And the Winner is!!!!!!

CBCA Book of the Year

Younger Readers

Criteria: • For readers who have developed independent reading skills • Who are still developing in literary appreciation. • Of style and content for readers from the middle to upper

primary years. (That to me says Yrs. 3 – 7 – maybe push down to Yr 2)

Series: • Judged as separate entities, • Must 'stand alone' as a complete work in their own right. • Must have an independent structure and not be reliant on

other parts of the series.

FANTASTIC BOOKS –do they stand alone?

FANTASTIC BOOKS –do they stand alone?

FANTASTIC BOOKS –do they stand alone?

FANTASTIC BOOKS –do they stand alone?

Highly recommend for all girls

2 brilliant series for emerging readers – Year 1’s Sally Ripinn’s - Billy B Brown is really good series for girls – simple well constructed stories Sally Ripinn’s - Hey Jack – Jack is Billie’s friend – aimed directly at boys – great focus on simple concerns with realistic solutions

A really good strong female character who stands up to the undermining bully who thinks he should be the Keeper of the Swords. Set in medieval times when girls really should know their place Tommy (Thomasina) certainly is not prepared to sit back and let life treat her unfairly. A terrific read for Year 3 & 4 readers but I have had some older students love them

Unexpected time travel to ancient Egypt sets Jenna on a difficult path as she works out how – as an Egyptian Slave girl” she should relate to people she meets…. Jenna starts out as a selfish – teenager who slowly realises that her behaviour has consequences for others. A really enjoyable read…..

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Jackie French is such a clever writer of historical

fiction…

In this book she offers a “theory” on how the

dingo first arrived in Australia and it is totally

believable.

The main character is Leki a boy who is in that

awkward age between boyhood and manhood

and who feels the need to prove himself in the

eyes of his tribe.

The story is told in alternating chapters from the

boys and the dogs point of view.

Book 1

Book 1 with a sequel

When I first started reading this book I was unsure whether it would appeal to children that I work with – the premise is that Mort is 10,000 years old I thought that the historical characters including Genghis Khan, Leonardo DaVinci, HG Wells would make the story hard to understand for the target audience. WRONG!! Mix in a Sabre Tooth Tiger, David Attenborough History / Fairy Tales – loved it Main character – Mortimer DeVere and his sister Agnetha – parents have been away for long period of time Clever – it’s funny – it has twists and turns that kept me reading it and I will most certainly read the sequel – I think it is quirky enough to really appeal…… mix Goldilock with a vampire!!!!!

Star is a beautifully gentle story about

the relationship between a mother and

daughter and the complexities of family

life when things are changing.

This is typical of Catherine Bateson’s

writing about families – the conflicting

needs of family members.

Star is accused of being self-centred by

adults who themselves are struggling

with relationships and who often push

her needs aside to attend to their own

needs

I LOVE IT!!!

Catherine Bateson does this so well

This is a really lovely story with some beautiful passages in it…… Deals with really important issues.. Lizzie is really misunderstood by adults – tries to do the right thing - takes things literally – get her into trouble all of the time Has a great sense of mystery – what is going on in the house next door which is meant to be a vacant display home What is going on with Dad and his sometime erratic behaviour. I cannot recommend this book enough to readers in Year 5 up. It is a very gentle look a the complexity of families and depression.

Set in rural China – introduces children to a

different setting and lifestyle yet the theme –

dealing with loss and change is very familiar

to many children we deal with.

Loved Mei’s relationship with her pets.

The understanding of her older brother

Her mother’s final understanding that Mei

needed to find ways to keep her father in

her life

This is a really lovely story that fits into the

curriculum in so many ways…..

This is another book is which Simon French

deals with the complexities of moving into

puberty and all the problems that it throws at a

young man.

Kieran –the main character is confronted by a

cousin who he doesn’t really know but his family

expects him to welcome with open arms and just

accept.

Initially he is resentful of his grandmother’s

reaction to his cousin Bon’s and the expectation

that adults have that he will be close friends with

Bon – slowly Kieran begins to understand Bon’s

perspective on life..

This is a beautiful book – highly recommend for

mature Year 6 & 7 students..

Simon French doesn’t shirk the difficult issues.

Mission Fox Series

Ideal for boys – packed with

adventure and excitement an many

mishaps

Each story stands alone – comes to

a satisfactory conclusion

Exciting and fast paced – well

spaced text simple clear language

I have a Year 3 boy who loves these

as he is an animal lover….

I just have to mention this book! I haven’t read it yet – the reason I CAN’T GET IT BACK FROM THE YEAR 7 BOYS WHO HAVE BEEN READING JACKIE FRENCH THIS TERM!! RECOMMENDATION!!!!

And the Winner is!!!!!!

CBCA Book of the Year

Younger Readers

Who knows I have probably totally missed the books that will be short listed this year but boy there are some good books out there……..