Reviews

It's ok to cry by Molly Potter

Illus. by Sarah Jennings. Featherstone: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781472942425.
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. It's ok to cry is a refreshing read covering many scenarios with children and their feelings. The book begins with a thoughtful introduction for the reader explaining that it is ok to cry and that everyone needs to express how they are feeling. The contents page covers a myriad of feelings and situations that enables a quick search on a particular area of interest or need. There is a particular focus on boys and emotions before delving into more general areas for both genders. Topics under discussion include positive and negative feelings, feelings that take over, feelings that can make you cry, feelings that involve other people, uncomfortable feelings as well as many others. Each double page spread has colourful illustrations with an easy to follow text. There is a 'It's good to know' box at the end of each double page to sum up the feelings and situations discussed. Towards the end of the book is a page full of children and their feelings which allows the reader the opportunity to offer ideas as to why they are feeling a particular way. There are notes for parents and carers about helping boys to become emotionally intelligent and ideas for strategies to help children to deal with uncomfortable feelings.
This book is an important read for parents to share with their children or a teacher to share with their class. It is also a perfect book for an independent reader to browse through on their own. Themes: Feelings, Well being, Children, Emotional intelligence, Boys and feelings.
Kathryn Beilby

Timmy the ticked off pony: Bite me by Magda Szubanski

Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781743832172.
Recommended. This is the second book in the series by this funny and well loved Australian star and follows Timmy the ticked off pony and the poo of excitement.
In this edition Timmy is trying to rebuild his reputation after the awful events of the first book 'The poo of excitement', and finding out how powerful friendship can be.
I thought that this book was a really good follow-on from the first, however Magda has successfully written this book as a standalone and readers will be able to use her recaps as a good foundation for knowing what has already happened.
As with the first book, I love the illustrations and think they are extremely funny and engaging for the reader. I love the topics covered in this book - friendship, embarrassment, emotion and of course poo!
I gave this book to my 10 year old son and this is his review:
"I thought this book was very funny, just like the first one. Timmy is pony who becomes the most hated in the world, so he needs to try and change that and get people to like him.
I don't have a favourite part, as I think all of the story was funny. This book is easy to read and would be really good for younger kids who have just learnt to read longer books. I did really like the pictures, and think the illustrator did the best job. Timmy is hilarious and I think his character is cool. Most kids 6-9 years old would think this book is funny and like to read it. Older kids like me could read it to their younger sisters or brothers. 4 out of 5 stars!"
Lauren Fountain

Perfect tunes by Emily Gould

Scribner, 2020. ISBN: 9781471175053.
(Age: Adult) This is an intriguing story of a talented woman who has grown up with music at the heart of her early life. Laura has always loved music and in her adolescent years she wrote a 'perfect' song. This impacted on her life choices, defining her 'self' and her career. As she matured, however, she gradually became unsure of herself and felt that she had been changed by particular events in her life, particularly in her experience of motherhood.
Later in life, living in New York, Laura meets her old friend and, in considering how much her friend has changed, wonders how much she herself is also very different to her younger self, and obliquely, how much her old self is still yearning for the excitement of her youth. As a mother she is more wary of situations where she may be tempted to return to her youthful ways. When she is walking through the museum one day, she wonders if 'the music in her head has gone silent'. Yet she dreams of whether she might still be considered as the hot entertainer of her youth, as she is younger than most of the other mothers whose lives she shares.
The yearning to recreate herself and to enjoy the excitement of the musical world is in contrast to her role as a loving mother. This narrative positions us to consider whether we are the same person we were in our youth, or if growing old has changed us totally. We are left to ponder whether the challenge to pursue her old talents, that may take her back to the excitement of her previous life, would be satisfying, or whether motherhood will remain as her role and thus define her life, but confine her talents.
With its explicit sexual description and references, and its adult themes, this novel would be appropriate for adolescent and adult readers.
Elizabeth Bondar

The joy in you by Cat Deeley

Illus. Rosie Butcher. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593181416.
(Age: 4-7) This book is written for younger children and is based around the important concept of being you, and finding your joy. The main characters are a cute and cuddly koala parent and child, along with a gaggle of their animal friends.
It is written in a conversation style, as the two koalas snuggle in a tree. The parent koala is encouraging their young child to know that they can do anything and follow their dreams with whatever activity or task they choose.
We follow through the pages where their animal friends dance, sing, paint, learn and use their imagination. They are also encouraged to feel ALL their emotions, and that doing this is a perfectly wonderful thing to do.
I really enjoyed reading this book to my 6 year old and used it as a segue to a discussion about the things she loves to do, and how those things make her feel. We named the animals and the emotions.
This book could be used in a class situation during protective behaviours lessons (feelings), or as a lead in to a conversation/lesson about doing your best and following your passions.
The illustrations are bright and inject life into the story. They were quite engaging for my daughter, who is definitely an animal lover!
This book would be a good inclusion for any library/teacher reference section.
Lauren Fountain

