Something's Wrong by Jory John illustrated by Erin Kraan

Subtitle: A Bear, a Hare and Some Underwear

On the title page we see Bear waking up to the sound of his alarm clock. He feels that something is wrong.

"Let's see ... I ate my breakfast. I wrote in my journal. I watered my plant. I took my bath. I tried on the gift from grandma. And I combed my fur. Hmmm. So why do I still feel like I'm forgetting something?"

The delight here is that readers, and the other forest animals, can see the problem even though Bear cannot. Yes, Bear still has on his underpants. But no one seems able to tell Bear the truth. That is until Bear meets Jeff. 

"Oh boy. Should I tell him? Yes? You really think he can handle it? Why am I even asking you? Who are you? All right. Welp. Here we go ... ' Deep Breath."

Jeff is the best of friends. He turns a potentially terrible and utterly embarrassing situation into something affirming and warm-hearted. 

The book is also a clever primer on handling embarrassment and how it can sometimes be dealt with by simply changing the perspective of what’s happening. This underwear affair is wise, witty, and just brief enough. Kirkus Star review

This book is so funny. Your library group or young reading companion will be rolling around on the floor with laughter BUT sadly here in Australia this book is priced way beyond any library or home book shelf at over AUS$45. My hardcover copy was published in 2021 - perhaps a paperback edition will be produced. I do hope so. See inside on the illustrator web page. 

Publisher blurb: Jeff the bear has definitely forgotten something. He ate his breakfast, he watered his plant, he combed his fur . . . what could it be? Why does he feel so oddly off? So he asks his friend Anders the rabbit what could possibly be wrong. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that he's wearing underwear . . . over his fur . . . could it? Another read-out-loud, laugh-out-loud picture book from bestselling and beloved author Jory John, paired with rising star illustrator Erin Balzer, about that horrible nagging feeling that it just might not be your day—but you know you have a friend to support you no matter what.

You can see other terrific books by Jory John on his web page. Here is the stand-alone companion book:

Anders does not seem like himself. He and his friend Jeff are headed out for a picnic, but no matter how much Anders insists that he’s feeling just fine, Jeff gets the sense that his best friend isn’t being totally honest. Should he check in on Anders, or give him space? Should he help him out, or just be by his side? How can he be a good friend if he doesn’t know what his friend might need?

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has a blog post about Underwear Day and this one too. And here is her Pinterest - what a fun mini theme for your Preschool or Kindergarten group. Here's a sample of her collection.

The Lost History by Melanie La'Brooy

"Penthea's name was given to her by the Regent and the Eslit ... Which makes it the only name she'll ever need ... Your kindness towards your lowly knot sister is to be commended, Princess, 

but I am certain no Lost History exists for Penthea, 

for I can't imagine any writer would be a big enough fool to waste their time 

writing down a single word about a Wintrish servant girl."

But there IS a book about Penn and it does tell the truth about her history but finding this book, reading this book and sharing the contents of this book with the 'right' and trustworthy people is where the real danger lies. Eslit Hortense says Lost Histories are impossible to recover but the Regent dislikes the word impossible.

"Lost Histories are difficult to reclaim but it has been done before. I want The Lost Histories of the Grey Ones found."

This is book two in the Talismans of Fate series. Here is my blog post from 2022 where I talk about Book One - The Wintrish Girl (see the cover below). You do need to read the first installment of this series to make sense of the second book. Also do not skip the prologue in The Lost History - it is vital component of the story. 

Here are some text quotes which will give you a flavour of this story:

"Resentfully, Penn opened her copy of The Official History of the Empire of Arylia by Hildegard of Flurrier. Hildegard was an extremely dull Historian ... unlike more exciting Historians, Hildegard never veered off into grim legends about ancient massacres, where the blood and bones of victims had been used for fertiliser, or lurid stories of outcast settlers who turned to cannibalism. Which was a pity."

"Penn stared down at the Inquisitor, sharing in Arthur's surprise. Lex Talionis was the most beautiful woman Penn had ever seen. She had huge green eyes, high cheekbones, and full red lips, and while she was tall, she wasn't a giant like Hair-Raising Histories had said she was. There was no sign of her terrifying creatures either."

(A couple of things to notice about this quote - full red lips and huge green eyes give a hint she is an evil woman but even worse we do need to be worried about her terrifying creatures. There are three - Drowner, Inferno and Rack).

