story time books

Des Hunt’s sequel to Frog River Mine. This time Tony’s Mum is more settled, and Tony sets off with her boyfriend Nick for a boys-only experience at Fox Glacier. Seven years earlier a hunting accident has left its scars on some of the residents, and Tony becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened. Lots of adventure, friendship and enmity, and a plot which races along. A well written story which will appeal to many, it’s part thriller, part coming-of-age, and part almost love story.

A brand new Hairy Maclary book is always cause for celebration, and this one is a beauty. Hairy chases a skimmer (or frisbee), then sees Grandmother Pugh’s hat “a riot/ of ribbon and lace,/ roses and feathers/ that tickled her face” acting in the same manner, and saves it just before it lands in the pond. All the classic traits on a day which sounds suspiciously Wellington: “a blusterous, gusterous, dusterous day,/ but Hairy Maclary was ready to play.” Sure to be just as popular as the other Lynley Dodd books.

By Alexander Gordon Smith & Jamie Webb, this is another ripping yarn. Nate and Cat win a scholarship with Ebenezer Saint, the world’s greatest inventor. At first Saint appears eccentric, a bit Willie Wonka-ish, but then the two discover his evil intentions. The plot gives the writers plenty of inventing practise, as they play with outlandish ideas and characters. Funny in parts and scary in others, it’s a good read for over 10s, mainly.

From the fourteenth century comes Nicholas Flamel, discoverer of the elixir of life, and user of it for nearly seven centuries, and his wife Perenelle. Then there’s Dr John Dee, from Elizabethan times, the first Elizabeth, that is. He wants something they have. And from the 21st century, twins Sophie and Josh Newman. Other characters include Hekate, the Goddess with three faces, werebears and golems. And according to prophecy, Josh and Sophie may be the twins who can save the humani from complete annihilation by others who have been around longer. Laptops and cellphones mix with magic and witchcraft in a story that races along from its opening to the promise of a sequel. If you like your fantasy frightening, this could be for you. By Michael Scott and suitable for older readers.

The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall, is a lovely wholesome story of a family of four girls, a widower father and a dog who rent a cottage for the summer. The cottage is part of a large estate with an unfriendly owner who has a friendly and lonely son. Beautiful characterisation, old-fashioned adventure. Reviewers have mentioned Anne of Green Gables, Little Women and other comparisons. For me it brought back Swallows and Amazons, without the sailing. These lucky girls have a wonderful holiday of discovery and adventure. Four very different characters aged 4, 10, 11 and 12. Winner of the 2005 National Book Award, now in paperback here for the first time. Another Penderwick adventure is promised for next year.

The third Captain Clawbeak adventure is here. Anne Morgan’s writing and Wayne Harris’s illustrations continue to provide a good read for early chapter book readers. Just as unlikely as the other stories, this one will again appeal to 6-8-year-olds, perhaps particularly boys. While they do carry on from each other, there’s enough explanation at the beginning that this can stand alone. Parrots, pirates, new babies: it’s a heady combination. If you want realism, look somewhere else, but for fun and a good yarn, read this one.

Ida B … and her plans to Maximise Fun, Avoid Disaster and (Possibly) Save the World is a gentle story of an imaginative girl who has an idyllic life with her perfect parents in a semi-rural setting. She talks to the trees, and the creek, and they in their different ways respond to her. But when her mother becomes ill Ida’s perfect world collapses and she has to go to school and come to terms with the real world outside. Amusing, understanding, and suitable for 8-years- old and up. By Katherine Hannigan.

By Salamada Drake, Dragonsdale is another book about a riding school. There is one fairly major difference though: the animals providing the ride are dragons rather than the more usual horses. Cara is the daughter of the dragonmaster, Huw, and she has a favourite dragon, Sky (short for Skydancer), but is forbidden to ride. The lord’s daughter, Hortense, has a rather higher opinion of her own riding skills than can be justified, and to spite Cara she decides to ride Sky, with unfortunate results. A pacy adventure story, sure to appeal to those who love riding or dragons or both.

A wonderful new kiwi multi-cultural story by Tracy Duncan. Mere McKaskill is going to have a boil-up, and she buys the ingredients from the Pakeha butcher, a Chinese couple at the greengrocers, then some flowers from a Samoan florist, calls at the neighbours, a Maori/Pakeha mix, and invites them all. All bring something for the feast and enjoy it together. Even includes a recipe.

 

Nim at Sea is the latest Nim adventure from Wendy Orr. The first, Nim’s Island is being filmed. Nim at Sea picks up a while after the first story ended with the author of Nim’s favourite book having stayed on the island where Nim and her father live. But as the story starts there’s a quarrel, and Alex leaves on the floatplane that has brought supplies. Nim feels responsible, then her sealion friend Selkie is tranquillised and captured, and Nim ends up following Alex to New York. For a girl who can remember only island life that’s an interesting adventure, complete with evil scientist, her first human friends, and a lot of wonderful action.The book, like the first Nim story, is an interesting combination of subsistence (Crusoe-ish) remote island stuff, and technological (emails and satellite dishes) which will appeal to many children. This book is longer than the first, and is at the upper end of the first chapter book genre, so probably suitable for 7-9-year-olds.