Sunshine by Marion Dane Bauer

When Ben was just three years old his mother left. One day she was there the next she was gone. Ben has spent his life wondering. Why did she leave? Did he do something wrong? Is there something he could do to persuade her to come back? Is any of this connected with his own anxiety? Ben is afraid of heights and the dark.

One of the ways Ben has been able to cope with his life circumstances is through the deep friendship of his beloved dog named Sunshine. 

Now that he is older Ben asks his father if he can spend a week staying with his mother. She lives on a very remote, off grid island in the middle of north Minnesota. His father takes him to meet his mother and she arrives in a small canoe. The journey to her home will take several hours and about half way the canoe will need to be portaged (or carried across some land) before the journey can continue.

Very early in the book though, readers are given a hint or two about Sunshine. Ben reaches out to pat her and his father says "you're doing it again, aren't you?". Doing what? Later in the cafe Ben drops a few cold chips for Sunshine:

"Ben drops another French Fry on the floor. It lands next to the first, pale and limp, but Sunshine, lying with her chin on her paws, doesn't even glance at it. He likes to feed her leftovers, but she not much for eating them."

Wait a minute - do you know any dog who would leave a chip, even a cold chip, lying on the floor? Then Ben steps into the canoe and realises his dog is missing. 

"Why did he think he needed to go looking for Sunshine anyway? She's there. Just the way she always is. Right in front of him ... "

Perhaps you have worked out something about Sunshine (read the Kirkus review for plot details). Over the course of a few days with his mother Ben will learn things about himself and more importantly things about his mother and the events from her past that lead her to leave her precious young son. This is a very moving, deeply engrossing and emotional story. It is a short book with 193 pages so I read it all in one session. Readers who love dogs will recognise the relationship between Ben and Sunshine. I really enjoyed the vivid outdoor scenes on the island and the mention of Loons - birds I found fascinating when I lived in Canada.

The Kirkus Star review says: Richly character driven, immersive, evocative, and painfully sad, this effort can’t fail to move young readers. Ben and his family seem to be White.  An outstanding exploration of childhood trauma from a masterful author.

This book is for every child who has been abandoned and for every child who has been hit.  This book is for every child who believed they were the reason the bad things happened to them. An adventure in the wilderness and an adventure in the pain of children whose parents have let them down, this is the story of any child who cries on the inside and aches to be loved and wanted. A Book and a Hug

Readers who enjoy the outdoors, will find Ben and his mother’s exploration of this pristine an remote island appealing — like Ben’s first encounter with the lake’s loons and a mother bear and her baby. The week is one big adventure for Ben and he discovers he can be resourceful and brave. Children's Books Heal

Companion reads:

October, October

Small as an Elephant

The Secrets we Keep

Years ago I read these two books - terrific junior verse novels - so I have had the name Marion Dane Bauer in my mind and that is what led me to firstly add Sunshine to my very long "to read" list and then later, just this week, to buy it because the $28 hardcover was reduced to less than $10!

Little Dog Lost

Little Cat's Luck

Duck's backyard by Ulrich Hub illustrated by Jörg Mühle

Duck has a wonky leg so he uses a crutch. He is perfectly, perfectly happy living in his safe yard until ... Yes you knew there would be a complication and of course you anticipated what this might be from the cover illustration. A chicken arrives in the yard. Not just any ordinary chicken - a blind chicken - oh no. But wait do not feel sorry for this fellow because he is a chicken with a huge attitude and enormous confidence.

The chicken tells the duck today is the day for an adventure. Yes this is your classic optimist versus pessimist story and your classic or not quite so classic story of self discovery. Duck says NO NO NO. He will not leave his yard. The outside world is completely unsafe. The problem is the chicken needs duck to guide him since there are no guide dogs in the farm yard and so he persuades duck to step out of the yard and travel to ...

"Somewhere in the world ... there's a place where all our secret wishes come true."

The journey is filled with hazards - a dark forest, a huge ravine and an enormous mountain but at the top of the mountain an amazing discovery awaits chicken. Duck makes a discovery too - perhaps one you anticipated but still I guarantee this sweet ending will warm your heart.

Reading this book almost feels like a religious experience not that you need to be religious to enjoy this story. There are very deep themes (see my post labels) so this book will appeal to young children, older children and adults. Read the first chapter here. Here is an interview with Ulrich Hub. 

I adore books from Gecko Press. They source some fabulous books from around the world and invest in translating them for children who speak English. Duck's Backyard was originally published in German with the title Lahme Ente, blindes Huhn which means Lame duck, blind chicken so I am glad Gecko changed the title. School libraries in Australia used to be sent books from Gecko Press when Scholastic Australia had the agency now it is with Walker Books Australia so you may need to hunt out their books. When Scholastic had the agency books from Gecko Press were often included with their International standing order titles and also in the Book Club brochures. 

There is a sequel to Duck's Backyard but it is only available in German. I do hope Gecko Press decide to translate it. 

You should also read (don't wait add them to your library basket today) these books:

Yours sincerely, Giraffe

Meet you at Eight

Petra

Wolf and Dog

Bogtrotter

Bear and Chook by the Sea

Up the Mountain

Skunk and Badger

I previously talked about this book illustrated by Jörg Mühle.

Two for me, One for you

Marvellous Margot by Lou Peacock illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius

Margot has made a marvellous cake. She has a plan to share it with her good friend Oscar. Margot knows Oscar loves cake! Margot puts the cake (you can see it on the cover of the book - doesn't it look delicious) in her small red cart and she sets off across the city. 

She has not gone far when she bumps into her friend Leonard. Leonard is sad because he thinks his new haircut looks horrible. Margot assures him it is fine. Then she offers Leonard a slice of cake to cheer him up. 

Off she goes again and just over the bridge she sees Sasha and Sami. Their bicycle has lost its chain. Margot is quite handy with tools so she offers to fix the bike and, yes you have guessed it, she offers them a slice of cake - well two slices - one each. 

The journey continues. Milly, Molly and May are so disappointed. The ice cream man has no ice cream left. That's okay - Margot can give them each a delicious slice of her cake. Her kindness restores peace all round. 

Turn the page and take a close look at the little red cart. Oh no it is empty! This is not surprising but Margot is about to arrive at Oscar's house and now she has no cake to share. As an adult reader you might anticipate the happy ending but I am certain it will be a delightful surprise for your young reading companion.

Very young children will love exploring the illustrations in this book and the pattern of friends and cake slices mean this book will be one to read over and over again but of course you will want to bake a cake before you begin - ready to share slices with your young reading companion. 

You can probably guess why I needed to buy this book! Yes you are right it is about cake! Huge thanks to Nosy Crow for publishing this book (it's about me too). 

Blurb Nosy Crow:  Have you met Margot? She is cheerful, helpful and kind – the very best kind of friend! It’s a marvellous day in the big city. The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and Margot has made a delicious cake for her best friend, Oscar! Margot takes her little red wagon and off she goes with cake in tow. But by the time she reaches Oscar’s house after having helped all her friends along the way, will there be ANY cake left to share? A story about empathy which shows that kindness and cake is always the best recipe for friendship.

Companion reads:

The Case of the Missing Cake

Sometimes Cake

A Friend like Ed (one of my most favourite books)

The Biscuit Maker

A House for Christmas Mouse

I'm (almost) Always Kind

A perfect Pig

I found a Pinterest collection of books and art by Ingela P Arrhenius. Here are some board books illustrated by Swedish illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius:

Read more about this book - Boardscape Board Books

Here are some other books by Lou Peacock:

Nuts by Lou Peacock

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime began here in Australia in 2000. The Australian Library and Information Association select a picture book, by an Australian children's author and illustrator to be read simultaneously in libraries, schools, Pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes and bookshops around Australia. 

NSS aims:

• promote the value of reading and literacy,
• promote the value and fun of books,
• promote an Australian writer and publisher,
• promote storytime activities in libraries and communities around the country,
• and provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.

Here are the books from past years:

2001 Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowle illustrated by Rod Clement

2002 Mrs Wilkinson's Chooks  by Leone Peguero illustrated by Mike Spoor

2003 I don't want to go to school by Christine Harris illustrated by Craig Smith

2004 Muddled-up Farm by Mike Dumbleton illustrated by Jobi Murphy

2005 Wombat Stew by Marcia K Vaughan illustrated by Pamela Lofts

2006 Good Night, Me by Andrew Daddo illustrated by Emma Quay

2007 The Magic Hat by Mem Fox illustrated by Tricia Tusa

2008 Arthur by Amanda Graham illustrated by Donna Gynell

2009 Pete the Sheep by Jackie French illustrated by Bruce Whatley

2010 Little White Dogs Can't Jump by Bruce Whatley and Rosie Smith

2011 Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement

2012 The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland

2013 The Wrong Book by Nick Bland

2014 Too Many Elephants in This House by Ursula Dubosarsky illus Andrew Joyner

2015 The Brothers Quibble by Aaron Blabey

2016 I Got This Hat by Kate and Jol Temple illustrated by Jon Foye

2017 The Cow Tripped Over the Moon by Tony Wilson illustrated by Laura Wood

2018 Hickory Dickory Dash by Tony Wilson illustrated by Laura Wood

2019 Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove

2020 Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas by Lucinda Gifford

2021 Give Me Some Space! by Philip Bunting

2022 Family Tree by Josh Pyke illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh

If you work in a preschool or with a Kindergarten class you could plan to read each of these books in the lead up to the 2023 NSS event. This year the book will be:

It was finally time for the event of the year, Spike couldn’t believe it The Great Race was here! The other sloths said it couldn’t be done, but Spike didn’t care, she was ready to run!

The joke in this book begins on the front cover. Clearly sloths are not speedy. I do like his dorky pants and his brand-new shoes which show he is keen to do his very best in the race. He so clearly has huge optimism about the possibility of success - he WILL win the race or will he?

It might be timely to explore other books about sloths! I found this one in a school library - Sparky! by Jenny Offill and Chris Appelhans.  Sparky was published in 2014 so sadly it will be difficult to source but it might be in your school library along with these other books about sloths.

A little girl wants a pet. She's not fussy, any will do. Her mother said no to a bird and bunny and trained seal. Then she agrees to the sloth, Sparky! Sloths don't know how to fetch. Or roll over. But they sure know how to play dead. What's an eager pet owner to do?

Sparky won the Charlotte Zolotow award in 2015. Here is the Kirkus Star review.

I also recommend these two:

In the US this has a different cover and title - The Sloth who Slowed us Down

Read this glorious sentence from this book: I am lackadaisical, I dawdle and I dillydally. I am also unflappable, languid, stoic, impassive, sluggish, lethargic, placid, calm, mellow, laid-back and, well, slothful! I am relaxed and tranquil, ...

Here are some other books about sloths - sadly nearly all of these are out of print or extremely expensive here in Australia but you might be lucky and find one or two in a well stocked school library.

Helen Lester is the author of the Tacky Series

J. Otto Seibold is the author of the fun Christmas book Olive the Other Reindeer

This is very old and so no longer available - Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross always create fabulous books

This book is long out of print sadly (1994). It is about Noah's Ark. 

The paperback edition had a better cover if you can find it. 

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has a post about Sloths (International Sloth Day) and she has a Pinterest picture book collection too.

I am sure you will also want to explore some non fiction books about sloths.  Head to Dewey number [599.3].

This is a very new book published in 2023 [9781682771341]

Mary Poppins illustrated by Lauren Child adapted from the book by PL Travers

 

If you want to share Mary Poppins with your child or grandchild I highly recommend this scrumptious illustrated edition. Mary Poppins was first published in 1934. For this book Lauren Child has selected seven of the twelve chapters from the original book - her personal favourites. In an amazing discovery I found I still had my childhood copy from 1958 and so I am happy to say the text has not been changed it is just a shorter book because Lauren Child left out five chapters (this is not important to me).

"I chose to set my illustrated edition in the 1930s echoing the period in which it was first published. Many of the characters' costumes are based on clothing from that time, although - because we can never really be sure where Mary comes from, or if she's even of this world - I dressed her in a more Edwardian style but with a contemporary twist."

See inside the book and here the seven chapters:

• East Wind
• The Day Out
• Laughing Gas
• Miss Lark's Andrew
• The Bird Woman
• John and Barbara's story (not seen in the Disney movie)
• West Wind

Here is a quote from the scene when Mary and Bert enter the chalk picture and Mary finds her clothes are transformed:

"She, too, discovered, had changed. Round her shoulders hung a cloak of lovely artificial silk with watery patters all over it, and the tickling feeling at the back of her neck came, the mirror told her, from a long curly feather that swept down from the brim of her hat. Her best shoes had disappeared, and in their place were others much finer and with large diamond buckles shining upon them."

I loved Mary Poppins as a child and I have a nostalgic memory of a Mary Poppins board game or it might have been paper dolls or even a jigsaw. I also loved the movie of course and I had this record too. More recently I used a song from the movie (not from the book) about suffragettes with my senior classes as a part of their democracy unit of work. 

From the movie I especially loved the scene when they all jump into the chalk picture - I loved their colourful clothes in those scenes, the merry-go-round and the delicious afternoon tea. I also wanted that carpet bag and her umbrella!

My copy of the book had this pink jacket.

Take a look here to see many other editions of Mary Poppins. My most favourite song in the movie is Feed the Birds. Here is the illustration of that scene by Lauren Child.

You should also look for these large format classic books illustrated by Lauren Child:

My friend an I have a plan to find the Mary Poppins statue in Ashfield.