A visually stunning look at some of the creatures that inhabit the dark reaches of the ocean willencourage younger readers to think outside the square, seeing animals that live all their lives in a world without light as we know it.
When the narrator goes into the deep dark ocean she comes across a pair of eyes, Fergus, and asks what sort of creature he is. He scuttles off when a light appears, and the narrator sees an approaching anglerfish, the light on her head a lure for other fish to come by and be eaten. When she leaves, Fergus reappears but swims quickly away when a spook fish appears. This one has a different light around its eyes, ready for any passing interested food. When Fergus reappears heis startled to see two vampire squid, and he disappears again. All the while the narrator's asking what sort of creature Fergus is and the last page shows us all.
A funny, involving look at some of the life which can be found deep down in the oceans, readers will love the information about these nasty creatures, and laugh out loud at the last page where a surprise is in store.
Through the encounter with the fish, anglerfish, spook fish and vampire squid and Fergus, the reader is given snippets of information about how animals survive at such depths. We also learn about what they feed on and why some have lights and others don’t.
The stunning illustrations set against black, reinforce the feeling of being in the depths of the ocean where some fish can see a little. A double page at the end of the book gives more information about this array of fish and the scientists who go down to look at them. And do check out the talking seagulls in the endpapers.
Themes Non fiction, Picture book, STEM, Oceans, Fish.
The third in the DS Walker series following Outback and Paradise has Walker showing his sister Grace outback Australia. His cousin Blair has been prospecting for opal in Kanpara, and wants to get out of town so Walker and Grace go to bring him home. But Kanpara is in the Channel Country and a major floods locks them into the town. When two bodies are found, Walker finds himself investigating the brutal murders. His cousin is on the list of suspects. Can he prove Blair's innocence while keeping Grace safe? There had been a rumour of a large opal being found. Was this a motive for the murders?
The descriptions of an opal mining town, the Channel Country and the flood bring the Australian outback to life for the reader, who will learn about life in a country town as well as opal mining. Walker is an engaging character and his investigative powers will entrall lovers of mysteries as he unravels the reasons for the murders.
Fans of Wolf's previous books are sure to enjoy Opal, which is a quick, easy read.
A wonderful lift the flap book about Spot baking a cake will enthuse many readers not only to follow the funny story, but to be so excited with the story that they will seek out someone to cook with them.
Mum tells Spot that Friday is Dad’s birthday. They check the calendar, and then take a trip to the supermarket to buy the necessary ingredients. Spot is very excited, so much so that he makes a huge mess, one that must be cleaned up afterwards. Each stage of baking the cake is shown, from the idea to a list, to buying ingredients, to making the cake, popping it into the oven and finally taking it out, making icing and decorating the cake, finally having a birthday party for Dad with the cake as the main focus. The procedure of baking a cake is all there, along with some funny illustrations showing Spot and his Mum cooking together. This family centred book, resonating with warmth and companionship on each page, will involve younger readers as they follow the stages that Spot takes, from the idea to the party. On each page a lift-the-flap reveals a part of the story, and engage children with the story and the activity of baking a cake.
A wonderful addition to the array of lift-the-flap Spot books.
A beautifully presented gold edition of Mem Fox’s and Judy Horacek’s playful story heralds the twentieth anniversary of this book being in children’s hands. For those libraries where the ragged copies on the shelves have been loved to near exhaustion, or parents who recall their thrill at reading this book some years before and just about everyone else between, this new edition will be well received.
Here is the blue sheep And here is the red sheep Here is the bath sheep And here is the bed sheep But where is the green sheep?
Each five lines shows four different sheep and the expanded stanza ends with the refrain ‘But where is the green sheep?' prompting children to read along with the reader. They will predict words that rhyme, interact with the sheep and follow the question of where this pesky green sheep has got to.
In each line can be found descriptive words within our children’s sight: up and down, red and blue, bed and bath, rain and sun. The rhythm of each line is mesmerising, and children will love hunting for the green sheep
Horacek’s lively illustrations are hilarious, showing all sorts of sheep on the spindliest of legs doing an array of things that will evoke lots of loud laughter, a predictable response from any audience engaged with this book. Who has ever seen a sheep juggling, or a sheep in bed, or a trio of sheep holding hands? Well just open this lovely book to laugh along with the creators of this story and try to find the green sheep.
