11 Ruby Road 1900 by Charlotte Barkla

Bookseller blurb: It is 1900 and Dorothy and her family have just moved to a new house at 11 Ruby Road. Ruby Road is a busy street, bustling with activity - families and children, noisy carts and animals. The house is close enough to see the city and very different from the rural life Dorothy has known. Best of all it has a secret writing room that only she knows about! Dorothy has big plans for her new neighbourhood - she wants to put on a play and write it herself! But there are other reasons for her family's move to the city and, as Dorothy starts to learn about her new house, she discovers more about the period of time she's growing up in.

I picked up 11 Ruby Road 1900 from a charity book sale for just AUS$2 - this is a little surprising because this is a fairly new book published in 2024. The book that focuses on 1950 will be released in August this year. 

I would have liked a little more detail on historical facts but all in all, a jolly good read for kiddos from around Year 3 upwards. It would certainly be a good read-around-your-topic for history topics focused on this period ...  Just so Stories

Dorothy is bright, driven and rebellious, regularly in trouble at school but only for matters of principle! As the middle child of 6 girls, she looks to her older sisters for social precedents and sees herself as a trailblazer for the little ones. Curious and willing to break tradition, she is a perfect translator for young readers of the morals, values, opportunities and limitations facing young Australians, particularly women, in this era. Storylinks

Here are all three books from the series so far:

Here is the Lamont review of 11 Ruby Road 1900. Read more about Charlotte Barkla here. Walker Books have written some very detailed teachers notes. I am not sure I would use this book as a class novel but if you had a small book club style group (probably of girls) these notes might give you some ideas to discuss. As a character Charlotte annoyed me - she is too selfish and bossy for me. But I did enjoy the way she changed her play to link with the pressing issue of the times - votes for women. You could perhaps read chapter 20 and link this with your study of Australian history. The teachers notes have some useful ideas about this aspect of the story. I also worry about the awful teacher but perhaps her attitude to 'naughty' students is more a reflection of the times. 

The obvious companion text is this famous Australia book My Place.

I also thought of this book where a group of kids are putting on a play:

The Secret Hen House Theatre

And this wonderful book by Katrinia Nannestad:

Silver Linings

K.O.A.L.A shortlist 2024 and other Children's Choice awards

I recently discovered this interesting article from IBBY Chile which explores twenty-eight children's choice awards. Our own KOALA awards participated in this survey from around the world. 

From: García-González, M., Roig, M., Rajpoot, A., Uehara, L. and Saona, I. (2024); 

Child Juries in Literary Prizes University of Glasgow

May Children Decide

“CHILDCULTURES. Challenging Anthropocentrism, Adultism and Other Exclusions with Children’s Literature and Culture” research project.

It is interesting to see the list of possible reasons from this survey for a children's choice award:

• Promote children’s right to participation.
• Foster and encourage the pleasure of reading.
• Improve literary skills and stimulate critical reading of texts.
• To support and stimulate children’s reading.
• To make visible and/or promote the institution that organizes the literary prize or the works it produces.
• Educational purposes.
• Academic research purposes and subsequent fulfillment.
• Literary market research

And here are some possible ways the child jury has access to the books they will judge:

• Publishing houses and/or authors apply directly.
• A selection of books is chosen from all the works published within
• a time-period.
• Members of the jury nominate books.
• Adults who are experts in the field present books

Here in Australia, we have a new program - the Sun Project - Shadow judging of the Children's Book Council of Australia short listed titles. 

The CBCA started the Sun Project: Shadow Judging to amplify the voices of young readers and to spark discussion about Australian children’s books across the nation, as well as to collaborate with the children’s book community to support creatives, bookshops and the publishing industry.

The CBCA say the benefits of this program are: To build personal aesthetic literary appreciation, to develop imagination, to think critically and respond creatively, and develop a greater self-concept, empathy and awareness of diverse opinion. The Shadow Judging program supports the development of reading breadth, depth and a sense that reading is a cultural practice where opinions are shared in a supportive reading community.

• Groups work with an adult facilitator.
• Read the six books in one category from the 2024 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Shortlist.
• Discuss the books and create a Creative Responses to share.
• Vote collaboratively to nominate a winner in their category. 
• The CBCA Shadowers’ Choice Awards will be announced in August, 2024.

I spoke with a group of Shadow judges in a local school this week. I was so impressed with their intelligent approach to this task. I really wanted them to understand this is a serious program and not about popularity. Literary merit is a complex idea, but I explained the process followed by the adult judges (I was one in 2021-23) and the fact that the judges for their category (Younger Readers) will have read over 120 books over ten months selecting 25 for a notable list, 6 for the short list (the books they are reading) and then the three final choices and one winner. The shadow team work with an abridged form of the actual judging criteria. We talked about cover design, title words, blurbs, linking the book with life experience, and audience. I suggested they might like to select a small extract from the book which they would use to 'sell' the book to a peer. I hope to meet with this group again closer to their final decision day. 

KOALA is a little different. The letters stand for Kids Own Australian Literature Award. It is mainly a popularity contest not a literary award. 

KOALA is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers (teacher/librarians, public librarians, teachers, publishers and other supporters of children’s literature). Every year, young readers from all over New South Wales judge their very own literature awards. By voting in the KOALA awards they can reward the Australian children's books that have most inspired, amused, terrified, enlightened and engaged them.

KOALA AIMS TO

• Promote and encourage the enjoyment and appreciation of Australian literature for children and young adults.
• Involve young readers in NSW in the process of selecting the most popular books.
• Assist in developing the Readers' critical appreciation skills.
• Give recognition to Australian authors and illustrators.

BENEFITS OF KOALA

• Gives students a voice regarding the books they love to read
• Integrates easily into literature promotion programs
• Involves students in the voting process, encouraging them to discuss and debate their views on literature
• Supports other reading programs such as the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge 
• Provides students with the opportunity to meet their favourite authors and illustrators at the annual Awards Day
• Offers schools the chance to win original artwork and book prizes.

Kids Own Australian Literature Award short lists for 2024:

Runt
The Book of Wondrous Possibilities

Scar Town
No Words
Dragon Skin
Exit through the gift shop
August and Jones
Waiting for the Storks

The Raven's Song

Frank's Red Hat

The Black Cockatoo with one Feather Blue

The Travelling Bookshop (book one)

We are Australians by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin illustrated by Jandamarra Cadd

The vivid cover illustration of a young face invites the reader to look closely at this book, to read it carefully and to think about the words WE are Australians. This book does not contain a message of “them and us” it is about our shared responsibilities and the importance of cultural understanding and harmony. The straightforward and at times spare text, is powerful, poetic, resoundingly positive and so poignant. The page turns are carefully paced. Many of the images and words will lead to deeper discussions with students. The text celebrates the rich heritage of First Nations people, and it also celebrates many newer citizens who have chosen to come to Australia. This book could be shared with many ages of students from younger children right up to high school. We are Australians should be added to every school library collection.

Some of the images in this book just made me gasp! The plastic trinkets shown on palms takes the words “we have responsibilities” to a whole new level. The photo realistic illustration of the boy being painted is invested with enormous emotion. This comes from the way the boy’s eyes are looking up towards the man. 

The cover is so appealing and the way the eyes look directly at the reader is both challenging and inviting. The white text on black adds to the gravitas of the message and the sans serif font and font size were a very good choices. Another standout page is the one filled with legs and feet showing different skin shades. 

This could be the 'right' book to share this week with any of your family or friends are undecided about The Voice Referendum - voting will take place this week on Saturday 14th October, 2023. 

Publisher blurb: For those born in Australia, it’s easy to take citizenship and its responsibilities for granted. But there is much more to being an Australian citizen than having a passport and the right to vote. We Are Australians encourages reflection and for readers to look further into the topics of citizenship and the role of Australia’s First Nations people. The poetic writing style creates a rich and respectful text, and the bright colours add a joyfulness and a sense of celebration. The use of traditional First Nations techniques reinforces the longevity and importance of a culture that has lived on Australian land for over 65,000 years.

From cover to cover, I was inspired by both word and imagery to reflect, to be more thoughtful, committed, and compassionate as an Australian citizen and think about my responsibilities to other Australians and to the land itself. Reading Time

The publisher Wild Dog have prepared some teaching notes. We are Australians was short listed for the 2023 Children's Book Council of Australia New Illustrator award. 

Here is the trailer:

Jandamarra Cadd is an Aboriginal (Yorta Yorta) man who was introduced to the paintbrush at age 15 after a troubled childhood growing up as an outsider in his own land. Painting became an outlet to transform his pain and trauma, and a visual voice for the oppressed. Twenty-seven years later he is a pioneer in portraiture, with his unique blend of traditional Aboriginal art techniques and inventive, contemporary application. Art Gallery of NSW

Here is the newest book by this team:

Listen encourages the reader to reflect on the importance of listening and truth-telling in response to Australia's complex history. The poetic writing style creates a rich and respectful text, and the bright colours inject a sense of joy into a text that explores what is often a painful history. The use of traditional First Nations techniques reinforces the longevity and importance of a culture that has lived on Australian land for over 65,000 years.

Little Island by Smriti Prasadam-Halls illustrated by Robert Starling

"There was once a farm where all the animals were friends."

Of course things are not perfect. Living on this farm there are the usual animals - cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and goats. Living on a pond at the edge of the farm are the ducks and geese. On the pond there is a little island. The end papers show the way the main farm is linked to the island by a bridge. Then the conflict begins. The geese call a meeting and tell the ducks it is time to leave the farm and live alone on their little island.

"Our island was once a green and pleasant land!' they declared to the ducks. 'The apples were much redder. The grass was much greener. The sun was much warmer. And the food tasted better!"

The ducks do not agree. They love the farm but there "were more geese than ducks" and so the decision is made. The geese remove the bridge and settle down to live on their own little island with just the ducks for company. 

Of course the balance of life is now disrupted. There is way more work to do, the grass grows and then withers in the sun and there is no one to help harvest the apples. The years go by and things become harder and harder. Then the foxes arrive.

"The foxes looked slyly at the little island. No roosters to raise the alarm. No pigs to make trouble. No cows to chase them away. DINNER TIME."

The foxes swim over the island and prepare to attack. At this point, with a group of older students, you could pause and talk about what might happen next. Should the farm animals offer to help? How can they help from over the pond - remember there is no bridge? And what about the happy ending? Have any lessons been learnt? 

Students in UK schools will see parallels here with Brexit but for our Australian children this story is a more universal fable. Make sure you take a look at the title page - the geese are reading a newspaper called "The Daily Gander".  The role of the media in our daily lives is another huge topic to discuss with older students.

A story of building bridges not barriers, respect not resentment and of finding friendship, not fear. Reading Zone

This animal fable simplifies some big political ideas, but the story isn’t complicated by heavy language or complex plots. The geese learn their lesson without too much suffering and the animals are quick to come to their rescue.There is humour and warmth, and the bright illustrations will really appeal to even the youngest readers. Book Trust

Watch this video to see Robert Starling painting a bookshop window in Kew. He also has designed an activity with finger puppets.

I love finding picture books that work on many levels. I'm thinking of books such as Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin, Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell, and War and Peas.

Smriti Prasdam-Halls is the author of over 40 books including board books. I am keen to read these:

You could also look at Clancy the Courageous Cow by Lachie Hume and Albert and Lila after reading The Little Island.

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M Draper

"Red fire. Black cross. White hoods. They're here. Now,' ... It was 1932, in the little town ... Every negro family in Bumblebee knew the unwritten rules."

I love the name Bumblebee North Carolina - there is no such town but I felt compelled to check - when you read Stella by Starlight you will feel as though you have visited this small community in 1932 so vivid is the writing of Sharon M Draper.

Every aspect of Stella's life is affected by the racial discrimination of this time.  There is only one African American doctor for example.  Tony, the son of Dr Hawkins, observers : "It's hard to live like there's a boot in your back every second of your life." The white doctor even has a sign on his door WHITE PATIENTS ONLY.  When Stella's mother, Georgia, is bitten by a snake he refuses to help and Stella's mother almost dies.  These are scenes towards the end of the book and I actually had to stop reading because I was so afraid for Stella's precious mum.

Stella loves to read and wants to write but feels she lacks the skill.  Another unfair aspect of life in 1932, Stella is not allowed to visit the public library but she does have writing all over her house.  Her mother papers the walls with newspaper articles.  Her father reads three newspapers each day "Gotta know what's goin' on in the world,' he reminded Stella when she'd ask why one paper wasn't enough." But Stella is an observant child and she notices "colored people were rarely mentioned in those ... newspapers."  When she and a friend look through the Sears and Roebuck catalog she says "Did you notice - I don't see eve one single person who looks like us in this big old book."

Apart from the horror of the Klan and the extreme fear felt by the citizens of color in this community another aspect of this book relates to rights and in particular the right to vote.  If you are working on a unit about democracy you might like to use chapter 22.  Three men from the town, including Stella's father, travel to Amherst to register to vote.  Stella goes along with them.  The men are ridiculed by the town official and then told to take a fifteen minute written test. They even have to pay for this privilege.  Meanwhile some white men walk into the same office and all that is required a simple signature on a form.  Stella is enraged. Then the men from Bumblebee are told to come back in a week.

"Mr Spencer sat down on the floor. After a moment, Stella's father and Pastor Patton joined him." They sit on the floor of the office until their test is graded.  The consequence of this action is truly awful - the Klan burn down the Spencer home and endanger their thirteen children.  You will cheer, though, when you read how the whole town including some of the white citizens unite to assist the family.  Stella is called a hero when finds six year old Hazel who has run away in fear and the Spencer's give her a typewriter which came with the donations given to the family after the fire. Using a typewriter gives Stella the motivation to keep working on her writing.

All through this book we see Stella's writing progress but she is full of self doubt. I love the words of encouragement from Stella's mother :

"I'm a dunce?' Stella said, fear clutching her chest.
'Quite the opposite. You are an amazing thinker - a gemstone hiding inside a rock."

Stella is a very talented writer.  Here are some samples from her work :

"I've got thick black hair, and bushy caterpillar-looking eyebrows. When I look in the mirror, I don't see pretty, I just see me."

"At the mill ... they take sawdust and turn that into paper. Those big old trees become books and notebooks and newspapers. Dust becomes words. I like that."

"My papa voted. He is a pebble. Lots of pebbles make a landslide, right? His vote counted."


Watch this video where Sharon explains her family inspiration for this important story which is a snapshot of history.  Click here to listen to an audio sample from Chapter 17.  Here is a thoughtful review which will give you more plot details.  The author web site will give you further insight into this important and award winning book.  Here are a set of teaching notes.  If I have not convinced you that Stella by Starlight is a special and important book - read this review from the Nerdy Book Club - now!!

After or even before reading Stella by Starlight I recommend you read the picture book Goin' someplace special by Patricia McKissack and the novels Kissy Ann Stamps, Mississippi bridge by Mildred D Taylor and Walking to the bus rider blues by Harriet Robinet.

Stella by Starlight is not at all like Sharon's earlier book Out of my mind but you will want to read this one too I am sure. It was one of my top books this year.

Draper expertly creates a character filled with hope, dreams and ambition in a time when such traits were 

dangerous for a girl of color.

The Book Uncle and me by Uma Krishnaswami

So much about this book intrigues me.  I have questions but my copy of the book cannot answer them.

The Book Uncle and me was the 2011 winner of the Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA). I have not heard of this award.  Is it open to any book published in Asia? Or only titles from Scholastic?  What is the criteria for this award?  An Asian author, Asian setting, a book in an Asian language?

An internet search reveals SABA is a joint initiative by Scholastic and the National Book Development Council of Singapore, the award is an attempt to recognise and celebrate children’s writers of Asian origin and books that reflect Asian experiences.

Most intriguing of all though, for me, is who did the illustrations for this book - I love them and was this book originally written in English or another language?  The imprint page lists Scholastic as the copyright holder of the illustrations. This does not help me.

Book Uncle is not Yasmin's uncle - Uncle is a title used by the community as a form of respect to an older person.  The Book Uncle is, however, a book person.  In his retirement from teaching he has set up a barrow lending library in a busy Indian city. He happily lends books to anyone for free - the perfect library!  He is also happy to recommend books.  Yasmin herself is the perfect customer.  She has set herself a target of reading "one book every day, forever. I started last year right after I turned eight, which ready feels like a billions years ago, because now I am past four hundred.  Books, I mean."

This book is about activism.  The city planners are now requesting a huge licence fee from the Book Uncle.  He cannot pay this and thus packs up his library and heads home.  Yasmin is devastated.  Then she finds an effective way have this unjust requirement reversed.  In schools we often look for books that show democracy in action and Book Uncle and me is perfect for this purpose.  I really enjoyed Book Uncle and me - it is quick to read, and celebrates a strong sense of community.

If you enjoy this book you might also look for The Battle of the Galah Trees by Christobel Mattingley or My name is Will Thompson by Robert Newton.