Egmont, 2011. ISBN 9781405254571 (pbk).
Jake decides to have a game of hide-and-seek with Daisy, the cow.
On the surface, it would seem that Jake would always be a winner
because, really, how can you hide if you are a cow? But Daisy is
no ordinary cow. She is a strange magical colourful kind of cow
and no matter how hard Jake looks, he cannot find her. He looks in high
places and low places, muddy places and clean places, even sunny places
and spooky places but he cannot see her. He even thinks she might have
tricked him and hidden with her friends in the cow paddock! He is
so sad and is about to give up when something magical happens!
The ending is just as it should be for this age group.
This is another story from the author of Birdsong
which I reviewed in
April after Kindergarten had so much fun performing it. I'm
delighted to say that it is just as engaging. Experience has
shown me that children love to search for hidden objects in stories,
often focusing on that rather than the story itself, so that this story
which relies on them looking for Daisy is guaranteed to attract and
intrigue and help them learn about the intrinsic entertainment of
stories. There were shouts of pleasure as they tried to be the
first to find Daisy, and Jayden introduced us to the word 'camouflage',
which gave an alternative little boy some very positive kudos from his
peers. We had lots of fun thinking about where else on the farm
Daisy could hide, bringing the language of the country to the city, and
then, of course, we had to have a game of our own.
Ellie Sandall knows just how to connect with the very young through her
words and her pictures. Hopefully, there will be more titles from
her soon.
Barbara Braxton
Family forest by Kim Kane and Lucia Masciullo
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2010. ISBN 9781921564703. Family forest has been nominated for the CBCA Picture Book of
the Year
Awards for 2011 and it truly fits this year's Children's Book Week
theme of 'One world, many stories.'
Its dedication to the author's 'pre-cooked' and 'home-baked' children
gives an indication of its theme of blended families, step-sisters and
brothers, step-dads and mums and all the connotations that children
find themselves living in today. Through its hilarious
illustrations, it explores what is meant by terms like 'half-sister',
and step-mum (and she's not an evil witch as the fairytales portray),
and shows that whatever its configuration, a family is just a group of
people with very special bonds built on love. The connections are more
than biological birth details. Instead of having a family tree, this
little girl is lucky enough to have a family forest!
As teachers of our time, we know that traditional topics like 'Who's in
your family?', Mother's Day and Father's Day, and 'Construct your
family
tree' have to be undertaken with a certain sensitivity because, despite
what some would want us to believe, the notion of a family being a
mother, father and their offspring is not the reality for many of our
students.' This beautiful book offers an opportunity for the
children to explore all the different structures that can constitute a
family and that their particular situation, while special, is not
unique.' It opens the door for discussions about circumstances
that might help them feel a part of the group rather than isolated from
it.' It also allows those who are in a 'traditional' environment
to understand that there are all sorts of arrangements that can be
called a family and that just because a mummy and daddy don't love each
other, it doesn't mean they don't love their children.
This is a true example of a picture book - the text and illustrations
are so closely and beautifully interwoven that neither can stand alone
as richly without the other, rather like family members.' The text
is simple, but with a strong message brought to life by the humorous
pencil and watercolour pictures.
While its initial appeal is the younger market, it is often the older
primary student who is starting to examine, compare and question what
is beyond their immediate situation and so this book has an important
place in the collection.
Barbara Braxton
Hope: the everyday and imaginary life of young people on the margins by Simon Robb et al.
Wakefield Press, Adelaide; 2010.
This publication came about as a result of a University of Adelaide
Research Project from 2006-8 titled Doing Social Sustainability:
the
utopian image of youth on the margins in schools.
The material was collected using a variety of methodologies including
visual anthropology. Photo-elicitation was used with subjects
being given disposable cameras to record aspects of their life, so the
book has many photographs and drawings.
The book is roughly divided into three sections, with the young people
telling their stories, then teachers working in their schools give
their opinions, and finally the four researchers give summaries from
their viewpoints.
