Banquo's Son

Banquo’s Son by T. K. Roxborogh, Penguin NZ

Tania Roxborogh has excelled herself with this ambitious and absorbing tale. She extracted a brief reference from Shakespeare’s Macbeth – a reference to the murdered Banquo’s son, eleven-year-old Fleance – and has woven a fascinating story of love and honour set in 11th century Scotland. We meet Fleance as a young man, having been adopted by a traveller couple in northern England. Fleance is in love with Rosie – but something stops him from settling down with her. He is haunted by his father’s ghost, and understands he must go back to Scotland and play a part in his country’s troubled history. It’s not long before Fleance becomes a friend of Duncan, the young heir to the Scottish throne – and given his own noble heritage, Fleance finds himself also in line for the throne. The story ends with Fleance attaining the kingship – but at a terrible cost.
This crossover novel should be enjoyed by older teenagers and adults who like a gripping historical novel.
Click here to read an extract.Visit T. K. Roxborogh's blog at www.banquosson.blogspot.com/
Teacher Notes here
ISBN 978 0 14 320249 3 RRP $37.00
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman

Non-Fiction

Ben & Mark: Boys of the High Country by Christine Fernyhough and John Bougen, Random House NZ
This paperback book has a great deal of eye impact: the photographs are stunning. In fact it’s a top quality production all round, with its wrap-around cover and glossy paper. Ben and Mark Smith live on Mount White Station in Canterbury. The station covers 40,000 hectares, and it takes 45 minutes to drive from the front gate to the farm house. The boys attend primary school at Springfield, living there during the week and returning to the station in the weekends. The book looks at many aspects of their lives, while simultaneously giving a fascinating glimpse into life on a high country station – dog handling, mustering, horse riding, animal husbandry, recreation, schooling and local events. The prose is straightforward and easy to read, and there are fantastic photos on every page. I predict this will be a very popular Christmas present this year for boys aged about eight to ten.
ISBN 978 1 86979 068 4 RRP $37 Teacher Notes available

Young Adult
The Crossing by Mandy Hager, Random House NZ
Book One of the Blood of the Lamb series, this is a riveting fantasy set in a future world devastated by climate catastrophes and plague. Maryam lives on a remote Pacific island that survived the worldwide devastation. Her people are held in thrall to the members of a religious cult called the Apostles of the Lamb who live on an ocean liner stranded on the reef. When Maryam reaches menstruation she is sent to join the community in the ship. Rather than the paradise she expected, she discovers that the Apostles and their families are cruel sadistic despots who use the islanders for their own ends. Maryam herself is destined to save the life of an Apostle’s ailing son by having all her blood transferred to his veins. But Maryam is determined to fight back, and after several adventures she sets sail in a (forbidden) boat with three unlikely companions, heading for what she hopes will be a safer place to live. That’s where the story stops, and I simply can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
ISBN 978 1 86979 150 6 RRP $20 Teaching Notes available

Reviewed by Lorraine Orman

The Word Witch

The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy: The Word Witch edited by Tessa Duder, illustrated by David Elliot, RRP $44.99 (hardback) ISBN: 9781869507077, Harper Collins

A wonderful collection of 63 of Margaret Mahy's poems with stunning illustrations by David Elliot. You'll find well-known poems such as 'Down the Back of the Chair', 'Bubble Trouble' and 'Dashing Dog' - all now picture books. Tessa Duder also found some that haven't seen the light of day for over 30 years such as: 'When I am Old and Wrinkled Like a Raisin'. Tessa searched school readers, collections picture books, anthologies, magazines and Margaret's private papers.

The credit for suggesting a collection of Margaret's poems goes to Elspeth Tindall who asked as an afterthought in a letter to Tessa: 'I do hope you can persuade someone that Margaret's collected poems would be a good thing...' Tessa thought so very much and so did Lorain Day at Harper Collins Publishing.

When thinking of an illustrator David Ellot was their first choice. David spent over a year illustrating all the poems. I visited David in Dunedin and saw one of the illustrations on the drawing board; he had elephants galloping all over the page. It is such a delight to see it in its finished form. David's whimsical and humorous style suits Margaret's mischevious poems - perfectly.

