The Children of Nuala by Malachy Doyle

Blurb: A long time ago, before you were born, or your grandmother was born, or your grandmother's mother before her, in a land far away, lived Olan. Olan's evil father is a magician and Olan has been born with a heart of ice. When he marries a beautiful woman called Nuala, Olan casts a terrible spell upon her children. But as his icy heart starts to melt, he realizes what he has done and he sets out to bring his family back together.

Olan marries Nuala who has lost her young husband - he has drowned and she is left with her four children - Connor, Cormac, Liam and Fionnuala. His jealousy of the love their mother shows the children allows his magician father to send a dreadful curse from far away:

"Three years you must spend under the cruel spell of my father. One year as swans, a second as blackbirds and third as ducks. Only then will you regain your human form."

Olan decides he and Nuala cannot stay on the island of Inchageela but with every move to a new place the birds - either swans, blackbirds or ducks, follow them. Each move is motivated by jealousy until finally Nuala is able to explain she can love Olan and at the same time also love her children - who now are able to return to her in human form and joy of joys there is a new baby in the family too.

I have been helping a friend in her two school libraries with stocktake (inventory) and also weeding (culling) her collections especially the fiction, picture books and lately the short chapter books. That is where I found this strange book. It is an old book published in 1998 but it is in really good condition mainly because Faber and Faber used really good paper. This is a slim book with only 47 illustrated pages but I think it would better suit an older audience of readers aged 10+. 

This story is based on an Irish folk tale and it also has strong links to one of my most favourite fairy tales - The Wild swans.

With a group of older students, you could seek out the original Irish tale - The Children of Lir and also it would be interesting to compare this story with Paradise Sands which won an award from our Children's Book Council of Australia in 2023.

Paradise Sands

Here are the details of this edition

The Witchling's Wish by Lu Fraser illustrated by Sarah Massini

Publisher blurb: The Little Witchling lives alone in her mountain top and more than anything else, she wishes for a friend. So, when her spell-book tells her that the secret ingredient is the fur from a little girl's favourite teddy, she knows what she must do. But the teddy belongs to Lily, who can't bear to part with him. Will the Little Witchling give up her dream of a real friend? Or just maybe, is there a way for her and Lily to make the wish come true, together?

Over the last two years I have read over 400 picture books in my role as a Children's Book of Australia Book of the Year judge (Picture Book and New Illustrator).  We were sent lots of books with stories told in rhyme and so many of them were unsuccessful. I highly recommend reading this article:

Do you control the verse, or does the verse control you? by Michelle Robinson

I am so pleased to read a book with an appealing rhyme - a rhyme and story that are sure to appeal to your young reading companion - aged 4+. Here is a video by Bloomsbury of the whole book. 

Kirkus agree: Friendship stories aren’t new, but this sweet British import, told in lively verses that scan well, will find a receptive audience.

Companion book (very sadly this gem is long out of print):

Little Big Feet

I have previously mentioned Sarah Massini:

Star in the Jar

The Little Prince

Here are some other books by Lu Fraser - I had added them to my "to read" list. 

Due for publication mid 2023

The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La'Brooy

"After eleven long years, the most famous day in the Empire of Arylia had returned. Today would be filled with celebrations and feasting and the all-important Talisman ceremony, during which young Arylians would be matched to their lifelong Talismans by the powerful Casket of Fate."

So lets look more closely at this text quote:

What are the Talismans? They can be any kind of useful object - a weapon, clothing even a musical instrument. each one is linked with magic or marvellance. Talismans allow citizens to defeat the Malevolents.

How does the Casket of Fate work?  On the day of the ceremony, every child reaches into the casket and takes out their talisman. Seraphine will not pull out a talisman. Instead she will receive the Orb and Scpetre which gives her power as a future ruler.

Who is Penn? How is she connected with Princess Seraphine? Penn is a knot sister. Princess Seraphine is too young to rule so for now Regent Gertrude is in charge. A knot sister is a child born on the same day as the Princess. Up until now Penn has lived in the castle and shared lessons with Seraphine. Now Penn lives with Goody - an old woman - she is from Wintrish but she can still talk. All other Wintrish are mute - they are The Grey Ones. Penn and Seraphine wear knot bracelets. These cannot be destroyed or removed. Penn is now training in Quintessence or spell making because she has been banished from the palace. 

Things to fear - the Panthera - a great beast that sleeps at the foot of the throne. This creature is kept asleep using Marvellance. The lava river. 

Non Human Characters - the Clock Immemorial. It is given to strange pronouncements that oddly might be true. A dragon who is afraid, desperately afraid of unicorns. Bestials - a half and half creature such as half Bloodhound and half Vampire Bat. Implings - small creatures with webbed feet, bat-like ears and shrill voices. The Huggle Beast named Ned. He is a true friend. 

Eslit -  the ruling council of Ayrlia. There are thirteen members and each belong to one of the Talismanic Guilds - weapons, treasure, lore and art. 

This is a new children's book by Australian author Melanie LaBrooy and it will be published by UQP tomorrow. Do you like the cover?  I'm not so sure this cover will entice young readers to pick up this book but I do hope I am wrong. With over 400 pages The Wintrish Girl is a long book but it is a rewarding one. I enjoyed the world building, the small touches of humour, the heroism of Penn and the loyalty of her new friends Juniper and Arthur. This book has been created by someone with an enormous imagination. 

The Wintrish Girl will be enjoyed by fans of Nevermoor - The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend along with these:

The Trials of Morrigan Crow

The Wild Magic Trilogy

The Girl who Drank the Moon

Prisoner of Ice and Snow

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup by Andy Sagar

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a witch in possession of 

great magic must be in want of an apprentice."

When we first meet little Yesterday she is held in a cage in a circus where she is exhibited as a curiosity. Why is the child a curiosity? She was found as a baby outside the circus but that's not why. It is all about her strange appearance. She has ginger or pumpkin coloured hair, and pale silver skin. Yes that is curious but there's more. Yesterday has very strange ears. They look like the ears of a fox - pointed, reddish-brown and tipped with black. In the circus she has been named 'The Amazing Fox Girl' but in truth the cruel circus owners have no idea just how amazing she really is.

We are only up to page 6 in this story but I am sure you are bursting with questions. Who left this child at the circus? Why? Will she escape? What does her name mean? And how is she connected with the witch I mentioned in the quote above?

So Yesterday needs to be rescued. She needs to discover her talents and her heritage. Luckily Miss Dumpling, witch and tea shop owner, has found her. Hold on tea shop? Yes the Dimmerly End Teashop, established in 1756 where magic is priceless. If you have seen or read Howl's Moving Castle it will help you to imagine this marvellous teashop which can move from place to place. In this teashop magic is dispensed through cakes and tea - absolutely delicious cakes and wonderful, magical teas. 

Of course we need tension to give the story momentum. Just as she escapes from the circus, helped by the crow Madrigal, she meets an evil man named Mr Weep. When he asks her what is her heart's desire she cannot resist but by doing so she signs a deadly contract which will be enforced in exactly one month. 

Publisher blurb: Yesterday Crumb is no ordinary girl. She was born with fox ears that have cursed her to a lonely life working in the circus and her origins are a complete mystery. But she is about to escape into the adventure of a lifetime when she learns that she's a strangeling who's lost her magic. Taken in by Miss Dumpling the flamboyant Tea Witch, Yesterday is introduced to a magical, walking teashop filled with fantastical customers, a flying teapot turtle called Pascal and powerful spells in every teacup! Yesterday starts to rediscover her magic and to feel a sense of belonging. But a mysterious figure of darkness is working hard to ensure her new life comes crashing down - and it all starts with a deadly shard of ice in Yesterday's heart...

Yesterday Crumb will be published in March 2022 (Orion). I really enjoyed Yesterday Crumb and I read the whole book in one sitting (delicious). I recommend it for readers aged 10+ but I wonder will the cover appeal to them?  It does not appeal to me which is the main reason I gave this book four and not five stars (sorry to the designer of the cover). Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy. If my description above has enticed you to read this book please don't let the cover dissuade you. This is a debut novel for UK author Andy Sagar. There are two more books planned for this series. Astute readers will also enjoy the fun cross references in this book to famous classics such as Pride and Prejudice (see my quote above) and William Shakespeare. 

I was delighted to also be gifted a special tea bag with the advance copy of this book.  In the UK reviewers were given three specially-made teabags based on spells in the book that you can drink when the characters brew them! (and) A very festive letter written by Andy!

