The Line Tender by Kate Allen illustrated by Xingye Jin

Rich, complex, and confidently voiced.

Lucy's mum was a marine biologist. Lucy is just seven her mum dies suddenly. Move forward five years. Lucy does think about her mum but her grief is no longer raw although her dad is still struggling. Fred lives next door and he and Lucy are the very best of friends.  It is the summer and Fred has signed up for a project. Fred has a science brain and he loves to research and write about the natural world. Lucy has a talent for drawing. The friends plan to make a field guide of all the marine animals in their seaside town. A local fisherman called Sookie has hooked a huge shark so the pair of friends head down to the harbour to investigate. Lucy and Fred find some research papers written by Lucy's mum which show she had planned to investigate the relationship between the increasing numbers of seals in the area and the rise of the shark population. 

It looks like it will be a perfect summer then tragedy strikes and Lucy is left on her own to discover things about her mum, her dad, the importance of research into sharks, her beautiful friend Fred and of course herself.

"I'd always suspected that I was Fred's favorite person in the whole world. And he was mine. But neither of us had ever said that out loud. Not to each other."

I am not going to explain the title because it will give too much away except to give you a simple definition of the literal meaning. 

Definition of Line Tender: The tender is the surface member of the diving team who works closely with the diver on the bottom. At the start of a dive, the tender checks the diver's equipment and topside air supply for proper operation and dresses the diver.

Now look very closely at the cover.  It is filled with sharks of all sizes and varieties.

Read this book to find out why I want to go out and buy heaps of postcards. I loved this aspect of the story. We never see the pictures on the postcards - only the messages but here is one of the images. I wanted to share this because I love loons! This has no connection with the story but if you are in Australia, like me, you may not be familiar with the loon.

The Line Tender has been on my wish list for more than a year. I've had a long wait for the arrival of the paperback edition. Just to make this clearer, in Australia the hardcover edition was approx $30 and the paperback $16.  

When Colby Sharp talks about books I listen!  He has impeccable taste and he keeps me up to date with new US releases. Talking about The Line Tender he says: "You are so happy as a reader but then you are just floored and crushed." "I don't think this is a book you will ever forget."

You can read Chapter Four (a very significant chapter) on the Penguin Random House web site. Here is an audio sample from Chapter one. Things to notice with this book. Each chapter begins with a sketch (by Lucy) of a shark; the dedication is to Rachel Carson "there is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."

Look at all these accolades:

• A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019
• A School Library Journal Best Book of 2019
• A Kirkus Best Book of 2019
• A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2019
• A Book Page Best Book of 2019

If you need more plot details click these reviews:

Elizabeth Bird School Library Journal

Deborah Stevenson in The Bulletin of the Center for Children's books

A Book and a Hug

Spoiler alert - this is a very sad book. If you have read A Bridge to Terabithia; A Taste of Blueberries; Bird by Crystal Chan; or The thing about Jellyfish you will have some sense of the level of grief you may experience reading this book.

The Other Ark by Lynley Dodd

Here is another book you could use in your exploration of the CBCA 2020 slogan 

Curious Creatures, Wild Minds

Lynley Dodd certainly has a wild mind. These curious creatures are wonderful:

• Candy-striped camels with comical humps
• Armory dilloes
• Mad Kangaroosters in bow ties and spats
• Butternut bears with polka-dot puffles 
• Blunderbuss dragons
• Mongolian sneeth
• Alligatigers with too many teeth

• Elephant snails
• Pom-pom palavers with curlicue tails
• Marmalade mammoths
• Sabre-tooth mice

What is going on here?  Buckets of rain are falling.  There is no time to to lose. Noah fills his ark with the usual animals including the New Zealand kiwi bird. The ark is jam packed.  As he looks over the forest he sees more and more animals waiting to come on board so Noah asks Sam Jam Balu for help:

"Sam,' he said kindly,

'you've nothing to do

and I really need help 

with this two-by-two zoo.

My problems are solved

if you're quick off the mark-

you can take all the rest

in my second-best ark."

