Tuesday, March 19, 2024

CBCA short lists are announced today!

 


I tried to read as many of the Notables as possible but because I no longer work in a school library I was not able to handle some of the Picture Book notables. Also, very sadly, the bookshop who used to generously give me advance reader copies of new Australian middle grade titles has now closed its doors. 

Here are some books I have talked about.

I have added a star to the title I hope will make one of the short lists and of course I have put too many stars - not just the six for each category:

Anchored (Early Childhood and Picture Book)  

The Concrete Garden (Early Childhood and Picture Book)

The Wheelbarrow Express (Early Childhood)

These little feet (Early Childhood)

Bowerbird Blues (Picture Book)

City of Light (Picture Book)

Ruby's Repair Cafe (Early Childhood)

Every night at Midnight (Picture Book)

Paper-flower Girl (Picture Book)

Plague (Picture Book)

Stay for Dinner (Picture Book)

Being Jimmy Baxter (Younger Readers)

Evie dreams big (Younger Readers)

Huda was here (Younger Readers) - blog post coming

Meet me at the moon tree (Younger Readers)

Scar Town (Younger Readers)

Sunshine on Vinegar Street (Younger Readers)

The Sideways orbit of Evie Hart (Younger Readers)

The Unlikely heroes club (Younger Readers) - blog post coming


Here are some books I am still keen to see or read more closely:

Satin (Picture Book)

Mizuto and the wind (Picture Book)

Dirran (Younger Readers)

Saving Charli (Younger Readers)

So that happened but maybe you already knew that (Younger Readers)


These are the books I have briefly seen from both picture book categories but have not blogged:

Can you teach a fish to climb a tree?

Gymnastica Fantastica

Run Pups Run

Dorrie

The Black Cockatoo with one feather blue

The Lucky Shack

Timeless

Your head's not the place to store problems.




Monday, March 18, 2024

The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration and Writing Shortlists 2024

 


  • The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander (Andersen Press)
  • The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell (Usborne Publishing)
  • Away with Words by Sophie Cameron (Little Tiger)
  • The Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Kate Milner (Otter-Barry Books)
  • Choose Love by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Petr Horáček (Graffeg)
  • Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher (Hot Key Books)
  • Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan (Andersen Press)
  • Steady for This by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key Books)


I have read and shared here Safiyyah’s War.





  • The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker (Walker Books)
  • April’s Garden illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, written by Isla McGuckin (Graffeg)
  • Lost by Mariajo Ilustrajo (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
  • The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books)
  • To the Other Side by Erika Meza (Hodder Children’s Books)
  • The Midnight Panther by Poonam Mistry (Templar Publishing)
  • The Bowerbird illustrated by Catherine Rayner, written by Julia Donaldson (Macmillan Children’s Books)
  • The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage (Walker Books)
I have previously talked about The Bowerbird illustrated by Catherine Rayner.



Literacy Hive: The 2024 shortlists for the UK’s longest running and most prestigious book awards for children and young people have been announced today, Wednesday 13th March. (You can see the longlists here). 

The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration (formerly known as the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals) celebrate outstanding achievement in children’s writing and illustration respectively. Judged by a panel of children’s and youth librarians from across the UK, this year’s longlist of 36 titles has been whittled down to 16 – eight titles for each of the two award categories.

Poetry is a major feature of this year’s Medal for Writing, with three verse novels and a poetry collection accounting for half the shortlist. Picture books prevail on the shortlist for the Medal for Illustration, which includes previous winner Catherine Rayner and three-times shortlisted illustrator Poonam Mistry.

Long list books I have previously talked about:


The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll, illustrated by Lauren Child


Tyger by SF Said, illustrated by Dave McKean


The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham (Walker Books)

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong


Begin with the cover - can you see the shadow? This hints at the content of this story. The end papers also link nicely with the beginning and ending of this tale.

"Every night at midnight I turn into a wolf."

Stop and talk to your group. What does this mean? Has anyone heard of a werewolf? Look closely at the first page. The walls are black and filled with sketches by the young boy. If you look really hard you can see his book and pencil case with his name Felix. 

