The Wizard Of Rondo Emily Rodda (Scholastic)Rondo just keeps turning and kids will keep reading!!! This is the magnificent second book in the Rondo series filled with fun and exciting twists created by one of our most successful and wonderful storytellers.
Leo and Mimi return once more to the fantastical world of Rondo ... unable to resist turning the key to the antique musical box and thus make changes to the world of Rondo. This time they are determined to stay out of trouble but once more they are caught up in the fantasy of Rondo and much has changed since their last visit. Now Bertha the pig is a media celebrity, Conker, Freda and other Rondo friends are all together. This time they are on a quest to find the missing Wizard Bing (who performs not so successful wizardry). Has he been murdered or is something more sinister afoot. And the Blue queen - is she really as helpless as she is supposed to be? And what will happen should the skipping chat ever be completed?
This is just a wonderful read!
The Cloudchasers Steven Hunt & David Richardson (ABC Books)This book - a true graphic novel - is spectacular. It is a wonderful visual and literal exploration although a little dark.
In a town called Bankerville Alice is daydreaming out the schoolroom window. She is drawing the creatures she sees in the clouds - but creativity is forbidden in this town! Her daydreaming and drawing gets Alice into much trouble. She is suspended, eventually to be re-educated ... for Alice just might be the one to set Bankertown free. But Alice (and her companions including her conformist brother) escapes into the clouds in the sky into the land of Imagination all the time being chased by the Catcher. What will happen to Alice and her companions?
This is a grand adventure in the spirit of Jules Verne and Lewis Carroll with a more than a dash of the Grimm's fairytales thrown in! It can be read on many levels from upper primary and onwards. But the story is not complete with this book. The sequel (and resolution) will be coming later in 2009 ... but don't wait till then. There is also the Cloudchasers website to investigate.
Have fun with this wonderful fiction.
