New curriculum titles as at 26 May 2011

These items have recently been added to the Curriculum Collection and will be on display at and available for loan from Library Services, Coorparoo Education Precinct, 347 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo.

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Fiction

McKinlay, Meg ; Rudge, Leila (illus) 2010, Duck for a day, Walker, Newtown, N.S.W.
Paperback, 96 p.
Shortlisted for CBCA Book of the Year 2011: Younger Readers
Mrs Melvino, brings in a new class pet - a duck called Max. All of the students, including Abby, want to take Max home for the night, however they must be able to cater for Maxs needs. Abby works hard to make her home suitable but when Max finally comes home with her, he waddles away to the park. Abby has to rescue him from the pond with the help of her neighbour, the annoying Noah.
A subtle, engaging story for primary aged children about perfection, compromise and cooperation. Great to read aloud to a class or for independent readers. Provides useful points for stimulating discussion.
A wiki for this book, including suggested curriculum alignment, is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
F MACK 2010 (Level: Years 2 - 4)
Faranda, Melaina 2011, Abacus Aardvark and the Arctic adventure, Omnibus, Malvern, S. Aust.
Ppaerback, 177 p.
This story delivers constant adventure as it takes Abacus from his quiet life in Boring Head Road to the high seas and all the way to the North Pole. Abacus Aardvark likes the quiet life, but with his self-absorbed parents, a crazy professor and angry crew, Abacus is soon a long way from the quiet life he craves. Only in the Arctic does Abacus find help with defeating his evil science teacher, Professor Malovenski, and his deadly plot! The book finishes on a note that suggests a second Abacus Aardvark adventure is on the way.
This light hearted read, comprised of thirty-three short chapters with keywords listed on each chapter title page, is ideal to read aloud to a group and to interest reluctant readers, especially boys (since the central characters are male), or those venturing into short chapter books.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
F FAR 2011 (Level: Years 3 - 5)
Carmody, Isobelle 2010, The red wind, (The kingdom of the lost), Penguin Viking, Camberwell, Vic.
Hardcover, 221 p.
Shortlisted for CBCA Book of the Year 2011: Younger Readers
Bily and Zluty are brothers, furry creatures with very different personalities and talents. Zluty is the adventurer and Bily the homemaker. When a devastating red wind sweeps through the land, leaving their lives in turmoil, the roles are very much reversed, as Bily takes on the care of the 'monster' - a cat-like creature who came from the wind direction - a daring event. With their survival in the coming winter in their thoughts, the brothers and their dependents choose to begin a journey into the unknown, leaving all that is familar to them behind, in search of a new home.
This is the first book in 'The Kingdom of the Lost' series, the second series for younger readers from the author of the 'Little Fur' books.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
F CAR 2010 (Level: Years 4 - 7)
Bateson, Catherine 2010, Mimi and the blue slave, Woolshed, North Sydney, N.S.W.
Paperback, 217 p.
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Younger Readers
When Mimi's father, Doug, dies unexpectedly of an aneurism, Mimi and her mother are left to run the bric-a-brac shop they own, with the occasional help of Mimi's aunts, fierce Aunty Ann and hippy Aunty Marita.
Catherine Bateson writes through the eyes of Mimi, who, as an only child, bears the responsibility of keeping life normal as she endures her mother's grieving process, while trying to grieve in her own way. Throughout this difficult time, Mimi takes comfort and wisdom from her imaginary friend, the Blue Slave, who always knows what to say and how to say it.
The text flows simply and with humour, while not ignoring the subtleties of personal pain and grief, treating feelings with respect without being overbearing and melancholy.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
F BAT 2010 (Level: Years 5 - 8)
Van Os, Joanne 2011, The secret of the lonely isles, Random House, North Sydney, N.S.W.
Paperback, 191 p.
The Isherwood family are central to the themes of this novel - family crisis, growing up and first love, and "second sight". When the Isherwood children board the Freya for a sailing adventure, little do they know that this adventure will involve being almost shipwrecked and chased by treasure hunters. During the voyage, Jem also discovers a special ability he shares with his great-aunt Ella.
The author's notes are especially useful in describing the inspiration for the story and its historical accuracy. Use for Literary and non-literary texts (Year 7) adventure novel.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
F VAN 2011 (Level: Years 5 - 8)
Carman, Patrick 2010, Trackers, (Trackers), Scholastic, New York.
Hardcover, 214 p.
Four tech-savvy kids armed with high-tech video cameras and esoteric coding skills, the Trackers can find almost anyone, anywhere. Told through a collage of videos, text, and websites, the story follows Adam, Finn, Lewis, and Emily as they become entangled in a high-tech, high-stakes game of cat and mouse with Shantorian, the world's most dangerous hacker.
A topical, multimedia storyline offering interactive engagement for students through downloadable applications and devices offering a mix of traditional text with audio and video. This first in a multimedia series almost seamlessly combines short cinematic sequences, puzzles, and video games into the reading experience.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
F CAR 2010 (Level: Years 11 - 12)
Roy, James 2010, Anonymity Jones, Woolshed, North Sydney, N.S.W.
Paperback, 196 p.
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Older Readers
At seventeen, Anonymity Jones is finding her friends are increasingly preoccupied with new boyfriends, her sister has headed to Europe and her mother refuses to believe that her new partner has an unhealthy interest in teenage girls. Despite being a strong personality, Anonymity's building sense of helplessness accompanies a growing vulnerability which generates in the reader a fear for her ability to withstand the pressures. Is she going to resolve this irrationally; or will some ill-fortune befall her given that no-one is looking out for her?
This is a thought-provoking book with elements of the thriller genre. Many adolescents will relate to Anonymitys sense of being left behind. Useful for units on examining and responding to literature.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
F ROY 2010 (Level: Years 11 - 12)

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Junior Fiction

Goess, Carol ; Ainslie, Tamsin (illus) 2010, Can we lick the spoon now?, Working Title, Kingswood, S. Aust.
Hardcover, 30 p.
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Early Childhood
What's the best thing about making a cake? Licking the spoon, of course! What's the worst thing about making a cake? Waiting!
A light-hearted book for young children about helping to make a chocolate cake and all the things that can go wrong in the process. The chocolate cake recipe is included at the end.
JF GOE 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 1)
Crumble, P ; Shea, Louis (illus) 2011, There was an old bloke who swallowed a chook, Scholastic Australia, Gosford, N.S.W.
Paperback, 21 p.
In this variation on the traditional cumulative rhyme There was an old lady who swallowed a fly, a bloke swallows a menagerie of Australian animals and a ute. This colourful, animated, well illustrated text should stimulate enquiring young minds to pose some intelligent, informative questions! It is lively and humorous and ideal to read aloud to young children in a group or one-on-one.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
JF CRU 2011 (Level: Prep - Year 1)
Wild, Margaret ; Denton, Terry (illus) 2010, Leo the littlest seahorse, Penguin, London.
Hardcover, 32 p.
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Early Childhood
Little Leo is one of 101 baby seahorses but is a little different from the rest. His struggles to keep up with his one hundred brothers and sisters are turned around under dire circumstances and all learn some important lessons along the way.
This colourful ocean adventure is a fantastic way for children to learn some science while enjoying the journey. It also leads easily into discussions about self reflection, perception, being healthy, being different, and being brave and independent. A lovely story enhanced beautifully by Terry Dentons happy illustrations.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
JF WIL 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 2)
Tanner, Jane 2010, Love from Grandma, Viking, Camberwell, Vic.
Hardcover, 30 p.
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Early Childhood
When Emily and her family move away from the country, she has to leave her beloved grandma behind, so Grandma gives her a strawberry plant to remind her of the fun they have together in the garden. While she waits for Grandma to visit, the strawberry plant grows and grows and starts to flower and then to fruit, until Grandma finally arrives, bringing her the most wonderful present of all!
A lovely picture book, filled with exquisite drawings, that celebrates the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.
JF TAN 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 2)
Walker, Anna 2010, I don't believe in dragons, Scholastic, Lindfield, N.S.W.
Hardcover, 29 p.
CBCA Notable 2011: Picture Book
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Early Childhood
A gentle, whimsical story which celebrates the gift of a child's imagination in all its shapes and sizes. The simple pencil and watercolour illustrations capture the world of early childhood and make-believe sleeping mats for dreaming, dress-up costumes, the play corner for pretend cups of tea, books to feed the imagination, art to capture the dreams and imaginings, and throughout all of this is a large, gentle, possibly-not-there-really dragon. With large orange spots.
A charming story that encourages children to make friends with the dinosaur under their bed.
JF WAL 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 2)
Bland, Nicholas ; Blackwood, Freya (illus) 2011, The runaway hug, Scholastic Australia, Lindfield, N.S.W.
Hardcover, 29 p.
Lucy wants a hug from her mummy before going to bed, but mummy only has one left. Lucy promises to borrow it for just a little while. The hug travels to all of the family members on Lucy's journey to bed, until Annie the dog runs out the door with mummy's last hug!
This delightful story has been beautifully illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Her water colour and pencil sketches are a refreshingly accurate portrayal of a busy family home. Toddlers and young children alike will enjoy this book.
Use for English: Language for interaction or Literature and context.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
JF BLA 2011 (Level: Prep - Year 2)
McKimmie, Christopher 2010, Two peas in a pod, Allen&Unwin, Crows Nest, N.S.W.
Hardcover, 31 p.
Shortlisted for CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2011
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Early Childhood
Best friends and neighbours, Violet and Marvin, go together like 'two peas in a pod'. Chris McKimmie establishes the strength of their relationship and develops their individual characters masterfully through the integration of text and illustration. The colourful, tangled portrayal of the children's busy, imaginative play gives way to more sombre colours and singular, disconnected images to reflect Marvin's emotions when Violet moves to a new home. Luckily, strategies are found to help Marvin deal with the change.
A delightful text to stimulate discussion on dealing with friendships generally and, more specifically, friends moving on.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
JF MACK 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 5)

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Non-Fiction

Martin, Helen ; Simpson, Judith ; Orsini, Cheryl (illus) 2010, The ABC book of cars, trains, boats and planes, (ABC for kids), HarperCollins, Sydney.
Board book, 24 p.
Simple text with clear colour illustrations provides information for young children about travel by road, sea, air and train including planning and safety and people who help us. Useful for units on transport and people who help us.
C 380 MAR 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 2)
McCleary, Stacey ; DeGennaro, Sue (illus) 2010, One funky monkey, Walker Books Australia, Newtown, N.S.W.
Hardcover, 25 p.
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Early Childhood
Beginning with 'One funky monkey as though in a trance. Moving and grooving, he started to dance', toy-box animals (in groups increasing to ten) join in the monkey's musical romp. Apart from the obvious number activities, this book could be used to explore language elements such as rhyme, rhythm, alliteration and verbs.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
C 513.211 MACC 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 1)
Wang, Gabrielle ; Rippin, Sally (illus) ; Abos, Regine (illus) 2010, The race for the Chinese zodiac, Black Dog Books, Fitzroy, Vic.
Hardcover, 30 p.
CBCA Notable 2011: Picture Book
The Jade Emperor has declared a great race: the first animals to cross the river will win a place in the Chinese Zodiac. Thirteen animals line up along the shore, but there are only twelve places to be won. Who misses out? Naturally, the characteristics of each animal play a part in the way they run the race and the personality traits thereafter associated with people born in the year named after a particular animal. An overview of the twelve years of the Chinese zodiac concludes the book.
Wang's crafting of this tale provides superb examples of the structure of a folk tale as well as a variety of interesting sentence structures. The language is simple yet elegantly phrased. The illustrations reflect Chinese calligraphic brushwork.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
C 398.20951 WAN 2010 (Level: Prep - Year 3)
Wiltshire, Jonah ; Wiltshire, Evie ; Hamilton, Sheryl 2010, The lighthouse kids of Maatsuyker Island: a true Tasmanian adventure, Forty Degrees South, Hobart, Tas.
Paperback, 32 p.
CBCA Notable Book 2011: Eve Pownall
This is the story of seven-year-old Jonah and four-year-old Evies adventure living on Maatsuyker Island, about 10 kilometres off the south coast of Tasmania, and part of the South West National Park and Wilderness World Heritage Area. The island has the most southern lighthouse in Australia. Jonah and Evie lived on the island, exploring and discovering the magic of Maat, from February to May 2010 with their parents who were volunteer Parks and Wildlife Service caretakers as well as Bureau of Meteorology weather observers. Jonah and Evie created all the drawings and models in this book.
• A wiki for this book, including suggested curriculum alignment, is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
C 919.462 WIL 2010 (Level: Years 2 - 5)
Buckley, James 2010, Book of firsts: the coolest, biggest & most exciting facts you'll ever read!, Scholastic, Gosford, N.S.W.
Paperback, 208 p.
This book is fact- and fun-packed and covers nothing but first facts about many world topics, but with an Australian slant. It includes details of everything from airplanes to microwaves to Australia’s first zoo and the first sneakers made. We can read about the first astronaut, the first Anzac biscuits made, the first Labour Day celebration and the first Melbourne Cup Day, plus lots of first cool kids stuff also.
Contents: Air & space -- Entertainment -- Everyday things -- Exploration -- Food -- Grab bag -- Medicine -- Money -- Technology -- Transportation -- The page of lasts.
A wiki for this book is available via OnePortal. (A request access link may appear for first time users)
C 030.2 BUC 2010 (Level: Years 3 - 8)
Greenberg, Nicki (adapt) ; Shakespeare, William 2010, Shakespeare's Hamlet, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, N.S.W.
Hardcover, 415 p.
Shortlisted for CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2011
In this graphic novel version of Hamlet, Shakespeare's troubled hero is an ink blot. The guards staves are paintbrushes, and they swear secrecy on Hamlets sword, a golden pen nib. As Shakespeare uses words so does Greenberg play with imagery. This is indeed a play staged on the page with meaning in the design of the book, the collages between acts and on the endpapers, the changing backgrounds that are the 'stage' scenery. The text is cut back but is in no way simplified. If anything the dramatic qualities are increased.
This splendid version of Hamlet is intended for secondary students and adults.
C 822.33 H 2010 (Level: Years 10 - 12)
Turney, Jon 2010, The rough guide to the future, (Rough guides), Rough Guides, London.
Paperback, 366 p.
Cutting a clear path through the plethora of scientific research and political debate, this guide provides a tour of the most likely possibilities for the rest of the 21st century and beyond.
Contents: About time -- The future in history -- Varieties of futurology -- The recent future -- Science futures -- Population -- Energy and the climate crunch -- Energy: a new regime? -- Water -- Food supply -- Humans and other species -- Future health -- Future war -- Dealing with disaster -- Life, society and values -- The world of information -- Moving on, moving up -- Infinite in all directions.
C 303.49 TUR 2010 (Level: Years 11 - 12)