Strays by Gia Gordon

"How could someone dump this sweet little dog onto the street? How could someone chuck him out the window like he was a bag of week-old McDonalds? How could anyone with half a soul look into those melting eyes and not want to fold him into a love-blanket, and take him home?"

Campbell is in Grade 6. She finds it hard to concentrate at school and she has a complex relationship with her almost silent father. He works for the city animal rescue centre, except this place is not really about rescue because stray dogs and cats are only kept there for three days and then it is her father's job to decide to euthanatize them. This partly explains why Campbell's father is so distant but other dreadful things have happened and these are gradually revealed through the story - her dad was a fireman and something went badly wrong when Campbell was having her fifth birthday party but even worse Campbell's mum left the family and then (spoiler alert) she was killed in a car accident.

Luckily Campbell does have a fabulous friend at school - a girl named Luz. Luz lives with her mum, dad and older twin sisters in a busy household but Luz does not have a perfect life either. Her dad has been serving in the army and over the last ten years has rarely been home with the family. As this book opens though he has returned from his deployment and his service has ended but he is suffering from dreadful PTSD and adjusting back into his own family is difficult.

Into this mix comes a small brown dog. Campbell witnesses someone discarding him:

"I'm not expecting a beefy man-hand to reach out the window holding a tiny, squirming dog. I'm not expecting that dog to drop out of the beefy-man hand onto the sidewalk. I'm not expecting the van to speed away. I'm not expecting that teensy flash of beige-brown to take off, chasing the van."

So we have some puzzle pieces for this story which Gia Gordon neatly puts together into a very satisfying conclusion but not a conclusion you will expect at all. 

I do also need to mention the fantastic school Teacher-Librarian in this story - Miss Alba. She is kind, she listens to Campbell and she gives very practical support and access to the most perfect resources as Campbell struggles firstly to keep this little pup she names Tater Tot safe and away from her father who would be sure to take him to the dog shelter; and secondly when Campbell needs help to work out how to transport the little dog to the other side of the country - I hope that makes you even more curious about this book.  IF I was going to do further study in the field of children's literature I think there is a whole topic here about minor characters who are helpful Teacher-Librarians like Miss Alba.

"Librarians are kinda awesome that way. Because she always makes you feel like she has all the time in the world to talk to you or help you out with something even when it's her lunch hour."

Campbell is grieving in this book and her friendship with Luz is tested - the ups and downs of their relationship felt very real. I also loved the way Campbell showed really good emotional intelligence about her father and also when she saw things were hard for Luz and her parents.

Here are some poignant text quotes:

"Nothing I've ever loved wants to stay with me."

"For the first times in a few days, I feel like I can take a deep breath and blow it all the way out. For the first time since my dad left firefighting, since her couldn't work for two years, and then became head of animal control, I feel like there may be answers to the problems his job only makes worse."

"I smooth my hand over his cute little head, fun my fingers down his overside ears. Even though he's dirty and full of dried leaves and twigs, his fur is probably the softest thing I've ever touched in my whole life."

"even though I had food for him, he mostly just wanted some love."

There is a sweet little expression in this story used three times - it was not one I had heard or read before - I sit crisscross applesauce. 

Bookseller blurb: Campbell Cole has a big heart for all living things, especially strays. It might be because her father, the director of the local animal control, is as aloof as they come, so Campbell knows what it’s like to feel alone. When she spots an adorable dog being dumped on the street, the last thing Campbell can do is tell her dad. He might take the pup straight to the shelter, where new rescues have just three days to be adopted. The only person she can trust with the truth is her best friend, Luz. The more time Campbell spends trying to catch the dog, the more he starts to trust her, which is both great and terrible because Campbell knows she can’t keep him. But perhaps she doesn’t have to. With the help of Luz’s father, an army vet grappling with PTSD, she just may find a solution that benefits not only the dog, but everyone else, too.

Gia Gordon’s Strays is a beautifully written, heartfelt novel about friendship, family, and finding the courage to stand up for what’s right, that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find a place to call home. Gia Gordon

An insightful, well-characterized exploration of love and trust. Kirkus

Readers will be drawn into this accessible, emotional story. The Horn Book

I saw this book Strays in a bookshop on Saturday a few weeks ago. It caught my eye because I had seen it mentioned somewhere, plus I do like the cover, and I am a sucker for books about dogs. Bonus - this is a very new book so you will be able to find it in your local independent bookstore. I recommend Strays for readers aged 10+. 

