Madam Squeaker by Pip Jones illustrated by Paula Bowles

 

Here is the blurb: Crumbs on the counter, morsels on the floor – there should be plenty of food for Minetta the mouse to eat in Hollyhock House …  But the Ruling Rats are running rampage every night, taking the best of everything for themselves. Minetta has decided that enough is enough – it’s time the rats learn to share. The trouble is, Minetta is so small and her voice just a squeak. How will she ever make them listen …?

Now that you have read the blurb take a closer look at the front cover. This might be a way to introduce the word megaphone to your young reading companion. Possibly, also, young readers may not have ever seen a cotton reel - there is a whole wonderful discussion to be had about this too. You might also like to talk about the title and the pun of squeaker versus speaker. 

Next make sure you look at the end papers with their brightly pink polka dot pattern and the little quizzes found inside the front and back dust jackets - these are a delightful addition in all of the Little Gem titles. 

After reading the story you could think about why the owl is named Sage and the idea of sage advice. Then there are the themes of negotiation, conflict resolution, bravery, finding a voice, confidence and team work. All of this in a tiny illustrated 84 page book!

Minetta does confront the rats with the wonderful support of her community - the other animals in the house and garden but the part of this story that I enjoyed the most was the ending. It is rare to find a book for a young audience with an open ending that invites more thought or perhaps even inspires some writing. Here are the final lines of the book:

"The first thing we need to talk about,' she said to all the animals and birds around her, 'is sharing food.' One by one, the mice and doves, the voles and hedgehogs, and even the rats sat down and they listened."

If you haven't discovered the Little Gems series published by Barrington Stoke can I suggest you try to find some soon. These books are perfect easy chapter books for newly independent readers. This story has just 12 very short chapters.  You could plan to read one or two each night as a family read aloud.  The chapters have fun titles: Half a peanut and a speak of cheese; Some Sage advice; and No room for a Mouse. 

My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has an extensive Pinterest collection of books featuring mice. Here are some other books about heroic mice for young readers. I especially recommend hunting out the Squeak Street chapter books by Emily Rodda:

The Mice Next Door

Tumtum and Nutmeg

Anatole

A mouse called Wolf

The Clumsies make a mess

Squeak Street - easy chapter series and picture book

You can see other books illustrated by Paula Bowles here.  Pip Jones is the author of the Squishy McFluff books. There are seven titles in this series. 

Small Mercies by Bridget Krone

"Once when Gandhi stepped off a train in India, his sandal fell between the train and the platform and he couldn't get it back. So he took off his other sandal and threw it down too. When people asked him why he did that, he explained that one sandal was no use to anyone. It was better that someone finds two sandals on the track than just one. This taught me to look at problems with new eyes."

This is a deeply personal story. Mercy lives with her two elderly foster aunts in the South African town of Pietermaritzburg. Mercy's life seems to be on a precipice. She is fearful that the "authorities" will discover the poverty and difficulties of her home. She finds the demands of her teacher overwhelming.

Aunt Mary declares they will need to take in a lodger. Mr Singh arrives with his stories of Mohandas. Mercy discovers this is actually Mahatma Gandhi. Mercy has a school assignment where she has to talk about a role model - some one who inspires her. Perhaps Mercy can share some of Mr Singh's stories in her talk.

Meanwhile a nasty developer has arrived on the scene. He has plans to knock down their house and clear the empty land next door. The house is very old and it seems to be falling apart. Aunt Flora is also falling apart - she has Alzheimers. Aunt Mary explains to Mercy:

"it's as if her roads are blocked. Some of the roads in her brain have closed. Some streets have become one-ways, some roads that used to be busy motorways are now cul-de-sacs. There are lots of pot-holes and dead ends... so her thoughts can't get through like they used to."

Have you ever noticed the way authors use shoes as a way to explain poverty. Often a character will have shoes that are way too small and, as readers, we feel the pain of every step and the despair that money is too short for new or even second hand replacements.  In Small Mercies Bridget Krone also uses shoes as a way to let us know things are tough for Mercy.

"Mercy had to walk fast to keep up. She was wearing flip-flops that were too big for her and they made an embarrassing slap on the tiles of the shopping centre floor." Later when Mr Singh takes Mercy to visit a statue commemorating Gandhi she develops very painful blisters from her flip-flops and the long journey is grueling.

Here are some other signposts of the family poverty:

"Aunt Mary cutting the crusts off with the broken bread knife and Aunt Flora fussing ... and then wrapping the Marmite sandwich up tightly in an old bread bag. There was a time when they'd wrapped sandwiches in wax paper, but these days they recycled everything possible: even tea bags, after their fourth or fifth dunking in boiling water, were put on the veranda to dry and then soaked in parafin to be used as firelighters in the winter."

"She didn't have a phone, and the TV set, before it got sold at the auction, had lived in the corner of the dining room on a trolley, covered with a green velvet cloth fringes with pom poms."

Mercy is so afraid of a visit by the social worker that she has memorised some words to at least postpone her removal by the authorities:

"According to the Children's Act of 2010, each child has the right to legal representation and I demand that the order be held pending this process."

This is book I HIGHLY recommend. I know that this story will linger with me for a long time. It is an example of carefully crafted storytelling. In my head I talked to Bridget Krone as I was reading this book hoping she could help Mercy. I was especially worried when Mercy misunderstood a conversation she overhears which is actually about Aunt flora needing to go into aged care. Mercy thinks Aunt Mary is planning to send her to a children's home. The resolution of this in Chapter 28 made me sigh with relief. I also want to thank Bridget for her character Mr Singh who offers quiet wisdom to Mercy and who is also able to produce delicious food exactly when it is needed.

Read this review for more plot details:

The short chapters are a nice treat for the reading level,particularly since the themes have a depth to them that take some reflecting.Krone notes that her “favorite stories are those that, just when you expect a lesson, sing a song instead.” Small Mercies is just that surprising song, full of light and sweetness. Readers will carry the melody in their hearts long after the last page is turned. NY Journal of Books

Sensitive, funny, and tender. Kirkus

Small Mercies (published in 2020) is a book from South Africa.  Here is the US cover.  Which do you prefer? I was excited to read the review by Ms Yingling.

I would pair small Mercies with The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Patterson and these titles:

Pictures of Hollis Woods

When Friendship followed me Home

Missing May

Speechless

I think adults would enjoy Small Mercies. It made me think of these two adult novels:

Louisa May Pickett the most boring person in class by Rod Clement

Do you call it news? Do you call it Show and Tell? I'm talking about the time in the school day, usually in the morning, when members of a class take turns to talk about something or to show something precious to their friends. Teachers are always looking for ways to make these sessions more interesting. For some curious reason children do love Show and Tell but oddly they worry about performing for public speaking. These two activities are quite closely linked.  Show and Tell feels like a good way to prepare for public speaking.

Louisa May has been a champion at Show and Tell for the last three years but now she has moved to a new school - Bobbin Head Primary.  A little note to readers in Sydney, Australia - there really is a place called Bobbin Head but sadly there is no Primary school there.  It is a beautiful bush suburb. For her first Show and Tell Louisa takes along a sabre-toothed Tiger skull.

"I think I should start nice and slowly.
I don't want to look like a show-off ... well not on my first day."

There is a shock coming. Her skull is 'beaten' by the head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex bought in by Jake.  The pattern is established. Each day Louisa brings something amazing only to be gazumped by another kid in her class.  Here is a list to show how this works:

Louisa
Juggling mouse
Ruby
Tap dancing and singing rat

Louisa
Complete samurai suit
Anthony
Warrior troll outfit

Louisa
Meat-eating plant
Reginald
Black rhino - he eats her plant

She even has a talking chair that recites the complete works of Shakespeare, solider ants dressed as soldiers and an Eiffel Tower made from match sticks. But each and every time another student presents something bigger, or better or more amazing.  By May 3rd she admits defeat. She stand in front of the class and explains:

"My name is Louisa May Pickett
and I have nothing to show you and nothing to tell.
I did nothing all week.
I stayed at home with my parents.
I ate.
I slept.
I sat around and
thought about ... nothing.

And you know what?
I loved every minute 
of it!"

This is such a funny book and it is a good way to explore the concept of:

one-upmanship

I work with a small group of girls in a local school and their teacher would like them to participate in the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge this year.  I am not sure if this is the right project for these girls who all find reading very difficult but they are keen to participate and reach their goal of reading twenty books. Luckily the challenge does allow for special needs students to read books from a different book list. These girls are in Grade 5 but I am sourcing books for them from the Grade 3 and 4 lists. I shared Louisa May Pickett with them last week when we were looking at a range of possible titles to begin the challenge.

Louisa May Pickett was published in 2005 and since that time it has been given a new cover and a new title! I wonder if there was an issue with the word 'boring'? The good news is you can still purchase this book.

If you want to follow up this topic of class news try to find this terrific read aloud title -  Gooney Bird Green. Your school library might also have Whoppers by Moya Simons and the sequel Even Bigger Whoppers from the Aussie Bites series.  Here are a some other picture books about Show and Tell. Read my review of The Frank Show.

After you read Louisa May Pickett you might like to pick up an earlier book by Rod Clement - Just another Ordinary Day.  It has a similar tone and theme.  You could then read other books by Rod Clement such as Edward the Emu.  You can listen to an sample of Edward the Emu here. It is one of Rod's most famous books.

