Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery

If you have one chance, make it count

Tick lives with his brother, Leaf, and their grandfather in a remote cottage near the coast of Ellia. There is peace in this land but there is also always the threat of invasion by the Drene. As the story opens Tick sees some ships on the horizon. He knows the invasion is about to begin. He grabs his brother and races home only to find a stranger is robbing his house. Tick and Leaf's grandfather has died recently but Grandfather gave Tick lots of training and advice. Tick knows he needs to flee with his brother to the King's Keep. It is a fortress in the mountains - a place of safety, where everyone will be headed, but it is a long journey and now he has no supplies - only his loyal (and fabulous) horse named Pebble and a small pocketknife.

"I won't always be here for you. when I'm gone, you'll have to look after each other. You'll take care of him, and he'll take care of you."

Tick does manage to rummage through the saddle bags of the hunter who has ransacked his grandfather's cottage and yes, he does find a few useful things such as a flint and some oats, but he also finds some documents. Tick cannot read them because they are not in his language, but he senses these are important. Now the race is on. The Hunter is chasing him and using his hawk to follow Tick's trail. The gateway to the Kings Keep will only stay open for a few days and winter is fast approaching.

"Three moons through the Forest,

Two moons through the Deep,

One moon to the Mountains

To the safety of the Keep"

This book has it all! It is a page turner. It has action and heroes. It has danger and disasters. It has a journey and edge of your seat desperate moments where survival seems impossible. And most of all it is about destiny. The writing here is so atmospheric - you will feel cold, you will feel hungry, you will feel the wounds of battle, and most of all you will want Tick to succeed. I enjoyed this book so much that I picked it up at 2am so that I could read the final chapters. 

My text quotes are spoilers but I just cannot resist them:

"You are heir to the throne of Ellia. Suddenly there was a sound around him, of metal dropped on stone: all the knights of Ellia were kneeling before him."

"I can't do it. A child born with the mark of a king - that's not even me. That's Leaf ... he's the one with the mark!"

"Tell me what is the mark of a king? ... Lara spoke first, reciting words that she had learned by heart. 'A king must first have the mark of bravery. He must be bold and take risks, even in the face of certain defeat. ... A king must have the mark of modesty. He must always put his people first, even if it puts him in harm's way. ... But most important of all ... a king must show the mark of love. Love for his family, love for his people, love for his kingdom."

Fiercely exciting, with moving moments when Tick recalls his precious grandfather, this is an adventure to thrill the heart.  Book Trust

Each character is skillfully developed so much so that even though their Grandfather dies before the book begins, he feels like a real presence, a significant personality in the story. Despite meeting with some unpleasant and evil characters on the way, Tick remains honourable, true to his grandfather’s wishes and so deserving of the fate which awaits him. Through the Bookshelf

Small Wonder is a beautiful story of brotherhood and hope. Tick’s narration provides a wonderful example of finding strength within yourself and what it means to be noble. Through truly listening, helping others and making connections, unanswered questions become answered and family secrets are revealed. Written in a classic style, this story draws out a nostalgia for stories of goodness, love and the fulfilment of destiny. Scope for Imagination

Ross Montgomery started writing stories as a teenager, when he should have been doing homework, and continued doing so at university. His debut novel, Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door, was shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year and Branford Boase Award. It was also selected as one of the Sunday Times' "Top 100 Modern Children's Classics". His books have also been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Award, while his picture book Space Tortoise was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award and included in the Guardian's Best New Children's Books of 2018. The Midnight Guardians, Ross's first fiction novel with Walker Books, was selected as a Waterstones Children's Book of the Month and shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year Award. I Am Rebel won the Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Year in 2024. He lives in south-east London

The opening scenes in Small Wonder reminded me of these two books I read recently although these have a different time setting:

The Cave

Wanderer

Other companion books:

Wilder

Oracle

The Moon Dragons by Dyan Sheldon illustrated by Gary Blythe

A timeless picture book to be returned to time and time again. Love Reading 4Kids

This book has languished on library shelves for ten years and so the Teacher-Librarian is considering 'weeding' it or removing it from her huge book collection. There is a fantastic story hiding inside this book with themes of greed, girl power, bravery and the moral dilemma of truth verses keeping an important secret. I wonder why it has not been borrowed - my guess is the (sorry Gary Blythe) the unappealing cover. 

