N.J. Gemmell. Coco Banjo has been Unfriended (Coco Banjo #2), Random House Australia, 1 Sept 2015, 192pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780857987358 The latest offering from author/illustrator Nikki Gemmell’s Coco Banjo series is a gem. From start to finish, this book was entertaining. As the mother of three teenage daughters, I appreciated how accurately Gemmell tapped into the ups and downs of ‘girl world’, especially the fickle world of friendships. The illustrations added to the enjoyment of reading. I especially liked the illustrated letters, and the fact each character had their own signature pictogram. The characters all fitted together well and…
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Danny Parker (text), Freya Blackwood (illus.), Perfect, Hardie Grant, 8 Oct 2015, 32pp., $20.00 (pbk), ISBN: 9781760125554 This picture book is a gentle mediation on the nature of happiness. It follows three children aged about 2, 6 and 8 on their day as they play together in their house and the surrounding countryside, ending with the affirmation that their day has been “perfect.” Parker’s words read like poetry; they offer a suggestion of activity, but not a lot of detail. For instance, he writes “Some sunshine and something to nibble. Some space with enough room to scribble.” The sparse words make…
Karen Tyrrell (text), Trevor Salter (illus.), Jo-Kin Battles the It, Digital Future Press, 10 Oct 2015, 110pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9780994302106 Jo-Kin Battles the It is a self-published space adventure story aimed at eight to ten year olds. Josh is just an ordinary nerdy kid before he answers a newspaper advertisement to become a Super Space Kid and save the galaxy. He goes to Space School, receives extensive training from other children, then goes to space with his new friend Sam and battles aliens. While the book is action packed, its uneven plotting, lack of female characters, and some clumsy writing…
Stephen Pastis, Sanitized for your Protection (Timmy Failure #4), Candlewick Press, 1 Oct 2015, 278pp., $17.95 (pbk), ISBN: 9781406363494 Timmy Failure is keen to solve mysteries, in fact he sees himself in the role of detective – founder, president and CEO of Failure Inc. Timmy spends all his energy and most of his waking hours recruiting the help of friends and unsuspecting acquaintances to reach his goal. This is the fourth memoir in the Timmy Failure series by Stephan Pastis, so it would be fair to assume that the books have been popular but, try as I might, I couldn’t find very…
Margaret Hamilton AM, Deputy Chair of the CBCA Board and Awards Foundation Manager, shares her recommendation for late summer reading. It’s not published yet, but I’ve read a pre-publication copy of Glenda Millard’s new novel for older readers. It’s called The Stars at Oktober Bend, to be published by Allen & Unwin in February. Glenda’s writing is always lyrical, tender and very insightful. This book is no exception. When I was finished reading it I was disappointed that I had to leave the characters as I had come to know them very well and cared deeply about them. A little bit…
N J Gemmell, The Luna Laboratorium, Random House Australia, 1 Oct 2015, 305pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 978 0 85798 569 9 After The Kensington Reptilarium (2013) and The Icicle Illuminarium (2014), for the third time we are invited to follow the adventures of Kick, Scruff, Bertie, and Pin, this time in Sydney. They are looking for their mother, who has disappeared, and the main source of information appears to be somewhere in Luna Park. Their search involves their uncle, Basti, his butler, Charlie Boo, and Bone, a boy who is not one of the family, but just the sort you…
Mia Macrossan, Vice President of CBCA (Qld branch) and Reading Time reviewer, shares her suggestions for great summer reading…. The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell A great read on a hot summer’s day as it it set in a freezing Russian winter! Wild and stormy Feo has to overcome many challenges as she and her three half-tame wolves go to rescue her mother. Touching, uplifting and a great adventure. For ages 10+. The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt On the eve of becoming a knight, young Tiuri is given a dangerous mission to deliver a letter to the neighbouring king.…
Emma Quay, Scarlett, Starlet, ABC Books, 1 Nov 2015, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780733331589 The vibrant illustrations of this joyful book virtually leap off the page into your lap as Scarlett dances around the house to the rhythm of her dog, Jazzy Jo-Jo’s tap tapping toes. Like all starlets, Scarlett dreams of the stage and her doting parents oblige: ““A stage,” said Scarlett. “A stage,” said Daddy. “A real one,” said Mummy.” But how will Scarlett perform on stage especially without her dancing partner? This exuberant book oozes emotion – joy, love, uncertainty, fear, excitement, anticipation, pride … right down to…
Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin. The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep. Penguin, 2 Oct 2015. 32pp., $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780241255162 Ehrlin is a life coach with a background in psychology. This book is designed to help children fall asleep. On the back cover there is this statement: “Join parents all over the world who have embraced a new nightly ritual. Reclaim bedtime and turn it into a calm and affectionate end to your child’s day.” This is a worthy sentiment and one which everyone who has ever advocated reading to children would endorse. However, many parents all over the world have…
Linda Coggin, The Dog, Ray. Hot Key Books, 1 Oct 2015. 196pp., $14.95 (pbk), ISBN 9781471403194 Daisy is neglected and unhappy at home and runs away. She makes friends with an elderly homeless man and then helps a ‘street kid’ find his family. Does that sound like a familiar plot? Well, the twist in this story is that Daisy is a dog. But not just any dog. Daisy is the reincarnation of a twelve year-old girl who was killed in a car accident while driving with her father. Daisy really wants to get back home and tries everything she can…