Music Camp by Penny Tangey

This is a brand-new Australian book - published this week. The best part of the story happens very close to the end of the book so readers will need to 'stick with' this book so they can enjoy the emotional scenes of the final chapters.

I learnt recorder as a child and then after I retired I joined an adult class and ensemble group, so I do not need to be convinced that the recorder is a worthy musical instrument. I also attended music camps (playing the viola), and I was in several orchestras as a child and teenager so there were a few parts of this book that did resonate with me. 

This book is told from two perspectives. Miley plays the recorder and Juliet plays the flute. Both of them have complex family issues. Miley wants other people to see value in the recorder and Juliet loudly proclaims the recorder does not belong in an orchestra and even more a recorder player should not be selected to perform a solo at the end of camp concert. Juliet is certain she will be the one who wins the audition for concert soloists. Ollie, who plays the cello - it is almost as big as his ego - is also sure he will be the main star at the concert.

Meanwhile there have been terrible floods in this area and now Miley and her mum live in a caravan having lost everything. Miley's mum cannot pay for this music camp, but Miley is awarded a scholarship. Miley hopes the camp will give her another chance to prove the worth of her tenor recorder:

"I mean I get it. They hear a class of kids playing Pachelbel's Canon on plastic descant recorders and it sounds like ferrets flighting in a cave, so they assume it's the recorder's fault. But really the problem is forcing kids with no musical training to play high-pitched instruments. If the government spent more money on music education and equipment then recorder ensembles would sound better. Recorders can sound as good as any other instrument. And way better than the flute."

There are a lot of issues in this book and at times they were a little overwhelming - climate change is one example. The recent floods are most certainly a result of climate change. The camp is also flooded out sorry for the spoiler. The company that sponsors the camp and the scholarships is also contributing to climate change. This creates an interesting tension between the camp leaders. Juliet has her own issues coping with the death of her father who was also a musician and also trying to navigate her mother's own deep grief. And we meet Renee. She is clearly neurodivergent, but this is not directly stated. It is a real strength of this book that readers just need to gradually understand Renee experiences the world in a different way. There are hints in the food she eats, the clothes she wears and the way she needs to keep her hands clean. I really wanted to know more about Renee - she was the character I liked the best. 

If you are book talking Music Camp with a group of Grade Six readers I would begin by playing something 'cool' that shows how terrific a recorder ensemble can sound. Maybe just share the sound not the video of this one. Ask about the instruments and ask if the students enjoy this sound. Or let them hear some tenor recorders. 

Music Camp is a gorgeous story about friendship, music, and finding your voice. Finding a way to fit in when you feel like you don’t, because you’re into something that others might not see as cool. Any interest is cool, because it can connect us with friends and passion to bring out the best in us. It’s a delightful novel, filled with great friendships and the power to encourage people to follow their dreams. The Book Muse

Thank you to UQP (University of Queensland Press) for the advance reader copy. Here is the author webpage. Here are some very detailed teachers notes and questions (I would not use all of these with a class but you could select some to use with a small book discussion group). I think mature readers aged 10+ especially those navigating complex friendships which often happen at the end of Primary school but I do wonder if the cover will appeal to the intended demographic. As an adult reader I am sorry to say it really does not appeal to me perhaps because of the choice of disparate colours. Here are the notes from Lamont Standing orders. 

It would be good to explore the concert program at the back of the book with a music class if you have one in your school. We had an amazing music teacher in a primary school where I worked previously. Read more here. Turn the sound up loud (don't show the video) and listen to this glorious piece from the concert. 

Publisher blurb: Miley and Juliet have nothing in common, apart from a love of music. Miley can’t afford the five-day Music Camp because she lost her home in a flood, but she’s won a scholarship to attend. This is her chance to prove to everyone that the recorder is a serious instrument. Flautist Juliet comes from classical music royalty. Her late father was an esteemed clarinet player and she wants to honour his legacy. She’s also keen to make friends with people who don’t know about her tragic past – though perhaps not with that girl who thinks the recorder is a serious instrument. Over the week, Miley and Juliet don’t always see eye to eye, especially when they both audition for the only woodwind solo at the final night’s concert. But with torrential rain threatening to flood the camp, their dreams might get washed away. How can they put their differences aside and face the music together?

Small Acts by Kate Gordon and Kate Foster

What if

we are all

searching for meaning

in all the wrong places.

What if we are

looking

in

mirrors,

websites

and catalogues

when meaning is not a thing that can be seen,

or clicked on 

or bought.

What if it is only something that can be given,

pushed out

into the world.

What if our own,

individual

meaning

does not exist,

but can only be shared,

like air,

like breath.

What if the only true meaning

is kindness?

In Small Acts we meet two kids - Josh and Ollie (Olivia). Both have issues and both find school and life itself can be difficult to cope with. Luckily in their Grade Five class they have the most wonderful teacher Mr Parham. As an aside if I could meet Mr Parham I would like to give him a huge hug and thank him for his kindness towards Josh and Ollie. He does not make a fuss about their autism - he just sets things in place which help both of them cope with their school day and he is always ready to listen. Oh, and unlike Josh, I think if I met him, I might make a comment about liking his red things - marker, socks, tie etc. 

Josh and Ollie do have things in common such as their autism and the fact that both of them have lost their very best friend - a truly devastating life change. But I love the way this book shows or tries to show that autism affects kids in very different ways and also the ways these two kids set up their own coping strategies are very different. And another interesting addition to this story is the character of Auntie Olive who is an autistic adult. Ollie's mum is her sister and when Aunty Olive was young she was lost in the bush for several days. This explains why Ollie's mum is so very protective her daughter Ollie. 

Both kids, independently of each other, decide the best way to get on in the world is to be kind. Josh is desperate to join one of the many clubs at school but none of them seem like a good fit. He decides to start a club of his own based around kindness. Meanwhile Ollie loves art. She sees a boy in the park who looks lost and alone. Her heart reaches out to him but she is so shy there is no way she could easily talk to this stranger so instead she makes a small sculpture and leaves it on the park bench for him to find. 

Here are some text quotes from Small Acts which is a narrative with a few sections in the form of a verse novel:

"Ollie was autistic like him and had been at Emu River as long as Josh, but he'd never really paid her much attention."

"It's okay. I was running with my eyes closed.' The boy smiled. It was like sunshine."

"Why was it so hard to make Ollie smile? Maybe he was only making Ollie smile on the inside. But how would he every know? He needed an outside smile."

"Ollie was more like Josh than he realised. Actually, Ollie was better at doing kind things than he was! Wow. Kindness was ... was contagious. That was a great word. Maybe doing kind acts wasn't only about making people smile; it was also to encourage other people to do kind things as well."

"I don't want to be one of your small acts ... I want to do Small Acts of Kindness, myself."

"... on that day Millie had broken her heart (and) Ollie had decided that she didn't deserve kindness. She didn't deserve friends. She didn't deserve people to like her. And so she would do everything she oculd to make sure nobody showed her kindness again."

If you are reading this book and you have not heard about the television series Bluey you will need to hunt out the episode called Sticky Gecko (referred to on page 133). Ollie also talks about her favourite book about a witch - The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy.

Small Acts will at times, break your heart, but under the skillful care of Kate Gordon and Kate Foster it will be made whole again by the end of the book not in a fairy tale way but in a very emotionally satisfying way. I highly recommend Small Acts for readers aged 10+. If this book was published in the UK I am certain it would be included on the Empathy Lab book list. If you read this book with a class your students could write their own lists of kind acts - and it would be even more powerful if they each did a small act of kindness anonymously. It seems obvious but an important part of reading a book about children autism (or any other 'disability') is that the story allows a child reader to enter the world of another child with a different set of life experiences or it shows a child who feels a like Josh or Ollie that they are not alone. If child is struggling with a 'label' like autism I'm not saying this book will make the experience any easier but perhaps it will help to both see the different ways Josh and Ollie experience peer relationships, the way they work hard to understand themselves, each other and others and also the way they bring others together through kindness.

The two Kates have collaborated to create an inspiring and optimistic, yet simple story, explaining how to learn what acts of kindness are; their value to those who receive, and equally, if not more, to those who offer them. Kids' Book Review

The book tackles significant real-world issues such as mental health, disability, and the impact of acts of kindness. By addressing these topics with sensitivity, the book offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of how individual actions can influence and improve the lives of others. It’s a compelling read that encourages empathy and understanding. Better Reading

Small Acts is a CBCA 2025 Younger Readers Notable title. I would not be surprised to see it make the shortlist of six.

Companion books:

The Unlikely Heroes Club (notice this is also by Kate Foster)

The Kindness Project

If you want to read another book about an inspirational teacher try to find this one:

Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus

Bernie Thinks in Boxes by Jess Horn illustrated by Zoe Bennett

Bernie keeps a sense of control over her life by putting the things in her world into boxes in her mind. She has a school box filled with the classmates, the teacher and school routines and equipment. She has Nanna box filled with the enjoyment of shared times at Nanna's house, nighttime stories and the love of Nanna's dog. She even has boxes for meals - certain things belong in each meal box - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Inevitably there comes a day when her boxes are disrupted. Bernie sees her teacher at the grocery store. 

"Bernie did not talk to Miss Williams that day."

Mum gives her eggs for dinner.

"Bernie had gone to bed hungry that night."

Then comes the biggest problem of all. Toby from school is having his birthday party at the park. 

"But the park was where Bernie played with Molly. Molly was in Bernie's Park Box. Her school friends were not. And nor were parties."

The whole situation is way too overwhelming for Bernie and she just runs away from the party. How can she make this up to her friend Toby? Is there a way to do something at school that is "just a little bit outside the box"?

At times I think I am a little like Bernie. I do like order and I do look for patterns and I do tend to group things into categories or compartments. I am also sometimes puzzled when friends do this to me - putting their own friends into groups. While I hear about these other people I am never 'allowed' to meet them - sorry I am not expressing this very well. I guess in some ways even as an adult I related to young Bernie. Is she shy or 'on the spectrum' or perhaps autistic? I don't think that matters. This is a book many younger children will relate to and for others it might give them a glimpse into the life of a classmate who reacts differently. 

I am really glad we have this book to share with groups of young children and also side by side with a young reader. I do hope it is a CBCA Early Childhood notable and perhaps even makes the shortlist. Jess Horn talks about her book with Paperbark Words. This is a debut picture book for Jess Horn. She also talks about her book here with JustKidLit. 

I previously talked about Ruby's Repair Cafe illustrated by Zoe Bennett. 

Bernie Thinks in Boxes is a beautifully told story and a valuable conversation starter that encourages and empowers children to embrace their individuality. In a picture book market where the topic of diversity is being widely recognised, Bernie Thinks in Boxes is a standout. Story Links

These companion books that show it is okay to sort things into categories but of course Bernie thinks in boxes also shows that being flexible and thinking about things in a different way does not have to be too scary. We all have to cope with change in our lives.

All Sorts

What's inside?

The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster

Blurb from the author web page: Eleven-year-old Oli is spending his school holidays at Heroes Club, where kids can build friendships and learn about their emotions, but Oli just wants to be home … where it's familiar, not-so-boring and he can play his favourite game. But when Oli and the other kids at the club see a stray dog who keeps disappearing into a soon-to-be-demolished building across the street, Oli and his four fellow heroes hatch a daring rescue plan to save the dog before it's too late. It's going to take bravery, some seriously smart teamwork … and a few broken rules.

One of the best insights into Oli's autism comes when he talks about his sensory issues - fabric of his clothing that at times feels so uncomfortable; the smells around him good and bad - he has an acute sense of every smell; bright lights; and of course, noise. Oli is also a boy who needs routines, and I loved the way his mother and sister were able to accommodate this. His sister only has a small role in this story but I did want to offer her a hug for her kindness and deep understanding of her brother. I also wanted to know a little more about each of the kids in the club - especially Brian; Layla and Max.

Here are brief teachers notes from the publisher. 

A beautifully evolving story of finding the strengths within. Reading Time

This review has lots of plot details. You can meet Kate Foster in this interview with Paperbark words. 

The Unlikely Heroes Club is a 2024 CBCA Notable title in the Younger Readers category. I did shed a tear at the end when all the kids in the Heroes Club write honest appraisals of each group member. 

My only reservation with this book is that I feel it is important to know Oli will still be Oli at the end of the story - this club experience is not designed to 'cure' Oli but rather to give him coping strategies and also the extra benefit of making new friends who also find aspects of daily life difficult. 

CBCA Judges comments: Contemplating the world from the perspective of 11-year-old Oli, the reader of this book vicariously joins Oli, his family, peers and therapists as they participate in a holiday program. The program supports young people to build social skills and develop friendships with other neurodiverse preteens. However, they learn the best from their team effort to rescue a stray dog, which adds mystery and intrigue. The love and struggle of families living with autism are presented in a way that is humorous whilst being painfully close to the truth. This book affirms autism and provides a nuanced view for those seeking a better understanding. Its design features are age-appropriate and engaging. A delight to read, it sensitively explores inclusion, respect, challenge, acceptance, family relationships, and neurodiversity.

The Fish in the Bathtub by Eoin Colfer illustrated by Peter Bailey

I am a huge fan of Barrington Stoke books and the Little Gems series but while this one is a sweet story I was left with so many questions. I kept wishing this book had a notes or back matter section.

What year is this book set? There is a hint that ABBA is a popular music group. Mamma Mia is mentioned and after some quick research I discovered that song was released in 1975. The publisher site says this book is set in post war Poland so I would have assumed it was closer to 1950-1960.

What was life like in Poland during this time if the setting is 1975? The story refers to food queues but perhaps this is just to emphasise that Lucja has an impatient personality.

The story also refers to the black market:

"Even the soldiers pretended not to see the old women who walked around the streets of Warsaw with big baskets that looked as if they were full of rags. ... Inside the basket were plastic bags, and in the bags there were lots of different sorts of meat."

Is Lucja neurodivergent? She cannot sit still. She cannot concentrate?  She asks questions but does not listen to the answers. Yet she is also very focused on topics that interest her and has a keen eye for tiny details. 

What is the tradition of fish for Christmas Eve dinner? Is this always carp? How is it cooked?

What has happened to the grandfather in the past? He is so bitter about Germans and Communists.

"No German or Communist is going to tell me I can't eat the fish from Polish rivers. First they took my house, they they blew it up, then they built us this ugly block of concrete. But I will have my carp. I have to make a stand."

The old woman does bring a fish for Grandpa. Trouble is - it is alive. They put it in the bathtub. Lucja seems to know a lot about the care of fish. She is also able to sit still with her fish. She enjoys talking to him and a friendship begins to form. Of course every reader will anticipate the problem. Christmas Eve is not far away. Grandpa wants his carp dinner but there is no way Lucja will allow him to "kill" her beloved fish.

This slim book has 54 illustrated pages. It is an enjoyable story but I just had so many unanswered questions. This story was first published in 2007 as one story in an anthology with the title The Midnight Feast. Then Barrington Stoke  published a version in 2014 with colour illustrations and later my copy was published in black and white in 2022. You can read the first chapter here. 

Featuring an introduction by Fearne Cotton, Midnight Feast includes stories and artwork by the best authors and illustrators in the business. Including: Darren Shan, Anthony Horowitz, 

Meg Cabot, Eoin Colfer, Garth Nix, Joe Craig, Kath Langrish, Brian Jacques, 

Oliver Jeffers, Jonathan Stroud, Maeve Friel, Annie Dalton, Margaret Mahy, Helen Dunmore, 

Chris d'Lacey, Jamie Oliver, Tony Hart and Eleanor Updale

Blurb: Heartwarming story set in post-war Poland charting a grandfather-granddaughter relationship, from the bestselling Artemis Fowl author. Little Lucja's Grandpa Feliks has seen off the German army, and the Communists, and now he is looking forward to a long and peaceful retirement. He plans to begin with a tasty Christmas Eve dinner of carp. But when the carp arrives alive and takes up residence in the bathtub and Lucja's heart, has Grandpa Feliks finally met his match?

Here is the website of Irish author Eoin Colfer who is famous for his Artemis Fowl book series.