Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King

Mac and his friends are assigned to a reading group Table 6. The way this works, their teacher. Ms Sett, gives each group a different book. They are told 'not to read ahead' and after each class session they have to complete vocabulary and response tasks. Just as an aside I do not like this format of teaching - especially the instruction 'do not read ahead'. And so I did cheer when one of the Table 6 group - Hannah Do (later we learn her real name is Hao Do) declares she has already read the whole book. In fact she has read all the class assigned books!

This group are assigned The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen (1988). Hopefully you do know this is a real book. I will confess I had not read it but it is now on my list. Here is the Kirkus Star review. And Jane Yolen writes about her book here. 

When Mac opens his copy of this book there are words that have been blacked out - we would call this a texta here in Australia but in the US it is called a Sharpie. Why has this book been censored? What do the missing words say? Mac and his friends are completely shocked and so they decide to take action. First off, they talk to the school Principal, but she just offers platitudes. So, then they make a presentation to the school board. Their local independent bookstore has their assigned book and so they can read the 'offending' passages. This content is simply about body parts and these kids can see absolutely no reason why these words are covered in rectangles. They decide to protest outside the bookshop each Saturday in the hope of raising awareness about this issue. 

Meanwhile Mac is navigating some difficult times in his family. His dad no longer lives with them but he does visit once a week. His behaviour is very strange and then his father robs their house and takes the car owned by Mac's grandfather. 

And there is also the issue of their class teacher. She has assigned herself as a rule maker for the whole town. Halloween is banned; there is a curfew of 9pm; in some streets the houses are expected to be painted white; and no one is allowed to eat junk food. Also at school girls are banned from wearing shorts even though this is okay for boys.

Objections to the town rules are presented in the form of letters to the editor. This part of the story really resonated with me. I often despair when rules at every level are set as reaction to one event. In this case some teenagers scare some little kids at Halloween so Halloween is banned - ridiculous. 

Having finished another book a couple of days ago I picked up the next one. I thought I would just dip in and perhaps read a few pages - I lifted my head around page 176 and then when I couldn't sleep, because I wanted to know how this story could possibly be resolved, I read the remaining pages, up to page 258 from 1-2am. YES this book is THAT good. And page 248 contains the best scene I have ever read in a book - it made me smile and gasp. 

Attack of the Black Rectangles was published in 2022 but the paperback edition from Scholastic has only just reached Australia. I purchased my copy for AUS$17 but I see it is offered by Scholastic Book Club here is Australia - issue 3, 2025. 

The students in this book are in Grade 6 but my recommendation is that this is a book for students in Grades 7 and 8. There is some confronting content about the holocaust and also the issue of censorship which I think better suits an older group. And of course the key text - The Devil's Arithmetic is a Young Adult title for readers aged 13+. 

Listen to an audio sample here. This is a timely and important book. It is easy to read and there are touches of humour. These kids, as Colby said (see below) feel so real. I highly highly recommend Attack of the Black Rectangles for readers aged 11+. 

Here is a quote from a review about the audio book: The group of narrators do a great job with the audiobook and King’s vivid storytelling and great characters come to life as the story unfolds. It’s a wonderful insight into the American censorship battle and shows there’s hope and always a fight to have against those who try to silence others.

Colby Sharp said: "It just so real." "I love how real this felt." "How possible it felt for kids to make a difference and for kids to find their voice and demand that they are heard." "One of the best books of the year." Listen to this audio interview at The Yarn. 

But this book is not just about book banning, it’s a moving story of a young teen boy trying to figure out who he is and navigating family, friendship, first crushes, and his own emotions as he transitions into adolescence. It’s a powerful and inspiring look at the inner lives of teen boys and it moved me at times to tears. At other times, I cheered for our Mac, who is genuine, authentic, inspiring while also being complicated, complex, at times messy and flawed. School Library Journal

Take a look at these review comments quoted on the author web page:

“Poignant, humorous, and bright . . . Whip-smart, tuned in to the mind of sixth-graders, and beautifully concluded, the novel takes a bold stand in a time of book bans and rampant censorship . . . Against the backdrop of family issues, first crushes, and the end of elementary school, this is a beacon of hope for middle grades and an object lesson in treating kids like the intelligent readers they are.”—Booklist, starred review

“[Amy Sarig King’s] respect for young people is exemplary, and her characters indelible.”—Horn Book, starred review (contains spoilers)

“Skillfully encourages keeping open minds and extending grace to the oblivious and hostile alike . . . A searingly relevant opus to intellectual freedom.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“King’s latest novel is so timely and relevant, some readers may feel like the author has been privy to what’s going on in their own schools . . . A striking book on censorship; a must-have in all middle grade classrooms and school libraries.”—School Library Journal, starred review

Zero Zebras by Bruce Goldstone illustrated by Julien Chung

Subtitle: A counting book about what's not there

Zero is such an abstract concept for all of us but especially for very young children. This book is such fun. On each page there are things to count in a sequence of one to twelve but you are also invited to notice there are zero zebras on every page. 

