The Stone Girl's Story by Sarah Beth Durst

"A stone girl, composed of gray mountain granite, with bare feet and a dress carved to look as if the fabric were ruffled by the wind. Mica freckled her cheeks and arms, and a streak of white quartz striped her hair. Hints of black stone clustered on the skirt of her dress, like black stars in a gray sky. 

She'd been polished smooth, except for her hair, which curled into braids 

with the natural ripple of the rock."

Father was a master stonemason. In his secluded mountain home he carved animals from stone and a girl called Mayka. Many years have passed and Father has died. The stone animals and Makya tend their home carefully and care for wild animals, goats and chickens. They don't need food or water because they are made from stone but over time their surfaces are becoming worn down. This matters because each of the stone creatures - two birds named Jacklo and Dersy; a cat called Kalgrey; an owl called Nianna; and a rabbit named Harlisona - have markings that tell their stories. The markings give each of the creatures and Makya herself magical abilities. They can talk, the birds can fly and Makya, herself can read the marks and tell their stories.

As the marks are now fading, Mayka decides she needs to travel down into the valley to find a new stonemason. She hopes he will agree to visit their remote home to restore each of her friends especially turtle who has now stopped moving and talking.

Mayka and her two bird friends travel over many days to reach the city of Skye. The small group arrive four days before the Stone Festival. The city is full of humans and stone creatures but some thing is badly wrong. Mayka discovers a stonemason called Master Siron has developed a mark that gives him control over his stone creations. This is power that he intends to use for his own evil purposes. So now the race is on. Makya needs to stop this madness and she does not have much time.

I adored the world building by Sarah Beth Durst and the hints of politics and a stratified society in Skye. I am not a huge fan of the cover but this is a book that I would love to put into the hands of a young reader aged 9+. Here are a few text quotes to give you a flavour of the story:

"Turtle had realised on his own that the marks Father had carved on his stone shell to awaken him were fading - rubbed away by wind, water and time."

"Equally precious, her father's tools hung on the wall by the hearth, in a place of honor. ... One by one she returned them to the wall, exactly the way Father had left them when he'd told her he'd carved her last."

"She occupied herself with imagining what it would be like: ... living side by side, in houses as close to one another as trees in a forest. She wondered if being so close together caused them to like one another, or hate one another."

We have a winner! Charlotte's Library

Some of the best world building I’ve seen this year. Betsy Bird SLJ

Thoughtful, colorful, strengthening, and understatedly tender. Kirkus Star Review

Mayka is a strong heroine, as one might expect from a girl made of stone. She is far more capable and clever than she realizes, though others around her know that about her and trust her completely. She not only identifies problems but figures out solutions to them quickly, moving her story forward at a brisk pace. Waking Brain Cells

Nell's Festival of Crisp Winter Glories by Glenda Millard illustrated by Stephen Michael King

"On Sunday morning, Perry Angel chose a pencil from his tin of seventy-two. Its name was Bluephyre and it was the colour of a fairy wren.  Bluephyre was shorter than the other pencils because it was Perry's favourite.  He used it when he and Nell wrote haiku.  But on this morning Perry didn't want Nell to see what he was doing, so he put Bluephyre in his pocket and took it to Annie's studio.  Keeping a secret from Nell was new and strange to Perry. When he was no-one's child, he could not have imagined living with someone you could ask anything of, tell anything to. But Nell was even more than that.  She could read your heart simply by looking into your eyes."

Perry loves Nell so much and he knows she loves to dance. He devises a plan so that Nell and his other most favourite person Jenkins can dance the beautiful Tennessee Waltz.  The whole community begin to make plans for Nell's festival of Crips winter Glories but when Nell has a serious accident it seems Perry's special dream might not come true.

Glenda Millard has done it again.  This is the seventh and final installment in the Kingdom of Silk series and reading it is like looking into a glass filled with sparkling diamonds.

I have already blogged The naming of Tishkin Silk,  Plum Puddings and paper moons, and The Tender Moments of Saffron silk which has just been short listed for the CBCA Younger Readers book of the year awards.

I am a huge fan of the Kingdom of Silk series. Right now, a girl in Grade 6 and her mum are reading them and it is such a joy to see how much they are enjoying these books and also the special bond that comes when two people find a book they both love. I read a lovely quote the other day "people who know and love the same books are you have the road map to your soul."  This is certainly true for me and the glorious Silk series.

My favourite part of this book is when Nell is given a walking aid. It is called "The Intrepid.  It was cherry read with wheels and brakes and a padded eat with a basket underneath.  Nell lifted the seat and looked at the basket. 'That will come in handy for putting vegetables in when I'm out in the garden,' Nell told the physiotherapist. 'And for library books when I'm visiting people at the old folk's home."  When my mum started using a four-wheel seat walker like the one Nell has, I wanted to give it a name, but we never managed to think of one.  I think 'The Intrepid' is such a perfect name - hopefully encouraging the older person to continue a life of adventure and surprises.

Having read the final book in this series I am now going to sit down and start all over again.  It is a rare thing for me to re-read books and it is also a rare thing for me to read every book in a series, but I have adored every one of these books and am so happy I can revisit them in my school library over and over again.

Sam I am by Ilene Cooper

A few years ago a new topic was introduced for our Grade 3 students called People and their beliefs.  In this topic the children learn about some of the major religious beliefs in the world.  We have an extensive collection of books on this topic in our Non Fiction section.

Sam I am takes up this theme from the point of view of a family where the dad is from a Jewish family and mum is an Episcopalian Christian.  The sticking point comes with holidays like Easter and most especially Christmas.  The compromise they have developed is called a Hanukkah Bush.  Sadly as Christmas approaches the energetic family dog knocks over the tree breaking it and most of the delicate vintage decorations.  Mrs Goodman is so upset she refuses to replace the tree and so the stage is set for a very different Christmas this year for Sam and his family.  Meanwhile Sam struggles with his first boy girl friendship/relationship, a term in school where the topic is the holocaust and the family tensions surrounding these different religious beliefs.

This book is only suitable for Senior Primary students because Sam's holocaust assignment takes up about one third of the book but teachers of younger grades could read extracts. The explanations of Hanukkah are a little overstated but would be useful for students with no background knowledge of this festival.  There are also extensive details about the bar mitzvah of Avi, Sam's best friend.  Here is a web site for the author where you can read a detailed re-telling of the plot.  Here is a review.  I did not purchase this book for my school library and I am not sure where it came from but it would be a good book for a Senior student who is interested in religion or the holocaust.