Kid by Peter Carnavas

"They were so brave ... the bravest goats in the world! And I want to be just like them."

Now read the opening sentence of Kid: 

"There once was a small goat who lived on a farm, not far from the rugged mountain."

Ask yourself some questions - will this small goat have an adventure? will he travel to the rugged mountain? what will he find there? does he have a good life on the farm? are there any other goats there? does 'not far' mean this story will involve a journey?

Life on the farm is good. There are cows, sheep, pigs and hens. Oh, and of course there is a small goat - a young goat - a kid named Kid.

"He was barely taller than the hens, and not just because he was young. He was a small breed of goat - a miniature - so even when fully grown he would hardly peek over a bale of straw. For now he was still a kid, with gangly legs, ears that stuck out and two bumps on the top of his head. He couldn't see them but he knew they were there, and he dreamt that one day they would grow into big curved horns, strong and majestic."

Kid has dreams - big dreams. And these dreams are linked with the story of his parents. This is the story Audrey, one of the hens, tells him night after night. His parents were Buck and Bess and they heroically saved the farm from a fox but by chasing the fox they jumped over all the fences and "no one ever saw those brave goats again." Bess and Buck left their baby behind in the care of Audrey. "And you've been stuck with me ever since."

Kid has the care and friendship of Audrey and also of Harriet, a whitish-pink pig. So, the story is set. Kid would like to be heroic like his parents. He is sure his parents are living in the nearby mountains. Audrey needs to protect her young charge just as she promised his mother all those years ago and Harriet is keen to experience new tastes in the wild. But of course, there is a problem - well there are lots of problem but the biggest one of all is Farm Law. Note the capital letters. 

"Farm Law says that any animal who leaves the farm can never come back ... They'll bring danger to the farm - predators, or sickness from the wild."

"The adventures of Buck and Bess played in his mind. He had loved the stories, so wild and exciting, but he always dreamt that one day they would return to the farm. Now he knew he would never see them again, all because of a big white dog who didn't like goats."

Kid will not be stopped. Ma, the big white farm dog will not stop him. He jumps over the fence and ...

There are some sweet words of wisdom in Kid:

Audrey: "I was scared and I didn't want you to go. But then I asked myself what was more important: to follow the rules or follow your dreams?"

Audrey: "The world hasn't ended. You have a home and friends who love you - even when you're miserable. I didn't raise you to blob around like a snail without a shell. Get up and do something."

Cow: "Gavin (the great hawk) said you will find your family ... on the mountain."

I think I held my breath through the final chapters of this book - I know Peter Carnavas is a trustworthy author and he would give me that all important "happy ending", but I was so worried about little Kid - would Ma let him come back to the farm?

Publisher blurb: This is the story of a small goat called Kid. Ever since his parents chased away a fox and never returned, Kid has stayed with Audrey the hen in the chook yard. Audrey tells him stories of his mum and dad’s daring and bravery. She says they live on the nearby mountain, and Kid longs to leave the farm to find them. And then, one day, he discovers he is big enough to jump the fence … Will a wild adventure up the mountain help Kid find where he belongs?

Here is the trailer - this is sure to make you fall in love with this book:

This book will be published next week - do not wait - run to your independent bookstore or local library and order a copy of Kid by Peter Carnavas. I really wish I lived in Queensland so I could participate in some of the launch events for Kid. Huge thanks to UQP for sending me an advance copy of Kid. I devoured it in one sitting and then went back and read it all again today. There are extensive teachers notes for Kid BUT really my suggestion is just read this book - to your young reading companion, to your class or to your library group. Don't dissect it - just enjoy the writing, the friendships, and the very special voice of young Kid.

This one is just a delight from the first page to the last and your young readers will find it entirely satisfactory and, very likely, the kind of book that they will return to again and again. Just so Stories  (You can see art from Kid in this review)

Kid gives us plenty to love especially for the confident junior reader, animal lover, and those searching for their own g.o.a.t mini-hero to emulate. Dimity Powell  (G.O.A.T stands for Greatest of all Times)

In the UK Kid from Pushkin Press has a slightly different cover. I love talking with students about covers - design, appeal, font choices and the way covers can influence our reading choices. The US edition will come from Groundwood Books in 2027! Kid is published in hardcover and the beautiful pastel colours reminded me of my old copy of Heidi (I have put this image at the bottom of this post).

The publisher and Peter Carnavas himself (quite rightly) links Kid with two very famous books:

Charlotte's Web

You may know this book became the movie Babe.

