Wonderful Younger Readers Reads

Some terrific titles have hit the bookshelves recently for the younger readers. Here are two more.

Open for Business Moya Simons (Walker Books)
What happens when two best friends - best friends because they both love 'detectiving' - start their own detective agency? Mysteries get solved ... like why are the newspapers disappearing from front lawns? Why has a client's girlfriend been avoiding him? And when a close friend of one of the detectives' discovers that she is adopted - well that is a major mystery the young sleuths of the Walk Right In Detective Agency must investigate. This is a wonderful humorous read - it even has case notes. Watch out for new cases in the next book!


Heart of Magic Penny Matthews (Walker Books)
What happens when two totally opposite best friends have a disagreement at the Royal Show? What happens when their horoscopes tell them that their best friend is going to betray them? When wishes really happen and gold heart pins seem to become magic does the prediction really happen or is it something less mysterious. A lovely story about friendship and putting things right.

Kids should enjoy these book. They have short chapters, lots of action, and they are great reads.

Fiction Fun

Here are some newer fiction releases for younger readers and older readers.

The Clockwork Forest Doug MacLeod (Puffin)
Doug Macleod writes funny, sometimes spooky and sometimes crazy books - this is another one. When Morton has four wind-up treasures (that just happen to be able to speak too) which are dispersed far and wide in a magical forest when it is hit by a ferocious storm then of course he has to begin his quest to find his treasures. Along the way he teams up with a strange man who can't remember his name who is also on a quest. They meet a ghost seeking an eternal companion and strange cave dwelling infected twins and a few other humans along the way. Nothing in the forest is quite as it seems. Strange, quirky and fun!

Killer Whale Justin D'ath (Puffin)
Winning a holiday to the Antarctica is fun but the holiday becomes an extreme adventure as Sam and his younger brother are stuck on a wobbly ice flow. They encounter penguins and killer whales that Sam thinks might just find them an appetising meal. They are saved by a pirate ship that just happens to be an environmental warrior in pursuit of Japanese whaling ships. And of course it is up to Sam to save the day when the crew are struck down with food poisoning. But how does a young boy defeat the whalers - read Killer Whale to find out. Boys should love reading this book and the others in the Extreme Adventures series.

Stories from Country, My Pony Hooky and Other Tales Bob Randall & Susan Haworth (ABC Books)
Bob Randall is a great storyteller and songwriter. He is also an elder and traditional owner of Uluru. This book has stories taken from Uncle Bob's life. Some stories are fictional based on real events. Some stories are faithful retelling of events. There is Yidiki, the story of the magical journey into termite country for the making of the Didgeridoo. These are stories as old as Australia itself!

Lucy the Good Marianne Musgrove & Cheryl Orsini (Random House)
Lucy knows she is a good girl; it’s just that she happens to get into trouble - when mostly it isn't her fault. When her Tante Bep from Holland (who is staying with the family for a holiday) tells her that instead of Sinterklass visiting she will find coal left in her sack by Black Piet if she is a bad girl then Lucy vows to be good! She even makes lists of good and bad things! Will Lucy be good? Younger readers who want longer books will enjoy this.

Enjoy these great books. Don't forget that adults can share their reading experiences with kids too! tell them what you are reading!

Wonderful Non-Fiction

Here are three terrific non-fiction titles that I have just discovered. Kids will love them ... but especially boys!



The Surfing Scientist - 40 Cool Science Tricks Ruben Meerman (ABC Books)
I recently came across this book that came out last year ... and it makes science fun!
There are 40 experiments - complete with photos and directions and then accompanying facts behind the experiment ... like the leak proof bag that is filled with water yet able to be pierced with pencils and NOT leak! Do the experiment; find out why it happens and also a few facts about plastic bags. Other experiments include: spearing a raw potato with a straw, and sticking two books together without glue. Great for home science exploration!!!!

