MORRIS, Sandra A New Zealand Nature Journal Walker, 2014 48pp A$19.95 NZ$22.99 ISBN 9781921977657 SCIS 1672303 In this book, Sandra Morris presents many creative pages showing innovative and attractive ways to record observations in a nature journal. There are sections devoted to the wildlife and plants in many different habitats, both urban and rural, such as gardens, mountains, zoos, parks and forests. There are suggestions for a moon log, for seasonal colour wheels and for the layout of vegetable gardens. Objects are arranged on pages in unusual and striking ways and lettering is often hand-drawn and coloured. There are lots…
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JOHNSON, Rebecca (text) Steve Parish (illus.) The Mosquitoes’ Book of Dirty Tricks Pascal Press (Steve Parish KIDS), 2013 24pp $5.95 pbk ISBN 9781922123848 SCIS 1655450 This little science book about the life cycle of mosquitoes uses the clever device of masquerading as a mosquitoes’ handbook. The typed text is in a notebook style overlay of Steve Parish’s full page beautiful, clear, close up photographs. Narrative speech bubble asides from a cartoon mosquito and hand drawn notes over the photos add another layer of engagement. This is such a fun book to read, children will not even notice that they are…
HUNTER, Naomi (text) Karen Erasmus (illus.) A Secret Safe to Tell JoJo, 2014 unpaged $16.99 pbk ISBN 9780987587916 While this book looks like fiction it is not a story but a presentation of possible experiences, the fears and feelings of a young girl who suffers abuse from an adult. The type of abuse is not specified but there are clues that it is of a sexual nature. The text is written in the first person so the reader is drawn into the world of the victim. The picture book format with a few lines on each page and careful illustrations…
HOPE, Charles Space Exploration Wild Dog (Going Supernova), 2014 24pp $14.99 pbk ISBN 9781742033143 SCIS 1654145 This factual book dominated by large, colourful photographic images explains the main milestones in the exploration of space since the launch of the first satellite in 1957. The simple text consisting of no more than a paragraph in large, clear font on each page is strategically arranged so that it does not get in the way of the pictures. Each opening has a smaller ‘Did you know’ section illustrated by a bright cartoon spaceship giving fast trivia style facts in the corner of the…
Allison Tait, author of The Mapmaker Chronicles, explains how she come up with the idea for this exciting adventure series for teens. ‘Where do your ideas come from?’ If I had to single out the one question that I get asked over and over as a writer, it would be that one. Well, that and ‘how do I write a book?’… But the ideas one used to stump me a bit. ‘Er, all around,’ I’d answer. When it came to writing The Mapmaker Chronicles, however, I have a very distinct answer. And I think that’s maybe why the series has…
TAIT, A. L. Race to the End of the World Hachette (The Mapmaker Chronicles), 2014 236pp $14.99 pbk ISBN 9780734415776 SCIS 1675813 Quinn Freeman is the youngest of five brothers. He is not particularly strong, and cleaves to his mother rather than his dominating father. He has some gifts, however, that make him a perfect candidate to be taken from the warmth of his family and brought to the palace. Here his ability to read and write is seen as useful, and after a few months he is selected to accompany Zain, a slave of the king, on a journey. …
HÖLZL, Lisa Found and Made Walker, 2014 79pp $19.95 pbk ISBN 9781922179098 SCIS 1671888 The art of up cycling is an alternative title and is quite apt as this easy to use book clearly demonstrates many ways of using found household objects to make creative and decorative works. Collage, montage, papier-mâché and simple weaving projects are presented using clear instruction and step by step photographs. A must for households with busy creators and stage 1 classes. Highly Recommended. Classroom ideas are available on the publisher’s website. reviewed by Chris Dayman
Pung, Alice Laurinda Black Inc., 336 p., ISBN 9781863956925 SCiS 1685025 Until now, Alice Pung has written and edited only three hugely popular and highly acclaimed non-fiction titles. Laurinda is her first fiction book, written for a young adult audience. It’s lengthy (and weighty), and early on I wished Pung could be more succinct, and less concerned with the small details. However, as I persevered, I realised the significance of all those exquisite lines of text: they moved Laurinda from a simple school story about a girl trying to fit in, to a complex exploration of power and class. Which…
HENDRY Lorna The Nose Wild Dog (Body Parts), 2014 24pp $14.99 pbk ISBN 9781742033266 SCIS 1661422 This is an educational romp through the olfactory functions of human and animal noses. It contains snappy text about the wonders of noses, and very interesting and different facts. For example, did you know bears can smell food from nearly 30kms away? The photographs in this book are bright and engaging, although it is hard to look at the extreme close-ups for too long without your eyes going a bit fuzzy. A couple of photos have a ‘yuck’ factor but they are as interesting…
GRANT, Virginia Australia’s Greatest Landmarks and Locations Random House, 2014 186pp $24.99 pbk ISBN 9780857983886 SCIS 1676383 For any Australian who may think they have been everywhere worth visiting in this great continent of ours, working their way through this new fascinating compendium of Australian landmarks and locations should encourage them to think again. Australia has a lot to offer visitors from overseas but it also has a great number of treasures for Australians to enjoy. Virginia Grant has managed to provide an extensive catalogue of significant man-made monuments and natural wonders to be found right across the country to…