There’s such a tremendous range of books available for children that we’re spoilt for choice. However, finding the best and most suitable books on our own isn’t always easy. We’ve asked our reviewers – professionals in the genre of children’s books – to give us some good leads. We hope you enjoy some of their suggested top reads. Happy reading!
This section includes chapter books for children who have a newly acquired grasp on reading skills. These kids need stories with language that is not too challenging, but with enough interest to foster a long-term love of books that comes from practising their reading skills.
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 …
By Anna Gowan Scholastic, 2010 ISBN 9781869439316 Paperback $17.99 Storylines 2009 Tom Fitzgibbon Award. Hollie and her mother love their new house but their neighbours are miserable and keep to themselves. When Hollie overhears plans to build a dog-food factory nearby she decides to bring the neighbourhood together to fight. There are lots of laughs …
By Janice Marriott HarperCollins 2010 ISBN 9781869808333 Paperback $18.99 Brewster (aka Monster) just can’t help himself – he loves to make up practical jokes. Putting a dead weta in his sister’s hairdryer; painting the teacher’s car; chopping up Aunt Mildred’s wedding dress. The family despairs of finding a way to make Monster behave. But there’s …
By Kyle Mewburn Illustrated by Heath McKenzie Little Hare, 2010 ISBN 9781921541230 Paperback $12.99 Tilda loves to run around and climb trees and thinks a monkey would be her perfect pet. Playing on her own, after a fight with her best friend Nat, she meets Pop Hooper and his pets. They can’t catch the monkey …
By Sherryl Jordan Scholastic 2010 ISBN 9781869439279 Paperback $18.99 Young Finnigan’s lives with his pirate aunt, the terrifying Wildbloode the Wicked. It’s an adventurous life but Finnigan would rather live onshore and go to ballet school. He dances his way around the ship and in and out of trouble as he tries to find ways …
By Meg McKinlay Illustrated by Leila Rudge Walker Books 2010 ISBN 9781921529283 Paperback $14.99 Mrs Melvino brings a new class pet to school – Max the duck. To take him home for the night children must meet Max’s very particular requirements. When Max finally comes to stay at Abby’s house, things take a dramatic …
J E Fison Ford Street, 2010 ISBN 9781921665110 Paperback $18.50 Jack (12), his little brother Ben, and friend Lachlan are all on holiday at Hazard River and keen for an adventure. When they find a dead shark in the river, with its fins hacked off, they decide to find out what’s going on. They get …
By Victoria M Azaro Puffin Books 2010 ISBN 9780143305521 Paperback $20.99 Saffron (nearly 10) and her sister Sage (five) live an exciting life; their father travels and their mother does yoga and aromatherapy, and now there’s a new baby on the way. The tias (aunties) come from Argentina to help, causing much embarrassment. The family …
By Anna Branford Illustrated by Sarah Davis Walker Books, 2010 ISBN 9781921529177 Hardback $22.99 Violet lives with her big brother and sister and mum. They go to the market each week to make a bit of money and Violet longs for the blue china bird on a neighbouring stall. She tries to come up with …
By Michele Cox, Illustrated by Scott Tulloch HarperCollins, 2010 ISBN 9781869506791 – Paperback $18.99 The recent World Cup has resulted in renewed enthusiasm for soccer and Sammy’s latest story involves a competition for a child to go to the World Cup as a team escort. Sammy plays soccer with the Shooting Stars. She practices hard …
