With our 2024 Children's Book Week theme; Reading is Magic, we're celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. We are encouraging kids to be curious about the wonders in our world. It is a positive and affirming message for our young people. The magic of reading also lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the "tricks" and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in this world they are building.

Book Week Parade

Thursday 22nd August.

Time to be announced

Students dress up to the theme of Book Week or as their favourite book character.

Book week theme: Reading is Magic

Prizes for best costumes for each class.

Book Week Activities throughout the week

BOOKS PURCHASED BY EDENHOPE COLLEGE LIBRARY TO CELEBRATE CHILDRENS BOOK WEEK:

Megan Williams, Let’s never speak of this again

Let’s never speak of this again is beautifully real. From the moment we meet Abby, trapped listening to her Aunty Joanna at a family wedding, with the band playing Eagle Rock, and the blokes dropping their pants at the chorus, it is obvious that this voice is authentic and true. Although this is Megan Williams’ first novel, the tone and tenor of the text is spot on, capturing the betwixt and between of being 16; the moments of childlike happiness and contentment and snatches adult insight blending with the trepidation, anxiety and questioning that seem to dominate every waking moment.

Abby is pretty happy with her life in general. She has friends to hang out with who share her obsession with The Bachelor, she has a loving if sometimes over the top family and is doing pretty well at school. Although she has all of the usual worries, especially about her hair, there is one thing that really bothers her. Abby thinks she might have a ‘sick and twisted mind’, because she sometimes wishes bad things to happen to people she loves. She worries that this is her true self, and that one day her friends will find out. When new girl Chloe seems to be threatening her close friendship with Ella, Abby wishes something bad would happen, so Ella’s life wasn’t always so easy… and then it does.

It is easy to relate to Abby with her struggles, scrapes, and triumphs, and to build an empathy with her as she faces difficult questions about life and death and how people grieve and respond to life changing events. The wonderful way in which Williams weaves the many different aspects of life as a teen – dealing with friends and family, school and sport while wrestling with relationships, sexuality, consent and tumultuous emotions makes this novel surprisingly light considering the sometimes-heavy subject matter. Written in a conversational style frequently broken by subheadings rather than chapters, the text will also appeal to less confident readers as it is easy to pick up and put down after brief episodes – although many readers will not want to put the book down once they get started!

This is a must have book in high school libraries, and readers who like ‘real life’ stories based on friendship will eat this up. Suitable for mature 14-year-olds and older.

Reviewed by Kay Oddone

Tristan Bancks, Scar Town,

Will and his family have always lived in Scarborough. Indeed, the town bears their name as they were founders. However, the town is not the same as it was when it was established as the old town is now below the surface of the dam that inundated it. As the dam wall develops a leak and parts of the old town begin emerging, mysterious things start to happen. Will and his friends Juno and Dar find themselves caught up in a frightening and threatening situation after they enter one of the houses that’s starting to emerge. The results of this escapade have far-reaching ramifications, especially for Will who finds many of the people he knows best, including family members, are not what they seem.

Bancks has a stated mission to re-engage readers and take them away from screens. He trusts his targeted readership to cope with slightly scary plots that do, however, resolve themselves in a positive way. This book does just that. The child characters in the book (who are aged 12 and 13), face dangers and challenges that test them both physically and emotionally as well as testing their loyalty to each other. Will, the first-person narrator of the story, also wrestles with an ethical dilemma of doing what he considers to be the right thing as opposed to what Juno, always the leader of the group, wants. Will’s father had been the town policeman but had disappeared years before when Will was only five, one of a number of people who had simply vanished from the town. Bancks challenges his readers to consider, as Will himself has to, whether or not some of his actions and decisions are the right ones.

All the characters show development and the interactions and relationships between them change too, as they cope with the situations that arise. Even Juno, who always insists on being called J, softens and recognizes that the decisions and suggestions of others may be valid. The children, as characters, are all given agency.