"Because the new ruler of Arylia has always received the Royal Sceptre and Orb during the Talisman ceremony ... what does the Lore say about the legitimacy of a ruler who has not taken the symbols of royal power out of the Casket of Fate?" "Search the entire Lore ... for guidance on what to do when there is no Loreful heir to the throne of Arylia ..."

About halfway through the second book I wondered if there might just be two books in this series but then, with about ten pages still to read, Melanie La'Brooy introduces some more story complications so it is very clear there will be a third book where you can re-enter the world of Penn and Princess Seraphine along with their friends Juniper and Arthur. There are sure to be further clashes between Marvellance and Malevolence. 

Readers aged 10+ will need some reading stamina to complete this book but it is well worth putting in the reading hours (435 pages). The Lost History is set in a complex fantasy world but there is so much humour in this story which meant I could cope with all the changing scenes, settings, rules and characters. Although thinking about characters I would now appreciate a list (please) especially since I didn't go back and read the first installment so I had to keep my mind quite focused to remember all of them, especially the adult ones, a few of whom absolutely cannot be trusted. This excellent interview with Joy Lawn and Paperbark words will give you some really deep insights into The Lost History. 

There is a delicious political layer to this story - in Candlemage for example - citizens are not allowed to own books. "Ideas and knowledge are dangerous for all minds, but particularly young ones ... that is why we Magi sacrifice our own happiness and spend our lives controlling the flow of knowledge. By doing this we keep the peace, maintaining comfortable happy lives for all Candlemagians!"

Here are some of the funny/quirky inclusions in this story which gave me a smile. The family tree for example is a living tree with names scribed on the leaves.

Endora gives Penn a visitor's ring so she has temporary access to the treasure vault. "It'll give you access for forty-eight house. Right hand, second finger."

"To make cheese you need curdled milk ... but guard cows don't produce milk. They produce screams that can curdle blood. That's why they're known as Bloodcurdlers."

"Milk of all different colours poured down one huge wall like a frothy rainbow waterfall. Penn watched as the colours separated into different streams and flowed down into the biggest and shiniest cauldrons she'd ever seen."

As well as being a rollicking adventure The Lost History has a serious undertone, touching on themes that give the reader pause for thought: leadership, how to rule, friendship, how to view history, the lessons of history, the difference between being smart and clever, and class are just some issues explored. Storylinks

Publisher blurb: After rescuing Princess Seraphine from the evil Malevolents, servant girl Penn thought her fate had finally changed. But now her powerful Talisman is gone and Seraphine is ignoring her again. Even worse, the ruthless Inquisitor has been summoned to uncover why Malevolence has returned to Arylia and fingers are pointing at Penn. Her only hope is to find the Lost History, which might be the key to unlocking both the Inquisitor’s and her own mysterious past. But someone else is hunting for it – only they want to destroy it. Even as she races to retrieve the Lost History, Penn knows that if she digs up her past, she might not like what she finds. Because Malevolence has started calling to her and she’s finding it strangely hard to resist …

In this feminist construction of the hero’s quest, Penn, and her friends, embark on a quest to find a lost history, a book that should shed light on what really happened to the Wintrish people who had a curse placed on them. They encounter forces that oppose their search, people who don’t want what really happened to come to light. On the way, they find it hard to know just who to trust ... Reading Time

Thank you to UQP (University of Queensland Press) for my advance copy of this book. It arrived just prior to my trip to the IBBY Congress in Italy so I have only just had time to pick it up - The Lost History was published in September 2024. Here is the website for Melanie LaBrooy where you can find VERY detailed teachers notes and sample chapters. 

The Wintrish Girl

I listed some companion books in my post about The Wintrish Girl. If you are a fan of The Phantom Tollbooth you are sure to also love The Lost Library.

The Phantom Tollbooth

The Counter Clockwise Heart by Brian Farrey

Opening sentence:

"It was the coldest winter morning ever on record in the empire of Rheinvelt when the people of Somber End awoke to find the Onyx Maiden in their tiny village."

And the scene continues:

"As tall as a two-story house, a maiden made entirely of rough, dappled onyx loomed over the roundel. Adorned in armor, she appeared to be in the midst of a battle. Her right arm was thrown backward read to strike with a cat-o'-nine-tails cover in spikes. Her wild hair, blowing in an unseen gale, reached out in all directions, like a demonic compass rose. Most terrifying of all was her face - frozen in a permanent angry scream."

