Still Sal by Kevin Henkes

Sal is excited. She is about to begin Grade One. Sal has all her special supplies ready:

At the moment, the school supplies were the things in Sal’s life that made her most happy; the things that gave her a little joyful lift just by thinking about them. The box held brightly colored pencils with glittery stars on them, an eraser shaped like a cupcake for the top of a pencil, and two folders and two notebooks with photographs of baby animals on them—piglets, kittens, puppies, lambs.

Her outfit is ready too:

Sal got dressed in the outfit she’d been planning for days. Pink-and-blue plaid tights. Pale-green corduroy pants that came just below her knees. A shirt patterned with yellow and orange suns. Red sneakers. ... Sal had picked out a cloth headband—her most comfortable one. It was white with purple stripes. She was avoiding her hard plastic ones with teeth. She pushed the headband on and patted it into position. “Ready.”

Then a letter arrives and it seems Sal and her best friend in the whole world Griff (Griffen Babcock) will be in different classes. Griff will have a teacher with such a wonderful name - Ms. Flowers. Surely there is a way Sal can change classes and not be in Ms. McCormick's class.

Ms. Flowers’s hair was dark and curly like Sal’s, but cut very short and accessorized with an ABC barrette. She was wearing red sneakers, also like Sal’s, and jeans that were frayed and fringy at the bottom. Her belt appeared to be a tape measure. She looked like a fun babysitter. She smelled like strawberry jam. Sal’s heart leaped.

This is a year of change for Sal. Her baby sister Poppy has moved into her room and Sal is not happy. Griff seems to be making new friends. AND everything, just everything that can go wrong at school, goes wrong. For example my heart broke for Sal when she saw her name label was wrong (this happens me too):

She was looking at her name tag with narrow eyes. There was a new problem. Although Ms. McCormick had cut off the second L and the Y, she’d made her cut so close to the first L that if you didn’t look carefully, you might think Sal’s name was Sa. Also, there’d been a nice border around each name on the name tags, and now the border on Sal’s was gone on the right side. And, the cut edge was crooked. Sal’s name tag didn’t look professional anymore, and it was different from everyone else’s. Stinging tears came to Sal’s eyes. She knew she shouldn’t ask Ms. McCormick to fix her name tag again, but, still, she found the whole thing upsetting.

Kids in Australia are sure to enjoy all the clothes Sal wears - here children wear school uniforms. Sal's choices each day reminded me of Goonie Bird Greene. 

I love the way Sal tries to convince her parents that two-year-old Poppy should not move in:

“I just don’t think she’ll be a good resident of this room,” Sal had told her parents, trying to be as serious as possible, narrowing her eyes, tilting her head, and pitching her voice to sound important. “I just don’t think she’s responsible enough to be here.”

I also love Sal's dad - he is a parent with quiet wisdom and he can make delicious pancakes.

With a group of older kids in Grade 3 perhaps, you could use this book to talk about the way teachers are different - not to criticise just to explore different ways teachers might cover a topic or relate to their class. You could also talk about the way Sal observes the kids in her class. Oh and I cheered when Sal does speak up - she certainly is not a shy child but she does have an understanding of some adult rules such as not using the teacher's first name even though she is so delighted when she makes this discovery.

I think my hairdresser would enjoy reading chapter 19:

The hair salon was called Hair We Go and it smelled important. Like the smells of a doctor’s office and a flower shop mixed together. Brooke was the name of the woman who was to cut Sal’s hair. Brooke’s thin, straight hair was shoulder length and streaked with pink and green. Sal couldn’t take her eyes off it. She wondered how old you had to be to get pink and green hair, although she wasn’t sure if she’d actually want to have it.

As an adult reader I adored this fourth book about the Miller family - I hope young readers aged 7+ will also enjoy this book but they might find the tone used by Sal a little too mature? I need to think about this a little more. The Kirkus reviewer says: Fairly sophisticated language and observations stretch the target audience to include third and fourth graders for whom first grade may be a distant memory. I was delighted to see Kirkus gave Still Sal a Star review:

Henkes’ graceful, easy prose, sharp insights, and impressive ability to convey the way children think shine here. He invites readers to empathize with Sal, feeling her disappointment and annoyance with a world that doesn’t always understand her as well as the satisfaction with small victories that bring her back to herself: getting used to a major haircut and learning to connect with Ms. McCormick. ...  A delightful, understated triumph.

Blurb from Kevin Henkes web page: Sal has been looking forward to first grade for a long time. But her excitement quickly turns to disappointment when she learns that her best friend, Griff, is in the other first-grade classroom and has the most popular teacher. Then Sal’s name is spelled wrong on her name tag, she trips in front of the cool fifth graders, and her self-portrait doesn’t turn out the way she wanted it to. In fact, everything about school is an absolute disaster. Poor Sal! Luckily for Sal, she has understanding parents, a terrific new teacher, and empathetic friends who remind her that it takes time to adjust to change. And sure enough, after a few days, Sal feels like herself again.

Still Sal highlights themes of family, friendship, social and emotional growth, resilience, and adapting to change. The fourth stand-alone book in the Miller Family sequence includes black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Kevin Henkes on almost every page and is an excellent choice for early elementary grades, for readers ready for a short novel, and for family and classroom read-alouds.

AND there will be another book in this series later this year - Poppy.

If I worked in a bookshop I would love to make a window display of this series. Here are the four titles from the series so far and I also think all Primary school libraries should own every one of them - you can read more from the links below. All four of these have Kirkus Star reviews:

The Year of Billy Miller; Billy Miller makes a Wish

Click on the Kevin Henkes label on this post to read about more of his books - for all ages!

The Callers: The Hidden Forest by Kiah Thomas

The Vine. The heartbeat of Evantra—the source to which all life was connected. It had been the heartbeat of Elipsom once too. Until it had been killed off by their disregard for their own natural environment, pushing them to rely more heavily on Calling.

“The very existence of the Vine here proves that Calling is not creation. It’s theft.” Davinia’s head felt like it was spinning. She’d found it. The thing that she’d been sent to look for—the secret in the Spurges.

This quote from the beginning of The Hidden Forest sets the scene:

My son, Quintus Octavius, suffered a mental break. Years of trying and failing to Call led him to a point of desperation and disillusionment. In response to his failure, he attempted to discredit the gift by fabricating another world, “Evantra.” He then stole my personal rhinodrite to flee the city. Despite the proud legacy of Octavius Callers, I am grieved to confirm that Quintus is not a Caller. To Call is to create from nothing. Instead, Quintus seems intent on destruction. He has betrayed everything that we as Elipsomians hold dear. As a mother and as Chief Councilor, I am heartbroken by his actions. But I know that our nation is too great to be derailed by the decisions of one individual. We are a community, and I would like to reassure you that Council is committed to protecting and defending our citizens and our way of life.

This is the voice of Adriana Octavius Chief Councilor. 

Now take a look at my previous post about the first installment in this terrific series:

The Callers (book one)

Bookseller blurb for The Hidden Forest: The shocking truth about Calling has been revealed: the magical ability to conjure something out of thin air actually steals resources from another place. Adriana Octavius, Chief Councilor of the Callers, will do anything to quash rumours that Calling isn't a force for good. While Quin looks for answers on Evantra, his sister, Davinia, is assigned to investigate and plant false evidence at the heart of the rebellion on Elipsom. Davinia has always maintained calm under pressure from her mother, but as she goes deeper undercover, her loyalties begin to waver.

I have just finished reading the third installment in this series (I devoured it).  

If you have not yet discovered this series, can I suggest you RUN to your nearest library or independent bookstore and grab all three books. These stories are filled with action, heart, imaginative storytelling and a plot line that is sure to make you THINK! And a warning once you read the first installment you will want to grab books two and three. 

Here are some quotes from The Hidden Forest which give an insight into some of the characters you will meet in this book:

Davinia didn’t let her steps falter. As far as anyone knew, she had last spoken to her brother at the induction ceremony. The ceremony where he’d announced that Calling—the principle their entire society was founded on—was based on a lie. Right before he’d very dramatically stolen their mother’s rhinodrite and flown away.

Adriana folded her hands. She studied Cassius and Davinia until silence stretched the moment tight, and Davinia felt a flicker of appreciation for the power her mother managed to draw out of every interaction. She really was an impressive leader.

Everything Quin had ever known was a lie. His family was not his family. His home was not his home. He didn’t know who his birth parents were—or if they were even still alive. And in the brief moments when Quin and Allie stopped running, truth and questions pressed in on him, crowding him until he felt like he couldn’t breathe. What was he doing? Who even was he? How was he meant to save everyone?

Quin had the power to help things grow, the rare power the Evantrans called being Vine-touched. He had the ability to connect with the Vine, to heal it, and even to use offshoots of it to create new things at will. Mostly, though, he felt like he was fumbling at the edges of his power. He’d discovered he could connect with living things, and he could even join the Vine through trees and plants, but just as often as not he found himself overwhelmed by the Vine’s enormity. He’d had some success exploring what he could do, and he was slowly working out how to heal the Vine based on dreams he’d had. But there was so much he didn’t understand.

“I helped Quin escape,” Davinia said bluntly. “I thought you might have,” said Milo. He didn’t move or look away. “I know that Calling is taking things from other places, and I do it anyway,” said Davinia. “You didn’t when you were here today,” said Milo. “Cassius and I were sent to the Spurges to find out what you’re hiding here.” “We know,” said Milo, like it didn’t matter.

These are the calling principals - but these have all been broken:

Heartwood Hotel: Family Forever by Kallie George illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Bookseller blurb: Everything is humming at the Heartwood Hotel one year after the forest fire. Yet Mona the mouse feels like something is missing. Something besides the Golden Acorn—a legendary treasure buried and forgotten long ago. When a stranger turns up at the Heartwood with a map, suddenly the whole forest is taking part in a big treasure hunt and the hotel’s regular activities are turned upside down. But Mona has an idea to get things back to normal: throw a surprise birthday party for Mr. Heartwood! As the Heartwood attracts treasure hunters—well-meaning and otherwise—and as Mona's best friend Tilly seems to be pulling away, Mona feels like her plans are slipping through her paws! Who will find the legendary treasure? And what if danger finds the hotel first?

Opening sentences: "It was autumn once again in Fernwood Forest, and no place was cozier than the Heartwood Hotel. A silver moon hung, thin as a whisker, above the old oak tree. Golden leaves decorated the hotel's branches, and the delicious aroma of roast acorns drifted from within."

I actually squealed when I saw a NEW Heartwood Hotel book in Canada last month. Kallie George lives in British Columbia, Canada. I grabbed it with both hands, went back to my hotel and read the whole book straight through in one huge, delicious gulp! If you have not yet discovered this sweet series quickly add them to your 'to read' or 'to borrow' list. I am sure this series will be easy to find in many school and public libraries. Kallie George creates real tension in this newest installment as we watch Mona struggling to understand why her precious friend Tilly is so distracted and where is Mr Heartwood he needs to know some of the hotel guests are acting suspiciously. 

The writing in the Heartwood Hotel books utterly delights me:

"Branch Room 22 wasn't big. ... Still, the rooms had a view of the forest and enough space for a soft grass bed and a night table. Mona could see Tilly had plumped the pillows and readied a nutshell of hot water and honey-oat soap to wash with."

"Two hedgehogs were sitting on the couch near the hearth, chatting over cups of hot honey. Other guests drifted in and out of the dining hall, along with the delicious smell of breakfast - hot buttery acorn rolls, fried thistles and mushrooms."

"The room had a bed with a moss blanket and freshly stuffed mattress, a bathroom with a hollowed-out burl for a tub, and a balcony that was discreetly hidden by branches, for safety's sake. ... There were even complimentary acorn collies on the pillow."

This newest book has a slightly larger size. The new editions, which have different covers from the original ones, match this size but if your library has the original copies the two newest books will look slightly different on your shelves. You can see other books illustrated by Stephanie Graegin here.

Now there are six books in this series (the sixth book is not yet released):

A True Home (#1)

The Greatest Gift (#2)

Better Together (#3)

Home Again (#4)

Family Forever (#5)

A Brave Beginning (#6)

My late July and August reading pile

The books at the top of this post are some of the Kindle titles I will read on my way to the IBBY Congress in Ottawa.

I have finished My So-Called Family, but it is such a harrowing story I need to wait a while before I talk about it here. I found it because I read Strays also by Gia Gordon. I wanted to read another book by Chanel Miller because I loved/adored Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. And I have read two books in the series by Kelly Yang: Front desk and Three Keys. 

I don't pen these posts every month. Perusing my last one, which was my April list, there are a few I still haven't read - Rima's Rebellion by Margarita Engle; The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon; and My Sweet Orange Tree by Jose Mauro de Vasconcelos.

I am about to finish the third book in the Callers series by Kiah Thomas - 'The Journey Home'. I will talk about the second book over the coming days. 

Other books on my 'to read' pile are:

The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis

This is a re-read book - I have a plan to read this whole series again. The Magician's Nephew was published in 1955 and is considered a prequel to the series - I was gifted The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe as a young child. I picked this book up from a charity book fair.

Bookseller blurb: One touch of a magical ring sends two friends hurtling into another world and accidentally releases an evil sorceress from her enchanted sleep. Hungry for ultimate power, she's determined to destroy everyone - and every world - in her path. But a song from the Great Lion, Aslan, awakens a new hope and a new world: Narnia, where anything is possible. And this is only the start of the adventure. The Magician's Nephew is the first book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia, which has captivated readers of all ages with a magical land and unforgettable characters for over seventy-five years. This is a stand-alone novel, but if you would like to journey through the wardrobe and back to Narnia, read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the second book in The Chronicles of Narnia, the greatest epic fantasy series of all time.

The Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson

Publisher (Usborne Books) blurb: When war comes to London in 1939, Ronnie Smith is scared and excited: scared of the bombs that fall at night, but excited to race his friends to collect the best bits of shrapnel every morning. But for Ronnie, the battles aren't just in the sky and on the streets. They're at school and at home too. His little brother is up to no good with a secret job and dangerous new friends, and Ronnie's worried he's getting himself into big trouble. Ronnie's desperate to help his little brother. But he isn't expecting to uncover secrets that could change the fate of the whole war...

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna

I have already read this book back in 2025 but recently a bookseller told me she is sure this will win a prize in our CBCA Book of the Year awards. I gave this book four stars back then - mainly because I felt I had read this plot previously in other books (but of course young readers will not have that experience). Take a look at my previous post. 

Wolf Road by Alice Roberts

I picked this up at a recent charity book sale (AUS$3) because I do enjoy survival stories and I enjoy books set in prehistoric times (Wolf Brother Michelle Paver and sequels; The Cave Victor Kelleher; Tarin of the Mammoths by Jo Sandhu).

Publisher blurb: Tuuli is a prehistoric girl, travelling with her tribe through the seasons – making camp, hunting for food and protecting themselves against the many hazards that the climate throws at them. Tuuli knows there’s a bigger world out there, and when she spots a strange boy lurking outside their camp, she realises that he might hold the adventure she is looking for. He is from another tribe, sent to find safer ground and as he and Tuuli strike up an unlikely friendship, they set out on a journey that will impact the rest of human history. 

Horses of the Dawn: Star Rise by Kathryn Lasky

I am not usually drawn to books about horses but many years ago I read Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky and more recently I read Faceless and The Secret of Glendunny. I am going to wait before reading this one because I didn't realise it was book 2 in the series - the first one is 'The Escape'. 

Blurb from author page: The first horses in the New World, Estrella and her herd, were carried across the sea by gold-seeking men, only to be cast into the ocean when the ship became too heavy. Yet despite the odds, the horses did survive and became the first herd to run wild across this untamed land. But now, they're facing their greatest challenge yet. An army is pursuing the herd, eager to force them back into captivity and hard labor. Estrella wants nothing to do with men ever again, but then she meets a boy who's been exiled from his village- a child with a mysterious ability to communicate with animals. If Estrella rejects the boy, he will surely die alone in the wilderness. But if she takes him in, she'll put the other horses at risk. With their hard-won freedom slipping away at every turn, Estrella must decide what it means to be a leader ... and what it means to be a herd. 

Hamlet is not Okay by RA Spratt

I really enjoyed a previous book by RA Spratt - Romeo vs Juliet and Rachel Robson at Gleebooks enthusiastically recommended this earlier book also based on a Shakespeare play. I saw it at the charity book fair for only AUS$2.

Publisher blurb: Selby hates homework. She would rather watch TV – anything to escape the tedium of school, her parents’ bookshop and small-town busybodies. So, Selby didn’t plan to read Hamlet. She certainly never planned to meet him. This novel transports Selby, and the reader, into the cold and crime-ridden play itself. Here she meets Hamlet: heavy with grief, the young prince is overthinking and over everything. Selby can relate. But unlike Hamlet, Selby isn’t afraid of making decisions. In her world, Selby is used to feeling overlooked. But in the bloody, backstabbing world of Shakespeare, Selby’s good conscience and quiet courage might just save some lives . . . hopefully before Hamlet stabs one of her classmates.

A Wolf Spell by Karah Sutton

Yes, I did pick up another book with a wolf on the cover at the charity book sale! Here is the Kirkus review (the reviewer didn't love this book).

Publisher blurb: Since she was a pup, Zima has been taught to fear humans - especially witches - but when her family is threatened, she has no choice but to seek help from the witch Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga never does magic for free, but it just so happens that she needs a wolf's keen nose for a secret plan she's brewing . . . Before Zima knows what's happening, the witch has cast a switching spell and run off into the woods, while Zima is left behind in Baba Yaga's hut--and Baba Yaga's body! Meanwhile, a young village girl named Nadya is also seeking the witch's help, and when she meets Zima (in Baba Yaga's form), they discover that they face a common enemy. With danger closing in, Zima must unite the wolves, the witches and the villagers against an evil that threatens them all.

BOOKS SUPPLIED FOR REVIEW

The Lost Island by Samantha Wheeler illustrated by Anke Noack (210 pages)

I previously read Everything I've never Said by Samantha Wheeler. This is new book from UQP due for publication on 4th August.

Publisher blurb: Theo thinks there’s nothing worse than being stuck on a Pacific cruise with his dad, new stepmum and annoying stepsister. But when he’s thrown overboard during a storm and washes up on a desert island, he suddenly has much bigger problems. As Theo tackles castaway life – finding food, water and shelter – he discovers the island is full of mysteries: spooky noises, possible ghosts and the strangest birds he’s ever seen. With survival getting tougher by the day and no rescue in sight, Theo is desperate to get back to his family. But to escape the island, he must first unlock its secrets – and reckon with the power of nature.

Game of Pets by Aaron Blabey (Advance copy from Gleebooks) Book One: The boy who knew too much.  Due for publication September 2026 Here is the web page for Aaron Blabey.

Publisher blurb: OK, here's the situation: Thanks to a diabolical intergalactic game show, we are all cooked. Luckily, Griff, an 11-year-old kid with innumerable allergies, just got told by a talking axolotl named Bob that Griff is the only one who can save us. I mean, that's kind of good news, right? Trouble is, Bob's prophecy comes with a warning: 'Watch your back, man . . . your PETS are not what they seem . . .' Prepare to have your mind blown and your cats and dogs under heavy suspicion. It's time to buckle up for an insane, laugh-out-loud new series, 260 million years in the making . . .

Otis Ottley and the school in the sky by Will Kostakis Due for publication September 2026.

I have started reading this book. The premise feels a little like Harry Potter. I am enjoying the complex writing and rich vocabulary.

Blurb from author page: Otis Ottley lives in the shadow of the Manor School for Magic. Literally. It’s an island hovering over his town, and he’s determined to reach it. While many kids dream of roaming the prestigious institution’s halls, casting spells and conjuring spectacles, Otis has a very specific mission: to seek magical help remembering something very, very important. The odds are stacked against him, but Otis will break into magic school. Or at the very least, he will break a few rules trying.

Soccer World Cup Books Books Books

The Soccer (Football) World Cup is a perfect opportunity to showcase some terrific junior chapter books and series with your library visitors/students. I had thought about doing this post and then I saw the same idea (with all the current books) posted by The Kids Bookshop (Melbourne). So, I will begin with a few from this terrific shop (please support your independent booksellers). Here is the link to all their sport titles:

Here are some other soccer (football) books and series I spied in a library recently (note some are not new and are out of print but that is the wonderful thing about a library - you can still find and read older books):

There are six books in this series

There are four books in this series

The other book in this series is Cup Run

Losers

There are three books in this series

There are more than 12 books in this series

There are four books in this series

Myra in the Middle