The preface talks about the complexities of hope and states 'some of
this material might confront the reader, assault our gentle
sensibilities '. The young people certainly do that with
statements such as 'I don't trust anyone,' 'I don't reckon the world is
going to be around much longer,' and 'when I think about hope I think
about dope plants.' However there are alternate
views expressed, such as 'hope is a new beginning' and 'I want a home
and an everyday life like you see in an f--- movie.'
Teachers talk of the difficulty of educating in schools in poorer
socio-economic areas, with one saying; 'You had a persona that you've
had for 20 odd years, and you've got to drop it because it doesn't work
here and it's very confronting.' The importance of relationships
for young people is a constant and the hopefulness of teaching is based
around 'relationships of openness, friendship and caring.'
This would be a useful book for new teachers to read, so as to have
some understanding of what the world looks like to students growing up
on the margins of society. The book or even just chapters
of it could also be used in personal development lessons with older
secondary students.
Kay Haarsma
Taj and the great camel trek by Rosanne Hawke
UQP, 2011. ISBN 9780702238772.
Highly recommended. Historical. When Taj rides his camel, Mustara hard
against Tommy, the boy from the coast, in a camel race at Beltana, he
longs to win to show the men that he and his camel are ready to join
their expedition across the Australian continent to Perth. But it is
not to be, Mr Giles chooses his camels from the experienced and older
animals, but later, after Mustara brings Taj and Emmeline back after a
dust storm has obliterated their tracks, he changes his mind. So begins
the journey that will change things for Taj and his father, as well as
the finding of a land route to Perth in the new colonies.
Taj, raised by his father in the Afghan tradition, initially struggles
to find his place in the land of his birth. He must work out what lies
beyond the smiles and the words of the 7 other men on the expedition,
and accepting friendship when it is offered from people vastly
different from himself. He learns the forbearance of his father in
coming to a new country for work, only to have his wife die and who,
through songs and stories of his homeland, passes on the attitudes of
his culture needed by Taj as he matures.
Forget the dry dusty lessons about Australia's early explorers, this
story of Ernest Giles' expedition across the continent is mesmerising,
as Hawke uses Giles' journals and accounts meticulously. In her capable
hands the story, embellished only by the inclusion of the 13 year old
boy to make the tale accessible to a younger audience, comes to life. A
new generation of readers will learn of Giles' expedition as they dive
into the story of Taj and his camel, Mustara crossing Australia's
desert from Port Augusta to Perth in 1875. And what a journey they will
have!
An historical novel that stands out, Taj and the great camel trek,
informs
as
well as entertains. No long descriptions or afterwords are
necessary as Hawke includes all the detail the reader needs to know as
part of the story. We learn of the days without water, the search for
waterholes, the brushes with indigenous groups, and above all the
camels, the group becoming almost a character within the story. The
reader soaks up the facts, woven subtly into the fabric of the story,
making the whole fascinating and involving.
Fran Knight
The aunties three by Nick Bland
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 9781741697919.
(Ages 5+) Highly recommended. When the three aunties are about to come
visiting, the house is in an uproar. Things must be put away, games
disassembled, manners remembered and voices calmed down. The three
children are reminded to get the women a cup of tea, offer biscuits,
and be on their best behaviour for the visit. Of course things do not
turn out well: the cat eats one auntie's hat and so she leaves, the
second aunt sits on the broken chair and so she leaves. When the
children try and cook something for the last aunt, they are all covered
in baked beans. A funny and appealing story with a laugh on every page
will have immediate appeal to younger readers, while the twist in the
end will cause more laughter.
The illustrations are fantastic, colourful and full of fun. On each
page is a variety of things to watch out for, adding another level of
humour to an already laugh out loud story. The wallpaper, the
children's clothes, the aunties, even the fridge are triggers for a
smile.
