Plague by Jackie French illustrated by Bruce Whatley

"Grass and wheat-lands spread to the horizon, and so did we, with too few ibis to control us. We could rage across the land. We ate the grass, the leaves, the wheat ... "

My first teaching appointment was to a farming community and over the years I lived there, we had a mouse plague and a grasshopper or locust plague. To counteract the impact of insects on crops the farmers used aerial spraying. One of the teachers in my school had a dreadful, almost life threatening, reaction to these insecticides. She had to keep her home closed and limit her time outside and eventually she and her family had to leave the district.

In Plague, Jackie French begins with the before times when the original people of our land lived in harmony with the season, land and animals. The locust narrator explains:

"We were never too many. The world was balanced then."

BUT swamps were drained, land was cleared for farming and things went out of balance. Specifically the habitat for ibis was lost. Jackie French explains that a single ibis can eat 700 locusts in a day. With no ibis (they moved to our cities - see books below) and delicious crops on the new farms, the locusts thrived. 

The farmers fought back - using poison sprays but this also killed our bush birds who ate the locusts.

"Long ago, people knew how Country must be cherished."

A wonderful book to talk about the topic of nature in balance with older children is this one:

Sparrow Girl

Here are some teachers notes for Plague. Plague is the sixth book in this splendid series by Jackie French - Flood, Fire, Cyclone, Drought, Pandemic and Earthquake. And each of these books have simply perfect illustrations by Bruce Whatley. I highly recommend this series as an essential addition to every school library. 

Here are my comments about Earthquake:

This title has a debossed title and shaken letters in shades of brown like the land after an earthquake. This is a perfect way to introduce the topic of this book. Jackie French is a master storyteller. Every word in this text is chosen with great care. Jackie French uses precise and effective words and phrases so readers can feel, hear, and even smell the effects of an earthquake. It is a richly descriptive narrative. Examples of this are phrases like matchstick debris; ripped like paper; the shop floor quivered like the sea. The text describes the destruction caused by an earthquake but this is balanced when we read that, earthquakes have help shape the land. The notes are the back are factual and personal. This is an engaging text that most certainly will assist the reader to understand more about our world. The end papers show the power of a quake to bring down huge stone blocks. The sense of place is very strong especially with the reference to Meckering in Western Australia (1968) and Newcastle (1989). 

Guinea Pig Superstar Ali Pye

There are two short stories in this book - Time for School and Stop that thief, Harry Stevenson!  In the first story Harry goes to school and he is beyond excited. He is sure it will be a fun day but he is a little concerned about this strange thing called Maths. His day is going well and he is trying to be "good" but another child in the class has brought their pet - a corn snake named Flash. If these two pets are kept in their containers everything will be okay BUT a naughty boy sneaks into the classroom at the break and sets the snake free. Harry knows how to get out of his cage and he is keen to find more of the tiny carrots the teacher offered him at the beginning of the day - so YES we are headed for a disaster BUT there is a happy ending thank goodness.

In the second story Harry Stevenson and Billy head to a hotel with Billy's friend Maya. The hotel manager spies Harry and immediately called the pest control people but Harry and Billy are caught up in a different conundrum. Some one is set to steal the precious Sparky FC Football trophy. Luckily Harry is able to save the day.

If you have a child aged 5+ or teach a Kindergarten or Grade One class this book and the one below would be a terrific family or class read aloud. I would follow these books with the series about Humphrey or Olga da Polga.

Read more about Ali Pye here. 

Meet Harry Stevenson. He doesn’t live in a castle, or a witch’s cottage, or anywhere exciting like that. His home is in a flat with seven-year-old Billy and his mum and dad. And at first glance, Harry doesn’t seem any different from your average guinea pig. He has ginger fur and sparkly black eyes and likes nothing more than snacking on a piece of broccoli. But don’t be fooled! Harry may just want to sleep and eat (and then eat some more) but somehow he always manages to get swept up in adventures: whether it’s scoring a goal in a vital cup match, creating mayhem in Billy’s classroom or hitching a ride to Paris with a gang of bikers!

This is the second book in the series about a cheeky guinea pig called Harry Stevenson. 

The Adventures of Harry Stevenson

And here is book 3 from this series:

The Smith family has won a competition to spend a weekend in Paris and they're taking Harry Stevenson with them, but after Harry sets off the airport security alarm and their car breaks down, it seems as though they'll never get there? 

And when they do, what will happen to a small guinea pig lost in the big city?

Bushfires in Australia

Image Source SBS News 3rd January, 2020

There have been a few questions on various forums about books teachers and teacher-librarians might share with children as we all struggle to make sense of the bush fire crisis here in Australia.  Here are some that should be easy to find in Australian Primary school libraries and council libraries. Thanks to my friend at Kinderbookwitheverything for her discussion of this topic.

I am not suggesting anyone share these books with children who are directly or even indirectly affected by the fires.  These are books to use if your children (living in other areas) have questions about these events. I would expect any parent or teacher would take the time to read a book first to check it is suitable - this is especially important for a topic as serious as this. Here is a quote from Megan Daley to her KidsNextRead Facebook group: "As someone who lived through the 2011 floods in Brisbane I know it was way too soon for children/families to be reading books about floods (even with a good ending) as they lived it, and in the months afterwards. Everyone is different - but I had several little people in my life who were unable to read anything about natural disasters for a very long time indeed. Just something to be mindful of as I know there will be many people in this group who are directly affected by the fires."

