Ava's Poppy by Marcus Pfister

Ava's Poppy was published in 2012 but it is a new discovery for me - that is why I LOVE libraries. This is a simple story about a little girl who finds and loves a beautiful red poppy flower. She cares for it tenderly and carefully. Sadly, the flower does eventually die. But do not despair because the power of nature means that spring comes again and a new flower emerges. Make sure you take time to compare the front and back end papers. 

Bookseller blurb: Ava is delighted when she discovers a brilliant red poppy in the middle of her yard.

She sits with the little flower in the sunny days of summer and shields it from the rain, until one day the petals start to drop and the tiny flower fades away. But when spring comes again... Ava is surprised anew.

Though this could be a sad story, the author finds a way to end the tale on a high note that is full of hope. Through the Looking Glass

The art in this book really stands out. It is quite different from other books by the well-known illustrator Marcus Pfister (Rainbow Fish). The original title is Lisas Mohnblume.

Here is part of the Publisher's Weekly book review of Ava's Poppy:

"Employing a gentle tone, Pfister encapsulates the circle of life in this sweetly simple story about a girl’s fondness for a flower. When ginger-haired Ava spies a bright red poppy in the field near her home one summer day, she recognizes it as both a thing of beauty and a new friend. Weeks pass, and faithful Ava “looked after her friend with tender loving care,” protecting it from the wind, shielding it from rain, and watering it. The flower eventually turns brown and withers, and Ava marks the sad occasion by burying the plant and arranging a ring of memorial stones in the poppy’s special spot. The subsequent spring brings with it a welcome new friend where the old one used to be, as readers will likely guess."

If you want to read a different perspective on this book take a look at the Kirkus review.

Marcus Pfister was born in Bern, Switzerland. After studying at the Art School of Bern, he apprenticed as a graphic designer and worked in an advertising agency before becoming self-employed in 1984. His debut picture book, The Sleepy Owl, was published by North South in 1986, but his big breakthrough came 6 years later with The Rainbow Fish. Marcus illustrated over 50 books, which have been translated into more than 50 languages and received countless international awards.

The Water Lotus: The journey of a lotus seed by Yingting Chen illustrated by Huaqing translated by Adam Casciaro and Liu Yinan

Last week it was International Flower Day - who knew? I saw this post from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. She shared some terrific picture books and last week we set up a display of her books which feature flowers. This one about the lotus flower caught my eye.

The cover of The Water Flower is so appealing with pastel tones of pink and pale green and gold lettering. This is one of those 'newish' style nonfiction books that combines a simple narrative and small text which goes into more scientific details so this is a book you could share with a young child aged 5+ or with a high school botany or biology student. There are also two double spreads in this book with no words - just glorious art. My only comment would be that I would have loved a glossary - but along the way I discovered words like corolla, pistil, stamen, node, and I now know a little about how lotus plants get oxygen even though they are growing under water. Teacher-Librarians might take a closer look at the books in their library collection to see just how many are about flowers and their life cycles - examples perhaps beyond the usual one of the sunflower. 

Publisher blurb: From its beginnings in a peaceful pond, The Water Flower chronicles the journey of a sleepy seed that awakens in spring, pushing through its shell to grow leaves reaching for the sunlight. As summer arrives, it blooms into a stunning flower, opening and closing its petals each day, attracting passing insects. After completing its beautiful display, the flower fades, revealing new seeds inside a pod, ready to begin the cycle again. This story offers a glimpse into the lotus seed's remarkable transformation across seasons.