At the book launch, Tessa said she saw herself as the midwife; gathering up the poems and sending them to David.

David told the crowd that it was a deep privilege to illustrate for a writer he has utmost respect for. Every time he drew an illustration and thought of Margaret Mahy - he felt his illustration wasn't good enough and would start again. For every drawing he did ten roughs. He is hoping to put those pictures together for an exhibition, which will tour around New Zealand.

When Margaret came up to the microphone she said, "I thought I'd start with a poem that isn't in the book."

Tessa and Loraine Day's eyebrows raised (they had thought they had the definitive collection in the book).

Margaret Mahy (rather mischeviously, I thought) read out the very first poem she had thought of - mind you she was only three years old when she crafted it. Margaret said she felt a huge sense of triumph for coming up with the poem. Margaret then recites another poem. "I've enjoyed having games with words," she said. She told us that David Elliot picks up the words as an image and that he's an illustrator and an artist. Then with that twinkle she said, "I didn't know it had sold out; I'd like to think I've had something to do with that." Everyone laughed at her modesty. Margaret ended her talk telling us: "I've always been a reader, probably more than a writer. What I wrote was an impact, an echo of what I was reading. There were poems in the book that I barely remember writing. I've been an incessant writer, I still am."

Tessa had the last word saying: "Margaret Mahy's poems are truly remarkable".

I agree and so will you when you pick up this gorgeous book of poems.

The book went on sale on the 1st October and within one week it was already sold out. Order your book in time for Christmas. It's the sort of book you'll treasure and never want to part with.

Three more Picture Books in time for Christmas

Your Mother Didn't Do That! by Sharon Holt & Brian Lovelock
ISBN: 978-1-921150-17-3 RRP $29.99 Hardback (Walker Books)

Holly didn't want Mum to go out.
"Dad will tell you a story," said Mum.
"Yes," said Dad. "I'll tell you about the night you were born."
"Okay," said Holly.
"Did I hatch out of an egg like a chicken?"

Her father says no, if she was a chick her mother would have sat on her. Holly keeps asking if she behaved like different baby animals (a baby kangaroo, owl, shark etc.) and her father tells her 'Your Mother didn't do that!' At the satisfying end he tells her what her mother did do when she was born. A delightful book for 3-6 year olds learning about the relationship between mother and baby. A book that parents and teachers will enjoy reading aloud to pre-school children, who will love the repetition and humour.

Sharon Holt has worked as a teacher, a journalist, and now works as a full time children’s author. She has had over 20 fiction and non-fiction books for children published.In 2004, two of her children’s books were long-listed for the Esther Glen Award. Her collaboration with illustrator Ross Kinnaird, It’s True! You Can Make Your Own Jokes, was a finalist in the non-fiction category of the 2007 New Zealand Post Book Awards and is also on the Storylines 2007 Notable Books list.

In 'No Your Mother Didn't Do That' Brian has used a dry brush and splatter effect as part of his water colour technique; which results in artwork that looks visually interesting. Brian Lovelock illustrated 'Roadworks', which won the New Zealand Post Book Picture Book award; now sold in America, Australia and further afield. Brian works as a scientist during the day and paints at night. He recently illustrated his partner's book: 'The Cat with No Name' by Sher Foley.

The Wotwots by Martin Baynton
ISBN:9780733325472 RRP $16.99 Hardback (Harper Collins Publishers)

Here are the Wotwots landing in their steam-powered spaceship. Isn't it beautiful! The Wotwots call this spaceship theFree Ranger, because it looks like a flying egg. But it has long lanky legs for landing and a big propeller on top.

The WotWots are DottyWot and SpottyWot. DottyWot is a girl. She's the pretty pink one and she is the ship's captain. SpottyWot in the blue fur is her twin brother. He is the ship's mechanic.

