Unreal: Can you tell fact from fake?

Unreal: Can you tell fact from fake? by Kate Simpson & Leila Rudge (Allen & Unwin) PB HB RRP $29.99 9781761180347

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Kate Simpson is both a scientist and an author. She loves non-fiction and creates books for kids that use her scientific background. This is her sixth picture book.

Leila Rudge is an award-winning illustrator and picture book author who has written and illustrated over 15 books.

There’s been a mix-up at the Museum. Some of the Myths and Legends exhibit were brought to the museum - so kids are asked to help sort the real-world animals from the myths.

Kate Simpson has created a non-fiction book that encourages a reader to think about and assess the information that they read. This is an important reading skill to learn. Kids love to discover things themselves. The text is easy for a young reader to absorb. The book starts with a warm hello and a double page spread that lets the reader know five questions they can ask themselves to help sort fact from fiction. This is followed by a contents page.  You don’t have to read the whole book in one go. It can be picked up anytime and pages of interest read.

Each animal and plant category are explained before introducing the five animals/plants on that spread. Predator - Equal parts frightening and fascinating, predators are some of the most exciting members of the animal kingdom The following page turn then reveals the real facts and the one unreal fact. The information is concise and doesn’t overload a young reader. Diprotodon - Roughly the size of a hippopotamus this Australian marsupial was related to the modern-day wombat. Simpson’s text makes scientific facts and information fun. Her scientific background really does shine through in this book because it is logical, ordered, and precise yet very child friendly. A lot of work has gone into the creation of this text and the reader is rewarded with a We did it!  Spread at the end. An index is also included to make finding things easy.

Leila Rudge’s hand-drawn; watercolour illustrations are a perfect match to the text. They are eye catching, interesting, and full of life. The cover immediately draws you to the book. The title is clever Unreal (Un in red, real in blue) as it alerts the reader to the journey they are about to embark on. A child is front and centre, surrounded by scientific specimen jars with animals, a skeleton, bird of prey and a sloth like creature. It has a wow factor.

I love how Rudge has created one child character who is the explorer throughout the book. The animals and plants have a scientific old world feel. Then when the facts and unreal fact are revealed, Rudge has used boxes and labels real/unreal. The child page turns and instantly finds the answers they are seeking. A standout throughout the book is the eyes and teeth and facial features on the animals. There is movement and the child is always active during their scientific journey. The reader is seeking as much information from the images as the text. There is a clever little twist at the end where the child becomes a werewolf. The index is then revealed followed by a clever little unreal box – werewolves are unreal.

Unreal: Can you tell fact from fake? is a picture book that would make a great gift for any child interested in non-fiction. I can see this book finding its way into many classrooms or home bookshelves to fill the hole for those kids that like reading these kinds of books. This clever, informative book is suitable for primary school aged children and up. It really makes reading non-fiction fun

How to Move a Zoo

 

How to Move a Zoo: The Incredible True Story by Kate Simpson and Owen Swan (Allen & Unwin) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781761180309

This picture book tells the true story of how, at the beginning of the 20^th century Jessie the elephant walked from Moore Park Zoo to her spacious new home in the Taronga Zoological Park.

‘It was still dark when Mr Miller walked through the old zoo. A kookaburra laughed to tell him dawn was near, but otherwise all was quiet. The animals were gone. All except Jessie.’ Thus begins this story which goes on to tell how for months, a slow parade of trucks headed north carrying crates and cages of every size and shape. There was no vehicle big enough to transport Jessie, but after she’d walked from Moore Park to Fort Macquarie at Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, she was transported by ferry to Bradleys Head and into Taronga Zoo.

The illustrations in this book are muted with much use made of mauves and pinks. There is a double page spread showing the route Jessie and Mr Miller took from her old home to her new. It is interesting to see that numerous places are not only marked with their English name, but also with Aboriginal names, a practice which is becoming frequent. One wonders when the words ‘Sydney’ and ‘Australia’ will be replaced, too, by Aboriginal words.

This true story comes from the bestselling author of Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King, and the highly acclaimed illustrator of Anzac Biscuits.

Ouch! Tales of Gravity

Ouch! Tales of Gravity by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Andy Hardiman (Allen and Unwin) ISBN 9781760526610   RRP $24.99 

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Ouch! Tales of Gravity is a fun and informative look at what keeps us standing on the ground. Starting with Isaac Newton, humorous illustrations show there were many, many people in history to be hit on the head by things – and gravity was the culprit each time. From here the story goes into clear explanations of the effect of size on the force of gravity, how it works in space and what happens without it. Finally, there is humankind’s attempt to combat gravity, successful or not. All accompanied by Andy Hardiman’s quirky, colourful pictures, it’s easy to forget this is also educational.

