History, Romance, Surf -- Fiction

These came out last year but need to be mentioned.

A Brief History of Montmaray Michelle Cooper (Random House)

Sophie has received a journal, a 16th birthday gift from a bother, so she decides to keep a record of the things that are happening all around her. Living in a remote, run down castle on an island that is nearly cut off from the outside world because of its isolation with her cousin and her tomboy sister means that there is plenty to write about, especially when strangers appear on the island. It is 1936 and the rise of Nazi Germany has begun.

With historical references (there is information in the Author’s notes), politics, and religion and much more are woven into this read that is adventure, romance and thriller all rolled into one. It is a book that girls will love.

This book won the 2009 NSW Premier's Ethel Turner Prize for young people’s literature award.

Surf Sisters Laurine Croasdale (Pan Macmillan)
Surfing books for girls ... great for your teen keen surfers - especially girls.
Following on from Surf School comes Surf Sisters and the four surfer girls are once again consumed by all things surfing. There is a big surfing competition coming but money is needed to get there, potentional sponsors are looming and then there is a surf off with the world champion. But at the same time there are distractions - and one of them is boys! There are arguments with parents and other family members too and a new range of surf wear that is being developed and might just even get worn at the sign in.

More fiction for older readers soon ....

Then

Then Morris Gleitzman (Penguin)
Having jumped from a train that was transporting Felix and Zelda to the Nazi death camps in Poland at the end of Once, the first title in this series, the two children now have to survive in a land where asking for help can be very risky. Grabbed by a Genia a "farmer woman" whose husband was taken away by the Nazi’s the children develop a bond with her and her farm animals. But all too soon, the relative calm of this life is shattered as the animals are taken away. Revenge is sought and ultimately a tragic ending occurs.
This is a truly beautiful book, deeply moving and emotive. It must be read.
A few words about Then from Morris ...
This story comes from my imagination, but it was of course inspired by an all-too-real period of history. In particular it was inspired by the people who risked everything to shelter strangers. That generosity and bravery will always shine for me, and is made even brighter by the darkness of that time.
More about Then at www.morrisgleitzman.com

Coco

When Coco Was a Kitten Deborah Niland (Puffin)
One of the titles in the Puffin Baby series this series of solid board books is great for little hands to grasp and explore and little eyes to be amazed by the bright colours. Simple story lines make these books really great starters.
In this title Coco the kitten is cuddly, fun and full of mischief. But a kitten doesn't stay little and soon grows up to be a big cat and do all the things that grown up cats do - although some things don't change.
Perfect for sharing.

Great Non-Fiction

The Big Picture Book of Human Civilisation John Long (Allen&Unwin)
This final book in the Big Picture Book series is a stunner. It looks at the changes in Human civilisation from 1900 human lifetimes ago to now investigating a number of time periods, mapping out in words and pictures the changes that have occurred, the scientific and historical events, the great human advances and calamities, the buildings and beliefs, explorers, investigators, artists, inventors, the first sculptures and paintings. The book concludes with the possibility of what civilisation will be like 300 years from now.
A thoroughly fun book to read that young non fiction investigators will love.


Five Hundred And Two More Great Aussie Jokes
Kids will love memorising these jokes and testing them out so beware.
Here is just a sample...
*Which Oz city is for men only? Manberra
*Did you hear about the optimistic kangaroo? It hopped for the best.
*Why was the skeleton afraid to jump off the Sydney Harbour Bridge? Because it didn't have any guts.
Joke book always go down well and this series is a bumper - all royalties are donated to Camp Quality. And yes there are 502 jokes!

Enjoy the jokes and the learning.

Fables, Treasures and Fun!

A short break but back with new picture books to treasure.


Me, Oliver Bright Megan De Kantzow & Sally Rippin (Scholastic)
This is a lovely book about families, family history and change as seen through the eyes of three generations. Oliver has a school project to do on his family he does so comparing his life and life today with that of his father and his grandfather and in doing so sees how much life in Australia has changed over the three generations.
Illustrations are great, in school project style. The book would be terrific for students to use as a model for their own family school project.


