Antarctica

Antarctica by Moira Court (Fremantle Press) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781925815757

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Antarctica is a mysterious place with a wealth of unusual animals, and Moira Court brings ten of them to the page in this striking book. From orcas and two different types of seal, to blackfin icefish and ‘shrimpish, pinkish’ krill, this nature information book offers a few surprises.

Each spread incorporates counting, colours and descriptions of the creatures and their behaviours, making for a multi-dimensional experience with much to explore. The language is vibrant and incorporates sophisticated vocabulary which will be a stretch for younger readers (and even some older ones). The main spreads are followed by four pages of quirky facts about Antarctica and the featured animals.

Court’s hand-made, layered illustrations are striking, using bold yet natural colours and geometric shapes. The creatures are rendered with surprising depth of character, joyous breaching whales contrasting with trudging penguins and beady-eyed squid.

With so much going on, this book will keep readers coming back repeatedly. While the publisher nominates an age range of 3 to 5 years, the book would also be a valuable classroom resource for junior primary students.

Total Quack Up! Again

Total Quack Up! Again edited by Sally Rippin and Adrian Beck, illustrated by Jules Faber (Puffin Books) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781760893583

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

In this anthology of short stories for children aged 8 years and older, are contributions by some of Australia’s best-known children’s authors. They include AL Tait, Michael Wagner and Tim Harris. Also included is 9-year-old Coby Sanchez’s story, ‘The Duck Pond’, which, except for its poor ending, is as good, if not better, than other stories by the adults in the book.

In the book’s Foreword, Rippin and Beck say they have ‘found the funniest 12 authors in the whole world and asked them to write the most ridiculously hilarious short story they could possibly manage.’ No doubt most children will enjoy – perhaps even laugh at – stories which focus on farting, bad breath and retelling of old jokes. But overall the stories are mundane and more amusing than humorous.

The typeface in the book is large to make for easier reading, and there are numerous black and white cartoon illustrations by Jules Faber who has also contributed a story.

All royalties from the sale of the book go to the Dymock’s Children’s Charities.

You Can Change the World

You Can Change the World by Lucy Bell, (Pantera Press), 2019, Hb, RRP  $29.99 ISBN: 9781925700527 (hardcover) ISBN 9781925700725 (ebook)

Reviewed by Pauline Hosking

In a world where many kids are becoming overwhelmed by fear of the future, here’s a practical guide to help them feel they can make a difference. You Can Change the World is attractively produced and comprehensively researched. It is crammed with ways to aid the planet, offering alternatives to our throw-away society. Chapters cover: Plastic, Ethical and Environmentally Friendly Clothing, Waste, Food, Energy, Electricity and Water, Animal Activism. A section on Gardening and the Outdoors features practical advice on how to make compost and attract butterflies and bees.

Each chapter includes a real-life story about a Changemaker, someone who has seen a problem and taken steps to fix it. They are all children, many Australians, aged from seven years up, whose stories rightly deserve to be celebrated. Twelve year old Molly Steer has campaigned to stop her Queensland government using single-use plastic straws. Ten year old Fin Vicars from New South Wales is passionate about renewable energy and science. Greta Thunberg is not mentioned. Perhaps she came to prominence while this book was in production.

The last section, titled 'An Act of Kindness', is a call for young readers to take positive action to help someone and the planet. Lucy Bell writes ‘The ideas in this book are just the beginning of your journey to help the world and save our planet. It’s now up to you.’

What a pity more world leaders hadn’t read something like this when they were growing up.

The final pages include social media contacts for the Changemakers and helpful organisations, stores and charities.

Highly recommended for school, library and home bookshelves.