See inside this book here

Lyrical language and artful illustrations present the life of a lotus and the resilience it represents. A lotus seed falls into the soil and drifts into a deep sleep. It awakens, unfurling tender buds and wide green leaves. Then, the flower blooms, its brilliant petals opening to the sun. And soon enough, another lotus seed falls, starting the cycle all over again… This is a book to share with children of different ages. Reading Rockets

Follow the lotus through the seasons, see each step of its journey, and discover the endless life cycle of this beautiful flower. Beautiful artwork highlighted with foil on the jacket brings the science of a lotus flower’s life cycle to vivid life. The fascinating facts about the beauty and resilience of a lotus seed’s transformation will help inspire a lifelong love of the natural world. YA Books Central

The main narrative in larger print tells the story of the flower, with botanical terms relating to the functions and anatomy of the plant being in a smaller print. Particularly lovely are the wordless double spreads, one showing leaves soaking up the sunlight with a bird sheltering beneath, the second shows several stages in the cycle- bud, flowers and seed head – in one scene. Books for Keeps

The life cycle of the lotus begins with its seeds. Lotus seeds are small and black and come from the lotus plant’s flower. The lotus plant is adapted to grow in many different types of habitats, from murky ponds to sunny riverbanks. As a result, it has developed a method for ensuring that its seeds have the best chance of germination. The method used by the lotus is to produce many seeds. By releasing large quantities of seeds into the environment, the plant increases its chances that at least a few of them will find the ideal conditions for growth and avoid consumption by aquatic life. In addition, lotus seeds are very durable and can remain viable for many years. This allows the plant to survive even harsh conditions that would kill most other plants. 

As a result of these adaptations, the lotus is one of the most successful plants in the world. Lotus seeds germinate in the mud usually at the bottom of bodies of water. Once the seeds are released, some will begin to germinate in wet soil or water beds. It can take anywhere from two weeks to two months for the seeds to germinate. After germination, they begin to sprout. A tiny seedling will emerge from the seed coat, and roots will start to grow down into the mud. The seedlings will then start producing leaves, which will rise to the water’s surface. The lotus plant will continue to grow, growing more leaves and flowers, until it eventually reaches the surface of the water. The lotus flower typically blooms for only a few days for pollination to occur. Each day the flowers bloom, at nightfall they will close up and sink back into the water or mud only to re-emerge beautifully intact the following day. Source Earth.com

Once I was a Giant by Zeno Sworder

"I never lost my sense of wonder for trees."

At the beginning of this book, we hear the voice of the pencil. "The picture book maker takes me out every night and dances me across a piece of paper. We rush from page to page ... " until the author runs out of ideas. Luckily the pencil has an important story of her own and the means to share it and so he begins with the words "once I was a giant."

Turn the page and we have an origin story which begins with a tiny plant reaching for the sun. We discover the young tree has shared her life journey with a tiny forest being. The tree names him The Wanderer. Seasons change, birds and insects enjoy their habitat in, below and under the tree. The tree itself grows to a majestic size. A considerable period of time passes ...  but then disaster strikes.

"Machines are coming ... they are a day away."

"Last to leave was the wanderer. He gently touched his forehead to my bark."

Stop now and look around you. How many things in your room, or house, or street are made from wood. Where did this wood come from? I often think about towering telegraph poles and how they too once were trees. Our pencil narrator was once a tree, once a giant, but now, with all the work to write his story she is just a stub. That word stub nearly broke my heart but this is not the end. 

Image source: Thames and Hudson

Trees are part of the cycle of nature. The Wanderer knows exactly what to do with that pencil stub. The final end paper will restore your hope and faith in the power of nature.

Tonight, I am attending an event at a city bookstore with Zeno Sworder. I am so excited to finally meet him! Will I be brave enough to ask a few questions such as:

• Why did you decided to dispense with the usual title page format? Was it difficult to convince your publisher Thames and Hudson that your book should break with the usual convention of picture books?
• What do the letters on your pencil mean? I have been pondering this all week especially after I saw the giant pencil from the book as part of a display in a local chain bookstore.
• Who is The Wanderer?
• Can you explain the decisions you made to compose the title? Once I was a Giant - past tense? Yet at the end there is so much hope that this giant can return.
• Your first book This small blue dot was based on your experiences in your own family with your young child. My Strange Shrinking parents focused on your own migrant family and your relationship with your own parents. This third book takes a wider focus exploring nature and our human impact on our precious world. SO where to next?