The spaceship lands in a zoo and the WotWots go off to investigate. In this part picture book, part non-fiction book we find out about spaceships and animals. We also get to know more out the WotWots. You'll find songs and activities like the 'Sneak-a-Peek: What do you see?'. Lots to keep pre-schoolers amused. For 3-6 year old children who love the WotWot Television programme: a New Zealand version of the Telly Tubbies. There's another 15 books in this series to come out over the next couple of months: board books, sticker books, colouring-in books and novelty books.

The Terrible Taniwha of Timberditch by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Rodney McRaeISBN: 978-0-14-350388-0 RRP$18.95

"Listen," said Dad. "Listen to me. If you go down to Timberditch, the taniwha will get you."

"What does a taniwha look like?" asked Josephine.

"Terrible," said Dad. "Absolutely terrible."

Josephine went to Mum.

"Have you seen a taniwha?" she asked.

Mum laughed.

"There's no such thing," said said. "Taniwha aren't real."

Josephine goes in search of the taniwha. She asks local people what they think a taniwha looks like. Each person recounts stories about monsters that come from their countries - each one looking wildly different. Josephine builds a trap for her taniwha - find out what she catches.

A reprint of Joy Cowley's classical story about monsters being as big as your imagination.

Reviewed by Maria Gill

Eight new Picture Books

Cowshed Christmas by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop
ISBN 978-1-86979-073-8 RRP $24.99

The jersey cow came mooing, mooing, mooing.
The jersey cow came mooing to the cowshed door.
The collie dog came barking, barking, barking.
The collie dog came barking to the cowshed door.

All the animals come to the cowshed door in time for Christmas. Inside the shed they see... Hint - it's a Christian Christmas story.

The sort of tale that parents will enjoy telling as a song or with lots of rhythmic chanting. Children will delight in Gavin Bishop's colourful prints - parents make sure they name the gift each animal brings to the shed. A Christmas tale with a New Zealand edge bringing two of New Zealand's top children's writers/illustrators together.

Tiny Miss Dott and her Dotty Umbrella by Michelle Osment, illustrated by Sarah N. Anderson, ISBN 978-1-86943-898-2 RRP $18.99

When tiny Miss Dott trotted off down the lane,
she took her umbrella in case it might rain.
Miss Dott volunteered at the charity store.
She left her umbrella outside by the door.

Mis Dott gets busy with her volunteering and doesn't notice when Martin Maloney steps out into the rain and borrows her umbrella. He leaves the umbrella outside the Keys Music Store, just as Emiline Pink steps out of the store and borrows the umbrella to go to...
And so this delightful story goes on depicting each character borrowing the umbrella, "I'll be back, just as soon as I can."

Now some of you might wonder why Michelle Osment's name rings a bell - she is the author of 'Perky the Pukeko' a book (and its subsequent series), which always seem to stay in the top five New Zealand bestseller list. Michelle won the Joy Cowley award with this rhythmic tale and you can see why. Five years and under will love this jaunty story.

Greedy Cat and the Goldfish by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Robyn Belton
ISBN 978-1-86943-689-6 RRP $18.99 (Scholastic)

When Grandma went on holiday,
her little goldfish came to stay,
Katie said, "I'll goldfish sit.
I know how to look after it."

Katie's mother warns her to watch out for Greedy cat because he can be rather partial to fish. Of course, Katie won't believe that Greedy Cat would ever do such a thing. Greedy Cat sidles up to the table and before Katie can jump out of her chair, has his paw in the fish bowl trying to grab the fish...

A gorgeous tale that kindergarten children will love. (In fact, I can remember seeing one of these stories being read as a big book when my daughter was at kindy seven years ago.) These stories last the generations. Children delight in seeing the mischief that Greedy Cat gets up to.

Robyn Belton's artwork is full of expression - you can tell what Greedy Cat is thinking just by the expression of his mischevious eyes. Robyn has won many awards for her illustrations. It looks like she has used pencil and water colour paint to create the delightful illustrations for this book.

Joy Cowley is a seasoned professional writing stories for this age group (and older, of course). The Greedy Cat series has been published in the U.S.A. and in educational books but this new series of Greedy Cat stories are fresh to the market.

The Little Yellow Digger and the Bones by Betty and Alan Gilderdale
ISBN 978-1-86943-899-9 RRP $18.99 (Scholastic)

It started to rain on the Monday,
it rained on the Tuesday as well,
it bucketed down on the Wednesday,
and rivers were starting to swell.
There was thunder and lightning on Thursday,
bridges and roads swept away.
By Friday the hillsides had crumbled,
and traffic was held up all day.

The torrents of rain have left a terrible mess, which requires - of course - the little yellow digger's helping hands. Whilst clearing away the rubble the digger finds a bone in a cave. Experts from the museum come to take the precious find away and they have to wait until the big unveil at the museum to find out to whom the bone belonged...

Four year olds just love this Yellow Digger series. I can remember my own son begging for the first book in this series to be read over and over again. Back then (nine years ago) there weren't many books with diggers as the main character. Anyone with a 3-4 year old child - knows how important diggers are to this age group (well, to boys anyhow). This book will be another favourite for this age group.

When we were alone in the world by Ulf Nilsson, illustrated by Eva Eriksson
ISBN 978-1-877467-34-9 RRP $18.99 (Gecko Press)

One day at school I learned to tell the time. Nine o'clock, ten o'clock, one o'clock, two o'clock.
At three o'clock Dad usually came to get me. But hewasn't outside. In the end I went home by myself. Our house is just down the road. But why hadn't he come? What had happened?

The little boy decides his parents must have been knocked over by a truck and he must take care of his little brother by himself. He builds them a house replete with television and bedding, out of things lying around in their back yard. They even manage to procure cake (albeit uncooked) from their neighbour until...

Parents will identify with their worst nightmare - their children going missing. Children will see their worst fear - being left alone in the world - being played out in this story. The main character (we never get to know his name) must be only 5-6 years old and he rather bravely takes on the task of looking after his little brother. The illustrations are full of expression; it's amazing how dots for eyes and a line for a mouth can say so much. The artwork looks like it is coloured pencils.

The illustrator and writer are two of Sweden's finest. Eva received the Astrid Lindgren prize and the prestigious August award. Ulf is a winner of the August and American Batchelder awards.

'A bittersweet tale of brotherly love and imaginations gone wild' John McIntyre, Radio New Zealand, Nine to Noon

When Findus was Little and Disappeared by Sven Nordquist
ISBN 978-1-877467-32-5 RRP $18.99 (paperback) $29.99 (hardback)

Old man Pettson sat in the kitchen with his cat Findus, doing the crossword.
'Tell me the story about how I disappeared,' said Findus.
'You haven't disappeared; you're right here,' said Pettson.
'I mean when I was little.'
'That story! You know that one already. I've told it hundreds of times.'
'Tell me again,' said Findus.
'I suppose I could,' Pettson said. 'It was like this...'

Farmer Pettson tells the story of when he lived in his little cottage all on his own. His neighbour sensing he was lonely gives him a little cat; which he calls Findus. They do everything together and Pettson feels like he has something to live for. Then one morning he wakes and senses something is wrong...

Farmer Pettson tips the house upside down looking for Findus and with the help of two little mice finally finds him. A sweet tale about never being too old or young to find friendship. A story to be enjoyed in the kindergarten and Junior school.

Sven Nordqvist's Pettson and Findus books have sold over four million copies in more than 40 countries. His stories have been adapted for TV, film and theatre. He has won many awards such as the Swedish Literature Award, the German Yough Literature prize and the Elsa Beskow medal.

Good for You, Good for Me by Lorenz Pauli, illustrated by Kathrin Scharer
ISBN 978-1-877467-36-7 RRP $29.99 (Gecko Press)

In the distance, there was music. Bear was sitting out on his favourite red cushion.
He pricked up his ears. The music made him happy.
Then along came Dormouse with his flute.
'Dormouse, I'd like to try that,' said Bear. 'Shall we swap?
I could give you my cushion for your flute?
Then you can rest after all your walking, and I'll play you some tunes.
That's good for you, good for me.'

Beer and mouse play swapsies with music, dance, pebbles then the colours of the day. Bear begins to realise that he doesn't need possessions (his favourite red cushion) - giving gives him more pleasure. Dormouse agrees and they talk about all the other delightful things they can give each other.

The gorgeous illustrations (a mix of pencil and paint) with white background, emphasises the limited use of colour; sometimes just browns and reds, which hones the reader onto the two main characters. The text tells a delightful story about the enjoyment friends get from giving; it's a powerful message. Teachers could use this book for a springboard for a Health unit on 'making friends' or 'sharing'. Highly recommended.

Piggy Pogget by Scott Tulloch (Harper Collins Publishers)
ISBN 978-1869507398 RRP $18.99

Piggy Pogget was born on a Friday.
Just in time for the weekend.
Piggy Pogget has 3 black spots
2 floppy ears
97 fleas
and one gigantic family.

Piggy Pogget is one small pig with enormous ears. We get introduced to his family, favourite things, and not-so favourite things. Then one day Farmer Pants leaves the gate open and Piggy Pogget climbs his way to freedom and to a field of his favourtie food - corn. Of course, eating too much corn can give you... andbeing chased by a barking dog, and a bull, and a tractor, and a colossal, creaking tree can make you very scared; terrified even when confronted with a big dark shadow that turns out to be...

Four year olds will love the adventures of Piggy Pogget; identifying how scary the big wide world can seem when you're only small.

Scott Tulloch's illustrations are colourful and endearing - a book to be treasured by the under-five set. Scott also illustrated V.M. Jone's Hush books, and written and illustrated Willy's Dad, and Willy's Mum.

Reviewed by Maria Gill

Brian Falkner's latest thriller

BrainJack by Brian Falkner (Walker Books Australia)

ISBN: 978 1 921150 95 1 RRP $19.99

Okay, I had to wrestle this book off my ten year old daughter, hide it from my 13 year old son and not even tell my husband it had arrived - to be the first to read this book. Brian Falkner has a following and his stories get more exciting with each one - and I'm pleased to say this book lives up to the exciting trailer. In fact, I was quite spooked after finishing this book - I can never look at my computer in the same way.

Right now, as you read this prologue, I am sifting through the contents of your computer. Yes, your computer. You. The one holding the book.

I am reading your emails, looking at your digital photos and images you have downloaded off the Net, opening your most private documents and having a good read, or a good laugh, depending on the content...

So now, while you're reading this, I'm looking through your computer and having a great old time. You could race over and turn your computer off, but you'd already be too late.

That scary prologue sets the scene. Sam Wilson, a brilliant teenage computer hacker, can crack the computer systems of any computer - even the White House. His daring - genius skills - lead him into a dangerous world. A world of espionage and intrigue; of cybercrime and imminent war.

Brian Falkner's style reminds me of Anthony Horowitz - his sentences paint pictures and you can imagine them as scenes in a film. Brian's latest 'Brain Jack' is fast paced, exciting and hard to put down once you start reading. I'm not giving anything away when I say that I like that Brian takes risks with his endings - they are not predictable. This is Brian Falkner's fifth chapter book for children. The Tomorrow Code was a finalist in the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards and the LIANZA Children's book awards: Esther Glen award.

Reviewed by Maria Gill

Fifi's latest book

Glory by Fifi Colston (Scholastic)

Florence Bright fumes when she is passed over for the computer award - the only award she ever had a chance with. Instead it is given to Miss Perfect, along with all the other ones she wins at the assembly. In fact Florence thinks she might just get even - she devises a plan to help her best friend to take the starring role in the ballet from Miss Perfect but it all goes horribly wrong...

Fifi's sense of humour is liberally sprinkled throughout the book; making this a voice that fills a gap in the New Zealand market. Eight to Twelve year old girls will chuckle, while some will perhaps identify with the injustice of being passed over for an award. A laugh-out-loud enjoyable read for Years 5 - 8.

Fifi Colston is one talented gal. She paints, illustrates books (26), has constructed a few craft books and written three chapter books for children. When she isn't working in her studio she does stand-up comedy (so now you know why she does humour so well), makes craft on television and enters wearable art competitions.

Teacher notes available.