Companion book:

A Handful of Stars

Earlier today I read a comment on social media that if you see a dog on the cover of a book it is sure to be a sad story and the dog will die! NO. Thank goodness that is never the case in the books I read for children aged 9+.  Here are a few I love:

One Dog and his Boy

Answers to Dog

Talking to Alaska

Something like Home

Here is another book by Gia Gordon:

Dewey Display an idea you could adapt for your library

I saw this idea on Literacious - you could easily adapt this to your own library as a way to promote your Non-Fiction collection. 

The blogger says: With a new month, it’s time to start a new series of blog posts! This time we’re going to take a closer look at the Dewey Decimal System. For each class of numbers, I’ll share twelve specific titles for kids that you might find in that class. 

I know you won't have these exact books but these screen shots will give you an idea about the way this works.

Source Literacious

Today, we’re going to start with the 000s. This is the very beginning of the Dewey Decimal System. Here you’ll find books about general information found in encyclopedias and almanacs as well as information about computer science, libraries and books, and controversial knowledge (think monsters, aliens, etc.)

Source Literacious

Let’s move on to the 100s! And if you missed the 000s post, please take a moment to check it out! The 100s are for philosophy and psychology – not the typical subjects for kids, but you’ll find some valuable and fun books in this section. While there are books about philosophy and psychology, there are also books about haunted mansions and ghosts, and books about feelings and emotions. Plus, you’ll even find some really great books full of inspirational quotations and great life advice!

Source Literacious

We’re halfway through the Dewey Decimal System and we’re up to the 600s! The 600s are all about “technology” but let me caveat that with the fact that it’s not about computers. It’s about medicine, transportation, space travel, and more! You’ve also got farm, pets, and cookbooks, thrown in this section as well! It’s got a little bit of everything, which is one of the reasons why it makes such a great section to browse! You’ll definitely be surprised by what you’ll find!

These posts from Literacious might also give you some book shopping or book wish list ideas for your primary school library. (please note the links on Literacious do take you to Amazon). 

Sydney Morning Herald - School Libraries and inequality

Illustration by Craig Smith from Black Dog by Christobel Mattingley

"For some students, a school library 

will be their only access to books."

Here is the full headline from the Sydney Morning Herald 6th May 2026:

Young people are being let down by lack of school libraries 

SMH opinion piece by Cathie Warburton Chief executive of ALIA 
(The Australian Library and Information Association)

I worked in NSW Department of Education primary schools in their school libraries from 1985-2017 in various libraries from small rural schools, a larger country town and a huge metropolitan campus. I have visited school libraries in NSW and in Canada and I currently volunteer in two libraries for children. The topic of this piece in the newspaper today is a very important one and a personal one too.

It is very easy to spot a great school library - the ingredients are not mysterious - a current, well-organised and attractively displayed book collection in a warm welcoming space AND a Teacher-Librarian - not just someone with specialised qualifications (I have these) but also a Teacher-Librarian who is passionate about reading and about providing children (and their teachers) with the best books and other resources available.

The barriers are not mysterious either - disinterested or ignorant school executives, limited budgets, inappropriate staffing, inadequate spaces, and of course the saddest situation of all when a school has no library or a library but no appropriate library staff. 

Some points that resonated with me in this article:

• In every State and Territory in Australia there is currently no legal requirement for a school to have a library.

• The NSW Department of Education has a school library policy BUT it is not mandated in law (so) the existence of a school library is largely dependent on the school system followed by the school principal.

[I have worked with every 'type' of Principal from the deeply committed to the apathetic and the openly hostile. At times, justifying my role and the importance of the school library felt like a daily battle]

• What is a modern school library? It is a physical and digital and wellbeing space with well-resourced collections and qualified staff who work with the school community to enhance all aspects of teaching and learning.

[This was one of the huge joys of my role - finding resources for teachers and encouraging new staff to read books and extend/develop their teaching repertoire]

• (Currently there is no data) on the number of schools with a library and qualified staff ... (in Australia).

