Thai-Riffic! Oliver Phommavanh (Penguin)If you are ready for lots of giggles (but then what would you expect from a comedian) then this is a book to read.
Albert (Lengy) Lengviriyakul is Thai. His parents run a Thai restaurant called - Thai-riffic!! Albert wants to be an ordinary kid and fit in, after all he has just started year 7 at high school but his parents have other ideas, like making him wear t-shirts that advertise the restaurant) complete with baby photo of Albert), pushing a shopping trolley full of discounted toilet paper! A cultural day at school finds Albert’s parents bringing their Thai dishes to school which Albert tries to sabotage but things don't quite work out as planned and soon the orders are flowing in! When Albert and his best friend finally complete a school project on Thailand Albert realises that maybe being Thai is not too bad after all!
For independent readers.
Takeshita Demons Cristy Burne & Siku (Frances Lincoln)Are you afraid of ghosts and evil spirits, or the black space under your bed? If you are then put this book down right away and start another.
These are the first words of this title and just wanted me to keep on reading. this is a wonderful book full of action and adventure with creepy demons from Japan that have followed her family all the way from Japan to the UK - worse still the replacement teacher at her new school happens to be the demon Nukekubi a bloodthirsty demon who can turn into a flying head (by unzipping its body at night) and whose favourite snack is children - and it wants to destroy Mika to prevent her learning about the power her grandmother has taught her. To do so the demon visits Miku's house and steals her younger brother forcing Miku and her best friend to face the demons to rescue her brother ... but can she?
For independent readers
Water Geoff Havel (Scholastic)This title is full of suspense, surprises, twists throughout - and an amazing secret! a great book for older readers.
Tully's father has very strict rules that include stay clear of strangers and never go near the water. When Tully's father has failed to arrive home one night she is kidnapped by a mysterious stranger and taken to a distant scientific lab - where she finds out the secret about who she really is. There are others who are just like Tully ... exactly like Tully for Tully has been genetically engineered and is able to survive under water. Now that Tully has experienced the water she can never go back to her earlier life - but she and the others like her must escape!
Now Morris Gleitzman (Penguin)I can't believe I haven’t listed this book before - for it is one that I couldn't put this book down and is possible one of the best i have read all year. This is a powerful and emotive read - a book of hope!!
This title Now is the final book in the series that began with Once and Then - books that were moving stories of survival during the holocaust.
Now is set, today and in this book Felix, a retired surgeon in his later years, is the grandfather of Zelda. He has achieved great things in his life, the promise he made to become the best human being he can be has come to fruition. His childhood memories, once buried come alive again when his granddaughter Zelda comes to stay. This time the holocaust is the recent Victorian bushfires - vividly portrayed. Throughout the book Felix reflects on his life long ago and Zelda on her life today. This time Felix and Zelda have to fight to survive and to confront their demons … bullies at school and bullies of the past.
This book for independent readers is shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction prize 2010.
Morris' dedication: For all the children who never had the chance to do their best.