A happy, joyous book to tickle the funny bone of children and adults alike, as they read the wonderfully concise and precise words, teamed with bright engaging illustrations showing a range of dotty looking sheep doing the most of unexpected of activities.
Sophy Stanton-Lacy is a charming and strong willed young woman and when her father Sir Horace leaves her with her aunt before setting out for South America, she finds that things are not all fine in that ohusehold. Her cousins are facing difficulties - her cousin Cecilia is in love with a poet but is supposed to marry a lord who has contracted measles; Hubert is in deep trouble with debts; Charles the older son has turned into a domestic tyrant while managing the family's finances, because his father has been reckless with his fortune. Charles is also engaged to be married to an unpleasant bluestocking, who is not popular with the rest of his family. Sophy being an intrepid manager, is determined to improve the life of her cousins.
Heyer's novels always sparkle with wit and humour, and The Grand Sophy is no exception. Sophie is feisty and confident that she is right, and the devious plans that she puts into place to save her cousins are delightful. Who could resist a monkey let loose on the household, a shooting contest in the drawing room, highly strung horses and reckless riding?
The Regency period is vividly brought to life with excellent characterisation and world building and will appeal to readers who like witty and well written romances. A favourite among many well loved Georgette Heyer Regency romances, The Grand Sophy is one I return to when I need a feel good, escapist book. Fans of the Bridgerton series may also enjoy the humour and romance.
Themes Romance, Regency.
Pat Pledger
Voice of the sea by John Williamson. Illus. by Andrea Innocent & Jonathan Chong
Singer songwriter John Williamson has used his prodigious talents to pen a hymn for the sea. He poses the question, ‘where did it go, your love for me?’ as he surveys the sea around our island. Children will instantly understand that he is talking of the way we have misused the sea, killing animals, overfishing, pouring our rubbish into it, allowing oil spills to smother the bird and animal life.
He wrote this song after a request from The Australian Marine Conservation Society and his song is a wake up call to all those people who hold the sea and its inhabitants dear. He impels us to question what is being done to the seas in our name, and asks again, ‘where did it go, your love for me?’
A video clip can be viewed here. The playing of this clip will encourage readers to listen and sing along with the ballad. They will notice the descriptions of the harm we have piled upon the sea. The song includes a reference to past transgressions, and the destruction of the coral reefs, many animals and birds. And a look at this video shows children singing the song, including a group singing with signing.
Wonderfully complementing the text are the illustrations by Andrea Innocent and Jonathan Chong, and more about this duo can be found here. The two are extremely accomplished artists having experience and expertise in design as well as illustration.
Within each page can be found examples of our misuse of the sea and its inhabitants. The first few pages show the sea: clear and blue with sunlight reaching the ocean floor, but soon this all changes, as the sea becomes murky, the corals die, and animals are snapped up in huge nets. The turtle shows us what we are doing to the sea, as it swims across the oceans, carrying many recreational people, fishermen, an oil rig, ships and ski boats. None of these are designed to protect the thing we love. The images shown on each page will make readers stop and think about what impact we have upon the sea, as they spy many fish being hauled up, plastic littering the sea, animals trapped in bags, the sea dark and murky. Readers will have no illusions about the impact of human kind upon the sea, and through both the text and illustrations, wonder what they can do.
A wonderful read aloud, sing a long and discussion starter, young readers will ask this to be read over again, singing along with the video clip, then asking what they can do.
A wonderful touch is the companion between the first and last endpapers, enough detail for readers to engage their curiosity.
A laugh out loud verse story about the very alternate Kevin, not happy with being one of the herd, happy to try different things which sometimes result in the other sheep being derisive.
He loves to cook, likes to play the drums, is content to read while the other sheep do what all sheep do, munch grass. He has his hooves painted purple and has his wool styled, his favoured drink is icy mint tea. He learns to knit following instructions on Ewe-Tube, and learns to play football and kung fu. He tries to fit in but is remarkably unsuccessful until one dark night, everything changes and he and the herd are able to see each other differently.
