Tag Archives: Humour

Mar19

Two Dogs – Ian Falconer

Posted on by
Standard

Harper Collins Australia

November 2022

  • ISBN: 9780008399863
  • ISBN 10: 0008399867
  • Imprint: HarperCollins GB

RRP: $24.99

Vale Ian Falconer. 25/08/1959 8/03/2023

I think it’s actually quite ironic that I had put off reviewing this charmingly hilarious book. The news of Falconer’s death two weeks ago came as quite a shock to many and we are all the poorer for it. You may not have seen this wonderful tribute to him from the New Yorker and also this one from The NY Times.

All of us are familiar with the delightful Olivia books but perhaps not so many are aware that Falconer was also the creator of many New Yorker covers as well as a talented set and costume designer for ballet and opera.

He won the Caldecott medal for Olivia in 2001 and went on to create another dozen books in the series about a tiny pig with a big personality, a character he initially created as a Christmas gift for his niece.

Just as he did throughout the Olivia series, Falconer has embedded much sly humour in this final book about two rambunctious dachshunds which adults will heartily appreciate, but may escape your youngest readers. Those of us who have owned dachsies will immediately connect with the mischief these two make!

When Perry and Augie are left alone in the house one day, they decide they would much rather be outside. After some typical brotherly sniping, they manage to unlock the back door and let themselves out into the yard where they have the most marvellous of times – particularly, swimming in the pool, and the delight of all dachshunds – digging! Do they know they’ve been naughty? Well yes, they do and when they hear their human returning, it’s a swift retreat back to the house and the clever ruse of barking hysterically out the window, in their usual response to seeing an intruder in the garden. Of course, their owner is fooled and has nothing but praise for the two sweet innocent pooches.

I have now shared this book with numerous classes from Prep to Year 3 and the kiddos all rock with laughter at the thought of the dogs putting one over their owner. It is a joy to read and with Falconer’s signature understated illustrations becomes all the more amusing. The expressions on the two dogs faces are priceless and the children love that they can discern the two different personalities just from those.

Highly recommended for your readers from about Prep upwards and even much older children will enjoy the visual literacy aspect of this one.

Jan28

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: the junior novelization – Bernard Waber

Posted on by
Standard

Harper Collins Australia

September 2022

  • SBN: 9780063256477
  • ISBN 10: 0063256479
  • Imprint: Clarion Books
  • List Price: 12.99 AUD

To be perfectly honest, until the trailers for the movie came out, I had never really heard of this series, although I think I’ve had at least one of the picture books (the original one?) in my collection at some point. Maybe because sometimes American children’s books are eclipsed, for me at least, by our own kids’ lit (especially older ones) or maybe I’m just unobservant. *grin*

Whichever, Waber‘s series of Lyle books has been a staple favourite of US kids for some time, and it is easy to see why. This is the sort of nonsensical story that young children like with an absurdist titular character combined with family and neighbourhood interactions. There are some great themes of being your best self, regardless of who – or indeed, what – you are, which will make for some great discussion points with kiddos.

I am sure that many of your readers will have been to the movies to see this one over the Xmas break and as we know, the movie tie-in is always a great way to tempt those reluctant readers, particularly when the book is an easy read such as this.

Recommended for your kiddos from around Year 2 upwards, who would particularly enjoy it as a read-aloud (with subsequent classroom chats).

Jan28

Friday Barnes 11: Last Chance – R. A. Spratt

Posted on by
Standard

Penguin Australia

  • Published: 31 January 2023
  • ISBN: 9780143779247
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • RRP: $16.99

Oh Friday, you just get betterer and betterer! Readers will remember my anecdote of the dismay felt by my coterie of Friday fans, when the ‘last’ in the (original) series was announced, and was confirmed by my (then) recent conversation with Rachel over afternoon tea. Subsequently – and by then in a different school library – the kiddos went wild when they found out Friday’s adventures were off and running again. I now have some readers in university who still hang out for the latest update on Friday, her friends, her mishaps and successes – and of course, her love life!

Friday, Melly and Ian, along with Uncle Bernie and a few assorted newcomers to the quirky cast of characters, are once again embroiled in an art crime. As special consultants to Interpol, the teens are undercover as art students, as they try to establish the veracity of a supposedly genuine letter which reveals the famous Mona Lisa hanging in the Louvre, is a highly successful fake – and has been displayed as the real thing for a hundred years. This is a cold case with a difference it seems – or is it?

The trio’s investigations not only have Spratt’s hallmark idiosyncratic humour stamped all over them but raise current topics such as digital theft and art ‘terrorism’. It’s another action-packed instalment from our favourite teen detective, with the added bonus of the slowly evolving romance between Friday and Ian to bring smiles to readers’ dials.

