Discover the new kids books our booksellers are excited about this month!
Picture Books
My Mum is a Bird
Angie Cui, illustrated by Evie Barrow
Nothing is more universal than children’s embarrassment at the hands (or in this case, wings) of a parent or carer. Enter My Mum is a Bird by Melbourne author Angie Cui and illustrator Evie Barrow. Within a diverse cast, our protagonist has a unique family: her mum is a bird! She doesn’t have a normal job, or eat normal food, or speak English, and worst of all, she doesn’t drive or ride or walk to school: she flies. How is our protagonist supposed to survive the embarrassment of parents’ and carers’ day with a mum like that? In 40 beautifully illustrated pages, take a journey to acceptance, pride and self-identity, embracing our differences (not being divided by them). I challenge any adult not to be immediately yanked back a couple of decades to feel the shrinking, blushing shame of an embarrassing parent, or to get a little misty-eyed at the lovely ending. For ages 3+.
Reviewed by Tamuz Ellazam.
Don’t Trust Fish
Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat
You might be fooled by the scientific illustrations on the opening pages into thinking this book is a serious educational text, and while this cheeky, funny and outright irreverent little book is educational, it’s not in the ways you’d expect! Author Neil Sharpson begins by defining a mammal, a reptile and a bird, with Dan Santat’s crisp illustrations to match. But things go off the rails when Sharpson tries to define a fish. What even is a fish? They live in fresh and salt water, they have gills and lungs, they eat plants, invertebrates and even other fish! You’ll soon learn what fish are: untrustworthy!
With hilarious cartoon-style illustrations by Caldecott medallist Santat, Don’t Trust Fish explains all the real (and invented) reasons why fish are indefinable, inconsistent and untrustworthy creatures. A delight for children aged 4+ (and their adults too), but not advisable for ichthyologists and/or children with goldfish.
Reviewed by Tamuz Ellazam.
Middle Grade
Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest
Liz Flanagan, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton
Rowan grew up in the bustling city at the heart of the kingdom of Gallren, but when war threatens, her mother whisks her away to the Dark Forest – to the grandfather Rowan didn’t even know she had. But her grandfather isn’t the only revelation: living in the Dark Forest, Rowan soon discovers that magical creatures, such as dragons, are as real as horses and chickens! With poachers lurking in the forest threatening the creatures, Rowan doesn’t have much time to wonder at the unexpected magic of the world. She has to work with the other residents to protect the Dark Forest and its creatures.
This is a gentle and immersive fantasy adventure that’s equally perfect for kids who love magic and those who love animals. It’s just the first instalment of a new series, and I’m already keen to devour more! Rowan is a plucky and resourceful heroine in a rich, whimsical world that it will be a delight for readers to discover and return to. With short chapters, a fast-paced story and beautiful illustrations, this is a great read for kids aged 7+.
Reviewed by Bella Mackey.
Hidden Treasure
Jessie Burton
Hidden Treasure is the latest book by well-known adult fiction author Jessie Burton. The vibrant historical setting and attention to detail found in her adult works such as The Miniaturist is also at the core of Hidden Treasure. The story follows Bo, a young girl living in London towards the end of the First World War. When she discovers a jewel-encrusted sphere in the Thames, her friends and family urge her to sell it; however, Bo soon realises there is more to the sphere than its riches.
What follows is an adventure of magic and mystery as Bo and her new friend Billy race against time to work out the true nature of the sphere. The story is rounded out by a host of villains, some known, some hidden, who want to use the sphere for their own purposes.
There is a lot in this book for a wily reader to uncover and the way all the pieces come together is immensely satisfying. On top of it all, Hidden Treasure explores grief and the ways people handle losing a loved one. It is a raw but immensely heartwarming book. Perfect for fans of Katrina Nannestad and Amelia Mellor aged 10+.
Reviewed by Alicia Guiney.
