Reviews \ Younger Readers

Children's Books for Younger Readers

Reviews of children's books suitable for younger readers...

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness (author) from an idea by Siobhan Dowd

Jim Kay (illustrator)

Walker Books, UK: 2011; 214pp

ISBN: 9781406311525

Genres: realistic fiction, surreal

Issues: death, family, grief, guilt, identity, loss

When the monster finally shows up it isn't the one that Conor's been expecting. Instead it's a great Yew come to life, with all its strength, poisonous berries and great age. Still, Conor's seen worse. Was expecting worse, in fact. So why has the Green Man walked into his life?

Flood

Jackie French (author)

Bruce Whatley (illustrator)

Scholastic Press, Australia: August 2011

ISBN: 9781742830728

Genres: picture book, realistic fiction

Issues: environment, community

The rain keeps falling and children can't play outside; the ground becomes saturated; the rivers rise: flood is imminent. In stark, concise prose, Jackie French captures the terrifying and devastating enormity of the 2011 Queensland floods. 'Trees and sofas sucked and swirled into the torrent. Boats tore from their jetties. A cafe, wrenched from its foundations, was captured in the river's surge.' A surge so unstoppable that inside and outside become one and humans cling to wreckage.

The Summer Gang

Cornelia Funke (author)

Chicken House Press, UK: October 2011; 166pp

ISBN: 978190442868

Genres: adventure, realistic fiction

Issues: family, friendship

Charlie, Hannah, Izzie and Xa (Alexandra): four friends-most-of-the-time girls who would like their summer to be a little more interesting. Forming a gang seems like a good start – but how do you find an adventure?

The Travelling Restaurant

Barbara Else (author)

Gecko Press, NZ: April 2011; 295pp

ISBN: 9781877467776

Genres: adventure, fantasy

Issues: choices, family, friendship, identity, responsibility

Jasper Ludlow is twelve. So why do his parents keep insisting to the Provisional Monarch that he's only ten? Left behind when his family tries to escape the dangerous attention of the ambitious Lady Gall and her spy ring, Jasper joins the Travelling Restaurant, a truly remarkable boat.

The Grumpy Little King

Michael Streich (author/illustrator)

Allen & Unwin, Australia: October 2011

ISBN: 9781742375724

Genres: allegory, picture book

Issues: ethics, greed, war

The grumpy little king is tired of being a small king of a tiny nation so he decides to go to war. Battle will bring glory, honour and fame, he is advised.

Velvet

Mary Hooper (author)

Bloomsbury, UK: Australian release September 2011; 336pp

ISBN: 9780747599210

Genres: historical fiction

Issues: friendship, identity

Velvet is employed in a steam laundry in Victorian England. For an orphan such as herself it is one of the few respectable places for a young woman to work. A tendency to faint in the heat and humidity puts her place at risk. When Velvet convinces her boss to give her a chance at a less unhealthy location within the laundry, little does Velvet realise that her whole life is about to change.

Excalibur: the legend of King Arthur

Tony Lee (author)

Sam Hart (illustrator)

Walker Books, UK: Australian release March 2011;160pp

ISBN: 9781406321593

Genres: adventure, graphic novel, myth/legend

Issues: choices, ethics, friendship, identity

As Uther Pendragon, King of Albion, is dying, he thrusts his magic sword, Caliburn, deep into a stone in order to stop his murderer and one-time friend, Ulric, from claiming it. Merlin, great wizard and advisor to Uther, then prophesied that one would come who would draw the sword from the stone and become 'the once and future king'.

Looking for Atlantis

Colin Thompson (author/illustrator)

Julie McRae Books, Random House, Australia: 1993

ISBN: 1856812669

Genre: picture book

Issues: imagination

A young boy is mourning the loss of his grandfather, who died after living a long and full life on the high seas. Trying to follow his grandfather's last advice, the boy searches for Atlantis. 'You have to learn how to look for it,' his grandfather had said.

Against the Odds

Marjolijn Hof (author)

Translated by JH & JW Prins

Allen & Unwin, Australia: June 2011: 128pp

ISBN: 9781742375083

Genres: realistic fiction

Issues: ethics, service, war

'Every now and then [my father] went off to war. At least once a year. You're heading the wrong way when you go off to a war. It's better to stay as far away from wars as you can. But my father is a doctor and they need doctors in a war. My father likes to be needed.' (p1)

Muncle Trogg

Janet Foxley (author)

Chicken House Press, Scholastic, Australia: July 2011; 206pp

ISBN: 9781906427030

Genres: adventure, humour

Issues: differences, family

Mt Grumble is the home of the giants, who have hidden from Smallings (humans) ever since their tiny foes developed the 'magic sticks' that enabled them to kill their gargantuan neighbours. Muncle is a very small giant. Human-sized, in fact.