Matilda by Roald Dahl

Source: http://wordsonpaperya.blogspot.sg/

Matilda is an unusual girl. At the tender age of three, she starts reading the newspapers and by the time she is four, she is reading Great Expectations. Even geniuses do not develop such astounding reading abilities. Later, when she is in school, she also develops telekinetic powers. Sadly, her parents do not appreciate this and treat her with neglect and disdain. Fortunately for Matilda, she becomes very close to her teacher, Miss Honey, who herself is being mistreated by Miss Trunchbull. Using her telekinetic abilities, Matilda liberates Miss Honey and herself from Miss Trunchbull and her parents respectively and Matilda moves in to live with Miss Honey.

Many young readers will be delighted and thoroughly entertained by how reading gives Matilda superpowers. Roald Dahl used this story to depict reading as a highly desirable activity that is magical and empowering. Being a strong protagonist throughout the story, many children will look up to Matilda and thus be encouraged to read widely. Some titles of the books she reads are even mentioned.

This story has a very clear theme of good vs evil. Not only is the theme clear, the distinction between the good characters and the evil characters is very obvious. Some parents have expressed their concern that in Roald Dahl's books, children are always portrayed as good characters and adults always depicted to be bad. This is indeed a distinctive trait of many of Roald Dahl's books and Matilda is no different. The heroine of the story, Matilda, is a young girl and the antagonists, her parents and Miss Trunchbull, are adults. However, this book has a slight exception. Miss Honey is an adult but good and is also mistreated by the "evil" characters. Mrs Phelps, the librarian, also treats Matilda well.

This book also attempts to convey a subtle message to parents that children should be allowed to explore and discover their own hobbies. For instance, Matilda's parents should not keep insisting that she should watch television just because it is something they like to do. This can help offer a slight glimmer of hope to children who have parents who are not supportive of their hobbies or interests of choice. Maybe like Matilda, they will meet their Miss Honey one day.

Reading this book again as an adult, I found it very unrealistic and idealistic. However, children do need a bit of magic in their stories and this story has been enjoyed by many over the years. It even has movie and musical adaptations which have also been very well received.

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Source: www.goodreads.com

Looking for Alibrandi takes us through Josie's final year in high school. Being of Italian descent and from a middle-income home makes her a misfit in the elite private school she attends on scholarship. As if that is not challenging enough, her father whom she has never met suddenly appears in her life and they try to foster some kind of relationship. We also see her blossoming romance with Jacob Coote and how John Barton, whom she has had a crush on for a long time, confides in her during his dark and emotional moments. Throw in a rocky relationship and numerous conflicts with her grandmother and Josie certainly has her hands full.

This story has strong and well developed characters who are real and relatable. Told through a first person perspective through Josie, we get to see both Josie's interactions with the important people in her life as well as her musings and reflections. This gives the narration an authentic and candid voice. Melina Marchetta also manages to touch on a lot of social issues even within a short novel.

Most significantly, it explores the issues that migrant families face. Being of Italian descent, Josie faces racism in school where she is often called a "wog". Josie struggles with some confusion regarding her identity even though she was born in Australia, feeling that she is an "Italian in an Australian world" and we often see her frustrations as a result of this. As she observes, "thirty years on we're still trying to fit in as ethnics and we're still trying to fit the ethnics in as Australians." The difference in her culture and upbringing is also portrayed through her relationship with Jacob and the many issues they consequently face.

The difference in social status is also clearly depicted, especially how rich families will always remain privileged and part of the elite society. Although this issue has been touched on through several incidents in the story, Josie talks about it very succinctly in her characteristic cynical yet candid tone:

"If your father's a garbage collector, you're going to be a garbage collector, and if your father's filthy rich, you're going to be filthy rich because he'll introduce you to his rich friend's son. People breed with their own kind."

Josie also faces a lot of social stigma due to her illegitimacy. She got teased and bullied in school when she was younger and was even called names she did not yet understand. Even in high school, her schoolmates continue to make snide comments about her. To make matters worse, the Italian community is a conservative and unforgiving one who treat Josie and her mother with a sense of disapproval.

There are other coming-of-age themes that arise as the story progresses. Many of the teenage characters deal with family and parental expectations which is also part and parcel of being a teenager. Josie is pressured to conform to "Italian norms" or else, as her grandmother claims, "people will talk". Hence, she is worried about being seen on Jacob's motorbike and reluctant to tell her grandmother that she is dating Jacob. Being from an elite and high-profile family, John Barton also faces pressure to do well in school and become a lawyer and then a politician, following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. This causes him to spiral into depression, leading him to suicide.

We also get to see how Josie matures over the year through the change in her relationship with her grandmother. In the beginning, they do not get along and argue a lot. However, after finding out more about her grandmother's past, Josie begins to understand her more and empathise with her, thus fostering a closer relationship. Being able to see the different challenges the women of different generations face and how they bravely cope with them also made reading this book a touching and heartwarming experience.

