Perfect Fiction for Younger Readers

Here are some recent delightful titles for the younger readers just starting out on that journey into the world of fiction titles.

The Lost Treasure Jan Stradling & Cassandra Allen (Walker Books)

A fun piratical adventure about two pirates, one good and one bad and about the thrill of a pirate's life - treasure.

The bad pirate - Hamish who also doesn't like water and caring for people finds a message in a bottle and sets sail for the island. Pirate Ruby, the good pirate wasn't interested in the treasure nearly as much -- she wanted to help the person (who happened to be another pirate) who stuffed the message in the bottle. On the island the two pirates offer to help jack find the treasure - if only Jack could remember where he hid the treasure! And like all good piratical adventures, the treasure is found, although not quite the usual way.

Part of the Walker Stories series, first fiction titles with three short stories.

These two titles are in Puffin's Aussie Nibbles series (again short stories richly illustrated for readers just starting to tackle their very first chapter books)

A Strange Little Monster Sue Whiting & Stephen Michael King (Puffin)

This is a gorgeous book about being different and loving it!

In the twisty trees of Grotty Hollow live the Grotty Hollow Monsters - and they loved scaring - especially trolls and goblins!! It can be a very noisy rumbly place when all the Grotty Hollow monsters are out and active for most were loud and rough! But Sasha was different. Her favourite time was the quiet early morning and she loved playing her flute -- which made her parents very upset. So Sasha sets out to be just like the other Grotty Hollow monsters her parents are delighted. But When a troll comes close to the Hide and Go Scare Games a little secret is revealed about trolls and music that makes Sasha a very special little monster.

Rosie and Ned and the Creepy Cave Meredith Costain & Tina Burke (Puffin)

Rosie and Ned are back and this time ned has to be exceptionally brave to save his friend Rosie.

When Rosie and Ned head off to Ghost Gum Creek, near Nellie McGinty's place, Ned knows it is not a good idea because Nellie McGinty has a very bad reputation with all the kids at their local school. They all say that Nellie is a witch with a warty chin and she casts witchy spells. Rosie convinces Ned and the two make it to the creek but when heavy rain starts they head for a cave to seek shelter. And that's when they get trapped. But when Rosie twists her ankle trying to find a way out in the cave that is filling with water it’s up to Ned to remove the rocks and go and get help. And the only nearby help is Nellie. What will Ned do?

And for those slightly readers who are more confident there is the following title in Puffin's Aussie Bites series

Sophie's Salon Anna Branford & Cheryl Orsini (Puffin)

A lovely title about friendships and dreams.

Sophie loves being a hairdresser, helping out at Madam Tulip's salon after school and she loves learning to create terrific hairdos - even when the mean girls at school call them hair don'ts.

Her best friend Melita loves ballet and when she gests the role of Odette in Swan Lake the two girls are thrilled. But Melita is soon forging friendships with the other ballet girls and when Sophie and Melita have an argument, life in the school is very different and not so pleasant for Sophie. But when the hairstylist sprains her wrist on the night of the performance it is Sophie, with a little help from Madam Tulip who save the night and so ... things are worked out in the end!

Have fun sharing these great aussie titles.

Terrific Series Titles

For younger and older readers here are books that they will surely enjoy.

Series books are great, especially because if the readers enjoy the title they will want the next one.

For independent readers:

August (Conspiracy 365 #8), Gabrielle Lord (Scholastic)

6 August, 148 days to go ....

10.32 am

Overpowering fear and worry about Gabbi had me pacing the room, desperately looking around for an escape. Together with the loss of the Ormond Riddle and the Ormond Jewel, and the long hours of boredom, it took everything I had not to start kicking the door and screaming my head off.

But the days I spent in this room had helped me get clear about one thing: I had to get away from this hospital .....

Callum is trapped underground, buried alive, and his friends Boges and winter are trying to find where he has been buried.

This is a fantastic read. The titles (and this is number 8 in the series, naturally) are absolutely absorbing reads. Kids - especially boys, love the adventure and the fast paced action. There is always a twist or a turn in every book and of course the reader is left wondering what is going to happen to Callum in September!

Excalibur (The Dragons #2), Colin Thompson (Random House)

Hooray -- for the wonderful Days of yore have begun. Peace has settled and dragons are no longer at war with humans for Brat, the false old king of Book 1 has been deposed. He is now a lowly kitchen hand and not very happy. He escapes of course and wants to return the kingdom to the Dark Ages, with the aid of Bloat, a teenage dragon.

On the run as a highwayman with a big walking potato, all covered in cuts and bruises, they snaffle another king’s daughter riding to the celebrations at the palace, who isn't so princess like and takes over the gang making her own trouble along the way. So Sir Lancelot, Morgan le Fey and vampire set out to make sure no ill comes to the celebrations.

A fun read that will really suit kids who like crazy humour and impossible happenings.

For younger readers:

Great for younger readers just moving away from picture books and wanting to move to the next level. Both these titles have simple text and wonderfully vibrant full-page illustrations.

Pearlie in Central Park Wendy harmer & Gypsy Taylor (Random House)

Pearlie is not in Jubilee Park this time. Now she is in Central park New York where it is cold and snow and freezing. she has come to stay with Crystal (another fairy), arranged by Queen Emerald but when she arrives a grey squirrel is waiting with a note for Pearlie. Crystal has gone on holidays and is leaving Pearlie to run all of Central park - which is much bigger than what Pearlie is used to. She needs a place to stay and to help the squirrels find food but how? An ice show might just do the trick!

The Pearlie books are heaps of fun and loveable!

Danger in Redwitch Villa (Belmont And The Dragon #4) Robin Gold & Mike Zarb (Random)

They're back, Belmont, a would-be knight and a chicken of a dragon and this time they have to save Old York from an explosive destruction!

Three Beastly Bedraggled Batniks have stolen a top-secret compound called Kablooey for the Boss, tripping over Belmont along the way (who doesn't recognise them at all). Belmont soon discovers that the compound can blow solid matter into itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny pieces.

Who is the Boss? Will Belmont and the dragon escape? Will the Kablooey for kablooey? All will be revealed.



And these two titles have a little more depth and are fun reads too:

Kumiko and the Dragon's Secret Briony Stewart (UQP)
Kumiko has a guardian, Tomodo, a dragon. Her family is of dragon heritage and so have great powers and the Shadow Catchers, spirits of the earth who want to add dragon powers to their own, have discovered this family secret.
When her sister is kidnapped by the Shadow Catchers, even the dragons are powerless to stop them for they cannot let their magic get too close. Only Kumiko can save her sister and defeat the shadow catchers. But first she must convince the dragons that she alone can do it and then she has to descend from the clouds and find her sister ... all without being caught by the Shadow Catchers.

Making Waves (EJ12: #7) Susannah McFarlane (Scholastic)
School girl Emma jacks is also Special Agent EJ12 who cracks codes and foils evil plans all over the world. She receives text messages on her mobile phone and when she does she has to get to the last cubicle in the toilets which will transport her to SHINE's headquarters where she can begin her special agent assignment to battle the evil agents of SHADOW.
At school Emma Jacks is nervous about the school swimming carnival and swimming in deep water but when she gets a text message from SHINE and she finds out that SHADDOW are making waves and the coral reef is in danger EJ12 is quickly into action. But how will a secret agent who is nervous of the school swimming carnival save the reef?


For beginning readers:

Rascal Runs Away Paul Jennings & Bob Lea (Penguin)

This series of small story books are designed for beginning readers. It has simple clear illustrations and a single line of text running across the bottom of each page.

Rascal is a small dragon and the world of this book dragons are just like pet dogs. When Rascal runs away from his home a crazy chasing game follows. He is soon captured but the fun continues when he is taken to the Stray Dragons’ Home because he escapes again -- soon everyone around wants Rascal and is in hot pursuit.

Finally, after gathering many chasers, Dragon makes his way back to the Home for Stray Dragons and not only is Rascal reunited with Ben but the chasers all find dragon pets too.