Illus. by Catherine Rayner. Macmillan Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781509843589.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Friendship, Birds. A bird in
South African has a call that sounds like 'go away' and is so named
the go-away bird. In this story of friendship, of people needing
others to survive, the Go-Away bird tells all the other birds who
come to roost in her tree to go away. A wonderful series of birds
come into the tree only to be told to go away. The Chit-Chit bird
wants to chat with her, but is told to go away. The Peck-Peck bird
wants to eat with her but is told to go away. The Flip-Flap bird
wants the Go-Away bird to come and fly with her, but is told to go
away. Donaldson cleverly writes a six line rhyming stanza
introducing each bird as they come by, telling the reader what the
bird wants to do. Each stanza finishes with the two lines But the Go-Away bird just shook her head
And what do you think she said?
Each bird is rebuffed by the Go-Away bird, with the words 'Go Away'
forming a large part of her response, encouraging readers and
listeners to join in, each time more heartily that the last.
But of course, readers will know that something will happen to make
her regret her rejection of the birds, and it does, in the form of a
large, brown bird. This one does not want to share a meal with her,
or fly with her or just chat. This one wants to eat her.
The Go-Away bird is frightened, but just then a Come-Back bird
happens by and calls out, making sure the other birds return.
Together the loud, colourful group of birds is able to scare off the
larger predator and so stay with the Go-Away bird in her tree.
With beautiful water colour illustrations by Rayner, the book is a
treat, the birds wonderfully conveyed, impelling all readers to use
google to find out more about these birds. Kids will love the
rhyming nature of the lines, love the repetition and prediction of
what rhyming word will be used to finish each line. They will love
calling out, Go-Away, and joining in with the fun of the story. And
they will love the look of the illustrations, the feathery leaves,
the round pink of the berries, the wonderful endpapers, the bright
colours of the birds and the menacing brown presence of the predator
filling the pages as he eyes off his lunch. A wonderful book to
stimulate discussions about birds, bird calls, friendship and the
value of being in a group, the fun of the story will be a treat to
all readers.
Fran Knight
What a waste - rubbish, recycling and protecting our planet by Jess French
Dorling Kindersley, 2019. ISBN: 9780241366912.
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Subjects: Recycling, Pollution,
Conservation. Vet and author Jess French introduces this
thought-provoking information book What a Waste with 'humans
are now producing more waste than ever before and our planet is
suffering'. She presents a challenge: 'the power to make a positive
change is in our hands.'
Presented with current facts, figures, graphic representations,
photographs, dialogue boxes in the vibrant DK style, many
environmental issues are explored. Did you know '92% of the world's
people are breathing polluted air?' Discover why we need forests and
learn about the threat to the orangutan population with the loss of
their habitat. Deforestation and land clearing are major problems
with 15 billion trees cut down each year.
The site of 'The Great Pacific Garbage Patch' in the north Pacific
Ocean contains plastic rubbish that weighs as much as 500 jumbo
jets. Simple but effective solutions are shown as well to reduce
plastic in the ocean: take three for the sea by removing rubbish on
beach visits, organise your own clean-ups and join in International
Coastal Clean-up Day.
Each spread includes clearly defined explanations, questions and
ways children, students, families and communities can assist in
recycling, reducing waste and protecting our environment. E-waste,
food waste, water waste and industrial waste are key areas of
concern. Bold statements and facts presented as percentages, eg. 45%
of lettuce in the UK is thrown out, provide interesting talking
points for environmental science lessons. What a waste is another visually outstanding DK information
book which presents current environmental concerns and shows how
people are developing solutions, giving hope for the future. Jess
French encourages us all, including younger readers to speak up, be
a plastic-free family and make positive changes.
Rhyllis Bignell
Kingfisher by Patricia A. McKillip
Ace Books, 2016. ISBN: 9780425271766.