Think about the choices of things to count: One wallaby; two tuna; three thrushes; four frogs; five foxes and so on with spiders, seals, elephants, newts, tigers; llamas and turtles BUT of course there are zero zebras. Simple alliteration gives this book a lighthearted-feel and your youngest students are sure to keep hunting for those elusive zebras. 

The back of this book has a wonderful explanation by the author written for adult readers:

"Zero is a big nothing. Do you skip past zero when you start to count? Almost everybody does: 1, 2, 3, and more but zero is always there first. ... Think about an empty box. What isn't inside? There are no shoes and no shirts. No books and no pencils."

A counting book cleverly designed to raise awareness about nothing. Kirkus Star review

Montreal artist Julien Chung’s brightly coloured digital illustrations have a bold, eye-catching graphic design. Eagle-eyed counters will spot the numerals 1 through 12 blending into the background scenes. For example, the numeral 3 floats like a cloud in the sky; the numeral 7 is caught in a spider’s web; and the tricky-to-find numeral 8 appears in a spotlight’s glow. There are many subtle connections between the scenes. Animals featured on one page can be found making a cameo appearance in the following spread. There are no zebras to be found in the scenes, but there are lots of stripes, from the angular blades of grass, to the black and white design swim trunks on a jumping frog. Candian Review of Materials

Montreal artist Julien Chung’s brightly coloured digital illustrations have a bold, eye-catching graphic design. Eagle-eyed counters will spot the numerals 1 through 12 blending into the background scenes. For example, the numeral 3 floats like a cloud in the sky; the numeral 7 is caught in a spider’s web; and the tricky-to-find numeral 8 appears in a spotlight’s glow. There are many subtle connections between the scenes. Animals featured on one page can be found making a cameo appearance in the following spread. There are no zebras to be found in the scenes, but there are lots of stripes, from the angular blades of grass, to the black and white design swim trunks on a jumping frog.

Publisher blurb: Discover the importance of counting what’s there and what’s not there in this brilliant picture book that combines math, imagination, and creativity! Zero Zebras asks a bold question: can you count what isn’t there? Can you count — to zero? Bruce Goldstone takes us on a wild animal safari counting one wallaby, two tuna, three thrushes, four frogs — but absolutely ZERO zebras. Readers will realize the infinite possibilities of counting what is and isn’t on the page. Goldstone’s imaginative and creative text is brought to life by Chung’s vibrant illustrations which include hidden numbers beautifully integrated into each stunning scene for fun some hide-and-seek. This is the perfect introduction to the concept of zero and infinity, showcasing the profound wonder of numbers in a playful, dazzling picture book that will wow readers of every age!

The library where I volunteer and borrow books carefully record the price of each book they purchase on one side of the imprint page. They record date of purchase, supplier and cost. I always like to look at this to see how long a book has been in their collection and also to see what they paid. The Teacher-Librarian must have really wanted this book because she paid an eye-watering AUS$50. I have found this book with some Australian online booksellers for less than AUS$35.

Zero Zebras won the Mathical Book Award in 2023.  If you are looking to add some exemplary picture books and other books that explore maths concepts these lists should be your first source.

Mathical selects, promotes, and distributes math-inspiring fiction and nonfiction for children ages 2-18. Proposed titles are submitted annually by publishers and the public. Many hands help select the books, including language arts and math teachers, librarians, early childhood experts, and more.

If you share this book with a group of older students they could use the format as a writing model and write their own picture book to share with children in Kindergarten or at a local preschool. 

You can see other books by Bruce Goldstone here. I previously talked about this book illustrated by Canadian illustrator Julien Chung. He lives in Montreal:

365 How to Count a Year

Hidden Treasure by Jessie Burton

"She was right by the water, exactly where they had seen his own mother in shadow, throwing in the Jewels ... Bo had her back to him, facing the river with her arms stretched out. And just like Billy's mother, she had the Eclipsing Moon in one hand, and the Brightest Sun in the other."

