omnibus books – Page 2 – Aussie Reviews

My Mum’s Special Secret by Sally Morgan ill Ambelin Kwaymullina

My mum teaches me

To laugh with the sunrise.

Kaa, Kaa, Kaa

Will you catch me breakfast, Mum?

My mum teaches me

To laugh with the sunrise.

Kaa, Kaa, Kaa

Will you catch me breakfast, Mum?

A baby kookaburra and mother begin the day early, singing to the sunrise. The pair move through the day together, mother caring for and teaching her baby. Each activity they share is accompanied by the sounds these activities might make, eg flying ‘across the cloudy sky. Swoop, Swoop, Swoop’. When Mama kookaburra reveals a final secret, Baby kookaburra offers one too. Illustrations are stylised and full of bright, engaging colours. Endpapers offer a colourful night sky and suggest the cycling day and night.

Baby kookaburra makes statements about his world and his learning on the left page of each opening and questions are held for the right-hand page of each spread. This structure encourages speculation about what the answer will be and how it will be answered. Listeners are offered the opportunity to join in the movement sounds, and/or act them out. My Mum’s Special Secret is pitched for pre-schoolers and offers information about an iconic Australian animal wrapped up in the relationship between a parent and a child.

My Mum’s Special Secret, Sally Morgan ill Ambelin Kwaymullina
Omnibus Books 2016 ISBN: 9781742991368

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Midnight Possum by Sally Morgan ill Jess Racklyeft

Possum loved the deep dark.

But when Moon rose

high in the sky,

he loved midnight

even more.

At midnight,

Possum went travelling.

Possum loved the deep dark.

But when Moon rose

high in the sky,

he loved midnight

even more.

At midnight,

Possum went travelling.

Possum loves the night, particularly after midnight when he can explore his territory. He encounters other Australian animals then settles in for dinner before hearing a call for help from another possum. Leaving his dinner, he responds to the call to discover that a mother needs help to find one of her babies, who has fallen and is now lost. When they locate the lost baby, there’s rescuing needed and Possum is up to the task. The rescue becomes complicated, and Possum must be brave if he is to safely return baby to waiting mother and sibling. Only then can Possum finally eat his dinner. Illustrations are patchwork-like digital collage with a strong nod to Eric Carle’s art. They include a wide variety of Australian animals. Endpapers feature gum leaves and the gum blossom of Possum’s dinner.

‘The Midnight Possum explains all those noises in the night experienced by those who share their neighbourhood with possums! In this outing, a male possum is needed to rescue a baby when a mother cannot leave her other baby to effect the rescue herself. Readers may speculate and/or investigate the differing parental roles of possums and other night-dwellers. Illustrations introduce other night animals and also a range of native flora. They also note those non-native animals that can pose a threat to possums when habitats overlap. Recommended for pre- and early schoolers.

The Midnight Possum, Sally Morgan Jess Racklyeft

Omnibus Books 2016 ISBN: 9781742991047

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Forward March, by Christobel Mattingley & David Kennett

In towns and cities across Australia bells ring,
drums beat, bagpipes keen, kilts swing, medals jingle,
proud battalion banners flutter and for a moment
the music of the bands is swallowed by the scream
of jets in formation flypast…

On Anzac Day every year Australians gather at war memorials and line streets to commemorate the men and women who fought and served not only in World War 1, but in conflicts before and since, including the Boer War, World War 11, Vietnam, Korea, the Gulf and more. Forward March explores what happens at the Anzac Day marches, and the events they commemorate.

Simple text highlights who we are remembering, and why, and the many illustrations, using techniques including acrylic paint, pencils and ink say so very much. Most spreads have multiple smaller illustrations, in rectangles reminiscent of photographs or postcards. The contemporary scenes of parades and ceremonies are in full colour while those of older scenes are in sepia or duller tones, visually delineating past and present. There are seemingly endless opportunities to discover details and explore what is happening in the illustrations, and the sparse text allows room for this to happen, in a perfect complement.

Suitable for classroom use near ANZAC Day or at any time of year, but also great for home reading and discussion.

Forward March, by Christobel Mattingley & David Kennett
Omnibus Books, 2016
ISBN 9781742990804

Trouble at Home by Cate Whittle Ill Kim Gamble

Ages and ages ago – about two weeks since next Thursday – a giant green dragon stole my baby brother, Godfrey.

