The Wild Unknown by Emily Gale

The year is 2045 so it's not that far into the future. There are plenty of ideas in this book that actually could happen such as personal assistants worn in the ear called 'mica'; body transplants such as hearts from animals; food orders delivered by robots called 'Goodbots'; government surveillance drones everywhere; student progress monitored by robots at school with reports sent regularly to parents; and talking appliances!

The idea of humans with body parts from animals is a key concept in this story but you might over look it.  It links with the strange changes happening to Eddie and a couple of his classmates and is introduced about two thirds of the way through the book. Eddie begins to grow feathers; he is fully awake at night and so exhausted all day; his eyes seem to have changed to night vision; he can run like an athlete way beyond his usual pace; and he can even stay under the water for a long period with no ill effects.

What is happening? How did this start? Eddie receives a delicious food delivery during the school holidays.

The Goodbot "was the size and shape of a stocky black labrador with a flat face consisting of two shining eyes and a fixed smile. It made it's way to the gate on wheels and rose to smoothly unlatch it. Then it activated its legs to navigate the step and padded towards Eddie like a cat approaching prey. ... (the treat) had to be eaten within the hour, it must be something fresh and delicious. ...the smell was something else - an aroma of fried chicken, freshly baked bread and something mysterious but delicious. ... Maybe it would taste as good as it smelt, instead of as bad as it looked. It did! Wow! WOW!"

Eddie does not question this gift from his dad even though his dad has never sent a food gift like this before and more importantly his father never uses and is even suspicious of Goodbots.

Meanwhile a boy named Theo is missing. You also need to know Eddie's mother works as a fact checker for an organisation called TruthUp because in the past "deep fakes and news-bots had turned the world upside down. No one had been able to trust a single thing they read or watched. TruthUp was trying to make news real again." Luckily Eddie has help to solve or partly solve all of this, his own body changes and the missing boy,  from his friend Kit, Kit's sister Romy and his own computer-game playing brother Jude. 

There is an interesting if somewhat minor theme explored in this story is about politics. A new political party has emerged - it is called Revive and it consists of dead former Prime Ministers. That part did give me a jolt. 

Blurb from author page: It’s 2045 and the world is full of tech. Eddie has a bot in his ear giving him advice all day, a bathroom scale that identifies illnesses, and classroom bots keeping track of him at school. The streets are full of delivery bots and game tech is amazing. But tech can’t help the police find a missing boy called Theo, who was last seen at the river. When they abandon the search, Eddie and his friends sneak down to the river to look for clues. What they find doesn’t make any sense. Then strange things start happening to Eddie. He’s never been sporty but suddenly he’s a brilliant runner. When a friend is caught in the bottom of the pool, Eddie rescues her from drowning by holding his breath for a suspiciously long amount of time. He has excellent night vision – and there are hair-like feathers growing out of his skin. It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. How can it be both? And what do the changes in Eddie have to do with Theo’s disappearance?

I did read this book quite quickly which means the story held my attention and I did enjoy the "hopefully invented" world of the future. Sadly though, two things let this book down - one, in my view, is the pastel colour choice for the cover and the second is the rushed and slightly unresolved ending - I don't think a sequel is planned. By the end of the book (spoiler alert) I was still unsure why the kids had been used in this experiment run by Theo's parents. I did find a reviewer who loved the cover - these things are always so subjective and personal. You can read more plot details here. Here is a Q and A with Emil Gale. Emily also talks about her book on this podcast (40+ minutes).

The Wild Unknown is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that explores the consequences of AI reliance and how this will shape our future. Emily Gale opens up a discussion, prompting children to ask what the benefits of AI are, and what should they be concerned about? She also hints at how AI might influence people in complex spaces, such as political parties misusing it for their own ends, or the media manipulating it. Through Eddie’s transformation and search for Theo, Gale highlights the importance of human relationships, of being able to turn to each other for help and support, and the beauty of the natural world. For ages 9+.  Readings Melbourne

(Its's) an unsettling, yet a compelling mystery that reminds us that human connection, using our own smarts and working together is better and more effective than the most up-to-date technology. It shows that we need a balance, to save humanity, to keep the world safe, and to make sure we don’t destroy the environment. This is in part a warning, and in part an examination of what could happen if gene modification and manipulation become weapons against humanity. Emily Gale has done a wonderful job of exploring this, departing from her usual historical fiction which I adore. A great example of not letting technology rule our lives. The Book Muse

The manipulation of humans using animal parts reminded me of this very old book (part of a series of three):

This Way Little Badger by Phil McMylor illustrated by Cliff Wright

"As the sun goes down and night draw in, Little Badger goes out into the wood for the very first time."

He is not alone. His big sister Belle is with him but somehow they get separated and now Little Badger is lost. He keeps hearing voices calling - 'Hurry home, Little Badger!'. But he has no idea which way to go. He meets an owl, a rabbit, a magpie, and a mouse. Then he finds himself trapped in a deep hole. Luckily he remembers something important his sister told him:

"A badger's claws are made for digging."

I know we don't have badgers here in Australia but I do enjoy books about forest animals and the illustrations in this heartwarming book are fabulous. 

About Cliff Wright:

In 1989 he published his first work in the UK and USA, a children's book called When the World Sleeps, written and illustrated by himself and which was runner-up in the Mother Goose Award for best debut.  Between 1990 to 2008 he produced a further nine titles, including the drawing manual, The Magic of Drawing and the Little Bear series of children’s books. As an illustrator, he has worked on volumes by authors such as Kenneth Grahame for Ladybird's edition of The Wind in the Willows and Gerald Durrell. In the two-year period 1998-1999 he designed the covers of the original British editions of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, published by Bloomsbury.

This book was published in 1997 but I found an almost mint condition copy at a recent charity book sale. This would be a terrific book to share with a very young child along side one of my all time favourite books about fear of the dark:

The Snow Dragon by Abi Elphinstone illustrated by Fiona Woodcock

"It was Christmas Eve, and Phoebe could see that the little town of Whistlethrop was covered in a thick layer of snow. It was the first snow of winter and it had come silently in the night, the way magic often does."

This opening sentence holds so much promise for a wonderful story. It is Christmas Eve - surely that means wishes can come true. The snow came silently the way magic often does - it is confirmed. Magic is coming. But who is Phoebe? Where is she living? Why does she need some magic in her life?

Phoebe lives in an orphanage and if you need confirmation that it is a horrid place just think about the name - Griselda Bone's Home for Strays. It seems the children who are taken there have to stay or stay that is, until Miracle Day.

As the story opens, it is Miracle Day, a day that happens only once each month. Today is Miracle Day but it is for Jack, Phoebe's friend. And now that he has gone, she is the last child left. All she has now is her little dog Herb. 

Griselda punishes Phoebe for using her imagination in a writing activity. She sends her to the dog kennels for the night. It is freezing cold and she is fastened with a metal cuff. Then something magical happens - you can see him on the book cover - the snow dragon.

WOW! This is a picture book I picked up a recent charity bookfair. I based this selection purely on the cover image. I didn't even bother to read the blurb on the back cover. What a fabulous discovery. This is a story about an orphan, it is about the power of dreams and imagination, and it has the most wonderful (and all important) happy ending.

Everything about this book, (which is an abridged version of a tale included in the collection, Winter Magic), is out of this world gorgeous. The telling is full of uplifting messages for youngsters, not least of which is that even in dark times ‘We all have the gift of wonder’ and mustn’t forget to look at the world’s natural beauty. ‘Be content. Be watchful. Be brave’ the dragon tells her. Red Reading Hub

The Snow Dragon was published in 2019 (it is still available) but the story originally appeared in an anthology entitled Winter Magic. Here is the webpage for Abi Elphinstone. I previously talked about her novel Sky Song.

Sky Song

Here is the webpage for Fiona Woodcock. Her work really shines in The Snow Dragon and here are some of her books which I will now hunt out:

Lancelot by Hudson Talbot

Your school library could be the key to the discovery of important stories such as fables, myths and legends, fairytales, and stories like this one about the Arthurian Knights.

