The Gentle Genius of Trees

The Gentle Genius of Trees by Phillip Bunting (Omnibus) ISBN 978-1-76097-517-3 HB RRP $19.99

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

The Gentle Genius of Trees is a beautifully presented non-fiction book about trees and humans as well. As expected with Phillip Bunting books, humour plays an important part, highlighted by the fact that all the tree illustrations have eyes. While explaining uses for trees, the way trees grow and photosynthesis, the crux of the book is the way trees work together. In describing the way trees share nutrients through their root systems, protect the young and are incredibly resilient, it is clear that humans could learn quite a bit from this ‘wood-wide web’.

On the title page the tree (with eyes) says ‘If you’re not into trees or highly tenuous jokes, I wood leaf now’, starting things off with a laugh. Scientific explanations are lightened with jokes all through, for instance when there is a ‘very serious’ disclaimer at the bottom of the page stating ‘Artists’ impression only. Glucose does not really resemble fairy floss’. The illustrations are clear, in natural tones, on matt paper. Impressive is the double spread of different shaped leaves (with eyes) which show the marvellous diversity of plant life, where each leaf has a different character, even though they are all green.

Root systems are drawn to look like lungs, an upside-down brain, and a train map, all showing the interconnectedness of nature and how it relates to us. As it says, ‘You see what is good for the forest is good for the tree. And what is good for the tree is good for you and me.’

Phillip Bunting has now written and illustrated many books including the imaginative non-fiction titles Give Me Some Space and Who am I? His latest book is recommended for children ages four and over but could be useful for students all through primary school.

Richard Yaxley's Latest Achievement

Here’s some good news! This month Omnibus Books has published Richard Yaxley’s new novel, A New Kind of Everything (Scholastic). Here’s a blurb about it?

After their father’s reckless death, the Gallagher family must find new directions. Dinny’s mum finds a new form of freedom, but the paths the boys are choosing are pointing them in dangerous directions. Fourteen-year-old Dinny is in danger of repeating his father’s behaviour, and his older brother Carl sees an opportunity for independence.

But when Carl becomes involved in the aggressive agenda of an anti-immigration group, a different crisis develops, leading the family to tragedy, insight, and rebirth.

For more information about Richard and his work, go to Web: https://richardwyaxley.com

Bookings: https://www.speakers-ink.com.au/speakers/richard-yaxley  

https://twitter.com/richardwyaxley

https://www.facebook.com/richardyaxleyauthor/

The Dreaming Collection

The Dreaming Collection written and illustrated by Queenie Chan, (TOKYOPOP) 2010, PB  RRP $26.99 ISBN 9781427818713

Reviewed by Pauline Hosking

This omnibus edition comprises Volumes 1-3 of The Dreaming graphic novel, a mystery-horror story inspired by Picnic at Hanging Rock, for readers 13+ years. The illustrations are fabulous. Each page overflows with action and emotion and  the backgrounds are full of realistic, careful, architectural features. Many teenage girls will love the detail on the Victorian costumes and the manga inspired look of characters.

Less successful is the storyline which has occasional lapses in continuity. Twin sisters Jeanie and Amber arrive at a mysterious boarding school deep in the Australian bush. Here they must pretend they are NOT twins, because the scary ancient principal, Mrs Skeener, doesn’t tolerate twins. Slowly, Mrs Skeener’s secrets, and the secrets of the school, are explained.  Ever since the school was founded, girls have wandered into the surrounding bushland and vanished. The third volume reveals that the disappearances are the work of the Quinkan. These are wicked aboriginal night spirits which lure sleeping children into the bush.  After a dramatic climax, evil is thwarted and the school burns to the ground. But the experience has damaged both sisters and they grow apart.

In an interview included in the book Queenie Chan admits she has taken ‘quite a few liberties with the Quinkan’.  These may not concern the US audience or publishers of the books, but they did worry me. 

Overall, though, The Dreaming looks amazing and has enough suspense to keep young readers eagerly turning the pages.

The Boy From Snowy River

The Boy From Snowy River by Edwina Howard, illustrated by Joe Bond (Omnibus Books)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 978-1-86291-997-6

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

George really wants to go to Big Spills Water World. But there's not much chance of that when you live in Mumblegum, just out of Dargan's Ridge in the middle of nowhere. But then Gran hatches a plan. All George has to do is win the Stockman's Cup at Dargan's Ridge Festival. Can he do it on Bandicoot, their old stock horse? And can Croak, Bandicoot's closest friend, be convinced to stay at home?

