The Lorikeet Tree by Paul Jennings

Twins - are they always friends? Do they share interests and abilities? Not necessarily. Emily and Alex are twins but they are also very different from one another. Emily loves literature, writing and nature. She is afraid of heights. Emily anticipates consequences of the actions of others. Alex is fantastic at building and maths. He loves constructing crazy structures. He has the idea that his actions can make things change. This is an echo of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Little Match Girl. 

Five kittens are born to a feral cat under their house. Alex needs something to love. Emily knows a cat will mean trouble for the beautiful wild creatures, especially the birds, that have found refuge in the forest the family have created around their home. 

Years earlier their mother has died and now the twins have to cope with the desperately sad news that their father has an inoperable brain tumour.

The structure of this book is simply wonderful. Emily is writing a memoir as a school assignment and so each section is divided with a teacher feedback page which grades her work. The memoir format gives this book so much honesty.

This is a beautiful story told in a very unique way. ... With rich characters who reveal ALL their flaws, it’s the kind of book kids will read and remember forever. ... I am forever changed after reading it, and you will be too. Kids' Book Review

This morning I headed off to my local independent book store where I picked up a great stack of middle grade book and Young Adult. In my next post I will list all of the titles because they will be my reading for February.  

I couldn't wait to read this latest book by Australian master storyteller Paul Jennings. By coincidence I had read a review of this book this morning over breakfast also by coincidence this book was released today! As with other recent novels by Paul Jennings I was immediately engulfed in this story and yes, I read the whole book in one sitting - it felt like I stopped breathing!

Publisher blurb Allen and Unwin: A sister and brother face the hardest year of their lives and discover the healing power of nature in this compelling tale from master storyteller Paul Jennings. Emily loves the bush and the native animals on her family's reforested property, particularly the beautiful rainbow lorikeets that nest in one of the tallest trees. But then her father is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and Emily's world enters a tailspin. Her twin brother, Alex, refuses to accept the truth. His coping mechanism is to build elaborate additions to his treehouse in the superstitious belief that it will avert disaster - leaving Emily to deal with harsh reality on her own. When Alex secretly adopts a feral kitten, going against everything that's important to Emily, the siblings' emotions reach boiling point - with potentially dangerous consequences for them all. A moving story of family, loss and love, from one of Australia's most beloved storytellers.

The setting for this book is quintessentially Australian set in Warrnambool which is actually where Paul Jennings lives. But having said that I do hope this book reaches an international audience even though I imagine for the US market the book will probably be given a different title. I regularly read books set in Maine, New York, or Florida in the US and of course from many other places around the world. I think it is wonderful to read books set in other places and so I hope publishers will grab this book and make it available to readers (aged 11+) in the US, UK and beyond. Similarly readers from other countries may be unfamiliar with our lorikeet but again I am happy to read about birds we don't have here in Australia such as the hummingbird, woodpecker and chickadee. 

Image source: Moonlit Sanctuary (Victoria)

You can read more about The Lorikeet Tree on Paul Jennings web page and see the first draft of the cover (which I really like). 

Paul Jennings first wrote his short stories back in 1985 and they were splendid but if you haven't read these three more recent Paul Jennings books (yes he is famous for those terrific short stories such as the ones in the book Unreal) head out to your library now and grab them - and I do mean NOW

A Different Dog

A Different Boy

Meet the illustrator Komako Sakai

Image from the book "As if Listening"

I was visiting a friend recently and she showed me her review copy of The Bear and the Wildcat (Gecko Press) which will become available here in Australia today! Her review will appear in the next issue of Magpies Magazine.

Blurb: When the little bird dies, his friend the bear is inconsolable. Full of grief, he locks himself in his house and ventures out again only when the smell of young spring grass blows through his window. He always carries a small box, which he opens for no one. He meets a wildcat who understands his need to carry the box. As the cat plays on her violin, the bear remembers all the beauty he experienced with the little bird. Now he can bury his friend, keeping him alive in his memories and feelings. The Bear and the Wildcat shows a way through paralysing grief and simultaneously tells the story of a hopeful new friendship.

When I saw this book I recognised the art. I have read another book by Komako Sakai - The Snow Day. I will talk in more detail about this one soon after I borrow it from a library. I am puzzled why I haven't shared it previously.

Komako Sakai was born in Hyogo, Japan, in 1966. After graduating from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Sakai worked at a kimono textile design company. She is currently one of the most popular author/illustrators in Japan. Her books Emily's Balloon and The Snow Day have received starred reviews and much acclaim. Sadly many of her books are either not available in English and many are also out of print. Take a look here to see some of her Japanese titles.  Here is a Pinterest collection with over 200 illustrations. 

In this post from Seven Impossible things Before Breakfast you can see art by Komako Sakai and read an interview with Jules. And in this Kirkus column Jules talks in depth about her favourite books. 

Here are some other books illustrated by Komako Sakai:

Blurb: This charming story follows two children who go looking for their jump rope and discover that a group of foxes have claimed it as an answer to their wish. With beautiful, classic illustrations and lyrical text, here is a subtle, sensitive piece of magic that proves to sisters, brothers, and foxes alike that the trusted familiar often lives right next to the truly extraordinary–if only you have the eyes to see it.

Kirkus star review: It’s a charming, unlikely tale, made appealing by Sakai’s sensitive artwork in lustrous acrylics and grease pencil, embellished with striking fine magenta ballpoint touches. The subtle coloration perfectly complements the simple language; the sky turns “peachy” as the sun sets, and the “light was golden and the air was warm” as the happy children run home.

Blurb: Little Bunny is VERY MAD at his mommy. She sleeps too late. She talks too much. She watches her silly shows instead of cartoons. And she gets mad for no reason – just a few little bubbles on the floor. The only thing left to do is run away. But does he really want to leave Mommy behind forever?

See inside this book here - Enchanted Lion - sadly this is out of print

Kirkus Review: The paint-and–coloured-pencil illustrations stand out, with Sakai achieving a textured, scratchy, smudged look that wonderfully captures both the humans’ and the cats’ personalities; the adorable, blue-eyed kitten is marvellously realistic and winsome, 

its coat palpably soft.

Old Fellow by Christopher Cheng illustrated by Liz Anelli

I like the enigma at the beginning of this sweet story - who is the 'old fellow'? Is the old dog or his elderly owner? It takes until the fourth spread for this to become clear - the narrator is the old man and he is having a conversation with his very old dog and they walk to their local park.

"Goodness me! We must be slow today. There are so many dogs and people here already. Look at that puppy chasing his tail. I remember when another small puppy couldn't stop chasing his tail!"

This is  gentle story of companionship and routines of love and daily walks. The text feels so personal as we 'listen in' to the conversation which I imagine is inside the old man's head. I adore the almost soft focus light filled illustrations which contain so much detail firstly inside the man's home and later around their park. In the backgrounds you can see the city buildings and construction. The variety of people who visit the park just feel natural - there is no sense of an agenda to include old and young, different cultures and abilities. You may recognise this park - it could be Melbourne or the setting could be any city. 

At one point the old man meets a friend who invites him to play a game of chess. The man asks his dog "Have we got time?"  This made me smile because if this book has a message (not that I need one) it is that the man and his dog, for today at least, have plenty of time. There will be many more days of walks to the park even though they are both old fellows.

If you are connoisseur of end papers make sure you hunt out this book - the end papers in this book are brilliant. This is a fairly new Australian children's picture book from 2022. I have not been able to talk about many of our best books over the last 12 months because I have been a Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) picture book judge but because this book was not sent to us for judging I can talk about it.

Liz Anelli’s highly expressive, richly detailed and boldly coloured warm illustrations enrich the narrative providing further clues about the relationship between the old man and dog. Children and adults alike will delight in the brilliant detail in the illustrations which offer something new to discover each time this book is revisited. Reading Opens Doors

Try to find this book in your school or local library. It would be a beautiful one to share with a young child. I well remember the old man who lived in our street when we were children. I realise now he must have been so lonely. Perhaps this book could be a jumping off point to connect with an older person in your community. Here are some teachers notes from Scholastic Australia. You can see inside this book here and Chris Cheng has a video trailer on his web page. The Biscuit Maker (see below) would be the perfect companion book. 

Here are some other books illustrated by Liz Anelli:

The Biscuit Maker

One Photo (in the US this has the title Dad's Camera)

The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon

"They say Cats have nine lives.

What I'd like to know as I tumble through the Sky

is how many lives do they say

a Dog has?"

Scruffity is being held in a concrete cell. He is just a pup and has been recently separated from his mother. There are nine pups in this small space. Then there are eight, seven, six and so on until Scruffity is left all alone. The owner of this ugly and dangerous place is an angry and violent man but luckily there is a boy who shows kindness to the pup. In fact he gives Scruffity his name and later, thank goodness, his freedom. But freedom comes at a price. It is dangerous in the city. The boy and his dog are now on the run. 

There is an accident and the boy is injured. Now Scruffity is on his own trying to understand and survive in the world of shoe-legs. All he has is the wisdom of the ages - the ways of dog from ancient times. 

"Dear Shoe-Legs

Are you coming? Are you? Are you?

Then shake wide awake and take my advice

throw the Burs from your fur and 

sliiiiiide on the Ice.

Come flat-foot follow and paw-pad on my way

for a I have thing

or four

to say about living this live according to

The Way of Dog."

I marvel at the way an author's brain works. The verse novel style of this book is so powerful. Every word is used so skilfully.  This is one of those special books that I would like to put into the hands of adults (and I seem to meet them regularly) who are utterly incredulous and sometimes also very negative about my passion for children's books. I am certain reading The Way of Dog would 'blow their mind' and demonstrate that the best children's books are for everyone!

This book is both a harrowing one and an uplifting one. Some pages are so hard to read but I knew I was in safe hands with this author and that she would protect Scruffity and hopefully help him find his true forever home. I highly recommend this book for readers aged 11+.

Here is some dog wisdom from this book:

"Meat is A Very Magnificent Thing. The Way of Dog is Meat."

"The Way of Dog is MyManpup"

"Run! The Way of Dog is to Run. Run. RUN!"

"To Dig is most definitely a Way of Dog too."

"The Way of Dog is to keep our shoe-legs safe."

In just one month the Children's Book Council of Australia will announce their notable titles for 2023. I am going to make a firm prediction that The Way of the Dog will be a notable title and from that list of around twenty titles, this book will go on to be short listed - one of the six top titles and in August, when the Younger Readers category winners are announced, I expect this book to be (fingers crossed) the winner!

Here is a review by a Primary school student.

What is outstanding about this engaging and emotional story is the visceral muscular poetry, crackling with energy, zooming all over the page. Fraillon captures the energy , the bounce and pounce of a young puppy, but also the loneliness and longing for family that is shared by both man and dog. ... This is the best verse novel I have read in a long time and I hope it wins every prize in the children’s literary universe. Mia Macrossan Storylinks

'Prepare to have your heart smooshed in the best possible way in Zana Fraillon’s tender and gritty The Way of Dog (UQP)...Fraillon’s unique verse novel zings with energy as she skilfully plays with language in a way that gives voice to Scruffity. His joys, losses, fears and hopes are all vividly conveyed thanks to Fraillon’s gift with words, and Sean Buckingham’s evocative illustrations. The Way of Dog has dark moments, but it’s a story that will warm readers’ hearts, not break them'  (The Sydney Morning Herald)

I think the verse novel (form) works well for something like this, because I can imagine animals might have these sorts of processes – the simple language, how they view humans as ManPups and Girlpups, what they think of what we do, wear, and the places we live – it’s their interpretation, the way they put the words they know together. It is these aspects that makes Scruffity such an engaging character – I didn’t want to leave him, because I had to know what he did next. The Book Muse

After reading The Way of Dog look for these other books with stories told from a dog's point of view:

I, Cosmo

The sequel is Everything for a Dog

For a younger reader Spunky tells all. 

For a younger reader age 6+ Choosing Crumble

Young adult novel Good Dog (contains violent scenes)

If you are not afraid of books that explore violence against dogs (for mature readers) you could also look for these:

Shiloh

The Truth as told to Mason Buttle

Are we there yet? stage play based on the book by Alison Lester

I saw the stage play of Are we there yet? last week and it was terrific but I need to say a couple of things (not about the production which I thoroughly enjoyed). The Sydney Opera House is a terrific venue of course but the organisers missed an opportunity - I expected to see this famous book on sale in the foyer. If it was there I didn't see it.  I told my companion that I assume this 2004 book would now be out of print but today I have discovered it is not. It retails for $25 but there are copies available from chain stores for as low as $16. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything and I have previously discussed this book and wondered why the publisher never released it in a paperback format. The hardcover is a little expense but I do wonder why copies were not offered for sale in the theatre foyer?

My second concern is the age recommended by the Sydney Opera House. They list this play for ages 3+ but really in my experience (I had a three year old sitting in front of me - sigh) this production should have been listed as 8+ and with a recommendation to read the book first! 

This show was performed during the school holidays but if, as a teacher, you want to explore the book in more depth here are some ideas from Reading Australia. If you can find it the audio book of Are we there yet? is brilliant. You can listen to an audio sample here.  This sample includes by favourite scene when Billy says "call me Kylie!".  Teachers might also use the trailer to the play (see below). 

Now putting those tiny niggles aside can I say thank you to the Sydney Opera House for presenting this children's theatre production. 

Review of the play with photos: The Playhouse stage is set this summer holidays for 8-year-old Grace and her family to embark on a true coming-of-age tale that sees them journey across Australia. The camper van that serves as home for their 3-month expedition is the focal point of the play, with the audience experiencing the family’s adventures through the eyes of Grace and her brothers. A whole host of iconic Australian landmarks come to life through the narrative including the Great Australian Bight, Uluru, Surfer’s Paradise and a hilarious snapshot of Sydney which of course includes the inimitable Sydney Opera House. The staging is (simple), the acting poetic (and at times funny and silly), and the mood is wonderfully nostalgic with a beautiful message underlying.

We do not have enough theatre opportunities here in Sydney for children. Luckily we do have the Monkey Bar theatre company.  Their summer production was Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles illustrated by Rod Clement. You have missed this one but you might plan to see their April show of Emil and the Detectives. I do wish we had more theatre for children. Years ago I attended a festival of children's theatre in Calgary - it was spectacular and free! If you live in South Australian DreamBig looks like fun. 

The play is not a retelling of this famous Australian classic picture book - it is an interpretation. And as with the best of theatre especially theatre for children, it asks the audience to enter an imaginative world. We do not see inside the caravan but early on it is so easy to imagine. Using minimal props, fabulous lighting and perfect sound effects our imagination lets you see a mother whale and her calf out in the ocean, the children all diving into a swimming pool in Darwin, the fun of skimming a stone and the wonders of the changing colours of Uluru. 

My favourite scene was near the end when Grace sits near the caravan and recounts the family adventure and as she takes us back to each place the map of Australia lights up to show their journey.

This imaginative new production from CDP is adapted by multi-award-winning playwright Finegan Kruckmeyer. He also adapted another Alison Lester classic - Magic Beach.

Here is the stage play trailer. 

Here is the book blurb:

The year I turned eight, Mum and Dad took us on a trip around Australia. Luke, Billy and I missed school for the whole winter term. Join Grace and her family on their adventurous and sometimes funny expedition.

Here is the web site for Alison Lester. Awards for the book of Are we there yet?

• Winner in 2005 CBCA Book of the Year (Picture Book) Children's Book Council of Australia
• Shortlisted in 2006 Books I Love Best Yearly (BILBY) – QLD Awards (Early readers)
• Winner in 2006 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Shortlisted in 2007 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Shortlisted in 2008 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Honour Book in 2009 Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA) (Picture Book)
• Shortlisted in 2008 KROC Award (Picture Book)
• Winner in 2009 KROC Award (Picture Book)
• Winner in 2006 Young Australian Best Book Award (YABBA) (Picture Book)
• Winner in 2009 Young Australian Best Book Award (YABBA) (Picture Book)

You can hear Alison Lester talking about taking her children on the trip that inspired Are we there yet?. 

"I love those memories of that trip and as a family we all like it too. We say that it kind of gave us emotional glue that has stuck us all together really well, that time of just being on the road together," she says."

You can see art from the book here. And here is an ABC Conversation (51 minutes) with Alison and presenter Sarah Kanowski.

If you have read or seen Are we there yet? I suggest looking for this new Australian children's picture book which also explores the journey around our whole continent.

Sunshine by Jan Ormerod

"With an economy of line and colour, she captures and shares an intimate and familiar morning routine, complete with early morning light you can almost feel and the burning of toast you can almost smell. Jan portrays the essence and comedy of situations and characters with elegant simplicity."  Freya Blackwood Foreword to the 2022 reprint of Sunshine.

"Sunshine is a masterpiece of design and pacing. ... Then at the hilarious pivotal moment, the regular layout is tosses aside, parents rush about readying themselves while the child looks out at the reader with an acknowledging smile." Freya Blackwood Foreword to the 2022 reprint of Sunshine.

In 1982 Sunshine won the Australian Children's Picture Book of the Year award. I was not working in a school library, that didn't happen until 1985, but I was studying librarianship and my passion for children's books had begun. Sunshine was one of the very first picture books I purchased for myself - not for a child, not for a gift, not for a library - just for me! 1982 is over forty years ago, but I think Sunshine was probably the first wordless book I had ever seen or read.  Recently I spied this new copy and so, as a celebration of my own two years as a CBCA Picture book judge I decided to purchase this book all over again. Sunshine is still my most favourite wordless or textless or as we call them in IBBY, silent book. When I put on layers of clothes in winter I often think of the little girl putting on her vest, rights, skivvy, pinafore, and shoes. I also love the special moment when dad bends down and touches her nose with his nose before he rushes out the door. And what a pity she has to leave her orange-haired rag doll at home when she heads out the door with mum. 

In 2022 Sunshine turned 40 and Harper Collins printed an anniversary edition. It is a slightly larger format (thank you) and every page is just as vibrant as the the original. Here is a video/audio presentation which explores one series of illustrations in detail. 

As her parents settle in to reading the paper and dozing, the child gets ready for the day – involving a truly exquisite sequence of dressing herself, getting lost in her singlet, pulling on an obstreperous pair of tights and finally putting shoes on the wrong feet. Perfection. ... Detail and delight abound in this work that feels fresh and contemporary. Even with it’s wind-up alarm clock. Kids' Book Review

Jan Ormerod (1946-2013) produced some very special picture books both as an author/illustrator and as an author with different illustrators such as Freya Blackwood who provided the Foreword to this new edition. Freya herself illustrated a wonderful wordless book in 2021 - The Boy and the Elephant. 

Here are some other books by Jan Ormerod - many of these are sure to be in your local or school library.  The sequel to Sunshine, Moonlight was also reprinted in 2022.

The story of Chicken Licken

I have mentioned Sunshine in several past posts here on my blog - take a look:

• Children's Book Council of Australia awards in the 1980s
• The Boy and the Elephant by Freya Blackwood
• An insight into Silent Books IBBY Australia event
• Little Mouse gets ready by Jeff Smith

I was a little surprised to see these three different covers and titles for The Swap illustrated by Andrew Joyner: