Month: July 2006

For Weddings and a Funeral, edited by John Marsden

John Marsden is best known for his books for children and young adults, including the unforgettable Tomorrow series. Here, though, he offers something very different – an anthology of poems for special occassions – most specifically for reading at weddings and funerals. It was put together, Marsden says in his introduction, to offer a selection of special poems to add a personal touch to events – so that everyone who takes part in ceremoniies (can) have something chosen specifically for the occasion.

The weddings section of the book offers well known pieces such as Marlowe’s ‘The Passionate Shepherd to his Love and Edward Lear’s The Owl and the pussycat’ as well as lesser known offerings such as a translated Apache Song. The funeral section is similarly diverse, with offerings from Emily Dickinson, WB Yeats, Robert Louis Stevenson and many more.

This is a special collection with a lovely selection of peoms for special occasions.

For Weddings and a Funeral, edited by John Marsden
Pan, 2006

Always, by Anna Pignataro

Underneath a big old elm Oli asked, ‘Mamma, how long will you love me?’
‘Always,’ Mamma smiled.
‘How long is always?’ Oli asked.
’Miles and miles forever,’ said Mamma.

In the age-old way of young children, Oli wants to know that his mother loves him. But ‘always’ is a concept beyond his grasp. With patience and tenderness, Mamma explains – as magic as a starry night…as wild as a windy day…as wondrous as a winter snow…. Mamma focuses on the small wonders of the world around them, and their stability, as she reassures her son of the strength of her love.

Always is a beautiful tribute to parenthood and a gentle story which mother and child will cherish together. It is Anna Pignataro’s first effort as author/illustrator, having already forged a reputation as illustrator. The watercolour illustrations bear her gentle touch, with Oli and mother depicted as teddy style bears. The binding of the book – hardcover with an imitation cloth finish and gold stamped lettering, makes it especially suitable as a gift for a newborn baby.

Always is a divine offering which is likely to become a much-loved classic.

Always, by Anna Pignataro
Scholastic Australia, 2006

Macbeth and Son, by Jackie French

The dream shimmered as Luke struggled to wake up. This wasn’t right! It couldn’t be!
Suddenly the dream released him. Luke sat up panting, as though he had been running, not lying there asleep.
Not Macbeth!
That couldn’t be the Mormaer’s name! Macbeth was a murderer!

In modern-day Australia Luke is studying Shakespeare’s Macbeth at school, but he isn’t much interested – he’s got other things to worry about, like his television-star stepfather, and the scholarship he’s won to prestigious Saint Ilf’s.

In eleventh-century Scotland, Lulach lives with his mother and stepfather, Macbeth, who is soon to be crowned King by popular vote. But when Luke starts dreaming scenes from Lulach’s life, suddenly the distance of time is not so much. Luke is especially disarmed by the differences between Lulach’s Macbeth, and the story told by Shakespeare. Did Shakespeare lie when he wrote his play? And does it really matter?

Macbeth and Son tells the two parallel stories of the boys, with the reader (and the characters) becoming gradually aware of the similarities between the two. In the modern day, Luke struggles with the dilemma of whether telling a lie can be justified if it makes somebody happy. At the same time Lulach becomes increasingly aware that telling the truth can be better than bluster and promises. Each boy draws strength from the other’s situation.

This is an outstanding offering from one of Australia’s most talented writers for children, Jackie French, who weaves tales which transport readers to the time periods she describes. Macbeth and Son is an excellent read.

Macbeth and Son, by Jackie French
Angus & Robertson, an imprint of Harper Collins, 2006

Puppy and the Tall, Tall Tower, by Odette Ross

Puppy is building a castle. The castle has a tall, tall tower.
Kitty is a princess in the tower.
Elephant doesn’t know what he will be.

While Puppy, Kitty, Bunny and Ducky all find roles for themselves in their game, Elephant doesn’t know what he should be, until Puppy needs help rescuing Princess kitty from the tall tower. Only Elephant can reach that high.