Once Felix is a wolf he sets off, wearing his red sweater, to explore the streets near his home late in the night. All of this makes for exciting adventures but when his friends invite him to a sleepover, he has to say no.

"So I keep to myself, and they leave me alone. I am perfectly fine on my own ... (but) I wish I didn't turn into a werewolf every night, though."

Then a new girl arrives at school. She is instantly popular and it turns out she can run much faster than Felix. Why? You need to read this book to find the answer which might surprise your young reading companion.

This story about loneliness, not fitting in, being different, and making friends is a timely reminder that we are not all the same. I did wonder about the boy/wolf’s parents who are conspicuous by their absence and how does he survive at school every day without any sleep?  These boring adult concerns are irrelevant as children mightily enjoy the fun and adventure of being able to shape shift and cavort about at night without supervision. Story Links

You can see inside this book on Peter Cheong's web site

This book is a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Notable title - or long listed title - for our book awards. In this case it is in the Picture Book of the Year category.

Here are the judges' comments: This highly original and engaging book about staying true to one’s identity and finding friendship in an unlikely place would be very appealing for the younger reader. Evocative language is used effectively, setting the tone for this whimsical story and maintaining mood throughout. Soft rhythm and effective repetition of phrasing reinforce elements of the narrative with a minimalistic approach used in placement of written text between each double page spread. Illustrative style is creative with colour palette perfectly matched to the written text. Design and layout are imaginative and creative in reinforcing and expanding on the narrative. Visuals provide added elements to the written text e.g. the subtle shadows in some windows towards the end of the book hint at another layer to the narrative.


Now for the final page - this is sure to elicit a lot of comments from your group. 

  • Look closely at the group of friends gathered in the white-haired girl's bedroom in the final scene. 
  • Think about the way we see Felix wearing his red sweater both as a human and a werewolf.
  • Did he really turn into a werewolf? Could this book really be about 'fitting in' or shyness or difference?
  • Does the final scene change the way you read the story a second or third time?
  • Are the 'kids' in the final scene from Felix's class?
  • What do you think about the boy who is dressed as a bear? Is this another story hint?
  • How does the red sweater work as a way to better understand more about Felix?
Here are the questions written by Scholastic in their Australian Standing Orders notes.

The book design here is excellent contrasting night and day scenes and one wordless double spread. Peter Cheong also very effectively shows Felix and his new friend racing across the city.

With a group of older students, you could compare this book with this one - it is out of print but is sure to be held in many school libraries. 


And here is some background reading for adults about werewolves and some information you could share with a group of older students

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Anchored by Debra Tidball illustrated by Arielle Li

 




"Tug watched Ship pull out into the deep ocean. 'I'll miss you,' boomed Ship, flags waving. 'But I'll be home soon.' The gap between them widened."

After you read this book to your group go back and look at this opening sentence. Debra Tidball has carefully selected every word here. Tug has a capital letter because she is a main character and Ship also has a capital letter. Ship is heading off into the unknown - the deep ocean. Ship is large so her voice booms. And she is happy, perhaps anticipating an adventure - her flags are waving. Then we read the heart wrenching words - the gap between them widened. I have a photo of a scene like this from 1948 when my mum sailed off from Australia to the UK leaving her sister waving from the dock. It is a happy scene but also filled with emotion.

"With Ship away, the sea shone a little less brightly."

Until finally Boom Boom Boom Ship returns to the port. 

"Ship towered over Tug like a warm hug."

While Tug stayed home working on the busy harbour, Ship travelled the world but in every place Ship thought about Tug. Read these descriptions of the places Ship visits:

"I've been to the tropics, where the sea glitters like crystals and jellyfish dance in shimmering shoals."
"I've been out past the breakers where the swell pulses and grows into a wild beast that crashes over my hull."
"I was just a dot in an endless blue sea and sky. I felt lost in the inky nights speckled with twinkling stars."