Author webpage blurb: Though Arthur was the greatest king that Britain had ever known, Lancelot was the Round Table's greatest knight. Orphaned in battle and rescued by the Lady of the Lake, Lancelot is raised in the enchanted domain of Avalon, where he is schooled in the arts of chivalry by the finest knights in the world. After his arrival at Camelot, Lancelot goes forth to prove himself worthy of the honor bestowed upon him as the queen's champion. Defeating giants, slaying dragons and rescuing damsels in distress are all in a day's work for the dynamic, young warrior. But the passion that drives him to great deeds eventually drives him mad when he discovers the truth of his own heart's desire. Only love could wound him so deeply, but only love can heal him.

If you have some time and are curious about the story of Lancelot this article is filled with details from the various sources which have been used to create the story in this version by Hudson Talbot. 

As a way to begin your exploration of Lancelot with your young readers you could look for these books in your school or local library:

Sir Lance-a-little series

This book is one from a set of four Tales of King Arthur - The Sword in the Stone; King Arthur & the Round Table; Excalibur and Lancelot.

I previously talked about this wonderful book:

Leonardo's Horse

Hudson Talbot (1949-2026) was an American author and illustrator celebrated for more than 27 children’s books blending art, humor, history, and travel. Best known for We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story, adapted into a Spielberg animated film, his works include A Walk in the Words, River of Dreams, and his illustrated Newbery Honor book Show Way. His vibrant watercolors and storytelling continue to inspire readers after his death in 2026.

Maybelle in the soup by Katie Speck illustrated by Paul Ratz de Tagyos

Cockroach rules:

When it's light stay out of sight.

If you're spied, better hide.

Never meet with human feet.

Maybelle breaks each of these rules with hilarious consequences. Yum - Turtle Soup. She didn't see any turtles but the broth and tomatoes smell SO good. Yes, she lands in the soup tureen. Everyone runs away from the dinner party which means Maybelle can feast on the tasty leftovers scattered all over the dining table including the special cream desert. Unfortunately, she is caught by the cat, but she is not eaten - Maybelle is given as a gift to the homeowner Mrs Peabody. Ramona the cat is sure Mrs Peabody will LOVE this gift. Mr Peabody fails to stomp on Maybelle, but the humans call in the pest exterminators. Luckily this means the Peabody's need to spend the night in a fancy hotel. Luckily Maybelle and her friend a flea named Henry are able to stow away and spend the night at the hotel too and of course there are sure to be more adventures there!

Blurb: Maybelle is a lovely, plump cockroach. She lives in her own cozy little home under the refrigerator of Mr. and Mrs. Peabody. Maybelle knows it's best to stay hidden away, but she simply adores food. Just once she would love to taste something yummy before it hits the floor!When the Peabodys invite a Very Important Guest for dinner, Maybelle can't resist. She takes a teeny taste--and splashes into the biggest adventure of her life!

This little book (the first in a series of four) was published in 2007. I wonder why I haven't seen it on the numerous read aloud lists I seem to see on social media - they often contain old titles - this book would be such a fun one to read aloud to a Grade 2 or 3 class or in a family. Yes, this book is out of print but the ebook version is still available. 

Here is the Kirkus Star review: Myrtle and Herbert Peabody, the picture of upper-class gentility, have their lives turned upside down by a lovely, plump cockroach named Maybelle. Living in a house that is dust and bug free is a challenge for the cockroach, but she follows The Rules: “When it’s light, stay out of sight; if you’re spied, better hide; never meet with human feet.” Maybelle loves food but she is sick of crumbs and spills and longs for the tasty food she spies on the Peabody's plates. Despite the warning of her friend Henry the Flea, Maybelle visits the Very Special Dinner table. Delightful details will make adults giggle right along with new readers. References to Herbert’s comb-over, his wife’s false eyelashes and illustrations that show the drama of an airborne roach and the bottom of Herbert’s monstrous shoe add up to a lot of fun, especially for reading aloud. Maybelle is one cockroach who will be welcome back any day.

I am not in flavor of the prescriptive paid writing programs that are in use in many Australian classrooms but if you need to demonstrate one of the concepts that these programs 'teach' children - then this book is perfect one to show 'tightening tension' at work.

