Part of my research into writing for children involves reading lots of children’s books – picture books, chapter and middle-grade books
I thought it might be a great idea to share some of the fantastic stories I have come across, both old and new, in case you need some ideas. Books make great presents!
Book Review #3 – Dragon Skin – by Karen Foxlee
Book: Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Australia (2021)
Age group: 8 – 12
Standard retail: NZ$20 – $24 (Hardback)
Pip never wants to go home. She likes to sit at the waterhole at dusk and remember Mika, her best friend. At home her mother’s not the same since her boyfriend moved in. They don’t laugh anymore, and Pip has to go to bed early, turn off her light and pretend she doesn’t exist. When she finds a half-dead creature at the waterhole, everything changes. She knows she has to save this small dragon and return it to where it comes from. But how?
I have just finished Dragon Skin, and this is a book that will stay with me for a long time. It is a heartwarming, magical book about an unlikely pair who find themselves lost and broken. Together they discover the strength to rescue themselves and overcome life’s obstacles to survive and save those they love. It is beautifully written and deals with the weighty themes of love, friendship, loneliness, and domestic violence in a sensitive way that children will understand.
I highly recommend this book and it will be on my Christmas gift list this year.
Book Review #2 – Pirate Blunderbeard Series – by Amy Sparkes & Ben Cort
Ahoy Me Hearties!
In honour of International ‘Talk like a Pirate Day’ (Sept 19th) I thought I would review the fabulous series of books by Amy Sparkes & Ben Cort – Pirate Blunderbeard
Book: Pirate Blunderbeard Series – Worst Ever (1 – 4) by Amy Sparkes (Author) & Ben Cort (Illustrator) Publisher – HarperCollins Publisher (2017 – 2018) Age group 7 – 9
Standard retail: NZ $13 – $17
Pirate Barnacles Blunderbeard is a rubbish pirate and friends and family are constantly telling him so. He’d much rather spend his time baking cupcakes and building inventions than practice his pirating skills. He’s constantly being threatened with expulsion from PARPS (the Pirates Against Rubbish Piracy Society) that his brother Blackbeard is the director of. Instead of a parrot he ends up with a chicken called Boris the Basher that’s part dragon and has a nose for gold.
Can the worst pirate ever succeed in the pirating world or is he doomed to failure?
I loved this series, so too did my daughter who has re-read them many times. This series is funny with good pacing and unique storylines. They are well written with short chapters in a diary format from Pirate Blunderbeard’s point of view. With lots of black and white illustrations, and the text broken up by letters and pictures, this makes this a fantastic read for children moving on from first chapter books to something a little more challenging. The continuous action to draw the reader in lasts throughout the series. A most enjoyable read.
Book Review #1 – The Secret Dragon by Ed Clarke
Book: The Secret Dragon by Ed Clarke
Published: 2019 Puffin (an imprint of Penguin Books)
Age group: 8 – 12
Standard retail: NZ $16 – $22
I loved this book!
My daughter was given this book for her birthday and it sat unread on the shelf for a couple of weeks. I actually read it first and suggested she should, and she loved it too.
“Mari Jones is desperate to be a real scientist, even though she’s only eleven. So, when she discovers a tiny dragon while fossil hunting on the beach, she’s sure she can find a good scientific explanation – as long as she can keep it hidden long enough to study it.
Unfortunately for Mari, this is one secret that doesn’t want to be kept. And as she starts to form a deeper bond with the mischievous dragon, she might have to admit that, when it comes to friendship, science might not have all the answers…”
The story is a little bit quirky, with a good pace and a unique storyline, combined with touches of humour. It is well written with continuous action to draw the reader in. Gweeb the baby dragon comes across as cute, sweet and a little bit mischievous so you are left wondering what will happen next. I loved the idea of a strong young female character that wants to be a palaeontologist but is still trying to figure out where she fits in.
This is the first book in a new series. Can’t wait for the next due out later in 2020.