Book Review: Stunt Kids by Trent Roberts

 Stunt Kids

by

Trent Roberts

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Imprint: Pan Australia

 

Publication date:  31st may 2022

Genre: Middle Grade, Children's Fiction

Pages: 272

RRP: $16.99

Format read: Paperback

My review

Gretel's parents are super cautious, wrapping her in cotton wool so she doesn't get hurt. She is home schooled, is not allowed outside and twelve-year-old Gretel has no friends.

When Gretel's parents win a very boring holiday they enroll her in a STUNT camp, which they thought was a Sensible, Totally, Undangerous, Never Thrilling camp.

I liked how Gretel, who changes her name to Glory, was reserved and nervous when she joined the camp but slowly, with the encouragement of the leaders and other children, she starts to relax and join in. Along the way she discovers strengths she didn't know she had.

There is plenty of silly humour that will have readers laughing out loud. I did find the start of the story a bit slow as Roberts sets the scene and the main characters, 3 boys and 3 girls, get to know each other.

Once the action starts it is full on. The pre-teens face a giant octopus and laser shooting hummingbirds. The stunt kids must work together and draw on the stunts they learnt at camp to survive and save the day.

Brimming with fun trivia facts and a couple of unexpected twists, Stunt Kids is an adventure filled book with themes of facing your fears, never giving up, finding your strengths and team work.

We are looking forward to book 2 and seeing what adventures the stunt kids will have next.

 

Ages: 8 - 12 years

Rating 3.5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐½

*Thank you to the publisher for our copy to read and review

About the author

Trent Roberts is a screenwriter and author who lives in the western suburbs of Melbourne with his partner, two kidlets and French bulldog, Ziggy. He loves the ocean, weird animals, indie pop and choc-tops. While he can't do any of the stunts described in this book, he can do a half-decent forward roll and, in perfect conditions, remain upright on his surfboard for a few seconds.

Book Review: Dex the Bilby (The Lolly Shop #2) by L,B & E. Hackney

 Dex the Bilby

by

L, B & E. Hackney

 

Publisher: Self Published

 

Publication date: 2nd January 2022

 

Series: The Lolly Shop #2

 

Genre: Children's / Middle Grade

 

Pages: 164

 

Format read: paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

My review

 

Dex the Bilby is book 2 in The Lolly Shop Series.

 

Baxter and Ethan now have their magic lolly making well under way and have decided to have a magical sports carnival. All the citizens of Manly start training.

 

Back at the lolly shop a portal opens and a bilby appears. He need the boys' help to save his world from the evil Vulpes and his reptilian snake guards. 

 

A record breaking building climb, a close encounter with a shark plus plenty of action and adventure combine to make this humorous story bubble with tension and danger.

 

We really enjoyed the second book in The Lolly Shop series. The only thing that let it down was a lack of good editing. There are many spelling errors and incorrect punctuation throughout the book which I am hoping will be addressed by book 3. 

 

Dex the Bilby ends on a cliff hanger which will have fans eager for book 3. 

 

Our rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐ 

 

About the author

 

 

Lauren lives in a seaside suburb of Brisbane. She lives with her beautiful man, Geoffrey and their two boys Baxter and Ethan.

Together they love exploring, trying new things, laughing and being amongst nature.

 

Another pastime of theirs is story telling. Whether it be a bedtime story, a campfire story or a road trip story - they love each taking a turn and seeing where the story takes them.

They love their animals at home. They have chickens, fish, cockatiels and a recently adopted dog.

 

For many years Lauren worked in aviation however the pandemic put a stop to that so together they decided to put pen to paper and wrote this story.

 

 

 

Book Review: Brave the Storm (Sky Dragon #4) by Anh Do

 Brave the Storm

by

Anh Do

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

 

Publication date: 29th March 2022

 

Series: Sky Dragon #4

 

Genre: Children's Middle Grade

 

Pages: 175

 

RRP: $15.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

My review

 

Brave the Storm, book 4 in the Sky Dragon series, is a fast paced adventure story.

Dot is an avid reader of Ahn Do's Wolf Girl series and she loves reading about intelligent, fearless girls.

Brave the Storm was her first Sky Dragon book and she really enjoyed Amber's courageousness. 

 

In book 4 Amber has lost her powers and goes to the Sennam rainforest with Irene to rest and recuperate. Although there is not much resting when a large corporation arrives to mine for diamonds and destroy the rainforest running the peaceful villagers, who are protecting the area, out of their homes.

 

Brave the Storm has plenty of action and danger to keep the reader immersed. We did get lost with some areas of the plot having not read the previous books.

Dot is now keen to read the first three books in this series.

 

Our rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

 

Anh Do is a comedian, artist and also one of the highest selling Australian authors of all time, with total book sales approaching 3 million.

Anh’s first book, The Happiest Refugee, is his enormously popular memoir recounting his perilous childhood journey in a tiny boat from war-torn Vietnam to Australia. The book became an instant hit and has won numerous awards including Australian Book of the Year.

Anh has since turned his attention to children’s book writing. 

It’s clear that Anh is an exciting voice in literature, able to delight across age ranges and different genres with great success, and he isn’t planning to slow down any time soon.