The Man in the Water

The Man in the Water by David Burton (UQP) PB RRP $19.95 ISBN 9780702262524 Reviewed by Dianne Bates When sixteen-year-old Shaun finds a body floating in the lake of a quiet mining town in outback Queensland, he immediately reports it to the police. But when he returns to the site with the constable, the body is gone. This is the beginning of this novel for readers aged ten years and older which is a gripping mystery from popular #LoveOzYA author David Burton. While the adults brush off the death, Shaun and his mate Will are forced to open their own investigation. Their adventures take them all around town in their race to find justice for the Man on the Lake. The protagonist, Shaun, is just an average kid who dreams big: he wants to solve the crime (as well as wanting others to believe he found the body that’s gone missing), make his mum proud and capture the attentions of Megan who’s stolen his heart. Most of all, Shaun dreams about being a hero despite self-doubt which is reminiscent of the uncertainty of youth. When he finally gets some answers, Shaun discovers that life is not always so black and white. The novel deals with the themes of friendship, isolation and the struggle of living in a small mining town. There are also themes of suicide, grief & depression, but these are handled delicately and, in an age-appropriate way. This novel, with numerous amusing scenes and spot-on dialogue, is likely to be appreciated by YA readers who like crime solving.

En Pointe

En Pointe by Chloe Bayliss (Pantera Press) PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781925700756

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

En Pointe is written by Chloe Bayliss, who many may know as an actor on Channel 9 drama series Doctor Doctor. It is a story of her life so far, from her childhood and teenage years as a serious ballet dancer, to her even more serious medical problems, then out the other side. Written for a young adult audience, this first-person account paints a picture of dreams dashed but also of the support of family and friends. Most importantly, the book is about a girl who never gives up.

The introduction outlines what the book will be about, so there are no surprises. It starts in the world of competitive, all-encompassing ballet, where Chloe trains for hours each day with one aim: to become a professional ballerina. She is aware that she is missing out on normal teenage things like kissing boys or going to parties. But it is all worth it when she is offered a place at the Washington Ballet school. It seems her dream has been realised.

The next part of the book, which is the majority, is about Chloe’s descent into illness and subsequent hospitalisation, with a disease that no one knows how to treat. Her kidneys are failing, and she is confined to a bed. She has fits, then seems to be getting better, only to get worse again. The description of the permanent tube inserted into her chest is particularly visceral. These grim details are balanced out with personal stories of what it is like to be a teenager in these circumstances such as the guy she likes who visits her in hospital and family dynamics.

The last part of the book describes Chloe’s recovery and her determination to get back to dancing and real life. A section of photos shows Chloe from her first ballet lesson aged three, through her various ballet roles, pictures of her in hospital, then finally at the Logie Awards with the Doctor Doctor cast. Chloe says in the book media release, that she was unsure whether to reveal her story, as it may affect the way people see her as an actor. However, she says she wanted to tell her story to help someone also going through a tough time. This is a book that could do just that.

It Sounded Better in my Head

It Sounded Better in my Head by Nina Kenwood (Text) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9781925773910

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Winner of the 2018 Text Prize, this is the bookseller author’s debut novel which is about awkward, introverted eighteen-year-old Natalie who is in the summer between high school and university and has just discovered to her great consternation that her parents are separating.  Natalie can’t understand why no one is fighting, or at least mildly upset.  As well, after years of suffering from and treating acne, she is still unsure of her physicality and struggling with fitting in with peers. She has two best friends, Zach and Lucy, who have hooked up. Natalie is attracted to Zach’s older brother Alex with whom she finds herself unexpectedly sharing a bed for two nights – and struggling to cope. When Alex kisses her, she is shocked (although she fancies him) but she responds and then questions his motives.

This is a tender, amusing and feel-good coming-of-age novel about a girl who feels that she doesn’t fit in. The scene where she questions her own body, especially her private parts, is funny but accurately captures how a scarcely adult girl might think. 

Overall, It Sounded Better in my Head is a satisfying read which is recommended for YA and new adult readers.

The Quest Diaries of Max Crack

The Quest Diaries of Max Crack written and illustrated by Jules Faber (Pan Macmillan) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781760783907

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is a visually appealing novel for readers aged 9+ years insofar as it is presented as an exercise book with lined pages. As well, the entire book is not the conventionally presented book with pages of printed chapters. Instead, the words look hand-printed and there are illustrations, with cartoon characters, on every page. Faber makes use of lists, speech balloons and much more so the book looks immensely interesting and appealing.