When I was a CBCA judge (2021-23) I argued against listing picture books in more than one category for our annual awards so I was surprised to see we have two picture books in the Early Childhood (ages 0-6) and the Picture Book (ages 0-18) category - Anchored by Debra Tidball and The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham.  I think is this is a testament to the way a terrific picture book can work across ages - appealing to very young children and exploring deeper themes with children in Grade One or Two. I am certain this book will be selected for one of these short lists which will be announced next week. 

The Early Childhood CBCA Judges said: Depicted with sensitivity and empathy, this gentle book explores separation anxiety and associated emotions. The characters are well-defined, with Tug and Ship having a clear relationship and different roles, reflecting that of a parent and child. Tug’s insecurities and concerns are acknowledged and conveyed in a highly effective sequence of illustrations that echo the taut text. Softly blurred, circular framing of key images suggests the safety and security of a “warm hug” during difficult times. Tug’s self-talk invites discussion. Carefully selected words such as ‘pushing’, ‘pulling’, and ‘prodding’ in both the beginning and end of the story reflect the concept that life goes on. The well-realised conclusion references the title with the closing image featuring the two characters separate yet connected.

The Picture Book of the Year CBCA Judges saidThis gentle, emotional story celebrates friendship which helps weather any storm and makes the world seem brighter. Small Tug learns to cope with the absence of his friend Ship who ventures on long journeys across the deep ocean, discovering that a friend’s presence remains firmly anchored in one’s heart, regardless of distance. The story’s language is evocative and rich, enlivened by literary devices such as simile, alliteration, personification and onomatopoeia. The narrative is elevated by illustrations that skillfully vary in layout and size, bound together by a softly muted colour palette transitioning from the light blue of the skies to the deeper and midnight blues of the ocean. From an appealing cover and attractive endpapers to the overall harmony between written text and illustrations, it is an example of an excellently designed and effective picture book.

Here is the webpage for Arielle Li. And for Debra Tidball. In this very brief video Debra Tidball talks about her book and her personal connections with the story. Here are some very detailed teachers notes from the publisher. The book trailer has a very appealing soundtrack and no words. It is well worth watching. Here is an interview with Debra Tidball

Written for our youngest readers to reassure them that even though they might be separated from a parent for a time, out of sight does not mean out of mind and that they are always anchored in the heart of the absent one regardless.  At a time when there are many reasons that separation might happen, stories like this help alleviate anxiety and confirm that the parent will return. The Bottom Shelf

Anchored may be helpful in a classroom with little ones who are missing absent parents, or in families where adults travel for work. Story Links

You can read more review extracts here

When I first saw this book, I thought it might be a little bit like the old series -  Thomas the Tank Engine because the ship and tug have faces and smiles, but this book is so much more. You could share Anchored in your library with students from Kindergarten up to Grade 2 but I would NOT link this book with other simple funny stories about ferries or tug boats such as Little Tug by Steven Savage; I'm Mighty! by Kate McMullan; Mighty Tug by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; Tough Tug by Margaret Read MacDonald; Fergus the Ferry series by JW Noble; or Scuffy the Tug Boat (A Little Golden Book). 

The emotional arc of this narrative reminded me of this book:



Friday, March 15, 2024

Paper-Flower Girl by Margrete Lamond illustrated by Mateja Jager


Publisher blurb Dirt Lane PressThe Paper-flower Girl creates elaborate flowers out of paper, but she has few customers. When the Giant from the Hill brings her to work for him, they soon discover they want very different things. Before long, the Paper-flower Girl is forced to create things she no longer recognises as flowers. When the exasperated Giant throws her from the Hill, the Paper-flower Girl takes with her something belonging to the Giant, incorporates it into her elaborate flowers, and attains greater success than the Giant. This is a story about being prepared for the worst and hoping for the best.

Here is part of the text to show the lyrical language found in this book:

Down there
the plain.
Up there
the hill.
Down there the glades.
Moss and corn.
Dapple and nook.
Down there 
the Plain
of Small Surprises. ...

Days and weeks of interlacing,
months of folding, unfurling.
Petals of ivory, petals of rust,
of blood, of blush, of teal.
Filaments of honey and gold.
Tendrils of sage.