Puppy and the tall, tall tower is a gentle tale for very young readers, with a simple message about friendship and belonging and a playtime situation kids will be able to relate with.

Featuring simple text and illustrations, and published in board book format, this title is suitable for babies and toddlers.

Cute.

Puppy and the tall, tall tower, by Odette Ross
ABC Books, 2006

Three New Wiggles Titles

The Wiggleshave been entertaining children for fifteen years and to celebrate this anniversary ABC Books have released three new Wiggles book titles for preschoolers.

The Wiggly birthday Fun Book is an A4 sized, sixty four page activity book filled with fun and educational activities. As well as colouring, cutting and pasting, there are early literacy and numeracy activities and stories to read.

Splish Splash Big Red Boat is a picture story book recounting The Wiggles’ day out aboard the Big Red Boat. featuring the Wiggles friends, including Dorothy Dinosaur and Wags the Dog and illustrated using colour photography and colour borders with bubble features, this is a visually appealing offering.

Wake Up, Jeff is a board book format offering, incorporating a built in plastic clock for children to learn basic time telling skills as they read the simple story of the Wiggles’ efforts to keep Jeff awake for their concert.

Whilst these are unashamedly merchandising tools rather than offerings of literature, they are sure to appeal to littlies from toddler to school age and do have some educational merit. My five year old loves the clock in Wake Up, Jeff and surprised me by accurately reading the kitchen clock at 10 o’clock one morning.

Plenty of Wiggly fun.

The Wiggly birthday Fun Book, Splish Splash Big Red Boat and Wake Up, Jeff
ABC Books, 2006

The Lab, by Jack Heath

His stomach clenched. Blood pumped. Gravity kept pulling at him, and he kept accelerating. The wind tore at his hair and beat at his unprotected face, making him squint. Drops of water crawled upwards across his body, as though trying to escape the impact. His heart vibrated crazily, and the adrenalin flowed freely at the thrill of speed…He bent his legs slightly and braced himself for the impact, clenching his teeth.

As the strongest and most invincible agent in the Deck, a team of special agents fighting to uphold justice and values, Six of Hearts is used to getting into scrapes. Battling against ChaoSonic, the company that controls the city, the Deck sends Six on numerous dangerous missions to uncover and remedy injustice.

But Six has a secret. He is the product of illegal genetic experiments conducted by the Lab – a division of ChaoSonic. The agency he is fighting is the same one that created him. If the other members of the Deck find out, he could be expelled, or worse. Then, as he investigates the Lab’s current activities, Six meets a boy with identical DNA. Is Kyntak someone he can trust? Six must face his most dangerous mission yet.

The Lab is a thrilling young adult novel set in a chilling future of chaos and greed in a world almost destroyed by pollution and war. With a chilling, almost clinical telling, reminiscent of Matthew Reilly’s thrillers, it is aimed squarely at young male readers, in the high school age group, and is sure to appeal to such readers.

The Lab, by Jack Heath

Wombat's Footy Heroes, by Harvey Lang and Jason McCartney

After Wombat left, Lukey turned to Hawky and said, ‘I reckon he’d be a great asset. Just wish he could take an overhead mark with his hands.’
’Yeah, but he’s quick and can take them on his chest. We’ll work on it.’
Wombat overheard them. But then again, he had heard it all before. He hoped one day he would find out why he couldn’t quite grab the ball above his head. It had frustrated both him and his coaches for years.

Wombat is a drifter. He moves from town to town, finding work where he can, playing footy and helping people solve their problems, with his special gifts. But he has two problems of his own – a shy stutter, which stops him from getting to know girls, and an inability to take an overhead mark.

Michael is captain of the Finham Under-16s, a popular student who gets good grades. But he is also struggling with two problems – his fears that his parents’ marriage is breaking up, and his clash with the school bully, Jordan.

When Wombat arrives in Finham he builds a friendship with Michael and becomes a key player for the footy club. Perhaps their friendship can solve both of their problems.

