No 26, September, 2005

Kate Shepherd, Austral Ed

Back already! It seems to be that this long end of year vacation was the shortest ever. I was looking forward to the time that orders would quieten down and I would have time to write the newsletter and update lists and even compile some more when I was told that teachers were already back at school. Of course I know that the problem is that some schools begin their holidays at the beginning of June and others not till the middle of July and so there is very little time for me that is quiet. I hope it didn't seem to you that your vacation went by in a flash. I hope your well deserved holidays were long and leisurely. Ron and I also took 10 days, partly in Sydney to see my eldest son and his wife and then north to Noosa where it is warmer, even in winter though it wasn't warm enough for us to swim in the ocean. It is very beautiful country and very different, with its pockets of lush rainforests, from the south of Australia where we live. (By the way the drought did break in much of South Australia and back in June we had many days of soaking rain.) The Adelaide Hills where we live are now lushly green with patches of brilliant yellow flowering wattles and pink flowering blossoms.

I have been invited to speak at the Education Conference organised by the Yokohama International School in Japan from 17 - 19th November. The theme is Bridging the Gap with an emphasis on the value of diversity and aspects of internationalism and I shall be speaking to parents as well as Primary and Middle school teachers. The School set up the Conference to provide opportunities for staff professional development and it is interesting that a number of other schools have found the programme of such interest that they are also sending teachers to attend. I shall also spend an extra week in Tokyo and shall visit other International Schools there. I am looking forward to visiting schools in Japan again as it is quite a few years since I was there.

I have not had time to write another new list as I hoped but I have updated the Children Books about Asia list and I have added more titles to the Professional Resources list of recommended books for the PYP. A couple of the titles by Kath Murdoch are especially helpful. Many schools expressed their interest in the list sent out with the last newsletter. Of course the list contains books that are relevant not just for schools doing the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate but for any schools interested in a range of professional resources.

For those of you who know or follow the progress of Joel Shepherd (our son and the author of the Cassandra Kresnov science fiction series Crossover, Breakaway and Killswitch), he is now living in Paris. Joel wanted to learn French and knew that this would be the best way and of course as a writer he can continue writing the next books in a new fantasy series while living in Paris. If any secondary schools would like Joel to speak to their senior students, he would be very happy to talk with them about science fiction and fantasy and of course about his own writing. He will be in Paris till perhaps January or February 2006. He now has his own website at www.joelshepherd.com His email address is joels@mail.iinet.net.au

Non-fiction

Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now by John Stickler illustrations by Soma Han hardback 34.95

I have been asked so frequently for good books about Korea that I was delighted to find this one. It is beautifully presented and is an excellent introduction to Korean history and culture. The emphasis is on the distinctive culture of the Korean people but it also describes some of the many influences and contacts over the years between Korea and its two close neighbours, China and Japan. The fascinating story of how King Sejong in 1446 ordered his wise men to devise an alphabet that would be easy to learn so that Koreans would be able to write and read their own language is described in detail. King Sejong considered that the Chinese characters previously used were not suited for the Korean language and were too difficult for most people to learn. Other topics covered include the symbolism of the flag, the wide spread use of seals even today as a signature, as well as food, costume, music, beliefs, celebrations and the distinctive Korea martial arts form, taekwondo. The illustrations and photos are excellent and add to our understanding and appreciation of Korean culture and daily life in both ancient and modern Korea. (10 - 15 years)

Eureka! Great Inventors and Their Brilliant Brainwaves by Richard Platt pb $16.95

I am also asked frequently about inventions and inventors and surprisingly there isn't much available. This book is very interesting in its emphasis on the "eureka moment" when an inventor discovers the idea which leads to the invention. This can sometimes be as a result of many years of work, or a chance connection of ideas or even by accident (very unusual this one.) Richard Platt also includes interesting background information on the inventor himself as well as his work and the particular problem he was working on. The book includes a wide range of discoveries from the time of Galileo and his work on the pendulum in the 1500s to the development of the World Wide Web in the 1970s. There are sections on Everyday Life and Health, Getting Around, Lenses and Light, Electricity and the last is called Patience and Planning which describes inventions for which there was no single eureka moment. They just took many years of determination, planning and hard work. The excellent layout adds to the interest of the book. There are some fascinating photos and illustrations. As a result of reading this book, I am now considerably more informed. I now know the meaning behind the expression "the real McCoy" and I had forgotten that Archimedes had real reason to shout Eureka! as he ran out naked. This discovery solved a tricky question posed by the Greek king and if Archimedes hadn't found the answer he would have lost his life! (10 - 15 years)

The Big Picture Book. See Life on Earth unfolding through time by John Long

illustrations by Brian Choo hardback 29.95

This book truly deals with the Big Picture since it explores the origin of the Universe and the solar system as well as the origins of life on Earth. On the left of each page is a timeline showing the vastness of the time scale involved and this really helps us understand the Big Picture. Twelve billion years ago the Universe was clouds of coloured gas. By the time the first forms of life appear on Earth three and a half billion years ago, the time scale is already about three quarters up the page. The first animals appeared 560 million years ago and the time scale now moves to the last two marks out of 50. Humans appeared just 160,000 years ago, and the Earth looked much as it does now. Humans have been on this planet for such a tiny amount of time. The text is simply written and even has a lyrical quality, unusual in a science book. The many excellent photographs and illustrations help explain clearly the changes in the Universe and the evolution of life on Earth. John Long is a palaeontologist and he also has a talent in explaining his science to children and in creating beautiful books. (9 - 14 years)

Iron Soldiers: A Story of Arms and Armour by Dave Luckett illustrated by Joseph Bond hardback $29.95

I can hardly believe that I found a book about the changes and development of armour in Britain from 700 - 1500 AD so interesting. Dave Luckett has made the historical detail come to life through his clever use of story. In the first story set in 1500, a blacksmith is trying to work out how he can make a ring-mail war coat and an iron helmet. The local thegn has seen the invading Danes wear these and he wants the same for himself. The way in which the ring-mail is finally made is beautifully described and illustrated with detail and clarity. The contact between these two families is followed over generations as the family of the local thegn or lord request better and more protective armour to wear and weapons to use. All of these new developments were "all very expensive" and are described in the light of economic and social history of the day. Ring-mail became chainmail and this became such fine fiddly work that it was done by women who were used to close work such as knitting. The armour develops until it finally covers the whole body and becomes more and more expensive so that only a few wealthy knights could afford it. It is ironic that it is the invention of the cheap musket with its even cheaper lead musket balls which makes armour utterly useless. This is a beautifully written and illustrated book with a much wider appeal than I would have anticipated. (10 - 15 years)

The Really Big Beliefs Project by Emma Barnard and Thomas Cho with help from Meredith Costain hardback $39.95

This book is by the same team whose book The Really Big Food Project on rice was so impressive. This book on beliefs is equally good. Emma and Tom decide they want to get most of their information through interviewing family, friends and people in their neighbourhood. The interviews lead to a number of invitations to various ceremonies in churches, mosques or in people's homes. The interviews themselves are very interesting but perhaps it is the comments that Emma and Thomas make in their project diaries after each interview that are perhaps the most interesting. They interview a wide range of people including the school cleaner who is an atheist and believes that he can feel "whole" or "connected to the universe" by listening to music or by walking in the bush. Emma's mother used to go to Sunday School and she still believes in God but doesn't see the point in saying the same prayers over and over. However most of the people interviewed care very deeply about their religion and Emma and Thomas note how their religious beliefs affect the daily life of these people. In her project diary, Emma notes that Mrs Kano celebrates both Shinto and Buddhist festivals in Japan and is also happy to celebrate Christmas. Emma also notes that she is disturbed that the grandparents of one of her school friends won't accept the fact that their daughter married a Muslim and won't accept him as part of the family. As you can see from these comments, this book is exceptional in its wealth of ideas and observations about a range of beliefs including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islam, Judaic, Shinto and Taoist. Both Emma and Thomas are fascinated by the many similarities between the various religions, particularly in their ceremonies. This is an excellent book which will spark much discussion and thought in the classroom. It is also an excellent example of how to go about researching for a project. (9 - 14 years)

History in Art series hardback $38.50

Ancient China                                              Middle Ages

Ancient Egypt                                               Native Americans

Ancient Greece                                              Tudor England

Ancient Rome                                               Victorian Britain

Islamic Empires

This seems to be an excellent series. Both Ancient China and Islamic Empires have a well written text and wonderful photos of a wide variety of art and architecture. Ancient China uses extraordinary examples of art and artefacts to show how these reveal much about the history of this ancient civilisation and how people lived in those times. In Islamic Empires there is a greater emphasis on the architecture and historical records. In each book, information panels provide additional information on historical background and artistic techniques. There are maps, a timeline, glossary and an index. (11 - 16 years)

Fiction

Kelp by Linda Aronson pb $16.95

I was delighted to see that this book is back in print again. It was great to read it again and to see that it could still make me laugh out loud. It is fast moving, witty and inventive. The main character is intriguing. Emily Tait is only fourteen but she longs to become a business tycoon. (Her frequent letters to Rupert Murdoch are a delight.) She can see business opportunities everywhere especially in the family seaweed business that her eccentric family has run for generations on a remote island off the coast of Australia. Her immense frustration is that no one takes her seriously but a chance circumstance changes that and gives Emily her opportunity. Linda Aronson is also a scriptwriter and playwright which may help explain her skilful use of dialogue. This is a very funny book which I thoroughly recommend as a class set for upper elementary students. Students would really enjoy it and the story lends itself to wide ranging discussion on many topics such as business and business ethics, family, conservation and so on. Earlier this year I think someone, somewhere asked me about this book. They wanted to set it as a class text as it was one of their very favourite books. I hope, whoever they are, that they are reading this review!

Awesome Stuff by Richard Tulloch pb $14.95

It's awesome that Richard Tulloch has had another book published about Brian Hobble, the boy who discovered his creative writing skills with the help of a pink Easyflow pen. Brian suffers from a strange mixture of overconfidence and insecurity. In this book, he is so certain of his superior writing talents that he is tempted into writing excuse notes for other students. Much of the resulting plot revolves around some wonderfully funny scenes which take place in drama classes. Richard has obviously drawn heavily on his own many years of dramatic experience for these scenes. Kids who normally can't stand each other find that they are all working together with the same goal of putting on a successful play. It is great fun and very positive. It's awesome that this book is just as funny and just as good as Weird Stuff and Freaky Stuff. pb $14.95 each (9 - 14 years)

Poetry

Once Upon a Poem: Favourite Poems that Tell Stories Foreward by Kevin Crossley-Holland hardback $26.95. This is a very entertaining collection of narrative poems. There is added interest in that each poem is briefly championed by a famous author. For example, JK Rowling writes of her admiration for Hilaire Belloc's wit, profundity and understatement. Morris Gleitzman says that whenever he feels "slight and weedy" he likes to think of The Man from Snowy River by A B' Banjo' Patterson. Gleitzman likes stories where "underdogs (or horses) get to be heroes". Avi describes The Cremation of Sam McGee as an "utterly creepy tale". Bright lively illustrations add colour and life to these fifteen poems ranging from stark reality to fantasy to mythology to nonsense. At the end of the book, Crossley-Holland has written a very useful paragraph about the poet of each poem and also about the author who championed the poem. All this extra information adds to the interest and usefulness of the book but it is the strength and variety of these marvellous poems that are the real highlight. ((8 - 13 years)

Picture Books

One is a Snail Ten is a Crab: A Counting by Feet Book by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre Illustrated by Randy Cecil hardback $24.95 pb $14.95

This is a counting book with a difference. The illustrations are great fun but they also do much more for they encourage children to add up and to see the differences between numbers and patterns of numbers and even to attempt simple multiplication. The snail with its one foot is used for one. A boy has two feet and so three is a person and a snail. Four is a dog with four feet. Six is an insect, and seven is an insect and a snail. This is simple. It gets more complicated at ten which is a crab and that means twenty is two crabs. Thirty is three crabs or ten people and a crab. And so on up to one hundred which is ten crabs or "if you're really counting slowly" one hundred snails. Great fun.

The Nativity illustrated by Julie Vivas pb $14.95

It is good to see this delightful book back in print again. The text is from the King James version of the Bible and this gives a pleasing counterbalance to the joyously idiosyncratic and homely illustrations of Julie Vivas. Mary is oh so pregnant as she tries to get on the donkey and Joseph so full of wonder as he holds the baby. The Angel Gabriel wears boots when he tells the shepherds of the birth of a Saviour. Children love this retelling and will love talking about everything they see so vividly in Julie Vivas' illustrations.

Autobiography

Mao's Last Dancer (Young Readers' edition) by Li Cunxin pb $17.95

This is wonderful story about an eleven year old boy from rural China who was chosen to study ballet at Madame Mao's Dance Academy in Beijing. His mother told him to try hard to succeed because it would be his only chance of escaping the extreme poverty of his parents and his six brothers. At first Li Cunxin was intensely lonely and he hated the harsh regimen of the Academy but his struggle not to give up gradually developed into a strong determination to succeed as a ballet dancer. He finally became one of the top dancers in the USA and then in Australia. The adult edition (pb $19.95) has been immensely popular in Australia. Li Cunxin has adapted the book himself for younger readers. The writing has been simplified a little and he has given a greater emphasis to his childhood years at the Academy and less to his adult years as a dancer when he defected to the US. This is a very engaging and inspiring autobiography. It is being made into a film. (11 - 15 years)

THE AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

THE 2005 SHORT LIST

Book of the Year: Older Readers (NB Some of these books are for mature readers)

Winner

The Running Man    by Michael Gerard Bauer        pb $16.95

A story about the relationship that gradually develops when a young teenage artist draws a portrait of a reclusive and disturbed neighbour who was a Vietnam vet. A moving story about our perceptions of others. (13 years up)

Honour Books

Fireshadow    by Anthony Eaton       pb $18.95

There are two contrasting stories in this novel which later become linked. Vinnie needs time to himself and so takes time out to camp in the isolation of the Australian bush. There he learns the story of Erich Pieters who was a young German prisoner of war held in a prisoner of war camp in Australia during the Second World War. (12 up)

By the River  by Steven Herrick        pb $16.95

This is another verse novel for young adults by performance poet Steven Herrick. Harry writes about his memories of growing up in a country town in a closeknit family. The death of his mother when he was just seven years old had a powerful effect. (12 up)

Secret Scribbled Notebooks by Joanne Horniman  pb $17.95

An introspective novel about a girl who records her feelings in three coloured notebooks but describes what the main events of her life in "her wild typewritten pages." (12 up)

Shortlisted Books

The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull by Barry Jonsberg        pb $16.95

Don't be put off (as I was) by the title because this is the engaging, very entertaining story written by Calma Harrison, a Year 10 English student who has a flair for language and a highly developed imagination and sense of loyalty to her friend Kiffo. This innovative book has some extraordinarily funny episodes which made me laugh aloud. (12 up)

Black Juice    by Margo Lanagan      pb $17.95

A collection of complex, intense and unusual short stories. They are highly imaginatively sometimes disturbing stories for older readers. (12 up)

Book of the Year: Younger Readers

Winner

The Silver Donkey    by Sonya Hartnett       hardback $24.95

Set in France during the Second World War, two sisters discover in the woods near their house a soldier blinded by the war. They bring him food and in exchange he tells them wonderful stories of his home in England. Each of these stories has a connection to a charm that he has of a silver donkey. (8 - 11 years)

Honour Books

A Horse Called Elvis           by John Heffernan      pb $14.95

It is not easy looking after a high spirited colt like Elvis and he causes lots of problems but he is also a lifeline for young Matty as he struggles to maintain his equilibrium in his often disfunctional family. A moving story. (8 - 12 years)

Billy Mack's War     by Roy James  pb $16.95

This is the prequel to the novel Captain Mack in which the young boy Danny forms a special relationship with an old man rebelling against the confines of living in a nursing home. Here he discovers the story of Captain Mack's return home in 1945 after he spent some very difficult years in a Japanese prison camp. (9 - 12 years)

Shortlisted Books

Soraya the Storyteller          by Rosanne Hawke     pb $14.95

Soraya and her family are refugees from Afghanistan. Stories she tells about her life in Afghanistan are alternated with her everyday experiences as she goes to school in Australia for the first time. There is much pain in her memories of lost family members but there is also hope of a new life and there is also the magic of stories. (8 - 11 years)

Tiff and the Trout    by David Metzenthen  pb $16.95

Tiff loves trout fishing and just about everything about the high mountain country where she lives. However her life changes when her parents separate and she has to make some difficult choices. (9 - 11 years)

The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard by Gregory Rogers          hardback $27.95

This is the textless picture book story of a young boy chasing his football when he is suddenly transported back in time onto the stage of the Globe Theatre interrupting one of Shakespeare's plays. The Bard promptly chases him through the streets of London, enabling Greg Rogers to illustrate in cartoon format a lively portrayal of Elizabethan times.

(9 - 14 years)

Book of the Year: Early Childhood (Picture Books)

Winner

Where is the Green Sheep?  by Mem Fox illus by Judy Horacek    hardback $19.95

This is a simple quirky rhythmical exploration of sheep of many different types and colours. The repetition of the refrain "Where is the green sheep?" is like a nursery rhyme and like nursery rhymes the book demands to be read aloud. The joyous sheep illustrations by Judy Horazcek provide much of the humour of the book. For very young children.

Honour Books

Mutt Dog!      by Stephen Michael King        hardback $27.95

The theme of a stray dog being taken in by a caring family may be familiar but Mutt Dog is a particularly engaging creature with a perplexed look as he wanders round the town trying to survive by getting scraps to eat and somewhere warm to sleep. It is a warm and positive story but it also looks at the theme of homelessness.

Seven More Sleeps    by Margaret Wild Donna Rawlins      harcback $24.95

Only seven more sleeps till the birthday party is the refrain repeated by Mum, Babs the Baby and Fog the Dog. Every day there are things to prepare. Young children will squeal with delight when they realise that the birthday party is for Fog the Dog and not Babs the baby.

Shortlisted Books

Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear by Matt Dray      pb $14.95

A delightfully different picture book told from the point of view of Dougal the somewhat bedraggled teddy who thinks his life has taken a turn for the worst when he ends up at the garbage dump. Surprisingly he discovers a new life and many new friends and he learns "that sometimes bad things happen so that good things can happen." Matt Dray has given a homely feel and a droll sense of humour to this picture book by illustrating it with his own photos taken of toys rescued at the local dump where he used to work.

Mr Noah and the Cats         by Vashti Farrer illus by Neil Curtis   pb $10.95

An amusing retelling of the story of Noah and the Ark. Noah's patience is sorely tested by God's command to build the Ark and then trying to live on board with the noise and smell and clutter of so many animals. However he and Mrs Noah are comforted by the discovery of two sandy coloured creatures which they had never seen before but which somehow by the end of the journey get to sleep on the end of Mr and Mrs Noah's bed. Striking black and white illustrations add to the appeal of this small book. (6 - 8 years)

Tales from the Waterhole    by Bob Graham           hardback $27.95

These are whimsical stories about the everyday activities of a group of animal families who live around an African waterhole. There are five stories featuring the main characters, Morris a crocodile, his baby brother Bob and his best friend Billy the turtle and of course their families. Delightfully illustrated in Bob Graham's very distinctive style.

Picture Book of the Year Award (These picture books may be for mature readers)

Winner

Are We There Yet? A Journey Around Australia by Alison Lester hardback $24.95

Eight year old Grace describes the trip her family took around Australia by campervan. As they visited many important tourist spots and also friends and relatives round Australia, it is Billy's plaintive refrain of "Are we there yet?" which punctuates the story and provides additional humour and a reminder of just how long the trip is. The text and illustrations give a good idea of the vast differences of the Australian countryside and cities. There is a detailed map of their journey which makes it easy for children to follow the route that Grace and her family took. (6 to 11 years)

Honour Books

Belonging      by Jeannie Baker         hardback $27.95

Jeannie Baker has created another wonderful collage picture book which looks at an inner city suburb bleak in its drabness, ugly signs, graffiti and dilapidated houses and how over time the street is gradually transformed into a green inviting place where people can meet and enjoy their environment.. (7 years up)

Refugees         by David Miller           hardback $26.95

Three dimensional paper sculptures illustrate this story of two ducks searching for a new home after the swamp where they used to live has been drained. There are very obvious discussion points about refugees and environmental issues. (7 - 10 years)

Shortlisted Books

At the Beach: Postcards from Crabby Spit by Roland Harvey    hardback $24.95

Letters from the children to their grandmother about their holiday at the beach make up the text of this story of a very Aussie holiday. Detailed illustrations show the activities of all the campers at the camping ground at the beach. (6 - 10 years)

*Mutt Dog!    by Stephen Michael King        hardback $27.95

See above

Lizzie Nonsense        by Jan Ormerod          hardback $24.95

Beautifully illustrated, this story describes the isolation and difficulties of a pioneer family living in the Australian bush. Times are especially difficult when the father has to be away for several weeks. The little girl's lively fantastical imagination contrasts with the difficulties of the reality. (7 - 10 years)

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

Winner

To the moon and back: The Amazing Australians at the Forefront of Space Travel Plus Fantastic Moon Facts by Bryan Sullivan with Jackie French illus Gus Gordon            pb $14.95

Bryan Sullivan is the husband of well known children's book author Jackie French. For many years he worked in the operations room at the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station and so was involved in tracking the numerous Apollo space voyages to the moon. His enthusiasm and love for space travel shines through in this story about his time at the station. The story is punctuated throughout by question and answer factual information about space travel and other facts about space. (8 - 12 years)

Honour Books

Gogo Fish! The Story of the Western Australian State Fossil Emblem by John Long hardback $24.95 pb $14.95

This is the fascinating story of how palaeontologist, John Long discovered a new type of fossil fish while studying Gogo fish fossils in the northern Kimberley region of Western Australia. This fish later became the State emblem of Western Australia when a primary school class put forward a proposal that it would make a good emblem. The excitement of the discovery and the work involved in confirming it as a new discovery are both described. There is also discussion of why we study fossils and excellent support material is included through illustrations, photographs, maps, glossary and index. (8 - 11 years)

The Grief Book         by Elizabeth Vercoe with Kerry Abramowski pb $16.95

The authors describe this book as "a bag of tricks that help you to survive". Many useful coping strategies to use in everyday life are suggested. Elizabeth Vercoe describes her struggle with Hodgkin's disease and there are also moving and interesting anecdotes from young people. This is a good book to read and to keep for a time of need. (11 - 15 years)

Shortlisted Books

Heritage & Places     by Helen Chapman      hardback $29.70

A variety of places in Australia which are important for their heritage value in Australia are discussed. Some such as Riversleigh are famous fossil sites and have world heritage listing, others such as Luna Park in Sydney have State heritage listing. (9 - 12 years)

Life in a Rockpool    by Greg Pyers hardback $29.95 Out of print - no longer available.

Amazing Australian Mammals by Barry Silkstone          hardback $29.95

Some wonderful photographs of endearing Australian mammals make this a very appealing book. The text describes a variety of marsupial and placental mammals as well as monotremes and explains the difference simply and clearly. Maps show where the mammals are found and there is an index and glossary. (7 - 10 years)

If you would like to order any of the books reviewed in this newsletter or in the accompanying list, send orders to Austral Ed by fax, post or email. All prices are in Australian dollars.

Prices include GST of 10% which is not applicable to overseas schools.

For additional lists of recommended books and newsletters from Austral Ed, visit our website www.australed.iinet.net.au   

© Kate Shepherd 2008.