Peter Carnavas says: After writing my last book, I promised myself I’d take a quiet break from writing, 

but then a small goat trotted into my thoughts. I’m not sure where he came from but I remember what I was doing at the time – I was reading Edwina Wyatt’s book Cub and Brown. Edwina’s story has nothing to do with goats but for some reason, halfway through reading, I put down the book, opened my sketchbook and drew a goat.  Up until now, my novels have centred around quiet children and relationships, so I wanted to try something different with my goat – I wanted an adventure! I started drafting ideas based on the structure of the hero’s journey: I gave him a call to action, a merry band of accomplices (each with their own strengths), a wise elder, a series of trials and an exciting climax. 

I really appreciate having maps in books. The map at the beginning of Kid reminded me of this book:

Map from Kid (found in the teachers notes)

Try to find this picture book too:

Albert and Lila

Check out all the picture books by Peter Carnavas and then look for his terrific novels:

Leo and Ralph, My Brother Ben, The Elephant

Kid is published in hardcover and the soft pastel colours used on the cover reminded me of my old copy of Heidi. Just a small observation of mine - Kid doesn't have any actual links with Heidi!

IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art Auction

 

Visit the auction site to see over 40 pieces of original art

We need your support. Following the success of our inaugural 2023 fundraiser, we will once again be running Mini Masterpieces to raise funds for the Australian branch of the International Board on Books for Young People, IBBY Australia. We have invited celebrated Australian children’s book illustrators to donate post-card sized artworks for an online auction. You could OWN one of these gorgeous pieces - we have over 40 on offer. 

Ann James, Renee Treml, and Peter Carnavas

Formed in 1966, IBBY Australia is one of 82 National sections of IBBY, and each year must pay a membership fee of almost $10 000 to remain part of the international IBBY organisation.

IBBY was established following the Second World War and aims to build bridges to international understanding through children’s books. As you may be aware, IBBY Australia promotes Australian authors and illustrators by submitting their work for several IBBY administered international awards, including:

• The Hans Christian Andersen Award

• IBBY Honour Book List

• The Silent Books collection 

• The Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities list 

You can read more about IBBY and about IBBY Australia.

The Mini Masterpieces auction will run from 14 November to 28 November, with the original artworks promoted as a unique Christmas gift. Each piece will have a reserve of $75.

Nicky Johnston

Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas

 

Image source: Peter Carnavas

"Just because you couldn't see something, didn't mean it wasn't there."

Video from UQP

Leo's head is full of wonder. 

"His head was filled with questions. Were his footsteps like earthquakes for tiny bugs in the grass. Why was an apple called an apple and cake called cake? What if everyone slept during the day and stayed awake at night?"

One day he sees a white balloon floating in the sky. How long will it float? Will it float forever? Where will it come down? What if the wind blows it higher? Where does the sky end? His mother uses the word forever and so Leo's fascination with space, the universe, aliens, and other worlds begins.

"The whole sky - all that endless space - was suddenly inside him, filling his chest until he thought he might burst. It was the most exciting thing he had ever heard."

Other kids don't exactly reject Leo, but he just doesn't fit in at school. Games are confusing, he takes a long while to answer questions, and all that noise from crowds of kids are just too much for young Leo. Then one day Ralph arrives. Actually, he turns up when Leo sees another white balloon in the tree outside his room. Ralph has come from another planet. Ralph is the perfect friend. Now Leo can cope with life, and he no longer needs to worry that he is disappointing his mum and dad. But Ralph does tell Leo he will stay for "as long as you need me." Does this mean one day Ralph will need to leave?

Allison Tait was also deeply affected by this book - she says it contains a stunning "depiction of loneliness and not fitting in and trying to follow the instructions of well-meaning parents and the sheer overwhelm of trying to make a friend when you're not sure how."  "It's a wonderful ode to the power of the imagination."  Your Kids Next Read podcast from [10.36- 14.49].

I went to the post office on Friday and there were three parcels waiting for collection. One was this book sent by the publisher University of Queensland Press. I can hardly describe the wonderful experience of reading this book this morning. Peter Carnavas has done it again! There is just the right amount of tension in this story to keep you turning the page and just the right depth of emotion. I cared so much about young Leo - I almost held my breath through the first fifty pages. Things are so hard for young Leo. I also needed those hugs that Peter Carnavas includes in the story from mum, dad, his little sister Peg and especially from Ralph.

I know it is very early in the year, but I am certain this book will be a CBCA (Children's Book of Australia) Younger Readers notable title and surely it will also make the short list. Leo and Ralph will be published on 1st March, 2024.

