Vinni Versus Bluebottle

Vinni Versus Bluebottle

By Gerry Bobsien, illustrations by Shande Von Westernhagen 

Walker Books

An easy read, though at times seemingly dark, this fantastical tale of Vinni versus Blue Bottle is a story full of Australian ocean traits. 

Vinni is sick of sitting in school, sweating out the long school day, and waiting for its blessed end when the bell will toll, marking, of course, the time where he can race to his private beach and wash away the heat and stresses of the day. This particular afternoon’s refreshing swim ends in disaster, with the dreaded blue bottle’s stingers wrapped around Vinni’s leg, even after he gave it the evil eye trying desperately to scare it away. 

Once stung, Vinni enters a fantastical sea world where he gathers sea world armour, and plans an awesome escape from under the water, avoiding the blue bottle and heading home to eat some of his mum’s wicked chocolate cake. 

But will he make it? And will his new sea creature friends help him escape?

Maxx Rumble Cricket Series

Maxx Rumble Cricket Series (Books 1 – 8)

By Michael Wagner, illustrations Terry Denton

Black Dog Books

Whether out on the cricket pitch,  weird things happen during the game.

Just imagine coming in to bowl and everything moving in slow motion, only Maxx can tell and no one else. 

Or what if everyone on the team falls asleep while fielding, like in Whacked, what would Maxx do? 

When facing the Grunting Bullies team, whose best players were Tarkyn and Wedgie? They’re big and tough and ferocious – will Maxx still be determined to win? That’s what happens in Hammered. 

Whatever the outcome Maxx Rumble is always ready to try his hardest, no matter what steps in his way. Cricket is his passion - he eats, breathes, and lives cricket… and the assortment of hazardous events which happen during each game.

Great for boys who are emergent readers, and want something easy and achievable to reach the end of a book quickly when reading to themselves.

A fun set of books, easy to read, enjoyable illustrations. Get the whole set.

LOLs: Best Jokes for kids

LOLs: Best Jokes for kids

By June Factor, Illstrations by Mic Looby

Allen & Unwin

Q: How do you make a tissue dance?

A: Put a little boogie in it.

Q: What do you get when you cross a dog with a lion?

A: A terrified postman.

Kids like jokes. And the more they tell them, slowly, after time, they get better at telling them. What about tall tales? Can you recount them with glee? Do you have a knack for deciphering text language? Or having fun with riddles? Then this book is your kind of book! June Factor has done it again with her wit and humour, delivering another hilarious book full of jokes, tall tales, farcical songs, riddles and new ways of speaking.

A cow was sitting on a railway track,

Her heart was all aflutter,

The train came roaring round the bend –

Crash! Bang!

Milk, meat, butter.

Recommended for all ages with a sense of humour.

Saving Orangutans

Saving Orangutans 

by Dr Carla Litchfield

Black Dog Books

Did you know that orangutans are the biggest arboreal or tree living mammals in the work? Did you know they are part of the great ape family? Like gorillas, chimpanzees bonobos and humans. But did you also know they are the most solitary? They don’t live in large groups or families. Saving Orangutans is a fun informational book, full of little tid-bit and pointers that you may not know about this special group of apes. With wonderful photography to display all their characteristics, Litchfield has made a compelling case study of which gives the reader the ready information needed to know all about the Orangutan, and how these animals desperately need our help.

Found: The art of recycling

Found: The art of recycling 

by Lisa Holzl

Walker Books

Everything you ever wanted to know about the recycle mode of art; specifically focussing on using and reusing recycling material to create masterpieces. This book is an inventive take on an old concept, with relevant and intriguing approaches to art recycling. For example, learning to paint, without paint with a focus on the great artist Pablo Picasso and his use of newspapers and other waste product. With an important timeline and introduction of art-recycling, this is a good book for children who like creating, art teachers looking for a new perspective and libraries wanting to expand their students intellectual horizons. And it’s more than meets the eye!! There are lots of ideas for stuff to do at home, using the very ‘rubbish’ around you.

Diary of a Taekwondo Master

Diary of a Taekwondo Master

By Shamini Flint , illustrator Sally Heinrich

Allen and Unwin

Oh, dear! Poor Marcus. His Dad wants him to try new sports and excel at them, but Marcus just isn’t the sporty type.  But he’ll try. By golly gosh he will try – even when he doesn’t feel like it – and he knows he won’t do super well. So far he’s tried to be a soccer star and a cricket god, but has failed. And in his latest effort, Marcus is reluctantly willing to take up Taekwondo. He’s not willing to be like Jackie Chan or Kung Fu Panda, and his dad is worried about him not wanting to fight. What happen is he actually gets hurt???? In the meantime he’ll keep a hilarious illustrated diary of his failures for us to read and enjoy. Writer Shamini Flint and illustrator Sally Heinrich have teamed up again to bring us another fun tale, in the vein of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but for children a little younger.

My Happy Life

My Happy Life

 By Rose Lagercrantz and Eva Eriksson, 

Gecko Press

What a fun and sweet book about a little girl called Dani and her happy life. Even though some sad things have happened to her along the way, this is a whimsical book about how Dani is able to look for and find happiness along the way. She starts school a little nervously, but is able to make a best friend called Ella. She loves having sleep overs with Ella and their Night Club, which includes midnight feasts, but sad times come upon her when Ella has to move away. How will she find happiness again? Read and find out.

This is a great book for emerging readers with lovely illustrations and bite sized chapters.