• Wealthier independent schools are able to support well-resourced, often multi-campus school libraries and employ teams of qualified staff ...

• The lack of school libraries (in government schools) contributes to a widening gap in academic and wellbeing outcomes (for our students).

• The value of literacy initiatives focusing on reading for pleasure as a key driver of child and adult literacy have also become increasingly known ...

Tonight on the news the reporter named the "best" performing schools in Sydney as measured by a test called NAPLAN - I totally disagree with this testing of very young children BUT I would love to know about the library provisions in each of these 'top' schools - the news item named Beecroft PS; Lindfield East PS; and St Ives North PS among the 'top' three.

Cathie Warburton reinforces this measure when she says "Research by the ACER shows that students in schools with qualified teacher librarians achieve higher NAPLAN literacy outcomes and well-resourced, staff libraries are linked to higher student achievement overall."

If you are reading this AND you are a parent in Australia with a school aged child, make sure you check out the situation in YOUR school. Ask to see the library if you are touring a school, find out the name of the Teacher-Librarian, talk to your child - do they visit the school library every week? what happens when they visit? who works there? are books coming home? If you don't get 'great' answers to these questions ASK why.

I have talked about aspects of this issue previously:

Australian School Library Day

Library Snapshot Day 1st April

The Final Chapter SMH Good Weekend Magazine 

Reading is in the news they say we need a revolution - lets revolt!

"Children are forgetting the joy of reading books"

Libraries, books, time for reading, and more

Library Snapshot Day 1st April

 

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything alerted me to this event today - 1st April 

LIBRARY SNAPSHOT DAY 

Please read her post.

In her book Raising Readers Megan Daley says this:

"Well-resourced school libraries, with exemplary teacher librarians and library support staff, develop and sustain a vibrant reading culture, promote innovative use of digital technologies and are a participatory hub within the school."  Note from me to school principals this one sentence contains all the criteria needed for writing a job advertisement for a teacher librarian.

"School libraries are wonderful places which are the beating heart of many school communities and a refuge for those in need of time away from a busy school environment."

"Library displays should be dotted around the library, be ever-changing, professional, eye catching with all the books facing forwards and able to be borrowed from the display."

Now I am going to re-write this sentence with my own shouting voice. (Megan says its okay to be loud!)

"Library displays should be dotted around the library, be ever-changing, professional, eye catching with all the books facing forwards and able to be borrowed from the display."

Below are some photos of school libraries - from my former school, some I have visited and some from Pinterest - these warrant a celebration because they are inviting and light and bright and filled with amazing books that the children can easily find and read. The post you just read from my friend also talks about LUNCH time in the library - and this was a time, as a teacher-librarian, that I treasured. Sure, I was busy shelving and preparing resources for teachers etc but I loved seeing tons of kids in my library every lunch time - drawing, playing games, chatting, building brick towers and most of all reading. Not using tech, just free to chill in a fairly calm if not really quiet space.

We had an empty brick wall leading to my former library so I collected ideas for a painted mural. We did create a fantastic huge photo display printed on canvas and hung under a huge Perspex sheet but sadly the vandals completely destroyed this after only one term.

This was my favourite shelf in my former school library filled on both sides with picture books

My library counter had a look in window positioned just where the kids waited to head out the door

My library motto from 1994-2017 Read only on the Days you Eat. 

Posters by a Grade 5 class and their hugely talented teacher who made these every year for book week.

From Pinterest - notice the bright colours and all the front facing shelves

From Pinterest - easy access picture book bins and lots of different seating options

Display of new books in a K-2 library

Bay end panels are a great way to promote books

Found on Pinterest: I love this floor rug

Dewey signage from Pinterest

Book baskets for series titles - from Pinterest

The Norfolk Children's Book Centre go into UK schools to make their space sing!

How fabulous is this display - lots of series book suggestions and below are boxes with the books!

Setting out themed displays like this weekly or fortnightly keeps your books circulating and ensures your library uses keep finding new books to read and enjoy. 

Here are two of my previous posts on the topic of the importance of School Libraries:

• Australian School Library Day
• Ensure that every child, no matter their postcode, has access to a well-resourced school library

Australian School Library Day

The theme for 2025 is 'All the Literacies'. 