In this final text quote look at the word choice - petals in colour like teal and ivory contrasted with the words blood and rust. Is this meant to help us anticipate the cruelty that is coming?

Themes in this book - power, creativity, control, cruelty, good and evil, voice, patience, beauty, and resilience. There is also the idea of the power imbalance - weak and strong and the fragile transient beauty of a paper flower versus the imposing brutal landscape of steel and concrete inhabited by the giant. I would also talk to students about free will and the importance of creative freedom. 

There are now so many fabulous picture books which extend our oldest students. Last year in the CBCA Picture Book of the Year category there were two books shortlisted that rewarded close study, re-reading, deep thought and extensive discussion with students. I love both of them, but I do know some Teachers and Teacher-Librarians did not enjoy these as much as I did :





Like the two above, Paper-Flower Girl is also a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) choice for our prestigious Australian children's book award. In 2024 this book has made the Notable list BUT this time I am not so sure about the balance between exquisite illustrations and a complex text. I have now read Paper-Flower Girl fairly carefully several times. I purchased a copy because the art looked so special, but the story confuses me. The language is lyrical - actually poetic - but what is going on here? The story does have a fairy tale feel and overtones of the classic story The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wild. 

Here are the CBCA Judges comments: This exquisite, high-quality picture book captivates from the soft, detailed cover and beautiful endpapers through to the very end. Language is poetic and evocative, successfully using a range of literary devices (repetition, rhythm, rhyme) to create mood and atmosphere. Vocabulary is sophisticated taking the reader on a journey with the unfurling story of the girl, her creativity and the giant and his demands. Bolding and changes in size and positioning of the text is utilised effectively, enhancing the message. Artwork is exceptional, at times almost creating an additional narrative thread, at others extending the feelings and actions of the characters. Variations in colour palette reflect the changing mood, emotions and dialogue between the girl and the giant. Use of 
changes in perspective and positioning is creative and original.

Mateja Jager is a Slovene born designer and illustrator, currently living in Sydney. Here is a Pinterest of her art. And here is her Instagram page which shows some illustrations from Paper-Flower girl. On her Instagram page I read this comment about Paper-Flower Girl:

" A triumph of simplicity, full of meaning without teaching, about good versus evil, patience over expectation, values & their compromise, and the tragedy of greed." Link

The Magpies reviewer (a current CBCA judge of the Eve Pownall Non Fiction award) said this book is "a sweet parable for our times and a fun way to learn the cleverness of sounds and the magic of words .... The paper-flower girl realises she needs to be following her own creativity and in her own style and time."  Magpies volume 39, Issue 1, March 2024 page 36

I really liked a previous book by Margrete Lamond:


The Wheelbarrow Express by Sue Whiting illustrated by Cate James




I am working my way through the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) 2024 notable titles. The Wheelbarrow Express is a title from the Early Childhood list and I really like it. The intended audience for books in this category is ages 0-6 and I can see this book will be perfect to share with your own young reading companion or grandchild or with a younger group in your library or preschool. Why? I will list some features here:

  • The setting is a farm - all young children, even if they have not had the opportunity to visit a farm, love farm animals especially pigs and chickens.
  • The relationships are warm and recognisable - Grandfather and grandson. And there is the arrival of a new baby which is an adjustment for all older siblings.
  • There is a repeated refrain - toot! toot! choo-choo-choo-choo. After all this is an express "train" and there are many stations to visit along the route.
  • The plot is linear as the child and adult travel through the farm, so it is easy for a young child to anticipate a happy ending or in this case reunion with mum and the baby.
  • Adults will love the tiny touches of poignancy - grandad knows he will see Tom again but today is the final day of this visit. Grandad is clearly choked up when they say goodbye to the dam - his voice has gone croaky, and that final hug is so special - I certainly felt the strong squeeze of Pa's arms.
  • The plot races along with the wheelbarrow but before we reach the end the journey there is time just to sit still and enjoy skipping stones into the yabby dam. (A reminder to slow your reading down too and make a plan to one day skip stones too.)
  • This is a universal story of love and shared experiences, but it also feels Australian (I mentioned the yabby dam).
  • And there are also those all-important touches of sweet humour such as when the goat steals Tom's railway cap. 
  • The collection of treasures are the perfect way to recap their journey - the special shared moments of, not just that day, but over the whole visit. 
  • This book will be one you share with your young reading companion more than once and I would anticipate that some of the phrases might become part of your own family vocabulary - "Put away the gloomies"; "With a bump and a bounce and a toot"; and "Till next time."
  • I love that this is not an end-of-life story - it is just a happy day shared across the generations. Too often we categorise grandparents as elderly, but the reality is a child the age of Tom, I'd say he is 3 or 4, would have a grandfather who is only 65-70 years old.

I have previously talked about the art of Cate James. It really shines in this book. I highly recommend this book and suggest after reading you go down to your shed, pull out your old wheelbarrow and go for a ride around your own backyard or park. 

The CBCA Judges said: A heartwarming celebration of the loving bond between a child and grandparent is shared in this timeless narrative. Readers may be familiar with a wheelbarrow ride and will enjoy joining Tom and Pa on their last day on the farm together, journeying on the wheelbarrow express, collecting mementos and revisiting favourite spots and memories. The language is simple and accessible for young readers, with onomatopoeia and some verbs emphasised in a different font. Crucial to the narrative, the farm setting is gloriously reflected in the soft colour palette of blue, greens and browns. Avoiding sentimentality, the narrative alternates between the pair’s genuine banter and playful descriptions of farmyard activities and closes on a reassuring and satisfying note.

This is a charming story celebrating the special bond between grandparent and grandchild that is destined to become a family favourite. The Bottom Shelf

I do hope we see The Wheelbarrow Express as a short-listed title. I previously hoped this would happen with another book by Sue Whiting:



See more books by Sue Whiting here on her webpage. With a group of older students in Grade 1 or 2 you could read another terrific book that features a journey in a wheelbarrow:



Thursday, March 14, 2024

Runt by Craig Silvey - The US edition


Begin with my post about Runt by Craig Silvey illustrated by Sara Acton and published in Australia in 2022. 


This is just a quick post to show you the US edition of our CBCA Younger Readers Book of the Year (2023) Runt is now called:

The Underdogs of Upson Downs

I asked Craig Silvey on social media about the name change. This happens a lot with our Australian books when they are taken up in the US market and often the new title is very literal like this one, but Craig Silvey said this happened because another book is also called Runt.

Here are US review extracts. It is clear no one told these reviewers Runt won our big award here in 2023. It is brilliant to see a Kirkus Star review:

Annie and Runt are the main attractions, and their relationships with the other scrappy Shearer family members—especially Annie’s aspiring botanist dad—are authentically drawn and lovingly flawed, making them easy to cheer on and adding depth to a beautiful, rewarding narrative that’s a fresh addition to the genre. Kirkus Star review

A heartwarming and hilarious story about a girl and her dog, and of kindness, friendship, hurdles, tunnels, see-saws, and—most importantly—bringing out the best in yourself and others. A book and a hug

The book shares a heart-warming, underdog story that will appeal to readers of all ages. The author can’t go wrong by featuring a cute dog and the two antagonists are easy to root against. I recommend you give this book a shot! YA Books Central

Thank goodness the audio book (here is a sample) is narrated by an Australian!

So far, I have not been able to discover the illustrators name for this US edition and of course I don't know if there is art inside the book. I do like the US cover and I think it will appeal to middle grade readers. Hopefully the US publisher did not change any of the actual text. 

Blog post update - Craig Silvey has shared the name of the cover artist (there is no extra art inside the book). His name is Erwin Madrid. He is originally from the Philippines and now lives in California and works for Dreamworks. Erwin Madrid has worked as a visual development artist for the Shrek franchise as well as creating conceptual art for video games. He is also the illustrator of The Scary Places Map Book by B. G. Hennessy. Here is some of his work:

I also love our version with art by Sara Acton and in fact I own the image at the bottom of this post which I purchased from our IBBY Australia mini masterpiece art auction.