With a large dose of whimsy, this book is an ideal read-a-loud,
inviting the children to add their voices to those of the aunts and the
children in the story.
Fran Knight
Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan
Ill. by Mike Lowery. Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 9781408814413.
Picture book. Frog and Bunny are best friends. They do everything
together. They go swimming, eat peanut butter sandwiches and even fight
monsters. But sometimes they don't get along and they have to work out
how to stay friends.
In an original and unusual picture book, Ryan has written a
rhyming story that will appeal to boys who like mechanical toys and
robots. The repetition of the words 'Ribbit, rabbit' with variations
following it like 'Zip it, zap it' and 'Trip it, trap it' make it a fun
book to read aloud. It is a story that will make the young listener and
reader become aware of the intricate patterns of words and want to try
out new rhymes for themselves.
The ups and downs of friendship are effortlessly included in the
story as they fight over little and big things but realise what they
have to do to make up. Ryan manages to convey in very few words how
lonely it can be when you have had a fight with your best friend and
also how difficult it is to make up.
The quirky drawings by Mike Lowery are cartoon like, and Frog and Bunny
are endearing characters, their facial expressions bringing the meaning
of the text to life. The young reader is challenged to follow the
illustrations as they show what is happening to the two main characters
and are an integral part of the story.
This is an intriguing picture book that I will keep for my young
grandson.
Pat Pledger
Zac Power: The Rock Star Files by H.I. Larry
Zac Power: The Fear Files by H.I. Larry
With the many titles in the Zac Power series being organised
sequentially in terms of length and level of difficulty, the concept of
including two stories within one jacket is a clever marketing strategy.
Children who have begun by tackling the smaller, individual titles
would feel a certain sense of achievement as they are seen reading
these thicker books. They still contain large double spaced font, full
page illustrations and have many small sketches interspersed
throughout. In addition, each title introduces many new tools, gadgets
and types of transportation, all of which are sure to grab the interest
of the emergent young male reader or slightly older reluctant reader.
Filled with positive messages throughout and with each story concluding
on a pragmatic note, Zac is unable to take his hero status too
seriously. Perseverance, fearlessness, independence, kindness to others
and a good work ethic could be drawn out as themes. Although these
titles could never be considered prize winning literature, they have
nonetheless won their way into the hearts of many young readers. They
are never on the shelves in our school library and serve to
successfully ease children into other more complex adventures and
science fiction stories.
The titles include:
Zac Power: The Rock Star Files Blockbuster. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 978 1921759840.
Whilst at Homework Club, Zac receives an invitation to the premiere of
a blockbuster movie. Treated like a star, Zac travels to Hollywood on
board a spectacular blimp. Complete with film stars, mansions,
computerised limousines and paparazzi, he is introduced to a strange
new world with his mission being downloaded from a hotdog! Once on the
set of a new movie, Zac meets a bunch of androids and discovers a plot
to brainwash the world's best spies. He needs to resolve this
situation, before heading home to 'write a thank you note'. Shock Music (in same volume)
Hunting for a birthday present for his mum, Zac comes across a display
of D-Pods, music players similar to iPods. His new mission is to
investigate these machines, as it appears that they have the ability to
turn their users into zombies under the control of Dr Drastic. With the
aid of the CamoSine, he is delivered to the location of for his task
and, in the process; Zac is personally introduced to Axe Grinder, his
favourite band of all times. Immediately, he begins to establish his
new persona as a Rock Star and goes on to uncover the truth behind the
D-Pods. Is it his favourite band that is to blame or is Dr Drastic
responsible?
Zac Power: The Fear Files Horror House. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 9781921759833.
When Zac receives mission information on his SpyPad, which appears to
have been intended for a BIG agent and not him, he heads into a haunted
house where he needs to uncover the truth behind the message. On this
mission he encounters a scary house complete with everything one would
expect to see in the stereotypical 'haunted house', spiders, bats,
skeletons, ghosts and more. Luckily Zac has remembered the lessons
taught to him by his old granny, parents and brother and is not afraid
of anything the house has to offer.
