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.

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

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

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

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.

Mr Bear Branches and the Cloud Conundrum

What a lovely celebration of friendship. Mr Bear Branches is a learned and intellectual bear while his best friend, Lintfrey Longfellow, is an impulsive and innocent little rabbit. When Bear Branches realises he has made Lintfrey sad by pointing out the impossibility of ever floating on the clouds, he sets out to create a real life experience as close as possible. It is a gentle tale of caring and friendship which leaves the reader with a genuinely warm feeling.

The language is sophisticated, as you may gather from the use of conundrum in the title, but the advanced vocabulary is so well integrated that the context makes the meaning clear. The illustrations are pen and ink drawings, detailed stick figures, with limited use of colour (red and brown) so quite subtle. It is a thoroughly delightful book and perfect for reading with children aged three years up.

Mr Bear Branches and the Cloud Conundrum by Terri Rose Baynton (Harper Collins; ISBN: 978 0 7333 2921 0) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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

Edge of the World,

It is always bleak winter in the joyless village at the end of the world, even more so for Toby McPhee who is wrapped up in his own grief which seems to infect the entire village. When he starts finding little pots of coloured paint in his fishing nets, he deals with the grief of his drowned wife and daughter and colour and joy return to the village. There is so much happening in this book that it is hard to get a handle on the target readership. It is a picture book but not for pre-schoolers. The soft focus illustrations have some debt to the old masters of Northern Europe and are appropriately gloomy. The intensity of the story, even though it has a resolution, means that the book is better suited to children aged 7 upwards.

Edge of the World by Ian Trevaskis, illustrated by Wayne Harris (Walker Books; ISBN: 978 1 921150 21 0) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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

Queenie, One Elephant’s Story

There is a tragic relevance to this book at the moment. It is the tale of Queenie, an elephant at Melbourne Zoo from around 1900 to 1945 where she was a star attraction. She killed her keeper and was euthanized soon after. It is a nostalgic amble through times past when elephants in zoos were fed peanuts and apples by visitors as they patiently plodded around taking paying passengers for a ride in the howdahs on their backs. This is not an experience that children of today will have experienced now that times have changed. The tone of the story is factual, even prosaic but the detailed illustrations are period in style and do much to convey the essence of the time.

Queenie, One Elephant’s Story by Corinne Fenton, illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe (Black Dog Books; ISBN: 978 1 742032 15 3) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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

Ophelia’s Wild, Secret Spy by Elena de Roo

It is not easy to find first chapter books for children as they transition from picture books to predominantly text. This little book contains three stories about Ophelia, a smart and bold young girl who outwits the school bullies twice and solves a mystery caused by a thieving cat. There is a high interest level. The illustrations on every page are in grey and white, bold, swirly and stylised. It is written in verse which keeps it rollicking along at a cracking pace and perhaps helps the learner reader to keep predicting what the next words may be. However, it also means that at times the language is bent to fit the metre and rhyme. Part of learning to read is coping with unknown words so “cloud-scudding” on page one is likely to be new to all six to eight year olds. It is fine for children to be given books where there are some unknown words but a handy rule of thumb for parents is that it should not be more than about one word in ten. If it is higher than that, then the book is too difficult for the reader and they will soon lose interest and get frustrated.

Ophelia’s Wild, Secret Spy by Elena de Roo, illustrated by Tracy Duncan (Walker Books; ISBN: 978 1 921529 67 2) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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

I is for Iran by Shirin Adl

This is a curiously old fashioned book concept. It is an alphabet book with each letter having a paragraph of information illustrated by a photo or even several photos. The author is Iranian (now resident in England and wearing the hijab but not the black chador) and her clear intention is to educate children about modern Iran and its beauty and history. Unwittingly, the book also portrays what a male dominated society modern Iran is (very few photos of women but lots of men participating fully) and there sure is nothing at all about modern politics and religion.

It is hard to see a market here for this book beyond school projects or a resource for families who are taking their children to Iran for a visit. It is suitable for up to a 10 year old but what self respecting 8 to 10 year old wants to read an alphabet book?