Sam Jam Balu works hard to load these assorted animals onto Ark Two but instead of floating away into the flood waters this ark is firmly stuck to the ground.

It would be fun to use the illustrations from this book for a display of curious creatures and then you could ask the children to create some of their own composite critters.

Go back and look at the title - why would there be "another ark"?  Do the children know the story of the original ark? Take a really close look at the cover - do see see animals you recognise? 

The Other Ark was published in 2004 but the paperback edition is still in print. Lynley Dodd is an author and illustrator from New Zealand. She is most famous for her Hairy Maclary books. She has written over thirty books. Here are some notes about her work written for an illustration exhibition held in 2017.

Sometimes Cake by Edwina Wyatt illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie

Audrey finds Lion. He has a balloon. It is not his birthday. It is not Audrey's birthday but they sing the birthday song anyway. On Tuesday Audrey finds Lion again. He has a delicious looking cake. Audrey asks about the celebration. Lion explains he is celebrating Tuesdays and also coconut. The friends sit down to enjoy a slice of cake (the icing is coconut - yum).

The story pattern continues. Lion is wearing a hat and celebrating orange and yellow and Audrey suggests they could add in purple. Then comes one powerful word:

"The next time Audrey found Lion, he didn't have a balloon or a cake. He wasn't wearing a hat. 'What are you celebrating?' said Audrey. 'Nothing,' sniffed Lion. Today is just an ordinary day." 

Sniffed!! - lion is sad. He looks sad in the illustration on the next page. BUT our Audrey is a problem solver. She creates the best celebration ever - a celebration of ordinary days and lions. 

The tone of this book feels a little like Winnie the Pooh's wisdom.

Just before this Walker book was released a friend sent me the title knowing I am a huge fan of cakes! With all the story elements which are perfect for preschoolers and perfect to read aloud features such as  patterns, an emotional arc, bright and lively illustrations, and a little girl who could be your friend, I just have to give this book five stars. I also like the look of the cake on the title page. 

I predict this book will reach the 2021 CBCA Notable list and Early Childhood short list - yes it is that good. Fingers crossed for Edwina Wyatt and Tamsin.  I did make this prediction back in 2016 about In the Evening and I was wrong - let's hope I don't jinx Sometimes Cake.

Make sure you look at all of the socks worn by Audrey. They are a good way to mark the passing of time but also they are intriguing. Audrey likes to wear odd socks that don't match just like many preschool aged children, but one sock is missing. I have searched high and low but I cannot find her red and white striped sock in the final scene. Can you?

Here are the author and illustrator web sites.

I would pair this book with these:

Where does Thursday Go?

Noah's Ark Picture books

The Curious Creatures Noah took in the Ark

When I was thinking about the 2020 CBCA Slogan - Curious Creatures, Wild Minds - I thought about the story of Noah's ark and all the curious creatures who were mentioned in that story.  I have been collecting different versions of the Noah's ark story in a Pinterest - literal bible stories and alternate versions. Here are four that interpret the bible story.  In a later post I will look at some alternate versions along with Australian picture books and retellings from other cultures.

Why Noah chose the Dove by Isaac Bashevis Singer illustrated by Eric Carle (1973)

First lines: "When the people sinned and God decided to punish them by sending the flood, all the animals gathered around Noah's ark."

In this version each of the animals boast about their own virtues because they hear a rumor Noah will only take the very best of all the living creatures.
Animals: Lion, elephant, fox, donkey, skunk, monkey, cat, bear, squirrel, tiger, sheep, wolf, snake, bee, giraffe, camel, hippo, crocodile, bat and cricket.
It is the dove who offers the best advice:

"I don't think of myself as better or wiser or more attractive than the other animals ... Each one of us has something the other doesn't have... "

Why read this version?  It has wonderful collage illustrations by Eric Carle. The boasting animals are actually quite funny. You might discuss the pairings such as snake and bee; horse and fly; chicken and cow. This book uses a rich vocabulary: rumor, vied, belittling, a fawning flatterer, protested, midgets, and imitate.  And if you need other words for 'said' this text is a great model:  blared, yapped, yipped, brayed, snarled, bellowed, and chortled.

