Dancing with Memories

Dancing with Memories by Sally Yule with Professor Ralph Martins and Maggie Beer, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini (HarperCollins Australia) HB RRP $16.99 ISBN 978176043994

Lucy, an old lady introduces herself, saying, ‘Sometimes I remember I forget. Sometimes I forget that I remember.’ She tells the reader that her home is full of memories, with the words, ‘Dancing with memories helps me remember.’ Today is special as her granddaughter is getting married. She puts a note about the wedding in her handbag and sets off to meet the four o’clock deadline. She catches a bus but forgets where she is headed. She meets friends who take her home where everyone is waiting. Although Lucy has dementia she can still dance at her granddaughter’s wedding.

This is a simple story that introduces young readers aged 5+ years to the concept of aging and dementia. It is colourfully illustrated with lots of white space. In a double-page spread at the end of the book, Professor Ralph answers questions about dementia, while on the last four pages, well-known cook, Maggie Beer, saying children should have a colourful and diverse diet, offers two double-page spreads of recipes, and healthy lunchboxes.

Into the Sideways World

Into the Sideways World by Ross Welford (Harper Collins Children’s Books) Paperback, Middle Grade/ YA $14.99 ISBN 978 0 008 33384 3

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks 

Into the Sideways World is an adventure story that explores family, science fiction and sliding door moments. What if at a particular moment at the exact same time a different choice was made in another parallel world? I love the concept of not going backwards or forwards in time but travelling sideways. Imagine a parallel world that shows a better version of your world and you find a way to travel there. The themes explored in this book are family, friendships, the environment and war.

Willa and Manny have trouble fitting in at school and when they become friends and explore a cave one full moon they are swept away into an alternative world. When they return, no one believes them.

Bestselling author Ross Welford doesn’t disappoint when he takes us into the world of twelve-year olds, Willa, and Manny. He creates strong characters in believable worlds. I think it’s his eyes mainly: as green and as shiny as a halved kiwi fruit, and starey and sad. The language paints such vivid pictures for the reader. The dialogue reveals inner character traits and viewpoints.  I thought I’d tell you about myself.  Save time, you know? 

Information from our world is woven into the text and this makes the alternative world seem real. ‘‘All We Are Saying Is Give Peace A Chance!’ It’s a line from a John Lennon song from ages ago in big letters.’ And we’d made pictures on the school printer of lots of peaceful people. There was Lennon himself, Martin Luther King, Jnr and Jesus, and Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa of Calcutta, and M.D Gandhi, and loads of others.’

The text builds reader knowledge and there are smaller stories within the larger story that keep the reader engaged and hooked. It is a nail biting read to see if Willa and Manny will make it back to their real world in time.

This is a thought-provoking, funny, thrilling book for readers of 10 years and up that will find its way onto many shelves. It’s imaginative and inspiring because it creates active thinking and questioning in the reader as they travel inside an engrossing story.

Self-Help for Babies Whine Guide

Self-Help for Babies Whine Guide written and illustrated by Beck and Matt Stanton (Harper Collins Publishers Australia & New Zealand) Hardback RRP $14.99 ISBN 978 0 733341151

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

This talented best-selling husband and wife team have created two books that are especially designed to help parents. The tongue in cheek humour is sure to appeal and the pun with the title Babies Whine Guide is clever. Beck and Matt Stanton have recognised that although there are many books on the market and lots of them are self-help, there are none for babies. Ta-dah, now there is. Both are creatives in their own right but they have worked together to fulfil their own needs as parents.

Who else is better to fill this hole then those that are in the midst of baby chaos? As parents of three children under seven, the joy and madness of living with babies is expressed with advice and humour. The illustrations and text work together seamlessly. The use of adult words with the soft pastel backgrounds and childlike illustrations immediately bring a smile. Parental advice is given for each type of baby whine.

For example: The Bubbly                                                                                                   An open-mouthed, gassy whine, requiring attention. Best Served with bicycle legs and a tummy massage.

As you may have guessed, Babies Whine Guide is about the different ways babies cry. The text and illustrations match the type of whine with parental tips. The illustrations depict the type of cry then the parenting solution. I like how the book ends with the fact that babies do create their own whines too and that sometimes you just have to find your own solution too.  As we all know babies continually throw things at us that only we can find a way to deal with.

This book is an ideal gift for a baby shower or for any parent or carer voyaging into the world of babies. It is sure to bring a smile and a glass of wine at times is a perfect match.

 

 

 

Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale

Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale by Dominque Valente (HarperCollins Australia) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9780008308445

Willow Moss, the youngest and least powerful sister in a family of witches, recently saved the world. The problem is, nobody can remember it – and, to make matters worse, her magical ability now seems broken. Instead of finding lost things, objects keep disappearing against her will – which is especially troubling now that her friend Sometimes needs her help.

Sometimes has discovered how to see ten minutes into the future. Unfortunately, that’s only enough time to find out that his kidnappers are on their way. His only hope is to write an urgent letter to Willow, asking if she wouldn’t mind trying to find him.

As Willow and her friends piece together what has happened to Sometimes, their adventure takes them from an enchanted tower to a magical forest of Wisperia and into dangerous new realms. Can Willow save Sometimes when her own powers are out of control?

Evie and Pog

Evie and Pog by Tania McCartney (HarperCollins Australia) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781460757956

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Tanya McCartney’s latest book is joyful and enchanting. 

In three short stories, each of which have chapters, the stories tell the adventures of six-year-old Evie and her pet dog, Pog. Illustrated on every page, the first story, ‘Book Parade’ starts with Evie and Pog in their tree-house home (with its own slide) which is situated near Evie’s Granny Gladys. Teacher Miss Footlights announces there will soon be a book parade, the biggest ever! Pog is distressed because puppies are going to take part in the celebrations, and he is used to winning the best dressed dog award every year (he’s been the only contestant). Of course, in the end Pog’s competition doesn’t win because there is a pleasant surprise that makes everyone happy.

The other two stories in the book (‘Art Show’ and ‘Party Time’) are like the first – treading on ground that’s safe and familiar for young readers.

There is much in this book to make it appeal to all children, starting with a double-page map of the tree-house at the start of the book (which I loved in a book when I was a child). Every page is illustrated with cheerful, zany black and white pictures and different, well-spaced text types. There is a lot of slapstick humour and non-stop action with nicely rounded, somewhat eccentric characters. My only criticism is that the publishers should have -- and could have -- used a better quality paper.

McCartney’s latest book series is sure to appeal to reader’s imaginations. She is on a winner here as the books, with their short, humorous chapters, are an ideal steppingstone between picture books and longer chapter books. Highly recommended.