Thrill Ride
Zac is seemingly abducted from an Axe Grinder concert, before being
given his new mission, an 'intelligence gathering operation' in which
he must bug the conference facility at a new theme park called The
Shark Park.
Having to do so disguised as Captain Tentacles the Happy Octopus makes
his life challenging and also more embarrassing! In the course of duty,
Zac meets some characters who may or may not prove to be enemies and
uncovers a sinister plot to which he then tries to put a stop.
Jo Schenkel
Playground complied by Nadia Wheatley
Illustration and design by Ken
Searle. Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 978 1 76237 097 2.
(Ages 8+) Recommended. Picture book. Subtitled, Listening to
stories from country and from inside the
heart,
this large picture book of 85 pages plus about 10 pages of conclusion,
acknowledgments, bibliography, references to contributors and index,
make this an exceptional book to use in the classroom and library when
looking at Aboriginal culture. Each double page is an amalgam of
stories from different groups in different areas of Australia, with
superb illustrations and photographs, collected under headings which
are of huge benefit to the student. With headings such as First
lessons, Getting bush tucker, Going fishing, Learning
through
song
and
ceremony and Growing up, the range of topics covered will
cover all
eventualities in the classroom. Students that want to know how
information is passed on in a community without written language, will
be satisfied with several chapters, particularly the one entitled,
Learning through stories and pictures, which, after an introduction,
then allows the people to tell their stories. So we have Jami Lester,
growing up in the Yankunyjatra lands in western South Australia,
talking of his experiences, followed by Paddy Japaljarri Stewart from
the Walpiri lands in Central Australia, talking of the law in his
community and Olive Jackson telling us of law in her community. In this
way the book serves to show the differences between Aboriginal groups
as well as their similarities. On the three double pages of Getting
bush tucker, an introduction again gives the reader a context, then
launching into stories from different people. Darby Ross, a Walpirir
man,
describes collecting and sharing food as a child, while Hazel Brown and
her brother talk of collecting food in south west Western Australia,
and Troy and Geoffrey tell of collecting emu eggs near Walgett in New
South Wales. In this way a collection of stories details the experience
on the land of these individuals, building up a picture of Aboriginal
life.
Sharing their wisdom, both within their communities and with the wider
world, ensures that their culture lives on, and this book reveals much
to the student and interested reader, eager to learn of the Aboriginal
way of life, where the land is both their school and their playground.
A most useful resource which supports many other wonderful books, The
Papunya
book (Nadia Wheatley), Maralinga (Christobel Mattingley)
and
Our world (One Arm Point Remote School)
Fran Knight
Piano lessons by Anna Goldsworthy
Black Ink Press, 2009. Louis Braille Audio, 2010. ISBN 9781742124087.
Highly recommended. Audio book. Biography. A mesmerizing insight into
the relationship between teacher and pupil is told in this audio
version of Anna Goldsworthy's award winning story Piano lessons. In
this homage to her teacher, Goldsworthy gives a candid account of her
lessons from the first day. She was advised to find another teacher
when her current teacher, a jazz musician, felt she had learnt all she
could from him. Her family was advised that their daughter should
audition for lessons with Eleanora Sivan, a woman brought up in the
strict discipline of Russian piano teaching. Taught within the European
tradition she was only one or two people away from the famous composers
of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and this vast
experience was handed on to Goldsworthy.
From these accounts of her youthful lessons to when she became a
concert pianist of world repute, Anna Goldsworthy's teacher, Eleanora
Silvan, shines through. Encouraging, yet aloof, vigilant and critical,
giving a rich background to the various pieces Goldsworthy learnt, Mrs
Silvan's force of character is obvious from the start and as we listen
to this marvellous recording, her presence can be felt.