There are so many FABULOUS things about this book - the writing, the character of Leo, his journey through this early part of his life and the beautifully expressive writing of Peter Carnavas. Here are a few phrases which I loved reading:

"Leo stood in the playground in the shade of his big bucket hat. He looked like a tiny beach umbrella."

"Inside his belly, a thick lump of worry washed away like a fistful of sand in the ocean."

'Dundle was orange-brown. And oven-hot. As Leo stood with his family on the footpath of the main street, he felt like a blob of dough crisping into a biscuit."

I also love the wonderful teachers in this story. Every teacher is kind to Leo and accepting of Ralph culminating with Ms Pengari his Grade Four teacher who wears crazy costumes every day (rather like Ms Frizzle from The Magic School bus series). Her clothes match the class topic. Below are a few descriptions. I know Peter Carnavas is a teacher - I wonder if he might be just like Ms Pengari or perhaps he worked with a colleague like her. I do hope she is a real person. So often I read books about 'out of step kids' like Leo and their teachers are totally demonized. I just wanted to meet and hug every one of Leo's teachers and thank them for their kindness. 

Here are some descriptions of Ms Pengari:

"A woman stepped out, wearing a flowery Hawaiian shirt, fluoro yellow boardshorts and a pair of slippers. She had rainbow zinc stiped across her face and she wore a big floppy hat and sunglasses."

"She wore a back witch's hat and carried a plastic wand, ready for the next lesson about the magic of measurement."

"She wore and eyepatch and a pirate hat and waved a plastic sword. 'Yarrrr! What's taking ye so long? we're about to set sail to the land of fractions."    

"She wore a pair of pilot's goggles strapped to her head - they were supposed to be flying to the twin islands of Area and Perimeter ..."

I am sure you know the expression show don't tell - there are two utterly wonderful examples of this in Leo and Ralph - one has to do with Leo's friend Gus and the other is something his mother says close to the end of the book - a precious moment of connection that is sure to make you smile.

Leo and Ralph will arrive in schools over the coming weeks. It is a title that has been included in several standing order selections.

If you read this book with an older reader (say 10+) try to find The Watertower by Gary Crew - I had the illustrations in this book in my mind when Leo saw the strange water tower in his new town of Dundle. 

I do really enjoy books about imaginary friends. My all-time favourite is O'Diddy but it is a very old book and long long out of print sadly.

I would also pair this book with The Year of Billy Miller and A boy called Bat. For older readers I also suggest Things seen from Above and Sunshine by Marion Dane Bauer. Also look for Crenshaw.

Here are the two other junior novels by Peter Carnavas - every Primary school library in Australia (and beyond) should also add these to their library collection.

My Brother Ben

The Elephant

My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas

It is the summer holidays. Luke is in Grade 6 so he will return to his old school in late January but his brother Ben is moving on to High School. These months are a time of change for Luke. His father has left the family and moved far away to the other side of the country. Ben, who has always been his best friend, is changing in ways Luke finds confusing. Luke needs to hold onto the things that keep him steady. He loves birds, he knows all the birds around Cabbage Tree Creek. He can identify their songs and his favourite book is the battered-up guide book given to him by his Aunty Gem. They regularly go on bird finding expeditions - and these days are filled with joy.

The prologue to My Brother Ben is so dramatic. Luke sees a bird in the middle of a busy road. It is a magpie that has been hit by a car. Just as Luke reaches to touch it, his brother swoops in and rescues him from a speeding car. In a beautiful moment they discover the precious bird is not dead and from then on Maggie becomes Luke's best bird friend.

Someone has abandoned a small white rowing boat in a yard near their house.  The brothers have shared dream:

"I got it all worked out. We'd take off from our jetty, head straight across to the other side. You can find that bird you saw today and all its friends. Then we'd go south, away from the Jumping Tree, all the way past the old windmill ... Follow that bend to The Pocket. We'd fish all day, catch flathead and bream ... a whole bucketful. We'd camp on the bank and cook fish and fall asleep under the stars."

But this is the summer of change. Luke has his birds and Ben seems to be distracted by a new girl who has moved into their town. Then a competition is announced

"The competition was being run by the local council, just for kids under fifteen. You had to make something that celebrated Cabbage Tree Creek. ... but the most important detail was the prize: a three metre fishing canoe, with paddles, life jackets and the chance to name the boat. They'd paint the name on the side for you."

Luke and Ben are desperate to win. 

"When you open your eyes to birds, the world opens itself in return."

