Little Witch by Juliette MacIver

Posted by Abbie Jury in Middle childhood, Other children's books and tagged with
Little Witch

Little Witch

First chapter books for newly independent readers can be a problem. It is often difficult to find stories which are anything other than utility language. This little book has three separate stories in chapters about Little Witch and it is a cracker. The stories rocket along at a fast clip and are genuinely funny and clever. There is quite a bit of word play. In one story, elderly and deaf Sorceress Monda mishears what is said with dramatic results. In another story, a spell mixes up the initial letters of words. So there is word play involved and language skills. It is mischievous and it is fun, aimed primarily at girls and in that emerging reader of the six to eight year old band. The biggish print and fun illustrations will help children enjoy the reading experience and feel they are making progress.

Little Witch by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Cat Chapman (Walker Books; ISBN: 978 1 921720 46 8) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

Farmer John’s Tractor by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Robyn Belton.

Posted by Abbie Jury in Picture books, Preschool picture book and tagged with ,
Farmer John’s Tractor by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Robyn Belton.

Farmer John’s Tractor by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Robyn Belton.

A car becomes stuck on a flooded road and a succession of rescue vehicles fail before Farmer John remembers his trusty old tractor which succeeds in carrying out the required rescue. So the story is a formula which has been applied many times before. It is written in verse which mostly scans. I was slightly surprised to find the only two children in the story cast as frightened little girls shaking, quaking and sobbing. Most modern children’s books are a little less old fashioned, even clichéd. The illustrations by Robyn Belton are the best aspect. She is a wonderfully talented New Zealand illustrator and her pictures are gentle, colourful and detailed. It is a book for two to four year olds.

Farmer John’s Tractor by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Robyn Belton (Walker Books; ISBN: 978 1 921150 94 4) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

Baby Animal Farm by Karen Blair

Posted by Abbie Jury in Preschool picture book and tagged with
Baby Animal Farm by Karen Blair

Baby Animal Farm by Karen Blair

Really early books for littlies are not that easy to find and this is charming and simple enough for under three year olds. Clearly a daycare outing, it is quite politically correct. There are five children one of whom is subtly of Asian descent and one from the darker races. They head out and meet the baby farm animals, have a picnic and fall asleep in their pushchairs on the way home. There is a simple text with animal noises to invite participation, clear pictures and a suitably complete experience is captured. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this as an early book from under one onwards, especially where the child is accustomed to going to playgroup, Playcentre or childcare and will therefore understand the group experience.

Baby Animal Farm by Karen Blair (Walker Books; ISBN: 978 1 921720 37 6) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

The Great Orlando by Ben Brown, illustrated by Helen Taylor

Posted by Abbie Jury in Picture books and tagged with ,
The Great Orlando by Ben Brown, illustrated by Helen Taylor

The Great Orlando by Ben Brown, illustrated by Helen Taylor

This is a very interesting picture book by a New Zealand author and illustrator team. Sunday Jones escapes his life of misery with a cruel and uncaring father by mastering magic and staging his own transformation. He even succeeds in giving one in the eye to his father in a final act which will be appreciated by children as both funny and wonderfully apt. There is quite a dark layer to this story which means that it is not suitable for using with any children under the age of four. There is a lack of kindness in Sunday’s life and he is vulnerable and lonely after his mother dies. But it is a pretty special story, told with lovely language and bold but detailed pictures. Sunday transcends his intolerable situation through confidence, practice and determination which sees his faith rewarded. This book is a keeper with a timeless magic of its own.

The Great Orlando by Ben Brown, illustrated by Helen Taylor (Scholastic; ISBN: 978 1 77543 087 2) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

Melu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly

Posted by Abbie Jury in Picture books, Preschool picture book and tagged with
Melu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly

Melu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly

This is the delightful story about Melu. a mule who is different, out of step with the rest of the herd. Melu wants to escape the arid hills and head for the glittering green sea and lush green fields. Cross-species trust, cooperation and friendship with a goat and a bull, sees Melu make it to a new and rewarding life on the coast. It is a wonderful message of being open to possibilities, brave and finding strength in teamwork and it is told with verve and style. This is a story that begs to be read aloud. The illustrations are equally appropriate – bold shapes with just enough detail and the facial expressions are conveyed with simplicity and confidence. This is a book that works successfully on every level and is even by a New Zealand author. Introduce to littlies aged around 2 to 6 and it should become a firm favourite.

Melu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly (Scholastic; ISBN:978 1 77543 027 8) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.