Review: Her Majesty's League Of Remarkable Young Ladies

Move over MacGyver, there’s a new Queen of Improv in town and her name is Miss Weatherby; that’s Winnie to you and I. 

Young teen, Winnie rocks as an inventeress. Yes, the gender specification is acceptable because the time period Winifred rocks in is the late 1800s as in the latter part of Queen Victoria’s reign, which adds a delicious extra layer of richness to Alison Stegert’s first middle grade fiction, Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies.

This astoundingly long-titled novel is an extravaganza of remarkable indeed. An exciting mash-up of Nancy Drew come Famous Five sporting the Victorian era qualities of A Little Princess. Somehow, Stegert sews it all seamlessly together in a gripping tale of espionage, mystery and for want of a better word, MacGyverness.

12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Ryan Abramowitz

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

Waddling around the north end of Albert Park Lake are a pair of black-and-white ducks. I am obsessed with watching them and how in-sync they are.

2. What is your nickname?
Abro, or as my high school jumper had embossed FABROLOUS.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Snakes - yikes! Or, not having access to a waterway for an indefinite period of time. I need my oceanic fix.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Whimsical, heartfelt and harvested by metaphors of the natural world.

Junior Review: The Sun Is Also A Star

A touching story based on the author’s real-life, features Natasha, a Jamaican teen facing imminent deportation in the next 24 hours, and Daniel, who has been living in the shadow of his older brother his entire life. 

When they cross paths at a bookstore, neither of them knows that this is the start of a unique and heartwarming love story.

Both Natasha and Daniel have their own demons to fight, with each of them living in homes that feel broken as they dream of a way to escape their reality. 

Ironically, 'dream' is not a word in Natasha’s vocabulary as she only sticks to the facts and science. On the contrary, Daniel fantasizes about saying his poetry out loud, a thought he keeps hidden from his Korean parents. The reader gets to dive into each of their perspectives with chapters alternating between the two.

Review: The Bird Art of William T. Cooper

The images in The Bird Art of William T. Cooper are of immense beauty.

 They are accompanied by valuable information on bird life.  

The text is presented by his wife, Wendy Cooper, botanist, author, and explorer.

This is a companion volume to The Botanical Art of William T. Cooper, and is made up mostly of unpublished artwork, with a few exceptions.

A stunning collection, the book is perfect for older children interested in learning about Australian and other magnificent birds and the areas that they frequent.

Review: A Room for Ryel

Ryel and his dad officially become a blended family when they move into Lonnie’s house. 

Luckily, her twins Harry and Darcy, are already close friends with Ryel as they go to school together.

Sharing a room has many challenges and becomes something Ryel can’t come to terms with after having his own room for so long. 

Darcy talks and shouts in his sleep, while Harry’s breathing noises are epic, and keep Ryel awake all night. Half asleep through the day, his performance at school drops.

The only solution to the problem is the storeroom that houses the twins’ sports equipment and other stuff not currently being used.

Ryel comes up with a plan that could work.

Review: Alphabetter

An alphabet book with a difference, Alphabetter is here to teach you more than just your letters. 

It’s a book to inspire and support you, providing 26 ways to be the best you.

Like being friendly (the word for the letter F), which the book goes on to describe as sharing and being kind, like when you team up with someone new in class.

Book Lists: Peace and War

We’ve grouped together some of the many book lists we’ve shared over recent years, in case you missed them the first time around.

We hope they inspire you to pick up a book you’ve not read before, or find a book to help explore and better understand a particular subject with readers of all ages.

Peace and war feature in many books, from picture books for preschoolers and older readers to YA fiction. 

Over the years we've shared more book lists on this topic than any other. While non-fiction can teach us about historical events and people who have had an impact on the world, fiction gives us stories with new and different perspectives, and helps develop empathy. These books are a window into history and a prompt for a better future.

Je suis tolérante - Stories representing different historical and contemporary cultures, and encouraging peace and tolerance. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2015/01/book-list-je-suis-tolerante.html

Anzac Day - Remembrance - Ten picture books use stories to help remember those who have served in wartime. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2017/04/terrific-10-anzac-day-remembrance.html

Anzac Day - Experiences of war - These books explore what war is and the impact of the experience of war. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2017/04/terrific-10-anzac-day-experiences-of-war.html

Picture books about Gallipoli and Anzacs - Stories that are narrative and stories with a strong focus on facts about World War I. These titles include some based on true stories. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2015/04/book-list-picture-books-about-gallipoli.html

Picture books about peace and hope - Amidst conflict it's important to have hope and seek peace. These stories help children understand these concepts. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-picture-books-about-peace-and.html

