Tag: macmillan education

Caravan Park Kids, by Jane C. Scott

‘Now look what you’ve done,’ yelled the boy. ‘You’ve made me lose the biggest fish I’ve ever caught, and my Grandpa’s rod.’
I was amazed by his anger and tried to say ‘I’m sorry’ but the boy was already storming off up the beach.

Vicki loves her holidays at the caravan park on the beach. One of the best things is meeting up with her four friends, who she only sees during their annual holidays. But this year, as well as the usual fun, there’s a new boy around. He’s grumpy, mean about the games Vicki and her friends play and he’s up to something strange. Things have been going missing around the caravan park and the new boy is always around when it happens. Is he stealing the things? Vicki and her friends don’t know what to do about it.

Caravan Park Kids is a fast moving mystery for kids aged 8 to 12. With a touch of humour and a message about judging others and about friendship, it is a fun read. Part of the Breakers series from Macmillan Education and with comic illustrations by Dave Deakin, it is suitable both as a classroom reader and for private enjoyment.

Caravan Park Kids, by Jane C. Scott
Macmillan Education, 2004

Cow-Pats, by Goldie Alexander

Red’s best friend is his cow, Daisy. He likes her because he knows he can tell her everything and, although she’ll listen, she won’t tell a soul. But the last thing Red expects is that Daisy will help solve the family’s money problems.

Not only is there a drought, but Red’s dad is also sick. He needs an operation. Red’s big brother, Luke, and his sister Tara are both out of work. The family farm is going to be taken over by the bank. And Red has no money for art supplies. Then, unexpectedly, a stranger comes to visit. Red doesn’t understand a word he says, but he eventually translates his sign language enough to understand that the Stranger wants to buy Daisy’s cow-pats. Red does not understand why anyone would pay hundreds of dollars for cow-pats, but he does know that all this money could be the answer to the family’s problems.

Cow-Pats is a humorous novel for 8 to 12 year old readers (the targeted reading age is 11). As well as being a fun read, it also has subtle messages about family, friendship and even about what makes art works ‘great’.

Part of Macmillan Education’s new Breakers series, Cow-Pats is suitable for classroom use or private reading.

Good fun.

Cow-Pats, by Goldie Alexander
Macmillan Education, 2004

The Magician and the Fairy, by Grace Oakley

Along with the wierd trousers, Isabella was wearing a gold nose-ring the size of a full stop, at least six microscopic earrings and a pair of spiky-heeled pink sandals. In her belly button was a teeny weeny green gemstone – some sort of fake emerald. Not a good look on a tooth fairy!

Tim isn’t sure what is going on. His tooth fairy, Isabella, has decided to change her wardrobe – and her career. Next he’s visited not just by Isabella’s mother, trying to get her back on the straight and narrow, but also by Isabella’s brothers – all sixteen of them.

If having seventeen fairies in the house isn’t enough, Tim has other dramas. His Nana has come to stay and wants Tim to spend all his time entertaining her. Meanwhile, Tim is trying to get through rehearsals for the drama production he is in. Then there is his friend Ryan and the mysterious trapdoor they’ve found in Mrs Trimble’s back yard. Is it really possible that a magician is living down there?

The Magician and the Tooth Fairy is part of the new Breakers series from Macmillan Education. With magic, secret rooms and a plethora of fairies, it will appeal to children aged 9 to 12, with the levelled reading age identified as 12.

As well as being fun, the story touches on issues of family, friendship and old age, in a subtle manner making it suitable for either in class or private reading.

The Magician and the Fairy, by Grace Oakley
Macmillan Education, 2004

Tropical Dreams, by Sally Odgers

Reviewed by Molly Martin

Keen to follow his dreams, Dad has brought his dream house in Frangipani, for a change of lifestyle. His kids Kim, Hal and Junee aren’t so sure. Moving to the country isn’t exactly a dream come true for them.

But things can – and do – get worse. Out of the blue Mum, Dad and even Gran start acting strangely. Dad is eating like a teenager – and leaving the same amount of mess. Mum is playing around with make up and the latest fashions, and Gran is bopping to the latest music. Do they really think they are teenagers, or is it just an act?

For three days the children are forced to become more adult as the adults become increasingly juvenile – first teeanaged, then children and finally babies. The children are run ragged trying to keep the adults occupied and safe while they try to figure out what to do about it.

Tropical Dreams is a humorous title from author Sally Odgers, part of the new Breakers series from Macmillan Education. Kids aged 9 to 12 will enjoy the antics of the adult characters and enjoy the zany ‘what if’ storyline.

A fun read.

Tropical Dreams, by Sally Odgers
Macmillan Education, 2004

The Lake, by Roland Mugford

Caitlin isn’t so sure about her new life in the country. Her parents are tied up with the new baby, Patsy, and her best friend Jack is still in the city. Soon though, Jack has a new sister too, and he and his parents have moved into the new house on Caitlin’s farm.

The cousins, who are also best friends, are making new friends and having new adventures. Maybe living in the country isn’t so bad after all.

