Month: July 2005

Licking Lizards, by Toni Risson

Luke and Alex don’t want anyone to discover their secret base down near the river, so when they see a light down there late one night, they have to investigate. Hidden in the bushes, they see a man catching purple lizards in the river.

In the days that follow, members of the football team start disappearing. The boys don’t see a connection, until Luke finds a purple lizard hidden in his lunchbox. It seems that the lizards are being used to catch the boys – but where are the boys being taken, and why?

Licking Lizards is a fast-paced adventure, with plenty of action and humour. The illustrations by the talented Johnny Danalis, scattered throughout the book, are a perfect complement.

A fun read for children aged ten to twelve.

Licking Lizards, by Toni Risson
UQP, 2005

Hector the Protector, by Janette Brazel

Hector is fed with up with Drain Boys gang picking on everyone, so when he wakes up with to the discovery that he’s the world’s newest superhero, he’s determined to put a stop to the Drain Boys’ evil ways.

First, though, he needs a superhero outfit and a superhero name. A raid on the dress-ups box fixes the costume and the name – that’s easy: Hector the Protector. Armed with a bevy of superhero powers – he can spew on demand, he has a fearsome smell and he can walk on top of fences – he and his friends Jello and Mick are ready for action.

Hector the Protector is a fun offering, part of the Little Stirrers series from new publisher Limelight Press. With plenty of silliness, a fast-moving plot and cartoon-style illustrations by Lloyd Foye, it will appeal to children aged 7-10, especially those making their first attempts at reading novels.

Funny.

Hector the Protector, by Janette Brazel
Limelight Press, 2005

Fairy Realm – The Star Cloak, by Emily Rodda

“Tomorrow night, a few minutes after the first star appears, Wish Night will begin in the Realm. The stars are getting ready for it there, and even here, in the mortal world, they seem to come closer. Even here there’s magic in the air. I feel it – and so do you.”

In the first series of Fairy Realm books, Jessie had wonderful adventures with her friends in the Realm. Now, in the first book of Series Two, Jessie and her fairy friends are preparing for Wish Night, a magical night that happens just once each year. When her friend Griff the Elf accidentally damages the Star Cloak, which is needed for the Wish Night celebrations, it is up to Jessie to get the cloak repaired and make sure the celebrations can go ahead. But first, she and Griff must face danger on Stardust Mountain.

Young fairy-lovers will be delighted with this offering – it has a delightful blend of magic, adventure and suspense. The black and white illustrations by Raoul Vitale are outstanding, with fine detail and photo-realistic depth. The hard-cover format, complete with ribbon bookmark is another highlight.

Fairy Realm: The Star Cloak, by Emily Rodda
ABC Books, 2005

Quinn's Post, by Peter Stanley

Whilst there are many, many books available about Gallipoli – the campaigns fought there, the men who fought them and the impact they had on the course of Australia’s history – this latest book offers a different perspective, by focussing on the Gallipoli campaign as it played out at Quinn’s Post, a tiny patch of ground on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Quinn’s Post is a name which many Australians will be familiar with, but few know much about it or understand why it is famous. Historian Peter Stanley attempts to remedy that situation by providing a unique insight into the history of the post. Rather than presenting a chronology of facts, Stanley’s emphasis is on the stories of the men who fought at Quinn’s, with individual accounts woven into every page of the text .

This is an accessible history, with plenty of human interest and language that laymen can understand. It is not, however, either simplistic or idealistic – Stanley recounts the events frankly, and using personal accounts adds to that honesty.

Quinn’s Post is a fascinating read.

Quinn’s Post, by Peter Stanley
Allen & Unwin, 2005

Daisy Street, by Diana Chase

With no daisies growing in its gardens, Daisy Street wasn’t living up to its name, so Grandpa and Grandma Jacobs decided to have a daisy planting day. Soon all the gardens, tubs and hanging baskets were full of daisies of all colours, but the best part was that the whole street now knew each other.

Daisy Street is a collection of stories about the people who live in Daisy Street. Each story is self contained, focussing on a different family. There are James and Emma who come to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Jacobs for the holidays and Danny, who is desperate to be different, as well as Anna who manages to lose a pot of Irish Stew.

These six stories are each different, but blend well together with gentle humour and plenty of warmth. Likely to appeal to children aged six to ten, these tales are suitable for newly independent readers as well as for reading aloud by parents or teachers.

Daisy Street, by Diana Chase
Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 2005