Wombat’s Footy Heroes is a story about friendship and sport, and about acceptance. Wombat is a character with the mysterious gift of incredible hearing, which allows him to hear what people are saying him when he is seemingly well out of hearing range, and also to hear what is troubling people. This gift makes him a little odd, and people are initially wary of him, but as they get to know him they discover his warm heart and gentle nature.

This is an interesting read, with plenty of football action for sports-mad youngsters.

Wombat’s Footy Heroes, by Harvey Lang & Jason McCartney
Lothian Books, 2006

Dreamrider, by Barry Jonsberg

The boys stood for a moment, but their eyes were snuffed. They crumpled onto the stained grass. I let the sun revolve some more as I stood above their bodies. And I lifted up my head, stopped the sun and howled my dark joy at the sky.
I knew the glass would be behind me. I would face that. But not right then. I spread my bloodied arms and held the world. I’m the fat boy. I’m Michael Terny.

This is the seventh school Michael has been to in four years, but he knows it won’t be any different. Even if he keeps his head down, the bullies will still find him and torment him mercilessly. And it happens, right from the first day, when Michael meets Martin Leechy, who squashes cake in his face and punches him in the nose.

But Michael is changing. He has made a friend and has discovered something else – the phenomenon of lucid dreaming. In his dreams, Michael can go anywhere and do anything. Now he has an opportunity to change things – he can exact his revenge on those who have hurt him, or he can help those who have shown him kindness.

Dreamrider is an eerie, absorbing novel which, in many places, will have readers squirming. Michael is a victim of severe bullying but also has a very dark side himself, a dark side which has scary consequences. Readers become increasingly aware that it is hard to separate reality from Michael’s imagination and his dreams.

Astonishing.

Dreamrider, by Barry Jonsberg
Allen & Unwin, 2006

Mama's Trippin', by Katy Watson-Kell

When Von travels from his home in Fremantle to Wellington, New Zealand, he is unsure what to expect. He hasn’t seen his mother, Charlene, since she left him when he was just six years old. Now, ten years later, she has a two year old daughter and is working as a dancer in a nightclub.

Von finds himself acting as babysitter for his new sister, Stella, while Charlene works and tries to survive without her boyfriend, Peter, who is running from the cops and from his former partner in a drug-manufacturing business which has turned sour. Then Charlene disappears and Von is left with little Stella to care for. Has his mum gone off on a drug-induced bender, or is something even more sinister at play? And why does Von feel called to the ancestral home of his Moriori ancestors in his search for answers?

Mama’s Trippin’ is a young adult novel about family, heritage and about the seedy underworld of drug culture and its effects on family. Von’s mother loves her children but Von sees history repeating itself as he watches Charlene’s struggle with looking after Stella in just the same way she struggled with Von. He is also coming to terms with his Moriori and Maori ancestry and his relationship with both of his parents.

This is a heart-wrenching read for teens.

Mama’s Trippin’, by Katy Watson-Kell
Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 2006

Jack Brown and the Labyrinth of the Bats, by Greg Pyers

Reviewed by Jess Whiting

Jack was standing perfectly still. The leopard was barely three metres away, its eyes focused on him, its mouth full of dog. A familiar wave welled in Jack’s brain. He was about to enter the leopard’s mind.

Jack Brown has the amazing ability to see inside animals minds, but when he and his cousin Molly rescue a baby gorilla from a greedy poacher, they find themselves in great danger. This man is no ordinary poacher; he is a madman who will not rest until he gets his revenge. With their names on this man’s death list Jack and Molly must use their wits to stay alive.

This fiction book is great for animal lovers ages 10 and up. The reader will be taken on a thrilling adventure in which they will encounter poachers, smugglers and many fantastic animals in this action packed novel. Filled with twists and surprises, this book will have readers hooked.

An exciting read

Jack Brown and the Labyrinth of the Bats, by Greg Pyers
ABC books 2006