The story is told from the point of view of the protagonist Max Crack who lives with his family in Piddown. In introducing himself, he lists four embarrassing things he’s done, such as ‘farted on the cat’ and ‘drank Dad’s aftershave and thought I was a ghost’.

The quests to which Max refers are his goals which include making a ‘super’ best friend. This happens on 1 July (events are often dated) when Max almost drowns after being hit on the head by a supermarket trolley, but is saved by a boy, Frankie, who is one of ten children (all featured and named in illustrated break-out boxes).

There’s lots to read in this amusing and quirky book, including visual asides (such as how to dogpile and what a dinosaur glow man looks like). Max and Frankie undertake many adventures including selling comics at a school fete, searching for buried treasure and solving mysteries. Using a list at the start of the year, Max manages to solve all his quests and makes a best friend along the way. Highly recommended.

Arabella and the Magic Pencil

Arabella and the Magic Pencil by Stephanie Ward, illustrated by Shaney Hyde (EK Books) RRP HB $24.99 ISBN 9781925820010

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Arabella is a young cherished royal and an only child. Each year she is granted a wish for anything her heart desires and instant happiness ensues. One thing she does not wish for is a baby brother… but she gets one! It doesn’t take long before her brother, Avery, consistently ruins her usually happy and calm days.

For her next wish, Arabella requests a magic pencil that can make anything she draws come to life. With the pencil, she creates a myriad of imaginative and extraordinary things that make her life even more grand; singing flowers, a flying bicycle and a fuzzy rainbow-striped hippo. Her creativity doesn’t stop there: Arabella draws the most amazing garden tea party one could imagine. Everything is wonderful until… Avery ruins it. Arabella can draw whatever she wants with her magic pencil, but she can also erase anything she wants. Avery is soon gone, but it doesn’t bring the desired outcome for Arabella.  

Arabella and the Magic Pencil is an enjoyable picture book that allows young children to enter a fantasy world where anything is possible. The single and double-page spreads feature pencil and watercolour illustrations that add to the text and bring to life Arabella’s marvellous creations. The text often makes use of alliteration to add fun descriptive detail. The story includes themes of creativity, imagination, family changes and sibling rivalry. It is suited to children aged 4+. 

Geek Girls: Making Magic

Geek Girls: Making Magic by Alex Miles (Puffin) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 978 0143795087

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Here is a new series about a gang where four girls about ten years old design, make, game, hack and code. The series was developed in partnership with Girl Geek Academy, an Australian global movement teaching one million women to learn technology by 2025 through programs for parents, teachers, corporate and community.

The publicity which came with the book points out that only 12 percent of engineers are women and that the current internet was built primarily by men so in this first book one would assume the content is directed at girls in the hope of encouraging them to work in technology. However, Making Magic is basically about Eve, Maggie, Hamsa and Niki working for their aptly named teacher Ms Atlas to put on a school play. Admittedly, they do work with a 3-D printer at one stage.

The second book in the series – Perfect Holidays – centres on the geek girls planning a birthday party. It is difficult to see how this relates to technology and how it might inspire girls to participate in the industry. Having said that, the relationships between the girls are important in the books, as is cooperation and leadership.

Written in third person past tense, the prose in the book is straightforward, and it must be said, pedestrian. Nonetheless, the books are likely to appeal to certain girls aged eight years who are into series.

Goodnight, Little Tough Guy

Goodnight, Little Tough Guy  written by Michael Wagner, illustrated by Tom Jellett. (ABC Books, 2019). HB 32 pp RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9780733339356

Reviewed by Julie Anne Thorndyke

This unique bedtime picture book has a lively, fun text by Michael Wagner, making extensive use of alliteration without being twee. All the tired little tough guys are finished saving the world and ready for sleep. Has a spell been cast over the entire hero kingdom, just as in the time-honoured tale of  Sleeping Beauty? (I wish! say parents everywhere.)