Soon George is in for the ride of his life, competing against Clancy (of the Overflow Plumbing Co.), Mr Harrison's runaway goats and the rules of the competition (he's not quite fourteen yet). It's not looking good for that trip to Big Spills Water World.

A new book in the Mates series, The Boy From Snowy River is another Great Australian Yarn, full of Aussie humour, language and identity. This story is written with tongue-in-cheek, nail-biting tension and really funny scenes.

The butterflies in my stomach turn to great galumphing caterpillars.

Bright, colourful and fun illustrations accompany the text and are as much a part of the story as the words. Varying font emphasises some words and this, along with short chapters and large text, make it a perfect story for junior readers.

This is a tale of a great race. We barrack for the underdog, a ‘stripling’ and his horse, a ‘small weedy beast’. We cheer their bravery, skill and drive to go where other stockmen fear to go, and celebrate the spirit of the classic Australian poem by Banjo Patterson The Man From Snowy River.

Drongoes

Mates: Drongoes by Christine Bongers, illustrated by Dan McGuiness (Omnibus Books)
PB RRP $11.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-982-2
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

The year five cross-country race is an important one for Jack and his mate Eric. It is really the race to end all races - the one where Jack is finally going to beat Rocket Robertson, his racing nemesis. And it is the race that Eric is finally going to make it to the finish line.

In order to achieve these goals, the boys will need plenty of training – and maybe a little help from the spangled drongoes, those cheeky birds who hang out at the creek.

Drongoes is a title in the Mates – Great Australian Yarns series and is perfect for young readers. It is an easy-read chapter book but with a storyline which will also satisfy older reluctant readers. The connotations of drongoes (one of which is a horse famous for not winning a race) adds an extra dimension to the story which older readers will appreciate without affecting younger reader’s enjoyment. The humour is appropriate for both readerships as well.

This is an appealing book to look at as well as to read. The layout is attractive, with full colour illustrations which add to the enjoyment of the reading experience. The pictures echo the humour of the text. The double spread illustration of Jack and Eric training, silhouetted in the setting sun, followed by a flock of drongoes, beautifully evokes the enormity of what the boys are trying to do.

This is a funny story highlighting the notions of winning not being everything, of loyalty, and of the great Aussie spirit of ‘giving it a go’. It will appeal to many young readers, especially those who relish a good sporting challenge. Jack and Eric are great characters to cheer for.

This will be enjoyed by children from seven and up.

Dog on Log

Dog on Log by Tania Ingram, illustrated by Kat Chadwick (Omnibus Books)
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-964-8
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Cat is coming to stay with dog. Dog and all his friends are preparing for the visit with decorations, balloons and party food. Cat arrives and all goes well until rat steals cat’s cake. Then chaos breaks out.

Dog on Log is reminiscent of Dr Suess books or P.D. Eastman’s Go, Dog, Go. The rhyme is almost all pure, the rhythm is perfect - a pleasure to read aloud - and the use of opposites is clever and consistent:

 Big cat asleep.
 Small rat awake.
 Small rat stealing big cat’s cake.

These simple words are fantastic for children who are just beginning to experiment with language, with the meaning and sounds of the words they are using. The sentence structure starts simply and builds up with the action of the story as it heads towards the chaotic atmosphere. This helps to increase the anticipation of events:

 Dog. Frog.
 Frog on dog.
 Frog on log.

The illustrations are as complex and detailed as the text is spare. There is so much to see. Every time I read it I notice something new. There is no mention of a chicken in the text, but she is as large a character as the dog, cat, frog and hog. From the first page where she sits under a tree with her sewing machine sewing strings of bunting she became my favourite character and I followed her actions in the illustrations throughout the book.

There is so much to enjoy in this book. The slapstick humour, the characters which come to life, the fun play on words and the gorgeously entertaining illustrations. The storyline is never sacrificed for the rhyme or vice versa.

Dog on Log has leaped onto my favourite’s shelf and I think will be much loved by young children (4+) and all who read to them.

The Third Door

The Third Door by Emily Rodda (Omnibus Books)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 978-1-86291– 9142-3
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Emily Rodda is a mesmerising storyteller. She makes the reader hold their breath and plunge into Rye and Sonia’s worlds as they venture once again beyond the safety of The Weld’s outer walls. This time Rye is able to choose the ancient wooden door and - with his three companions, Sonia, Sholto and Dirk, - embark on their third quest to save their home from the skimmers.