A very funny verse text is equally matched by the wonderfully funny illustrations. The idea of a non conformist sheep is given full rein in both images and text and will be highly appreciated by the readers.
Warching the sheep sitting around the campfire or doing a line dance will make everyone laugh out loud.
I am in awe of an illustrator who can make a sheep look so nonchalant. Hilarious.
Penguin Random House Australia, 2024. ISBN: 9781761342028. (Age:Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended.
Ten years ago the small Victorian town of Edenville was rocked by the death of five hikers on Jago Ridge. Nearby lay the body of Bill 'Creeper' Duvant, known for stalking campers. It seemed obvious that he was the killer, so the case was closed. but as the 10th year anniversary nears, Detective Contstable Sally White begins to look at the case. She is drawn into danger as the Duvant family begin to notice her activities. And she finds secrets in the backgrounds of the five murdered hikers.
Hickey brings alive the location of the small town and the beautiful hiking trails in the surrounding mountains, while building up an eerie atmosphere as details of the evil that was committed are brought to light. Sally White is young and clever, and the reader can relate to her personal problems of fitting into a small town and deciding whether to commit to a relationship with Jim Brear, the park ranger who carried Laura, the only survivor of the attack, down the mountain. Laura is coming back for the anniversary with a film crew and Sally must deal with this as the only member of the police in town. As she investigates the cold case, Hickey ramps up the suspense. Who is watching her? Who can she trust?
This is a gripping Australian crime novel and I look forward to reading other books by this author. Readers who enjoy books by Jane Harper and Chris Hammer may like The creeper.
A delightful story is told by the horse as it watches its young charge become more sure of herself, eventually finding a friend. Sal is a very competent rider; she can do all sorts of tricks with her horse and rides it everywhere on the family farm. She would love to be a real cowgirl to match her father who is a cowboy, droving the cattle, keeping them safe on their farm.
At home she and her horse can do a load of circus tricks, tricks which reveal her competence at riding the horse, but when Sal goes to school, she loses her confidence.
Here she has no friends, she no longer feels smart or wild, brave or strong. The horse senses that if the children could see Sal in the paddock with her horse, they would learn that she is all the things she is not at school. One day Sal summons the courage to tell her classmates about her horse and her skills. Several are impressed but one sees her on the weekend. Together the pair ride their horses, setting out on a mission in the forest. The next day Sal skips to school, feeling very brave. She is a real cowgirl.
Children will love watching the horse as it tells the story of Sal, demonstrating through the lovely illustrations how the animal feels for her owner. A rewarding story about feeling brave, but having the courage to tell people how you feel, the illustrations are stunning, the use of watercolour giving a wraparound feeling of intimacy and involvement in the surroundings on the farm. Crispe has an interest in zoology and her horse images are beautifully formed, and the other animals that eagle eyes will spot in the background, are redolent of the Australian countryside.
For more information about Susannah Crispe, go to her website.
Themes Australian bush, Horses, Bravery, Courage, Shyness.
Elvin Melvin and Emma Memma are getting ready for Christmas. The pair appears throughout the book, signing significant words for children to learn and practise: Christmas, lights, look, friends and where. Each of these words is displayed in the book, showcasing the customs and rituals of this important time in kids’ lives. So we see a Christmas tree, lights, baubles, reindeer, tree decorations, and this book weaves a story around the tree with Emma and Elvin as they seek out their friends and their displays.
Christmas lights are going up all over the town. Everything is sparkling now that the sun has gone down. Emma and Melvin invite the readers to see what is close by. In the twinkling lights they will be able to find BB Butterfly. They all get into a little colourful car to see what else they can find. They will see many many shapes of different Christmas lights, and amongst them a kangaroo hops along. The Butterfly bus keeps going, and is there to welcome a friend who has arrived from a different town. And Waffles the Wombat greets them as well. Emma asks him where his Christmas lights are.
He looks up into the night sky, and tells them that his lights are there every night for all to see. They all sit together on the hillside, watching the night display, waiting for Christmas.
Younger readers will enjoy this journey through Emma Memma’s town with her friends, searching out the images of Christmas and learning some signs as they read.
Emma Memma’s infectious illustrations will bring joy to the readers, as they too celebrate Christmas and wait impatiently for the day to come around. While each section of the town is decorated, it is a neat ploy to have the group look at the stars, a nightly show of bright twinkling lights.
