Margot and the Moon Landing by AC Fitzpatrick illustrated by Erika Medina

Margot loves everything about space travel and the moon. She reads every book she can find on this topic and then she just has to SHARE everything she knows with EVERYONE. The problem is her mother has stopped listening and her teacher just seems to be quite frustrated and even angry with Margot.

Eventually, having no one listening to her, drives Margot herself crazy and she grabs her marker pens and writes furiously all over her bedroom walls. Sharing this book with your child this could be the page to stop. How will mum react? Turn the page and you will be surprised. Mum stops and takes the time to read what Margot has written. 

"Margot waited for something to happen but instead mum got very quiet. She read all the words and then read them again."

Margot tries to rub out the words, but mum stops her. She grabs a pot of paint and together they fill the wall with images of space travel and stars and then even better mum attaches two enormous sheets of paper to the walls and shows Margot that these are the places she can write anything she likes. 

Publisher blurb: Margot loves space. Astronauts, the stars, and especially the moon landing. So she can’t understand why all of her attempts to communicate her passion fall on disinterested ears. Her mom is patient but distracted; her classmates would rather play kickball; and her teacher just wants her to focus and pay attention in class. Even so, Margot wishes she never had to talk about anything but space ever again. When she wakes up one morning and discovers she can only recite Neil Armstrong’s famous speech from the moon landing, Margot realizes she has an even bigger problem. How can Margot get everyone to pay attention and—more importantly—to hear what she’s really trying to say? This powerful picture book debut plays with themes of listening and communication to highlight the importance of a space of one’s own, no matter what your passion may be. 

A charming picture book about both a child and her obsessions and frustration, anger, and repair. Kirkus

There are several valuable themes in this book, including listening, communication and forgiveness. The book’s contents cover Margot’s learning to express herself effectively and constructively, and there’s also the lesson for adults in children’s lives – to listen and allow kids to be heard and to meet where they’re at. Canadian Review of Materials (Read this review if you are concerned about the way Margot expresses her anger using strong language). 

You can probably guess why I bought this book. If you are talking about space or the moon landing or want to affirm those quirky kids in your class who obsess (in a good way) over a specific topic, then this book could be fun to share. It reminded me of the way the little girl in Agatha May and the Angler Fish by Nora Morrison knew everything about her own favourite fish. 

Here is the teacher's guide from Canadian publisher Annick Press. Erika Rodriguez Medina is originally from Mexico. She now lives in Canada. You can see some of her books here. 

If you have an older child aged 9+ who, like Margot, is fascinated by the Moon Landing they might enjoy this Australian middle grade novel. 

In the illustration I shared you can see Margot reading a book about Laika. Take a look at my blog post about this famous dog who was sent to space (warning very young children may be distressed to discover Laika did not make it back to earth). You should also visit or revisit this award-winning Picture book from Australia:

Stellarphant

Silence by Lena Shamshurina

 

"Shh ... I'm looking for silence. It must be lurking around here somewhere."

Silence can be hard to find during the day because there are so many sounds in the city. Perhaps it will be easier at night. The illustration shows this is not easier - the fridge is humming, the clock is ticking, the tap is dripping and someone is snoring. (All of this reminded me of Peace at Last by Jill Murphy). There is no silence in the day and none at night in his house so the little boy sets off into the forest but your young reading companion is sure to anticipate that the forest will be full of noise which we once again see in the interesting black and white illustrations. An owl is hooting, a wolf is howling, and badger is chewing and even the blue bell flowers are going ting tinga ling. Next stop a cave but of course the echoes of the boys own footsteps and words fill this space with sound. He tries going underwater and then into outer space. Space! Finally, a place of silence.

This is a strange book and it is very expensive here in Australia (AUS$35) so perhaps it is just one you might explore in your local library rather than add it to your library collection. I did love the art and the 'silent pages' filled with images making sounds. Take a look at the Kirkus review. I also enjoy the interactive moment at the end of the book where you are invited to run your finger across the page to hear the way this book makes sounds too. 