Skimmers have always terrorised life in the Weld at night, but the children’s discovery beyond the Silver Door, intensified this threat. The Lord of Shadows is breeding skimmers, or slays, which can attack in the daylight hours too.

Rye and his friends face many perils as they use their charm, wits, magic and all weapons at their disposal to discover the answer to their problems. But the source of danger may be closer to home than they realise.

Having not read the first two books in the Three Doors Trilogy, there were times in the story I felt confused and a little lost. But I was kept fully engaged by the richness of the worlds Rodda has created, the beautiful writing and the depth she achieves in the wonderfully complex and likeable characters which populate the adventure.

This is a story which explores, not just the black and white of people – and societies – actions, but also the many shades of grey. Mysterious and intriguing, this book was well paced with quieter parts allowing space to digest information and admire the scenery before being plunged back into action.

An exhilarating ride for all lovers of fantasy, magic and epic adventures from 10 years and up.
The Third Door is the final book after The Golden Door and The Silver Door. Readers would get the most out of them if they read them in order.

Emily Rodda has written many popular fantasy series for children including Deltora Quest, Rowan of Rin and Fairy Realm.

The Gift

The Gift by Penny Matthews, illustrated by Martin McKenna (Omnibus Books)
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN 978-1-545-86291-698-2
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

As Christmas approaches and all the special Christmas toys are being bought one by one, Brown Bear feels very plain sitting on the shelf in the toyshop. As he sits waiting with the crocodile, he gifts the only Christmassy thing he has, his ribbon, to his friend. When the crocodile is bought the next day, Brown Bear is alone and sad until finally on Christmas Eve, his wish is granted.

The Gift is a beautifully and simply told story filled with hope and expectation in the lead up to Christmas. It embodies the warmth and generosity of spirit which characterises Christmas and shows in a lovely way how insecurities can be overcome by love.

The text captures the rush of shoppers with, ‘worried faces’ and ‘long shopping lists’. It also brings out the friendship as well as the insecurities and anxieties of Brown Bear and the crocodile. All told in a soft and gentle manner.

The story is mirrored in the gorgeous and realistic illustrations. By not showing people’s faces, the focus is kept on the toys until the very last page. Here the baby is sleeping with Brown Bear, and here their relationship is highlighted.

This is a quiet Christmas story which will be welcomed in the frantic rush of December and I’m sure it will find its way into the hearts of young children.

Hammering Iron

Hammering Iron by L.S. Lawrence (Omnibus)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-971-6
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

In the Bronze Age, life and land was ruled by Lords and Kings. Life was harsh, but if boys were lucky they had a trade to enter. Fatherless brothers Niko and Paramon were lucky. Under the protection of Lord Agios, Niko becomes the Lord’s shield bearer and Paramon is a clerk apprenticed to the Lord’s store master. Neither is totally comfortable in the profession chosen for them but both are grateful for the position. Then the gods intervene and their fates are switched though an accident. Paramon must set off across unknown lands.

Much of the story centres on blacksmiths, forges and the forming of blades, knives and weapons such as swords. Swords were an important commodity but they were made of bronze and bronze was an expensive metal. Only the rich and powerful could afford to have them and amongst the weaponry in Lord Agios’ store house there was a grand total of six swords. Blacksmithing was a trade in which a hardworking and clever man could become rich, but the trade was only passed down through family lineages. Blacksmithing was a secretive profession.

Paramon is a great character. Fast on his feet, an original thinker, adventurer, brave, loyal and moral. He learns early the realities of battle, but it takes him longer to realise how dangerous secrets can be.

The author’s descriptions are very evocative. He talks of the heat in the forge moving through stages until it got to ‘sparking white-hot’. You could easily imagine you were in the forge alongside Paramon and Kurada as they worked. These characters were alive. They were easy to believe in and care about; their personal growth as the story progressed being central to the story. The dialogue was natural. It kept the story moving and was realistic in this fascinating and gripping story.

Hammering Iron is a captivating historical novel. The author explores fictional lives of those who may have shaped stories and changed history as the Bronze Age moved forward. This is a fantastic book for twelve year olds and up, especially those with an interest in history. It is very well written, easy to read and engrossing. I would happily seek out more books from this author.

Possum Magic Numbers

 Possum Magic - Numbers [Board book] by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas (Omnibus books)
HB RRP $9.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-972-3
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Possum Magic is one of Australia’s best loved and well-known picture books, still widely popular after more than 25 years in print. Possum Magic Numbers brings those much adored bush characters back to life in a counting adventure for the very young.

