Old Worlds New Worlds Other Worlds

Old Worlds New Worlds Other Worlds: Stories, Poetry, and Plays for Children compiled by CBCA NSW Eastern Suburbs Sub-Branch PB RRP ISBN 9780645154504

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The funds raised by the sales of this anthology will further the work of both the CBCA NSW Branch and their Eastern Suburbs Sub-branch in fulfilling their shared purpose: to ensure Australian children have stories written for them, to support and celebrate the work of our Australian creatives, and to promote the joy of reading. Anthology contributors have all donated their stories, plays and poetry, illustrations, and production skills‑— over 70 contributors, including some of the most well-loved Australian children’s literature creatives. These include Belinda Murrell, Kate Forsyth, Susanne Gervay, Tim Harris, Sue Whiting, Patricia Bernard, Elizabeth Mary Cummings, and more.

The Foreword is from the NSW Governor, the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC and Mir Wilson, introduction from Ursula Dubosarsky the Australian Children's Laureate, and acknowledgement of Country in Dharug by Jasmine Seymour. 

The back cover sums up the book’s content: ‘Wonder at the universe. Swim through oceans. Encounter lions. Venture into space. Delve into fairytales. Travel back in time. Face danger head-on.’

Titles of stories include ‘The Red Suitcase’, ‘Dragon Days’, ‘Harriet Digs Dinosaurs’, and ‘Toilet Tales’, Poems include ‘Spooky Stuff,’ ‘The World is Waiting’, ‘Olga: The Girl from Another World’, and ‘A Step Between Two Worlds’. Plays are 'New Earth', and 'Kate, Liz and Nat's Epic Picnic'.

The book is illustrated, too, with beautiful black and white line pictures by talents such as Dub Leffler, Liz Bowring, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, Sare Christensen, and Gemma Patience. There are even photographs (contributed by wildlife photographer Jan Latte). 

Every time a page is turned, there is a new and exciting discovery to be made. At the back of the book are blurbs about every one of the contributors. Variety is certainly a keynote of this sterling collection.

This is an outstanding compilation which is sure to be enjoyed by its readers, both young and old.

The Boy Who Could Fly

The Boy Who Could Fly and Other Magical Plays for Children by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Amy Golbach (Second Looks) PB RRP $15.99 ISBN 9780994528094

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is the second collection of plays published by this Australian imprint of Christmas Press. The author is a well-known, prize-winning author who generally writes novels. In The Boy Who Could Fly, Dubosarsky has eleven plays of varying lengths for children based on ancient Greek and Roman myths.

The first play named for the title is about Icarus, the youth who flew too close to the sun with the wax melting the wings attached to his back. In the version, Icarus’s father is Daedalus, a famous inventor from Athens, exiled to the Greek island of Crete who comes up with the idea of the wings so he can escape.

Other plays feature well-known Greek myth identities such as Pygmalion, Echo, Narcissus, Arachne and King Midas, and some lesser known Greeks such as Erysichthon, Io, Philemon, Atalanta and Theseus. 

Each of the plays are loosely based on their adventures. ‘Arachne, Spider Girl’, for instance, is a poor peasant girl whose father is Idmon, a wool dyer. Nymphs and Dryads, children from vineyards and rivers, admire Arachne’s weaving while Arachne boasts that her weaving is superior to that of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. Disguised as an old woman, the goddess seeks out Arachne and challenges her to a weaving competition. Of course, Arachne finishes up transformed into a spider.

Each of the plays in this book have largish casts which can be performed in classrooms by all or most of the students. The dialogue is fast-paced, there's occasional humour and plenty of action. Recommended.

This School is Driving Me Nuts!

This School is Driving Me Nuts! by Duncan Ball (Christmas Press – Second Look publishing) PB RRP $18.99

ISBN 9780994234032

Reviewed by Kel Butler

When I first received This School is Driving Me Nuts!, the re-release of Duncan Ball’s plays, I pulled it out at the breakfast table, recruited my partner and the kids and started reading them together as a family. Each of us played many zany roles, quickly reducing each other to tears of laughter and causing my son to announce in that moment that he wants to be a comedian! Now that’s what I call a success story.

In this collection of plays, Duncan Ball delights with his wickedly funny use of language and character, providing something for everyone. From a comedic monologue to a play the entire class can get involved in. Duncan Ball has tuned right into the minds and imaginations of primary schoolers everywhere, getting down to their level of grossness, throwing tons of mischievous cheek and taking the everyday pun to a whole new level.

This School is Driving Me Nuts! offers hours of engagement on a group level, making this book the perfect companion for every primary school teacher and teacher-librarian. It is a fantastic way to introduce kids to theatre and plays whilst making reading time even more fun.

Highly recommended in the home and at school.