A plaque in the town dedicated to Will’s father, describes him as brave and gentle, a seeming contradiction. Will comes to recognize that people, including his friends, can be both. The children also come to recognise that their parents can be supportive, may well have worries and concerns of their own and, in the case of Juno and Dar, they realise that their father, in particular, can change.

The old town and the dam brood across the town and the action of the novel like malign characters and most of the scary episodes, and the build-up of suspense, take place around the dam and old town.

This is an adventure novel about friendship, loyalty, bravery (and what constitutes bravery). It will be enjoyed by readers in late primary and early secondary years.

Reviewed by Margot Hillel

Lili Wilkinson, A Hunger of Thorns

The prolific and richly imaginative Lili Wilkinson is on top of her game for this fantasy novel about magic, infatuation, bravery and grief. Maude, whose deceased mother was a rogue witch, has been raised by her Nan and her Nan’s partner, Halmoni. Nan too is a witch, but she keeps her magic within the strict laws that govern such things. Maude was once magically gifted too, but once she reached puberty the magic disappeared. Or did it?

Maude’s enduring gift is storytelling, but when her stories create real places inhabited by her own imagined monster, and that place swallows Odette, the young woman she clearly loves but doesn’t realise it yet, then her life is turned inside out and upside down. In the world of this novel there is a substance called mettle, held inside each living person, but when extracted can be used for magic. Of course, this mettle becomes a darkly tradeable commodity. And those who allow it to be taken from them, or find it has been extracted from them unwillingly, will become hollowed out, almost lifeless versions of themselves.

When Maude enters the world of one of her stories in order to rescue her impulsive Odette, she will have to face dangers, threats, lies and truths that just might be beyond her powers. Will love win out, will magic overcome Maude, will she find the powerful object her mother hid away, and will she die before she can find Odette? One thing is for sure, the pages will turn faster and faster for the reader as this novel approaches its climax.

Recommended for readers from thirteen to eighteen.

Reviewed by Kevin Brophy

Dianne Wolfer (text) and Tony Flowers (illustrator),

Scout and The Rescue Dogs

Set against the backdrop of the bushfires of 2019-2020, Dianne Wolfer has created a riveting but warm-hearted story of one girl’s journey with her dad in his big rig, as they find their place in the world after the loss of her mum.

The story begins as Scout counts down the last day of the year at her boarding school. Her mission these holidays is to convince her dad to let her leave the school, so she can return to her old school. But this summer has other things in store. Before Scout’s mum died, she was promised a dog, and as a way of making up for that, her dad has volunteered to deliver donated dog food to animal shelters on the long road home. As they make their deliveries, Scout meets lots of dogs and their carers and comes up with ingenious ideas to help the abandoned pooches find new homes, including a very special dog called Molly.

At the same time, her teacher’s holiday assignment to write to specific classmates, leads to Scout making her first real boarding school friend. But as the bushfire worsens, Scout and her dad need to evacuate but the road to safety is blocked and they find themselves in terrible danger. This wonderful CBCA shortlisted book is a story of courage, kindness and the power of community to come together in a time of crisis.

Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Deborah Abela

Fiona Lloyd, Being Jimmy Baxter

It’s not eggsactly easy being Jimmy Baxter cause: The real Jimmy’s hiding inside Ned Kelly’s giving him the evil eye - Mum’s stopped going to work and stays in bed - There’s no eggs in the fridge – or anything else. AND there’s new jobs, bad-at-school brains and a whole lot of trouble called Duke. But then…there’s Mac.

The story opens with Jimmy Braithwaite and his mum escaping a violent Mr Braithwaite with a helpful Mrs Jessop at the wheel. The reader’s introduced to some heavy themes up front but these are delivered with layers of good humour. This is the essence of the book – Jimmy has a funny, unique view of the world and his voice is strong throughout the story.

Once Jimmy and Mum settle into their digs, they change their names and so begins the new life of Jimmy ‘Baxter’. New life also means a new school which isn’t something exciting for a kid who gets his words and spelling all jumbled up. Despite top dog Duke’s classroom bullying, Jimmy makes a new friend and a creative Ned Kelly model. But his low confidence eats away at him, and the Ned Kelly reveal is a disaster. So, that’s the last day of school for Jimmy Baxter as far as he’s concerned. On his escape through nearby fields, Jimmy is caught in a rabbit trap, rescued by old loner Mac. So begins a sensitive friendship with a gentle male in his world that loves the music of Elvis and talks of the loss of his partner Lizzy, something new for Jimmy to hear from a man.

But back at home, Mum is too sick to go to work and won’t get out of bed, trapped in her darkened room as depression swallows her up. The fridge is bare and so Jimmy takes to stealing. Guilt consumes him and he replaces the stolen bread while also getting a job so he can put food on the table. But then he tries to steal the Jesus Cup from the local church to help Mum find her ‘shiny’. But that doesn’t work out as planned. As Jimmy masters cooking eggs and life starts to get a little better, Jimmy sees a crashed Ute on the news. And he knows who it belongs to. How will he tell Mum that Dad is dead?

What is there not to love about Jimmy Baxter? All his flaws are laid out bare as he does his best to be the new man of the house. There is so much ‘shiny’ stuff in Jimmy and in this story. Some lovely takeaway messages are gently woven into the story – that kindness and friendship go a long way. That music can warm broken souls. That depression is all around us.

In creating Jimmy Baxter’s story, debut author Fiona Lloyd drew on her own experiences with depression. The appendix also has fun ‘translations’ of Australian slang.

A touching yet humorous story for fans of Morris Gleitzman books for ages 10+ with themes of depression, grief, domestic violence and learning disabilities.

Reviewed by Stef Gemmill

Kate & Jol Temple (text), and Niharika Hukku & Ronojoy Ghosh (illustrators), That Bird has Arms!

Roy has arms. This all sounds very normal, except that Roy is a bird. Do all birds have arms? No, Roy is unique in the world of birds. Roy has trouble accepting his individuality when he realises, he is the only bird with arms. This makes him different. And sometimes it’s difficult to accept being different from our peers. Roy decides to hide his arms. If no-one knows he is different, life will be easier.

On his own, Roy flexes his arms, he gives them a good work out. He can do wonderful things with his arms and it feels great to get them out and use them as he should. They are unique and special. However, with the talent show looming, and everybody talking about their own talents, Roy continues to keep his arms a secret. At the talent show, while everyone else shows their varying talents, Roy still feels that his arms are just too different – until an opportunity arises where his arms are not only revealed, but are considered a wonderful asset.

That Bird has Arms! explores having a crisis of identity that can come about from having something that makes a person so different to others. Following Roy on his journey, the story highlights the importance of self-acceptance, ignoring negative comments, and owning what makes a person special. The illustrations are quirky and clever, showcasing Roy’s unconventional attributes – a bird with arms! – and complementing the entertaining storyline. A neat little detail within the illustrations and text is that the birds who give Roy the most grief are common birds in Australia that tend to have a reputation for being particularly annoying!

That Bird has Arms! reminds the reader that it’s their individuality that makes them so wonderful. Rather than hide what makes each person different, people should not be ashamed – or shame others – for the things that make us unique. Differences should be accepted and celebrated, no matter how they are presented, whether obvious or hidden. An insightful book that encourages the reader to consider the required mentality to embrace true inclusion and diversity.

Recommended for ages 3+, That Bird has Arms! is a book that will have the whole family giggling while imparting an important lesson on self-pride and individuality.

Reviewed by Lauren Harcombe

Sophie Blackall, If I was a horse

This joyous picture book celebrates a child’s imagination and the desire to escape from the expectations and constraints of childhood.

I read somewhere that the inspiration for this book came from a comment made by Blackall’s ten-year-old son who said, ‘If I was a horse, I would gallop all day’.

Blackall’s books are all full of whimsy and eye-catching details, and this is no exception. Have fun looking for these details with your little one: a rubber duck floating in the bathtub; found objects on a bedside table; hair scrunchies on the horse’s legs… the list goes on.

