Month: December 2003

Rainbow Jackets, by Elaine Forrestal

The bubbles at Jonathon’s house had a problem. With all the day-to-day noise of the household, the bubbles couldn’t hear each other speak. They longed for a quiet place where they could go and chat. When Jonathon and his Mum bought a bubble blower and some bubble mix, the bubbles were in for a lovely surpirse.

Bubbles is just one of the charming tales in Rainbow Jackets by award-winning West Australian author Elaine Forrestal. Others tell the stories of pet flies, cranky umbrellas and crazy kitchens.

Complemented by the cute line-drawings of illustrator Sharon Thompson, Rainbow Jackets will delight children aged 5 to 8 and would be an excellent book for classroom sharing.

This is the second book of short stories from the Forrestal/Thompson pairing. A Glassful of Giggles was launched at the 2002 CBCA National Conference in Perth.

Both collections are full of whimsical delights.

Rainbow Jackets, by Elaine Forrestal
Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 2003

The Spirit of Barrumbi, by Leonie Norrington

Camping at Barrumbi, Dale has a disturbing dream about his big brother, Sean. When he wakes, he sees Sean creeping away from the campsite, and wonders whether he should tell him about the dream. When the time comes to leave Barrumbi, Sean cannot be found.

Back at the community, Dale’s family face a long wait for news of Sean’s fate. In the meantime, the whole community suffers the devastating effects of Sean’s actions. The wet hits with a vengeance, flooding the settlement and the water spirit tries to drown first Dale, then his sister, Meg. Will the family be intact at the end of the wet?

The Spirit of Barumbi, a sequel to Barrumbi Kids, picks up the story where the earlier book left off. This book, however, may appeal to a slightly older audience than the first. It is full of adventure, suspense and an explortaion of the difficulties of trying to live in two cultures – those of the traditional Aborigine and the contemporary world.

Norrington’s prose is brilliant, drawing the reader into the emotional turmoil, whilst providing relief in lighter moments.

Outstanding.

The Spirit of Barumbi, by Leonie Norrington
Omnibus, an imprint of Scholastic, 2003

Introduced Plants & Species, by Kerry Davies

Most of Australia’s agricultural crops and flocks are introduced species. Unfortunately, a large number of pests – animal, insect and plant – are also introduced. Introduced Plants & Speciesexplores the issue in depth.

Examining pastoral, domestic and game animals, ferals, vermin, exotics, field crops, weeds and more, the text details why and how each was introduced and the benefits and pitfalls.

Suitable for science and issues classrooms, and as a library resource, Introduced Plants & Species is a valuable part of the Australian Focus on Issues series from Watts Publishing.

Introduced Plants & Species, by Kerry Davies
Watts Publishing, 2003

Refugees, by Jessica Perini

Part of the excellent Australian Focus on Issues series from Watts Publishing, Refugeesexplores the issue of refugees in the Australian context.

Topics covered include definitions of refugees and displaced persons, an examination of Australia’s programs and of the Tampa incident and more.

With obvious relevance in the social science classroom, this text would also fit well into ethics and religious classrooms, as well as being an excellent library resource.

With outstanding layout, plenty of photographic support, and internet links for further study, Refugees is valuable for upper primary and high school use.

Refugees, by Jessica Perini
Watts Publishing, 2003

Zombie Bums From Uranus, by Andy Griffiths

Since its release, Andy Griffith’s The Day My Bum Went Psychohas been a runaway success with young readers around the world. Now, the psycho bum and its owner, Zack Freeman, are back.

While Zack is struggling with his bum-fighter training, something is happening elsewhere in the solar system which could have disastrous effects.Zombie bums, which have been frozen in rings around the planet Uranus, have been defrosted and are headed for earth. Whether he likes it or not, Zack is going to have to fight them.

