A few weeks ago I was browsing the Non-Fiction section of Gleebooks Kids. I found some fabulous titles which, if I was still working in a school library, I would have grabbed to add to my collection.
Shells bookseller blurb: A beautiful collection featuring informative notes, spectacular photographs, and colourful illustrations of more than 100 types of shells. Find out how to identify, where to find, and what to know about the diverse shell species with this gorgeous anthology. Transportable in size and crammed with profiles of different shell species, this beginner's anthology showcases a wide range of shells from around the world that no collection would be complete without. Learn all about the shell shapes, colours, and textures, and get up close with the snails, crabs, and clams that live in them.
There are a number of things that I am slightly obsessive about - puffins, lighthouses, pelicans, picture books, and shells. I guess that is why this book caught my eye and then I saw there were others on terrific topics like beetles, fungi and rocks. My delight in shells links with the book Junonia by Kevin Henkes.
If you have a library budget that can stretch to approx. AUS$27 per book it would be great to add a few of these to your library - pick out the ones that match the interests of the children in your school. I am sure the Gems one, for example, would have been a massive 'hit' in my library.
Gems (due November 2026) publisher blurb: Unearth the enchanting world of gemstones and discover the stories behind Earth’s most brilliant treasures! What secrets lie hidden within a shimmering amethyst? Which legendary gems have adorned crowns and royal collections for centuries? How do seemingly ordinary rocks transform into breathtaking jewels? An Anthology of Gems invites young readers on a thrilling journey through the world of precious stones – from deep red rubies and ocean-blue sapphires to opalescent moonstones and sparkling emeralds. Uncover the secrets behind every stone’s sparkle – how it forms beneath the earth’s surface and is enriched by the myths and meaning that make it timeless. Filled with vibrant photographs, detailed illustrations, and engaging text, this book is perfect for budding gemologists, history buffs, and anyone who dreams of discovering hidden treasures.
Bookseller blurb: Discover how to identify, where to find, and other details about more than 100 beetles that exist the world over. Did you know one in every four living things on our planet is identified as a beetle? Explore the fascinating world of these tough creatures in the beautifully packaged An Anthology of Beetles. Featuring colourful photographs and vibrant illustrations, this marvellous book helps you discover the lively world of beetles. From the ones that crawl under your feet to those that fly by your eyes or glide in the water, the book showcases these amazing creatures in all their incredible variety. Learn how different species of beetles help pollinate plants, improve soil health, and control pests - all while playing a key role in maintaining nature's balance.
You could pair the Beetles title with this fantastic series:
On a recent visit to Gleebooks here in Sydney I spied this book. I do need to read it more closely so I will need to make a return visit to the store or hunt this title out in a library, but I just couldn't resist sharing it. The publisher of this book is called Neon Squad and now I also need explore many of their other titles.
Publisher blurb: In this fun and practical illustrated guide, you’ll learn prepping 101, from basic first aid and water purification to packing a useful emergency kit and how to communicate during a tech outage. Then you’ll discover how to survive all kinds of disasters, including a zombie apocalypse, a supernatural takeover, and an alien invasion. Packed with useful tips, tricks, and strategies, this laugh-out-loud handbook will have you hoping for the worst!
Zombie outbreak, asteroid strike, or alien invasion? No problem! Coauthors Hardy and Coonradt... help young survivalists prepare for almost any kind of emergency in this lively guide for the end of times... this tongue-in-cheek manual has a direct but amusing style and boldly coloured, action-packed illustrations... While some topics poke fun at Hollywood-inspired calamities... there’s also a wealth of information for weathering real-life natural disasters. - Booklist
I love the idea of presenting readers in the library with book pairs. I would bundle How to Survive an Apocalypse with one or two of these:
Cameron Hardy and Coby Coonradt are the hosts of The Casual Preppers podcast. They’re passionate about helping people know what to do in emergencies, and they believe that learning how to prepare for disaster is a crucial life skill for individuals and families. They both also LOVE talking about the apocalypse! How to Survive an Apocalypse is their first book.
Victoria Stebleva is an internationally published illustrator and artist based in Niš, Serbia. Her portfolio includes non-fiction, middle-grade, and picture books, as well as a graphic novel, editorial illustrations, and more. Here is an Instagram post.
"It was Grandfather who taught me the names of all the shells: luck shells, boat shells, comb shells, winkles, and the rare queen's teacup, which washes up only once in a blue moon."
