Skulduggery Pleasant series. HarperCollins Children's, 2013. ISBN
9780007512386. 284 p. paperback
(Ages: 12-14) Themes: Good and evil. Skeletons. Magic. Fantasy.
Sorcery.
Irish author Derek Landy's novella departs from the usual
protagonists Skulduggery and Valkyrie, focussing on Tanith Low's
dark corrupt character who now is permanently possessed by a Remnant
spirit. Tanith recruits a team of villainous characters to search
for and steal the four God-Killer level weapons to help Darquesse in
the destruction of the world. The first weapon the team needs to
find is the dagger at the German Sanctuary. Her crew are pitted
against a secret group of Sanctuary sorcerers lead by Dexter
Vex. Billy Ray Sanguine, one of her team, is particularly
blood-thirsty, using his cut-throat razor to protect Tanith.
Tanith's back story is interspersed with the action chapters. She is
left by her parents to work with the master Quoneel and other
masters, learning the art of sorcery, killing, forgery and
wall-walking. At this stage she still has a conscience.
The battles are graphically described; the killings matter of
fact and the characters assisting Tanith are truly evil. This is
another very dark story that will be welcomed by fans of the
Skullduggery Pleasant series. Background understanding of this
fantasy world is needed to read this book.
Rhyllis Bignell
Tom Gates is absolutely fantastic (at some things) by Liz Pichon
Scholastic Children's, 2013. ISBN 9781407134512. 249 p.
(Age: 8-11 ) Highly recommended. Diary stories. Family life. School
stories. Boys. Brothers and sisters. Winner: Roald Dahl Funny Prize
2011, Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story. Tom Gates' diary is
filled with doodles, illustrations, hidden monsters and a running
commentary about school and home life. Tom has an intense dislike of
his teacher Mr. Fullerman, as well as one of his classmates Marcus
Meldrew and his rather mean older sister Delia. He spends most of
his time at school drawing in his notebook, sketching and wickedly
commenting on his class dramas. This time Tom's class is off on a
camping trip and he hands in his signed form at the last minute.
Even a trip to the supermarket with his Mum is a comedy, when the
giant packet of toilet paper splits and he has to chase two rolls
across the floor of the checkouts, landing in front of his secret
crush, Amy.
At the Activity Centre, there are lots of laughs as Tom deals with
his mother's hidden notes, Marcus Meldrew's annoying behaviour and
his bunkmate's sleep talking. Nothing in Tom's life is dull or
boring and he always finds trouble wherever he goes.
The text in this story includes handwriting, bubble writing,
emphasized words, block writing and words made out of patterns; this
makes it look handwritten. Liz Pichon's creative bold pen drawings
and doodles complement the text style. This is another in the
exciting series of Tom Gates books and I would highly
recommend it for a reading audience from 8-11.
Rhyllis Bignell
Primrose by Alex T. Smith
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781407109664.
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Princesses. Fun. Family. When Princess
Primrose gets out into the garden to pull vegetables, her parents
are aghast, when she goes into the kitchen to cook, the chef shoos
her out, when she climbs a tree in the orchard, her father tells her
to get down and behave like a real princess, and when she plays with
her dog, Percy, in her bedroom, Mum shrieks and makes her wear
proper princess clothes. All in all, Primrose would rather be in old
clothes, getting dirty and having fun, so her parents decide to
call Grandmama for help.
Grandmama is stiff and starched, a very proper old woman but she has
a surprise in store for the king and queen. She orders the king to
climb the tree in the orchard and there he spies the old tea house
and remembers his childhood days spent there. She orders the king
and queen to change their clothes and help pull the vegetables, to
play board games, to mess around in the kitchen, and generally to
have fun, a concept they seem to have forgotten.
This delightful turn of events will engage younger readers who
will laugh at the antics of the family in trying to get back to
their childhoods and have a good laugh instead of obeying the rules
and protocols in place in the palace.