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Coming of age. Mythopoeic
Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (2017. In an unusual blend of
Arthurian legends and those of the Fisher King, McKillip has given
readers a unique tale that contrasts with many of the popular urban
fantasy stories that dwell on werewolves and vampires. Hidden away
by his sorceress mother Heloise, Pierce Oliver does not know that
his father is alive and that he has an older brother. After he
encounters knights being driven in a limousine and using mobile
phones, Heloise admits the truth and he decides to go to Severluna,
where his father is part of the king's court. On his way he meets a
chef at the Kingfisher Inn, Carrie, who also wants to uncover
secrets that Merle her father has hidden from her. And at King
Arden's court, Prince Daimon, the King's bastard, also learns about
his mother, who he always believed was dead. The fates of these
three characters, Pierce, Carrie and Daimon, are all entwined and
manipulated masterfully by the author as King Arden sends his
knights out on a quest to find the sacred and powerful artefact of
the god Severen.
McKillip skilfully blends tropes from legend and modern urban
fantasy and readers may well find themselves looking up the legend
of the Fisher King, working out who he was and where he stood in the
story, as well as keeping tabs on possible characters that might
belong to the King Arthur references.
The strange world of sorcery and modern technology, is peopled with
a plethora of important secondary characters - it was helpful to
keep a list - all of whom play an important role for each of the
characters.
Intertwined with the masterful management of the legends, are
age-old themes of coming of age, of forgiveness and love and some
mouth-watering glimpses of food. Kingfisher is a rich and complex story that will
be remembered long after it is finished, as readers ponder the
combination of technology and myth and the relationships between
parent and young adult.
Pat Pledger
The book of dreams by Nina George
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471182976.
(Age: 17+) Recommended. This book was captivating. A powerful story
of relationships is told through the eyes of Henri, Eddie and Sam.
It tackles a subject of much debate - life after death.
The story begins as Henri Skinner is on his way to meet his son. He
rescues a young girl from the river and is hit by a car. He is in a
coma and visited by his son Samuel Noam Valentiner.
Henri is a hero in many ways and Eddie Tomlin is the woman he loves.
Eddie and Henri have a complicated relationship that has unfinished
business.'God' is a powerful figure in the book, guiding Eddie and
Sam as their journey alongside Henri through the in-between world of
coma unfolds. We see the characters Henri, Sam and Eddie slowly
developed through their perspectives on loss, missed opportunities
and reflections on the past.
The unfinished business of life is sensitively explored through
Sam's life experiences and the powerful dream sequences relayed by
Henri and Eddie. The intensive care unit provides Sam a
serendipitous meeting with Maddie, a young ballet dancer immersed in
a coma. Sam, as a synesthete, communicates with Maddie and Henri in
a way that enables him to connect with their current state and it is
this communication that drives the last chapters with a sense of
urgency and intensity that keeps the pages turning and evokes tears
for the reader. The resolution of the unfinished business between
Sam's mother and Henri brings clarity to a family relationship
offering hope to Sam.
This is a story told sensitively and evocatively as it explores love
- first love, fathers and sons, friendship, family and the
willingness to be open to and accepting of love. The book explores
the boundaries between life and death from differing perspectives
without judgement and leaves the reader with this...
'There's more between life and death than we can tell from here.'
Linda Guthrie
Dig by A.S. King
The Text Publishing Co., 2019. ISBN: 9781925773521. 391p.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Themes: Bildungsroman/Family. The
Shoveler moves to town with his drifter mother. He begins the
familiar process of grappling with a new school, making friends and
finding a part-time job. In order to deal with ongoing domestic
violence, Loretta constructs a scripted fantasy world centring
around her Flea Circus. Malcom spends weekends off-shore with his
dying father as his anxiety mounts. CanIHelpYou is a drive-thru
attendant and local drug dealer tortured by her mother's racism.
Throughout the book, our delight in unearthing how the characters
are entwined is palpable. Dig begins as a play with a cast but quickly changes into a
novel - a postmodern feast of cumulative scenes mostly written in
the first person by alternating characters. Only The Freak, Jake and
Bill, and Malcom's grandparents Marla and Gottfried, are chronicled
by an all-seeing narrator. The Freak has the ability to astral
travel anywhere, frequently to be of assistance to the other
characters. Brothers, Jake and Bill have a strained relationship as
do Marla and Gottfried. Jake and Gottfried never meet but are linked
by a twisted subservience and loyalty towards their respective
'partners'.