Of interest Isaac Bashevis Singer won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1978. This book is still in print.

Final lines: "The truth is that there are in the world more doves than there are tigers, leopards, wolves, vultures, and other ferocious beasts. The dove lives happily without fighting. It is the bird of peace."

Noah's Ark by Heinz Janisch illustrated by Lisbeth Zweger (1997)
Translated by Rosemary Lanning

First lines: "It came to pass in the days when giants strode the earth and were heroes among men, God saw that His people had grown wicked. They thought only of war and destruction. And God was angry."

In this version the animals are presented in a form that might remind you of a biology book or a museum exhibit. If you look carefully you will find a unicorn, two koalas, lots of birds, fish and a pair of red kangaroos. Here is the Kirkus review.

Why read this version?  I would use this book with a group of older students as an art or visual literacy stimulus. The inclusion of animals from mythology is also interesting.

Of interest - A new edition (hardcover format) of this book was published in 2018. It has a different cover. This book was first published in Switzerland under the title Die Arche Noah.

Final lines: "They all looked up, and saw a rainbow linking heaven and earth. And Noah went away from the ark. in hope and trust, and his offspring peopled the earth."

The Story of Noah retold by Stephanie Rosenheim illustrated by Elena Odriozola (2006)

First lines: "Many, many years ago the people on earth grew tired of each other and became cruel and unkind. When the sun rose into a cloudless blue sky, it shone down on a people who snarled as they threw back the bed covers, cross and unhappy with life."

The text here is easy to read but again I would use this book with an older group of students as a way to talk about styles of illustration and visual literacy. The page where the ark is tossed around in the water is especially powerful.

Of interest: Elena Odriozola is a Spanish illustrator. The paperback edition of this book was published in 2013 and it is available.

Final lines: "And to show that he meant this God placed a beautiful rainbow in the sky. So now, when a rainbow appears and spread its colours across the sky, everyone should remember God's promise to His people on Earth."

Noah and the ark retold by Michael McCarthy illustrated by Giuliano Ferri (2001)

First lines: "God made the world all fresh and new, 
Each tree, and field and hill. 
But folks were not like me and you. 
They learned to fight and kill. 
The world was soon so stained with blood 
That God was very sad.
God thought, 'I'll send a mighty flood
To wash out all things bad."

You can hear/read/see this text is in rhyme which is interesting but not quite perfect. Here is the Kirkus review. The animals listed include: badgers, mice, hummingbirds, razorbills, gulls, centipedes and bumble bees. I like the way they are grouped - mammals, domestic, birds, reptiles, and insects. The page filled with pouring rain and wild waves is fabulous.

Of interest:  This book contains an excellent author's note where Michael McCarthy explains his research process. Make sure you take time to explore the end papers. Giuliano Ferri is an Italian illustrator and animator.

Final lines: "For when the sun shines through the rain
The rainbow's arc appears again.
Reminding me, reminding you,
God's words to Noah are still true."

Image Source: Why Noah chose the Dove - US Macmillan

Truman by Jean Reidy illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

pensive

Truman is a small tortoise who lives with his friend Sarah. The city is filled with busy people and loud noises but Truman is peaceful and pensive and so is Sarah until the day something strange happens. Truman watches Sarah start her day in a different way - eating a huge banana, putting on a new sweater, strapping on an enormous backpack.  It was so big "thirty-two small tortoises could ride along in it - but zero tortoises did." Sarah gives Truman extra green beans - this is very puzzling and then:

"she kissed her finger and touched it to his shell and whispered 'Be Brave.' Then she left."

She left!! Truman is filled with worry. Will Sarah come back? Why did she take that big pack? And what's going on with those extra beans?

"Truman waited for Sarah to return. He waited. And waited. He waited a thousand hours - tortoise hours, that is - until he could wait no longer."

Truman knows he must catch the number 11 bus heading south. He finds a way (1,2,3) to climb out of his tank. The world outside (in Sarah's room) is huge and filled with danger but Truman keeps going. As he reaches the closed bedroom door he hears a noise. It's Sarah returning from school! Their reunion is so joyous.

