Book Review: Orson the Great by Colm McElwain

 Orson the Great

by

Colm McElwain

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 5th October 2023

Genre: Middle Grade

Pages: 214

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: Orson the Great

Orson Whitlock is Orson the Great a 12 year old who is also one of the world's top magicians.

The story opens with 12 year old Orson and his assistant Agatha finishing up a performance. An ominous feeling hangs over the story as Orson is being followed and then threatened by another magician, Daxton the Destroyer.

 

Daxton vows to beat Orson in a magic competition and become the new leader of the Magicians Guild.

The story then jumps back ten years to when Orson was 10 and how he became the greatest magician in the world.

The magic scenes in the story were so well portrayed, I could picture it all. Orson is a likeable and relatable protagonist. He always wants to please. Agatha, Orson's assistant and manager, is another wonderful character, a very worldly wise 12 year old.

The story is rich in tension, danger, suspense and (of course) magic. Orson the Great has all the right ingredients to keep middle grade readers enthralled. It may even get them interested in trying a few magic tricks of their own!

Do you believe in magic!?

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

The book is currently available for pre order on Amazon. 

About the author

 

 Colm was raised and educated in Monaghan, Ireland. He has always loved storytelling, whether through literature or film. Orson the Great is his third novel. He is the author of the James Clyde book series. 

 

My review of Colm's previous book:

 

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2018/12/book-review-james-clyde-and-tomb-of.html 

Book Review: Hockey Wars 12: Euro Tournament by Sam Lawrence & Ben Jackson

 Hockey Wars 12: Euro Tournament

by

Sam Lawrence & Ben Jackson

Publisher: Indie Publishing Group

Publication date: 2nd April 2023

Genre: Middle Grade

Series: Hockey Wars #12

Pages: 115

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: Hockey Wars 12: Euro Tournament

Hockey Wars  #12: Euro Tournament see the girls ice hockey team preparing for a tour to Sweden. The boys team will be playing in Canada next year.

Both teams have fun with fundraising events to help pay for their trip.

This was another fun story in the hockey wars series. The boys and girls all get along well and encourage and support each other. There is some light fun ribbing included but it's all about the kids having fun together.

The full page black & white illustrations are a wonderful visual inclusion. Illustrated middle grade books are a good buffer between first chapter books and full on novels.

This is a fun story with movie and pizza nights, a fundraising car wash and going on an overseas trip as a team.

There are themes of having fun, doing your best, forgiving mistakes, good sportsmanship and losing gracefully.

With ice hockey books becoming very popular in the young adult genre it is nice for middle graders 8 -12 years to have age appropriate novels too.

Recommended age 8+

My rating 5 / 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the authors

Ben Jackson was born in Tasmania, Australia, and is a successful indie author that has been writing for over four years. Ben is married to Sam Lawrence, and together they specialize in self-publishing children's books.

They have been married for several years and have traveled together between Australia and Canada. Ben is also a freelance writer that specializes in writing website content for businesses and a wide variety of different articles.

They have published a series of children's books called My Little Fart and Hockey Wars, as well as If I Was A Caterpillar and several other non-fiction books. 

 

Book Review: A Very Silly Reading Book: Meow by Alan Smith

 A Very Silly Reading Book : Meow

by

Alan Smith

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 6th February 2023

Genre: Children's / first reader

Pages: 27

Price: $7.71AU Kindle / $19.13AU Paperback 

Source: Courtesy of the author 

 

Review: A Very Silly Reading Book Meow

A Very Silly Reading Book is a fun way to get reluctant readers to pick up a book. Jay isn't interested in learning to read and I was eager to see how he would respond to this book.

 

It starts with an oath that the adult reads to say they will do everything the child reads in the book. We started with Dot reading the book and Jay's ears pricked up when she read 'kids are now the reading boss'. He does like to be the boss. There are lots of funny actions, like meowing like a cat, shaking your tail, rubbing your nose, that the adult has to do when the child reads from the book. Suddenly Jay wanted to read the book and be the boss. 

 

The pages are set out with extra-large text and and simple diagrams so as not to distract the reader from the text. It is well structured for first readers with repeated words at the start of each page to build confidence. The colour words have the corresponding background such as GREEN   YELLOW which also adds to the reader's confidence.

I think we read this book about twenty times with everyone having a turn at reading and doing the actions. I tired well before Jay.

I thought the colour background was a brilliant idea however, I would have liked to not have the colour background on the words at the end of the book so it wasn't as easy to guess the words. Other than that this was a fun book that included family time with learning.

Jay gave it 1,000 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dot's rating 4.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

 

 

Book Review: Leaf-Light by Trace Balla

Leaf-Light

by

Trace Balla

Publisher:  Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 1st August 2023

Genre: Picture Book / Graphic Novel

Pages: 80

RRP: $27.99AU (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Leaf-Light

 

Leaf-Light is told from the point of view of Miri, a young girl, who lives with her mother on Djaara Country in country Victoria. As Miri plays and explores with her neighbour and friend Wingo they learn about caring for native animals, the environment around them and being part of a community.

Leaf-Light is a stunningly illustrated and gentle graphic novel that empowers children, and adults, to embrace nature and community. The story shows the people, animals and birds living in harmony. Trace Balla encourages the reader to embrace joy from the little things in life, helping one another and spending time to be one with nature as we follow Miri and her friends go about their day playing, watching and learning.

 

There is so much love and detail in this book you could take days and days just going over the detailed illustrations and then come back and still find little things you missed. 

