The Grey Beret's guide to Surviving the Odds by Anna Battese illustrated by Erin Reeves

Three bad things have already happened to Odie - the worst is the third:

"When Odie turned eight, her mother - a beloved and renowned biologist - disappeared in a stampede of pink-fairy armadillos during an expedition in central Argentina."

Odie has retreated into her room and her father, in his grief, has also withdrawn. Odie is now homeschooled but wait - just in case I have made you very sad we also discover Odie has messenger pigeons. Her pigeons named Pudding and Plonk, deliver her homework to the Homely Homeschooling Assessment Centre. Odie also has her cat named Knuckles - he had been her mother's rescue tomcat. When I said Odie had withdrawn - she now lives in her room. Her father does make delicious food which is delivered via a small elevator.

"Her father was very good at making sure she had everything she could ever need. And yet, since Odie's mother had gone, he seemed as baffled by the world as Odie was afraid of it, and he preferred to spend his time alone, in the silence."

The stage is set for change - CHANGE. First of all, a strange book arrives addressed to Cadet Odie Gusberry-Smith with the intriguing title 

"The Grey Beret's guide to Surviving the Odds. Volume one."

Yes, this book does sound strange, but it is a perfect fit for Odie because she is a girl of facts not fairy tales. She happily reads chapter after chapter about poisonous plants, dangerous reptiles, and the antidotes for eighty-seven kinds of toxins. But can the information in this book and her newly made coat with thirty-eight pockets help with her next big life event? Her father announces they are going on a cruise. And Odie, and you as the reader, are sure to think of shipwrecks, islands, survival and perhaps the importance of making new friends with kids her age along with a baby dressed up as a chicken. Dressed up?  Yes the sinking of the ship happens on the night of the Halloween dress-up party so all kids - Baby (a chicken), Gus (dressed as the ship's captain), Sunny (a donkey pinata), and Chuck (real name Charlotte dressed in a black tulle ball gown) are in costumes except for Odie who luckily has her survival pockets.

Publisher blurb: Odie Gusberry-Smith doesn't like surprises. But when a mysterious package arrives in the mail, she finds The Grey Beret's Guide to Surviving the Odds – a book that feels like it was written just for her. Odie is going to need it, because her dad has had the ridiculous idea that they should go on a cruise. When calamity strikes (as she could have told you it would), Odie will need to use every trick in the Guide to keep herself and her alarmingly danger-prone group safe. Along the way, she might just realise that the Guide is not the only thing she can rely on…

When I read this Instagram post from Gleebooks Kids I knew this was a book I needed to read. 

Here are a couple of text quotes:

"She'd worked so hard on preparing for exactly this kind of calamity, but now that it was here, in actual real life, she wasn't quite sure what to do."

"Part of being a Grey Beret is preparing for the worst. So, when you all fell asleep, I did a risk mitigation plan. Our greatest risk was catching hypothermia from the waves and rain. Luckily I had a tarp in my eleventh pocket. Once I put it up, the risk of us catching hypothermia dropped by thirty-five percent. And then I found the space blankets in pocket thirteen, and that brought the risk down to twenty per cent."

If you are sharing this book in your library you could read Chapters 16 and 17 which is the scene where the kids are almost 'eaten' by huge plant-frogs.

This book is sure to be included on the CBCA 2027 Notables Books list. I especially appreciate the way it is designed and that it is presented in hardcover with spot varnish on the cover. I read this book from beginning to end in one sitting. Note my label melodrama - that seems like the perfect descriptor. I thoroughly enjoyed the tone of this book with Odie constantly quoting statistics and catastrophising every scenario.  And yes, we do eventually reach a happy ending, BUT I have to warn you this is part one of a planned trilogy and turning the last page you will be so keen to reach for the next book - but I cannot discover the date it will be released - sorry. 

Odie is a sweet protagonist, coping with grief, loneliness and trying to find ways to manage her ever-present fear. The world Anna Battese has created is wild and whimsical ... Readings Melbourne

I previously talked about this book by Anna Battese:

The Recorder Racket

Companion books:

The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters

The Lost Island

Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast

Giraffe Island

The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel

The Paperbark Tree Committee by Karys McEwan

"Being a teenager is all about swimming along with only your fin showing, trying to look like a shark, when really you're just an average fish. Never revealing you're not as brave as you look, never admitting that everyone else is in the same ocean. 

