Wesley Booth: Super Sleuth by Adam Cece ill Michel Streich

Here’s everything you need to know about me:

I’m a super sleuth (which is another word for detective, only awesomer);
I do not have a head shaped like a giant lemon (no matter what my stupid big brother]says); and
I have a nemesis. Her name is Cassidy Strong. Note: she is evil.

And it’s because of Cassidy Strong that I’m standing in front of the whole school, and I’ve just told everyone I’ve solved the biggest case in the history of Hub Hill Primary. Only one problem: I haven’t solved the case, I’m not even close to solving the case, and Cassidy Strong (remember she’s the evil one) tricked me into saying I had. That’s why she’s standing in the front row with a grin so wide it looks like she’s got a banana jammed sideways in her mouth.

Here’s everything you need to know about me:

  1. I’m a super sleuth (which is another word for detective, only awesomer);
  2. I do not have a head shaped like a giant lemon (no matter what my stupid big brother says); and
  3. I have a nemesis. Her name is Cassidy Strong. Note: she is evil.

And it’s because of Cassidy Strong that I’m standing in front of the whole school, and I’ve just told everyone I’ve solved the biggest case in the history of Hub Hill Primary. Only one problem: I haven’t solved the case, I’m not even close to solving the case, and Cassidy Strong (remember she’s the evil one) tricked me into saying I had. That’s why she’s standing in the front row with a grin so wide it looks like she’s got a banana jammed sideways in her mouth.

Wesley Booth: Super Sleuth has a reputation to protect. Or establish. He is sure he will soon solve Hub Hill Primary’s mysterious rash of thefts. If only his offsider would stay onside. If only he can stay out of range of the school bully. If only he can pass his maths test. If only he can beat the new girl, Cassidy Strong. But apart from that – the solution and therefore his reputation is assured. All he has to do is be super-observant, process all the clues he finds. Somehow, despite worsening relationships at home and at school, despite more red herrings than he’d hoped, eventually Wesley prevails. There are black and white illustrations at each chapter heading and scattered throughout.

Wesley Booth was standing in front of the queue when confidence was handed out and somehow received a second helping. Only a double dose of confidence allows him to keep pushing on when everything around him seems to be set against him. He’s also fortunate to have very forgiving friends, because he’s so single-minded that he sometimes overlooks their needs. There is plenty of humour wrapped up in this mystery and readers will be curious to solve it. Classes seem more like secondary classes although the action is set in a primary school, with different teachers for every subject and pass and fail grades. Set up seems to suggest this might be the first in a series. Ideal for confident middle primary readers but also for reluctant older readers.

Wesley Booth, Super Sleuth, Adam Cece ill Michel Streich
Scholastic 2015 ISBN: 9781742991016

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Grumpy Little King, Michel Streich

Grumpy Little King is grumpy all the time. He is grumpy playing golf, grumpy riding in his limousine, grumpy despite his wealth and privilege.

Grumpy Little King is grumpy all the time. He is grumpy when he is playing golf, grumpy riding in his limousine, grumpy despite his wealth and privilege. He would really rather be a big king, ruler of a very large kingdom. It seems that if he is to be happy, then he must conquer another larger kingdom. And that means war. So he has his advisers marshal his forces, gathering bakers and butchers and everyone in the kingdom who is able, to join his army. The time of the battle approaches and the two opposing kings join the front line. But not to fight, just to demand that their troops prevail. It is then that the troops, few of them willing conscripts decide to take matters into their own hands. Illustrations are cartoony plus colour (love the camouflage uniforms) and include plenty of white space. The cover shows the very grumpy king sitting atop his much-too-big throne.

Grumpy Little King is great fun. It shows king behaving badly, obsequious followers/advisers and a co-opted general public army who eventually realise that their ‘leader’ may not actually be much of a leader at all. Older children and adults will enjoy Grumpy Little Kingand there are plenty of themes about bullies, followers and power of the people. Perhaps it could be sent to some world leaders? Younger children will enjoy the humourous illustrations and the story, but this feels like a work primarily aimed at older children and adults. And why not? It has beautiful endpapers in a portrait format hardback.

Grumpy Little King

Grumpy Little King, Michel Streich Allen & Unwin 2012 ISBN: 9781742375724

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com