Releasing with perfect timing to kick off a new school year, you would be wise to get this one on your shelves ASAP because those Friday Fans will be clamouring for it. Highly recommended for your readers from mid-primary upwards. I know I can’t wait to see what happens next!! (and seriously, this has, at least, Netflix series written all over – does it not??)

Jan25

Lockwood & Co – Jonathan Stroud

Posted on by
Standard

Penguin Australia

  • 7 February 2023
  • ISBN: 9780241613122
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • RRP: $18.99

Ten years ago I reviewed The Screaming Staircase and wrote: This new series from Jonathan Stroud is the first since the Bartimaeus Sequence which sold over six million copies, and was translated in over 35 languages. The fact that Universal Studios has already picked up the film rights to Lockwood & Co. is an indicator of the enthusiasm this new series should generate. And now this terrific series is set to become the next Netflix sensation for kiddos.

After a decade it was just as enjoyable to re-read in it’s new dress and, once again, I have every confidence that your avid readers from about mid-primary upwards to secondary will thoroughly enjoy it – provided they’re not too squeamish about some pretty fearful ghosts *grin* and love some humour, even if it is a little grotesque at times.

If you still have not read this fab series, I ask ‘why not?’. Stroud’s writing is always classy and original so very much worth your own time as well as some solid promotion for your readers. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what’s been made of it for a viewing audience. Bring it on Netflix I say!! Australian release on 27th January! yay!

Highly recommended for your readers from around 10 years up.

Dec22

Meerkat Christmas – Aura Parker

Posted on by
Standard

Penguin Australia

October 2022

  • ISBN: 9780143777229
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • RRP: $19.99

Seriously, I’m always so in awe of creators who can do both the text and the illustrations – for someone who yearns to have even a smidgin of creativity it seems a little unfair -haha!

This is another title I shared with numerous classes over the closing weeks of Term 4 – again from Prep upwards to Year 3 and once again it was received with tumultous applause – even the older children loved the rollicking rhymes and the oh-so-cute illustrations.

We all had lots fun talking who had or had not seen meerkats yet (many in my neighbourhood have gone to Australia Zoo), where meerkats live, why does EVERYONE love them so much and imagining other funny antics they might get up to. They totally loved the reveal of the pups pyramid-ing their way to form a Christmas Tree and there was much laughter all round.

And what do I love? I absolutely adore the endpapers (as everyone knows, they are a passion of mine) and I love that the rhyming text flows naturally with rhythmic grace and ease and never sounds forced or discordant (which frankly, annoys me often in books by ‘award winning’ authors whose scansion leaves much to be desired) – this is just fabulous and the top reason for it being such a joy to read aloud!

This is truly an adorable addition to your Christmas bookshelf and for a little person in your circle particularly would make for a beautiful gift under the tree or in their wee stocking.

Highly recommended for small pups from around 4 years to 8 years old.

Dec2

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents[ film tie-in edition] – Terry Pratchett

Posted on by
Standard

Penguin Australia

November 2022

ISBN: 9780552578929

Imprint: Corgi Childrens

RRP: $16.99

Twenty years ago the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett won the Carnegie Medal for his 28th book in the Discworld series, the first written for children, so it is utterly fitting that finally this extraordinary, absurd fantasy should be brought to life – and brought to a new generation of readers in a filmed version.

Just in case anyone is unfamiliar with either Sir Terry’s work, Discworld or Maurice ….

…allow me to give you a little insight. This is a book that has everything I most prize in my reading: ridiculous humour and sparkling wit, twisted fairy-tales, quirky characters, talking animals, rats even more intelligent than their usual intellect and a happy ending. Maurice is a wily shyster of a cat, who is cannily manipulating a band of rats and a gormless youth to fleece villagers of ‘rat plagues’. Both cat and rats have intelligence out-ranking that of humans, can speak and even read and write (a little) following their consumption of mysterious magic rubbish from the university of wizardry. Just as they reach a more or less mutual decision to end their rather unscruplous con-game, they come upon a town in which a far nastier deception involving the manipulation of rats and the greed of individuals is taking place. Needless to say, after nail-biting adventures and narrow escapes, the unlikely comrades do indeed, rout the real ‘rats’ from the town and earn their place in its society in a wholly unprecedented rat-human symbiotic partnership.

It had been a long time since I had read it and I fell in love with it all over again. With the newly minted animated film due for release before Xmas, this is going to make a perfect stocking stuffer for youngsters from around 8 years upwards and definitely one to have on your shelves when school starts back in 2023.