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761470707. (Age:15+) Highly Recommended.
Does humankind have a single supergene that we can ascribe to our ascendency over the apes? Dr Lynne Kelly’s theory is both biological and anthropological but weighted firmly in the latter.
The Knowledge Gene thesis springs from a group of patients born with a mutation of the NF1 gene (believed to be a tumour suppressor) leading to Neurofibromatosis – a condition whose most outward signs are skin and tissue nodules of varying severity. A wide variance in phenotype can also mean varying degrees of dysfunction in language, perception memory, attention, executive functioning and social skills. With recent advances in molecular biology it made sense that a supergene is involved and various genes, alleles and molecular promotors and modifers are now known to contribute.
This textbook is of definite appeal to fans of popular science authors like Phillip Ball (How Life Works) writing about the oversimplification of molecular biology in practice, which is holding us back in our understanding of the relationship between phenotype and genotype in any apparently single-gene condition and hindering the quest for affective treatments.
However, molecular biology is only the beginning as Dr Kelly unpacks the last 500,000 years of human evolution through archeology, art, communication, music, oral knowledge, memory and wayfaring amongst other constructs, along a linear journey of one uniquely successful mammal’s distinctive creativity and acuity using surviving pieces of cultural evidence.
Chapters reflect the authors substantive knowledge of indigenous memory systems gleaned from art and song but also those showcasing generalized literacy and spacial ability before recommending how to use these tools and systems such as music, repetition even tangible learning boards, in order to improve our current learning capacity. The colour plates bring key pieces of evidence to life and really lift the content to a higher level of fascination.
The appendix containing tables of Knowledge Gene skill sets, the author's notes and a comprehensive index, all make this humble paperback a user friendly aid to researchers and practical educators. Whilst eclectic, this cultural history textbook cross referenced with molecular biology, has practical purpose. If only as general awareness and caution against oversimplification in science or the quick dismissal of simple technology, it is a foundational fusion of academic disciplines to encourage lateral thinking, even if librarians will agonise over the best location on the shelf. 416p
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761181092. (Age:12-14) Recommended.
Insyirah is an anxious Muslim girl who lives with her mother Sarah in Sydney. But her proud, wealthy grandmother has a fall, and they are forced to return to Kuala Lumpur to live with her in their ancestral home. Insiyrah is happy to be back with Nenek in her beautiful home and discovers things about her family that she had never encountered in Australia. She learns about the powerful and hidden world of jinn (ancient jungle spirits) and how her grandmother has had one to do her bidding since she was a girl. Insyirah had never felt completely at home in Sydney where her religion set her apart from her friends at school and made her a target of racial abuse. In her Malaysian school she makes friends easily and begins to enjoy her new life but that is when things begin to go wrong. Her school seems to be haunted by an evil jinn and this one has a grudge against Insyirah and her ancestors. She must get to the bottom of the horrible secret that has made this jinn so determined to get rid of her and at the same time figure out how to help her family and friends with her newly found power. A fast-paced, exciting debut novel from this author that is an absorbing read for older Primary and lower secondary students and is a refreshing education into Muslim religion and Malay culture. It focusses on jinn, part of Malaysian folklore that I have never heard of before and gave me a great introduction to explore this supernatural world.
Adventures Unlimited: The Land of Lost Things, expertly written by much-loved Australian author Andy Griffiths, launches readers into a thrilling new adventure that will certainly not disappoint. The story, packed with humour, action and the quirky creativity Griffiths is known for, follows the journey of characters named "You" and "Me" as they embark on a wild mission to find the missing lucky rabbit’s foot.
Griffiths’ knack for crafting memorable and zany stories is again on show. With main characters "You" and "Me" encountering a host of peculiar creatures along the way, including a flying watch, an angry bull and Pookie the guinea pig, the audience will be engrossed until the very end. Each character adds twists and turns, along with layers of humour, surprise and suspense to the storyline.
Bill Hope’s illustrations are an integral part of the experience. His drawings fill every page with energy and detail, capturing the dynamic essence of Griffiths’ writing. From expressive character portrayals to action scenes that leap off the page, Hope’s art complements the story seamlessly, making each moment visually engaging and enhancing the book's fun and excitement.
