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Review articles of a general or metadata nature...

I Just Want To Be... ME!

Timothy Bowden & Sandra Bowden (authors)

Exisle Publishing, Australia: 2010

ISBN: 9781921497476

Genres: graphic novel, non-fiction

Issues: mental health, resilience

Holly finds it hard to get out of bed and face the world each day. She suffers terribly from anxiety and is convinced that she isn't good enough – not good enough to have friends, not good enough at anything to succeed, not good enough at all. What Holly doesn't realise is that most people feel as she does at least some of the time – and it is possible to learn to manage such feelings in order to overcome the despair and anxiety.

The Tree That Time Built

selected by Mary Ann Hoberman & Linda Winston

Sourcebooks, USA: 2009; 200pp

ISBN: 9781402225178

Genres: poetry, Science

Issues: environment, evolution

'The family tree of all life on earth might be called 'The Tree That Time Built'. It began putting down its roots millions of years ago.' (Introduction)

Subtitled, 'a celebration of nature, science and imagination', this outstanding anthology is a treasure trove of lyrical, moving, funny verse about the natural world.

Speeches That Changed the World

Simon Sebag Montefiore (editor)

Quercus Publishing, UK: 2010

ISBN: 9781848660823

Genres: history, non-fiction

Issues: freedom, equality, politics

Throughout history most leaders, however they're judged now, had one significant skill: oratory – the capacity to speak eloquently in public, to persuade people to a point of view, to convince them to follow a particular course of action. Great oratory is a combination of skilful writing and thoughtful delivery. A speech that is well written can be destroyed by bad delivery; an average piece of writing can be made powerful by personality and conviction.

Get Cooking

Sam Stern (author)

Walker Books, UK: 2007

ISBN: 9781406305609

Genres: cooking, non-fiction

Sam Stern, talented teenage cook, published his first book at 14. Get Cooking is his third effort, in which he dedicates a chapter to each ‘favourite ingredient' as listed by eight of his mates.

Life Stories

David Attenborough (author/reader)

BBC Audiobooks, UK: 2009 (3CDs)

ISBN: 9781408427446

Genres: audiobook, autobiography, factual text, non-fiction

Issues: environment

One of the greatest naturalists, teachers and best-known documentary presenters, the great Sir David Attenborough has released another book to delight those interested in the quirkier experiences of his lifetime.

Zoo Quest for a Dragon

David Attenborough (author, reader)

BBC Worldwide Ltd, 1999: 2 audio cassettes

ISBN: 0563552816

Genres: audiobook, autobiography, science

Issues: animal management, sustainability

2 audio cassettes: 3hrs 15mins

Note: now available on CD

David Attenborough's commitment to nature documentaries began in the 1950s with a black and white series called ‘Zoo Quest'. Together with the London Zoo's Curator of Reptiles, Jack Lester, Attenborough persuaded the BBC to mount and film a joint animal-collecting expedition.

Confident Music Performance: Fix the Fear of Facing an Audience

Ruth Bonetti (author)

Words & Music, Australia: 2003; 171pp

ISBN: 0957886160

Genre: music

Issues: confidence, nerves

Ruth Bonetti has spent more than thirty years as a professional musician, teacher and speaker. Her series, Taking Centre Stage offers sound advice for children and adults who are trying to deal with the negative impact stress and nervousness has on their performance.

Who Discovered What When

David Ellyard (author)

Reed New Holland, Australia: 2005; 426pp

ISBN: 1877069221

Note: extension vocabulary

Genres: factual text, general knowledge, information text, non-fiction, science

Issues: creativity, discovery

‘Who Discovered What When will introduce you to the growth of scientific ideas over the past five hundred years and to the people who brought them to life. It sets the ideas in a context of time and place and provides a framework for understanding the concepts and theories that have shapd our modern scientific world view.' (p7)

Bullying Solutions: evidence-based approaches to bullying in Australian schools

Helen McGrath & Toni Noble (ed)

Pearson Longman, Australia: 2006; 283pp

ISBN: 0733971644

Genres: education, factual text, information text, non-fiction, sociology

Issues: bullying

Bullying is a difficult issue in our society, nowhere more so than in our schools, where studies show that 19% of students report being bullied in some way on a weekly basis.

True Green: 100 everyday ways you can contribute to a healthier planet

Kim McKay & Jenny Bannin (authors)

ABC Books, Australia: 2006

ISBN: 9780733315640

Genres: factual text, information text, non-fiction

Issues: conservation, environmental awareness, global warming, sustainability

This very practical book is designed to help families change daily practices and routines: to alter behaviours we don't normally think about, in order to contribute to a ‘greener' society.

Reading level descriptors

HERE YOU will find descriptions of the reading level descriptors used in the NSWAGTC Book Reviews.

They are general descriptions and correspond with average reading ages. They will not correspond directly with the age of an individual reader, particularly a gifted reader. A typical Australian adult may have a reading age of about 14/15.