Fiction Age 9 up

USA Writers and Canadian Illustrator

James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Illustrated by Juliana Neufeld

Treasure Hunters

Random House  2013   $22.99pb         451pp

ISBN 978 0 0995 6759 2

Themes:  Adventure stories/ Pirates/ Sea stories/ Shipwrecks/ Survival skills

Although they are used to the sea and everything it can throw at them the Kidd children are not prepared for what happens when their parents who have home schooled them to do without iPads, iPhones, iPods and any sort of pizza, vanish – apparently overboard. This is the beginning of a series, which, if this first book is a sample, promises to be full of action, adventure, cryptic clues and a great deal of humour. James Patterson is the creator of The Middle School series. The plentiful illustrations absolutely match the whole tone of the story.   A great holiday read – and a good read-aloud when the children go back to school.

Year 5 up/ Age 9 up

Fiction - Age 9 up

NZ Writer & Illustrator

Sherryl Jordan

Fishtales Far-Fetched and Foul

Scholastic   2013       $15.00pb  125pp

ISBN  978 1 7754 3117 6

Themes:  Funny stories/ Long ‘short’ stories/ Read aloud stories/ Scary stories

Sherryl Jordan has put together a set of four long (short) stories with a fishy base - and she doesn’t even like fishing very much. The stories range from truly scary to really funny – told and crafted as only a great story teller can.
They are just the right length to read aloud on a double period on a wet Friday afternoon!

Year 5 up/ Age 9 up

Fiction Age 10 up

NZ Writer

Robert MacKinlay

Face the Shadows

Available from the writer  - see below 2013    $19.00pb (plus postage)    185pages

ISBN 978 0 4732 5625 8

Themes: Bullying/ Family stories/ Fires/ NZ 1939 - / Read aloud/ World War II

Robbie Thom is a gentle boy whose big ambition is to save enough money to buy the latest Kodak camera, to  own a decent pair of shoes and to be able to stand up to the school bully. Then the class teacher tells the children about something that has just happened on the other side of the world - Kristallnacht  - yet another indication that World War II is nearly there. And Robbie’s world is about to change dramatically and not only by the impending war but also by a devastating fire and the terrifying presence of the man in the shadows. This makes for exciting reading (I feel it would read aloud well to a class) and gives a genuine image of life in New Zealand around the late 30’s early 40’s.  You are able to order direct from the writer at:
  robtmack@ihug.co.nz    

Year 6 up/ Age 10 up

Fiction - Age 10 up

TO BE PUBLISHED OCTOBER 5^th 2013

- available for pre-order now

NZ Writer

Joy Cowley

Dunger

Gecko Press 2013   $19.99pb 156 pages

ISBN 978 1 8775 7946 2

Themes: Brothers and sisters/ Grandparents/ Marlborough Sounds

Grandpa and Grandma are in their 80’s, ex Hippies, struggling with the limitations of being older but determined to keep hold of their run down old bach deep in the bush in the Marlborough Sounds. They continually argue with each other and voice their opinions on everything very loudly and firmly indeed. When William and Melissa, who tell the story in alternate chapters, are sent to help their grandparents with the bach instead of going to Australia’s Gold Coast, the two children  are in shock mode. What will they do without a cell phone, a flushing toilet, a fridge and without any other people their own age?  This is a story about real people in real situations – it is funny, poignant, heart warming and all the other values one would expect from a writer like Joy Cowley. And every page tells us firmly this is New Zealand children’s fiction. I can’t recommend it highly enough and hope many, many children will have the pleasure of hearing it read aloud and even more will read it for themselves. And then, in the way of all books of this calibre, go right back to start over again as soon as they have finished.   

Year 6 up/ Age 10 up (and all adults)

FICTION- AGE 9 up

NZ Writer

Glenn Wood

The Bully Chip

Walker Books    2013   $18.99pb   261pages

ISBN 978 1 9219 7764 0

Themes: Bullying/ Funny stories/ High school life/ Sequels

Callum in his up market wheelchair and his no nonsense friend Sophie plus Jinx are being targeted by two particularly nasty bullies who have arrived at school. However, they have picked on the wrong people and in spite of tactics that might have totally floored less strong characters, Callum, Sophie and Jinx end on a note of triumph. The story (like its predecessor, The Brain Sucker 2012 ISBN 978 1 9219 7763 3) is written in the sort of language that today’s younger readers relate to and would make a satisfying read aloud for 9 to 11 year olds.

Years 5–8/ Ages 9-12

For further info about Glenn Wood, former copywriter turned author, go to:

http://www.glennwoodauthor.com

Photo of Glenn, acknowledgments to Walker Books Australia

Fiction - Age 7 up

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UK Writer & Illustrator

Jackie Morris

East of the Sun, West of the Moon

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books  2013  $29.50hb 168 pages        

 ISBN 978 1 8478 0294 1

Themes: Journeys/ Old tales, retold/ Polar bears/ Read aloud/ Scandinavian fairy stories

Love, loyalty and freedom are woven together in this mystical story, retold from the Scandinavian fairy tale of the same name. It takes the reader on a magical journey to far mountains, deep, dark forests and into our imaginations. Not a story for every child but for those who lose themselves in it and for any adult who shares it with them, it will be an unforgettable experience.

Jackie Morris has thought about the story and made preliminary sketches, particularly of the polar bears which play a big part in the tale, for many years.

This is an excellent piece of book production – an almost square book that fits comfortably in the hands.

Google Jackie’s name for several great websites and samples of her illustrations.

Year 3 up/ Age 7 up

Fiction Age 7 up

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Australian Writer but born in Essex UK

R A Spratt

Nanny Piggins And The Race to Power

Random House 2013           $19.99pb  284 pages

ISBN 978 1 7427 5499 4 

Themes:  Campaigns/ Family Life/ Funny (very funny) stories/ Pigs/ Politics/ Series

Although this is the eighth installment in the Nanny Piggins adventures, it is a stand-alone story. Not only that, each chapter is a stand-alone story making it perfect for a wet Friday afternoon read-aloud. 

Nanny who looks after the children in the Green family does not approve of their father, Mr Green her employer, who is currently running for mayor so Nanny decides to mount a campaign of her own. This  includes a memorable fun run, being trapped in a lift and beating the world pole vaulting record. 

Year 3 up/ Age 7 up (A great read-aloud.)

R A Spratt IS the name on R A Spratt’s birth certificate, making it difficult for library cataloguers. She lives with her husband and two children in Bowral, Australia.

Go to: http://www.raspratt.com/ for more information and to hear R A Spratt reading from the first chapter of the first Nanny Piggin’s story. 

Photo of R.A Spratt: Acknowledgments to Random House

Fiction - Age 8 up

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UK Writers and Irish Illustrator

Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, illustrated by P J Lynch
Mysterious Traveller

Walker Books 2013         $32.99hb           48 pages

ISBN 978 1 4063 3707 5

Book Two of a planned trilogy

Themes: Blindness/ Camels/ Deserts/ Princesses

This satisfying story tells of a desert guide who finds an abandoned baby in the sands of the desert, takes her home and cares for her. Then, as she grows and as he begins to lose his sight, the roles are reversed. Which desert? Where are they? What year is it? None of this matters for this is a powerful story, immaculately written, that takes the reader into a world of the imagination and is peopled with characters about whom we come to care. The illustrations by P J Lynch, who has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal from the British Library Association, are in subtle desert-like colours of browns and muted blues and reds. How I would love to have a class to share this with as I read it aloud.    

Year 4 up/ Age 8 up (but it could be read to much younger children).