Bo Delafort is a river girl. She lives near the Thames and she and her family hunt through the debris washed up by the river hoping to find treasures. Yes this is mudlarking. And as this story opens Bo has found a real treasure. Something so valuable her family could possibly be rich way beyond their wildest dreams but Bo has no intention of selling this moon jewel. The river has spoken to Bo and given her a vision which seems to be part of a bigger story about this object. On the day she finds one part of the Jewels of the Eclipse she also meets a boy. Bo lives on the south side of the river and Billy lives on the north side. Astute readers might notice some odd things about Billy (I only made these discoveries later) but Bo feels a connection to Billy and so she eventually shares her treasure.

Meanwhile up in the big house where Billy works in the kitchen the owner Dr Frederick Muncaster is in a rage. He is desperate to find the two jewels - moon and sun - because with these he can restore his family fortunes. He scoffs at the story that there is a magical ballad that can release the power of these stones but it is that promise of power that keeps you turning the pages because this power can bring a dead loved one back to life. Billy wants to be reunited with his dead mother. Bo has just watched her loved brother march off to be a solider in World War II and now the family learn he has died but what about the mysterious Miss Alice Cressant. She has arrived as the new teacher at school and she seems to be taking a special interest in young Bo. Muncaster also has a strange lady in his life - her name is Avery Charbonnier. Billy is suspicious of her but not for any of the reasons we discover later. 

Publisher blurb: For the people who live on the banks of the Thames, the river is a living, breathing thing. It can take your treasures. It can hide your treasures. And, sometimes, it can give them back. Bo and Billy are two children who have never met. Billy is an orphan. Bo's dad died when she was small and now her brother is off to war. Both children are poor, but they have each found half of a priceless treasure, given up by the river. A treasure which – when the pieces are reunited – holds the power to give back to one of them the most precious thing they have ever lost. But should the treasure be put back together again? And why has the river given it up now?

I often read two even three books at the same time. I kept Hidden Treasure beside my bed this week and so it has taken me quite a long time to finish this book but I did enjoy taking 'small bites' of the story rather than bingeing the whole thing in one or two sessions. Last night I read the final 50 pages and the action just raced along because we had reached the all-important night of the eclipse which Jessie Burton beautifully links with the night World War II ends. As an adult reader I knew it would be impossible to bring back someone who has died but I did not predict the way Jessie Burton resolved her gripping story. 

We keep reading about the ballad the Bo needs so I was pleased to see the whole piece quoted at the back of the book. Here is an important fragment:

O Billy River, you'll never be alone!

O Billy River, I'm letting you fly home!

O Billy River, you just wait and see,

I am the River Girl and I've come to set you free!

Here are a couple of examples of the way Jessie Burton describes a character or a scene:

"The man before her was in his late thirties, as tall and broad as a prizefighter and dressed in a brown that suit that her mother would have marvelled at for the fineness of its cut. But despite its quality, Bo noticed it was worn out at the edges. The sky-blue silk tie at his neck was faded, and so was the whiteness of his shirt. ... And beneath the brim of his bowler hat, piercing her with a stare, was a pair of sinister emerald eyes."

"With a huge key he retrieved from his pocket, Kimble unlocked and pushed open a heavy door. It opened on to a small room, with a large table in the middle, upon which were two pairs of soft white cotton gloves. The room was lit b three weak electric lights screwed to the walls. It was bare, apart from the table and a bookshelf on the far wall, about eight shelves high from floor to ceiling, crammed with leather bound volumes of various thicknesses."

A piece of ambitious storytelling, it successfully conveys the awful grief of loss, the feeling of the temptation to bring a dead loved one back, even as a ghost, is genuine. All that is wrapped up in a fast-moving adventure with child friendly central characters and baddies who really are very bad and come to a suitably unhappy ending. There’s a dramatic climax but there are twists and surprises throughout, treasures to keep readers turning the pages. Books for Keeps

There is a fierceness to Bo that makes her compelling, an irreverent heedlessness and insatiable curiosity that leads her to plough on regardless of obstacles, a trait that does her both great credit and great harm. In Billy, we find a quieter, sadder, more reserved character, one who is more worldly wise, and the pair of them make an excellent contrast. Wet Broken Things

Better Reading list three reasons to read Hidden Treasure:

