Bigfoot vs Yeti: a love story by James Foley

"The Bigfoot say it started when a Yeti threw a snowball across the rift. The Yetis say it started wen a Bigfoot threw some fruit across the rift."

Think about the word 'rift'. It can mean a large crack in the ground or a serious disagreement that separates individuals. In this book both meanings apply. 

Late one night two younger community members are left to guard the edge of the rift - a Bigfoot named Bevan and a Yeti named Yolanda. Yes, we have a boy and a girl. There is of course no way to cross the rift it is way too wide but "does it really go on forever?" After days of their journey Bevan and Yolanda finally come face to face and instead of fighting they help one another and "and slowly, ever so slowly, the rift began to narrow." Yes, this is a love story and the end does contain a heart-warming twist but for me the interesting part comes before this scene when it is clear there are still some community members Bigfoot and Yeti who "could neither forgive or forget." 

They were sent back "back to the village and the mist and the rift. And they're still there to this day, hurling insults into the wind."

As I was reading Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley I thought of these books (see below) which I used to share with my Grade Five students as part of a conflict resolution theme. Notice the title of Bigfoot vs Yeti also says - A love story. The ending reminded me of a favourite book - Clancy the Courageous Cow. 

The Two Giants

The Seed

Bigfoot vs Yeti (trailer)

Blurb: The Bigfoots say it started when a Yeti threw a snowball across the rift. The Yetis say it started when a Bigfoot threw some fruit across the rift. Who could say for sure? One night, a young Bigfoot and Yeti decide to find the end of the rift so they can finish the feud – once and for all. 

“So very clever! The buildup in this story and the unexpected (but perfect) change of colour from black and white to colour … James Foley has given us a story to remember and perhaps learn from too.“

– Dr Belle Alderman AM, Emeritus Professor of Children’s Literature, Director of the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature

This link will take you to different teachers notes for Bigfoot vs Yeti. Readings Melbourne list three reasons to read Bigfoot vs Yeti. Here is the Storylinks review.

This picture book is so clever on many levels. Big, serious themes such as conflict, culture, racism, war, history and social norms are all explored in an accessible and humorous manner but will invite deep discussion. ... The graphic novel elements, used for the most part in the book, will appeal to many readers, and the final page is a surprising, humourous and delightful ... Reading Time

Look for this wonderful book by James Foley:

Stellarphant

Threads Zlata's Ukrainian Shirt by Lina Maslo

 "Red is for love, and black is for sadness ... Life has good time and hard time. Even though the Communists are making life difficult, we still have each other."

"Blue is for healing. Green for renewal. And gold - for the hope that one day, the wheat fields will again touch the sky."

Zlata is given a beautiful shirt for her birthday. Her mother has carefully stitched red flowers and black leaves - "Life has good times and hard times." The year is 1932 and just a few days after her birthday the Russian Communists arrive. They take everything of value from her home and then their neighbors betray them and the solders come back and take their hidden food, tiny amount of money and Zlata's father. Her father is gone, her beautiful new shirt is gone and Zlata and her mother are barely surviving. This is the time in history 1932-1933 called the Holodomor (famine-genocide here is some background reading for teachers).

Zlata has a good friend named Yeva but it was her father who betrayed Zlata and her parents. It is Yeva's fault her Papa has been taken away. Their friendship is over. But then the soldiers take everything from Yeva and her family and her father is also taken away. The way the friendship of these two young girls is able to be healed will warm your heart. In a familiar story trope this healing coincides with the arrival of spring. Sadly though, we do not discover the fate of her father.

You can see pages from this book on the author webpage. 

Thread: Zlata's Ukrainian Shirt is a very important book for a few reasons:

Children here in Australia will have been hearing about the war in Ukraine for over a year now. This book is a way to introduce older students to (a) the history of other dreadful conflicts in Ukraine and (b) to show the beauty of their culture via, in this case, exquisitely embroidered shirts. This is a picture book I would share with students aged 10+ because it deals with complex topics of betrayal (blood money), persecution, war, famine, injustice, starvation, communism, and fear. 

A poignant yet accessible entry into Ukraine’s ongoing suffering—and survival. Kirkus Star review

Publisher blurb:  The threads on Zlata's beautiful birthday blouse were stitched by her mother. “Red is for love, and black is for sadness,” her papa says. Mama warns her not to show it off. Ever since the Communists came from Russia to Ukraine, they prohibited the teaching of Ukrainian culture. Now, in the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of the 1930s, they've even taken the grain from Zlata's family's fields. But despite the danger, her parents refuse to give up their art, language, and beliefs. As Zlata works to help her community survive, she finds that the dream of freedom is stitched deeper into the Ukrainian spirit than she could ever imagine. Drawing from her grandparents' experience of the Famine-Genocide, Maslo weaves a thoughtful story that dares us not to forget the pain of the past as it informs the present conflict in Ukraine and inspires hope for the future.

Last week the 15th May was the third Thursday in May. Today a new parcel of books arrived and one of them was this one Threads: Zlata's Ukrainian Shirt and that is where I read about the Vyshuvanka which is the special embroidered shirt you can see on the cover of this book. This means I have missed Vyshyvanka Day (by just one week) but I am so happy to have found this book. Next year, 2026, the date will be 21st May. 

Vyshyvanka Day is an international celebration dedicated to the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt. Its purpose is to preserve and promote the age-old traditions of folk art and national clothing. While it's not a public holiday, that doesn’t stop people from joyfully supporting the tradition — by wearing a vyshyvanka to work, school, at home, or at public events.

• In 2015, the holiday gained official international recognition, and vyshyvankas were worn in over 50 countries.
• In 2017, a massive banner with vyshyvanka patterns was unfurled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
• Between 2020–2022, Ukrainian diplomats wearing vyshyvankas posed for photos in the capitals of countries with Ukrainian embassies.
• The largest vyshyvanka in the world was created in Rivne, Ukraine, in 2011 — it measured 54 square meters.
• In 2023, vyshyvankas were even placed on statues in Central Park, New York
• In 2021, Ukrainian airline SkyUp released a crew capsule collection inspired by vyshyvankas.
• In 2015, Google featured a special vyshyvanka-themed Doodle on its homepage for Ukrainian users.
• 
  

Image source: Google Doodle

Over 250 distinct embroidery stitches can be used to form the vyshyvanka’s signature coded symbols. These typically fall into three categories: floral ornamentation, zoomorphic figures, and geometric shapes, all of which can be found in today’s Doodle artwork. No pattern comes without a detailed meaning, and Ukraine’s varied cultures and natural landscapes are reflected in the unique iconography employed within each region. (This video goes into more detail about the embroidery patterns)

The patterns vary across the country as you can see on this map:

Here are two other books by Lina Maslo:

Read more here

I have previously talked about these books by Ukrainian authors and illustrators. I also love the art of Hans Christian Andersen illustrator Kost Lavro (I do hope he is safe and has perhaps been able to leave Ukraine). And don't forget to look for versions of the folktale The Mitten. 

Stars and Poppy Seeds

Alias Anna (verse novel)

The Blackbird Girls

This Morning I met a Whale by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Christian Birmingham

Michael, as the title tells you, meets a whale. But whales are not supposed to be in his part of the river Thames. And whales are not supposed to be able to communicate directly with humans but this whale can and he has come specifically to talk to a child. His grandfather has told him a child will listen and a child will share his important message about degradation of the environment and the distress humans are causing whales. 

"He showed me the bottom of the sea, a coral reef lay dying and littered with rubbish. I saw a sperm whale being winched bleeding out of the sea, a leatherback turtle caught up in vast fishing nets, along with sharks and dolphins. There was an albatross, hanging there, limp and lifeless. ... He showed me skies so full of smoke that day had become night, and below them the forests burning. ... You are killing the world. Tell a child ... only a child will put it right."

Companion book:

Bookseller blurb: At sunrise, young Michael spots a whale on the shores of the Thames and thinks he must be dreaming. But the creature is real and it has a message for him – one that only an open-minded child can deliver to the rest of the world. The whale warns that the earth’s days are numbered and that humans must put right the damage they are doing, but how can Michael fulfil his promise to tell others when neither his teacher nor his classmates will believe his story? Within hours, the city and the wider world have learned of London’s remarkable visitor, and all eyes are on the whale’s struggle against the receding tide. Michael must now join his new friend in a race against time to reach the ocean, and hold fast to his promise in the race to save the world itself.

Do you have a favourite children's book illustrator? I have lots - but one that would most certainly make my top twenty list would be Christian Birmingham. 

This is a slim book with only 80 pages but it is also a powerful story with a strong environmental message. Even though the publication date is 2009 I think this book is still available. Readers in your library will love this story even more when they discover it is based on real events. In 2006 a whale did swim up the Thames as far as a Battersea Bridge and sadly, like the whale in this book, she did not survive. 

You might have this book in your school library because it is a Premiers Reading Challenge title Grades 5&6 [1038]. 

Michael Morpurgo was 2003–2005 Children's Laureate, has written over 100 books and is the winner of many awards, including the Whitbread Children's Book Award, the Smarties Book Prize, the Blue Peter Award and the Red House Children's Book Award. His books are translated and read around the world and his hugely popular novel War Horse is now both a critically acclaimed stage play and a highly successful film. 

Christian Birmingham is considered one of the best young illustrators working today. After receiving a degree in Illustration from the Exeter College of Art he has gone on to illustrate many books for children such as A Kitten Called Moonlight by Martin Waddell and several titles by Michael Morpurgo, including The Wreck of the Zanzibar, named the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year in 1995.

Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan

Take a look at the labels I have assigned to this post - curiosity, friendship and fear.

Safiyyah lives in the mosque in Paris. The German army have marched into the city. Luckily, they are not persecuting the Muslim residents of Paris and people are still able to attend the mosque. Safiyyah's father works at the mosque and her family live in one of the apartments. Everyone is living in fear. Safiyyah has two dreadful encounters with soldiers on her way to school and on her way to deliver medicine to an elderly Jewish man. 

Safiyyah's parents, especially her father, are smuggling Jewish people out of the city. Safiyyah becomes a messenger, so she has even more reason to be dreadfully afraid. Luckily, she is an intelligent girl and also luckily, she is incredibly curious. This means she finds out many more details about the rescue of Jewish people who are using the mosque so they can then escape to safety. She knows many more details than her father would have ever planned to tell her. Near the end of the book this information becomes vital as the men including her father are detained in the main prayer room and it is now up to Safiyyah to help over fifty people urgently escape. The tension in this book is so real and certainly keeps you turning the pages.

As with all the best books for Middle Grade and Upper Primary readers about the events of World War II, this book is told as a first-hand account from the point of view of a young child. I have added a few others at the bottom of this post including some special picture books that I used to share with my Grade Six students.

'Safiyyah's War has the soul of a classic & the urgency of a story for our times. A tale of tolerance, unthinkable bravery, and heart-in-mouth true events. I loved this book' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

'All at once, Safiyyah's War broke my heart and filled me with immense hope. With its unforgettable characters and exquisite storytelling, this really is an extraordinary book' - A F Steadman

'Safiyyah is a protagonist I was rooting for all throughout; a lovely, kind-hearted girl whose story filled me in turns with despair and joy. This book shines through with kindness and empathy at its very heart' - Nizrana Farook

This is a high-octane venture suffused with sheer terror that Safiyyah’s family’s activities will be discovered by the wrong people. There are two important relationships which stand out, particularly the evolution of Safiyyah’s interactions with her father and of her growing respect for him and his work. The other one is with her beloved grandmother, Setti, who exerts a calming and wise presence and has some of the most profound ideas of the novel. Historical Novel Society

This is both a gripping and moving novel. Hiba Noor Khan brings her detailed research to life and introduces us to many less familiar aspects of occupied Paris. The plot is full of suspense and builds to a thrilling climax. Safiyyah is a courageous and compassionate heroine who reminds us that anybody can make a difference. Just Imagine (read this review for more plot details)

Listen to an audio sample from chapter one page 3.

