Category Archives: literacy

A few books about families

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Just the way we are by Jessica Shirvington and Claire Robertson

Reading this story with your child will help them to know that families come in all different shapes and sizes and because of that we are all shaped in different ways in how we look, feel and act.


The family hour by Tai Snaith

The family hour by Tai Snaith explores how different Australian animals spend time together – frog dads sing, seadragon dads carry their babies in their pouch, echidna mothers feed their babies pink milk and Tasmanian devil families love to be noisy! 

As we read through this book we had a laugh at some of the  family antics, a hint of jealousy at some and a feeling of wonder with others. The animal world is so intricate and it is wonderful to read books like this one to make these facts much more fun for children.


The patchwork bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke and Van T Rudd

The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke and Van T Rudd is a fun book filled with onomatopoeia, vibrant adjectives and outside active play.

As you read through this story the energy seeps out of the pages as the children tumble through the streets, run up and down hills and zoom along on their homemade bike.

Family forest by Kim Kane and Lucia Masciullo

The modern family comes in all shapes and sizes, with half-sisters, big brothers and step-parents. Some kids have a family tree, and others have a family forest! Created by the award-winning author Kim Kane and celebrated illustrator Lucia Masciullo, half-sisters, this gentle and witty picture book explores one such gorgeous family.

Erik the Lone Wolf by Sarah Finan

Everybody knows that wolves live in packs. But one little wolf cub dreams of setting off on his own adventure… all by himself! Will life as a lone wolf be everything he hoped, or will he miss the rough and tumble of the pack? This fun adventure story featuring a cute wolf cub teaches young readers about the value of friendship, showing how good friends can still be with you, even when they’re not!


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    CBCA Notable lesson ideas

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    Older readers

    Lenny’s book of everything by Karen Foxlee

    Tales from Inner City by Shaun Tan https://educateempower.blog/2019/03/06/tales-from-the-inner-city-by-shaun-tan/

    Younger readers

    Black Cockatoo by Carl Merrison

    His Name was walter by Emily Rodda

    Early Childhood

    Collecting Sunshine by Rachel Flynn

    Beware the deep Dark forest by Sue Whiting

    Picture book of the year

    Room on our rock by Kate and Joe Temple

    Girl on Wire by Lucy Estela

    The incredible freedom machines by Kirli Saunders

    The all new must have orange 430 by Michael Speechley

    When you’re going to the moon by Sasha Beekman

    Cicada by Shaun Tan

    Eve Pownell Award

    Digby and Claude by Emma Allen and Hannah Somerville

    The flying optometrist by Joanne Anderton and Karen Erasmus

    The great lizard trek by Felicity Bradshaw and Norma MacDonald

    Australian Birds by Matt Chun

    Bouncing Back by Coral Tulloch and Rohan Cleave

    Under the Southern Cross by Frane Lessac

    Waves by Rawlins, Donna, Potter, Heather , Jackson, Mark 

    Our Birds: Ŋilimurruŋgu Wäyin Malanynha by Stubbs, Siena

    Sorry Day by Vass, Coralillus. Leffler, Dub


    Beware the deep dark forest by Sue Whiting and Annie White.

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    It wasn’t a carnivorous plant.

    It wasn’t a venomous snake.

    It wasn’t a bristly wolf or a deep ravine.

    It was worse. Much, much worse. 

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    If you love an adventure and a bit of alliteration then you will love Beware the deep dark forest by Sue Whiting and Annie White.

    Rosie is off to find her dog Tinky who has run off into a forest full of scary things. With only bravery in her backpack, Rosie is determined to find it – despite warnings from her Grandmother and Father.

    Teacher’s will not only love reading this story to their class because it is a wonderful story, they will also love it because of the literacy devices!

    There is alliteration

    There are so many great adjectives of varying degrees

    And there is a great plot to engage with.

    The illustrations are a great way to explore visual literacy  – look at the colours, Rosie’s expressions and the use of different types of font.

    We have loved reading Beware the deep dark forest by Sue Whiting and Annie White and thinking of many new ways we could describe the snakes, plants and wolf!

    Check it out now:

    Buy from fishpond right here…..
    Beware the Deep Dark Forest

    We are together by Britta Teckentrup

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    We’re off to climb mountains, all the way to the top…Our friends keep us going – they won’t let us stop. 