Anna Goldsworthy's compliment to the teacher is in every word, as the
woman berates her pupil for not feeling the music, or not knowing about
the composer, or not putting enough expression into a piece, or
shrugging when she makes a mistake on stage.
At first, Mrs Silvan told Anna's father that the girl would not make a
concert pianist, but Anna decided that this was to be her aim, and so
practising four hours a day became a norm. Through her years at high
school, Goldsworthy worked hard at piano as well as her classes at
school, but keeping her cleverness to herself. Only when the first of
many accolades was given to her did some of her peers realise her
talent.
With Mrs Silvan's one word, 'Not', ringing in her ears, Goldsworthy
kept hard at work, refining her piano playing, learning all about the
composers and their work, and entering competitions. Each competition
was a stepping stone and yet Mrs Sivan kept reminding her that she
should play for herself, not for a competition where other people's
opinions were more important than her own. At the end of year 12,
interviewed for The Advertiser, Goldsworthy gave glib answers to the
inane questions and was reported without thought. Mrs Sivan was
devastated and it took some strength of character for Goldsworthy to
regain the footing that she had with her teacher. The strength of the
teacher, Mrs Sivan, was equally present in the pupil. And now, that
strength, knowledge and heritage is being passed onto a new generation
of pupils through Goldsworthy's teaching and stage presence.
Beautifully read by Jane Nolan, the text is enriched by the subtlety of
her voice and the nuances of tone which underline the feelings of the
main characters. Her rendition of the voice of Mrs Sivan is remarkable,
giving a richness to her accented pronouncements and the stress on the
word, 'Not', is enough for the listener as well as the pupil to sit up
and take notice.
Fran Knight
Who stole Mona Lisa? by Ruthie Knapp
Ill. by Jill McElmurry. Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 978408511580.
(Ages 7+) Picture book. Warmly recommended. The story of the theft of
the Mona Lisa in 1911 is retold in this vibrant picture book in
celebration of the anniversary of its theft. Celebrate is probably the
wrong word to use when dealing with the theft of such a significant
painting, but the book serves to celebrate the painting itself and the
artist who painted it. The book also serves to remind us of the
fragility of such icons of our civilisation and their vulnerability.
The reader is invited into the gallery of the Louvre in Paris to look
at the painting and hear what the guide has to say. In this way the
reader is given a potted history of who the sitter was, something about
Leonardo da Vinci and why the painting was executed. Some of this
children may know but for younger readers, the facts are fascinating.
The story of what happened after Leonardo died is even more entrancing
as the painting made its way around Europe, ending up in Napoleon's
bedroom. He gave the painting to the Louvre and there it became world
famous with many visitors.
One visitor was Vincenzo Perugia, who firstly measured the painting
before stealing it in 1911. An Italian house painter, he claimed to
have stolen it to return it to Italy, but he painting languished under
his stove in his flat for two years before he was caught and sent to
prison.
A fascinating story told in part by the painting itself, the book will
encourage an interest in this painting, which draws huge crowds to the
Louvre every year. Readers will love to read of the theft and why
Perugia stole the painting and what happened to it while it was
missing. An astute teacher will use this book to encourage students to
look more closely at this well known painting, at the painter and take
a wider perspective of museums and art galleries, and perhaps other
famous thefts.
Fran Knight
Pip and Posy: the super scooter by Axel Scheffler
Nosy Crow, 2011. ISBN 9780857630056.
Pip the rabbit was riding on his new scooter - he could go up and down
and even do tricks on it. But when his friend Posy saw it she
liked it a lot - so much that she snatched it away from Pip and off she
went, up and down and doing tricks, even though she had never been on a
scooter before. What happens next is quite predictable, as
stories should be for this age group, but Pip's response offers a
lesson about how we should treat our friends even if we are cross with
them.
I shared this with Miss Nearly 5 and she loved its simplicity which is
enhanced by the delightful illustrations of the author (who also
illustrated The Gruffalo).In fact, she was so entranced that I
overheard her retelling it to Miss 7-weeks in her bassinette.
