CBCA Board and Branch Committee members suggest some great summer reading options…
Board member Julia Davenport says: “I am going to read My Two Blankets by Irena Kobalb and Freya Blackwood. I think this is such a timely book as Australians look to understand more about the experiences of new arrivals to our country. Where better to start than this book for children?”
Felicity Jagavkar, Office and Admin Manager, CBCA (NSW Branch) suggests: The Strays by Emily Bitto (winner of the Stella Prize), which she especially enjoyed due to her fond memories of studying Australian art history whilst in high school.
Helen Rothwell, CBCA (Tas Branch) suggests: Fish in a Tree: a novel by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. I read this book as a ‘read aloud’ to my grade 5/6 students and they absolutely loved it. They connected immediately with Ally’s feelings of isolation and lack of confidence about her ability to read and write. They followed with interest as Ally learned to form friendships and gain a sense of her own identity amongst the confusion of feeling different. I have read many books to my students but this is the first book where the students have asked me to read it to them outside of our set daily time and often asked me to keep reading for up to twenty minutes. The book addresses the issues experienced by children without being ‘twee’ or making light of her inner dialogue. A very powerful book for letting children know that it is okay to feel different and that in itself is very empowering.
CBCA Board member Debbie Hatswell says: “Over summer my six year old and I are going to read a classic, Alison Lester’s Are We There Yet?, which now has a lift the flap edition.
I am hoping that Michael Connelly’s The Crossing or Rosie Batty’s A Mother’s Story was under the Christmas tree for me!
CBCA (NSW Branch) Minutes Secretary Michelle Dona says: I’ve just begun Kate Morton’s The Lake House. Kate is my favourite Australian author and a quintessential storyteller who never disappoints. In her latest offering, I’ve been transported to the south of England and I’m being introduced to the mysterious lake house. I’m currently bouncing between the 1930’s and 2003. I can’t wait to delve further and find out what the lake house and Kate’s characters offer up …