Well, okay, the giant green dragon actually stole the house. Godfrey, who is only almost three, was inside watching TV.

I saw it all happen. An actual eyewitness. From two houses down and across the street. At thirty-two-and-a-half minutes past three o’clock. Exactly.

Gran was minding Godfrey while Mum fetched me – Georgia – and my other brother, Henry, from school. Gran wasn’t in the house when it was stolen though.

Ages and ages ago – about two weeks since next Thursday – a giant green dragon stole my baby brother, Godfrey.

Well, okay, the giant green dragon actually stole the house. Godfrey, who is only almost three, was inside watching TV.

I saw it all happen. An actual eyewitness. From two houses down and across the street. At thirty-two-and-a-half minutes past three o’clock. Exactly.

Gran was minding Godfrey while Mum fetched me – Georgia – and my other brother, Henry, from school. Gran wasn’t in the house when it was stolen though.

Georgia returns home from school one afternoon to witness her house being stolen by a big green dragon. No one else saw it though and she has a struggle to convince them that she knows what has happened. Dad keeps trying to convince the family to look on the bright side, but Mum in particular is finding it difficult to see any positives in losing her baby – and their house. Georgia sees clues everywhere but no one will listen to her. It becomes clear to her that she’s going to have to make plans of her own if her house and her baby brother are to be reunited with the rest of the family. Black and white illustrations begin each chapter and are scattered throughout.

Trouble at Home is the first in a new series of stories from Cate Whittle with illustrations by the late Kim Gamble, with three forthcoming instalments listed in the final pages. At first it’s not apparent whether the dragon is a figment of Georgia’s imagination, but as her investigations progress, it’s evident that this dragon does exist. There are parallels with Anna and Barbara Fienberg’s ‘Tashi’ series, not only because they share an illustrator. There is plenty of deadpan humour as the family dynamics and adventures are reflected through Georgia’s first person perspective. Ideal for the newly-independent reader, chapters are short and there is plenty to giggle at.

Trouble at Home, Cate Whittle ill Kim Gamble
Omnibus Books 2016
ISBN: 9781742990767

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Cyclone Fever by Sally Morgan ill Beth Norling

It was my unlucky day.

I faked being sick so I could miss school.

My plan was to hang out with Piper, my dog. Read comics, Eat Gran’s apple cake.

But that was before the weather alert about Cyclone Thelma. Gran was in a panic. My plans were in a mess.

It was my unlucky day.

I faked being sick so I could miss school.

My plan was to hang out with Piper, my dog. Read comics, Eat Gran’s apple cake.

But that was before the weather alert about Cyclone Thelma. Gran was in a panic. My plans were in a mess.

Danny and his family live in north-western Australia, where cyclones are an irregular reality. Gran has lived here all her life and has experienced many cyclones so she knows what to do when the weather reports begin monitoring a storm at sea. Danny’s plans of a relaxing day at home with is dog go out the window as Gran and the family make their preparations. Not everyone thinks this level of preparation is necessary, but what Gran says, happens. As the storm approaches, Danny begins to realise the danger a cyclone can bring to a town. Perhaps Gran knows more than the weatherman? On each page there are words presented in different font, sometimes because they may be challenging for young readers. Each opening includes header and footer illustrations and there are colour illustrations on every page.

Cyclone Fever is a new title in the fabulous ‘Mates’ series from Omnibus. Each title presents a particularly Australian story. Cyclone Fever is funny and real, showing a multi-generational family living their normal life – which just happens to include cyclones. The approaching storm is treated with the respect it deserves. The family works together to prepare and they also extend that support into their community. The characters are warm and empathetic and Danny’s story is told with great humour. Recommended for early primary readers.

Cyclone Fever, Sally Morgan ill Beth Norling

Omnibus Books 2015 ISBN: 9781742991030

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

The White Mouse: The Story of Nancy Wake, by Peter Gouldthorpe

‘Right there and then I made up my mind that if ever I got the chance, I would do everything in my power to hurt them, to damage the Nazis and everything they stood for.

