Book Review: Cargo and His Mates! by Paul Dekmetzian

The Adventures of Cargo the Army Truck

Cargo and His Mates!

by

Paul Dekmetzian

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 19th July 2023

Series: The Adventures of Cargo #5

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 26 (soft cover)

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: Cargo and His Mates!

Cargo loves road trips with the other army trucks!

Book 5 introduces Cargo's vehicle friends. Tippy the tip truck, Shorty the land rover, Bella the rescue helicopter, Bevan the jeep and Big John the crane truck.

Bevan the jeep works in Italy, England, France and Australia. Famous landmarks are named in each country he visits.

Shorty the land rover was with the military police then he went to work on a farm.

Tippy the tip truck worked on the roads doing road repairs.

Bella the helicopter is busy flying sick children to hospital and rescuing lost hikers from a mountain top.

Big John is a crane truck and he can lift the heaviest loads.

Travel around the world with Cargo's friends as they tell you all about the places they have been and the important work they do.

This is another great addition to the Cargo series and is sure to be loved by little truck enthusiasts.

Beautifully illustrated with full colour spreads and an engaging storyline. 

 

All books in the Cargo series can be purchased on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. There are even matching colouring in books to purchase.

 

My rating 5 /5 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚

Publisher recommended age: 4 -9 years

My recommendation 2 - 9 years

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Talent Quest: Smarty Pup 4 by Anh Do

 Talent Quest: Smarty Pup 4

by

Anh Do

illustrated by Anton Emdin

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 30th April 2024

Series: Smarty Pup (Pawsome Genius) #4

Genre: Illustrated chapter book

Pages: 200

RRP: $16.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: Talent Quest: Smarty Pup #4

JJ the genius pup is back again with book 4, Talent Quest!

 

If, like me, you are new to Smarty Pup there is an intro explaining how JJ got to be so smart and be able to talk.

 

Dad's birthday is coming up and Lily and JJ don't have any money to buy him a present.

The perfect opportunity presents itself via the school talent quest which has a cash prize.

Lily and JJ sign up for the singing category. The only problem is JJ CAN NOT SING!

 

Lots of fun ensues while JJ learns to sing and costumes are selected. They almost miss the big day when JJ has an emergency dental appointment.

 

Filled with bright colourful illustrations and words that pop from the page,Talent Quest is sure to delight children and adults alike. JJ keeps delivering the dad jokes one after the other which had Jay laughing and saying "enough dad jokes."

 

This is such a fun story and I love that the Smarty Pup series has full stories with a conclusion, which is great for younger readers who may not understand the concept of a story continuing in the next book. At 200 pages it is a good size for older children to fully immerse themselves in.

Talent Quest is a story about trying your best and working with what you have.

 

This was lots of fun to read together and it kept Jay entertained and eager to know what was going to happen next. 

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended age: 6 - 10 years

 

Book Review: Kip of the Mountain by Emma Gourlay

Kip of the Mountain

by

Emma Gourlay

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication date: 1st October 2023

Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy

Pages: 256

RRP: $24.99AU (hardcover)

Source: Own purchase

 

Review: Kip of the Mountain

I purchased this book for Dot hoping to entice her into the Middle Grade Fantasy genre however I was so disappointed with the delivery of the plot it never did make it into her hands.

Firstly the book is set in 1985 in Cape Town, South Africa. A time when apartheid was prevalent but this is not fully explored, just mentions of signs on the beach and a boy injured after using the wrong water fountain. A 2020's middle grade reader needs more explanation than vague mentions. 

Eleven-year-old Kip lives with her eccentric father and is bullied at school by students and the teacher. On her 12th birthday a bottle drops from the sky and it contains an egg which hatches into a small furry animal and Kip is happy she now has a best friend. When Buffel is kidnapped she must face all her fears to rescue him.

The problems I had with this book were that the humour was a bit ludicrous, the conversations felt unnatural and the racism was never fully explained.

What I did love was Kip, she was strong and resilient. She didn't let the bullies worry her and didn't let her father's distant behaviour affect her. 

The story dragged a bit but I have to say the cover is beautiful and that's what initially drew me to the book.

My rating 2 / 5  ⭐⭐

Recommended age 8+ years

 

Book Review: The Apprentice Witnesser by Bren MacDibble

 The Apprentice Witnesser

by

Bren MacDibble

Award-winning author of How to Bee and Across the Sea

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 30th April 2024

Genre: Middle Grade / Teen

Pages: 256

RRP: $17.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: The Apprentice Witnesser

The Apprentice Witnesser is set in a post-apocalyptic world. A sickness is sweeping the land however the people have learnt how to live and adapt to keep themselves safe.

 

Twelve-year-old Basti is the apprentice of Lodyma Darsey, a storyteller and witnesser of miracles. Basti and Lodyma have both lost their families and come together in a work / familial relationship.

 

Bren MacDibble has created a post pandemic world where there is a sense of self-care and communities working together to minimise further risk.

 

The Apprentice Witnesser is a story that lets children and teens see that there can still be a beautiful and meaningful life after a catastrophic event. Humans are resilient and can change and adapt to the environment around them.

 

What I loved about this story is that it shows how everyone can work together for a more natural, sustainable world and that miracles can be found in all number of places.

 

The Apprentice Witnesser is a story rich in wonder, intrigue, hope and resilience.

 

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Content: death of mother

 

Publisher recommended age: 9 -13 years

My recommended age 11+ years (I find I'm always a little on the cautious side with recommendations)

 

 

Book Review: Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough

 Into the Mouth of the Wolf

by

Erin Gough

Publisher: Hardie Grant Children's

Publication date: 1st May 2024

Genre: Young Adult / LGBT

Pages: 384

RRP: $ 22.99AU

Source: Publisher

 

Review: Into the Mouth of the Wolf

Into the Mouth of the Wolf is set in a dystopian world where earthquakes are happening all over Sydney and people are escaping the  city.

Rohan Moretti has evidence that a big corporation is putting profit over safety. Rohan and 17 year-old daughter Iris are now being pursued. They must be silenced!

Lena is feeling isolated by her sexuality, she hasn't met anyone like her. When she meets Iris online there is an immediate spark and as they get to know each other an affection grows. Iris desperately needs to escape her pursuers and Lena promises to help.

I raced through this story. It is a fast paced mystery read with a whole host of likeable strong teens who face moral issues head on. There is plenty of drama to keep the reader invested.

Into the Mouth of the Wolf is part thriller, part climate fiction with a side of romance.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended age 12+