This is a 'what would you do' story. I will explain this in a minute.

The King declares there are no dragons but then a traveller reveals there are a few left at the top of the mountain. The king now wants a dragon and so he sends his hunters.

"The royal huntsmen went up the mountain. But its slopes were steep and treacherous, its woods filled with frightening beasts. When they returned all they had was a goat."

This enrages the king. He offers a huge reward to anyone who can bring him a dragon. Hunters, trappers, woodsmen, herders and mountaineers all set off but none can find a dragon. Then a young village girl named Alina declares she will try. Everyone scoffs. How can a mere girl, a child, ever succeed? 

Spoiler alert (this book is from 2014 so it is long out of print): Alina finds the dragons but when she returns to the village she tells everyone there were no dragons. I cheered!

I love this final sentence:

"But as she walked along. Alina took a silver scale from her pocket and smiled. A flight of dragons was worth far more than a room full of gold."

"And there, in the dale below, was a dance of dragons, shining pearl and silver in the soft lunar light ... First one, then anther rose into the air, graceful as clouds, 

their voices joined in song. 

Alina stood on the hill top as if in a dream. 

Her heart beat with the singing of the dragons, 

her breath flowed with the rhythm of their wings."

Bookseller blurb: When a king discovers that there are still singing moon dragons high up on the mountainside, he offers a room full of gold to anyone who can bring one to him. The beautiful dancing dragons only reveal themselves to Alina, a young peasant girl, but she preserves the secret of their whereabouts, knowing that there are some things far more precious than a room full of gold.

Blythe’s soft edge, dramatic, yet realistically-seen paintings are peopled with utterly individual characters, while his clever use of scale and cut-off points roots the story in fantasy. Coupled with Sheldon’s lyrical telling of a good story, they together create something magical. Books for Keeps

Take a look at art by Gary Blythe. You should try to find these two books also illustrated by Gary Blythe:

The Whale's Song

In the US this book is called Under the Moon

You can see other books by Dyan Sheldon here. 

A Clock of Stars: The shadow moth by Francesca Gibbons

There are so many delicious words in this book.  Are you curious to know what a zpevnakrava might be?  You need to read A Clock of Stars: The shadow moth to discover the answer.

Imogen and her younger sister Marie have a contented life with their mum. From time to time mum has had boyfriends but she has assured Imogen "it will always be the three of them. No matter what."

Mum goes on a date with Mark. Imogen dislikes him immediately especially when a beautiful moth flutters into the house and Mark offers to get rid of it. Imogen rescues the moth but she is rude to Mark and now she and Marie are in trouble with mum. The two girls are sent to spend the afternoon with their grandmother who takes them to a local cafe. Imogen wanders outside and she sees 'her' moth again. She follows it across a wild garden (no tresspassing). The moth leads Imogen to a tree and in the bark of the tree she sees a door. It is locked but the moth enters the lock and the door opens. Marie has been following her sister and now the pair find themselves in a very strange and extremely dangerous place. All of this happens in the first six chapters. There are 104 chapters in this book plus a prologue and an epilogue. My advance copy has 540 pages and chapter six ends on page 37. This means most the action in this story takes place in the "other world" the place the girls have entered on the other side of that door.

The title might be a way I can talk about what happens next.  The shadow moth is a rare moth called a mezi můra.  It has been sent on an errand by leader of the skretch. King Drakomor, uncle to Miro, has stolen a precious stone, from the skretch, called the Sertz Horta. This has thrown the lands into turmoil. The skretch need this stone to be restored and so they are attacking the City of Yaroslav. They come every night and the people are terrified.