• Bo and Billy feel like real kids and their journeys will make your heart ache, then soar with joy. Billy is an orphan and Bo’s family has already faced so many losses. But these two heroes are brave, kind and determined to do what’s right, no matter what. You’ll root for them from the very first page as their friendship and growth is as powerful as the treasure they’re chasing!
• If you love books with rich, detailed worlds and stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, Hidden Treasure is perfect for you. Think exciting quests, magical realism and characters you won’t forget, just like the adventures in books by authors like Philip Pullman and Katherine Rundell. You’re about to get swept up in a new classic!
• Every page is full of surprises. When Bo and Billy find the treasure pieces, things get complicated. Should they put it back together or is it too dangerous? Could it lead to something more powerful? Every twist makes the story more thrilling, and by the end, you’ll be left thinking about it long after the last page.

Jessie Burton is an author whose books include adult bestsellers The Miniaturist, The Muse, The Confession and The House of Fortune, and a previous novel for young readers, The Restless Girls, which is being adapted for a musical.

Reviewer mention Ruby in the Smoke (Philip Pullman) as a book to read after Hidden Treasure. I tis many decades since I read Ruby in the Smoke, but I do remember the opening scenes were fantastic. Here is an Australian companion book:

Here is a review

Kids' Book review have more plot details

The Book Muse

Meet the illustrator Paloma Valdivia

A visually stunning, gently restrained picture book that should be high up on readers’ lists. 

Kirkus Star review

I found a quirky little book called Up Above and Down Below (2011) on my last library visit. It caught my eye because the cover was so different and also people tend to call Australia the land down under and on world maps we are near the bottom although it is easy to reverse this as a map is of course only a representation. Read a review of this book here. 

Here are the end papers from Up Above and Down Below:

Paloma Valdivia is a Chilean author/illustrator who studied design at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Chile and has a Master’s in Creative Illustration from the Eina School of Art and Design in Barcelona. Her work as an author has been translated into 12 languages. Here is an interview with Let's Talk Picture Books. Paloma Valdivia was short listed for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen award in 2024. Here is her Instagram page. 

Here are some of her books:

This is a page from Book of Questions

This in an illustration from the book And so it goes.

You can see more of her art here.

And so it Goes Kirkus Star review comments: Life and death are a mystery, and so readers are reminded to treasure their time here. Sophisticated concepts are visually explained while still leaving room for interpretation; repeat visits bring added depth and dimension. On the closing page, the girl, slightly older, returns to her chair and the book, with her loved one still close and dear. A tribute to those who pass, a celebration of time here, and a multilayered rumination on the cycle of life.

Read about Nosotros Means us here.

Here are Paloma Valdivia's illustrations of Little Red Riding Hood - they look so interesting and different.

I Believe in Unicorns by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Gary Blythe

"Unicorns weren't actually real, I knew that much. Of course I did. It was quite obvious to me now that this was in fact a wooden unicorn. He had been carved out of wood and painted. But even as I came closer he seemed so lifelike. He looked so much how a unicorn should be, so magical and mysterious, that if he'd got to his feet and trotted off I still wouldn't have been in the least surprised."

Tomas Porec lives in a small town with his parents. One day his mum insists he wait in the local library while she completes her shopping. Tomas is sure he is way to old for the library story time but, in spite of his reservations, he does listen in from behind some shelves.

The library lady tells the story of Noah's Ark and how the unicorns were left behind and after struggling to find land during and after the flood, they transformed into the creatures we call Narwhals. Tomas is totally swept up into the story as are all the children. 

"For some time after she finished speaking a word. It was as if we were all waking up from a dream none of us wanted to leave."

Over the coming weeks Tomas goes to the library nearly every day. 

"Every story she told us, even it was one we'd heard before, held us enthralled. It was the way she told them, I think, as if each of us was the only one she was talking to, and as if each story must be real and true, however unlikely, however fantastical. You could tell she believed absolutely in her stories as she told them."

At one story session the library lady brings out a book that she says is her most special one.

"She held it up so we could all see. It looked rather old and tatty. The spine of the book was heavily taped, and the cover so stained that I found it difficult to read the title. And it was blackened too, at the edges, I noticed, as if it might have been scorched a long time ago."

I gasped when I 'heard' the library lady (now known as the Unicorn Lady) say the title - The Little Match girl. I hoped someone reading the book had not experimented with matches and caused all this damage. No that was not the story she told the children. The Unicorn Lady was a child during the holocaust. The Nazi soldiers burnt all the books from her town and library but her father heroically saved this one. 