‘About this book’ tells us that the illustrations ‘were made using a combination of traditional and digital media, including watercolour, gouache, pencil, fabric and wallpaper, and assembled in Procreate and Photoshop’. Blackall uses warm, pastel colours to convey a sense of comfort. All the illustrations are spread over a double-page which makes them immersive.

My favourite page is ‘If it was raining, I wouldn’t care, I would roll in the mud and laugh and laugh’. We find the horse rolling on his back in a puddle in the rain, with a look of absolute bliss on his face.

What would you do if you were a horse?

Suitable for ages 3 to 100!

Reviewed by Gaby Meares

Peter Cheong, Every Night at Midnight

Feeling lonely can be tough. Especially when you know you are different from others. Felix feels this way all of the time – because he turns into a wolf every night at midnight. How to explain that to his human friends? It’s something that Felix wrestles with each day. Instead, Felix keeps his secret for fear of being ostracised by his friends in case they don’t understand.

When Felix meets another wolf at midnight, he feels an immediate connection, befriending this other wolf who shares his nightly wolf persona. It’s a wonderful feeling to connect, but Felix isn’t just a wolf, and still wants to find a way to relate to his friends who aren’t wolves. Perhaps if he’s brave enough to share his nightly transformation, he just might find out that he’s not as alone as he thinks…

Every Night at Midnight is a lesson on being comfortable with one’s own company while exploring the things that make people unique and interesting. Through Felix’s journey, the reader is enlightened by the concept that we are all individuals. Often people are uncertain of their own differences and whether or not they will be accepted if they share their (sometimes big, sometimes small) idiosyncrasies. However, sometimes in sharing our divergences we find solidarity with others.

Peter Cheong has found a marvellous balance between engaging text and thought-provoking illustrations. In a fantastic detail, the reader is given an insight into Felix’s personal explorations of his nightly changes, as shown in his visual journaling which he puts up on his bedroom wall. It shows that Felix’s hidden persona is always on his mind and something he wants to understand better. A challenge that many people can relate to, no matter their age.

Every Night at Midnight is a wonderfully uplifting tale that explores self-acceptance, diversity, and inclusion. Recommended for children aged 4-8, it’s a profound book that can engage all ages and give anyone insight into embracing and celebrating individuality.

Reviewed by Lauren Harcombe

Kelly Canby, Timeless

Timeless is a picture book that comments on good use of time, in a playful way. It’s about Emit (whose name is “time” spelt backwards) lamenting lack of time to manage all the busyness he sees around him and attempting to literally capture more time. The story ends with the satisfying solution that to get more time we need to “make more time”.

It’s written and illustrated by Kelly Canby whose previous picture books have been CBCA Notables and Timeless looks like it too will be a winner.

What impresses me most is how a humorous, engaging story about an abstract concept (time) has been cleverly woven around references to Emit’s literal interpretations of common time related idioms – “running out of it”, “losing track of it”, “time flies”, and more. I was amused to realise just how many time idioms (or more likely, clichés) there are.

I also love how Canby’s unique illustration style of sketchy brush strokes evokes a sense of the urgency of movement and activity that Emit sees around him. Similarly, pages cluttered with vibrantly coloured amorphous objects, busy background scenes and hurried people with harried facial expressions, further develop the theme of busyness.

The delightful endpapers are lots of fun too, with “job name puns” written on billboards. Just to name a few – there’s “Holly Day Travel Agent”, “Carrie Oakie singing teacher”, “Olive Yew marriage celebrant”.

Reviewed by Barbara Swartz

Other New books

The White Mouse – the story of Nancy Wake

Author: Peter Gouldthorpe

The Gestapo called her The White Mouse - and they wanted her, dead or alive. Nancy Wake was an Australian who joined the French Resistance during World War II and became the most wanted woman in France. Parachuting behind enemy lines, blowing up bridges and smuggling refugees across borders, Nancy fought fiercely against the enemy and became the most decorated Australian woman in any war.

Coley’s Champs – The story of the 1962 and 1965 Essendon Premierships.

Author: Michael Kearney & Phil Hoey

Forward by Kevin Sheedy

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Program