GREENWOOD, Mark (text) Frané Lessac (illus.) Midnight Walker, 2014 unpaged A$27.95 NZ$29.99 ISBN 9781921977718 SCIS 1641851 Dedicated to the Light Horsemen and their horses is this moving, colourful yet factual account of Australian mounted soldiers in World War I that culminates in one of the last great cavalry charges in history. Among the first to leap the enemy trenches was Lieutenant Guy Haydon riding his beloved mare, Midnight. But before that part of the story we read of their life in the Hunter Valley, joining up, sailing to war, then battles in desert areas and finally the great charge at…
Author: Admin
GREENWOOD, Kerry (text) Annie White (illus.) Gallipoli Scholastic, 2014 unpaged $24.99 ISBN 9781743621295 SCIS 1648963 The theme of mateship, remaining strong through adventures good and bad, is shown clearly in this book. There is bravery, hardship, dry humour and fear in the well known story of the ANZACS at Gallipoli. We travel with Dusty and Bluey from their Australian departure in 1914 to training in Egypt, landing at Gallipoli, through months of hardship, wounding (and meeting Simpson and his donkey) sickness, retreat, separation and eventual re-unification back home. The water colour illustrations clearly reveal the emotions, landscapes and memories and…
REESE, Elaine Tell Me a Story. Sharing stories to enrich your child’s world OUP, 2013 242pp NZ$57.95 ISBN 9780199772650 As Barbara Hardy (1977) noted many years ago, narrative is a primary act of the mind (in contrast to the paradigmatic which highlights argument-based, logical discourse). We learn to think primarily through the discourse of narrative. Therefore it follows that encouraging children’s experience of, and expertise in, the discourse of narrative, of storytelling, is a profoundly empowering business, central to learning. But what does this mean practically? This text is vital for effective parenting, as well as teacher education, in that…
FLUX ANIMATION (illus.) Kyle Mewburn (text) Rosie to the Rescue Random House, 2013 unpaged NZ$19.99 pbk ISBN 9781775535737 SCIS 1643066 The stunning use of animation here where the cartoon style generally representing character is superimposed on photographs representing landscape almost literally brings this story alive as it were. What happens when floods come, bridges are down and udders are full? How do you get the milk to the townies? The cat thinks of a catapult which inspires Rosie the cow to think of flight. Well, Wilbur Wright got it right so will Rosie win? Well, kiwis all know about Number…
BLACKWOOD, Freya (illus.) Libby Gleeson (text) Banjo and Ruby Red Little Hare, 2013 unpaged $24.95 ISBN 9781921541087 SCIS 1620542 What a perfect picture book for reading aloud to and with pre-schoolers; but just as enticing for book lovers of every age. A well-bound, attractive hardback to begin with; an illustrated cover that says a lot by setting up question marks about the content. Indeed here is a seemingly simple story but, one beset with telltale gaps. It demands that readers absorb the implied story. It opens with the statement that ‘Old Banjo is the best chook dog we’ve ever had.’…
BLABEY, Aaron Noah Dreary Viking, 2013 unpaged $24.99 ISBN 9780670077182 SCIS 1620544 ‘One day, Noah Dreary complained so much his head fell off,’ is the absurd but highly captivating opening line of this funny and engaging picture book. Noah has to learn to accept life without constantly complaining about trivial matters and his journey from being a whinger to a happy and useful member of society is a cautionary tale done with lightheartedness and humour. The text is sparse with occasional changes of font and type size adding emphasis where appropriate but it is the unusual and quirky illustrations that…
Susan Berran, Chomp’d (Freaky #5) JoJo Publishing, 2013 196pp $16.99 pbk ISBN 9780987192738 SCIS 1637065 In this latest book in the popular series, Sam has found himself with his parents and baby sister Mel stuck in the boring country town of Agnath, ‘the butt-crack of the universe’, where the smell of cow-dung pervades the atmosphere, and his school companions are grass-chewing dull-heads, except for his mate Jared who is also a city-bred boy. The two find amusement in ingenious adventures, surfing in a muddy dam with the help of goats, and devising a powerful sling-shot using a broken-down tractor to get rid…
BACON, Lee Joshua Dread: The Nameless Hero Hardie Grant Egmont, 2013 289pp $16.95 pbk ISBN 9781742974125 SCIS 1636941 Oh, to be a superhero like the famous characters in comic books! Young Texan author, Lee Bacon, delves into the genre of action hero comics to create a young character whose fantasies are fulfilled in the most prosaic way – a summer camp for children who have been identified as having the Gyft; a Gifted and Talented program unlike any other, complete with Spandex costumes and masks. However, the novel is more than just an entertaining parody of the genre; amid all…
Gerry & Sylvia, ANDERSON Thunderbirds Egmont, 2013 288pp $39.95 ISBN 9781405268363 SCIS 1642102 This hardback comic book is a huge retro collection of strips from the 1960s and 70s. They were as successful as the TV series that ran parallel to them and were published under the banner of TV21. This collection includes thirty-six adventures of the talented team with an introduction tracing the history of the series as well as double page spreads of the technical data of the Thunderbirds. The original comic artwork by leading UK illustrators is immediately appealing to those who delighted in the fantastic rescue…
BERRY, Julie All the Truth That’s In Me HarperCollins, 2013 310pp $19.99 pbk +e ISBN 9780732298067 SCIS 1626740 In a small rural community, Judith’s disappearance for two years is regarded as shocking. She is an outcast, diminished by everyone, including her widowed mother. When the village is attacked, Judith returns to her captor to get help, and the village is even more convinced that Judith is a bad girl. Her actions have involved the love of her life, Lucas, who is also brought before the community and accused of fornication. Both Judith and Lucas are innocent, and the true perpetrator…