This beautifully presented board book starts with Grandma Poss, ‘one possum’ climbing a tree and ends with a branch full of sleepy animals watching the stars. The artwork of Julie Vivas, who illustrated Possum Magic, is full of magic as well. These are gorgeous pictures, soft and gentle, bringing Fox’s characters to life. They flow wonderfully. Grandma Poss drops a slipper, which falls past ‘two kookaburras’ on the next page, who lose a feather which ‘three koalas’ then play with. This creates the narrative in the counting book. The slippers weave in and out of the pages which also tie the book back to the original Possum Magic.

This is a board book any parent could happily read many times a day and is sturdy enough for babies and toddlers to look at and play with over and over again. It would be a lovely Christmas gift for any new babies in your life. Read it and revisit the bush magic of Grandma Poss, Hush and the lamingtons.

Be Home For Armageddon

 Be Home for Armageddon by Luke Edwards (Omnibus)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-941-9
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Be Home for Armageddon starts with a bang when something falls from the sky creating a huge crater in a suburban street. Making it even more mysterious is the terrifying suction which draws objects into the crater at random intervals.

No-one in the neighbourhood seems quite sure about what to do and it falls to Victor and Soo, science nuts, lovers of sci-fi movies and addicts of old arcade games, to investigate what they hope is an alien invasion. After discovering what has moved in to the crater in Grundell Street, they enlist the reluctant help of their science teacher Mr Blake.

Although Victor, Soo and Blake are comfortable with the new residents, the Holingtons, the rest of the streets residents’ are not. Victor’s mother decides it would be best to move, far away. Then a gift from the Holingtons, with which they hoped to win favour with their neighbours, creates even more problems and the three realise that the Holingtons may not be quite so harmless after all.

This is a great science fiction story for young teenagers. It has an original premise, with twists and turns that surprised me many times. Although I didn’t always understand the scientific content (black holes, sentient beings, planet systems and computer technology) many science fiction readers will, and it didn’t detract from the storyline for me anyway. And the ever present vague sense of approaching doom kept me hooked until the end.

This adventure will appeal to both male and female readers. There are strong characters of both genders and it is a straight forward sci-fi adventure without added issues, coming of age problems or romance distractions. It is a light read and the often amusing banter between Victor and Soo keeps this adventure bouncing along.  

Star

 Star by Catherine Bateson (Omnibus)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-981-5
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Star has much to deal with in her young life. Her father is dead, her school friend has dumped her and her Mum now spends much of her time listening to the problems of her friend Charlie. Worse still, Charlie’s ex-wife often drops of his whinging children and Star is expected to look after them. Star wants a horse and a new best friend, not two unpleasant step siblings.

But Star’s biggest problem is that no-one will listen to her. How can she make her Mum take notice of her problems so Star can start to turn her life around?

I really liked Star. I loved how she approached her problems and the people in her life. She wasn’t overly dramatic or whiney. She chased her own dreams, no matter how insurmountable they seemed. When Mum kept saying no to a horse, Star started a catfish breeding business to earn money for horse riding lessons. When Mum and Charlie wouldn’t listen to how unhappy she was, she sought out Mum’s friend Cara and spoke to her.

I think many young readers will easily identify with Star and the isolation she feels at school and to a certain extent, at home. Her problems are common ones for children, social problems at school, change happening in the home, and blended families. The author deals with these issues in a gentle but realistic way.

The adults in this story are rounded characters too. The mother is selfish, but she is very wrapped up in her world with Charlie who is battling depression. They are both artists have ‘typical’ artists temperaments to match, self absorbed one minute, then passionate and hugely generous the next. The other two adults in Star’s life, Mum’s friend Cara and Stuart from the aquarium balance them out beautifully with their strength, security and dependability.

I did love that it was Charlie who helped Star to overcome her problem with friends in the end. It was a very satisfying ending.

This story was a realistic portrayal of families, relationships, childhood anxieties and change, told in an entertaining, light and moving way. It was filled with characters I really cared about. Star’s haiku poetry (complete with strikeouts and corrections) at the beginning of each chapter was delightful to read and offered an extra insight into her personality and state of mind.

This is a fabulous read for all children aged 9 to 12 but will particularly appeal to girls with its delicately attractive, pink blossom cover.

