Birdy by Sharon Kernot

Maddy along with her mum and brother Charlie (the Professor) have moved to a remote country town in South Australia. An utterly dreadful thing has happened to Maddy and her anxiety is so overwhelming she can no longer speak. Mum does not pressure Maddy and she has agreed to do regular counselling. Her brother, who is ten, is also supportive. He loves to collect things and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the world. One day he finds a couple of curious things, but he tells Maddy they are of no value - a small bluebird necklace, some bottle tops and the button from a pair of Levi jeans. 

Maddy needs to challenge herself and so she goes to the local general store to gather the family shopping. She is not able to speak to the shop keeper and experiences panic attacks every time she goes there but she persists. One day a young girl is behind the counter. Her name is Levi. Levi is friendly and she does not pressure Maddy once her brother explains Maddy cannot talk. It takes a lot of courage and time but eventually they become friends and Maddy begins to trust Levi - maybe she can tell Levi what has happened.

Meanwhile there is an elderly reclusive lady in the town who has suffered great losses in her life. Her husband worked at Maralinga where they did nuclear bomb testing and he died from radiation sickness many years ago. Alice has also lost her precious daughter Birdie. Birdie disappeared forty-five years ago but Alice clings to the hope that one day she will come home. Alice hurts her foot and so Maddy is asked to deliver her groceries and gradually we watch as this unlikely pair form a friendship.

Birdy is a verse novel. It is a very engrossing story which will greatly appeal to readers aged 14+. This book deals with some big themes such as sexual assault; issues of consent; anxiety leading to selective mutism; and profound grief.

I did appreciate the Australian and literary references in this book. Charlie is described as a mini-Harry Butler (I'm sure only readers of a certain age will recognise this reference); when they go for a drive one day she reads about the story of Bob the Railway Dog (see image of the picture book at the end of this post); also Maddy loves the poetry of Emily Dickinson. There are also 1970s music references such as Carole King You've got a Friend. And there are very important references in this book to the historic events at Maralinga.

Birdy is highly recommended for teens, for both its honest, heart-wrenching content and lyrical free-verse style. Read Plus

Birdy is filled with positive examples of people supporting each other through their words and kind deeds, and touches on some of the different ways of dealing with anxiety. It also addresses the harm that social media can do, and the strength of character required to counter this. The serious issues that shape Maddy and Alice’s lives (implied sexual assault and anxiety, hoarding and depression) are dealt with sensitively and eventually resolved. Read Plus

Birdy is a title on our 2025 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) short list for Older Readers. I don't usually read the books on this list because they are beyond the scope of this blog which is aimed at readers (and teachers and Teacher-Librarians) with books for ages 4-12. I picked up Birdy from the hospital library where I work as a volunteer partly because the cover is so arresting and partly because I was fairly certain the staff who catalogued this title had put in in the wrong part of our collection. They had added it to our middle grade chapter books but now that I have read Birdy I can say it is most definitely a Young Adult title. 

Read more about Sharon Kernot here. I am not sure I would use this book with a class - it feels too much like a personal journey that should be experienced by a solitary reader walking alongside Maddy and her journey to understanding and recovery, but the publisher has prepared some teaching notes if these interest you. Joy Lawn interviewed Sharon Kernot on her blog Paperbark Words. 

Awards for Birdy:

• Shortlisted, CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers, 2025
• Shortlisted, NSW Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature, 2025
• Shortlisted, Readings Young Adult Prize, 2024

Here are the CBCA judges comments:

In Birdy, a compelling verse novel, two heartfelt and heartbreaking mysteries slowly unfold and overlap – a powerful contemporary drama intersecting with a historical crime. The main character Maddy is a teenage girl who is experiencing selective mutism and anxiety after what she will only refer to as The Incident. Her family relocates to the country to help her recover and there she makes a surprising connection with the reclusive older woman Alice, whose daughter Birdy disappeared 45 years ago. The novel explores ideas about shame, loss and trauma, the healing power of friendship and kindness, and celebrates the ability of poetry to generate deep feelings in both the writer and reader. We witness the skillful execution of the expressive and poetic language of a verse novel, to create rhythm, pause and silence to reflect the interior mood of the character of Maddy. The language is rich, descriptive and evocative, while still being accessible for the teen audience. This book would appeal to readers who love reading realistic, contemporary, heartfelt stories, and who enjoy crime and mystery. The descriptive, evocative language and complex themes provide much scope for detailed study in a classroom environment.