Adventures Unlimited: The Land of Lost Things ensures that there’s always something unexpected around the corner to keep the audience guessing. The characters, along with the imaginative storyline, help build a unique and immersive world that young readers will be eager to explore.
This series would be ideal for fans of the Treehouse series, who will appreciate Griffiths’ signature blend of hilarity and fast-paced storytelling. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy non-stop action, clever twists, and a light-hearted escape into a world of pure imagination.
Hold on tight and be prepared for anything…. this is an exhilarating adventure that will have reader’s immersed in the land of excitement and creativity from start to finish. As the first in a new series, it is sure to be another popular one.
Themes Humour, Adventure, Imagination.
Michelle O'Connell
The bug book by Tania Ingram. Illus. by Lucinda Gifford
Little Book Press, 2024. ISBN: 9781923141155. (Age:1+) Highly recommended.
Young children are fascinated by bugs and love to spend time outdoors searching for them. This delightful new release The Bug Book written by South Australian author Tania Ingram and illustrated by Lucinda Gifford is a perfect introduction to many familiar and perhaps unfamiliar bugs. The bright and vivid cover catches the eye and offers immediate appeal with the boldly drawn bugs showing a sense of fun and playfulness.
Beginning with a simple question 'What are bugs?' readers are enticed to find some bugs on the following pages. The clever rhyming text is minimal, well-spaced and perfectly introduces each bug, gloriously presented in a large colourful format. The use of descriptive words such as shiny bug, spiny bug, swooshy-wooshy-wing bug plus movement words such as slide bug, glide bug, prickle bug, tickle bug, along with comparative words such as long, short, big, small, add wonderful learning opportunities to introduce young readers to new language skills and build on their vocabulary. As an added and thoughtful bonus on the final page, each bug is shown with its common name.
This beautiful book will be enjoyed by many and would be a wonderful addition to a home, childcare, kindy, preschool or Junior Primary library.
In a harsh world of heat and suffocating ash, a man and a child in a truck journey across country seeking a place of refuge, something that seems scarce in an environment of anonymous danger, night screams and guarded settlements. The man is burn scarred, the child is scared mute, and the unlikely place of safety is a derelict mine shaft. But their luck is out, the mine is not so derelict, and a man with a deadly crossbow takes them prisoner. Thus begins the narration of events that have led to this situation, as the man with the child attempts to win over the bowman, knowing that if he fails their lives are in jeopardy. There are hints that the two men have something of a shared past experience, both scarred, both loners, both ex-Service, though what kind of service is yet to be revealed.
Thus Winton begins his description of a future dystopian world, where the murdering heat of summer is spent sealed underground, and only in winter can the inhabitants of the plains come out into open air, even then only in the early and late hours of the day and with loaded sun protection. The man and his mother are toughened survivors, people of the plains, eking out a living alone, until the day he is drawn into a new form of resistance.
This is the world that has been predicted for us, the world that scientists warn about, and which vested interest denies. It is a harsh soul-destroying environment, with people in desperate need of ‘juice’ – fuel for their homes and vehicles, water for their plants, and stamina for their survival. It is a world gone desperate, bereft of humanity, each out for himself.
Winton’s writing style is finely honed and concise, alternating blistering descriptions with passages of dialogue between the man and his captor, drawing in the listener, and the reader at the same time. It’s an account that will surprise at turns, and keep you seeking the final revelation.
Moral dilemmas sit at the heart of the novel: the tug-of-war between caring for family and the adrenalin charge of the secret mission, between safety of home and containment and the danger of striving for something else. The distinction between good and evil becomes blurred. There is a reminder of how much the coloniser has damaged the land formerly cared for by Indigenous people. Humankind is shown to be so flawed the question arises that if machines were to inherit the planet perhaps the world would be better off.
This latest novel by Winton is a foray into a new genre for him, the dystopian future; but readers will ever appreciate his innate love of country, his focus on relationships, and his questioning of humans’ relationship with their world. It is a stunning read. Don’t miss this book.
Themes Dystopia, Climate change, End of world, Revenge, Morals, Responsibility.