The Lake is part of the Green level of the Breakers series from Macmillan Education. It is also a sequel to The Island part of the Yellow level of the same series, although it stands alone.

The Lake deals with issues such as sibbling rivalrly and growing up as well as the differences between country and city life, but the real focus is on family and friendship.

The Lake is aimed at a reading age of around 11 years and is suitable both for classroom and private reading.

The Lake, by Roland Mugford
Macmillan Education, 2004

The Island, by Roland Mugford

It’s supposed to be a holiday, but Caitlin and Jack seem to be spending a lot of time helping their parents clean out their shack. So when they get a chance to explore they think it will be fun. When they climb the hill they see two people doing something suspicious. Could they really be burying a body?

When the adults don’t believe them, they resolve to solve the msytery themselves. But before they get a chance they are sidetracked by more work and more sites to see. Then they meet two kids from the neighboring farm and the mystery is solved for them. The holiday isn’t over yet and there’s plenty more adventure to be had.

The Island is one of twenty titles in the Yellow level Breakers series from Macmillan Education. It is a nice blend of adventure, mystery and fun, as well as taking the opportunity to show some of the contrasts between country and city life.

The Island is aimed at children with a reading age of around ten and is suitable for both home and classroom reading.

The Island, by Roland Mugford
Macmillan Education, 2003

Who Says Girls Can't Play Football,by Judi Pope

Jac (short for Jacqueline) Jones loves football. She can talk about nothing else. She eats, drinks and sleeps football. And, despite being a girl, she plays football for the under eleven team. When Jac gets the chance to be the mascot for her favourite football team, the Wolves, she thinks all her dreams have come true. She will run onto the field with the Wolves and she’ll get to meet all the players, especially her hero Steve Steen.

Then disaster strikes. Jac chases a ball onto the road and is hit by a speeding car. When she wakes up three days later with a broken leg and arm, she realises she has missed her chance to be the Wolves’ mascot. She’ll never get to meet Steve Steen and she may never play football again. Things turn around, though, when Steve Steen himself pays her a visit in hospital. The two are soon firm friends.

Who said Girls Can’t Play Football? is a fun read for 10 to 12 year olds. It is nice to see girls playing (and being good at) less traditional sports, and to see other pastimes such as chess given a look-in as well. The importance given to family and friends (new and old) is another positive dimension of the book.

Who Said Girls Can’t Play Football is a sound read for classroom or private reading.

Who Said Girls Can’t Play Football, by Judi Pope
Macmillan Education, 2004

The First Potter, by Tony Stone

Kiami is not yet a man when he realises that clay can be used to fix and to make things. Excited by the possibilities of his discovery, the elders of the tribe ask him to work on perfecting his craft to make more clay baskets for the whole tribe. But can he get it right before the time comes for him to become a hunter and join the other men?

The First Potter is a tale in the tradition of tribal legends, told through the first person narration of a storyteller of the tribe in which the story is set. As well as telling Kiami’s story it also gives one possible explanation of how man came to use clay to make containers, pots and art works.

The First Potter is part of the new Breakers series from Macmillan Education and is an example of how the series makes use of different styles and genres to provide texts which are suitable both for classroom study and private reading.

Well told.

The First Potter, by Tony Stone
Macmillan Education, 2004

Map, by Robert Moore

Fiona lives on the family farm with her parents and big brother. Up the hill, and on the same farm, is her grandparents’ house. Fiona loves to help her Gran and Grandpa with milking and churning and their other jobs, but lately she’s noticed some changes. Grandpa is having trouble breathing and is getting slower. Gran seems to be getting more and more forgetful.

Map is a story about farm life in Tasmania in the 1950s, but it is also a story of the problems associated with ageing and with keeping a family functioning. Young readers will be interested in the differences between farm life in the middle of last century and their own lifestyles in the new millennium. They will also enjoy the story of young Map, the new calf born to one of the family’s cows in the course of the novel.

Map will be a challenging read for many primary aged students, with a recommended reading age of 12 and a style which is more formal than many children’s novels. It is part of the Breakers series from Macmillan Education, suitable both for classroom and private reading.

Map, by Robert Moore
Macmillan Education, 2004

Mysterious Eruptions, by Liz Flaherty

Tom is appalled when he discovers a big pimple on his chin. After all, he is only eleven. He grabs some cream from the bathroom cupboad and slathers it on. Not a good move. Soon his chin is covered in lumps and bumps. His Mum takes a trip to the pharmacy, but it seems each new potion cures one problem only to cause a brand new one. Tom starts to get suspicious when he realises the labels on the different treatments have a similarity. He sets out to solve the mystery.

Mysteruous Eruptions is a humorous story which takes every child’s nightmares of pimples and other bodily mishaps – and makes them ten times worse. The action is fast and far-fetched, making it a sure winner for kids aged 10 to 12.

Mysterious Eruptions is part of the Breakers series from Macmillan Education and is suitable for classroom reading and private enjoyment.

Mysterious Eruptions, by Liz Flaherty
Macmillan Education, 2004