Armed only with a squeezy tomato sauce bottle and aided by three of the oldest bum-fighters on the planet, and, of course, his bum, Zack must fight the smelliest bums the Univarse has ever known or face the total zombie-bummification of the whole world.

With more bums, more grossness and more plain silliness than the first book, Zombie Bums from Uranus is bound to be a hit with the primary school audience. Of course, most adult readers will simply be grossed out, but then it’s not aimed at adult readers, is it?

Zombie Bums From Uranus, by Andy Griffiths
Pan MacMillan, 2003

Mister Monday, by Garth Nix

Arthur is not a hero – he’s just a boy with chronic asthma, a boy who is about to die. Until he is visted by two strangers from another realm who give him a strange key shaped like the minute hand of a clock.Although his life is saved, it is also changed for ever.

Arthur has been chosen as the heir to the keys of the kingdom. It’s not a role he particularly wants, but with a strange plague affecting his city and everything he knows at risk, Arthur must venture into the other realm and fight for his rights.

He must venture into a mysterious house that no one else can see and unravel the secrets of the key.

Mister Monday is the first in a new series, The Keys to the Kingdom by renowned fantasy author Garth Nix.Different from his previous series, the Old Kingdom trilogy, Mister Monday will nonetheless appeal to his fans as well as to those who have not read his previous works.

Mister Monday, by Garth Nix
Allen & Unwin, 2003

Globalisation, by Kerry Davies

The concept of globalisation – the rapid development of cross-border economic, social and technological exchange – is an important one for young people to be aware of. This text, Globalisationprovides an excellent overview of the topic.

From defining globalisation, to outlining its path, Globalisation traces historical developments from the movements of ancient traders in the times when the earth was believed to be flat, through the centuries of colonisation and into the twentieth century, where events including the two great wars, the Cold War and the spectre of Communism shaped global relations. With explanations of the structure, foundation and operation of the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank and much more, this would make an outstanding text, classrooom or library resource, especially for secondary school social science or economics classes.

Part of the Australian Issues series from Watts Publishing, Globalisation maintains the high standard of the seires, with excellent layout, provision of supporting internet addresses and accessible text.

Globalisation, by Kerry Davies
Watts Publishing, 2002

Tashi and the Royal Tomb, by Anna Fienberg & Barbara Fienberg

There is great excitement when an ancient burial site is uncovered in Tashi’s village. Tashi manages to get a job helping the team of archaeologists. But, as always, the wicked Baron has plans for the site – and he wants Tashi out of the way.

Later, the precious Book of Spells is stolen from Wise-as-an-Owl, and no one can be cured unless Tashi can find it. Of course, who else would be foolish and selfish enough to steal the book, but the ever-scheming Baron?

This is the tenth Tashi book, written by the mother-daughter team of Anna and Barbara Fienberg and illustrated by the talented Kim Gamble. Kids love the tall tales of this brave and resourceful boy from a mysterious far-off land.

If Tashi isn’t in your home yet, now might be the time.

Tashi and the Royal Tomb, by Anna Fienberg & Barbara Fienberg
Allen & Unwin, 2003

Simply Beautiful, by Georgia Mantis-Kapralos

Every woman wants to look and feel beautiful. In Simply Beautiful, author Georgia Mantis-Kapralos aims to help her readers achieve that goal.

With advice on everything from reducing stress, to applying make up and accessorising your wardrobe, the author shares her experiences, hoping to to share the message that “a little care each day goes a long way to making you look and feel better than you ever have before.”

Mantis-Kapralos believes that, with just ten or twenty minutes a day for excercise, grooming and relaxation, a woman can help herself to look and feel better. She shares her eating plan, exercise regime, beauty routine and more. Photographs of herself demonstrating her efforts are included throughout the book.

For women who want such advice, the book will be of interest. Some, however, may find the lack of sound editing a little distracting.

The author is obviously very enthusiastic about the subject of self-development.

Simply Beautiful, by Georgia Mantis-Kapralos
Self-Published, 2003