                             “The firefighters are fitting in forty fabulous winks.”

 “Cowboys and cowgirls are completely cactus.”

 These fun statements using wordplay, puns and lavish language sounds are sustained throughout the book. In a sense, the story is one extended “dad joke”. Bathing, cleaning their teeth, falling asleep over their food, our little tough guys

(and gals) are seen doing all the normal bedtime routines young children perform daily. Many of the characters have already shut their eyes, and the others are yawning.

The matt-finish of Tom Jellett’s engaging artwork—line drawings with flat colours, muted midnight-blue backgrounds, teal, black, yellow-orange areas and fluro accents—resemble early TV cartoons. The end papers are reminiscent of vintage 1950s wallpaper from a boy’s bedroom.  The square, sturdy hardback binding will withstand repeated use by your own little superhero.

This book has a masculine feel, full of trucks, rockets, planes, cricket bats,   tools and footballs, and as such seems to target boys— but there are also many suggestions in the text and illustrations that make the book gender neutral. Parents will appreciate the “falling asleep” scenarios depicted in the pictures. Although “heroes” are referenced visually there is no direct reference to the standard copyrighted superhero characters of popular culture, and the costumes worn by the children are generic. This will increase the longevity of the book.

A fun read-aloud story for little boys (and superhero wonder women) from the creators of Why I Love Footy.

The Girl in the Mirror

The Girl in the Mirror by Jenny Blackford, illustrated by Fiona McDonald (Eagle Books) October 2019, PB, RRP $17.99, 153 pp, ISBN 9780648194521

Reviewed by Karen Henriks

Maddy moves to a creepy new house and starts at new school. Newcomers are not welcome and Maddy is given a hard time, so school becomes the last place that she wants to be. Her new home is old and full of secrets from the past. It has a coldness and unexplained presence that creates darkness. Maddy’s bedroom becomes her refuge but there is no real peace even there. In the old mirror in her bedroom Maddy finds her first real friend, Clarissa. There is only one problem: they are 100 years apart in time.

Clarissa lives in the very same house as Maddy. She is the girl in the mirror in Maddy’s bedroom and is from the 1890’s. Clarissa’s younger brother Bertie, who died from whooping cough, haunts the stairs in the house in each time space. The friendship helps both girls deal with frightening situations in the their respective homes. The sinister character in the story is Clarissa’s Aunt Lily who is also a frightening presence in Maddy’s world.

There is a mystery to be solved and lives to be saved and an evil force to be overcome. This time-shifting tale hooks the reader into the mystery with its clever storytelling. The reader wants to join the girls in their quest to remove the evil that lurks in the shadows of both their lives. Maddy tackles the girls at school and makes friends with Gareth but worries time is running out to save her baby brother Cory who has become ill since moving into the house. The only person she can turn to is Clarissa.

Meanwhile, Clarissa’s mother’s health is in serious decline and widowed Aunt Lily seems to control everything and everyone in the house. Her strengthening tonic made from plants in the garden seems to not be working. The two girls must use all their intelligence and work together. But will they succeed? 

This is a gripping middle grade novel that is an original and captivating read.

Hey Grandude!

Hey Grandude! by Paul McCartney, illustrated by Kathryn Durst (Puffin) HB (jacketed), PR $24.99 ISBN 978024137565

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Grandfather of eight children, Paul McCartney is known internationally for his role in the Beatles and for his musical career. Like numerous celebrities these days he’s had a go at writing a picture book text, this one for parents, grandparents and their 'little explorers'. McCartney has also narrated the Hey Grandude! audio-books himself, along with composing some original music for the soundtrack.

The title of this picture book came from one of McCartney’s grandchildren who calls him Grandude. The story is about a character with the same name whose four grandchildren (whom he calls ‘Chillers’) go on adventures with him when he uses a magical compass to find the way. 

