The Tooth Fairy's Christmas by Peter Bently and Garry Parsons
Hodder Children's, 2014. ISBN 9781444918359
It's Christmas Eve and when the Tooth Fairy gets a message from
Robin Redbreast that Little Tim Tucker has lost a tooth, it puts an
end to her hopes and plans for an early night at home. Outside a
winter's gale is blasting and she is tossed every which way, ending
up lost. But in the distance she hears a strange sound and into
sight comes Santa and his sleigh. He rescues her but that is not the
end of her adventures... will Little Tim Tucker wake up to
a nice surprise or will he be disappointed.
Santa Claus, Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are such an integral
part of the early lives of children the world over that to have two
of the three team up and help each other has to be a good
combination that will appeal to our very young children. Working
together, Santa and the Tooth Fairy show that all sorts of problems
can be overcome - each has skills and that special something that
when put together as a team can solve all sorts of dilemmas.
Bright glossy pictures, imaginative layout and rhyme and rhythm move
the story along making an original and intriguing adventure story
that will delight as the Christmas Countdown continues.
Barbara Braxton
Don't spew in your spacesuit by Tim Miller
HarperCollins Publishers, 2017. ISBN 9780733334672
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Don't Spew in Your Spacesuit
will have readers laughing even before they read the story. What
child doesn't laugh at words like 'spew'? Our young astronaut is
heading for Mars and his stomach is upset from the moment the
spaceship blasts off. Poor thing, the cockpit is full of spew and he
is floating through it all! The young astronaut meets a Martian on
Mars but vomit has the alien on the run. Who knew being an astronaut
could cause so many problems? Don't Spew in Your Spacesuit is a hilarious look at life in
space. The cartoon style illustrations are funny and full of spew
(of course). The rhyming story is engaging and rhythmic, making it a
great read out loud story for bedtime (if you don't mind too many
giggles) as well as the classroom. It is a quick story to read and
great for retelling and maybe drawing a few scenes. It would be good
to use as part of a unit on space, comparing it to real images of
astronauts and space. Students could also create their own alien.
This story is highly recommended for all readers aged 4+, especially
if they love all things space and aliens.
Kylie Kempster
The whiz mob and the grenadine kid by Colin Meloy
Ill. by Carson Ellis. Penguin, 2017. ISBN 9780143787860
(Age: 10+) The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid is the complex
and excessively detailed story of a secret gang of child and teenage
pickpockets who target the tourists and rich people of Marseille in
the early 1960s. A Dickensian narrative, with a large cast of
interesting characters, set in a time when children could explore a
city with adult supervision with extensive information about living
outside of the law. Twelve year old Charlie Fisher son of an
American diplomat and abandoned by his mother, brokers a deal with
his tutor to freely explore this French city and record his short
stories of people passing by in his notebook.
Charlie observes the elaborate and smooth moves of the young
pickpockets operating in the market place and is drawn into their
intriguing world, after Amir steals Charlie's silver fountain pen.
He becomes intrigued and joins with the 'whiz mob' a multicultural
band of young people who train and then practice the art of
thievery, stealing jewellery, wallets and personal items. Their
actions portrayed as adventurous, challenging and exciting rather
than operating on the wrong side of the law. His acceptance into the
mob and his intense training at home and his commitment to robbing
the public drives the story.
After weeks of this heightened level of excitement and dangerous
activity, his friend Amir tells Charlie to quit the whiz mob and hey
have a falling out. Amir leaves and Charlie is set up to undertake
the biggest con of all, at a high society ball amongst diplomats and
royalty. Charlie comes to realize what the mob's long con has been
and the part he plays. Charlie and Amir undertake an intrepid
journey to Bogota Colombia the headquarters where young thieves are
trained. They travel without passport or currency relying on their
wits and skills determined to right the wrongs that happened at the
ball.
Meloy's writing style includes cynical asides to the reader and
copious descriptions of pickpocketing skills complete with technical
language. Carson Ellis's black and white full page sketches bring
the characters to life, showcasing the whiz mob, their skills and
their targets. The reader needs commitment to the reading challenge
of this lengthy story, set in a time where children can travel the
world, engage in underworld activities and roam free without
parental authority.
Rhyllis Bignell
Fantastically great women who changed the world activity book by Kate Pankhurst
Bloomsbury Activity Books, 2017. ISBN 9781408889961
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Themes: Women, Activities. Based on Kate
Pankhurst's book Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World,
this activity book will be a great addition to the original book.
The book is organised into snippets about famous women from a range
of achievements and features women like Coco Chanel, Mary Anning,
Anne Frank and Marie Curie among others. Each double page or single
page spread about the woman has the information as well as an
activity to challenge the reader both artistically and creatively.
