My Brother Ben

Peter Carnavas's My Brother Ben is a gentle, sun-soaked story for 10 year olds about two brothers, a creek full of birds and one last summer before things change.

What happens

Luke is quiet. He can name almost every bird call along Cabbage Tree Creek (Mum calls it his party trick). His brother Ben is twelve and fearless. Ben leaps from the Jumping Tree into the water while Luke swings in on the rope.

It's the summer before Ben starts high school. Their dad moved out last year, all the way to Perth, and Luke still won't talk to him on the phone. Mum works until dark. So it's mostly just the two brothers, plus Maggie, a magpie they rescued from the road.

Then the council announces a competition for kids. The prize is a fishing canoe, and all Ben has ever wanted is a boat. So the boys decide to make a book called The Birds of Cabbage Tree Creek, with Luke drawing every bird they can find.

Luke tells the story, and it's lovely being inside his head. He notices everything. Ben standing as still as a fence post while a girl walks past. The way Mum can say a whole lot with one half-smile.

It's very funny too. Ben's birthday present to Luke is a half-eaten peanut butter sandwich wrapped in newspaper. Guess who ends up with it? (Maggie, from the top of a gum tree.)

For a child who loves nature, drawing or a slower story about family, this is a beautiful one. It's set in Australia, with verandahs, mangroves and an aunt's rattly old ute, and it might just have them listening out for birdsong.

There are sad threads running through it. On the very first pages Luke is nearly hit by a car and Ben tackles him out of the way. And Luke's hurt over his dad leaving is always there in the background.

What to read next

If this one goes down well, try Peter Carnavas's The Elephant. Olive sees a big grey elephant following her father everywhere he goes, and every day she wishes it would leave.