Companion book:

Beyond Belief

You could type any of these titles into my search bar - all of these would be fabulous to share with a reader aged 10+ who has read Safiyyah's War or who has an interest in the events of  World War II.

Spies in the Sky by Beverley McWilliams illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

 

Before you read this book I suggest you might try to find these picture books and also do some reading about the Dickin Medal. 

32 pigeons received the Dickin Medal–the animal equivalent of a Medal of Honor–for their service in World War II.

Here is my post about War Animal Remembrance Day - 24th February. 

Lofty's Mission

And after reading Spies in the sky try to find this one:

I Spy A Bletchley Park Mystery

And for a different perspective on animals and war this is another terrific story:

The Umbrella Mouse

Royal Blue is a racing pigeon. He comes from a long line of champions but he is living through the dark days of World War II and so his destiny is to do more than race, he is needed for the war effort. Blue is taken from his comfortable loft and sent to an army base where he is given training from aircraft. He will be used to take messages back to the UK if a plane crashes or lands in enemy territory and later he is used in Fance as a way to gather intelligence about the movements of the German army. 

"Between April 1941 and September 1944, pigeons were parachuted in baskets into the occupied territories of France, Belgium and Holland. Attached to their baskets were questions to gather information from those living under occupied rule. This scheme was called Operation Columba. Of the 16,000 used in this campaign, less than one in eight returned."

You can read chapter one here. Here is a link to the teachers notes. 

I adopted a rescued pigeon around 10 years ago and while I was searching for a name, I came across a list of pigeons awarded the Dickin Medal for their service during World War Two. I knew pigeons had played a part in the war, but until then I was unaware of the National Pigeon Service or how many lives were saved by these remarkable birds. The more I looked into the history, the more fascinated I became. I wrote an article called ‘Feathered Heroes’ for The School Magazine, and I knew then that I would love to develop the ideas into a children’s book. Beverley McWilliams (Novel Insight subscription needed to read this article). 

Spies in the Sky is another moving and eye-opening tale based on a true story, this time focussing on the brave pigeons tasked with carrying messages during World War II. The story is told directly from Royal Blue’s perspective, immersing readers in his experience and inspiring deep empathy for the bird. McWilliams clearly has a sincere love for her subject, and it’s brilliantly contagious in this compassionate tale. You can’t help but come away with a heightened respect for and understanding of pigeons and the enormous sacrifices they have made to aid humans in need. Better Reading

It is clear Beverley McWilliams did a huge amount of research for her book. I recently listed to a radio program where they talked about the way Pigeons were launched out of planes high in the sky inside paper bags. This is not mentioned in Spies in the Sky but I found it fascinating. 

Even though the Army had designed special drop boxes for pigeons, it was discovered that they could be released from planes in thin, paper-like bags and survive just the same. A slit was cut into a bag, the pigeon placed headfirst, and then thrown from high altitudes at 375 miles per hour. The bird would emerge from the bag and fly down to a better altitude before returning home. Military Person.com

Image Source: National Air and Space Museum

I wonder why Martina Heiduczek is not named on the cover or title page.  She has added some terrific illustrations to this book.

In 2022 I read another book The Reindeer and the Submarine by Beverley McWilliams (Pantera Press). I found Spies in the Sky was easier to read and more engrossing and I think Beverley McWilliams newest title we see listed as a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Notable title for 2024 - Younger Readers. 

The Treasure Box by Margaret Wild illustrated by Freya Blackwood

 

"This is a book about our people, about us ... 

it is rarer than rubies, more splendid than silver, greater than gold."

Publisher blurb: As war rages, Peter and his father flee their home, taking with them a treasure box that holds something more precious than jewels. They journey through mud and rain and long cold nights, and soon their survival becomes more important than any possessions they carry. But as the years go by, Peter never forgets the treasure box, and one day he returns to find it...  From two of our most talented picture-book creators comes this celebration of things that can't be destroyed by bombs or fire. A haunting and beautiful tale of the power of words, the importance of stories and the resilience of the human spirit.

Image Source: Freya Blackwood

Treasure Box was published in 2013, the paperback in 2017 and it is still available. I picked up my copy from a recant charity book sale. Here is a review and some teaching ideas (2013) from Megan Daley. Here is an excellent set of questions to use with students prior to reading this book. There is a comprehensive list of teacher resources on the National Centre for Children's Literature database Picture Books for Older Readers page. 

This story is a reminder that war doesn't last forever and that the stories of a culture can survive even the bleakest times. ...  All books are treasures, but most particularly this one. Kids' Book Review

A poignant and accessible story about the importance of the survival of a people’s history as well as of the people themselves. Excellent. Kirkus Star review

Read more about Margaret Wild - our national children's book treasure.

Companion books:

The One thing you'd Save

My Favourite Memories

Nour's Secret Library

Love in the Library

The Lady with the Books

Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes

The setting for this book is Italy in 1944. Florence is occupied by the German army but the Italian resistance movement are hard at work rescuing captured prisoners and sabotaging the Nazis. Paolo is a young teen. He just cannot cope with being kept at home so each evening he takes his bicycle and he rides for hours over Florence and the surrounding countryside. His mother is English, not Italian, so she has to be extra careful and her beloved husband has left to assist with the fighting. She knows about Paolo's night time riding but she is not sure she can stop him.

One evening Paolo is stopped by some men and they give him a cryptic message for his mother. Paolo has had no idea his mother has previously helped the Partisans. On his night ride he decides he should join the freedom fighters but when he does catch up with them they attack him. Luckily he is rescued by their leader - the mysterious Il Volpe (the fox).  Little does he know their paths will cross again and even though the most dreadful things have happened Paolo can indeed be a hero on a bicycle.

"The sight of his mother in conversation with three armed men gave his stomach a lurch of fear mixed with excitement. He was pretty sure who they were. The Partisans. The men whom he had admired so much for so long but had never met until last night. And now here they were, armed, in his own back garden. He couldn't imagine why they were here or what business they could possibly have with his mother."

Two young men are hidden in the family cellar over night. Late the next night Paolo takes them to the next safe house but they have been betrayed and there is an ambush. One man is taken prisoner and Joe, the Canadian, is badly hurt. 

"He motioned for Joe to follow him but, looking back, he saw that Joe was not in a good way. He was staggering, and blood had soaked through the left arm of his jacket and was dripping down his hand. ...  The way home was the worst journey Paolo had ever made. He took the back streest out of the city dreading at every turn that they would fun into anther German patrol."

I first read about this book back when it was published in 2012 but I didn't read it back then (it is still in print and there is an e-book version). Luckily for me there was a copy for $1 at our recent Lifeline Bookfair. I have been grabbing time to read this book over the last few days but be warned this book does contain some distressing scenes and at times I just had to put it down and take a breath. I was sure Shirley Hughes would keep me and the family (mum Rosemary, Constanza and Paola) safe but, as a said, at times, the tension she created was so real and so frightening. I would recommend this for readers aged 11+ and Young Adults. 

Taut, tense and vivid, this book will bring out the hero in any young boy or girl. You can almost hear the tanks rolling by and the fighter planes zooming overhead. And it’s a nice surprise to discover that Paolo is not the only hero found in Florence. The others might catch you unaware. The story is dramatically told, with warm and believable characters. Hughes captures the fears and frustrations of a young person thrust into war. Historical Novel Society

The first novel from much-loved author and illustrator Shirley Hughes is a thrilling and moving story with a touch of romance, set against a dramatic background of war-torn Italy. Based on Hughes' own experience of visiting Florence not long after the Second World War, it is a warm, tender tale of courage against the odds, which deals frankly with the brutality of war, yet maintains a distinctive sensitivity and lightness of touch. Book Trust

If you are a fan of books about World War II especially different aspects such as the situation in Italy I do recommend this book - it is sure to be in many public libraries.  Here are some other books about resistance fighters and World War II which might be in your library.

• What about me? by Gertie Evenhuis
• The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin
• The upstairs room by Johanna Reiss
• Letters from the lighthouse by Emma Carroll
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• Belle and Sebastien

This is such a wonderful book but it is very old and long out of print.

