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

10 Funny Sheep by Ed Allen ill Andrea Edmonds

Ten funny sheep singing a silly song

Ten funny sheep singing a silly song

And if one funny sheep should get the words all wrong,

There’ll be nine funny sheep singing a silly song.

Ten funny sheep singing a silly song

Ten funny sheep singing a silly song

And if one funny sheep should get the words all wrong,

There’ll be nine funny sheep singing a silly song.

10 Funny Sheep is a new version of the classic rhyme/song ’10 Green Bottles’. In this version instead of bottles toppling there are sheep in all manner of scrapes. One gets tangled in the clothes line, another falls off a carousel. One by one, the chorus shrinks until there is only a single funny sheep. Try as the last sheep might, she can’t fly her kite. Fortunately it all ends well with the ten funny sheep reunited for a nap. Illustrations are watercolour and mostly full spread. Extra details on each spread, like the different fences in the maze, other farm animals and numbers, will keep young readers exploring as the text is read/sung.

Many teachers and parents will be familiar with this diminishing-number rhyme and the rhythm is strong enough to encourage young readers to join in. Numbers are displayed as words as well as symbols which will help support recognition with pre-readers. Readers can count the number of sheep on each page, trace the number and identify the word. They can also count other farm-things on each page. Illustrations are gentle and humourous and sure to appeal to young children. Recommended for pre-schoolers and adults who need a frame for their singing!

 

10 Funny Sheep, Ed Allen ill Andread Edmonds Scholastic 2013 ISBN: 9781742836379

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com