The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

“Do you swear to venture forth bravely and find the answer to any question, 

no matter the challenge?”

If you mashed together Alice in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth you might come close to the plot of this book - such a wild ride. You will turn the pages so quickly as you read this book desperate to see if Lenora can survive all the mayhem.  

The only extra things I would have liked were a library map and perhaps a Dewey decimal chart showing all the library departments where Lenora was sent by the Chief Librarian Malachi. Lenora goes to the calendar room, the map room and the unknown room which actually has information about tardigrades, all the while she is being chased by the enemy who brings darkness. Along the way her status rises and she is awarded new badges. Lenora has to be very mindful of the library motto:

Knowledge is Light

Bookseller blurb: With her parents off traveling the globe, Lenora is bored, bored, bored until she discovers a secret doorway into the ultimate library. Maze like and reality-bending, the library contains all the universe's wisdom. Every book ever written, and every fact ever known, can be found within its walls. And Lenora becomes its newly appointed Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian. She rockets to the stars, travels to a future filled with robots, and faces down a dark nothingness that wants to destroy all knowledge. To save the library, Lenora will have to test her limits and uncover secrets hidden among its shelves.

In the chaos of this story there is also commentary on censorship, the role of libraries as providers of free information, the importance of curiosity, and of course the value of libraries as organised repositories of books, maps, charts, ephemera and so much more. Materials from everywhere and every time period.

"The Forces of Darkness wish to control people, and it is every knowledge that prevents them from doing so. ... They can only rule where there is ignorance, they can only create fear where the truth has been hidden, they can only gain power when the light has been snuffed out. Librarians are their greatest enemy, and we have fought them throughout time, and always will fight them as long as that light burns anywhere, no matter how weakly."

I may not have kept reading this book actually because it all became a little too silly for me but then I took a detour last night and glanced at the Kirkus review. Such is the power of their work that the star they gave The Library of Ever spurred me on to stick with this story although I am not so sure I need to read the sequel. I did enjoy Lenora's common sense, determination, perseverance, and her amazing general knowledge. She certainly adapted well to the roles of Assistant Apprentice Librarian and later Assistant Librarian. 

There are moments in this story that made me smile:

"The tardigrade snarled. 'As far as we tardigrades are concerned, Pluto is and always will be a planet. end of discussion. ...Lenora saw no reason to argue. She had always thought that Pluto seemed like a perfectly fine planet, whatever the adults might tell her. She took out her notebook. Pluto is, always will be, a planet. This she underlined firmly."

"I would like to know,' she said, 'how to find Wales.' 'You've found them,' said the whale. 'We are in fact, beluga whales.' 'Oh,' said Lenora. 'I mean Wales, the place, not whales, the mammal. 'Hmph' replied the whale ... And I suppose you think that just because I am a whale, a mammal, that I automatically know the location of Wales, the place?"

Not the first tale to be set in a universal library but unusually clever in the details and commendably accurate in its own way. Kirkus Star review

At its heart, The Library of Ever is a love letter to librarians and an ode to the importance of access to knowledge and information for everyone. The Winged Pen

Here is a fun interview with the author and the web page for Zeno Alexander. I picked up my copy of The Library of Ever at a recent charity book sale for $2. This book was published in 2019 but it is still available as is the sequel:

Bookseller blurb: Lenora returns to the magical Library—which holds every book ever known on its shelves. But she discovers the Library is under new management, its incredible rooms and corridors turned sinister and oppressive. Lenora quickly connects with a secret resistance that’s trying to free knowledge from the darkness threatening it. Her new friends introduce her to an ancient lost city, hang-gliding, and mathematical beings larger than the universe itself.

Companion books:

The 113th Assistant Librarian

Lost in a Book

The Lost History

Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library

The Lost Library

The Phantom Tollbooth

What is Black and White by John Kane

This book begins on the very first page with the title question - what is black and white? Perhaps the cover has given you the answer but surely it is not that simple?

The off-stage narrator keeps asking more and more impossible questions and our intrepid little penguin keeps finding a way to show he CAN do all these things. Here is the text near the end:

"What is black and white, can't fly, likes to swim, is called Norman, is cool, fast, full, tall, warm, magic, not so dizzy and now just showing off?"

This book is a perfect example of a cumulative tale and the twist the end is simply perfect. I suggest you add this book to your library or family wish list today. And yes, all the John Kane books are still available.

