story time books

This is the latest Cornelia Funke (Dragonrider, The Thief Lord, Inkheart and Inkspell) to be translated into English. It’s for a slightly younger age group than the others, but would be enjoyed by anyone over about eight-years-old, and will be loved by those who like feisty female characters. Igraine is the daughter in a family where mother, father and brother are magicians, and her birthday present is being created magically when someone says a wrong word and her parents turn into pigs, her mother black and father pink. Then their castle is besieged by a nasty neighbor and Igraine has to  try to put things right.  Fortunately she’s resourceful as well as feisty, and her adventures are humorous as  well as exciting, with some lessons about chivalry and true bravery along the way.  A good read, especially for girls who like fantasy.

From the team who brought us Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!, Kyle Mewburn on words and Ali Teo and John O’Reilly on pictures comes another classic picture book. This one rhymes, and has a minimalist text, e.g. “In the field/ stood a shed./ Roof rusty./Door red.” It’s not a new idea, the animal who eats too much and gets stuck: think Pooh Bear and the honey jar, but it bears repetition. In this story it’s Duck who finds a crack in a shed, reaches through and eats more than he should. Chook, Goose, Cow and Horse apply increasing force without success, but it’s Rat who uses her brain and finds an unexpected solution. Very good fun, great illustrations, and may well be as successful as Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! has been.

Geronimo Stilton is not as well known in New Zealand as in many other parts of the world. The series appeals to 6-9-year-olds, including slightly reluctant readers, with its coloured illustrations, varied and coloured fonts, and its exciting stories. Geronimo is a mouse, the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Rodent’s Gazette, the most popular newspaper on Mouse Island. In this example, the latest, Geronimo is sent to Athens to the Olympic Games and becomes involved with his friend, Hercule Poirat, in solving a mystery. The book includes lots of information about ancient and modern Olympics which will be happily absorbed as part of the story. Go Geronimo! Although there are now 33 Geronimo Stilton books, they’re not dependent on each other. Geronimo introduces himself at the beginning of each book, so they can be read in any order. It’s another useful series for those just ready for chapter books, where finding the right book can be so critical.

Story Time Books for Kids is now open six days a week, so new hours are as follows:

Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm

Saturday: 10 am- 4 pm.

This New Zealand novel, by Kris Stanhope, won the 2007 Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a previously unpublished writer. Michael is keeping a list of all the things he hates about school, and top of the list is Sharon Cramshaw. When he is paired with Sharon for a project he begins to realise that the real reason has to do with something else in his life, not school at all. Gradually we understand that it is his brother’s death in an accident that is really causing his problems. It’s very well written, and includes the list of all the things Michael hates about school, so it’s serious and funny, and I’ll look forward to whatever Kris writes next. In an author’s note at the end of the book he shares some of the process of writing the book, a useful addition which should make readers realise that a book doesn’t just flow from the author’s brain easily every time. Nine-year-olds and up should enjoy this.

A new novel by Jacqueline Wilson is always an event in the children’s book world. This one is the story of Pearl and her admiration for her older sister Jodie. Pearl is shy and careful; Jodie is larger than life, bold, cheeky and naughty, but with a heart of gold. When their parents get jobs in a boarding school which turns out to be a Victorian gothic mansion neither of the girls is pleased to be leaving friends for an isolated place miles from anywhere. When they arrive it’s summer holiday time, so there are only a few children there, but Pearl starts making friends with adults and children, while Jodie continues to get wilder.  I can’t tell too much more of the plot without giving things away, but it’s a very good read with wonderful characters in an unusual setting. Will satisfy Wilson fans and newcomers alike from 9-year-olds up. New publication in hardback only at the moment.

The second Dragonsdale book by Salamanda Drake published by the wonderful Chicken House, based on a school for riding dragons. Hortense, the aristocrat’s daughter has now gone to a different riding school, but still causes trouble between Cara and Breena whenever their paths cross. And Cara meets a merboy in Merfolk Bay and understands a little of another part of her world. This proves a lifesaver when Breena and Moonflight are caught in a cave, and the merboy and seadragon help in the rescue. Those who enjoyed the first book will love this one too, and it may introduce a few more to the thrills of Dragonsdale. Nine-year-olds and up, especially, as I said of the first book, fans of riding and/or dragons.

Another Gecko Press title, this time translated from the Japanese of Satoru Onishi. Each double page spread has 18 stylised animals, then one or more missing, crying, angry, backwards, or sleeping. It’s got that minimalist feeling of some Japanese painting, but most kids will have no trouble identifying the animals without looking back at the first page which names them all in case. Then on the last page before another named spread, only eyes show in a black page in a sort of Japanese version of Kim’s Game (perhaps only those as old as I am or Kipling readers know that), inviting the reader to work out who’s who? Another lovely import for very young children.

By Gareth Thompson, author of The Great Harlequin Grim, this is another teenage read set in Cumbria. It is a very good book. The protagonist, Andrew, witnessed a tragedy on the coast when he was nine, and it has haunted him ever since. His grandfather has introduced him to the breeding of daffodils, and it is in this hobby that he finds some peace. It’s a complex book with motifs weaving around each other in a wonderful dance. Angie, a beautiful girl from the year above him has interests which intersect with his, and he takes risks for her and begins to re-engage with people and life around him. Terrific characters in a beautiful story. This is another author I look forward to reading more from.

New to me and to Story Time, thought the copyright page says 2006, so I’m not sure how new, perhaps new to New Zealand. This is the story, by Bev Katz Rosenbaum, of Floe. Floe has been frozen (technically vitrified) ten years earlier when she and her parents had a rare disease for which there was then no cure, and now that the cure is available she’s thawed and alive, but ten years behind the times. Her younger sister is now her older sister, technology has rather changed things in the skateboarding world where she used to excel, and life is not very simple. The locals are trying to close the Cryonics Centre, where her parents are still vitrified, encouraged by a populist politician, and she has work to do. Interesting ideas, and it’s not a heavy read, so will be enjoyed by many teenagers.