Junior Reads
Friends. Snake and Lizard
By Joy Cowley
Illustrated by Gavin Bishop – Gecko Press, 2009
ISBN 9781877467264 – Hardback $30. ISBN 0781877467257 – Paperback $20
Sequel to the award-winning Snake and Lizard (Gecko Press 2007). Snake and Lizard argue all the time, but somehow they remain good friends and go to great lengths to look after each other. They have a unique view of the human world – look out for the River of Death, and its deadly monsters. Excellent for reading aloud or alone, with lots of laughs guaranteed, along with a great example in how we can all get along in spite of our differences. Gavin Bishop’s stylish illustrations bring the pair and their desert environment to life. 5+.
Top Secret… Pass it On!
By Jaqualine Chapman
Illustrated by Rebecca Cundy – Longacre Press 2009
ISBN 9781877460357 – Paperback $16.99
A great book for newly independent readers to enjoy, written as a series of notes Stevie and Joeli write to each other in class (complete with spelling errors) – and the letters and lines and spelling lists they have to write when the teacher catches them out! The black and white illustrations depict the boys and their antics and realistic rough notepaper. This will be fun to read and perhaps encourage some writing too. 6-10.
The Dark Blue 100-Ride Bus Ticket
By Wolf Erlbruch
By Margaret Mahy – HarperCollins, 2009
ISBN 9781869508166 – Paperback $19.95
A magical adventure story with a vibrant vocabulary. Carlo and his mother are given a strange bus ticket and take a double-decker trip to the Supermarket at the End of the Universe, with its magical stock and a delicious tearoom. They make friends with Pearlie and her father Dominic, who takes a fancy to Carlo’s mum. But there’s trouble afoot when the wicked Dowlers try to steal the magic tickets and take over the supermarket. Much excitement ensues, but of course there’s a happy ending. Fabulous to read alone or aloud. 8+.
Reviewed by Crissi Blair. Crissi Blair lives with her family in west Auckland and spends her time reading and writing, mostly about children’s books. Crissi organised the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators for three years and publishes the useful guide New Zealand Children’s Books in Print which is updated every year. www.silvertone.co.nz
Intermediate Reads
Pinocchio
By Carlo Collodi
Translated by Emma Rose – Illustrated by Sara Fanelli – Walker Books (2003), 2009
ISBN 9781406317493 – Paperback
This much-loved story is given a thoroughly modern treatment with Sara Fanelli’s striking pen and ink sketches and collaged colour illustrations incorporating graph paper, photographs, stamps and other miscellany. The translation is perfect for reading aloud or alone, with a sing-song lilt and complex vocabulary. This classic tale of the wooden puppet who becomes a real boy should be an essential in the family library and I highly recommend this snazzy edition. 10+ or read aloud to younger children.
Glory
By Fifi Colston
Scholastic, 2009
ISBN 9781869438685 – Paperback $18
Florence Bright is sick of being average. People like her never win prizes, no matter how hard they try, so Florence takes action to turn the tables. All she needs to do is organise a small accident. Unfortunately Project Glory doesn’t quite go as planned, and Flo learns that you really shouldn’t make assumptions about people. This provides lots of laughs along with a good bit of drama, and many readers will identify with Flo. The chatty writing style makes this an enjoyable read for 9-12 years.
The Magician’s Elephant
By Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka – Candlewick Press 2009
ISBN 9780763644109 – Hardback $30
A mystical tale where you can’t be sure what is true, and what is an illusion or a downright lie. Peter Duchenne is an orphan, a soldier in training. When a fortune teller’s tent appears in town he can’t resist asking about his sister. The prediction that “an elephant will lead you there” seems impossible, but then a elephant does appear in a most dramatic way and a remarkable chain of events is set in motion. Shadowy black and white illustrations add to the atmosphere conveyed in the slightly formal text. A beautifully produced book containing a captivating tale.
Reviewed by Crissi Blair. Crissi Blair lives with her family in west Auckland and spends her time reading and writing, mostly about children’s books. Crissi organised the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators for three years and publishes the useful guide New Zealand Children’s Books in Print which is updated every year. www.silvertone.co.nz
Information Books
Let’s Cook! Tasty Recipes from Wattie’s Project Cook
Lisa Loveday & Julie Dick
Penguin 2009
ISBN 9780143011903 – Paperback $30
The summer holiday is a great opportunity for kids to spend more time in the kitchen, gaining experience in creating great things to eat. All these recipes were created for the Project Cook teaching resource for schools around New Zealand so are perfect for those learning to cook. There’s straightforward info about food and kitchen safety and healthy eating then heaps of recipes with clear instructions, lists of ingredients, time and serving guide and photographs, with handy tips along the way. Happy eating!
The Word Witch. The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy
By Margaret Mahy
Edited by Tessa Duder – Illustrated by David Elliot – HarperCollins, 2009
ISBN 9781869507077 – Hardback $44.95
Margaret Mahy is a New Zealand treasure and this book contains her poetry from the last 50 years – some previously unpublished, some found in publications like the School Journal and picture books – many now out of print. I was delighted to find 17 Kings and 42 Elephants, and you will find your favourites too. David Elliot has created individual illustrations for each poem, making each a work of art. A fantastic collection to add to any library. All ages.
Formula One Go Go Go!
By Bruce Jones
Allen & Unwin 2009
ISBN 9781742371061 – Hardback $35
A multi-dimensional book about racing cars – the cars, the stars, the techniques and the crew behind the scenes that keep the cars on the tracks. There’s a timeline for the history of F1 and even a pop-up steering wheel. Super graphics, lots of information presented in an enticing format. If you’re keen on cars you’ll love this treasure, written by an authority on the sport of motor racing.
Crissi Blair lives with her family in west Auckland and spends her time reading and writing, mostly about children’s books. Crissi organised the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators for three years and publishes the useful guide New Zealand Children’s Books in Print which is updated every year. www.silvertone.co.nz
Competition Winners Spring 09
| Masterton Miniature Train | Barbie & the Three Musketeers | Zealandia |
| Greta Gordon | Alice Joe | Heidi Bosman |
| Elizabeth McKee | Teah Little | Pauline Bellam |
| Fiona Turvey | Frances Lapslie | Jasmine Haxton |
| Amanda Wray | Lynn Barrington | |
| Tony Kelly | Katrina McHale | Caesar’s Family Restaurant, Northwood |
| Bethany Eijgenraam | Cassidy Fitzerald | Philippa Topp |
| K Anstiss | Jill Lodge | |
| Gail Kincaid | Isabel Jose | Crayola Scotch Brite Combo Pack |
| Kaya Barbarich-Love | Natasha Bellamy | Imogen Lamb |
| Cosmo Calman | Madison Aitcheson | |
| Easy Erasing Pad | ||
| Loritz Circus | Bionicle: The Legend Reborn | Raewyn Jones |
| Chantelle Toetoe | Liz George | Sarah Doncaster |
| Jenni Mori | Pam Churchman | Natalya Nicoll |
| Brooklyn Maxwell | Jocelyn Marks | Amy Bodden |
| Diana Lacey | Leanne Pender | Annette Law |
| Gloria Sorenson | Michelle Tili | Belinda Wood |
| Chantal Selby | Liam Tanner | Terri Weavers |
| Barbara Bakker | Kim Eagle | |
| Small Fry: Play Book | Blake Bamford | Anita Sepsy |
| Kylie Sword | Judith Lewis | Claire Brew |
| Nigel Allred | Christina Weston | Gail Arthur |
| Rini Pancaningsih | Robyn Janes | |
| Vanessa Hornal | Bosisto Prize Pack | Kayla Absolum |
| Stara Trifonoff | Desiree Smith | Angela Montgomery |
| Cristina Gascu | Kaz Berry | Alexander Papic |
| Janet Low | Ruby Sheikh | L Greig |
| Susan Proctor | Stephanie Sole | |
| Veronica Ryan | King Swim School | Cody Goodwin |
| Noeline du Faur | Dorothy Murgatroyd | Maddie Robinson |
| Lisa Smithson | Lily Sanderson | |
| Barbara Brown | Kraft Hamper | Joanne Annear |
| Jill Sim | Rachelle Hitchiner | Rachelle Thwaites |
| Neela Parsotam | Caroline Du Plessis | Thom Family |
| Lauren Ramsey | Sheyla Diston | Shaun Kenworthy |
| Amanda Meuldijk | C Mason | Anita Goodman |
| Selina Jeffries | Debbie Casey-Douglas | |
| Charlotte Hodge | Waitomo Glowworm Caves | |
| Peter Fizgibbon | Ecology and Environment Book | Joanne Mc Kibbin |
| Liz Hope | Alice Bartlett | Kyle Menhennet |
| Olivia Brunel | ||
| The Bubbles & Mustard Show | Glenda Baker | Lindale Kids |
| Gemma Eastwood | Mary Shirley | Wayne Sedcole |
| Jun-Liang Tan | Yvette Shore | Vivian Grapentin |
| Jo Carter | B J Johnson | |
| Jarah Gift Pack | Helen Williams | Sharon Hutchison |
| Tracey Peterson | Julia Townsend | |
| Hailee Reggett | Matoa Hemopo | Swan Lake |
| Helen Champion | Karen Lister | Liz Rades |
| Janette Knight | ||
| Donna Maxwell |
