Sea Glass by Rebecca Fraser

Over the last few weeks I have been trying to find and read Australian middle grade or junior novels published in 2023 which might be listed as CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) notable titles or even possible short list contenders. I am fairly sure this book would have been submitted and I was pleased to find it in a Melbourne bookshop perhaps it will be a notable title. I was interested to see this independent bookstore (Readings) short listed Sea Glass for their own prize. The Readings judge said:

There are no great adventures to be had, or mysteries to be solved in this book. It is instead a slim, simple story about a world which children, and their parents and grandparents, will easily recognise. Perfect for reading together. — Kate McIntosh

I did want this book to have a deeper emotional impact on me. Some of the confusion and disappointments felt by Cailin seemed to somehow resolve a little too quickly. I guess I anticipated a slightly different story line based on my reading of the blurb. This is a very short book which can easily be read in one sitting. It is a sweet story for younger readers aged 9+ who enjoy stories about family relationships. It certainly is a very Australian book with the references to a Summer Christmas celebration, cricket, Don Bradman, the Christmas day Queen's message, and eating fish and chips at the beach. Grandpa also has a colloquial Australian accent. 

Publisher blurb: When Cailin has to spend Christmas at her eccentric grandfather's shack at Whitefoam Cove, her holiday plans are ruined. She barely remembers him, let alone knows him. Memories of her father are everywhere and, to make matters worse, she's left her cricket bat at home. It's going to be the worst summer ever. But there's treasure to be found at Whitefoam Cove! However just when it seems she and Grandpa are finally making a connection, disaster strikes ... and Cailin knows it's all her fault.

Sea Glass - "Every piece has a story to tell." "Cailin picked up a few pieces from the table and examined them more closely. They really were beautiful, with their perfectly smooth edges and frosted surface. She could see why Grandpa had chosen to decorate his Christmas tree with them." "The sea glass was all different shapes and sizes. Some were round like pebbles and others were oblong, triangular, or whatever-shaped." "Every piece has a tale to tell ... It all starts with what it used to be and where it came from." "Anything that originally started out as glass. Broken bottles that once held beer, wine, juice, milk, even perfume. ... You'd be surprised what ends up in the sea ... It sinks to the bottom of the ocean, breaks apart as it tosses against coral and rocks, and little pieces of it gradually become smoother and smoother after years of rolling against the ocean floor. Until finally, the sea glass gets tossed up on the shore as beautiful sea gems for us to find."

Image Source: Galicia Spain

Here is an interview with Melbourne author Rebecca Fraser. Read more about Rebecca Fraser here. And here are ten questions with Rebecca Fraser.  Listen to an audio sample here. Here is a 39 minute interview by Reading with a Chance of Tacos.

Click these review comments to read more plot details:

Every word in every sentence is beautiful. Visual descriptions place the reader directly in the characters’ lives and helps them experience the emotions that are portrayed on the page. Kids'  Book Review

Sea Glass is a calm yet captivating book about reconnecting with family, how grief and loss affects people, the importance of keeping memories and traditions alive for the next generation, and owning up to your mistakes and prejudices. This is a deceptively complex book with strong themes hidden in quiet and unadorned writing, making it a joy to read. Story Links

This tender story explores the power of family, unbreakable family ties, the diverse ways loss and grief may impact individuals and how they cope in the aftermath of such loss. It also explores what at times can feel like a massive intergenerational chasm, yet one that can be bridged by sharing an interest, exploring nature and treasure hunting. This story is also a celebration of the many and beautiful ways a grandparent can influence family dynamics – they are caregivers, teachers, a link to the past, keepers of stories, sharers of knowledge and wisdom. Reading Opens Doors

Bruno by Catharina Valckx illustrated by Nicolas Hubesch translated by Antony Shugaar

It would be fun to read this book to class when the children return to school perhaps. Teachers sometimes set the dreaded "what did you do in the holidays" writing task for their class. It might be fun to reverse this and ask the class to describe an ordinary day with friends or family. 

This book was published in 2017 by the wonderful Gecko Press. They sure do find some quirky and fun books to translate! Bruno has good days, bad days, so-so days, and even one perfect day. He is joined by his friends Ringo, the old pony; Bup, the fish; Georgette, the turtledove; and Tweety the mixed-up canary.

There are six 'chapters' in this book or rather six days with various, slightly inconsequential yet quirky, fun, odd and for Bruno even slightly annoying events.