Imogen and Marie arrive as evening is falling and they are pursued by these terrifying creatures. Luckily Miro (Prince Miroslav Yaromeer Drahomeer Krishnov, Lord of the City of Yaroslav, Overseer of the Mountain Realms and Guardian of the Kolsaney Forests) hears them pounding on his castle door and he rescues the sisters. Miro is a lonely boy and he is happy to have new friends. Imogen and Marie are confused about this strange place but they have one driving motivation - to find that door and return their mother. Imogen tries searching alone late one day. She witnesses the capture of a lensi called Lofkinye Lolo. Lofkinye has been put in the castle dungeon called Hladomora Pits.

The three children need to rescue Lofkinye because they are sure she can help them meet Maudree Král but why should she help this pair of human children? Is it safe to head into the icy Klenot Mountain? How will they travel to this distant place?

Now onto the clock - The Clock of Stars.  This is a special object but for years it has been broken. When the girls and Miro pledge to help each other the clock comes back to life. When it chimes different objects emerge via a mechanism rather like a cuckoo clock. These seem to be warnings of things to come. I wanted Miro and the girls to take more notice of the clock but all three are simply puzzled by what they see - two little girls; a wooden skeleton dancing; a woman in a pouffy dress who throws them a kiss; and a tiny boy wearing a crown who seems to be fighting an invisible force.

I love this invented world and all the invented language. You have already read some of the interesting names, strange objects and place names. There are also flying animals called velecours which cannot be tamed and another animal the great bear Medveditze. King Drakomor is not an especially evil character rather he is very greedy which is why he has stolen the Sertz Horta. The King does, however, have plans to marry Anneshka Mazana and she is utterly evil. She orders the murder of Miro and has his loyal companion Yeedarsh killed.

Delicious fairy tale style details - Anneshka orders the guards to kill Prince Miro but when they say should they bring back his heart she says no - they could easily bring her an animal heart and she wouldn't know the difference. Anneshka herself is somewhat like the Snow Queen with her plans for power.

Can you imagine reading a novel with 540 pages in just two sittings?  Surely that shows you THIS book is a page turner! The Shadow Moth will be released in hardcover and paperback editions in early October, 2020.  Often words from a publisher can be slightly exaggerated but not in this case. I heartily agree with these words from Harper Collins:

Thrilling, sharply funny, and with characters you will fall in love with, A Clock of Stars is a timeless fantasy from an astonishing new voice. Harper Collins

This is the first book in a planned series of three but I am happy to say the final scenes in The Shadow moth are resolved and so I won't mind waiting for the next instalment - Francesca Gibbons (thank you) does not leave her readers hanging. The writing in this book is so taut and the imagined world so detailed and interesting I was amazed to discover this is a debut novel for Francesca. Isn't she lucky to have the hugely talented Chris Riddell as the illustrator. Huge thanks to Beachside Books for my Advance Reader copy.

The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup by Rosemary Sutcliff illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark

Tuesday Treasure

I have been reading the Minstrel and the Dragon pup to groups of Grade Three children since 1993 when it was first published. Let's begin with the front cover:

Things to notice - the dragon and his size; the clothing of the man (or some children think this is a woman); the boots; the harp; his bag; the feather; and the background landscape which reminds me of the background in the Mona Lisa painting.

Back to the cover and title: What are some clues that this story might be set long ago? Why would the man be carrying a harp? Can you surmise anything about the relationship between the minstrel and the dragon? Where do you think they might be going? We also discuss the idea of a minstrel and compare this with the more familiar buskers that the children have seen on city streets.

One more thing to note which I only just discovered: Publisher's Weekly suggest the art in this book was inspired by the Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca.

Now open the book and look at the end papers. This pattern looks like tessellated tiles of the kind you might find in a castle - so the scene is set before we read any of the text.

Turn the page again and on the title page we see a peacock feather - go back and find this on the cover. There is also a small speckled shell which is broken into two pieces.  These are all tantalizing story clues.

I love sharing this book with Grade Three classes because this is often the first time they have encountered a 'prologue'.

"One spring, a she-dragon made her nest on the edge of a high sea cliff. She laid three beautiful eggs and settled down to sit on them with her tailed curled neatly round to keep them all together."

A knight rides up, the she-dragon leaps up to fly away hoping to stop the knight trampling her eggs but as she springs up her tail flicks one of the eggs out of the nest.

