Picture Book Treats

Ballroom Bonanza Nina Rycroft (Working Title Press)
Music, animals, Dance and fun rhymes make up this lovely animal alphabet book.
Nina's animal pictures are delightful and very amusing and in addition there are musical instruments hidden (some very well) in each of the A-Z spreads. Yes the mischief monkeys have hidden them so investigative eyes are needed. There are lots of musical instruments to find, many dance styles are mentioned, and heaps of animals are 'dancing' to find out who is the best dancer.

I love alphabet books and this is another that was fun ... especially after I read through the book, looked closely at the illustrations and found out that I had to find the hidden instruments - so I started all over again!
And do see Nina's YouTube clip Ballroom Bonanza film (with wonderful music) that captures 35 hours of water colour illustration (the creating of the book's cover) in under 3 minutes


There Was An Old Sailor Claire Saxby & Cassandra Allen (Walker Books Australia)
There once was a FLY being swallowed by an old lady but now it is an old sailor who swallows a krill and I too am sure that it will make him ill ... especially after he starts swallowing a wide assortment of other animals from the sea including a jellyfish, a shark, a ray and a fish.

Of course when he finally swallows the last animal ... well you'll have to buy the book to find out! The last double page spread has some nice fishy facts too!
This is a fun new twist on a familiar tale with really absorbing illustrations that will have children in many homes and preschools and kindergartens chanting along!

FUN!

Fantasy Excellence

Holidays have been a great time for reading so here we go with two of the wonderful titles that I have consumed! More to come soon.

The Keys to the Kingdom #7 Lord Sunday Garth Nix (Allen&Unwin)
This is it ... the final title in the wonderful and all-consuming Keys to the Kingdom series. From the moment I read the first page of the first title I was hooked. Each of the preceding titles has been unputdownable and Lord Sunday continues that heritage.

Now Arthur, with six of the seven keys has to defeat Lord Sunday and assume the position as rightful heir to the kingdom. But are the six keys enough? Can Arthur defeat Lord Sunday, the last of the trustees, as Nothing sweeps the house? And what will holding all seven keys reveal? The conclusion to this series is just amazing!

For kids (young and old) who like strong reads with fantastically developed characters and intriguing plot lines - this fantasy series is sure to hold them. It really has been the most delightful series to read. Yep ... I really loved this series!
Also check out the website.


Worldshaker Richard Harland (Allen&Unwin)
There is a huge iron ship sailing the world - over land and sea. The Filthies on the lower decks provide the labour that operates the vessel while the upperclass live a grand life on the upperdecks (going to school, resting, having holidasy - all on teh vessel of course) and never the two societies shall meet. But when one of the Filthies escapes to the upperdeck, and is soon assisted by Colbert, the assigned heir who will one day be Supreme Commander of the Worldshaker to bring up other Filthies from the lower decks, the 'world' order becomes unsettled and rebellion ensues.

This book is littered with twists and turns and adventure throughout these pages. Loyalty, betrayal, friendship, family, trust, cruelty, and rebellion are all part of this riveting fantasy read. Once I got into this, reading was hard to stop!

Enjoy these great new fantasy titles.