On a rainy day Grandude takes the children to a ‘golden beach with little waves tickling their feet.’ There they ride on the back of flying fish. However, when lots of crabs scurry out of the sea heading straight towards them, Grandude uses his compass to whisk them to ‘a desert valley with spiky green cactuses.’ They ride on horses but when there’s a stampede of buffalo, out comes the compass. After another adventure (in the alps), the compass takes the children home to bed ‘dreaming of their next adventure.’

This is a simply told story illustrated with bright, attractive cartoon pictures which is sure to be enjoyed by children aged five years and up.

White Bird

White Bird by R.J. Palacio, (Penguin Random House), 2019. Hard cover. 220pp. RRP $39.99

Reviewed by Pauline Hosking

Here is another venture into the world of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder. This time it’s a young adult graphic novel for which she’s created both text and illustrations. The sparse, unfussy drawings are an excellent medium to tell a powerful tale.  

White Bird continues the story of Julian, the classroom bully from Wonder, whose backstory was fleshed out in Auggie and Me. It begins when Julien makes a FaceTime call to his grandmother Sara and asks her to tell him more about her experience as a Jewish child in France during the Second World War.

Through her eyes we see how the Nazis gradually changed life for the French, many of whom chose to look the other way and ignore what was happening. Young Sara herself is guilty of this to some extent because she stands by while the crippled boy in her class – the original Julien – is bullied. When the Jews in the village are rounded up, Julien’s family bravely hide Sara in their barn. Sara and Julien fall in love but sadly Julien becomes a casualty of the war.  

‘Evil will only be stopped when good people decide to put an end to it,’ says Vivienne, Julien’s mother. Sara realises she can and should act differently in future. And so does present-day Julien. By the end of her story, Sara has transformed her grandson from a bully into an ally. The final pages are a call to readers to resist contemporary prejudice and xenophobia.

White Bird is highly recommended as an easily accessible, deeply moving, retelling of a shocking historical time. There is an afterword, author's note, in-depth glossary with photos, a suggested reading list and a list of organizations and resources – all of which will be valuable resources for students and readers of any age. 

The white bird itself, which appears as a motif throughout the book, variously signifies hope, kindness and freedom. 

The Most Ungrateful Girl in the World

The Most Ungrateful Girl in the World by Petra James, illustrated by Anna Zobel (Puffin) RRP PB $16.99 ISBN 9780143793670

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Izzy Winkle is a 10-year-old girl with big dreams. She is longing to find her talent and become great at something. She considers her best friend Katie a genius and is aware that Mozart was eight when he wrote his first symphony, so she believes she’s falling behind in her quest already.

When a competition flyer falls from a hot air balloon through her window and onto her bed, Izzy believes it’s fate and she has to enter. The competition aims to find The Most Ungrateful Girl in the World. To prepare for the competition Izzy turns to Katie, who is smart and resourceful. Katie then points out the obvious problem… Izzy is 100% grateful and comes from a kind family with great manners. Undeterred, Izzy tells herself that she just has to do the opposite of what she normally does. Easy! Determined to win, Izzy and Katie seek help from a coach - Horace Unthank, a Professor of Bad Manners and Appalling Behaviour.

In the process of becoming ungrateful, Izzy discovers that people and events are not as they seem. She soon becomes tangled in a web of deception and lies and is approached to complete a secret mission. Izzy’s plan to win the competition remains but her motives drastically change.

The Most Ungrateful Girl in the World is a fun middle grade fiction novel written in the first person. It has monochrome illustrations scattered throughout the book; a combination of single page images and vignettes. The book would be suited to children aged 8+ who enjoy a little mischief. The story is about friendship, gratitude (and lack of!) and being yourself… which is naturally a bit of both good and bad.

Final Storm

Final Storm by Deborah Abela, (Puffin Books), 2019, Pb, RRP  $16.99

ISBN: 9780143794462

Reviewed by Pauline Hosking

This is the third and final of Deborah Abela’s Grimsdon series. Isabella, Griffin and their friends exist in a reimagined civilisation after climate change has wrecked the planet. Since managing to survive in a flooded world (described in the second book) they have settled into the relative safety of  New City.