You are sure to be familiar with Shirley Hughes and her wonderful picture books for very young children. In this video she talks about Hero on a Bicycle. 

Shirley Hughes illustrated more than 200 children's books and is one of the best-loved writers for children, with beloved classics including the Alfie and Annie Rose stories, and Dogger. She won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and was awarded the OBE for her distinguished service to children's literature. In 2007, Dogger was voted the UK's favourite Kate Greenaway Medal-winning book of all time. She passed away in March 2022 at the age of 94.

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

Reading this book over the last couple of days has been a joyous and absorbing reading journey. I read the final chapters on the train this morning - hopefully no one saw me crying when I reached chapter 17.  

I had a totally wrong impression from the cover of this book. The front of this house looks quite Japanese to my eye but in fact this is a story set in England featuring children evacuated from London and sent to stay with rural families from 1940 onwards.  The title comes from a fragment of memory.

"Mum always said her children hung the moon."  "you know you've got the right mum when you find one that thinks you hung the moon."

These three children come from a wealthy family. Sadly both of their parents are dead and up until now they have been in the care of an austere grandmother and a series of housekeepers. Their grandmother has now also died and so the three orphans are evacuated to the country. They had no parents in their childhood but they did have a wealth of books and these are mentioned all through the story and then helpfully listed at the back of the book.

In the first home they encounter two brothers who are dreadful bullies. Kate Albus creates so much tension during these scenes. After one dreadful incident the children are sent to a different home with a woman, her three very young children and a baby. Her husband is off fighting in North Africa and she is living in poverty. The family used torn up newspaper in their outdoor toilet.  William, Edmund and Anna are cold, hungry and neglected. In one truly awful scene the boys are sent to work with a local farmer - killing rats. (warning this scene will distress sensitive readers). 

Finally, after months of worry and neglect the children are taken in by the town librarian. Her library has been their safe haven ever since their arrival. Now they all hope that Mrs Muller might consider letting them all stay - forever! This is the solicitors preposterous plan. 

Here are a few text quotes:

The Library - "Inside, the children were greeted by the sort of cool and reverent silence known only to places that house books ... they were home."

Changing the baby - "Removing the pins, she peeled the fetid thing back an inch or two, unwilling to inspect the scene to closely, (she) used the diaper to clean the baby's bottom as best she could ... Hesitating over the writing little body, the children learned a valuable lesson about the importance of speed when diapering a baby. A stream suddenly arced from the exposed infant, hitting Edmund squarely in the chest."

"The children pressed their straw pallets together for warmth but still slept fitfully. In the wee hours of the morning sleeting rain began to pelt the room, and the children awakened to find that all three of their mattresses were damp."

A wartime drama with enough depth and psychological complexity to satisfy budding bookworms. Kirkus

Publisher blurb: It is 1940 and William, 12, Edmund, 11, and Anna, 9, aren't terribly upset by the death of the not-so-grandmotherly grandmother who has taken care of them since their parents died. But the children do need a guardian, and in the dark days of World War II London, those are in short supply, especially if they hope to stay together. Could the mass wartime evacuation of children from London to the countryside be the answer? It's a preposterous plan, but off they go-- keeping their predicament a secret, and hoping to be placed in a temporary home that ends up lasting forever. Moving from one billet to another, the children suffer the cruel trickery of foster brothers, the cold realities of outdoor toilets and the hollowness of empty stomachs. But at least they find comfort in the village lending library-- a cozy shelter from the harshness of everyday life, filled with favorite stories and the quiet company of Nora Müller, the kind librarian. The children wonder if Nora could be the family they've been searching for. . . . But the shadow of the war, and the unknown whereaouts of Nora's German husband complicate matters.

Awards:

• An ALSC Notable Children's Book
• An SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner
• A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
• Named to the Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice List
• A CCBC Choice

You can hear an audio sample here. Here are some discussion questions. 

Kate Albus has a new book coming out in September.

Here are some other books that explore the evacuation of children from London during World War II. 

The war that Saved my Life

When the Siren Wailed

Vinnie's War