This is a book to add to your library collection, and it is one you will want to share with your reading companion or larger group. In an art class, after reading this book slowly, and pondering the deeper meanings, Once I was a Giant is also a wonderful example of highly skilled art and page design. 

You already know I am not entirely a fan of endorsements on the covers of books but the publisher has cleverly enticed the famous Shaun Tan to share his reaction to Once I was a Giant:

"A magical blend of ancient and modern storytelling, reminding us that all things are deeply connected in ways both known and unknown."

And Zana Fraillon said:

"A beautiful, wholly original story of hope and the more-than-human world. Once I was a giant is a stunning blend of language and imagery that sits in the mind long after reading. This is the work of a master picture-book creator."

My friend, who is a former Hans Christian Andersen judge, used the words enigmatic, wise, challenging, deep and breathtaking when I asked her for her reaction to Once I was a Giant. I will share the details of her review when I update this post next month. 

With older students it would be good to research Daoist beliefs that "every living thing holds an essence, a mystery; that cannot be measured or counted or sorted." This is called bianhua. And you could also research the Buddhist idea of pratityasumutpada - the belief that the "relationships that hold together the world are based on interconnection and non-separation. Life is interwoven. We breathe in because trees breathe out." Here are some outstanding teachers notes written by Zeno Sworder.

I love this quote from the teachers notes:  It is impossible not to feel a strong sense of empathy and connection with both the pencil that was once this magnificent tree and her small friend, the wanderer. The book elicits in readers a moment to pause and view the world through a different lens, one that carefully regards, respects and notices nature.

From Zeno: This is a book where the tree is the protagonist and hero. As we all tumble towards an increasingly digital, atomised and urbanised world I wanted to make a story about the natural world that touches on ideas of interdependence, metamorphosis and impermanence. Trees make all of our lives possible but they are often absent from stories because we tend to only care and feel for characters that are like us. This story aims to bring trees alive for young people by telling an imaginative story rooted in recent scientific discoveries about the social lives of trees and their abilities to communicate, learn and feel. The story covers the entire span of an individual tree’s life and the intimate relationships it shares with the forest and the creatures that it nourishes and houses.

With incredible drawings and a graphic style illustrating the natural world in all its glory, this powerful story reminds us of humanity’s connection to nature. Portraying the life of a tree from a little seed through to a giant forest elder, Once I was a Giant explores the theme of the cyclical nature of all life, with examples such as eggs in a nest hatching into hungry chicks. By the award-winning author of My Strange Shrinking Parents, this picture book is truly a work of art to pore over again and again, each time discovering new wonders. You’ll never look at a pencil in the same way again! Readings Melbourne

I have followed the career of Zeno Sworder with great interest intensified by my years as a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Picture Book of the Year judge 2021-23. In 2023 My Strange Shrinking Parents was the winner. Read my thoughts here. Kirkus said these words which could also apply to his newest book: This deceptively simple tale is laced with profound, beautifully wrought truths. I am certain Once I was a Giant will feature in the CBCA awards in 2026. 

When you share Once I was a Giant with a group of younger students you could talk about Pencil Day 30th March. Here is a post from Kinderbookswitheverything with lots of books about pencils. Of course, Once I was a Giant does have much deeper themes but I think it could be fun to focus on pencils with your lower primary groups. Again, this is way too simplistic but (spoiler alert) when the wanderer plants the tiny piece of pencil I thought of that wonderful story of imagination from decades ago - The Lollipop Tree. 

Reading Once I was a Giant I thought of these books - picture books and a novel:

Tanglewood

(Zeno suggests this in his teachers notes along with The Red Tree by Shaun Tan)

Once I was a tree 

The tree at number 43

One tree

Toby Alone

(This is a novel for older readers translated from French)

I am also very keen to see this 2025 Korean wordless book. Read the Kirkus star review.

Finally in the teachers notes Zeno Sworder references Silver People: A Tale from the Panama Canal (UQP) by Margarita Engle as a text to share with high school students. I am a huge fan of Margarita Engle (I met her at an IBBY Conference). I have shared several of her books in this blog. 

One Day by Shirley Marr illustrated by Michael Speechley

"Mayfly has not regretted a second of the 

incandescent experience that is life. 

It has been a perfect day."

Mayfly is born in May. She will only live for one day so every moment is precious. Humans do live longer than one day but equally the underlying message in this book is clear - it is important to value your day and your relationships. It is also important to notice and celebrate the world you live in no matter how big or how small.

This book opens with a calendar page. The date 18th May is circled because this is the birthday of May (that's the name I am giving her) - the mayfly. A frog spies the newly emerged mayfly. He is the voice of doom. "The world out there will eat you up ... not that it matters. You'll only live for one day, anyway."

How will she react - here is the opportunity to talk about optimism. Mayfly says - "One whole day! It's hard to believe." 

As we watch Mayfly exploring her world including the big city, we also see a young girl with her grandparents. Think about their life journey. There is a scene where, as a reader, we are given a birds-eye view of the city. Notice the shop and building names - these are a powerful way to show a life journey - A1 Daycare; Day Street Primary; Day Street High School, Juan Dei University; Juan Dei Student housing; The Daily Grind Pty Ltd; Day Job Corporation; Daydream travel; Daily bakery; Sunset Retirement living; and Apel A. Daye Hospital.

Okay this is a big call, but I am going to say One Day is my 2025 book of the year (so far). I was previously a CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) picture book judge. I wish I had that privilege this year so that I could champion One Day as a book that needs to be added to all school libraries. This is a perfect example of a multilayered picture book which can be shared across school grades. This book is sure to appear on lots of awards lists.

Walker Books Australia released One Day this week. They have made a teaching kit (aimed at a very young audience) but this book is sure to lead to very deep discussions with older readers in middle and upper primary classes about the circle of life, our human life journey, our brief time on earth, the importance of family relationships, along with -  techniques of illustrators, book design (colour palette, embossed lettering on the cover, end papers), and page/book formats. 

I don't often comment on the work of book designers, but Sarah Mitchell deserves a huge award for her work on this book. You can follow her on Facebook. 

The text of this book is brilliant, but it is equally brilliant to see how Michael Speechley extends this text with tiny illustration details AND the 'calendar-style' format where you turn this book sideways is so different and utterly perfect. (I was not able to find the official term for this).

There is a word that I quoted at the top of this post. It made me gasp:

incandescent

That is the perfect word to describe One Day by Shirley Marr - incandescent! Paul MacDonald used another perfect word in his review - "a stunner".

Here is some more of the text from One Day:

"To her astonishment she takes flight. But it's easy to feel small in a big world. Life is a map with no set destination. One that can take you in any direction. ... Life is a moment in time."

Interview: One Day introduces a little girl in a yellow raincoat to a mayfly who is determined to make every moment of her day count. ‘We playfully discussed, during a chance meeting, the hypothetical question of “What would you do if you only lived for one day?”,’ said Marr and Speechley. ‘The idea quickly became something driven primarily by the love of art and prose that neither of us believed would find publication—if not for the support of agent Gemma Cooper of the Bent Agency. We cannot wait for readers to delve into our passion project and meet Mayfly!’  ‘Shirley and Michael’s beautiful encapsulation of the notion of carpe diem has never been more beautiful,’ said Walker publisher Clare Hallifax. ‘From Shirley’s exquisite prose to Mike’s charming and inventive illustration, readers young and old will be charmed and inspired.’ Books and Publishing interview

Here is the very best companion book (sadly long out of print):

Mayfly Day

Try to find this book too:

Life

I highly recommend these middle grade novels by Shirley Marr - she is one of our top Australian children's writers. 

