No Purchase Necessary by Maria Marianayagam

I got to the section with the Mercury bars and stared at the chocolate bar in front of me, my heart pounding so loud I was sure Scary Al could hear it from behind the till. I glanced up at the cash register. Scary Al was ringing up a customer. I should do it now, I told myself, but my hands trembled in my pockets. What on earth was I doing? This was not me. ... “Some people must steal to survive,” I whispered to myself. I needed to do this to survive Bridge Creek. I’d find a way to pay for it someday.

Ajay and his family (father, mother and younger sister) have come to America from Sri Lanka. Amma and Appa have very high expectations for their children. Ajay does not want to disappoint them, so it seems easier to tell them a lie about the grade for his poetry assignment. His father expects Ajay to always score over 90 but for this assignment, set by Ms Livingston, where students had to respond to the Robert Frost poem ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay', Ajay scored 79. This lie, telling his parents he scored 90, is the first of many. You could think of the term 'slippery slope'.

Ajay is a new student at Bridge Creek Middle School. Jacob is also fairly new too, but Jacob is a bully and has already acquired a couple of thuggish friends. Early in the story there is a terrible scene where Jacob sees Ajay eating a Sri Lankan Sandwich: 

"Just as I was about to take a bite of my sandwich, Jacob walked up with his goons. He stopped in front of me, blocking out the daylight, and my insides went as cold as my outside. He looked at my sandwich and scrunched up his face. “What’s this stinky sandwich, Uhh-jay?” That also wasn’t my name. ... “Swi Lunk what?” Jacob howled. “What kind of meat is that?” Brad and Eric snickered again. ... “Yeah, it’s gross,” I said, and immediately felt guilty. It was my favorite. “You should throw it out,” he said as he munched his chocolate bar mindlessly. I’d never tried a Mercury bar, and here he was chewing it like a piece of stale gum. He was testing me, and I was ready. I needed to prove to Jacob Underson that I could be cool. Carefree. I shrugged. “Okay.” I walked over to the trash can and threw out my uneaten sandwich. Jacob smirked, then turned around and walked away."

From that day on it broke my heart to read that Ajay always bought a simple ham and cheese sandwich to school. He also cleared his locker every day and carried every book home just in case he needed one for a school assignment. Ajay puts so much pressure on himself. Thank goodness he does excel at maths and karate. 

It's that chocolate bar that leads to the next problem and the incident that 'snowballs' into so many terrible lies and dilemmas for Ajay. Jacob tells Ajay to steal a Mercury Bar from Scary Al's store. Ajay is terrified but also desperate for approval so he takes the chocolate and stashes it in the waist band of his trousers. Jacob is 'mock' horrified and he tosses the treat away. When Ajay picks it up he finds he has won the prize. But how can he claim this million dollar prize when he didn't buy the chocolate; and how can he tell his parents; and what about Scary Al, the store owner - surely, he will contact the police; and then there is the complication of his new friend Mindy - the way all of this happened this chocolate bar should have been her purchase. Oh and what do the words "no purchase necessary" actually mean?

There is so much tension in this story which is driven by the complex moral dilemma of what to do if you win one million dollars but actually it seems impossible to claim the prize.

Here are a couple of text quotes:

My throat tightened. That was the thing about Appa and Amma. They could be one hundred percent scary and one hundred percent loving at the same time. And maybe we were all like that. Not a list of things, but a messy pile—jumbled, overlapping, and contradicting.

I wanted to tell them about the chocolate bar, but my heart started palpitating when I thought about it. I couldn’t. The right thing to do was to let it go, I decided. I’d paid Al back. I wasn’t redeeming the prize. It was time to move on and start over. But for some reason, it still felt like I had miles to go before I got some sleep.

I had all these rituals because I wanted my life to be perfect. Perfect student. Perfect son. Perfect everything. And what about my life was perfect anymore? Nothing. I was a thief. And now I’d nearly killed someone.

He cleared his throat. “We put high expectations on you because we don’t want you to ever struggle the way we have. We do it because we want you to have better lives than we’ve had.” He turned to Aarthi. “But maybe, somewhere along the way, we became too hard on you.”

For more plot details read this detailed plot summary by Ms Yingling - I love her final comment:

This made me SO anxious the whole time I was reading it, which just shows how good the writing was, but it was not a good feeling! I thought of a dozen different ways that Ajay would have been able to claim the prize, and it was frustrating when he didn't take any of my advice! 

Here in Australian you will need to wait to read this book. I read an ebook version. The print copy (256 pages) is only in hardcover so far and it is very expensive but hopefully a paperback edition is planned. This book will be devoured by readers aged 10+ and it fits that expression "windows and mirrors". For some this book will be a window into the life of a migrant family and the cultural expectations of parents and while others are sure to relate (mirrors) to the pressures placed on Ajay and his sister and the unfairness of the way Amma and Appa are treated in their new country. 

Maria Marianayagam lives in Alberta, Canada: "My stories call upon a childhood and adulthood of multiple identities. I am a Canadian who was born in India. I am a Catholic but also Tamil Sri Lankan. I love writing but have a degree in chemical engineering. We all contain multitudes–and I draw on our intersections to inspire, empower, and engage young readers."

The novel’s plot twists will especially entrance and surprise younger audiences and those able to suspend disbelief and go with the flow of this completely age-appropriate and appealing story. Utter fun. Kirkus Star review

No Purchase Necessary is a warmhearted coming-of-age story about figuring out who you want to be and standing up for what’s right. Marianayagam has crafted an enjoyable, humorous, and thoughtful story that sheds light on immigrant struggles and the pressure kids face to be like their peers. Reading Middle Grade

Bookseller blurb: Ajay Anthonipillai has a million-dollar problem. Ajay has lived his life dutifully following the rules set by his Tamil parents.

• Rule #3: Straight As only
• Rule #5: There is no such thing as a no-homework day.
• Rule #10: Never watch scary movies.

However, moving to a new school gives Ajay a new rule to follow: Get on seventh-grade all-star Jacob Underson's good side. When Jacob asks him to steal a Mercury bar from Scary Al's convenience store, Ajay feels this is his chance to finally "get cool" and stop eating alone. But Jacob rejects the stolen chocolate bar, leaving Ajay to unwrap it and discover that it contains Mercury's Twenty-fifth Anniversary Grand Prize...one million dollars. Faced with an extreme dilemma, Ajay will have to bear the weight of his actions and battle his morality in deciding whether to claim the prize that may change the life of his family forever.

There are some interesting book and poetry references in this story. Ajay loves The Hardy Boys book series. Mindy loves Nancy Drew. Ms Livingston sets assignments on famous poems by Robert Frost: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening; and The Road Not Taken.

Companion books:

Scar Town

The Eleventh Trade

These two are for younger readers:

Bored Book One: Milo finds $105

Mr Chickee's Funny Money

Spirit by Cherri Ryan illustrated by Christina Booth

To me, the title of Spirit sums up the theme of the book. It conjures up the strength of spirit that each of us has inside ourselves and our character has to find when Spirit encounters a big crash. 

Cherri Ryan

I built a ship from this and that.

I named her Spirit.

Could Spirit sail?

I knew she could.

In the garden Spirit's handkerchief sail helps her glide across the lily pond. Over the coming days the little girl takes Spirit into larger and larger bodies of water. At night, in her dreams, she imagines herself on board her boat oiling the hull, polishing the deck, tightening the sails. But this little vessel is fragile. What will happen when she is pushed against the rocks?

"I searched for her, left and right. Where was she? There! I plummeted into the reeds. I lifted my broken Spirit and cradled her. All through the night, I tended her, and mended her, from this and that. By morning I knew Spirit was not broken. She was stronger. My Spirit was stronger than ever before."

How did I miss this book back in 2018? And how did the CBCA miss it in their 2019 Notables? This is one of those special books you could share with your younger group aged 6+ and also with upper Primary readers. Christina Booth is a fabulous Australian illustrator - you can see more of her books here. We (IBBY Australia) did contact Christina Booth asking if she might like to participate in our Mini Masterpiece art auction. If we run this again in 2027 I hope we can entice her to support us - I would love to own a piece of her art. 

Spirit is a NSW Premier's Reading Challenge title. If you read PRC titles your library Spirit is a K-2 PRC title [31130] or you could encourage a teacher of Grades 4-6 to share this with their class. Sailing fans will enjoy all the nautical references but there are also deeper themes to consider and discuss. 

Here is an interview with the author and a quote:

Approximately five years ago, I came up with a story idea, which I originally called ‘My ship won’t sink’ which was about a child going through some difficult times and he turned his bed into a pirate-style ship and added planks and all sort of bits to it whenever he felt he needed to add strength to his life. That story sat in my mind for a long time while I worked on other things. One day, I was driving to work when the story began to change in my mind and I pulled over my car and scribbled it onto the back of a receipt in my glove box as I knew that this was how the story was meant to be. At that stage it was called ‘Hope’ but other than a few small changes, it was very similar to the final story. I learned that a child’s first sailing boat is called an ‘Opti’ which is short for ‘Optimists’ and I thought that concept also captured my story.

Reading Time said: This is a special picture book that sends a message of persistence and resilience, and the importance of trying again and again if we do not first succeed. Highly recommended for all school and public libraries, this is one to watch out for.

This is a wonderfully positive story to read with young children, reaffirming the reality of not always being successful but encouraging them to try again. Read Plus

Spirit is a deceptively simple story about a boat being mended after each foray into the world but as the title indicates Spirit is also a parable for everyone who has ever set out into the perilous unknown seeking their destiny and as such is a positive message to children to persevere and believe in themselves and their dreams. Story Links

Companion book:

The Little Boat

The Book Without a Story by Carolina Rabei

This could be the perfect book to read to your younger groups in your school library at the beginning of the year. What do the children think happens to a library book when it is borrowed? Of course it has an adventure and then when the book is returned this adventure is shared with all the other library books.

I thought of the Bluey episode Bob Bilby Season One episode 12 called Bob Bilby where Bingo brings a class toy home and the family record Bob's weekend with the family. Following this idea and the one in A Book without a Story the children write an adventure for their library book - showing plenty of reading time and sharing!

Blurb from author page: When the library closes, and the last librarian has gone home to bed . . . the books come alive and tell stories of their adventures. But Dusty the book has never been borrowed and dreams of finding someone to share his story with . . .   Will he find his perfect reader?

Readers will find themselves wanting to hug a book after reading this story. Kirkus

Companion book:

Sorry Miss Folio

You can see more books by Carolina Rabei here. She lives in the UK. These three are especially worth hunting out plus Snow also by Walter de la Mare:

Bitza by Andrew Daddo illustrated by Stephen Michael King

"I've never seen a dog like you before. What are you? You look a bit Staffy and a bit Kelpie. I think I can see a bit of Labrador 

and some doodle too."

"You got some Blue Heeler in you too? ... 

Or maybe that's Cattle Dog. Boy you're a beauty, Bitza."

There are two books (so far) in this series (two more are planned) and they are great fun! Do not hesitate to add these to your school library. Stephen Michael King has, I am so thrilled to say, returned to his 'roots' and added the most perfect little drawings (not digital) to these easy chapter books.  Your students who love dogs will adore these but so will all the other kids. In 2027 there will be a new CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) awards category for junior books like these. I do hope we see Bitza on the 2027 Notables - yes it is that good!

From Chapter Two Bitza - Rules? What rules?

You have seen Stephen Michael King illustrate dogs like this before in Mutt Dog, Barney by Catherine Jinks, Pocket Dogs by Margaret Wild and Three. (Click this link to see all of his books).

Andrew Daddo also knows so much about dogs! Yes, Bitza is written from the point of view of one very irresistible little dog but there are so many other dog traits that he highlights and that made me laugh.

"I do know that I can smell food very well. And when I smell food I tend to drool. It just happens. It's like someone turns on a tap in my mouth and eventually it fills up and spills out the corners."

"Want more? she asked. 'Well, duh! That's like asking if cats are a little creepy. I'm part Labrador, of course I want more."

"I didn't mind that they watched me eat, as long as they didn't want me to share it."

"Dad reached down and rubbed my head, getting the knuckles in that groove right in the middle of my ears and making my back leg shake."

Chapter 9 is great fun - Jas and Dad ask Bitza does he prefer a ball or a stick. Such a hard decision for a dog who loves BOTH! Then just when you think everything is good or even great for Bitza, the daughter of his old owner shows up. But you (or your young reading companion) will never guess how this could possibly be resolved.

I think the second book is even better than the first especially towards the end when Bitza is left home alone. He digs a hole in the garden (even though that is breaking one of dad's rules) but then things get really crazy when the dog next door encourages Bitza to dig up all the newly planted flowers. I kept thinking about Freddy's motivation. I thought he might want Bitza to get into terrible trouble so that he might be sent away and Freddy could regain Jasper all for himself but no - wait until you see Freddy's own backyard. Does Bitza get into dreadful strife? The ending of this second story is sure to give you a huge smile - I cheered!

You can see inside Bitza here. And this snipped page will give you an idea of the text size and wonderful illustrations:

"I couldn't have been clearer if I wanted to be. That dog behind you is slobbering on my ball."

This series is sure to become an Aussie classic, perfect for newly confident readers or for a family read aloud, we just love it. Rachel Robson Gleebooks Kids

This promises to be a favourite with all the children that long for a pet to love ... Perfect illustrations by Stephen Michael King complement the  humorous text. Kids' Book Review

Your library might also have this dog series illustrated by Stephen Michael King:

Here are a few other books by Andrew Daddo. It is interesting to see that he has be so lucky to 'score' some of our fantastic Australia illustrators such as Emma Quay; Craig Smith; Jonathan Bentley; Judith Rossell and of course Stephen Michael King.

There are four books in the Skoz the Dog series

The Boy and the Dog Tree by Fiona Wood illustrated by Judy Watson

"You desire to know why I have come to you. It is simply this: when called upon by a child in need I emerge from the tree ... Your sadness and fears called me. .... You await the return of your parents and fear for their safety. You are tormented daily by your enemy."

Begin with the title. The boy - his name is Mitch. The Dog Tree. There is a tree in the bushland behind gran's house that looks, well a little, like a dog. Mitch loves dogs. He has wanted one his whole life. He also loves this tree. Climbing the tree after he and his sister move in with Gran, he makes a wish that will change his life and help him adjust to the complex challenges and changes in his life.

Characters:

Mitch is unhappy about moving to a new city - Sydney to Melbourne. He is worried about fitting in at a new school. He desperately misses his parents who are overseas shooting a movie. And all he has ever wanted is a dog - a dog of his own. 

Mitch has a fantastic younger sister named Regi. I love the way her personality is totally the opposite of Mitch and yet he has no resentment about this. 

Gran is also wonderful. She is a scientist but I was entirely wrong about her reaction to Mitch's story about the arrival of his dog and I cheered over the scene where she meets Argos. Gran is also, and I love this discovery, a fantastic cook. 

Dido is a great friend. She understands the dynamics of the peer group and is also brave enough to help Mitch (spoiler alert) when he needs help to rescue Argos.

Argos has lived many lives. He has a delightful formal and old-fashioned way of speaking. He uses words like 'tarry not'; 'twas upon a platter'; and 'thus do I know'. He is also very wise and of course a truly loyal friend. "Mitch could name a hundred dog breeds, but he'd never seen anything quite like this wild, majestic creature. ... It was a bit like a wolfhound, but more solid. Fur as black as liquorice, tanged and long. Up on its hind legs it would tower over the tallest of men." Argos also makes a couple of very astute comments about adults and their use of mobile phones! He also smells wonderful. 

Seb Anders is the class bully. If you have encountered bullies in other books be warned Seb is among the worst. He takes every opportunity to taunt and hurt Mitch. There is an early scene in the book where Seb takes Mitch's lunch box and he tips everything into the dirt and then stomps on the food. 

Ms Zwerger their teacher has decided the class will live 'unplugged'. Such a terrific idea. You will enjoy reading about the activities she sets her class. 

I feel so very lucky to have read this book a few weeks before it is due to be released (3rd March). Huge thanks to Gleebooks Kids for entrusting me with an advance reader copy of The Boy and the Dog Tree. I know it is early in 2026 but I am going to predict this book will be devoured by young readers aged 9+ and it surely will be selected as a 2027 CBCA Younger Readers Notable title - YES it is THAT GOOD.