After a difficult childhood in Australia, Nancy Wake manages to travel first to London and later to Paris, where she talks herself into a job as a foreign correspondent. She is happy in Paris, and meets and marries a man she loves, but as the Nazi Party’s influence grows, she worries about what will happen, and when war breaks out, her fears are realised. Soon, Nancy is part of the resitance movenent, working to undermine the Nazis and to help their victims.

The White Mouse tells the remarkable story of a remarkable Australian woman and her work during World War 2: driving ambulances, helping escaped prisoners, transporting radios and other banned items. As a story which most Australian children are unlikely to know, and one which shows a strong woman working hard to make a difference in a time of hardship, the book is a really important offering.

The illustrations – in pen and ink and using techniques such as newspaper headlines and maps in the backgrounds of some pages, and text boxes looking as if they are taken from aging notebooks – have the feel of the time period in which they are set, and are reminiscent of the war story comics and paperback novels which adult readers may remember.

A quality book about a fascinating Australian.

The White Mouse: The Story of Nancy Wake, by Peter Gouldthorpe
Omnibus Books, 2015
ISBN 9781742990910

Kerenza: A New Australian by Roseanne Hawke

‘Kerenza! Come back here! You have to pack your trunk.’ Wenna’s calling me, but I won’t go to her. I’ve had enough of packing and looking after Kitto. I race away from my sister, down the cobbled street, past the chapel and past my friend Maylene, who waves at me, but I don’t even stop for her. I turn into the lane to the stile and climb over it into Penponds woods. This is my favourite place. I walk under the huge trees and sit beside the stream. It bubbles and gurgles past my feet, and the sound calms my breathing.

Kerenza and her family are leaving the only home she’s ever known in Cornwall to travel by ship to Australia. What makes it even worse, her sister and grandmother are not coming with them. She is going to miss the woods, her home, her friends. But with the closing of the mine where her father works there’s little choice. The contrast between Cornwall and the Mallee where her father and his brother have bought land couldn’t be more marked. For a start, there’s no house. In fact there’s very little, except bush. They are living in tents, while the men and older boys help with land clearing. One of her cousins seems determined to ridicule her, while the other helps her find her way in this new country. But slowly the country, and its people begin to grow on her and she finds beauty in the bush, and friends in unexpected places.

‘Kerenza : A New Australian’ tells the story of a girl taken from everything familiar and taken to a totally foreign environment. Although a story of a specific girl, it offers an opportunity for young readers to inhabit the skin of any ‘New Australian’ and to try to see Australia from their perspective. Kerenza tells her own story and this leaves room for the reader to use their imagination to fill in some of the gaps between her words. Why is her cousin so horrible? Why doesn’t her mother understand? Kerenza also offers the opportunity to understand the challenges for a new family trying to make a home and displaced occupants trying to find a way to continue with their way of life. Roseanne Hawke credits both family and historical sources in the creation of this novel. Young readers will empathise with Kerenza’s challenges and rejoice with her when she finds her way in her new home. Recommended for mid- to upper-primary readers.

Kerenza : A New Australian, Roseanne Hawke
Omnibus Books 2015 ISBN: 9781742990606

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

88 Lime St: The Way In by Denise Kirby

A dark-blue car swung into the gravel driveway in front of the house and stopped in the shade of an enormous fig tree. The rear doors were flung open and three children and a woolly spoodle tumbled out. Barking like mad, the dog began to run backwards and forwards across the garden, chasing all the new smells. The Brewster children stood in a line staring up at the house.

Ben, the youngest, wriggled with excitement, running his hands back and forth through his wild mop of curly hair. ‘Look at the towers!’

His eldest sister, Binnie, wasn’t nearly as impressed. ‘It’s weird.’ Umpteen bangles jangled together as she crossed her arms. ‘It looks creepy.’

Ellen wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Her brown eyes widened trying to take in every detail of the house in front of her. ‘It’s … unusual,’ she said.

Ben, the youngest, wriggled with excitement, running his hands back and forth through his wild mop of curly hair. ‘Look at the towers!’

His eldest sister, Binnie, wasn’t nearly as impressed. ‘It’s weird.’ Umpteen bangles jangled together as she crossed her arms. ‘It looks creepy.’