The text brings things back to the reader, so they can relate what they know to the science being explained. For instance, it’s easy to imagine what happens when someone is trying to reach something on a top shelf and loses their grip on it. Or activities that might be difficult if there was no gravity (like in a space station) including jumping on the bed, relaxing in the bath, or even eating cornflakes. This works well to engage kids in an interesting way.

Included in the back pages are facts, including Sir Isaac Newton’s findings and of course those of Albert Einstein. There’s also an experiment the reader can try with two water bottles that demonstrates the speed of something falling with gravity. End pages are filled with coloured falling apples, a bit of a theme in the book. 

One More Page podcaster, Kate Simpson, has a background in chemical engineering and believes curiosity can change the world.  Ouch will be enjoyed at home and very useful in primary schools, especially for children grades three to four.

Buzz Words Achievers

Augustus Brown by Margaret Pearce is a rhyming picture book illustrated by 13-year-old Xanthe Turner and published by Turner Books. It is a poem about a pet spider. As most mothers have a bias against spiders Augustus had to settle to only being a fantasy pet. This is not a disappointment as interesting things happen and keep on happening with a fantasy spider that is the cutest pet around. The book is available on Amazon, Booktopia, Fishpond, Angus & Robertson, Barnes and Noble. It is official released in August 2019.

Julie Thorndyke’s first children’s picture book Waiting for the Night, with illustrations by Anna Seed, has been published by Interactive Press. A review of it by Dannielle Viera will appear in www.buzzwordsmagazine.com on 25 July.

Kate Simpson's debut picture book, Finding Granny was released this month through EK Books. Finding Granny is beautifully illustrated by Gwynneth Jones and tells the story of a special relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter that is turned on its head when Granny has a stroke.

Congratulations to Jo Mularczyk who entered the recent Short short short story competition (21 words) run by the Australian Writers’ Centre. They received almost 1000 entries, so naturally Jo was thrilled to have two of her entries placed in the list of finalists and one named among the five winners included in their newsletter.

Quark’s Academy

Quark’s Academy by Catherine Pelosi (Lothian)

PB RRP $15.99

IBSN 9780734417800

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

“No parents, pets or soft toys allowed.” Quark’s Academy is the story of three young science whizz kids, Augustine, Celeste and Oscar, who are invited to spend a week at the prestigious Quark’s Academy to compete in the Best Invention Competition and win a prize of unspecified riches. But as the week progresses, it becomes clear that the academy is not what it seems and more is at stake than the offered prize money. It’s a sparkling and delightful debut from Catherine Pelosi, bursting with imagination and adventure.

Quark’s Academy is to science and invention what Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory is to candy-making. It’s packed full of fun, futuristic and sometimes downright outlandish inventions like jet packs, weather makers and an invention to combine the DNA of different animal species: fancy a lion mixed with an antelope? An anaconda crossed with an elephant? Anything is possible at Quark’s Academy.

With strong male and female protagonists, this book will appeal to both boys and girls aged 8 and up with a taste for fun and adventure. And if they weren’t science fans before they read the book, they will be afterwards.  

Little Witch: Hauntings & Hexes

Little Witch: Hauntings & Hexes by Aleesah Darlison (Big Sky Publishing)

PB RRP $14.99  IBSN 9781925520576

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Hauntings & Hexes is the second book in Aleesah Darlison’s Little Witch series, following on from Secrets & Spells. While some children may prefer to read the books in order, Hauntings and Hexes also sits well as a stand-alone novel.

Courtney is a novice witch, learning magic in her attic with the help of her late grandmother’s spell book, a talking cat and the occasional whispered message from the spirit world. When she starts high school as the new kid in town, she’s trying to fly under the radar, but the temptation to do just a little bit of magic is too strong to resist. Of course, it doesn’t help when your magic isn’t always completely reliable.

To make matters worse, Courtney’s deceased grandmother had a (well-deserved) reputation in town as a witch, and not everybody was happy about it. Will Courtney have enemies from the outset?

Growing up is all about making mistakes, but when you’re a witch in training, your mistakes can have some pretty serious consequences and Courtney has accidentally unleashed a mischievous spirit on her village. Will she be able to save her new home or could the consequences be more serious?

The Little Witch series, with its themes of magic, friendship and adventure is sure to appeal to the tween crowd, and independent readers aged 8 to 11 will likely make short work of this easy-to-read, 144-page novel. Hopefully Aleesah Darlison will magic up a few more installments in this fun new series. 