Given my love of this series, Sir Terry Pratchett (whom we lost the day after my Jen. I used his quote at her farewell) and rats (I do miss my own ratty girls) this gets my highest recommendation. Hopefully it will spark a passion for Pratchett, that is shared by readers all over the world, in your kiddos.

BOHEMIAN RAT-SODY

Is this the rat life? Is this rat fantasy?

Bought from a feeder bin, escaped from reality

Open your eyes, look up to this guy and see

I’m just a poor floof, I need no sympathy

Because I’m squeezy tum, tiny toes, little ears, little nose

Anywhere the cheerios doesn’t really matter to me, to me

Mama, just bought a rat

Went to buy the cat a bed

To a snake, he would be fed

Mama, life has just begun

Cuz now I’ve gone and saved a floof today

Mama, ooh, didn’t mean to make you cry

If I’m not back again this time tomorrow

Call the vet, call the vet,

For I’ll be there with the ratters

Too late, what have I done?

To the pet store one last time, got 10 more and they’re all mine

Goodbye, everybody, I’ve got to go

Gotta leave you all behind and face the floof

Mama, ooh, I don’t want them to die

I sometimes wish they’d never been born at all

I see a little silhouetto of a rat

Boople snoot,

Boople snoot,

Will you watch his boggle eyes go

Chocolate chips and icing,

Very much enticing, Meep!

Can I free-roam? (Can I free-roam?)

Can I free-roam? (Can I free-roam?)

Can I free-roam, let me go, oh mumma no-oh-oh-oh!

No, no, NO NO!

I’m just a poor rat, nobody loves me,

He’s eating dinner, with his whole family,

Spare some roast beef for this baby rattie?

Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?

Groomer! No, we will not let you go

(Let him go) Groomer! We will not let you go

(Let him go) Groomer! We will not let you go

(Let me go) Will not let you go

(Let me go) Will not let you go

(Let me go) Ah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

(Oh power groomer, power groomer) Power groomer, let me go

Beaa-eaaaar-z-Bear has Calcifer on his side you see, you see, you see

So you think you can stop me cause I’m pink eyed?

So you think you can scritch me and leave me this high?

Oh, hooman,

Can’t do this to me hooman,

Just gotta scritch me,

Just gotta scritch me right ‘round here

Floofing really matters, anyone can see

Floofing really matters,

Floofing really matters to me

Anywhere the cheerios

Nov16

Diary of a Rescued Wombat – Jackie French/Bruce Whatley

Posted on by
Standard

Harper Collins

November 2022

  • ISBN: 9781460761823
  • ISBN 10: 1460761820
  • Imprint: HarperCollins AU
  • List Price: 24.99 AUD

Twenty years ago Jackie French and Bruce Whatley collaborated on what was to be the first of ‘the Wombat’ books, and you might say, the rest is history! To celebrate this milestone, this is an absolutely not-to-be-missed prequel to the entire series with the story of the rescue of Mothball – arguably the most famous wombat in history.

Following the immediately recognisable format of the first – and ensuing books – readers can trace Mothball’s journey from tiny furless solitary joey to rambunctious and bossy big girl, now grandmother. All of us who follow Jackie’s socials love to see the parade of wombats (and other creatures) who make themselves at home at her place. And some of us, such as myself, who have been fortunate to visit Jackie’s place (a couple of times) have been equally excited by significant wombat aspects as with chatting with Jackie :-).

I’m in love with Bruce’s illustrations as always, but the instantly recognisable adult humans (Jackie and Bryan) made me chuckle. If I had a library unit coming along with little people looking at Australian animals, I think I would dedicate the whole library unit to the Wombat books (and study of them), and am contemplating writing the unit up as a ‘just in case’ for next year.

As always with Jackie’s books, I feel completely superfluous giving my own humble recommendation – you know they are just a given for your order list – but seriously, how can you go past such an adorable insight into the ‘almost true’ history of Mothball.

My highest recommendation (I can’t wait to share it with a class!) for little readers from toddlers upwards. By the way, have you got your commemorative coin yet?? It’s a fine addition to my ‘bookish’ coin collection I must say!

Nov15

You Can’t Let an Elephant Drive a Racing Car – Patricia Cleveland-Peck and DavidTazzyman

Posted on by
Standard

Bloomsbury Publishing

August 2022

ISBN9781526635402
ImprintBloomsbury Children’s Books

RRP: $14.99

We all know that kiddos love absurd humour and this book fits that bill to a T. I shared this one with a Prep class who were all pretty much shrieking with laughter all the way through it.

This is a hilarious look at sports, most of which the children will likely be very familiar, but put into the most ridiculous of contexts. Hippos doing high jump, octopuses playing table tennis or warthogs tossing footballs – as you can imagine, disaster lurks at every turn.