All of that was in the past but then the story shifts to the present and war has come again. Tomas sees a plane dropping bombs. His family rush to safety but the library, his precious place, is on fire. Once the planes fly away everyone rushes to help forming a human chain to save the books and last of all Tomas and his father and the Unicorn Lady are able to retrieve the library unicorn. 

This novella sure does 'pack a punch'. Sadly, though, it was published in 2005 and is now long out of print. I do hope you can find a copy in a library. You can read the first few pages here. If you can find a copy of I Believe in Unicorns it would be a fabulous book to read aloud in a family to your children aged 8+. 

Michael Morpurgo pulls on the heart strings in a short book into which he has packed a number of strands, richly woven together. Tomas lives for the outdoors: he hates books, reading and stories. But one day, his mother forces him into the library and everything changes. Tomas hears the magical story of the unicorn and is soon spell bound by its power. Soon, reading and the wonderful stories that unfold before him become central to his life. But things are changing around Tomas too as the distant rumble of war is suddenly brought close to home. When his village suffers a direct hit, he realises what really matters to him. Morpurgo keeps on the right side of sentimentality and creates a sensitive boy hero. Love Reading for Kids

Companion book:

Nour's Secret Library

A few days ago I talked about another book by Michael Morpurgo:  This Morning I met a Whale. My book today - I believe in Unicorns - has a similar format (not quite the same as the cover image at the top of this post) so I wondered if these two books might be part of a series. Alas I cannot find the name of the series I only know they were both published by Walker Books in the UK around 20 years ago. 

This Morning I met a Whale has illustrations by the wonderful Christian Birmingham. My book today is illustrated by the equally wonderful Gary Blythe. Here are three of his books:

The Whales' Song

Other editions of this book have the title Under the Moon

Kinderbookswitheverything - a book blog you need to dive into NOW!

Blog post 19th April 2013

Every time I visit this library (where I have been working as a volunteer) I waiver between enormous happiness and then a kind of despair as I realise there are SO MANY books I still need to read and SO MANY authors and illustrators I need to discover. Tonight I decided to start re-reading my friend's blog - Kinderbookswitheverything working backwards from her very first post. In 2010 she celebrated an author or illustrator each day - this could be a wonderful way for you to build you own 'field knowledge' if you are new to the library role or are unfamiliar with some of the best authors and illustrators from around the world. 

My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has worked in her school library for over thirty years. Today was the last day of the term. There was so much to do. First off she had to take all her timetabled classes - a very full day. Meanwhile her wonderful library assistant and I were shelving the hundreds of books that had been returned by the teachers who used them in Term one and reshelving returns from the children and reshelving the last bundles of displayed books. And then we set up four new book displays - ANZAC Day, Mother's Day, Koala Day (May 3rd); and a fantastic display of books about building and construction - I should have taken a photo. Oh, and my friend was also busy pulling down her Easter decorations, updating children who have completed the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge, and loaning books to parents (in this school parents can borrow up to ten books). It was a busy day which is not unusual.

Strangely, I have never thought to ask why she gave her blog this name back when she started it in 2009. We both started our blogs around the same time because we signed up for a course and this one was one of the 'assignments' and now here we are in 2025 and our blogs are still 'alive'. She also has an extensive Pinterest collection of picture books and other books on a huge range of topics. I did a search for the covers of a few of her favourite books (and yes all of them are quite old but that surely does not matter at all because they can be found in a library). 

When you begin to explore her blog I suggest you click on January 2022 where you will find links to a series of splendid posts about books to support The Sustainable Development Goals. 

Here is a small sample of her post content just to inspire you. Perhaps you could begin by clicking on your own birthday - I did that and made a couple of surprise discoveries:

• June 21st (2016) World Giraffe Day
• July 14th (2017) Pandemonium Day
• March 16th (2017) National Hiccup Day
• April 29 (2018) World Wish Day
• June 23rd (2020) Typewriter Day
• September 1st (2022) World Letter Writing Day
• May 3rd (2022) Wild Koala Day
• August 5th 2023 International Traffic Light Day
• August 3rd 2024 Sandcastle Day

While browsing her past posts I came across this poem:

Twenty Minutes A Day by Richard Peck 

Read to your children, twenty minutes a day;

You have the time, And so do they.