Malibu and the Naughty Elf

Malibu and the Naughty Elf by Michelle Worthington, illustrated by Dave Atze (Big Sky Publishing)  PB RRP $14.9   ISBN 9781925520644

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Malibu and the Naughty Elf is the Christmas-themed follow-on from The Three-Legged Kangaroo from Uluru. In this new instalment, Santa and Mrs Clause have donned their cozzies and come to spend Christmas in Australia with their friend Malibu the kangaroo. The elves and the reindeer are enjoying the fun and sun on Bondi Beach, but one elf isn’t happy. There is nothing that Bobby the elf likes about Christmas and while the other elves are enjoying themselves, he is grouchy, miserable…and naughty. Soon Santa is tearing his hair out and it is up to Malibu to figure out why Bobby is spoiling Christmas for everyone.

Full of surfing Santas, skateboarding reindeer and elves playing in the sand, Malibu and the Naughty Elf sets itself up as a classic Christmas down-under tale and, certainly, there’s plenty to satisfy on that front. The story itself, however, is less about Christmas and more about the struggles of an elf trying to fit in and the unhappiness that comes from pretending to be something you’re not. The illustrations by Dave Atze are bold, colourful and packed with humour, surely a winning combination for any pre-schooler.

With Christmas just around the corner, Malibu and the Naughty Elf is one to consider for the stocking.

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist by Bill Condon, illustrated by Dave Atze (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP 12.99 ISBN 9781925520590

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist is a collection of 14 short stories for the early reader crowd by prolific children’s author Bill Condon. Tender-hearted animal lovers beware: things do not always end well for our furry, scaly and squirmy friends in this zany collection. However, kids who like a giggle and dads who aren’t afraid of an outrageous pun are likely to find this right up their alley.

Each story is Condon’s humorous take on a different proverb: ‘curiosity killed the cat’, ‘you can’t please everyone’ and ‘old habits die hard’, among others. In the stories themselves, Condon takes substantial liberties with the proverbs (enter the outrageous puns), but he takes the opportunity to explain the traditional meaning of each at the back of the book – perfect for teachers and parents who love a bit of education mixed in with the kids’ entertainment.

The book is liberally peppered with comic illustrations by Dave Atze, which nicely break up the text to make it less daunting for emerging readers. With the longest story covering 11 large-type pages, and the shortest just four, these curly tales are a great choice for readers aged 6-8 years to cut their teeth on. 

To The Moon and Back

To The Moon and Back by Dianne Bates (Big Sky Publishing)

PB RRP 14.99

IBSN 9781925520293

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

To The Moon and Back is a touching, often sad, but ultimately heart-warming book about adjusting to parental separation. Eight year-old Claire is caught unawares when her mother suddenly uproots her from all that she has known and whisks her off to a new house, a new life and, for Claire’s mother, a new boyfriend. Each time Claire feels that she is adapting to her new circumstances, life seems to throw something else in her way.

Although Claire, the protagonist, is 8, the book is more suited to a slightly older readership if it is to be read independently. For readers in the 8 to 9-year-old range, this could make an excellent story for parents and children to read together. Dianne Bates deals sensitively with the difficult subject matter, which includes brief references to domestic violence. Her characters are well drawn and wholly relatable, creating a moving middle-grade novel for readers who enjoy realistic fiction.

Little Mouse Helps Out

Little Mouse Helps Out by Riikka Jäntti (Scribe) HB RRP $17.99

IBSN 9781925321876

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Little Mouse Help Out is another delightfully illustrated picture book for toddlers and pre-schoolers by Riikka Jäntti, following on from 2016’s Little Mouse. The story follows Mummy Mouse and Little Mouse as they prepare the house for a play date with Little Mouse’s friend Pip. As young children and their parents will understand, helping out doesn’t always go smoothly: there is spilled juice and an argument over a mop, among other minor mishaps. When Pip does at last arrive, a fun afternoon’s play is disrupted by a dispute over a favourite toy.

This is a story of the everyday troubles of pre-schooler life, which both children and their parents will relate to. But the real charm of this book lies in the delightful expressiveness of Jäntti’s illustrations, with each cheeky grin or sulky pout bringing Little Mouse to life for young and old.

The gentle story and slightly muted tones of the illustrations make this a good choice for a quiet moment – perhaps at bedtime or to forestall a meltdown. The story is longer than many picture books that target the toddler and preschool crowd, so it is best suited to children with a long attention span or indeed for slightly older children (up to age 6) who will still relate to the little mishaps that pepper Little Mouse’s day. 

The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel

The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel by Melissa De La Cruz (Paper Rocket) PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781474857994

Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel by Melissa De La Cruz (Paper Rocket) PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781474857062

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

In the United States of Auradon the heroes of countless Disney fairy tales live (mostly) in peace and happiness. Across the way, on the Isle of the Lost things are not so rosy. Here the fairy tale villains live in exile, fed on the scraps from the privileged tables of Auradon. Their children are raised to be wicked: to steal, to lie and to dominate. But when Maleficent sends her daughter Mal on a quest to retrieve the Dragon’s Eye, will the villains’ children prove themselves to be as evil as their parents believe them to be?