Before long their home is threatened by ever more erratic weather patterns. An organisation named Future World Solutions promises it can control the weather. But Isabella discovers that the man behind the organisation is their old enemy Byron Sneddon. Even worse, the person she believes to be a new ally is, in fact,  Sneddon’s son. After a series of escalating adventures, the son turns on his father, and the good guys triumph.

The story is fast-paced with many unexpected twists. The friends are action heroes who manage to overcome each potentially deadly challenge in the nick of time. There is no clear main character, which is unusual in a middle grade novel. Both Griffin and Isabella take centre stage at different times, concerned for each other and the future of New City. Especially poignant is Isabella’s desire to find her mother.

Some of the best writing describes the terrifying extreme weather events. Abela wrote the series because she was angry that governments around the world weren’t doing enough to combat climate change, and as a rallying cry for young environmental activists. I found it surprising, though, that her vision of climate change encompasses storms, winter weather and floods - not high temperatures and drought, which is something Australia is already experiencing. 

There maybe one or two moments of confusion for those who have not read the previous novels (e.g. the introduction of Matilda without any explanation as to what she is). Overall this is an exciting read for Grades 4,5 and 6.

The Tiny Star

The Tiny Star by Mem Fox, illustrated by Freya Blackwood (Puffin) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780670078127

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Two of Australia’s best-known and best-selling children’s picture book creators have collaborated on this book, which is a celebration of family and community following the loss of a loved one.

The fly and title pages depict a night sky and two houses side by side, both with windows lit up. This leads to the opening lines, ‘Once upon a time, although this happens all the time, a tiny star fell to earth. There’s a neighbour scene, though no depiction of where the star has fallen. 

On the next page, an interior scene, the reader discovers that the star is a baby, discovered by a couple who take it home ‘wrapped (it) warmly in a quilt covered in stars.’ The baby, which gets ‘rounder and rounder’ is loved by all in the neighbourhood until one day it is all ground up ‘loved and adored’.

The story relates how the child becomes an adult and then so old and ‘so tiny it disappeared altogether.’ The community grieves the loss but ‘the tiny star hadn’t vanished at all!’ It has returned to its home in the heavens and ‘there it remained, to rest.’ ‘Everyone knew that they star they had loved so much would be there always, loving them from afar and watching over them… forever.’

This touching story is timeless, and the book ideal for reading to a child who has lost a loved one as a way of simply explaining the cycle of life and death in a non-religious but touching way.

Blackwood’s illustrations are, as usual, ideal for the story. Here is an artist who can faithfully depict real-life children and put them into scenes which are warm and loving. There are pages with lots of white space, while others are full-page coloured spreads.

No doubt this book with its pared-back text, uplifting message and eye-catching illustrations, will win awards. It will also win the hearts of readers aged 5 years and up.

My Dad is a Dragon

My Dad is a Dragon by Damon Young, illustrated by Peter Carnavas

(University of Queensland Press) PB RRP $24.95

ISBN 9780702260490

Review by Wendy Haynes

My Dad is a Dragon is the sixth instalment of this series, a testament to the talent of this duo. The book bolsters the important role of fathers and how children thrive having a happy relationship with them.

The story tells of the many thing other dads can do, but the author Damon Young deliberately pulls the reader’s focus back to the relationship between father and child. My Dad is a Dragon is a representation, a celebration of fatherhood, and how fathers play a significant role throughout a child’s life.

The illustrator Peter Carnavas builds on the story with the characters having a togetherness throughout the pages. His illustrations are in pastel shades which gives a sense of calm.

The young girl is like an observer and a participator as the author moves the reader through the story. She can see what other dads do but her dad is a dragon!

                                                                     

Window of Hope

Window of Hope by Robert Vescio, illustrated by Demelsa Haughton (Little Pink Dog Books) RRP HB $24.95
ISBN 9780648256366

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Max is a little girl who looks at life but does not participate in it. She is safe and comfortable observing the world from her bedroom window. Immaculately dressed for nothing in particular, Max sits at the window and watches as children play and seasons go by.