It's terrifying. And exhausting."

Art (Arthur) and his younger brother Hillary have moved with dad and his partner to Melbourne. Dad is a writer (of Young Adult fiction ironically) who rides an emotional roller-coaster of writer's block, breakthrough, doubt and insecurity. This means Dad is constantly distracted and has not formed any sort of real relationship with his two sons.

"We all know the stages of his writing by now - frustration when he can't think of an idea or has an idea he can't quite figure out, over-the-top joy when he finally settles on something, absence when he starts writing, grumpiness when he has writer's block, then mania when he's back on a roll, nervousness while he waits for feedback from his editor, and back and forth between those last few until the book is published. And then it's all the highs and lows of review and author talks, and then, lucky us, it starts all over again."

The main theme of this book is the exploration of the complexities of relationships. Art has a good relationship with his younger brother but as Art enters his teenage years there are of course some complications. Art also has a good relationship with his stepmother Sally, but there is his underlying fear that she might one day leave the family as his mother has done. 

Art works hard to make new friends - Micah and Lexi - at his new school in Melbourne and, even though it felt slightly contrived, it was interesting to see how, once he found two friends, he decided to be proactive and find more. The running scenes reminded me of the wonderful Tracks series by Jason Reynolds.

On the downside, as I said, Art has a very complex relationship with his distant and dysfunctional father. Sorry to say this but I just couldn't believe a parent, an adult, could be so deliberately unkind, uncommunicative and so insensitive towards his two sons and new partner. Dad's whole focus on being or becoming a famous writer, to my eye, portrayed a really really bad impression of that profession. 

The other relationship Art has to navigate is with the school bully - Jack. It always seems little too obvious to me when, as readers, we make the discovery that Jack comes from a dysfunctional family and that his own father is also a bully. I am sure this sadly is a real experience for some kids but after reading many hundreds of books that feature bullies, I do find this all a bit too predictable. 

Things I liked in this book: Art's relationship with Hillary - it is terrific to read about siblings who get on well with each other (albeit with some ups and downs); Sally the step mum is a fantastic character - wise and loving; and the final poem Art writes to perform with his after school writing group is emotional, truthful and worth thinking about deeply.

The CBCA judges mention emotional intelligence, and I thought about this too. It was good to see both boys were 'allowed to cry' and in the scene where Art tries to convince Hillary that they should trick their dad into proposing marriage to Sally; it is Hillary who shows enormous maturity when he talks about how this could badly hurt Sally. 

"I think this is the worst idea you've ever had ... By far. ... Dad won't go along with it. We'll get in huge trouble and Saly is just going to get hurt ... "

The title is not exactly a central focus of the story - Art and Hillary had a special tree in their former town and they used it to talk through their problems using the idea of a committee with an agenda. In Melbourne they find a new tree - a paperbark - but Art feels self-conscious when kids from his school see him climbing a tree like a little kid. Moving away from needing to use the tree to talk to each other links with the themes in this book of change and growing up. 

The CBCA selected 25 Younger Readers Notable titles (long list) for their 2026 award. Last week the short list of 6 were announced and I was utterly dismayed that FIVE of my predictions did not make the cut. I have seen The Paperbark Tree Committee in several shops since it was first released in April 2025 but the cover and blurb did not really grab my attention. 

Because this book is on the 2026 CBCA short list for Younger Readers I needed to read it (done) and then think about it perhaps a little more deeply than I usually do.

As an adult reader one plot point did not ring true for me. Art wants to 'get back at' Jack, the boy who has been bullying him. He sets up a plan with the help of his new friends to distract the librarian (why isn't she called a Teacher-Librarian) so he can get into the library or school computer system called Orbit. In NSW schools Orbit is one part of our library management system which is called Oliver. Orbit is the simple OPAC (online public access catalogue) designed for use by the younger students in a Primary school it is not part of the school administration software. I did hold my breath when Art tried to 'hack' the library circulation computer hoping to alter Jack's school records and I was glad when none of his attempts at guessing the password were successful. 

Generally, I only quote review comments that echo my own thoughts but here is the one from Readings (Melbourne bookshop) and I have to say I really disagree with their use of the word hilarious: 

The Paperbark Tree Committee is a gorgeous, heartfelt and hilarious tale of navigating change, bullying and growing up, and learning to appreciate loved ones for who they are.

Other reviews: Reading Time; The Book Muse; Read Plus; and Paperbark words an interview with Joy Lawn.

There are teaching notes on the publisher page but again I am going to say I think this book better suits an individual reader and I cannot imagine dissecting every scene/page/incident as part of a class novel study. 

Blurb from author page: Twelve-year-old Art and his younger brother Hilary are great friends, best friends. When they move to Melbourne from a small town in Queensland things seem to be easy for Hilary, who is still in primary school, but Art struggles to fit in, and he’s become a target for school bully Jack. His dad is too busy to give him much attention, but Art has his stepmum, Sally, who is always ready to listen. And there’s the paperbark tree. Art and Hilary climb into its branches and hold a secret meeting whenever they need to sort things out. The only problem is Art’s not sure he still wants to be part of the paperbark tree committee. He’s getting older and he thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own.

Here are the judges' comments:

Companion books:

A Good day for climbing Trees

Running in Circles

The Final Year

My Brother Ben

Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Emmie was little. But her ideas were big. ...

Everything was just the way she liked it. Until one day ...

Turn the page - an enormous shadow fills the space - yes, it is a cat. Emmie has read lots of books about cats such as "Care of Cats"; "Puss in Boots"; and "Cats in Wonderland".

Image source: Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

This cat is terrifying so Emmie hides inside her little home, but Emmie is a problem solver. She is determined to scare that cat away. As with the way with all good stories she tries three times to make the perfect robot-like monster which she is sure will work. Her final creation sprays water all over the cat and at this point Emmie realises something - this little soggy cat is not scary at all. Is there a way to fix this situation? Perhaps the word 'sorry' will help. 

Thinking about the book design - the end papers are terrific and I love the illustration on the title page. With your library group talk about the use of a cog to dot the 'i' in the title and the choice of font and use of capital letters. You might notice Emmie is wearing glasses - do these make her look smarter? Does it matter that the bell has a crack? Opposite the title page Emmie is surrounded by a tangle of wool - why does she look triumphant? Compare this with the second last page after your reading. And this is also a 'noisy story' which means it will be perfect to read aloud. 

Sprang! Crash! Bang! Boom! Bash! Swooped! Crash! Bang! Boom! 
Stamped! Stomped! Splashed! Yippee! Hooray!

On the whole, it’s a welcome reminder that it’s just as important to be kind as it is to be smart. A sweet social-emotional book that’s the cat’s (and the mouse’s) pajamas. Kirkus

This delightful story not only entertains but also inspires young readers, especially girls with a passion for STEM. Join Emmie on her roller-coaster journey of discovery, where every challenge is an opportunity to create, learn, and ultimately build a bridge of understanding with her newfound companion. Ultimately Emmie finds a way to coexist with the cat and discovers that empathy is the pathway to peace and friendship. A Book and a Hug

The cool-toned palette--full of teals, coppers, and dusty greens--adds to the atmosphere, giving the attic world a muted glow that feels both forgotten and full of potential. The perspective shifts and textured lines bring Emmie's world to life with energy and wit. The illustrations brim with mechanical marvels and visual riddles, and the story hints at broader ideas: that even long-held assumptions, like cats and mice being enemies, can be reimagined through curiosity, creativity, and a little kindness. Shelf Awareness

In your school library or Kindy or Grade One classroom it would be fun to explore either the topic of inventions or the topic of the rivalry between the cats and mice. With an older group you could investigate women inventors such as Joy Mangano; Hertha Ayrton; Ada Lovelace; Margaret Eloise Knight or Josephine Cochrane. I am sure you can think of many others. Take a look at this Pinterest from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. It is could also be interesting to talk about the reversal in this story where the mouse has the upper hand over the cat. Your senior students could look at Mr Maxwell's Mouse as a comparison text. 

Here are some sketches by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall from her book. 

I had Emmie Builds Something New in a basket of books I borrowed from a school library at the end of 2025. Today I saw someone on social media say this was their favorite Australian picture book of 2025 - that's a big call so I knew I needed to look more closely at Emmie Builds Something New. I do like Emmie Builds Something New - surely it will be listed as a CBCA Notable Picture Book in 2026. 

Here are other books illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. I previously talked about Summer Blue.

The art in Emmie Builds Something New reminded me of this wonderful book:

The Tin Forest

Talking about cats and mice try to find this really old (very funny) book:

This one is great too:

A most Mysterious Mouse

Busted by Dan Gemeinhart

An exuberant joyride. Kirkus

This seamless blend of comedy, adventure, and heart, sprinkled with some “Pearls of Wisdom” from Sunny Days’ residents, hits the mark from every angle. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Squeeze the orange” of life

YOLO - You only live once

Oscar Aberdeen lives with his grandfather. You are sure to have read about kids in life circumstances like this in previous books. But in this story his grandfather lives in a retirement community called Sunny Days and it is filled with other senior citizens. Oscar has lived there for many years and so he has formed brilliant relationships with many of the residents. His 'normal' life means he joins in with all the seniors' activities from morning teas, to crafting and card playing. Retirement villages and aged care homes always seem to have almost insulting names like Sunny Days because while yes, these people might enjoy some sunny days all of us are destined to end our life journey eventually. In fact, Oscar is a bit of an expert when it comes to funerals and as this story opens that is where we find him - at the funeral of Mr Howell. This is the 49th funeral Oscar has attended. The big problem is Mr Howell has been running Sunny Days Retirement Community and because he has died it will now be taken over by his son. Again, you have probably guessed this will mean BIG changes for the community and the most serious change is a huge hike in the weekly fee. Oscar's grandfather only just gets by on his meagre pension so there is no way he can pay this. Will Oscar and his grandfather have to move away?

One resident that no one really interacts with is Jimmy Deluca. He is loud, he is always swearing, he smokes hideous cigars and drinks (a lot) but he now needs Oscar to help him and in return he offers Oscar a huge amount of money which might mean Oscar and his grandfather can keep their home.

Jimmy has a 'bucket list' of things he needs to achieve. He owns an amazing car (you can see it on the cover of the book) but he needs help to escape from Sunny Days because he is classified as 'monitored and restricted' which means if he goes out through the main building front door alarms will alert the staff. 

Oscar, along with Natasha, (daughter of the new Sunny Days owner) hatch a plan to break Jimmy out of Sunny Days but Oscar has no idea that he will be pulled into a totally wild adventure involving gangsters, cigars, Jimmy's hairless cat Mr Buttercup, breaking into the backyard of a suburban house, playing poker with dangerously high stakes, leaving a restaurant without paying (this is mortifying for Oscar), and even buying a bra!

Here are a couple of text quotes:

"I was in a heckuva pickle. I didn't want to smuggle known lowlife Jimmy Deluca out the door, in plain view of the cameras. Get busted, get in huge trouble, disappoint Pops and all my Sunny Days family. Law-breaking troublemaker? That wasn't me."

"I let out a low whistle. Jimmy Deluca's car was ... well, it was a beaut. A gem. An absolute humdinger. It was baby blue, with a cream coloured top. It had chrome. It had curves. It had white-walled tires. It had style. It was like one of those cars you'd see in a parade, or at a classic car show or something. Yeah, I was impressed."

"I broke Jimmy the Wrench out of a secure facility. Ran out on a restaurant bill. Got punched by a sleazeball. Puked up an entire ravioli dinner. Trespassed on private property. Lied to my grandpa. Got clawed by a hairless cat. Stole a car. Even bought a bra. ... Oh (and) I'm currently wanted by the police."

This book will make you laugh (I laughed a lot); and you will marvel at the clever plot twists which bring together pieces of Oscar's life experiences; and then Dan Gemeinhart will, yes you might have guess this, he will make you cry. This is also one of those 'time is ticking' stories because the staff is due to check on Jimmy is 6.30pm so they only have around four hours to complete Jimmy's list. Speaking of lists - I highly recommend you add this book to your 'to read list' and also to your school library. It will be enjoyed by readers aged 10+. Read the blurb on the publisher page. Listen to an audio book sample. 

This story is also truly FUNNY. I cannot overstate that fact. Finding humorous middle grade books that don’t feature wacky or slapstick humor can be challenging, and sometimes readers just want a different kind of funny. I laughed (out loud) so many times throughout this book and I know kids will be giggling along as they read, too. Reading Middle Grade

Companion books:

Not Nothing

I confess I should have had more faith in Dan Gemeinhart but when I saw this book in a local independent bookstore last month I did not buy it because I really didn't like the cover! I was WRONG, so wrong. Luckily, I read a few reviews. I previously loved Dan's books. 

The honest truth

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

The Midnight Children

I was visiting a small country town in southwestern NSW and I spied Busted on the shelf in their very well stocked newsagent and so as you have guessed I grabbed it AND I read the whole book in one afternoon over Christmas. 

I have been trying to remember a book I read with a boy who also lived in an aged care or retirement home and the residents all taught him different skills but then the school authorities demanded that the boy go to school, and this is all so hard for the boy - adjusting to life with his peers.  (This might be the Gordon Korman book I shared above). 

Here are few other titles I am going to look for that might link well with Busted:

Our Friend Hedgehog series by Lauren Castillo

“I have never, ever been without Mutty, and he has never been without me,” Hedgehog explained. “We need each other.” Mole was a very good listener. She nodded in all the right places and rested a comforting paw on Hedgehog’s quills. It felt good to have someone to talk to in this big, scary forest.

The cover will help you anticipate some of this plot. You can see a woodland setting, a toy dog wearing a jumper (sweater), a girl with a camera, an owl, beaver, mole and some chickens. With only ten short chapters and 128 pages this is a perfect book for a newly independent reader. And as a bonus it begins with a map! I also loved the way each character has a distinct voice and personality and Lauren Castillo has included some little jokes along the way. 

Here is an example: “Peep!” Chick Two bounced off Chick One. “Peep, peep!” Chick One bounced off Chick Two. And the two leap-chicked right back into the brush. “For peep’s sake!” groaned Beaver.

Opening sentence - Notice the way the narrator speaks directly to the reader:

Sometimes you make a friend and it feels like you have known that friend your entire life. Hedgehog, Mutty, Mole, Owl, Beaver, Hen and Chicks, and me, Annika Mae. You might think it has always been this way, but it has not. There was a series of events that brought us all together. This is our friendship story. This is the story of us.

Blurb from author page: Hedgehog lives on a teeny-tiny island with only her stuffed dog, Mutty, for company. When a great storm carries Mutty away, she embarks on a quest to find her friend. Following the trail of clues Mutty left behind, brave Hedgehog meets a wiggly Mole, a wordy Owl, a curmudgeonly Beaver, a scatterbrained Hen and Chicks, and a girl who's new to the neighborhood, Annika May. With bravery and teamwork, there's nothing that can stop these seven from finding Mutty, but along the way they discover something even more important: each other.

You will need to talk to your young reading companion about instamatic or Polaroid cameras!

Awards:

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year SELECTION 2021
• Chicago Public Library Best Books SELECTION 2020
• Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books SELECTION 2020
• School Library Journal Best Book of the Year SELECTION 2020
• ALSC Notable Children’s Books LONGLIST 2021

I saw the third book from this series mentioned on social media and I was curious BUT here in Australia these books are way outside the budget of a school library at over AUS$45 each. That's why I purchased the ebook version of Book One. I really enjoyed my dip into this series SO if these ever arrive here in paperback for a better price you might consider adding them to your school library - I am always on the hunt for simple early chapter books with colour illustrations and most importantly appealing stories.

Bookseller blurb: Autumn leaves are falling in Hedge Hollow, and the change in season brings with it a spiny surprise... another hedgehog! Is it friend or foe? Or is it . . . family? On the one paw, Hedgehog is excited to meet one of her own kind, but on the other paw, she has never felt so different—or distant—from her old friends. Where does Hedgehog belong, and who does she belong with? A journey upriver through an unfamiliar forest just might lead her home…

Bookseller blurb: When the humans of Hedge Hollow head off to school, Hedgehog and her furry, feathery friends decide to start a school of their very own! Owl will teach reading. Beaver will teach shop. Mole will teach geography. Hen will teach math. And Hedgehog . . . Hedgehog isn't so sure. After all, you have to be an expert to teach a class, don't you? Hedgehog doesn't feel like an expert in anything. Lucky for Hedgehog her friends are happy to lend a paw, sharing laughter and kind words as they figure out a solution.

Lauren Castillo studied illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art and received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She is the author and illustrator of the 2015 Caldecott Honor winning book, Nana in the City, and new chapter book series, Our Friend Hedgehog. Lauren has also illustrated several critically acclaimed picture books, including Kirkus Prize finalist Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera, Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley, and Yard Sale by Eve Bunting. She currently draws and dreams in Harrisburg, PA.

The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr

Like many other children during World War II, Jimmy and his brother Ronnie are sent away from London - in this case to a remote village in Wales. Jimmy is desperate to return home. He wants to protect his brother and he has great difficulty accepting the kindness offered by Gwen and Alun Thomas. Luckily they stay very patient with him even though he is rude and surly. Wandering on his own he climbs a tree on the outskirts of the village and he finds a human skull. Jimmy has a wild imagination and he is sure there must be a murderer on the loose in Llanbryn. 

One of the other evacuated children is a girl named Florence. Back in London Florence was shunned for her poor family and ragged clothes but her foster family in this little village also show her wonderful kindness and like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon Florence emerges as a very different girl to the one Jimmy previously knew and shunned. Thank goodness Jimmy is able to accept Florence as a new friend because she is a very smart girl and she helps Jimmy solve the mystery of the skull and she also shows him that it is important to be kind - to his brother and to Mr and Mrs Thomas.

Teacher-Librarians will cheer when Florence takes Jimmy and Ronnie to the library so they can research human bones and the time it takes for a body to decay - all of this information is crucial as they edge closer to a solution to this mystery. 

Author blurb: When Jimmy is evacuated to a small village in Wales, it couldn't be more different from London. Green, quiet and full of strangers, he instantly feels out of place. But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree, and suddenly the valley is more frightening than the war. Who can Jimmy trust? His brother is too little; his best friend has changed. Finding an ally in someone he never expects, they set out together to uncover the secrets that lie with the skull. What they discover will change Jimmy - and the village - forever.

Read more plot details in each of these reviews:

This is a well-constructed mystery, with a most enjoyable and interesting storyline that contains lots of diverting paths that join up beautifully. Kids' Book Review

Many topics are addressed as Jimmy’s story is revealed, such as: bullying, bigotry, anxiety, loss, the burden of secrets kept, and changing friendships. All are sensitively explored as the adventure unfolds. The totally credible characters capture reader empathy as the issues are explored honestly, but ultimately the book leaves the reader with understanding as prejudices are overcome, lies are uncovered and the mystery of a death that has shadowed a life for years is explained and resolved. Historical Novel Society

Overall, this is a thrilling and touching story about change, family, and friendship, and also about giving people the chance – to support you, and surprise you. Setting the “mystery” storyline aside briefly, I feel that the story is a good look at the evacuee experience, showing both positives and negatives from both sides.  Libraries 4 Schools

I have a Pinterest collection of Middle Grade Novels set during World War II - here is the section about evacuees. 

I spied this book at a recent charity book sale. I recognised the name Lesley Parr and I now discover that this is her first book. I previously read:

Last year I visited Wales and I made a collage of all the books I have read that are set in Wales:

Sometimes it's Nice to be Alone by Amy Hest illustrated by Philip Stead

Sometimes it’s nice to be alone. 

Just you, eating a cookie, alone.

But what if a friend drops in?

And are you expecting that friend to be an elephant? Or if you are quietly reading a book and a friend comes along did you expect a horse? And while you are somersaulting it is a whale who arrives to be your friend. The text and illustrations in this book are perfect. On each page watch out for a hint in the illustration - a toy elephant, toy whale, toy bear, toy horse and a toy dinosaur. 

Wait until you see the page with the giraffe and the treehouse.

This book is one you will want to share with your preschool group. Unfortunately, here in Australia this book is probably way too expensive for your library budget. 

A sparkling reminder that nothing is as powerful as a child’s imagination. Kirkus Star review

Joyously explores and celebrates everyday moments, whether spent alone or in unexpected company. ... The brightly colored, textured illustrations, created by hand using printmaking techniques, are mischievous and detailed, perfectly extending the plucky text. The Horn Book

Full review from The Bulletin of the Centre for Children's Books:

An earnest call-and-response-style— “But what if…”—forms the deceptively simple structure of this poignant picture book, asking viewers to reflect on how solitary activities change when friends join in. The narrative follows a nameless protagonist as she happily engages in a series of solitary pursuits, from turning somersaults to crunching leaves. But her simple pleasures transform into larger-than-life adventures upon the arrival of unexpected friends—her plush toys magnified to life-like proportions until they seem to defy the limits of the page. The poetic simplicity of Hest’s sparse text marries beautifully with the warmth of Stead’s exquisite prints, celebrating the quiet satisfaction of solitude and the shared joys of friendship, giving each its due. The reflective lenses of the protagonist’s glasses shrewdly obscure her reactions to both solitude and company, thus refusing to suggest that either circumstance is innately superior. Gently affirming text will aid caregivers in drawing shy children out of their shells while respecting their choices. Hest and Stead thus strike a rare and delicate balance, honoring the creativity of the solitary child while gently suggesting that shared play does not have to mean an end to crafting fantastic dreamscapes, but rather the beginning of building larger ones—together.

I first saw this book in one of our large city bookstores - last month I visited one of our large public libraries at Concord and I found this book again - I had time to sit and read it properly. I do hope our Australian bookstores are able to stock this book for a better price. The retail price right now is over AUS$50 which is SO crazy for a 32 page picture book. Here are set of activity sheets. 

Midge and Mo by Lara Williamson illustrated by Becky Cameron

Midge has changed schools. Everything is strange and all he wants to do is go back to the way things were. The teacher assigns a classmate to look after him. Mo is a happy and very positive girl. She loves the idea of showing Midge around her school but Midge just does not react to anything - not a soccer game, the school friendship flower garden, the giant sunflowers the class have been growing, or the climbing frame. Midge just sits under a tall tree in the playground. 

Through his eyes the world is a grey and sad place to be. In art he draws a sad rainy-day picture (sadly the teacher misinterprets this). After two days of trying so very hard to reach Midge, Mo talks to her teacher Mr Lupin. I love his advice:

"Don't give up Mo ... Nothing is in the right place for Midge at the moment. Perhaps he doesn't feel like he's in the right place either. New beginnings can feel like that ... You were new here once ... That's why I asked you to be Midge's buddy, because I was sure you would remember how your first day here felt, too."

Mo goes home and talks to her mum and dad and togther they come up with a really special gift for Midge and while I am sure he will still have sad days a little sparkle has entered his life at last. Oh and those huge sunflowers have now opened up and are showing off their own bright yellow happy colours. I also love the character names - Mo (I wonder if this is short for something) and Midge.

Publisher blurb: Midge doesn’t want to go to a new school. He wants everything to go back to the way it was – with his old school, his old friends and his parents back together. Mo is Midge’s buddy at his new school. She’s super smiley and can’t wait to be his friend, but the more Mo tries to make friends the more Midge retreats. It’s like there’s an invisible raincloud hanging above his head – drip-drip-drip. Then Mo remembers how she felt when she was new, and it makes her even more determined to help Midge feel happy and to show him that the sun will come out for him again soon.

This book is from the Little Tiger series published by Stripes. I have mentioned books from this series previously. I highly recommend adding lots of these titles to your school library. These are so appealing with their hardcovers, high quality paper, colour illustrations and most important of all - really good stories that are easy to read but also contain authentic and emotional narratives.

I previously talked about:

The Long way home

Little Rabbits big surprise

Little Bird Lost

Two Sides

A sea of stories

I also thought of another small chapter book from many years ago that also features a snow globe - Snow Dog by Malorie Blackman (it was a Corgi Pup title from 2001). It was reprinted with a different publisher in 2010 so you might find this in a library.