Leaf-Light is a truly special addition to any home library.

Age recommended 8 - 12 years (however suitable for all ages)

5 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Trace Balla is a well-loved Australian children's book author, illustrator and writer of song lyrics who lives on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. She has won the CBCA Book of the Year Award, the Readings Children's Book Prize, the Wilderness Society's Environment Award for Children's Literature, a Comic Arts Awards of Australia Bronze Ledger, and an Honour Award for the inaugural SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards. She has also been shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards (twice), Adelaide Festival Awards for Children's Literature, and ALIA Graphic's Notable Australian Graphic Novel Award.

Book Review: Being Zelda by Russell Irving

 Being Zelda

by

Russell Irving

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 24th April 2023

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 42

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: Being Zelda

Russell Irving has written and illustrated a fascinating story about the Mantis shrimp. They can pack a mighty punch and accelerate faster than a bullet.

 

Shrimps, like humans, have different personalities and motivations.

Zelda is outgoing she wants to know what is beyond her burrow. She is curious about the bluefin tuna and the humpback whales. George is an introvert, preferring to stay in his burrow. He helps Zelda to explore the ocean in a safe way.

 

Irving's art is subtle and calming he uses the colours of the ocean floor and the swirling pastels of the coral spawn in his water-wash illustrations.

 

Being Zelda was an enjoyable story about a little adventurous shrimp however I don't think the children understood the concept of the different personalities. I think this needs to be spelt out clearly in the text. 

Being Zelda is a calming nature book that is enjoyable simply for its illustrations of the ocean floor and ocean life.

4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Russell Irving is a contented introvert who enjoys small gatherings, inner reflection and quiet time in nature. He has spent most of his professional life living and working as an environmental manager and educator across regional and remote parts of Australia, including many years working with the Aboriginal Ranger groups and in Indigenous Protected Areas.

These experiences have taught him the calming and healing benefits of spending quiet time in nature, learning to watch, listen and learn.

Book Review: A Very Dinosaur Birthday by Adam Wallace

 A Very Dinosaur Birthday

by

Adam Wallace

illustrated by Christopher Nielsen

 

Publisher: Harper Collins

Imprint: Thomas Nelson

Publication date: 20th June 2023

 5th July 2023 AUS

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 40

RRP: $12.99US $24.99AUD

Source: Courtesy of Smith Publicity 

 

Review: A Very Dinosaur Birthday

A Very Dinosaur Birthday is a funny, brightly illustrated rhyming story that will have kids laughing and eager to see what will happen next.

 

I'm not a big fan of 'fart' books but I know they are hugely popular with children and a vast array of titles can be found in any bookstore.

Jay loves dinosaurs but when I asked him if he wanted to listen to a new book he said no. So I decided to start reading it aloud. As soon as I read the first sentence - "Dinosaurs are big and strong, they're clumsy and they're farty." His ears pricked up. Then came the stinky, broken covered in mold presents and he was sold.

The book elicited lots of laughs and he was eager to hear it again. 

 

Jay understands the concept of fiction and that the dinosaurs, however well intentioned, can't do things that humans do.
The dinosaurs create much havoc doing conventional party games at a little boy's birthday party which causes him to be sad. But the dinosaurs save the day by engaging the children in lots of fun games you can only play with dinosaurs.

The cadence of the rhymes took me a few read throughs before the story flowed smoothly.

This is a fun book for any little dinosaur enthusiast. It opens with a double spread of dinosaur illustrations with names and also includes ideas for invitations, decorations, snacks and activities for your own dinosaur themed party.

 

Recommended age: 4+ years

 

Rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

About the author

 

Adam Wallace is a New York Times bestselling author, who has also had one of his books be a question on Jeopardy, and has also had one of his books read at the White House! Adam enjoys writing more than anything, but he likes drawing too, and doesn't mind long walks on the beach at sunset. Adam's previous books include How to Catch a Leprechaun and How to Catch an Elf (both New York Times bestsellers), How to Catch the Easter Bunny (read at the 2017 White House Easter Egg Roll), The Vanilla Slice Kid and SPARK.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Sink or Swim - Wolf Girl 9 by Anh Do

 Sink or Swim - Wolf Girl 9

by

Anh Do

illustrated by Lachlan Creagh 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication day: 4th July 2023

Genre: Illustrated Middle Grade

Pages: 256

RRP: 15.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Sink or Swim

In Sink or Swim the reader is immediately plunged into the drama as Wolf Girl and her canine friends are being chased by the Hornets.

They escape in a small boat and soon come across a village being destroyed by a landslide. Here Wolf Girl meets Jarrod, a local athlete, and he convinces her to compete in the Championship Games where the winner receives one wish. This is where Wolf Girl is presented with a moral dilemma with who she should free with her wish. Although this dilemma isn't played out in this book.

With simple writing and full page illustrations throughout this isn't a challenging read. The pace starts out fast but slows towards the end of the novel. This is a series that needs to be read from the start as there is no backstory. The baddies are evil and Wolf Girl's doggie friends are fearless and dedicated. I loved the banter between the dogs it added some fun humour to the story. 

 

Extensively illustrated throughout with half and full page black and white sketches which add an extra element of comprehension to the story.

Sink or Swim ends on a cliff hanger that will have readers eager for more.

 

Rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Anh Do is one of Australia's best-loved storytellers. His series, including Wolf Girl, Skydragon and WeirDo, are adored by millions of kids around the country.