Great for reading aloud and reading along and talking about options and
good choices. What could Posy have done instead of snatching the
scooter?What do you think Pip will do when Posy crashes?
Miss Nearly 5 has put her seal of approval (and dibs) on this one.
Barbara Braxton
Interview with Elaine Ouston, author of The mystery of Nida Valley
Today I am hosting Elaine Ouston on her blog tour. Elaine Ouston's
latest fantasy book, The Mystery of Nida Valley,
a
tale
of
magic, time-travel and adventure for readers aged 10+ has just been
released. It is the first book in a series about a hidden valley full
of ancient animals, dinosaurs, and much more.
What authors/books did you read as a child?
As a beginning reader, I loved the fantasy of Enid Blyton's books like
The Magic Faraway Tree, but by about ten, I had switched to her
adventure stories. I read most of the series of The Famous Five,
The
Secret Seven, and anything I could get my hands on in the same ilk.
From my teens on my taste changed and I started to read fantasy. The
Lord
of
The
Rings is my all time favourite.
When did you first become interested in being a writer?
At school, I loved writing compositions (short stories) in English
class, and would send hours dreaming up interesting plots for them.
Did you consider a career in writing?
In year eight - the year we finished lower school then - I was told by
the guidance office that I had the potential to study either art or
writing - to become a graphic artist or journalist. It was a hard
decision, but I choose art and worked in the industry for over twenty
years. But I never lost my desire to write. During this time I also
studied creative writing. My writing at that time was advertising
related - advertising copy writing, newsletters, press releases
etc.
Name authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own
writing
in some way?
As I have already mentioned, J. R. R. Tolkien is my all-time favourite
author. Enid Blyton, C. S. Lewis and The Bronte sisters, follows him
closely but there are so many current novelists who also inspire me. I
am fortunate enough to have most of them as my Facebook friends. The
few I haven't yet met are Maria V. Snyder, Matthew Reilly and Tim
Winton.
If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book
with
you, what book would it be and why?
I wouldn't be able to decide - that's why I'm taking an eBook reader to
Europe with me - so I can take a whole library.
What do you hope your readers will take away from reading your books?
Except for knowledge of the megafauna, I want my readers to be totally
absorbed in the world I've created, as if they too have journeyed to
the valley. To share the laughter, tears and fears my characters feel.
To remember the courage of my protagonists as they faced danger and
take that courage into their own lives. I want them to finish reading
my book with a satisfied feeling, but with a desire to share more
adventures with my characters. I want them I want them like it so much
they recommend it to their friends. Is all that too much to hope for?
What advice could you give aspiring authors about the process of
writing and self-publishing?
I believe writing fiction is 70% imagination and 30% knowledge and
skill. However, that 30% is vital to have before you start your story.
Be sure to read anything that you can get your hands on about writing
or do some formal study. If you decide to self-publish, make sure that
you have the manuscript appraised and edited to ensure it is ready. I
had two published authors, and many friends read my story first. I
listened to their advice and re-wrote the scenes that weren't working,
then sent it off to an editor and a proof-reader before publication.
Why did you decide to offer your books as e-books?
As many children are more interested in electronic gadgets than books,
I hoped it would pick up a few more readers. I think it is the way of
the future, unfortunately.
Where can we buy your book The Mystery of Nida Valley?
Hopefully, in your local bookshop. Dennis Jones and Associates is
distributing it so if it is not in stock, just ask the store to order
it for you. Or, you can get a cheaper, signed, dedicated printed copy
from my website. eBooks in
many formats
are also available there. Payment is via PayPal.
In conjunction with this blog tour, you can go in the draw to win one
of three copies of the book. Go to
http://themysteryofnidavalley.wordpress.com
and check out the Collector
Cards page. Then answer this question: What megafauna animal
would you like to see in the flesh and why?
