October 2015 – Page 2 – Aussie Reviews

The Red Feather by Ben Kitchin ill Owen Swan

One day, Claude, Shelby, William and Maya went to the seaside together.

Claude found a red feather.

It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

One day, Claude, Shelby, William and Maya went to the seaside together.

Claude found a red feather.

It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Four young children go to the beach. One finds a fine red feather which becomes his most treasured possession. He plays with it, completely entranced until he is very hungry. Then his friend Shelby offers him food in exchange for his feather. Reluctantly, he relinquishes his treasure. Shelby is then mesmerised by feather play. And so it goes, until all four children have played with the feather. But despite its marvellousness, in the end, the feather is a poor substitute for companionship. So the children play together with the feather. Illustrations are pencil and watercolour and mostly sit in white space, combining full page and vignette images. End papers show feathers red-on-white at the front, white-on-red at the back.

The Red Feather is a story about sharing. Each of the children covets the feather and at first it’s all they need. But before long, it’s not enough. Other needs overwhelm, and although each misses the wonderful feather, they trade it for something else (food, shelter). The feather seems to have altered their ability to play collaboratively, and each becomes mired in loneliness and wanting. But they resolve their dilemma and find a way to share the feather. Then they can get back to enjoying their time on the beach, playing together. The endpapers show the feather faded – perhaps not quite as valuable as when first discovered. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

The Red Feather, Ben Kitchin & Owen Swan
New Frontier Publishing 2015 ISBN: 9780957988439

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Belinda the Ninja Ballerina by Candida Baker ill Mitch Vane

Belinda didn’t want to go to ballet school.

‘You’ll enjoy it,’ her mother said.

‘I won’t,’ Belinda said. ‘I want to be a ninja.’

Belinda didn’t want to go to ballet school.

‘You’ll enjoy it,’ her mother said.

‘I won’t,’ Belinda said. ‘I want to be a ninja.’

Belinda is very clear. She wants to be a ninja. She says it before her mother signs her up to do ballet classes with her very balletic cousin Millie. She tells her teacher, Miss Kate, when they are warming up on the barre and showing what they can do. She continues to tell her mother and her teacher, but neither seem to really believe her, even when planning and practice begin for their end-of-term concert. So she says it again, loudly. Miss Kate listens this time and finds the perfect role for Belinda. Her new role keeps her involved in the concert but caters for her particular interests and skills. Illustrations are ink and water colour set in white space.

Belinda’s mother is convinced Belinda will enjoy ballet classes with her cousin despite her stated preference to be a ninja. Miss Kate does her best to teach Belinda about ballet, but while it’s perfect for her cousin Millie, ballet is not the activity for Belinda. Belinda, the Ninja Ballerina is a gently humourous story about a determined young girl who will not fit into the mould expected of her. It’s also a story about the need for, and ability of teachers, to accommodate the different needs/skills of their charges. Belinda’s persistence and self-belief will reassure children who find they don’t necessarily fit mainstream programs/activities. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

Belinda, the Ninja Ballerina, Candida Baker ill Mitch Vane Ford Street Publishing 2015 ISBN: 9781925272048

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Knockabout Cricket: A Story of sporting legend – Johnny Mullagh by Neridah McMullin ill Ainsley Walters

It was 1865 and James was home from boarding school at Scotch College in Melbourne.
He wasn’t looking forward to another boring school holiday – it was shearing time at Pine Hills station and everyone was busy.

It was 1865 and James was home from boarding school at Scotch College in Melbourne. He wasn’t looking forward to another boring school holiday – it was shearing time at Pine Hills station and everyone was busy.

Pine Hills station was a squatters run in Western Victoria. A vast 30,000 acres; it ran sheep to grow wool. Pine Hills station played cricket against neighbouring stations at Mullagh Station, Longlands, Clunie, Miga Lake, Lake Wallace, Mount Talbot, Chetwynd and Bringalbert.

James, son of a prominent squatter family, is expecting his holidays to be boring as everyone is busy with shearing. But this holiday, he discovers, will be anything but boring. Playing cricket with the shearers when work is done for the day, he meets Unaarrimin of the Jardwadjali people (known as Johnny). Johnny is an amazing fielder with the ability to throw long distances. James invites Johnny to join their game, and teaches him batting and bowling techniques. As James tells the story of Johnny’s first game, text boxes on each opening offer information about Johnny’s international career as a cricketer. There is also information about the aboriginal cricket team, beginning with the game they played against the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) at the MCG in 1866. Illustrations are naïve and depict a sun-drenched Western District grazing property and landscape. Final pages include a drawing and biography of Johnny, a summary of the positions on a cricket field and a bibliography.

Knockabout Cricket introduces early days of Australian cricket as well as squatter life in the 1860s. The dual texts have their own pace: the fictional narrative text takes place during a single cricket game, although the game continues long into the late afternoon. The text boxes cover a much broader and longer story about Johnny and Aboriginal cricketers and cricket in general. Young cricketers will enjoy the cricketing language throughout. There’s also the opportunity to learn a little about life on the land in the 1800s, and the history of cricket. The mix of fact and fiction allow ‘Knockabout Cricket’ to be accessible to a wide range of young readers. Recommended for early to mid-primary readers and beyond.

Knockabout Cricket: A Story of sporting legend – Johnny Mullagh, Neridah McMullin ill Ainsley Walters One Tree Hill 2015 ISBN: 9780992439736

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller