Candle Island Lauren Wolk

"Six mysteries waited for me on Candle Island.

One involved a bird.

The second a hidden room.

A song the third.

A poet the fourth.

A cat fifth.

A fire sixth.

Each of them exciting in its own way.

But none more interesting than the mystery I took there with me."

Begin with the cover - I really like it and after reading this book you will want to go back and see how an important story element has been incorporated into this illustration. 

Here is the quote on the opening page - it is very pertinent to this story:

"As music is the poetry of sound, so is painting the poetry of sight." James McNeill Whistler

I think sensitive readers (with some reading stamina) aged 10+ will really enjoy Candle Island. I had no idea this story was set in the 1970s (see the Kirkus review).  I loved the island setting and the way Lucretia and her mum were keeping the identity of the artist of their famous paintings a secret kept me turning the pages knowing that they were sure to be discovered. I was also happy that there was no twist at the end and that the bad things that happened on the island were all down to those awful rich kids as Lucretia, Bastian and Murdock suspected. If you look at the labels I have assigned this post you can see the plot covers a lot of things - Lucretia finds a wounded baby bird (an osprey) and she nurses him back to health; there are three summer kids who are dreadful bullies; there is an art theft; the island is small and suspicious of strangers; Lucretia and her mum are experiencing terrible pain after the death of her father; and each of the three island kids has a special talent. Oh, and I do need to mention two more things - mum cooks delicious food in this book and I adore the town librarian (I think I need to make a list of books that feature very special librarians).

Curious readers might want to know more about osprey birds after reading this book. Also Lucretia is named after Lucretia Mott - a Quaker suffragist and anti-slavery campaigner. You might also want to learn more about the scale of being or the Great Chain of Being. 

Candle Island is set on an island - I know that is obvious - so I was not surprised to read Lauren Wolk lives on Cape Cod. I really enjoy visiting islands and I enjoy books set on islands and even though I have not been there for some reason Maine, USA has a special fascination for me.

Here are some text quotes:

"When I let myself spill onto the canvas like melted wax, I built a world where I felt exactly right, entirely who I really was. Free. Unwatched. Alone."

"He was singing a story. A sad one that suddenly became something else and then something else again, the colour changing as the story did, from a radiant magenta to some kind of violet. And then a gold I rarely heard."

"When I hit the water, my head exploded. Every particle of my body panicked. It was as if I'd been injected with frozen mint. As if my skin was size too small. As if I'd been scoured with a wire brush dipped in acid. All of that, all at once."

The town librarian - notice the placement of the word beautiful: "She was old. Thin. In a black dress with a lace collar. Her hair was a beautiful white, twisted into a crown on top of her head. Her skin was the same deep brown as my eyes. ... At her full height she was smaller than I was, but she seemed much taller."

"The most common form of despair is not being who you are - Soren Kierkegaard"

There are certain authors for children that are capable of the kind of writing that is not merely full of strong character growth and interesting plotting, but legitimately lovely prose as well. On a single page I found lines that end with glimpses of a “bruise-blue sea.” Or, when Lucretia thinks about befriending the prickly Murdock, she is thinking of, “How adding even a little yellow to the coldest gray could warm it toward something altogether new. But Murdock was a girl, not a painting. I would have to remember that.” I mark in my copy of this book the lines I like best. What’s remarkable about them is how seamlessly they’re integrated into the plot. Betsy Bird SLJ

And bottom line, this is a beautiful book set on a beautiful island off the coast of Maine. It will linger in your heart. Sonder Books

Wolk’s latest novel wonderfully portrays new relationships while tackling grief and self-discovery. The characters are well developed, and readers can see parts of themselves and those they know. The book also has several small mysteries that readers will be itching to solve. While a work of historical fiction, the story has the modern feel of a quiet life without current technology and trends. School Library Journal

Here is an interview with Lauren Wolk.

I spied this book some weeks ago and knowing how much I loved every previous book by Lauren Wolk, I added it to my 'to read' and 'to buy' list. Luckily for me this book has appeared in the library where I work as a volunteer, so I borrowed it and read it over one or two days. This is a longish book with 340 pages, but the print size makes it easy to read and of course Lauren Wolk creates a page turning story with characters you really care about. The library has a copy because this book was sold as a Scholastic Australia Book Club title (issue 5, 2025 AUS$12). We are having extreme rain conditions in my city and so today (after some very necessary chores) I snuggled down beside my heater and finished read Candle Island.

Publisher (Scholastic Australia) blurb: Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine (Population: Summer, 986; Winter, 315) with a secret to keep ... and to escape—escape memories of the car accident that killed her father and escape the journalists that hound her mother, a famous and reclusive artist. The rocky coast and ocean breeze are a welcome respite for Lucretia, who dedicates her summer days to painting, exploring the island, and caring for an orphaned osprey chick. But Candle Island also has secrets—a hidden room in her new house, a mysterious boy with a beautiful voice—and just like the strong tides that surround the shores, they will catch Lucretia in their wake. With an unforgettable New England setting and a complex web of relationships old and new, this is a powerful story about art, loss and the power of being true to your own voice.

There is a huge error in my Scholastic Australia copy of this book. This book was originally published in hardcover by the Penguin Young Readers Group [9780593698549]. My copy in paperback is a new 'edition' BUT the imprint page does not acknowledge the original publisher or date of publication AND the author's name is spelt incorrectly as Wolke. This is funny but also disturbing. 

Other books I have loved by Lauren Wolk:

Wolf Hollow

My Own Lightning

Beyond the Bright Sea

Echo Mountain

Clouds, Waves and Wind by Sarah Zambello illustrated by Susy Zanella

Reading Time: There is so much to look at, read about and think about on each page that this book could not be read-through in one sitting. It is a book to return to over and over again, learning a little more each time and gradually coming to appreciate the long history of love and curiosity humanity has had with the sea. The production and design are handsome, professional, and irresistible.

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition across the seas to discover why the ocean has always fascinated us. Ride over wild seas and calm waters. Learn about currents, tides and how to classify waves. Be awestruck by the power of the ocean.

I spied one book from this series in a city bookstore and I was hooked. If I was still purchasing books for my school library I would most certainly add these three titles. The Wave Atlas for example would be so perfect for my previous school which is located in a coastal suburb - as you might imagine surfing is a very popular sport and I am sure the students are quite expert on the topic of waves. Thames and Hudson always produce books of the highest quality. The retail price of these books is AUS$35 but I have found copies online for around AUS$28. The author and illustrator are both from Italy.  Each book has 80 pages and are aimed at readers aged 8+. 

Here are the Italian titles: Nuvolario. Atlante delle nuvole (Clouds); Ondario. I movimenti del mare (Waves); Ventario. Le Scale dei Venti (Wind); and one we don't have in English yet about Snow - Nevario. Le forme della neve. There is also one about Comets in Italian.  I love the cover of the waves book:

As with Cloud Atlas, the same creative duo behind Wave Atlas somehow manages to bring the concept of waves alive. Enticing snippets of historical information weave throughout the text while real images and artwork distil together leaving no doubt as to the many moods and forces the ocean is capable of assuming. Kids' Book Review

Here are the other two titles:

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition through the atmosphere to learn about the world's air currents. Discover ways to measure the wind's force and learn how air pressure systems affect the weather. Float on gentle breezes, sway as the wind picks up and get blown away by a gale force. It's time to get swept up by the power of the wind.

Cloud Atlas takes this scientific obsession up a level or atmosphere as it were. Presenting as a benign coffee table type book, this beautiful collection of clouds speaks to Nephophiles (lovers of all things cloudy) and curious kids alike. Kids' Book Review

Reading Time: Clouds are with us nearly every day, offering us moods, shade, beauty, and fascinating shapes that prompt our imaginations. Sarah Zambello’s Cloud Atlas is an introduction for children, offering scientific, artistic and historical answers to all the questions they might have about clouds. Each page is comprehensively illustrated, either schematically or realistically, in gentle blues, whites and sunset or sunrise colours.

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition across the sky to discover why clouds have always fascinated us. Enjoy blazing sunsets, raging storms, bright blue skies and inky nights while learning the different types of clouds and what kind of weather you can expect from each variation.

It's time to see the skies with new eyes.

I am a bit crazy about clouds - I joined the Facebook group The Cloud Appreciation Society where people post photos of the most amazing clouds. And one of my most favourite books (long long out of print and very old) is this one:

Clouds

Hansel and Gretel illustrated by Anthony Browne

Bookseller blurb: This is a retelling of this famous, dark fairytale from award-winning author-illustrator Anthony Browne. "Hansel and Gretel" is perhaps the darkest and greatest of the fairytales from the Brothers Grimm. This extraordinary book brings the classic childhood tale to a new generation courtesy of one of the world's greatest picture book artists, Hans Christian Andersen Award-winner Anthony Browne.

Book Trust: Anthony Browne's Hansel and Gretel, adapted from the translation by Eleanor Quarrie, has a distinctly contemporary feel. This is enhanced by the humorous illustrations: the woodcutter, for example, has a television set in his home, and the cruel stepmother, trips daintily along in high heels and a striking yellow coat, a cigarette hanging from her mouth. 

The library where I am working as a volunteer had a collection of books for teachers to use with a student welfare program. Since this program is no longer used, she has decided to abandon the boxes. I spied Hansel and Gretel in one box and asked to borrow it. You will have a better understanding about why this book (published in 1981) is my focus further into this blog post but first off I need to say this is a picture book yes, this is a fairy tale yes, but it is also a book for much older students - did you guess that?

Vocabulary: famine; fretting; planks; coffins; grieved; new coins; wakened; lagging; brushwood; weariness; widespread; scolded; reproached; perish; and gnawing.

There has been some discussion on Facebook today about Picture Books for our older Primary readers in Grades 5 and 6. I was immensely proud of my senior picture book collection. A question was asked about encouraging kids to borrow and read these and also about loaning them to younger students - even Kindergarten.  Can you hear me sighing. On this blog 135 books have the label "Senior Picture Book". These are among my most favourite books.

There are simpler less confronting versions of Hansel and Gretel but this is one example of a book that I would place with my senior picture books. This version illustrated by Anthony Browne is not designed for your very youngest library visitors.

The Teacher-Librarian on social media wanted to know what to do with picture books for older readers. Her concern was about usage. My answer - First off how can the kids know these books contain stories that Grade 5 and 6 kids will really enjoy? That is easy - promote, promote and promote again.

Then use these books, read them, add them to your library sessions and pass them onto the teachers to read. These books all formed the basis of my teaching with senior classes because they contain powerful stories and also, since my sessions were weekly and only 40 minutes, it was easy to read one of these and then have a really in-depth discussion. Have you seen the wonderful NCACL (National Centre for Australian Children's Literature) Picture Books for Older Readers database. This is a resource that should be shared with the teachers in your school and one to give you ideas about books to add to your own library collection.  

Here is a tiny selection of my own favourites from the hundreds of books I had on my senior picture bookshelves (Australian titles and international titles) plus a few that I discovered recently:

 (Note the initial question on Facebook was actually a about possibly labelling some picture books to indicate they could/should be read by or shared with an adult. I may talk about this idea in a later post).

If I had a Unicorn by Gabby Dawnay illustrated by Alex Barrow

Children will enjoy the experience of reading this book again and again, 

noticing something new each time. Kirkus

Publisher blurb: Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have a unicorn for a pet? Besides being much less angry than a troll and far more conveniently sized than a giant, unicorns only ever eat ice-cream for breakfast AND… every time you get upset they feed you candyfloss! In this humorous, energetically rhyming tale, a little girl experiences exactly what life would be like with a magical creature for a pet – from sprinkling stardust on grumpy parents to sliding into football practice on a rainbow. This book celebrates the magic of unicorns in a way that will appeal to children who are allergic to pink.

At the start of Children's Book Week here in Australia I walked along the road to our local Street Library and I found some picture book treasures. Someone must have cleared out their bookshelves over the weekend - winner winner!

One of the books I picked up was If I had a Unicorn published by Thames and Hudson and it is in almost mint condition. 

Why do I like and recommend this book?

• The end papers are based on the famous Unicorn Tapestries. 
• The seven individual hangings known as "The Unicorn Tapestries," are among the most beautiful and complex works of art from the late Middle Ages that survive. Luxuriously woven in fine wool and silk with silver and gilded threads, the tapestries vividly depict scenes associated with a hunt for the elusive, magical unicorn.
• This image is also referenced later in the story.
• The opening pages of this book are written as a rebus - what a fabulous way to begin this story.

• This book links perfectly with the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) slogan 'Book an Adventure':  "My unicorn would check his hooves - we'd travel far and wide ... Each day a new adventure. Just imagine - what a ride!"
• I love that this is a unicorn book that can be enjoyed by boys and girls. So many unicorn books are very pink and have more appeal to girl readers. 
• Very young children will enjoy calling out the 'forbidden' word when that pile of rainbow *** appears.

Here is the website for Alex Barrow. 

Gabby Dawnay has several other books in this series. I also need to find her book The Library Book illustrated by Ian Morris and her series about the seasons called A Field Guide (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter):

Book Week Parades - the good and the not so good!

We have reached the end of another book week. Apart from my own childhood I have been participating and observing Children's Book Week celebrations sinch 1985. 

Components of Book Week here in Australia

• The CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Awards 

Fifteen judges read hundreds of books over about eight months; a long list (or Notables list of up to 125 titles in 5 categories) is announced in February; a short list in six categories (including New Illustrator) is announced and then in August the award winners and honour titles are announced. Hopefully over this time every school library has added many of these books to their library collections and more importantly has shared these books with groups in their libraries and with class teachers and also hopefully they might have shared other books by the nominated authors or illustrators and perhaps even explored the slogan through book choices. By the time Book Week is celebrated young readers in our Primary Schools, preschools, and High Schools should be familiar with many of the notable and short-listed books and also the slogan.

• The Book Week slogan

Twelve months before Australian Children's Book Week the CBCA announce the slogan, or some people call it the theme, and reveal the illustrator who will create the associated merchandise such as posters. Some of my favourite slogans from the past are: Sail Away with books 1987 (art by Bob Graham); Imagine if you will…. 1990 (art by Ron Brooks); Anywhere Anytime Anybook 1996 (art by Steven Woolman); Weave the Book Web 1999 (art by Junko Morimoto); Oceans of Stories 2003 (art by Armin Greder); Book Safari 2009 (art by Matt Ottley); Books light up our world 2015; Curious Creatures, Wild Minds 2020 (art by Gwyn Perkins); and Reading is Magic 2024 (art by Jess Racklyeft).

• In NSW we hold a Night of the Notables (longlist)
• In March the Shortlist is announced via a professional video
• August is Australian Children's Book Week

Now onto the topic of this post - 

• Costume Parades and dressing up for Book Week 

Here are my thoughts organised under the headings - good and no so good.

The Good:

I saw some great ideas this year. In one school the kids and the Teacher-Librarian made simple costumes at school - no pressure on parents, no 'winning' competitive parents, no need for parents to be experts at arts and crafts; everyone can be involved; no 'rich/poor' divide; and this must have been fun. Hopefully also it had the essential BOOK focus. 

Or there is this idea where children can borrow a costume (for free).

At Kingston Primary School in Tasmania's south, a book week costume library is open for business in the days leading up to the book week parade. The costumes have been donated and come with a book to match. ... Over the past three years, Ms Briant and Tasmanian independent politician, David O'Byrne, have put together costume libraries for five schools. So far, close to 300 children have borrowed outfits.

Another idea I saw was from a local school near me. The Teacher-Librarian asked the children to come dressed in a way that matched the 2025 Slogan - Book an Adventure - she wanted them to come as adventurers. (As a side note to this I also on Facebook one of our celebrity Teacher-Librarians and her library staff - she is in a private school, so she has actual library staff - all dressed up as travel agents or perhaps flight attendants - a fun way to link with the slogan).

Not so good: Here are some things to think about:

Should the costume relate to a book? My view is a resounding yes, but I did see a lot of television shows; movies; and computer game related costumes.

Should the costume book be Australian? I am not quite so adamant about this one, but I did see way too many teachers dressed up as crayons (The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt) and Alice in Wonderland (which I am going to say I doubt many of the teachers had read); Peter Pan; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Also, as usual there were lots of Where's Wally outfits and of course where would we be without Harry Potter or Snow White - easy costumes you can buy (assuming you are able to afford them) from chain stores.

Should the child carry a book if there is a parade or at least have a copy of the cover perhaps as a lanyard? My view is yes - this is all supposed to be a celebration of books and reading. 

Should the costume be for an actual book that has been READ and enjoyed by the child? Again, you know that I am going to say yes. I found it odd when I saw a young child aged 9 or 10 in a costume based on the George Orwell book Animal Farm for example. I recently read the term 'reverse engineering' - find the costume then find a book that somehow matches - I find that sad and completely the wrong way around. I also have an issue with dressing up as pirates - I saw this in a few schools and often as the costume of choice for groups of teachers. Modern day pirates are a real and terrifying. This topic needs to be treated sensitively especially if you have immigrant children in your school. It is also odd to see students in senior primary classes dressed as The Cat in the Hat or Thing One and Thing Two. Surely these are no longer the favourite books of children aged 11 or 12?

Should there be prizes? Absolutely NO in my opinion. Surely this is supposed to be a fun activity not a competition. I despair when things like this create 'winners and losers'. And this is even worse when parents think 'they' need to win!

Does the school need to have a book week dress up day? No - check out my previous posts about this. 2013; 2015; 2016; and 2022.

Thoughts from the CBCA:

Jo Panckridge is the national board chair for the Children's Book Council of Australia. She said the book week parade didn't need to be high stress for parents.

"The idea behind it being that children connect emotionally to a book or to a particular character and want to dress up and emulate them," Ms Panckridge said.

"It's since become a rush on Amazon to buy the best, biggest, blow-up marvel super hero comic outfit."

She said book week shouldn't be a chore. Ms Panckridge said book week is all about celebrating books and Australian writers.

"I would like to see it far more about reading, the love of reading, reading for pleasure and joining in creating this big youth culture where reading matters and reading is important."

The CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) turned 80 this year. The 1945 slogan was "United through Books" - that seems just as relevant today. Every CBCA State Branch organised their own celebration. I adore these images from Western Australia:

For their 80th Celebration the CBCA in South Australia gave their presenters a camellia which echoes the original prize given in 1945.

And finally this writer makes some important points:

The Emperor's Egg by Rae Tan

It is my hope that little readers will learn that heroism isn’t just about grand gestures or having superpowers. A true hero is also someone who is honest and brave enough to stand by their values 

even in the face of challenges and temptations. Quiet heroism is also often found in our everyday efforts – whether it is standing up for a friend or sharing your toys and snacks, 

these little actions speak of bravery and kindness! Rae Tan Good Reading

Looking for a worthy successor to his throne, an ageing emperor gives all the children in his kingdom an egg. After thirty days, he will judge what each child delivers to him and choose his heir. Ren brings his egg home and takes the best care of it. He reads to it, sings to it, sleeps with it and keeps it warm. Ren waits and waits, but his egg never hatches, while all around him wondrous hatchlings are emerging from other children's eggs. In a hall full of magical creatures, how can Ren present his unhatched egg to the emperor? Teacher's Notes

Image source: Instagram Rae Tan

... a reimagining of an ancient Chinese folk tale about integrity, courage and patience. Queensland Reviewers Collective

The author Rae Tan, who was born in Singapore but now lives in Perth, is also the illustrator. Her particular art style, which is mainly in pastels and watercolours, displays the Asian culture and highlights moods and emotions through her figures. She holds a BA in international politics from King’s College London, and performance diplomas for both the piano and violin from Trinity College London. Currently, she is a music teacher working with young children. She is passionate about creating beloved characters and imaginative stories.