Bookseller blurb: In this beautifully designed high-concept picture book, an unnamed narrator invites readers on a journey to find the secrets held by silence. Whether it's the echoes in an underground cave, whales singing in the ocean, or even your own stomach gurgling - readers will discover the secret sounds surrounding us, and how even the places where we might expect to find silence are not quiet at all. As the initial hunt for silence turns into a thoughtful, clever examination of sound and space, this engaging story encourages participation and careful observation of the world around us. Filled with evocative black and white illustration and quirky details that will reward multiple readings, this is a title that will inspire discussion - and makes a great bedtime read aloud too.

See inside this book here. 

Lena Shamshurina is an illustrator & author based in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

Listen, Hippo! by Gabriel Evans

"Billy was having a bad day. ... Billy wished there was someone he could talk to."

He tells his friend Hippo that he is feeling sad and that his brain is whirling like a pinwheel but Hippo is not listening properly. Hippo sees himself as the master of fun. He suggests dressing up, dancing, climbing a tree, sailing on the high seas or perhaps a magic carpet ride will help or a party with cake!

No no no. Billy just wants someone to listen. Finally, Hippo stops all this activity and he notices Billy is sad. He makes two mugs of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and the pair of friends sit down on the comfy couch and Billy is able to talk. 

Here is an audio interview with Gabriel Evans. This interview is with Good Reading Magazine. Joy Lawn talks to Gabriel for her blog Paperbark Words. You can see more books by Gabriel Evans who lives in Western Australia on his own web page. 

Listen, Hippo is a special book that you could share side by side with your young reading companion. I think that would work better than sharing this book with a big group of children in a library. Then perhaps you might stop and listen to your own child and ask if they have feelings or fears that they need to share. I also suggest making a delicious hot chocolate to sip while you are reading. Oh, and I do hope you love the final page (no spoilers) - it certainly made me smile. 

Companion books:

The Rabbit Listened

Other books by Gabriel Evans - pop each title into my side bar for more details or click his name at the bottom of this post or read this post which I penned after meet Gabriel at Gleebooks here in Sydney.

Timeless by Kelly Canby

Publisher blurb: Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) is surrounded by busyness. Dad is too busy to read stories, Mum is too busy to play games and Emit’s brother and sister are simply too busy doing nothing to do anything, at all. Emit tries everything he can think of to get more time, he tries to catch it, wait for it, but it’s not until Emit tries to buy some time that he learns the secret which is, if you want time, you have to make it.

A story about time - a perfect match for my blog which began when a little kindergarten child told me her mum or dad did not have time to read her the library book she had taken home that week. This made me so sad and then I thought of Momo by Michael Ende which is an allegory about time and the time thieves of the modern world (today that means phones).

Here is part of the text from Timeless:

"It began in no time at all. And continued, time after time, day after day, until eventually there was simply no time at all. Someone was always running out of it ... or losing track of it ... or lying around letting it slip through their fingers."

Emit wants to help his parents - they say they need more hours in the day. He hears the words 'time flies' but he just couldn't catch any of it in his net.  He hears the words 'time passes you by' so he stopped and waited to see time passing but all he saw were busy people rushing through the city. Someone mentioned time is precious so Emit decided to look in the museum, the art gallery, the mint and the bank because that is where precious things are stored. Then someone else said 'time stands still' so Emit tried standing but that was just a waste of time. 

Finally, the solution arrives. Emit sees a newspaper advertisement - This year give the gift of time. Grabbing his money Emit goes to the store to buy some time as a gift but the shop lady has none for sale. Instead she offers this advice:

"If time is what you want, you have to make it. Remember that, always!"

Now Emit has the answer but how he applies this information is a little curious. We see him with his family. The have opened a shop called Emit and Family Quality Time. The shop is filled with clocks because this is a repair shop - we make, build and repair. 

Go back through the book and look for all the things Emit would love to do with someone in his family - play a ball game; have a hit of tennis; enjoy a family board game (Funopoloy); read a book together!; go fishing; draw a picture; and enjoy some gardening.  Here he is with his book and his distracted father.

Here are a few ideas from the teachers notes (Fremantle Press) plus some of my additions:

The title of this book is Timeless – what does the word ‘timeless’ mean? The cover design shows that 
there is a double meaning in the title. By using two different colours, the word ‘timeless’ has been 
broken into ‘time’ and ‘less’. What does this tell you about the story? What do you think the boy is trying to catch with his net?

Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time? What takes up your time? What things do you like to spend time on? What lesson does Emit learn in this book? Do you think anyone else learnt this lesson? How can you tell? Would you like to share this book with your parents or other adults - why or why not?

How does Emit make time at the end of the book? Do you think this is a real way to make time, or is it 

symbolic? Emit’s shop is called ‘Quality Time’. What does the word ‘quality’ mean? What is ‘quality time’? 

See inside Timeless here. Here is an interview with Kelly Canby about her book. And here are more illustrations from the book. And you should explore her webpage. 

You could share some sayings or wise words about time with your library group:

• Time is the wisest counselor of all. Pericles
• Never leave ’till tomorrow which you can do today. Benjamin Franklin
• Time stays long enough for those who use it. Leonardo da Vinci
• The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. Michael Altshuler
• Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing. Miles Davis
• You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. Charles Buxto
• Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think. Chinese proverb
• Time flies over us but leaves its shadow behind. Nathaniel Hawthorne
• A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. Charles Darwin
• Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Steve Jobs
• Do we need more time? Or do we need to be more disciplined with the time we have? Kerry Johnson
• Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Marthe Troly-Curtin
• I recommend you take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves. Earl of Chesterfield
• Time is a gift that most of us take for granted. Cheryl Richardson
• The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Chinese proverb

And here are some time idioms.

A sign of the times; Behind the times; A whale of a time; Time on your hands; Strapped for time; Time is of the essence; In the nick of time; A race against time; Time flies (when you’re having fun).

Timeless has been shortlisted by the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) for the 2024 award - Picture Book of the Year. Here are the judges' comments:

Witty, entertaining and visually delightful, this book delves into time and time constraints through young Emit’s eyes, whose family always craves more hours in its day. Minimal but sophisticated, the well thought-out text distils the complexity of the abstract concept it explores, cleverly playing with time related idioms and word puns. Bright, engaging illustrations, as if hand-drawn by a child, seamlessly integrate with the printed text demonstrating excellence in design. Varied layouts and perspectives enrich the visual experience, with key ideas highlighted through vibrantly colourful large text that sometimes becomes part of the composition. The masterfully crafted endpapers, in a league of their own, entertain and encourage further reflection about time and our relationship with it, while echoing a satisfying resolution to Emit’s own search for time.

I also love how Canby’s unique illustration style of sketchy brush strokes evokes a sense of the urgency of movement and activity that Emit sees around him. Similarly, pages cluttered with vibrantly coloured amorphous objects, busy background scenes and hurried people with harried facial expressions, further develop the theme of busyness. Reading Time

Timeless is striking and filled to the brim with heart and swathes of colour. From the first page, you can’t help but be endeared toward Emit in his stripy green shirt and expressive illustration. Paired with Canby’s rhythmic storytelling, Timeless is heart-warming and incredibly clever. It’s a gorgeous tale that’s playful, innovative and – in our busy modern world – very timely.’ Better Reading

‘This beautiful book is filled with vibrant and appealing illustrations on each double page and striking endpapers full of busyness and explosions of colour. The simple yet powerful text tells a story that will resonate with children and the adults in their lives.’ ReadPlus

When I read Timeless for the first time I stopped when I saw this chilling and important image - I am naming this the thief of time - parents on phones!

Then I saw these two images on Instagram today - they could be wonderful discussion starters with a group of older students, and I would also add them to a parent talk.

Sophie Blackall - new book Ahoy! due 2nd April

Image Source: Instagram

Image from a new book illustrated by Felicita Sala - If you run out of words

Image Source: Instagram and here

Companion books:

Now we're together

Five more minutes

Tisha and the Blossom

I adored a previous book by Kelly Canby:

Littlelight

Nightsong by Sally Soweol Han

The world is never quiet. Adults are talking, clocks are ticking, even the 'fridge is not silent. Lewis is surrounded by sounds indoors while he waits for his mum there are more sounds outdoors as they walk along a busy city street to catch the bus. They climb aboard and the hum of the bus engine nearly lulls Lewis to sleep until ...

A flat tyre! POP!

Lewis has his device which usually distracts him but out in the countryside it stops working (thank goodness) and so Lewis sets off to explore.

"The more he listens the more he hears. And the more he wants to see."

He hears the birds and insects. He hears an owl and a possum. He hears the splash of the fish in the creek and the ribbit ribbit of some frogs. It sure is noisy out here in nature.

"The night sounds become a song."

Finally, a new bus arrives, and everyone climbs on board, but Lewis is no longer tired. His mind replays all the wonderful sounds of nature all the way home.

You could easily share this book as part of a mini theme on listening, nighttime and the sounds of nature. Check out this post or type any of these titles at the bottom of this post into my side bar. If you read this book with your own children it would be fabulous to go outside and listen to all the night noises. You could also do this in the daytime to compare. In our city we have a display of hanging bird cages with electronic bird sounds - they change over the day to match when you would actually hear these birds in a forest. Strangely even though it is just a series of recordings it is a magical place right in the centre of the city.

Can I just also say NOTHING beats actually doing something relating to the book you are enjoying either with your young reading companion or even your class. I was talking with a friend today. Our NSW schools are killing books in their classrooms with over analysis. In the book read by this group - Storm Boy by Colin Thiele - the word tussock is used. Surely instead of spending an hour analyzing this word it would be way better to just head outside and look at some clumps of grass. Also, I am sure the wonderful illustrator Robert Ingpen shows readers exactly what this looks like around the sand dunes which are the setting of this famous Australian book.

Here are some other books to read alongside Nightsong.

Night Lunch

Sally Soweol Han won the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) New Illustrator award for her book Tiny Wonders.

Potato Pants by Laurie Keller

Potato Pants!  Wait a minute potatoes don't wear pants or do they?  The title tells you this will be such a funny, funny book and yes it is!!

"Potato is excited because today, FOR ONE DAY ONLY, Lance Vance's Fancy Pants Store is selling POTATO PANTS"

Potato rushes down to the store. There are huge crowds of potatoes outside. Potato rushes inside and then stops. There is an eggplant in the store. This is not Eggplant Pants Day! To make things even worse this is THE eggplant who pushed potato into a trash can yesterday. Eggplant won't leave the store so Potato decides to see if someone else is selling potato pants today or perhaps they might be selling spud slacks, tater trousers or even yam chaps. All of this means Potato has been distracted and so by now there is only one pair of potato pants left on the rack!  Oh no they are gone too. 

THAT EGGPLANT RUINED EVERYTHING IT'S HIS FAULT I DIDN'T GET POTATO PANTS ... IT'S NOT FAIR

Perhaps Potato needs to talk to Eggplant. And wait a minute has anyone bought the display pants from the store window?

In this video Colby Sharp talks about this book. He mentions Seven Habits of Highly effective People and that this book is perfect for "seek first to understand and then to be understood".  Colby says, and I agree, "kids all over the world should read this book" - it is such a laugh. Here is a video of the whole book.

Here are some ideas for class displays and here is the teachers guide from the publisher Macmillan.