A well-resourced school library with supported staff is the most precious and effective resource a school can have when it comes to supporting reading literacy, reading for pleasure 

and whole school reading initiatives. 

Image Source: Students Need School Libraries

It is Children's Book Week here in Australia and SO some media focus is on libraries and especially school libraries, so the timing of this celebration seems perfect. 

Australian School Library Day was started in 2022 by Students Need School Libraries. The purpose of Australian School Library Day is to celebrate and highlight the glorious variety of things that your school library staff do - especially those things that may normally be ‘hidden’ from view but are so essential to the far-reaching web of impact that the school library has in your school. By raising awareness of the benefits of a well-resourced and suitably staffed school library we hope to ensure that future generations enjoy them as well.

The 2025 Australian School Library Day theme recognises that while school libraries are critical for reading literacy to be meaningful and enduring, they are also essential to EVERY long -term education strategy and every student deserves access to one in order to be the very best they can be, no matter where they live or what kind of learning challenges they may face.

Things I love to see when I visit a school library:

• Lots of children using the space
• School signs that show visitors how to find the school library
• Front facing shelves that show off book covers

Concord Public Library

• Displays that look fresh and in Term Three displays that celebrate the CBCA slogan
• Tidy shelves - I find messy shelves off-putting
• New books but also old books 
• Book labels in clear print and spine labels right at the bottom of the spine so the books look uniform on the shelf (take at look at these two images)

Messy - almost makes me dizzy

Better!

Perfect!

• Books in great condition 
• Classifications that are consistent with other libraries and that make it easy for users to find specific books (read this post)
• Comfortable seating
• Lots of light

• Clear well-designed signage
• Defined collections - nonfiction, easy chapter books, picture books etc and series boxes or sections
• Library staff - a trained Teacher-Librarian and library support staff
• Use of the correct terms - School Library and Teacher-Librarian

Message from the Honorable Blair Boyer MP (South Australia) 

on Australian School Library Day

“A librarian recommended this book to me when I was 12 called A Rag, A Bone and a Hank of Hair by Nicholas Fisk,” she says. “A good librarian asks you questions to find out what your interests are before recommending books that may be up your alley. I told them I liked sci-fi and Star Wars and they sent me in this direction. The book was written decades ago, but it just blew my mind.”

Take a look at some of my previous posts:

Wisdom for Teacher-Librarians (and teachers too)

Libraries, books, time for reading, and more

Always, Sometimes, Rarely, Never

Here are some quotes from the book Raising Readers by Megan Daley:

"Well-resourced school libraries, with exemplary teacher librarians and library support staff, develop and sustain a vibrant reading culture, promote innovative use of digital technologies and are a participatory hub within the school."  

"School libraries are wonderful places which are the beating heart of many school communities and a refuge for those in need of time away from a busy school environment."

"Library displays should be dotted around the library, be ever-changing, professional, eye catching with all the books facing forwards and able to be borrowed from the display."

You might know I constantly 'bang on' about the correct term - Teacher-Librarian. Here are two of the tasks listed in ALIA statement about the role of the Teacher-Librarian that shows the scope of this vital school role:

Teacher Librarian  

A teacher librarian is dual qualified in the fields of education and librarianship. They hold a recognised teaching qualification that meets eligibility for teacher registration in their respective jurisdiction, as well as an undergraduate, graduate or post graduate university qualification in library and information science that ideally includes specialisations related to the school library context and meets eligibility for Associate professional membership of ALIA.  

Teacher librarians possess high-level curriculum knowledge and pedagogical expertise. In 

addition to the tasks that may be undertaken by library technicians and librarians, teacher 

librarians are qualified to:  

• foster and maintain reading culture and reading for pleasure across the school 

• specialise in literature for children and young people  

Raising Readers: How to nurture a child's love of books revised edition by Megan Daley

In March 2019 I talked about the first edition of this book Raising Readers by Queensland Teacher-Librarian Megan Daley.

Raising Readers (2019)

Fast forward six years and Megan has revised and updated her book which I see was reprinted in 2022 and 2023. The first edition had 246 pages the new one has 266 pages so clearly there is more content.

Just perusing the table of contents, I can see some of her changes. Chapter 2 Reading and School has been given a fairly big makeover; Chapter 10 in the original edition is now Chapter 4 - Picture Books (Reading the visuals). Her list of genres now includes Narrative Non Fiction. Not surprisingly the chapter entitled Multimodal Reading now has the addition of podcasts (you probably know Megan is part of a team that present a podcast entitled "Your kids next read").

That is all I am going to say as a comparison between the two editions of this important book except to say the booklists contain lots of new titles and many of the expert voices have changed. Here are a few text quotes (different from the ones I shared previously) that resonated with me:

"Books that your child has chosen from the school library are for sharing with a loved adult and are usually a read-aloud experience until your child is reading independently. Even then reading aloud to your child is something I encourage well into the upper primary years and beyond."

"Why anyone would want to leave picture book behind is beyond me. They are works of art and the best way I know to enhance and teach visual literacy. The language in picture books is often complex and the storylines sophisticated and thought-provoking." My words - keep reading picture books to all ages even at a senior high school level - click on my sidebar label Senior Picture Book. And the best picture books are filled with amazing art (illustrations) too.

"Many of us know from anecdotal evidence that sustained and regular reading as well as reading for pleasure, contributes to positive academic outcomes. ... We want young people to be highly literate and critical consumers of words; from the novels they read to environmental signage on the streets to marketing images and the analysis required for understanding of complex ethical issues."

"Narrative non-fiction is particularly well-suited for children because it taps into their natural curiosity and love for stories and it can make complex subjects more accessible."

"Readers require sustained concentration to read and make meaning from literature. They need time to reflect and appreciate the nuances in language; we might call this deep reading, or slow reading or mindful reading ... Many readers have experienced times when they suddenly realise they have lost many hours in a good book having been in a state of 'flow'. Megan concludes chapter 12 with a short list of books that encourage mindful practices. (My friend has over 180 books to read if you are exploring mindfulness). 

Megan talks over a few pages about Wordless Books. IBBY celebrate these with fabulous collections which are used with refugee children on the island of Lampedusa. Read more here and take a look at my Pinterest which is always expanding (sorry to confuse you with a different term IBBY call these 'Silent Books' even though we know they are far from silent!

If you own this book (or the earlier edition) make a copy of pages 4-5 (new edition) and include that copy if you are gifting books to a family with a new baby. 

Thanks to University of Queensland Press (UQP) for sending me an advance copy of Raising Readers. When you click the publisher link you can read an extract from Raising Readers and also see some past review comments.  The new edition will be published at the end of July 2025. If you need a gift for a family or to celebrate the arrival of a new baby grab this book to add to your gift. If your library has the first edition of Raising Readers consider updating to the new edition. If you have not seen the earlier edition quickly add this new book to your own book wish list. This, as I said in my previous post, is an easy book to read with practical ideas for your school library and for your home.

You might like to visit a previous post of mine from last week which is a further exploration of some issues raised in Megan Daley's Book - The Final Chapter.

CBCA Tasmania (Used with permission)

The Final Chapter SMH Good Weekend Magazine opinion piece by Greg Callaghan

Sydney Morning Herald 

(Subscriber link)

"By far the most troubling thing I learnt while researching this story is the decline of school libraries in public schools, both in their number and standard of facilities. ... 

The decline of school libraries sends a huge message to kids that reading isn't valued ... Yet time and time again school libraries have been shown to play an important role in notching up literacy. If we care about literacy and student wellbeing, a simple first step is to ensure that every child, no matter their postcode, 

has access to a well-resourced school library."

I sincerely wish I could print this quote as a huge banner and post it to so many school Principals who, in recent times, have completely downgraded their school library, the library budget, staffing and position of the Teacher-Librarian.

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has made some very thoughtful and important comments after reading this article from our Sydney Morning Herald Newspaper today (5th July 2025) but I felt moved to comment too.

The article was entitled The Final Chapter? and is written by Greg Callaghan a senior writer and the Acting editor with Good Weekend. His heading is 

"Stubbornly low literacy. A steep fall in recreational reading. A rise in numbers of students unable to finish whole texts. ... The decline in reading poses a risk to us all."

Here are some parts of the newspaper article that resonated with me:

I love the use of the term 'longform reading'. This goes back to one of my constant topics - TIME. Kids can only build their reading stamina to tackle longer books when they practice, and practice takes time! Reading for Pleasure is a new buzz term but really that should have always been our goal in schools. We teach children to read but they also need to discover that this activity is wonderful and magical and joyful and insightful and filled with riches. 

Greg also mentions 'the quality of our reading habits' and this echoes another topic I have talked about previously. Hundreds of books are now published every year (for adults and for children). Our children deserve the BEST books we can offer them. The person who can source these books and gather them all together in one place for very easy access by all readers is the Teacher-Librarian. By the best books I once again want to rage against 'celebrity authors'.  As an aside I was utterly dismayed this week to see a ridiculous 'celebrity' title has been short listed for the Speech Pathology awards here in Australia. Take a look at my second post about this. 

I spoke recently at a conference and my topic was 'Building field knowledge'. My aim was to inspire the group of Teacher-Librarians to build and expand their own field knowledge. We are so lucky here in Australia to have access to the best books not just our Australian titles but the best of the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand. The person best placed to put wonderful books into the hands of students and teachers and parents too, is the Teacher-Librarian.

Another quote from Greg Callaghan: "Compounding the malaise has been a decline in recreational reading across all ages. ... This is of special concern because of the example it sets for kids."  Years ago my school library had an event for our Grade 6 boys and their dads. One purpose of this was to encourage the dads to read with their son and also to be seen reading. Role models are powerful. Your child probably follows your football team or enjoys the sports you once played - that is because you are their role model. This also harks back to another 'hobby horse' of mine - READ TO YOUR BABY (sorry to shout).

And this leads me to another quote from this article: 

"Reading early as a child is a key predictor of success as an adult and both teachers and parents play a role in this. ... Parents exert the single most powerful influence on their kids' reading habits ... if children see adults around them reading for their own enjoyment, they'll learn that reading is valued" 

and I would add your child will see reading as a fun activity and  also more importantly just a natural part of life not some extra separate thing that is only for school. I penned a series of posts about this topic here. 

Check out my post about needing a "reading revolution"

Thanks to Greg Callaghan for his interesting opinion piece. I do hope it is read widely and I desperately hope he is wrong to say this is the final chapter - thank goodness for his question mark - so no it is not the final chapter but there is no need for more debating about this topic it is time to act for our children and as Greg suggests also for our world. 

Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr

An exceptionally lovely and uplifting exploration of change, memories, 

and relationships. Kirkus Star review

Out of the blue his parents sit him down and tell him they are getting a divorce and mum is moving out tomorrow. James had no idea this was coming. His life and whole world are thrown into disarray. Something is going to happen though because each chapter is in the form of a countdown (you knew this from the title) to "launch" but a launch of what. Interspersed between the countdown chapters James shares his precious memories of all the good times with his mum and dad. He shares six wonderful family events such as climbing a steep hill together to see the view; dinner at a revolving restaurant; going to the movies and the day it rained so much that they all stayed together and built a blanket fort in the lounge room.

"Time and place and circumstances are complicated. The future is too huge and unknowable. Even the present is overwhelming. It would be much easier to go back to one moment in the past and exist in that forever. Safe and predicable and perfect."

Memories, though, are slippery things. James has a new friend named Yan. She asks him to recall the pattern on the little tickets that go with cakes from the famous Birthday cake book. James made these tickets and they are used as part of a school fund-raiser where parents select one cake from the book to make for a display and a competition - the prize is a gold apron! James is sure the pattern on these little cards is of cupcakes but when he looks at the cards again he discovers it is a pattern of cake slices. His memory was faulty.

Yan is a very clever girl. She has a keen interest in learning and also in old technology. I laughed over some of the titles of the books she borrows from the discarded section of her school library. Yan calls this the Book Departure Lounge. Some of these titles even seemed familiar to me because in the 1980s I worked for a company that sold computer reference books. Here are a few Program Catalogue for your TRS-80 Colour computer, 1980; Practical interfacing projects with Commodore computers, 1985; Start programming with the electron, 1983; and The Book of Atari Software, 1983.  Yan also talks about the way computers used to come in colours - I remembered that when she explained:

"Did you know computers used to come in flavours? ... Blueberry, grape, tangerine, lime and of course strawberry."

I think Yan is my favourite character in this book. It made me laugh to read that she loves the typewriter cake. It is interesting the way her manner changes, though, when she is with her mum - this simple plot point could make an excellent class discussion topic. (The same thing happens to James' mum when she speaks Chinese). Yan is also a wise girl. Here are a few of her words of advice:

"Life is about choices. Once you figure that out, things get easier."

"You know I was saying the mind is a mysterious machine."

"Sometimes you need fresh eyes. A different point of view."

"As I have said numerous times, James, knowledge is interconnected ... Just like life and the world and the universe and the metaverse and you and me."

"I've also learnt it pays not to be predictable."

"... the biggest poverty in the future will be time poverty."

I need to make a special mention of the wonderful school secretary - Mrs Tagliatelle. I would love to know more about her. 

"Mrs Tagliatelle always has her lunch at twenty minutes after twelve. She puts the phone straight to voicemail and lets me follow her to the staffroom, where we sit down at the corner table. I always have a sandwich and Mrs Tagliatelle always has leftovers from last night's dinner. She brings in extra so that I can taste her home cooking."

I loved all the references to this classic book birthday cake book. I have never owned a copy but I have certainly enjoyed perusing it when visiting friends. I well remember a teacher making the koala cake for a colleague and for myself I really wanted the castle with the ice cream cone towers. Another friend recently sent me a photo of the train cake she made decades ago side by side with the one made last year by her daughter. In this story they talk about the rocket cake (but I couldn't find a photo); the rabbit cake; and the wonderful oven/stove top cake.

I wrote this story for my son, a child of divorce and for all the children out there going through a similar situation. And of course I put in lots of nice cheery things like David Bowie and strawberry mochi and The Women’s Weekly Children’s birthday Cake book! Shirley Marr

In the US this book has a different cover and I read one reviewer who mentioned a QR code at the back of the book so you can find out more about the cakes - sadly this was not part of the Australian copy I borrowed from a school library. 

When you share Countdown to Yesterday with your class of upper primary students you will want to include the David Bowie song Major Tom. Here is one possible video version. And if you are reading this book at home you will most certainly want to make one of dad's deconstructed desserts - they sound wonderful. Here are the Scholastic teachers notes for Countdown to Yesterday. 

I seem to have saved one of the best books from the 2025 CBCA Younger Readers Notable titles for last. The storytelling and plot structure in this book has blown me away. At about page 250 of the 276 pages I wondered if everyone/anyone else had stood on their own mountain of books and wanted to shout out about Countdown to Yesterday so without planning to read the reviews I Googled the title and the words 'book review' and YES this book has travelled far and wide to huge acclaim including a Kirkus Star review and a glowing one in the School Library Journal and also one from the UK reviewers at LoveReading4Kids. Surely this book will be included on the 2025 short list which will be announced later this month. 

Here is a quote from the CBCA 2025 Younger Readers Notable titles judges' comments:

A stunning novel that will resonate with anyone navigating change in their life.

At once charmingly quirky and emotionally authentic, Countdown to Yesterday is, above all, a lovely ode to family love, friendship, and finding your way through unsettling change. LoveReading4Kids

The depths of emotion within the main characters, combined with a strong nostalgic feel, create a work that will stay with readers. VERDICT A moving story with a pleasing twist ending. School Library Journal

It does deal with some difficult issues for children going through a divorce but does so in a carefully considered way, exploring the feelings of all concerns and weaving this within a well-crafted narrative. Just Imagine

This is a well-crafted story in which reality and the imagination are cleverly intertwined to result in a clear message – enjoy and appreciate the present. Books for Keeps

It is a rapid page-turner that subtly reveals the necessity of memories, but also how they are seldom exactly as they are recalled, therefore can’t be trusted. Kids' Book Review

Shirley Marr is another wonderful writer with an amazing talent who deserves to be celebrated and awarded heaps of prizes. I loved her previous books:

A Glasshouse of stars

Glass house of stars was the winner of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 2022 and the WA Premiers Book Awards for Writing for Children 2021. It was also nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 and shortlisted for the 

Queensland Literary Award - Children’s Book 2022

All Four Quarters of the Moon

All Four Quarters of the Moon was awarded a CBCA Notable Book in 2023

I am so excited to see this new picture book coming in May, by Shirley Marr published by Walker Books Australia and illustrated by Michael Speechley.