The Improbable Cat by Allan Ahlberg illustrated by Peter Bailey

A kitten appears in the garden on the day of younger sister Josie's seventh birthday party. Everyone welcomes the little bundle of joy. Everyone except the family dog Billy, baby Luke because he is too young and our narrator twelve year old David. Luckily, well we don't know this at the time, but luckily David is allergic to cats. 

Right from the earliest days with this kitten David suspects some thing is not quite right:

"Food. I didn't notice at first, but mum wasn't buying any of the usual brands of cat food. No, it was more like sardines and pilchards, salmon even. Salmon for a cat."

"Even from the start I must have sensed something was wrong. I mean, take that first evening: a limping kitten, which once it got into the house never limped again, and after a day or so never miaowed again either. Or purred. Or, as far as I could see, (never) even washed itself."

David watches in horror as his family disintegrate around him.  His once organised mum becomes disorganised and distracted. His neat and tidy librarian dad is dishevelled and also distracted and his sister is mesmerised. The cat grows larger each day spending all its time inside in darkened rooms watching mindless television surrounded by dirty food bowls. The cat seems to be controlling their minds.

What can David and his friend George do? The family need to be rescued but how?

I had not seen or heard of this book published in 2002 (still in print) by the wonderful UK writer Allan Ahlberg. I was in for a huge shock. This is NOT a little junior chapter book even though it is short (108 pages), contains lots of pencil illustrations and has an inviting cover.  This is a book for fans of Paul Jennings titles such as A different Dog; A different Boy; and A different land. The Improbable Cat will appeal to readers aged 10+.  There is some very strong language in this book - some of it made me gasp. This story also reminded me of an older Australia series called After Dark published by Lothian (all sadly out of print). Books like The Spirited Boy by Libby Hathorn illustrated by Chris Lynch; The Puppet by Ian Bone illustrated by Shaun Tan and The Playground by Shaun Tan.

Back to The Improbable Cat.

Kirkus "Do not be deceived by the diminutive trim size and aloofly posed but pettable-looking feline on the cover: there’s nothing warm or fuzzy about this eerie tale of a family enslaved by an adopted stray."

If you can cope with the strong language I mentioned previously then this book would make an interesting read aloud title for an older Primary group. 

You can see some other work by Peter Bailey here. 

Banana Books or Champ Books from 1980s

These are two favourites from this old series - sadly now all out of print although you can buy Freckle Juice in a different edition. If you have any of these in your library collection please hold onto them and take another look to see if the story will appeal to your students. The books themselves were made with a sturdy design and with really good paper which you will find has not turned yellow with age.

Blurb about the series: "A series of bright, funny, brilliantly imaginative stories written by some of today's top writers especially for newly fluent readers. All of the books are beautifully illustrated throughout with full colour pictures."

In the mid 1980s Mammoth and then Heinemann published a series of small format, hardcover beginning chapter books with full colour illustrations. I had many of the titles in one of my school libraries and they were very popular. Some of the best UK and US authors and illustrators contributed to the series. There are lots of books in this series I have never seen and I am guessing there may have been as many as fifty titles published.

Here are a few famous names: Joan Aiken; Judy Blume; Kevin Crossley-Holland; Anne Fine; Mary Hoffman; Rose Impey; Gene Kemp; Dick King-Smith; Sheila Lavelle; Penelope Lively; Michael Morpurgo; Ann Pilling; Chris Powling; Mary Rayner; and Jean Ure.

I did find one by an Australian author - Gillian Rubenstein - Peanut the Ponyrat. I wonder what this one is about?

Originally these little yellow books were called Banana Books but I seem to recall a dispute about this name and so later they were reprinted under the series name Champ Books and eventually some were available in paperback. You may also be confused by another series called Banana Books which came in colours such as Blue Bananas; Red Bananas; Green Bananas etc. Here is a mixed list which includes some original Banana and Champ titles along with Yellow Bananas (Egmont).

Here are some covers:

I was lucky to pick up two Champ books recently. Here are some details:

Planet of the Jumping Bears by Brian Earnshaw illustrated by Caroline Crossland (1990)

Why did I enjoy this book?  It is Science Fiction. YES, it is Science Fiction for a very young reader. This book is a terrific way to introduce this genre. 

Blurb: "Flying in their spaceship, Wind Wanderer, the twins make a crash landing on the Desert Planet. Here two rare breeds of animals, the brown and grey Jumping Bears, are threatened with starvation. Wind Wanderer's crew must repair their ship and save the bears if they are to keep up the record of IARS - the Intergalactic Animal Rescue Service."

Are you gasping!  All of this complex plot in an easy chapter book. I read it in one gulp having been quickly swept into the space adventure. In 1990 we did not have Google maps but they feature in this story with a slightly different name of Map Video. I love that the kids save the bears using pumpkins super glue called Resin-Steel. I now discover there was a sequel called "Next Stop Wildstar" (1994). There were several Banana Champ books in the Science Fiction genre for example The Moon Monster by Douglas Hill; and Jupiter Boots by Jenny Nimmo.

The Phantom Carwash by Chris Powling illustrated by Jean Baylis.

Why did I enjoy this book?  The wish for a carwash, a real one, a full sized one, seems utterly impossible and yet this dream does come true. "Superwash - use it if you dare. Transforms any vehicle. Insert a five-penny piece, a two-penny piece and a penny, strictly in that order." This reminded me of the Solo book Green Fingers by Emily Rodda and also Mike's Magic Seeds by Dick King-Smith. If you read the instructions you know you are in for a surprise. Some things will go into the carwash and come out better but some might go in and come out wrecked especially if those instructions are not faithfully followed.

Blurb: "Lenny dreams of getting a real carwash for Christmas, but he knows he'll have to do without. He thinks his Gran is mad when she tells him to write to Santa Claus - but when something strange turns up on the wasteground near his home, he begins to wonder if she was right after all."

Here are a few more which might still be in a Primary school library:

If you have the chance to look for some Banana or Champ titles try to find Amina's Blanket by Helen Dunmore; Lightning Fred by Dick King-Smith; Imp by Marjorie Dark; Sasha and the Bicycle thieves by Errol Lloyd; Yob by Dick King-Smith; and if you can find The Unicorn Dream by Douglas Hill I'd love to see it along with Alien on the 99th Floor by Jenny Nimmo and A hole in the Pole by Chris D'Lacey.

Mitsumasa Anno 20 March 1926 – 24 December 2020

All in a Day was one of my most treasured books in my former school library. It features art by the best children's book illustrators from around the world including Ron Brooks from Australia and Akiko Hayashi from Japan. In this book we follow eight children over the course of one day beginning with Oliver in Chicago where the time is 6pm on 31st December; Aki in Japan where it is midnight; and meanwhile for Ben in Australia it is 11am the next day January 1st. Mitsumasa Anno devised the idea for this book. "This is a book I made with picture book authors from eight different countries."  "We have made this book with the wish that by the time you grow up the earth will be a better place for you to live in, a place where everyone can always be happy and friendly." These final words were written in 1986. I'm not sure the wishes expressed by the creators of this splendid book have been fulfilled.

Mitsumasa Anno is a Japanese children’s book author and illustrator who is famous for telling stories in books that contain little to no text. Instead, they rely on visually arresting artwork to portray not only his characters’ stories, but also higher-level math and science concepts, jokes, optical illusions, and the author’s appreciation for travel and discovering foreign cultures. He’s created more than 35 popular children’s books, including Upside Downers, Anno’s Journey, Anno’s Counting House, Anno's Magic Seeds, and more.

Anno’s densely detailed illustrations are most often pen and ink and watercolour, but they sometimes feature woodcuts and collage, too. Because his work can include visual tricks, illusions, jokes, and math references, he is regularly and rightly compared to M.C. Escher. In 1984, he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest lifetime achievement honour in his field, in recognition of his “unique [gift] for communicating to both East and West” and his important, lasting contributions to children's illustration and literature." Skill Share.blog 15 Iconic Children's Book illustrators.

You can read more about Mitsumasa Anno:

Books and Boots - reflections on books and art "Anno’s Journey: The World of Anno"

Japan Times

I think one of the earliest picture books I ever collected for myself was Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar. It is a terrific visual way to explain multiplication. Anno's Hat Tricks shows how probability and logic work. Mitsumasa Anno taught maths in Japanese elementary schools prior to becoming an illustrator. Anno's Magic Seeds is another of his books to explore for your maths lessons. Here are some ideas for using other titles by Anno.

If you can find a copy of The King's Flower it would be good to compare this with The King who Banned the dark. 

High School art students would enjoy exploring The Unique World of Mitsumasa Anno Selected Illustrations 1968-1977.

If you are exploring Escher with a class try to find this one:

Mitsumasa Anno is one of several Japanese illustrators whose work I adore:

Allen Say   Tree of Cranes

Akiko Miyakoshi  The Piano Recital

Yutaka Kobayashi  The Most Beautiful Village in the world 

Satoshi Kitamura  Ned and the Joybaloo by Hiawyn Oram; Millie's marvellous Hat.

Kazuo Niizaka  Clouds by Peggy Blakeley

Shinsuke Yoshitake  It might be an Apple

Halfway across the Galaxy and Turn Left by Robin Klein

Friday Old Favourite

Blurb: "I don't think I can bear this exile,' said Mother on the family's second day on planet earth. 'It may not be for as long as we think,' replied X. 'At any moment Lox could beam us saying 'Come home, all if fogiven.' But it wasn't to be as easy as that. Even with their extraterrestrial powers, learning earth customs caused all sorts of problems for the crazy alien family from Zyrgon."

Why oh why oh why is this fabulous book out of print?  I despair.  Luckily I imagine you will be able to find a copy in a school library - this is where I found mine. If you have never read Halfway across the Galaxy and turn left you are in for a real treat and if you read it some time ago (as I did in 1985) I highly recommend you revisit this brilliant story. You could also look for the sequel Turn right for Zyrgon.

Why do I love Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn left by Robin Klein first published in 1985.

Quirky and perfect character names: X; Qwrk; Dovis; Lox and Aunt Hecla.

A character you truly care about: X has moved her family halfway across the galaxy to escape the authorities on Zyrgon who suspect her father has been engaging in illegal gambling. X is the family organiser a role she takes very seriously. She has prepared and researched their new life on earth but there is so much she does not know. The responsibility of taking care of her family is just way to much for this young girl and then there is the awful bullying she must endure at school along with the constant fear of making mistakes on this new planet.

The individuality of each member of the family: Qwrk is a five year old genius who discovers he is also a spectacular musician; Dovis can levitate and recite poetry and she is so utterly beautiful every one who meets her is entranced; father is a talented gambler but he is also a brilliant cook; and mother is an amazing fashion designer. 

I re-read Halfway across the Galaxy and Turn left in one sitting today. I loved it all over again. In this blog post from 2015 you can read more about this book. Halfway across the Galaxy and Turn left would be a perfect class read aloud book for Grade 4 or 5. 

I have now discovered a Television series was made based on this book. There were 28 thirty minute episodes. 

Dog on a Broomstick by Jan Page illustrated by Nick Price

Publisher blurb: "The countdown has started for the Grand Spell Contest and the Witch's cat has run off to be a cat-food tester! Then the Dog appears on her doorstep. He can't scratch, but he can dig big holes. He can't hiss and spit, but he can growl, dribble and cover everything is muddy pawprints. Will the Witch let the Dog help her at the Grand Spell Contest? And most importantly, can they both fit on her broomstick?"

Dog fans will love this easy, funny little illustrated chapter book. Dog's determination to be the perfect companion for the Witch reminded me of A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle. The crazy spells in the story reminded me of The Boy with two Shadows and The witch in the Cherry Tree both by Margaret Mahy.

I have discovered Jan Page wrote a sequel to Dog on a Broomstick - Dognapped!  I need to keep my eye out for a copy next time I go to a used book sale.

I was talking with a colleague who is new to the role in a school library. At the beginning of the year with Grade Two I like to introduce various easy chapter series such as Aussie Nibbles; Aussie Bites; Sprinters; Corgi Pups; Colour Puffins; and Solo stories.

This little gem if from the Corgi Pups series. It is out of print but you are sure to find some school libraries have copies of books from the Corgi Pups series.

Here are some other Corgi Pup titles:

Happy Mouse Day

Corgi Pups were first published around 1997. In 2013 some of the titles were reissued as Colour First Readers:

Nick Price is the illustrator of another series that I really adore - perfect to read aloud. There are six books in the Tumtum and Nutmeg series.  They are out of print but are sure to be found in most school library collections:

Heart and Soul by Carol Ann Martin illustrated by Tull Suwannakit

Charlie Wintergreen loves to play his trumpet and remember the past when he played in a dance-band. His companion now is a small scruffy dog called Louis that he has rescued from the Dogs' Home. Louis, named perhaps after Louis Armstrong, loves to sing along with Charlie.

One night Charlie becomes quite ill and he is taken away in an ambulance. Louis has lost his best friend. 

"So Louis became a street dog, a scrawny, no-name stray. He learned to scavenge and scrounge for food. He slept in dark corners at night."

Louis keeps looking for Charlie. Then on Christmas Eve he hears a musician. Pete is a busker. He makes a living playing his trumpet out in the street. Louis joins in with his song and soon the pair have a heap of coins in Pete's busker's hat. Pete takes Louis home to his share house and they become partners. This is a small town and word of their music reaches the matron at the Rowantree Nursing Home. Pete and Louis are invited to play for the residents on Christmas Day. You have probably guessed there is an old man in the home "an old man in a wheelchair (who) lifted his trumpet and started to play."

Image Source: Tull Suwannakit

Given the current social situation and the coming together to protect elderly members of our population, this book unknowingly expresses the value we place in our wisest of community members.   Reading Time

I would read this book with some jazz music playing in the background. You might talk to your young reading companion about soul music and the expression to play music with your heart and soul. It might also be good to compare Louis with other "famous" stray dogs in Australian Picture books such as Mutt Dog and Reggie Queen of the Street. I'd also recommend taking a look at the wordless book Stormy. Carol Ann Martin lives in Tasmania and her husband is a jazz musician!

I am gathering books published in 2020 which might be added to the CBCA Notables list which will be announced at the end of February. Fingers crossed Heart and Soul makes the cut.

It is so sad when an elderly person is moved into a care home and I know a children's picture book or novel cannot undo the difficulties or hurt of this situation but books like Heart and Soul and others I have placed here might help a young child explore their emotions and hopefully ask questions if they have an elderly relative in this situation.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

Newspaper Hats

A home for Gnomes

A Rabbit named Harris

The ABC with Honora Lee

The Theory of Hummingbirds by Michelle Kadarusman

"I'm sick of having to feel lucky and patient. I just want to feel NORMAL. I don't want to limp. I want to stop being different. And I want to be in the stupid race!"

Alba has been born with a club foot. She is in fourth grade and has endured many surgeries and years of pain. The final surgery is now completed and Alba is about to see her repaired foot for the first time. Alba watches the other girls, especially Miranda Gray. She longs to be as popular and carefree and beautiful as Miranda. Alba has a really good friend. A boy called Levi. He has serious asthma issues and so these friends spend their lunch periods inside the school because Alba feels she cannot play the games enjoyed by the others and Levi because he needs to take care in case he has a serious asthma attack.

Being inside Levi and Alba witness a mystery. Their librarian seems to disappear each day at lunch time. Her office lights are off and the room is empty and then she seems to suddenly appear out of nowhere. Levi is convinced Ms Sharma has discovered a wormhole.

Both Levi and Alba love birds. They have completed a class research assignment on hummingbirds. Alba can see lots of parallels between her own experiences and the life of the hummingbird. 

We meet, very briefly, a very interesting character in this story called Abigail. She offers beautiful heartfelt wisdom to Alba. I do hope Michelle Kadarusman has plans to tell us more about Abigail. The relationship between Alba and her doctor is also very special and there is a hint of a love story between doctor Schofield and Alba's mum.

As is the way with all relationships Alba and Levi have a serious "falling out". Days go by until Alba discovers a note in her room. Someone has sent her a very special story - a legend about the hummingbird - and this story gives her the courage to chase her dream and apologise to her precious friend.

I've seen this book praised on several book lists but I confess I was confused. I seem to have read a few books lately which feature hummingbirds such as The Secret Library of Hummingbird House.  

This book has such a sweet ending. I think it will be enjoyed by readers aged 9+. The cover of the Australian edition of The Theory of Hummingbirds is by Tasmanian illustrator Julie Hunt. I found some other cover designs for The Theory of Hummingbirds.

Here is an interview with Michelle Kadarusman where she shares some hints for writers. And in this interview Michelle talks with Joy Lawn at Paperbark Words. Michelle grew up in Melbourne, lived in Indonesia and she now calls Toronto Canada her home. In this video Megan Daley talks about The Theory of Humming birds and reads the blurb.

Megan Daley: "This is an own voices story."  "It has a real authenticity ... the authenticity and the lightness of this book were the strengths." "An exploration of a really beautiful friendship."

A quick, sweet read. Kirkus

One part of this book that made me smile came when Michelle shared some library wisdom. Naturally I love stories with kind and special teacher-librarians like Ms Sharma:

"Is there a better place to be than two pages into a good book."

"Today's Science Fiction is tomorrow's science fact."

Duck, Apple, Egg by Glenda Millard illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

Here is part of text of this book. 

Duck on the green,

sun in the sky,

egg in the nest,

apple on the tree,

and me.

Duck in the sky,

sun in the nest,

egg on the tree,

apple on the green,

and me. ...

Me on the green

under the sun

beneath the sky

beside the tree

with the duck

on her egg

in the nest.

Apple in a pie.

Pie in me.

When you see the name Glenda Millard on the cover of a book you know you are in for a treat. Glenda has such a rich grasp of the way language works - the power of a single word perfectly placed. Receiving this text, which I imagine was just one typed page, would surely be daunting for any illustrator. The way authors and illustrators are paired is somewhat of a mystery but often the process is controlled by the publisher. If that is the case here, then I offer huge congratulations to Harper Collins and ABC Books. It is so important for a picture book to employ equal partners - the author pens a brilliant text and the illustrator creates images both worthy of the words but also images that take young readers beyond the words into another realm of imagination. I had not heard of Martina Heiduczek but she has made this simple picture book truly special. I love the limited colour palette especially the moss green grass, the blue house roof which matches the pants worn by the small child and the perfect red she has used for the shiny apples. 

Image source: Booktopia

I now discover Martina did the illustrations for the wonderful Senior Primary novel - We are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad.

I am going to predict Duck, Apple, Egg will be included on the CBCA 2021 Notable titles which will shortly be announced.  Take a look the teacher notes. This book should be added to every Preschool book shelf and it would make a joyous gift for a young child too.

The illustrations have a charming slightly European feel to it – that green is so very fresh but Australian children will love it. StoryLinks

You can’t help but smile when you read this picture book. It pulls you back into your childhood and the delights of being in nature, doing nothing in particular and loving it. Kids Book Review

Glenda Millard is the author of the wonderful Tishkin Silk series along with these picture books:

Duck and the Darklings

Lightning Jack

Extraordinary by Penny Harrison illustrated by Katie Wilson

"Perhaps you dream of skipping through stars? 

Of harnessing unicorns, sailing round Mars?"

"But what of the ordinary, everyday thing? 

The soft, quiet moment that makes the world sing?"

When you open this book with your young reading companion sitting beside you take a minute or two to flip between the front and back end papers. What do you see that is different? What are some reasons things might have changed? Can you link these images to the title word - extraordinary? 

I love that this book celebrates:

• being quiet
• observing the natural world
• using your imagination
• sharing the outdoors with family

"Just remember the ordinary is extraordinary, too."

The soothing rhythmic story would be a great addition to the bedtime reading routine. Book Trust

From the gold foil highlights on the front cover to the whimsical illustrations, the rhyming text and the beautiful story, this story is bound to become a firm favourite for children, parents and carers, educators and librarians. Reading Time

I have a Pinterest of Quiet stories. Many of these would be great to use alongside Extraordinary.

In this video Penny Harrison reads her book (I love her quiet voice and gentle reading pace) and talks about noticing the small things in nature. Here are a set of teaching notes. I found a VERY surprising video of Sarah Ferguson (yes that Sarah Ferguson) reading this book. Here is a web site for the illustrator Katie Wilson and one for Penny Harrison.

I am reading some books that might be selected for our CBCA Notable list. I think Extraordinary could be a contender for the CBCA list. Penny Harrison's rhyming words work really well. This is not always the case when authors choose to write their text using rhyme. Little children are sure to be attracted to the sparkles on the cover too.  

My friend at Kinderbookboard and I have made a Pinterest collection of the Australian children's picture books published in 2020. The CBCA Notables are likely to be found in this collection. They will be announced at the end of February so watch this space.