Frankie and the Fossil by Jess McGeachin

There is a sweet charm to this story. Frankie loves to visit the museum especially the dinosaurs but when she sees a sign that says "don't feed the fossil" and she is worried. This does not seem fair. She pulls her cheese sandwich out of her pocket and gives it to the huge diplodocus skeleton. On the way home she has a funny feeling. Late that night the diplodocus appears at her window. Frankie gives him some toast in the morning because surely he must be hungry after 152 million years. Then she spends a terrific day playing with her new friend. Everything is going well until a man arrives from the museum. 

Frankie and the Fossil is a whimsical story of friendship, discovery, belonging and never letting go of the ones you love. Reading Time

No doubt any small child who loves dinosaurs will love this book, which is filled with full-sized illustrations, many of which are set inside the museum. Buzz words

I did wonder about the cheese sandwich idea on the last pages. Children who love dinosaurs are often experts just like Frankie so I wonder if they might be a little affronted that the author includes something so silly as cheese, cheese and ham and ham sandwiches to label the dinosaurs. But then again it is good fun. I was rather thrilled to see my own favourite dinosaurs - the Muttaburrasaurus.

The wordless page adds a good layer of poignancy to the story and allows the reader to slow down. 

There are some interesting (if not subtle) inclusions in the illustrations – the blind man with a guide dog on the train, and a museum visitor in a wheelchair.  It is interesting that Jess used a boy’s name (Frankie) for his main character but of course she is a girl so it is good to see a book about a girl who loves dinosaurs. The dino-loving child is a girl from a single mother family who has found a way to share her knowledge and passion with others.

Jess McGeachin gives his fossil so much life and personality! The way he uses little dots for eyes and the 'puppy dog' mannerisms and expressions are perfect.  Look for the humorous background details in the images (like the dino mailbox!). 

I absolutely adored Jess McGeachin’s previous book Fly.

I listened to an interview with Jess McGeachin recently. I should not have been surprised to discover this:

"Jess draws quite literally from a day job at Melbourne Museum, where he’s lucky enough to help design exhibitions and occasionally get lost in the basement."

AND this "He has fond memories of visiting the old Melbourne Museum where his mum worked as a scientific illustrator, meticulously drawing strange sea-creatures in glass jars."

Frankie and the Fossil is a CBCA Picture Book Notable title for 2022. Take a look at a recent post about museums and then see if you can find any of these books in your school library. I do wish I had this wonderful dinosaur popup book with amazing paper art by Robert Sabuda. 

The Fossil Girl

Sherlock Bones

Don't Forget by Jane Godwin illustrated by Anna Walker

"Don't forget that life is long, you're not alone, 

that you are strong and don't forget that you belong."

Let's begin with the cover - the smiling faces of the children are very inviting as is the fact that they have been adventurous enough to climb a tree. One child is showing her friend a tiny caterpillar perhaps they are remembering the famous book by Eric Carle. It is a sunny autumn day and if you stretch out the cover the illustration spread right across from front to back. 

Some questions from the cover:

• Who are these children?
• What do they need to remember?
• Will we meet these children in the story?
• Do you think this book will have a message? Can you guess the author's intention from the title?

Now open the book and pause over the end papers. I like the subtle change between the front and back endpapers with the addition of the kite which has travelled on from the happy community event seen on the previous pages. 

Turn the page again and you will see a small child about to pick a dandelion flower while her dog runs on happily ahead. On the final page you will see the little girl has picked the dandelion and she is blowing the seeds onto the wind. 

The book begins with some practical advice - "Don't forget to make your bed and wear socks that fit your feet." Over the following pages the advice becomes more general and more philosophical - "Don't forget to try new things, to smell the flowers, watch the ocean and listen to the music of the trees."

The repeated motif of ‘Don’t forget’ works so well in this philosophical tale and I like the way the advice moves from practical (clean your teeth) to more abstract/mindful suggestions. 

This book would be a beautiful gift for a new baby but it is also a book you could share with older children as a way to discuss book design, placement of illustrations, pace, page turns and the way Anna Walker interprets the text by Jane Godwin of extending her words in surprising ways. Anna and Jane have made eight books together. 

This book is a worthy addition to the already bulging shelves of mindfulness books that have been appearing recently. The second last page of this book is such a joyful celebration of community and brings together all the gentle advice shared through each page as we see the children we met earlier smiling, playing, sharing, lending a hand and trying new things.  There are some very tender moments in the illustrations which beautifully extend the text well beyond the word such as ‘don’t forget to smile’ where we see the little girl helping her friend with his broken model. The variety of children Anna has included also seem very natural. It is good to notice the way scenes move from inside to outside.

Anna Walker creates love, life and community on the pages through her illustrations. She brings a whole neighbourhood alive and gives each character hopes and dreams and history. The story of their lives plays out on the pages as the kids and their families navigate their worlds, connect and share, and remember not to forget the things that matter. Kids' Book Review

Don't Forget is a CBCA Picture Book of the Year Notable title for 2022.

Take a look at my post about window books which I created as a response to our Covid lock downs. Companion books to read alongside Don't Forget:

Silence

The Quiet Book

A Song full of Sky

Extraordinary

A New Green Day

Happy

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle

All over Britain children are being evacuated to rural towns but not Joseph. His grandmother sends him to London to live with Mrs Farrelly. Mrs F comes from a family that owned and ran a zoo. Now that Hitler is sending bombs every night most of the zoo animals have either been sent away or sadly destroyed. The only animals still needing care are a couple of camels, some birds, two wolves and an old silverback gorilla named Adonis. 

Joseph feels rejected by everyone. His grandmother has sent him away.  His mother left when he was just five. His father has joined the army. School is hell. Joseph is regularly bullied and he simply cannot learn to read.  The words dance around on the page. 

Life in London takes on a new pattern. School is worse than ever but after school Joseph and a young orphan girl Syd help care for the remaining zoo animals cleaning their cages and scrounging food. Each evening when the bomb raid siren sounds, Mrs F heads to her zoo. Joseph is so distressed to discover she goes there to shoot Adonis. At first Adonis terrifies Joseph but over the weeks he comes to form a very special bond with this huge creature. Mrs F holds a gun during the bombing because she knows if the zoo is bombed and Adonis is set free everyone will be in danger. She does not want to shoot this noble creature but she might be forced to do this terrible thing. 

The young boy in this book is at times so astute about the emotions and motivations of others but he also totally misunderstands at crucial times and worse he never stops to think about his own reaction to events and others. I have never read a book filled with so much anger. I knew I was in safe hands or I hoped I was in safe hands with Phil Earle and that all of this would be resolved but the anger is so unrelenting in this story that at times I just had to put this book down. I think I almost held my breath for 257 pages of the 302 desperate for Joseph to open up to Mrs F. Desperate for Joseph to understand and accept the kindness of others. Hoping Joseph could rid himself of his terrible guilt and sense of worthlessness. 

Here are a few text quotes to give you a flavour of this writing:

"He had no idea why this woman had volunteered to take him in, or of the link that existed between them, but she clearly knew he had no mother; he saw it in her eyes. And her knowing bothered him."

"He didn't want to be here; in this room, this house, this city, but like everything in life, it seemed he had no choice in how it played out. At the same time, deep in his gut, he knew he was to blame."

"He didn't like the way she spoke, as if she knew exactly what was going on up there. And he certainly didn't like her talking about her dad. She didn't know him, about how Joseph missed him every day, not how angry he was that he hadn't been there when he really did need him."

"Today was different, for as Joseph crouched on his haunches facing Adonis, he felt the ape's fingers brush his. Joseph swallowed a gasp as a jolt of electricity ripped through him. It was thrilling."

"Joseph's heart rattled like a snare drum, then threatened to explode as Adonis patted his head gently, not with one hand, but with both. He felt tears spring into his eyes at the gentleness of the act, then fall down is cheeks as Adonis lifted his chin, resting Joseph's forehead against his own."

"Mrs F had no idea how to tell him, what words to use, or even how to think about calming him afterwards. How do you hold a boy together, when he was already broken? There were already too many pieces to manage, without dropping and damaging even more."

You can hear Phil Earle talking about his book. The publisher lists this book for 9+ but I think this is a book for an older reader 11+. Here is the US cover:

An unusual, moving war story with excellent writing and compelling characters. Kirkus

This is a beautifully written historical adventure story that will take readers on a very emotional and exciting journey. The pace is fast and the feelings run high. The reader ends up fighting for Joseph and Adonis all the way – and this book is almost impossible to put down. Book Trust

The deep anger and tense emotions in this book reminded me of The Night Bus hero.

The River by Tom Percival

In this book the river itself is a metaphor for the turbulent emotions that a young boy experiences when his precious old dog Atlas dies. BUT none of this is stated explicitly in the text.  

When we meet Rowan he is content. Look at this sentence and think about the words encircled and hug - how do they make you feel?

"Rowan sat beneath his favourite tree, looking out at the hills which encircled his home like a hug. Rowan loved everything about this place, but most of all, he loved ... the river."

The river can be quiet and playful, wild and angry. In winter though, his frozen river makes him feel "as cold and alone as the moon." (you can see this page here)

Spring arrives but the river stays frozen and Rowan continues to feel a deep deep sadness. Summer arrives with flowers in the fields and bird song but the river remains frozen. 

"Then just as autumn was approaching and the leaves were beginning to curl, something remarkable happened."

Rowan finds an injured bird and now he can pour his love onto another living creature. As the bird is healed and Rowan watches it fly high in the sky, the river finally breaks free and the ice melts.

The author’s love of the countryside shines through in the stunning natural panoramas in a palette of colours similar to a Constable landscape. Little Parachutes

The river is a character in its own right and provides a metaphor for Rowan’s emotions. It isn’t the same each day – sometimes it’s calm. Or playful. Or angry. But as Rowan comes to terms with his loss he realises that, just like the river, his own emotions are ever changing. Story Snug

Subtle, beautiful and thought provoking. LoveReading4Kids

I highly recommend this book for your Primary school library.  It is such a gentle and affirming book on the topic of the death of a loved pet.  I don't think I have read another book which so gently tackles this complex topic.  Take a look some other posts about grief and emotions by reading about these books:

Toby

A Last Goodbye

The Rabbit Listened

Here are some other books by Tom Percival. He is such a wonderful illustrator and storyteller:

The Invisible

The Sea Saw

Herman's Holiday

Herman's Letter

My August Reading Pile

This book is at the top of my 'to read' pile. It contains background information about so many 

old favourite titles and books I need to explore further or even for the first time.

Here is a sneak peek at the dozen or so books on my August 'to read' pile - or part of it anyway. I will be adding picture books and an occasional non fiction title over the month too.

Books I purchased from Beachside Bookshop:

The collected works of Gretchen Oyster by Cary Fagan

Why did I select this book? The cover - YES it looks SO good and I have previously read another book by Cary Fagan and it is a slim book (173 pages) with colour (yes colour!) illustrations. And finally the title is so intriguing. The cover art is by Felicita Sala. 

Blurb: Who is Gretchen Oyster? The discovery of a series of mysterious handmade postcards distracts Hartley from trouble at home. A poignant novel for fans of Rebecca Stead and Holly Goldberg Sloan. Hartley Staples, near-graduate of middle school, is grappling with the fact that his older brother has run away from home, when he finds a handmade postcard that fascinates him. And soon he spots another. Despite his losing interest in pretty much everything since Jackson ran away, Hartley finds himself searching for cards in his small town at every opportunity, ignoring other responsibilities, namely choosing a topic for his final project. Who is G.O. and why are they scattering cards about the town?

The Midnighters by Hana Tooke

Why did I select this book?  I adored a previous book by Hana Tooke - The Unadoptables, I am not often swayed by endorsements but The Midnighters is endorsed by the wonderful Katherine Rundell and it has a Kirkus star review.

Blurb: Ema Vasková has always felt different. In a family of famous scientists, there's not much room for superstition or omens - but they seem to follow Ema wherever she goes. It doesn't help that she appears to predict events before they happen, and has a peculiar fear of shadows . . . When Ema is sent to stay with her eccentric uncle in Prague, she fears she'll lose the chance to ever fit in. But then she meets Silvie - a girl who finally sees Ema for the extraordinary person that she is. Soon the girls are meeting for secret midnight adventures, and facing Ema's fears together. But then disaster strikes. Silvie goes missing - and it's up to Ema to find her. Now she must gather the courage to hunt the city, find her friend, and uncover the secrets of the one clue Silvie left as to where she might be - inside the mysterious Midnight Guild . . .

No words by Maryam Master

Why did I select this book? I enjoyed the previous book by Maryam Master - Exit through the Gift Shop. I like the cover and this is a refugee story. I am collecting refugee stories for a planned IBBY Australia presentation. Here is an interview with Maryam Master by Joy Lawn at Paperbark Words.

Blurb: Hero doesn't feel like a hero, but sometimes she feels as if the universe is asking her to be one. When Aria, a mysterious boy who never EVER speaks, starts at school and is picked on by His Royal Thug-ness Doofus (Rufus), Hero and her bestie Jaz feel compelled to help. But they're far too chicken to actually do anything heroic, so they befriend Aria and try to uncover the truth about him. What happened to his voice? Where did he come from? What are those three dents on his middle finger? This is the story of a 12-year-old refugee who's trying to establish a new life in Australia, grapple with his past and, most importantly, find his voice. 'Cos, boy, does he have a story to tell.

Other books I purchased today:

Maria's Island by Victoria Hislop

Why did I select this book?  When I was talking about The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave I saw Maria's Island listed as a companion text. I'm also happy to read a shorter book (125 pages) with colour illustrations. 

Blurb: The absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga – Greece’s former leper colony – is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith’s rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.

My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk

Why did I select this book?  Lauren Wolk is the author of Wolf Hollow; Beyond the Bight Sea and Echo Mountain and each of these books had a profound effect on me. 

Blurb: It’s been several months since the tragic events set in motion by bully Betty Glengarry, and the routine of daily life in Wolf Hollow has slowly returned. But for Annabelle McBride it’s hard to move forward and make peace with what feels like threadbare justice. Newly warm summer days are about to bring a jolt of change on the winds of a powerful storm. In its wake, the search for her brother’s missing dog will set Annabelle on a new path that brings her to unfamiliar doorsteps and reunites her with a too-familiar adversary—Andy Woodberry, who was complicit in Betty’s most terrible acts. Growing up and blazing her own trail will soon force Annabelle to reexamine deeply felt truths—about people, about justice, about herself—that had once seemed so uncomplicated.

Shelter by Christie Matheson

Why did I select this book? It is a hardcover book for less than $20 and the shop was offering a 20% discount! It has a dust jacket and under the dust jacket there is an embossed image - I love it when publishers take the time and care to add special design features like this. This book is fairly new published in 2021 and it is an example of realistic fiction about the important topic of homelessness. The publisher blub mentions two books I previously enjoyed One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullay Hunt and Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson.

Blurb: Fifth grade can be tough for anyone. There are cliques and mean kids and homework and surprise math tests. But after tragedy strikes her family, almost-eleven-year-old Maya has a painful secret that makes many days feel nearly impossible. And today might be Maya’s toughest yet. Her family is on edge, she needs to travel alone across the city, a bully is out to get her, and Maya has to face this winter’s biggest rainstorm without a coat or an umbrella. But even on the rainiest days, there’s hope that the sun will come out soon.

Advance reader copies (huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop)

How to be the new person by Anna Branford published by Walker Books due October, 2022

Anna Branford is the author of the Violet Mackerel series.

A girl called Corpse by Reece Carter published by Allen and Unwin due October, 2022

Reece Carter originally comes from Western Australia. This is a long book with 327 pages. In the UK this book will have a different title (sigh) The Girl, the Ghost and the Lost Name. Here are the two covers.

Mia and the Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy published by Faber due August, 2022

You can see the cover here (sorry I doesn't really appeal to me but again I am not the intended demographic). 

Runt by Craig Silvey illustrated by Sara Acton published by Allen and Unwin due October, 2022

Craig Silvey is the author of adult books including Jasper Jones. 

Tilda by Sue Whiting published by Walker Books due September, 2022

I have previously talked about other books by Sue Whiting - Beware the Deep Dark Forest; The Book of Chance; Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast and A strange Little Monster. Many years ago I read her book Battle of the Rats some of the plot still lingers with me. 

Honour among Ghosts by Sean Williams published by Allen and Unwin due September, 2022

I previously read and gave five stars to Her Perilous Mansion by Sean Williams. Sean lives in South Australia.

How did I go last month? Here is the post where I list the titles on my June and July 2022 reading pile.

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela  FIVE STARS

Fake by Ele Fountain

Miss Penny Dreadful and the midnight kittens by Allison Rushby

The Wintrish Girl by Melanie LaBrooy Blog post coming soon

Ember Shadows and the fates of Mount Never by Rebecca King

The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards

The Deadly Daylight by Ash Harrier

The Runaways of Haddington Hall by Vivian French

Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire

All four quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr Blog post coming soon

The Greatest Mistakes that went Right by Maddy Mara illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

"Are you in a hurry to wonder and worry

That new things you try won't go right?

When they simply don't work, don't go all berserk

Mistakes can grow wings and take flight."

I do like the premise that mistakes, from the past, lead to wonderful things but where does this book fit? The text is a rhyming narrative but the inventions and inventors are real people so I will say this is a non fiction book but it is one that will appeal to your youngest readers because the text is accessible, the inventions are quirky and at times the 'blooper' inventions are quite funny.

The opening rhyming pages work well as you can read in my text quote above -  setting the scene and while I would prefer a different form because I am not a huge fan of rhyme in this book this is well sustained throughout as we meet each famous person and his or her invention.

The back matter is easy to read and could be a jumping off point for further research. The end papers are well designed with the first filled with crumpled paper and at the back the paper is transformed into paper planes which have been made with great skill.  I also like the reverse “s” on the cover and title page which invites curious readers to discover more.  This book encourages children to persist and experiment and think creatively.  

Who do we meet in this book? Alexander Fleming (penicillin), Maria Ann Smith (Granny Smith Apple), R James (the slinky), the chemist Perkin (mauve dye), Garrett A Morgan (traffic lights), Kay Zofall (Play-Doh), and Wilson Greatbatch (heart pacemaker).

I am a huge fan of Cheryl Orsini ever since I saw her charming a large group of children at the Sydney Writers Festival.  And now I am especially envious because she has been spending time at the farmhouse called Milkwood which has been set up by Sophie Blackall as a writers retreat. 

Here are some other books with the same theme as The Greatest Mistakes that went right:

Further Reading:

7 amazing inventions discovered by mistake BigThink

10 Inventions That Changed The World, But Were Made By Mistake StoryPick

10 Silly Inventions That Became Wildly Famous HowStuffWorks

Cheryl and Maddy have a new book which was published this year:

Winston and the Indoor Cat by Leila Rudge

 

Winston is happy with his outdoor life. He has no idea that other cats have an entirely different life indoors. Surely the Indoor Cat needs to be set free. Winston finds a way to open the door and the Indoor Cat does spend some time outside but he decides the indoors are better. He invites Winston inside but the indoors do not really suit him unless perhaps (spoiler alert) it is a rainy day.

This version of Town Mouse and Country Mouse is perfect for a very young child. It is good to see the use of a more complex but still accessible vocabulary with words such as pristine; exhilarated; and leisure. The small twist at the end is again, sure to appeal to a very young child. The end papers could be used as a discussion point about the food given to the indoor cat contrasted with the food found by the outdoor cat. 

Rudge’s trademark soft and whimsical artwork accompanies the story with a gentle sense of humour. Through distinct indoor and outdoor settings that complement each cat respectively, we see the duo learn more about each other – and themselves – discovering their distinct personalities and where their comfort zones lie. Better Reading

I wonder why the outdoor cat has a name – Winston - but the indoor cat has no name?  The change of colours from orange tones for outdoors and grey and blue tones for indoors works well to define their living spaces. 

Winston and the Indoor cat has been short listed for the CBCA Book of the Year award early Childhood. Here are the comments from the judges: 

Friendship and individuality are explored in this gently told story of two very different cats. Winston, the outdoor cat, tries to entice the indoor cat outside, while the indoor cat, who is comfortable with its leisurely life, tempts Winston into its world inside the house. Characterisation is developed through subtle expressions of the cats when they find themselves outside their respective normal environments. With short sentences and concise phrases, young children will delight in listening to the words while being captivated by the illustrations. Beautiful, soft watercolour and pencil illustrations vary from full-page spreads to small vignettes and the final sequence where the cats agree to disagree and find common ground is a satisfying and humorous resolution.

I was chatting with my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything about sharing this book with her youngest students.  She was surprised to discover only one or two children in each group actually owned a pet cat. The concept of keeping a cat inside and that the cat would be content to stay inside and not feel trapped was a very difficult one for many of these five year-olds.

As a companion book my friend read this one:

You will also want to share a few versions of Town Mouse and Country Mouse alongside Winston and the Indoor cat.

If you are sharing Winston and the Indoor cat with a group of younger children try to find this little beginning chapter book:

Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole

I would also look for this one:

Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse

With a group of older students you might share this book which compares the domestic Dog with his cousin the Wolf.

Wolf and Dog

Leila Rudge is the author/illustrator of several books which I have loved sharing with students in my school library - Gary; Once upon a Small Rhinoceros; and Duck for a Day.