Some of the activities include drawing the reader's own
self-portrait on the Frida Kahlo page, copying and colouring the
picture of Amelia Earhart, and writing a news story about something
that the reader believes is really important on the Emmeline
Pankhurst page. There are a series of postcards that can be cut out
and posted to "fantastically great women" and a page to draw the
people that the reader admires, as well as a page to write "How are
you going to change the world?" Over 200 stickers complete the book.
This would really complement the original book but it has sufficient
information for it to stand alone and is enjoyable, enlightening and
entertaining. I found myself finding out about women I hadn't heard
of, eg. Mary Seacole a woman from Jamaica who built a hospital for
wounded soldiers in the Crimean war, and then spending time doing
the "spot the difference" activity.
Pat Pledger
Goodnight stories for rebel girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo
Penguin, 2016. ISBN 9780141986005
(Ages: 5 - Adult) Highly recommended. 100 inspirational women from
around the world are featured in this collection of bedtime stories.
Each woman's story is a double page spread in the book. On one side
is a beautiful illustration of the woman featuring a quote they said
which is encouraging or inspirational. The other page contains brief
biographic information and a simple story about the woman's life. A
diverse range of women are featured, who have an empowering story, a
journey to overcome adversity and who have become successful in
their field of art, music, science, mathematics, literature, sport,
fashion and politics. Many of the women overcame obstacles and the
message of the book is that women can achieve anything they want to
if they are determined to do it.
This is not a non-fiction book, but rather considered by the authors
as a work of 'creative non-fiction' as it is written in a fairytale
style and does not contain an encyclopedic account of events. 60
female artists from around the world drew the portraits featured in
the book and the range of colourful and unique illustration styles
are thought provoking and add another element to the book's
presentation. At the back of the book there is a blank double page,
inviting the reader to write and draw their own story.
This is a heartwarming book for all ages, and for boys as well as
girls, to share in the stories of women who have lived adventurous
lives.
Pamela Edwards
The picture atlas, an incredible journey by Simon Holland
Ill. by Jill Calder. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408884867
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Atlas. Geography. Journey. I love atlases,
and this had me pouring over each page looking at the detail of the
people and places from all over the world. I can imagine younger
children getting a thrill out of the seventeen chapters covering
aspects of the world we live in. Bookended by an introduction and a
glossary and index at the back, children will delve into pages that
take their interest, discussing it with their neighboours.
Beginning with the Arctic, the page is turned to find out about
living in such a place, then the book moves onto Canada, USA, Mexico
and South America. Each double page introducing the chapters has a
colourful and informative map, bordered with illustrations about
animals, indigenous peoples, and major features. Kids will love
looking at the things pictured, and turning the page will find more
information about them. Each page has different fonts, different
font sizes, along with a range of illustrative techniques making
each page varied and inviting.
Some of the inclusions are different: Europe has a third double page
spread about their food, while South America has a third double page
about its jungles, and Africa similarly with an extra double page
about tis grasslands. A double page about the Indian Ocean follows
the four pages about Asia, and Australia includes a double page
about the Outback. Children will be intrigued with their incredible
journey as they read this book, presenting so many facts about the
world in which we live.
Fran Knight
The empty grave by Jonathan Stroud
Lockwood and Co. book 5. Corgi Books, 2017. ISBN 9780552575799
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Lockwood with his trusty cohort,
Lucy, George, Holly and Quill Kipps, not to mention the Skull in a
jar, are off on their most perilous adventure in The empty grave.
They are investigating the tomb of Marissa Fittes, trying to find
out whether it really is her body that lies there or whether
Penelope Fittes has succeeded in fooling everyone in London about
what is really happening with the ghosts that constantly appear. To
cap it all off, Penelope Fittes is on a mission to shut down all the
smaller agencies and Lockwood and Co is in her sights.
Stroud continues on his action filled adventure series and such is
the pace that the reader is keen to finish the 500+ pages of this
finale. There is plenty of sword fighting, much terror as ghosts are
vanquished and suspense as the reader follows the feelings that Lucy
has for Lockwood, hoping that he will reveal some of his background
and overcome his tendency to seek danger.
Stroud's witty asides and the Skull's sardonic dialogue gives the
narrative a sprinkle of laugh out loud moments which relieves the
sometimes scary moments as the group fight off their enemies and
walk through the land of the dead. Each of the group grows in
strength as they use their particular skills to fight the evil
pervading the land. I particularly liked the character of the Skull
whose role was crucial and fascinating and the bravery of Kipps and
Flo were a highlight too.
This was a most satisfying conclusion to an enthralling series and I
look forward to reading further books written by Stroud.
Pat Pledger
Merry Christmas from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Puffin, 2017. ISBN 9780141388281
Fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar will like this
small-format book from Eric Carle despite its northern hemisphere
focus. While the Very Hungry Caterpillar doesn't play an active role
in the story, he does appear on each page sharing the precepts of
the Christmas season in simple text and classic Carle illustrations
which will focus their thinking.
Older children could use it as a compare and contrast exercise as
they place the northern hemisphere version alongside their summer
hemisphere experience and then discuss the common themes. It could
inspire some artwork and help develop the language of comparison, or
even spark a discussion about the proliferation of Christmas books
and songs featuring favourite characters and artists and who they
enjoy most.
Barbara Braxton
Rockabye Pirate by Timothy Knapman and Ada Grey
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408849392
A-haarr! It's always difficult to get busy pirates to hang up their
peg legs, cutlasses and eyepatches at the end of another eventful
day of adventures on the high seas. But even bloodthirsty Sea Dog
McPhail, Black Bearded Brewster and the others have to take a bath
and shampoo before eating their supper and huddling around Mummy
with her big story book.
This rocking rhyme about plucky pirates, with its captivating
illustrations, is a warm-hearted children's book, together with
easy-to-read text, that is sure to delight all who venture here.
J. Kerr-Smith
Refugee boy by Benjamin Zephaniah
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408894996
(Age: 13+) On the disputed border of the African countries Eritrea
and Ethiopia, armed militants from both sides terrorise villagers
for being from the other nation. Teenager Alem has an Ethiopian
father and an Eritrean mother and his family literally has nowhere
to go because of the hatred and intolerance soldiers from each
nation show for the citizens of the other.
Naively thinking that he is going on holiday, Alem accompanies his
father to England where he enjoys the marvels of London for a couple
of days before he wakens in their hotel room to find his father
gone. In a desperate bid to ensure his son's safety, Alem's father
had abandoned him and returned to his border village, in the hope
that Alem might be granted refugee status.
Whilst Alem experiences an understandable sense of bewilderment and
loneliness, he is remarkably resilient and mature for his years and
stoically endures the trials of his predicament, trusting in his
father and British civil service.
Placed into a refuge for teenagers, Alem finds himself alone amongst
boys who appear to be a mixture of young offenders and orphans,
inevitably becoming a target for moronic bullies who derive pleasure
from domination through violence.
Alem endures this hardship and struggles to understand mindless
behaviour and careless attitudes to education and self-improvement
at the school he attends. Coming from an austere background in a
dysfunctional country, Alem has high expectations of British society
and experiences disappointment when he realises that some citizens
have no awareness of their good fortune.
Eventually Alem's personal circumstances improve when he is placed
with a loving foster family whose only desire is to ensure his
happiness and safety. Sadly, letters from his father confirm a
rapidly deteriorating situation at home and he lives in constant
fear for his parents.
This revealing story explains the difficulties faced by both
refugees and those public servants and legal adjudicators whose task
it is to determine who deserves asylum and who must be repatriated.
As with other stories dealing with similar situations, I could not
help feeling a sense of despair that so much trauma is caused by
religious, political and territorial disputes. So many people are
currently displaced in the world that it seems unlikely they will be
granted asylum anywhere safe. This novel considers the role of
advocates, protesters, lawyers and the judiciary in dealing with a
situation which is often presented too simplistically by both sides
of the debate.
Rob Welsh
A cold case in Amsterdam Central by Anja de Jager
Constable, 2017. ISBN 9781472120649
(Age: Secondary to adult) Recommended. Themes: Crime. Amsterdam.
Cold case. World War Two. Sympathisers. This is a wonderful
concoction of a crime thriller set in a totally different
environment, Amsterdam, with its canals, polders and tulips.
Detective Lotte Meermon is back after four months off police work
after being shot. Some do not want her back, and actively encourage
her to go, while others are giving her the benefit of the doubt. But
here again, she rubs people up the wrong way, insisting that the
death of a painter at a building site was not an accident. When his
wife of six months finds a locker ticket Lotte is called to help but
finds the bag in the locker contains bones. Lotte is sure there is
more to the death that appears, even though her partner, Thomas is
unconvinced.
With a single-mindedeness seen in Saga Noren from 'The bridge',
Lotte ploughs on, following leads that seem to come from fresh air.
Forensic examination of the bones reveal them to be from the war,
and the DNA matches them to a public prosecutor, brought up on
stories of her heroic grandfather, killed by the Nazis for his work
with the resistance, but the forensic examiner has also found a
spare arm, the DNA linking him to a crime boss not seen for some
years. Thomas follows the leads in this part of the investigation,
eager to excel with such a big case, leaving Lotte to follow the
painter's death, but the two coincide, bringing in a range of people
from Lotte's youth when she helped find the killer of her friend
Anges, when she was ten. Now that her mother has broken her wrist
and is staying with her, the antipathy between them adds another
level of comment into the story, comparing it with the fate of
several other older parents involved in the case.