Read while the laundry is in the machine;

Read while the dinner cooks;

Tuck a child in the crook of your arm

And reach for the library books.

Hide the remote,

Let the computer games cool,

For one day your children will be off to school.

"Remedial?" "Gifted?" You have the choice; Let them hear their first tales

In the sound of your voice.

Read in the morning;

Read over noon;

Read by the light of Goodnight Moon.

Turn the pages together,

Sitting close as you'll fit,

Till a small voice beside you

says, "Hey, don't quit."

Meet the illustrator Sibylle Delacroix

 

Image source: Sibylle Delacroix

I accidentally purchased a book illustrated by Sibylle Delacroix. It is a Christmas book so I will gift it to a young child later this year. The story is a fairly simple one about waiting for snow at Christmas so of course this is not at all applicable to us here in Australia where Christmas is celebrated in Summer. Having said that, though, I do like the art in this book, so I was curious to find more books (in English) illustrated by Sibylle Delacroix who lives in France.

Sibylle Delacroix is the illustrator of Tears, Prickly Jenny, Grains of Sand, and Blanche Hates the Night (all Owl Kids). She graduated from the ERG Saint-Luc School of Graphic Research in Brussels and worked for many years as a graphic designer before becoming a full-time illustrator. Sibylle lives in France. Follow Sibylle on Instagram @sibylledelacroix.

Lucy and Noah open a present on Christmas Eve. It's a beautiful snow globe, with a house inside that even looks like theirs, except they don't have any snow. Lucy lies awake looking at the snow globe, disappointed that it won't be a white Christmas. Suddenly, she feels something soft and cold land on her cheek. It can't really be snowing inside the house, can it?

When the other kids mock her at recess, Nanette doesn't listen. She'd rather focus on puddles, spider webs, and whatever she can create with her hands. One day a boy named Noah--who'd rather fly paper airplanes than listen to the lesson--starts sitting at Nanette's table. At first, Noah finds Nanette confusing and a little frustrating. But her ideas look like so much fun...

Read this review.

Everyone cries: little kids, big kids, grown-ups, and even scaly-skinned crocodiles shed tears But even though they may make our cheeks salty, or our eyes red and puffy, our tears are nurturing a secret garden inside us, and helping us grow. Tears strips away the shame of crying and encourages children to explore their feelings and where their tears come from. Intricate pencil drawings with splashes of vibrant color illustrate different types of tears. Some tears burst out in hot, heavy sobs, while other tears are quiet and slow. Sometimes they race down our cheeks, other times they bubble just beneath the surface. But as the book reveals, crying is really a way to let out what you're feeling on the inside.

On the last day of a family vacation, a little girl is as blue as the sea, and her shoes are filled with sand. What should she do with all of this sand? Together, she and her brother decide to plant the grains of sand, and imagine what will grow. A field of beach umbrellas, to wave hello to the sun? Or a forest of windmills, to fill the sails of a boat? Before drifting off to sleep, the girl has her dad promise they'll go back for new grains of sand next year.

Afloat by Kirli Saunders illustrated by Freya Blackwood

This is another one of those picture books where I marvel at the way the illustrator, in this case Freya Blackwood, has interpreted the text which I imagine was sent to her on one typed page. There is no mention of walking along a riverbank but that perfectly sets the scene. Similarly, there is no mention in the text of people living in makeshift tents beside an industrial wasteland.  Then we see people who have gathered to weave yarn, and they are seen talking and sharing food. The people are weaving with yarn as you might expect when we see them collecting vines and rushes but this definition also shows the people have gathered to yarn together: Yarning or having an informal conversation that is culturally friendly and recognised by Aboriginal people as a way to talk about something, someone or provide information. Yarning builds on the oral tradition (genre) of handing down information.

Viewed from above we see various hands weaving the threads and on the next page there are different pieces emerging from baskets to nets and even a pair of wings for a young child. The finished work beautifully matches the patterns on the end papers. 

The final words in this book are so powerful and make this book a perfect one to discuss with students aged 10+.

"Push out next to me. We are here to brave the storm. Here to rise above. To survive. Stand up next to me. We are here to fly, here to shape this world together. To thrive."

