The Unity Books children’s book review roundup for Autumn

The booksellers of Unity Books Auckland and Wellington review a handful of children’s books sure to delight and inspire readers of all ages.

AUCKLAND

Reviews by Elka Aitchison and Roger Christensen, booksellers at Unity Books Auckland

Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz (Ages 9+)

This a graphic memoir for middle-grade readers looking for something akin to Raina Telgemeier’s Smile series, and handles the often-asked question of what are you going to do when you grow up? I’m still asking myself this question well past middle-grade and in this case, Sylvie is the only one in her class that doesn’t have an answer. This is a sweet, simply illustrated account of the author’s childhood living with her parents in the school where her father is principal. Figuring out who she is and understanding the complex relationships around her provides a funny anecdotal account of all the struggle, heartache and messiness of growing up and feeling like you don’t fit in. Set in the early 1970s in France, there is much to relate to in this superb story of finding yourself through art. / RC

Sally Jones and the False Rose by Jakob Wegelius (Ages 9+)

Sally Jones is my heroine. Determined, highly intelligent, loyal, a ship’s engineer and best friend to “The Chief” Henry Koskela, she also happens to be one extraordinary gorilla. Following on from The Murderer’s Ape, Sally Jones returns to narrate her adventures on the high seas with wonderful illustrated character studies at the front of the book an added bonus. Finding a curious necklace onboard their boat the Hudson Queen, Sally and The Chief embark on a dangerous quest to find the owner. 1930s Glasgow is the first port of call in this rollicking tale which sets Sally up against a ruthless gang of smugglers who fancy the necklace for themselves. This is masterful story telling and readers young and old will feel every ounce of tension along with Sally in this high-stakes mystery. / RC

Something About the Sky by Rachel Carson, illustrated by Nikki McClure (Ages 7+)

For anybody that spends time gazing upwards this is a book that will provoke further wonder about the patterns in the sky. Rachel Carson changed the way we think about the environment and spurred a revolutionary conservation movement through her influential writing about nature and science in the 1950s-60s. This book, originally written as part of a children’s TV series in 1956, has only recently been transformed into a beautifully lyrical picture book. The sumptuous cut-paper illustrations of evocative cloudscapes (with the cover image you could almost believe you were on Takarunga maunga gazing across Auckland harbour to Rangitoto) combine perfectly with Carson’s poetic musings on the majesty of the natural world, creating an overall sensual meditation on the cycle of life. / RC

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge (Ages 12+)

The Lie Tree is an exquisite Victorian murder mystery, a winding tale of lies and revenge. At the centre of the story is Faith, a reliable young woman who always does what’s expected of her. But when her brilliant but disgraced scientist father dies, she is determined to find out the truth. Faith finds a mysterious tree which feeds on lies and delivers hidden truths; as you turn the pages her whispered lies gain strength and momentum, transforming into something uncontainable. The novel is so atmospheric and while reading you are immersed in Faith’s 19th century world, finding yourself somewhere eerie and wonderfully peculiar. The fantasy elements shine through in the second half and the characters grow in significance and complexity. A deeply satisfying read and a fascinating look at the ways women have been silenced throughout history. / EA

The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Perez by Ana Cristina Herreros (Ages 4+)

This picture book is such a treat. An Enchanted Lion book that fulfils the Brooklyn-based publisher’s promise to create extraordinary books, full of weird, wonderful stories and some of the very best illustrations. The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Pérez is a weaving of folk tale and classic picture book, and Herreros balances the styles perfectly. It’s a retelling of the Spanish tale in which children throw their teeth on the roof to be collected by a mouse who will fill the gap with one as strong and straight as a mouse’s. The illustrations are utterly delightful and very clever with little mice bearing Borrowers-style accessories – a thimble, a button, a needle – scuttling across the pages. Together with the story they artfully show us how the mice have navigated their little jobs in the face of our changing world. A perfect book for kids who aren’t quite ready to tackle a junior fiction novel but are finding shorter picture books too easy. / EA

And the Unity Books Auckland children’s bestsellers for March:

1 Atua: Maori Gods & Heroes by Gavin Bishop (Puffin, $40)
2 The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi by Claire Scott, illustrated by Amy Haarhoff (Puffin, $21)
3 Impossible Creatures by Katheine Rundell (Bloomsbury, $23)
4 Duck Goes Meow by Juliette Maciver, illustrated by Carla Martell (Scholastic, $25)
5 Peter Rabbit: Easter Fun by Beatrix Potter (Warne, $21)
6 The Baddies by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Alison Green Books, $30)
7 Tu Meke Tui! by Malcolm Clarke (Mary Egan, $20)
8 Sleepy Kiwi by Kat Quin (Tikitibu, $20)
9 Badjelly the Witch by Spike Milligan (Puffin, $28)
10 The Grimmelings by Rachael King (Allen & Unwin, $25)