Reviews of Krista's books
Peeking Ducks
Written by Krista bell & illustrated by Sally Rippin
Published by Windy Hollows Books
ISBN 9781921136450
www.windyhollowbooks.com.au
$25.95 H/B
Distributed by Peribo
Reviewed by Hazel Edwards (2009 Nanjing International Cultural Exchange Center author)
No, it's not a typo in the title. It's actually a clever use of the 'peeking' theme of curious ducklings, who like children, risk visiting new places. On this Li river, these adventurous ducks are Chinese, but they are 'peeking' not Peking ducks. Sally Rippin's artwork conveys the movement of the ducks as they play hide- and- seek, upstream. Even the endpapers are suitably watery. The flow of the artwork is a strength of this beautifully produced picture book, suitable for 3 year olds upwards, and those collectors of Chinese stories. Good use of dialogue to distinguish the duck characters with their Chinese names, but also for parents reading aloud. There's a definite rhythm to the story. Recently author Krista researched in China, and it shows in the local examples of the duck farmers' nests, roped fishing birds, water buffalo and hawkers. Illustrator Sally also worked for three years in China. Highly recommended as a useful resource for a study of China, but also a gentle cautionary tale with three little ducks discovering the real world.
Lofty's Mission reviews
The judges' report on Lofty's Mission from the NSW PREMIER'S HISTORY AWARDS 2008.
In this delightful picture book, a young boy gives up his favourite racing pigeon, Lofty, to be trained as a carrier pigeon by the Australian army. Lofty's mission takes him from an outer suburb of Melbourne to training in Queensland, before being sent to work for Australian soldiers fighting in New Guinea. The deceptively simple story manages to evoke a rich sense of Australian social history, introducing young readers to the world of the 1940s pigeon enthusiast, to the spectre of polio, and to something of the role played by animals in war. Krista Bell's text is brought to life beautifully through David Miller's distinctive illustrations, which give an authentic glimpse of the world of an Australian family in the 1940s. The simple text is based on strong research, with a glossary explaining some of the technicalities of pigeon training and unfamiliar terms like ‘squeaker' and ‘tin lizzie'. This is a book that should inspire its readers to find out more, containing as it does tantalising details about such things as the Dickin Medal, awarded to animals for bravery in war, and capturing through Miller's illustrations something of the visual world of the 1940s.
Download the Pigeon Journal article
This article appeared in the Pigeon Journal in April 2008.
Review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher February, 2008, by Margaret Hamilton.
Lofty's Mission (Krista Bell, illus. by David Miller, Lothian, $28.99hb, ISBN 9780734409812, March)
Harley has bred Lofty to be a champion racing pigeon, but the army needs strong pigeons to help them win the war. Krista Bell's heart-warming story of a pigeon sent to join the army and be trained as a messenger pigeon is based on true events during the Second World War. Lofty is taken to New Guinea, where he serves bravely and accepts the challenge presented to him. During Lofty's absence Harley is presented with a challenge of his own and he pines for Lofty.
The news of his pigeon's brave exploits arrives in the form of a medal for bravery. Lofty had saved an entire platoon of soldiers, was wounded and
will not be able to fly again. All ends well, with Lofty home and Harley training his offspring to become champions. David Miller has made his mark on Australian picture books with his stunningly detailed paper sculptures. They impart depth and texture to the page and an almost tactile sense of realism. The addition of a glossary provides useful background
information with an acknowledgement to Australian home breeders who donated pigeons to help the war effort, some actually winning the Dickin Medal for bravery.
Margaret Hamilton is a former children's publisher. She now provides freelance publishing services and reviews.
BOOK REVIEW in Buzz Words, April 2008
Lofty's Mission by Krista Bell Illus. by David Miller
(Lothian Children's Books/Hachette)
HB $28.99 Ages: 5 +
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie
Download the PDF
Lofty's Mission is the unusual story of a homing pigeon sent as a baby bird (squeaker) to be trained to carry secret messages for the Australian army during the Second World War.
Harley, Lofty's breeder, is heartbroken when he has to give up Lofty, his best squeaker for the war effort. The boy's dreams of Lofty becoming a champion racer are dashed. Instead, Lofty's identity is changed to Number 371. He is sent up to North Queensland to be trained, using peas as a reward, to return to the safety of his mobile pigeon loft.