Lotte is a fascinating character through this book, revealing
snippets of herself, and her past, but certainly saying what she
thinks, to the sometimes astonishment of those around her.
This is an involving sequel to A cold death in Amsterdam
(2015) and a third book is about to be published. I love reading
crime novels set in new places, and with a character as complex as
Lotte, the series will please.
Fran Knight
Ultimate Lego Star Wars
DK, 2017. ISBN 9780241288443
(Ages: 8+) In 1999 the first LEGO Star Wars sets were released and
since then the collaboration has continued to grow. This is a
definitive, unrivalled encyclopaedic guide to every LEGO Star Wars
minifigure or set ever produced. Each of the three main sections
(characters and creatures; locations and vehicles and equipment) are
comprehensive visual galleries. It shows their evolution from the
very first creations to what technology allows the LEGO designers to
create today. Even non-fanatics will be interested in seeing the
progression from the old yellow mini-figures with minimal detail to
the intricate figures with personalised facial details available
today. While there is only one version of many of the figures and
models, some have up to a dozen variants. The text accompanying the
photographs of each model includes a little information about the
Star Wars character itself, but is mostly committed to the actual
design and differences between the variants. There are even some
quotes from a LEGO designer scattered throughout the book for some
added insight. All the important information is included for both
serious LEGO fans (year, set number) and serious Star Wars fans
(mini-figure homeworld and affiliation, vehicle and equipment type
and model, location sector and system, etc.). There is a lot of
information here, but large visuals, easy to read text and labelled
pictures make it accessible even for a young audience. This is
really for the most serious LEGO Star Wars fans and collectors but
is fascinating even for those who aren't.
Nicole Nelson
The birthday invitation by Lucy Rowland and Laura Hughes
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408862995
(Age: Junior primary) Recommended. Who would believe that losing
just one birthday invitation could lead to such surprising results?
Who will catch the invitation that Ella dropped? A wizard, a
princess, even a pilot flying high above.
Planning a birthday party is always so much fun, but never did Ella
anticipate such a colourful bunch of new friends turning up to help
her celebrate her special day, even a pirate's parrot.
This brilliantly illustrated book is a rollicking rhyme, skilfully
crafted and a delight to read.
I would recommend it for Junior Primary children who all enjoy a fun
and imaginative tale.
J Kerr-Smith
Pick a pine tree by Patricia Toht
Ill. by Jarvis. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406360608
"Pick a pine tree from the lot -
Slim and tall or short and squat.
Long, straight limbs
Or branches bent . . . .
Mmm! Just smell that piney scent!" Publisher
I absolutely loved this picture book. It bought back many wonderful
memories of my own childhood - my sister perched up the tree with
Mum directing her as to which branch to cut and then the difficult
task of trying to make the said branch stand somewhat nicely. This
book takes us all on a familiar journey that we all venture on at
this time of year. It starts with choosing the perfect tree and
strapping it to the roof to ensure it arrives home safely. On
arrival home, the arduous task of rearranging the furniture to allow
the tree to have pride of place. The beautiful rhyming in the book
will provide ample opportunities for prediction as it is read aloud.
Excitement is built as each stage is reached and then the spreading
of Christmas cheer reinforces the true meaning of this special time
of year. This will be a welcome addition to the Christmas collection
and it will be sure to catch the eye of the reader with the sparkly
writing on the cover. Many children will be able to connect to the
story with this yearly ritual being performed every year right
around the world.
Kathryn Schumacher
A Christmas wish by Beatrix Potter
Puffin, 2017. ISBN 9780241291757
Board book. It's Christmas Eve and Peter Rabbit and his sisters are
excited, but Peter is worried too. They have all wished for a
special present but Peter can't sleep, and he knows Father Christmas
won't visit if he's still awake. As the hours drag by anxious Peter
hears a little creak here, and a little bump there, so now he's even
less likely to fall asleep, especially as he is convinced each noise
must be Santa and he gets up to investigate. Then he decides to sit
and gaze at the lights on the Christmas tree . .
. will Santa come while he's there?
The charm and delight of Beatrix Potter's tales about Peter Rabbit
have endured over decades and this adaptation is no exception.
Perfect for that final sleep on the BIG night, little ones will
empathise with Peter as they share his excitement and find it just
as tricky to get to sleep it will become a classic part of the
annual Christmas Countdown.
Barbara Braxton