The Jolly Pocket Postman by Janet & Allan Ahlberg

Source: http://www.unclephilsbooks.co.uk

The Jolly Pocket Postman is an amazingly fun and interactive picture book that will definitely bring lots of fun and laughter to young children. This book follows the Jolly Postman as he makes his rounds delivering mail. He soon finds himself delivering mail to many familiar characters as well. Many of these characters are famous personalities in the world of children's fiction like the Mad Hatter and Dorothy.

This book is beautifully illustrated. It has a great combination of art and interactive pages which provides wonderful a reading experience. The most outstanding characteristic of this book is that there are envelopes every few pages that children can open and be surprised with whatever they contain. Each mail item is also unique and some have little tales of their own. With such delightful elements, they will certainly be reading this book with a sense of wonder.

Source: photo taken by me

Children will also be introduced to fairytale characters while accompanying the Jolly Postman on his journey. The Jolly Postman not only delivers mail to different fairytale characters, he also encounters them in the setting of their fairytale. Children reading this book will be able to recognise them from other stories they have read or been told and this provides yet another element of fun!

Although young children will probably not be able to understand them, this book has several witty puns and wordplay cleverly incorporated. For example, this is a circular.

Source: photo taken by me

I think this book is especially precious since today, the use of snail mail has reduced a lot. As people are mostly communicating electronically now, many children might grow up not knowing what it is like to receive a letter or card in the mail. Although this book cannot exactly replicate that experience, it can at least give children a small taste of it.

This book will definitely be enjoyed by children of all ages. Some words are quite challenging but younger children can still have a lot of fun with the interactive mail items while being read to.

Every child will also most certainly need a map of fairytale land.

Source: photo taken by me

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Source: http://www.penguin.com.au/

When baby Coyotito gets stung by a scorpion one day, his parents, Kino and Juana, rush him to the doctor. However, as they are poor and cannot afford to pay, they are turned away. It seems like their prayers have been answered when later in the day, Kino finds a large pearl. However, he hits many obstacles while trying to sell the pearl at a justified price. In his attempt to safeguard his pearl, Kino accidentally kills someone and consequently, he and his family gets hunted down by the authorities. Eventually, Coyotito gets killed and Kino and Juana return to their lives of rural poverty.

This book explores the issue of poverty. Before Coyotito gets stung by the scorpion, Kino and his family lead a simple but contented life. Their problems only start to manifest due to their inability to pay the doctor to treat Coyotito. Things seem hopeful when Kino finds the pearl. However, he soon discovers that he is still unable to break out of poverty after the pearl buyers conspire to offer a low value for Kino's pearl. His desire to provide a better life for his family eventually leads to tragedy and the loss of innocence.

Through this story, young adults can get some exposure to colonialisation as a new concept and the issues it causes. We see how under colonial domination and oppression, the native people are treated very unjustly. Even though Kino finds a large pearl of high value, by being a Mexican native, he is still unable to save his family from a tragic fate. The doctor is also shown treating Kino in a very condescending manner and his conviction of his own cultural superiority is clearly demonstrated. As the story progresses, we see that many tragic incidents are caused by the powerful trying to take advantage of the weak.

The Pearl has a sad and emotional ending but is a very powerful book. Young adults will get to witness the familial love of Kino and his family and how greed and power can destroy a peaceful, simple life.

Arthur and the King's Sword by Tony Bradman & Tony Ross

Source: http://childrensbookshop.circlesoft.net/

This is a book for early readers and tells the famous tale of how Arthur, a mere squire, becomes king. When his brother, Kay, loses his sword, Arthur scrambles to find him a new one. His search leads him to the legendary Excalibur. After discovering that he is the only one able to pull it from the stone and yield its power, Arthur is made King of Britain.

This is a famous legend told in a way that captures the attention of young children. It is narrated as a classic adventure tale and has a simple linear plot, making it easy for young readers to understand and read independently. As with many legends, this story follows the monomyth, or the hero's journey, and as expected, the hero triumphs at the end.

What makes this story even more endearing is that the hero, Arthur, is seen as the underdog throughout. Hence, children will tend to empathise with Arthur more and celebrate his eventual victory.

There are many illustrations that accompany the text in this book. Although they are in black and white, they complement the story well and help to hold the attention of young readers. Being a simple chapter book, the illustrations can help children make the transition from picture books to chapter books. They also help to make reading less intimidating for new or reluctant readers. The language used is also simple most of the time but contains some challenging words like "amazement" and "summoned". This will encourage readers to learn new words and expand their vocabulary.

This book would be recommended for children between the age of 6 and 9. Reading this simple and enchanting version of this well-loved legend is a fantastic way to introduce children to historical fiction. As this genre has material written for every age group, there is a high chance of fostering lifelong reading habits among children who enjoy this genre.

Just considering the legend of King Arthur alone, there are books written for a diverse audience.

For older children/young teens: King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green

Source: https://www.goodreads.com

For young adults: King Arthur: Dragon's Child by M.K. Hume

Source: https://www.goodreads.com

For adults: The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

Source: https://www.goodreads.com

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss

Source: www.barnesandnoble.com

The story of Green Eggs and Ham is a simple one. Sam-I-am pesters the narrator to try his dish of green eggs and ham. The narrator refuses and responds by saying "I do not like them, Sam-I-am. I do not like green eggs and ham." He continuously repeats this as Sam badgers him to get him to try the dish in various locations and with different animals. The narrator finally relents and eats the green eggs and ham. He discovers that he actually likes them and ends by declaring "I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!"

As with most of Dr Seuss' works, Green Eggs and Ham is a fun and delightful read filled with rhyme, rhythm and repetition. Almost the entire book is written in the form of a rhyming couplet.

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The use of such a predictable rhyming scheme not only makes it fun for children to read aloud, it also provides the opportunity to learn the concept of rhyming words. There are even games and activities using the words in the book to help children identify the rhyming words. One such example is shown below.

Source: www.obseussed.com

This book only contains fifty different words and a large portion of them are repeated. This repetition helps create a long-lasting impression of rhyming words. It will also help reinforce new words as they are encountered again and again.

This story encourages children to have a sense of adventure and not to fear uncertainty. The green eggs and ham which Sam offers the narrator is seen as something new and unknown. The narrator is initially resistant to trying it but after he does, he realises that he likes it. This encourages children to always give something a try before deciding if they like or dislike it. Reading this as a young child, I remember thinking that the narrator has wasted so much of his time resisting something he could have enjoyed much earlier!

The whimsical illustrations that are highly characteristic of Dr Seuss also adds on to the sense of imagination and adventure this book provides.

Source: photo taken by me

Dr Seuss is undeniably one of the most classic and iconic writers of children's books. His books have the magical ability to transcend time and continue to touch and entertain children decades later. Although first published in 1960, Green Eggs and Ham is still enjoyed by children around the world today. Dr Seuss' works have also greatly influenced popular culture with books like "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Lorax" being adapted into movies. There is also a Dr Seuss themed section in Universal's Islands of Adventure called Seuss Landing.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti & Ian McEwan

Source: www.ianmcewan.com

This book tells of war and holocaust during World War II through Rose Blanche's perspective and readers get a peek into the real and honest observations of a young girl in Germany during the war.

In the beginning, we see how Rose Blanche views the war in a naive and innocent manner. This is especially so since the war did not change her life much. She still continued to go to school, play with her friends and walk around town safely. One day, she sees a little boy trying to escape from a lorry. Curious, she follows the lorry and finds herself outside a camp of prisoners. Seeing the sad and hungry prisoners, she goes back to the camp regularly to bring them food. However, the tides of war soon turn and the people in her town are forced to leave. Rose Blanche decides to make one more visit to the camp but is never seen after that.

This story uses simple language and is complemented by strong impactful illustrations. Although not explicitly stated, readers can tell from the yellow star on their uniforms that the prisoners whom Rose Blanche encountered were Jews who have been captured by the Nazis.

Source: thechildrenswar.blogspot.com

Rose Blanche's death is also not explicitly depicted either through text or illustrations. All readers are told is that "As Rose Blanche turned to walk away, there was a shot, a sharp and terrible sound which echoed against the bare trees." At this point, the narration of the story switches from her point of view to a third person one. We are also told that her mother never finds her after the day the town is evacuated. Through this, readers learn that she is accidentally shot and her love and kindness was only known by the few prisoners she managed to help.

Rose Blanche demonstrates the kind of compassion a young girl is capable of. Although she does not fully understand the significance of the hungry and miserable looking prisoners, she continues to return to the camp to bring them food. This book also shows the impact of war and how lives are inevitably changed. Initially, Rose Blanche's life goes on as usual. We see that the only difference the people in the town seem to experience is the shortage of food. However, later in the story, everyone has to evacuate and eventually another foreign army enters the town.

It is also interesting to note that the name Rose Blanche is a reference to a German resistance group called "The White Rose" which attempted to warn Germany of the dangers of Hitler's national campaigns. This story uses Rose Blanche, a girl who goes out of her way to help the Jewish prisoners in whatever small ways she can, as a symbol of resistance to the Nazi regime.

Rose Blanche is a powerful book that appeals to a very wide range of audience. Its simple language makes it easy for younger readers to read and understand. They will also enjoy the detailed and moving illustrations. As it is also brimming with inferred meanings and symbolism, it is sure to pique the interest of older readers too.