Stories from Stella Street

Stories from Stella Street by Elizabeth Honey (Allen and Unwin)

PB RRP $19.99   ISBN 9781760292256

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

It has been 21 years since readers were first captivated by 11-year-old Henni Octon’s friendly narrative voice, as she told us about 45 and 47 Stella Street and everything that happened. The 1996 CBCA Honour Book for Younger Readers is about the arrival of some lavish, rude and snobby new residents to 47 Stella Street, who disrupt the friendly, down-to-earth culture of the neighbourhood. When their actions start affecting the happiness of the much-loved residents at number 45, the Stella Street kids band together to discover a solution … and also wind up discovering what their new neighbours are hiding.

The sequel, Fiddle-back, is about the Stella Street gang’s summer. Budding writer Henni, types up the story of what happens when they discover an untouched paradise out in the bush … then realise they aren’t the only ones who know about it. The story beautifully demonstrates the importance of preserving our environment and how nature can help people connect and find their place in the world.

A third story in the series, The Ballad of Cauldron Bay, tells of their Easter holiday at a remote beach location. Henni uses her new computer to type up what happens when moody Tara gatecrashes their holiday. Elizabeth Honey beautifully captures the emotions Henni feels at the difficult age of 13. It’s a wonderful story about growing up, about giving people the benefit of the doubt and about helping people change the course of their lives.

Readers aged 8–12 years will love seeing how Henni constructs her novels, playing around with fonts on her computer and interrupting the story with her amusing, handwritten prayers to God. Henni is self-conscious about her writing, often interrupting herself to draw attention to principles of the craft, or to pay homage to her writing idols (such as Gillian Rubinstein and Roald Dahl). The novels are also scattered with Elizabeth Honey’s detailed black and white sketches, adding further humour to the whirlwind events of the stories.

Stella Street fans, new and old, will love this 21^st anniversary edition, featuring three books in one. (And those who feel sad upon its completion can always track down a fourth novel featuring Henni –To the Boy in Berlin. Phew!)

All the Wild Wonders: Poems of Our Earth

All the Wild Wonders: Poems of Our Earth edited by Wendy Cooling, illustrated by Piet Grobler (Frances Lincoln)

HC RRP $27.95

ISBN 9781847806250

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

The title poem of this wonderful poetry collection is a lullaby from a mother or grandmother to a new born baby. It is by Australian writer and poet, Elizabeth Honey. It sets the themes of the book which include an environmental conscience, a sense of responsibility towards all living things, the need to be ready to act on what is unacceptable in relation to the environment, and to remember that we are caretakers of the earth for future generations.

There are poems on the sun - what its role is and what ours is towards it. Poems for the forest include a salute to trees in short and long forms that include the stirring and profound, The Prayer of the Tree by Anonymous. Then there are references to the animals and birds that live in trees, and the adverse effect on the landscape of concrete buildings as they replace trees.

Snagger’s Pond is directed at children, for they too, must learn early in life to respect their environment. ‘Snagger’s Pond was dying, there was a bad pollution. So, we cleaned and restocked. We found the solution.’

The range of poetry is enormous. It reaches to caged birds, oil spills and the damage to animals and bird life. It continues with wind farms, the dwindling numbers of endangered animals and other species, the slaughter of seals and whales, and the disappearance of green from the planet.

Well known poets such as John Milton, Alfred Tennyson, Thomas Hardy, Ogden Nash, and John Agard have been included. Other poets’ work from around the world that perhaps we haven’t heard so much about, have equal status in this compilation.

There is a double page list of About the Poets. The book is produced with fine quality paper and illustrated in pencil and watercolour. Wendy Cooling is a highly regarded anthologist.

This is an impressive collection of 35 poems. I hope it gets the attention it deserves for the poems collectively call for attention to their messages. I would love to believe that all readers will be affected by the thought-provoking content and remember, ‘where we see danger, we need to think and act’ to protect our earth.