You can see some of the illustrations from Truman here at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

The word pensive appears in this story four times. What a glorious way to acquire a new word. I think Truman is an essential purchase for every school library. It is a perfect picture book.

I won't say why but this flower is especially important in the story:

The emotions of Truman are clearly conveyed and his worry is tangible … Waking Brain Cells

TRUMAN is simply a beautiful book that I recommend to teachers,parents, writers, and readers. Basically, everyone. Nerdy Book Club

This little creature has big courage, something to which small humans can relate. Horn Book

Peaceful and pensive like Truman himself, this book charms;there’s just something uplifting and wonderful about the whole package. Kirkus Star

Here are the author and illustrator web sites.  I would pair this book with Felix and Alexander:

You might also revisit the classic story - Corduroy.

Running on the Roof of the World by Jess Butterworth

Rule One: Don't run in front of a solider
Rule Two: Never look at a soldier
Rule Three: Say as little as possible

Tash and her friend Sam live in Tibet where is is dangerous to mention anything cultural and everything connected with their beloved Dalai Lama (including the two words Dalai Lama) is banned. When Tash's father is arrested, Tash decides she must make the long and dangerous journey from Tibet to India to seek help from the Dalai Lama.

"I remember the photograph of the Dalai Lama. I slip my fingers into my pocket and feel it filling me with strength. I pull it out and stare at his happy face. I have to do something to help. ... The Dalai Lama stares back at me. If there's one person who could know what to do, it's him. He's my glimmer of hope."

Sam is Tash's friend. He won't let her travel alone. So they quickly gather supplies and load them onto the back of two yaks. Winter is coming. Time is short. The soldiers are following. And making things even more dangerous, Tash is carrying a letter (in code) and some newspapers written by her father who is working for the resistance. If these things are found Tash (and her parents) are sure to be put in jail.

The fifty-five chapters are framed with mandala's which you almost want to colour in.  I also liked the chapter headings which gave the story a sense of urgency:  Rules, Crowd, Flames, Stories, Run, Vulture, Pursuit, Glaciers.

Listen to an audio sample here. Small plot warning - near the beginning of the story Tash watches as a man sets himself on fire in an act of self-immolation. This may distress some younger readers.

I really wanted to adore this book but oddly, while it did hold my interest, I cannot give this book five stars. I think the cover (by Bob Biddulph) is excellent and the inside graphics are decorative but I was not quite so convinced about the story I think because the final meeting with the Dalai Lama did not match my hopes (I felt so let down). I do not want to discourage you from reading Running on the Roof of the World because I know everyone reads books in different ways and there is plenty to enjoy and learn from this book.

In the March, 2009 issue of Magpies Magazine Rayma Turton explores this idea. She gives the book Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool to two (unnamed) reviewers. Both reviewers enjoyed this book but both approach their reviews in quite different ways.

Reviewer One "This is vintage Hirsch, with its quirky, well-rounded characters and subtle humour.... Darius and Cyrus's fraternal sparring is accurate as well as funny ... "
Reviewer Two "The strength of Hirsch's writing lies in his control of narrative. A world is created, characters are introduced and well-detailed events progress methodically. ... What saves this book from being completely bloodless is the relationship between Darius and his brother Cyrus."

Now let's look at some contrasting review comments about Running on the roof of the world. Each of these reviews will also give you more plot details.

This was a fantastic survival adventure story with vivid details about traveling through the mountains. The brilliant part of the book was howit addressed the political climate in Tibet so that younger readers can understand it, and they can see how it affects someone who is their age. MsYingling

The tale diligently provides details of Tibetan daily life,customs, and culture, and it appropriately raises questions about freedom,occupation, and exile. However, sometimes the characters’ voices sound very Western, and readers familiar with the culture may wonder at the yaks’ Western names, the characters’ nicknames, and their use of Western rather than Tibetan address for their parents. Plot-driven conveniences and a tidy ending further undercut the story’s realism. Kirkus