The story is completely silly and heartwarming throughout and will make you laugh out loud on more than one occasion. ...  The question and answer format is ideal to use as a model for children when writing their own questions and there are lots of lovely adjectives to discuss. Books for Topics

This book made me laugh out loud. It is sure to be a huge hit with your young reading companion aged 3+. Irish author/illustrator John Kane is a new discovery for me. Read this interview. Here are four of his other funny books:

This Book is Pants - review comment Red Reading Hub: All you need to do is bag yourself a copy of the book, wear the appropriate snazzy pants as required and prepare for action: pantalicious fun assured. I forgot to mention that for the best results you’ll also need an audience of one or preferably quite a few, young listeners.

Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue by Alan MacDonald illustrated by Francesca Gambatesa

Huxley is a koala. Flapjack is a penguin. They live together in a rambling house in the woods. Huxley lives high in the treetops (I hope this is a gum tree) but Flapjack is afraid of heights, so his bedroom is on the ground. 

Image source: Francesca Gambatesa

Huxley is a bit of a dare devil while Flapjack tends to be more cautious. It is clear there will be several disasters when the friends head into the city to explore a brand new, six-storey department store. Adding the mayhem, a robber is a at work. The store manager is sure Huxley is the thief but our friends have seen the real thief and so they set up a trap to catch him and hopefully recover all the stolen items. 

Oddly this is book contains information that might surprise Australian children. Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue comes from the UK and it contains a serious factual error - Koalas are not bears! But if you can look past this issue, this book and the next one in the series would be a good addition to your easy chapter collection. There are colour illustrations; and easy to read text; and a fast moving story with touches of humour. Here is an interview with the author. Here is the webpage for Alan MacDonald.

A fast-moving fun story, ideal for new solo readers with zany, dynamic full colour illustrations by Francesca Gambatesa on every spread. I suspect this duo will gain lots of young followers who will eagerly anticipate their further adventures. Red Reading Hub

This charming young chapter book is full of energy, and the fabulous colour illustrations on every page perfectly reflect the vim and vigour of the adventure. Huxley is perhaps a little too quick to act before thinking, and this can provide a talking point. Meanwhile, the very sweet and sensible Flapjack is always there to counter-balance the impetuous koala. This would appeal to young readers who enjoy animal stories that aren’t too cutesy. Book Trust

From its zingy yellow cover to its wonderful colour illustrations, this gorgeous early chapter book is bursting with energy and adventure, sure to capture the imagination- and hearts- of its readers. Huxley and Flapjack prove that opposites attract and that true friends can be quite different to you in both tastes and backgrounds. Through the Bookshelf

The second book from this series will arrive mid year.

Twelve days of Letters to Santa Day Seven - My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Cody Kimmell

Young Joe knows Santa can be tricky. He does not always understand exactly the present Joe describes. When he asks for a red racing car with "a detachable roof, a lightning bolt on the side and retracting headlights." The right car comes matching the description but it is only ten centimetres long.

The next year Joe asks for a trampoline but that's a tough word to spell - Santa supplies a pogo stick!

So, this year Joe is determined there will be no confusion. He wants:

• a penguin
• a real penguin
• not a suffed toy
• from Antarctica
• thirty centimetres tall
• black and white with a yellow beak
• his name should be Osbert

Thank goodness this time Santa gets it right. BUT wait a minute how can this young boy, living in a regular house, look after a REAL penguin. Think about food, water, cold, communication! Luckily for Osbert communication is not an issue. He makes his demands known and so Joe cannot play with his other presents the pair head outside to play in the snow. Then Osbert wants to stay in the bath long after the water has gone cold. And breakfast has to be chilled herring with seaweed jam. That afternoon Joe writes back to Santa:

"Dear Santa,

How are you and Mrs Claus? We are fine. 

Thank you for the great penguin, called Osbert. We have cold baths together and eat herring and seaweed jam for breakfast. I am getting used to spending all day in the snow.

Plus it turned out I didn't have frostbite after all.

Your friend 

Joe

PS One more thing, Santa. If you feel like maybe I should have asked for a different present, and you want to swap, that would be ok."

My Penguin Osbert is terrific to read aloud and then your young group could write their own letters to Santa. Here is the sequel to My Penguin Osbert:

Twelve days of Letters to Santa Day Six - Worried Arthur by Joan Stimson

Arthur is such a worrier. Christmas is coming. and Arthur comes home from school SO worried. The class have been learning about maps and Arthur can see there is a huge distance for Santa to travel from the NORTH POLE to the SOUTH POLE - you need to know Arthur is a penguin so he lives in Antarctica. Dad has the answer and Arthur is able to go to bed and fall asleep feeling a little less worried. 