Bookseller blurb: Magical. Whimsical. Wild. This exceptional middle-grade novel about the special bond between a boy and his dog will set your heart free.

'So, are you my dog?' Mitch asked, in a whisper.

'No,' said Argos. 'But you are my boy. For a time.'

Mitch's life has been uprooted. Instead of the whole family moving to a new city, Mitch and his sister are staying with their gran, while their parents have been delayed working on other side of the world. He's struggling to fit in at school, with the resident Grade Five bully picking on him. The one thing that would make his life better is a dog, if only he could persuade his parents. Then Mitch discovers an old oak tree that seems to ... growl. And one night, a huge, strange dog-like creature emerges from the trunk. His name is Argos. He has been bound in the tree by 'history, mystery, magic and chance', and he is here, for a time, to help Mitch find his way. But being different can be dangerous, especially for a wild and wilful beast like Argos ... While at first Mitch looks to Argos for friendship and protection, there comes a time he must stand up for this magical creature who has changed him forever. A heart-lifting tale of friendship, courage and belonging by three-time CBCA Award-winning author Fiona Wood.

It was wonderful read that Mitch is a boy who is 'allowed' to express his emotions:

"When he was as high up as he could go and settled in a comfortable crook (of the tree) he let himself cry. This was quite the year of crying. He had honestly expected to be crying less as he got older not more. These days he cried because of how he felt ... In the categories of crying, today was a simple hold-it-together-all-day-then-let-it-out cry. It didn't last long and he felt much better afterwards."

UQP have some excellent teacher notes and discussion questions to use with The Boy and the Dog Tree including suggesting students could research the names Argos; Calliope; and Ceberus. 

The teachers notes list all these themes for The Boy and the Dog Tree: 

• Friendship 

• Belonging 

• Confidence 

• Courage 

• Compassion 

• Integrity  

• Loyalty  

• Perspective 

• Prejudice 

• Bullying 

• Magic 

• Dogs

I am not usually a fan of endorsements but Peter Carnavas is SO right when he says: ‘A beautiful book, filled with courage, magic and a huge ancient dog to wrap your arms – and your heart – around.’

I was interested to read an interview sent to me by UQP with the author Fiona Wood (she previously has won the Older Readers category in CBCA Book of the Year Awards for Wildlife; Cloudwish; and Take Three Girls). She says her inspiration for her middle grade book came from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis; Five Children and It by E Nesbitt; and her first encounter with a magical tree was The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton. As I read The Boy and the Dog tree I also thought of another classic - Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. 

"The genesis of this story was an old oak tree whose trunk was gnarled into a shape that reminded me of a dog. Every time I walked past it, I wondered when, how and why a dog - or the spirit of a dog - might be trapped within the tree."

Companion books:

One Dog and His Boy

The eyes and the Impossible

Elf Dog and Owl Head

A Different Dog

Talking to Alaska

The Hounds of Penhallow Hall

The Dream Dog

The issue of bullies looms large in this book. I appreciated the way Fiona Wood gives her readers a small glimpse into why Seb might behave like this in the scene where we witness the actions of his mother the Mayor but she doesn't 'reform' or 'redeem' him. Please note some of these books below contain confronting scenes of bullying and are intended for an older audience:

Swashbuckler

The Night Bus hero

The Truth as told to Mason Buttle

Running my own race

Chapter 39 has a tender scene where Mitch thinks about the time his dad helped him overcome his fear of the dark. I know this is a picture book for younger children but I immediately thought of this favourite:

Martin Waddell

And the scene (sorry another spoiler) when the family go to the dog home or rescue centre is sure to remind you of this classic Australian picture book:

Let's get a Pup

The Red Lemon by Bob Staake

"Over the hills and along the blue sea, 'The lemons are ready!' shouts Farmer McPhee."

The farmer loves his lemons. The people love these lemons. They make sherbet, drinks, cookies, cakes, muffins and shakes. But one day a rogue lemon appears - it is red!

"Who'd squeeze this red thing in their afternoon tea? Who'd buy a red lemon from Farmer McPhee?"

Famer McPhee throws the red lemon over to a nearby island but as you your reading companion or library group might predict lemons (no matter what colour) contain seeds and so if the conditions are right then ...

Does this book have a deeper message about acceptance of difference; trust; risk taking; perfection, consumerism (look closely at all the advertising banners) - probably, but it will also just be a fun book to read to your young preschooler. You could also talk about the way something that was discarded turned into something special and there is a whole discussion you could have with older students about the fate of the original orchard or island. Here are a few discussion questions. It would be fantastic to copy the double page spread of the futuristic red lemon town to read all the advertising signs. The one that says McPhee Memorial Building might give you a slight chill. Hopefully if you can find this book you will agree it is one of those picture books that will work equally well with young children and your older primary group.

"The Red Lemon" tells the tale of jolly Farmer McPhee, a perfectionist who one day finds a red lemon, a freak of nature, in his pristine orchard. He hurls the offending fruit onto a nearby deserted island. Little does McPhee know that he has just planted the seed that, long after his own orchard has gone to weed, will be the foundation for the thriving tourist destination Red Lemon Island. We see the island 200 years in the future, complete with its own Air Red airline and Bitter End discothèque. Bob Staake

A quirky city has evolved with an economy based on these fabulously sweet red lemons, attracting people from all over the world. Kirkus

Here is the publisher blurb: In this thought-provoking tale reminiscent of Seuss, Farmer McPhee finds a red lemon in his orchard and cries, "It's red as a stop sign! It's red as a rose! I can't have red lemons where yellow fruit grows! Imagine a world where lemonade's red? Where once-yellow cupcakes are crimson instead?" As he tosses the red lemon across the water, he can't imagine that it will land on a small island, sprout a seed, and someday bring forth an orchard of lemon trees...where people will travel to from all over, to try the red lemons that are "six times as sweet!"

Here are some more books about lemons. 

Companion book:

And if you want to talk about planting things try to find this vintage book:

The Lollipop Tree

Here is another Bob Staake book I really loved:

The Book of Gold

I did a search for other books by Bob Staake and now I have added his name to my library borrowing list for next week.

Bea, Bart and the Birds by Katrina Nannestad illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

Alliterative siblings Bea and Bart have a knack for attracting lost birds. Fortunately, they live in a mansion and so there is plenty of room for all these different creatures - Boo the owl; Polly the rhyming parrot; Doornail the peacock; Crumbs the sparrow; Squish the fairy wren; and Rosy the crow. Unfortunately having these creatures inside the house does lead to daily chaos. Mum keeps fainting; the butler keeps dropping plates of food and Nanny cannot get any sleep with the noisy parrot in the house. Oh, and I need to talk about Doornail. Doornail is a peacock and when the children find him, they think he is dead - dead as a doornail. In fact pretending to be dead is a clever defense mechanism for peacocks and the children soon discover this bird is actually alive. I have some country friends who have a peacock in their large back garden. He moved in about a year ago. I think they would like him to move on and no one really knows where he came from. The fun thing about having him living there is his almost daily feather show which delights the small children (and adults) who visit this house. 

Living in mansion might mean these children's parents are rich. They do have a nanny and a butler! A lady sees the kids with all their bird friends in the park, and she hatches a plan to kidnap the children and ask for a ransom. More chaos ensues and the children are rescued. 

This is a sweet story with an old-fashioned feel (think about having a butler and a nanny). It is easy to read with a good print size and plenty of illustrations along with short chapters. Bee, Bart and the Birds will also work as a family (very short) read aloud. The font changes will help readers identify words to emphasise such as in this sentence: "The birds bobbed and chirped. They loved walkies in the park."

This book, Bea, Bart and the Birds, comes from a new series from Affirm Press (Simon and Schuster). The three authors/commentators behind the Facebook and Podcast group "Your Kids Next Read" were asked, I think, or perhaps it was their idea, to develop some simple and hopefully appealing junior chapter books. The series name is taken from their group name. 

Katrina Nannestad talks about her book here.