The people of Somber End are simple folk. Their lives have always been a struggle but now life is getting even harder. Naturally the people blame the bad times on the statue which they name the Maiden. The rulers of Rheinvelt - Imperatrix Dagmar and her wife, Empress Sabine, send emissaries far and wide seeking an answer to this mystery. All they learn is that:

"One day, the Maiden would waken and bring a terrible reckoning. Not just to Somber End, but for all throughout the empire."

Then one day a young boy stands at the foot of the statue. In his imagination she is not frightening she is powerful. He begins to talk to the statue telling her his hopes and dreams. He does this for over a decade - every day and over time the fortunes of Somber End change. Fast forward and now the boy, Guntram, has grown into a man and the village people call him their guardian. He is summoned to the castle. 

Many years before this, actually on the night the Maiden appear, a baby also appeared encased in the walls of the castle. The Empress and Imperatrix decide to raise him as the prince of their empire but there are two problems. The Imperatrix dies which causes everyone, especially Prince Alphonsus enormous grief and secondly, the Empress discovers Alphonsus has a clock in his chest and it has begun to run backwards.

Meanwhile on the edge of the village there are the Hinterlands which legend says are filled with monsters. There are also Hexen Woods which are home to a terrible sorceress known as Nachtfrau. 

Alphonsus has one good friend in the castle - the huntress Birgit Freund. Alphonsus orders her to seek the clockmaker responsible for making his clock heart. He is sure there will be terrible events or perhaps even his own death when the clock finally stops. 

Now enter the next important character - Esme. She is a Hierophant - a magical race who are now exiled in the cold north. Esme has been able to pass through the enchantment that holds the Hierophants. Her mission is to destroy Nachtfrau - but she also a Hierophant but more importantly she is Esme's mother.

So, things are all set for the classic clash of monster and hero except monsters come in many forms one of whom is that young boy, Guntram. His desire for power is now out of control and nothing will stop him. Alphonsus has clearly connected with the Maiden, she has now come back to life and Guntram is determined to kill the Prince - his jealousy knows no bounds.

It is interesting the way magic works in this story. Performing magic has consequences - this is called the Balance. There is also a magical box that provides prophecies BUT it tells one truth and one lie each time and so the questioner is left to decide which path to follow or how to interpret the advice.

The well-developed setting lends an otherworldly historical atmosphere. ... Laced with ethical questions and examples, this is a thought-provoking coming-of-age story. Kirkus

Here is a review in the New York Times.

Bookseller blurb: Time is running out in the empire of Rheinvelt. The sudden appearance of a strange and frightening statue foretells darkness. The Hierophants—magic users of the highest order—have fled the land. And the shadowy beasts of the nearby Hinterlands are gathering near the borders, preparing for an attack. Young Prince Alphonsus is sent by his mother, the Empress Sabine, to reassure the people while she works to quell the threat of war. But Alphonsus has other problems on his mind, including a great secret: He has a clock in his chest where his heart should be—and it’s begun to run backwards, counting down to his unknown fate. Searching for answers about the clock, Alphonsus meets Esme, a Hierophant girl who has returned to the empire in search of a sorceress known as the Nachtfrau. When riddles from their shared past threaten the future of the empire, Alphonsus and Esme must learn to trust each other and work together to save it—or see the destruction of everything they both love.

I picked this book at a local bookshop which was sadly closing down. The cover didn't really appeal to me but the endorsements on the back cover lured me in. I am very glad I found this book. Yes, it does contain the usual tropes of fantasy/quest stories with the race to thwart evil and hideous monsters and misunderstandings about who to trust and who might betray our hero and of course magical powers. And we have seen this idea of using a clock to create the story momentum - a literal race against time. But there is also a delicious tension in this story. I truly wanted the 'bad man' to be killed and I kept hoping this would happen much earlier in the story. I just wanted someone to eliminate that dreadful man - Guntram Steinherz later known as the Margrave. He is one of the most loathsome characters I have ever encountered in a middle grade (ages 10+) book. The scenes where he tricks The Empress and also lies to betray Alphonsus made me gasp and there were several times when I had to put this book down and re-enter the real world for a while for respite. I also nearly skipped to the end to check he was finally dead and that Alphonsus and Esme were safe.

I do recommend The Counter Clockwise heart. It is an engrossing story with a clever imagined world and characters that you will really care about. 

Minus the steampunk layer this book reminded me of this:

Cogheart

And these:

The Ogress and the Orphans

The Girl who drank the Moon

To Greenland by Pip Smith illustrated by Beau Wylie

"It's alright,' Lewyn said, 'let's go on, let's persist, we can't quit just because Greenland doesn't exist!' But how would the three of them know where to find a country seen only inside Ellie's mind?"

Lewlyn Sylvester meets an elephant - a green elephant. He is green because he has just returned from Greenland. In Greenland he has seen the most marvelous things - jellyfish lights, ice cream hills and cottages made from chocolate pies. 

The world of Lewlyn Sylvester is so dull. No colour and no excitement. Lewlyn heads over to the zoo to talk to Ellie (the green elephant). 

"I'm sorry for doubting your story so far. I'd love to see Greenland, but I don't have a car."

Lewlyn climbs onto his elephant friend, and they head off across the outback, then over to the coast, across the ocean to arrive at the equator where they are stopped and told they need to fly. Luckily an eel arrives with a small sailing boat. And so their journey continues across the ocean until the arrive on a shore. But is this really Greenland? And if it is not the place of their dreams, what can they do?

"Would you like to visit the land of your dreams? Where hats can be boats, and eels sell ice-creams? I'll turn out the light, tuck you in, shut the door. Close your eyes, are you ready? One two three ... four!"

The final page (which might shock or surprise or puzzle you) made me think of these books:

A house for Wombats

The journey feels little like the famous Lewis Carroll poem - the Hunting of the Snark. 

So much care has gone into the design of this book. It has interesting end papers which are sure to be terrific discussion starters. Extra money has been spent to include green foil on the cover. The way the partial view of the elephant is seen to be marching forward is the perfect invitation to open this book and discover more. 

The illustrations early in the book reminded me of The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan. There are charming extra details inside the emerald igloo such as a train in a bottle, a deep diving helmet, a world map and a pair of skis – all icons of an adventurous explorer. Turning the elephant’s hat upside down is reminiscent of the umbrella Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers. There are also some very clever nods to Dr Suess. 

The word play is such fun – Gator Keeper, Ellie Phant and the eel deal. I love the images of ice cream cones when they construct Greenland. Food used this way reminded me of War and Peas by Michael Foreman. There are so many layers to this story which means it will be appreciated across a range of ages. The page turns add drama and suspense. The messages of wonder and dreaming, of teamwork and perseverance, and the rewards of a community working together are very worthwhile. Even though the rhyme is uneven (I suggest you practice before reading this book aloud to a group of children), I do like the rich word choices. This book celebrates imagination and special friends. The ending is funny and unexpected. Share this book with children aged 6+.

You can see Beau Wylie's quirky art style on his web page here. Scroll down to see illustrations from To Greenland. Click to see an image of Beau painting his green elephant. 

Pip Smith is a novelist, poet, songwriter and children’s author based in Sydney. Her critically acclaimed first novel, Half Wild, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2017, and her first collection of poetry, Too Close for Comfort, won the inaugural Helen Anne Bell Poetry Bequest Award in 2013.

In the end, the hodgepodge group meets a happy ending, proving the importance of teamwork and how communities can work together to make their dreams a reality. Books and Publishing

To Greenland! is an enchanting picture book about the power of the imagination and a tribute to the adage that ‘the journey is more important than the destination.’ Its themes include friendship, teamwork, and persistence. Wylie’s illustrations and Smith’s text are equally divine and work together beautifully. The narrative is written in playful rhyming couplets, and the stunning whimsical artwork appears on single and double-page spreads. The monotone endpapers are compelling and a great talking point. To Greenland! is highly recommended for an audience aged 5 years and older. This talented author and illustrator team are also the creators of the picture book Theodore the Unsure, published in 2019. Buzz Words

The Small Things by Lisa Thompson

At the end of this book I thought two things - wow that was a sad story and how far-fetched. Then I read the authors note Spoiler alert. Lisa Thompson visited a school and saw a robot on a seat. Lily-Bot was there because the real Lily was at home.

"These robots are created by a company called No Isolation, who produce them to help children who cannot be there for various reasons."

Anna's class have a new student - Ellie but Ellie is undergoing medical treatment and so she cannot come to school in person. A small robot sits in her chair acting like a camera. Ellie can see the classroom and she can control the robot to have several reactions such as asking a question, agreeing with a comment, and expressing confusion. All of this is controlled by Ellie at home from her tablet.

Anna is chosen to sit beside Ellie-Bot and that should be fine but Anna lives under a shadow. Her family cannot afford to send her to the myriad of after school and weekend activities enjoyed by her class mates. Her three closest friends dance, play sport, ride horses and attend swimming competitions. When the girls talk about their weekend, Anna has nothing to say. Then Ellie (via Ellie-Bot) asks Anna about her weekend and she tells her first lie. Over the coming weeks the lies grow and grow - ice skating, bowling, and visits to the ice cream parlour for delicious sweet treats. Of course Anna's boasting will be discovered but does this have to mean no one will be her friend. 

Author blurb: Anna’s anxious when she’s picked to befriend the new girl in her class. For a start, Ellie is ill and can’t come to school herself. So Anna has to communicate with her through a new kind of robot. But Anna is also worried that her life’s too small and boring to be of interest to her new friend. Compared to the other girls, she doesn’t have anything exciting to talk about and so when Ellie asks her a question, a little white lie pops out. Then another and another. When Ellie finds out the truth, can their friendship survive…?

This is a book from the Barrington Stoke dyslexia-friendly series. It is a short book with 96 pages but it is a powerful story perfect for readers aged 9+. Here are two videos with Lisa Thompson. And one with Moon Lane TV. And a set of teaching notes. 

Lisa Thompson is the author of a book for younger children from the Little Gems series - Sidney Makes a wish. I have also talked about:

Goldfish Boy

Here are some other books by Lisa Thompson:

Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah

Ajay is an orphan who lives at a large railway station. People discard newspapers and Ajay has used these, firstly to learn how to read, but more importantly to set himself his life goal of becoming a newspaper reporter. His good friend Vinod works in a local restaurant. He tells Ajay the editor of the major newspaper will be dining in the restaurant. Ajay rushes away to write an impressive report in the hope he will get the job of his dreams but Mr Gupta, editor of The City Paper, explains people are no longer interested in printed papers - they are too distracted by their phones.

Ajay is not defeated. He decides to make is own newspaper - The Mumbai Sun. He has lucky timing because the newspaper office has tossed out an old printing machine and another good friend, Saif, is training to be a railway engineer. He can easily fix any machine. So now Ajay has equipment and determination. Another friend, Jasmine, has fabulous art skills and, he is able to scavenge old discarded pink paper from a packaging factory.

Now what will Ajay write about? The town mayor declares the slum buildings where many people live will be demolished and the people relocated to a much safer and better place - but is this really true. Young Jasmine works in a factory printing Tshirts but are the working conditions safe and is it right that very young children work in these poor conditions? Then there is a terrible accident and the factory manager is killed. Who is behind this factory fire? Ajay unravels layers and layers of corruption, lies and bribes. He can and does report on all of this but some of his words have consequences he could never have anticipated. 

Sport fans are sure to enjoy the final scenes in this book - a cricket match between the street kids and the students from a wealthy private school. 

I borrowed this book from the library at Westmead Children's Hospital. Chicken House always published terrific stories and this one absolutely did not disappoint. I almost read it in one sitting. Read an extract on the Chicken House site. I hope the cover appeals to you - I love it. There are also some poignant contemporary references in this book such as the Grenfell Tower fire in London of 2017.

Fast-paced and wonderfully descriptive, full of the noise and bustle, colour and life of an Indian city, this is an inspiring, uplifting and entertaining story of hope and possibilities. More about Books

The tone is one of hope and change; it acknowledges, but by no means lingers over, the children’s hardships. Just Imagine

This is a book to make you smile, laugh out loud, recoil in horror and then stand up, cheer and thump the air. Book Trust

If you are looking for a great read aloud book for a Grade 4, 5 or 6 class this book could be a good choice. 

"It was the rage of the people who have been bullied by the rich and the powerful their whole lives, of people seen as expendable statistics rather than human, of people who have suffered the consequences of arrogance and ruthlessness of those in power."

One review suggested this book is similar to Emil and the Detectives. 

another book about the power of the media to unearth corruption is Adam Canfield of the Slash.

In you want to read a book also set in a busy city in India try to find this one:

The Book Uncle and Me 

Older Readers (14+) should also look for this one:

A Cardboard Palace

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

"People do need to ask big questions if they want to make big changes. 

We need to get everyone to ask the same big question."

The town of Stone-in-the-Glen was once a thriving little community - not perfect - but certainly a happy place to live, with most people in good jobs and enough money to support their children and important town amenities such as a school and a library filled with hundreds of wonderful books. Even better their town library was a place loved and used by the community. People liked to read books and they liked to discuss them.  

But as is the way with stories (and books) things are not destined to stay so idyllic. The library, had been at the heart of life in this village, but then it burned down and everything changed. A new Mayor arrived. He claimed to have slayed the dragon who caused the fire. He claimed to be the only one who could save the people. He set up new rules - rules which led to suspicion - pitting neighbour against neighbour. Crops failed, other buildings burned down, the school was lost and no one had enough to eat. 

The poorest of the poor in this town were the orphans (fifteen of them) living in Orphan House. In past times the people of the town had supported the orphans and their beautiful Matron and her gentle husband Myron, with food and other supplies but over time this has dwindled down to nothing. 

Then as chance would have it an Ogress sets up her home near this little village. She has lived for hundreds of years and in many different places but Stone-in-the-Glen feels like home. The Ogress is a very kind soul. The only thing missing in her life is the companionship of friends and neighbours. She does have the crows, her blind dog and some lost sheep but she is sure the people in the community will befriend her if she shows them kindness so she sets about baking and harvesting. Each evening, very very late at night, she makes deliveries of her cooked treats to the doorsteps of people in the village. She also places boxes of vegetables at the gate of the orphanage - not every day - but often enough to keep the children from starving. The Ogress does not know things are especially hard at the orphanage she just wants the children to be happy. 

Publisher blurb: Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. Fires, floods, and other calamities have caused the townsfolk to lose their library, their school, their park, and all sense of what it means to be generous, and kind. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. (At least, no one has seen a dragon in his presence.) 

Only the clever orphans of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town's problems are.  When one of the orphans goes missing from the Orphan House, all eyes turn to the Ogress. The orphans, though, know this can't be: the Ogress, along with a flock of excellent crows, secretly delivers gifts to the people of Stone-in-the-Glen. But how can the orphans tell the story of the Ogress's goodness to people who refuse to listen? And how can they make their deluded neighbours see the real villain in their midst? The orphans have heard a whisper that they will 'save the day', but just how, they will have to find out ...

The other part of this story is about dragons but to say any more would be a spoiler.  

"As for dragons in particular, they are as diverse in their dispositions as any other creature. I myself have encountered dragons of very personality type - shy, gregarious, lazy, fastidious, self-centred, bighearted, enthusiastic, and brave."

There is so much to love about this book:

The food: "As her garden grew, the Ogress kept baking. Pies and breads and cakes and cookies. Muffins and turnovers and hand pies and rolls. She fire clay pots with tight-fitting lids and filled them with soup. She built boxes and filled them with vegetables. She built a handcart to help her make more deliveries. She delivered to as many people as she could, as many days as she could."

"A tart for the woman who used to light the lamps. ... A box of cupcakes for the former teacher - who the Ogress knew missed her classroom and missed her students so much it was like a needle in her heart. ... Acorn bread for the former street sweepers. Walnut pies for the day labourers. ... A jar of honey for the organ master."

The Ogress - you are sure to love her: "Like all ogres, the Ogress was quite tall - even sizable adults would have to crane their necks and squint a bit to say hello. She had feet the size of tortoises, hands the size of heron's wings, and a broad, broad brow that cracked and creased when she concentrated. Her skin was like granite, and her eyes looked like brand new pennies. Her hair sprouted and waved from her head like prairie grass ... sometimes spangled with daisies or dandelions or creeping ivy. Like all ogres, she spoke little and thought much. She was careful and considerate. Her heavy feet trod lightly on the ground."

The way Kelly Barnhill gives each of the orphans very distinct personalities: Althea is a logical girl who believes in evidence; Bartleby is a philosopher; Cass is a quiet hard working and very practical girl; and Elijah is a storyteller. I also love Myron - in fact this whole book is worth reading just so you can meet gentle Myron. 

The constant gasp moments where things are interpreted unkindly: "That terrible Ogress who has been ruining our lovely town for a generation ... Now she is no longer content with destroying out property and causing our crops to fail and our milk to sour and our buildings to dilapidate but now, now she is stealing children." And there are also dreadful propaganda speeches by the Mayor.

The "message" that books and libraries and reading are all important ways to unite a community.

I also loved the way Kelly Barnhill treats time in her book. This is not a linear narrative and the changes of time feel like the gentle motion of ocean waves. I also loved the narrator whose identity may surprise you. Read more here. The author’s voice is descriptive and philosophical, and it’s shared in the manner of a storyteller YA Books Central

You might like to think about the role of light and heat in this story and compare this with a story like The Snow Queen which used ice and snow to control citizens. 

This is now my book of the year (so far). It is nearly 400 pages so reading this book is a marathon not a sprint but boy oh boy it is well worth every reading minute. I knew I was safe with Kelly Barnhill and I was sure she would give me that all important happy (and satisfying) ending but there were times in this story of greed, power and manipulation that I just had to stop reading and take a breath in the real world for a while. The awful mind games and propaganda metered out by the corrupt mayor were, at times, very hard to read. 

Combines realistic empathy with fantastical elements; as exquisite as it is moving. Kirkus Star review

The reader is immediately tossed into this fantasy, relying on the narrator to explain how life used to be in the town to counter the grim description of how it is now. The Mayor is a fantastic (though loathsome) villain, oozing charisma and evil in equal measures, and in direct contrast is the ogress, who asks permission of the bees to take their honey and secretly shares her baking gifts with the town.  Bulletin of the Centre for Children's Literature

The two covers above are from the hardcover edition (top) and the paperback.  I prefer the hardcover one and I do wish the publisher had not made this change. 

Here are some companion reads:

The Week at World's End by Emma Carroll

There are two worlds in this book - the one the children are experiencing and the complex one adults are talking about. The year is 1962 and the big world event is the Cuban missile crisis.  World's End Close is where Stevie Fisher and her friend Ray live. Life is pretty dull according to Stevie but the one night she finds a body in the garden shed. Actually it is not a body, it is a young girl. Her name is Anna and she tells Stevie and Ray that she is on the run. That someone is trying to poison her.

There are lots of threads in this story:

Stevie's dad has recently died and by accident Stevie finds a letter written by her dad which she is supposed to read when she is older. In the letter dad reveals the terrible truth about the nuclear testing in the Pacific. 

Ray is keen to visit America to meet his cousin and talk about Martin Luther King and African American rights. Ray's mum is English and his dad is African American.

Ray and Stevie want to keep Anna safe. They want to protect her but there seems to be so much she is not telling them.

Near World's End Close there is an army installation and right now, even though the war is over, there seems to be a lot of activity, secret activity going on there.

"Today, inside the fence, there were twenty or more people walking about. They were all wearing overalls and measuring distances and writing things on clipboards.  ... In the distance, near the runway's end, the doors stood open on a row of aircraft hangers. We were too far away to see what was inside, but I could guess, and my heart thumped so hard I could feel it in my throat. American plans to drop American bombs on Russia. And if the Russians fought back, that would make the airbase here in Britain, just half a mile from where we lived, a target."

On the the cover you can see Stevie, Ray and Anna in a World War II pillbox. A pillbox is a type of blockhouse, or concrete dug-in guard-post, normally equipped with loopholes through which defenders can fire weapons. It is in effect a trench firing step, hardened to protect against small-arms fire and grenades, and raised to improve the field of fire. (Wikipedia) After all these years since the war it is over grown with grasses and plants and is very well camouflaged. 

So now the race is on to find the truth about Anna, to save her from an unknown enemy and also to hope America and Russia can resolve their differences. See what I mean about issues big and small. 

In this video Emma talks about her book. This video 9 mins will give you some good background about the historical setting used in this book. It is very clear Emma Carroll has done an enormous amount of research for this book and then she has cleverly woven in all the global story strands. Here is a BookBag review. You can read more plot details here. 

Publisher blurb: 1962, London during the Cuban Missile Crisis. What would you do if there was a real possibility that the world might end? Ray, aware of his parents' building worry, decides to take matters into his own hands. He builds a shelter in the woods behind his house in the hope that he never has to use it. Only to discover that someone else needs it more than he does. An American girl, reported missing, has turned up there... Why is she hiding? And with neighbour turning against neighbour, will Ray be willing to help her? Set over the six days when the Cuban Missile Crisis became public knowledge, this (is a) tense, (and) clever thriller.

Read my previous posts featuring books by Emma Carroll:

Letters from the Lighthouse

In Darkling Wood

The Empty Pot by Demi

Publisher blurb: A long time ago in China there was a boy named Ping who loved flowers. Anything he planted burst into bloom. The Emperor loved flowers too. When it was time to choose an heir, he gave a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. "Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," he proclaimed, "shall succeed me to the throne!" Ping plants his seed and tends it every day. But month after month passes, and nothing grows. When spring comes, Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot.  Demi's exquisite art and beautifully simple text show how Ping's embarrassing failure is turned triumphant in this satisfying tale of honesty rewarded.

Ping has an empty pot but others bring pots filled with glorious bright flowers.

"I admire Ping's great courage to appear before me with the empty truth, and now I reward him with my entire kingdom and make him Emperor of all the land."

A lovely story, well told and most attractively presented. Kirkus Star Review

A couple of days ago I mentioned The Empty Pot by Demi and I realised I had not shared this splendid book with you here. In fact I also need to talk in general about the US author and illustrator Demi.

Who is Demi? Demi is is the author and illustrator of more than one hundred books for children. Her works have received numerous awards and accolades, among them ALA Notable Children’s Books, The New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Notable Books for a Global Society, American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, the Middle East Book Award, and the Christopher Award, which recognises individuals whose work makes a positive difference in the world. Demi has travelled extensively and studied art in Mexico, India and China.  She lives with her husband in Washington.

Her Chinese husband, Tze-si “Jesse” Huang, told Demi the story of The Empty Pot and The Magic Pillow. He remembered these tales from his childhood in China where his grandmother used to tell him ancient stories. Her original name was Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt.

This is a painting by William Morris Hunt the great grandfather of Demi:

Image source: Wikipedia Commons

Here are just a few of the books by Demi. They are expensive here in Australia and some are out of print but I suggest you look for books by Demi in your local or school library. If you work in a Primary school library I recommend you add The Empty Pot and The Magic Pillow to your library and if you work in a High School library I am certain your art teachers will love the colours, book design, and use of circle frames. Demi's book are wonderful to share with students. 

Here is a list of some titles by Demi:

Marie Curie

Florence Nightingale

St. Francis of Assisi

Tutankhamun

Genghis Khan

The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix

Marco Polo

The Magic Pillow

The Boy Who Painted Dragons

Mother Theresa

The Legend of St Nicholas

King Midas: The Golden Touch

The Dalai Lama: Foreword by his Holiness The Dalai Lama

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folk Tale

Buddha

Twitch by MG Leonard

 

"He'd woken up feeling like he had a jigsaw puzzle in his head that wouldn't let him do anything else until he had fitted all the pieces together. Who was Billy? ... Why had Billy told him he was a birdwatcher, when he didn't know the difference between a swift and a sparrow? Why was everyone lying to him? It seemed to be a puzzle hinging on birds. He wondered, was it anything to do with the jailbird who was hiding in Briddvale?"

Who are the baddies? Who can you trust? Is there anyone who is telling the truth?

A notorious bank robber has come to Aves Wood. The robber is purported to be looking for five million pounds which have been hidden in this huge natural area. Twitch (real name Corvus Featherstone) loves to roam around in Aves Wood. The dreadful bullying he experiences at school and his loneliness since the death of his grandfather mean he feels most at home in the little hide he has made in the wood. From his hide he can watch the birds he loves. At home, his love of birds continues with four pigeons; three chickens and a family of swifts. The holidays have begun and Twitch has plans to train his two younger pigeons to fly home but now the woods are swarming with police and Twitch also has to be extra careful to avoid the bullies from school and keep his own special hideout a secret. 

Jack and his gang attack Twitch on the last day of school forcing a worm into his mouth. Luckily a stranger intervenes. Briddvale is a small place. Twitch has never seen this man before but Billy explains he has come to area to look at the birds. Twitch is delighted to find a fellow bird enthusiast but should he share so much information with a stranger. Then there is Jack who somehow tries to convince Twitch that he is not a bully, that he is also interested in birds and that he just wants to be a friend. Again should Twitch trust his former enemy and has he told Jack too much? And who are the two young girls he keeps seeing roaming around Aves Wood? 

This is just one of those really, really good books that is very readable, with a great story and characters you're interested in and care about. It's written perfectly, with a good pace to the plot, and a lovely warmth to it throughout.  The Book Bag

I read this book in almost one sitting. YES it is that good. I adored previous books by MG Leonard - Beetle Boy and Beetle Queen. 

In Twitch the action just races along and I loved the way MG Leonard gives tiny hints, some of which are very misleading, about who to trust and exactly what is going on. The character of Twitch reminded me of Carl Hiaasen books such as Hoot; Scat; and Flush. 

If you are looking for another book with a central character who loves birds you should also look for The Someday Birds.