Sato and the elephants by Juanita Havill illustrated by Jean and Mou-sien Tseng

I picked this book up from a library discard pile. Sato and the elephants was published in 1993 and the library copy was purchased in 1995 which means it has been in the library for over thirty years. I hope in that time the world has become a safer place for elephants.

Sato watches his father carving ivory. He really wants to become as skilled as his father. He does know ivory comes from elephant but it takes a terrible experience to really give him an understanding of this.

He buys a large piece of scarce ivory from a trader for a very high price. As he works over many days on his carving he sees something lodged inside the ivory itself - it is a bullet. Sato's dreams are then filled with the real scene - elephants living in on the wild plains of Africa. When he wakes up he makes a vow to never use ivory again. Marble will now be his new medium for carving. 

I don't imagine this book will be easy to find but if I were to share it in my library I would read it to a Grade five or six group as a discussion starter about animal rights, animal exploitation, and the continuing issues of poaching. You might be able to access this BTN (Behind the News ABC TV) program from 2016. Here are a couple of companion books to explore the topic of animal rights:

Ivan the remarkable true story of the shopping mall gorilla

Jean and Mou-Sien were classmates at the Fine Art Department of the National Normal University in Taiwan. After graduation, they married and worked as teachers, designers, and illustrators. They also worked for a UNICEF Project in Taiwan, editing and designing 165 picture books-thirty of which they illustrated themselves. Their book Lovely Toys won the 1971 Golden Book Award for the best picture book illustration. Mou-Sien also won the Golden Goblet Award for Excellent Achievement at Chinese Painting in 1990. Here is one of their books which is by Margaret Mahy:

Find more books about elephants in these two posts from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything:

International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos; and Elephant Day.

The Geronimo Stilton Cookbook

This post is not really about this specific cook book but I just wanted to pop in and say books like this simply delight me!  I found The Geronimo Stilton Cookbook in my local Street Library. It was published in 2005 and this copy is in mint condition. I am not sure kids really engage with the Geronimo Stilton series any more - we have a big shelf of them at Westmead Children's Hospital in our Book Bunker Library but over time we have been reducing our holdings. I just read that there are actually over 300 Geronimo Stilton titles including several spin off series. 

I am fairly sure I would not cook any of the recipes in The Geronimo Stilton Cookbook but it is filled with cookery hints and every section ends with a page of jokes. If you have a picky eater in your family the food in this book is presented in fun ways with faces and characters. 

Here are some other books like this which I enjoyed collecting for my library and others I wish I had seen. Sadly nearly all of these will be long out of print but you might be lucky and find one or two in your local or school library or at a charity bookfair. If you find others I would love to add more books to this collection - cooking books, craft books, etc.:

The little library cookbook

I would love to see this one by Jane Yolen (2006)

I am Wishing Every Minute for Christmas by Lauren Child

"I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny. If Lola even thinks about Christmas she can't sit still on her chair. If you breathe the word Christmas she hops up and down. If you say 'Christmas is coming' she just runs round and round."

Lola is desperate for the arrival of Christmas. She absolutely cannot wait. But it is only September. Her brother knows Christmas is a long way off but Lola has no sense of time and she simply cannot wait! Time is such an abstract concept plus there is absolutely no point in expecting Lola to be PATIENT.

Charlie has a great idea. If he can keep Lola busy with Christmas tasks the time will pass more quickly. They make Christmas lists; write Christmas cards (to everyone including Soren Lorensen Lola's imaginary friend); create decorations like paper chains and stars; then comes the decorating of the tree; and the making of an advent calendar. 

"Behind each door is a picture, if there are skates we'll go skating ..."

A new Charlie and Lola book and a new Christmas book and today is Christmas Day! Here is an interview with Lauren Child about this book which is a celebration of 25 years of Charlie and Lola. We were so lucky here in Sydney when Lauren Child spoke at our Sydney Writers Festival. 

Merry Happy Yummy Christmas to everyone. Perhaps Santa left this book under YOUR tree. 

And after Christmas you should head out to your local library to borrow and read lots more Charlie and Lola books:

Book 1: I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato (2000) 

Book 2: I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed (2001) 

Book 3: I Am Too Absolutely Small For School (2003) 

Book 4: I Completely Love Winter (2005)

Book 5: But Excuse Me, That Is My Book (2006)

Book 6: We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog (2006) 

Book 7: Whoops! But It Wasn't Me!  (2007)

Book 8: I’m Really Ever So Not Well (2008)

Book 9: Say Cheese (2008)

Book 10: Slightly Invisible (2010)

Book 11: This is Actually My Party (2011) 

Book 12: Look After Your Planet (2011)

Book 13: We Completely Must Go to London (2012)

Book 14: I Completely Know About Guinea Pigs (2012)

Book 15: I Will Especially Be Very Careful (2012)

Book 16: Sizzles, where are You? (2013)

Book 17: I Absolutely Love Animals 2013

Book 18: Snow Is My Favourite and My Best (2014) 

Book 19: My Best, Best Friend (2014)

Book 20: One Thing (2015)

Book 21: A Dog with Nice Ears (2018)

Plus others.

Winnie-the-Pooh's 50 things to do before you're 5 3/4

Full of adventure, expotitions and muddy puddles

I spied this book in an art gallery in Inverness. The title looked appealing. I think I will gift this to a young family who have a new son. There are so many terrific and easy ideas in this little book and it is filled with Winnie-the-Pooh quotes and EH Sheppard original illustrations. If I was with a young child or two for the day I would like to invent cloud stories, host a teddy bears picnic, play hopscotch and feed the ducks at my lake. I think that would be a very satisfying day indeed.

Image source: https://www.worldbookday.com/2019/01/winnie-the-poohs-words-of-wisdom/

"Without Pooh' said Rabbit solemnly as he sharpened his pencil, 'the adventure would be impossible."

"Christopher Robin was sitting outside his door, putting on his Big Boots. As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an Adventure was going to happen."

"Tracks,' said Piglet. 'Pawmarks.' He gave a little squeak of excitement. 'Oh, Pooh! Do you thing it's a -a-a- Woozle?"


Here are some easy ideas:
34 Play Hide and Seek
31 Skipping
37 Make a hum
18 Bounce like Tigger
27 Cloud stories

Here are some creative ideas:
4 Forest in a bottle
11 Pebble pets
14 Shadow puppets
6 Fingerprint animals
2 Trunk patterns

Here are some outdoor ideas:
30 Watch the sunrise and sunset
45 Fly a kite
35 Build a sandcastle
43 Poohsticks
50 Camp out

This book is a nostalgic, sweet reminder to get on those wellies, breath in some beautiful fresh air and go on a mini adventure! Mum of Two Bumbling Through

Here is a companion volume:

Collage by illustrators

Last week I attended an excellent lecture by our wonderful collage illustrator Jeannie Baker. Walker Books hosted the event as a way to share Jeannie's new book - Playing with Collage.

This book will be published in June 2019 and will be an essential purchase for all school libraries.

By coincidence I borrowed this book, last week, from the Prep School library which I am lucky enough to visit each week.

The biggest difference between these two books is in the way collage techniques are explained. In Playing with Collage Jeannie gives young readers ideas for collecting materials and ways to use them in designs with practical tips about preserving flowers and leaves and mounting your picture.  From Walker Books: "There are no right or wrong answers in this treasure of a book, it's all about trusting your instincts ... and playing!"

Lois takes a different approach using examples from her own work. She deconstructs her images showing how she has incorporated different scraps - hence the title. Lois says: "My art technique is called collage. I cut out scraps, like pieces of a puzzle, that I assemble and glue into place."

The other important thing about these two titles is that they are written by two famous children's book illustrators and so can be used as a way to explore their work.

I have a small Pinterest collection of work by illustrators who use collage. Here are a few of my favourite titles which use collage including a book by Ezra Jack Keats and one by Patricia Mullins:

How Winston delivered Christmas by Alex T Smith

Day 12
"Eventually Oliver found what he was looking for - an envelope. It wasn't too badly crumpled and he'd written the address on the front in his very best handwriting. He'd left it a bit late to send but he crossed his fingers and hoped it would get where it needed to go in time."

To Father Christmas

Mince Pie House

Just Past that Snowdrift

The North Pole

URGENT!

Oliver is distracted as he puts his Christmas letter in the tall red pillar box on a busy street in London. He has to rush to catch up with his mother and he doesn't see it tumble into the snow. Luckily for Oliver, his letter is found by Winston. Luckily for Oliver, Winston recognises this letter is important. Luckily for Oliver, Winston is a very determined mouse and he now has a mission. And what a mission it is. How will Winston find Father Christmas? It is so cold. It is snowing. The city streets are filled with busy shoppers and it is Christmas eve so he really only has one night to complete this task.

I have saved this new book (published in 2018) for my Christmas Day post because it is an Advent story in twenty-four-and-a-half chapters.  I have been reading one chapter each day this month so I only finished it today! Christmas Day is the day you read the last 1/2 chapter.  The chapters are all very short and each ends with a cliff hanger. I found myself wanting to read on several times. It actually took a lot of restraint not to 'cheat' because I was so anxious to make sure Winston was safe and that he still had a firm hold on that important letter. This would be a great book to own in a family so if you see it after Christmas (perhaps on sale) pick up a copy ready for December 2019!

You can see inside the book here.  The other bonus with this book are all the activities Alex T Smith has included. There are ideas for card making, cooking, puppets, decorations, a list of ideas for random acts of kindness and simple gifts to make. The whole book has a retro feel which seems perfect for a book that is sure to become a family favourite over many generations. The other delightful detail to notice are the stamps at the beginning of each chapter.

Take look here to see behind the scenes by Alex T Smith.

"It could be fun to read the story with a grown-up or even your whole family - get cosy and read your chapter together. Maybe have a biscuit at the same time. Books and biscuits go so nicely together, I think." Alex T Smith.


Alex has captured all the sights and smells of Christmas with the most delicious descriptions and sumptuous illustrations, the story is a feast for all senses.  Story Snug

Newspaper hats by Phil Cummings illustrated by Owen Swan

Don't rush to open Newspaper Hats.  Take your time. Explore the collage end papers first where you will see headlines through the decades.  Some are tragic such as the Challenger disaster and some heroic - the conquer of Mount Everest.  Some will make you smile - Nelson Mandela free and some are nostalgic - The groovy ladybird portable record player.  Most importantly these clippings help establish the mood of a long life filled with memories.

Wait a minute - don't rush into this book.  Next stop is the dedication statement.  Have you ever noticed these?  Phil Cummings dedicates this deeply personal and fragile story to his Nanna Luce and "our newspaper hats".  I don't know for certain but this makes me think Phil made hats with his own Nanna.

Hold on a little longer.  Go and find a copy of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge because after reading Newspaper Hats I want you to share this book with a young reader too.

Each week I visit two special older people in a care home.  Both still have strong memories but around them I see people like Georgie's Grandpa and I understand her repeated concern :

"Grandpa,' said Georgie, 'do you remember me?"
"But do you remember me?"
"But Grandpa, do you remember me?"

Oh so gently Phil Cummings takes us into Grandpa's room and his memories.  His room is full of sunshine and old newspapers.  The newspapers are perfect for making newspaper hats.  Sharing this moment between the three generations it does not matter if Grandpa doesn't know Georgie.  The moment is all that matters - this time together is what really counts.

One of the most special images in this book for me comes from the opening line :

"Georgie walked through the doors that opened like curtains."

I have been a Phil Cummings fan for a long time.  Many decades ago he visited my rural school and shared his first books - Goodness Gracious, Midge mum and the neighbours and Marty and Mei Ling all of which are still in my school library and all of which are still used each year. Phil was once a primary teacher and so his visit was perfect for my youngest students.  Now all these years later Phil has published more than forty books.

Here is the web site for the illustrator.  His work can be seen in Anzac Biscuits also by Phil Cummings and you can read more about this wonderful book here.  You can read a review of Newspaper Hats from Reading Time.

Here is a simple video which will show you how to make a slightly more complex newspaper hats. Finally I am going to make another of my wild predictions and say surely this book will be short listed by the CBCA for the 2016 awards - fingers crossed for Phil.