His training over, Lofty is sent to New Guinea where he saves an ambushed platoon by flying with a message through enemy gunfire. Wounded, he presses on to complete his mission.
Meanwhile, Harley has succumbed to polio and after hospitalisation, returns to recover at home. A parcel containing a medal arrives. Lofty has been awarded a medal for gallantry. Harley thinks Lofty has died, but his Dad is quick to assure him that this is not true. Lofty is alive but unable to fly and will be discharged from the army.
When Lofty returns, Harley uses him as a stock bird and the story ends with Lofty's progeny, Nifty, fulfilling Harley's dream of owning a champion racing pigeon.
David Miller's amazing paper sculptures support this lovely story. At first glance I felt the illustrations lacked movement, but once I understood they were actually sculpted from paper, with intricate creases and finely executed detail, I quickly appreciated the talent of the artist. Couldn't help wondering, though, if Dad's pants on the last page are slung too low for the ‘forties period. I recall men's trousers were belted around the middle or even higher! Nevertheless, the illustrations and storyline beautifully complement each other, lending a feeling of more simple and genuine times.
This picture book will expose primary age children to a little known aspect of Australian Army history well worth revealing. A glossary at the end of the story supplies further interesting details about homing pigeons and how they were used in the war. This is a very appealing read.
Adelaide Advertiser 11 March 2008
Lofty's Mission
by Krista Bell.
(Hachette Children's Books, RRP $28.99)
It's wartime and a young boy called Harley has to sacrifice his baby homing pigeon.
Harley is very upset and feels he will not see him again.
Lofty becomes a messenger for the army and is renamed Number 371. He flies through enemy gunfire to carry an important message which will save a platoon of soldiers.
Lofty's mission looks at a part of Australia's history that is not known.
Melbourne illustrator David Miller has a special skill in paper sculpture, which he used to create the figures which were photographed to illustrate the book.
It's a book with a difference suitable for junior primary students and any reader who enjoys Australian history.
Hobart Launch of Lofty's Mission
Download full artcile
by CBCA (Tasmania) President Judy Moss.
If you know Krista Bell like I do, you will understand it when I say that she is an animal fanatic. Just get her talking about her beloved dogs, Phantom and Storm, and you're in for the long haul! To me, it's not surprising that her latest book (her 22nd) focuses on another animal, in particular, a bird. In fact, this is her third published offering about a pigeon!
Back in 1997, Krista presented us with Pidge, illustrated by Ann James. This was a delightful, warm account of a boy's adoption of an orphaned pigeon and its eventual return to the wild. And now, eleven years later, we have Lofty's Mission. Krista, I believe that, in this
book, you have raised the whole pigeon thing to a new, impressive, accomplished level. This is not just a warm, engaging story; it has so much to offer on so many accounts. It is an amazing slice of little-known Australian wartime history, presented sincerely, authentically and sensitively.
Krista, I congratulate you, your illustrator David Miller, your publisher Hachette Children's Books, and everyone concerned, on bringing together this beautiful book.
Let's have a closer look. On the first page of the book, Harley's Dad, Frank, sets off to deliver Harley's favourite baby homing pigeon, Squeaker #371 (Lofty) to the Australian Army. The use of homing pigeons to carry messages during the Second World War in New Guinea was news to me, though I knew this had happened in war zones overseas. In fact, this led me to do some research of my own, and I discovered that
As the Australian Corps of Signals had the responsibility of supplying communications to the Army, it was decided to incorporate the Pigeon Service within this Corps. The new Service was known as the Australian Corps of Signals Pigeon Service.
Krista mentions that
Between 1942 and 1943, home breeders like Charlie Morris from Braybrook, Victoria, donated more than 13,000 baby pigeons or squeakers to the Army for training.
The use of animals in warfare is known to us all, but we tend to hear about dogs, for example, or something like Simpson's Donkey comes to mind.
