It’s May 1, and so time for an update on my reading last month. I finished 11 books in April, with, as is my wont, a mixed bag, although there was a delightful amount of poetry. Here is what I got through.

Books for Children

1. Shape Me a Rhyme: Nature’s Forms in Poetry, by Jane Yolen with photographs by Jason Stemple (Wordsong, 2007).  This is not the first collection I’ve read from this mother/son pairing and, like the others I’ve read, I adored the combination of stunning nature photography by Stemple and poetry by Yolen. This one focusses on the shapes found in nature.
2. Beetle Soup, edited by Robin Morrow, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (Scholastic, 1996). I picked this up in a second hand bookshop in Adelaide last year, forgetting that it was actually rereleased later under another title (And the Roo Jumped over the Moon) which I already owned, and reviewed when it was released in 2004. But that isn’t a problem, as it’s an excellent anthology of stories and poems for children and I enjoyed rereading it, not for the first time.
3. In and Out the Window, by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Cathrin Peterslund (Philomel, 2024). More poetry, more Jane Yolen, whose poetry I adore. This is her largest single collection of poetry, and a treasure to own, filled with poetry for children on themes including home, school, sport, pets and more.
4. The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart, by Samera Kamaleddine (Harper Collins, 2023). Shortlisted in the Younger Readers category of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, this is a heartfelt story about anxiety, family and friendship.

Books for Young Adults

1. 1. Scar Town, by Tristan Bancks (Puffin Books, 2023). One of the books recently shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year, which made me realise I  hadn’t yet read it. Mystery and action, as Will and his friends explore a house which has emerged from the receding waters of  a failing dam, and find a stash of cash and human bones in the walls.
   2. The Quiet and the Loud, by Helena Fox (Pan, 2023). Another shortlisted title, and I am glad I sought it out. George is dealing with a lot – problems with her best friend, Tess, fear about the climate emergency which sees smoke smothering the city, and pressure from her estranged father to visit before he dies. But int he midst of this there is also the presence of Calliope, the girl who literally cartwheels into her life.
   3. Finding Baba Yaga: A Short Novel in Verse, by Jane Yolen (Tor, 2018). As you might know, I adore verse novels, so was delighted to come across this one by one of my favourite poets for young people. This is a modern day reimagining of the Baba Yaga story, blending the story of Natasha, who is on the run from a controlling father and is taken in by Baba Yaga.
   4. Those Girls, by Pamela Rushby (Walker Books, 2024). An excellent book from one of the best writers of historical fiction for this age group. The focus is on the work of the Women’s Land Army, women and girls who volunteered during World War !! to work on famrs and in agricultural industries to ensure that food production continued, and to make a vital contribution to the war effort.
   5. Let’s Never Speak of This Again, by Megan Williams (Text, 2023). Continuing my reading of the CBCA Shortlist, this debut novel explores friendship, family and loyalty, with dashes of humour and lots of poignant moments.

 

 

Books for Adults

1. Butter, by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton (4th Estate, 2024). I chose this one on a whim, because the title , and matching butter-yellow cover caught my eye, and found it absorbing. It’s about a series of murders, cooking, food, and, most importantly, women.
2. The Bordeaux Bookclub, by Gillian Harvey (Boldwood, 2024). It seemed appropriate to read this book on a flight to France – and I read the whole thing on the flight. The story of a mixed group of English-speakers who come together to form a  book club, and end up supporting each other through their various tough times.

This brings my total for the year so far to 46. What have you been reading?