The lack of nomenclature and ambiguity seems unsettling at first but
as separate lives progress, we know they are converging and we are
utterly fascinated. The amusing technique of not naming characters
explicitly is reminiscent of Anna Burns' Milkman, which won
the 2018 Man Booker, however King's chapters are tantalizingly brief
scenes or flashes in a fast moving montage.
A shared history of the ancestral potato farm, is a sustained
metaphor which connects all the estranged family members. Sebold's,
The Lovely Bones, will come to mind as we approach the final
scenes. Family patriarch, Gottfried, delivers one final epiphany of
complacency and regret. We ponder how often do our children become
our teachers? Dig represents the counter-intuitiveness of
the best of the YA genre in being an ingeniously choreographed
cautionary tale for all ages.
Deborah Robins
Outside by Sarah Ann Juckes
Penguin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241330753.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Since she was little, Ele was held in a cell
like room by a man called 'Him'. Her twin brother, Zeb, was also in
the cell with her. With nearly nothing to do, Ele started to imagine
things. Gradually, her imagination became so real that she thinks
that they're real. Including thinking that there are 'Others' in the
room with her, and there was simply no 'Outside'.
Juckes painted an intriguing picture of the 'Inside' and was
constantly asking the question 'Would you think there is an outside
if you haven't seen it?' Ele was initially a scared, fearful
character. She liked the inside and didn't want to escape. But over
time she developed bravery and determination. She became curious and
kept asking questions.
The style of the book was mainly imagery, with wonders and
imaginative chapters. Juckes' description of the inside world was
initially hard to understand, and I initially thought that the
characters were animals. But gradually the book became easier to
grasp.
Overall, the events were engaging, the setting is intriguing, the
storyline is well developed, and I would recommend the book.
Kaibing Qi, (Student)
All the invisible things by Orlagh Collins
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408888339.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Vetty's world changes dramatically
when her mother dies, and her father takes her and her sister to
live closer to their aunt to make life a little easier for them all
while they come to terms with their loss. Aunt Wendy lives with her
partner Fran and the family are welcomed with open arms and what is
supposed to be a short stay ends up being a few years. Vetty is
devastated to leave behind her best friend Pez as they are
inseparable, and no one knows her as well as he does. They live
across the road from each other and spend all their spare time
together.
Unfortunately, they drift apart while she is away and when the time
comes to move back home Vetty hopes that despite this they will be
able to pick up from where they left off. At her farewell get
together with her friends, they are all joking about boys and who
they'd secretly love to kiss and Vetty lets it slip that she might
enjoy kissing a girl in their friendship group. The girls laugh it
off as if she is joking because they know she is good friends with
Pez her childhood friend and are convinced she and him will be
boyfriend/girlfriend. Vetty is mortified that she revealed, albeit
accidently, being attracted to both girls and boys but as she is
moving back to her old home, she is glad she won't have to be
embarrassed in front of her friends if the topic comes up again.
When Pez and Vetty finally catch up again things are a little
different to the way they were before. Vetty feels Pez has changed
in so many ways and is keeping things from her but despite this they
fall back into hanging out together again, even if things can feel
awkward at times. Vetty isn't sure how she feels when she learns Pez
has a girlfriend. Is she jealous as a friend or as a love interest?
Pez introduces her to his friends and one of them, Rob, shows
interest in her and they date. When Vetty meets March, Pez's
girlfriend she finds herself attracted to her. March and Vetty
become close friends and after spending a lot of time together Vetty
again questions her sexuality. She tries to talk to Aunt Wendy about
being bisexual, but Wendy thinks she's trying to tell her she's gay
and Vetty becomes despondent and confused, especially after March
kissed her.
Pez reveals a secret to Vetty and things come to a head during a
party. There is an accident involving Pez and during this tumultuous
and frightening time Vetty becomes more and more despondent. What
will happen to Pez and how will Vetty tell March she is attracted to
her?
This book explores coming of age, bisexuality, sexuality, friendship
and grief. I really enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend
it.
Gerri Mills
Charlie changes into a chicken by Sam Copeland
Illus. by Sarah Horne. Penguin, 2019, ISBN: 9780241346211.
(Age: 8-10 Themes: Family stories, School stories, Humour.
Nine-year-old Charlie McGuffin's life is stressful, his older
brother Smooth Move is seriously ill in hospital and his parents are
extremely worried about him. At school the school bully is focussed
on his target, Charlie.