Prehistoric Australia Kevin Patrick & Douglas Holgate (Random House Australia)
Where have some of the world’s most important dinosaur discoveries been made? Right here in Australia! This book will tell you lots about those discoveries, the dinosaurs discovered, how they are discovered, how fossils are formed, and stacks more. it also includes weblinks and other reference books. A great book for the budding palaeontologists!

There's a Worm on My Eyeball Adam Taor & Douglas Holgate (Random House Australia) Boys will just read this book from cover to cover and back again. Read it to find out about all the wonderful life forms dwelling in our bodies, from tapeworms to bacteria and hosts of other bugs. They'll find out about some of the creatures that could inhabit our bodies like worms and flies and body odours (and bodily smells), they can discover about genes and lice, fungus and warts, ticks and animal poo and they can also find out about creatures that could inhabit our bodies like the 7cm African Eye Worm ... and stacks more gross stuff!

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These titles are great fun reads!

Picture Books & Junior Fiction

Lots of reading happening and here are a few picture books and junior fiction. These will be enjoyed by readers - both adults and kids. Some will even give a giggle or three.

Picture Books

The Dog on the Tuckerbox Corinne Fenton & Peter Gouldthorpe (Black Dog Books)

Most aussies have heard of the Dog on the Tuckerbox near Gundagai but many people don't know the story - here it is. It is the story of the devoted dog Lady and her master Bill, a bullocky from Australia's pioneer days. Find out about Australia's pioneering early settlement, the men who transported everything around the country droving their teams of bullocks and how one dog, devoted to her master, stayed on the tuckerbox, exactly where she was told.

The Very Cranky Bear Nick Bland (Schoastic)

What happens when a bear is disturbed by four friends who seek shelter from the rain in a nice cozy place which just happens to be where the bear is sleeping? Lots of roaring from a craznky bear of course! So the four friends set about cheering up cranky bear with little success. But then plain boring sheep comes up with a woolly solution that just might help bear to sleep and provide the friends with shelter to play. Lots of rhyming fun and lovely pictures.

The Eleventh Sheep Kyle Mewburn & Claire Richards (Scholastic)

I didn't know there was an eleventh sheep ... but when Sian counts herslef to sleep at night from one to ten and then starts agin the eleventh sheep waits to be called, just oout of sight. one snight insterda of waiting she takes a leap and jumps staight into the real world Sian and her sleep sheep have lots of fun until she relaises that her sleep sheep is homesick so she counts her sheep from one to eleven ... but what is wating just out of view?

Tomorrow Mark MacLeod & Kirrily Schell (ABC Books)

Here is a lovely little book of hope, of embracing life in all its forms. a book about dreaimng and believing that we can make a difference no matter what we see around us. With simply written text and line drawings encourages further conversation and exploration of the joy of living - and of today.

Junior Fiction

Harriet Bright in a Pickle Claire Craig & Melanie Feddersen (Pan Macmillan Australia)

Harriet Bright will be a poet when she grows up ... at least maybe. But first she has four problems. One is Paul Picklbottom a kid from school who causes her all sorts of dramas. Two is that she is a lousy swimmer and she has to race in the school swimming carnival. Problem three is she wants to be cinderella in the school play and beat Polly who always gets the best parts - until Harriet decides that there is a better part than cinderella. And four her best friend Molly has a secret but she won't tell harriet even after she tries and tries to get the secret from her. This is fun, a great book for junior readers wanting books with some length.

The True History of Stuff:
Vol. 1 Shampoo, Peanut Butter, the Days of the Week James Valentine (ABC Books)
This crazy little book is true - except for the bits that aren't ... and that is the whole lot of the book!

So knowing that, grab the book and find out how shampoo came about, how the recipe for peanut butter was tricked out of the keeper of the gods for us all to consume, and how the days of the week were ordered! And all of this from the fantastical,and now forgotten kingdom of Trapezia.