Here are a couple of quotes from the author and illustrator notes at the back of the book:

"Afloat was written for First Nations People across the globe - it's for my community, it's for the weavers, and for everyone who is with us on this journey. ... The story follows an Elder, teaching gathering and weaving practices to a child. As they continue, more people join them, until all are united in their efforts to move towards a promising future where this knowledge is deeply known and valued. At the heart of Afloat is a metaphor of weaving together, to form a raft, to brave a storm as one." Kirli Saunders

"I wanted a visual narrative to show the typical but alarming journeys of our waterways, and it begins, as the text suggests, roaming the water's edge. ... Gathering weaving reference from all over the globe, I noticed similar patters across different cultures ... " Freya Blackwood

Blurb from Freya Blackwood: From award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and seven-time CBCA-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat, a story told in a time of climate crisis. Against a backdrop of a changed environment, an Elder leads a child along the waterways, sharing her People's knowledge and gathering community along the way.  Afloat is an uplifting and inspiring picture book that uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honouring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive and create a more hopeful future.

I first saw this book in January, 2024 but I didn't take the time to read it slowly or think about it in depth. The CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) 2025 shortlists have been announced and Afloat is one of the six picture book titles. 

Here are two important reviews of Afloat:

Diverse community members work together to gather natural materials, process fiber, and weave vibrant textiles, and as the book reaches a heartwarming conclusion, their vision is at last realized. Though the complexities of Saunders’ metaphor may be lost on the youngest readers, all will feel empowered by her overarching message, summed up in her final words: “We are here to fly, here to shape this world together.” Kirkus

The spare and straightforward text describes yarning, which can refer both to fiber arts and to storytelling. “We are here to collect the vines. Here to find the rushes, to fuse the fibers…to soak and split. To roll between finger and thumb. To yarn…to knot and loop. Here to form bonds, to make ties…to unite.” Saunders’s understated prose alludes to traditional ecological knowledge passed down by women elders, to rising sea levels and cultural displacement produced by the climate crisis, and to the need to join together to effect change. Blackwood’s illustrations combine saturated details with soft-edged blending and warm, earthy tones with deep verdigris teals and sea-glass greens. Horn Book

I find it wonderful and curious that this book was sent to these two very major US reviewers. I made a similar discovery with the book Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr (make sure you read this wonderful middle grade novel. In my view it should have been a 2025 CBCA winner!)

You can see inside this book here on the publisher page. This illustration is the one that moved me the most from Afloat:

Push out next to me. 

We are hear to brave the storm.

If you or your school are members of PETTA you will find the link to a unit of work using this book here. 

Companion book:

If you can find them these two Caldecott books also might be good comparison books:

This might be a bit of a stretch but Afloat made me think of this wonderful book about community and refugees and finding a new future:

Saturday, Sunday by Natalie Kate Forbes illustrated by Danny Snell

This is a book to read to your child BUT it is also a book all adults need to read!

My friend had a book display recently in her library on the theme of unplugging. Here is her blog post about this. I am a big advocate of unplugging - turning off or not even taking those phones when you are spending time with a young child - I talked about his here.

This story is also about spending time with your children but in this case it is about stepping away from our crazy busy lives to just enjoy a quiet time. The book is set out with contrasting days. Saturday is utterly hectic and timetabled to the max. They go to squad swimming, shop for food, rush to the library, a quick spin at the playground, then a visit to the butcher and finally home to cook dinner. 

"Bed. Teeth. Pyjamas. A quick book in bed. Darkness creeps in and stars dance overhead. Saturday's over - the busy day is done. Sunday's tomorrow - a day just for fun."

On Sunday there is time. It is breakfast in bed. Time to play with toys and pots (which are great for drumming). They can spend a little time in their garden and then run through the sprinkler to cool off. What about just lying on a blanket to watch the clouds float by? There's even time for picnics and visitors - hello Nanny and Poppa. At the end of the day the kids enjoy their bubble bath followed by home made pizza and several stories before climbing into bed.

As I said - this is a book for children but it also a book for parents. Often every day can become like the Saturday in this book with all those after school organised activities. Hopefully after reading this book families might find a way to make more days in their week a little like the Sunday in this book.

Here is an interview with Natalie Kate Forbes and Joy Lawn at Paperbark words. In the interview Natalie said: I wanted to capture the chaos of the Saturday, whilst making it feel like a cozy and fun family experience. And on the opposite end of the scale, I wanted Sunday to be super chill. Where Sunday is also a full day – it’s just filled with activities that happen organically and are more chill in nature… the day just rolls on from one thing to another without thought. Again, I was keen to promote strong family bonds and connections.