Companion reads:

A Tangle of Knots

The Courage of Cat Campbell

The Power of Poppy Pendle

Bliss

Madame Pamplemousse and her incredible edibles

Dog on a Broomstick by Jan Page illustrated by Nick Price

Publisher blurb: "The countdown has started for the Grand Spell Contest and the Witch's cat has run off to be a cat-food tester! Then the Dog appears on her doorstep. He can't scratch, but he can dig big holes. He can't hiss and spit, but he can growl, dribble and cover everything is muddy pawprints. Will the Witch let the Dog help her at the Grand Spell Contest? And most importantly, can they both fit on her broomstick?"

Dog fans will love this easy, funny little illustrated chapter book. Dog's determination to be the perfect companion for the Witch reminded me of A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle. The crazy spells in the story reminded me of The Boy with two Shadows and The witch in the Cherry Tree both by Margaret Mahy.

I have discovered Jan Page wrote a sequel to Dog on a Broomstick - Dognapped!  I need to keep my eye out for a copy next time I go to a used book sale.

I was talking with a colleague who is new to the role in a school library. At the beginning of the year with Grade Two I like to introduce various easy chapter series such as Aussie Nibbles; Aussie Bites; Sprinters; Corgi Pups; Colour Puffins; and Solo stories.

This little gem if from the Corgi Pups series. It is out of print but you are sure to find some school libraries have copies of books from the Corgi Pups series.

Here are some other Corgi Pup titles:

Happy Mouse Day

Corgi Pups were first published around 1997. In 2013 some of the titles were reissued as Colour First Readers:

Nick Price is the illustrator of another series that I really adore - perfect to read aloud. There are six books in the Tumtum and Nutmeg series.  They are out of print but are sure to be found in most school library collections:

Her Perilous Mansion by Sean Williams

Almanac (I love that name) receives a letter inviting him to take up a job in a grand house as an apprentice second footman. Having spent his whole life living in an orphanage this sounds like a dream come true but his arrival is very odd.  There is no one to greet him and stepping across the threshold of the house is very disturbing. His feet fly out from under him and pain shoots through him. He recovers quite quickly but still no one appears. Instead he finds a letter instructing him to put on his uniform and expect the arrival of another new staff member. Next to arrive is Etta. She comes from a huge family and as the youngest child of twelve she has felt unwanted her whole life. Just like Almanac, Etta is also 'attacked' as she crosses the threshold of this mysterious house.

What is going on here? Almanac and Etta seem to be the only servants. There are voices of others in the house but they cannot be seen in person - are they ghosts? Right from the start is is clear Almanac and Etta have different talents and that they will need to work together and use their talents to solve the mystery of the house starting with its name which Etta thinks is Spoilnieu Manors while Almanac is certain the sign said Sir Palemoon's Ruin.

Now onto those talents.  Etta knows all about magic and the way it is sometimes hidden in libraries. Searching for and then searching in the library of this strange mansion becomes Etta's task. Meanwhile Almanac has a talent for organisation. He is skilled at putting things in order and the basement of contains years of mess and muck that need clearing and sorting.

Etta is sure there is a spell on the house. The ghosts - Ugo the chimney sweep and Olive who lives in the boiler room can communicate with Almanac and Etta but they have to follow certain rules. While they cannot lie they are also unable to answer urgent questions about the house itself which is surely under a powerful spell and more importantly they are not able to talk about the way Almanac and Etta can escape.

Every so often I am able to start a book like Her Perilous Mansion and find myself enjoying it so much that I finish the whole book in just over one day. Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy. Her Perilous Mansion will be published in May, 2020. I think it will appeal to readers aged 10+.

One strength of this fantasy comes from the beautifully drawn main characters. Sean Williams tells his reader just enough background details so that it is easy to understand why and how Etta and Almanac react to their strange situation and cope with their own differences of upbringing and temperament. I especially loved Almanac. There is a great scene where Etta and Almanac are fighting over their theories about the spell. Etta flings water from a full glass all over Almanac. His reaction is to laugh. What a brilliant way to diffuse the tension of this moment.

The other big character in this book is the house itself. It is so well described that I felt able to see every grand room and enjoy every hot chocolate in the warm kitchen.

I am going to make a huge (early) prediction that this book will be listed as CBCA Notable title in 2021.

I would follow this book with these:

Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library

Floors by Patrick Carman

The Threads of Magic by Alison Croggan

Pip (Pipistrel Wastan) is a pickpocket living off his wits on the streets of a city that feels like 18th century London but is fact an invented city called Clarel. Late one evening Pip sees two men attacked in a dark alley in a poor part of the city. A small box slips from a pocket and Pip pounces. Back at home, with his sister, the pair examine this elaborately decorated silver box. At first it seems they will not be able to open the box. Pip and El (Eleanor Wastan) are sure it must contain real treasure. Finally El suggests Pip should ask the box politely.  "All right then. Please, box, let me open you up."

There is a tiny click and the box opens to reveal something very strange. It looks like a small shrivelled-up heart. 

Who is the owner of this object?
Why was it in such a special box?
What is happening to Pip - the heart feels as though it is alive?

This object is indeed very valuable. There is a man, not the King of Clarel, who desperately wants this heart. When people look directly into the eyes of Cardinal Lamir they see some thing utterly horrible. The Princess also sees this in the eyes King Oswald who has come from Awemt intending to take Princess Georgette as his bride. Both men have eyes that are empty, empty without a soul.

Good and evil are at the heart of this story as Pip, El, Oni who is the daughter of a witch, Princess Georgette and the owner of the heart, Clovis, race to discover the truth, race to stay alive and race to save the whole kingdom.

There are 379 pages in this book and I almost read it from page one to the end in one sitting..  Yes, as I have said before when I gobble up a book, this means I loved it and yes, this book is THAT good. You will need to wait until March 2020 to pick up a copy of this book but I do suggest you add it to your shopping or 'to read' list right now.

The publisher, Walker Books, list this title for ages 9+ but I would suggest it will better suit an older reader of 10 or 11+.  The torture scenes are quite disturbing, there is a gruesome murder, there are elaborate details of court politics and the final battle between Lamir and Oswald is violent. The vocabulary used in this book is also quite sophisticated and I think beyond the understanding of a reader aged 9.

Here are a few examples of the vocabulary: intimidating, incalculable, uncanny, sensual, rampant, rustics, assailant, unerringly, domicile and grimoires.

I am excited to have found this book. Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my Advanced Reader Copy.  The Threads of Magic is sure to be a 2021 CBCA Notable title and possibly short listed for our Australian Book of the Year award.

I would follow or pair this book with The Book without Words by Avi; The Boy who flew by Fleur Hitchcock; The Barnaby Grimes series by Paul Stewart; and for a very mature reader Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs.

The wayward witch and the feelings monster by Sally Rippin

Polly is the wayward witch of the title. She has no skill for spells (or so it seems) and sadly she has no witch friends.  The feelings monster is Buster. He is a monster but he is also Polly's bestest best friend in the whole world.

In this world of witches and warlocks there is huge prejudice against monsters and this was the aspect of this book that I found most interesting.  Think about a passage like this :

"Then Buster stands to one side to let the witches get on first, just as his mother has taught him. And just as his mother has taught him, he is careful to pick a seat at the back with the other monsters  - not in front where the witches like to sit. After all a monster must always know their place."

The idea of a feelings monster is also an intriguing one. When Buster is happy he swells up to an enormous size but when he is sad he shrinks.  Polly goes on a school excursion to the National Gallery where they study portraits of famous humans.  On the same day, Buster, and his class also go the gallery.  Polly knows their special friendship must be kept secret. She says some cruel things about monsters as a way to stay friends with a classmate and Buster hears her.

"Buster is curled up on the hard floor in a great ball.   Polly has never seen him so small and so grey. It's as if every last bit of light has been squashed out of him, and all that's left is a hard mass of grey fur, twisted and dry as a dishcloth."

It is this awful scene that literally sparks wild magic out of Polly.

This is a joyous story with some clever ideas.  I especially love the food.  Polly's mum cooks awful things such as mealworms, thistle and kale salad, and for recess she has bats' ears.  Meanwhile next door the monster family enjoy flummery cake topped with bilberries and slathered with cream and Buster brings jamcakes when they meet up in their special tree.  What a perfect word - slathered. I should also mention Polly's teacher and her wonderful clothes.

"She has curly red hair ... and she jangles with silver jewellery when she walks. Instead of the plain black school cape most of the Academy teachers wear, Miss Spinnaker wears a velvet cape embroidered with colourful threads and studded with little octagonal mirrors.... Polly thinks Miss Spinnaker is glorious."

This is the first book in a new series by Sally Rippin author of the popular the Hey Jack and Billie B Brown books.  Sally has written over 60 books.

Here is an interview with Sally Rippin. You can find some teaching notes here.  You might also enjoy Thalia the Failure by Robin Klein, The worst witch series by Jill Murphy and The power of Poppy Pendle.