Bushfires

Fire by Jackie French illustrated by Bruce Whatley. Here are a set of Teachers Notes from the Geography Teachers Association NSW. And another set from the publisher.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:

One small spark bought fire awake

Winding like a small black snake

Fire flickered, fire crept

Flames snickered, bushfire leapt...

Inspired by the bushfires that have affected many Australians, Fire is a moving and sensitive story of a natural disaster as seen through the eyes of a cockatoo. The fire mercilessly engulfs homes and land, leaving a devastating path of destruction. But from the ruins, courage, kindness and new life grows.

The House on the Mountain by Ella Halcombe illustrated by David Cox
Here are a set of discussion questions and web links to use with this book.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:

The powerful story of a family who lose their home in a bushfire and their journey of recovery.

REMEMBERING BLACK SATURDAY

There is a fire coming, and we need to move quickly. Mum and Dad start packing bags, grabbing woollen blankets, the first-aid kit, torches, and then the photo albums. Dad puts Ruby on her lead and ties her up near the back door. My chest feels hollow, like a birdcage.

Atmospheric and intensely moving, this is the story of a family experiencing a bushfire, its devastating aftermath, and the long process of healing and rebuilding.

Through the Smoke by Phil Cummings illustrated by Andrew McLean
Here are a set of Teachers Notes from the publisher shared by Pegi Williams bookshop.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:

The fire awoke like a dragon. Its flames licked the sky, and smoke veiled the sun.

With a hungry crackle and an angry hiss, the cruel beast circled, trapping them.

Until, through the smoke, knights appeared.

Through the Smoke tells the story of three kids, their imagination and a frightening fire in the Australian bush.

Wombat Goes Walkabout by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Christian Birmingham

Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:

One day Wombat digs the deepest hole he's ever dug and crawls into the cool darkness to think. But when he climbs out again, he can't see his mother anywhere. He is all alone.

As he wanders through the great outback looking for her, Wombat meets all kinds of wonderful creatures – Kookaburra, Wallaby, Possum, Emu, Boy and Koala. None of them think very much of him, though.

But when a fire sweeps through the bush, it is Wombat's skills which save the day, and afterwards everyone races off to find his mum and bring her back to him.

Fabish the horse that braved a bushfire by Neridah McMullin illustrated by Andrew McLean
Read my review comments - this book was short listed in 2017 by the CBCA.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:

Fabish was a handsome grey racehorse. In his racing days, he wasn't the fastest horse, but he always tried his hardest. And when he retired, Fabish took care of the yearlings in a paddock far away from the training track. Fabish showed the flighty young horses what was expected of a racehorse.

One hot summer day, a wild wind blew up and the yearlings were restless. Then Fabish smelled smoke. Fire was coming, fast. The trainer threw open the gate and said, 'Go now!' Fabish neighed to the young ones and they galloped away. All through the night, the fire raged and the trainer battled to save the racehorses in the stables.

But what would become of Fabish and the yearlings? Could he save them from the firestorm?

Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle by Glenda Millard illustrated by Stephen Michael King.

From QBD bookshop: 

Applesauce is convinced that there can be no Christmas this year -- her heart, where Christmas comes from, is as small as a gumnut and there was no Christmas in it at all. But then something special happens and Applesauce discovers that Christmas does not need to be all about glitzy decorations, fancy foods and expensive presents. It does indeed come from the heart.

Firefighters

Image source: Samaritans

Where there's Smoke by Robin Lovell illustrated by David Miller
Here are a set of teachers notes from the Curriculum Corporation.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:

One hot January day, a bulldozer cuts a new track near the creek and firefighters back-burn around their house a bushfire is coming, and smoke fills the air. Bodie and his mum shut all the doors and windows, and make sure there is no rubbish around the house that can catch fire, all the while listening to their CB to keep track of what s going on.

The fire comes closer; fire trucks arrive to fight the fire will their house be saved?

Where There’s Smoke deals with what firefighters do when a bushfire gets close, and what you can do to protect your property.

Web sites to investigate

Tasmanian Fire Service - School Fire Education

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority - Bushfire Education

NSW Rural Fire Service - Resources for Teachers

Fiddlesticks by Sean Taylor illustrated by Sally Anne Garland

Have you ever been so frustrated you just needed to YELL!  Poor little mouse. His house is almost perfect but one window just needs a tiny adjustment.  Unfortunately this tiny movement of the window leads to a chain reaction of disasters.

Before you read any words in this book why not simply go through the whole story looking at the pictures - especially mouse's face which perfectly reflects each disaster.

"FIDDLESTICKS, RATS, HOPSCOTCH AND NANG DANG DARN IT!"

His friends try to so hard to help but, with his house almost totally destroyed, mouse simply has to walk away in despair.  Luckily the end of the story will give everyone a huge reason to smile again.

Here is the author web site.  If you need to read more of the plot dip into this review.  You might also enjoy No Place like home.