When you read this book you will want to also grab any version of an Australian bird guide book. Here are a couple I found:

Or you could use this poster from The Guardian which shows the Australian Bird of the Year 2021:

The writing of Peter Carnavas just gets better and better. He has created such an authentic relationship between Luke and his older brother Ben. Oddly, I kept hoping nothing terrible would happen in this summer time story. At nearly every turn of the river I thought Ben or Luke would have a life changing or even fatal accident. I guess I have read too many books like this marred by tragedy. Instead I discovered a warm, realistic story about two boys who live near a river, share their dreams, and jokes and who deeply care for each other. I guarantee you will fall in love with this place, with the lives of these boys and with this quiet, careful exploration of Luke and Ben and their summer by Cabbage Tree Creek. 

This is a quintessential Australian story set in a small country town with bush nearby to explore and the creek where the boys swim and dream but it is also a book with universal themes of growing up, facing fear, self discovery, change, sibling relationships, and the importance of the natural world. 

‘How I love this book. Peter Carnavas is a wizard with words and a master of character, and his affection for Luke and Ben and the simple, complicated stuff of brotherhood shines through on every page. If you’ve ever had – or been, or known! – a brother, the ebbs and flows of their relationship will ring absolutely true and linger long past their story’s end. My Brother Ben is absolutely bursting with heart, and with the kind of quiet power of the very best books, the ones that leave an indelible mark. I didn’t know I needed a book about brothers, birds and boats; now I wonder how I was ever without it. What a glorious exploration of boyhood and brotherliness, of trust and truth and strength and steadfastness; please give My Brother Ben to all the boys in your life, and all the girls too.’ Meg McKinlay

I have never made this comment about a book before but I do wish UQP had considered producing this book as a hardcover. My Brother Ben has all the qualities of a classic children's book and while the paperback edition is, of course, very affordable for families and keen readers I would love to see a longer lasting edition of this book which could become a treasured one to keep. Paperbacks usually have paper that gradually yellows over time and aged paperbacks loose their appeal. This book is sure to be one on the CBCA 2022 notable list. 

Companion reads:

Twitch 

Half a Chance

Henry Hoey Hobson

The small Adventures of Popeye and Elvis

The Grand Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler

Scarlet Ibis

One last thing.  Years ago I read another book involving a bird guide book. It was an Australian book. It was for Upper Primary readers. The boy in the story loved his bird guide book and he longed to meet the author - a university academic. In my memory, the boy travels from a country town into the city, he arrives at night and he does eventually meet the author of his favourite book.  I am continuing my search for this book. If anyone can help please let me know in the comments. I know this sounds like The Someday Birds but it is a much older book and it is Australian.

The elephant by Peter Carnavas

"All the lightness fell away as thought about the elephant. 

The big grey elephant that shadowed her father.

It hung over him at breakfast.

It trudged beside him when he left for work.

At night, it lay by his side, weighing everything down."

The presence of this elephant means her dad is sad.  He cannot talk to Olive or really listen to her.  He has promised to fix her bike - the bike that once belonged to her mum - but so far he has not even started to repair it.  Olive needs to get rid of this elephant - but how?

She confides in her best friend - Arthur.  He is a very wise boy.

"Your dad won't fix your bike - until you fix your dad.'  ... 'How do I do that?' 'Easy,' said Arthur ... 'Get rid of the elephant.'  She laughed because she suddenly realised three important things :
Arthur was weird.
Arthur was right.
Arthur was the best friend in the world."

Meanwhile at school the class are working on a project to celebrate the 100th birthday of their school. The children have to bring old things to school, prepare a talk and then share their old things at the end of term birthday party.  Olive talks to her Grandad and he shows her some wonderful old things - a typewriter and a record player but these are not quite right for Olive.

Grandad is the person who is keeping Olive's family afloat.  He has restored the wild garden, he cooks delicious food, he tucks her in each evening and every day he picks Olive up for school. If he is carrying his purple backpack she knows they will be setting off on a small adventure. I love the idea of this purple backpack and also the way this pair mark distances by singing "Side by Side".  For example when they walk to the gassy hill beside the oval it takes five renditions of the song to reach the right spot.

This book is so very special.  It reminded me of the quiet wisdom found in Tishkin Silk and the whole Silk series.  I sat down to read a few pages of The Elephant last night and lifted my head about an hour later having read the whole book.  The final pages are very powerful and while you will be expecting Olive to succeed with the elephant issue I promise the ending will astonish you.

Here is the author web site with a perfect trailer for The Elephant.  I will make a prediction that this book will surely be on our CBCA Short list for 2018 and when it does I recommend you have the whole school join in and sing Side by Side.

I would pair The elephant with any of these books :