AUTHOR: Michael Streich
PUBLISHED: 2012
The Grumpy Little King was always grumpy. He didn't like being little and to make up for it, he decided he wanted more land in his kingdom. So he started a war. But the soldiers on the battlefield aren't impressed. This is an engaging and thoughtful story about the foolishness of war.
AGE: Primary school
RATING: 5 stars
Sunday, July 28, 2013
This Moose Belongs to Me (PB)
AUTHOR: Oliver Jeffers (Northern Ireland; U.S.)
PUBLISHED: 2012
An exquisite tale of Wilfred who finds a moose and takes ownership of him and calls him Marcel. Marcel is mostly an obedient pet, but Wilfred soon finds that Marcel answers to other names. A beautiful story about the "ownership" of wild animals.
AGE: Preschool - Primary school age
RATING: 5 stars
PUBLISHED: 2012
An exquisite tale of Wilfred who finds a moose and takes ownership of him and calls him Marcel. Marcel is mostly an obedient pet, but Wilfred soon finds that Marcel answers to other names. A beautiful story about the "ownership" of wild animals.
AGE: Preschool - Primary school age
RATING: 5 stars
Diary of a Wombat (PB)
AUTHOR: Jackie French; Bruce Whatley (illustrator) (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2003
Now published in a series, this delightful set of picture books looks at life through the eyes of a cuddly and lazy wombat as he goes about eating, sleeping, digging holes, and training its humans to produce treats.
Other titles in the series include
Christmas wombat
Diary of a baby wombat
How to scratch a wombat
AGE: 3+ (enjoyable for all ages)
GENRE: Humorous fiction
RATING: 5 stars
PUBLISHED: 2003
Now published in a series, this delightful set of picture books looks at life through the eyes of a cuddly and lazy wombat as he goes about eating, sleeping, digging holes, and training its humans to produce treats.
Other titles in the series include
Christmas wombat
Diary of a baby wombat
How to scratch a wombat
AGE: 3+ (enjoyable for all ages)
GENRE: Humorous fiction
RATING: 5 stars
Where the Forest Meets the Sea (PB)
AUTHOR: Jeannie Baker (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 1988
REVEIW: In a combination of realism and fantasy, WTFMTS tells the story of a young boy visiting a Nth Queensland island with his grandfather. Through his eyes we see the past, present, and possible future of pristine rainforest.
The book has strong environmentalist themes.
AGE: 5-10
RATING: 5 stars
PUBLISHED: 1988
REVEIW: In a combination of realism and fantasy, WTFMTS tells the story of a young boy visiting a Nth Queensland island with his grandfather. Through his eyes we see the past, present, and possible future of pristine rainforest.
The book has strong environmentalist themes.
AGE: 5-10
RATING: 5 stars
Monday, November 1, 2010
Series: Extreme Adventures (Jnr Fic)
AUTHOR: Justin D'Aith ((NZ/Aust)
PUBLISHED: ~2005
SERIES: Extreme Adventures
FIRST BOOK: Shark Bait
REVIEW: Each short novel (~130pgs) revolves around one major obstacle/mission, with several smaller obstacles impeding success.
The main character, Sam Fox, faces various difficulties (fighting animals, a runaway hot air balloon, struggling to save his life, or the lives of his younger brothers, etc) which he must overcome.
AGES: 7-10
GENRE: Adventure
RATING: 4 - 4 1/2 stars
PUBLISHED: ~2005
SERIES: Extreme Adventures
FIRST BOOK: Shark Bait
REVIEW: Each short novel (~130pgs) revolves around one major obstacle/mission, with several smaller obstacles impeding success.
The main character, Sam Fox, faces various difficulties (fighting animals, a runaway hot air balloon, struggling to save his life, or the lives of his younger brothers, etc) which he must overcome.
AGES: 7-10
GENRE: Adventure
RATING: 4 - 4 1/2 stars
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Series: Book of Ember (Fic)
AUTHOR: Jeanne DuPrau (USA)
PUBLISHED: 2003+
SERIES: Book of Ember
BOOKS: The City of Ember, The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold,
PLOT (The City of Ember):
The city lies in a world of darkness, lit only by lightbulbs powered by the generator and the river running underneath it. When two 12-year-olds graduate into Ember's workforce, their combined curiosity and conviction that all is not right in Ember lead them on a journey to discover the truth about Ember's existence.
REVIEW: Gripping in parts, the ending leaves you curious (although not jumping-out-of-your-chair, sprinting-to-the-library eager) to read the sequel. The book has a movie tie-in.
AGE: 10-15
GENRE: Fanatsy
RATING: 4 1/2 stars
PUBLISHED: 2003+
SERIES: Book of Ember
BOOKS: The City of Ember, The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold,
PLOT (The City of Ember):
The city lies in a world of darkness, lit only by lightbulbs powered by the generator and the river running underneath it. When two 12-year-olds graduate into Ember's workforce, their combined curiosity and conviction that all is not right in Ember lead them on a journey to discover the truth about Ember's existence.
REVIEW: Gripping in parts, the ending leaves you curious (although not jumping-out-of-your-chair, sprinting-to-the-library eager) to read the sequel. The book has a movie tie-in.