The competition will close at midnight on May 15th 2011. The answers
will be assigned a number, and that number will be put in a draw. The
winners will be notified by email. The winners will also be eligible to
enter the Code Cracker Game.
Pat Pledger
Buzz off! by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Ill. by Dan McGuiness. Series: Mates: Great Australian yarns.
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 9781862918481.
(Ages: 8+) Warmly recommended. Lying in bed one night, trying vainly to
get to sleep, Noor finds himself unable to swat the pesky flies which
keep dive bombing him. Suddenly aware that he can hear them he is
appalled when he realises that they are targetting him because he is so
bad at killing them. He decides to take action.
It is the Eid Festival, celebrating the end of Ramadan, so food is
being prepared in earnest. The kitchen is full of food, and when they
sit down to eat, flies appear from all over the place. Getting the fly
spray, Noor overhears the flies telling each other about banana smeared
with toothpaste and garlic, and how that is far worse than any fly
spray. So Noor sets to work.
A funny story of just what the fly is useful for and showcasing the
extent of the problem, this is sure to have younger readers laughing
out loud at the flies and their antics, and Noor and his solution to
the problem.
The cute story is beautifully complimented by Dan McGuiness' zany
drawings of Noor and his family (checkout Mum with her headscarf and
cork hat!) as well as the header and footer drawings of stale food, and
his wonderful flies! This series of books does not talk down to the
student. It is to be commended that words are not simplified, meanings
are not given in a glossary and settings are given which although
unfamiliar require the student to ask questions or look something up,
which is refreshing to see.
Fran Knight
Where's Wally? The totally essential travel collection: all the classic books in one! by Martin Handford
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 9781406333527.
Warmly recommended. For all those fans of this amazing little bloke,
this volume of Where's Wally will suit them when traveling or
not! A
fascinating collection of the Where's Wally books, all
collected
together in one volume, it will engender hours of fun on train, bus,
plane or car.
Of a size to make it fit snugly into your hand or handbag or jacket
pocket, the volume will be sought after by parents and grandparents
sending off children or friends on a trip, or to fill a Christmas
stocking, or Easter present, or anytime really, as it is infectiously
inviting to look into the pages and find Wally!
I love the historical pages, those where Wally is away with the Vikings
(I remember doing a jigsaw of this page once - unreal!) or in the
depths of a castle, or in a Roman arena, or building a temple with the
Aztecs. And more up to date, tempting the vampires, or in outer space,
or being a part of Where's Wally, the musical. It is all great
fun
finding the little bloke, but as you do, the humour on each page makes
the reader laugh out loud. If finding Wally isn't enough, then fold out
pages at the start and end of each section, of which there are seven,
list all the other things to be found on each page. Hours of fun and
laughter.
Fran Knight
Long Reach by Peter Cocks
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978141632474.
(Ages 13+) Thriller. The life Eddie Savage is about to lead is every
pubescent boy's dream. When his brother is found dead Eddie finds
that his brother had another life, a shady one that dealt with the
underbelly of society. That is also the life that Eddie finds himself
lured into. The reader is never sure what this is, but is given hints
about its governmental associations.
With a very small amount of training tough but short and sweet Eddie at
seventeen, finds himself living in a luxurious safe house with a bar
and babe laid on. He is supposed to be a bit of a whizz with computers
but the reader gets very little sense of this because Cocks doesn't
want his hero to be a nerd.
Eddie has to infiltrate a criminal family through the sexy young
daughter Sophie, who has a reputation of being untouchable. The father
has a reputation of being very protective and a story does the rounds
of a former boyfriend being found dead at the bottom of a multistory
carpark. Naturally Eddie takes all in his stride and is soon welcomed
into the bosom of the family by all but Sophies brother Jason.
With short chapters, and an enticing cover, this is an easy read with a
very familiar storyline, it has blood, killings, drug use, sex and
tension, which will appeal to boys of the middle teenage years.
Fran Knight