Fran Knight
Pony problem by Yvette Poshoglian
Ella and Olivia series. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN: 9781742837987
When seven year old Ella and her younger sister Olivia accompany
Ella's friend Zoe to her pony competition, things quickly get out of
hand when Ella finds herself on a pony and is accidentally included
in the equestrian events. Who will come to the rescue when things
start to go wrong? Will this be Ella's dream come true or her worst
nightmare?
This is a slim story for emergent female readers who love horses.
Enormous font, liberally scattered illustrations and lacy patterned
edges to the pages would possibly add to the appeal of the title for
the very young child. Despite difficult words such as equestrian and
dismounts, they are minimal in number so the series would not
provide an overwhelming challenge in terms of vocabulary. Themes of
horse-riding, friendship, envy, bravery and winning and losing are
positive and age appropriate for the target audience.
Jo Schenkel
Rumble in the jungle by Geronimo Stilton
Ill. by Giuseppe Ferrario. Geronimo Stilton series bk 53.
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545481939. 108p.
(Age: 7-9) Highly recommended. Mice. Jungles. Treasure. Adventure
stories. Rainforests. Brazil. Amazon Region. Rumble in the Jungle takes Geronimo Stilton from the comforts
of his home off on another exciting fabumouse adventure in Brazil.
His adventurous friend Bruce Hyena drops in one evening and hijacks
Geronimo's boring Mousebook page and his life. Geronimo narrates
this adventure teamed at first with his mouse friends Wild Willie
and Maya. Unfortunately Geronimo becomes separated and has to fend
for himself in a variety of difficult situations, coping with
language problems, the loss of his wallet, samba dancing in a Rio
Carnival, tumbling down the Iguazu Falls and searching for stolen
treasure.
Information boxes are included for reader interest: maps, country
facts, rainforest facts, a recipe and jungle animals. Colourful
cartoon illustrations add vibrancy and comic relief as Geronimo
stumbles his way through his adventures. Colourful phrases,
different fonts and text sizes add emphasis and excitement for the
booklover.
This series is extremely popular and I highly recommend this new
addition to the series for readers from 7-9 years. Geronimo's
World is available online.
Rhyllis Bignell
Evan's Gallipoli by Kerry Greenwood
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743311356
(Age: 11+) Warmly recommended. War. Gallipoli. With a set up similar
to those encountered in the Scholastic My Australian story
series, and Penguin's Our Australian girl, this diary format
story of a lad's time spent at Gallipoli is sure to win readers.
Fourteen year old Evan accompanies his father as he goes to
Gallipoli, to offer not only physical things to alleviate their
suffering, lice powder and the like, but also religious help for
those in need. But they are totally unprepared for what they find.
Separated from their soldiers, they are recaptured by the Turks,
there follows a road journey in which they escape to Greece, before
returning to Australia. Along the way, Evan meets up with Abdul, a
Muslim boy being used as a pawn to try to persuade his powerful
father to fight, and the trio see some of the sights of war not
usually found in history books.
Being a captive of the Turks allows Evan to describe the Gallipoli
from a different perspective, one not always seen in our books
(Candles at dawn by Serpil Ural was published in 2004 by Limelight
Press). Well researched, Greenwood's book is informative as
well as entertaining, and will appeal to middle school readers
looking for a different perspective on a subject lately often
written about, as the 100th anniversary of World War One (1914) and
Gallipoli (1915) come along.
Fran Knight
Hold on tight by Sara Acton
Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 9781742833491
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Picture book. Family. Imagination.
Being safe. Seasons. On this cold winter's day I have read several
books which have made me feel chilled to the bone. A bear and a
tree is set in the snowy icy landscape where Bear is about to
get into his den for hibernation, while this one concerns a young
child on a wintry day holding her mother's hand as they walk through
the landscape. Both books are full of the cold, wintry season, with
snowflakes, rain, ice and wind tearing across each page.
When the girl's mother reminds her to hold on tight, the child
wonders what would happen if she did not hold on tight, and so a
range of wonderful excursions are imagined. Each double page spread
shows a different adventure, told in two rhyming sentences with
glorious illustrations reflecting and adding to the words. Ink and
watercolour are used to great effect as the sparsely filled ink
drawings reflect movement and a sense of the ephemeral nature of the
season. On one double page for example, the child sits on a branch
having afternoon tea with a bird, while over the page she floats on
high, hanging onto a sycamore seed as it floats to the earth. Coming
back to earth with Mum holding her hand, the child determines that
she will not blow away today.