 

 

Book Review: Push Pin Art Projects by Candy Berg

 Push Pin Art Projects

by

Candy Berg

 

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 14th February 2022

 

Genre: Children's

 

Pages: 40 (20 images + 20 blank)

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

My review

 

This was a fun activity that kept the children amused during the school holidays. We did it over a couple of days as it takes some length of concentration.

 

Promotes hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and elements of patients and concentration.

 

The book comes with 20 cute spring designs plus blank pages to work with. We used thick coloured craft paper and hung the finished product on the window - like a light catcher.

 

You  will need  a thump tack, bulldog clip or paper clip and something soft to place the sheets on so the pin will prick through. I used sheets of EVA foam.

 

The book is available on Amazon and there are also other themed books in the series.

 

Jay aged 5 wasn't keen on sitting still and creating so he coloured his in. Craft should be relaxing and creative and I try not to be restrictive in his attempts.

 

 

Book Review: Dinosaur Honk & Dinosaur Squeak by Peter Curtis & Jeanne Willis

 Dinosaur Honk!

The Parasaurolophus

by

Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis

Dinosaur Squeak

The Compsognathus

by

Jeanne Willis & Peter Curtis

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

 

Publication date: 22nd February 2022

 

Genre: Children's

 

Pages: 22

 

RRP: $14.99AUD

 

Format read: Board book

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review

 

 Dinosaur Honk and Dinosaur Squeak are part of a collection of board books inspired by the classic picture book, Dinosaur Roar.

Each book features one dinosaur highlighting their unique features and personality.

Dinosaur Honk’s honk annoys all the other dinosaurs. She’s too loud and causes chaos wherever she goes. Until one day she discovers that her honk might just come in handy.

Dinosaur Squeak is so tiny none of the other dinosaurs notice her or even hear her when she speaks! Though her best friend, dinosaur Roar, is always looking out for her, Squeak is determined to prove that she can survive all on her own.

Other dinosaurs in the series pop in and out of each story, sometimes helping and sometimes causing havoc.

Jay loves these books and we have read them over and over. When the next two in the series arrived he let out a squeal of delight. We have since purchased a couple more in the series and have our eye on the next ones we want to buy. Yes, WE! I enjoy these stories too. So much fun!

I like how each dinosaur has a name that relates to their personality. They are like a little community. Jay can name them all and points them out as they appear in each other’s books.

We have always been big fans of Dinosaur Roar and Ten Terrible Dinosaurs and this new collection adds to the delight by naming the dinosaurs and giving them personalities.

The front of each book has the correct pronunciation of the dinosaurs scientific name. Which is very helpful as some are quite a mouthful. The rear of the book points out specific features of that dinosaur.

With bright illustrations and rhyming text these board books are sure to appeal to little dinosaur enthusiasts and their parents.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Book Review: Lego City Police Patrol

Lego City Police Patrol

 

A Push, Pull and Slide Book 

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books

 

Publication date: 10th May 2022

 

Pages: 10

 

RRP: $9.99AUD

 

Format read: Boardbook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

My review

The alert has gone out! the city bank has been robbed and Lego City Police Patrol 🚔🚓 are in pursuit. 

This is a fun board book with just enough text to keep a toddler interested. It’s all about the imaginative and creative play. Pull a tab to bring out the police car, push a tab to reveal the police helicopter and find where the robbers are hiding. Tabs to push, pull or slide on each scene. 

 

The intricate Lego scenes held Jay’s attention and he enjoyed making up his own story as he pushed and pulled the tabs. A fun book that he keeps coming back to, time and time again.
A great way to enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and imaginative play.
A book that will be cherished by any young Lego or Duplo fan.
Suitable for ages 18months - 5 years.

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Trains, Trains, Trains! by Donna David

Trains, Trains, Trains!

by

Donna David

illustrated by Nina Pirhonen 

Find your favourite!

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan 

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books

Publication date: 22/02/2022

Pages: 24

RRP: $14.99AUD

Format read: Softcover

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 My review: 

Trains, Trains, Trains! By @donnadavidauthor illustrated by @nina_pirhonen combines two of Jay’s favourite things; trains and counting.
 

🚂All aboard for a bright, bouncy, busy rhyming adventure.
🚞This is a colourful and fun rhyming book with simple text that rolls off the tongue.
🚆There are 50 trains to spot and count as they whizz along tracks and through tunnels.
🚉Trains in the day and trains in the dark.
The gorgeous cartoon style animal illustrations add an extra element of fun as you peer through windows to see who is inside. Jay has spent hours with this book. Making up his own words, looking at the pictures and counting the trains. There is a ‘did you spot’ section in the back and also tips for parents and carers. Trains, Trains, Trains! would be a much loved addition to any child’s bookshelf.  

About the author

Donna David grew up in the West Midlands in a house full of noisy siblings, fun parents, mad aunties and maggots (her dad is a fisherman). She’d often be found reading by torchlight way after bedtime and this love of reading has never left her. Donna has a degree in English from Loughborough University and currently works as an English coach at the local secondary school. She is married to an RAF pilot and she has worked closely with the charity Little Troopers on a series of picture books written for military children.

About the illustrator

Nina Pirhonen is a Finnish illustrator, designer and children's book author, with a bright, bold and distinctive contemporary style. She has created multiple picture books in Finland, including the popular Leo the Lion series, and her work includes fashion and textile design for Marimekko.