I is for Iran by Shirin Adl, photographs by Kamyar Adl (Frances Lincoln; ISBN:978 1 84780 211 8) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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

Treats from Little and Friday by Kim Evans

Chapters cover cakes and loaves, biscuits and slices, sweet tarts, doughs mainly of the brioche and doughnut persuasion and savoury tarts. There are over 65 recipes, generally one per page and most are illustrated in a good quality hardback presentation. Interspersed throughout are many helpful hints to improve your baking techniques.

That said, this is not easy, every day baking. It takes some dedication, forward planning and precision to create these gourmet delights and there is nothing economical about them. The Caramelised Onion and Feta Tarts take twelve eggs and two cups of crumbled feta to make six tarts sized just six centimetres across. Similarly, the Caramelised Beetroot and Blue Cheese Tart (made with paprika and gruyere pastry) takes a dozen eggs. Some of the recipes take more than just one tin of sweetened condensed milk and fresh cream is a frequent ingredient. You will need liquid glucose as a store cupboard standard, along with only the best high grade chocolate chips and lots of unsalted butter.

Lacking some of the wherewithal in my store cupboard, I confined my efforts to the cheese straws (from flaky pastry) and Anzac biscuits. But if you are willing to make the effort and to follow the clear and precise instructions, the people around you may well be stunned by your Pear Tarts, Mille Feuille or Pistachio Shortbread Crescents. If you are anxious about cholesterol levels, the biscotti look a safe bet. Quite simply, it all looks delicious.

Treats from Little and Friday by Kim Evans (Penguin; ISBN: 978 0 14356712 7) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

Nadia's Kitchen

The winner of Masterchef last year was the gentle and engaging Nadia Lim. Looking at her cookbook, it seems to me that she was a worthy winner. That is to say, I really like her attitude to food and the fresh, flavoursome recipes. She advocates returning to simple, seasonal ingredients and shunning pre-packaged, high sodium, high sugar options. Mind you, she does have a penchant for prosciutto as well as salmon. Although the cooking is from scratch, there are some quick meal options as well as ones which take more planning and care.

I have to admit I subcontracted the test cooking. In other words I loaned the review copy to friends who tried Lemon Herb Chicken with Spiced Chickpeas (pronounced yum and used store cupboard standards), Guacamole, Tomato and Feta on Toast, Chorizo and Seafood Potato Salad, Roast Garlic and Antipasti Platter, finishing up with Red Lentil, Ginger and Pumpkin Soup with Minted Yoghurt. These recipes were easy, tasty and delightful combinations of fresh flavours. There are plenty of other options I am keen to try.

Recipes are organised by season and most are for a complete meal. Nadia Lim brings her Malysian-Kiwi background combined with her training in nutrition and dietetics and a strong sense of family to her cooking. Each recipe gives information on the energy (calories), saturated fat, carbohydrate and protein content. The book is a soft cover which opens flat and has the usual sumptuous food photography we have come to expect. The result is a vibrant, contemporary approach to home cooked food.

Nadia’s Kitchen by Nadia Lim (Random House; ISBN: 978 1 86979 911 3) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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

Dulcie May Kitchen Everyday by Natalie Oldfield

It took me a little while to get a handle on this recipe book. It is attractively presented with one recipe and one lovely photo per page but I couldn’t work out why it included some astonishingly simple recipes with step by step instructions – ham and crunchy lettuce sandwiches, for example. Those, the club sandwiches and the toasted corned beef sandwiches just seemed to be given rather over the top attention. It wasn’t until I started cooking some of the recipes that it fell into place. While it is essentially a book of recipes from the author’s Auckland cafe and food store, what sets it apart from other brag books by chefs and cafe owners is that these are not show-off recipes designed to impress, but unlikely to be cooked by more than a handful of readers at home. No, these are recipes designed specifically to be prepared at home – practical, everyday but delicious food. It is about family and preparing food with love and there is a complete lack of ostentation which is very charming.

