Friday 23 August 2024

Book Review: Hide and Seek (Wolf Girl #11) by Anh Do

 Hide and Seek: Wolf Girl 11

by

Anh Do

illustrated by Lachlan Creagh
 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin 
Imprint: A & U Children's
Publication date: 2nd July 2024
Genre: Middle Grade
Pages: 240
RRP: AU$16.99 (paperback) 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek is the eleventh installment in Anh Do's smash-hit Wolf Girl series.
 
Gwen and her canine friends escape Moon City but the Braxans are not too far behind them. With the help of friends they manage to evade the soldiers and hide in an abandoned shopping centre. But they soon find out they are not alone!!
 
Hide and Seek is another action packed addition to the Wolf Girl series. There are no boring bits in this story, it's action galore!
There is lots of danger and also lots of fun as an assortment of tricks and traps are set up to thwart the evil Braxan soldiers. Wolf Girl's canine friends add plenty of humour with their doggie banter and funny antics.
 
Extensively illustrated throughout, with half and full page black and white sketches, which add an extra element of comprehension to the story.
 
The search for her parents continues as Gwen and her canine friends move on to a new adventure. 
 
Wolf Girl is a series that needs to be read in order as it is an ongoing story and there is no backstory included.
 
My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
Recommended age 8 -12 years 
 
Other books by Anh Do I've reviewed:
 

Thursday 15 August 2024

Book Review: My DAD is the BEST! by Nic McPickle

 My DAD is the BEST!

by

Nic McPickle

illustrated by Tommy Doyle


Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Imprint: Albert Street Books
Publication date: 2nd July 2024
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Pages: 32
RRP: AU$19.99 (hardcover) 
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: My DAD is the BEST!

Every child thinks their dad is 'the best dad ever' and it's no different for this cute collection of animals as they tell us why their dad is the best of all.

Filled with funny little dadisms that every child, and parent, will relate to.

"He tells bad jokes, and sings old songs."

"Is it just my dad? Or is it other dads too?"

My DAD is the BEST! will make adults laugh as they read out things they say themselves.

Little koala goes on to tell all the wonderful things his dad does for him.

This humorous and heartwarming picture book is a must read for this Father's Day. Children will love all the little animals and their dads too.

Delightfully illustrated by Tommy Doyle with big, bright and happy illustrations.

My DAD is the BEST! is a tribute to dads of all shapes, sizes and species.

My rating 5 / 5 👨👨👨👨👨 

Recommended age: 3 - 6 years 

 

Monday 12 August 2024

Book Review: A Sausage Went for a Walk by Ellisha Majid

 A Sausage Went for a Walk

by

Ellisha Majid

illustrated by Peter Kendall


Publisher: Fremantle Press
Publication date: 2nd July 2024
Genre: Picture Book
Pages: 32
RRP: AU$19.99 (hardcover)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: A Sausage Went for a Walk

This special 30th Anniversary hardcover edition celebrates an Aussie classic first published in 1992.
 
A Sausage Went for a Walk is a funny little story about a sausage who decides it doesn't want to be eaten for breakfast so walks out. Then all the other breakfast items walk out too.
 
A breakfast time mutiny led by a sausage! 
 
Jay enjoyed this. It's a nice easy read that older children can read themselves. Filled with fun and mischief as each item on the plate decides one by one that they are leaving.
And I loved that toast didn't leave butter and jam behind.
 
Vividly illustrated in comic form by Peter Kendall bringing each food item to life.
 
A Sausage Went for a Walk is a humorous classic, picture storybook reprinted for a new generation of children to enjoy. 
 
My only very small problem with this was the rhythm and flow of the words took me a couple of readings to get the hang of. 
 
My rating 4 / 5 🍽🍽🍽🍽 
Recommended age 2 - 6 years
 

 


 

Friday 2 August 2024

Book Review: Blink and Glow by Raven Howell

 Blink and Glow

by

Raven Howell

illustrated by Ann Pilicer


Publisher: Tielmour Press
Publication date: 15th July 2024
Genre: Children's picture book
Pages: 36
Price: AU$11.74 (Kindle)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via WOW Blog tour
 

Review: Blink and Glow

Leo and Lilly love to chase fireflies and spend time at the pond. Leo catches a firefly in a jar to take to school. Lilly catches a salamander. As their lights begin to fade both Leo and Lilly soon learn that nature is more beautiful when it is free.
 
Blink and Glow is a delightful children's picture book that is fun to read and also teaches the importance of respecting and caring for nature.
Bugs and insects may be pretty but they need to stay in their natural environment to lead a happy life.
 
After the children free the salamander and firefly Grandma shows them how to make a craft salamander and firefly sun catcher.

This book also has all the details so you can do the crafts with your children.
 
With beautiful double page colour illustrations and only a couple of sentences to each page Blink and Glow is the perfect bedtime read. 
 
My rating 5 / 5 🦎🦎🦎🦎🦎
Recommended age: 3+ years 
 

 

Thursday 1 August 2024

Book Review: The Vanishing by Mark Greenwood

 The Vanishing

by

Mark Greenwood

Publisher: Fremantle Press
Publication date: 2nd July 2024
Series: History Hunter
Genre: Middle Grade / Non Fiction 
Pages: 112
RRP: AU$14.99 US$9.95 (softcover)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
 

Review: The Vanishing

The Vanishing is one of four books written by Mark Greenwood for the History Hunters series.
 
The Vanishing delves into the 1978 unsolved disappearance of a pilot whilst flying across the Bass Strait.
 
Mark Greenwood recounts the disappearance of 20 year old pilot Fred and his plane after radioing the control tower about seeing a UFO. After extensive air and sea searches no sign of the plane has been found.
 
Greenwood sets out the facts and includes Fred's radio conversation, photographs, newspaper articles and the submitted flight plan.
 
It's up to the reader to decide what could have happened in this cold case disappearance.
 
If your child is fascinated by all things extra-terrestrial they will love The Vanishing
Fascinating and a little bit eerie.
 
My rating 5 / 5 👽👽👽👽👽
Recommended age: 8 -12 years
 
Teaching notes and activities can be found at Fremantle Press:
 https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/the-vanishing/

Book Review: Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria by L.M. Wilkinson

  Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria by L. M. Wilkinson illustrated by Lavanya Naidu   Publisher: Allen & Unwin Imprint: Albert Stre...