This beautifully designed book is a richly atmospheric story of friendship, courage and survival. It provides a rare insight into Tibetan culture and raises timely questions about the nature of freedom, without being overtly political.Although there are some distressing moments, these are sensitively handled and the overriding message is one of hope and compassion. BookTrust

It’s a thrilling fable about hope, and the importance of holding onto what matters, no matter what. With its derring-do charm, and vivid sense of place, this follows in the tradition of classic adventure stories, and comes thoroughly recommended … LoveReading4Kids

Here is the US Cover:

I would pair this book with The Lost stone of Skycity:

When you loan this book to a reader in a library it would be good to give them one or two of these:

Are your Stars like my Stars? by Leslie Helakoski illustrated by Heidi Woodward Sheffield

"When you look at the world everyday,

You and me.

Do we see the same things?

Do you see what I see?"

What do these children see? Colours - blue, yellow, brown, green, red, pink, black and white.

"When you stare at the stars,

do you see the same light?

Does it glow in the darkness?

Is your white ... like my white?"

Blurb: "Picture the wonderful colours you see every day and imagine how others experience them. No matter where you live, all children gaze at a blue sky, bask in the warmth of a golden sun, dig in rich brown dirt, and stare at white glowing stars. But do you think all of us, everywhere, share the very same colours of the world? This gentle poetic read-aloud book encourages young children to consider how colour is experienced all over the world."

I love the gentle "message" of this book and the collage illustrations by Heidi Woodward Sheffield are rich and luxurious. I should also mention the origami stars on the end papers are just beautiful.

The best feature of the book is the highly textured,collage-style illustrations, many of which contain soft strokes of color that give the images a pleasantly dreamlike quality. Kirkus

I would pair this book any books in your library about colours along with this book:

Image Source: Book Mama.

Leslie Helakoski is a new discovery of mine. Here are some of her other books:

Dewey and the 2020 Book Week slogan

Image Source: National Library of New Zealand

Previously I have shared seven posts with ideas for exploring the Book Week slogan:

Curious Creatures, Wild Minds

My wild mind took an imaginary walk around the library and I realised nearly every Dewey section links with this slogan. (Here is a pinterest of Curious Creatures books)

001.944 monsters such as Yeti, Bigfoot, Kraken,  Loch Ness Monster, Bunyips and more. These are all CURIOUS CREATURES!

220.9 OR 222 Noah's Ark

Here are some books which retell the story of Noah.

398.20938 Aesop Fables

398.24 Tales and lore of plants and animals
For example: unicorns, mermaids, dragons, griffin, Pegasus and more

428 Language
Collective Nouns

590 Animals

595 Insects

597 Fish and reptiles

598 Birds (Pinterest of Australian bird stories)

599 Mammals

599.20994 Australian mammals such as Platypus

636 Pets
Unusual pets: Axolotl, hermit crab, silkworm

750 Art

782 Music
Carnival of the Animals

821 Poetry

900 History and Geography
Animals listed below come from Ann Jonas Aardvarks, disembark! Julia MacRae, 1991.
Curious Creatures from wild lands:

Africa - addax; aoudad; bongo; dik-dik; duiker; eland; fennec; gerenuk; guereza; hammerkop, hartebeest; kingspringer; kudu; marabou; oribi; serval; vervey; zoril (Pinterest of Picture books)

Middle East dromedary; lammergeier; markhor
Europe mouflon; wisent;
South and Central America caiman; capybara; coatimundi; guan; jagurundi; paca; pudu; tamandua; tuco-tuco; uakari; unau; vicuna, vizcacha;

North America condor; jabiru; margay; nene; pika; pronghorn; wapiti;
India chital; gaur; gavial; nilgal; wanderoo
Asia babirusa; barasingha, binturong; fancolin; ibex; jerboa; onager; ounce; pangolin; pecccary; peludo; rasse; ratel; siga; sika; tahr; takin; tapir;

New Zealand kiwi; takahe; tuatara;
Australia bandicoot; cassowary; echidna; emu; kookaburra; quokka; wallaroo; wombat