    We are together by Britta Tenckentrup is a celebration of love and friendship.  Through colourful illustrations and fun peek a boo holes, children of all ages will see the power of friends as the story travels along.

    This book is a wonderful story to share with children as it highlights many things about self love and love of others.

    It starts with the importance of our own self – our special gifts, dreams and hopes but it then shows that with one other and perhaps more than one other – we can achieve so much more.

    Friends help us to see the bright side of life, they help us believe more in our selves and follow those dreams.

    Young children will love the new person that appears on every page and the people shaped holes that are made with each page turn.

    If ever we’re lonely, we’ll just say out loud: Let’s all stand together, one big happy crowd! 

    We are together by Britta Tenckentrup is a book to share with all young children, one to pour over the illustrations together and discuss about how we feel about ourselves and the people who surround us.

    Self belief and positive peer groups are such an influential catalysts in the development of our young children. Talking openly with children about their gifts and how working with others who respect us is important – and through We are together by Britta Tenckentrup, this discussion can be brought up so much easier.

    So what else can you do with this book?

    Personal Development 

    Link this book with any Personal Development units of work in the classroom – talk about the gifts each child has. Discuss the important people in their lives who support them and make them feel respected and listened to.

    Explore the people we are friends with – how their strengths and their weaknesses help us to become better people.

    Visual Art

    Look at the technique Britta has used to introduce new characters on each page.

    Literacy

    Explore the use of rhyme throughout the story and create a new stanza that could be added somewhere in the book to add more information about the importance of self belief and friendship.

    The Forever Kid by Elizabeth Mary Cummings and Cheri Hughes

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    Johnny is not in that photo but we know he is with us.

    Johnny our forever kid.

    That’s what we call him now. 

    The Forever Kid by Elizabeth Mary Cummings and Cheri Hughes is a powerful picture book that explores how children feel when they lose a sibling.

    We meet a family who love celebrating birthdays – birthdays filled with favourite people, favourite dinners and favourite snacks!

    But this year the celebration is different because their big brother Johnny isn’t around anymore.

    We don’t know why Johnny has gone but we do know that now he is a forever kid – forever in the hearts and the minds of the family.

    This book is a celebration of Johnny’s life – a celebration of what he loved to do and how good he made them feel. It does not dwell on the sadness felt by the family – though we can sense this – but rather them trying to enjoy the happy memories.

    The illustrations on each page ooze emotion and allow the young reader to see how the family is feeling throughout each stage of mourning. Through this they can see that mourning a loved one is ok – it’s an important thing to do and it’s something we can do with others who shared that person as well.

    The forever kid would be a great book to share with anyone who has lost someone, especially young children. I think that it brings a sense of empowerment to the young reader as it shows that it is ok to miss someone and memories are a treasure we should always celebrate.

    Now see what others think about this book by following some other great book blogs!

    And join my facebook page or email list to have fresh book reviews and teaching ideas delivered right to you! Educateempower11 (facebook)

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    The Ocean Emporium by Susie Brooks and Dawn Cooper

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    An emporium is a place where you can view a large variety of things.

    So the title ocean emporium is the perfect title to open children’s eyes to the abundance of amazing creatures that live within.

    With 24 different categories, each double page spread allows the reader to learn about the different animals that swim in our abundant waters. With stunning illustrations not only will the reader read the facts, they will also see the creature in all of its glory.

    We were amazed as we  learnt about 8 different jellyfish and the way they all move, help each other and protect themselves.

    Dolphins leapt off the page at us and we were very impressed with the pink colours of the Chinese White Dolphin.

    Even coral had a mention – the truly amazing living thing that it is, and we learnt about  the different latin names they have and ways that they grow.

    The Ocean Emporium  by Susie Brooks and Dawn Cooper is a book to allow children to leap into non-fiction and really whet their appetite for deeper knowledge.

    The illustrations are full of colour and there is just enough information for young readers to enjoy without being overwhelmed.

    The Ocean Emporium is a wonderful journey to embark upon as you’ll discover secrets, learn new information and most importantly realise how important it is to take care of the world around us.

    So what else can you do with this book?

    Visit:

    Visit your local waterway and discover what swims beneath the surface.

    Go to local museums, aquariums and science spaces to learn more.