"One fine spring day - it was the same day on which the she-dragon had lost her egg - a minstrel was walking along the seashore."

The minstrel sees the egg on the seashore and he can see it has begun to hatch. He plays a simple tune "like a lullaby, but whereas a lullaby is for going to sleep to, this was a tune for waking up to."

The minstrel and the dragon pup, now called Lucky, set off along the road. As they walk, over many seasons, we see the pup grown bigger and the minstrel's fortunes change because, with someone to love, he plays even better music. Then one night, a greedy man - a travelling showman, kidnaps Lucky.  The minstrel is determined to find his friend so he sets off walking.

He was "determined to walk all day and all night until he caught up with the showman. But soon the lane branched into three. And while he stood there wondering, a late butterfly hovered past in the sunshine, and danced on down the left-hand lane. The minstrel follow it, there being nothing else to tell him which way to go. But butterflies are not very reliable, and it was the wrong lane."

These are some of my most favourite lines from any book - "a late butterfly hovered past";"butterflies are not very reliable... "

This is a longer format picture book with many plot twists rather like the long journey taken by the minstrel himself. He does find Lucky but how this happens, where this happens and what happens when he finds his true friend will enchant you. Yes there is a HAPPY ENDING.

Rosemary Sutcliff died in 1992. The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup was published posthumously. If you ask me to name my top five read aloud titles The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup would be close to my top choice. This story originally was originally serialized in Cricket Magazine. I have tried to find the actual Cricket Magazine so I can show you the cover but I have not had much success with this. I do own some old copies of Cricket Magazine from 1994 but not these issues - 1994 volume 22 parts one, two and three. Sadly The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup is now out of print but I was lucky and found a brand new copy at a very reduced price.

A generously long tale that will be treasured by anyone who warms to grand storytelling. Kirkus

A magical winner …  Sutcliff, a masterful storyteller, has created a fast-paced fairy tale of loss and joyful reunion. Julia Wotipka

Themes (adapted from comments by Helen on a blog about the books of Rosemary Sutcliff especially The Eagle of the Ninth)

• A hero, set apart from his peers
• Landscape and the seasons as living entities in themselves
• Friendship
• Adventure
• Scenes of slow tension and thrilling escape
• The sense and quest for justice and fairness
• A hopeful, ‘song of new beginnings’ ending

It would be so wonderful if readers of The Dragon and the Minstrel Pup were then inspired to read other books by Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-1992).  If you can find some vintage copies of her work you will also see the most amazing illustrations and cover designs by famous names such as Victor Ambrus, Charles Keeping, Alan Lee and Walter Hodges.

I have been mentioning The Minstrel and the Dragon pup on this blog for many years.  Take a look at these posts:

• Cherry Blossom and the Golden Bear by Pamela Freeman illustrated by Beth Norling
• The Glassmakers Daughter by Dianne Hofmeyr illustrated by Jane Ray
• The Most wonderful thing in the world by Vivian French illustrated by Angela Barrett

The girl who stole an elephant by Nizrana Farook

Chaya is a thief but she is a thief with a purpose and a good heart. She does not take things for herself she simply wants to help the people in her village - Serendib (Sri Lanka). Her friend Vijay has been attacked by a crocodile. Money is urgently needed so his leg can be saved so Chaya has taken valuable jewels from the Queen's bedside table and now she is on the run.

She tries to hide the jewels in a box made by her friend Neel. The box has a hidden compartment and this seems like the perfect plan but on that same day a young girl called Nour has convinced her wealthy father to purchase this box.  Now Chaya needs to steal it back. She takes the box but finds it is empty. Noor has kept the jewels.

Now the three children are thrown together as they are chased through the jungle riding on the back of the King's elephant which Chaya has also stolen. Near the end of their action packed and thrilling journey they make an amazing discovery about their tyrant King and discover a way the people in their village can enjoy a life with freedom and dignity.

This story has a great pace and strong sense of place and justice.