AGE: 10-15
GENRE: Fanatsy
RATING: 4 1/2 stars
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Series: The Magician's House (Fic)
AUTHOR: William Corlett (UK)
PUBLISHED: 1990
SERIES: The Magician's House
FIRST BOOK: The Steps Up the Chimney
PLOT:
Three children go to their uncle's house where they discover a magician at the top of stairs inside a chimney. He recruits them to fight against his evil apprentice.
REVIEW:
Similar to, but not as good as the Narnia series. The first book is reminiscent of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Deals with "magic" bordering on wizardry, with spiritual possession of animals (not something I'd promote lightly), good vs evil, etc.
AGES: 9-11
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 3 1/2 stars
PUBLISHED: 1990
SERIES: The Magician's House
FIRST BOOK: The Steps Up the Chimney
PLOT:
Three children go to their uncle's house where they discover a magician at the top of stairs inside a chimney. He recruits them to fight against his evil apprentice.
REVIEW:
Similar to, but not as good as the Narnia series. The first book is reminiscent of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Deals with "magic" bordering on wizardry, with spiritual possession of animals (not something I'd promote lightly), good vs evil, etc.
AGES: 9-11
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 3 1/2 stars
Monday, September 6, 2010
Then (YA Fic)
AUTHOR: Morris Gleitzman (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2008
PLOT: Two children run away from a Nazi train bound for a concentration camp. They befriend a farmer woman who tries to protect them. The story is confrontational, and gives perspectives from many people: Nazi soldiers, those who are sympathetic to Jews (including some soldiers), etc.
Similar to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
AGES: 10+
GENRE: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
RATING: 4 1/2 - 5 stars
PLOT: Two children run away from a Nazi train bound for a concentration camp. They befriend a farmer woman who tries to protect them. The story is confrontational, and gives perspectives from many people: Nazi soldiers, those who are sympathetic to Jews (including some soldiers), etc.
Similar to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
AGES: 10+
GENRE: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
RATING: 4 1/2 - 5 stars
Series: Monster Blood Tattoo (YA Fic)
AUTHOR: D.M. Cornish (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2008+
PAGES: ~600 pgs. SERIES: Monster Blood Tattoo
BOOKS: Foundling, Lamplighter, Factotum
PLOT (Lamplighter):
A young boy becomes an apprentice lamplighter: people charged with lighting the lamps lining the roads in order to keep people safe, and deter the monsters who live in the area. One night he witnesses a carriage attacked, and he forges an unsteady friendship with one of the occupants.
REIVEW:
The language is archaic and new vocabulary is added. Different names are given to known objects, tasks, etc, making it a difficult read, even for those who love to do so. Overall, the story drags. It is a very long book (599 pgs, not including appendices), and a tedious read.
Links to a website.
The Ranger's Apprentice is FAR better.
AGES: 11+
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 3 stars. It holds little appeal overall, but some may thoroughly enjoy it.
PAGES: ~600 pgs. SERIES: Monster Blood Tattoo
BOOKS: Foundling, Lamplighter, Factotum
PLOT (Lamplighter):
A young boy becomes an apprentice lamplighter: people charged with lighting the lamps lining the roads in order to keep people safe, and deter the monsters who live in the area. One night he witnesses a carriage attacked, and he forges an unsteady friendship with one of the occupants.
REIVEW:
The language is archaic and new vocabulary is added. Different names are given to known objects, tasks, etc, making it a difficult read, even for those who love to do so. Overall, the story drags. It is a very long book (599 pgs, not including appendices), and a tedious read.
Links to a website.
The Ranger's Apprentice is FAR better.
AGES: 11+
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 3 stars. It holds little appeal overall, but some may thoroughly enjoy it.
Series: Vampire Academy (YA Fic)
AUTHOR: Richelle Mead (USA)
PUBLISHED: ~2008
SERIES: Vampire Academy
FIRST BOOK: Vampire Academy
PLOT:
The story is told through the eyes of Rose: a Dhampir - half vamipre, half human; guardians charged with protecting vampires. The first three books are set in high school, where the Dhampirs learn the art of guardianship and the vampires learn... school things. Other characters include Lissa, Rose's vampire best friend who brings her back from the dead, and Dimitri, another Dhampir, Rose's trainer, and the object of her love.
REVIEW:
With some twists on vampire lore, it's enjoyable if you can get past the "tortured teenager" threads (which, of course, will hook the target reader - the tortured teenage girl).
AGE: 13+. Some sex in the third book.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure
RATING: 4 1/2 stars
SERIES: Vampire Academy
FIRST BOOK: Vampire Academy
PLOT:
The story is told through the eyes of Rose: a Dhampir - half vamipre, half human; guardians charged with protecting vampires. The first three books are set in high school, where the Dhampirs learn the art of guardianship and the vampires learn... school things. Other characters include Lissa, Rose's vampire best friend who brings her back from the dead, and Dimitri, another Dhampir, Rose's trainer, and the object of her love.
REVIEW:
With some twists on vampire lore, it's enjoyable if you can get past the "tortured teenager" threads (which, of course, will hook the target reader - the tortured teenage girl).
AGE: 13+. Some sex in the third book.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure
RATING: 4 1/2 stars
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