Ellen wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Her brown eyes widened trying to take in every detail of the house in front of her. ‘It’s … unusual,’ she said.

Ellen and her family have moved to a new house. Well, an old house. A very old house full of secrets. The kids at her new school say there’s a ghost, but Ellen thinks it could be something else, something more. The more she explores, the more mysterious the house seems. There’s the dried up fountain that suddenly spouts water. There are the messages that seem to be just for her. As her family adjusts to their new house, Ellen becomes more unsettled. A trio of local bullies seem to have her in their sights. Only the house can provide the answers. At first, there seem to be only questions. Why can’t they find their way into one of the towers? Ellen is determined to unravel the mysteries of the house, which looks to her to be alive. Its fate seems to be tied up with hers. And time is running out.

This is an imaginative spooky mystery for young readers. Although there are ghosts suggested, there are no ghosts, well not yet anyway. In many ways, this feels like the first in a series. Ellen needs her wits about her, and many other skills besides if she is going to work out just what’s going on. Readers will be racing to see if they can solve the puzzles before she can. What at first seems like a mystery with an old house becomes something much more complex. Look out for the clocks counting up the time. Or should that be counting it down? Recommended for mid-primary readers.

88 Lime Street – The Way in, Denise Kirby
Omnibus Books 2015 ISBN: 9781742991009

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

One Rule for Jack, by Sally Morgan & Ezekiel Kwaymullina

This is what I do every morning.
Lock the bathroom door. Turn on the shower. Take off my clothes. Wet my hand. Run it through my hair. Turn off the shower. Come out with a towel wrapped around my waist.

When Jack discovers that pretending to have a shower gets him out of having to have one, he decides to use his one rule – do it badly – to get out of just about everything. But Mum seems to have a solution to everything: when he breaks the broom, she gets him to sweep with a dustpan and brush, when the mophead ‘disappears’, she suggests a toothbrush; and when it’s time to wash the dog, Jack’s really in for a smelly surprise. Maybe Mum is onto his tricks.

One Rule for Jack is a funny chapter book for newly confident or emerging readers. The text is accessible and humorous, and there is illustrative support in the form of grey-scale illustrations by Craig Smith.

Any child who has tried – and failed – to trick their parents will enjoy themselves in this book.

One Rule for Jack

One Rule for Jack, by Sally Morgan & Ezekiel Kwaymullina
Omnibus, 2014
ISBN 9781742990330

Available from good bookstores and online.

The Book of You #2: Rania by Randa Abdel-Fattah

My name is Rania and I love the colour purple. Some people are curious about what their first word was but when I was old enough to ask, I had a different question for my mum. Which colour did I first recognise?

Ever since I can remember I’ve loved colours, especially purple. There’s something magical and mysterious about it. It makes me imagine wizards’ robes, juicy grapes and beautiful cloaks on the shoulders of queens. Actually, come to think of it, a lot of good things have happened to me when I’ve been wearing something purple.

Rania lives with her mum and is in her final year of primary school. She’s a high achiever, has great friends and is happy with her life. It can only get better when her cousins move nearby and her favourite cousin Andrea joins her at school. Last year, she and her friends Jodie and Deyana found a ghost diary of a girl, Betsy, who had lived in their school a long time earlier. Last year, it was Jodie who found help in Betsy’s ghost messages. This year, it seems that Rania needs assistance to sort her life out, particularly now Andrea seems to be competing with her. But the diary messages are never quite as straightforward as they seem. In fact they are downright confusing. And there’s just so much going on, that Rania struggles to know just what to do first.

Rania loves school. She is good at her studies and loves making art. Her plans to become school captain are altered by Andrea’s plan to run for the role too. The first person narrative allows the reader to perhaps understand more quickly than Rania the pressures Andrea is under at her new school. Rania experiences jealousy and resentment and doesn’t really understand why things have changed between them. There are strong themes of family and friendship and a little hint of magic in the appearing diary entries from Betsy. Rania, with the help of her friends, navigates her way through a challenging time and rediscovers her friendship with her cousin. She also connects with her absent father via her spectacular art project. Recommended for mid- to upper-primary readers.

The Book of You #2: Rania , Randa Abdel-Fattah Omnibus Books 2014 ISBN: 9781742990118

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller