Tag: Anna & Barbara Fienberg

A second later, Wise-as-an-Owl burst out of the workshop. “Tashi, children, run! – no, it’s too late. Hide!” He pulled them over to some thick bushes.

When Much-to-Learn finds instructions for creating a Chimera, he does so, and soon the monster is creating havoc. As always, it is Tashi who comes up with a solution to this latest problem.

Tashi and the mixed-up Monster is the fourteenth title in the Tashi series, and offers as much fun, adventure and whimsy as previous titles in the series. Once Tashi has dealt with the Chimera, he must also figure out who has killed Soh Meen’s carp. Clever Tashi always finds a way.

Tashi is a feisty fantasy character who shares his stories with a contemporary family. The stories are told in response to events happening in the family’s lives, sometimes told in first person by Tashi himself and other times recounted by a family member who has heard Tashi’s story.

Suitable for middle primary aged readers, Tashi deserves a place in every child’s heart and library.

Tashi and the Mixed-Up Monster, by Anna & Barbara Fienberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble
Allen & Unwin, 2007

This book can be purchased online at Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

“The demons are crazy for buses!” said Can-Du. “And when I wouldn’t hand this one over, they kidnapped my son.”

When Tashi’s village restore an old bus, there is great excitement. The villagers plan their first bus trip to the city markets, but once they are on their way, they realise something is wrong. The bus has been hijacked by demons, and only Tashi can defeat them.

Tashi and the Stolen Bus is one of two tales in the latest Tashi offering. In the second story, The Mysterious Thief , things start mysteriously disappearing form the village. Tashi is determined to catch the thief, but what he discovers surprises even Tashi.

This is the thirteenth book in the delightful Tashi series. Each book features Tashi recounting some his fantastical adventures in his village to Jack, his friend in the contemporary world. This latest instalment won’t disappoint Tashi fans, with lots of adventure and the quirky characters that make Tashi so unique.

Tashi and the Stolen Bus, by Anna & Barbara Fienberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble
Allen & Unwin, 2006

It all began with the castle on the hill…The castle had stood empty for many years. It had twenty-three bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs, and they were dark and dusty with cobwebs. But one day Second Aunt came to tell us that she had just met the new owner. He was a wealthy merchant, she said, tall and handsome, with hair as blue-black as a raven’s wing.

When Tashi’s cousin decides to marry the wealthy Bluebeard, the whole village is excited – except Tashi. He has glimpsed Bluebeard’s evil heart, and doesn’t want Ho Hum to marry him. When Ho Hum takes Tashi to visit the castle, Tashi uncovers Bluebeard’s secrets. But is he too late to save his cousin?

Tashi and the Forbidden Room is the twelfth book in the Tashi series. As in the previous titles, Tashi tells his friend Jack of his adventures back home in the village. In each adventure, Tashi is faced by a tricky dilemma or shady character and uses his wile and a little magic to fix it.

Bluebeard, Tashi tells Jack, is the most frightening character he ever faced, who will always haunt me. The second adventure in this book, The Three Tasks features another villain, the Baron, who has appeared in earlier stories. Tashi must complete three tasks in order to rescue the Baron’s dog, Pongo, who the Baron has locked in a dungeon.

These are exciting stories, with a pleasing blend of old and new. Tashi’s adventures in his unnamed land are mixed with Jack’s life in a contemporary setting. Perfect for reading aloud, or independently, Tashi and the Forbidden Room will appeal to readers aged 6 to 10.

Tashi and the Forbidden Room, by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg, illustrated by Kim Gamble
Allen & Unwin, 2005