Companion books:

When Maddy intrudes on Birdy's room which has been carefully preserved by her mother and left just as it was 45 years ago I thought of this older Australian book from 1991:

A Horse Called Now by Ruth Doyle illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey

The horse is named Now and she is very wise. When the farm animals rush up to her full of worries she gently questions their fears. The Rabbits are sure a Fox chasing them but Now suggests they stop and look around. Can they see the Fox? No. Perhaps they should just enjoy some dandelions. Hen is sure the Magpie is after her chicks. But Now suggests she should look up. Can Hen see a swooping bird. No. 

"At this moment all is well. Why don't you search for some juicy grubs?

The Sheep is also very afraid but Now reassures her she is quite safe. Then a thunderstorm arrives - nothing to worry about - Now leads them all safely into the barn. Oh no - there are animals in the barn - are they scary? No. It's an old Fox, Magpie and a small puppy. 

"Now told the others. 'There's nothing to fear. Fox is looking somewhere warm to rest, Magpie only wants to collect shiny things and the Farmer's new dog is just a puppy, scared of the storm."

Anxiety is often about the 'what if' scenario. The animals express this as 'might'.

"... it might be his scarlet coat .... it might be his huge tail that trails fire ... he might sneak up ..."

"Magpie might have a beak as sharp as a famer's knife ... she might have wings that wrap and trap us"

This book could be quite didactic, but it is not. You could use this book to talk to young children about fear, anxiety, perception of danger, and point of view. I recommend you add this book to your school library. Nosy Crow consistently produce terrific books. 

The illustrations are also beautiful. A Horse Called Now was published in 2024 and it is available in paperback for a very good price.

Most mindfulness primers are a list of directives; this tale has the slow-moving grace of a fable. Kirkus

Doyle’s prose is beautiful and descriptive, introducing young readers to a lovely and sophisticated use of language through onomatopoeia, similes, and a rich vocabulary. Finkeldey’s expansive illustrations lend a vintage charm ...  School Library Journal

A Horse Called Now beautifully encapsulates the journey of overcoming worries and embracing the present moment. ‘When I’m afraid, I breathe in and out and let the feelings come . . . and then go. Nothing lasts forever.’ In today’s world, mental health awareness is paramount, especially for young children. The story instils the notion that it’s perfectly alright not to feel okay at times, and that seeking help is a commendable action. Through its narrative, A Horse Called Now emphasises the significance of friendship and support networks. Just Imagine

Here are two other books by Ruth Doyle:

Dreams for our Daughters

Alexandra Finkeldey is a freelance artist based in Kingston, Canada. Her book titles include:  On a Mushroom Day by Chris Baker (Tundra Books, 2024), Saving the Spotted Owl by Nicola Jones (Kids Can Press, 2023), The Boy, the Cloud and the Very Tall Tale by Heather Smith (Orca Books, 2023), When the Storks Came Home by Isabella Tree (Ivy Kids, 2022) True Stories of Animal Heroes: Talala by Vita Murrow (Frances Lincoln, 2021). 

Six Summers of Tash and Leopold by Danielle Binks

The title of this book is quite intriguing. You need to think about it both before and after reading this newest book by Danielle Binks. Before reading the title made me think was a Young Adult title - perhaps a first love story. And after reading this proved to be untrue. Also, the name choices are interesting. One is an abbreviated name and the other a full name. This could say Alytash and Leopold; or Tash and Leo.  As for the six summers you need to read the beginning of the book carefully to understand this idea. 

Tash's real name is Alytash Simons (a name I had no idea how to pronounce as I was reading) but she prefers to be called Tash. Leopold Zając has many names. His mum calls him Myszko which means mouse in Polish. His Uncle Alek calls him Lew which means lion also in Polish but in reality, he just wants everyone to call him Leo. Oh, and it would be great if everyone took the trouble to learn how to say his last name: Zye-onse.

Tash is unwell and has been in hospital for extended periods. She is sure her cancer will return, and she is terrified of this. This partly explains why, after years of friendship, she now seems to have rejected her friend Leo. She does not want to think about her life before or be reminded that she is 'the cancer girl'. Tash is staying home for now and homeschooling. 