At the end of the term Arthur is given a good school report except for the standard of his writing but here is the new worry.  Will Santa be able to read Arthur's Christmas list?  Once again Dad has the answer. 

Then there is the worry of the weather and worse Arthur worries he might not deserve any presents.  Dad is quite sure everything will be okay and yes Christmas morning is perfect.

Dear Santa,
Please if it is at all possible, as my bedroom is a little untidy ... 
could you leave any presents just here.
Love Arthur
PS there is a mince pie in the kitchen for you x

These books about Arthur seem perfect for children who have worries and I also liked the gentle way the author introduces this single parent family.  Arthur and his dad have such a special relationship.

There are other books (sadly all out of print) about Arthur:

Frank's Red Hat by Sean E Avery

Frank is a creative soul. He discovers the joy of knitting and he makes a splendid hat but the other conservative penguins are not sure this is a good idea. They like their safe predicable black and white world and then when their friend Neville is eaten by a killer whale they are convinced nothing good will come from wearing Frank's hats.

But Frank is not a penguin who accepts defeat.  He continues to make his hats embracing so many exotic colours. 

He tries to share his best hat with his old penguin friends but the run away terrified. Luckily for Frank someone else has been watching all of this. The seals love his hats and so Frank regains his confidence and his creativity. Frank has been given a very distinct and very appealing personality.

This book gave me a huge smile. I adore the illustrations which remind of the award-winning illustrator Jon Klassen who also uses similar textured effects.The use of analogue and digital illustrative techniques lends this book an air of sophistication. 

There are some deeper meanings here but I just love the lightness of touch given to the story, the perseverance of Frank, his creativity, and the hilarious twist at the end. This book will open up conversations about risk taking, difference and courage along with a terrific discussion about the names we give to colours. It also opens up opportunities to think about other perspectives such as the penguins and their resistance to change. 

The end papers are perfect. I love the way the illustrations delightfully extend the text such as when Frank uses the broken walrus tusk as fish spike. Those eyes on the walrus say so much. Then things go full circle when we see the walrus has his tusk tied on with pink wool and, like the seals, he too is wearing a special hat but wait a minute - look at the nose on the snowman - oh no!

The story pace is perfect too. Sean Avery shows us how to read a line like “it’s for keeping our head warm – in style” by the simple placement of that dash. In terms of the plot line, I enjoyed the moment of drama when Neville is eaten by a killer whale – the text makes this feel less tragic and more about the cycle of life and death on the ice.   

Frank’s Red Hat is one of those picture books that certainly can be shared with younger children but which will also generate deeper discussions and enjoyment for older students too. This story addresses so many themes: the other, fear, conformity, 'group think', diversity. 

Frank's Red Hat was short listed for our Children's Book Council Book of the Year awards - Picture Book. I was a judge this year and so some of my comments are based on the critique I wrote which you can see here. 

Here are some junior teaching ideas from the publisher Walker books. Here is the website for Sean E Avery - he lives in Western Australia. Here is a video where Sean shows his art process. 

Penguin Awareness Day

Chinstrap Penguin - Australian Antarctic Program

Penguin Awareness day is January 20th so I am a few days late with this post but really you can and should celebrate the wonders of penguins any day. Every year we share a number of books about penguins with our Grade One classes in the library. Sadly a few of these are now out of print but you may be lucky and find them in a well stocked library. Of course in most books about penguins the main plot line explores the desire of the little penguin hero - he or she wants to fly. Over time I have found these are the penguin picture books I love to share:

Blurb: This year, I was very specific in my letter to Santa Claus. Each year at Christmas, Joe writes a letter to Santa. But they've had a few misunderstandings in the past. Last year, for example, Joe wanted a fire-engine-red racecar with retracting headlights, and he did get one -- but it was only three inches long. So this year Joe is really, really careful. He describes exactly what he wants -- and on Christmas morning, guess what's waiting for him under the tree! Santa has brought him a living, breathing, black-and-white penguin named Osbert. Will anything in Joe's life ever be the same?

In the UK this book is called A Mum in a Million. Blurb: Pip the little penguin chick is worried about starting school. He loves his penguin lessons - from sliding to making waterholes, school for a chick is great fun. It's just the end of the day that's scary. All penguin parents look exactly the same, so how will he spot his mum when it's time to go home? His teacher Miss Peck has devised a plan to help all the little chicks find their mums but she doesn't count on the parents all thinking the same too! Pip needn't worry, Mrs. Penguin is an imaginative mum who is determined not to give up until her clever idea finally ensures that she's the one who stands out from the crowd.

This is quite an obscure little book but it has such a warm message about the love a mother shows her child. The final twist is sure to make you smile (and sigh with happiness). 

Plot from Wikipedia (spoiler alert): Opus is downhearted because, as a penguin, he cannot fly. He orders a machine and assembles it; when it comes time to test the machine by jumping off a three-mile-high cliff, Opus decides to do something less dangerous, and goes home to make anchovy Christmas cookies. He does not give up on his dream though, and makes a Christmas wish to Santa Claus for "wings that will go!" On Christmas Eve, Santa is making his usual delivery when he loses his reindeer and crashes into a lake. Opus jumps in and uses his natural swimming skills to pull Santa out. To thank Opus for his daring rescue, a group of ducks pick him up and take him flying through the air. 

Watch this video (the music track is perfect).  Here is the 20 minute animation. This is partly a Christmas story but I do think you will enjoy it at any time of year. 

Blurb (Amazon): Joe's Mum says he can't have a pet. So he gets creative and makes a pet penguin from his scrap box. His new pet, Pingwing, moves in next to the yoghurts in to the fridge, after all they do like the cold. Mum even likes Joe's new pet. It doesn't eat much, doesn't smell and hardly takes up any space at all, didn't cost a thing and never makes a sound. Joe decides his new pet is lonely and creates some siblings, then they need parents and of course some cousins and aunts and uncles too! Soon he has an entire family of penguins. They're still quiet pets, but Mum has nowhere to put the yoghurts, or the eggs or the butter.

Blurb:  Arthur is a penguin and a worrier. One morning he wakes up feeling excited and worried all at once. Dad has promised him a birthday party and there's an awful lot to think about. Will Ben burst all the balloons? Will Dad perform his terrible magic tricks? Or might it be the very best birthday party a little penguin ever had?

Here is my previous post about this book. There are three books in this series. 

Blurb: One day a penguin arrives on a boy′s door- step. The boy decides the penguin must be lost and tries to return him. But no-one seems to be missing a penguin. So the boy decides to take the penguin home himself, and they set out in his rowing boat on a journey to the South Pole. When they get there, however, the boy discovers that maybe ′home′ wasn′t what the penguin was looking for after all... 

Tacky the Penguin book series by Helen Lester - Tacky in Trouble; Tacky and the Emperor; Three Cheers for Tacky; Tackylocks; Tacky goes to Camp; Tacky and the Winter games; Three Cheers for Tacky; and Tacky and the Haunted Igloo. 

Penguin Facts:

• Penguins have a waterproof coat of short, overlapping feathers. 
• They have a well-developed layer of fat for insulation.
• Penguins feed on small fish and krill which they catch one at a time. 
• Their main predators are other marine animals, such as leopard seals and killer whales. 
• Skuas and sheathbills also eat penguin eggs and chicks.
• Penguins are only found in the Southern Hemisphere. 
• The greatest concentrations are on Antarctic coasts and sub-Antarctic islands.
• There are 18 species of penguins, 5 of which live in Antarctica. 
• Another 4 species live on sub-Antarctic islands.

Macaroni Penguin

King Penguin 

Finally here are two very new Australian books about penguins:

Little Blue series by Margaret Ryan illustrated by Andy Ellis

Easy Fiction Treasure

Here is the publisher blurb.

Little Blue is an intrepid little character who lives in an upturned boat with his mum and dad off the coast of Southern Australia. His friends are Rocky, a baby rockhopper penguin with a bright yellow crest, and Joey, a little kangaroo. His enemies are Fick and Fin the wisecracking sharks, and Big Grey and his gang of burly kangaroos.

Sadly all the books in this series are out of print but if you can find them in a library they are perfect to share with a newly independent reader. Margaret Ryan was a Scottish children's author. She died in 2019.

Meet at the Ark at Eight by Ulrich Hub illustrated by Jörg Mühle

Not for every reader, but sweet in its own way. Kirkus

I think I smiled right through this little quirky book but here is a warning some people might find all the questions about the existence and role of God quite confronting and yet I would say the questions are probably the same ones all humans (young and old) have had at some time.