Jenny and her grandfather like to visit their local beach - Revere Beach in Boston - and yes this is a real place.
Her grandfather came to the US from Italy and as a young man worked in an Italian restaurant. Now he has retired and Jenny's parents run the restaurant. Grandfather has the time to look after and share his wisdom with Jenny but sadly he is coming to the end of his life.
Here is a special extract from this story:
"My parents worked late into the night, so it was Grandfather who spooned warm milk over my evening pudding. It was his hand that showed me how to button my buttons and how to draw J for Jenny. Into Grandfather's vest pocket went my first tooth, and to the ticking of his pocket watch I slept."
And my favourite scene is when Grandfather takes Jenny to the Jordan Marsh and Fliene department store.
"There the latest fashions from Paris and Milan are copied exactly from the downstairs models. They are painstakingly sewn from sippets of silk and organza stolen from the main racks at night. ... I tried on every outfit and modeled them for Grandfather. He sat patiently, leaning on his mother-of-pearl tipped walking stick and examining the tailoring carefully, as if we could have afforded them."
Two names jumped out at me from the cover of Following Grandfather - Rosemary Wells (author of all those wonderful books about Max and Ruby) and Christopher Denise (illustrator of Knight Owl).
Bookseller blurb (this book is from 2012 and so is now out of print):
Invisible to humans exists a parallel world of mice, where young Jenny misses her cherished grandfather so much that she begins to see him everywhere. Jenny is as close to her grandfather as a small mouse can be. Grandfather shows Jenny how to button her buttons and how to write her name. He passes along to her the secrets of making the best lasagna in all of Boston. And during long, shared days at Revere Beach, Grandfather teaches Jenny the names of the seashells they find washed up on shore. When Grandfather is all of a suddenly gone one day, the hole he leaves behind is too great for Jenny to fathom. Isn’t that him turning a corner, sitting on a bench, heading for the pier, walking along their beloved beach? Jenny runs after the familiar silver whiskers, hoping. ... Rosemary Wells peels back the layers of grief to reveal, at its core, something as exquisite and achingly beautiful as the rare and storied queen’s teacup seashell. Christopher Denise illustrates mid-century Boston with affection, and a mouse and her grandfather with gentle humor and unabashed sympathy.
This time spent together - old and young - made me think of this wonderful picture book:
I am an adult and I need to say that there is so much in this book that appeals to me, but I am not entirely sure if this is a book for very young readers. Not because of the content, even though the grandfather does die, but more because of the references to American culture and history and also the exploration of the concept of class and privilege. This quote explains this idea:
"I learned all the mice in the city and what they did to make a living. Grandfather tipped his hat to Senator Lodge himself and to the Cabot nursemaids, the fried-seed vendor, and the poorest rat who swept the sewers. Grandfather said hello to the world. I learned to say hello, too, in that way that made the world smile back."
Rosemary Wells expresses in a beautiful way sandcastles that are swept away by a rising tide - she calls them melting sandcastles and she also uses the delightful words 'crenellated tower' to describe the inside of one sandcastle. And you will want to think about the meaning of the title. And I do love the idea of collecting special shells.
Following Grandfather has 58 illustrated pages so it is a very quick book to read but if you read this book aloud in your family you may find yourself explaining these things:
Meaning of the word 'revere': to be in awe of and respect deeply; venerate
Places - Revere Beach in Boston; Holy Cross Cathedral on Washington Street; Martha's Vineyard.
"They were so brave ... the bravest goats in the world! And I want to be just like them."
Now read the opening sentence of Kid:
"There once was a small goat who lived on a farm, not far from the rugged mountain."
Ask yourself some questions - will this small goat have an adventure? will he travel to the rugged mountain? what will he find there? does he have a good life on the farm? are there any other goats there? does 'not far' mean this story will involve a journey?
Life on the farm is good. There are cows, sheep, pigs and hens. Oh, and of course there is a small goat - a young goat - a kid named Kid.
"He was barely taller than the hens, and not just because he was young. He was a small breed of goat - a miniature - so even when fully grown he would hardly peek over a bale of straw. For now he was still a kid, with gangly legs, ears that stuck out and two bumps on the top of his head. He couldn't see them but he knew they were there, and he dreamt that one day they would grow into big curved horns, strong and majestic."
