Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

"Who wouldn't want to live in a place with no internet and no cell phones and no TV or radio? Who wouldn't want to live surrounded by emu farms in a town that's half astrophysicists and half people who are afraid of their microwaves. I mean isn't that the American Dream? Hint: no."

I am only going to give brief details about the plot of this book because I do not want to spoil your reading experience. Erin Bow drops tiny hints (Betsy Bird calls them breadcrumbs) which gradually give you the details of what has happened to Simon back at his old school. Here are a few of them:

My father got fired - the hilarious reasons are outlined in chapter one. Simon's mother is an undertaker. Undertakers can work anywhere. "And that's why we came here. Anyway, that's what I tell people."

"I would have moved to Mars if it got me away from what happened in Omaha."

"I don't like the stiff and clearly brand-new backpack, but I never got the old one back ... "

"I was home-schooled all last year, and I asked my parents not to include the records from before that."

"The bell is loud - it's a real bell, being hit by a real hammer, sounding like a real emergency - and my body slams backwards into the chalkboard, the eraser tray jamming into my hip. But none of the other kids notice."

There are some terrific plot devices in this story - no internet means no one can Google Simon to find out about his past. The name of the town Grin and Bear It allows the author to create a small town in America with so many quirky shops and other businesses including the funeral home which is called Slaughter and Sons. I love the other fun towns Erin Bow "invents" (perhaps they are real) Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; Come by Chance, Newfoundland; and Intercourse, Pennsylvania. There are emus in this story which is funny to me because I am here in Australia - we never do find out why Agate's neighbour has an emu farm. I also adore the minor adult characters in this story - Simon's mum and dad just seem so real and Erin Bow describes them so well; Agate has a wonderful eclectic family and even though we don't meet her dad until the final chapters I just wanted to hug him and Mrs Van der Zwaan. Mum has a deep coffee addiction - so funny to me especially as a non-coffee person. Read this:

"I need a proper mocha ... seventy two percent dark Madagascar chocolate, microfoamed almond milk and two shots of espresso, Yirgicheff bean, lightly washed."

If you want to read more the Kirkus review contains the main plot spoiler.

Adroit, sensitive, horrifying, yet hilarious. Kirkus Star review

Betsy Bird sums up this idea too, of not spoiling the story:

I almost fear telling you too much about it, in case you don’t come to it with the same clean slate that I had. The fact of the matter is that Erin Bow has created a masterpiece of tone with this book. Combining a legitimately horrifying situation with humor, heart, and the occasional Jesus squirrel, this is both the funniest book you’ll read this year, and the best-written. Would that I were joking about that. In three words: I am not.

BUT Betsy does go on to say do not read her review if you want to avoid possible spoilers!

The book itself has this summary:

"Two years after a tragedy saddles him with viral fame, twelve-year-old Simon O'Keefe and his family move to Grin And Bear It, Nebraska, where the internet and cell phones are banned so (that) astrophysicists can scan the sky for signs of alien life, and where, with the help of two new friends, a puppy and a giant radio telescope, Simon plans to restart the narrative of his life."

I love the final words of Betsy Bird's review:

This is for the kid who likes their humor to be complicated, their writing to be scintillating, and to never, ever, know what an author is going to do next. One and all, please be so good as to meet the most memorable book of the year.

Here are some detailed discussion questions.

Some time ago I joined an online book discussion group. I don't read every book but this one intrigued me. I am about to do some traveling so I have bought a small Kindle and I added this book to my Kindle library. Over the last few days while I had a small mountain mini break I decided to test out reading on the Kindle and I picked this book as a perfect one to try. Simon sort of Says is such an engrossing story with a plot structure I really appreciate where the author gradually reveals past events and also where other kids, not by design or on purpose, gently help the main character recover from a trauma. I do like to highlight sections as I read and in the past with Kindle titles I previously easily did this on my ipad but it took me a few tries to master this on a different device. The highlighted notes give me access to text quotes and also jog my memory about plot details and also a way to join the online discussion questions posted earlier this year. 

Companion books:

The Probability of everything

The Midnight Children

The Best Hiding Place by Jane Godwin illustrated by Sylvia Morris

 

Hide and seek is a game that all children (dare I say even around the world) love to play. One of my favourite books to read to the youngest children in my school library for over 20 years was this one about little Moonbear playing hide and seek with his friend the moon.

One night Moonbear decides to play hide-and-seek with the moon. When it’s Moonbear’s turn to hide, the moon finds him every time. But when the moon ducks behind a cloud and doesn’t come out, Moonbear gets worried. Is the moon lost forever?

In this new Australian picture book - The Best Hiding Place - a group of children - perhaps they are cousins - are playing hide and seek inside their Grandparent's house. It seems as though they have played this many times before and so all the kids have found terrific hiding places except for the littlest child - he always climbs into the washing basket. 

The cover of this book is SO perfect showing all the rooms where the children hide during their game. I have special memories of other books from my childhood that showed houses in cross section like this. I love exploring all the little domestic details.  AND notice this is game to play inside AND this is a game that does not involve devices! All of that is a lovely, perhaps unintentional message. 