A charming introduction to the idea of using one's imagination, or
discussions about safe behaviour, or being with Mum and why she
wants to hold your hand, this lovely story will be used for a
variety of reasons by teachers and parents, not least of which is
that it is a beautiful rhyming story, well told, with evocative
illustrations. Fran Knight
Eric Vale Super Male by Michael Gerard Bauer
Omnibus, 2013. ISBN: 9781862919938/
Recommended for ages 8+. Eric Vale, would be author of the Totally
Awesome Action Adventures of Secret Agent Derek 'Danger' Dale, is
less than inspired by his teacher's latest idea for a new study
unit, 'Stupid Pharaohs'! When he finally realises that the
unit title is, in fact, 'Superheroes', his attitude changes
dramatically and he believes he will impress the class with his
knowledge, enthusiasm and amazing characters. Only his classmate,
Meredith Murdoch, seems to be unhappy and dismissive of the
teacher's grand idea. Still trying to shed his previous nickname,
Epic Fail, nothing goes quite according to plan for Eric. His little
sister Katie tries to 'help', as does his friend William
'Choo-Choo' Rodriguez, AKA Chewy. Buoyed by the ideas quoted by his
motivational speaker parents, Chewy dreams up the character Mr
Self-Belief. Eric can only imagine the social suicide awaiting Chewy
if he continues with his plans but believes the Nuclear Ninjarator
will provide the turning point in his own life. Meanwhile, he tries
to placate Katie who seems hell bent on sending him to school with
her favourite toy, Woopsie Bear, something he knows will never
happen. Will his fortunes change and will he finally manage to
impress his class mates?
Despite initially having judged the book by its cover and felt it
was one I wouldn't enjoy, Eric Vale managed to live up to my previous
expectations of what I'd have expected of Michael Gerard Bauer . . .
it is filled with humour, a multitude of illustrations and child
appeal yet still contains a message. Again illustrated by the
author's son, Joe, the layout is one which will engage even the
reluctant reader. With large and varied fonts, double spaced text
and having so many comic style illustrations, this comes close to
the graphic novel format and is especially easy to read. With such
themes as family, school, fitting in/standing out, bravery and
resilience and the obvious Superheroes, this should appeal to both
male and female readers in early primary through to the reluctant
readers in upper primary school. For a great article on the
father/son team, have a look at the following link: http://www.readings.com.au/news/the-way-we-work-michael-gerard-bauer-and-joe-bauer-on-eric-vale-epic-fail
Jo Schenkel
I own the racecourse by Patricia Wrightson
Text Publishing, 2013. First published in 1968. ISBN: 9 781 922
147028.
(Age: 8+) Andy is different to other boys his age, he is a open and
friendly person who likes to say that he lives 'behind a closed
window'.
While Andy's friends play a game where they own places around town
which he doesn't quite understand Andy wishes that one day he can
join in. 'You can't own it if somebody else does,' they would tell
him when he tried to claim the corner store. So when an old man
offers to sell Andy Beecham Racecourse for three dollars Andy
instantly agrees. When his friends learn what Andy has done they do
anything they can not to see Andy hurt. However the workers call
Andy 'The Owner' which does little to help the boys convince Andy of
the old man's duplicity. Andy becomes more and more involved in the
maintenance of his racecourse and before long he catches the
attention of the real owner and Andy feels he has to prove that he
really is the owner. But what will happen when Andy's admonishments
go too far and disaster strikes Beecham?
What I found unusual about this novel is that Andy's fragility of
mind is never directly mentioned showing that people like him
deserve to be treated just like everyone else. Overall this novel is
something which young people today don't see, Andy's gentle and
simple character voice teaches important lessons and values which
most people neglect such as caution and acceptance. Suitable for
ages eight and up I would recommend making this book available to
young people today.