In 1943, an English woman, Maria Dickin, instituted a Bravery Award named after her, for animals involved in war service. Lofty's story is truly heroic, and I suspect that it could be based on the following case, records of which are to be found at the Australian War Memorial:
Blue chequer cock No. 879: Q Loft No. 5 of 1st Australian Pigeon Section, attached to the US forces, Manus Island. 5th April 1944. Awarded the Dickin Medal (also known as “the animals' VC”) for gallantry, carrying a message through heavy fire, thereby bringing relief to a Patrol surrounded and attacked by the enemy without other means of communication.
Krista's narrative is authentic and convincing; all the details about training procedures involved with pigeon husbandry are subtly included, and described and interwoven throughout the text. If you still don't understand, there is a fantastic glossary at the back of the book.
But there's another narrative thread which winds its way through the book: Harley contracts poliomyelitis. People of my age are very well aware of the historical significance of this within our own community, as some of us would have attended primary school with children in calipers as a result of infantile paralysis in the 1940s.
But I think the overwhelming impression of the book is that of relationships, such as the strong family ties between Harley and his parents – and text and illustrations work together beautifully to convey the strong family unit.
But most important is how Krista communicates that bond which defines and emphasises our humanity: the special bond and mutual dependence between human and animal, shared here between Harley and Lofty and expressed through Harley's pride and love of the bird. Krista is writing from the heart here!
The style of the text is straightforward and uncluttered.
Even more important in such a fine example of the picture book genre, the text is superbly enhanced and supported by David Miller's fabulous paper sculptures.
And look at these gorgeous end papers!
What a great combination of author and illustrator!
Krista, on behalf of us all here tonight, I wish you well with this book. I think that, within its pages, you have surely demonstrated your passion, your skill and your dedication as a writer. You have taught us about an important but little-known part of our country's history, and in doing this you have remained true to your aspirations of good writing and respect for the reader.
May Lofty's Mission have many, many readers!! Well done, girl.
Judy Moss
Speech to launch Lofty's Mission at Hobart Bookshop 13 March 2008.
No TEARS reviews
NO TEARS reviewed by Christine Oughtred - Childrens Book Council & The Victorian Diving Association
The most memorable books we read are the ones which seem to speak directly to us. Where the author seems to have understood something of what we've experienced or thought, so that when we read the book we think 'That's how I feel' or 'I know just what you mean'.
Krista Bell has achieved this in No Tears, particularly when we read about the apprehension and excitement leading up to competition, the surprise of meeting and making new friends at Nationals, and the comfort and support of friends you already have. Krista has then added extra value by encouraging us to be open to all of the possibilities in our lives.
As a member of the diving community I'm thrilled to be able to read and share something of the sport with others, and as a member of the Children's Book Council of Australia I can honestly say its is a welcome addition to fiction for younger readers who will recognise themselves in the book regardless of their backgrounds and interests.
Congratulations to Krista and the publishing team for an original and relevant perspective on finding and pursuing your own talent which is accessible to everyone.
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NO TEARS by Krista Bell (Lothian Junior Fiction) PB rrp $14.95
Reviewed by Gail C Breese
To Xanthe Briggs, year six student, qualified to compete in the National Diving Championships in Perth and diagnosed with stress fractures in both her wrists, a month off from diving seems like the worst form of torture ever. Xanthe is offered the chance to try out for her school's Sing Off group. She enjoys singing. Her unusual voice is a perfect foil for the rest of the choir and she is picked as lead vocalist. This is the school's first appearance at the Sing Off competition and the group is thrilled with how well it turns out. Xanthe begins to think that if she can't dive again singing is good second choice.
After her enforced break from diving, Xanthe's wrists heal and while more setbacks threaten her chances of competing in the championships, she finally travels to Perth. She trains under the harsh comments of her coach, WWW, or the Wicked Witch from Warsaw. Doubts and fears rock her confidence. Is she really good enough? Then the stress fractures once again cause her pain and threaten her chances of winning a medal. Meeting a new friend, Hiroko from Japan, and the encouragement from her friends Frazzi and Julia, gives her confidence and the belief that she can do it.
When Felix, the coolest boy who plays saxophone like no one else in the universe, phones her after the competition, her future looks brighter. There'll be no more tears for Xanthe Briggs.
