I love Dr Seuss, but this, sadly, did not come close. It droned in and on, and the rhymes were not great. It missed the catchiness of a real Dr Seuss I love Dr Seuss, but this, sadly, did not come close. It droned in and on, and the rhymes were not great. It missed the catchiness of a real Dr Seuss book....more
Good resource for primary school (It is American, though). While the information is interesting, I found the text itself could be, at times, a little Good resource for primary school (It is American, though). While the information is interesting, I found the text itself could be, at times, a little condescending. However, I loved the timeline and intend to use this as an example for the class room....more
Beautiful picture book about Rosie the sharks first day at school. The other fish are scared of her and misunderstand her excitement and overtures of Beautiful picture book about Rosie the sharks first day at school. The other fish are scared of her and misunderstand her excitement and overtures of friendship. Poor Rosie. The day was just not meeting her expectations. A beautiful story about acceptance....more
A beautiful picture book with no words. A young boy lives near a Grove of trees with a group of trees that are shaped like an elephant. Workers mark tA beautiful picture book with no words. A young boy lives near a Grove of trees with a group of trees that are shaped like an elephant. Workers mark the grove for removal, but the boy foils their plans...more
An Emu tries to find the home that is just right for him at the zoo. Beautifully written in rhyme with engaging illustrations. My favourite is of EdwaAn Emu tries to find the home that is just right for him at the zoo. Beautifully written in rhyme with engaging illustrations. My favourite is of Edward standing on the lioness's head....more
A sweet story about raising a baby kookaburra. It comes across as a true story, which I understand it is, but doesn't have the entertainment value I lA sweet story about raising a baby kookaburra. It comes across as a true story, which I understand it is, but doesn't have the entertainment value I love in picture books. The version I read was from Aldi and did not have the facts at the end, which I believe are in some versions. That would have boosted the number of stars for me....more
Beautiful story. A young girl is given a red suitcase for school, instead of the back pack she wants. She is very disappointed until her friends find Beautiful story. A young girl is given a red suitcase for school, instead of the back pack she wants. She is very disappointed until her friends find all sorts of uses for it in play....more
Rhyming can be so very clever, but, unfortunately, these are not. There are too many ideas thrown together because they rhyme, rather than because theRhyming can be so very clever, but, unfortunately, these are not. There are too many ideas thrown together because they rhyme, rather than because they make sense. For eg, the students hit a pinata with a cloud, just so it can rhyme with aloud and crowd....more
There are several teachers at my school who wanted to drop this from our curriculum as it was boring. What?! I loved it! Set in the days of explorationThere are several teachers at my school who wanted to drop this from our curriculum as it was boring. What?! I loved it! Set in the days of exploration, three ships race each other to produce new maps of the world. Now, I love maps, especially ones from this time period where you could sail off the edge of the world. Maybe that is what engaged me, but, it is also a great story of adventure, of equality and inequality, of courage and bravery. I really want to read the rest of the series....more
Hosting a foreign exchange student often includes difficulty in communication and cultural differences. Eric, as the exchange students asks the familyHosting a foreign exchange student often includes difficulty in communication and cultural differences. Eric, as the exchange students asks the family to call him, shows his gratitude in a wonderful way. It suggests that if we open our hearts to cultural differences, we will be rewarded in beautiful and unusual ways....more
Another story appropriate for discussion of immigration and refugees. It begins with only one page of each double page with an illustration of dots. GAnother story appropriate for discussion of immigration and refugees. It begins with only one page of each double page with an illustration of dots. Gradually different dots are included on the other page. Their circumstances are less salubrious and they want to immigrate. Eventually they work out an appropriate deal. Once again, the pictures tell as much, if not more, than the text....more
Not a young children's picture book. A cicada is stuck working for an unappreciative company for 17 years. He works in a cubicle and lives within the Not a young children's picture book. A cicada is stuck working for an unappreciative company for 17 years. He works in a cubicle and lives within the walls of the office. Everything is very grey and desolate, and the cicada is bullied. Like most of Tan's books, the pictures say as much, if not more than the words. The words are short, clipped and broken. Year 6 looked at this as a story of immigration, and it can be read as such. After the cicada leaves, his future appears much brighter. The end papers tell the story. Tok tok tok...more
A beautiful book with stories of Australian immigrants who have arrived by sea. It starts with Anak's story over 50000 years ago and finishes with AbdA beautiful book with stories of Australian immigrants who have arrived by sea. It starts with Anak's story over 50000 years ago and finishes with Abdul, possibly an Afghani refugee, who travelled to Australia in the 2000s. I am not sure how factual the stories are, but many are certainly based on fact, such as Maarten who survived shipwreck and was taken on my local Indigenous people. He was seen by Captain Cook on his original visit to Australia. All Of the stories include details of life at it was, including death by measles, shipwreck, pirates stealing women and girls from boats and killing protective fathers. I think that, even in a children's book, it is important that these stories are told. Interestingly, while reading the two stories that happened during WW2, I realised that my father was also a refugee who came by sea, escaping the war as it reached Hong Kong and moving with his mother and brothers to safety in Australia. While I knew he had arrived by boat, I had never thought of him that way....more
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