The Frank Show by David Mackintosh

Grandad Frank is a real Class Act

Class Act - this has two meanings in this book.  Grandad is the star of the show - a class act but also when he visits the classroom you might call this a class act!

Our narrator needs to talk about a family member for show and tell on Friday.  "We can choose one person and talk for one minute, about the things they like and what kind of person they are."  Sadly our narrator cannot see all the advantages of talking about Grandpa Frank or better yet inviting Frank to talk to the class.  "Frank is just a grandad."  Luckily Frank does come to school and he is a hit.

"He carries coloured combs in his pocket."
"He has a special hearing aid that doesn't use batteries."
"He keeps a folded fifty dollar bill in his shoe, and a double headed coin in his hip pocket."

The Frank Show is perfect for our youngest students as they study history through objects. Take a close look at this typewriter.  Even the brand is funny.

Along with typewriters in this book you will see a set of barber's tools, a gramophone, an old concertina style camera and lots more on his shelf of memories.   One little detail that made me smile was the number plate on Franks old car - 388 OAP.

Here is a brief set of teacher notes.  This review makes some good points about ways to discuss this book and things to notice in the illustrations.  You can read an interview with David Macintosh here.

Speechless by Jennifer Mook-Sang

I started Speechless yesterday afternoon.  I finished reading Speechless yesterday afternoon.  I read the whole 160 pages in one sitting. This is not an earth shattering book but it is a very satisfying read.

At our school each year students present speeches.  Our students are given a topic or open idea such as "I wonder...".  In Speechless the students also participate in a similar speech competition but there is free choice for their topic.

Joseph Alton Miles (Jelly) has no real interest in this speech event ... "every year, I've mumbled mine as fast as I could and got it over with."  What is the difference this year?  Well on offer is a wonderful prize pack of a tablet computer with accessories.  Jelly's dad does own a computer store but Jelly can only use it for homework and does not own any video games.  The initial stages of this competition happen in each classroom. Jelly has a best friend called Parker (PB).    "When we were little our mums said we stuck together like the insides of a sandwich.  Since Parker Brown's initials are P.B. and mine spell J.A.M. ... well that's why everyone calls me Jelly."

Parker, who this year is in a different class,  is convinced Jelly can win the competition and defeat a school bully called Victoria.  Jelly works hard with his speech and when the big day comes Victoria makes a very fancy presentation about the conservation of biodiversity in South America.  Jelly almost trumps her with his funny and well researched speech about the value of video games.  The teacher declares it is a tie.

Meanwhile Jelly has begun some volunteer work at a local food bank. He gradually learns about the people who use and work for this important service and he is able to apply his computer skills to sort out their equipment and spread sheets.  Jelly is also trying to cope with Victoria who seems determined to ruin his life and perhaps even have him expelled from school.

For the final round of the speech competition new topics must be selected.  I felt certain Jelly would talk about the food bank.  I hope you enjoy the surprise ending.  If you need to read more about the plot here is a Canadian review.  You can read an extract of the book here.

Mook-Sang has created a hapless, lovable hero who is easy to relate to. He keeps his wry sense of humour, even as his life crashes and burns. She has perfectly captured the twelve-year-old boy’s experience of life: he loses the power of speech when confronted with pretty girls, teachers and she-devils like Victoria

Smooch and Rose by Samantha Wheeler

I have said this many times before but I really do not like covers like this one we see here for Smooch and Rose.  The little strawberries are important as is the koala but I there is no reason to have a photo of little girl lying on the grass. I wonder if a cover like this will appeal to the target audience.

Rose has lost both her parents and now lives with her elderly gran on a strawberry farm.  Times are becoming tough and suburbia is encroaching on her rural environment.  One evening they find a koala that has been attacked by a pack of dogs.  Sadly the koala dies after they take her to the vet but he tells Rose that there must be a baby.  "There was milk in the pouch.  I think she might have had a baby riding on her back when the dogs attacked her.  ... A baby won't stand a chance out there on its own,' said Craig. 'If you do find it, wrap it up warmly and bring it straight back in."

They do find the baby koala and Rose learns about the work of wildlife carers.  Meanwhile Gran has been forced to sell the farm.  The koala habitat and unique gum trees are threatened.  Rose must find her political voice.  She learns about activism, petitions and overcomes enormous shyness to present a moving a persuasive speech to the council which ultimately changes the development plans and the koala colony is saved.

Here is a review with some good web links.  Here is the author site with a sample chapter.  This is a fairly simple book but it has a good heart as does Rose who you are sure to be cheering for right to the end.