Here are the blurbs of the first four titles which were released this week: 

The Lonely Lunch Club (Friends, School and Funny Stories) One lunchtime, Benji goes to the worst bench in the whole school instead of playing footy. There he meets a girl named Alice and a spider named Mabel. And Mabel needs their help! But can Benji and Alice do it alone? 

The Missing Pencil Case (Mystery, Family and Funny Stories) Lea has lost her pencil case. It's full of money she has collected for charity! Lea must search all over her apartment block for the missing pencil case. Where could it be?

Will Finn Win? (Animals, Sport and Friends) Fin never wins anything. On school sports day, a naughty puppy stops Fin from coming first in his race. Will Fin ever win? Or will he learn that there are more important things than medals? 

Bea, Bart and the Birds (Animals, Family and Surprising Stories) It all starts with Boo, the owl. Bea and Bart take her home and love her. Soon, they have a feathered family! But Bea and Bart are not the only ones interested in these unusual birds … 

In July last year Joy Lawn (Paperbark Words) interviewed the YKNR team about their book series plans. Allison Tait, Megan Daley and Allison Rushby have quite lofty goals for their series. I have only read one title so far so I will reserve my judgment as to whether their goals have been met: 

• ‘We are thrilled to be part of the development of this incredible series, which offers a wide reading experience for young readers from creators whose work we love and admire. Your Next Read will provide adults with a one-stop shop for quality books for junior readers, while offering young readers books that are fun, exciting and aimed at building a love of literature.’
• Alongside a phonics-based approach to learning the skills of reading comes the most critical part of a child’s reading journey: the desire to keep reading. That’s where Your Next Read comes in – a bold new series designed to ensure every child learns to love reading.

If you are looking for junior series that most certainly could 'build a love of literature' see if your library has Aussie Nibbles and the Solo series which are perfect for younger readers and most certainly do contain 'fun' and very satisfying stories. 

Quirky things to notice:

The shape - with rounded corners - this harks back to the wonderful series I just mentioned that we had here in Australia in the past called Aussie Nibbles, Aussie Bites and Aussie Chomps. The rounded corners are possibly intended to make the books stand out as different and I did read they are meant to look like collectors cards. There is spot varnish on the cover - silver for the first titles in the series.

Each book has a set of 'genre' labels on the cover - my book is listed as animals, family and surprising stories. I am not a fan of generifying school library collections but these little labels might help a young reader anticipate the plot of their book. 

I saw this promotional bookmark as part of the book display for this series

At the back of the book readers are invited to take a survey and this then tells them which book could be Your Next Read. 

There is a plan to have 36 titles for this series and they are coded silver and gold. These colours link with suggested ages Silver=ages 5-8 Gold=ages 7-9.

Of the four titles from this first batch it seems the creators have somewhat deliberately tried to have 2 "girl" title and two "boy" titles. 

You might recognise some of the author and illustrator names. I purchased Bea, Bart and the Birds (it's a fun alliterative title as I already noted) because I have read nearly every book (for older readers) by Katrina Nannestad and I do love art by Cheryl Orsini. I am so glad that each book will have a different authors and illustrators. Your young readers might then go on to explore other titles by these creators. 

I was pleased to see Affirm Press have kept the price at a lower level for the series at AUS$13 each.  I did spy them for just AUS$10 each in a chain store today. I do wish the paper was slightly higher quality but I guess you need to balance this against a lower price and also consider the intended audience is home ownership not library collections perhaps.

Here are some of the authors and illustrators who will contribute to this series: Peter Cheong, Jane Godwin, Jade Goodwin, Anita Heiss, Kylie Howarth, Tom Jellett, Maddy Mara, Jasmin McGaughey, Katrina Nannestad, Cheryl Orsini, A. L. Tait, Kate & Jol Temple, Amelia Mellor, Jess Racklyeft and Briony Stewart. In one bookshop today the four titles from 'Your Next Read' were all placed together and in a different shop they were scattered among the junior chapter titles in alphabetical order. If you do add these to your school library I would pop them all together in a series box or on a series display spinner. 

Jane Godwin was previously the author of several titles from the Aussie Nibbles and Aussie Bites series including one of my huge favourites Poor Fish. Here's a list of all her books. 

Here are the next two titles due out in June: