Spirit of the Crocodile by Aaron Fa'aoso, Michelle Scott Tucker and Lyn White

The crocodile’s eyes were yellow, slit by a vertical pupil. 

The creature remained perfectly still, but it throbbed with life. 

Ezra felt goosebumps in spite of the afternoon heat, 

and took a few steps back.

‘Is that thing looking at you?’ asked Mason.

‘Nah. How could it be?’

It took me many days to read this book but I am not the target audience. I did find myself wondering though, why Spirit of the Crocodile has been short listed by the CBCA even though I think it was a good choice for their Notables list and secondly, I wonder how many readers (target audience ages 10+) will have enough reading stamina to stick with this story right to the end. Spirit of the Crocodile has been short listed by the CBCA as I mentioned and by ABIA and for the Queensland Literary Awards and it was awarded Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. It clearly appeals to many adult judges of book competitions here in Australia. I have made some suggestions of extracts you could use to entice readers in your library to read this book later in this post because there are some moments of good tension which young readers will enjoy. 

Here are the CBCA judges comments:

Publisher blurb: Twelve-year old Ezra is an ordinary boy who lives on Saibai, an extraordinary Australian island. He loves a laugh, he loves his family, and - almost more than anything - he loves a dare. But when one of his dares goes wrong, Ezra realises he needs to make some decisions about helping out and measuring up. He learns that there's more than one way to look at, well, nearly everything. And as ever-increasing climate disasters threaten Saibai, Ezra and his best mate Mason must draw on their resilience and courage to help the community survive a massive out-of-season storm. Set in today's Torres Strait, Spirit of the Crocodile is a captivating novel that explores the importance of culture, community and place to a carefree kid on the cusp of growing up.

Strengths of this story/book:

• An appealing cover
• The decorations used to fill the cover title lettering and chapter headings (check out the link to the blog Paperbark Words to read more about this - see below)
• The exploration of extended family relationships in indigenous communities
• The family relationships, sibling relationships and friendships - I especially love Ezra's little sister Tarzie.
• Descriptions of the island landscape and village

"Saibai's tiny village of maybe a hundred buildings perched on the northwest coast of the island. The village looked out to sea on one side and was hemmed in by bird-filled brackish lagoons on the other. Mason's home and the airport were at one end of Main Road. The other end of the road ran past the jetty and the council depot before finishing at the cemetery."

• Details of indigenous cultural practices and beliefs

"Ezra looked at the evening star, knowing it was part of the Koedal constellation and thinking about how he himself belonged to that crocodile clan. He thought about what Mum had told him - that Koedal was fierce and fast moving, but patient and knowledgeable as well. When Ezra's male ancestors died they became part of the Koedal constellation. when Ezra's time came, he would too."

• Ezra is so proud of his mum (and dad).

"Ezra's mum Zipporah, a teacher's aide, worked in the junior classes at the school on Saibai. Zippie was a tall, intelligent woman, full of enthusiasm and energy. With her beautiful green eyes, not a few of the littlies in her classroom were madly in love with her. She was studying part-time and online to become a fully qualified teacher."

Here are some very detailed teachers notes from the publisher (via Pegi Williams). 

Here is the author talking about his island. Further thoughts:

This quote could be a good discussion point with your class:

"the conversation sometimes veered off into a discussion about marine pollution; about which containers sank straight away and which ones kept floating for weeks; about how many and what a menace they were; about the impact of other discarded objects like fishing gear, and plastics, and household rubbish."

Ezra has a different experience of moving from Primary to High school - leaving Saibai and heading to Thursday Island. I imagine most readers of this book will have no idea about this and again this could be a good topic to discuss especially since this experience is not unique to Australia - I met a family on Fair Isle (Scotland) and their son was about to head away to his high school in Lerwick having just finished Grade 6.

It is vital to explore the topic of global change, and the dangers and evidence are a daily and terrifying reality for island communities such as this one on Saibai I did find this aspect of the story 

"He knew that the seawall, seemingly so solid and sturdy, was in fact a desperate attempt to keep the remaining community safe from the encroaching waters of the sea. Two years ago he'd seen a tide come up so high that the sea water sloshed right over the wall and inundated the gardens of many of the houses fronting Main Road. It was as if the wall wasn't even there."

"The whole world knew that islands like Saibai were in danger - that special tress like his were in danger, that houses like Mason's were in danger - and no one in charge was doing a thing to stop it. They said all the words, but they never did anything real. Nothing."

Here is another quote which you could use for a discussion with an older group of students:

"What it might give me is an easier way through to the whitefella world ... So I can learn how to use their stuff to help our people. Like Eddie Mabo did. Like the uncles achieved in the High Court. I want to learn how to use their rules, their laws, their knowledge."

The action in this story really does not 'heat up' until page 175+ of the 242 pages. This makes me wonder if readers aged 10+ will 'stick with' this book right to the end. There are a couple of terrific scenes earlier in the story though. If I was sharing this book with a group in the library here are a couple of the scenes you could use for a book talk: When Ezra dives under the truck pages 101-103 and the awful incident with the spear fishing 'gun' pages 155-157.

Joy Lawn from Paperbark Words talks to the creators of this book.

It is books like this about community and culture that truly showcase what a different culture is like, what they contribute and how they bring two worlds together to create lives filled with joy, family and everything they need to live. It acknowledges the conflicts and knowledge gaps, and shows that using what you have at hand can be the best way to work towards making a difference. The Book Muse (this review has a good plot summary).

Spirit of the Crocodile is, in many ways, an extremely relatable, age-old story exploring the pain and excitement of growing up. However, its evocative descriptions of island life, kinship systems, trilingual code-switching, cross-cultural negotiation, and community resilience also offer a generous and original insight into Torres Strait culture. Story Links

There is real tension which the authors bring to a head and then resolve beautifully. The Australian Legend

Here is a 12 minute ABC Pacific radio review.

Companion book to read after Spirit of the Crocodile:

Swimming against the Storm

Having now read all six of the CBCA 2026 Younger Readers shortlisted titles I cannot help but observe that the CBCA Younger Readers short list for 2026 does seem to be a little contrived because the choices by the judges seem to fit into very specific categories. One graphic novel - Inked; a junior chapter book for the youngest readers - Tim tie-your shoelaces; a verse novel - Little Bones; the action thriller Run by Sarah Armstrong; a realistic fiction title The Paperbark Tree Committee; and one indigenous title - Spirit of the Crocodile.

Birdy by Sharon Kernot

Maddy along with her mum and brother Charlie (the Professor) have moved to a remote country town in South Australia. An utterly dreadful thing has happened to Maddy and her anxiety is so overwhelming she can no longer speak. Mum does not pressure Maddy and she has agreed to do regular counselling. Her brother, who is ten, is also supportive. He loves to collect things and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the world. One day he finds a couple of curious things, but he tells Maddy they are of no value - a small bluebird necklace, some bottle tops and the button from a pair of Levi jeans. 

Maddy needs to challenge herself and so she goes to the local general store to gather the family shopping. She is not able to speak to the shop keeper and experiences panic attacks every time she goes there but she persists. One day a young girl is behind the counter. Her name is Levi. Levi is friendly and she does not pressure Maddy once her brother explains Maddy cannot talk. It takes a lot of courage and time but eventually they become friends and Maddy begins to trust Levi - maybe she can tell Levi what has happened.

Meanwhile there is an elderly reclusive lady in the town who has suffered great losses in her life. Her husband worked at Maralinga where they did nuclear bomb testing and he died from radiation sickness many years ago. Alice has also lost her precious daughter Birdie. Birdie disappeared forty-five years ago but Alice clings to the hope that one day she will come home. Alice hurts her foot and so Maddy is asked to deliver her groceries and gradually we watch as this unlikely pair form a friendship.

Birdy is a verse novel. It is a very engrossing story which will greatly appeal to readers aged 14+. This book deals with some big themes such as sexual assault; issues of consent; anxiety leading to selective mutism; and profound grief.

I did appreciate the Australian and literary references in this book. Charlie is described as a mini-Harry Butler (I'm sure only readers of a certain age will recognise this reference); when they go for a drive one day she reads about the story of Bob the Railway Dog (see image of the picture book at the end of this post); also Maddy loves the poetry of Emily Dickinson. There are also 1970s music references such as Carole King You've got a Friend. And there are very important references in this book to the historic events at Maralinga.

Birdy is highly recommended for teens, for both its honest, heart-wrenching content and lyrical free-verse style. Read Plus

Birdy is filled with positive examples of people supporting each other through their words and kind deeds, and touches on some of the different ways of dealing with anxiety. It also addresses the harm that social media can do, and the strength of character required to counter this. The serious issues that shape Maddy and Alice’s lives (implied sexual assault and anxiety, hoarding and depression) are dealt with sensitively and eventually resolved. Read Plus

Birdy is a title on our 2025 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) short list for Older Readers. I don't usually read the books on this list because they are beyond the scope of this blog which is aimed at readers (and teachers and Teacher-Librarians) with books for ages 4-12. I picked up Birdy from the hospital library where I work as a volunteer partly because the cover is so arresting and partly because I was fairly certain the staff who catalogued this title had put in in the wrong part of our collection. They had added it to our middle grade chapter books but now that I have read Birdy I can say it is most definitely a Young Adult title. 

Read more about Sharon Kernot here. I am not sure I would use this book with a class - it feels too much like a personal journey that should be experienced by a solitary reader walking alongside Maddy and her journey to understanding and recovery, but the publisher has prepared some teaching notes if these interest you. Joy Lawn interviewed Sharon Kernot on her blog Paperbark Words. 

Awards for Birdy:

• Shortlisted, CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers, 2025
• Shortlisted, NSW Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature, 2025
• Shortlisted, Readings Young Adult Prize, 2024

Here are the CBCA judges comments:

In Birdy, a compelling verse novel, two heartfelt and heartbreaking mysteries slowly unfold and overlap – a powerful contemporary drama intersecting with a historical crime. The main character Maddy is a teenage girl who is experiencing selective mutism and anxiety after what she will only refer to as The Incident. Her family relocates to the country to help her recover and there she makes a surprising connection with the reclusive older woman Alice, whose daughter Birdy disappeared 45 years ago. The novel explores ideas about shame, loss and trauma, the healing power of friendship and kindness, and celebrates the ability of poetry to generate deep feelings in both the writer and reader. We witness the skillful execution of the expressive and poetic language of a verse novel, to create rhythm, pause and silence to reflect the interior mood of the character of Maddy. The language is rich, descriptive and evocative, while still being accessible for the teen audience. This book would appeal to readers who love reading realistic, contemporary, heartfelt stories, and who enjoy crime and mystery. The descriptive, evocative language and complex themes provide much scope for detailed study in a classroom environment.

Companion books:

When Maddy intrudes on Birdy's room which has been carefully preserved by her mother and left just as it was 45 years ago I thought of this older Australian book from 1991:

What do you do with a Chance? by Kobi Yamada illustrated by Mae Besom

"I thought about it a lot. I wished I had taken my chance. 

I realized I had wanted it,

but I still didn't know if I had the courage."

"I promised myself that if I ever got another chance,

I wasn't going to hold back. If I got another chance,

I was going to be ready."

I've seen these books on lists and in library displays but it has taken me until now to pick up a book by Kobi Yamada to read. I am blown away!

When I was younger, I took more chances but with age, I have become way more cautious and at times even fearful. I wonder does experience make you braver or the opposite - filling your head with ideas of what might go wrong. These are deep questions and demonstrate that the What do you do with a chance? is one for all ages - young children up to adults. You might like to preview this book from this gentle video reading. 

"So what do you do with a chance? You take it ... 
because it just might be the start of something incredible."

After I read the book aloud, I don’t need to go through a long justification of why picture books work well in middle and high schools. What I like about this series is that each book is different from the other two. They overlap in their conceptualization and they all are remarkable choices for the instruction of symbolism and creating writing–but they all teach very different, big ideas. Unleashing Readers

Through the use of color, the watercolor-and-pencil illustrations vividly accentuate the contrast between the drabness of a risk-free life and the brilliant intensity of one fully lived.  Kirkus

Here is an interview with Kobi Yamada. 

What do you do with a Chance? is the third book in the series. What you do Matters is the three book set:

All our Australian school libraries - Primary and High school - should add these books to their collections.

Our Australian illustrator Elise Hurst is now illustrating books written by Kobi Yamada - how wonderful. 

Ode to a Nobody by Caroline Brooks DuBois

 

If Forest was the glue

binding the family 

then I am the heat

weakening the bond.

If Forest was the duct tape,

the button, the magnet, the bungee

holding us together,

then I am the resistance

the yank, the pull.

Quinnie, Quinn, Quinn(ie) 

Mom's ultrasound and intuition
convinced her

I was born to be a boy.

So my parents chose a name

and for nine long months

called me Quinn.

When I turned out a girl,

Mom still liked Quinn.

'It's gender-neutral,'

she insisted.

Dad disagreed

and has always called me

Quinnie. So it's Quinn on paper,

but out loud mostly Quinnie

and sometimes Quinn,

depending on 

who's speaking.

Quinnie's brother is the star of the family, at least according to his sister. Mum and dad keep fighting. Quinnie is sure that is all her fault. And then the tornado hits.

It's been a week

since the tornado struck.

I swear time has crawled.

It could be lack of electricity

in our busted home, or moving to Ivy-

days of doing things I've never done,

and all the time spent offline.

Maybe it's just me,

or maybe it's the truce

between Mom and Dad.

But I've changed a lot in the span

of this 'week-year'.

In class Ms Koval sets an assignment of poetry writing for the whole month. They study famous poems and learn techniques. Reading the poems by Quinnie we gain insights into her family issues, friendship issues, her worries, and the way Quinnie learns how to stands up to her old friends who want her to do dangerous things. 

In one incident Jack and Jade spray paint damaged houses but when the spray tins are left in Quinnie's pack she has a wonderful idea. She writes poems of hope on neighborhood walls as she watches all the people who suffered from the tornado begin to rebuild their lives. 

Stay strong.

We survived!

Hold that vibe.

Hear the song.

Of lives resuming

And hope blooming.

After a month of writing Quinn reads her best poem to the class. Jack kept saying this poetry writing project was a waste of his time but then he slips his poem into her pocket. It has been a year of change but there will be good times to come. You are sure to shed a few tears when you read the final scenes. 

Take a close look at the cover of this book. The town is hit by a tornado - hence the flying objects; Quinn and her mum shelter in the basement but she forgets to rescue her hamster named Pumpkin; Jack was Quinn's best friend and they liked to skate and game but now Jade has arrived and this precious friendship has shifted.

This beautiful novel in verse, a novel all about poetry and the power that comes from writing and discovery, is not to be missed. The message about leaning into and accepting yourself is an important one. School Library Journal

Here is the web page for Caroline Brooks DuBois.

Straight ater I read Ode to Nobody I read Right as Rain (not a verse novel) - these books have very similar themes (parents on the brink of divorce; poetry writing; school life; friendship) so I have found myself mixing up the plot points. I will talk about this book over the coming days.

A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr

 "This book is bursting with colour and heart" 

Libby Armstrong Beachside Bookshop

I am going to begin with two text quotes to give you a flavour of this writing.  Here are the first sentences from the opening pages;

"You have arrived for a better life at the New House in the New Land. It has been a long journey, the first time you've ever been on an aeroplane. It was nerve-racking when they checked the suitcases at the airport, even though your family has next to no possessions, let alone anything to hide."

Shirley Marr tells us so much from these few sentences but she also leaves so many unanswered questions. Where is the New Land? Who owns the New House? Where have the family travelled from? Why do they have so few possessions? Its been a long journey - is our narrator a refugee? If she is how did she come to travel by aeroplane?

The New House which Meixing calls Big Scary, was owned by First Uncle. He has died and left the house to his sister and her husband. Ma Ma is expecting a baby. Ba Ba will need to get a job and a car and this will be difficult when he has limited skills with the New Language. The neighbours - Mr and Mrs Huynh are kind and offer food and practical help but they speak another language (I assume Vietnamese) and so their food and customs are unfamiliar to the Lim family. Later we learn Meixing and her family have come from China.

Things at school are also confusing for Meixing. In this scene she needs to cross the road but the procedures with the lollipop man are so confusing:

"He thinks you're a silly girl who doesn't know how to cross the road. And he's right. You are a silly girl who doesn't know how to cross the road. Back where you came from there were hardly any cars. Or roads, for that matter. The workers flats you lived in, the deep wounds in the ground from where the machines took out the precious Earth Dust and the handful of shops were the only blights on the island. Beyond that was jungle and dirt tracks, and you went wherever you wanted. You were wild and free ... "

In the backyard of the new house Meixing discovers a greenhouse. When she steps inside she enters a magical place. First Uncle shows her how to plant seeds as a way to understand the past. Later she is able to share this magic with Kevin Huynh from next door and Josh.  "You know that if you call on the glasshouse in your hour of need, the glasshouse - suspended somewhere between reality and imagination - will never let you down."

It is not often that I say I really dislike a character in a book but in A Glasshouse of Stars the teacher Miss Cicely  is despicable. Her treatment of Meixing feels like child abuse. I shudder to think a teacher would actually speak to or treat a student in the way we witness from Miss Cicely and I do hope Shirley Marr was not subjected to this cruelty but since this story is semi autobiographical I worry that this part might be based on her experience.  Thank goodness for the compassion of the ESL teacher Ms Jardine. So you can  see from these comments that this is a book that makes the reader feel things. I loved the honesty of Meixing; the developing friendships; the fragments of each child's back story which we see in the glasshouse; the crazy aunties who arrive at Big scary; and most importantly the way Shirley Marr lets her reader experience just how hard it is when you don't have language skills to communicate your wants, needs and wishes.

When you pick up this book you may find the writing style is a little challenging. Our students are more familiar with either first or third person narratives.  Shirley Marr explains:

This is a migration story I have been trying to write all my life. But I also spent a lot of my life trying to forget and disappearing into myself. I tried to write it from a first person point of view, but it always felt too close and I would always pull back. Third person also felt so distant, like I was writing someone else's story. I happened to pick up a copy of Deadgirls by Nancy Lee from an op-shop while looking for reading matter while on holiday. I was immediately inspired by the first short story, written in the second voice. As soon as I started writing my story in the same voice, I knew it was right. I knew it was a story I had to tell while the reader walked in my shoes and saw some of the things I saw and experienced when I was a child.

The cover of A Glasshouse of Stars is beautiful. The art is by Cornelia Li. My copy of A Glasshouse of Stars came from Penguin Random House. In the UK Usborne have given this book a different cover. I love comparing covers with students. Take a look at this review.

Here is the blurb from Readings in Melbourne: 

Meixing Lim and her family have arrived at the New House in the New Land, inherited from First Uncle who died tragically and unexpectedly while picking oranges in the backyard. Everything is vast and unknown to Meixing and not in a good way, including the house she has dubbed Big Scary. She is embarrassed by the second-hand shoes given to her by the kind neighbours, has trouble understanding the language at school, and with fitting in and making new friends. Her solace is a glasshouse in the garden that inexplicably holds the sun and the moon and all the secrets of her memory and imagination. Her fragile universe is rocked when tragedy strikes and Ma Ma refuses to face the world outside. Meixing finds herself trapped within the shrinking walls of Big Scary. Her parents said this would be a better life for them all, but it feels like the worst and most heart-breaking experience of Meixing’s entire existence. Surviving will take all the resilience and inner belief of this brave girl to turn their world around.

Here is another review from The Bottom Shelf and this book also reached Ms Yingling in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Karen Yingling gives, as usual, a great plot summary. While she enjoyed this book she feels it is too "Australian" for her readers.

Here are some companion reads. Just like Wen in Tiger Daugher, Meixing also carries the huge burden of parental expectations.

Tiger Daughter

No ballet shoes in Syria

Front Desk

The Seventh most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall

 

"Mr Hampton has made it clear to me that he is not interested in retribution, but in redemption."

Arthur's dad has died. His dad was not perfect. His dad was a wild character who often drank too much but Arthur's dad was deeply loved and so Arthur's grief is very deep. Everything boils over when Arthur sees a local homeless man wearing his dad's old cap. Arthur reaches for a brick and hurls it at the man.

In the court, after three weeks in juvenile detention, Arthur's life changes. He discovers the name of the man he attacked and he is told he will need to complete 120 hours of probationary service working for the old Junk Man.

"According to what I've read about your case, I understand you attacked a man named James Hampton in a vicious and unprovoked manner on November eighth. Is that correct, Mr Owens?' Arthur blinked, momentarily confused by the name. James Hampton? Who was James Hampton? ... Arthur tried not to look surprised by the fact that the man had a real name."

Arthur acknowledges his guilt. Doing 120 hours of work for Mr Hampton will certainly be much better than the alternate possibility of spending more time in 'juvie'. When he finally locates the address supplied by his probation officer - Officer Wanda Billie - he finds a mysterious list. Mr Hampton is not there but the instructions are clear. Arthur as to find:

• lightbulbs
• foil
• mirrors
• pieces of wood
• glass bottles
• coffee cans
• cardboard

Why does the old man want these things? Can Arthur skip some things on the list? Can he substitute other things? And how does all this link with the word redemption?

This book is brilliant.  It is one of those reading experiences where I want to stand on a mountain and shout out to all young readers aged 10+ to find this book, grab it with both hands and read it now! This book was published in 2016 but I am happy to see it is still in print. 

A vibrant piece of historical fiction based on a true story, this novel will be welcomed by teachers and youth alike. Waking Brain Cells

Luminescent, just like the artwork it celebrates. Kirkus star review

Read about the real James Hampton (1909-1964) and his astonishing art which is display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC. 

"(It is) made from discarded materials and found objects such as old furniture, cardboard cutouts, and light bulbs. All were scavenged from secondhand shops, the streets, or the federal office buildings in which Hampton worked as a janitor. To complete each element, Hampton used shimmering metallic foils and brilliant purple paper to evoke spiritual awe and splendor."

Here is an audio sample from page 23 onwards. Here are some ideas for using this book with a group such as a book club. Even though this is clearly a book with an American setting I am certain it will be enjoyed by readers in Australia. Read more about Shelley Pearsall here. 

I would pair this book with:

Night Bus Hero

I am now keen to read a new title from Shelley Pearsall:

The Mouse with the Too-long Tail by Bani McSpedden illustrated by Greg McAlpine

Tuesday Treasure

"Mr and Mrs Mouse were the proud parents of fourteen happy children."
"But Mr and Mrs Mouse also had a fifteenth child who was not so happy.
He was known only as the Mouse with the Too-long Tail."

The Mouse with the Too-long Tail longs for a short tail like his siblings. His long, long tail gets in the way of every activity. Swimming is horrible, skipping is painful and riding a bicycle is torture. It is time for some action. Our little hero tries putting his tail out with the rubbish, he tries to give it away "he even attempted to throw the too-long tail off a cliff. But it was very attached too the Mouse and refused to go away."

Mouse tries to incorporate the tail into his every day life but this only works for a short time.Then one night he has a wonderful dream.  Our mouse has been looking at this issue as a problem! Let's look at this issue in a different way. Could he turn his tail to his advantage? He dreams of space exploration, show business and fancy rope tricks.

"His dreams had given him an idea.
He would try a few tricks with his tail.
He practiced in secret of course.
In his room, in front of the mirror."

When everything is ready he performs for his brother and sisters.

"Soon the Mouse with the Too-long tail was being called the Mouse with the fabulous Too-long Tail, the lucky Mouse with the Too-long tail."

As I write these words I am smiling. I have read this book aloud many many times. I still feel so much joy when the MWTTLT changes his view - his tail is not a handicap it is a asset.

The format of this book is perfect too.  It is a large landscape shape which allows the illustrator, Greg McAlphine, to show the full length of this cumbersome tail.

It seems Bani McSpedden didn't write any other books. I would love to know the background to writing this story.

I am working my way through titles on my Tuesday treasures list. This is a book I truly treasure. I mentioned this one previously when I was discussing my one hundred book project. The Mouse with the Too-long Tail was published in 1988. It might be in a school library. I was so lucky to find my copy at a charity book sale. I am very, very sad this book has been culled from my former school library. It truly is a treasure. There is no reason to think an old book has no value. This is an emotional and important story that should be reprinted. We talk about a new teaching focus called Growth Mindset. This book is an utterly perfect text which exemplifies these ideas.

I would pair this book with Trixie the witch's cat by Nick Butterworth.

The Ugly Duckling version by Frank Loesser, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom, performed by Justine Clarke

Here is a real treat - a book and CD combination that I found at a bargain book sale.  I popped the CD into my player tonight and gasped. Using the trumpet, the tuba and the marimba, Justine sings the story and you can follow along in the book.  You will be familiar with this Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. In the 'original' version, which is written for older children, two geese are shot. This one is a simple re-telling which follows the essence of the story with the duckling being told he is ugly and then finally growing older and finding he is transformed into a swan.

I bought this book as a gift for a new baby and both of his parents work in the music industry so the discovery of the CD is extra special.

There are two tracks on this CD one sung by Justine and the other an instrumental track.

Here is the illustrator web site.  The song is the one performed by Danny Kaye in 1952.

Nathaniel Eckstrom has illustrated a number of books including Duck by Meg McKinlay which I predict will reach the 2019 CBCA Notables list.

You recorded a song for the children's book The Ugly Duckling. Why did you choose that storybook?

"Scholastic had approached me and asked me what song would you like to do."

"It's a great story and particularly relevant for preschoolers. Finding out where you belong, reflecting on having your own family and having a story about someone who gets rejected."

"It can seem like a shallow tale but I think for preschoolers it's a simple story and I think we're all quite fascinated by what we will become. When you're a child you look at adults and wonder, 'What will I look like?'"  MamaMia

The combination of Justine Clarke’s performance and the personality-filled instrumental backing really brings this story to life and makes it ideal for class activities for preschool and kindergarten students or simply a more interactive experience of the story at home. Kids Book Review

Bleakboy and Hunter stand out in the rain by Steven Herrick

There are two main characters in Bleakboy and Hunter out in the rain.  One is Hunter.  Here is a little extract that might help you understand his emotional turmoil.

"Hunter remembers when he was five years old, being caught in a thunderstorm with his dad.  How his dad lifted a newspaper above their heads as they scurried for cover.  They were soaked before reaching the safety of a bus shelter. While he watched the rain gush down the gutters and turn potholes into puddles, his father read the wet newspaper, peeling each page away from the other.  Hunter marvelled at the sky, amazed that clouds could hold that much water.  With one of his father's discarded sheets of newspaper, Hunter fashioned a boat; a newsprint canoe.  He stepped from the shelter and launched it in the gutter.  It swept away, riding the stormwater waves.  Hunter knelt on the footpath and laughed.  His father told him to come out of the rain."

Some things to notice here.  Hunter is only five.  There is little or no interaction between father and son. Hunter is obviously highly intelligent.  He thinks about the sky and the rain and the clouds and he is able to make a newspaper canoe.  None of these things rate praise or even a comment from his father.

By age eleven and in Year 6 Hunter is still highly intelligent but his intelligence is now used for less than desirable behaviours. He has become the class 'smart alec'.  "Hunter is the class anarchist, lawbreaker and boy most likely to set the record for continuous lunchtime detentions." He loves to bait the teacher and taunt his school mates one of whom is a boy named Jesse James Jones.  "Don't call me triple j. I'm not a radio station, I'm an eleven-year-old boy."  Hunter names Jesse Badboy, Emo the Emu, Rainman, and Bleakboy - hence the title.

I do love Steven Herrick books and so I was really looking forward to Bleakboy and Hunter stand out in the rain.  Herrick is a master of the tantalizing title - isn't he.  Remember Pookie Aleera is not my boyfriend.and Tom Jones saves the world.  I do love Steven Herrick but I prefer his verse novels. Bleakboy and Hunter stand out in the rain did not go deeply enough into the emotions of these characters in the same way as these previous titles.

Hunter has serous life problems - his dad has deserted the family and moved to New Zealand - I did feel sad but I wanted a closer connection.  Jesse is trying to understand his place in the world and form his own beliefs while he navigates new friendships at his new school but one character I did really like was Les.  He is an old man of eighty who becomes a very wise friend to Hunter.  The scene where Les invites Hunter to test out his mobility scooter is fabulous.  It would also be interesting to discuss some of the practices of the alternate school that Hunter, Jesse and their friends attend.

Here is a review from Reading Time.  Here is a set of teaching notes.  You might also enjoy Problem child which has similar themes.