Shattered by Travis Winks

Big Sky Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922265883.
(Age: Adult) Shattered - no other word could better describe it. It is the true story of a family shattered by three events that all happened within the space of three months: the attempted suicide of a brother, the arrest and imprisonment of a sister, and the shooting of a father. The prologue gives us the dates and key events. Winks then goes on to tell us how his life and his relationship with his new partner Amanda spiralled into a nightmare where just one horrific thing happened after another, beginning with his brother Trent on life support following a suicidal drug overdose. Then his sister Amy cracks after enduring years of domestic violence and goes on the rampage, to be arrested and charged. And his father, the rock of the family, in despair, sets out into the paddock with a gun.
Fortunately for Travis, his partner Amanda stands by him through it all. With her support Travis finds the strength to step up to care for his splintering family.
The writing is raw and full of emotion. Readers will find themselves gripped by the story, and unable to set it down. It is hard to imagine a more horrific sequence of events. But in sharing his story Winks shines a light on issues of depression, domestic violence, and mental breakdown, and the failure of our society to provide the care and support that is needed. Unfortunately these issues are of ongoing concern.
Themes: Mental health, Depression, Suicide, Domestic violence, Nervous breakdown.
Helen Eddy

Santa Jaws by Mark Sperring

Illus. by Sophie Corrigan. Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781408897812.
(Age: 2+) Highly recommended. Shelly the shark is all set to make this Christmas a very festive one. She turns her cave into a Santa grotto and invites the little fishes to come in, but they are very wary and swim away. However, Sid the squid is very excited as he has not met Santa before:
. . . today's my LUCKY, LUCKY day.
Golly, whizz and gee!
For guess WHO's meeting Santa Claus?
Yes, me! Yes, me! Yes, me!
When he swims in finds that it is Shelly the shark in her diving Santa suit. Can he trust her?
This is a hilarious read aloud, from the creators of Mince Spies. The cadence of the rhythm and rhyming words make a rollicking read and young children will love to sing out the 'Yes, me!' And 'I am!' refrains along with Sid. The person reading it aloud can also make the story lots of fun by coming up with voices to suit the two main characters, who each have their own characteristics. Readers will identify with Sid and his desire to meet Santa, while relating to Shelly who has no friends and is not trusted by anyone. She is a misunderstood creature, and it was lovely to see Sid working with her to bring joy to all the sea creatures.
Illustrations are cute with lots of fishy details to examine and giggle over. Sid the squid with his long pink tentacles and big black eyes is a hoot. The double page spread where he realises that there was not a real Santa in the cave is hilarious, showing Shelly's gleaming white teeth and little Sid's tentacles bunched together. Newly independent readers will love to give this one a go as well with the illustrations complementing the narrative.
A fabulous fun Christmas book, it is perfect as a bedtime story as well and has become a firm favourite with my little grandson.
Pat Pledger

Tinsel: The girls who invented Christmas by Sibeal Pounder

Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526619273.
(Age: 8+) Highly Recommended. Tinsel: The Girls who Invented Christmas is a cleverly written book by Sibeal Pounder, author of the popular Witch Wars and Bad Mermaids series. What if history had it all wrong and Christmas and the Santa story was really begun by two young girls? This very exciting and humorous story brings in traditions of Christmas that readers of all ages will relate to. Blanche Claus lives under a bridge in London of long ago when poor orphaned children struggled to survive. She has no inclination or resources to embrace the festive season and would prefer to sleep through it. However on one special evening she is given a magical red bauble by an old woman. In the bauble she sees a surprising image and this begins her journey. She finds an abandoned horse she names Rudy and promises to care for her forever. While riding Rudy she meets Rinki, another orphaned child, and they share a mince-pie picnic. They lose touch but eventually find each other again and the mince-pie picnics become significant to the storyline. Blanche, disguised as a boy, becomes one of the best carters in the docks. She meets Captain Garland who entrusts her with a precious box which she delivers to his home not realizing Rinki is now living there with her two dads. Given their earlier impoverished circumstances Rinki and Blanche make a promise to try to provide a present for every child on Christmas Day. The evil neighbour Mr Krumpus and the three jealous carters play important roles in trying to thwart everything the two girls' attempt.
Throw in elves named Carol, a larger than life fir tree, a young cook called Santa, a new home in the North Pole, a magical sleigh and you have an entertaining story full of adventure and magic. An enjoyable and exciting read. Themes: Magic, Fantasy, Adventure, Good Vs Evil, Friendship, Christmas Traditions, Humour, Loyalty.
Kathryn Beilby

