Max and George by Cori Brooke and Sue deGennaro

Max has a friend, George, who lives in windows but nobody else can see him.  Max and George are both shy and usually feel the same way.  But Max has to start school and leave George behind.  Max finds a friend in Sam, and school isn't so scary anymore.  (Don't worry, George finds his own friend, too).  The illustrations are adorable, such a gently retro vibe, and subtle use of collage.

~ Reviewed by Monica Walker

Will Sparrow's Road by Karen Cushman

Will Sparrow runs away from his father, who sold him for beer, and from a sad life.  This is the story of Will's journey, alone, without food or money and how he tries to avoid capture.  Some of the travellers he meets on the way are kind but others trick and cheat him.  The author paints a colourful picture of the Elizabethan fairs Will passes through.

~ Reviewed by Monica Walker

Romance or erotica?

I’m a reader of many genres, and many a non-fiction subject.
I have been a longtime romance reader. Depending upon my mood, I will read romances with sexuality explicit content. And, some times I won’t. But, that doesn’t make me a fan of erotica.
Let me explain…
Within publishing- and library-land, romance novels – ie ‘category romances’ – are about characters and their relationships and Happily Ever Afters (HEAs).
Erotica, conversely, is about sex. (Feel free to dispute this.)
In fiction, as in real life, I’m not a fan of sex for sex’s sake. Therefore, erotica, sans romance, is not my cup of tea. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t understand its appeal to others – both in fiction, and in real life.
I prefer to read character-driven well-plotted books – and that includes romances – in which sex (present or not, explicit or not) adds to the characters’ relationship and on-going story. I am not fond of books with lots of explicit sex scenes which have characters and plot thrown in, only to kill time, or so it seems, until the next sex scene.
(Therefore, I’m at a lost to explain the appeal of Elizabeth Amber’s Lords of Satyr series, but I’m not the only romance reader confounded by the compulsion to read them all. That said, the author makes a good attempt at world-building, and deals with characters’ and emotions, and not just the sex. I’ll keep telling myself that.)
Recently, I’ve found myself defending the inclusion of ménage books in the romance section of the library. Humans are weird. Emotions are weirder. Relationship, weirder still. So, along as it works and makes sense – in fiction and in real life – I can believe in romance between more than two people.
Isn’t limiting love to a couple just as discriminatory as denying a same-sex relationship? (Don’t misunderstand me, that doesn’t mean I support polygamy or polyandry when it is not based on mutual love, respect and trust. I do not defend any relationship not based on these.)
Now, does reading romance novels – explicit or not – affect my relationships? Am I just waiting for Mr Right to sweep me away? No. And I never have. I know that they are fantasies. Just like my reading of crime (novels and true-crime non-fiction) doesn’t make me a serial killer. (Nor, I hasten to add, a criminal of any description.)
I knew there was a disconnect between what you read and enjoy, and what you do and believe, early in my life. I might have hoped that my wardrobe was magical, but I didn’t spend hours inside it, hoping to travel somewhere else. I didn’t read scary or horror stories as a child, but there were still monsters under my bed. (They were there before I started watching the creepy and scary Sapphire and Steel TV series. A show that was so scary my parents were afraid to watch it, leaving me – about 10 – watching it by myself, after they’d gone to bed. And, yes, I had permission.)
When a teacher at my secondary school realised I was reading romances, she commented to my mother (who was on the staff). I overheard my mother say ‘I don’t care what she’s reading, I know she’s not going to go out and do it.’ (That’s because none of my older siblings had turned into Satanists, even if they had been reading Mum’s Dennis Wheatley’s Duke de Richleau books.)
Where does this leave me?

• Still reading romance, when the mood strikes, after 30(ish) years
• Although I do still feel defensive library staff look at me sideways, or make comments, when I request said romance.
• Which leads to point three: in my not-terribly-grown-up head saying ‘I have a Masters degree in English lit. Take that, and stop judging me by my reading’.