Young adult novels about war and conflict - A selection of stories that provide insight into the impact of war, particularly on young people. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-young-adult-novels-about-war.html

Middle fiction novels about war and conflict - Stories told using narrative fiction can help young readers to understand the experience of war and its ramifications on a personal and global level. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-middle-fiction-novels-about.html

Picture books about war and conflict - The complexity of war can make it a difficult subject to talk about. These books are helpful in raising and exploring the concept of war with young children. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-picture-books-about-war-and.html

ANZAC books worth knowing - Five picture books about experiences of the ANZAC soldiers, told from different perspectives. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2012/04/anzac-books-worth-knowing.html

More books and lists with stories looking at the experience of war http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2016/04/anzac-day-2016-book-list-books-about.html

Review: Dinosaur in My Pocket

We all make mistakes and on the day that James visited the museum, he made a big one that came with consequences.

One toy was missing from the shelf of James’ miniature collection. When he saw the dinosaur in the museum shop, he didn’t have any money.

As no-one was looking, he popped the toy into his pocket.

He didn’t feel himself about doing something dishonest. He was uncomfortable and felt the dinosaur was a heavy weight that he carried with him.

Announcement! New Junior Reviewer

The thing about children is that unless they are Peter Pan, they grow up. Unfortunate for us if one of them happens to be a Junior Reviewer. 

Fortunately, there are still plenty of kids who love reading and love sharing their thoughts about a great read with others. Ellissa Freestone is one of them. 

Elle read and wrote stories from a very young age. Creative writing has always come easily to her with a poetic writing style that often invokes intrigue. Novels are binge read between her other passions of drawing, basketball, and singing, both privately and choral. Elle also studies piano to a current grade 4 AMEB standard whilst excelling in her high school studies. Discover more about Elle from her 12 Curly Questions responses below. Meantime, welcome Elle!

Guest Post: Maria Meakin on Being Me: Transgender and Non-Binary Identities

I am an everyday Mum with a passion for books but I’m also a Mum with a passion for advocating for books to read to children about current issues, acceptance, and inclusion.

So, in saying that, I decided to write a book that I had struggled to find in libraries and on shelves in bookstores.

I wanted to be able to read a book to my daughter that addressed the many questions she had about transgender and non-binary identities amongst her peers and because we often talked about pronouns and how important respecting them is, due to my profession.

Review: Outlaw Girls

Combine two of Australia’s most accomplished authors with one of Australia’s most well-known periods of history, slew in the complex dynamics of friendship, loyalty and family fidelity, flavour with the breathtaking drama of life on horseback and you’ve got the latest time slip novel by Emily Gale and Nova Weetman.

That’s right, time slip. In the same vein as their popular co-authored middle grade fiction, Elsewhere Girls, Gale and Weetman take readers on a heady journey into Victoria’s High Country where they oscillate between 2024 and 1878 and two renegade girls, Ruby and Kate.

Ruby is headstrong and wilful, the daughter of a single mother living in the 21^st Century with a dislike for conformity and school work. She has an addiction for petty crime; stealing chocolate bars from the local IGA rates as high entertainment amongst her and her possy of like-minded friends. 

Review: The Great Australian Science Book

The Great Australian Science Book, another great title from the CSIRO, is about science big and small.

It's a journey through the human body, planet earth, and the universe, along with the concepts that are an important part of them working.

What makes up the universe? Discover what the big bang and dark matter are, and what makes up a galaxy and a solar system. Delve into earth's geology, evolution, animals, plants and habitats. And climate change.

Explore our bodies by looking at genes and cells, and the different systems that keep us alive. 

Skeletons and muscles, the brain, immune system, and more.

Review: With A Little Sprinkle of Courage

This book is special in many ways, not least of which are the tiny, embossed silver stars that glitter their way across the cover. From here, things just get even more gorgeous.

On the warm, sunny morning Fen hatched, her father gave her a special birthday gift.

Little Fen, a bird, is given a very special gift by her father. This gift will help her to get through any new and difficult times in life – it’s the gift of courage.

But when Fen’s courage blows away on the wind and she’s unable to join her fellow birds in
singing the dawn chorus, her world crumbles.

Meet The Illustrator: Imogen Hartland

Name: Imogen Hartland

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Bold, bright, and playful cobblings of colour!

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Scissors and glue! Also, good quality paper.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
It’d be a tussle between printmaking and collage...

Review: Captain Thunderbolt’s Recital

I find bushrangers captivating and Captain Thunderbolt is no different. 

Known as the ‘gentleman bushranger’, it is believed that Captain Thunderbolt never shot anyone. In Captain Thunderbolt’s Recital, Jane Jolly has captured a more playful side of Australian bushranging history.