Tag: Adrienne Frater

Pet Palace, by Adrienne Frater

We didn’t have to wait too long before we discovered how Radish earned her money. Number 88 was looking pretty posh by now. The new pink paint glowed like candyfloss. The new palm trees spread out like lime-green sun umbrellas. And on Saturday, Radish hung a purple sign above the gate. It said – Pet Palace.

When a mysterious lady buys the house across the road and starts doing it up, Angie and Jeremy are intrigued. But when the owner puts up a sign saying “Pet Palace’, and all kinds of pampered pets start to arrive, they are desperate to see inside the house.

Jeremy has a great idea – he dresses up as an animal welfare officer and visits the Pet Palace. But what the children see there is shocking. The animals are not being well cared for at all. Fortunately, Jeremy has another great idea to save the animals.

Pet Palace is a humorous chapter book for 6 to 10 year old readers, with elements of mystery and adventure. The text is easily accessible for readers new to the chapter book format and the cartoon-style illustrations, by Ben Redlich, are a fun complement.

Pet Palace is part of Lothian’s Start Ups series.

Pet Palace, by Adrienne Frater, illustrated by Ben Redlich
Lothian, 2006

Hamish Hairdresser and the Arty Hairdo

Hamish is the worst hairdresser in the world. Too many curls, too many plaits, too many beads – and not enough hair! These are the complaints of Hamish’s customers, so that soon he doesn’t have any customers at all. No one will come near him

Then Hamish’s friend, Aron Artist, asks him for a special arty hairdo for an opening night. Hamish is nervous. What if he messes Aron’s hair up on this special night? When he falls asleep while Aron’s hair dye is working, it seems disaster might strike. Will people like Aron’s blue, red and purple striped hair?

It is more than just the art (by Russell Tate) in this series which has a retro feel. The focus on jobs and the use of a small format book with text on one side and illustration on the other also adds to the feel.

Hamish the Hairdresser is part of the Buzz Town series from new Australian publisher, Ibis Publishing. A useful addition to the book is the presence of suggestions for parents inside the front cover. The Ibis website has additional ideas.

Fun.

Hamish Hairdresser and the Arty Hairdo, by Adrienne Frater, illustrated by Russell Tate
Ibis Publishing, 2004

Clio Cleaner Cleans Up, by Adrienne Frater

Clio Cleaner loves cleaning. So when she starts work cleaning Tessa Teacher’s house, she is delighted to find it very messy. She cleans and polishes all morning. But the next time she comes to clean Tessa’s house, there is no mess, and she doesn’t have enough to do. Then a messy mouse gives her an idea which will give her plenty of cleaning to do – she invites Tessa Teacher to bring her class for morning tea.

Clio Cleaner Cleans Up is one of four titles in the new Buzz Town series from Ibis Publishing. The books are small format paperbacks – just slightly smaller than those in the popular Cocky’s Circle books sold in supermarkets – and the illustrations of Russell Tate have a retro feel which parents might liken to the comics and television programs of their childhood.

Ibis have focussed on providing learning opportunities, with activity suggestions for parents inside the front cover and more support material on the Ibis website.

Clio Cleaner Cleans Up, by Adrienne Frater, illustrated by Russell Tate
Ibis Publishing, 2004
RRP $6.95 (AU)