In searching the Oxford English Dictionary for help with the definitions, I find:
Romance: A story of romantic love, esp. one which deals with love in a sentimental or idealized way; a book, film, etc., with a narrative or story of this kind. Also as mass noun: literature of this kind.
Erotica: Matters of love; erotic literature or art (freq. as a heading in catalogues).
Pornography: The explicit description or exhibition of sexual subjects or activity in literature, painting, films, etc., in a manner intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic feelings; printed or visual material containing this. A distinction is often made between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ pornography, on the basis of how explicit or taboo the material in question is held to be.

~ Editorial by Aud Selene.

No bath, no cake!: Polly's Pirate Party by Matthias Weinart

Pete, the pirate parrot is the first to notice the envelope that came through the mail slot, but soon all the pirates know that they have been invited to a birthday party at Polly's house.  They are all excited about going to the birthday party, but Pete the parrot wants to make sure that they are presentable for the party, so it is soon a race against time to wash up and get ready for the birthday party!

This book is loads of fun with a cast of crazy characters that are each uniquely drawn and have their own part to play in the story.  This is definitely one to read out loud to an audience (even if it is just an audience of one little person) with lots of different voices and pirate antics.  One of my favourite picture books this year that is fun just because it is fun!

If you like this book then try Granny Grommet and Me by Dianne Wolfer and Karen Blair, The man who's mother was a pirate by Margaret Mahy, and Banana! by Ed Vere.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

Sister assassin by Kiersten White

Would you do something you hated, something that made you feel like dying inside if it would save the life of your sister? Would you give up your own life, your own freedom, so she can spend the rest of her life in a gilded cage to keep her safe from you?  This is the choice Fia has made, as long as she does what Keane and his son James want, Annie will live a long life safe in the school, where they will provide everything she needs.  It seems like a simple trade, Annie is blind and will never live a truly normal life, and until recently she has been relatively happy at the school, but with each day it seems as though Fia is slipping further and further away from her.

When Fia is sent on a mission to assassinate Adam, things become incredibly complicated very quickly - because she can't kill him, even though she knows that failure means her death and Annie's.  Keeping the thoughts hidden inside her mind, Fia has to figure out how she is going to save them both when the Seers and Readers know how she is feeling and what she is going to do before she even knows it herself.  Her complicated relationship with James makes it even worse, she should hate him for what he has done, for the part he plays in her enforced servitude - but it is not that simple.

Time is running out for Fia and Annie, and as the net closes around them Fia may have to make the ultimate choice - her life, or Annie's.

If you like this book then you may also like Every other day by Jennifer Lynne Barnes, Revived by Cat Patrick, and Adaptation by Melinda Lo.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

The dogs of winter by Bobbie Pyron

When five year old Mishka finds himself lost and alone in the streets of Moscow it seems as though all hope is lost - especially when he can't find the beautiful read coat his mother always wore - but he seems to be safe in the care of the street children who call one of the train stations home.  But it is just an illusion as they are all interested in protecting themselves, in staying alive, they have no real interest in a small child who is too young to be living on the streets by himself.  It seems as though death is only a short time away, until Mishka discovers the dogs that roam the streets begging and stealing just like the street children.

When Mishka strikes up a friendship with a dog he calls Lucky, he has no idea that he is making the connection that will help him survive his first winter on the streets.  Lucky is part of a pack of street dogs, a pack with a strong leader that accepts Mishka grudgingly into the pack.  Working together, Mishka and the dogs may just find enough food for them all to make it through a harsh Moscow winter - even if they have to steal food to make ends meet.  As the world around them changes, Mishka and the dogs must adapt to survive, and they must always stay one step ahead of the people who believe that all street children should be rounded up and shipped off to an orphanage for their own protection.

A powerful and gripping novel based on the true story of a child from Russia, one that will have you laughing, longing, and grieving along with Mishka and his pack.  An unforgettable story.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

The game of red, yellow and blue by Herve Tullet

Books about colours are a great tool for teaching children about colours and what happens to different colours when you mix them, and too often they are boring books that just tell you to mix one colour with another to get colour number three - not so with The game of red, yellow, and blue.  The author has found a fun way to talk about where some of the different colours come from, and while there are only a few secondary colours in the book, they are enough to get little minds thinking about colours and how they are made.  The best part is that the story stands up on its own, so you don't have to worry about teaching colours through a good story, it is more a great story that just happens to have colours in it. 

The edition I have is a sturdy little board book just perfect for little hands and fingers to explore themselves, and there are some cut out sections that lead from one part of the story to the next which are great for encouraging little minds to keep thinking and exploring.  Definitely my favourite colour book of this year (yes I know it is less than two months into 2013, but I see a lot of picture books and board books at work).

If you like this book then try Yellow dress day by Michelle Worthington and Sophie Norsa, Nana's colours by Pamela Allen, How do dinosaurs learn their colours by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, and The splendid spotted snake by Betty Ann Schwartz and Alexander Wilensky.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

Tiny Miss Dott and her Dotty Umbrella by Michelle Osment

Meet Miss Dott the awesome charity store volunteer, who incidently, has a beautiful dotty green coat with mismatched buttons and a gorgeous green bag and tights. While at her volunteer job, her beautiful yellow dotty umbrella, which she leaves just outside the front door, has a little adventure all of its own. At hometime, Miss Dotty collects her umbrella from just outside the store where she had left it a few hours earlier. The sun has come out, it is a beautiful day and Miss Dotty is delighted that she didn't need her umbrella after all.

A delightful story, beautiful illustrations, bright and bold and I bet you can feel the raindrops as they fall. This is a story that bounces along with a lovely rhythm. A great book to read aloud and the kids are going to get the hang of those read out loud words really quickly. I don't know why it took me so long to notice it. Themes in the book surrounding kindness, sharing, friendship and appreciation. Miss Dott is one very cool lady and she is not afraid to give it a whirl "with a twist and a twirl" to an old gramophone on occasion.

This book was also the recipient of the Storylines Joy Cowley award in 2008. Other Michelle Osment books include the character Percy the Pukeko (a swamp bird). I like the one about crossing the road safely, a pukeko definitely needs to know how to do this (and perhaps a few children might as well). Beautifully illustrated, lovely to read aloud.

~Reviewed by Thyme

The Usborne Big Book of Holiday. Things to make and do.

In the tradition of all good Usborne books, you know, even before you open the cover, that this book is going to attractively set out with clear and concise information, and that you are going to pleasantly entertained, one way or the other. "The Usborne Big Book of Holiday Things to make and do" does not disapoint.
Not messing around, you dive straight from the title page to the first of many colorful pastel pages - the chapter index of all the marvelous arts and craft compiled within - Pirate treasure map pg 4, Collage fish pg 34, Painted plant pot pg 52, Mermaid Tiara pg 74….. the list of goes on - an even supply of classic gender favorites themes…. mermaids and pirates, fairies and farmyards etc,

You can tell that a lot of thought has gone into the planning of each of these activities. In fact because of the way each activity can be made fairly much on a shoestring, with lots of use of recycled and easily sourced materials, and seems to cater perfectly for young attention span's, you get the impression that the authors/creators of the this book may have had experience with teaching. You could just as easily see this being used as a teachers reference book for the class room, as you could a book for holiday or maybe children's party entertainment idea's. Each activity has been mapped out with clear precision - step by step by step, almost color by numbers. The odd's are high for a room of happy children having followed the formula, walking away with an piece of art, just like the one in the book.

As a child, this is just the sort of book that I would have picked up and had a go at. Being a bit of tomboy, I would have been equally as enticed to make the pirate sword as the fairy wings, and would have had a great time choosing what to do next. As an adult, I feel that this book offer's many great arts and craft skills and idea's and although quite prescribed, would allow for all levels of accomplishment, to achieve an artwork, while allowing those more adventurous, a great starting place, with clear instructions on techniques.

~ Reviewed by Aquilegia.

Granny Grommet and Me by Dianne Wolfer and Karen Blair

Grandparents are amazing, they know so much, can do so much - and some of us are lucky enough to have memories built by spending time with our grandmothers and grandfathers.  One child spends time with their grandmother down at the beach, and spends time with the Granny Grommets as they paddle, surf, and dive.  It is a chance to spend time with a much loved family member and her friends, but it is also the chance to gain the courage to try something new.

This is a story for grandmothers to share with their children, or to share with any child that needs a reminder of just how special grandmothers can be.  There is no preaching, no hidden meanings, it is just a story where a child learns something amazing simply because they spend time with their granny.  The illustrations are simple and match the story well, and because the child is not named, and because of their androgynous features and hairstyle the story works well for boys and for girls.

If you like this book then try The great granny gang by Judith Kerr, Countdown to Grandma's house by Debra Mostow Zakarin and Stacy Peterson, Nana's colours by Pamela Allen, and The grandma book by Todd Parr.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

Cast in peril by Michelle Sagara

8th in the Chronicles of Elantra

Kaylin, private in the Hawks, the Elanatran law force, is torn in so many directions. Her new roommate, Bellusdeo, the last living female dragon is the target of an assassin attempt, which results in the destruction of Kaylin’s apartment.

Then there’s what hatched from the magical egg Kaylin was protecting.

To gain much-needed information in an ongoing investigation, Kaylin is being sent to the Recitation, a Barrani ritual, with little knowledge of what to expect.

Kaylin’s previous decisions have led to a rift between herself and the Barrani Consort. With most of the Barrani High Court against her – if not trying to kill her – it is not a comfortable journey.

Some finagling has allowed Kaylin’s friend and partner, Severn, to travel with her, along with Teela, Barrani Lord and Hawk.

Richly detailed – in characters, landscape, and intrigue – this is a welcome addition to the series that ends with the reader wanting more.

~ Reviewed by Aud Selene.

What's left of me by Kat Zhang

It is normal to have only one soul, but everyone has two souls when they are born, it is only as they grow from child to teenager one of the souls fades away and the body settles with only the dominant soul left behind.  It is the way things are, any body that fails to settles and leaves the two souls intact is considered an abomination that must be fixed - the person is labelled a hybrid and the government will stop at nothing to make sure the hybrid is cured. 

Because Addie and Eva failed to settle at the normal time they were watched closely, subjected to tests, and were only left to settle in their own time because their parents begged for them to be left alone until they were ten years old.  It was a plea that worked because Addie finally settled, with Eva fading away into nothing - the general consensus was better late than never.  Three years later and the family is settled in their new home, away from the stigma of being the family with the child that settled late, the child that was a danger to all those around them.  Addie is enjoying being normal, except for the little voice only she can hear - the voice of Eva who is hidden away rather than gone.

Addie is the dominant soul, the one with control of their voice and body, the one that everyone sees and hears.  The only person who can hear Eva is Addie, and while most of the time they are content, Eva does dream of more sometimes.  When they meet another hybrid it seems as though the dream Eva never dared dream, the hope she never dared to hope for has come true - this hybrid has dual control of their body, both souls can use the same body and speak with their own voices.  But now Addie and Eva are in danger, danger that they may not be able to escape without paying a terrible price.

If you like this book then you may also enjoy The hunger games by Suzanne Collins, XVI by Julia Karr, Variant by Robison Wells, and Eve by Anna Carey.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

When we wake by Karen Healey

Tegan Oglietti was a normal sixteen year old girl, until she woke up one day and discovered that she has been in cryogenic status for just over a hundred years, that the world she once knew is now dust and memories.  Adjusting to her new world is not easy, there is new technology to master and while the people around her still speak English they also have a confusing amount of slang that means nothing to a teenager from Tegan's time.  As she adjusts to her new world, Tegan comes to realise that things are not as they should be, that the military is keeping secrets from her - the military that owns her because they are the ones that brought her back to life and gave her a new start in their world.

Tegan quickly settles into a new rhythm of life, but she can't quite get used to the bodyguards that follow her everywhere - especially when one of them acts to protect her.  The world Tegan is coming to know is not a land of plenty, it is a country where you can not cross the border unless you are Australian or have a special visa - you can only be an Australian if you are born there.  To make matters worse, there are people who want to see Tegan dead because of what she appears to stand for - for some she is a soul less abomination who should make every effort to return to her god, and for others she needs to be dealt with because she can never be Australian again.

If you liked this book then you may also like Revived by Cat Patrick, The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina, Arrival by Chris Morphew, and Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

Croc and bird by Alexis Deacon

Two eggs lie side by side on the sand and one hatches out as a crocodile, while the other hatches out as a bird - it seems like a recipe for disaster, but it is actually the recipe for one of the sweetest and charming books I have read in the past few years.  What could easily have become a saccharine sweet story is instead a touching story with charm that makes you laugh out loud at times - especially when you see what the two different "brothers" get up to.

I loved this book and have shown it to everyone I can find at work, and everyone has had a similar reaction - they found it touching, and charming, and enjoyed reading it before passing it on to the next person.  The illustrations are part of the charm of this story, simple illustrations that appear to be watercolour, against a sad coloured paper, and with many of the pages framed rather than using the whole page.  The characters are drawn, but not in incredible detail, and in many ways it adds to the story, making it feel a little like a story from another time - but a story that is still relevant today.

A great story about how being different is not actually a problem - and that you don't have to be the same to get along (and that sometimes your brother may not look quite how you expected!).

If you like this book then try: Beegu by Alexis Deacon, Kitten's first full moon by Kevin Henkes, Tadpole's promise by Jeanne Willis; illustrated by Tony Ross, and Bark, George by Jules Feiffer.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

Little elephants by Graeme Base

A little boy named Jim has to give up his pet mouse because, even though Pipsqueak is only one little mouse, Jim and his mother live on a wheat farm - and wheat farms are always in danger from plagues of mice, locusts, and weevils.  After letting Pipsqueak go in the fields far from the house, Jim returns home to find that the harvester is broken and they may not be able to bring in the harvest.  Not one to give up hope, Jim knows they will make it work somehow.  The next day Jim sees a stranger in their fields, gathering some of the wheat - rather than telling the man to go away, Jim offers him some wheat and asks if he can help with the harvest.  This is just the beginning of a strange and fantastical series of events for Jim and his mother.

Graeme Base is a gifted storyteller who creates fantastical adventures for children which are matched with some of the most beautiful and detailed illustrations in children's books today.  Each image is detailed with little touches that you discover only after you have read the story over and over again, images that keep the stories fresh and interesting - thoroughly dragging you into make believe worlds that are almost beyond belief.  While Little elephants is set in "our world" and does not have the detail of some of his other works, it is completely absorbing and heart warming - a reminder that a small kindness may be repaid ten fold (or a thousand fold).

If you like this book then try:  The eleventh hour by Graeme Base, The discovery of dragons by Graeme Base, TruckDogs by Graeme Base, Croc and bird by Alexis Deacon, and Possum magic by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas.

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Welcome to the future, a world devastated and reformed to be very different from the world we know now.  It is a world where the Balance is the most important thing, where laws have been created to protect the Earth and people from another disaster - one that could spell the end of man for all time.  In this world Ashala and the people of her Tribe live off the grid, hiding in the forest to avoid detection and Detention.  But now Ashala has been captured, and the whole Tribe could be at risk because Neville Rose from Detention Centre 3 is determined to learn the secrets Ashala holds - secrets that he can reach with the Machine.

The interrogation of Ashala Wolf is a gripping read with little twists and turns that keep you guessing about what is coming next, and the tension and pace keeps up through the entire novel.  If you can make the time this is definitely a book to read in one session, but if you don't have the time for that then snatch whatever you can whenever you can until you reach the amazing conclusion.  This is one of my favourite reads for 2012 and I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see if the story of Ashala and her Tribe remains so addictive and gripping.

If you enjoyed this book then you may also like Revived by Cat Patrick, Origin by Jessica Khoury, Arrival by Chris Morphew and Enclave by Ann Aguirre

~ Reviewed by Elspeth Sweetman

Better than fiction : true travel tales from great fiction writers - edited by Don George

There are times when it is the perfect time to read short stories, on the bus, coffee break time, how many excuses do we need. In this little treasure there are more than 30 stories to enjoy. Reading the first story by Kurt Anderson called 'Going South' had me totally engrossed. You can imagine the Summer of '72, an old school bus and a group of boys .. all the ingredients for an adventure. From there I went to 'Off the beaten track in Malawi' by Marina Lewycka. I look forward to reading anything written by this author and this travel tale was no exception. Looking for a place to stay off the beaten track, this is beautifully written, be taken in by the views, the sunlight and the warmth surrounding you.

Reviewed by ~ Thyme