Alcorn
Augustin and the hot air balloon by David Metzenthen
Ford Street Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781925804966. (Age:10+) Highly recommended.
Augustin is a poor boy who lives in a barn. Celine is a rich girl who lives in a mighty palace. Together they escape into the sky . . . Only to land in a world of terrible trouble and dangerous secrets!
Augustin is an 11-year-old goatherder who is worried about starving to death during the coming winter, and when he sees the Montgolfier Brother’s hot air balloon ready to fly he decides to become the first person to be in the basket. He hopes to land far away in a warm country with plenty of food and achieve fame as the first person to make that type of flight.
Little does he know that another child has the same thought and is none to pleased to find him along for the journey. Celine lives in the palace with Marie Antoinette as her mother’s close friend. As the journey continues the two become unlikely friends as they use their life skills and unique understanding of their corner of the world to survive.
I first read this two years ago and reread it to complete the review, both times I have been engaged in the story and the history embedded in both the story and the chapter headings. This is a history novel, told from the perspective of children living in very different circumstances but is so much more than that, it is an adventure story about unexpected friendships interwoven with historic fact.
This is a book that would appeal to young readers who enjoy historical novels, adventure stories or just want a fun read about two children. It would work as a read aloud or class novel just as well as an independent read. I would highly recommend this book to teachers and students alike. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Friendship, History, Adventure, French Revolution.
Mhairi Alcorn
Why your parents are hung-up on your phone and what to do about it by Dean Burnett
Penguin, 2024. ISBN: 9780241679593. (Age:11-16)
Neuroscientist Dean Burnett has attempted to provide a fair and honest account for both adults and teenagers in the use and/or overuse of mobile phones. This reasonably weighty paperback is not for the faint-hearted but for those parents/carers/educators and their teenage children to read together.
The text is highly accessible and uses a questioning technique throughout, graphic images, bold headings, speech bubbles plus ample white space. The contents page begins with some basics about the book beginning with information about the author, what the book is about and how to get started.
The chapters include ‘Are phones bad for your health?’, ‘Back in my day, we didn’t have phones’ which may not be quite true for teenagers and their parents these days, ‘Who are you talking to?’, ‘You shouldn’t be looking at that, ‘No Phones in class!’ and ‘Mobile Hotspots’. Within these chapters, consideration is given to such points as the social side of phone use, misinformation, the use of a phone as a listening tool to help focus, instantaneous communication between children and parents as well as the unfortunate and disturbing phenomena of cyberbullying. In the final pages are acknowledgements, resources and an index.
This book may be a beneficial addition to a secondary school or home library but would certainly benefit from a shared read and discussion between a trusted adult and teenager.
Themes Mobile phones, Parents, Teenagers, Screentime.