Mbobo Tree Glenda Millard & Annie White (Scholastic)
A young baby is found swaying from a tree's stooping boughs in a sling. The tree is a vial part of the villagers as well as the other animals around. She is taken in by the villagers, joins in all the village customs and grows. But all the time she does not speak a word. this did nor worry the villagers for they knew that she would speak when she had something important to say and that day does come - when the tree is threatened by a stranger with a gleam of greed in his eye. It is the brave young girl who saves her village - and the villagers' life-giving tree.
A heart warming fable.


Fox and Fine Feathers Narelle Oliver (Scholastic)
The detail contained in the illustrations in this book is glorious and requires a lot of investigation. The detailed endnotes contain notes on the setting and the animals in these pages.
Four ground birds of the Australian forest floor watch out for danger and warn each other but when three of the birds are distracted and forget their duty a wily fox enters the secret part of the forest. Dull looking Nightjar is ever watchful but can he protect them from the fox?


I Love My Dad Anna Walker (Scholastic)
Just in time for Father's Day comes I love My Dad, the latest title about Ollie, Fred and their friends and this time including Ollie's Dad. Ollie tells of the reasons why Dad is loved, from making banana bread to climbing trees and painting but it is the piggyback to bed that is the best!

These are just delightful and perfect for shairng together with younger readers.

Pearl & Detectives

Pearl Verses the World Sally Murphy & Heather Potter (Walker Books)
This short verse novel is tenderly written, lovingly created so that the reader is drawn right into this story. A few adult tears might even be shed.
Pearl is a young girl who lives in a loving household but her life is getting very complicated. Her adored grandmother has dementia and is dying and at school she has problems too - she doesn’t fit into any of the groups, she is in a group of one and her teacher wants the class to write rhyming poems. Pearl's poems don't rhyme! And when her grandmother does die all Pearl wants is that life would return to the way it was.
This is a story of loneliness, loss, but also of the continuation of life.

Bad News for Milk Bay Moya Simons (Walker Books)

I just love this series and this title continues the great action of the earlier titles of the Walk Right In Detective Agency. They are fun titles with plenty of action that kids will feel confident in reading and will want more!!

David is forced to go to the council meeting with his father where he hears some bad news ... Milk Bay is going to be destroyed by developers -- at least that is what some people think. Others think that development is good. The news the invesitgators's hear us that their muffin making 'friend' Mr Brown is selling up and moving to a nursing home ... which doesn't seem right for him! But when David discovers that the nephew is doing the dealing then mischief is afoot. The agency needs to get to the bottom of this investigation - and they also get to provide their professional assistance at the supermarket too when the owner asks for their help in tracking down the person responsble for half-eating chocoltate bars!

Junior investigators will enjoy the read!

Fiction Fun

Don't Breathe A Word Marianne Musgrove (Random House)
This is a lovely sweet and moving book about two sisters who are looked after by their grandfather after their parents die. But when grandfather starts to act strangely, like going for 2AM walks, or climbing up to the roof to see if there is a radiation leak (he also knows about microwave oven leaks too!) or giving away money from the ATM - then something is wrong. He even starts calling one of the girls by their mother's name.
The girl's swear to keep this a secret but that’s not easy when a school project is due at the end of the holidays and when your older sister is not doing her fair share of the supervision (instead going to rehearsals for the dance concert all the time) and when your even old step-sister, who does not live with you, starts to realise that she has been neglecting you for too long ... things start to get complicated.


Minivers on the Run Natalie Jane Prior (Penguin)
This was a fun read.
The Minivers are two sisters who are just two feet tall! They are small! But they are famous and they are rich and they are HUGLY popular in their town, they do everything together. They even have their own TV show and most everyone adores them - but when their guardian, the ruler Papa King, has a stroke suddenly the perfect Miniver world is turned upside down. Now one has been kidnapped and one is on the run and someone wants them out of the picture. And of course their is a secret buried in the depths of the city archives that holds Papa King's secret documents - clues to what is happening, and there is also a half key that unlocks this room that one of the Minivers possesses.

more fiction soon .....