I tried four recipes. The Crispy Chicken was fine if not particularly exciting. The Blueberry and Lemon Loaf went down well here. The Poached Chicken did not sound or look exciting but it is a terrific recipe which I will use repeatedly. It was so easy and quick to prepare but the result was the best chicken breast I have tried and terribly good for us, with no fat. The Goat’s Cheese and Thyme Crackers were a minor sensation – absolutely delicious. It is worth buying the book for these last two recipes and I fully expect to find more that are equally good.

Seven chapters cover breakfast, morning tea, lunch, cooking for kids, cakes and loaves, dinner and puddings. There is a bit of an emphasis on baking but plenty of other options as well. It is a genuine family book with some recipes that children could cook without difficulty. There is nothing unusual in the ingredients and the techniques are simple and efficient. I won’t be parting with my review copy. Visitors here can expect to be served the Goat’s Cheese and Thyme Crackers. I consider them seriously good and dead easy to make in a food processor. Natalie Oldfield has indeed given us good, fresh, everyday food. Dulcie May Kitchen is named as a tribute to the author’s beloved grandmother of that name and the business is run by the author with her parents and sister.

Dulcie May Kitchen Everyday by Natalie Oldfield, photography by Todd Eyre (Harper Collins; ISBN: 978 1 86950 961 3) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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

Jax Cooks by Jax Hamilton

I must be one of the few who doesn’t watch Masterchef so the drama of the last final entirely bypassed me. In with a very good chance of winning, Jax Hamilton’s tower of macaroons suffered a major subsidence and she came second place. It will probably make little difference because this ex-Londoner of Jamaican descent is somewhat larger than life and has succeeded in winning a loyal fan base. In fact, a colleague saw her cookbook arrive and immediately fell upon it for first testing. It arrived back with notes on recipes trialled and a slightly abashed request that if I didn’t want to keep the book after writing the review, he and his wife would really like ownership of it because it is an extremely useful book full of tasty recipes. I think that rates as a resounding vote of confidence.

They cooked the Anytime Jamaican Lemon and Ginger Loaf and commented: “lots of ingredients and a bit of mucking about but well worth it!” It was sent out for work morning tea and indeed, it was tasty and moist. The Carrot and Ginger Soup with Spicy Yoghurt was rated “very, very yum” as was the quick dinner option of Spaghetti with Pesto, Chilli, Mushrooms and Sour Cream. The Blue Cheese and Onion Steak was described as absolutely divine and easy as and the Doris Plum Blush Cake turned up as a gift for my birthday. These test cooks commented that there was nothing out of the way in terms of ingredients and the recipes were practical, easy and delicious.

This is a splendid hardback book, one recipe and photo per double page spread. There are seven chapters, loosely themed on Jax’s life from early family days with her Jamaican mother in East London, through adult independence, family life, moving to Timaru and then to her current life in Christchurch. She tells an engaging story without labouring the point and her delight in preparing and sharing food with family and friends shines through. Recipes are predominantly savoury though there are some sweet treats and desserts. Flavours are international, fresh and light, with an interesting Jamaican twist which is not so common in New Zealand’s flavour range.

It is with a little reluctance that I will hand back the copy to my colleague.

Jax Cooks by Jax Hamilton. Photography by David Baird. (Bateman; ISBN: 978 1 86953 827 9) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

Hill’s detailed narrative is complemented by Fifi Colston’s equally detailed, soft focus illustrations. These are vintage in style, predominantly grey and brown, capturing the grim situation without resorting to shock value. The red poppies are the main splash of colour, the blood just hinted at.

There is a CD in a pocket at the back of the book with printed lyrics for a haunting song entitled “Little Red Poppy”. It is the complete package and brings history to life through a personal story. I would not be wanting to introduce the book to children much under the age of seven but there is no upper age limit. Clearly it has a role as a teaching resource in primary and intermediate schools but don’t leave it there. It is a book which belongs in every family which marks Anzac Day and which continues to share reading experiences past preschool level. In our family we have a little stack of Christmas themed books which came out every year when we had children at home. This book is the Anzac Day equivalent and is likely to last through many years.

The Red Poppy by David Hill, illustrated by Fifi Colston, music by Rob Kennedy (Scholastic; ISBN: 978 1 86943 998 9) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

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