Bridging the Snowy

by Goldie Alexander, illustrated by Cailan Burns

Aussie School Books. Australian, Young Reader. Paperback rrp $9.95

Guest Reviewer - Anastasia Gonis

Rowan and Zach are first cousins but total opposites. Rowan is kind, although scared of heights and small for his age. He is ridiculed by the taller, athletic and fearless Zach. Their families always spend their holidays together in the Snowy Mountains.

Zach loves showing off. This gives him more opportunities to belittle his cousin and make himself shine. Zach heads out to cross a rope bridge above a river. Rowan is terrified. He has been told he will grow out of his fear, but he feels dizzy and breathless when he looks down. He knows he has to ignore Zach’s taunts and try to slowly make it to the other side. He is thrilled when he succeeds.

Zach leaves Rowan behind as he bounds ahead into the forest. Rowan is bedazzled by the beauty of the trees, the coloured lorikeets and the natural surroundings. Alone and fed up, Rowan decides to go back, but is in two minds about leaving his cousin. The weather changes and rain begins to fall as he catches up to Zach, so they shelter under a rock ledge to weather out the storm.

But the impatient Zach decides he’s had enough and sets out for the campsite. But hurrying along a slippery slope leaves him concussed and with a broken knee. Rowan is forced to ignore his fears and return across the now damaged rope bridge to bring help.

This story is about facing your fears, excepting yourself, and acknowledging that every person has special qualities which may at times be different to those of other people.

This is another of the terrific Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! series of books that always contain a lesson to be learned. The illustrations complement and visually reinforce the text for the reader.

http://www.goldiealexander.com/

Shape Shifters

by Goldie Alexander, illustrated by Dion Hamill

Aussie School Books. Australian, Young Reader, Fantasy. Paperback rrp $9.95

Guest Reviewer - Anastasia Gonis

Each story in the terrific Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! series presents a lesson to be learned inside a simple story line. The stories are told in simple language, with the characters involved in an adventure or some other exciting occurrence. The accompanying illustrations are geared to hold the interest of the reader by visually reinforcing what is going on.

Themes in Shape Shifters are bullying, facing the consequences of our actions and knowing how to choose between right and wrong.

Lei-Lei is the new girl at school. She also has a prosthetic limb. Her grandmother has taught her shape-shifting as a way of protecting herself from bullies. But her grandmother has also made it very clear that she is to use it only for self-protection or to help others.

Acacia is the school bully. When she starts to bully Lei-Lei, she is turned temporarily into a tree. Penny too, has felt Acacia’s cruelty and is astonished at the new girl’s ability to defend herself. She asks to be taught how it is done.

Lei-Lei’s grandmother shows Penny how, adding the usual caution about its use. But things get a bit complicated when her advice is not headed. It is through lessons learned that both girls are able to help and protect others as well as themselves when an accident occurs, by choosing the right way to use their gifts.

These books are from a company that is 100% Australian owned, operating in Australia, and printed in this country on Australian paper.

http://www.goldiealexander.com/