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?

Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise

Let's begin with the title of this book. I thought it would be a book about chess. Yes, that famous game is mentioned, but Queenie is actually the name of the main character and seven moves refers to the way Queenie and her mum keep having to move either to a new house, or a share house and even a run-down caravan.

Homelessness is a VERY serious topic. When we meet Queenie Jean Anderson and her mum we discover they have to leave the home they have rented for many years. Queenie has named this house Peachy but the owner, who is also their neighbour and a friend, has decided to sell it and move on. Mum works in an aged care village and luckily one of the small homes in the village, named Diamonds, will be empty for the next couple of weeks so they can move in there even though this cannot become their home for very long. Once the new owner arrives in the village the mother and daughter move again into a share house with the Elliots.

"The truth is, the Elliots aren't Sarah's friends as such. Sarah's friend's neighbour's cat heard there was a family looking to share for a bit because the dad lost his job during COVID. When I quizzed mum more, she didn't know anything about the Elliots, which seems like a very dicey living arrangement." page 70

The cat heard? I am a bit confused. Also, it turns out the son of the Elliot family is a boy in Queenie's class - why didn't she recognise the surname? It is the end of Year Six so I would expect her to know the names of every student in her class. Queenie is aged eleven or twelve and so is Dory so, sorry to be negative, but I did wonder why her mum would have no concerns about a boy and girl sharing a room? 

"So, I am going from never talking to a guy-who-is- vaguely-good-looking in my life to sharing a bedroom with him."

This arrangement comes to an end quickly when the adults see Dory and Queenie kissing! Next stop - an old run-down caravan.

"Mum jostles the door of Terry's caravan. It takes a few goes, but eventually comes unstuck. True to the description, the caravan is leaky. A stream of water trickles down one wall. A line of mould decorates one of the other walls. The kitchen bench is saggy with moisture ... the place smells of mould and rotting leaf litter."

Remember my comment homelessness is a very serious topic - well I was quite dismayed by the way mum just seemed to accept living in this dreadful caravan. I expected to get some sense of her despair. Especially when all of their possessions are destroyed after the caravan collapses in the wild weather. 

There are a couple more moves after the caravan is wrecked and then finally, we reach the happy ending. I won't spoil this except to say Queenie and her mum do find a proper place to live. Can you count seven moves? Diamonds; Elliots; Caravan; Ruthie's house (the owner of the Caravan); and Dimitri's place equals five. Briefly they move to a tent so Queenie can enter a singing contest - that is move six. Then the happy ending is move seven.

I had a small problem with the Christmas scene in this book. Queenie and her mum head to a market on Christmas Day and there are lots of other people there. Here in Australia Christmas is in the Summer so a market at the beach makes sense but I am fairly sure there are no towns where a market would be held on the 25th December. Yes, there are plenty of Christmas markets, but these happen over the days leading up to big day. I guess you just need to go with the flow - the market does sound like fun with food and rides and Santa. 

"The beachside Christmas market is every year on Christmas Day. It's like an orphans' Christmas, for people who don't have big families to spend Christmas with. There are lots of tourists and young people."

I am not sure I entirely agree with these four reviewers, but I suspect this book might be a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) 2024 Younger Readers Notable title and so to balance my review comments I am sharing these links. I read Queenie in Seven Moves quite quickly and it did hold my attention, but I cannot give it five or even four stars.

Mother and daughter are enriched by the diversity of the characters they encounter with each of their moves. Their homelessness exposes them to the many definitions of homelessness. Both reassess their understanding of friendship. Queenie in Seven Moves is a compassionate tale filled with images of human kindness, and the acceptance and change that seems to surface frequently in times of crisis. Beautifully written. A great read! Kids' Book Review

Queenie in Seven Moves is such a gorgeous story and twelve-year-old Queenie is a treat with her moods and possessiveness of her mother. It's all so relatable! Little Squirrels Bookshelf

This is a book about resilience, family, friendships and self-belief. Readers will enjoy this modern-day tale of urban adventure and quiet heroism. Georgina Gye

This is a well-paced, engaging and emotionally satisfying book, that hits all the right notes (excuse the pun). But if Zanni ever gets bored with writing books, she could easily move on to song writing. The song lyrics included in the book are a clever reflection of Queenie’s experiences and emotions and add to the tenor of the story (sorry, another pun). Storylinks

Here are some other books that explore this complex topic of homelessness. You can pop each title into my side bar to read more or click this link to a post which refers to nearly all of these:

Here are some picture books about homelessness - I highly recommend you share some of these with your students:

If you are in Australia you are sure to know some of these picture books by Zanni Louise. 