Countdown to Yesterday (5 stars); All four quarters of the Moon; A Glasshouse of Stars

Michael Speechley has been a graphic designer and high school art teacher in WA. His first picture book, The All New Must Have Orange 430, explores themes of consumerism and the environment. It was shortlisted and awarded as an Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Children’s Book of the Year Award in 2019 and was the winner of The Wilderness Society’s 2019 Environment Award for Children’s Literature, Picture Books. His second book is The Gift, which was published in September 2019. This book deals with loss, kindness and the joy of giving. It was a Notable Book in the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards and was shortlisted for the 2019 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards.

Summer Birds by Margarita Engle illustrated by Julie Paschkis

It is International Women's Day - time to celebrate women in Science. I often think about this book Summer Birds and then I searched my blog the other day and realised I hadn't actually talked about it here. Unfortunately, Summer Birds was published in 2010 so you may have to hunt out a copy in a library.

Reading this book several years ago was a revelation. People used to think butterflies came out of the mud in the summer - like magic. Maria Merian, from a very young age, was a curious girl. She collected butterflies and caterpillars but she had to do this in secret because in the 1650s she could have been accused of witchcraft.

Maria observed that caterpillars come from eggs. These are eggs laid by summer birds (butterflies). Caterpillars eat leaves and grow bigger and bigger. Eventually the caterpillars spin cocoons. Then comes the complex part. Inside the cocoon, while they rest, the caterpillars turn into butterflies and then they come out of their cocoon ready to fly and sip nectar. Maria also noticed a change like this with frogs and tadpoles. 

"When people understand the life cycles of creatures that change forms, they will stop calling small animals evil. They will learn, as I have, by seeing a wingless caterpillar turn into a flying summer bird."

About Maria Merian (1647 - 1717) born in Frankfurt, Germany died in Amsterdam:

"At the age of thirteen, Maria was well on her way to disproving the ancient theory (that butterflies came from mud). By careful observation she discovered that metamorphosis is natural, not supernatural. There was no witchcraft involved. Beginning with silkworms brought from Asia by a merchant, she watched the slow process of change, recording every detail in her notes and sketches ... Today as a result of Maria Sibylla Merian's careful studies, we know that butterflies, moths, and frogs do not spring from mud."

See more images of her work here

In 1705 she published Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium (“The Metamorphosis of the Insects of Suriname”). Arguably the most important work of her career, it included some 60 engravings illustrating the different stages of development that she had observed in Suriname’s insects. Similar to her caterpillar book, Metamorphosis depicted the insects on and around their host plants and included text describing each stage of development. The book was one of the first illustrated accounts of the natural history of Suriname. Britannica

Read more and see her art here:

Botanical art and artists

British Museum

Natural History Museum

Royal Society video (4 minutes)

The Conversation (Background reading for teachers)

Here is another book about Maria Merian written for children:

Perhaps you have some books from the Little People Big Dreams series in your library. I would love to see a book in this series about Maria Merian. Here are some other women scientists to explore:

Using Summer Birds as a jumping off point I highly recommend the verse novels written by Margarita Engle. AND every library should have one or two books illustrated by Julie Paschkis - her art is incredibly special.

Singing with Elephants

Books illustrated by Julie Paschkis

We are the Wibbly! A Tadpole's Tale by Sarah Tagholm illustrated by Jane McGuinness

This book just begs to be read aloud. Our young narrator always seems to come last. Youngest siblings are sure to relate to this and other children will sympathise with his feelings of being slow to catch up with the group. As Kirkus says: While some life cycle books feel dry, this one is enlivened by humor and the modest but compelling narrative, which follows a distinctive pink-cheeked tadpole who’s decidedly ambivalent about this whole metamorphosis business.

I love his individual voice and the way he uses invented words. This is an absolutely perfect book to consider for any preschool library or bookshelf. It is a terrific way to talk about the lifecycle of frogs and the art in this book is just so very appealing. It reminds me of a preschool art technique blowing bubbles through paint. See more books illustrated by Jane McGuiness here. 

Image source: Jane McGuiness

Invented words and fun phrases: water-flying; hunger-muncher; 'you will not do believing this'; juiceable dinners; I am the fasterest; 'oh my crikeys'; air-swimming.