    Act:

    Buy less fish – the less we buy, the smaller the demand and the less sea creatures getting caught in nets unnecessarily

    Ask: 

    • Choose a creature or a group of creatures and learn more about them.
    • Find out which of these animals live in the oceans near you.
    • Are any of these animals endangered? What can we do to help them?
    • Can you create an insect emporium? Monotreme? Mammal? Marsupial? Sky emporium?

    Song Bird: Rainforest Rescue

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    Teach, Restore, Encourage, Establish, Support

    These wise words come not only from our superhero – Songbird, but her friends and teachers who learn that looking after the world – especially rainforests, is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the future is much brighter.

    ktyrrell-songbird-rainforest-cover-ebook-catalogue

    SongBird: Rainforest rescue is the third book in the Song Bird series, written by Karen Tyrell (with guest posts by Steve Tyrell in chapters 2 and 10).

    Song bird has had some great adventures so far and even though we thought that Destructo was gone, we discover in the early chapters that he is back, and ready to destroy a rainforest.

    This time Songbird and her friends are on a camp in the Gondwana Rainforest and it is a race against time if they are to save this world heritage listed rainforest from Destructo.

    With magic interwoven within the rainforest and it’s amazing Beech trees, Song Bird travels back in time to ancient Australia where dinosaurs roamed and mythical snakes slither.  They are chased by Bunyips and Yowie’s and haunted by Destructo’s evil plans. They travel through different eras helping animals and meeting indigenous Australians – who teach them about the importance of nature and living in harmony with the natural world.

    Friendship, belief in oneself and a love for the natural world are all strong themes throughout this story – some of the best themes for young children to read about.

    Friendship helps us to do things we might otherwise never do.

    Believing in ourselves is what keeps us going, is what helps us to rise up when life challenges us and spurs us on to do what we think is right.

    Song Bird is a great role model to look up to, and even though she has superpowers, the strength to take on those who are doing wrong is something that we all can do – especially with like minded support around us.

    We loved reading the third installment of Song Bird and loved learning more about the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia – perhaps inspiring a visit to a few more of them in the next holiday!

    Barry Watson & Karen Tyrrell

    So what else can you do?

    Explore:

    Find out where the Gondwana rainforests of Australia are.

    Are there any threats to these rainforests?

    What is the meaning of friendship?

    What was Australia like during the era of the dinosaurs? What was Australia like when the Indigenous people were free to live on the land before the British colonists came?

    Think:

    What do the words Teach, Restore, Encourage, Establish, Support mean to you? How can you do all of these things in your life and your community?

    Act:

    What is something you can save or change in your community? Can you stop the use of balloons? straws? plastic waste at school? Remember, you have the qualities of Song Bird and her friends – you can do it!

    Music:

    Find out more about the different songs Song Bird sings throughout the novel – what do you think of all of these and do they have anything in common?

    Love chocolate? Read on

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    I am sure that most of the population love a piece of chocolate here or there but do we ever think about where it comes from?

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    A recent article discusses some major chocolate companies and their bid to decrease deforestation and child labour in key areas where cocoa is grown.

    A lesson in the classroom or at home that involves chocolate is always a fun lesson

    So how about:

    For the love of chocolate (and humanity)-3

    Where in the Wild by Jonny Lambert

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    “The wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so we must and we will” – Theodore Roosevelt.

    Where in the Wild by Jonny Lambert is an engaging picture book which shows the reader the beauty of different habitats and the animals that live within each one.

    On each double page spread we learn about the plants that make the space habitable for the diverse group of animals who choose to make it there home – but there is a great aspect to each page which young children will love.

    On each page is a window to another page which shows how some animals can live in two different types of habitats – even when they are quite different – we loved guessing where they might lived the first time we read the book and enjoyed talking about how they can live in both habitats on subsequent occasions.

    On each page are colourful pictures of the animals, plants and insects interacting accompanied by rhyming story and also some small facts about different types of animals.

    Where in the Wild by Jonny Lambert is a great book to raise awareness about how animals need special places to survive and it is up to us to ensure there are more of these areas – not less.

    So what else can you do with this book?

    SUSTAINABILITY

    In your local area is there habitat for different animals? Find out who lives here and how they live in this environment.

    Can you make your local green spaces better places to live for local animals? Try planting more trees and having less grass or built up space.

    GLOBAL ISSUES

    Where in the world do large rates of deforestation occur and why? (Geography Link, Numeracy Link)

    Explore why people chop down large areas of trees and which country is most responsible  – is it the country where the trees are or countries that buy the products or two own the land?

    ANIMAL CONSERVATION

    Explore the life cycle of different animals and why they need certain habitats as they change and grow. (Science link)

    Which animals in the world can only survive in certain areas?

    How many different types of animals are on each page? Explore a favourite of yours and the area they live in.

    And – come over and join my facebook group where we discuss how we can help our students and children understand and take action on these big issues!

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/362368594250457/

    Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin

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    Children and adults alike will be inspired by this picture book that shows us that even if we look different, act different or like different things – we can all be friends!

    Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin is a story about shapes – reds that love being red, yellows that love being yellow and blues that love being blue but the problem is they love being themselves so much that they can’t seem to like each other – that is until some very different shapes come along and make the reds, blues and yellows realise just how silly they are acting!

    This is a great book to look at the importance of accepting all different people who live in our society and that in the end we are all very different – which is great!

    Children can also explore different shapes both regular and irregular, colours of different objects and the beauty we see when colours get all mixed together.

    Try this book to ignite some great conversations amongst both adults and children in a time when we really need to foster acceptance in the multicultural societies we all live in today.

    My Brigadista year by Katherine Paterson

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    What were you doing when you were 13 years old?

    Did you ever consider leaving your family for a year to go to a village in another part of your country to teach some others how to read and write?

    The courageous character in this story, My Brigadista year by Katherine Paterson, does just that.

    Set in Cuba during 1961, the country has been fighting to become independent under Fidel Castro. And although there were many terrible things he did do throughout his rule (and the author does make this clear at points throughout the novel and at the end) he had a goal to make all people in his country literate.

    Seen through the eyes of 13year old Lora, we learn about Cuba and the mission she takes part in.

    I enjoyed reading about how she met the families, taught them how to read and write in the evening while helping out with the farm during the day. We see the world through her new eyes and feel the passion she has to want to help these people.

    As a teacher I could feel this passion as I once travelled to Costa Rica to help in remote communities with work around the towns and also with English.

    Lora’s story is possibly one which has not been told in this way before and I believe it is one for anyone studying the history of dictatorships, history of war and the effects it has on the people in the country and the vital role of literacy for everyone.

    My Brigadista year by Katherine Paterson is a  book for older readers.

    I recommend this one for the classroom, perhaps read out loud as it may ignite volunteer work in some, a love of history in others and a wonder for what else is out there beyond our own suburbs.

     

    And – come over and join my facebook group where we discuss how we can help our students and children understand and take action on these big issues!

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/362368594250457/

    Ori’s clean up by Anne Helen Donnelly

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    Octopus are very intelligent creatures and with eight legs and a bunch of friends they are also very good at cleaning up – even if the mess isn’t theirs!

    Anne Helen Donnelly has created another fun book with a much loved character – Ori the octopus and this time he has a little message for all of us!

    Meet Ori – a friendly Octopus who loves his underwater home, just not the rubbish that seems to be hanging around. Together with his friends they pile up the rubbish that is hanging around their watery houses but alas as the week goes by, the rubbish falls from the piles and scatters across the ocean again – encouraging them to problem solve a little bit more and work out where rubbish should go.

    Children will love the bright illustrations, the use of alliteration and repetition and the simple message of cleaning up after ourselves.

    Ori teaches us all that rubbish can not only go in the bin but also be recycled, reused, repurposed, composted or even better – refused!

    Ori also shows us that teamwork is one of the best ways we can make the world we live in a better place.

    So what else can you do with this picture book?

    Free activities from Anne’s website: http://www.annehelendonnelly.com/activities/

    And some ideas from me:

     – Explore alliteration of the animals names. What other names could these animals have? Can you think of names for other ocean animals?

     – Explore repetition throughout the book. What other actions do Ori and his friends do that could use this type of language?

    – Link all the different types of rubbish and where they go when we need to get rid of them.

    – Explore your own bin: What is inside your bin after one week of being at home?

    – Think: How can you create less rubbish in your bin? Try these activities in your home via my dropbox: (Please note this is in very very draft form!)

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/xnstqsthasuz2tu/How%20much%20plastic%20is%20in%20our%20pantry.docx?dl=0

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    Love this review? Join my facebook group where we delve deeper into these issues facing children, parents and teachers. 

    JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHERE WE EXPLORE BIG ISSUES AND HOW TO BEST TALK ABOUT THEM WITH KIDS.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/362368594250457/

     

     

    Tilly’s Reef Adventure by Rhonda N. Garward

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    A turtle hatches from her egg and immediately her life is in danger – we know that has always been that way but how have humans made the dangers even more numerous?

    Tilly’s Reef Adventure by Rhonda N. Garward is a wonderful book – both illustrations and story engage young children from start to finish and gives them so many different ideas for questions they can ask.

    The main character in this story is Tilly, and she is a new turtle, born with an instinct to survive.

    She escapes from crabs, birds and barracudas but it is the one thing that she wasn’t prepared for that nearly kills her – a plastic bag!

    Luckily for her there are some caring humans around who help her out of the bag as they continue to pick up rubbish along the beach.

    Continue reading →

    Read, read and read by Elizabeth Grocery and Liv.

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    ‘When I open a book, it opens a whole new world’

    Last year we read and reviewed Liv on Life:Green is good and have been wondering what Liv and her dog Bowie have been up to.

    This time they are off to the library to explore new worlds, learn new facts and find comfort when life in the playground gets tough.

    Liv loves going to school and has lots of friends – but we all know the playground can get busy and friends can get lost or want to play different things.

    It is the day for Liv not to have anyone to play with but luckily the school library is open and within that space she can find comfort, new information and so many new worlds.

    School libraries are such important parts of schools and it is so sad that so many schools are getting rid of these precious places.

    Liv tells the reader about new worlds she discovers, new insects she never knew about and new ways to play with friends – and she shows us that reading with a friend can even be more fun!

    Elizabeth Grocery writes these books with so much engagement within the writing and the illustrations. Children will get so much out of these books – friendships, self confidence and courage.

    Young artists can admire the simple colour scheme used throughout the novel and take note of the wonderful books they can see Liv and Bowie reading.

    The Liv on Life books are written by Elizabeth Gorcey but inspired by her young daughter – Liv and her amazement at the world.

    So what else can you do with this book?

    •  Visit the library and borrow some books – of course!
    •  Create your own home library by ordering them into categories, authors or colours! Create some library cards for others to borrow or swap books with you and your library.
    •  Explore all the different things you can do at school if your friends are doing something else.
    •  Make a list of your friends and the things you like to learn about together.
    •  Make time to read every day
    •  Check out the other books in the Liv on Life series

    Benny Bungarra’s Big Bush Clean up by Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina

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    Have you ever been out on a bushwalk, seen some rubbish but thought – it’s not mine, I’ll just leave it? Or have you ever left something behind because you didn’t want to carry it home?

    Perhaps reading Benny Bungarra’s Big Bush Clean up by Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina will help you to consider the ramifications of those small bits of rubbish we leave behind and the effect they have on Australian bush animals.

    Benny Bungarra’s Big Bush Clean up is a great story about a very friendly lizard called Benny Bungara. We meet him on a beautiful day, warming himself up under the sun – but  when he hears a strange sound he just has to find out what it is.

    Thinking it might be a new bush creature he scrambles up a tree to see but once there he discovers it’s a friendly Olive Python with his head stuck in a bottle. Benny helps remove the bottle only to find other creatures who have been effected by rubbish humans have left behind – broken glass and fishing line.

    The friends know they need to ask the humans for help but while they are waiting for the help they decide to start cleaning up the place themselves by reusing some items, recycling others and putting some in the bin.

    A simple message comes across in this book and young readers will understand what they need to do.

    Humans have a huge impact on the planet and we all need to be much more mindful of what we leave behind each and every day.

    Benny Bungarra’s Big Bush Clean up by Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina teaches children in a fun way about how to never leave rubbish behind and always think about the best place to put it once we have finished with it.

    So what else can you do with this book?

     – Check out my (in very draft form) resource to help minimise the amount of waste you have in your house: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xnstqsthasuz2tu/How%20much%20plastic%20is%20in%20our%20pantry.docx?dl=0

    – Look at your bin at the end of the week and work out what could have been reused, refused, repurposed, composted or recycled!

    – Pack a waste free lunch box for a week and come up with different ideas that help you to leave less rubbish behind.

    – Explore images of animals around the world who have been effected by the rubbish humans have left behind.

    Love this review? Join my facebook group where we delve deeper into these issues facing children, parents and teachers. 

    JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHERE WE EXPLORE BIG ISSUES AND HOW TO BEST TALK ABOUT THEM WITH KIDS.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/362368594250457/

    2018 Environment Award for Children’s Literature shortlist

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    Wow, another great list of books has recently been announced as part of the shortlist for the environment award from the Wilderness Society.

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    So many of these I have blogged about and I will have to search for the last couple to make sure I let you know about them too.

     

    Here are the links to my blogs for these wonderful book – I hope you can find the time to read them soon!

    Fiction:
    Ella Diaries #11 Going Green by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald
    Pippa’s Island 1: The Beach Shack Cafe by Belinda Murrell
    Wombat Warriors by Samantha Wheeler

    Non-fiction:
    A Is For Australian Animals by Frané Lessac
    Exploring Soils: A Hidden World Underground by Samantha Grover and Camille Heisler
    Rock Pool Secrets by Narelle Oliver
    Coral Sea Dreaming: The Picture Book by Kim Michelle Toft

    Picture fiction:
    Can You Find Me? by Gordon Winch and Patrick Shirvington
    Tilly’s Reef Adventure by Rhonda N Garward
    Fluke by Lesley Gibbes and Michelle Dawson
    Florette by Anna Walker

    I would love to be a part of the judging of this one day….

     

    Love this review? Join my facebook group where we delve deeper into these issues facing children, parents and teachers. 

    JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHERE WE EXPLORE BIG ISSUES AND HOW TO BEST TALK ABOUT THEM WITH KIDS.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/362368594250457/

    The all new must have Orange 430 by Michael Speechley.

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    How often do your children convince you that they need the latest toy? 

    How often do they ‘need’ to collect the whole set of some plastic thing because – they have to?

    And how often do you succumb to consumerism and buy that thing that you know won’t last long or do much?

    Well, this is the book for you!

    The all new must have ORANGE 430 by Michael Speechley is a very poignant book for today’s world where consumerism reigns and common sense has faded.

    We search for the latest and greatest but then quickly forget about it when something newer and shiner comes along.

    Harvey is a young boy who needs to have The all new must have ORANGE 430 so he saves as much money as he can and buys it! But it isn’t what he thought it would be – it does nothing, takes up space and is completely useless. Harvey tries to take it back to the shop but they won’t take it and even the manufacturer won’t have it – he just tries to convince him to buy another cheap toy to replace it.

    But as Harvey waits in line to talk to the manufacture of The all new must have ORANGE 430 he meets many other children who are also dissatisfied with their toy and together they realise how much more fun the boxes the toys came in are!

    The message this book gives us is simple – we don’t need all the stuff we have because we have it all in our minds – creativity, imagination, problem solving.

    And if we really want to save the one big thing that matters most – our planet – then we need to start resisting the big manufacturers who seem to trick us so often.

    The all new must have ORANGE 430 by Michael Speechley is fantastic and a must read for all children and their parents. It will start some big discussions and make you think about what you purchase in the future.

    So what else can you do with this book? 

    FIRST THINGS FIRST: 

     – Grab a box and play with it– find out all the amazing things you can do with one! Keep your toilet rolls, old paper etc and create different things instead of buying new toys.

    THINK

     – Take a look around your place and work out the things that you need and what you just wanted.

    – Which toys give you the most joy and why? Which activities give you the most joy?

    – Wonder where all the broken toys go and look at this artist and what he did to show us how wasteful we are. Jurassic Plastic.

    – Could we live in a world without plastic toys? How would your life be different? (Explore ads on tv, the state of your room, money saved, less fights, more creativity)

    – How do ads convince you that you need to collect the latest toys? Explore the price of many of these toys and what they do once you buy them.

    – Challenge your family to create less waste by not buying things they don’t really need, eating more fruit and vegetables to save on packaging and spending time outside or in a world of imagination and creativity instead of with plastic toys.

    Love this review? Join my facebook group where we delve deeper into these issues facing children, parents and teachers. 

    JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHERE WE EXPLORE BIG ISSUES AND HOW TO BEST TALK ABOUT THEM WITH KIDS.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/362368594250457/

    Cicada by Shaun Tan

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    Another brilliant book by Shaun Tan – Cicada is a book with subtext for both older children and adults but with illustrations that young children will enjoy too.

    Cicada is a story about a cicada who works in a dreary office building, performing the same task day in, day out with no recognition or appreciation of the effort he puts in.

    Cicada is treated poorly, ignored by colleagues and constantly calls out ‘Tok, Tok, Tok”, which could represent the noise of a keyboard, the clicking of a clock, the noise cicadas make or perhaps even the monotone thoughts of the office workers. Whatever you take it to mean, it shows the bland existence of humans and this cicada.

    But all this changes on Cicada’s last day of work, where instead of having a farewell party or a thank you handshake he simply packs up his desk and ascends the stairs.

    The stairs to say farewell to this greyscale existence.

    The stairs to something much more wonderful, so much so that the cicada wonders why the humans haven’t worked it out yet.

    I won’t spoil it here – you’ll have to read it yourself!

    So what else can you do with this book at home and at school?

    Younger readers.

    Younger readers may not see the subtext of this book but other issues can be explored such as:

    – Explore the life cycle of a cicada and the time the spent underground compared to the time above.

    – Think about what you would do if you had to live in a world without colour, creativity or fun. How would you feel?

    – What does ‘Tok, Tok, Tok” mean to you? What sound would you make if you worked in a world like this?

    – Why do the humans think he is worse than them? Why do they ignore him or make him go to the toilet out of the building (this can be linked to some women’s prejudice issues of the past).

    – Why do you think the cicada never left his job?

    – What is the importance of getting out into the world around us and exploring more than just making money?

    – Why do we need nature? Why do we need to explore?

    – Is money really that important? (Big idea – take time to discuss this)

    And here are some more in depth ideas if you wish to study this book for older readers:

    Notes from Hachette, click here.  

    Join my facebook group – growing globally and socially conscious children to swap ideas to help young children tackle the big issues!

    Let them explore

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    It is in every person’s nature to be an explorer. And to be a real explorer you need to visit unknown places with an open mind and an open heart.

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    Exploring doesn’t necessarily mean jumping on a plane and going to another country. Exploring can simply mean jumping into someone else’s shoes for a moment or two and finding out what the world looks like from another perspective.

     

    Your library is a doorway to exploring.

     

    In our library we can find so many different characters, places and times that will allow us to explore who we are and who other people can be.

     

    Your child might be exploring what life was like over 100 years ago or perhaps what life on earth would be like if we all became zombies. Perhaps they are jumping into the shoes of a holocaust survivor or a future astronaut.

     

    When your child brings home a book from the library ask them what it is about, find out how their perspective might be changing because of this book and what other books they could jump into to open up their world just a little bit more.

     

    Books from 2017 that encourage you to be kinder the people of the world

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    There were so many lovely books that I came across this year that encourage young readers not only to think about those around them in their own community but also those who live on the other side of the world.

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    Being a part of a community is so important and knowing how to look out for others in our community is something that we all need to do.

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    Being kind to others whether they be our next door neighbours, residents in our suburb or children we hear about in the news is something we should all encourage our children to think about. It should be something we as adults should think about too.

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    Once we think about others we can reflect on our own actions and perhaps make more sensible choices in what we buy, what we do and what we say. Every little thing we do will impact someone in someway and taking a leaf out of one of these books might just change an action you are going to take today.

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    Feather by Phil Cummings

    Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood

    Say Yes: A story of friendship and hope

    Children in our world: Refugees and Migrants

    Whatcha Building by Andrew Daddo

    I’m Australian too by Mem Fox

    The Ones that Disappeared by Zana Fraillon

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    JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHERE WE EXPLORE BIG ISSUES AND HOW TO BEST TALK ABOUT THEM WITH KIDS.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/362368594250457/

    Jane Doe and The Cradle of all Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan

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    Wow – Every time I picked up this book I knew that my heart would be racing, I’d be skipping words and I’d be turning the page before I had even finished reading it.

    It’s just one of those books that you shouldn’t read before bed if you need to relax!