When Charlie becomes 'sweatily, heart-poundingly, stressed' he
starts to panic, which unfortunately leads to some life-changing
problems: he morphs into an animal. With an unusual electric
feeling, Charlie changes into an eight-legged eight-eyed hairy
spider chased by their cat Chairman Mao.
The school play is coming up soon and Charlie's worries increase as
he's been cast as Sad Potato Number 1. Unfortunately, his on-stage
partner is Duncan his arch-nemesis. What happens if he turns into a
naked mole rat or a fish in front of the audience? He turns to his
friends for help to assist him with this life-changing issue.
Sam Copeland writes in a humorous style, with plenty of comments,
asides to the reader, laugh-out-loud situations like Charlie the
rhinoceros pooping out of his bedroom window onto his parents. The
animal antics and silly situations that occur when Charlie is a
flea, a spider or a pigeon are creatively illustrated by Sarah
Horne. With plenty of grossness, impossibly funny scenes and narrow
escapes, along side some special family moments Charlie changes
into a chicken is just right for readers from eight to ten to
enjoy. Teacher's
notes are available.
Rhyllis Bignell
The astro naughty naughty Baddies by Mark Sperring
Illus. by David Tazzyman. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408897782.
(Ages: 5-9) Themes: Humorous Stories. This is a follow-up to 2017's
The
naughty naughty Baddies, in which four diabolically dreadful
children attempt to steal all the spots off the Queen's Little Doggy
Woof-Woof. In this instalment the Baddies are about to blast off to
the moon. Why? To capture some aliens of course and win a toy-tastic
reward of course. But taking off into space and bringing back aliens
isn't naughty, is it? Why not pretend to be aliens and HOODWINK the
President into giving them the reward?!
Mark Sperring is probably best known for his Dino series (Dino-Mummy,
Dino-Daddy,
etc.) and David Tazzyman for his illustrative work in the
bestselling You
can't take an elephant on the bus. Tazzyman's cartoonish,
scribbly illustrations work perfectly with this madcap tale
featuring four intelligent but horrid children and humorous details
abound within each picture. The text reads incredibly well aloud and
has perfect pace, rhythm and suggested expression ('In three clicks
of a knitting needle the DASTARDLY plan was underway and, at EXACTLY
four minutes past snack time, the Naughty, Naughty Baddies landed in
the President's bedroom'). This is silly and fun with an
uncomplicated storyline and school-age children will love it. Adults
might not want to be encouraging naughty behaviour but their
behaviour is ridiculous rather than naughty (and they don't actually
get away with the reward) and the President is also a laughable
person, far too easily tricked by these children and their makeshift
alien costumes!
Nicole Nelson
Don't make me cross by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Ill. by Angie Rozelaar. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN 9781408885611
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Selfishness, Sharing, Anger, Birthday
parties, Friendship, Family. Little Monster is very unhappy. It is
his birthday and although he has invited his friends, they do not
seem to revel in his winning all the games or eating all the best
food. He likes to win, and when he does not, he becomes very cross,
displaying his bad temper for all to see. Sitting at the table he
takes all the best food, after all it is his birthday, much to the
chagrin of his guests. When the group plays hide and seek, the
disgruntled guests take the game at its word, and hide so that
Little Monster cannot find them.
Told in four line rhyming stanzas, children will laugh out loud at
the antics of Little Monster, displaying his bad temper and selfish
behaviour for all to see. Children will love anticipating the last
word of each verse, learning some of the verses to repeat with the
reader, or say out loud to their friends. They will easily recognise
the bad behaviour of the monster, and learn that perhaps his
behaviour is not the kind of behaviour that wins friends. They will
laugh out loud at the results of his selfishness as he falls over
the table laden with all the food, but smile as his friends forgive
him when he realises the folly of his behaviour.
A neatly drawn cautionary tale, children will recognise the moral,
and be enchanted with the funny illustrations, making the most of
the behaviour tantrums put on by Little Monster. The looks on the
faces will brings tears of laughter, while the things the monster
does in wrecking his own party will cause readers to talk about the
things he should have done in welcoming people to his party.