Barnesy

Barnesy by Allayne Webster, illustrated by Tom Jellett (Omnibus Books for Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $11.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-821-4
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Barnesy is a wonderfully quirky Australian story about Hannaford and his eccentric family who name everything, rescue injured animals and are inspired backyard inventors. All the characters are brilliantly realised and Webster manages to build a real picture of this family with few words. References such as Sir Robert Helpmann (the wombat) and Barnesy (the lamb named after Jimmy Barnes) add extra layers to the story.

Part of the Mates series of Great Australian Yarns, Barnesy is perfect for younger readers to enjoy reading themselves or to read with an adult. I read Barnesy with my nine-year-old son and we both giggled and laughed throughout. That is what shared reading should be all about!

Innovative presentation adds to the reading experience. The text is large with varied fonts and accompanied by Tom Jellett’s hilarious collage style illustrations. Unlike other chapter books, even for this younger age group, the illustrations are in full colour yet there is still plenty of white space so as not to overwhelm the reader.

My son and I will certainly be searching out other titles in this series.

Zizzy

Zizzy written by Penny Matthews, illustrated by Danny Snell (Omnibus Books for Scholastic Aust)
HB large format RRP $26.99
Recommended for 3+ years
Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

Having just recently watched, transfixed, some youtube videos of baby sloths I eagerly opened this book to read about Zizzy. Sloths are dreamy and slow and have the most appealing eyes. They bring out the mothering instinct in everyone, men included!

Zizzy lives in a lush rainforest and spends a lot of time hanging upside down, snoozing and dreaming. One day he sees a patch of blue in the distance and wonders what it is. A green parrot tells him it is the sea and the place where the sun rises. She insists that Zizzy should check it out, but Zizzy is daunted by the journey. Sloths don’t travel far. “You don’t know what you can do until you try,” says the bird and offers to show him the way.

It takes Zizzy a very long time to travel through the rainforest and finally to see the ocean. Sloths have weak spaghetti-like legs that don’t support their weight on the ground. Eventually Zizzy gets to sit on the sand of a vast beach and watch the sun come up. The world turns to gold and a thought crystalises in his head. He makes his way back to the rainforest where he dreams he can do absolutely anything, even fly through in the air - with frogs!

I love Snell’s illustrations. He has captured the essence of sloth features and his rendition of the rainforest is deep, dark and mysterious with comical touches. Armadillos watch Zizzy come down from his trees. A frog sits on his head as he snoozes. An anteater watches his progress to the edge of the rainforest. Zizzy is the cuddliest thing on the planet!

Dawn Meredith is a May Gibbs Fellow for 2010 and writes from the Blue Mountains. www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogpsot.com

Little Red Ute Visits the Farm; Little Red Ute and The Dump Trucks

Little Red Ute Visits the Farm and Little Red Ute and The Dump Trucks written by Mitch Lewis, illustrated by Nahum Ziersch (Omnibus Books for Scholastic Aust)
PB RRP $9.99
Recommended for 3+ years
Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

Little Red Ute loves adventure. Where there’s excitement and someone needing help, he’s there, with his friend Green Wheelbarrow, who rides in the tray.

In this adventure he’s on the farm, helping Farmer White, who wants to get the barn wind proofed before winter. But the foreman isn’t sure Little Red can actually be much help, so he sends Little Red Ute on a tour of the farm, meeting other important machinery such as the tractor and the combine harvester. But wait, what’s that? Someone is dangling dangerously from the roof of the barn? Little Red Ute speeds away across the dirt to rescue the foreman.

Ziersch’s illustrations are vibrant, full of colour and action, with faces on each machine reminiscent of the ‘Bob the Builder’ and ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ series. It’s appealing and the story neatly educates children about farm life, the animals that live there and the tasks to be done.

In Little Red Ute and The Dump Trucks our hero is dauntingly impressed by the huge trucks in his yard, who ferry huge loads and thunder past, ‘casting him in shadow’. Like a pesky puppy, Little Red Ute wants to help, but what can a tiny ute do to assist these monster trucks? The foreman angrily tells Little Red Ute to get out of the way.

But then, you guessed it, something goes wrong and the foreman needs his help. (Doesn’t that foreman ever learn?) A convoy of logging trucks has overturned and have no fuel left. Little Red Ute scurries back and forth to the depot to bring them fuel. He works tirelessly, just like the dump trucks and is rewarded with praise from the foreman and a toot from the school bus. Aw!

There are a couple of themes I like about these stories. One is children wanting to help and adults supposing they are ‘in the way’ and the other is children proving they can work just as hard when they are motivated.

Dawn Meredith is a May Gibbs Fellow for 2010 and writes from the Blue Mountains. www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogpsot.com