Occasional Book review 4

OPHELIA WILD, SECRET SPY

By Elena DeRoo
Illustrated by Tracy Duncan

Wow! A small chapter book all told in rhyme. Quite an achievement. The topic is a perennial one for younger children- secret spy! There are also tree houses, school bullies, a new kid at school, as well as Russian Morse code and Olga's meat pies.

Most of the four line stanzas scan beautifully- here's a taste:

'It's the start of the end

of the long summer

beak,

the very last slurp

of the strawberry

shake'

Each chapter is a mini case- the bully boy gang star in two and an elderly Ollie and the mystery of his disappearing belongings, star in the third and last chapter.

Tracey Duncan's black and white artwork are great prompts as  well as propelling the narrative along, they add an extra dollop of enjoyment and excitement.

This would make an enjoyable read aloud book also. Highly recommended.

Occasional Book review 3

No Bears

Written by Meg McKinlay illustrated by Leila Rudge

Walker books 978192152994

What can Meg McKinlay be doing calling a picture book 'No Bears?' Of course picture books have bears! All those fairy tales with bears as the main subject... but wait, the cover shows a bear holding up books and the main character Ruby.

This is an invitation to open the book and find out just what is going on.

Ruby knows all about books how they use words and begin with 'once upon a time' She wants to write her own once upon a time and happily ever after book without ever casting a bear in the lead role.

'I'm in charge of this book so I know everything about it- including the most important thing, which is that there are NO BEARS in it.'

Thankfully Leila Rudge is drawing her own subtext to the book and includes a bear whenever she can- a behind the scenes bear, almost like a postscript on the main story line. But very much an integral part of the story.

Everything is unfolding according to story- book plan until we come to the cast of the monster- oh no! The story and characters begin to have a life of their own- a bit like Meg and Leila as they write and illustrate this story. A great picture book develops a soul of its own.

Oh no cried the princess, 'SOMEBODY SAVE ME' And so SOMEBODY did.

This book is a delight, as a shared read with a 'little' audience, there will be chuckles and comments and suggestions. All the hallmarks of a great picture book. Highly recommended.

Occasional Book review number 2

 

Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat by Anna Branford illustrated by Sarah Davis

Walker books ISBN 978 1 921529 191

What I enjoy so much about Anna Branford's style is her seemingly effortless skill in portraying Violet's thoughts and the wholly believable synapses of her child logic. This is the third instalment of life according to Violet. And what a delectable and vibrant world it is.

From a sparrow in a shopping centre, to a delightful exploration of the term 'Natural Habitat' we are engrossed with Violet's family life. When Violet's sister Nicola has to do a project for the Natural Science display, it causes much friction in the household because Nicola doesn't know what to do.

Violet's helpful suggestions are met with “Buzz off, Violet,' she says.(Nicola) “It's not a primary school project where you can just put some ladybirds in a jar. It is for a display and it has to be actual science.”

So Violet sets about making her own Natural Habitat for Small Gloria the ladybird found in 'a patch of fennel with soft feathery leaves.'

Sarah Davis' black and white illustrations are the perfect foil for the text, from a shoulder -hunching, frowning Nicola, to a wistful head- titling Violet, Sarah captures the drama of the small moments in these sisters' lives.

A wonderful read and highly recommended. A Great Christmas gift!

The first of an occasional book review

The Truth about Verity Sparks

Susan Green. Walker books ISBN 978-1-921720-27-7

2011 paperback

My name is Verity Sparks and I've got itchy fingers. The Professor calls it telegativism. Sounds like a disease, doesn't it? But it's not. It's more like a talent. A gift. I've always had it, but I didn't know I had it until the summer of 1878. It happened the day I finished the yellow hat.

And so begins a rollicking adventure, written with great panache and humour. It's not easy to set your story in an historical setting but Susan Green has written with sensitivity about the plight of the working class in London of 1878- how does an orphan find work and keep employed when an unjust accusation of theft is engineered?

But thanks to Verity's unusual itchy fingers, she is able to find lost items and eventually solve the mystery of her foundling status. Along the way, she is befriended by the Plush family who are Investigators in a Confidential Inquiry Agency- Professor Plush wants to experiment with Verity's unique talent and this again calls on the nineteenth century's fascination with the supernatural and science.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book- the pace, skill and intrigue kept me page turning right to the end.

A highly recommended read for years 5 upwards.

'The invention of Hugo Cabret,' by Brian Selznick. Is this a new kind of reading- a sophisticated combination of pages of black and white illustrations which pace the plot then a switch back to prose? When I placed the book on hold in my local library- I didn't know the book would be so thick and heavy- but a great read. That orphan tragedy plot, hardworking. I enjoyed the automaton and the mechanical ability of Hugo- This is a star quality read and another instance of pushing story in all its glory.

Book review

I'm inspired to write a review of a book I borrowed yesterday from the library and completed reading this morning- these days I don't read as quickly as I once did.

'Princess Academy' by Shannon Hale- a junior fiction book- grabbed my attention- not because of the title but because of the silver sticker- Newberry honour book.

I loved Miri- smallest daughter of a quarry worker and her growing awareness of her place in the family, her relationship with Pedder and the linder rock that is the main industry of her isolated village. When the king's priests divine that the future princess will be found in Mount Eskel, the training for the eligible girls in the village begins in earnest. Which girl will the prince choose?

Well written -a fresh perspective on quest and character- loved every tiny petal of it.