Cranky Paws (Pet Vet Book 1) Darrel & Sally Odgers (Scholastic)

This is the first title in a new series told by Trump, the ALO (animal Liason Officer) at a vet clinic. Trumps' job is to act as the go-between between animals with problems and the human animals who want to help them. In Cranky Paws a cat arrives at the clinic who hates everyone - humans and dogs too. A solution has to be found and Trumps might just be able to help! The books will be adored by kids who love their pets and other animals.

Meet The Humansons Knife & Packer (Scholastic)

Who are the Humansons? They are one set of the crazy residents of Freak Street. They are an average, everyday family (at least they think they are) who when cleaning the car, wash the windows with the neighbour's cat and clean the wheels with yoghurt. When Pet Day at school draws near chaos hits this family - their pet belly-dancing slug gets sick. Of course there is also the mystery of the missing pet judge that has to be solved! Lots of bright colours and humorous text. Boys will enjoy this!

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Have fun with these reads. There are stacks of great aussie books being published for our aussie kids and more will be here soon.

Dont forget to check out the reading hints for parents and caregivers visit:

http://www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au/forparents/reading_to_children.htm

Series Books -- New and More

It's always great finding a series that kids will love reading.
Recently some books have been released that younger readers will love to keep reading and will want more of. Some are funny, some are just crazy, some are fantasy and of course they are all great reads.


Philomena Wonderpen Is A School Camp Star Ian Bone & Janine Dawson (Puffin)
In this the third title Philomena wants so much to be the camp star. Unfortunately someones else always seems to get the points and her best friend Mina is spending more time with Sarah. Things go from bad to worse at the camp even with the wonderpen and the seems a disaster ... but all is not lost. Stars are given and friends reunite and wonderpen does some amazing drawings. Short chapters, lots of illustrations, real fun! And do see the website: philomena.com.au for more information and activities.

The Undys - Itching for Action Michael Wagner & Gus Gordon (Puffin)
The undies are back and they continue to outdo each other. What is a manny? A male nanny of course and that is the job that Aunt Faber has found for Josh and his dad. But first they have a competition to embarrass the aunt who in turns has her own embarrassing turn! when they do start their manny work lots of fun and craziness begins. There's tug of water, over water of course where someone is bound to get wet, a tea towel-flag stealing contest and more Undy craziness ... with zany illustrations too.

The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
More crazy illustrations and more rhyming mayhem ... what more would one expect from the two creators of the cat on the mat is flat and lots of other zaniness. Kids will keep giggling over cows and worms and scooters and stacks more.


Two NEW fantasy series for younger readers.


Escape (wolf kingdom series) Richard Harland & Laura Peterson (Scholastic)
Tam and Nina know of the legend of the outlaws, a band of free folk living away from the clutches of the overlords, the wolves, so when their house is attacked and they escape they set off in search of the free folk. along the way they find a monastery and a Brother inside with a mysterious magical belt ... but all is not as it seems.

Thorn Castle (sorcerer's tower series) Ian Irvine & David Cornish (Scholastic)
Being empowered with magic is beneficial to life in Tamly's village but when things start to go wrong magic cannot fix it. Instead it is left to Tamly, the boy who can't do magic, to muster all his courage and enter the tower of the evil sorcerer and destroy the evil plan.


Enjoy reading wonderful Aussie kids literature.

Fiction and Non-fiction for readers younger and older!

Here are books both fiction and non-fiction for younger readers and for those older readers that have dropped onto the desk in recent weeks. They are all great aussie reads!

For younger readers - two new titles in existing series.

Pearlie and Her Pink Shell Wendy Harmer (Random House)

Pearlie is back and this time her pink shell needs a little work after the workmen have covered it in nasty grey paint that makes her shell a smelly one. With a little help from her friends everything is returned to normal but first Pearlie and her friends have to outwit the mischievous rotten rodents who have repainted and set up home inside. Readers all over love Pearlie.

Henrietta Gets a Letter Martine Murray (Allen&Unwin)

Something is making a scruffling noise under Henrietta's bed so there is only one thing to do ... set a pickle trap and catch the noise. Henrietta's discovery of Mabel May Hissop, a fairy with boyfriend problems, living in her sock under her bed, sets her on the path to the Big Bunch of Small Creature Ball where help is at hand!

A Henrietta read is always fun and this continues the tradition with its light text and wonderful colourdul illustrations throughout. For Henrietta lovers there are lovely new covers too. A real ball!!!

For Older Readers

PIP: The Story of Olive Kim Kane (Allen&Unwin)

If you ever wanted to find out what happens in the junior years at a girls' high school then this might be the book to read.

Olive loves things in pairs and perfectly organised - her family and her bedroom and just two but when Pip appears all this order changes and things become just a little less organised. This book is eye opening.

Finding Darcy Sue Lawson (black dog books)

This is a beautiful book about hidden secrets and revelaing truths that must be read. Based on the true story of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru (where more than 1000 Australian prisoners of War were killed) is the story of Darcy Abobott who is sent to live with her surly grandmother and silent great gandmother. Here she discovers a mystery about the WW2 death of her great grandfather also called Darcy and it is this discovery that leads her to find the truth about her own father's death.

Superb Non-Fiction

China: Land Of Dragons And Emperors Adeline Yen Mah (Allen&Unwin)

Why was the opening time for the beijing olympics set for 8.08pm on 8 August 2008?

What are the secrets guarded by the terracotta army buried beside the first chinese emperor

How old was the first emperor of china?

Why are dragons so special for chinese people?

What was the opium war about?

What admiral had a fleet of 317 ships and 26,800 men?

What Chinese holiday, over four thousand years old, is held on the fist day of the first moon?

How exciting to find a book filled with the answer to these questions and a whole lot more about wonderful China the land of dragons and emperors.

The Big Picture Book Of Environments John Long (Allen&Unwin)

What is environment and climate change all about? What was it like and what might happen? This is the perfect book with the right scientific answers. Filled with wonderful illustrations and stunning pictures of the environments this book is perfectly written for the primary school child (and others) who wants answers to the complex climate change question!

Enjoy .....

Beaut Younger Fiction

Perry Angel's Suitcase Glenda Millard & Stephen Michael King (ABC Books)

This is a beautiful and moving story about belonging, being lost, about family kindness and finding your place in the world. Perry has spent the past seven years searching for a place to belong. When he arrives in the Kingdom of Silk with his battered and old gold-lettered suitcase and with hidden feelings - well maybe his time his luck will change.

Queasy Rider James Roy (Walker Books)

What do you do with a rusty, batterd, incomplete old bike? Well if you are Thicky and Nobby you fix it up and make it work (sort of). Then to makes some money Shirley (who gets half the profits for the suggestion) decides that you charge kids 20 cents in a challenge (with conditions) to ride the bike to the bottom of a very steep hill. The person who makes it all the way down without falling off gets the jar full of coins!

A great story in the new Lightning Strikes series - books with short, easy to read chapters, that are fun and fast paced.

Norton Saves the Day (Pony Patch series) Bernadette Kelly & Liz Alger (BlackDog Books)

Boredom even gets to horses so Molly decides to take naughty Norton to riding school. Molly and Norton are in for some very interesting lessons there. For young readers (especially girls) who love horses this series of short, well illustrated chapter books will be a fun read. The books also have a glossary and hints for pony care too.

Extraordinary Ernie & Marvelous Maud Frances Watts & Judy Watson (ABC Books)

Superheroes are back and this time it is Ernie and Maud - a boy and a sheep. Ernie wins the contest (he was the only entrant) to become a superhero but is not so pleased with having a sheep as his sidekick ... even if it is a talking, multilingual, fast sheep! But Ernie's opinions of Maud soon changes when they venture out on their first superhero advneture - and of course they win!