With themes of morality, friendship, teamwork and loyalty,this book will have wide appeal to middle grade readers as it incorporates tension and jeopardy in an exciting coming-of-age adventure. Book Trust

There are brushes with death, but great camaraderie too and it all ends with a much-needed righting of wrongs. Great stuff! LoveReading4Kids

I spent the entire book focused on the plot and the action,almost subliminally assimilating the smells, sights and sounds of each of the different settings. Madge Reviews

You can read the first 16 pages of this novel on the Nosy Crow page.  On this same link you can hear an audio extract.

I would pair The girl who stole an elephant with Tua and the Elephant for a younger audience or Lizard's Tale for an older audience.

The most wonderful egg in the world by Helme Heine

When my friend from Kinderbookwitheverything and I talk about picture books we often exclaim about particular authors and illustrators. One of these is Helme Heine. A book we both love is The most wonderful egg in the world or Das schonete Ei der Welt in German.  This book is not on my Tuesday Treasure list but it is truly a treasure. I just made an exciting discovery.  If the Wikipedia is up to date the entry on Helme Heine (born in Germany) says he now lives in New Zealand.  In 1982 his book Superhare was an IBBY Honour book.

"What you can do is more important that what you look like,' 

said the King. 'Whichever one of you lays the most wonderful egg 

I will make a princess."

I love the words - what you can do is more important than what you look like!

Once upon a time three hens called Dotty, Stalky and Plumy, were quarreling about which of them was the most beautiful. They decide to ask the King to settle the matter. Dotty lays a perfect egg, shimmering and polished like marble. Stalky lays an enormous egg, one of the biggest the King has ever seen but it is Plumy who astonishes everyone. The King is unable to choose a winner and so he declares all three hens should be made princesses.

Something to notice - the chickens have walked across the front end papers and the king's foot prints walk along side the chickens on the back end papers. You can almost hear the quarrel from the way their prints are bunched together.

Here is a set of discussion questions for The Most Wonderful egg in the world.

Here are some books by Helme Heine. Nearly all are sadly out of print but you might be lucky and find one or two in a school library. The Pigs Wedding and The Pearl were part of a book series called Pocket Puffins.  You might also find the Weston Woods videos of The Pigs Wedding and of The most wonderful egg in the world. Here are the teaching notes which can be used with the animated film.

The King and the sea by Heinz Janisch and Wolf Erlbruch

Like a more elliptical version of “The Little Prince,” this book (which was originally published in Germany) assembles a series of very short tales about a king who has much to learn, mostly about power and its limits. His expectations — that others will obey him automatically, that the universe itself will acquiesce to his wishes — are thwarted again and again. Yet with each snub or disappointment, this king actually appears to be learning and gaining perspective, giving the book an unusually thoughtful, philosophical backbone.

The King and the sea has a subtitle :

21 Extremely Short Stories

Yes this is what you will find inside this amazing book.  Twenty-one stories ranging in length from 2 lines up to 12.  This is quite a philosophical book but one that I think will appeal to mature children who are prepared to think deeply about the ideas presented here.

I think this is my favourite story :

The King and the Sky
"I need a blanket', said the king. 'This minute!
And make it a good one.'
With that it began to snow.
Soft flakes fell around him.
'There's your blanket,' said the sky as it covered the
landscape in glittering white.
The king gazed in wonder.  'Thank you,' he said."

You might like to read this review.  With a class you could perhaps read one story each day and follow this with a discussion.  It might be good to compile a list of discussion questions taken from these daily readings and perhaps publish these for other classes to explore.  Here are a set of teaching notes.

King Pig by Nick Bland

The most interesting character in King Pig has no name and almost no voice. If you look very closely you will see the tip of his little jester hat just above the grass as he walks behind his King.  On the next page we see a little more of the King with his sheep crook and a tiny corner of the page you can see that same hat some distance back from the King who is approaching his castle.  On the first page all is revealed.  The King has forced his subjects - the sheep - to make  a bridge from planks strapped to their backs.  This servitude combined with the haughty demeanor of King Pig himself certainly sets the tone and relationship between King Pig and his subjects - the sheep.  Our tiny hero is also a sheep but he will be allowed to enter the castle contrary to the sign above the castle door.

Once inside our faithful little friend prepares a delicious hot dog lunch for his master but King Pig is far more interested in those sheep who never seem to listen and worse who seem to make fun of him.  King Pig is a bully so he commands the sheep to wash his castle in the middle of the night "but he just couldn't make them like him."

Just like the Emperor in the famous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, King Pig decides he needs new and fancier clothes. Again it is the middle of the night but he summons the sheep and puts them to work dyeing and knitting the new fancy clothes.  Yes the new outfits are indeed spectacular but still his subjects are not impressed.  "What do I have to do to make you like me!"

King Pig does feel remorse but the ending is certainly open to further discussion.  Make sure you take time to notice the hats, the topiary trees outside the castle, the tent used as a shelter by the freezing sheep and the television antenna on top of the castle.

Here are some teaching notes.  You might also discuss the double meaning in the title.  Here is a detailed review.  This book has been short listed for our CBCA Awards for 2014.

The children of the King by Sonya Hartnett

When you pick up a book by Sonya Hartnett you know you are in the safe hands of a master story teller.  Sonya Hartnett seems to get right inside her characters and landscapes.

Most of the action takes place in the final chapters of this book but I did enjoy the slow build up. I agree with Maurice Saxby when he says "the characterization, free of present-day-gimmicks, has all the solid qualities of an English novel at its best. The same can be said of the style, in that every page has a telling phrase, a startling image that carries weighty implications."

The setting for this book in London in World War Two with the blitz about to begin.  Cecily Lockwood aged twelve, her brother Jeremy aged fourteen and their mother Heloise leave London for the safety of the North country moving to the estate Heron Hall  the home of Uncle Peregrine brother to their father who stays behind in London to assist (in some undisclosed way) with the war effort.

Travelling on the train with the family are a large number of children who are being evacuated out of London and sent to live with strangers in the country.  Here is a description of the station :
"The village station was usually a lonely place, having been built too ambitiously for the town it served; normally five or six souls wandered the oversized platform, and the distances between them could be so vast that they might each have been waiting for different trains on different days. .... but perhaps the grandiose station had been built, so long ago, for this singular day."

Cecily watches the bewildered children as they are herded off the train and into the local town hall and then she sees the children being led one or two at a time away from the town hall by different women and a few men. "Cecily's heart stretched its tether" and she asks her mother if they can take a child, an evacuee, to Heron Hall.  Jeremy joins in with rational arguments supporting this idea and so they go into the town hall and Cecily 'selects a child' a little girl called May Bright aged ten.

The three children settle into life at Heron Hall and one day the girls wander off to explore the ruins of a castle which is on the estate.  While they are there they meet two boys and a sharp reader will immediately see that things are not quite as they seem.  At the same time Uncle Peregrine has agreed to tell the children the story of this castle. It is the story of King Richard and power and two small boys who are locked in a tower - perhaps you recognise this story from history.

This is a story primarily about Cecily, who is a fairly precocious little girl but ultimately it is Jeremy undergoes a transformation.  As a fourteen year old boy he is desperate to be useful to the war effort but of course too young. He is a very intelligent boy and he feels trapped by life at his uncle's estate.  He wants to fight, he wants to be with his father in London and above all he wants to be part of the action so he can understand this war.

Here is an example to show how Sonya Harnett really gets into the psychology of her characters.  Heloise becomes so furious with Jeremy one evening she threatens to send him away to boarding school.  Cecily finds her brother and tries to comfort him :

"In common with most siblings, Jeremy and Cecily Lockwood had a thousand grievances against one another.  But, again in common, for one to realise the other was hurt roused a lion-like concern and sympathy ... Despair had overtaken him so thoroughly that he couldn't make the traditional denial of anything being wrong.  He wiped his face but the tears kept dropping as they will when a heart has received a deep wound."

Here is an excellent review from the Sydney Morning Herald, one in the Age and here is an interview with Sonya Hartnett about this book - I recommend reading this.  This is a book for Upper Primary students and their parents and after reading this one you should look for Midnight Zoo and The Silver Donkey.