Three penguins are living in the land of ice and snow and snow and ice and ice and snow. A butterfly arrives and the three begin to ponder the existence of God. 

Here is an abridged version of their conversation :

"So who is God?
Oh, God ... that's a difficult question
Well, God is great and very, very powerful. He came with with all sorts of rules and can become quite grumpy if you don't stick to them. Other than that, he's very friendly.
There's just one small disadvantage to God
What's that?
God is invisible.
Well, that's a huge disadvantage ... If you can't see God, you can't be sure whether he really exists."

As this dialogue continues a dove arrives with news of Noah and his ark.  He tells the penguins to meet at the ark at eight.  The problem is God and Noah only want two penguins. The first two decide to take their friend in their suitcase. The are worried about drowning and are in a rush to get over to the ark. (Take a minute to think about this).

Hiding the third penguin on the ship gives rise to a hilarious series of events. Of course the flood eventually subsides after the obligatory 40 days. The three penguins are saved but what about the dove. She kept having a niggling thought that she was missing something :

"I've got it, at last! The whole time, I've had this funny feeling I'd forgotten something!"

Read an interview with the publisher here.  Here is a review by a young reader. Try to find some books by Nicholas Allen if Meet at the Ark at Eight tickles your funny bone.  You could also read Meet at the Ark at Eight to a class familiar with the story of Noah's Ark then you might look for these other odd ball versions too.

I think kids will enjoy this version of Noah’s Ark, if not for the questions it will raise, then  for the humorous story of three best friends trying to help each other through life. KidLit reviews

Yours sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Iwasa illustrated by Jun Takabatake

How do I judge a book?

• The cover - yes this one is bright and appealing
• The author and illustrator - no I had never heard of these Japanese book creators but I do enjoy books that have been translated from other languages
• The publisher - YES! Gecko Press always select fabulous, intriguing and very different books

I also enjoy books with letters - especially where we can see the actual hand written letters as you can in Yours sincerely, Giraffe.

Dear You, Whoever you are,
Who lives on the other side of the horizon
I am Giraffe. I live in Africa. 
I'm famous for my long neck. 
Please tell me about yourself.

Yours sincerely
Giraffe.

There are three reasons for writing this letter.  Giraffe is lonely and would like a friend, Giraffe is bored and every day seems to be the same as the one before.  Giraffe sees a sign announcing a new mail service.  A Bored Pelican is offering his services (Fee : up to you) to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere.

Pelican flies off towards the horizon.  He eventually returns with a letter from Penguin.  Penguin has never heard of a neck.  He asks the only whale left at Whale Point, Professor Whale but the answer is far from satisfactory.  So the correspondence begins culminating in a visit by Giraffe over the ocean on a raft.  The meeting is joyous and surprising.

This little gem will make you smile.  Yours sincerely, Giraffe would be an excellent book to read aloud to a young class and there is so much to discuss such as perception of self and others, misinformation, asking the right questions and acceptance of difference.

This book reminded me of Run Hare, Run by John Winch because it explored the work of Albrecht Durer who is famous for his drawings of a rhinoceros which were based on a written description.

It’s hard to imagine someone you have never seen. Try it some time.

Tacky the penguin by Helen Lester illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Have you met this cute penguin?  His name is Tacky.  He is very different from his companions but this difference is something to be celebrated.  "Tacky was a odd bird but a very nice bird to have around."

In this first installment the hunters arrive.  They are determined to catch some pretty penguins but they are greeted by the unconventional Tacky.  He drives them away with his awful singing - "How many toes does a fish have and how many wings on a cow?" and his huge splashy cannonball dives.

At the beginning of each year I love to introduce Tacky to my Grade One students.  Luckily for me there are ten titles in this series including a new one I have just discovered Tacky and the Haunted Igloo.

You can find a list of all the books Helen Lester here and if you hover over the title you can see a cover image.

You can buy an interactive version of Tacky the Penguin for use on your device. It is very well done and we use it with our classes.  Here is a play of the story and some penguin poems. Here are some teacher notes.  I also have a few craft and teaching ideas for this book series in my Pinterest collection.  You could follow the reading of Tacky the Penguin with Elmer on Stilts which also looks at ingenious ways to foil animal hunters.

This is my last post for 2015 - see you again in 2016 and Happy New Year!