The Paperbark Tree Committee
Karys McEwen
Twelve-year-old Art and his 10-year-old brother Hilary (named after Hilary Mantel) are best friends and have just moved to Melbourne from their small home town in Queensland because their father has writer’s block. Hilary has taken this turn of events cheerfully in his stride, as he does almost everything. Art is trying to make the best of things and secretly dancing out his worries to classic hits in his bedroom. Their dad’s long-term partner, Sally, knows just how to look after everyone, even though it’s been a big change for her, too. The boys’ mum is only a phone call away, but she’s often a little distracted.
When things quickly become tricky at school for Art, he’s torn between wanting to workshop solutions with Hilary and a feeling that he needs to start dealing with things on his own. Sometimes, two heads are better than one – but not always, as local author and school librarian Karys McEwen deftly illustrates.
The Paperbark Tree Committee is a gorgeous, heartfelt and hilarious tale of navigating change, bullying and growing up, and learning to appreciate loved ones for who they are. For ages 9+.
Reviewed by Elke Power.
How to Sail to Somewhere
Ashleigh Barton
The small seaside town of Willow is quiet most of the year, except in summer when tourists descend and the locals escape on their own holidays. Bea’s parents are too busy working to go away on holiday, but she doesn’t mind staying home, because she has her beloved Uncle Byron for company. Since she was small, he’s come every summer and turned her lonely home into a place of laughter and adventure. Before he left last year, he promised Bea that next summer, the two of them would sail together to a little star-shaped island off the coast – too small to be on any map, yet known to a select few as ‘Somewhere’.
But this year, Byron hasn’t come. Bea is alone, with nothing to do but ruminate on her last summer with Byron and the significance of his promise that they would go to Somewhere, together. When she discovers Arabella – another local girl adrift for the summer – knows about Somewhere, and is as keen to get there as Bea is, she starts to suspect that Byron might be able to keep his promise to sail to Somewhere with Bea, after all.
This is a sweet story about friendship, family and grief. Earnest and emotional, with a touch of a Famous Five adventure, it tackles big issues in a thoughtful and engaging way. For ages 8+.
Reviewed by Bella Mackey.
Graphic Narrative
The Thylacine and the Time Machine
Renée Treml
I was nine years old when the movie Jurassic Park was released and along with it came a flurry of media about bringing extinct creatures back to life. At the time, I excitedly believed that by 2025 woolly mammoths would be back roaming the earth. The Thylacine and the Time Machine provided me with a few answers about why that hasn’t happened, and why bringing woolly mammoths back might not be the best idea anyway.
Focusing on the thylacine and using real research being done at Melbourne University’s TIGRR lab, this graphic novel takes, loosely, the A Christmas Carol approach: a young student, her dog and a ghost Thylacine visit the past, present and future to better understand what happened to the Thylacine, why it happened, and what should happen next. The book does an excellent job of exploring and explaining all the thorny ethical and practical issues involved in bringing extinct creatures back to life. It also provides suggestions on how we might move forward.
There are of course many books being published for young readers on subjects including extinction, climate and environmental damage, but being mindful that young readers are experiencing extraordinarily high levels of uncertainty and anxiety, high-quality books like this that offer up-to-date information and practical, positive ideas for action are the best of the bunch. For ages 9+.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
Inked: A Graphic Novel
Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A. Minton
This exciting new graphic novel by a debut team is the first graphic novel ever to be shortlisted for the Ampersand Prize for an unpublished manuscript. In Inked, an opera-singing octopus shows up at a family-owned fish shop in a small town that is somewhere in Australia – but nowhere near the ocean. Sid, a 12-year-old kid, has just been accepted into art school when the octopus shows up at his family’s fish shop, but his primary concern is the school fees. The kid and the octopus reluctantly team up, trying to help each other with their unique struggles while enduring various dramas, including unkind classmates and an Idol style talent show.
A quick summary of the plot makes this book sound completely absurd, but readers will be surprised and delighted by thoughtful character development, witty dialogue, and Jake A. Minton’s warm, polished artwork. Inked is a strangely compelling reading experience with a filmic style and energy. An excellent, wildly entertaining read for ages 9+.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