Here is an interview with Rae Tan where she talks about her book Pancakes for Plum.

My brain often thinks about book pairs and so as soon as I read this book a couple of months ago while browsing in a city bookstore I knew the perfect companion book. You could read the three books from this post as a part of a mini unit with your Grade One or Two students. And perhaps then add in another wonderful book by Julia Donaldson (that is not as well-known as her famous titles) The Magic Paintbrush. I also have a Pinterest of Picture Books with an Asian focus. 

The Empty Pot

You might also look for this one:

In a faithful retelling of an ancient Chinese folktale, Peng faces a dilemma. The emperor is old and childless, so he has decided to choose a successor from among the children. Calling them together, he gave each child a single seed and instructed them to nurture it for a year. After that time, they were to return to the palace and show what had grown. Despite careful and loving care, Peng’s seed has failed to even germinate. To avoid public humiliation, he tells his parents he doesn’t want to return to the palace. They tell Peng he should go and tell the emperor that he tried his best but failed. Each of the other children arrive carrying luxuriant plants with colorful flowers. The emperor inspects each one, but when he sees Peng’s vase and hears his report, he declares Peng his heir and discloses that the seeds he distributed could never sprout. Honesty and bravery are the qualities he sought in his successor. Only Peng had the courage to bring an empty vase and tell the truth. Source

The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks by Katherine Paterson illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

The cruel lord captures the beautiful Mandarin Drake. His mate is back on the nest guarding their eggs. The drake is placed in a cage but over time his plumage fades as he is desperately missing his mate. The lord has no interest in the drake and so the bird is placed in a far corner of the grounds. A young servant girl cannot see this bird suffer and so late at night she sets him free. Another employee of the lord is accused of the crime but when they are discovered together, both are condemned to death. Luckily two mysterious strangers arrive with an edict from the Emperor that it now illegal to execute any prisoners. The pair begin the long march to see the Emperor in the city but who are these mysterious strangers? 

A beautiful fable about kindness and that expression 'one good turn deserves another'. 

This story contains such a rich vocabulary - brocade; brag; lustre; delicacies; radiantly; retainers; and plumage. 

Blurb from the author webpage: Brilliant watercolor and pastel paintings in the style of eighteenth-century Japanese woodcuts illuminate this engaging retelling of a popular Japanese folktale. Coveting a mandarin duck for his magnificent plumage, a greedy lord captures and cages him for all to admire. But the wild creature pines for his mate. When Yasuko, the kitchen maid, releases the bird against the lord’s command, she and the one-eyed servant, Shozo, are sentenced to death. How the grateful drake and his mate return the loving couple’s kindness and outsmart the capricious lord makes for a wondrous outcome.

Paterson tells (this story) with subtlety, grace, and her characteristic sensitivity to such troths as that "trouble can always be borne when it is shared." The Dillons, who have twice won the Caldecott Medal, have outdone themselves in these elegant, deftly limned illustrations in a Japanese style. In mellow, grayed hues and crisp black, each double spread appears in two borderless panels that allow the eye to make them one without catching in the gutter; the blocks of text are expertly incorporated in the handsome design. An outstanding contribution. Kirkus Star review

Image source

If you do have a copy of this book it would be good to share it with a group of Grade 3-5 students and then take some time to discuss the role of folktales to impart important wisdom. This video is not perfect but it is a way for you to hear the whole story and see the very special art by Leo and Diane Dillon. I think this book might still be available and in paperback for a good price. You can see more books by Katherine Paterson here. 

I think this book may have come from a charity book sale. I found it on the processing shelves of a library where I am working as a volunteer. Unfortunately, someone has torn out the front-end paper. I guess I will place this copy in a local street library rather than add it to my own bulging shelves.