Kayla Gaskell, Age Seventeen
Too many cheeky dogs by Johanna Bell
Ill. by Dion Beasley. Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743316221
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Picture book. Dogs. Counting book. Using dogs
as the vehicle for counting one to ten is enticingly presented here
with the number of dogs increasing on each page until too many
cheeky dogs cover the last few pages and have invaded the end
papers. Each day the young narrator walks past a variety of things
within his environment: the swimming hole, the police station, the
clinic, the school, football oval, main street and finally Grandpa's
camp, detailing the places he goes on each day of the week, and
counting the number of dogs spied.
Dion Beasley, of the brand, Cheeky dog, has produced the sparkling
illustrations with pencil and coloured pencils, giving a deceptively
simple aura to the drawings. They seem childlike, but the range of
different dogs and environments given is far from that. A rising
artist from the Northern territory, Dion reflects his home life
through the illustrations, showing the swimming hole with its
preponderance of animals, including a crocodile, wild boar and
snake, while the dogcatcher has a huge number of caught dogs,
reflecting the number of dogs seen in Aboriginal communities, the
football oval is typical of a country oval, with a fence and trees,
while the store's largest offering is the section with cakes and ice
cream. But we are living in the twenty first century, so cars and
planes are also part of this world.
The rhythm of the tale is infectious and will invite children to
predict next words as well as want to read along with the narrator.
The naive illustrations will appeal to the readers, and the story
will give them a sense of what life is like in some remote
communities. Readers will love to spy the different animals
presented, and marvel at the different attributes of the amazing
array of dogs. Fran Knight
Ice, wind, rock: Douglas Mawson in the Antarctic by Peter Gouldthorpe
Lothian, 2013. ISBN 978 0 7344 1155 6
(Age: 8+) Warmly recommended. Picture book. Non fiction. Antarctic.
Heroism. Subtitled, Douglas Mawson in the Antarctic, and with an
illustration of the man looking out from the front cover, readers
picking up this book will immediately recognise that this is the
tale of one of Australia's foremost scientists, explorers and
heroes. A brief few words at the start of the book place him at the
University of Adelaide where he is the lecturer of Geology and his
interest in rocks lures him to a place where glacial activity is
obvious. So begins his wonder at the Antarctic wildness, and the
first expedition to the Antarctic in 1908 as a member of
Shackleton's expedition.
This is a fascinating account of a man who is seen on the $100 note,
but for many is simply a name they know. The book gives a brief
outline of his interest in and expeditions to the Antarctic, and
whets the appetite to find out more.
An insert in the book giving publication details, curiously gives a
fascinating and informative time-line, so for those people
purchasing this book, do not throw away this seemingly unimportant
piece of paper, as the book itself contains no time-line and few
dates are given to fix the details in a timeframe.
The illustrations certainly bring the icey world of the southern
continent to life, ensuring any reader will be in no doubt about its
inhospitable nature, the courage and strength of those who venture
there, and the dangers which befell them. For someone new to the
story, for introducing young readers to the heroism displayed by
this man, this book is a wonderfully lively introduction, and I'm
sure would be a stepping stone to find out more. Fran Knight
The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
Penguin Books 2012. ISBN: 9780141340722. Paperback, 368pgs.
(Age 14+) Recommended. Campbell (Cam) has terminal cancer and has
just been told by her doctor that after five years of chemo, there
is nothing more they can do. Cam is ready to give up, to accept that
she is dying but Cam's stubborn mum; Alicia and younger sister Perry
are not ready to hear there is nothing left for them to try. They've
heard of a town called Promise in Maine, a place where amazing,
unexplained events are supposed to happen. If you can find the town
- and most people can't - miracles can happen. What Cam needs is a
miracle, but seventeen-year-old Cam doesn't believe in miracles.
However, she embarks on this road trip and pursues her 'flamingo
list'; a list of things to accomplish before she dies which was made
with best friend and fellow cancer sufferer Lily. Cam is such a
likeable character, that you really hope there is a miracle. This
easy to read debut novel is a real page turner as you race towards
the end in the hope of a real miracle. It is a beautiful story told
through Cam's point of view, which is hilarious in places,
especially Cam's Nana. I would recommend it to 14+ and fans of Jenny
Downham's Before I die.