Fran Knight
The island of sea women by Lisa See
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471183850.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. 'A woman is not meant for the
household!' Did you know that on the island of Jeju in Korea, it was
the tradition in the 1930s for women to go to work, diving for
abalone, octopus, sea urchins, crabs and sea slugs, bringing in
their sea harvest to support their families? It was the men who
stayed home, cooked the meals and tended to the children. The
haenyeo, women divers, were expert at capturing their breath and
diving deep, taking what they needed and living in harmony with
their environment.
Young-sook and Mi-ja are two haenyeo friends, diving together.
Young-sook is continuing her family tradition, diving with her
mother, whilst Mi-ja is the daughter of a despised Japanese
collaborator living with an abusive uncle and aunt, never knowing
the love of a mother. Young-sook's mother takes Mi-ja into the
diving collective, and trains her along with her daughter. The two
girls become the closest of friends.
From the first chapter, we know that something has happened between
the two girls. It is 2008 and Young-sook, as an old woman, is
collecting algae along the shore when she is approached by an
American tourist asking about her grandmother Mi-ja. Young-sook
denies ever knowing her. Why does Young-sook lie, and why does she
refuse to have anything to do with the visitors?
Whilst telling the story of Japanese and American conflict in Korea,
during the 1930s, 1940s, World War II and the Korean War, Lisa See
explores what it means to be close friends, the shared secrets, the
jealousies, and the heart-breaking betrayals - for only a loved
friend knows how to inflict the deepest wound. I think most readers
would identify with that situation - when someone they cared about
lets them down or hurts them in some way. But the mystery of what it
was that divided the two young women carries the reader breathlessly
to the very last chapter.
This is a really interesting book, combining a well-researched
history of the period, with a thought-provoking exploration of
friendship, and the bitter after-effects of being unable to forgive.
Helen Eddy
Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9781510104358.
(Age: 15+) Themes : race, romance, chess, gangs, drugs, school
relationships, mental health. This book ends with the same words it
starts with. 'This is not a novel. It's a romance.' It is a story
about romance, one of fierce longing and desire to be with the one
you love. It is a modern day love story of two people with totally
different backgrounds and a typical 'star crossed lovers' feel to
it.
Tristan is an African American teenager living with his Aunt while
his father comes to terms with his mother's untimely death. Even
though he has lived with his Aunt for two years and has a tight
family bond with Marcus his street smart cousin, Tristan doesn't
feel like he belongs there. Marcus is confident and a con artist
with a posse who cling onto his every word. Tristan is a chess
wizard and academic and Marcus uses this to his advantage by setting
up matches between unsuspecting opponents and his cousin for cash.
Tristan isn't comfortable with this but doesn't feel he can stand up
to Marcus, and despite their close family bond, Tristan feels a
little intimidated by him.
Izzy's parents have moved Izzy and her twin brother Hull into a new
neighbourhood and new school, hoping for new experiences for their
family but things don't go quite as well as they had hoped. They are
a white family in a borough of predominantly mixed races and the
perception of them is of a rich white family living amongst the not
so fortunate. Hull is also a wiz at chess and an encounter with
Marcus and Tristan takes an unexpected turn.
Meanwhile Izzy and Tristan first meet in class and it is almost love
at first sight. Even after the incident involving her twin and
Tristan, Izzy isn't put from her attraction to him and a clandestine
relationship evolves. Unfortunately, Marcus also has his eye on Izzy
and the two of them decide against telling Marcus of their love.
Izzy's friend Brianna is secretly in love with Marcus and she tries
not to let it bother her that Marcus is in love with Izzy but as is
always the case with blind love, decisions can blur peoples
misguided intentions. Friends and family bonds are fractured, and
the reader is kept on their toes waiting to see what eventuates.
As the story evolves it becomes apparent that a critical incident is
imminent despite the couples' struggle to keep their relationship
going. Whilst it appears that some relationships are mending there
is still that underlying feeling of foreboding. The ending is
expected in some ways and surprising in others.
This would be a good comparative text for Romeo and Juliet.
I would give this book to 15+ readers
because of some of the language and themes (minimal).
Gerri Mills
The wonder of trees by Nicola Davies
Illus. by Lorna Scobie. Hodder Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781444938197.