No Tears is a story about friendships, achievements and being the best you can be with what you have. I was taken right into the world of competitive diving by Krista Bell's empathic writing and that is saying something for a non-sporty reader like me. There is a good balance between enough diving and singing terminology to satisfy those involved in these activities without confusing the readers who aren't. While the story seems to bound along from one set back to the next for Xanthe, the characters are interesting and the ending very satisfying. I would recommend it for girls 10+ years.
No Tears, along with Krista Bell's previous book, No Strings, has been optioned for a film.
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NO TEARS reviewed by Hazel Edwards
Written by Krista Bell (Lothian Junior Fiction)
$14.95 ISBN 0734406959 August release.
Although this is a stand alone junior novel, Krista Bell has written several titles (No Strings, No Regrets) around the same group of talented lower secondary students and a film is optioned. It's a clever idea to focus on a different character's story in each novel, but to still have the school-family relationship links and in this story revolving around Xanthe( and the pronunciation is explained in the story) the emphasis is upon her diving aspirations.
The strengths are the realistic technical details of the diving and singing training and the attitude of putting in effort to achieve a goal, hence the title. There are tensions resulting from her family's financial problems,her wrist injuries and whether she can afford to get to the interstate event in Perth. Japanese girl diver Hiroko provides an opportunity to show Xanthe's kindness , despite the pressures of competition. The forthright Coach stands out as a character.
Krista runs workshops in schools and has absorbed current details such as mobile phone usage, excitement about school events and peer group dynamics which make the school life realistic.
Suitable for upper primary or mid secondary students, especially those keen to learn or identify with a sport which has not had much coverage in Australian fiction.
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Herald Sun Saturday 28/10/2006
NO TEARS by Krista Bell
Hachette Livre, rrp. $14.94 ISBN 0734409659
XANTHE wants to win a medal at the national diving championships, but when her wrist starts to hurt it seems her years of training and missing out on playing with her friends might have been in vain. From the author of Who Cares? and Who Dares?
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Sunday Age Sunday 27/8/2006
Xanthe is a member of the elite diving squad, striving to win at the nationals in Perth. Her training regime is nothing short of gruelling, but it's the only way to realise her big dream: representing Australia at the Olympics. When injury threatens her career hopes, Xanthe takes a month off training, something she calls the 'worst form of torture ever'. Now what? Life outside the pool is complex and messy and Xanthe is forced to make choices that will impact on the rest of her life. A convincing and entertaining story with a bit of romance on the side.
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THAT'S THE TRICK reviewed by author Hazel Edwards **Highly recommended**
I confess my bias. Our family loves playing word games and newspaper quizzes after dinner. So I bought a copy of 'That's the Trick' , which is about commonly confused homophones, for my son-in-law Dave's birthday.
With an extended family which includes a six year old who also likes trying to answer word quizzes and who already knows that:
- 'Homophones are words that sound the same, but are usually spelt differently, and mean different things,'. I see this book as a family gift.
Book launcher Christopher Cheng played word games with the SCWBI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators') Sydney conference audience, and they 'loved' the spelling challenge of rite, write, right and other funny confusions.
Highly recommended for ESL, all writers, students and families who love words, I think it would also be an excellent resource for a radio station or newspaper which might like to run a contest for audiences or readers to suggest 'sporting' or 'embarrassing' homophones! Could run for months!
Well organised alphabetically, with additional index, it is the over 300 illustrations of 'That's the Trick!' which extend its appeal for all ages.
That's The Trick reviewed by Annette Dale Meiklejohn
From Magpies Magazine - Volume Twenty One
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THAT'S THE TRICK! COMMONLY CONFUSED HOMOPHONES
Krista Bell, ill. Sarah Dunk, Lothian Books, ISBN 0 7344 0894 3 $14.95
The popularity of etymological books is not confined to the adult market place: children, too, enjoy wordplay and exploring the meanings of words. What they often don't particularly enjoy is formal lessons with drills and exercises. Books such as this new title from Krista Bell provide teachers with light-hearted resources to support their teaching as well as being worthwhile additions to a general collection for children to 'stumble upon' when returning to old favourites such as 'Spooner or Later'.
Bell worked with a primary school class when researching and writing this book and one sees this involvement in some of the toilet humour (nothing offensive, just bad smells and weeing) and in a running joke about a Green Whale, among other things. Reading this book I could see many ways that I could use it with students - in particular as a stimulus for producing our own, albeit less
extensive, books of homonyms/homophones.
Each entry comprises headwords printed in bold above a sentence or two in which the homophones/homonyms (again in bold) are used in context. A comical illustration further explicates the meanings of the words - to greater effect in some cases than in others. All of the homophones used in her introduction are also in bold and can be cross checked with their entry in the main body of the text or in the section at the conclusion headed homophone meanings (sic). In her introduction, Bell encourages readers to collect their own list of homophones and to record this on the blank pages at the back - a great idea, but the copy I have only has one and a third columns of blank space, not any number of blank pages. A minor glitch, I know, but a glitch just the same.
This is a book that might need a little promotion at first, however, once teachers and students have discovered it it will be a very popular title (if you can get it back from the first teacher who borrows it!).
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Ideas for using That's the Trick in the classroom: with thanks to Jenny Stubbs teacher/librarian Ipswich, Queensland, who created these activities:
- Divide the sentences into manageable batches (eg from say A to C) and read the first batch of sentences one by one to the class, showing the illustrations (this would be best done with Power Point). Work through the book alphabetically until all 300 homophones have been shown to the class over multiple sessions.
- Have sentences and images on separate strips of paper and have students (or groups of students) match them up.
- Read a selection of sentences (or present them as a worksheet) and have students illustrate them.
- Supply some of the illustrations with their homophones (but not their sentences) and have students create their own sentences for the images using those homophones.
- Give the class a selection of just the homophones and have the students write their own sentences and then illustrate them.
- Supply just the illustrations with no clues and see if the students can work out what the homophones are, perhaps choosing the easier, more obvious images, eg ate,eight/ ball,bawl/ flower,flour.
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Children's Book review: That's the Trick! by Krista Bell
Reviewed by Sally Murphy in Aussiereviews.com
Commonly confused homophones.
It's cool when a nasty smell escapes and does its best to stink out the classroom.
Homophones (also commonly known as homonyms) are those tricky pairs (or threes or even fours) of words which sound the same but are spelt differently and, of course, have different meanings. These pesky words lie in wait just looking for a chance to trip up young spellers (and adult ones, too). Award-winning author Krista Bell has compiled a book which explains the difference between each homophone set, by putting them into entertaining sentences.
Each set of homophones - arranged alphabetically - is included in a sentence which manages to demonstrate the differences between all the words in the set. It is then accompanied by a humorous cartoon (drawn by Sarah Dunk) that further demonstrates the meaning. At the back of the book is a dictionary which provides a definition of each word in each set, for further enlightenment.
This is a handy little book which has classroom and library appeal but which would also make an excellent at-home reference - as well as being simply an entertaining read.
Bell has a love of words which is obvious in this little offering.
That's the Trick! by Krista Bell, illustrated by Sarah Dunk
Lothian Books, 2006
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Children's Book review: If the Shoe Fits, by Krista Bell
Reviewed by Sally Murphy in Aussiereviews.com
A delightful story of dancing and self-confidence.
Cassie loves dancing. She goes to dance classes three times a week. The problem is, she doesn't like dancing in front of people - in fact the thought of people watching her terrifies her. She wishes she could be like Jake, the most confident boy in the dance class.
When the dance school has an open day, Cassie tries desperately to stay home. How can she overcome her fear of performing? But when she arrives at the school, she discovers she's not the only one who is worried - Jake has fears of his own. Together the pair conquer their fears and learn that they make a wonderful team.
If the Shoe Fits is a cute little read with a big message about self-confidence, expectations and friendship. Part of Lothian's Start Ups series aimed at readers new to chapter books (junior novels), there is a high ratio of illustration to text and bite-sized chapters which make the book accessible to readers as young as six or seven.
Lovely.
If the Shoe Fits, by Krista Bell
Lothian, 2006
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A review of 'Who Dares!' in the Melbourne Herald Sun, April 9th 2005
Writer Krista Bell has used surfing and skateboarding to entice the 10 to 14-year-old fiction reading market.
An avid spectator rather than a player, Bell consults experts in each sport to bring authenticity to her books.
She consulted a junior girl surfing champion for her latest book, Who Dares!
'She talked to me about manoeuvring and how she would feel if she was out doing what my characters were doing,' Bell says.
Bell sees no irony in kids sitting reading about sport while experts sound the alarm about childhood obesity.
'There are lots of kids who will never go on waves like Rhys (in Who Dares!) because they are too big, but they can feel the exhilaration of being the last man standing in a surfing competition.
'You can live it and you don't even need to go on a beach. Or you might be a surfer and dream that one day you might be that good.'
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A review of 'Who Dares' by Sally Murphy of Aussiereviews.com
Rhys rode that wave like the champion he hoped to become this week, right here, where he'd been surfing all his life. He pumped it all the way to the beach, until he expertly flicked off the back of the wave. Totally satisfied, he watched as it dissolved into nothingness right next to the rocks. Brilliant, totally utterly brilliant.
This is Rhys and Toby's second trip together to Lorne. Last time they managed to form a pretty good friendship and solve each other's problems. This time the trip is all about surfing - they hope.
Both boys are entered into the Easter surfing competition and, in the days before, all they plan on doing is getting in some practice. But when Toby's board bag is stolen from the beach, they are determined to track down who has taken it and other missing surf gear, even if it means time away from practice.
Before the competition begins, there is time for more than one mystery to be solved.
Who Dares? is a mix of surfing, skateboarding and mystery, which is a blend sure to appeal especially to young male readers, but it is also a story of friendship, family and keeping an open mind. Whilst the focus is on the growing friendship between the two main characters, there is also an exploration of their developing understanding of the other characters they meet. The boys' lessons about making judgements and valuing family are gently shared with readers without being preachy or didactic.
Who Dares? is a sequel to Who Cares? (the winner of the 17th Australian Family Therapist's Award for Children's Literature), but also stands alone as an entertaining read.
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WHO CARES? Reviewed in GOOD READING magazine February 2004
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis
Age guide 13+ Highly recommended
Because of a last-minute change in plans, Toby is left to spend a holiday week at Lorne with Rhys, a boy he's never met. Rhys is distant and unfriendly, and although the boys' mothers had been close friends in the past, they had lost contact through time and circumstance. But time changes most things, and most people. It had certainly changed Rhys' mum. And everyone has secrets. Rhys has a secret about his mum that he guards carefully. Toby has a secret too. But when it is inadvertently exposed, he understands how important it is to discuss things that hurt and worry you, instead of keeping it hidden through fear of being ridiculed.
Sometimes people and things seem one way, but turn out to be entirely different. With the basis of a mutual interest in surfing, the boys are able to find a meeting of minds. Toby also discovers that it is possible for a person you didn't initially like to turn into your best friend. Together they learn that there are different ways to view and approach things, and that discussion often resolves problems and keeps you from feeling alone and unhappy when in a difficult situation.
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THE AGE BOOK REVIEW OF NO STRINGS
NO STRINGS was reviewed favourably in The Age, Melbourne, on Saturday 27 March 2004 by Lorien Kaye.
'The gifted Felix Bartlett (or is it Felix Judd?) is having a crisis of confidence about his saxophone playing. But how much is it really about his talent, and  how much is it about his confusion over his identity, the result of long-divorced parents?
Although 13-year-old Felix appeared in Krista Bell's No Regrets, this is very much a stand-alone novel rather than a sequel. Here, Felix takes centre-stage, while Julia, who was the star of the earlier book, plays a supporting role. Felix and Julia have completely dissimilar personalities and superficially the plots are different, but there are strong parallels between the two novels. Both feature accelerated students who struggle to be accepted by their peers and experience bullying at their respective schools, before eventually overcoming their problems in positive ways, with support from family and friends, while drawing on their own resources.
The biggest difference between Felix and Julia is that while Julia has a compulsion to talk, Felix finds it hard to speak about what's bothering him. The novel follows his struggle to acknowledge and articulate his inner turmoil about his identity - once he does the problem is put into perspective and diminishes. Similarly, once he takes action to stop a bullying roommate at boarding school, instead of denying that he is being bullied, he is able to put an end to his mistreatment.
No Strings is the sort of book that book-hungry adolescents (who else would read about accelerated students?) will gulp rather than savour and digest. And that's just fine.'
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