The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel is a comedy-adventure novel for 10 to 14-year-olds that forms the prequel to the television movie Descendants. In spite of the quest element to this tale, it is a book more likely to appeal to girls than boys, due to its Disney princess references and the dusting of romance that is heavier than usual for books targeted at this age range. It is also aimed squarely at Disney fans, with scores of in-jokes and references to a large number of Disney films dating right back to Cinderella (1950).

Children in the target audience will find this to be a fun and fast-paced read. The emotional conflict between the children and their parents, which could have been quite dark, is dealt with in a fairly superficial way, in keeping with the Disney stable and the tone of the book. If considered a standalone book, the ending is a somewhat unsatisfying; however Isle of the Lost is not intended to be read alone. Parents buying this book for their children should also expect to invest in the Descendents movie, as readers who haven’t already seen the film will almost certainly want to see it when they are finished reading.

Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel picks up the story line following the events of the movie. The events of the film are not covered in either book, so I would strongly recommend that readers take the time to see the film before picking up this sequel. 

In Return to the Isle of the Lost, Maleficent’s daughter Mal, Cruella De Vil’s son Carlos, Jafar’s son Jay and Evil Queen’s daughter Evie have been living happily in the United States of Auradon for some time and attending Auradon Prep with the children and grandchildren of a gaggle of fairy tale heroes. When they receive a mysterious invitation to return to the Isle; however, another quest is not far away.

Return to the Isle of the Lost is a fitting sequel to Isle of the Lost, with the same Disney in-jokes and fairy-tale mash-up setting. By the time of Return to the Isle of the Lost, our heroes have lost all trace of their evil ways, which makes for a more straightforward story line and a very enjoyable read. Readers of Isle of the Lost may even find they prefer this sequel to its predecessor.

All of Us Together

All of Us Together by Bill Condon (About Kids Books) PB RRP $14.99

IBSN 978-0-9945428-0-6

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Set in Australia in the Great Depression, All of Us Together is a touching coming of age story by multi CBCA short-listed author Bill Condon. Times are tough in small town Australia during the 1930s. Like many fathers, Daniel’s dad is forced to leave his family and seek work wherever he can find it. Before he leaves, he seeks a promise from his son:

‘I’m dependin on you to keep our family in one piece. You and Addie. I’ve no doubt she’s up to it, but are you?’

         ‘I think I am.’

         ‘You only think?’

         ‘No. I know Dad. I promise I won’t let you down.’

It’s one thing to make a promise, but quite another to keep it, and Daniel is only 12 years old. How can he keep his word when the family’s situation is going from bad to worse and his best friend seems to only want to drag him deeper into trouble?

Although it is set in the Great Depression, All of Us Together has a sense of timelessness that separates it from more traditional historical fiction books. It is an emotive, character-driven tale that is more interested in Daniel’s responses to his troubles than to the troubles themselves. Above all, it is a story that will feel completely relevant to Condon’s 8 – 12 year old readership, whether or not they have ever experienced poverty or the absence of a parent.

All of Us Together is a story about growing up, washing off the naïveté of childhood and seeing the world as it really is. It is a story about learning to make the right choices, instead of the easy ones.

A great choice for primary aged children, who may, like me, be hoping for a sequel.

Song Bird Superhero

Song Bird Superhero by Karen Tyrrell (Digital Future Press)

PB RRP $14.95

ISBN 9780994302137

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

In a world where Supergirl and Wonder Woman are real, Rosella “Rosie” Bird dreams of being able to fly. And she’s not short of ideas that might help her to achieve her goal. Unfortunately, a series of dangerous engineering failures has left her parents less than supportive and with her neighbour Frank contriving to make her life miserable, Rosie feels attacked on all fronts. Only her love of singing sustains her – and that is where the fun begins. With the help of a supportive teacher, Rosie discovers that her voice is the key that will finally let her take flight.

In Song Bird Superhero, Karen Tyrrell tackles again the subject of bullying that she has explored in previous books. Children aged 7-10 will relate to Rosie and her struggle with school bully Frank Furter, who is also her neighbour. Through the book, Tyrrell allows her protagonist Rosie to solve her own problems while also demonstrating to her readers the importance of having a trusted adult to confide in – in this case, teacher Miss Darling.

Although Tyrrell promotes her book as being aligned with STEM science, it is much more science fiction than science fact. Nevertheless, Rosie’s enthusiasm for science and invention is certainly infectious and who knows how many young readers will have new engineering aspirations after reading this book?