What cats want: An illustrated guide for truly understanding your cat by Dr. Yuki Hattori

Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526623065.
(Ages: 10+) Written by Japan's leading cat doctor, Dr. Yuki Hattori, this illustrated guide to what cats want is a wonderfully light and informative book. Starting with 10 rules for understanding cats, the book has six main chapters broken up into short segments. After the 10 rules, it moves to cat biology (primarily covering cat senses) and wellbeing (including diet and home environment). The next chapter covers cat behaviour and how to 'speak cat'. Next up is the chapter focusing on everyday care, ranging from sharing your home with a cat to health care. The fourth chapter covers cat happiness and how owners can best treat their cats to ensure they are content. The following chapter details how to make your home cat friendly, while the final chapter describes how to work towards a long and happy life for your cat.
The topics are covered in such a succinct manner, with illustrations and 3 main points for each topic. These also have illustrations and text in two different colours - black indicating facts, history and useful tidbits; orange indicating suggestions, causes or explanations. Having had pets throughout my whole life, many of those being cats (including my girls I rescued when they were kittens: 16 year old, Mindy, and 12 year old, Persnickety), I found this book delightful. I could easily associate behaviours exhibited by my two fur babies, as well as cats I've known over the years. A few things I learnt include that Mindy is considered a geriatric as she is 16 (!), and that essential oils are essentially poison (thank goodness I never use them!). I highly recommend this book to those who are considering getting a cat, those who have a kitten and those who have had cats for years. Also ideal for those interested in animal psychology and wellbeing.
Themes: Pets, Cats, Pet care, Cat biology, Pet wellbeing.
Melanie Phillips

The Two Lost Mountains by Matthew Reilly

Jack West series. Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781760559083.
(Age: Secondary/adult) The Two Lost Mountains is the sixth in the Jack West series. Jack again teams up with his extraordinary group of loyal friends who are ready to die for their beliefs and put their trust in his leadership.
Again Jack finds the powers of evil: Sphinx (aka Hardin Lancaster X11), the Omega Monks and unexpectedly General Rastor, all aiming to find The Supreme Labyrinth in order to gain ultimate power. At their beck and call are seemingly endless supplies of arms, aircraft, ingenious technologies, robotic armies of bronzemen and silvermen and of course allies all willing to aid their cause in the hope of gaining wealth and power.
Jack's daughter Lilly has been abducted and is in peril for her life and as the evil plans of Sphinx, Rastor and the Omega monks unfold so are the lives and freedoms of humanity. As usual the odds are stacked against Jack and his friends, but just when situations are most desperate some how Jack and his crew are able to escape. However there are some casualties amongst Jack's nearest and dearest, which I will leave the readers to discover.
The pace of the narrative is unrelenting, with disasters happening all over the globe. It's like a violent video game on paper. There is mayhem, explosions, destruction of major historic buildings and an enormous body count.
Reilly is able to blend classical mythology and his own rich imagination to create a world that is his own unique narrative. It may not be for everyone but for his legion of fans I'm sure they'll not be disappointed. However be prepared for the fact that the story does suddenly and abruptly end just as all the players reach their goal. There will be a wait to find out what fiendish twists and turns await the hero as he and his chosen few battle through the labyrinth.
Themes: Adventure, Evil.
Mark Knight

Fire burn, cauldron bubble by Paul Cookson ed. Illus. by Eilidh Muldoon

Bloomsbury have done well with this delightful collection of approximately 70 poems chosen by Paul Cookson for children on the theme of magic. It is orange and black, hardback, A5 size, available as a clothbound edition if you like and easy to hold in your hand. Its pumpkin orange and the illustrations within, in black and white, are delightful and appropriate and drawn by Eilidh Muldoon. There is even a delightful little flowery pattern that dances from page to page as you flip through. This book is a physical delight to hold in your hands. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble. Magical poems is an example of how pleasurable the sheer physicality of a book can be.

It is about time that Paul Cookson, well known as a poet and performer in the UK, is introduced to Australian children. Poetry is without a doubt, a genre that needs to be revived. Poems are in fact, compacted messages, concepts, stories and ideas where every word is selected with discernment. The reader, even one who is a disenchanted child with a short attention span, can, with poetry, enjoy in a short read, big pictures, feelings and ideas.

In this collection, Cookson has found poems which  appeal to all interests and tastes ranging from the 16th Century with extracts from Shakespeare's  Midsummer's Night Dream and Macbeth, through the 19th century with Tennyson's The Kraken and Lewis Carroll's Dreamland  through to the dub poetry of Afro-Carribbean poet Benjamin Zepaniah and the poetry of Brian Moses who is a current well-known British children's poet. A smorgasboard of poems, even one from our South Australian author Janeen Brian, are included. Together these poems are silly, spooky and sinister - so much fun! Cookson has included a few of his own. 

Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble. Magical Poems is a lovely collection. Please introduce it to your children. It's a treasure. I'm a teacher/ Librarian. My only question is - why do teachers have to take a such a  bad rap in these poems? Is it because we are actually secretly loved by children?

Themes Magic.

Wendy Jeffrey

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406396119.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. It begins with the back cover of the book that invites the reader into two worlds.
Challenger Deep is located in the Mariana Trench and is said to be the deepest point in the world's oceans. Caden Bosch is on a ship headed to that place. Caden Bosch is a high school student whose days are consumed by walking and the thoughts in his head.
The author skilfully and compassionately draws the reader into Caden's reality, a confusing world where ordinary objects take on extraordinary properties. Caden's world is sculpted by schizoaffective disorder. Neal Shusterman presents a world that doesn't make sense and crafts a story that gently reveals to the reader that Caden is unwell. Shusterman's characters are richly drawn and urge the reader to consider the pain and loneliness of the individuals and their families as they grapple with the consequences of mental illness.
We learn by reading the author's note that the artwork for the book was provided by the author's son and that, though this is a work of fiction, the author has firsthand experience in supporting his son through a journey with mental illness. This goes some way to explaining the complexity of the detail in the story, the deep understanding extended and the intensely moving description of the road to healing in the hospital.
This is a powerful book that is profoundly affecting. It is compelling and very difficult to put down. If ever there was further encouragement needed for us to ask "Are you okay?" - this book is it. A must-read for teachers and parents it comes with a trigger warning for mental illness and suicide. A discussion guide is available.
Linda Guthrie

The space between worlds by Michaiah Johnson

Hodder & Stoughton, 2020. ISBN: 9781529387100.
(Ages: 13+) Highly recommended. In a world where traversing through the multiverse is possible due to the scientific genius of Adam Bosch, only those whose counterparts on the parallel Earths have passed away can travel to that particular Earth. And it's a job, not a holiday, of which Cara is all too aware. Originally from the wastelands, Cara finds herself in the position of traverser, primarily because while there are 380 parallel Earths, her counterpart is dead on all but 8. This makes her a highly valued commodity for Eldridge Institute as she can travel to most of the parallel Earths. As an outsider in the walled-off Wiley City, Cara is willing to do what it takes to stay, including the dangerous job of a traverser. When one of her doppelgangers is murdered though, Cara finds herself in a plot that endangers all the Earths in the multiverse.
Covering a diverse range of themes including identity, privilege, abuse, poverty, sexuality and more, all woven into an extremely well crafted story, this science fiction is sure to delight YA readers. The protagonist of the story, Cara, is tough and vulnerable, a relatable character who presents to others as having confidence but is looking for her place in the world. She works closely with Dell, her watcher, and Jean, her mentor, in the Eldridge Institute. The entire storyline is well thought out, with plenty of intrigue, action and twists. Fans of the Starbound series by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner will enjoy this Sci-fi adventure.
Themes: Science fiction, Identity, Self perception, Self worth, LGBTQI+ people, Belonging.
Melanie Phillips

I want to be a Superhero by Breanna Humes

Illus. by Ambelin Kwaymullina. Magabala Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781925360400.
(Ages: 3-6) Recommended. Breanna wants to be a superhero. A special, flying superhero. 'Can you wish on a shooting star to become a superhero?', she asks Mum. Mum says 'no'. She asks her Karbali the same question. 'No' says Karbali. But when she asks Pop, he says 'You never know unless you try'. Pop takes them out looking for a shooting star. They see lots of stars twinkling in the Milky Way and then suddenly, a shooting star! Breanna quickly makes her wish: 'I want to be a superhero.' But nothing happens. Karbali tells her she can be a superhero doctor, or lawyer or engineer or vet if she goes to school everyday and studies hard. Breanna still wants to fly though, and we see that she has drawn herself in all of those roles . . . with the addition of a cape!
The young author, Breanna, wrote this story when she was just eight years old and this shows; there is a beautiful innocence and simplicity to the story and it has a fantastic realism to it. Kwaymullina's colourful illustrations are fantastic as always, containing distinctly Indigenous elements but with a contemporary edge. This is a story for all children who dream of both the possible and the impossible and for the adults who encourage both their crazy and their not so crazy dreams. It also contains an important message about sticking to school, working hard and becoming a person that you can be proud of.
As an aside and one that should definitely be pointed out to young listeners, Breanna achieved both her the academic dreams of her Karbali (she is studying Environment Sciences) and her flying superhero dreams (she spent five years in the Air Force Cadets).
Themes: Superheroes, Dreams, Education.
Nicole Nelson

LEGO Harry Potter magical treasury by Elizabeth Dowsett

D.K. Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9780241409459.
(Age: 9+) Recommended for fans of Harry Potter and LEGO. Subtitled A visual guide to the wizarding world (with exclusive Tom Riddle minifigure) readers will have fun following the wizard's world as well as finding out what LEGO sets are available to build. The cover with its little figure and the end papers with Hogwarts Castle will entice readers in to see what comes next. The extensive Contents page is illustrated with the Hogwarts Castle train, giving a good introduction to the wizardry world. Chapters include Magical Students, Hogwarts and Staff, Wizarding World, Fantastic Beasts and Behind the Scenes, each subdivided with easy to read information. The Introduction tells the reader to "Delve into the pages of this book . . . to discover how this spellbinding world has been recreated in LEGO sets since 2018." On the opposite page, the use of Data files is explained, giving an example with the Set name, Year, Set number, Pieces and Minifigures. As the reader browses through the book they get an excellent idea of the scope and size of the sets that make up this Harry Potter LEGO world. First, comes Harry Potter, and shows the figures change as he progresses from first year on Hogwarts to his fourth year. Then key moments are covered: Privet Drive, Harry at Hogwarts, Ron Weasley and the Burrow, Hermione Granger and so on. There are illustrations of Hogwarts castle (6,000 pieces), Hogwarts Great Hall (878 pieces) Hogwarts' grounds (253 pieces) and Grindelwald's carriage (132 pieces).
The behind the scenes section shows the Harry Potter team at work and gives a fascinating insight into how they came up with the creation of the world, winning two Toy of the Year Awards in 2019. They are interviewed and give their inspiration and favourite characters and show how the figures are made. The character gallery shows all the different figures for each of the characters and there is an extensive index.
Owners of the book will have fun deciding what sets they would like and will get a good overview of Harry Potter's world. This would make a great gift for LEGO fans and a fun look at Harry Potter for fans of the books and movies.
Pat Pledger

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526622426.
(Age: Adult/Young Adult). Highly recommended. Piranesi knows many things. He knows that he is a man of thirty five, that is one of just 15 people to have lived throughout history and that his home is the House, a labyrinthine complex of stone halls peopled by statues and regularly visited by fierce tides from the surrounding ocean. Piranesi has one friend, the Other, who he meets with twice a week for an hour. Piranesi knows that he is helping the Other discover the Great and Secret Knowledge of the world, even if he does not understand what that knowledge is. Piranesi is content with his life writing journals and surviving in his harsh environment until one day the Other confirms something Piranesi has long suspected: that there is a sixteenth person in the world and that this person wishes to do them harm. Suddenly Piranesi's carefully regulated life is plunged into chaos and intrigue as he begins to question everything he knows about the House, the Other and himself.
What an extraordinary and unexpected book. Piranesi is everything fans of Susanna Clark have been waiting for since she last published a full-length novel in 2004. Sixteen years ago, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was hailed as a revolutionary and exemplary example of historical fantasy. Readers who have waited for almost two decades for another offering will not be disappointed by Piranesi. Clarke's characteristic dreamy and almost hypnotic writing style is again present but is honed to perfection. While Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was a fantasy epic of over one thousand pages, Piranesi is less than a quarter of the length. Readers are introduced to this new world, guided through the novel's core mystery and released almost before realising that the book has come to an end.
Piranesi is a novel so unique it is difficult to make comparisons with other works. Clarke has proven once again that she is a master of her craft and unafraid to push the boundaries of modern fantasy writing. This book is highly recommended.
Themes: Identity, Isolation, Friendship, Labyrinths, Secrets, Mystery.
Rose Tabeni