Kid has dreams - big dreams. And these dreams are linked with the story of his parents. This is the story Audrey, one of the hens, tells him night after night. His parents were Buck and Bess and they heroically saved the farm from a fox but by chasing the fox they jumped over all the fences and "no one ever saw those brave goats again." Bess and Buck left their baby behind in the care of Audrey. "And you've been stuck with me ever since."
Kid has the care and friendship of Audrey and also of Harriet, a whitish-pink pig. So, the story is set. Kid would like to be heroic like his parents. He is sure his parents are living in the nearby mountains. Audrey needs to protect her young charge just as she promised his mother all those years ago and Harriet is keen to experience new tastes in the wild. But of course, there is a problem - well there are lots of problem but the biggest one of all is Farm Law. Note the capital letters.
"Farm Law says that any animal who leaves the farm can never come back ... They'll bring danger to the farm - predators, or sickness from the wild."
"The adventures of Buck and Bess played in his mind. He had loved the stories, so wild and exciting, but he always dreamt that one day they would return to the farm. Now he knew he would never see them again, all because of a big white dog who didn't like goats."
Kid will not be stopped. Ma, the big white farm dog will not stop him. He jumps over the fence and ...
There are some sweet words of wisdom in Kid:
Audrey: "I was scared and I didn't want you to go. But then I asked myself what was more important: to follow the rules or follow your dreams?"
Audrey: "The world hasn't ended. You have a home and friends who love you - even when you're miserable. I didn't raise you to blob around like a snail without a shell. Get up and do something."
Cow: "Gavin (the great hawk) said you will find your family ... on the mountain."
I think I held my breath through the final chapters of this book - I know Peter Carnavas is a trustworthy author and he would give me that all important "happy ending", but I was so worried about little Kid - would Ma let him come back to the farm?
Publisher blurb: This is the story of a small goat called Kid. Ever since his parents chased away a fox and never returned, Kid has stayed with Audrey the hen in the chook yard. Audrey tells him stories of his mum and dad’s daring and bravery. She says they live on the nearby mountain, and Kid longs to leave the farm to find them. And then, one day, he discovers he is big enough to jump the fence … Will a wild adventure up the mountain help Kid find where he belongs?
Here is the trailer - this is sure to make you fall in love with this book:
This book will be published next week - do not wait - run to your independent bookstore or local library and order a copy of Kid by Peter Carnavas. I really wish I lived in Queensland so I could participate in some of the launch events for Kid. Huge thanks to UQP for sending me an advance copy of Kid. I devoured it in one sitting and then went back and read it all again today. There are extensive teachers notes for Kid BUT really my suggestion is just read this book - to your young reading companion, to your class or to your library group. Don't dissect it - just enjoy the writing, the friendships, and the very special voice of young Kid.
In the UK Kid from Pushkin Press has a slightly different cover. I love talking with students about covers - design, appeal, font choices and the way covers can influence our reading choices. The US edition will come from Groundwood Books in 2027! Kid is published in hardcover and the beautiful pastel colours reminded me of my old copy of Heidi (I have put this image at the bottom of this post).
The publisher and Peter Carnavas himself (quite rightly) links Kid with two very famous books:
Peter Carnavas says: After writing my last book, I promised myself I’d take a quiet break from writing,
but then a small goat trotted into my thoughts. I’m not sure where he came from but I remember what I was doing at the time – I was reading Edwina Wyatt’s book Cub and Brown. Edwina’s story has nothing to do with goats but for some reason, halfway through reading, I put down the book, opened my sketchbook and drew a goat. Up until now, my novels have centred around quiet children and relationships, so I wanted to try something different with my goat – I wanted an adventure! I started drafting ideas based on the structure of the hero’s journey: I gave him a call to action, a merry band of accomplices (each with their own strengths), a wise elder, a series of trials and an exciting climax.
I really appreciate having maps in books. The map at the beginning of Kid reminded me of this book:
Kid is published in hardcover and the soft pastel colours used on the cover reminded me of my old copy of Heidi. Just a small observation of mine - Kid doesn't have any actual links with Heidi!
In all of my former libraries I really enjoyed exploring the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Book Week Slogans. I have listed some previous slogans later in this post. Thinking about Symphony of Stories I thought of a few very special picture books which you could read in your library as a way to explore music in stories.
These could also be terrific books to share with your teachers - each class could explore one of these titles and then you could hold a sharing time perhaps at a Book Week Assembly. I have put a mix of books here - old, new; Australian; and suitable for Kindy right up to Grade 6. In many of the posts I have included the sheet music or links to videos/sound files so you can hear the music.
