story time books

Kate Thompson has written a sequel to The New Policeman, which was a lovely book combining Irish mythology and present day Irish life. In this one, JJ Liddy, 15 in the previous story, now has a wife and children and a slightly chaotic life as a touring musician. One of his children in particular is rather strange, or perhaps not so when we realise that she is a fairy child or changeling, and she spends much of her time talking to a ghost and what appears to others to be a goat. There’s a lot of comment about the way humans or ploddies live, more about music, and a wonderful story which surprises at almost every turn. Taken together the two books are a great story suitable for 9 or 10-year-olds upwards, but older readers will understand more.

It’s arrived, I’ve read it, and it lives up to expectations. Must be hard to write in the same way when you’re a billionaire as you did when you were a beneficiary, but J.K. Rowling has maintained her pace, humour and style throughout the seven books.  There’s been far too much written about this one already, so I’ll just say it’s a fitting conclusion to the series. The publishers must have been looking for something to continue the momentum this series has had, but while there are certainly other great books and series around, nothing else has managed to create the excitement that Harry Potter and Hogwarts have. This book has no Hogwarts until nearly the end, as Voldemort is more powerful than ever, and he needs to dispose of Harry. For more sophisticated readers the parallels with Hitler and race purity are obvious, but for others it will be the story and the characters, and they don’t disappoint. Buy it for someone. Harry will still be talked about in fifty or a hundred years, both as a phenomenon, and as a story.

Kath Bee, a Nelson singer/songwriter sent me a copy of her CD of children’s songs. I’ve played them in the shop and brought the CD home and played it some more. The songs are great, and the other day I had it playing in the shop and a boy came in and sang along to one of the songs. He’d been singing it at kindy, he told me. Can’t get a better recommendation than someone singing along like that, so thought I’d mention it here. Kath also has a blog http://songsforkids.blogspot.com talking about what she’s doing, singing, writing, recording and talking about a tour, so look out for her. The songs are singable, funny, very catchy. I know several children who will be getting this CD as a present already.

Jack Plank, in this story by Natalie Babbitt, starts out to be a pirate, but finds he doesn’t have the heart for some of the nastier aspects of pirate life, like plundering. So he comes ashore, somewhere in the Caribbean, and looks for other work. Every career he looks at has a disadvantage, usually tied up with a story from his past, and each evening at dinner in the boarding house he tells the other guests and Mrs. DelFresno, the landlady, why it wouldn’t suit him. On the ninth day of his stay, with a heavy heart, he decides shore life is not for him, as none of the jobs he’s considered will do him. But there’s a twist still to come as the guests point out that there is one thing he is very good at, and they help him see his real strength. Lovely narrative which will appeal to 7-10-year olds and others who enjoy a good story well told.

Philip Reeve, author of the wonderful Mortal Engines quartet, has done it again. This is an exceptional book, an absolutely stunning triumph of storytelling. It’s a retelling of the King Arthur legend from the point of view of a young girl who gets caught up in the events which led to the legend. Wonderfully inventive, fantastically human, full of insight, this book should be read and reread. It helps to know the Arthur story, but even without prior knowledge it would be a great read. Best for teen readers. Philip Reeve is a great writer and many adults would also love this if they like a good story beautifully told. Myrddin (Merlin) is more spin-doctor than magician, creating events that others believe in by knowing how people’s minds play tricks.The narrator, Gwyna, is disguised as a boy for some of the book, and at one point comes across a boy disguised as a girl, so there’s comment on gender roles, power, love, politics and above all the power of storytelling. Highly recommended.

Another New Zealand picture book with a Maori flavour. There have been two previous books about Mrs Parata, so some will already be familiar with her. By Ruth Darroch, with illustrations by Bob Darroch, this one is full of fun as the pets create havoc which children will enjoy, from the kunekune pig which trips Mrs Parata’s son Joe up to the goat which eats the seat out of his undies on the washing line. Lots of laughs.

This is for a slightly younger audience than Fleur Beale’s last few books. Anthony is a Mummy’s boy just starting secondary school when he hears some paua poachers on his stepfather’s radio scanner and decides he can make money by blackmailing them so he gets half the catch. In the course of the adventure which follows Anthony grows up, realises his own strength and transforms himself into resourceful Ant, with help from the stepsister who has earlier tormented him about his lack of spine. Full of action and with Fleur’s usual understanding of humanity, it’s a great read for late primary, intermediate or early secondary pupils. The publisher called The Transformation of Minna Hargreaves “a coming-of-age novel for the modern girl”; here’s one for the modern boy. Another wonderful addition to New Zealand lit, with the story moving from Hamilton to the Wellington and Makara coast.

We don’t stock many hardcover books, but this one by Siobhan Dowd is one of them because it’s so good. It’s been compared with Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, but the similarity is fairly basic. Both are about boys with Asperger’s Syndrome, or womewhere on the autistic spectrum and both are a sort of mystery. In this book Ted and his sister watch their cousin Salim enter a passenger “pod” on the London Eye, watch as it revolves, then stop, and Salim does not come out. Ted sets out to solve the mystery but it’s a lot more than a mystery. Ted’s insights into human behaviour are telling and often humorous and it is a fascinating read. For readers 9 and above, but adults will love this too. Dowd’s previous novel, A Swift Pure Cry was a beautifully written but rather grim story of teenage pregnancy in Ireland. This shows her to be versatile as well as good.

Melanie Drewery has written another classic here. There’s a child who can’t sleep, and a mother who keeps finding explanations for the noises. It’s done as a lift-the-flap, and a glossary at the end tells about the monsters: maero, taipo, taniwha, ngarara and finally the ngongoro or snorer. Illustration and design by Loudmouth Productions, and it’s another beautiful uniquely New Zealand picture book, with a lovely gentle humour. Highly recommended.

Morris Gleitzman is one of the best authors for primary age readers, and this one is another very good book. Appears to have been published in 2006, so I’m not sure why we’ve only just got it. The book opens in a doctor’s waiting room, where Thomas is waiting with a bandage (plus jam) on his arm in case he sees someone he knows. His problem is actually itchy nipples, and it doesn’t reassure him much when his older sister tells him hers itched too, when her boobs started growing. While he’s at the doctor’s he realises that his nipples act as a lie detector, only itching when someone near him tells a lie. Very funny, over-the-top humour, in a very human story. Thomas’s friend Kevin sees money-making possibilities, and all sorts of complications ensue. Should be read by everyone over 8. Most enjoyable.