Let the Celebrations Begin by Margaret Wild & Julie Vivas

Let the Celebrations Begin was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year in 1992. A girl called Miriam and some other women are planning a special party as celebration of their liberation when the soldiers arrive. No direct mention of the concentration camp is made but older readers with background information would be quick to realize where this book is set. It is certainly not a gloomy book, in fact it is quite an uplifting one. For many Jewish people suffering at the hands of a despotic regime, hope of a better life was paramount.The fact that many Jewish people survived such unimaginable horrors should be celebrated. Wild has written more than forty books for children and she is an author well worth following. Julie Vivas of Possum Magic fame has provided the beautiful water colour illustrations which bring this poignant story to life.

Chasing Rainbows by Lucinda Haslinger

Trevor is different from everyone; he is blind and now he finds himself away from his beloved farm life and thrust into city life by his foster parents in order to learn more about his background. He has his own system of measurement, his steps being measured in pumpkins (big steps), cabbages and broccoli. Whilst he has friends at the school he has to attend for a month, he also senses animosity and is the target for bullying. Brian is a student to be avoided at all costs, continually taunting him and making life difficult. Ronnie is desperate to be his friend but backs off every time Brian is around, and then there's Talia, the angel who takes him under her wing. This book doesn't reveal its secret until close to the end and it certainly surprised me. The books deals with the differences between country and city, cultures and interpersonal relationships. All the action is filtered through Trevor who struggles to understand his new environment.

I am Trevor.

My world is black.

The nightmare is just beginning.

The Trickster Ghost by Ellen Showell

Someone or somethings is causing trouble for Stephen. He has just recently moved into his grandparents' house with his family, and things are going missing; Stephen's precious rock, Grandma's hourglass, Rachael's seashell and now Rachael's stuffed animal, Calico. Everyone is pointing the finger at Stephen despite all his protests and the fact that he too has had something that has mysteriously disappeared. The answer it seems is in an old trunk in the attic. This non-confronting book about ghosts is a pleasant little read and a great start if you are not into bigger novels. Every short chapter includes a full page soft pencil drawing bringing the major characters to life.

Peterson First Guides: Dinosaurs by John C. Kricher

Now it might seem odd to see a guide to identifying dinosaurs given that they are all long gone, however, dinosaurs are in the public eye more than ever today than they have been since their discovery about a 170 years ago. Dozens of new species emerge every year, with Argentina and China being hot spots lately for amazing new finds. This little book gives a background to the Triassic Period, Jurassic Period and the Cretaceous Period as well as lots of information on the dinosaurs as well. For each dinosaur mentioned, there is a sketch and often information and additional sketches to do with its anatomical features. There are certainly some weird and wonderful creatures in the book who had some equally bizarre habits. The only draw back for Australian students is that all the measurements are given in the imperial system. This aside, it is a great little read if you are interested in dinosaurs.

A Jar of Jokes by Pancake Press

If you were locked in a room with only a piano, how would you get out?

Play the piano until you find the right key.

So, here is yet another book of riddles and jokes for the shelves, and the book is small enough to fit into your pocket. Why not test out a few on Lucinda?

Try this one:

What do you give others and still keep yourself?

A cold.

Or this one:

What did the road say to the bridge?

You make me cross.

Alvin's Famous No-Horse by William Harry Harding

Alvin is hung up about school; he's really worried about the art exhibit his teacher is planning to hold for the parents. You see Alvin can play ball, he's a great speller and has good friends, but he can't draw. Every child in the class is expected to submit a drawing by the end of the week and his horse is more like "a blob of brown Jell-O." And what's Jell-O an Australian reader might well ask? Well, it is the brand name of a dessert a bit like jelly which is sold prepared or in powder form. The book revolves around that week at school and the strategies Simon tries in order to produce an adequate drawing. The book is a bit slow, but middle primary students might like it.

The Bitser Book compiled by Roger Mansfield

The Bitser book is just what the titles suggests, a bit of this and a bit of that. It is much more than a joke book. Yes, it contains jokes and riddles but it also contains tricks, games, tongue twisters, puzzles, optical illusions, quizzes, facts, and some real mind benders. If you like problem solving and thinking through puzzles or just learning some interesting new facts, then you will probably enjoy this book. The text is supported with cartoon pictures. It is an Australian publication.

He's a real drongo.

A drongo is someone who is stupid or clumsy or both. Drongo was the name of an Australian racehorse in the early 1920's who failed to win even one of the 37 races in which he took part.

What do you get if you cross a kangaroo and a calendar?

What do you get if you cross a kangaroo and a sheep?

Read this little gem to find out.