Sylvia Morris has met some interesting challenges here in a creative and effective way – showing multiple points of the action on one page; giving readers an insight into a domestic environment – probably one that children will recognise; and allowing us to “hear” the boy inside the cupboard. As readers we watch his emotions change from confidence (he won't be found) to doubt and even terror (perhaps he will never be found). 

The scene where we see the boy hiding in the darkness inside the musty cupboard adds a perfect amount of tension and feelings of claustrophobia, especially with the addition of the slightly scary, and possibly smelly, old teddy bear. Readers will feel every long minute or perhaps hour that the little boy waits to be found. One of the best illustrations in this book is the close-up image of the boy’s face with just a slither of light coming from the slightly open door. 

The final illustration is perfect – show don’t tell – no need for the words to say anything, little Sam is heading back into his favourite hiding place and this is exactly what a child his age would do! The addition of the bead necklace invites readers to re-visit the illustrations to work out where this trinket came from. The colour palette has a slightly retro feel which is very appealing. 

The title page, which has all the children and their names, works really well – notice how Archie standing slightly away from his siblings or cousins. 

Jane Godwin says: This story was partly inspired by re-reading Winnicott’s iconic book Playing and Reality, and thinking about the traditional, well-loved game of hide-and-seek, and realising that although it appears simple, it is actually rich with meaning. No wonder it has endured for centuries and throughout the world! Hide-and-seek reflects a child’s personal development. It’s a game that deals with both sides of our selves - the private, ‘hidden’ self, and the communal, public self. We love to hide, but being found, being discovered for who you are, is also a great joy. Hide-and-seek is a game of aloneness and togetherness, and the power and intensity of both.

Sylvia Morris is an illustrator for our NSW School Magazine. This is her first picture book and it was a New Illustrator short listed title. (I was one of the judges for the CBCA 2021-23).

Here are the judge's comments (which might repeat some of my words because I contributed to this):

The colour palette in The Best Hiding Place creates a lovely retro and nostalgic quality. Each and every image allows the reader to peek inside different parts of the house, often showing multiple points of action on one page. Archie’s claustrophobia in his hiding spot is conveyed effectively to create a sustained moment of tension that readers will identify with. Distinct characters and relationships are shown, and some humorous details invite readers to re-visit and examine earlier illustrations. The illustrations perfectly capture those mixed feelings of playing hide and seek as a child, which will appeal to readers of all ages.

Jane Godwin is the author of picture books, junior novels, middle grade and young adult novels.

Don't forget

Ivanhoe Swift left home at Six

Go Go and the Silver Shoes

What do you wish for?

Exit through the gift shop by Maryam Master illustrated by Astred Hicks

"Have you ever been to the zoo? Or a museum? Or any kind of amusement park? If the answer is yes, then you'll know what I'm talking about. The only way out is through the gift shop. Whether you like it or not! ... life kind of works in the same way. When you're on your way out, you are forced to look at gifts you would ordinarily bypass."

My name is Anahita Rosalind Ghorban-Galaszczuk but you can call me Ana. My best friend is Alexander Aaron Afu but everyone calls him Al. By the way by the end of this book you will want to hug Al - he is the bestest best friend ever. 

According to the doctor, Ana has about a year left. She has cancer (non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma). Yes that is a problem but really there's nothing she can do about that and really it is her other problem that is far more pressing - Alyssa Anderson - bully extraordinaire. 

In raw, honest, direct, authentic and often funny revelations, Ana shares with readers her final year of life. Yes I did say funny because Ana adds all of these crazy word definitions into her story. This is truly her story - we are reading it as she writes it. Here are a couple of her definitions to show you what I mean:

Nemesis (nem-uh-sis) Noun

A long-standing rival; an arch enemy, a foe, someone who makes your life so hellish that you'd rather listen to the Frozen soundtrack on loop for the rest of your life than have to deal with her ever again.

Poking the bear Colloquial expression

Doing something that may provoke a negative response from someone. Obviously poling a bear is not a smart move. That beast ain't gonna like it. At best she'll growl in your fact to express her anger and at worst, she'll hunt you down and eat you. She'll start by biting off your head and swallowing it whole, then she'll chow down on your limbs one by one and finish up by using your hair to floss her teeth. My top tip for the day: do not, I repeat, do NOT poke bears. Especially ones with flowing blonde hair and perfect teeth.

I recommend you grab a cup of Persian tea (see page 114) and settle down to read this book. You will most probably want to read the whole thing in one sitting. Please don't worry about being sad. I am someone who cries over nothing and I didn't cry so I am sure you will be fine. I actually predicted the truth about Alyssa but I won't spoil things here by saying more. 

This is a beautifully written book, exploring one young girl’s journey of facing her own death. She does confront her own mortality through the story so whilst it is deep content it is written with so much humour, joy and love, that you will remember this book long after you put it down. It is a truly joyous affirmation to make the most of everyday and to be the best person you can. Lamont Standing Order

Maryam Master has done a wonderful job of capturing not just the hard graft and fear about a terminal cancer diagnosis, but also the love and joy and crazy wonder about living and not giving up, even when facing death. NZ Book Lovers

Ana's voice bursts from the page and the reader has no choice but to be pulled into her world.  Kids' Book Review (note I disagree with ages 8-12)

Ana is very down to earth and philosophical. She has accepted her fate and is ready to make the most of the time that she has. She has quite a sense of humour and her story is written in a dramatic (comedic) way with lots of big bold words and sketches on the pages. Book Girl

My favourite bookseller from Beachside Bookshop gifted me Exit through the gift shop recently when I expressed an interest in reading this book which has a very quirky title. Now that I have finished it I sought out some reviews and once again I am in shock.  No let me say that again I am in SHOCK.  This is a book, my opinion for a mature reader aged 11+ and if asked for a category I would say this is a YA novel. And yet, once again I read that it is recommended (by one well respected reviewer) as suitable for 8-12. I shudder and shake my head. Then I read another reviewer who said 12+  and one of the standing order services here in Australian has put this book into their secondary selection. So much confusion which is concerning when there is no way any book seller can read every book!

Maryam Master was born in Iran and she moved to Australia when she was nine. She is a screenwriter and has worked to adapt three David Walliams stories for the stage. Exit through the gift shop is her first novel. Here are a set of teachers notes. This book has cartoon illustrations and lots of graphic text features by Astred Hicks who works as a book designer. 

Here are some companion reads to go with Exit through the gift shop:

The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle

The Honest Truth

Ms Bixby's Last Day

Lost treasure of the Emerald Eye Geronimo Stilton

The Philosophy of Geronimo Stilton :

GERONIMO STILTON AND LIFE

Sometimes Geronimo feels like as though he’s the victim of the unfortunate circumstances he finds himself in. His job absorbs him completely and he feels suffocated by his responsibility to his co-workers, his friends and his family. But at the end of every adventure Geronimo has the feeling of being in complete harmony with himself and the world, because life is beautiful and he is happy to have so many friends and a family as special as his.

This quote comes from the Geronimo Stilton web site - there is a huge section about the "philosophy" of this amusing series.

The Geronimo Stilton series of books are very popular in my library but apart from a quick flip through a few pages I confess I had not read one until a few weeks ago.  Actually I did not read Lost Treasure of the Emerald eye - I listened to the audio version.  I laughed and laughed. Then I wondered about the children who read this series.

Here are a few samples from the text of lines that might make an adult smile but perhaps are lost on younger students :

I'm really not a morning mouse.
One day we're going to end up sipping cheese through straws at Mouse General
Slimy Swiss balls! Someone got up on the wrong side of the hole today!
That night ... I listed to my squeaky sounds sleep tape, and counted grilled cheese sandwiches.
Trap led us into a library filled with books on every subject. Cats. Cheese. Cats who eat cheese and the mice who love them.
The sun sat on the ocean like a cherry on top of a piece of cheesecake.
You know I'm not awake until I've had my cup of steamed cheese (two sugars, hold the milk).

I like the use of graphics which illustrate the words in this book but I imagine it might be a little distracting for some beginning readers.

In this first adventure Thea finds a map. She convinces Geronimo, their cousin Trap and little Benjamin (who stows away) to travel across the oceans to find the Treasure.  There are adventures at sea, a ship wreck, the dangerous journey across the island and of course .... Did they find the Emerald Eye?  You need to read the book to find out.

Geronimo Stilton was originally published and written in Italy.  Scholastic took over producing the series in English and now there are so many extras - television series, an app, online newspaper, audio books and so many spin off series.

Series Statistics
Geronimo Stilton - 66 books
First book Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye
Kindgom of Fantasy - 10 books
Journey Through time - 4 books
Thea Stilton series - 25 books
Creepella von Cacklefur series - 8 books
Cave Mice series - 14 books
Spacemice series - 10 books
Thea Stilton the Mouseford Academy  - 10 books
Graphic novels - 26 books

Holey Cheese! Imported from Italy, this snazzy series debut about a globetrotting mouse journalist spreads the cheesy puns nice and thick. 

Completely Clementine by Sara Pennypacker pictures by Marla Frazee

In 2009 I talked about Clementine.  We have the whole series in our library now including the latest installment and seventh Completely Clementine.

Sara Pennypacker has created a such a memorable character with little Clementine.  This is one of those books where you really 'hear' the character's voice and this lingers with you long after reading.

The Clementine books are perfect for students in Grades 2-4.  As this book opens the end of Grade Three is looming and Clementine is upset.  She does not like to say goodbye, she does not want to leave her special teacher Mr D'Matz and she is especially upset with her dad because she thinks everyone should be a vegetarian.

The fight against her dad eating meat is such a funny and poignant thread through the whole story.  Clementine has decided she will not talk to her dad - she will give him the 'silent treatment' but she also needs to communicate her feelings so each day she presents her dad with a different drawing :
Crying Cow, Terrified Clam, Thanksgiving tragedy and Petrified Piglets.  Sadly, for Clementine, these heart-felt and graphic pictures do not seem to affect her father.  Her mum explains:

"I want to talk to you about this feud you're having with your father.'
'The sad-animal drawings?'
'No, not those. I like that you're doing those, in fact.  You're presenting your side of something you care about.  That's what  artists do: when they care about something, they make art about it.  And sometimes their art makes other people care too, although sometimes it doesn't.  The problem is the other thing: your not speaking to him."

I highly recommend the Clementine series.  You might like to read this review from Kirkus.  Here are some other junior series worth exploring.

I was a third grade spy by Mary Jane Auch

It is not often that I tell a reader exactly how to read a book but for this one I was a third grade spy there is one little trick that will help you make sense of this quirky romp - you need to notice the little illustrations at the top of each chapter.  These show you the voice or narrator for that chapter the most important of which is Arful the dog.

We do have the first book of this series in our school library - I was a third grade Science project.  This next story continues with Arful hypnotized and discovering he can now speak to his human friends Josh, Dougie and Brian.

If you have read Spunky tells all (and I hope you have) then I was a Third Grade Spy is the perfect follow on book.  Artful tries to help the boys win the school talent quest but while he can understand human speech many expressions and even individual words do not make sense to his dog brain.

This is a simple book but it is filled with humour and a quick story.  The ending at the talent quest is the predictable disaster and it is utterly hilarious.

In this scene the boys are attempting to make a souffle because they think their spy - Arful - has discovered this is what the girls are planning for the talent quest.

"We're in the kitchen, my favourite place in the whole world.  I pride myself on keeping this floor licked spotless. I'm hoping for a lot of spilling, because these guys haven't a clue how to cook.  I settle in the corner that gives me the best view. I could spot a dropped sesame seed from here."

Pip Street A Whiskery mystery by Jo Simmons

If you are in need of a really funny book that is very easy to read grab A Whiskery Mystery.  If you enjoy a good mystery and you like to read about young crime solvers grab this book.  If you own a cat - grab this book.  If you need a book to read aloud to your child - grab this book!!

A big thank you must go to Bloomin' books in Carringbah.  The owner Kate Colley found this gem and included it with the parcel she sends us each term.

This book is full of jokes.... Here is the beginning of Chapter two :

"Bobby Cobbler was a little boy, about this big with a sprinkling of freckles and teeth as white as snow (and everywhere that Bobby went, his teeth were sure to go).  He had sharp eyes (but not sharp enough to cut yourself on), and a mind as curious as a kitten's and fifty times as smart."

Bobby's dad sells sweets and when the market dries up the family need to move on so Bobby has spent his whole life moving from one town to another.  Luckily he has his beloved cat, Conkers, to keep him company. As this story begins the family have moved into Pip Street but after just one night Conkers goes missing.

Bobby makes a new friend - his neighbour - a girl called Imelda Alice Marjorie Small "(Which if you write it out, makes I AM Small - and she was)."  Imelda suggests they should make missing cat posters to put up around the street.  Bobby thinks this is a splendid idea but as they race around the street putting up their posters they discover there are missing posters everywhere and nearly all of them are about missing cats.

Bobby and Imelda are now on the trail of a mystery.  There are many possible suspects among their neighbours.  There is a man who writes chalk messages on the footpath, an old lady who blinks a lot and a man who rides a wild mobility scooter.

Even the chapter titles in this book are perfect - A plan is planned, He thought he saw a pussycat, A right Royal snoop around and A street called Pip.

I am excited to discover a second adventure is available - A Crumpety Calamity.

If you enjoy this book - and you will -  you should  also look for the Claude series which have a similar sense of fun.

Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry illustrated by Middy Thomas

I keep seeing Gooney Bird Green mentioned on book lists.  It seems there are a huge number of lists circulating in cyberspace. Lists for second graders, lists about themes, list of books to use for teaching and so on.

Now that I have read Gooney Bird Greene I can see why this title appears on lists for second graders and lists of great read-a-loud books.  Gooney Bird herself is an irresistible storyteller even the class teacher comes under her spell.

Gooney Bird arrives at Watertower Elementary School about one month after school has started for the year.  As chance would have it the class are learning about story writing.  Gooney is a fascinating girl and so when the teacher asks for suggestions about a character for the class story with one voice the whole class suggest Gooney herself.

Her introduction to the class had left every one full of questions :

"I'm your new student.  My name is Gooney Bird Green - that's Greene with a silent 'e' at the end - and I just moved here from China."  Later Gooney also tells the class she has diamond earrings given to her by the prince at a palace, she has traveled on a flying carpet and her cat was consumed by a cow.  These outlandish claims form the basis for a daily storytelling time and these stories will certainly make you smile especially when you hear Gooney say "I only tell absolutely true stories."

There are many sites with questions and ideas for using this book with a class.  This is not a new book but it is a new addition to our school library and one that I am sure many young readers will enjoy.  There are five books in the series so we need to add these to our shopping list.  Reading this book reminded me of Pippi Longstocking.  I especially loved the descriptions of Gooney's clothes each day.

Spunky tells all by Ann Cameron illustrated by Lauren Castillo

"I lay on my belly and pulled myself forward, creeping toward Ralph's socks.  My fur caught loudly on the rough places of the rug. Ralph couldn't hear a sound. His ears were not good enough.  This is another question I must put to the ancestors.  Why do humans have such big ears when they can hardly hear anything?  What exactly is the point? But right then I had work.  I had reached the socks.  I dropped my head. I sniffed deeply. A sweet, ripe scent filled my nostrils. I opened my jaws. The socks  went into my mouth! Thousands of tiny lights flashed in spangled colors!"

Spunky is a middle aged dog (he is fourteen in human years) who lives with the Bates family.  While he can understand human language the family cannot speak dog.  In Spunky tells all, Spunky himself tries to make sense of his family all the while bemoaning their daily lack of understanding of his needs and habits.  The whole book is told from his point of view which is so funny.

Everything is going well until this incident with the sock.  After a long discussion, in which Spunky tries unsuccessfully to contribute his point of view,  the family decide Spunky needs a friend.  The friend will be a cat!  They go to the animal shelter and select Fiona - she is a cat who smells of foolish.

Somewhat like the relationship between Stuart Little and Snowbell the cat.  These two disparate souls have to find a way to live together.  Actually Spunky demonstrates amazing heroism when Fiona places her self in two life threatening situations.  Once in the toilet and later in the freezer drawer.

This is a perfect book.  It made me smile from page one to page 105.  It would be brilliant to read aloud or give to a young child who is ready for chapters.  Read this review if I have not convinced you that this book is special.  Here is a link to the author web site.

I have discovered that this is a book in a series by Ann Cameron about all the members of the Bates family.  We only have one of the ten titles in our school library Julian Secret Agent but I plan to add more.

Joe and Sparky, Superstars! by Jamie Michalak illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Here is another joyous beginner book - Joe and Sparky, Superstars!  Joe Giraffe is a man with ideas.  Sparky, the tortoise, is somewhat reluctant to try new things but he is a loyal friend.

The friends, who live in cageless zoo, see a show on television about Talented Pairs and immediately Joe can see fame and glory.  The problem comes when they try to discover Sparky's talent.  Nothing seems right :

"I am done!' said Sparky.  'I cannot dance or tell a joke.  I cannot run, slide, or stand on one foot.  I cannot be Sparky the Star.  Just for you Joe, I have tried.  But we will never be a talented pair."

Of course this is not quite true and at the end of the day Joe and Sparky make a surprising and wonderful discovery.  This is, however, not the end.  The last page is perfect.  Joe sees a poster advertising positions for movie extras and it is clear the whole process will begin again.

Here is the web site for the author.  There are three books in this series. We definitely need to add all of them to our library collection.  You can read an excellent review here.

This book reminds me of the Minton series by Anna Fienberg so if you are a Minton fan you should look for Joe and Sparky.

Claude in the spotlight by Alex T Smith

If you are in need of a quick read and a terrific laugh out loud book run and I mean RUN! into your library and grab Claude in the spotlight.  I have talked about this cute little hound called Claude before.  I think these books just get better and better.

Claude and his trusty sidekick Sir Bobblysock go on an adventure where they find themselves in a ballet class. The class are rehearsing for a variety show which will be performed that very day.  Claude dazzles the teacher with his splendid dancing (there is a tiny fly inside his jumper) and so the teacher, with the perfect name of Miss Highkick-Spin, convinces him to enter. The prize is simply way too irresistible to say no - "the best act wins a grand prize - all the cakes you can eat from Mr Lovelybuns' Bakery. He is judging the competition."

There is, however, more than just a fly inside Claude's jumper.  There is a fly in the theater in the form of a ghost and all the acts are ending in chaos.  It is up to Claude to save the day, and perhaps he will even win the prize!

Bless this mouse by Lois Lowry illustrated by Eric Rohmann

There seem to have been such a lot of books about mice on my reading pile lately so I waited to begin this one.  I find it best to mix up my reading between genres so that I can remember the plot lines of individual books and not blend them together.

With the election of the new Pope last week this was the perfect book to read this morning as it set in a church although this in an Anglican church.  On my recent trip to UK I visited grand churches and enjoyed hearing those beautiful names like nave, transept, chancel and sacristy.  In this book Bless this mouse I have learnt a new term - narthex.  "Next she found herself in the narthlex  Hildegarde so liked the formal names for the parts of the church.  If she were an ordinary mouse, she thought, twitching her nose at this idea, this would be know as the front hall.  What an ordinary name! Narthex had a ring to it.  You knew you were in an important place when you entered a narthex!"

Hildegarde is mouse mistress at Saint Barthloemew's.  In her charge are over 200 mice including her friends Roderick and Francis, who used to live at the university library, and her rival Lucretia.

This book is simply a delight.  If you are a Tumtum and Nutmeg fan you must read Bless this Mouse. Hildegarde herself is a wonderful character. She is firm in her convictions, wise in her actions and loyal to her people.  When not one not two but three mice are seen by humans in the church Hildegarde know it is time to act quickly before the Great X leads to their extermination.  She carefully organizes for all the mice to leave the church and take shelter in the graveyard.  "I know most of you have never been Outdoors before.  We are not, after all, field mice!'  The audience tittered.  Field mice! Of course they weren't field mice!.  'And we will not be here long. Probably two days. But I myself have traveled a bit from time to time, and have learned to appreciate some of the dangers of the Outdoors.  So I want to alert you."

The first plan to avoid the Great X involves eating the phone book so Father Murphy cannot find the number to call, then they decide to just eat the page with the number so the mice, after some very hard work, turn the phone book to the X section only to discover there is no mention of the terrible X.  Later Hildegarde overhears Father Murphy on the phone and realizes their mistake.  It is not X it is E for EXTERMINATOR!

The way these wonderful mice outwit the exterminator will have you cheering right to the last page.  Here is a detailed review and another one too.  This book also reminded me of Mossop's last chance by Michael Morpurgo which has long been a favourite book of mine.

A place to call home by Alexis Deacon illustrated by Viviane Schwarz

This book is all about your point of view.  Depending on your location, your size and your experience you will see the world in a certain way.

If you are talking with children about visual literacy this is a perfect book.  The reader peeps through a large hole on the cover looking at seven hamster like creatures who have been living in a small dark hole. All is going well until the day arrives when the hole becomes too small and so the family have to set off to find a new home.

Using speech bubbles we follow their journey across a treacherous landscape which is actually a junk yard complete with large guard dog.  Of course this is not the view seen by our tiny friends.  To them a large puddle seems as wide as the sea, an old set of drawers are a mountain and a patch of sand must be the desert.

The final page where they discover an even bigger world is simply spectacular.  Here is a review.  Here is the web site for the illustrator.  Look for her other books in our school library they are very special.

This book is a joyous romp from front to back.  Go into your library and grab it today.

Fast-paced with wit and heart, this ridiculous rodent road-trip will appeal to future comic-book lovers—and anyone part of a tight band of brothers (or sisters). 

The Emperor's new Clothes Horse by Tony Wilson illustrated by Sue deGennaro

Step One read the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Emperor's New Clothes

Step Two read The Emperor's new Clothes Horse

Step Three read The Emperor's Underwear from the Seriously Silly stories series.

I do enjoy fairy tale parodies.  The Emperor's new Clothes horse is perfect.  The illustrations are whimsical and lively.  The twist of using a clothes horse and a horse race is a delightful innovation.

I do hope this book is short listed for the CBCA awards in 2013. It will be fun to share this romp in my library.

We have a good collection of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales in our library.

Here is an audio version of The Emperor's New Clothes. Here are lots of activities for this story. Finally here is the full text of the traditional story if you don't have your own Fairy Tale collection nearby.

Here is an image of a clothes horse which might be useful.

Truly Tan by Jen Storer illustrated by Claire Robertson

Truly Tan is truly perfect in every way.  This is an ideal book for a young reader.  It is funny, there is an adventure and you might even meet a ghost.  I smiled all the way through this terrific little book. Girls especially in Grades 1-4 are sure to fall in love with Tan and her wacky sisters.

Tan is the youngest girl.  Her sisters were all named by their mother and they have names like lollipops or traffic lights - Emerald, Amber and Rose.  When the fourth baby arrives Dad does the naming but it still has to be a colour hence we have Tan.

As the story opens the family are moving from the city to a new house in the country.  They take with them all the family pets (dad is a vet) - a tiny dog called Doodad she is a Poohuahua, a poodle chihuahua cross, Queen Victoria or QV a tortoise, Babbles the parrot, E the cat and Awesome, Tan's large dog who is always depressed.

Life in the country potentially gets off to a bad start when the removal truck simply dumps all their possessions and drives away.  Then the family find they do not have the key to the new house and so the first night is spent sleeping on the veranda  Tan really enjoys this.  To mark the way into the property the agent has left a dead fox draped on the roadside letter box but when the sisters retrace their journey out to the road the next morning the fox has disappeared.  While they are trying to work out what might have happened they meet a young boy called Ted who has made a hideout with his sister, called the Purple Haunt.  Ted allows the girls to join the Chosen Few - people who know about this hideout but are sworn to secrecy.  And so the adventures begin.

Scattered through the book are word definitions and diary entries from Tan herself.  Here are some of the words Tan defines :
Gorgonzola
Hysterical
Hostile
Sequins
Inappropriate
Elusive
Bamboozled

My most favourite word is popularness.  "I need something fascinating for my first Show and Tell.  Something envy-making. Something that will definitely make me the popular new girl from the city. My eyes land on the cat skeleton.  Purrrfect."

The other part of this book that I really appreciated was Tan's mother who is a food writer and splendid cook.  The meals that are described in this book sound delicious.  It is so refreshing to find a story featuring parents who are good cooks.

If you enjoy this book then look for other series like Clarice Bean, Ivy and Bean, Keena Ford, Violet Mackerel, Clementine or Alice Miranda.

I am pleased to see I have already reviewed a few books by Jen Storer including Tensy Farlow, and Norman does Nothing.  I wonder if Truly Tan will be short listed for 2013 CBCA Awards I do hope it is.

The vanishment of Thomas Tull by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

The Vanishment of Thomas Tull is a book from my permanent read-a-loud collection.  I have a handful of books that I read to students every year and Thomas Tull is one of them.  The Ahlbergs are master story tellers - you might know this from The Jolly Postman, Each Peach Pear Plum, Peepo, and Jeremiah in the Dark Woods to name just a handful of their special titles.

"When Thomas Tull was seven years old he stopped growing, which was bad, and began shrinking, which was worse.  By the time he was seven and a half none of his clothes fitted him at all; and when his eighth birthday arrived he had to stand on a box to blow his candles out."

These are the opening lines of The Vanishment of Thomas Tull.  Don't you love that word 'vanishment'.  Thomas is clearly shrinking - will he completely vanish?  Mrs Tull is hysterical with fear and berates her long suffering husband Mr Tull to do something!  A cast of interesting characters arrive after Mr Tull advertises :

"1000 Pounds  REWARD
One thousand pounds reward is offered to any man woman or child who is able to prevent Master Thomas Tull of 158 Balaclava Road from shrinking away.  A further one thousand pounds will be paid to anyone who can restore this well-loved but unfortunate boy to his former size."

The family try food cooked by world famous chefs and doctors from around the world like the Honorable Doctor Chop-Chop from China who uses an Enlargero-Phonotron - but it does not work only his rabbit gets bigger.  Other people come trying to claim the reward.  A little girl even tries to blow Thomas up with a bicycle pump.  Thomas also dances with a duchess and flies with a Baron but Thomas keeps shrinking and then one day he disappears!  Here is a hint - all the downstairs furniture from the Tull's house also disappears that night.

There are detailed line drawings all through this book. I especially like the page where Dr Gristlebone tries to stretch Thomas.  This is another one of those little out of print books but you might be lucky and find a copy in your library I even found one this year in a local second hand bookshop.  You might like to read about Janet and Allan Ahlberg here.

Pookie Aleera is not my boyfriend by Steven Herrick

This book is so so so so good.  Rush out and buy a copy, read it then pass it on to your best friend especially if your friend is in Grade 5 or 6 in a Primary school.

I have said this before but it needs repeating - the best verse novels are truly emotional stories made all the more powerful by how simple they seem and how quickly you can read them.  I love the way the emotions just seem to sneak up on you.

Rachel, Laura, Selina, Mick, Jacob, Pete and Cameron are all in Ms Arthur's Grade 6 class in a small country school somewhere in Australia - I imagine it might be Western NSW or Western Victoria.  Jacob has a brother called Alex, the school maintenance man is Mr Korsky and the class have regular visits from the local police constable Senior Constable Dawe (he is so funny) and of course there are assorted parents and the school Principal among the cast of characters.

Over the course of a term we read about the lives of these kids, their ups and downs, family celebrations and tragedies, friendships and hopes.  Each verse gives voice to a different character.  I love this form of story telling - it is just like solving a complex jigsaw puzzle.

This book has such an authentic Australian flavour with the birds, heat and sudden thunder storms but it also has a really up-to-date feel with references to ipads, iphones, facebook and SMART boards.

If you are looking for a fabulous book to read go out and find this book.  If you want to recommend a book to your teacher as a read-a-loud tell him or her about Pookie Aleera is not my boyfriend.  You might even find your class enjoy playing the game that led to the invention of Pookie Aleera.

I simply have to quote one whole verse - I just laughed so much when I read it!

LAURA

Ms Arthur 
leads us into the library
and says
we have ten minutes
to choose a book to borrow
and
we can choose any book we like
including comics
or
a picture book
or
a graphic novel
or
even just a magazine
but, she says,
we're not allowed
to choose poetry.
She points to the back wall
where the poetry is filed
under non-fiction .821
and she repeats
any book but poetry

When we line up
to leave the library
I notice
Selina, Mick, Alex,
Rachel, Pete
and even Cameron
have chosen poetry books.

Ms Arthur checks out 
each book
without saying a word,
a satisfied look on her face.


If this book is not short listed for the CBCA awards for 2013 I will be utterly disappointed.

One more thing on behalf of all Teacher-Librarians I would like to thank Steven Herrick :
In the past twenty-five years, I've visited over three thousand schools to read my work and to talk to the students and teachers.  So, finally, I'd like to dedicate a book to all the people who've welcomed me into their school lives.
To the students : may all your days be sunny.
To the teachers : may all your students be smiling
To the librarians : may all your books be borrowed.

If I have not yet convinced you to read this book then check out this review...


PRAISE FOR STEVEN HERRICK

‘His verse has the ability to instantly put you in someone else’s shoes with very few words.’Bookseller Publisher

‘The king of poetry for children is Steven Herrick. Herrick's poems … are so well balanced. On the one hand there's humour and light-heartedness; on the other there's depth and thoughtful care.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘Steven Herrick has a wonderfully acute ear for the authentic voice of primary school children – their concerns, humour, emotional and intellectual journeys throughout the school year. ... Herrick's poetry is playful and insightful, funny and poignant.’ Magpies

O'Diddy by Jocelyn Stevenson illustrated by Sue Truesdell

Out of print are three very simple little words but for a Teacher-Librarian they can be very sad words indeed.  O'Diddy is a true gem which is long out of print.  It is a book that screams out to be republished but no one seems to be listening.

O'Diddy is/was a Stepping Stone book and in the past I have found some real treasures from this series such as The Astonishing Madame Majolica and Aliens for Breakfast.

O'Diddy is an imaginary friend.  As the story opens, he has failed his first two assignments and is about to be sent to Boon or Beatrice Odile Olivia Noodleman.  O'Diddy was given his name on his second assignment. He is sent to a little kid called Mortimer who lets him decorate the living room with pink crayon clouds outlined in yellow paint. Mort's mother is not happy. "To hand it to Mort, he did give credit where credit was due.  He pointed at me and said 'But he did it!'.  His mother just glowered at him.  She couldn't see me, of course. Grownups never can. 'Oh, did he?' she said, or rather hollered.  And that's how I got my name."

The Dispatcher (she feels like the sky and a shopping center - wise and busy at the same time) sends O'Diddy to Boon and everything goes along smoothly until the day Boon starts school.  When that happens Boon stops seeing and hearing O'Diddy but he is not prepared to just lie down and die.  He is determined to get Boon back and so he tries all sorts of schemes to get her attention such as filling her pillowcase with shells, burning the toast and hiding her gym shoes.  Nothing works so O'Diddy is left to make his final plan - to lock Boon in the bathroom at her friend's slumber party.

Hilarious is not a word I use very often by it is the best word to describe O'Diddy.  This book is a joy to read and especially a joy to read aloud.  If you are aged 6 or 7 right up to an adult keep your eye out for this little book.  There must be some copies somewhere in the world - I certainly hope you find one in your library.

I must share the first page because it sums up the tone and delight of this first-person narrative:

"My name is O'Diddy, and I'm an imaginary friend.  Right away I can hear you thinking.  What? Is this guy a lunatic? Imaginary friends are what little kids make up when they want someone to play with.  Really, I'm taking this book back to the store and asking for a refund. Not so fast.  Aren't you going to give me a chance?  It's not easy for an imaginary friend to write a book, you know.  The least you can do is read it. Let's make a deal. Four is my lucky number. If you get to chapter 4 and you're still worried about whether I'm telling the truth then you can take the book back to the store. Or better yet, give it to a friend - a real friend."

Here are some other books from the Stepping Stones series (Random House) - sorry all are long out of print:

The true story of the 3 little pigs! by A. Wolf as told to Jon Scieszka illustrated by Lane Smith

Every part of this book is a cheeky delight.  On the cover you can see a pig reading a newspaper called Daily Wolf. Our hero A. Wolf - you can call me Al -  is seen huffing and puffing and two pigs are flying through the air. The back cover is a collage of newsprint with a central illustration of the scenes of the crimes - three little houses of straw, sticks and brick.

Reading this book aloud I seem drawn to using an American accent. Al wants to set the record straight. In his version he begins the day making a birthday cake for his "dear old granny".  He runs out of sugar and so sets off to borrow a cup from his neighbor  a pig who has built his house from straw.  Al has a bad cold and  his knocking dislodges a little dust. Al has a coughing fit and the straw house falls down.  "And right in the middle of the pile of straw was the First Little Pig - dead as a doormat!"  Al can see no reason to leave a ham dinner lying in the straw.  "So I ate it up."  He moves on through the neighborhood still in search of that cup of sugar.  The Second Little Pig has a house made of sticks.  Once again Al is overcome with a sneezing fit "And you're not going to believe it, but this guy's house fell down just like his brother's.  When the dust cleared there was the Second Little Pig - dead as a doornail."  Al now moves onto to the last house made from brick. The Third Little Pig is home and he calls out a terrible insult aimed at Al's dear old granny.  This makes Al mad, the police arrive with the media in tow and the rest as they say is history.

You can read an excellent detailed review and see some illustrations.  Here are some questions to use with a senior primary class.  There have been many theater productions of this book and here is a television advertisement you could share with senior students.  This book might also be a fun way to show how Venn diagrams work.