And here is her new junior book series:

I read her website and a few interviews with this author and I had one question - is this her real name?  I now discover her first name is Suzannah but is Louise really her surname?  Here are some interviews with Zanni Louise - I was surprised no one asked her about the name Zanni?

Reading With a Chance of Tacos

Your Kid's Next Read episode 81

Australian Writers Centre episode 169

Positive Parenting

Bat and the waiting game by Elana K Arnold illustrated by Charles Santoso

Bat has a pet baby skunk called Thor. It is hard for Bat to leave little Thor at home or with his mother at her veterinary practice when he goes to school. Luckily at school Bat does have one very good friend. A boy who does not mind Bat has some quirky or strange mannerisms due to his autism. The teacher sets a group assignment and Bat and Israel decide to make a container vegetable garden to grow the food Thor will enjoy as he develops into a full grown skunk. Bat knows that one day, fairly soon, he will have to release Thor back into the wild but for now he just wants his little friend to be happy.

While Israel and Bat work on their project and enjoy time together, Bat's sister Janie is preparing for her school play. Are you guess there will be a disaster? On the night of the big performance Bat smuggles his little friend into the show under his coat. Yes this is not going to turn out well especially when you know that skunks spray when they are frightened.

Bat tries so hard to manage chance and new situations. I loved the way his mother has given him some really good strategies which he luckily can remember most of the time. 

In 2018 I talked about the first book from this series - A Boy Called Bat. Someone mentioned on a Facebook post that their son really enjoyed this book. I had forgotten there was a sequel and in fact now there are three books in the series.

I really enjoyed meeting young Bat  (Bixby Alexander Tam) all over again.

Here is the blurb: For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He’s the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world—even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor. When Janie gets a part in the school play and can’t watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons, Janie is having sleepovers with her new friends, and Bat wants everything to go back to normal. He just has to make it to the night of Janie’s performance. . . .

IBBY collect books about and for children with disabilities. This collection has two purposes:

Category 1: Accessible Books includes all the formats that wherever possible can help a child or teen to read independently. For those who need to read with a partner, we have chosen formats that allow for as much participation as possible. The easy-to read books for young people, who are neurodivergent, or have developmental and learning disabilities, have been moved into this category. These readers should have access to simplified books with content appropriate to their age and maturity level.

Category 2: Portrayals of Disability is the larger group and provides examples of respectful representations of disabilities. This section includes fiction and nonfiction books that depict people who are d/Deaf or disabled. These subjects do not include physical health issues, such as common childhood illnesses and injuries, unless they lead to chronic disability. Mental health issues such as OCD ... 

The Bat series fit into both categories but most especially into category two allowing children who have no experience of autism to gain a little understanding of this disability and the challenges a kid like Bat faces. 

I read one reviewer who suggested The Year of Billy Miller as a companion read to the Bat series and I agree. Billy does not have autism but these books by Kevin Henkes have the same honesty and direct manner which gives the reader an insight into the mind of  a young boy navigating family life, relationships, school, friendships and growing up.

The Year of Billy Miller

Billy Miller makes a Wish

Grace and the Christmas Angel by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker illustrated by Jane Ray

Bookseller blurb: It's Christmas Eve. The tree is decorated, the presents are wrapped and it's a big day for Grace. She is singing a song in the nativity show, and her fisherman daddy has promised to be back in time to watch her. But when a storm blows up at sea, Grace walks out on stage to find Daddy is not there. She's very worried. But luckily, Grace has someone watching over her. Will Hope, the Christmas Angel, be able to help Daddy get home safely for Christmas morning?

Grace and the Christmas Angel was published in 2021. This book is the first in a planned series entitled Guardian Angels. The two covers above are the paperback and hardcover editions. 

The illustrations by Jane Ray are truly special in this longer format picture book which will be enjoyed by readers aged 8+. It would make a beautiful family read aloud book.

Read more about books by Jane Ray here. 

Here are two other books I enjoyed where children take part in a Nativity play:

Angel Mae

Shine

Angel Mae by Shirley Hughes

"I'm going to be the angel Gave-you!"

It is time for the Nativity play. Nancy Jones will be Mary, Jim Zolinski is Joseph, three boys from the class are going to be the kings. Mae thinks she can be the baby but Mrs Foster says they will use a doll.

"She said Mae could be a cow or a sheep if she liked, but Mae certainly didn't want to be either of those. She stuck out her bottom lip and made a very cross face. 
'What about being an angel?' asked Mrs Foster.
Mae didn't want to be an angel either.
'You could be the angel Gabriel,' Mrs Foster told her. 'That's a very special angel, a very important part."

At home the family are expecting a new baby. On the day of the Nativity play Mum and Dad head off to the hospital. That night while Mae is up on the stage her dad arrives. Mae is so excited she waves to her dad and falls off her chair. She bravely climbs back on and continues to sing with the other angels.

This is a sweet story which gently portrays the experiences of one young child at Christmas. It also gives the reader a small view of everyday life in her family.  One tiny detail I really appreciate in the book is seeing little Mae wearing glasses.

Angel Mae was first published in 1989. The cover above is from the 2016 edition which is still available. Angel Mae is one story of four about the kids who live on Trotter Street. The four stories, originally published individually, are: Angel Mae; The Big Concrete Lorry; The Snow Lady; and Wheels. In 2020 a new compilation edition will be published:

Shirley Hughes: "she has continued to delight and innovate right up to the present day, with wordless picture books and strip cartoons among others, but always with her characteristic attention to detail and effortless evocation of the everyday life and concerns of small children."  from: Make a friend for life in Alfie

I would pair Angel Mae with Shine by Karen and Jonathan Langley; A Christmas Star called Hazel; Wombat Divine and An Angel just like me by Mary Hoffman.

The story of Chicken Licken by Jan Ormerod

Tuesday Treasure

When it was published (1985) this book was quite revolutionary (it was on the CBCA short list in 1986). There are three participants - the kids on stage performing a play of Chicken Licken, the audience of parents some of whom fall asleep and the reader who is observing everything.  It is a story within a story within a story. When you share this book with a child you need to read the book right through several times because there is so much to see. Initially there is the classic folk tale of Chicken Licken, the little hen who thinks the sky is falling. This story is also called Chicken Little or Henny Penny. Perhaps you could compare this version with some others:

Then there is the story of the audience of mums and dads and siblings who are watching the play. One story thread is shown here. You also get a glimpse of the layout - stage in full colour, audience in silhouette. There is a baby in a basket which is behind the seats. The baby is supposedly asleep but watch what happens as we turn each page:

If The Story of Chicken Licken is in your school library please treasure it and share it with a group of young children. Everyone will be richer for this shared experience.

I was surprised and delighted to discover The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarsy is based on the Tibetan version of this folk tale.

Jan Ormerod (1946-2013) is the author of one of my most treasured books - Sunshine.

Here is a quote from Jan Omerod:

"My task as a visual storyteller is to observe, record and edit. Some images go straight from life into a book. Most need to be carefully sifted, reinvented, reorganized. Telling a story with words and pictures is a little like watching a movie, then selecting the evocative moment, like a still taken from a film. I need to capture the moment that has clarity and simplicity, invites empathy, and allows the reader to bring her own knowledge to that moment, to enrich it and develop it according to her own life experiences."

Shine by Karen and Jonathan Langley

Here is a wonderful heartwarming Christmas book for your youngest child that just shines with love.

Jimmy has an important part in the school nativity play - he will be the star - the one that shines in the night sky.  He practices very hard every day but he worries will his dad be able to come to the show.  His dad is a  night worker. He is an electrician. We see him in the illustrations repairing the clock at the town hall, Climbing up the lighthouse and repairing the lights at the sports ground.  Nana takes care of Jimmy when dad is away.

The night of the play arrives.  "The curtains swished.  The donkey bumped.  The sheep shoved.  The shepherds stumbled.  The angles giggled. The kings sneezed.  Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus snuggled."  Jimmy looks out in the audience. Is dad there?

There is so much you could talk about with this book.  Words, love, commitment, hope, relationships and promises.  You might also like A Christmas star called Hazel by Vivian French, Angel Mae by Shirley Hughes and for older children An Angel just like me by Mary Hoffman.