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April’s town is grey and gloomy. People are too busy to stop and look around. April’s grandma was never too busy and said “The world is full of wonders!” Grandma loved flowers and even knew their secret language which gives April an idea to help happiness bloom in her town and encourage everyone to slow down.

This whimsical story is wrapped in endpapers of floating dandelion seeds perfect for making wishes. It also includes a beautiful hand painted glossary of the Korean language of flowers. Magnolias are one of my favourite flowers and they mean ‘You’re precious’. Which flower would you choose to give to a message to your friend?

Sally Han’s colourful illustrations and gentle story remind us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature, especially flowers. Tiny Wonders speaks to my heart because one of my joys is photographing the tiny wonders in nature I discover on my walks. I think April would love these flowers…

Thank you for the copy of this book to preview University of Queenland Press

Happy reading!

 

 

My Brother Ben is a story of birds, boats and the bond brothers share. An ode to nature and a reminder that not all heroes wear capes.

Luke is a quiet boy who loves sketching birds and thanks to his Aunty Gem, is becoming an expert at recognising their calls. His big brother Ben is bold and brave as he climbs on the roof or leaps out of the huge twisted paperbark Jumping Tree into Cabbage Tree Creek.

Despite their differences, Luke and Ben stick together like Apostlebirds, especially since their father moved away. The brothers share a dream of owning their own boat to explore the channels and secret inlets of Cabbage Tree Creek. The perfect opportunity arises when the local council runs a competition to celebrate the creek and first prize is a boat.

Luke and Ben come up with a plan to win, but it is threatened when Ben starts high school and the boys begin to drift apart.  When Ben and Frankie become friends, the trust the brothers share is tested, especially when Ben starts sneaking out of the house at night. Luke will discover that all is not as it seems and his brother Ben really does mean it when he says "Trust me."

Peter Carnavas captures the beauty of nature with lyrical descriptions that immerse you in the sights, sounds and life of Cabbage Patch Creek.

The cool water swallowed me and I sank until my toes dipped in the mud at the bottom. Then I rose up, floated on my back and watched the paperbark leaves dance against the sky. Ben did the same. We were two sea stars spinning slowly on the surface.

Scattered throughout the book are sketches of birds from Luke’s sketchbook. My favourites are the sketches of Luke’s magpie, Maggie in the chapter headings that remind me of the magpie family who have called my backyard their home for many years.

“When you open your eyes to birds, the world opens itself in return.” (Aunty Gem)


My magpies enjoying sunset
Here is Peter talking about his book My Brother Ben...

My Brother Ben is one of my favourite reads this year.

Thank you for the copy of this book to review UQP.

Happy reading!

Teacher notes

Mary was a quiet girl.
She thought quiet thoughts,
stepped quiet steps,
and whispered quiet words.

Mary enjoys exploring the world in her own gentle and quiet way, but her loud and busy family don't always hear what Mary has to share.

Because Mary was quiet, she heard things nobody else heard...

When Mary decides to be quieter than ever before it takes a while for her family to even notice Mary isn't around. Soon the neighbourhood is filled with the sound of Mary's family calling her name. Finally her Mum and Dad stop calling Mary's name and listen....

Mary reminds us to look out for our quiet family members and friends who have things to say in their own quiet way. Quiet people need to be heard too.

It's a busy and noisy world, going to school, doing after school activities, playing sport, watching TV and spending time on devices. Mary shows both her family and us the gift of being quiet. When we stop and listen we can discover and appreciate the world around us and the magic of nature.

As you read A Quiet Girl, look for the little details Peter Carnavas has added to his whimsical water colour illustrations. What are some of the things Mary noticed when she was quiet? Why do you think Peter chose the dove that Mary befriends and appears on the endpapers and in many of the illustrations?

Peter Carnavas had originally planned to illustrate this book with his left hand (instead of his right). Click HERE to see Peter's illustration of Mary with his left hand and how she became the Mary you see in the book.

I enjoy quiet walks around my neighbourhood and often take a photo of something in nature that I discover along the way.

Flower Chandelier - by Kim Yeomans

I wonder what you will discover when you make time to be quiet...

Happy reading!

Teacher notes

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