How to Spot a Mermaid by Jane Yolen illustrated by Sally Deng

"Pack a package of Goldfish crackers and a bottle of water.

The water is for you.

Mermaids have quite enough water for their own needs.

The crackers are to share."

Mermaids are a popular topic with younger readers and dare I say mostly girls. Jane Yolen does not specify the gender of this adventurer because the story is told by an off-stage narrator. It is illustrator Sally Deng who has interpreted the book so to my eye the child could be a girl or a boy. You can see inside this book here.

Publisher blurb: Would you like to spot a mermaid? If so, you will need a few supplies and a great deal of patience. As we learn in these informative illustrated pages, mermaids are very shy and do not make friends easily. But if you find a place near the water, sit very still, and are willing to share your Goldfish crackers, you just might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one. And who knows . . . there may even be a mermaid, somewhere, hoping to catch a glimpse of you, too!

You will have fun when you read this book aloud because it contains the word 'fishetarians' which means they eat fish - so "try not to look like a fish." Also, actually most mermaids are vegetarians which means they eat kelp and "kelp looks like brown pasta". There is a mermaid hiding on nearly every page - readers will see this but the boy or girl keeps looking the wrong way. 

I was pleased to find this book in a public library a couple of weeks ago. It was only published in April 2025 which means this library does add new books and not only Australian titles and it might also mean someone is keeping an eye out for popular topics like mermaids. And of course, all libraries need books by master storyteller Jane Yolen author of over 400 books. 

Deng’s lovely pictures depict diverse mermaids in flowing, sea-green swaths, swimming, diving, and even waving to a potential (human) friend. A sweet addition to mermaid lore. Kirkus

In a few weeks I will be talking again about Sally Deng. She is the illustrator of a brilliant new book by Katherine Paterson about Jella Lepman the founder of IBBY.

The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly

"She went up one step. Two. She felt Teddy's breath on her neck. Another step. Another. Was it her imagination or was it getting darker and darker? Up another step. And another. The stairs creaked and moaned. She imaged herself as a brave, brave warrior, completely unafraid. She reminded herself that fear was what red them ... She thought of herself covered in blood ... She felt the fear growing in the pit of her stomach, sprouting and growing, and tried to damp it down. I'm not scare. I'm not scared."

I am not really a fan of ghost stories but one thing that the story needs to have is motivation. I need to know why the ghosts are there. In this case it is due to several crimes. One hundred and fifty years ago the circus that had come to town burned to the ground and all of the performers were killed. Investigators also discovered the ring master had been shot.

The second crime is more recent. Lila along with her brother and mother and father have moved into their grandfather's home. It was actually once run as an Inn. On the first night Lila is visited by the ghost of Grandfather Clem. He tells her he did not die from a heart attack - he was murdered. All he wants now is to go back through the portal so he can be reunited with his wife who died many years ago.

Now that we have the problem we can assemble the team to solve this - Lila, her brother Caleb and the boy from next door - Teddy. 

As with all mysteries (in books and on television) I tried to solve this before reaching the end. I thought I had worked out the murderer and his motivation, but things sure did get way more complicated in those final scenes. If you have readers aged 10+ who enjoy ghost stories and like books where kids solve a mystery then this is a book you can recommend. The writing is very atmospheric and Erin entrada Kelly does conjure some very tense scenes. Erin talks about her book in this video.  Ms Yingling includes lots of plot details in her review. 

Kirkus gave this book a star review: Hauntingly good and sure to possess any horror aficionado. It wasn't quite at that level for me but as I said I am not a huge fan of ghost stories and also I found it a little odd that Lila did not recognise the circus performers even though Teddy had already told her about the fire from last century. 

This book is the first in series and it contains extra materials which you access via a QR code. Decades ago I read another book from Scholastic that included an element like this but of course over time the link has disappeared. (The Skeleton in the Creek and The Ghost in the Machine). 

I love that the kids went to the library to read old newspaper reports about the circus fire. I also enjoy books that refer readers to other books - here is the one Teddy is reading when the kids go over to talk to him:

Here is the Goodreads blurb for Wait till Helen comes (1986): Heather is such a whiny little brat. Always getting Michael and me into trouble. But since our mother married her father, we're stuck with her ... our "poor stepsister" who lost her real mother in a mysterious fire. But now something terrible has happened. Heather has found a new friend, out in the graveyard behind our home—a girl named Helen who died with her family in a mysterious fire over a hundred years ago. Now her ghost returns to lure children into the pond ... to drown! I don't want to believe in ghosts, but I've followed Heather into the graveyard and watch her talk to Helen. And I'm terrified. Not for myself, but for Heather...