    Jane Doe and The Cradle of all Worlds is a cross between some of my favourite stories: Narnia, Indiana Jones, Nevermoor and Pan’s labyrinth.

    It’s fast paced and action packed but the characters are so enchanting that it is not only the adventure you will want to read about, you’ll also want to get to know these character’s so much better.

    The protagonist – Jane Doe is a young teenager who hates the town she lives in as the people have blamed her for anything bad that has happened for as long as she can remember.

    Jane’s luck changes (well she might not see it that way!) when the largest earthquake to hit the town starts and her father, who has been bed bound and speechless since she was little opens the door to the mysterious manor and leaves without saying a word.

    The manor is filled with rooms that change, rooms filled with traps and rooms that may haunt you forever. But all Jane knows is that she needs to save her father and bring him home – the only problem is that the doorway to home has been sealed and it is only through the help of an interesting character name Hickory and a mysterious girl that she may someday find her father and make it out of the manor – alive (and sane)

    Jane is a character that all young readers will love, she speaks their language, thinks what they would be thinking but also shows courage and determination is the most difficult times. She will give those readers who aren’t into the bigger and longer fiction stories a reason to keep turning the pages with her sarcastic remarks and interesting thought bubbles.

    Jane Doe and the Cradle of all worlds is only the first book in this series and it is one that readers will be waiting for!

    BUY NOW FROM FISHPOND

    The Cradle of All Worlds: The Jane Doe Chronicles

    GO ON AN ADVENTURE – ECO STYLE!

     

    The perfect Leaf by Andrew Plant

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    But the leaves were so beautiful they had to be shown, they had to be shared.

     

    Have you ever wondered at the colours of the autumn leaves? HAve you ever looked so closely to see the different colours of each individual leaf?

     

    The Perfect Leaf by Andrew Plant will help you to see the wonder that is nature.

     

    Each leaf that falls to the ground during autumn is so different – whether it be in colour, shapes or texture. Whether is is damaged, unmarked or broken – each leaf tells a different story.

     

    In The Perfect Leaf, two girls meet and play. They search for the most perfect leaf of gold, red and crimson. They dive deep, throw leaves into the air and swim around in search of the most perfect leaf there could ever be.

     

    But soon they discover that nothing is perfect and that everything can be beautiful – we just have to look at it in the right way.

     

    The Perfect Leaf explores not only the beauty of nature but also friendship and love. It explores the idea that nothing in this world is perfect and everything has flaws – but these flaws don’t have to be a negative thing, they can be something that makes an object or a person even better.

     

    The Perfect Leaf is a lovely book to share as the seasons change and we start to crunch through the leaves on the ground. It is one that will help you to discuss why we shouldn’t strive for perfection but instead strive for what makes us truly happy.

     

    So what else can you do with this book?

     

    SCIENCE

    • Explore the changes in leaves over the seasons.
    • Explore different shapes of leaves around your home and learning areas.
    • Get outside during those cold winter months and find beauty despite the lack of colour and warmth. See what grows in winter and ponder why.
    • Explore symmetry through leaves

     

    LITERACY

    • Explore the adjectives used throughout the book to describe leaves. Write your own description of a leaf.  

     

    THINKING

    • What is perfection?
    • Can something be perfect?

    Teacher notes: http://fordstreetpublishing.com/ford/images/stories/teachers_notes/The-Perfect-Leaf-Teachers-Notes.pdf

    JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHERE WE EXPLORE BIG ISSUES AND HOW TO BEST TALK ABOUT THEM WITH KIDS.

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    What changes are you making this week?

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    What changes are you making this week at home or at your workplace to lessen your eco-footprint?

    I can change the world

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    What can we do?

    Worry we aren’t doing enough when all we do is perhaps compost or perhaps you buy your food in bulk?

    Do you cook from scratch? Say no to plastic bags?

    Or perhaps the best thing you are doing now is educating your children through books and discussions?

     

    How can we make the world a better place to live in?

    From so many different sources the message is very clear.

    Every small sustainable difference we make, every small change we make, every small thing we show others – all makes a difference.

    What are you doing to make a difference? How are you showing this?

    How are you educating children? Would love to hear what you are doing or what you would like some help doing!

    You can buy this great poster at The Global Guardian Project and try my discount for a further 10% off!

    GGPVanessa