Look at this diagram and you can see the changes he goes through:

Publisher blurb: OH MY CRIKEYS! Doesn't life move fast? One moment you're in the Wibbly, relaxing with your Wibbly friends. The next, they've all grown tails and turned into tadpoles! And what's more, they are bursting OUT of the Wibbly ... AND you've got to keep up! Some tadpoles don't feel ready to become frogs. And some never wanted to become tadpoles in the first place.

Frequent exclamation points propel the springy narrative, and sprinkles of quirky invented words and unconventional grammar feel very froglike indeed. ...  Splashy illustrations in ink, mixed-media, and Photoshop leap with energy, while the gently rounded, big-eyed frogs are cute yet still accurately rendered. A page of backmatter nicely summarizes the frog’s life cycle. A hopping good book perfect for budding biologists. Kirkus Star review

Here is a very extensive Pinterest collection of books about frogs and toads from my friend Kinderbookswitheverything. 

I would pair We are Wibbly with this book:

One Tiny Tree Frog

Life after Whale by Lynn Brunelle illustrated by Jason Chin

This book opens with a graceful Blue Whale making a journey from the southern oceans to the warmer waters of the tropics ...

"but today something is different. Her heart is slowing down. It is wearing out. It is pumping less and less oxygen to her lungs, brain, and other internal organs. This year she will not make it to the feeding waters in the north. Her vision blurs and darkens. Her breathing slows. Her awareness fades. Her heart quiets and finally stops. This year, this day, this moment, after ninety years of life, as all her living things must do at some point ... she dies."

This is not the end though. Her death creates a whole new ecosystem.

"Her body will provide shelter and food for millions of creatures for more than a hundred years. A whole new world will arise. Scientists call this whale fall."

Go back and think about the title - yes there is life after the death of the whale.

Talking about the life cycle of living things is always a topic in a Primary School or Elementary School syllabus. Life after Whale is a perfect book for this topic. I am going to say that again - Life after Whale is a perfect book and it is one that you really do need in your school library.

Here are some of my reading discoveries from this splendid book:

• The layers of wax in the ear canal of the whale can show her life journey.
• Her body will take over one month to sink to the bottom of the ocean.
• She lands on 'marine snow' which is microscopic bits of dead animals and plants.
• There are four phases of a whale fall ecosystem - different animals feed on different parts of the whale and the cycle is completed when the krill we meet at the beginning of the book is part of the cycle again at the end.
• Even after 150 years the bones are still providing food for marine creatures.

Here are some activity pages from the US Publisher Holiday House. This video explains a whale fall. 

Brunelle’s prose is both lucid and poetic, while Caldecott-winning illustrator Chin depicts all of these changes in precise but lyrical ways, beginning with views of the living whale arcing majestically through sunlit waters; the artist goes on to show the body resting on the dark, mysterious seafloor as its bones are exposed and scattered by busy hordes of feeders both large and microscopic. ... Grand and engrossing. Kirkus Star review

Chin’s iridescent and highly detailed images are the perfect counterpoint to the absorbing text. This book is ideal for young readers who love simple, clear facts about animals or for older readers who will find the decomposition process fascinating. Educators will also appreciate the clear organization and descriptive writing style. SLJ

As a ninety-year-old blue whale dies, one story ends and another begins. Her body provides food for other creatures before it gradually descends to the depths of the ocean floor. But it doesn’t stop there: her body will sustain life of one kind or another for the next few hundred years. Small marine animals, from fish to crabs to octopuses, pick the skeleton bare before another wave of animals moves in. Eventually, rich nutrients seep into the water, and that water is carried to the surface, where it nourishes krill, the major food source for blue whales. Horn Book

We have a new Science and Technology Syllabus K-6 coming out next year. Here are a few quotes from that document:

Stage 2 (Grades 3 and 4) Students compare living things and identify the life cycles which support the survival of plant and animal species. 

Stage 2 (Grades 3 and 4) What are the similarities and differences between the life cycles of living things?

Life cycles of living things

Inquiry question: What are the similarities and differences between the life cycles of living things?