Companion book (just because it contains a mirror and the quest for immortality):

The Boy who Said Wow by Todd Boss illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

"A risk" says Mother

"A challenge" says Father

"An adventure" cried Grandfather

Publisher blurb: When Grandfather comes to take his grandson to a concert, Ronan is quiet as they leave the house, quiet in the car, and quiet at the concert hall. But when the performance is over and the beautiful music fades out at last, Ronan opens his mouth…and lets out a great big WOW! Not any old WOW, but Ronan’s very first WOW! That one word fills up the hearts of Ronan’s family, the musicians, the audience, and—when the recording goes viral—the world.

What was the music I hear you ask - 'Masonic Funeral music' by Mozart.

Spending time in a public library last month I spied this book which I had heard of but not read. I enjoy attending classical music concerts in special venues so it made me smile to hear the true story of this little boy who was so moved by the music he heard that in the silence after the final note from the orchestra he said 'wow'! 

This wow is huge partly because it is a beautiful and natural reaction to a special experience but more importantly because this boy was almost nonverbal and yet he used his voice to express his delight. 

I love that he took his dog to the concert, but I can imagine some adults might think this was an odd inclusion in a story that is based on real events.  Add this book to your list of stories to share when you talk about the 2026 CBCA slogan 'A Symphony of Stories'. After or even before sharing this book, I would grab your own favourite piece of classical music and ask your library group to close their eyes and just listen - perhaps one or two of the younger children might have a reaction like Ronan in this story. This is not a video of the actual book it has different illustrations, but it is worth a look because you can hear the music as the story is told. 

The Boy who Said Wow was published in 2024. As I write this post you can buy this book for a really good price here in Australia but I also sure it will be found in many public libraries.

A heartwarming testament to music’s emotional power. Kirkus

The limited colour palette of the illustrations captures the emotions of all the characters and because they are set in a seemingly timeless setting, this enables the reader to identify with the characters more closely and raise questions. Why is Ronan silent? Is it ok to be quiet most of the time? How much do we value silence? Just Imagine

Rashin Kheiriyeh has a master’s degree in graphic design and a doctorate in illustration and has illustrated more than eighty books in half a dozen languages, including Welcome Home by Aimee Reid and Story Boat by Kyo Maclear, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. She was a 2017 Maurice Sendak fellow and is a lecturer at the University of Maryland. She was born in Khorramshahr, Iran, and now lives in Washington.

The Book Tree

The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt by Kasey Whitelaw illustrated by Sylvia Morris

Understanding how many sharks reproduce helps scientists and conservationists protect vulnerable species. Since sharks generally have fewer offspring than other fish, overfishing can severely reduce populations. The fact that only a few sharks lay eggs means each egg is important for the species' survival. (How Stuff Works)

Begin with the title:

• Great - in this book you will meet children from all around the world (that's pretty great).
• Shark - in Australia we are fascinated by sharks - very sadly in my local area just a couple of weeks ago a popular local resident lost his life after a shark attack. Of course not all sharks are dangerous.
• Egg case - wait a minute - do sharks lay eggs? Yes, and that is the topic of this book.
• Hunt - why are people hunting for these eggs? Is that okay? What will happen to the information? This sounds like a Citizen Science project.

Image Source: A to Z animals

Each shark produces a slightly different mermaid’s purse, so it’s possible to identify the original shark species just from this casing. Rays, chimeras, and skates also create egg cases similar in appearance to a shark casing. These are also colloquially known as a mermaid’s purse.

In this video from 2023 a CSIRO scientist explains the Citizen Science project in more detail. 

As with all good nonfiction this book will give your students (and you too) a terrific jumping off point for further investigations and research.

If I was sharing this book in a classroom or with a library group I would grab a large sized world map perhaps with more details than the one in the book (paper not on a screen) and then print out images of eight sharks from around the world to add to the map then after reading The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt I would assign groups of students to research each shark and then present a brief talk to the class using the map and the shark photo plus a photo of the egg case as props for their talk. At the end of the week when every group has presented their findings the kids could write a 3-question quiz for their classmates to see how well everyone was listening and also to discover which curious facts really grabbed everyone's attention. This book is aimed at a younger audience ages 5-9 but this was a topic I knew nothing about so even as an adult I enjoyed exploring this topic more deeply. 

Here are a few of the things I discovered from this book and from further reading:

• Puffadder Shysharks from South Africa curl up into a doughnut shape to avoid predators.
• Here's a new word - chimaera. They are also known as ghost sharks, rat fish, spook fish and rabbit fish. The Elephant Fish from New Zealand is a chimaera and this is the shark in this book. 
• Chimaera are closely related to sharks, skates and rays. But they diverged from their shark relatives around 400 million years ago.
• In Alaska there are jelly fish called Moon Jellies
• A mermaid’s purse is an empty shark egg case that washes up on shore. It looks a lot like seaweed when it is on the beach.
• This book, The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt, focuses on Oviparous Sharks: Egg-Laying Specialists but there are also Viviparous Sharks: The Live-Bearers and more sharks with more complex reproductive processes.
• Primarily slow-moving, bottom-dwelling fishes of the oceans, the skates and rays are close relatives of the sharks. All three belong to the same class of fish, Chondrichthyes—vertebrates whose skeleton is composed of cartilage, not true bone. (Source)

Image Source: A to Z animals

Bullhead sharks, Port Jackson sharks, and horn sharks are sharks that produce spiraled eggs

Huge thanks to CSIRO Publishing for this advance copy - The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt was published last week. 

Do Sharks Lay Eggs?

Around 25% of all sharks lay eggs. Most sharks do not lay eggs and instead give birth to live young that have developed inside the mother’s body. The eggs of oviparous (egg-laying) sharks are encased in leathery pouches known as “mermaid’s purses”, which protect the embryo as it develops. Some shark species spend over a year in the egg-case before hatching.

Shark egg-cases are generally rectangular in shape with a horn projecting from each corner. Some have long, string-like tendrils extending from the horns. The tendrils help to secure the egg-case to vegetation on the seabed.

The Great Eggcase Hunt is an initiative of UK-based charity The Shark Trust. It began in the UK 20 years ago and has since recorded more than 380,000 individual egg cases from around the world. Australian Geographic

There are at least 37 species of sharks and skate that lay eggs of many shapes and sizes to be found on Australian beaches. Here is a link to the detailed teachers notes. There is also a lot of good advice in this book - "look don't touch".

I found one list that identified nine types of sharks: Mackerel sharks; Ground sharks; Bullhead sharks; Carpet sharks; Angel sharks; Saw sharks; Frilled and cow sharks; Dogfish, lantern sharks and sleeper sharks and Bramble sharks. But then in The Great Shark Egg Case Hunt I read (in the back notes) about the Hornshark; the skate; and the catshark so clearly there is a lot more to discover.

What Are Some Sharks That Lay Eggs? (Also Called Oviparity) These sharks are oviparous:

• Cat Sharks
• Horn Sharks
• Bamboo Sharks
• Carpet Sharks
• Zebra Sharks
• Swell Sharks
• Port Jackson Shark
• Dogfish Sharks
• Australian Swellshark

Kasey Whitelaw is a marine biologist, educator and children’s writer. She has an interest in connecting children to science and nature, sparking their wonder and curiosity through storytelling and education.

Sylvia Morris is an illustrator and science enthusiast. She loves illustrating picture books because it combines two of her favourite activities: reading and problem solving. She is also the illustrator of Bear to the Rescue and The Opal Dinosaur.

There's a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

You’ll never guess what happened

On our trip down to the sea . . .

A tiger in a top hat

Came and sat right next to me!

There is a tiger on the train but also some hippos, crocodiles, piglets, and two pugs BUT dad is so engrossed in his phone screen he misses all the fun and amazement. 

From the author web page: This text won the Faber FAB Writing Prize for Diverse writers in 2020. Rebecca Cobb is an award-winning author/illustrator who has collaborated with other authors such as Julia Donaldson, Richard Curtis and Helen Dunmore. It’s the perfect day for a seaside trip. But who invited the Tiger in the top hat… and all those other animals? And will Dad ever look up from his phone? A rhythmic, rhyming romp about the value of living in the moment and spending quality time with those you love.

You can see inside this book here and read details of the story. 

The story was inspired by my own experience of balancing full-time work with a young family and feeling that I wasn't making the most of the precious time I had with my children. "There's a Tiger on the Train" is about taking time out to connect with those you love. I hope that children reading the book will join in with the rhymes and rhythms, have fun making some new animal friends, and enjoy the ride! And I hope that their grown-ups will be reminded to look up from their phones once in a while to see what they might be missing in the wonderful world of their own child’s imagination. Mariesa Dulak

Here is the title page:

This book published in 2025 should be essential reading for parents! And at the same time young children will enjoy this wild train ride and the 'noisy sections' with words like clank, rumble, chew-chew, spish-splash and everyone should join in with the huge roar at the end as the tiger grabs that wretched mobile phone. Sadly also, though, many children will relate to the little boy in this story who just needs his dad to put down his phone and listen and look and connect with his son in a meaningful way. Please consider adding this book to your school library wish list. The paperback is slightly expensive at over AUS$28 but I really do highly recommend There's a Tiger on the Train.

Phubbing is snubbing or ignoring someone else because you are using your mobile phone. In today’s modern world, we do it without thinking, but research shows that phubbing undermines interpersonal relationships and mental health especially when parents do it to their children. A staggering 70% of parents say they feel distracted by their mobile phones when they spend time with their children. And studies show that the more parents phub their children, the more socially disconnected that child feels towards them. So, when I sat down to write a book that included phubbing, I tried to imagine what it might be like to feel ignored by the most important person in your world and being too small and powerless to do anything about it. Books for Topics

Take a look at this blog post about The Global Day of Unplugging. 

Awards:

• Shortlisted for Oscar's Book Prize 2025
• Nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2025
• Shortlisted for the UKLA Book Award 2025
• Shortlisted for the Indie Book Award 2024
• Selected as a Books for Topics Book of the Year 2024
• Selected as a Waterstones Best Books of 2024
• Shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Award 2025

After reading There's a Tiger on the Train try to find other books illustrated by Rebecca Cobb - I am a huge fan of her art. I am keen to see her book A Wild Walk to School.  

The Empty Stocking

Who Lives Here?

Snow Day

A Kite for Moon by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple illustrated by Matt Phelan

If you work in a library that is filled with book treasures, how can you showcase them to your borrowers? Little children especially, cannot read book spines or browse huge book collections. There are a few things you can do. Firstly, where possible use front facing display shelves. Secondly set books out on displays and change these regularly. 

I've been working in a school library recently and constantly changing, relevant book displays is one way the teacher-librarian ensures her massive, rich book collections are discovered and circulated. She has a few distinct display spaces. I asked to set out books about the Moon on one of these and as I checked the shelves, I discovered this book. Now I hope a young child might discover it too!

Why did it catch my eye? This goes back to something I talked about at a recent conference - field knowledge. Do you know Jane Yolen? You should. Have you read her books? You should. (Owl Moon is a favourite of mine). What about her daughter Heidi Stemple or the illustrator Matt Phelan? Yes, it is true I live in Australia and these creative book people are in the US but as I have said many times, we are so lucky to speak English and have access to the best books from USA, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

If you work in a school or a preschool this book A Kite for Moon could be a great one to add to your read aloud pile - and you could then add in some other books about kites; the moon; and astronauts. There is also a theme here about following your dream. All of that in a picture book that probably has less than 100 words.

A young boy notices the moon looks sad. He has been flying his kite, so he grabs a pencil, writes a message on his kite and then sends it up, up, up to the moon. Over the coming days he sends many more kites up to the moon.

"Days went by, years.

Moon waxed and waned.

She counted shooting stars and meteors.

She worried about peace down on earth

and strange objects whizzing by.

She eclipsed."

The moon watched this boy grow up. He went to school and studied algebra, geometry and astronomy.

"Then one day when he had learned enough, he went up, up, up in a big rocket ship ... "

Make sure you check out the dedication "For Neil Armstrong who showed us the way." And read a post by Jane Yolen about the inspiration behind her book. 

If you are reading this post and it is still October 2025 I found one online seller with a copy of A Kite for Moon for a really great price. 

Publisher blurb: What would it be like if the moon was your friend Find out as you walk alongside a little boy who journeys through life to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. And then blast off with your little one as you zoom to the moon together! The story begins when a little boy, who is flying his kite, notices a sad Moon. He sends up kites to her, writing notes promising he will come see her someday. This promise propels him through years of studying, learning, and training to become an astronaut. Until … he finally goes up, up, up in a big rocket ship with a fiery tail.

A kite for Moon was the winner of the 2019 Northern Book Awards. The judges said:

From its breathtaking cover to the celestial canvases and poignant prose, this book is a true treasure. The fact that stars are used instead of periods makes it even more memorable.

And here is the judging criteria:

The Northern Lights Book Awards considers children’s books to be an art form and honors books that excel in aesthetic and literary qualities with an emphasis on permanency. We are seeking works that will leave a lasting impression, stories that will resonate with the reader not only now but in years to come. NLBA accepts traditionally published and self-published children’s books from around the world regardless of copyright year. Books must be printed in English.

The Other Ducks by Ellen Yeomans illustrated by Chris Sheban

"Two is not a line. Two is a follow. A line is more ducky."

Blurb: This Duck and That Duck are inseparable, but they long for more friends to waddle with. When they discover The Other Ducks beneath the water, their excitement turns to frustration as these new companions refuse to leave the pond. With winter approaching and their feathers itching for warmth, will This Duck and That Duck find a way to bring The Other Ducks into their world? Dive into this charming tale of friendship and discovery as these ducks navigate the challenges of expanding their circle.

The two ducks in this story, male and female, are so naive about the world (something your young reading companion will both relate to and laugh over). They are only two but they want to form a line so they need more ducks. In the pond/puddle of water they discover two more companions but very strangely on cloudy days these two others disappear and for some reason they won't follow This Duck and That Duck out of the pond. Then suddenly they discover they can fly and in the sky they do find other ducks - but where are they going and why?  The final page of this book will give you the biggest smile. 

This Duck (a confident female) and That Duck (a trepidatious male) enjoy each other’s companionship in the “wadey-water” until discovering a wider world makes the extrovert wish for more friends.This Duck yearns to lead a “more ducky” line when they move about, prompting her to wish for Other Ducks. Yeomans’ language is a delightful combination of the childlike and the existential. When questioned about the meaning of “Other Ducks,” she replies, “Like us, only not us.” Sheban’s soft, textured compositions are rendered in watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite; they start out sunny, with warm greens and yellows in the foreground and cool lavender shadows and shapes on the horizon. The lighting and mood change with the seasons and situations. ... A marvelous portrayal of the humor and uncertainty surrounding growth—and the comfort in having a fellow traveler. Kirkus Star review

This book was published in 2018 so it is now out of print BUT if you can find a copy in a library (as I did) you should grab it with both hands and settle down to read this with your young reading companion or borrow it to share with your preschool group. I live near a lake/lagoon with plenty of ducks - it would be so brilliant to read this book during or after your visit to see my ducks. 

Reading a wonderful picture book with a young child is such a meaningful way to discover rich words. In this book we have rushes, lush, wadey-water, waddle, splashed and splished, fretted, and this wonderful final sentence:

"And every single one of them felt downright ducky."

Chris Sheban is the illustrator of these two books below. I would like to see Three Squeezes, Someone like me (Patricia MacLachlan) and Job Wanted. He also illustrated What to do with a box which I will borrow next term from my friend's school library AND I now discover he did the covers of Because of Winn Dixie, Tiger Rising and Paperboy. See more here.

The Lonely Book

The story of a seagull and the cat who taught her to fly

Meet the illustrator Jonny Lambert

Over the last week I have been helping in a school library. We have been pulling together all the new books that were purchased for the collection over the last three months. One of these was Waiting for the Stars published in 2024. The story is sweet and it is sure to appeal to a preschool aged child especially with words like bottom and needing a wee. It could be a terrific story to read just before bedtime but what really struck me about this book was the illustrations. They are digital (I think) but they have a collage effect which is very appealing, but the best part is the way Jonny Lambert shows the light coming from the firefly.

Here is the blurb for Waiting for the Stars: Mouse is SO excited—for the first time ever, she gets to stay up past her bedtime and look at the stars with her friends. But phew! Staying awake is difficult! Can Mouse keep her little eyes open? And what happens when the clouds get in the way of the stars that Mouse has been waiting so patiently to see? Luckily, her best friend Firefly is there to save the day!

If you read Waiting for the Stars book try to also find What Stars are For which was one of my top books in 2024. I also talk about fireflies (we don't have them in Australia) in this post. 

I had not heard of Jonny Lambert so I went in search of his other books - here they are:

There are also five board books about Bear and Bird

Apart from the simple heartwarming stories and the collage-style illustrations I also recommend you look for books by Jonny Lambert in your local library because they contain terrific words - it is always wonderful to expose our youngest readers to rich language - think about these words which I discovered from his books:

beamed; warmth; bereft; deafening crash; scrumptious; sulked; delicious; oodles; gratefully; bursting with excitement; drooped; preened; and quivered

Here is the Instagram account for Jonny Lambert. I found this interview from 2016 on the blog Bookworm Baby - here is the introduction:

Jonny grew up in Surrey and always knew he wanted to be an artist of some sort. Encouraged by his art tutor at the Reigate School of Art and Design, Jonny is now an artist of many sorts: a talented illustrator with over 300 titles to his name, designer, paper engineer and most recently, Group Design Director at Templar Publishing. He lives with his wife, daughter and a menagerie of animals in West Sussex.

Sometimes it's Nice to be Alone by Amy Hest illustrated by Philip Stead

Sometimes it’s nice to be alone. 

Just you, eating a cookie, alone.

But what if a friend drops in?

And are you expecting that friend to be an elephant? Or if you are quietly reading a book and a friend comes along did you expect a horse? And while you are somersaulting it is a whale who arrives to be your friend. The text and illustrations in this book are perfect. On each page watch out for a hint in the illustration - a toy elephant, toy whale, toy bear, toy horse and a toy dinosaur. 

Wait until you see the page with the giraffe and the treehouse.

This book is one you will want to share with your preschool group. Unfortunately, here in Australia this book is probably way too expensive for your library budget. 

A sparkling reminder that nothing is as powerful as a child’s imagination. Kirkus Star review

Joyously explores and celebrates everyday moments, whether spent alone or in unexpected company. ... The brightly colored, textured illustrations, created by hand using printmaking techniques, are mischievous and detailed, perfectly extending the plucky text. The Horn Book

Full review from The Bulletin of the Centre for Children's Books:

An earnest call-and-response-style— “But what if…”—forms the deceptively simple structure of this poignant picture book, asking viewers to reflect on how solitary activities change when friends join in. The narrative follows a nameless protagonist as she happily engages in a series of solitary pursuits, from turning somersaults to crunching leaves. But her simple pleasures transform into larger-than-life adventures upon the arrival of unexpected friends—her plush toys magnified to life-like proportions until they seem to defy the limits of the page. The poetic simplicity of Hest’s sparse text marries beautifully with the warmth of Stead’s exquisite prints, celebrating the quiet satisfaction of solitude and the shared joys of friendship, giving each its due. The reflective lenses of the protagonist’s glasses shrewdly obscure her reactions to both solitude and company, thus refusing to suggest that either circumstance is innately superior. Gently affirming text will aid caregivers in drawing shy children out of their shells while respecting their choices. Hest and Stead thus strike a rare and delicate balance, honoring the creativity of the solitary child while gently suggesting that shared play does not have to mean an end to crafting fantastic dreamscapes, but rather the beginning of building larger ones—together.

I first saw this book in one of our large city bookstores - last month I visited one of our large public libraries at Concord and I found this book again - I had time to sit and read it properly. I do hope our Australian bookstores are able to stock this book for a better price. The retail price right now is over AUS$50 which is SO crazy for a 32 page picture book. Here are set of activity sheets. 

Danger Road by AL Tait

Twenty-five years ago Corey Armstrong was killed in a hit and run accident on a lonely country road. Grayton is a small town. People who live here know each other and many have lived here their whole life. Corey was a popular kid - good at sports, good at school and he had a charisma about him. A newcomer to the town is in the process of making a podcast about this true crime - no one was ever charged with killing young Corey. The real name of the road is Dangar Road but everyone calls it Danger Road - hence the book title. The nighttime scenes set on this remote road are especially atmospheric.

It feels as though so many people in Alex and Leo's lives have a connection to Corey - their absent dad, the town mayor, the school librarian and a mysterious girl called MJ. Mum has been listening to the podcast in the car. In a moment of impatience with her two sons, she tells them if they can work together and solve the mystery of Corey's death, which is the purported purpose of the podcast, she will give them a reward. She offers this as a way to stop the two boys from their constant bickering but what she doesn't know is, while this does draw the two boys closer, it also means they uncover lots of details about Corey, his friends, and the actual events of that night twenty-five years ago. Luckily the boys also have help from Alex's friend Harry (Harriet). She is a lateral thinker and also very systematic and so she helps them set up a crime board/timeline which helps all three identify the avenues of their investigation.

Here is the blurb from the author page (you will also find a chapter sample): Twenty five years ago, on a dark winter’s night, teenager Corey Armstrong was left to die by a hit and run driver on Danger Road. Now Corey’s the subject of a podcast that’s putting his hometown on the map, but with the series almost over, the case remains unsolved. When brothers Alex and Leo decide to try to find out what happened to Corey, they learn more about his world than they could have imagined. Everyone’s talking about the popular footballer, but the question remains: did anyone really know him? As Alex and Leo sink deeper into the past, they uncover old secrets, ready to resurface, and realise that someone in town must know something which means someone they know might be the killer. Will bringing up the past jeopardise the brothers’ own futures? And could bringing a cold case back to life prove fatal?

In this short video AL Tait talks about her book. 

A.L. Tait has written a ripper of a cold case mystery for middle grade readers. The premise is great, playing off the popularity of cold case true crime podcasts, and I loved the little NCIS references that Alex dropped every now and then. The novel is told in alternating perspectives, going between thirteen-year-old Alex and almost fifteen-year-old Leo. This allows the case to unfold, as each point of view brings different perspectives to the story, and the boys are able to play off their strengths. Including the ones they’re not too keen on everyone knowing about. The Book Muse

This is a great story set in a small country town involving teachers, coaches, the mayor, and many other potential suspects around their parent’s age who were teenagers at the time. It has themes like sibling rivalry, but also sticking up for your sibling when they are in trouble, sporting success and striving to make it big, and uncovering secrets from the past that have been hidden for so long. It is a terrific story that I couldn’t put down that will appeal to all readers aged 11 and older. Lamont Books

Here is a sign that I am enjoying a book. I wake up in the middle of the night unable to get back to sleep. I think I should read for a while - that will calm me down but only if it is a book that I am enjoying. So it was that I read Danger Road at 2.30am and then more the next day on my long train trip and the remaining pages in the library where I volunteer (it was a very quiet afternoon) and so I finished the book in just one day.

Readers aged 10+ are sure to enjoy Danger Road - especially kids who already love to read realistic fiction and mystery stories. For myself I did find the print size a little small and this might put some kids off but in a library I think it would be very easy to book talk this title especially when you mention the words cold case and mystery. The library where I volunteer have put this book into the Young Adult collection, but it is also certain to appeal to primary school readers in Grades 5 and 6. I used to host an evening for senior boys with their dads in my school library. Danger Road is a book that I would have enjoyed showcasing on one of those nights. 

Things I really enjoyed about this book:

• The alternating voices and the contrasts between Alex - he loves art and drawing - and Leo his older brother, who is crazy about sports. There is a subtle change of font as each voice changes.
• There are extracts from the podcast at the beginning of each chapter and this is a terrific device to fill in more details of the events surrounding Corey's death.
• I found it interesting that running is the thing that really gives Leo a sense of peace and not the competitive part of winning at football or his other sports pursuits.
• Leo is also a clever student but like many teens he thinks he should keep this hidden for fear of ridicule by his peer group. 
• I loved the way his younger brother Alex shared his deeper insights into his brother Leo. Alex has very well developed emotional intelligence. 
• There are some really good moments of tension in this story such as when the Mayor picks the boys up and offers to drive them home. Alex know this man is not exactly a stranger but this sure does feel like a dangerous situation. I also held my breath when the boys dive into the deep river - I was sure there was going to be a terrible accident. 
• To some extent the ending is an open one - with a group of students in a book club for example you could raise the issue of the justice or morality of this outcome. 

AL Tait has two sons herself, and I think her understanding of the way brothers interact really shines through in this story. The sports played by her own two boys might also be the reason she can talk so accurately about the way football is played. Readers who play football (is it Rugby or AFL) are sure recognise the tactics and game highlights.

Here are a couple of text quotes from Danger Road:

"I'm sick to death of listening to you two pick at each other. ... I'm also sick at heart about Corey. His death might be a podcast to you and all the gawkers who've come to Grayton since it started, but it's my history, and it's your home town's history. The two of you carry on like you know everything about everything, so prove it."

"Well, yeah, but you're not from around here so why this injustice in particular ... I'm only wondering because the podcast format is so specific and I thought maybe you could tell us a bit about how you decide on the narrative structure. Like, do you make a decision about how to focus on before you begin your interviews or does it evolve?"

This is the fourth book by AL Tait that I have read and probably her best book so far. It is also interesting to see how she is exploring different genres. I know she has an easy chapter book due out next year. It will be part of a series from her Facebook and Podcast Community (Your Kids Next Read). I have my fingers crossed that these will be terrific stories similar to the wonderful series from here in Australia that we had in the past such as Solos; Aussie Nibbles; and Aussie Bites. And hopefully as good as a more recent UK series such as these from Little Tiger. 

Willow Bright's Secret Plot

Race to the end of the world

The Firestar

Anna May's Blue Cloak by Christiane Cicioli illustrated by Susan Pearson

When she was a young girl Anna May's Grandmother made her a beautiful blue cloak. The fabric on the cover makes it look so tactile - perhaps it is velvet. Anna May is young and so for now the cloak is a perfect fit over her dress. But over time Anna May grows.