It is not until a unique white bird perches on her window ledge that things start to change. When Max notices that the bird only has one leg she wonders if it feels sad. The bird takes a liking to Max and stays to play for a while. She soon realises that the bird is special and can do lots of amazing things. It lifts her spirits and awakens something inside of her. On the final page we see Max outside enjoying life and realise why she previously felt safer inside.

Window of Hope is a picture book with gorgeous soft digital paintings that complement the gentle narrative well. The story is about individuality, disability, capability and courage, and would suit children over 5 years old. This book highlights the fact that ‘life is what you make of it’ and it may encourage readers to move beyond their comfort zone and experience life more fully.

Winter’s Tale

Winter’s Tale by Nike Sulway, Illustrated by Shauna O’Meara (Twelfth Planet Press) PB RRP ISBN 978-1-922101-54-9

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Winter's tale is the first book released by Tatiana, the new children's imprint of Twelfth Planet Press. The story is of an orphan child called Winter, who is found in a fruit box under a full moon and moves around houses and foster parents, looking for a place to call home. A crowned blue hare that lives in the moon (but can come to earth) follows Winter's progress. Beautiful colour illustrations by Shauna O'Meara on each page add to the story of Winter's journey. 

Winter is written clearly as genderless from the second page. " 'Is it a boy or girl?' somebody asked. The boy shrugged. 'Who knows?' he said. That's how things were with Winter, right from the start.’

Winter's Tale uses magic realism, with some quite surreal turns of events. The part of the story where Winter meets Wren and she teaches him to skateboard is the most realistic part and the ending is certainly the most fantastical. Winter lives with hunters, then in a city apartment, then on a ship at sea but none of these are home. Then Winter finds Bo and Fox, a gay couple who live in a town with shifting streets and it is here that Winter is accepted, makes friends and finds out who they really are.

The main concept behind Twelfth Planet Press is to publish works by women and underrepresented voices. Winter's Tale could be categorised as middle-grade but it's one of those books that can be equally read by adults or children. It's an attractive looking book and is a quite unique read with interesting characters and a story that stretches the imagination.

The Australian Survival Guide

The Australian Survival Guide by George Ivanoff (Puffin) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780143796572

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This book, a comprehensive survival guide to all the dangers that could befall you in the wild, has truly got you covered if you decide you want to live and adventure in Australia (the cover reads ‘Australia is trying to kill you – This book will save your life!) Chapters cover land, in the water, the environment and everything else. The chapter, ‘the land’ for example, deals with slithering death, creepy crawly death, tiny flying vampiric death, tiny not-quite death, and cute but dangerous.

‘Creepy Crawly Death’, for example, deals with Australia’s top five deadliest spiders with a page devoted to each one. It shows the scientific name, habitat, location, web, prey and effects of venom as well as ‘other stuff’ – for example, the venom of the male spider is more toxic than the female. As well, there are interesting facts (such as the invasion of spiders when arachnids rained down over Goulburn one morning!) If in fact you are bitten, there are also first aid instructions and how to catch a spider, how to avoid getting bitten, pest control and how to keep a spider as a pet (!!) The pages include black and white photographs and plenty of graphics with yellow the dominant colour throughout the book.

Ivanoff has collected quirky anecdotes such as the woman out walking who was attacked by a wombat, how actor Hugh Jackman saved his son’s life at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, how indigenous Australians use native flora and fauna to treat sickness and injury. There are numerous fact boxes such as Australia’s Top 3 Deadliest Floods, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Thorny Devil, etc. As well, there is plenty of practical advice if your life is threatened, for example what to do if caught in a rip. Further reading and a glossary are included at the end of the book.

At the start of the book an avatar with ‘game-playing survival skills’ introduces itself and proceeds to introduce topics. Visually, pages are eye-catching with break-out boxes, changes of font size and type, graphics and photographs. Every page is filled with interesting and sometimes fascinating facts. One could imagine the target market for this book – children aged from nine years plus – spending countless hours reading and dipping into the 175 pages. It certainly shows that Australia is a very dangerous place!