Students:

• identify that living things have life cycles 

• conduct an investigation into the life cycle of plants and/or animals 

Content Strand Summaries: Living World: The Living World strand explores living things and their needs. The key concepts developed within this strand are: living things have similar characteristics; are interdependent and interact with each other and their environment; living things and their features are related to the environments in which they live. Through this strand, students explore life cycles, structural adaptations and behaviours of living things. These developmental features and characteristics aid survival in particular environments.

It is the end of the school year here in Australia but if you can add this book to your library wish list or better if you can purchase it for your collection I suggest acting quickly. This book retails for AUS$35 but I found one online seller with copies for just AUS$28.

Jason Chin is the illustrator of Watercress which won the Caldecott Medal. I was lucky to read this book in a library last year and ever since I have hunted high and low so I could read it again - I was way too rushed last year. Alas this book is very expensive here in Australia and it is only available in a limited number of local and tertiary libraries.

Bird to Bird by Claire Saxby illustrated by Wayne Harris

Begin with the cover - notice the bird flying in the air and the other bird, possibly made from wood, held in a hand above the ocean.

These things come together in this book but you need to read the text to make all the connections. A bird drops a seed, it grows into a tree, the wood from the tree is used to make bunk beds on a ship, this is a ship filled with convicts heading to Australia. The ship falls into disrepair and so the wood from the bunk beds is now used to make a weaving loom because clothes are desperately needed in the new colony. Wool is woven into fabric and then the fabric is made into suits. Eventually the loom is no longer in use and so this wood is now used as part of a kitchen roof. Over time the old home crumbles but a crafter finds the wood and carves a small bird. I just sighed over this perfect ending. 

Here is a set of teachers notes.

There's also a gently delivered message about treating our world with respect and being responsible with its resources. The story's words are used sparingly, which when combined with a series of beautifully painted images, evoke a sense of looking down on places and events as time passes. Bird to Bird is a book that packs a powerful punch. Kids' Book Review

I recently spent a few spare hours in a local library and I took the time to make notes about several picture books which I am now sharing here months later. I had not seen Bird to Bird even though it was published in 2018 but by then I had left my former school library. This book would be SO perfect to share with a Grade Three or Four class as a part of their topic on Australian history especially alongside another book by Claire Saxby My name is Lizzie Flynn. Take a look at the NCACL annotation. 

Other books by Claire Saxby:

Iceberg

Secrets of the Saltmarsh

Other books illustrated by Wayne Harris:

Read about Wayne Harris in this post

Chickpea by Marguerite Hann Syme

Afshin has arrived in Australia from Iran with his two children Hooman and Mina. They suffered in Iran due to their religious beliefs and are so happy to have found safety here in Australia, specifically in Adelaide. Sadly, though, shortly after their arrival mum has died and so now Afshin has to navigate a new country and a new language and cope with his two young children and with being alone. The children see a kitten and a baby chick in a local market, and they beg their dad to buy them. Hooman forms a very special relationship with his little chicken, and he names her Chickpea. Mina loves to play with her kitten dressing her up in fancy clothes and jewels. On the book cover you can see she has also tried to do this to Chickpea - painting her toenails and adding lipstick and beads. For Hooman, Chickpea has added a special dimension to his life. His days no longer feel constrained and filled with routines.

One day Hooman comes home from school and Chickpea is gone. Hooman searches for days until he eventually finds her squished into a tiny space at the back of the garage. Chickpea has laid some eggs and she is waiting for them to hatch but if you know about chickens you will know this won't happen - these eggs have not been fertilized. Hooman is so worried because Chickpea won't eat.

Broody hens can be recognized by their behaviour. They sit firmly over the eggs, and when people approach or try to remove the eggs, threaten the person by erecting their feathers, emitting a characteristic sound like clo-clo-clo and will peck aggressively. When broody, hens often temporarily cease eating or reduce their feed consumption.

Luckily a friend finds some fertilized eggs and they swap them and then sit back to wait the twenty-one days needed for them to hatch. On the appointed day, Dad lets Hooman stay home from school, but alas no chicks arrive. And Chickpea is still not eating and they cannot move her. Will Hooman lose his very special friend?

Spoiler alert - no Chickpea will be okay. This is the appeal of this story - the wild ride of emotions over just 55pages. This time they put newly hatched chicks under Chickpea - chicks rescued from a battery hen farm. Nothing happens for three long days. Then the lady who bought the eggs and the chicks claps her hands, Chickpea is startled and the baby chicks move and jump out from under her warm feathers. A happy ending for everyone.

In 1998 Chickpea was a CBCA short-listed book in the Younger Readers Category. Of course, it is now long out of print but I do think it has stood the test of time and it would be enjoyed by young readers aged 8+. A new cover might add to the appeal.. Also, that IDAnimal label is quite off-putting. This book was one from a series by Scholastic and I guess these labels were an early form of generifying your fiction. 

Last night I revisited Chickpea because I have a memory of loving this book and I did hope back then that it would 'win'. I put 'win' in inverted commas because having a short list sticker means this book did win in terms of book sales and because I am sure it was shared with many, many children. 

Here is the sequel which I have no memory of reading and which again is sure to be long of out of print.

Chickpea was short listed by the CBCA. Here is the full list from 1998:

Winner

• Forrestal, Elaine Someone Like Me Puffin 

Honour books

• Hirsch, Odo Antonio S and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman Allen & Unwin Illus. Andrew McLean 
• Wrightson, Patricia Rattler’s Place Illus. David Cox Puffin (Aussie Bites)

Short listed

• Gleeson, Libby Queen of the Universe Illus. David Cox Omnibus (Solo)
• Klein, Robin The Listmaker Viking
• Syme, Marguerite Hann Chickpea Scholastic

There has been a debate on Facebook this week about the Younger Readers choices for 2024 and also some discussion about how books are submitted for judging. I know about this process because I was a CBCA judge 2021-23 but in a different category. The Facebook thread explores two issues about books in the Younger Readers category - specifically the selections this year. Firstly, the range of books on offer from those that cover deep themes through to the slapstick of a graphic novel. If you look at any of the past Younger Readers lists from 1982 onwards you will see the six short listed titles often cover a range of themes and potential readerships. If the issue here is with the choice of a funny or light weight book here are a few to consider. 1992 Bob the builder and the elves (Emily Rodda); 2004 Truck Dogs by Graeme Base; 2007 The cat on the mat is flat Andy Griffiths. 

The other side of this debate relates to books with more mature themes. The description of this category states: Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers from the middle to upper primary years. 7-12 years. Note: Some of the titles in this category may only be suitable for readers who are in the upper primary years as they contain mature themes, including violence. Parental guidance is recommended.

Over the years from 1982 onwards there have been some titles for very mature readers short listed in this category - to me this just shows the range of writing talent we have in Australia. Think about 2021 We are Wolves; 2020 The Dog Runner; 2016 Morris Gleitzman Soon; 2013 Children of the King etc.

The second issue relates to how books are entered in the competition, and this is the part of the debate that puzzles me. Books submitted for this award (as with most other awards) are entered by their publisher. This surely is not an issue because having that CBCA sticker on the cover of a book guarantees books sales and also helps to keep a book in print for longer. The publisher pays a fee for each book they enter and they send five copies of the book to the CBCA National office for distribution to the judges. There is nothing secret about this process. For my judging, over two years, we were sent over 460 books. This shows that publishers do not hold back. They submit every title they think has a chance with the judges. I am sure if you are an author, you would be welcome to check with your publisher that your book has been submitted. The only issue we had in my judging panel came with a handful of books that we felt were submitted into the wrong category - but with the permission of the publisher we were able to send these titles onto other teams. Publishers, especially the smaller ones, often submit their book in several categories which shows they are very keen for their book to be noticed by the judges of this prestigious national award. 

Here are other books which might be in your local or school library by Marguerite Hann Syme.