You can see other books illustrated by Danny Snell here. This is the second book by Natalie Kate Forbes. 

The Truck Cat

Seagull

The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood

There are a lot of layers to this story. This will be a book that you do need to think about. I first read this book in May last year and after several re-readings I am still pondering some aspects of this elusive story. I do like the final images where everyone has come together to enjoy the garden. This is reminiscent of another wonderful book about a garden - Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham.

When you open The Garden of Broken Things you will see a small orange cat on the front and back end papers. He or she is looking back toward the reader beckoning you to come on in. The early pages before the story begins are very important - take your time with them. On the half title page people are enjoying and restoring the garden. These are scenes from the garden in the past. On the title page there is a hint that the owner of the garden has grown older. We see her with her husband and then sitting alone.  Turning to the first page readers can see the garden in the context of the street. It is indeed overgrown and broken. The little house is falling down and it is almost engulfed by the trees that surround it. 

"Number 9 Ardent Street was a lonely place, with windows like sad eyes."

The children explore the garden but it is Sadie follows the cat and who finds the old woman.

" ... the cat found a lap. It belonged to an old woman, bent with time and weariness."

Sadie doesn't ask questions. She just sits beside the woman and talks about her day and her school and she even reads her home reader "with lots of expression". Sadie stays late into the evening sitting beside the lady and as night falls the lady seems to "come back to life". 

"The woman's hand was warm, and her skin felt like paper."

Sadie is reunited with her parents who presumably have been searching for her. Then we have a stark white page. Is this meant to signify heaven? We see the woman with her head lifted up in her pale coat and then on the next page she is gone. Did the touch of kindness shown by Sadie allow the woman to move on? Was she waiting for this small human connection or perhaps waiting for permission to leave?

I haven’t made it clear what happens to the woman. Stories without a clear ending, that leave you thinking, always appeal to me. So there are plenty of gaps in the illustrations and text where readers can make assumptions. I’ve had quite a few adults ask me if there’s been a printing error on the page where the old woman is looking upwards and surrounded by white. It was planned that way! Freya Blackwood

Take a look at the annotation by our National Centre for Australian Children's Literature. Here is a quote: "Led by the cat, Sadie goes deeper into the garden and finds a little old lady, still in her dressing gown, asleep on a bench. Unperturbed by her silence, Sadie chats away about her day and the things that are important to her and then reads a book to the old lady. As darkness descends, Sadie falls asleep, and it is only then that the woman stirs. The other children have already gone home, so the old lady, her mind full of fond memories, takes Sadie home to her worried parents. Her job done; she realises that she is ready to let go. But, before she does, she leaves her fabulous garden to the children of Ardent Street."

Here are the teachers notes from the publisher. I was shocked to see they say this book is for ages 3+. In my view it is a book to share and talk about with a child aged 7+. Read more here. And I have a 'meet the illustrator' post where you can see other books by Freya Blackwood. Freya discusses her book in more detail here. 

The book description tells us The Garden of Broken Things celebrates curiosity and the joy of listening. But I think this rich, layered story is about so much more – grief and loss; perception and reality; belonging; memories and honouring the past; nature; resilience; growth and transformation; and ageing. Reading Time

The transformation from the sad and lonely to the wild and joyful is a direct result of the children’s interest in, and enjoyment of, all the forgotten garden can offer. It is a subtle examination of the sometimes ignoring of the elderly and old (or broken) things, and a sound message that simply because something or someone has grown old, it does not mean that these things have become superfluous or disposable. Just so Stories

The CBCA judges in their Notables report said: The Garden of Broken Things is a poignant story about open-mindedness, curiosity and the importance of listening. Curious and open-minded, young Sadie follows a cat into a backyard and discovers an old lady seated on a bench. Through Sadie’s kindness and the power of connection, the old lady is awoken from her statue-like state. The use of figurative language coupled with the highly expressive water colour, pencil and pastel illustrations provide the reader with insights into the full range of human emotions, both light and dark. This tender story beautifully represents the power of human connection across generations and is suitable for a very broad audience from small children to adults.

Here is an interview of Freya Blackwood about her book with Joy Lawn and you can also see inside this book. 

It is interesting to ponder the name of the street chosen by Freya Blackwood. Ardent means "showing strong feelings or passionate."  

This book has been shortlisted for our CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) 2025 Awards

Here in this blog I have already talked about

A leaf called Greaf

The Truck Cat

These long-loved things