Leo has his own demons. Dad has had to move away to live with his own parents in Western Australia because his gambling addiction has nearly ruined their family. Leo misses him dreadfully. 

As this story opens as Grade 6 is ending and so over the coming months Leo will start high school but instead of going to the local public comprehensive one, he has won a scholarship to the prestigious Como College. Leo is worried about leaving his only friend Rami and he is also dreading the long journey to reach this distant school each day. And he knows he has to live up to his mum's expectations. Then Leo discovers he simply cannot go to school. He is not deliberately avoiding high school but his anxiety is so acute he simply cannot attend. He can do his schoolwork at home but he simply cannot leave the house to catch the train. 

At the end of Grade 6 a couple of significant things have happened. Leo experienced his first dreadful panic attack and to make matters worse this happened in front of all the Grade 6 kids at the end of year waterslide day. Tash has not spoken to him in over a year and then suddenly she wants his help to deliver a letter to a lady, Mrs Shepparson, who lives nearby.

Mrs Shepparson has her own terrible life issues to deal with. Her son died aged twelve in the storm water drain, she is suffering from acrophobia, and developers are harassing her wanting to buy her sweet little house which is full of memories and colours. The only company she has is her dog named Rosie. And those letters (there seem to be lots of them) are a mystery. Then tragedy strikes and it seems the developers are to blame. All these things need to come together. Leo and Tash need to get to know Mrs Shepparson; Leo and Tash need to heal their friendship; and the bullying by the developers of the new housing estate must be uncovered and stopped.

Danielle Binks creates a strong sense of place in her book although it is fairly Melbourne centric. Having visited a few Melbourne suburbs (I do not live there) I could, however, easily visualise the street, culvert and storm water drain which are the main focus of the story. I read that the real suburb is Noble Park in Melbourne.

Blurb: Alytash and Leopold - Tash and Leo - are neighbours who used to be best friends, but aren't anymore, for reasons that Leo doesn't entirely understand. But now it's the last week of Year Six and Tash is standing in Leo's front yard with a misdelivered letter - and a favour to ask. It's a request that will set off a chain of events in their little crescent in Noble Park, a suburb that is changing, and fast. As they solve an unfolding neighbourhood mystery and help Ms Shepparson, a reclusive neighbour with a tragic past, Tash and Leo each has to confront fault lines in their own recent histories and families. They will discover that friendships can grow and change, that bravery takes many forms, and that, most of all - whatever the future holds - friends and family are what matter.

I think readers aged 11+ either at the end of Primary school or in High School will enjoy Six Summers of Tash and Leopold. I do like the cover. My label for this book is Young Adult - I wonder if this book has been submitted for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2025 and if it has, I think it might be a notable title.

Here are a few text quotes:

"I think it's a pretty good test of a friendship, being apart for a while and coming back together again, seeing if it makes you feel more or less like yourself."

"The past can never be changed, but 'history' is ongoing - we try to understand what happened, and we find new evidence or new accounts that fill out our understanding and provide new context. Which means history is an ongoing conversation that we can always learn more about, but the past is a fixed point that's just kind of there waiting for us to dig up and better understand. "

"Everyone keeps telling me that the cancer isn't back, that I've been given the all clear,' she made bunny rabbit air quotes with her fingers, ' but all I can hear is yet."

"It's easy for historians - they look at the past like rewinding a movie, able to skip backwards and forwards seamlessly so that all the events line up and make sense, dominoes falling in place along the timeline. Uncertainty doesn't factor in once the story's been written, and it's easy to forget the people in the middle of all that history, who never knew whether or not things would work out in the end."

Reading reviews of Six Summers of Tash and Leopold I made some discoveries - things I might not have thought of:

1.  It is essential to turn back to the beginning of this book and re read the letter Leo writes to Tash, which is how the book begins and yes, it is how the book ends too. 

2. The publisher has likened this book to Bridge to Terabithia and I thought oh no surely not but - well you need to discover why this is actually one book you could connect with Six Summers of Tash and Leopold.

Read this extensive interview with Paperbark Words and Joy Lawn. 

Review quotes:

This is really a book that displays the human condition at its best and worst, and we just love the characters all the more, for it. Both Tash and Leopold are authentic kids who we care deeply about, and they live on long after the book is finished. Fabulously for a YA novel, the conclusion makes you re-open the book at the first page to read again what you have already absorbed – a genuinely brilliant inclusion.  Kids' Book Review

The Six Summers of Tash and Leopold is also filled with wonderfully diverse characters. Leo has Polish heritage, Tash has mixed race South African heritage, and the peripheral characters come from various backgrounds: Rami is Indian, Fatemah has Muslim heritage, and the librarian at their primary school is non-binary. The Book Muse

As they solve an unfolding neighbourhood mystery and help Ms Shepparson, a reclusive neighbour with a tragic past, Tash and Leo each must confront fault lines in their own recent histories and families. They will discover that relationships can grow and change, that bravery takes many forms, and that, most of all – whatever the future holds – friends and family are what matter. Buzz Words

I do, however, need to do a little nit picking about this book. I really did not understand why the Primary School Teacher-Librarian was a non-binary person with the courtesy title Mx Chambers. I'm always happy find a kind, sympathetic, and in this case, wise teacher-librarian in any story or school library, but I found this character label inclusion a little contrived. I did do some research because this term was new to me, in fact at first I thought it was a typo, and here is what I discovered: Mx. is a title that indicates neither marital status nor gender. The Reading Time reviewer agrees with me about this small point. 

Speaking of typos - sorry I did warn you I was going to be a bit picky - if you have this book in your hands turn to page 225. I feel there might be a word missing from this sentence. It is not crucial to the plot but it confused me:

"At that, I threw my arms around Tash - pinning her own in place if only so I could help warm them - and I felt her turn her head and rest her cheek atop my head."

Is this meant to say pinning her arms in place? or pinning her hands in place? We have read in the previous section that it is winter, and they are both quite cold.

One more problem - sorry again. Leo and his former friend Rami are library monitors, or as they are called in this book Library Leaders. Clearly Danielle Binks does appreciate libraries. The Primary school library sounds terrific in contrast with the non-staffed, high tech, impersonal, and 'all for show' posh high school library. Early in the book Leo quotes his mum who quotes Professor R David Lankes - 

"Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities."

I watched this video by Danielle Binks from her Instagram page and I know she deeply appreciates school libraries but there is a small error in her story (well it feels like an error to me). Some libraries use little paper slips to record the date a book is due back - this was certainly a standard library procedure in the past. The little slips are called date due slips, not catalogue cards. As a teacher-librarian this sentence gave me a bit of a jolt (sorry I know this is so trivial). You can see examples below.

"Over the break I received a letter in the mail ... from Librarian Chambers. I guess they meant to give it to me at graduation, but then I didn't go. It was an old-school library catalogue card - the ones that used to be taped into the back of library books to show how many times a title had been borrowed, before everything got digitised."

Date Due slip ready for date stamping

Cards in a card catalogue

Companion books:

Grace Notes

The Year Mrs Montague Cried

The Honest Truth

Exit through the gift shop

A Good Night for Shooting Zombies

The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart by Samera Kamaleddine

 

Evie lives with her mum, younger sister and stepdad. Lee met her mum on a holiday in Bali. He is originally from England and so I did enjoy some of his colloquial expressions. Evie is in Grade 6 and this is the year of change. Her stepdad Lee is leaving Sydney to go and work in Dubbo. There is a sense but it is not exactly specified that mum and Lee are now breaking up. Mum writes daily horoscope predictions for a major magazine and she is working on a book. Mum is often busy in her study but she does have a notice board in there which has wise phrases which at times are helpful to Evie. Up until now Lee seems to be the one holding the family together in terms of transporting the girls to school and activities and also doing the evening meal. Lee is still home for a few months and so he encourages the girls to make worry boxes. 

"Sadie was filling hers with loose little beads and small plastic toys she'd been collecting from Coles even though we were supposed to fill the boxes with feelings. The kind that made you worry."

Evie has so many worries. Will she forget Lee. Will he ever come back. How will she and Sadie travel 400km to Dubbo in western NSW. Why does Nicole pick on her in class. Will she find friends in high school. How will they eat when mum can't cook very well. 

Luckily Evie is enjoying her class with Mrs Owen who declares they will be studying the Earth and Solar System this year. I am a little bit confused about this because as a teacher I do know that no class ever works on one topic for a whole year - a term is the usual time frame for a science topic like this. Anyway, this means that there are heaps and heaps of facts about astronomy woven into the story. 

Publisher blurb: Evie Hart likes rules. A lot. But as she embarks on her very last year of primary school, it feels like all the rules around her are being broken. When Evie's class starts learning about the Earth's place in the universe, it makes Evie think about her own place in the world and where she belongs. Which has her more worried than ever. When your mum writes a horoscope page for a living, it's hard not to think about what the future holds. Especially when she and the only dad Evie has ever known are acting like they're on different planets. But the more Evie learns about the sky and the stars, the more she learns that changes in the world can't always be controlled. And maybe that's not a bad thing. From the inaugural winner of the Matilda Prize comes a tender and moving story about one girl's journey to find her place in the world.

If your reading friend aged 10+ is keen on space and learning more about the universe they are sure to enjoy all the lesson information Evie shares. This book might also comfort young readers who are going through changes in their lives. 

Readings Melbourne review: This is an enchanting read for young space lovers, with each scientific fact and astrological point aligning metaphorically with Evie’s changing life. It’s also a great read for when big feelings are overwhelming, for learning how to navigate anxiety and change, especially at home, and about extending kindness even in unexpected places. 

There are some marvellous characterisations in this novel, with primary and secondary characters created with authenticity and appeal, in particular, Evie’s garrulous friend, Farrah, and neighbour, Nance O’Neil, whose pink-iced buns are a weekly salve to the family’s ups and downs. Evie’s journey from her fretful worries to a more confident person, finding some security in her own identity, is a pilgrimage that most young people take, as they grow into the adults they will become. Just So Stories

The Small Things by Lisa Thompson

At the end of this book I thought two things - wow that was a sad story and how far-fetched. Then I read the authors note Spoiler alert. Lisa Thompson visited a school and saw a robot on a seat. Lily-Bot was there because the real Lily was at home.

"These robots are created by a company called No Isolation, who produce them to help children who cannot be there for various reasons."

Anna's class have a new student - Ellie but Ellie is undergoing medical treatment and so she cannot come to school in person. A small robot sits in her chair acting like a camera. Ellie can see the classroom and she can control the robot to have several reactions such as asking a question, agreeing with a comment, and expressing confusion. All of this is controlled by Ellie at home from her tablet.

Anna is chosen to sit beside Ellie-Bot and that should be fine but Anna lives under a shadow. Her family cannot afford to send her to the myriad of after school and weekend activities enjoyed by her class mates. Her three closest friends dance, play sport, ride horses and attend swimming competitions. When the girls talk about their weekend, Anna has nothing to say. Then Ellie (via Ellie-Bot) asks Anna about her weekend and she tells her first lie. Over the coming weeks the lies grow and grow - ice skating, bowling, and visits to the ice cream parlour for delicious sweet treats. Of course Anna's boasting will be discovered but does this have to mean no one will be her friend. 

Author blurb: Anna’s anxious when she’s picked to befriend the new girl in her class. For a start, Ellie is ill and can’t come to school herself. So Anna has to communicate with her through a new kind of robot. But Anna is also worried that her life’s too small and boring to be of interest to her new friend. Compared to the other girls, she doesn’t have anything exciting to talk about and so when Ellie asks her a question, a little white lie pops out. Then another and another. When Ellie finds out the truth, can their friendship survive…?

This is a book from the Barrington Stoke dyslexia-friendly series. It is a short book with 96 pages but it is a powerful story perfect for readers aged 9+. Here are two videos with Lisa Thompson. And one with Moon Lane TV. And a set of teaching notes. 

Lisa Thompson is the author of a book for younger children from the Little Gems series - Sidney Makes a wish. I have also talked about:

Goldfish Boy

Here are some other books by Lisa Thompson:

Everywhere Blue by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

Yesterday I listed all the books (well nearly all) the books on my January to read pile. I know yesterday and today are officially really December but I have already begun and have finished two of the books! Yes I did say two.

Everywhere Blue is a new discovery and it is a verse novel and yes you do already know this but, I need to say it again - I love verse novels. They are fast, the are emotional, they are often very insightful and they are always so satisfying. If you are ever in a reading slump I highly recommend finding a verse novel (it's okay there are some written for adults too). 

Madrigal, you could be a metronome. You're so precise. ...

Mr Rimondi is the only one who uses

my real name.

Everyone else calls me Maddie,

except Aria calls me Mad

and Strum calls me M.

They both hate the musical

names our parents gave us.

But I like them.

They define us as a family

even if sometimes

there is dissonance.

There are some things we can take away from this text quote. Maddie lives with her musical parents and older brother and older sister. Maddie takes music lessons - she plays the oboe. This book is filled with musical references and references to classical music (I loved that part).

The dissonance is between Strum, aged 18, and his father. Strum is deeply concerned about our planet and about our human impact and of course about global warming and climate change. His dad thinks all of this is nonsense and to make things worse he seems to impose unfair rules on the family.

Maddie has a brilliant mind. She is in Grade Seven but attends a Grade Eight geometry class each week on a nearby campus. Maddie also has ambition. She wants to play the oboe solo at the upcoming concert but she is only second oboe and it seems Oliver, first oboe, will be the one to play the beautiful music from Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. With all the turmoil around her Maddie is anxious and her anxiety can be seen from her obsession with numbers. There are safe and lucky numbers and numbers which mean everything is sure to go wrong. Maddie is a counter (I am a counter too). She counts steps, and floorboards and really anything as a way to calm down. 

Maddie compulsively counts objects and believes that even numbers are the best. She is a gifted math student who appreciates order and regularity, eating the same precisely prepared sandwich for lunch every day. Kirkus

After her oboe lesson her mum usually picks her up but today it is her sister Aria and she has some bad news. Strum is missing. He has walked away from his university and no one knows where he has gone. Over the coming weeks Maddie watches her family disintegrate. 

Music mentioned in this book. I suggest listening to these while you read this book:

• Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev
• Morning Mood from the Peer Gynt Suites by Edvard Greig
• String quartet No.2 in D Major by Alexander Borodin
• Adagio for strings by Samuel Barber
• Largo from Symphony No.9 by Antonin Dvorak
• Nutcracker suite by Tchaikovsky
• Rhapsody in Blue by George Geershwin
• Bolero by Maurice Ravel
• Ode to Joy from Symphony No.9 by Beethoven

I highly recommend Everywhere Blue especially for sensitive readers 10+ who enjoy verse novels and stories filled with genuine emotions. I really like the cover by Elena Megalos but it does slightly puzzle me. Strum loves butterflies and you can see they are part of the illustration. Maddie plays the oboe - yes it is there too. Strum is missing and that feels like a chasm in Maddie's life I guess and we can see a boy with a backpack striding away to a remote place. But why is there a guitar? I guess because you strum a guitar and it matches his name? Blue is Strum's favourite colour. The sadness of his loss is making the world feel blue.

This book has several awards:

• An NCTE Notable Verse Novel
• A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
• A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
• Cybils Award Poetry Winner

I am very keen to share some companion books to go with Everywhere Blue. You could click Verse Novel in my sidebar but I really want to tell you about another book where the main character counts things as a way to cope (this is probably Counting by 7s but I am not entirely certain - my memory is of a middle grade book where the girl counts things including the bristles on her toothbrush) and also I need to mention a book I read quite recently about an absent brother - The collected works of Gretchen Oyster.

I also recommend these books which are filled with music:

Just Dance

Fly Away

The Flying Orchestra

The View from the 32nd Floor 

(this is long out of print and the cover is not especially appealing 

but I highly highly recommend this terrific book for so many reasons! 

My post has a comment by the author)

Hope by Corrinne Averiss illustrated by Sébastien Pelon

Corrine Averiss creates enormous tension in her book which will keep all readers turning the pages anxious for the outcome.

Finn loves his dog Comet. They are the best best of friends but it is obvious Comet is an older dog. One day he won't leave his bed.

"Not for walks. Not for trains. Not even for a snooze in Finn's den."

"Finn wrapped Comet in his favourite blanket and Dad gently lifted him into the car."

When they return home from visiting the vet, Finn retreats in to his den. Then Dad brings him a torch.

"Hope is keeping a little light on, however dark things seem."

Finn thinks of all the good times he has shared with Comet and he takes comfort in the arrival of the moon - like a giant torch in the sky. Finn sends his thoughts of hope out into the night and the next day Comet arrives home. He will need time to recover but Finn and his best friend will soon be able to enjoy their shared games and adventures. I sighed with relief. This is not a sad book - it is filled with - YES you've guessed this from the title - HOPE. I highly recommend this book as a worth while addition to your school library. 

Hope was published in 2019 and I was able to pick up a mint condition copy at a recent book fair for just $1.  I am puzzled as to why this book was sent to the fair - it is such a special book and one I am going to add to my own picture book shelves of treasured titles.

Emotional, funny and uplifting, this beautiful picture book is a pure delight from start to finish. A wonderful story that shows children not to give up hope when times are uncertain. Murdoch Books

I have already explored a few books by Corrine Averiss:

Joy

The Long Way Home

My Pet Star

Sébastien Pelon is from France. I have added this book to my enormous "want to read" list.

What if, Pig? by Linzie Hunter

Many of us worry about small things and I am sure this is a natural process bur this becomes a problem when small worries grow out of proportion. It is so dangerous to live with the constant thought of "what if".  Perhaps this book will help a young child, in a small way, to see the complications that arise when worries become all consuming. 

Pig decides to host his Birthday party and invite all of his friends but then the worries begin to pile in - will anyone come? Will too many friends come? What if this party is not as much fun as those hosted by the others? Pig cannot cope with all of these mounting worries so he cancels the party and retreats to his home. 

The best part of this book (spoiler alert) is the way his friends all band together to give Pig the best birthday every. I do enjoy stories about surprises like this especially when they show the kindness, understanding and generosity of friends. Then, in truly beautiful moment, one by one his friends reveal they have worries too. 

What if Pig? is a story that many children will relate to, it highlights the little voice inside us all that makes us doubt whether or not we are good enough and makes us worry about all the little things that could go wrong. It shows that friendship is a wonderful thing and that we shouldn’t keep worries secret. Just Imagine

The humour and the optimistic tone of this appealing book lighten the important message it conveys. A Library Lady

Another book with a surprise party that I love is Frog and a Very Special Day by Max Velthuijs. Here is Linzie's web site.  I do also have a small Pinterest collection of books about Birthday parties. Companion reads:

PS I was excited to hear my blog mentioned (42.50 min mark) on the Your Kid's Next Read Podcast this week - Episode 43. In this podcast the presenters share their favourite book bloggers and reviewers and also, as always, alert you to new books they have received in their mail (aren't they lucky that publishers send them review copies - I dream about this!). 

Xavier in the Meantime by Kate Gordon

"Sunday's affirmation: I will take a chance on ideas, 

even if they seem ridiculous or dangerous. 

I will let my heart have a chance to soar."

"Thursday's affirmation: I will write out my feelings. I will write out my sadness. 

I will turn my emotions into beautiful words."

Let's begin with the title - Xavier in the Meantime. Xavier is the main character in this book but he also has a special and deeply insightful friend in Aster. Meantime? Does this mean time moves on? I guess I am thinking of meanwhile life goes on - regardless of what is happening. Does it mean the period of time between two events—between the current time and the time when something else happens. Yes.  But you can think about this in another way - mean time. Daily life can be mean for Xavier. He is haunted by the black dog. You will know this is an expression that signifies depression. 

Xavier has been unwell for a long time. The voice in his head tells him that it is his fault his dad has moved back to the family farm. The voice in is head tells him that his mother must be so happy to take a break from him when he goes to visit his father. The voice in his head fills Xavier with doubt - doubt that he will ever escape from the black dog that sits snarling in the corner of his room and follows him through his day. But Xavier is also a problem solver. He wants to find a way to help himself, to help others, to help his mum and dad. 

Publisher blurb: Sometimes Xavier wakes up feeling hopeless. Every new doctor … this will fix it. Removing him from school … this will fix it. The therapy group … this will fix it.  And his dad moving out. Maybe, this will fix it. Despite his positive affirmations, the black dog never really leaves him. It watches from the corner of his room, never straying too far away—waiting for the perfect opportunity to sink its teeth in. But Xavier has a plan—one he hopes will help all the kids in his support group. Enlisting the help of best friend Aster, he tries to convince his dad to turn the family sheep farm into a therapy retreat for the group session kids. But he is up against decades of tradition, his parents who are on a “break,” and the spectre of the black dog.  Can Xavier learn to cherish the moments in between the struggles—the moments in the meantime?

At the end of this book, which I devoured in one sitting, I felt so moved.  I wanted to write to the author, Kate Gordon, and try to express my complex, heartfelt, personal and very emotional response to her newest book. My mother had complex mental health needs. Like Xavier, I know many of her days were a huge struggle. This book touched my heart. 

Xavier in the Meantime is the sequel to Aster's Right Good Things but I am happy to say it does stand alone too. The publisher notes use the word companion volume and that seems like a better description. Xavier in the Meantime will be published on 1st February, 2022. Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy. 

This is a delightful yet deeply meaningful tale from Kate Gordon exploring another often misunderstood mental health issue. Depression can’t always be ‘fixed’ and what worked last time, might not work this time. Thoroughly recommended as reading for all, from around age 11 and upwards to adults at all stages of life. Rachel on GoodReads

In 2016 Kate Gordon won our IBBY Australia Ena Noel award for her book Writing Clementine. 

Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds The Tunnel by Anthony Browne

"At the other end she found herself in a quiet wood. There was no sign of her brother. But the wood soon turned into a dark forest. She thought about wolves and giants and witches."

Rose and Jack are very different. Jack plays sport with this friends while Rose is a book reader. Jack sees the world in "black and white". Rose uses her imagination. This is lucky because when Jack enters a long tunnel and doesn't come back Rose goes into the tunnel and she discovers a strange world. When Rose sees her brother has been turned to stone her knowledge of fairy tales that tells her what to do.

I love all the small details in this book. The end papers show a brick wall (the rigid unimaginative thinking of Jack) and a fanciful patter (the creative and imaginative thinking of Rose). Looking closely at Rose's bedroom you will see a gingerbread house light, a print of Red Riding Hood in the style of Arthur Rackham, pretty wall paper (referencing another Anthony Browne book - Knock Knock who's there) and her coat which looks just like the one worn by Red Riding Hood. And Jack is wearing a wolf mask.

Thinking about the CBCA 2021 slogan Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds I have talked previously about the idea of portals to another world. Yesterday I talked about The Mirrorstone which is a old book now out of print but luckily even though The Tunnel is also an older book (1989) it is still available. The Mirrorstone is for an older group of students in Grades 3-6 but my focus book today, The Tunnel, can be read across a wide range of ages. Here are a set of teaching ideas. 

The girl’s fear of losing her brother overwhelms her fear of entering a tunnel, which she correctly deduces may take them to a parallel world where physics works in unexpected ways. Anthony Browne makes sure to show the reader an open page of her book. This story therefore has the double function of promoting literature — if you read, you’ll be well-equipped to handle whatever life throws at you. Slap Harry Larry

When I thought about linking The Tunnel with the 2021 CBCA slogan I also thought of another Anthony Browne book where the character goes into another world. If you can find Through the Mirror it would also be a good one to share as a part of your Book Week discussions.

Be Brave, Little Tiger! by Margaret Wise Brown illustrated by Jean Claude

Margaret Wise Brown is famous for her book Goodnight Moon but she was actually the author of more than one hundred books. Seventy books were found after her death in 1952 and all have been published posthumously.  One of those books is Be Brave, Little Tiger which was published in 2018. I love the idea that a book written over seventy years ago has such a modern look. I also love the global connections in this story - an author from USA, an illustrator from UK and readers here in Australia. I mentioned that this book looks 'modern'.  I will explain:

When you pick up this book there are some delightful things to notice - features which may not have been added if this book had been published back when Margaret Wise Brown first wrote the text. The vibrant full colour illustrations, the two different end papers - morning scene and night scene, framed illustrations, full page illustrations, double page illustrations and pages where you need to turn the book sideways. The text uses different font styles - bold, italic, size variations and capitals all for emphasis.

Our story opens with a song:

"I'm a brave little tiger, ho ho ho!

I'm not afraid wherever I go!"

But our little tiger is not really brave. This song is just his way of trying to feel brave. He is afraid of the monkeys, the bees, the birds and the fish. He is too scared to jump in the river and join his friends for a swim. His mum and dad give good advice: "everyone is afraid of something sometimes"; "even an elephant is afraid sometimes."

There is a lovely structure to this story. It opens with the little tiger walking through the forest. He repeats this journey the next day but, with his fears put to rest, the whole scene seems different.

There are some wonderful words in this book:

• gargantuan
• lounging
• encountered
• delicately
• skittered

When you pick up this book I am sure you will enjoy sharing it with a preschool child. We all have our fears and worries. The solutions are not simple but with a little effort it is possible to take small steps forward and perhaps feel a little less afraid.