Walker Books (agent for Gecko Press in Australia) blurb: Bruno, the cat in the checkered cap, takes life as it comes. When it’s too rainy to go outside, his friends come around for breakfast. When a fish invites him into the river, he follows it. Why not! When the canary forgets how to talk, Bruno helps out. Days come and go, and for Bruno they always bring something interesting. And once in a while, a day comes along that is just about perfect!

Readers and listeners with a taste for the quietly surreal may find this an (almost) perfect option; the rest will find other ways to fill their days, and that’s OK. Kirkus

Betsy Bird included this book in her Early Chapter book list of 2017. 

Bruno does contain the word 'stupid'. I know from past experience this word sometimes shocks young children. As always you do need to read this book for yourself before sharing it with a group of children.

Here are two other books that I loved by Catharina Vlackx:

Lisette's Green Sock

Zanzibar

Boa's Bad Birthday by Jeanne Willis illustrated by Tony Ross

What do you want for your birthday? Think about the most perfect present you ever received. Now think about the giver of this gift. I imagine the giver really thought about YOU and the the gift was a perfect fit. Even now, years later, you may still treasure this gift.

Now imagine you are a boa!  It is your birthday. All your friends have gifts but are they the right ones and are they given with you in mind?  Would you like a grand piano; a pair of sunglasses; colourful mittens; or perhaps a new hairbrush?

"It was Boa's worst birthday ever.

All his gifts were rubbish."

Then one more friend arrives. It's Dung Beetle and his gift (I know you have already guessed) is a pile of ...  It is true a dung ball is not the perfect gift but inside is a wonderful surprise.

The moral of this story is, ‘Never turn your nose up at a stinky present; you never know what delights it might hold in store.’ The sight of Ross’s Boa, sporting his conical party hat and showing a whole range of expressions from sobbing despair to snaky smiles is a real treat as are his depictions of the other animals bearing their self-centred offerings. Red Reading Hub

I would pair Boa's Bad Birthday with The Silver Christmas Tree by Pat Hutchins because this is also about anticipating and hoping for a perfect gift. Another book to look out for would be Thank you for my Yukky Present by Meredith Hooper illustrated by Emma Quay. You might also like to take a look at this little animated film - The Present - which would be good to use with an older group of students.

Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross are a perfect pair of book creators. They have collaborated on a large number of terrific books. My favourite is Mayfly Day.

If you are looking for other books about Boa Constrictors here are a few you might find in a school or public library. This could be a topic to explore as a mini theme with younger students and of course you would include some non fiction titles in your book bag too. Go to [597.967] to find them.

Where Dani goes happy follows by Rose Lagercrantz illustrated by Eva Eriksson

If only all early chapter books were this beautifully conceived. New York Times (on My Happy Life)

Dani is desperately missing her best friend Ella who has moved far away. Her father needs some time away so he has headed off to Rome and Dani has to stay with her grandparents. Dani has a brilliant idea. It's Ella's birthday. Dani can deliver a gift. The gift is not a thing it is Dani herself. Dani just needs to get to Northbrook. Grandma cannot take her because she has visitors coming, Grandpa cannot take her because the car is in for repair so a decision is made that Dani can go by herself on the train. Grandma phones Ella's mum Sonja and the arrangements are all set.

This is not a smooth adventure. In fact it is filled with disappointment.  The ending will make you smile but not in the way you expect.

I am late coming to this series. I may have read the first book, My happy life, but I only have a vague memory of doing this. This latest book can stand alone but I am planning to read the whole series in the right order over the coming weeks. These are very short books so it won't take me long to catch up with the first five titles and they are filled with fabulous illustrations. 

In my former school library these books were very, very popular. Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for giving me number six in the "My Happy Life" series.  This series is from Sweden. I love the way Gecko Press pick up on books from other countries. The translator is Julia Marshall. Rose Lagercrantz and Eva Eriksson are both previous winners of the Astrid Lindgren Prize.

There is a sadness to these stories but they are also filled with optimism. The tone and emotional themes are very different from some of the books we offer our younger readers here in Australia. Dani's mother died when she was very young. Dani's father is often sad. Life is not always a smooth journey for Dani but somehow she pushes through. In each book Dani gets a little older and perhaps a little wiser about the ways of the world.

You can read about each book by clicking each of these links to the Kirkus reviews (several of them have a Kirkus Star):

1. My Happy Life

2. My Heart is Laughing

3. When I'm Happiest

4. Life according to Dani

5. See you when I see you

6. Where Dani goes happy follows

Writing with exceptional insight and humor, author Lagercrantz develops Dani’s emotional maturity in this story, giving her a growing awareness of both life’s complexity and adult fallibility, all the while maintaining Dani’s bone-deep optimism. Kirkus