"Soon the cloak, still beautiful, was too small. Her mother carefully folded it up and put it away in her wooden chest."

Years later Anna May became a mum to a baby girl. Anna May remembered the beautiful cloak. Now is the time for the cloak to be used for another garment. You can see her here using her grandmother's sewing machine - my own little Nan had one just like this.

Anna May uses the cloak fabric to make a dress for her daughter, but she also carefully puts the left-over pieces back into the wooden chest. Anna May's daughter loves her dress but over time it becomes too small. Many years later Anna May's daughter had a baby - a son. Luckily there was enough fabric left from the cloak to make him a handsome blue jacket. 

Have you worked out the pattern here. YES - and then Anna May's son becomes a father.

"Anna May wanted him to stay warm ... she remembered her blue cloak ... she took out the fabric that was left after making the dress and the jacket."

I wonder what she made? And what about the tiny fragments of fabric that are still left over?

I have a friend who is volunteering at one of our local charity shops. She mentioned the idea of following the journey of a piece of clothing could be a great idea for a picture book - she needs to see this book.

You could also use this book to talk about family relationships and the way we can show this using a family tree. If I was sharing this book with a class, I would bring in a collection of things made by my grandmother Amy - a set of beautiful doll clothes including silk pyjamas, casual shorts with a matching top, a lace dressing gown and brown corduroy trousers. 

Anna May's Cloak is a Canadian picture book. It was published in 2013 but it is still available. If you are reading this close to the time, I have penned this post I found one copy available from an online Australian book seller for a great price - but they only have one copy. 

Christiane Cicioli, born in Quebec, has lived both in Canada and the United States. One of the most enjoyable activities she has shared with her family and three now grown children has been to hear and recount the tales and customs of grandparents, great-grandparents, and other relatives of previous generations. Those inspirational moments have become the source of her writing. After working with children in elementary schools for many years, she is now a freelance writer and translator. Susan Pearson lives in Vancouver, BC, with her husband Ed. She creates images for children's books and teaches watercolor painting classes.

Companion books:

The Copper Tin Cup

My forever dress

The Colt from Old Regret by Dianne Wolfer illustrated by Erica Wagner

"The Colt from Old Regret" is part of the larger narrative poem "The Man from Snowy River," written by Australian poet Banjo Paterson in 1890. The poem captures the spirit of the Australian bush and the culture of horse riding. It begins with the news that a valuable colt has escaped and joined the wild bush horses, prompting a gathering of expert riders to recapture it. The poem highlights themes of bravery, skill, and the bond between horse and rider.

Dianne Wolfer has based her book on this famous Australian poem. Every part of the book design is so special - the cover will catch your eye, the end papers are perfect, the collage illustrations are rich and full of movement. 

Think about these sentences: "Alpine mint scents the air." "Birds startle. He trembles. The sky is a flurry of wings."  The mountain's craggy brow is close."  "A branding iron sears the air."

Along with the narrative created by Dianne Wolfer the full poem is included at the back of the book over several pages along with details about Banjo Paterson, bush poetry, brumbies, who was the man from snowy river and an author's note.

There was movement at the station, for the word has passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses—he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.

The book is sumptuously illustrated with Wagner’s water colour painting and collage. The colours beautifully capture the light of the Australian bush and movement of the brumbies. Reading Time

An engrossing and suspenseful story that has the added bonus of connecting a young child with an iconic Australian poem. Storylinks

It doesn’t rewrite the poem, but allows Colt’s voice to be heard, and merely shows a different perspective of the event. It’s written in prose or free verse, so it can be read as a story or a poem, and feels like it has the same rhythm as the original poem. The Book Muse

The Colt from Old Regret would be a beautiful present to gift to a friend living away from Australia or as a keep-sake gift for a student graduating from High School. Here are the teachers notes. I am certain this book will be a CBCA 2026 notable title.

All of us in the children's literature community loved the illustrations in this first book by Erica Wagner. 

Hope is the Thing

Dianne Wolfer is an award-winning author of 25 books, including the acclaimed Light series, The Dog with Seven Names and The Last Light Horse. Most recently, Diane’s book Scout and the Rescue Dogs won the Children’s Book of the Year at the Western Australian Premier’s Literary Awards. Dianne completed PhD research into anthropomorphism at UWA and loves talking about animal characters in children’s literature.