(Ages: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Trees, Animal habitats.
Nicola Davies is an English Zoologist and prolific writer of
children's books, including picture books, non-fiction and novels.
This title follows the same style as Davies and Scobie's 2017
publication The variety of life, which looked at the
incredible diversity of life within the animal kingdom. This title,
The wonder of trees, does a similar thing in celebrating the
incredible adaptability of trees, and explains how creatures,
including humans, rely on them. Lorna Scobie's watercolour
illustrations are beautiful, delicate and full of vibrant colour
from flowers, leaves and animal life and make the book deserving of
its large format. The author/illustrator combination work perfectly
as both Scobie and Davies work almost exclusively on projects
involving the natural world. This is equally accessible for a
five year old and a fourteen year old because of its short
paragraphs, large illustrations and its use of simple language,
despite containing some complex information. There is no contents or
index page but the book is clearly defined into sections with
headings running in bold down the side of each page. The first few
pages outline what trees are and how they evolved, including ancient
and now extinct trees. The next section deals with different parts
of trees, including close up illustrations of the teeny-tiny tubes
in wood and information about how root fungus allow trees to
communicate with each other. There are also close-ups of different
varieties of tree bark. There is then a section about how different
animals and plants use trees for habitats, food, transport and
safety. The next looks at specific habitats or communities of trees
(taiga forest, temperate woodlands, dry gum forests, cloud forests
and tropical rainforests) and the last looks at the relationship
between people and trees, both how we benefit from trees and how we
are destroying them. The book finishes by detailing how we can help
by planting trees in our backyard or community. A quite
comprehensive and easily accessible glossary is included at the
back. Each of the trees pictured within the book and many of the
animals, are named, both with common name and scientific name. This
is an incredibly comprehensive look at the world of trees, useful
for school projects but also just a beautiful book to peruse at
leisure. It is a true treat which will fascinate, educate and
inspire both young and old.
Nicole Nelson
Happy girl lucky by Holly Smale
Valentines book 1. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN 9780008254148. Happy girl lucky is an easy read for young girls who are
innocent and always try to see the best in everything.
Meet Hope Valentine, a fifteen year old girl who has the life of a
Barbie. Except she isn't allowed to be showed off to the public
until she is sixteen. Hope has 3 siblings Faith, Mercy and Max who
are all celebrities because they are a valentine.
In Hope's mind life is like a movie. Everything is edited to look
perfect. She looks past every bad thing. She is aways happy - it's
Hope's thing. After all she is happy girl lucky! She dreams of
finding the perfect boyfriend. Hope just can't wait to get out and
be revealed to the world.
One night her older brother Max sees Hope looking a bit down and
decides to sneak her into a party with lots of celebrities. Hope's
whole family is there. Hope sees her sisters arguing and decides to
eavesdrop on their conversation. She hears them calling her
insulting names and talking about a serious secret. As Hope sees
everything in a good light she doesn't want to hear a bit more of
it. So she leaves. As she is boarding the train, the doors close on
her! She is then pulled through the doors by the most gorgeous boy
she has ever seen. She sits with him on the train and they talk. She
is amazed. As he leaves Hope wishes she got an invite to meet him
again one day. Then a few seconds later he appears in front of Hope
once more.
Annabel W. (student)
Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft et al.
New edition. DK Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780241386071.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Fans of the Star Wars sagas will welcome this
new edition of Star Wars character encyclopedia, with its
guide to approximately 218 characters, including the heroes, droids
and enemies of the galaxy. It includes new characters from Rogue
One: A Star Wars story, Star Wars: The last Jedi, and
Solo: A Star Wars story.
Arranged in alphabetical order, each character has a page of
attractive photographs and information about their affiliation,
appearance and what their skills are. There are stills from the
movies, and the photographs of the characters themselves are
beautifully produced and will thrill any reader who loves the
movies.
DK Publishing can be trusted to produce handsome, well bound and
interesting books and this is no exception. It contains a useful
contents page of all the characters found in the book and a
comprehensive index provides access to details about the characters
and their actions.
It is fun to dip into the book, looking for familiar and well-loved
characters, but fans will want to start at the beginning and read
until the end. It is a book that won't stay on the library or class
room shelf for very long.
Pat Pledger