Here are the four books from the series:

In 2022 my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything penned a blog post about Cockroach appreciation. Here are some companion books that I thought of:

The Miniature World of Marvin and James

Quentin's lunch

This is just to say: Poems of apology and forgiveness by Joyce Sidman illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Although the poems can be enjoyed alone, readers will truly understand the magic of this book when they read the poem of apology and the response together.  For the Love of the Book

At first I thought this book was a collection of poems written by school students but then, after quite a long search, I discovered it was all written by Joyce Sidman - she was inspired by a group of fourth grades who she asked to write a sorry poem to her mother. 

"This made me think a lot about apology and forgiveness. What if all these sorry poems were actually sent to the people they were written to? What if all those people wrote back?"

So as the review quote at the start of this post says - it works well to read this book by flipping back and forth. There are 18 apology poems in the first half of this book and 18 responses in part 2.

Of course the first poem just had to be famous one by William Carlos Williams:

There are some big life themes covered in these poems so that is why I think this book will better suit upper primary and lower secondary readers or classrooms. Topics include bullies; rudeness to a teacher; greed; sibling rivalry; peer group pressure; accidents; euthanizing a pet; and possibly even suicide.

I spied this book in a discard pile in a library and when I enquired about it, I discovered it was considered not really appropriate for the younger readers who use this library. I was curious so I borrowed the book and YES this a poetry book but it is as I said, most certainly for readers aged 10+. This book was published in 2007 so it is now out of print but you might find a copy in a school or local library. You could adapt this book into a reader's theatre performance.

The illustrations created by Pamela Zagarenski are sketched beautifully. In many of the pictures there are newspapers that have been clipped that carry the definitions for apologies and forgiveness.  Name that Poem

The poems touch on many topics which will connect with readers of this age including dysfunctional families, hurting other’s feelings, disobeying, death of a pet, steeling, friendship and sports.  Throughout the book, Sidman incorporates various poetry styles including pantoum (Spelling Bomb), concrete (Dodge Ball Crazy), haiku (Haiku for Carmen) and couplet (Brownies – Oops! and A Waste of Heart). Lindsay Reads

Awards

• Claudia Lewis Poetry Award
• Cybils Poetry Award
• Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

I really like the premise of This is just to say. It reminded me of these two books:

The One thing You'd Save

Blurb from author page: The assignment: If you could give someone special in your life a present — just one gift — who would you choose, and what would it be? Discuss. Certain students know their answers right away. A few find their answers more slowly. And while some responses spark lively conversation, others are revealed only in the privacy of journal pages. But all of the choices are as heartfelt as they are unexpected. 

I am now really keen to this book from 2025 by Joyce Sidman and Melissa Sweet:

I have talked about Joyce Sidman previously and also Pamela Zagarenski.

Butterfly eyes

Also check out my post about Beth Krommes and her art

Winter Bees

The Whisper

The Musicians of Brennan Symphony of Stories

The “Town Musicians of Bremen” tells the story of four ageing domestic animals, who after a lifetime of hard work are neglected and mistreated by their former masters. Eventually, they decide to run away and become town musicians in the city of Bremen. Contrary to the story’s title the characters never arrive in Bremen, as they succeed in tricking and scaring off a band of robbers, capturing their spoils, and moving into their house.

Brian Wildsmith (see inside this book here)

Hans Wilhelm

Bernadette Watts

Gerda Muller

Thinking about the 2026 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) slogan "Symphony of Stories" I had a chance meeting with a parent from a local school and she mentioned the younger children were about to perform The Musicians of Bremen.

There are plenty of picture book versions of this folk tale that you could explore in your library.

The tale was first published in 1819 in the second edition of Grimms’ Fairy Tales and there is a statue in the actual town of Bremen. 

If you want to take a deep dive into the story here is a very academic analysis. I also found a fairly sophisticated audio version.

Lisbeth Zwerger

The four animals put their heads together and came up with a plan. The donkey placed his front hooves on the windowsill. The dog jumped on the donkey's back. The cat climbed on top of the dog. And the rooster flew up and perched on the cat's head.

At a signal, they all began to perform their music at once: the donkey brayed, the dog barked, the cat yowled, and the rooster crowed. Then they crashed through the window into the room, sending glass flying everywhere! The noise was so tremendous that the robbers leaped from their seats, certain that a ghost had burst in, and they fled into the forest in terror.

This illustration is by Hans Fischer (1944)

This is a 2019 book from Korea

This one is from 2009 - illustrated by Katrin Stangl