In case you’ve missed this rib-tickling series already, do yourself a favour and check them all out – better yet, put them on your orders list!

Also available: You Can’t Let an Elephant on the Bus, You Can’t Let an Elephant Drive a Digger, You Can’t Call an Elephant in an Emergency and You Can’t Take an Elephant on Holiday. Collect them all!

Highly recommended for small humans who love to giggle from around 3 years upwards.

Nov2

Rodney Forgets It – Michael Gerard Bauer

Posted on by
Standard

Scholastic Australia

July 2022

ISBN : 9781761121388

RRP: $19.99

In 2018 my kiddos, in our usual countdown to Book Week reading all the short-listed PBs, voted Rodney Loses It our winner – oddly enough, the judges agreed with us (rarely happens, in my experience!).

Now Rodney is back in another hilarious but heart-warming tail – oops, I mean tale – and the small humans will love it just as fiercely as they did the first. In fact, I can prove it as I didn’t just read this to review it, I road-tested it with three different classes I took for relief days a couple of weeks ago.

Michael Gerard Bauer (interjection: gotta love an author who heads up his blog page with ‘just me rabbiting on’) as well as creating top-notch picture books featuring a remarkable rabbit has produced outstanding novels, many of them award-winners.

Now Rodney, the goofy long-eared doofus bunny, entertains children as well as providing them with valuable moral compass points. In this new episode Rodney is invited to a party which is very exciting but he knows he quite often forgets things so he devises a cunning plan to help his memory. He writes reminders on dozens of sticky notes and literally plasters the house with them.

As the countdown to the party ticks by, we see Rodney mowing his neighbour’s lawn (Mr Warren!!! hahaha!! no relation by the way), helping out in the library and the school, going about his usual helpful daily business. When the exciting day arrives, there is some slight kerfuffle as Rodney can’t remember about what it is that his sticky notes are reminding him but, thankfully, he gets there in the end. But – oh no! – he gets to the party at the Town Hall and realises he is the only guest arriving without a gift!! He must have forgotten it!

Your readers will rock with laughter as my audience did throughout Rodney’s wild antics and are very jubilant when they guess why Rodney is the only guest without a present. They all very excitedly talked over the top of each other as to their reasoning behind their prediction which was a delight for me. Their perception of kindness and helpfulness is just a joy to behold.

You won’t have much need to promote this heavily as it will definitely speak for itself, you will have plenty of kids who love the earlier book but I highly recommend it for your readers from Prep upwards.

Teaching notes here

Click to access 100101087_104235.pdf

Sep7

Astonishingly Good Stories – R. A. Spratt

Posted on by
Standard

Penguin Australia

August 2022

  • ISBN: 9780143779261
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • RRP: $19.99
The freakishly fantastic, amazingly awesome, insanelycompletelybonkerscrazyasafox terrifically talented R. A. Spratt is one of my favouritest authors and purveyors of outrageous snortles*, and well she knows it. She has perhaps been wondering why it has taken me so long to write this review of her latest blisteringly brilliant collection but in my defence I have this to say. I read the entire book cover to cover quite swiftly after it’s arrival but since then I have had it in my ‘relief teaching’ bag whereupon it has made an appearance on several occasions to entertain, amuse and, more importantly, educate some of the finest young minds in Queensland (if not the country).

Now with a day off at my disposal, due to having no voice left with which to teach, I am trying to catch up with reviews, and really it is dead lucky I had already read this latest volume, because there is no doubt that strenuous laughing of the Spratt-induced kind would further reduce my vocal capabilities, so that it would be unlikely to recover them at all within the next week – – and really, where would that leave my adoring fans? (ok, I’m starting to sound like Nanny Piggins now – possibly overdoing the cold&flu meds).

This is a gorgeously galumptious smorgasbord which I can verify will appeal to a wide range of readers of discerning tastes (and as it happens, some who claim to be non-readers). Whether some Nanny Piggins (gosh, how I admire that porcine legend!) providing great insights into famous myths, legends and other historical tales, a mini Friday Barnes mystery or a completely bogus story about big sisters (which reeks heavily of the author’s own household), kiddos from around Year 4 will roll about on the floor with delight with the completely over-the-top antics and adventures herein. I am truly devastated that I no longer have my Year 9 terrorists -I mean, English classes – because after their unit of work on Romeo & Juliet, (their introduction to Shakespeare – now I could definitely write a book on that experience!) I would have loved to share with them the Nanny Piggins version of the Bard’s tragedy.

Honestly, you’d be mad to leave it off your orders list – so get cracking and buy it before the business manager cuts off your budget for the year! Highly recommended for all lovers of the absurd from around Year 4 upwards.

*snortle:  A hearty laugh that is punctuated by a snort on the inhale.