Yaba Badoe, A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars, Head of Zeus/HarperCollins Australia, 21 August 2017, 298pp., $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781786697981 An intriguing cover and atmospheric title invite the reader into this story that promises to take the reader to an exotic and magical locale. The novel has a distinctive voice and a main character, Sante, who questions authority and tackles life head-on. Populated by circus performers, spirit guides from beyond the grave and treacherous villains, the narrative will leave readers in no doubt that they have entered a different world. Sante’s bird, Priss (a golden eagle) is a sympathetic, intuitive and helpful…
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Meredith Costain (text), Danielle McDonald (illus.), Going Green (Ella Diaries #11), Scholastic Australia, 1 July 2017, 144pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760279059 A new book in the Ella Diaries series, Going Green tackles environmental issues within the frames of girls’ friendships and primary school politics. Ella responds to the challenge of campaigning to be Planet Protector Captain, but will she be thwarted by rival candidate sneaky Peach and her perfect ponytail? A pseudo-hand-written font and touches of green on the line drawings featured on every page, make this 143 page book an accessible yet sustained reading experience. The overall mood is up-beat…
Barry Jonsberg (text), Tom Jellett (illus.), A Dog’s Tale (Mates : Great Australian Yarns), Scholastic Australia, 1 July 2017, 64pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781742991399 How many boys long for a dog of their own? This lively, illustrated, 53 page addition to the Mates series by Scholastic charts Michael’s campaign to get a puppy for Christmas. This is no syrupy tale of a wish granted—Michael works hard to convince them, but his parents hold firm. A range of quirky methods including Fido, a toy dog glued to a skateboard, are employed by the unrelenting protagonist as he battles for success. Jessica,…
Alan Horsfield, The Pink Snowman, Big Sky Publishing, 1 May 2017, 48pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781925520439 On the one hand, the adventure of Krystal, Jasper and the embarrassed, pink snowman is a sweet, funny and endearing tale that takes pause to consider the snowman’s point of view concerning a common lack of attire. It is set in Australia’s Blue Mountains and will be relatable to plenty of kids. There are some interesting ‘snow facts’ embedded within the narrative, which flow with the story, linked to the character of Dad, and the personalities of the 3 humans are likeable and familiar. On…
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Dr Karl’s Little Book of Space, Pan Macmillan, 27 June 2017, 160pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781925481235 Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Dr Karl’s Little Book of Dinos, Pan Macmillan, 27 June 2017, 160pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781925481242 Did you know that when dinosaur bones were first discovered, people thought they belonged to dragons or maybe giants? Or that Stars are born in a ‘Stellar Nursery’ which is actually a giant molecular cloud? If you have a dinosaur lover or a space fanatic living at your house, these books are a must. Full of fun and interesting facts and things to…
Jo Stanley, Bring it On! (Play like a Girl #1), Five Mile Press, Sept 2017, 80pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760409470 Bring it On! is the first in the junior novel series Play Like a Girl written by radio personality Jo Stanley in partnership with the AFL Women’s League. It’s a timely series with the beginning of the women’s league this year and will appeal predominantly to girls already interested in footy. Bring it On! focuses on Sarah who is the new girl at Milsborough West Primary and makes friends by joining the Flyers footy team. Sarah’s first new friend is…
Joshie Lefers (text), Wayne Bryant (illus.), How to Hypnotise a Droid (Hectic Electric #1), Hardie Grant Egmont, 1 July 2017, 128pp., $12.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760128005 How to Hypnotise a Droid is part of a new series, Hectic Electric, and it is definitely ELECTRIC! This book is awesome and will have readers laughing just exploring the cover. Don’t be fooled by the mesmerising cover illustration though, this series will help children understand their own feelings of loss and empathy while igniting their passion for reading. The story cleverly draws the reader in with emotions that roller coaster between heart-felt moments at the…
Gareth Hinds, Poe: Stories and Poems, Candlewick Press/Walker Books Australia, 1 August 2017, 120pp., $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780763681128 Gareth Hinds has harnessed the dark and foreboding essence of Poe in this graphic novel. Hind’s adaptation masterfully illustrates the gothic horror in seven of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories and poems: The Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-tale Heart, The Bells and The Raven. As my eye moves from frame to frame, exploring each image for every nuance, I am overwhelmed by a deepening sense of horror as I descend…
Roseanne Hawke (text), Marc McBride (illus.), Across the Creek, Stone Table Books, 22 March 2017, 148pp., $19.95 (pbk), ISBN: 9780648030508 Based on Cornish folklore, Across the Creek is a fantasy set in an old Kapunda copper mine in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Originally published in 2004 for 9-12 year old readers by Lothian Books, this new publication from Stone Table Books comes with a new visual interpretation of the Dragaroo by Kylie Leanne and internal illustrations by the ever talented Marc McBride of Deltora Quest fame. 11 year old Aidan Curnow has grown especially troubled on the 12 month…
Jess Black (text), Celeste Hulme (illus.), Eve and the Hidden Giant (Keeper of the Crystals #6), New Frontier Publishing, 1 August 2017, 68pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781925594003 Eve and the Hidden Giant is part six in the Keeper of the Crystals series by Jess Black, and it is just as wonderful as its predecessors. In this new fantasy, while hiking to the top of Stingback Mountain, Oscar, Eve and Ingvar the dragon discover a new crystal and are blown through the air to the land of the giants to help heal the rift between the creators and the rogues. A…