Michelle Thomson
Nanny Piggins: The Race to Power by R.A. Spratt
Random House, 2013, ISBN 978 1 74275 499 4.
(Age 11+) Highly recommended. A pig for a nanny? How can that be? The
Race to Power is book 8 in the Nanny Piggins series. The
opening page explains it is a standalone story and you don't need to
have read any other stories to enjoy it. True.
Nanny Piggins is an outspoken, cake loving pig who cares for three
amazing children. Mr. Green, their father, is horrible and Nanny
Piggins makes no secret of the fact. If he isn't lying in his job as
a tax lawyer, he is trying to ship his children off to work in hard
labour jobs, practically trying to sell them off.
In this instalment of the series, Nanny Piggins discovers Mr. Green
is running for mayor. Nanny Piggins is up in arms! What is Mr.
Green's real reason? How will Nanny stop him? Highly recommended for
independent readers aged 11+, it is a funny story from the opening
pages where Nanny encourages cake for breakfast to the closing pages
when they all realise just who has become mayor.
Kylie Kempster
Mortified: Lost in the Sands of Time by Martin Chatterton
Mort series bk 3, Random House Australia Children's, 2013. ISBN:
9781742758886. RRP $14.95 288 pages. Paperback
Recommended Reading Age: 9-11. Themes: Time Travel, Historical
Fiction, Historical periods, Humour. Martin Chatterton's Mortified:
Lost in the Sands of Time takes Mortimer Montmorency DeVere and his
sister Agnetha on another exciting time travel adventure. Their
family are 'frevers', for every year that a human ages, they take a
thousand years. Mort and his sister are being hounded by the Unk
Shire Assistant Chief Education Inspector Trish Molyneux and her
assistant Nigel. Mort has spent hundreds of years at schools across
the centuries, he can't face anymore time in school so he plans his
break out from Festering Hall.
With his sister Agnetha, Genghis Kahn and H. G. Wells the English
author, they escape aboard their Retro 2.0 time machine. The machine
has accidentally had the Wikipedia page for world disasters
programmed into the machine. They travel back in time and land in
1889 country England, where Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes
author) and a young Howard Carter (discover of King Tut's tomb) join
the action. The adventure is a fast-pace one, Mort and Agnetha are
caught in a multitude of situations. Queen Victoria and her corgis
are added to the time travel team along with Doyle and Carter as
they tumble back through history in the damaged machine.
After touch downs on the Titanic, in London when the Great Fire is
blazing, they finally land in Ancient Egypt, where King Tut rules,
more dramas, problems zombie mummies, twists and turns unfold.
An engaging, humorous, fast-paced, time travel novel. As a class
read aloud, students could research the historical figures and
develop a timeline of events.
Rhyllis Bignell
Son of Slappy by R. L. Stine
Goosebumps Most Wanted series, bk 2, Scholastic, 2013.ISBN:
9780545417990. 134 p. Paperback.
(Age: 8-11) Subjects: Ventriloquism, Puppets and puppets shows,
Horror stories. Written from twelve year old Jackson Stander's
point of view, the reader soon develops an understanding of how
perfect he is, he always does his homework, never gets into any
trouble and doesn't lie. Rachel his sister, sarcastically calls him
Robot, he's such a goodie-goodie. Life changes dramatically when the
children are sent to Grandpa Whitman's for spring break. Grandpa is
a collector of scary items, including a room of ventriloquist
dummies, Edgar the frightening butler warns them to stay away from
one named Slappy. Of course this Goosebumps book follows Stine's
usual horror formula, the wicked doll Slappy is slipped in Jason's
suitcase by the evil Edgar. On returning home things rapidly fall
apart when Rachel invokes an evil charm and Jason turns into
the Son of Slappy, creating havoc at home, school and the Youth
Center.
R. L. Stine's Goosebumps series have been favourites since the first
book was published in 1992. Slappy the Dummy is one of the series'
most popular villains. This book is suitable for fans from 8-11
years of age.
Rhyllis Bignell
